Abstract: A combination of a belt fastener having upper and lower plates joined by arcuate hinge loops and staples preassembled in apertures formed in the upper plates is provided with the staples cooperating with the plates to capture an end of a belt between the plates. The edges of the apertures provide the staples with vertically spaced areas of interference fit with the combination of the preassembled staples and fasteners being effective to reduce the time required to install these plate-type fasteners on bell ends while also holding the staples in an upright, pre-set position against forces that would otherwise cause the staple to slide against the aperture edges until a sufficient driving force is applied for driving the legs through belt material to attach the fastener on a belt end.

Abstract: A belt fastener having an upper plate and a lower plate with holes which align with holes in a pair of belt ends, and bolts are inserted through the aligned holes of the plates and the belt ends, and nuts screwed onto the bolts, to connect the belt ends. A preassembled lower plate and bolt combination is provided in which bolts are retained in their respective lower plate apertures by washers disposed on the bolt shanks. The washers are disposed on the bolt shanks sufficiently close to the lower plate to maintain anti-rotational engagement of the bolts with the lower plate, and spaced sufficiently far from the lower plate to allow outward swinging of the bolts to an insertion position for insertion of the bolts through the belt holes in an outwardly swung position for subsequent drawing together of the bolt and belt ends.

Abstract: An improved hand tool is presented that is useful to pull or push the base of the female member of a snap fastener provided on a heavy fabric-like covering. By pushing or pulling on the female snap member substantially along the plane of the fabric, the snap member can be positioned over a corresponding male snap member for secure fastening. The tool comprises a handle member, an arm, and a force member, which is further provided with tension and compression notches. The tool thus gives the operator a means to positively grasp the female snap member and efficiently apply tension to the fabric covering so as to stretch the covering into the proper shape without substantial damage to the fabric-like covering.