Patents by Inventor Christopher W. Coyle

Christopher W. Coyle 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).

  • Publication number: 20240033546
    Abstract: A fall-protection system including a harness and a fall-protection apparatus with a lifeline bearing a connector configured to be connected to the harness; and, a fall-protection monitoring system with a base unit and with at least one sensor module configured to sense a condition of the connector and to communicate a signal indicative of the condition of the connector to the base unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Lauren K. Carlson, Scott E. Brigham, Christopher W. Coyle, Heidi Lopez-Hidalgo, Jonathan J. Lepp, Stephen D. Shaver, Jeffrey T. Keacher
  • Patent number: 11819714
    Abstract: A fall-protection system including a harness and a fall-protection apparatus with a lifeline bearing a connector configured to be connected to the harness; and, a fall-protection monitoring system with a base unit and with at least one sensor module configured to sense a condition of the connector and to communicate a signal indicative of the condition of the connector to the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lauren K. Carlson, Scott E. Brigham, Christopher W. Coyle, Heidi Lopez-Hidalgo, Jonathan J. Lepp, Stephen D. Shaver, Jeffrey T. Keacher
  • Publication number: 20230218934
    Abstract: A fall-protection system including a harness and a fall-protection apparatus with a lifeline bearing a connector configured to be connected to the harness; and, a fall-protection monitoring system with a base unit and with at least one sensor module configured to sense a condition of the connector and to communicate a signal indicative of the condition of the connector to the base unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Lauren K. Carlson, Scott E. Brigham, Christopher W. Coyle, Heidi Lopez-Hidalgo, Jonathan J. Lepp, Stephen D. Shaver, Jeffrey T. Keacher
  • Patent number: 11633632
    Abstract: A fall-protection system including a harness and a fall-protection apparatus with a lifeline bearing a connector configured to be connected to the harness; and, a fall-protection monitoring system with a base unit and with at least one sensor module configured to sense a condition of the connector and to communicate a signal indicative of the condition of the connector to the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lauren K. Carlson, Scott E. Brigham, Christopher W. Coyle, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Jonathan J. Lepp, Stephen D. Shaver, Jeffrey T. Keacher
  • Publication number: 20220362594
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing unit with a first end bearing a modular connector that is disconnectably connectable to a complementary modular connector of a cable of a self-retracting lifeline, and with a second end bearing a fastener that is fastenable to a dorsal connection point of a fall-protection harness. Uses of such units in combination with self-retracting lifelines and fall-protection harnesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher W. Coyle, Michael N. Milbright
  • Publication number: 20220134149
    Abstract: A fall-protection system including a harness and a fall-protection apparatus with a lifeline bearing a connector configured to be connected to the harness; and, a fall-protection monitoring system with a base unit and with at least one sensor module configured to sense a condition of the connector and to communicate a signal indicative of the condition of the connector to the base unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Lauren K. Carlson, Scott E. Brigham, Christopher W. Coyle, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Jonathan J. Lepp, Stephen D. Shaver, Jeffrey T. Keacher
  • Patent number: 5926780
    Abstract: A system 20 for measuring the initial velocity vector of a ball 500 includes a first light sensing array 24, a first light source 28, a second light sensing array 30, and a second light source 32. The ball 500 has an initial position 22. When the ball 500 is struck, at time T1 it casts a first shadow position 36 on first light sensing array 24, and at time T2 it casts a second shadow position 42 on second light sensing array 30. A first plane 38 is formed by initial position 22, first light source 28, and first shadow position 36. A second plane 44 is formed by initial position 22, second light source 32, and second shadow position 42. The line of flight 37 of ball 500 is defined by the intersection of planes 38 and 44. A slant distance D.sub.s is determined, whereby the speed S.sub.b of ball 500 is defined as S.sub.b =D.sub.s /(T2-T1). The velocity vector is then S.sub.b in the direction of line of flight 37.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Tweed Fox
    Inventors: Tweed Fox, Christopher W. Coyle