Abstract: A fastener for attaching grooved decking planks to a support member has a body defining an attachment opening spacing apart opposing legs extending from a shoulder. The legs have at least one frontward extending prong. The rear end of the body includes a bend transitioning to a lip. The front end may have downward extending teeth. A nose may extend from the front end while a tail may extend from the rear end of the body. Adjacent fasteners may be joined by their respective noses and tails to form a collated series of fasteners.

Abstract: A handheld guide for advancing and installing a decking fastener with an elongate track with a rail and an advancement member. The advancement member carries a pivoting pawl with an engagement surface for advancing fasteners forward through the track to an installation position with a frontmost fastener aligned with a screw guide for driving a screw through the frontmost fastener. The rail has a ramp transitioning to a cliff and a lower ledge such that the frontmost fastener is maintained forward of the cliff above the ledge in the installation position. The pawl pivots to disengage from the fasteners when the advancement member moves rearwardly along the track.

Abstract: A fastener for attaching grooved decking planks to a support member has a body defining an attachment opening spacing apart opposing legs that may extend from a lateral shoulder. The body may include a planar portion The legs may have varying front or rear edge configurations. The front end may have downward extending teeth. A nose may extend from the front end while a tail may extend from the rear end of the body. Adjacent fasteners may be joined by their respective noses and tails to form a collated series of fasteners.

Abstract: A magnetic heat sink device and a heat removal method employs a heat sink device having a base assembly and a handle which extends in upright fashion from the base assembly. The base assembly has an array of fins. Magnets are received in holders of the base assembly and are magnetically bondable to an underlying metal attachment member so that the array of fins is in thermal communication with the member. Heat in the vicinity of the member is conducted to the fins and dissipated from the fins into the ambient environment.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for fluidly sealing a roof drain within a conductor pipe has a sealing element and an expansion ring. The sealing element defines an inner wall with a portion that transitions inward and may be disposed on a portion of the roof drain. The expansion ring is disposed within the inner wall. Reciprocation of the of the expansion ring along the inward transitioning portion of the inner wall causes the sealing element to expand outwardly to a sealed position with the sealing element outer wall abutting the conductor pipe inner wall in a fluid tight seal. Opposite reciprocation of the ring allows the sealing element to contract and release from the conductor pipe.

Abstract: A hidden fastener and associated method for attaching decking members with side grooves to a support member includes a cross member and an elongate anchoring member. The cross member has a body with a front and rear end and defines a hole. The front end has at least one prong and the rear end includes a bent wing. At least one leg extends downward from the body intermediate the front and rear ends. Each of the front and rear ends are configured to engage with the groove of adjacent decking members. The front end is inserted into the groove of a leading decking member and the anchoring member is driven through the hole into the support member. A trailing decking member is placed with the rear end in the groove adjacent the leading decking member.

Abstract: An adapter for hands-free attachment of an installation clip to a commercially available power driving tool. The adapter has a frame and a magnetic element. The adapter is rigidly attachable to the nozzle of a power driving tool by mechanical forces, magnetic forces or a combination thereof. Once attached to the nozzle, the adapter allows attachment of an installation clip by magnetic forces generated by the magnetic element in a position for driving of an elongated securing member from the nozzle through an attachment hole in the clip. The force of the driven securing member overcomes the attractive magnetic forces and disengages the clip from the adapter.

Abstract: A trim board fastener for composite or plastic material comprises a head having a recessed underside with a rim. A shank extends from the head and has an upper region, an unthreaded intermediate land and a lower region. The upper region has a first diameter traversed by a left hand thread having a first pitch. The lower region has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper region and is traversed by a double lead right hand thread which has a second pitch larger than the first pitch.

Abstract: A point-of-sale display unit for engagement with a cantilevered support member has at least one shelf and a base member. The base member defines a track configured to receive a portion of the cantilevered support member. The unit engages with the cantilevered beam through a sliding arrangement and is rigidly maintained thereon through a combination of various mechanical forces in a position without obstructing access to the primary load held and displayed by the cantilevered system.

Abstract: A collating strip for holding plugs prior to insertion of the plugs into a hole such as a screw hole or nail hole after the screw or nail has been driven. The collating strip comprises an elongated strip having a plurality of perforations spaced along its length; and a plug positioned in each of the perforations, each plug having an insertion end and an external end, the insertion ends projecting from said strip. The strips may be in sheet form of a plurality of strips side by side with an individual strip being separable from the remaining strips of the sheet.

Abstract: A fastener for attaching grooved decking planks to a support member has a body defining an attachment opening spacing apart opposing legs extending from a shoulder. The legs have at least one frontward extending prong. The rear end of the body includes a bend transitioning to a lip. The front end may have downward extending teeth. A nose may extend from the front end while a tail may extend from the rear end of the body. Adjacent fasteners may be joined by their respective noses and tails to form a collated series of fasteners.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for fluidly sealing a roof drain within a conductor pipe has a sealing element and an expansion ring. The sealing element defines an inner wall with a portion that transitions inward and may be disposed on a portion of the roof drain. The expansion ring is disposed within the inner wall. Reciprocation of the of the expansion ring along the inward transitioning portion of the inner wall causes the sealing element to expand outwardly to a sealed position with the sealing element outer wall abutting the conductor pipe inner wall in a fluid tight seal. Opposite reciprocation of the ring allows the sealing element to contract and release from the conductor pipe.

Abstract: A point-of-sale display unit for engagement with a cantilevered support member has at least one shelf and a base member. The base member defines a track configured to receive a portion of the cantilevered support member. The unit engages with the cantilevered beam through a sliding arrangement and is rigidly maintained thereon through a combination of various mechanical forces in a position without obstructing access to the primary load held and displayed by the cantilevered system.

Abstract: A magnetic heat sink device and a heat removal method employs a heat sink device comprising a base assembly and a handle which extends in upright fashion from the base assembly. The base assembly has an array of fins. Magnets are received in holders of the base assembly and are magnetically bondable to an underlying metal attachment member so that the array of fins is in thermal communication with the member. Heat in the vicinity of the member is conducted to the fins and dissipated from the fins into the ambient environment.

Abstract: A roof insulation fastening system employs a fastener and a compression plate with a tube which interacts with the compression plate to permit the plate to vertically move relative to the head of the fastener when the adjacent area and/or plate is subject to excessive compression. The tube includes a retainer shoulder and a pair of tabs wherein the plate captures the tube. The tube includes a throat and a tapered portion with a throughbore. The fastener is inserted into the tube and secured in place so that the head is retained at the intersection of the throat and the tapered portion and the shank is secured into the roofing substrate.

Abstract: A tool for installation of a concealed fastener which may be formed in situ during attachment of a first grooved sheathing member to an underlying support member. The tool has a barrel for holding a fixing member axially and a feeding mechanism for holding and advancing cross members and maintaining a cross member aligned with the fixing member in the barrel. The tool allows insertion of a front end of the cross member into a plank groove whereupon a fixing member may be driven from the barrel through the cross member and partially into a support, thereby securing the plank to the support. The feeding mechanism thereafter advances an uninstalled cross member to the forward position aligned with a fixing member.

Abstract: An adapter for hands-free attachment of an installation clip to a commercially available power driving tool. The adapter has a frame and a magnetic element. The adapter is rigidly attachable to the nozzle of a power driving tool by mechanical forces, magnetic forces or a combination thereof. Once attached to the nozzle, the adapter allows attachment of an installation clip by magnetic forces generated by the magnetic element in a position for driving of an elongated securing member from the nozzle through an attachment hole in the clip. The force of the driven securing member overcomes the attractive magnetic forces and disengages the clip from the adapter.

Abstract: A hidden fastener for use in assembling a decking structure by attaching a series of grooved deck planks to underlying joists is disclosed. The fastener is configured with a horizontal body between a leading arm and trailing leg. The leading arm transitions to a leading wing while the trailing leg transitions to a trailing foot. At least one prong extends from the body at a downward angle. The leading wing and trailing foot are configured optimally for engagement within the grooves of adjacent deck planks. The body defines a hole for receipt of an elongated securing member that can be driven therethrough, optionally by a power driving tool, to attach the fastener to an underlying joist. The fastener spaces adjacent decking planks an optimal distance for drainage while providing improved resistance to lateral plank movement caused by thermal expansion or physical forces.

Abstract: A connection system for a hand rail installation has particular applicability in connection with installing a hand rail unit comprising a top rail, a bottom rail and a plurality of balustrades to a pair of mounting posts. The ends of the top rail and the bottom rail are secured to the mounting posts by brackets. In some embodiments, the brackets have a flange-like sleeves and a recess defined by side rails which are engaged by the mounting clips. One support mounting clip employs three outwardly biased retention tabs which engage with a bracket installed over the end of the upper rail. Various top rail and bottom rail bracket configurations are disclosed.

Abstract: A roof insulation fastening system employs a fastener and a compression plate with a tube which interacts with the compression plate to permit the plate to vertically move relative to the head of the fastener when the adjacent area and/or plate is subject to excessive compression. The tube includes a retainer shoulder and a pair of tabs wherein the plate captures the tube. The tube includes a throat and a tapered portion with a throughbore. The fastener is inserted into the tube and secured in place so that the head is retained at the intersection of the throat and the tapered portion and the shank is secured into the roofing substrate.