Patents by Inventor Christopher D. Seigneur

Christopher D. Seigneur 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: 20220219350
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide apparatuses, systems, and methods associated with a saw chain link having one or more oversized rivet holes. A rivet may be disposed in the oversized rivet hole and provide a clearance between the rivet and the edge of the oversized rivet hole that is about 0.010 inches or more. The clearance may permit the saw chain to move between two or more stable positions. The saw chain link may be a drive link, such as a cutter drive link or a bumper drive link. In some embodiments, the saw chain link may be a bi-directional saw chain link. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Michael D. HARFST, Christopher D. SEIGNEUR
  • Patent number: 11273573
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide apparatuses, systems, and methods associated with a saw chain link having one or more oversized rivet holes. A rivet may be disposed in the oversized rivet hole and provide a clearance between the rivet and the edge of the oversized rivet hole that is about 0.010 inches or more. The clearance may permit the saw chain to move between two or more stable positions. The saw chain link may be a drive link, such as a cutter drive link or a bumper drive link. In some embodiments, the saw chain link may be a bi-directional saw chain link. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Oregon Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Patent number: 11247363
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe presets for saw chains comprised of one or more rivets that are coupled to a tiestrap. Each rivet may further comprise a central flange and a hub protruding from opposed sides from the flange. In some embodiments, the hub may be non-concentric from the flange, and the flange may be non-circular, such as ovoid or cam-shaped. In some embodiments, various portions of the flange, rivet, and tiestrap may be selectively hardened to various degrees of hardness, depending upon their location and usage. In some embodiments, the rivets may be prevented from rotating with respect to the tiestrap using a brazing process, and may be configured to facilitate such processes. Other embodiments may employ a non-circular hub. Still other embodiments may use a low-temperature process for soldering that does not affect the hardness of the tiestrap or rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Oregon Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Michael D. Harfst, Evan Pickett, James Matthew Cunnington
  • Patent number: 10406715
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a tie rivet with a body that is configured to ride on a rail of a guide bar, and an integrated rivet extending from an inner surface of the body. The integrated rivet may include a draft angle that varies over a circumference of the integrated rivet. Additionally, or alternatively, the tie rivet may include an undercut portion around at least a portion of the integrated rivet. The undercut portion may be recessed from the inner surface of the body. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Publication number: 20190224880
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe presets for saw chains comprised of one or more rivets that are coupled to a tiestrap. Each rivet may further comprise a central flange and a hub protruding from opposed sides from the flange. In some embodiments, the hub may be non-concentric from the flange, and the flange may be non-circular, such as ovoid or cam-shaped. In some embodiments, various portions of the flange, rivet, and tiestrap may be selectively hardened to various degrees of hardness, depending upon their location and usage. In some embodiments, the rivets may be prevented from rotating with respect to the tiestrap using a brazing process, and may be configured to facilitate such processes. Other embodiments may employ a non-circular hub. Still other embodiments may use a low-temperature process for soldering that does not affect the hardness of the tiestrap or rivet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Michael D. Harfst, Evan Pickett, James Matthew Cunnington
  • Patent number: 10195759
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a tie strap with a hardened integrated rivet for a saw chain. The tie strap has a body with an integrated rivet extending therefrom and having a shoulder extending from the body and configured to engage a rivet hole of a connector link and a hub extending from the shoulder and configured to engage a rivet hole of an opposing tie strap. The shoulder has a high wear region and a low wear region disposed opposite from the high wear region, wherein the low wear region has a first hardness that is less than a second hardness of the high wear region. Generally, the high wear region extends circumferentially around the shoulder and is between about 90 degrees counter clockwise to about 90 degrees clockwise measured from a center point on the shoulder facing inward toward a center part of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Michael D. Harfst
  • Patent number: 9757808
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide formed wire tie strap for a saw chain. Embodiments also provide a saw chain including one or more formed wire tie straps. The formed wire tie strap may include a body with one or more integrated rivets extending from the body. In some embodiments, the body may be substantially flat. The rivet may include a rivet head configured to engage a rivet hole of an opposing tie strap and a shoulder configured to engage a rivet hole of a connecting link, such as a drive link. Some embodiments of the formed wire tie strap may include a pair of integrated rivets extending from the body. Some embodiments may include a rivet hole disposed in the body of the formed wire tie strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Publication number: 20170197327
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide apparatuses, systems, and methods associated with a saw chain link having one or more oversized rivet holes. A rivet may be disposed in the oversized rivet hole and provide a clearance between the rivet and the edge of the oversized rivet hole that is about 0.010 inches or more. The clearance may permit the saw chain to move between two or more stable positions. The saw chain link may be a drive link, such as a cutter drive link or a bumper drive link. In some embodiments, the saw chain link may be a bi-directional saw chain link. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Publication number: 20160221209
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a tie rivet with a body that is configured to ride on a rail of a guide bar, and an integrated rivet extending from an inner surface of the body. The integrated rivet may include a draft angle that varies over a circumference of the integrated rivet. Additionally, or alternatively, the tie rivet may include an undercut portion around at least a portion of the integrated rivet. The undercut portion may be recessed from the inner surface of the body. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Publication number: 20160193749
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a tie strap with a hardened integrated rivet for a saw chain. The tie strap has a body with an integrated rivet extending therefrom and having a shoulder extending from the body and configured to engage a rivet hole of a connector link and a hub extending from the shoulder and configured to engage a rivet hole of an opposing tie strap. The shoulder has a high wear region and a low wear region disposed opposite from the high wear region, wherein the low wear region has a first hardness that is less than a second hardness of the high wear region. Generally, the high wear region extends circumferentially around the shoulder and is between about 90 degrees counter clockwise to about 90 degrees clockwise measured from a center point on the shoulder facing inward toward a center part of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Michael D. Harfst
  • Patent number: 9038519
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a modified pitch sprocket to provide an orientation of a saw chain link, such as a cutter link or drive link, with respect to the direction of travel of the link, as it traverses the sprocket that is different than the orientation of the link as it traverses a straight portion of the guide bar. In some embodiments, the modified pitch sprocket may orient the cutter link to provide radial extension for a depth gauge of the cutter link relative to a cutting element of the cutter link. This may facilitate shaping of the depth gauge and/or cutting element, such as by a sharpening element, as the cutter link traverses the sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Goettel, Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Patent number: 8932114
    Abstract: Embodiments provide various components of a chain saw, including saw chain elements, sprockets, and other fixtures, that may facilitate sharpening of cutter links during operation. In various embodiments, the components may increase stability during sharpening, provide nose mounted sharpening fixtures, and/or facilitate the resizing and/or reshaping of a sharpening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Lance Luedtke
  • Publication number: 20140283665
    Abstract: Embodiments provide various components of a chain saw, including saw chain elements, sprockets, and other fixtures, that may facilitate sharpening of cutter links during operation. In various embodiments, the components may increase stability during sharpening, provide nose mounted sharpening fixtures, and/or facilitate the resizing and/or reshaping of a sharpening element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Mike Goettel, Michael Patterson
  • Publication number: 20140260875
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide formed wire tie strap for a saw chain. Embodiments also provide a saw chain including one or more formed wire tie straps. The formed wire tie strap may include a body with one or more integrated rivets extending from the body. In some embodiments, the body may be substantially flat. The rivet may include a rivet head configured to engage a rivet hole of an opposing tie strap and a shoulder configured to engage a rivet hole of a connecting link, such as a drive link. Some embodiments of the formed wire tie strap may include a pair of integrated rivets extending from the body. Some embodiments may include a rivet hole disposed in the body of the formed wire tie strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BLOUNT, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Publication number: 20140259700
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a modified pitch sprocket to provide an orientation of a saw chain link, such as a cutter link or drive link, with respect to the direction of travel of the link, as it traverses the sprocket that is different than the orientation of the link as it traverses a straight portion of the guide bar. In some embodiments, the modified pitch sprocket may orient the cutter link to provide radial extension for a depth gauge of the cutter link relative to a cutting element of the cutter link. This may facilitate shaping of the depth gauge and/or cutting element, such as by a sharpening element, as the cutter link traverses the sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BLOUNT, INC.
    Inventors: Mike Goettel, Michael D. Harfst, Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Publication number: 20130036614
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide an involute slicer having a body portion and a blade coupled to the body. The involute slicer may further include an anvil to provide structural support to a workpiece. The blade may rotate about an axis. As the blade rotates, the blade may pass next to the anvil, thereby cutting the workpiece. The blade may include a cutting edge with a radius that increases from a proximal end to a distal end of the cutting edge. For example, the cutting edge may have an involute shape. The involute shape of the cutting edge provides a radially expanding cutting edge as the blade is rotated. In some embodiments, the blade may include a plurality of cutting edges, such as two cutting edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Seigneur
  • Publication number: 20120222313
    Abstract: Embodiments provide various components of a chain saw, including saw chain elements, sprockets, and other fixtures, that may facilitate sharpening of cutter links during operation. In various embodiments, the components may increase stability during sharpening, provide nose mounted sharpening fixtures, and/or facilitate the resizing and/or reshaping of a sharpening element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: BLOUNT, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Lance Luedtke
  • Patent number: 7891925
    Abstract: A saw chain rivet is provided including a flange, and a hub extending from a side of the flange. A shoulder defined by a junction between the hub and the flange has properties optimized to resist shear forces. The hub may be optimized for ease of rivet head formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, David Scott Penrose, Mike Goettel
  • Patent number: D648200
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Seigneur, Lance Luedtke
  • Patent number: D663598
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Luedtke, Christopher D. Seigneur