Abstract:
A two-way fastener includes a first member threaded for being screwed into a first workpiece; a polygonal wall for receiving a tool to screw the first member into the first workpiece, the polygonal wall located at a base end of the first member; and a second member extending in an opposite fastening direction from the first member, the second member configured to be fastened to a second workpiece. A fastening method includes enabling the threading of a first member of a fastener into a first workpiece; and enabling the threading of a second workpiece to a second member extending outwardly from the first member and the first workpiece.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/822,780, entitled “Two-Way Fastener”, filed Jun. 24, 2010, which in turn claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent Application No. 61/220,395, entitled “Two-Way Fastener”, filed Jun. 25, 2009, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference and relied upon. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to fasteners. 
     A leg in the table of my living room came loose. The leg at its center had a bore. An internally threaded collar had been press-fitted into the bore. The bore size had been widened such that the collar no longer press-fit into the bore. Attempts to recreate a press-fit were unfruitful, including wrapping the collar with tape and attempting to press the tape-expanded collar into the bore. Attempts to glue the collar into the bore were likewise unsuccessful. Attempts to glue the leg directly to the table were likewise unsuccessful. In each case, the leg continued to wobble. A different type of mechanical fastener was needed. 
     I was reluctant to bolt the leg from outside the leg to the table top because the screw or nail heads would be viewable on a fairly nice piece of furniture in a fairly nice room of the house. I attempted to find a double-ended fastener that would allow the leg to be re-bolted to the table without being viewable once the leg had been reattached but could find none. 
     In the end, I re-bolted the leg from the outside, choosing stability over aesthetics. The repair process however led me to conceive of the two-way fastener discussed below. 
     A patent search revealed U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,668, entitled Double-Ended Fastener. This patent however has the drawback of requiring a separate installation tool 110, 210, 310, 403 and 405 for each of its embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A and 4B, respectively (see also Claim 1). The drawbacks of a separate, specialized installation tool should be obvious to those of skill in the art. If the tool is lost, broken or forgotten, the fasteners are rendered useless until a new tool is obtained. 
     A need accordingly exists for an improved two-way fastener. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure sets forth improved two-way fasteners. The fasteners allow for a first workpiece to be fixed mechanically to a second workpiece, after which the fasteners are hidden from view by the workpieces. The fasteners are ideal for furniture building, for example, because they offer a strong but aesthetically pleasing connection of two workpieces. 
     Each of the embodiments illustrated below shows a two-way fastener that is secured to a first workpiece using a standard hardware utensil, such as pair of pliers, a screwdriver, a nut driver or a socket. The second workpiece is then bolted to the first workpiece, for example by driving or translating the second workpiece onto a nail section of the fastener, which extends outward from the first workpiece. In the broken table leg example illustrated in the BACKGROUND, the two-way fastener can be screwed into a bottom of the table top using for example a standard pair of pliers or a screwdriver, leaving a nail member of the fastener extending out from the bottom surface of the tabletop. Next, the table leg is driven onto the nail member of the fastener, reattaching the leg to the table top and at the same time hiding the two-way fastener from view. In an alternative fastener shown below, the secondary fastener extending from the bottom of the table top is a threaded fastener onto which the table leg is threaded to yield the hidden connection. 
     In one embodiment, therefore, the fastener includes a screw member and a nail member. The screw member can be in the form similar to a flathead screw, such that the screw portion threaded into the workpiece becomes flush with the insertion surface of the workpiece. The nail member can have a same central axis as the screw member and extend in an opposite direction as the screw member. The nail member can be in the form of a standard nail having a cylindrical extension terminating in a pointed tip. The nail member alternatively (i) is flattened and/or (ii) has one or more saw-tooth edge that aids in preventing the workpieces from being pulled apart axially. 
     The base of the nail member of the fastener includes a flattened area that is configured to receive a head of a standard pair of pliers. A user applies the pliers to the flattened area to grasp and turn the two-way fastener. The user presses the pliers axially against the top of the flathead of the screw member to drive the fastener into the workpiece as the user turns the pliers. In this manner, the fastener is threaded into the workpiece. The workpiece can be of a softer material, such as wood, such that the driving force required by the user is reasonably small. A suitable pilot hole can be drilled if necessary. 
     In a second embodiment, the top of the flathead of the screw portion is expanded, such that one or more nail member can be located off-center from the screw member. That is, the one or more nail member has a central axis that is not coextensive with, but perhaps parallel to, a central axis of the screw portion of the two-way fastener. The nail member can again be straight-shafted, saw-toothed or serrated as desired. The top surface of the flathead of the screw member defines a female recess configured to receive the tip of a screwdriver, such as a Phillips head or slotted head screwdriver. The user inserts the head of a screwdriver into the recess, e.g., between two or more nail members, and screws the threaded portion of the two-way fastener into the workpiece. The user then drives a second workpiece onto the one or more nail member to secure the two workpieces together mechanically. 
     In a further alternative embodiment, the two-way fastener is a two-way screw, which may be desirable for certain applications. One end has a first flathead screw member as described above. The head of the flathead end of the first screw member has a raised hexagon ridge sized to receive a standard hex head socket or nutdriver. The hexagon ridge is raised in a same direction as is a second screw member that extends from the center of the hex head, in an opposite direction as the first screw member. Each of the six sides of the raised hexagon ridge is formed having a saw-tooth shape. The teeth are oriented so as to cut into a second workpiece as the second workpiece is nearing the first workpiece when it is threaded onto the second screw member, which occurs after the first screw member is screwed into the first workpiece. 
     The head of the flathead end of the first screw member extends past (has a larger diameter than) the raised hexagon ridge, so that the user can press the socket or nutdriver against the outer edge of the top surface of the flathead, as the user turns the socket or nutdriver against the raised hexagon ridge, to drive the first screw member into the first workpiece. The second screw member has a length and thickness sized to fit inside of the socket or nutdriver head. The saw-teeth sides of the ridge can be configured to bend as they cut into the second workpiece, e.g., as it is threaded in a clockwise direction onto the second screw member and the first workpiece, so as to create a locked-fit with the second workpiece. Or, the saw-teeth sides can be configured to create gouges in the second workpiece as the second workpiece is rotated onto the second screw member. 
     In a different version of this third embodiment, the angled flathead portion of the first workpiece is replaced with a second set of saw-teeth that also bend (or create gouges in the wood) as the first screw member is threaded into the first workpiece, so as to create a locked-fit between the first screw member and the first workpiece. 
     In a forth embodiment, a blade extends from a self-threading screw. In an embodiment, the blade extends around at least part of the head of the screw so as to expose the screw&#39;s slots to allow for turning the screw into a first workpiece using a standard screwdriver. The blade comes to a point for piercing into and connecting the second workpiece to the first workpiece. The blade can have a generally triangular shape that is rolled or formed to have a diameter matching that of the head of the screw. That is, the base of the triangle is arched to have a diameter matching that of the head of the screw. The opposing tip of the triangle is sharpened for piercing the second workpiece. The rounded blade provides a secondary advantage in that it helps to stabilize the fastener on the screwdriver while transporting the fastener to the first workpiece. 
     In one implementation, the entire base of the triangle is connected to the head of the screw. This configuration provides a robust blade that will resist bending as it pierces into the second workpiece. It is contemplated for this and other implementations to cut or form tabs in the blade for creating stress against the second workpiece when inserted into same to help hold or lock the second workpiece to the blades and fastener and thus help lock the first and second workpieces together. 
     In another implementation, only a portion, e.g., central portion, of the base is connected (e.g., formed with or welded to) to head of the screw, leaving ears or tabs of the blade extending free from the connected portion of the base. The ears or tabs, it is thought, will tend to flex or bend as the blade portion of the fastener is inserted into the second workpiece, which will tend to create stress on the ears or tabs, which will in turn impart stress onto the second workpiece when inserted into same to help hold or lock the second workpiece to the blades and fastener and thus help lock the first and second workpieces together. 
     It is accordingly an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an improved two-way fastener. 
     It is another advantage of the present disclosure to provide a mechanical fastener that can mechanically link two workpieces and be hidden by the workpieces. 
     It is a further advantage of the present disclosure to provide a fastener having a first member that is screwed into a first workpiece, and which allows a second workpiece to be translated onto a second member of the fastener. 
     It is still a further advantage of the present disclosure to provide a fastener having a first member that is screwed into a first workpiece, and which allows a second workpiece to be screwed onto a second member of the fastener. 
     It is yet another advantage of the present disclosure to provide a fastener having flanged edges that bend to lock the fastener into a workpiece or create gouges in the workpiece to form a tensioned fit. 
     Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a two-way fastener that tends to be self-locking. 
