Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a clothing accessory for use with a clothing item having an elongated tail and a knot. The clothing accessory includes at least one flexible strip of material wrapped around at least a portion of the knot. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of securing a knot of a clothing item having an elongated tail and a knot. The method includes providing a flexible strip of material proximate the knot, and wrapping the flexible strip of material around at least a portion of the knot.

Abstract: A hard, sanding roller has a cylindrical sleeve that can be telescoped onto and removed from and clutched to a hard, supporting roller or drum This is achieved by a one-way, clutch mechanism between the supporting roller and abrasive sleeve that allows axially sliding and rotational turning when sliding the sleeve onto the roller and turning the sleeve in the non-sanding direction, and this clutch mechanism drives the sleeve without rotational turning of the sleeve relative to the roller when abrading. The inner surface of the abrading roller carries one-half of a clutch surface; and the mating roller surface carries the other half of the clutch surface.

Abstract: A staple fastener is provided with filler material disposed between its leg portions for filling a cavity in a substrate, which cavity is formed above a head of the staple when the staple is driven into the substrate. The filler material extrudes from the staple as it is driven into the substrate. In accordance with the preferred method, the staple fasteners are driven into the substrate with a power tool applicator to form the cavity and then a tampering plunger tamps the extruded filler material to conform to the surface of the substrate. In the preferred method, a first plunger is actuated first to drive the staple; and a second tamping plunger at an angle to the first plunger is actuated after the first plunger is retracted to tamp the material into cavity and then to smooth the exterior surface of the filler material to conform to the adjacent surface.

Abstract: A profiled, soft cushioned roller is provided with an outer profiled abrading surface that conforms to and rides on a contoured substrate surface during an abrading operation. A soft roller usually in the form of a soft foam layer or body allows the profiled abrading surface to extend to and laterally wrap itself along the contoured substrate surface when pushed against the latter with the force needed to abrade the contoured surface. Because the outer surface portion of the profiled, soft roller is able to distort and wrap across the contoured surface, the soft profiled portion need not have the exact contoured shape and dimensions of the contoured surface being abraded. The soft roller body may have portions with different hardness by using different materials or different densities of the same foam material.

Abstract: A soft sanding roller apparatus is provided with a soft compressible sanding sleeve and roller that allows a wide flat to form on the side of the sanding sleeve being pushed against a substrate, such as a piece of wood. The preferred sleeve is backed by a soft deformable layer, such as a soft foam layer, which allows the sanding sleeve to conform to the surface of the substrate without chattering or digging into the substrate. The sleeve has a bore diameter smaller than the uncompressed diameter of the soft foam layer so that the foam layer exerts an even force on the cylindrical sleeve to retain its cylindrical shape. The sleeve is driven by a connection such as a one-way clutch between the sanding sleeve and the foam layer on the roller. The roller is rotated in one direction by a motor to do sanding with the one-way clutch driving the sleeve. The sleeve is removed by turning it in a direction opposite to the sanding direction and pulling it axially against the force from the compressed foam layer.

Abstract: The roller and belt assembly for mounting on a spindle or drive shaft comprises a closed loop belt having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having an engagable material thereon, and the outer surface having an abrasive or buffing material thereon. The assembly further includes a cylindrical roller having an outer cylindrical surface, having a longitudinal axis and having a resilient, compressible material attached to and covering the outer cylindrical surface. Sliding and engaging structure is attached to the resilient, compressible material which, when the belt is rotated in a first direction, allows the belt to slidingly rotate around and about the longitudinal axis of the roller and, when the belt is rotated in a second direction, the sliding and engaging structure engages the engagable material on the inner surface of the belt and prevents the belt from rotating about the roller.

Abstract: A roller assembly adapted for use on a conventional hand held rotary disk buffing machine including a motor with a drive shaft extending from the motor, the roller assembly comprises a bracket assembly including a first bracket and a second bracket, each of the brackets have a proximal portion and a distal portion, and the proximal portion is mounted to the machine, an axle, structure for rotably mounting the axle transversely of the machine on the distal portions of the brackets, a first pulley attached to the drive shaft, a second pulley attached to the axle, structure for coupling the pulleys and for rotating the axle when the drive shaft is driven by the motor and at least one roller mounted to the axle.