Hand Tool (e.g., Knife, Drill) Patents (Class 362/119)
  • Patent number: 5921654
    Abstract: A manual gripping tool with an illuminated gripping end allows the user to find and manipulate small objects in close, dark environments. An illumination source on the gripping end of the tool illuminates objects in the close environment, allowing the user to see the desired object for manipulation. One preferred use is to recover lost objects that might have fallen or otherwise become lodged in the close environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventor: Timothy Coyle
  • Patent number: 5899554
    Abstract: A wrench includes a handle having a chamber for receiving one or more batteries and having a socket for engaging with one or more light bulbs. A conductor has one end engaged with the case electrode of the battery and the other end to be actuated to engage with the center electrode of the battery. A cover is secured to the handle for supporting the socket and for allowing the light bulb to be easily engaged with the socket without disengaging the cover. A knob may actuate the conductor to engage with the center electrode of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventor: Gin Tzou Hsu
  • Patent number: 5897198
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench having a lamp circuit assembly mounted in a stepped longitudinal center through hole defined within a ratchet unit thereof, the lamp circuit assembly including a lamp holder, a battery cell, a metal spring connected between the lamp holder and the battery cell, a switch fastened to the ratchet unit by a screw joint, and a metal contact plate turned with the switch to close/open the circuit of the battery cell so as to turn on/off the lamp holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5897200
    Abstract: The laser indicator consists of an outer casing, a laser device, a front connecting plate, a front cover, a rear connecting plate, a spring coil and a rear cover. The laser device is positioned inside the outer casing. The front connecting plate is connected to the front part of the outer casing, while the front cover is positioned before the front connecting plate. The spring coil is connected behind the circuit board of the laser device, and the back of spring coil can be connected to one of the battery terminals. The rear connecting plate is connected to the back of the outer casing. The rear connecting plate is equipped with a hollow cutting tube, and the back end of the cutting tube is in the form of a blade. The front side of rear connecting plate is connected to the other circuit of the battery. The rear cover is fitted over the rear connecting plate with screws to encase the cutting tube behind the rear cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Ko-Liang Ho
  • Patent number: 5893631
    Abstract: A compact flashlight is provided having a base with an interior recess for permitting reciprocable movement of a disk battery. The base includes a bulb having a first lead that extends along the bottom of the interior recess. A second diverging lead extends from the bulb to an area along an upper side of the recess. The battery overlies the first lead so that electrical contact is made with the bottom portion of the battery. A carrier overlies the battery and includes a boss portion extending into an opening of a cover that encloses the base. Forward thumb pressure on the boss portion moves the battery from a bulb-off to a bulb-on position when the battery comes into electrical contact with the second diverging lead. This results in illumination of the bulb. The carrier is provided with resilient members extending outwardly from the back end of the carrier. The resilient members engage a corresponding detent in the housing and maintain the battery in an off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen J. Padden
  • Patent number: 5882103
    Abstract: A socket extension is provided with a internal light assembly and power supply and is joined together with a socket handle and a socket tool to form a socket wrench so that light may be provided directly to the work area when the socket wrench is being used. The socket extension has a hollow socket body which encases a battery, a light assembly mounted adjacent to the battery and a socket tool connection head which surrounds the light assembly. The light assembly is an assembled part having a flat light mounting disk, a bulb holder attached to a first side of the light mounting disk and a bulb attached to the bulb holder. The second side of the light mounting disk has a spring mounting disk attached thereto. A coil spring is attached to the spring mounting disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: JS Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Brantley, Tim S. Moore
  • Patent number: 5882106
    Abstract: A thin profile laser pointer assembly includes a thin profile laser head, a constant voltage laser diode driver circuit, and a coin cell power source all packaged within a thin-profile rectangular housing having a thickness between about 2.0 mm and about 6.0 mm. The laser head includes a thin, rectangular heat sink and a laser diode mounted on a recessed shelf on a front edge of the heat sink. The laser head is slidably received in a mounting channel in a front portion of the housing. The arrangement of the laser head and mounting channel rigidly fixes the laser diode in the X and Z axes while permitting sliding linear movement of the laser diode along a "Y" axis, which defines the optical axis of the laser diode. A lens is mounted in the mounting channel along the optical axis, and a projecting aperture is formed in the front edge of the housing in front of the lens for allowing the laser beam to exit through the front of the housing. The laser beam is focused by sliding the laser head within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Robert Galli
  • Patent number: 5873648
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tool includes a sleeve having a first end with at least two grooves defined longitudinally in an inner periphery thereof so as to receive a base member therein, and a second end to which a cap is mounted. The base member has a transparent end member formed to one of two ends of the base member and having a hole defined therethrough. A flashlight is received in the sleeve and has a bulb disposed thereto so as to emits light via the transparent end member of the base member. The flashlight has a switch which is accessed via an aperture is defined through a periphery of the sleeve. A knife assembly received in the sleeve and receive the flashlight therein and a receiving member is received in the cap and has a plurality of tips removably disposed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Hsuan Sen Shiao
  • Patent number: 5857268
    Abstract: An exact movement of the scissors is provided by using elastic power of an elastic panel fixed on the fixed scissors body, wherein the front edge is installed in the coupling groove of the moving scissors body. A lighter or the flashlight may be mounted on the pocket tool. By installing the rear part of the elasticity panel such that the front edge has a part cut properly on the same line and to cooperate with the fixed scissors body and by installing the front edge of the part in the coupling groove made in the lower edge of the moving scissors body, it is possible to move the scissors exactly and repetitively because only the front edge part of the elasticity panel conveys the elastic power and is confined by the moving scissors body. The rear part of the elasticity panel is fixed on the fixed scissors body, and the flashlight or lighter etc. is coupled to the hollow surface formed by the coupling projection of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventor: Kyunghan Park
  • Patent number: 5848832
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a hollow guide a shaft supported on a spring inside a hollow ratchet unit of the wrench to hold a lamp assembly, a battery set, an electrically conductive plate and a knob, the knob having an outer thread threaded into an inner thread at one end of the hollow shaft, the knob being a rotated clockwise/counter-clockwise to close/open the circuit so as to turn on/off the lamp assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5845986
    Abstract: An illuminating device is provided for placement on a shaft of a manual rotary hand tool having a handle at a first end thereof and a workpiece-engaging adaptation at a second end thereof. The device has a body with a central aperture therethrough, at least one light source, an energy source for causing the light source to be illuminated and a switch to selectively connect or disconnect the energy source from the light source. The central aperture has an inner diameter adapted to permit the body to slide freely on the shaft. The at least one light source is aimed in the body to direct the light provided essentially coaxially with the central aperture to the workpiece-engaging shaft end. In preferred embodiments, the device uses at least two light sources. In some embodiments, an annular lens/reflector may be used to enhance the illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: William Charles Breen
  • Patent number: 5826969
    Abstract: The handle defines a cavity retaining a power source and a source of illumination. The shaft, mounted on one end of the handle, has a channel extending from the handle and through the blade for guiding light down the shaft and out the blade to illuminate the area proximate the front of the blade. The blade is bifurcated, spaced tip portions being situated on either side of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Donald Nevin
  • Patent number: 5826968
    Abstract: A socket extension is provided with a internal light assembly and power supply and is joined together with a socket handle and a socket tool to form a socket wrench so that light may be provided directly to the work area when the socket wrench is being used. The socket extension has a hollow socket body which encases a battery, a light assembly mounted adjacent to the battery and a socket tool connection head which surrounds the light assembly. The light assembly is an assembled part having a flat light mounting disk, a bulb holder attached to a first side of the light mounting disk and a bulb attached to the bulb holder. The second side of the light mounting disk has a spring mounting disk attached thereto. A coil spring is attached to the spring mounting disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: J.S. Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Brantley, Tim S. Moore
  • Patent number: 5820249
    Abstract: A fish tape locator has a first threaded end for fixing to the end of a fish tape and an opposite second end which emits light to help locate the end of the fish tape when it is being fished through a blind space. The first end is provided with a cross-bore for connecting the locator to a string, chain, hook or other line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Dean R. Walsten, Joseph M. Kampschroer
  • Patent number: 5803584
