Patents by Inventor Robert H. Gifford

Robert H. Gifford 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: 7372355
    Abstract: A device to actuate a switch. The switch has a switch toggle movable between a first position and a second position. The device includes a switch yoke movable between the first position and the second position adapted to engage the switch toggle and move therewith. The device also includes a first linkage connected to the switch yoke. The first linkage applies a force in response to an input signal to move the switch yoke from the first position to the second position. The first linkage includes a shape memory alloy. The device is configured to permit manual actuation of the switch toggle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L Agronin, James D Marshall, Rafe D Bennett, Joe Rogers, Robert H Gifford, Carolyn M Martin
  • Publication number: 20080041211
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system for forming miter joints including a miter saw and an angle gauge. The miter saw includes a platform with a kerf slot and a pair of arcuate slots. Each arcuate slot includes an associated rail located on the underside of the platform. A fence is coupled to each of the rails such that the fence may be pivoted with respect to the platform. The angle measurement tool is a one-handed tool including spring loaded paddles that measure the angle between intersecting surfaces. The angle measurement tool connects to the miter saw to permit the transfer of the measured angle to the fences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: Black & Decker
    Inventors: Louis Gibbons, Gregory S. Snider, Frederick R. Bean, Terry L. Turner, Steven McClaskey, Robert H. Gifford
  • Patent number: 7232120
    Abstract: A workbench has at least one drive member to clamp table members against one another. The drive member has a receiving tube and a crank tube. The receiving tube and crank tube are coupled with respect to one another for telescoping movement. One of the tubes has a threaded member and the other tube has a thread engaging member. A mechanism engages and disengages the thread engaging member into the threaded member such that in an engaged position, the crank tube can be rotated in the receiving tube for screw type movement. In a disengaged position, the crank tube is freely slidable for sliding movement in the receiving tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Campbell, Robert H. Gifford, Louis A. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 7198204
    Abstract: A portable pressure washer having a pump mechanism that is supported by a plurality of wheels. The pump mechanism has a rearwardly extending inlet connection and a forwardly extending outlet connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D Bennett, Christopher J Murray, Robert H Gifford
  • Patent number: 6892957
    Abstract: A portable pressure washer having a pump mechanism that is supported by a plurality of wheels. The pump mechanism has a rearwardly extending inlet connection and a forwardly extending outlet connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Bennett, Christopher J. Murray, Robert H. Gifford
  • Publication number: 20040046044
    Abstract: A portable pressure washer having a pump mechanism that is supported by a plurality of wheels. The pump mechanism has a rearwardly extending inlet connection and a forwardly extending outlet connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph D. Bennett, Christopher J. Murray, Robert H. Gifford
  • Patent number: 6688611
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, has at least one biased blade, in a non-biased condition, retaining the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position, with the at least one biased blade in a biased condition, the chuck is enabled to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Gifford, Richard J. Heavel, Alfred H. Judge, Thomas T. Bludis, Gavin K F Ng, Peter L K Woo
  • Patent number: 6550786
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, a biasing member in a non-biasing condition, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position, with the biasing member in a biased condition, the chuck is enabled to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Gifford, Richard J. Heavel, Alfred H. Judge, Thomas T. Bludis
  • Patent number: 6551037
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position the chuck is enabled to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Gifford, Richard J. Heavel, Alfred H. Judge
  • Publication number: 20010050465
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, has at least one biased blade, in a non-biased condition, retaining the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position, with the at least one biased blade in a biased condition, the chuck is enabled to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: Robert H. Gifford, Richard J. Heavel, Alfred H. Judge, Thomas T. Bludis, Gavin Kf Ng, Peter Lk Woo
  • Publication number: 20010026051
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, a biasing member in a non-biasing condition, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position, with the biasing member in a biased condition, the chuck is enabled to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Gifford, Richard J. Heavel, Alfred H. Judge, Thomas T. Bludis
  • Publication number: 20010005068
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position the chuck is enabled to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Robert H. Gifford, Richard J. Heavel, Alfred H Judge
  • Patent number: 6241260
    Abstract: A drill has a chuck with a body member and a bore to receive a cutting tool. A plurality of jaw members are coupled with the body to retain the cutting tool in the bore. A mechanism to secure the cutting tool in the jaws is coupled with the body. The mechanism applies a biasing force on the jaw members which enables the jaw members to slide on the body between a locked position securing the cutting tool in the jaw members and an unlocked position which enables egress and ingress of the cutting tool into and out of the jaw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred H. Judge, Richard J. Heavel, Robert H. Gifford
  • Patent number: 6047971
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position the release mechanism enables the chuck to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Harman, Jr., Dale K. Wheeler, William J. Spangler, Jr., Robert H. Gifford
  • Patent number: 5951026
    Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position the release mechanism enables the chuck to be removed from the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Harman, Jr., Dale K. Wheeler, William J. Spangler, Jr., Robert H. Gifford
  • Patent number: 5823657
    Abstract: A lamp clamp uses a portion of the lamp as a moveable clamping jaw. This portion is screw-threaded into a threaded aperture of one of the arms of a C-shaped member. The other arm of the C-shaped member includes an object-engaging portion which further includes two pressure pads separated by a dished portion. The C-shaped member includes a coextensive flange around the inner periphery of the "C". The flange assists in stabilizing the clamp against the object, such as, the side edge of a worktable. The end of the moveable portion is attached to a swivel head which is pivotably engageable with the object in several orientations. The arrangement is especially useful when it is desired to mount a flashlight having a flexible stem (such as the Black & Decker.RTM. SnakeLight.TM. flashlight). The moveable clamping jaw defines a cylindrical tube into which is slideably mounted the graspable portion of the flashlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventors: Scott D. Price, Alfred H. Judge, Thomas J. Wheeler, Robert H. Gifford