US4568819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure-sensitive electric soldering/desoldering tool
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1982-12-20
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Granted: 1986-02-04
•
Expires: 2002-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A hand-held electric soldering/desoldering tool has an elongated soldering tip secured to one end of an elongated handle in substantially coaxial alignment therewith by means of a three-point, spring loaded mechanical suspension arrangement resiliently securing the soldering tip to the handle for allowing excessive pressure applied to the handle to be taken up by the spring-loaded suspension thereby preventing such excessive pressure from being applied to a workpiece. The three-point suspension arrangement includes three support members fixed to the handle and having juxtaposed ends passing freely through aligned openings in a support plate attached to the soldering tip. Each support member has a head biased into engagement with the support plate by a coil spring surrounding the support member and disposed between the support plate and handle. Application of excessive pressure causes deflection of the tip from coaxial alignment with the handle, thus providing the operator with a visual indication of excessive pressure application. For desoldering the tip may be provided with a suction bore connected to a suction source in the handle by a flexible coupling arrangement.
Inventors
- 👤 Felix A. Stacconi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:44
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K3/00; B23K3/02; B23K3/03; B23K3/0338; B23K3/0361
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A hand-held electrical soldering/desoldering device comprising: (a) an elongated handle and an elongated soldering tip element coaxially aligned along a common axis; (b) said soldering tip element being attached at one end to a support plate and said support plate having means defining three openings therein located around said common axis of said soldering tip element and handle; (c) a three-point, spring-loaded mechanical suspension system disposed between said coaxially aligned soldering tip element and said handle for resiliently securing said soldering tip element to said handle, said system including three support members fixed to said handle and having juxtaposed ends freely passing through said openings in said support plate, said support members including means engaging said support plate to support said soldering tip element and support plate thereon; (d) said openings permitting lateral movement of said support members and said handle with respect to said soldering tip element and said support plate whereby said soldering tip element is free to deflect from said common axis when excessive pressure is applied to said handle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A hand-held electrical soldering/desoldering device comprising: (a) an elongated handle and an elongated soldering tip element coaxially aligned along a common axis; (b) said soldering tip element being attached at one end to a support plate and said support plate having means defining three openings therein located around said common axis of said soldering tip element and handle; (c) a three-point, spring-loaded mechanical suspension system disposed between said coaxially aligned soldering tip element and said handle for resiliently securing said soldering tip element to said handle, said system including three support members fixed to said handle and having juxtaposed ends freely passing through said openings in said support plate, said support members including means engaging said support plate to support said soldering tip element and support plate thereon; (d) said openings permitting lateral movement of said support members and said handle with respect to said soldering tip element and said support plate whereby said soldering tip element is free to deflect from said common axis when excessive pressure is applied to said handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The soldering/desoldering device according to claim 1 wherein said three-point, spring-loaded, mechanical suspension system includes compressible spring means located between said handle and said support plate and surrounding said support members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The soldering/desoldering device according to claim 2 wherein said three openings and said three support members are positioned symetrically about said common axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The soldering/desoldering device according to claim 3 which further includes suction means associated with said soldering tip element and said handle to remove softened solder during desoldering, said suction means being so arranged as not to interfere with the ability of said three-point, spring-loaded, mechanical suspension system to resiliently secure said soldering tip element to said handle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The soldering/desoldering device according to claim 4 wherein said soldering element tip includes a suction bore therein and said suction means is disposed within said handle, said device further includes a flexible fluid coupling member connecting said suction means and said suction bore to permit deflection of said soldering tip element without breaking said fluid coupling member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The soldering/desoldering device according to claim 3 wherein said soldering tip element is electrically heated, said device further including a flexible electrical connection between said handle and said soldering tip element to permit deflection of said soldering tip element without breaking said electrical connection.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |