Patent US4397593A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4397593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool for cutting openings
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-02-02
•
Granted: 1983-08-09
•
Expires: 2001-02-02
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a tool for use with a machine tool such as a drill press or the like for cutting circular openings or segments thereof in sheet material. The device includes a pilot drill and an articulated gear train operatively coupling a tool holder and cutting tool to a pilot drill. The articulated gear train is received within a housing which is rotatable about the axis of the pilot drill to enable movement of the cutting tool along an arcuate path about the axis of the pilot drill.
Inventors
- 👤 William A. Fordeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:31
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23C; B23C1/00; B23C1/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/34; Y10T408/352; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/30448; Y10T409/306216; Y10T409/306384; Y10T409/30644; Y10T409/306664; Y10T409/30756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A tool for cutting openings in a workpiece comprising: a housing; an articulated arm received in said housing, said arm having a proximal and distal end and a plurality of sections pivotable about spaced parallel axes, such that the distal one of said axes is movable between positions close to and distal from the proximal one of said axes; a plurality of gears journalled in said sections, each said gear being journalled for rotation about a predetermined one of said axes; and said gears being operatively meshed in series to form an articulated gear train; a pilot drill fixedly connected to the proximal one of said gears for rotation about the respective axis, said drill having a shank portion extending outwardly from said housing and being operatively engageable by a machine tool, said housing being manually rotatable about said drill; tool holding means fixedly connected to the distal one of said gears for rotation therewith about the distal one of said axes, whereby said pilot drill is drivingly coupled to said tool holding means; and clamping means for fixedly securing said distal section to said housing with said distal axis disposed at a selected spacing from said proximal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A tool for cutting openings in a workpiece comprising: a housing; an articulated arm received in said housing, said arm having a proximal and distal end and a plurality of sections pivotable about spaced parallel axes, such that the distal one of said axes is movable between positions close to and distal from the proximal one of said axes; a plurality of gears journalled in said sections, each said gear being journalled for rotation about a predetermined one of said axes; and said gears being operatively meshed in series to form an articulated gear train; a pilot drill fixedly connected to the proximal one of said gears for rotation about the respective axis, said drill having a shank portion extending outwardly from said housing and being operatively engageable by a machine tool, said housing being manually rotatable about said drill; tool holding means fixedly connected to the distal one of said gears for rotation therewith about the distal one of said axes, whereby said pilot drill is drivingly coupled to said tool holding means; and clamping means for fixedly securing said distal section to said housing with said distal axis disposed at a selected spacing from said proximal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes an elongated slot formed in said housing, a threaded stud fixedly secured in said distal one of said sections and extending outwardly of said housing through said elongated slot, a threaded element received on said threaded stud, and a cutting tool secured to said tool holding means for rotation about said distal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said gears are spur gears, that one of said spur gears that is coupled to said pilot drill having a diameter greater than the others of said gears whereby the rotational speed of said tool holding means is greater than the rotational speed of said pilot drill.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said housing is closed and includes an inner cavity dimensioned to accomodate movement of said sections therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 4 wherein each said section comprises an upper and a lower plate fixedly secured together in parallel spaced-apart relationship, there being axles fixedly secured to said plates to extend therebetween, a gear rotatably mounted on each axle, each said section being pivotable about a respective one said axle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 2 wherein each said gear is a compound gear having an upper and a lower gear section of respectively different diameters, the smaller of each said gear engaging the larger of each said gear operatively preceding it in said gear train.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said pilot drill includes a cutting portion and a smooth portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 5 further including a guide means fixedly secured to said housing adjacent said pilot drill for slidably engaging a workpiece and stabilizing said device thereagainst while said housing is rotated about said drill.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 1 wherein each section comprises two spaced apart plates, the plates of one section being interleaved with the plates of an adjacent section, axles coincident with said axes, respectively, interconnecting the plates of adjacent sections, said gears being mounted on said axles, respectively, said tool-holding means including a hub on said distal gear, and a milling cutter tool removably secured to said hub.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said clamping means includes a threaded stud operatively secured to the distal one of said sections, and a knob element adjustably mounted on said stud to engage and lock selectively against said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said guide means includes an elongated flat element secured in spaced relation to said housing, said flat element lying in a plane normal to said axes and extending from the proximal axis to the distal axis, said flat element having a straight slot extending between said proximal and distal axes and receiving therethrough said pilot drill and cutting tool.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1401455A
Cited
US1510372A
Cited
US2134069A
Cited
US2462997A
Cited
US3146675A
Cited
US3153369A
Cited
US3114294A
Cited
US3164063A
Cited
US3162091A
Cited
US3249017A
Cited
US3263570A
Cited
US3540347A
Cited
US3884280A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-08 | 1987-02-07 | 1987-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-08 | 1991-02-07 | 1991-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |