Patents by Inventor Steven T. Sommerfeld
Steven T. Sommerfeld 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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Patent number: 11839066Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz
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Patent number: 11831035Abstract: A battery pack and a method for connecting a battery pack to an electronic device to power to the electronic device (e.g., a headlamp, a flashlight, a flood light, a drill, a driver, etc.). The battery pack includes a generally cylindrical housing defined by an arcuate sidewall extending between a first end surface and a second end surface and defining an interior cavity configured to support at least one battery cell (e.g., a lithium-ion battery cell). The battery pack includes a first insertion alignment member engageable with a first battery alignment member of the electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the electronic device in a first direction and a second insertion alignment member engageable with a second battery alignment member of another electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the other electronic device in a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventors: Steven T. Sommerfeld, Benjamin D. Gall, Hui Shu Beldon Liu
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Publication number: 20220263173Abstract: A battery pack and a method for connecting a battery pack to an electronic device to power to the electronic device (e.g., a headlamp, a flashlight, a flood light, a drill, a driver, etc.). The battery pack includes a generally cylindrical housing defined by an arcuate sidewall extending between a first end surface and a second end surface and defining an interior cavity configured to support at least one battery cell (e.g., a lithium-ion battery cell). The battery pack includes a first insertion alignment member engageable with a first battery alignment member of the electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the electronic device in a first direction and a second insertion alignment member engageable with a second battery alignment member of another electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the other electronic device in a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Steven T. SOMMERFELD, Benjamin D. GALL, Hui Shu Beldon LIU
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Patent number: 11271269Abstract: A battery pack and a method for connecting a battery pack to an electronic device to power to the electronic device (e.g., a headlamp, a flashlight, a flood light, a drill, a driver, etc.). The battery pack includes a generally cylindrical housing defined by an arcuate sidewall extending between a first end surface and a second end surface and defining an interior cavity configured to support at least one battery cell (e.g., a lithium-ion battery cell). The battery pack includes a first insertion alignment member engageable with a first battery alignment member of the electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the electronic device in a first direction and a second insertion alignment member engageable with a second battery alignment member of another electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the other electronic device in a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven T. Sommerfeld, Benjamin D. Gall, Hui Shu Beldon Liu
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Publication number: 20210167452Abstract: A battery pack and a method for connecting a battery pack to an electronic device to power to the electronic device (e.g., a headlamp, a flashlight, a flood light, a drill, a driver, etc.). The battery pack includes a generally cylindrical housing defined by an arcuate sidewall extending between a first end surface and a second end surface and defining an interior cavity configured to support at least one battery cell (e.g., a lithium-ion battery cell). The battery pack includes a first insertion alignment member engageable with a first battery alignment member of the electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the electronic device in a first direction and a second insertion alignment member engageable with a second battery alignment member of another electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the other electronic device in a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Steven T. SOMMERFELD, Benjamin D. GALL, Hui Shu Beldon LIU
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Publication number: 20210022272Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz
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Patent number: 10827655Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool CorporationInventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz
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Publication number: 20180376625Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz