Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Hoepfl

Joseph R. Hoepfl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6370988
    Abstract: A ratcheting driver handle has a ratchet body press-fitted axially in one end thereof, the body defining a socket which receives a gear for rotation coaxially with the handle. The socket also receives two pawls respectively disposed above and at opposite sides of the axis and spring-biased into engagement with the gear. A selector cap rotates on the housing and carries a first pin for driving the pawls respectively out of engagement with the gear, depending upon the direction of rotation, to control the ratchet direction. A second pin on the cap engages an over-center leaf spring mounted in the socket below the gear for resiliently retaining the mechanism in either of the forward or reverse conditions. A driver bit has a flattened end which is received through an axial bore in the cap and into a complementarily shaped bore through the gear for rotation therewith, being frictionally retained in place by a retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Thompson, Joseph R. Hoepfl
  • Patent number: 6368536
    Abstract: A driving tool, such as a screwdriver, has a handle with an injection-molded, relatively hard and rigid inner body, molded around a tool shank, the inner body having an elongated central portion with two end flanges extending laterally outwardly of the central portion around the entire periphery thereof, with the central portion having a peripheral groove formed therein adjacent to an end flange. An outer gripping body of a relatively soft and resilient material is injection molded around the inner body, by supporting the inner body by its ends in a mold cavity and injecting the mold charge adjacent to the groove so that it first fills the groove and then flows in a circumferential front longitudinally to the other end flange, surrounding said central portion of said inner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hoepfl, Christopher D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6228306
    Abstract: A driving tool, such as a screwdriver, has a handle with an injection-molded, relatively hard and rigid inner body, molded around a tool shank, the inner body having an elongated central portion with two end flanges extending laterally outwardly of the central portion around the entire periphery thereof, with the central portion having a peripheral groove formed therein adjacent to an end flange. An outer gripping body of a relatively soft and resilient material is injection molded around the inner body, surrounding said central portion of said inner body and filling said groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hoepfl, Christopher D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5964009
    Abstract: A driving tool, such as a screwdriver, has a handle with an injection-molded, relatively hard and rigid inner body, molded around a tool shank, the inner body having an elongated central portion with two end flanges extending laterally outwardly of the central portion around the entire periphery thereof, with the central portion having a peripheral groove formed therein adjacent to an end flange. An outer gripping body of a relatively soft and resilient material is injection molded around the inner body, surrounding said central portion of said inner body and filling said groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hoepfl, Christopher D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5570616
    Abstract: A ratcheting driver handle has a ratchet body press-fitted axially in one end thereof, the body defining a socket which receives a gear for rotation coaxially with the handle. The socket also receives two pawls respectively disposed above and at opposite sides of the axis and spring-biased into engagement with the gear. A selector cap rotates on the housing and carries a first pin for driving the pawls respectively out of engagement with the gear, depending upon the direction of rotation, to control the ratchet direction. A second pin on the cap engages an over-center leaf spring mounted in the socket below the gear for resiliently retaining the mechanism in either of the forward or reverse conditions. A driver bit has a flattened end which is received through an axial bore in the cap and into a complementarily shaped bore through the gear for rotation therewith, being frictionally retained in place by a retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Thompson, Joseph R. Hoepfl
  • Patent number: 5437212
    Abstract: A ratcheting driver handle has a ratchet body press-fitted axially in one end thereof, the body defining a socket which receives a gear for rotation coaxially with the handle. The socket also receives two pawls respectively disposed above and at opposite sides of the axis and spring-biased into engagement with the gear. A selector cap rotates on the housing and carries a first pin for driving the pawls respectively out of engagement with the gear, depending upon the direction of rotation, to control the ratchet direction. A second pin on the cap engages an over-center leaf spring mounted in the socket below the gear for resiliently retaining the mechanism in either of the forward or reverse conditions. A driver bit has a flattened end which is received through an axial bore in the cap and into a complementarily shaped bore through the gear for rotation therewith, being frictionally retained in place by a retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher D. Thompson, Joseph R. Hoepfl
  • Patent number: 4041972
    Abstract: A hydraulic stack valve assembly for controlling the pressure and flow of hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic system. The stack valve assembly includes a valve body including flow control valves and a valve cover including pressure control valves and a flow director plate sandwiched between the flow control and the pressure control valves for directing modulated and regulated pressurized fluid through the flow control valves to hydraulic actuators in the hydraulic system. The stack valve has the provision of interchanging the flow director plate to modify the valve assembly and adapting the valve for use of the desired number of flow control valves and the pressure control valves best suited to the hydraulic system in which the valve assembly is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hoepfl, Gerardus M. Ballendux
  • Patent number: 4024937
    Abstract: A clutch pedal operated mechanical transmission brake for stopping the rotating elements in a transmission during shifting to reduce shifting time. The force applying the brake is limited since it is transmitted through resilient means to avoid overheating of the brake and prevent the brake from being used to stop the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hoepfl, Gerardus M. Ballendux
  • Patent number: 4008629
    Abstract: A stationary sun gear mounted on a sleeve fixed to the transmission housing. The sleeve provides a bearing support internally and externally of the sleeve for rotatably mounting rotating members on the sleeve. The mounting of the gear and sleeve assembly permits individual replacement of the sun gear and support sleeve as well as servicing of the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hoepfl, Gerardus M. Ballendux
  • Patent number: D350269
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald O. Majors, Joseph R. Hoepfl
  • Patent number: D350470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald O. Majors, Joseph R. Hoepfl
  • Patent number: D356481
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald O. Majors, Joseph R. Hoepfl
  • Patent number: D379750
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Thompson, Joseph R. Hoepfl
  • Patent number: D414095
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hoepfl, Christopher D. Thompson, Michael G. Gentile
  • Patent number: D421888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Company
    Inventors: Christopher D. Thompson, Joseph R. Hoepfl, Mark J. Knapp