Patents by Inventor Charles E. Gross

Charles E. Gross 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: 5386932
    Abstract: A belt-attachable holder for a fishing rod is provided. An upper portion forms an integral belt-attaching means. A lower portion is suspended from the upper portion and includes a substantially stiff planar member. A coil is provided to have at least one full turn sized to receive the fishing rod when the coil is in a relaxed state. The coil has first and second ends that are fixed to the stiff planar member. A sleeve of flexible material is open at a top portion thereof and is sized at the top portion to receive the fishing rod. The sleeve terminates at a substantially closed bottom maintained in a fixed relationship to the lower portion a vertical distance below the coil. The top portion has its perimeter aligned with and supported by the one full turn of the coil such that the fishing rod can be inserted into the sleeve through the top portion and the one full turn. The weight of the fishing rod causes the one full turn of the coil to tighten around the fishing rod along with the top portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Inventor: Charles E. Gross
  • Patent number: 5341897
    Abstract: A collapsible and retractable step apparatus having first and second steps is provided. The steps are extendable from, and used in combination with, a shelf that resides a vertical distance above a floor. A support and suspension leg unit is free at a first end thereof and is rotationally secured at a second end thereof to the second step. The leg unit is also rotationally secured to the first step at a location between the first and second ends of the leg unit. The leg unit positions and supports the first and second steps in a first configuration in which the first and second steps are positioned along with the leg unit in a substantially contiguous plane. The leg unit is rotatable about the location between the first and second ends of the leg unit to a second configuration in which the leg unit is in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the floor. In the second configuration, the first or free end of the leg unit rests on the floor such that the leg unit supports the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Charles E. Gross