Patents by Inventor Eric Sommers

Eric Sommers 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: 20250345834
    Abstract: A fume extractor for a robotic welding arm may comprise: a vacuum manifold, comprising: a plurality of intake ports, an arm attachment mount configured to attach to a first arm section of the robotic welding arm, and an outlet port configured to connect to a vacuum source; a plurality of flexible tubes, each comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of each of the flexible tubes is coupled to at least one of the intake ports; and one or more retainers configured to retain each of the flexible tubes in proximity to a welding torch coupled to the robotic welding arm as the welding torch rotates and moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2025
    Publication date: November 13, 2025
    Inventors: Eric Sommers, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 12390671
    Abstract: Disclosed example respirators comprise: a filter configured to filter the air; a blower fan configured to provide continuous air flow at variable speeds; an air duct configured to direct air from the blower fan to an exhaust location, the blower fan configured to blow air through the air duct; and a blower controller configured to: control the blower fan to automatically adjust an airflow speed of the blower fan to a plurality of airflow speeds over a plurality of different time periods, the plurality of airflow speeds being within an airflow speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nishank R. Patel, Eric Sommers, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20250134718
    Abstract: A welding-type helmet includes a cover with a channel recessed from an external surface of the cover, the channel being configured to house a removable light source within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Eric Sommers, John Gabriel Touzinsky
  • Publication number: 20250001473
    Abstract: A fume extraction system is designed for metal working and other applications. The fume extraction system includes one or more motors to control fume suction airflow. One or more sensors may monitor a condition of the welding torch, such as movement, position, and/or orientation of the welding torch relative to the one or more workpieces. Control circuitry is operable to receive signals from the one or more sensors corresponding to movement, position, and/or orientation of the welding torch. The control circuitry can compare the sensor information to a list of welding torch positions corresponding to airflow conditions to determine a desired suction airflow at the one or more workpieces. In some examples, the control circuitry can control a speed of the motor and/or a position of a valve to achieve the desired suction airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Roger Robey, Jesse Massonet, Marshall Legg, Eric Sommers, Jordan Kopac, III, Mitch Muske
  • Patent number: 12090089
    Abstract: A welding-type helmet includes a cover with a channel recessed from an external surface of the cover, the channel being configured to house a removable light source within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Eric Sommers, John Gabriel Touzinsky
  • Publication number: 20230181940
    Abstract: Disclosed example respirators comprise: a filter configured to filter the air; a blower fan configured to provide continuous air flow at variable speeds; an air duct configured to direct air from the blower fan to an exhaust location, the blower fan configured to blow air through the air duct; and a blower controller configured to: control the blower fan to automatically adjust an airflow speed of the blower fan to a plurality of airflow speeds over a plurality of different time periods, the plurality of airflow speeds being within an airflow speed range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Nishank R. Patel, Eric Sommers, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11596815
    Abstract: Provided is a powered air blower unit for delivering air flow to a user with constant air flow or varying speeds of air flow. The air blower unit may also include a filter for purifying the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nishank R. Patel, Eric Sommers, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10874158
    Abstract: Provided is a light attached to a helmet where the light does not move when a face shield of the helmet is rotated up or down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Eric Sommers
  • Publication number: 20200108281
    Abstract: Provided is a powered air blower unit for delivering air flow to a user with constant air flow or varying speeds of air flow. The air blower unit may also include a filter for purifying the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Nishank R. Patel, Eric Sommers, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20200000168
    Abstract: Provided is a light attached to a helmet where the light does not move when a face shield of the helmet is rotated up or down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Eric Sommers
  • Patent number: 10512798
    Abstract: Provided is a powered air blower unit for delivering air flow to a user with constant air flow or varying speeds of air flow. The air blower unit may also include a filter for purifying the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nishank R. Patel, Eric Sommers, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10405597
    Abstract: Provided is a light attached to a helmet where the light does not move when a face shield of the helmet is rotated up or down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Eric Sommers
  • Publication number: 20180280197
    Abstract: Head worn devices having a variable shade component and a fixed shade component, and methods of operation, are disclosed. An example head worn device includes an auto-darkening lens configured to adjust a shade value within a first shade value range, a second lens having a fixed shade value greater than 0, the auto-darkening lens and the second lens overlapping in a field of view of the head worn device to result in a net shade value range in the field of view that is greater than the first shade value range, and a clear lens on an exterior of the auto-darkening lens and the second lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Nishank R. Patel, Eric Sommers
  • Publication number: 20180256925
    Abstract: Provided is a disclosure for a head protection device that includes an air providing unit configured to provide air to a user, an air conduit configured to transport the air from the air providing unit to the head protection device, a power connector configured to receive power via electrical wiring from a power source that is not attached to the head protection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventor: Eric Sommers
  • Publication number: 20180133060
    Abstract: A welding-type helmet includes a cover with a channel recessed from an external surface of the cover, the channel being configured to house a removable light source within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Eric Sommers, John Gabriel Touzinsky
  • Publication number: 20180110280
    Abstract: Provided is a light attached to a helmet where the light does not move when a face shield of the helmet is rotated up or down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Eric Sommers
  • Publication number: 20180036562
    Abstract: Provided is a powered air blower unit for delivering air flow to a user with constant air flow or varying speeds of air flow. The air blower unit may also include a filter for purifying the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Nishank R. Patel, Eric Sommers, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9814622
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for attaching a bump cap to a welding headgear. The system includes a bump cap, and an attachment member. The attachment member is configured to attach the bump cap to a welding headgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Eric Sommers
  • Publication number: 20160360820
    Abstract: A system for attaching a welding face member to a hard hat includes a hard hat and an adapter. The adapter is attached to the hard hat. The adapter includes an adapter mating member which attaches to a welding face member. The adapter mating member is located below the hard hat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Eric Sommers
  • Publication number: 20160361201
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for attaching a bump cap to a welding headgear. The system includes a bump cap, and an attachment member. The attachment member is configured to attach the bump cap to a welding headgear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Eric Sommers