Abstract: An installation tool/fastening system employs an installation tool which is adapted for fastening a top plate to a roof support member or other structural connections and is particularly adapted for use in driving a wide variety of fasteners. One installation tool embodiment is adapted for driving a fastener having a head with a maximum diameter greater than the major diameter of the fastener threads. The installation tool is also adaptable to drive fasteners having a wide variety of drive-type head configurations including an external drive head and various recessed or socket configurations provided in the fastener head.

Abstract: A tool for marking the location of a bonding plate concealed beneath a roof membrane. The tool has a magnetic attraction to the bonding plate and causes a marking assembly to vertically lower toward the roof membrane and rotate on an axle. Rotation of the marking assembly and vertical lowering causes the marking implement to come into contact with the roof membrane at a location corresponding to the location of the bonding plate beneath the roof membrane. A brake restricts the rotation of the marking assembly on the axle by coming into contact with an inner edge of a chassis. Contact between the marking implement and the roof membrane and the restriction of rotation of the marking assembly by the brake cause the marking implement to create a visible mark at a position corresponding to the location of the bonding plate beneath the roof membrane.

Abstract: A vortex breaker and a drainage assembly with a plurality of fins extending radially outward from a common central axis to respective terminal edges. Each fin has an attachment member for cooperation with bars of a domed strainer installed over a drain inlet. Engagement of the attachment members and domed strainer rigidly fixes the vortex breaker relative to the domed strainer.

Abstract: A tool for marking the location of a bonding plate concealed beneath a roof membrane. The tool has a magnetic attraction to the bonding plate and causes a marking assembly to vertically lower toward the roof membrane and rotate on an axle. Rotation of the marking assembly and vertical lowering causes the marking implement to come into contact with the roof membrane at a location corresponding to the location of the bonding plate beneath the roof membrane. A brake restricts the rotation of the marking assembly on the axle by coming into contact with an inner edge of a chassis. Contact between the marking implement and the roof membrane and the restriction of rotation of the marking assembly by the brake cause the marking implement to create a visible mark at a position corresponding to the location of the bonding plate beneath the roof membrane.

Abstract: An installation tool/fastening system employs an installation tool which is adapted for fastening a top plate to a roof support member or other structural connections and is particularly adapted for use in driving a wide variety of fasteners. One installation tool embodiment is adapted for driving a fastener having a head with a maximum diameter greater than the major diameter of the fastener threads. The installation tool is also adaptable to drive fasteners having a wide variety of drive-type head configurations including an external drive head and various recessed or socket configurations provided in the fastener head.

Abstract: A screw for securing dense wood material has a head with a specially configured drive socket and an underside with an array of lobes. The lobes preferably have a left-handed orientation and have chamfered extremities. The shank is specially configured with an upper thread, an intermediate unthreaded portion and a lower thread which terminates with a half-point tip. In one embodiment, the upper thread major diameter is slightly smaller than the major diameter of the lower thread. The upper thread has a greater thread density than the lower thread. The upper to lower thread-per-inch density is preferably in the range of 1.3:1 to 1.7:1. The screw is specifically configured to assist in applications where there are wet fibers near the wood deck surface.

Abstract: A position sensing construction system according to aspects of the disclosure may include a GPS system arranged to cover a jobsite, a local position sensing system in combination with the GPS system, tools equipped with position/movement sensors and communication capability, and software to record positions of installed building components. Local position sensing systems may utilize one or more known fixed points, the position of which is established by GPS or other techniques, and report the position of building components relative to the fixed positions. Installation tools are configured to deliver a position signal corresponding to the position of a building component after installation is completed. Software facilitates communication between system components, records position and other information from tools and generates maps of tagged locations that can be used during construction and later for repair and maintenance of the completed project. The positions and maps may be in three dimensions.

Abstract: A screw for securing dense wood material has a head with a specially configured drive socket and an underside with an array of lobes. The lobes preferably have a left-handed orientation and have chamfered extremities. The shank is specially configured with an upper thread, an intermediate unthreaded portion and a lower thread which terminates with a half-point tip. In one embodiment, the upper thread major diameter is slightly smaller than the major diameter of the lower thread. The upper thread has a greater thread density than the lower thread. The upper to lower thread-per-inch density is preferably in the range of 1.3:1 to 1.7:1. The screw is specifically configured to assist in applications where there are wet fibers near the wood deck surface.

