Patent Description:
The document <CIT> discloses a nail clip with nails and sleeves, wherein the sleeves show a gap between sleeve and nail at the lower and upper end.

A connection fastener in which a plurality of fasteners are connected by a connection band can be used for various types of driving tools because a large number of fasteners can be set together in a driving tool and continuously injected.

A connection band of such a connection fastener is generally provided with a detachable sleeve as described in <CIT>, for example, and holds the fastener with the sleeves one by one.

The inner surface of the sleeve of the connection band is formed in a cylindrical shape to hold the inserted fastener. Also, the outer shape of the sleeve is formed so as to be along the inside of the injection path so that the posture of the fastener can be kept vertical in the injection path when ejecting the fastener.

However, the inventors have found that, when a connection fastener of the related art as described above is used, the pulling-out strength may be lowered when a fastener is driven into a thin steel plate or the like. That is, when the fastener penetrates into a thin steel plate or the like, a burring shape is formed around it. This burring shape tries to grow as the fastener penetrates, but when the fastener penetrates to a certain extent, the connection band attached to the fastener abuts on the projecting tip of the burring shape and acts to press down the burring shape. When the burring shape is pressed down and crushed or spread, the burring shape is formed without adhering to the fastener, and thus the holding power of the fastener is reduced.

The invention is a fastener and sleeve as defined by claim <NUM>.

An aspect of the invention is based on the above discovery and an object thereof is to provide a connection fastener which can prevent a reduction in the pulling-out strength of a fastener when the fastener is driven into a thin steel plate or the like.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a connection fastener in which a plurality of fasteners for a driving tool are connected, which includes:.

The invention is as defined in claim <NUM> and a gap is formed between the sleeve and the fastener so as to face the toe side of the fastener. According to such a configuration, when the fastener is driven into a thin steel plate or the like, the burring shape is formed so as to enter the gap, so that the growth of the burring shape is not hindered. Therefore, since the burring shape is formed in close contact with the fastener, the pulling-out strength of the driven fastener does not decrease (in other words, the pulling-out strength of the fastener is improved as compared with a case of the related art).

Further, since the shape of the sleeve of the related art can be used as it is, it does not affect the function of stabilizing the posture of the fastener in the injection path or the magazine. Therefore, it is possible to improve only the pulling-out strength of the fastener without deteriorating other functions due to the connection band and without changing the shape of the magazine and the injection path.

The gap is formed by forming a recess portion on an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve. With this configuration, when the fastener is driven and the sleeve is crushed, the toe side of the sleeve spreads easily outside, so the crushing load is reduced. By making the sleeve easier to be crushed as described above, the impact at the time of driving is absorbed and the deformation of the thin steel plate is suppressed, so the deformation of the burring shape is suppressed and the adhesion degree between the fastener and the burring shape can be increased.

The recess portion may be formed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround a periphery of the fastener. With this configuration, the sleeve is easily crushed into a circular shape when the fastener is driven. When the sleeve is crushed into a circular shape, the sleeve acts as a washer, so it is possible to increase the holding power by the fastener.

The recess portion may have a tapered shape which gradually expands as it extends toward the toe side. With this configuration, when a fastener is driven and the sleeve is crushed, the toe side of the sleeve is likely to spread outward, so the ease of crushing the sleeve is improved.

In the sleeve, an inner peripheral surface of an end portion opposite to an end portion where the gap is formed is in close contact with the fastener. With this configuration, the holding of the fastener by the sleeve can be further stabilized. In particular, it is possible to make the fastener difficult to be inclined in the injection path.

The sleeve may be formed asymmetrically in a vertical direction. With this configuration, the loading direction when loading the connection fastener to the magazine is determined, so it can prevent the wrong mounting from being made upside down.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a connection fastener <NUM> according to the embodiment is formed by connecting a plurality of fasteners <NUM> for a driving tool <NUM>. The connection fastener <NUM> includes the fastener <NUM> and a connection band <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fastener <NUM> is a pin provided with a head portion <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> includes a shaft portion <NUM> having a substantially cylindrical shape further on the toe side than the head portion <NUM> and includes a tip end portion <NUM> having a substantially conical shape (cannonball shape) further on the toe side than the shaft portion <NUM>.

The connection band <NUM> is a member made of synthetic resin to which sleeves <NUM> that hold the fasteners <NUM> one by one are connected. The sleeve <NUM> is formed with an insertion hole <NUM> penetrating vertically. The inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole <NUM> is formed with an inner diameter along the shaft portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM>. For this reason, when the fastener <NUM> is inserted through the sleeve <NUM>, the inner surface of the insertion hole <NUM> is brought into close contact with the shaft portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> so that the fastener <NUM> is firmly held.

The sleeves <NUM> holding the fasteners <NUM> one by one are connected to each other by a connection portion <NUM> so as to be able to be separated as illustrated in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the sleeves <NUM> are connected horizontally in a straight line shape with the height of the head portions <NUM> aligned. The connection portion <NUM> for connecting the sleeve <NUM> is designed to be broken when the fastener <NUM> is driven. When the connection portion <NUM> is broken, the sleeve <NUM> is cut from the connection band <NUM> and is driven into a driving target material <NUM> together with the fastener <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sleeve <NUM> according to the embodiment includes a head portion side holding portion <NUM> provided on the head portion <NUM> side of the fastener <NUM>, a toe side holding portion <NUM> provided on the toe side of the fastener <NUM>, and a constricted portion <NUM> provided between the head portion side holding portion <NUM> and the toe side holding portion <NUM>.

The toe side holding portion <NUM> according to the embodiment is formed so that the length of the outer periphery thereof is longer than that of the head portion side holding portion <NUM>. Specifically, the outer periphery of the toe side holding portion <NUM> is formed in a circular shape having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of an injection path 35a (described below). On the other hand, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the sleeve <NUM> is viewed from the front (direction in which the connection portion <NUM> faces the front), the outer periphery of the head portion side holding portion <NUM> is formed such that the lateral width of the head portion side holding portion <NUM> is smaller than the lateral width of the toe side holding portion <NUM>. Thus, the head portion side holding portion <NUM> and the toe side holding portion <NUM> according to the embodiment are formed in different shapes and the sleeve <NUM> is formed asymmetrically in a vertical direction.

Further, the connection portions <NUM> described above are provided at two locations above and below corresponding to the head portion side holding portion <NUM> and the toe side holding portion <NUM>, respectively. That is, the adjacent head portion side holding portions <NUM> are connected by the connection portion <NUM> and the adjacent toe side holding portions <NUM> are connected by the connection portion <NUM>.

Further, the constricted portion <NUM> is formed so that the length of the outer circumference is shorter than that of the head portion side holding portion <NUM> and the toe side holding portion <NUM>. Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the sleeve <NUM> is viewed from the front (the direction in which the connection portion <NUM> faces the front), an intermediate portion has a shape that is recessed inward so that the intermediate portion becomes the thinnest. The constricted portion <NUM> is formed with an opening 24a which exposes a side surface of the shaft portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM>. With such a shape, while the volume of the intermediate portion between the head portion side holding portion <NUM> and the toe side holding portion <NUM> is suppressed and the volume of the sleeve <NUM> is reduced, the shaft portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> can be held in a long upper and lower range.

The driving tool <NUM> which uses the connection fastener <NUM> may be anything as long as it ejects the fastener <NUM>, but may be of any configuration as illustrated in <FIG>, for example.

The driving tool <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes an output unit <NUM> which accommodates a drive mechanism <NUM> therein, and a grip <NUM> and a magazine <NUM> which are connected so as to be orthogonal to the output unit <NUM>.

A nose portion <NUM> which is pressed against the driving target material <NUM> is provided at the tip of the output unit <NUM> and the leading fastener <NUM> loaded in the magazine <NUM> is supplied to the nose portion <NUM> by a pusher <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> supplied to the nose portion <NUM> is ejected from an injection port provided at the tip of the nose portion <NUM> by a driver <NUM>.

The nose portion <NUM> is provided so as to be slidable with respect to the housing and is always urged in a protruding direction by a spring. When an operator performs the driving operation, the nose portion <NUM> is pressed against the driving target material <NUM> and is slid. Thus, the operation of a trigger 31a described below becomes effective because the nose portion <NUM> is pushed. In other words, the driving operation is not performed when the nose portion <NUM> is not slid.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the injection path 35a for guiding the fastener <NUM> to the injection port is formed inside the nose portion <NUM>. The leading fastener <NUM> of the connection fastener <NUM> passes through the injection path 35a and is ejected from the tip (injection port) of the injection path 35a.

