Patents by Inventor John P. Grimm
John P. Grimm 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).
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Publication number: 20110266283Abstract: In one aspect, a storage system is disclosed. The storage system may include a base having a lower or accessory portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion has at least one lower projection extending outward from a front surface and wherein the upper portion has at least two upper projections extending outward from the front surface and spaced from the lower projection. The system may also include at least one accessory configured to engage the lower portion. The system further may include at least one shelf or cover configured to engage the two upper projections. In a further aspect, another storage system is disclosed, wherein the storage system may include a base having an upper ledge portion, wherein a portion of the upper ledge portion is spaced a predetermined distance from a wall. The base further may include a lower portion and an accessory portion between the upper ledge portion and the lower portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2011Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Richard J. ERNST, John P. GRIMM
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Publication number: 20110101183Abstract: A substrate-mountable holder system comprising: a first portion, a cover, an anchor and at least one fastener, the first portion having a hook extending therefrom and at least one opening for receiving the fastener(s), a cover configured to engage the first portion and hide the fastener(s). The first portion may include a lobe proximate the top of the rear surface and a pad spaced from the lobe, the opening between the lobe and pad, for controlling deformation of the first portion. The first and second portions also may have a plurality of releasably engaging detents to lock the second portion in place, and the bottom of the second portion may angle rearward so as to bear against the substrate when the second portion is installed. Moreover, the first portion may include a barb on the lobe and/or one or more tangs extending from a recess in the rear surface of the first portion to embed in the substrate and inhibit rotation of the holder system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Richard J. ERNST, John P. GRIMM, Mark E. GONCIARZ
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Patent number: 7883307Abstract: A self-drilling fastener from which objects may be hung, for use in a friable material with or without an underlying member at the point of use or in a semi-rigid material such as a hollow core door comprises an elongated body having a threaded exterior with separate threads for drilling into the member, gripping the member, gripping the friable material and/or gripping the semi-rigid material. The fastener may further have a thread having a relatively small-diametered solid portion from which objects hang and an axially expanding angled portion for biasing the object toward the solid portion to stabilize and prevent the object from dislodging from the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Pippard, Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
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Patent number: 7850408Abstract: An anchor system for a hollow wall or ceiling includes an anchor portion having a flange and a penetrating portion extending from a rear surface of the flange. The penetration portion has a fixed sleeve extending from the rear surface of the flange and a pivoting locking leg connected to the fixed sleeve by a hinge. The fixed sleeve has a non-round opening extending longitudinally therethrough and the pivoting locking leg has a stub extending from a rear surface thereof to retain the penetrating portion rigid as the anchor is inserted into the wall or ceiling. A pin portion has a body including a flexible shaft and an actuating element extending transversely from an end of the shaft. The shaft tapers, near the actuating element toward the actuating element to define a transverse dimension. The actuating element has a heel at about a rear surface thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm, David W. Mueller
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Publication number: 20100219307Abstract: A substrate-mountable holder system, comprising: a first portion comprising a base having first and second front surfaces, a rear surface, a top and a bottom, a hook extending from proximate the bottom, a lobe extending rearwardly from a rear surface proximate the top, a pad extending rearwardly from the rear surface, an opening for receiving an anchor extending through the base, the opening between the lobe and the pad; and a second portion for operatively engaging the first portion; wherein the first and second portions each include at least one, and preferably a plurality of, interfacing protrusions and indentations for engaging the second portion with the first portion. Each of the protrusions and indentations on the first and second portions may be proximate the bottom of their respective portions. The system further may include a self-drilling drywall anchor having a bore, and a fastener for operatively engaging the first portion and the bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Richard J. ERNST, John P. GRIMM, Mark E. GONCIARZ
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Publication number: 20100221086Abstract: A self-drilling fastener from which objects may be hung, for use in a friable material with or without an underlying member at the point of use or in a semi-rigid material such as a hollow core door comprises an elongated body having a threaded exterior with separate threads for drilling into the member, gripping the member, gripping the friable material and/or gripping the semi-rigid material. The fastener may further have a thread having a relatively small-diametered solid portion from which objects hang and an axially expanding angled portion for biasing the object toward the solid portion to stabilize and prevent the object from dislodging from the fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Bruce A. Pippard, Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
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Publication number: 20100219308Abstract: A substrate-mountable holder system comprising: a first portion, a cover, an anchor and at least one fastener, the first portion having a hook extending therefrom and at least one opening for receiving the fastener(s), a cover configured to engage the first portion and hide the fastener(s). The first portion may include a lobe proximate the top of the rear surface to bias the bottom of the first portion toward the substrate to aid in more stable mounting of the first portion and further may include a tang projecting rearwardly from proximate the bottom for engagement with the substrate or a second fastener spaced proximate the first fastener to inhibit rotation of the system when installed. In addition, the first portion and the cover may have various features to fasten the cover securely to the first portion and provide the appearance of a unitary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard J. ERNST, John P. Grimm, Mark E. Gonciarz
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Publication number: 20100219323Abstract: An object-mounting aid such as a wire guide, comprising a first leg at a proximal end and a second leg at a distal end, with a hinge therebetween, wherein the second leg is longer than the first leg. The hinge may allow the second leg to pivot relative to the first leg so as to increase or decrease a gap between the second leg and the mounting surface, which may make it easier to position a wire on the second leg and may allow the second leg to serve as a ramp surface for the wire. The first leg includes a channel configured to receive and couple to a portion of a mounting device, e.g., by frictional engagement, which may be assisted through the use of detents on the guide. In addition, the guide may include a notch on the rear face of the first leg, the notch shaped so as to mirror or otherwise interface with at least a portion of the holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Richard J. ERNST, John P. GRIMM
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Patent number: 7762751Abstract: A self-drilling anchor for use in a friable material comprises a body having an axis, a flanged rear end, a drilling front end and a generally cylindrical portion therebetween having an outer surface with a thread disposed thereon, wherein the body forks, beginning at a predetermined distance from the flanged rear end, into a first leg and a second leg, the first leg extending forwardly into a drilling tip, wherein the first leg may have a generally rearward facing shoulder angled obtusely outwardly with respect to the axis, wherein the body has an axial bore for receiving an elongate fastener, the axial bore extending substantially through the flanged end and leading to the generally rearward facing shoulder, wherein the anchor is adapted so that the first leg pivots apart from the second leg when the elongate fastener deflects the generally rearward facing shoulder and the predetermined distance is selected to increase pullout strength when the first leg is pivoted apart from the second leg and the anchor iType: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Cheryl L. Panasik, Aaron V. Monje, David W. Mueller, John P. Grimm, Richard J. Ernst, Naim Mansour
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Publication number: 20100003100Abstract: A self-drilling anchor for use in a friable material or a semi-rigid material comprises a body having an axis, an axial bore adapted to receive a fastener, a proximal end, a drilling end, a proximal portion adjacent the proximal end having high threading having a crest diameter for engaging the friable or semi-rigid material, and a drilling portion adjacent the drilling end, an additional thread proximate the proximal end, the additional thread continuing between turns of the high threading, and a head at the proximal end having an outer diameter that is smaller than the crest diameter. The anchor additional thread is configured to engage either the friable material or, additionally, to firmly engage the semi-rigid material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2008Publication date: January 7, 2010Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, Mark E. Gonciarz, John P. Grimm
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Publication number: 20090229713Abstract: A holder having a baseplate with a tang extending rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners and a plurality of legs extending from the baseplate, the tang being heat treated or work hardened to harden the tang and facilitate its detachment for non-friable substrate applications. Work hardening may be accomplished, for example, by heating and quenching the tang to increase both its hardness and its brittleness to a level that allows the tang to be broken off with an impact force but not when inserted into a friable substrate so that the holder retains greater functionality.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard J. ERNST, John P. Grimm
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Publication number: 20090230267Abstract: In one aspect, a holder assembly includes a substrate-mountable holder having a metal base having a centerline, the base having a plurality of openings to receive a plurality of fasteners, a generally symmetrical wireform having a pair of legs with a portion therebetween, the portion welded to the base, each leg having a first segment extending parallel to the base and a second segment extending outwardly of the base. First segment of each leg may be generally parallel to the centerline, or first segment may be angled with respect to the centerline. Second segment of legs may extend generally linearly outwardly of the base or may have radii of curvature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
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Publication number: 20090220315Abstract: An anchor system for a hollow wall or ceiling includes an anchor portion having a flange and a penetrating portion extending from a rear surface of the flange. The penetration portion has a fixed sleeve extending from the rear surface of the flange and a pivoting locking leg connected to the fixed sleeve by a hinge. The fixed sleeve has a non-round opening extending longitudinally therethrough and the pivoting locking leg has a stub extending from a rear surface thereof to retain the penetrating portion rigid as the anchor is inserted into the wall or ceiling. A pin portion has a body including a flexible shaft and an actuating element extending transversely from an end of the shaft. The shaft tapers, near the actuating element toward the actuating element to define a transverse dimension.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm, David W. Mueller
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Patent number: D558029Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard Ernst, John P. Grimm, John Horvath
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Patent number: D558034Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard Ernst, John P. Grimm, John Horvath
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Patent number: D577575Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
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Patent number: D577576Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P Grimm
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Patent number: D577989Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
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Patent number: D581771Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
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Patent number: D591143Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm