Patents by Inventor Donald K. BLAESS

Donald K. BLAESS 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: 11364601
    Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. Each alternating lobes and troughs is defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to a rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle, which may be between 0° and 5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard W. Lukes, Donald K. Blaess, Sean Riskin
  • Patent number: 10968939
    Abstract: A torque transmission driver has a first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source, and a second end portion including a shaped tapered bit having drive surfaces with an alternating series of five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, having a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces in a plurality of at least two size fasteners, the tapered drive surfaces of the bit comprising a first tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a first sized fastener and a second tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a second sized fastener, the drive surfaces of the second sized fastener being larger than the drive surfaces of the first sized fastener. The taper angle may be nominally 52° from the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard W. Lukes, Donald K. Blaess
  • Publication number: 20210025442
    Abstract: A swivel hanger system includes an anchor member with an anchor head disposed at an end of the anchor member and an elongated body, where at least a portion of the elongated body is configured to be inserted into a support member when the system is connected with the support member. The system also includes a swivel member with an open end extending to a hollow interior of the swivel member, where the open end is configured to rotatably couple with the anchor head such that the anchor head is located within the hollow interior and the elongated body extends through the swivel member open end. The system further includes a stop structure to limit an insertion distance at which the anchor member is inserted into the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Donald K. BLAESS, Adam P. BAUER, Mark THEISMANN
  • Patent number: 10816031
    Abstract: A swivel hanger system includes an anchor member with an anchor head disposed at an end of the anchor member and an elongated body, where at least a portion of the elongated body is configured to be inserted into a support member when the system is connected with the support member. The system also includes a swivel member with an open end extending to a hollow interior of the swivel member, where the open end is configured to rotatably couple with the anchor head such that the anchor head is located within the hollow interior and the elongated body extends through the swivel member open end. The system further includes a stop structure to limit an insertion distance at which the anchor member is inserted into the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Donald K. Blaess, Adam P. Bauer, Mark Theismann
  • Publication number: 20200206882
    Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. Each alternating lobes and troughs is defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to a rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle, which may be between 0° and 5°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: INFASTECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES PTE. LTD
    Inventors: Richard W. LUKES, Donald K. BLAESS, Sean RISKIN
  • Publication number: 20200180123
    Abstract: A torque transmission driver has a main body having a first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source and a second end portion opposite the first end portion having a series of four, five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, and a drive side transition between each lobe and trough on at least one side of each lobe forming a negative drive angle between ?2° and ?10°. A fastener corresponding to the torque transmission driver has a drive end portion adapted to engage the torque transmission driver and a lead end portion adapted to fasten the fastener, the drive end portion having a series of four, five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, and a drive side transition between each lobe and trough on at least one side of each lobe forming a negative drive angle between ?2° and ?10°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd
    Inventors: Richard W. LUKES, Randy LUZUM, Mark THEISMANN, Doug OSBORN, Robert SMITH, Donald K. BLAESS
  • Patent number: 10195723
    Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. The three alternating lobes and troughs are each defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to the rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle which may be between 0° and 5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd
    Inventors: Richard W. Lukes, Donald K. Blaess, Sean Riskin
  • Publication number: 20180283443
    Abstract: A swivel hanger system includes an anchor member with an anchor head disposed at an end of the anchor member and an elongated body, where at least a portion of the elongated body is configured to be inserted into a support member when the system is connected with the support member. The system also includes a swivel member with an open end extending to a hollow interior of the swivel member, where the open end is configured to rotatably couple with the anchor head such that the anchor head is located within the hollow interior and the elongated body extends through the swivel member open end. The system further includes a stop structure to limit an insertion distance at which the anchor member is inserted into the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Donald K. BLAESS, Adam P. BAUER, Mark THEISMANN
  • Publication number: 20170050300
    Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. The three alternating lobes and troughs are each defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to the rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle which may be between 0° and 5°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: INFASTECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Richard W. LUKES, Donald K. BLAESS, Sean RISKIN
  • Publication number: 20160305460
    Abstract: A self-clinching fastener suitable for connection to a member having a shank of a diameter less than a head portion, the head portion having at least eight lands extending outwardly along the underside of the head portion spaced about the shank, each land having a face surface extending beyond the shank to a diameter less than or equal to the radius of the head portion, the width of the lands reducing from adjacent the shank toward the radius of the head portion. The fastener further includes an axial annular engagement groove having a diameter larger than the shank, the annular engagement groove axially extending from the lands to a retaining collar adjacent the shank, the groove adapted to relieve material of a member on installation by receiving material as the lands in the underside of the head portion mechanically interlock with the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: INFASTECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Douglas OSBORN, Cheng Siong PHUA, Donald K. BLAESS, Arnold WANG, Lionel DAYTON
  • Patent number: 9400005
    Abstract: A self-clinching fastener suitable for connection to a member having a shank of a diameter less than a head portion, the head portion having at least eight lands extending outwardly along the underside of the head portion spaced about the shank, each land having a face surface extending beyond the shank to a diameter less than or equal to the radius of the head portion, the width of the lands reducing from adjacent the shank toward the radius of the head portion. The fastener further includes an axial annular engagement groove having a diameter larger than the shank, the annular engagement groove axially extending from the lands to a retaining collar adjacent the shank, the groove adapted to relieve material of a member on installation by receiving material as the lands in the underside of the head portion mechanically interlock with the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Property Pte. Ltd
    Inventors: Douglas Osborn, Cheng Siong Phua, Donald K. Blaess, Arnold Wang, Lionel Dayton
  • Publication number: 20160160906
    Abstract: A swivel hanger system includes an anchor member with an anchor head disposed at an end of the anchor member and an elongated body, where at least a portion of the elongated body is configured to be inserted into a support member when the system is connected with the support member. The system also includes a swivel member with an open end extending to a hollow interior of the swivel member, where the open end is configured to rotatably couple with the anchor head such that the anchor head is located within the hollow interior and the elongated body extends through the swivel member open end. The system further includes a stop structure to limit an insertion distance at which the anchor member is inserted into the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Donald K. Blaess, Adam P. Bauer, Mark Theismann
  • Publication number: 20150000479
    Abstract: A torque transmission driver has a first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source, and a second end portion including a shaped tapered bit having drive surfaces with an alternating series of five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, having a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces in a plurality of at least two size fasteners, the tapered drive surfaces of the bit comprising a first tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a first sized fastener and a second tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a second sized fastener, the drive surfaces of the second sized fastener being larger than the drive surfaces of the first sized fastener. The taper angle may be nominally 52° from the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: INFASTECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Richard W. LUKES, Donald K. BLAESS
  • Publication number: 20140003883
    Abstract: A self-clinching fastener suitable for connection to a member having a shank of a diameter less than a head portion, the head portion having at least eight lands extending outwardly along the underside of the head portion spaced about the shank, each land having a face surface extending beyond the shank to a diameter less than or equal to the radius of the head portion, the width of the lands reducing from adjacent the shank toward the radius of the head portion. The fastener further includes an axial annular engagement groove having a diameter larger than the shank, the annular engagement groove axially extending from the lands to a retaining collar adjacent the shank, the groove adapted to relieve material of a member on installation by receiving material as the lands in the underside of the head portion mechanically interlock with the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: INFASTECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Douglas OSBORN, Cheng Siong PHUA, Donald K. BLAESS, Arnold WANG, Lionel DAYTON
  • Patent number: D807139
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Sean M. Riskin, David Graham, Randy D. Luzum, Donald K. Blaess