Plane Of Member Normal To Extent Of Fastener Patents (Class 206/346)
  • Patent number: 10421176
    Abstract: An installation tool and related methods are provided. The tool can pull a strip of collated fasteners along a collated fastener path to a guide, where individual fasteners are sequentially separated from the strip and advanced into a workpiece. The tool can include a tension feeder located downstream of the guide. The tension feeder is configured to apply tension to the strip between the guide and a leading end of the strip. The tool can include a driveshaft configured to attach to a conventional drive tool chuck or a drive tool having hexagonal type drive components. The guide can be one piece and replaceable, with a guide body and a guide head. A strip slot can be defined in the same to align a fastener head with a backstop and facilitate entry of a fastener shank in a feed slot. Related methods of use are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventor: Roger A. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 10406592
    Abstract: A method of inserting a rivet (2) into a workpiece (42, 44, 46) comprises moving the rivet (2) and workpiece (42, 44, 46) relative to one another, along a longitudinal axis of the rivet, so as to drive the rivet into the workpiece. The rivet is rotated about its longitudinal axis, relative to the workpiece, for at least part of the time during which it is in contact with the workpiece. The speed of said rotation, or the speed of movement along the longitudinal axis of the rivet, is altered at least once before driving of the rivet into the workpiece is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Atlas Copco IAS UK Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Edmund Blacket, Wojciech Gostylla, Paul Briskham
  • Patent number: 9717362
    Abstract: A drapery hanging apparatus, method and system including a plurality of carriers, each carrier having a support portion and a pendant for carrying draperies. The carriers are retained by a flexible strip of indefinite length so that the carriers can be fed into a hanger track in a single step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Rowley Company, LLC
    Inventor: Cliff Birch
  • Patent number: 9492170
    Abstract: A modular end effector delivers a therapeutic agent onto tissue that has been severed and/or stapled. The end effector is removably attached to a device. The device applies force to a piston of the end effector. The force causes a distal movement of a piston along a wall disposed within the end effector. The piston engages with agents stored on opposite sides of the wall, moving the agents distally to a mixture space. The agents are mixed in the mixture space and expelled through a tip. Staples may be embedded in or disposed below a foam block, which is disposed within a staple cartridge. Via an endoscopic stapling device, coated staples are driven through tissue while interacting with another agent on the device or the cartridge. The interaction forms a tissue restoring material that is applied onto the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian W. Bear, Thu Anh Le, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Mark D. Overmyer, Michael Setser, Bret W. Smith, Joseph Zavatsky, Kreena Modi
  • Patent number: 9360036
    Abstract: A fastener assembly of fastening members formed from connected and collated fasteners mounted in non-contacting clips, for feeding into a fastening tool. The fastening members are driven by a powered fastening tool into deck boards and joists for building a deck or driven into alternate workpieces for building other structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Stanley Fastening Systems, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard B. Waterman, Brian C. Burke, Lok C. Lam
  • Patent number: 9333602
    Abstract: A mobile device and a method for the placement of a group of pin-type fasteners so as to form at least one seam field for purposes of connecting large components in aircraft construction, such as fuselage shells and fuselage sections, for purposes of connecting large components in ship construction, in rail vehicle construction, in building construction, and similar construction environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Otten, Frank Neuhaus
  • Patent number: 9125511
    Abstract: An installation unit for installation to a rail of a window curtain assembly includes an elongate rack and multiple slots are defined through the rack. Multiple sliding members are connected to the rack. The sliding members are installed to the rail of the window curtain assembly. By removing the rack from the sliding members, the sliding members are remained in the rail of the window curtain assembly. The installation of the sliding members to the rail is easy and quick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: Uni-Soleil Ent. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ting Kao, Joe Dewayne Wicker, David A. Wicker
  • Patent number: 8985927
    Abstract: Hanger strips for securing insulation material to a surface of a structure formed of sheet metal material including a plurality of bases which are connected by one or more breakable tabs integrally formed between each pair of adjacent bases and wherein first open slots extend from each of the breakable tabs toward opposite side edges of the bases and wherein a shank extends from each of the bases in a common direction and wherein pluralities of strips are oriented in first and second assemblies of rows of strips having their shanks opposing one another and their bases overlapping one another such that tips of the shanks are safely enclosed between the bases of the opposing assemblies and seated within the first open slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Gripnail Corporation
    Inventors: David Fleet Ashton, Louis Steven Costa, Christopher Allan Ryding, Anthony David Oliver
  • Patent number: 8695799
    Abstract: An improved fastener stock is comprised of a pair of longitudinal and continuous side members to which are coupled to a plurality of equidistantly spaced cross-pieces. The pair of longitudinal and continuous side members are extended in a parallel spaced relationship, and the series of cross-pieces are arranged at spaced intervals between the side members so as to connect the side members. Along at least one of the side members, a series of engagement notches are present at spaced intervals between each of the cross-pieces members, and the engagement notches are rectangular or square in shape. A method of applying a fastener to an article is provided. The method includes initially feeding a substantially continuous fastener stock from a supply, engaging at least one engagement notch, urging the fastener stock forward, feeding the fastener stock to a needle assembly, cutting a fastener from the fastener stock, and inserting the fastener into an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 8646599
    Abstract: A transport safety device (8) for a nail coil or roll (7), the roll consisting of nails (1), comprising head (2) and shank (3), which, by connecting means (5), are connected to one another longitudinal side (4) by longitudinal side, with the heads oriented in one and the same direction, so as to form an elongate band (6) rolled up into roll form, in which form the heads in one winding turn partly cover the heads in the immediately external turn, intended to be fitted to a nail driver tool (20), where the transport safety device displays a ring (9) which surrounds the outermost turn of the nail roll in the region below the nail heads (2), in which the surrounding ring (9) consists of a configurationally stable material which displays means (10) which extend in towards the center (11) of the roll closely adjacent the upper side (12) of the nail heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Isaberg Rapid AB
    Inventor: Marie Andersson
  • Patent number: 8556073
    Abstract: A carrier for use in fastener driving tools, i.e. tools for driving fasteners such as nails into concrete, steel or other materials. In use, a carrier which carries multiple fasteners is loaded into the fastener driving tool. The carrier disclosed in this disclosure can be used with fastener driving tools of many different brands and models. The carrier includes multiple sleeves connected together by connecting parts. Each sleeve has an upper breakable collar, a middle wall portion, and a lower collar. The outer cross section of the lower collar has a substantially circular shape; the outer cross section of the upper collar has a near-rectangular shape. The upper collar has a smaller thickness than the lower collar, which enables the carrier to fit into and be used with fastener driving tools of different brands and models. The carrier is made of a plastic material such as high density polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Jaaco Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Chain Liang
  • Patent number: 8403139
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for retaining and installing rivets into a belt fastener includes a collated rivet strip comprising connected upper and lower strips and retaining a predetermined configuration of rivet heads therebetween. The rivet strip is used in conjunction with a guide block assembly having top and bottom portions interlocked together. The top portion contains studs aligning with the rivet heads to assist the release of the rivet head from the rivet strip, seating the rivets in pilot holes of the lower portion of the guide block assembly for further driving through the belt fastener and into the belt material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Conveyor Accessories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Willoughby Richardson, Robert Richard Jennings
  • Patent number: 8192825
    Abstract: A low-melt plastic fastener. According to one embodiment, the low-melt plastic fastener is shaped to include a flexible filament having a first cross-bar at a first end, and a second cross-bar at a second end. The filament, the first cross-bar, and the second cross-bar may be formed from the same material and may be molded as a unitary structure. Preferably, the fastener is molded as part of a length of continuously connected ladder stock. The plastic fastener is preferably made from a formulation consisting of about 60-99%, by weight, of a low-melt polyurethane and 1-40%, by weight, of a styrene acrylonitrile. The formulation is selected so that the filament melts when heated for about 10 minutes at 130-180° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Shilale, Charles J. Burout, III
  • Patent number: 7882948
    Abstract: A structure and method for forming a U-clip assembly made of a plurality of U-clips arrayed in a continuous abutting relation, each U-clip having first and second slots defined in its crown portion with first and second soft metal wires positioned, respectively, in such first and second slots, such soft metal wire forming a shallow U shape between adjacent crown portions, such first and second soft metal wires being compressed within their slots to expand within such slots for contacting and urging against the sides and bottom of each slot and being retained therein, such soft metal wire and its shallow U shape between adjacent crown portions allowing the U-clip assembly to maintain a non-curved shape and to be substantially flat in configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Robert J. West
  • Patent number: 7516841
    Abstract: To improve the function whereby each of the nails (2) is retained at a position which is vertical to both belt-shaped bodies (5,5) in the connecting nail (1) which is provided with multiple nails (2) with a head part (3) attached and two band-shaped belt-shaped bodies (5,5) which are made of a synthetic resin. This invention is provided with two belt-shaped bodies (5,5) which are disposed so that they are separate from one another in the axial direction of the nail (2) and parallel to one another and at the same time, multiple nail through holes (6a) are formed at appropriate intervals. Multiple cylindrical gripping parts (7) which communicate with the nail through holes (6a) and which can grip the shaft part (4) of the nail (2) are formed on both belt-shaped bodies (5,5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutsugu Uejima, Keiji Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7458462
    Abstract: A die storing and organizing system includes a holder for storing and organizing crimp dies, the holder having a first side and a second, opposite side. The system further includes a plurality of apertures in the holder, each aperture extending from the first side to the second, opposite side; wherein each aperture is adapted to receive a die pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Carr
  • Patent number: 7424770
    Abstract: This invention relates to attachments (1) for attachment of a price tag, swing tag or security label to fabric or other articles. The attachment comprises a length of flexible cord (5) fixed to a plastic cross-bar (15) or T-shaped member at one end and a terminal member (10) at the other end. Also disclosed is a plurality of attachments connected to a spine, each attachment being independently severable from the spine by means of a tagging gun. Also disclosed are methods of making the attachments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Inventor: Roy Lyon
  • Publication number: 20080124187
    Abstract: A clip of fasteners for use in attaching a structural panel to a metal substrate comprises a plastic strip with openings characterized by inwardly-extending ribs for gripping and supporting fasteners that comprise a forward self-drilling portion and a rearward self-tapping thread portion. Each fastener has a head with a top surface adapted for driving engagement by a driver tool for rotatively driving the fastener, and a tapered surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting edges that function to (a) cut away the ribs supporting the fastener as the fastener is rotatively driven through the structural panel to secure the panel to the substrate and (b) also create a countersink in the structural panel. The cutting edges are formed by provided a plurality of first and second alternately-occurring relief sections in the tapered surface of the, with the cutting edges extending at an acute angle to said shank in a first direction and also in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Harry M. Haytayan
  • Patent number: 7308983
    Abstract: Continuously connected fastener stock and a method of making same. The method, in one embodiment involves providing a rotating molding wheel, the wheel being provided with a peripheral impression comprising a pair of peripherally-extending side members interconnected by a plurality of cross-links. Molten plastic is extruded into the peripheral impression of the wheel, with a layer of controlled film overlying the peripheral impression. The molten plastic is then allowed to solidify. A knife in substantially elliptical contact with the peripheral impression is then used to skive excess plastic from the rotating molding wheel. The knife is provided with a pair of cut-out portions along its bottom edge, each cut-out portion being aligned with one of the peripherally-extending side members so as to augment the transverse cross-sectional size thereof. The continuously connected fastener stock thus formed is then removed from the rotating molding wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Shilale, William J. Cooper, Steven E. Flannery, Jeffrey A. Raymond
  • Patent number: 7108130
