Abstract: A bone support fixating device with a longitudinally slotted hip screw which permits operative compression of the fracture and holds this compression yet allows sliding as further compression of the fracture occurs under forces of weight bearing; comprising a hollow cylindrical shaft with a screw portion at its upper proximal end and four equally spaced longitudinal grooves at its lower distal end, having three equally distant angled holes between the ends, through which three wires can be inserted, the three ‘elastic’ proximally curved wires, welded, glued or crimped distally, can be inserted into the hip screw collectively called the ‘tri-wire’; The proximal end has the wires curved outward, with all three wires equally spaced; upon pushing the tri-wire into the hip screw, the wires goes through the angle holes in the hip screw and provides three projections equally spaced; which improves the rotational stability of the proximal fracture fragment.

Abstract: A push-lock pin for connecting a tile to a gas turbine engine wall according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a housing extending longitudinally along an axis; a shaft assembly within the housing, the shaft assembly including a push-down pop-up mechanism and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism moveable to a locked position such that the locking mechanism limits movement of a tile away from a gas turbine engine wall; and a stop feature to limit movement of the tile toward the gas turbine engine wall.

Abstract: A push-lock device for connecting a tile to a gas turbine engine wall includes, among other things, a housing extending longitudinally along an axis; a shaft assembly within the housing, the shaft assembly including portions of both a push-down pop-up mechanism and a locking-bracket mechanism, the locking-bracket mechanism moveable to a locked position such that the locking-bracket mechanism limits movement of a tile away from a gas turbine engine wall; and a biasing member to be positioned closer to the tile than the locking-bracket mechanism.

Abstract: A method is described for establishing a nail connection between two components as well as a nail therefor. The nail is driven through the non-prepunched components in the joining area at a high speed such that the nail tip fully penetrates both components and forms a toric-shaped material bulge in the nail-head-side component, which protrudes into a circular groove of the nail head, and a crater-shaped material bulge is formed in the component facing away from the nail head, which protrudes in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the tongue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the tongue and may be secured to other surrounding structures such as the mandible and/or hyoid bone. In general, the implant is manipulated to displace at least a portion of the posterior tongue in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the tongue. Methods and devices are also disclosed for manipulating other soft tissue structures, including the soft palate and pharyngeal airway.

Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a row of fasteners having a head, a tip, and a portion of a shank coated with a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a polymer material such as polyurethane and metal particles. The polymer composition is used to provide improved corrosion and ultraviolet radiation resistance when used with naturally corrosive or pressure preservative treated wood. The fastener assembly is coated with the polymer composition by vacuum coating a dispersion of the polymer composition in a solvent such as water and removing the solvent.

Abstract: A nail comprises a plurality of umbrella-shaped threads spirally formed on the shank and extended from the nail end to the head, wherein the umbrella-shaped thread includes a top face and an end edge face, in which the outer diameter of the top face is greater than the outer diameter of the end edge face, such that the nail can be nailed into a planking easily and successfully without the obstacle of the umbrella-shaped threads. While pulling out the nail, an actuating tool is used directly to rotate back the nail, so as to prevent from damaging the surface of the planking and efficiently save the time and labor.

Abstract: A method is described for establishing a nail connection between two components as well as a nail therefor. The nail is driven through the non-prepunched components in the joining area at a high speed such that the nail tip fully penetrates both components and forms a toric-shaped material bulge in the nail-head-side component, which protrudes into a circular groove of the nail head, and a crater-shaped material bulge is formed in the component facing away from the nail head, which protrudes in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a row of fasteners having a head, a tip, and a portion of a shank coated with a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a polymer material such as polyurethane and metal particles. The polymer composition is used to provide improved corrosion and ultraviolet radiation resistance when used with naturally corrosive or pressure preservative treated wood. The fastener assembly is coated with the polymer composition by vacuum coating a dispersion of the polymer composition in a solvent such as water and removing the solvent.

Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a row of fasteners having a head, a tip, and a portion of a shank coated with a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a polymer material such as polyurethane and metal particles. The polymer composition is used to provide improved corrosion and ultraviolet radiation resistance when used with naturally corrosive or pressure preservative treated wood. The fastener assembly is coated with the polymer composition by vacuum coating a dispersion of the polymer composition in a solvent such as water and removing the solvent.

Abstract: A harpoon nail having two or more sets of teeth on opposite sides of fingers that deform while penetrating the framing members. The teeth engage with a bottom surface to fasten the framing members together. A piercing nail having sets of teeth on two edges penetrates through framing members and the teeth engage with a bottom surface to fasten the framing members together. A piercing nail with a spring member that deforms as the nail penetrates through framing members engages with a bottom surface to fasten the framing members together. A self-locking nail having two members that move relative to one another when penetrating through framing members fastens the framing members together.

Abstract: A ribbed dowel for aligning workpieces is disclosed including a cylindrical body having an outer surface, a first end, and a second end, a plurality of ribs spaced over the outer surface, a round circular first face on the first end, a round circular second face on the second end, and wherein the ribbed dowel is composed of a material other than a polypropylene homopolymer having a density of 0.905 g/cm3, a melt flow rate of 60 g/10 min, a Rockwell hardness of 107, a Durometer hardness of 84, and a melting point of 330° F.

Abstract: A holder comprising a rigid base bar having a pin end and a stabilizing end; a rigid stabilizing bar having a base end and an opposite end, with the base end of the rigid stabilizing bar being rigidly attached to the stabilizing end of the rigid base bar, and extending perpendicular to the rigid base bar; two nails being each having a head end and a pointed end, with the head end of the each nail being rigidly attached to separate points along the rigid stabilizing bar, and with the pointed end of the each nail being extended perpendicular to the rigid stabilizing bar and parallel with the rigid base bar and toward the perpendicular direction of the rigid base bar; and the rigid base bar having a bore through it in a direction parallel with the length of the rigid stabilizing bar.

Abstract: A fastening device for driving a fastener into a workpiece by effecting multiple blows upon the fastener comprises a housing and a striker assembly movably mounted within the housing. The striker assembly includes a driver assembly adapted to strike the fastener to be driven into the workpiece. A nose assembly is movably mounted on the housing and has a fastener drive track along which the driver assembly and the fastener travel when the fastener is driven into the workpiece. The fastening device has a feed mechanism operatively connected to the nose assembly for mechanically advancing the fastener into the fastener drive track. The fastener drive track has a guide surface adjacent the aperture of the nose assembly to direct the fastener as it is driven into the workpiece. A releasable fastener assembly releasably secures the nose assembly to the housing of the fastening device. A control assembly controls the operation of the fastening device to conserve energy.

Abstract: Devices for affixing sutures, grafts and tissues to bone, and soft tissue such as periosteum. In a first embodiment, the invention comprises a piton member implantable within bone having a post or eyelet formed thereon to which the suture or tissue may be attached. The piton member is designed to become more firmly secured within the bone when pressure is applied to a first axis pushing the piton member into the bone, but may be easily removed when such force is applied in a generally opposed direction. In a second embodiment, the invention comprises affixation devices that are designed to detachably ensnare with periosteum. Such devices are provided with attachment structures, such as one post, eyelet or other means for securing sutures, grafts, synthetic materials or tissues.

Abstract: A fastener for binding a layer of mammalian soft tissue to a mammalian bone includes a body portion for disposition in a bore in the bone, the body portion having means thereon for resisting movement of the body portion from the bore. The fastener further includes gripper portions extending from the body portion and extendible through the layer of tissue toward the bone to bind the tissue to the bone. The invention further contemplates a method for making the fastener, a method for binding layers of material together using the fastener, a tool for setting the fastener, and tools and fasteners in combination.

Abstract: An invisible decking connector for wood decking structures fastens elongate decking boards to each other in side-to-side adjacency and fastens the decking boards to underlying perpendicularly oriented joists for positional maintenance thereon. The connector provides a medial disk having axially aligned ribbed nails extending perpendicularly from the medial portions of each of its sides. The periphery of the disk defines a slot to receive the head of a fastening screw extending in angulated orientation through an adjacent decking board and into a joist therebeneath. A tool with a body defining a medial hole to receive one of the ribbed nails to aid installation of the fastener by use of a hammer is disclosed.

Abstract: A nail-like fixing element has a shank having a rear end and a front end, and a retaining element provided at the rear end of the shank for clamping an article to a component. The shank has at least one expansion zone extending from the front end in a longitudinal direction of a part of a length of the shank and being formed by a free space. An expansion element is inserted in the free space. The space is formed as a U-shaped longitudinal slot with a base which slopes up toward the front end. The expansion element is formed as a wedge which is located in the longitudinal slot on the base so as to be displaceable towards the front end. The wedge has an outer face provided with teeth which project beyond the shank.

Abstract: An anchor bolt is provided having a shank which is retained within a recess via peak to peak reaction forces rather than a plurality of peak to base arrangements. This is accomplished through the use of one or more continuous "S" bends or undulations intermediate the shank ends. The "S" bends each create two peaks which extend outwardly from the shank surface with a continuous curve therebetween. That curve includes an inflection point, preferably on the longitudinal axis of the shank, but the slope of the curve at the inflection point is not parallel to that longitudinal axis. Thus, when the shank is inserted within the recess compressive pressure applied to one such peak is directly opposed by such forces applied to the other peak. These peaks can be disposed on opposite sides of the shank or, for example, disposed in a helical or other such pattern about three or more sides of the shank. Serration and/or an abrasive surface can also be provided on the shank to increase retention.

Abstract: A coated fastener includes a coating comprised of one-hundred percent dry solids which is virtually free of solvent emissions when applied and during curing, covers substantially the entire exterior of the fastener, provides a protective coating to the fastener against corrosion, enables the fastener to be adhered to at least one other fastener, and provides increased holding power of the fastener after the fastener is driven into a desired surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a member to a heat softenable material comprising the steps of heating the member to a temperature sufficient to soften the softenable material and driving the member into the material. The material softens from the heat of the member and becomes displaced by the member. Knurling may be added to the member to aid in retention.

Abstract: A mortarless concrete block retaining wall is formed from special blocks arranged in set-back tiers and interlocked by special offset pins. Each block is trapezoidal in plan view with a pair of vertical holes behind a relatively wide front face. The holes in adjacent tiers are laterally offset. The pins have opposite end sections which are laterally offset from one another and fit respectively in the offset holes to interlock adjacent tiers in set-back relation. The special pins are rotatably adjustable to interlock the tiers in a straight configuration or in varying degrees of convex and concave curved configurations.

Abstract: A coated metal fastener and a coating composition that has particular affinity for plaster materials and the like is disclosed. The composition that is applied to the fastener contains a copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride and a thermoplastic resin, preferably polyvinyl acetate, in an inert organic solvent. The organic solvent can be an aromatic solvent, a ketone, a chlorohydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof. The composition is applied to the fastener by conventional methods and cured thereon at about ambient temperature.

Abstract: Sheet metal fasteners and/or washers of the type which are used to fasten membranes to cementitious materials of a type such as utilized in roofing wherein the fasteners are treated to provide a corrosion resistant coating to the washers and those portions of the fasteners not inserted into the cementitious material.

Abstract: A fastening assembly for securing insulating sheetings or boards to a solid base has a tubular extension secured to a large surface washer at the top end thereof, a nut securely held against rotation in the interior of the tubular extension and an elongated fastener inserted at its top end in to the tubular extension and locked by the nut and which is engaged at its lower end which has a bulge, in the solid base.

Abstract: Novel preset, calibrated stud bolts and spring-loaded nut assemblies with torque-off spline tips for securing structural conduit units and the like, and method of calibrating the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fixing pegs suitable for being implanted in a friable material such as expanded polystyrene, for example. The peg comprises at least one tab (1-3) made from a thin plate and having a pointed first end (11-13). A head (15) fixed to the second end of the tab(s) is larger in section than the tabs. A closed pouch (20) capable of being punctured and suitable for containing glue co-operates with pouch-puncturing means (21) associated with the tab and pouch-maintaining means (22, 23) co-operating with the tab in such a manner that when thrust is applied to the pouch in a direction including a component directed substantially away from the pointed end of the tab towards the head, then the pouch is punctured and the glue can run over at least a portion of the wall of the tab.

Abstract: A metal fastener, suitable for use in wood construction and coated with a polymeric residue produced by removing water from an aqueous dispersion of a film-forming, thermoplastic, predominately aliphatic polyurethane resin, thereby to reduce penetration force, increase withdrawal force, and protect against corrosion. Before the polyurethane coating is applied, a zinc layer is applied so as to coat the fastener, and a chromate conversion layer is applied so as to coat the zinc layer.

Abstract: A one-piece, pre-shaped anchor adapted to be forcibly driven axially into a tightly-fitting hole so that the anchor makes a strong interference fit therein. The anchor is constituted by a drivable element and an elongated shank integral therewith. The shank is pre-shaped to have an end portion furthest from the element which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis passing through the element and shank, and to have at least one undulation between the element and the end portion that creates a bend having a peak on one side of the shank between spaced apart base portions on the other side of the shank. The anchor is formed of resilient material, whereby when the shank is driven into the tightly-fitting hole, the undulation will then be forcibly altered by reaction with the wall of the hole, and in seeking to recover its originl shape, will secure the anchor in place.

Abstract: A fastening element comprises a tie bolt (1) and a clamping wedge (2) which for the purpose of transporting and insertion into a bore hole (24) are clamped together via a flange (5), which at the same time is used for attachment of a load (25) to a ceiling (23). To prevenr trouble when inserting the clamping wedge (2), it is provided on its outer face (11) with protrusions (21) which, in the non-extended state of the fastening element, abut on an open passage (19) of the flange (5), while otherwise the outer face (11) of the clamping wedge (2) has free play in respect to the open passage (19) of the flange (5).

Abstract: An implantable polycarbonate fastener for holding erosion cloth on the ground. The fastener has a long vertical leg, a shorter vertical leg extending parallel to the long leg, and a horizontal top leg extending between them. The long vertical leg has a tapered lower end segment with a downwardly and outwardly inclined inside face to cause the long leg to bend away from the shorter vertical leg as it is driven down into the ground, thereby making the implanted fastener harder to pull out of the ground.

Abstract: A one-piece wall anchor capable of being driven axially into a hole drilled in masonry to cause the inserted anchor to lodge securely therein to hold a fixture or other part against the masonry surface. The anchor is constituted by a shank formed of resilient material whose memory is such that when the shank is forcibly deformed, it seeks to maintain its original shape, the shank being integral with a drivable head and having a maximum cross section which is substantially equal to the diameter of the hole. The shank is pre-shaped to include at least one undulation which deviates from the longitudinal axis passing through the head to create a shank bend having a peak on one side of the shank and upper and lower bases on the other side thereof.

Abstract: A plurality of fasteners each having an enlarged head with a slot or a passageway there through to accommodate and cage the shank of another like fastener so that the plurality of fasteners form a self-contained collated strip. Preferably the fastener has at least three spaced vertical cups and edges about a central core with a pair of adjacent edges of one fastener caged in the complimentary slot of the adjacent-like fastener. A notch is provided on such pair of edges to releasably lock the fasteners together in the strip.

Abstract: A stack of fasteners cooperatively define a lateral groove which cooperates with an elongate rib to orient the stack in a magazine of a driving machine.

Abstract: A device is provided for connecting two parts, of which one forms a recess and the other a counterpiece which can be pushed into the recess, and, to obtain a simple firm connection without the direction of insertion being fixed, there is on at least one part a coating which consists of granular rigid material and which is attached to a deformable, preferably elastic carrier material. The length of the granular elements is made greater than the distance between the opposing faces of the parts to be connected.

Abstract: A mechanical mounting is disclosed to mount thin stone slabs as the facade of buildings in which a bolt hole and a pin hole are drilled into the rear surface of the slab to intersect and with the pin hole to pass through the bolt hole and end in the slab therepast. A pin in the pin hole extends through a first bolt in the bolt hole with the pin coupled to the first bolt and extending in the pin hole into the slab on either side of the bolt hole. The pin extends rearwardly out of the slab to be coupled to a second bolt. The first and second bolt members are coupled to a support frame and form with the pin a rigid truss to assist in bearing the weight of the slab without deformation of the first bolt.

Abstract: A support spike securely held by and extending from a wooden object. The spike is oriented parallel to the grain of the wooden object and has an elongated shaft. A hollow longitudinal opening is formed in the point end of the spike. The spike is driven into the wooden object to an extent that the hollow opening extends past the point of entry of the spike so that the wood in the hollow opening is compressed securely holding the spike in place. The spike is particularly useful when driven into the base of a Christmas tree in order to provide a means for holding the tree in an upright position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a retention pin for fixing a support plate or other prosthesis on bone tissue. The pin is made of a material which is bio-compatible with human tissue and comprises two half-pins each having a half-head for bearing against the prosthesis and a retention shank projecting therefrom, with the outline of each shank being semi-cylindrical and with the two half-pins being generally symmetrical to each other about a radial separation plane passing at least partially along the axis of the pin and extending at least as far as the inside faces of the half-heads from which the respective retention shanks project.

Abstract: A method for treating a nail in order to increase the withdrawal load required to withdraw the nail from a piece of timber into which it has been driven. In accordance with the invention the nail is coated with a suspension containing a chelating agent so selected that, upon contact with lignin present in the timber the nail is bonded to the lignin via a chelate bond. The chelating agent comprises a modified polysaccharide in aqueous solution and is provided with a protective colloid to which the chelating agent has a lower affinity than to the lignin present in the timber. The suspension also includes a suspended polymeric thermoplastic resin to which the chelating agent has a lower affinity than to the protective colloid.

Abstract: A fastening device for insertion into a hole in a support member has an axially straight shank having a width substantially in the range of 85-95% of the hole diameter, and an axially straight barb connected with the shank through a minor radius, such that the barb and shank can move into closely adjacent parallelism with each other when the fastener is inserted into a hole and the barb is in a flexed and stressed condition, the barb having a length in the range of 90-140% of the hole diameter, and, in its unstressed condition, subtending an acute angle of 30.degree.-45.degree. with respect to the shank.