Abstract: An edger head for a portable edger. The edger head has a housing, a cutting element, first structure for mounting the cutting element to the housing for movement relative to the housing in a predetermined path, a debris guard, and second structure for mounting the debris guard in an operative position on the housing. The debris guard has first and second flaps, with the first flap being repositionable relative to the second flap.

Abstract: A star shaped fastener having at least three fins radiating from a central core with the fin-included angle in a five finned embodiment being between 72 to 98 degrees which configuration reduces the fabricated material by 50% and increases the surface area by 15%-85% compared to a common round nail of equal radius.

Abstract: A horizontally extending reinforcing bar having a central core in transverse cross-section exhibiting at least three radial fins projecting outwardly symmetrically from the center of the bar to its outer edge. Each pair of adjacent fins define a valley between them containing a pattern of raised surface area. Two in-line reinforcing bars are held together by a coupling device having a housing with multiple flexible inwardly projecting plates from grooves in an inner wall. The plates flex in the direction of insertion of a reinforcing bar and exert a force to prevent removal of the bar.

Abstract: A series of drywall screws are nested together and individually seated with a special driving tool after separation from one another. Each screw is hollow and has interior and exterior screw threads. One end of the screw has a hollow flat head and the body tapers downwardly to a bottom portion having a diameter less than half the diameter of the first end. A drill bit having an eccentric point drills a bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the drill bit so that the bore operatively receives the screw.

Abstract: A machine for making concrete reinforcing bars, known as rebars, from wire stock having a round cross section. A preform roller station cold works the round cross section of the wire stock into the shape of a polygon. A first form roller station cold works the polygonal cross section into a cross section having a central core and radial fin members extending therefrom. A second form roller station further reduces the diameter of the central core, and further increases the radial extent of the fin members. A third form roller station reduces the core still further, and again increases the radial extent of the fins, imparts shoulder members that provide an anti-longitudinal slip function at preselected intervals along the extent of the rebar, and roughens the rebar.

Abstract: A wire straightener and multiple preform rollers prepare a continuous length wire for further forming by multiple form rollers having multiple spaced apart notches formed in an annular edge of the rollers. Some notches skip a section of the wire to be headed, and other notches serve to form barbs in the wire. In a first embodiment, after the formed wire is fed to a gripper housing where the wire is cut to a predetermined length, the skipped section is punched to create the fastener head. In a second embodiment, the formed wire is cut and fed to a rotary heading machine.

Abstract: A plurality of fasteners each having an enlarged head with a slot or a passageway there through to accommodate and cage the shank of another like fastener so that the plurality of fasteners form a self-contained collated strip. Preferably the fastener has at least three spaced vertical cups and edges about a central core with a pair of adjacent edges of one fastener caged in the complimentary slot of the adjacent-like fastener. A notch is provided on such pair of edges to releasably lock the fasteners together in the strip.

Abstract: A horizontally extending reinforcing bar having a central core in transverse cross-section exhibiting at least three radial fins projecting outwardly symmetrically from the center of the bar to its outer edge. Each pair of adjacent fins define a valley between them containing a pattern of raised surface area. Two in-line reinforcing bars are held together by a coupling device having a housing with multiple flexible inwardly projecting plates from grooves in an inner wall. The plates flex in the direction of insertion of a reinforcing bar and exert a force to prevent removal of the bar.

Abstract: A star shaped fastener having at least five spaced vertical cups and edges about a central core with the included angle being 90.degree. reducing the fabricated material by 50% and increasing the surface area by 15% compared to a common round nail of equal radius. The holding power is significantly enhanced by compression laterally and vertically into cups, shoulders therein and/or a taper of less than 14.degree..

Abstract: Apparatus includes a mandible alignment device and a jaw pattern jig to prepare a one-piece metal dental implant for insertion into a patient's mouth. The alignment device has a central scissors member with a rear positioned thumb wheel controlling the longitudinal spread of the scissors blades. A front portion of a longitudinal angle adjustment member mounted over the scissors holds an anterior foot portion of a dental implant. A rod integral with the end of each scissors blade supports a housing holding a ramus member portion of a dental implant. After a pattern is determined by the alignment device, it is locked into the jaw pattern jig and the one-piece metal dental implant is bent to shape to substitute for the anterior foot and ramus members removed from the alignment device.

Abstract: A strip of fasteners is formed by an elongated flexible web having one or two rows of tabs projecting from one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web. These tabs have fastener holding means formed at their ends for removably carrying nails, screws, or nuts. In one form, the holding means are detachable with the fasteners to provide a washer, and in another form, the detachable end of the holding means provides a locking insert for a self-locking nut. The web is formed both as a strip and as a closed loop. In some embodiments, the fastener is disposed at an angle relative to the web to permit inclination of the strip of loop relative to horizontal while presenting the fasteners to a driving station in a vertical position. A fastener feeding mechanism deflects or bends the strip at a point adjacent the drive path of a fastener driver to "fan out" the fastener carrying tabs so that the tab or tabs carrying the fastener in driving position are spaced from adjacent tabs.

Abstract: A strip of fasteners is formed by an elongated flexible web having one or two rows of tabs projecting from one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web. These tabs have fastener holding means formed at their ends for removably carrying nails, screws, or nuts. In one form, the holding means are detachable with the fasteners to provide a washer, and in another form, the detachable end of the holding means provides a locking insert for a self-locking nut. The web is formed both as a strip and as a closed loop. In some embodiments, the fastener is disposed at an angle relative to the web to permit inclination of the strip of loop relative to horizontal while presenting the fasteners to a driving station in a vertical position. A fastener feeding mechanism deflects or bends the strip at a point adjacent the drive path of a fastener driver to "fan out" the fastener carrying tabs so that the tab or tabs carrying the fastener in driving position are spaced from adjacent tabs.

Abstract: A fastener feed assembly for a tool such as a power screwdriver having a drive member such as a rotatable bit includes a base fixed to the tool and a nose assembly slidably related to the base. The nose assembly includes a workpiece engaging surface, and when the tool is moved toward the workpiece during a fastener driving operation, the base moves toward the nose assembly. A return spring separates the base and nose assembly when the tool is withdrawn away from the workpiece. A strip of fasteners is fed from a magazine along a feed path through the nose assembly with sequential fasteners located in a drive position. Normally the drive member is spaced from a fastener in the drive position. During movement of the tool toward the workpiece in a driving operation, the drive member moves into engagement with a fastener in the drive position, and then continues to move in order to drive the fastener into the workpiece. A pawl is engageable with the strip in order to advance the strip along the feed path.

Abstract: A fastener feed assembly for a tool such as a power screwdriver having a drive member such as a rotatable bit includes a base fixed to the tool and a nose assembly slidably related to the base. The nose assembly includes a workpiece engaging surface, and when the tool is moved toward the workpiece during a fastener driving operation, the base moves toward the nose assembly. A return spring separates the base and nose assembly when the tool is withdrawn away from the workpiece. A strip of fasteners is fed from a magazine along a feed path through the nose assembly with sequential fasteners located in a drive position. Normally the drive member is spaced from a fastener in the drive position. During movement of the tool toward the workpiece in a driving operation, the drive member moves into engagement with a fastener in the drive position, and then continues to move in order to drive the fastener into the workpiece. A pawl is engageable with the strip in order to advance the strip along the feed path.