Patents Examined by Jennifer Chiang
  • Patent number: 7934523
    Abstract: A forestry machine includes a frame, and a felling saw carried by the frame. The felling saw includes a saw head. A tree counter associated with the saw head includes an audio sensor providing an output signal representing an audio parameter associated with a cutting action of the saw head. An electrical processing circuit is coupled with and receives the output signal from the audio sensor. The electrical processing circuit determines a tree count associated with the saw head, dependent upon the output signal from the audio sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elliot Little, Mark Breutzman, Karle Wigginton
  • Patent number: 7934524
    Abstract: A tractor has a log splitter installed on two loader arms pivoted at a front end of the tractor. The log splitter includes a frame for attachment to the loader arms. The frame includes a surface, to which a ram and a wedge are coupled. An actuator mounted to the frame moves the ram and/or the wedge to split a log received between the ram and the wedge. The wedge includes a main blade and a cross blade perpendicular to the main blade. An edge of the cross blade is offset from an edge of the main blade so as to reduce the force required to achieve a four-way split of the log. The wedge and the frame are designed to enable inverting the log splitter to grasp a log, then raising the inverted log splitter to split the log directly into a truck bed. The uniquely designed hydraulic tank-ballast box combination provides an owner an external high volume hydraulic system without impeding the capability of the tractor hydraulic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Dean R. Priebe
  • Patent number: 7931059
    Abstract: A through dovetailing jig assembly comprised of a dovetailing jig removably attached to a workpiece, an indexing strip removably attached to the workpiece and jig, and a front backup board removably attached to the workpiece and jig. The jig is further comprised of a removable pin insert and a removable tail insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Douglas
  • Patent number: 7918254
    Abstract: A method for creating a design on a surface comprising providing a template to overlay the surface upon which the design is to be created, forming a pattern of the design on the template for the design which is to be created on the surface, placing the template with the pattern of the design thereon on the surface, with a tool, tracing the pattern of the design on the template to form an impression on the surface below the template and removing the template leaving the impression of the design on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Deborah Langer
  • Patent number: 7913725
    Abstract: A forestry work machine comprises a carrier and a log deflector for deflecting away from the carrier a log held by the forestry work machine. The log deflector comprises a base portion attached to a side of the carrier and an accessory portion projecting laterally outwardly from and removably attached to the base portion. An associated method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Deere-Hitachi Specialty Products
    Inventors: Aleksander Kot, Marin Preda, Adrian M. Fengler, William Mark Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7905260
    Abstract: A dust collector is provided for use with a router that is mounted to the underside of a router table. The device serves as a means for collecting dust from both upper and lower surfaces of a cutting tool. The dust collector includes a flexible cup attachable to the underside of the router table, a vacuum hose opening on the cup connectable to a workshop vacuum hose and reducer fitting in combination are attachable to a router table fence and to one of two small openings of a “T” connector fitting on the other end, a vacuum hose attachable to the vacuum hose opening of the cup on one end and attachable to the other of two small openings of the “T” connector on the other end, a larger opening on the “T” connector connectable to a vacuum hose of a workshop vacuum, which in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Keenan
  • Patent number: 7900663
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining a location of a pith along a length of a wood sample. The methods may comprise the steps of: determining pith direction; selecting two areas of the wood sample at which two or more chords of a ring can be defined; bisecting the chords to define a line perpendicular to the chords; and locating at least one intersection point for two or more of the bisecting perpendicular lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventor: Chih-Lin Huang
  • Patent number: 7896040
    Abstract: A clamp type mortising jig is described that allows the user to create a slot mortise in a workpiece clamped in the jig, using a plunge router. The jig includes a clamp that includes a movable jaw assembly and a fixed jaw with a template carriage slidably mounted between them. Router guide templates can be replaceably mounted in the template carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Gill
  • Patent number: 7886784
