Patent US4565011A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4565011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatically retractable chalk line assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-07-30
•
Granted: 1986-01-21
•
Expires: 2004-07-30
Abstract
Abstract Automatically retractable chalk line assembly, including a housing having a pair of compartments, one of the compartments containing a spool having wound thereon a chalk line, and further containing a quantity of powdered chalk bathing the spool and line. The line passes outwardly of the compartment through a wiping member which removes excess chalk from the line. The other compartment houses a gear arrangement one side of which is connectable with a spur gear mounted on the spool and the other side connectable to a retractable assembly which includes a helical spring for applying rotational movement to the spool. The other end of the spool is connectable to a brake drum which immobilizes the spool from retracting until it is released by the brake drum upon actuation of a lever. The retractable assembly is provided with means for preventing the overwinding of the helical spring in the event that an abnormal amount of line is withdrawn from the chalk line assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Kim Karger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:49
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44D; B44D3/00; B44D3/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A chalk line assembly in combination with an automatically retractable assembly, comprising: a housing having a bottom; a separator wall spaced from said bottom and defining a powdered chalk compartment, said separator wall having an opening defining an entry into the interior of said chalk compartment, said retractable assembly having a gear plate spaced from sid separator wall and defining a gear compartment for housing a gear arrangement, said gear plate having an opening defining an entry into the interior of said gear compartment; a spool assembly including a spool disposed in said chalk compartment, shaft means coupled between said retractable assembly and said bottom for rotatably supporting said spool means, brake means associated with said shaft means for controlling the rotational movement of said spool; a lever connectably secured to said brake means and having an arm extending exteriorly of the housing for releasing brake action imposed by said brake means on said spool, said means for shielding said gear arrangement and said brake means for the powdered chalk, said entries being coaxially aligned and defining an access into the interior of said chalk compartment for the introduction of said powdered chalk; a removable plug for closing both of said entries; a chalk line wound on said spool and extending exteriorly through a hole in a narrowed portion of said housing, chalk wiping means compressed about said chalk line for limiting the amount of chalk adhering to the chalk line, said retractable assembly having a spring which is wound as the chalk line is pulled out of the housing, means associated with said retractable assembly for preventing overwinding of said spring, and means for securing said retractable assembly and said separator wall to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
A chalk line assembly in combination with an automatically retractable assembly, comprising: a housing having a bottom; a separator wall spaced from said bottom and defining a powdered chalk compartment, said separator wall having an opening defining an entry into the interior of said chalk compartment, said retractable assembly having a gear plate spaced from sid separator wall and defining a gear compartment for housing a gear arrangement, said gear plate having an opening defining an entry into the interior of said gear compartment; a spool assembly including a spool disposed in said chalk compartment, shaft means coupled between said retractable assembly and said bottom for rotatably supporting said spool means, brake means associated with said shaft means for controlling the rotational movement of said spool; a lever connectably secured to said brake means and having an arm extending exteriorly of the housing for releasing brake action imposed by said brake means on said spool, said means for shielding said gear arrangement and said brake means for the powdered chalk, said entries being coaxially aligned and defining an access into the interior of said chalk compartment for the introduction of said powdered chalk; a removable plug for closing both of said entries; a chalk line wound on said spool and extending exteriorly through a hole in a narrowed portion of said housing, chalk wiping means compressed about said chalk line for limiting the amount of chalk adhering to the chalk line, said retractable assembly having a spring which is wound as the chalk line is pulled out of the housing, means associated with said retractable assembly for preventing overwinding of said spring, and means for securing said retractable assembly and said separator wall to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein one side of the spool is provided with a spur gear for engaging with the gear arrangement and the other side is engageable with said brake means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said brake means comprises a brake drum having a base provided with an exteriorly extending lobe-shaped projection, said bottom having a lobe-shaped opening for receiving said lobe-shaped projection, a partial slot extending along a peripheral wall of said drum, a helical spring disposed inside said drum and coaxially disposed about a portion of said spool, said spring having looped ends extending outwardly of said slot and a lever engaging one of said ends and adapted to enlarge the inner diameter of said spring to loosen the engagement of said spring with said portion of said spool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An assembly according to claim 3, wherein said base has a concentric lobe-shaped opening, said shaft means having a shaft provided with lobe-shaped ends, one of said ends being provided with a threaded opening and receivable in said lobe-shaped opening in said base, and a screw for securing said shaft end and said drum to said bottom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said retractable assembly comprises a drive spring cap for housing and winding a helical drive spring, and means for providing slippage to one end of said spring to prevent overwinding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to claim 1, including a spring tension release cap coupled to said drive spring cap for releasing the tension on the spring, whereby said chalk line assembly can be stored with an untensioned spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the other lobe-shaped end of said shaft extends into a drive spring cap for engagement with a helical drive spring, whereby rotation of said cap will apply tension to said drive spring so that an additional length of the chalk line can be retracted after the initial tensioning of said spring by withdrawal of the chalk line has been expended.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-20 | 1989-07-22 | 1990-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-20 | 1993-07-22 | 1994-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-20 | 1997-07-22 | 1998-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |