Patents by Inventor Lee Reitz

Lee Reitz 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).

  • Autorack deck adjustments
    Patent number: 11654942
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a latch and a travelling nut. The latch couples to a deck of an auto rack car. The latch includes a body coupled to a hinge such that the body may rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position. The body includes a key. The travelling nut engages a ball screw. The travelling nut includes a slot. The travelling nut rotates with the ball screw when the body is in the first position. The key engages the slot when the body is in the second position. The travelling nut and the latch adjust a height of the deck in the auto rack car when the body is in the second position and when the ball screw is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TRINITY NORTH AMERICAN FREIGHT CAR, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Huck, Christopher C. Harkey, Lee Reitz, Kyle R. Coston
  • AUTORACK DECK ADJUSTMENTS
    Publication number: 20200247435
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a latch and a travelling nut. The latch couples to a deck of an auto rack car. The latch includes a body coupled to a hinge such that the body may rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position. The body includes a key. The travelling nut engages a ball screw. The travelling nut includes a slot. The travelling nut rotates with the ball screw when the body is in the first position. The key engages the slot when the body is in the second position. The travelling nut and the latch adjust a height of the deck in the auto rack car when the body is in the second position and when the ball screw is turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth Huck, Christopher C. Harkey, Lee Reitz, Kyle R. Coston
  • Autorack deck adjustments
    Patent number: 10676109
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a latch and a travelling nut. The latch couples to a deck of an auto rack car. The latch includes a body coupled to a hinge such that the body may rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position. The body includes a key. The travelling nut engages a ball screw. The travelling nut includes a slot. The travelling nut rotates with the ball screw when the body is in the first position. The key engages the slot when the body is in the second position. The travelling nut and the latch adjust a height of the deck in the auto rack car when the body is in the second position and when the ball screw is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Trinity North American Freight Car, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Huck, Christopher C. Harkey, Lee Reitz, Kyle R. Coston
  • AUTORACK DECK ADJUSTMENTS
    Publication number: 20180118229
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a latch and a travelling nut. The latch couples to a deck of an auto rack car. The latch includes a body coupled to a hinge such that the body may rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position. The body includes a key. The travelling nut engages a ball screw. The travelling nut includes a slot. The travelling nut rotates with the ball screw when the body is in the first position. The key engages the slot when the body is in the second position. The travelling nut and the latch adjust a height of the deck in the auto rack car when the body is in the second position and when the ball screw is turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth Huck, Christopher C. Harkey, Lee Reitz, Kyle R. Coston