Patents by Inventor Gerald Allen Sill

Gerald Allen Sill 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: 6578902
    Abstract: The wall joint of the present invention is configured to reduce or eliminate protrusions into the interior of the trailer or container, but does not require coining or stamping of the edges of consecutive sidewall panels. According to some highly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the wall joint includes two consecutive sidewall panels, each bent to form a main plateau, a spliced plateau and a jogged portion serving as a transition therebetween. In this way, the spliced plateau lies in a plane substantially parallel to, but spaced apart from, the main plateau, with the thickness of the sidewall panel most preferably remaining substantially constant throughout. When two consecutive sidewall panels are positioned next to each other, the spliced plateaus of the two consecutive sidewall panels abut each other and lie in a first plane, while the main plateaus of the two panels preferably lie in another parallel plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Stoughton Trailers, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Sill
  • Publication number: 20020180238
    Abstract: The wall joint of the present invention is configured to reduce or eliminate protrusions into the interior of the trailer or container, but does not require coining or stamping of the edges of consecutive sidewall panels. According to some highly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the wall joint includes two consecutive sidewall panels, each bent to form a main plateau, a spliced plateau and a jogged portion serving as a transition therebetween. In this way, the spliced plateau lies in a plane substantially parallel to, but spaced apart from, the main plateau, with the thickness of the sidewall panel most preferably remaining substantially constant throughout. When two consecutive sidewall panels are positioned next to each other, the spliced plateaus of the two consecutive sidewall panels abut each other and lie in a first plane, while the main plateaus of the two panels preferably lie in another parallel plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Stoughton Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Sill
  • Patent number: 6450564
    Abstract: The wall joint of the present invention is configured to reduce or eliminate protrusions into the interior of the trailer or container, but does not require coining or stamping of the edges of consecutive sidewall panels. In some embodiments of the present invention, the wall joint includes two consecutive sidewall panels, each bent to form a main plateau, a spliced plateau and a jogged portion therebetween. In this way, the spliced plateau lies in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the main plateau, with the thickness of the sidewall panel most preferably remaining substantially constant throughout. Also, a recessed region is preferably defined at the seam between the two panels. A splicer plate connecting the adjacent panels can be received into this recessed region. In some preferred embodiments, adhesive and/or rivets are employed to further strengthen the sidewall panel joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Stoughton Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Sill