Abstract:
A guide bushing for a reciprocating nailer includes a body having a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion. An aperture extends through the body for receiving a driving rod. The tapered portion of the guide bushing extends from the nailer and is configured to fit into tight spaces, such as corners and along the tongues or grooves of, for instance, tongue and groove flooring, to fully support a nailer as it is driven into the tight space. The guide bushing can be a multiple part or multiple stage bushing for more flexibility and utility. The aperture through the center of the bushing can also be stepped to cooperate with a stepped driving rod for closer holding of narrower nails. A boot can be placed at the tip of the guide bushing to provide a cushion and further retention of a nail held by the nailer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/081,062, filed Jul. 16, 2008 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    This application relates to a compact, reciprocating, electrically or pneumatically operated impact tool, and specifically to an improved nail guide bushing mechanism for palm nailers. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    The previously known mechanisms for power driving have been of substantial size and weight and dimensionally unsuited for operation in confined areas. Such mechanisms also have primarily incorporated the principle of a single stroke operation, controllable at the desire or will of an operator, and have not normally been adapted for use where relatively short repetitive strokes of a tool or operating mechanism are desirable. 
         [0006]    Compact reciprocating impact tools, which are electrically or pneumatically operated (Hammerhead auto hammer, palm nailer) have overcome the drawbacks in these previously mentioned mechanisms, and provide a device of relatively small dimension. Such tools are lightweight, comfortably usable in confined areas by an operator, and substantially reduce problems of manipulation and fatigue by the user. 
         [0007]    These compact impact tools can be used in compact areas, but have neglected to address the issue of placing nails which require the impact to be located in compact places, such as the positioning of a nail within a recess that is not accessible by the prior art devices. In  FIG. 12  the prior art guide bushing or rod has maintained a large face compared to the size of the nail head which it guides. Therefore, if a nail must be located in a narrow channel or in the inside corner of a tongue and groove floor, the impact tool cannot nail in confined nail placement areas. 
         [0008]    Prior-Art people failed to address this problem because a mini palm nailer for example is designed for a broad use, up to 16d nails. Therefore the guide bushing must have a bore in the end large enough to receive the head of a 16d nail plus the perimeter of the bushing including the thickness plus room for a magnetic holder leaving a large diameter at the end of the guide bushing. Prior-art has designed the nailers for nail placement on flat surfaces which is generally found. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    A rod with a conical or taper which can be round, flat, or tapered at the nose of a guide bushing. The guide bushing is modified for a variety of fasteners. A second guide bushing can be used for additional support. The guide bushing has a peripheral collar is slide mounted in the guide securing collar and thereon adapted for engagement with a circular abutment formed in the interior bore of the securing collar. A rod driver can be modified for a variety of fasteners. 
         [0010]    One embodiment of this tool is  FIG. 13  a mini palm nailer with a driver rod slightly larger than a finish nail. The guide bushing is tapered with a bore to both guide the driver rod and the fastener. The taper allows the fastener to be driven in the tongue of a floor board while operating close to a wall. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a palm nailer incorporating a tapered guide bushing according to the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the tapered guide bushing of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a driver of the palm nailer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the tip of the tapered guide bushing of  FIG. 3  (showing a circumferential groove for receiving a cushioned tip/boot). 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a palm nailer incorporating a tapered guide bushing and stepped driver according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a tapered guide bushing assembly of  FIG. 5   
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the tapered guide bushing of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a stepped driver of the palm nailer of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a plurality detention guide bushing assembly. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8A  is an exploded perspective view of a plurality detention guide bushing assembly with a step driver according to a further embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8B  is an exploded perspective view of a plurality detention guide bushing assembly with a straight driver according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the tapered guide bushing (with an apse tip) according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of a tapered guide bushing (with flat tip) according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of a tapered guide bushing (with a wedged tip) according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a prior art palm nailer. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of a palm nailer with a tapered guide bushing according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a prior art palm nailer positioned to drive a nail in a confined space and angled location and is unable to achieve the proper result. 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a palm nailer according to the invention positioned to drive a nail in a confined space and angled location. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment—FIGS.  5 A and  5   
       [0029]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a tapered guide bushing assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5A  shows a guide bushing  520  has a taper  522  to a sharp edge tip  526 . A magnet  528  is adhered in a perpendicular bore  530  to a guide bushing bore  524 . The guide bushing  520  has a stepped center bore  536  forming a shoulder  534  which is congruent in shape to a driver rod  570  with a shoulder  544 . The driver rod  570  is guided by the guide bushing bore  524 . The guide bushing  520  has a stepped bore  538  forming a spring seat  539 . The guide bushing has a peripheral collar  532  which is slide mounted into a removable guide sleeve securing collar  560  and thereon adapted for engagement with a circular abutment  562  formed in the interior bore  564  of the securing collar  560 . The driver rod  570  is threaded into  FIG. 5  a piston  572 .  FIG. 5  shows the piston  572  attached to the driver rod  570  showing a removable assembly  570  and  572  is encased in both a lower housing  505  and upper housing  508  secured together with alien screws  509 .  FIG. 5A  shows the driver end  574  is inserted through  FIG. 5  a body bore  510 , a spacing washer  504 , the spring  540 , the guide sleeve  520 , the guide bushing bore  526 , and the securing collar bore  560 . A prior art guide bushing  502  is shown. 
         [0031]    These specifics are what I presently prefer for this embodiment and “I presently contemplate that the guide bushing  520  of the embodiment of  FIG. 5A  having a circular cross section with a circular bore  524  and be made of 4041 steel. However this embodiment can have different cross sections, such as oval, triangular, rectangular, square, hexagonal, etc. and different shaped guide bushing with varying bores, with drive rods of varying sizes and shape for a variety of fasteners. These can be made of materials such as austenitic steel, high carbon steel, magnetized steel, titanium, polycarbonates, etc.” With the embodiment of  5 A and others it will be important to provide a choice of driver rod assemblies an assortment of guide bushing, springs, securing collars and tools to disassemble and assemble. 
       Operation 
       [0032]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a tapered guide bushing assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5A  shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a tapered detention rod guide bushing assembly. A guide bushing  520  is retractable upon contact with the receiving member into which the fastener is being driven. The guide bushing  520  has a taper  522  which intersects a guide bushing bore  524  at a sharp edge tip  526 . A magnet  528 , which holds a fastener, is adhered in a perpendicular bore  530  to the guide bore  524 . The guide bore  524  has a stepped bore  536  which guide a driver rod  570  which also has a stepped shoulder  544  to match the bore shoulder  534 .  FIG. 5  the lower assembly consisting a removable guide securing collar  560  which joins the guide bushing  520  with a mating guide bushing peripheral collar  532 , which is slide mounted into the securing collar  560  and thereon adapted for engagement with a circular abutment  562  formed in a interior bore  564  of the securing collar  560 . The securing collar  560  secures the  FIG. 5A  tapered guide bushing assembly by threading into  FIG. 5  the body threads  514 . The driver rod  570  is threaded into a piston  572  forming a removable driver rod assembly  570  and  572  which is encased in both a lower housing  505  and upper housing  508  secured together with alien screws  509 . A driver end  576  is inserted through body bore  510 , a spacing washer  504 , the spring  540 , the guide bushing bore  524 , and the securing collar bore  564 .  FIG. 5A  the top of the guide bushing  520  has a spring seat bore  538 , forming a spring seat shoulder  539  on which mounts a spring  540  that inter engage between  FIG. 5  a spacing washer  504  abutting a body  512 . The spring  540  forces the guide bushing  520  outward, the bushing bore  524  supports fasteners. As the operator applies pressure activating impact the spring  540  allowing the guide bushing  520  to retract as the bushing makes contact with the surface, while guiding and supporting the fastener to the surface. The guide bushing  520  has a peripheral collar  532  is slide mounted in the guide sleeve securing collar  560  and thereon adapted for engagement with a circular abutment  562  formed in the interior bore  564  of the securing collar  560  at the lower end of an enlarged diameter bore  564  and by inter coactions there between serves as a guide for maintaining positive alignment of the driving end  576  with a head of a fastener during impact, while also providing positive limit stops. When pressure is applied between a fastener to be driven and the driver end  576  activating rapid reciprocating impact until the fastener reaches its predetermined depth which deactivates impact. Depth is controlled by additional  FIG. 5  spacing washers  504  or fewer spacing washers  504  and the desired depth to set the fastener. This embodiment enabling the operator  FIG. 14  to connect a variety of fasteners in confined nail placement areas in addition to normal fastener placement areas. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8A  is an exploded perspective view of a plurality detention guide bushing assembly with a step driver according to a further embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 8   
