Manually Operated Patents (Class 242/381.3)
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Patent number: 12209856Abstract: A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The retraction system includes a spiral spring that is located outside of and adjacent to a tape reel about which a tape blade is wound. This arrangement provides for a decreased housing height which improves the ability to grip and handle the tape measure.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2023Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventor: Jonathan F. Vitas
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Patent number: 12152874Abstract: A tape measure comprises a housing containing a tape, spring, reel, and hub, with first seal(s) to seal between the reel cartridge and the hub and/or to seal between the reel and the housing and/or a part fixed to the housing. An outermost coil of the spring may extend out of an opening in the reel and be attached to an innermost coil of the tape, and a second seal may be provided on the reel, to seal between the spring and the reel where the spring extends from the reel. Alternatively, the spring may be contained within the reel, and an outermost coil of the spring may be attached to an interior of the reel. An exterior of the reel may include an attachment portion to which an innermost coil of the tape is attached. The housing may be openable to enable contaminants to be removed from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: November 26, 2024Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.Inventors: Hsiao-Ting Wen, Yo-Wen Hsiao, Chirag Kamani, Daniel R. Seymour, Hui-Ting You
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Patent number: 12123527Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an operation switch, including a housing, an end cap, a slider, a sliding pin and a positioning pin. The housing has a housing opening on one side of the housing away from the end cap. The slider has a slider stop plate extending out from the housing opening. The end cap has a guide sliding chute. The sliding pin is in clearance fit with the guide sliding chute. The guide sliding chute has a lower positioning recess and an upper positioning recess. The end cap has a guide ramp below the guide sliding chute, and an end of the positioning pin slidably contacts or touches the guide ramp. The present disclosure also discloses a pull-out control mechanism, including a housing; a hose/cord clamping wheel set including a first rotating wheel and a second rotating wheel, both mounted in the housing; and a locking and releasing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Beijing Kohler Ltd.Inventor: Guang Cheng
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Patent number: 11945682Abstract: A lanyard having a locking mechanism is provided. The lanyard locking mechanism actuates between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the lanyard spool is restricted from rotating, and in the unlocked position, the lanyard spool is permitted to rotate with reduced interference from the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes biasing components that bias the locking mechanism to remain stationary unless sufficient force is exerted.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventors: Alexander J. Paulsen, Andrew G. Wagner, Scott M. Hangartner
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Patent number: 11913780Abstract: A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, a blade formed from a metallic strip of material having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and an anti-rollover assembly disposed proximate to the aperture. The blade may be cupped to have a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface. The blade may have a first side and a second side that oppose each other relative to an apex of the concave upper surface and the convex lower surface. The anti-rollover assembly may be configured to enable an operator to selectively flatten the first side or the second side of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.Inventor: Kai Zhang
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Patent number: 11668551Abstract: Disclosed is a measuring tape which comprises a housing, a reel received in the housing, and a blade wound on an outer surface of the reel and withdrawn or restored from an entrance of the housing, the measuring tape comprising: a finger recess formed through a bottom surface of the housing to expose a bottom surface of the blade; and a brake including a slide button exposed to the upper portion of the entrance, a brake plate slidely moving inside the housing depending on the movement of the slide button, and a brake port formed at an end of the brake plate to selectively press the upper surface of the blade, wherein the brake pork is positioned on the upper portion of the finger recess in a released state, and presses the upper surface of the blade by moving to the rear side of the finger recess in a locked state.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: KOMELON CORPORATIONInventors: Dong Hun Kang, Nam Hoon Kang, Seok Jun An, Baek Cheon Shin
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Patent number: 11644677Abstract: Disclosed is a hooking device of a VR data cable, configured to hang the VR data cable, including a buffer, a hang assembly, and an adjustment assembly. The buffer is hung on a hook of a ceiling. The hang assembly is configured to hang the VR data cable. One end of the adjustment assembly is connected to the buffer, and the other end of the adjustment assembly is connected to the hang assembly, and the adjustment assembly adjusts a hang height of the VR data cable through elastic expansion and contraction.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: SHENZHEN HONGJIANTOU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTDInventor: Zhinan Zhang
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Patent number: 11466969Abstract: Various aspects of tape measures with one or more of a sensor, a motor, and a clutch, are shown. The sensors described herein detect, through various mechanisms, the position of the retraction system of a tape measure. The measurements by the sensors may be used to control a motor to adjust an amount of tension in the spiral spring of a tape measure. In various embodiments a motor interacts with the retraction system of the tape measure via a clutch, which moderates an amount of force that the motor can communicate to the retraction system.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventors: Gareth J. Mueckl, Scott Earl McKinster
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Patent number: 11402192Abstract: A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The housing may include a first case half and a second case half. The reel assembly may be configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly. The first case half and the second case half may be joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves. Mating features may be provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves. At least some of the mating features may be longer than others of the mating features, or a diameter of the screw bosses is about 1.5 time to about 2.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.Inventors: Adam Baxter, Jonathan Siebert Beckwith, Cecil Wilson, Vlad Patrangenaru
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Patent number: 10791900Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body mounted to a base that moves over a surface to be cleaned. A rotational coupling can be provided between the upright body and the base for coupling the upright body to the base for movement about at least one rotational axis. The rotational coupling can include at least a swivel joint. A cord rewinder can be provided above the swivel joint for storing and dispensing a power cord.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: BISSELL Inc.Inventors: Phong Hoang Tran, Todd Richard VanTongeren
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Patent number: 10429164Abstract: A tape measure structure is characterized in that an access opening of a housing assembly is configured with a flexible control element capable of being pressed to touch and stop a tape body movably installed inside the housing assembly, and a buffer for buffering the tape body is configured on one side of the flexible control element adjacent to the access opening. Whereby, the present invention can avoid the damage to the tape body, prevent the injury to users, and does not interfere hand feeling so as to make the operation convenient.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: TOP LONG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventor: Shao-Fan Kuo
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Patent number: 9329013Abstract: The present invention is related to a reel ruler structure that includes a casing, a push element pivotally installed therein with an edge extended outside, a compressing element pivotally positioned inside the casing, a linkage pivotally connected with both the push element and the compressing element for a linked movement, and an elastic element installed in between the push element and the casing so as to enable the compressing element to secure a ruler. A pressing to the push element will release the ruler for a short period of time and a relief to the push element will reset the compressing element and the push element by the elastic element. An enhancement of both convenience and safety in operating the reel ruler is thus achieved.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Top Long Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shao-Fan Kuo
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Patent number: 9120403Abstract: A restraint harness assembly for a child safety seat includes a strap, an anchoring mechanism and a retractor mechanism. The anchoring mechanism includes a first release button operable to switch the anchoring mechanism from a locked to an unlocked state. The retractor mechanism includes a spool connected with the strap, and a second release button movable between a first and a second position for respectively unlocking and locking rotation of the spool in a direction for unwinding the strap. The first and second release buttons are engaged with each other when the anchoring mechanism is in the unlocked state and the second release button is in the first position. The first release button can disengage from the second release button when the anchoring mechanism is switched from the unlocked to the locked state, which allows the second release button to move from the first to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2014Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company LimitedInventor: James M. F. Hutchinson
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Patent number: 8953327Abstract: A device having a self-winding element is described. The self-winding element is built on a flexible membrane; it has an extended form and a retracted form. Stiffness in the extended form may be provided using membrane curvature, or a retractable support member may be used, or both. Transitions between the extended form and the retracted form are preferably accomplished using sequential activation of tensile members that are configured in segments of the membrane. Activation of the tensile elements is preferably implemented using a processor or controller that activates tri-state drivers in a predetermined sequence in order to pass a current through each element when heating is desired. A preferred material used for the tensile elements is thin film NITINOL.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: iBlaidZ, Inc.Inventor: Peter C. Salmon
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Patent number: 7455034Abstract: Disclosed is a two-pet no-tangle retractable leash device including an axle having a rod opening and a first spool including a first leash and a second spool including a second leash rotatably mounted on the axle. Each leash has a proximal end attached to the spool and a distal end extending through one of two leash openings. Additionally, each spool has a spool brake element and a return spring, where a proximal end of the return spring is connected to the spool and a distal end of the return spring is connected to the axle. When a force is applied to pull on the leashes, the spools rotate thereby unwinding the return springs. When the force is removed, the return springs rewind forcing the spool to rewind the leash to its original position.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Inventor: Pietro DiDonato
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Patent number: 7311134Abstract: A pulling cord winding apparatus for window shades includes an upper cap, a lower seat, two elastic take-up reels, two elastic coils, a brake member, and a push rod. The brake member has two arched pressing plates on two sides extended outwards to form respectively a cord pressing member which has second teeth on one side to engage with first teeth formed on cord clamping members on two outer sides of the housing compartment. When pushing the push rod, the brake member is moved and escapes to enable the two elastic take-up reels to rotate and brake. Through the arched pressing plates, cord pressing members and cord clamping members, pulling cords may be retracted smoothly without entangling or forming knobs. When the two elastic take-up reels retract the cords at the maximum force, the pulling cords do not slip, and the window shade may be extended and retracted as desired.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2005Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Patent number: 7263784Abstract: An enhanced structure for measuring tape, comprises a tape casing having a wheel disposed in its interior, a metal tape being wound around said wheel 11 and having a tail end fixedly connected to said wheel so as to generate elastic force to let said tape eject automatically from said tape casing when no braking force is applied; a press button pivotally connects to the top of said tape casing, said press button having a curved tooth face disposed at top of inner wall thereof, with said curved tooth face and a removable transmission element meshing with each other; and a driving element and a power receiving element mesh with each other and are disposed near said transmission element, wherein said power receiving element links with said wheel; a user can use one hand to eject the tape, when he/she wants to retract the tape, he/she can press said press button with the hand that holds the measuring tape to let said curved tooth face inside said press button to rotate downward for an angle, and then to drive saiType: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Inventor: Shih-Lin Lee
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Patent number: 7010865Abstract: A braking structure of measuring tape, including a housing, a tape rule contained in the housing and a braking mechanism, characterized in that: a push button is formed onto the housing, by pushing the push button into the housing to keep it at a lower position; a braking plate of the braking mechanism would effectively suspend the movement of the tape rule, and after that, if the push button is pushed downward again, the braking mechanism would push the push button upward and return to its higher position, and the braking plate of the braking mechanism would separate the tape rule and the movement of the tape rule would not be suspended.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2004Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Index Measuring Tape Co., Ltd.Inventor: Henry Lin
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Patent number: 6860566Abstract: A spring loaded pay out arrangement for a seat harness securable to a seat, the seat harness being releasably connectable to an occupant harness configured to be worn by an occupant of the seat.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Martin-Baker Aircraft Company, LimitedInventor: Steven Anthony George Ruff
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Patent number: 6836975Abstract: A breaking structure of measuring tape, including a housing, a tape rule contained in the housing and a braking mechanism, characterized in that: a push button is formed onto the housing, by pushing the push button into the housing to keep it at a lower position; a braking plate of the braking mechanism would effectively suspend the movement of the tape rule, and after that, if the push button is pushed downward again, the braking mechanism would push the push button upward and return to its higher position, and the braking plate of the braking mechanism would separate the tape rule and the movement of the tape rule would not be suspended.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Index Measuring Tape Co., Ltd.Inventor: Henry Lin
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Patent number: 6808138Abstract: A wire-winding box structure with an increased use area has a wire-winding box body, a wire-winding disk, a communication wire and a power spring. One end of the communication wire is wound around a wire-winding pivot of the wire-winding disk to form an inner ring portion. The other end of the communication wire is wound in a receiving groove to form an outer ring portion. The communication wire, can thus be disposed around the wire-winding pivot and in the receiving groove at two faces of a first disk body of the wire-winding disk, respectively. The power spring is received in a spring receiving groove of the wire-winding disk. One fastening end of the power spring is fastened at the wire-winding disk, and the other fastening end thereof is fastened at the wire-winding box body.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2003Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Inventor: Sheng Hsin Liao
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Patent number: 6760993Abstract: A recoil device (100) having a mounting member (101), a recoiling member (108), and a stopping member (117) is mounted onto an attachment surface (131) of an existing decoy (130) without compromising the structural integrity of the decoy (130). An anchor line (126) is operatively connected to the recoiling member (108) proximate the center (132) of the decoy (130) and is locked in place by the stopping member (117) proximate the front (133) of the decoy (130). The line (126) is locked in place when the stopping member (117) is in a first position, and the line (126) may be either drawn from the recoiling member (108) or automatically retracted by the recoiling member (108) when the stopping member (117) is in a second position (121b).Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Inventor: Tyler John Lebens
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Patent number: 6760979Abstract: A stop block device of a measuring tape includes a stop block button with an improved structure that displaces a latch bracket having stop block surfaces to press down on the measuring tape.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Inventor: Cheng-Hui Hsu
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Publication number: 20040129820Abstract: A wire-winding box structure with an increased use area has a wire-winding box body, a wire-winding disk, a communication wire and a power spring. One end of the communication wire is wound around a wire-winding pivot of the wire-winding disk to form an inner ring portion. The other end of the communication wire is wound in a receiving groove to form an outer ring portion. The communication wire, can thus be disposed around the wire-winding pivot and in the receiving groove at two faces of a first disk body of the wire-winding disk, respectively. The power spring is received in a spring receiving groove of the wire-winding disk. One fastening end of the power spring is fastened at the wire-winding disk, and the other fastening end thereof is fastened at the wire-winding box body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventor: Sheng Hsin Liao
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Publication number: 20030141399Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tape locking device for tape measures. The tape locking device comprises a locking lever hinged to an upper portion of the wall of the housing in such a way to be rotated frontward and rearward around a hinged joint, and provided with a connecting piece downwardly extending from the locking lever. A cylinder is connected at its first end to a hole formed at the lower portion of the connecting piece, with a coil spring fitted over the cylinder. A wedge-shaped stopper is connected to the second end of the cylinder, and having a desired frictional force. This stopper is elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged in the gap between the outer circumferential surface of a wound part of the tape around the bobbin and a linear part of the tape led to the slot when releasing the locking lever after drawing a desired length of tape from the slot, so the drawn tape is automatically locked by frictional contact between the stopper surface and the drawn tape surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Dong-Hun Kang, Choi Young J.
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Patent number: 6595451Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tape locking device for tape measures. The tape locking device comprises a locking lever hinged to an upper portion of the wall of the housing in such a way to be rotated frontward and rearward around a hinged joint, and provided with a connecting piece downwardly extending from the locking lever. A cylinder is connected at its first end to a hole formed at the lower portion of the connecting piece, with a coil spring fitted over the cylinder. A wedge-shaped stopper is connected to the second end of the cylinder, and having a desired frictional force. This stopper is elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged in the gap between the outer circumferential surface of a wound part of the tape around the bobbin and a linear part of the tape led to the slot when releasing the locking lever after drawing a desired length of tape from the slot, so the drawn tape is automatically locked by frictional contact between the stopper surface and the drawn tape surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Komelon CorporationInventors: Dong-Hun Kang, Young J. Choi
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Patent number: 6536698Abstract: A dual mode tape rule blade arrestor structure that provides for an effective increase in tape rule rewind buffering to prevent excessive blade retrieval speeds that generate high impact sheering forces. The arrestor button of the present invention is pressed upward to temporarily halt tape rule rewinding, but can at the same time also be pressed downward and locked into the full constraint position. As such, the improved structure of the invention herein enhances tape rule service life as well as operating safety.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Inventor: Cheng-Hui Hsu
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Publication number: 20030042349Abstract: A breaking structure of measuring tape, including a housing, a tape rule contained in the housing and a braking mechanism, characterized in that: a push button is formed onto the housing, by pushing the push button into the housing to keep it at a lower position; a base stopper of the braking mechanism would effectively suspend the movement of the tape rule, and after that, if the push button is pushed downward again, the braking mechanism would push the push button upward and return to its higher position, then the base stopper of the braking mechanism would separate the tape rule and the movement of the tape rule would not be suspended.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2001Publication date: March 6, 2003Applicant: INDEX MEASURING TAPE CO., LTD.Inventor: Henry Lin
