Patents by Inventor Mark S. Inkmann

Mark S. Inkmann 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).

  • Patent number: 11432978
    Abstract: A lift assist device preferably includes a pair of lift units and a battery. Each lift unit preferably includes a linear actuator, a lift projection, a top bracket and a bottom bracket. A screw sled extends from one side of the linear actuator. An end of a lift projection is secured to the screw sled. One end of the top bracket is attached to a top of the linear actuator. One end of a bottom bracket is attached to a bottom of the linear actuator. The top and bottom brackets will be different depending on whether they are attached to rollators, wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs and motorized scooters. The lift assist device may be used to help lift a user from a chair adjacent the rollator, wheelchair, motorized wheelchair or motorized scooter, or when the user is seated in rollator, wheelchair, motorized wheelchair or motorized scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Mark S. Inkmann
  • Patent number: 11197792
    Abstract: A lift assist device preferably includes a pair of lift units and a battery. Each lift unit preferably includes a linear actuator, a lift projection, a top bracket and a bottom bracket. A screw sled extends from one side of the linear actuator. An end of a lift projection is secured to the screw sled. One end of the top bracket is attached to a top of the linear actuator. One end of a bottom bracket is attached to a bottom of the linear actuator. The top and bottom brackets will be different depending on whether they are attached to rollators, wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs and motorized scooters. The lift assist device may be used to help lift a user from a chair adjacent the rollator, wheelchair, motorized wheelchair or motorized scooter, or when the user is seated in rollator, wheelchair, motorized wheelchair or motorized scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Mark S. Inkmann
  • Patent number: 6942945
    Abstract: A battery and adapter system includes a first battery adapter and a second battery adapter. The first battery adapter may be coupled to a storage battery, and a second battery adapter may be coupled to the first battery adapter. The first and second battery adapters may include features or elements that allow attachment to another battery adapter and to a storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Glenn W. Andersen, Lisa M. Franklin, Peter Gratschmayr, Mark S. Inkmann, Robert Spanier
  • Publication number: 20030064281
    Abstract: A battery and adapter system includes a first battery adapter and a second battery adapter. The first battery adapter may be coupled to a storage battery, and a second battery adapter may be coupled to the first battery adapter. The first and second battery adapters may include features or elements that allow attachment to another battery adapter and to a storage battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Glenn W. Andersen, Lisa M. Franklin, Peter Gratschmayr, Mark S. Inkmann, Robert Spanier
  • Patent number: 6461758
    Abstract: An improved vent cap system for use in an electrochemical battery is provided which includes a ring flange for forming a ring seal between the vent cap assembly and the fill tube. When the vent cap assembly is positioned in the battery housing, the ring flange and the fill tube deform to create a seal therebetween to provide a fluid tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Matthias Geibl, Thomas J. Dougherty, Gerald D. Slayton, Mark S. Inkmann, Guy L. Pfeifer, Gerald A. Cummins, Edward C. Frelka, Edward N. Mrotek, Helmuth Faust, Arch A. Pope, David J. Novak, William J. Ross, Bradley R. Niemuth, Ronald F. Kirby
  • Patent number: 6143438
    Abstract: An improved vent cap system for use in an electrochemical battery is provided which includes a ring flange for forming a ring seal between the vent cap assembly and the fill tube. When the vent cap assembly is positioned in the battery housing, the ring flange and the fill tube deform to create a seal therebetween to provide a fluid tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Co.
    Inventors: Matthias Geibl, Thomas J. Dougherty, Gerald D. Slayton, Mark S. Inkmann, Guy L. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 5681668
    Abstract: A battery shield for a storage battery includes first and second members which are dimensioned to fit around the battery, forming a shield structure, that is open at its top and encloses the battery on all four sides and on the bottom, forming a heat shield for protecting the battery from hot temperatures, the first and second members being hinged to a common base and are adapted to be pivoted about respective hinges outwardly away from another to an open position to facilitate installation of a battery in the shield and to then be moved upwardly and toward one another, in the manner of a "clamshell", to a closed position for enclosing the battery within the battery shield, the bottom of the storage battery having a plurality of transverse channels therein extending between opposing sides for permitting air flow around the bottom of the storage battery when the battery is enclosed within the battery shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Globe-Union, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Reed, Thomas J. Dougherty, Mark S. Inkmann, Debra L. Smith, Michael T. Reher
  • Patent number: 5543248
    Abstract: A battery shield for a storage battery includes first and second members which are dimensioned to fit around the battery, forming a shield structure, that is open at its top and encloses the battery on all four sides and on the bottom, forming a heat shield for protecting the battery from hot temperatures, the first and second members being hinged to a common base and are adapted to be pivoted about respective hinges outwardly away from another to an open position to facilitate installation of a battery in the shield and to then be moved upwardly and toward one another, in the manner of a "clamshell", to a closed position for enclosing the battery within the battery shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, Mark S. Inkmann, Debra L. Smith, Michael T. Reher
  • Patent number: 5536595
    Abstract: A split-shell enclosure for a storage battery for motor vehicle includes identical first and second enclosure members which are dimensioned to fit around the battery, forming a shell structure, that is open at its top and bottom and partially encloses the battery on two sides and completely encloses the battery on the other two sides, forming a heat shield for protecting the battery from hot underhood temperatures, the enclosure members being adapted to snap together upon installation and to be held together by interlocking tongue and groove portions of mating sides of the enclosure members, upper portions of the enclosure members being disposed in juxtaposed relation with the handle brackets of the battery so that if the battery is lifted by the enclosure, the enclosure members will engage the handle brackets of the battery and the battery will effectively be lifted by its handle brackets and no load will be placed on the latches that hold the two sections of the enclosure together, and lower portions of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Inkmann, Michael T. Reher, David W. Saari
  • Patent number: 5449570
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a battery monitoring circuit on the cover of the battery and for connecting the terminal ends of first and second lead wires of a battery monitoring circuit to the positive and negative terminals of the battery, the arrangement including a cavity formed in the battery cover for mounting the battery monitoring circuit, first and second battery terminal bushings which are molded integrally with the cover and are adapted to be mounted on and connected to the positive and negative battery terminals when the battery cover is installed on the battery, each of the battery terminal bushings including a pad having an upwardly directed mounting post that is adapted to receive and secure the terminal end of one of the lead wires of the battery monitoring circuit, the battery cover having first and second lead wire slots in its surface which extend from the cavity in which the battery monitoring circuit is mounted, to the locations of the battery terminal bushings for directing the lead wires
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Inkmann, Michael T. Reher, Bradley N. Koeppel, Brett M. Lenhardt
  • Patent number: 5082075
    Abstract: A battery thermal control system including a casing for the battery and a cover for enclosing the battery in the casing, the casing being provided with a number of ribs for supporting the battery in a spaced relation to the bottom of the casing and to the side walls of the casing, a fan connected to discharge air into the casing for circulation through the spaces between the battery and the casing and a bypass duct for connecting the fan to a warm air source for heating the battery in the winter. A timer circuit is provided for continuing the operation of the fan after the engine is turned off. The timing circuit including a temperature switch for activating the timer circuit when the temperature is above a preset minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Karolek, Mark S. Inkmann, Richard T. Johnson, Jerome A. Kondrakiewicz, Brett M. Lenhardt, David W. Saari
  • Patent number: 5031712
    Abstract: A battery thermal control system including a casing for the battery and a cover for enclosing the battery in the casing, the casing being provided with a number of ribs for supporting the battery in a spaced relation to the bottom of the casing and to the side walls of the casing, a fan connected to discharge air into the casing for circulation through the spaces between the battery and the casing and a bypass duct for connecting the fan to a warm air source for heating the battery in the winter. A timer circuit is provided for continuing the operation of the fan after the engine is turned off. The timing circuit including a temperature switch for activating the timer circuit when the temperature is above a preset minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Globe-Union, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Karolek, Mark S. Inkmann, Richard T. Johnson, Jerome A. Kondrakiewicz, Brett M. Lenhardt, David W. Saari
  • Patent number: 4976327
    Abstract: A battery module for insulating a battery from the heat of the engine of a motor vehicle, the module including a battery compartment, an air inlet and an air outlet, a first air flow path connecting the air inlet to the air outlet and a second air flow path around the outside of the battery compartment connecting the air inlet to the air outlet, a damper positioned in the housing for movement between a first position wherein the first air flow path is open and the second air flow path is closed and a second position wherein the first air flow path is closed and the second air flow path is open, a shape memory alloy member for moving the damper from the first position to the second position when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined minimum and a spring for biasing the damper to the first position when the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Abujudom, II, Thomas J. Dougherty, Mark S. Inkmann, Richard T. Johnson, Neil C. Karolek, David W. Saari
  • Patent number: 4460054
    Abstract: The manual portioning of non-uniform bulk products, such as the bagging of freshly prepared food products in fast-food restaurants, is controlled by a method and means which provide rapid and accurate individual portioning and consistently accurate feedback to the operator. Accurate real time weighing is provided quickly for every portion, and apparatus is disclosed to provide dynamic weighing such that no significant additional time is required for the portioning cycle. Since the feedback to the operator is based on true rather than estimated weight and is presented at the optimum time and location, the operator learns to portion the products accurately, as well as consistently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Inventors: Mark S. Inkmann, Neil C. Karolek, John G. Reichard, Donald A. Inkmann
  • Patent number: 4221847
    Abstract: An electrolyte reservoir in fluid communication with the cell of a storage battery is intermittently pressurized with a pulse of compressed gas to cause a flow of electrolyte from the reservoir to the upper region of less dense electrolyte in the cell. Upon termination of the pressure pulse, more dense electrolyte is forced into the reservoir from the lower region of the cell by the differential pressure head between the cell and reservoir electrolyte levels. The compressed gas pulse is controlled to prevent the entry of gas from the reservoir into the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Inkmann
  • Patent number: D462656
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jeff J. Degen, Stephen K. Crutcher, Jonathon M. Pierce, Mark S. Inkmann, Glenn W. Andersen
  • Patent number: D466478
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: James J. Bolstad, Mark S. Inkmann, Lisa M. Franklin, David Gondek