Patents by Inventor Mitchell T. Neuhoff

Mitchell T. Neuhoff 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: 20240131674
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a magazine configured to receive fasteners, a nosepiece including a fastener driving channel from which consecutive fasteners from the magazine are driven, and a workpiece contact element movable relative to the nosepiece between an extended position and a retracted position. A portion of the workpiece contact element is slidably positioned within the fastener driving channel. The portion of the workpiece contact element having an aperture extending therethrough in which the fasteners pass from the magazine through the aperture into the fastener driving channel of the nosepiece to be fired. The portion of the workpiece contact element further includes a guide assembly positioned thereon. The guide assembly configured to guide the fastener along the portion of the workpiece contact element within the fastener driving channel as the fastener is being fired into a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Casey D. Garces, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Christopher J. VanAckeren, Grace Whitmore, Marcus Wechselberger, Jason M. Julius
  • Patent number: 11951601
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A rotary lifter is engageable with the driver blade and configured to receive torque from the drive unit for returning the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. The lifter has a body, a drive pin coupled to the body, and a roller positioned on the drive pin. The roller includes an engagement section configured to receive an end portion of a tooth of the driver blade. The lifter includes a means for aligning the engagement section with the end portion of the tooth on the driver blade to facilitate meshing between the end portion and the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Beth E. Cholst, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, David A Bierdeman, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger
  • Publication number: 20240051102
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a pusher assembly slidably coupled to a magazine assembly. The pusher assembly includes a first portion and a second portion that are selectively movable relative to each other. The pusher assembly is adjustable between a first state in which the first portion and the second portion are configured to move together in unison toward the channel, and a second state in which the first portion moves relative to the second portion toward the channel. A dry-fire lockout assembly includes a blocking member coupled to the magazine assembly or the nosepiece assembly, and a lockout member selectively engageable with the blocking member for moving the blocking member from a first position and a second position. The pusher assembly is configured to transition from the first state to the second state after a predetermined number of fasteners remain in the magazine assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Jacob N. Zimmerman, Grace Whitmore, Marcus Wechselberger, Casey D. Garces, Mitchell T. Neuhoff
  • Patent number: 11872678
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder supported by the housing, and a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder. A driver blade is attached to the piston and movable therewith between a top-dead-center (TDC) position and a driven or bottom-dead-center (BDC) position. The driver blade includes a body portion extending along a longitudinal axis, and a tip portion configured to contact a fastener. The tip portion is bisected by a central axis that is parallel with the longitudinal axis such that the tip portion is laterally offset relative to the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Casey D. Garces, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Christopher J. VanAckeren, Grace Whitmore, Marcus Wechselberger, Jason M. Julius
  • Publication number: 20240009795
    Abstract: An orbital sander (10) comprises a housing (14) and a drive unit (50) in the housing (14). The drive unit (50) includes an electric motor (58) and a drive shaft (68). The electric motor (58) has a motor output shaft defining a rotational axis (62). The drive shaft (68) is coupled for co-rotation with the motor output shaft about the rotational axis (62). The drive shaft (68) has an eccentric portion (70) configured to orbit about the rotational axis (62). A sanding pad (100) is coupled to the eccentric portion (70). A handle (16) extends from the housing (14) at an oblique angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the rotational axis (62). A battery pack (26) is coupled to the handle (16) for providing power to the electric motor (58). The orbital sander (10) is convenient for users to grasp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Mitchell T. NEUHOFF, Andrew J. WEBER, Joseph G. BLOOMFIELD, Todd R. MADER, Daniel J. CHARTIER, Drake J. SCHLOSSER, Gregory J. TRURAN, Ye WANG, Chao Qun LI, Quan ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20230390906
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver including a housing defining a cylinder support portion, a drive unit support portion, and a handle portion that is spaced apart from the drive unit support portion. The powered fastener driver includes a cylinder, a piston movable within the cylinder from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position, a driver blade attached to the piston for movement therewith along a driving axis from the TDC position toward the BDC position, a lifter operable to move the piston and driver blade, in unison, from the BDC position toward the TDC position, and a drive unit supported by the drive unit support portion and operably coupled to the lifter. The powered fastener driver further includes a user interface supported by the housing, and a printed circuit board positioned within the housing and positioned between the drive unit support portion and the handle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Ivan N. Zozulya, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Alex D. Servais, Mitchell T. Neuhoff
