Patents Assigned to Blount, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9888621
    Abstract: A flange for securing a rotary blade to a shaft that includes a solid plate with: an axially oriented shaft hole substantially in the center of the plate; two or more additional blade holes for securing a blade to the flange; an embossment around the shaft hole, providing a profile for stopping blade rotation about the blade hole; and a depression on the back face of the plate opposite the embossment, which provides a welding surface to secure the plate to a shaft passing through the shaft hole. Also are assemblages that include a flange, such as a blade assembly system for attaching two or more blades to a shaft, a bladed shaft, an attachable farm implement including a bladed shaft, and a powered machine, which includes a bladed shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Wehler, David Lienemann
  • Patent number: 9890821
    Abstract: Embodiments of clutches for electric tools, and related methods, are disclosed herein. An electric tool may include an electric motor, a drive shaft coupled between the electric motor and a cutting instrument, and a clutch coupled between the electric motor and the drive shaft. The clutch may include a motor portion having an exterior surface, a drive shaft portion having an exterior surface and forming a mated assembly when mated with the motor portion, and a spring around the motor and drive shaft portions. The spring may exert a holding force on the mated assembly, such that rotation of the motor portion in a first direction loosens the spring and reduces the friction holding force until a torque between the motor and drive shaft portions exceeds the holding force, causing rotation of the motor portion to be decoupled from rotation of the drive shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar A. Dallas, Evan Pickett
  • Patent number: 9757808
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide formed wire tie strap for a saw chain. Embodiments also provide a saw chain including one or more formed wire tie straps. The formed wire tie strap may include a body with one or more integrated rivets extending from the body. In some embodiments, the body may be substantially flat. The rivet may include a rivet head configured to engage a rivet hole of an opposing tie strap and a shoulder configured to engage a rivet hole of a connecting link, such as a drive link. Some embodiments of the formed wire tie strap may include a pair of integrated rivets extending from the body. Some embodiments may include a rivet hole disposed in the body of the formed wire tie strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Patent number: 9649777
    Abstract: A log splitter where splitting force is generated by storing kinetic energy in a rotating flywheel. Rotational energy is converted to splitting force by means of a rack and pinion, which is coupled to the flywheels through a belt-driven clutch system. A belt rests around a driven sheave and a drive sheave. An idler pulley tensions the belt, causing the driven pulley to rotate. The idler pulley is attached to an actuation handle causing the idler to lock, by means of a latch, until the operator disengages the pulley, or until a component mounted to the rack forces the latch to disengage. The rack remains engaged to the pinion by a bearing mounting system. A spring bumper may be placed at the end of travel so that at the end of the stroke, the ram mechanism compresses the spring, and uses stored energy to reverse the ram, pinion and sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: BLOUNT, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Foley, Drew Arnold, Don Leliefeld, Emanuel Guzman, Ron Bowman
  • Patent number: 9610702
    Abstract: Embodiments of chain saw cutter links, and related apparatuses and methods. For example, in some embodiments, a cutter link may include a top plate, a sharpened surface having an upper end and a lower end, and a depth gauge having a top surface. The sharpened surface may define a reference line tangent to the sharpened surface at the upper end such that the reference line extends between the top plate and the sharpened surface, a sharpened width may be defined by a minimum distance between the reference line and the lower end of the sharpened surface, an opening width may be defined by a minimum distance between the reference line and the top surface of the depth gauge, and the sharpened width may be greater than the opening width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: BLOUNT, INC.
    Inventor: Sam Hutsell
  • Patent number: 9456544
    Abstract: In embodiments, a seeder may include a frame including a seed box and a rear roller. In embodiments, the seeder may be configured to removably couple with either a roller assembly or a disc blade assembly. In some embodiments, the seeder may include a front tray configured to receive two kinds of seed from two different seed boxes and disperse the seed at a position in front of the rear roller so that the seeds are planted at the same depth. In some embodiments, the seeder may further include a calibration tray which may have a width less than a width of the seeder. The calibration tray may be configured to receive seed from the seed box during a calibration procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Wehler, Cory E. Sarver
  • Patent number: 9456543
    Abstract: In embodiments, a seeder may include a frame including a seed box and a rear roller. In embodiments, the seeder may be configured to removably couple with either a roller assembly or a disc blade assembly. In some embodiments, the seeder may include a front tray configured to receive two kinds of seed from two different seed boxes and disperse the seed at a position in front of the rear roller so that the seeds are planted at the same depth. In some embodiments, the seeder may further include a calibration tray which may have a width less than a width of the seeder. The calibration tray may be configured to receive seed from the seed box during a calibration procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Wehler, Cory E. Sarver
  • Patent number: 9439343
    Abstract: In embodiments, a seeder may include a frame including a seed box and a rear roller. In embodiments, the seeder may be configured to removably couple with either a roller assembly or a disc blade assembly. In some embodiments, the seeder may include a front tray configured to receive two kinds of seed from two different seed boxes and disperse the seed at a position in front of the rear roller so that the seeds are planted at the same depth. In some embodiments, the seeder may further include a calibration tray which may have a width less than a width of the seeder. The calibration tray may be configured to receive seed from the seed box during a calibration procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Wehler, Cory E. Sarver
  • Patent number: 9357712
    Abstract: Embodiments of a pole-attached power tool system, and related methods, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a pole-attached power tool system may include a pole having a first end, a second end, and an interior region; a handle disposed proximate to the first end of the pole; an electric motor disposed proximate to the first end of the pole; a power tool disposed proximate to the second end of the pole; and a drive member disposed within the interior region, the drive member mechanically coupled with the electric motor and the power tool to transfer power generated by the electric motor to the power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Pickett, Edgar A. Dallas
  • Patent number: 9272440
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a cutter link having an end of life indicator to provide feedback to the user that the saw chain, and more specifically the cutter link(s), has been worn and/or sharpened to an undesirable state or degree. There is provided one or more disruptions to the cutting surface of a cutter link in a region that is past the manufacturer's recommended wear limit. When exposed, such disruptions in the cutting surface provide perceptible indications to the user that the chain should no longer be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Sam Hutsell
  • Patent number: 9192997
    Abstract: Embodiments include a sharpening fixture adapted to mount to the nose of a chainsaw guide bar. When mounted, the operator may direct a force towards the guide bar thereby causing a linear directed actuator to move a sharpening element into engagement with cutters of a saw chain to sharpen a cutting edge of the cutters. In various embodiments, the actuator is biased such that when the force is no longer applied, the actuator pulls the sharpening element out of engagement with the cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Seigneur, Ian Osborne
  • Patent number: 9038519
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a modified pitch sprocket to provide an orientation of a saw chain link, such as a cutter link or drive link, with respect to the direction of travel of the link, as it traverses the sprocket that is different than the orientation of the link as it traverses a straight portion of the guide bar. In some embodiments, the modified pitch sprocket may orient the cutter link to provide radial extension for a depth gauge of the cutter link relative to a cutting element of the cutter link. This may facilitate shaping of the depth gauge and/or cutting element, such as by a sharpening element, as the cutter link traverses the sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Goettel, Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Patent number: D731276
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Patterson
  • Patent number: D740167
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Sam Hutsell
  • Patent number: D745353
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Pickett, Edgar A. Dallas
  • Patent number: D746004
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Murray, Erik Jensen
  • Patent number: D771462
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: BLOUNT, INC.
    Inventor: Sam Hutsell
  • Patent number: D772669
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Sam Hutsell
  • Patent number: D774572
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: BLOUNT, INC.
    Inventors: Emanuel Guzman, Glennbruce Campbell
  • Patent number: D781351
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Upham