Patents by Inventor Joel L. Fritsche
Joel L. Fritsche 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: 9289337Abstract: A curved wheelchair ramp for ride vehicles of an amusement park attraction, ride, or other environment is provided. In one embodiment, the wheelchair ramp is maneuverable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the wheelchair ramp may form a door to the ride vehicle. In the extended position, the wheelchair ramp extends, in a curve, between an access opening of the ride vehicle to a station platform. In various embodiments, the ramp may have a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The segments may fold together or may nest together.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Joel L. Fritsche, Don Robert Hilsen, William Lawrence Wolf, Charles Albert Flueck
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Patent number: 8960097Abstract: A ride vehicle loading interface system to allow guests in wheelchairs to access a ride vehicle and enjoy a ride attraction. The loading interface system includes a plurality of associated ride vehicles moving on a track. At least one ride vehicle including a tray extendable from and retractable into the ride vehicle through an opening, the tray for receiving a wheelchair and for allowing the wheelchair to be positioned in the ride vehicle. The ride vehicle loading interface system including a loading platform moving at about the same rate as the ride vehicle during loading and unloading.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Joel L. Fritsche
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Publication number: 20100078291Abstract: A ride vehicle loading interface system to allow guests in wheelchairs to access a ride vehicle and enjoy a ride attraction. The loading interface system includes a plurality of associated ride vehicles moving on a track. At least one ride vehicle including a tray extendable from and retractable into the ride vehicle through an opening, the tray for receiving a wheelchair and for allowing the wheelchair to be positioned in the ride vehicle. The ride vehicle loading interface system including a loading platform moving at about the same rate as the ride vehicle during loading and unloading.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Joel L. Fritsche
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Publication number: 20100066111Abstract: A curved wheelchair ramp for ride vehicles of an amusement park attraction, ride, or other environment is provided. In one embodiment, the wheelchair ramp is maneuverable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the wheelchair ramp may form a door to the ride vehicle. In the extended position, the wheelchair ramp extends, in a curve, between an access opening of the ride vehicle to a station platform. In various embodiments, the ramp may have a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The segments may fold together or may nest together.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2008Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Joel L. Fritsche, Don Robert Hilsen, William Lawrence Wolf, Charles Albert Flueck
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Patent number: 5564984Abstract: A vehicle that provides safe and stable transportation of passengers, yet allows passengers, including wheelchair-bound passengers, to quickly enter and exit the vehicle without climbing up or down and without stepping on the seats has been provided. The preferred embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention, which is towed by an underwater cable system, has a double hull construction with a fixed outer hull and a moveable inner hull or seating platform, which may be raised or lowered. In the ride dispatch area, the inner hull is raised so that the floor of the inner hull is even with that of the vehicle gunwales and the dispatch floor level. During the ride, the hull is lowered so that the floor of the inner hull is below the level of the vehicle gunwales, and thus the vehicle forms a secure and stable seating compartment configuration for the duration of the ride. The vehicle is further equipped to secure wheelchair-bound guests to the inner hull quickly and easily.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1994Date of Patent: October 15, 1996Assignee: The Walt Disney CompanyInventors: Albert Mirabella, Joel L. Fritsche, James K. Wallace, Timothy V. Kelley
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Patent number: 4692196Abstract: An automatic wrapping apparatus for wrapping an external tape support about a filter element includes an indexable turret assembly having a plurality of filter element clamps rotatably mounted at spaced radial positions on the indexable turret. Means are provided at one of the radial positions for rotating a filter element clamp about a longitudinal axis. The wrapping apparatus also includes means for selectively varying the position of the strand of tape along the longitudinal axis during rotation of the clamp. Further, the apparatus includes means for severing the strand of tape and wrapping the severed ends about a respective pleated filter assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1985Date of Patent: September 8, 1987Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Norman W. Ellegood, Joel L. Fritsche, John J. Groezinger, Keichi Ikeda, Ronald W. Streitmatter
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Patent number: 4626307Abstract: An automatic assembly machine for assembling a pleated filter material and a perforate hollow core member includes a wrapping station, an adhesive application station and a clamping station. A conveyor moves the filter material and the core member together as a unit through the wrapping station and the adhesive application station. The clamping station both clamps the seam to which adhesive has been applied for a period of time sufficient to permit curing of the adhesive joint, and simultaneously conveys the filter material and core member assembly. A method for assembling a pleated filter material and a perforate hollow core member includes the steps of conveying both the filter material and the hollow core member to a point where they come in mutual contact, supporting one of the members on the other, and simultaneously conveying the filter material and core member sequentially through a wrapping station and an adhesive application station.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1985Date of Patent: December 2, 1986Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Paul Cherkas, Joel L. Fritsche, John J. Groezinger, Paul D. LaGorce, Ronald W. Streitmatter
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Patent number: 4385515Abstract: A versatile, calibrated cable connector crimping tool capable of crimping a plurality of cable connector sizes and a method of forming a calibrated crimp or a plurality of calibrated crimps in a cable splice connector positioned around a cable splice along a cable using said crimping tool are disclosed. The crimping tool comprises a first die member having a plurality of dies of select sizes, a second die member having a single die of select size, and a hinge joint connecting said die members and allowing them to be swung into engagement. One die member has a die or dies which are spatially fixed to define a fixed die member. The other die member has a moving means along which the die or dies may be moved into a position allowing engagement of the die members to define a movable die member.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1981Date of Patent: May 31, 1983Assignee: Raychem CorporationInventors: William T. Link, Joel L. Fritsche, Donald E. Crisp
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Patent number: 4282397Abstract: A wraparound cable splice case comprises a hollow, relatively rigid, cylindrical shell having at least one longitudinal split along its length and a plastic sheet bonded to its outer surface. A closure member comprises an extension of the plastic sheet extending beyond one of the longitudinal edges along the split. The splice case can be opened along the longitudinal split, wrapped around a cable splice, then closed to encircle the splice. The closure member is coated on its inner surface with a heat activatable adhesive so that when the case is closed around the splice and heat is applied, the adhesive bonds the closure member to the plastic sheet covering the shell. The splice case is particularly suitable for protecting a splice in armored power cable.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1979Date of Patent: August 4, 1981Assignee: Raychem CorporationInventors: Juergen Siedenburg, Joel L. Fritsche