Patents Examined by Debra S. Meislin
  • Patent number: 8136430
    Abstract: A retractable screwdriver includes a handle, a positioning member, an operation ring, a shank, a sleeve and a drive socket. The positioning member includes a first opening and a second opening respectively defined through a wall thereof and communicating with the passage. The length of the first opening is shorter than that of the second opening. A first wall is formed at the first opening and a second wall is formed at the second opening. The first and second walls are located on different radial planes and have a distance defined therebetween in a radial direction. The opening ring is obliquely located in the passage and biased by the second spring to keep an inclination of the operation ring. The operation ring has its contact edge to contact the shank so as to achieve the purpose of adjustment of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Chung-Te Hu
  • Patent number: 8132486
    Abstract: A pneumatic power screw gun with a reinforced hammer head, has a reinforced base end above the handle with a cradle mounted thereon, the cradle being adapted to receive and secure a hammer head in place as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Norman D. Calvert
  • Patent number: 8117951
    Abstract: A wrench having a main body defines a first end, an opposite second end, and an axis extending therebetween. A handle body defines a first end, an opposite second end, and an axis extending therebetween, wherein the handle body first end is pivotally coupled to the main body second end. A handle is axially fixed and rotatably coupled to the handle body second end. A tang, having a first end configured to releasably receive a tool, an opposite second end, and an axis extending therebetween, is pivotally coupled to the main body first end. A detent is received in a recesses defined in one of the handle body first end and the main body second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Accu-Sort Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Brobst
  • Patent number: 8117949
    Abstract: A movable wrench including a screw bar, and an operating element. The bottom surface of the screw bar is urged by a first compressible spring. The hook part of the operating element urges against the bottom surface of the screw bar. As the user depresses the operating end of the operating element, the hook part escape from the bottom surface. The first compressible spring is depressed downward. After the reverse rotation and positioning, the first compressible spring urges against the screw bar again. The operating end is released so that the hook part urges against the bottom surface again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: New Way Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 8117948
    Abstract: A wrench comprises a handle portion, a head portion releasably secured to the handle portion and a release device. The head portion has an inner surface that defines a fastener receiving aperture and a side entry to the fastener receiving aperture and is movable relative to the handle portion between a loading position in which the side entry is open and an operating position in which the side entry is closed. The head portion is operable to close around a fastener received in the fastener receiving aperture in response to a torque applied in a predetermined direction using the handle portion. The release device is arranged to at least assist in releasing the head portion from the handle portion to permit the head portion to be separated from the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: American Grease Stick Company
    Inventor: Nigel A. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 8113091
    Abstract: A hammer includes a metal hammerhead having a socket hole, a wooden handle fastened to the socket hole, and a socket hole blocking device blocking the socket hole. The socket hole blocking device includes a cap, which is fitted into the socket hole in flush with the metal hammerhead and has wedge holes and a magnet embedded therein for securing an iron nail temporarily for driving into a workpiece, and metal wedge bolts respectively fitted into the wedge holes and driven into the wooden handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Yung-Shou Chen
  • Patent number: 8113095
    Abstract: A device for delivering a predetermined amount of torque to a tool. The device has a handle and a cam assembly located within the handle. The cam assembly has a cam member integrally formed with a drive shaft. An adjustment ring is capable of rotating the cam assembly to different positions related to different levels of torque. A plunger will be biased against an exterior surface of the cam member to provide the different levels of torque delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Bradshaw Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Hua Gao
  • Patent number: 8109183
    Abstract: An impact resistant tool or tool bit holder has an active end for driving a fastener and a shanking end for securing to a power tool. The active end includes a body with a bore to receive the shank and a pocket to receive a damping mechanism. The shank includes an end to engage the bore in the body, and a pocket to receive the damping mechanism. The shank is received in the bore in the body for limited rotation with respect to the body. A damping mechanism is positioned in the pockets to provide damping between the body and the shank during torque loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Aland Santamarina, Michael P. Peters, Abhijeet Joshi, David N. Johnson, Hans Peter Paulus, Matthias Mertmann, Francesco Butera, Luca Fumagalli
  • Patent number: 8109182
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ratchet tool, wherein a circular tooth row is arranged into the round groove of the main body's actuating end. A tool driving seat is assembled rotatably onto the round groove of the main body. A first braking slot, a second braking slot and an arched control slot are triangularly configured onto the internal surface of the tool driving seat. The first and second braking slots are separately fitted with the first and second braking swing blocks. A moveable control gear is placed into the control slot and can shift to the through-hole at both ends of the control slot such that it is mated simultaneously with inner tip edges of the first and second braking swing blocks. An elastic resetter is additionally provided to make the first and second braking swing blocks with inner tip edge swing inwards in a normal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Ho-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 8109181
    Abstract: A ratchet screwdriver with an assembly of a handle (10), a body (17), a gear (56), a pawl (21, 22, 71), and a selector (27) movable on the assembly. The selector carries a pawl actuator (38, 81) for pivoting the pawl, and there is a rotation lock (42, 92) on the selector for releasably holding the rotated selector. The selector can be axially, and also rotationally, movable on the body for controlling the lock. The assembly is along an axis (A), and there are a member (44) and axial force appliers (62, 64) effective between the body and the member, thus restricting axial movement in the assembly. There is provision for assembly along the axis from adjacent the handle. There are modifications and an assembly method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Bradshaw Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Hua Gao
  • Patent number: 8104382
    Abstract: A universal joint includes a coupling member having an end for coupling with a tool. A body includes a rounded base pivotably mounted to the other end of the coupling member. The body further includes a drive column spaced from the rounded base along an axis. A reinforcing section is intermediate the rounded base and the drive column. The reinforcing section includes an outer periphery having a recessed portion with a receptacle extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis. A control member is moveably received in the receptacle to control coupling of the drive column and an object to be driven. In any case, a spacing from an outer end of the control member to the axis in the radial direction is substantially not larger than a spacing from the outer periphery of the reinforcing section to the axis in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Bobby Hu
  • Patent number: 8104383
    Abstract: A torque socket assembly includes a first connecting portion which has a positioning hole and a fitting hole respectively defined in two ends thereof. A second connecting portion which has a driving hole and a receiving hole respectively defined in two ends thereof. The fitting hole and the receiving hole respectively have a first and a second positioning block disposed therein. A first and a second gear teeth are respectively disposed on the first and the second positioning block and are meshed with each other. A through hole is penetrated through the first and the second connecting portion, and the positioning blocks. A torque setting unit includes a resilient piece, a rod, and a screwing nut. The rod is inserted through the through hole, and the screwing nut is fastened to a second end of the rod for setting a stable torque value to the torque socket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Jin-Tsai Lai
  • Patent number: 8104127
    Abstract: A sheet metal working tool has a shaft with a first end and a second end, a striking tool attached to the first end of the shaft, and an opener attached to the second end of the shaft. The opener includes a flat plate with a first end and a second end and a C-shaped structure having a first-end and a second end, the first end of the flat plate and the first end of the C-shaped structure joined together with the second end of the plate spaced from the second end of the C-shaped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Nim Scanlan
  • Patent number: 8096213
    Abstract: A body having one or more apertures to receive a variety of detachable utility inserts. The body being shaped with a spherical ball retainer member and/or a torsion bar for engaging a corresponding spherical indentation and notch formed on the utility insert. The body further including a lever for locking and unlocking the utility insert from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Neil Miers
  • Patent number: 8074540
    Abstract: An adjustable wrench with a ratchet function comprises a fixed jaw 1 and a movable jaw, wherein the fixed jaw has a receiving recess for receiving a screw, a first spring is disposed between the screw and the inner wall of the receiving recess, a shaft is passed through the first spring and the screw, the shaft is formed thereon with a blocking portion for catching a pin, an actuating portion protrudes from the end of the pin, the actuating portion of the pin abuts against the V-shaped push surface of an operating piece, and when pressing one of the ends of the operating piece, the actuating portion of the pin can be pushed by the V-shaped push surface so that the pin moves and disengages from the blocking portion of the shaft. At this time, the wrench can be counter-rotated to quickly perform screw locking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: New Way Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 8074539
    Abstract: A socket device with an indication portion comprises a colored sleeve; the sleeve being made by high molecular organic plastics; a socket; the sleeve being rotatable installed on the socket; an indication portion on a surface of the sleeve for indicating a value about the size of the socket. The socket has an annular recess for receiving the sleeve. The sleeve may be an annular ring; or the sleeve is a C ring; or the sleeve has a protrusion and the protrusion is received in the annular recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Yu-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 8056445
    Abstract: The Multi-Task-Tool provides more positive control of clamp-action-mounted power distribution devices while placing, tightening, loosening and removing the devices from their intended receivers, including but not limited to power lines and taps, and it may be attached to common extension sticks for long reach. Many electrical power distribution devices are secured in position directly or indirectly by a threaded fastener which is most often an eye bolt. The tool body receives and contains the eye bolt and a portion of the shank giving leverage to control the device. Once the distribution device is in place the tool is then rotated to position internal rails on each side of the eye and then pulled down to seat the eye against its aperture cap. Internal rails provide stops to transmit rotational force to the eye bolt in either direction. The tool may be modified to work with other fastener heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Denton L. Jackson, III
  • Patent number: 8056447
    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 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Easco Hand Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Arnold, Richard P. Folkenroth
  • Patent number: 8056446
    Abstract: The invention is a ratcheting open ended wrench comprising a main body having an elongate primary handle portion and an upper stationary jaw element, a secondary handle opposed to the primary handle portion and having a binding surface at the top being pivotally attached to the main body, a tertiary handle pivotally attached to the main body having a gear element cooperating with a geared end of a connecting rod, the opposing end pivotally and slidably fixed to a lower movable jaw assembly, the lower movable jaw assembly being spring biased against the upper stationary jaw and positioned within a main body guide slot so that the secondary handle binding surface contacts the lower jaw assembly and activation of the secondary handle clamps the lower movable jaw assembly relative to the upper stationary jaw. Activation of the tertiary handle counteracts the lower movable jaw spring bias to open the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Dale K Wheeler, Thomas J Wheeler
  • Patent number: RE43286
    Abstract: A ratchet wheel includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The outer periphery includes a number of arcuate concave teeth each having two sides and an intersection of the two sides. The ratchet wheel includes a center, a line from the center to the intersection dividing an angle between the two sides into two unequal portions, thereby forming asymmetric arcuate concave teeth to provide improved structural strength and improved torque. In another embodiment, the concave teeth are non-arcuate to reduce the formation time for the teeth, thereby reducing the production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Bobby Hu