US3167778A

US3167778A - Fastener packages

Info

Publication number: US3167778A
Application number: US231223A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold T Decot; Norman S Derrah
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1962-10-17
Filing date: 1962-10-17
Publication date: 1965-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-02

Description

Feb 2, 1965 v H. T. DEcoT ETAL 3,167,778

FASTENER PACKAGES Filed Oct. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventum' l Norman J.' Der/"ah By thai/"Attorney Feb. 2, 1965 Filed Oct. 17, 1962 H. T. DECOT ETAL FASTENER PACKAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2, 1965 H. T. DECO-r ETAL 3,167,778

' FASTENER PACKAGES Filed Oct. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 6 mf.; E

XXI

United States Patent Oiice 3,1%??? Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,167,778 l FASTENER PACKAGES Haroid T. Decot, Wenham, and Norman S. Derrah, Lynn,

Mass., assignors to United lfhoe Machinery Corporation, FierningtonN..I., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Get. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 231,223 17 Claims. (Cl. 1-56) This invention relates to packaged articles and more particularly to packages of articles, such as fasteners and the like, which may be used with automatic and semiautomatic fastener inserting tools.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 148,252, filed October 27, 1961, and now abandoned.

Continuously increasing use is being made today of manual and power operated fastener driving tools to which fasteners, such as nails and the like, are supplied in prepackaged cartridges. age or cartridge is that the fasteners must be assembled or oriented therein in such manner that they may be driven directly from the package without the need for removal and/or additional orientation.

Another requirement of the package is that it be simple and foolproof to prevent the fastener becoming jammed orrclogged inthe tool, while at the same time it must be inexpensive to manufacture.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an inexpensive package for articles, such as fasteners, wherein the articles are assembled and oriented so that they may be readily removed from the package one at a time by the normal operationof an instrument, such as av fastener inserting tool.

Another yobject of this invention is to providea package of assembled and oriented fasteners from which fasteners may-be driven one at a time without disturbing the arrangement of the remaining fasteners.

Another-object of this invention is to provide a fastener package for use with driving tools which package is simple and sufliciently inexpensive to justify being discarded when the fasteners have been removed and which permits av saving in time in the operation of the tools.

In accordance `with these objects and as a feature r,of this invention there is provided a package of articles, such as fasteners and the like, in which the package is prefer- One requirement of a packof parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular packages shown embodying the invention are by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. l is a side elevation of a fastener package made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of another fastener package made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III ou FIG. 1; I

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV on FIG. 1 and showing a fastener before its securing stitch has been ruptured;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the fastener after its securing stitch has been ruptured;vr

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of another form of fastener package made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII on FIG. 6; l

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views similar to FIG. 7 wherein the fastener is shown positioned in slightly different relationships to the holding strip;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X on FIG. 11;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of another fastener package made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII on FIG. 11;

FIG. 173 is a sectional view taken along the lin XIIIXIII on FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 is aside elevation of another fastener package made in accordance with the invention; l

FIG. 15 is a sectional view 'taken along the *line Xv-Xv on FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional View taken along the .line

XVI- XVI on FIG. 17;

ably a unitary strip of sheet material with releasable means A ormembers securing the articles individually to one side of the strip. The articles maybe fasteners, such as nails, screws or the-like, or any other article having a shank and at least one enlarged end. The releasable members securing the articles to the strip are generally arranged in a line and may include staples, rupturable stitches, frangible cement or adhesive, or the releasable means may bey formed integrally'with the strip as yieldable spring fingers which hold the articles individually so that one article at a time may be released from the strip while all of the others' are retained in engagement with the'strip.

The articles are oriented "and arranged relatively to each other andthe strip is so constructed that when each article is driven in a direction generally lengthwise of its axis,y

engagement between its` enlarged end land a predetermined portion of the strip produces a component of force normal to the strip to cause tension to be applied progressively tothe individual strip portion or discrete member securing it to the strip until it ruptures or otherwise releases its holding power upon the article. No special removing elements are` required other than a driver or other means for urging the articlelengthwise of its axis.

