Patents by Inventor Gregory Tropea

Gregory Tropea 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: 20260109061
    Abstract: A blade retention mechanism is provided including a blade clamp having a lever portion and a protrusion portion coupled to a first end of the lever portion. The lever portion rotates at the first end of the lever portion between a first open position and a second closed position. The protrusion portion of the blade clamp defines an over-center cam that presses a blade into a blade holder of a knife when the lever portion is rotated into the second closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: April 23, 2026
    Inventors: Stephen Rowlay, Ralf Strauss, Cole Thomas Sanders, Gregory Tropea, Sotir Moliko, Jonathan P. Van Dore, Christopher Allen Volgado Cate
  • Publication number: 20250042643
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a blade dispenser includes a body portion; and a lid portion slidable relative to the body portion to move the blade dispenser between a closed configuration and an extended configuration. The lid portion comprises a first lid portion having a first blade chamber and a second lid portion having a second blade chamber. The first lid portion and the second lid portion are coupled by a hinge portion configured to permit the first lid portion to pivot relative to the second lid portion to move the blade dispenser from the extended configuration to an open configuration. In the open configuration blades may be removed from or inserted into both the first blade chamber and the second blade chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Cole Thomas Sanders, Gregory Tropea, Matthew Alan Seibert
  • Patent number: 12122588
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a blade dispenser includes a body portion; and a lid portion slidable relative to the body portion to move the blade dispenser between a closed configuration and an extended configuration. The lid portion comprises a first lid portion having a first blade chamber and a second lid portion having a second blade chamber. The first lid portion and the second lid portion are coupled by a hinge portion configured to permit the first lid portion to pivot relative to the second lid portion to move the blade dispenser from the extended configuration to an open configuration. In the open configuration blades may be removed from or inserted into both the first blade chamber and the second blade chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Cole Thomas Sanders, Gregory Tropea, Matthew Alan Seibert
  • Publication number: 20240198544
    Abstract: A utility knife blade may include a planar body generally shaped as an isosceles trapezoid with a long base, a short base, a first leg, and a second leg, the long and short base being generally parallel; a sharpened edge formed on the long base; an engagement feature configured to retain the utility knife blade in a utility knife; and a first functional cutout extending into the first leg, spaced from both the engagement feature and the sharpened edge. A utility knife blade may also include a planar body defining an unsharpened edge and a sharpened edge; an engagement feature configured to retain the utility knife blade in a utility knife; and a first functional cutout extending into the planar body. The planar body is configured to bend without breaking upon application of a force transverse to the planar body that exceeds an intended force for the first functional cutout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Cole Thomas Sanders, Gregory Tropea, Sotir Moliko
  • Publication number: 20240010418
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a blade dispenser includes a body portion; and a lid portion slidable relative to the body portion to move the blade dispenser between a closed configuration and an extended configuration. The lid portion comprises a first lid portion having a first blade chamber and a second lid portion having a second blade chamber. The first lid portion and the second lid portion are coupled by a hinge portion configured to permit the first lid portion to pivot relative to the second lid portion to move the blade dispenser from the extended configuration to an open configuration. In the open configuration blades may be removed from or inserted into both the first blade chamber and the second blade chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Cole Thomas Sanders, Gregory Tropea, Matthew Alan Seibert
  • Patent number: 11833658
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kenneth Adams, Gregory Tropea, Austin Charles Allessio, Aaron Jonathan Jones, Ralf Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230015233
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: John Kenneth Adams, Gregory Tropea, Austin Charles Allessio, Aaron Jonathan Jones, Ralf Strauss
  • Patent number: 11472020
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kenneth Adams, Gregory Tropea, Austin Charles Allessio, Aaron Jonathan Jones, Ralf Strauss
  • Publication number: 20220226981
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: John Kenneth Adams, Gregory Tropea, Austin Charles Allessio, Aaron Jonathan Jones, Ralf Strauss
  • Patent number: 9676079
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to a clamp. In one embodiment, the clamp includes a bar, and a first jaw, movable along the bar and positioned on a first side of the bar. The clamp also includes a second jaw positioned on the bar on a second side of the bar, opposite the first side. The clamp also includes an actuator for moving the first jaw toward the second jaw for clamping one or more workpieces, and the actuator includes one or more drive plates operatively coupled to the bar when the first jaw is in a driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Tropea
  • Publication number: 20140252711
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to a clamp. In one embodiment, the clamp includes a bar, and a first jaw, movable along the bar and positioned on a first side of the bar. The clamp also includes a second jaw positioned on the bar on a second side of the bar, opposite the first side. The clamp also includes an actuator for moving the first jaw toward the second jaw for clamping one or more workpieces, and the actuator includes one or more drive plates operatively coupled to the bar when the first jaw is in a driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Tropea
  • Patent number: 6397836
    Abstract: A pair of door mounting assemblies mount an oven door assembly to an oven such that the oven door assembly may move between a closed baking position, a broiling position, and an open position. Each of the door mounting assemblies includes a mounting member that is pivotally connected to the door assembly. Each door mounting assembly includes a spring biased mechanism to enable the oven door assembly to be biased by the weight thereof when in a first range of movement, to be biased toward and into the broiling position when in a second range of movement, and to be biased toward and into the baking position when in a third range of movement. A damper assembly provides resistance to the movement of the oven door assembly within the second and third ranges to limit the rate of movement of the oven door assembly toward the broiling and baking positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Thomas A Pelletier, Steven Levine, Gregory Tropea, Kenneth Strickland
  • Patent number: 6209171
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in mounting a door on an overhead track comprising a carriage assembly constructed and arranged to be moved horizontally along the track in such a way as to limit upward movement thereof, and a door mounted assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted on an upper edge of the door so as to be moved with the door. The door mounted assembly is movable with the door (1) into an initial position wherein a locking member on the carriage assembly is in an initial vertically aligned position with respect to a locking member receiving opening on the door mounted assembly and (2) from the initial position upwardly with a snap action into a locking position wherein the locking member is in a locking position within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Thomas Pelletier, Gregory Tropea
  • Patent number: D688109
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Vanderbeek, Gregory Tropea, Nidta Viyakornvilas