Abstract: A level for measuring, including a level body having a recess, a vial positioned within the recess and secured to the level body, and a resilient member positioned between the vial and the level body to act as a resilient backer to the vial during the positioning of the vial. Also, a method of installing a vial in a level, a method of measuring the angle of an elongated member having a convex, transverse cross-section, and a level for measuring having a vial assembly that is rotatably positioned within the level body.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-purpose reversible clamp comprising a threaded rod having a handle fixed at a first end, a lower jaw mounted on the threaded rod above the handle, the lower jaw including a female corner receiving portion facing away from the handle, wherein the uppermost portions of the female corner receiving portion include a plurality of flattened surfaces that share a common plane. The clamp also includes an upper jaw with a male corner portion on a first end and a flat surface on a second end. In a corner clamping configuration, the upper jaw is mounted on the threaded rod with the male corner portion facing the female corner receiving portion of the lower jaw. In a parallel clamping configuration, the upper jaw is mounted on the threaded rod with the flat surface facing the flattened points of the lower jaw.

Abstract: The invention provides a demolition tool that can be used in many ways for the demolition of construction materials or other materials. The demolition tool includes a handle having a head at one end. The head has a longitudinal central plane that bisects the head, a strike contact face, and toothed, stepped grasping jaws that accommodate multiple sizes of lumber or other material. The head may also include a blunt blade edge below the strike contact face for striking and demolishing material. The demolition tool includes a bent end pry bar at a second end of the handle. The bent end pry bar being offset 90 degrees from the longitudinal central plane of the tool head enabling full range of motion without interfering with other tool functions. The demolition tool may comprise a single piece of material and may be softer than tools used to strike it, but harder than materials which it is used to strike.

Abstract: A jaw for a bar clamp and a method of using a bar clamp, the bar clamp including a trigger having a first force applying mechanism to apply a first force against the drive lever at a first point on the drive lever that is remote from the bar as the trigger pivots with respect to the main section to provide low mechanical advantage to the drive lever. The trigger also having a second force applying mechanism to apply a second force against the drive lever at a second point on the drive lever that is closer to the bar than the first point as the trigger pivots with respect to the main section to provide high mechanical advantage to the drive lever.

Abstract: A bar clamp, including a bar; a first jaw movably coupled to the bar; a second jaw being movably coupled to the bar; and a motor configured to move the second jaw toward the first jaw. One of the first and second jaws including a drive lever that engages the bar and a trigger to move the drive lever and move the bar relative to the one of the first and second jaws.

Abstract: A utility knife and a method of using a utility knife. The utility knife including a first blade coupled to a linkage and movably positioned within the housing between a first blade fully-retracted position wherein all of the first blade is positioned within the housing and a first blade extended position wherein a portion of the first blade extends outside the housing, and a second blade coupled to the linkage and movably positioned within the housing between a second blade fully-retracted position wherein all of the second blade is positioned within the housing and a second blade extended position wherein a portion of the second blade extends outside the housing.

Abstract: A jaw for a bar clamp and a method of using a bar clamp, the bar clamp including a trigger having a first force applying mechanism to apply a first force against the drive lever at a first point on the drive lever that is remote from the bar as the trigger pivots with respect to the main section to provide low mechanical advantage to the drive lever. The trigger also having a second force applying mechanism to apply a second force against the drive lever at a second point on the drive lever that is closer to the bar than the first point as the trigger pivots with respect to the main section to provide high mechanical advantage to the drive lever.

Abstract: A jaw for a bar clamp having a trigger pivoted to a handle at a position on the handle that is spaced from the bar. The trigger directly contacting a drive lever at a contact point, such that the contact point between the trigger and the drive lever changes along the length of the drive lever as the trigger pivots with respect to the handle such that when the contact point is remote from the bar the trigger provides high mechanical advantage to the drive lever, and when the contact point is closer to the bar the trigger provides low mechanical advantage to the drive lever. Also, a method of using a bar clamp, including positioning first and second moving jaws on opposite sides of a member to be clamped and activating a mechanical motor to move the bar and force the first moving jaw toward the second moving jaw until both the first and second moving jaws securely clamp the first member to be clamped between the first and second moving jaws.

Abstract: A lighted level including a frame having parallel working surfaces and an inner connecting web having an aperture with a pair of notches for supporting a liquid-containing vial. The level includes a light emitting diode for illuminating the vial. The level is constructed for automatic drop-in assembly of each of the component parts, including a printed circuit board containing the lighting circuitry, without requiring wires, screws, pins, pegs or bolts.

Abstract: A knife holder for a utility knife is disclosed comprising an elongated case forming a blade opening at the forward end and an interior guide for guiding a blade carrier and a blade carrier adapted for mounting a blade and being slidably mounted to the guide for selective longitudinal movement between a retracted sheathed position and an extended unsheathed position. The blade carrier has outwardly extending flanges for supporting a blade and a retainer tab for laterally retaining the rearward portion of the blade and the case has a retainer protrusion at the blade opening for laterally retaining the forward end of the blade so that the retainer tab and the retainer protrusion coact to retain the blade to stabilize the blade during usage.

Abstract: A dowelling jig (1) comprises a through-hole (5) for guiding a drill (18), abutments (12, 12) and cantilever springs (13, 13) for clipping the jig to one edge (10) of boarding (11) for drilling dowel-holes (2, 2, 2) in the edge, and a peg (9) for insertion in each dowel-hole (2) in turn for drilling the corresponding dowel-hole (3, 3, 3) in a face (14) of a second piece of boarding (15). The through-hole (5) extends between parallel faces (6) to which face (7) is perpendicular. Through-hole (5) axis is perpendicular to faces (6) and (19) while peg (9) is perpendicular to face (7). Abutments (12, 12) align face (19) of boarding (11) with face (7) for drilling of holes (2, 2).

Abstract: A measuring rule has a coilable steel measuring blade extensible through an opening in a housing and is marked along its length with regularly spaced dark areas separated by light areas. Two pairs of light sensors are located near the rule each associated with a light emitter. Each sensor is 180.degree. out of phase with the other sensor of the pair and 90.degree. out of phase with the other two sensors. The outputs of each pair of sensors are used to produce a difference signal. The difference signals are used by a counter to measure the magnitude and direction of movement of the blade. Each sensor output signal is divided by voltage divider to give a divided signal and each sensor output signal is compared with the complementary divided signal at the instant the difference signal of the other pair of sensors changes state and a fault signal is generated if its minimum is larger than the maximum of the complementary divided signal.

Abstract: The plastics handle 21 of a retractable blade knife 20, which also comprises a blade 22 and a blade-slider 23, is molded in one piece in a two-part molding tool 50 which can mold several such handles simultaneously. The handle has a series of wall portions, 39, 40, 27 and 43, 44, 28, 48 alternating with apertures 45, 46, 29, 49 and 41, 42, 30 along each side 25, 26 respectively, each wall portion on each side being directly opposite a respective aperture on the opposite side, so that molding tool portions 54, 55 of the molding tool can form the inside surfaces of the wall portions for guiding the blade. Wall portions 27 are formed by molding tool portions 56 with gaps 31 for passage of a manually operable part 32 of slider 23, and also act as detents for the slider.

Abstract: A guide assembly for sawing an elongate member accurately to length to form the sides of a picture frame comprises two saw-guide units which are adjustably clamped to two guide roads by means of screws. The picture frame glass is placed between reference surfaces of blocks on the saw-guide units to determine the required distance apart of the two saw-guide units. Each saw-guide unit has two pairs of posts defining slots therebetween for the blade of a saw, to hold the saw-blade accurately at 45.degree. to the direction of elongation of the wooden member, for the eventual formation of mitred joints between the sides of the picture frame. Each saw-guide unit includes a special ridge to abut that surface of the wooden member which is to surround the edge of the glass.

Abstract: A retractable blade knife 10 comprises an elongate handle 11 which is in two halves 14, 15 clamping therebetween a replaceable blade 12 which can be extended and retracted by means of a cursor 18 and which has "break-lines" 32 for breaking off successive end portions 33. To clamp the blade 12 firmly in use, a screw 27 at the rear end of the handle can be turned to produce relative longitudinal sliding between the two handle halves 14, 15, whereupon an inclined "wedging" surface 17 at the front end of the handle 11 clamps the two halves 14 and 15 together with the blade 12 between them.

Abstract: An elongate substantially rectangular abrading tool blade, which can be used either for smoothing or for heavy stock removal, is formed of sheet metal and has a multiplicity of ground and hardened cutting teeth distributed over a cutting face of the blade and a multiplicity of associated through-the-blade apertures. The cutting teeth and associated apertures extend in several parallel rows across the blade at an angle other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade, with several cutting teeth and associated apertures in each row, all the said cutting teeth facing the same way, namely, perpendicular to the said rows. Each said aperture is directly in front of and adjacent its associated cutting tooth relative to the direction in which the teeth face. Two longitudinal side edge portions of the blade are bent back through an acute angle relative to the cutting face from a longitudinal, substantially flat, middle portion of the blade.

Abstract: A retractable blade knife adapted for use selectively with either the long narrow standard type of blade having score lines for breaking off successive end portions when worn and a large hole at its rear end or the shorter wider type of blade, sometimes double ended, with one or more smaller holes. The knife has a two part blade carrier. One part slides longitudinally relative to the other into two click positions. In each of these positions the upper part can pivot at its front end relative to the lower part. The rear end of the upper part is spring-biased away from the lower part to engage detent means on the upper part with detent means on the casing to locate the blade carrier. The front part has two bosses of different diameters, the small diameter boss projecting above the large diameter boss. All the blades lie in the same plane in the casing when in use respectively.

Abstract: A cutting tool for sheet material, especially for opening cardboard cartons, has a disposable blade removably fixed to a handle and a guide member of bent wire also fixed to the handle for keeping the blade in cutting engagement with the sheet material and away from the contents of the cartons. A nose of the guide member is rounded to avoid damaging the carton contents and projects ahead of the cutting edge of the blade. One arm of the guide member is above the blade tip so as to keep the blade from disengagement from the sheet material. Another arm of the guide member is below the tip of the blade for preventing cans or other cartons contents from being cut by the blade. A hard point is provided for puncturing cartons which are too tough to be punctured by the rounded nose of the guide member.