Patents Examined by James G. Smith
  • Patent number: 6981290
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scabbard for a combat knife and cutting tool combination. The scabbard generally comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends, and includes a channel formed therethrough that extends in spaced, parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a cavity that extends along the longitudinal axis. The cutting tool comprises first and second legs pivotally interconnected to one another that extend along longitudinal first and second axes, respectively, with the first leg being removably positionable within the channel of the scabbard, and the second leg being movable relative to the scabbard, but held firmly in position by a releasable strap when the tool is not in use. A combat knife is removably positionable in the cavity of the scabbard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Camillus Cutlery Company
    Inventor: Robert Terzuola
  • Patent number: 6978701
    Abstract: A wrench has a head portion (10) adapted to engage and apply torque to a workpiece, including a ring member (14) which surrounds the workpiece and has a fixed end (16) and a free end (18) such that, when the ring engages a workpiece and a torque is applied in a predetermined direction (48), the ring closes around the workpiece, increasing the grip between the wrench and the workpiece even if the workpiece is substantially worn, damaged or undersized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Smart Tools Limited
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Patent number: 6976406
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hand-held striking tool that has a head disposed forward of the centerline of a handle. The hand-held striking tool of the present invention may further include a flange positioned beneath the head of the tool, the flange functioning as a second area of contact so that the effect of overstrike may be controlled. The present invention also provides a hand-held striking tool that isolates the striking head of the tool from the handle such that the effect of vibrations caused by using the tool are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Estwing Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert H. Youngren, Daniel M. Eisman, Daniel Loveland, Christopher Aiston, Jack Harkins
  • Patent number: 6971281
    Abstract: A specialized tool for opening a particular type of container and lid configuration which is used in the food and beverage arts. The tool includes a handle section and an operating section. The operating section includes a jaw portion with a pointed lower lip and an open area. The operating section further includes a curved lower lid contacting area and at least one notch for contacting a rim on a container and providing a pivot point. The tool is useful for any person who may have difficulty in opening the particular container type described. A method of use and a specially designed support base are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventor: Harold Jarvis
  • Patent number: 6964075
    Abstract: A bi-directional carpet trimmer and tucker tool has recesses receiving blades in a generally horizontal or slightly angled orientation. The blades and recesses have structure to inhibit rotational and translational movement of the blades in the tool. The tool also has a trailings guide engaging trailings trimmed from an edge of carpet to be tucked. The trailings guide moves the trailings away from at least one tucking wheel along a path generally between a handle and the at least one tucking wheel. This guiding operation inhibits interference of the trailings with tucking and trimming operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Quick Tuck, LLC
    Inventor: Charles P. Iannacone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6959630
    Abstract: A screwdriver for driving collated screws including a slide body coupled to a housing for reciprocal displacement in a cycle including a retraction stroke and an extension stroke. A lever pivotably mounted to the slide body carries at one end a cam pin received in a cam slot in the housing with the other end of the lever advancing successive screws in the screwstrip, the cam slot having first and second camming surfaces for selective engagement by the cam pin to vary the relative positionning of the lever to be different for the same position if the slide body in the housing in the retraction strokes than in the extension stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.
    Inventor: G. Lyle Habermehl
  • Patent number: 6952982
    Abstract: A hose clamp installation tool and a method for installing a hose assembly. The hose clamp installation tool includes a hook that engages a clamp. A first rod engages the clamp and releases the clamp from an open position to a closed position. A sensor indicates release of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard Earl Williford, George Frederick MacDonald, Thomas Eric Pearson, James Robert Panyard, Christopher B. Trombetta
  • Patent number: 6952986
    Abstract: A flexible socket extension includes two connectors disposed in two ends of a flexible housing, and a number of torque transmitting elements received in the flexible housing and coupled between the connectors. One of the torque transmitting elements includes a neck and a tongue which has a width greater than that of the neck. The other torque transmitting element includes a lateral groove for receiving the tongue, and having two juts extended into the lateral groove, for engaging with the tongue and for rotatably retaining the torque transmitting elements together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Kun Cen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun Fa Fu
  • Patent number: 6948408
    Abstract: A sure grip screwdriver system comprises a shaft. The shaft has a handle end and a working end. The shaft has a working inner portion and a working outer portion. The working inner portion is adjacent to the handle end. The working outer portion is adjacent to the working end. The working outer portion further has a generally cube-shaped configuration of a first smaller size. The working inner portion further has a generally cube-shaped configuration of a second larger size. Last provided is a shaft support. The shaft support has a recess at one end to receive the handle end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Howard Lee
  • Patent number: 6948409
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments relate to a multipurpose hand device especially comprising utensils. A lift and/or release mechansim is assigned to said utensils, enabling them to be placed in a slightly raised position so that they can be grasped easily or locked in a swing-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Ctech AG
    Inventors: Peter Ackeret, Pierre-Alain Jeandupeux, Yves Wira, Rolf Nussbaumer, Claude Kottelat
  • Patent number: 6948407
    Abstract: A box end wrench includes an annular flange extending from a first side thereof and an inner diameter is larger than a maximum inner diameter of the box end. A compressible member is engaged with a second side of the box end and can be compressed by an object engaged with the box end. The compressible member pushes the object from the toothed inner periphery of the box end to a space enclosed by the annular flange, so that the object is retained in the box end while the handle of the wrench is allowed to be rotated in counter clockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsien
  • Patent number: 6945138
    Abstract: A striking device including a head having a striking surface and a base mounted on an end of a handle for reciprocation in a linear motion. A rail structure is carried by the end of the handle. A rail receiving structure is carried by the base and receives the rail structure for reciprocating linear motion of the head between a forward position and a rearward position. A biasing structure biases the head into the forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: David F. Kreitzer
  • Patent number: 6945139
    Abstract: An offset socket drive has a body member with a drive gear that receives the drive head of an impact socket and a driven gear, gearably connected with the drive gear, The driven gear has a hollow core and receives that socket, which socket also has a hollow core that longitudinally aligns with the driven gear's hollow core. The socket may be directly received within the driven gear or may be received by a hex-to-square adapter or an extension system, each such additional devices also having a hollow core that longitudinally aligns with the driven gear's hollow core. A handle is removably and threadably attached to a desired position on the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Bobby R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6941840
    Abstract: A multiple nut tool apparatus and method includes a slide shaft. More than one socket receiver is connected to the slide shaft such that at least one of the socket receiver is movable. A socket adapter is connected to each of the socket receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Randall D. Harris
  • Patent number: 6941604
    Abstract: A multipurpose hand-held implement, comprising at least two components which can be locked in a closed position and then form a compact, essentially closed body, in the case of which the two components, with preferably confluent contours, are directed towards one another. In the closed position, the body forms the handle for actuating utensils, such as a knife, staple remover or cutter, which are accommodated in the components in a set-back manner, such that they can be pushed out. The two components are preferably connected to one another in an articulated manner and, after release of the locking means, can be moved relative to one another in order to actuate, for example, a stapler, a hole puncher or a pair of scissors. Further utensils, for example a magnifying glass, a pointer or a laser pointer may be accommodated in the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: CTech AG
    Inventor: Peter Ackeret
  • Patent number: 6938292
    Abstract: The invention is a bi-directional carpet trimmers and tucker. The trimmers may be adjusted or sized to trim the carpet edge to the correct length for tucking. At least two trimmers are provided, one for each direction of operation. The height offset of the trimmers above the carpet trimmer and tucker baseplate may be fixed or may be adjustable to allow for variances in carpet thickness and different depths of the tucking trough. Guides extend from the trimmers to slidingly or rollingly engage the wall or baseboard and to orient the trimmers. The trimmer blades are oriented horizontally. The invention also includes a retrofit trimmer for existing carpet tuckers. The retrofit kit comprises a replacement handle, or grip, with integral or attachable trimmers extending to align with the wheels of existing 3-wheeled carpet trimmers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Quick Tuck, LLC
    Inventor: Charles P. Iannacone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6935209
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool is provided that is used to install a threaded nut onto a threaded fastener of the type having a non-circular recess in an end of the fastener that matingly engages with a male member that has a complementary shaped non-circular tip end to the non-circular recess. The fastener installation tool generally has a head, a gear, a socket, a key, a key holder and a spring. The key has a shank with a non-circular external surface that matingly engages with a non-circular aperture in the key holder. The mating engagement between the key and the key holder provides the key with resistance to rotation and permits the use of a lower gauge spring that facilitates replacement of the key from the fastener installation tool. The key, key holder and spring are also available as a kit for retrofitting a fastener installation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Alcoa Global Fasteners, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Lantow, Charles H. Dibley
  • Patent number: 6931965
    Abstract: A relatively compact portable tong assembly utilizing adaptable jaws for gripping the threaded box and pin ends of adjacent pipe joints without the use of an external support and thus applying final make-up torque or applying initial breakout torque to threaded pipe joints using only a spanner, socket and ratchet or other such hand tools for quickly applying torque to at least one of the tong jaws. An integral means is also provided for accurately measuring the amount of torque being applied to the joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventors: Robert P. Fanguy, David Tilley
  • Patent number: 6931966
    Abstract: An adjustable socket operates to rotatably drive a fastener. The adjustable socket includes a first recess disposed in the socket receptive of the fastener; and an adjustable stopper disposed in a second recess of the adjustable socket for limiting penetration of the fastener into the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Julio H. Monroig, Juan Alicea
  • Patent number: 6925913
    Abstract: A selective one-way wrench includes an annular head defining a first space, a second space communicated with the first space and an aperture communicated with the second space. A gear is rotationally put in the first space and includes a toothed face. A pawl is put in the second space and includes a toothed face engaged with the toothed face of the gear and two concave faces. A transmission is rotationally put in the second space and includes two wings selective one of which is in contact with corresponding one of the concave faces of the pawl. A switch is put into the second space through the aperture for connection with the transmission. A spring is connected between the pawl and the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Terence Chen