An adjusting and positioning device for wooden boards includes a first part and a second part. A cover unit is movably connected between the first and second parts. A driving unit is connected with the cover unit. An activation member is engaged with the toothed portions of two racks of the driving unit. A sleeve includes a shaft that movably extends through the sleeve. The shaft includes spiral teeth, and two arms are threadedly engaged with the spiral teeth. The arms are pivotably connected with two clamp members which are slidably connected to a base. When the first part and the second part are gripped by a user, and the cover unit is pressed, the shaft is moved to pivot the arms which drive the clamp members to move along the guide grooves of the base to control a distance between two adjacent boards by one hand.

An adjusting and positioning device for wooden boards includes a first part and a second part. A cover unit is movably connected between the first and second parts. A driving unit is connected with the cover unit. An activation member is engaged with the toothed portions of two racks of the driving unit. A sleeve includes a shaft that movably extends through the sleeve. The shaft includes spiral teeth, and two arms are threadedly engaged with the spiral teeth. The arms are pivotably connected with two clamp members which are slidably connected to a base. When the first part and the second part are gripped by a user, and the cover unit is pressed, the shaft is moved to pivot the arms which drive the clamp members to move along the guide grooves of the base to control a distance between two adjacent boards by one hand.

A handheld guide for advancing and installing a decking fastener with an elongate track with a rail and an advancement member. The advancement member carries a pivoting pawl with an engagement surface for advancing fasteners forward through the track to an installation position with a frontmost fastener aligned with a screw guide for driving a screw through the frontmost fastener. The rail has a ramp transitioning to a cliff and a lower ledge such that the frontmost fastener is maintained forward of the cliff above the ledge in the installation position. The pawl pivots to disengage from the fasteners when the advancement member moves rearwardly along the track.

A handheld guide for advancing and installing a decking fastener with an elongate track with a rail and an advancement member. The advancement member carries a pivoting pawl with an engagement surface for advancing fasteners forward through the track to an installation position with a frontmost fastener aligned with a screw guide for driving a screw through the frontmost fastener. The rail has a ramp transitioning to a cliff and a lower ledge such that the frontmost fastener is maintained forward of the cliff above the ledge in the installation position. The pawl pivots to disengage from the fasteners when the advancement member moves rearwardly along the track.

A captive fastener and method of use is disclosed wherein the screw is comprised of a head and shank, and where the shank includes a radial counter bore that retains a spring biased pin. The spring may bear against a plug in the counter bore or the shank inner wall, and biases the pin outward such that it extends outside of the shank in the absence of a compressive force. The captive screw is inserted through a top panel by tilting the screw at the opening of the panel such that the pin is pushed inward into the channel formed by the counter bore (against the force of the spring). Once the pin is recessed in the screw, the screw is passed through the panel opening until the shank emerges on the other side. Once the shank pushes through the panel, the pin will emerge under the biasing of the spring to extend outward of the shank in the radial direction. The pin thus prevents the screw from disengaging with the panel. A holdout fork is applied to the shank to anchor the screw at the retracted position, which keeps the screw up right against the surface of the panel.

A captive fastener is provided that holds a fastener in place prior to the fastener being driven into a surface. The captive fastener includes a ring-shaped base and at least one prong with a distal end. The captive fastener may include a ring-shaped fastener holder attached to the distal end of the at least one prong. The head of the fastener is secured to the distal end of the at least one prong or the ring-shaped fastener holder. As the fastener is driven into the surface, the at least one prong breaks away from the ring-shaped base. Alternatively the at least one prong bends as the fastener is driven into the surface.

A captive fastener is provided that holds a fastener in place prior to the fastener being driven into a surface. The captive fastener includes a ring-shaped base and at least one prong with a distal end. The captive fastener may include a ring-shaped fastener holder attached to the distal end of the at least one prong. The head of the fastener is secured to the distal end of the at least one prong or the ring-shaped fastener holder. As the fastener is driven into the surface, the at least one prong breaks away from the ring-shaped base. Alternatively the at least one prong bends as the fastener is driven into the surface.

An installation guide for installing a screw at a predetermined angle relative to a reference plane is disclosed. The installation guide includes a housing configured for releasable connection to a bit. The housing includes a channel being sized and shaped to receive the bit therein for retaining the housing on the bit. The channel allows the bit to rotate relative to the housing. An indicator is supported by the housing and is configured for movement relative to the housing to indicate an angle of the housing relative to a reference plane.

An installation guide for installing a screw at a predetermined angle relative to a reference plane is disclosed. The installation guide includes a housing configured for releasable connection to a bit. The housing includes a channel being sized and shaped to receive the bit therein for retaining the housing on the bit. The channel allows the bit to rotate relative to the housing. An indicator is supported by the housing and is configured for movement relative to the housing to indicate an angle of the housing relative to a reference plane.

Installation tools and methods for installing a sprinkler within an opening or through hole in a wall or ceiling of an area to be protected. The tools include a reference surface and a gauge to be contacted by a sprinkler frame. The reference surface locates the gauge to define an operative position for the sprinkler frame and its operational components within a through hole of a wall.