Patents by Inventor Steven C. Billger

Steven C. Billger 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: 8714311
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a vehicle power unit having a longitudinal centerline, a monomast coupled to the vehicle power unit and having a centerline offset from and generally parallel with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle power unit, and a fork carriage apparatus movably coupled to the monomast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Robert L. Eilerman, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric J. Hanson, William J. Heidemann, Robert J. Henshaw, Jay L. Kuck, Jay G. Pollack, Craig J. Rekow, Adam M. Ruppert, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Publication number: 20100065377
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a vehicle power unit having a longitudinal centerline, a monomast coupled to the vehicle power unit and having a centerline offset from and generally parallel with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle power unit, and a fork carriage apparatus movably coupled to the monomast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: CROWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Robert L. Eilerman, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric J. Hanson, William J. Heidemann, Robert J. Henshaw, Jay L. Kuck, Jay G. Pollack, Craig J. Rekow, Adam M. Ruppert, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 7520567
    Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement is provided for a working vehicle comprising an operator's seat having an adjustable feature. A first control element is arranged such that a first work operative position is defined. A seat adjusting element is further provided for enabling the operator to set the adjustable feature of the operator's seat. The seat adjusting element is positioned relative to the first control element such that the operator may selectively control the adjustable feature of the seat without significantly interrupting the first work operative position or without significantly interrupting a transition from a first task to a second task and/or from a first work operative position to a second work operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Michael P. Gallagher, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric J. Hanson, Leroy M. Kluver, Jay G. Pollack, Steven R. Pulskamp, Adam M. Ruppert, Gary L. Topp
  • Patent number: 7350866
    Abstract: Seat repositioning systems for vehicles comprise an operator's seat having a seat bottom and optionally, a seat back, where the operator's seat further comprises an adjustable characteristic, such as seat rotation, seat height adjustment, tilt, or X-Y position. A seat release control is operable to release the operator's seat from a locked position for repositioning of the adjustable characteristic of the operator's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric J. Kaiser, Leroy M. Kluver, Jay G. Pollack, Steven R. Pulskamp, Nicholas D. Thobe, Dean E. Winner
  • Patent number: 7347299
    Abstract: An operator's compartment for an industrial vehicle comprises a platform floor, an operator's seat, at least one presence sensing device and a control module. The operator's seat has a base structure coupled to the platform floor and an operator support coupled to the base structure such that the operator support may be rotated with respect to the platform floor. Each provided presence sensing device is arranged to sense an operator's presence in a predetermined location in or about the operator's compartment and the control module is configured to control at least one operation of the vehicle based upon a rotational position of the operator's seat and a signal from at least one of the presence sensing device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Michael P. Gallagher, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric J. Kaiser, Leroy M. Kluver, Jay L. Kuck, Steven R. Pulskamp, Craig J. Rekow, Adam M. Ruppert, Gary L. Topp, George R. Wetterer
  • Patent number: 7121608
    Abstract: An operator's seat for a vehicle includes a base structure that allows the operator's seat to be rotated with respect to a platform floor of an operator's compartment within the vehicle. The operator's seat may further include a swivel structure that allows an operator support to swivel independently of the rotation of the base structure. At least one presence sensing device may be provided to detect the presence of an operator. The presence sensing device(s), and rotational position of the operator support may provide input signals to a control module that controls the vehicle travel, load handling features, and/or other features of the vehicle that may be selectively enabled, limited or otherwise controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Michael P. Gallagher, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric J. Kaiser, Leroy M. Kluver, Jay L. Kuck, Steven R. Pulskamp, Craig J. Rekow, Adam M. Ruppert, Gary L. Topp, George R. Wetterer
  • Patent number: 7059680
    Abstract: Seat repositioning systems for vehicles comprise a seat release element that is operable to cause an operator's seat to be temporarily released from a locked position such that the operator's seat may be adjusted to a new position. By optionally positioning the seat release element proximate to an operator's working position, a vehicle operator may reposition the seat while simultaneously performing another task. Moreover, a control module may be provided that is capable of deciding whether or not to allow the operator's seat to be released based upon vehicle parameters such as vehicle speed or load handling conditions. Still further, the control module may temporarily disable select features of the vehicle depending upon the position of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric J. Kaiser, Leroy M. Kluver, Jay G. Pollack, Steven R. Pulskamp, Nicholas D. Thobe, Dean E. Winner
  • Patent number: 5131851
    Abstract: A battery connector assist unit comprising a base having means to secure a battery connector first part thereto and a slidable member interconnected to the base with the slidable member having a slide base having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is adjacent to the base. The slidable member also has a pair of smooth sided cantilevered beams extending therefrom for temporarily retaining a battery connector second part and for transmitting force from the slidable member to the connector. The slidable member has a handle member easily accessible to assist in removing the connector parts into and out of mating relationship. In one embodiment of the invention, the base has at least one slot therein and a slidable member has means to engage at least one such slot, while in another embodiment of the invention the slidable member has at least one slot therein and the base has means to engage at least one such slot. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a cover plate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Nita L. Watercutter
  • Patent number: D516097
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Bergman, Steven C. Billger, Todd M. Fullenkamp, Michael P. Gallagher, Kevin A. Gilliland, Robert J. Henshaw, Eric J. Kaiser, Leroy M. Kluver, Russell J. Kroll, Philip D. Palermo, Steven R. Pulskamp, Craig J. Rekow, Douglas J. Rinderle, Adam M. Ruppert
  • Patent number: D516098
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Billger, Kevin A. Gilliland, Robert J. Henshaw, Eric J. Kaiser, Leroy M. Kluver, Philip D. Palermo, Steven R. Pulskamp, Craig J. Rekow, Douglas J. Rinderle, Adam M. Ruppert