Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Confer

Thomas W. Confer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240083725
    Abstract: A material handling vehicle is provided, which includes a counterweight assembly. The counterweight assembly includes a counterweight, a positioning member, and a position adjuster. The position adjuster is configured to advance or retreat the positioning member to adjust a distance the positioning member emerges from the counterweight thereby adjusting a position of the counterweight relative to a frame of the material handling vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, David B. Howe
  • Patent number: 11858795
    Abstract: A pallet detection assembly for a material handling vehicle is provided. The pallet detection assembly includes a body defining a cavity and having a proximity sensor housed at least partially within the cavity. The pallet detection assembly further includes an actuation plate having a tab coupled thereto and extending in a direction toward the body, and an actuator having a cylinder coupled to the body and a plunger slidably received within the cylinder and coupled to the actuation plate. The actuator is configured to movably couple the actuation plate to the body so that the actuation plate is configured to non-pivotally displace relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Erik C. Tracy, Timothy A. Schoelier, Thomas W. Confer, Kevin T. Bordwell
  • Patent number: 11820635
    Abstract: A material handling vehicle is provided, which includes a frame having an aperture directed through the frame and configured to receive a battery pack, and a counterweight assembly. The counterweight assembly includes a counterweight having a first opening, and an opposite second opening, a first positioning rod having a first end, and an opposite second end. The first end is directed through the first opening. A first nut is threadingly engaged with the second end of the first positioning rod. The first nut is rotated in a first direction to advance the first end of the first positioning rod farther through the first opening to contact the frame, thereby adjusting the position of the counterweight relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, David B. Howe
  • Publication number: 20230124186
    Abstract: A pallet detection assembly for a material handling vehicle is provided. The pallet detection assembly includes a body defining a cavity and having a proximity sensor housed at least partially within the cavity. The pallet detection assembly further includes an actuation plate having a tab coupled thereto and extending in a direction toward the body, and an actuator having a cylinder coupled to the body and a plunger slidably received within the cylinder and coupled to the actuation plate. The actuator is configured to movably couple the actuation plate to the body so that the actuation plate is configured to non-pivotally displace relative to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Erik C. Tracy, Timothy A. Schoelier, Thomas W. Confer, Kevin T. Bordwell
  • Patent number: 11530121
    Abstract: A pallet detection assembly for a material handling vehicle is provided. The pallet detection assembly includes a body defining a cavity and having a proximity sensor housed at least partially within the cavity. The pallet detection assembly further includes an actuation plate having a tab coupled thereto and extending in a direction toward the body, and an actuator having a cylinder coupled to the body and a plunger slidably received within the cylinder and coupled to the actuation plate. The actuator is configured to movably couple the actuation plate to the body so that the actuation plate is configured to non-pivotally displace relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Erik C. Tracy, Timothy A. Schoelier, Thomas W. Confer, Kevin T. Bordwell
  • Patent number: 11233291
    Abstract: A modular battery system for a material handling vehicle is provided. The modular battery system includes a counterweight assembly, a battery assembly enclosing a power source and including a battery base, and a pair of channels removably coupled to the battery base and laterally separated from one another to define a counterweight slot therebetween. The battery assembly is configured to be slidably installed onto the counterweight assembly with the counterweight assembly received within the counterweight slot defined between the pair of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, David B. Howe
  • Patent number: 11205819
    Abstract: A battery panel assembly for a material handling vehicle having a battery is provided. The battery panel assembly includes an inner counterweight panel configured to couple to the battery assembly. The inner panel including a battery service cutout. The battery panel assembly further includes an outer panel configured to couple to the inner panel. The outer panel includes a cutout configured to align with the battery service cutout and an access door dimensioned to cover the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Confer
  • Patent number: 11065967
    Abstract: A modular battery system for use with a material handling vehicle, the modular battery system comprises a battery assembly and a counterweight assembly. The battery assembly can include a power source and a battery base, and the counterweight assembly can include a counterweight base configured to slidably receive the battery base and be removably secured thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Confer
