Abstract: A dowel for use in the woodworking industry to secure two pieces of wood together is made of a composite, polymeric material comprising from about 4% to 90% by weight thermosetting resin and from about 10% to 96% by weight fibrous filler material. The thermosetting resin and the fibrous filler material are mixed together and then subjected to a high pressure and an elevated temperature to set the thermosetting resin and form a dense, hard mass of composite, polymeric material which is formed into the cylindrical shape of a dowel. The dowels have a surface that will adhere to conventional glues used in the woodworking industry.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for coating dowels with a substantially uniform coat of water soluble glue. A plurality of dowels and a preselected amount of liquid, water soluble glue are placed in a closed container. The container is rapidly shaken so that the container moves in a combination oscillating motion comprising an up and down movement and a back and forth movement that is substantially perpendicular to the up and down movement. Dowels coated with the liquid, water soluble glue are removed from the container and deposited on a drying surface. The dowels are dried by applying heat and a stream of air to the dowels. When the exposed surface of the coat of water soluble glue on the dowels has become essentially tack free but before the coat has dried completely, the dowels are rotated about their longitudinal axes so as to separate any dowels that are stuck together and to free any dowels stuck to the drying surface.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for drilling dowel holes in a workpiece and then inserting dowels in the dowel holes is disclosed. The apparatus has a moveable carriage that moves along the side edge of the workpiece. A drilling tool and a dowel inserting tool are attached to the moveable carriage. A programable controller controls the movement of the carriage and the operation of the drilling tool and the dowel injecting tool. The controller is programmed to move the carriage to a plurality of positions for drilling dowel holes in the workpiece. The number of dowel holes, the spacing of the dowel holes and the depth of the dowel holes are entered into a control panel to program the controller. The controller is then activated to move the carriage and operate the dowel drilling tool and dowel inserting tool.

Abstract: A wooden dowel for insertion into aligned bores of two pieces of wood that are to be connected to each other. The dowel comprises a cylindrical piece of wood and a coating of water soluble glue covering the external surfaces of the cylindrical piece of wood.

Abstract: Dowel shooting apparatus comprising a dowel feed component for feeding dowels one at a time from a bulk supply of dowels to a flexible tube that is connected to a dowel shooting gun. The dowel feed component advances dowels in the flexible tube and a receiving unit is provided in the shooting gun for accepting dowels one at a time and positioning the dowels in an ejection chamber in the shooting gun. A striker is provided for ejecting the dowel from the chamber upon activation of the trigger of the shooting gun. A glue system is also provided for injecting or spraying a proper amount of liquid glue into the cavity in which the dowel is to be driven just prior to the ejection of the dowel from the chamber of the dowel gun. The dowel gun further has a nose cone having a positioning lug extending therefrom with the positioning lug being used to align the nose cone with the cavity.

Abstract: A locking device for attaching to a rod extending from a merchandizing display. The locking device comprises a block having an elongate slot formed therein. The slot has end openings at the ends of the block and an elongate side opening along one side of the block, whereby the elongate portion of a rod on the merchandizing display can be received longitudinally within the slot through the side opening in the side of the block. Cover means are provided for covering and closing the side opening of the slot in the one side of the block, whereby when the rod is received in the slot, the block can slide back and forth along the rod but cannot be removed from the bent end of the rod. A locking mechanism is also provided for releasable locking the cover in place covering and closing the opening of the slot.