Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090090759 | FASTENER DRIVING TOOL USING A GAS SPRING - A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time. | 04-09-2009 |
20110290846 | FASTENER DRIVING TOOL USING A GAS SPRING - A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time. | 12-01-2011 |
20110315736 | FASTENER DRIVING TOOL USING A GAS SPRING - A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time. | 12-29-2011 |
20130153251 | FASTENER DRIVING TOOL USING A GAS SPRING - A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time. | 06-20-2013 |
20140069671 | FASTENER DRIVING TOOL USING A GAS SPRING - A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time. | 03-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110278078 | INPUT DEVICE WITH FORCE SENSING - Devices and methods are provided that utilize a first electrode disposed on a first substrate and a second electrode disposed on a second substrate, where the first electrode and the second electrode define at least part of a variable capacitance. A third substrate is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, the third substrate having an opening arranged such that at least a portion of the first electrode and the second electrode overlap the opening. A transmission element is provided that partially overlaps the opening. The transmission element is physically coupled to the second electrode such that a force biasing the transmission element causes the second electrode to deflect relative to the first electrode, thus changing the variable capacitance. A measurement of the variable capacitance may then be used to determine force information. | 11-17-2011 |
20140190811 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITIVELY DETECTING KEY MOTION AND FINGER PRESENCE ON A MAGNETIC KEYBOARD KEY - Devices and methods for capacitively sensing key cap position during the initial and latter stages of a keystroke. A key assembly includes a stationary key guide magnet, a movable key cap magnet, and a transmitter/receiver electrode pair. One or both of the electrodes underlies the key cap. The capacitance change between the electrodes during a keystroke includes the capacitance change between the key cap and the electrode pair, and the change in capacitance between the key cap and the key guide. Key cap position may thus be accurately detected throughout the entire keystroke. | 07-10-2014 |
20150193008 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITIVELY DETECTING KEY MOTION AND FINGER PRESENCE ON KEYBOARD KEYS - A keyboard including a plurality of key assemblies configured to be pressed by an input object. A subset of the plurality of key assemblies each includes a key cap and a first electrode pair underneath the key cap and configured to detect key motion in response to downward force applied by the input object. The key cap also includes a second electrode pair disposed underneath the key cap and configured to detect positional information about the input object interacting with the key cap. | 07-09-2015 |
20150193056 | INPUT DEVICE WITH CAPACITIVE FORCE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING THE SAME - Input devices which include a capacitive force sensor, along with methods of making and using such, are provided. The input device includes a structural component having first and second substantially opposing sides, a plurality of sensor electrodes located on the first side of the structural component, the plurality of sensor electrodes configured to capacitively sense positional information associated with user input in a sensing region, a first capacitive electrode located on the second side of the structural component, the first capacitive electrode being configured to capacitively couple to a second capacitive electrode that is separated from the first capacitive electrode by a gas and moveable relative to the first capacitive electrode, and a biasing member configured to be physically coupled to the structural component such that a force associated with the user input causes a change in a separation distance between the first and second capacitive electrodes based on the force. | 07-09-2015 |
20150194277 | TWO PART KEY CAP FOR USE IN KEYBOARD KEYS AND METHODS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE - A key assembly is for use in a keyboard of the type including a key guide having a planar translation effecting (PTE) feature. The key assembly includes a key base having a PTE mating feature configured to interact with the PTE feature during a key press, and a key cap configured to be attached to the key base. The key base is made of a first material and the key cap is made of a second material different from the first material. A conductive portion and/or a magnet may be wedged between or secured within the key base or the key cap. | 07-09-2015 |