US2927324A - Power nail driving tool - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1960 J. L. oLLlG Erm. 2,927,324

POWER NAIL DRIVING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 23, 1956 IN VEN TOR. REUBEN V. MILLERMJOHN L.OLUG Mnavm s. HmscHuJnMEs mwrsnnom March 8, 1969 J. L.. oLLlG Erm.

POWER NAIL DRIVING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Filed Aug. 23. 1956 INVEN TOR. EN V. MILLERMJOHN L OLLIG MHRVIN E HIRSCHMJHMES MWESTERHOLM FIG/O REUB BY UJJLZZL'a/rrwon, Sa/wem,

/TTORNEY nited States Patent() POWER NAIL DRIVING TOOL John L. Ollig, Reuben V. Miller, and Marvin E. Hirsch, Winsted, Minn., and James M. Westerholm, Seattle, Wash., assignors, by mesne assignments, to First Bank of Grantsburg Application August 23, 1956, Serial No. 605,777

1 Claim. (Cl. 1-46) This invention relates to power nail driving tools by which a multiplicity of nails may be successively fed and driven into the work.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, Serial Number 530,514, filed August 25, 1955.

As in our co-pending application, it is an object to provide an eicient and simplified nail-driving tool which may be readily and conveniently employed with a mim'- mum of skill and effort on the part of an operator and which may be quickly and easily loaded without jamming and which is positive in action Without reliance upon gravity feed and is adapted to be used at any convenient angle and in relatively inaccessible corners and places where manual hammering is impractical.

While utilizing the mean features and principles of our earlier invention, our new nail-hammering tool provides a somewhat simplified and even more highly eilicient feeding mechanism which is automatic in operation and which positively prevents any danger of the jamming of nails even through inadvertence on the part of the operator.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a simplied and highly improved nail-holding magazine and its cooperative relationship with the feeding mechanism of the tool.

Still another feature is the provision through cooperation of essential parts, of a substantially shortened nailing tool and a better balance of weight of the various parts thereof to facilitate handling and operation.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views and in which:

Fig. l is a view mostly in side elevation with some portions brolren away to show interior parts of our improved power nail-driving tool, showing a nail in the last stages of being driven in a piece of work, the door of the magazine being shown in dotted lines when swung to full open position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of our improved device wherein the rear and lower portion of the structure is shown in side elevation and wherein most of the view is taken in vertical section taken substantially axially of the barrel and feeding sleeve, in this View the barrel of the tool being fully protracted;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation taken from the muzzle of the device with the nail detached, as indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig.l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the forward portion of the barrel with slots accommodating leaf spring nail-centering means;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the tool showing a nail held in the centering means at the forward end of the barrel;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on 2,927,324 Patented Mar. 8, 1960 "ice the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing the nail-receiving and centering device;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan View of the forward portion of the feeding sleeve and the barrel (with the magazine removed) and with important nail-guiding elements appearing in full;

Fig. 8 is a cross section on a larger scale taken on the line 8 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the structure of the torsion spring means for actuating the nail-advancing dog;

Fig. 10 is a detail axial section taken on a larger scale illustrating the structure of a knob and retaining element for cooperation with the nail-advancing dog in the magazine; and

Fig. ll is a side elevation illustrating one embodiment of a form of nail clip or tier of interbonded nails.

Referring now to our improved nail-hammering tool, a combined housing and handle member 13 is disposed intermediate of the ends of the tool and serves to rigidly support a forwardly extending exterior feeding sleeve 14, the rear end of which is threadedly attached as shown, to the interiorly threaded housing portion of member 13 at 14a. A locking nut 15 is applied forwardly of said housing and forcibly screwed against the forward surface of the same. The combined handle and housing 13 has a rigid laterally extending pistol grip 13a with an appropriately positioned slidable trigger 13b conveniently mounted for manipulation by the foreiinger of the user. At the rear of the combined handle and housing member 13 and axially with the feed sleeve 14, a short cylinder 16 is rigidly supported, being internally threaded within the housing portion of member 13 and provided with a locking collar 16a which is jammed against the rear face of the housing portion. As shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the pistol grip handle 13a extends laterally and medially of the ends of the gun, balancing the weight thereof to facilitate handling and operation.

