Abstract: A hand-held driver for use with removable driving bits, such as screwdriver or nut-driver bits, is disclosed. The driver includes a handle adapted to be hand-held, and a shaft. The shaft has a proximal end secured to the handle, and a distal end with a recess sized and shaped to enable a driving bit to be insertable therein and removable therefrom with a driving end of the driving bit extending from the shaft. A retaining ring circumferentially surrounds the shaft toward the distal end and is closely sized thereto. The retaining ring has an open end adjacent to the distal end that has a size and shape corresponding to the recess in the shaft. The retaining ring enables the shaft of the driver to be constructed of lesser strength materials. The handle and shaft are constructed of a thermoplastic, and are preferably integrally constructed. The retaining ring is constructed of stainless steel or another high tensile strength material. A handle for the driver includes one or more bit-receiving slots.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method of manufacture for a blister-type display package which includes a vacuum-formed dispenser housing, and a vacuum-formed dispenser door mounted on the rear of the housing. The housing includes a cavity to hold the objects to be dispensed and an undercut ridge adjacent to an opening in the cavity on the rear of the housing. The dispenser door has a movable portion to cover at least a portion of the cavity opening and an undercut outer ridge which cooperates with the undercut ridge on the housing to enable the movable door to be snapped into and out of a closed position. A securing lip on the door is secured to the rear of the housing. A hinge extending between the securing lip and the movable portion, enables the door to be opened and closed. A display card is heat sealed to the rear of the housing to secure the door to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing a plurality of razor blades and for dispensing the razor blades is disclosed. The dispenser includes a housing having side and end walls which define a cavity for storing and dispensing razor blades. The open top of the dispenser includes rails along the tops of the sidewalls for guiding the blades out of the housing. A dispensing slot is provided between the top of one end wall and the rails. A resilient arm integral with the housing is located below the razor blades for applying an upward force on the razor blades against the rails and for aligning a blade to be dispensed with the dispensing slot. The entire dispenser is molded of a thermoplastic. A disposal slot is vertically aligned with the radiused end of the resilient arm for enabling disposal of used razor blades.

Abstract: A utility blade dispenser for dispensing and disposing utility or razor type blades (5) is disclosed. A disposable transparent thermoplastic housing (1) shaped to correspond with the shape of the utility blade (5) to be dispensed is provided. The housing (1) is hinged to allow the blades (5) and a blade carrier (18) to be inserted in the housing (1) at the time of manufacture, and then be sonically welded. Dispensing (14) and guide (16) slots are provided to guide blades (5) from inside the housing (1) out through the dispensing slot (14). The blades (5) are supported in the housing (1) on a blade carrier (18) which is upward and downward moveable in the housing (1). The blade carrier (18) includes a support hole (21) for mounting the dispenser on a wall. The rear (6) of the housing (1) includes a track of ratcheting teeth (26) which engage a pawl member (28) on the rear of the blade carrier (18) to minimize movement between the housing (1) and carrier (18).

Abstract: An adjustable tool holder for carrying a tool, such as a paint brush, on a handle, such as an extension handle. The invention broadly includes a yoke assembly for mounting the holder on the handle and a carrier assembly for carrying the tool. The yoke assembly has a generally U-shaped configuration, with yoke arms extending upward from a handle mount. The carrier assembly includes a link assembly for mounting the carrier assembly on the yoke for angular movement in discrete preselected steps about an axis passing through the yoke, operable by imposing a moment force on the link assembly. Link arms extend between and in sliding contact with the inner surfaces of the yoke arms, with axle plugs joining adjacent yoke and link arms for rotational movement. A series of detent recesses and projections, respectively formed in adjacent yoke and link arms, permits rotational movement in a series of discrete steps of selected angular distance, without requiring the loosening of any screws or wing nuts.

Abstract: A hand-held tool for carrying a scraping/stripping blade. The tool includes a base element, generally T-shaped in outline, including a handle and a blade receiver with a fixed jaw face oriented toward the central plane of the tool, and a lever aperture extending through the blade receiver adjacent to the handle. A locking aperture in formed in the handle remote from the blade receiver means, with a locking rail disposed therein, oriented generally parallel to the blade receiver. A blade clamp is pivotally attached to the base element and includes a movable jaw face and a perpendicular blade clamping lever, divided into three portions in a zig-zag pattern, carrying a latch, adapted to engage the locking rail at its extremity, and an unlocking point at its distal end. The blade clamp pivots on an axis at the base of the fixed jaw face and the clamping lever extends through the lever aperture and into the locking aperture.

Abstract: An improved hawk comprises a planar work surface or blade (10) and a multiposition, removably mountable handle (12), removably mountable to the blade (10) in a plurality of different optimal positions for use, storage, packing and/or display. The handle (12) includes a pair of holes (18) which snap-fit together with mushroom pins (16) on the work surface to facilitate mounting in a storage and/or hanging position, with the handle having a tab (24) having an aperture (26) therein which extends beyond the edge of the blade (10) in the hanging position. The handle (12) also includes threads (20) for threadably mounting the handle (12) to the blade (10) in a working position.

Abstract: A modular trowel assembly (10) comprises a resilient substantially planar blade member (12) and a handle member (14) slidably mountable thereon. The blade member (12) contains an aperture (16) defined by a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending integral resilient tangs (20, 22). The handle member (14) slidably receives the tangs (20, 22) therein in slots which serve to resiliently bias the tang (20, 22) when it is inserted for rigidly securing the mounted handle (14) to the blade (12) in the complete assembly (10). The blade member aperature (16) further comprises an integral resilient locking tab (30) disposed at each end for cooperating in permanently securing the mounted handle (14) to the blade 12, with the mounted handle (14) in cooperation with the resilient tangs (20, 22) reinforcing the rigidity of the blade (12) in the assembly (10).

Abstract: An improved tool head for releasably retaining a blade includes a body and a clamping member pivotally hinged together for relative movement therebetween by rotation of a threaded operating member. The operating member is rotatable to axially move the same into threaded engagement with the body and clamping member and, at a final point in its axial translation, contacts a camming structure on the clamping member. Engagement of the operating member with the camming structure applies a laterally directed force to the clamping member, pivoting the same about its hinged connection to the body and carrying a pair of blade receiving lips on the body and clamping member into relative blade-retaining proximity to firmly secure a blade between the lips.

Abstract: An improved scraper hand tool includes upper and lower housing members defining a hollow casing and an operating member axially movable therein to carry a blade between a first interior storage position, a second cutting edge protracted position, and a third blade removal and insertion position. The operating member presents a full beam suspension design wherein a central thumb operating portion projects through a slot in the casing for operative manipulation by a user. Locking detents in the housing interior cooperate with laterally-extending arms on the movable operating member to assure positive positional locking of the blade in each of its respective positions.

Abstract: A hand-held tool for carrying a scraping/stripping blade. The tool includes a base element, .[.generally T-shaped in outline.]., including a handle and a blade receiver with a fixed jaw face oriented toward the central plane of the tool, and a lever aperture extending through the blade receiver adjacent to the handle. A locking aperture .[.in.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.formed in the handle remote from the blade receiver means, with a locking rail disposed therein, oriented generally parallel to the blade receiver. A blade clamp is pivotally attached to the base element and includes a movable jaw face and a perpendicular blade clamping lever, divided into three portions in a zig-zag pattern, carrying a latch, adapted to engage the locking rail at its extremity, and an unlocking point at its distal end. The blade clamp pivots on an axis at the base of the fixed jaw face and the clamping lever extends through the lever aperture and into the locking aperture.