Black Decker Inc.

General Instrument Corporation

Robert A Meloni

Dale Kenneth Wheeler

Colin M Dyke

William R Lessig, Iii

Robert P Wagster

Robert H Tegtmeier

Angela Marie Waldrop

Calvin Michael Edleblute

James R Parks

Terry L Turner

Roderick F Bunyea

John S Vantran

Thomas P Sapitowicz

John R Dixon

William Lessig

Deborah Messmer

Angela Hillstrom

Tae Lee

Deborah Lynn Messmer

Hung The Du

Roger Quentin Smith

A trimming tool includes a selectable blade attachment for effecting a conversion between a string trimming mode and a blade trimming mode without requiring disassembly of the unit. The assembly includes a locking mechanism selectively engageable with a pivoting trimming blade that pivots between a retracted position and an extended position by centrifugal force. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism is reciprocated between the locked position and the unlocked position based on a rotation direction of the motor. The locking mechanism itself may also be reciprocated by centrifugal force. A spool lock, which is also positioned by centrifugal force, disables automatic string feeding in the blade trimming mode. The trimming tool may also be provided with a blower function incorporating a blower attachment readily attachable as a trimming guard of the trimming tool or a blower assembly integrated into the tool components.

Combination string and blade trimmer with auxiliary blower function

A trimming tool includes a selectable blade attachment for effecting a conversion between a string trimming mode and a blade trimming mode without requiring disassembly of the unit. The assembly includes a locking mechanism ( ) selectively engageable with a pivoting trimming blade ( ) that pivots between a retracted position and an extended position by centrifugal force. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism is reciprocated between the locked position and the unlocked position based on a rotation direction of the motor. The locking mechanism itself may also be reciprocated by centrifugal force. A spool lock, which is also positioned by centrifugal force, disables automatic string feeding in the blade trimming mode. The trimming tool may also be provided with a blower function incorporating a blower attachment readily attachable as a trimming guard of the trimming tool, or a blower assembly integrated into the tool components.

A power tool system has detachable and interchangeable implements and driving sources. The interchangeable implements and driving sources use a housing having common mating interface to selectively assemble a power tool having the desired characteristics. A latch is used to hold a selected implement and driving source in functional engagement. An adjustable bale handle provides a comfortable and safe handhold for various configurations of the interchangeable implements.

Interchangeable implement system for power tools

A series motor armature support assembly comprises a bearing receiving member (60), a pair of legs (62, 64) extending from the bearing receiving member (60), and a brush holding assembly receiving member (66, 68) coupled with each leg. The brush holding assembly receiving member (66, 68) includes a ledge (110, 110') coupled with a leg (62, 64), a stop (114, 114') coupled with the ledge (110, 110'), and a support (122, 122') extending from the bearing receiving member (60) towards the ledge (110, 110'). A securing member (70, 72) is coupled with the legs and secures the support to a stator (34), which is secured to a base (32). A brush holding assembly (80) is received in the brush holding member (66, 68). The brush holding assembly (80) includes a brush receiving member (160), a terminal connector (162) coupled with the brush receiving member (160), and a biasing retention member (164) coupled with the brush receiving member (160).

Motor pack armature support with brush holder assembly

Hedge trimmer blade

A hand-held power-operated hedge trimmer for trimming plant growth such as hedges, shrubs, tree branches and the like. The hedge trimmer includes a housing containing a motor assembly, a blade assembly extending forwardly in a lengthwise direction from the housing, and a drive mechanism for coupling a movable cutting blade of the blade assembly to an output of the motor assembly for causing reciprocatory rectilinear movement of the movable cutting blade relative to a stationary combing blade in response to selective actuation of the motor assembly. The cutting blade includes a series of cutter teeth formed along its opposite longitudinal edges with each cutter tooth having a compound tooth profile. The compound tooth profile includes a pair of shear tooth segments formed along opposite lateral edges of the cutter tooth and a saw tooth segment formed at its distal edge between the shear tooth segments. In addition, a series of sizing lugs are formed along the opposite longitudinal edges of the movable cutting blade between each pair of adjacent cutter teeth for establishing entrapment channels therewith. In operation, smaller twigs and branches are drawn into the entrapment channels and into alignment with the adjacent shear tooth segment for shear-cutting with a single stroke of the cutting blade. The sizing lugs prevent larger branches from being drawn into the entrapment channels so as to align them relative to the saw tooth segments for saw-cutting with a multi-stroke sawing action.

Hedge trimmer with combination shearing and sawing blade assembly

A charger 11 is configured to receive alternatively for charging, one at a time, battery packs having three different shapes, namely, a large oval pack 213 (FIG. 10), a small oval pack 219 (FIG. 11) and a D-shaped pack 225 (FIG. 12). When pack 219) is inserted into receptacle 25, a pack locater 77 biases pack 219 against the receptacle sidewall 29 and into a location to properly mate with electrical contacts 65, 66. When pack 225 is inserted into receptacle 25, locater 77 biases pack 225 against a retractable abutment 85 spaced from locater 77 and into a proper location to mate with contacts 65, 66. When pack 213 is inserted into receptacle 25, receptacle contacts 47, 49 mate with pack terminals 24. When pack 213 is in receptacle 25, contacts 65, 66, pack locater 77 and abutmet 85 serve no function and are substantially retracted from receptacle 25 by engagement with pack sidewall 216. Thus, charger 11 is automatically adaptable for charging a plurality of battery pack designs in a simple and low cost manner.

Charger with universal battery pack receptacle

Blank tickets, for use in an instant lottery game or the like, can be imprinted in a secure manner in an enclosed point of sale ticket-issuing apparatus under the control of a central computer. Prior to exposure of the ticket, an adhesive-backed sheet with a scratch-off material coating on areas aligned with the printing is applied to the surface of the ticket. The adhesive will cause obvious damage to the ticket to void same if an attampt is made to remove the label.

Method for fabricating imprinted ticket with scratch-off coating

Blank tickets, for use in an instant lottery game or the like, can be imprinted in a secure manner in an enclosed point of sale ticket-issuing apparatus under the control of a central computer. Prior to exposure of the ticket, an adhesive-backed sheet with a scratch-off material coating on areas aligned with the printing is applied to the surface of the ticket. The adhesive will cause obvious damage to the ticket to void same if an attempt is made to remove the label.

Ticket with scratch-off coating and method and apparatus for fabricating

Hammer actuators are mounted on a support. Instead of moving the entire massive support to traverse the paper for each line, only a low inertia member, which positions the impact ends of the print wires, is moved. The internal structure of the member facilitates minor curvature of the print wires as the member moves. The member is rapidly reciprocated relative to the support, but 'dwells' for a short time at each extreme to permit indexing of the paper. Ehnanced graphic capability is possible because each print wire can print a plurality of dots for each line.

Dot matrix print head

Each hammer includes a frame-like portion with a recess into which an electrically energizable flat coil is received. Affixed to opposite sides of the frame portion, and extending therefrom over the recess in contact with the sides of the coil, are thermally conductive metallic foil sheets which serve to dissipate heat from the coil, retain the coil intact and maintain the proper position of the coil relative to the frame. The exterior surfaces of the sheets form bearing surfaces to protect the hammer and coil from wear caused by contact with other parts of the head as the hammer is displaced. An elongated recess is formed along the axis of a portion of the frame, in the direction of displacement, by cutting transverse slots therein so as to form a plurality of clamping elements, alternate ones of which are situated on opposite sides of the axis. A print wire is received within the recess and frictionally engaged by the elements so as to form a strong rigid joint without significantly increasing the mass or thickness of the hammer. The print wire is affixed to the frame portion at the center of percussion thereof to eliminate torsional vibrations, otherwise created on impact.

Hammer for dot matrix printer

A dust seal for a tool device, including a bit receiving end, which comprises typically, an elastomeric material such as neoprene and includes a bit clamping or first end portion having a first axially extending opening of predetermined dimension and having a shape and contour which complements and cooperates with the aligned surface of the tool bit. The predetermined dimension is selected so as to create a first interference fit with the tool bit. The seal includes a tool connection or second end portion axially disposed from the first and connected thereto. The latter includes a second axially extending opening, again of predetermined dimension which has a shape and contour which complements and cooperates with the aligned surface of the bit receiving end. The dimension of this second opening is selected to provide a second interference fit with the aligned surface of the bit receiving end, the second interference fit being lighter than the interference fit formed between the first end portion of the seal and the bit shank. The difference in interference fits allows the seal to move substantially in unison with the bit while slipping upon the contacted surface of the bit receiving end. Cooperative action between a surface of the second end portion and a flange on the bit receiving end ensures retention of the seal upon the tool device when the bit is removed from the tool.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Robert A Meloni