Patents by Inventor Donald G. Gerard

Donald G. Gerard 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: 7219589
    Abstract: An assembly for indicating when a transient electronic event has occurred on a mobile platform is provided. The assembly includes a housing and a flash-producing device that communicates with the mobile platform and produces a flash approximately when the event occurs. The housing couples to the body of the mobile platform and contains the flash-producing device in such a manner that the flash is observable. Preferentially, the assembly also includes a faceplate that couples to the housing and maintains an aerodynamic profile associated with a surface of the body when the assembly is coupled to the mobile platform. In another preferred embodiment, the assembly is adapted for use with an inert JDAM weapon and the event is the fuze command of the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark W. Gibson, Robert L. Grant, Jill J. Powers, Donald G. Gerard, Joseph J. Molinari, Gary F. Throm, Tom Dellamano, Fred G. Filsinger
  • Patent number: 6598532
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for electrically dischargeable primers having a conductive body, a first electrical contact area, a bottom plate area, one or more burn out area(s) on the bottom plate area, and a second electrical contact area. The conductive body provides an electrical path between a primer's inside cylindrical wall and an inside surface of the primer's cap or cup. The first electrical contact area makes an electrical contact with the inside surface of the cylindrical wall. The second electrical contact area makes an electrical contact with an inside surface of the primer's cap or cup. The bottom plate area is positioned in a bottom location of an electrically dischargeable primer. At least one, but typically two or more burn out areas are on the bottom plate area. The burn out areas have a reduced cross section area. The total cross section area of the burn out areas must be less than the cross section of any other location on the elongated conductive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventors: Donald G. Gerard, Eileen L. Gerard
  • Publication number: 20030033951
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for electrically dischargeable primers having a conductive body, a first electrical contact area, a bottom plate area, one or more burn out area(s) on the bottom plate area, and a second electrical contact area. The conductive body provides an electrical path between a primer's inside cylindrical wall and an inside surface of the primer's cap or cup. The first electrical contact area makes an electrical contact with the inside surface of the cylindrical wall. The second electrical contact area makes an electrical contact with an inside surface of the primer's cap or cup. The bottom plate area is positioned in a bottom location of an electrically dischargeable primer. At least one, but typically two or more burn out areas are on the bottom plate area. The burn out areas have a reduced cross section area. The total cross section area of the burn out areas must be less than the cross section of any other location on the elongated conductive body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Donald G. Gerard, Eileen L. Gerard
  • Patent number: 5937558
    Abstract: An electrically discharged and gas operated firearm basically has of a main body with a gun barrel being attached to a front surface. A chute is defined vertically through the main body. A cartridge holding cassette slides into the chute. The cassette functions as both a clip and a firing chamber. A gas operated piston operates a slide that is used in moving and positioning the cassette in the chute as the firearm is being fired. A gas port from barrel to the piston port provides a path for the gases. A pulldown link operated by the slide engages the cassette to position the cassette as the piston operates. An indexer link engages the cassette to hold the cassette in a specific position for firing. A wedge shaped clutch within the main body maintains contact between the front face of the cassette and the back face of the front plate on the main body. An electrical trigger is attached to the front of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Donald G. Gerard
  • Patent number: 5784821
    Abstract: An electrically discharged and gas operated firearm basically has of a main body with a gun barrel being attached to a front surface. A chute is defined vertically through the main body. A cartridge holding cassette slides into the chute. The cassette functions as both a clip and a firing chamber. A gas operated piston operates a slide that is used in moving and positioning the cassette in the chute as the firearm is being fired. A gas port from the breech of the barrel to the piston port provides a path for the gases. A pulldown link operated by the slide engages the cassette to position the cassette as the piston operates. An indexer link engages the cassette to hold the cassette in a specific position for firing. A wedge shaped clutch within the main body maintains contact between the front face of the cassette and the back face of the front plate on the main body. An electrical trigger is attached to the front of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Donald G. Gerard