Abstract: The present invention provides a portal frame comprising at least one header, at least a first column, at least one frame connector for rigidly connecting the at least first column to the at least one header, at least one header fastening means for fastening the frame connector to the at least one header and at least one column fastening means for fastening the frame connector to the at least first column. The at least first column is formed of wood or a wood-based/wood-derived material. The at least one frame connector comprises a lateral header connecting portion extending beyond a lateral edge of the first column in a direction towards the centre of the at least one header and a column connecting portion extending along at least a portion of the height of the at least first column. The lateral header connecting portion comprises at least one of the at least one header fastening means.

Abstract: A screwdriver for collated screws in which a tip of the screw projects forwardly of the tool prior to initiation of the screwdriving sequence and, preferably, a forwardly directed socket carried on a retractable nose portion engages the head of the screw to be driven and urges the screw forwardly into a workpiece such that the pinching of the screw between the nose portion and the workpiece initiates retraction of the nose portion preferably leading to engagement of the screw by a rotating driver shaft.

Abstract: A building connection between a substantially vertical wall stud and a substantially horizontal bridging member, using a separate and distinct bridging connector that attaches the wall stud to the bridging member. The wall stud is typically one of several sequentially-arranged, cold-formed steel studs in the frame of a building wall. The bridging member is typically a separate cold-formed steel member that interfaces with and spans a plurality of wall studs.

Abstract: A lateral bracing system having high initial stiffness and including yield links capable of effectively dissipating stresses generated within the lateral bracing system under lateral loads.

Abstract: A threaded fastener includes a shank having a first, threaded portion and a hardened thread portion. The shank includes a thread extending outwardly from a shank body over a first length of the shank. A second portion of the shank includes a groove positioned coincident with the thread and including a turn ratio equal to a turn ratio of the thread. The shank comprises corrosive resistant stainless steel. A coil of hardened steel engages the groove to fill the groove along the second portion.

Abstract: A connection between a hoist and a wall is provided wherein a clip connects a sling of the hoist to the wall, and the clip includes a plate portion having an eye opening receiving the sling. The clip also includes a tongue portion extending from the plate portion, the plate portion lying in registration with the outer side surface of the wall, and the clip also includes an extension flange, extending from and connected to the plate portion at an angle thereto and at an angle to the tongue portion. The extension flange is disposed in registration with the top surface of the wall. Fasteners connect the tongue portion of the clip to the outer side surface of the wall and connect the extension flange to the top surface of the wall.

Abstract: A truss mounting brace (1) for use during installation of trusses (19, 21, 22). The truss mounting brace (1) may also be used as a permanent spacer between two trusses (19, 21, 22). The truss mounting brace (1) comprises a mounting section (4) arranged to be mounted on a truss (19, 21, 22), a gripping section (3) and an oblong body section (5) connecting the mounting section (4) and the gripping section (3). The gripping section (3) has a gripping mechanism (6) arranged to receive and to engage another element interlockingly. The present invention also relates to a method of installing two or more trusses, use of the truss mounting brace, and a method of manufacturing the truss mounting brace.

Abstract: A mandrel is disclosed for securely holding a screw bit during use, but allowing easy removal of the screw bit for replacement. The mandrel includes a socket having a chamber housing a locking mechanism such as a split-ring. The mandrel further includes a release mechanism such as one or more ears for moving the locking mechanism from a first position where the screw bit is held within the socket and a second position where the screw bit may be removed from the socket.

Abstract: A take-up fastener is disclosed for fastening a level in a frame construction to the level below so as to resist upward forces generated by wind and other sources on the framed construction. The take-up fastener in general includes a take-up plate, or washer, fastened to a portion of the upper level and a take-up screw fit through the take-up plate and fastened to the adjacent level below. Once the take-up fastener is fully assembled, the take-up plate includes a pair of tabs which are capable of engaging threads on a take-up screw in a way that allows one-way motion of the take-up screw relative to the take-up plate. In particular, the take-up plate can move downward relative to the take-up screw, for example on constricting of the wooden members to which the take-up plate is affixed. However, the engagement between the take-up plate and take-up screw prevents movement of the take-up plate upward with respect to the take-up screw, for example upon an upward load due to wind or other external force.

Abstract: A power screwdriver is disclosed including a screw advance mechanism for advancing a screwstrip, and a hinged feed track for feeding the screwstrip to the screw advance mechanism.

Abstract: A fastener includes a shank having a pilot section and a threaded section. The pilot section includes a cutting tip and a drill section; the threaded section includes a first thread region having the same twist as the drill section and a reverse thread region. A helical ridge may be provided in the reverse thread region. A head at the second end includes a top portion such as a disk and an undercut region.

Abstract: A screwstrip is disclosed including angled slots which allow a driver of an automated screwdriver to advance the screwstrip. The slots include a leading edge, which may be perpendicular to the line of travel of the screwstrip, and a trailing edge provided at an oblique angle with respect to the line of travel of the screwstrip. A slot including an angled sidewall is more forgiving and prevents misalignment of the driver with the slots.

Abstract: An anchor bolt locator is provided that is inexpensively manufactured on automatic die-press machines from sheet steel and a structural nut that does not require any welding, while also being easy to use and install with current, commonly-used building practices and anchor designs. The anchor bolt locator is made from a galvanized sheet metal chair and a structural nut attached to the chair by way of a friction fit.

Abstract: An anchor bolt locator is provided that is inexpensively manufactured on automatic die-press machines from sheet steel and a structural nut that does not require any welding, while also being easy to use and install with current, commonly-used building practices and anchor designs. The anchor bolt locator is made from a galvanized sheet metal chair and a structural nut attached to the chair by way of a friction fit.

Abstract: A screwdriver for collated screws in which a tip of the screw projects forwardly of the tool prior to initiation of the screwdriving sequence and, preferably, a forwardly directed socket carried on a retractable nose portion engages the head of the screw to be driven and urges the screw forwardly into a workpiece such that the pinching of the screw between the nose portion and the workpiece initiates retraction of the nose portion preferably leading to engagement of the screw by a rotating driver shaft.

Abstract: A fence-frame-to-post connector comprises two separate members joined by one or more fasteners separate from the members. One member is attached to the fence frame with additional fasteners separate from those used to join the two members and also separate from the connector. One of the fasteners that joins the two members of the connector can be a hinge that is preferably made by a key tab and key slot combination in which the key pivots in the keyhole.

Abstract: A fastener includes a shank having a point at a first end and a second, head end. A first helical thread region is formed at the first end adjacent to the point and has having a first helical thread having a first effective diameter. A sub-region of a second helical thread formed within the first helical thread region adjacent to the first end. A head at the second end includes a cutting structure, the cutting structure positioned to intersect a bottom surface of the disk and the shank, the cutting structure has a square cross-section formed by four walls intersecting the disk. A third helical thread region may be provided between the first region and the head. The shank diameter in the sub-region and the first region is smaller than the other regions.

Abstract: A mandrel is disclosed for securely holding a screw bit during use, but allowing easy removal of the screw bit for replacement. The mandrel includes a socket having a chamber housing a locking mechanism such as a split-ring. The mandrel further includes a release mechanism such as one or more ears for moving the locking mechanism from a first position where the screw bit is held within the socket and a second position where the screw bit may be removed from the socket.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking truss plates, each truss plate having a flat side and a pronged side, receives an odd number of plates. An even number of input channels underlie a stationary shelf and a movable shelf. The channels receive a first odd set of plates in a first cycle with the movable shelf in a first position, each of the first plates being received and falling input channels during the first cycle. The channels receive a second odd set of plates during a second cycle, the movable shelf in a second position during the second cycle. A roller and transport track assembly move each of the odd number of plates to an output so that an even number of plates is output during each cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with curable adhesive compositions for anchoring elements in a structural body that exhibit low temperature versus standard temperature degree of cures that are at least 50% or higher. The compositions include, in a first component, a reactive resin, an acetoacetoxy functional monomer and a silane monomer. By using phthalate-free constituents in the formulation, a further 10% increase in strength and durability of the resins at standard temperatures may be realized after curing at low temperatures.