WO2003057416A1

WO2003057416A1 - A fastener-driving apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2003057416A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bradley Walmsley
Original assignee: Bradley Walmsley
Priority date: 2002-01-09
Filing date: 2003-01-09
Publication date: 2003-07-17
Also published as: AUPR988102A0

Abstract

There is disclosed a fastener driving apparatus (20) that includes a body member (22) having a work piece engaging base (27), a fastener driver (21) supported by the body member at a desired position relative to said work piece, a handle (23) extending from the body member, an urging means (37) adapted to urge the work piece into a fixing position, and a trigger (34) remote to the fastener driver and operable to actuate the fastener driver to drive a fastener into the work piece. Advantageously, the fastener driving apparatus may reduce the amount of time that an operator of the apparatus has to bend or stoop.

Description

A FASTENER-DRIVING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a fastener-driving apparatus.

This invention has particular, but not exclusive application to, a fastener- driving apparatus used to lay flooring that conceals the fastener from view, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application.

Background of the Invention

Numerous fastener-driving tools are known in the art for driving a fastener through a workpiece to be fixed to another object. The term "fastener" is to be considered in the broadest sense, referring to any fastener that is capable of being driven into an object in order to fix, secure, make fast, join or otherwise attach that object to another object. Examples of fasteners include nails, staples, pins, brads, studs, rivets, threaded fasteners such as screws, and the like.

The fastening application of concealing the nailing in timber strip flooring is becoming more popular. The nails are concealed from view by driving the nail diagonally, usually at an angle of approximately 45°, through the side edge or tongue of the floorboard into the sub-flooring, framework, battons or the like that are supporting the flooring and then when the next board is fitted it covers the nail head. Concealed nailing may also be known as secret nailing or invisible fixing. It should be understood that the nailing is just a typical form of fixing floor, but could also encompass any other fastener other than a nail as described above.

Presently, the most common method of performing concealed nailing involves the use of a hand-held fastener driving tool which is operated by a hammer blow to actuate the nail ejection in the workpiece, such as is described in United States Patent No. 4,907,730. The operator is required to strike an actuator that is located on the driving tool with a hammer or mallet. This has the dual purpose of clamping the boards together and firing the staple. This prior art method is illustrated in Fig.1. However, we have recognised a problem associated with using hand-held fastener driving tools is that the operator may have to bend over at an angle of approximately 90° for extended periods of time. If the operator is constantly working manually at an inclined position, the operator is likely to experience back pain, which in the long term may be detrimental to one's health.

The prior art has indicated that these methods may be very labour intensive and time consuming. As such, United States Patent No. 6,269,996 and related Application No. 2001/0050301 have attempted to address the problem of increasing the speed of the operation of concealed nailing of floorboards by mounting the fastener driver into a wheeled carriage that is movable along the flooring surface. The apparatus has a complicated, bulky setup requiring the carriage to have a carriage support assembly to counter the weight of the driver mounted in the carriage. Due to the bulkiness, the apparatus would not be practical for fixing timber strips close to walls. The carriage assembly further includes a guide member and a biasing means in order to urge the carriage to stay on the secured floor members by pushing the handle. However, it is well know that timber strip boards may be slightly warped and an urging force is generally required to be applied to the board to be secured to ensure that the board is properly placed with respect to the previously secured floor board. United States Patent No. 6,269,996 and related Application No. 2001/0050301 clearly focuses on speed and the problem of keeping adjacent boards closely fitted to each other is not even considered. Therefore, it appears that increasing the speed of the fastener-driver apparatus as described in the aforementioned patent and application may not necessarily translate to a quality finish.

It would be advantageous to provide a fastener-driving apparatus that may reduce the amount of time that an operator has to excessively bend or stoop as compared to the prior art systems when laying floors with concealed nailing, whilst providing an apparatus that may be relatively simple and practical to operate. Summary of the Invention

This invention in one aspect resides in a fastener-driving apparatus including: a body member having a workpiece engaging base; a fastener driver supported by the body member at a desired position relative to the workpiece; a handle extending from the body member; an urging means adapted to urge the workpiece into a fixing position, and a trigger remote to the fastener driver and operable to actuate the fastener driver to drive a fastener into the workpiece.