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Patent number: 6491248Abstract: A measuring tape has a check device for automatically preventing a ruler from rewinding. The check device is installed within the casing and positioned between a winding wheel and a ruler body. The check device comprises a rotary wheel formed by an elastic wheel and two ratchets; a guide block having stop blocks; a stop claw; a driven element installed between the press button and the stop claw; and a press. By above components, the ruler body can be installed between the elastic wheel and the guide block. As the ruler body is pulled out, it can be stopped automatically. Only after pressing the press button, the ruler body rewinds. Thereby, the user may operate it by only one hand not to worry about that the hand will be hurt due to the rewinding of the ruler body.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Inventor: Simon Liu
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Patent number: 6474585Abstract: A wire winding box with an increasing area includes a box body, a communication wire, a wire winding disk, and a spiral spring. The box body has a wire groove and a shaft. The wire winding disk has a first disk body. Two surfaces of the first disk body are installed with a receiving groove and a wire winding ring. The wire winding disk is placed in the receiving space of the box body. The wire winding disk is pivotally installed to the shaft through an axial hole. The communication wire is installed in the receiving groove and out of the wire winding shaft at two surfaces of the first disk body.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Inventor: Sheng-Hsin Liao
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Patent number: 6434797Abstract: The device includes a housing having a rear face with a clip thereon for releasably securing the housing to a child's clothing or other article which is convenient to the user. An elongate cord includes a proximal end secured to a spring biased roller within the housing. The cord extends through a channel in the housing and out through an opening in the side of the housing to a free distal en d portion which includes a fastener for securing the distal end portion to a pacifier. In a relaxed state, the spring biased roller maintains the cord wound thereabout so that the distal end portion of the cord and attached pacifier are adjacent the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Inventor: Susan Sagman
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Patent number: 6431486Abstract: A tape measure having a braking structure is provided. The tape measure includes a casing having upper and lower portions defining therebetween an inner compartment, as well as at least one stopping block extending into the inner compartment. The tape measure further includes a tape assembly disposed in the inner compartment, a displaceable release key coupled to the casing, a braking element pivotally coupled to the casing, a stopping piece displaceably disposed in the inner compartment, and a resilient member extending between portions of the braking element and release key. The braking element is pivotally displaceable between braking and debraking position, and is formed with distal first and second ends. The first end is coupled to a first part of the release key for displacement responsive thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Inventor: Shih-Lin Lee
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Publication number: 20020036249Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and lowering hunting supplies has a hollow housing with a line aperture. A spring-loaded cord reel is rotatably mounted in the housing with a line wound on the reel and having a free end extending through the line aperture. A hook for attachment to hunting supplies is attached to the line free end and can be removably inserted into the housing through the line aperture or a separate storage opening. A slider mounted on the housing is movable between a released position permitting free rotation of the reel for automatically winding and manually unwinding the line and a hold position engaging the line to prevent rotation of the reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: March 28, 2002Inventor: Jeffrey R. Kettenbeil
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Patent number: 6276071Abstract: A spring-loaded tape cartridge in a tape measure housing includes a coilable tape rotatably mounted to position a free end of the tape to pass through an opening in the housing. The tape cartridge is biased to retract the tape into the compartment when the free end is pulled out of the housing to perform a measurement. A stop tab at the free end engages the workpiece and assures that the free end remains outside housing and available for gripping. An internal spring portion acts between the housing and the tape cartridge for applying a substantially constant frictional force on the tape cartridge. A second spring portion is provided for selectively applying increased and decreased frictional forces on the tape cartridge to supplement the substantially constant frictional forces.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1999Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: Olympia Group, Inc.Inventor: Zareh Khachatoorian
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Patent number: 6250578Abstract: A cable winding housing for a cable used to interconnect a computer and an external peripheral device. The housing includes a spring-operated, winding cylindrical shaft around which the cable is wound, a teeth wheel assembly superposed around the shaft, and a spring-loaded locking element configured for locking between two of the teeth on the teeth wheel, wherein the locking element is releasable from outside of the housing. When the locking element is locked into the teeth wheel, the shaft is prevented from rotating such that the cable can not be unwound from or wound into the housing. When the locking element is released from the teeth wheel, the shaft can rotate and the cable can alternatively be either wound into or unwound from the housing. The housing prevents a cable used to interconnect two devices from becoming entangled with other cables and ensures that each cable is taut and does not sag downward, thereby providing a neat connection.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventor: Venakata Krishna Roa Manda