Mode switch for fastener driving tool

1. A fastener driving apparatus comprising:

a nose configured to eject a fastener forward along a driving axis;

a work contact element configured to retract relative to the nose;

a trigger;

a trigger plate mounted on the trigger to move relative to the trigger; and

an actuator that a) is linked to the work contact element so as to move the trigger plate upon retraction of the work contact element, b) has a bump mode surface and a sequential mode surface at different locations along a transverse axis perpendicular to the driving axis, and c) is moveable relative to the trigger plate transversely back and forth between a bump mode arrangement in which the bump mode surface can move the trigger plate and a sequential mode arrangement in which the sequential mode surface can move the trigger plate.

2. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator is mounted on the work contact element so as to slide transversely across the work contact element between the bump mode arrangement and the sequential mode arrangement.

3. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the bump mode surface and the sequential mode surface are coplanar.

4. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the bump mode surface is larger than the sequential mode surface.

5. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the bump mode surface and the sequential mode surface are transversely spaced apart from each other across a gap in the actuator.

6. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein actuator is configured with a safety mode feature located between the bump mode surface and the sequential mode surface, and is moveable relative to the trigger plate transversely into and out of a safety mode arrangement in which the safety mode feature prevents the actuator from moving the trigger plate upon retraction of the work contact element.

7. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the safety mode feature comprises a gap into which the trigger plate is receivable upon retraction of the work contact element.

8. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the bump mode surface and the sequential mode surface are transversely spaced apart from each other across the gap.

9. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the trigger plate is movable with the trigger to a pulled position, the actuator is moveable with the work contact element to a retracted position, and the actuator is configured to move to the retracted position in the sequential mode arrangement without contacting the trigger plate if the trigger plate is in the pulled position.

10. A fastener driving apparatus comprising:

a nose configured to eject a fastener forward along a driving axis;

a work contact element configured to retract relative to the nose;

a trigger;

a trigger plate mounted on the trigger to move relative to the trigger;

an actuator that a) is linked to the work contact element so as to move the trigger plate upon retraction of the work contact element, b) has a bump mode surface and a sequential mode surface at different locations along a transverse axis perpendicular to the driving axis, and c) is moveable relative to the trigger plate transversely back and forth between a bump mode arrangement in which the bump mode surface can move the trigger plate and a sequential mode arrangement in which the sequential mode surface can move the trigger plate; and

a button that has opposite ends and is linked to the actuator so as to move the actuator transversely to the bump mode position when depressed from one end and to move the actuator transversely to the sequential mode position when depressed from the opposite end.

11. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the actuator is further movable relative to the trigger plate to a safety mode arrangement in which it can not move the trigger plate upon retraction of the work contact element, and the button is linked to the actuator so as to move the actuator to the safety mode arrangement when depressed from either of the opposite ends.

12. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the button has a passage extending fully through the button, the actuator is movable through the passage under the influence of the work contact element, and the actuator is fitted within the passage so as to be moveable with the button in the sideways directions.

13. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the actuator is mounted on the work contact element so as to slide across the work contact element in the sideways directions under the influence of the button.

14. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the trigger plate is movable with the trigger to a pulled position, the actuator is moveable with the work contact element to a retracted position, and the actuator is configured to move to the retracted position in the sequential mode arrangement without contacting the trigger plate if the trigger plate is in the pulled position.

15. A fastener driving apparatus comprising:

a nose configured to eject a fastener;

a work contact element configured to retract relative to the nose;

a valve stem;

a trigger;

a trigger plate mounted on the trigger to depress the valve stem upon moving to a pulled position; and

an actuator that is moveable with the work contact element from an advanced position to a retracted position, and is thus moveable into engagement with the trigger plate for supporting the trigger plate to depress the valve stem in a bump mode arrangement and a sequential mode arrangement;

the actuator having a bump mode surface with a first path of movement into supporting engagement with the trigger plate when the actuator is in the bump mode arrangement, having a sequential mode surface with a second path of movement into supporting engagement with the trigger plate when the actuator is in the sequential mode arrangement, and being configured for the trigger plate to move out of the second path of movement upon moving to the pulled position when the actuator is in the advanced position.

16. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the bump mode surface has a larger size for the trigger plate to remain in the first path of movement, and the sequential mode surface has a smaller size for the trigger plate to move out of the second path of movement.

17. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the bump mode surface and the sequential mode surface are coplanar.

18. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the actuator has a safety mode arrangement in which it does not move into supporting engagement with the trigger plate upon moving from the advanced position to the retracted position.

19. A fastener driving apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein the actuator has a gap into which the trigger plate is receivable upon movement of the actuator from the advanced position to the retracted position in the safety mode arrangement.