Abstract: A front gate and gate latch assembly for the guide body of an industrial fastener driving tool of the type wherein the guide body and front gate, in closed position, define a drive track for the tool driver and fasteners. The gate is pivotally affixed to the guide body and is swingable between a closed position against the guide body and an open position. A latch plate having tapered end portions is slidably and captively mounted on the gate. A spaced pair of locking blocks are mounted on the guide body to either side of the gate. The latch plate is shiftable along the gate between a gate locking position wherein the latch plate ends are in wedged engagement with the locking blocks and a gate release position free of the locking blocks. The latch plate is shiftable by a manually actuable over-center locking lever assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a fastener driving device which produces a slot around a shank of the fastener as it is being driven. It is useful in a situation where a sheet material which is subject to expansion and contraction is to be fastened to a base and wherein movement resulting from expansion and contraction must be permitted to avoid buckling. The invention resides specifically in the guide body and driver element of the tool in that the driver element is T-shaped in cross section with the central portion of the T constituting the driver proper and the portions extending laterally from the central portion terminating below the bottom of the driver proper and having a recess extending from the bottom of the driver proper through the length of said punch into which the shank of a fastener may be pushed. In this way as the fastener is driven into the base through the sheet material, a slot is formed extending to both sides of the shank of the fastener.

Abstract: In a fluid operated tool of the type having firing control means comprising two separate and independent triggering means shiftable independently and in any order between normal and firing positions and requiring both triggering means to be concurrently in their firing positions to actuate the tool, safety means introducing into the firing sequence of the firing control means a time limit within which both triggering means must achieve their firing positions. If both triggering means do not achieve their firing positions within the time limit, the firing sequence must be reinitiated with a selected one or both of the triggering means initially in their normal positions.