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations FIG. 17 is a side elevation of a fastener package made Y in accordance with this invention wherein the holding means are an integral part of the strip itself;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line XVIII--XVIII on FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX on FIG. 18; FIG. 20 is another modication of the package similar to the FIG. 17 package; and, y

FIG. 2l is a sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI on FIG. 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention is illustrated embodied in a package of headed fasteners wherein the holding means are frangible stitches. Thevpackagecomprises an elongated holding strip 2 of Asheet material herein indicated as being liber but which may be any iirm substance, such las paper, cardboard, plastic, metal or the like. A plurality of fasteners, herein illustrated as common nails 4, are each secured by a single stitch 6 to the straight as shown. The strip also may be curved. The

head 12 of each nail 4 is shown to bein engagement with the'surfaceli of the strip Zand at least a portion of its shank 16 also engages the surface 14. The stitches o are herein illustrated as chain stitches each of which engagesl the shank 16 of one nail, and when individually ruptured,

in theV manner hereinafter to be disclosed, will not release of cement or other adhesive may be applied to the re-V verse side of the stitch line. The use of a'strip made of plastic impregnated fiber also lends additional holdin power to the lineof stitches.

' It Will be notedv in FIG., 1 that the axes A ofthe ynails 4 are parallel to each other and at right angles to the major axis B of the strip 2. FIG. 2 shows an alternative manner of assembling the nails 4 in packaged form wherein their axes A are paralleland inclined at an angle to the major axis B of the strip. Their heads 12 are in contacting, overlapping relationship relative to each other.

VThe angleupon which the artes may be most etiiciently oriented relatively to the strip ,is taught in United States Letters Patent No. 3,031,670, granted May 1, 1962, in the name of Frederick S. Sillars.

ReferringV to FIGS. 4 and 5, which arel sectional views i of Vtl'ie'strip shown in FiG. 1 and are alsoillustrative of the package shown in FIG. 2, the axes A Yof the nails are fastener machines of the type shown in UnitedStates Let# tional. Only a single stitch or" each vline holdseach nail to thezstrip 24. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the. heads 12 engaging the surface ofthe upper Vmarginal. camming area 23 while'FGS. 8 and 9 -show `alternative arrangements wherein the heads 12 initially are out of engagement with the cammingsurface 28. lFIG. 8 shows the head below the upper edge .36 of the strip. and FIG. 9 the head 12 above the upper edge 36. In each instance, however, the

kheads'12 are vengageable with the surface of the inclined either being initially in engagement with the camming surface .2S lor engageable therewith upon movement, is urgedor cammed outwardly by thefsurface 28, a cornponent of force normal to the; strip applying tension to Y the individual stitch 6 engaging its shank 16. Depending These packages f ters Patent No.- 3,012,247, granted December 12,` ,1961, in

the name of Frederick S. Sillars, wherein fasteners are indi-` vidually removed from a package by a plunger which en# gages the heads one at a time and drives them substantially lengthwiseof their axes into a work piece. As a nail is moved downwardly of the strip with its head 12 moving Vtoward the stitch 6, it will be seen that the point 13, which Y is thejunctionVV between the head and the shank of the nail.

at Ythe point most remote fromlthe surface i4 of the strip, will move downwardly in a path substantially/,parallel with the surface-14 along the dotted line shown in FIG.

4.I Thismaintains the upper portion of theshank 16 away` from thesurface14.V This movement progressively applies `tension to the stitch until it'ruptures, as shown in FlG. 5,

and the fastener becomes released from the strip r2 with the remaining fasteners stillin engagement therewith'.

upon the tightness of the lline of stitches, the stitch 6 will rupture either before .the Vhead reaches the central area 26 or shortly thereafter as tension further increases. The lower stitch, Le., in the liney Mlwillf'rupture in the same manner as those shown in FGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 101through 12 illustrate a modified form of the strip shown vin FIG; V`6. The modified strip may be made ot the same substance vas in the strips hereinabove described and includes, as does'the FIG; 6'strip, a marginal Vcamming surface or area 2S inclinedfat an acuteangle to a central. area designated generally by-gthe reference characterS and the axes A of the assemblednails; This strip also if desired, may include a lower marginal in-V clined surface 30 although it is not necessaryto the invention. l r r r Y,

In the central area or surface of the FIIG'. 10 strip there vare formed by die rolling, stamping-,molding or the like,

a line of ridges40, each ridge being separated byl a valley 42 of approximately the .same diameter as the shank-1610i the nailtobe secured to the/strip. The

valleys arek oriented parallel-to veach other-andV on. an angle with respect tothe major axis B of thef strip as taught in the above-identified Sillars Patent `No. 3,031,-

n 6,70(v The valleys-42 receive Vthe Shanks 16' offthe nails While the fastenersshown in the drawings are common i nails, this invention is not limited to that type noris it limited to Vnails of any kind but is equally applicable to yelongated articles in general having a shank; and an enlarged end. For example, screws may be secured to theV holding strips and arecapable of being removed thereand adjacent ridges, i.e..a pairof ridges `assist the

lines

32 and 34 of stitches 6 in maintainingthe nails in oriented, shingled and parallel r'evlationsliip'.v The vridges'iand valleys'ttl, 42 also olferadditionalrigidity to the strip in a direction transverselyfof `thefmajor ,axis B,'i.e`., lengthf 46,542- also will assist in camming the. fasteners outwardfrom inthe sameV manner as the nails` herein disclosed. 1

Furthermore, a wedgefshaped nail, i.e.r one having no discernible head, such as a cut flooring nail'or horseshoe nail,

would operate torrupture the stitches in the same manner as a common or sinker nail. The articles must have Shanks and at least one enlarged end.

FIGS. 6 through V9illustrate. a modified formof a strip.; 60 Thisstrip of sheet material may .be madegof the 24. same substances as the strips illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, but it includes a first area or surface26 also known as the central yarea or surfaceand a second marginalarea .or

camming surface 28 inclinedV at an vacuteangle to lthesurface 26. The vnon-planar strip 24, if desired, may also include a lowerjmarginal surface 30 which, while` it has no function in releasing the fastener from the strip,.produ'ces than the flat strip-2 of FIGS. "l `to`5,.or onel having only by two lines of stitches 32, k354, the second line being ,op

a strip ofv channel-like crosssection which is more rigid; i

ly of the strip as their headsk 12 move over the ridges, furth'erto .insure rupture of the :stitches 6 forming the lowerY line 54. v f

FIGS. 13 through; 15 illustrate stillanothervmodication of the fastener strip which includes/ in the central area 26 or rst surface,sa 'singleqline" 7 kof individual stitches 6 securing fasteners, vsuch'asnails, to thevstrip.V VThis strip uwill' be seen to include two;parallel lines41 andl 43 offridges 44 and valleys 46 located. on 'opposite sides of the surface 26..v `The ridges-41L and 43 Aare formed as La continuation of'upper and lower-inclined surfaces .or

areas-Maud 5tlg respectively,and are located inwardlyk of their edges. The-.areas 48, and will .bef seen to `be `slightly longerithan thecorresponding surfaces 28 and single stitch line 7 through k,the centralportion 26Vof thestrip.. Y In neither vthe FIG. 11 northe FIG. 14 modilication n is it necessary for' the nailfshankl to -be-y assembled in; initial-engagement ,with the? flatportions` ofthey central areas 3S and 26 of the respective strips. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, the heads 12 of the fasteners may either be initially in engagement with or be engageable with the camming surfaces 28 and 4g. Fasteners oriented as such are removed from the FIG. 11 and FIG. 14 strips in the same manner as they are removed from the FIG. 6 strip.

While all of the foregoing modifications are illustrative examples of fastener holding means in the form of one or more lines of stitches with the fastener being held by one stitch of the line it forms a part of, in accordance with this invention the holding means may be any equivalent yreleasable means, for example, a line of staples, one

staple of a given line holding the fastener to the stripf Upon being cammed outwardly of the strip, the staples legs would pull out of the strip or the staple would rupture. Another equivalent of either the stitches or the staples is either a continuous or interrupted line or frangible cement or adhesive by which each nail or the FIG. 14 modification, for example, would be secured to the central area 26. The frangible adhesive or cement would pull away from the area 26 of the strip upon the application of suliicient force or would break out around the nail. The individual adhesive dabs could be independent of each other or merge into one another forming a continuous line of adhesive. It is also contemplated that the adhesive could be applied over the entire portion of the nail shank overlying the strip in the valleys 46, as well as, in the central area 26. Similarly, in the modification shown in FIGS. 6 and 11 the nails may be v secured by more than one line of dabs of adhesive or continuous lines of adhesive. Furthermore, the adhesive may engage a length of the shank of the nails so as to secure a longer portion of the nail shank to either the valleys 42 and/or the liat lportions of the

areas

38 and 26 of the FIGS. 1l and 6 modifications, respectively;

FIGS. 16 through 18 illustrate one, and FIGS. 19

,through 21 illustrate another modification wherein the holding means are not necessarily frangible nor will they separate from the strip but in each instance are integral yieldable portions of the strip. In the FIG. 17 modilicationA the Shanks 16 of common nails 4 lie within grooves 52 similar to the grooves 42 of the FIG. 1l modification of the strip. However, the strip is made from a relatively flexible plastic material. Each nail is held within the valleys or grooves '52 by a pair of lingers 54 aranged in a line 55. The fingers 54 are formed by indenting or otherwise causing the plastic material of the ridges 56 between the grooves to expand laterally overlying portions of the grooves 52. For example, a heated roll which is moved under pressure along the axis B of the strip in engagement with the ridges 56 will melt or soften the ridges to form the lingers 54, it

being seen in FIG. 17 that the lingers are depressed slightly below the upper surface of the ridges 56'.

The FIG. 17 strip is also provided with a camming surface 28 as are the FIGS. 6, l1 and 14 modifications, the lower marginal deflected leg 5S of the strip being optional andbeing used primarily to increase rigidity of the strip and prevent bending transversely of its axis. The nails are removed from the strip in the same manner as in the prior modifications wherein their heads or enlarged portions are cammed outwardly by the surface 2S, whereupon tension is applied to the yieldable fingers 56 which will then release the nails. The FlG. 17 fastener strip has the obvious advantage that since the holding means are not destroyed, the strips may be reused after the nails have been driven from it.

FIGS. 19 through 21 illustrate still another reuseable form of strip having yieldable means for holding fasteners `or other articles to the strip. Each article, again illustrated as a nail, lieswithin one of Ia plurality of parallel grooves llarranged in aline through the central portion of the strip. Each groove is covered by a pair of yieldable, elongated, curved fingers, the pair forming what might be considered a roof 62. The holding means thus resemble a series of parallel tunnels in the surface of the strip, the roofs-62l being lcurved upwardly from the grooves 69 and each having a slit 64 extending lengthwise of the holding grooves. The holding members may also be considered as releasable pockets or fingers. It will be noted that the strip, which is also formed of a yieldable plastic or the like, has a camming surface 2S whereby when the nail is urged downwardly, its head 12, as in the similar modifications, engages the surface 2S causing the shank le to be urged outwardly against the inner surface of the roof 62 whereupon the lingers 61 will open along the slits 64 permittingthe nail to movey laterally out of the pockets. The FIG. 2() modification may also be relilled with fasteners as may the FIG. 17 modification.

It will he seen from the numerous illustrations that a package of articles made in accordance with this invention includes a strip of packaging material to which a plurality of articles are secured by frangible or releasable means including members, such as, staples, stitches, frangible cement, or releasable fingers or pockets. The articles may be oriented in various ways relative to the strip but an enlarged portion, such as the head or broad end of a tapered nail, mus-t be in engagement or become engageable with at least a portion of the strip which acts as a camming surface in order to pull out the holding staple, rupture a stitch, break the adhesive bond or yieldably urge the article out of a groove or pocket in which it is held. The axes of the articles shanks are initiallyv inclined at acute angles at least with a portion of a surface of the strip, i.e., the respective camming surfaces. Note also that in all modifications the nail heads or the equivalent enlarged end part of the articles if it is a cut flooring nail or horseshoe nail for example, are initially spaced from the stitch or other holding member or strip portion which secures its shank to the strip, and at least a portion of the shank engages the strip initially in every modification. In other words, more than just the head of a fastener-must be initially in engagement with the strip.

