Patents by Inventor David C. Graf

David C. Graf 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: 11951601
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A rotary lifter is engageable with the driver blade and configured to receive torque from the drive unit for returning the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. The lifter has a body, a drive pin coupled to the body, and a roller positioned on the drive pin. The roller includes an engagement section configured to receive an end portion of a tooth of the driver blade. The lifter includes a means for aligning the engagement section with the end portion of the tooth on the driver blade to facilitate meshing between the end portion and the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Beth E. Cholst, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, David A Bierdeman, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger
  • Publication number: 20240083002
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a magazine having a magazine cover and a magazine body. The magazine cover includes a top surface having an opening defined therein. The magazine body is slidably movable relative to the magazine cover from a closed position to an open position. A latch is coupled to the top surface of the magazine cover and extends through the opening in the top surface of the magazine cover. The latch includes a latch projection that defines a first contact surface. A pusher body is slidably coupled to the magazine body and includes an arm member that defines a second contact surface. A biasing member biases the pusher toward a nosepiece when the magazine body is in the closed position. The first and second contact surfaces are engageable to hold the pusher body in a latched position when the magazine body is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Coby A. Nettleton, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Marcus Wechselberger, David C. Graf, Alex D. Servais
  • Publication number: 20230264332
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a housing, a nosepiece extending from the housing, a driver blade movable within the nosepiece between a ready position and a driven position the driver blade comprising a plurality of drive teeth on a first side of the driver blade and a plurality of locking projections on a second side of the driver blade, a piston coupled to the driver blade for movement therewith, a driver cylinder within which the piston is movable, a storage chamber cylinder containing pressurized gas therein and in fluid communication with the driver cylinder, a first end of the driver cylinder being affixed to a corresponding first end of the storage chamber cylinder, and a latch actuator assembly adjacent the driver blade, wherein the latch actuator assembly includes a latch to engage one of the plurality of locking projections to prevent the driver blade from moving toward the driven position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Ivan N. Zozulya, Travis W. Leathrum, Troy C. Thorson, Michael B. Koeppel, Bradley S. Houskamp, Lokeshwaran Rajendran, Mitchell A. Ellena, David C. Graf, Caleb M. Schober
  • Publication number: 20230191575
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade and a drive unit having an output shaft for providing torque to move the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. A rotary lifter is engageable with the driver blade and configured to receive torque from the output shaft of the drive unit in a first rotational direction for returning the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. A kickout arrangement is defined between the lifter and the output shaft and configured to permit limited movement of the lifter relative to the output shaft between a first position and a second position. The kickout arrangement having a curvilinear slot defined in the rotary lifter in which a portion of the output shaft is received. Movement of the rotary lifter from the first position toward the second position causes the slot to move relative to the output shaft, while the output shaft remains within the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20230138234
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is positioned on the drive pin and engages with a tooth of the driver blade when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. The roller includes a first engagement section that receives an end portion of the tooth and a second engagement section. An engagement member engages the second engagement section for aligning the first engagement section of the roller with the end portion of the tooth to facilitate meshing between the end portion of the tooth and the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20230122029
    Abstract: A gas spring-powered fastener driver includes a cylinder, a storage chamber cylinder having pressurized air in communication with the cylinder, a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder, a driver blade extending from a first side of the piston and movable therewith between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position, a one-way seal carried onboard the piston and disposed between the piston and the cylinder, the one-way seal being configured permit a bypass flow of pressurized air from the first side of the piston, past the one-way seal, and into a space within the cylinder adjacent an opposite, second side of the piston during movement of the piston and driver blade from the top-dead-center position to the bottom-dead-center position, thereby increasing a pressure of the pressurized air within the cylinder and storage chamber cylinder, and a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the storage chamber cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Andrew R. Wyler, Travis W. Leathrum, David C. Graf, Alex J. Brasel
  • Patent number: 11577372
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The rotary lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is rotatably coupled to the drive pin and includes a non-cylindrical outer peripheral surface defining a plurality of engagement sections. A tooth of the driver blade is configured to engage one of the engagement sections when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Patent number: 11571794
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is positioned on the drive pin and engages with a tooth of the driver blade when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. The roller includes a first engagement section that receives an end portion of the tooth and a second engagement section. An engagement member engages the second engagement section for aligning the first engagement section of the roller with the end portion of the tooth to facilitate meshing between the end portion of the tooth and the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220234183
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The rotary lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is rotatably coupled to the drive pin and includes a non-cylindrical outer peripheral surface defining a plurality of engagement sections. A tooth of the driver blade is configured to engage one of the engagement sections when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220234182
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is positioned on the drive pin and engages with a tooth of the driver blade when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. The roller includes a first engagement section that receives an end portion of the tooth and a second engagement section. An engagement member engages the second engagement section for aligning the first engagement section of the roller with the end portion of the tooth to facilitate meshing between the end portion of the tooth and the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220226978
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing defining a head portion and a handle portion, a drive mechanism positioned within the housing, and a firing mechanism. The firing mechanism includes a piston, a driver blade attached to the piston, a biasing member having a first end supported within the piston and a second end supported by the head portion, and a damper positioned between the firing mechanism and the head portion of the housing. The damper configured to attenuate one or more of noise or vibration from the firing mechanism as the driver blade moves from the top dead center position toward the bottom dead center position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Coby A. Nettleton, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Marcus Wechselberger, David C. Graf, Alex D. Servais
  • Publication number: 20220219301
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A kickout arrangement is at least partially defined by an outer surface on one of a torque output member and a torque input member and an aperture formed in the other of the torque output member and the torque input member in which the outer surface is received. The kickout arrangement configured to permit limited rotation of the torque output member relative to the torque input member between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220143798
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A rotary lifter is engageable with the driver blade and configured to receive torque from the drive unit for returning the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. The lifter has a body, a drive pin coupled to the body, and a roller positioned on the drive pin. The roller includes an engagement section configured to receive an end portion of a tooth of the driver blade. The lifter includes a means for aligning the engagement section with the end portion of the tooth on the driver blade to facilitate meshing between the end portion and the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Beth E. Cholst, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, David A. Bierdeman, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger
  • Patent number: D862293
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: Ben McGinley, Brad Richards, Kirk Rasmussen, David C. Graf, Richard W. Elchert