A fastener sleeve is described, including a collating sleeve body and a plurality of cylindrical sheaths in the collating sleeve body, each cylindrical sheath engageable with a fastener. A sheathing panel is also described, including at least one barrier overlay secured to a panel, a plurality of fasteners engaged in the barrier overlay and the panel, a plurality of sealing cylindrical sheaths surrounding a portion of each fastener and positioned between the fastener and the barrier overlay, such that the sheathing panel has at least one of the following properties: a water vapor transmission rate of at least 7.0 grams/m.sup.2/24 hours at 73° F. and 50% relative humidity (RH), a water vapor permeance of at least 1.3 perms at 73° F. and 50% RH, or an air infiltration rate of less than 0.2 L/s-m.sup.2 at 75 pascals. A method of engaging the fasteners with the panel is also provided.

A nail plate driving system for safely and efficiently installing nail plates at various heights. A first handle having an engaging head removably receives a second handle having a magnet. The magnet of the second handle is configured to magnetically secure a metal nail plate to allow a user to position the nail plate in a desired location on a wood member to be striked by the engaging head of the first handle. After the nail plate is secured to the wood member the magnet is removed from the nail plate and the process is repeated with the next nail plate. When not in use, the second handle may be secured within the first handle.

A concrete nailer has a cutout defined by a magazine. The cutout is disposed proximate the drive track of the concrete nailer and provides the concrete nailer with sufficient reach to perpendicularly nail a complete range of U-shaped channels or track available to the job site against concrete, even though the magazine accommodates both long and short nails. The concrete nailer has the added ability to nail thick boards like 2×4's to concrete.

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 fastener driver apparatus suitable for guiding and driving electrical staples into timber or on any other suitable mounting surface is presented. The fastener driver contains a driver body, a driver rod, and a fastener guide. The driver body contains a first driver channel and a mounting end. The mounting end is positioned adjacent to the driver body. The first driver channel traverses through the driver body and the mounting end. The driver rod is slidably connected to the driver body. The fastener guide is connected adjacent to the mounting end.

The present invention includes devices and methods that assist in hanging pictures or other things in a desired position on a wall or other similar surface where it is desired to insert two or more mounting nails. Embodiments of the invention include a pair of punch assemblies for inserting the nails provided on a pair of parallel stabilizing bars, although other embodiments may include more than two punch assemblies. Preferred embodiments also include a measuring strip (ruler) between the punch assemblies, and a slidable level and/or a laser. The unique nail insertion mechanism includes a sleeve for receiving a finishing nail, a magnet for holding the nail in place, and a coil spring for maintaining the handle in striking position. After positioning the device on a wall, applying force to each handle collapses the spring and causes a nail to be driven into the wall.

An alignment head for an automatic fastener feed installation tool employs a platform with spring biased retractable pins and a central opening. The retractable pins are spaced to protrude downwardly and engage opposing sides of a support joist. The central opening receives the fastener which is automatically positioned for driving at an entry position into a deck board overlying the joist. The fastener is drivable into the joist at a medial position of the joist and a pre-established position from the edge of a deckboard. The pins also define the spacing of the adjacent deck board. In one embodiment, the alignment head is employed for securing the deck boards at a consistent 45° angle to the joist.

The present invention relates generally to the field of staples. More specifically, the present invention relates to a staple holding device. The device is comprised of a body that has a first end, a second end and a removable handle. In the preferred embodiment, the body is generally rectangular in shape such that it can be easily gripped by a user. The body is further comprised of at least one cutout, wherein the cutout has a channel that receives the body of a staple. The staple is further secured within the channel such that the body and/or the handle can be struck by a hammer in order to allow the staple to be secured within a surface at a specific depth.

An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to a positioner for holding one or more fasteners (e.g. screws and/or nails) which allows a user to push the fasteners out directly into a target material. For example, a user may locate the positioner over a location on the target material and/or drive the fastener through the positioner into the target. In some embodiments, the positioner includes multiple fasteners, for example the positioner may be used as a magazine of fasteners and/or a storage box for fasteners. Optionally, the positioner includes a hard frame and/or a soft passage holding the fastener. For example, a fastener is inserted into the top of the passage and driven (e.g. pushed, hammered and/or screwed) through, out the bottom of the passage into the target. Optionally, multiple positioners may be arranged along a guide.

The staple holding devices of the present application may comprise a body defining a first axis A-A, a second axis B-B and a third axis C-C along the length of the body between a first end and a second end. The body may comprise a plurality of staple channels defined through the body in the first axis A-A, the second axis B-B, and the third axis C-C. The body can also include a through hole at the first end. Each of the plurality of staple channels can include a wire guide groove. Each of the wire guide grooves may be defined in the bottom of the body. The first width of the wire guide groove can be less than a second width of the staple channel.