Abstract: A seam plate for use in connection with securing membrane sheets to underlying roof decking substructure comprises a substantially rectangular plate having a central aperture for receiving a bolt fastener. Upstanding rib structure is provided upon the plate so as to provide different regions thereof with different rigidity, flexibility, and bendability properties. The rib structure can have, for example, a substantially diamond-shaped configuration or an X-shaped configuration for respectively providing corner regions of the plate with increased or decreased flexibility. A plurality of downwardly extending projections, having substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configurations, are provided upon the underside of the seam plate so as to engage the membrane sheets and retain the same at their desired locations upon the underlying roof deck substructure assembly.

Abstract: An arm member is provided for protection of a power source and for facilitating storage of a power tool. In a closed position, the arm member is configured for partially encircling a portion of the power source and re-directing an impact directed towards that portion away from the power source. In an open position, the arm member is configured for engaging a projection or structure to enable hanging and/or other storage of the power tool.

Abstract: A lock-out mechanism, for use in conjunction with a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, is operatively engaged with the tool trigger mechanism so as to be movable between extended and retracted positions. The lock-out mechanism is adapted to engage a wear plate member of the annular sleeve-valve member, which partially defines the combustion chamber of the tool and which is movable between OPENED and CLOSED positions, when the lock-out mechanism is disposed at its extended position, and guide rails are provided upon interior surface portions of the tool handle housing for guiding the movement of the lock-out mechanism as well as for bearing the forces which tend to move the annular sleeve-valve member to its combustion chamber OPENED position. In this manner, such forces do not bear upon the trigger mechanism whereby the tool operator does not become fatigued.

Abstract: An adjustable adapter includes two arms, each having an axis, a surface substantially normal to the axis, wherein the surfaces of the arms face each other, an end and a passageway for fluid communication between the end and the opening, wherein one of the arm ends is for connection to an inlet of an applicator and the other arm end is for connection to an outlet of a container, and a fastener for pivotally coupling the arms. One of the arm surfaces is provided with a groove in fluid communication with both arm openings. The groove is sealed to prevent fluid from leaking from between the surfaces. When the fastener is in a rotation-resisting mode, the fastener forces the surfaces of the arm toward one another sufficiently to increase friction and resist rotation therebetween, and when the fastener is in a rotation-permitting mode, the fastener releases the surfaces sufficiently to decrease friction and permit rotation therebetween.

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 cover-connector for covering and connecting a fluid supply container to a conduit is provided, wherein one of the container and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other one of said container and said conduit has a threaded connecting surface. The novel cover-connector comprises a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between the connecting regions, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of the connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to the threaded connecting surface for threaded connecting therebetween.

Abstract: In a fastener driving tool having a novel depth of drive control is provided. The fastener driving tool includes a tool body having a cylinder with an axis, the cylinder enclosing a piston, wherein the piston is driven in a driving direction, a depth control probe, and a bumper associated with the depth control probe, wherein the bumper has a trailing surface. The depth control probe is movable relative to the tool body between an extended position and a retracted position, and the depth control probe creates a space having a predetermined length between a surface of a substrate and the trailing surface of the bumper. A surface of the piston hits the trailing surface of the bumper after the fastener has been driven to control the driving depth of a fastener.

Abstract: Methods for reducing cavitation in impulse or drop on demand ink jetting devices are provided. Impulse ink jet compositions including antioxidant are also provided which are suitable for printing clear, well-defined alphanumeric text or low spread, narrow bar width bar codes on porous substrates such as Kraft paper or corrugated cardboard. The antioxidant additive lowers the dissolved oxygen level in the ink, thereby enhancing the jetting performance of the printhead.

Abstract: A fastener subassembly for being driven by a power actuated tool comprises a flute having a body and a pin having a tip for being driven into a substrate. The body of the flute has a longitudinal axis, a muzzle loading end, a mounting end, and a hollow bore. The pin is mounted in the bore with its tip proximate the mounting end, such that the tip is protected from pressure between the fastener subassembly and the substrate prior to driving. The mounting end of the flute has wings that extend radially outwardly. The wings allow the subassembly to be mounted in a hole in any suitable member that needs to be attached to a substrate while holding the pin substantially perpendicular to the substrate during driving.

Abstract: A roof decking membrane welding system and method comprises first and second roof decking membranes having edge portions thereof welded to each other so as to define a seamed connection therebetween. The edge portion of a first one of the membranes is disposed beneath a seam plate and folded over the top of the seam plate so as to be secured upon itself either at a location adjacent to the seamed connection with the second membrane or between the first membrane and the edge portion of the second membrane. In either case, the folded edge portion of the first membrane forms a closed loop portion which presents multiple regions for load-sharing in resisting uplifting wind load forces. Alternatively, the edge portion of the first membrane is folded over itself but disposed beneath the seam plate so as to present dual plies of the first membrane for engagement with the seam plate so as to again provide load-sharing characteristics under uplifting wind load forces.

Abstract: A non-sealing, lubricating piston ring for lubricating the cylinder wall of a piston housing in a combustion tool is disclosed. The lubricating piston ring is made from a lubricating material such as polytetrofluroethylene (PTFE). The shape of the PTFE ring is designed to optimize the lubricity of the piston housing, while allowing enough friction for the piston to operate properly within the piston housing during reciprocating cycling movement. The PTFE ring may have radial fins extending from an outer surface thereof that are angled to promote ring rotations, such that the ring moves easily along and efficiently lubricates the inner cylinder wall of the piston housing. The PTFE ring does not form a seal between the piston and the housing. Instead, the PTFE ring is positioned above or below a sealing ring, such as a steel piston ring which forms the seal between the piston and the piston housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for driving a fastener from a detachable magazine. The tool includes a tool housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a power source enclosed by the housing. A nosepiece is attached to the housing and has a channel and a first alignment structure. The magazine is removably attached to the tool and has a magazine housing and a shear block that is mounted to the proximal end of the magazine housing. There is a second alignment structure and a face on the shear block such that the channel and the face form a barrel when the first alignment structure is engaged with the second alignment structure and the magazine is removably attached to the tool. Upon firing of the tool, the fastener is propelled by the power source, through the barrel and into the workpiece.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool is provided having a housing with an axis, the housing enclosing a piston having a driver blade, a nosepiece associated with the housing and extending in the axial direction, the nosepiece having a barrel for accepting a fastener and for axially guiding the driver blade toward impact with the fastener, a magazine associated with the nosepiece for feeding a collation strip of fasteners to the barrel of the nosepiece, and a magazine follower slidably mounted on the magazine for biasing the collation strip of fasteners toward the nosepiece, the magazine follower having a profile, and wherein the collation strip includes an extension having a profile that complements the profile of the magazine follower.

Abstract: A burnishing gear or burnishing die has a plurality of spiral gashes formed within each one of the burnishing gear teeth at a predetermined angle with respect to a transverse plane so as to define shearing edges along side involute portions of the burnishing gear teeth. The shearing edges enable enhanced finishing or burnishing operations to be performed upon workpiece gears in order to effectively remove positive imperfections, irregularities, nicks, or the like from the workpiece gear teeth so as to finish the workpiece gear in accordance with desired tolerances. The burnishing gear may be incorporated within burnishing gear systems utilizing burnishing gears characterized by different operating pressure angles as well as within burnishing gear systems that have mechanisms for reciprocating the workpiece gear during a gear burnishing operation.

Abstract: Various embodiments of improved fasteners for joining at least two pieces of wood are disclosed. The fastener includes a plate-like member or folded rectangular member defined between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge is configured to enter the wood pieces before the trailing edge. The fastener may also include at least two corrugations formed on the plate-like member, extending in a generally longitudinal direction. The fastener includes a locking portion, having one or more projections, an adhesive, or a non-corrugated section, disposed on the plate-like member or folded rectangular member near the trailing edge, for locking the fastener within the wood pieces.

Abstract: A combustion-powered tool having a workpiece contacting element movable relative to the tool as the tool is depressed prior to firing includes a spark unit having a high voltage spark supply for providing an ignition spark, a printed circuit board having a first portion configured for receiving and being electrically connected to the high voltage spark supply, and a second portion configured for receiving and being electrically connected to both an actuator switch and a trigger switch, the switches and the spark supply being electrically connected so that to enable firing, the workpiece contact element actuates the actuator switch, which then enables activation of the trigger switch. A unitary actuator has a fixed end, a movable end engageable by movement of the workpiece contact element and a middle portion for engaging the actuator switch upon movement of the movable end caused by depression of the tool against a workpiece.

Abstract: A case forming machine for assembling erected cases from blanks including a stacking means configured for receiving a supply of blanks, an opening and forming means for erecting the blanks and ejecting erected cases, and the machine is constructed and arranged so that the stacking means is configured for biasing the supply of blanks in a first direction and the forming means is configured so that the blanks are ejected in a second direction.

Abstract: A booth of a powder coating system is designed for quick color changes. The booth includes a bottom wall supported above a floor. An inner space of the booth is defined above the bottom wall and an equipment-receiving space is defined beneath the bottom wall. The bottom wall has an opening providing communication between the inner space and the equipment-receiving space. The booth is adapted to receive a powder-recovery module beneath the bottom wall in the equipment-receiving space.

Abstract: A drop-in anchor includes a sleeve having a threaded region having an internal thread formed therein and a split region having at least two longitudinal channels formed therein. The channels define sections. The split region has inwardly tapered inner walls. A plug is configured for engagement with the sleeve at the split region. The plug has a top surface and defines a tapered shape. A bolt having a threaded portion and a through-bore extending longitudinally therethrough, is configured for threaded engagement with the sleeve threaded region. A setting member is configured for insertion into the bolt bore. The setting member engages the plug top surface and a force exerted on the setting member drives the plug into the sleeve split region so as to urge the split region sections axially outwardly. A method for securing the anchor in the opening in the structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A constant volume metering chamber and valve assembly for use with a pressurized fluid supply containing a fluid is described for use in a power fastening tool. The assembly includes a first spring-biased valve and a second spring-biased valve. There is a metering chamber having an inlet and an outlet, so that the first spring-biased valve controls the inlet and the second spring-biased valve controls the outlet. An actuator assembly operates causes the first and second spring-biased valves to move in either a first valve sequence or a second valve sequence. The first valve sequence includes engaging the first spring-biased valve with the inlet, preventing flow of the fluid from the fluid supply into the metering chamber, followed by disengaging the second spring-biased valve from the outlet, allowing flow of the fluid from the metering chamber.