Patents by Inventor Wilfred E. Lewallen

Wilfred E. Lewallen 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: 7931328
    Abstract: A logistics panel includes a composite panel that is formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween. The composite panel has top and bottom end portions and first and second side end portions. The composite panel further has an aperture set provided therethrough which defines at least one aperture which extends through the inner and outer skins and the core member and between the end portions. Multiple logistics panels can be used to form a sidewall of a trailer by joining the first side end portion of one panel to the second side end portion of an adjacent panel. Top and bottom rails are secured to the top and bottom end portions, respectively, of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Wilfred E. Lewallen, Michael L. Thoma, Danny L. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20100259068
    Abstract: A logistics panel includes a composite panel that is formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween. The composite panel has top and bottom end portions and first and second side end portions. The composite panel further has an aperture set provided therethrough which defines at least one aperture which extends through the inner and outer skins and the core member and between the end portions. Multiple logistics panels can be used to form a sidewall of a trailer by joining the first side end portion of one panel to the second side end portion of an adjacent panel. Top and bottom rails are secured to the top and bottom end portions, respectively, of the panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Wilfred E. Lewallen, Michael L. Thoma, Danny L. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7762618
    Abstract: A logistics panel includes a composite panel that is formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween. The composite panel has top and bottom end portions and first and second side end portions. The composite panel further has an aperture set provided therethrough which defines at least one aperture which extends through the inner and outer skins and the core member and between the end portions. Multiple logistics panels can be used to form a sidewall of a trailer by joining the first side end portion of one panel to the second side end portion of an adjacent panel. Top and bottom rails are secured to the top and bottom end portions, respectively, of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Wilfred E. Lewallen, Michael L. Thoma, Danny L. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7588286
    Abstract: A logistics panel of the invention is formed of a composite panel, a logistics plate and a splicing plate. The composite panel is formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween. The composite panel has top and bottom end portions and first and second side end portions. The composite panel further has an aperture set provided therethrough which defines at least one aperture which extends through the inner and outer skins and the core member and between the end portions. The logistics plate has a plurality of logistics apertures provided therethrough. The logistics plate is secured to the composite panel such that the plurality of logistics apertures are in alignment with the aperture set such that the aperture set is accessible through the logistics plate. The splicing plate is positioned to cover the aperture set such that the aperture set is inaccessible through the splicing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Wilfred E. Lewallen, Michael L. Thoma, Danny L. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20090206631
    Abstract: A logistics panel includes a composite panel that is formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween. The composite panel has top and bottom end portions and first and second side end portions. The composite panel further has an aperture set provided therethrough which defines at least one aperture which extends through the inner and outer skins and the core member and between the end portions. Multiple logistics panels can be used to form a sidewall of a trailer by joining the first side end portion of one panel to the second side end portion of an adjacent panel. Top and bottom rails are secured to the top and bottom end portions, respectively, of the panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Wilfred E. Lewallen, Michael L. Thoma, Danny L. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20080134509
    Abstract: A method of forming a logistics panel for use in a sidewall of a trailer includes the step of providing a composite panel formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween; the step of forming an aperture set defining at least one aperture extending through the composite panel; the step of securing a logistics plate having at least one aperture provided therethrough to the composite panel in order to align the at least one aperture provided through the logistics plate with the aperture set provided through the composite panel such that the aperture set is accessible through the logistics plate; and the step of securing a splicing plate to at least one of the composite panel and the logistics plate in order to cover the aperture set such that the aperture set is inaccessible through the splicing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: WILFRED E. LEWALLEN, MICHAEL L. THOMA, DANNY L. GILBERT
  • Publication number: 20080116718
    Abstract: A logistics panel of the invention is formed of a composite panel, a logistics plate and a splicing plate. The composite panel is formed of inner and outer skins and a core member secured therebetween. The composite panel has top and bottom end portions and first and second side end portions. The composite panel further has an aperture set provided therethrough which defines at least one aperture which extends through the inner and outer skins and the core member and between the end portions. The logistics plate has a plurality of logistics apertures provided therethrough. The logistics plate is secured to the composite panel such that the plurality of logistics apertures are in alignment with the aperture set such that the aperture set is accessible through the logistics plate. The splicing plate is positioned to cover the aperture set such that the aperture set is inaccessible through the splicing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: WILFRED E. LEWALLEN, MICHAEL L. THOMA, DANNY L. GILBERT
  • Publication number: 20010011832
    Abstract: A novel composite plate is used to form a wall or a door of a vehicle, such as a trailer or van. Each composite plate used in the trailer is formed from a pair of metal skins, such as aluminum or steel, having a foamed thermal plastic core member sandwiched therebetween. The skins are bonded to the core member by a known flexible adhesive. The foamed thermal plastic core member is resilient and may be made from foamed high density or foamed low density thermal plastic. The foaming of the core member in the present invention reduces the weight of the composite plate versus prior art solid plastic core composite plates and provides for an increased the peel strength of the composite plate versus prior art solid plastic core composite plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Applicant: WABASH TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald J. Ehrlich, Rodney P. Ehrlich, Wilfred E. LeWallen