US3707043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alignment assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-01-12
•
Granted: 1972-12-26
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Expires: 1990-01-12
Abstract
Abstract An alignment assembly for indicating the angle of incidence with respect to a workpiece including attachment means adapted to be attached to a device such as a portable hand drill. The assembly includes a central shaft interconnecting two balls. The ball at one end supports an input member for pivotal movement about the center of the ball while the ball at the other end supports an indicator member for pivotal movement about the center thereof. Three rods engage and interconnect the input member and the indicator member so that the indicator member pivots in response to pivotal movement of the input member. A female socket member having a spherical cavity supports the indicator member and a translucent dome is attached to the female member. A circular groove is disposed on the interior surface of the dome and a second circular groove is disposed on the spherical surface of the indicator member with the two circles being of equal diameter so that when they are in registry or concentric with one another the longitudinal axis of the assembly is perpendicular to a workpiece engaged by the input member.
Inventors
- 👤 David P Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:02
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25H; B25H1/00; B25H1/0021; B25H1/0078; B25H1/0092; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/55; Y10T408/561; Y10T408/5614; Y10T408/564; Y10T408/5653
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An alignment assembly for indicating the angle of incidence with respect to the planar surface of a workpiece, said assembly comprising; support means, indicator means supported by said support means for universal type pivotal movement about a first point, input means adapted to engage a workpiece and supported by said support means for universal type pivotal movement about a second point which is spaced from said first point said assembly having a longitudinal axis, said first and second points being disposed on said axis, said input means including surface means defining a plane for engaging said planar surface of the workpiece and of substantial breadth whereby to assume in response to said engagement a conforming relation to said planar surface, said plane being transverse to said axis, and movable with said pivotal movement to various angles relative thereto, and motion transmitting means for pivoting said indicator means about said first point in response to pivotal movement of said input means about said second point resulting from engagement of said surface means with a workpiece and movement thereof relative to said longitudinal axis as when said longitudinal axis is moved into and out of perpendicular relationship with said plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An alignment assembly for indicating the angle of incidence with respect to the planar surface of a workpiece, said assembly comprising; support means, indicator means supported by said support means for universal type pivotal movement about a first point, input means adapted to engage a workpiece and supported by said support means for universal type pivotal movement about a second point which is spaced from said first point said assembly having a longitudinal axis, said first and second points being disposed on said axis, said input means including surface means defining a plane for engaging said planar surface of the workpiece and of substantial breadth whereby to assume in response to said engagement a conforming relation to said planar surface, said plane being transverse to said axis, and movable with said pivotal movement to various angles relative thereto, and motion transmitting means for pivoting said indicator means about said first point in response to pivotal movement of said input means about said second point resulting from engagement of said surface means with a workpiece and movement thereof relative to said longitudinal axis as when said longitudinal axis is moved into and out of perpendicular relationship with said plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including attachment means operatively connected to said support means and adapted for attachment to a device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including translucent means attached to said support means, said translucent means having a concave spherical surface disposed about said indicator means, first indicia means on said spherical surface, said indicator means including second indicia means adjacent said spherical surface for coacting with said first indicia means to indicate said angle of incidence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first point is the center of said spherical surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including attachment means adapted to be connected to a device and movably supporting said support means and guiding said support means and at least said input means in translative movement relative thereto whereby the device may move toward and away from the workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motion transmitting means includes at least three motion transmitting elements with first ends thereof equally spaced about said first point and engaging said indicator means and with second ends thereof equally spaced about said second point and engaging said input means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including attachment means adapted to be connected to a device and translatively movably supporting said support means and said motion transmitting elements whereby the device may move toward and away from the workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said motion transmitting elements comprise a rod, said rods being equally spaced about said longitudinal axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 including translucent means attached to said support means, said translucent means having a concave spherical surface disposed about said indicator means, first indicia means on said spherical surface, said indicator means including second indicia means adjacent said spherical surface for coacting with said first indicia means to indicate said angle of incidence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first point is the center of said spherical surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said support means and said rods are movable relative to said attachment means between first and second positions, and including biasing means reacting between said attachment means and said support means for urging the latter to said first position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said indicatoR means includes a first socket means, said input means includes a second socket means, said support means includes an at least partially spherical first element disposed in said first socket means, the spherical surface of said first element having a center coincident with said first point, said support means includes an at least partially spherical second element disposed in said second socket means, the spherical surface of said second element having a center coincident with said second point.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said support means includes a female member having a spherical concave cavity therein, said indicator means has a spherical surface in sliding engagement with said cavity, said female member has passages therethrough, each of said rods extend through one of said passages and engage said indicator means, said translucent means being attached to said female member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said support means further includes a guide member abutting said input means, said biasing means being disposed to react between said attachment means and said guide member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said attachment means includes a pair of parallel and spaced first and second flanges, said rods extend through said flanges, said biasing means includes at least one spring engaging a first side of said first flange at one end and extending through said second flange and engaging said guide member at the other end to urge said female member against the second side of said first flange.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said input means and said guide member are in mating engagement through coacting spherical surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said guide member includes an enlarged head portion engaging said input means and an elongated portion extending through said first and second flanges and engaging said female member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said spring is disposed about said elongated portion and engages said head portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said support means includes a shaft interconnecting said first and second elements and extending through said head and elongated portions of said guide member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 19 including positioning means interconnecting said elongated portion of said guide member and said first flange for preventing rotation of said guide member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said positioning means comprises a slot extending along said elongated portion of said guide member and a tab extending from said first flange and into said slot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first and second elements are balls and said shaft extends through said balls, said first indicia means comprises a circular groove in said concave spherical surface of said translucent means and said second indicia means comprises a circular groove in said indicator means, said circular grooves being of equal diameter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said indicator means has recesses therein for receiving said first ends of said rods.
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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) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |