Patents by Inventor Darian Smith
Darian Smith 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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Publication number: 20230339736Abstract: A vehicle lift system includes a plurality of mobile lift columns each including a wireless communication system for sending and receiving wireless signals, each of the plurality of mobile lift columns further including an inclinometer for detecting an amount of tilt of the plurality of mobile lift columns. A remote control unit includes a wireless communication system capable of transmitting wireless control signals to the plurality of mobile lift columns. A control unit is associated with the plurality of lift columns for controlling operation of the plurality of lift columns, the control unit further receiving a signal indicative of the amount of tilt of the plurality of mobile lift columns and providing a warning signal if any mobile lift column has an amount of tilt exceeding a predetermined amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Darian SMITH, Rob ELLIOTT, Austin DEUERLING
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Patent number: 11731867Abstract: A vehicle lift system includes a plurality of mobile lift columns each including a wireless communication system for sending and receiving wireless signals, each of the plurality of mobile lift columns further including an inclinometer for detecting an amount of tilt of the plurality of mobile lift columns. A remote control unit includes a wireless communication system capable of transmitting wireless control signals to the plurality of mobile lift columns. A control unit is associated with the plurality of lift columns for controlling operation of the plurality of lift columns, the control unit further receiving a signal indicative of the amount of tilt of the plurality of mobile lift columns and providing a warning signal if any mobile lift column has an amount of tilt exceeding a predetermined amount.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Darian Smith, Rob Elliott, Austin Deuerling
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Patent number: 11551443Abstract: An environment association system (“EAS”) comprising: a processor and a memory; an object recognition process configured to identify objects within images, the objects including one or more of a vehicle, a vehicle lift, a vehicle repair tool, and an alignment fixture; and an EAS interface configured to communicate with a user device, the user device comprising a camera and a display; wherein the processor is configured to: determine, for at least one object in the set of objects, create a virtual overlay for the image based on the position of the at least one object within the image and a virtual marking associated with the at least one object; and provide the virtual overlay to the user device, wherein the virtual overlay is configured to cause the user device to simultaneously display the image and the virtual overlay via the display. The system provides information about the alignment of lifting points of the object with lifting members.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Robert Elliott, Darian Smith, Douglas Brown, Matthew Webster, Kirk Dawson, Michael Hill
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Publication number: 20220348448Abstract: A vehicle lift assembly includes a control unit and a first lift device. The first lift device includes a lifting carriage, a lift actuation assembly that can actuate the lifting carriage between a lowered position and a raised position, and an indicator assembly. The indicator assembly can generate a visual indicator on a surface proximal to the first lift device under control of the control unit, such as one selected as a function of a state of the first lift device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Applicant: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Doug Spiller, Jay Ashworth, Kevin Katerburg, Darian Smith, Austin Deuerling
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Publication number: 20220259026Abstract: A set of lift controls may be configured to determine the load on the motor (112) by a vehicle of an unknown weight during operation at a standard lift speed and use such information to determine a potential speed that the motor may raise the vehicle at while staying within safe operational levels for the motor. One or more of a magnitude of electrical power drawn, a pressure generating by a hydraulic lifting, or a sensed vehicle weight may be used to provide an indication of load on the motor and/or a higher potential speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2020Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: AUSTIN DEUERLING, DOUG SPILLER, RON SCHNEIDER, JOHN UHL, GERRY LAUDERBAUGH, ROBERT ELLIOTT, DARIAN SMITH, DOUG BROWN, JASON STEWART
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Publication number: 20200377348Abstract: A vehicle lift system includes a plurality of mobile lift columns each including a wireless communication system for sending and receiving wireless signals, at least one of the mobile lift columns including an optical receiver. A remote control unit having a wireless communication system capable of transmitting wireless control signals and the remote control unit having an optical transmitter. A control unit is associated with the plurality of lift columns for controlling operation of the plurality of lift columns. The control unit receiving control signals from the wireless communication system and the optical receiver and enabling operation of the mobile lift columns when both an optical signal transmitted by the remote control unit is received by the optical receiver and a wireless control signal transmitted by the remote control unit is received by the wireless communication system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Darian SMITH, Rob ELLIOTT, Kevin KATERBERG
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Publication number: 20200377354Abstract: A vehicle lift system includes a plurality of mobile lift columns each including a wireless communication system for sending and receiving wireless signals, each of the plurality of mobile lift columns further including an inclinometer for detecting an amount of tilt of the plurality of mobile lift columns. A remote control unit includes a wireless communication system capable of transmitting wireless control signals to the plurality of mobile lift columns. A control unit is associated with the plurality of lift columns for controlling operation of the plurality of lift columns, the control unit further receiving a signal indicative of the amount of tilt of the plurality of mobile lift columns and providing a warning signal if any mobile lift column has an amount of tilt exceeding a predetermined amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Darian SMITH, Rob ELLIOTT, Austin DEUERLING
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Publication number: 20200293778Abstract: An environment association system (“EAS”) comprising: a processor and a memory; an object recognition process configured to identify objects within images, the objects including one or more of a vehicle, a vehicle lift, a vehicle repair tool, and an alignment fixture; and an EAS interface configured to communicate with a user device, the user device comprising a camera and a display; wherein the processor is configured to: determine, for at least one object in the set of objects, create a virtual overlay for the image based on the position of the at least one object within the image and a virtual marking associated with the at least one object; and provide the virtual overlay to the user device, wherein the virtual overlay is configured to cause the user device to simultaneously display the image and the virtual overlay via the display. The system provides information about the alignment of lifting points of the object with lifting members.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Robert Elliott, Darian Smith, Douglas Brown, Matthew Webster, Kirk Dawson, Michael Hill
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Patent number: 10761831Abstract: An authentication module may be internally or externally installed on a lift control of a vehicle lift and allows new and updated features to be added to the vehicle lift without requiring a connection to a local or cellular network. The authentication module connects to one or more other electrical components of the lift control to allow for the exchange of data. A module containing software and configurations for enabling a feature may be removably attached to the authentication module, which uses the stored configurations to verify and enable the associated feature. The use of enabled features may be persistently tracked by the authentication module even in the absence of an external power source or network connection, and may be disabled by the authentication module if the feature use expires or is exhausted.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Darian Smith, Robert William Elliott
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Patent number: 10676332Abstract: A plurality of portable lifts are dynamically configured to form a lift system for raising and lowering of vehicle. Each portable lift is added to the lift system and communicates wirelessly with a centralized control module. Some systems guide the user through a sequenced association of lifts in particular relative positions around the vehicle, while others use automatic position-detection techniques to determine those relative positions without explicit user input. Some systems allow definition of subsystems that can be operated together. Flexible controls may selectively allow operation of individual lifts, pairs or subsystems of lifts, or the full system at once. Controls on each lift may communicate commands for other lifts by way of the centralized control module.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Robert William Elliott, Darian Smith, Kevin S. Katerberg, Austin Deuerling, Doug Spiller, Doug Brown
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Publication number: 20200057623Abstract: An authentication module may be internally or externally installed on a lift control of a vehicle lift and allows new and updated features to be added to the vehicle lift without requiring a connection to a local or cellular network. The authentication module connects to one or more other electrical components of the lift control to allow for the exchange of data. A module containing software and configurations for enabling a feature may be removably attached to the authentication module, which uses the stored configurations to verify and enable the associated feature. The use of enabled features may be persistently tracked by the authentication module even in the absence of an external power source or network connection, and may be disabled by the authentication module if the feature use expires or is exhausted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Darian Smith, Robert William Elliott
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Publication number: 20180354760Abstract: A plurality of portable lifts are dynamically configured to form a lift system for raising and lowering of vehicle. Each portable lift is added to the lift system and communicates wirelessly with a centralized control module. Some systems guide the user through a sequenced association of lifts in particular relative positions around the vehicle, while others use automatic position-detection techniques to determine those relative positions without explicit user input. Some systems allow definition of subsystems that can be operated together. Flexible controls may selectively allow operation of individual lifts, pairs or subsystems of lifts, or the full system at once. Controls on each lift may communicate commands for other lifts by way of the centralized control module.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: Vehicle Service Group, LLCInventors: Robert William Elliott, Darian Smith, Kevin S. Katerberg, Austin Deuerling, Doug Spiller, Doug Brown