Steven E Gates

US Patent:

6386411, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Apr 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/551017

Inventors:

Steven C. Gates - Elfers FL 34680
Richard H. Gates - Callaway FL 32404

International Classification:

B60R 900

US Classification:

224523, 224519, 414462

Abstract:

A boat support apparatus includes a hitch member adapted to be secured in cantilevered relation to a trailer hitch of a vehicle. A center bar extends longitudinally from the hitch member and provides the base for the apparatus. A pair of transversely opposed front vertical supports and a pair of transversely opposed rear vertical supports are mounted in longitudinally spaced apart relation relative to one another on a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced apart support beams. The support beams are connected in parallel relation to the center bar by transversely disposed cross supports that are supported at their respective mid-points by the center bar. The forward vertical supports have upper ends disposed at a higher elevation than upper ends of the rear vertical supports. A pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced apart runners are secured to and span the upper ends of corresponding front and rear vertical supports, there being a single runner extending between each set of front and rear vertical supports. The runners are disposed in an angular inclination that is predetermined by the respective heights of the front and rear vertical supports.

US Patent:

D643221, Aug 16, 2011

Filed:

Nov 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

29/378879

Inventors:

Steven C. Gates - Elfers FL, US
Brian Santos - Valrico FL, US

Assignee:

Crystal Ball Productions, Inc. - Valrico FL

International Classification:

0404

US Classification:

D 4138, D4137

US Patent:

D644030, Aug 30, 2011

Filed:

Nov 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

29/378877

Inventors:

Steven C. Gates - Elfers FL, US
Brian Santos - Valrico FL, US

Assignee:

Crystal Ball Productions, Inc. - Valrico FL

International Classification:

0404

US Classification:

D 4138, D4137

US Patent:

20100270313, Oct 28, 2010

Filed:

Jun 18, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/819133

Inventors:

Steven C. Gates - New Port Richey FL, US
Brian Santos - New Port Richey FL, US

International Classification:

B05C 21/00

US Classification:

220570, 152091

Abstract:

An open-topped paint tray includes an upwardly-opening paint-retaining cavity defined by a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls, and an imperforate bottom wall. The cavity includes a main cavity with an arcuate bottom wall and a secondary cavity having a straight, downwardly inclined bottom wall. A hollow stiffening rib having a gradual “S” shape is formed integrally with the paint tray bottom wall and enables a user to hold the paint tray in one hand. A roller cover wash shield releasably engages the paint tray and defines a downwardly-opening cavity that together with the upwardly-opening paint retaining cavity provides a primary cavity for cleaning a paint roller cover. A flap formed in the roller cover wash shield admits a wand having a nozzle that spins and cleans a paint roller cover, positioned within the primary cavity, with water under pressure.

US Patent:

57974101, Aug 25, 1998

Filed:

Jun 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/867055

Inventors:

Steven C. Gates - Elfers FL

International Classification:

B08B 302

US Classification:

134138

Abstract:

A new clear view wash shield for washing a paint roller and permitting viewing of the washing operation. The inventive device includes first and second transparent shield halves, with each half having a generally flat portion and a semi-cylindrical raised portion within each flat portion. The raised portions form a cylindrical housing for a paint roller when the shield halves are connected together. One of the semi-cylindrical raised portions includes a flexible water inlet flap thereon through which water from a spray nozzle is introduced into the cylindrical housing. The shield halves include interfitting projections and grooves for connecting the shield halves together, and each shield half includes a semi-cylindrical handle portion. The handle portions form a handle housing for enclosing the handle of the paint roller when the shield halves are connected together. The transparent nature of the shield halves permit viewing of the paint roller while being washed, thus enabling the user to determine when the roller is clean.