A source of reciprocating power such as a pneumatic, electric or other motor, is supported from the housing and handle member 13 and in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is disposed at the rear of member 13 for more effectively producing a counterbalancing of the parts of the overall tool to facilitate portability and handling thereof in operation.

In the embodiment shown, the source of reciprocating power is a conventional type of pneumatic hammer such as is made by Skil Corporation of Chicago, Illinois, with some rearrangement of airports and valves to mount and house the hammer of the power source and most of the ports, valves and passages rearwardly of handle and mounting member 13 and to thereby foreshorten the forwardly projecting length of the tool from the handle. To this end, a fitting 17 is secured to the outer extremity of handle pistol grip 13a and is adapted to be connected by a flexible hose with a strong source of pneumatic pressure which may be obtained from a compressor or analogous device. Fitting 17 communicates with an upwardly extending air passage, not shown, which is controlled by a valve operated through slidable retraction of the trigger member 13b. The released air passes rearwardly through the upper portion of the handle through a fitting 18a, a horizontal pipe 18 and into a chamber 19a formed laterally at one side of a header casting 19. Header 19 has the conventional passages therein of pneumatic hammer mechanism of the class described and is generally of cylindrical cross section, the forward end being rigidly connected to the rear end of the cylinder 16 by a heavy snap ring 20 and connection collar. Projecting forwardly from the front end of the casting 19 and into the rearward portion of cylinder VVs message 16 is axially disposed, relatively short reciprocating hammer P constituting a conventional part of thepneucation of the sleeve and barrel, in the VoperationV of theV Vtool. Y

The nail-hammering rod 22 is actuated and urged to retracted position by means of a forwardly tapered vor` bee-hive type of coilV spring 24 which-is anchored in its rear convolutions to the forward portion of cylinder 16 and which at its forward portion surrounds and engages a .shoulder 22a formed by an enlargement at the rear portion of the hammer rod 22 which enlargement extends .for a few inchesterminating rearwardly in the abutment previously described which is spaced a short distance forwardly Vof the forward end of the reciprocating hammer P.

The barrel 23 is urged forwardly to protracted position Y -Y relative to sleeve 14 by suitable means such as an elongated coil spring 25 surrounding loosely the nail-hammering rod 22 and having its rear end abutted against a shoulder 14h provided near the rear extremity of feed sleeve i4 while its forward end is Vabutted against the rear extremity of the barrel 23. Thus, the barrel 23 is protracted until-the forward end thereof is pressed by manipulation ofthe handle 13a against the work where the'nailing is-to be accomplished. l

Efficient-slide means are provided forY guiding the -barrel 23 in `its' longitudinal sliding' and reciprocation within sleeve 14. To this end, as shown in Figs. S and v2 and 3, a straight longitudinal slot 26 is cut through one side of sleeve 14 (the top, as shown in Fig. 2) and a second similar slot 27 is longitudinally formed at the side of sleeve 14 (see Fig. 8), said slots terminating in abutments Yaorded by the stock of the sleeve to precisely limit forward and rearward movement of the barrel within the sleeve. Narrow slide blocks 28 and 29 respectively work in the slots 26 and 27 and are rigidly affixed to the barrel 23 and to a semi-cylindrical saddle member Sila Y by suitable means such as the threaded bolts 31. Thus,V the saddle 36a slides relative sleeve 14 along with the barrel 23 with which it is rigidly connected.

