Patents by Inventor Dallas L. Vernon

Dallas L. Vernon 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: 5725273
    Abstract: A hardtop roof assembly for a passenger vehicle. The roof assembly includes a hard cover over the passenger cockpit. The cockpit cover is completely removable from the remainder of the roof assembly and vehicle and can be selectively secured over the opening above the passenger cockpit or to a rear storage rack for transport with the vehicle. Because it is completely removable, the cockpit cover can also be stored inside the vehicle or left at home if desired. The cockpit cover uses common securing members to selectively secure it over the opening above the passengers or to the rear storage rack. The cockpit cover and storage rack also have corresponding shapes that assume a neat, strong, and compact mating relationship when secured to each other. Additionally, the side edge portions of the cover and storage rack have vertically extending surfaces that abut and substantially mate with each other to add lateral stability and prevent any side-to-side movement of the cover when it is secured to the storage rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Dallas L. Vernon, Brian C. Coppom, John C. Dinsmoor, III, Barry Van Everen
  • Patent number: 5687895
    Abstract: An interlocking arrangement of storage boxes in the rear section of a passenger vehicle such as a sport utility vehicle. The arrangement preferably includes at least three storage boxes. Two of the boxes are respectively secured to the side walls of the vehicle. These side boxes are spaced from each other and the third box is slidably receivable between them. In the preferred embodiment, the third box has lips on its sides that respectively interlock with lips on the two side boxes to prevent the third box from being removed by lifting it upwardly between the two side boxes. Forward stops on the side boxes prevent the third box from being moved forwardly beyond the side boxes and the vehicle's tailgate in its closed position serves to prevent the third box from being moved rearwardly out of the vehicle. In this manner and with the tailgate in its locked, closed position, the three interlocking storage boxes are securely held in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Allison, Dallas L. Vernon