Chalk line device
AssigneeIrwin Industrial Tool Company
InventorHamilton Sean Michael Whitney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One embodiment of the invention provides a chalk line device having a helical gear and an improved locking assembly. The locking assembly comprises a first lock member having a lock button. The locking assembly also comprises a second lock member including an opening to lockingly engage the first lock member and having a plurality of teeth at one end disposed adjacent one of the helical gears used in this embodiment. The second lock member engages with the helical gear in response to a movement of the lock button member.
Claims12
A chalk line device comprising a housing including a gear cavity and a chalk cavity, a chalk line, and a spool for retaining the chalk line and disposed in the chalk cavity, the chalk line device comprising:
- a first helical gear disposed in the gear cavity;
- a second helical gear disposed in the gear cavity and engaging the first helical gear;
- a handle for rotating the first helical gear and the second helical gear;
- a locking assembly separate from said handle and comprising a lock member that releasably engages with one of the first or the second helical gears as it is moved between a first position and a second position to lock said first and second helical gears in a stationary position.
A chalk line device comprising a housing including a gear cavity and a chalk cavity, a chalk line and a spool for retaining the chalk line and disposed in the chalk cavity, the device comprising:
- a stationary gear rest including a shaft extending from the gear rest;
- a clutch mounted over and movable relative to the shaft in a first direction and a second direction, said clutch being biased in the first direction away from the gear rest;
- a first helical gear disposed in the gear cavity and connected to the spool;
- a second helical gear disposed in the gear cavity and engaging the first helical gear said gear rest including a first portion on which the second helical gear rests, said second helical gear including a central opening and said clutch arranged in said central opening such that said clutch is biased in the first direction such that it can assume a first position relative to said second helical gear where the clutch is engaged with said central opening of said second helical gear and said clutch movable in the second direction to a second position relative to said second helical gear where said clutch is disengaged from said central opening of said second helical gear, said clutch moving in said second direction on said shaft between said first position and said second position where said clutch occupies said second position when it is pressed in said second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.