Lawrence Welk, the bandleader who entertained millions of Americans over a generation of broadcasting his TV show, once received a patent: for a music-themed design of an ashtray.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8166593 | Stabilizing system The stabilizing system has a ramp having a first end mounted within a vehicle and a second end positioned on a base surface external to the vehicle. The stabilizing system further includes a tension mechanism having a first end section, a second end section, and a t... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8141189 | Formed front header for a dock leveler A dock leveler includes a pivotally extendable lip coupled to a pivotal deck by way of a front hinge, wherein the structure in the area of the front hinge optimizes the torsional flexibility of the deck; provides a well supported, durable crown (apex angle between a... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8056174 | Repositionable pit seal A method of selectively closing off a loading dock opening defined by a loading dock pit recessed within a floor of a building and a doorway into the building, the method comprising: (a) repositioning a pit seal panel having a substantially incompressible height and... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8051519 | Collapsible small vehicle loader apparatus The collapsible small vehicle loader apparatus provides for use with an existing receiver hitch, such as those often used on pickups, cars, vans, and other vehicles. Ideally made of aluminum, the apparatus provides for easy, lightweight transport to and engagement w... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8006338 | Repositionable pit seal A repositionable loading dock pit seal panel comprising: (a) a repositionable pit seal panel including a substantially incompressible height and width sized to substantially span an entire vertical dimension and substantially span an entire widthwise dimension of a ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8006337 | Crew transfer system A crew transfer system for transferring personnel from a vessel to a stationary platform, such as an oil rig, is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a ramp that is coupled to the vessel in such a way as to permit one translational and thre... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7984525 | Access method between marine structures and apparatus Access means are provided for accessing a fixed offshore structure (70) such as a wind turbine, larger vessel or the like form a smaller vessel (50), or for providing for transfer between vessels. One or more guide wires (12) are connected from ... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7966685 | Pocket ramp A pocket ramp for loading objects or cargo onto the floor of a vehicle and which is mounted between the longitudinally extending frame members of the vehicle. The pocket ramp assembly includes a main frame, a primary slide, a secondary slide, a lower ramp section, a... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7934283 | Gangway latch A crew transfer system for transferring personnel from a vessel to a stationary platform, such as an oil rig, is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a ramp that is coupled to the vessel and an interface that is attached to the stationary p... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7877831 | Weather shield for underneath a dock leveler Weather shields for underneath a dock leveler are described herein. An example weather shield described herein includes an environmental barrier disposed underneath a deck where the environmental barrier includes a first section and a second section. A tensioner is ... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7870630 | Articulating close out assembly for a fold out ramp A closeout assembly is suitable for use with a ramp assembly disposed within a vehicle having a floor. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion rotatably coupled at a first end for reciprocating movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. A panel as... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7721369 | Transition board apparatus for a passenger bridge and a spring leaf thereof The invention provides a transition board apparatus for a passenger bridge and a spring leaf thereof. A transition board apparatus includes a transition board and a spring leaf, wherein the transition board comprises a hinged end, a free end and the transition porti... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7584517 | Weather shield for underneath a dock leveler A shield system for shielding the area underneath a dock leveler allows a gap to be created either above or below the shield when the deck rises, whereby a shield of a given height dimension can used on dock levelers of various lift heights. In some embodiments, the... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7546655 | Formed front header for a dock leveler A dock leveler includes a pivotally extendable lip coupled to a pivotal deck by way of a front hinge, wherein the structure in the area of the front hinge optimizes the torsional flexibility of the deck; provides a well supported, durable crown (apex angle between a... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7422263 | Ladder assembly for a tailgate of a truck A ladder assembly is disclosed that mounts to a truck tailgate. In one embodiment, the ladder assembly includes a base which is coupled to the tailgate. A pair of legs are slidably and pivotably mounted to the based and each pair of legs includes three segments that... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7409739 | Dock leveler support frame and method of installation A dock leveler support frame includes an upper frame member and a substantially vertical frame member connected thereto. The substantially vertical frame member includes both a structural member and a height-adjusting leg assembly. The leg assembly is adjustable via... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7383600 | Convertible dock ramp A convertible dock ramp has an upper end pivotally mounted to a mounting structure, and a lower end resting on a second structure. The dock ramp includes a pair of spaced-apart side frames each including upper and lower rails; and a plurality of steps each including... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7363670 | Formed front header for a dock leveler A dock leveler includes a pivotally extendable lip coupled to a pivotal deck by way of a front hinge, wherein the structure in the area of the front hinge optimizes the torsional flexibility of the deck; provides a well supported, durable crown (apex angle between a... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7360268 | Seal for aircraft boarding stairs or boarding bridge The Object of the invention as a seal for aircraft boarding stairs or for an aircraft boarding bridge, said seal comprising a U-shaped bellows (5) spanning a gangway bottom plate (10), said bellows (5) comprising a flexible frame (3) at i... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7357710 | Ventilation barrier A multi-layer barrier for insulation blocking an opening or passage of a building and for providing ventilation to or within a building. A plurality of inflated hollow membrane cube-like structures are formed adjacent to one another, which traverse a longitudinal wi... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7353558 | Vertically-storing dock leveler apparatus and method A dock leveler for bridging the gap between a loading dock and the bed of a vehicle parked at the loading dock. The dock leveler is configured for installation on the top of the dock and is designed to rotate from a vertically-stored raised position to at least one ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7334281 | Weather shield for underneath a dock leveler A shield system for shielding the area underneath a dock leveler allows a gap to be created either above or below the shield when the deck rises, whereby a shield of a given height dimension can used on dock levelers of various lift heights. In some embodiments, the... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7329080 | Sports equipment transporting apparatus A sports equipment transporting apparatus is described. The apparatus is designed to be put into a vehicle with a mid- to long-size body length and is housed within a ramp housing. The ramp housing is two-tiered and includes a slide-out ramp located within the upper... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7318519 | Tote for conveyor A tote (1) used for conveying articles is transparent to x-rays in a conveyor system. At least a lower part (4) of the tote may be manufactured by injection molding rather than rotational molding. A wear-resistant material may also be employed for the ... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7310843 | Loading ramp for standardized intermodal freight containers A ramp for use in bridging from a floor of an ISO standardized intermodal freight container to a placement pad on which the container is placed. An upper lip of the ramp is configured to engage with lower locking lugs of the container, which, although they are not c... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7305730 | Freight loading bumper This is a bumper system which protects the area of the dock on a warehouse from unnecessary damage by trailers, forklifts and the like. The devices will be secured to the front of a loading dock and will have a rubber bumper to absorb the shock. The device is hinged... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7302725 | Rail assembly for a telescoping ramp A rail assembly for a telescoping ramp including a slider rail that is taller than it is wide, having opposed ends, opposed faces, and opposed edges. First ramp attachment means protrude outwardly from a first of the opposed faces. There is a hollow channel rail wit... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7278242 | Pre-cast dock leveler pit A dock pit for a dock leveler mechanism comprises a pre-cast concrete body including integrally formed side, rear panel and front panels, all forming a continuous perimeter open therethrough to receive the load leveler mechanism. Each side panel has a top edge and t... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7269871 | Seal for aircraft boarding bridge including an extension mechanism The seal for aircraft boarding bridge, comprises a bellows (5) that spans a gangway bottom plate (10), which comprises a flexible frame (3) at its one open end and having at its other end a gantry frame for fastening to the aircraft to the board... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7265669 | Networks with sensors for air safety and security Airborne particles are impacted on a collection surface, analyzed, and then the collection surface is regenerated. Thus, the same collection surface can be used in numerous cycles. The analysis can be focused on one or more properties of interest, such as the concen... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7254922 | Selectively releasable and pivotable side curtain assembly A selectively releasable side curtain is provided with at lease one zipper member having a first portion secured to the side pad and a second portion secured to the side curtain for selectively, releasably securing the side curtain relative to the side pad. In a sec... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7241078 | Modular pier system A modular pier includes a plurality of modular pier sections. The plurality of modular pier sections includes at least a first pier section and a second pier section wherein the pier sections include a frame having a first end and a second end opposite the first end... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7228582 | Extendable ramp for boats and vehicles An extendable ramp apparatus is provided for automatically extending a ramp. The apparatus comprises a generally rectangular frame with a track for movement of a carriage pivotally connected to a ramp along the track. The ramp pivots downwardly as it is extends from... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7225492 | Ramp A collapsible ramp (100) comprising a collapsible deck (102) and a collapsible support structure (104). The deck (102) is composed of plural transverse panels (106, 110, 112, 114, 116) selectively joinable by tongue and groove conn... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7225493 | Support leg system and method for supporting a dock leveler A method and apparatus for supporting a dock leveler in a manner to reduce the effects of free fall and stump-out. The apparatus includes the use of a retractable support leg. The method includes maintaining the support leg in a support position and retracting the s... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7216391 | Constant radius dock leveler hinge A dock leveling system adapted to be disposed in a pit is disclosed. A hinge member with a hinge pin receiving area and a hinge pin disposed in the hinge member defines a center of rotation. A deck that is rotatable about the hinge pin includes a curved portion with... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7216392 | Support leg system and method for supporting a dock leveler A dock leveler including a support leg system configured to remain in a support position when the dock leveler descends rapidly and retract when the dock leveler descends slowly. Also, a dock leveler including a multi-tiered lip keeper support system for supporting ... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7213285 | Pivotal and vertically translatable dock leveler lip A dock leveler includes a lip that not only pivots between an extended operative position and a pendant position relative to a deck but also translates in its pendant position between blocking and non-blocking positions. A fastener connects the lip to a hinge in suc... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7213286 | Vertically-storing dock leveler apparatus and method A dock leveler for bridging the gap between a loading dock and the bed of a vehicle parked at the loading docket. The dock leveler is configured for installation on the top of the dock and is designed to rotate from a vertically-stored position to at least one lower... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7213798 | Method and apparatus for retrieving submerged vehicles A submerged vehicle extraction method employing a specifically designed apparatus known as the submerged vehicle extractor. The primary purpose of the submerged vehicle extractor is to facilitate the transferring of a vehicle that has broken through the frozen surfa... | 05/08/2007 |