Hand Tool
Method and apparatus for an electrically powered hand tool which can be used to install a spline into the groove on a frame member of a screened-in porch or window screen wherein the tool uses a reciprocating roller to press the screen and spline into the groove of the frame member so that the screen can be secured to the frame member. The hand tool has a handle serving as a housing for an electric motor with a rotating output shaft connecting to a transmission for creating reciprocating motion of a drive shaft having a distal end supporting a rotatable wheel adapted to compress the spline in the groove containing a portion of the screen while the handle is moved along the spline in the groove by a user.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/992,324 filed May 30, 2018.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to electric hand tools and, more particularly, is concerned with an apparatus used to install a spline into the groove of an upright standing frame member of a screened-in porch wherein the tool is used to press the screen and spline into the groove of the upright frame member so that the screen can be secured to the upright frame member of the screened-in porch.
Description of the Related ArtElectrically powered hand tools have been described in the related art, however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,428, dated Dec. 21, 2004 to Miura, et al., discloses an invention related to press-fitting a weather strip into a flange, specifically a vehicle's door. Miura discloses an invention that uses a vibration hammer with two rods, one of a small diameter and the other of a larger diameter, to install a weather strip on a vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,211, dated Jul. 24, 2001 to Granado, discloses a reciprocating saw attachment for an electric drill. U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,260, dated Oct. 17, 2000 to Catt, discloses a self-feeding screening installation tool. U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,429, dated Feb. 13, 1990 to Londono, discloses a screen installer tool. U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,821, dated Mar. 27, 1990 to Kieferle, discloses a screen installers tool.
While these methods for electrically powered hand tools may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. As will be shown by way of explanation and drawings, the present invention works in a novel manner and differently from the related art.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present invention discloses an electrically powered hand tool which can be used to install a spline into the groove on an upright standing frame member of a screened-in porch wherein the tool uses a reciprocating roller to press the screen and spline into the groove of the upright frame member so that the screen can be secured to the upright frame member of the screened-in porch. The hand tool of the present invention has a handle serving as a housing containing an electric motor with a rotating output shaft connecting to a transmission for creating reciprocating motion of a drive shaft having a forked distal end supporting a rotatable wheel adapted to compress the spline in the groove containing a portion of the screen while the handle is moved along the spline in the groove by a user.
An object of the present invention is to provide a tool to assist in installing screen on upright members for forming a screened-in porch or for replacing screen in a window screen frame. A further object of the present invention is to assist in installing the spline into a groove of an upright member for forming a screened-in porch. A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrically powered tool to assist in installing the spline into a groove of an upright member for forming a screened-in porch. A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrically powered tool having a reciprocating roller thereon to assist in installing the spline into a groove of an upright member for forming a screened-in porch.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout
-
- 10 the drawings.
- 12 present invention
- 12 ergonomically shaped handle for being held in the hand
- 13 forward end
- 14 on/off button
- 15 rearward end
- 16 rotatable wheel
- 18 axle
- 20 electric cord
- 22 electrical plug
- 24 related art
- 26 handle of related art
- 28 wheel of related art
- 30 axle of related art
- 32 frame member
- 34 groove
- 36 screen material
- 38 spline
- 40 user
- 42 hands of user
- 43 drive mechanism/transmission
- 44 electric motor
- 46 frame supporting the axle
- 48 drive shaft
- 50 output motor shaft
- 52 first beveled gear
- 53 axle supporting second beveled gear
- 54 second beveled gear
- 56 gear pin
- 57 one end of rod
- 58 rod
- 59 second end of rod
- 60 drive pin
- 62 tube
- 64 frame member on inside of handle
- 66 groove of window screen frame
- 68 frame of window screen
- 70 spline
The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.
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As used in this specification, the term transmission 43 is defined as the assembly of parts by which power/energy is transmitted from the electric motor 44 to the roller 16. Also, lines with arrowheads are sometimes placed on drawings to indicate motion or direction of movement of an item illustrated in the drawing.
Claims
1. An electrically powered hand tool for installing screen on a frame member having a groove to receive a portion of the screen, comprising:
- a) a handle comprising a housing having a forward end and a rearward end;
- b) an electric motor within said housing;
- c) a rotating output motor shaft extending forwardly from said motor;
- d) a transmission connected to said motor shaft for converting rotary motion of said motor shaft to reciprocating motion of a drive shaft along a longitudinal axis thereof extending forwardly from said transmission within said housing; and
- e) said drive shaft extending out of said forward end of said handle and having a distal end supporting a rotatable wheel adapted to compress a spline in said groove containing a portion of said screen while said handle is moved along said spline in said groove, wherein the reciprocating motion imparted to said rotatable wheel by said drive shaft while said wheel is moved along said spline in said groove causing said screen to be tightly and securely held within said groove.
2. The electrically powered hand tool of claim 1, in which said wheel is free-wheeling.
3. The electrically powered hand tool of claim 2, in which said distal end of said drive shaft is forked for supporting said wheel.
4. The electrically powered hand tool of claim 3, in which said transmission comprises a first beveled gear engaging a second beveled gear having a pin offset from a center of rotation of said second beveled gear, said offset pin attached to one end of a rod, a second end of said rod engaging a proximate end of said drive shaft, whereby rotation of said offset pin causes said rod to convert rotating motion of said second beveled gear to reciprocal motion along said longitudinal axis of said drive shaft.
5. The electrically powered hand tool of claim 1, in which said electric motor is powered by alternating current from an electric cord extending from said housing for connection to a power outlet.
6. The electrically powered hand tool of claim 1, in which said electric motor is powered by direct current.
7. The electrically powered hand tool of claim 1, in which said handle is ergonomically shaped.
8. An electrically powered screen installing hand tool in combination with a frame member having a groove to receive a portion of the screen, comprising:
- a) a handle comprising a housing having a forward end and a rearward end;
- b) an electric motor within said housing;
- c) a rotating output motor shaft extending forwardly from said motor;
- d) a transmission connected to said motor shaft for converting rotary motion of said motor shaft to reciprocating motion of a drive shaft along a longitudinal axis thereof extending forwardly from said transmission within said housing; and
- e) said drive shaft extending out of said forward end of said handle and having a distal end supporting a rotatable wheel adapted to compress a spline in said groove containing a portion of said screen while said handle is moved along said spline in said groove, wherein the reciprocating motion imparted to said rotatable wheel by said drive shaft while said wheel is moved along said spline in said groove causing said screen to be tightly and securely held within said groove.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 30, 2019
Publication Date: Dec 19, 2019
Inventors: Charles Jeffery Estes (Theodore, AL), Guin Joseph Thornton (Grand Bay, AL)
Application Number: 16/557,902