Patents Examined by Christopher P. Ellis
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Patent number: 11787539Abstract: A convertible aircraft system is provided that can convert to a helicopter configuration, an airplane configuration, or a gyroplane configuration before, during, or after flight. The convertible aircraft system includes a fuselage, a proximal flight assembly, a distal flight assembly, a support spar, and a tail assembly. The fuselage is the main structural body of the present invention. The proximal flight assembly and the distal flight assembly are the flight system of the present invention. The support spar provides an axis of rotation and a pole support for the proximal flight assembly and the distal flight assembly. The tail assembly provides stability during flight of the present invention. In more detail, the tail assembly may comprise at least one vertical stabilizer, at least one horizontal stabilizer, and at least one rudder in order to provide stability during flight of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Inventors: Xingkang Li, Heng Ren, Qiang Li, Xingjian Li
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Patent number: 11789469Abstract: A package delivery system for delivering a plurality of packages with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a package receptacle to receive and store the plurality of packages. A charging station charges a plurality of UAV batteries which power the one or more UAVs. A UAV landing pad permits the one or more UAVs to land thereon. A loader loads a package of the plurality of packages and/or a UAV battery of the plurality of UAV batteries onto the UAVs when the UAVs are on the UAV landing pad. A transporter moves the packages and/or the UAV batteries s toward the loader.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.Inventors: John Ciliberti, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Robert E. Hoffman
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Patent number: 11780582Abstract: A cargo transport system comprising a spine assembly and a container assembly. The spine assembly comprises a rigid spine and a plurality of mounts arranged on the rigid spine in a plurality of mount rows. The container assembly comprises a plurality of containers and is secured to the spine assembly using at least a subset of the plurality of mounts. Each container of the plurality of containers comprises a plurality of fittings for securing the container to the spine assembly and/or another container of the container assembly. Each mount row extends along a width of the spine assembly, and the plurality of mount rows are spaced apart at regular distance intervals along a length of the spine.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Biosphere Aerospace, LLCInventor: Elie Helou, Jr.
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Patent number: 11772794Abstract: A battery-powered pilotless aerial vehicle has a center unit, a plurality of rotor units coupled to the center unit, a plurality of battery assemblies, and a plurality of electrical circuitry components including a central control circuitry and at least a flight control subsystem, a detecting and avoiding subsystem, and an emergency communication subsystem controlled by the central control circuitry. The center unit receives one or more of the electrical circuitry components and has a compartment for accommodating one or more passengers or cargo goods. Each rotor unit comprises a propelling module functionally coupled to the central control circuitry. The one or more battery assemblies are configured for being controlled by the flight control subsystem for at least powering the propelling modules, and are at a distance away from the center unit for reducing electromagnetic interference to the electrical circuitry components therein.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventors: Mark Holbrook Hanna, Douglas Morgan Hanna
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Patent number: 11772782Abstract: A center C of a connecting portion coincides with a center U of lift generated in a body of a rotary-wing aircraft. The center C of the connecting portion is a point of action of gravitational force of a support rod and a first mounting portion with respect to the connecting portion. The center U of the lift is a point of action of the lift on the rotary-wing aircraft and is the center of rotation of the connecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: AERONEXT INC.Inventor: Youichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 11772796Abstract: An item to be secured to an aircraft floor can be secured to a Load Transfer Structure that resides under the floor, via access passages provided in selected floor panels. The Load Transfer Structure transfers the weight of the item to members of the airframe, and is designed to accommodate loads during normal flight without restricting the designed movement of the airframe; however, under abnormal conditions such as a crash, the Load Transfer Structure engages members of the airframe to transfer loads thereto to secure the item.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Moose Manufacturing LLCInventors: Angelo H. Nichols, Harry A. Nichols
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Patent number: 11772440Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a unique design of multi-purpose wheels for use in multi-purpose vehicles capable of operating in different transportation modes in different mediums such as flying mode and driving mode. Advantageous design of multi-purpose wheels and vehicles of the present disclosure allow for easy and convenient change in transportation mode of such vehicles without need for any special purpose transportation infrastructure. In one aspect, a multi-purpose tool includes a first set of blades configured to enable an object to which the multi-purpose tool is attached to operate in a first mode of transportation; a second set of blades configured to enable the object to operate in a second mode of transportation; and an engagement mechanism coupled to the first set of blades and the second set of blades for switching operation of the object between the first mode of transportation and the second mode of transportation.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventor: Ali Salem
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Patent number: 11772793Abstract: To provide a flying object in which a working part can be close to an operation target at an appropriate distance the flying object according to the present disclosure includes a flight part including at least a plurality of rotary wings and a motor for driving the rotary wings, a main body elongated in a vertical direction, and a connection part that connects the flight part and the main body in a mutually displaceable manner, wherein a total length of the main body in the vertical direction is at least twice a maximum diameter of the flight part in a horizontal direction. The main body has an upper part that is provided above the connection portion, and a lower portion that is provided below the connection portion, and the length of the upper part is three times or more the length of the lower part.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: AERONEXT INC.Inventor: Yoichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 11758889Abstract: An artificial bait having a housing in the shape of an insect or animal, a power source arranged in the housing, a controller arranged in the housing, a hook. The housing including shape memory alloy (SMA) in the form of one or more SMA wires, which are operatively arranged with one or more spring wires to cause one or more body parts of the housing to move.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Inventors: Gary Heines, Brett Herdendorf
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Patent number: 11753161Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for the deploying of buoyancy and impact reduction measures during operation of a UAV in the event of a failure, malfunction or collision. One or more airbags or bladders may be inflated to reduce the force transferred to the UAV as a result of a crash or collision. The bladders may both be used in the impact reduction as well as being used as a floatation device in the event a water landing/crash. The airbags may be configured to keep the UAV afloat so as to allow for the recovery of the UAV.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventor: Tony Wayne Thomas, Sr.
