Patents by Inventor M. Todd Mitchell

M. Todd Mitchell 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: 6575058
    Abstract: A wrench device has a bearing-type clutch for providing a unidirectional rotational force and an opposite unidirectional independent rotation. The device includes at least one bearing movably disposed in a tapering space between primary and secondary bodies. A displacement member engages and dislodges the at least one bearing from a binding location to a free location. A switch is pivotally disposed on the secondary body. A pivot member or gear is pivotally disposed between the switch and the displacement member such that pivoting the switch in one rotational direction results in movement of the displacement member in an opposite rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: M. Todd Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6367354
    Abstract: A wrench device has a bearing-type clutch for providing a unidirectional rotational force and an opposite unidirectional independent rotation. The wrench device includes both a bearing-type engagement for use at lower torques, and a ratchet pawl for use at higher torques. The bearing is disposed in an irregular space between a primary wall of a primary body and a secondary wall of a secondary body. The space has tapering or narrowing sections in which the bearing binds to fixedly engage the primary and secondary bodies as the primary body rotates in a first rotational direction. A pin or toggle dislodges the bearings so that the primary body may rotate freely in a second, opposing rotational direction while another bearing binds the secondary body to the primary body when the primary body is rotated in the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: M. Todd Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6267027
    Abstract: A wrench device has a bearing-type clutch for providing a unidirectional rotational force and an opposite unidirectional independent rotation. The wrench device includes a set of larger and smaller bearings disposed in an irregular space with larger and smaller tapering sections between a primary wall of a primary body and a secondary wall of a secondary body. The space has tapering or narrowing sections in which the bearings bind to fixedly engage the primary and secondary bodies as the primary body rotates in a first rotational direction. A pin or toggle dislodges the bearings so that the primary body may rotate freely in a second, opposing rotational direction while another bearing binds the secondary body to the primary body when the primary body is rotated in the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: M. Todd Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6055888
    Abstract: A wrench device with a bearing-type clutch for selectively and reversibly providing a unidirectional rotational force and an opposite unidirectional independent rotation. The wrench device includes one or more bearings disposed in an irregular space between a primary wall of a primary body and a secondary wall of a secondary body. The space has tapering or narrowing sections in which the bearings bind to fixedly engage the primary and secondary bodies as the primary body rotates in a first rotational direction. A pin or toggle dislodges a bearing so that the primary body may rotate freely in a second, opposing rotational direction while another bearing binds the secondary body to the primary body when said primary body is rotated in the first rotational direction. Alternatively, a bearing is selectively positioned in the space to cause the primary and secondary to rotate together or independently depending on the positioning of the bearing and the rotational direction of the primary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: M. Todd Mitchell
    Inventor: M. Todd Mitchell