Patents by Inventor Ryan Pfaff

Ryan Pfaff 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: 11634936
    Abstract: Switch arrangements for powered doors are disclosed. A door includes a panel and a track to guide movement of the panel between an open position and a closed position. The track defines a track slot extending along an exterior length of the track. The door further includes a sensor target to be carried by the panel within the track. The door also includes a sensor selectively attachable to an exterior of the track via the track slot. The sensor to detect the sensor target when the panel is in a first position. The track defines an aperture to be positioned between the sensor target and the sensor when the panel is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl David Hardison, Daniel Vandermillen, Ryan Pfaff, Steven Campbell
  • Publication number: 20220356758
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to operate powered doors are disclosed. A door system includes a panel, and a track including a first track wall and a second track wall opposite the first track wall. The first and second track walls define a channel therebetween. A lateral edge of the panel is to move along the channel as the panel moves between a closed position and an open position. The door system further includes a first refeed block to be aligned with the first track wall. The first refeed block is to extend a first distance above the first track wall. The door system also includes a second refeed block to be aligned with the second track wall. The second refeed block is to extend a second distance above the second track wall. The first distance greater than the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Derek Lewan, Steven Hart Campbell, Michael Moore, Thomas Jansen, Thomas Leibfried, Ryan Pfaff, Perry Knutson
  • Publication number: 20220356742
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to adjust door operations in response to surface pressure loads are disclosed. An apparatus includes sensor feedback analyzer circuitry to detect a surface pressure load acting on a door based on feedback from a sensor. The door includes a panel to move along a track. The apparatus also includes operations controller circuitry to control operations of the door. The operations controller circuitry is to automatically adjust an operation of the door in response to detection of the surface pressure load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Beggs, Nicholas John Casey, James Pelegrin, III, Derek Lewan, Ryan Pfaff, Steven Hart Campbell
  • Publication number: 20210246704
    Abstract: Switch arrangements for powered doors are disclosed. A door includes a panel and a track to guide movement of the panel between an open position and a closed position. The track defines a track slot extending along an exterior length of the track. The door further includes a sensor target to be carried by the panel within the track. The door also includes a sensor selectively attachable to an exterior of the track via the track slot. The sensor to detect the sensor target when the panel is in a first position. The track defines an aperture to be positioned between the sensor target and the sensor when the panel is in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Carl David Hardison, Daniel Vandermillen, Ryan Pfaff, Steven Campbell
  • Patent number: 9556672
    Abstract: Example roll-up doors are disclosed. An example roll-up door includes a track system and a curtain. The curtain blocks a doorway when a leading edge is at a closed position and unblocks the doorway when the leading edge is at an open position. The roll-up door further includes a track roller to vertically travel along a track system. The track roller is to be rotatable relative to the track system. The roll-up door also includes a windbar to be coupled to the track roller. The windbar is closer to the lintel when the leading edge of the curtain is at the open position than when the leading edge is at the closed position. The windbar is to be vertically movable with the track roller and to be rotatable relative to the track roller and rotatable relative to the track system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan Pfaff, Steven Campbell
  • Patent number: 9388634
    Abstract: Powered safety curtains are disclosed herein. An example barrier includes a motorized drive unit, and a curtain. The curtain includes a leading edge. The leading edge of the curtain is selectively moveable to a closed position and to an open position. The example barrier also includes a guide plate carried by the curtain and extending into a track and a nonferrous guide member attached to the guide plate. The example barrier also includes a first safety device including a first wireless portion and a first electrical portion. The first wireless portion is attached to the nonferrous guide member. The first electrical portion is in a first activated state when the first wireless portion is in proximity with the first electrical portion. The first wireless portion is in a first deactivated state when the first wireless portion is remote relative to the first electrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl David Hardison, III, David Swift, Ryan Pfaff, Ryan P. Beggs
  • Publication number: 20160115731
    Abstract: Example roll-up doors are disclosed. An example roll-up door includes a track system and a curtain. The curtain blocks a doorway when a leading edge is at a closed position and unblocks the doorway when the leading edge is at an open position. The roll-up door further includes a track roller to vertically travel along a track system. The track roller is to be rotatable relative to the track system. The roll-up door also includes a windbar to be coupled to the track roller. The windbar is closer to the lintel when the leading edge of the curtain is at the open position than when the leading edge is at the closed position. The windbar is to be vertically movable with the track roller and to be rotatable relative to the track roller and rotatable relative to the track system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ryan Pfaff, Steven Campbell
  • Publication number: 20160108666
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for aligning roll-up door curtains are disclosed. An example door includes a roller that is rotatable about an axis. The door further includes a curtain having a wrapped section wrapped around the roller and an unwrapped section extending tangentially away from the wrapped section. The unwrapped section adjoins the wrapped section at a first point proximate a first end of the roller and at a second point proximate a second end of the roller. The axis is closer to the second point than to the first point when the curtain is at the intermediate position. In some examples, the door includes a guide member to guide the curtain on to the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Derek Lewan, Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Ryan Pfaff, Steven Campbell, Thomas Jansen, William W. Hoerner
  • Patent number: 9309717
    Abstract: Powered safety curtains are disclosed herein. An example safety barrier assembly to control access to equipment includes a track and a barrier including a receptacle. The barrier is to be moveable within the track between an open position and a closed position. The open position is to enable access to the equipment, the closed position to substantially prevent access to the equipment. The example safety barrier assembly also includes a sensor to identify when the safety barrier is in the closed position and a securing device comprising a portion to be received by the receptacle when the barrier is identified as being in the closed position. An interaction between the portion and the receptacle is to prevent the barrier from moving out of the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl David Hardison, III, David Swift, Ryan Pfaff, Ryan P. Beggs
  • Publication number: 20130112358
    Abstract: Powered safety curtains are disclosed herein. An example safety barrier assembly to control access to equipment includes a track and a barrier including a receptacle. The barrier is to be moveable within the track between an open position and a closed position. The open position is to enable access to the equipment, the closed position to substantially prevent access to the equipment. The example safety barrier assembly also includes a sensor to identify when the safety barrier is in the closed position and a securing device comprising a portion to be received by the receptacle when the barrier is identified as being in the closed position. An interaction between the portion and the receptacle is to prevent the barrier from moving out of the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Carl David Hardison, III, David Swift, Ryan Pfaff, Ryan P. Beggs
  • Publication number: 20130112354
    Abstract: Powered safety curtains are disclosed. An example barrier for an opening includes a motorized drive unit, and a curtain. The example barrier also includes a track disposed along the lateral edge of the curtain, a guide plate carried by the curtain and extending into the track and a nonferrous guide member attached to the guide plate. The example barrier also includes a first safety device comprising a first wireless portion attached to the nonferrous guide member and a first electrical portion mounted relative to the track. The first electrical portion is in the first activated state when the first wireless portion is in proximity with the first electrical portion as a result of the leading edge of the curtain being at the closed position. The first wireless portion is in the first deactivated state when the first wireless portion is remote relative to the first electrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Carl David Hardison, III, David Swift, Ryan Pfaff, Ryan P. Beggs