Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John P. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5698122
    Abstract: A dual switch for a semi automatic welding gun has a switch lever that pivots between three positions. At the first position, the switch lever is disengaged from a first switch so that the welding gun is "off". In the second position, the switch lever engages the first switch to turn the gun "on". A locking lever retains the switch lever in its second position. Pivoting the switch lever to its third position releases the locking lever to enable the switch lever to return, under a spring bias, to its first position. A second switch is independent of the first switch and is selectively actuated to vary the welding schedule while the gun is either "on" or "off".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: The Miller Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Lubieniecki, James W. Lyall, William Knippel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5694984
    Abstract: An improvement in a punch design for a punch used within a strapping tool which creates seal-less connections between overlapping steel strap segments that are to be bound together. The punch is relieved along the edge surfaces that experience extreme forces during the stamping operation which physically binds the strap segments together. The relieved edges also provide a less acute angle for the stamped edge surfaces to scrape against once the tension on the straps is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Nelson Cheung
  • Patent number: 5685473
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for controlling a fastener-driving tool comprises a workpiece-contacting element, a tool-controlling element movable conjointly with the workpiece-contacting element over a limited range, a spool defining having a threaded connection with the workpiece-contacting element and a swivel connection with the tool-controlling element and having axial ribs alternating with axial ribs, and a spool-restraining element movable along a radial line between a spool-restraining position and a spool-releasing position and biased toward the spool-restraining position. The spool-restraining member is arranged to restrain the spool against rotating at the swivel and threaded connections by projecting into any given one of the grooves, between the fibs nearest to the given one of the grooves, when the workpiece-contacting element is moved inwardly from an outer portion of the limited range but not when the workpiece-contacting element is within the outer portion of the limited range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Shkolnikov, Donald L. Van Erden, Scott A. Howell
  • Patent number: 5680980
    Abstract: A fuel system is provided for a combustion-powered tool having a self-contained internal combustion power source with a combustion chamber, and constructed and arranged for driving a drive blade to impact a fastener and drive it into a workpiece. The tool includes a housing having a main chamber enclosing the power source and having a first end adjacent a nosepiece wherein the fasteners are positioned prior to driving, and a second end opposite the first end and adjacent the combustion chamber. A fuel cell chamber is in communication with the main chamber and has a first chamber end corresponding to the first end of the main chamber and a second chamber end corresponding to the second end of the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5675960
    Abstract: A method for creating a stable, palletized unit of trays of multipackaged containers. The containers are multipackaged with a flexible ring-type plastic device. The trays are of corrugated paperboard which have been pre-compressed or embossed in predetermined areas of the base of the tray so that any tendency of the tray to compress under pressure from the base of the containers during a palletization is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Weaver
  • Patent number: 5634755
    Abstract: A magnetic drain bolt comprising: a bolt body and a magnet, the bolt body comprises a male-threaded member and a head member, the male-threaded member has an axial bore formed at a bottom end thereof for receiving the magnet, the male-threaded member further has a substantially circular lip extending axially inward at a bottom edge of the axial bore; the magnet consists of a cylindrical base and a cylindrical projecting extremity, the cylindrical base is sized to fit within the axial bore and has a diameter slightly larger than an inner diameter of the circular lip, the cylindrical projecting extremity extends axially from the cylindrical base and has a diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the circular lip and thereby defines an indented circular shoulder along a bottom edge of the cylindrical base and along a top edge of the cylindrical projecting extremity, wherein the cylindrical base is fitted within the axial bore and the circular lip extends over the indented circular shoulder against the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5635090
    Abstract: A GMAW gun has a nozzle that is axially slidable over a gas diffuser. The nozzle is positively located in one of two different positions by a double counterbored insulator in cooperation with an insulative retaining ring. When the double counterbored insulator is installed in a first orientation on the gun, the nozzle abuts a first surface of the double counterbored insulator to provide a first positive stop. When the double counterbored insulator is installed in a second orientation, the nozzle abuts a second surface of the double counterbored insulator to provide a second positive stop. The various components of the gun are dimensioned such that a contact tip protrudes from the nozzle when the nozzle is at the first positive stop, and the contact tip is recessed into the nozzle when the nozzle is at the second positive stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Lubieniecki
  • Patent number: 5620620
    Abstract: A self-contained welding machine has the same width as a selected prior welding machine and is interchangeably mountable therewith to a flat surface. The welding machine of the invention has a base that utilizes the full space available above its width by fabricating the base with side walls that lie in respective vertical planes coinciding with the vertical planes that pass through the outermost ends of mounting lugs on the base of the prior welding machine. Mounting holes in the floor of the base are accessible through associated openings in the base side walls. Covers cooperate with the base floor and side walls to create pockets that close the side wall openings while providing access to the mounting holes in the base floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Miller Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Feldhausen, Jeffery P. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5607608
    Abstract: At end cap construction forms part of an enclosure for a self-contained welding machine. The end cap construction comprises a control panel assembled to the back plane of an upright bezel. Triangular-shaped arms on the bezel fit into a corresponding triangular-shaped outline of the panel to add rigidity to the panel. The bezel has appreciable thickness between its back plane and a front plane. Control knobs on the control panel front surface are recessed from the bezel front plane and are thus protected by the bezel against damage. The bezel and panel have respective flanges that are fastened to top and side covers that complete the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Miller Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Feldhausen, Jeffery P. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5605222
    Abstract: A dual knife-edge transfer conveyor for transporting small articles from one conveyor to a second conveyor, upper sections of the conveyors being in approximately the same plane, the conveyors being driven in the same transport direction and following each other immediately in the transport direction and thus forming a gap between the two conveyors, the dual knife-edge transfer conveyor comprising: a dual knife-edge plate member, an endless transfer belt, the transfer belt revolving about the dual knife-edge plate member, a transfer conveyor frame, the dual knife-edge plate member being attached to an upper section of the frame, the dual knife-edge plate member also having a pair of edges, each of the edges having a small radius, the frame being positioned in between the two conveyors such that the dual knife-edge plate member lies in approximately the same plane as the two conveyors, the dual knife-edge plate member further having a length slightly smaller than the gap formed between the two conveyors, defle
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jay C. Huberty, Mark A. Rekucki, Thomas M. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 5605018
    Abstract: A flexible end cap includes at least one flexible membrane, such as a rubber sheet, for covering the end of the roof rib, having a top peripheral portion and a bottom peripheral portion. At least one frame member is attached to at least a portion of the top peripheral portion of the flexible membrane for supporting the membrane in a sealing relationship with the roof rib. At least a portion of the bottom peripheral portion, such as the portion for covering a ridge profile, includes at least two sealing ribs wherein a cross-sectional height of one rib is larger than a cross-sectional height of the other rib. The sealing ribs with the larger cross-sectional height allow the end cap to accommodate varying designs of roof rib profiles formed by adjacent sheets of roof panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Work Inc.
    Inventors: James W. McElderry, Michael C. Dill, Juergen O. Rathgeber, John A. Wand, John F. Fox
  • Patent number: 5599470
    Abstract: A battery box for an engine driven welding machine slides in an opening in the welding machine base between closed and open positions. When the battery box is in the closed position, a battery secured to a battery box is concealed inside the base. When the battery box is in the open position, the battery is exposed for servicing. Panels assembled to the base define an opening in the base. The panels cooperate with the base floor to form slots in which the battery box slides. The panels and base floor provide a cantilever support for the battery box when it is in the open position. A finger hole in the battery box is surrounded on one side by a small housing that keeps foreign material out of the machine base when the battery box is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Miller Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Peotter, Harvey R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5591362
    Abstract: An idle solenoid assembly sets the idle speed of the internal combustion engine of a self-contained welding machine. The idle solenoid assembly comprises a bracket to which a solenoid is immovably secured. The solenoid plunger is connected to the engine governor arm. The bracket has slotted feet that slide on an engine surface. By sliding the bracket, the position of the engine governor arm is adjusted to produce the desired engine idle speed when the solenoid is actuated. There is no contact or binding between the bracket and the solenoid plunger or between the solenoid plunger and the engine governor arm. The solenoid is wired to a control circuit through a first plug retained in the bracket and a second plug. The solenoid is properly grounded on the internal combustion engine through the second plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Miller Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Feldhausen, Jeffery P. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5586661
