Patents by Inventor Kevin Detrick
Kevin Detrick 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).
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Publication number: 20230213950Abstract: A car wash system is disclosed. The car wash system can include an adjustable top washer, a sensor configured to determine a height measurement of the vehicle, an actuator configured to adjust a position of the top washer, and a control system coupled to the actuator and the sensor. The control system can be configured to receive the height measurement of the vehicle from the sensor and control the actuator to adjust the position of the top washer based on the received height measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 11605064Abstract: A point-of-sale system has a card reader, a point-of-sale device, and an intermediate processing module configured to communicate with the card reader and the point-of-sale device. The card reader has a card reader module configured to receive information from a payment card. The point-of-sale device has a POS display and a POS module. The intermediate processing module is configured to receive status information from the card reader module, generate a message associated with the status information, and provide the message to the POS module for presenting on the POS display.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: INNOVATIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 11597356Abstract: A method of controlling wash equipment in an automated vehicle wash system having a conveyor includes, measuring one or more contours of a vehicle as the vehicle moves thorough an entry area of the automated vehicle wash system on the conveyor; tracking the distance a fixed point relative to the conveyor moves; associating the one or more contours of the vehicle with the position of the fixed point; determining, based on the one or more contours of the vehicle and the position of the fixed point, commands for operating the wash equipment; delivering the commands to the wash equipment; and operating the wash equipment in accordance with the commands.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 11572042Abstract: A wash equipment assembly for a car wash and method of operating the equipment are described. For example, the assembly includes a cleaning element configured to clean a vehicle, an arm assembly operably attached to the cleaning element and configured to move the cleaning element to a vehicle cleaning position, the arm movably fixed to a support at a first end and the cleaning element mounted on the arm at a second end, a controlled locator for positioning the arm relative to the support such that the cleaning equipment is moved to the vehicle cleaning position, and a sensor for evaluating an actual orientation of the cleaning element relative to a default orientation of the cleaning element. In certain implementations, the controlled locator can modify the position of the arm in response to a signal from the sensor, thereby providing a closed loop control system.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: INNOVATIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 11423427Abstract: A system and method of operating a carwash with flexible service offerings comprises providing an automated computer terminal at which a user of a vehicle can purchase a car wash and at least one additional service, such as a hand service, after receiving the car wash, determining a queue for the at least one additional service at the time a user purchases a car wash, calculating a price for the at least one additional service based on the queue and displaying the price for the at least one additional service on the automated computer terminal. If the queue for the at least one additional service is low or empty, the user is provided with a discount to incentivize the user to purchase such service.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: INNOVATIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20220185242Abstract: A wash equipment assembly for a car wash and method of operating the equipment are described. For example, the assembly includes a cleaning element configured to clean a vehicle, an arm assembly operably attached to the cleaning element and configured to move the cleaning element to a vehicle cleaning position, the arm movably fixed to a support at a first end and the cleaning element mounted on the arm at a second end, a controlled locator for positioning the arm relative to the support such that the cleaning equipment is moved to the vehicle cleaning position, and a sensor for evaluating an actual orientation of the cleaning element relative to a default orientation of the cleaning element. In certain implementations, the controlled locator can modify the position of the arm in response to a signal from the sensor, thereby providing a closed loop control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20220105906Abstract: A method of controlling wash equipment in an automated vehicle wash system having a conveyor includes, measuring one or more contours of a vehicle as the vehicle moves thorough an entry area of the automated vehicle wash system on the conveyor; tracking the distance a fixed point relative to the conveyor moves; associating the one or more contours of the vehicle with the position of the fixed point; determining, based on the one or more contours of the vehicle and the position of the fixed point, commands for operating the wash equipment; delivering the commands to the wash equipment; and operating the wash equipment in accordance with the commands.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 11155245Abstract: A wash equipment assembly for a car wash and method of operating the equipment are described. For example, the assembly includes a cleaning element configured to clean a vehicle, an arm assembly operably attached to the cleaning element and configured to move the cleaning element to a vehicle cleaning position, the arm movably fixed to a support at a first end and the cleaning element mounted on the arm at a second end, a controlled locator for positioning the arm relative to the support such that the cleaning equipment is moved to the vehicle cleaning position, and a sensor for evaluating an actual orientation of the cleaning element relative to a default orientation of the cleaning element. In certain implementations, the controlled locator can modify the position of the arm in response to a signal from the sensor, thereby providing a closed loop control system.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Innovative Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 10994706Abstract: A method of controlling wash equipment in an automated vehicle wash system having a conveyor includes, measuring one or more contours of a vehicle as the vehicle moves thorough an entry area of the automated vehicle wash system on the conveyor; tracking the distance a fixed point relative to the conveyor moves; associating the one or more contours of the vehicle with the position of the fixed point; determining, based on the one or more contours of the vehicle and the position of the fixed point, commands for operating the wash equipment; delivering the commands to the wash equipment; and operating the wash equipment in accordance with the commands.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Innovative Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 10997619Abstract: A system and method of operating a carwash with flexible service offerings comprises providing an automated computer terminal at which a user of a vehicle can purchase a car wash and at least one additional service, such as a hand service, after receiving the car wash, determining a queue for the at least one additional service at the time a user purchases a car wash, calculating a price for the at least one additional service based on the queue and displaying the price for the at least one additional service on the automated computer terminal. If the queue for the at least one additional service is low or empty, the user is provided with a discount to incentivize the user to purchase such service.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Innovative Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20200294020Abstract: A point-of-sale system has a card reader, a point-of-sale device, and an intermediate processing module configured to communicate with the card reader and the point-of-sale device. The card reader has a card reader module configured to receive information from a payment card. The point-of-sale device has a POS display and a POS module. The intermediate processing module is configured to receive status information from the card reader module, generate a message associated with the status information, and provide the message to the POS module for presenting on the POS display.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 10266155Abstract: A method of controlling wash equipment in an automated vehicle wash system having a conveyor includes, measuring one or more contours of a vehicle as the vehicle moves thorough an entry area of the automated vehicle wash system on the conveyor; tracking the distance a fixed point relative to the conveyor moves; associating the one or more contours of the vehicle with the position of the fixed point; determining, based on the one or more contours of the vehicle and the position of the fixed point, commands for operating the wash equipment; delivering the commands to the wash equipment; and operating the wash equipment in accordance with the commands.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Innovatice Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20190114657Abstract: A system and method of operating a carwash with flexible service offerings comprises providing an automated computer terminal at which a user of a vehicle can purchase a car wash and at least one additional service, such as a hand service, after receiving the car wash, determining a queue for the at least one additional service at the time a user purchases a car wash, calculating a price for the at least one additional service based on the queue and displaying the price for the at least one additional service on the automated computer terminal. If the queue for the at least one additional service is low or empty, the user is provided with a discount to incentivize the user to purchase such service.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20190084531Abstract: A method of controlling wash equipment in an automated vehicle wash system having a conveyor includes, measuring one or more contours of a vehicle as the vehicle moves thorough an entry area of the automated vehicle wash system on the conveyor; tracking the distance a fixed point relative to the conveyor moves; associating the one or more contours of the vehicle with the position of the fixed point; determining, based on the one or more contours of the vehicle and the position of the fixed point, commands for operating the wash equipment; delivering the commands to the wash equipment; and operating the wash equipment in accordance with the commands.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20180281752Abstract: A wash equipment assembly for a car wash and method of operating the equipment are described. For example, the assembly includes a cleaning element configured to clean a vehicle, an arm assembly operably attached to the cleaning element and configured to move the cleaning element to a vehicle cleaning position, the arm movably fixed to a support at a first end and the cleaning element mounted on the arm at a second end, a controlled locator for positioning the arm relative to the support such that the cleaning equipment is moved to the vehicle cleaning position, and a sensor for evaluating an actual orientation of the cleaning element relative to a default orientation of the cleaning element. In certain implementations, the controlled locator can modify the position of the arm in response to a signal from the sensor, thereby providing a closed loop control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20140330623Abstract: A system and method of operating a carwash with flexible service offerings comprises providing an automated computer terminal at which a user of a vehicle can purchase a car wash and at least one additional service, such as a hand service, after receiving the car wash, determining a queue for the at least one additional service at the time a user purchases a car wash, calculating a price for the at least one additional service based on the queue and displaying the price for the at least one additional service on the automated computer terminal. If the queue for the at least one additional service is low or empty, the user is provided with a discount to incentivize the user to purchase such service.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicant: Innovative Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Publication number: 20130239992Abstract: A method of controlling wash equipment in an automated vehicle wash system having a conveyor includes, measuring one or more contours of a vehicle as the vehicle moves thorough an entry area of the automated vehicle wash system on the conveyor; tracking the distance a fixed point relative to the conveyor moves; associating the one or more contours of the vehicle with the position of the fixed point; determining, based on the one or more contours of the vehicle and the position of the fixed point, commands for operating the wash equipment; delivering the commands to the wash equipment; and operating the wash equipment in accordance with the commands.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Innovative Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: 4893229Abstract: The computerized car wash controls a plurality of washing and waxing devices for cars. These devices are controlled by command signals and the cars are moved through the devices via a conveyor. The system includes a car tracking scheme that monitors the position of the cars as they move by the plurality of car washing and waxing devices. The system also includes an input device at which the car wash operator selects certain car washing and waxing options as ordered by the car owner. The system includes a device for generating command signals for each of the plurality of car washing and waxing devices. The command signal generator generates these signals based upon (1) the selections obtained by the car wash operator at the input device; (2) a pre-established baseline operational sequence for the plurality of car washing and waxing devices; and (3) the positions of the cars that are determined by the car tracker.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1988Date of Patent: January 9, 1990Assignee: Innovative Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick
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Patent number: RE33849Abstract: The computerized car wash controls a plurality of washing and waxing devices for cars. These devices are controlled by command signals and the cars are moved through the devices via a conveyor. The system includes a car tracking scheme that monitors the position of the cars as they move by the plurality of car washing and waxing devices. The system also includes an input device at which the car wash operator selects certain car washing and waxing options as ordered by the car owner. The system includes a device for generating command signals for each of the plurality of car washing and waxing devices. The command signal generator generates these signals based upon (1) the selections obtained by the car wash operator at the input device; (2) a pre-established baseline operational sequence for the plurality of car washing and waxing devices; and (3) the positions of the cars that are determined by the car tracker.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1990Date of Patent: March 17, 1992Assignee: Innovative Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kevin Detrick