     Still a further advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a two-way fastener that tends hold itself onto the associated tool for transportation of the fastener to the workpiece for connection. 
     Further still, it is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a two-way fastener that is fixable to a workpiece via a conventional tool, such as a screwdriver, pliers, nutdriver, socket or hammer. 
     Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are elevation and top views, respectively, of one embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having a screw member and a nail member for operation with a standard pair of pliers or vice grip tool and hammer. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are elevation and top views, respectively, of a second embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having a screw member and a nail member for operation with a standard pair of pliers or vice grip tool and hammer. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are elevation and top views, respectively, of a third embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having a screw member and a nail member, having at least one nail, for operation with a standard flathead screwdriver and hammer. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are elevation and top views, respectively, of a fourth embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having a screw member and a nail member, having at least one nail, for operation with a standard Phillips head screwdriver and hammer. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are elevation and top views, respectively, of a fifth embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having dual screw members for operation with a standard nutdriver or socket. 
         FIGS. 6A to 6L  are top, front and side elevation and views of a sixth embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure having a screw member for operation with a standard screwdriver and a nail member or blade. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative cylindrical saw-toothed nail that may be used with the two-way fasteners of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative cylindrical nail having a standoff for securely separating the attached workpieces by a desired distance or gap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , fastener  10  illustrates one embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure. Fastener  10  (as well as any of the fasteners described herein) is made of a suitable material, such as steel, stainless steel, a galvanized metal, copper, bronze, aluminum and alloys thereof. Fastener  10  (as well as any of the fasteners described herein) can be cast, machined, or made via powdered metal as desired. For softer workpieces, it is contemplated to mold fastener  10  (and others) into a plastic piece. 
     Fastener  10  connects first workpiece (e.g., wood)  12  to second workpiece (e.g., wood)  14 , such that workpieces  12  and  14  can be mounted flush against each other. If desired, upper nail member  16  can be provided with, e.g., gusseted, tabs (not illustrated) extending ninety degrees from one or more of the flat surfaces of nail member  16  (into and/or out of the page), and having an upper surface that is spaced from a top surface  22  of flathead portion  20  of screw member  18  a desired distance, e.g., 0.5 inch (12.7 mm), so as to (i) connect workpieces  12  and  14  together and (ii) space workpieces  12  and  14  apart the desired distance or gap.  FIG. 8  shows a cylindrical nail  70  having cylindrical standoff  76  for performing the same function. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, nail member  16  has a same central axis as screw member  18  and extends in an opposite direction from surface  22  than does screw member  18 . As illustrated below, nail member  16  (or multiple nail members) can be offset from the central axis of screw member  18 . 
     In one embodiment, screw member  18  of fastener  10  is screwed or threaded first into workpiece  14 , after which (i) workpiece  12  is hammered onto nail member  16  or (ii) workpiece  14 , with nail member  16  extending from it, is hammered onto workpiece  12 . Screw member  18  is in one preferred embodiment self-threading. 
     Nail member  16  includes an upper spike portion  16   a  and a lower flange portion  16   b . The outer edges of spike portion  16   a  and lower flange portion  16   b  can be chamfered as illustrated to provide a sharp edge to nail member  16  if desired to help nail member  16  to pierce and extend into workpiece  12 . It is contemplated to use a standard pair of pliers or vice-grip tool to grab lower flange portion  16   b , and with a tip of the tool pressed against surface  22 , turn and drive tapered threaded (self-threading) portion  24  into workpiece  14 . Nail member  16 , and in particular lower flange portion  16   b , has a thickness sufficient to withstand the torque imparted by the user&#39;s tool. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , fastener  30  illustrates a second embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure. Fastener  30  includes many of the same components and features as fastener  10  and like components are numbered the same. Here, though, nail member  16  of fastener  10  is replaced with alternative nail member  36 . Alternative nail member  36  does not have a separate flange portion like nail member  16 . Instead, the saw-tooth edges  32  of nail member  36  (which can also be chamfered to form sharper edges as illustrated) extend all the way to surface  22 . The saw-tooth edges  32  of nail member  36  help to lock workpiece  12  onto nail member  36  and thus fastener  30 , securing workpieces  12  and  14  together. Nail member  36  has a thickness sufficient to withstand the torque imparted by the user&#39;s tool. 
     Also, screw member  38  is modified so as not to have flathead portion  20 , such that the tapered threaded portion  34  extends all the way to surface  22 . Alternative screw member  38  could be used with fastener  10  instead of screw member  18 . Alternative nail member  36  could be used with fastener  10  instead of nail member  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , fastener  40   a  sets forth a third embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure. Fastener  40   a  includes many of the same components and features as the above fasteners, and like components are numbered the same. Here, though, the nail member includes two nails  42   a  and  42   b , which are positioned equidistant from and about a flathead screw slot  44 . The user inserts the head of a standard flathead screwdriver into slot  44  to turn and drive tapered threaded portion  24  of screw member  18  into workpiece  14 , after which (i) workpiece  12  is hammered onto nails  42   a  and  42   b  or (ii) workpiece  14 , with nails  42   a  and  42   b  extending from it, is hammered onto workpiece  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , fastener  40   b  sets forth a fourth embodiment of a two-way fastener of the present disclosure. Here, the nail member includes four nails  42   a  to  42   d , which are positioned equidistant from and about a Phillips head screw slot  46 . The user inserts the head of a standard Phillips head screwdriver into slot  46  to turn and drive tapered threaded portion  24  of screw member  18  into workpiece  14 , after which (i) workpiece  12  is hammered onto nails  42   a  to  42   d  or (ii) workpiece  14 , with nails  42   a  to  42   d  extending from it, is hammered onto workpiece  12 . 
     Fastener  40   b  can have less than four nails. Nails  42   a  and  42   b  of fastener  40   a  and nails  42   a  to  42   d  of fastener  40   b  are alternatively flat and/or have saw-teeth taught above. Nails  42   a  and  42   b  of fastener  40   a  and nails  42   a  to  42   d  of fastener  40   b  are alternatively cylindrical spikes. Fasteners  40   a  and  40   b  can further alternatively employ screw member  38  of fastener  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , fastener  50  illustrates a dual screw member arrangement for operation with a standard nutdriver or socket. Fastener  50  includes many of the same components and features as the above fasteners, and like components are numbered the same. Fastener  50  is shown with lower screw member  18  but could use lower screw member  38  of fastener  30  alternatively. 
     Fastener  50  includes an upper screw member  52  (e.g., self-threading) for threading into upper workpiece  12 . Also, fastener  50  provides triangular walls  56  that collectively form a hexagon that is sized to receive a standard English or metric nutdriver or socket. Upper screw member  52  is sized to fit inside the head of the nutdriver or socket as the nutdriver or socket is fitted over triangular walls  56  and pressed against the outer ring of surface  22  to allow the user to drive and screw fastener  50  into lower workpiece  14 . 
     As illustrated, triangular walls  56  are provided as a series of saw-teeth, each wall  56  having an angular edge  58   a  and a vertical edge  58   b . In the illustrated embodiment, in which upper screw member  52  is a right-handed screw, angular edge  58   a  is positioned with respect to a vertical edge  58   b  such that angular cutting edge  58   a  contacts the lower surface of upper workpiece  12  as the upper workpiece is threaded down onto screw member  52 . Cutting edges  58   a  cut into the lower surface of upper workpiece  12  as the workpiece is threaded the final distance towards surface  22  of flathead portion  20 . Triangular walls  56  will attempt to maintain their hexagon forming structure as workpiece  12  is rotated in a circular manner onto hexagon forming walls  56 . The result is (i) a bending of walls  56 ; (ii) an irregular gouge formed in workpiece  12 ; and (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). It is contemplated that regardless of which result occurs, the slicing of walls  56  into workpiece  12  will form a self-locking connection of workpiece  12  to workpiece  14 . 
     The edges (one or both of edges  58   a  and  58   b ) of walls  56  may be chamfered as shown above in  FIGS. 1A and 2A  to provide sharp cutting edges that may tend to form the irregular gouge in workpiece  12  discussed at (ii) above. Or, walls  56  may be formed taller and thinner so that they are more likely to bend as discussed at (i) above. It is contemplated to orient walls  56  oppositely, so that workpiece  12  threads first into vertical edge  58   b  as opposed to angled edge  58   a . Still further alternatively, both edges  58   a  and  58   b  can be angled so as to meet at an apex located for example at the center of wall  56 . 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, upper threaded member  52  is replaced via any of the nail portions or nails described herein. Here, upper workpiece  12  is translated or hammered onto walls  56  as opposed to being threaded onto the walls. Again, the edges of walls  56  may be chamfered and have any of the shapes and orientations described above. 
