Abstract: An edge sharpener for various implements is provided. The edge sharpener includes a sharpener body having a pair of sharpening elements secured to a sharpener body in a fixed angular relationship. The sharpening elements are moveable along this fixed angular relationship to provide a fresh sharpening edge without removal of the elements from the body. The edge sharpener may be provided with precision adjusters for indexing the sharpening element. Further, a removable handle may be provided. By use of sharpening elements of a shape other than rectangular, more than one fixed angular relationship can be provided. Durability of the sharpening edges is enhanced by the form of the edge relief.

Abstract: A sharpening apparatus with substantially rigid sharpening wheels disposed substantially fixedly on a rotatable drive shaft. An edge of a blade inserted in a slot in the apparatus comes into contact with a sharpening surface on a sharpening wheel. A sliding block associated with that sharpening surface slidably yields to accommodate the inserted blade and applies a force on the blade towards the sharpening surface. The user may selectively adjust force on the blade to achieve more or less sharpening of the edge of the blade. The plurality of sharpening surfaces can offer different levels or degrees of sharpening.

Abstract: A knife sharpener (10) has pairs of overlapping, resiliently flexible fingers or strips (21-23, 31-33) to form opposed sharpening faces (27-29, 37-39) operable to engage at least one cutting edge (101) on a knife blade (102). The sharpening faces (27-29, 37-39) can have abrasive materials and/or surfaces (40-43) to generate the desired finish on the cutting edge(s) (101).

Abstract: A manual knife sharpener is provided with angle control structure. The structure includes a guide member having a guide surface which forms an angle with the abrasive surface of the sharpening member. When the blade is inserted into the space between the abrasive surface and the guide surface the blade presses against the guide surface to displace the guide surface linearly in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface so that the movement is a lateral movement in the same plane without any pivoting or twisting of the guide member. Thus, the angle between the guide surface and the abrasive surface remains constant regardless of the extent of displacement of the guide member.

Abstract: An appliance for sharpening razor blades of the type held in a blade cartridge comprises a leather strop bonded onto a magnetic substrate that is in turn bonded onto a support. The width of the strop does not exceed the width of the blades in typical cartridges, so that the blades may rest on the strop when the cartridge is stroked over the strop to hone the blade edges. The surface of the strop is proud of the support surface adjacent the strop, to ensure that edges of the cartridge that are typically proud of the blades do not prevent contact of the blades with the strop. The ends of the strop are secured in undercut formations in the holder.

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.

Abstract: A drill bit sharpener includes a motor assembly and a drill bit grinding assembly. The motor assembly has a motor with a drive shaft to drive the drill bit grinding assembly, which includes a driven assembly, a sharpener housing, a grinding wheel assembly and a bit guide assembly. The sharpener housing is attached to the motor assembly, and the grinding wheel assembly is rotatably mounted in the sharpener housing and is rotated by the driven assembly. The bit guide assembly is mounted in the sharpener housing above the grinding wheel assembly. An adjusting screw in the bit guide assembly is used to adjust the grinding wheel assembly relative to the bit guide assembly. Multiple bit guide holes correspond to the grinding wheel assembly are defined in the bit guide assembly and allow a drill bit to pass through to abut the grinding wheel.

Abstract: A saw chain for a power chain saw is provided and is formed of centrally disposed drive links and laterally disposed connecting links. The links have a flat main body which has two rivet openings through which, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the chain, rivet pins extend for a pivotable connection of the links. Some of the connecting links are embodied as cutter links, which have a cutting tooth formed on the main body, whereby at least one depth limiter is disposed in a manner so as to lead each cutting tooth. At least one part of the depth limiter is fixed in position on a chain link that is disposed on the inner side of the cutter link, and that edge of the cutting tooth that is disposed toward the front in a direction of travel extends parallel to that edge of the leading depth limiter that is disposed toward the rear in a direction of travel.

Abstract: A sharpening apparatus for a rotary knife blade includes a sharpening material support base and at least one lower sharpening device such as a metal pin mounted on the sharpening material support base. At least one upper sharpening device is mounted on the sharpening material support base, the upper sharpening device extending at an acute angle upwards above and relative to the lower sharpening device. The upper and lower sharpening devices are disposed relative to one another to generally simultaneously engage upper and lower surfaces of a blade to be sharpened and a guide device such as a curved wall structure is operative to releasably guide a blade between the upper and lower sharpening devices to assist with sharpening of a blade.

Abstract: A foldable hand sharpening tool is disclosed, having an elongate body/handle with a first sharpening member pivotally mounted at one end which folds into the body when not used, and at the other end having a “V” shaped sharpening slot formed by opposing sharpening members with pivotable elongate guide members which pivot into place to retain the blade in alignment in the “V” slot during sharpening and fold into the body when not used.

Abstract: A foldable hand sharpening tool is disclosed, having an elongate body/handle with a first sharpening member pivotally mounted at one end which folds into the body when not used, and at the other end having a “V” shaped sharpening slot formed by opposing sharpening members with pivotable elongate guide members which pivot into place to retain the blade in alignment in the “V” slot during sharpening and fold into the body when not used.

Abstract: A knife sharpener (10) has pairs of overlapping, resiliently flexible fingers or strips (21-23, 31-33) to form opposed sharpening faces (27-29, 37-39) operable to engage at least one cutting edge (101) on a knife blade (102). The sharpening faces (27-29, 37-39) can have abrasive materials and/or surfaces (40-43) to generate the desired finish on the cutting edge(s) (101).

Abstract: A method is described for surface finishing complex and simple surface shapes by abrasion of selected zones of surface, leaving contiguous zones unfinished.

Abstract: A spherical cutter and cutter holder arrangement, which includes a cutter holder and a spherical cutter mounted in a longitudinal mounting slot at the cutter holder and fixed thereto by a screw, wherein the spherical cutter has a first cutter layer and a second cutter layer, each cutter layer having a plurality of cutting edges spaced around the periphery, and a plurality of plane notches respectively spaced between each two adjacent cutting edges, the cutting edges of one cutter layer being respectively arranged with the plane notches of the other cutter layer at same azimuth, the cutting edges and the plane notches each having a head portion and a tail portion, the head portion and tail portion of one cutting edge of one cutter layer being respectively connected to the tail portion and head portion of one cutting edge of the other cutter layer, the head portion and tail portion of every plane notch of one cutter layer being respectively connected to the tail portion of one plane notch of the other cutter la

Abstract: A saw chain sharpener for a chain saw and a chain saw having a sharpener in which the bottom surfaces of the cutting teeth of a conventional bottom sharpened saw chain are conveniently sharpened automatically by running the chain under power through the sharpener. The saw chain can be sharpened using the sharpener in a matter of typically twenty to thirty seconds without removing the chain from the chain bar. The sharpener is preferably adapted to be removably mounted to a bracket which is itself preferably removably disposed on the chain saw. The sharpener comprises a sharpening tooth disposed in a housing which is mounted on the chain bar. A top surface of the sharpening tooth frictionally engages bottom surfaces of the cutting teeth of the chain as the chain is run under power. A device for dispensing a sharpening compound to the sharpening tooth during sharpening may be disposed on the sharpener housing.

Abstract: A terra cotta sharpening block for sharpening edged objects such as knives, tools, and scissors. The terra cotta sharpening block includes a block with first and second faces, a pair of ends, and a pair of sides extending between the ends of the block. The block comprises a terra cotta material.

Abstract: A manually-operated sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member for sharpening a sharpened member such as a dental instrument, a guide member for guiding the sharpened member so as to be movable therealong, and a positioning-assist element for permitting an operator to dispose the sharpened member at a location at which a predetermined angle is formed between the sharpened member and the sharpening member. With use of the sharpening apparatus, the operator can easily sharpen a blade of the sharpened member at a desired blade angle.

Abstract: A device for sharpening blades has a hard metal cutting blade (7) per se known in the art, secured to an ergonomically shaped handle (1). A bead (6) is provided to reduce the risk of accidents.

Abstract: A blade sharpener having a sharpening mechanism that functions to sharpen a blade engaging the mechanism and being moved longitudinally relative to that mechanism. The sharpening mechanism is located within a hollow housing or scabbard for containing the blade, and means is provided to restrain the blade against inadvertent removal from the housing. The blade is moved into and out of the housing through a front end of the housing, and the restraining means becomes operative (automatically) when the blade is fully inserted. Locking means then functions to prevent release of the restraining means, and that locking means includes a plate movable in the longitudinal direction of the housing between locking and unlocking positions. The locking means is moved into the unlocking position by actuation of a press button located at the rear end of the housing, and automatically returns to the locking position when pressure is removed from the press button.

Abstract: A knife and scissors sharpener with a guard for the former. The scissors sharpener has an opening for each blade of the scissors with a cylindrical sharpening stone extending across them. The stone may rotate about an axis perpendicular to the openings to allow its positioning parallel to the cutting edges of the scissors to effectuate the sharpening of the blades. A spring normally keeps the cylindrical stone in one position, but the force exerted on the scissors' handles will cause the stone to move to its proper orientation. The knife sharpener employs two tungsten carbide sharpening elements crossed to form two V's. The sharpening elements in one V have a configuration for effectuating knife sharpening. In the other V, the elements will hone a previously sharpened knife blade. A circular disk holds the crossed sharpening elements in the handle. Rotating the holder 180.degree. permits a change between the sharpener and the honer.

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.

Abstract: A device for removing burrs created on the lateral edges of ice skate blades during sharpening is provided. The device consists includes cutting insert of extremely hard alloy having at least one angled cutting surface. The cutting insert is secured in a recess located along one of the edges of a substantially flat rigid housing member such that the portion of the cutting insert having the cutting surface extends out from the housing member. The housing member is connected to a substantially flat rigid base member such that a channel is defined by a portion of the base member, the end of the housing member having the recess, and the portion of the cutting insert which extends out from the housing member. The housing member and base member are connected such that they may pivot slightly relative to each other, but remain substantially parallel.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of providing fixed and movable cutting jaws for a surgical instrument, the fixed jaw having an opening in which the movable jaw is receivable; providing a fixture; placing the fixed jaw on the fixture; supporting the movable jaw on the fixture for pivotal movement relative to the fixture at a location spaced apart from the fixed jaw; pivoting the movable jaw relative to the fixture to a stop position; and grinding the movable jaw to reduce the length of the movable jaw so that the movable jaw fits within the opening in the fixed jaw.

Abstract: A stropping device of a blade for safety razors, capable of allowing an existing razor blade to be repeatedly used, is disclosed. The stropping device consists of a main body and an adhesive sheet attached on the back surface of the main body. A guide groove part is longitudinally formed on a front portion of the main body, while a protrusion is integrally and horizontally formed on a top portion of the main body. Also, side walls are formed at both side ends of the main body in such a manner that their outer surfaces are smoothly curved. A stropping plate member, produced from a leather material such as a natural or synthetic leather or suede, is attached on the bottom surface of the guide groove part by an adhesive means. In addition, a recess is formed on a rear portion of the protrusion in such a manner that a nail, driven in a wall in a house, is inserted into the recess.

Abstract: A tool sharpening or dressing device provides a blade having a knife edge held within an aperture from below so that as the tool is drawn along a surface above the edge is able to trim the tool. The blade is clamped by a rotating washer with detent grooves to finely position the washer. The washer, in turn, pushes against the blade to position it.

Abstract: A manual sharpening device is proposed which may easily be operated and which may universally be used. This new manual sharpening device comprises a shaft-shaped supporting body comprising at least a fork-shaped end having two edge projections comprising two inner flank surfaces being inclined in a V-shaped manner towards each other, a tongue-shaped tool arrangement disposed between the edge projections and comprising a sharpening tool having parallel side edges made of hard metal, and a guide head limiting the sharpening tool at the end distant from the supporting body. The guide head has side flank surfaces which are parallel to the respective adjacent inner flank surfaces of the edge projections, at least the guide head being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the tool arrangement.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a sharpened edge on an elongated cutting tool comprising a base member having an elongated slot therein and a pair of elongated sharpening elements each pivotally mounted on the base member at opposite sides of the upper end portion of the slot and extending in crossed relation and intersecting at the slot as a cutting tool is drawn downwardly and outwardly through the slot. Separate counterweights are connected to the upper end portions of each of the sharpening elements to resist their downward pivoting movement as the cutting tool is so drawn through the slot. Separate eccentrically mounted cams are disposed between each cutting tool and its axis of pivot to adjustably control the extent of swinging movement of each of the sharpening elements in both directions.

Abstract: A knife having removable handle members, wherein each handle member includes a sharpening member. Each sharpening member is carried adjacent the blade of the knife when the handles are attached. Upon removal of the handles, the sharpening members are carried by the handle members and are used in sharpening of the blade.

Abstract: A device for sharpening the blade or blade-like surfaces of knifes or other implements. The device is a small hand held sharpening device which provides rigidity and stability of the sharpening edge during use. The sharpening device employs a notched plate which interacts with the housing material surrounding the plate to resist the forces, present during use, which tend to urge the sharpening edge to move. By utilizing this design, the amount of material required for the housing material which surrounds the plate is minimized. Minimal housing allows the sharpening device to be particularly maneuverable in small areas. Minimal housing material, as well as ergonomic design, also allow for ease of use of the sharpening device.

Abstract: Apparatus for manually sharpening dental instruments which require honing at a specific angle, comprising a planar base member having flat parallel sides and an elongated slot, a planar honing stone having flat parallel honing surfaces disposed within the slot of the base member perpendicularly to the plane of the base member and a spring clip positioned between one end of the slot and the honing stone for providing a biasing force to maintain the honing stone in pressure contact with the other end of the base member slot.

Abstract: A sharpener has two sharpening members pivotally mounted on opposite sides of a reference plane. Each sharpening member includes a counterweight portion below its pivot and a sharpening portion above its pivot. The sharpening portions have convex sharpening edges which overlap laterally to form a vertically movable V-shaped slot for receiving a cutting blade. A cutting blade is placed in the slot and moved lengthwise and downwardly. The downward movement causes the vertex of the V-shaped slot to move down, but the slot's vertex angle remains substantially constant because the curvatures of the sharpening edges increase progressively from upper regions to lower regions of the sharpening edges. The centers of gravity of the sharpening members are laterally inboard of the pivots, and the sharpening edges are higher than the pivots. The sharpening forces exerted by the sharpening edges against a cutting blade increase in response to downward movement of the slot vertex.

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.

Abstract: A mechanism for the sharpening of skate blades comprising a small cylindrical honing stone or similar device, supported and located by two rollers which are caused to rotate, thus rotating the stone as this slides back and forth along the concavity of the blade. This results in sharpening the edges and forming a concavity of a suitable radius. A means of tilting the stone to maintain this tangent to the curvature of the blade, is also achieved such that the total cylindrical surface of the cutting (honing) stone is utilized.

Abstract: A blade sharpening device is convertible between a sharpening configuration and a storage configuration. The device has an elongated body with a lower surface for resting on a support surface and an upper surface with a pair of receiving holes disposed thereon. Each of the receiving holes receives one elongated abrasive sharpening member so that the members can be supported in a V-shaped sharpening pattern when the device is in its sharpening configuration. The body also has a pair of elongated storage chambers extending along the longitudinal length of the body. Each of the storage chambers has an opening disposed on one end of the body. Each of the storage chambers receives one of the sharpening members through its respective opening when the device is in its storage configuration. A cover is pivotally secured to the body at an intermediate location and has an open position corresponding to the sharpening configuration and a closed position corresponding to the storage configuration.

Abstract: A blade sharpener includes a support rod, a blade clamping portion which is movable along the support rod, and a guide block which is located along the support rod, the guide block further having a honing tool rod extending through it which allows the honing tool rod to rotate freely about the support rod and substantially away from the horizontal to provide almost limitless motion and incrementally precise angular positioning of the honing tool rod relative to a blade secured within the blade clamping portion.

Abstract: A sharpener is disclosed which consists of a platform with formed grooves to accommodate instrument handles at specific angles to direct the blade of the instrument to a sharpening stone which slides in a groove on the platform. The sharpener will be sterilizable to prevent cross contamination.

Abstract: A plate device (22) and method for manually sharpening clipper blades (12). The plate (22) has an upper, rough sharpening surface (20) to which an abrasive sharpening compound (28) is applied. The compound (28) is applied as a thin film (32) covering substantially the full rough sharpening surface (20). A plurality of annular, concentric troughs or recesses (34) are formed in the surface (20). Compound (28) in excess of that necessary to form the thin film (32) can seep into these recesses (34). The rough sharpening surface (20) is domed to form a convex processing surface (20).

Abstract: A handy knife sharpener comprising two symmetric side frames connected together to hold two crossed abrasive rods therein for sharpening cutting tools, wherein the peripheral edge thereof comprises a hand-hold portion at one end for comfortable and positive grip, a bevel slot at the top for supporting and guiding the knife to be sharpened, a sloping surface portion at an opposite end at right angle relative to said bevel slot for stopping against the ground of a work table. The position of each abrasive rod can be changed once it is worn at a fixed area on the peripheral grinding surface thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for sharpening a razor blade including a sharpening member, a housing for securing the sharpening member therein and for guiding a razor blade in back-and-forth sharpening movement within the housing. The housing has a transverse slot for inserting a head of a razor blade holder therein, and a longitudinal slot in a top plate thereof for linear movement therein of the handle which carries the blade holder. The sharpening or honing member is preferably made of a plate of glass secured to the bottom wall of the housing.

Abstract: A tool apparatus wherein an elongate longitudinally aligned handle includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted coaxially spaced from the handle forwardly thereof. The rollers include deburring or cutting edges to remove roughness and smooth edge surfaces of brittle material such as metals, rigid polymerics, and the like. Modifications of the invention includes a first roller biased against a second roller utilizing a hinged lever arm pair mounting one roller relative to the other roller. Further modifications include conically tapered rollers each including an axis parallel relative to one another wherein a removable conical abrasive sheaths are securably mounted utilizing adhesive and the like onto a respective conical roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scissor sharpener comprising a grinding element which is passed along the scissor blades between them during sharpening. The blades can be provided with a microscopic transverse toothing if the grinding element is formed by two rolls the rotation of which is prevented when they are passed from the blade point toward the scissor hinge and allowed when they are passed in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A device for sharpening a cutting edge including a base an elongated slot that is dimensioned to permit free passage of a cutting blade therealong. At least one sharpening element is pivotally secured to the base near its upper end and extends across the slot at a predetermined angle. Preferably, two such sharpening elements are employed, intersecting at the slot so that a cutting edge moved along the slot will be sharpened on both sides during a single pass through the slot. The sharpening elements may be straight or curved and are always under a predetermined tension. This tension may be applied by either springs or counterweights.

Abstract: A veneer lathe knife and clipper knife honing device including a carriage member resting substantially on a lathe knife cutting edge that is itself upturned to receive the device. A plurality of guiding members and honing members are deployed on a compound coplanar surface of the carriage member so as to guide and hone the lathe knife cutting edge as the carriage member is propelled or pushed across the cutting edge by handle gripping members affixed to the carriage member. The advantage and unique quality of the present invention is in its honing to within close tolerances a specific bevel cutting action that results directly from the co-planar surfaces on the carriage member, the coplanar surfaces defining therebetween a bevel, which orients a plurality of honing and grinding members to impact a correct sharpening action to the lathe knife or clipper knife cutting edge.

Abstract: A knife sharpener having a base, a pair of leg assemblies, a cover, and a pair of rod members formed of abrasive material. The leg assemblies each have an elongated leg member having a pivot pin passing downwardly therethrough to secure the leg member to the top surface of the base. The pivot ends of the respective leg assemblies are secured to the base at a position adjacent each other so that their free motion ends can pivot toward and away from each other. A spring is connected to the leg assemblies for maintaining a pressure that will force the free motion ends of the respective leg members apart from each other. The rod members are detachably supported in apertures formed in the top surface of the free motion ends of the respective leg members and the respective apertures are angularly oriented toward each other so that the rod members cross paths with one another to form a V and it is within this V that the blade of a knife would be passed in order to sharpen the cutting edge of the knife.

Abstract: A tool for sharpening ice-skates is disclosed. The tool is hand-held, and uses a magnet to hold the cutting surface against the skate blade. The cutting face of the tool is convexly curved to fit the hollow portion of the blade. A liner, impregnated with abrasive dust, may be interposed between the magnet and the blade. The liner may be removed, and the magnet rubbed directly against the blade for final, fine sharpening. A cover for the magnet includes a safety guard and a gripping aid.

Abstract: For use in a shearer/clipper comprised of a pair of oscillating drive arms for moving a first removable blade in a wiping motion relative to an adjacent removable stationary blade, for effecting a shearing action therebetween, a sharpening kit comprised of a flat block having an abrasive surface, for connection to the shearer/clipper in place of the removable stationary blade, and apparatus for connecting a selected one of either the first or stationary blades to the oscillating drive arms, whereby the oscillating drive arms move the selected blade in a wiping motion relative to and bearing down on the abrasive surface thereby sharpening the selected blade.

Abstract: A hone for reconditioning dental instruments of the type having a handle terminating in a blade including a planar portion bordered by a sharp edge is disclosed that is characterized by a planar abrasive surface supported upon a base alongside of which a protractor-like element is mounted for rotation. The protractor-like element displays at least one straight line whose angular relation to the abrasive surface changes as the element rotates along with a plurality of other indicia by means of which the straight line can be set at a particular angle with respect to the abrasive surface that is the same angle that the handle of the instrument to be reconditioned must bear to the latter in order for the planar and sharp edges of its blade to be properly restored as they are moved to and fro across the abrasive surface.

Abstract: A knife sheath contains a sharpening device which functions to sharpen a knife's blade at the introduction and extraction of the knife into and out of, respectively, the sheath. The device is incoporated in the form of a separate subassembly that is removably inserted into one end of a knife sheath.

Abstract: A method is provided for sharpening a serrated cutting edge having spaced points separated by indentations. The method involves loosely supporting a plurality of rods of abrasive material and then applying the cutting edge tranversely across the rods so that the rods are forced into positions whereat they are spaced in correspondence with the indentations. The rods are locked in the resultant positions whereafter the cutting edge is wiped along the rods with the rods being positioned in the indentations. The apparatus for practicing the aforesaid methods involves a plurality of elongated rods supported on a resilient pad and clamped into position by the use of clamping devices which are adjustable to release the rods for positioning and to hold the rods in position once they are moved into the appropriate positions.