Saddle 30a constitutes the upper and connection portion of nail-magazine-frame 3i) which extends laterally from the barrel 23 and sleeve 14 in the general central plane ofV kthe pistol grip 13a. The magazine frame 30 audits connector saddle 3in1, are preferably reinforced by two Yormore reinforcing ribs 30h (see Fig. 3) which extend transversely of feedsleeve Vi4 and merge into the'V general exterior surfaces of the frame.' On the inner surface of the frame 3G, a laterally extending curved guiding 'ribV 30al is provided, disposed in `rather close spacedrelation to the rear flange 39d of the plate which acts as a closure for the rear of the magazine. The spaced relation of rib 30e and flange 30d contines the heads of a tier oi nails arranged in a predetermined relation, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 1l and as will be more fully describedin detail. Additional ribs 30e are preferably provided'havling smooth surfaces at the same elevation as the bearing surface of rib 36C for engaging the shank portions of a series of nails inthe/overlapping head formation illustrated.V

A magazine door and side plate 32 is hinged along its forward edge to the'rigid forward flange 30] of the magazine frame, being of similar conguration to the frame '30 and carrying at its free edge'a spring retainer clip 32a which is adapted to engage and secure with the rear iiange Sd of the magazine frame. The door plate 32 at its inner and outer edges relatively to sleeve 14 and at its free edge is anged forreinforcement and to afford accommodating depth. At Vthe interior outer edge, as shown in Fig. l, the door is further reinforced by a bar'33 which also projects slightly to interengage the ange at the outer edge ofthe magazine ,frame 30 and thereby,`to precisely'align .the opposing flange edges of the'two parts forming the magazine body. A nail-advancing-dog 34 is swingably mounted within the confines of the magazine, in the embodiment shown, being attached and pivoted upon the,` inward, forward corner of the inside of door plate 32'and being urgedV inwardly relative to sleeve 14 by suitable means such as a spirally arranged spring 35 (see Fig. 9) having its inner end anchoredto a fixed pivot post 34aand having its outer end provided with a detent which abuts against -a short post provided by a cylindrical `housing 36 to which the arm of dog 34 is fixed.

Nail-advancing'dog 34 as shown, has an enlarged head 3ft-b `which is adapted as illustrated in Fig. 2 to engage Vthe medial portion of a series of nails Vpreferably in clip formation, to normallynrge the sarne inwardly towards a nail-receiving slot S, formed appropriately .longitudinally in Vsleevefll and Ilocated adjacent to the forward end of said sleeve;

To vfacilitate outward `swinging of the nail-advancingV dog 34 and to retain the same infull open position for nail-loading, we provide a knob and retaining mechanism, illustrated Vin detail in Fig. l0. In Vthe form'shown, this mechanism comprisesja .rigid pin 37 affixed to the head 3411 of the dog and extending perpendicularly to said head, andthroughan arcuate slot 32e, appropriately formed in the door plate 32 of the magazine, and extending concentric'ally'of the cylindrical housing 36 of dog 34. Said -pin 37 at lits enlarged inner portion is slidably surrounded by a spring-pressed retaining sleeve and knob 38 and has attached as by a screw 39 to its Vouterextremity,

a small disc 37a of somewhat'larger diameter than the reduced outer portion 37b of the pin. Knob-sleeve 3S slidably engages Ydisc 37aand is urged inwardly-against the outer face of magazine-door plate 32 kby suchrneans as a coil spring 39 abutted at its outer en'd'against disc 37a and abutted at its inner end against an interior annular flange 33a which surroundsrmedially the reduced portion 37b of the pin. The enlarged inner portion of the pin 37 slides smoothly in Yslot 32C and said slot at its outer end terminates in van enlarged circular recess 32d which is of a diameter to accommodate the knob sleeve 38, the sleeve being pressed inwardly by spring 39 when dog 34 is swung fully outwardly through the medium of the knob sleeve, thereby vretaining dog 34 in full open position for loading of the magazine. l

' A multiplicity `of nails N for selective feeding and subsequent hammering, are arranged preferably in a peculiar tier formation as illustrated inligs. 2 and ll. As shown, the nails of Va series lie in a common general plane with the successive heads of the nails from outermost position, inwardly relative to the nail yniagazine and .feeding sleeve 14 overlapping, heads being abutted against Shanks of the adjacent outwardly disposed nail and the tipportions of the nails being substantially abutted, as clearly shown. Thus, Vthe series of nails intier formation convergeV from their `heads to their tips and in the magazine as described, are in most compact forni, and furthermore, :through such convergence and their advancement inwardly impelled by dog 34 and guided lby arcuate rib 30C, present the innermost nail longitudinaliy of the nail-receiving slot Sin feeding sleeve it and ina slightly inclined Arelationto said slot and sleeve for subsequent feeding and guiding Vby telescoping movement 'cf sleeve 14 over barrel 23 rather than through conduits,passages ing said nails forwardly and longitudinally fof the barrel;

for ultimately in the cycle of operation projecting a nail within the barrel to a position to be driven and for preventing positively jamming of successive nails in the feeding and hammering operations as well as in inadvertent release of the tool during pressure-applied hammering operation before a nail is fully driven into place. Such mechanism comprises a number of closely related cooperating parts which will now be described. To assist in the understanding of the function of said parts, we would first state assuming the magazine loaded, whenever the barrel 23 is fully protracted forwardly of sleeve 14, a nail (usually the innermost nail of the nail clip) is positioned in the receiving slot S of sleeve 14 because of inward urging on the part of nail-advancing dog 34 (see Fig. 2). Thereafter, longitudinal movement of the sleeve 14 with the muzzle of the barrel 23 abutted against the work causes the sleeve 14 to telescope over the barrel 23, rst forwardly moving with sleeve 14 the forward end of the nailing rod 22 until said end pushes the nail N-1 in Fig. 2 into centering means 45 within the forward end of the barrel and thereafter through very rapid hammering strokes and with application of further pressure longitudinally of the gun, causing the nail to be fully driven into the work.

At the same time that the foregoing hammering operation occurs, sleeve 14 moves forwardly relative to the barrel 23 and an abutment S2 at the rear end of the nail-receiving slot S forces the then innermost nail forwardly through certain guide slots and passages longitudinally disposed of the sleeve and in sleeve and'barrel, until the preceding nail is fully driven, whereupon the second nail passes through a longitudinal communication passage X in the lower side of the forward portion of the barrel as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, being disposed then below and in Contact with the forward portion of the reciprocating hammer rod 22, as shown in Fig. l. Thereafter, as feeding sleeve 14 and the combined mounting and handle 13 are retracted longitudinally and rearwardly away from the work, the second nail is moved from its position shown in Fig. l into the position of the nail N-1 of Fig. 2, ready for the next hammering operation, and is moved inwardly within the axial portion of the barrel by a multi-function spring-pressed dog 46, which is pivoted to the magazine frame 30.

Referring now to Fig. 7 which is a bottom plan view f the feeding sleeve and barrel (with the magazine, saddle 39a and of course, dog 46 removed and with the barrel fully protracted or extended), it will be seen that the nail-receiving slot S is a little longer than the length of nails utilized; extends through the forward end of sleeve 14 and has a nail-head-receiving enlargement S-1 at the rear end thereof, partially defined by a nail-headabutment S-Z which in forward movement of the sleeve 14 relative to the barrel, pushes a nail forwardly, ordinarily stripping the same from the inward end of the magazine.

The longitudinal, communication passage X in the forward portion of the barrel is longitudinally aligned with nail-receiving slot S; is shaped in conformity to the configuration of the nails utilized with adequate clearance laterally and end-wise and includes the nail-headreceiving aperture X-1 at the rear portion thereof together with an extension passage or slot X-2 extending rearwardly of the opening X-l and longitudinally aligned with slots X and S. The height of slot S (thickness of the slotted portion of sleeve 14) is slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the head of the nails utilized.

Rearwardly of the sleeve-nail-receiving slot S and the sharp nail-head abutment S-2, sleeve 14 is provided with a longitudinal nail-guiding and camming rib S-3 longitudinally aligned with slot S and preferably having a length slightly greater than the length of the nails utilized. A rearwardly inclined camming surface S-4 merges into the sharp nail-abutment S-Z at its forward portion and 6 is slightly contoured concavely to properly guide the head of a nail in vertical alignment with the camming rib S-3.

The cooperative functioning of the camming rib S-3, sleeve-nail-receiving slot S and the nail-advancing mechmism of the magazine isV very important to prevent jamming of an imprisoned nail N-2 (see Fig. 1) in the event that through inadvertence of the operator, a first nail N-l is only partially driven into the work when the tool is pulled away from the work with a second nail N-2 (see Fig. 1) disposed partially within the barrel below and in contact with the reciprocating hammer rod 22. In such event withdrawal of the tool from the work through the inuence of protracting spring 25, causes sleeve 14 to move rearwardly relative to the barrel 23 and to the nail magazine affixed thereto. In such rearward movement of sleeve 14, the imprisoned nail N-Z in nail receiving slot S (see Figs. 1 and 2) is in aligned relationship with the normal, innermost position of the nails in the clip of the magazine. The camming rib S-3 in such rearward movement of the sleeve 14 relative to barrel 23 produces an outward pressure against the top nail N of the clip of nails in magazine 30, thereby providing space for return of the nail N-2 in Fig. l, if such inadvertence in withdrawal of the tool occurs on the part of the operator.

From the foregoing explanation of the close cooperating parts and structure of our device, it will be seen that no jamming of nails in ordinary and proper operation of the tool is possible but even in-the case of inadvertence on the part of an operator in prematurely withdrawing the tool from the work before completing the hammering operation, an imprisoned nail in the slot S of the feeding sleeve cannot be jammed with the innermost nail of the magazine.

Brief reference .has been made to the nail-centering mechanism at the outer end of the barrel 23. As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, a satisfactory mechanism comprises a pair of leaf spring members 45 anchored at their rearward ends by suitable screws 41 within slotted portions 23a of the barrel. These slotted portions inwardly define inclined spring-engaging surfaces 42 which limit inward movement of the springs and assist in guiding the same. The leaf springs 45 at their forward ends are contoured to a cross sectional shape 45a of semi-circular configuration and cooperate as clearly shown in Fig. 6, to center and receive the point and forward shank of a nail axially of the barrel 23.

The multifunction nail-guiding and actuating dog 45 is swingably mounted on a pivot screw 46a passing through the rearward end of the dog and being affixed to the magazine frame 30 at the rearward end thereof. Pivot screw 46a is disposed adjacent the dispensing end of the nail magazine and medially of the width thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inward and working surface of dog 46 is gradually curved from the pivoted end to the free end thereof. Dog 46 is urged inwardly by suitable means such as the spiraled leaf spring 47 applying pressure against the outer surface of the dog at a point eccentrically of and forwardly of the pivot 46a. Inward movement of dog 46 is limited by a pair of transversely aligned projections 46h which engage the outward longitudinal shoulders provided through the nail passage X in the barrel.

Our nailing hammering tool is by no means limited for use with an interbonded clip of nails, as is illustrated in one form in Fig. 11. Nevertheless, it is particularly well adapted and closely cooperates with the overlapped head-tier relationship of nails whether bonded into clips or loosely arranged within the magazrne.

As shown in Fig. 11, a multiplicity of nails arranged in tier formation as previously described, are interbonded by suitable frangible material such as certain of the plastics or by thin coatingsA of soft or weak metals.

