Patents by Inventor William J. Bickel, Jr.

William J. Bickel, Jr. 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: 11865602
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal system, tool and method is disclosed. The handle assembly includes an ergonomic grip having a top, a bottom and an exterior profile. The handle assembly includes a detachable tool connector for detachably connecting a paintless dent removal tool to the handle assembly. The detachable tool connector detachably connected to the exterior profile of the ergonomic grip. The handle assembly further includes an adjustable paddle detachably connected to the bottom of the ergonomic grip. The adjustable paddle having a blade, a shaft and a tip. The blade configured to support a user's forearm during use and the tip detachably connected to the bottom of the ergonomic grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J Bickel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11370010
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal tool for removing a dent from a vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the paintless dent removal tool includes a stabilizer assembly having a first leg, a second leg and a body therebetween. The body having an opening therethrough, the stabilizer assembly for stabilizing the paintless dent removal tool on a surface of a vehicle. The paintless dent removal tool including a pull bar having a first end and a second end. The first end of the pull bar positioned partially through the opening of the body of the stabilizer assembly and adjustably connected thereto. The paintless dent removal tool including a handle assembly having a first end, a middle portion and a second end. The middle portion of the handle assembly is adjustably connected to the second end of the pull bar. The paintless dent removal tool including a tip member detachably connected to the second end of the handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J Bickel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11344938
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal tool, method and system for automatically removing a dent from a vehicle. The paintless dent removal tool includes a stabilizer assembly, a sleeve, a threaded chamber and a threaded rod positioned within the threaded chamber of the sleeve. Wherein, upon a rotational force being applied to the top end of the threaded rod, the threaded rod is configured to rotate within the threaded chamber raising the sleeve upwards towards the top of the stabilizer assembly, such that when a glue tab is connected to the tab connector the paintless dent removal tool automatically pulls the glue tab upward to substantially pull out the dent in the surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J Bickel, Jr., Chris Lawson
  • Patent number: 11338342
    Abstract: A paintless dent repair glue tab tool, system and method. The paintless dent repair glue tab tool, includes a pull member detachably connected to a support member. The pull member having a top, a threaded neck, and a bottom. The support member having a thick rigid center having an opening extending at least partially therethrough and a thin semi-flexible outer edge extending around the thick rigid center. The opening having a threaded metal insert molded therein and configured to receive a portion of the threaded neck of the pull member. The diameter of the pull member and the diameter of the support member transfer lifting power to a center portion of the paintless dent repair glue tab tool so as to pull up the dent at a peak thereby more efficiently removing dents from the surface of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventors: Chris White, Reggie Ayers, William J Bickel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220105552
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal tool for knocking down and removing a dent from a vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the paintless dent removal tool includes a threaded bolt having a top end and a bottom end. The paintless dent removal tool further including an arm member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the arm member having a threaded borehole therethrough for detachably securing the threaded bolt in a position transverse to the position of the arm member. The paintless dent removal tool further including a foot member connected to the second end of the arm member. The foot member having a substantially flat lower surface configured to be placed on the outer surface of the vehicle for controlling vibration and improving accuracy when the top end of the bolt is struck by a striking tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J. Bickel, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210220889
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal tool, method and system for automatically removing a dent from a vehicle. The paintless dent removal tool includes a stabilizer assembly, a sleeve, a threaded chamber and a threaded rod positioned within the threaded chamber of the sleeve. Wherein, upon a rotational force being applied to the top end of the threaded rod, the threaded rod is configured to rotate within the threaded chamber raising the sleeve upwards towards the top of the stabilizer assembly, such that when a glue tab is connected to the tab connector the paintless dent removal tool automatically pulls the glue tab upward to substantially pull out the dent in the surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J. Bickel, JR., Chris Lawson
  • Publication number: 20210220890
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal system, tool and method is disclosed. The handle assembly includes an ergonomic grip having a top, a bottom and an exterior profile. The handle assembly includes a detachable tool connector for detachably connecting a paintless dent removal tool to the handle assembly. The detachable tool connector detachably connected to the exterior profile of the ergonomic grip. The handle assembly further includes an adjustable paddle detachably connected to the bottom of the ergonomic grip. The adjustable paddle having a blade, a shaft and a tip. The blade configured to support a user's forearm during use and the tip detachably connected to the bottom of the ergonomic grip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J Bickel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210060633
    Abstract: A paintless dent repair glue tab tool, system and method. The paintless dent repair glue tab tool, includes a pull member detachably connected to a support member. The pull member having a top, a threaded neck, and a bottom. The support member having a thick rigid center having an opening extending at least partially therethrough and a thin semi-flexible outer edge extending around the thick rigid center. The opening having a threaded metal insert molded therein and configured to receive a portion of the threaded neck of the pull member. The diameter of the pull member and the diameter of the support member transfer lifting power to a center portion of the paintless dent repair glue tab tool so as to pull up the dent at a peak thereby more efficiently removing dents from the surface of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Chris White, Reggie Ayers, William J Bickel, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200384519
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal tool for removing a dent from a vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the paintless dent removal tool includes a stabilizer assembly having a first leg, a second leg and a body therebetween. The body having an opening therethrough, the stabilizer assembly for stabilizing the paintless dent removal tool on a surface of a vehicle. The paintless dent removal tool including a pull bar having a first end and a second end. The first end of the pull bar positioned partially through the opening of the body of the stabilizer assembly and adjustably connected thereto. The paintless dent removal tool including a handle assembly having a first end, a middle portion and a second end. The middle portion of the handle assembly is adjustably connected to the second end of the pull bar. The paintless dent removal tool including a tip member detachably connected to the second end of the handle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J Bickel, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200246852
    Abstract: A paintless dent removal tool for knocking down and removing a dent from a vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the paintless dent removal tool includes a threaded bolt having a top end and a bottom end. The paintless dent removal tool further including an arm member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the arm member having a threaded borehole therethrough for detachably securing the threaded bolt in a position transverse to the position of the arm member. The paintless dent removal tool further including a foot member connected to the second end of the arm member. The foot member having a substantially flat lower surface configured to be placed on the outer surface of the vehicle for controlling vibration and improving accuracy when the top end of the bolt is struck by a striking tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Chris White, Jonathan Vandenfontyne, Reggie Ayers, William J. Bickel, JR.
