Patents by Inventor Richard W. Lukes
Richard W. Lukes 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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Patent number: 11815123Abstract: Presently disclosed is a standoff fastener for use in a compound floor structure. The threaded fastener includes a threaded standoff portion designed to accept a nut which has a diameter larger than a head portion of the standoff fastener. The head portion is located centrally within the fastener in order to reduce a tendency of the fastener to pivot within a driver during the fastening process.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignees: Nucor Corporation, Asia Fastening (US), Inc.Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
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Patent number: 11364601Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. Each alternating lobes and troughs is defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to a rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle, which may be between 0° and 5°.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Richard W. Lukes, Donald K. Blaess, Sean Riskin
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Patent number: 11215215Abstract: A torque transmission driver has a first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source, and a second end portion including a shaped tapered bit having drive surfaces with an alternating series of five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, having a taper angle between 15 and 45° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces in a plurality of at least two size fasteners, the tapered drive surfaces of the bit comprising a first tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a first sized fastener and a second tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a second sized fastener, the drive surfaces of the second sized fastener being larger than the drive surfaces of the first sized fastener.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Richard W. Lukes
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Patent number: 10968939Abstract: A torque transmission driver has a first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source, and a second end portion including a shaped tapered bit having drive surfaces with an alternating series of five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, having a taper angle between 15 and 65° from the rotational axis operable to engage corresponding drive surfaces in a plurality of at least two size fasteners, the tapered drive surfaces of the bit comprising a first tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a first sized fastener and a second tapered portion operable to engage drive surfaces of a second sized fastener, the drive surfaces of the second sized fastener being larger than the drive surfaces of the first sized fastener. The taper angle may be nominally 52° from the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2014Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Richard W. Lukes, Donald K. Blaess
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Publication number: 20200378419Abstract: Presently disclosed is a standoff fastener for use in a compound floor structure. The threaded fastener includes a threaded standoff portion designed to accept a nut which has a diameter larger than a head portion of the standoff fastener. The head portion is located centrally within the fastener in order to reduce a tendency of the fastener to pivot within a driver during the fastening process.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicants: NUCOR CORPORATION, ASIA FASTENING (US), INC.Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
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Patent number: 10788066Abstract: Presently disclosed is a standoff fastener for use in a compound floor structure. The threaded fastener includes a threaded standoff portion designed to accept a nut which has a diameter larger than a head portion of the standoff fastener. The head portion is located centrally within the fastener in order to reduce a tendency of the fastener to pivot within a driver during the fastening process.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignees: Nucor Corporation, Asia Fastening (US), Inc.Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
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Publication number: 20200206882Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. Each alternating lobes and troughs is defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to a rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle, which may be between 0° and 5°.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: INFASTECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES PTE. LTDInventors: Richard W. LUKES, Donald K. BLAESS, Sean RISKIN
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Publication number: 20200180123Abstract: A torque transmission driver has a main body having a first end portion adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source and a second end portion opposite the first end portion having a series of four, five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, and a drive side transition between each lobe and trough on at least one side of each lobe forming a negative drive angle between ?2° and ?10°. A fastener corresponding to the torque transmission driver has a drive end portion adapted to engage the torque transmission driver and a lead end portion adapted to fasten the fastener, the drive end portion having a series of four, five or six lobes and troughs about a rotational axis, and a drive side transition between each lobe and trough on at least one side of each lobe forming a negative drive angle between ?2° and ?10°.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2020Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. LtdInventors: Richard W. LUKES, Randy LUZUM, Mark THEISMANN, Doug OSBORN, Robert SMITH, Donald K. BLAESS
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Patent number: 10371192Abstract: A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 3.0 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignees: Nucor Corporation, Asia Fastening (US), Inc.Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
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Patent number: 10195723Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. The three alternating lobes and troughs are each defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to the rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle which may be between 0° and 5°.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. LtdInventors: Richard W. Lukes, Donald K. Blaess, Sean Riskin
