Patents by Inventor Nikos A. Gainacopulos

Nikos A. Gainacopulos 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: 11684957
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a shroud with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end and a drum assembly positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is rotatable relative to the shroud. The drum assembly includes an inner drum and a drum cover extending entirely over an open forward end of the inner drum. The drain cleaner also includes a flexible cable stored within a cavity defined by the inner drum and the drum cover of the drum assembly. The flexible cable is supported by the inner drum. The drain cleaner further includes a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud. The handle assembly includes a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor. The actuator is positioned in an area defined between the grip and the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Publication number: 20220324079
    Abstract: A belt sander for sanding a workpiece and defining a center of gravity within a first plane. The belt sander includes a housing, a handle defining a second plane, and a drive unit disposed within the housing. The drive unit includes a motor disposed adjacent a first sidewall of the housing, a pulley system disposed adjacent a second sidewall of the housing opposite the first sidewall, and a transmission disposed between the motor and the pulley system. The belt sander further includes a belt drive system driven by the drive unit and including a drive wheel, a driven wheel, and a platen. The platen defines a third plane extending perpendicular therefrom. The transmission and pulley system are disposed on one side of the first plane and the motor is disposed on an opposite side of the first plane. The motor is intersected by the second and third planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: James C. Sitter, Jeffrey S. Holly, Joseph G. Bloomfield, David A. Bierdeman, Logan M. Hietpas, Adam N. Carter, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Eric K. Farrington, Christopher M. Didier, Benjamin J. Ludy
  • Publication number: 20210346921
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a shroud with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end and a drum assembly positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is rotatable relative to the shroud. The drum assembly includes an inner drum and a drum cover extending entirely over an open forward end of the inner drum. The drain cleaner also includes a flexible cable stored within a cavity defined by the inner drum and the drum cover of the drum assembly. The flexible cable is supported by the inner drum. The drain cleaner further includes a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud. The handle assembly includes a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor. The actuator is positioned in an area defined between the grip and the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Patent number: 11103902
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a shroud with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, a drum assembly positioned within the shroud and rotatable relative to the shroud, a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, and a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud. The handle assembly includes a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor. The actuator is enclosed between the grip and the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Patent number: 10960530
    Abstract: System for cooling a power tool. One exemplary power tool includes a housing including an air intake and an air exhaust. The power tool further includes a motor and a fan configured to pull cooling air into the housing through the air intake, and exhaust the cooling air out of the housing through the air exhaust. The power tool further includes a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs). The FETs couple the stator coils to a power source. The power tool further includes a FET board within the housing. The power tool further includes a heat sink within the housing. The heat sink includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. Each of the mounting portions includes a horizontal fin extending toward a respective side of the housing. A plurality of vertical fins extends from a top surface of each of the horizontal fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Michael R. Sande, Michael A. Matthews, Derek J. Schwab, Steve Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20190329337
    Abstract: A cut-off tool includes a housing, an arbor supported by the housing for relative movement therewith, and a cutting disk attachable to the arbor. The cut-off tool further includes a motor coupled to the arbor to provide torque thereto, and a battery pack removably coupled to the housing. The battery pack is for providing power to the motor. The cut-off tool further includes a switch operable to adjust rotation of the motor between a first rotational direction and an opposite, second direction for selectively rotating the cutting disk in the first rotational direction or second rotational direction, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick Owens, Derek J. Schwab, Christopher Derksen, Sean Kelley, Nikos A. Gainacopulos
  • Publication number: 20190291260
    Abstract: System for cooling a power tool. One exemplary power tool includes a housing including an air intake and an air exhaust. The power tool further includes a motor and a fan configured to pull cooling air into the housing through the air intake, and exhaust the cooling air out of the housing through the air exhaust. The power tool further includes a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs). The FETs couple the stator coils to a power source. The power tool further includes a FET board within the housing. The power tool further includes a heat sink within the housing. The heat sink includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. Each of the mounting portions includes a horizontal fin extending toward a respective side of the housing. A plurality of vertical fins extends from a top surface of each of the horizontal fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Michael R. Sande, Michael A. Matthews, Derek J. Schwab, Steve Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20190193128
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a shroud with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, a drum assembly positioned within the shroud and rotatable relative to the shroud, a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, and a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud. The handle assembly includes a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor. The actuator is enclosed between the grip and the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Patent number: 10239100
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a shroud with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, a drum assembly positioned within the shroud and rotatable relative to the shroud, a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, and a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud. The handle assembly includes a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor. The actuator is enclosed between the grip and the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Publication number: 20180229279
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a shroud with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, a drum assembly positioned within the shroud and rotatable relative to the shroud, a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, and a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud. The handle assembly includes a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor. The actuator is enclosed between the grip and the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Celene K. Mo, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Jeffrey Corbat, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Patent number: 9975154
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a handle assembly with a grip, a motor supported by the handle assembly, and a shroud coupled to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly. The shroud includes a closed end facing the handle assembly and an open end facing away from the handle assembly. The drain cleaner also includes a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud. The drain cleaner further includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The drum assembly encloses the flexible cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Celene K. Mo, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Jeffrey Corbat, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Publication number: 20180126429
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a handle assembly with a grip, a motor supported by the handle assembly, and a shroud coupled to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly. The shroud includes a closed end facing the handle assembly and an open end facing away from the handle assembly. The drain cleaner also includes a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud. The drain cleaner further includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The drum assembly encloses the flexible cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Celene K. Mo, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Jeffrey Corbat, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Patent number: 9884353
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a handle assembly having a grip, a motor positioned within the handle assembly, and an actuator supported by the handle assembly adjacent the grip. The actuator is electrically coupled to the motor and operable to selectively energize the motor. The drain cleaner also includes a shroud fixed to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly. The shroud includes a closed end adjacent the handle assembly. The drain cleaner further includes a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud. The drain cleaner also includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The flexible cable is configured to be extended out of the drum assembly and into a drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Celene K. Mo, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Jeffrey Corbat, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller
  • Publication number: 20170165723
    Abstract: A drain cleaner includes a handle assembly having a grip, a motor positioned within the handle assembly, and an actuator supported by the handle assembly adjacent the grip. The actuator is electrically coupled to the motor and operable to selectively energize the motor. The drain cleaner also includes a shroud fixed to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly. The shroud includes a closed end adjacent the handle assembly. The drain cleaner further includes a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud. The drain cleaner also includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The flexible cable is configured to be extended out of the drum assembly and into a drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Hans T. Banholzer, Celene K. Mo, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Jacqueline J. Beierle, Jeffrey Corbat, Sean T. Kehoe, Ryan James Denissen, Justin Miller