Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Drew

Christopher J. Drew 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: 8746207
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A choke valve is configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor and a thermally responsive element is coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element. A thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler and extending through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler, and a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element. The thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Publication number: 20130291845
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A choke valve is configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor and a thermally responsive element is coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element. A thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler and extending through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler, and a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element. The thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Patent number: 8517146
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a hose cap coupler, a cap removably coupled to the cap coupler and a clip supported by at least one of the cap and the coupler. The clip is configured to retain the cap coupler to an engine or other portions of an implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Paul A. Leech, David W. Procknow, Steven R. Schlosser, John H. Theirmann, Jessica S. Wobschall, Robert C. Pomeroy
  • Patent number: 8495995
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise, a choke valve configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor, a thermally responsive element coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element, and a thermally conductive member. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. The thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler in direct contact with the exhaust gases and extends through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler. The thermally conductive member also has a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element, the thermally conductive member configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Patent number: 8413760
    Abstract: A muffler for an internal combustion engine includes a first shell includes a flexible portion, an intake conduit, and a second shell coupled to the first shell. The intake conduit extends outwardly from the first shell and is configured to be inserted into an exhaust port of an engine. The flexible portion surrounds the intake conduit. Upon attachment to the engine, compression force is stored via elastic deflection of the flexible portion of the first shell, thereby pressing the intake conduit into the exhaust port such that a seal is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20120279199
    Abstract: A muffler for an internal combustion engine includes a first shell includes a flexible portion, an intake conduit, and a second shell coupled to the first shell. The intake conduit extends outwardly from the first shell and is configured to be inserted into an exhaust port of an engine. The flexible portion surrounds the intake conduit. Upon attachment to the engine, compression force is stored via elastic deflection of the flexible portion of the first shell, thereby pressing the intake conduit into the exhaust port such that a seal is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • Patent number: 8251173
    Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust conduit having an exhaust port on an end of the exhaust conduit. The exhaust conduit has an angled inside surface that has a cross section that widens toward the exhaust port. The engine further includes a muffler having a housing with an intake pipe. The intake pipe is inserted through the exhaust port such that the intake pipe is wedged into the angled inside surface of the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20110315133
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise, a choke valve configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor, a thermally responsive element coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element, and a thermally conductive member. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. The thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler in direct contact with the exhaust gases and extends through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler. The thermally conductive member also has a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element, the thermally conductive member configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Publication number: 20110017336
    Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust conduit having an exhaust port on an end of the exhaust conduit. The exhaust conduit has an angled inside surface that has a cross section that widens toward the exhaust port. The engine further includes a muffler having a housing with an intake pipe. The intake pipe is inserted through the exhaust port such that the intake pipe is wedged into the angled inside surface of the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20100078265
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a hose cap coupler, a cap removably coupled to the cap coupler and a clip supported by at least one of the cap and the coupler. The clip is configured to retain the cap coupler to an engine or other portions of an implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Paul A. Leech, David W. Procknow, Steven R. Schlosser, John H. Theirmann, Jessica S. Wobschall, Robert C. Pomeroy
  • Patent number: D531638
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler
  • Patent number: D537396
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler
  • Patent number: D541303
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler
  • Patent number: D553645
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler
  • Patent number: D685897
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Drew
  • Patent number: D735310
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher J. Drew