Abstract: A magazine for a nail-driving tool, which may be pneumatically powered or combustion-powered, is arranged to store a plurality of plural nail strips in side-by-side relationship. A spring-biased mechanism is used to bias the stored strips toward a side rail. Being movable along a frame between an advanced position and a retracted position, a feeding member in the retracted position engages the shank of an endmost nail of the stored strip nearest to the side rail. A negator spring mechanism biasing the feeding member toward the advanced position includes a leaf spring arranged to be longitudinally pulled between the nail heads of the stored ship nearest to the side rail and the nail heads of the next strip when the feeding member is moved from the advanced position into the retracted position.

Abstract: In a fastener-driving tool comprising a housing structure defining an axis and a nosepiece extending from the housing structure, a primary actuating structure is movable between a tool-disabling position and a tool-enabling position, and a secondary actuating structure is coactive with the primary actuating structure for moving the primary actuating structure to the tool-enabling position when the secondary actuating structure is pressed firmly against a workpiece. The primary actuating structure is biased to the tool-disabling position by a primary spring or springs. The secondary actuating structure is biased away from the primary actuating structure by secondary springs. When the secondary actuating structure is pressed firmly against a workpiece, the primary spring or springs exhibit a biasing force less than the biasing force exhibited by the secondary springs. The secondary actuating structure may also be biased away from the housing structure by a tertiary spring.

Abstract: In pneumatically powered combustion-powered fastener-driving tool including a nosepiece, a mechanism is provided for positioning the tool relative to an opening in a workpiece to be fastened to another workpiece. A probe connected to an actuator used in such a tool, preferably via a spring strip, so as to be laterally movable extends into the opening to align the nosepiece so that a fastener can be precisely driven. The probe has a surface engageable by a driven fastener to move the probe laterally and from the opening as the tool recoils. Optionally, a guide spaced from the probe and mounted pivotally is adapted to bear against the workpiece with the opening. The probe and the guide have respective grooves defining a channel for guiding a driven fastener.

Abstract: The disclosed partitioned wastebasket has component pieces including an outer receptacle, one or more partition inserts, and a cover, operatively interfitted relative to one another. The outer receptacle has a bottom wall and a side wall upstanding therefrom to an open upper top, and opposing handles are formed adjacent the open upper top. Each partition insert is sized to fit closely adjacent the outer receptacle walls, and has front and rear hooks that thereupon become operatively interfixed to the outer receptacle to hold each partition insert within the outer receptacle and to hold the outer receptacle side wall against outward flexture. Hinge structure between the cover and each partition insert movably supports the cover for opening and closing the outer receptacle.

Abstract: Improvements in a fastener-feeding mechanism for a pneumatically powered, combustion-powered, or other rapidly acting, fastener-driving tool comprising a housing structure, a driver, and a magazine, as well as such a mechanism. The housing structure includes a nosepiece defining a drive track. The drive is mounted for repeatable movement along the drive track. The magazine is adapted to store a strip of collated fasteners, e.g., collated nails, such that a leading portion of the strip extends from the magazine. As a component for feeding fasteners individually and sequentially into the drive track from the leading portion of the strip, a pawl has a groove or grooves adapted to receive one such fastener. A fixed structure confines one of two sides of the leading portion of the strip so as to guide such portion. When in an operative position, a hinged structure confines the other side of such portion so as to guide such portion.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool which employs an activating mechanism, which mechanism will only be effective to fire the tool if operated in the proper sequence. The activating mechanism includes a trigger assembly and a bottom trip mechanism which is operable when the tool is placed in contact with the workpiece. The trigger mechanism is designed so that it will only operate to fire the tool if it is moved after the tool has been placed in contact with the workpiece. Pulling of the trigger before the workpiece is contacted will prevent firing of the tool. The trigger mechanism is also designed so that it includes an arrangement whereby once the tool has been fired the tool can be fired repeatedly upon repeated contact of the tool with the workpiece.