    Abstract: A strip includes fasteners (1), each having a shank (2) which is pointed at one end (4) and bears a head (3) at the other end. The fasteners are respectively engaged by their shanks (2) in guide and damping blocks joined together in a string (8). The strip further includes a second guide string (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Societe de Prospection et d'Inventions Techniques SPIT
    Inventors: Patrick Herelier, Roland Almeras
  • Patent number: 7025551
    Abstract: A clip of fasteners for use in attaching a structural panel to a metal substrate comprises a plastic strip with openings characterized by inwardly-extending ribs for gripping and supporting fasteners that comprise a forward self-drilling portion, a rearward self-tapping thread portion and cutting blade means formed integral with the self-drilling portion. Each fastener has a head with a top surface adapted for driving engagement by a driver tool for rotatively driving the fastener, and a tapered surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting edges that function to cut away the ribs supporting the fastener as the fastener is rotatively driven through the structural panel to secure the panel to the substrate and create a countersink in the structural panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Harry M. Haytayan
  • Patent number: 6811366
    Abstract: A screw band with washers includes a screw band having a plurality of screw holes for screws respectively provided with a washer in advance to be positioned therein. Each screw hole has a pinching surface and a plurality of connect ribs are provided between each pinching surface and the screw band. The screw band further has a plurality of tooth grooves formed in opposite lengthwise sides to be fitted in by a tool and enable the screw band moved forward. A washer is fitted around the shank of each screw, located just under the lower surface of the screw band to sandwich the screw band together with the head of each screw so as to keep each screw vertical to the screw band to enable the screw correctly driven in an object. The diameter of each washer may be larger or smaller than that of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Ho-Tien Chen
  • Patent number: 6761268
    Abstract: A screw-holding belt (20) has a belt body (2) made from a plastics and having cutouts (8) that are formed at a pitch ‘P’ in and along side edges of the belt body so as to intermittently drive it. Passage holes (5) are formed at the same pitch as the cutouts in order to eject the screws (15), and have a diameter larger than their heads or washers. Screw-holding cylinders (3) are formed each in and coaxial with the central region passage hole (5), so that each screw's threaded leg is inserted into and held in the cylinder. Four stays (21) continue from the rim of upper opening (4) of each cylinder and extend outwards to the inner periphery of passage hole (5) in radial directions each intersecting the center line of belt body (2), so that the belt body can smoothly advance to eject the screws, without suffering from any trouble even if their heads or washers are of a large diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Yugenkaisha Shinjo Seisakusho
    Inventor: Katsumi Shinjo
  • Publication number: 20040118720
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: POWERS FASTENERS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Powers, Paul Gaudron
  • Patent number: 6679415
    Abstract: A fastener collation strip has pairs of vertically aligned rail-engaging members or projections which have convergent sides disposed within at least two mutually orthogonal planes such that lower and upper tip regions of the rail-engaging members or projections define point-type contacts whereby the fastener collation strips are movably supported upon the rail members of the magazine section of the fastener-driving tool. As a result of the point-type contacts, frictional forces generated between the collation strips of fasteners and the rail members of the magazine section of the fastener-driving tool are effectively reduced as much as possible whereby the conveyance or transportation of the collation strips of fasteners through the magazine section of the fastener-driving tool is effectively facilitated so as to render the conveyance or transportation of the collation strips of fasteners through the magazine section of the fastener-driving tool as smooth as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Harish C. Gupta
  • Patent number: 6676353
    Abstract: A clip of fasteners for use in attaching a structural panel to a metal substrate comprises a plastic strip with openings characterized by inwardly-extending ribs for gripping and supporting fasteners that comprise a forward self-drilling portion and a rearward self-tapping thread portion. Each fastener has a head with a top surface adapted for driving engagement by a driver tool for rotatively driving the fastener, and a tapered surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting edges that function to cut away the ribs supporting the fastener as the fastener is rotatively driven through the structural panel to secure the panel to the substrate and create a countersink in the structural panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Harry M. Haytayan
