4Front Engineered Solutions, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150211532 | FAN WITH FAN BLADE MOUNTING STRUCTURE - Fans having fan blade mounting structures are disclosed herein. A fan configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology includes a fan having a central hub coupled to a plurality of fan blades by a plurality of blade mounting structures. Each blade mounting structure can include first and lower support members that each extend toward an inboard end portion of an individual fan blade. Each of the upper and lower support members can include a first end portion coupled to the inboard end portion of the fan blade. Each of the upper and lower support members can also include a second end portion coupled to opposite sides of the central hub. | 07-30-2015 |
20140041156 | OVERHEAD DOOR DECELERATORS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Overhead door decelerator assemblies and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a door assembly includes a door, an elongated door track, and a brush proximate the door track. The door includes a guide member extending outwardly from a side edge portion of the door. The brush is positioned such that moving the door between open and closed positions causes the guide member to deflect a resilient portion (e.g., a plurality of bristles, a plurality of flaps, or a blade) of the brush at regions of the resilient portion consecutively positioned along the length of the brush. The brush can be positioned away from the door when the door is in the closed position and in contact with a portion of the door when the door is in the open position. | 02-13-2014 |
20140022071 | FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS - Systems and methods for controlling a system of fans in a facility from a central system controller are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the system of fans can be configured to shut down automatically during an emergency condition or event. For example, a fan system controller can be connected to the system of fans and provide a signal to each of the fans. While each of the fans receives the signal, power is connected to a motor on each of the fans. Upon detection of an emergency condition, the fan system controller disconnects the signal to the fans, thereby automatically simultaneously shutting down the entire system of fans. | 01-23-2014 |
20120247021 | DOOR LEVELING APPARATUSES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE - Door leveling apparatuses are disclosed herein. A door leveling apparatus configured in accordance with one embodiment includes a bracket mounted to a door, such as a vertically-opening sectional door. The apparatus further includes a cable assembly having a first end portion coupled to the bracket and a second end portion coupled to a door lifting system, such as a counterbalance assembly. The first end portion includes an adjuster that enables an operator to adjust the operational length of the cable assembly extending between the lifting system and the bracket, thereby enabling the operator to individually adjust the lengths of two such cable assemblies on opposite sides of the door to align the door with a corresponding opening. | 10-04-2012 |
20120211177 | INSULATED TRACKS FOR LOADING DOCK DOORS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE - Insulated tracks for use with loading dock doors are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an insulated door track configured in accordance with the present disclosure includes a first insulator, such as a plastic material, applied to a surface of the door track that extends adjacent to the loading dock door in the closed position. A second insulator, such as a radiant barrier comprised of a thin film of a reflective material, such as aluminum, can be applied to an opposing surface of the first insulator to prevent or at least reduce radiant energy losses through the track. A gap between the first insulator and the door jamb can be sealed with a third insulator, such as a suitable strip of foam. | 08-23-2012 |
20120128501 | FAN BLADE TIPS - Fans having blade tips with downwardly extending airfoil surfaces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a high volume low speed ceiling fan includes a plurality of blades, each having an anhedral or downward sloping tip portion. The blade tips can also include an aft swept portion that extends between the main airfoil portion of the fan blade and the anhedral tip portion. | 05-24-2012 |
20120102852 | SEGMENTED DOCK SEALS FOR TRUCK LOADING DOCKS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Segmented dock seals for truck loading docks are described herein. An elongate, compressible pad member for use with a loading dock seal is positioned to compliantly conform to an aft end of a trailer positioned proximate to an opening in a building. The pad member includes a body portion having a front side and a back side. The body portion is composed of a compressible foam material. The pad member further includes a plurality of individual fingers projecting away from the front side of the body portion. The individual fingers are integral with the body portion and are spaced apart from each other. | 05-03-2012 |
20110203059 | LOADING DOCK LIGHTING SYSTEMS HAVING WARNING FEATURES - Loading dock lighting systems having one or more colored lights for communicating information, such as loading dock equipment status information, to dock operators and/or other personnel working in or around a shipping trailer or other transport vehicle are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a lighting system for illuminating the interior of a transport vehicle during loading/unloading can include a lighting feature that visually communicates information to a person or persons working in the vehicle. The lighting feature can include, for example, one or more lights of various colors and/or flashing lights. | 08-25-2011 |
20110162916 | WHEEL CHOCKS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Wheel chocks for use with loading docks are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a manual wheel chock configured in accordance with the present disclosure includes a restraint arm pivotally coupled to a carriage that is rollably mounted to a longitudinal guide rail. The restraint arm is rotatable in a first direction to move a wheel stop in front of a wheel of a vehicle parked adjacent the guide rail. The restraint arm is also rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction to move the wheel stop away from the vehicle wheel. | 07-07-2011 |
20110088327 | OVERHEAD DOORS AND ASSOCIATED TRACK AND GUIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH SAME - Overhead door assemblies having both interlocking and releasable guide assemblies, and guide track assemblies for use with same are disclosed herein. An overhead door track configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first side portion spaced apart from a second side portion to define a channel or gap region therebetween. The first side portion has a first guide surface and a first retention surface. Similarly, the second side portion has a second guide surface and a second retention surface. In this embodiment, the first and second guide surfaces diverge outwardly from the gap region in a first direction, and the first and second retention surfaces diverge inwardly from the gap region in a second direction, opposite the first direction. An overhead door configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention can include a first guide member configured to extend through the gap region and movably engage the first and second retention surfaces, and a second guide member configured to be removably engaged with the first and second guide surfaces. | 04-21-2011 |
