Patents by Inventor Dan L. Otterson
Dan L. Otterson 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: 7857108Abstract: A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson
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Publication number: 20090127808Abstract: A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventor: Dan L. Otterson
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Patent number: 7448476Abstract: A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Smart Carte, Inc.Inventor: Dan L. Otterson
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Publication number: 20040144601Abstract: A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventor: Dan L. Otterson
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Patent number: 6142283Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Mark G. Bussey, Fred C. Zimmerman, Verne L. Severson
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Patent number: 6125985Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Mark G. Bussey, Fred C. Zimmerman, Verne L. Severson
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Patent number: 5921373Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1995Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Smart Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Mark G. Bussey, Fred C. Zimmerman, Verne L. Severson
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Patent number: 5526916Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Verne L. Severson