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 fastener for composite or plastic material having a dense composition employs a head which has a socket and a recessed underside and a lower rim. In one embodiment, the shank has an upper portion with an enlarged diameter and a left hand thread while the lower portion has a tri-lobed configuration and is traversed by a right hand thread. The right hand thread may have a plurality of notches which, in one embodiment, are arranged in a spiral array.

Abstract: A fastener for composite or plastic material having a dense composition employs a head which has a socket and a recessed underside and a lower rim. In one embodiment, the shank has an upper portion with an enlarged diameter and a left hand thread while the lower portion has a tri-lobed configuration and is traversed by a right hand thread. The right hand thread may have a plurality of notches which, in one embodiment, are arranged in a spiral array. One embodiment of a fastener has longitudinally spaced rings which project from an enlarged diameter portion of the shank. The lower portion of the shank has a thread with a plurality of notches. The rings have a major diameter and spacing greater than the major diameter and spacing of the thread.

Abstract: A fastener adapted for anchoring engineered lumber panels has a threaded portion with a double included securement thread having an included angle between 15° and 25°. The ratio of the major thread diameter to the minor diameter exceeds 2.0 to provide a large thread surface to resist pull out. The fastener also includes a drill tip having an effective diameter substantially equal to the minor diameter of the thread. The fastener is configured to resist cocking upon being driven into the engineered lumber panel and to resist marring of the panel fascia.

Abstract: A plug finishing system involves forming a counterbore in a cover board above the head of a fastener as it is driven by a specially constructed driver. A plug, which is dimensioned for the counterbore and has a reduced portion, is inserted into the counterbore and positioned so that its exterior surface is co-planar with the exterior surface of the cover board.

Abstract: A plug finishing system involves forming a counterbore in a cover board above the head of a fastener as it is driven by a specially constructed driver. A plug, which is dimensioned for the counterbore and has a reduced portion, is inserted into the counterbore and positioned so that its exterior surface is co-planar with the exterior surface of the cover board.

Abstract: A plug finishing system involves forming a counterbore in a cover board above the head of a fastener as it is driven by a specially constructed driver. A plug, which is dimensioned for the counterbore and has a reduced portion, is inserted into the counterbore and positioned so that its exterior surface is co-planar with the exterior surface of the cover board.

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 fastener for composite material having a dense composition employs a head which has a socket and a recessed underside and a lower rim. The shank has an upper portion with an enlarged diameter and a left hand thread while the lower portion has a tri-lobed configuration and is traversed by a right hand thread. The right hand thread may have a plurality of notches which, in one embodiment, are arranged in a spiral array.

Abstract: A construction panel includes a compressible construction sheet having opposed first and second sides. A first tubing has a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligned openings disposed at the first side. A second tubing is disposed at the second side in general alignment with the first tubing. A plurality of compression pin fasteners connects the first and second tubings. Each of the fasteners has a head which engages the first tubing. An unthreaded portion extends from the head to a threaded portion having a self-tapping drill point. The threaded portion has a buttress thread which engages the second tubing to exert a compressive force between the two tubings. An annular rock ring on the fastener is positionable such that the interior panel of the second tubing is disposed between the ring and the threaded portion.

Abstract: A fastener for composite or plastic material having a dense composition employs a head which has a socket and a recessed underside and a lower rim. In one embodiment, the shank has an upper portion with an enlarged diameter and a left hand thread while the lower portion has a tri-lobed configuration and is traversed by a right hand thread. The right hand thread may have a plurality of notches which, in one embodiment, are arranged in a spiral array. One embodiment of a fastener has longitudinally spaced rings which project from an enlarged diameter portion of the shank. The lower portion of the shank has a thread with a plurality of notches. The rings have a major diameter and spacing greater than the major diameter and spacing of the thread.

Abstract: A fastener for composite material having a dense composition employs a head which has a socket and a recessed underside and a lower rim. The shank has an upper portion with an enlarged diameter and a left hand thread while the lower portion has a tri-lobed configuration and is traversed by a right hand thread. The right hand thread may have a plurality of notches which, in one embodiment, are arranged in a spiral array.