Snap-on Inc.

William T Sharp

David A Doerflinger

Daniel M Eggert

David D Curry

David Doerflinger

Todd Stevenson

Kyle M Neubauer

Todd M Stevenson

David Curry

Disclosed are systems and methods for reducing friction on a brake arm of a caster wheel brake. A washer can be positioned between the brake arm and the support arm to reduce friction in this area. Lubricant can also be provided between the brake arm and the support arm, and also between the brake arm and the brake cam, to reduce the friction in these areas. The presently disclosed embodiments therefore allow less force to actuate the brake arm as compared to prior art caster wheels.

Caster wheel

A door lock mechanism that rotates a cam mechanism to lock or unlock an enclosure. The mechanism includes a bias member that is coupled to the cam mechanism with a cam pin, where the cam pin is located on one side of the centerline of the lock in the locked state, and on the other side of the centerline of the lock in the unlocked state, to bias the cam mechanism into either the locked or unlocked state. Further disclosed are one or more stop mechanisms that prevent the cam mechanism from over-rotating past the locked or unlocked position. The bias member can further absorb impact from the lock rods of the door lock mechanism contacting the stop mechanisms.

Door lock mechanism

A corner reinforcement gusset with a radial or other shaped cutout at an internal corner of the gusset. The cutout can alleviate the stresses at that corner and reduce failure. The gusset can therefore better reinforce an enclosure or other object to maintain the structural stability of the object better than prior art gussets.

Corner reinforcement gusset

A latch that can be unlatched with a force exerted on a front handle of a drawer or other enclosure. The latch includes an end cap that interacts with a cam surface of a body and, upon doing so, disengages the catch from an opening on a strike plate or cabinet body. When the catch is disengaged, the latch can allow for the opening of the enclosure. The latch therefore allows for a simple forward motion to open and close the latch, and further allows the latch to be used with many different enclosures.

Front pull latch

A power unit mounting box is disclosed that is adapted to couple to a working surface. The mounting box includes a first surface having a power outlet disposed thereon, and the first surface is angled with respect to the working surface when the power unit mounting box is coupled to the working surface. This provides for ease of access to the power outlet.

Power unit boxes

Disclosed is a thread chase or tap capable of being inserted past damaged threads of a female threaded coupling and then rotated back to repair the damaged threads. The thread chase can be selectively expanded to engage chase blocks having cutting teeth against threads. Thereafter, a user can rotate the thread chase in a direction sufficient to cause the thread chase to move axially out of the female threaded coupling. Upon doing so, the chase blocks can be pushed outwardly and engage undamaged threads, and rotated so as to move upward and repair damaged threads.

Internal thread chase

A power unit is disclosed that includes a first surface with one or more power outlets, and a second surface angularly disposed with respect to the first surface. The second surface has one or more universal serial bus (USB) ports, and a power switch disposed thereon. The angled nature of the second surface provides ease of access to the USB port(s) and power switch.

Power units with power outlets and USB ports

A caster with an elastic member that absorbs impact forces during use. The elastic member can be placed between first and second portions pivotable with respect to each other about a pin. The elastic member can absorb impact forces between the first and second portions when in use. The elastic member can further include grooves that allow portions of the elastic member adjacent the grooves to flow into the grooves during impact, further absorbing impact forces.

Suspension caster

A lock position sensing mechanism that senses the position of the lock only in the locked and unlocked states. The mechanism can include a link arm that is separate from the locking bolt that locks a locking device in which the lock position sensing mechanism is used. The mechanism can sense the locked and unlocked states with a metallic object that is placed on the link arm and with two induction sensors that are provided within the locking device. The first and second induction sensors can be located at a position corresponding to the locked and unlocked state, respectively, to determine the locked or unlocked state. The sensors can communicate with a transceiver that then communicates the position of the locking mechanism to a user device and/or to a local display.

Lock position sensing mechanism

A remote locking system for a storage unit that allows a user device including a security token to remotely lock or unlock the storage unit. The user can include software or an application that communicates with the storage unit to provide locking statuses and tamper alerts for the storage unit. The storage unit can include a proximity sensor so the unit is unlocked when an authorized user device is within a certain distance of the storage unit. The system can further include a timer that disables communication between the user device and storage unit after a predetermined inactive period, so as to reduce cross-talk and power consumption.

Growing community of inventors

Pleasant Prairie, WI, United States of America

William T Sharp