Work Immobilizer Patents (Class 227/151)
  • Patent number: 11284895
    Abstract: A dissecting tip is provided for use with a surgical stapler or instrument. In one embodiment, the dissecting tip is secured to the end effector of the surgical instrument, e.g., to the cartridge assembly. The dissecting tip extends distally from the end effector and is configured to dissect or separate target tissue from certain tissue, e.g., adherent, connective, joined or other tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Paul Scirica, Todd Demmy, Lee Ann Olson
  • Patent number: 10828031
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector that is operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The end effector includes an anvil and a cartridge. The anvil has a curved tip. The curved tip is elastically deformable from a biased curved position when the tip is subject to a force, such as the force exerted on the anvil when tissue is clamped between the anvil and cartridge. The curved and deformable features of anvil provide for an end effector with improved visualization and maneuverability, in particular during procedures involving marching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, Ryan Bledsoe, Gregory J. Bakos, Joseph P. Schowalter, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10786324
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a stop member is disclosed. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The first jaw member includes an upper tissue-contacting surface and a lower shelf portion. The shelf portion includes a groove disposed therein. The stop member is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the first jaw member and is pivotable with respect to the first jaw member between a first position, a significant portion of the stop member being positioned external to the first jaw member, and a second position where a lower portion of the stop member being positioned at least partially within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 10687807
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft in communication with the body, and an end effector in communication with the shaft. The end effector is operable to drive staples through tissue. The end effector comprises an anvil and a cartridge. The anvil is operable to move pivotally relative to the cartridge. The cartridge is positioned to drive staples upwardly toward the anvil. The cartridge comprises a plurality of protrusions operable to prevent lateral rocking of the anvil. The plurality of protrusions is pointed toward the anvil. In some versions, an alignment member and/or a lateral stabilization member may be used between the anvil and the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Simms, Douglas B. Hoffman, Jason E. Zerkle, Charles J. Scheib, Janna B. Volz
  • Patent number: 10314580
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a staple cartridge. The end effector includes an anvil and a lower jaw. The anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue between the anvil and the lower jaw. The staple cartridge is coupled with the lower jaw. The staple cartridge includes a deck and a plurality of staples. The deck faces the anvil. The anvil or the deck (or both) includes a compressible that extends toward the other of the anvil or the deck. The compressible feature of the anvil of the deck is configured to compress tissue against the other of the anvil or the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Charles J. Scheib, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs
  • Patent number: 10028799
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a stop member is disclosed. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The first jaw member includes an upper tissue-contacting surface and a lower shelf portion. The shelf portion includes a groove disposed therein. The stop member is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the first jaw member and is pivotable with respect to the first jaw member between a first position, a significant portion of the stop member being positioned external to the first jaw member, and a second position where a lower portion of the stop member being positioned at least partially within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 9795384
    Abstract: A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be arranged in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened. The fastener cartridge can further comprise a gap setting element which can be configured to control the distance between the anvil, the support portion, and/or the tissue thickness compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Lauren S. Weaner, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Michael J. Vendely, Emily A. Schellin, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 9649756
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nail gun outrigger for stabilizing the roll, pitch, and yaw of a nail gun. The outrigger is connected to the distal end of the magazine away from the driving head. For the preferred embodiment, the outrigger includes one or more outriggers that extend perpendicular to the axis of the magazine with feet contacting the nailing surface to control the pitch, roll, and yaw of the nail gun position to obtain consistent perpendicular installation of elastomer sealing pneumatic nails into preformed roofing panels installed on a wooden frame or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: William C. Litzinger
  • Patent number: 9615829
