Patent Publication Number: US-10307898-B2

Title: Oblique fastening apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 104107260, filed on Mar. 6, 2015. 
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to an apparatus, more particularly to an oblique fastening apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a fastener  101  is commonly fastened to a surface  100  of a workpiece in a perpendicular manner. Though it is a fast and easy way to fasten to the surface  100  of the workpiece, the surface  100  of the workpiece is formed with a hole and burrs that are obvious, so that the fastener  101  is unsuitable for use on the surface of a workpiece with higher quality. 
     To overcome the aforesaid drawback, a fastener installation tool  1 , as disclosed in European Patent Publication No. EP2517834 and as shown in  FIG. 2 , is developed. The fastener installation tool  1  comprises a hollow frame body  11 , two positioning mechanisms  12  respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the frame body  11 , a handle  13  connected to the frame body  11 , and a drive mechanism  14  for driving a left one of the positioning mechanisms  12  as viewed from  FIG. 2 . Each of the positioning mechanisms  12  includes a positioning block  121  that is movable relative to the frame body  11 , a clamping arm  123  connected to and extending downward from the positioning block  121  for clamping and positioning a workpiece (A), and an angled guide passage  124  extending obliquely through the positioning block  121  and the clamping arm  123 . The positioning block  121  is formed with a discharge hole  122  communicating with the angled guide passage  124 . The drive mechanism  14  includes a spring  141 , and a drive handle  142  pivoted to the frame body  11 . The spring  141  has one end hooked to the frame body  11 , and the other end movable along with the left positioning mechanism  12 . 
     In practice, the drive handle  142  is operated to move in the direction of an arrow  15  so as to drive the positioning block  121  of the left positioning mechanism  12  to move in the direction of an arrow  16 . Through cooperation of the clamping arms  123  of the positioning mechanisms  12  and the resilient restoring force of the spring  141 , the workpiece (A) is clamped and positioned between the clamping arms  123 . Thereafter, two fasteners (B) can be respectively inserted into the angled guide passages  124  and screwed to the workpiece (A). 
     From the aforesaid structure of the fastener installation tool  1 , it is apparent that the fastener installation tool  1  cannot cooperate with a readily available clamping tool for driving, but has to depend only on the drive mechanism  14  which is a special tool. Therefore, the use thereof is limited. Furthermore, the discharge hole  122  is formed in the positioning block  121  of each positioning mechanism  12  such that the chips generated when each fastener (B) is driven into the workpiece (A) must pass through the clamping arm  123  and a portion of the positioning block  121  of a respective positioning mechanism  12  before the chips can be discharged via the corresponding discharge hole  122 . As such, the distance moved by the chips is rather long, and the chips are prone to be stuck in the corresponding angled guide passage  124 . Moreover, the strength and stability for clamping the workpiece (A) using the resilient restoring force of the spring  141  are insufficient, so that each fastener (B) is likely to deviate when driven into the workpiece (A). This results in bulging and splitting of the workpiece (A). 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, an object of this disclosure is to provide an oblique fastening apparatus that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior arts. 
     According to this disclosure, an oblique fastening apparatus configured to be driven by a clamping tool for clamping and positioning a workpiece comprises a first clamping unit, a second clamping unit and a guide unit. The first clamping unit includes a first main body, a first guide member connected to the first main body, a first clamping member extending transversely from the first main body in a direction opposite to the first guide member, and a first oblique fastener passage that is inclined with respect to the first main body and that extends through the first guide member and the first clamping member. The first oblique fastener passage has a first discharge section located between the first guide member and the first clamping member and communicating with ambient atmosphere. The second clamping unit includes a second main body configured to be driven by the clamping tool to move relative to the first main body, and a second clamping member extending transversely from the second main body in a direction similar to that of the first clamping member. The first and second clamping members are configured to clamp the workpiece therebetween. The guide unit includes a first guide structure formed on one of the first and second main bodies, and a second guide structure formed on the other one of the first and second main bodies and cooperating with the first guide structure to guide relative movement of the first and second main bodies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view for illustrating how a fastener is commonly fastened to a surface; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a fastener installation tool disclosed in European Patent Publication No. EP2517834; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of an oblique fastening apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the first embodiment in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but illustrating a modified form of first and second guide structures of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but illustrating another modified form of the first and second guide structures of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view, illustrating a third modified form of the first and second guide structures of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view, illustrating a fourth modified form of the first and second guide structures of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates how the first embodiment works in cooperation with a clamping tool; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of an oblique fastening apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the second embodiment in a state of use; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of an oblique fastening apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of an oblique fastening apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic top view of the fifth embodiment of an oblique fastening apparatus according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment of an oblique fastening apparatus according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the seventh embodiment of an oblique fastening apparatus according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the present disclosure is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an oblique fastening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the disclosure is shown to have a generally elongate shape, and comprises a first clamping unit  2  and a second clamping unit  3  that are movable relative to each other, and a guide unit  4  to guide relative movement of the first and second clamping units  2 ,  3 . 
