Patents by Inventor Mark D. Latz
Mark D. Latz 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: 20230340984Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
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Patent number: 11719272Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
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Patent number: 11578747Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
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Publication number: 20210270306Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
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Patent number: 11035399Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
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Publication number: 20200182280Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2020Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
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Patent number: 10570943Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
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Publication number: 20190078603Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
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Publication number: 20180135682Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
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Patent number: 8511957Abstract: A self-tapping fastener, which has been especially constructed for use in connection with the insertion and installation thereof into stucco, gypsum, wallboard, or other hard board substrates, wherein the forward end portion of the shank portion of the self-tapping fastener is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed flat sections which effectively form at least one pair of diametrically opposed tapping threads so as to effectively perform the thread tapping process despite exhibiting some abrasion of the forwardmost threads. In addition, the flat sections also effectively define recessed pockets for accommodating any dust, particles, debris, or the like, which will be generated during the thread tapping process.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Illinoks Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Mark Edward Gonciarz, Mark D. Latz, Donald J. Broomfield
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Patent number: 7682118Abstract: A fastener with multiple thread characteristics includes a shank and head. The shank has a penetrating tip distal most from the head. The shank includes a first, conventional thread formation formed therein adjacent the penetrating tip and a second, anti-back-out thread formation adjacent the conventional thread formation, between the conventional thread formation and the head.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2008Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Yongping Gong, Cheryl L. Panasik, Mark D. Latz
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Publication number: 20090269164Abstract: A self-tapping fastener, which has been especially constructed for use in connection with the insertion and installation thereof into stucco, gypsum, wallboard, or other hard board substrates, wherein the forward end portion of the shank portion of the self-tapping fastener is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed flat sections which effectively form at least one pair of diametrically opposed tapping threads so as to effectively perform the thread tapping process despite exhibiting some abrasion of the forwardmost threads. In addition, the flat sections also effectively define recessed pockets for accommodating any dust, particles, debris, or the like, which will be generated during the thread tapping process.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Mark Edward Gonciarz, Mark D. Latz, Donald J. Broomfield
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Publication number: 20080260495Abstract: A fastener with multiple thread characteristics includes a shank and head. The shank has a penetrating tip distal most from the head. The shank includes a first, conventional thread formation formed therein adjacent the penetrating tip and a second, anti-back-out thread formation adjacent the conventional thread formation, between the conventional thread formation and the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Yongping Gong, Cheryl L. Panasik, Mark D. Latz