초록 ▼

A new and improved fastening system for attaching relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, such as, for example 14-25 gauge sheet metal members, wherein the power output parameters of the power tool are controlled such that when the driver blade member of the power tool acts upon each one of the b

A new and improved fastening system for attaching relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, such as, for example 14-25 gauge sheet metal members, wherein the power output parameters of the power tool are controlled such that when the driver blade member of the power tool acts upon each one of the brad-type nail fasteners, the brad-type nail fasteners will attain a predetermined velocity value, such as, for example, within the velocity range of 1000-2500 in/sec. Any one of various different types of power tools may be employed, and in addition, various geometrical characteristics of each brad-type fastener are important, such as, for example, the tip geometry, the aspect ratio A/R of the shank member of the fastener, and the use of an adhesive or painted coating upon the external surface areas of the shank member of the fastener. The fasteners preferably comprise dual-width fasteners which exhibit enhanced pull-out resistance values.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed as New and Desired to be Protected by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is: 1. A fastening system for fastening relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, comprising: a plurality of brad-type fasteners to be installed within relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, w

What is claimed as New and Desired to be Protected by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is: 1. A fastening system for fastening relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, comprising: a plurality of brad-type fasteners to be installed within relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, wherein each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners comprises a shank portion, a head portion, and a pointed tip portion, and wherein further, each one of said shank portions of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners has a substantially oval-shaped cross-sectional configuration as defined by means of a widthwise dimension W and a heightwise dimension H wherein the aspect ratio A/R of each one of said brad-type fasteners, as defined by means of the ratio of said widthwise dimension W to said heightwise dimension H, is >1; a power tool having a magazine section for housing said plurality of brad-type fasteners; and means for driving each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners out from said magazine section of said power tool with a predetermined velocity, within the range of 1000-2500 in/sec, such that each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners can be installed within the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members without effectively damaging the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members so as not to compromise the holding power and pull-out resistance of each one of said brad-type fasteners installed within the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members. 2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners has a chisel-type pointed tip configuration for piercing and penetrating each one of the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members. 3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein: each one of said shank portions of each one of said plurality of fasteners, having said substantially oval-shaped cross-sectional configuration, is defined by said widthwise dimension W which extends between laterally separated, opposite end portions, and said heightwise dimension H which extends between oppositely disposed, elongated substantially planar parallel side portions; wherein said aspect ratio A/R of each one of said plurality of fasteners, as defined by means of said ratio of said widthwise dimension W to said heightwise dimension H, is >1, such that when said chisel-type pointed tip of each one of said plurality of fasteners pierces and penetrates each one of the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, said chisel-type pointed tip of said fastener will cause oppositely disposed tang members to be generated within the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, while said opposite, laterally separated end portions of said shank portion will cause lateral stretching of the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members so as to cause the tang members to engage and grab said oppositely disposed, elongated substantially planar parallel side portions of said shank portion. 4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said aspect ratio A/R, which is >1, is 1.13. 5. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: adhesive coating means disposed upon external surface areas of said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners for effectively lubricating said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners as each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners is installed within the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, and for adhesively bonding with the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members after installation of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners within the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member so as to enhance the holding power and pull-out resistance of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners with respect to the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members. 6. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: magnetized paint means electro-deposited upon external surface areas of said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners for effectively forming a mechanical bond between said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners and the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members after installation of each one of said plurality of fasteners within the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member so as to enhance the holding power and pull-out resistance of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners with respect to the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members. 7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners comprises a non-heat-treated fastener. 8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners effectively comprises a dual-width fastener wherein said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners has a substantially oval-shaped cross-sectional configuration, as defined by means of a widthwise dimension W and a heightwise dimension H, wherein the aspect ratio A/R of each one of said brad-type fasteners, as defined by means of the ratio of said widthwise dimension W to said heightwise dimension H, is >2. 9. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said aspect ratio A/R of each one of said dual-width fasteners, which is >2, is 2.26. 10. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a single shank portion, a single head portion, and a single faceted tip portion upon each side of said single shank portion. 11. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a single shank portion, a single head portion, and a dual faceted tip portion upon each side of said single shank portion. 12. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a single shank portion, a single head portion, a dual faceted tip portion upon each side of said single shank portion, and a longitudinally extending groove disposed upon each side of said shank portion and extending between said single head portion and said dual-faceted tip portion so as to effectively divide said single shank portion into dual shank portions. 13. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a pair of single-width fasteners comprising a single shank portion, a single head portion, and a single tip portion, and wherein said pair of single-width fasteners are fixedly attached together such that each one of said dual-width fasteners comprises a pair of shank portions, a pair of head portions, a dual faceted tip portion upon each side of said dual-width fastener, a longitudinally extending groove effectively being defined upon each side of said fastener at the interface at which said single shank portions are fixedly attached together. 