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a stop member is disclosed. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The first jaw member includes an upper tissue-contacting surface and a lower shelf portion. The shelf portion includes a groove disposed therein. The stop member is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the first jaw member and is pivotable with respect to the first jaw member between a first position, a significant portion of the stop member being positioned external to the first jaw member, and a second position where a lower portion of the stop member being positioned at least partially within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 8925644
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool including a guide that guides a fastener into a side of a work piece at an angle, while optionally restraining the fastener from wobbling due to rotation, even upon initial entry into the work piece. The guide can define an angled bore including a fastener entrance opening and a fastener exit opening which is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the work piece. The guide can include a material ejection port between the openings, through which material bored from the work piece can be evacuated from the angled bore to prevent binding of the material with the fastener. The tool can include a clamp assembly that clamps opposing sides of the work piece to precisely align and steadily hold the angled bore as a fastener is being installed in a side surface. Related methods of using the tool to install fasteners also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventor: Roger A. Vandenberg
  • Publication number: 20140124562
    Abstract: A wire hold-down mechanism of nailing gun includes a wire hold-down structure arranged in front of a nail striker plate. The wire hold-down structure includes at least a wire hold-down plate located in front of the nail striker plate, a pressing plate arranged above the wire hold-down plate, and an elastic element that biases the wire hold-down plate upward to abut the pressing plate. The wire hold-down plate that is selectively movable upward and downward has an end that forms a wire hold-down notch having an opening facing downward. The pressing plate has a circumference that forms a plurality of pressing edges corresponding to an engagement edge of the wire hold-down plate. The pressing edges are of different distances from center of the pressing plate. As such, the pressing plate that has pressing edges is operable to change the height by which the wire hold-down plate extends out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: JANN YEI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ton-yi CHEN
  • Patent number: 8672204
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool including a guide that guides a fastener into a side of a work piece at an angle, while optionally restraining the fastener from wobbling due to rotation, even upon initial entry into the work piece. The guide can define an angled bore including a fastener entrance opening and a fastener exit opening which is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the work piece. The guide can include a material ejection port between the openings, through which material bored from the work piece can be evacuated from the angled bore to prevent binding of the material with the fastener. The tool can include a clamp assembly that clamps opposing sides of the work piece to precisely align and steadily hold the angled bore as a fastener is being installed in a side surface. Related methods of using the tool to install fasteners also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: National Nail Corp.
    Inventor: Roger A. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 8635759
    Abstract: A method for clamping a plate on a sheet or fabric material support, comprises the step of providing a plate and a counter-plate, the plate comprising a plurality of oin supporting elements bearing, on a non exposed to the view rear side thereof a plurality of pins for engagement each in a corresponding hole of the counter-plate, characterized in that method further comprises the step of providing a pre-plate including a plurality of temporary attachment points on non exposed to the view parts of said elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Gaetano Raccosta
  • Patent number: 8622273
    Abstract: A stapling device includes an anvil arm bearing an anvil plate; a magazine pivotable about a transverse pivot on a bearing block in the rearward region of the anvil arm; and an arm bearing a driver for feeding the staples through a discharge slot at the front end of the magazine and pivotable about the transverse pivot. The discharge slot extends transversely through a bottom wall of the magazine between the magazine side walls which run from the front end towards the bearing block and is bounded with respect to the magazine front end by a stop plate for the staples. The discharge slot is closed with respect to the side walls of the magazine. The magazine is provided on each of its side walls and on each side of the discharge slot with a prong projecting from the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Esselte Leitz GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Thomas Schneider, Ulrich Schneider, Kurt Leute
  • Publication number: 20140001228
    Abstract: An adapter for hands-free attachment of an installation clip to a commercially available power driving tool. The adapter has a frame and a magnetic element. The adapter is rigidly attachable to the nozzle of a power driving tool by mechanical forces, magnetic forces or a combination thereof. Once attached to the nozzle, the adapter allows attachment of an installation clip by magnetic forces generated by the magnetic element in a position for driving of an elongated securing member from the nozzle through an attachment hole in the clip. The force of the driven securing member overcomes the attractive magnetic forces and disengages the clip from the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: HANDY & HARMAN
    Inventor: Peter J. Shadwell
  • Patent number: 8496151
    Abstract: A staple gun tacker includes a wire guide mechanism in its forward end which includes a wire guide plate having a recessed lower end for engaging a wire when the plate is in an extended position and a rotatable cam for moving the plate between extended and retracted positions which includes a circular slot formed therein having one end thereof located closer to the axis of rotation of the cam then the other receiving and engaged with a projection on the cam plate so that rotation of the cam is translated into linear movement of the wire guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Arrow Fastener Co., LLC
    Inventor: Ilya Shor
  • Patent number: 8322010
    Abstract: Fastening tool for driving a fastener such as a staple into a substrate a predetermined distance. The tool includes a housing and a driver reciprocally mounted in the housing and moveable with respect to the housing, the driver having a driving surface for engaging a fastener such as a staple. A magazine assembly is associated with the housing for positioning and aligning the fastener in the path of the driver so that when actuated, the driver strikes the fastener and forcibly ejects it from the magazine into the substrate to a predetermined extent so as to adjust or control the holding power of the fastener about the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Acme Staple Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Onno Boswinkel, Robert Haynes
  • Patent number: 8240535
    Abstract: A staple gun tacker includes a wire guide mechanism in its forward end which includes a wire guide plate having a recessed lower end for engaging a wire when the plate is in an extended position and a rotatable cam for moving the plate between extended and retracted positions which includes a circular slot formed therein having one end thereof located closer to the axis of rotation of the cam then the other receiving and engaged with a projection on the cam plate so that rotation of the cam is translated into linear movement of the wire guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Arrow Fastener Co., LLC
    Inventor: Ilya Shor
  • Patent number: 7882994
    Abstract: An adjustable adapter configured to position a fastening tool for driving a fastener into tongue-and-groove flooring material in order to secure the flooring material to a subfloor is disclosed. The adapter comprises a fastening tool mounting plate, a base slidably mounted to the bottom of the mounting plate and a support plate slidably mounted to the top of the mounting plate. A nose plate of the fastening tool is secured to the mounting plate between the mounting plate and the support plate and a safety actuator arm is disposed between the mounting plate and the nose plate. The base and the support plate are movable such that the adapter can be configured to engage the tongue and the top surface of various sizes and configurations of tongue-and-groove flooring materials in order to maintain a desired fastener driving angle and insertion location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ottaviano Francescon
  • Publication number: 20100038400
    Abstract: An aligning and locating device (22) is provided. The device comprises a base portion (28) to be secured to a foot portion (24) of a stapler (26), the base portion (28) including two locating legs (38) defining a receiving cavity (36) between them. The receiving cavity (36) receives and aligns a locating formation of a corner device (10) in use. The device further comprises two upright aligners (30) extending from the base portion (28), the aligners defining between them an aligning cavity (34) for receiving a portion of a document. A lip (40) extends over the receiving cavity (36) to hold the corner device (10), in use, in position relative to the stapler (26) and the aligned document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Charles Dale Ramsden
  • Publication number: 20090266867
    Abstract: Attachments for a fastening tool are configured to position the fastening tool raceway for driving a fastener from the tool into a workpiece at a desired location. The attachments include work contact elements including a pair of surfaces for contact with two surfaces of the workpiece to properly position the tool raceway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Nathan T. Mina, Michael P. Johnson, Genaro O. Cortez, JR., Richard E. Pope, Edward R. Brandt
  • Patent number: 7118020
    Abstract: A stapler is provided for stapling decorative staples into a sheet media, where the decorative staples have an indicia platform and a plurality of prongs. The stapler includes a base and a cartridge assembly pivotably mounted to the base. The cartridge assembly has a magazine for storing the decorative staples. A stapler head is provided with a ram configured to press downwardly on the indicia platform of the decorative staple, pushing the decorative staple out of the magazine such that the prongs enter a top side of a sheet media and deformed against the base on a bottom side of the sheet media. The ram is provided with ridges that extend below a table portion of the ram such that the ridges are disposed substantially directly above the prongs on the decorative staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventors: Chung-Heng Lee, Rebecca A. Nocella
  • Patent number: 7097405
    Abstract: A piercing nail with a spring member that deforms as the nail penetrates through framing members engages with a bottom surface to framing members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L O'Banion, Daniel Puzio, Robert A Berry, Alfred H Judge, Robert G Moores, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7090110
    Abstract: A stapler for binding a stack of sheets includes a base, a staple driving mechanism coupled to the base, and a sheet locating device coupled to the base. The sheet locating device includes a guide having first and second guide members and is movable with respect to the staple driving mechanism from a first rotational orientation relative to the staple driving mechanism to a second rotational orientation. The stapler can be used to perform a method of stapling wherein a first stack of sheets receives a staple in a first rotational orientation with respect to the guide, and a second stack of sheets receives a staple in a second rotational orientation with respect to the guide by moving the guide between first and second rotational orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC
    Inventors: David P. Adams, Roland Sudmalis
  • Patent number: 7051914
    Abstract: The apparatus is intended to drive fasteners (21) for fastening a piece (20) to a support (30). The apparatus has a snout (12) equipped with a bearing shoe (14). The shoe is equipped with lateral positioning one-piece plate (15) on which there are formed a number of distinct lateral bearing surfaces (8, 8?, 8?, 8 82, 83) roughly parallel to the axis of the snout to be applied in particular to an edge of one of the pieces either the support piece or the piece that is to be fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Societe de Prospection et d'Inventions Techniques Spit
    Inventor: Patrick Herelier
  • Patent number: 6896168
    Abstract: A framing point driver system for efficiently driving various framing points into a picture frame. The framing point driver system includes a lever unit, a turret member with a plurality of receiver apertures rotatably attached to the lever unit, a shaft member extending from the lever unit, and an engaging arm lockably positioned about the shaft member. The user rotates the turret member so that the desired size receiver aperture is facing toward the engaging arm. A framing point is inserted into the selected receiver aperture for insertion into the picture frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Curt Logan
  • Patent number: 6880741
    Abstract: An attachment for a roofing nail gun having a triangular lifting blade having a forward curved “C” shaped lower portion and a flat, vertical upper portion and having mounts on the back in the central portion for attachment to one of several adaptors dimensioned to fit a particular roofing nail gun. The triangular lifting blade may have carbide strips on the front and rear of the lifting blade. The mounts on the lifting blade back have upper and lower aligned mounting bores for attachment to the adaptor and secured to the adaptor by a detent pin. The adaptor has a vertical channel for mounting the lifting blade and an upper horizontal attachment plate having rear grooves for mounting between the cap screws holding the nail driver to the body of the nail gun. The distance between the rear grooves differs on selected adaptors to fit different nail gun models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Donald C. Gill
  • Patent number: 6848607
    Abstract: Fastening tool for driving a fastener such as a staple into a substrate a predetermined distance. The tool includes a housing and a driver reciprocally mounted in the housing and moveable with respect to the housing, the driver having a driving surface for engaging a fastener such as a staple. A magazine assembly is associated with the housing for positioning and aligning the fastener in the path of the driver so that when actuated, the driver strikes the fastener and forcibly ejects it from the magazine into the substrate to a predetermined extent so as to adjust or control the holding power of the fastener about the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Acme Staple Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Onno Boswinkel, Robert Haynes
  • Publication number: 20040108356
    Abstract: An adaptor (8) located underneath the work surface (1) is arranged to occupy a position locking the hammer (6), which is movable in an upward direction under the action of an actuator, when the machine is required for fixing in place a hanging clip. A plate (13) provided with studs (14) and a bar (17) is positioned on top of the work surface and abutments (2) to receive a board. The presser element is a support (18) for the clip being fixed to the board. Application in frame-assembly machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Pierre Cassese, Alain Cassese, Philippe Cassese
  • Patent number: 6676002
    Abstract: A stapler includes a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an anvil. The stapler further includes a paper guide coupled to the base and movable relative to the anvil between a first substantially locked and immovable position and a second substantially locked and immovable position, without requiring access to the bottom surface of the base. The paper guide includes a body portion supported on the top surface of the base, and a locking member coupled to the body portion and operable to substantially lock and unlock the body portion. The locking member is preferably a lever movable relative to the body portion and having a projection engageable with a ramped surface on one of the body portion or the base to lock the paper guide relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Acco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Jairam, Bikram Sohi
  • Patent number: 6662991
    Abstract: A stapler includes a base with a document guide connected to a top thereof and an arm and a magazine casing are respectively pivotably connected to a connection frame on the base. The document guide includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion. At least one groove is defined in an outer periphery of the second protrusion. A rotatable member is rotatably mounted to the second protrusion and includes at least one rib which is disengagably engaged with the at least one groove. A support portion is connected to the rotatable member so that when the rotatable member is rotated, the support portion is switched below the magazine casing which is stopped by the support portion such that the jammed staple can be ejected by pushing the arm downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Chien-Kai Huang
