Patents by Inventor Paul D. Rowlett

Paul D. Rowlett 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: 9096170
    Abstract: Example light fixtures include one or more light transmitting illuminated rods that emit a series or array of discrete spots of light. Some example light fixtures disclosed herein include optical features that provide an intriguing, attention-getting affect that can be useful particularly in alerting personnel of certain conditions at a doorway of a truck loading dock. In some examples, the light transmitting rods are mechanically coupled to a housing that contains an LED light source. The mechanical coupling allows the illuminated rods to be readily replaced without disrupting with the operation or wiring of the light source. Some example light fixtures illuminate the cargo bay of a vehicle at the loading dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark R. Swessel, Norbert Hahn, Tim Muhl, Mark G. Petri, Paul Maly, Charles S. Waugaman, Matthew C. McNeill, Paul D. Rowlett, Jason Dondlinger
  • Publication number: 20110075441
    Abstract: Example light fixtures include one or more light transmitting illuminated rods that emit a series or array of discrete spots of light. Some example light fixtures disclosed herein include optical features that provide an intriguing, attention-getting affect that can be useful particularly in alerting personnel of certain conditions at a doorway of a truck loading dock. In some examples, the light transmitting rods are mechanically coupled to a housing that contains an LED light source. The mechanical coupling allows the illuminated rods to be readily replaced without disrupting with the operation or wiring of the light source. Some example light fixtures illuminate the cargo bay of a vehicle at the loading dock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Mark R. Swessel, Norbert Hahn, Tim Muhl, Mark G. Petri, Paul Maly, Charles S. Waugaman, Matthew C. McNeill, Paul D. Rowlett, Jason Dondlinger
  • Publication number: 20090126130
    Abstract: A dock leveler with a vertically adjustable deck and horizontally translating lip includes a weather shield that helps shelter a pit area underneath the lip and the deck. The dock leveler and shield system is particularly suited for serving trucks that include a rear liftgate. An upper edge of the weather shield seals against and moves with the lip of the dock leveler, and a lower edge of the shield can be attached to a lower dividing panel. The lower dividing panel (sometimes known as an ISO panel) isolates the deck of the dock leveler from a liftgate-receiving receptacle within the pit area. The weather shield accommodates the lip's horizontal movement and the deck's vertical movement. The shield is such that it further accommodates a vertically moving door panel that can close in front of both the deck and the lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Bettendorf, Charles J. Digmann, David J. Hoffmann, Matthew C. McNeill, Paul D. Rowlett
  • Publication number: 20030140579
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for forming a weather seal between a vehicle and a loading dock is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a roller seal rotatably mounted to a support for rotation about an axis. The roller seal is movable in at least a vertical direction from a first position in the path of a vehicle entering the parking area, to a second position wherein the roller seal is disposed adjacent the top of the vehicle. Preferably, a curtain is suspended distally of the roller seal such that, when the roller seal is in the second position, the curtain forms a first seal with the top of the vehicle and the roller seal forms a second seal with the top of the vehicle. The curtain is semi-rigid and, in some instances, defines a ramping surface to facilitate movement of the roller seal over the leading edge of a vehicle approaching the loading dock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: David J. Hoffmann, Charles J. Ashelin, Paul D. Rowlett
  • Patent number: 6550191
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for forming a weather seal between a vehicle and a loading dock is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a roller seal rotatably mounted to a support for rotation about an axis. The roller seal is movable in at least a vertical direction from a first position in the path of a vehicle entering the parking area, to a second position wherein the roller seal is disposed adjacent the top of the vehicle. Preferably, a curtain is suspended distally of the roller seal such that, when the roller seal is in the second position, the curtain forms a first seal with the top of the vehicle and the roller seal forms a second seal with the top of the vehicle. The curtain is semi-rigid and, in some instances, defines a ramping surface to facilitate movement of the roller seal over the leading edge of a vehicle approaching the loading dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Hoffmann, Charles J. Ashelin, Paul D. Rowlett
  • Publication number: 20010004814
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for forming a weather seal between a vehicle and a loading dock is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a roller seal rotatably mounted to a support for rotation about an axis. The roller seal is movable in at least a vertical direction from a first position in the path of a vehicle entering the parking area, to a second position wherein the roller seal is disposed adjacent the top of the vehicle. Preferably, a curtain is suspended distally of the roller seal such that, when the roller seal is in the second position, the curtain forms a first seal with the top of the vehicle and the roller seal forms a second seal with the top of the vehicle. The curtain is semi-rigid and, in some instances, defines a ramping surface to facilitate movement of the roller seal over the leading edge of a vehicle approaching the loading dock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Applicant: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Hoffmann, Charles J. Ashelin, Paul D. Rowlett
  • Patent number: 6233885
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for forming a weather seal between a vehicle and a loading dock is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a roller seal rotatably mounted to a support for rotation about an axis. The roller seal is movable in at least a vertical direction from a first position in the path of a vehicle entering the parking area, to a second position wherein the roller seal is disposed adjacent the top of the vehicle. Preferably, a curtain is suspended distally of the roller seal such that, when the roller seal is in the second position, the curtain forms a first seal with the top of the vehicle and the roller seal forms a second seal with the top of the vehicle. The curtain is semi-rigid and, in some instances, defines a ramping surface to facilitate movement of the roller seal over the leading edge of a vehicle approaching the loading dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Hoffmann, Charles J. Ashelin, Paul D. Rowlett
  • Patent number: D751735
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark R. Swessel, Norbert Hahn, Tim Muhl, Mark G. Petri, Paul Maly, Charles S. Waugaman, Paul D. Rowlett, Jason Dondlinger, Matthew C. McNeill