Thermosetting plastics may be used `and such metals' lead alloys, Vconnnercial solder materials and ,17,0d materials commercially utilized in metal'spraying may be 'Y employed, sprayed or applicator-applied to one or more .zones extending rtransversely of the held and arranged may be included in each clip and the magazine comprising frame 3i) and plate 32 may be of such length as to accommodate several clips. The successive innermost nails of the utilized clip are `successively and positively stripped o of the remaining nails in the magazine during successive operations of the tool with the abutment stripper S-2 at the rear ofthe nail-receiving slot S, positively engaging the head of a nail and moving the same forwardly as the forward end of the barrelis pushed against the work, telescoping the sleeve 14 over-barrel 23.

The Aforward portion of :frame 30 Visv affixed to the barrel by a metal plate 43 .having an .outward shank portion 43u which is rigidly Vsecured against the Vinner surface of the frame 3i) of the magazine. ,Plate 43 has a relatively wide barrel-attaching Vportion 43b which ,ex- Vtends through the open nail passage X and is welded as indicated in Fig. 3 to the sides of the barrel dening passage X.

. Operation The functions of most of the cooperating parts have been described previously in conjunction with the preceding description. v

To load the magazine, the nail-advancing, dog armY 34 is swung downwardly by grasping Vknob handle 38 on the exterior of magazine doorhplat'e 32V, sliding it outwardly in the arcuate slot 32e until it has reached vextreme position in the enlargement recess 32d where the spring 3S automatically locks the dog. Magazine door 32 may then be readily swung to Vopen position, giving complete access to the interior of the magazine andnails Vare loaded in thefmagazine frame 30 with the Vheads thereof disposed inthe groove G dened between rib 3de andthe rear flange 30d of the magazine frame with the nails pushed to innermost position relative to sleeve 14. The door 32 may then be closed and retained by spring Vclip 32a and the sleeve Vknob 38 pulled i outwardly, releasing the sleeve lfrom aperture 32d whereafter the spiral spring 35 urges the dog arm inwardly against the loaded nails. i

The barrel 23 of our nailing tool is normally protracted outwardly by the coil spring 25 with the parts then positioned as shown in Fig. 2. `Y Y r[he reciprocating piston P provided by the conventional pneumatic mechanism or motor-driven mechanis'm is' purposely spaced in its retracted position several inches rearwardly of thev retracted positionY of the hammering rod 22, as shown in Fig. 2. This is to enable top forward momentum Vof piston vP to Vbe achieved before 'impacting the rear extension 22b of the hammering rod'."'The hammering rod 22 isV reciprocatedonly through a short stroke', for example betwe'envsl and i/g ofan inch. Y In utilizing the tool, the entire weight thereof may be supported from one hand of the operator by Vthe pistol grip handle 13a and the tool maybe directed downwa'rdlypupwardly'or obliquely, as desired and may be applied in restricted corners and places where' manual hammering is practically impossible.

Y In power-hammering, the tool is advanced longitudinally against theV work with the muzzle of barrel 23 pressed perpendicularly against the surface of the work 'to be nailed. For structural jobs, crating, etc., it Vis'ofte'n desirable to provide the extremity of barrel w23 with circumferentially arranged serrations or teeth 23t to engage 1the -workand .eliminate slippingof-the barrel until drivingris begun, Vbut vthis isventirely yan elective feature.

As previously recited, longitudinal `forward movement of the tool causes sleeve i4 to telescope over the barrel 23, the magazine of course having always a fixed relation to thebarrel since it is secured theretoand slides in the sleeve through the slide mechanism illustrated in detail injFig. 8. e The positive stripping of a nail by th'e. abutmentS-Z at the rear endV of Vthe nail-receiving slot S in the forward portion/of sleeve 14 has .been described in detail. It is positive in action and with the cooperation Vof the extension passage and groove X-2 in the barrel,

the nailing passage VX land nail-head-receiving opening X-1 causes a second nail to be Vforced by dog 46 into the interior of the barrel when the VVtool is again moved away from the work and the barrel fully protracted through action of the coil spring 25. In connection with the stripping and guiding of the Vnails N successively from the series, the peculiar arrangement of the overlapping heads of the nails with the' converging of the nailsforwardly towards their points, causesgthe innermost nail to be inclined slightly in an inward direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby aiding in a cleancut stripping action. f Y

In Fig. 1, the nail Nf is shown almost fully driven to Vplace lwith theY second nail N-2 riding beneath the then reciprocating hammering rod 22 and urged against the hammering rod by d og 46. Iffthe operator inadvertently withdraws the tool from the work thinking the hammering completed, which is very unusual, the centering springs 45a release from engagement with nail N-.l and its head (leaving the nail in the work),

nail N-Z still being imprisoned within the nail-receivingv slot S Yat the forward portion of sleeve 14.

