Patents by Inventor Francis Steven Smidler

Francis Steven Smidler 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: 10272859
    Abstract: A trailer frame includes a rear bolster, cross-members, and corner gussets extending forwardly from ends of the rear bolster. A rear impact guard includes a bumper positioned at the rear end of the trailer and spaced below the rear bolster, pair of outboard posts, and at least one inboard post. The outboard posts extend between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent respective opposed distal ends of the bumper, and the inboard post extends between the bumper and the rear bolster between the outboard posts. Each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end that overlaps with a respective mounting bracket that protrudes upwardly toward the rear bolster from the bumper such that mounting holes of the outboard posts align with mounting holes of the mounting brackets. A laterally-outboard panel of each mounting bracket extends obliquely from the bumper in a direction with a laterally-outward component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: STI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler
  • Publication number: 20180009401
    Abstract: A trailer frame includes a rear bolster, cross-members, and corner gussets extending forwardly from ends of the rear bolster. A rear impact guard includes a bumper positioned at the rear end of the trailer and spaced below the rear bolster, pair of outboard posts, and at least one inboard post. The outboard posts extend between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent respective opposed distal ends of the bumper, and the inboard post extends between the bumper and the rear bolster between the outboard posts. Each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end that overlaps with a respective mounting bracket that protrudes upwardly toward the rear bolster from the bumper such that mounting holes of the outboard posts align with mounting holes of the mounting brackets. A laterally-outboard panel of each mounting bracket extends obliquely from the bumper in a direction with a laterally-outward component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler
  • Patent number: 9771040
    Abstract: A trailer frame includes a rear bolster, cross-members, and corner gussets extending forwardly from ends of the rear bolster. A rear impact guard includes a bumper positioned at the rear end of the trailer and spaced below the rear bolster, pair of outboard posts, and at least one inboard post. The outboard posts extend between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent respective opposed distal ends of the bumper, and the inboard post extends between the bumper and the rear bolster between the outboard posts. Each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end that overlaps with a respective mounting bracket that protrudes upwardly toward the rear bolster from the bumper such that mounting holes of the outboard posts align with mounting holes of the mounting brackets. A laterally-outboard panel of each mounting bracket extends obliquely from the bumper in a direction with a laterally-outward component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: STI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler
  • Publication number: 20170050595
    Abstract: A trailer frame includes a rear bolster, cross-members, and corner gussets extending forwardly from ends of the rear bolster. A rear impact guard includes a bumper positioned at the rear end of the trailer and spaced below the rear bolster, pair of outboard posts, and at least one inboard post. The outboard posts extend between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent respective opposed distal ends of the bumper, and the inboard post extends between the bumper and the rear bolster between the outboard posts. Each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end that overlaps with a respective mounting bracket that protrudes upwardly toward the rear bolster from the bumper such that mounting holes of the outboard posts align with mounting holes of the mounting brackets. A laterally-outboard panel of each mounting bracket extends obliquely from the bumper in a direction with a laterally-outward component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler
  • Patent number: 6910591
    Abstract: A transportable rack comprises a first upright attached to a first base member, a rolling device attached to the first base member, a second upright attached to a second base member, and a central support member having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the central support member is attached to the first base member, the second end portion attached to the second base member. A retractable beam member is slidably disposed within the central support member, the retractable beam member having a lift receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Schneider National, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Knoll, Michael W. Weiss, Steve Jarosinski, Francis Steven Smidler, David Phillip Kunkel
  • Publication number: 20030173314
    Abstract: A transportable rack comprises a first upright attached to a first base member, a rolling device attached to the first base member, a second upright attached to a second base member, and a central support member having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the central support member is attached to the first base member, the second end portion attached to the second base member. A retractable beam member is slidably disposed within the central support member, the retractable beam member having a lift receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Knoll, Michael W. Weiss, Steve Jon Jarosinski, Francis Steven Smidler, David Phillip Kunkel
  • Patent number: 6536607
    Abstract: A transportable rack comprising a first A-frame upright attached to a first base member, a rolling device rotatably attached to the first base member, and a second A-frame upright attached to a second base member. The transportable rack further includes a central support member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion attached to the first base member, the second end portion attached to the second base member. In addition, a retractable beam member is slidably disposed within the central support member, the retractable beam member having a lift receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Schneider National Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Knoll, Michael W. Weiss, Steve Jarosinski, Francis Steven Smidler, David Phillip Kunkel
  • Patent number: D790407
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: STI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler
  • Patent number: D864038
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: STI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler
  • Patent number: D889320
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: STI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler
  • Patent number: D1013579
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: STI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Miller, Francis Steven Smidler