US 7,464,631 B2
Shape forming device
John Nottingham, Bratenahl, Ohio (US); John Spirk, Gates Mills, Ohio (US); Patrick Brown, Mantua, Ohio (US); Robert Dorsey, Columbia Station, Ohio (US); Trevor Jackson, Kirtland, Ohio (US); and Carolyn McNeeley, Brunswick Hills, Ohio (US)
Assigned to Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/276,928.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/687594, filed on Jun. 03, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0283302 A1, Dec. 21, 2006
Int. Cl. B26D 7/27 (2006.01); B26D 5/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 83—522.12  [83/566; 83/860; 100/176; 72/211; 72/449; 271/15; 425/298; 425/363; 425/411] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shape former, comprising:
a housing; and
a pair of rollers rotatably supported substantially within the housing and operatively connected with the electric motor; wherein the pair of rollers are substantially parallel to each other and are adapted to receive between them a die stack; and wherein the rollers are adapted to exert a compressive force on the die stack as the die stack travels between the rollers, whereby the compressive force of the rollers is sufficient to cause the die stack to render a predetermined shape or pattern on or with at least one piece of media placed within the die stack; and wherein the pair of rollers are adapted for engagement with a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is an electric motor that has a forward activation state and a reverse activation state;
a power source for supplying power to the electric motor, the power source being selected from at least one battery and an alternative current adapter for use with standard U.S. household current; and
a first and second activation switch operatively connected to the electric motor for activating the electric motor; wherein the activation switches are located on an outside surface of the housing; and wherein the first activation switch activates the electric motor in the forward activation state and the second activation switch activates the electric motor in the reverse activation state, wherein the second activation switch which activates the electric motor in the reverse activation state also activates an additional power source for the electrical motor to provide additional power for use with the reverse activation state.