Abstract: A concrete nailer has a cutout defined by a magazine. The cutout is disposed proximate the drive track of the concrete nailer and provides the concrete nailer with sufficient reach to perpendicularly nail a complete range of U-shaped channels or track available to the job site against concrete, even though the magazine accommodates both long and short nails. The concrete nailer has the added ability to nail thick boards like 2×4's to concrete.

Abstract: A fastening tool which controls the return behavior of a driver blade by using a blade stop and/or a bumper. The fastening tool can remove the driver blade from the drive path upon its return after driving a fastener into a workpiece and bring the driver blade to a resting state by using a bumper to orient the driver blade out of alignment with the drive path and into contact the driver blade stop.

Abstract: A mode selector switch for a power tool that can have a source of a magnetic field and use a magnetoresistive component to produce an output signal that changes when the strength of the magnetic field changes. The power tool can have a microprocessor that changes an operational mode of the power tool based on a change of the output signal from the magnetoresistive component. The magnetoresistive component can be a Hall effect sensor and the power tool can be a nailer. The power tool can have a switching means which changes an operational mode based upon a change in the strength of the magnetic field upon a magnetoresistive component. A method of controlling a power tool, having a step of changing an operational mode of a power tool based upon identifying a change in output from a magnetoresistor.

Abstract: A fastening tool and method of operating a fastening tool can include a driver, a motor, a flywheel driven by the motor, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator can cause the driver to engage with the flywheel to cause the driver to move along an axis. The controller can selectively operate the motor and selectively operate the actuator. In a first state, the controller will not operate the actuator unless the contact trip switch and the trigger switch are both actuated, the contact trip switch being actuated prior to actuation of the trigger switch, and the flywheel is rotating at a first predetermined speed. When the controller is in the first state, the controller can operate the motor to rotate the flywheel at a second predetermined speed until the earlier of a second predetermined period of time after operation of the actuator, or a subsequent operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A powered driving tool, such as a nailer, having a magnetic filter in the contact trip that retains ferrous debris remaining in the nosepiece as a result of a first fastener being driven into a workpiece, and allows the ferrous debris to be expelled from the nosepiece with a portion of a second fastener, when the second fastener is driven into a workpiece.

Abstract: A magazine for use with a fastening tool. The magazine can have a pusher assembly that can be retracted into a recess in the magazine to facilitate loading and reloading of fasteners. The pusher assembly can have a pusher assembly knob which can be reversibly latched to a detent to maintain the pusher assembly in a retracted state. The fastening tool can use a magazine which can be reloaded by a method which has a step of reversibly retracting the pusher assembly into the retracted state to allow for feeding one or more fasteners to the magazine.

Abstract: A magazine for use with a fastening tool. The magazine can have a pusher assembly that can be retracted into a recess in the magazine to facilitate loading and reloading of fasteners. The pusher assembly can have a pusher assembly knob which can be reversibly latched to a detent to maintain the pusher assembly in a retracted state. The fastening tool can use a magazine which can be reloaded by a method which has a step of reversibly retracting the pusher assembly into the retracted state to allow for feeding one or more fasteners to the magazine.

Abstract: A fastening tool includes a contact trip operatively associated with a contact trip switch to enable a fastener drive system to be fired when the contact trip reaches a firing position, after having engaged a work surface. If a dry-fire condition exists in a magazine connected to the fastening tool, the movement of the contact trip is completely taken up or absorbed by a biasing agent so that the contact trip switch is not closed. The biasing agent also limits the amount of force that can be applied to the contact trip switch in the event an operator slams the contact trip against a work surface or drops the fastening tool nose-first onto an unyielding surface.

Abstract: A driver return assembly can be positioned to return a concrete nail driver of a cordless electric powered nailer to the home position. A return rack can be fixedly coupled to and positioned along a longitudinal length of the concrete nail driver The driver return assembly can include a solenoid driving a plunger in a reciprocating motion in a homeward direction and a driven direction. A return pawl can be coupled to the plunger and pivotable into a pawl raised position relative to the plunger in which the pawl is engageable with the return rack during movement of the plunger in the homeward direction, and pivotable into a pawl lowered position relative to the plunger in which the pawl is not engageable with the return rack during movement of the plunger in the driven direction.

Abstract: A fastening tool including a magazine securely and releasably retained on the fastening tool by a cam mounted on one of the fastening tool and the magazine. In a single rotary motion, the cam wedges together the housing member of the fastening tool and the housing member of the magazine, while simultaneously rotating cam lobes into respective chambers formed on the fastening tool and the magazine. The cam rotation and magazine retention system is accomplished without tools.

Abstract: A driver rebound plate to prevent a fastener driver from rebounding into the drive path and striking additional fasteners at the end of a drive cycle. The driver rebound plate is formed from an elongated body having a mounting portion at a first end and a bearing portion at a second end. A retaining portion is disposed between the mounting portion and the bearing portion and is adjacent to the mounting portion. An impact portion designed to receive the impact of a driver during a return stroke is disposed between the retaining portion and the bearing portion. The impact portion is bent at an oblique angle with respect to the drive axis.

Abstract: A power take-off (PTO) assembly of a cordless electric concrete driver includes a bracket supporting a solenoid and a compression spring and a linkage arm coupled between a plunger of the solenoid and the compression spring. The linkage arm is biased by the compression spring toward the nail driver. A carrier supports or carries a pinch roller and the carrier is pivotably mounted to the bracket via a pivot pin. An engaging surface is movable with the plunger between an engagement position in which the engaging surface engages a cooperating engaging surface of the carrier and orients the carrier into a corresponding engagement orientation, and a disengagement position in which the engaging surface is spaced away from the cooperating engaging surface of the carrier, allowing the carrier to pivot outside the corresponding engagement orientation.

Abstract: A fastening tool of the present invention includes a housing having an underside. The fastening tool also includes a magazine and a support foot connected to one of the housing underside and the magazine. Using a system of cooperating detents formed on the support foot and housing underside (or magazine, as the case may be), the support foot can be quickly and easily removably secured to the fastening tool without using any tools.

Abstract: A concrete nailer has a cutout defined by a magazine. The cutout is disposed proximate the drive track of the concrete nailer and provides the concrete nailer with sufficient reach to perpendicularly nail a complete range of U-shaped channels or track available to the job site against concrete, even though the magazine accommodates both long and short nails. The concrete nailer has the added ability to nail thick boards like 2×4's to concrete.

Abstract: A magazine for use with a fastening tool. The magazine can have a pusher assembly that can be retracted into a recess in the magazine to facilitate loading and reloading of fasteners. The pusher assembly can have a pusher assembly knob which can be reversibly latched to a detent to maintain the pusher assembly in a retracted state. The fastening tool can use a magazine which can be reloaded by a method which has a step of reversibly retracting the pusher assembly into the retracted state to allow for feeding one or more fasteners to the magazine.

Abstract: A fastening tool having a lockout mechanism which has a dry fire lockout which achieves a controlled lockout override. The lockout mechanism can be part of a fastening tool magazine, a pusher assembly or a nosepiece contact trip. The lockout mechanism can be an angled lockout, a torsion spring lockout, or a fixed member lockout. The fastening tool can have a method of controlling lockout override using a lockout control angle.

Abstract: A magazine for use with a fastening tool. The magazine can have a pusher assembly that can be retracted into a recess in the magazine to facilitate loading and reloading of fasteners. The magazine can also use a lockout mechanism which allows an operator to know when it is appropriate to reload fasteners and which can mitigate damage resulting from an impact upon the fastening tools nosepiece when the lockout mechanism is engaged. The fastening tool can also have a contact trip actuator which is compact and can control the amount of force that is applied to a tactile switch of the fastener driving mechanism.

Abstract: A high inertia driver system for a fastening tool having an electric motor that drives a flywheel to contact a driver blade to drive a fastener into a workpiece. The high inertia driver system also has a return system which prevents the unintentional driving of a second fastener. The return system uses a return spring that controls the recoil energy of the driver blade after driving a fastener into a workpiece. The system achieves a long operational life for the fastening tool by increasing the number of return cycles of the driver blade free of a return spring failure.