Fastener carrier assembly and method of use

Abstract

A fastener carrier assembly used to secure rows of fasteners in a workpiece using a conventional driving tool. The fastener carrier assembly includes a plurality of fasteners, an upper strip and a separate lower strip. The upper strips include a plurality of interconnected, frangible collating elements. The lower strip includes sleeves that are intended to stay with the fastener after the fastener is embedded into a workpiece.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fastener carrier assembly of the type used with a driving tool, comprising: 
 a plurality of fasteners, each of which including a drivable head and an elongated shank terminating at a tip;    an upper strip including a plurality of interconnected, frangible collating elements, each of which being connected to a respective shank at a location proximal the head; and    a plurality of washers, each of which being connected to a respective shank at a location proximal the tip and spaced from a respective collating element.    
     
     
         2 . The fastener carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of washers are interconnected to each other by frangible bridges.  
     
     
         3 . The fastener carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the shanks have a longitudinal axis and each of the respective washers connected to the shanks describe a shape that is essentially axially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         4 . The fastener carrier assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of the collating elements describe a polygonal shape having a first and second thickness when viewed in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         5 . The fastener carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are one of pins and nails.  
     
     
         6 . A two-piece carrier assembly adapted for holding a plurality of fasteners, the carrier assembly being of the type used with a driving tool, wherein each of the fasteners include a drivable head and an elongated shank terminating at a tip, and each of the fasteners are drivable into a workpiece by the driving tool, the two-piece carrier assembly comprising: 
 an upper strip including a plurality of interconnected, frangible collating elements, each of which being connected to a respective shank at a location proximal the head; and    a lower strip including a plurality of sleeves, each of which being connected to a respective shank at a location proximal the tip, spaced from a respective collating element and adapted for being lodged between the respective fastener head and workpiece when the fastener is fully embedded in the workpiece.    
     
     
         7 . The carrier assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each of the sleeves describe a first, asymmetric shape when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the shank longitudinal axis, and each of the collating elements describe a second, symmetric shape when viewed in the plane.  
     
     
         8 . A method for securing fasteners to a workpiece, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a fastener carrier assembly including a plurality of fasteners, each of which having a head, shank and a tip, a plurality of securing members disposed near the tip of each of the respective fasteners, and a separate, upper strip including a plurality of collating members, each of which gripping a fastener at a location between the securing member and the head;    inserting the fastener carrier assembly into a magazine of a driving tool, the driving tool having a firing bore;    advancing each of the fasteners into the firing bore; and    discharging the gun, wherein as each one of the fasteners is driven into the workpiece by the gun, the upper sleeve is broken off and fully removed from the fastener, and after the upper sleeve has been fully removed from the fastener, the lower sleeve advances upwardly along the shank until the fastener has been driven to its final depth in the workpiece.    
     
     
         9 . A method for securing fasteners to a workpiece as in  claim 8 , wherein the providing step further includes providing a plurality of interconnected securing members.  
     
     
         10 . A method for securing fasteners to a workpiece as in  claim 8 , wherein the providing step further includes providing a plurality of circular shaped securing members.