Patents by Inventor Britta Shepard

Britta Shepard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9694850
    Abstract: The present invention is a guidance computing system used by the driver of a vehicle towing a trailer while backing-up that rapidly calculates and predicts the direction in which the tow vehicle and trailer will become generally in-line for a given position of the steering wheel, thereby enabling the use of slower, lower cost microcomputers. This is accomplished by using a predetermined table, based on a baseline trailer of known length, having a measure of turning as one of its axes; such an axis is necessary to facilitate ratiometric scaling to convert table values to correspond to any length trailer. In a specially equipped vehicle incorporating servomechanisms to enable the vehicle to steer itself, the driver indicates the direction desired for the trailer to travel. The present invention also predicts left and right path limits for controlling the direction of the trailer when maneuvering complex paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Shepard, Britta Shepard
  • Publication number: 20170073003
    Abstract: The present invention is a guidance computing system used by the driver of a vehicle towing a trailer while backing-up that rapidly calculates and predicts the direction in which the tow vehicle and trailer will become generally in-line for a given position of the steering wheel, thereby enabling the use of slower, lower cost microcomputers. This is accomplished by using a predetermined table, based on a baseline trailer of known length, having a measure of turning as one of its axes; such an axis is necessary to facilitate ratiometric scaling to convert table values to correspond to any length trailer. In a specially equipped vehicle incorporating servomechanisms to enable the vehicle to steer itself, the driver indicates the direction desired for the trailer to travel. The present invention also predicts left and right path limits for controlling the direction of the trailer when maneuvering complex paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Shepard, Britta Shepard
  • Publication number: 20130015636
    Abstract: The present invention is a foldable trailer that drops close to the ground and shortens in length when folded such that it can be parked below the vehicle that towed it. In this way, the trailer and vehicle can both be parked in the same, single space. During towing, the trailer is locked into its opened towing position and the weight of the device being towed helps to maintain the opened position. The trailer can be folded into its closed parking position while still hitched to the vehicle by which it was towed to facilitate moving it into its parking space before being unhitched. Once unhitched, the trailer will be parallel to and close to the ground such that the vehicle can then park above it. By sharing the same place, parking fees are reduced and preparation time (time spent in parking arrangements) is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Shepard, Britta Shepard
  • Patent number: 8342458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to corded electric devices and more particularly to corded electric devices that move their location such as an electric lawn mower. The present invention is a device for handling the electric cord of a device such as an electric lawn mower or some other movable platform to which electric power is provided (a lawn mower is a movable platform having a device for cutting grass such as spinning blades). The present invention manages the position of a cord as the platform on which it is mounted is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Shepard, Britta Shepard
  • Publication number: 20110011988
    Abstract: The present invention relates to corded electric devices and more particularly to corded electric devices that move their location such as an electric lawn mower. The present invention is a device for handling the electric cord of a device such as an electric lawn mower or some other movable platform to which electric power is provided (a lawn mower is a movable platform having a device for cutting grass such as spinning blades). The present invention manages the position of a cord as the platform on which it is mounted is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Shepard, Britta Shepard