Patents by Inventor Michael W. Roberts

Michael W. Roberts 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).

  • Patent number: 12278577
    Abstract: The present directed to a cordless power tool system including a plurality of cordless power tools, a plurality of fixed voltage and multi-voltage battery packs and a plurality of battery pack chargers. The battery packs include circuitry to indicate various parameters about the battery pack and communicate this indication to the power tools in order to enable the power tools to alter their motor output schemes to improve performance. The indication may include whether the battery pack is a fixed voltage battery pack or a multi-voltage battery pack and when the multi-voltage battery pack is in a first configuration or a second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Barton, Mark T. Cherry, Timothy J. Hennesy, William Thomas Lunsford, V, Michael W. Roberts, Nathan J. Osborne, Elizabeth Wink, Daniel F. Nace, Philip Gilde
  • Patent number: 12230824
    Abstract: A power tool system that includes a power tool having a receptacle for receiving a battery pack, the receptacle including a mechanical interface for mating with a battery pack, a first battery pack having a battery pack housing, the first battery pack housing including a mechanical interface for mating with the power tool, the first battery pack housing having a first width dimension in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction in which the first battery pack mates with the power tool and a second battery pack having a battery pack housing, the second battery pack housing including a mechanical interface for mating with the power tool, the second battery pack housing having a second width dimension in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction in which the second battery pack mates with the power tool, wherein the second width dimension being at least about 1.5 times the first width dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Garibaldi, Luke R. Barton, Abhisheka Moturu, Timothy Hennesy, Michael W. Roberts, Jason Dunthorn, John Palermo, Steven Derby, Mahmudul Bhuiyan
  • Publication number: 20240274945
    Abstract: A battery pack comprises a housing and a module holder. The module holder includes a plurality of core pack modules. Each module may have five sets of battery cells. The five sets of battery cells may be connected in series to each other. The core pack modules of the plurality of core pack modules are connected in series with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Mahmudul Bhuiyan, Abhisheka Moturu, Timothy Hennesy, Jason Dunthorn, Michael Varipatis, Nicholas J. Garibaldi, Luke R. Barton, Moturu Abhisheka, Michael W. Roberts, John Palermo, Steven Derby
  • Patent number: 11986918
    Abstract: A method wherein by reducing the amount of current, and therefore torque, to the linear servo motor (50) and/or rotary servo motor (52) of a loader mechanism (9), the loader mechanism is operable for determining proper workpiece positioning in a machine tool such as a gear manufacturing machine, particularly a machine (4) for manufacturing bevel and hypoid gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: THE GLEASON WORKS
    Inventor: Michael W. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20240145831
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a set of battery cells, and a latch assembly mechanism. The latch assembly mechanism includes a user activation button that pivots about a first axis and an engaging portion that pivots about a second axis, where the first axis is parallel to the second axis and the user activation button actuates the engaging portion. In another aspect, a battery pack includes a housing and a set of battery cells. The housing includes a top portion, a first side portion connected to the top portion, a second side portion connected to the top portion, the second side portion opposite the first side portion, and a bottom portion connected to the first side portion and the second side portion, the bottom portion opposite the top portion. An insert is molded into at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Cherry, Timothy J. Hennesy, Michael W. Roberts, Michael Varipatis
  • Patent number: 11901570
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a set of battery cells, and a latch assembly mechanism. The latch assembly mechanism includes a user activation button that pivots about a first axis and an engaging portion that pivots about a second axis, where the first axis is parallel to the second axis and the user activation button actuates the engaging portion. In another aspect, a battery pack includes a housing and a set of battery cells. The housing includes a top portion, a first side portion connected to the top portion, a second side portion connected to the top portion, the second side portion opposite the first side portion, and a bottom portion connected to the first side portion and the second side portion, the bottom portion opposite the top portion. An insert is molded into at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Mark Cherry, Timothy J. Hennesy, Michael W. Roberts, Michael Varipatis
  • Publication number: 20240014516
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a battery pack and a method of forming a battery pack. The battery pack may include a collection element for receiving and connection battery cell tabs of a plurality of pouch cell type battery cells. The collection element may be made from a single, stamped piece of metal. The battery pack may include a plastic housing that is injection molded about the metal stamped collection element. Such a configuration reduces the number of component parts and simplifies the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michael W. ROBERTS, Andrew J. YATES
  • Publication number: 20220368258
    Abstract: The present directed to a cordless power tool system including a plurality of cordless power tools, a plurality of fixed voltage and multi-voltage battery packs and a plurality of battery pack chargers. The battery packs include circuitry to indicate various parameters about the battery pack and communicate this indication to the power tools in order to enable the power tools to alter their motor output schemes to improve performance. The indication may include whether the battery pack is a fixed voltage battery pack or a multi-voltage battery pack and when the multi-voltage battery pack is in a first configuration or a second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander R. BARTON, Mark T. CHERRY, Timothy J. HENNESY, Thomas LUNSFORD, Michael W. ROBERTS, Nathan J. OSBORNE, Elizabeth WINK, Daniel F. NACE, Philip GILDE
  • Publication number: 20220328924
    Abstract: A power tool system that includes a power tool having a receptacle for receiving a battery pack, the receptacle including a mechanical interface for mating with a battery pack, a first battery pack having a battery pack housing, the first battery pack housing including a mechanical interface for mating with the power tool, the first battery pack housing having a first width dimension in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction in which the first battery pack mates with the power tool and a second battery pack having a battery pack housing, the second battery pack housing including a mechanical interface for mating with the power tool, the second battery pack housing having a second width dimension in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction in which the second battery pack mates with the power tool, wherein the second width dimension being at least about 1.5 times the first width dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas J. GARIBALDI, Luke R. BARTON, Moturu ABHISHEKA, Timothy HENNESY, Michael W. ROBERTS, Jason DUNTHORN, John PALERMO, Steven DERBY, Mahmudul BHUIYAN
  • Patent number: 11303067
    Abstract: It is common for a power tool system from a manufacturer to include a battery pack that is designed and configured to mate and operate with at least one power tool and a battery charger. However, as systems have evolved it has become desirable to provide a battery pack that is designed and configured to mate and operate with at least one power tool and a first battery charger but not a second battery charger. The present disclosure provides a battery pack including a housing, a terminal block, a plurality of terminals, and a mechanical lockout for allowing engagement with a power tool and a first battery charger while preventing engagement with a second battery charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan J. Cruise, Daniel J. White, Robert J. Marcinkowski, Geoffrey S. Howard, Alexis W. Johnson, Nathan J. Osborne, Michael W. Roberts, Steven J. Phillips, Michelle L. Bowers
  • Patent number: 11211664
    Abstract: This application relates to a power tool system including a plurality of power tools, a plurality of battery packs and at least one battery pack charger and method for operating the power tools with the battery packs. This application also relates to a method for charging the battery packs and a method for monitoring a state of charge of the battery pack. In one implementation, the system includes an existing battery pack designed to provide (output) a relatively low voltage, an existing power tool designed to operate at the relatively low voltage, a new battery pack designed to provide (output) the relatively low voltage and a relatively high voltage, and a new power tool designed to operate at the relatively high voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Luke R. Barton, Nathan J. Cruise, Abhisheka Moturu, Dustin Jefferies, Christine H. Potter, Michael W. Roberts, Michael Varipatis, Fugen Qin, Daniel J. Albrecht, Michael J. Aronoff
  • Patent number: 11133662
    Abstract: An adaptor for connecting a power source to a power tool includes a housing having a first end that is configured to connect to a power source and a second end that is configured to connect to a power tool. The adaptor includes a control circuit disposed within the housing. The control circuit is configured to detect a type of the power tool, to detect an overstress condition in the power tool and to control the power tool responsive to detecting the overstress condition based on the detected type of power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Friedman, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Christopher R. Held, Abhisheka Moturu, Michael Varipatis, Paul J. Wisniewski, Michael W. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20210083237
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a set of battery cells, and a latch assembly mechanism. The latch assembly mechanism includes a user activation button that pivots about a first axis and an engaging portion that pivots about a second axis, where the first axis is parallel to the second axis and the user activation button actuates the engaging portion. In another aspect, a battery pack includes a housing and a set of battery cells. The housing includes a top portion, a first side portion connected to the top portion, a second side portion connected to the top portion, the second side portion opposite the first side portion, and a bottom portion connected to the first side portion and the second side portion, the bottom portion opposite the top portion. An insert is molded into at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Cherry, Timothy J. Hennesy, Michael W. Roberts, Michael Varipatis
  • Publication number: 20210008680
    Abstract: A method wherein by reducing the amount of current, and therefore torque, to the linear servo motor (50) and/or rotary servo motor (52) of a loader mechanism (9), the loader mechanism is operable for determining proper workpiece positioning in a machine tool such as a gear manufacturing machine, particularly a machine (4) for manufacturing bevel and hypoid gears
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventor: Michael W. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20200052479
    Abstract: An adaptor for connecting a power source to a power tool includes a housing having a first end that is configured to connect to a power source and a second end that is configured to connect to a power tool. The adaptor includes a control circuit disposed within the housing. The control circuit is configured to detect a type of the power tool, to detect an overstress condition in the power tool and to control the power tool responsive to detecting the overstress condition based on the detected type of power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Brian E. Friedman, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Christopher R. Held, Abhisheka Moturu, Michael Varipatis, Paul J. Wisniewski, Michael W. Roberts
  • Patent number: D883918
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Roberts, Timothy J. Hennesy, Abhisheka Moturu, David A. Miller
  • Patent number: D887981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Roberts, Ryan Klee, Michael Varipatis, Christopher R. Held, Gabriel E. Concari, Abhisheka Moturu
  • Patent number: D891363
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Roberts, Timothy J. Hennesy, Abhisheka Moturu, David A. Miller
  • Patent number: D893411
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Roberts, Timothy J. Hennesy, Abhisheka Moturu, David A. Miller
  • Patent number: D956682
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Roberts, Timothy J. Hennesy, Abhisheka Moturu, David A. Miller