In one preferred embodiment, the urging means may be an impact imparting device such as a hammer, mallet or the like that may be utilised by an operator to impact the fastener-driving apparatus. It is preferred that the body member receives the impact. This may allow the force from urging means to be transmitted to the workpiece through the fastener-driving apparatus which may move the workpiece into a desired fixing position with respect to an adjacent secured workpiece. The body member may be provided with a striking surface to receive the impact. Preferably, the trigger is located on or associated with the striking surface such that the trigger is actuated when the body member is struck by the urging means.

In a second preferred embodiment, the urging means may include an engaging system or mechanism which is a component of the fastener-driving apparatus. For example, the fastener-driving apparatus may include an engager that may directly or indirectly apply an urging force upon the workpiece which is then transmits to the adjacent secured workpiece. As the workpiece to be secured is generally horizontal, the force may be applied laterally.

In a further alternative, the engager may relatively engage the workpiece through the fastener-driving apparatus, which may also be positioned at a point relative to the workpiece, such as at a position on a floor joist or sub-flooring. In this case, the engager may engage the floor joist or sub-flooring and, as such may provide a reaction point whereby relative movement between the engager and the workpiece provides a force that cramps the workpiece to an adjacent secured board.

An engaging system or means may include one or more spikes that may engage a fixed point relative to the board or workpiece or other object to be fastened during firing. The engager, spike or otherwise may engage the sub- flooring, floor joist or the like providing a reaction point whereby relative movement between the fastener driver and the engager imparts a floor-cramping on the workpiece board to be secured prior to fastening. In one example, the handle may be configured to act as a lever controlling the separation between the workpiece and the spike. Alternatively, the engager may provide a leverage force onto the workpiece by any suitable pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic means or the like.

The body member may include an adjustable frame which may be made from any suitable metallic or polymeric material that has sufficient strength to support the fastener driver. In other embodiments, the frame may accommodate any type of known fastener driver, whether custom made or simply bought off the shelf. The frame may be preferred is some aspects as it will allow the interchangeability of various fastening tools. Advantageously, this form of the body member allows for the use of many fastener driving tools, such as a nail gun, a staple gun, etc. In addition, this embodiment allows for the fastener driver may be removable from the frame for replacement or maintenance purposes.

Alternatively, the body member may support the fastener driver by other structural mechanisms other than a frame. For example, the body member may be integral with the fastener driver to support at the desired position. As such, the fastener driver may be an individual tool that may be used interchangeably with the fastener-driver apparatus or the fastener driver may custom made to be integral with body member to be used for selective use.

The body member may be made out of any suitable material, wherein the strength and weight are considered relative to the operation being performed. Suitably, the body member may be made from aluminium, high impact plastics, steel or similar composite like materials. The aluminium may be alloyed to increase its strength. For example, the addition of copper, magnesium and zinc may afford the aluminium alloy greater strength after heat treatment. In an alternative, the body member may be made from ABS plastics. This may provide the advantage of high strength with lesser weight. Depending on the application it would be understood by a person skilled in the art would be able to determine a suitable material for forming the body member that takes into consideration of strength versus weight depending on the operation.

The workpiece engaging base may take the form of a flat base plate that has an aperture, annulus or other shaped opening therethrough whereby the fastener driver may drive the fastener through the base into the workpiece. Suitably, the fastener driver may be pneumatically powered, electronically powered, spring actuated, explosive actuated, electro-mechanical such as by a solenoid mechanism or a fly wheel mechanism, or the like. More suitably, the fastener driver is a pneumatically powered nail or staple gun.

Depending on the application, a person skilled in the art would be able to determine the appropriate angle of attack for firing the fastener driver in order to fasten the object of interest. For example, for secret nailing when laying flooring the fastener driver may be inclined such that the fastener is driven into the workpiece at about a 45° angle into the sub-flooring. The nosepiece of the fastener-driving tool, through which the fasteners are successively driven, may be modified to accommodate the inclination of the tool. For example the nosepiece may be bevelled to present an end face substantially in the plane of the base plate so that the nosepiece does not extend through the plane of the workpiece engaging base that may rests on, for example, a board to be nailed.

The handle may be of extendible length, so that the operator can work in a substantially upright position. Suitably, the handle is elongate and extends from the uppermost position of the frame. In a preferred embodiment, the handle may be extendible from the frame to a height that enables an operator to operate the fastener-driving apparatus in a standing position. In one embodiment, the handle may be telescopically extendible. Alternatively, the handle may be fixed at a suitable length to enable an operator of any height to operate the fastener-driving apparatus in a standing position. Further it should be understood that the handle may also be pivotally connected to the frame. The trigger may take any suitable form as dictated by the choice of the fastener driver. The trigger may transmit a hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic, mechanical or any other suitable signal to an appropriate receiver or actuator in order to trigger the appropriate firing response from the fastener driver. In the case of pneumatic tools, the trigger may comprise a manually activated trigger that when triggered may transfer air via a line to a valve that responds to actuate the fastener driver. Of course, it is well understood that triggers and their manner of connections and actuations are well known in the art.

The fastener-driving apparatus may also include safety means. For example, there may be provided a safety switch for preventing accidental firing of the fastener driver when not in use. The safety switch may be operable manually between a standby or safe position and an actuating position, such that when the safety switch is in standby position, the trigger cannot enable the discharge the tool. In a preferred embodiment, the safety switch may be automatically reset to the standby position after each discharge in order to prevent false firing while the operator repositions the fastener-driving apparatus to the next firing position. In this way, the operator may be required to set the safety switch to the actuating position before fastener driver will fire. The safety means may also comprise a safety interlock whereby the fastener driver cannot be operated unless the base plate portion is resting on the workpiece.

The fastener-driving apparatus may include one or more wheels to assist in moving the fastener-driving apparatus. In one embodiment, the one or more wheels may be lowered when the safety switch is in a standby position to allow safe movement of the fastener driver without false firing. When the safety switch is in an actuating position, the one or more wheels may be raised in order to prevent movement while firing. Where fitted, the safety interlock may be selected whereby the interlock is engaged and the fastener driver rendered inoperable thereby when the wheels are lowered for movement.

In the case of secret nailing of floor boards, the workpiece engaging base may comprise a step adapted to engage the leading edge of a board to be nailed whereby the step may be urged toward the edge to clamp the board snugly against the preceding board, suitably with a downward force component to urge the board intimately against the joist. The step may be adjustable in height such as by forming the engaging base in two parts having adjustment means disposed therebetween. By this means the step may be optimized for a particular board thickness. Further, the spike of the engager may be raised when the fastener-driving apparatus is being moved to the next firing position. In one embodiment, the engagement of the spike in a clamping system may also be controlled by the safety switch. For example, if the safety switch is on standby then the spike may be disengaged or raised and if the safety switch is in an actuating position then the spike is engaged or lowered.

The fastener-driving apparatus may also include a lifting strap that may take the strain of lifting the fastener-driving apparatus from the operator's back. The strap may be a loop-type strap that is adapted to pass over the shoulder and may be attached to the fastener-firing apparatus by any suitable means. For example, the strap may be attached to the handle by a clip. The strap may also be adjustable to suit the operator's height.

The present invention is particularly suitable for the secret nailing or stapling of tongue and groove floorboards. However, it is to be understood the invention can be used in any analogous application of driving fasteners into any horizontal or inclined surface.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a body member for a fastener-driving apparatus, the body member having: a workpiece engaging base, means for supporting a fastener driver, a striking surface for receiving a force imparted by an impact imparting device, a trigger operable to actuate the supported fastener driver to drive a fastener into a workpiece, the trigger being associated with the striking surface such that the trigger is operable when a force is imparted to the striking surface. The fastener driver which can be supported by the body member may be any suitable fastener driver. It may be seen that the body member may be used to adapt a conventional type of nail gun or a nail gun suitable for use in the construction of concealed flooring.

Description of Drawings In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an example of the prior art method of secretly fixing tongue and groove floorboards; FIG. 2 is the full rear-right side perspective view of a fastener-driver apparatus in accordance with the invention as described;

FIG. 3 is a partial front-right perspective view of the frame supporting the fastener-driver tool;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear-right perspective view of the frame supporting the fastener-driver tool;

FIG. 5 is a partial front-left perspective view of the frame supporting the fastener-driver tool;

FIG. 6 is a partial rear-left perspective view of the frame supporting the fastener-driver tool; FIG. 7 is a full top perspective view of the fastener-driver apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a partial front-top perspective view of the frame supporting the fastener-driver tool;

FIG. 9 is a full bottom perspective view of the fastener-driver apparatus, FIG. 10 is a full side cross-section view of fastener-driver apparatus; FIG. 11 is a partial left side view of the fastener-driver apparatus in use;

FIG. 12 illustrates the use of a lifting strap in conjunction with the fastener- driver apparatus;

FIG. 13 is full front right side perspective view of a second embodiment of a fastener-driver apparatus in accordance with invention as described; FIG. 14 is a partial front view of the second embodiment of a fastener- driver apparatus; FIG. 15 is a partial front left side perspective view of the second embodiment of a fastener-driver apparatus;

FIG. 16 is a partial left side view of the second embodiment of a fastener- driver apparatus; FIG. 17 is a partial right side view of the second embodiment of a fastener- driver apparatus;

FIG. 18 is a partial right view of the second embodiment of a fastener- driver apparatus showing internal features in phantom;

FIG. 19 is a full left side bottom perspective view of the second embodiment of a fastener-driver apparatus;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a hammer that is suitable for use in accordance with the invention as described with respect to the second embodiment, and

FIG. 21 illustrates the use of a second embodiment of a fastener-driving apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

For purposes of this description, words such as "top", "bottom", "left",

"right", "front", "rear", and the like are applied from the perspective of the operator holding the tool in his hand. Furthermore, these words are used in conjunction with the drawings for purposes of clarity. As would be well known, tools of this nature can be held in substantially any orientation dictated by the work being done.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art fastener driving system 10 used to secretly fix tongue and groove floorboards by concealing the nails, staples or other fasteners. In the known prior art systems for fixing flooring boards and concealing the fasteners, the operator 11 is required to bend over at angles of approximately 90° in order to position and activate the fastener driver 12 on the floorboard to be secured 13. In hindsight of the present invention, the reason for the bending is that the actuator 14 is positioned on the fastener driver 12. Generally, the reason for this is that the operator 11 wants to ensure that the board 13 to be secured is sufficiently clamped into position with the adjacent secured board by hitting the fastener driver 12 with a hammer 45, mallet or the like. As such, it has always appears to be the most efficient method to allow the dual operation of firing the fastener driver 12 upon the impact of the hammer 15 on the fastener driver 12 to allow firing and clamping in the single action. However, this feature of having the actuator 14 positioned on the fastening driver has been prevalent for at least a decade or more. Due to the requirement that the fastener driver is positioned a preferred angle of 45° to the floor board 13 being fixed, the actuator 14 is consequentially also fixed in position as it is directly attached to the fastener driver 12. The history of prior art devices indicates an unchanging means of actuating the fastener driving device. As previously mentioned there have been devices that have attempted to increase the speed of the fastening process through the use of a carriage. In order to obtain a quality finish, the prior art teaches that an operator of the fastener driving device must stoop to enabling suitable clamping of adjacent boards as well as actuation of the firing mechanism of the fastener driver. Despite the long history of the prior art systems to install flooring with concealed nailing, no one had previously recognised the need to provide quality flooring installing systems without the need for the operator to have to substantially stoop that may result in back pain.

Example 1

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 13, there is illustrated a first embodiment of the fastener-driving apparatus 20 in accordance with the invention which allows an operator 11 thereof to work in a standing position. The fastener-driving apparatus 20 includes a fastener-driving tool 21 supported in a body member such as a frame 22 having an handle 23. In the embodiments as depicted, the fastener-driving tool 21 is a pneumatically powered nailer or stapler.

