Patents Examined by D. S. Meislin
  • Patent number: 7373860
    Abstract: A screwdriver T-handle having an upright stem portion and a top horizontal cross-bar portion, and together they form a letter T shape in both face views thereof. A groove on each of those faces of the handle provides for reception of the user's thumb when the handle is being gripped by the remainder of the user's hand for rotation to apply a threaded fastener, and the cross-bar presents an S shape in top plan view thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: James A. Rinner
  • Patent number: 7373861
    Abstract: A pivoting assembly of a hand tool comprising a tool body, the tool body including a driving portion, a handle and a pivotal portion; the pivotal portion having a first pivoted end and a second pivoted end; the first pivoted end being installed to one of the handle and driving portion; and the second pivoted end being installed to the other one of the handle and driving portion so that an angle between the handle and driving portion is adjustable. The first pivoted end is formed with a buckling hole; a tooth portion is formed in the buckling hole; the second pivoted end is formed with a post; the post is axially moveable with respect to the tooth portion of the buckling hole; and a bottom of the post is formed with teeth with respect to the tooth portion of the buckling hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7360472
    Abstract: An automatic wire stripper comprises a knife unit (40) having a knife holder (41) and a knife carriage (45) articulated on the knife holder; A clamping arm unit (30) is pivotally mounted on a clamping arm bearing (30). A handle lever unit (60) is pivotally connected to a housing base (20) on a handle lever bearing (61). An articulated lever (70) has a first and second articulated lever arm (72, 75) connected in a pivotable manner by an articulated lever center axis (73). The first articulated lever arm (72) is guided with a first articulated lever axis (71) in a guiding connecting link (32) of the clamping arm unit (30). The second articulated lever (75) is fixed in an articulated manner to the knife unit (40) with the articulated lever center axis (73) guided in the handle (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventors: Franz Krampe, Stephan Krampe
  • Patent number: 7357170
    Abstract: A hollow-cylindrical portion (26) inserted in a hollow-cylindrical portion (16) of one rim section (12) is provided on the other rim section (13). To form a split rim (11), part (head portion) of the inner hollow-cylindrical portion (26) overlaid on the outer hollow-cylindrical portion (16) is radially outwardly expanded by being elastically deformed by a tapered surface (39) of a piston (38) such that the inner and outer hollow-cylindrical portions (16, 26) are in close contact with each other. As a result, relative positions of the rim sections (12, 13) are strictly defined, and this enables high assembling accuracy, particularly coaxiality with a high level, to be achieved. A fine fitted to the split rim (11) can be inspected with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hirata, Akio Oobayashi, Keigo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7353734
    Abstract: A screwdriver having a ratchet mechanism includes a handle and a switch assembly. A ratchet base is provided in the handle. The ratchet base is provided with a locating device. The switch assembly is pivotally connected to the handle. A locating plate extends from the edge of the switch assembly and corresponds in position to the locating device of the ratchet base. The locating plate has recesses for the locating device to be secured thereat. The screwdriver can be operated accurately to change the turning direction of a tool sleeve and to replace and secure a tool head in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: Cheng-Tsan Hu
  • Patent number: 7343834
    Abstract: A combination beverage holder and container opener having a tubular body that includes an open upper end sized for receipt of a beverage container, a lower end, and a wall that defines an inner receptacle and a lower inner surface for receiving the beverage container. The lower end includes an orifice designed to receive and remove a twist open bottle cap. A bottom surface of the lower end includes first and second sections. The first section includes a cavity member designed to engage and remove a conventional bottle cap from a beverage bottle. The second section includes a tab member designed to slip between the pull tab and top surface of a beverage container and releasably open the container's pull tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Marc K. Howlett, Todd S. Avery
  • Patent number: 7334504
    Abstract: A torsional force structure of a ratchet device which includes a body having a head portion at an end of the body. The head portion has a space which is composed of a first recess and a second recess. A socket member is fitted in the first recess and having a plurality of teeth. A ratchet member is fitted in the second recess and provided at two ends thereof with two wedge portions configured to be fitted in an angular region between the inner wall of the space and the socket member. When the triggering rod is first adjusted to move the ratchet member to make one of the wedge portions of the ratchet member fit in the angular region and the the socket member is rotated, the wedge portion of the ratchet member will be forced to be tightly fitted in the angular region thereby enabling the socket member to provide a positive rotating force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Lin-Lang Liu
