Barbed Fencing Staple Geometry for Collated Tool Feeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fencing staples require multiple pieces for collation, obstructing the line of sight and requiring complex fastening tools, and lack consistent orientation during driving, making them inefficient for use with powered tools.

Innovation Solution

A fencing staple design featuring a crown section with radiused portions and leg sections with barbs, allowing for serial collation and stable orientation within fastening tools, using adhesive materials to connect staples and maintain control during driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple pieces are used to control collated staples, then staple control is maintained, but line of sight to the workpiece is obstructed and tool complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestaple controlVSAvoidtool complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The staple is segmented into functional zones: a control section with flattened surfaces for magazine engagement, and a driving section with radiused portions for insertion. This segmentation allows the staple to be controlled by a single geometry rather than multiple pieces, eliminating the need for covers while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the control function from separate cover pieces and integrates it directly into the staple geometry itself. The flattened control section of the staple engages with the magazine rail, eliminating the need for external cover structures that obstruct line of sight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If traditional staple geometries are used, then staple function is maintained, but consistent orientation during driving is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestaple orientationVSAvoiddriving reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The staple features asymmetric geometry with radiused portions on opposite ends of the crown that are specifically shaped to engage with the magazine rail and driving channel. This asymmetric design ensures the staple maintains a consistent, predetermined orientation during driving, with the radiused portions guiding the staple's insertion angle and rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If outer crown width is reduced to match outer leg width, then collation space is improved, but staple control and orientation are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollation efficiencyVSAvoidstaple control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The staple employs local quality differentiation where the crown section has a greater outer width than the leg section. This localized width variation provides adequate space for collation in the leg section while the broader crown section maintains reliable engagement with the magazine rail and driving channel, ensuring proper orientation and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3396180B1Fencing staple
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 BLACK & DECKER CORP
  • EP3396180B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3396180B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B
  • EP3396180B1 patent drawingFigure 4C~4D

AI summary

A barbed staple (10) for installing fencing wire onto a fence post. The staple has a crown section (12) and a leg section (14). The crown section has an arcuate crown portion (16) and a radiused portion (18,19), and the leg section has a pair of leg portions (20) that extend in parallel from the radiused portion of the crown section. At least one barb (22) protrudes from each of the leg portions, the barb having projecting points. The distance between the distal edge of the projecting points defines an outer leg width. The crown portion of the crown section has a greater width than the pair of leg portions in parallel. The outer crown width is greater than the outer leg width.