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Patent number: 11753146Abstract: A vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft has a pair of fixed wings fore and aft, straddling a pair of tiltable propulsors, such as ducted fans. The aircraft includes a modular crew cabin or freight payload and a dynamic counterbalance positioning system which can shift the location of an integral aircraft segment which may contain operational components such as fuel tanks, batteries, avionics equipment etc. in order to move the aircraft center of gravity closer to the center of lift and/or vertical thrust.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventor: Geoffrey P. Pinto
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Patent number: 11745886Abstract: An electric aircraft for generating a yaw force includes a fuselage, a plurality of laterally extending elements secured to the fuselage, a plurality of lift components attached to the plurality of laterally extending elements, and at least a longitudinal thrust component attached to the plurality of laterally extending elements, wherein the longitudinal thrust component is configured to generate a yaw force.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: BETA AIR, LLCInventors: Nicholas Moy, Riley Griffin, Lochie Ferrier, Collin Freiheit
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Patent number: 11745868Abstract: A UAV with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) function. having a plurality of lift propellers; a cabin engaged with a plurality of lift propellers; a water propulsion system engaged with the cabin to push the cabin in a forward direction when the cabin is at least partially immersed in water; at least one water inlet engaged with the water propulsion system; the cabin is a cargo hold or a passenger cabin. The UAV provided by the disclosure can realize vertical takeoff and landing in the water area, and fly, drive and navigate freely in the whole area.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: SHANGHAI AUTOFLIGHT CO., LTD.Inventor: Yu Tian
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Patent number: 11738872Abstract: A passenger seat having a frame is proposed, wherein the frame is intended for securing to a floor of a passenger cabin, wherein the frame comprises a seat divider and beams that run transverse to the seat direction, wherein the seat divider is held by the beams, wherein a housing is disposed on the seat divider, wherein the housing at least partly surrounds a backrest. According to the invention, a structure component is disposed on the seat divider, with an attachment unit for a safety belt for a passenger disposed on the structure component.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: ZIM Aircraft Seating GmbHInventor: Peter Zimmermann
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Patent number: 11737445Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the field of pest elimination including all life stages of bed bugs. The present disclosure includes articles, systems, and methods of heat treatment to target and kill pests.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.Inventors: William J. Pattison, S. John Barcay, Jason G. Lang, Christopher C. Wagner, Christopher D. Diller, Joelle F. Olson
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Patent number: 11738613Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a plurality of arms and a land/air drive assembly attached to each arm. The land/air drive assembly includes (i) a multi-speed motor assembly; (ii) a propeller having a first diameter and driven by the motor assembly at a first speed; and (iii) a ground drive wheel having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and driven by the motor assembly at a second speed slower than the first speed. A drive assembly orientation actuator is positioned between each arm and each drive assembly, wherein the orientation actuator is configured to, on command, rotate the drive assembly between a flight position and ground drive position approximately perpendicular to the flight position.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Inventors: Christopher Cade Spikes, Daniel Caleb Kumler
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Patent number: 11738888Abstract: A spacecraft has a flat antenna array having an edge and a middle portion. A reconfigurable reaction-momentum wheel is coupled to the antenna array to roll and/or pitch the antenna array in small magnitudes. The reconfigurable reaction-momentum has a reaction operating state or mode (high-torque, low momentum) and a momentum operating state or mode (low-torque, high momentum). A thruster is coupled to the antenna array to move the antenna array.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: AST & Science, LLCInventors: Darko Filipi, Abel Avellan, William E. Bialke, Daniele Addari, Darren J. Zanon, Adam H. Halperin, Huiwen Yao
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Patent number: 11726479Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for controlling spraying of chemicals by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). An unmanned aerial vehicle system includes one or more processors configured to perform operations of autonomously performing a flight path by the UAV and dispersing a chemical by the UAV along portions of the flight path. The UAV may include a chemical spray system having one or more spray booms with multiple nozzles for dispersing a chemical. The chemical spray system may include one or more tanks attached to the body of the UAV and a pump fluidly connected to the tanks to disperse chemical via the spray booms.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Pyka Inc.Inventors: Michael Norcia, Nathan White, Tobias Wurft, Kyle Moore, Garrett Rini, Jason Petersen, Chukwuma Ogunwole
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Patent number: 11718390Abstract: A propulsion system for a rotorcraft includes a first fan assembly including a plurality of first fan blades, a second fan assembly including a plurality of second fan blades and a drive system adapted to provide torque to the first and second fan blades. The first fan blades have a larger rotational inertia than the second fan blades. The second fan blades are adapted to experience a larger angular acceleration than the first fan blades in response to torque from the drive system, thereby providing responsive thrust control for the rotorcraft.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Eric A. Sinusas, Erik John Oltheten, Carlos Alexander Fenny
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Patent number: 11718407Abstract: A support arrangement for an inflatable evacuation system may comprise an inflatable member configured to be elongated and stiffened in a longitudinal direction in response to being in an inflated condition, a protrusion extending orthogonal to a surface of the inflatable member, a tensile member attached at at least two locations to the inflatable member on opposing sides of the protrusion and being slidably engagable over the protrusion so as to maintain about equal tension in the tensile member on opposing sides of the protrusion, and a sleeve attached to the protrusion configured to maintain the tensile member laterally relative to the protrusion even as the tensile member is able to slide longitudinally.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: Jaro S. Volny, Drew Hartman