Patents by Inventor Stephen F. Gass

Stephen F. Gass 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).

  • Elevation mechanism for table saws
    Patent number: 7866239
    Abstract: Elevation mechanisms for table saws are disclosed. Embodiments include mechanisms with an elevation carriage, a trunnion structure, and a shaft with a cantilevered portion. The shaft can be fixed to one of the elevation carriage and trunnion structure, and the other of the elevation carriage and trunnion structure slides on the cantilevered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer, David A. Fanning
  • Brake cartridges for power equipment
    Patent number: 7845258
    Abstract: Safety systems for power equipment and components and brake cartridges for use in those safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems, components and brake cartridges are specifically applicable for woodworking equipment such as saws. An exemplary brake cartridge includes a housing and a braking component configured to engage a moving part of the power tool upon occurrence of a predetermined event. The brake cartridge may further include a switch configured so that proper installation of the cartridge in the power tool triggers the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer, David A. Fanning
  • Woodworking machines with overmolded arbors
    Patent number: 7836804
    Abstract: Power equipment with various safety systems is disclosed. Table saws with safety systems and/or blade retraction are disclosed. Over-molded arbors are disclosed, including arbors with prepreg over-molding. An electrically non-conductive material may be disposed to electrically insulate the arbor. The electrically non-conductive material may be made from fiber organized into a pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen F. Gass
  • Table saws with safety systems
    Publication number: 20100288095
    Abstract: Table saws are disclosed. The table saws may include a circular blade, an elevation mechanism configured to raise and lower the blade relative to the work surface; and a spring to provide a force biasing the blade up or down relative to the work surface. The spring may be a gas spring connected between a trunnion and an elevation plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer, David A. Fanning
  • Brake positioning system
    Patent number: 7832314
    Abstract: A saw is disclosed having a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and a saw blade, and a brake adapted to stop the saw blade in response to detection of the dangerous condition. The saw further includes a brake positioning system that allows the brake to be positioned in at least two different operable positions to accommodate at least two different blade diameters. The saw may include a system to detect brake-to-blade spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen F. Gass
  • Table saws with safety systems and systems to mount and index attachments
    Patent number: 7827890
    Abstract: Table saws having a mounting system configured to hold a riving knife or splitter adjacent a blade. The mounting system includes a clamping structure having a handle adapted to pivot between a first position where the clamping structure is open and a second position where the clamping structure is closed, and where the handle can be pivoted from the first position to the second position by hand without using tools. The clamping structure may include a spring to help open the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer, David A. Fanning
  • Elevation mechanism for table saws
    Patent number: 7827893
    Abstract: Table saws with elevation mechanisms are disclosed. One embodiment includes a table saw with a blade, an elevation carriage, a trunnion structure, and a shaft positioned beyond the perimeter of the blade. Another embodiment includes a second shaft interconnecting the elevation carriage and trunnion structure, where the second shaft is positioned beyond the perimeter of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer, David A. Fanning
  • Miter saw with safety system
    Publication number: 20100263509
    Abstract: A miter saw is disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to retract the blade from the cutting zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Stephen F. Gass
  • Miter saw with improved safety system
    Publication number: 20100257988
    Abstract: Miter saws are disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to stop the blade from rotating, to create an impulse against movement of the blade into the cutting zone, or to cause the blade to move away from the cutting zone. The reaction system may include a brake member coupled to a housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer
  • Motion detecting system for use in a safety system for power equipment
    Publication number: 20100251866
    Abstract: A method of controlling a woodworking machine having a movable cutting tool. The method monitors a signal for a change indicative of a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, senses movement of the cutting tool, and performs an action to mitigate the dangerous condition when the signal change and movement of the cutting tool are both detected. A woodworking machine including a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and a working portion of the machine and then to perform some action to mitigate the dangerous condition is also disclosed. A motion detection system is adapted to detect motion of the working portion and to disable the reaction system when the working portion is not moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, Robert L. Chamberlain, J. David Fulmer, Joel F. Jensen, Benjamin B. Schramm
  • Power equipment with detection and reaction systems
    Publication number: 20100236663
    Abstract: Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Stephen F. Gass
