Patents by Inventor Chet Willoughby

Chet Willoughby 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).

  • Elevator car door interlock
    Patent number: 8960372
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an elevator car is operable to selectively lock an elevator car door. The apparatus verifies that the elevator car door is closed, locks the elevator car door, and verifies that a lock is engaged. Once conditions are met, the apparatus signals an elevator controller that the elevator car can move through a hoistway. The apparatus further ensures that passengers can safely disembark from the elevator car by detecting the position of the elevator car relative to a designated landing zone within the hoistway, and confirming the elevator car is stopped at a landing zone prior to disengaging the lock. The apparatus thus ensures that the elevator car door remains closed while the elevator car is in motion or between landing zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest Heath, Anthony Hamlett, Sang Choi, Brian Chapman, Sang Lee, Chet Willoughby, Jie Xu, Houston Patrick
  • ELEVATOR CAR DOOR INTERLOCK
    Publication number: 20120006629
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an elevator car is operable to selectively lock an elevator car door. The apparatus verifies that the elevator car door is closed, locks the elevator car door, and verifies that a lock is engaged. Once conditions are met, the apparatus signals an elevator controller that the elevator car can move through a hoistway. The apparatus further ensures that passengers can safely disembark from the elevator car by detecting the position of the elevator car relative to a designated landing zone within the hoistway, and confirming the elevator car is stopped at a landing zone prior to disengaging the lock. The apparatus thus ensures that the elevator car door remains closed while the elevator car is in motion or between landing zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Elevator Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest Heath, Anthony Hamlett, Sang Choi, Brian Chapman, Sang Lee, Chet Willoughby, Jie Xu, Houston Patrick