Hand Tool Patents (Class 144/154.5)
  • Patent number: 6688349
    Abstract: A hand planing machine has a housing composed of a plurality of shells tightly connected with one another, a planing shaft, a motor for driving the planing shaft, means forming a chip withdrawing opening, the motor and the chip withdrawing opening being arranged axes-parallel to one another and extending outwardly at a same side, the shells including a single cover shell which simultaneously surrounds the motor and the chip withdrawing opening and forms a lateral outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Shila Roshilavati Razlan, Juergen Gairing, Juergen Stoeger, Marco Braun
  • Patent number: 6648567
    Abstract: A collet assembly for a tool comprising a collet nut rotatably connectable to the tool; a collet operatively connectable to the collet nut; and a collet wrench movably connected with the tool and engageable with the collet nut for tightening and loosening the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Alan Berry, Michael E. Bitzel, Allen K. Brelsford, John L. McKibben
  • Patent number: 6622762
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric hand tool (6) with an electric motor contained in a housing, which drives a chip-removing tool (8). The mounting section (14) of a mounting rail (1) is mounted in a detent locking fashion onto the mounting base (3) of the electric hand tool (6). A carriage-shaped component equipped with a compass point (12) is mounted onto this mounting rail (1) and/or a parallel fence (9, 10) can be adjustably positioned on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joao Bergner, Uwe Engelfried, Martin Noack
  • Patent number: 6619894
    Abstract: A plunge base router for use in an upright and an inverted position is disclosed. The router includes a depth adjustment mechanism, a depth stop mechanism, a post lock mechanism, and a return spring defeat mechanism. The depth adjustment mechanism includes a course adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism to set the cutting distance of a bit. The course and fine adjustment mechanisms are usable in both the upright and inverted positions and the fine adjustment mechanism is operable without being reset throughout the full range of motion of the plunge router. The depth stop includes a mechanism for locking the end of a rod on the housing to the base in order to set the relative position in between the housing and the base. The depth stop also includes a plurality of steps for engaging the rod and permitting incremental passes of cutting at different depths with the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: Mary Hathcock, Carl Christian Carlson, Manfred Staebler
  • Publication number: 20030168122
    Abstract: A hand planing machine has a housing composed of a plurality of shells tightly connected with one another, a planing shaft, a motor for driving the planing shaft, means forming a chip withdrawing opening, the motor and the chip withdrawing opening being arranged axes-parallel to one another and extending outwardly at a same side, the shells including a single cover shell which simultaneously surrounds the motor and the chip withdrawing opening and forms a lateral outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Shila Razlan, Juergen Gairing, Juergen Stoeger, Marco Braun
  • Patent number: 6612036
    Abstract: The edge profile cutter includes a slidable base, a first cutting blade, and a second blade. The slidable base includes a base portion, an upright portion. The upright portion extends upward from a front of the base portion. A handle portion extends upward from the base portion at substantially a middle thereof. A first blade slot is formed in a bottom of the base to receive the first cutting blade. The first cutting blade may be adjusted within the first blade slot. Preferably, a first clamp slot is formed adjacent the first blade slot to receive a first clamp. The first clamp retains the first cutting blade. A second blade slot is formed in a front of the upright portion. The second cutting blade may be adjusted within the second blade slot. A second clamp preferably retains the second cutting blade. A lengthwise notch is formed in a front bottom edge of the base portion. The lengthwise notch may be sized to receive an end of a ceiling tile or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Michael J. Frazier
  • Patent number: 6612349
    Abstract: A plate joiner including a fence support, a drive, and a fence system. The fence support includes a cutter and a contact surface, which defines a cutter slot. The cutter is arranged and configured to protrude from fence support through cutter slot to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece by pushing on a rearward handle portion of the tool. The drive is arranged and configured to rotatably drive the cutter through a motor. As shown in the drawings a preferred fence system includes an angle adjustment system arranged and configured to position the fence at a wide range of fence angles and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted. A preferred fence system includes a trunnion which pivotally couples the front fence to the fence system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Porter-Cable Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Smith, Earl R. Clowers
  • Patent number: 6568887
    Abstract: A plunge base router for use in an upright and an inverted position is disclosed. The router includes a depth adjustment mechanism, a depth stop mechanism, a post lock mechanism, and a return spring defeat mechanism. The depth adjustment mechanism includes a course adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism to set the cutting distance of a bit. The course and fine adjustment mechanisms are usable in both the upright and inverted positions and the fine adjustment mechanism is operable without being reset throughout the full range of motion of the plunge router. The depth stop includes a mechanism for locking the end of a rod on the housing to the base in order to set the relative position in between the housing and the base. The depth stop also includes a plurality of steps for engaging the rod and permitting incremental passes of cutting at different depths with the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: Mary Hathcock, Lawrence M. Cotton, Carl Christian Carlson
