Patents by Inventor Gregory E. Rinehart

Gregory E. Rinehart 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).

  • Floor-mounted pallet retaining latch and method of operation thereof
    Patent number: 6210089
    Abstract: For use in securing a pallet to a supporting floor of a service vehicle, a retaining latch, a method of operating the same to secure the pallet in place and a service vehicle having a latched pallet. In one embodiment, the retaining latch includes: (1) a first member having an aperture therein that allows the first member to be secured to the floor, (2) a second member, coupled to the first member for rotation relative thereto, (3) a spring, coupled to the first and second members, that resiliently urges the second member from an open position toward a closed position with respect to the first member and (4) a pin, extending from the second member toward the first member, adapted to engage and positively secure the pallet against lateral translation when the second member is urged toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: SmartFleet, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory E. Rinehart
  • Lubricant delivery and retrieval vehicle and methods of manufacture and operation thereof
    Patent number: 6135501
    Abstract: A service vehicle and methods of manufacturing and operating the same to provide lubrication services. In one embodiment, the service vehicle includes: (1) a service vehicle chassis having a cab and a rear frame, (2) first and second ramps coupled to, supported by and movable in tandem with respect to the rear frame between a vehicle loading position and a vehicle servicing position, the first and second ramps laterally separated by a given distance and (3) a used lubricant collection tank, coupled to and supported by the rear frame at a location between the first and second ramps, that receives used lubricant draining from a lubricant sump of the service vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The Lube Company
    Inventor: Gregory E. Rinehart
  • Vehicle bumper with integral jack method of manufacture thereof
    Patent number: 5979953
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper and a method of manufacturing, and a vehicle having, the same. In one embodiment, the bumper includes: (1) an elongated bumper body having a recess and a mount that allows the bumper body to be affixed to a service vehicle and (2) a lid hingedly coupled to the bumper body proximate the recess to form a compartment, the lid rotatable between an open position in which the compartment is exposed to allow access to an object therein and a closed position in which the object is retained in the compartment during movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Lube Company
    Inventor: Gregory E. Rinehart