Patents by Inventor Walter M. Hopkins

Walter M. Hopkins 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: 8840353
    Abstract: The vehicle mounted highway refuse collector gathers discarded refuse from roadway surfaces at normal highway speeds without slowing down. The refuse collector can gather discarded tire treads, or pieces of furniture, and even dead animals at normal speeds safely. At normal highway speeds, the impact with refuse provides centrifugal force sufficient to gather and rotate debris up and onto a storage shelf allowing the continued operation of the refuse collector until it is full. At less than highway speeds, motor assistance provides the means to gather in, and rotate debris onto the storage shelf safely for operation at slower speeds as in city streets. The cleanout when full is facilitated by pull-pins that drop down the storage shelf so as to be easily unloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Walter M. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20130067667
    Abstract: The vehicle mounted highway refuse collector gathers discarded refuse from roadway surfaces at normal highway speeds without slowing down. The refuse collector can gather discarded tire treads, or pieces of furniture, and even dead animals at normal speeds safely. At normal highway speeds, the impact with refuse provides centrifugal force sufficient to gather and rotate debris up and onto a storage shelf allowing the continued operation of the refuse collector until it is full. At less than highway speeds, motor assistance provides the means to gather in, and rotate debris onto the storage shelf safely for operation at slower speeds as in city streets. The cleanout when full is facilitated by pull-pins that drop down the storage shelf so as to be easily unloaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Gator Industries LLC
    Inventor: Walter M. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4173439
    Abstract: An apparatus having at least one alternately expanding and contracting chamber comprises a plurality of cylindrical rollers each having an exterior surface in continuous rolling engagement with two adjacent rollers, the rollers being rotatable along parallel axes, with at least one of the rollers rotating about an eccentric and/or reciprocating axis. The rollers are preferably of equal length with adjacent rollers being in contact substantially along their entire respective lengths, the chamber being defined between the rollers and enclosed at its ends by end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Inventor: Walter M. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4139336
    Abstract: An apparatus having an alternately expanding and contracting chamber comprises at least one pair of cylindrical rollers each having an exterior surface in continuous rolling engagement with the surface of the other roller of the pair, the rollers being rotatable along parallel axes, and two parallel side walls, with each one of the rollers also being in continuous rolling engagement with one of the side walls. A third wall is opposite the rollers and joins the two side walls wherein the chamber is defined between these walls and the pair of rollers, and is enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Inventor: Walter M. Hopkins