Patent ID: 7331497

Claim:
A tool for dispensing plastic fasteners from a fastener clip, each plastic fastener having a cross-bar coupled to a common runner bar through a stub, said tool comprising: (a) a housing formed from first and second halves, the housing comprising, (i) a handle portion, (ii) a barrel portion, and (iii) a funnel having opposite ends and being fixed at one of its ends onto the handle portion and fixed at the other of its ends onto the barrel portion, the funnel being shaped to define a runner bar guide channel, the runner bar guide channel being adapted to receive the common runner bar of said fastener clip, (b) a trigger assembly comprising a trigger which is pivotally mounted in said housing and which extends partially through the handle portion thereof for actuation, (c) a needle assembly mounted in the barrel portion of said housing, said needle assembly comprising a hollow, slotted needle, and (d) an ejection mechanism slidably mounted in the barrel portion of said housing, said ejection mechanism comprising an ejector rod which is insertable back and forth through said hollow needle.