Having thus described our invention, `what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A package of articles such as fasteners and the like, each article having a shank and an enlarged end, said package comprising a strip of sheet material, at least one line of rupturable stitches securing the articles to kthe strip, each article being secured by. a single stitch of each article having a shank and an enlarged end, said package comprising a strip of sheet material, at least one line of releasable plastic lingers securing the articles to the strip, each article being secured by a single pair ofreleasable fingers of the line of which` they are apart, said strip including means cooperative with the enlarged end Aof each article to exert `a component of force normal to the strip when the article is moved lengthwise yof itself thereby to releasel the article from the plastic fingers securing it to the strip. v

3. A package of articles such as fasteners `andthe like, each article having a shank and an enlarged endproviding a head angularly projecting from the shank, said package comprising only a single strip of sheet material having at least one line of releasable members removably securing the articles to a side of the strip with the axis of yeach article forming an acute angle with at least a portion of the side surface of the' strip, each article having spaced contacts with the strip surface at its head and its shank, each article being secured by a single member of the line of which it is a part engaging its shank at a location spaced from its enlarged head end. c

one line of rupturable stitches removably securing the articles to the strip with the axis of each article forming an acute angle with at least a portion of the surface of thel strip, each article being secured by a single stitch of the line of which it is a part engaging its shank at a location spaced from its enlarged end.

5. A package of articles such as fasteners and the like.

each article having a shank and an enlarged end, Said package comprising a Strip of plastic material and at least one line of releasable plastic fingers removably securing the articles to the strip with thefaXis of each article for i-- ing an acute angle with at least aportionof the surface of the strip, each article being securedbyy a single pair of fin-gers of the line of which they are -a part," said fingers engaging the shank of the article .at a location spaced from its enlarged end.` Y

6. A package of articles Such as fasteners and the like, each article having a shank and an enlarged end providing a head projecting laterally from the shank,-the package comprising a unitary strip of sheet material havingv at least one line of releasablemembers removably securing ythe articles to one side of the strip, a single securing member of the line of which it is a part engaging the shank of each article, each article being oriented with the axis of its shank at an acute angle with at least a portion of thegsurface of said one side of the .strip and with its enlarged end engageable with said portion `and spacedfrom said `securing member before said'member releases the article, there being a triangular opening defined by said 'side of the Strip and that portion of the shank ofA each article adjacent to its head, whereby when the enlarged end of the article is moved toward Vthe securing ymember engagement between lthe enlarged end` and said .surface'causes tension to be applied progressively to the securing member until it releases the article.

7. A package of articles suchras fasteners and the like, each larticle having a shank and an enlarged end, the

lpackage comprising a strip `of sheet material and at least one line kof rupturable stitchesremovably Securing ythev articles to the strip, a single Stitch of the line of which it is a part engaging the shank of each article, veachV Iarticle being oriented With the axisV of its shank at an acute angle with at least a portion of the surface of the.

strip and withyits enlarged end- .engageable with Said portion and spacedfrom said stitch before the stitch releases the article, whereby when the enlarged end of the article is moved toward the Stitch-engagement between the enlarged end and said surface causestension to be applied progressively to the stitch until it ruptures and .releases the article.

' 8.'A package of Aarticles such as fasteners and the,

like,` each article `having a shank and an enlarged end,

the package comprising a strip of plastic material and at securingthe Shanks of thearticles to theV strip with' at least a portion of the Shanks overlying said marginal area Va first area and a second marginal area inclined at an acute angle thereto, rupturable stitches in the first area securing the Shanks `of the articles to the strip with at leasta portion of the Shanks overlying said marginal area and with the enlarged ends spaced from said stitches and engageable with said marginal area.

lll A package of articles such as fasteners 'and the like, each article having a shank and ancenlarged end,

the package comprising a strip of plastick material having a first area and-a Second marginal area inclined at an acute angie thereto, releasable plastic fingers in :said first area Securinthe Shanks of the articles to Vsaidstrip with at least a portion of the` Shanks overlying said marginal area and'with the enlarged ends-spaced from said re leasable plastic lingers and engageable with said marginal area.

