Patents Examined by James G. Smith
  • Patent number: 6918322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple screw driving machine comprising a plurality of individual screwdrivers which are arranged on a body or in a housing (8) and which each comprise a spindle or shaft (7) which is rotatably mounted in the housing and which at an outer front end carries a screw driving tool (10) for engagement with a screw means. Each of the screwdrivers are separately drivable by a common motor (1) via a driving wheel transmission comprising a primary driving wheel (5) for each screwdriver. The primary driving wheel (5) is rotatably but non-displaceably mounted on the shaft (7) of the respective screwdrivers whereas a driver element (14) is non-rotatably but displaceably mounted on the shaft (7) and is displaceable with the aid of an operating means (16) towards and away from the primary driving wheel (5). The primary driving wheel (5) and the driver element (14) each have mating and mutually facing engagement means (19, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventor: Sven-Olov Biller
  • Patent number: 6915930
    Abstract: A hanger for hanging one or more hats, particularly baseball-style caps, from a support member. The cap hanger has an upper portion with a hook, a middle portion suitable for displaying information and a lower portion having a hanger body with one or more hanger sections. The hanger sections are configured to receive and retain the back portion, either the back side of the cap or the strap or band, whether adjustable or not, of a cap in a cap receptacle and suspend the cap in a generally downward direction. The hanger sections can have an upper channel and a plurality of lower channels separated by a protruding member and a shaped narrowed section to hold the cap in the cap hanger. The cap hanger can also have one or more brim clips, separately or in combination with hanger sections, for receiving and retaining the brim of a cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Jerry J. Dixon
  • Patent number: 6915929
    Abstract: A first belt conveyor (5) and a second belt conveyor (8) form a first transverse folding station (4) having a folding channel (16) formed between folding sides (14; 15) of the belt conveyors (5; 8). If a fault occurs in said folding channel by virtue of the fact that a piece of linen (39) bunches together into a coil and cannot be transported further, this is detected by means of a delivery sensor (38), the belt conveyors (5, 8) are stopped and the second belt conveyor (8) is pivoted outwards about a pivot axle (12) so that the width of the folding channel (16) at its upper end can be increased to at least 80 mm and the piece of linen can be readily removed. Arranged below the folding channel (16) is a third belt conveyor (23) having a folding section (29) which slopes sharply downwards for receiving a piece of linen and belongs to an upper support side (28) which can be pivoted upwards before a second fold carried out with reversal of the direction of movement of the third belt conveyor (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Jensen AG Burgdorf
    Inventors: Martin Rauch, Jorn Munch Jensen
  • Patent number: 6915931
    Abstract: A garment set hanger is disclosed which is suitable for hanging and displaying a set of matched or coordinated garments together, such as a matched set of children's garments. The garment set hanger includes a top hanger which is designed to support a top garment such as a dress or a shirt of the matched set of garments. A flexible bottom hanger of the garment set hanger is designed to support and display a matching bottom garment of the matched set of garments, such as underwear designed to be worn as a matched set with the dress, or matching pants designed to be worn as a matched set with a top sports or T shirt. The flexible bottom hanger is designed to be flexed inwardly to allow the bottom garment to be easily placed on and mounted onto the flexed bottom hanger, such as by an elastic waist band, and then the flexed bottom hanger is allowed to expand outwardly to conform to different size bottom garments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Spotless Plastics Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stanley F. Gouldson, Olaf F. Olk
  • Patent number: 6915723
    Abstract: A ratchet socket wrench has a main body, a shaft disposed on the main body, a drive device engaging with the shaft, and a sleeve engaging with the drive device. The drive device has a center hole, and a ratchet portion having a plurality of ratchets and an outer periphery groove. An elastic ring encloses the outer periphery groove of the drive device. A collar encloses the drive device. The sleeve has a corrugation hole, and a pawl portion having a plurality of pawls and an outer periphery recess. The pawls engage with the ratchets. The shaft is inserted in the center hole of the drive device. The collar has an inner annular flange. The drive device further has an annular recess to receive the inner annular flange of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6913173
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatic loading socks on forms (1) comprises a suction unit (20) at the entry, a carousel (10) with several stations, a sock positioning unit (30), a sock tucking up unit (40) and a withdrawing and loading robot (50). The carousel has heads (11) carrying elongated supports (12) on which socks (2) are put partially or completely. The heads (11) rotate integrally to the carousel (10) carrying the elongated supports (12) through four following stations and respectively a station at the entry (2) for opening the socks and putting them onto the elongated supports (12), a positioning station (3), a tucking up station (4) and a withdrawing station (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Matec S.p.A.
    Inventor: Benito Manini
  • Patent number: 6913171
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically folding garments while preventing garment retrograde is disclosed and claimed. The present invention is preferably embodied having a first conveyor surface comprised of at least a single continuous belt supported by at least two rollers, and a second conveyor surface comprised of at least a single continuous belt supported by at least two rollers, the second conveyor surface being spaced a distance from and aligned parallel and superior to the first conveyor surface to create a garment pathway therebetween, the spaced distance being sufficient to allow each surface to contact a garment passing through the pathway. A folding plate assembly is preferably positioned within the garment pathway, between a garment inlet positioned at a first end of the garment pathway and a garment outlet positioned at the opposite end of the garment pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Carter
  • Patent number: 6912931
    Abstract: An opener is provided for removing a lid from a paint can or any other similar type container. The opener has a plurality of tapered bits coupled to a first means for moving the bits toward the lid. The opener is also provided with a second means for moving the bits relative to the container to lift the lid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Innovating Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Draur, Jeffrey S. Dworek, Tracy S. Lemar
  • Patent number: 6912933
    Abstract: A hydraulic torque wrench having a separate ratchet unit and hydraulic cylinder drive unit connectable by an overlapping cylindrical connection at selected angles of rotation providing clearance in use. The hydraulic cylinder actuates the ratchet mechanism by a connecting rod traveling through the overlapping cylindrical connection and engaging a pivotable drive plate. The ratchet may have a male drive shaft for driving a socket, or a female driver such a hex or spline wrench. The ratchet unit case may be integral, or split for removable accesses to the ratchet mechanisms. The cylinder unit hydraulic connections may be separate rotatable connections or a single connection and collar, allowing three-way rotation. Attachments for the hydraulic unit include a pipe flange spreader, a nut splitter, scissor action shears, and a lift/spreader for lifting an object from a flat surface or spreading surfaces apart. A reaction bar affixes to the drive unit body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventors: Brian Knopp, Harry J. Knopp
  • Patent number: 6912932
    Abstract: A depth adjusting system for a screw gun comprises a base supported on the screw gun, an on/off collar removably attached to the base, and an adjusting collar and a depth locator mounted to the on/off collar. The adjusting collar rotates but cannot move axially relative to the on/off collar. Rotation of the adjusting collar causes the depth locator to move axially relative to the on/off collar for adjusting the depth setting. An indexing system is provided between the adjusting collar and the on/off collar for retaining the angular position of the adjusting collar and the depth setting. The on/off collar can be easily attached and detached from the base with a simple axial force applied to the on/off collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Porter-Cable/Delta
    Inventors: John Robert Kriaski, Daniel Paxton Wall
  • Patent number: 6912938
    Abstract: A pedal depressor for a truck or large vehicle includes adjustable telescoping tubes with a locking plate for locking the tubes in a fixed position. A rubber tip is provided at one end for engaging a pedal and a Y-shaped yoke, which is rotatably adjustable, is provided at the other end of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Lisle Corporation
    Inventor: Scotty R. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 6912935
    Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a head with an engaging member rotatably received in a hole in the head and a recess is defined in an inner periphery of the hole so as to receive a pawl therein. A chamber is defined in a side of the head and communicates with the recess. A knob is rotatably received in the chamber and a biasing member is connected between the pawl and the knob. The biasing member is a V-shaped member and includes two insertions which are connected to a side of the pawl, and a peak portion which is securely connected to a protrusion extending eccentrically from an inside of the knob. The pawl is shifted by the biasing member when rotating the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsien
  • Patent number: 6907803
    Abstract: A single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure includes an elongated handle, and an identification portion. The handle has one end provided with a socket end, and a ratchet wheel is mounted in the socket end and operated in one direction only. The identification portion is mounted on the handle, and mates with a rotation direction of the ratchet wheel for locking or unlocking a workpiece, so that when a user holds the handle of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, he may directly identify the correct rotation direction for locking or unlocking the workpiece by the location and the direction of the identification portion on the handle, thereby facilitating the user operating the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Easco Hand Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Hsien-Chung Tuan-Mu
  • Patent number: 6907805
    Abstract: Open-end symmetrical wrenches retain fasteners fully seated in the jaws of the wrench. The jaws have fastener-engaging surfaces with substantially planar and parallel sections that extend past the front side corners of the fastener when it is fully seated in the wrench and serrated diverging sections extending outwardly and rearwardly from these planar sections. The serrated diverging section may be arcuate or a slightly inclined. Both types of diverging section are designed to reduce slipping and are connected to rear corners of the fastener-engaging cavity that are designed and positioned to avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener. Arcuate rear side corners of the wrench cavity avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener and avoid stress concentration points. The throat that connects the corners has two gentle curves or flat surfaces leading to a central arc. This modified ā€œUā€ design provides more metal in the throat of the wrench, which stiffens the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Wright, Kenneth R. Milligan
  • Patent number: 6904828
    Abstract: A corkscrew assembly (50) has a tubular body (52) mounted on an upright slide bar (75) by means of a collar (72) which is connected to the body (52) by an arm (73). The slide bar (75) is carried by pillars (76) on a base plate (77) which in use is attached to a wall or the like above a horizontal work surface. The collar (72) can be moved up or down on the slide bar (75) for height adjustment of the body (52) to engage a mouth (85) at a lower end of the body (52) with the neck of a bottle placed on the work surface below the body (52). Locking means is provided on the collar (72) to releasably lock the collar (72) on the slide bar (75) when engaged with a bottle to securely hold the bottle for cork extraction. An actuating lever arm (68) on the body (52) can then be moved downwardly from a raised position to operate drive means on the body (52) to screw a corkscrew (57) into the cork of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Stephen Kane
  • Patent number: 6904829
    Abstract: Deadblow hammers capable of minimizing or eliminating recoils when the hammers impact their targets are discussed which have easy access anti-recoil chambers and which have open sockets for receiving handles that extend the length of the hammerhead body. These hammers incorporate filler materials, which function to negate the effects of the hammer recoils, with improved filling port(s) for filling the filler materials. Golf clubs with anti-recoil chamber and insert elements are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Anthony Krallman
  • Patent number: 6901823
    Abstract: The reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench is a spud wrench having a ratcheting head in place of the typical open-ended U-shaped wrench head. The combination ratcheting spud wrench eliminates the need for a construction worker to use a separate ratchet wrench for securing bolts in the bolt holes of interconnecting steel beams after the bolt holes have been aligned by the spud wrench. The ratcheting spud wrench also includes a milled slot along the handle of the wrench having a magnetic strip disposed in the slot. The magnetic strip allows the wrench to be placed on one of the steel structural beams when it is not being used without having the wrench drop from the work place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Carl J. Ernesti
  • Patent number: 6902086
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for constructing decorative arrangements includes a disc member having a plurality of perforations arranged in a pattern formed therein and a tool for inserting fabricating material into selected ones of the plurality of perforations formed in the disc member. An end of the tool is used to forcibly inserting an end of the fabricating material through a first perforation formed in the disc member. Markings on an intermediate section of the tool are used to measure a selected length of the fabricating material. The other end of the selected length is then inserted into a second perforation formed in the disc member to form a loop of fabricating material attached to the disc member. This process is then repeated using additional perforations, thereby adding additional loops of the fabricating material to the disc member, until construction of the decorative arrangement is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Jean F. Norrid
  • Patent number: 6901621
    Abstract: A scaling bar for prying overhanging rocks from rocky wall structures. The scaling bar comprises an elongated tubular shaft and a first pick member attached to one end thereof, and, optionally, a second pick member attached to a second end thereof. At least one of the two pick members comprises an end portion closely fitted into engagement with the tubular shaft, a tip portion defining a substantially sharp leading edge for easier penetration in the rocky structure, and a cam element. The cam element comprises a first and a second leverage bulges, whereby by displacing the shaft, a lever is formed for dislodging unstable overhanging rocks with minimized physical effort from the workman. The second inner leverage bulge provides greater leverage to the tip portion than the first leverage bulge, but the size of the first leverage bulge is smaller, and can hence engage narrower clefts than the second leverage bulge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Atelier D'Usinage Laquerre & Fils
    Inventor: Marcellin Bruneau
  • Patent number: 6901822
    Abstract: A striking tool comprising a head assembled to a handle having a long axis is characterized in that the head comprises a closed cavity extending into the head in the direction of the long axis, an opening through a wall of the head into the cavity, the opening extending at substantially a right angle to the long axis, and a spreading element inserted through the opening and spreading a portion of the handle within the cavity to urge against walls of the cavity to secure the head to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Soundstarts, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Boys