Patent ID: 8657548

Claim:
A fastener for use in fastening insulation to a substrate, comprising a fastener body having a head for engagement with an outer face of the insulation, a tubular stem extending inwardly from the head for penetration through the insulation into engagement with the substrate, the stem having a pointed tip portion remote from the head for penetration of the insulation and the stem being hollow to receive a fastening pin having a pointed end fully enclosed within the stem adjacent the tip, the interior of the stem being adapted to receive a fastener guide of a fastening tool operative to drive the pin into the substrate by means of a driving piston propelled along the fastener guide by gas pressure on firing of the tool, the fastener being mounted to the fastener guide prior to penetration of the insulation whereby penetration of the insulation by the stem occurs by manual pressure applied by an operator to the tool prior to firing of the tool to drive the pin into the substrate, the external surface of the stem including an array of fins extending generally axially of the stem to ensure uniform displacement of the insulation material during penetration.