Embossed tape collating strip for nails

Abstract

A fastener assembly for use in a fastener driving tool includes a row of fasteners arranged substantially parallel to each other and a strip having a supporting substrate and an adhesive composition thereon. The supporting substrate has an elongated dimension extending generally in the direction of the row of fasteners. The substrate has embossings formed therein. The adhesive composition is bonded to the fasteners and maintains them in the substantially parallel arrangement in the row. A method for making the embossed strip is also disclosed.

1 . A fastener assembly for use in a fastener driving tool, comprising: 
 a row of fasteners arranged substantially parallel to each other; and    a strip having a supporting substrate and an adhesive composition thereon, the supporting substrate having an elongated dimension extending generally in the direction of the row of fasteners, the supporting substrate having embossings formed therein, the adhesive composition bonded to the fasteners and maintaining them in the substantially parallel arrangement in the row.    
   
   
       2 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the strip is formed having diamond pattern embossings.  
   
   
       3 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the diamond pattern is a repeating diamond pattern.  
   
   
       4 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the diamond pattern has a major axis and a minor axis.  
   
   
       5 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the major axis is parallel to an edge of the strip.  
   
   
       6 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the fasteners are positioned at an angle relative to the elongated dimension of the strip.  
   
   
       7 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the diamond pattern has a major axis and a minor axis and wherein the major axis or the minor axis is positioned substantially parallel to the fasteners.  
   
   
       8 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the strip includes ribs extending between embossings at the major or minor axes.  
   
   
       9 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the strip includes one or more longitudinally extending embossings.  
   
   
       10 . The fastener assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the substrate is laminated to the adhesive layer.  
   
   
       11 . A strip for use in bonding fasteners to one another in an assembly in which the fasteners are parallel to one another, comprising: 
 a supporting substrate and an adhesive composition thereon, the supporting substrate having an elongated dimension extending generally in the direction of the row of fasteners, the supporting substrate having embossings formed therein, the adhesive composition bonded to the fasteners and maintaining them in the substantially parallel arrangement in the row.    
   
   
       12 . The strip in accordance with  claim 11  having diamond pattern embossings formed therein.  
   
   
       13 . The strip in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the embossing are in the form of a repeating diamond pattern.  
   
   
       14 . The strip in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the diamond pattern has a major axis and a minor axis.  
   
   
       15 . The strip in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the major axis is parallel to an edge of the strip.  
   
   
       16 . The strip in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the major axis at an angle to an edge of the strip.  
   
   
       17 . The strip in accordance with  claim 14  including ribs extending between embossings at the major or minor axes.  
   
   
       18 . The strip in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the embossings define a 3-dimensional profile.  
   
   
       19 . The strip in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the embossings are defined by embossing lines that intersect and that are offset from one another at the respective intersections.  
   
   
       20 . The strip in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the strip has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of a comparable non-embossed strip.  
   
   
       21 . The strip in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the embossings define a predetermined pattern and wherein the pattern is a diamond shape.  
   
   
       22 . The strip in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the embossings define a predetermined pattern and wherein the pattern has at least three sides.  
   
   
       23 . A method for making a strip for use in bonding fasteners to one another in an assembly in which the fasteners are parallel to one another comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate;    applying an adhesive to the substrate; and    embossing the substrate.    
   
   
       24 . The method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the adhesive is applied to the substrate prior to carrying out the embossing step.