Patents by Inventor Henry Hefter

Henry Hefter 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).

  • Track cleaner for model railroads
    Patent number: 6758145
    Abstract: A model railroad track cleaning car having a cleaning element suspended between a pair of wheeled trucks. The cleaning element is an abrasive material that is affixed to the underside of a weighted chassis that is suspended from a pair of articulating arms connected to the respective wheeled trucks. The cleaning material is easily replaced by removing a pair of fasteners from the chassis. A spring tension apparatus is positioned between the articulating arm and the cleaning element chassis to selectively position the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks. A retaining wire is captured in the articulating arm and engages the corresponding truck to turn the articulating arm with the truck, thus positioning the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks even when traversing a curve. A thumb wheel is formed with a notch that receives the articulating arm to lock the thumb wheel into a selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventor: Henry Hefter