Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Chervenak
Thomas M. Chervenak 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: 9522456Abstract: A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. McKean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Patent number: 8776646Abstract: A locking tool is provided that comprises an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the distance between the jaws, and the clamping force exerted by the jaws on a workpiece, using the same hand that grips the handles of the tool. A locking tool is also provided where the tool can be locked by moving the handles toward one another. Once locked, the pliers can be unlocked and the jaws opened by squeezing the handles toward one another in the same manner, in the same direction and using the same hand as was done to lock the pliers. As a result the pliers can be locked and unlocked using one-hand and using the same hand movement to both lock and unlock the pliers.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall
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Publication number: 20140182116Abstract: A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Irwin Industrial Tool Company, Inc.Inventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. McKean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Patent number: 8702076Abstract: A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company, Inc.Inventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. McKean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Patent number: 8122792Abstract: The self-adjusting locking pliers include a fixed assembly having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the fixed assembly at a slidable pivot connection. The slidable pivot connection includes a pawl provided with teeth. A rack of teeth includes first and second sets of teeth offset from one another by ½ of the pitch that may each be engaged by the teeth formed on pawl. A lever is attached to the fixed assembly and a linkage transmits a force applied to the lever to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one of two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company, Inc.Inventors: David P. Engvall, Thomas M. Chervenak
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Publication number: 20110316210Abstract: A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. McKean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Patent number: 8074340Abstract: A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. McKean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Patent number: 8056451Abstract: The pliers comprise a fixed assembly and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed, locked position. A movable pivot connects the second jaw to the fixed assembly such that the movable pivot can move relative to the fixed assembly when the second jaw is in the closed, locked position and a torque is applied to the pliers. The second jaw is configured such that a resultant force on the second jaw is inside of the fixed pivot, between the fixed pivot and the movable pivot.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall
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Publication number: 20110259149Abstract: A method of making a cutting tool comprises providing a lever with a jaw having a cutting edge and a body arranged such that the cutting edge is offset from the body; providing a rotary cutting tool with an edge profile that may be complex and/or non-planar to form a complementary edge profile geometry on the cutting edge by moving the edge profile geometry of the rotary cutting tool along the length of the cutting edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANYInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall, Mark B. Latronico
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Publication number: 20110258860Abstract: A cutting tool and method comprises a first lever having a first jaw at one end. A second lever is connected to the first lever at a first pivot where the second lever has a second jaw that is opposed to the first jaw. A third lever is connected to the first lever at a second pivot and connected to the second lever at a third pivot such that relative movement of the third lever relative to the first lever between an open position and a closed position defines a stroke of the tool that corresponds to movement of the hand contact points on the levers toward one another. The third pivot comprises a pin engaging a cam surface where the cam surface has a shape such that the mechanical advantage may increase and decrease through the stroke of the tool and may be variable through the stroke of the jaws.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANYInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall, Mark B. Latronico, Joseph Lutgen
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Publication number: 20110203421Abstract: A locking tool is provided that comprises an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the distance between the jaws, and the clamping force exerted by the jaws on a workpiece, using the same hand that grips the handles of the tool. A locking tool is also provided where the tool can be locked by moving the handles toward one another. Once locked, the pliers can be unlocked and the jaws opened by squeezing the handles toward one another in the same manner, in the same direction and using the same hand as was done to lock the pliers. As a result the pliers can be locked and unlocked using one-hand and using the same hand movement to both lock and unlock the pliers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANYInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall
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Patent number: 7861622Abstract: A lockable pliers comprises a fixed assembly comprising a first handle supporting a first jaw. A second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed, locked position. A second handle is movable relative to the first handle and is connected to the second jaw at a fixed pivot. A toggle-link locking mechanism locks the second jaw in the closed, locked position. A movable pivot connects the second jaw to the fixed assembly such that the second jaw can move relative to the fixed assembly when the second jaw is in the closed, locked position and a torque is applied to the pliers.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall
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Patent number: 7815175Abstract: A method of operating a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to a clamp body. The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. Mckean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Publication number: 20100218648Abstract: A locking pliers comprises a fixed assembly comprising a first handle and a first jaw. A second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw. A second handle moves relative to the first handle to move the second jaw. A toggle-link locking mechanism locks the second jaw in the closed, locked position. An adjusting screw is provided for adjusting the geometry of the locking mechanism to thereby adjust the jaw spacing and the force exerted by the jaws is provided. The adjusting screw includes a wheel that can be rotated by running the wheel along an object. In another embodiment the adjusting screw includes a sleeve that extends partially over the fixed assembly such that it can be manipulated by the same hand that holds the locking pliers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANYInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall
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Publication number: 20100192734Abstract: The self-adjusting locking pliers include a fixed assembly having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the fixed assembly at a slidable pivot connection. The slidable pivot connection includes a pawl provided with teeth. A rack of teeth includes first and second sets of teeth offset from one another by ½ of the pitch that may each be engaged by the teeth formed on pawl. A lever is attached to the fixed assembly and a linkage transmits a force applied to the lever to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one of two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANYInventors: David P. Engvall, Thomas M. Chervenak
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Publication number: 20100156013Abstract: A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2010Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. McKean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Patent number: 7726217Abstract: The self-adjusting locking pliers include a fixed assembly having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the fixed assembly at a slidable pivot connection. The slidable pivot connection includes a pawl provided with teeth. A rack of teeth includes first and second sets of teeth offset from one another by 1/2 of the pitch that may each be engaged by the teeth formed on pawl. A lever is attached to the fixed assembly and a linkage transmits a force applied to the lever to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: David P. Engvall, Thomas M. Chervenak
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Patent number: 7699297Abstract: A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Chris W. Cicenas, Charles R. McKean, Thomas M. Chervenak, Anthony B. Fuller
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Patent number: D635427Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall, Brett Lucus
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Patent number: D651060Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool CompanyInventors: Thomas M. Chervenak, David P. Engvall, Brett Lucus