12. A package of articles suchas fasteners andthe like, each article having a shank andanenlarged end, the package comprising a StripV of sheet material having a first area and a` second marginal area inclined at an acute angle thereto, releasable members-,in therst area securing the Shanks of the articles to the strip with at least a'portion of the Shanks overlyingsaid marginal area and with the enlarged ends spaced ,from said releasable securing members and engageable with said marginal area, and-atleast one Vline of spaced ridges in said first area with the shanks of thearticleslying between adjacent individual ridges of ,the line `of which they are a part.

13. A package ofarticles such as Vfasteners andthe like, each article havingfa shank and an enlarged end, the .package comprisinga strip of sheet material having a first area anda Second marginal area Vinclined atan the package comprising a Strip` of Sheet material having i akcentral area and two marginal` areas inclinedv atacute angles to the central area and diverging away 'from each other, two lines of lspaced parallel ridgesiextending lengthwise of the strip `inwardly ofytheouter'edges "ofqsaid marginal 'inclined areas, releasable members inthe central area between 'saidV lines-ofiridgessecuring lthe Shanks an acute angle with atleast a portion of the surface of i the stripvvandwith its enlarged end engageable with" Said portion and spaced from said pair yof fingers before said fingers yrelease kthe article, whereby when the" enf larged end ofthe article is moved towardthe pai'rvof fingers engagement between the enlarged rend Aand .Said

surface causesvthe article lt-o apply vtension progressively 'to the fingers until they release the article'. Y 9. A package of articles such as fasteners andthe like, each article having a shankyand an enlarged end,

the package comprising a stripof sheet material having i Y a first area and a second marginal'area inclined at'an acuteangle thereto, releasable members yin the first area of the articles to said strip with the shankslying between adjacent individualk ridges of each line and rat least a portion of the Shanks overlying one marginal inclined area with the enlargedy endsengageable therewith 'and spaced from saidreleasable: Securing members.

l5. A package of articles Such'as fasteners and the like, each article havinga shankand an enlarged end,

vrthe package comprisinga strip of Sheet material having a"cent ral area Land two marginal areas inclined at acute angles to thecentral area and diverging awayfrom each other, two lines of parallelv groovesv extending lengthwise of the Strip inwardly of the outeredges ofy the, marginaly in a single groove of each line-and at least va yportion-ofr the shankoverlyingone marginal inclinedarea Vand with the enlarged end engageable therewith and spaced from said releasable securing members.

16. Ar package of articles such as fasteners and the like,V each article having a shank and an enlarged end,

the package comprising a strip of sheet material having a central area and -tWo marginal areas inclined at acute angles to the central area and diverging away from each other, two lines of parallel grooves extending lengthwise of the strip and located inwardly of the'outer edges of kthe marginal inclined` areas, a line of ruptrable stitches like, each article having a shank and an enlarged end? the package comprising a strip of sheet material having a central area and two marginal areas inclined at acute angles to the central area and diverging away from each other, two lines of spaced parallel ridges extending lengthwise of the strip and located inwardly of the outer edges of said marginal areas, a line of rupturable stitches in i the central area between said lines of ridges securing the Shanks of the articles to said strip with each article lying between adjacent individual ridges of each line and secured by a single stitch and with at least a portion of the Shanks overlying one marginal inclined area with the enlarged ends engageable therewith and spaced from said line of stitches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,175 2,867,806 Ganton Jan. 13, 1959 3,031,670 Sillars May l, 1962 Proutyl Nov. 12, 1889

Claims

3. A PACKAGE OF ARTICLES SUCH AS FASTENERS AND THE LIKE, EACH ARTICLE HAVING A SHANK AND AN ENLARGED END PROVIDING A HEAD ANGULARLY PROJECTING FROM THE SHANK, SAID PACKAGE COMPRISING ONLY A SINGLE STRIP OF SHEET MATERIAL HAVING AT LEAST ONE LINE OF RELEASABLE MEMBERS REMOVABLY SECURING THE ARTICLES TO A SIDE OF THE STRIP WITH THE AXIS OF EACH ARTICLE FORMING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SIDE SURFACE OF THE STRIP, EACH ARTICLE HAVING SPACED CONTACTS WITH THE STRIP SURFACE AT IES HEAD AND ITS SHANK, EACH ARTICLE BEING SECURED BY A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE LINE OF WHICH IT IS A PART ENGAGING ITS SHANK AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM ITS ENLARGED HEAD END.