Abstract: A steel fastener has an elongate shank, an enlarged head formed at one end of the shank, and a generally pointed tip formed at the other end of the shank. A grooved portion of the shank is formed with helical grooves defining helical ribs and with annular grooves defining annular rings. The shank has a cylindrical portion between the grooved portion and the tip and a cylindrical portion between the grooved portion and the head. Each of the annular grooves has a root where deepest and each of the annular rings has a crest where largest. The roots define an imaginary cone diverging toward the tip. The crests define an imaginary cone converging toward the tip. The shank has an exterior surface coated with a polymeric coating, which is formed from an aqueous composition containing a water-based acrylic resin and a water-based polyurethane resin. A zinc layer and a chromate conversion layer are provided between the polymeric coating and the exterior surface of the shank.

Abstract: A building assembly comprises a wooden board, a metal framing member, and a fastener having an elongate shank, an enlarged head, and a generally pointed end and fastening the board to the framing member. The shank has a ringed portion with annular grooves defining annular rings having a uniform, outer diameter, helical grooves intersecting the annular grooves, a cylindrical land having a smaller diameter and dividing the ringed portion into an axially longer subportion nearer to the tip and an axially shorter subportion nearer the head, a cylindrical land between the tip and the ringed portion, and a cylindrical land between the head and the ringed portion. The fastener is driven through the board and through the framing member wall so that the head bears against the board, so that the tip and the shank form, from the wall of the framing member, a generally annular lip projecting toward the tip and so that the lip is disposed around the cylindrical land dividing the ringed portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a head, having a controlled predetermined shape on an end of an elongate member, such as a wire, which is formed into a fastener, where an end portion of the wire is secured in a predetermined position and axially compressed so as to expand a predetermined amount of wire material radially outwardly and thereby form the head on the wire, and where material flow is directed during axial compression so as to provide the controlled predetermined shape of the head.

Abstract: A building assembly comprises a wooden board, a metal framing member, and a fastener having an elongate shank, an enlarged head, and a generally pointed end and fastening the board to the framing member. The shank has a ringed portion with annular grooves defining annular rings having a uniform, outer diameter, helical grooves intersecting the annular grooves, a cylindrical land having a smaller diameter and dividing the ringed portion into an axially longer subportion nearer to the tip and an axially shorter subportion nearer the head, a cylindrical land between the tip and the ringed portion, and a cylindrical land between the head and the ringed portion. The fastener is driven through the board and through the framing member wall so that the head bears against the board, so that the tip and the shank form, from the wall of the framing member, a generally annular lip projecting toward the tip and so that the lip is disposed around the cylindrical land dividing the ringed portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a head, having a controlled predetermined shape, on an end of an elongate member, such as a wire, which is formed into a fastener, where an end portion of the wire is secured in a predetermined position and axially compressed so as to expand a predetermined amount of wire material radially outwardly and thereby form the head on the wire, and where material flow is directed during axial compression so as to provide the controlled predetermined shape of the head.

Abstract: A wire nail with a head having a circumferential edge conforming to a complete circle and disposed in a radially offset relationship with respect to a shank. A flat surface on the shank provides a datum indicating where the shank is located. A flat surface on the shank provides a datum for orienting such nail and similar nails. In some embodiments, a tangent plane defined by means of a lower or underside portion of the head is oriented at an acute angle (75.degree. to 85.degree.) relative to the shank. In a strip of such (collated) nails, the flat surfaces defined upon the shanks define an open channel, which coacts with a rib integrally provided upon one wall of a nail-feeding mechanism. In a nail-making machine, two gripping members defining an annular recess and a punch are used to form such a nail from a wire of a malleable metal.

Abstract: A strip of collated nails wherein, upon each side of the strip, a tape extends across and is adhered to a flat surface defined by means of a tape recess of the shank of each nail, and between two end surfces defined thereby. Each tape is adhered by means of an adhesive layer between such tape and the flat surfaces upon each side of the strip, at an acute angle relative to two axially extending sides of the flat surfaces upon each side of the nail shank.

Abstract: Wire nails are collated by means for conveying the nails in a specified manner and by means comprising a wheel for engaging keyways defining flat surfaces on the shanks of the nails. Each nail is rotated by the wheel, about an axis of the shank of such nail, to such extent as may be then necessary to orient the keyways of such nail and of other nails with such surfaces defining a plane. The wheel fits between end surfaces defined by the keyways so as to cause the keyways that have been engaged by the wheel to define a continuous channel.

Abstract: A wire nail with a head having a circumferential edge conforming to a complete circle and disposed in a radially offset relationship with respect to a shank. A flat surface on defined upon the shank provides a datum indicating where the shank is located. A flat surface on the shank provides a datum for orienting such nail and similar nails. In some embodiments, a tangent plane defined by means of a lower or underside portion of the head is oriented at an acute angle (75.degree. to 85.degree.) relative to the shank. In a strip of such (collated) nails, the flat surfaces defined upon the shanks define an open channel, which coacts with a rib integrally provided upon one wall of a nail-feeding mechanism. In a nail-making machine, two gripping members defining an annular recess and a punch are used to form such a nail from a wire of a malleable metal.

