Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Bowman

Kenneth C. Bowman 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: 12271853
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor and manage loading dock operations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a sensor feedback analyzer to analyze feedback from sensors associated with a dock at a material handling facility to determine durations for completion of tasks in a sequence of operations associated with loading or unloading of a trailer at the dock based on the feedback. The apparatus also includes an efficiency analyzer to compare the durations to target thresholds associated with the tasks. The apparatus further includes a user interface generator to generate a user interface indicating at least one of the durations or the target thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Bowman, James C. Boerger, Chad Dillavou, Richard Mews, Timothy Kubly
  • Publication number: 20250014406
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor and manage loading docks and facility operations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a data analyzer to: monitor first data indicating whether a truck trailer is present at a dock of the material handling facility; and monitor second data indicating a condition associated with a door at the dock, the second data being different than the first data. The apparatus further includes a notification generator to generate a notification based on the first data and the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: James C. Boerger, John Jeffers, Richard Mews, Adam White, Kyle Wurster, Viswa Teja Yerramsetty, Kenneth C. Bowman, Brian J. Peschel
  • Patent number: 12106621
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor and manage loading docks and facility operations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a data analyzer to: monitor first data indicating whether a truck trailer is present at a dock of the material handling facility; and monitor second data indicating a condition associated with a door at the dock, the second data being different than the first data. The apparatus further includes a notification generator to generate a notification based on the first data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: James C. Boerger, John Jeffers, Richard Mews, Adam White, Kyle Wurster, Viswa Teja Yerramsetty, Kenneth C. Bowman, Brian J. Peschel
  • Publication number: 20220405695
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor and manage loading dock operations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a sensor feedback analyzer to analyze feedback from sensors associated with a dock at a material handling facility to determine durations for completion of tasks in a sequence of operations associated with loading or unloading of a trailer at the dock based on the feedback. The apparatus also includes an efficiency analyzer to compare the durations to target thresholds associated with the tasks. The apparatus further includes a user interface generator to generate a user interface indicating at least one of the durations or the target thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Bowman, James C. Boerger, Chad Dillavou, Richard Mews, Timothy Kubly
  • Patent number: 11285932
    Abstract: Example vehicle restraint systems and related methods are disclosed. An example vehicle restraint system includes a wheel chock having an inclined tire-engaging surface, where the wheel chock is movable to an installed position at which the wheel chock is to engage the freight transporter. The vehicle restraint system includes a take-up reel and a retractable elongate member to be at least partially wrapped around the take-up reel. The retractable elongate member to extend between the wheel chock and a platform structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Bowman, Leonard Kikstra
  • Publication number: 20210082220
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor and manage loading docks and facility operations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a data analyzer to: monitor first data indicating whether a truck trailer is present at a dock of the material handling facility; and monitor second data indicating a condition associated with a door at the dock, the second data being different than the first data. The apparatus further includes a notification generator to generate a notification based on the first data and the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: James C. BOERGER, John JEFFERS, Richard MEWS, Adam WHITE, Kyle WURSTER, Viswa Teja YERRAMSETTY, Kenneth C. BOWMAN, Brian J. PESCHEL
  • Patent number: 10934113
    Abstract: Pedestrian-Vehicle safety systems for loading docks are disclosed herein. An example safety system includes a first sensor to monitor a first area adjacent a dock, a bi-directional sensor to signal both incoming movement and outgoing movement of a vehicle relative to the dock, and an incoming sensor to signal only incoming movement of the vehicle relative to the dock. A signaling device is responsive to outputs of at least one of the first sensor, the bi-directional sensor, and the incoming sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Allan H. Hochstein, Andrew Brooks, Jason Senfleben, Kenneth C. Bowman, Matthew Sveum, James C. Boerger, Joseph Manone, Matthew C. McNeill
  • Publication number: 20180345946
    Abstract: Example vehicle restraint systems and related methods are disclosed. An example vehicle restraint system includes a wheel chock having an inclined tire-engaging surface, where the wheel chock is movable to an installed position at which the wheel chock is to engage the freight transporter. The vehicle restraint system includes a take-up reel and a retractable elongate member to be at least partially wrapped around the take-up reel. The retractable elongate member to extend between the wheel chock and a platform structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Bowman, Leonard Kikstra
  • Publication number: 20180186583
    Abstract: Pedestrian-Vehicle safety systems for loading docks are disclosed herein. An example safety system includes a first sensor to monitor a first area adjacent a dock, a bi-directional sensor to signal both incoming movement and outgoing movement of a vehicle relative to the dock, and an incoming sensor to signal only incoming movement of the vehicle relative to the dock. A signaling device is responsive to outputs of at least one of the first sensor, the bi-directional sensor, and the incoming sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Allan H. Hochstein, Andrew Brooks, Jason Senfleben, Kenneth C. Bowman, Matthew Sveum, James C. Boerger, Joseph Manone, Matthew C. McNeill
  • Patent number: 9926148
    Abstract: Pedestrian-Vehicle safety systems for loading docks are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein includes sensing whether a person is within a certain area adjacent a dock face of a loading dock, emitting a first signal in response to sensing the person being present within the certain area, sensing rearward movement of a vehicle toward the dock face, emitting a second signal in response to sensing rearward movement of the vehicle while the person is not present in the certain area, and emitting a third signal in response to sensing both the rearward movement of the vehicle and the person being present within the certain area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Allan H. Hochstein, Andrew Brooks, Jason Senfleben, Kenneth C. Bowman, Matthew Sveum, James C. Boerger, Joseph Manone, Matthew McNeill
  • Patent number: 9771225
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring a dock leveler are disclosed. An example method for monitoring a loading dock includes determining if a door at a doorway of a loading dock is in an open position; determining if a vehicle is present at the doorway; determining if a body is present in a first area of the loading dock, the first area including a deck positioned adjacent the doorway; and determining if a body is present in a second area of the loading dock adjacent the doorway, the second area including only a portion of a deck adjacent the doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley J. Stone, Kenneth C. Bowman, Matthew Sveum
  • Publication number: 20170101278
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring a dock leveler are disclosed. An example method for monitoring a loading dock includes determining if a door at a doorway of a loading dock is in an open position; determining if a vehicle is present at the doorway; determining if a body is present in a first area of the loading dock, the first area including a deck positioned adjacent the doorway; and determining if a body is present in a second area of the loading dock adjacent the doorway, the second area including only a portion of a deck adjacent the doorway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Bradley J. Stone, Kenneth C. Bowman, Matthew Sveum
  • Publication number: 20150375947
    Abstract: Pedestrian-Vehicle safety systems for loading docks are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein includes sensing whether a person is within a certain area adjacent a dock face of a loading dock, emitting a first signal in response to sensing the person being present within the certain area, sensing rearward movement of a vehicle toward the dock face, emitting a second signal in response to sensing rearward movement of the vehicle while the person is not present in the certain area, and emitting a third signal in response to sensing both the rearward movement of the vehicle and the person being present within the certain area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Allan H. Hochstein, Andrew Brooks, Jason Senfleben, Kenneth C. Bowman, Matthew Sveum, James C. Boerger, Joseph Manone, Matthew McNeill
  • Patent number: D962247
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: James C. Boerger, Richard Mews, Kenneth C. Bowman
  • Patent number: D968451
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: James C. Boerger, Richard Mews, Kenneth C. Bowman
  • Patent number: D1037289
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: James C. Boerger, Richard Mews, Kenneth C. Bowman
  • Patent number: D1045898
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: James C. Boerger, Richard Mews, Kenneth C. Bowman