Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Towner
Stephen J. Towner 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: 11605961Abstract: An adjustable system for facilitating establishment of an operative connection between a charging station and a rechargeable power supply on an operating unit that is propelled by a drive. The adjustable system has: an arm assembly on one of the charging station and the operating unit and supporting at least one connector; and at least one connector on the other of the charging station and the operating unit. The connectors, when engaged, establish an operative charging connection. The arm assembly is configured so that the at least one connector on the arm assembly can move in at least two dimensions relative to the one of the charging station and the operating unit to align with and engage the at least one connector on the other of the arm assembly and operating unit as an incident of the operating unit moving from a position spaced fully from the charging station into the charging position.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: ECHO INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett, Joseph John Zenkus, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 11563333Abstract: The combination of: a) a wheeled operating unit having a drive powered by a rechargeable power supply and at least one connector; and b) a charging station having at least one connector. The at least one connector on the wheeled operating unit and the at least one connector on the charging station cooperate with each other to establish an operative connection between the charging station and the wheeled operating unit, whereupon the charging station is operable to effect charging of the rechargeable power supply. The operative connection can be established with the wheeled operating unit moved selectively from first and second different starting positions, each spaced fully from the charging station, respectively in first and second different path portions up to the charging station and into at least one charging position.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: ECHO INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett, Joseph John Zenkus, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 11470772Abstract: A housing having a rotary axis and configured to support at least one radially projecting cutting component that effects cutting as the housing is turned around the rotary axis. The housing has a first housing part with a first wall and a plurality of discrete circumferentially spaced cavities in the first wall and each having a volume. The volumes of at least a first and second of the cavities respectively at first and second locations are different and strategically selected to cause a mass distribution on the housing that contributes to improved dynamic balancing of the housing as the housing is turned around the rotary axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Echo IncorporatedInventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Patent number: 11469604Abstract: A system for facilitating operative connection between a charging station and a rechargeable power supply on an operating unit that is propelled by a drive, powered by the power supply, as to move over a subjacent surface. At least one connector is provided on the charging station and the operating unit. The connectors are configured to cooperate and establish an operative connection between the charging station and the operating unit. The operating unit is movable from a position spaced from the charging station into a charging position whereupon the connectors assume an engaged relationship. One of the charging station and the operating unit has a flat blade and the other of the charging station and operating unit has an elongate slot. The flat blade is movable guidingly within the elongate slot as the operating unit moves into the charging position.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Echo IncorporatedInventors: Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett, Joseph John Zenkus, Brent Peterson
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Publication number: 20210083493Abstract: A system for facilitating operative connection between a charging station and a rechargeable power supply on an operating unit that is propelled by a drive, powered by the power supply, as to move over a subjacent surface. At least one connector is provided on the charging station and the operating unit. The connectors are configured to cooperate and establish an operative connection between the charging station and the operating unit. The operating unit is movable from a position spaced from the charging station into a charging position whereupon the connectors assume an engaged relationship. One of the charging station and the operating unit has a flat blade and the other of the charging station and operating unit has an elongate slot. The flat blade is movable guidingly within the elongate slot as the operating unit moves into the charging position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett, Joseph John Zenkus, Brent Peterson
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Publication number: 20210083492Abstract: An adjustable system for facilitating establishment of an operative connection between a charging station and a rechargeable power supply on an operating unit that is propelled by a drive. The adjustable system has: an arm assembly on one of the charging station and the operating unit and supporting at least one connector; and at least one connector on the other of the charging station and the operating unit. The connectors, when engaged, establish an operative charging connection. The arm assembly is configured so that the at least one connector on the arm assembly can move in at least two dimensions relative to the one of the charging station and the operating unit to align with and engage the at least one connector on the other of the arm assembly and operating unit as an incident of the operating unit moving from a position spaced fully from the charging station into the charging position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett, Joseph John Zenkus, Brent Peterson
