Patents by Inventor Michael C. Dill

Michael C. Dill 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: 20230340984
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
  • Publication number: 20230304525
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a post-to-beam fastener including a head, a tip, and a threaded shank connected to the head at a first end and the tip and a second end. In various embodiments, threaded shank includes a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the tip, and the tip includes a recess operable to removably receive a drill bit to the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Michael C. Dill, Daniel J. Stemper, Brent A. Studenroth, Anthony M. Versino
  • Publication number: 20230279890
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a post-to-beam fastener including a head, a tip, and a threaded shank connected to the head at a first end and the tip and a second end. In various embodiments, threaded shank includes a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the tip, and the tip includes a recess operable to removably receive a drill bit to the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Michael C. Dill, Daniel J. Stemper, Brent A. Studenroth, Anthony M. Versino
  • Patent number: 11719272
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
  • Patent number: 11692578
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a post-to-beam fastener including a head, a tip, and a threaded shank connected to the head at a first end and the tip and a second end. In various embodiments, threaded shank includes a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the tip, and the tip includes a recess operable to removably receive a drill bit to the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Dill, Daniel J. Stemper, Brent A. Studenroth, Anthony M. Versino
  • Patent number: 11578747
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
  • Patent number: 11326638
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a threaded fastener having a hybrid self-drilling tip or drill tip. The fastener includes a head, a shank connected to and extending from the head, a helical thread formation extending radially outwardly from part of the shank, and a self-drilling tip including a first tapered tip portion and a second tapered tip portion. The first tapered tip portion is connected at a first end to the shank and at a second end to the second tapered tip portion, and the second tapered tip portion terminates in a pointed end. The outer diameters of both tapered portions taper radially inwardly moving in the direction of the pointed end, which renders the fastener suitable for attachment to wood as well as for fastening two metal objects to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Dill
  • Publication number: 20210270306
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
  • Patent number: 11035399
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
  • Patent number: 10828761
    Abstract: A powered fastener driving tool such as a powder-actuated tool including a housing assembly including a side wall having a first outer section, a raised section, and a recessed section, the raised section including a rim that extends in an outermost plane of a side wall of the housing and a spring-loaded slidable power setting switch partially positioned in and partially extending from the housing. The spring-loaded slidable power setting switch includes a depressible button movable from a resting position in which an outer surface of the button extends outwardly beyond the plane in which the outer surface of the rim lies to a depressed position in which the outer surface of the button extends in a same or substantially same plane in which the outer surface of the rim lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Dill, Chung-Yi Lee
  • Publication number: 20200182280
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
  • Publication number: 20200096033
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a post-to-beam fastener including a head, a tip, and a threaded shank connected to the head at a first end and the tip and a second end. In various embodiments, threaded shank includes a longitudinal axis extending from the head to the tip, and the tip includes a recess operable to removably receive a drill bit to the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Michael C. Dill, Daniel J. Stemper, Brent A. Studenroth, Anthony M. Versino
  • Patent number: 10570943
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
  • Patent number: 10473137
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a winged threaded fastener primarily suited to be used to connect a wooden object to a metal object. The fastener includes a head, a shank, a helical thread formation extending from the shank, a first wing extending from the shank, and a second wing extending from the shank. In various embodiments, the wings are offset along the longitudinal axis of the shank with respect to each other and are angled with respect the longitudinal axis of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Dill
  • Publication number: 20190078603
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a fastener including a head, a shank connected to the head and having a tip, one or more helical thread formations extending outwardly from the shank, and wherein a bottom portion of the head includes a plurality of ribs that extend towards the tip of the shank and that are shaped to abruptly frictionally engage a surface of a first object being attached to a second object to create an immediate frictional torsional resistance of a desired force level to the tightening of the fastener. This frictional resistance is provided back to the tightening tool to inform the operator of the tightening tool that the head of the fastener has sufficiently engaged the first object and that further tightening or clockwise rotation of the fastener is unnecessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Victor Truong, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong, Mark D. Latz
  • Publication number: 20180135682
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a fastener driveable into a substrate are provided. The fastener includes a head, a shank, and a helical thread formation. Portions of the shank and helical thread formations may be tapered. The outer diameter of the shank may decrease in a direction away from the head. An outer diameter of the thread formation may increase in a direction away from the head. The head may include a plurality of extending ribs. The helical thread formation may be formed with a plurality of grooves that are respectively each partially defined by a straight cutting edge. These improvements reduce torsional failure of the fastener from over tightening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Yongping Gong, Victor Truong, Stanley J. Cabaj, Mark D. Latz, Michael C. Dill
  • Publication number: 20180100534
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a threaded fastener having a hybrid self-drilling tip or drill tip. The fastener includes a head, a shank connected to and extending from the head, a helical thread formation extending radially outwardly from part of the shank, and a self-drilling tip including a first tapered tip portion and a second tapered tip portion. The first tapered tip portion is connected at a first end to the shank and at a second end to the second tapered tip portion, and the second tapered tip portion terminates in a pointed end. The outer diameters of both tapered portions taper radially inwardly moving in the direction of the pointed end, which renders the fastener suitable for attachment to wood as well as for fastening two metal objects to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventor: Michael C. Dill
  • Publication number: 20180100533
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a winged threaded fastener primarily suited to be used to connect a wooden object to a metal object. The fastener includes a head, a shank, a helical thread formation extending from the shank, a first wing extending from the shank, and a second wing extending from the shank. In various embodiments, the wings are offset along the longitudinal axis of the shank with respect to each other and are angled with respect the longitudinal axis of the shank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventor: Michael C. Dill
  • Publication number: 20180043519
    Abstract: A powered fastener driving tool such as a powder-actuated tool including a housing assembly including a side wall having a first outer section, a raised section, and a recessed section, the raised section including a rim that extends in an outermost plane of a side wall of the housing and a spring-loaded slidable power setting switch partially positioned in and partially extending from the housing. The spring-loaded slidable power setting switch includes a depressible button movable from a resting position in which an outer surface of the button extends outwardly beyond the plane in which the outer surface of the rim lies to a depressed position in which the outer surface of the button extends in a same or substantially same plane in which the outer surface of the rim lies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael C. Dill, Chung-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: D833244
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Dill