Patents Examined by Boyer Ashley
  • Patent number: 6360442
    Abstract: A grapefruit knife for use in cutting sections of edible fruit from the less desirable membrane and peel is disclosed. The present invention includes a handle having two opposing ends, a single cutting blade attached to one end of the handle, and a scooping blade attached to the other end of the handle. Each of these blades has two cutting edges. On the cutting blade the two cutting edges are aligned serially, in a plane, to cut in the same direction, while on the scooping blade the cutting edges are opposingly arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: The Pampered Chef, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas O'Brien, Michael Neshat, Chuck Visocky
  • Patent number: 6357327
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cutting a resin-coated metal pipe. The apparatus includes first and second spaced apart pairs of holding members for holding the pipe. First and second cut-off blades are movable between the pairs of holding members for making substantially diametrically opposed pre-cuts in the pipe. The cutting members move substantially in the same tangential direction to substantially balance rotational forces on the pipe. A cut blade then is penetrated through the pipe from the one pre-cut to the other to provide a clean precise cut in the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
    Inventors: Masayoshi Usui, Fumihiko Shiozaki, Fujio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6352013
    Abstract: A butter dish for storing and dispensing specific sized slices of butter. The dish has two a base plates movable relative to each other and a removable lid pivotally connected to one of the base plates such that an interior space for holding a stick of butter is defined. The lid also includes a cutting edge opposite the pivotal connection for slicing the butter. The other one of the base plates includes a scale to indicate the size of the slice to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Cetoni Umwelttechologie-Entwicklungs-GmbH
    Inventors: Alice Schlattl, Bettina Dichtl
  • Patent number: 6351889
    Abstract: A can opening appliance is provided herein. The appliance includes a primary housing having a front surface including a can opening mechanism and a rearwardly facing locking surface. A base includes at least one upwardly extending projection for slidable engagement with the primary housing and at least one forwardly facing interlock structure for releasable engagement with the locking surface of the primary housing. A housing release button, which causes the forwardly facing interlock structure and the locking surface to enter into and out of engagement, allows the primary housing to attain a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Holmes Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Wall, Crystal R. Norris
  • Patent number: 6349475
    Abstract: An implement for trimming grass and weeds, and for blowing clippings and debris. The implement consists of a rotatable housing having an outer wall; at least two fan blades, each of the fan blades having an inner end and a outer end; and at least two slide channels interconnecting each of the fan blades with the rotatable housing. The slide channels allow the outer ends of the fan blades to alternately extend from the outer wall of the rotatable housing to a fully extended position, and retract toward said outer wall to a fully retracted position. A weed trimming line is fixedly attached to and extends outwardly from the rotatable housing for performing weed trimming as a function in addition to debris blowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Mark A. Buck
  • Patent number: 6345445
    Abstract: A tool for performing lopping, pruning and similar operations includes a tool support, a tool head, an actuating line and an actuating handle. The tool support preferably includes a pair of telescoping tubes and the tool head includes a blade movable to perform cutting operations. The blade is coupled to the actuating line and remotely movable by tensioning the actuating line. The actuating line passes through a portion of the tool support to the actuating handle. The actuating handle includes a line engagement mechanism or clutch assembly that engages and holds the line when the actuating handle is slid on the tool support. The tool is actuated by a first movement of the actuating handle that causes the engagement mechanism to engage the actuating line, followed by a second movement that tensions the line to move the blade. A reel mechanism below the engagement mechanism collects the actuating line when the tool support is retracted and dispenses line when the tool support is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Alterra Holdings Corporation
    Inventor: Robert T. Schofield
  • Patent number: 6327951
    Abstract: In a mounting arrangement for mounting a hard metal cutting blade in a cutting head in a mounting groove of the cutting head in an adjustable radial position, wherein the cutting blade is disposed on a support plate and engaged by a clamping bolt. The support plate includes a cut-out in which a profile plate having a tooth-like structure is received and the cutting blade includes a complimentary tooth-profile structure in engagement with the profile structure of the profile plate and an elastic insert is disposed in the cutout behind the profile plate for elastically biasing the profile structure of the profile plate into play-free engagement with the profile structure of the cutting blade when forced into engagement with one another by the clamping bolt and the clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Tigra Hartstoff GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Feld
  • Patent number: 6325263
    Abstract: A movable upper tool for separating blanks comprises a base plate with apertures and on a lower side is provided with punches. The tool cooperates with a lower tool having separating bars for the separation of the blanks. The apertures of the upper tool are arranged along two orthogonal axes in an area, and one of these orthogonal axes consists of a line slanting with regard to one of the edges of the base plate of the movable tool, and at least one of the lateral sides of each of the cross sections of the punches is tangential to one of the apertures so that the space between the punches determines the total pressure identical to the punches on the blanks to be separated in the neighborhood of the separating bar, regardless of the position of the separating bar of the lower tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventors: Jean-Bernard De Dompierre, Ulrich Schwager
  • Patent number: 6324951
    Abstract: A system for punching and bundling metal sheets, particularly for electric machines, has a die for punching the metal sheets. A die plate cooperates with the die, and a shaft receives and stacks the punched metal sheets. A device separates the punched metal sheets stacked in the receiving shaft. The separating device has at least two wedge elements which penetrate at a predetermined height of the stack of punched metal sheets, into the metal sheet stack at least approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the receiving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Konrad Wegener
  • Patent number: 6318049
    Abstract: A slitter machine of the type where tab lock cases of varying height, width, and length are advanced therethrough in a product flow direction on a machine bed by a main drive motor, is presented. The slitter machine includes a frame, a centerline, a leading flap lifter and a trailing flap lifter. The leading flap lifter and trailing flap lifter are mounted are mounted to the frame on opposite sides of the centerline, and extend at an incline relative to the machine bed. Each flap lifter includes a tear drop assembly attached to a drive chain and actuated by a pair of cams to rotate the leading flap and the trailing flap toward a closed position. A chain track is disposed in each of the flap lifting assemblies, with the drive chains disposed therein. Each chain track has a first section having a first distance between the drive chains and a second section having a second distance between the drive chains. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Standard Knapp Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Raudat, Emilio N. CoFrancesco, Jeffrey Reilly
  • Patent number: 6318223
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using templates is disclosed. A first form of the template is a mask template with a template aperture in the form of a puzzle cut pattern to be used in combination with an excimer laser. The template is placed between the excimer laser source and the belt material to be cut. As the excimer laser traverses the width of the belt, the laser forms a puzzle cut pattern on the belt. A second form of the template is a punch and die having patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. U. Yu, William A. Hammond, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Constance J. Thornton
  • Patent number: 6314854
    Abstract: A saw blade has teeth which are located on a carrier blade. Saw teeth flanks are curved and convex. A transition point between a cutting edge of the saw tooth and the curved convex saw tooth flank is such that a spacing distance between a radial center of the saw tooth flank and a radial plane of symmetry of the saw tooth is greater than a spacing distance between the transition point and the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Roehm GmbH Chemische Fabrik
    Inventors: Heinz Fritz, Otmar Riedel
  • Patent number: 6314853
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting a rail or other elongated workpiece includes a rotatable blade for cutting the rail, a blade cover for covering the blade, an engine (or motor) for driving the blade, and a frame for supporting the blade, the blade cover and the driver. The cutting apparatus further includes link mechanisms. One link mechanism supports the blade and the blade cover relative to the frame and permits the blade cover to move while maintaining a predetermined attitude during cutting. Therefore, the blade cover moves vertically and avoids hitting obstacles. Another link mechanism moves the driver while maintaining a predetermined attitude of the driver. Therefore, the driver remains level during cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Omi Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Omi, Kazuyoshi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 6314648
    Abstract: A hair clipper unit that includes edger blades on one end and taper blades on the other end. The clipper system allows a stylist to rapidly switch operation between the two sets of clipper blades and includes a power cord directing assembly including a power cord that extends from a center side surface of a motor housing and a cord securing clip on either side of the cord housing exit point for holding the cord in the proper orientation during use. The dual blade clipper unit also includes two separate drive motors, one for each set of clipping blades, and a drive motor cooling system to further reduce the heat generated by operation of the clipper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel J. Hillebrandt
  • Patent number: 6311597
    Abstract: A punch and die set is provided for use in a stamping press having a punch assembly and a die assembly reciprocated by a driving mechanism. The punch and die assemblies are aligned to a common center and are structured to slidably engage one another for positive guidance of the punch and die tools without the need for other guidance by shafts, bars or the like. One of the punch assembly and die assembly can be non-fixedly carried by the drive mechanism, allowing the guidance of the engaged punch and die assemblies to define the relative positions of the tools. This arrangement eliminates any stack-up of tolerances between the assemblies and substantially reduces misalignment during stamping, including any misalignment that may be introduced by the press driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Humdinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schroth, Thomas Rooney
  • Patent number: 6311598
    Abstract: A guide for a concrete cutting chain saw. The guide has multiple paired slots which receive a post of a bracket mounted to the chain saw. The slots provide multiple pivotal mounts for the chain saw. The chain saw is mounted on the guide with the post being received in a pair of slots. The multiple slots provide sequential pivotal mounts for moving the saw to complete the cut. The post is mountable on either end of the bracket so the guide may be mounted on either side of the cut line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian S. Osborne
  • Patent number: 6311595
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using a punch and die is disclosed. The punch and die have patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies. Belt material is positioned between a stock gap between the punch and die and the force generating assembly is activated to provide the cutting force. Once the belt material is cut, the cutting force is removed and the force generating assembly returns to its retracted position. There are two cutting edges on the punch and die so that a first end of one belt and a second end of another belt are formed in a single cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Laurence J. Lynd, Donald W. Owens, Eric J. Smith, Alex Skirko, David Watro
  • Patent number: 6308422
    Abstract: A method and tool for repairing worn seams in sheet materials, such as linoleum or vinyl floor coverings, is disclosed. The tool is a specially constructed, double bladed utility knife. The tool has dual cutting blades that are rigidly secured to the tool for precision cutting. The blades are set at a slightly divergent angle relative to one another, and the distance between the blades is adjustable. The tool may be used to repair a damaged seam in a floor covering as follows. First, the blades are set to span the widest portion of the damaged portion of the seam. Cutting pressure is applied and the tool is drawn along the seam to remove the damaged portion. The blades are then adjusted to a slightly wider-apart position, and the tool is used in a similar manner to cut a repair piece from a matching piece of material. The repair piece is then adhered to the floor and will fit snugly between the adjoining pieces of material to accomplish a perfect repair of the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Orcon Corporation
    Inventor: Lea MacDonald
  • Patent number: 6298563
    Abstract: An electric can opener with a horizontally oriented blade including a base portion having a generally C-shaped configuration. The base portion includes a lower horizontal portion, a vertical portion, and an upper horizontal portion. The base portion includes an upper housing secured to and extending upwardly from the upper horizontal portion. A motor is disposed within the upper housing of the base portion. A rotating magnet is secured to the upper horizontal portion of the base portion. The rotating magnet is in communication with the motor whereby activation of the motor will rotate the magnet. The magnet engages the closed upper end of the can. A cutting member is secured to the upper horizontal portion of the base portion. The cutting member is positioned to engage the can downwardly of the closed upper end thereof when the can is engaged by the rotating magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Kathy Yeadon
  • Patent number: RE37529
    Abstract: A reciprocating saw including a housing, a spindle mounted for reciprocating motion within the housing, a gear rotatably mounted within the housing, a wobble shaft rotatably mounted within the housing, a wobble plate rotatably mounted on the wobble shaft and connected to the spindle, and a clutch drivingly connecting the gear to the wobble shaft. The clutch includes a clutch driver rotatably positioned within the housing adjacent the wobble shaft, and the clutch driver includes a recess for insertably receiving a portion of the wobble shaft. The clutch driver can also include a relief ledge for providing clearance between the clutch driver and the wobble plate. The clutch can further include a first clutch disk connected with the gear and positioned between the gear and the clutch driver, and a second clutch disk connected with the clutch driver and positioned between the gear and the first clutch disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Milwaukee Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Bednar, Scott L. Kidney