Patents by Inventor Thomas Gerst

Thomas Gerst 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: 9272741
    Abstract: A side skirt assembly for a trailer of a tractor-trailer includes a skirt panel and a plurality of skirt mounts that couple the skirt panel to the frame of the trailer. The skirt panel can be formed by a layered composite formed of alternating layers of fiberglass and layers containing recycled fiberglass. The position of the skirt mount can be laterally adjusted along the trailer frame whereby the skirt panel can be mounted to the trailer in more than one lateral position. Additionally, the skirt panel can include a track extending along at least a portion of the skirt panel length, and the track can slide relative to the skirt mount to adjust the longitudinal position of the skirt panel on the trailer during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Gerst
  • Patent number: 9009942
    Abstract: A roll-up door has a plurality of panels and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to ends of the panels for mounting the panels in channels. At least some of the panels are formed of blow-molded thermoplastic material and have a relatively flat outside face and an inside face including ribs that extend longitudinally and transversely on the panel. A reinforced panel of thermoplastic material is made by blow molding a panel with a thermoplastic material to form a relatively flat outside face and a ribbed inside face, and with elongated channels along upper and lower walls thereof. The panel is trimmed while it is still warm to open the channels at one end. While the panel is still warm, reinforcing members are inserted into the elongated channels. The panels can be cooled to shrink the channels onto the reinforcing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Roberts, Thomas Gerst
  • Patent number: 9010401
    Abstract: A roll-up door has a plurality of panels and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to ends of the panels for mounting the panels in channels. At least some of the panels are formed of blow-molded thermoplastic material and have a relatively flat outside face and an inside face including open channels that extend longitudinally and transversely on the panel. A reinforced panel of thermoplastic material is made by blow molding a panel with a thermoplastic material to form a relatively flat outside face and a ribbed inside face, and with elongated channels along upper and lower portions thereof. The panel may be trimmed while it is still warm to open the channels at one end. While the panel is still warm, reinforcing members may be inserted into the elongated channels. The panels may be cooled to shrink the channels onto the reinforcing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Roberts, Thomas Gerst
  • Patent number: 9004538
    Abstract: A motor vehicle mud flap is a plate-like body having a suspension section, a quadrant section, and an extension section. The suspension section is adapted for attachment to a mud flap bracket for suspension of the mud flap therefrom. The quadrant section is coupled with the suspension section and has an array of elongate through-openings. The extension section is coupled with the quadrant section and has an array of elongate through-openings. The array of elongate through-openings is defined by alternating recesses and ribs in parallel and longitudinal disposition. Each recess is configured as a pair of opposed elongate shallow recesses fluidly coupled by an elongate through-opening having a width less than the width of each recess. Water and air can flow through the recesses, and debris larger than the width of the through-openings is deflected by the mud flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley K. Eklund, Thomas Gerst, Gary Roberts, Walter Hill
  • Publication number: 20140300134
    Abstract: A side skirt assembly for a trailer of a tractor-trailer includes a skirt panel and a plurality of skirt mounts that couple the skirt panel to the frame of the trailer. The skirt panel can be formed by a layered composite formed of alternating layers of fiberglass and layers containing recycled fiberglass. The position of the skirt mount can be laterally adjusted along the trailer frame whereby the skirt panel can be mounted to the trailer in more than one lateral position. Additionally, the skirt panel can include a track extending along at least a portion of the skirt panel length, and the track can slide relative to the skirt mount to adjust the longitudinal position of the skirt panel on the trailer during assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Gerst
  • Publication number: 20130320658
    Abstract: A motor vehicle mud flap is a plate-like body having a suspension section, a quadrant section, and an extension section. The suspension section is adapted for attachment to a mud flap bracket for suspension of the mud flap therefrom. The quadrant section is coupled with the suspension section and has an array of elongate through-openings. The extension section is coupled with the quadrant section and has an array of elongate through-openings. The array of elongate through-openings is defined by alternating recesses and ribs in parallel and longitudinal disposition. Each recess is configured as a pair of opposed elongate shallow recesses fluidly coupled by an elongate through-opening having a width less than the width of each recess. Water and air can flow through the recesses, and debris larger than the width of the through-openings is deflected by the mud flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Wesley K. Eklund, Thomas Gerst, Gary Roberts, Walter Hill
  • Publication number: 20130248082
    Abstract: A roll-up door has a plurality of panels and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to ends of the panels for mounting the panels in channels. At least some of the panels are formed of blow-molded thermoplastic material and have a relatively flat outside face and an inside face including ribs that extend longitudinally and transversely on the panel. A reinforced panel of thermoplastic material is made by blow molding a panel with a thermoplastic material to form a relatively flat outside face and a ribbed inside face, and with elongated channels along upper and lower walls thereof. The panel is trimmed while it is still warm to open the channels at one end. While the panel is still warm, reinforcing members are inserted into the elongated channels. The panels can be cooled to shrink the channels onto the reinforcing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Roberts, Thomas Gerst
  • Publication number: 20130248126
    Abstract: A roll-up door has a plurality of panels and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to ends of the panels for mounting the panels in channels. At least some of the panels are formed of blow-molded thermoplastic material and have a relatively flat outside face and an inside face including open channels that extend longitudinally and transversely on the panel. A reinforced panel of thermoplastic material is made by blow molding a panel with a thermoplastic material to form a relatively flat outside face and a ribbed inside face, and with elongated channels along upper and lower portions thereof. The panel may be trimmed while it is still warm to open the channels at one end. While the panel is still warm, reinforcing members may be inserted into the elongated channels. The panels may be cooled to shrink the channels onto the reinforcing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Roberts, Thomas Gerst
  • Patent number: D685306
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley K. Eklund, Thomas Gerst, Gary Roberts, Walter Hill