Patents Assigned to WorkTools, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11981010
    Abstract: A spring energized fastening tool with compact, rigid, low friction working elements is disclosed. A torsion power spring includes forward extending arms with the arms pressing each other proximate a front distal end of the spring. A cantilevered lever links to a handle and engages the spring adjacent to the striker. A bottom loading staple track unlatches and opens through a simple pulling-out action. Structures are provided to enable fitment with a formed sheet metal handle and housing. The fastening tool is particularly simple to assemble, powerful, and of low operating effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 11724377
    Abstract: A preferably pliers type stapler is disclosed with a staple loading structure that is both simplified and easy to operate. A lower handle and base are connected to the body through a pivoting and cam system. A single motion pulls the lower handle and base away from the body to expose a staple track location for loading staples at a bottom of the body. Preferably the same single motion releases the track to move outward from a rear of the body. In one embodiment a compact simplified structure using a preferably torsion spring provides a low cost reliable spring energized system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 11472014
    Abstract: A spring energized fastening tool with compact, rigid, low friction working elements is disclosed. A torsion power spring includes forward extending arms with the arms pressing each other proximate a front distal end of the spring. A cantilevered lever links to a handle and engages the spring adjacent to the striker. A bottom loading staple track unlatches and opens through a simple pulling-out action. Structures are provided to enable fitment with a formed sheet metal handle and housing. The fastening tool is particularly simple to assemble, powerful, and of low operating effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 10499739
    Abstract: A face/leaf structure can transform functions to selectively expand the usable area of a cabinet countertop or drawer without compromise to the cabinet's other functions. A drawer front is movably attached to a drawer to be either in a normal cosmetic vertical position or in a horizontal position cantilevered from the drawer. The structure may be arranged so that the leaf can be deployed with a single action. The leaf may rise to a same level as the countertop or selectively add exposed and usable horizontal space at a drawer front. Further the leaf can be pulled away from the main surface along with the drawer. This allows usable access to the drawer without stowing the leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Marks, Surapon Arleekul
  • Patent number: 10307917
    Abstract: An improved blade for use with an oscillating power tool is disclosed. A rectangular style blade includes side teeth to eject debris and allow rapid but well controlled blind plunge cuts. The side teeth are preferably asymmetric with a forward orientation to bias debris out and the blade inward. Preferably one or more openings or slots allow for additional debris removal. The side teeth also allow for controlled side cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 9962822
    Abstract: A compact, electric, spring energized desktop stapler having a unitized housing providing both an external movable enclosure and a support frame for internal parts is disclosed. The internal power train is preferably elongated with the motor at the rear, a gear set toward the center, and low profile lever and power spring assembly at the front. The lever engages a striker with a normal upper rest position where the power spring is deflected and energized. A cam roller mounted to a final gear holds down the rear of the lever until the system is activated when the final gear rotates and the cam roller rolls off the end of the lever. In the unitized body, the base is pivotally attached to the body at the rear. A base lever selectively links to a cam roller or equivalent structure to move the body downward toward the base during a cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 9889547
    Abstract: An improved tool belt hook is selectively deployable on a portable tool or device. The hook structure is deployable in selected directions or positions on the tool. A stowed position is also preferably included wherein the hook structure is substantially contained within confines of the tool body to be out of a user's way. A closely integrated pushbutton release may allow the hook to rotate between selected operative positions and automatically engage to such position. The button is easily operated while effectively remaining within confines of the tool body. The tool hook assembly is compact and low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8978952
    Abstract: Power spring configurations for a spring energized fastening device includes a compact double torsion power spring and two opposed compact single torsion springs. Simplified structures to hold the springs in a stable pre-loaded position are disclosed. Each coil has forward extending arms including an angled portion and forward vertically coincident portions. The double torsion spring has a self-locking crossing geometry to hold a pre-loaded rest position. The opposed two springs have a bridge and a mandrel to hold the rest position. A lever presses arms of the spring between a striker and the coil including a compact nesting condition. A tab of the striker extends forward to provide a release edge and a positioning torque bias upon the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8668128