     The first clamping unit  2  includes a first main body  21 , a first guide member  22  connected to and protruding obliquely upward from the first main body  21 , a plate-shaped first clamping member  23  extending downward from the first main body  21 , and a first oblique fastener passage  24  that is inclined with respect to the first main body  21  and that extends through the first guide member  22  and the first clamping member  23 . 
     The first clamping unit  2  further includes two spaced-apart first connecting members  212  protruding upward from the first main body  21 . The first guide member  22  protrudes obliquely upward from a junction of the first main body  21  and the first clamping member  23 . The first guide member  22  and the first connecting members  212  are located on the same side of the first main body  21 . The first oblique fastener passage  24  has a first discharge section  241  located between the first guide member  22  and the first clamping member  23  and communicating with ambient atmosphere. In this embodiment, the first discharge section  241  is located at a junction of the first guide member  22  and the first clamping member  23 . 
     The second clamping unit  3  includes a second main body  31  movable relative to the first main body  21 , a second guide member  32  connected to and protruding obliquely upward from the second main body  31 , a plate-shaped second clamping member  33  extending downward from the second main body  31 , and a second oblique fastener passage  34  that is inclined with respect to the second main body  31  and that extends through the second guide member  32  and the second clamping member  33 . 
     The second clamping unit  3  further includes two spaced-apart second connecting members  312  protruding upward from the second main body  31 . The second guide member  32  protrudes obliquely upward from a junction of the second main body  31  and the second clamping member  33 . The second guide member  32  and the second connecting members  312  are located on the same side of the second main body  31 . The second oblique fastener passage  34  has a second discharge section  341  located between the second guide member  32  and the second clamping member  33  and communicating with the ambient atmosphere. In this embodiment, the second discharge section  341  is located at a junction of the second guide member  32  and the second clamping member  33 , and the first and second clamping members  23 ,  33  have equal length. 
     The guide unit  4  includes a first guide structure  41  formed on the first main body  21 , and a second guide structure  42  formed on the second main body  31  and corresponding in shape with and slidably engaged to the first guide structure  41 . 
     In this embodiment, the first guide structure  41  is configured as a dovetail groove formed in the first main body  21 , while the second guide structure  42  is configured as a dovetail tongue formed on the second main body  31  and slidably engaged in the dovetail groove. Alternatively, the first guide structure  41  may be configured as a T-shaped cross sectional groove, while the second guide structure  42  may be configured as a T-shaped cross sectional tongue slidably engaged in the T-shaped cross sectional groove, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Further, the first guide structure  41  may be configured as a substantially C-shaped cross sectional groove, while the second guide structure  42  may be configured as a C-shaped cross sectional tongue slidably engaged in the C-shaped cross sectional groove, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Moreover, the first and second guide structures  41 ,  42  may be configured as matching ball slide rail and ball slide member (see  FIG. 7 ) or matching linearly slide rail and linearly slide member (see  FIG. 8 ). These variations may achieve the same effect as that of the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , an existing clamping tool  5  is connected to the first and second connecting members  212 ,  312  to drive relative movement of the first and second main bodies  21 ,  31  according to the guidance of the first and second guide structures  41 ,  42 , so that the first and second clamping members  23 ,  33  can cooperate with each other to clamp and position a workpiece  6  therebetween. At this moment, because of the configuration of the first and second guide members  22 ,  32 , the first and second guide members  22 ,  32  cannot interfere with the clamping tool  5  during operation thereof. The clamping tool  5  exemplified in this embodiment is a pair of clamping pliers, as disclosed in Taiwanese Design Patent Number D155273, and the workpiece  6  is wood. However, the clamping tool  5  is not limited as such. As long as the clamping tool can be connected to the first and second connecting members  212 ,  312  to drive the relative movement of the first and second main bodies  21 ,  31 , any kind of clamping tool that can achieve the same effect is acceptable. 
     The oblique fastening apparatus of the disclosure can indeed utilize the existing clamping tool  5  for operation. Apart from dispensing with the need for additional design of a special clamping tool, separate purchase can be made on the oblique fastening apparatus of the disclosure and the clamping tool  5 , so that the oblique fastening apparatus of the disclosure is flexible to use. 
     It is worth to mention that, in this embodiment, each of the first and second connecting members  212 ,  312  is configured as a lug that protrudes from the corresponding first or second main body  21 ,  31 . However, in an alternative embodiment, each of the first and second connecting members  212 ,  312  may be configured as an engaging groove formed in the corresponding first or second main body  21 ,  31 . Hence, the configuration of the first and second connecting members  212 ,  312  is not limited to the aforesaid disclosure. 
     After the first and second clamping members  23 ,  33  clamp and position the workpiece  6  therebetween, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a screw  200  can be inserted into the first or second oblique fastener passage  24 ,  34  so as to be fastened to the workpiece  6 . Chips  201  generated during screwing of the screw  200  into the workpiece  6  is discharged through the first or second discharge section  241 ,  341 . Because the first discharge section  241  is exposed to the ambient atmosphere and is located at the junction of the first guide member  22  and the first clamping member  23 , and because the second discharge section  341  is exposed to the ambient atmosphere and is located at the junction of the second guide member  32  and the second clamping member  33 , the distance moved by the chips  201  toward the first or second discharge section  241 ,  341  is shorter as compared to that in the conventional fastener installation tool  1  (see  FIG. 2 ), so that the chips  201  can be prevented from being accumulated and stuck in the first or second oblique fastener passage  24 ,  34 . Further, by using the first and second guide structures  41 ,  42  to guide the relative movement of the first and second main bodies  21 ,  31 , the stability of the first and second clamping members  23 ,  33  in clamping the workpiece  6  therebetween can be enhanced. Moreover, the clamping force the first and second clamping members  23 ,  33  in clamping the workpiece  6  can also be enhanced through coordination with the clamping tool  5 . Hence, the screw  200  can be fastened to the workpiece  6  and can be prevented from deviating from the set angle and oblique position, so that splitting and bulging of the workpiece  6  can also be prevented. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the second embodiment of the oblique fastening apparatus according to this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the first embodiment, and differs in that the height (H 1 ) of the first clamping member  23  relative to the first main body  21  is greater than the height (H 2 ) of the second clamping member  33  relative to the second main body  31 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the second clamping member  33  is positioned between two workpieces  6  that abut against each other with no clearance therebetween, and cooperates with the first clamping member  23  to clamp and position therebetween one of the workpieces  6 . Apart from achieving the same effect as that of the first embodiment, the second embodiment can also be used for two abutting workpieces  6 . Hence, the scope of application of this embodiment is wider than that of the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the third embodiment of the oblique fastening apparatus according to this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the first clamping unit  2  includes three first guide members  22  connected to and protruding obliquely upward from the first main body  21 , three first clamping members  23  extending transversely from the first main body  21  in the direction opposite to the first guide members  22 , and three first oblique fastener passages  24  each of which is inclined with respect to the first main body  21  and extends through one of the first guide members  22  and a corresponding one of the first clamping members  23 . Further, the second clamping unit  3  includes three second guide members  32  connected to and protruding obliquely upward from the second main body  31 , three second clamping members  33  extending transversely from the second main body  31  in the direction opposite to the second guide members  32 , and three second oblique fastener passages  34  each of which is inclined with respect to the second main body  31  and extends through one of the second guide members  32  and a corresponding one of the second clamping members  33 . Through the configuration of the first and second clamping units  2 ,  3  of this embodiment, apart from achieving the same effect as that of the first embodiment, the fastening operation of this embodiment can be performed on different locations with just a single clamping and positioning operation, so that the entire operating time can be effectively shortened and the efficiency of the fastening operation can be enhanced. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the fourth embodiment of the oblique fastening apparatus according to this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the third embodiment, and differs in that the height (H 1 ) of each of the first clamping members  23  relative to the first main body  21  is greater than the height (H 2 ) of each of the second clamping members  33  relative to the second main body  31 . The advantages described in the second and third embodiments can be achieved using the fourth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the fifth embodiment of the oblique fastening apparatus according to this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the third embodiment, and differs in that the three first guide members  22  are not parallel to each other, and the three second guide members  32  are also not parallel to each other. That is, two of the first guide members  22  are inclined relative to a middle one of the first guide members  22  and are inclined in opposite directions relative to each other, and two of the second guide members  32  are inclined relative to a middle one of the second guide members  32  and are inclined in opposite directions relative to each other. Through the arrangement of the first and second guide members  22 ,  32 , apart from achieving the same effect as that of the third embodiment, the fastening direction and variation of this embodiment can be increased, especially for fastening a workpiece that is proximate to a wall (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the sixth embodiment of the oblique fastening apparatus according to this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the first embodiment, and differs in that the second guide member  32  (see  FIG. 3 ) and the second oblique fastener passage  34  (see  FIG. 3 ) are omitted herein. Apart from achieving the same effect as that of the first embodiment, the manufacturing cost of this embodiment can be effectively reduced as well. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , the seventh embodiment of the oblique fastening apparatus according to this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the third embodiment, and differs in that the second guide members  32  (see  FIG. 12 ) and the second oblique fastener passages  34  (see  FIG. 12 ) are omitted herein. Apart from achieving the same effect as that of the third embodiment, the manufacturing cost of this embodiment can be effectively reduced as well. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.