Patents by Inventor Robert J. Gift

Robert J. Gift 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).

  • Gravity biased load constraining devices and vehicles incorporating the same
    Patent number: 9527425
    Abstract: Vehicles having gravity biased gate members utilized to laterally constrain a load are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes one or more wheels that allow movement of the vehicle from one location to another location, a frame mounted to the one or more wheels, a load bearing deck supported by the frame, the load bearing deck having a support surface for supporting a load thereon, and a gravity biased gate member rotatably coupled at the load bearing deck at an axis of rotation. The gravity biased gate member includes a bottom portion below the axis of rotation that is heavier than a top portion above the axis of rotation such that a center of mass of the gravity biased gate member is offset from the axis of rotation, biasing the gravity biased gate member into an extended configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gift, Blair C. Perkins, Michael C. Greenlee
  • GRAVITY BIASED LOAD CONSTRAINING DEVICES AND VEHICLES INCORPORATING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20150367769
    Abstract: Vehicles having gravity biased gate members utilized to laterally constrain a load are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes one or more wheels that allow movement of the vehicle from one location to another location, a frame mounted to the one or more wheels, a load bearing deck supported by the frame, the load bearing deck having a support surface for supporting a load thereon, and a gravity biased gate member rotatably coupled at the load bearing deck at an axis of rotation. The gravity biased gate member includes a bottom portion below the axis of rotation that is heavier than a top portion above the axis of rotation such that a center of mass of the gravity biased gate member is offset from the axis of rotation, biasing the gravity biased gate member into an extended configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gift, Blair C. Perkins, Michael C. Greenlee