Abstract: Handles, extendable handles, and linkage mechanisms are examples of apparatuses that include a body; a pivotably attached head; cylinder, actuator, or hydraulic actuator; a fluid passage or hose; and a valve, blocking means, or hydraulic control device. The valve, blocking means, or hydraulic control device may be normally open and may close only when held closed, and may be connected on one side to the fluid passage or hose and on another side to atmosphere. An operator may use a tool, such as a drywall flat box attached to the head, by holding the handle and controlling pivoting of the head by operating the valve. Methods include providing for an operator to control a tool on a handle, and include providing the handle and instructing the operator to actuate the blocking means to hold the tool in a constant orientation relative to the handle.

Abstract: Disclosed are flat boxes, tools, and methods for dispensing drywall joint compound, for example, into joints between sheets of drywall on a building interior surface or for finishing drywall. Various embodiments include a stopper or opening cover to block the opening to dispense the drywall joint compound, at least one guide that holds the opening cover substantially parallel to the back plate, holds the opening cover against the back plate, and allows the opening cover to slide along the back plate when moved by an operator of the flat box to block or unblock the opening to dispense the drywall joint compound, and a cover control mechanism that controls movement of the stopper or opening cover in relation to the back plate.

Abstract: An extendable linkage mechanism for operating a slave actuator over a range of distances from a master actuator, an extendable handle for operating a tool over a range of handle length; and a tool for use by an operator for dispensing drywall joint compound into joints between sheets of drywall. Slanted engagement surfaces on master and slave wedges engage each other as well as master and slave rods to transmit motion and force at varying distances, for instance, from a lever at one end to a clamp at the other end. The elongated slave rod passes through orifices in the wedges. Structural or tubular members may slidably engage to provide extendibility.

Abstract: Stilts for supporting a worker for doing elevated work, such as drywall installation, and methods of improving the safety of stilts, reducing the weight of stilts, and obtaining and providing stilts. Stilts each include a base member, a shoe plate, at least one (e.g., two) column(s), a leg-attachment mechanism, a support pole having a non-circular feature, and a guide that engages the non-circular feature to better resist twisting. In some embodiments, the non-circular feature is that the support pole has a non-circular cross section, such as an oval cross section. Inner and outer portions may telescopically engage to provide for height adjustment.

Abstract: Drywall mud pumps for pumping drywall joint compound from buckets into drywall tools that each include a body or main cylinder, a driver or piston, and a handle. A structural component may be in rigid relation to the body and the handle may include two members that slidably or telescopically engage to allow the driver or piston to travel in a straight line while the handle pivots about a pivot point at an end of the structural component. In various embodiments, the handle may include a linear ball or PTFE bearing reducing friction between the two members, the pump may include a clamp to attach the pump to the side of the bucket, or the pump may have an inlet valve or foot valve that may include two semi-circular-shaped flaps that hingedly rotate about a pin. Methods may include acts of selecting, obtaining, or providing various such components.

Abstract: Drywall mud pumps for pumping drywall joint compound from buckets into drywall tools that each include a body or main cylinder, a driver or piston, and a handle. A structural component may be in rigid relation to the body and the handle may include two members that slidably or telescopically engage to allow the driver or piston to travel in a straight line while the handle pivots about a pivot point at an end of the structural component. In various embodiments, the handle may include a linear ball or PTFE bearing reducing friction between the two members, the pump may include a clamp to attach the pump to the side of the bucket, or the pump may have an inlet valve or foot valve that may include two semi-circular-shaped flaps that hingedly rotate about a pin. Methods may include acts of selecting, obtaining, or providing various such components.

Abstract: An extendable linkage mechanism for operating a slave actuator over a range of distances from a master actuator, an extendable handle for operating a tool over a range of handle length; and a tool for use by an operator for dispensing drywall joint compound into joints between sheets of drywall. Slanted engagement surfaces on master and slave wedges engage each other as well as master and slave rods to transmit motion and force at varying distances, for instance, from a lever at one end to a clamp at the other end. The elongated slave rod passes through orifices in the wedges. Structural or tubular members may slidably engage to provide extendability.

Abstract: Handles, extendable handles, and linkage mechanisms are examples of apparatuses that include a body; a pivotably attached head; cylinder, actuator, or hydraulic actuator; a fluid passage or hose; and a valve, blocking means, or hydraulic control device. The valve, blocking means, or hydraulic control device may be normally open and may close only when held closed, and may be connected on one side to the fluid passage or hose and on another side to atmosphere. An operator may use a tool, such as a drywall flat box attached to the head, by holding the handle and controlling pivoting of the head by operating the valve. Methods include providing for an operator to control a tool on a handle, and include providing the handle and instructing the operator to actuate the blocking means to hold the tool in a constant orientation relative to the handle.

Abstract: Apparatuses for dispensing viscous fluids, tools for dispensing drywall joint compound, and methods. Embodiments include a chamber containing the fluid or compound, a discharge head, and a valve that is normally closed and opens in response to a force applied by pressing the tool against the drywall. Embodiments include a stopper linked to the nozzle, and when the nozzle is moved, the stopper moves from blocking an orifice, to not blocking the orifice. Chambers include a pressure plate, two side plates, a back plate, and a radius plate, and at least one spring or spring hinge that applies a force on the pressure plate. A torsion spring may be substantially concentric with the pivot point. Certain methods obtain or provide a source of pressurized drywall joint compound, an attachment feature, a valve, an enclosed passageway, and a linkage from the attachment feature to the valve.

Abstract: Apparatuses for dispensing viscous fluids, tools for dispensing drywall joint compound, and methods. Embodiments include a chamber containing the fluid or compound, a discharge head, and a valve that is normally closed and opens in response to a force applied by pressing the tool against the drywall. Embodiments include a stopper linked to the nozzle, and when the nozzle is moved, the stopper moves from blocking an orifice, to not blocking the orifice. Chambers include a pressure plate, two side plates, a back plate, and a radius plate, and at least one spring or spring hinge that applies a force on the pressure plate. A torsion spring may be substantially concentric with the pivot point. Certain methods obtain or provide a source of pressurized drywall joint compound, an attachment feature, a valve, an enclosed passageway, and a linkage from the attachment feature to the valve.

Abstract: A very thin, small outline, thermally enhanced semiconductor package includes a leadframe that is coined to form locking features on an exposed die pad and on a plurality of extremely narrow, closely spaced leads. The coined features improve the mechanical locking between the leadframe and the plastic body of the package to increase their resistance to delamination and subsequent penetration by moisture, and enable reliable wire bonds to be made to the otherwise extremely narrow leads.

Abstract: A very thin, small outline, thermally enhanced semiconductor package includes a leadframe that is coined to form locking features on an exposed die pad and on a plurality of extremely narrow, closely spaced leads. The coined features improve the mechanical locking between the leadframe and the plastic body of the package to increase their resistance to delamination and subsequent penetration by moisture, and enable reliable wire bonds to be made to the otherwise extremely narrow leads.