Patents by Inventor William E. Melching

William E. Melching 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: 5328225
    Abstract: A light-weight set of four substantially flat rectangular plates sequentially connected to each other by hinges is pivotably mounted to a pick-up truck tailgate. Flat bar stock braces with orthogonal end tabs fit to tab-receiving elements attached to selected ones of the interconnected plates to secure them in predetermined angular relationships. The plates can thus be secured so that an enlarged containment space is generated to effectively extend an enclosed load space over the width and length of the tailgate. Similarly, by use of a pair of braces on each side, the central two of the four interconnected plates can be securely arranged to provide a flat workbench surface above the entire tailgate. Selected power tools may be mounted thereunder to project operating tool bits, e.g., a router bit, to machine workpieces on the workbench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Nissan Research and Development, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Melching, David M. Glorio, Joseph S. Sareny, Jr.