Abstract: A miniature spring-actuated stapler includes a tapered, flat power spring to store energy and eject staples. The power spring pivots at a rear of the stapler housing and includes three co-extensive arms terminating near the striker. As the L-shaped handle of the stapler is pressed, it acts on the center arm of the power spring to deflect it downward while the outer arms deflect upward. The arms are integral at a rear end and the outer arms are linked to the striker at the front. A tapered, flat reset spring disposed generally parallel to the power spring is used to reset the internal action. The housing includes open top and rear areas with the handle providing the enclosure thereof. A base assembly is slidably attached at a bottom of the stapler with an open position exposing a staple-loading chamber.

Abstract: A magazine with a positioning device for a nail gun includes a magazine that has a nail loading port on one end thereof, and a gliding part that has a protruding part and a locking part. The magazine has fixing parts, penetrating parts and a stopping part. The gliding device has a nail storing part and is inserted into the receiving chamber. The gliding device is fixed by a positioning device, so that the gliding device will not depart from the magazine due to the bounce motion while nailing, and the protruding part and the locking part of the gliding device are not easy to get abrasion. The objectives of providing the operator a safe and secured working environment, prolonging the lifetime of the gliding device and securing the gliding device in position will be attained.

Abstract: A wire nail for use with a powered nail-driving tool has a full-round head with an axis that is offset from an axis of the integrally formed shank. An outer circumferential surface of the shank is at least as offset from the shank axis in one radial direction as a circumferential surface of the head in that radial direction. Accordingly, such nails may be collated shank-to-shank in a strip of wire nails such that adjoining shanks are both parallel and touching. During manufacture of the wire nail, a notch is formed in the shank at the intersection between the shank and the head. The notch and the head axis are disposed on opposite sides of the shank axis from each other. The notch facilitates improved metal flow during the head-forming procedure and results in strong shank to head connections.

Abstract: A contact member 10 is provided with engaging claws 23, 24 held by a nose portion 4 and directed in a direction of a front end of the contact member. A vertical guide 12 is provided with a pair of chuck members 13 which are pivotably arranged opposedly by interposing a strike axis line such that a screw or a nail is guided along a strike axis line and in which front end portions 22 are urged to pivot by elastic means in directions of being proximate to each other. The vertical guide 12 is slidably arranged along a direction of striking a screw or a nail relative to the nose portion 4. The vertical guide 12 is elastically urged such that a front end portion of the vertical guide 12 is normally projected further from the engaging claws 23, 24 of the contact member 10.

Abstract: An automatic fastener loader includes a support member and a feed tube having an end. The feed tube is mounted to the support member. In an exemplary embodiment, a pivotable frame is mounted for oscillation on the support member between a receiving position and a loading position. The frame includes a receiver for receiving a fastener. A holster is mounted to the support member for receiving a fastener driver to load a fastener onto a bit of the fastener driver when the frame is in the loading position. An actuator is mounted to the support member and is operatively connected to the pivotable frame for actuating the frame to index the frame between the receiving position and the loading position.

Abstract: A contact nose 15, in which an ejection opening 24 is formed coaxially with an ejection opening 18 of a nose portion 13 that guides a driver slidably, is slidably provided at an end part of the nose portion 13 to be urged in a direction of an end portion of the ejection opening 18. A guide slope 28 adapted to guide a tip end of a nail, which is hammered out tiltingly from the ejection opening 18 of the nose portion 13, into the ejection opening 24 is formed on an upper rear side of the ejection opening 24 of the contact nose 15.

Abstract: There is provided a stapler in which a cartridge can be mounted on a stapler body in a stable manner without wobbling, and fixing of the cartridge can be released in synchronization with opening operation of a door member. A stapler has a cartridge which is provided in a cartridge holding chamber of the stapler body in such a way that the cartridge can be pulled out from the cartridge holding chamber, and a locking shaft biased upward by an elastic member is provided in the lower portion of an opening in the cartridge holding chamber. The cartridge has a locking projection and a door member. When the cartridge is pushed into the cartridge holding chamber and held therein, the locking projection is locked with the above-described locking shaft, and, furthermore, the door member is biased in such a way that the opening of the cartridge holding chamber is closed by the above-described locking shaft. When the door member is opened, the locking shaft can be detached from the locking projection by the door member.

Abstract: An automatic washer feeder for an automatic nail gun comprises a washer storage container that stores a coil of washers interconnected together edge-to-edge and a feeding mechanism that uncoils the washers and feeds them one at a time into a position wherein the washers are in alignment with nails being driven by the nail gun. The feeding mechanism is synchronized with the nail in driver such that one washer is placed in line with each nail before it is driven. The washers are attached together edge-to-edge by a breakable linkage which is broken or cut whet a washer is driven into contact with a substrate surface being nailed by the action of the nail gun. The linkage can be an adhesive tape that breaks when the tape is pierced by a nail and the washer is driven into a substrate. Alternatively, the linkage can be formed by integrally molding the washers with an interconnecting link or by string collation.

Abstract: A magazine includes a base having nail slots defined therein and a cover is slidably mounted to the base. A first end member and a second end member are respectively connected to the first and second ends of the cover. A plurality of rods extend through the first end member, the nail slots and the second end member. Each rod has a biasing member and a pushing member which is biased by the biasing member so as to push the nails in the nail slots. A plurality of bolts extend through the second end member and contact against the second end of the cover so that when rotating the bolts to move the second end member away from the second end of the cover, the rods are straightened. The pushing members on the rods push the nails of different lengths to be arranged in order in the magazine.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool having a magazine device including a magazine and a nail feeder. The magazine extends in a first direction and defines an accommodation portion for accommodating therein a fastener array. Each fastener has a shaft with a sharp-end and a head connected to the shaft. The plurality of fasteners are directed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and positioned side by side to form the fastener array extending in the first direction. The magazine has one end and another end in the second direction. One end is close to the sharp end of the fastener and another end is close to the head of the fastener. The accommodation portion includes an expanding portion having a width in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and to the second direction. The width is gradually increased from the one end toward the other end.

Abstract: A stapler with a staple-supporting device has a base, a cover, a holding bracket and a pushing device. The base, the cover and the holding bracket are mounted pivotally together. The cover has a staple spade and the holding bracket has a corresponding staple outlet. The pushing device is mounted slidably in the holding device and has a pivoting staple-supporting device. A series of staple is mounted in the holding bracket, and the last staple is mounted on the staple-supporting device. When only one staple is left in the holding bracket, the staple-supporting device keeps the staple from falling out of the staple outlet.

Abstract: A riveting yoke assembly (11) comprises a yoke (30), a force applying mechanism (22) and a rivet forming device (34, 36). The yoke has a first end (38), a second end (40), and a middle section (42) coupled between the first and second ends (38, 40). An opening (44) is formed through the yoke between the first and second ends. The force applying mechanism (22) is coupled to the first end (38) of the yoke (30). The lower rivet forming device (36) is removably coupled to the second end (40) of the yoke. The lower rivet forming device (36) has a base end (46) attached to the second end (40) of the yoke (30) and a forming end (48) with a recess (50) to form rivets (17). The recess (50) has a concave, interior surface (52) having an annular step (54) positioned between a top edge (56) of the interior surface (52) and a bottom-most point (58) of the interior surface (52) in order to properly align the rivet (17).

Abstract: A stapler having a housing and a throat defined by the housing and configured to receive a stack of sheets for stapling. The throat separates the housing into a head portion and a base portion. A paper guide is coupled to the stapler, the paper guide being movable between a recessed position within the base portion and an extended position. Insertion of the stack of sheets into the throat does not cause movement of the paper guide.

Abstract: A magazine cover is integrally molded with a return-preventing claw part to be engaged with a fastener loaded into a guide part. The return-preventing claw part is so constructed as to include: a return preventing surface that abuts against the fastener to prevent the fastener from moving to a loading port; and a support portion that always makes the return preventing surface abut against the fastener, thereby being deformed, to support the return preventing surface such that the return preventing surface can be retracted to a position where the return preventing surface does not abut against the fastener.

Abstract: A nail driving apparatus for maintaining alignment of a nail with an object and driving the nail into the object includes an alignment tube being configured for slidably receiving the nail and maintaining a substantially perpendicular alignment of the nail with a surface of the object. A piston rod is slidably extendable into the alignment tube to strike the nail and drive the nail into the object. A chambering member is coupled to the alignment tube. The chambering member has a chamber in communication with the alignment tube. The chamber has a bottom wall angled toward the alignment tube. The chambering member has a top wall having an insert aperture extending therethrough. The insert aperture receives the nail and the chamber guides the nail into the alignment tube when the piston rod is positioned above the chamber.

Abstract: A magazine for a fastening tool that drives one or more fasteners into a workpiece includes an outer case and an inner rail movable relative to the outer case. The inner rail is extendable from the outer case so as to permit adding of the one or more fasteners to the magazine. A bar extends between a front end and a rear end of the inner rail. A pusher bearing slidably receives the bar. A spring biases the pusher bearing toward the front end. A pusher block is coupled to the pusher bearing. The pusher block is moveable along the inner rail and is operable to urge the one or more fasteners toward the front end. The pusher block is moveable about the pusher bearing.

Abstract: In the driving machine, a work contact portion 73 including an end face 74 to be contacted with a connecting metal member (a member to be fastened) K is provided in a push lever 10, a probe 78 is movably provided in the work contact portion 73, the probe 78 is energized in the driving direction by a spring (energizing means) 75 to thereby project its leading end portion 76 from the end face 74 of the work contact portion 73, and, in a state where the main body of the driving machine is pressed against a work (a member to be driven) W, by operating a trigger switch 6, the probe 78 is retreated from the driving passage of a nail (a fastening member) 41.

Abstract: A fastener driving device for use in driving a fastener into an elongated contoured portion of a workpiece is disclosed. The elongated contoured portion has a surface that is contoured perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elongated contoured portion. The device includes a contact arm that is operatively connected with the trigger assembly, and a contoured contact foot for engaging the workpiece. The contact arm is constructed and arranged to move relative to a housing assembly of the driving device when the contact foot is pressed against the workpiece. The contact foot has a contoured engaging surface that includes a recess that is shaped to generally complement the shape of the contoured surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: An automated power actuated gun which drives a fastener assembly having a plate frictionally engaging a nail or stud into a hard substrate or surface such as concrete that has attached thereto a fastener feeding assembly. The fastener feeding assembly is formed with a spring-biased holder that holds the fastener assembly to be driven until the barrel is in position for driving the fastener assembly. The fastener feeding assembly is attached directly to the barrel of the power actuated gun. The fastener feeding assembly is formed with a window at the point where the fastener assembly to be driven is received by the barrel of the power actuated gun allowing the fastener feeding track to be used with fastener assemblies having legs that can bend inwardly when the fastener assembly is driven.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-misfit structure for a nail cartridge, which resolves the problems of a typical nail cartridge. For example, when a short collated nail is mistakenly inserted, it is likely lead to different triggering strength, and easier swinging and jamming of nail bodies against stability and safety. The swinging end of the spring of the nail cartridge is provided with a stopper. So, when the nailer head of a short collated nail is mistakenly inserted into the long nailer head dent, the stopper blocks the collated nail, thus preventing any misalignment and subsequent triggering of a nailer for higher stability and safety.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes: a driver blade adapted to drive nails joined to one another into an object in order; a nose adapted to guide the driver blade and nails; and a guide surface of a projection adapted to guide a head portion of a first nail struck out into an exit hole of the nose so that the second nail is not exposed to the exit hole. The guide surface of the projection is formed to a shape identical with that of the head portions of the nails.

Abstract: The nail tray hoist structure for coil nailer includes: several positioning slots spaced through out the side wall of the central column of the coil nailer base; a positioning through hole, placed on the vertical sleeve of the nail tray; a positioning body, placed in the positioning through hole actively; a braking tube, placed on the outside of the vertical sleeve; and an upper elastic component, having a top blocked by the limit component used by the vertical sleeve. The bottom of the elastic component stops the balance block of the braking tube, so that it can push down the braking tube. By so doing, the hoist structure of the nail tray only needs pushing and pulling movements on the braking tube, which gives the users more convenience and ensures the strength of the structure.

Abstract: In a clincher device 1, 11 of a stapler adapted to be engaged with staple legs S1 which have been ejected from a driver unit by a driver 10 toward sheets of paper and have penetrated through the sheets of paper, thereby to clinch the staple legs S1 on a back face side of the sheets of paper, a plurality of projected lines 8, 9, 14 to be engaged with the staple legs S1 are provided in parallel with one another, on faces of the clincher device 1, 11 for guiding the staple legs inwardly.

Abstract: Fastener-advancement systems comprise a multiple lever and linkage mechanically operated system operatively connected to the driver blade member of the fastener driving tool, as well as electro-mechanically operated systems, for advancing a leading fastener of a collated strip of fasteners into the driver blade channel of the fastener-driving tool. In the electro-mechanically operated systems, push-type, pull-type, and rotary solenoid actuating members are utilized for moving the fastener-advancement feed pawl or claw member.

Abstract: A desktop stapler includes an automatic opening staple track whereby when the stapler is opened by pivoting the body about the base, the track is de-latched by ribs of the base, and the track slides out from a chamber within the body. The stapler includes a track alignment system that holds the front of the body precisely over the anvil by use of forward and rear torque arm contact areas between the base and track. The stapler also features a striker bottom edge that is shaped to follow the curved shape of the anvil so that the striker may enter the anvil recess without impacting the anvil. A staple chamber in the stapler has staple exit ribs that allow only one staple at a time to be ejected from the staple chamber.

Abstract: A pneumatic fastening tool assembly that employs an engine having a sliding sleeve arrangement to control the supply of air to and exhaust from the pneumatic engine. The sliding sleeve arrangement eliminates the need for a conventional main valve and thereby reduces the overall weight and length of the pneumatic fastening tool relative to those tools that employ a conventional engine configuration.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism for sheet staple comprises a reciprocating member (12) which is provided under a cartridge in which stacked sheet staples are contained and which is reciprocated forwardly and backwardly in response to up and down movements of a driver for driving the sheet staples, a feeding pawl (20) mounted rotatably by a predetermined angle in forward and backward directions on the reciprocating member (12) for rotating in a raised direction as the reciprocating member moves forwardly, and a spring (13) for biasing forwardly the reciprocating member (12). Each of the sheet staples is fed out forwardly by raising of the feeding pawl (20). One end of the spring (13) is engaged in a lower side than a center of rotation of the feeding pawl (20). The reciprocating member (12) is urged forwardly through the feeding pawl (20).

Abstract: A desktop stapler uses a spring to store energy to install staples by impact blow. The force required to fasten papers together is reduced. A very compact mechanism is used, including a dual coil power spring with a nested lever. A multi-function base provides a sloped front all the way to down to a desk top surface to guide paper sheets atop the base, easy access for lifting the stapler off a desk, horizontal or vertical resting positions, and integrated soft grip under-surface. The base surrounds the rear of the stapler body to provide a smooth exterior so that the device is natural to use both horizontally and vertically. A simple re-set spring provides a smooth re-set action as the handle is raised. A staple track includes enlargement features to fit a larger staple pusher spring.

Abstract: A nail spacing verification assembly is provided which enables the spacing between nails contained in a collated nail strip, the collated nail strip advancing down a nail loading assembly of a nail gun, to be verified before the nail is allowed to advance. A first and second probe are operationally coupled with each other. If nail spacing is correct, the first probe engages the second probe causing both probes to rotate and the nail to pass. If spacing is incorrect, the first probe does not engage the second probe and the nail is hindered from advancing down a nail loading assembly.

Abstract: Fastener insertion apparatus comprises a nose having a fastener delivery passage and side entry port. Fasteners such as rivets are supplied to the nose via a fastener supply passage and a fastener feeder assembly. A punch reciprocally disposed for movement in the delivery passage drives a fastener disposed in the delivery passage out of the passage and into a workpiece. The feeder assembly comprises a gate that is movable between retracted and advanced positions. In the retracted position it is clear of the supply passage and the delivery passage so as to permit movement of a fastener from the supply passage to the delivery passage. In the advanced position it at least partially closes the supply passage so as to prevent movement of a fastener and it projects into the delivery passage through the entry port so as to retain a fastener, if present, in the delivery passage. Sensors are provided to detect the position of the gate.

Abstract: An anti-jamming design for a stapler track provides reduced force to shear a staple from a rack of staples. In stapling, a front staple must be separated from a rack of staples to eject the staple out. Conventional staplers shear the glue that holds the staples together all at once, so the peak force to separate the staple is high. In the present invention the glue that holds staples together in a rack is sheared by a peeling action. Locally progressing sections of glue are peeled as the front staple is sheared from the adjacent second staple. According to one embodiment of the invention progressive shearing is provided by an asymmetric track front end, whereby the front staples are fully supported on one side only so that the staple rack twists as the striker slowly presses down. The striker contacts the supported, higher, side of the staple first and the staple begins to shear from this higher side.

Abstract: An automated power actuated gun having a fastener feeding track with guides for holding a fastener assembly having a plate and attached stud in a firing position. The power actuated gun is attached to the fastener feeding track so as to permit relative movement there between. A fastener loading control prevents movement of an adjacent fastener assembly held within the fastener feeding track from moving until the barrel of the power actuated gun is clear. The relative movement between the fastener feeding track and the power actuated gun is utilized to activate a control mechanism to perform various functions on the power actuated gun, such as to advance a charge or to push a trigger firing the power actuated gun. The functioning of the power actuated gun is automated, greatly increasing productivity of a worker and eliminating the need of the worker to tediously load by hand and fire individual fastener assemblies.

Abstract: A hanger taken from a strip of hangers is positioned on a fastening and cutting anvil (6) displaceable between a bottom position, in which it retracts below the level of the support plate (1) and a top position, in which it projects above the plate. A blade (17), the central part of which forms a bridge beneath which the strip of hangers passes, is fixed to the plate, in contact with the anvil.

Abstract: The invention comprises a staple gun with highly compact accessory apparatus for attaching a planar tab or label to a fixing surface. The accessory has a housing and a positioning and indexing assembly associated with the housing which is operable to feed and hold a tab or label between the staple gun head and fixing surface, thereby allowing single-handed fixing of a label or tab to a fixing surface. The apparatus can include a roller assembly, staple gun and accessory apparatus or have all components integrated into the construction of a staple gun apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus is mated with a tab or label holding magazine. Some exemplary embodiments of the invention are suitable for securing protective covering to lumber product and may be configured for rectangular polyolefin tabs measuring approximately 0.035 inch thick and 1.0 inches by 2.0 inches.

Abstract: A desktop stapler includes an automatic opening staple track whereby when the stapler is opened by pivoting the body about the base, the track is de-latched by ribs of the base, and the track slides out from a chamber within the body. The stapler includes a track alignment system that holds the front of the body precisely over the anvil by use of forward and rear torque arm contact areas between the base and track. The stapler also features a striker bottom edge that is shaped to follow the curved shape of the anvil so that the striker may enter the anvil recess without impacting the anvil. A staple chamber in the stapler has staple exit ribs that allow only one staple at a time to be ejected from the staple chamber.

