Patents by Inventor Robert Chaffee

Robert Chaffee 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: 20030205273
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly comprising an electromechanical device and a self-sealing valve, and in particular, to any inflatable device that includes the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a valve housing defining an opening through which fluid can be provided to the inflatable device, a flexible diaphragm assembly that is configured to self-seal the opening with sufficient fluid pressure in the inflatable device and to open under sufficient fluid pressure from a fluid moving device, to provide fluid through the opening to and seal the inflatable device. The assembly further comprises an electromechanical device including an actuating arm, having a first position in which the actuating arm urges open the self-sealing valve and a second position in which the actuating arm does not act upon the self-sealing valve, so as to regulate an amount of fluid within the inflatable device. With this arrangement, a small, low power, low duty cycle electromechanical device can be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Chaffee
  • Patent number: 6574653
    Abstract: A computer software architecture for an embedded computer system. The architecture includes a hierarchy of software object classes. One classification includes a common information blackboard object. Data is written to the blackboard object by processes in a protected manner, and is otherwise globally readable by all processes. A run-time executive is provided to schedule and coordinate processes. Processes register with the run-time executive at start-up. One process can know the existence and generation of data by another process. The architecture is layered in increasing levels of system abstraction. In one embodiment, the embedded system is an airborne fuel gauging subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Rhoads, II, Keith Patrick Darwin, Mark Robert Chaffee, Harold Frederick Clark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6256679
    Abstract: A computer software architecture for an embedded computer system. The architecture includes a hierarchy of software object classes. One classification includes a common information blackboard object. Data is written to the blackboard object by processes in a protected manner, and is otherwise globally readable by all processes. A run-time executive is provided to schedule and coordinate processes. Processes register with the run-time executive at start-up. One process can know the existence and generation of data by another process. The architecture is layered in increasing levels of system abstraction. In one embodiment, the embedded system is an airborne fuel gauging subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Rhoads, II, Keith Patrick Darwin, Mark Robert Chaffee, Harold Frederick Clark, Jr.
  • Patent number: D446284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Robert Chaffee