Inside the output unit <NUM>, the driver <NUM> capable of reciprocating in the injection path 35a in order to eject the fastener <NUM>, the drive mechanism <NUM> for operating the driver <NUM>, and the like are arranged. A known power source may be used for the drive mechanism <NUM>. For example, the known drive mechanism <NUM> such as a spring drive type, a compressed air type, or a gas combustion type may be used.

The magazine <NUM> is used for loading the connection fastener <NUM>. The magazine <NUM> is connected to the vicinity of the tip of the output unit <NUM>. Inside the magazine <NUM> is provided with the pusher <NUM> for pressing the connection fastener <NUM> loaded in the magazine <NUM> in a direction of the injection path 35a. The pusher <NUM> is always biased forward by a spring and the connection fastener <NUM> loaded in the magazine <NUM> is always pressed forward by the pusher <NUM>.

The grip <NUM> is a part for an operator who uses the driving tool <NUM> to grip. The grip <NUM> is formed in a rod shape so that an operator can easily grasp it. In addition, the trigger 31a which can be pulled with an index finger is provided at a position where the index finger of an operator is applied when the operator grips the grip <NUM>. When the trigger 31a is operated, the trigger switch arranged inside the grip <NUM> is turned on and an operation signal is output to a control device. The control device activates the drive mechanism <NUM> using this operation signal as a trigger.

In a state before driving with the driving tool <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the connection fastener <NUM> is pressed forward by the pusher <NUM> and the leading fastener <NUM> of the connection fastener <NUM> waits directly under the driver <NUM>. When the nose portion <NUM> is pressed against the driving target material <NUM> in the state described above, as illustrated in <FIG>, driving can be performed.

When the trigger 31a is operated in the state of <FIG>, the drive mechanism <NUM> is operated to drive out the driver <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The driver <NUM> hits the head portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> at the head of the connection fastener <NUM> and drives out the fastener <NUM> in the direction of the driving target material <NUM> through the injection path 35a. In this case, the sleeve <NUM> holding the leading fastener <NUM> is cut off from the connection fastener <NUM> and driven out in the direction of the driving target material <NUM> together with the leading fastener <NUM>.

When the driver <NUM> moves to near the bottom dead center, the fastener <NUM> penetrates into the driving target material <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. In this case, the sleeve <NUM> holding the fastener <NUM> is crushed into a circular shape and is interposed between the head portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> and the driving target material <NUM>. The sleeve <NUM> may be torn apart from the fastener <NUM> due to the pressure at the time of driving, but there is no problem even when the sleeve <NUM> is detached from the fastener <NUM>.

When the driving of the fastener <NUM> is completed as described above, the fastener <NUM> and the sleeve <NUM> or only the fastener <NUM> is fixed to the driving target material <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

Here, in the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve <NUM> according to the embodiment, a recess portion <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> is formed. The recess portion <NUM> is formed in an opening edge of the toe side of the insertion hole <NUM> and the recess portion <NUM> is a groove recessed from the bottom surface (surface of the toe side) of the sleeve <NUM> in an axial direction of the fastener <NUM>. Specifically, at the end portion on the toe side of the sleeve <NUM>, the recess portion <NUM> of a cylindrical shape is formed so as to surround the fastener <NUM>. By thus forming the recess portion <NUM>, between the sleeve <NUM> and the fastener <NUM>, a gap G is formed so as to face the toe side of the fastener <NUM>.

The recess portion <NUM> according to the embodiment includes a tapered portion 26a and a large-diameter portion 26b which continues to the toe side of the tapered portion 26a. The tapered portion 26a has a frusto-conical inner peripheral surface and has a tapered shape which gradually expands as it extends toward the toe side. Moreover, the large-diameter portion 26b has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface and is formed with the same diameter as that of the toe side of the tapered portion 26a.

The recess portion <NUM> is used for forming a burring shape <NUM> in close contact with the fastener <NUM> when the fastener <NUM> is driven into the driving target material <NUM> such as a thin steel plate. That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the fastener <NUM> penetrates into the driving target material <NUM> such as a thin steel plate, the burring shape <NUM> is formed around it. The burring shape <NUM> grows as the fastener <NUM> penetrates. When the fastener <NUM> penetrates to a certain extent, the sleeve <NUM> attached to the fastener <NUM> abuts on the driving target material <NUM>. However, the gap G is formed by the recess portion <NUM> around the fastener <NUM>, and thus the sleeve <NUM> does not hinder the formation of the burring shape <NUM>. In other words, the burring shape <NUM> is formed in close contact with the fastener <NUM> by entering the gap G. For this reason, it is possible to improve the pulling-out strength of the driven fastener <NUM>.

In the shape of the related art in which no gap G is formed between the sleeve <NUM> and the fastener <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, when the sleeve <NUM> abuts on the driving target material <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the sleeve <NUM> presses the burring shape <NUM> from above. Therefore, the burring shape <NUM> is crushed or spread and formed without being in close contact with the fastener <NUM>, and thus the pulling-out strength of the fastener <NUM> is reduced. When the connection fastener <NUM> according to the embodiment is used, it is possible to prevent such a reduction in the pulling-out strength.

In addition, the sleeve <NUM> according to the embodiment has the gap G formed only on the toe side and the inner peripheral surface of the end portion (head portion <NUM> side) opposite to the end portion where the gap G is formed is in close contact with the fastener <NUM>. In this way, by forming the gap G only on the toe side, the inclination of the fastener <NUM> in the injection path 35a can be suppressed.

That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the gap G is formed also on the head portion <NUM> side, the upper and lower ranges in which the shaft portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> can be held are narrowed, and thus the fastener <NUM> is easily inclined in the injection path 35a.

On the other hand, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the gap G is not formed on the head portion <NUM> side, the upper and lower ranges in which the shaft portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> can be held become longer, and thus the inclination of the fastener <NUM> can be suppressed in the injection path 35a. That is, the amount of inclination S2 (see <FIG>) of the fastener <NUM> when the gap G is not formed on the head portion <NUM> side is smaller than the amount of inclination S1 (see <FIG>) of the fastener <NUM> when the gap G is formed on the head portion <NUM> side. Therefore, when no gap G is formed on the head portion <NUM> side, the fastener <NUM> can be driven straight out.

As described above, in this embodiment, the gap G is formed between the sleeve <NUM> and the fastener <NUM> so as to face the toe side of the fastener <NUM>. According to such a configuration, when the fastener <NUM> is driven into a thin steel plate or the like, the burring shape <NUM> is formed so as to enter the gap G. Therefore, the growth of the burring shape <NUM> is not hindered. Therefore, since the burring shape <NUM> is formed in close contact with the fastener <NUM>, the pulling-out strength of the driven fastener <NUM> does not decrease (in other words, the pulling-out strength of the fastener <NUM> is improved as compared with a case of the related art).

Moreover, since the shape (see <FIG>) of the related art can be used as it is for the outer shape of sleeve <NUM>, there is no effect on the function of stabilizing the posture of the fastener <NUM> in the injection path 35a or the magazine <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to improve only the pulling-out strength of the fastener <NUM> without deteriorating other functions of the connection band <NUM> and without changing the shapes of the magazine <NUM> and the injection path 35a.

The gap G is formed by forming the recess portion <NUM> on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve <NUM>. For this reason, when the fastener <NUM> is driven and the sleeve <NUM> is crushed, the toe side of the sleeve <NUM> is likely to spread outward, and thus the crushing load is reduced. By making the sleeve <NUM> easy to be crushed in this way, the impact at the time of driving is absorbed and deformation of the driving target material <NUM> such as a thin steel plate is suppressed. Therefore, the deformation of the burring shape <NUM> is suppressed, and thus the adhesion degree between the fastener <NUM> and the burring shape <NUM> can be increased.

The recess portion <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the periphery of the fastener <NUM>. By configuring in this way, the sleeve <NUM> is easily crushed into a circular shape when the fastener <NUM> is driven. Since the sleeve <NUM> is crushed into a circular shape, the sleeve <NUM> serves as a washer, and thus the holding force by the fastener <NUM> can be increased.

In addition, the recess portion <NUM> has a tapered shape (tapered portion 26a) which gradually expands as it extends toward the toe side. By configuring in this way, when the fastener <NUM> is driven and the sleeve <NUM> is crushed, the toe side of the sleeve <NUM> is likely to spread outward, so that the ease of crushing the sleeve <NUM> is improved.