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Patent number: 10022844Abstract: A torque transmission driver is disclosed. The torque transmission driver has a main body having a first end portion and a second end portion, where the first end portion is adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generation source, and the second end portion is opposite the first end portion and has a key shape adapted to fit a recess in a fastener and has a protruding lead end having a taper between 10 and 30 and different in shape than the key shape with at least a portion of the protruding lead end substantially coextensive with the major dimension of the key shape. A torque transmission driver adapted to drive a small fasteners is also disclosed where the key shape is adapted to fit the recess of the small fastener.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Richard W. Lukes, Brian Leuenberger
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Publication number: 20180073541Abstract: A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 3.0 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicants: NUCOR CORPORATION, ASIA FASTENING (US), INC.Inventors: Lionel E. DAYTON, Richard W. LUKES
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Patent number: 9815180Abstract: A torque transmission driver is disclosed having a shaft adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generating source to the driver and a nib having a five or six lobe key-shape adapted to fit in a recess in a fastener, the nib being equal to or less than 0.050? in length and having lobes of substantially the same form along the entire second end portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties, PTE. LTD.Inventors: Richard W. Lukes, Brian Leuenberger
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Publication number: 20170314594Abstract: Presently disclosed is a standoff fastener for use in a compound floor structure. The threaded fastener includes a threaded standoff portion designed to accept a nut which has a diameter larger than a head portion of the standoff fastener. The head portion is located centrally within the fastener in order to reduce a tendency of the fastener to pivot within a driver during the fastening process.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicants: NUCOR CORPORATION, ASIA FASTENING (US), INC.Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
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Patent number: 9797430Abstract: A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 3.0 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignees: Nucor Corporation, Asia Fastening (US), Inc.Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
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Patent number: 9682464Abstract: A torque transmission driver is disclosed. The torque transmission driver has a drive axis and a main body with a first end portion and a second end portion, where the first end portion is adapted to receive and transmit torque from a torque generating source to the driver, and the second end portion is opposite the first end portion and has a key shape adapted to fit a recess in a fastener and has a protruding lead end having a taper between 10° and 30° and different in shape than the key shape with at least a portion of the protruding lead end initiating at the major dimension of the key shape. A torque transmission driver adapted to drive a small fasteners is also disclosed where the key shape is adapted to fit the recess of the small fastener.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte LtdInventors: Richard W. Lukes, Brian Leuenberger
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Publication number: 20170050300Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener and a driver, each of which have three alternating lobes and troughs that define the drive surfaces. The three alternating lobes and troughs are each defined by an outer radius portion, a drive side transition, an inner transition radius, and a reverse drive portion. The fastener recess and the driver each also have a side wall defined by the outer transition radius that tapers at a taper angle relative to the rotational axis. The fastener side wall may taper at about 60°. The driver side wall may taper at about 60°. Alternatively, the driver side wall may taper at an angle at least 10° less than the taper angle of the recess side wall, such as 42°. The drive side transition defines a drive angle which may be between 0° and 5°.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Applicant: INFASTECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES PTE. LTD.Inventors: Richard W. LUKES, Donald K. BLAESS, Sean RISKIN
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Publication number: 20160252126Abstract: A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 3.0 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicants: NUCOR CORPORATION, ASIA FASTENING (US), INC.Inventors: Lionel E. DAYTON, Richard W. LUKES
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Patent number: 9267527Abstract: A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 3.0 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Nucor CorporationInventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes
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Patent number: 9004835Abstract: A building structure including a first building member and a second building member may be connected by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a threaded portion having a through hardness of between HRB 70 and HRC 40, a thread-forming portion of at least HRC 50 hardness enabling the fastener to form threads in at least the second steel building member, and a fluted lead portion of at least HRC 50 hardness with a nominal diameter between 70 and 95% of major diameter, such that the fastener is capable of providing a ratio of strip torque to thread-forming torque of at least 2.7 and a ratio of strip torque to drive torque greater than 6.0 when the second steel building member having a thickness of 0.25 inch and the fluted lead portion having at least one diameter within nominal diameter between 80 and 98% of major diameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignees: Nucor Corporation, Asia Fastening (US), Inc.Inventors: Lionel E. Dayton, Richard W. Lukes