Patents by Inventor James Joseph Tighe

James Joseph Tighe 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: 12000179
    Abstract: A lock in a vehicle is automatically controlled based at least in part on a state associated with the vehicle. In response to an attempt to open a hatch using an interior release lever while in a locked state, the automatically-controlled lock in the locked state prevents the hatch from opening. In response to an attempt to open the hatch using an exterior release lever while the automatically-controlled lock is in the locked state, a bypass to the automatically-controlled lock is used to open the hatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: Uri Tzarnotzky, James Joseph Tighe
  • Patent number: 11975830
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an electric aircraft with a plurality of lift fan assemblies that are configured to provide vertical lift, and one or more pusher propellers that are configured to provide forward thrust. The lift fan assemblies may be coupled to the wings of the aircraft via one or more support structures, and the wings may be coupled to an upper region of the fuselage. The pusher propeller(s) may be coupled to a tailing end of the fuselage. The lift fan assemblies and the pusher propeller(s) may provide thrust and movement in directions that are orthogonal to one another. A control system coupled to the aircraft may control the lift fan assemblies and the one or more pusher propellers to activate, increase in power, and decrease in power. The lift fan assemblies and the one or more pusher propellers may be operated separately, and may be active at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Uri Tzarnotzky, Geoffrey Alan Long
  • Patent number: 11945576
    Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors may include a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an aft end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an aft end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Patent number: 11932384
    Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Publication number: 20230025665
    Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Publication number: 20230026170
    Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors may include a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an aft end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an aft end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Patent number: 11358713
    Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors is may include a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an aft end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an aft end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Patent number: 11358712
    Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Publication number: 20220144451
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a compact vertiport system. The vertiport system may be efficient and compact by combining, into one space and time period, multiple activities that typically take place in different spaces and different times. For example, when an aircraft is being moved from a landing zone to a takeoff zone, the aircraft may also be charged simultaneously. Also, passenger exchange may take place while the aircraft is being moved. As a result, compact vertiport systems may fit into smaller spaces (e.g., tops of buildings, or smaller plots of land).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Geoffrey Alan Long, Uri Tzarnotzky
  • Publication number: 20210403154
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an aircraft with one or more tilting fan assemblies that are configured to tilt between a forward flight position and a vertical lift position. The aircraft may also include a plurality of lift fan assemblies for vertical movement. The tilting fan assemblies may be coupled to the fuselage or wings of the aircraft via one or more tilting mechanisms. A control system coupled to the aircraft may control the one or more tilting mechanisms to move the tilting fan assemblies between the forward flight position and the vertical lift position. The tilting fan assemblies may be coupled to one or more support structures that are coupled the fuselage or wings of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Uri Tzarnotzky
  • Patent number: 11149472
    Abstract: A lock in a vehicle is automatically controlled based at least in part on a state associated with the vehicle. In response to an attempt to open a hatch using an interior release lever while in a locked state, the automatically-controlled lock in the locked state prevents the hatch from opening. In response to an attempt to open the hatch using an exterior release lever while the automatically-controlled lock is in the locked state, a bypass to the automatically-controlled lock is used to open the hatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: Uri Tzarnotzky, James Joseph Tighe
  • Publication number: 20210245873
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an electric aircraft with a plurality of lift fan assemblies that are configured to provide vertical lift, and one or more pusher propellers that are configured to provide forward thrust. The lift fan assemblies may be coupled to the wings of the aircraft via one or more support structures, and the wings may be coupled to an upper region of the fuselage. The pusher propeller(s) may be coupled to a tailing end of the fuselage. The lift fan assemblies and the pusher propeller(s) may provide thrust and movement in directions that are orthogonal to one another. A control system coupled to the aircraft may control the lift fan assemblies and the one or more pusher propellers to activate, increase in power, and decrease in power. The lift fan assemblies and the one or more pusher propellers may be operated separately, and may be active at different times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Uri Tzarnotzky, Geoffrey Alan Long
  • Patent number: 10647408
    Abstract: A composite structure with an integrated hinge is disclosed. In various embodiments, the composite structure includes a plurality of layers of fiber reinforced polymer material; and a hinge structure comprising one or more layers of bendably flexible hinge material a first region of which is interleaved between adjacent layers of said layers of fiber reinforced polymer material comprising the composite structure and bonded to said adjacent layers by bonding material comprising said composite structure, and a second region of which extends beyond said layers of fiber reinforced polymer material comprising the composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: WISK AERO LLC
    Inventors: Chris Van Pelt, James Joseph Tighe
  • Publication number: 20190322364
    Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Publication number: 20190322378
    Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors is disclosed. In various embodiments, a multicopter as disclosed herein includes a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an after end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an after end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Patent number: 10424211
    Abstract: An aircraft cockpit flight display system and method are disclosed. In various embodiments, an indication of a geo-location of an aircraft with which a display device is associated is received. A displayed scene that includes a graphical representation of the aircraft and a surrounding scene the content of which is determined at least in part by the geo-location is displayed via the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Uri Tzarnotzky, James Joseph Tighe
  • Patent number: 10364036
    Abstract: A multicopter aircraft with boom-mounted rotors is disclosed. The multicopter includes a fuselage; a port side wing coupled to the fuselage; and a starboard side wing coupled to the fuselage. Each of the wings has mounted thereto one or more booms, each boom having a forward end extending forward of a corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted and an after end extending aft of said corresponding wing to which the boom is mounted. The aircraft further includes a first plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said first plurality being mounted on a forward end of a corresponding one or said booms; and a second plurality of lift rotors, each rotor in said second plurality being mounted on an after end of a corresponding one or said booms. Each rotor produces vertical thrust independent of the thrust produced by the other rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Patent number: 10364024
    Abstract: A multicopter with angled rotors includes a fuselage and a plurality of rotors. At least some of the rotors are disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage and each is oriented at a corresponding angle to a substantially horizontal plane of the aircraft, the angle being of a magnitude such that a plane of rotation of the rotor does not intersect at least a critical portion of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Kitty Corporation
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Eric Allison
  • Patent number: D872681
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CORA AERO LLC
    Inventors: Uri Tzarnotzky, James Joseph Tighe, Herve Martins-Rivas
  • Patent number: D873202
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CORA AERO LLC
    Inventors: Uri Tzarnotzky, James Joseph Tighe, Herve Martins-Rivas