Patents by Inventor Chris H. Porth

Chris H. Porth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8931677
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a power source including a cylinder, a piston with a driver blade reciprocating in the cylinder, a tool nose associated with the power source for receiving the driver blade for driving fasteners fed into the nose, and a magazine housing a supply of the fasteners. A magazine feeder mechanism is associated with the magazine for sequentially feeding fasteners into the nose, and the feeder mechanism includes a reciprocating feed piston. A conduit is connected between a port in the cylinder and the feed mechanism for diverting combusted gas for activating the feed piston. The port is disposed in the cylinder a specified distance below a piston prefiring position, the distance being reflective of a delay of activating the feed piston until the drive piston finishes a driving stroke and begins a return to the prefiring position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Chris H. Porth, Larry M. Moeller
  • Patent number: 8302832
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a power source including a cylinder, a piston with a driver blade reciprocating in the cylinder, a tool nose associated with the power source for receiving the driver blade for driving fasteners fed into the nose, and a magazine housing a supply of the fasteners. A magazine feeder mechanism is associated with the magazine for sequentially feeding fasteners into the nose, and the feeder mechanism includes a reciprocating feed piston. A conduit is connected between a port in the cylinder and the feed mechanism for diverting combusted gas for activating the feed piston. The port is disposed in the cylinder a specified distance below a piston prefiring position, and the distance is reflective of a delay of feeding the gas to the feed piston at least until engagement between an end of the driver blade and a head of a fastener in the tool nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Chris H. Porth, Larry M. Moeller
  • Publication number: 20100258608
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a power source including a cylinder, a piston with a driver blade reciprocating in the cylinder, a tool nose associated with the power source for receiving the driver blade for driving fasteners fed into the nose, and a magazine housing a supply of the fasteners. A magazine feeder mechanism is associated with the magazine for sequentially feeding fasteners into the nose, and the feeder mechanism includes a reciprocating feed piston. A conduit is connected between a port in the cylinder and the feed mechanism for diverting combusted gas for activating the feed piston. The port is disposed in the cylinder a specified distance below a piston prefiring position, and the distance is reflective of a delay of feeding the gas to the feed piston at least until engagement between an end of the driver blade and a head of a fastener in the tool nose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Chris H. Porth, Larry M. Moeller
  • Patent number: 7654429
    Abstract: A combustion nailer is configured for use with a fuel cell having an internal metering valve and a reciprocating, biased main stem. The nailer includes a tool housing defining a fuel cell chamber constructed and arranged for receiving the fuel cell, a fuel cell actuator assembly configured for actuating the fuel cell in the chamber to emit a measured dose of fuel during tool operation, and a fuel delivery apparatus associated with the actuator assembly for receiving the emitted dose of fuel and providing it to a combustion chamber. The fuel delivery apparatus is configured for preventing actuation of the main stem by the actuator assembly upon the fuel cell being adapter-free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Maureen L. Shea, Eric S. Gibson, Walter J. Taylor, Chris H. Porth
  • Patent number: 7478740
    Abstract: A combustion nailer is configured for use with a fuel cell having an internal metering valve and a reciprocating, biased main stem. The nailer includes a tool housing defining a fuel cell chamber constructed and arranged for receiving the fuel cell, a fuel cell actuator assembly configured for actuating the fuel cell in the chamber to emit a measured dose of fuel during tool operation, and a fuel delivery apparatus associated with the actuator assembly for receiving the emitted dose of fuel and providing it to a combustion chamber. The fuel delivery apparatus is configured for preventing actuation of the main stem by the actuator assembly upon the fuel cell being adapter-free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Maureen L. Shea, Eric S. Gibson, Walter J. Taylor, Chris H. Porth
  • Publication number: 20090001120
    Abstract: A combustion nailer is configured for use with a fuel cell having an internal metering valve and a reciprocating, biased main stem. The nailer includes a tool housing defining a fuel cell chamber constructed and arranged for receiving the fuel cell, a fuel cell actuator assembly configured for actuating the fuel cell in the chamber to emit a measured dose of fuel during tool operation, and a fuel delivery apparatus associated with the actuator assembly for receiving the emitted dose of fuel and providing it to a combustion chamber. The fuel delivery apparatus is configured for preventing actuation of the main stem by the actuator assembly upon the fuel cell being adapter-free.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Maureen L. Shea, Eric S. Gibson, Walter J. Taylor, Chris H. Porth
  • Publication number: 20080000451
    Abstract: A combustion nailer is configured for use with a fuel cell having an internal metering valve and a reciprocating, biased main stem. The nailer includes a tool housing defining a fuel cell chamber constructed and arranged for receiving the fuel cell, a fuel cell actuator assembly configured for actuating the fuel cell in the chamber to emit a measured dose of fuel during tool operation, and a fuel delivery apparatus associated with the actuator assembly for receiving the emitted dose of fuel and providing it to a combustion chamber. The fuel delivery apparatus is configured for preventing actuation of the main stem by the actuator assembly upon the fuel cell being adapter-free.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Maureen L. Shea, Eric S. Gibson, Walter J. Taylor, Chris H. Porth
  • Patent number: 7225962
