Patents by Inventor Douglas W. Irish

Douglas W. Irish 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).

  • Cafeteria tray accumulator
    Patent number: 7051866
    Abstract: A cafeteria tray accumulator includes a plurality of tray holding cages that are suspended from a drive track that moves in a loop with one transverse leg disposed above another transverse leg. Each tray-holding cage includes a plurality of shelves that hold cafeteria trays on above the other. A counterbalance mechanism is used to prevent the cages from swaying back and forth. The counterbalance mechanism may be an offset rail or a wheel carried by the cage that engages a support structure. The accumulator has increased tray capacity because of the multiple tray-holding cages and the two transverse legs of the drive path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Douglas W. Irish
  • Cafeteria tray accumulator
    Publication number: 20040089518
    Abstract: A cafeteria tray accumulator includes a plurality of tray holding cages that are suspended from a drive track that moves in a loop with one transverse leg disposed above another transverse leg. Each tray-holding cage includes a plurality of shelves that hold cafeteria trays on above the other. A counterbalance mechanism is used to prevent the cages from swaying back and forth. The counterbalance mechanism may be an offset rail or a wheel carried by the cage that engages a support structure. The accumulator has increased tray capacity because of the multiple tray-holding cages and the two transverse legs of the drive path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Douglas W. Irish