Line Take-up Reel Patents (Class 33/393)
  • Patent number: 11648344
    Abstract: A method and device for adjusting the unstored length of tubing directed to improving the use of infusion sets that deliver fluids to a user. The device includes a storage module and other features for adjusting, storing and securing the length of the tubing. The method of adjusting the length of the tubing to a desired length typically comprises removably attaching the tubing to the adjuster, adjusting the tubing by wrapping the tubing around a hub or post of the adjuster, and fixing the length of the unstored tubing by attaching the tubing to a securing device such as a friction structure or fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Larry B. Gray, Matthew C. Harris, Jeffrey L. Klein, Craig R. Steinfels, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 11261052
    Abstract: A retractor device includes a housing including a back plate, a faceplate spaced apart from the back plate, and a sidewall extending between the back plate and the faceplate. The retractor device also includes a rotatable reel inside the housing, a spring biasing rotation of the rotatable reel in one direction, a tether wound around the rotatable reel, and an end fitting coupled to an end of the tether. A retainer of the housing is in contact with the end fitting when the end fitting is in the retracted position. The retractor device also includes at least one bearing inside the housing proximate to the retainer, and first and second extension openings in the sidewall of the housing on opposite sides of the retainer. The tether is configured to engage the bearing when the tether is extended through one of the first and second extension openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: WEST COAST CHAIN MFG. CO.
    Inventor: Andrew CastaƱeda
  • Patent number: 6745485
    Abstract: A chalk line device for marking straight lines in construction applications. The chalk line device includes a housing with a pair of separable sections and a pair of openings. Each of the sections has a sidewall, a pair of opposite ends, and a pair of side edges extending between the ends. A divider panel may optionally be positioned between the sections of the housing to separate the housing into a pair of compartments. A first spool may be rotatably disposed in one compartment, and a second spool may be disposed in the other compartment. In one optional embodiment, a single spool, is located in the housing and an endcap with a pointed tip is mounted in the cap. The pointed tip may be retractable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Ron Shor
  • Patent number: 6539640
    Abstract: A plumb bob system for allowing an individual to easily utilize a plumb bob in determining whether a wall is plumb. The plumb bob system includes a pole, an engaging structure attached to an upper end of the pole, a pulley rotatably positioned within the engaging structure, a spool containing a length of string passing about the pulley, and a plumb bob attached to the end of the string opposite of the spool. The engaging structure is comprised of a first member and a second member having a first edge and a second edge respectively. The first edge and second edge have a common length of radius from a center point of the pulley to provide an average upper distance (Z) of the string from the wall. The center of the plumb bob has a distance from the lower portion of the wall (X) that is compared to the upper distance (Z). If the upper distance (Z) and the lower distance (X) are equal then the wall is being constructed plumb and no modifications are required in the construction of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Raymond L. Brown
  • Patent number: 6481110
    Abstract: A plumb bob which may be used in combination with a measuring tape for gauging the vertical height of a liquid, such as oil, stored in a tank. The plumb bob comprises a weight which is cushioned at its lower end by a elastomeric bumper. The bumper, which may be formed from an oil-resistant elastomer, protects the tank base from deformational damage during the gauging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: M. Dale Butler
  • Patent number: 5924643
    Abstract: A light weight construction line holder having an elongated shaft which terminates at each end in a spiral configuration or coil. The shaft is provided with a through hole for securing an inner end of a construction line. The construction line is wrapped on the shaft and may be tied off at any point along the length thereof by inserting the line into one of the coils and pulling the line under and around the free end of the coil. The line holder is preferably formed of a continuous length of a cylindrical metal rod and is provided with a rustproof coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Vincent Campana
  • Patent number: 5644852
    Abstract: A chalk line reel includes an opening in the housing that permits access to a powdered chalk storage area. A movable door is mounted on the housing, and the door is movable to a closed position in which the door obstructs the opening. A first element on the door releasably couples the chalk line clip to the door, and a second element on the housing releasably couples the chalk line clip to the housing. The first and second elements are positioned such that clip resists movement of the door away from the closed position when the clip is coupled to the first and second elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: American Tool Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony B. Fuller, Toby J. Beckmann, Joseph A. Sorensen, Thomas M. Chervenak
  • Patent number: 5444919
    Abstract: A battery powered chalk line comprising a housing having a top and bottom face and side walls forming a chamber therein. A drive shaft is secured within the side walls for rotational movement and extends across the width of the chamber. A spindle is mounted on the shaft and is selectively couplable for rotation therewith. A chalk line is mounted on the spindle for being dispensed and retrieved with the rotation of the shaft. The chalk line extends through an aperture in the front end of the housing with a hook secured to the exterior end of the line. A cavity in the chamber adjacent to its front end in proximity to the aperture for coating the line with chalk powder as the line passes therethrough. A driven bevel gear forms with the spindle for rotation therewith. A motor with an output shaft with drive bevel gear secures thereto for rotation to rotate the spindle to reel in the line. Batteries within the chamber couple the motor with a switch to activate and inactivate the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Antonio D. Alves
  • Patent number: 5426860
    Abstract: A plumb bob assembly including a bob, a collet for suspending the bob from a drill press chuck, and a housing within which the collet and bob may be stored and around which a plumb bob cord may be wrapped when the bob is not in use. The housing protects the tip of the bob from damage and diminishes the likelihood that the cord will become entangled during storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Lee Valley Tools Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonard G. Lee, John S. Lynn, Thomas S. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 5392522
    Abstract: A plumb bob having a central body portion and at least three substantially identical webs extending outwardly from the body portion along respective radial axes. The angles separating each successive web must be equal to maintain vertical symmetry, and an even distribution of weight, with respect to a longitudinal axis extending centrally through the body portion. In addition, the webs uniformly and linearly taper in a decreasing manner from the top end to the bottom end of the body portion. This geometry permits a worker standing in vertically aligned position above the plumb bob to be able to clearly see both the bottom end of the plumb bob and the preexisting datum from which alignments are being made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Michael J. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 5195248
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plumb-bob and magnet combination for attachment to a beam. The plumb-bob and magnet combination for attachment to a beam includes a magnet having a top flat surface that is connected to the base, the magnet having two opposing sides that contain recesses, a hollow casing for encompassing a string of the plumb-bob and having a top surface slidable along the magnet, the hollow casing including lips on the top surface for sliding engagement with the recesses on the sides of the magnet, a lock on one of the lips of the casing and being cam operated by a lever that moves in the direction of an arc on the top surface of the casing for locking and unlocking the casing to the magnet, and a cantilever extending from the casing and having a free end with an aex from which the string hangs with a weight at the free end, the string being wound in the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Frank Juhasz
  • Patent number: 5163230
    Abstract: A chalk line assembly includes a housing formed with a cavity therewith to receive powdered chalk, with a chalk line wound within the housing about a central spool. A crank handle is directed into the housing to effect winding and reeling of a chalk line relative to the housing about the spool. A mounting plate is secured to a rear wall of the housing, with the mounting plate including a ferromagnetic member mounted to the mounting plate projecting rearwardly of the mounting plate. The mounting plate further includes a support aperture directed therethrough to receive fasteners permitting vertical mounting of the apparatus to ferrous and non-ferrous supports in directing a vertical chalk line. A modification of the invention includes a fiber optic housing structure mounted to the housing for projecting illumination and alignment with the chalk line and orthogonally oriented relative to the chalk line for measurement in a construction environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Raymond A. Gast
  • Patent number: 4934060
    Abstract: A golfer's aid for helping a golfer determine the contour of a putting green and a method of assembling the golfer's aid are disclosed. The aid includes a plumb bob and a plumb line having a first end secured to the plumb bob and a second end secured to a cylindrical shaft which is mounted in a golf ball shaped casing. The casing has a first hemispherical half and a second hemispherical half which are snapped together to form the casing. When snapped together, the first and second hemispherical halves define a chamber for housing the plumb bob. The walls of the chamber, in turn, define an inner bore for receiving the plumb line and an outer bore for receiving the plumb bob. The first half of the casing also defines a round hole for rotatably receiving a first end of the shaft. The second half of the casing is provided with a shaft retaining ring for rotatably receiving the other end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventor: Paul L. Evans
  • Patent number: 4920657
    Abstract: The assembly includes the plumb bob and line, and a cylindrical rotor mounted eccentrically for eccentric rotation about an axis of rotation. The line is connected at one end to the rotor and at the other end to the plumb bob. The rotor may be rotated to pay out and retract or wind in the line. The plumb bob may be stored within the casing. Side walls of the casing perpendicular to the axis of rotation closely confine the space beyond the rotor ends to confine the line as it is winding in.Other features include a conical sheath to receive the point of the plumb bob and arms to hold the cylindrical body of the bob; also a dentent cooperating with the casing and the folded handle may be used to hold the handle and the rotor fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Inventor: Richard A. Doyle
  • Patent number: 4697349
    Abstract: A housing substantially with a rectangular-box shape containing a flexible measuring tape stored therein and a tape-opening provided on the upper face thereof. An ink box containing ink and an ink thread is provided on the front face of the housing. The outermost end of the ink thread is attached to a needle grip with a needle. A level is provided on the upper face of the housing. A pivotal centering needle is provided on a position of one side face of the housing proximate to the tape-opening. The centering needle is used as a centering arm for a pair of compasses while the measuring tape is used as a cantilever arm for determining the radius of an arc or a circle. A pivotal plate set of the first side face of the housing and a hook member set of the opposite face, together with the ink thread pulled out, provide the function of a plumb rule for determining the vertically of a perpendicular plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Inventor: Rule Lee
  • Patent number: 4459761
    Abstract: The invention contemplates a plumb-indicating and marking tool whereby marking a plumb line on a wall or other structure is a simple one-handed operation, so that the user, who may be in an otherwise precarious position on a ladder, may have one hand free at all times to assure his own personal safety. A casing encloses a reeled chalk line as well as a plumb bob connected to the chalk line, and the reel may be releasably locked for the retracted or for any desired line pay-out condition. Provision is made for fastening the casing to the user's belt, in upside-down condition, whereby selection of payout length is readily accomplished and chalk-dusting of the line is automatic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Inventor: John J. Bosco
  • Patent number: 4321755
    Abstract: An improved plumb bob holder, comprising a stiff wire frame formed to provide a spool section for the cord, a storage rack section to hold the plumb bob, and a clip section to clip the plumb bob holder to a workman's belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Inventor: Lester Illgen
  • Patent number: 4266347
    Abstract: A holder for a plumb bob, comprising a frame formed from a continuous length of relatively stiff but bendable wire to provide a spool portion for the plumb bob cord, and a storage rack to hold the plumb bob. A cord play-out stop member is included to anchor and hold a portion of the cord against further unwinding after a desired length has been unwound from the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Inventor: Lester Illgen
  • Patent number: 3977088
    Abstract: A device adapted for use in the building construction industry for shooting a stud or other fastener into a ceiling in predetermined relation to a known point on a floor below. The device comprises an adjustable telescopic pole with a hanger arm extending laterally from its top. A plumb line, having a plumb bob attached to its lower end, hangs from the outer end of the hanger arm for alignment of the stud gun with the point on the floor and the muzzle of the stud gun may be mounted in direct or offset alignment with the plumb line to facilitate rapid and accurate positioning of the stud gun. Means are provided for vertically aligning the telescopic pole such that the muzzle of the stud gun is in vertical alignment with the plumb line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Inventor: Herman H. Bondi