Patents Examined by Ana Luna
  • Patent number: 6105260
    Abstract: An adapter is provided for removably coupling a saw, including a tang portion having an aperture formed therein, to a tool. The adapter includes a base member and a clip pivotally coupled to the base member. The base member has first and second ends, and first and second surfaces extending between therebetween. An opening is formed in the first and second surfaces of the base member, proximate the first end. The opening is adapted to receive an axle of the tool. The base member further includes a slot formed in the first surface and a projection extending in to the slot. The slot is adapted to receive the tang portion of the saw, and a projection is adapted to be received in the aperture to align the saw with the base member. The pivotally coupled clip is movable between a closed position, in which the saw is retained in and secured to the base member, and an open position, in which the saw is removable from the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Alterra Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford J. Parrish, Edgar A. Dallas
  • Patent number: 6095024
    Abstract: In order to enable both miters and box joints to be fabricated using the same piece of apparatus, a miter fence is provided with multiple slidable portions or segments which enable a ledge to be projected from a lower edge of one of the fence faces and for a gap, which is consistent with the spacing required between the male pins of a box joint, to be opened up. A tab is provided to enable a work piece to be placed in abutment therewith. This tab can be used as each slot is cut using a dado blade to set the appropriate spacing for the next slot. The ends of the fence are provided with end caps which have a 45.degree. angle. These caps can be removed and switched about so that the fence can be used on either the left and the right hand sides of the saw table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Vermont American Corporation
    Inventors: David T. Brutscher, L. R. Leet Sr., Gregory A. Phillips, John P. Speigelhalter
  • Patent number: 6079309
    Abstract: A portable guide for use with portable power tools such as saws and routers to assist in making straight cuts or grooves precisely located in panels or sheets by moving the tool along a straight edged guide bar (10). Clamp assemblies (20R) (20L) secure said guide bar to the workpiece and support the workpiece by clamping on both sides of the line of cut. Means are provided to avoid interference between said clamp assemblies and the cutter. A template (40) precisely locates the clamp assemblies relative to the line of cut. A lateral guide (30) may be attached to the tool without tool modification. Said lateral guide interacts slidably with the guide bar (10) and prevents movement of the tool away from the intended line of cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: John C. Molburg
  • Patent number: 6070329
    Abstract: A knife handle formed of two diverse materials includes a frame of rigid, thermosetting plastic having external surfaces and an elongated, internal cavity. A somewhat rubbery, resilient material covers portions of both the external surfaces and the cavity walls of the frame. The cavity is open at the distal end of the handle and is of substantially rectangular cross section. The resilient material covers all four walls of the cavity from the open end for a portion of its length, and covers only the two longer sides within the main body of the frame. A tang extending integrally from the knife blade is inserted into the cavity, contacting only the resilient material, with interference fit, within the cavity. Assembly is completed by inserting a rivet through aligned openings in the tang and handle, the handle openings being entirely surrounded by the resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Camillus Cutlery Co.
    Inventor: Philip Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6065519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic drawing and cutting device for an adhesive tape dispenser. The adhesive tape dispenser includes a case body for containing an adhesive tape and having a detachable cover, a drawing means for automatically drawing the adhesive tape from the case body in a desired length, and a cutting means for automatically cutting the adhesive tape drawn by the drawing means. According to this automatic drawing and cutting device for an adhesive tape dispenser, the adhesive tape may be automatically drawn from the adhesive tape dispenser in a desired length by pulling a handle of the drawing means with a user's finger cutting the drawn adhesive tape by only sliding forward a sliding member of the cutting means, thus improving the convenience of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Sang-Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 6065381
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting tie bars of semiconductor packages unloads the semiconductor packages by continuously blowing air against the side of the packages after the tie bars are cut and the semiconductor packages are separated from lead frames. The packages are blown into a guide track which feeds into a storage tube. As a result, damage to the packages due to mechanical abrasion which may result from unloading with a pusher bar is prevented. Furthermore, the time required for unloading the semiconductor packages is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-won Kim, Young-jin Choi, Po-seong Park, Jun-young Ko
  • Patent number: 6058823
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound cutting device comprising an ultrasound generator having a given natural frequency, coupled to a cutting tool. The cutting tool is a disk that is driven in rotation, and the ultrasound generator is coupled to a central region of the disk by a coupling means, said central region being disposed on an amplitude antinode of the ultrasound vibration produced by the ultrasound generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Unir
    Inventor: Henri Michoud
  • Patent number: 6055871
    Abstract: A machine provides in situ cutting of a specimen of elastomeric propellant rom a rocket motor wherein an undetached plug is formed by an annular opening cut through the motor casing and into the propellant. The machine has a length of resilient wire secured at its ends to a rod for forming a loop mounted on the rod. The rod is inserted into the opening at one side of the plug with the loop around the plug. The rod is then rotated to wind the wire onto the rod so as to contract the loop and sever the plug. A tray is pivotally mounted on the rod between the rod and the plug with the wire passing through slots in the tray. The tray is inserted into the opening beside the specimen so as to prevent engagement of the rod with the specimen during cutting and to receive the detached specimen for removal from the motor. The rod and tray extend from an assembly having an air motor rotating the rod through reduction gearing and through an overrunning clutch which drives in the loop contracting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert L. Gerber, Norman G. Zweirzchowski, Herbert P. Richter, Larry R. Boyer
  • Patent number: 6041988
    Abstract: A sheet material primarily fabric is cut by providing an anvil having an substantially cylindrical wire thereon defining a cutting line lying along the anvil and supported thereby, by draping the fabric over the anvil and by running along the wire of the anvil the peripheral surface of a roller so as to apply pressure between the roller surface and the wire. The fabric is thus compressed between the roller surface and the wire in a pinching action which causes the wire to engage into and effect cutting of the fabric along the cutting line. The roller is mounted on a carriage running along the anvil and is spring biased onto the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Donald A. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6024003
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming an integral three-dimensional object from a plurality of individual laminations includes a cutting surface on which each of the laminations is individually deposited. A concentrated energy source cuts each of the plurality of laminations into a shape required for assembly of the laminations into the integral three-dimensional object. A transfer mechanism removes each of the cut laminations from the cutting surface and stacks each of the cut laminations on an assembly surface. The transfer mechanism includes a gripper face having a peripheral portion and a central portion. A mask is positioned on the gripper face. The mask has an apertured central portion corresponding to the cut lamination. A source of suction communicates with the gripper face and a valve mechanism selectively draws a suction on the gripper face peripheral portion, the gripper face central portion, both or neither.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Wyatt S. Newman, James D. Cawley, Arthur H. Heuer
  • Patent number: 6021699
    Abstract: A waterjet cutting head for cutting a moving sheet has a base plate and a cover plate positioned over the base plate. The cover plate includes an upper support surface for supporting the sheet and has depending chamfered sidewalls extending downwardly to the base plate to define a chamber. The upper support surface includes two matrix arrays of circular shaped suction apertures through which air is drawn by a fluid motor to draw the sheet into flat engagement with and over the upper support surface. A waterjet emitting aperture is located in the upper support surface between an upstream suction aperture and a downstream suction aperture in a first general direction relative to sheet travel. A waterjet nozzle is positioned in the chamber below the waterjet emitting aperture for directing a waterjet through this aperture to cut through the sheet. The upstream aperture is positioned partially offset in a direction orthogonal to the first general direction relative to the downstream suction aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Roman C. Caspar
  • Patent number: 6018875
    Abstract: A sheet metal shears for protecting from injury the hand of a user holding the sheet metal shears while cutting a piece of sheet metal. The tool includes sheet metal shears having a pair arms pivotally coupled together with each arm having a cutting blade and a lever handle. The lever handle of one of the arms has a closed finger loop distal the cutting blade of the one arm. The lever handle of the other arm has a generally U-shaped open finger loop distal the cutting blade of the other arm. The open finger loop has a pair of space apart elongate portions and an arcuate portion connecting the elongate portions of the open finger loop together. A first of the elongate portions connects the open finger loop to the lever handle of the other arm. A second elongate portion has an arcuate region for forcing a portion of the sheet metal cut by the cutting blades away from the open finger loop to protect the hand of the user from injury from the cut edges of the sheet metal while the user is cutting the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Fernando J. Miranda
  • Patent number: 6012227
    Abstract: Tool for obtaining materials out of a cylindrical container includes an elongated handle attached to or integrally formed with a generally pie-shaped end plate. The end plate has a downwardly projecting edge for use as a scraping edge when the tool is rotated within the container. The end plate has an edge in the shape of an arc to conform to the inside radial surface of a cylindrical container during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: David C. Lent
  • Patent number: 6000309
    Abstract: The knife comprises a block (1) with a front face (3) in which a diamond blade (9) with a frontal surface (10) which is preferably coplanar with the front face (3), is held. The diamond blade (9) has a back surface (11) forming a cutting edge (12) together with the frontal surface (10). A plastic insert (14), preferably of epoxy resin, adjoins the back surface (11) spaced from the cutting edge (12). The insert (14) has a plane upper surface (15) whose plane intersects the frontal surface (10) at an angle of 80.degree. to 87.degree., preferably about 84.degree.. Thereby sectioning and section pick-up under a stereo microscope are facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Anton Meyer & Co., AG
    Inventor: Helmut Gnagi
  • Patent number: 5979062
    Abstract: A cutting assembly structured to cut sheets of paper or a like material from a supply roll, the assembly including a base having a guide assembly and at least one cutting blade disposed in a predetermined cutting orientation. The guide assembly includes a contact portion which is configured to substantially conform to the outer surface configuration of the supply roll so as to facilitate sliding engagement of the contact portion with the supply roll as the base is moved along a length thereof. Moreover, the cutting blade is disposed in the base such that the sheet of material is guided thereto as the base is passed across the sheet of material, and the contact portion and cutting blade are cooperatively disposed and structured relative to one another so as to maintain the cutting blade in the cutting orientation and at a substantially constant spacing relative to the supply roll and the sheet of material being cut as the base is moved along the length of the supply roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Scott Prosan
  • Patent number: 5979280
    Abstract: The invention provides an electronics board assembly apparatus which includes a base, a slide, an arm, a punch, a bracket, a roller member and at least a first engagement component. The slide is mounted to the base for sliding movement along the base. The arm extends upwardly firm the base and the punch is located on the arm in a position over the slide. The roller member is rotatable mounted to the bracket. Movement of the slide into a first position causes the roller member to come to rest in the engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Levin, Mike A. Witkowski
  • Patent number: 5975909
    Abstract: A utensil kit with a knife, spoon and two forks and method particularly for training adolescents to hold eating utensils correctly and in the a proper eating position where each of the utensils includes a contoured gripping portion formed over the utensil handle adapted to receive and register fingers and the thumb in color coded grooves corresponding to the proper position for the respective eating utensil and to enhance hand comfort when the utensil is being held and manipulated according to proper etiquette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Samuel E. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 5974924
    Abstract: An internally expanding cutting device is used for severing large cylindraceous objects in two. The device comprises a spider mechanism in which a series of radially extending arms are attached to a central hub. The spider is arranged to be mounted on a base member so that the spider mechanism is free to rotate. A series of self propelled cutting wheels are mounted on the arms of the spider to allow the cutter wheels to contact the interior wall of the cylinder to be cut. The cutting wheels are arranged to drive the spider in a rotational manner while the cutter wheels are progressively pushed outwardly to deepen the cut. Each wheel follows in the track of the previous cutter wheel until the cylinder is severed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Canada Inc
    Inventors: Edward J. Schartinger, deceased, Terry Hunter
  • Patent number: 5969312
    Abstract: The invention is a novel power tool with an ambidextrous lock-out mechanism to prevent unintended actuation of a power switch operatively associated with a motor that operates the power tool. The lock-out mechanism has a first unlocking means located to be conveniently operated by the thumb of a right hand and a second actuating means located to be conveniently operated by the thumb of a left hand, both of said first and second unlocking means capable of unlocking the power switch by inactuating the power switch lock mechanism in order to release the power switch and allow operation of the power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth N. Svetlik, Joseph Z. Wascow
  • Patent number: 5960691
    Abstract: A saw (10) comprises a frame, a table (12) mounted in the frame and adapted to adopt two positions. A pivot member (14) is on a first side of the table and a saw assembly (16) is pivoted (at 18) to the pivot member. A blade (26) is journalled in the assembly and a motor (22) drives the blade. A spring (124) between the pivot member and saw assembly biasses the saw assembly away from the table a slot in the table permits the blade to protrude through the table. In a first of said two positions of the table, the saw assembly is above the table and the saw is a chop saw for performing plunge cuts on workpieces supported on said first side of the table (FIG. 1). In a second of said two positions, the saw assembly as below the table and the saw is a bench saw for performing cuts on workpieces passed through the blade on a second opposite side of the table (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea Garuglieri