Workpiece contact element for a powered fastener driver
A workpiece contact element for a fastener driver includes a body defining a fastener receiving region through which fasteners are fed from a magazine of the fastener driver. The body having a base surface parallel with a fastener driving axis of the fastener driver. The workpiece contact element also includes a fastener guiding portion disposed forward of the fastener receiving region and extending in a direction of the fastener driving axis and a tip retainer includes a longitudinal protrusion and a pair of opposed lateral protrusions. The longitudinal protrusion extends from a forwardmost end of the body, and the opposed lateral protrusions are position on opposite lateral sides of the body adjacent the forwardmost end. The fastener guiding portion includes a platform extending above the base surface of the body and spaced rearwardly from the forwardmost end of the body.
1 . A workpiece contact element for a fastener driver, the workpiece contact element comprising:
a body defining a fastener receiving region through which fasteners are fed from a magazine of the fastener driver, the body having a base surface parallel with a fastener driving axis of the fastener driver;
a fastener guiding portion disposed forward of the fastener receiving region and extending in a direction of the fastener driving axis; and
a tip retainer including a longitudinal protrusion and a pair of opposed lateral protrusions, the longitudinal protrusion extending from a forwardmost end of the body, and the opposed lateral protrusions being positioned on opposite lateral sides of the body adjacent the forwardmost end, wherein the fastener guiding portion includes a platform extending above the base surface of the body and spaced rearwardly from the forwardmost end of the body.
2 . The workpiece contact element of claim 1 , wherein the fastener guiding portion includes a pair of opposed guide ribs extending from the base surface, and wherein the guide ribs define a channel therebetween through which fasteners are fed from the magazine.
3 . The workpiece contact element of claim 2 , wherein the fastener guiding portion includes a guide surface contiguous with the guide ribs at a front portion thereof, and wherein the guide surface defines a portion of a fastener driving channel coaxial with the fastener driving axis.
4 . The workpiece contact element of claim 3 , wherein the fastener guiding portion includes a ramp surface disposed between the channel and the guide surface, and wherein the ramp surface is configured to direct a tip portion of the fasteners onto the guide surface.
5 . The workpiece contact element of claim 4 , wherein the platform is spaced rearwardly of the forwardmost end of the body by a distance of at least 0.5 mm.
6 . The workpiece contact element of claim 5 , wherein the platform is spaced rearwardly of the forwardmost end of the body by a distance of 1 mm.
7 . The workpiece contact element of claim 1 , wherein the tip retainer is spaced below the base surface of the body.
8 . A workpiece contact element for a fastener driver, the workpiece contact element comprising:
a body defining a fastener receiving region through which fasteners are fed from a magazine of the fastener driver, the body having a base surface parallel with a fastener driving axis of the fastener driver;
a fastener guiding portion disposed forward of the fastener receiving region and extending in a direction of the fastener driving axis, the fastener guiding portion including
a ramp surface, and
a guide surface contiguous with the ramp surface and disposed forward of the ramp surface; and
a tip retainer including a longitudinal protrusion and a pair of opposed lateral protrusions, the longitudinal protrusion extending from a forwardmost end of the body, and the opposed lateral protrusions being positioned on opposite lateral sides of the body adjacent the forwardmost end, wherein the guide surface is spaced rearward of the tip retainer with the base surface of the body extending between the guide surface and the tip retainer.
9 . The workpiece contact element of claim 8 , wherein the guide surface is oriented parallel to the base surface.
10 . The workpiece contact element of claim 8 , wherein the guide surface is spaced rearwardly from the forwardmost end of the body by a distance of at least 1 mm.
11 . The workpiece contact element of claim 8 , wherein the fastener guiding portion extends above the base surface.
12 . The workpiece contact element of claim 11 , wherein the fastener guiding portion extends above the base surface by a height of at least 0.3 mm.
13 . The workpiece contact element of claim 8 , wherein the fastener guiding portion tapers inwards toward the fastener driving axis.
14 . The workpiece contact element of claim 8 , further comprising a no-mar tip coupled to the tip retainer, the no-mar tip configured to contact a workpiece when the workpiece contact element is pressed against the workpiece.
15 . The workpiece contact element of claim 8 , wherein the guide surface is spaced inwardly from opposite sides of the body, at a location near the tip retainer, by a width of at least 0.5 mm.
16 . A gas spring-powered fastener driver comprising:
an inner cylinder;
a movable piston disposed within the inner cylinder for reciprocation therein between a top-dead-center (TDC) position and a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position;
a driver blade coupled to the piston and movable therewith, the driver blade configured to drive a fastener along a fastener driving axis and into a workpiece during a fastener driving cycle;
an electronic control unit configured control actuation of the fastener driving cycle;
a trigger mechanism actuatable by a user to provide a first input signal to the electronic control unit; and
a safety mechanism including a workpiece contact element and a switch, the workpiece contact element configured to actuate the switch to provide a second input signal to the electronic control unit,
wherein the electronic control unit initiates a fastener driving cycle upon receipt of the first input signal and the second input signal, and
wherein the workpiece contact element includes
a body having a base surface parallel with the fastener driving axis,
a fastener guiding platform extending above the base surface, the fastener guiding platform being spaced rearwardly of a forwardmost end of the body such that the base surface extends forward of the fastener guiding platform, and
a tip retainer extending forwardly from the forwardmost end of the body and offset below the base surface.
17 . The gas spring-powered fastener driver of claim 16 , wherein the workpiece contact element further includes a pair of guide ribs defining a channel therebetween and configured to direct the fastener when the fastener is driven into the workpiece.
18 . The gas spring-powered fastener driver of claim 16 , wherein the workpiece contact element is slidable between an extended position in which the switch does not send the second input signal to the electronic control unit, and a retracted position in which the workpiece contact element actuates the switch to send the second input signal to the electronic control unit.
19 . The gas spring-powered fastener driver of claim 16 , wherein the fastener guiding platform extends above the base surface by a height of at least 1.8 mm.
20 . The gas spring-powered fastener driver of claim 19 , wherein the fastener guiding platform is spaced rearwardly of the forwardmost end of the body by a distance of at least 1 mm.