Sheet metal anchor nail fastener with locking staple

Claim 2

An anchor nail fastener for use with roof deck systems having composite materials comprising; a tubular sheet metal shank defining a hollow cavity which extends from an open upper end toward a penetrating end thereof, a pair of generally opposing openings in said shank spaced from said penetrating end thereof, said shank being formed tapering outwardly from said penetrating end and beyond said opposing openings toward said upper end such that a tapered portion of said shank intermediate said opposing openings and said upper end will compact a composite material in an area adjacent to said opposing openings when said shank is driven into a wedged engagement therein, and a generally U-shaped locking staple having bendable leg portions each having a free end of a size to pass through one of said opposing openings in said shank.

Claim 3

The anchor nail fastener of claim 1 wherein each of said leg portions includes inwardly oriented and generally opposing bent segments which engage one another as said locking staple is driven into said shank so as to drive said free ends of said leg portions through said opposing openings to thereby inhibit said locking staple from backing out of said cavity through said upper end of said shank.

Claim 4

The anchor nail fastener of claim 1 in which said free ends of said locking staple are angled outwardly relative to one another before passing through one of said openings in said shank.

Claim 5

The anchor nail fastener of claim 1 in which said sheet metal has been coated to prevent corrosion.

Claim 6

The anchor nail fastener of claim 1 including a pair or ramp elements, said ramp elements extending inwardly of said cavity adjacent each of said openings so as to provide a guide for deflecting said free ends of said locking staple outwardly through said openings when said locking staple is inserted within said cavity from said upper end of said shank, and said ramp elements being integrally formed with said shank and abutting one another to reinforce one another within said shank.

Claim 7

The anchor nail fastener of claim 1 wherein said free ends of said leg portions of said staple are outwardly biased with respect to one another such that said free ends snap fit into said opposing openings when said staple is inserted within said cavity of said shank.

Claim 8

The anchor nail fastener of claim 6 wherein each of said leg portions includes inwardly oriented and generally opposing bent segments which engage one another as said locking staple is driven into said shank so as to drive said free ends of said leg portions through said opposing openings to thereby inhibit said locking staple from backing out of said cavity through said upper end of said shank.

Claim 9

The anchor nail fastener of claim 6, including an integrally formed peripheral flange extending outwardly of said upper end of said shank.

Claim 10

The anchor nail fastener of claim 8, including a disk element having a central opening therethrough, at least one tab element adjacent said opening of a configuration to cooperatively engage said shank when said shank is driven through said central opening of said disk element to thereby retain said disk on said shank.

Claim 11

The anchor nail fastener of claim 9 wherein said penetrating end of said body is deformed to define a relatively flat penetrating edge.

Claim 12

The anchor nail fastener of claim 10 wherein said flat penetrating edge is beveled on opposite sides thereof.

Claim 13

The anchor nail fastener of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped locking staple is formed of a metallic material having a hardness such that when said staple is inserted into said shank, said free ends thereof will automatically engage in said opposing openings in said shank.

Claim 14

The anchor nail fastener of claim 12 in which said free ends of said locking staple are angled outwardly relative to one another before being engaged within said opposing openings.

Claim 15

The anchor nail fastener of claim 13 in which said staple is coated to prevent corrosion.

Claim 16

The anchor nail fastener of claim 1 wherein said staple has a length from an upper portion thereof to said free ends which is less than a distance from said upper open end of said shank to said opposing openings therein.

Claim 17

The anchor nail fastener of claim 15 wherein each of said leg portions includes inwardly oriented and generally opposing bent segments which engage one another as said locking staple is driven into said shank so as to drive said free ends of said leg portions through said opposing openings to thereby inhibit said locking staple from backing out of said cavity through said upper end of said shank.

Claim 18

An anchor nail fastening system for use with roof decks having composite materials comprising; a plurality of tubular sheet metal shanks of separate lengths, each shank defining a hollow cavity which extends from an open upper end toward a penetrating end thereof, a pair of generally opposing openings in each shank spaced from said penetrating end thereof, each shank tapering outwardly from said penetrating end and beyond said opposing openings toward said upper and such that a tapered portion of said shank intermediate said opposing openings and said upper end will compact a composite material in an area adjacent to said opposing openings when said shank is driven into a wedged engagement therein, a plurality of generally U-shaped locking staples of substantially the same size and configuration and each having bendable leg portions having a free end of a size to pass through one of said opposing openings in one of said shanks, and each of said leg portions including inwardly oriented and generally opposing bent segments which engage one another as one of said locking staple is driven into one of said shanks so as to drive said free ends of said leg portions through said opposing openings to thereby inhibit said locking staple from backing out of said cavity through said upper end of said shank.

Claim 19

An anchor nail fastening system for use with roof decks having composite materials comprising; a plurality of tubular sheet metal shanks of separate lengths, each shank defining a hollow cavity which extends from an open upper end toward a penetrating end thereof, a pair of generally opposing openings in each shank spaced from said penetrating end thereof, each shank tapering outwardly from said penetrating end and beyond said opposing openings toward said upper and such that a tapered portion of said shank intermediate said opposing openings and said upper end will compact a composite material in an area adjacent to said opposing openings when said shank is driven into a wedged engagement therein, a plurality of generally U-shaped locking staples of substantially the same size and configuration and each having bendable leg portions having a free end of a size to pass through one of said opposing openings in one of said shanks, and each of said leg portions including inwardly oriented and generally opposing bent segments which engage one another as one of said locking staple is driven into one of said shanks so as to drive said free ends of said leg portions through said opposing openings to thereby inhibit said locking staple from backing out of said cavity through said upper end of said shank.

Claim 20

An anchor nail fastener for use with roof deck systems having composite materials comprising; a tubular shank defining a hollow cavity which extends from an open upper end toward a penetrating end thereof, a pair of generally opposing openings in said shank spaced from said penetrating end, said shank tapering outwardly from said penetrating end and beyond said opposing openings toward said upper end such that a tapered portion of said shank intermediate said opposing openings and said upper end will compact a composite material in an area adjacent to said opposing openings when said shank is driven into a wedged engagement therein, a generally U-shaped locking staple having bendable leg portions each having a free end of a size to pass through one of said opposing openings in said shank, and each of said leg portions including inwardly oriented and generally opposing bent segments which engage one another as said locking staple is driven into said shank so as to drive said free ends of said leg portions through said opposing openings and to thereby inhibit said locking staple from backing out of said cavity through said upper end of said shank.

Claim 21

An anchor nail fastener for use with roof deck systems having composite materials comprising; a tubular shank defining a hollow cavity which extends from an open upper end toward a penetrating end thereof, a pair of generally opposing openings in said shank spaced from said penetrating end, said shank tapering outwardly from said penetrating end and beyond said opposing openings toward said upper end such that a tapered portion of said shank intermediate said opposing openings and said upper end will compact a composite material in an area adjacent to said opposing openings when said shank is driven into a wedged engagement therein, a generally U-shaped locking staple having bendable leg portions each having a free end of a size to pass through one of said opposing openings in said shank, and each of said leg portions including inwardly oriented and generally opposing bent segments which engage one another as said locking staple is driven into said shank so as to drive said free ends of said leg portions through said opposing openings and to thereby inhibit said locking staple from backing out of said cavity through said upper end of said shank.

Claim 22

The anchor nail fastener of claim 18 wherein said free ends of said leg portions of said staple are outwardly biased with respect to one another such that said free ends snap fit into said opposing openings when said staple is inserted within said cavity of said shank.

Claim 23

The anchor nail fastener of claim 19 wherein said staple has a length from an upper portion thereof to said free ends which is less than a distance from said upper open end of said shank to said opposing openings therein.