Patents by Inventor Larry D. Mercer

Larry D. Mercer 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: 8621734
    Abstract: A collet for a fastener installation tool having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth. The teeth include a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The pull section includes a protrusion extending from the fastener engagement end, thereby extending the length of the pull section. The pull section includes a cross-sectional thickness, wherein the collet is adapted to engage a pin member having a locking portion with a first diameter and a pull portion with a smaller second diameter. An increase in the difference between the first diameter of the locking portion and the second diameter of the pull portion of the pin member allows for a corresponding increase in the cross-sectional thickness of the collet, thereby extending the fatigue life of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Patent number: 7921530
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool including an anvil member having a swage cavity, a collet having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth, and an anvil member. The plurality of teeth includes a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The collet has a protrusion extending the length of the pull section to increase the contact area with the anvil member. The anvil member includes a swage cavity with an entrance section, a swage land located adjacent to the entrance section, and an inner bore located adjacent to the swage land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Publication number: 20110057398
    Abstract: A collet for a fastener installation tool having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth. The teeth include a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The pull section includes a protrusion extending from the fastener engagement end, thereby extending the length of the pull section. The pull section includes a cross-sectional thickness, wherein the collet is adapted to engage a pin member having a locking portion with a first diameter and a pull portion with a smaller second diameter. An increase in the difference between the first diameter of the locking portion and the second diameter of the pull portion of the pin member allows for a corresponding increase in the cross-sectional thickness of the collet, thereby extending the fatigue life of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: LARRY D. MERCER, Robert J. Corbett
  • Publication number: 20110047770
    Abstract: An anvil member for a fastener installation tool having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a swage cavity extending between the first and second ends, an entrance section located at the first end, a swage land located adjacent to the entrance section and having a first inner diameter, and an inner bore located adjacent to the swage land and having a second inner diameter. The swage land is adapted to transmit a radially inward swage load applied by the anvil member. The swage land includes a width that is that is smaller than a length of the anvil member extending between the first and second ends thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Patent number: 7896598
    Abstract: A swage-type fastener to secure a plurality of workpieces together, which includes a pin member, having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. The collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin member is also provided, a reduced diameter, and a relatively short pull portion pin extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Patent number: 7891924
    Abstract: A low swage load fastening system is provided for installing swage-type fasteners to secure a plurality of workpieces together. The fastener includes a pin member, having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. As one aspect of the system, the collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin is also provided, a reduced diameter, relatively short pull portion pin extension, installation tool improvements, and an associated method of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Publication number: 20100266363
    Abstract: A swage-type fastener to secure a plurality of workpieces together, which includes a pin member, having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. The collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin member is also provided, a reduced diameter, and a relatively short pull portion pin extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Publication number: 20100257714
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool including an anvil member having a swage cavity, a collet having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth, and an anvil member. The plurality of teeth includes a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The collet has a protrusion extending the length of the pull section to increase the contact area with the anvil member. The anvil member includes a swage cavity with an entrance section, a swage land located adjacent to the entrance section, and an inner bore located adjacent to the swage land.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Publication number: 20080247841
    Abstract: A low swage load fastening system is provided for installing swage-type fasteners to secure a plurality of workpieces together. The fastener includes a pin member, having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. As one aspect of the system, the collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin is also provided, a reduced diameter, relatively short pull portion pin extension, installation tool improvements, and an associated method of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Patent number: 7293339
    Abstract: A low swage load fastening system is provided for installing swage-type fasteners to secure a plurality of workpieces together. The fastener includes a pin member having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. As one aspect of the system, the collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin is also provided, a reduced diameter, relatively short pull portion pin extension, installation tool improvements, and an associated method of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Mercer, Robert J. Corbett
  • Patent number: 4540447
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to swage type fasteners including a pin having a plurality of combination locking and breakneck grooves and a collar adapted to be swaged into the grooves with one of the grooves acting as a breakneck whereby the excess length of pin is severed generally at the end of the collar and also relates to a method of making the pin. The multigrip pin is formed generally into its final shape and then is subject to a heat treating process to provide a desirable microstructure whereby more consistent breaks at the selected groove occurs. In one form of the invention a desirable microstructure consists of predominantly pearlite colonies with a proeutectoid ferrite matrix interspersed at the boundaries of pearlite colonies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Huck Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Mercer