Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic nailer system for use in the joinery industry. The system includes a strip including a plurality of plastic ferrules which receive a complementary plurality of nails. Each ferrule is provided with a step which is adapted to co-operate with a surface of a substrate to form a groove for receiving a flange on a trim, each ferrule also having the thicker part thereof tapered to assist in fitting the trim. The ferrules are arranged in a longitudinal row and are connected to each other by at least one severable plastic web. The system further includes an automatic nailer specially adapted to drive the nails individually into a substrate while at the same time severing its associated ferrule from the next adjacent ferrule. Preferably, the automatic nailer includes a cartridge for feeding a plurality of strips into the automatic nailer.

Abstract: A carrier assembly including a carrier strip with a plurality of modular telephone plug connectors secured thereto. Each connector has a housing with a tag integrally molded therewith and secured to the strip. The strip has a plurality of holes which receive projections extending from the tags. The projections interengage with the strip to secure the housings thereto.The method of manufacturing the carrier assembly described above which includes the steps of integrally molding a tag with a projection onto each of the housings; punching holes in the strip; locating a projection through a corresponding hole; and securing the projection to its corresponding hole.

Abstract: A sheath is provided for lacing hooks and the like, and comprises a channel-shaped body having a web with flanges extending along opposite sides of the web. The sheath flanges include outwardly facing apertures in which sharpened points of the hooks are received. The web is readily deformable, so that it can be manually compressed between its opposite sides to converge the apertures, and thereby disengage the hook points received therein. The sheath may then be removed from the hooks by simply pulling the sheath outwardly from inbetween the hook points. The sheath also facilitates manually severing a strip bar-type of lacing hooks to length. The sheath is preferably constructed from a material such as stiff paper materials, cardboard, thin plastic, et cetera, which can be manually cut by a conventional knife edge, like scissors, or a pocket knife.

Abstract: A collation strip for use in conjunction with a power actuated tool having a plurality of cylindrical housings interconnected by narrow webs. The housings, each of which is adapted to receive an axially extending fastener, include a plurality of inwardly protruding circumferentially alternating ridges and arms. The ridges include at each axial end a pair of steps adapted to surround and receive the head of a fastener. The arms, which are somewhat flexible, are located towards the center of the housings and are adapted to engage, stabilize, and align the shank of the fastener. The ridges and arms cooperate to form a plurality of fracture zones between the ridges and arms.

Abstract: A strip of fasteners is formed by an elongated flexible web having one or two rows of tabs projecting from one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web. These tabs have fastener holding means formed at their ends for removably carrying nails, screws, or nuts. In one form, the holding means are detachable with the fasteners to provide a washer, and in another form, the detachable end of the holding means provides a locking insert for a self-locking nut. The web is formed both as a strip and as a closed loop. In some embodiments, the fastener is disposed at an angle relative to the web to permit inclination of the strip of loop relative to horizontal while presenting the fasteners to a driving station in a vertical position. A fastener feeding mechanism deflects or bends the strip at a point adjacent the drive path of a fastener driver to "fan out" the fastener carrying tabs so that the tab or tabs carrying the fastener in driving position are spaced from adjacent tabs.

Abstract: A multitude of elongated fasteners are removably held in a uniform array in an assembly comprising a holding panel and at least one air-impermeable compartment associated with each fastener and disposed below the holding panel. The compartment contains a liquid bonding agent which is in contact with the shaft of the fastener. When the fastener is removed from the holding panel and utilized, the holding agent functions as a lubricant which subsequently hardens to lock the fastener in place. The bonding agent may be a two-component composition. The uniformity of the array facilitates robotics handling.

Abstract: A collated fastener strip includes an elongated flexible plastic web having a row of projecting tabs along one or both of its elongated edges. Each tab is provided with an open ended slot with an opening intermediate its end in which is frictionally retained the shank of a nail or screw. The opening is of a quadrilateral configuration to provide improved frictional contact with the fastener shank. The location of the opening intermediate the ends of the slot divide the tab into two arms that can be deflected to accommodate fasteners of different sizes while retaining adequate frictional engagement therewith.

Abstract: A continuous strip of spaced-apart electrical contacts is taught. Briefly stated, a mold structure is utilized to position a plurality of contacts in a mold. A polymeric material such as silicone is thereafter injected into the mold which fills the interior portion of the contact as well as encapsulating the exterior upper portion of the contact, thereby producing a strip of spaced-apart electrical contacts having a molded carrier strip of flexible polymeric material. A series of notches or recesses are formed in the walls of the strip which thereby allows for precise indexing and contact spacing for insertion of the contact strip into a circuit board. The polymeric material which is disposed on the interior of the contact prohibits the introduction of contaminants into the interior of the contact as well as providing a reenterable aperture for placing electrical components having terminal leads.

