Patents Examined by Allan M. Schrock
  • Patent number: 5566455
    Abstract: This rotary filament vegetation trimmer improves the life expectancy of plastic filaments by improved and simplified control of a refrigerated air flow path about the filament of sufficient magnitude to prevent overheating resulting in catastrophic failure from the stresses of twisting as the rotary trimmer head whirls the filament at high rotation speeds. Thus, the head and its filament passageway therethrough are shaped to constitute a centrifugal air pump that draws both air and the filament through the head to position the filament for trimming. The passageway diverges from the shaft into a chamber of significantly increased volume to produce expanding and refrigerated air in the critical region at which the filament curves and induces twisting as the head rotates to tend to heat and cause failure of the plastic filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Leonard Hagstrom
  • Patent number: 5564323
    Abstract: A circular saw unit includes a base having a work support device for supporting a work. A turntable is rotatably mounted on the base. A cutting mechanism is adapted for cutting the work placed on the work support device. The work support device includes at least one work support member pivotally mounted on the base around a pivotal axis substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the turntable. The work support member has an upper surface for placing the work thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sasaki, Kouji Matubara
  • Patent number: 5558264
    Abstract: A combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool comprises a structure defining a combustion chamber and defining a driving piston cylinder, which has a wall and defines an axis. A nosepiece is mounted to said structure and communicates with the driving piston cylinder. A driving piston mounting a driving member is arranged to be axially driven within the wall of the driving piston cylinder upon combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber, so as to drive the driving member from an uppermost position wherein the driving member is retracted from the nosepiece into a lowermost position wherein the driving member is extended into the nosepiece. A combusted gases-actuated mechanism is employed for feeding fasteners from a collated strip of fasteners individually and successively into the nosepiece. Combusted gases are diverted from the driving piston cylinder so as to actuate the feeding mechanism when the driving piston is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Valery G. Weinstein
  • Patent number: 5551620
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool including an improved trigger assembly including control structure constructed and arranged to be manually movable between (1) a sequential operating mode position whereby movement of a contact responsive assembly to its operative position followed by movement of the trigger assembly to its actuated position moves a valve actuator to its operative position permitting a piston and fastener driving element of the tool to move through a fastener driving stroke, and movement of the trigger assembly to its actuated position prior to movement of the contact responsive assembly to its operative position prevents movement of the valve actuator to its operative position so that inadvertent movement of the contact responsive assembly will not actuate the fastener driving tool, and (2) a contact operating mode position whereby repeated movement of the contact responsive assembly to its operative position repeatedly moves the valve actuator to its operative position to move the piston and fastener
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Stanley-Bostitch, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn E. Vallee
  • Patent number: 5551621
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes an improved trigger assembly including control structure constructed and arranged to be manually movable between a sequential operating mode position and a contact operating mode position to cause the tool to operate in a sequential operating mode and a contact operating mode, respectively. The device includes a work piece contact responsive assembly carried by a housing and constructed and arranged for movement from a normal, inoperative position into an operative position in response to movement of the tool into cooperating engagement with the work piece. The control structure and the work piece contact responsive assembly cooperate to define actuation prevention structure constructed and arranged to prevent more than one cycle of tool operation from occurring during the sequential operating mode when only a single cycle of tool operation is intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Stanley-Bostitch, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn E. Vallee
  • Patent number: 5542326
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting baled crop materials particularly of the cylindrical bale type comprises an apparatus in the form of a conventional chain saw in which the chain is modified so that either the slide links or the guide links include an outwardly projecting cutting plate. The cutting plate is shaped to form a cutting edge having a ramp shape commencing at a position intersecting the previous link and extending outwardly at a gradual inclination of the order of 20.degree. to an outermost point and then a trailing edge which extends backwardly toward the main body of the chain. The width of the cutting plate is less than the width of the chain itself in view of the tension in the bale which pulls the bale apart as it is cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Borgford
  • Patent number: 5542180
    Abstract: A heavy duty shear attachable to the boom of an excavator comprises a fixed lower jaw and a movable upper jaw driven by a hydraulic cylinder. To overcome jams, the cylinder is provided with hydraulic fluid at a higher pressure in the open direction than in the close direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: NPK Construction Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Ron R. Karani
  • Patent number: 5540128
    Abstract: Improved slotter wheel apparatus (20) for use in the formation of box blanks is provided which includes a rotatable wheel (22) supporting a shiftable blade holder (24) and a slotting blade (26), with cooperating cam track (174) and follower (86) structure for selective shifting of blade (26) between an extended slotting position and a retracted blank-clearing position. An activation/deactivation assembly (30) allows the operator to separate cam track (174) from follower (88), thereby permitting use of apparatus (20) as a conventional, high speed, fixed blade slotter. A shock absorbing assembly (27) including a bridge piece (138) operably coupled with blade holder (24) and resilient pads (152, 154) serve to absorb potentially destructive mechanical loads experienced during outward shifting of the blade holder (24) and blade (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Lawrence Paper Company
    Inventor: David E. Creaden
  • Patent number: 5537748
    Abstract: A cut waste discharging device for a circular saw blade of an electric power circular saw machine, which includes: a safety cover for covering an upper portion of the circular saw blade; a lower guard which is angularly movable into the safety cover in accordance with development of a cutting operation of a workpiece with the circular saw blade; and a partition wall provided along an inner peripheral wall of the safety cover so as not to interfere with the lower guard, thereby defining a passage of cut waste with the outer wall of the partition wall and the inner peripheral wall of the safety cover. With such an arrangement, the passage between the outer wall of the partition and the inner wall of the safety cover causes the cut waste, generated in the waste generating portion, to be led to a predetermined discharge place. Accordingly, the waste would not be splash within the safety cover and would not be splashed out of the predetermined discharge place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Ryobi Limited
    Inventors: Shoji Takahashi, Kunio Tsugami, Tatsuya Wada
  • Patent number: 5528968
    Abstract: An automated workpiece rotation is accomplished by clamping the workpiece, to the lower turret of a turret punch press in the press carriage grippers and rotating the turret 180.degree. to reorient an oversized workpiece in order to enable completion of a punching program on the workpiece. The turret is positively located in each rotated position, and the degree of tilt of the rotated sheet in the press carriage grippers is determined by edge detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Victor L. Chun
  • Patent number: 5524807
    Abstract: A fastener tool is provided for attaching a protective strip to a corner formed by two intersecting walls. The fastener tool includes a handle for being gripped by a user. First and second fastener guns are supported by the handle at a predetermined angle in relation to each other and to the intersecting walls. The first and second fastener guns drive respective fasteners into the protective strip and intersecting walls thereby attaching the strip to the corner. A trigger mechanism is connected to the handle for actuating the first and second fastener guns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Robert Bullard
  • Patent number: 5524808
    Abstract: Illustrated and described is a nailing gun conversion for use in driving and setting rivets to attach belt fasteners to conveyor belts and the like. The conversion involves a special nose piece and drive rod for the gun for cooperation with the modified head of a multiple pronged rivet driver used for the simultaneous driving and setting of a cluster of nail-pointed self-setting rivets maintained in position for assembly with the belt fasteners and belt by a fixture of known construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Joseph C. Vogrig
  • Patent number: 5522531
    Abstract: In a safety device for a nailing machine which has a compressed air introducing opening for introducing a compressed air therefrom and an air chamber for storing compressed air introduced from the compressed air introducing opening, the safety device comprises a compressed are passage, a relief valve and a spring. The compressed air passage is provided close to an inner side of the introducing opening, and communicates with the air chamber. The relief valve serves to release the compressed air within the air chamber outside, and has a valve housing, an air leak hole and a valve stem. One end of said valve housing is open onto the air chamber, the other end of the valve housing is open onto the introducing opening, a middle portion of the valve housing communicates with the air leak hole which communicates with the outside. The valve stem is slidably accommodated in the valve housing, one end of the valve stem faces the air chamber and the other end thereof faces the introducing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsushi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5522294
    Abstract: A tissue slicer having a reciprocating tissue holding blade. A mechanically activated pumping system for flushing liquid medium past a cutting blade into a collection trap. The cutting blade is moved by a reciprocation drive system adjacent and above the cutting blade. The entire slicing assembly is fully autoclavable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventor: Carlos Krumdieck
  • Patent number: 5520318
    Abstract: A picture hanging apparatus is provided, which facilitate the hanging of a picture on a wall. The apparatus includes a tool with a frame having a forward or inner part that lies in front of a picture to be hung and which holds a hook device, and an outer part which includes a base extending rearwardly from the top of the inner part and a handle extending downwardly from the rear of the base. A driving mechanism which is movably mounted on the frame, has a drive end lying at the inner part of the frame and movable along a driveline to drive a fastener into the wall, the mechanism also including an actuator end lying at the frame outer part and being operable to forcefully move the drive end along the driveline. One drive mechanism includes a strike member slidably mounted on the frame to move parallel to the driveline, with the strike member having an outer end forming the actuator and designed to be operated by hitting it with a hammer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Inventor: Conrad B. Sloop
  • Patent number: 5519939
    Abstract: A manual hair cutting implement for enabling a person to cut his or her own hair. The implement includes an elongated handle having a brush rotatably mounted thereon, and two combs and two cutting blades. The brush, combs, and blades are mounted on a working head which is pivotally adjustable with respect to the handle, so that the angle therebetween is adjustable. The brush is cylindrical, and has an axis of rotation longitudinally disposed with respect to the handle. The combs and blades are arranged to intersect the periphery of the cylindrical brush, so that hair is appropriately lifted from the head by the brush, maintained in place by the combs, and cut by the blades. The blades are located in a protected position between the handle and brush, and inside the comb, so that exposure of the blade is minimized for safety. The working head is also adjustably mounted to the handle, so that the effective length of the latter is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Inventor: James E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5517760
    Abstract: A spacer for maintaining separation between a first and a second blade in a razor blade cartridge, both the first and second blades having a forward cutting edge. The spacer includes a member forming an upper and lower surface having a plurality of holes extending therethrough, and a protrusion disposed around each opening on the upper surface of the member so as to form channels between one another. The spacer further includes an arcuate shaped skin engaging portion disposed on a forward edge of the member such that the arcuate shaped skin engaging portion intersects the plane formed by the cutting edge of the first and second blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: American Safety Razor Company
    Inventor: Frank H. Prochaska
  • Patent number: 5509336
    Abstract: The apparatus for holding a log or long roll (L) of web material during the cutting thereof along a plane perpendicular to the log axis, includes: a plurality of clamping elements distributed in a circle around the log (L). The clamping elements can be moved so as to clamp the log during the cut and also to be released so as to allow the log to axially move between cuts. At least one actuator causes the movement of the clamping elements, and connectors which connect the clamping elements to one another to provide a simultaneous movement thereof by said actuator. Each clamping element pivots around an axis so as to cause clamping of the log. The connectors control the pivoting of said clamping elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guglielmo Biagiotti
  • Patent number: 5501129
    Abstract: A new blade, and a method of cutting therewith, having repeating sets of teeth, each set having sub-sets which differ from each other in at least one cutting characteristic including straight teeth, primary cutting teeth which are left-sided and right-sided and secondary cutting teeth which are left-sided and right-sided, said secondary cutting teeth having a large relief angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignees: Armstrong-Blum Manufacturing Company, Amada Company Limited
    Inventors: Donald L. Armstrong, Akiyoshi Yoneda, Kunihiko Okada
  • Patent number: 5497687
    Abstract: A table-top cutting machine includes a base having an upright support, a motor mounted on the upright support, a belt type cutting tool mounted around a horizontal pulley wheel and a vertical pulley wheel. The cutting tool is stretched at a right angle by a first rotor, which is mounted on the upright support at the top, and a second rotor, which is mounted on the upright support at the bottom. A guard longitudinally covers the belt type cutting tool at one side permitting only the cutting edge to be longitudinally exposed to the outside at one side for cutting. A tool grinder includes two emery-wheels disposed at two opposite sides by the cutting edge. The emery-wheels contact to the two opposite sides of the cutting edge by means of a pressure rod. When the motor is turned on, the belt type cutting tool is rotated to cut cloths smoothly and stably without producing much noise. Furthermore, much cost can be curtailed due to fewer machine elements which are used for manufacturing the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Hai-su Huang