Fastener attachment system needle constructions

Claim 2

A needle comprising a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion, a first slot and a bore extending from the rear of the mounting portion into the central portion, a second slot in the mounting portion offset from the first slot and which extends from the rear of the mounting portion partially to the front portion of the mounting portion closest to the central portion, and a knife provided in the mounting portion opposite the first slot and offset from the second slot, said knife comprising cutting edge portions shaped to form a ''V'' with the bottom of the ''V'' pointing towards the tip and cutting edge portions spaced apart at the rear of the mounting portion, and the bottom of the ''V'' extending partially towards said central portion less than the distance said second slot extends towards said central portion.

Claim 3

A needle for dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a needle core having a tip, a central portion and a flat tail portion having a rearward end, a first slot and bore formed in the central portion of the core for permitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment members therethrough, and a rigid plastic shank surrounding a portion of said core and having a first slot in line with said first slot of said core and a bore in line with the bore of said core, the plastic shank surrounding a portion of the core central portion and at least a portion of said tail portion said central portion of the core having a flared shoulder defining an entry way into the slot of the central portion, and said flared shoulder encapsulated by said rigid plastic to lock the core in the rigid plastic shank.

Claim 4

A needle for dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a needle core having a tip, a central portion and a flat tail portion having a rearward end, a first slot and bore formed in the central portion of the core for permitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment members therethrough, and a rigid plastic shank surrounding a portion of said core and having a first slot in line with said first slot of said core and a bore in line with the bore of said core, the plastic shank surrounding a portion of the core central portion and at least a portion of said tail portion said central portion of the core having a flared shoulder defining an entry way into the slot of the central portion, and said flared shoulder encapsulated by said rigid plastic to lock the core in the rigid plastic shank.

Claim 5

A needle according to claim 2 in which the tail is provided with a cutting knife with cutting edge portions forming a ''V''.

Claim 6

A needle according to claim 3 in which the shank is formed with a second slot which extends from the rearward end of the shank partway towards the front of the shank for permitting a portion of the fastener attachment end members to be guided into the bores.

Claim 7

The needle of claim 3 in which a portion of the plastic shank is shaped to expose the knife.

Claim 8

A needle according to claim 3, in which the ''V'' shaped cutting knife has a curved edge portion at the bottom of the ''V''.

Claim 9

A needle according to claim 6 in which the curved edge portion of the ''V'' has an arc defined by a radius between .005 and .010 inches.

Claim 10

A needle according to claim 7 in which the knife ''V'' extends inwardly from the rearward end of the tail .015 to .025 inches and wherein the angle between the edge portions of the ''V'' is between 60* to 95*.

Claim 11

The needle of claim 6 in which a portion of the plastic shank is shaped to expose the knife.

Claim 12

A needle for dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a needle core having a tip, central portion and flat tail portion having a rearward end, a first slot and bore formed in the central portion of the core for permitting the travel of fastener attachment members therethrough and a rigid plastic shank surrounding a portion of the core and having a first slot in line with said first slot of said core and a bore in line with the bore of said core central portion, the plastic shank surrounding a portion of the core, said needle having a shaped cutting surface defining a knife which extends toward said tip, said shank having a second slot which extends from the rearward end thereof partway towards the front of the shank for permitting a portion of the fastener attachment end member to be guided into the bores in which a finger separates the first and second slots of the shank and in which the finger extends only partway towards the rearward end of the shank.

Claim 13

A needle for dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a needle core having a tip, central portion and flat tail portion having a rearward end, a first slot and bore formed in the central portion of the core for permitting the travel of fastener attachment members therethrough and a rigid plastic shank surrounding a portion of the core and having a first slot in line with said first slot of said core and a bore in line with the bore of said core central portion, the plastic shank surrounding a portion of the core, said needle having a shaped cutting surface defining a knife which extends toward said tip, said shank having a second slot which extends from the rearward end thereof partway towards the front of the shank for permitting a portion of the fastener attachment end member to be guided into the bores in which a finger separates the first and second slots of the shank and in which the finger extends only partway towards the rearward end of the shank.

Claim 14

A needle according to claim 10 in which said core includes a shoulder and in which the shank engages said shoulder of said core to lock the core in the shank.

Claim 15

A needle according to claim 11 in which the tail has a keyway and the interior of the shank extends into the keyway and engages said keyway to mechanically hold the tail into the shank.

Claim 16

A needle according to claim 12 in which the shaped cutting surface is in the form of a ''V'' having a curved bottom.

Claim 17

A needle according to claim 13 in which the curved bottom has an arc defined by a radius of between .005 and .010 inches.

Claim 18

A needle according to claim 14 in which the edge of the shaped cutting surface extends inwardly from the rearward end of the tail .015 to .035 inches and wherein the angle between the legs of the ''V'' is between 60* to 95*.

Claim 19

A needle according to claim 13 in which a portion of the shank is shaped to expose the cutting surface of the knife.

Claim 20

A needle comprising a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion, a first slot and a bore provided in the central portion, a bore and first slot provided in the mounting portion and communicating with the bore and the first slot of the central portion, the improvement of a knife extending along the side of the mounting portion, the knife having at least one ''V'' shaped cutting edge with the bottom of the ''V'' pointing towards said tip, and the open part of the ''V'' defined by the rear of the mounting portion, said ''V'' shaped cutting edge having a curved portion at the bottom of the ''V'', said mounting portion is provided With a second slot extending from the rearward end thereof towards the front of the mounting portion to guide a portion of an attachment member into the bore, in which a finger separates the first and second slots of the mounting portion and in which the finger extends only partway towards the rearward end of the mounting portion.

Claim 21

A needle comprising a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion, a first slot and a bore provided in the central portion, a bore and first slot provided in the mounting portion and communicating with the bore and the first slot of the central portion, the improvement of a knife extending along the side of the mounting portion, the knife having at least one ''V'' shaped cutting edge with the bottom of the ''V'' pointing towards said tip, and the open part of the ''V'' defined by the rear of the mounting portion, said ''V'' shaped cutting edge having a curved portion at the bottom of the ''V'', said mounting portion is provided With a second slot extending from the rearward end thereof towards the front of the mounting portion to guide a portion of an attachment member into the bore, in which a finger separates the first and second slots of the mounting portion and in which the finger extends only partway towards the rearward end of the mounting portion.

Claim 22

A needle dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a metal portion including a tip, a central portion and a flat tail portion having a rearward end, said central portion having a bore opening into a slot for permitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment members therethrough, and a ridig plastic shank having a slot in line with the slot of the central portion and a bore in line with the bore of the central portion for permitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment members therethrough, said rigid plastic shank extending about and engaging at least a portion of said central portion and said tail portion and said slot of the shank is positioned above a portion of the slot of the central portion.

Claim 23

A needle dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a metal portion including a tip, a central portion and a flat tail portion having a rearward end, said central portion having a bore opening into a slot for permitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment members therethrough, and a ridig plastic shank having a slot in line with the slot of the central portion and a bore in line with the bore of the central portion for permitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment members therethrough, said rigid plastic shank extending about and engaging at least a portion of said central portion and said tail portion and said slot of the shank is positioned above a portion of the slot of the central portion.

Claim 24

The needle of claim 18 in which the portion of the central portion closest to the tail portion has a flared shoulder at the entryway and in which the plastic shank encapsulates the flared shoulder to lock the metal portion of the needle within the plastic shank.

Claim 25

The needle of claim 19 in which a flat tail portion is provided with a keyway and in which the plastic shank extends into and encapsulates the keyway to lock the metal portion in the plastic shank.

Claim 26

The needle of claim 18 in which the flat tail portion is partially exposed in the shank and may be observed by viewing through the slot of the shank and is an extension of the metal core surface.

Claim 27

The needle of claim 21 in which the plastic shank has a second slot at substantially right angles to the first slot.

Claim 28

The needle of claim 18 in which the flat tail has a knife and a portion of the rigid plastic is removed to expose the knife.

Claim 29

The needle of claim 23 in which the knife is ''V'' shaped.

Claim 30

The needle of claim 24 in which the bottom of the ''V'' is rounded.