Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ernest S Santi

John R Beach

Syed R Hasan

Craig A Hindman

Donald W Noren

Juergen O Rathgeber

An improved composite fastener comprised of an improved roofing screw and a roofing washer and useful to fasten a blanket of roofing insulation to a soft substrate. The screw shank has a leading portion and a locking portion. The locking portion has two locking tabs. The washer has an aperture with a margin coacting with the screw when it is driven through the washer. The screw becomes locked to such washer when the screw is driven sufficiently for its head to bear against the washer at which time the locking tabs engage the undersurface of the washer.

Roofing fastener, improved screw therefor, and improved washer therefor

A machine for fastening one or more layers of roofing material to an underlayment, and a stackable washer therefor. A chute receives a stack of such washers. A shuttle displaces a single washer to a separated position when moved in one direction, to which the shuttle is biased, and releases the single washer when moved in the opposite direction. A gate, which cooperates with camming surfaces defined upon the respective washers, restrains the overlying washer within the stack against being displaced along with the single washer and restrains the single washer from being displaced from the separated position. Various components are provided by linking a stand-up screw gun of a known type to the shuttle. The stackable washer is embossed so that each such washer and like overlying and underlying washers within a stack contact each other at three or more places, which define tangent planes intersecting planes defined by planar areas upon such washers at angles greater than 45.degree. but less than 90.degree. whereby such washers are spaced from each other around their entire peripheries. Notches defined within the washers cooperate with ribs provided within the chute so as to ensure that a stack of the washers is oriented properly when disposed within the chute.

Washer-dispensing and fastener-driving machine

A machine for fastening one or more layers of roofing material to an underlayment, and a stackable washer therefor. A chute receives a stack of such washers. A shuttle displaces a single washer to a separated position when moved in one direction, to which the shuttle is biased, releases the single washer when moved oppositely. A gate, which cooperates with camming surfaces on the respective washers, restrains the overlying washer in the stack against being displaced with the single washer and restrains the single washer from being displaced from the separated position. Various components are provided by linking a stand-up screw gun of a known type to the shuttle. The stackable washer is embossed so that each such washer and like overlying and underlying washers in a stack contact each other at three or more places, which define tangent planes intersecting planes defined by planar areas on such washers at angles more than 45.degree. but less than 90.degree. whereby such washers are spaced from each other around their entire peripheries. Notches in the washers cooperate with ribs in the chute to ensure that a stack of the washers is oriented properly when fitted into the chute.

Growing community of inventors

Palatine, IL, United States of America

Ernest S Santi