DRIVING TOOL

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool for driving fasteners (1). The tool (1) comprises a drive assembly (2) operable to drive a fastener (F) along an axis (A), a combustion chamber (30) at least partially surrounding the drive assembly (2) and movable along the axis (A), and a probe (4) connected to the combustion chamber (30). The probe (4) is configured to contact a substrate in order to move the combustion chamber (30) along the drive assembly (2) to selectively allow the drive assembly (2) to operate. The combustion chamber (30) includes a roller (5) that rolls into the drive assembly (2) as the combustion chamber (30) moves along it. Figure for the abstract: FIG. 4.

Description

Title of the invention: DRIVING TOOL Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to driving tools. More specifically, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a driving tool with a firing release mechanism to selectively allow the tool to be fired. Technical background

[0002] Driving tools with a firing release mechanism to selectively allow the tool to be fired are known. These tools normally include a feeler which, when actuated, applies a balanced force to the firing release mechanism. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a driving tool with a firing release mechanism that is simpler and / or lighter.

[0004] The invention relates to a driving tool, for example a driving tool for fasteners, the tool comprising a drive assembly operable to drive a fastener and a combustion chamber with a roller which engages in a rolling manner in the drive assembly when the combustion chamber moves along it.

[0005] The inventors have found that the presence of a roller to support the combustion chamber during its movement makes it possible to shorten the combustion chamber.

[0006] The drive assembly can be operated to drive a fastening element along an axis. The combustion chamber can at least partially surround the drive assembly. The combustion chamber can be movable along the axis.

[0007] The driving tool may include a probe. The probe may be connected to the combustion chamber. The probe may be configured to make contact with a substrate, for example, to move the combustion chamber along the drive assembly to selectively allow the drive assembly to operate.

[0008] The invention also relates to a tool for driving fasteners, the tool comprising: a drive assembly operable for driving a fastener along an axis; a combustion chamber at least partially surrounding the drive assembly and movable along the axis; and a probe connected to the combustion chamber and configured to come into contact with a substrate in order to to move the combustion chamber along the drive assembly to selectively permit the drive assembly to operate; wherein the combustion chamber includes a roller which rolls into the drive assembly as the combustion chamber moves along it.

[0009] The probe can be connected to a first side of the combustion chamber. The roller can be mounted on a second side of the combustion chamber. The second side of the combustion chamber can be opposite the first side.

[0010] In certain cases, the probe is connected to a first side of the combustion chamber and the roller is mounted on a second side of the combustion chamber opposite the first side.

[0011] In certain cases, the probe is only connected to the first side of the combustion chamber.

[0012] The first side of the combustion chamber may be without a roller.

[0013] The combustion chamber can be moved to a deactivation position in which the operation of the drive assembly is prevented.

[0014] The driving tool may include a spring-loaded means for forcing the combustion chamber towards the deactivation position.

[0015] The spring-loaded means may be located between the drive assembly and an arm connecting the probe to the combustion chamber.

[0016] The probe can be pivotally connected to the combustion chamber.

[0017] The driving tool may include a stop to limit the movement of the combustion chamber along the drive assembly.

[0018] The driving tool may include a guide to guide the movement of the combustion chamber along the drive assembly.

[0019] The guide may include a pair of guide ribs located on either side of the arm to guide the movement of the combustion chamber along the drive assembly.

[0020] The drive assembly may include a housing. The guide may project, for example radially, from the housing. The housing may include one or more ribs, for example one or more radial ribs. The rib(s) may include one or more contact ribs.

[0021] The rib(s) can cooperate with an internal surface of the combustion chamber, for example when it moves along the drive assembly.

[0022] More specifically, the drive assembly may include a housing from which the guide protrudes radially, the housing further including one or more radial contact ribs which cooperate with an inner surface of the combustion chamber as it moves along the drive assembly.

[0023] The inner surface of the combustion chamber may include one or more ribs, for example one or more radial ribs. The rib(s) may include one or more contact ribs.

[0024] The rib(s) can cooperate with the casing, for example when the combustion chamber moves along the drive assembly.

[0025] More specifically, the inner surface of the combustion chamber includes one or more radial contact ribs which cooperate with the housing when it moves along the drive assembly.

[0026] The driving tool may include a combustion tool. The driving tool may be equipped with an internal combustion engine, for example for driving in fasteners.

[0027] More specifically, the driving tool may include a combustion tool having an internal combustion engine for driving the fasteners.

[0028] The driving tool may include a nail gun or a stapler.

[0029] To avoid any doubt, all the features described herein also apply to every aspect of the invention.

[0030] To avoid any ambiguity, the terms "may", "and / or", "for example", and any other similar terms used in this document shall be interpreted as non-limiting, so that not every feature so described is necessarily present. Brief description of the figures

[0031] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, for an understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] illustrates a perspective view of a driving tool according to a example ;

[0033] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates a view similar to that of [Fig.1] with the upper casing removed;

[0034] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] illustrates a view similar to that of [Fig.2] of an opposite side of the driving tool;

[0035] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] illustrates a perspective view of the set of release of the driving tool of figures 1 to 3;

[0036] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the roller, the feeler, the feeler arm and the spring of the release assembly;

[0037] [Fig. 6] [Fig. 6] illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the spring and probe arm region showing the stop to limit the movement of the combustion chamber; and

[0038] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rib region of guidance and probe arm. Detailed description of the invention

[0039] Referring now to the figures, a fastener driving tool 1 can be seen. The driving tool 1 comprises a power-driven tool, such as a nail gun or stapler. The driving tool 1 includes a body 10 with an upper housing 11, a handle 12 with a trigger 13, and a magazine support arm 14 for holding a magazine of fasteners (not shown) to be driven into a substrate.

[0040] The body 10 of the driving tool 1 houses a drive assembly 2, having a housing 20 containing an internal combustion engine 21 in this example, for driving the fasteners. More specifically, the drive assembly 2 is operable to drive a fastener along an axis A. The housing 20 comprises a first side 22, a second side 23, a plurality of radial contact ribs 24 spaced around the housing 20, and a pair of guide ribs 25 projecting from the first side 22.

[0041] The driving tool 1 also includes a release assembly 3 (illustrated in [Fig. 4]), which includes a combustion chamber 30. The combustion chamber 30 surrounds the housing 20 of the drive assembly 2 and comprises a first side 31, a second side 32, and an inner surface 33. The combustion chamber 30 is movable along the axis A. The radial contact ribs 24 of the housing 20 cooperate with the inner surface 33 of the combustion chamber 30 and center it when it moves along the axis A.

[0042] The release assembly 3 is actuated by a feeler 4 connected to the combustion chamber 30. The feeler 4 comprises a plurality of contact tips 40 intended to make contact with a substrate, in order to move the combustion chamber 30 along the drive assembly 2 to selectively allow the drive assembly 2 to operate.

[0043] The combustion chamber 30 also includes a roller 5. The combustion chamber 30 is forced by a spring 6 (illustrated in Figures 5 and 6) towards a deactivation position, in which the operation of the drive assembly 2 is prevented.

[0044] The feeler 4 is connected to the first side 31 of the combustion chamber 30 by a feeler arm 7, while the roller 5 is mounted on the second side 32 of the combustion chamber 30, opposite the first side 31. The feeler 4 is not connected to the second side 32 of the combustion chamber 30, and the first side 31 of the combustion chamber 30 is without a roller.

[0045] The roller 5 engages in a rolling manner within the drive assembly 2 when the combustion chamber 30 moves along it. More specifically, the roller 5 comprises a pair of circular rolling elements 50 rotating about an axis 51, which roll along the second side 23 of the housing 20.

[0046] The feeler arm 7 comprises a connecting piece 70, which is pivotally connected to the combustion chamber 30 by an axis 71, and a bar 72 connecting the feeler 4 to the connecting piece 70. The spring means 6 is located between the drive assembly 2 and the feeler arm 7 connecting the feeler 4 to the combustion chamber 30.

[0047] More specifically, the connecting piece 70 includes a cavity 73, which receives the spring 6. The cavity also surrounds a pair of stops 8 projecting from the first side 22 of the housing 20. The pair of guide ribs 25 is located on either side of the connecting piece 70 to provide a guide for guiding the movement of the combustion chamber 30 along the drive assembly 2. It would be appreciated if a separate guide could be provided for this purpose.

[0048] Another stop 9 is mounted on the second side 23 of the housing 20 and cooperates with the roller 5. The stops 8, 9 limit the movement of the combustion chamber 30 along the housing 20 of the drive assembly 2.

[0049] In light of the above description, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention provides a simple guiding and supporting device for the combustion chamber 30. This allows the probe 4 to be connected to only one side of the combustion chamber 30. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this also facilitates the use of a shorter combustion chamber 30 than would otherwise be required.

[0050] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described above can vary in many ways, provided they are consistent with the scope of the claims. For example, it is envisaged to provide rollers 5 on both sides or even three or more rollers 5 distributed evenly around the periphery of the housing 20. Other arrangements are also envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. List of reference signs

[0051] 1 tool for driving in fasteners

[0052] 2 training set

[0053] 20 case

[0054] 21 internal combustion engine

[0055] A axis

[0056] 22 first side of the case

[0057] 23 second side of the case

[0058] 24 radial contact rib of the housing

[0059] 25 guide rib

[0060] 3 release assembly

[0061] 30 combustion chamber

[0062] 31 first side of the combustion chamber

[0063] 32 second side of the combustion chamber

[0064] 33 inner surface of the combustion chamber

[0065] 34 radial contact rib of the combustion chamber

[0066] 4 probe

[0067] 40 probe contact tip

[0068] 5 roller

[0069] 50 circular rolling element of the roller

[0070] 51 roller shaft

[0071] 52 carrier

[0072] 6 spring

[0073] 7 probe arm

[0074] 70 probe arm connecting piece

[0075] 71 arm shaft of probe

[0076] 72 probe arm bar

[0077] 73 connecting part cavity

[0078] 8 stop

[0079] 9 stop

Claims

Demands

1. Fastener driving tool (1), the tool (1) comprising: a drive assembly (2) operable to drive a fastener along an axis (A); a combustion chamber (30) at least partially surrounding the drive assembly (2) and movable along the axis (A); and a probe (4) connected to the combustion chamber (30) and configured to make contact with a substrate in order to move the combustion chamber (30) along the drive assembly (2) to selectively allow the drive assembly (2) to operate; wherein the combustion chamber (30) comprises a roller (5) which rolls into the drive assembly (2) when the combustion chamber (30) moves along it.

2. Driving tool (1) according to claim 1, in which the probe (4) is connected to a first side (31) of the combustion chamber (30) and the roller (5) is mounted on a second side (32) of the combustion chamber (30) opposite to the first side (31).

3. Driving tool (1) according to claim 2, in which the probe (4) is connected only to the first side (31) of the combustion chamber (30).

4. Driving tool (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first side (31) of the combustion chamber (30) is devoid of roller.

5. Driving tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the combustion chamber (30) is forced towards a deactivation position in which the operation of the drive assembly (2) is prevented.

6. Driving tool (1) according to claim 5 comprising a spring-loaded means (6) for forcing the combustion chamber (30) towards the deactivation position.

7. Driving tool (1) according to claim 6, in which the spring means (6) is located between the drive assembly (2) and an arm (7) connecting the probe (4) to the combustion chamber (30).

8. Driving tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the probe (4) is pivotally connected to the combustion chamber (30).

9. Driving tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a stop (8) for limiting the movement of the combustion chamber (30) along the drive assembly (2).

10. Driving tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a guide (25) for guiding the movement of the combustion chamber (30) along the drive assembly (2).

11. Driving tool (1) according to claim 10 when it depends on claim 7, wherein the guide comprises a pair of guide ribs located on either side of the arm (7) to guide the movement of the combustion chamber (30) along the drive assembly (2).

12. Driving tool (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the drive assembly (2) comprises a housing (20) from which the guide (25) projects radially, the housing (20) further comprising one or more radial contact ribs (24) which cooperate with an inner surface (33) of the combustion chamber (30) when it moves along the drive assembly (2).

13. Driving tool (1) according to claim 12, wherein the inner surface (33) of the combustion chamber (30) comprises one or more radial contact ribs (34) which cooperate with the housing (20) when it moves along the drive assembly (2).

14. Driving tool (1) of any of the preceding claims comprising a combustion tool having an internal combustion engine (10) for driving in the fasteners.

15. Driving tool (1) of any of the preceding claims comprising a nail gun or a stapler.

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