Patents by Inventor Keith A. Braun

Keith A. Braun 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: 11697958
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling bus doors (14, 16) that are arranged as a pair of doors that move in coordinated relation between door open positions and door closed positions, enables passengers to access an interior area (12) of a bus (10). The apparatus includes an actuator (28, 226). The actuator includes a drive lever (34, 228) that is selectively rotationally movable between rotational positions in which both of the doors are in the open positions and in the closed positions. Exemplary arrangements include at least one controller (128) that is operative to prevent the doors from causing damage to or from being damaged by engagement with obstructions. The controller further enables a bus driver or other authorized user to control access to the interior area of the bus using a user mobile device (144).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S Weinerman, Marinel Rosu, Reese Bernot, Keith Braun, James Paxitzis
  • Patent number: 11400888
    Abstract: A commercial vehicle access control system provides selective access to authorized users to interior areas of respective service vehicle item storage compartments. The compartments are usable to house items such as tools, equipment, materials or products that are removed from or placed in such compartments. A system controller is in operative connection with a plurality of electrically actuated door locks which can be operated responsive to communication with a portable wireless device to enable access to selected compartments and the items which are housed therein. A plurality of vehicle cameras and other sensors are operative to detect activities related to the removal from or placement of items within the compartments, as well as other conditions associated with the operation and status conditions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: THE EASTERN COMPANY
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Keith Braun, James Paxitzis
  • Patent number: 10208512
    Abstract: A latch is provided for latching and automatically unlatching a lid from a waste container. The latch mechanism includes a release weight that moves responsive to gravity in a housing from a first position to a second position to cause the latch to disengage from a striker when the latch is rotated to a dump angular orientation. The latch includes a damper that controls movement of the release weight in the housing such that an amount of time for the release weight to move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position is at least two times an amount of time the release weight would take to move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position absent the effect of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: THE EASTERN COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Arthurs, Lee S. Weinerman, Keith A. Braun, Richard Jelen
  • Patent number: 9963276
    Abstract: A latch is usable for latching and automatically unlatching a lid operative to close a bin of a waste container. The latch includes a release weight that is moveable responsive to gravity from a first position to a second position to cause the latch to disengage from a release mechanism when the latch is rotated to one or more angular positions in a dump angular orientation. The latch and release mechanism are held in latched engagement when release slide bolts and latch slide bolts are engaged in extended positions. Movement of the release weight causes the latch slide bolts to move to retracted positions to enable disengagement of the release slide bolts and latch slide bolts. A release knob is operative responsive to manual movement in two different directions to enable the latch and release slide bolts to disengage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: THE EASTERN COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Arthurs, Lee S. Weinerman, Keith A. Braun
  • Patent number: 5144755
    Abstract: A control system for a drying system of the type including a drying bin. Discharge particulate material moisture sensing means including a sensor assembly positioned in a discharge auger for sensing the moisture content of the particulate material. Control means is connected to the discharge particulate moisture sensing means and the discharge auger for controlling operation of the discharge auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: David Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Keith Braun, Larry Stille, Dennis Brumwell
  • Patent number: 5106339
    Abstract: A system and method of monitoring the moisture of grain as it is being harvested by a combine. The moisture of the grain is continuously measured as the grain is traveling through a clean grain auger of the combine. These moisture measurements are displayed to the combine operator in the cab of the combine. A multiprocessor is provided to sample and store the moisture measurements. The multiprocessor also averages the stored measurements so that the operator can obtain the average moisture content of grain harvested from operator-defined areas of a field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: David Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Keith Braun, Larry Stille
  • Patent number: 4916830
    Abstract: A control system for a drying system of the type including a drying bin. Discharge particulate material moisture sensing means including a sensor assembly positioned in a discharge auger for sensing the moisture content of the particulate material. Control means is connected to the discharge particulate moisture sensing means and the discharge auger for controlling operation of the discharge auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: David Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Keith Braun, Larry Stille, Dennis Brumwell
  • Patent number: 4312750
    Abstract: A grain cleaning apparatus (10) for removing coarse and fine foreign materials from dirty grain before storage. The grain cleaning apparatus includes counter-rotating screen drums (18,20). Dirty grain is received in a frusto-conically shaped inner drum (18). Coarse foreign materials are prevented from passing through screen (100) of inner drum (18) and rather move to chute (38) where they fall to trough (40) for exiting from apparatus (10). Chute (38) is located between the output end (36) of the inner drum (18) and the output end (48) of the cylindrical outer drum (20). Grain is prevented from passing through screen (115) of outer drum (20). Fine foreign materials do pass therethrough, however, for exiting from apparatus (10). Clean grain drops from the output end (48) of outer drum (20).A motor (22) drives a secondary drive shaft (24). Shaft (24) drives first and second pulley systems (26,28) to rotate inner and outer screen drums (18,20) in opposite directions simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: David Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Keith A. Braun, John F. Johannsen
  • Patent number: D928723
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: THE EASTERN COMPANY
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Keith Braun, James Paxitzis
  • Patent number: D939457
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Keith Braun, James Paxitzis