Patents Assigned to Apex Brands, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11679475
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler may include a driven body, a drive body and an insulating member. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a fastening component. The driven body includes a first interface portion and the drive body includes a second interface portion. The drive body is made of a second metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a driving tool. The insulating member is disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each. The first interface portion includes at least one axially extending portion that extends toward the drive body, and the second interface portion includes at least one axially extending portion that extends toward the driven body. The insulating member is disposed between the respective at least one axially extending portions of the first and second interface portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: James Richard Raskin, Matthew Paul Keller
  • Patent number: 11660682
    Abstract: A chuck (10) is provided that includes a plurality of jaws (20) and a body (30) configured to rotate with a drive spindle of a power driver. The chuck (10) may also include a nut (80) comprising nut teeth (82). The nut (80) may be operably coupled to the jaws (20) and configured to move the jaws (20) relative to the body (30) in the opening or closing direction. The chuck (10) may also include a clutch (100) comprising clutch teeth (102). The clutch (100) may be configured to move between a working position and a jaw actuating position. In the working position, the clutch teeth (102) may be engaged with the nut teeth (82) to prevent movement of the nut (80) relative to the body (30), and, in the jaw actuating position, the clutch teeth (102) need not be engaged with the nut teeth (82) and the nut (80) may be free to move relative to the body (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: APEX BRANDS, INC., JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTUIRNG (SUZHOU) COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jichun Zhou
  • Patent number: 11619477
    Abstract: A tape measuring device includes a housing having a first case half, a second case half, and an aperture. The device also includes a reel assembly disposed in the housing, a tape having a first end operably coupled to an end hook and configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and having a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and a retraction assembly configured to interface with the reel assembly to enable the tape, after extension from the housing, to be wound onto the reel assembly. The first case half includes a first metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener, and the second case half includes a second metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener. The first and second case halves may be operably coupled together via one or more fasteners operably coupling the first metallic case plate to the second metallic case plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil McKinley Wilson
  • Patent number: 11614316
    Abstract: A tape measuring device includes a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly disposed in the housing, a tape having a first end operably coupled to an end hook and configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and having a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and a retraction assembly configured to interface with the reel assembly to enable the tape, after extension from the housing, to be wound onto the reel assembly. The retraction assembly includes a crank operably coupled to the reel assembly to turn the reel assembly responsive to rotation of the crank, and includes a knob operably coupled to the crank via a knob hinge. The knob hinge is rotatable between a closed position for storage or transport and an open position for operation of the retraction assembly, and is configured to be retained in each of the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil McKinley Wilson
  • Patent number: 11590645
    Abstract: A wrench rack includes a base portion having a first side and a second side, and a first rail and a second rail. Each of the first rail and second rail includes a plurality of wrench slots formed at a predetermined angle. The first rail and second rail are releasably coupled with the first side and second side of the base portion, respectively, in a first configuration and the first rail and second rail are releasably coupled to the second side and first side of the base portion, respectively, in a second configuration, such that an orientation of the predetermined angle of the wrench slots of the first configuration is reversed in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Steinweg, Eric Van Fossen
  • Patent number: 11583989
    Abstract: A torque transfer assembly for an impact bit holder may include a jacket operably coupled to a driven body having a driven end configured to interface with a bit, and a multi-start thread assembly operably coupling the jacket to a drive body having a drive end configured to interface with a powered driver. The torque transfer assembly may be disposed between the drive body and driven body and may be configured to transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Annamalai Pugalumperumal
  • Patent number: 11565383
    Abstract: An electrically isolated adapter may include a drive body made of first metallic material extending along a common axis, a driven body made of a second metallic material extending along the common axis, and an isolation assembly formed of insulating material disposed between the drive body and the driven body. The drive body may include a drive head configured to interface with a socket or fastener. The insulating material has a resistance to electrical current that is higher than the resistance to electrical current of at least one of the first metallic material and the second metallic material. The driven body may include a drive receiver configured to interface with a protrusion of a driving tool. A portion of one of the drive body or the driven body is received inside a portion of the other of the drive body or the driven body such that the drive body and driven body overlap each other along the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Mesnil, Rolf Reitz De Swardt
  • Patent number: 11554470
    Abstract: A bidirectional extraction socket may include a driven end configured to receive drive power from a driving tool, a drive end configured to interface with a fastener, and a body portion extending between the driven end and the drive end about an axis of the extraction socket. The drive end includes a fastener engagement recess extending into the body portion and coaxial with the body portion. The fastener engagement recess is configured to engage with the fastener such that the fastener is drivable in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction while avoiding contact with corner portions of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy T. McKenzie, Zhihong Fu
  • Patent number: 11554604
    Abstract: A speed square is provided including a triangular flat plate having measurement markings indicated on at least one face, a T bar affixed to, and extending along, the length of a first side of the triangular flat plate, and an extension element hingedly connected to an end of second side of the triangular flat plate opposite the T bar. The extension element having measurement markings indicated on at least one face, such that the measurement markings of the triangular flat face continue on the extension element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Brendan Michael Walsh, Timothy T. McKenzie
  • Patent number: 11534903
    Abstract: A power tool (130) may include an end effector (200) configured to engage an object to be worked by the tool, a power unit (230), a drive assembly (210) configured to drive the end effector responsive to application of input power thereto, and a motor (220) configured to supply the input power to the drive assembly selectively based on operation of a power control assembly (240) that controls coupling of the motor to the power unit. The power control assembly includes a trigger (300) having a full range of motion (310) between a rest position and an actuated position. The power control assembly further defines a transition point (316) between a first region (312) and a second region (314) of the full range of motion. The power control assembly includes a first biasing assembly (330) that opposes movement of the trigger in the first region, and a second biasing assembly (340) that opposes movement of the trigger at least at the transition point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventor: Steven Craig Smith
  • Patent number: 11529720
    Abstract: A rotating power tool is provided. The rotating power tool may include a bevel gear set having a bevel gear and a conductive spiral disposed on the bevel gear. The conductive spiral may be configured to, in response to the bevel gear deforming due to a torque being applied to the bevel gear, change a resistance of the conductive spiral. The rotating power tool may further include an antenna electrically connected to the conductive spiral. The antenna may be configured to emit an output signal at a frequency that is based on the resistance value of the conductive spiral. The frequency of the output signal may be indicative of an amount of torque being applied to the bevel gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Francis Kovacs, II
  • Patent number: 11525657
    Abstract: A measuring wheel may include a wheel assembly comprising a first wheel and a second wheel, a handle operably coupled to a shaft, a housing to which the shaft and the wheel assembly are operably coupled, and a fixed stand disposed at a portion of the housing substantially between the first and second wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Michael Cobb, David Jonathan Byron, John Medicus
  • Patent number: 11524400
    Abstract: A tool chest may include a base portion, two opposing sidewalls, a drawer portion and a lid. The sidewalls extend substantially parallel to each other on opposite sides of the base portion to define a tool repository between the sidewalls. The lid has a closed position covering a top of the tool chest, and an open position in which access is provided to the tool repository. The drawer portion is slidable to at least partially remove the drawer portion from the base portion. The drawer portion is automatically locked by closing the lid via a locking assembly that is operable configured to automatically unlock with the lid is open unless the locking assembly is retained in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Samsel, Matthew Poppe, Andrew Speciale
  • Patent number: 11517959
    Abstract: A hydraulic power tool is provided including a rivet squeezer comprising two opposing surfaces, a hydraulic cylinder configured to move the surfaces between an open position and a compressed position, a hydraulic pump configured to provide hydraulic pressure to actuate the hydraulic cylinder in a first direction, and an air tank configured to provide pneumatic pressure to actuate the hydraulic cylinder in a second direction. Actuation of the hydraulic cylinder in the first direction causes the surfaces to move from the open position to the compressed position and actuation of the hydraulic cylinder in the second direction causes the surfaces to move from the compressed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Christophe Dugenne, Romain Delanoue
  • Patent number: 11511398
    Abstract: A hand tool includes a handle section, a working end operably coupled to the handle section, and a jaw assembly disposed at the working end. The jaw assembly includes a movable jaw and a fixed jaw. A span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw is adjustable. Each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw includes an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other. The array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw includes a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth. The first depth is less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Noah Thomas Steen, Kelsey David Gilmore
  • Patent number: D971705
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Bublitz, Pratik Bendale
  • Patent number: D973460
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Ryan Imsand, Jonathan Eziquiel-Shriro
  • Patent number: D982405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihong Fu, Nicholas Ryan Imsand
  • Patent number: D983053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujith Sunny, Anthony Katsaros
  • Patent number: D986077
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventor: Sujith Sunny