Patents by Inventor Brian E. Melgaard

Brian E. Melgaard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140150617
    Abstract: A manually-powered, lever-operated, multi-hole punch device with visual alignment indicia, for punching holes in stacked sheet media such as paper. The hole punch device includes an elongated base with a top side divided along its length in approximate halves, with the front half being a lower flat surface transitioning through a step to a rear half, upper flat surface. The upper flat surface includes a plurality of peninsulas extending into the lower flat surface, such that the areas between the peninsulas include a visual alignment indicator. Punch elements and their punch pins are located on each peninsula overlying the lower flat surface, and the height of the step creates a slot to receive the paper stack. Underneath each punch pin on the lower flat surface is a receiving hole to receive the reciprocating punch pin. An optional chip receptacle is positioned at the underside of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: ACCENTRA, INC., WORKTOOLS, INC.
    Inventors: JOEL S. MARKS, BRIAN E. MELGAARD
  • Patent number: 8083211
    Abstract: A staple remover device having first and second opposed, elongated jaws extending from a lower end of the remover toward an upper end of the remover. The jaws are pivoted to the remover at the upper end. With the remover in a substantially perpendicular orientation above a horizontal work surface, the first jaw moves toward the second jaw, actuated by a user's finger pressure. A handle extends along the remover device, the handle being normally operationally fixed to a jaw by a link including a latch, and at a pre-determined position of the first jaw to the second jaw, a release rib of at least one jaw causes the latch to suddenly de-link the handle from the jaw, wherein the de-linked handle moves in relation to the jaw and moving the handle in relation to the jaw causes the other jaw to rise, lifting out the staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: WorkTools, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel S. Marks, Brian E. Melgaard
  • Patent number: 7731071
    Abstract: A staple leg guide for use with desktop staplers having a channel shape, with two downward extending fingers that support the underside of the staple legs as the staple is driven into a stack of sheet media to reduce kinking and improper penetration of the stack by the staple leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Accentra, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Melgaard, Joel S. Marks, Warren Yan
  • Publication number: 20090267034
    Abstract: A staple remover device having first and second opposed, elongated jaws extending from a lower end of the remover toward an upper end of the remover. The jaws are pivoted to the remover at the upper end. With the remover in a substantially perpendicular orientation above a horizontal work surface, the first jaw moves toward the second jaw, actuated by a user's finger pressure. A handle extends along the remover device, the handle being normally operationally fixed to a jaw by a link including a latch, and at a pre-determined position of the first jaw to the second jaw, a release rib of at least one jaw causes the latch to suddenly de-link the handle from the jaw, wherein the de-linked handle moves in relation to the jaw and moving the handle in relation to the jaw causes the other jaw to rise, lifting out the staple.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Joel S. Marks, Brian E. Melgaard
  • Publication number: 20090084242
    Abstract: A hole punch apparatus with a jam release clip coupled to a push rod and a punch pin, wherein the push rod passes through a hole formed in a side of the clip, and wherein the punch pin is secured to the clip by a pair of parallel fingers at one end of the clip that engage two flat grooves formed in the sides of the punch pin. A handle of the hole punch apparatus pivots about a pivot rod, which handle front end is linked to the punch pin via the jam release clip. Pressing down on the handle advances the punch pin to cut a hole in a paper stack held inside a paper slot, and lifting up on the handle withdraws the punch pin out of the paper stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: ACCENTRA, INC.
    Inventors: BRIAN E. MELGAARD, CHAD TERRY, JONATHAN N. TOWLE
  • Publication number: 20090045238
    Abstract: A staple leg guide for use with desktop staplers having a channel shape, with two downward extending fingers that support the underside of the staple legs as the staple is driven into a stack of sheet media to reduce kinking and improper penetration of the stack by the staple leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Accentra, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Melgaard, Joel S. Marks, Warren Yan