Patents by Inventor Nicholas WILTSIE

Nicholas WILTSIE 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).

  • Biblade sampler
    Patent number: 10012568
    Abstract: A BiBlade sampler may include a first blade and a second blade in a retracted position. The BiBlade sampler may also include a gripper, which is driven by an actuator. The gripper may include a plurality of fingers to force the first blade and the second blade to remain in a retracted position. When the fingers are unhooked, the first blade and the second blade penetrate a surface of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Paul G. Backes, Mircea Badescu, Nicholas Wiltsie, Scott J. Moreland, Jesse A. Grimes-York, Harish Manohara, Youngsam Bae, Risaku Toda, Russell G. Smith, Christopher McQuin
  • Terrain traversing device having a wheel with microhooks
    Patent number: 8978807
    Abstract: A terrain traversing device is described. The device includes an annular rotor element with a plurality of co-planar microspine hooks arranged on the periphery of the annular rotor element. Each microspine hook has an independently flexible suspension configuration that permits the microspine hook to initially engage an irregularity in a terrain surface at a preset initial engagement angle and subsequently engage the irregularity with a continuously varying engagement angle when the annular rotor element is rotated for urging the terrain traversing device to traverse a terrain surface. Improvements related to the design, fabrication and use of the microspine hooks in the device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aaron Parness, Kalind C. Carpenter, Nicholas Wiltsie
  • TERRAIN TRAVERSING DEVICE HAVING A WHEEL WITH MICROHOOKS
    Publication number: 20140203623
    Abstract: A terrain traversing device is described. The device includes an annular rotor element with a plurality of co-planar microspine hooks arranged on the periphery of the annular rotor element. Each microspine hook has an independently flexible suspension configuration that permits the microspine hook to initially engage an irregularity in a terrain surface at a preset initial engagement angle and subsequently engage the irregularity with a continuously varying engagement angle when the annular rotor element is rotated for urging the terrain traversing device to traverse a terrain surface. Improvements related to the design, fabrication and use of the microspine hooks in the device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Aaron PARNESS, Kalind C. CARPENTER, Nicholas WILTSIE