Patents by Inventor Kirk E. Mellits
Kirk E. Mellits 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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Patent number: 12583695Abstract: A dock leveler that fits within the pit of a loading dock. The dock leveler may have a rear leg bracket including a plurality of legs. The legs may be couplable to a bottom surface of the leg bracket and to a rear wall of the pit and may have a bottom portion attached to the bottom surface of the pit. The dock leveler may have a deck with a rear portion disposed adjacent the rear wall and supported by the rear leg bracket. The deck may be horizontal when in a stowed position. The dock leveler may also include a lift arm assembly extending from the bottom surface of the deck to the bottom surface of the pit and moveable along the bottom surface of the pit. The lift arm assembly may have a bottom portion movable independent of structure at the bottom portion of the plurality of legs.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 24, 2026Assignee: Overhead Door CorporationInventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Girish Malligere, Philip Sotak, Ruiping Ouyang
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Patent number: 12522455Abstract: A dock leveler with a deck hinge shaped to fit in the pit of a loading dock. The dock leveler may have a rear leg bracket including a plurality of legs couplable to a bottom surface and a rear wall of the pit. The leg bracket may be positioned directly adjacent the rear wall and may include a plurality of brackets having an upwardly facing opening configured to receive a cylindrical shaft. The dock leveler may also comprise a deck that may have a rear portion shaped to fit over the cylindrical shaft and located adjacent the rear wall. The cylindrical shaft may be sized to fit within the plurality of brackets such that the rear portion of the deck and the shaft may be disposed directly above the legs of the leg bracket.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2022Date of Patent: January 13, 2026Inventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Girish Malligere, Philip Sotak, Ruiping Ouyang
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Patent number: 12319523Abstract: A dock leveler with a lip hinge. The dock leveler may include a lip that may be disposed at a front portion of a deck. The deck and the lip may be connected via a joint to allow the lip to pivot relative to the deck. The joint may comprise a C-shaped shaft coupled to one of the lip and the deck. The C-shaped shaft may have a hollow interior and a radial opening to the hollow interior, the opening being less than 180 degrees. The joint may further comprise a pivot bar coupled to either the deck or the lip. The pivot bar may be pivotably disposed in the hollow interior of the C-shaped shaft in a manner allowing the lip to pivot relative to the deck between a down position and an up position.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2022Date of Patent: June 3, 2025Assignee: Overhead Door CorporatiorInventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Girish Malligere, Philip Sotak, Ruiping Ouyang
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Publication number: 20230365361Abstract: A dock leveler with a deck hinge shaped to fit in the pit of a loading dock. The dock leveler may have a rear leg bracket including a plurality of legs couplable to a bottom surface and a rear wall of the pit. The leg bracket may be positioned directly adjacent the rear wall and may include a plurality of brackets having an upwardly facing opening configured to receive a cylindrical shaft. The dock leveler may also comprise a deck that may have a rear portion shaped to fit over the cylindrical shaft and located adjacent the rear wall. The cylindrical shaft may be sized to fit within the plurality of brackets such that the rear portion of the deck and the shaft may be disposed directly above the legs of the leg bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Girish Malligere, Philip Sotak, Ruiping Ouyang
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Publication number: 20230365359Abstract: A dock leveler for a loading dock. In some embodiments, the dock leveler may include a leg, a deck hinge bracket coupled to a top portion of the leg, a first stock plate coupled to the deck hinge bracket, and a deck hinge shaft coupled to the first stock plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Vincent M. Maggio, Girish Malligere, Philip Sotak
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Publication number: 20230365362Abstract: A dock leveler with a lip hinge. The dock leveler may include a lip that may be disposed at a front portion of a deck. The deck and the lip may be connected via a joint to allow the lip to pivot relative to the deck. The joint may comprise a C-shaped shaft coupled to one of the lip and the deck. The C-shaped shaft may have a hollow interior and a radial opening to the hollow interior, the opening being less than 180 degrees. The joint may further comprise a pivot bar coupled to either the deck or the lip. The pivot bar may be pivotably disposed in the hollow interior of the C-shaped shaft in a manner allowing the lip to pivot relative to the deck between a down position and an up position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Girish Malligere, Philip Sotak, Ruiping Ouyang
