Patents by Inventor Tracy Mason

Tracy Mason 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: 20260015164
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle having a packer system, a hopper, and a storage compartment. A wall between the storage compartment and the hopper defines an opening that allows refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment. The packer system includes an auger screw and a driver. The driver rotates the auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment through the opening. A door can be positioned to cover the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing back through the opening. A door actuator system moves the door to selectively open and close the door on the opening. A packing actuator can push an ejector panel across the floor of the storage compartment while the door is closed on the opening in the wall to further compact refuse in the storage compartment or to eject refuse from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2025
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Inventors: Mark Fraas, Eric Evans, Michael Shane Peek, Tracy Mason, Tapankumar Pandya, Bryan White, Taher Taiyeb Basrai
  • Patent number: 12428223
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle having a packer system, a hopper, and a storage compartment. A wall between the storage compartment and the hopper defines an opening that allows refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment. The packer system includes an auger screw and a driver. The driver rotates the auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment through the opening. A door can be positioned to cover the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing back through the opening. A door actuator system moves the door to selectively open and close the door on the opening. A packing actuator can push an ejector panel across the floor of the storage compartment while the door is closed on the opening in the wall to further compact refuse in the storage compartment or to eject refuse from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Mark Fraas, Eric Evans, Michael Shane Peek, Tracy Mason, Tapankumar Pandya, Bryan White, Taher Taiyeb Basrai
  • Publication number: 20250136371
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle with a wheeled vehicle chassis and a refuse-collecting body coupled to the wheeled vehicle chassis. The refuse-collecting body includes a refuse storage, a track, and a refuse packer. The refuse storage has a width direction and a length direction. The track extends along the length direction of the refuse storage. The refuse packer has a ram, a fixed bracket, and a wear bar. The ram defines a refuse-contacting surface in the width direction of the refuse storage. The fixed bracket is secured to a lateral surface of the ram in the length direction of the refuse storage. The wear bar engages the track and mechanically couples to the fixed bracket by a releasable fastener. The wear bar is supported on the fixed bracket by at least three spaced apart connection components in the length direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Bryan Kelly Stewart, Mark Fraas, David C. Gentry, London David Clay Brown, Tracy Mason, Kelly Johnson, Donald Lynn Daniel
  • Publication number: 20250058969
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle has a Commercial and a Residential Mode whereby when in Commercial Mode, stops or fins, utilized in Residential Mode to assist in securing a residential container laterally at the front of the vehicle, are adjustable to prevent contact or interference with the cab protector or other portions of the vehicle when in Commercial Mode. The fins may be located and/or rotated, such as at least 30 degrees (from position to position) or above a horizontal or otherwise intermediate the residential and commercial configurations. The fins may preferably be located above a bottom of the crossbar when moving through the dumping cycle so as not to contact the cab protector in Commercial Mode. Preferably, the fins may also be housed on the residential refuse container rather than along the crossbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Eric Evans, Tracy Mason, Bryan Stewart
  • Patent number: 12168569
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle has a Commercial and a Residential Mode whereby when in Commercial Mode, stops or fins, utilized in Residential Mode to assist in securing a residential container laterally at the front of the vehicle, are adjustable to prevent contact or interference with the cab protector or other portions of the vehicle when in Commercial Mode. The fins may be located and/or rotated, such as at least 30 degrees (from position to position) or above a horizontal or otherwise intermediate the residential and commercial configurations. The fins may preferably be located above a bottom of the crossbar when moving through the dumping cycle so as not to contact the cab protector in Commercial Mode. Preferably, the fins may also be housed on the residential refuse container rather than along the crossbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Eric Evans, Tracy Mason, Bryan Stewart
  • Publication number: 20230406618
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle has a Commercial and a Residential Mode whereby when in Commercial Mode, stops or fins, utilized in Residential Mode to assist in securing a residential container laterally at the front of the vehicle, are adjustable to prevent contact or interference with the cab protector or other portions of the vehicle when in Commercial Mode. The fins may be located and/or rotated, such as at least 30 degrees (from position to position) or above a horizontal or otherwise intermediate the residential and commercial configurations. The fins may preferably be located above a bottom of the crossbar when moving through the dumping cycle so as not to contact the cab protector in Commercial Mode. Preferably, the fins may also be housed on the residential refuse container rather than along the crossbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Evans, Tracy Mason, Bryan Stewart
  • Patent number: 11787629
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle has a Commercial and a Residential Mode whereby when in Commercial Mode, stops or fins, utilized in Residential Mode to assist in securing a residential container laterally at the front of the vehicle, are adjustable to prevent contact or interference with the cab protector or other portions of the vehicle when in Commercial Mode. The fins may be located and/or rotated, such as at least 30 degrees (from position to position) or above a horizontal or otherwise intermediate the residential and commercial configurations. The fins may preferably be located above a bottom of the crossbar when moving through the dumping cycle so as not to contact the cab protector in Commercial Mode. Preferably, the fins may also be housed on the residential refuse container rather than along the crossbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Eric Evans, Tracy Mason, Bryan Stewart
  • Publication number: 20230008771
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle having a packer system, a hopper, and a storage compartment. A wall between the storage compartment and the hopper defines an opening that allows refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment. The packer system includes an auger screw and a driver. The driver rotates the auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment through the opening. A door can be positioned to cover the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing back through the opening. A door actuator system moves the door to selectively open and close the door on the opening. A packing actuator can push an ejector panel across the floor of the storage compartment while the door is closed on the opening in the wall to further compact refuse in the storage compartment or to eject refuse from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Fraas, Eric Evans, Michael Shane Peek, Tracy Mason, Tapankumar Pandya, Bryan White, Taher Taiyeb Basrai
  • Publication number: 20220089366
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle has a Commercial and a Residential Mode whereby when in Commercial Mode, stops or fins, utilized in Residential Mode to assist in securing a residential container laterally at the front of the vehicle, are adjustable to prevent contact or interference with the cab protector or other portions of the vehicle when in Commercial Mode. The fins may be located and/or rotated, such as at least 30 degrees (from position to position) or above a horizontal or otherwise intermediate the residential and commercial configurations. The fins may preferably be located above a bottom of the crossbar when moving through the dumping cycle so as not to contact the cab protector in Commercial Mode. Preferably, the fins may also be housed on the residential refuse container rather than along the crossbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Evans, Tracy Mason, Bryan Stewart