  • Patent number: 6558091
    Abstract: A plunge base router for use in an upright and an inverted position is disclosed. The router includes a depth adjustment mechanism, a depth stop mechanism, a post lock mechanism, and a return spring defeat mechanism. The depth adjustment mechanism includes a course adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism to set the cutting distance of a bit. The course and fine adjustment mechanisms are usable in both the upright and inverted positions and the fine adjustment mechanism is operable without being reset throughout the full range of motion of the plunge router. The depth stop includes a mechanism for locking the end of a rod on the housing to the base in order to set the relative position in between the housing and the base. The depth stop also includes a plurality of steps for engaging the rod and permitting incremental passes of cutting at different depths with the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Smith, Lawrence M. Cotton, Kevin Alfred
  • Patent number: 6558090
    Abstract: A cordless router motor unit has a metal barrel and a plastic battery housing. A DC motor is housed inside of the barrel and drives an output shaft and up to a ½″ collet chuck. The battery housing holds a power switch and is fastened to the barrel. A battery is releasably attached to the battery housing through a sliding engagement in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the motor unit. When the battery is in its locked position relative to the battery housing, the center of gravity of the battery is balanced over the output shaft. The power switch is positioned radially from the DC motor and below the battery so that the router motor unit has a low center of gravity. The battery provides at least 18V and the maximum power output of the DC motor is at least ⅝ hp. The barrel can be sized to engage with a router base which also engages with a corded router motor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Porter-Cable/Delta
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Lagaly, James Andrew Patton, Julie Lynn Jones
  • Patent number: 6550154
    Abstract: The level-adjusting apparatus adjusts the level of a tool such as a router having a bit for cutting a piece of work on a working surface. The apparatus has a carriage on which the router is mounted. The carriage is located beneath the working surface and its bit projects above the surface. The carriage may be raised and lowered by means of a handle above the working surface. The handle is removable so that once the router is in position the handle may be removed so that it does not interfere with the routing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Jessem Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Darrin Eugene Smith
  • Publication number: 20030056853
    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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer
  • Patent number: 6510878
    Abstract: An attachable baseplate for a highspeed router which can be used with router in an upright handheld position, or in an inverted position with router suspended by same baseplate in a router table. Front edge of baseplate has cutout portion for sliding engagement and containment of a right and a left incrementally marked alignment indicator. When secured to baseplate in a predetermined position indicators show actual diameter margins of the installed cutting tool. This simplifies and makes precise the alignment of the cutting tool to the layout line of the workpiece and allowing measuring capabilities when enlarging the existing cut without the necessity of changing cutting tool. Alignment and measuring capabilities perform equally in the handheld or suspended router table mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Frank J. Cavit
  • Publication number: 20030015253
    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 stop the rotation of the router bit to reduce potential injury to the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen F. Gass, J. David Fulmer
  • Patent number: 6506006
    Abstract: A power hand tool includes a body, an electric motor, an output driving shaft rotatable by the motor, a holder for holding a cutting bit and rotatable by the shaft for, in turn, rotating the cutting bit for cutting, an electrical switch provided on the body for controlling operation of the motor, and a detachable handle. The handle has a first, fixed end releasably connected to the body, a middle section extending to form a relatively large gap with the body sufficiently wide to allow the handle to be gripped by a hand, and a second, free end. The free end extends to approach a region on the surface of the body adjacent and not reaching the switch and forms a relatively small gap with the region sufficiently narrow to retain a hand gripping the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Choon Nang Electrical Appliance
    Inventors: Tat Nin Lui, Ping Hay Heun
  • Publication number: 20030000599
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric hand tool (6) with an electric motor contained in a housing, which drives a chip-removing tool (8). The mounting section (14) of a mounting rail (1) is mounted in a detent locking fashion onto the mounting base (3) of the electric hand tool (6). A carriage-shaped component equipped with a compass point (12) is mounted onto this mounting rail (1) and/or a parallel fence (9, 10) can be adjustably positioned on it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Joao Bergner, Uwe Engelfried, Martin Noack
  • Patent number: 6488455
    Abstract: A plunge base router for use in an upright and an inverted position is disclosed. The router includes a depth adjustment mechanism, a depth stop mechanism, a post lock mechanism, and a return spring defeat mechanism. The depth adjustment mechanism includes a coarse adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism to set the cutting distance of a bit. The course and fine adjustment mechanisms are usable in both the upright and inverted positions and the fine adjustment mechanism is operable without being reset throughout the full range of motion of the plunge router. The depth stop includes a mechanism for locking the end of a rod on the housing to the base in order to set the relative position in between the housing and the base. The depth stop also includes a plurality of steps for engaging the rod and permitting incremental passes of cutting at different depths with the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: Manfred Staebler, Mary Hathcock, Kenneth Smith, Lawrence M. Cotton, Carl Christian Carlson, Kevin Alfred
  • Publication number: 20020174913
    Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool unit of a tool assembly for a cutting machine that is used in conjunction with an associated method of cutting provides several novel aspects. The tool arrangement, which includes two tool units, includes first and second disk-shaped tools rotatable about an axis. The tools define maximum tool arrangement boundaries along the axis. A driving arrangement, at an axial location between the first and second tools, supports the first and second tools for rotation and transfers driving force. A radially outer periphery of the driving arrangement is at a radius less than a radius of a peripheral cutting edge portion of the first tool and less than a radius of a peripheral cutting edge portion of the second tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Mats Johansson
  • Patent number: 6484767
    Abstract: A work station is provided having a work surface. The work surface comprises spaced apart bearers (42) which are spaced apart and parallel. The bearers (42) are interconnected by braces (43) and intermediate bearer fits between the parallel bearers (42). In some embodiments of the invention, the intermediate bearer carrier a mitre guide (143).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Alan B. H. Cameron
  • Patent number: 6474378
    Abstract: A plunge-type router is disclosed which has a base and a head assembly that is vertically adjustable by an adjusting mechanism. The plunge router includes an electronic control system with a digital display and control functionality that enables the router to accurately determine a baseline or zero position for a router bit installed in the router and permits the user to input a depth of cut value or other predetermined command. The control system then automatically causes the motorized adjusting mechanism to go to the appropriate position. The electronic control system enables the storage of multiple depth settings as well as multiple step or macro operations. In this regard, macros may be run to provide incremental cutting necessary for performing multiple passes to achieve a relatively deep depth of cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: William J. Ryan, Carl C. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6449852
    Abstract: A casing and door jamb trimmer comprising a base, a fence, and an arbor which are attachable to a conventional air tool and saw blade. The invention is used to trim casings and door jambs in order to allow flooring to be laid so that it fits perfectly with the door jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: David Simantel
  • Patent number: 6443675
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool, such as a spiral cutting tool, with improved operator control and visibility. The power tool includes a motor contained in a motor housing. The motor may be a variable speed motor controlled by a speed control user interface mounted on the housing. Each time a speed control button is actuated, the motor speed is changed. A display provides the operator of the tool with an indication of the motor speed selected. A detachable handle is provided with a moveable mechanism for easily, quickly, and securely attaching the handle to the housing and removing the handle therefrom with one hand. The detachable handle may include one or more storage compartments formed therein. The detachable handle includes a trigger switch mounted therein for operating the cutting tool motor. The trigger switch is mounted in the detachable handle in a position such that the switch is operated by the little finger and ring finger of an operator's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Roto Zip Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert K. Kopras, Jason R. Kopras, Scott Adler, Douglas Seals, Ryan Rindy, Larry Gunseor, Daniel Bullis
  • Patent number: 6443676
    Abstract: A guide for setting the depth of cut of a cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, which automatically locks into a desired position to set the depth of a cut without requiring manual operation of a locking knob or similar structure. The depth guide is released from the locked Position by actuation of a release switch. The depth guide includes a depth guide base, a depth guide shaft attached to the depth guide base, and an automatic locking and release mechanism coupled to the depth guide shaft. The automatic locking and release mechanism and depth guide shaft may be mounted in a handle of the hand-held power tool, such as a detachable handle, for mounting the depth guide to the tool. A dust collector is provided for removing cutting debris which may accumulate in the base of a depth guide around the point of a cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Roto Zip Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Robert K. Kopras
  • Patent number: 6422275
    Abstract: A plate joiner including a fence support, a drive, and a fence system. The fence support includes a cutter and a contact surface, which defines a cutter slot. The cutter is arranged and configured to protrude from fence support through cutter slot to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece by pushing on a rearward handle portion of the tool. The drive is arranged and configured to rotatably drive the cutter through a motor. A preferred fence system includes an angle adjustment system arranged and configured to position the fence at a wide range of fence angles and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted. A preferred fence system includes a trunnion which pivotally couples the front fence to the fence system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Porter-Cable Coporation
    Inventors: John C. Smith, Earl R. Clowers
  • Patent number: 6419429
    Abstract: A router having a base and an adjustably positioned motor assembly is provided with a pair of ergonomic elongate handles on opposite right and left sides of the motor housing. The elongate handles which are connected to and spaced from the motor housing by a pair of bridge members are ellipsoidal in shape when viewed in a transverse side elevation. Each elongate handle has a longitudinal length L having a large upper end, diameter Z and a lower small end diameter Z′.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: One World Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Keith Long, Norman Hugh Bouwhuis, James Morgan, Kenneth M. Brazell
  • Patent number: 6374878
    Abstract: A multipurpose, portable fixture for hand held woodworking power tools is described. The portable fixture of the present invention allows for controlled multidirectional operations with the woodworking tools on a workpiece. The woodworking tool may be tipped, rotated and linearly displace through multiple planes, thereby allowing complex operations on the workpiece. A variety of woodworking tools may be mounted to the portable fixture of the present invention to perform a variety of operations on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventors: Patrick J. Mastley, Ronald K. Westby
  • Publication number: 20020043294
    Abstract: A router including a base for supporting the router on a work piece surface, a motor housing supported by the base, and a motor supported by the housing and operable to drive a tool element. The router also includes a hand grip attachable to one of the base and the housing. The hand grip may be contoured to fit a hand of an operator and may be at least partially formed of an elastomeric material. The router may also include a fixing assembly for fixing the housing in a position relative to the base, the fixing assembly including a clamping member for applying a clamping force to the housing to fix the housing in a position relative to the base, and an actuator for moving the clamping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Randy McDonald, Dale Borchardt, Troy Thorson, Jeffrey C. Hessenberger, Christopher Berg, Jeffrey S. Holly
  • Patent number: 6368033
    Abstract: A portable electric right-angle plunge router (10) is disclosed which has a pair of laterally spaced apart bases (13, 14), two pair of laterally spaced apart columns (12) and a motor housing assembly (11). The bases (13, 14) have planar work engaging surfaces (15). Affixed to the bases (13, 14) are the laterally spaced apart columns (12) which extend perpendicularly to the work engaging surfaces (15). The motor housing assembly (11) has a central axis which is parallel to the work surface and is mounted on the laterally spaced apart columns (12) to allow the housing assembly to move vertically toward and away from the bases. Laterally space apart column guides (17) affixed to the housing (11) are aligned and sized to slidingly engage the columns (12). A handle is formed in the housing (11) between the front and rear column guides (17). A drive motor affixed in the housing has an armature shaft which is rotatable about an axis being substantially the horizontal axis of the housing (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Steven Howell Souders
  • Patent number: 6350087
    Abstract: A collet assembly for a tool comprising a collet nut rotatably connectable to the tool; a collet operatively connectable to the collet nut; and a collet wrench movably connected with the tool and engageable with the collet nut for tightening and loosening the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Alan Berry, Michael E. Bitzel, Allen K. Brelsford, John L. McKibben
  • Patent number: 6336483
    Abstract: A plate joiner including a fence support, a drive, and a fence system. The fence support includes a cutter and a contact surface, which defines a cutter slot. The cutter is arranged and configured to protrude from fence support through cutter slot to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece by pushing on a rearward handle portion of the tool. The drive is arranged and configured to rotatably drive the cutter through a motor. A preferred fence system includes an angle adjustment system arranged and configured to position the fence at a wide range of fence angles and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted. A preferred fence system includes a trunnion which pivotally couples the front fence to the fence system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Porter-Cable Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Smith, Earl R. Clowers
  • Patent number: 6334744
    Abstract: A jig for use in conjunction with a router to cut circular openings is disclosed herein. The circular jig is comprised of a plate that has an escape hole for receiving a bit of the router therethrough, and a plurality of pivot holes formed therein. The plate has a reference point, and the pivot holes are arranged on the plate in a nonlinear array at preselected locations with respect to the reference point. A pivot pin inserted into the proper pivot hole allows the jig and router to be pivoted around the pivot pin and cut a circle of a preselected size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Jasper Audio
    Inventors: Leslie L. Jasper, William M. Jasper
  • Patent number: 6318936
    Abstract: A plunge router adjustment mechanism including a drive shaft longitudinally fixed but rotatable in a base plate and extending towards an opposite end of the plunge router. A carriage moveable along the drive shaft is connectable to the router housing. Optionally, a sub-carriage, moveable along the carriage and directly attached to the housing, allows fine adjustment of the housing relative to the base plate. Optionally a coarse adjustment stop member is releasably fixable along the drive shaft for coarse positioning of the housing relative to base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventors: Robert E. McFarlin, Jr., David L. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6260591
    Abstract: A biscuit joiner (10) having a housing (16) which includes a forward portion (26), a handle portion (28) and a rear portion (30). A battery pack (56) is removably secured to the rear portion. The forward portion houses an electric motor (32) and is attached to a shoe assembly (12) and a fence assembly (14). The handle portion includes a stick handle portion (40) and a loop portion (42). Each of the stick handle and loop portions are laterally offset from the forward portion, and therefore from the rotational axis of the motor and the coaxial center of the housing. The stick handle portion is graspable by a user and the lateral offset enables the fingers of the user to be placed in position to exert a force substantially along the longitudinal axis (36) of the motor while engaging an ON/OFF trigger (46) of the joiner. In this manner a more direct application of force can be made by the user to the housing when urging the housing linearly while making plunge cuts with the joiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: William A. George, Steven D. Beamesderfer, Dennis Keith Kirk, Jr., Sean W. Flickenger, Richard H. Rapuano, Gregg A. Flender, George H. F. Schnakenberg, III
  • Patent number: 6244796
    Abstract: A guide attachment apparatus for guiding a rotary hand tool of the type which includes an outer enclosure, a rotatable collet adapted to retain a bit adapted for removing grout from a work surface or other activity. The guide attachment apparatus includes a housing and a slide. The housing has a lower portion and an upper portion, with the lower portion having a base that is located in a plane which is at an acute angle from the axis of rotation. The housing further includes a viewing opening, for viewing the bit as it engages a work surface, an opening for receiving the slide, and a locking mechanism for locking the slide in a position relative to the housing. The slide is attachable to the housing and also includes a coupling mechanism to couple the slide to the rotary hand tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: S-B Power Tool Company
    Inventors: Jennifer J. Schuebel, Mark D. Duennes
  • Patent number: 6237657
    Abstract: A device for cutting a workpiece by means of a rotatingly driven tool bit has a suction hood surrounding the tool bit in annular manner with a through-opening for the tool bit to pass through. The suction hood forms a suction duct open to the tool bit which is limited by an outer wall. At least a part of the outer wall is curved in a perpendicular plane in the form of a parabola, and the focal point of the parabola lies beneath the workpiece engagement surface formed by the suction hood. Because of this parabola shape, chips thrown by the tool bit against the outer wall are reflected essentially parallel to the workpiece engagement surface and thus do not escape up through the through-opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Yuejun Qian
  • Patent number: 6224305
    Abstract: A rotary power tool is provided having a remotely actuated chuck device. The chuck is mounted onto the end of a drive spindle that extends from the casing of the power tool. The chuck includes an outer sleeve member that is axially movable relative to the drive spindle between a gripping and release position. A chuck actuating device is provided having a first member engaged with the outer sleeve member and which extends generally radially outward from the drive spindle or chuck. The first member is movable in a direction so as to move the outer sleeve member between the gripping position and release position. A solenoid and a biasing mechanism engage the first member so that the chuck device is movable between the gripping and release positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Power Tool Holders, Incorporated
    Inventor: Mark S. Huggins
  • Patent number: 6203255
    Abstract: A router guide apparatus for use in forming rosette designs in a work piece includes a frame having a work surface with a wheel rotatably mounted upon the work surface. The wheel has a plurality of position stops. The rosette design can be formed in a synthetic material (eg. Corian®) and filled with a filler or glue or settable material of a different color to form an inlaid design. The frame includes an adjustable guide for holding and a tracking a router with a cutting blade. The frame includes stops for limiting movement of the router during use. The guide and stops are configured to enable the cutting blade to cut two petals of a rosette design in a single pass. Inserts (fence blocks and/or router filler blocks) can be added to vary the position tracked by the router. The wheel is affixable into multiple angular positions relative to the guide so that multiple cuts can be made at different angular orientations relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Southern Quality Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwayne J. Broussard
  • Patent number: 6182723
    Abstract: Improvements made to a router a relate to a switchable router brake system. The switchable brake system permits a motor brake to be selectably engaged to operate when the router motor is turned off. When engaged, the motor brake, which comprises a brake resistor being placed electrically across the motor windings, causes the router motor to stop rotating almost immediately. This feature, however, is not always desired; the switchable brake system permits the operator to engage the use of the brake only when desired, thus providing the option to selectively eliminate jerking caused electric brake torque induced in the router when the brake engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Porter-Cable Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Bosten, James T. Stolzer, Randy G. Cooper, Waymon L. McNeal, Jr., Leslie J. Banduch