Patents by Inventor Barry Walthall

Barry Walthall 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: 8376204
    Abstract: A magazine for a fastener driver includes an inner magazine including a first magazine wall and opposing sidewalls together defining a magazine chamber, and an outer magazine including a second magazine wall slidably engaged relative to the inner magazine to provide access to the chamber. The inner and outer magazines are configured so that at least one strip of fasteners is loadable into the magazine chamber upon the second magazine wall sliding relative to the inner magazine to provide the access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Buetow, Barry Walthall
  • Patent number: 8042718
    Abstract: A combustion nailer includes a tool housing, a combustion source disposed at least partially in the housing and including a valve sleeve reciprocating relative to a cylinder head along a tool axis between a rest position and a pre-firing position, a fuel cell chamber in the housing in operational proximity to the combustion source and dimensioned for accommodating a fuel cell, at least one pivot point associated with the fuel cell chamber transverse to the tool axis for facilitating movement of the fuel cell between a non-activated position and an activated position, and at least one actuator pivotable about the pivot point and engaging the valve sleeve at a point closer to the tool axis than to the fuel cell chamber such that movement of the valve sleeve from the rest position to the pre-firing position causes movement of the fuel cell from the non-activated position to the activated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Taylor, Barry Walthall, J. Westley Schwartzenberger, James A. Purpura
  • Publication number: 20110049212
    Abstract: A combustion nailer includes a tool housing, a combustion source disposed at least partially in the housing and including a valve sleeve reciprocating relative to a cylinder head along a tool axis between a rest position and a pre-firing position, a fuel cell chamber in the housing in operational proximity to the combustion source and dimensioned for accommodating a fuel cell, at least one pivot point associated with the fuel cell chamber transverse to the tool axis for facilitating movement of the fuel cell between a non-activated position and an activated position, and at least one actuator pivotable about the pivot point and engaging the valve sleeve at a point closer to the tool axis than to the fuel cell chamber such that movement of the valve sleeve from the rest position to the pre-firing position causes movement of the fuel cell from the non-activated position to the activated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Walter J. Taylor, Barry Walthall, J. Westley Schwartzenberger, James A. Purpura
  • Publication number: 20080272168
    Abstract: A magazine for a fastener driver includes an inner magazine including a first magazine wall and opposing sidewalls together defining a magazine chamber, and an outer magazine including a second magazine wall slidably engaged relative to the inner magazine to provide access to the chamber. The inner and outer magazines are configured so that at least one strip of fasteners is loadable into the magazine chamber upon the second magazine wall sliding relative to the inner magazine to provide the access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Robert S. Buetow, Barry Walthall
  • Publication number: 20070075112
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a sleeve defining a cylinder for accommodating a reciprocating piston and a driver blade for driving a fastener into a substrate. In addition, the tool includes a nose assembly having a nosepiece associated with the sleeve and is constructed and arranged for receiving and guiding the driver blade as it drives the fastener into the substrate. The nosepiece has a body including a first component made of one material and a second component made of a second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Chris Porth, Yury Shkolnikov, Mariam Vahabi-Nejad, Barry Walthall
  • Publication number: 20060186171
    Abstract: Fastener-advancement systems comprise a multiple lever and linkage mechanically operated system operatively connected to the driver blade member of the fastener driving tool, as well as electro-mechanically operated systems, for advancing a leading fastener of a collated strip of fasteners into the driver blade channel of the fastener-driving tool. In the electro-mechanically operated systems, push-type, pull-type, and rotary solenoid actuating members are utilized for moving the fastener-advancement feed pawl or claw member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Chris Porth, Larry Moeller, Barry Walthall, Clayton Henry
  • Publication number: 20060070761
    Abstract: A multi-position hook assembly includes a hook and a holding block. The hook includes a free leg and a mounting leg joined by a top span. In addition, the holding block is configured for rotatably receiving the mounting leg of the hook and for releasably locking the hook in a plurality of positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Mariam Vahabi-Nejad, Walter Taylor, Maureen Shea, Barry Walthall
  • Publication number: 20060065692
    Abstract: An adjustable depth of drive assembly for use with a fastener-driving tool includes a workpiece contact element having a contact end and an adjustment end, at least one stop configured for being secured to the tool and being normally moveable between an adjusting position in which the workpiece contact element is movable relative to the tool, and a locked position where the adjustment end is secured from movement relative to the tool, and at least one biasing element associated with the stop and configured for urging the stop and the adjustment end into a selected locked position relative to the tool without the use of tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Walter Taylor, Maureen Shea, William Heinzen, James Purpura, Barry Walthall
  • Publication number: 20050189390
    Abstract: An adjustable depth of drive assembly for use with a fastener driving tool includes a workpiece contact element having a contact end and an adjustment end, a cage stop securable to the tool and being movable between an adjusting position in which the workpiece contact element is movable relative to the tool and a locked position wherein the adjustment end is secured to the tool, and a locking device associated with the cage stop and reciprocable between a locked position and an adjustment position for securing the cage stop and the adjustment end in a selected locked position relative to the tool without the use of tools. It is preferred that the adjustment end of the workpiece contact element has at least one toothed edge, and the cage stop has at least one toothed surface for engaging the at least one toothed edge in the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Walter Taylor, William Heinzen, Barry Walthall
  • Patent number: 6808101
    Abstract: A tool has an improved nosepiece and shear block assembly that drives a fastener supplied from a plurality of fasteners. The assembly includes a nosepiece that is configured for attachment to the tool and defines a portion of a barrel and a shear block configured to be secured to the nosepiece to complete the barrel. There is an opening in barrel has for receiving a fastener. The assembly also includes a biased fastener-size adjustment device, which exerts a biasing force against fasteners adjacent the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Laubach, Barry Walthall
  • Publication number: 20030218044
    Abstract: A tool has an improved nosepiece and shear block assembly that drives a fastener supplied from a plurality of fasteners. The assembly includes a nosepiece that is configured for attachment to the tool and defines a portion of a barrel and a shear block configured to be secured to the nosepiece to complete the barrel. There is an opening in barrel has for receiving a fastener. The assembly also includes a biased fastener-size adjustment device, which exerts a biasing force against fasteners adjacent the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Marco Laubach, Barry Walthall