Patents by Inventor William W. Hoerner

William W. Hoerner 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: 11085230
    Abstract: A door system includes a panel to translate along a normal path between an open position and a closed position in front of a doorway in a wall. The door system further includes a first track to support the panel from an upper portion of the panel, and a second track to extend along the normal path proximate a lower portion of the panel. The door system also includes a spring to urge the panel toward the second track to maintain the panel in the normal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dean Shanahan, Derek Lewan, Jon Schumacher, Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Rodney Kern, Steven Campbell, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • Publication number: 20200063486
    Abstract: An example door system includes a panel to translate along a normal path between an open position and a closed position in front of a doorway in a wall. The door system further includes a first track to support the panel from an upper portion of the panel, and a second track to extend along the normal path proximate a lower portion of the panel. The door system also includes a spring to urge the panel toward the second track by a first force to maintain the panel in the normal path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Dean Shanahan, Derek Lewan, Jon Schumacher, Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Rodney Kern, Steven Campbell, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • Patent number: 10494858
    Abstract: A door includes a panel assembly including a leading panel and a trailing panel. The leading panel is to be in substantially coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the panel assembly is in a normal configuration. The leading panel is to be angularly displaced out of coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the panel assembly is in a dislodged configuration. The door further includes a tension member to connect the leading panel to the trailing panel. The tension member is to resiliently urge the leading panel and the trailing panel toward each other in a horizontal direction. The tension member is to resiliently urge the panel assembly toward the normal configuration when the panel assembly is in the dislodged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Shanahan, Derek Lewan, Jon Schumacher, Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Rodney Kern, Steven Campbell, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • Patent number: 9771754
    Abstract: Example seals for insulated doors are disclosed. An example seal for a door includes a first mounting rail and a second mounting rail spaced apart from the first mounting rail. The example seal further includes a flexible sheet extending between the first mounting rail and the second mounting rail. The flexible sheet is to be biased away from the first and second mounting rails to sealingly engage the door when the door is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derek Lewan, Nicholas J. Casey, Rodney Kern, William W. Hoerner
  • Publication number: 20170218683
    Abstract: Insulated doors with restorable breakaway sections are disclosed. An example door includes a first panel assembly including a leading panel and a trailing panel. The leading panel is to be in substantially coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the first panel assembly is in a normal configuration. The leading panel is to be angularly displaced out of coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the first panel assembly is in a dislodged configuration. The example door further includes a tension member to connect the leading panel to the trailing panel. The tension member is to resiliently urge the leading panel and the trailing panel toward each other in a horizontal direction. The tension member is to resiliently urge the first panel assembly toward the normal configuration when the first panel assembly is in the dislodged configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Dean Shanahan, Derek Lewan, Jon Schumacher, Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Rodney Kern, Steven Campbell, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • Publication number: 20170130522
    Abstract: Example seals for insulated doors are disclosed. An example seal for a door includes a first mounting rail and a second mounting rail spaced apart from the first mounting rail. The example seal further includes a flexible sheet extending between the first mounting rail and the second mounting rail. The flexible sheet is to be biased away from the first and second mounting rails to sealingly engage the door when the door is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Derek Lewan, Nicholas J. Casey, Rodney Kern, William W. Hoerner
  • Patent number: 9493984
    Abstract: An example door includes a track and a curtain that includes a leading section. The curtain is to be in a breakaway state associated with a folded condition when the lateral section in an area proximate the leading section is dislodged from the track and folded over onto a main section to define an enfolded space. The curtain is to be in the breakaway state associated with an unfolded condition when the lateral section in the area proximate the leading section is dislodged from the track but not folded over onto the main section. The example door also includes an unfolder to extend into the enfolded space as the leading section moves toward an open position while the curtain is in the folded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Ryan P. Beggs, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • 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: 9222304
    Abstract: An example door includes first and second tracks. The example door includes a retainer borne by the first track and an alignment guide associated with the first track. The example door also includes a curtain extending laterally between the first and second tracks. The curtain has a leading edge selectively movable between a closed position and an open position. The example door includes a primary projection borne by the curtain that is in guiding engagement with the retainer within the first track. The primary projection is dislodged from the track when the curtain is in the breakaway state. The example door includes a secondary projection borne by the curtain and arranged to travel outside of the alignment guide when the leading edge is traveling between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Ryan P. Beggs, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • Publication number: 20140345812
