Patents by Inventor Curtis E. Sumrall

Curtis E. Sumrall 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: 5046446
    Abstract: A reminder device attached to an umbrella that can be removed from the umbrella and stored in a conspicuous position when the umbrella is removed by a person using the umbrella or carrying the umbrella for later use. The reminder device reminds the umbrella user that the umbrella should be returned to its normally stored position when the user returns to the area in which the umbrella is normally stored to enable the umbrella user to retrieve the umbrella in the event it has been forgotten and not returned to its normally stored position. The reminder device is a panel having magnetic properties to enable it to be attached to the exterior of a vehicle door adjacent the door handle and lock assembly with the panel being detachably connected to the normally provided retaining strap on an umbrella so that the panel can be separated from the umbrella and mounted on the vehicle door when a person leaves an automobile and carries the umbrella to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventors: Curtis E. Sumrall, William J. Wilkens
  • Patent number: 5000471
    Abstract: A boat hitch for latching or hitching the bow of a boat to a boat trailer to provide efficient and safe withdrawal of a boat from the water and hitching the boat to the trailer to enhance the safety factor in towing a boat and trailer over the highway. The boat hitch includes a pivotal latch structure mounted on the forward end portion of a boat trailer which is associated with a cam-type keeper on the bow of the boat in which the keeper includes a curved cam ramp extending from a shallow forward end to a rearward end having greater depth and a keeper surface generally extending vertically at the rearward end of the cam ramp. The latch includes a pivotal pawl that is locked in a vertical position in engagement with the keeper surface when the boat is locked on the trailer with the pawl being manually released and pivoted to a generally rearwardly extending horizontal position for releasing the boat to enable it to move off the trailer when launching the boat into a body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: H. E. Mahaffey
    Inventor: Curtis E. Sumrall