  • Publication number: 20030213712
    Abstract: A screw-holding belt (20) has a belt body (2) made from a plastics and having cutouts (8) that are formed at a pitch ‘P’ in and along side edges of the belt body so as to intermittently drive it. Passage holes (5) are formed at the same pitch as the cutouts in order to eject the screws (15), and have a diameter larger than their heads or washers. Screw-holding cylinders (3) are formed each in and coaxial with the central region passage hole (5), so that each screw's threaded leg is inserted into and held in the cylinder. Four stays (21) continue from the rim of upper opening (4) of each cylinder and extend outwards to the inner periphery of passage hole (5) in radial directions each intersecting the center line of belt body (2), so that the belt body can smoothly advance to eject the screws, without suffering from any trouble even if their heads or washers are of a large diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Katsumi Shinjo
  • Publication number: 20030178333
    Abstract: A magazine strip for carrying fastening elements (1) including two opposite side walls (2) projecting from rear wall (3), extending parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the magazine strip, and forming together a space (4) for receiving the fastening elements (1) at least along a portion of a longitudinal extent (a) of the fastening elements, and a loss-preventing element (7) for preventing the fastening elements from falling out in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the magazine strip and having a spring element acting in a direction transverse to a longitudinal extent of the side walls (2) and narrowing at least partially an inner width of the receiving space (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Andreas Pally, Gerd Daubinger
  • Publication number: 20030127346
    Abstract: A screw feed belt includes an elongated strap and a plurality of positioning rings. The strap is formed with openings that are spaced apart from and aligned with each other. Each of the openings is defined by an annular confining wall, and has a depth measured from top to bottom strap surfaces. Each of the positioning rings is disposed in a respective opening, and has an outer periphery that is integrally connected to the confining wall of the respective opening, and a thickness that is less than the depth of the respective one of the openings so as to form a recess adapted to permit extension of the head portion of a respective screw therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: Super Power Screws Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Senyang Chen, I-Jen Chen
  • Publication number: 20030075466
    Abstract: The strip comprises fasteners (1), each having a shank (2) which is pointed at one end (4) and bears a head (3) at the other end, these fasteners being respectively engaged by their shanks (2) in guide and damping blocks joined together in a string (8). The strip comprises a second guide string (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Patrick Herelier, Roland Almeras
  • Patent number: 6446801
    Abstract: A unitary plastic fastener clip comprising a plurality of individual fasteners which are disposed in a substantially parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. Each fastener comprises an elongated flexible filament having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end. In one embodiment, each of the first enlarged end and the second enlarged end is a substantially cylindrical transverse bar. In another embodiment, the first enlarged end is a transverse bar of non-uniform transverse cross-section and the second enlarged end is a generally knob-shaped head. A first connector post connects the first enlarged end of the first fastener to the first enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides. A second connector post connects the second enlarged end of the first fastener to the second enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6357588
    Abstract: A clip and collected assembly thereof are provided and including a method of forming the clip and clip assembly. The clip is formed with at least one slot that has at least one projection for keeping a resilient cord press fit in the slot therein against forces tending to shift it out therefrom. Preferably, two parallel slots are provided for receiving two cords therein with there being two opposing projections extending into the slot opening from either side of the slot. The slot projections provide an attendant manufacturing benefit as the punches of the die press apparatus that punch slugs from the blank fed thereto will not suffer from slug pulling problems because of the presence of corresponding projections extending into the die cavity openings from either side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Stanley Fastening Systems, LP
    Inventors: David Room, Matthew Graszer, Paul Lackler
  • Publication number: 20020017473
