Patents by Inventor William J. Heinzen

William J. Heinzen 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: 8679665
    Abstract: A battery for use in a power tool, including a battery housing, at least one battery cell in the battery housing, a pivoting member at least partially enclosed within the battery housing which moves between a latched position and an unlatched position, and a biasing device associated with the pivoting member for urging the pivoting member towards the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Robert L. Turk, Robert Meyer
  • Patent number: 8591242
    Abstract: A battery contact module for use in a power tool including a housing (12) and a battery (30) insertable into the housing. The battery contact module (28) includes a contact block (32) movably connected to the housing (12) and a pair of opposing terminals (34) attached to the contact block (32) and configured to contact the battery (30). Thus, the contact block (32) moves relative to the housing (12) to maintain constant electrical contact pressure between each of the terminals (34) and the battery (30). The contact block (32) including locating posts (52) that loosely engage receptacle (22) on the housing (12) to allow for movement or float of the contact module in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Robert Scott Buetow
  • Publication number: 20110247849
    Abstract: A battery contact module for use in a power tool including a housing and a battery insertable into the housing. The battery contact module includes a contact block movably connected to the housing and a pair of opposing terminals attached to the contact block and configured to contact the battery. Thus, the contact block moves relative to the housing to maintain constant electrical contact pressure between each of the terminals and the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Robert Scott Buetow
  • Patent number: 7999507
    Abstract: A battery for use with, and electronically connected to a power tool having at least one electronic tool contact. The battery includes a battery housing, at least one battery cell disposed in the battery housing, and at least one terminal socket disposed within the battery housing, wherein each terminal socket includes at least one terminal for grippingly engaging an associated one of the at least one tool contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Heinzen
  • Publication number: 20090148755
    Abstract: A battery for use in a power tool, including a battery housing, at least one battery cell in the battery housing, a pivoting member at least partially enclosed within the battery housing which moves between a latched position and an unlatched position, and a biasing device associated with the pivoting member for urging the pivoting member towards the latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Robert L. Turk, Robert Meyer
  • Publication number: 20090145945
    Abstract: A battery for use with, and electronically connected to a power tool having at least one electronic tool contact. The battery includes a battery housing, at least one battery cell disposed in the battery housing, and at least one terminal socket disposed within the battery housing, wherein each terminal socket includes at least one terminal for grippingly engaging an associated one of the at least one tool contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: William J. Heinzen
  • Patent number: 7140331
    Abstract: A suspension system for a motor of a combustion-powered hand tool includes a motor retaining ring defining a space for accepting the motor, an outer ring radially spaced from the retaining ring and configured for attachment to a cylinder head of a combustion chamber, and at least one resilient suspension element configured for dampening vibrations between a motor support and a tool frame, and having a plurality of resilient beams connecting the retaining ring and the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Heinzen
  • Patent number: 7107944
    Abstract: A suspension system for a motor of a combustion-powered hand tool includes a motor retaining ring defining a space for accepting the motor, an outer ring radially spaced from the retaining ring and configured for attachment to a cylinder head of a combustion chamber, and at least one resilient suspension element configured for dampening vibrations between a motor support and a tool frame, and having a plurality of resilient beams connecting the retaining ring and the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Heinzen
  • Patent number: 7055729
    Abstract: An adjustable depth of drive assembly for use with a fastener-driving tool includes a workpiece contact element having a contact end and an adjustment end, at least one stop configured for being secured to the tool and being normally moveable between an adjusting position in which the workpiece contact element is movable relative to the tool, and a locked position where the adjustment end is secured from movement relative to the tool, and at least one biasing element associated with the stop and configured for urging the stop and the adjustment end into a selected locked position relative to the tool without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Taylor, Maureen L. Shea, William J. Heinzen, James A. Purpura, Barry C. Walthall
  • Patent number: 6959850
    Abstract: An adjustable depth of drive assembly for use with a fastener driving tool includes a workpiece contact element having a contact end and an adjustment end, a cage stop securable to the tool and being movable between an adjusting position in which the workpiece contact element is movable relative to the tool and a locked position wherein the adjustment end is secured to the tool, and a locking device associated with the cage stop and reciprocable between a locked position and an adjustment position for securing the cage stop and the adjustment end in a selected locked position relative to the tool without the use of tools. It is preferred that the adjustment end of the workpiece contact element has at least one toothed edge, and the cage stop has at least one toothed surface for engaging the at least one toothed edge in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Taylor, William J. Heinzen, Barry C. Walthall
  • Patent number: 6325659
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a plurality of electrical connector contacts which have insulation-displacement portions at first ends thereof and slidable pin-engaging portions at second opposite ends thereof whereby all wire-wrap electrical connections have been eliminated and all electrical connections between external wires and pin contacts of a second electrical connector are solderless. A gas tube over-protection printed circuit board can also be connected to the pin contacts of the second electrical connector in a solderless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Kenneth G. Irish
  • Patent number: D580852
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Robert L. Turk, Robert Meyer
  • Patent number: D592131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Robert L. Turk, Robert Meyer
  • Patent number: D592595
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Heinzen, Robert L. Turk, Robert Meyer