Abstract: A roller guide assembly is attached to a paint roller frame to maintain a consistent space between a surface adjacent to the surface being painted and a roller cover carried by the roller frame. The roller guide assembly includes a guide arm attached to a vertical portion of the roller frame and a mounting clamp that that fits on the roller frame. The mounting clamp uses an adjustable locking screw and tightening knob to secure the mounting clamp to the roller frame. The mounting clamp has a cavity configured to receive the guide arm such that the guide arm extends past the roller cover. The roller guide assembly has a storage clip mounted on the roller frame for temporarily storing the guide arm while the roller cover is being reloaded with paint.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly is attached to a paint roller frame to maintain a consistent space between a surface adjacent to the surface being painted and a roller cover carried by the roller frame. The roller guide assembly includes a guide arm attached to a vertical portion of the roller frame and a mounting clamp that that fits on the roller frame. The mounting clamp uses an adjustable locking screw and tightening knob to secure the mounting clamp to the roller frame. The mounting clamp has a cavity configured to receive the guide arm such that the guide arm extends past the roller cover. The roller guide assembly also has a storage clip mounted on the roller frame for temporarily storing the guide arm while the roller cover is being reloaded with paint. The guide arm mounts to the roller frame between a first bend extending from a shank that extends from a cage section of the roller frame that receives the roller cover and before a second bend that bends back to meet a handle grip of the roller frame.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly is attached to a paint roller frame to maintain a consistent space between a surface adjacent to the surface being painted and a roller cover carried by the roller frame. The roller guide assembly includes a guide arm attached to a vertical portion of the roller frame and a mounting clamp that that fits on the roller frame. The mounting clamp uses an adjustable locking screw and tightening knob to secure the mounting clamp to the roller frame. The mounting clamp has a cavity configured to receive the guide arm such that the guide arm extends past the roller cover. The roller guide assembly also has a storage clip mounted on the roller frame for temporarily storing the guide arm while the roller cover is being reloaded with paint. The guide arm mounts to the roller frame between a first bend extending from a shank that extends from a cage section of the roller frame that receives the roller cover and before a second bend that bends back to meet a handle grip of the roller frame.

Abstract: A package opener (10) includes first and second opposed elongate members joined together for scissor action about a pivot joint (16). The first member (12) includes a first handle grip (18) at a rear end and a first cutting element (20) having a first blade (26) at a front end. The second member (13) includes a second handle grip (19) at a rear end and a second cutting element (21) having a second blade (27) at a front end thereof. The cutting elements include a leg portion (40,41) positioned between an arm segment (30,31) on which the pivot joint is located and the blade. Each cutting element also has a gap (G) in the blade portion. The leg portions and the gap enable the cutting elements, when opened, to fit over a package lip of a blister-type package so that the package opener can cut around the interior perimeter of the package lip to open the package. The multi-function package opener may also have a miniature utility knife blade (50) and at least one screwdriver (60).

Abstract: A quick-release paint roller having a roller cover that can be removed from a frame without requiring the user to apply a force directly to the roller cover. The frame includes a pair of arms having base portions received in a hand grip. The arms diverge outwardly to form a Y-shaped frame, wherein distal ends of the arms have mounting cones configured to receive opposing ends of the tube-shaped roller cover in a rotatable manner with respect to the frame. The paint roller has a roller capture mechanism that pivots the arms between a roller-capture position in which the roller cover is captured between the arms and a roller-release position in which the roller cover is decoupled from the arms. A roller-release button is configured to actuate the capture mechanism to pivot the arms between their roller-capture positions and their roller-release positions.

Abstract: A package opener (10) includes first and second opposed elongate members joined together for scissor action about a pivot joint (16). The first member (12) includes a first handle grip (18) at a rear end and a first cutting element (20) having a first blade (26) at a front end. The second member (13) includes a second handle grip (19) at a rear end and a second cutting element (21) having a second blade (27) at a front end thereof. The cutting elements include a leg portion (40,41) positioned between an arm segment (30,31) on which the pivot joint is located and the blade. Each cutting element also has a gap (G) in the blade portion. The leg portions and the gap enable the cutting elements, when opened, to fit over a package lip of a blister-type package so that the package opener can cut around the interior perimeter of the package lip to open the package. The multi-function package opener may also have a miniature utility knife blade (50) and at least one screwdriver (60).

