Patents by Inventor Reed A. Davis
Reed A. Davis 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: 11396763Abstract: A gravity-actuated latch mechanism is provided. The gravity-actuated latch mechanism may include a strike attached to a lid of a container and a latch body attached to an inside wall of the container. The latch body includes a housing and a catch accessible from outside of the housing, wherein the catch engages and disengages with the strike. The latch body includes a lever having a lever arm moveable between an engaged and disengaged position. The engaged position is engaged with the catch and the disengaged position is disengaged with the catch. The latch body also includes a latch actuation ball housed in an elongated passage within the housing. The lever arm of the lever extends into the elongate passage, allowing the latch actuation ball to apply force to the lever arm to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position in response to tipping the container for dumping.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Patent number: 11149467Abstract: A gravity-actuated latch mechanism is provided. The gravity-actuated latch mechanism may include a strike attached to a lid of a container and a latch body attached to a wall of the container. The latch body includes a housing and a catch accessible from outside of the housing, wherein the catch engages and disengages with the strike. The latch body includes a lever having a lever arm moveable between an engaged and disengaged position. The engaged position is engaged with the catch and the disengaged position is disengaged with the catch. The latch body also includes a latch actuation member such as a ball housed in an elongated passage within the housing. The lever arm of the lever extends into the elongate passage, allowing the latch actuation member to apply force to the lever arm to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position in response to tipping the container for dumping.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: NORTHLAND PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Publication number: 20190040651Abstract: A gravity-actuated latch mechanism is provided. The gravity-actuated latch mechanism may include a strike attached to a lid of a container and a latch body attached to a wall of the container. The latch body includes a housing and a catch accessible from outside of the housing, wherein the catch engages and disengages with the strike. The latch body includes a lever having a lever arm moveable between an engaged and disengaged position. The engaged position is engaged with the catch and the disengaged position is disengaged with the catch. The latch body also includes a latch actuation member such as a ball housed in an elongated passage within the housing. The lever arm of the lever extends into the elongate passage, allowing the latch actuation member to apply force to the lever arm to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position in response to tipping the container for dumping.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Publication number: 20190017292Abstract: A gravity-actuated latch mechanism is provided. The gravity-actuated latch mechanism may include a strike attached to a lid of a container and a latch body attached to an inside wall of the container. The latch body includes a housing and a catch accessible from outside of the housing, wherein the catch engages and disengages with the strike. The latch body includes a lever having a lever arm moveable between an engaged and disengaged position. The engaged position is engaged with the catch and the disengaged position is disengaged with the catch. The latch body also includes a latch actuation ball housed in an elongated passage within the housing. The lever arm of the lever extends into the elongate passage, allowing the latch actuation ball to apply force to the lever arm to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position in response to tipping the container for dumping.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Patent number: 10100554Abstract: A gravity-actuated latch mechanism is provided. The gravity-actuated latch mechanism may include a strike attached to a lid of a container and a latch body attached to an inside wall of the container. The latch body includes a housing and a catch accessible from outside of the housing, wherein the catch engages and disengages with the strike. The latch body includes a lever having a lever arm moveable between an engaged and disengaged position. The engaged position is engaged with the catch and the disengaged position is disengaged with the catch. The latch body also includes a latch actuation ball housed in an elongated passage within the housing. The lever arm of the lever extends into the elongate passage, allowing the latch actuation ball to apply force to the lever arm to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position in response to tipping the container for dumping.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Northland Products, Inc.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Publication number: 20160060898Abstract: A gravity-actuated latch mechanism is provided. The gravity-actuated latch mechanism may include a strike attached to a lid of a container and a latch body attached to an inside wall of the container. The latch body includes a housing and a catch accessible from outside of the housing, wherein the catch engages and disengages with the strike. The latch body includes a lever having a lever arm moveable between an engaged and disengaged position. The engaged position is engaged with the catch and the disengaged position is disengaged with the catch. The latch body also includes a latch actuation ball housed in an elongated passage within the housing. The lever arm of the lever extends into the elongate passage, allowing the latch actuation ball to apply force to the lever arm to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position in response to tipping the container for dumping.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: NORTHLAND PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: WILLIAM J. MICHAEL, REED A. DAVIS
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Patent number: 8960735Abstract: A latch system includes a catch member and a sear element engaged with the catch member when the catch member is in a latch position. A swing lever is in geared engagement with the sear element. When the latch system is subjected to an acceleration event, the swing lever pivots in one direction so that the sear element pivots in the opposite direction to move the sear element out of engagement with the catch member. The latch system may be installed on a container so that the catch member engages with a latch receptacle coupled to a hinged lid of the container. When the container experiences the acceleration event, the sear element disengages from the catch element and the hinged lid falls open thereby causing the catch member to pivot to the release position. The latch system automatically re-engages when the container is returned to its upright position.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Northland Products, Inc.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis, Patrick A. Hodan
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Publication number: 20140224806Abstract: A latch system includes a catch member and a sear element engaged with the catch member when the catch member is in a latch position. A swing lever is in geared engagement with the sear element. When the latch system is subjected to an acceleration event, the swing lever pivots in one direction so that the sear element pivots in the opposite direction to move the sear element out of engagement with the catch member. The latch system may further include a security mechanism that is configured to prevent the swing lever and sear element from moving in response to an acceleration event under the condition the latch system is not oriented in an upright and vertical orientation. When the latch system is returned to its upright position, the security mechanism may be configured to not interfere with the normal operation of the latch system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Northland Products, Inc.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis, Patrick A. Hodan
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Publication number: 20140070550Abstract: A latch system includes a catch member and a sear element engaged with the catch member when the catch member is in a latch position. A swing lever is in geared engagement with the sear element. When the latch system is subjected to an acceleration event, the swing lever pivots in one direction so that the sear element pivots in the opposite direction to move the sear element out of engagement with the catch member. The latch system may be installed on a container so that the catch member engages with a latch receptacle coupled to a hinged lid of the container. When the container experiences the acceleration event, the sear element disengages from the catch element and the hinged lid falls open thereby causing the catch member to pivot to the release position. The latch system automatically re-engages when the container is returned to its upright position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: NORTHLAND PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis, Patrick A. Hodan
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Publication number: 20140069926Abstract: A latch system includes a catch member and a sear element engaged with the catch member when the catch member is in a latch position. A swing lever is in geared engagement with the sear element. When the latch system is subjected to an acceleration event, the swing lever pivots in one direction so that the sear element pivots in the opposite direction to move the sear element out of engagement with the catch member. The latch system may further include a security mechanism that is configured to prevent the swing lever and sear element from moving in response to an acceleration event under the condition the latch system is not oriented in an upright and vertical orientation. When the latch system is returned to its upright position, the security mechanism may be configured to not interfere with the normal operation of the latch system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: NORTHLAND PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis, Patrick A. Hodan
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Patent number: 8408607Abstract: An animal-resistant container includes a body and a lid. The body has an interior volume in which refuse may be placed. At least one latch mechanism is secured in the body and at least one latch receptacle is secured in the lid. The latch mechanism is engaged with the latch receptacle to secure the lid to the body and prevent access to the interior volume. The latch mechanism can be actuated by a gripping arm of a refuse pickup vehicle to release the latch mechanism from the latch receptacle so that contents of the container can be emptied during automated collection. A tilt sensor detects tilting movement of the container, and the latch mechanism is prevented from actuation following detection of the tilting movement so that an animal intruder cannot tip over the container and gain entry into the container.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Northland Products, Inc.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Publication number: 20120006838Abstract: An animal-resistant container includes a body and a lid. The body has an interior volume in which refuse may be placed. At least one latch mechanism is secured in the body and at least one latch receptacle is secured in the lid. The latch mechanism is engaged with the latch receptacle to secure the lid to the body and prevent access to the interior volume. The latch mechanism can be actuated by a gripping arm of a refuse pickup vehicle to release the latch mechanism from the latch receptacle so that contents of the container can be emptied during automated collection. A tilt sensor detects tilting movement of the container, and the latch mechanism is prevented from actuation following detection of the tilting movement so that an animal intruder cannot tip over the container and gain entry into the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: Northland Products, Inc.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Patent number: 7421759Abstract: An apparatus (20) for cleaning a surface (22) includes a clean fluid tank (26) containing a cleaning fluid (46) and configured for delivery of the fluid (46) to the surface (22). The clean fluid tank (26) has a first outer surface (76). A waste fluid tank (30) is coupled with the clean fluid tank (26) and has a second outer surface (78). The second surface (78) abuts the first surface (76) to form a conduit (84) between the first and second surfaces (76, 78), the conduit (84) being in fluid communication with the waste fluid tank (30). Vacuum motors (94) and (108), in communication with the conduit (84), operate to vacuum waste fluid (164) and air (116) into the waste fluid tank (30). The air (116) is expelled from the waste fluid tank (30) via the conduit (84).Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Northland Products, Inc.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis
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Publication number: 20060117517Abstract: An apparatus (20) for cleaning a surface (22) includes a clean fluid tank (26) containing a cleaning fluid (46) and configured for delivery of the fluid (46) to the surface (22). The clean fluid tank (26) has a first outer surface (76). A waste fluid tank (30) is coupled with the clean fluid tank (26) and has a second outer surface (78). The second surface (78) abuts the first surface (76) to form a conduit (84) between the first and second surfaces (76, 78), the conduit (84) being in fluid communication with the waste fluid tank (30). Vacuum motors (94) and (108), in communication with the conduit (84), operate to vacuum waste fluid (164) and air (116) into the waste fluid tank (30). The air (116) is expelled from the waste fluid tank (30) via the conduit (84).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2004Publication date: June 8, 2006Applicant: NORTHLAND PRODUCTS, Inc.Inventors: William Michael, Reed Davis
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Patent number: 6863468Abstract: A protection barrier system for energy-absorption of impacts includes an elongated barrier defining a chamber therein. The barrier includes side walls having a plurality of connected non-vertical wall segments and a plurality of buttresses positioned vertically at spaced apart locations along each side wall. One or more guide channels are positioned on each side wall in horizontal alignment with similar guide channels on like-configured barriers. A coupling is disposed on each opposed end of the barrier for coupling of either barrier end juxtaposed in end-to-end nested arrangement with like barriers. A supplemental energy-absorbing system is connectable between opposed ends of end-to-end coupled barriers, providing energy-absorbing tubes removably inserted through each guide channel of each barrier. Cables are extendable through the tubes in the guide channels of the nested barriers, providing additional energy-absorption and deterrence from breaching of the barriers.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Safety Barriers, Inc.Inventors: C. Reed Davis, Richard G. McColl
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Patent number: 6848857Abstract: A protection barrier system for energy-absorption of impacts includes an elongated barrier defining a chamber therein. The barrier includes side walls having a plurality of connected non-vertical wall segments and a plurality of buttresses positioned vertically at spaced apart locations along each side wall. One or more guide channels are positioned on each side wall in horizontal alignment with similar guide channels on like-configured barriers. A coupling is disposed on each opposed end of the barrier for coupling of either barrier end juxtaposed in end-to-end nested arrangement with like barriers. A supplemental energy-absorbing system is connectable between opposed ends of end-to-end coupled barriers, providing energy-absorbing tubes removably inserted through each guide channel of each barrier. Cables are extendable through the tubes in the guide channels of the nested barriers, providing additional energy-absorption and deterrence from breaching of the barriers.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Safety Barriers, Inc.Inventors: Richard G. McColl, C Reed Davis
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Publication number: 20040146347Abstract: A protection barrier system for energy-absorption of impacts includes an elongated barrier defining a chamber therein. The barrier includes side walls having a plurality of connected non-vertical wall segments and a plurality of buttresses positioned vertically at spaced apart locations along each side wall. One or more guide channels are positioned on each side wall in horizontal alignment with similar guide channels on like-configured barriers. A coupling is disposed on each opposed end of the barrier for coupling of either barrier end juxtaposed in end-to-end nested arrangement with like barriers. A supplemental energy-absorbing system is connectable between opposed ends of end-to-end coupled barriers, providing energy-absorbing tubes removably inserted through each guide channel of each barrier. Cables are extendable through the tubes in the guide channels of the nested barriers, providing additional energy-absorption and deterrence from breaching of the barriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: Safety Barriers, Inc.Inventors: C. Reed Davis, Richard G. McColl
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Patent number: 6669402Abstract: A protection barrier system for energy-absorption of impacts includes an elongated barrier defining a chamber therein. The barrier includes side walls having a plurality of connected non-vertical wall segments and a plurality of buttresses positioned vertically at spaced apart locations along each side wall. One or more guide channels are positioned on each side wall in horizontal alignment with similar guide channels on like-configured barriers. A coupling is disposed on each opposed end of the barrier for coupling of either barrier end juxtaposed in end-to-end nested arrangement with like barriers. A supplemental energy-absorbing system is connectable between opposed ends of end-to-end coupled barriers, providing energy-absorbing tubes removably inserted through each guide channel of each barrier. Cables are extendable through the tubes in the guide channels of the nested barriers, providing additional energy-absorption and deterrence from breaching of the barriers.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2003Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Safety Barriers, Inc.Inventors: C. Reed Davis, Richard G. McColl
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Patent number: 5674124Abstract: This is an air register having a grille member pivotally attached to the register housing. A spring is disposed between the grille member and the register housing which biases the grille member in an upward, diagonal extended position from the central passageway formed inside the register housing. During use, the grille member is automatically disposed in an upward, diagonal extended position which deflects the exiting air at an angle into the room. When a downward force is applied to the top surface of the grille member, say by a person's foot, the grille member is able to pivot downward around one edge into a retracted position inside the central passageway. The air register also includes a pair of overlapping plates controlled by a control knob which control the amount of air exiting from the air register.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1995Date of Patent: October 7, 1997Inventor: Reed A. Davis
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Patent number: D528254Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Northland Products, Inc.Inventors: William J. Michael, Reed A. Davis