         [0035]      FIG. 8A  shows a dual detention guide assembly which consist of a detention rod guide bushings  842  and a detention rod guide bushing  852 . The guide bushing  842  retracts upon contact with the receiving member into which the fastener is being driven, to facilitate continued driving of the item to its proper depth. The guide bushing  842  with a taper  846  to an apse  845  which intersects a guide bushing bore  844 . A magnet  841  is adhered in a perpendicular bore  843  which intersects the guide bore  844 . The guide bushing  842  has a peripheral collar  848  and is slide mounted into a larger first guide bushing  852  from the top and thereon adapted for engagement with a circular abutment  854  formed in a bore  856  of the guide bushing  852 . A spring  850  is inserted into the bushing bore  856  on top of the guide bushing  842 . A threaded bore sleeve  851  is inserted into a threaded bore  858  of guide bushing  852 . By inter coactions there between serves as a guide for maintaining positive alignment of a driving end  874  with a head of a fastener during impacting, while also providing positive limit stops. The guide bushing  842  has an interior peripheral collar  847  congruent with a driver rod  870  and a shoulder  872 . The guide bushing  852  has a taper  851  which intersects the guide bore  853  at a sharp edged tip  855 . The guide bushing  852  has a peripheral collar  857  which is slide mounted in a securing collar  860  and thereon adapted for engagement with a circular abutment  862  formed in a bore  864  of the securing collar  860 . By inter coactions there between serves as a guide for maintaining positive alignment of the driving end  874  with a head of a fastener during driving, while also providing positive limit stops. A spring  840  inter engage between  FIG. 5  a body  505  and  FIG. 8A  both a neck  861  and bushing shoulder  859 . Both springs  850  and  840  act independently allow both guide bushings  842  and  852  to fully extend allowing the guide bushing  852  to support the guide bushing  842  which supports the fastener. Allowing both the guide bushings  842  and  852  to retract independently as the operator applies pressure while driving fasteners. The driver rod  870  narrows at the shoulder  872  to a smaller rod dimension  876  with the driver end  874 . When pressure is applied between a fastener to be driven and the driver end  874  activating rapid reciprocating impact until the fastener reaches its predetermined depth which deactivates impact. Depth is controlled by additional  FIG. 5  spacing washers  504  or fewer spacing washers  504  and the desired depth. This embodiment enabling the operator  FIG. 14  to connect fasteners in confined nail placement areas in addition to normal fastener placement areas. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a palm nailer incorporating a tapered guide bushing according to the invention. 
         [0037]    This embodiment consist of a securing collar  100 , a tapered guide bushing  101 , prior art straight guide bushing  102 , a spring  103 , a spacing washer  104 , a lower body  105 , a driver  106 , a piston  107 , a upper body  108 , and a assembly screw set  109 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the tapered guide bushing of  FIG. 1  according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
         [0039]    A guide bushing  220  with a taper  222  to a flat tip  226 . A magnet  228  is adhered in a perpendicular bore  230  to a guide bushing which intersects an off centered bushing bore  224 . The guide bushing  220  has a stepped centered shoulder bore  236 , forming a shoulder  234 , and a stepped bore  238  forming a spring seat  240 . The guide bushing  220  has an upper peripheral collar  232 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a driver of the palm nailer of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0041]    The driver consists of a straight driver  300 , a driver end  302 , an upper shoulder  306 , and a threaded end  308 . The treaded end  308  is connected to a piston  310   
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the tip of the tapered guide bushing of  FIG. 2  (showing a circumferential groove for receiving a cushioned tip/boot). 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a guide bushing  420  with a taper  422  to a flat tip  426  joining a guide bore  424 . The taper has an o-ring groove  428  cut in the upper circumference of the taper  422  to hold a protective cushioned boot  430  by an upper o-ring band  432 . The boot  430  fits the flat tip  426  with a flat sided o-ring sole  434 . The o-ring sole  434  does not protrude the bore  424  giving the tip a non marring surface. On the top side of the o-ring sole  434  is a flexible nail centering retainer  438  allowing enough room for a finish nail to set through the retainer  438 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the tapered guide bushing of  FIG. 5  according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a guide bushing  620  with a taper  622  to a sharp edge tip  626 . A magnet  628  is adhered in a perpendicular bore  630  which intersects a guide bushing bore  624 . The guide bushing  620  has a stepped center bore  636  forming a shoulder  634 . The guide bushing  620  has a stepped bore  638  forming a spring seat  640 . The guide bushing  620  has an upper peripheral collar  632 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a stepped driver of the palm nailer of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows a stepped driver  700  which consist of a driving end  702 , a mid shoulder  704 , an upper shoulder  706 , and the threaded end  708 . The threaded end  708  is connected to a piston  710 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the tapered guide bushing (with an apse tip) according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  shows a guide bushing  920  with a taper  922  to an apse tip  926 . A magnet  928  is adhered in a perpendicular bore  930  which intersects a guide bushing straight bore  924 . The top of the guide bushing  920  has a guide sleeve  934  inserted into a bore  936  on a flat top spring seat  938 . The guide bushing  920  has an upper peripheral collar  932 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of a tapered guide bushing (with flat tip) according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
         [0051]    The guide bushing  1020  with a taper  1022  to a flat tip  1026 . A magnet  1028  is adhered in a perpendicular bore  1030  to a guide bushing bore  1024 . A shoulder bore  1025  forms a shoulder  1036  in the guide bore  1024 . The top of the guide bushing  1020  has a stepped bore  1038  forming a spring seat  1040 . The upper edge of bushing  1020  has a peripheral collar  1032 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of a tapered guide bushing (with a wedged tip) according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
         [0053]      FIG. 11  shows a tapered guide bushing  1120  with a main taper  1122  on two sides leaving a shoulder  1100  on each side of the circumference. The taper  1122  joins a beveled tip  1126 . The tapered guide bushing  1120  has a flat directional guide  1140  on the outside diameter of the cylinder wall, which matches a directional guide washer  1150  with a congruent flat  1152 . A magnet  1128  is adhered in a perpendicular bore  1130  which intersects a guide bushing straight bore  1124 . The guide bushing bore  1124  has a broached bore  1142  leaving a Saturn shaped guide bore  1144 . The upper edge has a peripheral collar  1132 . The top of the guide bushing  1120  has a flat spring seat  1138 . This embodiment is used for driving rectangular floor cleats  1154 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a prior art palm nailer. 
         [0055]      FIG. 12  shows a prior art palm nailer  1200  with a standard guide bushing  1202 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of a palm nailer with a tapered guide bushing according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
         [0057]      FIG. 13  shows a palm nailer  1300  with a tapered guide bushing  1302  which is able to position into compact areas for nail placement. 
         [0058]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a prior art palm nailer positioned to drive a nail in a confined space or angled location and is unable to achieve the proper result. 
         [0059]      FIG. 14  shows an operator  1400  installing a tongue and groove pre-finished hardwood floor  1402  in a confined space near a wall  1404 , with a prior art mini palm nailer  1406 . Most mini palm nailers  1406  are unable to drive a finish nail  1408  successfully. A bent nail can damage the floor finish. Mini palm nailers  1406  are set up for common nails up to 16d nails. If the mini palm nailer  1406  is able to drive the finish nail  1408  the driver is unable to drive much further than a large flat tip guide bushing  1410 . The guide bushing  1410  which is resting on a finished floor edge  1412  and on a floor tongue  1414  will not allow the nail  1408  to be set properly. If the nail bending does not damage the floor  1402 , the guide bushing  1410  will damage finished floor edge  1412 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a palm nailer according to the invention positioned to drive a nail in a confined space or angled location. 
         [0061]      FIG. 15  shows an operator  1500  installing a tongue and groove pre-finished hardwood floor  1502  in a confined space near a wall  1504  with a mini palm nailer  1506  according to this embodiment. This embodiment of the palm nailer  1506  is able to drive the finish nail  1508  successfully. The Palm nailer is designed with a guide bushing  1510  that supports the finish nail  1508  and sets the nail  1508  properly. The palm nailer  1506  is able to rest on top of the tongue  1514  and beneath the floor edge  1512  and move freely to adjust the nailing angle without damaging the floor edge  1512 . This embodiment will save many hours on hard wood flooring installations and other types of work.