Patents by Inventor Donald C. Ries

Donald C. Ries 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: 11890734
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20230024447
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 11491624
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20200156228
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 10549412
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Senco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 9993913
    Abstract: A clenching adapter for use with automatic nailers tools is provided, which mounts to a nailer tool, and which extends behind a two-layer workpiece and curls the tip of a driven nail on the opposite side of the multiple-layer workpiece. The adapter includes a movable extension link that pivots on a proximal end, due to the action of an air cylinder actuator, and that pivoting motion causes an anvil mounted on its distal end to grasp the opposite (bottom) side of the workpiece, while also positioning the anvil to a location where it intercepts the nail that will be fired through the workpiece by the nailer tool. The anvil mechanism rotates from a “relaxed” position that fits within a gap in the boards of a workpiece, to an actuated “ready” position that receives and curls the nail, for clenching a multi-substrate workpiece. The actuations are automatically sequenced, in one embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Senco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Donald C. Ries, David Michael Young, John T. Burke, Kory Adam Gunnerson
  • Publication number: 20160288305
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Senco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20150102086
    Abstract: A clenching adapter for use with automatic nailers tools is provided, which mounts to a nailer tool, and which extends behind a two-layer workpiece and curls the tip of a driven nail on the opposite side of the multiple-layer workpiece. The adapter includes a movable extension link that pivots on a proximal end, due to the action of an air cylinder actuator, and that pivoting motion causes an anvil mounted on its distal end to grasp the opposite (bottom) side of the workpiece, while also positioning the anvil to a location where it intercepts the nail that will be fired through the workpiece by the nailer tool. The anvil mechanism rotates from a “relaxed” position that fits within a gap in the boards of a workpiece, to an actuated “ready” position that receives and curls the nail, for clenching a multi-substrate workpiece. The actuations are automatically sequenced, in one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Donald C. Ries, David Michael Young, John T. Burke, Kory Adam Gunnerson
  • Patent number: D387259
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Senco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Kerwin Braddock, Richard C. Cummins, Michael L. Ernst, William H. Morrison, Jr., Donald C. Ries, Dennis E. Stivers, Robert E. Niehaus