Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Millane

Christopher R. Millane 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: 12674574
    Abstract: An audio output device may include a housing, a speaker provided in the housing, a plurality of actuators provided on the housing, and a light emitting unit provided on the housing. The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light emitting segments arranged in a line. The audio output device may also include a controller located within the housing and including an electronic processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The controller is coupled to the speaker, the plurality of actuators, and the light emitting unit. The controller is configured to determine that a first actuator of the plurality of actuators is actuated for a first predetermined amount of time, and operate the light emitting unit according to a first light sequence in response to the first actuator being actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2025
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samantha J. Krugel, Chelsea L. McCormick, Matthew H. Ogden, Jacob D. Hadfield, Christopher R. Millane, Long Biao Liu
  • Publication number: 20250380837
    Abstract: Quite often it is heard that people complain about having cold food at their places of work. The problem is not localized to a particular geographic area or age, it affects everyone who prefers having hot food at workplace or college. The Smart Lunch box aims at providing hot food to users anytime and anywhere they want. It uses heating elements along with microcontrollers powered by batteries to provide heat even in the absence of a power outlet. The batteries have to be sufficiently charged well before hand, the box can be controlled to set temperatures and timer through a mobile application which simplifies the user interface and also reduces human intervention. The box can also be used as a noodle maker by using hot water. The technical applications are immense. This invention can be of great help to various working sects of the society.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Inventors: Aaron M. Lettner, Zichen Tan, Jacob D. Hadfield, Christopher R. Millane, Roque M. Corpuz, JR.
  • Publication number: 20250373061
    Abstract: A device may include a first controller including a first electronic processor and a charge control circuit. The device may include a battery pack interface configured to receive a removable and rechargeable battery pack. The device may include a power boost module including one or more energy storage devices, wherein the power boost module is configured to be charged through the battery pack interface with a discharge current from the removable and rechargeable battery pack in response to receiving the removable and rechargeable battery pack in the battery pack interface, wherein the charge control circuit is configured to control the discharge current from the removable and rechargeable battery pack to the power boost module based upon one or more monitored conditions of the removable and rechargeable battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Jacob W. Knight, Austin A. Borkowski
  • Publication number: 20250271130
    Abstract: An audio output device may include a housing, a speaker provided in the housing, a plurality of actuators provided on the housing, and a light emitting unit provided on the housing. The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light emitting segments arranged in a line. The audio output device may also include a controller located within the housing and including an electronic processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The controller is coupled to the speaker, the plurality of actuators, and the light emitting unit. The controller is configured to determine that a first actuator of the plurality of actuators is actuated for a first predetermined amount of time, and operate the light emitting unit according to a first light sequence in response to the first actuator being actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2025
    Publication date: August 28, 2025
    Inventors: Samantha J. Krugel, Chelsea L. McCormick, Matthew H. Ogden, Jacob D. Hadfield, Christopher R. Millane, Long Biao Liu
  • Patent number: 12092457
    Abstract: Various aspects of a laser level interfacing with a modular storage system are shown. The laser level couples to a storage unit and/or a stand that itself couples to the storage unit. The stand extends past the front of the storage unit and permits the laser level to emit line in the downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher R. Millane
  • Patent number: 11852285
    Abstract: A stand for a laser projection device is provided. The stand includes a mounting structure that couples to the laser projection device. In one embodiment the stand includes three legs that are coupled together at a junction, and a central column extends downward from the junction and the mounting structure is coupled to the mounting structure, thereby permitting the laser projection device to emit light towards a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Seth A. Rueter
  • Patent number: 11725936
    Abstract: An automatic process and structural features for accurately producing levels is provided. The process enables more rapid production of levels, less operator work or error, and the ability to quantify errors and tolerances in the manufacture of the level. Coupling a level datum plane formed on the endcaps of a vial with a level datum plane of a frame ensures accurate construction of a level that can be automated and toleranced. Ensuring that the level datum plane created at the endcaps remains parallel (or at some other predesigned angle) to the measuring surfaces of the level reduces labor to manufacture the level and ensures measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Jacob D. Hadfield, Richard J. LaSota
  • Publication number: 20230067348
    Abstract: A stand for a laser projection device is provided. The stand includes a mounting structure that couples to the laser projection device. In one embodiment the stand includes three legs that are coupled together at a junction, and a central column extends downward from the junction and the mounting structure is coupled to the mounting structure, thereby permitting the laser projection device to emit light towards a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Seth A. Rueter
  • Patent number: 11480289
    Abstract: A stand for a laser projection device is provided. The stand includes a mounting structure that couples to the laser projection device. In one embodiment the stand includes three legs that are coupled together at a junction, and a central column extends downward from the junction and the mounting structure is coupled to the mounting structure, thereby permitting the laser projection device to emit light towards a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Seth A. Rueter
  • Publication number: 20220299319
    Abstract: Various aspects of a laser level interfacing with a modular storage system are shown. The laser level couples to a storage unit and/or a stand that itself couples to the storage unit. The stand extends past the front of the storage unit and permits the laser level to emit line in the downward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher R. Millane
  • Patent number: 11385055
    Abstract: Various aspects of a laser level interfacing with a modular storage system are shown. The laser level couples to a storage unit and/or a stand that itself couples to the storage unit. The stand extends past the front of the storage unit and permits the laser level to emit line in the downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher R. Millane
  • Publication number: 20220074741
    Abstract: An automatic process and structural features for accurately producing levels is provided. The process enables more rapid production of levels, less operator work or error, and the ability to quantify errors and tolerances in the manufacture of the level. Coupling a level datum plane formed on the endcaps of a vial with a level datum plane of a frame ensures accurate construction of a level that can be automated and toleranced. Ensuring that the level datum plane created at the endcaps remains parallel (or at some other predesigned angle) to the measuring surfaces of the level reduces labor to manufacture the level and ensures measurement accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Jacob D. Hadfield, Richard J. LaSota
  • Patent number: 11193764
    Abstract: An automatic process and structural features for accurately producing levels is provided. The process enables more rapid production of levels, less operator work or error, and the ability to quantify errors and tolerances in the manufacture of the level. Coupling a level datum plane formed on the endcaps of a vial with a level datum plane of a frame ensures accurate construction of a level that can be automated and toleranced. Ensuring that the level datum plane created at the endcaps remains parallel (or at some other predesigned angle) to the measuring surfaces of the level reduces labor to manufacture the level and ensures measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Jacob D. Hadfield, Richard J. LaSota
  • Publication number: 20210310605
    Abstract: A stand for a laser projection device is provided. The stand includes a mounting structure that couples to the laser projection device. In one embodiment the stand includes three legs that are coupled together at a junction, and a central column extends downward from the junction and the mounting structure is coupled to the mounting structure, thereby permitting the laser projection device to emit light towards a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Seth A. Rueter
  • Publication number: 20210025706
    Abstract: Various aspects of a laser level interfacing with a modular storage system are shown. The laser level couples to a storage unit and/or a stand that itself couples to the storage unit. The stand extends past the front of the storage unit and permits the laser level to emit line in the downward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher R. Millane
  • Publication number: 20200232793
    Abstract: An automatic process and structural features for accurately producing levels is provided. The process enables more rapid production of levels, less operator work or error, and the ability to quantify errors and tolerances in the manufacture of the level. Coupling a level datum plane formed on the endcaps of a vial with a level datum plane of a frame ensures accurate construction of a level that can be automated and toleranced. Ensuring that the level datum plane created at the endcaps remains parallel (or at some other predesigned angle) to the measuring surfaces of the level reduces labor to manufacture the level and ensures measurement accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Jacob D. Hadfield, Richard J. LaSota