Patents by Inventor Richard H. Malecki

Richard H. Malecki 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).

  • Advanced structural and inflatable hybrid spacecraft module
    Patent number: 6231010
    Abstract: An inflatable module comprising a structural core and an inflatable shell, wherein the inflatable shell is sealingly attached to the structural core. In its launch configuration, the wall thickness of the inflatable shell is collapsed by vacuum. Also in this configuration, the inflatable shell is collapsed and efficiently folded around the structural core. Upon deployment, the wall thickness of the inflatable shell is inflated; whereby the inflatable shell itself, is thereby inflated around the structural core, defining therein a large enclosed volume. A plurality of removable shelves are arranged interior to the structural core in the launch configuration. The structural core also includes at least one longeron that, in conjunction with the shelves, primarily constitute the rigid, strong, and lightweight load-bearing structure of the module during launch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: William C. Schneider, Horacio M. de la Fuente, Gregg A. Edeen, Kriss J. Kennedy, James D. Lester, Shalini Gupta, Linda F. Hess, Chin H. Lin, Richard H. Malecki, Jasen L. Raboin