20110047725 | DOCK LEVELERS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Dock levelers, such as mechanical dock levelers, are described herein. In one embodiment, a mechanical dock leveler includes a ramp having a lip pivotally attached to a forward edge. A ramp lifting system is configured to assist upward rotation of the ramp as it is manually raised. In this embodiment, a lip lifting system is operably coupled to the ramp lifting system so that the ramp is initially “downward biased” prior to being raised, and then becomes at least partially supported in a raised position by the lip lifting mechanism, once the lip lifting mechanism is engaged. | 03-03-2011 |
20100264596 | DOCK LEVELER SEALS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Dock leveler seals and associated methods and systems are described herein. A dock leveler having a rear hinge seal configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a rear support frame and a movable deck. The rear support frame includes a plurality of first support members extending therefrom, and the aft edge portion of the deck includes a plurality of second support members pivotally coupled to the first support members along an axis. The seal of this embodiment includes a first edge portion extending outwardly from a medial portion in a first direction, and a second edge portion extending outwardly from the medial portion in a second direction. The medial portion urges the first edge portion against the support frame and the second edge portion against the aft edge portion of the deck as the deck pivots about the axis in operation. | 10-21-2010 |
20100146876 | SEGMENTED DOCK SEALS FOR TRUCK LOADING DOCKS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Segmented dock seals for truck loading docks are described herein. An elongate, compressible pad member for use with a loading dock seal is positioned to compliantly conform to an aft end of a trailer positioned proximate to an opening in a building. The pad member includes a body portion having a front side and a back side. The body portion is composed of a compressible foam material. The pad member further includes a plurality of individual fingers projecting away from the front side of the body portion. The individual fingers are integral with the body portion and are spaced apart from each other. | 06-17-2010 |
20090077906 | LOADING DOCK TRUCK SHELTERS - Trailer shelters having foam head and side members are described herein. An over road trailer shelter configured in accordance with one embodiment includes a flexible head curtain configured to extend horizontally along a top portion of an opening in a warehouse or other building. The flexible head curtain can include at least one fabric flap hingeably attached to an exterior surface of a base fabric layer. The fabric flap is configured to protect the head member from damage resulting from repeated trailer contact. A trailer enclosure configured in accordance with another embodiment includes a head member that extends horizontally between first and second side members. Each of the side members and the head member includes a compressible foam portion covered by a fabric portion. In addition, each of the side members supports a flexible side curtain that extends inwardly to seal against the sides of the trailer. | 03-26-2009 |
20090044917 | OVERHEAD DOORS AND ASSOCIATED TRACK, GUIDE, AND BRACKET ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH SAME - Overhead door guide assemblies, guide tracks, and guide track support brackets are disclosed herein. An overhead door track assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a vertical track segment mounted to a wall adjacent an opening therein, and a curved track segment operably coupled to the vertical track segment. The curved track segment includes a first guide surface spaced apart from a second guide surface to define a first gap region that movably receives the door guide members as the door moves away from the opening. The track assembly further includes a non-vertical track segment operably coupled to the curved track segment. The non-vertical track segment includes a third guide surface spaced apart from a fourth guide surface to define a second gap region that movably receives the door guide members from the curved track segment. In this embodiment, the second gap region is wider than the first gap region to reduce binding as the door moves onto the non-vertical track segment. | 02-19-2009 |
20090044454 | OVERHEAD DOORS AND ASSOCIATED TRACK AND GUIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH SAME - Overhead door assemblies having both interlocking and releasable guide assemblies, and multi-piece guide track assemblies for use with same are disclosed herein. An overhead door track configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a first side portion formed from a first piece of material and a second side portion formed from a second piece of material. The first side portion has a first guide surface and a first retention surface. The second side portion has a second guide surface and a second retention surface. In one aspect of this embodiment, the first side portion is joined to the second side portion to define an open channel or gap region therebetween. The first and second guide surfaces extend from the gap region toward a first direction, and the first and second retention surfaces diverge from the gap region toward a second direction, opposite to the first direction. The first and second retention surfaces can be configured to movably retain a door guide member. | 02-19-2009 |
20090044453 | OVERHEAD DOORS AND ASSOCIATED TRACK AND GUIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH SAME - Overhead door assemblies having both interlocking and releasable guide assemblies, and guide track assemblies for use with same are disclosed herein. An overhead door track configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first side portion spaced apart from a second side portion to define a channel or gap region therebetween. The first side portion has a first guide surface and a first retention surface. Similarly, the second side portion has a second guide surface and a second retention surface. In this embodiment, the first and second guide surfaces diverge outwardly from the gap region in a first direction, and the first and second retention surfaces diverge inwardly from the gap region in a second direction, opposite the first direction. An overhead door configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention can include a first guide member configured to extend through the gap region and movably engage the first and second retention surfaces, and a second guide member configured to be removably engaged with the first and second guide surfaces. | 02-19-2009 |