  • Patent number: 7334623
    Abstract: A manual tool has a handle with two opposite ends that mount and demount a tire from a wheel. The first end has a rounded rectangular head for inserting between the bead and rim, when demounting a tire from a wheel. The second end is at an angle to the first end and has two spaced apart and parallel round heads that also insert between the rim and the bead, for mounting a tire. The tool, when either end is engaged between a bead and a wheel, is rotated about the axis of the wheel to mount or to demount a tire. The first end and the second end are made of a material of lesser hardness than a wheel thus preventing marring of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Stephen C. Nemish
  • Patent number: 7334503
    Abstract: A light bulb changing tool is adapted for use with a conventional vacuum cleaner whose suction nozzle is of an indeterminate diameter. In some embodiments, the light bulb changing tool includes a rotational slip joint that enables the tool to be rotated while the vacuum cleaner is stationary. In some cases, the tool includes a torque-limiting coupling that allows the tool to exert greater loosening torque than tightening torque, thereby avoiding over tightening of the bulb and ensuring that the bulb can later be removed without breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Frederick M. Newman
  • Patent number: 7328633
    Abstract: A device for switching wrenching direction of a ratchet wheel of a ratchet tool. A ratchet wheel and a pawl are accommodated in a receiving cavity of the main body of the ratchet tool. The receiving cavity is covered by a cover board for hindering the ratchet wheel and the pawl from dropping out of the receiving cavity. A shift member is disposed on the pawl. The cover board is formed with a locating slot corresponding to the shift member. The locating slot has a first locating section and a second locating section. After the shift member is shifted to move the pawl and switch the wrenching direction, the shift member can be selectively located in the first locating section or the second locating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Advance Team Power Inc.
    Inventor: Chun-Lang Lin
  • Patent number: 7320352
    Abstract: A split rim for pneumatic tire includes a disk part having a seat portion allowing a corresponding tire bead part to be seated at the radial outer end. First and second pieces are connected to the disk part and have cylindrical parts coaxial with the disk parts. The cylindrical part of the second piece can be inserted into the cylindrical part of the first piece. The cylindrical parts of the first and second pieces overlap with each other in the inserted state and are connected to each other by a fastening mechanism. The fastening mechanism includes a group of claws formed on the inner circumference of the first piece cylindrical part and a group of claws formed on the outer circumference of the second piece cylindrical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hirata, Keigo Kikuchi, Akio Oobayashi
  • Patent number: 7318363
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in securing a snow chain onto the wheel of a vehicle, including a bar, a pair of cables, each cable having an end secured to one end of the bar opposite another cable having one end secured to an opposite end of said bar, a chain hook attached to a free end of each cable, and a sliding hook slideably positionable on each said cable, an elastic band having one end secured to a location on said bar intermediate between ends of said bar and an anchor hook secured to another end of said elastic band enabling a user to lay said snow chain in front of said wheel, drive said vehicle onto the snow chain, drape said snow chain around and over a top of said wheel, attach each of said chain hooks to an end of a respective one of the side chains of the snow chain, hook each one of the sliding hooks onto the side chain, hook said anchor hook on the elastic band to the opposite end of the snow chain providing that the ends of the snow chain are drawn together and said snow chain is drawn around the whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Alan Barber
  • Patent number: 7313983
    Abstract: A compact, ergonomic, pocket-sized bottle opener having a thin, generally flat body. The bottom edge of the body includes a jaw opening and at least one area for receiving a lifting finger. A plug of resiliently yielding material is mounted in the finger-receiving area to cushion the lifting finger. A hook at the forward end of the jaw opening forms a fulcrum point for engaging the top of the bottle cap. The hook also serves to lift pull-tabs on cans. An opening at the rear of the body holds a key ring. The key ring can be slipped into the opening during assembly by flexing the leg so as to open a slot that separates the distal end of the leg from the body. The cushioning plug mounts over both the distal end of the leg and the lower edge of the body so as to hold the leg in place after the ring has been installed. The two sides of the body form broad, generally flat display surfaces for application of logos, advertising, or other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Steven C. Book
