Patents by Inventor Mark A. Farrell

Mark A. Farrell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120114449
    Abstract: A one piece fastener made from high strength steel for securing a work piece to a metal substrate and including an elongated substantially flat body defining a void extending substantially along the length of the body, a crown at one end of the body formed by substantially symmetrical halves extending outwardly from the flat body and formed integrally therewith. A gripping and clamping member is disposed within the void in the elongated body and is affixed at each end thereof to the body and defines at least first and second teeth extending outwardly therefrom, the gripping and clamping member being rotated. A piercing tip formed at the opposite end of the elongated body for generating an opening through the work piece and the metal substrate, the piercing tip formed from a plurality of incrementally wider steps progressing from the tip toward the width of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Mark A. Farrell
  • Patent number: 6866458
    Abstract: A fastener for securing a drywall work piece to a metal substrate. The fastener includes an elongated flat body carrying a securing member and having a driving head disposed at a substantially right angle to the elongated flat body. The driving head defines a bore therein surrounded by a downwardly directed flange having a distal cutting edge which cuts the top paper laminate of the drywall allowing the head to countersink into the drywall without damaging the top paper laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Evening Star International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Patent number: 6817818
    Abstract: A metal piercing fastener includes an elongated body with an internal void and a securing member carried by the elongated body and adapted to grip and lock pierced work pieces together. The securing member is adapted to be accommodated in the internal void and is twisted about its longitudinal axis. The twisted securing member includes a substantial portion being thinned relative to the thickness of the elongated body to optimize resiliency of the securing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Evening Star International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20040184898
    Abstract: A fastener for securing work pieces together including a metal substrate, the fastener includes an elongated flat body having a driving head disposed at substantially right angles to the body, a point at the end opposite the head for penetrating the work pieces including the metallic substrate guide rails extend along each side edge of the elongated flat body and in a plane defined by the elongated flat body. The guide rails are adapted to fit within a pair of guide channels formed in a power tool adapted to insert the fastener through the work piece and the metallic substrate. The guide rails in the guide channel of the power tool maintain the fastener substantially perpendicular to the surface of the work piece during installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: EVENING STAR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20040182908
    Abstract: A power tool for installing metal piercing fasteners being characterized by a body bent at one end to form a crown portion and having at least one side guide rail and at least one integral tine under the crown portion, the integral tine being deformed about its longitudinal axis to cause at least one portion of the tine to protrude outwardly from the body of the fastener comprises a fastener guide body including at least one guide channel adapted to accommodate the side guide rail of the metal piercing fastener. The guide channel defines a linear drive path for the metal piercing fastener. The power tool also comprises a fastener driver body including at least one outwardly protruding side spline adapted to conform approximately to the outer contours of the side guide rail of the metal piercing fastener and to slide within the trajectory channel, and a fastener driver tip for forcibly impacting the crown portion of the metal piercing fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: EVENING STAR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20030228203
    Abstract: A metal piercing fastener having an elongated flat body having first and second surfaces with a heat at one end and a piercing point at the other. The thickness dimension of the flat body is greater proximate the head proximate the point. The first and second surfaces of the body are devoid of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: EVENING STAR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Patent number: 6659700
    Abstract: A metal piercing fastener for securing a light gauge sheet metal layer to metal/non-metal substrate layer(s) includes an elongated metal body having a crown at one end a sharpened and hardened tip at the other end defining a rigid metal penetrating region. The crown receives an impact blow from a tool for driving the rigid metal penetrating tip region in the substrates to be fastened. The metal body is equipped with one or more resilient tines each twisted at the base around its longitudinal axis and which can be integral or coupled to the metal body to optimize the gripping and clamping capability of the metal piercing fastener. The resilient tine may be equipped with protruding gripping and clamping elements on each side or with ribs on one of its outer surfaces to provide spring action gripping and clamping capability during fastening. The resilient tine is capable of deflection to conform to the physical constraints of the pierced substrate opening when passing through the pierced opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Evening Star International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20030180121
    Abstract: A metal piercing fastener includes an elongated body with an internal void and a securing member carried by the elongated body and adapted to grip and lock pierced work pieces together. The securing member is adapted to be accommodated in the internal void and is twisted about its longitudinal axis. The twisted securing member includes a substantial portion being thinned relative to the thickness of the elongated body to optimize resiliency of the securing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: EVENING STAR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20030161702
    Abstract: A fastener for securing a drywall work piece to a metal substrate. The fastener includes an elongated flat body carrying a securing member and having a driving head disposed at a substantially right angle to the elongated flat body. The driving head defines a bore therein surrounded by a downwardly directed flange having a distal cutting edge which cuts the top paper laminate of the drywall allowing the head to countersink into the drywall without damaging the top paper laminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: EVENING STAR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Farrell, Michael E. Farrell
  • Patent number: 4653244
    Abstract: A fastener for use in securing wallboard such as drywall to a supporting structure includes a shank having a bugle head at one end and a tapered point at an opposite end, an annular ring flange and anti-clockwise threads disposed on the shank adjacent the head portion to auger and recompact particulate material which exhausts from the tapping threads during insertion of the fastener, and to tuck the outer sheeting layer evenly beneath the bugle head of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: Mark A. Farrell