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Publication number: 20230365360Abstract: A dock leveler that fits within the pit of a loading dock. The dock leveler may have a rear leg bracket including a plurality of legs. The legs may be couplable to a bottom surface of the leg bracket and to a rear wall of the pit and may have a bottom portion attached to the bottom surface of the pit. The dock leveler may have a deck with a rear portion disposed adjacent the rear wall and supported by the rear leg bracket. The deck may be horizontal when in a stowed position. The dock leveler may also include a lift arm assembly extending from the bottom surface of the deck to the bottom surface of the pit and moveable along the bottom surface of the pit. The lift arm assembly may have a bottom portion movable independent of structure at the bottom portion of the plurality of legs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Girish Malligere, Philip Sotak, Ruiping Ouyang
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Publication number: 20230365358Abstract: A dock leveler that fits within a loading dock. In some embodiments, the dock leveler may include a leg bracket assembly couplable to a back wall of the dock and a deck. The leg bracket assembly may include a deck hinge shaft. The deck may include a deck platform having a back end and a front end and a beam coupled to a bottom surface of the deck platform. The deck may include a C-shaped profile, a first end coupled to the bottom surface of the deck platform proximate to the back end, and a second end coupled to the bottom surface of the deck platform proximate to the front end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Vincent M. Maggio, Girish Malligere, Ruiping Ouyang, Philip Sotak
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Patent number: 5349733Abstract: A tool includes a solid block body unitary with a plurality of equidistantly spaced-apart blades which project from the body in the same direction, each blade having flat planar opposed faces with the faces of all of the blades being parallel to one another. The faces of each blade are chamfered at the distal ends thereof and are spaced apart by a pair of opposed parallel side surfaces, each inclined to the planes of the faces at an angle which approximates the complement of the helix angle of an associated spring, to facilitate insertion of the blades between the spring convolutions when the spring is extended, to maintain it in its extended condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1993Date of Patent: September 27, 1994Assignee: Snap-on IncorporatedInventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Dean J. Iwinski
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Patent number: 5269545Abstract: A molded plastic utility cart includes a one-piece hollow molded frame filled with a foamed plastic material, the frame being generally I-shaped in configuration and including an upstanding wall with a generally horizontal base at its lower end and a generally horizontal top at its upper end defining an open-top receptacle. A plastic cover is slidably mounted on the top for movement between a closed position covering the receptacle and an open position extending laterally from the top and uncovering the receptacle. The cover itself defines additional receptacle compartments. Accessory article supports may be mounted on any of the upstanding wall portion, the base or the top, and may be in the nature of additional receptacles, tool hangers or the like. A plurality of caster wheels are mounted on the underside of the base and handles are provided at both ends of the top.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1992Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Assignee: Snap-on Tools CorporationInventors: David A. Huebschen, Kirk E. Mellits, Timothy B. Strandell, Gregory A. Zurbuchen
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Patent number: 5187974Abstract: The pressure-testing apparatus comprises a manifold having a pair of conduits extending therefrom and being substantially parallel. Quick connectors at the free ends of the conduits have receptacles the axes of which are substantially parallel. A pair of adapters are respectively attached to the fittings of a broken coupler in a vehicle. The quick connectors are respectively applied to the adapter elements. The apparatus also comprises a pressure gauge on the manifold and/or means on the manifold for connection to a gauge.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1991Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignee: Snap-on Tools CorporationInventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Robert D. Braun, Gary S. Wollert
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Patent number: D350265Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1992Date of Patent: September 6, 1994Assignee: Snap-on Tools CorporationInventors: Kirk E. Mellits, Robert H. Junkel