Patents by Inventor Mark Jon Woodruff

Mark Jon Woodruff 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).

  • Elevator car and counterweight safety
    Patent number: 5782319
    Abstract: A braking device is described for an elevator having a governor that actuates above a tripping speed for braking an elevator car or counterweight that is guided on a vertical guide rail. The braking device includes a unitary safety housing attached to the elevator car or counterweight and at least partially surrounding the guide rail. The safety housing is expandable and has opposite, facing wedge guides on opposite sides of the guide rail. A pair of wedges are included, each being received between the guide rail and one of the wedge guides. An actuator is linked with a governor and the wedges for driving the wedges into the safety housing, forcing the safety housing to expand and produce a clamping force on the guide rail, in response to actuation of the governor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Montgomery Kone Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Jon Woodruff, Daniel Lee Vermeere, James William Bos