Patents by Inventor Timothy Allen Gerhards

Timothy Allen Gerhards 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).

  • Door panel tool
    Publication number: 20040226337
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly and safely installing a door panel over an automobile door frame includes a rectangular solid body that is preferably formed of a polyethylene plastic. The body includes a nose portion that has a recessed area. The recessed area has a tapered plane that is used to progressively urge the panel around a lip of the frame when the body is impacted, such as by an air impact hammer. The body has an opposite end distally disposed from the nose that includes a cylindrical recess which is adapted to receive a shaft therein, the shaft being adapted for use with the air impact hammer. A fin extends from the nose portion at an angle with respect to the shaft and is used to prevent the tool from rolling into the panel during installation. In use a first pass around the perimeter of the panel is made with the tool close to normal to initially set the panel in position around the lip. A second pass is then made at more of an angle to complete the crimp of the panel fully around the lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Gerhards
  • Door panel tool
    Patent number: 6772495
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly and safely installing a door panel over an automobile door frame includes a rectangular solid body that is preferably formed of a polyethylene plastic. The body includes a nose portion that has a recessed area. The recessed area has a tapered plane that is used to progressively urge the panel around a lip of the frame when the body is impacted, such as by an air impact hammer. The body has an opposite end distally disposed from the nose that includes a cylindrical recess which is adapted to receive a shaft therein, the shaft being adapted for use with the air impact hammer. A fin extends from the nose portion at an angle with respect to the shaft and is used to prevent the tool from rolling into the panel during installation. In use a first pass around the perimeter of the panel is made with the tool close to normal to initially set the panel in position around the lip. A second pass is then made at more of an angle to complete the crimp of the panel fully around the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Timothy Allen Gerhards