GB2425340A

GB2425340A - Fastener guide

Info

Publication number: GB2425340A
Application number: GB0508059A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Waller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-21
Also published as: GB2425340B; GB0508059D0

Abstract

A guide for a fastener comprises a tube (12) and a base plate (10). The base plate (10) has attachment means such as suction cups or an adhesive for releasable attachment of the guide to a workpiece.

Description

V

Guide Device for Fasteners The present invention relates to a guide device for guiding fasteners such as nails, screws or the like when being driven into a workpiece.

When driving point fasteners such as nails, screws, tacks, or the like into workpieces, it is common to use one hand to hold the fastener pointing in the direction in which it is to be driven, and the other hand to operate the driving tool, such as a hammer, screw driver, or the like. However, for many users, and in particular partially disabled users, such operation is not possible, and in particular where a user only has partial use of their hands, has only one hand, or is otherwise prevented in some other way from driving a fastener into a workpiece in the normal way. The present invention provides a guide device which permits the guiding of a point fastener into a workpiece without the point fastener having to be held in the hand, and hence is particularly suitable for one handed driving of the fastener into the workpiece.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a guide device for nails, screws or other similar point fasteners, the guide device comprising a guide element arranged to receive a fastener and to guide a driving direction of said fastener relative to a workpiece into which said fastener is driven; and a releasable attachment element for releasably securing said guide element to said workpiece to allow said fastener to be driven thereinto.

The provision of the releasable attachment element allows the guide device to be fastened to a workpiece, at a position into which the fastener is to be driven into the workpiece. The guide element then receives the point fastener, and guides the driving direction of the fastener as the fastener is being driven into the workpiece. Thus, a one handed operation to drive a fastener such as a nail or a screw into a workpiece can be facilitated.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended claims.

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described, and presented by way of example only, with respect to the accompanying drawings, and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, and wherein: - Figure 1 illustrates a guide device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a guide device according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a guide device according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates a guide device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 illustrates a guide device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates a guide device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates a guide device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 illustrates a guide device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates the use of a sleeve which may be used with any of the embodiments of the invention to provide further embodiments; Figure 10 is a cross section of the guide element used within embodiments of the invention; Figure 11 is a close up view of the attachment means of the present invention illustrating a first mechanism by which it may be releasably securely attached to the Figure 12 is a close up view of the attachment means of the present invention illustrating a second mechanism by which the attachment means may be releasably secured to a workpiece; Figure 13 is a drawing illustrating the first embodiment of the invention in use; Figure 14 is a drawing illustrating the first embodiment of the invention in use; Figure 15 is a drawing illustrating the first embodiment of the invention in use; and Figure 16 is a drawing illustrating the state of a point fastener when driven into a workpiece using embodiments of the invention.

A first embodiment of the invention will now be described with respect to Figure 1. In Figure 1, a guide device according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a substantially circular base plate 10, having a slit 18 formed therein extending radially from the centre to one edge of the plate 10 thereof. A tube 12 provided with a hollow bore 14 running the length thereof is provided substantially in the centre of the plate 10.

The bore continues through the base plate 10. The tube 12 has a slit 16 running down the length of one wall. The tube 12 is positioned on the base plate 10 such that the slit 16 meets with the slit 18 provided in the base plate 10. The base plate 10 and tube 12 are formed from a resilient, preferably plastic, material such as PVC or the like. Other resilient materials may also be used, however, such as, high density rubber, or the like.

On the opposite side of the base plate 10 to the tube 12 is provided a means for releasably attaching the base plate 10 to a work piece. As will be described in more detail later, to achieve this, the rear surface of the base plate 10 may be coated in an adhesive substance, may be provided with suction cups, or may have a slightly adhesive material such as that sold under the trade name Plasticine, or Blu-Tack, provided thereon.

The mode of operation of the guide device 1 will be described later.

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. Herein, a guide device 2 according to the second embodiment is provided with a base plate 10 having a split 18 in the same maimer as that described previously with respect to the first embodiment.

Different to the first embodiment, however, a tube 22 is provided projecting from the surface of the base plate 10 at an oblique angle to the plane of the base plate 10. The tube 22 is provided with a hollow bore 14, and a slit 16 formed down the length of the wall thereof, the tube 22 being positioned on the base plate 10 such that the slit 16 meets with the slit 18 in the base plate 10. Thus, the guide device 2 of the second embodiment differs from the guide device I of the first embodiment only in that an angled tube 22 is provided, in place of the orthogonal tube 12 of the first embodiment.

In all other respects the guide device 2 is the same as the guide device 1, and in particular in respect of materials, and provision of a releasable securing mechanism on the under surface of the base plate 10.

A third embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3. Here a guide device 3 is provided, which is essentially the same as the guide device 1 described above in respect of the first embodiment, but with the difference that the base plate 10 has been replaced by a square base plate 30. The square base plate 30 is also provided, like the previously described embodiments, with a slit 18 extending from one edge thereof substantially to the centre. An orthogonal tube 12 having a hollow bore 14 and a slit 16 extending down one wall thereof is mounted on the square base plate 30, such that the slit 16 communicates with the slit 18 of the base plate and the bore 14 extends through the base plate. In all other respects the guide device 3 is the same as the guide devices I and 2 of the first and second embodiments described previously.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4. Here a guide device 4 is provided, which combines elements of the previously described guide devices 2 and 3 of the second and third embodiments. More particularly, a square base plate 30 is provided having a slit 18 running from one edge thereof substantially to the middle. An angled tube 22 is provided extending at an oblique angle from the plane of the square base plate 30, the tube 22 being provided with a hollow bore 14, and a slit 16 extending down the length of one wall thereof. The slit 16 is in communication with the slit 18 on the square base plate. In all other respects the guide device 4 is the same as the guide devices 1, 2 and 3 of the previously described embodiments.

Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention. Here, a guide device 5 is provided with a substantially circular base plate 50. Attached to the edge of the base plate 50 is a guide element in the form of a tube 52, having a hollow bore 14 extending therethrough. A slit 16 is formed within the wall of the tube 52, extending from the outer surface into the hollow bore 14. The guide device 5 of the fifth embodiment is formed from a resilient material such as, for example, a plastics or rubber material, as in the previously described embodiments. Moreover, the guide device 5 may have an adhesive surface, or a plurality of suction cups, or the like provided on the rear surface of the base plate 50, to allow for releasable securing to a workpiece. Alternatively, the base plate 50 may be formed as a dome shape, such that in use the entire base plate 50 acts as a suction cup to releasably secure the guide device 5 to a workpiece. Where this is the case, the base plate 50 is preferably provided with bevelled edges on its rear surface thereof to permit the base plate 50 to act as a suction cup.

A sixth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 6. According to the sixth embodiment a guide device 6 is provided, which is similar to the guide device 5 of the fifth embodiment. The difference here, however, is that an angled tube 62 is provided attached to an edge of the base plate 50. The angled tube 62 has a bore 14 extending therethrough, and a slit 16 extending through the wall of the tube 62 from the outer surface thereof to the bore 14. In all other respects, apart from the angled tube 62, the guide device 6 of the fifth embodiment is the same as the guide device 5 of the fifth embodiment, and in particular is preferably formed such that the base plate 50 acts as a suction cup to attach the guide device 6 to a work piece. Alternatively, the rear plate of the base plate 50 may be provided with some other releasable adhesion means, such as a layer of releasable adhesive, individual suction cups, or the like.

Figure 7 illustrates a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Here, a guide device 7 is provided with a curved base plate 70, having a slit 18 extending from one edge thereof substantially to the middle of the base plate. The curved base plate 70 is particularly adapted for releasable attachment to a curved surface of a workpiece.

Similar to the previously described embodiments, the guide device 7 is also provided with a guide element in the form of a tube 12 having a hollow bore 14 extending therethrough and through the base plate, and a slit 16 in the wall of the tube, extending from the outer surface thereof to the hollow bore. The tube is mounted on the surface of the base plate 70 such that the slit 16 in the wall of the tube 12 is in communication with the slit 18 in the base plate 70. Provided on the rear surface of the base plate 70 is a mechanism to allow for releasable attachment of the base plate 70 to a workpiece, such as a layer of adhesive, or one or more suction cups, or the like. The guide device 7 is preferably formed of similar or the same material of the previously described embodiments, e.g. resilient material such as plastics, rubber or the like.

An eighth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 8. Here a guide device 8 according to the eighth embodiment is also provided with a curved base plate having a slit 18 running from one edge thereof substantially to the centre. Different to the seventh embodiment, however, the guide device 8 is provided with an angled guide element in the form of an angle tube 22, having a hollow bore 14, and a slit in the wall of the tube extending from the outer surface of the tube to the hollow bore 14. The angled tube 22 is mounted on the base plate 70 such that the slit 16 is in communication with the slit 18 in the base plate. Apart from the provision of the angled tube 22, the guide device 8 is in all other respects identical to that of the guide device 7 of the seventh embodiment.

Within the above described embodiments mention was made as to how the rear surface of the base plates is arranged so as to allow the base plates to be releasably attached to a workpicce into which a fastener is to be driven. With the exception of the fifth and sixth embodiments where the base plate 50 may be formed as a suction cup per se, in other embodiments of the invention (and including those of the fifth and sixth embodiments where the base plate is not formed as a suction cup per Se) a mechanism must be provided on the reverse of the base plate in order to allow the base plate to be releasably attached to the work piece. Figure 11 shows one such mechanism which may be provided. Here, the base plate 10, 30, 50 or 70 is provided on its rear surface thereof with a layer of adhesive material 112. As mentioned previously, the adhesive may be a form of glue, or alternatively a pliable adhesive material, such as that sold under the trade names Plasticine, or Blu-Tack. Whatever the specific material used, it should have the property of allowing the base plate 10, 30, 50 or 70 to be releasably fastened to a workpiece into which a fastener is to be driven, and to then allow the guide device to be removed from the workpiece without excessive residue. The adhesive layer 112 should then keep most or all of its adhesive properties to allow the guide device to be attached to the same workpiece in a different place, or to a different As an alternative to the adhesive layer 112, Figure 12 illustrates an alternative mechanism by which the base plates 10, 30, 50 and 70 of the guide device may be releasably attached to a workpiece. More particularly, in other embodiments of the invention the base plates may be provided with miniature suction cups 122 on the reverse side thereof. The miniature suctions cups are preferably formed from rubber or some other resilient material, and act to allow a guide device to be pressed against a workpiece, and held by suction force against the workpiece. The guide device can then be removed from the workpiece by pulling the guide device with sufficient force to overcome the suction force. Such an arrangement has advantages over the adhesive layer of Figure 11 in that a guide device provided with such a suction cup arrangement will be reusable a greater number of times than a guide device provided with an adhesive layer 112. However, it should be understood that either mechanism may be used with any of the previously described embodiments to enable the guide devices of the embodiments to be releasably attached to a workpiece.

The mode of operation of the guide devices according to embodiments of the invention will now be described. It should be understood that the mode of operation is substantially the same for all embodiments of the invention.

Figure 13 illustrates a workpiece 130 into which a point fastener (not shown) is to be driven. In order to guide the point fastener to the appropriate point in the workpiece into which the point fastener is to be driven, a guide device 1 (in this case according to the first embodiment of the invention, although any of the other embodiments can be used as appropriate) is positioned such that the bore 14 of the tube 16 thereof is placed over the point on the workpiece 130 where the point fastener is to be driven. The base plate of the guide device I is then attached to the surface of the workpiece 130 by pressing the plate against the workpiece so that it adheres thereto, such that the bore is in such a position.

With the guide device I then secured against the surface of the workpiece 130 in the correct position, as shown in Figure 14, a point fastener 140, such as a nail, screw, or the like is then inserted into the bore 14 of the tube 16 of the guide device 1. The point fastener 140 is inserted into the bore 14 and as far as possible therethrough until the point of the point fastener 140 contacts the surface of the workpiece 130 underneath the base plate of the guide device 1.

Having inserted the point fastener into the bore 14 of the guide device, the user then uses the fastener driving tool (such as a hammer in the case of a nail, or a screwdriver in the case of a screw) to drive the point fastener into the workpiece 30, until the head of the fastener meets the distal end of the tube of the guide device 1 from the workpiece 130. At this point, the user needs to remove the guide device from around the fastener and from the work surface of the workpiece, to allow the fastener to be driven home into the workpiece. As shown in Figure 15, this is achieved by releasing the base plate from the surface of the workpiece, and then moving the guide device in an orthogonal direction to the driving direction of the fastener, such that the fastener passes through the slit in the side of the guide element of the guide device 1, and onwards through the slit in the base plate of the guide device. It is this operation which requires the guide device 1 to be formed from a resilient material, to allow the slits in the guide element and base plate to expand slightly to allow passage over the fastener when the guide device 1 is being removed. With the guide device removed the situation shown in Figure 16 is attained, wherein the point fastener 140 is partially driven into the surface of the workpiece 130, and can now be driven home without further directional guidance.

Thus, with the embodiments of the invention a point fastener such as a nail, screw, or the like can be driven into a workpiece without one of the user's hands being required to guide the fastener as it is driven.

Various modifications to the above described embodiments may be made to produce further embodiments. For example, as shown in Figure 9 a sleeve 92 may be provided which slides over the outer surface of the tube 12 or 22, so as to more securely hold the tube about the nail or screw. The sleeve 92 is preferably annular in shape, with an inner diameter equal to, or slightly less than the outer diameter of the tube 12 or 22. Where the inner diameter of the sleeve 92 is slightly less than the outer diameter of the tube 12 or 22, then a gripping effect of the tube on the fastener can be achieved. In use, the sleeve 92 may be placed on the tube 12 or 22 before the guide device is attached to the workpiece. The fastener is then inserted into the bore 14 and driven into the workpiece in the manner described previously. The sleeve 92 is then slid over the tube 12, and over the head or the fastener, such that the guide device may then be removed in a direction sideways to the driving direction of the fastener, such that the fastener passes through the slits 16 and 18 in the manner described previously. In this respect, the outer diameter of the tube 12 or 22 should be larger than the diameter of the head of the fastener, to permit the sleeve 92 to pass over the head of the fastener.

A further modification is shown in Figure 10, which illustrates a cross section through the tube 12 or 22 forming the guide element of the guide devices according to the embodiments, the cross section taken along the length of the tube, so as to show the interior of the hollow bore 14. In this modification, which may be applied to any of the previously described embodiments of the invention, within the hollow bore 14 there is provided a strip of magnetic material 102 extending along the length of the bore. In use, where the fastener is made of ferrous material such as iron or steel the magnetic strip 102 helps to hold the fastener within the bore 14 prior to the fastener being driven into the workpiece.

A further modification is to provide a tapered bore, whose diameter tapers towards the base plate. That is, the bore 14 may be provided in the guide element 12 or 22 such that it is of a wider diameter at a distal end from the base plate, and a narrower diameter at the proximal end to the base plate. Where the diameter of the bore 14 is less than the diameter of the fastener, then as the fastener 14 is inserted into the bore 14, the resilient nature of the material forming the guide device can allow the bore 14 to expand around the fastener, whilst gripping the outer surface of the fastener and holding the fastener securely.

It should be understood that any of the described modifications may be applied to any of the previously described embodiments to provide further embodiments, and that the modifications may be applied either individually, or in various combinations.

Further modifications will be apparent to the intended reader being a person skilled in the art which will provide further embodiments of the invention, all of which are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A guide device for a fastener, comprising:- a guide element

arranged to receive a fastener and to guide a driving direction of said fastener relative to a workpiece into which said fastener is driven; and releasable attachment means for releasably securing said guide element to said workpiece to allow said fastener to be driven thereinto.
2. A guide device according to claim 1, wherein said guide element is provided with fastener release means to allow said guide element to be removed from said fastener after said fastener has been at least partially driven into said workpiece.
3. A guide device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said guide element comprises a tube provided with a bore running therethrough.
4. A guide device according to claim 3, wherein said tube has a slit in the wall thereof through which said fastener may pass after said fastener has been at least partially driven into said workpiece.
5. A guide device according to claims 3 or 4, wherein a cross-section of the bore tapers.
6. A guide device according to claim 5, wherein the cross section of the bore tapers as the bore extends towards the workpiece.
7. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said guide element is provided with a magnetic element.
8. A guide device according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic element formed into a strip and extends substantially along the length of the guide element.
9. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element is further provided with a sleeve arranged in use to secure said guide element about said fastener.
10. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises one or more suction cups.
11. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises a base plate shaped to complement the surface of a
12. A guide device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A guide device according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises a base plate provided with a adhesive layer on a reverse surface thereof, the reverse surface being intended in use to contact a surface of the 12. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element is arranged to guide the fastener in an oblique driving direction to the surface of the workpiece.

13. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises a base plate shaped to complement the surface of a 14. A guide device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A guide device for a fastener, comprising:- a guide element arranged to receive a fastener and to guide a driving direction of said fastener relative to a workpiece into which said fastener is driven; and releasable attachment means for releasably securing said guide element to said workpiece to allow said fastener to be driven thereinto; wherein said guide element comprises a tube provided with a bore running therethrough; and wherein said tube has a slit in the wall thereof through which said fastener may pass after said fastener has been at least partially driven into said 2. A guide device according to claim 1, wherein said guide element is provided with fastener release means to allow said guide element to be removed from said fastener after said fastener has been at least partially driven into said workpiece.

3. A guide device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein a cross-section of the bore tapers.

4. A guide device according to claim 3, wherein the cross section of the bore tapers as the bore extends towards the workpiece.

5. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said guide element is provided with a magnetic element.

6. A guide device according to claim 5, wherein the magnetic element is formed into a strip and extends substantially along the length of the guide element. 1*

7. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element is further provided with a sleeve arranged in use to secure said guide element about said fastener.

8. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises one or more suction cups.

9. A guide device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises a base plate provided with a adhesive layer on a reverse surface thereof, the reverse surface being intended in use to contact a surface of the 10. A guide device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element is arranged to guide the fastener in an oblique driving direction to the surface of the workpiece.