Abstract: A combustion-powered tool has an engine and a heating system, where the tool receives and preheats a fuel cell. The fuel cell has a receiving portion for a heat transfer element which is associated with the engine. The heat transfer element is configured for engaging the fuel cell to conduct heat from the engine to the fuel cell.

Abstract: An adjustable depth of drive device for use on a fastener driving tool. The adjustable depth of drive device includes a thumb post which is mounted to, and extends from a work piece contact element of the tool. Also included is a thumb wheel which is removably attached to the thumb post. A spring member is another part of the adjustable depth of drive device, and it is engagable with the thumb wheel in at least two positions. In a first position, the spring member is frictionally engaged with the thumb wheel to prevent unwanted movement of the thumb wheel relative to the thumb post, and this first position allows for fine adjustments of the position of the work piece contact element. In a second position, the spring member is disengaged from the thumb wheel to permit free rotation of the thumb wheel on the thumb post, which allows for gross adjustments of the position of the work piece contact element.

Abstract: A gas combustion-powered apparatus includes a piston chamber housing a driveable piston, and a combustion chamber having a generally flat wall assembly and a cup-shaped wall defining at least one combustion volume therebetween. The cup-shaped wall is moveable in relation to the piston chamber, and has a generally flat portion opposing, and generally parallel to, the generally flat wall assembly. An ignition source is in operable relationship to the combustion volume, which can ignite a combustible gas within the combustion volume. The piston forms at least a portion of the generally flat wall assembly when the piston is in an undriven state.

Abstract: A grip cover is provided for fitting over the hand grip of a coating dispensing device for dispensing coating material. The grip cover includes material for cushioning a hand of an operator using the coating dispensing device.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly for use in a combustion-powered fastener driving tool, includes a cylinder body, a reciprocating probe assembly slidably disposed relative to the cylinder body between a first, extended position and a second, retracted position, and at least one shock-absorbing member operationally associated with at least one of the cylinder body and the probe assembly for reducing shock load generated by the tool during combustion and transmitted between the probe assembly and the cylinder body. In another embodiment, a single spring disposed between the probe assembly and the cylinder body is configured for biasing the probe assembly into the first position.

Abstract: A port is employed for a fan chamber which defines a volume formed by at least one generally continuous vertical wall connecting a horizontal base wall with an opposing horizontal exit wall. Within the volume is a fan rotatable in a plane generally parallel to a plane of at least one of the horizontal walls. The port is formed of an inner side located between a center of the exit wall and an outer edge of said the wall, an outer side located between the inner side and the outer edge of the exit wall, and two opposing secant sides connecting respective ends of the outer side to the inner side. A shape of the inner side forms a straight line or a convex line with respect to the center of the exit wall.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade and a nosepiece, and being configured for sequentially feeding fasteners to the nosepiece for engagement by the driver blade for subsequent driving into a workpiece, each fastener defining a plane, further includes a deformation formation in the nosepiece configured for engaging a portion of each of the fasteners so that upon impact of the fastener by the driver blade, the engaged fastener portion is deformed in a direction transverse to the plane to define a deformed portion, the deformed portion configured for providing a clamping force upon at least one of the workpiece and a workpiece material being secured to the workpiece. A fastener is provided for use in such a tool and includes a crown configured so that, upon impact with at least one of the workpiece and the workpiece material, the crown has a nonlinear configuration.

Abstract: A novel fluid supply cup comprises a flexible liner integral with a container having an opening and a vent. A novel method of manufacturing a lined container comprises the steps of molding a container having a vented thick-walled portion and an integral flexible thin-walled liner, and folding the thin-walled liner into the thick-walled portion. Finally, a novel method of applying a fluid comprises the steps of providing a flexible liner integral with a container having an opening and a vent, loading fluid into the liner, engaging the container with a fluid applicator, flowing the fluid out of the liner into the fluid applicator, collapsing the liner, and flowing the fluid of the fluid applicator.

Abstract: An insert seal for an adapter connectable to a fuel cell which is engageable upon a combustion tool fuel metering valve, the fuel cell having a stem and the metering valve having a nipple, includes a body defining a central passageway and having a first end sealable on the stem and a second end sealable on the nipple, a flange portion affixed to the second end, being in fluid communication with the passageway and having a larger diameter than the body. The fuel cell adapter is configured for connection to the fuel cell and is engageable upon the combustion tool fuel metering valve, has an adapter body with a base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell and a nozzle connected to the base, the adapter body defining a chamber configured for accommodating the stem and the nipple, the insert seal being accommodated in the chamber.

Abstract: A self-drilling fastener for attaching wood substrates to metal substrates comprises an elongate shank defining an axis, the shank having a first end and a second end. A drilling tip having a drill point and an axial length is formed at the first end. A broad head is formed at the second end. The shank includes a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion. The threaded portion axially extends from the drilling tip towards the head and includes helical threads and has an axial length, a root diameter, and a thread diameter. The length of the threaded portion is greater than the length of the drilling tip. The unthreaded portion axially extends from the threaded portion to the head and has an axial length and a diameter. The length of the unthreaded portion is substantially greater than the length of the threaded portion and the diameter of the unthreaded portion is smaller than the thread diameter of the threaded portion.

Abstract: A novel fastener for holding and spacing an object at a predetermined distance from a substrate comprises a bridge portion, a first prong extending in a driving direction from the bridge portion, and a second prong spaced from the first prong and extending generally parallel to the first prong in the driving direction from the bridge portion, wherein the second prong is substantially shorter than the first prong.

Abstract: A coating material dispensing system including a coating dispenser having a terminal for coupling to a high-magnitude potential supply, supply valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, first purge valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, a second purge valve having an input port, an output port and a control port, and means for coupling: the output port of a first one of the supply valves to a common point in a fluid circuit; the output port of a second one of the supply valves to the common point; the output port of the second purge valve to the common point; and, the common point to the coating dispenser, the common point also coupled to ground.

Abstract: A seal includes a first seal retainer, a seal holder and a second seal retainer. A somewhat cup-shaped recess of the first seal retainer opens in a first direction of motion of a movable member against which the seal is to seal. The seal holder includes a first somewhat cuplike portion adjacent to the first seal retainer and a second somewhat cuplike portion more remote from the first seal retainer. The first somewhat cuplike portion opens in a second direction of motion opposite the first. The second somewhat cuplike portion opens in the first direction. The second seal retainer includes a first portion closer to the seal holder and a second portion more remote from the seal holder. The second somewhat cuplike portion of the seal holder receives the first portion of the second seal retainer.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade and a nosepiece, and being configured for sequentially feeding fasteners to the nosepiece for engagement by the driver blade for subsequent driving into a workpiece, each fastener defining a plane, further includes a deformation formation in the nosepiece configured for engaging a portion of each of the fasteners so that upon impact of the fastener by the driver blade, the engaged fastener portion is deformed in a direction transverse to the plane to define a deformed portion, the deformed portion configured for providing a clamping force upon at least one of the workpiece and a workpiece material being secured to the workpiece. A fastener is provided for use in such a tool and includes a crown configured so that, upon impact with at least one of the workpiece and the workpiece material, the crown has a nonlinear configuration.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing applicator is provided with passages directing ambient air to an area of low-pressure created behind a rotary atomizer of the applicator. The passages have ambient air openings thereto remote from the rotary atomizer. When a low-pressure area is created by the pumping effect from the rotary atomizer, ambient air is drawn through the passages to reduce the low-pressure area.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly for use in a combustion tool including a combustion chamber, at least one combustion chamber plate disposed in the chamber, the at least one combustion chamber plate and the chamber members being configured for relative reciprocal movement, the combustion chamber assembly having at least one latch member associated with control of movement of at least one plate within the combustion chamber to divide the chamber into multiple volumes. The combustion chamber assembly further has a release for the latch member for permitting relative movement of the at least one combustion chamber plate and the combustion chamber.

Abstract: For use in a fastener driving tool, a fastener assembly includes a plurality of fasteners arranged in a row, each fastener including a head and an elongated shank and a carrier including a plurality of connected carrier sleeves for receiving and surrounding a portion of an associated fastener. Each of the carrier sleeves includes an axis, an upper breakable portion, a middle portion, a lower breakable portion, a pedestal associated with the lower breakable portion, the pedestal axially extending away from the lower breakable collar, and a pair of notches in the lower breakable portion, the pair of notches opening toward the head of the associated fastener.

Abstract: A cap member for a dual-compartment adhesive dispensing cartridge comprises a pair of dependent plugs, the cap member is initially integrally secured upon an upper end portion of a dispensing outlet portion by frangible connections which are defined between the plugs and upper end portions of a pair of dispensing conduits that are defined within the dispensing outlet portion by a divider wall. In addition, an axially oriented web member extends upwardly from a central region of the dispensing outlet portion, and the cap member is integrally secured to the upper extremity of the web member by another frangible connection. In this manner, when the cap member is to be separated from the dispensing cartridge, the integral connection defined between the cap member and the web member effectively serves as a pivotal fulcrum about which the cap member can be pivoted.

Abstract: A novel fastener comprises a head having a recess for receiving a rotary driver, a shank having knurls defined by generally helical grooves and intersecting generally annular grooves, wherein a plurality of the knurls include a lateral cutting edge, and a generally pointed tip. Another novel fastener comprises a head having a recess for receiving a rotary driver, a shank having a predetermined diameter small enough so that the head will break away from said shank upon application of a predetermined torque, and said shank having knurls defined by generally helical grooves and intersecting generally annular grooves.

Abstract: A gas combustion-powered apparatus has a first chamber, a rotatable fan in the first chamber, an ignition source in operable relationship to the first chamber to ignite a combustible gas, and a second chamber. A communication passage is located downstream of the fan between the first chamber and the second chamber, and is constructed and arranged for enabling passage of an ignited gas jet from the first chamber to the second chamber. An intake port is located on a wall of the first chamber upstream of the fan, and a bypass port, separate from the communication passage, is located on the wall of the first chamber downstream of the fan.