Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Yahnker
Christopher R. Yahnker 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).
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Publication number: 20080284373Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. The battery pack and the power tool can have complementary grooves and rails or L-shaped surfaces that aid in aligning the positive and negative blade terminals of the battery pack to the positive and negative tool terminals, respectively, of the power tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala
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Patent number: 7453234Abstract: A battery pack for a cordless power and a cordless power tool and battery pack includes the battery pack having a modular interface section that interfaces with the power tool and a battery cup section mated to the modular interface section where the battery cup section has one of a plurality of different battery/voltage configurations.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2005Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Phillips, Daniele C. Brotto, David A. Carrier, Jeffrey J. Francis, Andrew E. Seman, Jr., Danh Thanh Trinh, Christopher R. Yahnker, James B. Watson, Daniel J. White
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Patent number: 7443134Abstract: A battery pack packaging system and method includes a kit box with a body, a first receptacle in the body operable to receive at least one of a cordless device and a charging device, a second receptacle in the body, and a battery container removably received by the second receptacle, the battery container configured to meet regulatory rules for shipping a battery pack with a cordless device or separately from a cordless device.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Phillips, David A. Carrier, Danh Thanh Trinh, Andrew E. Seman, Jr., Daniele C. Brotto, Christopher R. Yahnker, Jeffrey J. Francis, Harry J. Campbell
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Patent number: 7423407Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. The battery pack and the power tool can have complementary grooves and rails or L-shaped surfaces that aid in aligning the positive and negative blade terminals of the battery pack to the positive and negative tool terminals, respectively, of the power tool.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2006Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala
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Publication number: 20080180059Abstract: In a cordless power tool system, protection methods, circuits and devices are provided to protect against fault conditions within a battery pack that is operatively attached to a power tool or charger, so as to prevent internal or external damage to the battery pack or attached tool or charger. The exemplary methods, circuits and devices address fault conditions such as over-charge, over-discharge, over-current, over-temperature, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Dave Carrier, Steve Phillips, Jeffrey J. Francis, R. Roby Bailey, Danh Thanh Trinh, Andrew E. Seman, Jr, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniele C. Brotto
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Patent number: 7397219Abstract: A battery pack with a housing and a plurality of cells disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to provide a storage capacity between about 2.17 and 2.67 ampere hours with an equivalent lithium content between about 6.5 and 8.0. The plurality of cells includes a first battery disposed in the housing and including a first plurality of cells connected in series and a second battery disposed in the housing and including a second plurality of cells connected in series, wherein the first battery and the second battery are operable in a storage mode and a use mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Steven J Phillips, David A Carrier, Danh Thanh Trinh, Andrew E Seman, Jr., Daniele C Brotto, Christopher R Yahnker, Jeff Francis, Harry J Campbell
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Patent number: 7270910Abstract: A cordless power tool has a housing which includes a mechanism to couple with a removable battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells as well as a system to dissipate heat from the battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Christopher R Yahnker, Daniele C Brotto, Erik A Ekstrom, Andrew E Seman, Jr., David A Carrier, Steven J Phillips, Michael C Doyle, Danh T Trinh, William D. Spencer, Jeffrey J. Francis, Daniel J. White
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Patent number: 7160132Abstract: A battery pack for a cordless power tool and a cordless power tool and battery pack combination includes the battery pack having a retention member that pivotally engages a retention member of the power tool and a latch system in which one of the battery pack and power tool has a ball and the other of the power tool and battery pack has a latch that engages the ball. Spring biased actuators may be used to open the latch to enable insertion or release of the ball from the latch.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2005Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Phillips, Daniele C. Brotto, David A. Carrier, Jeffrey J. Francis, Andrew E. Seman, Jr., Danh Thanh Trinh, Christopher R. Yahnker, James B. Watson, Daniel J. White
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Patent number: 7058291Abstract: A system and method for reducing the cost of producing a brushless DC motor (58) is presented. The brushless DC motor (58) provides higher power density and efficiency with an increased tool run time. The brushless DC motor (58) includes a rotor assembly (72) that has an unmagnetized permanent magnet (74) affixed to a shaft. The permanent magnet (74) remains unmagnetized until the motor is partially assembled. A plurality of coils (94) for producing a magnetic field are wound about the rotor assembly (72). The coils (94) include end turns that enclose the rotor assembly (72) such that the rotor assembly (72) is not removable. Since the windings (94) are wound with the rotor assembly (72) already enclosed, the windings (94) do not require large end coils to allow subsequent insertion of the rotor (72). Minimizing the end coils reduces the length of wire required per turn, thereby reducing the resistance of the winding (94).Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: J. Michael Weaver, Aris C. Cleanthous, Christopher R. Yahnker, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Richard T. Walter
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Cordless power tool system utilizing battery pack connection system with guide rails and guide slots
Patent number: 7005831Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. In each embodiment, the battery pack and the power tool have complementary rails and grooves that aid in aligning the positive and negative blade terminals of the battery pack to the positive and negative tool terminals, respectively, of the power tool. In one embodiment, a keying feature cooperates with a mating keying feature to further align the terminals of the battery pack to the terminals of the power tool. In a second embodiment, the battery pack includes two sets of blade terminals, with each set including a positive blade terminal and a negative blade terminal.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala -
Patent number: 6975050Abstract: A system and method for reducing the cost of producing a brushless DC motor is presented. The brushless DC motor provides higher power density and efficiency with an increased tool run time. The brushless DC motor includes a rotor assembly that has an unmagnetized permanent magnet affixed to a shaft. The permanent magnet remains unmagnetized until the motor is partially assembled. A plurality of coils for producing a magnetic field are wound about the rotor assembly. The coils include end turns that enclose the rotor assembly such that the rotor assembly is not removable. Since the windings are wound with the rotor assembly already enclosed, the windings do not require large end coils to allow subsequent insertion of the rotor. Minimizing the end coils reduces the length of wire required per turn, thereby reducing the resistance of the winding.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2001Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Aris C. Cleanthous, Bhauprasad V. Gorti, Michael J. Weaver, Christopher R. Yahnker, Richard T. Walter
