Patents by Inventor Douglas W. Bittner

Douglas W. Bittner 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: 8622469
    Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have an elongated frame, a clamp member mounted to the frame at or near one end thereof, and an elongated base member movably mounted to the frame between the clamp member and an opposite end of the frame. The base member may include a curved portion having a support surface defining a curvature and a linear portion between the curved portion and the clamp member. The base member may be movable relative to the frame to an object transition position in which a free end of the linear portion extends outwardly away from the frame and the curved portion retracts upwardly toward the clamp member along a path defined by the curvature to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the support surface of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Alexander Hogg, Chris P. Jessup, Steve Gale, Douglas W. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20110272975
    Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have an elongated frame, a clamp member mounted to the frame at or near one end thereof, and an elongated base member movably mounted to the frame between the clamp member and an opposite end of the frame. The base member may include a curved portion having a support surface defining a curvature and a linear portion between the curved portion and the clamp member. The base member may be movable relative to the frame to an object transition position in which a free end of the linear portion extends outwardly away from the frame and the curved portion retracts upwardly toward the clamp member along a path defined by the curvature to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the support surface of the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Ian Alexander Hogg, Chris P. Jessup, Steve Gale, Douglas W. Bittner
  • Patent number: 7922246
    Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have a frame mounted within the vehicle, a clamp member movably mounted to the frame and a blocking member movably mounted to the frame. The frame may have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The clamp member may be movable relative to the frame under quasi-static conditions to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the second end of the frame. The blocking member may be configured to move relative to the frame under dynamic loading conditions to a position that blocks movement of the clamp member sufficiently to retain the object between the clamp member and the second end of the frame under the dynamic loading conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Gale, Douglas W. Bittner
  • Patent number: 7631896
    Abstract: A sleeper bunk restraint system comprises a sleeper bunk configured to be carried by a vehicle, a curtain extendable over an occupant-supporting top surface of the bunk, and a curtain support member configured to support the curtain away from the top surface of the bunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris P. Jessup, Douglas W. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20080128464
    Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have a frame mounted within the vehicle, a clamp member movably mounted to the frame and a blocking member movably mounted to the frame. The frame may have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The clamp member may be movable relative to the frame under quasi-static conditions to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the second end of the frame. The blocking member may be configured to move relative to the frame under dynamic loading conditions to a position that blocks movement of the clamp member sufficiently to retain the object between the clamp member and the second end of the frame under the dynamic loading conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Steve Gale, Douglas W. Bittner