Patents by Inventor Alex DIGNAN

Alex DIGNAN 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).

  • Publication number: 20260175387
    Abstract: A fastener tool that drives a fastener into a workpiece includes a housing, a nose assembly, a driver, a motor, a flywheel, one or more sensors, and a controller. The controller is configured to adjust a speed of the driver based on 1) a difference between a first angular velocity of the flywheel measured by the one or more sensors at or before the start of the drive commencement and a second angular velocity measured by one or more sensors after the start of the drive commencement; or 2) a time difference between a first time after the start of the drive commencement when the driver and the flywheel are in engagement with each other and when the driver and the flywheel are moving at the same speed and a second time when the characteristic of the motor meets a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2026
    Publication date: June 25, 2026
    Inventors: Merrill MYERS, Alex DIGNAN, Dylan PARKER
  • Patent number: 12558765
    Abstract: A fastener tool that drives a fastener into a workpiece includes a housing, a nose assembly, a driver, a motor, a flywheel, one or more sensors, and a controller. The controller is configured to adjust a speed of the driver based on 1) a difference between a first angular velocity of the flywheel measured by the one or more sensors at or before the start of the drive commencement and a second angular velocity measured by one or more sensors after the start of the drive commencement; or 2) a time difference between a first time after the start of the drive commencement when the driver and the flywheel are in engagement with each other and when the driver and the flywheel are moving at the same speed and a second time when the characteristic of the motor meets a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Merrill Myers, Alex Dignan, Dylan Parker
  • Publication number: 20250114927
    Abstract: A fastener tool that drives a fastener into a workpiece includes a housing, a nose assembly, a driver, a motor, a flywheel, one or more sensors, and a controller. The controller is configured to adjust a speed of the driver based on 1) a difference between a first angular velocity of the flywheel measured by the one or more sensors at or before the start of the drive commencement and a second angular velocity measured by one or more sensors after the start of the drive commencement; or 2) a time difference between a first time after the start of the drive commencement when the driver and the flywheel are in engagement with each other and when the driver and the flywheel are moving at the same speed and a second time when the characteristic of the motor meets a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Merrill Myers, Alex Dignan, Dylan Parker
  • Patent number: 12083657
    Abstract: A fastening tool for driving a fastener into a workpiece is described herein. The fastening tool includes a contact trip, a magnet, and a magnetometer. The contact trip is disposed at a first end of the fastening tool and is configured to move toward a second end of the fastening tool opposite of the first end when the contact trip engages the workpiece. The magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field. The magnet is coupled to the contact trip such that movement of the contact trip causes the magnet to move. The magnetometer is configured to detect a change in the magnetic field generated by the magnet when the magnet moves relative to the magnetometer and, based on the detected change in the magnetic field, to generate a signal indicating when the contact trip engages the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Schroeder, Merrill A. Myers, III, Dylan Parker, Alex Dignan, Vivekkumar Kumar, Alastair Valentine
  • Publication number: 20220410358
    Abstract: A fastening tool for driving a fastener into a workpiece is described herein. The fastening tool includes a contact trip, a magnet, and a magnetometer. The contact trip is disposed at a first end of the fastening tool and is configured to move toward a second end of the fastening tool opposite of the first end when the contact trip engages the workpiece. The magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field. The magnet is coupled to the contact trip such that movement of the contact trip causes the magnet to move. The magnetometer is configured to detect a change in the magnetic field generated by the magnet when the magnet moves relative to the magnetometer and, based on the detected change in the magnetic field, to generate a signal indicating when the contact trip engages the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: James D. SCHROEDER, Merrill A. MYERS, III, Dylan PARKER, Alex DIGNAN, Vivekkumar KUMAR, Alastair VALENTINE