  • Patent number: 11801590
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a pusher assembly slidably coupled to a magazine assembly. The pusher assembly includes a first portion and a second portion that are selectively movable relative to each other. The pusher assembly is adjustable between a first state in which the first portion and the second portion are configured to move together in unison toward the channel, and a second state in which the first portion moves relative to the second portion toward the channel. A dry-fire lockout assembly includes a blocking member coupled to the magazine assembly or the nosepiece assembly, and a lockout member selectively engageable with the blocking member for moving the blocking member from a first position and a second position. The pusher assembly is configured to transition from the first state to the second state after a predetermined number of fasteners remain in the magazine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacob N. Zimmerman, Grace Whitmore, Marcus Wechselberger, Casey D. Garces, Mitchell T. Neuhoff
  • Publication number: 20230278177
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a housing defining cylinder support portion, a drive unit support portion, and a handle portion that is spaced apart from the drive unit support portion. The handle portion defines a handle axis. A piston is movable within a cylinder from a TDC position to a driven or BDC position. A driver blade is attached to the piston for movement therewith along a driving axis from the TDC position toward the BDC position for driving a fastener into a workpiece. A lifter is operable to move the piston and driver blade, in unison, from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A drive unit is supported by the drive unit support portion and operably coupled to the lifter. The drive unit includes a motor having first output shaft that extends along a motor axis. The motor is positioned below the handle. The handle axis and the motor axis intersect the driving axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Ivan N. Zozulya, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Alex D. Servais, Mitchell T. Neuhoff
  • Publication number: 20230264332
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a housing, a nosepiece extending from the housing, a driver blade movable within the nosepiece between a ready position and a driven position the driver blade comprising a plurality of drive teeth on a first side of the driver blade and a plurality of locking projections on a second side of the driver blade, a piston coupled to the driver blade for movement therewith, a driver cylinder within which the piston is movable, a storage chamber cylinder containing pressurized gas therein and in fluid communication with the driver cylinder, a first end of the driver cylinder being affixed to a corresponding first end of the storage chamber cylinder, and a latch actuator assembly adjacent the driver blade, wherein the latch actuator assembly includes a latch to engage one of the plurality of locking projections to prevent the driver blade from moving toward the driven position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Ivan N. Zozulya, Travis W. Leathrum, Troy C. Thorson, Michael B. Koeppel, Bradley S. Houskamp, Lokeshwaran Rajendran, Mitchell A. Ellena, David C. Graf, Caleb M. Schober
  • Publication number: 20230191575
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade and a drive unit having an output shaft for providing torque to move the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. A rotary lifter is engageable with the driver blade and configured to receive torque from the output shaft of the drive unit in a first rotational direction for returning the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. A kickout arrangement is defined between the lifter and the output shaft and configured to permit limited movement of the lifter relative to the output shaft between a first position and a second position. The kickout arrangement having a curvilinear slot defined in the rotary lifter in which a portion of the output shaft is received. Movement of the rotary lifter from the first position toward the second position causes the slot to move relative to the output shaft, while the output shaft remains within the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Patent number: 11654540
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder supported by the housing, and a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder. A driver blade is attached to the piston and movable therewith between a top-dead-center position and a driven or bottom-dead-center position. The driver blade includes a body having a first side and an opposite, second side with the driving axis passing therebetween, a plurality of teeth extending from the first side of the body, and a plurality of projections extending from the second side of the body. The body and the projections are bisected by a common plane. The teeth extend at an oblique angle from the first side of the body relative to the common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Casey D. Garces, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Christopher J. VanAckeren, Grace Whitmore, Marcus Wechselberger, Jason M. Julius
  • Publication number: 20230138234