  • Patent number: 8678178
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt is designed to turn a tight radius in one direction only. Particularly it is designed for use as a spiral conveyor belt, the belt can turn in the opposite direction, but with a much larger radius. At the outer edge of the belt, the link ends or knuckles are larger and heavier for increased strength in accepting tension at the outer edge of the belt. The outside knuckles or link ends are not only wider than at the inside, but they also are longer, with increased material beyond the rod opening for increased tension strength. By having wider link members at the inner edge, the belt can collapse more closely at the inner edge than would be possible if the turn were in the other direction, providing a tighter radius of turn. This is useful in spiral conveyors which ordinarily turn in only one direction through the entire path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventors: William J. Bickel, Jr., Jeffrey Earl Delair
  • Patent number: 7624858
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt, formed of successive rows of assembled injection molded modules connected by laterally-extending pins, has arched tops in each module row and increased depth in the laterally-extending spine of the belt. The belt structure enables the modular plastic belt to be retrofitted in a spiral system normally carrying a steel conveyor belt. In one embodiment the arched-top module rows, having a greater depth than normal, are accommodated on a small-diameter roller, by forming a generally cylindrical undercut at the bottom of each module row, reducing the distance of protrusion outwardly from the roller. The arched-top configuration lends itself not only to transfer of articles as the conveyor passes over the sprocket for a roller, but also the provision of increased beam depth at the center of the module, with lower profiles at the extremities of the link ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey Earl Delair, William J. Bickel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090159407
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt, formed of successive rows of assembled injection molded modules connected by laterally-extending pins, has arched tops in each module row and increased depth in the laterally-extending spine of the belt. The belt structure enables the modular plastic belt to be retrofitted in a spiral system normally carrying a steel conveyor belt. In one embodiment the arched-top module rows, having a greater depth than normal, are accommodated on a small-diameter roller, by forming a generally cylindrical undercut at the bottom of each module row, reducing the distance of protrusion outwardly from the roller. The arched-top configuration lends itself not only to transfer of articles as the conveyor passes over the sprocket for a roller, but also the provision of increased beam depth at the center of the module, with lower profiles at the extremities of the link ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey Earl Delair, William J. Bickel, JR.
  • Patent number: 6695128
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt has upright support members at ends of each row and, in some cases, at intermediate positions, to support a conveyor tier above such that the belt is self-supporting in a helical stack in a spiral conveyor system. Modular rows can be made up of one or more modules, and the modules can be in various different configurations. The support members or spacer frames are either integral or securely connected to heavier link ends in end members of the modules. Preferably there are teeth and notches in the support frames and the bottom of the end member of the tier above, to hold the tiers of the helical stack in registry, preventing sliding and misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: KVP Falcon Plastic Belting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Palmaer, John Kucharski, William J. Bickel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020129481
    Abstract: Plastic conveyor belts made up of modules interconnected by transverse rods and capable of straight or radius travel are adjusted as to minimum radius the belt can traverse by restricting collapsibility at the inner edge of the belt. This can be accomplished using shims in the slotted apertures of link ends, preventing full rod travel in those apertures, at each row or at alternating or selected rows of the belt; or shims otherwise placed in the belt to prevent full collapse; or by using different modules in certain rows, with less collapsibility; or by substituting different edge modules in belts of multiple modules per row. In this way, a basic radius conveyor belt can be defined, with a relatively tight minimum radius, and then can be modified so as to be custom-fitted to spiral conveyor or other belt systems having specific curve radii which are larger than the radius of the basic belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: KVP Falcon Plastic Belting
    Inventors: Eric K. Palmaer, John Kucharski, William J Bickel, Jr