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US 6,957,495 B1Granted
Spring lock spring line chalk box
OwnerLuke Schmilleninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatically retracting chalk line dispenser having a first and second casing elements, chalk line, reel, coil spring, and thumb-lever. The thumb-lever operates as a brake thereby allowing for either controlled retraction or an effective lock on the chalk line.
Claims33
A chalk dispenser comprising:
- a. a first casing element, said first casing element having a first cutout and a post;
- b. a second casing element opposite of said first casing element, said second casing element having a second cutout;
- c. said first casing element and said second casing element being adapted to fit together to form a chalk reservoir and said first cutout and said second cutout forming an aperture;
- d. a coil spring having a first end and a second end, said coil spring mounted to said first casing element and said first end operatively connected to said post;
- e. a reel rotatably mounted to said second casing element;
- f. a driving connection operatively connecting said second end of said coil spring and said reel;
- g. a chalk line generally wrapped about said reel;
- h. at least a portion of said chalk line being located within said aperture;
- and
- j. a thumb-lever mounted to at least one of said casing elements, said thumb-lever adapted to pinch said chalk line against at least one of said casing elements at said aperture.
7 more elements
A chalk dispenser comprising:
- a. a first casing element, said first casing element having a first cutout and a post;
- b. a second casing element opposite of said first casing element, said second casing element having a second cutout;
- c. said first casing element and said second casing element being adapted to fit together to form a chalk reservoir and said first cutout and said second cutout forming an aperture;
- d. a coil spring having a first end and a second end, said coil spring mounted to said first casing element and said first end operatively connected to said post;
- e. a reel rotatably mounted to said second casing element;
- f. a driving connection operatively connecting said second end of said coil spring and said reel;
- g. a chalk line generally wrapped about said reel;
- h. at least a portion of said chalk line being located within said aperture;
- and
- j. a chalk line brake disposed to engage said chalk line in and at least one of said casing elements at said aperture.
7 more elements
A chalk dispenser comprising:
- a. a first casing element, said first casing element having a first cutout and a post;
- b. a second casing element opposite of said first casing element, said second casing element having a second cutout;
- c. said first casing element and said second casing element being adapted to fit together to form a chalk reservoir and said first cutout and said second cutout forming an aperture;
- d. a coil spring having a first end and a second end, said coil spring mounted to said first casing element and said first end operatively connected to said post;
- e. a reel rotatably mounted to said second casing element;
- f. a driving connection operatively connecting said second end of said coil spring and said reel;
- g. a chalk line generally wrapped about said reel;
- h. at least a portion of said chalk line being located within said aperture;
- and
- j. means for braking and clutching said chalk line against at least one of said casing elements about said aperture.
7 more elements
A method of assembling a chalk dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first casing element having a groove, a post and at least one eyelet;
- b. providing a second casing element having a rib;
- c. attaching a hook and spring to said first casing element;
- d. attaching a coil spring to said post;
- e. rotatably mounting a reel to said second casing element;
- f. wrapping a chalk line generally about said reel;
- g. interconnecting said coil spring and said reel;
- h. pressing together said first casing element and said second casing element such that said rib fits within said groove;
- and disposing a thumb-lever on said first or said second casing element such that said thumb-lever may selectively brake retraction of said chalk line by engagement of said thumb-lever with at least one of said casing elements about said aperture.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.