Patents Assigned to ShockWatch, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8863683
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The device includes a housing and a detection assembly configured to detect receipt by the housing of an acceleration event. In response to detecting the acceleration event, the detection assembly causes a display element coupled to the housing to provide an encoded indication of impact status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton A. Branch, Jeffrey W. Kilpatrick, Daniel B. Hafen
  • Publication number: 20140196294
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for tilt detection and indication is disclosed. The tilt indicator includes a first member having a reservoir for retaining a granular indicating media therein; and a second member coupled to the first member and having an adhesive portion located corresponding to an indicating area of the first member. Responsive to a tilt event, at least a portion of the indicating media exits the reservoir and travels to the indicating area where the adhesive portion retains at least a portion of the indicating media within the indicating area. A blocking element located within a buffering area located between the reservoir and the indicating area is configured to impede travel of the indicating media from the reservoir toward the indicating area when the tilt indicator is in an activated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SHOCKWATCH, INC.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Patent number: 8671582
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for tilt detection and indication is disclosed. The tilt indicator includes a first member having a reservoir for retaining a granular indicating media therein; and a second member coupled to the first member and having an adhesive portion located corresponding to an indicating area of the first member. Responsive to a tilt event, at least a portion of the indicating media exits the reservoir and travels to the indicating area where the adhesive portion retains at least a portion of the indicating media within the indicating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Patent number: 8646401
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a housing; a mass member located within the housing where the housing is configured to enable movement of the mass member from a first position to a second position within the housing in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event; and first and second biasing members disposed within the housing and biased toward each other to retain the mass member in the first position. In response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome the biasing force of the first biasing member and move from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20130299322
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for an impact switch is disclosed. The impact switch includes a first member having a reservoir for holding a conductive fluid and a second member having a first conductive portion disconnected from a second conductive portion. The second member is coupled to the first member over the reservoir. Responsive to receiving a predetermined level of impact, the conductive fluid moves from the reservoir to an interface between the first and second members to conductively connect the first conductive portion with the second conductive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20130247814
    Abstract: A device and technique for impact detection and indication includes a housing; a mass member located within the housing, the housing configured to enable movement of the mass member from a first position to a second position within the housing in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event; and first and second biasing members disposed within the housing and biased toward each other to retain the mass member in the first position. In response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome the biasing force of the first biasing member and move from the first position to the second position, and wherein the first and second biasing members each comprises a leaf spring member having a length greater than a width of the mass member and disposed transversely to a direction of movement of the mass member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Patent number: 8387552
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a first member having a reservoir for holding an indicator fluid; a second member couplable to the first member; and a disc member disposed at least partially between the first and second members and extending over the reservoir. A capillary gap is formed at an interface between the disc member and a surface of the first member facing the disc member. Responsive to receiving a predetermined level of impact, the indicator fluid moves from the reservoir to the interface between the disc member and the first member and wicks into the capillary gap via capillary action, the indicator fluid disposed within the capillary gap providing a visual indication of the received predetermined level of impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20120312071
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a tube having a first fluid and a second fluid disposed therein, wherein a viscosity of the second fluid is greater than a viscosity of the first fluid, and wherein, responsive to a predetermined level of impact received by the impact indicator, at least a portion of the first fluid mixes into the second fluid to create a change in color of the second fluid to provide a visual indication of the received impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SHOCKWATCH, INC.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20120312225
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a first member having a reservoir for holding an indicator fluid; a second member couplable to the first member; and a disc member disposed at least partially between the first and second members and extending over the reservoir. A capillary gap is formed at an interface between the disc member and a surface of the first member facing the disc member. Responsive to receiving a predetermined level of impact, the indicator fluid moves from the reservoir to the interface between the disc member and the first member and wicks into the capillary gap via capillary action, the indicator fluid disposed within the capillary gap providing a visual indication of the received predetermined level of impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20120312224
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a first member having a reservoir for holding an indicator fluid; and a second member couplable to the first member over the reservoir and configured to form a capillary gap between at least a portion of an interface between the first and second members. Responsive to receiving a predetermined level of impact, the indicator fluid moves from the reservoir to the interface between the first and second members and wicks into the capillary gap via capillary action, the indicator fluid disposed within the capillary gap providing a visual indication of the received predetermined level of impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SHOCKWATCH, INC.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20120291694
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a housing; a mass member located within the housing where the housing is configured to enable movement of the mass member from a first position to a second position within the housing in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event; and first and second biasing members disposed within the housing and biased toward each other to retain the mass member in the first position. In response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome the biasing force of the first biasing member and move from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SHOCKWATCH, INC.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20120227463
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection is disclosed. The impact indicator includes a housing and a mass member located within the housing. The housing is configured to enable movement of the mass member from a first position to a second position within the housing in response to receipt of an acceleration event by the housing. The impact indicator also includes a spring member disposed within the housing and configured to bias the mass member to the first position, and wherein in response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome the bias and move from the first position to the second position. The mass member is configured to rotate within the housing in the second position to enable retention of the mass member in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SHOCKWATCH, INC.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20120227661
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The device includes a housing and a detection assembly configured to detect receipt by the housing of an acceleration event. In response to detecting the acceleration event, the detection assembly causes a display element coupled to the housing to provide an encoded indication of impact status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SHOCKWATCH, INC.
    Inventors: Clinton A. Branch, Jeffrey W. Kilpatrick, Daniel B. Hafen
  • Patent number: 8234994
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for impact detection and indication is disclosed. The device includes a housing; a mass member located within the housing, the housing configured to enable movement of the mass member from a first position to a second position within the housing in response to receipt by the housing of an acceleration event; and first and second spring members disposed within the housing and configured to bias the mass member to the first position, wherein, in response to receipt by the housing of the acceleration event, the mass member is configured to overcome the biasing force of the first spring member and move from the first position to the second position, and wherein each of the first and second spring members extends across a medial portion of the mass member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Publication number: 20120114010
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device and technique for monitoring temperature of an environment of a sensitive object is disclosed. The device includes a housing configured to be disposed within or affixed to a transport container for the object, a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to obtain a plurality of temperature readings, and monitor logic configured to compare the plurality of temperature readings to a temperature threshold. The device also includes counter logic configured to generate an excursion count indicating a quantity of time periods the temperature readings exceeded the temperature threshold, generate a consecutive count indicating a quantity of consecutive temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold, and generate a cumulative count indicating a cumulative quantity of temperature readings exceeding the temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Patent number: 7353615
    Abstract: The tilt detector has a container with a receptacle located therein. The receptacle has open and closed ends. In its normal, upright orientation, a first mass is located inside of the receptacle. A second mass is located adjacent to the open end of the receptacle. When the receptacle is in its normal, upright orientation, the second mass is located above the receptacle and blocks the exit of the first mass from the receptacle even when the first mass moves in response to vibration frequencies to which the first mass is sensitive. When the receptacle is tilted beyond a predetermined angle, the second mass moves from its blocking position so as to allow the first mass to exit the receptacle. A tilting indication occurs when the first mass has exited the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clint Branch
  • Patent number: D706155
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch
  • Patent number: D706156
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ShockWatch, Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton A. Branch