Patents by Inventor William F. Menze

William F. Menze 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: 8375607
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a snow plow blade mounted on a vehicle that uses the turn signal/high beam control stalk mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle to control a actuation of the snow plow blade mounted on the vehicle. The control system operates in two alternately selectable modes, one of which allows the turn signal/high beam control stalk to be used to operate the turn signals and high beams of the vehicle, and the other of which allows the turn signal/high beam control stalk to be used to raise, lower, and pivot the snow plow blade. The control system may be switched between the two modes by initiating one of two respective sequences of actuation of one or more electrical switches in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Menze
  • Patent number: 8162521
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting energy interruption system for use with snow plows and like front-mounted vehicle accessories is disclosed which facilitates the interconnection of such systems to the lighting system of a vehicle upon which the vehicle accessory is mounted to provide power to and to control the auxiliary lights with the lighting system of the vehicle. The system provides first and second harness portions for respective installation on the vehicle and the vehicle accessory, with the first harness portion having a first configuration when it is not connected to the second harness portion and a second configuration when it is connected to the second harness portion. The first configuration allow the headlights on the vehicle to operate, while the second configuration allows only the headlights on the vehicle accessory to operate, with changes between the first and second configurations being accomplished without the need for a switch or a relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Menze, Michael L. Schultz, Timothy G. Koch
  • Patent number: 8068961
    Abstract: A headlight control system for use on a snow plow mounted on the front of a vehicle and a related method are disclosed that automatically, selectively illuminate the headlights of the vehicle in addition to the headlights of the snow plow only when the snow plow blade is in a down position such that it is not physically obstructing the headlights of the vehicle. The headlight control system and method only operate to turn on the vehicle headlights when the snow plow lights are turned on. The headlight control system and method are capable of operating both the low beam headlights and the high beam headlights of the vehicle in conjunction with the low beam headlights and the high beam headlights of the snow plow when the snow plow blade is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Menze
  • Patent number: 7959463
    Abstract: A pair of mating electrical connectors are disclosed that include at least one heat generating element to prevent the electrical connectors from becoming covered with ice or snow in cold climates and to also make the electrical connectors easier to separate or plug together in cold environments. When the mating electrical connectors are connected and energized, electricity will flow through the at least one electrical heat generating element generating heat within the electrical connectors. The amount of heat that is generated within the electrical connectors is sufficient to prevent snow and ice from forming on the exterior of the mating electrical connectors, even in very cold ambient weather conditions, and to ease the disconnection of the mated electrical connectors in such cold ambient weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Menze, Michael L. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20110103087
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting energy interruption system for use with snow plows and like front-mounted vehicle accessories is disclosed which facilitates the interconnection of such systems to the lighting system of a vehicle upon which the vehicle accessory is mounted to provide power to and to control the auxiliary lights with the lighting system of the vehicle. The system provides first and second harness portions for respective installation on the vehicle and the vehicle accessory, with the first harness portion having a first configuration when it is not connected to the second harness portion and a second configuration when it is connected to the second harness portion. The first configuration allow the headlights on the vehicle to operate, while the second configuration allows only the headlights on the vehicle accessory to operate, with changes between the first and second configurations being accomplished without the need for a switch or a relay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: William F. Menze, Michael L. Schultz, Timothy G. Koch
  • Patent number: 7762698
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting energy interruption system for use with snow plows and like front-mounted vehicle accessories is disclosed which facilitates the interconnection of such systems to the lighting system of a vehicle upon which the vehicle accessory is mounted to provide power to and to control the auxiliary lights with the lighting system of the vehicle. The system provides first and second harness portions for respective installation on the vehicle and the vehicle accessory, with the first harness portion having a first configuration when it is not connected to the second harness portion and a second configuration when it is connected to the second harness portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Menze
  • Publication number: 20100175282
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a snow plow blade mounted on a vehicle is disclosed that uses the turn signal/high beam control stalk mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle to control a actuation of the snow plow blade mounted on the vehicle. The control system operates in two alternately selectable modes, one of which allows the turn signal/high beam control stalk to be used to operate the turn signals and high beams of the vehicle, and the other of which allows the turn signal/high beam control stalk to be used to raise, lower, and pivot the snow plow blade. The control system may be switched between the two modes by initiating one of two respective sequences of actuation of one or more electrical switches in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: William F. Menze
  • Publication number: 20090312904
    Abstract: A headlight control system for use on a snow plow mounted on the front of a vehicle and a related method are disclosed that automatically, selectively illuminate the headlights of the vehicle in addition to the headlights of the snow plow only when the snow plow blade is in a down position such that it is not physically obstructing the headlights of the vehicle. The headlight control system and method only operate to turn on the vehicle headlights when the snow plow lights are turned on. The headlight control system and method are capable of operating both the low beam headlights and the high beam headlights of the vehicle in conjunction with the low beam headlights and the high beam headlights of the snow plow when the snow plow blade is lowered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: William F. Menze
  • Publication number: 20090040780
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting energy interruption system for use with snow plows and like front-mounted vehicle accessories is disclosed which facilitates the interconnection of such systems to the lighting system of a vehicle upon which the vehicle accessory is mounted to provide power to and to control the auxiliary lights with the lighting system of the vehicle. The system provides first and second harness portions for respective installation on the vehicle and the vehicle accessory, with the first harness portion having a first configuration when it is not connected to the second harness portion and a second configuration when it is connected to the second harness portion. The first configuration allow the headlights on the vehicle to operate, while the second configuration allows only the headlights on the vehicle accessory to operate, with changes between the first and second configurations being accomplished without the need for a switch or a relay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: William F. Menze
  • Patent number: 7438458
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting energy interruption system for use with snow plows and like front-mounted vehicle accessories is disclosed which facilitates the interconnection of such auxiliary lighting energy interruption systems to the lighting system of a vehicle upon which the vehicle accessory is mounted to provide power to and to control the auxiliary lights with the lighting system of the vehicle. The independent lighting energy interruption system provides first and second harness portions for respective installation on the vehicle and the vehicle accessory, with the first harness portion having a first configuration when it is not connected to the second harness portion and a second configuration when it is connected to the second harness portion. The first configuration allow the headlights on the vehicle to operate, while the second configuration allows only the headlights on the vehicle accessory to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Menze, Michael L. Schultz, Timothy G. Koch
  • Patent number: 7410281
    Abstract: A reconfigurable auxiliary lighting energy interruption system for use with snow plows and like front-mounted vehicle accessories is disclosed which facilitates the interconnection of such systems to the lighting system of a vehicle upon which the vehicle accessory is mounted to provide power to and to control the auxiliary lights with the lighting system of the vehicle. The system provides first and second harness portions for respective installation on the vehicle and the vehicle accessory, with the first harness portion having a first configuration when it is not connected to the second harness portion and a second configuration when it is connected to the second harness portion. The first configuration allow the headlights on the vehicle to operate, while the second configuration allows only the headlights on the vehicle accessory to operate, with changes between the first and second configurations being accomplished without the need for a switch or a relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Menze, Michael L. Schultz, Timothy G. Koch
  • Patent number: 7137724
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting systems for use with snow plows and like front-mounted vehicle accessories is disclosed which facilitates the interconnection of such auxiliary lighting systems to the lighting system of a vehicle upon which the vehicle accessory is mounted to provide power to and to control the auxiliary lights with the lighting system of the vehicle. The independent lighting system provides first and second harness portions for respective installation on the vehicle and the vehicle accessory, with the first harness portion having a first configuration when it is not connected to the second harness portion and a second configuration when it is connected to the second harness portion. The first configuration allow the headlights on the vehicle top operate, while the second configuration allows only the headlights on the vehicle accessory to operate, with changes between the first and second configurations being accomplished without the need for a switch or a relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Menze, Timothy G. Koch