Patents by Inventor Karen L. Hills
Karen L. Hills 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: 20220184878Abstract: A method of forming a composite panel includes providing an initial composite material, heating the initial composite material, molding the initial composite material to form a preliminary composite panel having a main body connected to an outer edge and a laminate layer secured to the outer edge, and folding an exterior edge portion of the outer edge over an interior edge portion to provide an external folded edge having the laminate layer on at least a portion of an outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Karen L. Hills, Lon E. Switzer
-
Patent number: 11327221Abstract: A floor lighting assembly includes a luminous composite sheet and a light transmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet has a top side, a bottom side, and an edge extending from the top side to the bottom side. The light sources are arranged in a row and are configured to emit light into the light guide film through the edge. The light transmissive carpet is disposed above the top side of the light guide film. The light transmissive carpet includes a backing structure and a pile mounted to and extending from the backing structure. The light guide film is configured to spread and redirect the light that is received therein through the edge for emitting the light through the top side of the light guide film such that some of the light is transmitted through the light transmissive carpet.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey Lynn Duce, Karen L. Hills
-
Patent number: 11298870Abstract: A method of forming a composite panel includes providing an initial composite material, heating the initial composite material, molding the initial composite material to form a preliminary composite panel having a main body connected to an outer edge and a laminate layer secured to the outer edge, and folding an exterior edge portion of the outer edge over an interior edge portion to provide an external folded edge having the laminate layer on at least a portion of an outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Karen L. Hills, Lon E. Switzer
-
Patent number: 11235508Abstract: A thermoforming system and related methods for manufacturing thermoplastic parts, such as interior panels for aircraft, may include a roll-to-roll operation and a forming press having at least one selectively rotatable tool. The rotatable tool, which may include a mold and/or a die, may be multifaceted, such that different faces of the tool have different mold arrangements for different forming characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Karen L. Hills, Sergio H. Sanchez, Douglas Alan Brown, Jason Christopher Lail, Michael John Cloud, Jason Turner, Richard V. Phillips, Robert Cook, Hun Sok Basom, DeWayne F. Wendt
-
Publication number: 20210252772Abstract: A method of forming a composite panel includes providing an initial composite material, heating the initial composite material, molding the initial composite material to form a preliminary composite panel having a main body connected to an outer edge and a laminate layer secured to the outer edge, and folding an exterior edge portion of the outer edge over an interior edge portion to provide an external folded edge having the laminate layer on at least a portion of an outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2020Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Karen L. Hills, Lon E. Switzer
-
Publication number: 20210181406Abstract: A floor lighting assembly includes a luminous composite sheet and a light transmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet has a top side, a bottom side, and an edge extending from the top side to the bottom side. The light sources are arranged in a row and are configured to emit light into the light guide film through the edge. The light transmissive carpet is disposed above the top side of the light guide film. The light transmissive carpet includes a backing structure and a pile mounted to and extending from the backing structure. The light guide film is configured to spread and redirect the light that is received therein through the edge for emitting the light through the top side of the light guide film such that some of the light is transmitted through the light transmissive carpet.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey Lynn Duce, Karen L. Hills
-
Publication number: 20210072457Abstract: A floor lighting assembly includes a luminous composite sheet and a light transmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet has a top side, a bottom side, and an edge extending from the top side to the bottom side. The light sources are arranged in a row and are configured to emit light into the light guide film through the edge. The light transmissive carpet is disposed above the top side of the light guide film. The light transmissive carpet includes a backing structure and a pile mounted to and extending from the backing structure. The light guide film is configured to spread and redirect the light that is received therein through the edge for emitting the light through the top side of the light guide film such that some of the light is transmitted through the light transmissive carpet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey Lynn Duce, Karen L. Hills
-
Patent number: 10921511Abstract: A floor lighting assembly includes a luminous composite sheet and a light transmissive carpet. The luminous composite sheet has a top side, a bottom side, and an edge extending from the top side to the bottom side. The light sources are arranged in a row and are configured to emit light into the light guide film through the edge. The light transmissive carpet is disposed above the top side of the light guide film. The light transmissive carpet includes a backing structure and a pile mounted to and extending from the backing structure. The light guide film is configured to spread and redirect the light that is received therein through the edge for emitting the light through the top side of the light guide film such that some of the light is transmitted through the light transmissive carpet.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey Lynn Duce, Karen L. Hills
-
Publication number: 20200407062Abstract: A cargo handling system is configured to load and unload a cargo container with respect to a cargo holding area of a vehicle. The cargo handling system includes parallel roller tracks extending from a floor. The roller tracks are separated by a clearance space. The roller tracks include rollers that are configured to rotatably support the cargo container. A mobile cargo mover is configured to move within the clearance space. The cargo mover is configured to engage the cargo container to move the cargo container on the roller tracks. The cargo mover is configured to disengage the cargo container to move away from the cargo container.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas Alan Brown, William Robert Clos, Karen L. Hills, Avery Riddle, Cynthia A. Vandewall
-
Patent number: 10822087Abstract: A carpet display system includes a plurality of carpet modules. Each of the plurality of carpet modules includes a translucent support panel, a carpet layer secured to the support panel, and a light-emitting element coupled to the support panel. The light-emitting element is configured to emit light through the support panel to provide lighting effects through the carpet layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Yakentim Ibrahim, Karen L. Hills, Richard Babunovic
-
Patent number: 10814982Abstract: A cargo handling system is configured to load and unload a cargo container with respect to a cargo holding area of a vehicle. The cargo handling system includes parallel roller tracks extending from a floor. The roller tracks are separated by a clearance space. The roller tracks include rollers that are configured to rotatably support the cargo container. A mobile cargo mover is configured to move within the clearance space. The cargo mover is configured to engage the cargo container to move the cargo container on the roller tracks. The cargo mover is configured to disengage the cargo container to move away from the cargo container.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas Alan Brown, William Robert Clos, Karen L. Hills, Avery Riddle, Cynthia A. Vandewall
-
Patent number: 10793291Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal cabin, and an autonomous cleaning system located within an interior chamber of the internal cabin. The autonomous cleaning system includes a cleaning robot configured to clean a portion of the interior chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Douglas Alan Brown, Karen L. Hills
-
Patent number: 10752358Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage having an internal cabin, and a garment refreshing system located within the internal cabin. The garment refreshing system is operable to refresh a garment of an individual within the internal cabin. A method of refreshing a garment while onboard an aircraft includes positioning a garment refreshing system within an internal cabin of a fuselage of an aircraft, and refreshing a garment of an individual onboard the aircraft with the garment refreshing system.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Karen L. Hills
-
Publication number: 20200198218Abstract: A thermoforming system and related methods for manufacturing thermoplastic parts, such as interior panels for aircraft, may include a roll-to-roll operation and a forming press having at least one selectively rotatable tool. The rotatable tool, which may include a mold and/or a die, may be multifaceted, such that different faces of the tool have different mold arrangements for different forming characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Karen L. Hills, Sergio H. Sanchez, Douglas Alan Brown, Jason Christopher Lail, Michael John Cloud, Jason Turner, Richard V. Phillips, Robert Cook, Hun Sok Basom, DeWayne F. Wendt
-
Patent number: 10662627Abstract: A water dispensation system includes a water dispenser including a water conduit defining a water channel between a water inlet and a water outlet. A light emitter is coupled to the water conduit proximate to the water outlet. The light emitter is configured to emit sanitizing light into water that passes out of the water outlet.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2016Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Karen L. Hills, Daniel Robert Keenan, Stephen I. Philips, Richard K. Simms, Douglas Alan Brown
-
Patent number: 10624979Abstract: In an example, a light control system includes a power converter and a UV light source. The power converter includes an input for receiving an input power from a power source during a time interval, a power buffer for storing power using the input power received at the input during a first portion of the time interval, and an output for outputting a supply power during a second portion of the time interval. The supply power includes a combination of power from (i) the input power received at the input during the second portion of the time interval and (ii) the power stored in the power buffer during the first portion of the time interval. The UV light source is configured to, using the supply power during the second portion of the time interval, emit UV light at an intensity providing a target level of antimicrobial efficacy.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Arthur E. Brockschmidt, Jamie J. Childress, Karen L. Hills, Teresa A. King
-
Patent number: 10576680Abstract: A thermoforming system and related methods for manufacturing thermoplastic parts, such as interior panels for aircraft, may include a roll-to-roll operation and a forming press having at least one selectively rotatable tool. The rotatable tool, which may include a mold and/or a die, may be multifaceted, such that different faces of the tool have different mold arrangements for different forming characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Karen L. Hills, Sergio H. Sanchez, Douglas Alan Brown, Jason Christopher Lail, Michael John Cloud, Jason Turner, Richard V. Phillips, Robert Cook, Hun Sok Basom, DeWayne F. Wendt
-
Patent number: 10562605Abstract: A composite floor panel includes a cover sheet, a base sheet, a core layer, and a plurality of light sources. The cover sheet has a user-facing side and an underside that is opposite from the user-facing side. The base sheet is below the underside of the cover sheet. The core layer includes a plurality of honeycomb cells bonded to one another. The core layer is disposed between the cover sheet and the base sheet. The light sources are configured to emit light through the cover sheet to provide lighting effects above the user-facing side of the cover sheet. The light sources are disposed between the user-facing side of the cover sheet and the core layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Yakentim M. Ibrahim, Karen L. Hills
-
Patent number: 10512704Abstract: A cleanliness indication system and a method that indicate that a surface of a component is clean. The cleanliness indication system and method include a photoluminescent indicator that is configured to be on the surface of the component. The photoluminescent indicator is configured to be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light during a UV light sanitizing cycle. The photoluminescent indicator emits light due to exposure to the UV light. The photoluminescent indicator indicates that the surface of the component is clean by emitting the light due to exposure to the UV light.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Rovelyn T. Dytioco, Jeffrey H. Hunt, Karen L. Hills, Jamie J. Childress
-
Patent number: 10384803Abstract: Lighting components for illuminating an aisle portion of a cabin floor of an aircraft, and aircraft and passenger seats for an aircraft including the same are disclosed. Said lighting components are configured to illuminate at least a portion of the aisle, between adjacent passenger seats positioned on either side of the aisle. The lighting components are configured to direct light towards the cabin floor using a specially designed housing and reflector surface that are designed to illuminate objects in the aisle, while minimizing light pollution in the cabin and detection by passengers on board the aircraft. Said lighting components are optionally mounted on one or more passenger seats, and/or may be integrally formed with a passenger seat. Lighting components include a curved reflector surface configured to reflect light from a light source positioned within the housing such that it is directed towards the aisle to create the desired illumination.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Karen L. Hills, Dianne Lynn McMullin, Randolph C. Camp, III, William Hanson Valentine, Jr., Douglas Alan Brown, Rush Frederick Green, Richard K. Simms, Jennifer J. Rezmer, Michael Joseph Burgess