Twistable wire fastening apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for applying a twistable wire fastener is provided. The apparatus may include a base member. The base member may be configured to be received by a chuck or socket of a rotary tool. The apparatus may include a wire-holding member. The apparatus may include a shaft extending from the base member to the wire-holding member. The shaft may define an axis of rotation running through the base member. The wire-holding member may be operatively coupled through the shaft to the base member such that rotation of the base member in the chuck or socket of the rotary tool about the axis of rotation causes a corresponding rotation of the wire-holding member.

1 . An apparatus  100  for applying a twistable wire fastener, comprising:
 a base member  102 , the base member  102  configured to be received by a chuck or socket of a rotary tool  103 ; 
 a wire-holding member  104 ; 
 a shaft  106  extending from the base member  102  to the wire-holding member  104 , the shaft  106  defining an axis of rotation  108  running through the base member  102 , the wire-holding member  104  being operatively coupled through the shaft  106  to the base member  102  such that rotation of the base member  102  in the chuck or socket of the rotary tool about the axis of rotation  108  causes a corresponding rotation of the wire-holding member  104 . 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the base member  102  being configured about the axis of rotation  108  with one or more of: a circular cross section; a ribbed surface; a polygonal cross section, a socket drive cross section, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the wire-holding member  104  extending from the shaft  106  and thence along a curved or angled portion  110  to a tip  112  of the wire holding member  104 , the curved or angled portion  110  extending at least in part at an oblique angle to the axis of rotation  108 , such that the wire holding member  104  defines a hook between the shaft  106  and the tip  112 . 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the wire-holding member  104  being configured in the form of one or more of: a hook, a notched shaft, a grip, a clip, a T-handle, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the wire-holding member  104  extending from the shaft  106  to a tip  112  of the wire holding member  104 , at least a portion of the wire-holding member  104  between the shaft  106  and the tip  112  being configured with one or more of: a circular cross section; a ribbed surface; a notched surface; a polygonal cross section; a chisel edge; a cross-section that decreases in cross-sectional area along the portion from the shaft  106  towards the tip  112 ; or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the wire-holding member  104  being configured in the form of a curved hook extending from the shaft  106  to the tip  112 , at least a portion of the curved hook defining a decreasing cross section in a direction along the hook towards the tip  112 . 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the base member  102  being configured in a ⅜″ hexagonal or octagonal cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . A method  200  of applying a twistable wire fastener, comprising:
   202  positioning a twistable wire fastener about at least a portion of one or more objects to be fastened; 
   204  holding first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener with a wire holding member; and 
   206  applying mechanical, pneumatic, or electrically motivated rotation to rotate the wire holding member to cause the first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener to twist together effective to fasten the twistable wire fastener to the one or more objects. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener being loops, the wire holding member comprising a hook, further comprising placing the loops over the hook prior to the applying mechanical, pneumatic, or electrically motivated rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , the applying mechanical, pneumatic, or electrically motivated rotation further causing one or both of the first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener to twist off of the twistable wire fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , the one or more objects to be fastened comprising two or more portions of rebar, further comprising positioning the twistable wire fastener to be fastened to the two or more portions of rebar such that the twistable wire fastener lies below a concrete surface to be poured. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , the wire holding member coupled through a shaft to a base member, the base member configured to be received by a chuck or socket of a rotary tool, further comprising placing the base member in the chuck or socket of the rotary tool such that the mechanical, pneumatic, or electrically motivated rotation is applied by the rotary tool. 
     
     
         13 . A kit  300 , comprising:
 an apparatus  100  for applying a twistable wire fastener, comprising:
 a base member  102 , the base member  102  configured to be received by a chuck or socket of a rotary tool; 
 a wire-holding member  104 ; 
 a shaft  106  extending from the base member  102  to the wire-holding member  104 , the shaft  106  defining an axis of rotation  108  running through the base member  102 , the wire-holding member  104  being operatively coupled through the shaft  106  to the base member  102  such that rotation of the base member  102  in the chuck or socket of the rotary tool about the axis of rotation  108  causes a corresponding rotation of the wire-holding member  104 ; 
   instructions  302 , the instructions  302  directing a user to:
   202  position a twistable wire fastener about at least a portion of one or more objects to be fastened; 
   204  hold first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener with the wire holding member  104 ; 
 provide the apparatus  100  such the base member  102  is received by the chuck or socket of the rotary tool; and 
   206  operate the rotary tool to rotate the wire holding member to cause the first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener to twist together effective to fasten the twistable wire fastener to the one or more objects. 
   
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , the wire-holding member  104  being configured in the form of one or more of: a hook, a notched shaft, a grip, a clip, a T-handle, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13 , the wire-holding member  104  extending from the shaft  106  to a tip  112  of the wire holding member  104 , at least a portion of the wire-holding member  104  between the shaft  106  and the tip  112  being configured with one or more of: a circular cross section; a ribbed surface; a notched surface; a polygonal cross section; a chisel edge; a cross-section that decreases in cross-sectional area along the portion from the shaft  106  towards the tip  112 ; or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 13 ,
 the wire-holding member  104  being configured in the form of a curved hook extending from the shaft  106  to the tip  112 , at least a portion of the curved hook defining a decreasing cross section in a direction along the hook towards the tip  112 ; and   the base member  102  being configured in a ⅜″ hexagonal or octagonal cross-section.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 13 , the wire-holding member  104  comprising a hook, and the first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener being loops, the instructions further directing the user to place the loops over the hook prior to operating the rotary tool to rotate the wire holding member. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 13 , the instructions further directing the user to operate the rotary tool to rotate the wire holding member to cause one or both of the first and second portions of the twistable wire fastener to twist off of the twistable wire fastener. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 13 , the one or more objects to be fastened comprising two or more portions of rebar, the instructions further directing the user to position the twistable wire fastener to be fastened to the two or more portions of rebar such that the twistable wire fastener lies below a concrete surface to be poured. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one of the twistable wire fastener.