Expanding At One End Patents (Class 15/104.18)
  • Patent number: 11761730
    Abstract: A gun cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning tool and a storage case. The cleaning tool has a cleaning section and a pull cord having a distal end for pulling the cleaning section through a gun barrel. The storage case is configured for enclosing the cleaning tool. The storage case includes a substantially hollow container defining a rim at opening thereof, and a removable lid positionable between a closed configuration and an open position. The removable lid includes a handle section for gripping by a user to assist with pulling the cleaning tool through the gun barrel in the open configuration and configured to engage the rim in the closed configuration, and a connection section extending from the handle section, the connection section defining an elongated slot and a cavity for securing the distal end of the pull cord therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Bushnell Inc.
    Inventors: Laurie A. Kokoruda, Jason L. Slinkard
  • Patent number: 11590624
    Abstract: A method for treating an interior weld joint located along an inner surface of a pipe includes the steps of: (a) advancing an internal grinder device within the pipe to the interior weld joint, wherein the internal grinder device includes a hollow housing that has a first open end and a first grinding implement that is disposed within the hollow housing and coupled thereto with a first biasing member; and (b) controllably rotating the hollow housing to at least a threshold speed at which time and under centrifugal force, the first grinding implement moves from an at rest retracted position to a deployed position in which the first grinding implement extends radially beyond the first open end for contacting and grinding the interior weld joint as the hollow housing and the first grinding implement are rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Parrott, Mohamed Abdelkader, Hassane Trigui
  • Patent number: 11560977
    Abstract: A motorized apparatus for use in maintaining a pipe having a sidewall is provided. The motorized apparatus includes a body assembly sized to fit within and to travel along an interior cavity of the pipe. The body assembly includes a first end and a second end and extending along a longitudinal axis. The body assembly also includes a plurality of leg assemblies coupled circumferentially around the body assembly. Each leg assembly includes a telescoping portion, a bias member coupled to the telescoping portion, and a drive mechanism configured to interact with the sidewall as the body assembly travels along the pipe. The body assembly also includes at least one sensor configured to collect data associated with a force between the sidewall and the drive mechanism, and an actuator assembly coupled to each leg assembly and configured to independently actuate each the leg assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexander Kyle Duncan, Todd William Danko, Justin Foehner, Yakov Polishchuk, Douglas R. Forman
  • Patent number: 11066880
    Abstract: Cleaning implement apparatus for cleaning boreholes formed within various different substrates, such as, for example, concrete slabs, concrete blocks, bricks, or the like, comprises a first embodiment for use within a power-operated tool, such as for example, a roto-hammer type power tool for drilling boreholes within concrete or brick substrates, while a second embodiment of the apparatus comprises a manually-operated tool. The first embodiment comprises a bit member having a slotted drive shank (SDS) connection for mounting within the chuck mechanism of the roto-hammer type power tool. In this manner, the same roto-hammer type power tool can be used for both drilling the borehole within the substrate as well as for cleaning the borehole by exchanging the cleaning implement for the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Griffith
  • Patent number: 10399118
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for applying an inner coating to a wellbore screen are described. The apparatus comprises a support for the wellbore screen, an elongate injector for injecting coating material into the inner bore of the wellbore screen, and a driver for positioning the elongate injector into the inner bore and moving the elongate injector through the inner bore to introduce coating material to the inner bore. The elongate injector has a supported end, a distal end, and a coating material delivery line extending through the elongate injector from a coating material supply to a port at the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER CANADA LIMITED
    Inventor: Fred Harmat
  • Patent number: 10376933
    Abstract: A swab device for cleaning the barrel of a paintball gun has a shaft and a sleeve is slidably mounted over the shaft. An absorbent material is wrapped about the sleeve. A cap member is pivotally attached to a distal end of the shaft by a spring that biases the cap to a retracted position where it faces outward from a side surface of the shaft so the cap extends along a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft. The cap can be pivoted by the sleeve to a deployed position where it is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. The cap has a resilient circumferential portion that engages an inner surface of the barrel when the cap is in the deployed position to clean (e.g., squeegee) the inner surface of the barrel while the absorbent material absorbs any liquid from broken paint balls in the barrel as the shaft is pulled out of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HK ARMY INC.
    Inventor: Jason Pineda
  • Patent number: 9664473
    Abstract: A handle for manipulating a firearm rod, such as a firearm cleaning rod, and methods of using same. The handle is selectively movable along the length of the rod to desired positions along the length of the rod. The handle can be releasably secured to the rod at the desired positions. When the handle is releasably secured to the rod, the rod can rotate with respect to a body of the handle about the longitudinal axis of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Battenfeld Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Poehlman, James Tayon, Dennis W. Cauley, Jr., Michael Cottrell, Tim Kinney, Matthew Kinamore, James Gianladis, Adam J. Birk
  • Patent number: 9644917
    Abstract: The tool for extracting stuck gun-cleaning tool is a device that is adapted for use with small arms. The tool for extracting stuck gun-cleaning tool is further adapted for use with a handle. The tool for extracting stuck gun-cleaning tool is a tool designed to be inserted in the barrel of a small arm. The tool for extracting stuck gun-cleaning tool captures and removes the remnants of broken small arm cleaning brushes that are left in the barrel of a small arm. The tool for extracting stuck gun-cleaning tool comprises a base and a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: John Fiebig
  • Patent number: 9546841
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning firearms comprises a rod, a handle, a first cylindrical body portion, a second cylindrical body portion, a stick, and a fiber wad. The handle is attached to an end of the rod. The first cylindrical body portion defines a channel and a longitudinal break in a sidewall of the first cylindrical body portion. The channel and the longitudinal break extend into the first cylindrical body portion from a first end of the first cylindrical body portion, and the longitudinal break at least partially merges with the channel. At the same time, the second cylindrical body portion is attached to a second end of the cylindrical body portion and has a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion. The stick is at least partially inserted into the channel. Lastly, the fiber wad is wrapped around at least a portion of the stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Vinci, Ian R. Vinci, Ryan Estvanik
  • Patent number: 9358591
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and a device for cleaning an open airway ended tube. The tube being designed for attachment to a continuous positive airway apparatus. The device includes a cleaning element for cleaning the inside of the open ended tube and a support member. The cleaning element attached to the support member. The support member including means for attaching the cleaning element to the support member and for retaining the cleaning element to the support member during cleaning. Additionally, one end of the support member capable of being secured during cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: Isaac Cruz
  • Patent number: 8863431
    Abstract: A universal gun cleaning patch assembly comprising a support frame having a hub and hub bore, a plurality of resiliently deformable legs, and a swab. The assembly is radially compressible to effectively wipe the bores of weapons having a wide range of bore diameters. The swab material is preferably made integral with the support frame and may include natural or synthetic fibers and/or laminates of natural and/or synthetic fibers and a metal or plastic mesh embedded in a fabric to effectively scrub the inner bore of the firearm and remove gunpowder residues and excess solvents or oils during the cleaning process. The hub bore may sized to be self-tapping on male threads of a cable or rod that is pulled and/or pushed through the bore, or the bore may be tapered and include a plurality of deformable fingers to received a quick-disconnect stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Otis Patent Trust
    Inventors: Nicholas Williams, James R. Brooker
  • Patent number: 8607395
    Abstract: A device for cleaning carboys, kegs, and similar containers is disclosed. The device includes a pair of cleaning pads pivotally attached to a rod. Each pad has a fabric exterior, a stiffening insert, and the absorbent sponge. The insert and sponge are placed on one side of the fabric exterior. The opposite side of the fabric exterior is folded over the stiffening insert and the sponge and then sewn together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Ryan F. Karasek
  • Patent number: 8566996
    Abstract: A removable frame system (100) consists of a first end (101) and a second end (102) and is made up of at least two side frame components (103 & (107) where all said side frame components are single piece components with no adjustments or added parts. Side frame components (103 & 107) form a pivoting body capable of swinging open and closed to form a payload cavity (113) desirable to contain a payload subsystem (112) that is designed to operate a payload application device (115). There are only three components that make up the remote frame system (100) that supports the operation of the payload (112). Removable frame system (100) supports rugged operation and in the field re-configuration for a multiple of purposes. One embodiment is to be deployed in the sewers as a root cutting system that employs a motor for the payload (112) and a root cutter for the payload application device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventors: Malvin A. Nezat, II, Michael J. Hnatek
  • Patent number: 8316500
    Abstract: A bidirectional bristle pig provides a means for collapsing or restraining the bristles so that the pig may be used in a reciprocating manner or, when the pig becomes stuck, the pig may be easily retrieved in a direction opposite that of the initial direction of travel. The bristle pig has at least one set of outwardly projecting cleaning wires or bristles located toward one end of the pig body and a sliding collar. The sliding collar moves between a first position and a second position to restrain the bristles at the desired leading end of the pig and forces the bristles downward and away from the inner wall surface of the pipeline. In the restrained state, the bristles no longer interfere with the movement of the pig in the desired direction. The sliding collar may move in response to pipeline pressure or may include a tether line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric N. Freeman, Joseph Alan Morton
  • Patent number: 6691731
    Abstract: A corporation stop cleaner device includes a T-shaped body having an inlet end, an outlet end, a flushing inlet connection and a flushing outlet connection. The T-shaped body is attached to the fluid inlet of a corporation stop. A removable brush is mounted on one end of a rigid rod and is forced through the T-shaped body and into the corporation stop. The brush abuts the inner surfaces of the corporation stop to remove debris or the like from the inner surfaces of the corporation stop. Flushing water flows through the T-shaped body to remove debris removed from the corporation stop. An optional pipe cleaning tool includes the T-shaped body attached to a service water line with an expandable brush mounted on one end of a flexible cable wherein the brush expands through the pipe cleaning tool inside of the water pipe to remove debris from the line that is stopping flow of water therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Jamie L. Thompson, L. Wayne Dixon
  • Patent number: 6431125
    Abstract: A device for regulating and cleaning an air port (3) arranged in the wall (2) of a furnace, especially a soda house furnace, comprises a cleaning arrangement (1) and an arrangement (4) for regulating the air flow through the air port, in which an air casing (5) is arranged around the air port on the outer side of the furnace wall, in which a drum (12) is arranged inside the air casing and air-tightly connected to the wall of the air casing located opposite to the furnace wall. An opening defined by at least a cover member (14) of the regulating arrangement and at least one lateral wall of the drum is arranged with a restricted extension in the circumferential direction of the drum so as to achieve an air jet in towards and through the air port (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: LT-Produkter Skutskär AB
    Inventor: Tore Eriksson