Patents by Inventor Ruth E. MITCHENER KEFFER

Ruth E. MITCHENER KEFFER 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: 10556329
    Abstract: A tool bit assembly includes a tool bit having a shaft with a first working region disposed at a first end of the shaft and a first reduced diameter portion proximate the working region and disposed between a first shoulder and a second shoulder. A floating sleeve has a rear portion with a pair of opposed window openings, a front portion supporting a magnet, and a pair of balls, with each ball disposed in one of the window openings. The floating sleeve is receivable over the tool bit with the magnet proximate the first working regions and the balls received in the first reduced diameter portion to allow the floating sleeve to move between a first position in which the balls abut the first shoulder and a second position in which the balls abut the second shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Michael P. Peters, Denny Jiang, Michael Huang, Darren B. Moss, Aland Santamarina, David B. Lee, Mark E. Brunson, Ruth E. Mitchener Keffer
  • Patent number: 10150205
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a shaft with a working region disposed at a first end of the shaft and configured to drive a fastener, a shank portion disposed proximate a second end of the shaft and configured to couple the shaft to a power tool, and a reduced diameter torsion zone disposed between the shank portion and the working region, the torsion zone extending from a first shoulder closer to the working region to a second shoulder closer to the shank portion. A length (L) and a radius (c) of the torsion zone have been optimized so that approximately half of breakages occur in the working region and approximately half of breakages occur in the torsion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Aland Santamarina, Michael P. Peters, Mark E. Brunson, Darren B. Moss, David B. Lee, Ruth E. Mitchener Keffer, Denny Jiang, Michael Huang
  • Patent number: 10040179
    Abstract: A bit holder assembly for a rotary hand or powered tool, includes a body having a hex shank at its rearward end and a retraction collar slidably disposed on the body. The body has a coaxial hex socket formed therein to allow a tool bit to be inserted thereinto. A coil spring biases the retraction collar forwardly and biases a retaining clip toward the bottom of an angular slot formed in the body. The bit is removed by sliding the retraction collar rearwardly, to compress the coil spring and allow the retaining clip to retract back up the slot. A ring magnet is disposed at the forward end of the retraction collar to magnetize a fastener to retain the fastener to the bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Peters, Mark E. Brunson, Darren B. Moss, David B. Lee, Ruth E. Mitchener Keffer
  • Publication number: 20170036329
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a shaft with a working region disposed at a first end of the shaft and configured to drive a fastener, a shank portion disposed proximate a second end of the shaft and configured to couple the shaft to a power tool, and a reduced diameter torsion zone disposed between the shank portion and the working region, the torsion zone extending from a first shoulder closer to the working region to a second shoulder closer to the shank portion. A length (L) and a radius (c) of the torsion zone have been optimized so that approximately half of breakages occur in the working region and approximately half of breakages occur in the torsion zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Aland SANTAMARINA, Michael P. PETERS, Mark E. BRUNSON, Darren B. MOSS, David B. LEE, Ruth E. MITCHENER KEFFER, Denny JIANG, Michael HUANG
  • Patent number: 9227309
    Abstract: A bit holder assembly for a rotary hand or powered tool, includes a body having a hex shank at its rearward end and a retraction collar slidably disposed on the body. The body has a coaxial hex socket formed therein to allow a tool bit to be inserted thereinto. A coil spring biases the retraction collar forwardly and biases a retaining clip toward the bottom of an angular slot formed in the body. The bit is removed by sliding the retraction collar rearwardly, to compress the coil spring and allow the retaining clip to retract back up the slot. A ring magnet is disposed at the forward end of the retraction collar to magnetize a fastener to retain the fastener to the bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Darren B. Moss, Aland Santamarina, David B. Lee, Michael P. Peters, Mark E. Brunson, Ruth E. Mitchener Keffer
  • Patent number: 9156147
    Abstract: A bit holder assembly for a rotary hand or powered tool, includes a body having a hex shank at its rearward end and a retraction collar slidably disposed on the body. The body has a coaxial hex socket formed therein to allow a tool bit to be inserted thereinto. A coil spring biases the retraction collar forwardly and biases a retaining clip toward the bottom of an angular slot formed in the body. The bit is removed by sliding the retraction collar rearwardly, to compress the coil spring and allow the retaining clip to retract back up the slot. A ring magnet is disposed at the forward end of the retraction collar to magnetize a fastener to retain the fastener to the bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Michael P. Peters, Mark E. Brunson, Darren B. Moss, David B. Lee, Ruth E. Mitchener Keffer
  • Publication number: 20130328276
    Abstract: A bit holder assembly for a rotary hand or powered tool, includes a body having a hex shank at its rearward end and a retraction collar slidably disposed on the body. The body has a coaxial hex socket formed therein to allow a tool bit to be inserted thereinto. A coil spring biases the retraction collar forwardly and biases a retaining clip toward the bottom of an angular slot formed in the body. The bit is removed by sliding the retraction collar rearwardly, to compress the coil spring and allow the retaining clip to retract back up the slot. A ring magnet is disposed at the forward end of the retraction collar to magnetize a fastener to retain the fastener to the bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Darren B. MOSS, Aland SANTAMARINA, David B. LEE, Michael P. PETERS, Mark E. BRUNSON, Ruth E. MITCHENER KEFFER