Patents by Inventor Donald G. Wheatley

Donald G. Wheatley 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: 6808221
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame,a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6808220
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6799927
    Abstract: A tie down anchor system for a pickup truck includes a rail member mountable to the cargo bed of the pickup truck. The rail member includes a pair of raised attachment sections and a base mounting portion extending between the pair of raised attachment sections. A plurality of first attachment apertures are formed in the pair of raised attachment sections and a plurality of second attachment apertures are formed in the pair of raised attachment sections so as to receive any one of a number of tether connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040164583
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040164585
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040164584
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040150245
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040150246
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040124657
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040124658
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame having a front rail member, a cover spanning the support frame, and a cantilever beam assembly flexibly coupled with the front rail member. An adjustment support bracket extends from at least one of the rail-members and includes a finger member. The finger member is engageable with the cantilever beam assembly to bias the front rail member into a first direction to generally maintain a tension in the cover. The cantilever beam assembly is generally contained within the front rail member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6752449
    Abstract: A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6692595
    Abstract: An article and method for reinforcing structural members is provided. The article includes a carbon fiber material, preferably a carbon fiber mesh with a roughened surface defined by an epoxy resin. The article has lateral fibers woven into longitudinal carbon fibers that are in tension, creating a mesh. An epoxy resin is applied to the fiber mesh to form a rigidified fiber mesh tape once the resin is cured. To obtain a roughened surface a plastic sheet is removably attached to the surface of the fiber mesh. The plastic sheet is removed thereby exposing a roughened carbon fiber surface defined by the epoxy. An alternative tensile tape is also provided for reinforcing a wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Donald G. Wheatley, Donald E. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20040028497
    Abstract: A tie down anchor system for a pickup truck. The tie down anchor system includes a rail member mountable to the cargo bed of the pickup truck. The rail member includes a pair of raised attachment sections and a base mounting portion extending between the pair of raised attachment sections. A plurality of first attachment apertures are formed in the pair of raised attachment sections and a plurality of second attachment apertures are formed in the pair of raised attachment sections so as to receive any one of a number of tether connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6619719
    Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus comprises a frame structure having a pair of laterally spaced apart side rails, an end rail, and a pair of connector assemblies. The connector assemblies are coupled to the end rail, and are movably mounted to an associated side rail to thereby movably interconnect the end rail to the side rails. A pair of springs bias the connector assemblies in a direction outwardly from the side rails such that the end rail applies a force to the flexible cover to maintain the flexible cover in a taut state. Each connector assembly includes a fixed component and a rotatable component. The fixed component includes an aperture and a first plug end secured to an associated side rail. The rotatable component includes a post end and a third plug end removably secured to the end rail. The post end is thus removably secured to the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6588825
    Abstract: A diverter for diverting rain water and inhibiting it from leaking into a cargo box of an automotive vehicles, such as a pick-up truck. The diverter is positioned below a front rail of a tonneau cover frame and includes a horizontal portion extending along the length of the front rail of the tonneau cover frame. A plurality of ribs in a top of the horizontal portion define channels for diverting rain water. The diverter includes a vertical portion coupled to the horizontal portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent to a storage container. Preferably, a width of the horizontal portion is such to accommodate a range of different sized storage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6543836
    Abstract: A tonneau cover system for covering an area of a vehicle, the vehicle area being bounded by spaced sidewalls each having a top surface. The tonneau cover system including a flexible fabric cover having side edges and a central region bounded by the side edges, the side edges being positionable above the vehicle spaced sidewalls so that the cover can extend over the vehicle area to be covered. A frame having a plurality of elongated rails each having two ends, one of the rails being mounted on the top surface of each vehicle sidewall. A plurality of flanged members coupled to the frame and mounted on the interior of the spaced sidewalls. At least one bowed member flexibly coupled to the flanged members and having spring biased end plungers for varying the length of the bowed member and tensioning the bowed member, where the bowed member supports the flexible fabric cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20030057726
    Abstract: A tonneau cover system for covering an area of a vehicle, the vehicle area being bounded by spaced sidewalls each having a top surface. The tonneau cover system including a flexible fabric cover having side edges and a central region bounded by the side edges, the side edges being positionable above the vehicle spaced sidewalls so that the cover can extend over the vehicle area to be covered. A frame having a plurality of elongated rails each having two ends, one of the rails being mounted on the top surface of each vehicle sidewall. A plurality of flanged members coupled to the frame and mounted on the interior of the spaced sidewalls. At least one bowed member flexibly coupled to the flanged members and having spring biased end plungers for varying the length of the bowed member and tensioning the bowed member, where the bowed member supports the flexible fabric cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20030003270
    Abstract: An article and method for reinforcing structural members is provided. The article includes a carbon fiber material, preferably a carbon fiber mesh with a roughened surface defined by an epoxy resin. The article has lateral fibers woven into longitudinal carbon fibers that are in tension, creating a mesh. An epoxy resin is applied to the fiber mesh to form a rigidified fiber mesh tape once the resin is cured. To obtain a roughened surface a plastic sheet is removably attached to the surface of the fiber mesh. The plastic sheet is removed thereby exposing a roughened carbon fiber surface defined by the epoxy. An alternative tensile tape is also provided for reinforcing a wall structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Donald G. Wheatley, Donald E. Wheatley
  • Patent number: 6499791
    Abstract: A vehicle tonneau system having a flexible fabric cover and a rail system having flanges attached to a vehicle for mounting the flexible fabric cover in which elongated fasteners for attaching the flexible cover to the rail flanges are provided with a hinging portion. A portion of the fastener is pivoted about the hinging portion which eases the initial removal of the fastener. Once a distal end of the fastener is moved past a terminal edge of the rail flange, the remainder of the fastener easily peels from the frame, by lifting the flexible fabric cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley
  • Patent number: D491878
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Donald G. Wheatley