Patents Examined by Thomas W. Lynch
  • Patent number: 5628500
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus for a coil can exactly position a plurality of pre-assembled U-shaped wires at predetermined locations and clampingly hold their positions in a precise manner with extreme ease to thereby ensure smooth insertion of the wires into an iron core while avoiding inadvertent deformations of or damage to the wires upon assembly. A plurality of clamp pins are disposed on the support disk for rotation relative thereto and spaced from each other with predetermined circumferential intervals, each of the clamp pins being movable in a radial direction of the support disk and having a tapered tip end directed toward the central axis of the support disk. Each of the tip ends has two pairs of engagement grooves formed therein. A first drive mechanism drives the clamp pins to move in a direction radially of the support disk by a predetermined radial distance whereby the tapered tip end of each clamp pin is adapted to move into or out of adjacent ones of the U-shaped winding wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mikio Iguchi
  • Patent number: 5624106
    Abstract: A gripping device for holding a workpiece includes a fixture with a working surface and least one hole, a stop rising above the working surface, a fastener and a gripping member. The gripping member has a through bore for receiving the fastener and a gripper wall adapted to engage the workpiece whereby the gripper member slides toward the stop and the gripper wall applies a downward inward holding force on the workpiece when the fastener is secured to the hole of the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Gene Weber
  • Patent number: 5617621
    Abstract: A tool for removing seals from wheel hubs is shown and described. The tool comprises a handle or lever portion having an upstanding hook portion and a cross member in connection with the hook portion. The hook portion is perpendicular to the plane of the cross member and the bottom of the hook portion is about flush with the front edge of the cross member. The front of the tool is placed in the bore of the wheel hub and flush against the seal. The tapered ends of the cross member will be aligned against the seal and will hold the hook portion in place when the lever is pivoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Inventor: Carman J. Fedele, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5613288
    Abstract: A puller tool for removing bearings and like items from a blind hole comprises a plurality of fingers mounted within channels on a circular guide member for radially directed motion. The fingers include an outer wedge portion for insertion between an annular face of the item and a seat surface of the hole, and a radially inner cam surface arranged for engagement by an elongated actuating member to which the guide member is threadably mounted for forcing the fingers in a radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: James D. Lundsten
  • Patent number: 5611525
    Abstract: A combination fence and table for use with a power tool provides means for rotating a plate from a table position to a fence position. The plate also is tiltable with respect to the base of the apparatus. The edge of the plate closest to the power tool remains at a substantially constant distance from the power tool throughout the range of angles that the plate is tilted. When used in the fence position, the plate is movable linearly across the width of the power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter M. Bishop
  • Patent number: 5611726
    Abstract: A high speed knife sharpening apparatus where the surface of a first rotating abrasive element is that of a truncated cone and forms a first facet with microgrooves and a microburr. A second stage is a novel composite cone shaped honing wheel made up of a micro abrasive imbedded in an epoxy matrix. The honing wheel refines the edge developed in the first stage, into an erect triangular shape with a radius of curvature, at the apex (edge), of typically several microns or less depending on the hardness of the knife steel. A unique blade holding system constrains the blade to a precisely defined angle relative to each of the grinding (first) and honing (second) stages. Proportionately larger grinding forces are developed for thicker knife blades, thus sharpening times are approximately the same over the common range of knives from small paring knives (6"), large chef's knives (10") up to kitchen cleavers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel D. Friel, Robert P. Bigliano
  • Patent number: 5603486
    Abstract: An improved frame-type, manually-operated hydraulic car jack consists of a base, a pressure release valve, a socket, a lever, a hydraulic oil cylinder, a piston, a pair of pulling bars, a pair of links, a pair of pushing bars, a load-engaging head and a locking rod. A pair of horizontally aligned holes which have a diameter slightly larger than that of the locking rod are defined in the pushing bars. When the car jack is driven to lift a car supported by the car jack to a desired level, the locking rod is inserted into and extended through the holes on the pushing bars thereby to prevent an unintentional lowering of the car jack and the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Yang-chou Liu
  • Patent number: 5595375
    Abstract: A clamp for releasably gripping a workpiece includes a base member, a first jaw portion attached to the base member and having a first gripping portion and a second jaw member pivotally coupled to the base member at a pivot location, and having a second gripping portion. The second jaw is pivotable about the pivot location between an open, retracted position where the first and second gripping portions are spaced apart and a closed, gripping portion where the first and second gripping portions engage the workpiece and apply a gripping force to hold the workpiece. An actuator selectively retracts the second jaw member from the gripping position into the retracted position by application of a retracting force. A mechanism which may include a cam or an over-center linkage releasably holds the second jaw member in the retracted position independently of the retracting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Benn Corporation
    Inventor: Hermann Bennhausen
  • Patent number: 5594981
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which has utility for assembling a flexible tubular segment telescopically upon an end portion of a length of tubing when the tubing has an outer diameter which is substantially the same or greater than the inner diameter of the tubular segment. The apparatus has the capacity to controllably stretch the flexible tubular segment sufficiently to facilitate passage therethrough of an end portion of a length of the tubing. The end portion of the length of tubing is then positioned inside the stretched flexible tubular segment such that the stretched tubular segment is located a pre-selected distance from the free end of the end portion of the length of tubing. The tubular segment is then allowed to contract around the the end portion. The assembled tubular segment and end portion of the length of tubing are then ejected from the apparatus while maintaining the pre-selected distance of the tubular segment from the free end of the end portion of the length of tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Carl J. Piontek, Bradford L. Buck
  • Patent number: 5594982
    Abstract: A hand tool for aligning misaligned adjacent ductwork sections having return flange terminations is provided with a sheet metal base area having integrally formed side flanges and an integral V-shaped notch element which functions to align the ductwork sections for subsequent installation of a flanged cleat interconnection when the hand tool is advanced manually to its final position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Inventor: Mark E. Dobbeck
  • Patent number: 5593137
    Abstract: An bi-directional, adjustable elevating and support mechanism to assist in the removal, installation and repair of rack-mounted items such as electronic telecommunications modules by supporting and aligning such modules during the removal, installation and repair of such modules from support racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: Charles L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5593147
    Abstract: A hand tool containing a movable jaw mount, a slide bar wherein the movable jaw mount is mounted to the slide bar. A support assembly is provided for supporting the slide bar. A stationary jaw mount is spaced away from the support assembly. Interchangeable quick change jaws are mounted to both the movable jaw mount and the stationary jaw mount. Quick change jaws face each other for clamping operations and face away from each other for spreading operations. A two-way drive arrangement is designed having at least an engagement lever. A handle engages the engagement lever when the two-way drive arrangement is engaged, and disengages the engagement lever when the two-way drive arrangement is released. A support structure mount is mounted to the slide bar. A quick release support structure is mounted to the support structure mount providing free-standing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: Kenric W. Read
  • Patent number: 5590868
    Abstract: A hammer having a handle connected to the bottom end of the hammer head assembly. The hammer head assembly has a claw portion, a central portion, a head portion and a relieved connecting portion between the head portion and the central portion. The head portion has a flat top wall surface. The front surface of the head portion has a plurality of recesses formed therein with no protrusions extending outwardly from the front surface. The recesses cover at least 30 percent of the surface. The recesses may be aligned in rows and columns and they provide a better gripping surface when they strike the head of a nail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventors: Paul W. Hebert, Ted Floyd
  • Patent number: 5590870
    Abstract: A universal system for supporting and holding a workpiece having a contoured work holding surface is provided with a spaced array of work holding fixtures mounted on a base. Each fixture includes a work engaging head having a vacuum cup and three work engaging projections spaced outwardly from the vacuum cup and disposed in a work contact plane. The work engaging head is supported by a ball joint on a rod mounted for axial movement relative to a base and the ball joint supports the work engaging head for tilting movement about axes orthogonal to each other and to the axis of the rod. The ball joint includes a ball and casing and a ball clamp in the casing with ball clamp operating means for selectively moving the ball clamp means into a ball clamped condition to a ball released condition. A rod clamp means is provided for selectively locking the rod in a rod clamp adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Advanced Machine & Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Willy J. Goellner
  • Patent number: 5586754
    Abstract: A workpiece clamping apparatus for securing a workpiece relative to a planar support surface including a pair of contoured block members, each provided with a plurality of slots and apertures and having a base provided with structure for operatively attaching the block members to the planar support surface. A bar clamp has structure for securing a workpiece and further has opposite ends wherein each end of the bar clamp is operably associated with one of the pair of block members. The plurality of slots and apertures are axially aligned in both the vertical and horizontal planes. Each slot is operatively associated with a selected one of the plurality of apertures and is further dimensioned to receive one of the ends of the bar clamp. The plurality of apertures further include at least one aperture formed in the base of each contoured block wherein the at least one aperture is provided with structure for operably connecting the block member to the planar support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Willis R. Williams
  • Patent number: 5586925
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for artificially weathering large amounts of marble by use of a horizontally disposed drum having a stone lined interior surface. The drum houses a large quantity of marble having similar surface hardness together with a slurry of abrasive material including silica, clay, and gravel which operates to cushion the marble from chipping during tumbling of the marble. The stone lining of the drum absorbs the impact of marble to reduce or prevent chipping of the marble. The marble and slurry are rotated at a particular speed for a predetermined amount of time. Various types of acid can also be inserted into the mixture providing a faster processing time and surface etching not possible with straight abrasion techniques. The processed marble is removed from the drum and sliced in half so to provide two pieces of weathered tile each having a flat mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignees: Donato DiNorcia, Anthony DiNorcia, Jr., Anthony DiNorcia, Sr.
    Inventors: Anthony DiNorcia, Sr., Anthony DiNorcia, Jr., Donato L. DiNorcia
  • Patent number: 5584110
    Abstract: A tool is provided which facilitates the installation of a standard garbage disposal unit. The tool allows the installer to set the hanger frame around the sink opening sleeve without having to hold down the sink opening sleeve while attaching the circular spring to the lower end of the sink opening sleeve. The tool of the invention has a lower portion with frustoconical side to facilitate the expansion of the circular spring. The tool also has an upper portion which is generally cylindrical and which fits up into the lowermost end of the sink opening sleeve. Snap-on devices, such as spring-and-ball detents, are disposed around the upper portion of the tool to engage the tool to the annular lip at the lowermost end of the sink opening sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: David Mordoch
  • Patent number: 5582396
    Abstract: The part holder for workstations with a revolving table has a first prism-shaped supporting element and at least one second supporting element which is adapted to support parts to be machined. The holder comprises locator pins for positioning the second supporting element on a lateral face of the first supporting element and protrusions for removably locking the second supporting element on the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventors: Carlo Brasca, Daniele Brasca
  • Patent number: 5582392
    Abstract: A wire stringing device which comprises a barrel having a cylindrical bore which is closed at one end and open at the other end, a handle depending from said barrel, a compression spring disposed within the bore in proximity to the closed end, a projectile insertable into the bore whereby when the projectile is within the bore the spring is compressed against the closed end of the bore, the projectile adapted for attaching a flexible line thereto, a trigger adapted for engaging the projectile and maintaining the projectile within the bore and for releasing the projectile in response to finger pressure, whereby the projectile and the flexible wire may be projected from the device, and an adjustable compression member axially movable within the bore adjacent the closed end of the bore for adjusting the compression of the spring. The device may comprise a safety latch for locking the projectile in the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Canus Supply Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Suad Bajric, Alp Batur, Dominic Burns, John F. Faulkner, Ljubisa Sandovski, Rene Sonnenschein, Howard D. Stanleigh
  • Patent number: 5582542
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sharpening a cutting tool, including the grinding and honing of the cutting tool is described and illustrated. The apparatus comprises a base plate with a biasing frame mounted on the base plate. A tool holder is clamped to the biasing frame and releasably clamps a cutting tool, having an edge which is to be sharpened. A variety of tool holders allow the sharpening of different types of cutting tools. The cutting tool, and particularly, the edge thereof, is held in a stationary position and an abrasive member is moved with respect to the cutting edge of the tool. The apparatus forces the cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive member with a uniform amount of pressure and at a selected angle. Both the pressure and the selected angle are easily adjustable by the user. When the major variables, such as angle of sharpening and the pressure between the abrasive element and tool are fixed, an accurate, correct and reproducible sharpening will occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Sanford Stein