Patents by Inventor John R. Pratt

John R. Pratt 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: 8025474
    Abstract: A battery-changing vehicle includes a mobile carriage, a frame disposed above the mobile carriage, and a boom assembly connected to the frame. The mobile carriage defines a loading deck for receiving and transporting a battery. The boom assembly includes a lift hoist that lifts a battery to and from the loading deck. The lift hoist is capable of lateral movement between an extended disposition, at which the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the loading deck, and a withdrawn disposition, at which the lift hoist is disposed above the loading deck. The battery-changing vehicle may also include a transfer arm capable of transferring a battery to and from the loading deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Multi-Shifter, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, Dale A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110176906
    Abstract: A battery-changing vehicle includes a mobile carriage, a frame disposed above the mobile carriage, and a boom assembly connected to the frame. The mobile carriage defines a loading deck for receiving and transporting a battery. The boom assembly includes a lift hoist that lifts a battery to and from the loading deck. The lift hoist is capable of lateral movement between an extended disposition, at which the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the loading deck, and a withdrawn disposition, at which the lift hoist is disposed above the loading deck. The battery-changing vehicle may also include a transfer arm capable of transferring a battery to and from the loading deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, Dale A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7938612
    Abstract: A battery-changing vehicle includes a mobile carriage, a frame disposed above the mobile carriage, and a boom assembly connected to the frame. The mobile carriage defines a loading deck for receiving and transporting a battery. The boom assembly includes a lift hoist that lifts a battery to and from the loading deck. The lift hoist is capable of lateral movement between an extended disposition, at which the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the loading deck, and a withdrawn disposition, at which the lift hoist is disposed above the loading deck. The battery-changing vehicle may also include a transfer arm capable of transferring a battery to and from the loading deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Multi-Shifter, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, Dale A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20090067967
    Abstract: A battery-changing vehicle includes a mobile carriage, a frame disposed above the mobile carriage, and a boom assembly connected to the frame. The mobile carriage defines a loading deck for receiving and transporting a battery. The boom assembly includes a lift hoist that lifts a battery to and from the loading deck. The lift hoist is capable of lateral movement between an extended disposition, at which the lift hoist is cantilevered away from the loading deck, and a withdrawn disposition, at which the lift hoist is disposed above the loading deck. The battery-changing vehicle may also include a transfer arm capable of transferring a battery to and from the loading deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, Dale A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20090014219
    Abstract: There is provided a cart for lifting and moving materials. The cart includes a lift mechanism for raising and lowering a support surface to lift the materials during transport. The cart also includes a motorized drive wheel assembly which provides a drive force in a forward or backward direction to assist the operator in moving the materials. The motorized drive wheel assembly has a variable vertical position relative to the cart wheels to enable the drive wheels to provide a drive force over contoured surfaces, such as near the base or top of a ramp. The motorized drive wheel assembly also includes a weight to maintain a minimum normal force for traction and includes a differential to allow the drive wheels to rotate at differing speeds to facilitate convenient steering of the cart. The cart is powered by one or more rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: MULTI-SHIFTER INC.
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, Dale A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7220222
    Abstract: There is provided a cart for transporting dies, molds, and similar objects. The cart includes a lift mechanism for raising and lowering a support surface to the height of the surface onto which or from which the die will be moved. The support surface includes a transfer mechanism for coupling to the die, either with an electromagnet or a suction device, to thereby slide the die as desired without damaging critical components on the exterior of the die. The cart also includes a motorized drive wheel assembly which provides a drive force in a forward or backward direction to assist the operator in moving a die that has been transferred onto the cart. The cart is powered by one or more rechargeable batteries. The cart enables a single operator to safely and conveniently remove, insert, and transport dies or other similar objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Multi-Shifter Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, Dale A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6543986
    Abstract: The present invention discloses either an apparatus that is adapted for selective mounting to and demounting from a pallet jack for use therewith or a transport vehicle having an apparatus permanently mounted thereto, which can effectively and efficiently transport articles or stacks of objects, such as boxes, furniture, trays, or the like from one location to another. The apparatus comprises a housing and an article engaging and lifting member, which includes a base and a back support member for supporting the article or stacks of objects. The article engaging and lifting member is pivotally mounted to the housing, preferably adjacent the bottom of the back support member. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first clamp member for maintaining the article adjacent the back support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Multi-Shifter, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, John Schoenma ker, Dale A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20010016159
    Abstract: The present invention discloses either an apparatus that is adapted for selective mounting to and demounting from a pallet jack for use therewith or a transport vehicle having an apparatus permanently mounted thereto, which can effectively and efficiently transport articles or stacks of objects, such as boxes, furniture, trays, or the like from one location to another. The apparatus comprises a housing and an article engaging and lifting member, which includes a base and a back support member for supporting the article or stacks of objects. The article engaging and lifting member is pivotally mounted to the housing, preferably adjacent the bottom of the back support member. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first clamp member for maintaining the article adjacent the back support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, John Schoenma Ker, Dale A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6247887
    Abstract: The present invention discloses either an apparatus that is adapted for selective mounting to and demounting from a pallet jack for use therewith or a transport vehicle having an apparatus permanently mounted thereto, which can effectively and efficiently transport articles or stacks of objects, such as boxes, furniture, trays, or the like from one location to another. The apparatus comprises a housing and an article engaging and lifting member, which includes a base and a back support member for supporting the article or stacks of objects. The article engaging and lifting member is pivotally mounted to the housing, preferably adjacent the bottom of the back support member. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first clamp member for maintaining the article adjacent the back support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Multi-Shifter, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Springston, John R. Pratt, John Schoenmaker, Dale A. Williams
  • Patent number: 4112621
    Abstract: A vent door and frame assembly for cargo bodies includes a pair of rectangularly shaped frame members one of which defines a door frame opening and supports in hinged relation a vent door. The frame members during assembly with a wall construction are positionable in telescoping relation wherein they overlap opposite sides of a cargo body and when in this position form a permanent frame structure connected to the sides of the body. By virtue of the telescoping relationship of the frame parts the frame assembly is adapted to be readily utilized with cargo bodies having walls of different thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Pullman Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonard M. Ehrhart, John R. Pratte, Paul E. Mazik, Jr.