Abstract: A device for welding roof membranes which includes a heat welding means capable of applying a heat weld to overlapping roof membranes, and a fluid application means capable of applying a solvent or primer between overlapping roof membranes in order to form a solvent weld to the roof membranes or to aid in preparing the membranes for application of a heat weld to the membranes. The device may be employed to apply, for example, a heat weld to overlapping roof membranes on one side of a fastening means, and a solvent weld to the overlapping roof membranes on the opposite side of the fastening means. Such a device enables one to apply solvent or primer safely while providing the ability to apply, if desired, a heat weld in addition to the application solvent or primer.

Abstract: An anchor assembly capable of being inserted in a hole in a substrate. The assembly includes a sleeve and a screw. The sleeve includes a top end, a body portion, and a bottom end. The sleeve includes at least one feeler prong adjacent the top end, and preferably a tip portion adjacent the bottom end. The anchor assembly may be inserted into a hole in the substrate. The feeler prong(s) enable the installer to known whether the sleeve has been inserted properly into the hole, and the tip serves to push dust away from the bottom of a hole to insure optimum penetration of the sleeve into the hole, as well as insuring full penetration of the screw into the sleeve.

Abstract: A fastener having a head portion, a shaft portion, and a hook portion which secures the fastener within a substrate. The hook portion may have a plurality of serrations on a surface thereof for gripping a substrate. The hook may be of a material having a memory such that, when the hook is compressed during the insertion of the fastener in a hole in a substrate, the hook will expand against the walls of the hole in a desire to return to its original shape. Such a fastener may be easily inserted into the hole, but considerable force is required to remove the fastener from the hole after insertion. The fastener thus can be inserted easily through soft materials overlying a hard substrate without damaging them while providing an effective anchoring force within the substrate in effectively fastening materials to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of inserting a rivet having at least a body portion and a mandrel having means for cutting and peeling back the rivet into portions which curl back on the rivet body into a solid substance. The rivet and mandrel are inserted into the solid substance without completely piercing through the solid substance. The rivet is then cut and peeled back into portions which curl back on the rivet body within the solid substance. The invention is also directed to a product comprising a solid substance, and a material fastened to the solid substance by at least one rivet which extends through the at least one material and into the substance without completely piercing through the substance. The at least one rivet has been cut back into portions which curl back on the rivet body, thereby attaching the material to the solid substance.

Abstract: A stress plate for clamping a membrane to a roof deck wherein the plate includes gripping prongs which grip the membrane, preferably without piercing of the membrane.

Abstract: A device for welding portions of two overlapping roof membranes wherein a fastening means has been fastened to the lower of the two membranes and wherein there are portions of both overlapping membranes on both sides of the fastening means. The device includes a welding means which can apply welds to the membranes on both sides of the fastening means simultaneously. The welding means includes a nozzle having two outlets, with each outlet applying a heat sealing weld on one side of the fastening means. The device also includes a pair of weighted stitcher wheel assemblies which help to eliminate air pockets for underneath the roof membranes and to maintain the proper alignment of the overlapping membranes. The invention also includes a welding process using the above-mentioned device.

Abstract: A stress plate and method for securing a membrane to a roof deck wherein the plate includes gripping prongs which grip the membrane, preferably without piercing the membrane, wherein a stress plate surface having the gripping prongs is placed in contact with a top surface of a roof membrane to clamp the membrane to a roof structure.

Abstract: A rivet having a head portion and a body portion, with a bore through the head portion and body portion, said bore being capable of receiving a mandrel having a head portion with a self-piercing end portion and a cutting portion. The self-piercing end portion is capable of piercing partially or entirely through a roofing substrate. After the mandrel has pierced the substrate, the cutting portion of the mandrel peels back the rivet body into separate portions which curl back on the rivet body.