GB2227967A - Fastener applying device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for securing a fastener to a penetrable board includes a frame (20), a rail (24) on the frame 20, a slider (26) adjustably received on rail 24, a rail (32) on slider 26, a slider (34) adjustably received on rail 32, an anvil plate (46) on the frame, a fastener gripping member (56) and a hammer block on slider 34. The device is operative for securing a fastener, such as a hanger-type fastener (10) having prongs at opposite ends thereof to a penetrable board, such as the backer board of a picture frame, by placing the penetrable board on plate 46, placing the fastener in member 56, positioning slider 34 and member 56 so that the fastener is in the desired orientation on the penetrable board and striking the hammer block with a hammer to cause the prongs of the fastener to penetrate the penetrable board, Member 56 may comprise a permanent magnet for metallic fastener. Slider 26 is pivoted about rail 24 to allow slider 34 to lift clear of plate 46 to facilitate applying fastener to member 56. The positions of sliders 26, 34 can be set by scales. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Fastener Applyinq Devices Field of the invention This invention relates to a device for applying a fastener to a board, and more particularly to a device for positioning a hanger fastener to a rectangular piece of hardboard to enable the fastener to be secured to the board.

Backqround to the invention Fasteners are known for securing to the back of pictures made of hardboard. One such known fastener comprises a strip of metal at the ends of which are formed a series of barbs or prongs adapted to be pressed into the hardboard of the picture. In the application of such fasteners to the pictures by mass production techniques, automatic or semi-automatic machines are known which pneumatically apply the fastener to the board at a predetermined position. However such machines are extremely expensive for the use of small establishments, which require to be versatile for producing small batches of pictures having such fasteners.

At the other extreme it is known to provide a holder for such a fastener and which can be manually placed over the desired position at the back of the board, the holders being adapted to be struck by a hammer to force the barbs or prongs of the fastener into the hardboard. However, the use of such a holder requires a considerable degree of skill, and the expenditure of an inordinate amount of time for producing batch quantities of pictures.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple device which enables fasteners to be positioned at predetermined locations on a board for securement thereto.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a device for applying a fastener to a board, comprising a rectangular frame, a first rail secured to one side of the frame, a first slider adjustably slidable along the first rail, a second rail perpendicular to the first rail and carried by the slider member, a second slider adjustably slidable along the second rail, an anvil plate supported by the frame and positioned under the area of movement of the second slider and adapted to receive a board thereon to which a fastener is to be applied, gripping means on the second slider for temporarily holding a fastener, and means for applying pressure to the second slider to secure the fastener to the board.

The means for applying pressure preferably comprises a block or pad of material mounted on the second slider and adapted to be struck, as by a hammer, to drive the fastener into the board.

Advantageously the first and second sliders each comprise a locking screw to secure each slider at the desired position along the respective rail.

Preferably the position of the first slider can be set by means of a linear scale on the frame parallel to and adjacent the first rail. The position of a second slider may be similarly set by a second scale at one slide of the frame parallel to the second rail.

Each rail may comprise a solid rod of circular section.

Preferably the first slider is pivoted about the first rail to enable the second slider to be lifted clear of the anvil to facilitate applying a fastener to the gripping means.

The second rail may comprise two rods each of circular section to prevent rotation of the slider about the XiS Or the rail. A handle may then be provided at the remote 7 of the second rail to enable the second slider to be lifted.

Where the fastener i.s metallic, the gripoing means may comprise a permanent magnet mounted in thr second slider to locate the fastener.

Brief descriPtion of the drawings A device in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known fastener for securement to a picture or the like; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device for securing the fastener of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the device of Figure 2.

Detailed description of the drawings Referring first to Figure 1 there is shown a known proprietary metallic fastener 10 for securement to the back surface of a hardboard backing for a picture or the like, to enable the latter to be hung from a wall. The fastener comprises a strip of hardened steel whose ends are bent so as to be offset from the middle part of the fastener. Sharp prongs 12 are formed at each end for penetrating the hardboard. A series of notches or serrations 14 are formed at the lower edge along the middle part of the fastener from which the picture is to be supported on the wall by a nail or pin engaging under the respective notch, such that the picture can be automatically centralised at its centre of gravity.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the device shown comprises a rectangular solid frame 20 having a block bearing 22 formed at each upper corner, between which is pivotally mounted a circular rail or rod 24. Adjustably slidable along the rod 24 is a hinge block 26 which can E locked at a desired position by means of a locking screw 28 formed with a tapered brass locking pad 30 engageable with the underside of the rod 24.

Mounted on the block 26 at each side of the screw 28 are pair of slide rods 32 which are perpendicular to the rod 24, and slidable along the rods 32 is a slider head 34, t which is secured a hammer block 36.