Abstract: A cassette for stapler capable of storing staples with different lengths of needle legs and capable of being manufactured at a low cost, comprising a cassette body formed slender with a channel shaped cross section and having a staple extrusion groove provided at the tip thereof, a staple holder longitudinally fitted to the cassette body to hold the large number of staples, a feeder for moving the staples pressingly toward the tip thereof, a spring for energizing the feeder, and a guide rod for guiding the movement of the feeder, wherein a guide wall capable of storing the staples with different lengths of needles is provided in the staple holder.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving fasteners includes a barrel, a fastener guide which retreats as the apparatus is pressed against a substrate, a feed magazine, receiving a loader of fasteners, and a safety element configured to allow a fastener to be driven only after the fastener guide has retreated. There is a safety shoe configured to, when there is no fastener in the barrel, be moved into a safe position and prevent the retreat of the fastener guide, and including a tell-tale of the safe position of the safety shoe.

Abstract: A nail magazine for use in a power nailing hand tool to hold and feed a rolled belt of nails is constructed to include a casing, a magazine shaft vertically disposed inside the casing at the center, the magazine shaft having an upright shaft at the center inside the casing and a nail carrier sleeve vertically movably supported on a magazine spring around the upright shaft and adapted to carry a rolled belt of nails for feeding, and a cover hinged to the casing, the cover defining with the casing a nail feed hole when closed on the casing.

Abstract: A clip placement tool for automatic or manual insertion of a plastic clip workpiece. The tool including a main body having a first feature to affix to an operator handle or affix to a mechanical device as an end-effecter, and a second feature that connects to a vacuum source, a chamber formed within the body, a lip formed at an end of the vacuum chamber and surrounding a static placement post within the chamber. The lip includes two edges that provide a lip-to-clip seal with the workpiece.

Abstract: A nail magazine for alternatively accommodating T-nails or U-nails includes a nail track and a stop block. The nailing track has a bottom notch and a first nail hole upwardly extended from the bottom notch for holding a T-nail. The stop block is positioned in the bottom notch of the nailing track and has a top side, a left side and a right side, which define with a peripheral wall of the bottom notch of the nailing track a second nail hole for holding a U-nail. The stop block further has a top cut groove aligned with the first nail hole such that the T-nail held in the first nail hole is in coincidence with an axis of a driving path that aligns with the second nail hole, thereby enabling the T-nail to be positively and straightly driven into a workpiece.

Abstract: A button indexing device used in a button attaching machine for attaching a button to be indexed in a specific orientation on a fabric of garments or the like, including lower mold provided at a button attaching position of the attaching machine, a driving section for turning the lower mold around a vertical axis, a laser beam source for irradiating a laser beam onto a point of a specified circular track of the button to be held in the lower mold around the vertical axis, an optical sensor for detecting light reflected from or scattered by the button, and a stop section for stopping said lower mold in a rotation position capable of obtaining the right orientation when said optical sensor detects the minimum or maximum amplitude.

Abstract: A stapler of the present invention includes a retaining part having a staple pusher, a storing section that stores a staple, and a receiving base that bends leg parts after piercing the staple pushed out by the staple pusher through a sheet material to bind the sheet material with the staple. The staple includes left and right shoulder parts against which the staple pusher abuts, leg parts extending substantially perpendicularly from the shoulder parts and a pattern part having an arbitrary shape and provided between the left and right shoulder parts. The pattern part is inclined against the leg parts and the storing section is provided, on one side thereof, with a take-out opening of the staple that is large enough to allow the pattern part to pass.

Abstract: A nail feeding mechanism is provided with a front feed claw (9) and a rear feed claw (10). The rear feed claw (10) is provided with a contact portion (10b) on a front side of a claw portion (10a). A face of the contact portion (10b) to be brought into contact with connected nails is wider than a gap between nails in a width thereof and cannot enter between nails. When the front feed claw (9) is moved rearward and catches a final nail (TN1) of a first row, the contact portion (10b) and the claw portion (10a) move into a nail path, the contact portion (10b) enters between the final nail (TN1) of the first row and a front nail (FN2) of a second row and the claw portion (10a) enters a rear side of the front nail (FN2) of the second row.

Abstract: A nail checker assembly, disposed with a nail loading assembly, provides a pivoting probe assembly which engages with a nail, advancing down the nail loading assembly, and determines if the nail is correctly aligned. If the nail is properly aligned the pivoting probe assembly, coupled with a pivoting probe base assembly, rotates and allows the nail to advance. If the nail is improperly aligned the pivoting probe assembly engages with a lock ledge assembly providing a stop and hindering the advancement of the nail.

Abstract: An adjustable angle magazine provides the operator of a nail gun the ability to adjust the position of a housing of the magazine, which stores nails to be driven, relative to a nose casting of the nail gun. This repositioning enables an operator to employ a variety of nails, collated at a variety of angles, within the nail gun.

Abstract: A positioning device of a nail driver comprises a tool body; a positioning unit in a front end of the tool body; the positioning unit having a nail output frame and a guide block formed by two sliding blocks; an nail output opening at a front end of the nail output frame formed with two sliding recesses; the two sliding blocks being movable installed into the sliding recesses; a guide opening formed between the two sliding blocks; when the two sliding blocks are separated, the guide opening expands; two positioning plates; each of two sides of the nail output frame having a respective one of the two positioning plates; and two spring elements, each spring element being confined by a respective one of the two positioning plates and a respective one of the two sliding blocks.

Abstract: A staple storage unit includes return prevention members that prevent a staple positioned for driving from moving back toward the staple storage portion of the staple storage unit. A plurality of staple abutting portions 105a and 105b are spaced along the draw out direction of the staple band 101 at distances where they do not all abut the staple linking portion 105d, thereby increasing the likelihood that at least one of the staple abutting portions will engage the staple linking portion to prevent significant withdrawal of the staple sheet back toward the staple storage portion.

Abstract: A wire nail for use with a powered nail-driving tool has a full-round head with an axis that is offset from an axis of the integrally formed shank. An outer circumferential surface of the shank is at least as offset from the shank axis in one radial direction as a circumferential surface of the head in that radial direction. Accordingly, such nails may be collated shank-to-shank in a strip of wire nails such that adjoining shanks are both parallel and touching. During manufacture of the wire nail, a notch is formed in the shank at the intersection between the shank and the head. The notch and the head axis are disposed on opposite sides of the shank axis from each other. The notch facilitates improved metal flow during the head-forming procedure and results in strong shank to head connections.

Abstract: A nail guide mechanism, suitable for use with a wide variety of nail guns, having a mounting bracket to permit ready attachment and/or removal in the field. The guide mechanism, when mounted, is oriented about the channel defined by the nose of the nail gun. The guide mechanism includes a partially pre-compressed spring that induces a bias on a pivoting arm such that the arm is caused to protrude at least partially into the channel. The arm is thus positioned to continuously exert a force on the nails as they are driven down the channel past the arm. Because the spring is only partially pre-compressed, the positioning of the arm is responsive to changes in conditions inside the channel, such as when the head of a nail passes by the arm. The force exerted by the arm, under the influence of the spring, acts substantially along the radial axis of the nail, and is exerted on the nail during at least a portion of the time that the nail is being impelled by the driving mechanism of the nail gun.

Abstract: A fastener delivery tube (21) incorporates an internal guide (22)—such as a continuous sleeve lining, flexible, or resiliently deformable spring strips (34, 37, 38) or re-circulating balls (54)—forming a longitudinally movable constriction, inhibiting fastener free-fall through the tube and preserving fastener orientation, by maintaining fastener (25) contact with a driving plunger (28) in its passage there-through and upon exit there-from into contact with a workpiece.