  • Patent number: 6634537
    Abstract: A detachable insulation wire-pressing element of a stapling device is disclosed. The wire-pressing element has a wire-pressing section at the center of the element and the bottom face of the wire-pressing section is provided with a wire slot having an opening facing downward the two sides of the wire-pressing section are respectively provided with a corresponding nailing hole, and the nailing hole is corresponding to a staple-impacting plate of the stapling device, thereby a wire-pressing element is formed. When the front edge of the wire-pressing element is aligned with the front edge of the stapling device the nailing holes are corresponding to the staple-impacting plate of the stapling device, and thereby a staple row utilized in the stapling device and by aligning the wire-pressing element with the front edge of the stapling device, the wire-pressing element can be used to secure insulation wires. The wire-pressing element can be utilized in stapling device for outdoors and indoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Tung-I Chen
  • Patent number: 6631836
    Abstract: An accessory device for fastener-driving tools such as nail and staple guns is provided. The device serves as a positioning guide for the tool and is designed to provide sufficient spacing and orientation between the fastener-driving tool and the target construction material. The device can be integrated into the body of the fastener-driving tool, manufactured as an attachment or manufactured as a separate tool. It prevents impact marring at the visible surface of the construction material by redirecting the force of the blow to a non-visible surface on the assembled construction material. Furthermore it increases speed and ease of movement for the user by serving as a guide for stability and ease of alignment. The device changes the impact point between the driving tool and the construction material, broadens the area of impact and protects the top edge of a tongue and groove construction material from impact damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: John Dickhaut
  • Patent number: 6616028
    Abstract: A locking device in a stapler adapted to lock a displaceable member carrying a catch for an object to be stapled in an optional position along a bar. The bar extends through a hole in a locking element. The locking element is connected to the displaceable member and is tiltable along the bar from a pinch position in which the locking element is pinched to the bar to a free position in which the locking element is free from the bar. The locking element is spring-biased towards its pinch position. An operating handle mounted on the displaceable member and operable outside the stapler is displaceable to a limited extent relative to the displaceable member. Exerting a forward force on the handle moves the displaceable member forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Isaberg Rapid AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20020020731
    Abstract: Step parts 30A, 30B are formed on both sides of a first member 20 attached to a base 1 of a stapler such that the member is free to slide, and the thickness of a binding object (for example, a bundle of paper) is determined by comparing with the height of steps 31A-33A, 31B-33B of the step parts 30A, 30B. Markings are made on the steps 31A-33A, 31B-33B corresponding to their height. A hollow part 42 is formed inside the first member 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Mikio Nagai
  • Patent number: 6237828
    Abstract: The invention is a stapler and staple guide assembly for same. The stapler provides automated stapling for stacks of sheet material regardless of stack thickness. In a first embodiment two staple guides load individual sheets or small stacks of sheets onto a staple with the staple supported in a base. The staple is then cut to an appropriate height and cinched. In another embodiment, numerous split guides may be cascaded to increase staple loading speed. Other improvements to a stapling process include dimpling sheets of material and/or pre-drilling sheets of material to simplify loading sheets onto a staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: H. W. Crowley
  • Patent number: 6131788
    Abstract: A device to improve attaching wires to a substrateby with a staple gun is disclosed. An elongated nose piece extends down from the front of the tool body and locks in position to hold the tool bottom a preset distance away from the substrate. The nose piece includes a recess to provide clearance for the wire as the nose piece is pressed against the substrate. The wire guide improves the operation of stapling wires by preventing the staple from crushing the wire and by aligning the tool over the wire so that the staple points are inserted a safe distance to each side of the wire. The present invention is an improvement over the prior art staple gun wire guides since it is a permanent part of the tool. It is slidably fixed to a vertical track at the front end of the tool. It does not increase the bulk of the tool front end and cannot be misplaced. In one embodiment the wire guide is internal to the tool in sliding contact with the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 5918790
    Abstract: A twin line-guide adapter easily affixed to the lower narrow front face of popular hand-held stapling guns. The two independent spring-loaded line-guides stabilize flexible, loose, linear entities such as wires, cables, cords or braids. This restraint is accomplished automatically by either line-guide extending or retracting, compensating for the tipping or slipping of the stapling gun, preventing damage to the linear entity from either leg of the driven staple. Each or both line-guides can be quickly thumbed to hold-up detent position or equally fast, shifted down for line-guide function. Both up on detent provides for immediate flat-entity stapling with neither wear on, nor interference by, the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: Robert D. Donnell
  • Patent number: 5884829
    Abstract: A staple gun tacker for driving staples of various leg lengths is disclosed in which the staple gun housing has a front staple gun driving end and a base. The base has a staple discharge opening formed therein through which staples to be driven by the staple gun are discharged into a workpiece. A staple spacer guide is slidably mounted on the staple driving end of the housing and includes a free end which extends beyond the staple discharge opening and the base of the staple gun. Cooperating means are provided on the spacer guide and the housing to enable the spacer guide to be retracted along the housing relative to the base, thereby to control the position of the staple discharge opening relative to the workpiece into which a staple is to be driven. By controlling the position of the staple driving end of the staple gun relative to the workpiece, the depth to which a particular staple is driven in the workpiece can be controlled to avoid damage to the item being stapled to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Arrow Fastener Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolf Wingert
  • Patent number: 5692667
    Abstract: A member for a stapler includes a transverse bar having two stops extending upwardly from two ends thereof, an extending portion extending downwardly from an under side of the transverse bar so as to be inserted through a slot of a base of the stapler, two bow-shaped elements extending from the extending portion and two protrusions extending downwardly from the under side of the transverse bar. The two bow-shaped elements are urgedly engaged to an under side of the base of the stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: William H. N. Chi
  • Patent number: 5660315
    Abstract: A guiding and gripping device for stapler is affixed in upright relation to the front surface of the stapler. The body member has a front contoured surface that receives a line being stapled and guides an unattached portion of the line in upright position along the front contoured surface. The front contoured surface also positions an unattached portion of the line laterally along the bottom surface in a position that is straddled by staples driven out of the bottom surface of the stapler. The front contoured surface includes a lower convex V-shaped groove for receiving an unattached portion of a line and that is bent thereover to impart friction to actual movement of the line. The front contoured surface also includes an upper projection having at least one guide surface offset laterally from the groove wherein a line that is bent over the groove and along one side of the laterally offset projection has angled engagement against the projection to further impart frictional clamping force on the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventors: Stacy A. Beavers, Herbert D. Beavers
  • Patent number: 5628445
    Abstract: A shingle gauge for use with a nail driving tool of the type having a magazine which feeds nails into a guide body to be driven through shingle elements into a roof structure and having a shingle element locating surface adjacent the guide body nose. The gauge comprises a mounting bracket fixed beneath the magazine and a gauge element slidably and pivotally supported on the bracket and shiftable therealong toward and away from the locating surface to adjust the distance therebetween to accommodate various sizes of shingle elements. A latch is attached to the gauge element and is capable of a locking engagement with the support bracket at any selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions therealong to locate and lock the gauge element at that selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Senco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Kerwin Braddock, Dennis E. Stivers
  • Patent number: 5595336
    Abstract: A safety system for a power stapler in which stapling of a set of sheets is actuated by inserting the set of sheets into the stapling jaws of the stapler, includes a large transparent upper plate mounted above the entrance to the stapling jaws and extending away from the stapling jaws by a distance greater than the length of a human finger, more than approximately 8 centimeters, and a lower plate below the entrance to the stapling jaws similarly extending, to prevent fingers from being inserted into the stapling jaws of the stapler. The upper and lower plates are spaced apart by a distance greater than the maximum thickness of the set of sheets to be stapled, to allow any set of sheets to be inserted into the stapling jaws from in between the upper and lower plates and be movable for alignment between the plates while being visible through the transparent upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne D. Everdyke
  • Patent number: 5588578
    Abstract: A nail flattening apparatus for use primarily in re-furbishing wooden pallet components, comprising a loading station and an operating station interconnected by a conveyor. Boards having nail stubble protruding from opposite sides are placed onto the conveyor in the loading station and transferred to the operating station, whereupon a reciprocating hammer and stationary anvil disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor cooperate to substantially flatten all nail stubble in a single operation. In the preferred embodiment, a microprocessor controls a plurality of hydraulic cylinders which automatically move each board into the proper operating position, lift each board off of the surface of the conveyor, move the hammer to compress substantially all nail stubble, release the hammer to its retracted position, return the board to the conveyor for transfer out of the operating station, and move the next board from the loading station into the operating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: James J. Doyle
  • Patent number: 5267682
    Abstract: A fastener driving device includes a body, a driver guide extending downwardly from the body for driving fasteners by a driver, a first abutting member mounted on the driver guide and having a first reference surface for abutment on an edge of a work to be fixed, and a second abutting member having a second reference surface for abutment on an edge of another work which has been previously fixed. An adjusting mechanism is provided for adjusting the position of the second abutting member relative to the first abutting member. The adjusting mechanism includes a support member mounted on the body and supporting the second abutting member in such a manner that the second abutting member is slidably movable along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the driver guide. A tightening mechanism is operable for fixing the position of the second abutting member and for permitting movement of the second abutting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Yukiyasu Okouchi
  • Patent number: 5062562
    Abstract: A portable power fastening tool for fastening flooring or the like using fastening members such as nails and staples also includes a driver member for the fasteners and a hammer member, both of which are propelled by an air motor to simultaneously compressively strike the flooring during the fastening operation, thereby to compress the flooring and eliminate gaps or voids. Preferably, the tool is mounted on a wheeled carriage which facilitates movement from one fastening location to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Senco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James V. Michael
  • Patent number: 5014899
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue wherein the improvement comprises a resilient, deflectable arm which frictionally engages body tissue held between the anvil portion of the apparatus and the cartridge assembly of the apparatus. The deflectable arm exerts a biasing force on the tissue thereby holding the tissue in position to prevent misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Dominic F. Presty, Thomas M. Tompkins
  • Patent number: 5005751
    Abstract: At one end of a stacking area, abutments are arranged which extend into, and can be selectively moved out of, the feed path of sheets fed through such area to stack sheets in such area. In the area of the abutments, two oppositely arranged stapling devices are located which are movable parallel with the stack edge defined by the abutments and are adjustable to various stapling distances. The stapling devices engage a spindle with oppositely directed threads such that, when the spindle is rotated, the stapling devices are moved toward or away from each other. The stapling devices laterally substantially surround the stacking area from above and below adjacent to the edge defined by the abutments, but do not intercept the feed path. For this purpose they are provided with recesses through which the sheets can be brought into the stapling position adjacent to the stack abutments and the stacks after stapling can be readily removed from the stapling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Manfred Radtke, Friedrich Ueffinger
  • Patent number: 4841852
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus having utility in the construction of roof trusses at a job site. An elongate trailer frame is mounted to a wheel and axle assembly and is transportable on public highways by towing. A jig assembly supported by the frame is formed primary of uni-strut members and has a first elongate fixed position side rail and a second parallel but movable jig support rail. Plural transversely disposed jig members are slidably mounted for lateral movement along the extent of the first and second side rails of the jig assembly. A clinching device is mounted for longitudinal movement along the extent of the jig assembly by an overhead cantilevered track support structure. The jig assembly is longitudinally extendable, and the overhead track support member has a hingedly mounted auxiliary portion that may be deployed so that the clincher device can reach even the extended portion of the jig assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventors: Jim Kubiak, S. R. Bliven
  • Patent number: 4817965
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assembling mouldings incorporating several rabbets, which comprises a table for positioning the mouldings, slides supporting this table, rendered fast with two columns which are connected in their lower part by a base under which is mounted a jack whose rod is connected to a hammer which penetrates in a clip magazine, and in their upper part by a piece provided with a presser member located opposite the hammer. According to the invention, a clipping assembly is provided which bears the hammer and a sliding guide fast with the hammer, as well as a sensor; two small columns on which the clipping assembly may slide vertically; balancing means mounted on each small column below the clipping assembly; and a plate disposed at the top of the rod, and on which the hammer and the sliding guide rest, and which comprises a matching member opposite the sensor. The invention is more particularly applicable to the manufacture of wooden frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Inventor: Antoine Cassese