Patents Assigned to Snap-on Tools Corporation
  • Patent number: 4919020
    Abstract: A tool for rotatably driving a fastening member includes a hollow tubular shank closed at one end by a handle fixed thereto and having coupled to the other end thereof in communication therewith a socket for receiving an associated rotatable fastening member. A helical compression spring is disposed coaxially within the shank, having the inner end thereof embedded in a body of adhesive material and having the outer end thereof fixed to the keeper of a magnet disposed for magnetic engagement with a fastening member received in the socket. In assembly, the adhesive material is inserted in the shank in a fluid state, the inner end of the spring is immersed in the fluid, and the adhesive is then cured to a solid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Huebschen
  • Patent number: 4903944
    Abstract: A valve assembly for use with a fluid-driven tool having an elongated conduit with a bore communicating with the source of fluid, and an elongated valve member received in the bore. The valve assembly has a ball received in a chamber defining a valve seat, with the chamber communicating with the source in order to drive the ball against the seat. The valve assembly has a valve pin extending through the conduit in order to actuate and move the ball away from the valve seat to permit passage of the fluid through the valve member past the seat, and a paddle for actuating the valve pin in order to open the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Butzen, Kenneth C. Happ
  • Patent number: 4898524
    Abstract: An improved, fluid driven rotary motor of the vane type includes a housing having a rotor cover disposed between a pair of end plates, a rotor rotatably mounted in the housing and a drive shaft torsionally affixed to the rotor. In the improved rotary motor of the invention, the rotor is slidable on the drive shaft so that the axial position of the rotor is permitted to "float" with respect to the housing. The degree of axial displacement, or degree of "float", is limited by a compression spring means and an abutting ring which cooperate with a pair of bearings in the end plates so that contact between the rotor and housing is avoided. Furthermore, the compression spring means is operative to force the rotor to return to a predetermined normal operating position upon axial displacement of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: James K. Butzen
  • Patent number: 4879847
    Abstract: A cover for use with a motor and handle extending from the motor comprising, a soft, resilient, fairly rigid, thermoplastic elastomeric material of one-piece construction. The cover has a first body portion having a sidewall and a dome extending from the sidewall defining a cavity to receive the motor, with the dome being spaced from the motor to define a chamber between said dome and motor which serves as a muffler to reduce noise. The cover has a hollow second body portion extending from the first body portion and having a bore to receive the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Butzen, Kenneth C. Happ, Robert D. Giese
  • Patent number: 4863267
    Abstract: An optical toe/track measurement system includes a pair of toe gauge assemblies respectively mountable on the two wheels at one end of a motor vehicle and a pair of track scale assemblies respectively mountable on the other two wheels of the vehicle. Each toe gauge assembly includes an elongated tubular housing having toe and track projection systems for respectively projecting toe and track light beams from the opposite ends of the housing, the track beam being projected coaxially with the housing onto the track scale on the same side of the vehicle, while the toe beam is projected perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing onto a scale carried by the toe gauge assembly on the other side of the vehicle. Light is supplied respectively to the two toe gauge assemblies throught two fiber optic cables from a single remote light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Roy B. Bendickson, Edward S. Wahoski, Michael A. Norris
  • Patent number: 4851833
    Abstract: A microprocessor controlled digital engine analyzer receives analog input signals from an engine being analyzed, engine parameter data entered via a keyboard, and function data, selecting one of several operating modes for the analyzer and which information is to be displayed, entered via the keyboard, and displays on a CRT screen the selected information such as cylinder firing order, RPM, Dwell, KV and DC volts, alphanumerically, information such as primary and secondary ignition and voltage, alternator and fuel injector information through the use of continuous waveform patterns, and additional information pertaining to Dwell, KV and Cylinder Shorting through the use of bar graphs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Putrow, Leonard J. Wisneski, Jr., Craig F. Govekar, Gary D. Jonker, Gordon Lindhard, Dennis W. Weidenbenner, Robert O. Quinn
  • Patent number: 4849744
    Abstract: A microprocessor controlled digital engine analyzer receives analog input signals from an engine being analyzed, engine parameter data entered via a keyboard, and function data, selecting one of several operating modes for the analyzer and which information is to be displayed, entered via the keyboard, and displays on a CRT screen the selected information such as cylinder firing order,RPM, Dwell, KV and DC volts, alphanumerically, information such as primary and secondary ignition and voltage, alternator and fuel injector information through the use of continuous waveform patterns, and additional information pertaining to Dwell, KV and Cylinder Shorting through the use of bar graphs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on-Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Putrow, Craig F. Govekar
  • Patent number: 4845792
    Abstract: An approach ramp for an automotive support platform includes first and second ramp members, the trailing end of the first ramp member being pivotally connected to the leading end of the platform. The second ramp member is both slidably and pivotally movable with respect to the first ramp member. Each ramp member carriers rollers at its leading end for engagement with the floor when the platform is lowered to an access position. In one configuration the ramp members are disposed in overlapping parallel relationship to define a single ramp incline. In a second configuration the second ramp member is extended from the first and is inclined with respect thereto to form a dual-slope ramp incline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald R. Bakula, Donald J. Caldwell, Andrzej J. Dlugolecki
  • Patent number: 4847563
    Abstract: A distributorless ignition interface unit for use with an engine analyzer for analyzing an internal combustion engine includes a processing circuit which responds to analog signals representing true and wasted firings for the cylinders of the engine under test to determine the number of cylinders of the engine and the polarity of the firing of each cylinder and to then characterize the engine by determining the order of the true and wasted firing signals produced during an engine cycle and for producing a parade pattern of true or wasted secondary signals for application to the engine analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Sniegowski, Craig F. Govekar, Dennis G. Thibedeau, Ron D. Geisler
  • Patent number: 4825734
    Abstract: A variable leverage tool handle comprises a handle having first and second elongated parts and a pivotal tongue and clevis joint therebetween, accommodating movement approximately 90.degree. in opposite directions from a normal in-line configuration. The joint includes a detent pin resiliently biased against the tongue for engagement with at least one pin-receiving depression thereon resiliently retaining the first and second handle parts in their normal in-line configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Peter K. Schwalbe, George R. Slivon
  • Patent number: 4816752
    Abstract: A sensor is periodically energized and the sensor output is amplified, the amplified signal being applied to two sample-and-hold circuits which are alternately activated in response to the sensor drive, one being activated only when the sensor is energized and the other being activated when the sensor is not energized. One of the samples is subtracted from the other in a summer for cancelling the amplifier offset. The summer output may be buffered, and there is also applied to the summer an offset correction signal for cancelling sensor offset and buffer offset inaccuracies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Michalski, Kevin M. Andrews, Daniel Mieczkowski
  • Patent number: 4812768
    Abstract: A microprocessor controlled digital engine analyzer receives analog input signals from an engine being analyzed, engine parameter data entered via a keyboard, and function data, selecting one of several operating modes for the analyzer and which information is to be displayed, entered via the keyboard, and displays on a CRT screen the selected information such as cylinder firing order, RPM, Dwell, KV and DC volts, alphanumerically, information such as primary and secondary ignition and voltage, alternator and fuel injector information through the use of continuous waveform patterns, and additional information pertaining to Dwell, KV and Cylinder Shorting through the use of bar graphs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Robert O. Quinn
  • Patent number: 4804921
    Abstract: A microprocessor controlled digital engine analyzer receives analog input signals from an engine being analyzed, engine parameter data entered via a keyboard, and function data, selecting one of several operating modes for the analyzer and which information is to be displayed, entered via the keyboard, and displays on a CRT screen the selected information such as cylinder firing order, RPM, Dwell, KV and DC volts, alphanumerically, information such as primary and secondary ignition and voltage, alternator and fuel injector information through the use of continuous waveform patterns, and additional information pertaining to Dwell, KV and Cylinder Shorting through the use of bar graphs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Putrow, Leonard J. Wisneski, Jr., Craig F. Govekar, Gary D. Jonker, Gordon Lindhard, Dennis W. Weidenbenner, Robert O. Quinn
  • Patent number: 4800378
    Abstract: A microprocessor controlled digital engine analyzer receives analog input signals from an engine being analyzed, engine parameter data entered via a keyboard, and function data, selecting one of several operating modes for the analyzer and which information is to be displayed, entered via the keyboard, and displays on a CRT screen the selected information such as cylinder firing order, RPM, Dwell, KV and DC volts, alphanumerically, information such as primary and secondary ignition and voltage, alternator and fuel injector information through the use of continuous waveform patterns, and additional information pertaining to Dwell, KV and Cylinder Shorting through the use of bar graphs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Putrow, Leonard J. Wisneski, Jr., Craig F. Govekar, Gary D. Jonker, Gordon Lindhard, Dennis W. Weidenbenner, Robert O. Quinn
  • Patent number: 4794828
    Abstract: The mechanism, used in a ratchet wrench, includes a body carrying an integral stud. A bore extends axially into both and an actuator rod is reciprocally mounted therein. A transverse bore in the stud slidably holds a pin which is linked to the rod. A socket is applied to the mechanism by pushing the socket against a camming surface on the pin to enable the socket to be snapped onto the pin without operating the actuator. The socket is removed by depressing the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Gene E. Olson
  • Patent number: D298301
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Stephan
  • Patent number: D299411
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Dino C. Porcaro
  • Patent number: D299910
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Doman, Gerald R. Bakula, Raymond R. Zuzinec, Sr., Thomas J. Christensen, Jack A. Parise
  • Patent number: D302378
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Nelson
  • Patent number: D307236
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Steven S. Cascio, Donald J. Caldwell, Tom S. Severson, Steven R. Wente, Mark S. Bakula