Nathan Jeremy Cruise

US Patent:

7137541, Nov 21, 2006

Filed:

Mar 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/095721

Inventors:

Ashok S. Baskar - Lutherville MD, US
Craig A. Schell - Baltimore MD, US
Alan Berry - Fincastle VA, US
Nathan Cruise - Parkville MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

B25B 31/00

US Classification:

227120, 227 8, 227133, 173124, 388937

Abstract:

A fastening tool having a contact trip switch, a trigger switch, a driver, a motor assembly and a controller. The controller is configured to selectively operate the motor assembly in response to inputs received from the contact trip switch and the trigger switch. The controller includes a mode selector switch having a first switch setting, which can permit bump-feed operation of the fastening tool, and a second switch setting, which prohibits bump-feed operation of the fastening tool.

US Patent:

7537145, May 26, 2009

Filed:

Feb 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/670088

Inventors:

Paul G. Gross - White Marsh MD, US
Nathan J. Cruise - Phoenix MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

B25C 5/15
B25C 1/06

US Classification:

227131, 227 4, 227120

Abstract:

A fastening device drives one or more fasteners into a workpiece. The fastening device generally includes a tool housing and a multistage solenoid having at least a first stage, a second stage and an armature member that travels therebetween. The multistage solenoid is contained within the tool housing. A driver blade is connected to the armature member. The driver blade is operable between an extended condition and a retracted condition. A control module determines a position of the armature member relative to at least one of the first stage, the second stage and a combination thereof. A trigger assembly is connected to the control module and activates a driver sequence that moves the driver blade member between the retracted condition and the extended condition. The control module directs power between the first stage and the second stage based on the position of the armature member relative thereto.

US Patent:

7646157, Jan 12, 2010

Filed:

Mar 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/687224

Inventors:

Nathan Cruise - Parkville MD, US
Paul G. Gross - White Marsh MD, US
Jeffrey A. Elligson - Jarrettsville MD, US
James J. Kenney - Baltimore MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

H02K 7/02

US Classification:

318161, 318150, 227 2, 227129, 227131

Abstract:

A method for controlling a driving tool having a power source, a driver, an actuator, a follower, and a control unit. The power source includes a motor and a flywheel that is driven by the motor. The actuator is configured to selectively move the follower to push the driver into frictional engagement with a surface of the flywheel. The control unit is configured to selectively activate the electric motor and the actuator. The control unit includes a speed sensor that is configured to sense a rotational speed of an element of the power source and produce a speed signal in response thereto. The method includes: directly determining a rotational speed of an element in the power source; controlling electrical power provided to the motor based on the rotational speed of the element in the power source to cause the flywheel to rotate at a predetermined speed; and actuating the actuator when a set of actuating criteria has been met, the set of actuating criteria not including a rotational speed of the element.

US Patent:

7665540, Feb 23, 2010

Filed:

Mar 12, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/402974

Inventors:

Paul G. Gross - White Marsh MD, US
Nathan J. Cruise - Phoenix MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

B25C 5/15
B25C 1/06

US Classification:

173 2, 173 90, 173 11, 227131

Abstract:

A method of driving a fastener into a workpiece with a tool generally includes retracting a trigger into a housing of the tool to execute a driver sequence and establishing a magnetic field in a multistage solenoid. The magnetic field is established in at least one of a first stage and a second stage. The method includes drawing an armature member to an extended condition from a retracted condition with the magnetic field and determining a position of the armature member relative to at least one of the first stage and the second stage. The method also includes directing power between the first stage and the second stage during the driver sequence based on the position of the armature member.

US Patent:

7799448, Sep 21, 2010

Filed:

Jun 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/213159

Inventors:

Nathan J. Cruise - Phoenix MD, US
Daniel J. White - Baltimore MD, US
Robert J. Marcinkowski - Cockeysville MD, US
Geoffrey S. Howard - Columbia MD, US
Alexis W. Johnson - Warren PA, US
Nathan J. Osborne - Baltimore MD, US
Steven J. Phillips - Ellicott City MD, US
Michelle L. Bowers - Westminster MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

H01M 14/00
H01M 2/02
H02H 9/00
H02H 3/20

US Classification:

429 7, 361 56, 361118, 429163, 429178

Abstract:

A battery pack including a housing, a terminal block, a printed circuit board electrically connected to the terminal block, at least one battery cell, and a spark gap device on the printed circuit board to provide electrostatic discharge protection and disposed between the printed circuit board and the terminal block.

US Patent:

7913890, Mar 29, 2011

Filed:

Jan 18, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/689077

Inventors:

Paul G. Gross - White Marsh MD, US
Nathan J. Cruise - Phoenix MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

B25C 1/06

US Classification:

227131, 227134, 227 4

Abstract:

A device that generally includes a multistage solenoid having at least a first stage, a second stage and an armature member that travels therebetween. The device also includes a control module connected to the multistage solenoid. The control module detects a position of the armature member relative to at least one of the first stage, the second stage and a combination thereof. The control module adjusts a magnetic field of the at least one of the first stage, the second stage and the combination thereof based on the position of the plunger armature relative thereto.

US Patent:

7990276, Aug 2, 2011

Filed:

Jan 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/351200

Inventors:

Nathan Cruise - Phoenix MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

G08B 21/00

US Classification:

3406362, 320107

Abstract:

A battery charger comprises a first electrical contact that receives a positive contact of an attached battery pack; a second electrical contact that receives a negative contact of the attached battery pack; a plurality of inter-cell electrical contacts that selectively receive inter-cell contacts of the attached battery pack; a measurement module; and a control module. The inter-cell contacts of the attached battery pack are connected to nodes between cells of the attached battery pack.

US Patent:

8129955, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

Jul 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/170486

Inventors:

Daniel J. White - Baltimore MD, US
Daniele C. Brotto - Baltimore MD, US
Nathan Cruise - Phoenix MD, US

Assignee:

Black & Decker Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

H01M 10/46

US Classification:

320150

Abstract:

A battery pack may include a plurality of battery cells; a discharge switch in series with the battery cells, a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature in the battery pack, and a battery control unit adapted to receive a signal indicative of temperature from the temperature sensor and operable to control the switch to interrupt current flow from the battery cells when the temperature exceeds an over-temperature threshold. The battery control unit may be adapted to receive a reset signal and operable to control the switch to restore current flow upon receipt of the reset signal and when the temperature is below an operating temperature threshold.