Patents Examined by Edward Landrum
  • Patent number: 7797836
    Abstract: A compact utility knife includes a blade holder slidably connected to a handle. A trapezoidal utility blade detachably mounts to the blade holder via a blade lock mechanism. A slide lock mechanism selectively retains the blade holder in its extended or retracted position relative to the handle. When the blade holder is extended, the blade holder and a majority of the blade extend forwardly of a forwardmost point of the handle. Extending the blade holder significantly increases an overall length of the knife such that the knife is comfortable to use when in the extended position and longitudinally compact when in the retracted position. The knife includes a blade lock mechanism. An aperture in the front of the handle creates a gap between the blade and the handle to discourage debris on the blade from transferring to the handle when the blade is retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Eric Ranieri, Stephen Rowlay, Gary E Van Deursen
  • Patent number: 7797839
    Abstract: A trimmer head for a rotary line trimmer including a housing operatively connected to the trimmer and a spool for carrying cutting line thereon. The spool is operatively connected to the housing for rotation therewith and defines a line receptor channel having opposed open ends and traversing the spool. The channel is formed by line guide inserts held within the spool body preferably utilizing the shrinkage of the molded spool material about the inserts. The channel can be aligned with the eyelets in the housing skirt such that cutting line can be inserted therethrough and wrapped about the spool upon relative rotation of the spool and housing without having to interrupt the operative connection therebetween. A central portion of the channel is exposed to provide access to the line so that the line can be pulled from the head without having to interrupt the operative connection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Proulx Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Proulx
  • Patent number: 7793810
    Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention could be a de-sheathing apparatus and a methodology of its use in de-sheathing a covered drinking straw. The de-sheathing apparatus could comprise of a body having a de-sheathing device, the de-sheathing device forming a de-sheathing orifice into which a covered drinking straw may be inserted, wherein the de-sheathing device applies sufficient force to the covered drinking straw to prevent passage of at least a portion of the covering back through the de-sheathing orifice when the drinking straw with the remainder of covering is removed from proximity with the de-sheathing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: John T. DeVries
  • Patent number: 7788812
    Abstract: A carpet trimmer including a base, a pair of posts mounted on said base and a handle mounted on said base. A number of spacers are inserted over the posts and secured by fasteners. A blade holder holding a pair of blades and including a blade holding face and a wall runner is inserted between two of the spacers, such that the posts fit into groove on the blade holding face. Throat adjustment holes on said spacers receive dimples on the blade holder to allow throat adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Crain Cutter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Tan D. Nguyen, Lance D. Crain
  • Patent number: 7774939
    Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle having a locking surface, a blade coupled to the handle and configured to rotate, relative to the handle, between a closed position and an open position, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a locking post coupled to the blade and configured to move along a slot between a locking and a releasing position, with a biasing member configured to bias the post in the direction of the locking position. The post includes studs positioned above and below the plane of the blade. The studs may be rotatable around the axis, and the slot is positioned such that, when the blade is in the open position, the post may be moved toward the locking position until a face of the stud engages a locking surface of the handle, thereby locking the blade in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: KAI U.S.A., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
  • Patent number: 7770502
    Abstract: A cutting device for paper or other materials including a substantially flat base, a manually-operated cutting blade assembly, a sighting device, and a switch is provided. The base is adapted to receive substantially thin or flat materials for cutting. The manually-operated cutting blade assembly is pivotally attached to either side of the base and includes an elongated cutting arm positioned over a predetermined line of cut on the base. The sighting device includes a housing and an adjustable light source mounted within and protected by the housing, wherein the light source projects a fixed line of visible light along the predetermined line of cut. The switch and switch actuator activate and deactivate the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Elmer's Products Inc
    Inventors: Michael Parrish, Thomas Wiberg, Robert Anderson, John Gardiner
  • Patent number: 7765907
    Abstract: A trimming apparatus for trimming a lateral edge a printed product includes a trimming table arranged to receive the printed product in a position ready for trimming. A trimming knife is configured to cut the lateral edge of the printed product during a cutting stroke, thereby creating cuttings separated from the print product. A removal device is provided for removing the separated cuttings. The removal device includes a collection region arranged behind the trimming knife to receive the separated cuttings during the cutting stroke of the trimming knife and a plurality of air nozzles located above the collection region. The nozzles are adapted to blow compressed air into the collection region to remove the separated cuttings through the collection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Hanspeter Meyer
  • Patent number: 7762169
    Abstract: A food chopping or slicing device preferably includes three primary components, including a lid, a blade tray, and a food reservoir. The lid and the food reservoir are pivotally connected to one another, with the blade tray being removably mounted within an upper rim of the reservoir. In some embodiments a reservoir bottom is removable and the device includes orthogonal volumetric markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
    Inventor: Sascha Kaposi
  • Patent number: 7757404
    Abstract: A personal trimming system includes a main body having a motor and a part of a driving unit for converting a rotation of the motor into a reciprocating motion; and a head portion having a driven member moving in a reciprocating motion. The head portion is pivotably supported with respect to the main body, and a gap is provided between the main body and the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ouchi, Hidekazu Sueyoshi, Toshihiro Takeuchi, Kenichi Muraki, Keiko Funatsu
  • Patent number: 7735403
    Abstract: Embodiments of an alignment system for a table saw are disclosed, wherein the table saw has a rotatable blade that extends through its table top, the table top having spaced indicia oriented in a direction parallel to the plane of the blade, comprising an elongated fence having first and second end portions, at least the first end portion having a mechanism for securing the fence on the table saw, an elongated portion attached to the first end portion and extending over the table top, the fence being normally oriented so that the elongated portion is parallel to the plane of the blade and being laterally adjustable relative to the blade, at least two light emitting units mounted on the fence at spaced locations along the length of the fence, each unit configured to direct light on a first side of the fence toward the indicia and enable an observer to determine if the fence is oriented parallel to the indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephen C. Oberheim, Ravi Voruganti
  • Patent number: 7726031
    Abstract: A knife system for providing efficient replacement of a knife blade. The knife system generally includes a body, a lever pivotally connected to the body, a collet connected to the body, and a shaft connected between the lever and the collet. When the lever is in a closed position, the shaft applies tension to the collet resulting in frictional engagement with a blade within the collet. An illuminating unit is preferably positioned within the body directing light towards the blade within the collet to illuminate a work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Douglas P. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 7721451
    Abstract: A razor that includes a handle having an axis, at least a first and a second shaving head, and a drum that includes the first and second shaving head. The drum is pivotally mounted onto the handle about an axis substantially perpendicular to the edges of the blades, the pivoting of the drum allowing at least a first configuration in which the first shaving head projects at a front end of the handle to allow shaving while the second shaving head is at least partly covered by the handle. In a second configuration, the positions of the first shaving head and second shaving head are reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Bic-Violex S.A.