Abstract: A quick-release paint roller having a roller cover that can be removed from a frame without requiring the user to apply a force directly to the roller cover. The frame includes a pair of arms having base portions received in a hand grip. The arms diverge outwardly to form a Y-shaped frame, wherein distal ends of the arms have mounting cones configured to receive opposing ends of the tube-shaped roller cover in a rotatable manner with respect to the frame. The paint roller has a roller capture mechanism that pivots the arms between a roller-capture position in which the roller cover is captured between the arms and a roller-release position in which the roller cover is decoupled from the arms. A roller-release button is configured to actuate the capture mechanism to pivot the arms between their roller-capture positions and their roller-release positions.

Abstract: A trim tool and paint tray system for use in dispensing paint. The system includes a trim tool having a paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted and at least one edge guard to shield adjacent surfaces that are to remain free of paint from the applicator. The system also includes a paint tray having a paint-receiving well and at least one slot free of paint. The paint tray is configured to receive the trim tool such that the paint applicator is received in the paint well to charge the paint applicator with paint and the edge guard is received in the slot so the edge guard remains free of paint.

Abstract: A cutter bit includes a body formed integrally with a mounting shank. The body defines a pair of chip boxes with two planar surfaces and a cutting knife mounted to one of the planar surfaces of each chip box. The body defines holes from the chip boxes to the outer surface of the body, said holes communicating with grooves formed along the outer surface of the body such that a continuous air passage is formed circumferentially around the body by each hole and respective groove. The air passages cool the cutter bit as well as quickly remove material chips from the cutting edge and workpiece. The rapid removal of the chips also allows a better view of the cutting edge and the workpiece. The lack of material in the holes and grooves reduces cutter bit weight, allowing use with smaller motors and reducing the loads associated with cutting operations.

Abstract: A cutter bit includes a body formed integrally with a mounting shank. The body defines a pair of chip boxes with two planar surfaces and a cutting knife mounted to one of the planar surfaces of each chip box. The body defines holes from the chip boxes to the outer surface of the body, said holes communicating with grooves formed along the outer surface of the body such that a continuous air passage is formed circumferentially around the body by each hole and respective groove. The air passages cool the cutter bit as well as quickly remove material chips from the cutting edge and workpiece. The rapid removal of the chips also allows a better view of the cutting edge and the workpiece. The lack of material in the holes and grooves reduces cutter bit weight, allowing use with smaller motors and reducing the loads associated with cutting operations.

Abstract: A blade for a saw comprising a generally planar member having a rim with a plurality of teeth, wherein the improvement comprises a carbon composite material reinforcement positioned on at least one of the teeth. A method of using such a saw blade to cut a cement, ground sand and cellulosic fiber material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cutter bit includes a body integrally formed with a mounting shank. The body is formed with a pair of chip boxes having an arcuate surface and a planar surface with a cutting knife mounted to each planar surface. A plurality of equally spaced recesses are formed in the body to reduce cutter bit weight, and to promote heat transfer from the cutter bit to the surrounding atmosphere. Adjacent recesses form annular ribs which extend circumferentially around the body from one cutting knife to the arcuate surface adjacent the other cutting knife. The arcuate ribs operate as heat exchanger fins by substantially increasing the outer surface area of the cutter bit thereby substantially increasing the rate of heat transfer from the cutter bit to the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A merchandising case adapted for displaying and storing cutter bits includes a cabinet, storage rack within the cabinet, a door movably mounted on the cabinet for concealing the storage rack, and a display rack mounted on the front of the door for holding the cutter bits on display. The display rack will retain a plurality of cutter bits on a display rack behind a transparent safety plate and above a display area. The display area has a plurality of individual receptacles, each receptacle retaining a plurality of chips each of which contains a die cut edge emulating the kerf profile created by a corresponding router bit positioned on the display rack, above the receptacle retaining the specific chip. A customer can remove one or more of the chips from the receptacle and compare it to the cutting edge of other cutter bits, or lay it against a workpiece.

Abstract: Two types of dielectric logging tools are in use: the pad type which operates in the 100 to 1100 MHz frequency range and the mandrel type, which typically operates in the 10 to 100 MHz range. Although both types of tools make the same measurement, the lower frequency tools have a greater depth of investigation and therefore have different applications than the higher frequency pad device. However, logs measured with 10 to 100 MHz tools are more difficult to interpret because of the large frequency-dependent dispersion of the dielectric permittivity below 100 MHz. A model of the frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity has now been developed that predicts permittivities in the 10 to 100 MHz range from the more easily obtained measurements in the 100 to 1300 MHz range. The predicted permittivities are used to calculate fit parameters for interpretation equations normally used for the higher frequency pad devices.