Patents by Inventor Conner S. MacFarlane

Conner S. MacFarlane 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: 11975420
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, an abrasive assembly has a frame, a handle, and a cartridge that supports a plurality of abrasive members each having an associated abrasive surface. A rod affixes the abrasive assembly to a base assembly to facilitate movement of the abrasive assembly along the cutting edge of the tool responsive to engagement, by a user, of the user handle. Each abrasive member is configured to be moved, by the user, with respect to the handle to present each abrasive surface in turn. In some cases, the cartridge is rotatable about a cartridge axis that may be parallel or non-parallel to a central axis of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Darex, LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. MacFarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen, Daniel T. Dovel, Travis Campbell
  • Patent number: 11883930
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. A fixture secures opposing sides of a blade of the cutting tool and includes a main body and hinged first and second clamping jaws each having a clamping end adapted to compressingly engage a respective side of the blade. A guide coupled to the main body has converging support surfaces to contactingly engage a back edge (spine) of the blade opposite the cutting edge to center the blade along a central plane of the fixture. A retraction mechanism establishes a clamping force upon each of the respective sides of the blade via the clamping jaws. Further embodiments include a base assembly adapted to receive the fixture, and a swing arm style abrasive assembly to carry out a sharpening operation upon the cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Darex LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. MacFarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen, Daniel T. Dovel, Travis Campbell
  • Publication number: 20230094851
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, an abrasive assembly has a frame, a handle, and a cartridge that supports a plurality of abrasive members each having an associated abrasive surface. A rod affixes the abrasive assembly to a base assembly to facilitate movement of the abrasive assembly along the cutting edge of the tool responsive to engagement, by a user, of the user handle. Each abrasive member is configured to be moved, by the user, with respect to the handle to present each abrasive surface in turn. In some cases, the cartridge is rotatable about a cartridge axis that may be parallel or non-parallel to a central axis of the rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. MacFarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen, Daniel T. Dovel, Travis Campbell
  • Publication number: 20230033060
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. A fixture secures opposing sides of a blade of the cutting tool and includes a main body and hinged first and second clamping jaws each having a clamping end adapted to compressingly engage a respective side of the blade. A guide coupled to the main body has converging support surfaces to contactingly engage a back edge (spine) of the blade opposite the cutting edge to center the blade along a central plane of the fixture. A retraction mechanism establishes a clamping force upon each of the respective sides of the blade via the clamping jaws. Further embodiments include a base assembly adapted to receive the fixture, and a swing arm style abrasive assembly to carry out a sharpening operation upon the cutting edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. MacFarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen, Daniel T. Dovel, Travis Campbell
  • Patent number: 11554456
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, an abrasive assembly has a frame, a handle, and a cartridge that supports a plurality of abrasive members each having an associated abrasive surface. A rod affixes the abrasive assembly to a base assembly to facilitate movement of the abrasive assembly along the cutting edge of the tool responsive to engagement, by a user, of the user handle. Each abrasive member is configured to be moved, by the user, with respect to the handle to present each abrasive surface in turn. In some cases, the cartridge is rotatable about a cartridge axis that may be parallel or non-parallel to a central axis of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Darex, LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. MacFarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen, Daniel T. Dovel, Travis Campbell
  • Patent number: 11498186
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. A fixture secures opposing sides of a blade of the cutting tool and includes a main body and hinged first and second clamping jaws each having a clamping end adapted to compressingly engage a respective side of the blade. A guide coupled to the main body has converging support surfaces to contactingly engage a back edge (spine) of the blade opposite the cutting edge to center the blade along a central plane of the fixture. A retraction mechanism establishes a clamping force upon each of the respective sides of the blade via the clamping jaws. Further embodiments include a base assembly adapted to receive the fixture, and a swing arm style abrasive assembly to carry out a sharpening operation upon the cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Darex, LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. MacFarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen, Daniel T. Dovel, Travis Campbell
  • Patent number: D977324
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DAREX LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. Macfarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen
  • Patent number: D986708
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Darex LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. Macfarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen
  • Patent number: D987402
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Darex LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Baker, Conner S. Macfarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen
  • Patent number: D989591
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: DAREX LLC
    Inventors: Conner S. Macfarlane, Joseph T. Zachariasen
  • Patent number: D1017360
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Darex, LLC
    Inventors: Conner S. MacFarlane, Jacob D. Dovel
  • Patent number: D1017366
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Darex, LLC
    Inventors: Conner S. MacFarlane, Jacob D. Dovel
  • Patent number: D1017367
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Darex, LLC
    Inventors: Conner S. MacFarlane, Jacob D. Dovel