    Abstract: Systems and methods to retain and refeed door curtains are disclosed. An example door is disclosed that includes a track and a curtain that includes a leading section. The curtain is to be in at least one of a breakaway state or a normal state, and in at least one of a folded condition or an unfolded condition while in the breakaway state such that: (a) in the normal state, a lateral section in an area proximate the leading section is in guiding engagement with the track; (b) in the breakaway state while in the folded condition, the lateral section in the area proximate the leading section is dislodged from the track and folded over onto the main section to define an enfolded space; and (c) in the breakaway state while in the unfolded condition, the lateral section in the area proximate the leading section is dislodged from the track but not folded over onto the main section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Ryan P. Beggs, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • Publication number: 20140305600
    Abstract: Systems and methods to retain and refeed door curtains are disclosed. An example door is disclosed that includes first and second tracks. The example door includes a retainer borne by the first track and an alignment guide associated with the first track. The example door also includes a curtain extending laterally between the first and second tracks. The curtain has a leading edge selectively movable between a closed position and an open position. The example door includes a primary projection borne by the curtain that is in guiding engagement with the retainer within the first track. The primary projection is dislodged from the track when the curtain is in the breakaway state. The example door includes a secondary projection borne by the curtain and arranged to travel outside of the alignment guide when the leading edge is traveling between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson, Ryan P. Beggs, Timothy A. Haessler, William W. Hoerner
  • Patent number: 8167020
    Abstract: An example of a horizontal side-moving door with a side-winding or horizontally translating curtain includes an upper seal comprising an upper edge of the curtain sliding within a groove of a seal guide. To protect the door in the event of an impact, at least a portion of the curtain's upper edge can restorably pull out from within the groove. To avoid damage in certain situations, the seal guide might resiliently deflect as well. After an impact, the curtain's upper edge is automatically fed back into the groove by simply opening and closing the door. During normal operation, the curtain's upper edge advantageously deflects in response to air pressure against either side of the door. In some examples, the seal guide is of a uniform cross-section, which makes the seal guide easy to manufacture by way of a conventional plastic extrusion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Shanahan, James C. Boerger, Ryan P. Beggs, Steven Campbell, William W. Hoerner
  • Publication number: 20100218429
    Abstract: An example of a horizontal side-moving door with a side-winding or horizontally translating curtain includes an upper seal comprising an upper edge of the curtain sliding within a groove of a seal guide. To protect the door in the event of an impact, at least a portion of the curtain's upper edge can restorably pull out from within the groove. To avoid damage in certain situations, the seal guide might resiliently deflect as well. After an impact, the curtain's upper edge is automatically fed back into the groove by simply opening and closing the door. During normal operation, the curtain's upper edge advantageously deflects in response to air pressure against either side of the door. In some examples, the seal guide is of a uniform cross-section, which makes the seal guide easy to manufacture by way of a conventional plastic extrusion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Dean Shanahan, James C. Boerger, Ryan P. Beggs, Steven Campbell, William W. Hoerner
  • Patent number: 5329781
    Abstract: A frost control system is described for inhibiting and removing frost from the door of a storage locker. Relatively cool air is received by an inlet to the frost control system at an inlet placed above the door. The air is drawn into the system by a blower which forces the air through the ducts of the system. The air passes through strip heaters within the vertical ducts of the defrost system positioned on either side of the door. The warm air is discharged horizontally across the bottom portion of the door and simultaneously rises creating a blanket of relatively warm air in comparison to the ambient area. Discharge apertures are included in the ends of the vertical ducts which blow a portion of the warmed air to the base of the door to enhance coverage of the door by the warmed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Corporation
    Inventors: Nancy L. Farrey, William W. Hoerner, David P. Leppert, Glenn A. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5203175
    Abstract: A frost control system is described for inhibiting and removing frost from the door of a storage locker. Relatively cool air is received by an inlet to the frost control system at an inlet placed above the door. The air is drawn into the system by a blower which forces the air through the ducts of the system. The air passes through strip heaters within the vertical ducts of the defrost system positioned on either side of the door. The warm air is discharged horizontally across the bottom portion of the door and simultaneously rises creating a blanket of relatively warm air in comparison to the ambient area. Discharge apertures are included in the ends of the vertical ducts which blow a portion of the warmed air to the base of the door to enhance coverage of the door by the warmed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Corporation
    Inventors: Nancy L. Farrey, William W. Hoerner, David P. Leppert, Glenn A. Nicol