초록 ▼

A fastener carrier assembly used to secure rows of fasteners in a workpiece using a conventional driving tool. The fastener carrier assembly includes a plurality of fasteners, an upper strip and a separate lower strip. The upper strips include a plurality of interconnected, frangible collating elem

A fastener carrier assembly used to secure rows of fasteners in a workpiece using a conventional driving tool. The fastener carrier assembly includes a plurality of fasteners, an upper strip and a separate lower strip. The upper strips include a plurality of interconnected, frangible collating elements. The lower strip includes sleeves that are intended to stay with the fastener after the fastener is embedded into a workpiece.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A two-piece carrier assembly adapted for holding a plurality of fasteners driven into a workpiece by a driving tool, wherein each of the fasteners include a drivable head and an elongated shank terminating at a tip, the shank having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular t

What is claimed is: 1. A two-piece carrier assembly adapted for holding a plurality of fasteners driven into a workpiece by a driving tool, wherein each of the fasteners include a drivable head and an elongated shank terminating at a tip, the shank having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to a workpiece plane, the two-piece carrier assembly comprising: an upper strip including a plurality of interconnected, frangible collating elements having a first and second thickness in the workpiece plane, each collating element connected to a respective shank of a fastener at a location proximal the head, each collating element connected to another collating element via an upper frangible bridge, each collating element adapted to completely break away from the respective fastener shank leaving no remnants when the fastener is driven into the workpiece; a plurality of longitudinally-extending spacer elements each connected only to a respective collating element and extending towards a respective lower sleeve, and a lower strip including a plurality of flat-topped sleeves each connected to another sleeve via a lower frangible bridge, each sleeve connected to a respective shank at a location proximal the tip, and adapted for being lodged between the respective fastener head and workpiece when the fastener is fully embedded in the workpiece, wherein the spacer element contacts the flat top of the sleeve and severs the lower bridge essentially simultaneously with the upper bridge when the fastener is driven into the workpiece. 2. The carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the sleeves describe a first, symmetric shape when viewed in the workpiece plane and each of the collating elements describe a second, asymmetric shape when viewed in the workpiece plane. 3. The carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein each sleeve is a torus. 4. The carrier assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer element has a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape. 5. The carrier assembly of claim 4, wherein the spacer element comprises a first and second spacer element. 6. A fastener carrier assembly element with fastener received therein, the fastener having a shank defining a longitudinal axis, a tip and a head, the fastener carrier assembly element comprising: a first element including a gripping body extending circumferentially about the shank axis and a longitudinally-extending spacer portion that extends from the gripping body towards the tip, the spacer portion having a length, the first element including at least one frangible upper bridge connected to another first element; a second element, separate from the first element, extending circumferentially about the shank axis and disposed between the first element and tip, the second element having a flat top and including at least one frangible lower bridge connected to another second element; wherein the spacer portion contacts the flat top of the second element and severs the lower bridge essentially simultaneously with the upper bridge when the fastener is driven into the workpiece; wherein the first element and spacer portion are adapted to sever from the fastener completely when the fastener is driven into a workpiece, the second element remaining between the fastener head and workpiece after the fastener is imbedded in the workpiece. 7. The fastener element of claim 6, wherein the spacer portion includes first and second portions. 8. The fastener element of claim 6, wherein the gripping body includes first and second sides having a first cross-sectional thickness, and third and fourth sides having a second cross-sectional thickness. 9. The fastener element of claim 8, wherein the portion includes first and second longitudinal extensions that extend downwardly from the respective third and fourth sides. 10. The fastener element of claim 8, wherein the first and second sides define first and second fracture points for facilitating fracture of the gripping body as the fastener is impacted by a firing pin. 11. The fastener element of claim 10, wherein the fracture points are substantially devoid of the spacer portion below the fracture points. 12. The fastener element of claim 11, wherein the spacer portion comprises first and second spacer portions. 