Abstract: A fastening tool includes a housing assembly having a nosepiece and a magazine assembly that is coupled to the housing assembly. The magazine assembly includes a canister, a door structure, a feed pawl and a follower structure. The canister is configured to hold a plurality of collated fasteners and has a first canister portion and a second canister portion that is movable relative to the first canister portion between a closed position and an open position. The fastening tool further includes a coil feeder assembly having an indexing pawl. The indexing pawl advances a fastener into operative engagement with the feed pawl upon movement of the second canister portion from the open position to the closed position. The movement of the indexing pawl may be effectuated by an electric actuator.

Abstract: A contact trip assembly for a power nailer, wherein a contact member includes a curved portion that loops rearwardly towards a handle of the nailer. Also provided is an adjustment assembly including an adjustment plate and a pinion gear, a trigger that is slidably engageable within a housing of the tool, a trigger lock including a ring element, an anti-discharge mechanism including a stop member, and a contact trip lock.

Abstract: A driving tool that includes a frame, a motor assembly and a resilient member. The motor assembly is coupled to the frame and includes an electric motor, a flywheel driven by the electric motor, a pinch roller and a driver disposed between the flywheel and the pinch roller. The pinch roller is selectively movable from a first position to a second position to drive the driver into engagement with the flywheel. The driver is movable between a returned position and an extended position. The resilient member is coupled to the frame and biases the driver away from the flywheel to reduce or eliminate contact between the flywheel and the driver when the flywheel is at rest, the driver is in the returned position and the pinch roller is in the first position. A method for operating a driving tool is also provided.

Abstract: A contact trip assembly for a power nailer, wherein a contact member includes a curved portion that loops rearwardly towards a handle of the nailer. Also provided is an adjustment assembly including an adjustment plate and a pinion gear, a trigger that is slidably engageable within a housing of the tool, a trigger lock including a ring element, an anti-discharge mechanism including a stop member, and a contact trip lock.

Abstract: A fastening tool can include a housing and a motor assembly in the housing. The motor assembly can include an output member and a motor for translating the output member. A knob can be rotatably coupled to the housing and include a first surface. An adjustment element can have a second surface and a threaded aperture. The second surface can be engaged to the first surface such that rotation of the knob effects corresponding rotation of the adjustment element. An adjustment rod can be threadably received into the threaded aperture. A lower contact trip can be coupled to the adjustment rod. A locating formation can be coupled to one of the housing and the knob. An indexing member can be coupled to the other of the housing and the knob. The indexing member can engage the locating formation to resist rotation of the knob relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method for controlling a driving tool having a power source, a driver, an actuator, a follower, and a control unit. The power source includes a motor and a flywheel that is driven by the motor. The actuator is configured to selectively move the follower to push the driver into frictional engagement with a surface of the flywheel. The control unit is configured to selectively activate the electric motor and the actuator. The control unit includes a speed sensor that is configured to sense a rotational speed of an element of the power source and produce a speed signal in response thereto. The method includes: directly determining a rotational speed of an element in the power source; controlling electrical power provided to the motor based on the rotational speed of the element in the power source to cause the flywheel to rotate at a predetermined speed; and actuating the actuator when a set of actuating criteria has been met, the set of actuating criteria not including a rotational speed of the element.

Abstract: A fastening device drives one or more fasteners into a workpiece. The fastening device generally includes a tool housing and a multistage solenoid having at least a first stage, a second stage and an armature member that travels therebetween. The multistage solenoid is contained within the tool housing. A driver blade is connected to the armature member. The driver blade is operable between an extended condition and a retracted condition. A control module determines a position of the armature member relative to at least one of the first stage, the second stage and a combination thereof. A trigger assembly is connected to the control module and activates a driver sequence that moves the driver blade member between the retracted condition and the extended condition. The control module directs power between the first stage and the second stage based on the position of the armature member relative thereto.

Abstract: A contact trip assembly for a power nailer, wherein a contact member includes a curved portion that loops rearwardly towards a handle of the nailer. Also provided is an adjustment assembly including an adjustment plate and a pinion gear, a trigger that is slidably engageable within a housing of the tool, a trigger lock including a ring element, an anti-discharge mechanism including a stop member, and a contact trip lock.

Abstract: A fastening tool including a housing, a magazine connected to the housing for storing a fastener, a driving mechanism disposed within the housing for driving the fastener into a workpiece, a trigger assembly pivotally attached to the housing for activating the driving mechanism, the trigger assembly comprising a main trigger, pivotally attached to the housing and a supplemental trigger pivotally attached to the main trigger; and a contact trip assembly comprising an upper contact trip contacting the supplemental trigger, a lower contact trip connected to the upper contact trip, wherein the upper and lower contact trips have teeth that mesh together for locking the upper and lower contact trips.

Abstract: An adapter for electrically connecting a battery pack with An electrical apparatus such as a cordless power tool or a charger. The adapter includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion provides releasable attachment to the electrical apparatus. The second portion physically receives at least a portion of the battery pack. A method of converting an electrical apparatus for use with a battery pack not directly attachable to the electrical apparatus includes the steps of providing an adapter for electrically connecting the battery pack to an electrical apparatus, releasably attaching the adapter to the electrical apparatus and physically receiving at least a portion of the battery pack by the adapter so as to establish an electrical circuit between the electrical apparatus and the battery pack.

Abstract: A fastening tool including a housing, a magazine connected to the housing for storing a fastener, a driving mechanism disposed within the housing for driving the fastener into a workpiece, a trigger assembly pivotally attached to the housing for activating the driving mechanism, the trigger assembly comprising a main trigger, pivotally attached to the housing and a supplemental trigger pivotally attached to the main trigger; and a contact trip assembly comprising an upper contact trip contacting the supplemental trigger, a lower contact trip connected to the upper contact trip, wherein the upper and lower contact trips have teeth that mesh together for locking the upper and lower contact trips.

Abstract: An adapter for electrically connecting a battery pack with An electrical apparatus such as a cordless power tool or a charger. The adapter includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion provides releasable attachment to the electrical apparatus. The second portion physically receives at least a portion of the battery pack. A method of converting an electrical apparatus for use with a battery pack not directly attachable to the electrical apparatus includes the steps of providing an adapter for electrically connecting the battery pack to an electrical apparatus, releasably attaching the adapter to the electrical apparatus and physically receiving at least a portion of the battery pack by the adapter so as to establish an electrical circuit between the electrical apparatus and the battery pack.

Abstract: A fastening tool including a housing, a magazine connected to the housing for storing a fastener, a driving mechanism disposed within the housing for driving the fastener into a workpiece, a trigger assembly pivotally attached to the housing for activating the driving mechanism, the trigger assembly comprising a main trigger, pivotally attached to the housing and a supplemental trigger pivotally attached to the main trigger; and a contact trip assembly comprising an upper contact trip contacting the supplemental trigger, a lower contact trip connected to the upper contact trip, wherein the upper and lower contact trips have teeth that mesh together for locking the upper and lower contact trips.

Abstract: An adapter for electrically connecting a battery pack with An electrical apparatus such as a cordless power tool or a charger. The adapter includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion provides releasable attachment to the electrical apparatus. The second portion physically receives at least a portion of the battery pack. A method of converting an electrical apparatus for use with a battery pack not directly attachable to the electrical apparatus includes the steps of providing an adapter for electrically connecting the battery pack to an electrical apparatus, releasably attaching the adapter to the electrical apparatus and physically receiving at least a portion of the battery pack by the adapter so as to establish an electrical circuit between the electrical apparatus and the battery pack.

Abstract: A fastening tool including a housing, a magazine connected to the housing for storing a fastener, a driving mechanism disposed within the housing for driving the fastener into a workpiece, a trigger assembly pivotally attached to the housing for activating the driving mechanism, the trigger assembly comprising a main trigger, pivotally attached to the housing and a supplemental trigger pivotally attached to the main trigger; and a contact trip assembly comprising an upper contact trip contacting the supplemental trigger, a lower contact trip connected to the upper contact trip, wherein the upper and lower contact trips have teeth that mesh together for locking the upper and lower contact trips.

Abstract: An aligning mechanism for a hand-held circular saw has a base adapted to be attached to the circular saw. The base has an upper surface and a lower surface. At least two paddles are pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis and movable in unison between a deployed position and an undeployed position. Each paddle when in its deployed position extends below the lower surface of the base and is capable of contacting an edge of the workpiece so that the saw blade is aligned in a predetermined position with respect to the edge. The paddles move in unison toward their undeployed positions as the saw blade engages the workpiece while maintaining the predetermined alignment between the saw blade and the edge.