  • Patent number: 7313987
    Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a handle, a tooling sleeve, a first pawl, a first elastic member, a second pawl, a second elastic member, a retaining ring, and a dialer. The outer circumference of the tooling sleeve received in the handle is disposed with teeth. The pawls and the elastic members are contained in the handle. Each of the pawls is disposed with teeth and a post. The retaining ring covers up the pawls and the elastic members and is secured to the handle. The dialer is pivoted to the retaining ring to change work direction of the tooling sleeve by moving the pawls as driven by the posts linked to the dialer when the dialer is turned to either side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Chiu-Tang Chen
  • Patent number: 7311019
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench has a through cavity in which a reversing lever is disposed. The reversing lever has a pair of protruding lips formed thereon opposite from one another. A cooperating ledge is formed on the head in the cavity and on the pawl which is adjacent to the reversing lever. A spring-loaded pusher is disposed longitudinally in a blind bore in the reversing lever and the pusher engages a pocket in the pawl. A cover plate is disposed on a shelf recessed on the bottom of the wrench and spaced apart from the reversing lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Easco Hand Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Arnold, Richard P. Folkenroth
  • Patent number: 7305908
    Abstract: An easy storage precision screwdriver comprises a handle, a cover disposed on one end of the handle, a post disposed on the cover and located in the handle, a pressing ring threaded on the other end of the handle, and a working post inserted into the handle and fixed by the pressing of the pressing ring. Since the handle and the post are defined with a containing hole and a through hole respectively, when the user releases the pressing ring, the length of the working post with respect to the handle can be adjusted, and one end of the working post can be inserted into the containing hole and the through hole of the handle and the post. Thereby the precision screwdriver of the present invention is miniaturized, and is easy to store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Li-Lien Chi
  • Patent number: 7305909
    Abstract: The present application is directed to adjustable wrenches. In one embodiment, the open-ended wrench includes a head with a opening sized to receive workpieces. One or more shims are attached in an adjustable manner within the opening to alter the width of the wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Bollinger
  • Patent number: 7299717
    Abstract: A hammering tool includes a hammer, a frame and a fastener. The hammer has a shaft and a hammer head, and the hammer head has a claw. The hammer head has two slots and two bores. The frame has a fulcrum portion and two arms, wherein the arms are received in the slots. The frame is moved along the slots between a first position, in which the fulcrum portion is proximal to the hammer head, and a second position, in which fulcrum portion is distal to the hammer head. The fastener has two pins to be inserted into the bores when the frame is moved to the first position or at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Lucky-Brand Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ying-Chien Chen
  • Patent number: 7299722
    Abstract: An adjustable wrench for quickly adjusting the width of a jaw thereof, comprising a stationary body (1), having a chamber (12) at an upper portion thereof; a movable body (2), having a worm (13) at a lower portion thereof, being movable transversely inside the chamber (12); a driving mechanism (100) located within the chamber (12), including a worm gear (10) with a worm gear shaft (20), engaging the worm (13), a first gear (3) mounted at an end of the worm gear shaft (20) of the worm gear (10), a connection shaft (9) located under the worm gear shaft (20) in parallel, and a second gear (4) mounted at an end of the connection shaft (9) to engage with the first gear (3); and a traction mechanism (200) connected to the connection shaft (9), the traction mechanism (200) driving the second gear (4) to rotate by driving the connection shaft (9), which drives the first gear (3) to rotate, hereby rendering the worm (13) to move inside the chamber (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Hong Lu
  • Patent number: 7296316
    Abstract: A tool device includes a number of tool members and enclosing members selectively attachable to either of two ends of a housing, a tool element slidably received in the housing and movable out through the enclosing member, and a moving device attached to the tool element for moving the tool element into and out of the housing or the enclosing member. A follower is slidably received in the housing and coupled to the tool element, and a knob is coupled to the follower for moving the follower and the tool element relative to the housing. A positioning device may position the tool element to the housing. An additional tool device may be selectively attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Jung Chung Wu