Celebrity Inventors
Glam girl Heddy Lamar may have used her good looks to good effect on the silver screen, but she put her smarts to better use as an inventor. During World War II, she co-patented a frequency-switching system for torpedo guidance that was considered years ahead of its time.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177278 | Truck or trailer tailgate A work bed with its low profile load bed recessed between fenders combined with a unique tailgate mounting system is disclosed. The combination is suited for fixed or dump mounting on a truck and fixed, dump, or selective tilt or dump use on a trailer. Tailgates sys... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8007021 | Mounting system for mounting a body to a vehicle tailgate A mounting system for mounting a body to a tailgate having first and second latch assemblies that engage a pair of striker plates. The mounting system includes a first mounting bracket having a first striker plate to engage the first latch assembly and a second moun... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7959203 | Vehicle tailgate enclosure with enhanced adjustment A vehicle tailgate enclosure can be adapted for rapid assembly and adjustable width. The enclosure includes two side sections and a center section. The center section is formed as an assembly of two portions. The side sections can each comprise beams which are advan... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7850219 | Viscous rotary damper for vehicle end gate assembly A viscous rotary damping device for a vehicle end gate assembly is provided. The damping device includes a housing member configured to operatively attach to the vehicle body or the end gate assembly. The housing member defines a fluid chamber having viscous fluid t... | 12/14/2010 |
| RE41560 | Automotive closure panel with pivot-mounted alignment system An automotive closure panel which is rotatable about a pivot axis has an axial locator insert situated within a pivot bearing insert bore to set a margin extending between the closure panel and a vehicle body. This system is particularly useful for closure panels su... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7731260 | Vehicle load-carrying bed system having bed divider A load-carrying bed system for a vehicle having a cargo bed includes a bed floor defining a cargo receiving area and first and second sidewalls disposed along lateral sides of the bed floor. A forward wall is disposed along a forward side of the bed floor and latera... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7722106 | Tailgate for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle having such a tailgate In a tailgate for a motor vehicle, which comprises a lower tailgate body (18), on which a rear window (22) is mounted, on whose upper area a supplemental brake light (24) is provided, the rear window (22) is lowerable into the tailgate bo... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7661743 | Bezel retainer clip The invention concerns a vehicle having a closure with a handle surrounded by a handle bezel, and a method of assembling the handle bezel to the closure. The handle bezel, which may contain a key cylinder, mounts around the handle and includes a retainer bracket hav... | 02/16/2010 |
| 7658427 | Impact absorbing tailgate A vehicle tailgate includes a lower section carrying pivots adapted to be mounted to a vehicle bed; an upper section slidingly mounted to the lower section, so as to be able to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the lower section;... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7654600 | Vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism using lever driven rotary damper A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism including a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions, and a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A drive lever may be pivotally connected to the lever arm and to ... | 02/02/2010 |
| 7625031 | Selectively detachable tailgate cable assembly An exemplary embodiment of a selectively detachable tailgate cable assembly comprises a tailgate cable having first and second ends and a wiring harness having first and second ends. One of the first and second ends of the tailgate cable is connected to a portion of... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7549691 | Locking arrangements for removable end gates An end gates which provides access to a cargo area of an automotive vehicle has a pair of outwardly opening cups which receive a pair of opposed pins directed inwardly from the cargo area. The end gate is rotatable from a closed vertical position through substantial... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7367610 | Method and apparatus for assembling a component to a panel A component is adapted for assembly to a panel at a desired location. The component includes a body and at least one fastener threadingly received in the body, the fastener having a head and a threaded shaft, the head extending outwardly from the body a predetermine... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7360818 | Structure of auxiliary tail gate of vehicle A structure of an auxiliary tail gate, to open and close a main cargo area when it is impossible to provide enough space to move a main tail gate because another vehicle or obstacle is parked or placed near, and to store small cargo separately from the main cargo ar... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7354090 | Self-supporting tailgate table/extension A tailgate adaptation for motor vehicles, preferably pick-up trucks, with at least two flat panels that are constructed of aluminum, molded fiberglass, plastic, or other suitable materials, and which convert an ordinary tailgate into a surface that provides a number... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7350843 | Tailgate ramp system A tailgate ramp system for use with a loading ramp. The tailgate ramp system is used to support one end of the loading ramp on the tailgate of a motor vehicle. The tailgate ramp system includes a tailgate adapter having a tailgate mount adapted to lie on a portion o... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7338106 | Sound damping and sealing system for tail gate A sound damping system for a swinging tail gate of a dump truck is described. The system comprises a two-part seal formed by a compressible sound damping material and a rigid compressing projection. One part of the two-part seal is secured along opposed vertical edg... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7325880 | Dual dump body for truck or trailer A truck or trailer for hauling landscape materials or other bulk products, has separate independent side-by-side dump boxes or compartments, each with a hydraulic ram to elevate the respective dump box. The compartments may have segmented removable center walls, whi... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7322629 | Locking hinge for a door structure A locking hinge (10) includes a first hinge panel (12a) and a second hinge panel (12b) pivotably connected by a pivot pin (14) about a pivoting axis (P). A locking rod (16) is slidably received by one of the first or ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7322627 | Vertically adjustable truck bed A truck is disclosed with a vertically adjustable bed to facilitate cargo loading and unloading. The truck includes a U-shaped frame within which the vertically adjustable bed is located. The vertically adjustable bed is movable between elevated and lowered position... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7316386 | Valve stem seal assembly A valve stem seal assembly having a retainer body that includes an annular interior passageway defined by a wall is disclosed. At least one internal sprue extends between top and bottom ends of the retainer body and are formed within the wall. A channel is concentri... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7314241 | Vehicle tailgate dampener and lift assist system A control mechanism for controlling movement of a vehicle gate between a first and a second position comprises a dampener assembly and a lift assembly that are incorporated within the gate. The dampener assembly has a first component mountable to a vehicle structure... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7309202 | Combination loading ramp/extension table for a truck bed A system for transporting and storing a portable combination table/ramp device in a truck bed, including a substantially flat platform supported by a plurality of support members positioned between the platform and the truck bed and defining a plurality of elongated... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7303218 | Tailgate latching mechanisms An apparatus for latching a tailgate to supporting structure of a vehicle generally includes a latch, a keeper, and a member for rotating the keeper relative to the latch. The member is rotatably supported by the tailgate such that the member is rotatable between at... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7287798 | Tailgate assembly and method of operating the same A tailgate assembly and method of operating the same. The assembly includes a door portion movable between a closed position and an open position. An extendable spoiler is operably attached to the door portion. An extendable floorbed is operably attached to the door... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7287799 | Tailgate lift assist dampening device A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly secured to the torque rod. A first end assembly pivotally supports the tailgate while permitting a torque rod end to be rigidly coupled to the tai... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284781 | Tailgate ramp and method for providing access to a vehicle A tailgate for a pickup truck or other vehicle. The tailgate is convertible to a loading ramp to facilitate access to the cargo-holding area of the vehicle. The tailgate includes at least one extensible hook member on one side edge of the tailgate and a panel extens... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7281753 | Vehicle enclosure Door assembly includes a doorframe that can be secured to the vehicle, and a preferably rigid door that is movable between an open and closed position. The door can be secured to the vehicle in the open position so that the passengers have the option of riding in th... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7281746 | Retrofit tailgate counterbalancing hinge A torque rod-based counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a first assembly for securing the torque rod to one side of vehicle's body and supporting the tailgate to the same side of the vehicle's body, and a second assembly for supporting the other end of the tailg... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7281748 | Tailgate lift-and-secure cable and latch assembly A lift and secure latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a pair of cables capable of applying upward force to the tailgate and a tensioning mechanism positioned within the tailgate and connected to the support members to apply tension thereto. One of the cab... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7281747 | Tailgate counterbalancing hinge A tailgate counterbalancing hinge assembly includes a linear torque rod, a first end assembly and a second end assembly secured to the torque rod. The assemblies are easily mounted in the vehicle by means of brackets secured to the tailgate. The first end assembly p... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7281745 | Vehicular rear-mounted cargo extender A vehicle having a cargo extender mounted to a rear portion thereof, preferably a minivan or a sport utility vehicle, is provided. The cargo extender is preferably slidable between a retracted position stowed in an aesthetically-pleasing manner within the rear porti... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7280035 | Door swing detection and protection Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing the occurrence of vehicle door bumps against an adjacent object facing the door. The apparatus comprises one or more distance sensors mounted on the vehicle for measuring distance D from the door to the object, a brake... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7264286 | Recessed lift gate latch A lift gate latch is used with a lift gate and a handrail on a boat having a deck. The handrail has a jamb with a hollow interior having a predetermined width and breadth. The lift gate has a stile and a sliding hinge. The lift gate latch comprises a cup inserted in... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7261356 | Trailer A trailer includes a ramp having an end attached to the trailer for pivotal movement of the ramp between a raised gate position and a lowered, inclined loading position. An elongate support is attached to the trailer adjacent to the end of the ramp, and a tension sp... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7258373 | Vehicle lock assembly A lock assembly for selectively locking to a striker on a vehicle includes a lock body defining a lock body recess for receiving the striker therein. A latch is rotatably mounted to the lock body for selectively locking the striker in the lock body recess. The latch... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7243973 | Overstroke latch assembly A closure assembly is mounted on a vehicle and moveable between a closed position and at least one open position. The closure assembly includes a closure structure mounted to an associated vehicle for movement between the closed position and the at least one open po... | 07/17/2007 |
| RE39729 | Tailgate assembly A tailgate assembly having an inner panel and an outer panel which is selectively coupled to the inner panel. The tailgate assembly further includes at least one stiffening member which is selectively and operatively contained between the panels and which increases ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7240946 | System for counterbalancing a tailgate A counterbalancing system is provided that can be easily installed to an exterior of a tailgate and provides a mechanism for arresting the tailgate in an open position. The system includes a stop assembly coupled to the vehicle and a counterbalance assembly adapted ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7235901 | Sensor and interlock on an industrial vehicle A skid steer loader has an interlock system that is responsive to sensor input to lock out such as operation of lift and tilt cylinders of the skid steer loader when the input indicates a condition has not been met. The loader is provided with a cab that has an oper... | 06/26/2007 |