Abstract: A wire nail having a shank, a head formed on one end of the shank, and a point formed on the other end. The point has a penetrating portion, a wedging portion, and a transitional portion. The wedging portion defines four straight edges, each being inclined at an acute angle relative to an axis defined by the shank. The transitional portion defines four straight edges, each meeting a different one of said edges defined by the wedging portion, and each being inclined at a lesser angle relative to the same axis. The wedging portion has a plurality of convex surfaces, each conforming generally to a section of a circular cylinder. The transitional portion has a plurality of convex surfaces, each conforming generally to a section of a circular cylinder. A cutting tip is formed as a thin rib extended across the penetrating portion. A pair of thin cutting ribs extended from the cutting tip are formed along the wedging and transitional portions.

Abstract: A threaded fastener unit comprising a preassembled fastener for use in association with thin metal panels having a head with a clamping surface thereunder, a shank and a drill point, said shank having an upper unthreaded shank portion, a lower threaded shank portion with an annular shoulder therebetween and a washer, said threaded shank portion having a plurality of helical thread convolutions for forming complementary threads and extruding a portion of a panel, and said shoulder being adapted to deform the extruded panel portion for gripping the screw and resisting retrograde rotation of the screw.

Abstract: A sheet metal screw is disclosed having an enlargement in the form of a helical ramp on the shank adjacent the head, which ramp extends for only about 180 degrees for providing an interfering fit with a workpiece to obtain an anti-stripping action while permitting the screw to provide an effective clamping action.

Abstract: A self-drilling and self-tapping screw with a compound flute configuration having a straight portion including at least part of the cutting edge and a curved portion defining the drag surface. Generally convex point configurations having uniformly radiused heels or, alternatively, heels formed by two planar surfaces intersecting to enclose an obtuse angle less than 180 degrees are also disclosed. Fluting cutters and pointing cutters for making this screw as well as a general description of the method of making the screw have been set forth in the instant application.

Abstract: A drill screw having protective burrs on the cutting edges. These burrs preserve the sharpness of the cutting edges against heavy plating buildup which can have detrimental effects on performance. Further, whereas conventional burrs on the drag surfaces can be reinforced and serve to thicken the dimension of the point across the chisel, the burrs of the present invention are formed on the cutting edge in such a way that they are spaced from the chisel. Drilling can, therefore, begin immediately and continued penetration of the workpiece pushes the burrs into the material being drilled causing them to break off.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for milling drill points in screw blanks. Form relieved milling cutters are rotated at unusually high speeds to produce high performance screws at improved rates of production. The cutters can be adjusted in a simple manner to achieve variations in drill point geometry, and the speed of the cutters can be controlled to carefully maintain the quality of the products and maximize the life of the cutters.

Abstract: A drill screw having protective burrs on the cutting edges. These burrs preserve the sharpness of the cutting edges against heavy plating buildup which can have detrimental effects on performance. Further, whereas conventional burrs on the drag surfaces can be reinforced and serve to thicken the dimension of the point across the chisel, the burrs of the present invention are formed on the cutting edge in such a way that they are spaced from the chisel. Drilling can, therefore, begin immediately and continued penetration of the workpiece pushes the burrs into the material being drilled causing them to break off.

Abstract: A fastener comprising a head, a shank, and a cap. The head has a recess in its top surface dimensioned to accommodate an appropriate tool for installing the fastener. The cap covers a substantial portion of the head and conforms closely to the head, extending into the recess in spaced relation to a substantial portion of the inner surfaces of the recess and cooperating with those surfaces during insertion of the installation tool into the recess to present appropriate dimensions to the tool to resiliently grip the tool and accommodate the tool for proper installation of the fastener. The cap is made of resilient material preferably stainless steel to provide corrosion resistance of the fastener once the fastener is fully inserted into the workpiece.

Abstract: A drill screw having protective burrs on the cutting edges. These burrs preserve the sharpness of the cutting edges against heavy plating buildup which can have detrimental effects on performance. Further, whereas conventional burrs on the drag surfaces can be reinforced and serve to thicken the dimension of the point across the chisel, the burrs of the present invention are formed on the cutting edge in such a way that they are spaced from the chisel. Drilling can, therefore, begin immediately and continued penetration of the workpiece pushes the burrs into the material being drilled causing them to break off.

Abstract: A process for producing self-tapping screws from an austenitic 300 series stainless steel material wherein a blank of such material is chilled prior to a thread rolling operation so that the threads are formed while the blank is in a chilled condition. A preferred apparatus for practicing such a method utilizes an insulated tunnel surrounding the feed track which leads to the thread roller. Fluid refrigerant is fed to the interior of the tunnel to chill the blanks immediately prior to the thread rolling operation.

Abstract: A threaded fastener particularly designed for extruding and forming threads in a sheet metal material. A threaded shank region and threaded, generally, conical point region are interconnected by a thread forming and extruding region which includes a plurality of partially formed threads both in circumferential extent and depth of impression. The thread-forming region tapers downwardly toward the point region at an angle of about 6.degree. to maximize the thread-forming capabilities of the screw.