    Abstract: Fastener-advancement systems comprise a multiple lever and linkage mechanically operated system operatively connected to the driver blade member of the fastener driving tool, as well as electro-mechanically operated systems, for advancing a leading fastener of a collated strip of fasteners into the driver blade channel of the fastener-driving tool. In the electro-mechanically operated systems, push-type, pull-type, and rotary solenoid actuating members are utilized for moving the fastener-advancement feed pawl or claw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Chris H. Porth, Larry M. Moeller, Barry C. Walthall, Clayton O. Henry
  • Patent number: 6685193
    Abstract: A non-sealing, lubricating piston ring for lubricating the cylinder wall of a piston housing in a combustion tool is disclosed. The lubricating piston ring is made from a lubricating material such as polytetrofluroethylene (PTFE). The shape of the PTFE ring is designed to optimize the lubricity of the piston housing, while allowing enough friction for the piston to operate properly within the piston housing during reciprocating cycling movement. The PTFE ring may have radial fins extending from an outer surface thereof that are angled to promote ring rotations, such that the ring moves easily along and efficiently lubricates the inner cylinder wall of the piston housing. The PTFE ring does not form a seal between the piston and the housing. Instead, the PTFE ring is positioned above or below a sealing ring, such as a steel piston ring which forms the seal between the piston and the piston housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Roberts, Chris H. Porth
  • Patent number: 6584945
    Abstract: A spark unit for an internal combustion fastener-driving tool comprises a spark plug body mounted within a boss portion of the tool cylinder head, and a spark unit cathode electrode is mounted within the spark plug body in such a manner that the tip portion of the spark unit cathode electrode projects below or away from the bottom or under-surface portion of the cylinder head mounting boss. In this manner, the tip portion of the spark unit cathode electrode is not disposed within a recess or pocket region so as not to tend to accumulate dirt or oil deposits which can tend to foul or otherwise adversely affect the sparking and ignition charactreristics of the spark plug assembly and the operation of the fastener-driving tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Chris H. Porth
  • Publication number: 20030042686
    Abstract: A non-sealing,, lubricating piston ring for lubricating the cylinder wall of a piston housing in a combustion tool is disclosed. The lubricating piston ring is made from a lubricating material such as polytetrofluroethylene (PTFE). The shape of the PTFE ring is designed to optimize the lubricity of the piston housing, while allowing enough friction for the piston to operate properly within the piston housing during reciprocating cycling movement. The PTFE ring may have radial fins extending from an outer surface thereof that are angled to promote ring rotations, such that the ring moves easily along and efficiently lubricates the inner cylinder wall of the piston housing. The PTFE ring does not form a seal between the piston and the housing. Instead, the PTFE ring is positioned above or below a sealing ring, such as a steel piston ring which forms the seal between the piston and the piston housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: William Roberts, Chris H. Porth
  • Publication number: 20030037746
    Abstract: A spark unit for an internal combustion fastener-driving tool comprises a spark plug body mounted within a boss portion of the tool cylinder head, and a spark unit cathode electrode is mounted within the spark plug body in such a manner that the tip portion of the spark unit cathode electrode projects below or away from the bottom or undersurface portion of the cylinder head mounting boss. In this manner, the tip portion of the spark unit cathode electrode is not disposed within a recess or pocket region so as not to tend to accumulate dirt or oil deposits which can tend to foul or otherwise adversely affect the sparking and ignition charactreristics of the spark plug assembly and the operation of the fastener-driving tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Chris H. Porth
  • Publication number: 20030034377
    Abstract: A combustion powered fastener driving tool includes a cylinder head and a cylinder defining a combustion chamber, a nosepiece assembly connected to the cylinder and defining a drive track for accommodating a reciprocating driver blade powered by combustion in the combustion chamber, a fastener advancing mechanism associated with the nosepiece assembly for feeding a supply of fasteners to said drive track and a delivery apparatus for providing a supply of gas from the combustion chamber for actuating the fastener advancing mechanism. The fastener advancing mechanism is configured for receiving fasteners from a coil magazine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Chris H. Porth, Milovan A. Nikolich
  • Patent number: 4804048
    Abstract: A hand-held power screwdriver or like tool includes a spindle which is adapted to receive and retain tool bits for rotation thereon. A collet ring is retained with a recess on the housing for slidable movement along the spindle axis. The collet functions as a selectable spindle locking device whereby the tool may be operated as a manual screwdriver or the like by selectively positioning the collet to rigidly lock the spindle in fixed relationship to the tool housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Skil Corporation
    Inventor: Chris H. Porth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4115957
    Abstract: The front idler roller of the belt sander is mounted by a yoke for swinging movement in a plane containing the axes of both the drive and idler rollers and for shifting movement along a path generally toward and away from the drive roller. A transversely disposed shaft mounted by the tool housing has a cam formation at one end thereof received within an opening formed in the yoke; the cam is captured in this opening formed in part by a cam follower. The shaft is mounted for axial and rotational movements. Rotation of a first knob on the other end of the shaft causes the latter to move axially thereby to swing the idler roller for centering of the belt. Rotation of a second knob, concentric with the first knob and also mounted on other other end of the shaft, causes the shaft to rotate thereby activating the cam for shifting the idler roller toward the rear roller for easy belt replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: Skil Corporation
    Inventors: Chris H. Porth, E. Harold Lilja