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US 12,151,396 B2Granted
Tool for a potter's wheel
AssigneeGiffin Tec, Inc.
InventorBrian Kenneth Giffin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved tool for use with a potter's wheel is provided, and the tool configured to attach to the spinning potter's wheel and hold a workpiece in the center thereof. The tool comprises an upper plate and a lower plate that are rotatable with respect to each other. A holding arm can extend through an arm slot in the upper plate to engage a spiral ridge of the lower plate. Relative rotation between the upper plate and the lower plate causes the holding arm to move inward or outward in a radial direction to engage a workpiece. The lower plate comprises fish-shaped apertures to engage fasteners on the potter's wheel in a manner to reduce chatter and improve the longevity of the tool.
Claims20
A tool for a potter's wheel, the tool comprising:
- an upper plate having an arm slot configured to receive a holding arm, the arm slot oriented in a radial direction of the upper plate;
- a lower plate having a spiral ridge extending from an outer end to an inner end, wherein a distance between the spiral ridge and a center of the lower plate decreases from the outer end to the inner end, wherein the holding arm is configured to engage the spiral ridge, and wherein the upper plate is rotatable relative to the lower plate;
- wherein, in a first rotational position between the upper and lower plates, the spiral ridge is configured to set the holding arm at a first distance from a center of the upper plate;
- wherein, in a second rotational position between the upper and lower plates, the spiral ridge is configured to set the holding arm at a second distance from the center of the upper plate, wherein the first and second rotational positions are distinct and the first and second distances are distinct;
- a guide rail portion of the arm slot, wherein the guide rail portion defines a reduced width of the arm slot, and the guide rail portion is configured to retain at least one flange of the holding arm to keep the holding arm retained in the arm slot, wherein the at least one flange comprises:
- a first flange and a second flange laterally extending from one side of the holding arm, wherein the first flange and the second flange are offset in a longitudinal direction of the holding arm to reduce tilt of the holding arm in the arm slot;
- and
- a third flange and a fourth flange laterally extending from an opposing side of the holding arm, wherein the third flange and the fourth flange are offset in the longitudinal direction of the holding arm to reduce tilt of the holding arm in the arm slot;
- and
- an additional guide rail portion of the arm slot, wherein the guide rail and the additional guide rail define guide slots configured to receive the first flange, the second flange, the third flange, and the fourth flange.
7 more elements
A tool for a potter's wheel, the tool comprising:
- a lower plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower plate is configured to engage a potter's wheel;
- a plurality of apertures extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the lower plate, wherein the plurality of apertures is configured to receive a plurality of fasteners of the potter's wheel, each aperture of the plurality of apertures is configured to engage a respective fastener of the plurality of fasteners, and each aperture has:
- a body portion at least partially extending along a circle defined by a radius;
- a receiving portion that tapers from the body portion to a point, wherein the point is positioned outside of the circle;
- and
- a securing portion positioned on an opposing side of the body portion from the receiving portion, wherein the securing portion tapers from the body portion to at least one lobe that defines a tab, wherein the tab is at least partially positioned inside of the circle, and the tab is configured to deflect against the respective fastener to drive the respective fastener toward the receiving portion to hold the respective fastener.
3 more elements
A tool for a potter's wheel, the tool comprising:
- a lower plate configured to engage the potter's wheel, and the lower plate has a locking ridge extending upwardly from an upper surface of the lower plate;
- an upper plate that is rotatable relative to the lower plate, wherein a holding arm is engaged with the upper plate, and relative rotation between the lower and upper plates is configured to move the holding arm away or toward a center of the upper plate to secure a workpiece;
- a lock engaged with a lock slot in the upper plate such that the lock is rotatable relative to the upper plate;
- wherein, in a down position relative to the upper plate, a downwardly-extending protrusion of the lock is engaged with the locking ridge of the lower plate in an interference fit to hold a rotational position between the upper and lower plates;
- and
- wherein, in an up position relative to the upper plate, the protrusion of the lock is disengaged with the locking ridge of the lower plate to permit the relative rotation between the upper and lower plates.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.