Patents by Inventor Dan Kumm

Dan Kumm 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: 12643241
    Abstract: An autonomous system attaches corrugated metal decking to roof structural members such as purlins, trusses or joists using a motorized wheeled carriage that traverses deck corrugations and drives threaded fasteners with closed-loop control. A fastener management module holds structural and sidelap screws in separate hoppers, orients them via screw sorters, and distributes them by a linearly translatable gantry to multiple drill units. Each unit includes a PWM-controlled drill, a linear actuator for plunge, and a spring-biased jaw release cooperating with a magnetized nut driver. A sensor assembly within a corrugation detects structural members, guides lateral alignment, and senses pre-existing fasteners; metal deck edge range sensors and a fail-safe brake preventing the system from running off the roof deck. Controllers networked over CAN coordinate motion, torque, patterns, speed, plunge of the fastening system, verify seating by motor/force feedback, and generate audit records of as-installed locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Kumm, Derek Andrew Mazur, Brent Baskin, Dylan Lee Shadoan, Joshua Thomas Grip, Kyle Joseph FitzGerald, Rourke Ridnour Anders, Timothy J. Louey, Kirk Brian Williams