Abstract: A battery-operated palm stapler, an insert for holding a fastener, and a method of installing a fastener using the palm stapler. The stapler includes a housing with a telescoping barrel extending outwardly therefrom. An insert is engaged in the barrel's bore and is held in place by magnets. The insert body defines a slot for receiving fasteners therein. The slot extends from a top wall of the body to a bottom wall thereof. At least one magnet is provided in the body adjacent the slot and is used to hold fasteners in a correct orientation for installation. A sensor probe provided in the body is operable to detect if voltage is carried in electrical cables adjacent which fasteners are to be installed. The probe deactivates a hammer actuating mechanism if voltage is detected. Inserts holding different types of fastener may be selectively engaged with the palm stapler.

Abstract: A battery-operated palm stapler, an insert for holding a fastener, and a method of installing a fastener using the palm stapler. The stapler includes a housing with a telescoping barrel extending outwardly therefrom. An insert is engaged in the barrel's bore and is held in place by magnets. The insert body defines a slot for receiving fasteners therein. The slot extends from a top wall of the body to a bottom wall thereof. At least one magnet is provided in the body adjacent the slot and is used to hold fasteners in a correct orientation for installation. A sensor probe provided in the body is operable to detect if voltage is carried in electrical cables adjacent which fasteners are to be installed. The probe deactivates a hammer actuating mechanism if voltage is detected. Inserts holding different types of fastener may be selectively engaged with the palm stapler.

Abstract: A battery-operated palm stapler, an insert for holding a fastener, and a method of installing a fastener using the palm stapler. The stapler includes a housing with a telescoping barrel extending outwardly therefrom. An insert is engaged in the barrel’s bore and is held in place by magnets. The insert body defines a slot for receiving fasteners therein. The slot extends from a top wall of the body to a bottom wall thereof. At least one magnet is provided in the body adjacent the slot and is used to hold fasteners in a correct orientation for installation. A sensor probe provided in the body is operable to detect if voltage is carried in electrical cables adjacent which fasteners are to be installed. The probe deactivates a hammer actuating mechanism if voltage is detected. Inserts holding different types of fastener may be selectively engaged with the palm stapler.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A method is presented for forming a self-aligned middle-of-the-line (MOL) contact. The method includes forming a fin structure over a substrate, depositing and etching a first set of dielectric layers over the fin structure, etching the fin structure to form a sacrificial fin and a plurality of active fins, depositing a work function metal layer over the plurality of active fins, depositing an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) and a second set of dielectric layers. The method further includes etching the second set of dielectric layers and the ILD to form a first, via portion and to expose a top surface of the sacrificial fin, removing the sacrificial fin to form a second via portion, and filling the first and second via portions with a conductive material to form the MOL contact in the first via portion and a contact landing in the second via portion.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A seatbelt system comprising a buckle; a spool with a ratchet wheel and webbing that is windable onto or off of the spool as the spool rotates. A control mechanism is operatively engaged with a pawl located proximate the ratchet wheel. When the control mechanism is in a first condition, the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel and the ratchet wheel and spool are rotatable to wind the webbing onto or off of the spool. When the control mechanism is in a second condition, the pawl is moved into engagement with the ratchet wheel and the ratchet wheel and spool are only able to rotate the webbing onto the spool. The control mechanism includes electronic switches and sensors that have to be actuated along with engaging the locking tongue in the buckle in order to move the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A battery-operated palm stapler, an insert for holding a fastener, and a method of installing a fastener using the palm stapler. The stapler includes a housing with a telescoping barrel extending outwardly therefrom. An insert is engaged in the barrel's bore and is held in place by magnets. The insert body defines a slot for receiving fasteners therein. The slot extends from a top wall of the body to a bottom wall thereof. At least one magnet is provided in the body adjacent the slot and is used to hold fasteners in a correct orientation for installation. A sensor probe provided in the body is operable to detect if voltage is carried in electrical cables adjacent which fasteners are to be installed. The probe deactivates a hammer actuating mechanism if voltage is detected. Inserts holding different types of fastener may be selectively engaged with the palm stapler.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A staple gun and a method of using the same. A stapling mechanism in the housing is activated to deliver a staple through an aperture in a housing wall and drive the staple into a surface around a stack of one or more electric cables. The gun includes a reciprocating cable guide for centering the gun on the stack of cables and closing a safety switch to permit the gun's trigger to be activated. A spacer extending outwardly from the housing wall rests on the upper surface of the cable stack. The spacer and a bumper that engages a hammer of the stapling mechanism provide for automatic depth adjustment when driving the staple into the surface. A reciprocating cable guard extending outwardly from the housing wall is positioned between the stack of cables and the staple to aid in preventing the staple from piercing the cable.

Abstract: A seatbelt system comprising a buckle; a spool with a ratchet wheel and webbing that is windable onto or off of the spool as the spool rotates. A control mechanism is operatively engaged with a pawl located proximate the ratchet wheel. When the control mechanism is in a first condition, the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel and the ratchet wheel and spool are rotatable to wind the webbing onto or off of the spool. When the control mechanism is in a second condition, the pawl is moved into engagement with the ratchet wheel and the ratchet wheel and spool are only able to rotate the webbing onto the spool. The control mechanism includes electronic switches and sensors that have to be actuated along with engaging the locking tongue in the buckle in order to move the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel.