Patents Represented by Attorney Joseph F. Key
  • Patent number: 7266898
    Abstract: A light detector which includes a housing having front and rear walls, a light receiving section disposed on the front wall, and displays disposed on the front and rear walls for showing the location of received light relative on the light receiving section. Also disclosed is a laser level including a motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a housing fixedly disposed on the shaft, the housing having a bore therein, a barrel, and a screw disposed on the housing and contracting the barrel for adjusting the pivotal position of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Karim El-Katcha, William R. Reeve, Robert E. McCracken, Allen Brelsford, Donald W. Zurwelle, Fred S. Watts
  • Patent number: 7220174
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable drywall sander capable of imparting more than one type of motion. In an exemplary embodiment, the sander includes a power unit with a motor and a sanding assembly coupled to the power unit. A telescopic support arm assembly is coupled to the sanding assembly and the power unit for supporting the sanding assembly. The telescopic support arm assembly includes a first support arm with a first and a second end and a second support arm with a first and second end. The first end of the first support arm being coupled to the power unit and the second end of the second support arm being coupled to the sanding assembly. A collapsible drive shaft is substantially enclosed by the telescopic support arm assembly. The telescopic support arm assembly and the collapsible drive shaft allow the length of the telescopic assembly to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Phillips, John W. Schnell, Daniel Paxton Wall
  • Patent number: 7134211
    Abstract: A laser level includes a housing, a pendulum pivotably mounted to the housing and a laser diode assembly disposed on the pendulum. A gimbal assembly is employed for pivotably mounting the pendulum to the housing. The gimbal assembly includes a frame connected to the housing, a first pair of bearings disposed on the frame, an axle extending through the first pair of bearings, a body disposed on the axle and pivotably supporting the pendulum, and a second pair of bearings disposed between the body and the pendulum. The first pair of bearings is disposed on one side of the second pair of bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Bascom, John K. Horky, John McKibben, Daniel N. Lopano, Geoffrey S. Howard, Michael A. Nelson, John C. Wenig
  • Patent number: 7116697
    Abstract: The present invention relates to laser leveling device suitable for construction. The present invention uses a standard low cost laser diode module as the laser source and optical system. A novel method is provided to align the non-collimated beam emitted from the standard low cost laser diode module so that it is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the laser level. The present invention describes a laser level which can be operated in four different modes: dot mode, line mode, oscillation mode and plane mode. Dot mode provides two level laser dots. Line mode provides a short bright level line. Oscillation mode provides a long bright reference line. Plane mode provides a level 360 degree reference plane. The invention also provides a structure which allows two vertical reference planes which are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the horizontal reference plane to be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Dawei Dong
  • Patent number: 7108028
    Abstract: A debris collection container for a planer comprising a receptacle for storage of debris generated by a planer during its planing action and a connector which connects the receptacle to a planer and through which debris can pass from the a planer to the receptacle during use wherein the connector connects to the receptacle via a part spherical shaped section which curves the direction of travel of any air or debris entrained within it as it passes through the part spherical section. The part spherical section curves any airflow and any entrained debris through ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Thomas
  • Patent number: 7101274
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a power finishing tool having a variable position handle. In aspects of the present invention, a power finishing tool includes a motor housing for containing a motor configured to drive a working element. A variable position handle such as linear handle is adjustable generally toward/away from a power cord such that the power cord is maintained in a standard orientation (i.e., toward the rear of the tool/the direction toward a user). In a further aspect a joystick type variable handle is configured to pivot about a Z-axis extending through the power finishing tool. Suitable adjustment mechanisms include a track type mechanism wherein the handle travels along a track, a rotating bracket mechanism for permitting linear adjustment of the handle may be included for varying the position of the handle, and a ball and socket mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Etter, P. Brent Boyd
  • Patent number: 7081698
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for improving motor efficiency. The motor of the present invention may provide at least 1.9 Horsepower (HP) while drawing 15–16 Amperes at 120 Volts. The motor of the present invention may provide at least 75% efficiency and the speed of 12,000 to 14,000 RPM. A small size and low weight motor may be provided by the present invention. Further, it is contemplated that the motor of the present invention may be produced at a low cost per unit with a volume of 500,000 to 1,000,000 units per year. It is also contemplated that the motor may be suitable for use in consumer and professional products by complying with recognized safety standards such as U.L., CSA, CEE and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Burkholder, Dalton McFarland
  • Patent number: 7073268
    Abstract: A level includes a laser source for establishing one or more visually identifiable measurement and reading in a work environment or in combination with the use of a power tool. A power tool control system includes a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with the power tool and enabled to establish various readings, such as power tool settings. A graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the level and/or the non-contact measurement and alignment device enables user control over and display of the readings from the level and/or the non-contact measurement and alignment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Etter, Jaime E. Garcia, Kathy DeKeyser, Alan Philips, Robert F. Burkholder, Jeffrey D. Weston, Melinda J. Hearn
  • Patent number: 7069968
    Abstract: A planer comprising; a body including a wall and the wall defining a recess and an expulsion aperture, a cutting drum rotatably mounted within the recess, the cutting action of the drum causing debris to be ejected from the recess through the expulsion aperture; an airflow generator for producing an airflow within the body; a conduit defined within the body for directing the airflow, the conduit connected to the recess by the expulsion aperture; and wherein the debris entering the conduit through the expulsion aperture travels substantially in a first direction, and the airflow through the conduit adjacent to the expulsion aperture travels substantially in a second direction, and the first direction of the debris and the second direction of the airflow intersect at an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Thomas, Steve Hill
  • Patent number: D518747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Lopano
  • Patent number: D526587
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Lopano
  • Patent number: D529775
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy D. Leasure
  • Patent number: D536942
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Betty L. Cooper, Ginger L. Allen, Gregory K. Griffin, Chad Hanson, Mark A. Etter
  • Patent number: D538122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Etter, Chad W. Hanson, Ginger L. Allen, Betty L. Cooper, R. Marcus Mansfield, Gregory K. Griffin
  • Patent number: D545710
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Concari, Kelton W. Lovell, Tanika L. Malloy, Lawrence E. Milburn
  • Patent number: D545760
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Concari, Kelton W. Lovell, Tanika L. Malloy, Fred S. Watts
  • Patent number: D548573
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Bascom, John K. Horky, Daniel N. Lopano, John C. Wenig
  • Patent number: D551650
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Kathy E. DiPasquale
  • Patent number: D558017
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Betty L. Cooper, Ginger L. Allen, Gregory K. Griffin, Chad Hanson, Mark A. Etter
  • Patent number: D581303
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Concari