The frame 22 includes left and right parallel side plates 26 extending vertically from a base plate 27 that is adapted to be positioned on a workpiece, such as a floor board 41 and floor joist 43, when the apparatus 20 is in operation. This positioning of the base plate 27 on a floor board 41 and floor joist 43 is illustrated in FIG. 11 and is described in more detail hereinafter. The upper ends of the left and right plates 26 are spaced but connectively joined via a spacing bolt 29. An upper support bracket 24 and a lower support bracket 25 are connected between the left and right side plates 26 to support the fastener- driving tool 21 in two regions providing a suitable incline to allow an appropriate firing angle of the fastener onto the workpiece to be fixed. When secretly fixing tongue and groove floorboards, the fastener-driving tool 21 is positioned to enable the fasteners to be fired into the floorboard at 45°.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the base plate 27 has an annulus, aperture or the like 28 to permit delivery of the fasteners therethrough into the workpiece to be fixed. For the purposes of secret nailing or stapling of timber floor boards, the base plate 27 is stepped in height at step 19 to allow the front portion of the base plate 27 to sit on top of the board 41 to be fixed. The step 19 forms part of a clamping arrangement 37 described hereinafter.

The extendable handle 23 is pivotally connected to the spacing bolt 29. The handle 23 includes a tubular lower handle 30 that telescopically receives a tubular upper handle 31. A handle clamp 32 allows for the extension or shortening of the upper hand 31 to a suitable length applicable to the operator's height and preference to enable the operator to work in a standing position without a stoop. The upper handle 31 includes an air safety switch 33 and an air tool operating switch 34 which is operatively connected to the firing mechanism of the fastener-driving tool 21 via distributor valve 15 and flexible air line 16. The tool operating switch 34 is movable between a resting position and a firing position. The safety switch 33 is movable between a standby position whereby the fastener-driver tool 21 cannot be fired to an actuating position where the tool 21 is able to be fired by actuation of the tool operating switch 34. Movement of the safety switch 33 to the standby position also causes operation of a wheel actuator 17 to engage a wheel 36 and a spike actuator 18 to disengage a spike 40 as described hereinafter. Movement of the safety switch 33 to an actuating position also causes operation of the wheel actuator 17 to disengage the wheel 36 and the spike actuator 18 to engage the spike 40 as described hereinafter. The safety switch 33 is automatically reset to the stand-by after activating of the tool operating switch 34 in order to prevent false firing while the operator re- positions the fastener-driving apparatus 20 to the next firing position. As such, the operator will need to always reset the safety switch 33 to the actuating position before they can activate the firing mechanism of the tool 21.

The frame 22 may also includes a wheel support arm 35 to assist in providing at least one of the aforementioned wheels 36 to enable the lateral movement of the fastener-driving apparatus 20 from one firing position to the next.

As anticipated above, the apparatus 20 also includes a clamping arrangement 37 to prevent movement of the fastener-driving apparatus 20 during the dynamic firing action and to cramp the board 41 to be fixed to the established floor. The clamping arrangement 37 may provide a method through which the floor-boards 41 can be clamped tightly, and in particular if for example the boards 41 are bowed. The clamping arrangement 37 includes the engagement of the aforementioned step 19 with the board edge 42 and further includes the aforementioned spike 40 which selectively engages the floor joist 43 or floor substrate in response to operation of the safety switch 33 to the firing position. The clamping arrangement 37 illustrated in the figures includes a clamping arm 38 pivoted to the rear side of the spacing bolt 29 and pivotally moveable by inclining the handle 23 relative to the apparatus body or frame 22. A clamping bracket 39 supports the aforementioned spike 40 and is attached to the lower end of the clamping arm 38. The clamping arm 38 and bracket 39 also include an air actuator responsive to an actuating safety switch 33 position and operable to provide the aforementioned movement to engage and disengage the spike 40. The spike 40 is raised (disengaged) when the fastener-driving apparatus 20 is being moved to the next firing position.

The operation of the clamping and wheeling mechanisms are both dependent on the position of the safety switch 33. For example, if the safety switch 33 is on standby then the spike 40 may be raised or disengaged from a clamping position and the wheel 36 concurrently lowered to enable ease of movement of the fastener-firing apparatus 20. If the safety switch 33 is in an actuating position then the spike 40 is lowered engaging the sub-flooring the wheel 36 is raised to provide a firm base and to prevent movement of the apparatus 20.

Of course, it should be well understood by a person skilled in the art that the firing position and/or clamping arrangement 37 are adjustable to the workpiece that requires fastening. In these circumstances the clamping bracket 39 is adjustable in relation to the number of spikes 40 contained therein and of course, the clamping arm 39 may be adjustable according to the relative angle of the fastener-driving tool 20 and the clamping arm 38. The fastener-driving tool 21 may be adjustable according to the upper and lower support brackets respectively 24, 25 and may be relative to the position of the clamping apparatus 37.

