Patents Examined by Jim Calve
  • Patent number: 6286611
    Abstract: A power tool includes a motor (20) mounted within a body (14) of the tool. The tool (14) is able to accept any one of a plurality of attachment members (54) so as to form a tool dedicated for a particular job. Each one of the attachment members (54) of the plurality has a pre-determined output speed and one of a rotary and non-rotary output. By the ability to interchange the attachment members of the plurality therefore a total power tool is provided having the above features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Bone
  • Patent number: 6264087
    Abstract: A cutting and stapling device for use as an attachment to an electromechanical device driver comprises an upper jaw and a lower jaw which separate and close against one another in a continuously parallel alignment. The upper jaw includes a series of staple guides corresponding to one or more staples in a removable staple tray disposed within a lower jaw, whereby a blade and wedge having a threaded bore travel upon a matching threaded shaft in a channel disposed in the lower jaw below the staple tray, such that rotation of the threaded shaft causes movement of the wedge through the channel while a sloped surface of the wedge contacts the staples to push the staples against the staples guides, closing the staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: PowerMed, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Whitman
  • Patent number: 6257351
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a locking mechanism for preventing an output shaft of the surgical instrument from rotating and a further locking mechanism for mounting a battery pack to a distal end of a housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument further includes a clutch mechanism for limiting the torque of a drive shaft of the surgical instrument. The locking mechanism for preventing the output shaft from rotating includes a locking switch which mates with a locking cap disposed on the output shaft. The locking mechanism for mounting the battery pack to the housing includes a groove at the distal end of the housing and a retaining ring which engages the groove when the battery pack is mounted on the housing. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch plate that interfaces with both the output shaft and the drive shaft and prevents failure of the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timmon Ark, Robert R. Humphris, Jr., Daniel McCombs
  • Patent number: 6250401
    Abstract: A rotary impacting apparatus is provided which comprises a housing, a rotor rotatably accommodated in the housing, a driving source for rotating the rotor about a rotation axis, a main reciprocative implement reciprocatively held by the housing, and an impact member eccentrically held by the rotor. The impact member exerts an impacting force for pressing the main reciprocative implement when the main reciprocative implement is advanced relative to the rotation axis. The main reciprocative implement is provided with a diametrically smaller portion and a diametrically greater portion connected to the diametrically smaller portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Yamada Machinery Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sakuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 6237828
    Abstract: The invention is a stapler and staple guide assembly for same. The stapler provides automated stapling for stacks of sheet material regardless of stack thickness. In a first embodiment two staple guides load individual sheets or small stacks of sheets onto a staple with the staple supported in a base. The staple is then cut to an appropriate height and cinched. In another embodiment, numerous split guides may be cascaded to increase staple loading speed. Other improvements to a stapling process include dimpling sheets of material and/or pre-drilling sheets of material to simplify loading sheets onto a staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: H. W. Crowley
  • Patent number: 6227307
    Abstract: A hydraulic breaker for absorbing and reducing vibration and noise generated from the breaker and for reducing debris and dust scattered from the impact tool during using the breaker is provided. Space between main body of the breaker and outer housing is filled with fluid supplied from outside of the outer housing. Fluid hose is connected to a fluid hole formed on the outer housing to supply fluid into the space. Upper absorber is disposed between a bracket and upper portion of the main body, lower absorber is disposed between front cover of the outer housing and front head portion of the main body. Side absorbers are disposed between sidewall of the outer housing and outer cylindrical sidewall of the main body to keep a distance between outer housing and main body and to provide the space filled with fluid. Fluid, such as water, filled in the space is ejected through holes formed on the front cover of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Daemo Engineering Co., LTD
    Inventor: Won-Hae Lee
  • Patent number: 6223966
    Abstract: Fixing device using compressed gas, comprising a casing (1) containing a combustion chamber (17), a housing (4) for receiving a cartridge of compressed gas (5), a duct (19) for injecting compressed gas into the combustion chamber (17) from the cartridge (5), a magazine (3) for supplying fixing elements, a housing (6) for receiving a battery (7) for supplying electricity and a handle (8) connected directly to the casing (1) and substantially perpendicular to an axis (11) of the casing (1). The housing (4) for receiving the cartridge (5) extends substantially parallel to the handle (8) and is offset with respect thereto along the axis (11) of the casing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Societe de Prospection et d'Inventions Techniques Spit
