NZ603737B - Improved Nail Fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

Patent 603737 A nail fastener 10 comprising a shank, a head 11 and a point 13, the head 11 being at a first end of the shank and the point 13 being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, wherein the shank comprises first means 14 for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener 10, the first means 14 being located on a first shank portion proximate to the head 11, and second means 15 for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener 10, the second means 15 being located on a second shank portion proximate to the point 13. The first means 14 and second means 15 for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener each comprise one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank. The ridges and/or grooves of the first means 14 for resisting outward movement are oriented at substantially 90° to the shank. The ridges and/or grooves of the second means 15 for resisting outward movement are oriented at an oblique angle to the shank. ner 10, the first means 14 being located on a first shank portion proximate to the head 11, and second means 15 for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener 10, the second means 15 being located on a second shank portion proximate to the point 13. The first means 14 and second means 15 for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener each comprise one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank. The ridges and/or grooves of the first means 14 for resisting outward movement are oriented at substantially 90° to the shank. The ridges and/or grooves of the second means 15 for resisting outward movement are oriented at an oblique angle to the shank.

Description

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVED NAIL FASTENER We, BBI Fasteners Limited a New Zealand company, c/- James & Wells Intellectual Property, Level 12, KPMG Centre, 85 Alexandra Street, Hamilton, New d hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly bed in and by the following statement: 1 (followed by 1A) IMPROVED NAIL ER Field of Invention The invention is directed to nail fasteners and methods for using same.

Background to the Invention A nail is a common fastening device used to hold two objects together. Nails are generally characterised by having a sharp point, an elongate shank and a head at the opposite end of the shank from the point. The pointed end of the nail is driven into a workpiece by the ation of force to the head, for example by ed blows from a hammer or a single impact by the piston of a nail gun.

Nails are commonly configured for particular uses. For example, nails intended for use with wood are lly made of softer material than those intended for use with concrete. In another example, some nails have small ring-shaped protrusions on the shank to hinder the nail being loosened, or to hinder the workpiece being loosened from the object it is fastened to.

In many countries, timber is commonly used as a house cladding material. Weatherboard cladding, which may also be known as clapboard, bevel siding or lap siding, comprises long, thin timber boards that overlap one another, either vertically or horizontally, on the outside of a building wall. Weatherboards may be made of fibre-based materials or wood composite products, as well as .

Weatherboards are d on the e of the building structure, which may be a frame made from timber. Cavity battens may be used to separate the cladding layer from the frame to assist in the ge of any moisture that penetrates the cladding. A common way of mounting weatherboards to a building frame is using nails.

It is commonplace for weatherboards to be nailed to a building structure by hand, that is, using a hammer. While nail guns are significantly faster to use, the action of driving a nail into a weatherboard using a nail gun may damage the weatherboard. For example, the weatherboard may split or be dented. The lower amount of force imparted on the nail during a hammer blow compared to a nail gun firing means such damage is less likely to occur when a hammer is used. mes nail holes are pre-drilled to reduce the likelihood of damage, however this is a time-consuming process and therefore adds labour cost.

Damage to weatherboard can cause problems that may be troublesome and expensive to address. For example, split weatherboards may be more prone to rot and therefore need to be replaced earlier than ged weatherboard. Weatherboard damage can also jeopardise how resistant the cladding is to the elements and, in particular, may reduce how watertight it is.

While hammering nails by hand may therefore be preferable in many instances to using a nail gun in terms of reducing the damage to the weatherboard, it is much more time consuming and therefore adds time and expense to construction.

Over time, nails fastening rboard to a building frame may be loosened. This can be caused by vibrations or as a result of timber warping or expanding and contracting as a result of ic conditions, for example. If nails move outwards from their position, moisture may be able to penetrate into the weatherboard. Furthermore, the nails may be more tible to corrosion, which can cause them to weaken and leave unsightly rust stains on the or of a building.

Ring shank nails seek to address the problem of “nail creep” by incorporating ridges or sions along the shank to hinder the nail being loosened, or to hinder the workpiece being loosened from the object it is fastened to. Despite this, existing ring shank nails may still allow some degree of creep, which it is desirable to reduce. In addition, ring shank nails have a cy of being weaker or more brittle than smooth shank nails.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide an improved nail fastener, for example a nail fastener that addresses at least one of the problems identified above. atively, it is an object to provide an improved magazine of nail fasteners and an improved method of using same with a fastener driving tool.

Alternatively, it is an object of the invention to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is ed a nail fastener comprising a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, wherein the shank comprises: first means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the first means being located on a first shank n proximate to the head; and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the second means being located on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first means for ing outward movement has a different orientation from the second means for resisting outward movement.

Preferably, the first and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener each comprise one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank.

More ably, the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for resisting outward movement are at a different angle from the ridges and/or grooves of the second means for resisting outward movement.

In one preferred ment of the invention, the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for ing outward movement are oriented at substantially 90° to the shank. More preferably the ridges and/or grooves of the second means for resisting outward nt are oriented at an oblique angle to the shank.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first means for resisting outward movement comprises a ring shank portion.

For the purposes of this specification it will be understood that the term “ring shank portion” refers to a portion of a shank having small rings generally arranged in parallel around the shank.

The rings may be formed from sions or ridges from the main body of the shank, or they may be formed by grooves in the main body of the shank, or a combination of both (for example, grooves between protrusions). The rings may be provided to hold the workpiece in place and hinder the nail from being worked out of the workpiece or the object the ece is attached to over time.

More preferably, the second means for resisting outward movement comprises a screw shank portion.

It will be understood that the term “screw shank portion” refers to a n of a shank having a spiral or helical ridge, commonly known as a thread, around the shaft.

Preferably, the shank comprises a smooth shank portion between the first and second means for resisting outward movement.

Preferably, the rings of the ring shank portion comprise a plurality of ridges.

In red embodiments of the invention, the nail fastener is a jolt head nail or bullet head nail.

That is, the head of the nail is iently small relative to the size of the shank that the head can be driven into a workpiece.

Preferably, the nail fastener comprises a neck section joining the shank with the head, the neck section having a surface at an e angle to the shank. More preferably, the surface of the neck section is at 30°-60° to the shank.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a magazine for a er driving tool, the magazine comprising: a plurality of nail fasteners; and means for holding the plurality of nail fasteners together for use with the fastener driving tool, wherein each nail fastener comprises: a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, wherein the shank comprises: first means for resisting outward nt of the nail fastener, the first means being located on a first shank portion proximate to the head; and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the second means being d on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first means for resisting outward movement has a different orientation from the second means for resisting outward movement.

For the purposes of this specification it will be understood that a “magazine” is any assembly of a plurality of nail fasteners that is able to be used with a er driving tool such as a nail gun.

One example of a ne is a nail coil, where nails are held er in a coiled form, for example using thin s of wire. Other examples include strips of nails, nail clips or devices in which the nails are contained within a casing or carrier.

Preferably, the magazine comprises a nail coil. For example, the means for holding the plurality of nail fasteners may comprise one or more wire strands on which are mounted the plurality of nail fasteners. The nail fasteners may be soldered to the wire strands. ing to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of fastening a workpiece to an object, the method comprising: positioning the ece in the desired position relative to the object; driving a nail fastener partly into the workpiece and object using a first fastener driving tool; and driving the nail fastener fully into the workpiece using a second fastener driving tool, n the nail fastener comprises: a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, wherein the shank comprises: first means for resisting outward nt of the nail fastener, the first means being located on a first shank n proximate to the head; and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail er, the second means being d on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first means for resisting outward movement has a different orientation from the second means for resisting outward movement.

Preferably, driving the nail fastener into the workpiece and object using the first fastener driving tool comprises driving the nail fastener with an automated or powered fastener driving tool, for example a nail gun.

Preferably, driving the nail fastener fully into the workpiece using the second fastener driving tool comprises driving the nail fastener with a manual driving tool, such as a hammer or other hammering means.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a nail fastener, the method comprising the steps of: forming a nail fastener comprising a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, forming a first means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener on a first shank portion proximate to the head; and forming a second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first means for resisting outward movement are formed with a ent orientation from the second means for resisting outward movement.

Preferably, the method comprises g the first and/or second means for resisting outward nt by forming one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank.

More preferably, the method comprises forming the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for resisting outward movement at a ent angle from the ridges and/or s of the second means for resisting d movement.

In one embodiment, the method comprises forming the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for resisting outward movement at substantially 90° to the shank. More preferably the method comprises forming the ridges and/or grooves of the second means for ing outward movement at an oblique angle to the shank.

In a preferred embodiment of the ion, the step of forming the first means for resisting outward movement comprises forming a plurality of rings on the first shank portion. More preferably, the method of forming the plurality of rings comprises cutting a plurality of grooves into the first shank portion.

More preferably, the step of forming the second means for resisting outward movement comprises forming a screw thread on the second shank n. More preferably, the method of forming the screw thread comprises twisting the nail fastener.

Preferably, the method comprises forming a neck section joining the shank with the head, the neck section having a surface at an oblique angle to the shank.

Further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following description which provides at least one example of a practical application of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings One or more embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example only, and without intending to be limiting, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view illustration of a nail fastener according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustration of a building structure constructed using a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Figure 1 is a side view illustration of a nail fastener 10 according to an ment of the invention. Nail fastener 10 comprises a head 11, a shank 12 and a point 13 with the head 11 and point 13 being at opposite ends of the shank 12. The point 13 of nail 10 is configured to be driven into a ece upon application of a driving force to the head 11, for example by means of a hammer or an automated fastener driving tool. Examples of ted fastener g tools e nail guns and other powered fastener driving tools.

Nail 10 may be a fastener of the jolt head type, which may also be known as bullet head nails.

Jolt head nails generally have a head that is relatively small in diameter ed to flat head nails. As such, the diameter of the head 11 of nail 10 is only slightly bigger than the er of the shank 12. In the example shown in Figure 1, the shank 12 has a diameter of 3.15mm and the head 11 has a diameter of 4.5mm.

Jolt head nails can be fully driven into a workpiece in a countersunk manner so that the top of the head of the nail es below the surface of the workpiece. The resulting void may be filled by an appropriate filling substance, for example putty, e, caulk or the like. Since the filling substance can be sanded to provide a smooth surface with the workpiece and subsequently painted over, jolt head nails are useful for situations where nails are required to not be e, for example when mounting weatherboards to a building frame.

Nail 10 has different shank portions. Proximate to the head 11 is a ring shank portion 14.

Proximate to the point 13 is a screw shank n 15. The rings of the ring shank portion may be formed from protrusions or ridges from the main body of shank 12, or grooves in the main body, or a combination of both. The screw thread of the screw shank portion may be formed of a single spiral or helical ridge, as is known in the art. The ridges and/or grooves of the ring shank portion and the screw shank portion are oriented at different angles: the rings of ring shank portion 14 are protrusions oriented substantially perpendicularly to the shank 12 while the thread of screw shank portion 15 is a protrusion oriented at an oblique angle to the shank, such as at around 45° as shown in Figure 1.

When the nail is used to affix a workpiece to an , e.g. a weatherboard to a timber frame, the portion of the shank nearest the head 11 provides a holding tendency within the weatherboard while the portion of the shank nearest the point 13 provides a g tendency in the timber framing. Because the nail has some means to resist outward movement in both the workpiece and the object, the nail and the workpiece are firmly ined in position, giving the nail strong overall holding power.

In other embodiments of the invention the ridges and/or grooves of the shank portions may be oriented at other angles or may be present in different forms.

For example, in some embodiments of the invention, the nail comprises two ring shank portions, one ring shank portion with the rings oriented in one direction and another ring shank portion with the rings oriented in r direction.

In one embodiment, the ring shank portion proximate the nail head may comprise a plurality of rings at 90° to the shank while the ring shank portion proximate the nail point may se a ity of rings at an oblique angle to the shank. In one alternative embodiment, the orientation of the rings is the other way round, i.e. the rings near the head are oblique to the shank while the rings near the point are at 90° to the shank.

In the embodiments of the invention described above, the different orientation of the ridges and/or grooves n the two ring portions provides the nail with greater holding power compared to conventional ring shank nails. The two sets of ridges and/or grooves are oriented differently and therefore tend to oppose outward movement of either the nail or the workpiece the nail is holding in place in a different manner.

For e, the obliquely angled ridges of the thread of screw shank portion 15 in the embodiment of Figure 1 provide resistance to d movement all the way around the nail but, because of the angle of the thread, this resistance tends to be greater on the side of the nail on which the thread is angled towards (i.e. the right hand side of nail 10 as shown in Figure 1). The perpendicularly angled rings of ring shank portion 14 tend to provide generally even resistance to outward movement all the way around the nail. The combination of these ring shank portions has been found to provide a high amount of resistance to outward movement, or holding power. Experiments have suggested that a nail ing to the invention may provide -20% greater holding power compared to conventional nails.

More lly, some ments of the invention e nails comprising other means for resisting outward movement where the means are oriented differently between the first and second shank portions. For e, shank portions in other embodiments of the invention may comprise spikes, projections or flanges in other arrangements, for example in rows at a particular orientation.

Referring again to Figure 1, the shank 12 may also comprise a smooth shank portion 16 between the first and second shank portions 14 and 15. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 for example, the smooth shank portion is 35mm in length. This gives the nail greater strength compared to a nail without a smooth shank portion. The smooth shank portion may also allow small s of movement between the workpiece and the object to which it is affixed, for example during extreme weather conditions or seismic activity, which can prevent splitting.

In the same embodiment, the ring shank portion 14 is 10mm in length and the screw shank portion 15 is 30mm in length. These dimensions are provided by way of e and do not limit the invention.

Between the head 11 and shank 12 the nail 10 may comprise a neck section 17. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, neck section 17 ses a l section having a surface at an oblique angle to the shank 12. The surface of the neck section may be at any angle but some embodiments have the surface at an angle in the range 30°-60° to the shank. For example, the neck section in Figure 1 is at an angle of approximately 45° to the shank. The angled neck section helps to ease s of the nail into the workpiece and reduces the chances of the workpiece splitting.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustration of a ng structure constructed using a method according to an embodiment of the invention. The building structure comprises a timber frame on which are mounted cavity battens 21. rboards 22 are mounted on the cavity battens 21 to clad the building in such a way that a cavity is formed behind the cladding in the conventional manner. Nail fasteners 23 and 24 are used to mount the weatherboards 22 on the cavity battens 21 and frame 20.

In the exemplary method, a weatherboard is positioned where it is to be fastened. A nail is then driven in to the weatherboard, cavity batten and (if long ) the frame to fasten it to the cavity batten and/or frame. Advantageously, nails according to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 may be initially driven into the weatherboard using an automated fastener driving tool such as a nail gun. To prevent the weatherboard from ing it may be preferable for the power of the nail gun to be set so that the nail is not driven all the way in to the weatherboard but is left in the position of nail 13 shown in Figure 2, i.e. with the head of the nail protruding from the surface of the weatherboard. Driving the nails in to this on using a nail gun can be done quickly.

In the next step, the protruding nail is driven fully into the rboard using a manual fastener driving tool, for example a hammer or other hammering means. This causes the nail to assume the position shown by nail 24 in Figure 2, with the head of the nail below the surface of the weatherboard. In this position, filler can be added into void 26 above the head of nail 24, which can then be painted over to provide a smooth, ed finish without visible nails.

While the manual hammering step adds time to the process of using a nail gun to drive the fasteners into the weatherboard, it reduces the s of the weatherboard splitting.

Furthermore, the small amount of distance the nail needs to be driven between the positions shown by nails 23 and 24 in Figure 2 means that generally the manual driving step can be achieved in a single blow from a hammer, allowing a workman to quickly drive the protruding nails home. This final driving step may atively be performed by a further automated driving tool, for example one which exerts less energy and is therefore less likely to cause damage to the weatherboard. In one exemplary embodiment, an ECKO P90 air punch is used.

Embodiments of the invention also e a magazine for an ted fastener driving tool such as a nail gun where the magazine comprises a plurality of nails as shown in Figure 1 or nails according to any other ment of the ion. Magazines for nail guns are well known in the art and the manner in which nails may be housed, packed, joined or mounted together for use with a nail gun will not be described in detail. In one particular embodiment of the invention a plurality of nails are fixed to one or more wire strands, for example using a solder, and the nails and wire strands are rolled up to form a nail coil. Nail coils are suitable for use with many types of existing nail guns.

There will now be described an exemplary method by which a nail according to the invention may be manufactured. A nail having a shank, head and point may first be formed from a length of metal wire in a conventional manner. The first and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener are then formed on the first and second shank portions respectively.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the ring shank portion 14 may be formed by cutting into the shank to form the ridges and/or grooves around the shank. Methods for cutting rings into a nail shank will be known to those of skill in the art. The screw shank portion 15 may be formed by twisting the shank in a conventional manner.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the ption and the , the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

The entire sures of all ations, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the ation, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the ion and t diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such s and modifications be included within the present invention.

Claims (24)

Claims

1. A nail fastener comprising a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, wherein the shank comprises: first means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the first means being d on a first shank portion proximate to the head; and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the second means being located on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first and second means for ing outward movement of the nail fastener each comprise one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank; wherein the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for ing outward movement are ed at substantially 90° to the shank; and n the ridges and/or grooves of the second means for resisting outward movement are ed at an oblique angle to the shank.

2. A nail fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first means for resisting outward movement comprises a ring shank portion.

3. A nail fastener as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second means for resisting outward movement comprises a screw shank portion.

4. A nail fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shank ses a smooth shank portion between the first and second means for resisting outward movement.

5. A nail fastener as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the rings of the ring shank portion comprise a plurality of ridges.

6. A nail fastener as claimed in any one of the ing claims, wherein the nail fastener is a jolt head nail or bullet head nail.

7. A nail fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nail fastener comprises a neck section joining the shank with the head, the neck section having a surface at an oblique angle to the shank.

8. A nail fastener as claimed in claim 7, wherein the e of the neck section is at 30°-60° to the shank.

9. A magazine for a fastener driving tool, the magazine comprising: a plurality of nail fasteners; and means for holding the plurality of nail ers together for use with the fastener g tool, wherein each nail fastener comprises: a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, wherein the shank comprises: first means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the first means being located on a first shank portion proximate to the head; and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the second means being located on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first and second means for ing outward movement of the nail fastener each comprise one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank; wherein the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for resisting d movement are oriented at substantially 90° to the shank; and wherein the ridges and/or grooves of the second means for resisting outward movement are oriented at an oblique angle to the shank.

10. A magazine for a fastener driving tool as claimed in claim 9, n the ne comprises a nail coil.

11. A magazine for a fastener driving tool as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the means for holding the plurality of nail fasteners may comprise one or more wire strands on which are mounted the plurality of nail fasteners.

12. A method of ing a workpiece to an object, the method comprising: positioning the workpiece in the desired position ve to the object; driving a nail fastener partly into the workpiece and object using a first fastener driving tool; and driving the nail fastener fully into the workpiece using a second fastener driving tool, wherein the nail fastener comprises: a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, wherein the shank comprises: first means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener, the first means being located on a first shank n ate to the head; and second means for resisting outward nt of the nail fastener, the second means being located on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener each comprise one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank; wherein the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for resisting outward movement are oriented at substantially 90° to the shank; and wherein the ridges and/or grooves of the second means for resisting outward movement are oriented at an oblique angle to the shank.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of driving the nail fastener into the ece and object using the first fastener driving tool comprises driving the nail fastener with an automated or powered fastener driving tool.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the step of driving the nail fastener fully into the workpiece using the second er driving tool comprises g the nail fastener with a manual driving tool, such as a hammer or other hammering means.

15. A method of manufacturing a nail fastener, the method comprising the steps of: forming a nail fastener comprising a shank, a head and a point, the head being at a first end of the shank and the point being at a second end of the shank distal from the first end, forming a first means for resisting d movement of the nail fastener on a first shank portion proximate to the head; and forming a second means for ing outward movement of the nail fastener on a second shank portion proximate to the point, wherein the first and second means for resisting outward movement of the nail fastener are each formed by g one or more ridges and/or grooves around the shank; wherein the ridges and/or grooves of the first means for resisting outward movement are formed at substantially 90° to the shank; and n the ridges and/or grooves of the second means for resisting outward movement are formed at an oblique angle to the shank.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of forming the first means for resisting outward movement comprises forming a plurality of rings on the first shank portion.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the method of forming the plurality of rings comprises cutting a plurality of grooves into the first shank portion.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15-17, wherein the step of forming the second means for resisting outward movement comprises forming a screw thread on the second shank portion.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the method of forming the screw thread comprises twisting the nail fastener.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15-19, wherein the method comprises forming a neck n joining the shank with the head, the neck section having a surface at an oblique angle to the shank.

21. A nail fastener ntially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

22. A ne for a fastener driving tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the ments illustrated in the drawings.

23. A method of ing a workpiece to an object substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the gs.

24. A method of manufacturing a nail fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.