A railroad crosstie (tie) may be fabricated from a composite material including a fiber reinforced polymer shell manufactured by pultrusion or other process, and filled by a suitable material, typically selected from expanded elastomeric polymer (such as polyurethane resin or other polymer), concrete, lightweight concrete formed by conventional aggregate, sand, cement, water, and an ultra light filler such as natural materials, sawdust, beads of expanded polymer such as expanded polystyrene, microspheres of glass or plastic, a recycled wooden tie in conjunction with any of the above, or the like. Fasteners may be driven such as spikes, threaded, such as screws, lag screws, spreading screws, rivets, or the like into apertures, pilot holes, or directly into fill absent apertures therein.

A cladding system for a building structure. The system includes a multilayered panel and at least one fastener including a base portion securable to the frame, and a barbed portion projecting from the base portion for penetrating at least a rear face and backing layer of a section of the panel. The barbed portion includes a cental planar member with barbs extending laterally to each side of the central planar member and is sized such that the front face of the panel is not penetrated by the fastener when the panel is secured to the wall frame.

A cladding system for a building structure. The system includes a multilayered panel and at least one fastener including a base portion securable to the frame, and a barbed portion projecting from the base portion for penetrating at least a rear face and backing layer of a section of the panel. The barbed portion includes a cental planar member with barbs extending laterally to each side of the central planar member and is sized such that the front face of the panel is not penetrated by the fastener when the panel is secured to the wall frame.

A fastener comprises a shank having a first end having a point and a second end having a head. The shank includes a first region beginning at the first end and having a cylindrical cross-section with a first diameter along at least a portion of the first region; and a second region extending from the first region to the head and having a cross section with a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The first region may include a distortion adjacent the tip encompassing at least a portion of a surface of the first region, the distortion having a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than or equal to the second diameter.

A fastener comprises a shank having a first end having a point and a second end having a head. The shank includes a first region beginning at the first end and having a cylindrical cross-section with a first diameter along at least a portion of the first region; and a second region extending from the first region to the head and having a cross section with a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The first region may include a distortion adjacent the tip encompassing at least a portion of a surface of the first region, the distortion having a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than or equal to the second diameter.

A fastening element is provided, comprising a shank, which defines a driving-in direction, the shank having a front end, facing in the driving-in direction, and a rear end, facing counter to the driving-in direction, the shank having a periphery having a profile ridge that is inclined in relation to the driving-in direction at an acute angle. According to one aspect, the profile ridge has a front flank, facing in the fastening direction, and a rear flank, facing counter to the fastening direction, the front flank having a greater area content than the rear flank. According to a further aspect, the fastening element has a tip region, which has a convex portion.

A piece of furniture includes a rectangular frame for supporting a plurality of sinuous springs. A plurality of clip assemblies are secured to opposed side walls of frame. Each clip assembly comprises at least two metal fasteners, each having a generally planar head and a shank for insertion into the frame. The generally planar head of each metal fastener is encased by plastic of a non-metallic piece. The non-metallic piece has a hook to secure one end of a sinuous wire. Connectors may be formed with the plastic or non-metallic pieces to join multiple clip assemblies.

A piece of furniture includes a rectangular frame for supporting a plurality of sinuous springs. A plurality of clip assemblies are secured to opposed side walls of frame. Each clip assembly comprises at least two metal fasteners, each having a generally planar head and a shank for insertion into the frame. The generally planar head of each metal fastener is encased by plastic of a non-metallic piece. The non-metallic piece has a hook to secure one end of a sinuous wire. Connectors may be formed with the plastic or non-metallic pieces to join multiple clip assemblies.

An integral nail/disk structure that eliminates the need of having any exposed nails associated with a shingled roof having a color matching body member integrally formed with a roofing nail. Another embodiment including a fastener such as a nail or screw having an enlarged head and an associated gasket member for fastening sheet metal to a roof structure. The gasket member has a sealant on both of its top and bottom surfaces so as to adhere both to the underside of the enlarged head portion of the nail or screw, and to the sheet metal to create a waterproof seal. Still another embodiment includes an enlarged cap member associated with a gasket member attached to its underside portion wherein the cap/gasket member can be attached over a fastener hole in a roof, or over a faulty roofing nail or screw in lieu of caulking techniques usually used to cure leaks where the faulty fastener attaches sheet metal to a roofing structure.

A railroad crosstie (tie) may be fabricated from a composite material including a fiber reinforced polymer shell manufactured by pultrusion or other process, and filled by a suitable material, typically selected from expanded elastomeric polymer (such as polyurethane resin or other polymer), concrete, lightweight concrete formed by conventional aggregate, sand, cement, water, and an ultra light filler such as natural materials, sawdust, beads of expanded polymer such as expanded polystyrene, microspheres of glass or plastic, a recycled wooden tie in conjunction with any of the above, or the like. Fasteners may be driven such as spikes, threaded, such as screws, lag screws, spreading screws, rivets, or the like into apertures, pilot holes, or directly into fill absent apertures therein.