    Inventors: Frédéric Nayrac, Guy Jaillet, Bruno Toulouse
  • Patent number: 6223833
    Abstract: A hammer drill has a motor which drives an axially displaceable intermediate gear mounted in an intermediate gear arrangement. An impact mechanism is formed by including interacting impact cams between either the intermediate gear and the housing, or the motor armature shaft and the housing to generate a reciprocating motion on an output spindle or shaft. A spindle locking mechanism is included which causes an intermediate gear to be disengageable with respect to the output shaft, while still permitting the impact mechanism to be engaged. Such an arrangement allows the hammer drill to operate in a hammer-only or chipping mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: One World Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Thurler, John E. Nemazi, Ralph E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6220368
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a locking mechanism for preventing an output shaft of the surgical instrument from rotating and a further locking mechanism for mounting a battery pack to a distal end of a housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument further includes a clutch mechanism for limiting the torque of a drive shaft of the surgical instrument. The locking mechanism for preventing the output shaft from rotating includes a locking switch which mates with a locking cap disposed on the output shaft. The locking mechanism for mounting the battery pack to the housing includes a groove at the distal end of the housing and a retaining ring which engages the groove when the battery pack is mounted on the housing. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch plate that interfaces with both the output shaft and the drive shaft and prevents failure of the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timmon Ark, Robert R. Humphris, Jr., Daniel McCombs
  • Patent number: 6216797
    Abstract: A thrust system for a horizontal directional drill is provided. The thrust system includes a drill boom having a drive sprocket positioned at the first end thereof and a driven sprocket positioned at the second end thereof. A carriage for supporting the horizontal drill is slidably received on the drill boom. The carriage includes idler sprockets positioned between the drive sprocket and driven sprocket in the drill boom. A serpentine chain extends about the drive sprocket, the driven sprocket and the idler sprockets in order to provide greater thrust and pullback of the drill at given torques. Rotation of the drive sprocket in a first direction draws the carriage towards the first end of the drill boom, and rotation of the drive sprocket in a second direction draws the carriage towards the second end of the drill boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Draney, Willie Lessard
  • Patent number: 6216798
    Abstract: The invention concerns the work units for automatic machine tools in which a spindle (5) moves in translation and rotates with respect to a work axis (Z). More particularly in these units, in order to obtain the rotation/translation of the spindle, the latter is housed in a sleeve (3) that slides along the work axis (Z), with respect to which it is however free to turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Riello Macchine Transfer Srl
    Inventors: Andrea Riello, Zeno Borsaro
  • Patent number: 6213224
    Abstract: An electric power tool is provided including a main housing (2) assembled by fitting together right and left casing halves (3, 4), a drive unit (5), a spindle (14) coupled to the drive unit, and a change ring (20). The drive unit includes a DC motor (6), a gear assembly (7), and first and second gear cases (9, 15). The aluminum-alloy second gear case (15) is provided with a connecting portion (17) which has an outer shape that smoothly and continuously connects with the front end of the main housing and which is secured to the main housing by four screws (24) in the axial direction toward the rear portion of the tool. In addition, the second gear case includes a small-diameter journal bearing (16) which extends forwardly from the front end of the connecting portion (17) within the change ring so as to support the spindle of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Takefumi Furuta, Shingo Umemura, Shinsuke Mori
  • Patent number: 6213223
    Abstract: An arrangement in a rock drilling apparatus comprising supports (5) directed toward the rear part of the feed, the supports being moveable by means of support cylinders (6) to support the feed during the drilling operation. The arrangement comprises a pressure detector (9), which is arranged to detect the pressure of the pressure fluid in the support cylinders (6) and to make the control unit supply more pressure fluid to the support cylinders (6) when the pressure drops below a pre-set threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sandvick Tamrock Oy
    Inventor: Tapani Huhdanmäki
  • Patent number: 6209659
    Abstract: A hand drill including a housing (2), a rotary drive (8-15) arranged in the housing (2) for driving a chuck (6) provided at a front, in the drilling direction, end of the housing and in which a drill or a chisel tool is received, a compressed air-operated hammer mechanism having a pneumatic cylinder (22), a die member (15) for imparting axial blows to the drill or chisel tool, and a percussion piston (30) displaceable in the pneumatic cylinder 922) upon being impinged by compressed air for intermittently applying axial blows to the die member (15), and a reversing valve for connecting the hammer mechanism (22) with a source of compressed air, integrated in the percussion piston (30), and having a plurality of recesses and bores (46-52) alternatively operationally connectable with at least one inlet opening (23) and at least one discharge opening (24) of the pneumatic cylinder (22) for feeding the compressed air into the pneumatic cylinder (22) and for discharging the compressed air therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Matthias Blessing
  • Patent number: 6209772
    Abstract: The invention is an improved structure of the stapler which consists of a pressing cover with a pressing plate and a protection plate underneath its front end and a base with a staple board in the front. The staple casket accommodates a pushing block which pushes the staples in the staple casket by the stretch of the spring behind it. The binding is completed by the pressing of the pressing plate and the guidance of the protection plate. A clasping part can be installed on the pushing block to hold an indicator for indicating the amount of the staples. A hook at the bottom of the casket deck hooks to the opening on the staple casket, so that when the staples run out the staple casket will slide out for reloading by the pressing of the pushing block. The staple board has a concave groove of a proper height and a spring plate is placed above it for guiding the staples when binding a thick pile of papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Deng-Fuw Wang
  • Patent number: 6206107
    Abstract: A power tool (10) includes a motor (22) mounted there within. The motor has an output (20) for engagement with an input of an attachment member (32) presented thereto. The coupling between the motor output (20) and the attachment member (32) is by a snap-fit coupling achieved by way of resiliently biased arms (56) within the tool engaging with an annular recess (54) formed on the attachment member (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Wadge
  • Patent number: 6199739
    Abstract: A nail gun includes a contact arm that is movable relative to a nail gun body between an upper first stroke end position and a lower second stroke end position. The contact arm may prevent the nails from being driven when it is in the first stroke end position. A nail driving prevention device includes an engaging member that is movable to enter the moving path of the contact arm so as to prevent the contact arm from moving from the first stroke end position toward the second stroke end position when the number of the nails in a nail magazine has been reduced to a predetermined number. A deviating device is operable to change the moving course of the engaging member away from the moving path of the contact arm when the contact arm is positioned above the first stroke end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Mukoyama, Takahiro Sakaguchi, Nobuyuki Kakuda, Jiro Oda
  • Patent number: 6199642
    Abstract: A reversible ratcheting electric power tool has a reversible DC electric motor having an output coupled to drive a drive shaft through a reversible ratchet assembly. The tool housing has a reversing mechanism which includes a manually operable reversing cap rotatable about the axis of the drive shaft for controlling the ratcheting direction of the ratchet assembly, the cap having a pair of projections which respectively engage the actuator buttons of two direction control microswitches coupled through an on-off switch to a battery. When the ratchet assembly is in a neutral or non-ratcheting condition, both microswitches are in a normal deactuated condition connecting both of the motor terminals to the battery negative terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Becker, Joshua M. Beer, Dennis A. Nowak
  • Patent number: 6196330
    Abstract: A manually operable drilling tool (1) wiht dual impacting funtion has a housing (2) containing a first striking mechanism (16) for producing axial impacts to be transferred to a drilling or chiseling tool bit (7), clamped in a chuck (6) of the tool (1). Within the housing (2), a second striking mechanism (20) is arranged for producing axial impacts, the axial impacts of which have an impact energy and an impact frequency different from the impact energy and the impact frequency of the axial impacts produced by the first striking mechanism (16). The drilling or chiseling tool bit (7), clamped in the chuck (6), can be acted upon with axial impacts produced either by the first (16) or the second striking mechanism (20) or by both striking mechanisms together. The axial impact striking, mechanisms (16, 20) can also be switched off completely for use in wood or metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Blessing Matthias, Günther Joachim, Kauf Adrian
  • Patent number: 6196332
    Abstract: A rotational energy storage device or spring which includes a roller-cam assembly having a shaft, a ring rotatably disposed about the shaft, and at least one roller disposed between shaft and ring. The roller is configured such that, upon rotating the ring relative to the shaft, the roller interferes with the ring and the shaft to convert and effect storage of mechanical energy created by the relative rotation of the ring and the shaft. Preferably a plurality of spaced rollers are positioned between ring and shaft. A cam geometry which is symmetrical or asymmetrical is provided on the shaft, the ring, the roller, and combinations thereof. A rotational energy storage device having a back-up ring with alternating thin and thick cross-sectional areas is further provided which is indexed to provide regions of low and high stiffness regions against each roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Gregory P. Albert, David B. Stahlman, Timothy R. Cooper, James P. Ryan