  • Table saw with improved safety system
    Patent number: 7789002
    Abstract: A table saw having a brake mechanism configured to engage and stop a blade is disclosed. The table saw includes a brake positioning system configured to adjust the position of the brake mechanism to maintain the brake mechanism in an operative position relative to the blade as the blade is raised and lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, David A. Fanning
  • Brake mechanism for power equipment
    Patent number: 7788999
    Abstract: Woodworking machines are disclosed having cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a brake mechanism having one or more braking components adapted to engage and stop the cutting tool in response to the detection of a dangerous condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, Joel F. Jensen, Anwyl M. McDonald, David S. D'Ascenzo, Andrew L. Johnston
  • Router with improved safety system
    Patent number: 7784507
    Abstract: A router is described for cutting workpieces with router bits. The router includes a safety system configured to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and a router bit. The safety system includes a reaction subsystem configured to perform one or more predetermined actions in the event a dangerous condition is detected. In one embodiment, the safety system is configured to detect accidental contact between a person and the router bit, and then at least partially retract the router bit the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: SD3, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer
  • Brake mechanism for power equipment
    Publication number: 20100213018
    Abstract: Brake pawls for use in safety systems for power equipment are disclosed. The brake pawls include an energy-absorbing region. The energy absorbing regions may include a deformable or collapsible region made from apertures in the brake pawl or from collapsible members or from materials of differing hardnesses, strengths, or structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, David A. Fanning
  • Table saw with improved safety system
    Publication number: 20100192741
    Abstract: A table saw having an adjustable blade, a detection system to detect contact between a person and the blade, and a brake mechanism to engage and stop the blade upon detection of contact between the person and the blade is disclosed. The saw includes a brake positioning system that adjusts the position of the brake mechanism to maintain the brake mechanism in an operative position relative to the blade as the position of the blade is adjusted. The saw also may include a retraction system that urges the blade downward, away from a user, upon detection of contact between a person and the blade. The retraction system may include a releasable gear. The saw may be constructed so that the blade is adjustable up and down around a pivot point downstream of the blade relative to the feed direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, David A. Fanning, Joel F. Jensen, Sung H. Kim, Andrew L. Johnston, David S. D'Ascenzo
  • Apparatus and method for detecting dangerous conditions in power equipment
    Publication number: 20100180741
    Abstract: A machine such as a saw, jointer, planer, etc. is disclosed. The machine has cutting tool, a direct drive mechanism configured to move the cutting tool, a detection system adapted to detect the occurrence of an unsafe condition between a person and the cutting tool, and a reaction system adapted to mitigate the unsafe condition upon the detection of the unsafe condition by the detection system. An electrical signal is imparted on the cutting tool, and the signal is used to determine the occurrence of the unsafe condition. The direct drive mechanism is electrically isolated so that the electric signal may be imparted on the cutting tool. The electric isolation may be achieved through configurations such as insulated bearings, a substantially non-conductive housing, and a substantially non-conductive coupling joining two shaft portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, David A. Fanning, J. David Fulmer, Randall J. Huebner
  • Apparatus and method for detecting dangerous conditions in power equipment
    Publication number: 20100180739
    Abstract: Woodworking machines are disclosed having electrically conductive cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a contact detection system capacitively coupled to the cutting tool, and adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a reaction system configured to cause one or more predetermined actions to take place upon detection of contact between a person and the cutting tool by the contact detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Stephen F. Gass
  • Contact detection system for power equipment
    Publication number: 20100132524
    Abstract: A woodworking machine having one or more dangerous portions is disclosed. The machine also includes a safety system configured to detect accidental contact between a person and at least one of the dangerous portions by electrically coupling a signal to the person's body, and detecting if the signal becomes coupled to the dangerous portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer
  • Replaceable brake mechanism for power equipment
    Publication number: 20100132523
    Abstract: Woodworking machines are disclosed having cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a safety system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the cutting tool, and to stop movement of the cutting tool upon detection of the dangerous condition. At least part of the safety system is housed in a removable cartridge substantially sealed against entry of sawdust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, David S. D'Ascenzo, Andrew L. Johnston, Joel F. Jensen, Sung H. Kim, Anwyl M. McDonald