Work Guide Patents (Class 451/558)
  • Patent number: 11780043
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention discloses a manual blade sharpening tool having a longitudinally extending at least partial channel defined by a longitudinally extending first channel wall, a cutter pocket and a distal planar guide surface located in the longitudinally extending first channel wall, and a longitudinally extending cutter having a longitudinally extending first cutter wall, a longitudinally extending second cutter wall and a transverse cutter surface, the transverse cutter received in the cutter pocket such that one of the longitudinally extending first cutter wall and the longitudinally extending second cutter wall abuts the cutter pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Timothy Maxwell
  • Patent number: 11660727
    Abstract: A skate blade sharpening tool that has a cylindrical sharpening stone that is positioned directly over the blade and adjusting the slot width in the sharpener using thumb screws to match the blade width. When tightening the thumb screws, the two halves of the tool handle will decrease the slot width onto the blade. This pressure on the blade will force the through shaft and cylindrical stone to be centered over the blade. The sharpening stone will remove metal to match the shape of the stone each time the sharpener is moved back and forth along the blade. The sharpening stone has gears on each end of the stone that match the gears inside the two-piece body. As the tool is moved along the skate blade, the sharpening stone will incrementally rotate within the body when the direction is changed in the reciprocating motion by the user's back and forth movement. The sharpener also has a deburring stone mounted to the black of the handheld sharpener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Maintain Your Edge, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Ray Downen
  • Patent number: 9895786
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a sharpener for sharpening a snow/ice travel member such as a skate blade, a ski or a snowboard, which includes a sharpening surface that is movable lengthwise along an edge face of the item to be sharpened. The sharpening surface may be movable lengthwise by means of a motor and a reciprocating mechanism, or may be manually moved by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Frommer, Christopher Theodore Kontos, Shawn Marchand, Marc R. Plourde, Austin O'Neill, Kurt Schatz
  • Patent number: 9731952
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ampule breaking aid for a glass ampule having a predetermined breaking point between a head portion and a use portion, said ampule breaking aid having a base body that receives the use portion, and a cap that overlaps the head portion, wherein the cap is supported on the base body, in particular is supported in an unconnected manner and wherein the cap and the base body, especially at the front surfaces; thereof facing one another form a pivot bearing having an axis of rotation that substantially passes through the predetermined breaking point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventor: Frank Müller
  • Patent number: 9333617
    Abstract: A device for removing contaminants from a bus stab of an electrical enclosure is provided. The electrical enclosure includes an electrical bus member disposed in a first plane. The bus stab extends outwardly from the electrical bus member and is disposed in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The device includes a gripping assembly and a scraping assembly coupled thereto, the scraping assembly comprising a number of flexible members structured to scrape and thereby clean the bus stab, the device being structured to move in a direction parallel to the second plane when the flexible members scrape the bus stab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Jerome Whipple
  • Patent number: 9039486
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of an invention for a method and a tool to produce a textured surface on the retention tab of a storage cell. The tool has a form that fits within the storage cell. The form has a hard material with a hard surface with contacts a surface of the retention tab within the storage cell. The movement of the hard surface across the surface of the retention tab produces a textured surface on the retention tab. The textured interface between a notch of a data storage cartridge and a retention tab of a storage cell provides a consistent and low friction force that retains the data storage cartridge within the cell but allows the accessor to easily remove the data storage cartridge when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dylan J. Boday, Andrew S. Green, Shawn M. Nave
  • Patent number: 9039494
    Abstract: A multi-rod hand-held sharpener includes a handle with an outer grip surface for a hand of a user, a first abrasive rod having a first outer abrasive surface with a first abrasiveness level, and a second abrasive rod having a second outer abrasive surface with a second abrasiveness level different from the first abrasiveness level. At least one guide surface extends toward the first sharpening surface at a selected guide angle non-orthogonal to the first sharpening surface. The user contactingly engages a side of the tool against the guide surface and a cutting edge of the tool against the first abrasive surface, and then advances the side of the tool away from the guide surface and the cutting edge against the first abrasive surface while maintaining the tool at the selected guide angle. An optional second guide adjacent the second abrasive surface at a different angle facilitates micro-beveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Darex, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel T. Dovel
  • Publication number: 20150099436
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a sharpener for sharpening a snow/ice travel member such as a skate blade, a ski or a snowboard, which includes a sharpening surface that is movable lengthwise along an edge face of the item to be sharpened. The sharpening surface may be movable lengthwise by means of a motor and a reciprocating mechanism, or may be manually moved by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Frommer, Christopher Theodore Kontos, Shawn Marchand, Marc R. Plourde, Austin O'Neill, Kurt Schatz
  • Patent number: 8864554
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, such as a knife, the sharpener comprising a body part (1), a rotatable sharpening roll (2) resting on the body part, and a first guide groove (11) above the sharpening roll for receiving a first tool blade and for guiding it in relation to the sharpening roll (2). To allow the sharpener to be made structurally simple and well applicable for sharpening both narrow and wide blades, the sharpener comprises a second guide groove (14), which is wider than the first guide groove (11), to be arranged above the sharpening roll (2) to allow a second tool blade to be received and guided in relation to the sharpening roll (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fiskars Brands Finland Oy Ab
    Inventors: Petteri Masalin, Juha Huhtala, Kari Kunnas, Aaro Huttunen, Jouni Salojärvi, Sami Lyytikäinen, Olli-Pekka Vänttilä
  • Patent number: 8721399
    Abstract: A combination sharpener assembly which is particularly useful for fishermen, includes an electrically powered knife sharpener. A manually operated scissors sharpener is mounted in the recess of the housing for the knife sharpener. A hook sharpener is detachably mounted in a compartment in the housing of the knife sharpener. The motor for the knife sharpener is mounted in a sealed inner housing and can be selectively operated under either direct current or alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Huber, Daniel D. Friel, Jr., Samuel Weiner, Cassandra Wilson Gluyas, Thomas Walter Gluyas
  • Patent number: 8678882
    Abstract: A combination sharpener assembly which is particularly useful for fishermen, includes an electrically powered knife sharpener. A manually operated scissors sharpener is mounted in the recess of the housing for the knife sharpener. A hook sharpener is detachably mounted in a compartment in the housing of the knife sharpener. The motor for the knife sharpener is mounted in a sealed inner housing and can be selectively operated under either direct current or alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Huber, Daniel D. Friel, Jr., Samuel Weiner, Cassandra Wilson Gluyas, Thomas Walter Gluyas
  • Patent number: 8512105
    Abstract: A pocket abrasive sharpener having a housing formed with a pair of upper slots and a lower open compartment. A pair of abrasive ceramic stones is mounted in one of the slots to form a V-shaped sharpening edge. Each ceramic stone has at least one flat face to abut an adjacent reversed stone to form the V-shaped sharpening slot. The stone has an abrasive cutting edge formed with a radius for sharpening serrated edges and having abrasives surfaces on both sides of the radius. A pair of abrasive blades having V-shaped carbide cutting edges is mounted in the other of the slots to also form a V-shaped sharpening slot. A tapered abrasive of is pivotally mounted on the housing and is moveable from the compartment to an extended position for sharpening knives and removing pins in certain military and civilian rifles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Smith's Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. Smith
  • Patent number: 8221199
    Abstract: A pocket abrasive sharpener having a housing formed with a pair of upper slots and a lower open compartment. A pair of abrasive ceramic stones is mounted in one of the slots to form a V-shaped sharpening slot. Each ceramic stone has at least one flat face to abut an adjacent reversed stone to form the V-shaped sharpening slot. The stone has an abrasive cutting edge formed with a radius for sharpening serrated edges and having abrasive surfaces on both sides of the radius. A pair of abrasive blades having V-shaped carbide cutting edges is mounted in the other of the slots to also form a V-shaped sharpening slot. A tapered abrasive rod is pivotally mounted on the housing and is moveable from the compartment to an extended position for sharpening knives and removing pins in certain military and civilian rifles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Smith Abrasives, Inc
    Inventor: Richard S. Smith
  • Patent number: 8214961
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning male electrical pins comprises a base portion, a first cleaning extension, and a second cleaning extension. The first cleaning extension extends from the base portion and defines a first substantially half-cylindrical shell. Likewise, the second cleaning extension extends from the base portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first cleaning extension, and defines a second substantially half-cylindrical shell. The first cleaning extension and the second cleaning extension define a gap therebetween. In addition, each of the first and second substantially half-cylindrical shells comprises a respective knurled surface region facing the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Innovative Products of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Vinci, Ian R. Vinci
  • Publication number: 20110201258
    Abstract: A mower blade sharpening device comprising a guide body having a sharpening rod guide, a sharpening rod having a sharpener end, and an operator end. The sharpening rod is disposed in the sharpening rod guide. A sharpener is disposed on the sharpener end of the sharpening rod. Also disclosed is a method for sharpening a mower blade using the sharpening device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Marion D. ARNOLD
  • Publication number: 20110177769
    Abstract: A blade sharpening assembly generally including a pair of clamping members disposable in coextensive relationship, each providing end portions for receiving a blade therebetween with a cutting edge thereof disposed beyond the ends thereof; means interengaging the clamping members functional as a fulcrum in permitting the end portions to displace in clamping a blade therebetween; means interconnecting the clamping members for angularly displacing the clamping members about the fulcrum; a guide member pivotally connected to a second end portion of each of the clamping members, pivotal between a first position disposed coextensively with a connected clamping member, and a second position at an angle relative to the connected clamping member, alignable with the guide member of the other of the clamping members, when the clamping members are disposed in coextensive; means interconnectable between the guide members when the guide members are disposed in alignment for releasably retaining the guide members in alignm
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Keith Michael Nakoff
  • Publication number: 20110045742
    Abstract: In embodiments, an apparatus for sharpening the edges of the ski/snowboard is provided. The apparatus may sharpen the edges of the skies without scratching the ski base. The apparatus may include a file support having holes for affixing a file. In addition, a radius base plate having a curvature is attached with the file support at right angle. In embodiments, the curvature of the plate from the tip to the tail may be symmetrical or asymmetrical and the angle between the file support and the radius base plate may vary between 90 and 96 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Kildevaeld
  • Patent number: 7662026
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device to resurface a sealing surface of a fluid connector in a fluid delivery component is provided. The device may include a housing adapted to be reversibly coupled to the fluid connector. Included may be an arbor which is at least partially disposed in the housing, and both rotationally and axially movable within the housing. The arbor may have a first end proximal to the sealing surface and a second distal end adapted to receive rotational actuation. A resurfacing head may be positioned at the first end of the arbor, and may have a resurfacing face that includes a circular resurfacing groove adapted to fit a circular ridge on the sealing surface of the connector. Rotational contact between the groove and the ridge may cause the resurfacing of the sealing surface. The housing may keep the resurfacing head and the sealing surface aligned during the resurfacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Lewis
  • Patent number: 7354336
    Abstract: An abrading tool for refurbishing pin contacts in situ in an electrical connector is provided. The abrading tool includes a bore defined in a first end for receiving the pin contacts therein and a transverse slot which intersects the bore. A removable abrading element is received within the slot and positioned therein in alignment with the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Serge Lalancette, Serge Castonguay
  • Publication number: 20080039001
    Abstract: A knife sharpener has a body with a handle. The body provides a knife blade support surface and an abrasive element support surface set at an included angle that is half a sharpening angle from the support surface. A permanent magnet is used to retain an abrasive element against the support surface of the body. The element may have a thin coating of abrasive material on a ferromagnetic strip having stiffening backing of a plastic. In use, a blade is laid on the support surface and urged away from the handle, while being pulled along the abrasive element. This action grinds into the material of the blade, leaving it with a sharp edge in due course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Gervase L. T. Evans
  • Patent number: 7268281
    Abstract: An apparatus for abrading a reed for a musical instrument comprises: a base having two top surfaces tilted toward each other and having tapered parallel tracks in its side edge surfaces; and a carriage slidable on the tracks. The carriage includes an abrasive surface adopted to contact a reed placed on one of the top surfaces of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: Ben N. Armato
  • Patent number: 7182679
    Abstract: A conical point sharpener for sharpening conical shaped points such as fishhooks, needles, surgical instruments includes a handle, a mandril with an abrasive material coating fixed to one end of said handle, a drive spindle, wherein said drive spindle is movably attached to said handle and envelops said mandril, an outwardly protruding tapered opening on said drive spindle, and a precision point alignment nest, formed between said abrasive material coating on said mandril and said drive spindle, such that when the conical point to be sharpened is placed in said outwardly protruding tapered opening of said drive spindle, the item to be sharpened is located in said precision point alignment nest and the point of the item is touching said abrasive material coating on said mandril so that the user can then rotate said drive spindle while holding the item to be sharpened, thereby conically sharpening the point as the item to be sharpened rotates around said mandril.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: William S. Scott
  • Patent number: 6997795
    Abstract: A manual sharpener for sharpening either right or left-handed blades of scissors or shears comprises a support structure with an attached hand holding arrangement. A magnetic device holds at least one adhesive pad on the supporting structure. One or more precision angle blade guides are mountable on the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6949018
    Abstract: A method is described for surface finishing complex and simple surface shapes by abrasion of selected zones of surface, leaving contiguous zones unfinished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Larry P. Bleier
  • Patent number: 6679757
    Abstract: A tool for shaping curved surfaces on a workpiece, in particular upper curved surfaces of the forward and aft rails of a gas turbine engine shroud section. The shaping tool includes a base member for securing the workpiece and a shaping member movable relative to the base member and having one shaping element for each curved surface of the workpiece. The shaping tool also includes cooperating follower and guide members to guide the shaping member through a path as the shaping member is moved relative to the base member such that each of the shaping elements of the shaping member shape the respective curved surfaces of the workpiece. The tool can be used in a method for shaping the curved surfaces of the workpiece where the shaping member is moved in a path such that each of the shaping elements of the shaping member shape the respective curved surfaces of the workpiece and repeating this step until the desired degree of shaping of the curved surfaces of the workpiece is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willem Thomas Degraaff, Jae Yong Um
  • Publication number: 20030224705
    Abstract: A diamond abrasive tonehole file for leveling the tonehole rims of a musical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: James E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6405615
    Abstract: A fixture for positioning an abrasive tool above a running surface of a snowboard for beveling a snowboard edge including a head having one or more feet, each foot including an indexing portion for indexing the fixture against a marginal side of the snowboard. An arm is connected to and projects from the head and a carrier is connected to the arm at a predetermined distance from the indexing portion of the foot. The carrier includes a tool shim. When the fixture is in use, the tool shim bottom face may be held in sliding contact with in a plane substantially parallel to the running surface of the snowboard at a predetermined and fixed distance from the marginal side of the snowboard. A finishing tool, such as a file, is held at a predetermined working angle relative to the running surface of the snowboard by spanning the file between the upper face of the tool shim and the edge of the snowboard. The working angle of the bevel may be varied by advancing the arm through the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: James H. Vermillion
  • Patent number: 6398633
    Abstract: A hand held sharpener comprises a housing that has three sharpening stones having part cylindrical outer surfaces. A center stone is supported on the housing, and second and third stones are positioned on opposite sides of the center stone with axes of the peripheral surfaces of all the stones generally parallel. The stones axes lie on a plane but the spacing of the axes of a left stone is slightly different from the spacing between the axes of the center stone and the right stone, to form two different sharpening angles where the surfaces of the stones overlap. The configuration permits having a two stage sharpener with three stones that are held in a convenient housing for mounting and use. Both sides of a knife edge are sharpened simultaneously as the knife is drawn across the stones at the overlap region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: McGowan Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Arlan D. Lothe
  • Patent number: 6361408
    Abstract: A method is described for surface finishing complex and simple surface shapes by abrasion of selected zones of surface, leaving contiguous zones unfinished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: Larry P. Bleier
  • Publication number: 20020022443
    Abstract: A knife sharpening system for sharpening blade edges of knives. The knife sharpening system includes a base portion having an elongate guide rail having a top surface at a first level, a knife support for maintaining a blade of a knife being sharpened with its blade edge spaced apart by a horizontal distance from the guide rail and for elevating the blade on a plane at a second level which is higher than the top surface of the guide rail. A sharpening implement that is longer than the distance between the guide rail and the blade edge is provided, and placed on the blade's edge and the guide rail, and is moved thereacross to sharpen the knife edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Martin R. Carbone
  • Patent number: 6312017
    Abstract: An ice skate guard with a sharpener. The ice skate guard has a housing with a channel and a sharpener. The channel extends along the housing, and receives a skate blade. The sharpener is mounted in the housing and extends into the channel. When a skate blade is drawn through the channel the sharpener engages with the blade and sharpens the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Jarr Canada
    Inventors: Rick William Hardwick, Randy M. Pollard, John William Dymond
  • Patent number: 6260441
    Abstract: The ski edge sharpener comprises a generally rectangular-in-cross-section elongate block or body having four elongate side surfaces, a file blade mounting plate releasably fixed to one of the elongate side surfaces and a file blade mounted on or to the file blade mounting plate in position to engage a side edge of a ski placed on an adjacent elongate side surface of the block or body for sharpening the ski side edge at one of four angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Karl Landl
  • Patent number: 6220950
    Abstract: A tool for distributing electrically conductive particles, and optionally abrasive particles, on the surface of a male, electrical jack connector and a tool for distributing electrically conductive particles, and optionally abrasive particles, on the surface of a female, electrical jack connector which tools can be interfitted so that each acts as a removable cover for the other. The tools can simultaneously clean while distributing particles. A method for using each of the tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Charles Novitsky
  • Patent number: 6187106
    Abstract: A contained instrument cleaner including a housing having an enclosed chamber and an opening sized to insert an instrument. A rigid member having an abrading surface is supported inside the chamber for cleaning debris from an instrument. The device includes a vacuum channel opened to the chamber and coupleable to a vacuum source for removing debris. A method for cleaning an instrument including the steps of inserting an instrument into an enclosed chamber and rubbing the instrument against an abrading member in the enclosed chamber for removing debris. A vacuum is supplied in the enclosed chamber for collecting debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David D. Backlund, Eyvand E. Toensing
  • Patent number: 6074293
    Abstract: Apparatus is described for surface finishing complex and simple surface shapes by abrasion of select zones of the surface, leaving contiguous zones unfinished. The apparatus is simple in construction and required little in training for operation. The apparatus includes an abrasive surface, which in cross-sectioned profile is negative image of the surface zone to be abraded of finished, and a relief surface corresponding to the zone or zone to remain unfinished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Larry P. Bleier
  • Patent number: 6030283
    Abstract: A hand held ice skate blade sharpening tool has a holder having a rotatably mounted cylindrical sharpening stone material. The holder and stone are retained with a two-piece body. A releasable connector holds the body together. The body has a longitudinal access slot extending radially from the outer surface of the stone. Elongated guides projecting upwardly adjacent the slot are transversely spaced at a distance substantially the same as the width of an ice skate blade to guide and limit lateral movement of the blade within the slot during the sharpening procedure. Shims are positioned in grooves in the guides to adjust the width of the slot to accommodate ice skate blades having different thicknesses. A transverse groove intersects the slot and guides. The bottom of the transverse groove is open to the channel exposing the outer surface of the stone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Edge Specialties, Inc
    Inventor: Bradley J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5879229
    Abstract: A hand held sharpener has two slots to selectively accommodate the blades of ice hockey skates. A two-piece body having stepped inside housing walls accommodate different diameter and length abrading stones. Fasteners releasably holding the members of the body together can be loosened to allow the different stones to be interchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Edge Specialities, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5810649
    Abstract: A tool guide for sharpening woodcarving and lathe tools comprises a holder frame having an adjustable clamping member for clamping a portion of a tool against an inner surface thereof, and an adjustable foot member removably connected to the holder frame by a downwardly extending central rod for engaging a work surface which is coplanar with or parallel to a nearby abrasive sharpening surface. The foot member includes an arcuate surface which may be arranged to engage the work surface for sharpening tools having a U-shaped cutting edge profile, and a pair of arc ends which may be arranged to engage the work surface by inverting the foot member for sharpening tools having a straight cutting edge profile. A pair of side rods are spaced on opposite sides of the central rod, whereby distal ends of the side rods and central rod define an angular profile for sharpening tools having a V-shaped cutting edge when the foot member is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Barbara Oar
    Inventors: Ross C. Oar, Eric J. Oar
  • Patent number: 5782681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two part hand held windshield wiper conditioning device with a main body or housing having a male half and a female half having contoured outer surfaces. Both halves of the device are substantially triangular, the male half having three continuous projections, one per side, extending along the edge of its inner surface; and the female half having corresponding slots formed in and proximate the edge of its inner surface. The projections and corresponding slots allow for snug frictional engagement between the male half and the female half One of the projections has a course material adhered thereto, the edges of the male and female half proximate the course material being spaced apart thereby defining a channel sized to receive the windshield wiper blade edge. Both the male and female half have recesses formed in the inner surface, the recesses defining an interior space where a packet is stored when the halves are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: William Bresnahan
  • Patent number: 5749774
    Abstract: A valve refacing tool comprising a hollow cylindrical column. The column has an upper end and a lower end and has a central bore throughout its entire length. The column has exterior threads at its upper end and an outwardly flared cylindrical support at its lower end. A crown is provided and has a central vertical bore with internal threads removably received by the threads at the upper end of the column. The crown has a lower surface with a radial interior edge adapted to be supported on the upper end of the column. The crown has a plurality of radially extending fins each with an enlarged height at its radially exterior edge and an upper surface at an angle with respect to the vertical. Each upper surface has a dove tail recess. A cylindrical bushing sleeve is positioned within the bore of the column. The bushing sleeve has an upper end located at an intermediate extent of the column and a lower end located beneath the lower end of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: John R. Foster
  • Patent number: 5704829
    Abstract: A compact, hand-held tool for safely deburring the edges of a skate blade. The tool utilizes a pair of resiliently biased deburring surfaces which are movable between an open position and a closed position. The deburring surfaces are resiliently biased in the open position by a biasing means such as a leaf spring. In the open position, any size or shape skate blade can be readily inserted between the deburring surfaces. A user can apply pressure between his/her thumb and fingers to engage the deburring surfaces against the skate blade edges. The width of the skate blade determines the extent of the closed position. In the closed position the tool can be manipulated back and forth along the length of the skate blade to simultaneously deburr both edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Jim Long
  • Patent number: 5700189
    Abstract: A blade-sharpening apparatus for knives and other cutting tools which uses a ceramic sharpening element. The sharpening element is a recycled aluminum oxide sodium vapor streetlight bulb. The vapor and heat expansion and contraction of the bulb during use as a light causes wear on the bulb and results in the ceramic element becoming more porous, thereby providing an abrasive surface suitable for blade sharpening. A first embodiment of the apparatus comprises a housing with a support substantially along a length of the sharpening element and a cover for enclosing the sharpening element when not in use. In the first embodiment, the sharpening element is supported on both ends. In a second embodiment, the sharpening element is supported on one end by a handle and a sleeve is provided to enclose the sharpening element when not in use. The sleeve may be attached to a portion of the handle opposite the sharpening element when in an operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Jimmie L. Farris
  • Patent number: 5660582
    Abstract: This invention is a tool designed to sharpen rotary cutter blades. In a first embodiment, an inside-threaded clamp is screwed down upon the blade, pressing it tightly against a platform from which a threaded shank rises, and holding the blade from turning. When an upper casing containing an inside angled abrasive strip is lowered over the clamp until contact is made against the blade surface, the abrasive strip is brought into contact with the blade edge. When the upper casing is rotated around the tightened clamp, the abrasive acts upon the blade edge and thereby sharpens the edge. A second embodiment is comprised of a blade holder for holding the cutting blade stationary and a ring member with an abrasive strip which fits around the blade holder such that the abrasive strip contacts the edge of the cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Alta Faye Terris
  • Patent number: 5607347
    Abstract: Improved apparatus for sharpening a blade of an ice skate. The device includes a plurality of abrasive element holders, each having an external profile substantially the same as that of the other holders. Each holder is provided with a cavity formed therewithin within which an abrasive element can be received. An abrasive element is received within its corresponding holder with an arcuate surface of the element, having a radius of curvature different from that of an arcuate surface of another abrasive element, exposed on one side of the holder. Each holder can, in turn, be received within a chamber defined within a housing. The housing is provided with an elongated slot so that a blade of an ice skate can be passed therethrough and brought into engagement with the abrasive element received within the holder held within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: AroSport Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Schoen, Paul E. Schoen, Todd M. Luoma
  • Patent number: 5594966
    Abstract: A blade sharpener for a pocket knife is in the form of an appendage which can be removably secured to the knife handle and which carries a superabrasive layer sharpening surface, such as an electroplated diamond grit. The appendage may take the form of a pair of tweezers, such as those commonly found on Swiss army type knives, with the superabrasive layer being attached to its inside surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain/Norton Industrial Ceramics Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Goldman
  • Patent number: 5582535
    Abstract: An apparatus for sharpening the edge of an elongated object includes a housing having an exposed sharpening section with a sharpening element in the sharpening section. The sharpening element is formed from a single abrasive coated sharpening element having a pair of abrasive coated planar comb-like structures formed along opposing sides of the sharpening element. The sharpening element is bent into an X configuration wherein the alternating teeth and slots interdigitate to form the X-shaped configuration and form a sharpening angle between the interdigitating teeth. The sharpening angle has a bisection line with an elongated interrupted sharpening surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Friel
  • Patent number: 5569064
    Abstract: A refurbishing tool for renewing edges on a skate blade, including a pair of rigid, generally rectangular supporting members pivotably connected to each other. Each member has a flat abrasive surface on one side thereof and extending in the lengthwise direction of the supporting member. The abrasive surfaces are able to face each other during use of the tool. Preferably an integral plastic hinge pivotably connects the two members which can be arranged on opposite sides of a skate blade with the abrasive surfaces parallel to each other and engaging the sides of the blade. The tool is moved back and forth in a lengthwise direction to renew or recreate the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Rinkratz International Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Gleadall
  • Patent number: 5499943
    Abstract: This invention is a tool designed to sharpen rotary cutter blades used for cutting fabrics. In the preferred embodiment, when a dulled blade is placed over a threaded shank, an inside-threaded clamp is screwed down upon the blade, pressing it tightly against a platform from which the shank rises, and holding the blade from turning. When an upper casing containing an inside angled abrasive strip is lowered over the clamp until contact is made against the blade surface, the abrasive strip is brought into contact with the blade edge. When the upper casing is rotated around the tightened clamp, the abrasive acts upon the blade edge and thereby sharpens the edge. Removing the upper casing and clamp, the blade is then turned over, replaced on the platform and the process repeated, thereby sharpening both sides of the blade edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: Alta F. Terris
  • Patent number: 5499556
    Abstract: An ice skate blade sharpener having an elongate body with a first elongated slot along one side edge and a honing stone affixed to a bottom thereof, presenting a convex, elongated, outwardly facing surface. The side walls extending from the one side edge to another side edge of the body opposite the one side edge. The another side edge having a pair of elongated honing stones affixed to respective side walls with planar parallel surfaces spaced apart and defining a second elongated slot slightly wider than the thickness of a skate blade, such that upon squeezing said side walls together the second elongated slot is narrowed so as to cause deburring of a sharpened skate blade inserted into the second slot and moved along the length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignees: Walter R. Exner, Vincent A. Exner, Urbin L. Foucher
    Inventors: Walter R. Exner, Vincent A. Exner, Urbin L. Foucher
  • Patent number: 5467498
    Abstract: A self-sharpening type scraping tool having particular utility for scraping surfaces such as to remove paint from walls of a structure, in which the manual actuation of the tool simultaneously effects sharpening of one or more blade edges. A rectangular/square shaped plate is pivotally mounted to a base member and contains a projecting blade on each side of the plate member. Sharpening member is provided for sharpening one or more the blades performed by the tool operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventors: Joseph P. Keegan, Thomas E. Devlin