13. A fastener carrier assembly for use in a driving tool, the assembly comprising: a plurality of fasteners and a carrier for collating the fasteners, the fasteners having a head and a shank defining a longitudinally-extending shank axis; the carrier including a plurality of frangible collating elements, each frangible collating element including: an upper sleeve surrounding the shank and adapted for being broken away completely from the shank when the fastener is driven into a workpiece by a driving tool, the upper sleeve connected to at least one other upper sleeve by an upper frangible bridge; and a lower sleeve separate from the upper sleeve and surrounding the shank, the lower sleeve connected to at least one other lower sleeve by a lower frangible bridge, the lower sleeve having a flat top and adapted for being lodged between the fastener head and the workpiece when the fastener is driven into the workpiece; and a longitudinally-extending spacer element connected only each upper sleeve and extending towards the lower sleeve, wherein the spacer element contacts the flat top of the lower sleeve and severs the lower bridge essentially simultaneously with the upper bridge when the fastener is driven into the workpiece. 14. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 13, wherein the spacer element comprises left and right longitudinally extending members, each of which having planar front and back surfaces. 15. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 14, wherein the lower sleeve has a flat, upper surface that is everywhere at right angles to the front and back surfaces of the left and right members, and the left and right members each have a thin cross-section as compared to the lower sleeve cross-section. 16. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 14, wherein the left and right members are rectangular and have a thin cross-section as compared to the cross-section of the lower sleeve, when each are viewed in the same plane. 17. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 13, wherein the carrier is a two-piece carrier. 18. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 13, wherein the upper sleeve is a grip portion. 19. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 13, wherein the upper sleeve has a flat upper and lower surface and forms a circular passageway extending between the upper and lower surface, and the length of the passageway, as measured along the shank axis, is equal to the maximum length of the upper sleeve. 20. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 19, wherein the spacer element comprises left and right longitudinally extending members, each of which having planar front and rear surfaces. 21. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 20, wherein the left and right members front and rear planar surfaces extend from the upper sleeve lower surface. 22. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 20, wherein the left and right members front and rear planar surfaces extend between the upper sleeve lower surface and an upper surface of the lower sleeve, wherein the lower sleeve upper surface is everywhere at right angles the front and rear surfaces of the left and right members. 23. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 20, wherein the left and right members are rectangular and have a thin cross-section as compared to the cross-section of the lower sleeve, when each are viewed in the same plane. 24. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 23, wherein the left member has a right inner side facing the shank and a left outer side facing an adjoining collating element, the right member has a left inner side facing the shank and a right outer side facing an adjoining collating element, and the inner and outer sides extend parallel to the shank axis over substantially their entire length. 25. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 13, wherein a taper is formed below the fastener head to facilitate fracture of the upper sleeve when the nail is driven into a workpiece by the driving tool. 26. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 13, wherein the lower sleeve has a uniform cross section that is substantially greater than the cross section of spacer and at least a portion of the cross-section of the upper sleeve. 27. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 13, wherein the lower sleeve has a flat lower surface that is adapted for being placed flush against the workpiece plane when the fastener is driven into the workpiece. 28. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 27, wherein the lower sleeve has a cylindrical outer surface defined by a diameter that is approximately equal to the lateral extent of the nail head. 29. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 28, wherein the lower sleeve includes a chamfered edge formed between the lower surface and the outer cylindrical surface. 30. The carrier fastener assembly of claim 27, wherein when viewed in a plane that is perpendicular to the shank axis, the depth of the upper sleeve, measured from front to back, is less than the lateral extent of the nail head. 31. A method for driving a fastener into a workpiece using a driving tool, comprising the steps of: loading a plurality of fasteners and a carrier for collating the fasteners into the driving tool, wherein each fastener has a head and a shank defining a shank axis and the carrier includes a plurality of frangible collating elements, each frangible collating element including an upper sleeve, a lower flat-topped sleeve, and a longitudinally-extending spacer element attached to only the upper sleeve and having a planar front surface that extends towards the lower sleeve of the collating element, each upper sleeve connected to another upper sleeve via an upper frangible bridge and each lower sleeve connected to another lower sleeve via a lower frangible bridge; driving a fastener towards the workpiece with the driving tool, contacting the flat top of the lower sleeve with longitudinally-extending spacer element; severing essentially simultaneously the upper and lower bridge; separating the upper sleeve with attached spacer element completely from the shank; and lodging the lower sleeve between the fastener head and workpiece such that the lower sleeve lies flush against the workpiece.