Further, in the sleeve <NUM>, the inner peripheral surface of the end portion opposite to the end portion where the gap G is formed is in close contact with the fastener <NUM>. With this configuration, the holding of the fastener <NUM> by the sleeve <NUM> can be further stabilized. In particular, the fastener <NUM> can be made difficult to be inclined in the injection path 35a.

Further, the sleeve <NUM> is formed asymmetric in the vertical direction. Therefore, since the loading direction when loading the connection fastener <NUM> into the magazine <NUM> is determined, it is possible to prevent the wrong mounting from being made upside down.

The shape of the recess portion <NUM> according to the embodiment described above is merely an example. Since the recess portion <NUM> may have various shapes, the recess portion <NUM> having a different shape may be provided instead of the recess portion <NUM> according to the embodiment described above.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the recess portion <NUM> formed only with a tapered shape which gradually expands as it extends toward the toe side may be provided.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the recess portion <NUM> may be formed in the shape of a stepped hole continuous to the insertion hole <NUM> and the inner diameter of the recess portion <NUM> may be larger than the outer diameter of the fastener <NUM>.

Also, as illustrated in <FIG>, the recess portion <NUM> may be formed in a stepped hole shape continuous to the insertion hole <NUM> and the inner diameter of the recess portion <NUM> may be larger than the outer diameter of the fastener <NUM>, and further the inner peripheral surface of the recess portion <NUM> may have a tapered shape which gradually expands as it extends toward the toe side.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, a bowl-shaped recess portion <NUM> which gradually bulges outward as it extends to the toe side may be provided.

Further, the recess portion <NUM> having a polygonal shape instead of a circular cross section may be provided. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the recess portion <NUM> having a hexagonal cross section may be provided, or as illustrated in <FIG>, the recess portion <NUM> having an octagonal cross section may be provided.

Further, instead of providing the recess portion <NUM>, a plurality of leg portions <NUM> protruding toward the toe side of the fastener <NUM> may be provided on the sleeve <NUM>, thereby forming the gap G. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the four leg portions <NUM> may be provided so as to surround the periphery of the fastener <NUM> and the gap G may be formed between the leg portions <NUM> and the fastener <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the eight leg portions <NUM> may be provided so as to surround the periphery of the fastener <NUM> and the gap G may be formed between the leg portions <NUM> and the fastener <NUM>. When the plurality of leg portions <NUM> are provided in this way, the leg portions <NUM> are more easily deformed than the cylindrical sleeve <NUM>, so that the deformation at the time of driving can be stabilized and the load at the time of driving can be reduced.

The arrangement and shape of the leg portions <NUM> are not limited to the above example and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the shapes of the plurality of leg portions <NUM> may not be the same and the leg portions <NUM> having different shapes may be provided in combination. Moreover, the load (deformation load of the sleeve <NUM>) at the time of driving may be reduced by setting the interval of the adjacent leg portions <NUM> wide. However, it is preferable to arrange the intervals of the leg portions <NUM> as evenly as possible. By making the intervals of the leg portions <NUM> evenly, the leg portions <NUM> are easily evenly crushed at the time of driving, so that an effect as a washer can be easily obtained after driving. The number of the leg portions <NUM> can also be freely changed. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of maintaining the vertical posture of the fastener <NUM>, it is preferable to provide three or more leg portions <NUM> around the periphery.

Claim 1:
A fastener and sleeve comprising:
a fastener (<NUM>) for a driving tool (<NUM>); and
a sleeve (<NUM>) holding the fastener (<NUM>), wherein
a gap (G) is formed between the sleeve (<NUM>) and the fastener (<NUM>) so as to face a toe side of the fastener by forming a recess portion (<NUM>) on an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve (<NUM>), and
in the sleeve (<NUM>), an inner peripheral surface of an end portion opposite to an end portion where the gap (G) is formed is in close contact with the fastener (<NUM>),
an inner diameter of the recess portion (<NUM>) at the toe side of the fastener (<NUM>) is larger than the inner diameter of the sleeve (<NUM>) at an intermediate portion,
wherein
the sleeve (<NUM>) includes:
a head portion side holding portion (<NUM>) provided on a head portion side of the fastener (<NUM>);
a toe side holding portion (<NUM>) provided on the toe side of the fastener (<NUM>); and
a constricted portion (<NUM>) provided between the head portion side portion (<NUM>) and the toe side holding portion (<NUM>).