    Abstract: A dam for use with a screen deck for screening materials such as coal, sand, limestone, crushed stone and various ores where the dam regulates the flow of material across the screen deck, can be releasably retained to the screen deck in various positions about the screen deck and readily can be removed and repositioned about the screen deck or replaced with another dam member of a different size, configuration or both to accommodate various applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Roger M. Maki
  • Patent number: 5570834
    Abstract: A box doubles as a shipping carton and a dispensing container for light weight roof fasteners. The box has two end walls, each with a channel-shaped perforation therein. Top flaps connected to the end walls along respective foldlines are formed with cutouts. The cutouts in each top flap align with the perforation in the associated end wall when the top flap is folded over into facing contact with the end wall. The perforations and cutouts are offset from vertical centerlines of the end walls and top flaps. The perforations are punched out to create tabs that are pushed through the top flap cutouts, and to simultaneously produce openings in the end walls. A long strap is inserted through the cutouts and openings and looped under the box. A person can carry the box and roof fasteners in it by slinging the strap over his shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Larson, Donal H. Egan
  • Patent number: 5558479
    Abstract: A wall anchor uses splines on an interior surface of a cylindrical body to accommodate fasteners having different thread diameters. The splines are configured in types. A first type includes at least one spline protruding centrally at a narrow angle, while a second type also includes at least one spline protruding centrally at a wider angle. When a fastener, such as a #6 or #8 sheet metal screw (SMS), is inserted into the wall anchor, the first type of spline will primarily engage the #6 SMS, while the second type of splines are only partially implemented. When a #8 SMS, which has a larger thread diameter than a #6 SMS, is inserted into the wall anchor, both the first and second types of splines are engaged to facilitate retention of the SMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James W. McElderry
  • Patent number: 5535572
    Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping a load in film material is provided with magazines of vertically oriented corner protectors, each associated with a corner of the load, and from which a corner protector is withdrawn and transferred to cover the corresponding corner of the load prior to wrapping the latter with plastic film material. The magazines comprise a pair of vertically spaced apart conveyor belts which feed the corner protectors to a discharge end of the magazine, and a pick-up and transfer arm pivotal about a single arm axis transfers a corner protector from the magazine through an arc of 135.degree. which aligns the corner protector for movement into engagement with the corner of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jack I. Morantz, David T. Lencz, Normand Boyer
  • Patent number: 5518043
    Abstract: A pneumatically powered strapping tool, being modular, comprises a tensioning motor module, a sealing motor module, a sealing mechanism module, and a control valve module. The tensioning motor module comprises a pneumatic tensioning motor arranged to coact with a tensioning mechanism driven by such motor for tensioning two overlapped ends of a steel strap drawn from a supply and wrapped around a load. The sealing motor module comprises a pneumatic sealing motor, which is arranged to drive the sealing mechanism module for sealing the overlapped ends to each other, after the overlapped ends have been tensioned. The control valve module comprises pneumatic control valves for controlling the respective pneumatic motors. The modules and the tensioning means are adapted to be readily assembled and to be readily disassembled without requiring disassembly of any of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works
    Inventors: Nelson Cheung, Janusz Figiel, Allen D. Sordyl
  • Patent number: 5509769
    Abstract: A barbed light weight concrete fastener and plate comprises a fastener with a head and two bendable legs. Each leg has a barb and a bump protruding therefrom. The fastener is pushed through a base ply and into a roof deck of cementitious material. The legs diverge to capture a concrete wedge between them. The barbs dig into the concrete wedge to increase resistance to a pullout force. The bumps create pressure points with the cementitious material that further resist pullout. A plate may be interposed between the fastener and the base ply. The plate has a number of openings therethrough of relatively large area. The openings are filled with plugs of asphalt that adhere to the base ply. Pulling of the base ply is resisted by the plate acting against the shear areas between the asphalt plugs and the base ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Larson, Donald H. Egan
  • Patent number: 5499664
    Abstract: A cutting mechanism is disclosed, which is useful in a strapping tool of the type used to apply a steel strap in a tensioned loop around a package by means of a series of interlocking joints comprising interlockable shoulders punched into overlapped ends of the strap. The cutting mechanism comprises an anvil arranged to support the overlapped ends of such a strap, a cutter holder movable toward and away from the anvil, an elongate cutter removably mounted within to the holder so as to extend crosswise in relation to the overlapped ends such a strap when the overlapped ends of such a strap are supported by the anvil. The cutter is movable conjointly with the holder, toward and away from the anvil. The cutter has a polygonal profile defining plural, elongate, parallel cutting edges, one of which projects toward the anvil when the cutter is mounted within the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Peter Drabarek