Patents by Inventor Luther Lloyd, III

Luther Lloyd, III 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: 11787065
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands such as, e.g., collar or neck bands, sleeve bands, wrist bands, waist bands and ankle bands, etc. to a garment opening. In one example, among others, a band can be attached to a garment by loading the band between rollers in a joining position, positioning an opening of a garment extending between control surface mandrels over the band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SOFTWEAR AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Luther Lloyd, III
  • Patent number: 11547164
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to processing and handling of products. In one example, among others, a material product holding system includes a product holding assembly and a structure supporting the product holding assembly, the structure coupled to the positioning assembly. The product holding assembly can include support arms and a positioning assembly that can adjust positioning of the support arms with respect to each other to engage with at least a portion of a product supported by the support arms. In another example, a method include engaging support arms with a surface of at least a portion of a product, the support arms tensioning the product, positioning the support arms to load the product on a workstation, contracting the support arms to remove the tension, processing the product, re-engaging the support arms after completion of the processing, and unloading the product from the workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SOFTWEAR AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Dylan Hutcheson, Andrew Jackson, Luther Lloyd, III, Stephen Ruderman, Wael Saab
  • Publication number: 20220378135
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to processing and handling of products. In one example, among others, a material product holding system includes a product holding assembly and a structure supporting the product holding assembly, the structure coupled to the positioning assembly. The product holding assembly can include support arms and a positioning assembly that can adjust positioning of the support arms with respect to each other to engage with at least a portion of a product supported by the support arms. In another example, a method include engaging support arms with a surface of at least a portion of a product, the support arms tensioning the product, positioning the support arms to load the product on a workstation, contracting the support arms to remove the tension, processing the product, re-engaging the support arms after completion of the processing, and unloading the product from the workstation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Dylan Hutcheson, Andrew Jackson, Luther Lloyd, III, Stephen Ruderman, Wael Saab
  • Patent number: 11499257
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. An automated sewing process feed control system is disclosed in which a material aligner is utilized. An omni-chain material aligner can include a circular roller chain in which the rollers allow for a controlling force to be applied to a material. An omni-belt material aligner can include a belt with attached perpendicular rollers which allow feed control and active motorized steering control. The material aligner can control the pressure applied onto the material to facilitate control of feeding the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SOFTWEAR AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: David Otto Konrad Mikolajewski, Luther Lloyd, III, Michael J. Baker
  • Publication number: 20220184817
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands such as, e.g., collar or neck bands, sleeve bands, wrist bands, waist bands and ankle bands, etc. to a garment opening. In one example, among others, a band can be attached to a garment by loading the band between rollers in a joining position, positioning an opening of a garment extending between control surface mandrels over the band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Luther Lloyd, III
  • Patent number: 11267134
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands such as, e.g., collar or neck bands, sleeve bands, wrist bands, waist bands and ankle bands, etc. to a garment opening. In one example, among others, a band can be attached to a garment by loading the band between rollers in a joining position, positioning an opening of a garment extending between control surface mandrels over the band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SoftWear Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Luther Lloyd, III
  • Publication number: 20220042227
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. An automated sewing process feed control system is disclosed in which a material aligner is utilized. An omni-chain material aligner can include a circular roller chain in which the rollers allow for a controlling force to be applied to a material. An omni-belt material aligner can include a belt with attached perpendicular rollers which allow feed control and active motorized steering control. The material aligner can control the pressure applied onto the material to facilitate control of feeding the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: David Otto Konrad Mikolajewski, Luther Lloyd, III, Michael J. Baker
  • Patent number: 10988880
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to transporting and sewing material in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. An automated sewing process feed control system is disclosed in which a material aligner is utilized. An omni-chain material aligner can include a circular roller chain in which the rollers allow for a controlling force to be applied to a material. An omni-belt material aligner can include a belt with attached perpendicular rollers which allow feed control and active motorized steering control. The material aligner can control the pressure applied onto the material to facilitate control of feeding the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SoftWear Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: David Otto Konrad Mikolajewski, Luther Lloyd, III, Michael J. Baker
  • Patent number: 10987814
    Abstract: Various examples are provided related to end effectors for use in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. In one example, among others, a compliant perimeter end effector includes a mounting bracket having a contact mounting flange, a plurality of compliant material contact elements coupled about a perimeter of the contact mounting flange. The mounting bracket can couple to a manipulator including, e.g., an industrial robot or other manipulation assembly. The compliant material contact elements can include a contact interface that can engage with a piece of material. The compliant material contact elements can precisely transfer material on a workspace with surface irregularities while equally distributing force to the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SoftWear Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Keith Appel, Michael J. Baker, Luther Lloyd, III