  • Publication number: 20200321569
    Abstract: A modular battery system for a material handling vehicle is provided. The modular battery system includes a counterweight assembly, a battery assembly enclosing a power source and including a battery base, and a pair of channels removably coupled to the battery base and laterally separated from one another to define a counterweight slot therebetween. The battery assembly is configured to be slidably installed onto the counterweight assembly with the counterweight assembly received within the counterweight slot defined between the pair of channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, David B. Howe
  • Publication number: 20200321573
    Abstract: A battery panel assembly for a material handling vehicle having a battery is provided. The battery panel assembly includes an inner counterweight panel configured to couple to the battery assembly. The inner panel including a battery service cutout. The battery panel assembly further includes an outer panel configured to couple to the inner panel. The outer panel includes a cutout configured to align with the battery service cutout and an access door dimensioned to cover the cutout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas W. Confer
  • Publication number: 20200317484
    Abstract: A pallet detection assembly for a material handling vehicle is provided. The pallet detection assembly includes a body defining a cavity and having a proximity sensor housed at least partially within the cavity. The pallet detection assembly further includes an actuation plate having a tab coupled thereto and extending in a direction toward the body, and an actuator having a cylinder coupled to the body and a plunger slidably received within the cylinder and coupled to the actuation plate. The actuator is configured to movably couple the actuation plate to the body so that the actuation plate is configured to non-pivotally displace relative to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Erik C. Tracy, Timothy A. Schoelier, Thomas W. Confer, Kevin T. Bordwell
  • Publication number: 20200317485
    Abstract: A material handling vehicle is provided, which includes a frame having an aperture directed through the frame and configured to receive a battery pack, and a counterweight assembly. The counterweight assembly includes a counterweight having a first opening, and an opposite second opening, a first positioning rod having a first end, and an opposite second end. The first end is directed through the first opening. A first nut is threadingly engaged with the second end of the first positioning rod. The first nut is rotated in a first direction to advance the first end of the first positioning rod farther through the first opening to contact the frame, thereby adjusting the position of the counterweight relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, David B. Howe
  • Publication number: 20200047630
    Abstract: A modular battery system for use with a material handling vehicle, the modular battery system comprises a battery assembly and a counterweight assembly. The battery assembly can include a power source and a battery base, and the counterweight assembly can include a counterweight base configured to slidably receive the battery base and be removably secured thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas W. Confer
  • Patent number: 8905183
    Abstract: A contoured backrest for a material handling vehicle includes a support surface for supporting a vehicle operator, a rear surface facing away from the support surface, a top barrier ridge joining the support surface and the rear surface, a control module support extending upwardly from the rear surface and above the top barrier ridge, and a pocket formed in the control module support for receiving a control module. At least a portion of the pocket extends above the top barrier ridge to inhibit, restrict, and/or reduce inadvertent engagement with the control module as an operator enters, exits, and generally operates the material handling vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Warner, Gregory W. Smiley, Thomas W. Confer
  • Publication number: 20140262592
    Abstract: A contoured backrest for a material handling vehicle includes a support surface for supporting a vehicle operator, a rear surface facing away from the support surface, a top barrier ridge joining the support surface and the rear surface, a control module support extending upwardly from the rear surface and above the top barrier ridge, and a pocket formed in the control module support for receiving a control module. At least a portion of the pocket extends above the top barrier ridge to inhibit, restrict, and/or reduce inadvertent engagement with the control module as an operator enters, exits, and generally operates the material handling vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Brian M. Warner, Gregory W. Smiley, Thomas W. Confer
  • Patent number: D720515
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Warner, Gregory W. Smiley, Thomas W. Confer
  • Patent number: D825072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W Confer
  • Patent number: D970097
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, Erik C. Tracy, Keith F. Dolezel, Gregory W. Smiley
  • Patent number: D981454
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, Erik C. Tracy, Keith F. Dolezel, Gregory W. Smiley
  • Patent number: D1032990
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Confer, Erik C. Tracy, Keith F. Dolezel, Gregory W. Smiley