Patents by Inventor Leonard Kikstra
Leonard Kikstra 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: 11285932Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth C. Bowman, Leonard Kikstra
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Patent number: 10689213Abstract: Various example vehicle restraints for use at a loading dock for blocking and later releasing a vehicle's rear impact guard. In some examples, the vehicle restraint includes a hook-shaped barrier that rotates between a lowered position and a raised position. The barrier rotates up to block the rear impact guard and rotates down to release it. The barrier also translates or shifts forward and back between a retracted position and an extended position. The barrier shifts forward to relieve forward pressure that the vehicle might exert against the barrier just prior to releasing the rear impact guard.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Alan Mushynski, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum
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Patent number: 10589944Abstract: Example vehicle restraints with a barrier having rotational and translational motion are described. An example vehicle restraint includes a carriage frame movable vertically relative to the dock. A drive shaft is supported by the carriage frame. A drive unit is to rotate the drive shaft about a shaft axis and relative to the carriage frame. A hub is connected to rotate with the drive shaft about the shaft axis, the hub having an outer diameter surface that is radially off center relative to the shaft axis. A barrier defines a bore that encircles the outer diameter surface of the hub. The barrier is movable selectively to an extended position and a retracted position. The barrier being connected to move selectively to the extended position and the retracted position in response to relative rotation between the outer diameter surface of the hub and the bore of the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Alan Mushynski, Bradley J. Stone, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Robert J. Harter
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Publication number: 20190367300Abstract: Various example vehicle restraints for use at a loading dock for blocking and later releasing a vehicle's rear impact guard. In some examples, the vehicle restraint includes a hook-shaped barrier that rotates between a lowered position and a raised position. The barrier rotates up to block the rear impact guard and rotates down to release it. The barrier also translates or shifts forward and back between a retracted position and an extended position. The barrier shifts forward to relieve forward pressure that the vehicle might exert against the barrier just prior to releasing the rear impact guard.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Alan Mushynski, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum
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Publication number: 20190263607Abstract: Example vehicle restraints with a barrier having rotational and translational motion are described. An example vehicle restraint includes a carriage frame movable vertically relative to the dock. A drive shaft is supported by the carriage frame. A drive unit is to rotate the drive shaft about a shaft axis and relative to the carriage frame. A hub is connected to rotate with the drive shaft about the shaft axis, the hub having an outer diameter surface that is radially off center relative to the shaft axis. A barrier defines a bore that encircles the outer diameter surface of the hub. The barrier is movable selectively to an extended position and a retracted position. The barrier being connected to move selectively to the extended position and the retracted position in response to relative rotation between the outer diameter surface of the hub and the bore of the barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Alan Mushynski, Bradley J. Stone, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Robert J. Harter
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Publication number: 20180345946Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Kenneth C. Bowman, Leonard Kikstra
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Patent number: 9694996Abstract: An example dock leveler with safety supports including a deck having a deck plate, a plurality of support beams, a first side plate and a second side plate. The deck plate has an outer perimeter defined by a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A first deck obstruction extends underneath the deck plate and is selectively configurable to at least one of a blocking position or a stored position. The first deck obstruction is elongate in a lateral direction and the first deck obstruction has a protruding end. The first side plate is closer to the protruding end when the first deck obstruction is in the stored position than when the first deck obstruction is in the blocking position. The first deck obstruction extends laterally beyond the deck width when the deck obstruction is in the blocking position. The first deck obstruction includes a pulling enhancement at the protruding end.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding CorporationInventors: Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Norbert Hahn
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Patent number: 9546056Abstract: Dock leveler safety supports are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler disclosed herein includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration. The deck to be inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration. A first deck obstruction is movable relative to the deck between a secured position and an unrestrained position. The first deck obstruction in the secured position configures the dock leveler in the service configuration. The first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position configures the dock leveler in the working configuration. The first deck obstruction in the secured position to block movement of the deck toward the lowered cross-traffic position and the first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position to permit movement of the deck toward the lowered cross-traffic position.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding CorporationInventors: Bradley J. Stone, David Holm, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Norbert Hahn
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Publication number: 20160304301Abstract: Dock leveler safety supports are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler disclosed herein includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration. The deck to be inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration. A first deck obstruction is movable relative to the deck between a secured position and an unrestrained position. The first deck obstruction in the secured position configures the dock leveler in the service configuration. The first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position configures the dock leveler in the working configuration. The first deck obstruction in the secured position to block movement of the deck toward the lowered cross-traffic position and the first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position to permit movement of the deck toward the lowered cross-traffic position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Bradley J. Stone, David Holm, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Norbert Hahn
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Publication number: 20160289013Abstract: Dock leveler safety supports and related methods are disclosed. An example method includes raising a front end of a deck above a platform, where the front end is elongate in a lateral direction and the front end extends laterally between a first side and a second side of the deck. The method includes manually pulling a first deck obstruction in the lateral direction out from the first side so that the first deck obstruction extends out over a perimeter of the platform. The method further includes lowering the front edge of the deck until the first deck obstruction descends upon and engages the platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Norbert Hahn
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Patent number: 9376274Abstract: A dock leveler having safety supports includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration, where a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the deck are proximate the platform when the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position and the deck residing at least partially in a pit when the front edge of the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position. A front edge of the deck is above at least one of the lowered cross-traffic position or the raised position and inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Bradley J. Stone, David Holm, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Norbert Hahn
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Publication number: 20160159587Abstract: Dock leveler safety supports are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler disclosed herein includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration, where a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the deck are proximate the platform when the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position and the deck residing at least partially in a pit when the front edge of the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position. A front edge of the deck is above at least one of the lowered cross-traffic position or the raised position and inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2014Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Bradley J. Stone, David Holm, Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Norbert Hahn
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Patent number: D775537Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding CorporationInventors: Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Peter K. Rusch
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Patent number: D778184Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding CorporationInventors: Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Peter K. Rusch
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Patent number: D813061Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Leonard Kikstra, Matthew Sveum, Peter K. Rusch
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Patent number: D933542Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph Manone, Bradley J. Stone, Leonard Kikstra, Chad Dillavou