Patents Examined by Danny Hong
  • Patent number: 10016882
    Abstract: A pliers for a hose clamp is provided, including a pivoting assembly and a clamping assembly. The pivoting assembly includes a first shank portion and a second shank portion which are pivotally assembled with each other. The clamping assembly includes a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are connected to the pivoting assembly, and the first clamping portion is actuatable by the first shank portion to change relative positions of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: Chiu-Chi Lai
  • Patent number: 10016880
    Abstract: A switch assembly for a selectively one-way wrench includes a disc and a pusher. The disc includes two hooks, a cutout between the hooks, and an axle extending from the disc. The axle includes first and second faces, an arched face extending between the first and second faces, and an apex formed between the first and second faces. The pusher extends around the axle and includes two arched portions, two flat portions formed between the arched portions, a middle portion formed between the flat portions, and a gap between free ends of the arched portions. The arched portions extend around the arched face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: Hui-Hsueh Chung
  • Patent number: 9987733
    Abstract: A spreading tool and an associated method are provided to permit members that are biased toward one another to be separated in an efficient and a controlled manner. One example of a spreading tool includes a handle portion and a spreader portion coupled to the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The spreader portion includes a cam profile defining a cam-lobe center line. The cam profile may also define a width perpendicular to the cam-lobe center line and a length parallel to the cam-lobe center line. In use, the spreader portion may be inserted between the two members such that the width of the cam portion separates the two members. The handle portion may then be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the spreader portion until the two members are separated by a distance greater than the width of the elongate cross-sectional cam profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Bernard Leo Ruhoff
  • Patent number: 9957744
    Abstract: A device to apply a rotational force to a spring of a rollup or overhead garage door counterbalancing mechanism. The device has a rotatable driven member mounted in a housing. The housing and the driven member have slots with an open end adapted to receive the shaft of the overhead garage door counterbalancing mechanism. A coupling member is configured to mount to the driven member and connect the driven member to the winding cone of a garage door spring to apply rotational force to the spring. The housing with the driven member may be connected to the body of an existing power tool in place of the original tool head, or, the housing may be permanently combined with a motor and transmission to provide a special purpose tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventors: Gary L. Hamman, Diana L. Hamman
  • Patent number: 9950580
    Abstract: An apparatus for seating a bead of the a adjacent a bead seat of a wheel is disclosed. The apparatus is disposable adjacent one or more of a tread surface and an outer sidewall surface of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Barry Allan Clark, David Henry Larson
  • Patent number: 9919435
    Abstract: A utility tool that combines several features, including a folding cutting blade, a putty knife or painter's multitool, and a finger loop that aids with manipulation of the utility tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Enguita
  • Patent number: 9908221
    Abstract: A tool with an electrical circuit to provide indications whether the tool is properly engaged with a fastener or other workpiece is provided. The tool includes a handle and an end effector configured to engage the fastener or workpiece. The end effector includes sensors arranged on surfaces of the end effector that contact the fastener or workpiece when the end effector is properly engaged with the fastener or workpiece. The sensors are electrically connected to an indicator via an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit causes the indicator to output different indications depending on whether none, some, or all of the sensors are in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sarah K. Czaplewski, Lee Helgeson, Jonathan L. Kaus, Pamela L. Lembke
  • Patent number: 9889550
    Abstract: A hand tool having a step down mechanism. The hand tool includes a step down mechanism having a plate with two opposing ends. The plate also has an upper surface and a lower surface. The step down mechanism has an upper tube located near the first end and projecting from the upper surface and a lower tube located near the second end and projecting from the lower surface. The hand tool also includes an upper shaft affixed to the upper tube and a lower shaft affixed to the lower tube. The lower shaft has a hand tool implement affixed to an end of the lower shaft. The upper tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold the upper shaft and the lower tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold the lower shaft. The step down mechanism may include a handle projecting upward from the upper tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Simon McNeny, Larry McNeny
  • Patent number: 9878431
    Abstract: A tactical entry tool for creating an entry point through a building structure is provided. The tool includes a shaft portion including a shaft, and a head portion attached to a first end of the shaft. The head portion includes two heads, with each head including a head shaft extending from the shaft to form a ‘Y’ shaped structure and a break head portion attached to the head shaft at an opposite end from which the head shaft is connected to the shaft. Each break head portion includes a plurality of teeth surrounding the perimeter of the break head portion and a plurality of breaker tips extending from the break head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: J&N TACTICAL, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Herr, Matt Herr
  • Patent number: 9877764
    Abstract: A torque-limiting driver is disclosed, having a handle, a body, a torque-limiting assembly and a work-piece engaging tip. The torque-limiting assembly includes an upper and lower shank that have a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced. The teeth have a vertical face, an inclined face, and a flat peak. There is a spring for applying pressure across the upper and lower shank with multiple washers interposed between the lower shaft and spring. In some instances, there is a round-square drive with arched catches having preselected radii to assure operation over certain cycles at selected torque and to reduce nose cone damage and breakage at a predetermined measurement of inch-pounds of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ECA Medical Instruments
    Inventors: John Nino, David Ivinson
  • Patent number: 9862076
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a handle and a head through which a hole is defined. A recess is defined in the inner periphery of the hole. A driving member is rotatably received in the hole. A pawl and a positioning member are respectively located in two respective ends of the recess. A spring is connected between the pawl and the positioning member. The pawl has a slot defined in a lateral side thereof so as to be connected to one end of the spring. The positioning member is a resilient member and has an engaging portion and a curved portion. An opening is defined between the engaging portion and the curved portion. The other end of the spring is engaged with the opening. The spring linearly biased between the pawl and the positioning member to engage the pawl with the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Jim Lai
  • Patent number: 9862085
    Abstract: An attachment arrangement (3, 53, 73, 83, 93) for connection to a first construction (1) and in such a connected state be able to hold a second construction (2) where the arrangement has an axial longitudinal extension and shows a first partial portion (3a, 53a, 73a, 83a, 93a), interactable with the first construction (1), and a second partial portion (3b, 53b, 73b, 83b, 93b), interactable with the second partial portion, said partial portions (3a, 53a, 73a, 83a, 93a, 3b, 53b, 73b, 83b, 93b) being connected to each other only by an action means (4, 54, 74, 84, 94), e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Håkan Wernersson
  • Patent number: 9862081
    Abstract: A rebuild tool for a motorcycle fuel tank quick connect fuel tank fitting has a mandrel tool with at least one post extending from a body portion. The post has an internal bore and an axial groove. A generally cylindrical bushing has an internal bore enabling the bushing to be disposed on the at least one post. The bushing forms an axial slit. At least one O-ring capture hook may be installed onto the mandrel tool within the axial groove and locked into place by rotating the bushing on the post. The assembled mandrel tool including the bushing and the O-ring hook is dimensioned to be inserted into the fuel tank fitting for removing at least one of the O-rings. A sleeve element has a bore enabling the sleeve element to be disposed on the post, and a stem element has an enlarged head and a reduced diameter stem section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MCAVEY VENTURES LLC
    Inventor: Michael McAvey
  • Patent number: 9855644
    Abstract: A pliers is provided, including a first clamping body and a second clamping body. The first clamping body has two first jaw portions and two first gripping portions, and the two first jaw portions are associated respectively with the two first gripping portions and are capable of being open or closed relative to each other. The second clamping body has a clamping jaw and a second gripping portion, the second clamping body and the first clamping body are pivotally connected to each other at a location between the clamping jaw and the second gripping portion, and the clamping jaw and the two first jaw portions are capable of being open or closed relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: COSDA MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Lai-Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 9833882
    Abstract: A wrench for rotating a hex head fastener has a frame having one or two jaw faces. If the frame has two faces, they form a 60 degree angle between them. A movable jaw has two faces forming an angle of about 120 degrees relative to each other. A guide connected to the frame controls movement of the movable jaw along a line forming an angle of about 40.9 degrees with respect to a position of one of the frame faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Southern Handling and Delivery, LLC
    Inventor: Yuji Nammoto
  • Patent number: 9837777
    Abstract: Torque adapter for a cable connector that expands to fit connector nuts of different sizes. The adapter fits around the cable connector and engages three of the corners of a hex nut with matching recessed regions in its inner surface. It has three slots that receive the other three corners of the connector nut. The adapter is flexible so that the slots may widen to accommodate connector nuts of larger widths. The outer surface may be hexagonal so that a wrench or similar tool may be used to turn the torque adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Steren Electronics International, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Blake, Brandon Clark
  • Patent number: 9833887
    Abstract: A replaceable magnetic screw-locking depth positioning head includes a main body formed by a rod, a positioning sleeve, a buckling ring, a cushioning member and a magnetic member. The positioning sleeve has a stepped slot, so that the buckling ring can be installed into the stepped slot more conveniently, and the stepped slot contains a cushioning member and a magnetic member. The cushioning member provides a buffering/shock absorbing effect and a better manufacture precision of the main body, and the magnetic member provides a better positioning effect for locking the screw, and a first slot is formed at a free end of the stepped slot for accommodating debris. The positioning head of the present invention has the advantages of high manufacturing efficiency, production efficiency and manufacturing precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Tsai-Fa Liu
  • Patent number: 9827817
    Abstract: A tire changing machine includes a base having a pedal-operated control system located on one side, a rotating platform which defines a surface upon which wheels of vehicles can be fixed, and which is supported by the base, a column rising from the base, an operating arm hinged to an upper area of the column, which can be oriented in a plane transverse to the column and parallel to the plane of the platform, between a work position facing the platform and an opposite rest position facing away from the platform and having a hinging end and an opposite end having a connection for a device holding work tools, a selector unit being interposed between the hinging end and the column, for selecting an orientation of the operating arm in its work position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventors: Gino Ferrari, Franco Maioli
  • Patent number: 9821441
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a wrench body, a ratchet gear, a pawl and a switch assembly. The pawl has a central tooth, multiple first sub teeth and multiple second sub teeth in a concave surface thereof. Each of the first sub teeth and the second sub teeth has an inner side face abutting against opposing tooth face of the ratchet gear and an outer side face spaced apart from opposing tooth face of the ratchet gear. The first sub teeth and the second sub teeth are located symmetrical relative to the central tooth. The center of the concave surface of the pawl and the center of the ratchet gear are located on a common line that passes through the center of the central tooth of the pawl. The switch assembly is movably disposed in the head of the ratchet wrench for driving the pawl to engage with the ratchet gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Yi-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 9808916
    Abstract: A reduced arc box end ratchet wrench or ratchet drive wrench utilizes a multiple pawl ratchet assembly comprised of a body having an insert cavity to enclose critical components of an insert that is secured within the ratchet assembly. The insert is set into the wrench body and includes a plurality of pivoting pawls. Each pawl comprises a lever arm with ratchet engaging teeth. The pawl arms are positioned relative to the ratchet wheel to create “pawl swing arcs” and “reduced ratcheting arcs” to alternately or successively engage a portion of the teeth of a ratchet wheel at all times. This configuration allows smaller degrees between ratchet teeth and a smaller wrench rotation that is otherwise required to apply torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventors: Steven James Gapp, Clinton M. Johnson, J. Reed Felton