Abstract: In a device for the melting and measured discharge of a thermoplastic adhesive, the adhesive material is melted within a melting chamber and then flows out through a discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle contains a spring biased valve body for blocking flow out of the melting chamber until the biasing force is overcome. If the spring fails and cannot return the valve body into position to seal the melting chamber, the discharge nozzle is arranged to prevent the valve body from blocking the flow of the melted adhesive material through and out of the discharge nozzle.

Abstract: In a device for the melting and the dose discharge of thermoplastic material, a melting chamber is located within a housing. The material is introduced in solid rod form into the inlet end of the melting chamber where it is melted and discharged through the opposite end by a displacement member. A closure member is mounted in the housing and closes the discharge end of the melting chamber. The displacement member is formed as a part of the closure member and extends from it into the melting chamber. The displacement member has a length equal to about one-third the length of the melting chamber.

Abstract: In a device for melting a body of solid thermoplastic adhesive material, a melting chamber is located within the housing and the adhesive material is fed into the melting chamber by a feed apparatus. A rubber-like elastic gasket is located at the inlet end of the chamber providing a seal around the adhesive material entering the chamber for preventing leakage of molten material back into the housing. An insulator ring formed of a thermostable, poor heat conducting material is located between the melting chamber inlet and the gasket to limit the passage of heat to the gasket. Preferably, the insulator ring is formed of TEFLON.

Abstract: A dowel, arranged to secure an article to the surface of a receiving material having a hollow space within it into which the dowel extends, is formed of an axially elongated dowel body and a flange member at one end of the dowel body. The flange member includes a flange part extending transversely outwardly of the dowel body. The dowel body is formed from a strip of material and includes an end part extending transversely of the axial direction of the dowel body with a threaded opening through the end part, and a pair of axially extending legs divided into webs and extending in the axial direction of the dowel body from the end part. Inwardly directed recesses are formed in the ends of the legs spaced from the end part. The flange member includes a sleeve-shaped projection extending generally perpendicularly of the flange part.

Abstract: An angle-shaped support member consists of a unitary element formed into a pair of legs extending normally to one another and interconnected at their adjacent ends by an outwardly extending rectangularly shaped box section. The opposite ends of the legs from the box section each have an outwardly directed flange. The flanges and walls of the box section have axially aligned openings through which bars can be fitted. The openings in the flanges and walls are offset laterally relative to one another to avoid any interference between the bars which extend through them.