The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 2010
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2007
Applicant:
Richard R. Fontana, Cape Elizabeth, ME (US);
Inventor:
Richard R. Fontana, Cape Elizabeth, ME (US);
Assignee:
Kiva Systems, Inc., Woburn, MA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G 1/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An apparatus for transporting inventory items includes a housing, a drive module, a docking module, an elevating shaft, and a rotation module. The drive module is capable of propelling the apparatus in at least a first direction. The docking head is capable of coupling to or supporting an inventory holder. The rotation module is capable of inducing rotation in the housing relative to the elevating shaft. The elevating shaft connects to the docking head and is capable of raising the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft.