초록 ▼

The present invention includes various embodiments directed to apparatus and methods surrounding a fastener device. In particular embodiments, the fastener device is a quick charging and discharging device that includes a solenoid, a fastener striker, a flash capacitor, and a control circuit. Other

The present invention includes various embodiments directed to apparatus and methods surrounding a fastener device. In particular embodiments, the fastener device is a quick charging and discharging device that includes a solenoid, a fastener striker, a flash capacitor, and a control circuit. Other novel features of the fastener device exist. In particular embodiments, the present invention also includes apparatus and methods related to deforming staples for securing conduit and the like, and staple insulation and insulated staples that may be discharged by the fastener device. The insulation may be provided in an ordinary staple strip for use in the fastener device. Each insulation form may include deformation voids to assist the adaptation of the insulation about a target object that is being secured by the insulated staple.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A nailer or stapler device comprising: a solenoid;a fastener striker in operational communication with the solenoid;a capacitor in operational communication with the solenoid; and,a control circuit in operational communication with the capacitor, wherein the control circuit includes a firing safe

1. A nailer or stapler device comprising: a solenoid;a fastener striker in operational communication with the solenoid;a capacitor in operational communication with the solenoid; and,a control circuit in operational communication with the capacitor, wherein the control circuit includes a firing safety circuit, the firing safety circuit having a hard logic override that prevents the stapler from discharging a staple when either the trigger switch, the safety switch, or combinations thereof is opened after a capacitor firing sequence operation has been initiated, wherein the capacitor firing sequence operation is initiated after both a trigger switch and a safety switch are closed,wherein the control circuit includes a SCR gate drive circuit, the gate drive circuit including a high speed bypass capacitor in operable communication with a transistor that redirects a charge provided by radiofrequency or electromagnetic transmissions that would otherwise accumulate to close the transistor, the transistor configured to facilitate operation of a capacitor discharge gate arranged in operable communication with the transistor. 2. A method of discharging a fastener from a nailer or stapler device, the method comprising: providing a fastener-discharging device having a solenoid, a capacitor, and a control circuit;charging the capacitor;engaging a safety mechanism to close a safety switch of the control circuit;engaging a trigger to close a trigger switch of the control circuit;initiating a capacitor firing sequence operation after determining the safety switch and the trigger switch are closed after performing the steps of engaging a safety mechanism and engaging a trigger; and,maintaining the safety switch and the trigger switch in a closed position to prevent operation of a hard logic override, the hard logic override configured to terminate the firing sequence after the firing sequence was initiated according to the prior step to prevent discharge of the capacitor if one or more of the safety switch and the trigger switch are opened before the firing sequence operation is completed;discharging the capacitor to operate a solenoid when the firing sequence operation is completed, the solenoid thereby driving a striker to discharge a fastener; and,diverting, by way of a high speed bypass capacitor, a charge provided by radiofrequency or electromagnetic transmissions that otherwise would accumulate to close a transistor that facilitates the opening of a capacitor discharge gate to discharge the flash capacitor and fire the solenoid. 3. A nailer or stapler device comprising: a solenoid;a fastener striker in operational communication with the solenoid;a capacitor in operational communication with the solenoid; and,a control circuit in operational communication with the capacitor, wherein the control circuit includes a firing safety circuit, the firing safety circuit having a hard logic override that prevents the stapler from discharging a staple when either the trigger switch, the safety switch, or combinations thereof is opened after a capacitor firing sequence operation has been initiated, wherein the capacitor firing sequence operation is initiated after both a trigger switch and a safety switch are closed, where the hard logic override in the firing safety comprises a dual flip-flop circuit including a pull down resistor in communication with the trigger and a pull down resistor in communication with the safety switch, each pull down resistor configured to cause a low logic false signal to be sent to an AND gate when either the trigger or safety switch is open after the firing sequence is initiated, the AND gate configured to only open when receiving a true signal from both pull down resistors. 4. A nailer or stapler device comprising: a fastener striker in operational communication with a driving mechanism, wherein the fastener striker has a length extending in a fastener driving direction and a pair of opposing sides separated by a thickness of the striker, the striker further including a gusset forming a ridge-like protrusion extending outwardly along a length of the striker from one of the striker sides, the gusset being positioned within a width of the striker side between the terminal edges of the side. 5. The device of claim 4, where the fastener striker has a bottom edge arranged along a terminal end of the striker length for striking a target fastener, the bottom edge extending along a non-linear path. 6. The device of claim 5, where the fastener striker has a bottom edge arranged along a terminal end of the striker length for striking a target fastener, the bottom edge extending across a width of the striker and being symmetrical about a longitudinal centerline of the striker. 