Abstract: A clinch type staple has a U-shaped configuration with a pair of legs extending generally perpendicularly from a base portion of the staple with the outside surfaces of the distal ends of the legs being bevelled. The legs of the staple lie in spaced apart planes that are parallel to one another, but are angularly offset from one another in order to insure that the legs will not contact or interfere with each other as they are clinched into a workpiece. A plurality of such clinch staples can be manufactured into an assembly of clinch staples. The method of making such an assembly of clinch staples includes advancing a plurality of wires in parallel side-by-side relation in a flat planar array and adhering the wires to one another. A blank, severed from an end of the formed array, includes a plurality of side-by-side wire segments of equal length extending parallel to one another in a first direction.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool is provided with replaceable wear guards which provide for three point support of the tool on its side. The three point support system prevents wear on the handle casting and the magazine housing when the tool is dragged across abrasive surfaces, such as roofing surfaces. The fastener driving tool is also provided with a muffler incorporated into a low profile top cap which reduces the overall profile of the tool. A diverter plate is also provided to discharge the exhaust downwardly in front of the tool in a direction more ergonomically pleasing to end users. The fastener driving tool also includes an improved fastener feed system which minimizes nail jams and allows for axial alignment of the driver blade with respect to the fasteners for collated fastener systems wherein the fastener heads are relatively large.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated fastener driving tool having a pivotally mounted magazine. The displacement of the magazine is used to actuate the tool when the nosepiece is in engagement with a workpiece. With the magazine travel kept to a minimum, the magazine is coupled to a cam lever which amplifies the displacement of the magazine. One portion of the cam lever is in engagement with a trip lever which forms a bearing surface for the trigger valve cartridge, which enables the tool when the magazine is in a drive position. The geometry of the cam lever causes a relatively greater displacement of the trip lever than the displacement of the magazine. The fastener driving tool also includes a poppet valve for controlling the compressed air flow into the drive cylinder. The top portion of the poppet is subject to the compressed air reservoir within the tool. A poppet chamber disposed at the bottom of the poppet controls the opening and closing of the poppet valve.

Abstract: A lightweight fastener driving tool capable of being battery powered utilizes a low cost fastener driving ram or blade that is normally located in a nip defined between a motor driven flywheel and an idler wheel. Upon the actuation of a trigger operated timing circuit, a solenoid is energized. The solenoid controls a toggle mechanism to adjust the position of the idler wheel with respect to the flywheel so as to force the blade against the flywheel and thereby to close the nip for a sufficient amount of time to initiate the driving of the blade downwardly through the nip. The timing circuit deenergizes the solenoid prior to the time that the blade exits the nip but the toggle mechanism maintains the idler wheel against the blade such that the blade continues to be driven by the flywheel. When the top of the blade exits the nip, the idler wheel can move towards the flywheel and the toggle mechanism releases the idler wheel so that the nip is open.

Abstract: A guide for use with a fastener driving tool which positions the fastener driving tool with respect to the workpiece and also controls the degree of penetration of the fastener with respect to the workpiece to allow for contraction and expansion of the workpiece due to temperature changes. The guide includes a rigid U-shaped member which may be attached to either a wire type or flat type safety yoke.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated fastener driving tool having a pivotally mounted magazine. The displacement of the magazine is used to actuate the tool when the nosepiece is in engagement with a workpiece. With the magazine travel kept to a minimum, the magazine is coupled to a cam lever which amplifies the displacement of the magazine. One portion of the cam lever is in engagement with a trip lever which forms a bearing surface for the trigger valve cartridge, which enables the tool when the magazine is in a drive position. The geometry of the cam lever causes a relatively greater displacement of the trip lever than the displacement of the magazine. The fastener driving tool also includes a poppet valve for controlling the compressed air flow into the drive cylinder. The top portion of the poppet is subject to the compressed air reservoir within the tool. A poppet chamber disposed at the bottom of the poppet controls the opening and closing of the poppet valve.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool of the type utilizing a motor driven energy storing flywheel and a reciprocating fastener driving ram employs a flywheel having a metal peripheral surface that selectively engages a metal surface of the ram in order to drive the ram into engagement with a fastener to be driven into a workpiece. An elastic cord returns the ram to a retracted position when the ram is disengaged by the flywheel, and a pair of elastic bumpers are employed to limit the travel of the ram in the direction of the retracted position and the direction of the fastener engaging position. The ram, bumpers and cords form a subassembly that permits the ram, cord and bumpers to be removed from the fastener as a unit. The cord is made relatively long to reduce the amount of stretch per unit length applied to the cord thereby to increase the life of the cord. The motor and flywheel may be rotated in opposite directions to reduce precessional forces.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a guide for positioning a furniture spring clip with respect to the tool and also positions the furniture spring clip with respect to a wooden furniture frame to allow the furniture spring clip to be secured thereto. A furniture spring clip is also disclosed which includes one or more fastener receiving apertures which allow the fastener to be received in the wooden frame at a corner at approximately a 45.degree. angle with respect to adjacent perpendicular surfaces of the furniture frame. The furniture spring clip is thus adapted to be secured to a wooden furniture frame with a single fastener which provides holding power along two axes with respect to adjacent perpendicular surfaces of the wooden furniture frame.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a pointing device permitting the tool to be positioned against a workpiece so that a fastener is driven precisely at a target point. The tool includes a body with a nose portion in which is a fastener drive track. A foot assembly moves from a rest position toward the tool body to a drive position when the tool is pressed against the workpiece. In the rest position, the pointing device is aligned with the drive track and is adjacent the workpiece. When the tool is moved to the drive position, the pointing device is retracted, the nose portion approaches the workpiece, a safety mechanism is operated and a fastener is driven into the selected target point.

Abstract: A hog ring fastener has a straight line base and legs each perpendicular to the base but offset at an angle to each other permitting the use of relatively inexpensive "C" points. A stick of the fasteners is generally channel shaped, with the legs and bases all angularly inclined to the longitudinal axis of the stick. The assembly of fasteners is made in a multiwire process by severing blanks and forming the legs at a bias to a line perpendicular to the wire direction. A tool and method for applying the fastener carries out two different deformation stages, one being a predeformation stage to incline the legs of the fastener inward to a preferred application position.

Abstract: A trigger and safety interlock feature for a fastener driving tool having a power mechanism operable in a fastener driving stroke during which a fastener is driven into a workpiece. The invention comprises a manually operable trigger movable between a rest position and a firing position, a workpiece engageable safety member movable between a standby position and an actuating position, and a control mechanism associated with the power mechanism and the trigger for initiating a drive stroke only when the trigger moves from its rest position to its firing position.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool for fabricating upholstered furniture and particularly for securing furniture clips, such as a J-type spring clip, to a wood furniture frame. The furniture clips are used to suspend furniture springs across the furniture frame. The tool includes a pivotally mounted magazine which prevents the tool from being operated unless the nosepiece is in engagement with a workpiece. In order to facilitate alignment of the furniture clips with respect to the fasteners, the nosepiece is formed as a guide for aligning the furniture spring clip with respect to the fastener drive track.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool of the type utilizing a motor driven energy storing flywheel and a reciprocating fastener driving ram employs a flywheel having a metal peripheral surface that selectively engages a metal surface of the ram in order to drive the ram into engagement with a fastener to be driven into a workpiece. An elastic cord returns the ram to a retracted position when the ram is disengaged by the flywheel, and a pair of elastic bumpers are employed to limit the travel of the ram in the direction of the retracted position and the direction of the fastener engaging position. The ram, bumpers and cords form a subassembly that permits the ram, cord and bumpers to be removed from the fastener as a unit. The cord is made relatively long to reduce the amount of stretch per unit length applied to the cord thereby to increase the life of the cord. The motor and flywheel may be rotated in opposite directions to reduce precessional forces.

Abstract: A core alignment system for aligning a pair of optical fibers to be spliced, in which core alignment is accomplished by applying a pair of aligned beams of light emitted in opposite directions by a semiconductor laser to the butt joint ends of a pair of optical fibers to be spliced, detecting a leakage beam leaking from a side surface of each optical fiber close to the laser, and adjusting the positioning of the optical fibers so that the leakage beams are minimized.

Abstract: A magazine assembly for a fastener driving tool has an elongated fastener carrier defining a fastener feed path. The carrier is pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the fastener feed path for movement between an operative, refill and an unjam position. In the operative position, the elongated carrier is latched by a latch assembly disposed in the forward portion of the tool. A pusher advances the fasteners forward to a nosepiece assembly. In one embodiment, retraction of the pusher releases the latch allowing the elongated carrier to pivot about an axis parallel to the fastener feed path under the influence of a spring to the refill position. In an alternate embodiment, the latch assembly is provided at the rear of the tool and is not interlocked with the pusher. A nosepiece assembly, secured to the forward end of the tool, defines a fastener drive track for guiding fasteners driven into a workpiece.

Abstract: A safety system for automatically preventing over pressure in the interior of a pneumatically operated tool supplied from a source of compressed air includes a safety relief valve detachably connected between the tool and the compressed air source. The safety valve includes a hollow housing having a relief port therein and a resettable valve member is mounted in the housing and movable to open and close the relief port in response to the level of air pressure supplied from the source of compressed air. The housing includes an access opening opposite the relief port and a removable stop member is provided to normally close the access opening and limit the movement of the valve member in a direction inwardly of the housing. The access opening is dimensioned to permit easy insertion and removal of the valve member into and out of the housing.

Abstract: A guide assembly mounted on a fastener driving tool locates the tool a predetermined distance from the edge of hardboard siding or a similar workpiece and assures that a fastener is driven into the workpiece the correct distance. The tool includes a housing having a nose defining a drive track and a driver blade for driving fasteners along the drive track into the workpiece. A safety member moves relative to the housing between a workpiece responsive position extending beyond the nose and an operating position, and a spring urges the safety member toward the workpiece responsive position. The guide assembly includes a yoke with a central portion adjustably mounted to the safety for controlling fastener penetration. A pair of laterally extending arms carry edge guides to locate the tool spaced from the workpiece edge in either of two different tool orientations. The edge guides are retractable so that one may be retracted when the other is used, or so that both may be retracted if neither is used.

Abstract: A magazine assembly for a fastener driving tool has an elongated fastener carrier defining a fastener feed path. The carrier is pivotably mounted about an axis parallel to the fastener feed path for movement between an operative and a refill position. In the operative position the elongated carrier is latched. A pusher advances the fasteners forward to a nosepiece assembly. Retraction of the pusher releases the latch allowing the elongated carrier to pivot about an axis parallel to the fastener feed path under the influence of a spring to the refill position. A nosepiece assembly, secured to the forward end of the tool, defines a fastener drive track for guiding fasteners driven into a workpiece. The nosepiece assembly includes a front nosepiece and a rear nosepiece pivotably connected together to allow freeing of jammed fasteners.

Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool includes a return system for efficiently and rapidly returning a drive piston to the static position and effecting a fastener feeding operation. A housing defines a pressure fluid reservoir connected by a pneumatic control system to a first side of a drive piston to move a driver blade through a drive track in a drive stroke. A pressure fluid actuated fastener feed assembly advances fasteners along a feed path to the drive track. Following a drive stroke, the return system connects the reservoir to the second side of the drive piston for moving the drive piston and driver blade in a return stroke. The return system also connects the reservoir to the fastener feeding assembly for feeding of a fastener. The return system includes two separate return valves operable at different flow capacities and fluid pressures for drive piston return and for fastener feeding.