Patents by Inventor Michael J. Courtney
Michael J. Courtney 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).
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Patent number: 10946908Abstract: An aerodynamic drag reduction system includes a side panel configured to be coupled to a rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of a trailer and a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer. The drag system includes a cable system configured to connect the side and top panels to prevent upward movement of the top panel beyond its generally horizontal position. The cable system includes a first cable with a first end coupled to an inner surface of the side panel, and a second cable and a third cable each with a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top panel. A second end of each of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable is coupled together at a juncture.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet, Brian N. Haan
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Publication number: 20200010126Abstract: An aerodynamic drag reduction system includes a side panel configured to be coupled to a rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of a trailer and a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer. The drag system includes a cable system configured to connect the side and top panels to prevent upward movement of the top panel beyond its generally horizontal position. The cable system includes a first cable with a first end coupled to an inner surface of the side panel, and a second cable and a third cable each with a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top panel. A second end of each of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable is coupled together at a juncture.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet, Brian N. Haan
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Patent number: 10457338Abstract: An aerodynamic drag reduction system includes a side panel configured to be coupled to a rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of a trailer and a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer. The drag system includes a cable system configured to connect the side and top panels to prevent upward movement of the top panel beyond its generally horizontal position. The cable system includes a first cable with a first end coupled to an inner surface of the side panel, and a second cable and a third cable each with a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top panel. A second end of each of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable is coupled together at a juncture.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet, Brian N. Haan
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Patent number: 10343731Abstract: A mount bracket assembly for a skirt system of a trailer is disclosed. The mount bracket assembly includes a channel mount configured to be coupled to a portion of the skirt system and an attachment assembly configured to be coupled to a flange of a cross-member of the trailer. The attachment assembly includes a top wall coupled to the channel mount and a mounting bracket fixed to the top wall, the mounting bracket including two hook-shaped portions separated by a planar portion, wherein the two hook-shaped portions are each sized and configured to fit over the flange.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Aaron Emery, Michael J. Courtney
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Patent number: 10099729Abstract: A nose gap reducer for reducing drag on a vehicle is disclosed. The nose gap reducer may be coupled to a vehicle such as a trailer of a semi-trailer truck for example. The trailer may be positioned between a tractor unit or between another trailer.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Brian Haan, James A. Sweet, Michael J. Courtney
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Publication number: 20180093719Abstract: A mount bracket assembly for a skirt system of a trailer is disclosed. The mount bracket assembly includes a channel mount configured to be coupled to a portion of the skirt system and an attachment assembly configured to be coupled to a flange of a cross-member of the trailer. The attachment assembly includes a top wall coupled to the channel mount and a mounting bracket fixed to the top wall, the mounting bracket including two hook-shaped portions separated by a planar portion, wherein the two hook-shaped portions are each sized and configured to fit over the flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Aaron Emery, Michael J. Courtney
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Patent number: 9919750Abstract: A trailer having a storage container, a landing gear assembly coupled to the storage container, and a rear wheel assembly coupled to the storage container includes a side skirt system for reducing drag on the trailer. The side skirt system includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below one side wall of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. A length of the side skirt wall along a top edge of the side skirt wall is approximately 48%-80% of a distance between the landing gear and forward-most position of the rear wheel assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, M. Scott Stinson, Michael J. Courtney
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Patent number: 9919749Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer or other ground vehicle includes plurality of wall panels each configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The wall panels are horizontally spaced-apart from each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, Gustavo Lazatin Sumcad, James Andrew Sweet
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Publication number: 20170361881Abstract: An aerodynamic drag reduction system includes a side panel configured to be coupled to a rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of a trailer and a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer. The drag system includes a cable system configured to connect the side and top panels to prevent upward movement of the top panel beyond its generally horizontal position. The cable system includes a first cable with a first end coupled to an inner surface of the side panel, and a second cable and a third cable each with a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top panel. A second end of each of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable is coupled together at a juncture.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet, Brian N. Haan
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Patent number: 9834262Abstract: An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of the present disclosure is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The drag reduction system includes a side panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of the trailer; and a folding mechanism coupled to the side panel. The folding mechanism moves the side panel between (i) a fully-deployed position wherein the side panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear end of the trailer and (ii) a fully-stowed position wherein an inner surface of at least a portion of the side panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door. The folding mechanism is configured to be coupled to a door locking mechanism of the trailer for movement therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Brian N. Haan, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet
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Patent number: 9776674Abstract: An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of the present disclosure is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The drag reduction system includes a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door of the trailer and a hinge configured to couple the top panel to the rear swing door. The hinge includes a planar bracket configured to be coupled to the rear swing door, an L-shaped bracket configured to be coupled to the top panel, and a hinge joint configured to couple together the planar bracket and the L-shaped bracket. The hinge joint is configured to rotate about a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to a top edge of the rear frame of the trailer when the top panel is coupled to the rear swing door.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet, Brian N. Haan
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Patent number: 9688320Abstract: An aerodynamic skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a first side skirt wall and a second side skirt wall each configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The first side skirt wall defines a first length and the second side skirt wall defines a second length smaller than the first length. The second side skirt wall is positioned generally rearward of the first side skirt wall and is side skirt wall is angled relative to the side wall of the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Michael J. Courtney, Leonard W. Baker, James A. Sweet
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Publication number: 20170174271Abstract: A trailer having a storage container, a landing gear assembly coupled to the storage container, and a rear wheel assembly coupled to the storage container includes a side skirt system for reducing drag on the trailer. The side skirt system includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below one side wall of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. A length of the side skirt wall along a top edge of the side skirt wall is approximately 48%-80% of a distance between the landing gear and forward-most position of the rear wheel assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2014Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, M. Scott Stinson, Michael J. Courtney
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Publication number: 20170129550Abstract: An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of the present disclosure is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The drag reduction system includes a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door of the trailer and a hinge configured to couple the top panel to the rear swing door. The hinge includes a planar bracket configured to be coupled to the rear swing door, an L-shaped bracket configured to be coupled to the top panel, and a hinge joint configured to couple together the planar bracket and the L-shaped bracket. The hinge joint is configured to rotate about a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to a top edge of the rear frame of the trailer when the top panel is coupled to the rear swing door.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet, Brian N. Haan
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Publication number: 20170057563Abstract: A trailer with an aerodynamic skirt system for reducing drag is disclosed. The aerodynamic skirt system may include a landing gear skirt with an aperture positioned to receive a landing gear crank handle. The aerodynamic skirt system extends down from the sides of the trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Brian N. Haan, James A. Sweet, Michael J. Courtney
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Publication number: 20160339969Abstract: A nose gap reducer for reducing drag on a vehicle is disclosed. The nose gap reducer may be coupled to a vehicle such as a trailer of a semi-trailer truck for example. The trailer may be positioned between a tractor unit or between another trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Brian Haan, James A. Sweet, Michael J. Courtney
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Publication number: 20160318559Abstract: An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of the present disclosure is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The drag reduction system includes a side panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of the trailer; and a folding mechanism coupled to the side panel. The folding mechanism moves the side panel between (i) a fully-deployed position wherein the side panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear end of the trailer and (ii) a fully-stowed position wherein an inner surface of at least a portion of the side panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door. The folding mechanism is configured to be coupled to a door locking mechanism of the trailer for movement therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Brian N. Haan, Michael J. Courtney, James Andrew Sweet
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Publication number: 20160311475Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer or other ground vehicle includes plurality of wall panels each configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The wall panels are horizontally spaced-apart from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, Gustavo Lazatin Sumcad, James Andrew Sweet
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Patent number: 9409610Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer or other ground vehicle includes plurality of wall panels each configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The wall panels are horizontally spaced-apart from each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Leonard W. Baker, Michael J. Courtney, Gustavo Lazatin Sumcad, James Andrew Sweet
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Publication number: 20160121940Abstract: An aerodynamic skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a first side skirt wall and a second side skirt wall each configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The first side skirt wall defines a first length and the second side skirt wall defines a second length smaller than the first length. The second side skirt wall is positioned generally rearward of the first side skirt wall and is side skirt wall is angled relative to the side wall of the trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Michael J. Courtney, Leonard W. Baker, James A. Sweet