Patents by Inventor Eric Nolin

Eric Nolin 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: 11818980
    Abstract: A trimmer line for use with a trimmer head having an outer diameter and defining an axis of rotation. The trimmer line may include an elongated body having a first end, an opposite second end, and a center between the first end and the second end. The trimmer line also may also include indicia formed on the elongated body and spaced from the center point a distance greater than or equal to about half the outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Nolin, Robert L. Morrison
  • Patent number: 11528843
    Abstract: A trimmer head or trimmer head assembly for a trimmer is provided herein. The trimmer head may include a base plate defining an axial direction, a pivot head, and a blade retainer. The pivot head may be attached to the base plate. The blade retainer may include a radial arm rotatably mounted to the base plate to rotate relative to the base plate between a first position at which the radial arm is circumferentially aligned with the pivot head and a second position at which the radial arm is circumferentially spaced apart from the pivot head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: J. Eric Nolin, Ron Hoffman, Andrew M. Schmidt, Fahad T. Vora
  • Patent number: 11503763
    Abstract: Trimmer heads for trimmers are provided. A trimmer head includes a drive plate defining a lug slot, and a locking lug, the locking lug movably positioned in the lug slot and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. A trimmer head further includes a drive plate cover connectable to the drive plate such that the locking lug is disposed between the drive plate and the drive plate cover. A trimmer head farther includes at least one operational head, the at least one operational head connectable to the drive plate. The connected operational head is locked to the drive plate when the locking lug is in the locked position and the connected operational head is unlocked from the drive plate when the locking lug is in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: Christopher A. Holman, Ronald J. Hoffman, J. Eric Nolin
  • Publication number: 20220010798
    Abstract: A blower including a housing at least partially defining a chamber, a motor including a drive shaft defining a rotational axis, and an impeller drive by the motor to generate an air flow in the chamber. The blower also includes a coupler operably connected between the drive shaft and the impeller to transmit torque therebetween, the coupler being connected to one of the drive shaft and the impeller and including a plurality of ribs configured to engage the other of the drive shaft and the impeller, each rib defining a rib axis transverse to the rotational axis, each rib axis being arranged tangent to a circle centered on the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hoffman, Eric Nolin, Christopher A. Holman, Lance A. Eckard
  • Patent number: 11185198
    Abstract: A blower includes a main body which includes a housing and a fan disposed in the housing. The housing further defines an air discharge opening. The blower further includes an extension tube connected to the air discharge opening, the extension tube extending between a first end connected to the air discharge opening and a second end. The blower further includes a variable nozzle, the variable nozzle including a plurality of adjustable air control surfaces. The blower further includes a nozzle adjustment tube connected to the second end of the extension tube and at least partially surrounding the variable nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hoffman, Christopher A. Holman, Eric Nolin
  • Patent number: 11168646
    Abstract: A carburetor includes a body and a fuel bowl coupled to the body. A fuel bowl chamber is defined by the body and the fuel bowl. A fuel supply passageway fluidly couples a fuel supply inlet of the carburetor with the fuel bowl chamber. A fuel metering unit is coupled to the body of the carburetor. A first filter is disposed in one of the fuel supply passageway and the fuel bowl chamber, and a second filter is disposed in the fuel metering unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric Nolin
  • Patent number: 11156224
    Abstract: A blower including a housing at least partially defining a chamber, a motor including a drive shaft defining a rotational axis, an impeller driven by the motor to generate an air flow in the chamber, and a coupler operably connected between the drive shaft and the impeller. The chamber may have an axial height which increases from a position proximate a back plate to a position spaced from the back plate. The chamber may have a non-circular cross-section proximate a chamber outlet, and a tube assembly in fluid communication with the chamber may have a tube inlet with a non-circular cross-section. The impeller may define two separate airflow paths each having an inlet and an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hoffman, Eric Nolin, Christopher A. Holman, Lance A. Eckard
  • Patent number: 11148176
    Abstract: A power sweeper has a handle having a first end graspable by a user and a second end, a drive shaft extending along the handle, and a power head coupled to the handle to rotate the drive shaft. A gear box is coupled to the drive shaft adjacent the second end, and a brush is coupled to the gear box for rotation in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The power sweeper includes an axle, and first and second wheels coupled to the axle. A shield is coupled to the gear box and defines an aperture through which the handle extends. The axle is moveable with respect to the shield and the brush to adjust an angle between the handle and the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Nolin, Todd A. Gillespie
  • Publication number: 20200236847
    Abstract: A trimmer head or trimmer head assembly for a trimmer is provided herein. The trimmer head may include a base plate defining an axial direction, a pivot head, and a blade retainer. The pivot head may be attached to the base plate. The blade retainer may include a radial arm rotatably mounted to the base plate to rotate relative to the base plate between a first position at which the radial arm is circumferentially aligned with the pivot head and a second position at which the radial arm is circumferentially spaced apart from the pivot head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: J. Eric Nolin, Ron Hoffman, Andrew M. Schmidt, Fahad T. Vora
  • Publication number: 20200214202
    Abstract: Trimmer heads for trimmers are provided. A trimmer head includes a drive plate defining a lug slot, and a locking lug, the locking lug movably positioned in the lug slot and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. A trimmer head further includes a drive plate cover connectable to the drive plate such that the locking lug is disposed between the drive plate and the drive plate cover. A trimmer head farther includes at least one operational head, the at least one operational head connectable to the drive plate. The connected operational head is locked to the drive plate when the locking lug is in the locked position and the connected operational head is unlocked from the drive plate when the locking lug is in the unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher A. Holman, Ronald J. Hoffman, J. Eric Nolin
  • Publication number: 20190335964
    Abstract: A blower includes a main body which includes a housing and a fan disposed in the housing. The housing further defines an air discharge opening. The blower further includes an extension tube connected to the air discharge opening, the extension tube extending between a first end connected to the air discharge opening and a second end. The blower further includes a variable nozzle, the variable nozzle including a plurality of adjustable air control surfaces. The blower further includes a nozzle adjustment tube connected to the second end of the extension tube and at least partially surrounding the variable nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hoffman, Christopher A. Holman, Eric Nolin
  • Patent number: 10306830
    Abstract: A winding mechanism, a string trimmer head, and a method of winding line. The head may include a body, and a spool supported by the body, a line being supportable by the spool. The winding mechanism may include a crank engageable to rotate the spool to wind the line onto the spool. The trimmer head may include a bump knob engageable with the spool, and the crank may include a crank body engageable with the bump knob to rotate the spool. The crank may further include an arm connected to the crank body and a handle connected to the arm and engageable by a user to pivot the crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Nolin, Ronald J. Hoffman, Christopher A. Holman
  • Publication number: 20190153982
    Abstract: A carburetor includes a body and a fuel bowl coupled to the body. A fuel bowl chamber is defined by the body and the fuel bowl. A fuel supply passageway fluidly couples a fuel supply inlet of the carburetor with the fuel bowl chamber. A fuel metering unit is coupled to the body of the carburetor. A first filter is disposed in one of the fuel supply passageway and the fuel bowl chamber, and a second filter is disposed in the fuel metering unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Nolin
  • Publication number: 20190104694
    Abstract: A blower including a housing at least partially defining a chamber, a motor including a drive shaft defining a rotational axis, an impeller driven by the motor to generate an air flow in the chamber, and a coupler operably connected between the drive shaft and the impeller. The chamber may have an axial height which increases from a position proximate a back plate to a position spaced from the back plate. The chamber may have a non-circular cross-section proximate a chamber outlet, and a tube assembly in fluid communication with the chamber may have a tube inlet with a non-circular cross-section. The impeller may define two separate airflow paths each having an inlet and an outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hoffman, Eric Nolin, Christopher A. Holman, Lance A. Eckard
  • Publication number: 20190024614
    Abstract: A carburetor, a method of assembling a carburetor, and a method of operating an engine. The carburetor may generally include a housing defining a pump portion and a metering portion; and a maintenance port in communication with the pump portion and the metering portion to allow direct introduction of an additive through the maintenance port and into the pump portion and the metering portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Nolin
  • Publication number: 20180333753
    Abstract: A power sweeper has a handle having a first end graspable by a user and a second end, a drive shaft extending along the handle, and a power head coupled to the handle to rotate the drive shaft. A gear box is coupled to the drive shaft adjacent the second end, and a brush is coupled to the gear box for rotation in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The power sweeper includes an axle, and first and second wheels coupled to the axle. A shield is coupled to the gear box and defines an aperture through which the handle extends. The axle is moveable with respect to the shield and the brush to adjust an angle between the handle and the ground surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Eric Nolin, Todd A. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 10070582
    Abstract: A trimmer head may include a housing rotatable about an axis; and a line holder supported by the housing. The line holder defines a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle and the second receptacle. A line is supportable by the line holder, the line having a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded portion, the folded portion being insertable into the opening, the first line section being received in the first receptacle, the second line section being received in the second receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Nolin, Benjamin H. Cogan, Robert L. Morrison, Steve Coghill
  • Publication number: 20180110182
    Abstract: A trimmer line for use with a trimmer head having an outer diameter and defining an axis of rotation. The trimmer line may include an elongated body having a first end, an opposite second end, and a center between the first end and the second end. The trimmer line also may also include indicia formed on the elongated body and spaced from the center point a distance greater than or equal to about half the outer diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Eric Nolin, Robert L. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20170303468
    Abstract: A trimmer head, a line holder and a method. The head may include a housing rotatable about an axis; a line holder supported by the housing, the line holder defining a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle and the second receptacle; and a line supportable by the line holder, the line having a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded portion, the folded portion being insertable into the opening, the first line section being received in the first receptacle, the second line section being received in the second receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Nolin, Benjamin H. Cogan, Robert L. Morrison, Steve Coghill
  • Publication number: 20170251594
    Abstract: A winding mechanism, a string trimmer head, and a method of winding line. The head may include a body, and a spool supported by the body, a line being supportable by the spool. The winding mechanism may include a crank engageable to rotate the spool to wind the line onto the spool. The trimmer head may include a bump knob engageable with the spool, and the crank may include a crank body engageable with the bump knob to rotate the spool. The crank may further include an arm connected to the crank body and a handle connected to the arm and engageable by a user to pivot the crank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: Eric Nolin