Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Tucker

Kevin M. Tucker 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).

  • Publication number: 20240016692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for applying pressure to a body part of a subject, wherein the device comprises a plurality of pressure units and each pressure unit comprises a support structure and a movable member having three translational degrees of freedom relative to the support structure, wherein each pressure unit is connected or connectable to a control unit adapted to control the movement of the movable member relative to the support structure of the pressure unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Nagarajan Muthuraman Thoppey, Geoffrey Spinks, Christopher Richards, Kevin M. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8313545
    Abstract: A filter element for a combustion tool includes a filter medium having pores with a pore size greater than a target particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Kevin M. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20110042528
    Abstract: An interface adaptor connector for effectively connecting one end of a seismic sway brace or restraint pipe, which is fixedly connected to, for example, a water pipe of a building sprinkler system, to a suitable support anchor which is adapted to be fixedly connected to an overhead ceiling or structural beam member of a building within which a sprinkler system has been installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tucker, Louis Thomas, Cheryl L. Panasik, Robert B. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7802500
    Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool is configured to drive a threaded fastener using both linear and rotational motion. The tool allows a fastener to first be driven linearly, without rotation, through a surface material and into a substrate material, preferably to a depth that causes the fastener to at least pierce the substrate material. The tool then rotates the threaded fastener and causes it to fully engage the substrate material, thereby fastening the surface material to the substrate material. The tool has sufficient linear force to drive a fastener into relatively hard substrate materials, such as steel studs, and has a stationary air motor assembly to reduce recoil generated during the driving process. The tool further comprises a gear reducer assembly that uses a compound planetary gear in order to reduce the overall length of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert K. Kolodziej, Kevin M. Tucker, Yongping Gong, Louis Thomas, Cheryl L. Panasik
  • Publication number: 20090165600
    Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool is configured to drive a threaded fastener using both linear and rotational motion. The tool allows a fastener to first be driven linearly, without rotation, through a surface material and into a substrate material, preferably to a depth that causes the fastener to at least pierce the substrate material. The tool then rotates the threaded fastener and causes it to fully engage the substrate material, thereby fastening the surface material to the substrate material. The tool has sufficient linear force to drive a fastener into relatively hard substrate materials, such as steel studs, and has a stationary air motor assembly to reduce recoil generated during the driving process. The tool further comprises a gear reducer assembly that uses a compound planetary gear in order to reduce the overall length of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Norbert K. Kolodziej, Kevin M. Tucker, Yongping Gong, Louis Thomas, Cheryl L. Panasik
  • Patent number: 7546938
    Abstract: A housing for a power tool having a power source, includes a fuel cell chamber configured for attachment to the power source and dimensioned for operationally receiving a fuel cell in either one of a first orientation and a second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Kevin M. Tucker, James W. Robinson, Norbert K. Kolodziej, Yongping Gong
  • Publication number: 20090095249
    Abstract: A filter element for a combustion tool includes a filter medium having pores with a pore size greater than a target particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Kevin M. Tucker
  • Patent number: 7201302
    Abstract: A driver blade for use in a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool includes an elongate tubular body having a combustion end and a driving end, the combustion end being configured for attachment to a piston, and the driving end having a substantially solid cross-section. The tubular body is in fluid communication with a tool combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Kevin M. Tucker, Norbert K. Kolodziej, Yongping Gong, Robert B. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7143920
    Abstract: A housing for a power tool includes a primary handle configured for accommodating a primary hand used to control the operation of the tool, the handle having a first end closer to a power source of the tool, and a second end distal of the power source, a secondary handle configured for accommodating a secondary hand, being associated with the distal end and defining a distal extremity of the tool offsetting the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Kevin M. Tucker, James W. Robinson, Yongping Gong, Norbert K. Kolodziej
  • Patent number: 7097083
    Abstract: A cage and upper probe assembly for use in a fastener-driving tool includes a cage including a base and a plurality of arms configured for attachment to a valve sleeve, a probe configured for direct attachment to the cage and having at least one lobe formation for receiving an impact operationally generated by a pusher rod, and the probe being attached to the cage so that the impact of the pusher rod upon the probe is directly transmitted to the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert K. Kolodziej, Yongping Gong, Kevin M. Tucker, Cheryl L. Panasik
  • Patent number: 7040521
    Abstract: A combustion tool having a gas actuated magazine advance includes a combustion chamber defined in part by a cylinder, a valve sleeve axially reciprocating relative to the cylinder and an upper surface of a piston, a pneumatically actuated magazine fastener mechanism, and an exhaust driven actuation feed tube having a first end configured for insertion into an opening in the cylinder in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and a second end connected to the magazine fastener advance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert K. Kolodziej, Cheryl L. Panasik, Kevin M. Tucker, James W. Robinson, Yongping Gong
  • Patent number: 6892922
    Abstract: For use in a fastener driving tool, a fastener assembly includes a plurality of fasteners arranged in a row, each fastener including a head and an elongated shank and a carrier including a plurality of connected carrier sleeves for receiving and surrounding a portion of an associated fastener. Each of the carrier sleeves includes an axis, an upper breakable portion, a middle portion, a lower breakable portion, a pedestal associated with the lower breakable portion, the pedestal axially extending away from the lower breakable collar, and a pair of notches in the lower breakable portion, the pair of notches opening toward the head of the associated fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tucker, Frank K. Villari
  • Patent number: 6708821
    Abstract: For use in a fastener driving tool, a fastener assembly includes a plurality of fasteners arranged in a row, each fastener including a head and an elongated shank and a carrier including a plurality of connected carrier sleeves for receiving and surrounding a portion of an associated fastener. Each of the carrier sleeves includes an axis, an upper breakable portion, a middle portion, a lower breakable portion, a pedestal associated with the lower breakable portion, the pedestal axially extending away from the lower breakable collar, and a pair of notches in the lower breakable portion, the pair of notches opening toward the head of the associated fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tucker, Frank K. Villari
  • Publication number: 20040035901
    Abstract: For use in a fastener driving tool, a fastener assembly includes a plurality of fasteners arranged in a row, each fastener including a head and an elongated shank and a carrier including a plurality of connected carrier sleeves for receiving and surrounding a portion of an associated fastener. Each of the carrier sleeves includes an axis, an upper breakable portion, a middle portion, a lower breakable portion, a pedestal associated with the lower breakable portion, the pedestal axially extending away from the lower breakable collar, and a pair of notches in the lower breakable portion, the pair of notches opening toward the head of the associated fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tucker, Frank K. Villari
  • Publication number: 20040035906
    Abstract: For use in a fastener driving tool, a fastener assembly includes a plurality of fasteners arranged in a row, each fastener including a head and an elongated shank and a carrier including a plurality of connected carrier sleeves for receiving and surrounding a portion of an associated fastener. Each of the carrier sleeves includes an axis, an upper breakable portion, a middle portion, a lower breakable portion, a pedestal associated with the lower breakable portion, the pedestal axially extending away from the lower breakable collar, and a pair of notches in the lower breakable portion, the pair of notches opening toward the head of the associated fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tucker, Frank K. Villari
  • Patent number: 6679412
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool is provided having a housing with an axis, the housing enclosing a piston having a driver blade, a nosepiece associated with the housing and extending in the axial direction, the nosepiece having a barrel for accepting a fastener and for axially guiding the driver blade toward impact with the fastener, a magazine associated with the nosepiece for feeding a collation strip of fasteners to the barrel of the nosepiece, and a magazine follower slidably mounted on the magazine for biasing the collation strip of fasteners toward the nosepiece, the magazine follower having a profile, and wherein the collation strip includes an extension having a profile that complements the profile of the magazine follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Thomas, Kevin M. Tucker
  • Patent number: 6568302
    Abstract: A support device for use within a fastener driving tool is fixedly attached to the tool's workpiece contact element so as to be movable therewith between extended and retracted positions. When the workpiece contact element, and the support device mounted thereon, are moved to the retracted position, a pocket or recessed portion of the support device will envelop a tip portion of a second uppermost fastener disposed within the tool magazine, while the first uppermost fastener is disposed within the tool drive bore, such that the second uppermost fastener, as well as the remaining fasteners within the magazine, is properly supported and stabilized such that shock and vibrational forces, attendant the driving of the first uppermost fastener, are effectively prevented from being transmitted to the second uppermost and remaining fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tucker, Larry Reinebach, Louis Thomas, Robert G. Kobetsky, Norbert K. Kolodziej
  • Publication number: 20030029282
    Abstract: A support device for use within a fastener driving tool is fixedly attached to the tool's workpiece contact element so as to be movable therewith between extended and retracted positions. When the workpiece contact element, and the support device mounted thereon, are moved to the retracted position, a pocket or recessed portion of the support device will envelop a tip portion of a second uppermost fastener disposed within the tool magazine, while the first uppermost fastener is disposed within the tool drive bore, such that the second uppermost fastener, as well as the remaining fasteners within the magazine, is properly supported and stabilized such that shock and vibrational forces, attendant the driving of the first uppermost fastener, are effectively prevented from being transmitted to the second uppermost and remaining fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tucker, Larry Reinebach, Louis Thomas, Robert G. Kobetsky, Norbert K. Kolodziej
  • Patent number: 6406243
    Abstract: An attachment implement, for use in connection with the mounting of a relatively thin, highly dense insulation panel upon an underlying structural substrate, comprises a washer plate portion and an integral lower body portion which has a substantially inverted dome-shaped or bell-shaped configuration. The axial depth dimension of the implement is relatively shallow or small, and the inverted dome-shaped or bell-shaped configuration advantageously distributes or disperses the compressive forces attendant the mounting of the insulation panel upon the underlying structural substrate whereby desired compression of the insulation panel, and its rigidifying or strength-enhancing membrane, occurs without tearing or cutting of the insulation panel and its membrane so as not to adversely affect the strength, rigidity, and structural integrity of the insulation panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert K. Kolodziej, Kevin M. Tucker, Larry Reinebach
  • Patent number: D548559
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Kevin M. Tucker, Norbert K. Kolodziej, Yongping Gong, James W. Robinson