Patents by Inventor Jeffrey L. Spanski
Jeffrey L. Spanski 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).
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Patent number: 7756665Abstract: An electronic measuring device that includes a transceiver device, a microprocessor operatively connected to the transceiver device, as well as a memory, an electronic output device, and a plurality of input mechanisms, all of which are operatively connected to the microprocessor. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may be programmed with logic that allows a user of the device to take and manipulate measurements using a menu-driven procedure by using the input mechanisms to select and activate desired operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Jeffrey L. Spanski, John C. Smith, Derek J. Nash, Daily Gist, Michael Williams, Raymond Wai-Man Chan, Desmond Wai Nang Tse, Hughes Sanoner
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Patent number: 7513051Abstract: A light generating system including a base comprising a bottom surface comprising a nonmechanical attachment structure and a light generating device rotatably mounted to the base about an axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Jeffrey L. Spanski, John C. Smith, Derek J. Nash, Mike Williams, Leslie Daily Gist, Steven R. Levine
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Patent number: 7469481Abstract: A line generating device generates two fan-shaped beams of light at an angle to each other, and projects the beams onto an adjacent surface, where the beams are visible as lines on the surface. A user has access to the intersection of the lines, so that the intersection can be marked or otherwise used in combination with the lines, such as in aligning objects.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Derek J. Nash, John C. Smith, Jeffrey L. Spanski, Michael Williams
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Patent number: 7328516Abstract: A reflector for projecting a laser beam in a fan-shaped plane of light are provided. Associated with each reflector is at least one light source. Each light source is oriented relative to its associated reflector such that the axis of the beam of light hits the reflector off-center to generate a plane of light that is dispersed less than 360 degrees. Multiple planes of light generated by the reflector and light sources are projected in a common plane such that the independently generated planes of light overlap to create a single plane of light dispersed up to 360 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Derek J. Nash, John C. Smith, Jeffrey L. Spanski, Michael James Burry
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Patent number: 7310887Abstract: A line generating device generates two fan-shaped beams of light at an angle to each other, and projects the beams onto an adjacent surface, where the beams are visible as lines on the surface. A user has access to the intersection of the lines, so that the intersection can be marked or otherwise used in combination with the lines, such as in aligning objects.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Derek J. Nash, John C. Smith, Jeffrey L. Spanski, Michael Williams
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Patent number: 7272893Abstract: An electronic measuring device is disclosed which includes a pair of wheels connected to an axle that passes through a drive gear. The drive gear is enmeshed to a second gear which, in turn, is coaxially connected to an encoder disk. The encoder disk has spaced-apart fins around its outer periphery. As the wheels turn and the encoder disk rotates, the fins and openings between the fins pass between an emitter and a receiver. The emitter and receiver are linked to a controller which calculates the distance traversed by the wheels based upon the number of fins that pass between the emitter and receiver, or with an active counting system (ACS). The controller also includes functions to establish start and stop points for a measurement and an easy means for dividing a measured distance into equal parts or segments and a means for marking the boundary points that define the segments when the measuring device is rolled back across the measured distance. The device can be used on both planar and non-planar surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Michael Williams, Jeffrey L. Spanski, Derek J. Nash, John C. Smith, Daily Gist
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Patent number: 7269907Abstract: A laser alignment device includes a laser generating device, an upper attachment portion, and a lower attachment portion. The laser generating device includes a housing and a laser generator. The upper attachment portion is disposed near a bottom of the housing, and the lower attachment portion is pivotally and/or rotationally connected to the upper attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Steven R. Levine, Jeffrey L. Spanski, John C. Smith, Derek J. Nash, Leslie Daily Gist
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Patent number: 7222437Abstract: A combined stud finder and tape measure device includes a housing having any traditional stud finder circuitry integrally disposed therein along with a tape measure having a tape strip wound on a spindle. The tape measure is oriented so that the width of the tape strip lies parallel to the surface being scanned for studs or other obstacles. This orientation accommodates a wide viewing angle of the scale markings on the tape strip, making it easier to use the stud finder and the tape measure at the same time. Additionally, the tape measure can be re-oriented over at least 180 degrees so that the tape strip can be directed to either side of or from the bottom of the combined stud finder and tape measure device. Detents may be located at, for example, 90 degree intervals to provide a manner of locking the tape measure at predetermined angles with respect to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Jeffrey L. Spanski, John C. Smith, Derek J. Nash, Daily Gist, Michael Williams
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Patent number: 7178250Abstract: A line generating device generates two fan-shaped beams of light at an angle to each other, and projects the beams onto an adjacent surface, where the beams are visible as lines on the surface. A user has access to the intersection of the lines, so that the intersection can be marked or otherwise used in combination with the lines, such as in aligning objects.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Derek J. Nash, John C. Smith, Jeffrey L. Spanski, Michael Williams
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Patent number: 7178259Abstract: An electronic measuring device is disclosed which includes a pair of wheels connected to an axle that passes through a drive gear. The drive gear is enmeshed to a second gear which, in turn, is coaxially connected to an encoder disk. The encoder disk has spaced-apart fins around its outer periphery. As the wheels turn and the encoder disk rotates, the fins and openings between the fins pass between an emitter and a receiver. The emitter and receiver are linked to a controller which calculates the distance traversed by the wheels based upon the number of fins that pass between the emitter and receiver, or with an active counting system (ACS). The controller also includes functions to establish start and stop points for a measurement and an easy means for dividing a measured distance into equal parts or segments and a means for marking the boundary points that define the segments when the measuring device is rolled back across the measured distance. The device can be used on both planar and non-planar surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Irwin Hand Tools/North AmericaInventors: Michael Williams, Jeffrey L. Spanski, Derek J. Nash, John C. Smith, Daily Gist
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Patent number: 7036241Abstract: An electronic measuring device is disclosed which includes a pair of wheels connected to an axle that passes through a drive gear. The drive gear is enmeshed to a second gear which, in turn, is coaxially connected to an encoder disk. The encoder disk has spaced-apart fins around its outer periphery. As the wheels turn and the encoder disk rotates, the fins and openings between the fins pass between an emitter and a receiver. The emitter and receiver are linked to a controller which calculates the distance traversed by the wheels based upon the number of fins that pass between the emitter and receiver, or with an active counting system (ACS). The controller also includes functions to establish start and stop points for a measurement and an easy means for dividing a measured distance into equal parts or segments and a means for marking the boundary points that define the segments when the measuring device is rolled back across the measured distance. The device can be used on both planar and non-planar surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2004Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Michael Williams, Jeffrey L. Spanski, Derek J. Nash, John C. Smith, Daily Gist