Patents by Inventor Cliff McWilliams

Cliff McWilliams 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: 6612643
    Abstract: A rail for a trailer comprising an insert and rail body with a plurality of sides and an elongated slot, the slot being contained in one of the sides of the rail body and comprising a first and second surface, a side connecting the first and second surfaces and a lip attached to the second surface and opposing the side. The insert includes an elongated body sized to substantially fill and be contained within the slot, the rail body being made of a first material and the insert being made of a second material, the second material having a higher yield strength and higher tensile strength than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Vantage Dump Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams
  • Patent number: 6592170
    Abstract: A bottom rail for a vehicle trailer. The bottom rail includes a floor leg extending parallel to and abutting a floor of the trailer. A cross member cover extends perpendicular from the floor leg. An upstanding member extends perpendicular to the floor leg. The upstanding member terminates in a notch spaced away from the floor leg for receiving a sidewall therein, wherein the upstanding member is thicker than the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Vantage Dump Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams
  • Publication number: 20030107238
    Abstract: A bottom rail for a vehicle trailer. The bottom rail includes a floor leg extending parallel to and abutting a floor of the trailer. A cross member cover extends perpendicular from the floor leg. An upstanding member extends perpendicular to the floor leg. The upstanding member terminates in a notch spaced away from the floor leg for receiving a sidewall therein, wherein the upstanding member is thicker than the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams
  • Patent number: 6539631
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a sidewall for a trailer in the shape of a trapezoid having a right edge and a left edge of differing lengths and the top edge perpendicular to the right and left edges. A first rectangular sheet has lengths of a top and a bottom edge equal to a desired length of the sidewall. The second rectangular sheet is fabricated with top and bottom edges having a sufficient length so that right and left edges of the second sheet extend beyond the right and left edges of the first sheet. The second rectangular sheet is placed either on top of or underneath the first sheet so that the second sheet slopes downward either from the right to the left or from the left to the right at an angle with respect to the first sheet. The second rectangular sheet is welded to the first rectangular sheet along the entire length where the first rectangular sheet and the second rectangular sheet overlap thereby forming a seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Vantage Dump Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams
  • Publication number: 20020053814
    Abstract: A trailer for a vehicle having a front, two opposing sidewalls, a rear for unloading of materials, and a floor extending from the front to the rear. The opposing sidewalls are each constructed of two or more sheets of metal welded together along one or more horizontal seams that run longitudinally from the front to the rear of the trailer. The horizontal seams are covered by horizontal rails on the interior surfaces of the sidewalls. Additional horizontal rails on the interior surfaces may be included to provide added support for the sidewalls. The floor slopes downward from the front to the rear of the trailer and is wider at the rear than the front in order to promote the unloading of the trailer cargo. One sheet can be thicker than the other sheet for better wear and use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Vantage Dump Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams
  • Patent number: 6375250
    Abstract: A trailer for a vehicle having a front, two opposing sidewalls, a rear for unloading of materials, and a floor extending from the front to the rear. The opposing sidewalls are each constructed of two or more sheets of metal welded together along one or more horizontal seams that run longitudinally from the front to the rear of the trailer. The horizontal seams are covered by horizontal rails on the interior surfaces of the sidewalls. Additional horizontal rails on the interior surfaces may be included to provide added support for the sidewalls. The floor slopes downward from the front to the rear of the trailer and is wider at the rear than the front in order to promote the unloading of the trailer cargo. One sheet can be thicker than the other sheet for better wear and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Vantage Dump Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams
  • Patent number: 5460431
    Abstract: A trailer for a dumping vehicle having a front and a rear for unloading of materials. The trailer includes a tapered bottom floor extending between the front and the rear, the bottom floor at the rear being wider than at the front. A pair of opposed sidewalls extend from the bottom floor, each sidewall at an obtuse angle to the bottom floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: ABCM Industries Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Cliff McWilliams