Patents by Inventor Michael E. Ward
Michael E. Ward 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: 20120056421Abstract: An oil pan nut configured to be secured to an oil pan includes a hub having an upper surface configured to support a mating surface of the oil pan, and a column integrally connected to the hub. A passage is formed through the hub and the column. The column is configured to be crimped over the upper surface of the hub in order to compressively sandwich at least a portion of the mating surface of the oil pan between the crimped column and the upper surface of the hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2010Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Michael E. Ward, John H. Siegenthaler, Ryan P. Merrell, Michael J. Wiedemann, Charles T. Ferguson
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Patent number: 7967272Abstract: An industrial hanger is provided for coupling a device to a truss. The hanger apparatus includes a first member having a first support surface, a second opposed support surface, and a threaded portion extending between the first and second support surfaces. The hanger apparatus also includes a second member having a first support surface, a second opposed support surface, and a threaded portion extending between the second member first and second support surfaces. The first member is coupled to the second member such that the first member threaded portion and the second member threaded portions define a substantially circular threaded opening that is sized to receive a threaded rod therein.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Patent number: 7717015Abstract: A brick tie anchor secures a brick veneer to an underlying structure. The anchor includes a head portion having a shaped body defining a longitudinal axis. The head includes a key portion extending from an end of the body having generally flat sides and an open central area. A shank has an upper shank portion and a lower shank portion. The lower shank portion is threaded for penetration into the underlying structure. The upper shank portion and the lower shank portion are separated from one another by a shoulder. The upper shank portion includes a knurled region extending from the shoulder. A washer is disposed at the juncture of the head portion and the shank. The washer has a diameter greater than a largest measurement across the head portion. The washer includes a resilient sealing element on the side of the washer adjacent to the shank. A driving tool for the anchor is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong
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Patent number: 7665940Abstract: A fastener coupler includes a first securing member configured to receive and retain a first fastener within a first inner cavity, wherein at least one passage is formed through the first securing member, and a setting indication material within at least a portion of the first inner cavity. The setting indication material is configured to extrude through the first passage when the first fastener is urged into the setting indication material in order to indicate that the first fastener is properly secured to the first securing member.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Patent number: 7654782Abstract: A threaded fastener such as a weld nut or a weld stud has a projection from a surface thereof, with the projection bearing a thread. A weld ring substantially surrounds the threaded projection. In a fastener system using the fastener, a mounting structure has a keyhole including a larger diameter hole and a narrower diameter slot. In the assembly, a portion of the weld ring projects into the slot to resist rotation of the fastener relative to the mounting structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Patent number: 7605195Abstract: A “hybrid” epoxy resin coating system formed by a solvent-borne epoxy resin and a water-reducible curing agent. The coating formed by this system exhibits excellent resistance to most household chemicals, and yet is permeable to water vapor transmission to reduce blistering. Although the epoxy resin is solvent-based, the total VOC content of the mixture is less than 150 grams per liter, providing a low odor mixture that is environmentally friendly. Additives in the curing agent component, including a silicone surfactant, provide a coating that adheres well even to a surface that is less than ideally prepared; no acid etching or other special surface preparation is required. All the colorant is on one side of the system, preferably in the resin component. Thus, incomplete mixing will not substantially affect the color of the finished coating. All these features make this coating system ideally suitable for use by nonprofessionals.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Cass Polymers, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Ward, W. Douglas Frans
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Publication number: 20090114652Abstract: A threaded connection element adapted to reside in secure embedded relation within a wall structure of a fluid containment unit. The connection element includes a proximal portion adapted to engaging a thickness dimension of the wall structure and a distal threaded portion adapted to project away from the wall structure for attachment to an engagement structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: MARTIN J. NILSEN, MICHAEL E. WARD
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Patent number: 7503588Abstract: A pipe nipple has a bore therethrough, with an entrance chamber at one end of the bore having a larger diameter adjacent a drive configuration of narrower diameter for receiving a tool therein to rotate the nipple about its longitudinal axis. The exterior of the nipple has a surface formation as a stop against which a hose can be inserted over the nipple, and a threaded length for attaching the nipple to another device.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward, Robert E. Brunner, James M. Van Ingen
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Publication number: 20080295651Abstract: A brick tie anchor secures a brick veneer to an underlying structure. The anchor includes a head portion having a shaped body defining a longitudinal axis. The head includes a key portion extending from an end of the body having generally flat sides and an open central area. A shank has an upper shank portion and a lower shank portion. The lower shank portion is threaded for penetration into the underlying structure. The upper shank portion and the lower shank portion are separated from one another by a shoulder. The upper shank portion includes a knurled region extending from the shoulder. A washer is disposed at the juncture of the head portion and the shank. The washer has a diameter greater than a largest measurement across the head portion. The washer includes a resilient sealing element on the side of the washer adjacent to the shank. A driving tool for the anchor is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward, Michael C. Dill, Yongping Gong
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Patent number: 7445251Abstract: A connector bolt for securing an oil cooler to an engine block is made of first and second telescopic pieces. The bolt can be made in different lengths by adjusting the telescopic position of the first and second pieces. The length is fixed by securing the relative positions of the first and second pieces.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Publication number: 20080224012Abstract: An industrial hanger is provided for coupling a device to a truss. The hanger apparatus includes a first member having a first support surface, a second opposed support surface, and a threaded portion extending between the first and second support surfaces. The hanger apparatus also includes a second member having a first support surface, a second opposed support surface, and a threaded portion extending between the second member first and second support surfaces. The first member is coupled to the second member such that the first member threaded portion and the second member threaded portions define a substantially circular threaded opening that is sized to receive a threaded rod therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Publication number: 20070212191Abstract: A weld nut includes a separate nut and a separate weld plate engaged one with the other to constrain relative axial movement of one with respect to the other. Confronting surfaces along an interface of the nut and weld plate are configured to interfere one with the other and constrain relative rotational movement between the nut and weld plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2006Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward, James M. Van Ingen
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Publication number: 20070166128Abstract: A nut assembly includes a nut and a plate. The nut includes a portion disposed in the plate, through a hole in the plate. An outer surface of the nut is expanded outwardly to engage surfaces forming the hole. Axial compression is used in a method of the present invention for securing the nut in the washer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Publication number: 20070167063Abstract: A fastener coupler includes a first securing member configured to receive and retain a first fastener within a first inner cavity, wherein at least one passage is formed through the first securing member, and a setting indication material within at least a portion of the first inner cavity. The setting indication material is configured to extrude through the first passage when the first fastener is urged into the setting indication material in order to indicate that the first fastener is properly secured to the first securing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Patent number: 6961987Abstract: A nut and plate washer assembly formed from a separate nut body and a separate washer body. The washer body is press fit onto a shank of the nut body, with a head of the nut body embedded in a recess of the washer body. The washer body and nut body can be made from dissimilar materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Patent number: 6908272Abstract: A fastener nut is formed with anti-cross threading features that include a rounded or chamfered edge at the entry end to the nut, followed by an unthreaded cylindrical counterbore that extends axially from the entry end to the threaded section of the bore. The rounded or chamfered entry end prevents cross threading and the unthreaded section is of sufficient length to ensure substantially collinear alignment between the threaded fastener and the correspondingly threaded nut before threaded engagement occurs. An optional radiused portion is formed between the unthreaded and threaded sections of the nut to further prevent cross threading. The nut can be a weld nut formed with weld protrusions which enable the nut to be welded to a large structural member before mating engagement with a threaded fastener occurs. The nut can additionally have convex or concave or other tactile feed back features that induce vibration when a large off-angle is being attempted.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2003Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Patent number: 6899503Abstract: An assembly of an internally threaded fastener and a stemmed washer is provided, such as for applications in which a standoff is desired between a washer and a mating externally threaded fastener. The stemmed washer includes a washer portion, a retaining portion and a standoff portion. The retaining portion interfaces with the internally threaded fastener to retain the fastener in the assembly. The stemmed washer may include a skirt which is plastically deformed to capture the fastener. The fastener may include a skirt which similarly plastically to mate with a retaining lip on the stemmed washer. The fastener and washer may be secured in the assembly to permit relative rotation of the fastener with respect to the washer.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey D. Anderson, Kent D. Homfeldt, Michael E. Ward
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Publication number: 20040177488Abstract: A nut and plate washer assembly formed from a separate nut body and a separate washer body. The washer body is press fit onto a shank of the nut body, with a head of the nut body embedded in a recess of the washer body. The washer body and nut body can be made from dissimilar materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Patent number: 6769852Abstract: A nut and plate washer assembly formed from a separate nut body and a separate washer body. The washer body is press fit onto a shank of the nut body, with a head of the nut body embedded in a recess of the washer body. The washer body and nut body can be made from dissimilar materials.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward
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Publication number: 20040109740Abstract: A fastener nut is formed with anti-cross threading features that include a rounded or chamfered edge at the entry end to the nut, followed by an unthreaded cylindrical counterbore that extends axially from the entry end to the threaded section of the bore. The rounded or chamfered entry end prevents cross threading and the unthreaded section is of sufficient length to ensure substantially collinear alignment between the threaded fastener and the correspondingly threaded nut before threaded engagement occurs. An optional radiused portion is formed between the unthreaded and threaded sections of the nut to further prevent cross threading. The nut can be a weld nut formed with weld protrusions which enable the nut to be welded to a large structural member before mating engagement with a threaded fastener occurs. The nut can additionally have convex or concave or other tactile feed back features that induce vibration when a large off-angle is being attempted.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Martin J. Nilsen, Michael E. Ward