Patents by Inventor Bruce W. Hartranft

Bruce W. Hartranft 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).

  • Patent number: 8997359
    Abstract: A handheld cable cutter is provided with two handles, a stationary cutting blade, and a rotatable cutting blade pivotally connected to the stationary cutting blade. One of the handles is movable such that movement of the movable handle toward and away from the other, stationary handle drives the rotatable cutting blade toward the stationary cutting blade. The stationary handle includes an enlarged, integral stabilizing base which rests upon a support surface when the movable handle is actuated to cut a cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, Bruce P. Konen
  • Patent number: 7891097
    Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting the armor includes a cutter body having first and bottom entry walls defining a channel for receiving an armored cable. There is a slot in the first wall that affords reciprocating entry into the channel of a movable cutting blade from the outside of the wall. The direction of translation into the channel defines a blade insertion direction. The slot defines a slot segment of the first wall which in turn defines a base line. A stopper is mounted on the cutter body opposite the slot on the inside of the first wall. The stopper moves toward and away from the first wall to engage an armored cable placed in the channel and releasably press the armored cable against the slot segment of the first wall. The distance in the blade insertion direction of the bottom entry wall from the base line increases as the longitudinal distance from the slot segment increases to impart a curved configuration to the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Hartranft
  • Patent number: 7757537
    Abstract: An accessory for a conduit bender has a support member which attaches to the handle of the conduit bender. The support member includes a hand hold for grasping during conventional bending. The support member defines an anti-skid surface. The anti-skid surface has an area greater than the cross-sectional area of the conduit bender handle. When the handle is placed on a horizontal surface for a shoulder bend the anti-skid surface engages the horizontal surface and prevents the handle from skidding or slipping on the horizontal surface. An aperture in the anti-skid surface receives the end of a conduit for bend backs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Hartranft
  • Publication number: 20090151166
    Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting the armor includes a cutter body having first and bottom entry walls defining a channel for receiving an armored cable. There is a slot in the first wall that affords reciprocating entry into the channel of a movable cutting blade from the outside of the wall. The direction of translation into the channel defines a blade insertion direction. The slot defines a slot segment of the first wall which in turn defines a base line. A stopper is mounted on the cutter body opposite the slot on the inside of the first wall. The stopper moves toward and away from the first wall to engage an armored cable placed in the channel and releasably press the armored cable against the slot segment of the first wall. The distance in the blade insertion direction of the bottom entry wall from the base line increases as the longitudinal distance from the slot segment increases to impart a curved configuration to the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Bruce W. Hartranft
  • Publication number: 20090071013
    Abstract: A handheld cable cutter is provided with two handles, a stationary cutting blade, and a rotatable cutting blade pivotally connected to the stationary cutting blade. One of the handles is movable such that movement of the movable handle toward and away from the other, stationary handle drives the rotatable cutting blade toward the stationary cutting blade. The stationary handle includes an enlarged, integral stabilizing base which rests upon a support surface when the movable handle is actuated to cut a cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, Bruce P. Konen
  • Patent number: 7100481
    Abstract: A wire stripper has a pair of elongated frames pivotably joined together by a pivot pin and defining handles and jaws. The handles are covered by sleeves which include thumb wells which cover the ends of the pivot pin. A mechanical interlock is provided between the handles and the sleeves. The sleeves have slots for receiving the handles. The slots are offset so the front and rear surfaces of opposite sleeves are coplanar. The sleeves have a core and cushion grip overmolded on the core. A molding projection on the core allows precise placement of the core in a mold during formation of the cushion grip. A spring biases the frames to an open position. A locking member can be set by a sliding motion toward the handle end to hold the handles in a closed position. A curved shoulder on the edge of a handle wipes across a screw hole opening in the opposite jaw to provide a screw cutting function with a slicing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, Bruce P. Konen, Scott Huff
  • Publication number: 20040205897
    Abstract: A wire stripper has a pair of elongated frames pivotably joined together by a pivot pin and defining handles and jaws. The handles are covered by sleeves which include thumb wells which cover the ends of the pivot pin. A mechanical interlock is provided between the handles and the sleeves. The sleeves have slots for receiving the handles. The slots are offset so the front and rear surfaces of opposite sleeves are coplanar. The sleeves have a core and cushion grip overmolded on the core. A molding projection on the core allows precise placement of the core in a mold during formation of the cushion grip. A spring biases the frames to an open position. A locking member can be set by a sliding motion toward the handle end to hold the handles in a closed position. A curved shoulder on the edge of a handle wipes across a screw hole opening in the opposite jaw to provide a screw cutting function with a slicing action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, Bruce P. Konen, Scott Huff
