Abstract: A rail system for a power tool has a base defining a work surface for supporting a workpiece, a support mounted to the base, a number of elongated rails slidably supported by the support for movement relative thereto, a yoke engaged to the number of elongated rails for movement with the elongated rails, and a power tool assembly supported by a yoke for performing an operation on the workpiece. A rail stop is movably mounted to one of the support and the yoke, the rail stop including a stop surface adapted to abut the other of the support and the yoke when the rail stop is in a first position between the yoke and the support. The rail stop is movable to a second position different from the first position.

Abstract: A rail system for a power tool has a base defining a work surface for supporting a workpiece, a support mounted to the base, a number of elongated rails slidably supported by the support for movement relative thereto, a yoke engaged to the number of elongated rails for movement with the elongated rails, and a power tool assembly supported by a yoke for performing an operation on the workpiece. A rail stop is movably mounted to one of the support and the yoke, the rail stop including a stop surface adapted to abut the other of the support and the yoke when the rail stop is in a first position between the yoke and the support. The rail stop is movable to a second position different from the first position.

Abstract: A rail system for a power tool has a base defining a work surface for supporting a workpiece, a support mounted to the base, a number of elongated rails slidably supported by the support for movement relative thereto, a yoke engaged to the number of elongated rails for movement with the elongated rails, and a power tool assembly supported by a yoke for performing an operation on the workpiece. A rail stop is movably mounted to one of the support and the yoke, the rail stop including a stop surface adapted to abut the other of the support and the yoke when the rail stop is in a first position between the yoke and the support. The rail stop is movable to a second position different from the first position.

Abstract: A rail system for a power tool has a base defining a work surface for supporting a workpiece, a support mounted to the base, a number of elongated rails slidably supported by the support for movement relative thereto, a yoke engaged to the number of elongated rails for movement with the elongated rails, and a power tool assembly supported by a yoke for performing an operation on the workpiece. A rail stop is movably mounted to one of the support and the yoke, the rail stop including a stop surface adapted to abut the other of the support and the yoke when the rail stop is in a first position between the yoke and the support. The rail stop is movable to a second position different from the first position.

Abstract: A novel work contact or no-mar tip for mounting to a drive probe of a fastening tool having a driver blade for driving a fastener into a workpiece is provided having a pair of wings having resilient contact surfaces for contacting the workpiece, the wings forming a channel for the fastener while allowing for visually locating the position where the fastener will be driven into the workpiece.

Abstract: A novel driver blade for use in a fastening tool having a piston is provided comprising an elongate body, a head at one end of the body for coupling to the piston, a tip at the other end of the body for impacting a fastener to drive said fastener into a workpiece, and a stiffening rib protruding from the body, the rib extending substantially along the length of the body, wherein the stamped elongate driver blade is made of annealed cold rolled spring steel. A novel method of manufacturing an elongate driver blade is also provided comprising the steps of providing cold rolled spring steel, forming an elongate blank from the cold rolled spring steel, providing a stamping die having a generally planar stamping surface with an elongate groove in the stamping surface, and stamping the blank into the stamping die with the elongate groove to form the elongate driver blade having an elongate stiffening rib.

Abstract: A novel driver blade for use in a fastening tool having a piston is provided comprising an elongate body, a head at one end of the body for coupling to the piston, a tip at the other end of the body for impacting a fastener to drive said fastener into a workpiece, and a stiffening rib protruding from the body, the rib extending substantially along the length of the body, wherein the stamped elongate driver blade is made of annealed cold rolled spring steel. A novel method of manufacturing an elongate driver blade is also provided comprising the steps of providing cold rolled spring steel, forming an elongate blank from the cold rolled spring steel, providing a stamping die having a generally planar stamping surface with an elongate groove in the stamping surface, and stamping the blank into the stamping die with the elongate groove to form the elongate driver blade having an elongate stiffening rib.

Abstract: A novel work contact or no-mar tip for mounting to a drive probe of a fastening tool having a driver blade for driving a fastener into a workpiece is provided having a pair of wings having resilient contact surfaces for contacting the workpiece, the wings forming a channel for the fastener while allowing for visually locating the position where the fastener will be driven into the workpiece.

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 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 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: 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: In a fastener-driving tool comprising a housing structure with a handle and a nosepiece and a magazine with a main body and a hinged cover, the main body is mounted to the handle by a mortise and tenon mounting, which comprises a structure integral with the main body and defining a mortise and a structure integral with the handle and defining a tenon. The mortise and the tenon are tapered complementarily so that the tenon can wedge into the mortise. The mortise has a widened region and the tenon has a widened portion fitting into the widened region so as to prevent the tenon from pulling from the mortise in a direction normal to the handle.