Patent ID: 7290692

Claim:
A safety mechanism for a self-powered tool that ejects and drives fasteners into a working surface, comprising: a body including a rear, a front, a top and a bottom with a fastener exit area; a striker disposed at the front end of the body, wherein the striker slides along a path therein; a base pivotably attached to the body at the rear of the body, the base including an open position spaced away from the body, and a pressed position of the base against the body, in the base closed position the fastener exit area is enclosed from below by the base, and in the base open position the fastener exit area is exposed from below; a cover plate formed in the base wherein an anvil forms a depression in the cover plate, and in the base pressed position the fastener exit area is proximate to the depression; a power spring disposed in the body, biasing the striker toward the bottom of the body; a lever pivoted to the body and linked to the striker; a handle hinged to the rear of the body, the handle moving downward toward the body from a rest position to actuate the lever and energize the power spring; a locking means disposed at the front end of the body and having a first portion that is biased out of the body, wherein the locking means pivots and includes a second portion that is biased to block at least one of the striker, power spring, lever, and handle to prevent at least one of the striker, power spring, lever, and handle, respectively, from reaching a release point, and wherein when the first portion of the locking means presses the cover plate adjacent to the depression in the pressed position of the base, the second portion unblocks at least one of the striker, power spring, lever, and handle, respectively; a biasing means biasing the locking means; and a guide track disposed at the bottom of the body, biasing the fasteners into the path of the striker to be ejected by the striker.