Abstract: A powered tool constructed to drive a fastener into a workpiece includes a nosepiece assembly including a back plate and a front plate combining to define a path for a driver blade, the front plate being pivotally movable relative to the back plate between a closed position, in which the front plate and the back plate are in contact with each other, and an open position. The front plate is movable to an interim deflecting position between the closed position and the open position. A handle portion has an outer surface at least partially defining a grip, and an inner surface at least partially defining a chamber. The handle portion includes a substrate having at least one aperture, and an overmold configured for forming a gripping surface on the outer surface and for extending through the apertures into the chamber for forming a resilient mounting point.

Abstract: In a fastener-driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade for driving fasteners into a workpiece, a magazine configured for storing and feeding at least one collated strip of fasteners to the driver blade, including a housing defining a feed end, a driving end and a guidance portion disposed between and contacting the two ends, the guidance portion having at least two guidance formations, a first guidance formation configured for engaging the fastener strip at a first location, and the second guidance formation configured for engaging the fastener strip at a second location. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener strip is supported only by the first guidance formation in a first zone of the magazine, and only by the second guidance formation is a second zone of the magazine.

Abstract: A fuel cell adapter system for a combustion tool which includes a housing enclosing a fuel metering valve. The fuel cell is provided with an adapter having a generally cylindrical nozzle and a base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell. The nozzle has a free end and defines a passageway. A frangible membrane is provided for blocking the passageway. The adapter also has a gripping formation that is configured for engagement with a latch, so that the adapter is accommodated in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch is disposed in the housing for releasably securing the adapter in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch includes a latch body having at least one locking tang movable between a closed position and an open position, and a release member for moving the locking tang to release said engagement with the adapter and permitting withdrawal of said fuel cell from said tool.

Abstract: A suspension mechanism for a motor of a combustion chamber fan in a combustion powered hand tool constructed and arranged for driving a driver blade to drive a fastener into a work piece, the tool generating an upward axial acceleration of the motor upon a combustion in the chamber, a subsequent reciprocal axial acceleration of the motor when the piston bottoms out on a bumper, at least one of the accelerations causing the motor to oscillate relative to the tool, the suspension mechanism includes a suspending portion configured for providing progressive dampening to the motor upon the generation of the axial accelerations.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a housing enclosing a fastener driving portion and a handle connected to the fastener driving portion. A pair of clamshells is configured to form an ergonomic grip over the handle and also forming a fastener magazine, such that the ergonomic grip and the magazine are integral in each clamshell. The clamshells are secured to the fastener driving portion and an endcap without the use of special fasteners. A belt hook is available which releasably attaches to either side of the tool.

Abstract: A collation strip for use within a nail gun is fabricated from a suitable polypropylene composition and has a relatively large thickness dimension, however, in order to impart enhanced flexibility to the thickened collation strip, the collation strip is provided with a plurality of auxiliary apertures within its spine section, or alternatively within its spine and hinged sections. Such enhanced flexibility permits the collation strip to be utilized under relatively low temperature conditions such that the collation strip will not experience jamming within the nail gun.

Abstract: A highly stretched film has permanently heat-sealed edges that are nearly invisible. A folding apparatus folds the edge portions of a film to form folded edges. The folded film then is passed through a bridle mechanism having two heated rolls. A series of nips apply pressure to the folded film as it is heated by the heated rolls. The nip pressure, combined with the heat imparted by the heated rolls, causes thermal welding of the folded edges resulting in permanent heat-sealed edges. Because the film edges are folded prior to the hot-stretching, the hot stretch process performs dual functions of stretching the film and heat sealing the folded edges. The resulting stretched film has permanently heat-sealed edges that do no separate, and which prevent tearing of the film edges during subsequent processing and use.

Abstract: A lockout mechanism for a fastener driving tool having a magazine for storing and sequentially urging fasteners toward a nosepiece through which a driver blade impacts and drives the fasteners into a workpiece, the lockout mechanism is configured for preventing the firing of the fastener driving tool when the magazine is empty or nearly empty of fasteners. A fastener track is defined in the magazine for the passage of the fasteners toward the nosepiece. A biased follower urges the fasteners in the fastener track toward the nosepiece. The fastener track has a bypass portion dimensioned for receiving the follower whereby upon reaching the bypass portion, the follower becomes disengaged from the fasteners and moves into engagement with the nosepiece for preventing operation of the tool. The bypass portion is located near a magazine driving end to indicate when the magazine is empty or nearly empty.

Abstract: An appliance packaging assembly and method therefor, including a reinforced tray disposed under the appliance, a plurality of rigid posts disposed between the tray and alongside the appliance, a transparent film disposed about the posts and the appliance, a reinforced cover having a lifting flange member on a side portion thereof, the cover disposed over the plurality of wrapped posts and appliance, and tensioned strap disposed along side the posts and about the tray and cover and over the lifting flange member thereof.

Abstract: A one-way valve allows air to be drawn from a collapsible, flexible, air-tight bag using a vacuum source. When the vacuum source is removed, the one-way valve prevents air from re-entering the bag. A filter is placed on the valve body to prevent small particles from the bag from clogging the valve or the vacuum source.

Abstract: A support device for use within a fastener driving tool is fixedly attached to the tool's workpiece contact element so as to be movable therewith between extended and retracted positions. When the workpiece contact element, and the support device mounted thereon, are moved to the retracted position, a pocket or recessed portion of the support device will envelop a tip portion of a second uppermost fastener disposed within the tool magazine, while the first uppermost fastener is disposed within the tool drive bore, such that the second uppermost fastener, as well as the remaining fasteners within the magazine, is properly supported and stabilized such that shock and vibrational forces, attendant the driving of the first uppermost fastener, are effectively prevented from being transmitted to the second uppermost and remaining fasteners.

Abstract: A high magnitude potential supply comprises a first circuit for generating a first signal related to a desired output high magnitude potential across a pair of output terminals of the supply, a second circuit for generating a second signal related to an output current from the high magnitude potential supply, and a third circuit for supplying an operating potential to the high magnitude potential supply so that it can produce the high magnitude operating potential. The third circuit has a control terminal. A fourth circuit is coupled to the first and second circuits and to the control terminal. The fourth circuit receives the first and second signals from the first and second circuits and controls the operating potential supplied to the high magnitude potential supply by the third circuit. A fifth circuit is provided for disabling the supply of operating potential to the high magnitude potential supply in certain conditions so that no high magnitude operating potential can be supplied by it.

Abstract: A progressive punch is used in a strapping machine for positioning and sealing an associated strap material around a load. The punch is positioned in a jaw assembly that includes a movable punch support and a fixed punch support configured to receive the associated strap therebetween. The movable and fixed supports each include at least one punch having at least two punching heads. The punching heads each have a height that is defined by a distance between an outermost peripheral point of the punching head and a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement. The heights of the punching heads are different from one another so that the punching heads progressively engage the strap, with the punching heads initially engaging the strap material at a different times from one another.

Abstract: A strapping tool includes an integral, removable cleaning element. The strapping tool forms a seal between two portions of associated strapping material, which strapping material is tensioned by a feed wheel prior to forming the seal. The tool includes a strapping machine body, a subassembly operably coupled to the strapping machine body. A feed wheel is carried by the subassembly and is rotatable within the subassembly. A feed lever is operably connected to the subassembly and to the feed wheel for rotating the feed wheel. A cleaning element is supported by the subassembly and is disposed for continuous contact with the rotating feed wheel.

Abstract: A transfer pad printing systems, pad printing plates and methods therefor including forming a metal plate having a Rockwell C scale hardness not less than approximately 55 and a thickness between approximately 0.015 inches and approximately 0.020 inches, preferably from a cold rolled strip steel, etching an image on the metal plate and mounting the metal plate on a base plate prior to transferring images therefrom with a transfer pad.

Abstract: A compression triggered powder driven fastening tool having a firing mechanism with a sleeve axially movable between first and second positions, a lever cam coupled to the sleeve or some other reciprocating portion of the tool and movable therewith, an indexing lever pivotally coupled to the tool, the indexing lever having a magazine strip engagement portion extending into a magazine channel of the tool, the indexing lever having a cam follower portion engaged with the lever cam, the magazine strip engagement portion of the indexing lever moves between first and second positions in the magazine channel as the sleeve moves with the reciprocating portion of the tool to which it is coupled, the magazine engagement portion of the indexing lever indexes a magazine strip through a channel of the tool.

Abstract: Holographic patterns are produced by utilizing a laser to illuminate a workpiece with an interference pattern, with sufficient laser power to ablate the workpiece where it is illuminated by the laser, and moving the workpiece and the interference pattern relative to each other.

Abstract: A trigger assembly for a power fastener driving tool having a housing, a control valve mounted to the housing and a reciprocating workpiece contacting element associated with the housing, includes a trigger member being pivotally engaged on the housing and having a pair of spaced walls, an actuation lever having a free end and a pivot end pivotally engaged on at least one of the walls, the free end being constructed and arranged for engaging the workpiece contacting element, and a biasing element for biasing the lever and the trigger away from the valve. At least one of the walls are configured for receiving the pivot end and for defining two positions for the lever, a first position which places the free end farther from the workpiece contacting element, and a second position which places the free end closer to the workpiece contacting element, and the lever being selectively positionable in either the first position or the second position and being held in the selected position by the biasing element.