An improved driving element, fastener placement system, method of fastening
and combination of fastened workpieces are disclosed which include a
generally U-shaped, staple-like fastener having a pair of legs spaced from
each other by a crown which transversely extends between the upper ends of
the legs to connect the legs to each other adjacent their upper ends and
space the upper ends of the legs apart by a given distance. Each of the
legs also has an opposite lower end which enter the respective workpieces
which are to be fastened together. The fastener is positioned with the
lower end of one leg in contact with one of the workpieces and the lower
end of the other leg in contact with the other workpiece, and the fastener
is then forcibly driven into the respective workpieces by a driving
element which acts upon the crown in a manner to attempt or tend to
shorten the distance between the upper ends of the legs by bending the
crown and countersinking the legs and/or crown into the workpieces. This
results in continuing forces which tend to continue to urge the respective
workpieces together after the fastener has been driven.