Abstract: A method for operating a fastener driving device is disclosed. The method includes moving an input actuator of an actuating assembly into an operative position in response to movement of a contact trip assembly and a trigger member into the operative positions thereof. The contract trip assembly includes an output actuator. The method also includes moving an actuating member with respect to the trigger member between a first position and a second position, and moving a mode selecting member together with the actuating member relative to the trigger member between the first and second positions of the actuating member, and relatively moving the mode selecting member with respect to the actuating member.

Abstract: A fastener driving device is disclosed. The device includes a fastener depletion sensing system that is constructed and arranged to allow normal operation of a power system contained within the device so long as a supply of fasteners provided by a magazine assembly is such that more than a predetermined number of fasteners are in a feed track and/or a drive track within the device. The fastener depletion sensing system is operable when the predetermined number of fasteners in the feed and/or the drive track is reached to provide a tactile indication to the user that the predetermined number of fasteners has been reached, and permitting the user to either cease further operation following the indication or complete the operation following the indication.

Abstract: A pallet having wooden boards secured together by nails which achieve approved operating characteristics. The nail is embodied in a package secured together by a pair of parallel wires welded to the shanks. Each nail having a shank diameter between 0.092 in. and 0.148 in., each nail is manufactured from steel wire and has a length between 1.625 in. and 3 in. The ratio of the head diameter to the shank diameter of each nail is between 2.70 and 3.37.

Abstract: A fastener driving device for use in driving a fastener into an elongated contoured portion of a workpiece is disclosed. The elongated contoured portion has a surface that is contoured perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elongated contoured portion. The device includes a contact arm that is operatively connected with the trigger assembly, and a contoured contact foot for engaging the workpiece. The contact arm is constructed and arranged to move relative to a housing assembly of the driving device when the contact foot is pressed against the workpiece. The contact foot has a contoured engaging surface that includes a recess that is shaped to generally complement the shape of the contoured surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated stapler that has a single selectively operable adjusting mechanism that is constructed and arranged to be adjusted within a range of leg deflecting positions is disclosed. The stapler includes a staple leg diverting member that is carried by a portable structure for lateral movement into and out of a drive track. Successively driven staples are driven with a selected leg deflection between a minimum deflection and a maximum deflection. The adjusting mechanism is selectively adjusted within the range of positions to adjust the amount of bias of a biasing structure acting on the leg diverting member.

Abstract: A wire nail for use with a powered nail-driving tool has a full-round head with an axis that is offset from an axis of the integrally formed shank. An outer circumferential surface of the shank is at least as offset from the shank axis in one radial direction as a circumferential surface of the head in that radial direction. Accordingly, such nails may be collated shank-to-shank in a strip of wire nails such that adjoining shanks are both parallel and touching. During manufacture of the wire nail, a notch is formed in the shank at the intersection between the shank and the head. The notch and the head axis are disposed on opposite sides of the shank axis from each other. The notch facilitates improved metal flow during the head-forming procedure and results in strong shank to head connections.

Abstract: A wire nail for use with a powered nail-driving tool has a full-round head with an axis that is offset from an axis of the integrally formed shank. An outer circumferential surface of the shank is at least as offset from the shank axis in one radial direction as a circumferential surface of the head in that radial direction. Accordingly, such nails may be collated shank-to-shank in a strip of wire nails such that adjoining shanks are both parallel and touching. During manufacture of the wire nail, a notch is formed in the shank at the intersection between the shank and the head. The notch and the head axis are disposed on opposite sides of the shank axis from each other. The notch facilitates improved metal flow during the head-forming procedure and results in strong shank to head connections.

Abstract: A fastener driving device is disclosed. The device includes a fastener depletion sensing system that is constructed and arranged to allow normal operation of a power system contained within the device so long as a supply of fasteners provided by a magazine assembly is such that more than a predetermined number of fasteners are in a feed track and/or a drive track within the device. The fastener depletion sensing system is operable when the predetermined number of fasteners in the feed and/or the drive track is reached to provide a tactile indication to the user that the predetermined number of fasteners has been reached, and permitting the user to either cease further operation following the indication or complete the operation following the indication.

Abstract: A personalized school or office tool package is disclosed. The personalizable school or office tool package includes packaging, and a school or office tool that is carried by the packaging. The school or office tool has an area that is suitable to receive a personalizing member. The package also includes a plurality of members that have personalizing indicia thereon. The members are carried by the packaging and are self-adhering on one side and have the personalizing indicia on an opposite side so that a user can select from the plurality of members and attach a chosen member to the school or office tool, with the self-adhering surface in contact with the area suitable to receive the member, to personalize the school or office tool.

Abstract: A fastener-driving tool includes an integrated function member that performs at least two of the following three functions: a check pawl function, a last fastener-retaining function, and a dry fire lock-out function. In the disclosed embodiment, the integrated function member is provided as a lever-type structure that constitutes part of the access door assembly by means of which access is gained to the fastener drive track along which fasteners (e.g., roofing nails) are fed to the driving portion of the tool. Also disclosed is an improved method of retaining the last nail in the drive track by a lateral head gripping action and a tool for performing the method.

Abstract: A package of collated galvanized carbon steel fasteners suitable for use in adverse environmental conditions is disclosed. The package includes a plurality of fasteners and an attachment structure. Each fastener includes a carbon steel head that has a top surface suitable for being driven into a flush relationship with a substrate, and a bottom head surface that contacts the substrate. Each fastener also includes a single carbon steel elongate shank that is integral with the head, extends from the bottom head surface, and includes a tip opposite the head. Each fastener further includes an electrodeposited coating that is deposited directly on a surface of the carbon steel head and shank. The electrodeposited coating includes zinc and has an average thickness of greater than about 1.0 mil. The top surface of the carbon steel head is textured to improve adhesion between that electrodeposited coating and the top surface.

Abstract: A pallet having wooden boards secured together by nails which achieve approved operating characteristics. The nail is embodied in a package secured together by a pair of parallel wires welded to the shanks. Each nail having a shank diameter between 0.092 in. and 0.148 in., each nail is manufactured from steel wire and has a length between 1.625 in. and 3 in. The ratio of the head diameter to the shank diameter of each nail is between 2.70 and 3.37.

Abstract: A fastener driving device comprises a housing having a chamber constructed and arranged to contain compressed air, a cylinder disposed within the housing, a piston disposed within the cylinder and movable between upper and lower positions within the cylinder, a fastener striker connected with the piston, a main valve and trigger valve. The main valve is formed from a resilient material having a first portion thereof sealingly engaged with a first portion of the cylinder. The main valve has a second portion thereof movable between a sealing position with a second portion of the cylinder and an unsealed position as a result of flexing of the resilient material. The unsealed position permitting the compressed air to force the piston to move from the upper position to the lower position to enable the fastener striker to move through a fastener driving stroke. The trigger valve is carried by the housing.

Abstract: A fastener driving device includes a trigger assembly operatively disposed between a contact trip assembly and an actuating assembly. The trigger assembly includes a trigger member, an actuating member, and an automatic mode selecting mechanism. The mode selecting mechanism includes a mode selecting member having a connection with the actuating member to make the mode selecting member (1) move with the actuating member between first and second positions of the actuating member, and (2) have relative movement with respect to the actuating member so that the mode selecting mechanism (a) retains the actuating member in the first position in response to an initial movement of the trigger member to the operative position, and (b) retains the actuating member in the second position in response to an initial movement of the contact trip assembly into the operative position and a subsequent movement of the trigger member into the operative position.

Abstract: A fastener driving device including a positioning mechanism for positioning a nail into an opening in a workpiece. The positioning mechanism includes an opening locating structure movably connected to the movable assembly of the contact trip assembly and adapted to extend into the opening so as to align the nosepiece with respect to the opening. The opening locating structure is movable relative the movable assembly of the contact trip assembly between an extended position and a retracted position and biased toward the extended position by a first biasing spring to facilitate locating of the opening, and movable to the retracted position when the opening locating structure is pressed against a workpiece. The positioning mechanism further includes a guiding structure movably connected to the nosepiece structure, the guiding structure being biased by a spring to extend forwardly to guide the fastener in a driving track inside the nosepiece.

Abstract: A pallet having wooden boards secured together by nails which achieve approved operating characteristics. The nail is embodied in a package secured together by a pair of parallel wires welded to the shanks. Each nail having a shank diameter between 0.078 in. and 0.085 in., each nail is manufactured from steel wire and has a length between 1.50 in. and 2.25 in. The ratio of the head diameter to the shank diameter of each nail is between 2.70 and 3.37.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a housing assembly with a nosepiece assembly defining a drive track. A safety trip assembly includes a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion and is movable between an extended disabling position and a retracted enabling position. The safety trip assembly is biased toward the extended position and is moved toward the retracted position by engagement between a workpiece and the workpiece engaging member. The workpiece engaging portion is movable to permit adjustment of a length of the safety trip assembly. The workpiece engaging portion may be removed from the safety trip assembly and exchanged with another different workpiece engaging portion. A workpiece engaging portion usable with the fastener driving tool includes a positioning mechanism having an opening locating structure and a guiding structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nail suitable for sheathing which provides an enhanced resistance to failure. The nail includes an enlarged head as well as a shank having surface deformations. Sheathing panels are secured to a framing structure through the use of the nail. The enlarged head provides a first clamping surface that is seated against an exterior surface of the sheathing panel. The framing structure within which the shank is secured is a second clamping surface. Through the provision of an enlarged head and a shank having surface deformations, the ability of the nail to maintain the securement of the sheathing panel to the framing structure element is enhanced.