Abstract: A tubular wire marker sleeve is disclosed. The sleeve includes a central portion which is flattened by ultrasonic welding and end extents which are unflattened facilitating insertion of an electrical wire into the sleeve. Plural sleeves may be assembled on a support card for printing on the sleeve with a conventional typewriter or computer printer.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated fastener-driving tool, particularly adapted for nailing drywall to the framing of a building, includes a housing, a reciprocator assembly mounted within the housing, and a piston mechanism mounted within the reciprocating assembly for axially driving the fastener into the drywall and underlying framing member. Upon actuation of the tool, the piston is pneumatically driven through a fastener-driving stroke and the reciprocator is reactively driven in an opposite direction. The oppositely driven reciprocator assembly absorbs recoil energy during the piston's driving stroke without transmitting an appreciable amount thereof to the housing, thereby substantially precluding housing recoil during driving of the fastener. At the end of the driving stroke, the reciprocator engages and is decelerated by the piston, thereby reducing housing recoil subsequent to the driving of the fastener.

Abstract: An improved cartridge-holding magazine is provided for powder-actuated fastener driving tools. The magazine is in the form of a flat strip having a series of cartridge-receiving holes and grooves surrounding the holes for receiving an end extension of a chamber-defining portion of a fastener driving tool so as to properly locate the cartridges in the chamber. The grooves define sleeve portions in the strip which cooperate with the surrounding surface of the side wall of the cartridge chamber to prevent the side wall of a cartridge casing from rupturing or fracturing, especially near the rim of the cartridge, when the cartridge is fired, with the result that after ignition the gases expand axially into the chamber to propel the fastener driving striker so as to drive a fastener into a workpiece with maximum utilization of the energy of combustion.

Abstract: An improved method and construction for positioning a plurality of socket terminals on an electrical circuit board in a predetermined configuration prior to the solder connection thereto. A sheet of electrically insulative, flexible, resinous plastic material is provided with a plurality of holes in an array conforming to the desired positioning of the sockets on the circuit boards. The socket terminals are provided with an enlarged generally cylindrical head including an intermediate groove such that the heads extend into the holes and are adapted for frictional snap engagement with the sheet. The sheet with the array of sockets temporarily held thereby is positioned on the circuit board which is then conventionally soldered so as to electrically and mechanically fix the sockets to the board. Thereafter, the sheet may be removed.

Abstract: A guide strip for holding a succession of fittings which are to be hammered into box-shaped containers in a studding machine and for conveying such fittings into the machine, the strip being constituted by a tape-like foil presenting a succession of nests for holding such fittings.

Abstract: A strip of fasteners is formed by an elongated flexible web having one or two rows of tabs projecting from one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web. These tabs have fastener holding means formed at their ends for removably carrying nails, screws, or nuts. In one form, the holding means are detachable with the fasteners to provide a washer, and in another form, the detachable end of the holding means provides a locking insert for a self-locking nut. The web is formed both as a strip and as a closed loop. In some embodiments, the fastener is disposed at an angle relative to the web to permit inclination of the strip of loop relative to horizontal while presenting the fasteners to a driving station in a vertical position. A fastener feeding mechanism deflects or bends the strip at a point adjacent the drive path of a fastener driver to "fan out" the fastener carrying tabs so that the tab or tabs carrying the fastener in driving position are spaced from adjacent tabs.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable, hand-operated, staple magazine holder for supplying staples to a work location. The staple magazine holder comprises in combination, an elongated housing having a slot for slidably receiving a plastic strip containing a plurality of staples of a predetermined height, and an extension from said housing through which said staples pass upon exiting from said housing. The extension has a vertical dimension less than said predetermined height such that the staples, contained in and moved by said plastic strip, will project above and below said extension. Additionally, the staple magazine holder includes means for indexing the movement of the staples, and for loading the holder with staples. To operate the staple magazine holder, the user moves the staple containing strip a predetermined distance to expose a staple in said extension. In this position the staple may be anchored in a post by striking the crown portion of the staple.

Abstract: Cable seals of the type employed in sealed electrical connectors are maintained in a predetermined orientation throughout manufacture and handling of same whereby the cable seals may be presented in a usable form to automatic assembly equipment for manufacture in cable lead terminations employed in such connectors. According to the method of the invention, the cable seals are integrally molded in a belt which provides a handleable product with the seals being maintained by the belt in a predetermined orientation. The cable seals then are punched from the belt and simultaneously inserted into a carrier for subsequent handling while still maintaining the cable seals orientated for use such as in automatic assembly equipment.

Abstract: An elongate supply ribbon of plastic material for supporting bolt-like fastener elements is structured with a back wall portion and a plurality of tongues extending from opposite sides of the back wall portion generally perpendicularly to the plane thereof. Bending regions interposed between the back wall portion and the tongues are formed with notches which have sides abutting each other when the tongues are bent to extend perpendicularly from the plane of the back wall portion in order to provide bearing support for the tongues.

Abstract: Connected temporary fastening nails including vertically oriented connecting parts formed by making cuts at fixed intervals along the length of a continuous elastic part which is substantially square in cross-section and which has a hollow space in the interior of the continuous elastic part and a plurality of small diameter nails each provided through adjacent connecting parts at fixed intervals along the length of the continuous elastic part.

Abstract: A new pop rivet assembly is disclosed, wherein said device is capable of forming a rivet hole in a workpiece, inserting a pop rivet into the hole and securing it in place in response to an operator's single blow using a conventional hammer, pneumatic driver or similar device.

Abstract: A nail-like fastener having a substantially rectangular washer adapted to permit overlapping vertical stacking of a number of fastener/washer assemblies for use in a fastener driving apparatus of the type including a piston. The washers each include two substantially U-shaped recesses or cut-outs disposed one each near the midpoints of the top and bottom washer edges, such that the bottom fastener of a stack may be fired from the driving apparatus without disruption of the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: A nail clip is provided for use with pneumatically or hydraulically powered nail drivers. Each clip comprises a plastic strip consisting of a plurality of serially connected sleeves and a nail carried by each sleeve with a fracture line between each pair of sleeves.

Abstract: A packaged article having a screw extending through the article is provided. The article packaged may be any article having a screw opening through it and having a screw for mounting the article into its normal place of use. In the package article of this invention the screw extends through the article and into a package to hold the article to the package. The package has a hole for receiving the screw and in this invention has also a threaded nut of polymer or pitch material bonded to the package. A method of forming a packaged article is also taught.

Abstract: An air-powered, self-feeding screw driving tool and screw-containing pods capable of being assembled into a continuous belt of screw-containing pods for use with the tool. The belt of screw-containing pods are coiled within a canister for selective feeding therefrom by an air-powered pawl operated star wheel. The pods are sequentially positioned forward of the bit of a carriage mounted air-powered screwdriver which is selectively operated in coordinated relationship with the orientation of the screw-containing pods by a common air source utilizing a single trigger control.Each of the screw-containing pods has means therein to retain a screw and to guide the screw as it is being driven into the workpiece.

Abstract: A continuous strip of terminal posts comprises a plastic carrier strip through which the posts are inserted at regular spaced apart intervals. The carrier strip is of a thermoplastic material and has a generally H-shaped cross-section. The posts extend between the sidewalls of the carrier strip and through the web portion thereof. The individual posts are removed from the carrier strip at the time of insertion into a printed circuit board by an insertion punch which has a chisel-like end such that it splits the carrier strip during insertion.

Abstract: A belt for holding of surveyors' tacks which may be worn about the ankle of the user. The belt is fitted at each end with snap fasteners, with a mid-section shaped as a cylinder and fitted with vertical holes through the top of the mid-section, in the worn position of the belt. Surveyors' tacks are individually located in each hole with the tack points protected inside the belt. The anklet belt enables a surveyor to readily grasp a tack from the belt, when kneeling, and fasten the tack at a surveyed point.

Abstract: A screw package comprising a carrier strip through which the screws extend transversely with the essentially flat under surface of the screw heads resting against the upper surface of the strip. The strip has holes the diameter of which is closely related to the shank diameter of the screws. Around each hole there extend arcuate slots, between the ends of which comparatively weak webs have been left, or deep weakening lines, in such a manner that, as a screw is driven in, a washer consisting of the carrier strip material will be separated from the carrier strip to be clamped between the under surface of the screw head and the work piece wherein the screw is applied.

Abstract: A fastener package comprising a carrier tape having at equally spaced intervals throughgoing holes in each of which there is received from one side of the tape a screw with a head and a threaded shank, with the under side of the screw head resting against said one side of the tape. The holes are so designed and dimensioned in relation to the dimensions of the screw shanks that, on introduction of the screw shanks into the holes, the tape edges around the holes are deformed into lips which retainingly engage with the screw threads. Radial slots may facilitate the development of the retaining lips, and the slots may be long enough to permit deflection of the lips to let through the screw heads. Adjacent longitudinal slots may be so closely spaced that the tape is split up in two tape portions as the screws are driven home, through the tape.

Abstract: A fastener package, for use in a fastener applicator apparatus and comprising a disc shaped carrier and a plurality of fasteners, each having an elongated shank and a head. The shanks of the fasteners pass through the carrier and the under surface of their heads rest on the carrier. The disc shaped carrier is circular and carries the fasteners evenly spaced on a circular line along the peripheral portion of the circular carrier. Also disclosed is an inherently stiff support and guide body which is useful as a magazine in the fastener applicator apparatus and which has teeth or grooves for a step-wise turning thereof in order to advance the fasteners, one at a time, to an application position in the fastener applicator apparatus.

Abstract: A flexible rubber strip has openings slightly smaller than the shank of a power load spaced along its length. Power loads having shank and head portions are inserted through the openings up to the head portion in which position the power loads are gripped by the rubber to hold the power loads until forceably removed. The strip with power loads is contained in a box with one end of the strip protruding through an opening in the top of the box. An operator of a powder actuated tool grabs the protruded end of the strip and pulls a section of the strip from the box. He inserts the first power load into the cartridge receiving chamber of the powder actuated tool and by peeling the strip over the head portion of the power load separates the power load from the strip. The box containing the strip can be clipped to the operator's belt or contained in the pocket of an apron.

Abstract: A magazine supporting nail-like fastening elements for use in an explosive charge driven setting gun is formed of an elongated strip having spaced first openings which hold the fastening elements. Concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from each first opening is a ring-like arrangement of arcuate slots or second openings spaced apart by radially extending webs. The webs have reduced thickness portions as compared to the thickness of the strip, so that a weakened region is formed for separation of that portion of the strip radially inwardly of the second openings when a fastening element is driven through the magazine into a receiving material.

Abstract: An article of manufacture is provided which enables nails to be fed serial fashion to a nail-driver device. The article of manufacture comprises a strip shaped to provide a series of apertured nail flanges connected to each other by a mechanically weakened linkage, and nails disposed in the apertures of the flanges.

Abstract: In a strip for holding fastening elements, such as nails and the like, as they are fed into a setting device for insertion into a target material, break-off locations are provided in the strip to separate used portions of the strip from portions still containing fastening elements. The holder strip is an elongated flat tape or belt-like member. The fastening elements are secured within holes spaced apart in the elongated direction of the strip. The fastening elements have transversely extending heads which punch out parts of the strip as the elements are driven into the target material. Preferably, the break-off locations are in the form of notches extending inwardly from the longitudinal sides of the strip into the region punched out by the inserted elements. As a result, when a fastening element punches through the strip where break-off locations are present, at least a portion of the strip from which the fastening elements have been driven is separated from the remainder of the strip.

Abstract: A belt for holding a plurality of fasteners including a plurality of fastener receiving sleeves interconnected by webs. Each sleeve has a generally triangularly-shaped internal cross-sectional configuration. The corners of the internal triangle may be cut off to form flat surfaces. The fastener is engaged by the three sides of the triangle. The external surface of each adjacent sleeve has a planar portion positioned above and below the web which tapers away from said web. In addition, one end of each of the sleeves has a circular counter-bore therein and the other end has a groove therein extending parallel to the length of the belt. Each of the webs between adjacent sleeves has a V-shaped groove therein.

Abstract: A fastener feed assembly for a tool such as a power screwdriver having a drive member such as a rotatable bit includes a base fixed to the tool and a nose assembly slidably related to the base. The nose assembly includes a workpiece engaging surface, and when the tool is moved toward the workpiece during a fastener driving operation, the base moves toward the nose assembly. A return spring separates the base and nose assembly when the tool is withdrawn away from the workpiece. A strip of fasteners is fed from a magazine along a feed path through the nose assembly with sequential fasteners located in a drive position. Normally the drive member is spaced from a fastener in the drive position. During movement of the tool toward the workpiece in a driving operation, the drive member moves into engagement with a fastener in the drive position, and then continues to move in order to drive the fastener into the workpiece. A pawl is engageable with the strip in order to advance the strip along the feed path.

Abstract: An improved method and construction for positioning a plurality of socket terminals on an electrical circuit board in a predetermined configuration prior to the solder connection thereto. A sheet of electrically insulative, flexible, resinous plastic material is provided with a plurality of holes in an array conforming to the desired positioning of the sockets on the circuit boards. The socket terminals are provided with an enlarged generally cylindrical head including an intermediate groove such that the heads extend into the holes and are adapted for frictional snap engagement with the sheet. The sheet with the array of sockets temporarily held thereby is positioned on the circuit board which is then conventionally soldered so as to electrically and mechanically fix the sockets to the board. Thereafter, the sheet may be removed.