14. The system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: driver blade means disposed within said power tool and having a width dimension which substantially corresponds to said widthwise dimension of said dual-width fastener so as to properly engage said dual-width fastener and drive said dual-width fastener through and out from said magazine section of said power tool. 15. A fastening system for fastening relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, comprising: at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member; a plurality of brad-type fasteners to be installed within said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member, wherein each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners comprises a shank portion, a head portion, and a pointed tip portion, and wherein further, each one of said shank portions of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners has a substantially oval-shaped cross-sectional configuration as defined by means of a widthwise dimension W and a heightwise dimension H wherein the aspect ratio A/R of each one of said brad-type fasteners, as defined by means of the ratio of said widthwise dimension W to said heightwise dimension H, is >1; a power tool having a magazine section for housing said plurality of brad-type fasteners; and means for driving each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners out from said magazine section of said power tool with a predetermined velocity, within the range of 1000-2500 in/sec, such that each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners can be installed within said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member without effectively damaging said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member so as not to compromise the holding power and pull-out resistance of each one of said brad-type fasteners installed within said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member. 16. The fastening system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member comprises a relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member which is to be fixedly incorporated within a structural system selected from the group comprising interior wall structural frameworks, ductwork, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. 17. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member comprises a relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member which has a gauge thickness value which is within the range of 14-25. 18. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners has a chisel-type pointed tip configuration for piercing and penetrating said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member. 19. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said aspect ratio A/R, which is >1, is 1.13. 20. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: each one of said shank portions of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners, having said substantially oval-shaped cross-sectional configuration, is defined by said widthwise dimension W which extends between laterally separated, opposite end portions, and said heightwise dimension H which extends between oppositely disposed, elongated substantially planar parallel side portions; wherein said aspect ratio A/R of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners, as defined by means of said ratio of said widthwise dimension W to said heightwise dimension H, is >1, such that when said chisel-type pointed tip of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners pierces and penetrates said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member, said chisel-type pointed tip of said fastener will cause oppositely disposed tang members to be generated within said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member, while said opposite, laterally separated end portions of said shank portion will cause lateral stretching of the relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members so as to cause the tang members to engage and grab said oppositely disposed, elongated substantially planar parallel side portions of said shank portion. 21. The system as set forth in claim 15, further comprising: adhesive coating means disposed upon external surface areas of said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners for effectively lubricating said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners as each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners is installed within said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member, and for adhesively bonding with said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member after installation of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners within said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member so as to enhance the holding power and pull-out resistance of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners with respect to said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member. 22. The system as set forth in claim 15, further comprising: magnetized paint means electro-deposited upon external surface areas of said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners for effectively forming a mechanical bond between said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners and said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member after installation of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners within said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal member so as to enhance the holding power and pull-out resistance of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners with respect to said at least one relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members. 23. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners effectively comprises a dual-width fastener wherein said shank portion of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners has a substantially oval-shaped cross-sectional configuration, as defined by means of a widthwise dimension W and a heightwise dimension H, wherein the aspect ratio A/R of each one of said plurality of brad-type fasteners, as defined by means of the ratio of said widthwise dimension W to said heightwise dimension H, is >2. 24. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said aspect ratio A/R of each one of said dual-width fasteners, which is >2, is 2.26. 25. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a single shank portion, a single head portion, and a single faceted tip portion upon each side of said single shank portion. 26. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a single shank portion, a single head portion, and a dual faceted tip portion upon each side of said single shank portion. 27. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a single shank portion, a single head portion, a dual faceted tip portion upon each side of said single shank portion, and a longitudinally extending groove disposed upon each side of said shank portion and extending between said single head portion and said dual-faceted tip portion so as to effectively divide said single shank portion into dual shank portions. 28. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein: each one of said plurality of dual-width fasteners comprises a pair of single-width fasteners comprising a single shank portion, a single head portion, and a single tip portion, and wherein said pair of single-width fasteners are fixedly attached together such that each one of said dual-width fasteners comprises a pair of shank portions, a pair of head portions, a dual faceted tip portion upon each side of said dual-width fastener, a longitudinally extending groove effectively being defined upon each side of said fastener at the interface at which said single shank portions are fixedly attached together. 29. The system as set forth in claim 23, further comprising: driver blade means disposed within said power tool and having a width dimension which substantially corresponds to said widthwise dimension of said dual-width fastener so as to properly engage said dual-width fastener and drive said dual-width fastener through and out from said magazine section of said power tool.