     In still another alternative embodiment, flathead portion  20  of the upper screw member  52  is replaced with a second set of downward facing saw-teeth that also bend (or create gouges in the wood) as the screw member  18  is threaded into workpiece  14 , so as to create a locked-fit between the screw member  18  and first workpiece  14 . 
     In yet a further alternative embodiment (not illustrated), screw member  38  having threaded portion  34  is used ( FIG. 2A ), and surface  22  is extended radially outwardly past the top of threaded portion  34 . Here, a second set of walls  56  are provided at the edge of surface  22  to form a polygon, like above, or to form a circler shape, and in either case extend downward from surface  22 . The downward facing walls  56 : (i) bend, (ii) gouge or (i and ii) both to lock into workpiece  14  in a manner described above. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A to 6L , fasteners  100   a  to  100   d  illustrate multiple examples of a screw-to-translate embodiment of the two-way fastener of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 6A to 6C  show top, front and side elevation views, respectively, of fastener  100   a .  FIGS. 6D to 6F  show top, front and side elevation views, respectively, of fastener  100   b .  FIGS. 6G to 6I  show top, front and side elevation views, respectively, of fastener  100   c .  FIGS. 6J to 6L  show top, front and side elevation views, respectively, of fastener  100   d . Fasteners  100   a  to  100   d  can be made of any of the materials listed herein. Each of the fasteners  100   a  to  100   d  is illustrated having a self-threading Phillips head type screw portion  102  but can alternatively have any type of slotted screw head. In one preferred embodiment, the head of the screw portion, as is the case with screw portion  102  is of a flathead type, although panhead and other types of heads may be provided instead. 
     Fastener  100   a  of  FIGS. 6A to 6C  includes a blade  110   a  that has a rolled-triangular shape. The sides of blade  110   a  (and any of the blades of fasteners  100   a  to  100   d ) can be generally straight as illustrated or be bowed outwardly or inwardly as desired. The sides of blade  110   a  (and any of the blades of fasteners  100   a  to  100   d ) can also be chamfered or sharpened along inner, outer or both edges of the sides of the blade as desired for insertion into the second workpiece. Blade  110   a  is formed with or welded to screw portion  102 . The entire base of blade  110   a  is fixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head of screw member  102 . That is, the circumferential fixed length F shown in  FIG. 6B  will be equal to the circumferential length of the base of blade  110   a . Blade  110   a  including its corners  112   a  and  112   b  will accordingly resist bending or deforming as it is inserted into the second workpiece and provide a rigid fastener. 
     If needed for any of fasteners  100   a  to  100   d , locking tabs  116  and  118  may be provided to help lock blade  110   a  to the second workpiece after insertion. In the illustrated embodiment, locking tabs  116  and  118  are formed by cutting the tabs along three sides in the wall of blade  110   a  and then bending the tabs outward about the remaining hinge-like tops of the tabs. Here, locking tabs  116  and  118  will tend to be bent inward upon insertion of blade  110   a  into the second workpiece, causing tabs  116  and  118  to provide a counteracting locking force or stress against the gouged-out inner wall of the second workpiece. The force acts as a locking force to hold the second workpiece onto blade  110   a  and consequently to hold the second workpiece fixed to the first workpiece. While two locking tabs  116  and  118  are shown, only a single or three or more locking tabs may be provided and juxtaposed radially as shown, axially, diagonally, or some combination thereof. Locking tabs  116  and  118  may also be formed with, e.g., extend from blade  110   a , as opposed to being cut and bent from blade  110   a.    
     Fastener  100   b  of  FIGS. 6D to 6F  also includes a blade  110   b  that has a rolled shape, here a triangular, tree shape. Blade  110   b  is formed with or welded to screw portion  102 . Here, less that the entire base of blade  110   b  is fixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head of screw member  102 . That is, the circumferential fixed length F shown in  FIG. 6E  is less than the largest circumferential length of the bottom of blade  110   b . Blade  110   b  forms ears or tabs  112   b  and  114   b , here sharp-triangular shaped, that will tend to be bent or deformed upon insertion of blade  110   b  into the second workpiece causing ears or tabs  112   b  and  114   b  to provide a counteracting locking force or stress against the gouged-out inner wall of the second workpiece. The force acts as a locking force to hold the second workpiece onto blade  110   b  and consequently to hold the second workpiece fixed to the first workpiece. Circumferential fixed length F is chosen to provide a desired combination of (i) rigidity to blade  110   b  for ease of insertion into the second workpiece and (ii) flexibility to blade  110   b  for locking blade  110   b  and fastener  100   b  to the second workpiece once inserted into same. 
     Fastener  100   c  of  FIGS. 6G to 6I  also includes a blade  110   c  that has a rolled shape, here a spade-like shape. Blade  110   c  is formed with or welded to screw portion  102 . Here again, less that the entire base of blade  110   c  is fixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head of screw member  102 . The circumferential fixed length F shown in  FIG. 6H  is less than the largest circumferential length of the bottom of blade  110   c . Blade  110   c  forms ears or tabs  112   c  and  114   c , here circular shaped, that will tend to be bent or deformed upon insertion of blade  110   c  into the second workpiece causing ears or tabs  112   c  and  114   c  to provide a counteracting locking force or stress against the gouged-out inner wall of the second workpiece. The force acts as a locking force to hold the second workpiece onto blade  110   c  and consequently to hold the second workpiece fixed to the first workpiece. Circumferential fixed length F is again chosen to provide a desired combination of (i) rigidity to blade  110   c  for ease of insertion into the second workpiece and (ii) flexibility to blade  110   c  for locking blade  110   c  and fastener  100   c  to the second workpiece once inserted into same. 
     Fastener  100   d  of  FIGS. 6G to 6I  also includes a blade  110   d  that has a rolled shape, here a diamond-like shape. Blade  110   d  is formed with or welded to screw portion  102 . Here again, less that the entire base of blade  110   d  is fixed to (e.g., formed with or welded to) the head of screw member  102 . The circumferential fixed length F shown in  FIG. 6K  is less than the largest circumferential length of the bottom of blade  110   d . Blade  110   d  forms ears or tabs  112   d  and  114   d , here tapered-triangular shaped, that will tend to be bent or deformed upon insertion of blade  110   d  into the second workpiece causing ears or tabs  112   d  and  114   d  to provide a counteracting locking force or stress against the gouged-out inner wall of the second workpiece. The force acts as a locking force to hold the second workpiece onto blade  110   d  and consequently to hold the second workpiece fixed to the first workpiece. Circumferential fixed length F is again chosen to provide a desired combination of (i) rigidity to blade  110   d  for ease of insertion into the second workpiece and (ii) flexibility to blade  110   d  for locking blade  110   d  and fastener  100   d  to the second workpiece once inserted into same. 
     Any of fasteners  100   a  to  100   d  can have multiple blades and have mixed blades from different ones of fasteners  100   a  to  100   d . Any of the blades of fasteners  100   a  to  100   d  can extend less than one-hundred eighty degrees around the head of screw portion  102 , approximately one-hundred eighty degrees around the head of screw portion  102 , or more than one-hundred eighty degrees around the head of screw portion  102 . In one embodiment, it is contemplated for a blade to extend the entire three-hundred sixty degrees around the head of screw member  102  and have multiple sharpened points for piercing the second workpiece. Such blade could have one or more locking flaps, such as flaps  116  and  118 , if desired. The blades can have other shapes from those shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6L . 
     It should be appreciated from  FIGS. 6A to 6L  that the associated blades of fasteners  100   a  to  100   d  will help to hold the fasteners onto the screwdriver as the fasteners are being moved towards the first workpiece for connection thereto. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , alternative cylindrical nail  60  includes a pointed tip  62 , a circular base  64  and a plurality of conically shaped saw-teeth  66   a  to  66   d . Different amounts of saw-teeth may be provided alternatively. Cylindrical nail  60  may have a constant outer diameter as shown, or may taper outwardly as the nail extends downwardly towards base  64 . Nail  60  may be used with any of the two-way nail fasteners described herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , alternative cylindrical nail  70  includes a pointed tip  72 , a circular base  74  and a standoff  76  for holding workpiece  12  a desired gap distance “d” away from workpiece  14 . Standoff  76  includes a conical section  78   a  that angles outwardly from circular base  74  to top wall  78   b . Workpiece  12  is hammered onto pointed tip  72  until the workpiece reaches top wall  78   b  at which point it is (i) securely fastened to nail  70  and thus workpiece  14  and (ii) held a desired gap distance “d” away from workpiece  14 . The upper portion of nail  70  from top wall  78   b  to pointed tip  72  can have saw-teeth, such as saw-teeth  66   a  to  66   d  of nail  60  of  FIG. 7 , if desired to help lock workpiece  12  onto nail  70 . 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.