Donald Charles Pretsch

US Patent:

D3759113, Nov 26, 1996

Filed:

Apr 19, 1995

Appl. No.:

D/037729

Inventors:

Donald C. Pretsch - Alexandria VA

US Classification:

D10110

US Patent:

56554745, Aug 12, 1997

Filed:

Jan 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/376892

Inventors:

Donald Charles Pretsch - Alexandria VA

International Classification:

B60Q 1100

US Classification:

116 28R

Abstract:

A position indicating and distance gauging device is provided for the purpose of preventing impact or collision of a vehicle or an object, such as a trash dumpster, carried by a vehicle with a wall or barrier, such as a dumpster enclosure. The device includes an indicator arm retained in a generally vertical orientation and biased away from the barrier or wall, and a bracket mounted to the wall or other structure at a height at which distance markings provided on an upper face of a flange portion of the device will be readily visible to a vehicle operator in a vehicle that is approaching the barrier. The indicator arm passes through a slot in the flange of the bracket, and will deflect in a substantially pivoting motion, upon force being applied against it by a vehicle or object, toward the barrier, being guided by the slot, with the motion of the arm providing the vehicle operator with a visual indication that the arm has been contacted, and the arm further serves as a pointer that will line up with the markings on the flange to provide a readout of the distance of the indicator arm, and thus the vehicle or object touching and pushing against the arm, from the barrier or wall.

US Patent:

60703342, Jun 6, 2000

Filed:

Feb 4, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/018650

Inventors:

Donald C. Pretsch - Alexandria VA

International Classification:

B23Q 300

US Classification:

33474

Abstract:

A retaining bracket is provided for securing a carpenter's square thereto in a desired fixed position relative to the bracket, such that the carpenter's square can be used to mark surfaces of construction materials to be cut. The retaining bracket includes a pair of locking elements captured by and loosely carried in a channel within the bracket and having arm portions positioned outside of the bracket and pins extending through a slot in the bracket connecting the interior and exterior portions of the locking elements, and the arm portions are provided with locking screws which are advanced into contact with the square once the square is properly positioned, to thereby securely fasten the square to the bracket.

US Patent:

58946730, Apr 20, 1999

Filed:

Aug 11, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/908070

Inventors:

Donald C. Pretsch - Alexandria VA

International Classification:

G01B 514

US Classification:

33286

Abstract:

A vehicle mounted backing distance gauge is provided, in which an activator bar carried by two side arms, normally biased to an extended position, extends approximately ten inches behind the vehicle, and as the vehicle is backed toward an object such as a loading dock, the activator bar comes into contact with the object and retracts toward a front end of the vehicle. The activator bar is coupled to a plunger beam carried within a casing mounted on the vehicle that moves in concert with the activator bar, and through the use of a bevel gear pair and a follower arm controllably moved by the forward end of the plunger beam, an indicator sign is rotated or pivoted by a shaft coupled to one of the bevel gears from a first position parallel to the side of the vehicle and extending toward the rear of the vehicle, to a diametrically opposed position parallel to the vehicle, but extending toward the front of the vehicle. The movement of the indicator sign is monitored by the driver, and the last increment of approach is highly visibly represented as a bright or high contrast flange face carried by the sign begins to, and ultimately does, disappear behind a wall of a sign housing protruding from the side of the vehicle.