Patents Examined by Stephen T. Gordon
  • Patent number: 10836295
    Abstract: A rotatable tailgate assembly is provided for installation on a dump bed. The tailgate assembly has support members attachable to the side of the dump bed. Each support member has at least one bearing adjacent at a free end extending rearwardly of the dump bed's rear opening. A tailgate has a cylindrical tailgate shaft with a first end rotatably received within the bearing of a first support member and a second end rotatably received within a bearing of a second support member. The tailgate has a closure portion extending radially away from the tailgate shaft. The closure portion engages the rear edges of the dump bed floor and sides to close off the dump bed opening when the tailgate assembly is in a closed rotational position. The tailgate assembly also comprises a rotation actuator operatively connected to the tailgate shaft for selective rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: The North American Coal Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Liffrig, Ernie B. Mills, David Vaughn
  • Patent number: 10829025
    Abstract: A dump body apparatus including a dump body having an exterior wall defining a compartment for carrying a load. The exterior wall includes a front wall and first and second sidewalls. A first corner wall extends between the front wall and the first sidewall. The first corner wall is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to one or both of the front wall and the first sidewall. An opening is defined in the first corner wall and is in communication with the compartment. A door selectively closes off access to the compartment and a step may be provided below the door. An angled second corner wall may be provided between the front wall and the second sidewall. The angles of the first and second corner walls provide relatively unobstructed lines of sight for a driver seated in a cab of a vehicle that includes the dump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Mac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Conny
  • Patent number: 10829030
    Abstract: A tie-down assembly includes a hollow elongated member, a cable, and a cover. The cable is threaded through the hollow elongated member and threaded through an eyelet in the cover. From the eyelet, the cable is threaded back through the hollow elongated member to form a loop. Once threaded, the ends of the cable are joined with a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventor: Chad Nolan McDermott
  • Patent number: 10829026
    Abstract: A structurally supportive belly pad is connected to a rounded trailer and configured to support the same near the rear end of the trailer. The belly pad may be arcuately curved complementary to the curvature of the rounded trailer. However, if the belly pad were laid flat, it includes a pair of parallel legs aligned in a generally longitudinal direction with a plurality of transverse ribs extending therebetween. The shape of the belly pad is configured to provide structural support for the trailer which is beneficial especially when the trailer is raised and lowered, typically through hydraulic mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Mac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Kibler
  • Patent number: 10814771
    Abstract: A carabiner includes a (a) a hook, (b) a gate including a cantilever spring and (c) a first pivot connecting the gate to the hook. A second pivot also connects the distal or free end of the cantilever spring to the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Diego Fabricio Villacres Mesias, Eric Bryan Arellano Aguilar, Jose Nicolas Juarez Espinoza
  • Patent number: 10814772
    Abstract: A tie-down apparatus is disclosed for a pick-up truck bed that includes a cleat having a base portion adapted to be attached to the pick-up truck bed and a loop portion defining an opening for receiving an elongated strand threaded through the opening. A neck portion is provided between the base portion and the loop portion that is adapted to be wrapped by the strand. A hook-shaped flange has a first portion extending normal relative to the loop portion and a second portion partially overlying and spaced from the loop portion. Teeth may be provided on the loop portion directly or on two triangular protrusions. A clamping jaw may also be used to positively grip the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Joshua R. Hemphill
  • Patent number: 10807793
    Abstract: The logistics arrangement comprises an arm adapted to be pivotably attached to a logistics stand. The arm comprises a support member adapted to carry an object, when the arm is substantially horizontally directed in a storage position, and a pivoting element adapted to pivotably attach the arm to the logistics stand, such that the arm is enabled to pivot between the storage position and a standby position where the arm is substantially vertically directed. The arm also comprises a stop member adapted to together with the logistics stand hold the arm in a storage position. The support member is connected with the stop member and the pivoting element, and the arm is configured to be forced into the standby position by an upwardly directed lift-movement of the another located object, during unload of the lower located object form the logistics stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ABSOLICON SOLAR COLLECTOR AB
    Inventor: Joakim Byström
  • Patent number: 10800604
    Abstract: Presenting an auxiliary storage apparatus and aircraft container that enables existing non-regulated temperature containers to be equipped with specific features such as cooling, heating, and humidifying features. The storage container with specific features is inserted into a non-regulated temperature container for aircraft use and affixed to the interior of the non-regulated temperature container by the auxiliary storage apparatus, which includes a wire that passes over the storage container, hooks and pulleys that affix to existing support brackets located on four corners of a floor surface, and a turnbuckle. One end of the wire hooks onto a first hook. The wire passes over the storage container and winds around the pulleys. The other end of the wire attaches to a second hook using the turnbuckle. During operation of the turnbuckle, the wire tightens against the storage container, and the storage container is affixed to the interior of the non-regulated temperature container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Innovation Thru Energy Co Ltd.
