Patents Examined by Joseph J. Hail, III
  • Patent number: 7721630
    Abstract: An automatically adjustable locking pliers or tool includes a jaw fixed to a first handle and a jaw that pivots about the first handle. The pivoting jaw is connected to a lower tightening handle. A lever connects the tightening handle and first handle. A self-adjusting sizing and locking mechanism includes a thumb jaw sizing piece located near the jaws and movable to open the jaws so that they can be sized around a workpiece. When the thumb jaw sizing piece is released, the jaws automatically size and clamp lightly around the workpiece. The locking mechanism uses balls between a locking rod and a tapered surface. Locking occurs when the balls wedge between the rod and the tapered surface. A release cylinder is connected to a release paddle movable to unlock the mechanism. The sizing piece and locking mechanism are operable to automatically size and lock the pliers or tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Robert E. Hunter
  • Patent number: 7722445
    Abstract: An insertion tool (12) for an angle grinder (2) that has a hub (16) with at least a first fastening means for fastening the hub (16) to a driving device (22) of the angle grinder (2). The first fastening means if located on a partial circle (54) with a radius (56) of between 12 mm and 25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Kraenzler, Peter Stierle, Albrecht Hofmann, Juergen Wiker, Harald Krondorfer, Joachim Schadow, Sinisa Andrasic, Thomas Schomisch, Christof Hoelzl, Johann Huber
  • Patent number: 7722444
    Abstract: An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Gallagher, Michael C. Doyle, Eric E. Hatfield, David C. Tomayko, Daniel L. Krout, Tanika Malloy
  • Patent number: 7716781
    Abstract: A cleaner (1) has a DC brushless motor (15) with stator (203) and rotor (212). Stator is mounted on a shaft and rotor is mounted inside and to a tubular body (207) about stator (203). Impeller (17) is mounted to and outside tubular body (207). The motor (15) and impeller (17) are mounted in a housing having an intake (17) and an exhaust (9). Operation of the motor and rotation of the impeller causes a partial vacuum at the intake (7) to draw air. The air is exhausted through the exhaust (9). A filter (61) prevents particles from entering the motor (15). Particles are collected in a receptacle (5) prior to the filter (61). The impeller (17) may be a squirrel cage fan, bladed fan, or centrifugal fan. A secondary exhaust (11) expels particles from the filter (61) and/or receptacle (5) by rotation of the impeller (17) in an opposite direction or by the use of a secondary DC motor and impeller. The housing (2) can fit in a cavity between conventional wall studs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
    Inventors: J. Vern Cunningham, Timothy Poupore, Charles D. Syverson
  • Patent number: 7716777
    Abstract: Dusting article structure including a duster body and a handle. The duster body includes layers of holding sheets, a fibrous-filament layer, and a cleaning base sheet. A lower layer of the holding sheets and the cleaning base sheet are symmetrically cut to form strip-like cleaning pieces. The filaments of the fibrous-filament layer include numerous tiny pores disposed thereon. The handle includes a grip portion and a connector portion. A coupling block is disposed on the grip portion and includes inserting posts and pivoting grooves to respectively engage with pivoting holes and a pivoting rod of the connector portion thereby. The grip portion is mounted pivotally onto the connector portion having retaining rods to be engaged with holding spaces of the thermo-fusion bonded duster body. The tiny pores disposed at the fibrous-filament layer absorb and trap small grains of dust. The grip portion of the handle may be bent for folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Rock Tone Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pei Yuan Lee
  • Patent number: 7716782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile unit for cleaning a sewer network from a manhole, the unit comprising a suction hose, a cleaner hose, and a support and guide arm comprising a horizontal portion movable in swiveling about a vertical axis and in horizontal translation relative to the mobile unit, said arm further including a vertical portion connected to the horizontal portion and presenting a bottom module movable in swiveling and in vertical translation relative to said horizontal portion, the suction and cleaner hoses being connected to said bottom module, whereby the positioning of the bottom module corresponds substantially to the positioning of the working ends of the suction and cleaner hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Veolia Eau - Compagnie Generale Des Eaux
    Inventors: Cyril Terrien, Eric Gaudy
  • Patent number: 7716784
    Abstract: A suction port assembly and vacuum cleaner having the same is disclosed. The suction port assembly includes a casing comprising a suction port which draws in dust from a surface being cleaned; a drum brush which is disposed rotatably in the casing, on an external surface of which a plurality of bristles are arranged to shake off dust from the surface being cleaned; and a rib which is disposed at a position close to the drum brush, is mounted in the casing so that its one end is in contact with the bristles, and detaches the dust from the bristles when the drum brush rotates; and wherein the bristles are contacted on a slant relative to the rib to prevent the drum brush from rotating when the casing is pulled towards a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dong-houn Yang, Hiroyuki Uratani, Hwa-gyu Song, Sung-cheol Lee, Hyun-ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7716785
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a floor cleaning machine comprising a brush adapted to scrub the floor with a cleaning, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: CFM Nilfisk-Advance S.P.A.
    Inventors: Sergio Coccapani, Filippo Marchetti
  • Patent number: 7712178
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning tool sheet and a cleaning tool capable of use for wiping cleaning by contacting the surface of objects to be cleaned in various locations. In a cleaning tool sheet (1), fiber bundles (3) are laminated on one side face of a base sheet (2); the central parts in the direction of flow of the fibers constituting the fiber bundles (3) are joined by a central joining part (4) continuously formed in the central part of the base sheet (2) and joined at a spot-form joining part (7) formed intermittently on a parallel line between the central joining part (4) and two end edges (2a, 2b) parallel therewith. The two ends (31a, 31b) in the direction of flow of the fibers of the fiber bundles (3) are not joined to the base sheet (2). An attaching part (8) for attaching onto a holding member is provided at both ends of the base sheet (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: Kikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 7713110
    Abstract: A head assembly for a rotary tool, comprising a body arranged for connection to a drive means, the drive means rotatable about a first axis of rotation; a rotatable element arranged for connection to a pad assembly, the rotatable element rotatable about a second axis of rotation disposed substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation; and, a locking assembly arranged to lock the rotatable element to the body to prevent rotation of the rotatable element relative to the body about the second axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Dynabrade, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lampka, Matthew A. Giles
  • Patent number: 7708623
    Abstract: A grinding method and to a cylindrical grinding machine grinds metal rod that is pushed through a chuck of a workpiece spindle head. Two backrest seats are ground on and two backrests are then seated. The support of an end area enables a front cone to be ground. A grinding wheel comprised of two different individual wheels serves to grind the front cone and is advanced toward the round rod in the X-direction. The front cone is lodged in a hollow punch at a front end of a quill by displacement of the quill. The desired cylindrical grinding a final contour of the end area is done. Working the rod is done with a single chucking and the end area is cut off from the round rod by one of the individual wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Junker
  • Patent number: 7707912
    Abstract: A disposable oil filter wrench includes an adhesive layer for adhering the wrench to an oil filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Gregory Sparks
  • Patent number: 7707683
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a rechargeable battery operated combination sweeper/vacuum assembly for picking up debris that is swept into a pile. The assembly further comprises an elongated handle, a sweeper member, and a vacuum member. A compartment for housing the rechargeable battery is mounted to the upper end of the elongated handle. Mounted to the lower end of the handle is the sweeper member which further comprises a housing adapted to slidably receive the bristles of the sweeper member. Mounted to the backside of the housing is the vacuum member which further comprises a removable cover constructed in the shape of a dust pan. The removable cover of the vacuum member can be used as a conventional dust pan with the sweeper portion of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Selim Nurudeen
  • Patent number: 7704123
    Abstract: An adjustable handle assembly for a road surface cutting saw is provided that includes a back plate attached to the saw housing, an outer gear attached to the back plate, a bracket assembly including an inner gear, a tubular member slidably attached to the bracket assembly, and an adjustment lever having a threaded engagement end. The adjustment lever secures the bracket assembly to the saw such that the inner gear engages the outer gear. When the adjustment lever is loosened a bias spring biases the bracket assembly away from the saw such that the inner gear disengages from the outer gear to thereby allow rotation of the handle assembly to a desired operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Diamond Products, Limited
    Inventors: Martin D. Marsic, Kent A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7703161
    Abstract: A vehicle extrication preparatory tool includes an elongated body portion with an ergonomic bend in the middle. A handle is provided forward of the bend extending in an upward direction perpendicularly to the rear section of the body. Incorporated into the upward end of the handle is a window punch. A pry bar is attached to the rearward end of the body portion. Incorporated into the forward end of the tool is a swivel segment. The swivel segment incorporates both a windshield spike and a windshield saw blade. In the open position, the saw blade extends from the swivel segment, running parallel with the front section of the body and the spike extends upward from the swivel segment perpendicular to the rear section of the body. When closed, the saw blade fits inside a slot in the body portion extending from the swivel segment inline with the front section of the body and the spike extends downward perpendicular to the rear section of the body from the swivel segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Darran Michael Handshaw
  • Patent number: 7698774
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is an assembly for bending the blade of a drywall knife. In one aspect of the invention, a first and second blade bender are each attached to a drywall knife and a force is applied. This force bends the blade in such a manner that an arcuate blade is produced. The magnitude of the bend is highly adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Darren M. Coon
  • Patent number: 7698772
    Abstract: A toothbrush with a head having at least one pair of twisted wire brushes secured to the head's top surface in a position that creates a narrow and substantially uniform trench between the bristles of opposing brushes. Head construction may be solid, curved, blunt, tapering, or have a forked distal end. When a user's brace hardware and/or orthodontic wires are placed within the trench, bristles adjacent to it reach tooth surfaces behind the orthodontic wires to gently remove plaque without wire or hardware breakage. The twisted wires of opposing conical brushes are not parallel so as to create a uniform trench. The twisted wires in narrow end of conical brushes are also angled toward the distal end of the toothbrush head to facilitate reaching crowded back teeth without orthodontic wire breakage. The toothbrush handle can be laterally angled relative to its head and brushes are optionally replaceable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Meskell Hauser, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7698777
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower, an electric blower controller for controlling the electric blower, an electric blower current detector for detecting at least a current flowing in the electric blower, and a dust chamber provided at an upstream of the electric blower, for collecting dust particles sucked by the electric blower. A predetermined level of a current is made to flow in the electric blower regardless of a dust particle amount in the dust chamber. Preferably, the vacuum cleaner further includes voltage detector for detecting a voltage of a power supply applied to the vacuum cleaner. More preferably, the vacuum cleaner further includes a frequency detector for detecting a frequency of a power supply applied to the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tosiaki Fujiwara, Hiroshi Nakao, Masaki Takahashi, Nobuhiro Hayasi
  • Patent number: 7694384
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner including a head having an inlet for sucking in air containing impurities from outside; a dust collector including: a dust collecting container having a handle on a side thereof, and sucking in polluted air and collecting impurities separated from the polluted air, and having an opened top surface for discharging air separated from the impurities; and a top lid including a fixing groove and a guiding member, and detachably provided at the dust collecting container for closing the opened top of the dust collecting container, wherein the guiding member is coupled to a predetermined part of the dust collecting container such that the fixing groove is positioned at a predetermined location when the top lid is assembled with the dust collecting container; a main body having a dust collector receiving recess in front part thereof, wherein the dust collector is detachably provided; and a fixing device provided at an upper front portion above the dust collector receiving recess, and havi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Jin Park, Sang Jun Park, Kang Won Moon, Seog Yong Kim, Suck Hyun Moon
  • Patent number: 7690077
    Abstract: Central vacuum units are provided with a canister having a sidewall forming a hollow interior, a vacuum motor disposed within the hollow interior, an exhaust port in fluid communication with the hollow interior, and an acoustic damping pathway. Examples of the acoustic damping pathway can include a plurality of acoustic damping chambers in fluid communication with each other. In addition or alternatively, the acoustic damping pathway can include an inner acoustic damping chamber and an outer acoustic damping chamber. In addition or alternatively, the acoustic damping pathway can form a serpentine passage from the motor to the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products, Ltd.
    Inventor: Darin Jay Biere