    Inventors: Yiannis Psimadas, Spiros Gratsias, Yiannis Bozikis
  • Patent number: 7717311
    Abstract: Vertical cracks Vm in the thickness direction of a mother glass substrate 10 are sequentially formed along lines to be scribed and broken, and thus main scribe lines MS are formed along the lines to be scribed and broken of the mother glass substrate 10. Then, subordinate scribe lines SS are formed along the main scribe lines MS which have been formed, at a predetermined distance from the main scribe lines MS. Thus, the mother glass substrate 10 is broken along the main scribe lines MS. In this manner, the substrate can be scribed and broken efficiently without requiring a complicated device or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Nishio
  • Patent number: 7703856
    Abstract: A manhole cover frame removal apparatus has a ring-shaped base with a circular track thereon and a saw mounting framework disposed atop the base. Rollers allow the saw mounting framework to advance in rotation about aligned vertical axes of the frame and the base. A saw mounting arm is joined to the framework and may be raised and lowered and locked in the raised position. A saw carriage is mounted on the saw arm for reciprocal movement toward and away from a saw arm hinge axis. A single saw motor is mounted on the carriage and can be immobilized at selected angles. Separate horizontal-cut and vertical-cut saw blades are alternatively and interchangeably attached to the saw blade rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: C. Warren Duncan
  • Patent number: 7690120
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for retro-actively cutting wiper blades, comprising a first guiding element (D) which engages in grooves which are arranged on both sides of the wiper blades, and a second guiding element (L) which is arranged in close proximity to the edge of the lip (M) of the wiper blade which is to be retro-actively cut. A blade (J) is arranged in close proximity to the second guiding element (L). The second guiding element (L) has a fixed width such that the lip (M) of the wiper blade is guided in a smooth-running manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventors: Harald Sieke, Martin Sieke
  • Patent number: 7677148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for cutting produce, such as onions and other vegetables. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and devices for minimizing exposure to noxious and irritating gasses that are emitted from certain freshly cut produce, such as the syn-propanethial-S-oxide gas that is emitted by freshly cut onions. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, a device is provided for cutting onions, which comprises (i) an open-ended container that is adapted to hold a liquid and (ii) a slicer that is capable of cutting onions when submerged in the liquid that is housed within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Syed Rizvi
  • Patent number: 7665216
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides a saw blade clamping assembly. The assembly has a main body, a clamping device, a rotating sleeve and a biasing device. The main body has a receiving slot for receiving a fixing end of a saw blade and an oblique and elongate hole communicating with the receiving slot. The clamping device has at least one clamping member passing through the oblique and elongate hole of the main body. The rotating sleeve encloses the main body and the clamping device. The biasing device is biased between the main body and the rotating sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen Yasheng
  • Patent number: 7665215
    Abstract: A head for string trimmer machines uses fixed length segments of line including at least two line segments. The head includes a generally cylindrically shaped main housing member with at least two sets of first and second line entry holes on the housing member intermediate the first and second ends. At least two sets of first and second line exit openings also are found on the main housing member intermediate the first and second ends and spaced apart a greater distance than the distance between the first and second line entry holes. Arcuate guide channels are located between the respective entry holes and exit openings where the corresponding entry openings and exit openings of corresponding sets are located at different distances measured axially on the main housing member from the first end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Desert Extrusion Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Fogle
  • Patent number: 7658011
    Abstract: A lopper includes a slender rod and a pruning means mounted on a top of the rod. The slender rod includes an inner tube and an outer tube telescoped mutually such that the inner tube is shiftable in the outer tube for changing the length it jutting out from the outer tube. An extension-control unit is provided at the border region between the inner tube and the outer tube for positioning the inner tube. A fist actuating unit and a second actuating unit are provided at the outer surface of the outer tube. The fist and second actuating units are connected with the pruning means through a first rope, a second rope and a third rope so that when a user pulls the first or second actuating unit, a shear assembly of the pruning means can be closed to cut branches and leaves of plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Natura Innovation Ltd.
    Inventor: Su-Hua Shan
  • Patent number: 7647702
    Abstract: A utility knife for use with a replaceable flat blade, has an elongated housing having a longitudinally extending guide open at the front end, a longitudinally extending and transversely open slot, and a longitudinally extending holding face directed transversely opposite to the stop. A blade holder having a seat for the blade is slidable in the housing between a front use position forwardly bearing on a longitudinally displaceable stop and with the blade projecting longitudinally forwardly from the guide past the front end and a rear storage position with the blade wholly contained in the housing rearward of the front end and the holder out of engagement with the stop. The stop can be secured in any of a plurality of longitudinally offset positions in the housing to adjust the front position of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Martor KG
    Inventor: Gudula Polei