    Abstract: A miniature spring-actuated stapler includes a tapered, flat power spring to store energy and eject staples. The power spring pivots at a rear of the stapler housing and includes three co-extensive arms terminating near the striker. As the L-shaped handle of the stapler is pressed, it acts on the center arm of the power spring to deflect it downward while the outer arms deflect upward. The arms are integral at a rear end and the outer arms are linked to the striker at the front. A tapered, flat reset spring disposed generally parallel to the power spring is used to reset the internal action. The housing includes open top and rear areas with the handle providing the enclosure thereof. A base assembly is slidably attached at a bottom of the stapler with an open position exposing a staple-loading chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8464620
    Abstract: A hole punch device that reduces the force required to create a hole in papers or other sheet media. A punch element of the hole punch device includes a locally sloped or indented floor to create a bend in the sheet media as it is punched to create an enlarged, oval hole. The punch pin may include an expanding sleeve surround the pin that forms a larger diameter during the cutting stroke and springs back to a smaller diameter during a pull out stroke. A coiled torsion return spring is positioned remotely from and non-coaxially with the punch pin. A keyed pin and support frame arrangement ensures a predetermined rotational orientation of the pin for sequential cutting for reduced cutting force. A long lead-in surface in the frame helps installing sheet media into the feed slot of the punch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8453903
    Abstract: A spring energized stapler includes a “high start” design wherein a striker has a rest position above the staple track. A handle is pressed to energize a power spring while the striker remains stationary. At a predetermined position of the handle, the striker is released to eject a staple. A subassembly of a cage and the power spring provides a preload to the power spring in the rest position. The subassembly is separately movable from the handle to allow a handle pressing end to move farther than the striker's distance of travel. The handle includes a movable pivot location to enable enhanced motion of the handle pressing end. Alternatively, an optional lever links the striker to the power spring to provide leverage upon the power spring. A release latch may be mounted in front of the striker to be engaged by the lever or the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8348117
    Abstract: A stapler selectively uses enhanced leverage to break a glue bond of a staple to separate the staple from a rack of staples in the stapler. The staple does not press a working surface during this operating stage. The extra leverage stage occurs through a minority of total handle travel, preferably via a pivoting lever linked to the striker at one end and the opposite end traversing between inner spaced apart ribs underneath the handle. A remaining non-leveraged handle travel stage ejects a staple out from the stapler body against a working surface. A track supports staples from an underside of the top of the staples. The track includes an outward extending bottom support for at least one staple on the track to prevent rotation of a short rack of staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8261956
    Abstract: A spring-energized stapler having a pliers type configuration, wherein papers and like items are fastened at a front end and the stapler is normally gripped and squeezed at a rear end. A compact mechanism and independent handle linkages provide a compact overall shape in a high efficiency action. An upper handle is pivoted at a front, top of a housing with a pressing area spaced at least one half the handle length away from the upper handle pivot. A lower handle includes a multi-segment cam link to a base to provide a minimal gripping distance with a large clamping force at an anvil. A simplified front-loading mechanism provides a compact, low cost assembly. A release latch holder is located behind the striker for a compact front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8113404
    Abstract: A spring energized stapler includes a “high start” design wherein a striker has a rest position above the staple track. A handle is pressed to energize a power spring while the striker remains stationary. At a predetermined position of the handle, the striker is released to eject a staple. A subassembly of a cage and the power spring provides a preload to the power spring in the rest position. The subassembly is separately movable from the handle to allow a handle pressing end to move farther than the striker's distance of travel. The handle includes a movable pivot location to enable enhanced motion of the handle pressing end. Alternatively, an optional lever links the striker to the power spring to provide leverage upon the power spring. A release latch may be mounted in front of the striker to be engaged by the lever or the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8083211
    Abstract: A staple remover device having first and second opposed, elongated jaws extending from a lower end of the remover toward an upper end of the remover. The jaws are pivoted to the remover at the upper end. With the remover in a substantially perpendicular orientation above a horizontal work surface, the first jaw moves toward the second jaw, actuated by a user's finger pressure. A handle extends along the remover device, the handle being normally operationally fixed to a jaw by a link including a latch, and at a pre-determined position of the first jaw to the second jaw, a release rib of at least one jaw causes the latch to suddenly de-link the handle from the jaw, wherein the de-linked handle moves in relation to the jaw and moving the handle in relation to the jaw causes the other jaw to rise, lifting out the staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel S. Marks, Brian E. Melgaard
  • Patent number: 8061252
    Abstract: A hole punch device that reduces the force required to create a hole in papers or other sheet media. A punch element of the hole punch device includes a locally sloped or indented floor to create a bend in the sheet media as it is punched to create an enlarged, oval hole. The punch pin may include an expanding sleeve surround the pin that forms a larger diameter during the cutting stroke and springs back to a smaller diameter during a pull out stroke. A coiled torsion return spring is positioned remotely from and non-coaxially with the punch pin. A keyed pin and support frame arrangement ensures a predetermined rotational orientation of the pin for sequential cutting for reduced cutting force. A long lead-in surface in the frame helps installing sheet media into the feed slot of the punch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 8052022
    Abstract: A stapler selectively uses enhanced leverage to break a glue bond of a staple to separate the staple from a rack of staples in the stapler. The staple does not press a working surface during this operating stage. The extra leverage stage occurs through a minority of total handle travel, preferably via a pivoting lever linked to the striker at one end and the opposite end traversing between inner spaced apart ribs underneath the handle. A remaining non-leveraged handle travel stage ejects a staple out from the stapler body against a working surface. A track supports staples from an underside of the top of the staples. The track includes an outward extending bottom support for at least one staple on the track to prevent rotation of a short rack of staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Publication number: 20110233256
    Abstract: A spring-energized stapler having a pliers type configuration, wherein papers and like items are fastened at a front end and the stapler is normally gripped and squeezed at a rear end. A compact mechanism and independent handle linkages provide a compact overall shape in a high efficiency action. An upper handle is pivoted at a front, top of a housing with a pressing area spaced at least one half the handle length away from the upper handle pivot. A lower handle includes a multi-segment cam link to a base to provide a minimal gripping distance with a large clamping force at an anvil. A simplified front-loading mechanism provides a compact, low cost assembly. A release latch holder is located behind the striker for a compact front end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 7950558
    Abstract: A spring-energized stapler having a pliers type configuration, wherein papers and like items are fastened at a front end and the stapler is normally gripped and squeezed at a rear end. A compact mechanism and independent handle linkages provide a compact overall shape in a high efficiency action. An upper handle is pivoted at a front, top of a housing with a pressing area spaced at least one half the handle length away from the upper handle pivot. A lower handle includes a multi-segment cam link to a base to provide a minimal gripping distance with a large clamping force at an anvil. A simplified front-loading mechanism provides a compact, low cost assembly. A release latch holder is located behind the striker for a compact front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: RE48186
    Abstract: A compact, electric, spring energized desktop stapler having a unitized housing providing both an external movable enclosure and a support frame for internal parts is disclosed. The internal power train is preferably elongated with the motor at the rear, a gear set toward the center, and low profile lever and power spring assembly at the front. The lever engages a striker with a normal upper rest position where the power spring is deflected and energized. A cam roller mounted to a final gear holds down the rear of the lever until the system is activated when the final gear rotates and the cam roller rolls off the end of the lever. In the unitized body, the base is pivotally attached to the body at the rear. A base lever selectively links to a cam roller or equivalent structure to move the body downward toward the base during a cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Marks