IP Library Granted Patent US 11,772,248
Granted Patent B2
US 11,772,248 · App. 17/736,546 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Electrically isolated tool with non-conductive torque transfer component

Inventors: Stephen M. Batsa (Lexington, SC); Chad Aaron Miley (Camden, OH); James Spaulding (Lexington, SC); Rolf DeSwardt (Blythewood, SC)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
B25B23/0035B25B13/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,772,248
App. No.
17/736,546
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrically isolated coupler includes a drive body, a driven body, and a torque transfer assembly. The drive body is made of first metallic material and has a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component. The drive body includes a first interface portion and the driven body includes a second interface portion. The driven body is made of a second metallic material and has a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool. The torque transfer assembly is disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other and transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body. The torque transfer assembly includes non-conductive material configured to maintain separation between the drive body and the driven body of at least about 0.400″.

Claims (33)

1. An electrically isolated coupler comprising:

a drive body made of first metallic material and having a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component, the drive body comprising a first interface portion;

a driven body made of a second metallic material and having a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool, the driven body comprising a second interface portion; and

a torque transfer assembly disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other and transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body;

wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises an isolation member made of a non-conductive material and configured to maintain separation between the drive body and the driven body,

wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises a first reinforcement member and at least one second reinforcement member,

wherein the first isolation member engages with the drive body, and

wherein the first reinforcement member engages with the drive body.

2. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 1 , wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises non-conductive metal.

3. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 2 , wherein non-conductive metal forms a core member at an axial center of the torque transfer assembly.

4. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 2 , wherein an entirety of the torque transfer assembly is formed from the non-conductive metal.

5. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 2 , further comprising a foil layer disposed between the non-conductive metal and at least one of the drive body or the driven body.

6. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first isolation member and the first reinforcement member are each made of different materials.

7. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 1 , wherein the second reinforcement member engages with the driven body.

8. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first isolation member is disc shaped.

9. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 1 , wherein the torque transfer assembly further comprises a second isolation member made of a non-conductive material.

10. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first reinforcement member and second reinforcement member engages with the first isolation member and second isolation member.

11. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 1 , wherein the torque transfer assembly separates the drive body and the driven body at least about 0.4 inches.

12. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the torque transfer assembly does not exceed about 0.5 inches.

13. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve configured to cover substantially all of the lateral edges of the drive body, torque transfer assembly, and driven body.

14. An electrically isolated coupler comprising:

a drive body made of first metallic material and having a drive end configured to interface with a fastening component, the drive body comprising a first interface portion;

a driven body made of a second metallic material and having a driven end configured to interface with a driving tool, the driven body comprising a second interface portion; and

a torque transfer assembly disposed between the drive body and the driven body to electrically isolate the drive body and the driven body from each other and transfer torque between the drive body and the driven body;

wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises a first isolation member made of a non-conductive material, the first isolation member having a plurality of projections;

wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises a second isolation member made of a non-conductive material; and

wherein the first interface portion comprises a plurality of projections corresponding to the plurality of projections of the first isolation member.

15. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 14 , wherein the second interface portion comprises a plurality of projections corresponding to the plurality of projections of the first isolation member.

16. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 14 , wherein the torque transfer member further comprises a second isolation member made of a non-conductive material and disposed proximate to at least one of the drive body and the driven body.

17. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 16 , wherein the second isolation member is a foil.

18. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 14 , wherein the torque transfer assembly is configured to maintain separation between the drive body and the driven body of at least about 0.4 inches.

19. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 18 , wherein a thickness of the torque transfer assembly is between about 0.4 inches and 0.5 inches.

20. The electrically isolated coupler of claim 14 , further comprising a sleeve disposed around radial edges of the drive body, the driven body and the torque transfer assembly to retain each of the drive body, the driven body and the torque transfer assembly after a failure according to the preferred failure mode.

Assignments (7)
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2022
From: BATSA, STEPHEN M.; SPAULDING, JAMES; MILEY, CHAD AARON; DESWARDT, ROLF
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060818/0770 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17601299
Provisional Application 62829202 · Apr 4, 2019
Related Publication 20220258312A1 · Aug 18, 2022