초록 ▼

A fastener driving tool includes a housing assembly with a nosepiece assembly defining a drive track. A safety trip assembly includes a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion and is movable between an extended disabling position and a retracted enabling position. The safety trip a

A fastener driving tool includes a housing assembly with a nosepiece assembly defining a drive track. A safety trip assembly includes a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion and is movable between an extended disabling position and a retracted enabling position. The safety trip assembly is biased toward the extended position and is moved toward the retracted position by engagement between a workpiece and the workpiece engaging member. The workpiece engaging portion is movable to permit adjustment of a length of the safety trip assembly. The workpiece engaging portion may be removed from the safety trip assembly and exchanged with another different workpiece engaging portion. A workpiece engaging portion usable with the fastener driving tool includes a positioning mechanism having an opening locating structure and a guiding structure.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fastener driving tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece, comprising: a housing assembly including a nosepiece assembly defining a longitudinally-extending fastener drive track; a fastener driving mechanism carried internally of the housing assembly and constructed an

What is claimed is: 1. A fastener driving tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece, comprising: a housing assembly including a nosepiece assembly defining a longitudinally-extending fastener drive track; a fastener driving mechanism carried internally of the housing assembly and constructed and arranged to drive a fastener through the fastener drive track and into a workpiece when the fastener drive mechanism is selectively activated by a user; a manually actuatable trigger mechanism constructed and arranged to activate the fastener driving mechanism when manually actuated by a user; and a safety trip assembly including a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion slidably mounted to the trigger enabling portion for rectilinear sliding movement in a longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion; a manually operable locking mechanism including a manually-operable, movable locking member mounted to the trigger enabling portion for movement between a locking position and a releasing position, the movable locking member in the locking position thereof engaging the workpiece engaging portion to releasably couple the workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion and thereby fix a longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, the movable locking member in the releasing position thereof being disengaged from the workpiece engaging portion to enable the workpiece engaging portion to be slid rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion for adjusting the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly and for optionally removing the workpiece engaging portion from the safety trip assembly; and a spring biasing the movable locking member into the locking position, the spring permitting the movable locking member to be manually moved to the releasing position against the biasing force by a user's hand engaging the movable locking member to move the movable locking member from the locking position to the releasing position and to automatically return to the locking position when the movable locking member is disengaged by the user's hand. 2. A fastener driving tool according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece engaging portion comprises a positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to position the nosepiece assembly into an opening in a first workpiece such that the fastener is driven through the opening to fasten the first workpiece to a second workpiece. 3. A fastener driving tool according to claim 2, wherein the positioning mechanism further includes a guiding structure movably connected to the nosepiece assembly, the guiding structure being biased by a spring to extend forwardly to guide the fastener in the drive track. 4. A fastener driving tool according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece engaging portion comprises an opening locating structure movably connected to the safety trip assembly and adapted to extend into an opening in a workpiece to align the nosepiece assembly with respect to the opening, the opening locating structure being movable relative to the safety trip assembly between an extended position by a first biasing spring to facilitate locating of the opening, and movable to a retracted position when the opening locating structure is pressed against the workpiece. 5. A fastener driving tool according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece engaging portion further comprises rearwardly extending wall structures integrally formed on a distal end of the workpiece engaging portion and surrounding at least a portion of a distal end portion of the nosepiece assembly, such that the workpiece engaging portion is movably mounted on the nosepiece assembly so as to allow longitudinal movement of the workpiece engaging portion with respect to the nosepiece assembly. 6. A fastener driving tool according to claim 1, wherein the spring is a coil spring. 7. A fastener driving tool according to claim 1, wherein the movable locking member is mounted to the trigger enabling portion for transverse movement relative to the longitudinal direction between the locking and releasing positions thereof and the spring is positioned to bias the movable locking member transversely to the locking position. 8. A fastener driving tool according to claim 1, wherein the movable locking member includes a locking member mounting structure provided on the trigger enabling portion, the locking member being movably mounted to the locking member mounting structure for movement between the locking and releasing positions. 9. A fastener driving tool according to claim 8, wherein the spring is mounted in compression between the locking member and a portion of the locking member mounting structure so as to bias the locking member into the locking position. 10. A fastener driving tool according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece engaging portion includes a series of teeth spaced apart in the longitudinal direction by grooves, the movable locking member in the locking position engaging the teeth to releasably couple the workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion and thereby fix the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, the movable locking member in the releasing position being disengaged from the teeth to enable the workpiece engaging portion to be slid rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion for adjusting the longitudinal position of the safety trip assembly and for removing the workpiece engaging portion from the safety trip assembly. 11. A fastener driving tool according to claim 10, wherein the movable locking member has teeth and grooves on angled, longitudinally extending wall portions thereof and the teeth and grooves on the workpiece engaging portion are formed on an angled, longitudinally extending wall structure of the workpiece engaging portion. 12. A method for exchanging different workpiece engaging portions of a safety trip assembly in a fastener driving tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece, the safety trip assembly including a trigger enabling portion and a selected workpiece engaging portion, the selected workpiece engaging portion slidably mounted to the trigger enabling portion for movement in a longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion, the safety trip assembly being movable when the selected workpiece engaging portion is releasably coupled to the trigger enabling portion between an extended position and a retracted position whereby the trigger enabling portion enables the trigger mechanism to activate the fastener driving mechanism when manually actuated by a user when the safety trip assembly is in the retracted position and disables the trigger mechanism when the safety trip assembly is not in the retracted position; the method comprising: manually engaging and moving a manually-operable, movable locking member and mounted to the trigger enabling portion against a biasing of a spring from a locking position wherein the locking member lockingly engages a first selected workpiece engaging portion to releasably couple the first selected workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion to a releasing position wherein the locking member is disengaged from the first selected workpiece engaging portion; while the locking member is in the releasing position thereof, moving the first selected workpiece engaging portion relative to the trigger enabling portion until the first selected workpiece engaging portion is removed from the safety trip assembly, and moving a second selected workpiece engaging portion different from the first selected workpiece engaging portion relative to the trigger enabling portion so that the second selected workpiece engaging portion is mounted to the trigger enabling portion; manually releasing the locking member to allow the spring to bias the movable locking member from the releasing position back into the locking position to thereby lockingly engage the second selected workpiece engaging portion. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the movable locking member is mounted to the trigger enabling portion for transverse movement relative to the longitudinal direction between the locking and releasing positions thereof and wherein the spring is positioned to bias the locking member transversely to the releasing position thereof and wherein manually engaging and moving the locking member against the biasing of the spring from the locking position to the releasing position comprises manually engaging and moving the locking member transversely against the biasing of the spring from the locking position to the releasing position. 14. A method according to claim 12, wherein a locking member mounting structure is provided on the trigger enabling portion, wherein the locking member is movably mounted to the locking member mounting structure for movement between the locking and releasing positions thereof, and wherein the spring is mounted in compression between the locking member and a portion of the locking member mounting structure so as to bias the locking member into the locking position and wherein manually engaging and moving the locking member against the biasing of the spring from the locking position to the releasing position comprises manually engaging and moving the locking member to compress the spring. 15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first and second workpiece engaging portions each include a series of teeth spaced apart in the longitudinal direction by grooves and wherein manually engaging and moving the locking member against the biasing of the spring from the locking position to the releasing position comprises manually engaging the locking member from the locking position thereof engaging the teeth to releasably couple the first or second selected workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion to the releasing position thereof disengaging from the teeth to enable the first or second selected workpiece engaging portion to be slid rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion. 16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the second workpiece engaging portion comprises a positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to position the nosepiece assembly into an opening in a first workpiece such that the fastener is driven through the opening to fasten the first workpiece to a second workpiece. 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the positioning mechanism further includes a guiding structure movably connected to the nosepiece assembly, the guiding structure being biased by a spring to extend forwardly to guide the fastener in the drive track. 18. In combination: a fastener driving tool adapted to be used with different workpiece engaging portions, the fastener driving tool comprising: a housing assembly including a nosepiece assembly defining a longitudinally-extending fastener drive track; a fastener driving mechanism carried internally of the housing assembly and constructed and arranged to drive a fastener through the fastener drive track and into a workpiece when the fastener drive mechanism is selectively activated by a user; a manually actuatable trigger mechanism constructed and arranged to activate the fastener driving mechanism when manually actuated by a user; and a safety trip assembly including a trigger enabling portion and a first workpiece engaging portion movably mounted to the trigger enabling portion for movement in a longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion; a manually operable locking mechanism including a manually-operable, movable locking member mounted to the trigger enabling portion for movement between a locking position and a releasing position, the movable locking member in the locking position thereof engaging the first workpiece engaging portion to releasably couple the first workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion and thereby fix a longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, the movable locking member in the releasing position thereof being disengaged from the first workpiece engaging portion to enable the first workpiece engaging portion to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion for adjusting the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, said movable locking member in said releasing position thereof enabling the first workpiece engaging portion to be removed from the safety trip assembly; and a spring biasing the movable locking member into the locking position, the spring permitting the movable locking member to be manually moved to the releasing position against the biasing force by a user's hand engaging the movable locking member to move the movable locking member from the locking position to the releasing position and to automatically return to the locking position when the movable locking member is disengaged by the user's hand; and a second workpiece engaging portion being mountable to the trigger enabling portion after said first workpiece engaging portion has been removed, said movable locking member being engageable with the second workpiece engaging portion to releasably couple the second workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion, the second workpiece engaging portion comprising a positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to position the nosepiece assembly into an opening in a first workpiece such that the fastener is driven through the opening to fasten the first workpiece to a second workpiece. 