    Abstract: A coping apparatus facilitating a coped or straight cut through molding by using a stylus to trace the molding being cut to guide the cutter with adjustability for wall-to-ceiling, wall-to-floor, wall-to-wall, and/or backcut angles is presented. The apparatus includes a rotatable holder assembly, a rotatable cutter assembly, a rotatable platform, and a base element. The rotatable holder assembly includes a two-axis positioning system and allows for adjustment to left or right, straight or coped cuts and wall-to-wall angles. The rotatable cutter assembly is attached to the two-axis positioning system and allows adjustment to the left or right, straight, or cope cuts and backcut angle and further includes a motor driven spiral cutter, a cutter holder, and at least one stylus. The rotatable platform allows adjustment to the wall-to-floor or wall-to-wall angle and is movable so as to rotate or swivel about a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the holder and cutter assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Harold E. McFadden
  • Patent number: 7886785
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the art of installing hardwood flooring while maintaining the wood grain in the direction of any bends required to conform to a curved structure. More particularly, the invention pertains to a machine and method for installing curved hardwood flooring using three steps. First step is to establish the desired floor boundary and anchor a plurality of pressure units in place at appropriate intervals to accurately represent the desired shape of the curved hardwood floor to be installed. Second step is to make appropriate adjustments to the pressure units and position the hardwood flooring in the machine; Third step is to activate the pressure units to bend the flooring into the desired contour; hold securely; make adjustments, if necessary and nail the hardwood flooring to the sub-floor. Then repeat steps 2 and 3 until the hardwood floor is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Julius Young
  • Patent number: 7882868
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a compact, portable, lightweight, easily transportable, quickly operating wood splitting apparatus, using a knife which cuts a log or piece of wood that is deposed on a platform. This compact and portable wood splitter is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder transmitting a pendulum movement to a knife and onto an upright piece of wood. The apparatus may be attached to a truck box, to a trailer or to a wall by means of a vertical, horizontal, fixed or mobile fixture. The splitter apparatus is compact and portable and it can easily be stored in a car trunk or in a shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Martin Lessard
  • Patent number: 7882869
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for transporting logs through a debarker are shown and described. The disclosed embodiments of roller assemblies can be used for quickly and conveniently moving logs along a processing line. Some disclosed embodiments include fluted rollers that carry replaceable inserts. The inserts can protect the logs and the rigid flutes of the roller. The insert can be made of a wear resistant material for a prolonged life. A worn insert can be replaced with another insert to ensure proper functioning of the roller assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nicholson Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Burk R. Kube, Douglas B. Jeffrey, Marek S. Cholewczynski
  • Patent number: 7874327
    Abstract: In a tree handling device, where the tree is fed longitudinally through at least three drive wheels driven by a fixed-displacement hydraulic pump, feeding commences with all drive wheels simultaneously propelling the tree longitudinally through the knife arms and frame. During feeding, once the approximate maximum feeding speed of the drive wheels is achieved, one of the drive wheels is shifted to a free-wheeling condition, allowing the maximum feed speed to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Tigercat Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Anthony Barlow, David Charles Princz
  • Patent number: 7861752
    Abstract: A saw guide system for securing a panel and providing a guide for a saw to cut a straight line across the panel includes a sawhorse being positioned on a support surface. A first rail is coupled to a top plate of the sawhorse. The first rail supports the panel when the panel is positioned on the sawhorse. A support mount is attached to the first rail. A second rail is pivotally coupled to the first rail by the support mount. The second rail is vertically spaced from the first rail to allow the panel to be placed on the first rail. The second rail is pivoted towards the first rail to position the panel between the second rail and the first rail. The second rail is abutted by a saw to maintain a straight cut across the panel when the saw is used to cut the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Michael A. Leaf
  • Patent number: 7857019
    Abstract: A system for cutting a profile along a linear edge of a wooden workpiece utilizes two spaced-apart rotatable cutting tools which are mounted for rotation in opposite rotational directions and a support surface for supporting the workpiece for movement along each of the two cutting tools. By positioning the workpiece upon the support surface so that the linear edge thereof extends between the two cutting tools, the workpiece can be moved into cutting engagement with a first of the cutting tools and subsequently into cutting engagement with the second of the cutting tools. By subsequently reversing the movement of the workpiece along the first cutting tool before the cutting edges thereof exit a trailing (side) edge of the workpiece, the likelihood that the workpiece will be damaged from the profile-forming process is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Phillip Freeman Willis
  • Patent number: 7841372
    Abstract: An apparatus for hardening the hitting head area of a wooden baseball bat by compressing of the wooden fibers on the surface thereof which includes a base housing assembly with a track and a carriage assembly with a rail member. The rail member and the track are engageable together to facilitate movement of the carriage assembly with respect to the base housing assembly. A compression roller is mounted to the housing and a bat is retained to the carriage adjacent the roller. The roller is biased into abutment with the bat for compressing the wooden fibers of hitting surface to increase the hitting power thereof as the carriage with the bat mounted thereof is manually powered for abutting movement along the adjacent compressing roller. The bat can be selectively mounted in a bat receiving zone defined by a plurality of U-shaped retaining brackets mounted to the carriage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: William H. Gill
  • Patent number: 7832452
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for removing exceeding portions of laths use to separate pieces of lumber in a bundle. The apparatus comprises an external cage and an internal cage having a skeleton framework mounted to the external cage and displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the internal cage projects forwardly from a front open face of the external cage. A chain-like member carrying a plurality of paddles is provided at a front face of the skeleton framework and is driven by a motor for causing the paddles to strike and break the exceeding portions of the laths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: 9098-9617 Quebec Inc.
    Inventor: Jean Deschênes
  • Patent number: 7823612
    Abstract: A jointer system comprises a blade assembly, a base, an infeed table, and a measurement system. The base supports the blade assembly for rotation about a blade axis. The infeed table is movably supported by the base. The measurement system comprises a stop member, a gauge assembly, and a display assembly. The stop member defines a stop plane. The gauge assembly comprises a gauge, a pin member supported by the gauge such that the pin member is in contact with the stop member, and a display assembly. As the infeed table moves relative to the base, the gauge assembly generates a measurement signal indicative of vertical displacement of the infeed table relative to the base. The display assembly generates a display image based on the measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Grizzly Industrial, Inc.
    Inventor: Shiraz Balolia
  • Patent number: 7810531
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a brush cutting head for a brush cutter. The brush cutter head includes a cylindrical support body that has a first end, an opposed second end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The intermediate portion has a curved surface that defines the circular cross-section of the cylindrical support body. A plurality of collars is mounted to the cylindrical support body at spaced intervals along the intermediate portion. Each collar extends radially from the curved surface of the cylindrical support body. Additionally, each collar cooperates with an adjacent collar to define a mounting station between the adjacent collars. The brush cutter head further includes a plurality of cutting tooth assemblies carried on the outer surface of the cylindrical support body. Each cutting tooth assembly has a cutting tooth for placement within the mounting station and a mounting assembly engageable with the adjacent collars to secure the cutting tooth in the mounting station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Etienne Labbé
  • Patent number: 7810532
    Abstract: A method for constructing tambour slats using a system of router bits. The router bit system can include at least two router bits, one of which may have a semi-spherical nose cutting surface and a concave ‘S’ shaped ogee cutting surface; and the other of which may have a ‘S’ shaped ogee cutting surface and a concave quarter round cutting surface. The method for constructing a tambour slat can include milling a groove in a strip of material. The strip of material with a groove may then be milled to form a tongue and a neck portion that may slide into a groove milled in another strip of material. The milling operations may be performed by a router fitted with the router bits from the router bit system. By using the router bit system, each strip of material may yield up to two tambour slats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Amana Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Lonnie Bird