Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Blessing

Thomas J. Blessing 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).

  • Collision avoidance system for vehicles having elevated apparatus
    Patent number: 5906648
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system for a vehicle of the type having a powered lift mechanism with a lift control used to move the mechanism between a predetermined safe position and an elevated position includes a first sensor to determine whether the mechanism is in the safe or the elevated position, and a second sensor used to determine whether an operator is using the lift control to power the mechanism beyond the safe position. If the mechanism is in the elevated position and the operator is not using the lift control to power the mechanism beyond the safe position, control electronics are operative to automatically transfer the mechanism from the elevated position back to the safe position without operator intervention. Means may be provided for alerting an operator of the vehicle when the mechanism is in the elevated position, for example, in the form of an intermittent, periodic audible and/or visual indicator which continues until the mechanism is brought back to the safe position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: ERIM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Zoratti, Thomas J. Blessing