Patents by Inventor Gerald E. Wellen

Gerald E. Wellen 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: 6032695
    Abstract: Plug for sealing or capping the open ends of tubular members, such as tubular rails or railing support members in boats. The plug has a cap from which extend upper, lower, right side and left side rearwardly projecting and connected planar panels. Each of the upper and lower planar panels and one of the side planar panels includes an outwardly protruding array of ramped teeth formed integrally therewith. The other side planar panel lacks an array of ramped teeth. The height of the teeth in each array increases incrementally from a minimum height remote from the cap to a maximum height adjacent to the cap. The ramping of the teeth allows for accommodational frictional engagement with various inside dimensions of tubular rails or railing support members to secure the plug tightly therewithin. A tapered indexing guide bar is located at the junction of the upper planar panel and the side planar panel which lacks an array of ramped teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Premier Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Wellen, Robert J. Menne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6032694
    Abstract: Plug for capping or sealing the open ends of tubular members, such as tubular support members utilized on a Bimini boat top or other boat structure. The plug has a cap from which extend upper and lower rearwardly projecting tapered planar support panels each of which includes an outwardly protruding array of ramped teeth formed integrally therewith. The height of the teeth in each array increases incrementally from a minimum height near the end of the plug remote from the cap to a maximum height adjacent to the cap. The ramping of the teeth allows for accommodational frictional engagement of the teeth with various inside dimensions of tubular support members to secure the plug tightly therewithin. A hole extends transversely through the body of the plug for receipt of a pin for pivotally securing the end of a tubular support member containing the plug to a support bracket or other members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Premier Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Wellen, Robert J. Menne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5970904
    Abstract: Boat cover fastening system for aquatic craft utilizing a rail having a continuous securement channel along its length which receives a plurality of cover mounted flexible spring clips distributed along the periphery of the boat cover. An alternate embodiment discloses a flexible spring clip having members of different flexibilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Premier Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Wellen, Timothy J. Menne, Robert J. Menne, Jr.