    Abstract: A hand tool includes a cylindrical casing which has a tapered front end, an annular groove around the tapered front end, and a plurality of tool bit grooves longitudinally extended from the tip of the tapered front end across the annular groove to the rear end of the casing, and a tool bit unit which includes a binding ring mounted in the annular groove of the casing, and a set of bits respectively pivoted to the binding ring and turned between a first position received in the tool bit grooves of the casing, and a second position retained in alignment with the casing longitudinally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Chih-Wen Chung
  • Patent number: 5800043
    Abstract: The present invention is a fuse extracting tool and tester that is capable of extracting and testing both barrel type and flat prong type fuses. The fuse extracting tool and tester is trigger driven where the trigger also functions to activate a spot light for providing light in the area in which the fuse to be extracted would be located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Loy P. Walkerow
  • Patent number: 5797670
    Abstract: A portable power tool light for mounting to a portable power tool and method of using the portable power tool light are provided and preferably include a belt shaped to detachably mount to and surround a distal portion of a portable power tool. A portable power tool preferably has a power tool main body and a handle connected to and extending outwardly from the main body. The belt includes a fastener for securely fastening the belt to the outer surface of a distal portion of a portable power tool. Flexible lighting means preferably is connected to the belt and extends outwardly therefrom toward a distal portion of a power tool for flexibly positioning a light source to direct radiation from the light source toward an object for using the power tool thereon to thereby illuminate the object for increasing visibility of the object to the user of the power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: American Industrial Design Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Jack Snoke, Michael John Mark, Javier Verdura, Kevin A. Nagatani
  • Patent number: 5793130
    Abstract: A miniature electric generator and lighting apparatus is provided for use in a power-driven tool. The apparatus includes a rotor assembly 22 having a permanent magnet, and a stator assembly 24 within which the shaft and magnet are received. The stator assembly 24 includes a pair of electrically conductive arms 38 extending on opposite sides of the rotor, an electrically conductive shank 40 connecting the arms together, and a winding 36 of electrically conductive wire presenting a pair of opposed ends. A lamp 54 is connected to the ends of the winding by a circuit 52 so that it is powered upon rotation of the shaft. A housing assembly 30 supports the stator assembly 24 on the output shaft of the tool, and is secured to the tool. The housing assembly 30 and cooperating structure 42 position the stator assembly 24 relative to the magnet 32 to prevent contact between the stator element 34 and the magnet during rotation of the output shaft 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventor: Marty J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5785408
    Abstract: An illuminating device for a tool includes a light bulb secured in a housing and one or more batteries. The housing has a damper device for attaching to the tool. A switch is disposed between the battery and the light bulb and the housing has a blade for actuating the switch. The blade includes a projection for engaging with the tool and for allowing the blade to actuate the switch by the tool. The damper device has two openings for engaging with the tool and for allowing the tool to be disengaged from the projection when the tool is engaged in an outer opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Kuo Hwa Tseng
  • Patent number: 5772308
    Abstract: A lamp circuit assembly mounted in a hollow handle of a screwdriver and partially projecting out of a hole of an end cap at one end of the handle and controlled to give light, including a LED mount having two opposite contacts, a plurality of light emitting diodes connected to the contacts of the LED mount, two battery cells reversely connected to the contacts of the LED mount, and a push button switch connected to the battery cells at one end opposite to the LED mount and pressed to turn on/off the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Chang-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 5740580
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a stepper vacuum chuck wiper for cleaning a stepper vacuum chuck, which includes a rod frame, a bearing device, a flare type soft shield, a wiping stick and an illuminating device. The rod frame has a through hole at one end and the bearing device is sleeved inside of the through hole. The flare type soft shield with a flare opening on its lower end is sleeved inside the bearing device, and the diameter of the flare opening is larger than the outside diameter of the bearing device. The wiping stick is sleeved inside the flare type soft shield. The illuminating device for illuminating the stepper vacuum chuck includes a light source, a battery set and a switch. The battery set is coupled to the other end of the rod frame to provide electricity to the light source, and the switch is coupled between the battery set and the light source to control the illumination of the light source, wherein the light source and the switch are disposed on the rod frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Chien Leu, Hsi-Huang Lee, En-Tien Tan
  • Patent number: 5733034
    Abstract: An improved driver structure including a driver shell, a tool portion for mounting a tool connecting portion disposed on said driver shell, and a lighting portion with a light source. The tool portion accommodates a swivel shaft therein, the swivel shaft accommodating more than one drive bit. By turning the swivel shaft, the drive bit may be turned to an opening on the tool portion so that the drive bit may be pushed out via the opening and then fitted onto the tool connecting portion. The light source of the lighting portion provides light for working at night.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: John-Kai Jan
  • Patent number: 5727319
    Abstract: A pocketknife with integral light includes a hollow handle and a cutting blade pivotally connected thereto. The hollow handle at its forward end includes an open compartment containing a battery, connected to an illumination pathway containing an LED electrically connected to the battery. A belt clip covers the open compartment and includes a push button adapted to switch the LED on and off. The open compartment and illumination pathway are sealed to resist moisture and dust from reaching the electrical components. The light from the LED is directed at the tip of a serrated edge of the cutting blade. The device provides the convenience of combining a pocketknife with a light, the light important for the safe use of the cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: John Myerchin, Angeline Myerchin
  • Patent number: 5713656
    Abstract: A screw driver includes a handle having a casing for receiving batteries. A switch is electrically connected to the battery. A socket is engaged in the handle for receiving a lamp. A transparent block is engaged in the front end of the handle for engaging with a driving tool. A ferrule is rotatably engaged to the handle for engaging with and for retaining the transparent block in place. A reflector is engaged around the lamp and a spring may bias may bias the reflector away from the socket for adjusting the light beam of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Ching Chou Lin
  • Patent number: 5690414
    Abstract: A screw driver includes a handle body, a shank and a light transmittable tubular member. The handle body has a front end portion with an end surface, and an illuminating unit mounted on the front end portion at the end surface. The handle body confines a compartment for receiving a cell unit therein. The handle body is provided with a switch unit that is adapted to connect electrically the cell unit to the illuminating unit. The shank is mounted on the handle body and extends from the end surface of the front end portion of the handle body. The tubular member has a rear end mounted detachably on the front end portion of the handle body around the end surface of the front end portion. The tubular member is capable of transmitting light generated from the illuminating unit to an exterior of the tubular member so as to achieve a signaling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Jong-Pyng Jeng
  • Patent number: 5678919
    Abstract: Iluminating scissors including a pair of blades pivotally joined in an intermediate portion thereof by a bolt engaged with a hexagonal lock nut and each having a handle at an end thereof, a cylindrical housing mounted on one of the blades, a light bulb arranged in a cylindrical edge of the cylindrical housing, a battery fitted in the cylindrical housing and electrically connected with the light bulb, and a switch mounted on the cylindrical housing and electrically connected with the battery and the light bulb, and a linking rod having a first end connected with the housing and a second end with one of the blades, whereby the illuminating scissors will direct light onto the cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Chien Che Huang
  • Patent number: 5653525
    Abstract: A pocket tool is disclosed. A mount panel of the pocket tool has a hollow coupling projection for pivoting varieties of tool members as well as for fixing the mount panel to the other mount panel. A turn-up scissors are interposed between the opposed mount panels and coupled to the hollow coupling projection. The scissors have a return spring at the cross for automatically opening the scissors, the return spring being placed in a space defined by slots formed about cross coupling holes and fitted over a cross coupling pin at the cross of the scissors such that the return spring is out of view and improves the appearance of the pocket tool. The scissors are also free from any trouble and achieve the recent trend of compactness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: Kyunghan Park
  • Patent number: 5652587
    Abstract: A remote control which contains small hand tools has dual power supply for supplying electricity to remote control circuit and the lighting system respectively, or in combination. A pin with three terminals is installed to decide manually whether to supply the electricity separately or in combination by simply changing its connecting position. Also the addition of the antenna increases the effective range of communication of the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Chang-Jen Liu
  • Patent number: 5634711
    Abstract: A hand-held portable light emitting device is suitable for medical and industrial photocuring and phototherapy applications. The hand-held portable light emitting device has: (a) a portable housing having a front end and a rear end; (b) a semiconducting light emitter having a matrix of a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted at the front end of the housing to emit light energy suitable for initiating a photo-reaction; (c) a power supply connected to the light emitter to provide the electrical power for energizing the diodes to emit the light energy; (d) a controller connected to the light emitter and the power supply, to vary the level of the light energy; (e) a mount at the front end of the housing; and (f) an optical assembly mounted to the mount, to direct the light energy generated from the diodes to a photoreaction site near the optical assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventors: John Kennedy, Roy Kayser
  • Patent number: 5628556
    Abstract: A handle that has a distal end with a threaded interior, a proximal end with an opening that has a keyway, and a middle portion. Included is a driver shaft that has a nut driver at a first end and a key member at a second end. The key member couples the keyway of the handle to lock the shaft within. A lamp receptacle with a lamp, is positioned within the handle near the proximal end. A conductive strip is positioned along an interior of the handle and the receptacle. The strip is in contact with the lamp. Lastly, an end cap that has a switch with a switch button is capable of threadable engagement with the threaded interior of the distal end of the handle. The end cap is capable of encapsulating a battery within the handle. The switch has a contact strip in electrical contact with the contact strip within the handle. Electrical contact between the strips allows the battery and the lamp to be in electrical contact for illumination of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Inventors: Kristin Hrabar, Frank Hrabar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5626414
    Abstract: Disclosed is a folding knife with laser indicator mainly including two cases, a blade, and a laser indicating means. The laser indicating means includes a supporting plate pivotally connected to and between the two cases. A long recess is formed in the supporting plate to receive a springy conductive plate, a laser emitter, and a series of cells therein. The laser emitter has a laser diode and a focusing lens in it and has a spring provided to its inner end to contact with one pole of the cells. The conductive plate extends along an inner wall of the recess and has one end contacting with another pole of the cells and the other end extending to a point near an electrical contact of the laser emitter, such that a depression of a push button provided on an outer wall of the supporting plate shall press the conductive plate against the electrical contact of the laser emitter, electrically connecting the laser diode to emit light beam which passes through a hole formed at an outer end of the supporting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Shun-fu Chen
  • Patent number: 5611615
    Abstract: A multipurpose mountain climbing tool comprises a first main member, a second main member and a third main member. The first main member is provided therein with a first receiving cell and a second receiving cell and is further provided peripherally at the midsegment thereof with a compass and a thermometer. The second main member is provided at the midsegment thereof with a protruded ring portion and is further provided at the rear end thereof with a knife fastened thereto. The second main member is fastened at the rear segment thereof with the front end of the first main member such that the knife is received in the second receiving cell. The third main member is fastened with the front side of the second main member and is provided therein with a battery. The third main member is further provided in the front segment thereof with a light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Siang-Guey Jang
  • Patent number: 5577829
    Abstract: A flashlight with a tool mounting stud that is configured to receive a plurality of different types of commonly available tool bits. The tool mounting stud is positioned at substantially the center of a focusing lens of the flashlight and is retained in this position by a plurality of spokes which are connected to a lip formed around the outer surface of the focusing lens. The lens assembly of the flashlight is secured in position by a securing device which prevents rotation of the lens assembly relative the body of the flashlight during manipulation of a fastener by a user using the flashlight tool. In one embodiment, the securing device is comprised of at least one set screw which engages with both the lens assembly and the body to prevent rotation of the lens assembly. In another embodiment, the securing device is comprised of a groove formed on a section of the body and a tab formed on a section of the lens assembly which interact to inhibit rotation of the lens assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Timothy E. Hall
  • Patent number: 5568698
    Abstract: A multipurpose fishing tool resembles a pair of bent long nosed pliers having plier ends for gripping a hook. Handle sections include guards for protecting the fingers of the user. A flashlight carried by one of the handle sections aims at the plier ends to illuminate them. A tape measure receiving recess is provided on one of the handle ends to measure the length of a fish held by an immobilizer located at a site between the free ends of the handle sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventors: Raymond W. Harding, Kelly M. Harding
  • Patent number: 5515249
    Abstract: A hand tool set including a casing formed of two hinged shells to hold a handle and a full set of tool bits, and a lamp assembly mounted in a lamp chamber inside the casing, wherein the handle can be removed from the casing and attached to a polygonal hole at one end of the casing to hold one tool bit for turning screws; the lamp assembly has a self-provided battery power supply and is controlled by a press button to illuminate the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Hsuan-Sen Shiao
  • Patent number: 5515250
    Abstract: A device for removing valve spring shims from automotive cylinder heads, the device being constructed in the form of a hand tool having a pair of prongs at the end of a shaft, with a magnet installed in each prong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Joe A. Ortega
  • Patent number: 5502625
    Abstract: A multipurpose hand tool including a spanner, which consists of a box-end vertical rod and a transverse tube, an illuminator mounted in the transverse tube of the spanner and controlled by a lamp cover, which is threaded onto one end of the transverse tube to hold down the lamp bulb of the illuminator, and a screwdriver, which when not in use is mounted in one end of the transverse tube and stopped against the illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Inventor: Ming-Yi Peng
  • Patent number: 5477434
    Abstract: An extension bar with built-in light to be used in conjunction with a portable driving tool which has a coupling member. The extension bar comprises an elongated body having a socket for accommodating and receiving the coupling member of the driving tool at one end, and a coupling member at an opposite end. The socket is connected to an internal chamber of the elongated body, and the coupling member has a through bore which is also connected to the internal chamber. A built-in light assembly is installed inside the internal chamber of the elongated body and including a light bulb and a battery, the light bulb located adjacent to the through bore. The built-in light assembly has an electrical conducting and switching mechanism for establishing electrical connection between the battery and the light bulb and automatically switching on the light bulb when the extension bar is attached to the driving tool, and switching off the light bulb when the extension bar is detached from the driving tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Fisher Tool Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Danny D. Reed
  • Patent number: 5473519
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 360 degree viewable flexible light band which may be readily disposed on a power tool which permits ready viewing of tool function in terms of required communication to the operator. Construction of the light band makes it readily installable and replaceable in a tool recess which may be covered by a clear lens to permit viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: John A. McCallops, Donald R. Warner, Kenneth J. Dubuque
  • Patent number: 5467256
    Abstract: Disclosed is a knife with lighting fixture which mainly consists of a pair of cases, a pivotally turnable knife, and a pivotally turnable supporting plate. The supporting plate has a cell, a bulb, and a push button supported thereon. The push button is slightly projected from one of the case so that a depression of it may lighten the bulb to shine toward the knife for convenient use in a dark place. The supporting plate may be easily turned out of the cases for mounting a new cell and/or a new bulb when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Chia Yi Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-fu Chen
  • Patent number: 5461790
    Abstract: A circular saw for more precise movement during cutting comprising a circular blade with a peripheral edge having teeth and a power source to rotate the blade about its axis; a shield covering at least a portion of the blade to protect a user from the peripheral teeth of the blade; a blade plate positionable on the work piece to be cut with an elongated aperture for the passage therethrough of the blade, the blade plate having a notch at its leading edge in alignment with the plane of the blade; a laser device positioned on the shield to project a laser beam in a line from the notch along the workpiece to a line along the direction to be cut; means to power the laser with a visible light; and an optical element to fan the laser beam onto the workpiece in a line within the blade plane and intended direction of blade movement with an angular divergance between about thirty and sixty degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Franek Olstowski
  • Patent number: 5459647
    Abstract: A trimming knife is disclosed having an elongate body which is tapered from a rounded wider end to a narrower end and which has an end face. A coiled tape measure is housed within the rounded wider end of the elongate body, which has an end portion extendable from a slot formed in the end face. A flashlight is housed in the elongate body and arranged to show from the end face and illuminate the tape measure when the tape measure is extended from the slot. Finally, a blade, or a socket for mounting said blade, is provided in the end face so that a cutting edge of the blade extends alongside and at the level of the tape measure when the tape measure is extended from the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: S. Betts & Sons Limited
    Inventor: David Betts
  • Patent number: 5442529
    Abstract: A combination pocket device is provided that includes upper and lower body portions for holding a knife blade that pivots between a closed position where it is substantially sandwiched between the body portions, and an extended position where it extends co-linear with the body portions in a locked state. A small light is incorporated into the end of the upper body portion for allowing the device to illuminate any surface. Two linked key rings are also attached to the end of the body portions to allow a person to attach their personal keys to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Inventor: Richard P. Hoover
  • Patent number: 5437104
    Abstract: A laser sight mounting device including a mounting block, which has a mounting foot at the bottom for fastening to the flash attachment of a camera, a flash attachment at the top for mounting an electronic flash, a longitudinal center through hole, which receives the laser module of a laser sight, a longitudinal mounting groove inside the longitudinal center through hole, and a side screw hole; a first spring plate mounted inside the longitudinal mounting groove; a second spring plate mounted within the flash attachment of the mounting block to hold down the electronic flash; and a tightening up screw threaded into the screw hole to press the first spring plate causing it to hold down the laser module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Simpatico Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yen-Jen Chien
  • Patent number: 5420768
    Abstract: The portable photocuring device has a light emission diodes matrix which can be energized with battery power to provide optical power for photocuring curing purposes. The diodes can be easily controlled and adjusted to emit light of selected colors and intensity with complex instrumentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: John Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5410939
    Abstract: A musical instrument string winding device is set forth for winding the strings on a stringed musical instrument. The device has a hollow housing. A chuck is extended from the housing for receiving a key of a musical instrument. A motor is disposed within the housing and coupled to the chuck for imparting rotational movement thereto. A lamp is extended from the housing for illuminating the chuck. A battery is disposed within the housing for energizing the motor and lamp. A switch is coupled between the battery, motor, and lamp. The switch is operable in one orientation for activating both the motor and lamp, whereby simultaneously allowing a key disposed within the chuck to be illuminated and a string coupled to the key to be wound. The switch is operable in another orientation for deactivating the motor and lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventors: Brian S. Matamoros, Aaron A. Grodin
  • Patent number: 5412546
    Abstract: A power wrench includes a housing inside which an electric motor is mounted. A torque/rotation transmission mechanism is also disposed inside the housing to be coupled to the motor to drive a driving tip thereof extending out of a front end of the housing for engagement with a bolt/nut to be loosened or tightened. The transmission mechanism includes a cylindrical main body with a cylindrical projection concentrically integral therewith to connected to the spindle of the motor so as to transmit rotation to the main body. A coupling member is pivotally mounted on the main body and controlled by a centrifugal clutch to intermittently hit an output shaft along a circumferential direction to apply a torque impulse to the output shaft for loosening or tightening the bolt or nut. A lamp is provided on the front end of the housing to project a light beam to the bolt or nut to allow the operator to monitor the operation of the power wrench in a dark environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Chen S. Huang
  • Patent number: 5402575
    Abstract: The folding knife has a handle provided with a blade support the intermediate part thereof being of less width than the first and second end. A lengthwise slot in the front edge extends through the first end to provide a fork and the bottom of the slot is so spaced from the back edge of the handle to provide a section having a chamber opening through the sides of the section when one of the side covers of the handle is removed. A passageway from the chamber opens through the second end of the blade support and is closed by a lens. A battery and a switch assembly fit in the chamber with the switch assembly provided with a tubular lamp socket which, when the battery and assembly are held by a grounding spring in an operative position extends through the socket. The assembly includes a two part circuit closing push button with one part extending through and held by the back edge of the handle and the other part incorporated in the assembly. The blade is pivotally connected to the fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: Richard B. Maxcy
  • Patent number: 5394313
    Abstract: A lamp assembly that includes a lens with an integral bulb replacement tool. A replaceable lamp bulb will be contained within a lamp housing. The housing has an opening allowing light to emanate, that is enclosed by a removable transparent lens. Formed integrally with the lens is a tool member that, in conjunction with the lens portion operating as a handle, may be used for removal of the lamp bulb from the housing and replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Denise M. Dezelan, Edward L. Monroe
  • Patent number: 5381319
    Abstract: A telescopic shaft magnetic retriever includes a telescopic shaft having a battery holder at the tip thereof to hold an insulative socket and a battery, a lamp holder fastened to the battery holder to hold a lamp, and a transparent tube fastened to the lamp holder to hold a magnet for retrieving screws, nuts, tools and other steel parts from inaccessible places, and a control rod received inside the telescopic shaft, a spring mounted inside the lamp holder and stopped against the battery at one side, a control rod received inside the telescopic shaft and stopped against the battery at an opposite side, and wherein the battery is electrically connected to the lamp bulb causing it to give light when the telescopic shaft is extended out; the battery is electrically disconnected from the lamp bulb causing it turned off when the telescopic shaft is collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Inventor: Hsuan-Sen Shiao