Generally, upon manual actuation of operating switch 34 triggers the fastener driver tool 21 by sending a signal to a valve 16 via a signal line (not shown). Upon receipt of the signal by the valve 16, generally if the fastener driver tool 21 is pneumatic then air flows from the valve 16 to actuate the fastener driver tool 21. Of course, the operating switch 34 may actuate the fastener driver tool 21 by other means such as hydraulic means, electronic means, mechanic means or the like. It is to be understood that a person skilled in the art may utilise any type of operating switch 34 to trigger the necessary response from the fastener driver tool 21 without any inventive faculty. In addition, the safety aspects of the operating switch

Mill finish aluminum may be utilised in the design and construction of the frame 22 and handle 23 of the fastener-firing apparatus 2. The need for a lightweight tool dictates that a lightweight material be used comprehensively throughout the construction. Strength may not be as important as weight in this application. The wearing of moving parts is a consideration when using aluminum as it is a relatively soft metal. To alleviate wear, nylon or urethane bushes are used to separate wearing surfaces. As the in-service conditions will be generally dry, galvanic corrosion is not considered significant and so standard steel and stainless-steel fixings will be used throughout. Aluminum in its various configurations e.g. flat bar, rectangular hollow section (RHS) and tube can readily be obtained and more significantly is easily machined and fabricated. Of course, any other suitable materials, such as steel, may also be used to fabricate the frame. In an alternative, the body member, handle and/or integrity or the fastener driver may be formed from high impact plastics, such as ABS or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the fastener-driving apparatus 20 may also include a lifting strap 44 that may take the strain of lifting the fastener-driving apparatus 20 from the operator's back. In the illustrated embodiment, the strap 44 is a loop-type strap that is able to pass over the shoulder and is attached to lower handle 30 a clip. The strap 44 is adjustable to suit the operator's height. In use, the operator of the fastener-driving apparatus 20 sets the safety switch 33 into an actuating position that enables firing of the fastener-driving tool 21 , disengages the wheel 36 from the floor board 41 , and engages the spike 40 into the floor joist 43. The disengagement of the wheel 36 prevents movement of the apparatus 20 during the firing of the driving tool 21. The engagement of the spike 40 also assists in preventing movement of the apparatus 20 during and additionally urges the board edge 42 to snugly clamp the preceding board edge 42 intimately against the floor joist 43. The operator then activates the tool operating switch 34 to fire the fastener, such as a nail or staple, from the fastener driving tool 21 into the floor board edge 42. After firing the fastener tool 21 , the safety switch 33 is automatically reset back to a standby position whereby the wheel 36 is engaged or lowered and the spike 40 is disengaged from the floor joist 43 or retracted. When the safety switch 33 is in standby position the apparatus can be easily wheeled to the next region of the flooring that requires fixing. When the operator reaches the next suitable fastening position, the operator again sets the safety switch 33 to an actuating position to allow the activation of the tool operator switch 34.

Example 2

Referring now to FIGS. 16 to 21 , there is illustrated a second embodiment of a fastener-driving apparatus 50 in accordance with the invention that enables the operator 11 to use a hammer 45 to simultaneously urge and actuate the fastener driver. In many cases, the operator 11 may prefer to use a hammer 15 as the impact imparting force resulting from the hammer 45 striking the body member 22 may provide a more effective force to enable appropriate clamping of the board to be secured to secured floor board. In this embodiment, the fastener- driving apparatus 50 similarly includes a frame 22 that supports a fastener driver 21 and includes left and right parallel side plates 26 extending vertically from a base plate 27 connected at the upper end via one or more spacing bolts 29.

In addition an upper support bracket 24 and a lower support bracket 25 are connected between the left and right side plates 26 to support the fastener- driving tool 21 in two regions providing a suitable incline to allow an appropriate firing angle of 45°. In this embodiment, the fastener driving apparatus 50 still includes a fastener driver tool 21 , which could be still interchangeable with another fastener driver 21. Of course, it is to be understood that in the embodiments as depicted, the fastener-driver tool 21 is preferably a pneumatically powered nailer or stapler. In this embodiment, the body member or frame 22 may be provided with a striking surface 51 to receive the impact from an impact imparting device, such as a hammer 45, mallet or the like. Preferably, the striking surface 51 is also a trigger 52 that simultaneously actuates the fastener driver 21 as well as upon receiving the impact from the hammer 45 may urge the workpiece into a fixing position. As such, the dual action of impacting the striking surface 51 by the impact member such as a hammer 45 may initiate the firing of a fastener into the workpiece from the fastener driver 21.

In this embodiment, the handle 23 and handle 53 of the hammer 45 may be longer than other previous prior art devices. The reason for this is that the longer handles 23 and 53 may help to prevent the operator 11 from having to bend or stoop so much. In a preferred embodiment, the hammer 45 has two impact surfaces 54 as well as a horizontal platform 55 that allows the operator 11 to rest the hammer 45.

Further this embodiment 50 includes a foot operated safety switch 56. The switch 56 maybe any pneumatic, mechanical, hydraulic switch or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the operator 11 cannot actuate the trigger 52 to fire the fastener driver 21 unless the operator 11 has put their foot on the safety switch 56. By putting their foot on the foot operated safety switch 56, the strike plate actuator 52 becomes armed such that if the operator 11 hits strike plate 52 with a hammer 45, the fastener driver 21 will eject a fastener into the relative work piece. If the foot operated safety switch 56 is not pushed down by the operator then the trigger 52 can not be activated to fire the fastener driver 21 , even if the striking surface of the trigger 52 has been struck by an impact imarting device, such as a hammer 45.

The present invention provides the following advantages:

• can interchangeable fastener drivers • the urging means or impact force is transmitted through the body member and not through the fastener driver

• as the trigger may be positioned above the fastener driver then may be able to function closer to the walls

• can position the trigger to be in an ergonomic position as well as considering the position to allowing a preferred clamping arrangement between adjacent boards It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this Oinvention as is herein set forth.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fastener-driving apparatus including: a body member having a workpiece engaging base; a fastener driver supported by the body member at a desired position relative to the workpiece; a handle extending from the body member; an urging means adapted to urge the workpiece into a fixing position, and a trigger remote to the fastener driver and operable to actuate the fastener driver to drive a fastener into the workpiece.

2. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the urging means is an impact imparting device.

3. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the impact imparting devices is a hammer or a mallet.

4. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body member is provided with a striking surface to receive the impact from the urging means.

5. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the trigger is located on or associated with the striking surface.

6. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging means is an engaging mechanism that applies a force that cramps the workpiece to an adjacent secured board.

7. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the engaging mechanism includes one or more spikes that may engage a fixed point relative to the workpiece.

8. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the engaging mechanism engages the sub-flooring providing a reaction point whereby relative movement between the fastener driver and the engaging mechanism imparts a floor-cramping on the workpiece to be secured prior to fastening.

9. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the body member is an adjustable frame.

10. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the frame is made from metal or plastics.

11. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the frame is made from aluminum.

12. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the frame is made from high impact plastics.

13. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the frame is made from ABS.

14. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the workpiece engaging base has an aperture whereby the fastener driver drives the fastener into the workpiece.

15. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the fastener driver is pneumatically powered, electronically powered, spring actuated, explosive actuated, or electro-mechanical.

16. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the desired position to support the fastener driver member relative to the workpiece is 45°.

17. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the handle is of a length that enables the operator to work in a substantially upright position.

18. A fastener-driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger is located on the handle,

19. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, the fastener-driving apparatus including a safety switch to prevent accidental firing of the trigger.

20. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19 including one or more wheels to assist in moving the fastener-driving apparatus.

21. A fastener-driving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, including a lifting strap to lift the fastener-driving apparatus.

22. A body member for a fastener-driving apparatus, the body member having: a workpiece engaging base, means for supporting a fastener driver, a striking surface for receiving a force imparted by an impact imparting device, a trigger operable to actuate the supported fastener driver to drive a fastener into a workpiece, the trigger being associated with the striking surface such that the trigger is operable when a force is imparted to the striking surface.

23. A body member according to claim 22, wherein the a fastener-driving apparatus is in accordance to any one claims 1 to 21.