Patents Assigned to Alert Stamping
  • Patent number: 6186433
    Abstract: A manually wound cord storage apparatus comprising a reel frame having a central hub, a handle and at least two feet attached to a generally planar body. A spool for storing an electrical cord is rotatably mounted on the central hub. A winding knob is rotatably mounted on the spool for assisting the rotation of the spool around the central hub. The cord storage apparatus permits easy storage and transportation of an extension cord for supplying power to small appliances and electrical tools. The feet permit the apparatus to be used and stored in an upright position out of water and dirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: 6170775
    Abstract: A retracting extension cord reel includes a mounting bracket, a housing bracket removably and pivotally attached to the mounting bracket, and a cord reel housing attached to the housing bracket. When the mounting bracket is attached to a mounting surface, the housing can be moved toward and away from the mounting surface. When the housing bracket is detached from the mounting bracket, the housing bracket can be used as a handle for carrying the housing to a remote location. The cord reel is particularly useful for powering small appliances and electrical tools, and can incorporate a resettable circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: 6024317
    Abstract: An extension cord storage apparatus which includes a housing having a central body portion with spaced apart side walls and spaced apart end walls; spaced apart arcuate extension walls secured to respective ones of the end walls of the central body of the housing, the arcuate extension walls defining hollow compartment with respective ones of the end walls of the central body of the housing and having opposed openings communicating with respective compartments; and a closure for each of the openings of the hollow compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: 5934598
    Abstract: An apparatus (11) for storing a cord includes a pair of side panels (12, 13) each having a plurality of retainer cavities (29, 30, 31), a bearing aperture (26) and a pair of mounting bosses (64) formed thereon, a plurality of spacer bars (14, 15, 16) having opposite ends (33, 35, 37) inserted into corresponding ones of the retainer cavities for maintaining the side panels in spaced apart relationship and threaded fasteners (50) attaching the side panels to the spacer bars. A spool (17) for storing a cord has opposite ends (41, 44) rotatably retained in the bearing apertures (26) and slots (68, 69, 70) with cut outs (68a, 69a, 70a) for retaining an end of the cord. A winding handle (18) is attached to the spool (17) by legs (55) engaging retainers (52) on the spool ends (41, 44). Mounting brackets (19) are provided for receiving the mounting bosses (64) and releasably retaining the side panels (12, 13) on a mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: 4726538
    Abstract: A pulley for use in storing an electrical extension cord includes a pulley body having a generally tubular cord winding body with a radially outwardly extending flange formed at one end of its exterior surface. A generally disk-shaped flange plate is releasably attached to the other end of the winding body by locking tabs formed on the winding body which cooperate with apertures formed in the flange plate. Typically, the pulley body is formed of a nylon material and the flange plate is formed of steel. The winding body includes an internal wall and an aperture is formed in the wall and another aperture is formed in the flange plate for rotatably mounting the pulley on a supporting shaft. A coil spring has one end attached to the shaft and the other end attached to the winding body for automatically rewinding the extension cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, James W. Kovacik, Thomas J. Blanch, Paul S. Blanch
  • Patent number: 4725697
    Abstract: An extension cord reel and carrying case is formed of a high impact plastic material. The case is formed of two cup-shaped halves which are releasably attached by cooperating locking tabs and locking apertures. The reel is also formed of two halves and includes a pair of duplex outlets and a circuit breaker. The reel is supported in the case on flanges extending through openings in the case and is manually rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, James W. Kovacik, Thomas J. Blanch, Paul S. Blanch
  • Patent number: 4350850
    Abstract: A self switching electric cord reel is disclosed in which a switch for energizing and de-energizing the electric cord is located on a housing of the reel itself. The switch is electrically serially connected with the electric cord and actuated by a pivotally mounted lever switch means, one arm of which operates the switch, and the other arm of which extends across an opening of the housing through which the electric cord passes. An enlargement of the electric cord contacts and pivots the lever switch means to operate the switch. The present self-switching electric cord reel is characterized by using a simpler and less expensive switch and design than formerly were employed, and by adapting the lever switch means to absorb or transmit the mechanical shock of its pivotal operation to the housing in preference to transmitting the shock to the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Kovacik, James D. Kovacik, Thomas J. Blanch, Paul S. Blanch
  • Patent number: D296661
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, James W. Kovacik, Thomas J. Blanch, Paul S. Blanch
  • Patent number: D313165
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Alert Stamping
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, James W. Kovacik, Thomas J. Blanch, Paul S. Blanch
  • Patent number: D313166
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Alert Stamping
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, James W. Kovacik, Thomas J. Blanch, Paul S. Blanch
  • Patent number: D313167
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Alert Stamping
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, James W. Kovacik, Thomas J. Blanch, Paul S. Blanch
  • Patent number: D384878
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: D408719
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: D419426
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: D422197
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Manufacturing, Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna
  • Patent number: D431179
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Alert Stamping & Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Kovacik, Paul S. Blanch, Stanley E. Grzywna