Patents by Inventor Chad Aaron Miley

Chad Aaron Miley 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: 11772248
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, and a torque transfer assembly. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The torque transfer assembly is disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other and transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body. The torque transfer assembly includes non-conductive material configured to maintain separation between the drive body and the driven body of at least about 0.400?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Patent number: 11772241
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, an insulating member and an isolation coating. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The insulating member is molded to fit between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other. The isolation coating is disposed on a surface of the first interface portion or the second interface portion that contacts the insulating member and faces the second interface portion or the first interface portion, respectively. The isolation coating includes a material that adheres to metal and has a dielectric strength of greater than about 10 kV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Patent number: 11491637
    Abstract: A rail for holding drivable components within a case may include a body in which a plurality of receptacles configured to receive respective ones of the drivable components are formed, and a retention boss at each opposing end of the body. The retention boss may extend away from an end face of the body. The retention boss further includes an alignment slot formed therein. The rail is removable from or insertable into the case, and is rotatable relative to the case, based on alignment of the alignment slot with retention features formed in the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley, Eric Jon Van Fossen, Brandon Rowlan Stumpf
  • Patent number: 11440167
    Abstract: A bit holder is provided including a tool bit receiver body operably configured to receive at least a portion of a tool bit, a retention element configured to retain the tool bit engaged within the tool bit receiver body, a release configured to disengage the retention element enabling removal of the tool bit, a drive element operably coupled to the tool bit receiver body and configured to transfer axial rotation from a driving tool to the tool bit receiver body, and a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the bit holder and configured such that the tool bit receiver body rotates independent of the axial rotation of at least a portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley, Timothy Edward Heitkamp, Robert John Rich
  • Publication number: 20220258312
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, and a torque transfer assembly. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The torque transfer assembly is disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other and transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body. The torque transfer assembly includes non-conductive material configured to maintain separation between the drive body and the driven body of at least about 0.400?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Patent number: 11400580
    Abstract: A case for storing drivable components or tool accessories may include a first half shell configured to retain drivable components or tool accessories, a second half shell, a hinge and an arm member. The hinge may operably couple the first half shell to the second half shell to enable the first and second half shells to pivot about an axis of the hinge to transition the case between an opened state and a closed state. The arm member may extend away from a portion of only one of the first or second half shell to form a case attachment loop. The case attachment loop may be disposed to enable the transition between the opened and closed states while a suspending device is passed through the case attachment loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley, Brandon Rowlan Stumpf, Eric Jon Van Fossen
  • Publication number: 20220219291
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, an insulating member and an isolation coating. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The insulating member is molded to fit between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other. The isolation coating is disposed on a surface of the first interface portion or the second interface portion that contacts the insulating member and faces the second interface portion or the first interface portion, respectively. The isolation coating includes a material that adheres to metal and has a dielectric strength of greater than about 10 kV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Patent number: 11351664
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, and a torque transfer assembly. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The torque transfer assembly is disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other and transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body. The torque transfer assembly includes non-conductive material configured to maintain separation between the drive body and the driven body of at least about 0.400?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Patent number: 11318586
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, an insulating member and an isolation coating. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The insulating member is molded to fit between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other. The isolation coating is disposed on a surface of the first interface portion or the second interface portion that contacts the insulating member and faces the second interface portion or the first interface portion, respectively. The isolation coating includes a material that adheres to metal and has a dielectric strength of greater than about 10 kV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Publication number: 20220088751
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, an insulating member and an isolation coating. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The insulating member is molded to fit between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other. The isolation coating is disposed on a surface of the first interface portion or the second interface portion that contacts the insulating member and faces the second interface portion or the first interface portion, respectively. The isolation coating includes a material that adheres to metal and has a dielectric strength of greater than about 10 kV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Publication number: 20220088754
    Abstract: An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, and a torque transfer assembly. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The torque transfer assembly is disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other and transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body. The torque transfer assembly includes non-conductive material configured to maintain separation between the drive body and the driven body of at least about 0.400?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa, Chad Aaron Miley, James Spaulding, Rolf DeSwardt
  • Patent number: 11268664
    Abstract: A light bar may include a body, a battery housed inside the body, a lighting element housed inside the body, a switch operably coupled to the lighting element and the battery to enable control of lighting intensity of the lighting element based on a position of the switch, a first fixing assembly formed at opposing longitudinal ends of the body, and a second fixing assembly. The first fixing assembly may be configured to enable the light bar to be removable and rotatable relative to a case. The second fixing assembly may be disposed at a portion of the body that is between the opposing longitudinal ends, the second fixing assembly being configured to enable the light bar to be affixed to an object when the light bar is removed from the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Pugh, II, Chad Aaron Miley, Russell J. Bohart, Eric Jon Van Fossen, Brandon Rowlan Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20200198119
    Abstract: A case for storing drivable components or tool accessories may include a first half shell configured to retain drivable components or tool accessories, a second half shell, a hinge and an arm member. The hinge may operably couple the first half shell to the second half shell to enable the first and second half shells to pivot about an axis of the hinge to transition the case between an opened state and a closed state. The arm member may extend away from a portion of only one of the first or second half shell to form a case attachment loop. The case attachment loop may be disposed to enable the transition between the opened and closed states while a suspending device is passed through the case attachment loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley, Brandon Rowlan Stumpf, Eric Jon Van Fossen
  • Publication number: 20200200340
    Abstract: A light bar may include a body, a battery housed inside the body, a lighting element housed inside the body, a switch operably coupled to the lighting element and the battery to enable control of lighting intensity of the lighting element based on a position of the switch, a first fixing assembly formed at opposing longitudinal ends of the body, and a second fixing assembly. The first fixing assembly may be configured to enable the light bar to be removable and rotatable relative to a case. The second fixing assembly may be disposed at a portion of the body that is between the opposing longitudinal ends, the second fixing assembly being configured to enable the light bar to be affixed to an object when the light bar is removed from the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: William E. Pugh, II, Chad Aaron Miley, Russell J. Bohart, Eric Jon Van Fossen, Brandon Rowlan Stumpf
  • Patent number: 10675739
    Abstract: A socket may include a socket body comprising a fastener engagement aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a fastener and a forward sleeve affixed external to the socket body at a forward end of the socket body. The forward sleeve may be configured to rotate radially relative to the socket body, and translate axially relative to the socket body. The socket may also include a biasing member configured to urge the forward sleeve to translate axially relative to the socket body in a direction towards the forward end of the socket body. Further, the socket body may include an internal cavity, and the socket may include a magnet disposed within the internal cavity. The magnet may be configured to translate axially within the internal cavity relative to the socket body and be configured to magnetically attract the fastener to the forward end of the socket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley, Timothy Edward Heitkamp
  • Publication number: 20200086462
    Abstract: A bit holder is provided including a tool bit receiver body operably configured to receive at least a portion of a tool bit, a retention element configured to retain the tool bit engaged within the tool bit receiver body, a release configured to disengage the retention element enabling removal of the tool bit, a drive element operably coupled to the tool bit receiver body and configured to transfer axial rotation from a driving tool to the tool bit receiver body, and a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the bit holder and configured such that the tool bit receiver body rotates independent of the axial rotation of at least a portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley, Timothy Edward Heitkamp, Robert John Rich
  • Publication number: 20180111252
    Abstract: A socket may include a socket body comprising a fastener engagement aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a fastener and a forward sleeve affixed external to the socket body at a forward end of the socket body. The forward sleeve may be configured to rotate radially relative to the socket body, and translate axially relative to the socket body. The socket may also include a biasing member configured to urge the forward sleeve to translate axially relative to the socket body in a direction towards the forward end of the socket body. Further, the socket body may include an internal cavity, and the socket may include a magnet disposed within the internal cavity. The magnet may be configured to translate axially within the internal cavity relative to the socket body and be configured to magnetically attract the fastener to the forward end of the socket body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley, Timothy Edward Heitkamp