Patents by Inventor James A. Ditch

James A. Ditch 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).

  • Tie-down for wheelchairs
    Patent number: 7963730
    Abstract: Apparatus for securing one or more wheelchairs to a vehicle includes a plurality of straps for holding the wheelchairs to the vehicle. Some of the straps are attached to a movable element that can be moved into or out of the area to be occupied by the wheelchairs. This allows the area to be utilized by other passengers when no wheelchairs are present and also facilitates ingress and egress of the wheelchairs. In the preferred embodiment, movable elements, which carry housings for wheelchair-engaging belts and passenger restraint belts, are mounted to the side wall of the vehicle for pivotal movement about vertical axes between storage positions and operative positions. The apparatus allows an operator to quickly and easily secure or release a passenger in a wheelchair and maintains the integrity of the straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: American Seating Company
    Inventors: James A. Ditch, Frereidoun Razavi, Richard C. Magnuson
  • VEHICULAR WHEELCHAIR DOCKING AND CAPTURE APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20110008122
    Abstract: A transit vehicle docking system including a pair of press plates driven inwardly against the opposite side of a wheelchair docked in a docking space in the transit vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: M&M, INC.
    Inventor: James A. Ditch
  • Vehicular wheelchair docking and capture apparatus
    Patent number: 7794187
    Abstract: A transit vehicle docking system including a pair of press plates driven inwardly against the opposite side of a wheelchair docked in a docking space in a transit vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: M & M, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Ditch
  • VEHICULAR WHEELCHAIR DOCKING AND CAPTURE APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20080315548
    Abstract: A transit vehicle docking system including a pair of press plates driven inwardly against the opposite side of a wheelchair docked in a docking space in a transit vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: M&M, INC.
    Inventor: James A. Ditch
  • Vehicular wheelchair docking and capture apparatus
    Patent number: 7425110
    Abstract: A transit vehicle docking system including a pair of press plates driven inwardly against the opposite side of a wheelchair docked in a docking space in a transit vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: M & M, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Ditch
  • Tie-down for wheelchairs
    Publication number: 20060193708
    Abstract: Apparatus for securing one or more wheelchairs to a vehicle includes a plurality of straps for holding the wheelchairs to the vehicle. Some of the straps are attached to a movable element that can be moved into or out of the area to be occupied by the wheelchairs. This allows the area to be utilized by other passengers when no wheelchairs are present and also facilitates ingress and egress of the wheelchairs. In the preferred embodiment, movable elements, which carry housings for wheelchair-engaging belts and passenger restraint belts, are mounted to the side wall of the vehicle for pivotal movement about vertical axes between storage positions and operative positions. The apparatus allows an operator to quickly and easily secure or release a passenger in a wheelchair and maintains the integrity of the straps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: James Ditch, Frereidoun Razavi, Richard Magnuson
  • Vehicular wheelchair docking and capture apparatus
    Publication number: 20060159542
    Abstract: A transit vehicle docking system including a pair of press plates driven inwardly against the opposite side of a wheelchair docked in a docking space in a transit vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventor: James Ditch
  • Tie-down for wheelchairs
    Publication number: 20020110434
    Abstract: Apparatus for securing one or more wheelchairs to a vehicle includes a plurality of straps for holding the wheelchairs to the vehicle. Some of the straps are attached to a movable element that can be moved into or out of the area to be occupied by the wheelchairs. This allows the area to be utilized by other passengers when no wheelchairs are present and also facilitates ingress and egress of the wheelchair. In the preferred embodiment, movable elements, which carry housings for wheelchair-engaging belts and passenger restraint belts, are mounted to the side wall of the vehicle for pivotal movement about vertical axes between storage positions and operative positions. The apparatus allows an operator to quickly and easily secure or release a passenger in a wheelchair and maintains the integrity of the straps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: James A. Ditch, Frereidoun Razavi, Richard C. Magnuson
  • Tie-down for wheelchairs
    Patent number: 5888038
    Abstract: Apparatus for securing one or more wheelchairs to a vehicle includes a plurality of straps for holding the wheelchairs to the vehicle. Some of the straps are attached to a movable element that can be moved into or out of the area to be occupied by the wheelchairs. This allows the area to be utilized by other passengers when no wheelchairs are present and also facilitates ingress and egress of the wheelchairs. In the preferred embodiment, movable elements, which carry housings for wheelchair-engaging belts and passenger restraint belts, are mounted to the side wall of the vehicle for pivotal movement about vertical axes between storage positions and operative positions. The apparatus allows an operator to quickly and easily secure or release a passenger in a wheelchair and maintains the integrity of the straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: American Seating Company
    Inventors: James A. Ditch, Frereidoun Razavi, Richard C. Magnuson