Patents by Inventor Michael A. Knopf

Michael A. Knopf 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: 8256785
    Abstract: A wheelchair frame assembly comprises a frame member having a first leg adapted to support a seat and a second leg configured to support a caster wheel. An axle mounting assembly connects an axle tube to the frame member. The axle mounting assembly includes an axle tube mount, a frame mount, and a spacer. The spacer is configured to alter the distance between the frame member and the axle tube and transfer longitudinal forces between the axle tube mount and the frame mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Patent number: 8207858
    Abstract: Electronic systems and methods utilizing such systems for detecting and verifying the adequacy of personal protective equipment needed by a person in light of a potential arc flash hazard presented by an electrical power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Knopf, Todd Lottmann
  • Publication number: 20110025014
    Abstract: A wheelchair frame includes left and right first frame members, each having a first leg for supporting a seat. The first legs are arranged on opposite sides of a central axis of the wheelchair. At least one cross-brace is connected, by the ends, to the first legs of the left and right frame members. The cross-brace has a non-circular cross-section along a section between the ends. The wheelchair frame includes left and right second frame members that are pivotally connected to the left and right first frame members. The second frame members are foldable and may be fixed in a position in that is generally parallel to the first legs of the left and right first frame members. A cross-brace is connected, by the ends, to the left and right second frame members. The cross-brace has a non-circular cross-section along a section between the ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Publication number: 20110018222
    Abstract: A wheelchair has a frame including left and right frame members, each frame member having a first leg configured to support a seat, and a second leg configured to support front caster wheels, the first leg extending substantially horizontally and the second leg extending substantially downward from the first leg. The wheelchair also has a caster strut attached to the second leg of each frame member. The caster strut has first and second strut sections. The first strut section is fixed to the second leg and arranged substantially horizontally. The second strut section is arranged substantially vertically and provides, at a lower end, a mounting for the caster wheel. The caster strut further contains a curved section intermediate the first and second strut sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Publication number: 20100194162
    Abstract: A wheelchair comprises a base frame, a backrest frame and a hinge assembly. The base frame has first and second side frame members. The hinge assembly connects the backrest frame to a portion of the base frame for selective pivotal movement. The hinge assembly includes a locking mechanism configured to provide selective discrete locking positions of the backrest relative to the base frame. The locking mechanism includes a locking pin and a plurality of cooperating locking apertures. The locking pin is adapted to selectively engage one of the plurality of locking apertures to define a backrest angle relative to the base frame. One or more plugs are adapted to engage one or more of the plurality of locking apertures to prevent the locking pin from cooperating with the plugged locking aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: SUNRISE MEDICAL HHG, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Publication number: 20100194071
    Abstract: A wheelchair frame assembly comprises a frame member having a first leg adapted to support a seat and a second leg configured to support a caster wheel. An axle mounting assembly connects an axle tube to the frame member. The axle mounting assembly includes an axle tube mount, a frame mount, and a spacer. The spacer is configured to alter the distance between the frame member and the axle tube and transfer longitudinal forces between the axle tube mount and the frame mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Publication number: 20100090437
    Abstract: A wheelchair comprises a pair of spaced apart side frame tubes and a pair of foot support frames. Each of the foot support frames has a first end configured to connect to the side frame tubes and a second end configured to receive a cross member. The cross member interconnects the second ends of the foot support frames and supports a foot support assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SUNRISE MEDICAL HHG, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Knopf, Karsten Dellbruegge, Jason Shelton
  • Publication number: 20100045464
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and verifying the adequacy of personal protective equipment needed by a person to complete a potentially hazardous task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Knopf, Todd Francis Lottmann
  • Publication number: 20090040014
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and verifying the adequacy of personal protective equipment needed by a person to complete a potentially hazardous task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Knopf, Todd Lottmann
  • Publication number: 20080106060
    Abstract: A wheelchair having a two-stage tilt ability is provided. The wheelchair includes a base frame and a seat mounted to the base frame. The seat is configured for rearward tilting. A mounting mechanism is connected to the seat. The mounting mechanism is configured to tilt the seat by a first pivoting of the seat through a first range of tilting about a first pivot axis and a second pivoting of the seat through a second range of tilting about a second pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Patent number: 7360781
    Abstract: A foldable wheelchair comprises a substantially horizontally extending upper side frame member. An upper end of an axle plate is secured to the upper side frame member. An axle housing is secured to the axle plate. A cross brace is pivotally secured directly to the axle plate at the lower end of the axle plate. A wheel mount assembly comprises an axle sleeve mount having an internal thread. An axle sleeve has an external thread that is in threaded engagement with the internal thread of the axle sleeve mount. The axle sleeve has an internal bore that accepts a wheel axle. The internal bore is angled with respect to the axis of the external threads to provide camber to a wheel. The axle sleeve is adapted to provide lateral adjustment to the wheel by rotating the axle sleeve within the axle sleeve mount any number of complete revolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Philip H. Schreiber, Michael Knopf, Errol Marklein, Steven L. Lindquist
  • Patent number: 7353566
    Abstract: An improved wheel assembly comprises a caster fork, a caster wheel rotatably supported by the caster fork, and a caster swivel post defining an axis about which the caster fork rotates. The caster swivel post is being adapted to rotate about a pivot axis within a cylindrical housing. Alternatively, the wheel assembly has an adjustable axle for varying the camber angle of a wheel. The wheel assembly comprises a housing and an axle supported by the housing. The axle in turn rotatably supports a wheel. The axle is adapted to rotate about a pivot axis within a cylindrical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Scheiber, Steven L. Lindquist, Brandon Mckee, Allen B. Killebrew, Rex W. Stevens, Ralf Groene, Michael Knopf
  • Publication number: 20060128579
    Abstract: The invention described herein includes a formulation comprising: a lower than expected use level of structurant/surfactant blend and an emulsion comprising a homogenized mixture of wax and alcohol components, at least one of which is a surfactant, wherein the formulation comprises a stable lamellar or spherulite phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Knopf, Michele Polk, Frank Lucia, William Wohland, Ralph Macchio
  • Publication number: 20060087103
    Abstract: A foldable wheelchair comprises a substantially horizontally extending upper side frame member. An upper end of an axle plate is secured to the upper side frame member. An axle housing is secured to the axle plate. A cross brace is pivotally secured directly to the axle plate at the lower end of the axle plate. A wheel mount assembly comprises an axle sleeve mount having an internal thread. An axle sleeve has an external thread that is in threaded engagement with the internal thread of the axle sleeve mount. The axle sleeve has an internal bore that accepts a wheel axle. The internal bore is angled with respect to the axis of the external threads to provide camber to a wheel. The axle sleeve is adapted to provide lateral adjustment to the wheel by rotating the axle sleeve within the axle sleeve mount any number of complete revolutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Philip Schreiber, Michael Knopf, Errol Marklein, Steven Lindquist
  • Patent number: 7021640
    Abstract: An improved adjustable wheel mounting assembly comprises a connecting member and a wheel-mounting member. The connecting member extends generally upwardly and downwardly between wheelchair frame members and is adapted to be secured thereto. The wheel-mounting member extends adjacent the connecting member and is secured thereto and to the side frame members. The wheel-mounting member has at least one formation for supporting an axle of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Knopf, Adam John Williams
  • Publication number: 20060055143
    Abstract: A wheel mount may generally be comprised of an axle plate and a camber tube clamp that may be height adjustable with respect to the axle plate. The camber tube clamp can be selectively mountable upright or inverted so as to increase an overall range of height adjustability. The camber tube clamp can be mountable in front of or behind the axle plate so as to increase an overall range of center-of-gravity adjustability. The camber tube clamp and the axle plate may have an interlocking feature that may allow the camber tube clamp to slide vertically along the axle plate to facilitate height adjustment. A seat collar can be positioned at various locations along a wheelchair frame for center-of-gravity adjustment. The axle plate can be detached from and attached to the seat tube collar to allow the axle plate and camber tube clamp to be reverse mounted in order to increase the range of center of gravity adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Philip Schreiber, Michael Knopf, Errol Marklein, Steven Lindquist, Joshua Heit, Allen Killebrew, Todd Bernatsky
  • Publication number: 20060008434
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein include a formulation comprising: a deodorant, a structurant and an emulsion comprising a homogenized mixture of wax and alcohol components, at least one of which is a surfactant, wherein the formulation comprises a stable lamellar or spherulite phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Knopf, Michele Polk, Frank Lucia, William Wohland, Ralph Macchio
  • Patent number: D627271
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Patent number: D631403
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Knopf
  • Patent number: D636299
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Knopf