Metal working – Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for... – Binding or covering and cutting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2002-05-07
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for...
Binding or covering and cutting
C239S547000, C239S272000, C137S318000, C029S811200, C029S798000, C029S809000, C029S428000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06381821
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an emitter barb cluster and emitter barb installation tool, and in particular, to an emitter barb cluster for use in an emitter barb installation tool and an emitter barb installation tool that automatically and continuously feeds emitter barbs into a driving position wherein each barb is driven into a pipe.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Emitter barbs
10
are hollow fittings that tap into a pipe so that fluids are routed to various outside locations along the pipe. A common use of emitter barbs
10
are for irrigation pipes and sprinkler systems wherein water is flowed or dripped at various plant or vegetation locations.
FIGS. 2 and 3
show two types of conventional prior art emitter barbs
10
A and
10
B. These prior art barbs
10
A and
10
B exist independently and are typically installed into flexible pipes by first punching holes into the pipe and then manually inserting the barbs one at a time therein.
FIG. 2
shows a self-perforating emitter barb
10
A having sharpened ends
12
wherein the self-perforating barb
10
A is manually installed without necessarily first punching a starter hole in the pipe. The sharpened ends
12
are able to pierce the wall of the pipe when it is forced thereat. However, these self-perforating barbs
10
A are typically made of plastic materials such that forcing them into the pipe without first punching a hole may be cumbersome or difficult.
FIG. 3
shows an emitter barb
10
B that has blunt ends
14
(i.e. does not have sharpened ends) wherein it is necessary to first punch a starter hole in the pipe before the barb
10
B is installed therein.
Tools for installing emitter barbs into a pipe have been developed. Some examples of such prior art tools are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,522,339 (“the ′339 patent”); 5,177,846 (“the ′846 patent”); 5,722,142 (“the ′142 patent”); and 5,893,201 (“the ′201 patent”). The ′846 patent discloses a prior art tool that simply holds the emitter barb in a handle, and the handle is driven by the user so that the emitter barb is installed into the pipe. The ′339 patent, ′142 patent and ′201 patent disclose prior art tools that hold or support the pipe in place and also hold the emitter barb in place so that the emitter barb is able to be driven into the pipe. The problem with these prior art tools is that each time an emitter barb is to be driven to the pipe, the user has to manually insert the barb into place before it is driven by the tool into the pipe. Also, the prior art tools that hold and support the pipe may be more cumbersome to use and/or require more movement or action when the barb is being installed and when the pipe is being released from the tool after the barb has been installed. Typically, at least two movements of the tool is required in order to install the barb, that is, a movement for driving the barb into the pipe and another movement for releasing the barb and the pipe from the tool.
Additionally, the tools disclosed in the prior art patents do not provide a mechanism wherein a starter hole is first punched into the pipe before the emitter barb is installed therein. The prior art tools, therefore, are not able to install the emitter barbs
10
B (i.e. with blunt ends) into a pipe without first having to manually punch a starter hole.
Automatic and continuous feeders for other tools such as nail guns and staple guns exist. U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,371 provides an example of such a feeder for a nail gun. However, an automatic and continuous feeder does not exist for an emitter barb installation tool.
Therefore, the present invention discloses and provides an emitter barb installation tool that automatically and continuously feeds, drives, and inserts the emitter barbs into pipes. Also, the present invention discloses and provides an emitter barb cluster for use in the emitter barb installation tool for easier handling and loading of the emitter barbs. Furthermore, the present invention discloses and provides an emitter barb installation tool that drives the emitter barbs into the pipe and releases the pipe from the tool generally using one fluid motion. Also, the present invention discloses an emitter barb installation tool that punches a starter hole into the pipe before the emitter barb is inserted into the pipe.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Set forth is a brief summary of the invention in order to solve the foregoing problems and achieve the foregoing and other objects, benefits, and advantages in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein.
It is an object and advantage of the present invention to provide a tool for automatically and continuously feeding and driving emitter barbs into a pipe.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an emitter barb cluster for use in an emitter barb installation tool.
It is further object and advantage of the present invention to provide an emitter barb installation tool that drives the emitter barbs into the pipe and releases the pipe from the tool generally using one fluid motion.
It is still a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a tool that drives emitter barbs that have either sharpened ends or blunt ends or an emitter barb from an emitter barb cluster.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an emitter barb installation tool that punches a starter hole into the pipe before the emitter barb is inserted into the pipe.
It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide various types of feeder magazines for an emitter barb installation tool that automatically and continuously place emitter barbs into a driving position.
It is still a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide an emitter barb installation tool that has a pipe support to hold and support a pipe.
It is still another object and advantage of the present invention to provide various types of pipe supports such as jaw or jaws for an emitter barb installation tool.
It is still a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide various types of driving mechanisms for an emitter barb installation tool to drive emitter barbs from a driving position and into the pipe.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide various types of driving handles for an emitter barb installation tool.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an emitter barb installation tool that electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically drives emitter barbs into a pipe.
It is still another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an emitter barb installation tool that also has a cutter mechanism for cutting pipes.
It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide an emitter barb installation tool that also has removable jaw inserts to allow pipes of various sizes to be to be held and supported.
The preferred embodiments of the inventions are described below in the Figures and Detailed Description. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Detailed Description is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recite a “means for” or “step for” performing a fun
Blount Steven
Hughes S. Thomas
L.A.P. Innovations, Inc.
LandOfFree
Emitter barb installation tool and emitter barb cluster does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Emitter barb installation tool and emitter barb cluster, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Emitter barb installation tool and emitter barb cluster will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2818545