VAs the tool continues to be` withdrawn from Vthe Work, sleeve 14 retractsrrelatively tothe barrel whereby upon full withdrawal the .magazine frame 30 affixed lto the barrel is ultimately positioned in the at rest position relative to the nail-receiving slot S of the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 2. In such movement, the slightly protruding curved camming surface S-3 axed to the ,Sleeve just rearwardly of the nail-receiving slot presses von the innermost nail, thereby providing space for accommodating the imprisoned nail N-Z when the barrel Yis fully protracted to the position shown in Fig. 2. Thus, there is no possibility of the 'head vof nail N-2 jamming against the forward point of the innermost nail of the Vmagazine even when the operator is inadvertent inV his withdrawal of the tool from the Work. v

In conjunction with the relative movement of the nail imprisoned'in' nail-receivingslot S of the sleeve, it is desirable to provide the barrel just rearwardly of the nail- Y receiving-opening X with the extensionY groove YX-Z which serves to guide the forward end of the nail in inclined relation upwardly and thereafter,V to receive and guide the head of the imprisoned nail until the barrel is lfully retracted with the head of the nail aligned with opening X-.1 and whereafter dog 45 accomplishes its secondV function as shown in Fig. 2, by pushing thefnail bodily kinward through the nail passage X into the barrel.

From ,the foregoing description it will'be seen that we have Vprovided `an improved, simplified and highly eicient power nail-driving .tool of very Vcompact shape and structure and wherein the successive feeding of nails is all internal in the structure as contrasted with prior art Vdevices Where outwardly or laterally projecting conduits or feeding mechanism is required, furnishing obstrucposition for hammering within the forward portion of the barrel without any possibility of successive nails jamming even through inadvertence on the part of the operator.

Closely cooperating with nail-feeding and guiding mechanism, we provide a novel and highly etcient, readily accessible magazine which is adapted to employ loose nails disposed in a predetermined tier arrangement and which is particularly well adapted for supplying nails from a bonded clip or plurality of bonded clips.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

In a power nail-driving device, a tubular barrel, a nailfeeding sleeve slidably mounted on said barrel and surrounding the same, means for urging said sleeve to retracted position relative to said barrel with said barrel being extended beyond the forward end of said sleeve when the device is in rest position, an elongated hammer rod axially mounted within said barrel for independent reciprocating movement therein, a nail magazine extending laterally of said barrel and supported therefrom and having an open inner nail delivery end in juxtaposition to the exterior of said sleeve, means within said magazine for urging a series of nails yarranged in tier formation toward said nail delivery end and inwardly relative to said sleeve, said sleeve having a longitudinal nail-receiving slot therein registering with the nail delivery end of said magazine when said sleeve is fully retracted relative to said barrel, said opening being defined at its rear end by an abutment for engaging and stripping 0E the innermost nail from the said magazine during movement of said sleeve relative to said barrel, a longitudinal nail passage formed in said barrel and longitudinally aligned with said nail-receiving slot of said sleeve and disposed forwardly thereof, and a resiliently mounted guide dog in said barrel passage for urging a conned nail inwardly for ultimate axial position in said barrel ahead of said hammer rod.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,554,128 Robertson Sept. 15, 1925 2,430,321 Anstett Nov. 4, 1947 2,585,941 Juilfs Feb. l19, 1952 2,671,214 Juilfs Mar. 9, 19,54;

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