Patents by Inventor John F. Prendergast, Sr.

John F. Prendergast, Sr. 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).

  • Patent number: 5168131
    Abstract: A control for an elevator system having a single hoistway and a single cab movable by a reversible motor vertically within the hoistway for servicing a plurality of floors. The control includes a call station located at each floor and having a hall call pushbutton, an arrival light and an in-use light, and a plurality of pushbuttons are located in the cab, with one being associated with each floor. A microprocessor is coupled to each of the hall call pushbuttons, in-use lights, arrival lights and cab pushbuttons and is programmed to respond to call signals for actuating a first switching circuit for energizing the motor for movement in a cab raising direction or a second switching circuit for energizing the motor for movement in a cab lowering direction in response to signals from the hall call pushbuttons or cab pushbuttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Cheney Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Smith, John F. Prendergast, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5052521
    Abstract: A stairway wheelchair lift includes a stationary motor drive unit, a rail assembly extending along the stairway and a mobile platform movable along the rail. A flexible drive member, such as a chain or cable, within the rail assembly, is driven by the motor drive unit and is connected to the mobile platform to move the platform in either direction along the rail. The mobile platform is adapted to support and transport a wheelchair-bound passenger during use, and to fold upwardly out of the way of the stairway when the lift is not in use. An automatically actuated brake mechanism stops further movement of the mobile platform when the speed of the platform relative to the rail exceeds a predetermined threshold, and a plurality of safety sensing switches prevent operation of the lift in the presence of obstructions along the stairway or other unsafe conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: The Cheney Company
    Inventors: David W. Wendt, John F. Prendergast, Sr., Hyun Liu, Edward T. Gisske
  • Patent number: 4913264
    Abstract: A stairway chairlift for transporting passengers in ascending and descending directions along a stairway includes a rail mounted adjacent one stairway wall and further includes a motorized chair unit movable along the rail. A seat, for carrying the passenger, is mounted to the top of the chair unit, and a swivel mechanism permits the seat to be rotated around a vertical axis to facilitate movement of the passenger onto and off of the seat. To minimize interference with ordinary use of the stairway, the seat is pivotally mounted to a horizontal plate which moves inwardly or outwardly in response to rotation of the seat so as to maintain a substantially constant clearance between the seat and the stairway wall. To further reduce interference with ordinary use of the stairway, the seat can be folded upwardly, as can be a foot rest mounted adjacent the lower end of the chair unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: The Cheney Company
    Inventors: David R. Voves, John F. Prendergast, Sr., Thomas J. Green
  • Patent number: 4904916
    Abstract: A stairway wheelchair lift includes a stationary motor drive unit, a mobile platform movable along a stairway and a user interface for receiving user-generated input commands. The mobile platform communicates with the motor drive unit through a continuously maintained broadbeam infrared communications link, while the motor drive unit communicates with the mobile platform through an intermittently established short range infrared link. The user interface communicates with the motor drive through a hard wired four conductor communicates link. The use of infrared communications links, together with the four conductor hard wired link, reduces overall system wiring, enhances ease of installation and improves overall system flexibility and economy. Microprocessor based micro-controllers, within the motor drive unit, the mobile platform and the user interface, permit system operation to be tailored in accordance with the operating constraints and requirements imposed by a particular stairway configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: The Cheney Company
    Inventors: Edward T. Gisske, John F. Prendergast, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4223222
    Abstract: A scintillation camera device has a suspension system for positioning a detector head attached to a suspended arm for imaging a portion of a patient. The suspended arm includes a linking member which is pivotally attached to the suspension system and which extends horizontal from the suspension system. A rigid member is pivotally attached to the linking member and provides horizontal articulation for the suspended arm. The rigid member has a yoke at the end thereof with the yoke having a base with ends adapted to pivotally retain the detector head. The rigid member has a generally arcuate shape which provides clearance for the patient whereby the rigid member can be extended over the patient and lowered for imaging a portion of the far side of the patient. The pivotal attachments of the linking member and the rigid member have releasable brakes to permit ready positioning of the detector head and subsequent locking of the head in that desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David A. Gray, Marvin L. Sivertsen, Jerome H. Adam, John F. Prendergast, Sr.
  • Patent number: D322362
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: The Cheney Company
    Inventors: David R. Voves, John F. Prendergast, Sr., Thomas J. Green, John Sinchok