    Abstract: A unitary plastic fastener clip comprising a plurality of individual fasteners which are disposed in a substantially parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. Each fastener comprises an elongated flexible filament having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end. In one embodiment, each of the first enlarged end and the second enlarged end is a substantially cylindrical transverse bar. In another embodiment, the first enlarged end is a transverse bar of non-uniform transverse cross-section and the second enlarged end is a generally knob-shaped head. A first connector post connects the first enlarged end of the first fastener to the first enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides. A second connector post connects the second enlarged end of the first fastener to the second enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6293399
    Abstract: A unitary plastic fastener clip comprising a plurality of individual fasteners which are disposed in a substantially parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. Each fastener comprises an elongated flexible filament having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end. In one embodiment, each of the first enlarged end and the second enlarged end is a substantially cylindrical transverse bar. In another embodiment, the first enlarged end is a transverse bar of non-uniform transverse cross-section and the second enlarged end is a generally knob-shaped head. A first connector post connects the first enlarged end of the first fastener to the first enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides. A second connector post connects the second enlarged end of the first fastener to the second enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6209722
    Abstract: A fastener strip with a grip portion, and flanges formed around the grip portion, and a membrane or membranes formed of flexible material, adhesive bonding a membrane to first sides of the flanges, with the fastener in sequential relation along the membrane and portions of a membrane bonded to second sides of the flanges, so that the membrane portions grip the flanges on both first and second side surfaces simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Sigma Tool & Machine, A Partnership of Sigma Tool & Machine Ltd., Sigma Fasteners Ltd.
    Inventor: Martin Leistner
  • Patent number: 6173836
    Abstract: A unitary plastic fastener clip comprising a plurality of individual fasteners which are disposed in a substantially parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. Each fastener comprises an elongated flexible filament having a first enlarged end and a second enlarged end. In one embodiment, each of the first enlarged end and the second enlarged end is a substantially cylindrical transverse bar. In another embodiment, the first enlarged end is a transverse bar of non-uniform transverse cross-section and the second enlarged end is a generally knob-shaped head. A first connector post connects the first enlarged end of the first fastener to the first enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides. A second connector post connects the second enlarged end of the first fastener to the second enlarged end of the second fastener at the approximate midpoints of their mutually-opposing sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6062384
    Abstract: A fastener structure is formed as a collection of a number of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a filament that is connected to the head, and a crossbar, each fastener being connected to a connected to a common linear support element, via a linking section that is an extension that crosses over the above-noted crossbar in the axial direction of the filament, so that the head parts and the crossbars of each of the fasteners are mutually parallel, wherein the force that is required to bend the above-noted common linear support element along a plane formed by a group of filaments is smaller than the force that is required to bend that bends the fastener structure in another direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: Kotec's Company, Ltd., Akira Furutsu
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ueno, Akira Furutsu
  • Patent number: 6009997
    Abstract: A loop fastener well-suited for attaching tags to articles of commerce. In one embodiment, the loop fastener comprises a flexible filament having a first end and a second end. In addition, the loop fastener comprises a socket, the socket having a top surface and a bottom surface, the socket being provided with a channel and a flange, the channel extending transversely from the top surface to the bottom surface, the flange extending partially into the channel, the first end of the flexible filament being disposed on top of the top surface of the socket, the flexible filament extending away from the socket generally perpendicularly relative to the channel. The loop fastener further comprises an inserting element disposed at the second end of the flexible filament, the inserting element including a plug insertable into the channel and past the flange, the plug being engageable with the flange after the plug has been inserted therepast so as to keep the plug from being easily withdrawn back past the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Avery Denmson Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Deschenes, William J. Cooper, Clark L. Grendol, Clinton N. Matthews
