Patents by Inventor Heather Schafer

Heather Schafer 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: 11964375
    Abstract: A multi-speed, power-driven tool may include a transmission mechanism that transmits power from a motor to an output device. A speed selection mechanism may be coupled to the transmission mechanism, to control a speed reduction through the transmission mechanism, and an output speed of the tool. The transmission mechanism may employ a compound, stepped, planetary gear assembly, to provide for an axially compact arrangement of transmission mechanism components, to reduce an axial length of the tool. The speed selection mechanism may employ a multi-staged grounding device, corresponding to the reduced axial length of the transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BLACK & DEKCER INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Gehret, David C. Tomayko, Heather Schafer, Joseph Patrick Kelleher, Joseph Carl Biser, Trevor J. Koenig
  • Publication number: 20240123518
    Abstract: A power tool chuck includes a body with a central bore extending along an axis and configured to receive a tool bit, a plurality of angled passageways, and a plurality of jaws received in the passageways and moveable between an axially forward and radially inward clamping position and an axially rearward and radially outward retracted position. At least one jaw has a rear end lying in a first plane transverse to the axis. A first key drive member coupled to a tail portion of the body is configured to be engaged by a second key drive member on a power tool output shaft to non-rotationally couple the body to the output shaft. The first key drive has a forward end lying in a second plane transverse to the axis. The second plane is axially forward of the first plane when the jaws are in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, William F. Gallagher, Louis M. Vasiliades, Trevor J. Koenig, Heather Schafer
  • Publication number: 20240044483
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing containing a motor, an output member configured to be driven by the motor to perform an operation on a workpiece, and a handle having a first end portion coupled to the housing and a second end portion. A base is coupled to the second end portion of the handle. A light emitting assembly is pivotably coupled to the base. The light emitting assembly is configured to be operable in a first mode to illuminate a workpiece and a second mode to indicate a condition of the power tool responsive to the power tool signaling the condition to the light emitting assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Brian E. Friedman, Joseph Patrick Kelleher, David Irwin, Richard Dizon, Heather Schafer, Michael Sikora, Abraham Lozier
  • Patent number: 11878355
    Abstract: A power tool chuck includes a body with a central bore extending along an axis and configured to receive a tool bit, a plurality of angled passageways, and a plurality of jaws received in the passageways and moveable between an axially forward and radially inward clamping position and an axially rearward and radially outward retracted position. At least one jaw has a rear end lying in a first plane transverse to the axis. A first key drive member coupled to a tail portion of the body is configured to be engaged by a second key drive member on a power tool output shaft to non-rotationally couple the body to the output shaft. The first key drive has a forward end lying in a second plane transverse to the axis. The second plane is axially forward of the first plane when the jaws are in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, William F. Gallagher, Louis M. Vasiliades, Trevor J. Koenig, Heather Schafer
  • Patent number: 11835217
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing containing a motor, an output member configured to be driven by the motor to perform an operation on a workpiece, and a handle having a first end portion coupled to the housing and a second end portion. A base is coupled to the second end portion of the handle. A light emitting assembly is pivotably coupled to the base. The light emitting assembly is configured to be operable in a first mode to illuminate a workpiece and a second mode to indicate a condition of the power tool responsive to the power tool signaling the condition to the light emitting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Brian E. Friedman, Joseph Patrick Kelleher, David Irwin, Richard Dizon, Heather Schafer, Michael Sikora, Abraham Lozier
  • Publication number: 20230278185
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing; an electric motor; an electronic clutch; and a clutch setting assembly that includes a variable resistive element, a clutch selector, and a contact assembly. The contact assembly includes a spring coupled to the clutch selector and a contact member with a leg configured to be insertable into an opening in the clutch selector so that the spring and the contact member are non-removable from the clutch selector and the spring biases the contact member against the variable resistive element. The contact member has a head configured to engage the variable resistive element to generate a resistance signal that corresponds to a position of the clutch selector. The controller is configured to receive the resistance signal and, based on the resistance signal, look-up, receive, or generate the torque threshold value for the power tool operation parameter that corresponds to the selected clutch setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Trevor J. KOENIG, Joseph P. KELLEHER, Rick J. HEAVEL, Heather SCHAFER, Thomas DELMONT
  • Publication number: 20220357031
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing containing a motor, an output member configured to be driven by the motor to perform an operation on a workpiece, and a handle having a first end portion coupled to the housing and a second end portion. A base is coupled to the second end portion of the handle. A light emitting assembly is pivotably coupled to the base. The light emitting assembly is configured to be operable in a first mode to illuminate a workpiece and a second mode to indicate a condition of the power tool responsive to the power tool signaling the condition to the light emitting assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Brian E. Friedman, Joseph Patrick Kelleher, David Irwin, Richard Dizon, Heather Schafer, Michael Sikora, Abraham Lozier
  • Publication number: 20210170564
    Abstract: A multi-speed, power-driven tool may include a transmission mechanism that transmits power from a motor to an output device. A speed selection mechanism may be coupled to the transmission mechanism, to control a speed reduction through the transmission mechanism, and an output speed of the tool. The transmission mechanism may employ a compound, stepped, planetary gear assembly, to provide for an axially compact arrangement of transmission mechanism components, to reduce an axial length of the tool. The speed selection mechanism may employ a multi-staged grounding device, corresponding to the reduced axial length of the transmission mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Robert S. GEHRET, David C. TOMAYKO, Heather SCHAFER, Joseph Patrick KELLEHER, Joseph Carl BISER, Trevor J. KOENIG
  • Publication number: 20200276650
    Abstract: A chuck for a power tool includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis, a central bore extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to receive a tool bit, a plurality of angled passageways defined in the body, and a plurality of jaws at least received in the passageways and moveable between an axially forward and radially inward clamping position to clamp a tool bit and an axially rearward and radially outward retracted position. At least one jaw has a rear end lying in a first plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. A first key drive member is coupled to a tail portion of the body and configured to be engaged by a second key drive member on an output shaft of a power tool to non-rotationally couple the body to the output shaft. The first key drive member extends axially from a rearward end to a forward end that lies in a second plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. The second plane is axially forward of the first plane when the jaws are in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, William F. Gallagher, Louis M. Vasiliades, Trevor J. Koenig, Heather Schafer