7. The device of claim 4, where the non-linear path along which the bottom edge extends is an arcuate path. 8. The device of claim 4 further including a solenoid for driving the striker. 9. The device of claim 8 further comprising; a capacitor in operational communication with the solenoid; and,a control circuit in operational communication with the capacitor, wherein the control circuit includes a firing safety circuit, the firing safety circuit having a hard logic override that prevents the stapler from discharging a staple when either the trigger switch, the safety switch, or combinations thereof is opened after a capacitor firing sequence operation has been initiated, wherein the capacitor firing sequence operation is initiated after both a trigger switch and a safety switch are closed. 10. A method of discharging a fastener from a nailer or stapler device, the method comprising: providing a fastener-discharging device having a solenoid, a capacitor, and a control circuit;charging the capacitor;engaging a safety mechanism to close a safety switch of the control circuit;engaging a trigger to close a trigger switch of the control circuit;initiating a capacitor firing sequence operation after determining the safety switch and the trigger switch are closed after performing the steps of engaging a safety mechanism and engaging a trigger; and,maintaining the safety switch and the trigger switch in a closed position to prevent operation of a hard logic override, the hard logic override configured to terminate the firing sequence after the firing sequence was initiated according to the prior step to prevent discharge of the capacitor if one or more of the safety switch and the trigger switch are opened before the firing sequence operation is completed;discharging the capacitor to operate a solenoid when the firing sequence operation is completed, the solenoid thereby driving a striker to discharge a fastener; and,preventing the solenoid from firing upon the opening of the trigger switch or the safety switch after initiating the firing sequence and prior to completion of the firing sequence, the hard logic override comprising hardware capable of transmitting true and false signals. 11. The method of claim 10, where the hard logic override in the firing safety comprises a dual flip-flop circuit including a pull down resistor in communication with the trigger and a pull down resistor in communication with the safety switch, each pull down resistor configured to cause a low logic false signal to be sent to an AND gate when either the trigger or safety switch is open after the firing sequence is initiated, the AND gate configured to only open when receiving a true signal from both pull down resistors. 12. A nailer or stapler device comprising: a solenoid;a fastener striker in operational communication with the solenoid;a capacitor in operational communication with the solenoid; and,a control circuit in operational communication with the capacitor, wherein the control circuit includes a firing safety circuit, the firing safety circuit having a hard logic override that prevents the stapler from discharging a staple when either the trigger switch, the safety switch, or combinations thereof is opened after a capacitor firing sequence operation has been initiated, wherein the capacitor firing sequence operation is initiated after both a trigger switch and a safety switch are closed,where the capacitor is a flash capacitor operating at 400 or more microfarads and having a charging capacity of at least approximately 180 volts, where the control circuit; and,where the control circuit is configured to both substantially charge the flash capacitor by at least 180 volts from a direct current battery and substantially discharge the capacitor within approximately 3 seconds or less, the battery having a charging capacity of at least approximately 12 volts, the control circuit including a high voltage generation circuit having a transformer for converting the voltage supplied by the battery to a higher voltage for charging the flash capacitor and a microcontroller configured to control both the operation of the high voltage generation circuit and the charging of the flash capacitor. 13. A method of discharging a fastener from a nailer or stapler device, the method comprising: providing a fastener-discharging device having a solenoid, a capacitor, and a control circuit;charging the capacitor;engaging a safety mechanism to close a safety switch of the control circuit;engaging a trigger to close a trigger switch of the control circuit;initiating a capacitor firing sequence operation after determining the safety switch and the trigger switch are closed after performing the steps of engaging a safety mechanism and engaging a trigger; and,maintaining the safety switch and the trigger switch in a closed position to prevent operation of a hard logic override, the hard logic override configured to terminate the firing sequence after the firing sequence was initiated according to the prior step to prevent discharge of the capacitor if one or more of the safety switch and the trigger switch are opened before the firing sequence operation is completed;discharging the capacitor to operate a solenoid when the firing sequence operation is completed, the solenoid thereby driving a striker to discharge a fastener; and,where the fastener-discharging device includes a direct current battery, where the control circuit has a microcontroller, and where the capacitor is a flash capacitor operating at 400 or more microfarads and having a charging capacity of at least 180 volts and the battery having a charging capacity of at least approximately 12 volts;where the step of charging the capacitor charges the capacitor within approximately 3 seconds or less from the direct current battery to a desired charge of at least approximately 180 volts, the charging occurring by way of a high voltage generation circuit of the control circuit, the control circuit also including a microcontroller configured to control operation of the high voltage generation circuit, and to monitor and maintain the desired voltage of the capacitor after the capacitor has been charged to the desired voltage and before discharging the capacitor for firing the solenoid; and,where the steps of charging and discharging the flash capacitor being performed within a total of 3 seconds or less.