A pair of locking plungers 38 are formed in a bore perpendicular to the rods 32, and these plungers can be cammed apart by a locking screw 40 to lock the position of the head against the rods 32.

At the free end of the rods 32 is mounted a handle 42 secured to the rods 32 by grub screws 44. The handle enables the head 34 to be lifted by pivoting the rod 24 about the block bearings 22.

Mounted in a recess in the upper portion of the frame 20 is an anvil plate 46 made of mild steel and secured to the frame 20 by countersunk rivets 48 (only two shown), and by adhesive at the back of the plate 46.

Along the upper margin of the frame, beneath the rod 24 is fixed a rule 50 formed with a suitable scale. A similar rule 52 is fixed to the left hand margin of the frame 20.

Set in recesses under the head 34 are a pair of inserts 54 which are adapted to engage the ends of the fastener 10.

Between the inserts 54, and central of the head 34, is inset a permanent magnet 56 which acts to hold a fastener 10 when inserted under the head.

In use of the device, a rectangular piece of hardboard for a picture is placed on the anvil plate 46, with the top and left hand edges of the board abutting the scale rules 50 and 52, the head being raised by means of the handle 42. A fastener 10 is then placed against the magnet 56, and before lowering the head 34 the locking screws 28 and 40 are loosened and the block 26 and head 34 adjusted to the desired position, using if necessary the rules 50 and 52. The locking screws 28 and 40 are then tightened, and a firm hammer blow on the hammer block 36 is sufficient to impail the fastener into the hardboard, the prongs 12 bending outwardly under the board to firmly secure the fastener to the board.

Assuming that several boards of the same size are required for a number of pictures, it is then only necessary to insert a new fastener 10 under the head 34 and to lower it onto the next board, to which the fastener can be applied by repeating the hammer blow on the block 36.

It will thus be apparent that the device enables fasteners to be rapidly applied to a batch of boards for pictures.

When fasteners are then to be secured to a different position on a new batch of boards, the location of the head 34 can be readily changed by readjusting the hinge block 26 and the head 34 on their respective rods, with the assistance if necessary of the scale rules 50 and 52.

Replacement of the head 34 (for example for a different fastener) can be readily achieved by releasing the grub screws. 44, taking off the handle 42, sliding off the head 34 and inserting a new head, and then replacing and securing the handle 42.

Apart from the rods 24 and 30, and the locking screws 28 and 40, most of the device can be made of a resin material such as SRBF, which has suitable flexible properties to withstand the hammering operation on the device.

Claims (11)

1. A device for securing a fastener to a penetrable board, comprising a frame, a first rail on said frame, a first slider member slidably received on said first rail, a second rail on said first slider member, said second rail being substantially perpendicular to said first rail, a second slider member slidably received on said second rail, an anvil plate on said frame, said anvil plate being adapted for receiving a board thereon and being disposed beneath the area of movement of said second slider member, and gripping means on said second slider member for releasably gripping said fastener so that when said board is received on said anvil plate and said fastener is received in said gripping means said fastener is securable to said board through the application of pressure to said second slider member in the direction of said board.

2. A device according to Claim 1 and further comprising block means on said second slider member, said block means being engageable withh a hammer for applying pressure to said second slider member in the direction of said board in order to secure said fastener to said board.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and further comprising first and second means for adjustably securing the positions of said first and second slider members relative to said first and second rails respectively.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 and further comprising first and second linear scale means on said frame, said first and second linear scale means being substantially parallel to said first and second rails, respectively, and being operative for indicating the positions of said first and second slider members relative to said first and second rails, respectively.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which each of said rails comprises a rod of substantially circular cross section.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which said first slider member is pivotable about the axis of said first rail for pivoting said second rail, said second slider member and said gripping means upwardly and away from the plane of said frame.

7. A device according to Claim 6 in which said second slider member is non-rotatably received on said second rail, said second rail terminating in a free end, said device further comprising handle means on said second rail adjacent the free end thereof for pivoting said second rail, said second slider member and said gripping means upwardly and away from the plane of said.

8. A device according to Claim 7 in which said second rail comprises a pair of substantially parallel rods of substantially circular cross section.

9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in combination with a said fastener which is characterised as an elongated metallic strip having prong means at thhe opposite ends thereof which are simultaneously engageable with said board for securing said fastener thereto, said gripping means being operative for gripping said fastener so that the prong means at the opposite ends thereof are simultaneously engageable with said board.

10. The combination of Claim 9 in which a said fastener is further characterized as being magnetically responsive, said gripping means being further characterized as magnetic gripping means.

11. A device for securing a fastener substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.