Patents by Inventor Charles W. Searles

Charles W. Searles 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: 4941581
    Abstract: A convertible container has side walls, a rear door, front end walls sloping downwardly in the direction of the rear door, a floor commencing at the rear door, and a gated hopper lying between the floor and the front end wall. A movably mounted sheet has first and second positions, the first position of the sheet lying between the side walls, covering the hopper. In the second position the sheet is supported between the side walls, over the floor, sloping downwardly in the direction of the front end wall, and between the hopper and the rear door. The convertible container can be part of a convertible vehicle including a tractor, tilt mechanism for tilting the container between a tilted and a substantially horizontal position, wheels supporting the container, and a towing mechanism pivotally connecting the tractor and the front of the container. The hopper may be employed to discharge dry bulk goods when the sheet is in the second position and the container is in the substantially horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Searles Trailer and Equipment Ltd.
    Inventors: Charles W. Searles, Robert A. Searles, William S. Searles