Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr.

Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr. 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).

  • Publication number: 20170291051
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes a frame, cab and/or body to which a signal light grab handle or elongated light integrated handle is mounted. The handle is operable in an illumination mode in which the grab handle emits illumination in a predefined manner, and a sleep mode in which the grab handle emits no illumination. The grab handle includes a light strip including a plurality of light sources, such as LEDs. This strip can be coupled to a wire that extends through one or more handle attachment brackets, and through an exterior outer panel of the apparatus. The light grab handle provides at least one of warning lights, brake lights and signal lights to observers of the firefighting apparatus when actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9782613
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes a frame, cab and/or body to which a signal light grab handle or elongated light integrated handle is mounted. The handle is operable in an illumination mode in which the grab handle emits illumination in a predefined manner, and a sleep mode in which the grab handle emits no illumination. The grab handle includes a light strip including a plurality of light sources, such as LEDs. This strip can be coupled to a wire that extends through one or more handle attachment brackets, and through an exterior outer panel of the apparatus. The light grab handle provides at least one of warning lights, brake lights and signal lights to observers of the firefighting apparatus when actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: HME, Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9757601
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes a ladder to which a recovery winch is operably mounted so that the winch can be used to move, upright, lift or otherwise manipulate target objects at an emergency location. The ladder can include a pulley detachably mounted to the ladder distal from the winch, the pulley adapted to suspend a cable extending from the winch at an upper end. In operation, the winch moves along with the ladder as the ladder moves, so that the winch and pulley can be strategically located over a target object for movement thereof. The apparatus can include a remote control connected to the winch for operation of the winch by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: HME, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr., Richard R. Lagerquist
  • Patent number: 9751459
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes a frame, cab and/or body to which a signal light grab handle is mounted. The signal light grab handle is operable in a flashing mode in which the signal light grab handle emits illumination in a predefined flashing pattern, and a sleep mode in which the signal light grab handle emits no illumination. The signal light grab handle includes a light strip including a plurality of light sources, such as LEDs. This strip can be coupled to a wire that extends through upper and/or lower handle attachment brackets, and through an exterior outer panel of the apparatus. The signal light grab handle provides at least one of warning lights and signal lights to observers of the firefighting apparatus when actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HME, Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9677335
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes an aerial ladder and at least one of a rung alignment status indicator and a load status indicator. The rung alignment status indicator can include a lighting strip having multiple lighting elements on the ladder that are selectively illuminated depending on whether first rungs of one section of the ladder and second rungs of another section of the ladder are aligned or misaligned. The load status indicator can include a lighting strip including multiple lighting elements on the ladder and/or at a control console that are selectively illuminated depending on whether the ladder is overloaded beyond an aerial ladder capacity rating or other value. A user on the aerial ladder and/or at a control console can view the indicators to evaluate rung alignment and load status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: HME, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr., Richard R. Lagerquist
  • Patent number: 9265979
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes an aerial ladder, a side stack hose bed and a side access ladder that provides access to the aerial ladder when the aerial ladder obstructs another access ladder. The side stack hose bed is mounted to a frame in a rearward portion of the apparatus. A first side access ladder is mounted to a first side of the frame forward of the side stack hose bed and optionally forward of the rear axle. Another second side access ladder is mounted to a second side of the frame. A movable side stack hose bed cover extends over the hose bed, and can include a rigid plate extending from the first side access ladder toward the aerial ladder. The first side access ladder and hose bed cover cooperatively form a path from a ground location toward the aerial ladder to facilitate access to the aerial ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HME, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr., Kevin J. Longhurst
  • Publication number: 20150273253
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes an aerial ladder, a side stack hose bed and a side access ladder that provides access to the aerial ladder when the aerial ladder obstructs another access ladder. The side stack hose bed is mounted to a frame in a rearward portion of the apparatus. A first side access ladder is mounted to a first side of the frame forward of the side stack hose bed and optionally forward of the rear axle. Another second side access ladder is mounted to a second side of the frame. A movable side stack hose bed cover extends over the hose bed, and can include a rigid plate extending from the first side access ladder toward the aerial ladder. The first side access ladder and hose bed cover cooperatively form a path from a ground location toward the aerial ladder to facilitate access to the aerial ladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, JR., Kevin J. Longhurst
  • Publication number: 20150273252
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes a ladder to which a recovery winch is operably mounted so that the winch can be used to move, upright, lift or otherwise manipulate target objects at an emergency location. The ladder can include a pulley detachably mounted to the ladder distal from the winch, the pulley adapted to suspend a cable extending from the winch at an upper end. In operation, the winch moves along with the ladder as the ladder moves, so that the winch and pulley can be strategically located over a target object for movement thereof. The apparatus can include a remote control connected to the winch for operation of the winch by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, JR., Richard R. Lagerquist
  • Publication number: 20150273254
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes an extendable crosslay hose bed which facilitates access to the crosslay bed for loading and pulling flexible fire hose. The bed is mounted to a frame, generally behind the cab of the apparatus, which can be a fire truck. The bed includes a moveable tray extending laterally, across a width of the truck. The tray can be oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the truck as well. The tray and/or an optional underlying support frame can be coupled to a power unit adapted to extend and retract the support frame and moveable tray from stored position to a deployed position. A control can be in communication with the power unit and operable by a user to control movement of the tray from the stored position to the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr., Kevin J. Longhurst
  • Publication number: 20150273255
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes an aerial ladder and at least one of a rung alignment status indicator and a load status indicator. The rung alignment status indicator can include a lighting strip having multiple lighting elements on the ladder that are selectively illuminated depending on whether first rungs of one section of the ladder and second rungs of another section of the ladder are aligned or misaligned. A user on the aerial ladder can view the rung alignment status indicator and discern whether the ladder has appropriate rung alignment so the user can attain a safe foothold when climbing it. The load status indicator can include a lighting strip including multiple lighting elements on the ladder and/or at a control console that are selectively illuminated depending on whether the ladder is overloaded beyond an aerial ladder capacity rating or other value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, JR., Richard R. Lagerquist
  • Patent number: 7530404
    Abstract: A system for a firefighting vehicle including a single compressor, driven by the engine of the firefighting vehicle, which generates a compressed fluid supply for operation of both the compressed air foam system and air brakes of the firefighting vehicle. The system can include a fluid storage tank that receives compressed fluid generated by the compressor. The storage tank can be in fluid communication with a dryer and a foaming system. The dryer dries a portion of the compressed fluid and supplies the dry fluid to one or more brake system tanks, which further provide a fluid supply to one or more air brakes of the vehicle to provide a braking force to stop the vehicle. An optionally undried portion of the fluid in the fluid storage tank can be in communication with a conduit which is further in communication with a foam supply and a liquid supply which mix with the compressed fluid to create a compressed fluid foam firefighting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: HME, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr.