Patents Examined by Alvin J Grant
  • Abrasive belt and machining process associated therewith
    Patent number: 6916230
    Abstract: A process and device for machining by abrasive belt, on a part 1 with an axis of rotation, of a non-cylindrical bearing surface 2, two portions of the same running abrasive belt 14, which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the belt, using two independent support components 12, preferably activated by two jacks 8 mounted on a common carrier 4, along two contact zones spaced apart angularly around the axis of rotation of the part, are applied against the bearing surface 2. The application is particularly suited for cam surfaces of cam shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Societe des Procedes et Machines Speciales
    Inventors: Richard Bonachera, Raymond Millot
  • Clamping nut and tool holder with the clamping nut, and spanner
    Patent number: 6915722
    Abstract: This invention provides a clamping nut which prevents, at the time of rotation of the clamping nut, a fastening force that is imparted in the radial direction of the clamping nut towards the inside of the clamping nut, from operating on a converting part formed on the inner surface of the clamping nut, thereby enhancing rotation efficiency and making it possible to securely clamp a clamp object member. This invention also provides a tool holder with the above-described clamping nut, and a spanner for the fastening of the clamping nut. The clamping nut has an annular groove which takes the form of an annular shape over its outer surface in at least a section of the area on its outer surface that corresponds to a female screw, and which will not come in contact with the spanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Big Alpha Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Komine
  • Polishing machine
    Patent number: 6916234
    Abstract: A polishing machine in which adverse influence caused by a surface condition of a retainer ring can be reduced with a simple structure. The polishing machine includes a rotatable polishing plate; a top ring including a holding plate for holding and pressing a wafer onto a polishing cloth of the polishing plate; an independently rotating retainer ring in which the holding plate is freely inserted; and a positioning member for correctly positioning the retainer ring on the polishing cloth while the retainer ring is rotated. The retainer ring includes a pressing member which presses the polishing cloth along an outer edge of the wafer to make the level of the polishing cloth pressed by the pressing member substantially equal to that of the polishing cloth pressed by the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Hitoshi Suwabe
  • Apparatus for driving fasteners, including screws, nails, pop riverts and staples
    Patent number: 6915724
    Abstract: Apparatus for driving fasteners, in particular screws, nails, pop rivets, and staples, is disclosed. It has a motor-drivable feeder that moves the fasteners sequentially from a feed position into a driving position, and with an adjustor has a manually rotatable threader mounted stationary on the feeder. The thread engages interlockingly with the stop member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Helfer & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Kigel, Volker Reiss
  • Bayonet with insulated extension rod
    Patent number: 6915540
    Abstract: The invention provides bayonet or survival knife 100 that insulates the user from electric shock. With the insulated bayonet or knife, the user can safely cut a wire regardless of whether the wire is electrified or not. As a further improvement, the invention provides the soldier with an indicator to warn the soldier or user that the wire that is being cut is also electrified. In one of its embodiments the invention provides a voltage indicator circuit that includes, in series, blade 102 and hand guard 104 of bayonet or knife 100, resistor 106, light bulb 108 such as a neon bulb, and electrical thumb terminal 110 embedded in insulating handle 112. Metal blade 102 and metal butt or bayonet latch 114 on the end of handle 112 are electrically isolated from each other by insulating extension rod 116.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Ontario Knife Company
    Inventors: Nick Trbovich, Jr., Kathlyn Susan Green
  • Ratchet screwdriver
    Patent number: 6912934
    Abstract: A ratchet screwdriver has a body and a driving portion. The body has a handle, a shank integrally formed on the handle, a post with a non-circular periphery pivoted with the shank and a head formed on the post. The driving portion has a spring mounted on the post, a cylinder with a non-circular inner periphery mounted on the post, and a chuck mounted on the head and used for holding the tool head. Because the driving portion of the ratchet screwdriver is longitudinally set on the body, it can reduce whole volume of the ratchet screwdriver to enable the screwdriver to be used in a small place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Hui-Chen Liao
  • Mechanical coupler
    Patent number: 6904835
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coupler that grips the internal surface of a torque receptor such as a pipe or driveshaft to be turned. When torque is applied to the coupler, one or more gripping surfaces are forced apart by a cam mechanism. The gripping surfaces tightly engage the internal surface of the pipe in response to movement of an internal cam. Torque applied to the wrench causes the pipe to turn. Because the wrench grips the internal diameter of a torque receptor, it can be used without damaging the external surface of the torque receptor, and used in very confined spaces. The gripping surfaces distribute the gripping load evenly across the pipe, which minimizes any deformation of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: DJ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Dugan, Steven X. Johnson
  • Apparatus and method for polishing row bars
    Patent number: 6905394
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for polishing a row bar including magnetic head sliders. A lapping surface plate is rotatable, and a housing is movable above the lapping surface plate. A jig is secured to the housing for holding the row bar. The jig is formed by an elongated rigid member having a plurality of holes and an elongated elastic member fixed to the rigid member. An air cylinder presses the whole row bar, and a pressing devices individually presses portions of the elastic member corresponding to magnetic head sliders of the row bar through the holes of the rigid member. A portion of the elastic member is deformed to press a portion of the row bar in response to a change in the measured resistance of ELG resistance elements in the row bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Koji Sudo, Yoshiaki Yanagida
  • Ratchet wrench
    Patent number: 6904832
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a wrench body, a ratchet wheel, a pawl member, a control member, a direction control member, and a locking plate. Thus, the pawl member engages the ratchet wheel rigidly and closely, so that the pawl member and the ratchet wheel have the optimum locking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Yu Tang Chen
  • Apparatus and method for stripping insulated wire
    Patent number: 6898997
    Abstract: An apparatus for stripping an insulated wire includes a resistive heater element having a first end, a second end, and a coil formed between the first end and the second end. The coil has an inner diameter that is large enough to receive a section of the insulated wire. The apparatus further includes an electronic circuit connected to the first and second ends to deliver power to the resistive heater element such that the coil uniformly distributes heat about the section of the insulated wire to thermally decompose insulation on the section of insulated wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Oldigs, Harry L. Vanscoder, Scott S. Chesser, Ricky Y. Torres, Gary A. Hazen
  • Sleeve with non-round connecting portion
    Patent number: 6898999
    Abstract: A sleeve with a non-round engaging portion comprises a sleeve body having a receiving portion at one end thereof and a connecting portion at another end thereof; the connecting portion being communicated to the receiving portion; the connecting portion having four sides; each two opposite sides are symmetrical. The connecting portion has different sections which are different diameters for matching sizes of different spanners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Chin-Ching Hsien
  • Firefighter's wrench
    Patent number: 6899001
    Abstract: A multiple component wrench is adapted for use to attach and disconnect fire hose and hydrant coupling using this singular tool in lieu of several tools currently used by firefighters. The wrench has a sliding portion and a receiver portion presented as one tool, yet allowing multiple wrenches adapted for use on Storz and spanner hose couplings, rocker lug couplings, water meter shutoff valves, gas cock valves, pentagonal nuts and square nuts, and includes a multiple ratchet mechanism with multiple removable ratchets adapted to a variety of different nuts encountered on the multiple hydrants installed in various municipalities. The wrench is also extendable to provide additional leverage during use, the wrench further capable of separation forming two independent wrenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventors: Alan Sanders, Shane Campbell
  • Apparatus for installing and removing sink strainer nuts
    Patent number: 6899002
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing and removing a fastener such as a sink strainer nut includes a collar portion and a handle portion pivotally attached to the collar portion. The collar portion defines a plurality of cutouts and engaging surfaces for engaging with lugs on a sink strainer nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Charles E. Willis, Sr.
  • Control mechanism for controlling head of a box end wrench
    Patent number: 6895839
    Abstract: A wrench includes a box end head with a protrusion extending therefrom and the protrusion has an inclined surface defined in a distal end thereof and a first engaging area defined in a part of the inclined surface. The protrusion is pivotably connected to the handle which has a transverse hole and a control member is movably received in the transverse hole along a longitudinal direction of the transverse hole. The control member has a second engaging area removably engaged with the first engaging area along the longitudinal direction of the transverse hole. The head can be pivoted relative to the handle when the second engaging area is moved away from the first engaging area by pushing the control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsien
  • Pliers-type handtool having insulation removing means
    Patent number: 6895836
    Abstract: A pliers-type handtool includes fixed and movable handle members pivotally connected intermediate their ends, a movable jaw member pivotally connected with the fixed handle member jaw end, and a toggle device connecting the movable jaw member with the movable handle member. A cutting member is mounted for reciprocation within a chamber defined between the fixed handle member and the movable jaw member. When the toggle device is operated from an expanded condition to a collapsed condition, the cutting member is displaced away from the clamping jaws, thereby to remove from the conductor the insulation layer that is severed from the conductor by opposed knife blades carried by the cutting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Detlev Hetland, Günther Hanning, Hartmut Schmode
  • Apparatus system and method for installing a strainer lock
    Patent number: 6895838
    Abstract: A strainer lock apparatus for installing and removing a stainer in a sink or tub. A first member having a top end with a locking mechanism that may include a slot is inserted in the apertures of the strainer and rotated thus locking the first member which then hangs freely from the cross members. A second member with a threaded lock attached thereto is placed over the first member. A portion of the bottom end of the first member extends past the bottom end of the second member. An end piece is attached to the extended portion of the first member, thereby preventing the second member from falling from the first member. The second member and lock are brought into contact with the threaded surface of the top retainer section and rotated around the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Mark Stahnke
  • High torque dual chamber turbine rotor for hand held or spindle mounted pneumatic tool
    Patent number: 6896599
    Abstract: A high torque turbine rotor for a lightweight hand held tool for grinding and polishing having a rotor that includes two separate high pressure air chambers separated by a common housing wall, each air chamber having peripheral air expelling nozzles in a tangential direction to the rotor periphery. The rotor housing is lightweight and increases torque without generally increasing the overall size and weight of the tool housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Air Turbine Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kemma S. Dodds
  • Modular fluid-dispensing system
    Patent number: 6893321
    Abstract: A modular fluid-dispensing system includes a master control dispenser and/or one or more satellite dispensers that communicate bi-directionally with the master control dispenser. The master control dispenser is programmable and may dispense one or more solutions. Each satellite may dispense fluid in either a stand-alone mode or under control of another fluid-dispensing-system component, such as a master control dispenser, or a grinder/polisher. A master control dispenser may store various multi-step dispensing methods and may advance a dispensing method to a next step automatically or based on a control signal received from a grinder/polisher. A master control dispenser may perform a fluid-dispensing method that is synchronized with a corresponding grinder/polisher method performed by a grinder/polisher that is coupled to the master control dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Buehler Ltd.
    Inventors: Arnold Buchanan, Doug Ceckowski, Deborah Doan, Nicolas John Dougill, Michael F. Hart, Scott Holt, Kelly Leithner, Chuck Shewey
  • Gimbal assembly for semiconductor fabrication and other tools
    Patent number: 6893331
    Abstract: A gimbal assembly that can be used in conjunction with semiconductor fabrication tools, such as chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) tools, as well as other types of tools, is disclosed. A gimbal assembly may include a gimbal hub, a pivot head plate, a gimbal sleeve, and a gimbal post. The gimbal hub has an interior cavity. The pivot head plate has a ball head, a base, and an outer edge, where the base is situated in the bottom of the interior cavity. The gimbal sleeve is situated in the bottom of the interior cavity over the outer edge of the pivot head plate, securing the pivot head plate in place within the interior cavity. The gimbal post is situated over the ball head of the pivot head plate. The ball head of the pivot head plate preferably has dual diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Wen-Jung Huang, Chin Hao Chang, Jaf Chen
  • Adjustable gripping tool
    Patent number: 6889579
    Abstract: A self-energizing and de-energizing adjustable gripping tool for engaging a workpiece to impart movement thereto includes a first element and second element connected for relative angular movement. The second element includes an actuation portion having a plurality of slots. Each of the slots includes a first section and a second section wherein the first and second sections each define divergent paths. The first element includes a gripping portion having a plurality of gripping elements and a plurality of aligning elements. Each gripping element has a pin connected thereto. One of the aligning elements is disposed between a pair of adjacent gripping elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Loggerhead Tools LLC
    Inventor: Daniel P. Brown