Abstract: A stake for securing stones, pavers, bricks and other landscape units comprises an elongate body having an upper end including an anvil surface and an abutment, a chisel shaped lower end, a front face, and a rear face that is inclined rearwardly relative to the front face of the body from the lower end of the body to the upper end of the body to form a wedge. When the stake is aligned with a stone and is driven into the ground, it pivots underneath the stone, and the abutment engages a lower edge of the stone to restrain shifting of the stone laterally and sinking of the stone vertically.

Abstract: A rivet capable of self-piercing at least one sheet of material and becoming embedded in one of such sheets, generally consisting of a head section and a shank section formed integrally with the head section, wherein the head section includes an upwardly and outwardly curved side wall surface extending from the shank section to an upper portion of the head section, and the shank section includes a recess in a lower end thereof, with the lower end of the shank section having a peripheral cutting edge sufficient to penetrate such material.

Abstract: An insulated wall includes first and second spaced apart layers of concrete having a layer of insulating material sandwiched therebetween. Extending through the insulative layer are a plurality of spike connectors having their opposite ends protruding into the two concrete layers and having their central portions extending through the insulating material. On of the opposite ends of the spike connectors is pointed so as to permit it to be punched through the insulative layer. The opposite ends of the spikes each include a holding surface facing at least partially toward the central insulative layer and holding the concrete layers against movement away from the insulative layer. C-shaped connectors may also be used in a similar fashion with hook ends hooked over elongated cables extending within the two concrete layers so as to tie them together.

Abstract: An obliquely collated strip of brads useable in an angled magazine of a fastener driving tool, each brad having a head on one end and a point on an opposite end, the point of each brad of the collated strip of brads having a tip defined by converging first, second and third facets so as to form an edge at an acute angle relative to an axis of the brad, the edge of each brad forming a substantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads, the head of each brad of the collated strip of brads arranged step-wise relative to the head of an adjacent brad, the step-wise arrangement of heads forming a stepped edge substantially parallel to the substantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads, the head of each brad of the collated strip of brads being disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the brad, the angle of the head sloping oppositely relative to the angle of the substantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads.

Abstract: A V-nail fastener has a leading edge that is partially formed with asymmetric sharpening, limited substantially to the central sections. Flange elements extend generally perpendicularly to the panel elements of which the central (V-shaped) portion is constructed and cooperate therewith to give the fastener a W-shaped overall profile. The lateral sections of the leading edge, which extend along the flange elements, are substantially devoid of sharpening, or are otherwise so formed as to permit the directional influence of the asymmetric sharpening to occur substantially undiminished.

Abstract: A nail having an elongate shank, a head at one end of the shank and a tip portion at the other end. A lateral step is formed in the shank at a location spaced from both the head and the tip so as to divide the shank into a relatively small diameter penetrating portion which is adjacent the tip, and a relatively large diameter gripping portion which is adjacent the head. Any of a variety of gripping features, such as ribs or teeth, could be provided on the gripping portion to assist its grip within a member to which the nail is to be secured.

Abstract: A wire nail having a shank, a head formed on one end of the shank, and a point formed on the other end. The point has a penetrating portion, a wedging portion, and a transitional portion. The wedging portion defines four straight edges, each being inclined at an acute angle relative to an axis defined by the shank. The transitional portion defines four straight edges, each meeting a different one of said edges defined by the wedging portion, and each being inclined at a lesser angle relative to the same axis. The wedging portion has a plurality of convex surfaces, each conforming generally to a section of a circular cylinder. The transitional portion has a plurality of convex surfaces, each conforming generally to a section of a circular cylinder. A cutting tip is formed as a thin rib extended across the penetrating portion. A pair of thin cutting ribs extended from the cutting tip are formed along the wedging and transitional portions.

Abstract: A plastic resin hole plug to fill a hole in a flat thin panel comprises a one-piece unitary injection-molded plastic member having a top closure wall whose bottom surface has a flat edge which rests on the panel. In one embodiment the plug has a cruciform shank portion which extends from the top closure wall portion, the shank portion having a plurality of ribs which retain the plug in the hole. In another embodiment the shank has an elongated hollow cavity and a flat-sided chisel-like point.

Abstract: An improved binder for sheet material. The binder includes a cover or backing member formed of paperboard or plastic, and a pair of hinge assemblies are attached to the inner surface of the cover. A standard binding mechanism is interconnected between the hinge assemblies and serves to retain the sheet material. Each hinge assembly includes a metal hinge plate that is secured flatwise to the cover by a plurality of stamped out prongs. Each prong is generally triangular in configuration and is provided with a curved pointed tip. The prongs have a length substantially greater than the thickness of the backing member and when embedded by pressure, the configuration of the prongs causes the prongs to curl within the cover, so that the prongs are completely embedded in the cover and not exposed on the outer surface of the cover.

Abstract: The end of the nail guide and deflector tube of an anchor nail fastener is flattened to form a chisel point. The chisel point is oriented with respect to the nail exit side aperture of the tube to provide the most effective relationship between the laterally projecting anchor nail and the hole in the workpiece made by the tube.