Patents by Inventor Joel L. Mulder

Joel L. Mulder 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).

  • Weight drop system
    Patent number: 6848293
    Abstract: A weight drop system includes a frame, a base weight, at least one supplemental weight, a carriage, at least one gripper carried by the carriage and a hold mechanism. The base weight is movable relative to the frame between an undeployed position and a deployed load applying position in which a load is applied. The at least one supplemental weight is actuatable between a load supplementing state in which the load being applied is increased and a non-supplementing state. The carriage moves between a raised position and a lowered retrieving position. The grippers move between a weight engaging position and a weight disengaging position. The hold mechanism holds at least the base weight in the undeployed position while the at least one gripper disengages or is disengaged from at least the base weight. Release of the base weight by the hold mechanism allows at least the base weight to fall to the load applying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel A. DeRuiter, Todd P. Collier, Daniel L. Brookhouse, Joel L. Mulder, Michael J. Walcott, Ellis J. Gusky
  • Weight drop system
    Publication number: 20040035181
    Abstract: A weight drop system includes a frame, a base weight, at least one supplemental weight, a carriage, at least one gripper carried by the carriage and a hold mechanism. The base weight is movable relative to the frame between an undeployed position and a deployed load applying position in which a load is applied. The at least one supplemental weight is actuatable between a load supplementing state in which the load being applied is increased and a non-supplementing state. The carriage moves between a raised position and a lowered retrieving position. The grippers move between a weight engaging position and a weight disengaging position. The hold mechanism holds at least the base weight in the undeployed position while the at least one gripper disengages or is disengaged from at least the base weight. Release of the base weight by the hold mechanism allows at least the base weight to fall to the load applying position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel A. DeRuiter, Todd P. Collier, Daniel L. Brookhouse, Joel L. Mulder, Michael J. Walcott, Ellis J. Gusky