    Inventors: Garg Pankaj, Satoshi Nagai
  • Patent number: 10800528
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a container, in particular a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) container to an aircraft consists of four tiedown adapters. The tiedown adapters are attached one each to a corner of the COTS container, typically at about the vertical midpoint of the edge. The tiedown adapters each comprises a base and a swivel. The base abuts the COTS container and has an integral cable fairlead. A cable is threaded through the fairleads so it wraps horizontally around the COTS container. The ends of the cable are then attached to each other using a turnbuckle, which is adjusted to put a predetermined tension in the cable. A shackle is attached to the swivel of each of the tiedown adapters and attached to an Adjustable Strap Assembly (ASA) or similar tiedown, which is attached to one of the load rings in the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Safe, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Williams, Stanley P. Desjardins
  • Patent number: 10793050
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to individually secure carts, racks, and the like within delivery vehicles using a universal clasping mechanism. The clasping mechanism is configured to clamp shut on a portion of the carts to thereby restrain the carts during transportation. In some embodiments, locking the clasping mechanism can be achieved by pushing a portion of the mechanism to thereby pivot arms of the mechanism to clamp on a portion of the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Tawfeek J. Abohammdan, Timothy R. Hodges, Erica N. Poe Smith
  • Patent number: 10793052
    Abstract: A weather proof cover for a strap winch that is mounted on a truck bed or flat trailer. The cover is capable of protecting the strap winch assembly from dust, dirt and moisture, while remaining securely attached to the assembly during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: John L. Rafuse
  • Patent number: 10793053
    Abstract: A load securing assembly for securing cargo in a trailer includes a trailer that has an outer wall. A plurality of channels is provided, each of the channels is coupled to the outer wall of the trailer and each of the channels is positioned within the trailer. A plurality of locking units is provided and each of the locking units is slidably positioned in a respective one of the channels. Each of the locking units releasably engages the respective channel to retain each of the locking units at a selected point along the respective channel. Each of the locking units is positioned to abut the cargo in the trailer thereby inhibiting the cargo from moving in the trailer. Additionally, each of the locking units is positionable in a home position for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Dusty Smith
  • Patent number: 10787110
    Abstract: An apparatus for restricting cargo shipment within a load space of inflatable boats, rafts or any other similarly constructed container which includes a buoyant barrel receptacle containing a selectively adjustable telescoping pipe, each associated to symmetrically concavitated flange supports which are affixed to their respective distal end terminations, and being suitably mounted to provide for articulated movement on variably orientated and uneven sidewall surfaces, in order to become frictionally locked and unlocked by way of expansive force through a pivotally mounted fulcrum assemblage, and being incorporated with atmospherically impervious internally configured illumination systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Nathan Daniel Oxford
  • Patent number: 10773630
    Abstract: An assistance vehicle tilt lift supports an assistance vehicle above a bed of a hauling vehicle and includes one or more pivoting racks. Each pivoting rack includes a track to receive one or more wheels of the assistance vehicle. Each pivoting rack is rotatably attached to a pivot point near the front end of the bed of the hauling vehicle. One or more tapered rails are attached to the bed of the hauling vehicle. One or more roller support members are in contact with the one or more tapered rails and rotatably attached to the one or more pivoting racks. An actuator is operably connected to the one or more roller support members. The actuator raises and lowers the rear end of the one or more pivoting racks relative to the pivot point by moving the one or more roller support members along the one or more tapered rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Charlie Homer Thompson
  • Patent number: 10773632
    Abstract: A vehicular cargo restraint assembly includes a support platform. A plurality of panels are each movably coupled to the support platform. Each of the panels is independently movable between a first position wherein the panel is flat against the support platform, and a second position wherein the panel is offset from the support platform and configured to prevent the movement of cargo within a vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Wei Xu, James J. Surman, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati
  • Patent number: 10752155
    Abstract: The present invention is modular truck bed mounting apparatus and kit therefor. The apparatus comprises a length of E-track, a first tube, a plurality of second tubes, and a plurality of fasteners. The apparatus is preferably mounted to the head wall of a pickup truck bed and is useful in quickly and easily securing objects thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: Corey B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10752053
    Abstract: A resilient caster guide includes a mounting flange configured to be received against a wall of a galley cart storage compartment. A flexible alignment element angularly extends from the mounting flange into the storage compartment. The flexible alignment element is configured to contact a caster extending from a base of a galley cart received in the storage compartment and to resiliently deform to maintain longitudinal alignment of the caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marius Ursescu, Stephen M. Young
  • Patent number: 10752196
    Abstract: A vehicle passenger compartment having a first side and a second side, separated by a longitudinal plane, and having a front row and a back row, separated by a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane. The passenger compartment has an element extending in the transverse plane and movable between a first position in which the element extends from the first side and a second position in which the element extends from the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Philippe Lalague
  • Patent number: 10752150
    Abstract: The present invention is modular offset mounting apparatus for use in efficiently and densely removeably mounting objects comprising a structure having a plurality of spring E-fittings on a first side and an E-track section on a second side. The modular offset mounting apparatus is adapted such that the spring E-fittings of the modular offset mounting apparatus may be removeably engaged to a section of E-track that is fastened to a structure such as a truck bed and such that at least one spring E-fitting such as a spring E-fitting connected to a wheel chock is removeably engaged to the length of E-track of the modular offset mounting apparatus. By so mounting the modular offset mounting apparatus, objects such as motorcycles may be more densely positioned and mounted such as in a bed of a pickup truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: Corey B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10738766
    Abstract: A transport system for transporting a wind turbine blade on first and second railcars that serve as load cars. A root end fixture on the first railcar is connected to a root end portion of the wind turbine blade. A mid-frame fixture on the second railcar supports a reinforced midsection of the wind turbine blade using a pair of support saddles. A tip end fixture restrains a tip end portion of the wind turbine blade against lateral movement outside of a preselected range of movement in opposite lateral directions and causing bending of the blade about the mid-frame fixture when the restraint device imparts sufficient restraining force to the tip end portion of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Martin Bencher USA, LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. Fletcher, John D. Glover