Patents by Inventor Eric Engen

Eric Engen 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).

  • Publication number: 20080029135
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing a vehicle that is relatively moved through the apparatus includes pivotal side arms with independently pivotal nozzles for the dispensing of cleansing fluids as well as a pivotal overhead boom that also includes independently pivotal nozzles so that the side arms and the boom as well as the nozzles associated therewith can be optimally positioned for directing high pressure liquid at the vehicle. The side arms and boom are also moved from retracted to extended positions with power cylinders and retracted from the extended to retracted positions by counter balancing weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Dennis McCadden, Eric Engen, David Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20070295374
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing a vehicle that is relatively moved through the apparatus includes pivotal side arms with independently pivotal nozzles for the dispensing of cleansing fluids as well as a pivotal overhead boom that also includes independently pivotal nozzles so that the side arms and the boom as well as the nozzles associated therewith can be optimally positioned for directing high pressure liquid at the vehicle. The side arms and boom are also moved from retracted to extended positions with power cylinders and retracted from the extended to retracted positions by counter balancing weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Dennis McCadden, Eric Engen
  • Publication number: 20070289616
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing a vehicle that is relatively moved through the apparatus includes pivotal side arms with independently pivotal nozzles for the dispensing of cleansing fluids as well as a pivotal overhead boom that also includes independently pivotal nozzles so that the side arms and the boom as well as the nozzles associated therewith can be optimally positioned for directing high pressure liquid at the vehicle. The side arms and boom are also moved from retracted to extended positions with power cylinders and retracted from the extended to retracted positions by counter balancing weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Mark VII Equipment Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis R. McCadden, Eric Engen, David M. Gauthier, Daniel Fratello
  • Patent number: 7056390
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle washing system is described. The vehicle washing system incorporates an elongated overhead cleaning platform for cleaning the front, top and rear surfaces of a vehicle. The overhead cleaning platform is attached to a single lift mechanism at a first end and is suspended from a belt at a second end, wherein the belt is also operatively connected to the first end. Accordingly, vertical movement of the lift actuator causes both ends of the platform to uniformly rise or descend. The platform further comprises a pivotal boom with fluid nozzles attached thereto, and a reciprocating pivotal actuator. The reciprocating pivotal actuator is capable of pivotal movement to any number of angular orientations within its operative range of motion. Advantageously, the pivotal and vertical positions of the nozzles can be independently varied, permitting the location of the overhead cleaning nozzles to be optimized for various vehicle profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Mark VII Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Fratello, James Johnson, Michael W. Mingee, Jon Leppo, David M. Gauthier, Eric Engen, Dennis McCadden, Thanh J. Tran
  • Patent number: 6807973
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle washing system is described. The vehicle washing system incorporates an elongated overhead cleaning platform for cleaning the front, top and rear surfaces of a vehicle. The overhead cleaning platform is attached to a single lift mechanism at a first end and is suspended from a belt at a second end, wherein the belt is also operatively connected to the first end. Accordingly, vertical movement of the lift actuator causes both ends of the platform to uniformly rise or descend. The platform further comprises a pivotal boom with fluid nozzles attached thereto, and a reciprocating pivotal actuator. The reciprocating pivotal actuator is capable of pivotal movement to any number of angular orientations within its operative range of motion. Advantageously, the pivotal and vertical positions of the nozzles can be independently varied, permitting the location of the overhead cleaning nozzles to be optimized for various vehicle profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Mark VII Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Fratello, James Johnson, Michael W. Mingee, Jon Leppo, David M. Gauthier, Eric Engen, Dennis McCadden, Thanh J. Tran
  • Publication number: 20040149316
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle washing system is described. The vehicle washing system incorporates an elongated overhead cleaning platform for cleaning the front, top and rear surfaces of a vehicle. The overhead cleaning platform is attached to a single lift mechanism at a first end and is suspended from a belt at a second end, wherein the belt is also operatively connected to the first end. Accordingly, vertical movement of the lift actuator causes both ends of the platform to uniformly rise or descend. The platform further comprises a pivotal boom with fluid nozzles attached thereto, and a reciprocating pivotal actuator. The reciprocating pivotal actuator is capable of pivotal movement to any number of angular orientations within its operative range of motion. Advantageously, the pivotal and vertical positions of the nozzles can be independently varied, permitting the location of the overhead cleaning nozzles to be optimized for various vehicle profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Mark VII Equipment, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Fratello, James Johnson, Michael W. Mingee, Jon Leppo, David M. Gauthier, Eric Engen, Dennis McCadden, Thanh J. Tran
  • Publication number: 20020162575
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle washing system is described. The vehicle washing system incorporates an elongated overhead cleaning platform for cleaning the front, top and rear surfaces of a vehicle. The overhead cleaning platform is attached to a single lift mechanism at a first end and is suspended from a belt at a second end, wherein the belt is also operatively connected to the first end. Accordingly, vertical movement of the lift actuator causes both ends of the platform to uniformly rise or descend. The platform further comprises a pivotal boom with fluid nozzles attached thereto, and a reciprocating pivotal actuator. The reciprocating pivotal actuator is capable of pivotal movement to any number of angular orientations within its operative range of motion. Advantageously, the pivotal and vertical positions of the nozzles can be independently varied, permitting the location of the overhead cleaning nozzles to be optimized for various vehicle profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Daniel A. Fratello, James Johnson, Michael W. Mingee, Jon Leppo, David M. Gauthier, Eric Engen, Dennis McCadden, Thanh J. Tran