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is positioned on the drive pin and engages with a tooth of the driver blade when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. The roller includes a first engagement section that receives an end portion of the tooth and a second engagement section. An engagement member engages the second engagement section for aligning the first engagement section of the roller with the end portion of the tooth to facilitate meshing between the end portion of the tooth and the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Patent number: 11577372
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The rotary lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is rotatably coupled to the drive pin and includes a non-cylindrical outer peripheral surface defining a plurality of engagement sections. A tooth of the driver blade is configured to engage one of the engagement sections when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Patent number: 11571794
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is positioned on the drive pin and engages with a tooth of the driver blade when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. The roller includes a first engagement section that receives an end portion of the tooth and a second engagement section. An engagement member engages the second engagement section for aligning the first engagement section of the roller with the end portion of the tooth to facilitate meshing between the end portion of the tooth and the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220388135
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder supported by the housing, and a moveable piston positioned within and moveable along a driving axis of the cylinder. The piston includes a circumferential groove on an outer peripheral surface thereof. A driver blade is attached to the piston and moveable therewith between a top-dead-center (TDC) position and a driven or bottom-dead-center (BDC) position. A seal assembly is received in the circumferential groove. The seal assembly is configured to create a seal between the piston and the cylinder. The seal assembly includes a biasing member and a seal member positioned radially outwardly of the biasing member relative to the driving axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Jason M. Julius, David A. Bierdeman, Logan M. Hietpas, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jeremy J. Keifenheim
  • Publication number: 20220250222
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder supported by the housing, and a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder. A driver blade is attached to the piston and movable therewith between a top-dead-center position and a driven or bottom-dead-center position. The driver blade includes a body having a first side and an opposite, second side with the driving axis passing therebetween, a plurality of teeth extending from the first side of the body, and a plurality of projections extending from the second side of the body. The body and the projections are bisected by a common plane. The teeth extend at an oblique angle from the first side of the body relative to the common plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Casey D. Garces, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Christopher J. VanAckeren, Grace Whitmore, Marcus Wechselberger, Jason M. Julius
  • Publication number: 20220234183
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The rotary lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is rotatably coupled to the drive pin and includes a non-cylindrical outer peripheral surface defining a plurality of engagement sections. A tooth of the driver blade is configured to engage one of the engagement sections when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220234182
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is positioned on the drive pin and engages with a tooth of the driver blade when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. The roller includes a first engagement section that receives an end portion of the tooth and a second engagement section. An engagement member engages the second engagement section for aligning the first engagement section of the roller with the end portion of the tooth to facilitate meshing between the end portion of the tooth and the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220219301
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A kickout arrangement is at least partially defined by an outer surface on one of a torque output member and a torque input member and an aperture formed in the other of the torque output member and the torque input member in which the outer surface is received. The kickout arrangement configured to permit limited rotation of the torque output member relative to the torque input member between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Bierdeman, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Jason M. Julius, Rosalie C. Phillips, Beth E. Cholst
  • Publication number: 20220143798
    Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A rotary lifter is engageable with the driver blade and configured to receive torque from the drive unit for returning the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. The lifter has a body, a drive pin coupled to the body, and a roller positioned on the drive pin. The roller includes an engagement section configured to receive an end portion of a tooth of the driver blade. The lifter includes a means for aligning the engagement section with the end portion of the tooth on the driver blade to facilitate meshing between the end portion and the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Beth E. Cholst, Troy C. Thorson, Jacob P. Schneider, Mackenzie J. Nick, Nathan Bandy, David A. Bierdeman, Travis W. Leathrum, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Mark C. Hughes, David C. Graf, Marcus Wechselberger