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).

  • Patent number: 11839066
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz
  • Patent number: 11831035
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven T. Sommerfeld, Benjamin D. Gall, Hui Shu Beldon Liu
  • Publication number: 20220263173
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Steven T. SOMMERFELD, Benjamin D. GALL, Hui Shu Beldon LIU
  • Patent number: 11271269
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven T. Sommerfeld, Benjamin D. Gall, Hui Shu Beldon Liu
  • Publication number: 20210167452
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Steven T. SOMMERFELD, Benjamin D. GALL, Hui Shu Beldon LIU
  • Publication number: 20210022272
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz
  • Patent number: 10827655
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz
  • Publication number: 20180376625
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz