Patents by Inventor Gerald A. Wridt

Gerald A. Wridt 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: 7895723
    Abstract: A joint press including a yoke including a first end and a second end. A first adapter attachment member is positioned on the first end. A second adapter attachment member is positioned on the second end. The first adapter attachment member and the second adapter attachment member have the same profile, thereby allowing the same adapter to be removably connected to either the first end or the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald A. Wridt, Daniel D. Lionberg, Thomas J. Whalen
  • Patent number: 7770277
    Abstract: A pulling tool having a support member, a first surface and a second surface. The first surface including a slot positioned thereon and the second surface include a recess in communication with the slot. A ledge is formed where the recess and the slot intersect. At least one rod is disposed in the slot and recess and includes a portion engageable with the ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: Gerald A. Wridt
  • Patent number: 7610664
    Abstract: A joint press including a yoke including a first end and a second end. A first adapter attachment member is positioned on the first end. A second adapter attachment member is positioned on the second end. The first adapter attachment member and the second adapter attachment member have the same profile, thereby allowing the same adapter to be removably connected to either the first end or the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald A. Wridt, Daniel D. Lionberg, Thomas J. Whalen
  • Publication number: 20060242810
    Abstract: A joint press including a yoke including a first end and a second end. A first adapter attachment member is positioned on the first end. A second adapter attachment member is positioned on the second end,. The first adapter attachment member and the second adapter attachment member have the same profile, thereby allowing the same adapter to be removably connected to either the first end or the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald Wridt, Daniel Lionberg, Thomas Whalen
  • Publication number: 20060070221
    Abstract: A joint press including a yoke including a first end and a second end. A first adapter attachment member is positioned on the first end. A second adapter attachment member is positioned on the second end. The first adapter attachment member and the second adapter attachment member have the same profile, thereby allowing the same adapter to be removably connected to either the first end or the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald Wridt, Daniel Lionberg, Thomas Whalen
  • Publication number: 20060053609
    Abstract: A pulling tool having a support member, a first surface and a second surface. The first surface including a slot positioned thereon and the second surface include a recess in communication with the slot. A ledge is formed where the recess and the slot intersect. At least one rod is disposed in the slot and recess and includes a portion engageable with the ledge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventor: Gerald Wridt
  • Patent number: 6637061
    Abstract: The tool assembly includes a main metal body with three sockets respectively receiving the short legs of three differently-sized L-shaped wrenches. In stowed positions, the long legs of the wrenches lie against one side of the body in a nested configuration, the uppermost wrench being engageable with a retaining tab on the body to prevent movement of the wrenches axially of the sockets. The wrenches are pivotally movable about the axes of the sockets to unstowed positions, wherein they are movable axially of the sockets to either a removed condition, separated from the body, or a locked condition seated deeper in the sockets and retained against rotation. Dovetail-shaped tongues on opposite sides of the main body are respectively receivable in dovetail-shaped grooves on tire levers to mount the levers on the body, one of the levers holding the wrenches in their stowed positions. An O-ring encircles the parts of the assembly to provide additional retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignees: Snap-on Technologies, Inc., Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Stacy T. Spracklin, Wendell J. Woodruff, Gerald A. Wridt, Richard L. Hopper
  • Patent number: 5979532
    Abstract: A tire lever is adopted for use in removing a tire having a bead from a bicycle wheel rim having a plurality of spokes disposed thereon. The lever includes an elongated body having an axis, and including a tire engagement end for engaging the bead of the tire, a top surface, a bottom surface, a side surface connecting the top and bottom surfaces, and walls projecting from opposite side surfaces defining engagement surfaces for engaging one of the spokes. The engagement surfaces have axial lengths greater than the distance between the top and bottom surfaces and forms an acute angle with the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Company
    Inventor: Gerald A. Wridt
  • Patent number: 5894767
    Abstract: A wrench for a wheel spoke nipple is provided. The wrench includes a body having an axis and first and second axial ends, the first axial end having first and second engagement notches for engaging spoke nipples, and the second axial end having third and fourth engagement notches for engaging spoke nipples. The wrench may also include a central portion disposed between the first and second axial ends, the central portion having first and second radial engaging portions for engagement with a user's fingers or thumb. Each engaging portion having an inner radial end and an outer radial end. Each engaging portion also having first and second oppositely contoured concave faces disposed between the inner and outer radial ends wherein the distance between the first and second oppositely contoured faces of the first engaging portion increases between the inner and outer radial ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignees: Snap-on Technologies, Inc., Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald A. Wridt, Mark J. Hasenberg, Wendell J. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 5485769
    Abstract: A tool combination includes a socket with a hole extending axially therethrough having a large square drive portion and a small drive portion and at least one shoulder between said large and small drive portions. In one embodiment the small drive portion of the hole is hexagonal in shape and a hexagonal bit has an application end and a coupling end, the application end being insertable into the hole from the large drive portion thereof. The coupling end is provided with a retainer in the form of either an enlarged head or a laterally projecting ear which seats against the shoulder, with the application end of the bit projecting forwardly from the bit end of the socket. In a second embodiment the tool combination is a drive adapter, the small drive portion of the hole being square in shape. A square drive lug is insertable in the small drive portion of the hole from the large drive portion thereof and has upset crimped corners forming projection ears to seat against the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Gene E. Olson, Gerald A. Wridt
  • Patent number: 5343786
    Abstract: A tool combination includes a bit socket with a hole extending axially therethrough and having a square drive portion and a hexagonal portion and a circularly cylindrical retaining portion between said drive portion and said bit portion, the portions being of successively smaller width from the drive end to the bit end. A hexagonal bit has an application end and a coupling end, the application end being insertable into the hole from the drive end thereof. The coupling end is provided with a retainer in the form of either an enlarged head or a laterally projecting ear which seats in the retaining portion of the hole, with the application end of the bit projecting forwardly from the bit end of the socket. An associated drive lug, when received in the drive portion of the hole, retains the bit place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: Gerald A. Wridt
  • Patent number: 5195636
    Abstract: A tray for a set of sockets of varying diameters includes an elongated, open-top, trapezoidal receptacle with upstanding end walls each having an opening therein in the shape of a 270.degree. sector of a circle, with the ends of each sector defining stop surfaces. A bail retainer has an elongated flat bight and depending end portions which respectively extend along the outside of the end walls, and each provided with an inwardly projecting rectangular tab which extends into the asociated opening to form a chord thereof. The retainer is pivotal between a retaining position wherein the bight closely overlies the receptacle to retain the sockets therein and a position alongside the receptacle permitting removal of the sockets from the receptacle, the pivotal movement being limited by the stop surfaces of the openings. An elongated flange depends from one side wall of the receptacle to facilitate hanging on an associated support, such as a tool chest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald A. Wridt
  • Patent number: 5020205
    Abstract: A freeze plug installation tool kit includes a drive tool having a coupling ball and a plurality of selectable carrier heads respectively sized for mating engagement with different-sized freeze plugs and detachably mountable on the coupling ball. Each carrier head has a cylindrical socket with an annular groove in which a split ring is disposed for snap engagement with the coupling ball to retain the ball in the socket. A flexible disk in the socket cooperates with the split ring to limit movement of the ball when it is retained in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald A. Wridt
  • Patent number: D441263
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: Snap-on Technologies, Inc., Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Hasenberg, Glenn A. Kaufman, Gerald A. Wridt, Robert Downs