19. A combination according to claim 18, wherein the positioning mechanism further includes a guiding structure movably connected to the nosepiece assembly, the guiding structure being biased by a spring to extend forwardly to guide the fastener in the drive track. 20. A combination according to claim 18, wherein the first and second workpiece engaging portions each include a series of teeth spaced apart in the longitudinal direction by grooves, the movable locking member in the locking position engaging the teeth to releasably couple the first or second workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion and thereby fix the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, the movable locking member in the releasing position being disengaged from the teeth to enable the first or second workpiece engaging portion to be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion for adjusting the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly and for removing the first or second workpiece engaging portion from the safety trip assembly. 21. A fastener driving tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece, comprising: a housing assembly including a nosepiece assembly defining a longitudinally-extending fastener drive track; a fastener driving mechanism carried by the housing assembly and constructed and arranged to drive a fastener through the fastener drive track and into a workpiece when the fastener drive mechanism is selectively activated by a user; a manually actuatable trigger mechanism constructed and arranged to activate the fastener driving mechanism when manually actuated by a user; and a safety trip assembly, which when activated, enables operation of the trigger mechanism, said safety trip assembly including a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion; a manually operable locking mechanism including a manually-operable, movable locking member mounted for movement between a locking position and a releasing position, the movable locking member in the locking position thereof releasably coupling the workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion and thereby fix a longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, the movable locking member in the releasing position thereof enabling the workpiece engaging portion to be slid rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion for adjusting the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly and for optionally removing the workpiece engaging portion from the safety trip assembly; and a spring that releasably retains the movable locking member in the locking position, the spring permitting the movable locking member to be manually moved to the releasing position by a user's hand engaging the movable locking member to move the movable locking member from the locking position to the releasing position. 22. A fastener driving tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece, comprising: a housing assembly including a nosepiece assembly defining a longitudinally-extending fastener drive track; a fastener driving mechanism carried by the housing assembly and constructed and arranged to drive a fastener through the fastener drive track and into a workpiece when the fastener drive mechanism is selectively activated by a user; a manually actuatable trigger mechanism constructed and arranged to activate the fastener driving mechanism when manually actuated by a user; and a safety trip assembly, which when activated, enables operation of the trigger mechanism, said safety trip assembly including a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion; and a manually operable locking mechanism including a manually-operable, movable locking member mounted for movement between a locking position and a releasing position, the movable locking member in the locking position thereof releasably coupling the workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion and thereby fix a longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, the movable locking member in the releasing position thereof enabling the workpiece engaging portion to be slid rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion for adjusting the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly and for optionally removing the workpiece engaging portion from the safety trip assembly, said manually operated locking mechanism remaining connected with the safety trip assembly when removing the workpiece engaging portion from the safety trip assembly. 23. A fastener driving tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece, comprising: a housing assembly including a nosepiece assembly defining a longitudinally-extending fastener drive track; a fastener driving mechanism carried by the housing assembly and constructed and arranged to drive a fastener through the fastener drive track and into a workpiece when the fastener drive mechanism is selectively activated by a user; a manually actuatable trigger mechanism constructed and arranged to activate the fastener driving mechanism when manually actuated by a user; and a safety trip assembly, which when activated, enables operation of the trigger mechanism, said safety trip assembly including a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion; and a manually operable locking mechanism including a manually-operable, movable locking member mounted for movement between a locking position and a releasing position, the movable locking member in the locking position thereof releasably coupling the workpiece engaging portion to the trigger enabling portion and thereby fix a longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly, the movable locking member in the releasing position thereof enabling the workpiece engaging portion to be slid rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction relative to the trigger enabling portion for adjusting the longitudinal length of the safety trip assembly and for optionally removing the workpiece engaging portion from the safety trip assembly, said manually operable locking mechanism having a manually engageable surface portion, which when manually depressed, moves the locking mechanism to the releasing position.