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Patent number: 6972544Abstract: A battery pack for a cordless power has a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. In an embodiment of the invention, battery cells are interconnected with a laminated plate structure having non-conductive layers interspersed with conductive layers, at least one of the conductive layers connected to the battery cells to interconnect them. In an embodiment of the invention, battery cells in a battery pack are interconnected with a flexible printed circuit board having conductive traces thereon that are attached to the battery cells to interconnect them. In an embodiment of the invention, a cordless power tool has one or the other of the foregoing battery packs. In an embodiment of the invention, the battery cells are Lithium Ion battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Andrew E. Seman, Jr., Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel J. White, Daniele C. Brotto, David A. Carrier, Steven J. Phillips, Danh T. Trinh
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Publication number: 20040196002Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. In each embodiment, the battery pack and the power tool have complementary rails and grooves that aid in aligning the positive and negative blade terminals of the battery pack to the positive and negative tool terminals, respectively, of the power tool. In one embodiment, a keying feature cooperates with a mating keying feature to further align the terminals of the battery pack to the terminals of the power tool. In a second embodiment, the battery pack includes two sets of blade terminals, with each set including a positive blade terminal and a negative blade terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala
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Publication number: 20030222516Abstract: A system and method for reducing the cost of producing a brushless DC motor is presented. The brushless DC motor provides higher power density and efficiency with an increased tool run time. The brushless DC motor includes a rotor assembly that has an unmagnetized permanent magnet affixed to a shaft. The permanent magnet remains unmagnetized until the motor is partially assembled. A plurality of coils for producing a magnetic field are wound about the rotor assembly. The coils include end turns that enclose the rotor assembly such that the rotor assembly is not removable. Since the windings are wound with the rotor assembly already enclosed, the windings do not require large end coils to allow subsequent insertion of the rotor. Minimizing the end coils reduces the length of wire required per turn, thereby reducing the resistance of the winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Aris C. Cleanthous, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Michael J. Weaver, Christopher R. Yahnker, Richard T. Walter
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Patent number: 6653815Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. The system further includes a battery pack charger and a converter for converting AC electricity to DC electricity. A battery pack interface block is captured between clam shell halves of a battery pack housing and includes a plurality of male blade terminals. The male blade terminals are received within recessed female terminals of a tool terminal block and similarly received by recessed female terminals of the charger. The tool terminal block further includes a pair of male terminals which engage recessed female terminals of the converter.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala
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Publication number: 20030117108Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. The system further includes a battery pack charger and a converter for converting AC electricity to DC electricity. A battery pack interface block is captured between clam shell halves of a battery pack housing and includes a plurality of male blade terminals. The male blade terminals are received within recessed female terminals of a tool terminal block and similarly received by recessed female terminals of the charger. The tool terminal block further includes a pair of male terminals which engage recessed female terminals of the converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala
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Patent number: 6515451Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. The system further includes a battery pack charger and a converter for converting AC electricity to DC electricity. A battery pack interface block is captured between clam shell halves of a battery pack housing and includes a plurality of male blade terminals. The male blade terminals are received within recessed female terminals of a tool terminal block and similarly received by recessed female terminals of the charger. The tool terminal block further includes a pair of male terminals which engage recessed female terminals of the converter.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala
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Publication number: 20020011819Abstract: A system of cordless power tools includes a cordless power tool adapted to removably receive a rechargeable battery pack. The system further includes a battery pack charger and a converter for converting AC electricity to DC electricity. A battery pack interface block is captured between clam shell halves of a battery pack housing and includes a plurality of male blade terminals. The male blade terminals are received within recessed female terminals of a tool terminal block and similarly received by recessed female terminals of the charger. The tool terminal block further includes a pair of male terminals which engage recessed female terminals of the converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Inventors: James B. Watson, Paul S. White, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel Puzio, Thomas J. Bodine, Robert Bradus, Daniele C. Brotto, John E. Buck, Daniel J. White, Samuel G. Woods, Richard T. Walter, Edward A. Harrison, Adan Ayala
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Publication number: 20010033742Abstract: A system and method for reducing the cost of producing a brushless DC motor (58) is presented. The brushless DC motor (58) provides higher power density and efficiency with an increased tool run time. The brushless DC motor (58) includes a rotor assembly (72) that has an unmagnetized permanent magnet (74) affixed to a shaft. The permanent magnet (74) remains unmagnetized until the motor is partially assembled. A plurality of coils (94) for producing a magnetic field are wound about the rotor assembly (72). The coils (94) include end turns that enclose the rotor assembly (72) such that the rotor assembly (72) is not removable. Since the windings (94) are wound with the rotor assembly (72) already enclosed, the windings (94) do not require large end coils to allow subsequent insertion of the rotor (72). Minimizing the end coils reduces the length of wire required per turn, thereby reducing the resistance of the winding (94).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2001Publication date: October 25, 2001Inventors: J. Michael Weaver, Aris C. Cleanthous, Christopher R. Yahnker, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Richard T. Walter
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Patent number: D568340Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc., Danfoss Low Power Drives, a division of Danfoss Drive A/SInventors: Robert W Stiles, Jr., Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Ronald B Robol, Christopher R Yahnker, John Gary Bulluck, Gert Kjaer, Arne Fink Hansen