Patents by Inventor Eric S. ROHRER

Eric S. ROHRER 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).

  • Publication number: 20260249442
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor, a main trigger switch, a side handle having an auxiliary trigger, and a controller operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. In an embodiment, the controller the motor at start-up only if the main trigger is actuated after the auxiliary trigger is actuated, and otherwise prevent motor operation until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released. In an embodiment, an orientation of the auxiliary trigger relative to the gear case is adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2026
    Publication date: August 27, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel F. NACE, Levi G. BOWERS, James H. STILES, III, Eric S. ROHRER, Christopher T. KING
  • Publication number: 20260027696
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor disposed within the housing, a first trigger disposed on the housing, and a gear case mounted on an end of the housing. An accessory is provided that is mountable to the gear case and includes a second trigger pivotably secured relative to the gear case. The second trigger switch extends substantially along a surface of the gear case in a depressed position and being actuatable by a palm of an operator of the power tool. The supply of power from the power source to the electric motor is enabled only upon actuation of both the first trigger and the second trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: Levi G. BOWERS, Daniel F. NACE, Eric S. ROHRER
  • Patent number: 12485526
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor disposed within the housing, a first trigger disposed on the housing, and a gear case mounted on an end of the housing. An accessory is provided that is mountable to the gear case and includes a second trigger pivotably secured relative to the gear case. The second trigger switch extends substantially along a surface of the gear case in a depressed position and being actuatable by a palm of an operator of the power tool. The supply of power from the power source to the electric motor is enabled only upon actuation of both the first trigger and the second trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Levi G. Bowers, Daniel F. Nace, Eric S. Rohrer
  • Publication number: 20250153337
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor, a main trigger switch, a side handle having an auxiliary trigger, and a controller operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. In an embodiment, the controller the motor at start-up only if the main trigger is actuated after the auxiliary trigger is actuated, and otherwise prevent motor operation until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released. In an embodiment, an orientation of the auxiliary trigger relative to the gear case is adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. NACE, Levi G. BOWERS, James H. STILES, III, Eric S. ROHRER, Christopher T. KING
  • Patent number: 12194611
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor, a main trigger switch, a side handle having an auxiliary trigger, and a controller operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. In an embodiment, the controller the motor at start-up only if the main trigger is actuated within a time threshold after the auxiliary trigger is actuated, and otherwise prevent motor operation until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released and reengaged. In an embodiment, the controller applies a regenerative brake to stop an operation of the electric motor if one of the main trigger or the auxiliary trigger is released while the electric motor is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Nace, Levi G. Bowers, James H. Stiles, III, Eric S. Rohrer, Christopher T. King
  • Publication number: 20240308052
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor disposed within the housing, a first trigger disposed on the housing, and a gear case mounted on an end of the housing. An accessory is provided that is mountable to the gear case and includes a second trigger pivotably secured relative to the gear case. The second trigger switch extends substantially along a surface of the gear case in a depressed position and being actuatable by a palm of an operator of the power tool. The supply of power from the power source to the electric motor is enabled only upon actuation of both the first trigger and the second trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Levi G. BOWERS, Daniel F. NACE, Eric S. ROHRER
  • Publication number: 20240181620
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor, a main trigger switch, a side handle having an auxiliary trigger, and a controller operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. In an embodiment, the controller the motor at start-up only if the main trigger is actuated within a time threshold after the auxiliary trigger is actuated, and otherwise prevent motor operation until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released and reengaged. In an embodiment, the controller applies a regenerative brake to stop an operation of the electric motor if one of the main trigger or the auxiliary trigger is released while the electric motor is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. NACE, Levi G. BOWERS, James H. STILES, III, Eric S. ROHRER, Christopher T. KING
  • Patent number: 11931879
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing; an electric motor disposed within the housing; a main trigger switch mounted on the housing; a side handle mounted on the housing, the side handle having an auxiliary trigger; and a controller disposed within the housing operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. The controller activates the motor only if the main trigger and the auxiliary trigger are both actuated. If the one of the triggers is released while the other trigger is still engaged, the controller is configured to continue operating the motor only if the released trigger is reengaged within a time threshold, but otherwise discontinue operating the motor until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released and reengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Nace, Levi G. Bowers, James H. Stiles, III, Eric S. Rohrer, Christopher T. King
  • Patent number: 11872683
    Abstract: A side handle for a power tool is provided including a main gripping body; a rod extending through the main gripping body and having a threaded end extending through a frontal end of the main gripping body; and a knob mounted on an end of the rod opposite the threaded end and being rotatable relative to the main gripping body. The frontal end of the main gripping body includes a keying feature operable to engage a portion of the power tool to prevent rotation of the main gripping body relative to the power tool while the knob is rotated to fasten the threaded end of the rod to a threaded opening of the power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Nace, Levi G. Bowers, James H. Stiles, III, Eric S. Rohrer, Christopher T. King
  • Publication number: 20220388143
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing; an electric motor disposed within the housing; a main trigger switch mounted on the housing; a side handle mounted on the housing, the side handle having an auxiliary trigger; and a controller disposed within the housing operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. The controller activates the motor only if the main trigger and the auxiliary trigger are both actuated. If the one of the triggers is released while the other trigger is still engaged, the controller is configured to continue operating the motor only if the released trigger is reengaged within a time threshold, but otherwise discontinue operating the motor until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released and reengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel F. NACE, Levi G. BOWERS, James H. STILES, III, Eric S. ROHRER, Christopher T. KING
  • Publication number: 20220388142
    Abstract: A side handle for a power tool is provided including a main gripping body; a rod extending through the main gripping body and having a threaded end extending through a frontal end of the main gripping body; and a knob mounted on an end of the rod opposite the threaded end and being rotatable relative to the main gripping body. The frontal end of the main gripping body includes a keying feature operable to engage a portion of the power tool to prevent rotation of the main gripping body relative to the power tool while the knob is rotated to fasten the threaded end of the rod to a threaded opening of the power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel F. NACE, Levi G. BOWERS, James H. STILES, III, Eric S. ROHRER, Christopher T. KING