Chisel-Edge Fastener and Alignment Tool for Gap-Free Board Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side angled screws and installation tools often damage the corners of boards due to wedging action, leading to reduced holding strength and unsightly gaps between boards, especially when boards shrink over time.
Innovation Solution
A fastener with a chisel edge and inclined surfaces that pre-bore a hole by scraping the material, allowing the screw to advance without splitting the board, combined with an installation tool that aligns the screw precisely and ejects material to prevent clogging and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional side angled screws with conical pointed tips are used, then the screw can quickly penetrate and advance into the board, but the screw shaft draws between the grains or fibers causing corner splitting or bulging
Solution Approach 1:
The screw tip includes a chisel brake point that pre-bores a hole through the board before the threaded shaft engages. This preliminary action removes material ahead of the threads, preventing the shaft from drawing between grains or fibers and causing corner damage while maintaining quick installation
Solution Approach 2:
The screw tip is segmented into a chisel brake point portion and a threaded shaft portion. The chisel brake point performs the penetration function while the threaded shaft provides fastening, separating the harmful wedging action from the fastening function
2Productivity
If screws are advanced quickly into the board, then installation time is reduced, but the holding strength is reduced due to corner damage
Solution Approach 1:
The chisel brake point pre-bores the hole before thread engagement, allowing rapid installation without compromising corner integrity. This maintains both high installation speed and strong holding power by preventing material damage
Solution Approach 2:
The screw tip performs its own pilot hole drilling function through the chisel brake point, eliminating the need for separate pre-drilling while ensuring proper hole formation for strong thread engagement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fastener and tool combination ensures efficient and damage-free installation of screws, maintaining holding strength and minimizing gaps between boards, even as they shrink.
Implementation Method 1
the end including a chisel edge and opposing inclined surfaces that are adapted to scrape material from a work piece to pre-bore a hole
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6
Figure 7~10
AI summary
A fastener installation tool and related method are provided for installing fasteners in boards, where the boards are installed immediately adjacent one another, without a gap established therebetween. The tool can include an alignment projection (74) that projects a preselected distance downwardly from a lower surface of the tool. The alignment projection can be disposed between opposing corners of first and second boards (102,119) to install a fastener (10) without establishing a gap between the boards. This construction can be suitable for installing boards constructed from materials that shrink over time, such as wet, treated lumber or other materials, and even non-shrinkable boards where tighter spacing is desired. A related method of installation is provided.