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Publication number: 20210083494Abstract: The combination of: a) a wheeled operating unit having a drive powered by a rechargeable power supply and at least one connector; and b) a charging station having at least one connector. The at least one connector on the wheeled operating unit and the at least one connector on the charging station cooperate with each other to establish an operative connection between the charging station and the wheeled operating unit, whereupon the charging station is operable to effect charging of the rechargeable power supply. The operative connection can be established with the wheeled operating unit moved selectively from first and second different starting positions, each spaced fully from the charging station, respectively in first and second different path portions up to the charging station and into at least one charging position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett, Joseph John Zenkus, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 10716253Abstract: A flexible line trimmer head has a housing with first and second parts and a spool for a supply of line. The first and second housing parts are configured to be moved from a spaced relationship towards each other along an operating axis whereupon cooperating connectors engage to block movement of the first and second housing parts away from each other along the axis. The cooperating connectors are provided in pairs at at least three different locations each spaced radially from the operating axis and in a circumferential direction from the other locations.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: ECHO INCORPORATEDInventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Patent number: 10568260Abstract: A trimmer head housing having a first part and a second part. The first and second housing parts are configured to be changed between: a) a first state wherein the first and second housing parts are separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the housing parts are operatively connected to be movable together around an operating axis. The operatively connected housing parts are configured to support at least one cutting component that is configured to effect cutting as the operatively connected housing parts are turned around the operating axis. The trimmer head housing has interacting parts cooperating between the first and second housing parts and configured to allow the first and second housing parts to be operatively connected with the first and second housing parts in only a single angular relationship with respect to the operating axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: ECHO INCORPORATEDInventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Patent number: 10500754Abstract: A chain saw unit and a method of constructing the same. The method includes the steps of obtaining: a) an endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly defining a plurality of mount locations; b) a plurality of operating components; and c) an outer housing assembly; directing one of the operating components laterally into an operative position at one of the mount locations at one of the sides of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly; placing at least one additional operating component into an operative position to define a main operating unit; and after directing the one of the operating components into its operative position, placing at least a part of the outer housing assembly in an operative position with respect to the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly wherein the at least part of the outer housing assembly overlies part of the exposed surface area of the main operating unit and blocks access to the operatively positioned one component from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Echo IncorporatedInventors: Stephen J. Towner, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 10405489Abstract: A flexible line trimmer head has a housing with an operating axis and is made up of first and second parts configured to be placed in: a) a first state wherein the first and second housing parts are separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the housing parts are operatively connected. The first and second housing parts configured so that in the second state a space is defined between the first and second housing parts within which an operatively positioned spool can be captively maintained. The flexible line trimmer head further has a unitary shaft that extends axially between, and connects to, each of the first and second housing parts to maintain a desired aligned relationship between the first and second housing parts.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Echo IncorporatedInventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Publication number: 20190116728Abstract: A housing having a rotary axis and configured to support at least one radially projecting cutting component that effects cutting as the housing is turned around the rotary axis. The housing has a first housing part with a first wall and a plurality of discrete circumferentially spaced cavities in the first wall and each having a volume. The volumes of at least a first and second of the cavities respectively at first and second locations are different and strategically selected to cause a mass distribution on the housing that contributes to improved dynamic balancing of the housing as the housing is turned around the rotary axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Patent number: 10251338Abstract: An apparatus for forming a first component making up at least a part of a housing on a trimmer head and a method of using the apparatus. The housing has a rotary axis and is configured to support at least one radially projecting cutting component. The first component has a central axis. A forming unit defines at least one cavity within which a moldable material is confined to produce at least a part of a wall on the first component that extends around the rotary axis. The forming unit is configured to allow selective controlling of a quantity of a moldable material introduced into a first discrete subvolume at a first location in the one cavity to thereby allow selective controlling of a mass of a portion of the at least part of the wall formed by the moldable material in the one cavity at the first location to facilitate dynamic balancing of the housing, within which the first component is incorporated, with respect to the rotary axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Echo IncorporatedInventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Publication number: 20180271011Abstract: A trimmer head housing having a first part and a second part. The first and second housing parts are configured to be changed between: a) a first state wherein the first and second housing parts are separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the housing parts are operatively connected to be movable together around an operating axis. The operatively connected housing parts are configured to support at least one cutting component that is configured to effect cutting as the operatively connected housing pars are turned around the operating axis. The trimmer head housing has interacting parts cooperating between the first and second housing parts and configured to allow the first and second housing parts to be operatively connected with the first and second housing parts in only a single angular relationship with respect to the operating axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2017Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Publication number: 20180242519Abstract: A flexible line trimmer head has a housing with an operating axis and is made up of first and second parts configured to be placed in: a) a first state wherein the first and second housing parts are separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the housing parts are operatively connected. The first and second housing parts configured so that in the second state a space is defined between the first and second housing parts within which an operatively positioned spool can be captively maintained. The flexible line trimmer head further has a unitary shaft that extends axially between, and connects to, each of the first and second housing parts to maintain a desired aligned relationship between the first and second housing parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2017Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Publication number: 20180242520Abstract: A flexible line trimmer head has a housing with first and second parts and a spool for a supply of line. The first and second housing parts are configured to be moved from a spaced relationship towards each other along an operating axis whereupon cooperating connectors engage to block movement of the first and second housing parts away from each other along the axis. The cooperating connectors are provided in pairs at at least three different locations each spaced radially from the operating axis and in a circumferential direction from the other locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2017Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Publication number: 20180242518Abstract: An apparatus for forming a first component making up at least a part of a housing on a trimmer head and a method of using the apparatus. The housing has a rotary axis and is configured to support at least one radially projecting cutting component. The first component has a central axis. A forming unit defines at least one cavity within which a moldable material is confined to produce at least a part of a wall on the first component that extends around the rotary axis. The forming unit is configured to allow selective controlling of a quantity of a moldable material introduced into a first discrete subvolume at a first location in the one cavity to thereby allow selective controlling of a mass of a portion of the at least part of the wall formed by the moldable material in the one cavity at the first location to facilitate dynamic balancing of the housing, within which the first component is incorporated, with respect to the rotary axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2017Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Joseph John Zenkus, Stephen J. Towner, Ryan Garrett
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Publication number: 20180079101Abstract: A chain saw unit and a method of constructing the same. The method includes the steps of obtaining: a) an endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly defining a plurality of mount locations; b) a plurality of operating components; and c) an outer housing assembly; directing one of the operating components laterally into an operative position at one of the mount locations at one of the sides of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly; placing at least one additional operating component into an operative position to define a main operating unit; and after directing the one of the operating components into its operative position, placing at least a part of the outer housing assembly in an operative position with respect to the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly wherein the at least part of the outer housing assembly overlies part of the exposed surface area of the main operating unit and blocks access to the operatively positioned one component from the one side of the endo-skeletal sub-frame assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Stephen J. Towner, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 9855671Abstract: A chain saw unit has a sub-frame defining a plurality of mount locations and a plurality of operating components amongst which are at least: a) a battery operated motor; and b) a battery for operating the motor. The plurality of operating components is each operatively placed and maintained at one of the mount locations such that the sub-frame assembly and operatively placed operating components together make up at least part of a main operating unit to which a chain bar and cutting chain can be operatively assembled. The main operating unit has an exposed surface area. An outer housing assembly overlies the exposed surface area and defines an outermost exposed surface. The plurality of operating components are operatively maintained on the sub-frame assembly independently of the outer housing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Echo IncorporatedInventors: Stephen J. Towner, Brent Peterson
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Patent number: 9844892Abstract: A chain saw kit having a sub-frame assembly and a plurality of operating components, among which are at least a battery operated motor and battery. The sub-frame assembly is configured to define mount locations for the operating components so that the sub-frame assembly and operatively placed operating components make up at least a part of a main operating unit to which a chain bar and cutting chain can be assembled. A first outer housing assembly has at least a first outer housing part with a second outer housing assembly having at least a second outer housing part. The parts of the outer housing assemblies are interchangeably usable to allow selection of different overall size, shape, and/or appearance of chain saws based upon a common sub-frame assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: ECHO INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen J. Towner, Brent Peterson