Patents Examined by T. Anthony Vaughn
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Patent number: 6035845Abstract: A saw strip for fixing a crystal of semiconductor material when cutting wafers from this crystal using a wire saw, and a method for cutting wafers using the saw strip. The strip has a section adjoining the crystal that has a hardness which essentially corresponds to the hardness of the crystal. The saw strip may be a composite of several sections and/or may have a hollow cross section.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Wacker Siltronic Gesellschaft fur Halbleitermaterialien AGInventor: Maximilian Kaser
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Patent number: 6032370Abstract: A portable trimmer for cutting weeds comprises a cutter, a driving device for rotationally driving the cutter, a control lever for controlling power of the driving device, a braking device for stopping rotation of the cutter, and an interlocking device operatively connected with the control lever and the braking device. The braking device has a wedge shaped brake shoe that is connected with the interlocking device and has an inclined upper surface inclined downwardly from a rotationally retarded side toward a rotationally advanced side of the cutter, a housing enclosing the brake shoe and having an inclined guide surface opposite to the inclined upper surface of the brake shoe, and a pressing device provided between the brake shoe and the housing and for causing an initial movement of the brake shoe toward a cutter surface of the cutter.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Kioritz CorporationInventors: Akira Nagashima, Osamu Tada
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Patent number: 6032365Abstract: An electrically powered slotted rotary shaver which provides the clean, close shave of a hand-held razor combined with the safety, comfort and convenience of an electric shaver. The slotted rotary shaver comprises a body portion and a shaving portion. The head portion is provided with one or more shaving head assemblies having fixed upper grids and lower rotary grids. The upper grids are positioned upon a shaft extending from motor positioned within the body portion of the shaver. The upper grids are advantageously separated into four pie-shaped quadrants held together at the center by a pivot point, and comprise a plurality of apertures disposed over the high surface active cutting area of the upper grid through which hair protrudes when the head portion of the shaver is placed against a user's skin.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: James L. HodgesInventor: James L. Hodges
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Patent number: 6032559Abstract: A pipe punch apparatus which generally comprises a punch housing, a punch means situated within the punch housing, and a collar. The punch housing is connected to a bi-directional hydraulic fluid pump means. Depending on which direction the pump is set, the pump releases fluid into the punch housing which causes the punch means to either extend from the punch housing or retract into the punch housing. The collar is connected to the punch housing by a connecting means so that a notch within the collar receives the punch means when the punch means is in the extended position. The parts are also relatively situated so that positioning the punch housing within a pipe will cause the collar to be located exterior to the pipe. Thus, as the punch means moves from its initial retracted position to its extended position, it will also punch a hole through the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1997Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Inventor: William R. Dean, Jr.
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Patent number: 6027002Abstract: A dispenser apparatus includes a loading device for sensing when an initial working roll of web material previously positioned in a receptacle is empty, so that it can be replaced with a fresh second roll positioned between a pair of flanges. The loading device includes a first mechanism fixed within a hinged cover of the apparatus including a movable tab in a position substantially opposite the point where the material web is inserted and placed on a drum. The device further includes a second mechanism extending from the apparatus housing which is activated when the cover is closed to sense when the initial roll is empty and to control the actuation of the mechanism to load the web from the fresh second roll.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1998Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Inventor: Maurice Granger
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Patent number: 6023845Abstract: An electric cigar cutter employs a motor-driven, rotatable cutting blade which functions to trim a cigar by cutting off the tip. The cutting blade pivots, and as it pivots, it passes through the cigar, thereby cutting the tip. The present invention incorporates two safety features, to prevent accidental activation of the cigar cutter and to protect a user's fingers from contacting the cutting blade. Additionally, a mechanism is provided for adjusting the amount of the cigar to be cut off.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1998Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Inventor: Loyd C. Moore
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Patent number: 6024391Abstract: A cooking utensil is comprised of a substantially flat blade, having elongated side edges, an elongated central axis and relatively narrow ends; and a handle connected to the blade near or at one of the ends of the blade, and near or on the central axis of the blade, the handle being disposed either vertical to the plane of the blade, or at an acute angle relative to the plane of the blade and oriented toward one of the side edges of the blade. The cooking utensil can include a shield to protect the handle from heat and splashed or splattered liquid arising from the cooking surface or food item.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1998Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: LoRu, LLC.Inventor: Lois Horn
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Patent number: 6021573Abstract: An in-line oscillating cam assembly which includes a housing, a cam shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a pair of eccentric drive cams longitudinally spaced apart from each other and mounted on the cam shaft eccentrically out of phase. The pair of drive cams have opposed circumferential chamfered surfaces oriented at an inclined angle relative a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cam shaft. The cam shaft is supported upon the housing and is also rotatable about the longitudinal axis. Further included in the assembly is a follower shaft spaced apart from and parallel to the drive shaft, and a cam follower longitudinally fixed to the follower shaft and extending between the pair of drive cams. The cam follower has a pair of opposed frustoconical follower-surfaces engaging the chamfered surfaces of the pair of drive cams. Thus, rotating one of the cam shaft and follower shaft causes the other one of the cam shaft and follower shaft to axially oscillate.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1997Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Ryobi North America, Inc.Inventors: Naoki Kikuchi, John Everett Nemazi
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Patent number: 6021698Abstract: A stager interface apparatus and method for staging two-up printed material are disclosed. The stager interface apparatus and method, in the form of a cutter stager, by independently holding each piece of printed material, allow side-by-side printed material to be released downstream either simultaneously or sequentially dependent upon downstream requirements.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1998Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Bell & Howell Mail & Messaging Technologies Co.Inventors: Edward M. Otto, David M. Skvoretz
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Patent number: 6014813Abstract: A power rotary hand saw (10) with a blade guard 36 mounted for powered movement between a guarding position (FIG. 1) and a nonguarding position (FIG. 2) is moved to the guarding position (FIG. 1) by a separate dedicated electrical motor (46) rotating a drive gear (42) linked with an elongate set of gear teeth (40) and returned when electrical power to the guard drive motor (46) is reversed by a guard control switch (49) separate and apart from a blade drive motor control trigger switch (34). Alternatively, power to the guard drive motor (46) is removed and a coil bias spring (52) return the guard (36) to the guarding position (FIG. 1). The guard driving mechanism (42, 44, 46) is mounted for movement between a drive position (FIG. 1) in which the drive mechanism is linked to the set of gear teeth (40) and a nondrive position in which the drive gear (42) is spaced from linkage with the set of gear teeth (40) and is disabled from responding to actuation of the guard drive power control switch (49).Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1997Date of Patent: January 18, 2000Inventor: Frank J. Merino
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Patent number: 6003417Abstract: A dough processing machine includes a first conveyor having an inlet end and an outlet end. The first conveyor is disposed to convey dough along a dough travel path in a direction downwardly offset from a generally horizontal line. A cutter is disposed at the outlet end of the first conveyor to cut the dough. First and second, generally opposed, movable supports are disposed relative to the dough travel path to support the dough along the dough travel path.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1997Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: The Pillsbury CompanyInventor: James W. Finkowski
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Patent number: 6000126Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for connecting area grid array semiconductor chips to a printed wire board. A compliant lead matrix includes a carrier and a plurality of conductive leads arranged parallel to one another and secured relative to the carrier in the form of a matrix. The method includes orienting a first side of the lead matrix to be aligned with a reciprocal matrix of conductive surface pads on the area grid array semiconductor chip. First ends of the leads are electrically connected to the conductive surface pads of the area grid array chip. The second side of the lead matrix is oriented to be aligned with a reciprocal matrix of conductive surface pads on a printed wire board. Second ends of the leads of the lead matrix are electrically connected to the conductive surface pads of the printed wire board thereby establishing an electrical connection between the area grid array chip and the printed wire board.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: General Dynamics Information Systems, Inc.Inventor: Deepak Keshay Pai
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Patent number: 5996462Abstract: A slitting tool for a circular saw machine has a tool carrier with a first and second tool flanges arranged coaxially and axially displaceable relative to one another. A slitting saw blade has first and second blade halves. Fasteners are provided for fastening the first blade half in a detachable manner to the first tool flange and for fastening the second blade half in a detachable manner to the second tool flange. The fasteners are distributed circumferentially about the tool carrier. An adjusting device is arranged within the tool carrier and connects the two tool flanges to one another. At least one fastener is arranged in a displaced position relative to other fasteners for balancing the slitting tool, wherein the displaced position is determined according to balancing criteria.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Ledermann GmbHInventors: Hans-Jurgen Gittel, Julius Friesinger, Otto Katz
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Patent number: 5992281Abstract: An apparatus for scarfing edge portions of a veneer sheet to produce a joint suited for joining the veneer sheets in an edge to edge relation. A conveyor system aligns, conveys and flattens the sheet. The sheet as it is being conveyed is engaged by tapered anvils that deflect edge portions of the sheet at an angle to the plane of the flattened sheet. One anvil on one side deflects one edge portion upward and the anvil on the opposite side deflects the opposite edge portion downward. The resiliency of the sheet maintains the deflect edge portion against the anvil. The sheet is conveyed through scarfing saws which generate a bevel on each of the deflected side edges.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Corvallis Tool Co.Inventor: John C. Holbert
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Patent number: 5987758Abstract: A toolless blade clamp is disclosed for mounting a saw blade to the drive shaft of a reciprocating saw, such as a jigsaw. The clamp has a housing formed with a channel into which the blade may be inserted and an inclined track along which a roller is movable. The roller is biased by a spring into engagement with the blade during operation of the reciprocating saw. A release device, also attached to the spring, is pivotally mounted to the housing and may be rotated against the spring load from a locked position adjacent the housing to an unlocked position away from the housing. A pair of elongated links are pivotally connected to the release device and pivotally support the roller therebetween. The links act to translate rotation of the release device to movement of the roller, such that rotation of the release device to the unlocked position pulls the roller away from the blade allowing the blade to be removed from the channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Ryobi North America, Inc.Inventors: Ronald C. McCurry, Tracy Patrick Long, Richard Changhuei Yo
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Patent number: 5983766Abstract: A steel rule die for cutting cloth and synthetic materials. The cutting die includes a primary substrate and a plurality of cutting units that are removably attachable to the substrate in such a manner that they are easy to adjust, remove and replace. The cutting units include secondary substrates with lengths of steel rule attached to them to form cutting cavities. Studs mounted to the primary substrate interface with tear-drop shared holes in the secondary substrates with to restrain them against motion perpendicular to the surface of the primary substrate while permitting movement of the cutting units in a horizontal plane with respect to the primary substrate. Adjustable securing rails positioned along the peripheries of the primary substrate are moved toward the fixed securing rails to restrain the secondary substrates against lateral and longitudinal motion.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Inventor: Michael J. Johnson
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Patent number: 5984158Abstract: A cutting assembly for aluminum foil dispensers. The cutting assembly comprises a member corresponding to the length of the dispenser carton. The member has a U-shaped cross-section adapted to slip over the free edge of the front panel of the dispenser carton having a base web with one leg on the inside of the carton and a second leg exposed on the outside of the carton. The inside leg has an extension which is bent back over the leg and extends the full height of the inside leg to project above the base web of the U-shaped member. The upward extension is serrated with a continuous row of teeth projecting above the base, preferably a depth of 0.020". The outside leg of the member has a flap which is bent back internally of the U-shaped member to provide a retainer strip which projects angularly upward and inward of the U-shaped member to provide a resilient flap which resists upward displacement of the member from the panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Metal Edge International, Inc.Inventor: Armin C. Frank
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Patent number: 5974922Abstract: The invention relates to a method of slitting photographic print material comprising providing at least one rotary anvil shearing device and at least one rotary knife shearing device wherein said at least one rotary knife has a rake angle of between about 50 and 70 degrees, and passing photographic material between said anvil and said knife to cut said material.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1998Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Alphonse D. Camp, John J. Seyna, Keith W. Dorricott, Robert E. Deutsch
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Patent number: 5964039Abstract: A saw tool comprises a housing for incorporating a driving device therein, a base attached to the housing, a driving arm connected to the driving device to effect a reciprocating orbital motion, and a saw blade attached to the driving arm and extending through a slit in the base. The saw blade has a first saw tooth section formed on a top end thereof for biting a workpiece and a second saw tooth section formed on one side thereof. A rectangular through-hole can be accurately and rapidly formed in a workpiece such as a plaster board or veneer board, etc., with this saw tool.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1996Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Soichiro Mizoguchi, Kunihiko Tatsu, Hidezumi Okamura, Hideo Hatta, Shoichi Hongo
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Patent number: 5957021Abstract: A guard assembly for a saw or other cutting device includes fixed and movable guards relatively pivotal by way of a linkage assembly having two links pivotally interconnected coaxially with a cam roller engageable with a cam surface for controlling relative guard movement. Other preferred features include a torsional coil guard return spring and spring enclosure that minimizes interference with workpiece cutting depth, an arbor shaft cover retention fastener that doubles, along with another caliper member, as a blade caliper set that prevents guard damage in the event of a bent or deflected blade or cutter, a drive assembly hold-down assembly for storage, and a horizontally-extending handle centered horizontally relative to the blade or cutter.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1998Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.Inventors: Daryl Meredith, Scott Price, William R. Stumpf, Michael L. O'Banion