Patents by Inventor Clifford O. McWilliams

Clifford O. McWilliams 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: 11427262
    Abstract: A modular trailer system comprising a plurality of curved panels, where each panel is elongate and has a first side with an angled projection and an opposing second side with an angled slot such that the angled projection of one panel is capable of fitting into the angled slot of another panel, allowing the panels to join together to form a continuously curved surface. The modular trailer system may further comprise a first top rail with an angled slot capable of receiving the angled projection of one of the plurality of curved panels and a second top rail with an angled projection capable of fitting into the angled slot of another of the plurality of curved panels. The plurality of curved panels, first top rail, and second top rail may be assembled together to form an elongate trailer body with a partially circular cross section, such that the trailer body has a continually rounded bottom and sides and an open top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Publication number: 20220041225
    Abstract: A floor-crossmember combination to be used in forming a dump trailer floor without the use of floor panels. Each floor-crossmember combination may have at least one elongate arm terminating in a projection and a corresponding slot, allowing adjacent floor-crossmember combinations to be connected together via the projection of one and slot of the other, then welded together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 11142052
    Abstract: A bracket assembly for a tarpaulin support device for an open top of a trailer or vehicle. The bracket may have an axial bore and one or more vertical bores for receiving an end or socket of a bow assembly. The bracket may interchangeably hold a variety of bow assemblies, such as a traditional curved bow, a rod, one or more concentric tubes, or a combination of one or more tubes and a rod. The bracket assembly may comprise a plurality of brackets for holding a series of bow assemblies in place on a trailer or vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 10596885
    Abstract: A tarpaulin support device for an open top of a trailer or vehicle. The device has a flexible and resilient tube assembly bowed from a normally straight position under tension to an arched position outwardly from the trailer or vehicle. The tube assembly may be removably mounted to the side walls of the trailer or vehicle via brackets with angled bores therethrough. The tube assembly comprises an outer tube and an inner tube located substantially within an outer tube. The inner tube may have a slot running along at least part of its length, such that the portion of the inner tube with the slot has a C-shaped cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventors: Clifford O. McWilliams, Shea O'Neal Williams, Jacob Foster Bailey
  • Patent number: 9701349
    Abstract: A tarpaulin support device for an open top of a trailer or vehicle. The device has a flexible and resilient tube assembly bowed from a normally straight position under tension to an arched position outwardly from the trailer or vehicle. The tube assembly may be removably mounted to the side walls of the trailer or vehicle via brackets with angled bores therethrough. The tube assembly comprises an outer tube, an inner tube located substantially within an outer tube, a rod located substantially within an outer tube, or a rod located substantially within an inner tube located substantially within an outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 9522705
    Abstract: A bracket assembly for a tarpaulin support device for an open top of a trailer or vehicle. The bracket may have a bore therethrough for receiving an end of a tube assembly of the tarpaulin support device. The bracket may further have a hole in one side through which a bolt or pin may extend to prevent the tube assembly from rotating. The tube assembly may be a rod, may be one or more concentric tubes, or may be a combination of one or more tubes and a rod. The bracket assembly may comprise a plurality of brackets for holding a series of tube assemblies in arched positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 9469353
    Abstract: A tarpaulin support device for an open top of a trailer or vehicle. The device has a flexible and resilient tube assembly bowed from a normally straight position under tension to an arched position outwardly from the trailer or vehicle. The tube assembly may be removably mounted to the side walls of the trailer or vehicle via brackets with angled bores therethrough. The tube assembly comprises an outer tube, an inner tube located substantially within an outer tube, a rod located substantially within an outer tube, or a rod located substantially within an inner tube located substantially within an outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 9085331
    Abstract: A trailer for a dumping vehicle, the trailer comprising: a front end, where the front end is curved; a rear end, where the rear end is narrower than the front end; a bottom floor extending between the front end and the rear end; and a pair of opposed sidewalls extending between the front end and the rear end. The sidewalls may be taller at the front end than at the rear end, may arch uniformly from the front end to the rear end, and may arch uniformly from the top to the bottom. The trailer may further comprise a top rail with an oval cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Patent number: D768555
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
  • Patent number: D904861
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams