A self-sealing fastener for reducing leaks between the self-sealing fastener and a substrate. The self-sealing fastener includes a shank that extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The shank has an outer surface. The self-sealing fastener also includes a head that extends radially outwardly from the first end of the shank. The head has an underside surface that is adjacent to the first end of the shank and a topside surface opposite the underside surface. A mastic sealant is disposed on at least one of the outer surface of the shank and the underside surface of the head to provide a water-tight seal between the self-sealing fastener and the substrate after the self-sealing fastener is installed in the substrate.

A self-sealing fastener for reducing leaks between the self-sealing fastener and a substrate. The self-sealing fastener includes a shank that extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The shank has an outer surface. The self-sealing fastener also includes a head that extends radially outwardly from the first end of the shank. The head has an underside surface that is adjacent to the first end of the shank and a topside surface opposite the underside surface. A mastic sealant is disposed on at least one of the outer surface of the shank and the underside surface of the head to provide a water-tight seal between the self-sealing fastener and the substrate after the self-sealing fastener is installed in the substrate.

An improved joint is provided for modular furniture. The joint includes a dowel and slot. The dowel is held in the slot tightly to provide stiffness to the joint. The dowel may include a flanged head which is bent elastically by the slot when the dowel is fully inserted into the slot. The head of the dowel may be maintained in a bent configuration when the joint is in assembled configuration.

An impact device includes a drive assembly, a cam having a ramp and a fall-off, and a follower associated with the cam. During rotation of the cam, one of the cam or the follower axially displaces as the follower traverses the cam and falls off the fall-off to transform the rotary motion of the drive assembly to a reciprocating motion having a saw-tooth shape that includes a gradual retraction and a quick extension. The quick extension creates an impact loading, which can be used, for example, for driving a fastener into a work piece.

A fence or fencing system with engineered-wood fence pickets installed or mounted on metallic rails by special wood-to-metal pins or fasteners. The wood-to-metal pins or fasteners are driven linearly through the pickets and the rails to secure the pickets to the rails. The engineered wood pickets may be treated. The fence rails may be made of any suitable metallic material, such as, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, or similar metals. The rails generally extend horizontally between posts which are installed into the ground. The posts may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, similar metals, wood, composites, or combinations thereof.

A fence or fencing system with engineered-wood fence pickets installed or mounted on metallic rails by special wood-to-metal pins or fasteners. The wood-to-metal pins or fasteners are driven linearly through the pickets and the rails to secure the pickets to the rails. The engineered wood pickets may be treated. The fence rails may be made of any suitable metallic material, such as, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, or similar metals. The rails generally extend horizontally between posts which are installed into the ground. The posts may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, similar metals, wood, composites, or combinations thereof.

A construction nailing screw is configured to be used in like manner as traditional nails but rotate during driving through threading, providing retention of the construction nailing screw in the construction material(s), and the ability to be removed from the construction material(s) by reverse rotation. The construction nailing screw is characterized by a shank with a head on one longitudinal end, and a tip on another longitudinal end, with external threading that provides minimal friction during installation and mild resistance during removal, and two cutouts extending along the exterior of the shank and through the external threading. The head allows both a manual installation tool and an automatic installation tool to strike the head and drive (install) the nailing screw. The external threading has an upper side with a high pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank, and a lower side with a low pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank.

A construction nailing screw is configured to be used in like manner as traditional nails but rotate during driving through threading, providing retention of the construction nailing screw in the construction material(s), and the ability to be removed from the construction material(s) by reverse rotation. The construction nailing screw is characterized by a shank with a head on one longitudinal end, and a tip on another longitudinal end, with external threading that provides minimal friction during installation and mild resistance during removal, and two cutouts extending along the exterior of the shank and through the external threading. The head allows both a manual installation tool and an automatic installation tool to strike the head and drive (install) the nailing screw. The external threading has an upper side with a high pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank, and a lower side with a low pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank.

A grommet (200, 300, 400), a stud (102), an assembly of a grommet and a stud forming a fastener (100), and a method of assembling a grommet and a stud to form a fastener has the grommet with an interengaging element (250) in a channel wall of the grommet for engaging a cooperating, compatible or complementary interengaging element in a wall of the stud. The grommet and the stud can be assembled by moving the grommet and the stud relative to each other until the interengaging element in the grommet engages the complementary interengaging element in the stud. A family of grommets is described.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a nail with a head having an inwardly curved top surface. In one embodiment, the nail has a longitudinal axis and comprises a head, a shank, and a tip. The head includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes an inwardly curved top surface forming a partially spherical cavity, while the bottom portion includes a radially inwardly tapered annular bottom surface. The shank is integrally connected to and extends from the bottom portion of the head. The tip is integrally connected to and extends from the shank and terminates in a free end.