Patents by Inventor Cliff Standifer

Cliff Standifer 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: 12122465
    Abstract: Decoupled fifth wheel and gooseneck subframes are disclosed. An example apparatus includes brackets couplable to a vehicle frame, the brackets including puck mounts to receive a fifth wheel hitch, a subframe couplable between the brackets, the subframe including an aperture, and a gooseneck mount to receive a gooseneck ball, the gooseneck mount to be disposed in the aperture and couplable to the subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lucas Demott, Cliff Standifer
  • Publication number: 20240067277
    Abstract: An autoslide trailer hitch having an adjustable wheel assembly is disclosed. An example trailer hitch disclosed herein includes a base fixedly couplable to a vehicle bed of a vehicle, the base including a rail, a carriage slidably coupled to the rail via at least one wheel assembly, the at least one wheel assembly including a first wheel to contact a top surface of the rail, and a second wheel to contact a bottom surface of the rail, and a head rotatably coupled to the carriage, the carriage to slide along the rail between a first position and a second position in response to rotation of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Publication number: 20230382172
    Abstract: A subframe attachment system for a vehicle includes a front brace, a rear brace assembly, and tethers. The front brace extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle and is configured to be mounted to a pair of longitudinal rails of a main frame of the vehicle. The front brace includes front mounting apertures configured to be accessible from the cargo bed. The rear brace assembly is spaced apart from the front brace and extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The rear brace assembly is configured to be mounted to the main frame and includes rear mounting apertures configured to be accessible from the cargo bed. The tethers include a first end rotatably coupled to the rear brace assembly and a second end configured to be mounted to respective longitudinal rails of the pair of longitudinal rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Patent number: 11745553
    Abstract: An adjustable capture plate for a fifth wheel hitch is disclosed. An example capture plate includes a skid plate couplable to a fifth wheel hitch, and a clamping system including, a base coupled to the skid plate, a pressure plate slidably coupled to the base, and a crank arm coupled to the pressure plate via a link, wherein rotation of the crank arm about an anchor pin of the base corresponds to linear travel of the pressure plate along the base, the pressure plate movable between a first position in which the pressure plate engages a pin box of a trailer and a second position in which the pressure plate is positioned away from the pin box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Patent number: 11634187
    Abstract: An example trailer hitch is disclosed. The example trailer hitch includes a trailer hitch including a base to be coupled to a vehicle bed of a vehicle, a carriage slidably coupled to the base, the carriage to slide along rails of the base between a first position and a second position, and a head rotatably coupled to the carriage, the carriage to slide from the first position to the second position in response to rotation of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Publication number: 20220379673
    Abstract: An adjustable capture plate for a fifth wheel hitch is disclosed. An example capture plate includes a skid plate couplable to a fifth wheel hitch, and a clamping system including, a base coupled to the skid plate, a pressure plate slidably coupled to the base, and a crank arm coupled to the pressure plate via a link, wherein rotation of the crank arm about an anchor pin of the base corresponds to linear travel of the pressure plate along the base, the pressure plate movable between a first position in which the pressure plate engages a pin box of a trailer and a second position in which the pressure plate is positioned away from the pin box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Publication number: 20220306217
    Abstract: Decoupled fifth wheel and gooseneck subframes are disclosed. An example apparatus includes brackets couplable to a vehicle frame, the brackets including puck mounts to receive a fifth wheel hitch, a subframe couplable between the brackets, the subframe including an aperture, and a gooseneck mount to receive a gooseneck ball, the gooseneck mount to be disposed in the aperture and couplable to the subframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Lucas Demott, Cliff Standifer
  • Publication number: 20220126933
    Abstract: An example trailer hitch is disclosed. The example trailer hitch includes a trailer hitch including a base to be coupled to a vehicle bed of a vehicle, a carriage slidably coupled to the base, the carriage to slide along rails of the base between a first position and a second position, and a head rotatably coupled to the carriage, the carriage to slide from the first position to the second position in response to rotation of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Patent number: 10800468
    Abstract: A fifth-wheel that includes a horizontal plate and a pair of legs extending upward therefrom. Also including pair of anchors, each having a bushing mounted under the plate, a cap, above the plate, secured to the respective bushing, a T-bolt extending vertically through the respective bushing and cap, and a handle secured to and extending radially outward from the respective T-bolt through a slot in the respective cap; and nuts securing each T-bolt to the respective anchor. The fifth-wheel may also include a cover, pivotable to selectively provide and block access to the anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Patent number: 10787049
    Abstract: A fifth wheel assembly for a pick-up truck having a frame disposed below the truck bed that supports a plurality of receptacles that define oblong openings. The fifth wheel assembly includes a fifth wheel hitch, and a plurality of bushings including a boss portion having a cylindrical protrusion on an upper surface and an oblong protrusion on a lower surface. The locations of the bushings are sells-adjusting to facilitate orienting the oblong protrusions to be inserted into the oblong openings. Jam nuts are assembled to the cylindrical protrusion of each of the bosses that are tightened to fix the position of the bosses. T-pins have an oblong head oriented in alignment with the oblong protrusions when inserted into the oblong openings in an unlocked position. The T-pins are pivoted to a locked position after being inserted through the oblong openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Publication number: 20200039588
    Abstract: A fifth-wheel that includes a horizontal plate and a pair of legs extending upward therefrom. Also including pair of anchors, each having a bushing mounted under the plate, a cap, above the plate, secured to the respective bushing, a T-bolt extending vertically through the respective bushing and cap, and a handle secured to and extending radially outward from the respective T-bolt through a slot in the respective cap; and nuts securing each T-bolt to the respective anchor. The fifth-wheel may also include a cover, pivotable to selectively provide and block access to the anchors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Patent number: 10479417
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a pickup truck, includes a bed pillar and a tailgate pivotally engaging the bed pillar. A bumper includes a body secured to the bed pillar, a lever pivotally mounted to the body and having a pad, and a spring biasing the pad into contact with the tailgate in a closed position. The lever may pivot to push the tailgate rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer
  • Publication number: 20190255896
    Abstract: A fifth wheel assembly for a pick-up truck having a frame disposed below the truck bed that supports a plurality of receptacles that define oblong openings. The fifth wheel assembly includes a fifth wheel hitch, and a plurality of bushings including a boss portion having a cylindrical protrusion on an upper surface and an oblong protrusion on a lower surface. The locations of the bushings are sells-adjusting to facilitate orienting the oblong protrusions to be inserted into the oblong openings. Jam nuts are assembled to the cylindrical protrusion of each of the bosses that are tightened to fix the position of the bosses. T-pins have an oblong head oriented in alignment with the oblong protrusions when inserted into the oblong openings in an unlocked position. The T-pins are pivoted to a locked position after being inserted through the oblong openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventor: Cliff Standifer