Patents by Inventor Bruce Thielges

Bruce Thielges 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: 11759914
    Abstract: A vise assembly is disclosed. In one example, the vise assembly includes a vise body and a jaw pusher movably coupled to the vise body. The jaw pusher includes a jaw insert having a first top edge and a second top edge, where the first top edge is an outward extending radius edge. A jaw is provided having a jaw top and a jaw bottom, the jaw bottom including a recess for receiving the jaw insert, the recess including a ramped surface extending longitudinally along a top edge for receiving the jaw insert radius edge and wherein the positioned on the jaw pusher without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Mate Precision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Thielges, Patrick Bear, William Dahlquist, Gregory Ferry, Steven Flynn, Joseph Schneider, Larry Villeneuve, Christopher Wark
  • Publication number: 20220040819
    Abstract: A vise assembly is disclosed. In one example, the vise assembly includes a vise body and a jaw pusher movably coupled to the vise body. The jaw pusher includes a jaw insert having a first top edge and a second top edge, where the first top edge is an outward extending radius edge. A jaw is provided having a jaw top and a jaw bottom, the jaw bottom including a recess for receiving the jaw insert, the recess including a ramped surface extending longitudinally along a top edge for receiving the jaw insert radius edge and wherein the positioned on the jaw pusher without the use of tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Mate Precision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Thielges, Patrick Bear, William Dahlquist, Gregory Ferry, Steven Flynn, Joseph Schneider, Larry Villeneuve, Christopher Wark
  • Patent number: 11033948
    Abstract: A punch and die set and selection apparatus adapted for sheet material forming, to work cooperatively with an automated punch press to select one of a set of punches and dies to operate within said apparatus to be engaged with the punch-press load-applying ram and tool holders, and to compel or allow the non-selected dies to be moved away from the sheet material so as not to impinge on or damage the sheet material being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Mate Precision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Morgan, Bruce Thielges
  • Patent number: 10953453
    Abstract: A punch or die component for a press brake apparatus includes a tool body having a coupling end adapted for coupling with a holder, and a working end adapted for operation on a workpiece. One or more magnetic elements can be adapted for selective engagement of the punch or die component within a press apparatus by magnetic coupling with the tool body, where the working end is configured for forming the workpiece by operation of the press apparatus. The magnetic coupling can be defined between the tool body and holder disposed adjacent the coupling end, or between the tool body and an adjacent punch or die component disposed along a side surface of the tool body, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mate Precision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Sundquist, Bruce Thielges, Ron Windingstad
  • Publication number: 20190366411
    Abstract: A punch and die set and selection apparatus adapted for sheet material forming, to work cooperatively with an automated punch press to select one of a set of punches and dies to operate within said apparatus to be engaged with the punch-press load-applying ram and tool holders, and to compel or allow the non-selected dies to be moved away from the sheet material so as not to impinge on or damage the sheet material being formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Morgan, Bruce Thielges
  • Patent number: 10328479
    Abstract: A punch assembly includes a punch body having an axis and a replaceable punch tip configured for a punching operation, e.g., in a punch press apparatus. A laterally manipulated coupling pin is provided to selectively engage the punch tip with the punch body along the axis, and to selective disengage the punch tip from the punch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Mate Precision Tooling, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Thielges
  • Publication number: 20190134691
    Abstract: A tool or die component for a press brake apparatus includes a tool body having a coupling end adapted for coupling with a holder, and a working end adapted for operation on a workpiece. One or more magnetic elements can be adapted for selective engagement of the tool or die component within a punch press apparatus by magnetic coupling with the tool body, where the working end is configured for forming the workpiece by operation of the press brake apparatus. The magnetic coupling can be defined between the tool body and holder disposed adjacent the coupling end, or between the tool body and an adjacent tool or die component disposed along a side surface of the tool body, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Dean A. Sundquist, Bruce Thielges, Ron Windingstad
  • Publication number: 20160229078
    Abstract: A punch assembly includes a punch body having an axis and a replaceable punch tip configured for a punching operation, e.g., in a punch press apparatus. A laterally manipulated coupling pin is provided to selectively engage the punch tip with the punch body along the axis, and to selective disengage the punch tip from the punch body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Thielges
  • Patent number: 8413561
    Abstract: A multiple punch and die assembly adapted to a punch press for carrying out a punching or forming operation comprises a punch assembly for holding a plurality of selectively operable punches that selectively engage a workpiece. The punch assembly has a punch carrier for reciprocal motion within a punch guide and a striker body engaging the punch carrier, said striker body being selectively, toollessly connectable to the punch carrier while permitting relative rotation of the striker body and punch carrier to select a punch for engagement by the striker. A detent means releasably positions the striker body in one of a plurality of operating positions, at which a punch is positioned for being struck selectively by the ram via the striker body such that one punch is driven to an operating position when at least one other punch is inactive, the inactive punches engageable by a lock plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mate Precision Tooling, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Thielges, Ron Windingstad, Larry Villeneuve, Phil Lysdahl
  • Patent number: 7954404
    Abstract: A punch assembly for a punch press has a punch housing with a punch that is slideably mounted for reciprocation along punch axis within the punch housing and at least one resilient member in the housing for yieldably biasing the punch upwardly in the housing along the punch axis. A punch length adjustment subassembly is provided in the punch housing. The subassembly has a base member that is slideable axially but non-rotatably mounted within the housing and a punch head member having an upper end that is positioned to be struck by a punch ram of a punch press for driving the punch downwardly to an operating position. The punch head is mounted for rotation on the punch axis relative to the base member but is held against axial movement relative to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mate Precision Tooling, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Thielges, David A. Berry
  • Publication number: 20110107888
    Abstract: A multiple punch and die assembly adapted to be placed in a punch press having a punch ram for imparting movement to a selected punch assembly for carrying out a punching or forming operation comprises a punch assembly for holding a plurality of selectively operable punches mounted for independent movement in the punch assembly so as to selectively engage a workpiece. The punch assembly has a punch carrier for reciprocal motion within a punch guide and a striker body engaging the punch carrier, said striker body being selectively, toollessly connectable to the punch carrier by a pair of tabs located on a lower circumference of the striker body, said pair of tabs located on a lower circumference of the striker body with a radial separation other than 180 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce Thielges, Ron Windingstad, Larry Villeneuve, Phil Lysdahl
  • Publication number: 20090266209
    Abstract: A punch assembly for a punch press has a punch housing with a punch that is slideably mounted for reciprocation along punch axis within the punch housing and at least one resilient member in the housing for yieldably biasing the punch upwardly in the housing along the punch axis. A punch length adjustment subassembly is provided in the punch housing. The subassembly has a base member that is slideable axially but non-rotatably mounted within the housing and a punch head member having an upper end that is positioned to be struck by a punch ram of a punch press for driving the punch downwardly to an operating position. The punch head is mounted for rotation on the punch axis relative to the base member but is held against axial movement relative to the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce Thielges, David A. Berry