  • Patent number: 5984096
    Abstract: A belt (10) has cylinders (12) formed integral with a body (11) to hold a row of self-drilling reaming screws (20) each having a head (25), a threaded shank (21), a drill tip (22) and reaming blades (23) disposed on the tip and near the shank. The belt further has slits (13) extending radially from each cylinder, and lateral cutouts (15) intermittently drive the belt at the same pitch as the cylinders. Each cylinder is prismoidal between its wider inlet and narrower outlet so that a distance A between the cylinder's walls gradually decreases towards the outlet, but at the inlet this distance is substantially equal to the diameter d.sub.1 of an envelope circle of the blades. Inner edges (13a) of the slits (13) facing one another and disposed in and from the regions' inlet sides are spaced also the same distance B as the diameter d.sub.1 so that each screw can take a correct position on and perpendicular to the belt, thus enabling it to be loaded with the screws smoothly and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Yugenkaisha Shinjo Seisakusho
    Inventor: Katsumi Shinjo
  • Patent number: 5931298
    Abstract: A strip includes a number of holes formed by a number of peripheral walls for engaging with fasteners and includes a number of tapered annular surfaces and shoulders formed between the strip and the peripheral walls. The peripheral walls each includes one or more slits for resiliently supporting the fasteners in place. The slits are each terminated at a coupling portion. The strip includes a number of openings and a number of bulges extended from the tapered annular surfaces for decreasing the contact area between the strip and the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Shih Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 5918738
    Abstract: A Tee-nut strip having Tee-nuts with generally cylindrical internally threaded sleeves, and flanges formed around one end of the sleeves, and a membrane or membranes formed of flexible material, adhesive bonding a membrane to first sides of the flanges, with the Tee-nuts in sequential closely spaced relation along the membrane and, portions of a membrane bonded to second sides of the flanges, so that the membranes portions grip the flanges on both first and second side surfaces simultaneously, and a method of forming a Tee-nut strip with upper and under membranes gripping the flanges on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Sigma Tool & Machine
    Inventor: Martin Leistner
  • Patent number: 5878880
    Abstract: A collated stack of U-shaped sheet metal clips, each of which has an arcuate crown portion and first and second parallel leg portions depending from the crown portion. The first leg portion of each clip is juxtaposed immediately adjacent the second leg portion of the adjacent U-shaped clip. Each clip has two spaced apertures through the arcuate crown portion and at least one upstanding tab adjacent the edge of each aperture into which a non-metal elongate flexible connector is inserted and secured by folding the tab or tabs downwardly over the top of the aperture. Alternative embodiments of sheet metal clips and methods of collating an array of such clips are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: John D. Poffenberger
  • Patent number: 5810238
    Abstract: To reduce the force necessary to anchor the double "T" bar attachments, the filament of each attachment is made longer than the shortest (perpendicular) distance between the "T" bars to avoid the necessity of stretching the filament beyond its original length as it is dispensed. The filament lies in the same plane as the "T" bars to permit it to be fabricated on conventional stretching equipment. Preferrably, each end of the filament is formed at an acute angle relative to a line perpendicular to the "T" bar to which it is attached. The attachments can be supplied in continously connected ladder stock form or in a clip of parallel spaced attachments, situated between connector bars. In clip form, the attachments are fed along a correspondly shaped channel through the housing. In order to reduce the peak force necessary to sever the "T" bars from the respective connector bars, blades are located within the housing such that they cut at different times during the trigger stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: Steven Kunreuther
  • Patent number: 5682994
    Abstract: A collated stack of U-shaped sheet metal clips, each of which has an arcuate crown portion and first and second parallel leg portions depending from the crown portion. The first leg portion of each clip is juxtaposed immediately adjacent the second leg portion of the adjacent U-shaped clip. Each clip has two spaced apertures through the arcuate crown portion and at least one upstanding tab adjacent the edge of each aperture into which a non-metal elongate flexible connector is inserted and secured by folding the tab or tabs downwardly over the top of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: John D. Poffenberger
  • Patent number: 5593033
    Abstract: One or both ends of the connector bar is extended outwardly beyond the main section of the bar to which the attachments are mounted. The extended end provides access to the clip from the exterior of the attacher housing, permitting the clip to be manually advanced if the feed mechanism fails. An element may be situated on one extended end to facilitate grasping. In a clip having two connector bars, the ends of both bars extend in the same direction. The extended ends may be bent towards each other and may be connected to form a bridge. A second aspect of the invention relates to a connector bar which has an element designed to cooperate with the housing to prevent advancement of the clip all the way through the housing channel, thereby requiring the operator to remove the empty connector bar from the device for better control of disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: Steven Kunreuther
  • Patent number: 5564564
    Abstract: A collated stack of U-shaped sheet metal clips, each of which has an arcuate crown portion and first and second parallel leg portions depending from the crown portion. The first leg portion of each clip is juxtaposed immediately adjacent the second leg portion of the adjacent U-shaped clip. Each clip has two parallel slots through the arcuate crown portion and at least one upstanding tab adjacent the edge of each slot into which a non-metal elongate flexible connector is inserted and secured by folding the tab or tabs downwardly over the top of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: John D. Poffenberger
  • Patent number: 5544746
    Abstract: A resinous belt is provided for holding a train of screws each having a shank and a head. The belt comprises a series of screw retaining bores formed in the belt at a predetermined pitch longitudinally of the belt. Each screw retaining bore has a diametrically smaller shank retaining portion for engagement with the screw shank, and a diametrically larger root portion which has a first edge adjoining the shank retaining portion and a second edge remote from the shank retaining portion. The screw retaining bore is surrounded by a plurality of removal facilitating holes formed in the belt. The root portion of the screw retaining bore is located radially outside an imaginary cone which contains the first and second edges of the root portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Japan Power Fastening Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Dohi
  • Patent number: 5452796
    Abstract: Although the conventional continuous riveting machine was able to use only a special blind rivet having a longer core stem than that of the standard blind rivet provided on the market, the recently developed improved continuous riveting machine is able to use the standard blind rivet, then the blind rivet-holding belt according to the present invention for feeding the standard blind rivet to this improved riveting machine is developed. In this blind rivet-holding belt, on the upper and lower edges of a web, upper and lower tabs 731a, 731b are installed at predetermined intervals having a V-type groove, and the through holes 734, 737 are shaped on each of the tabs respectively for supporting a core stem and main body of the blind rivet, and the openings for guiding the blind rivet into the through holes are also provided on each of the upper and lower tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ohuchi
  • Patent number: 5437368
    Abstract: A packaging format for fasteners constituted by a strip of interconnected fastener retainers 10. Each retainer comprises a land of material, typically 9.5.times.9.5 mm (0.374 inch squared) in plan. Each land 12 has a hole 13 therethrough for receiving a fastener, in the form of a screw 14. The tip 16 of the fastener protrudes approximately 5 mm (0.2 inch) beyond the land. Between adjacent retainers a support 18 is located which would, in use, support the tip 16 of the fastener 14 clear of a work surface 20 while allowing visually unobstructed positioning of the tip 16 of the fastener. The strip also includes a locating tab 24 to assist in the accurate location of a tapping drill hole. This invention also extends to a drilling tool to further assist in drilling the tapping hole in conjunction with the tab 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Inventor: Marshall E. Mikels
  • Patent number: RE37129
    Abstract: A display pack having a rotatable security member includes a board and the rotatable security member wherein the board has a first hole and a second hole respectively defined therein and an inverted U-shaped frame extends perpendicularly from a front surface of the board with the second hole being located between two extending portions of the inverted U-shaped frame. The second hole has a toothed inner periphery and the rotatable security member includes a polygonal head and a shank which has a flange extending from a free end thereof and a toothed periphery defined in an outer periphery near the flange so that the rotatable security member is rotatably inserted into the second hole with the toothed inner periphery engaged with the toothed inner periphery. A ratchet tool is engaged with the rotatable security member and can be operated within a limited angle between the two extending portions of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Hand Tool Design Corporation
    Inventor: Jessie Chow