  • Patent number: 6739217
    Abstract: A wire stripper has a pair of elongated frames pivotably joined together by a pivot pin and defining handles and jaws. The handles are covered by sleeves which include thumb wells which cover the ends of the pivot pin. A mechanical interlock is provided between the handles and the sleeves. The sleeves have slots for receiving the handles. The slots are offset so the front and rear surfaces of opposite sleeves are coplanar. The sleeves have a core and cushion grip overmolded on the core. A molding projection on the core allows precise placement of the core in a mold during formation of the cushion grip. A spring biases the frames to an open position. A locking member can be set by a sliding motion toward the handle end to hold the handles in a closed position. A curved shoulder on the edge of a handle wipes across a screw hole opening in the opposite jaw to provide a screw cutting function with a slicing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Ideal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, Bruce P. Konen, Scott Huff
  • Patent number: 6659321
    Abstract: A tool pouch includes an internal tool receiving portion and an external tool receiving portion such that the internal tool receiving portion is insertable into the user pocket to provide a protective tool holder within the user pocket and the external tool receiving portion is positioned outside of the user pocket for receiving tools. The internal tool receiving portion has first and second internal members which are generally planar elements that are attached to each other to form an internal tool receiving cavity. The external tool receiving portion has first and second external members which are generally planar elements that are attached to each other to form a second tool receiving cavity. The internal and external tool receiving portions are connected at a bail. Any part of the internal or external tool receiving portions may be substantially formed from a multi-layered piece of material. An underlying stiffening element may be used to strengthen any portion of the tool pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ideal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, John Zachary, David A. Trotter
  • Publication number: 20030126955
    Abstract: A wire stripper has a pair of elongated frames pivotably joined together by a pivot pin and defining handles and jaws. The handles are covered by sleeves which include thumb wells which cover the ends of the pivot pin. A mechanical interlock is provided between the handles and the sleeves. The sleeves have slots for receiving the handles. The slots are offset so the front and rear surfaces of opposite sleeves are coplanar. The sleeves have a core and cushion grip overmolded on the core. A molding projection on the core allows precise placement of the core in a mold during formation of the cushion grip. A spring biases the frames to an open position. A locking member can be set by a sliding motion toward the handle end to hold the handles in a closed position. A curved shoulder on the edge of a handle wipes across a screw hole opening in the opposite jaw to provide a screw cutting function with a slicing action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, Bruce P. Konen, Scott Huff
  • Publication number: 20030042278
    Abstract: A pouch includes a first and second panel members joined to one another to define a compartment having an opening at the top thereof. A flexible cover overlaps the opening. A belt receiving portion is attached to one of the panels and is mountable on the belt of a user. The first panel is located on an exposed side of the second panel which faces away from the user. The flexible cover is positioned at the top of the second panel to encase the compartment opening in order to prevent the spillage of objects within the compartment when the pouch is inverted, tilted or jostled. At least a portion of the cover is flexibly movable to allow access to the compartment by the user. A belt receiving portion is positioned on a user side which is opposite the exposed side to prevent interference by the belt receiving portion during insertion and extraction of objects to and from the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Michael E. Ross, Bruce W. Hartranft
  • Publication number: 20020113107
    Abstract: A tool pouch includes an internal tool receiving portion and an external tool receiving portion such that the internal tool receiving portion is insertable into the user pocket to provide a protective tool holder within the user pocket and the external tool receiving portion is positioned outside of the user pocket for receiving tools. The internal tool receiving portion has first and second internal members which are generally planar elements that are attached to each other to form an internal tool receiving cavity. The external tool receiving portion has first and second external members which are generally planar elements that are attached to each other to form a second tool receiving cavity. The internal and external tool receiving portions are connected at a bail. Any part of the internal or external tool receiving portions may be substantially formed from a multi-layered piece of material. An underlying stiffening element may be used to strengthen any portion of the tool pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Bruce W. Hartranft, John Zachary, David A. Trotter