Patents by Inventor Rory MacKean
Rory MacKean 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).
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Patent number: 11490563Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Franklin Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210137003Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2021Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, JR.
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Patent number: 10888045Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Franklin Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190054621Abstract: A weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, a weed sensor subsystem on the chassis, and an acceleration sensing subsystem mounted to the chassis. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden by modulating the velocity of the chassis. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The acceleration of the chassis is determined based on an output of the acceleration sensing subsystem. The drive subsystem is controlled according to one or more preprogrammed behaviors if the determined acceleration of the chassis falls below a predetermined level.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, John Chase, Jeffrey Vandegrift, Noel Allain
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Publication number: 20170238460Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, JR.
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Publication number: 20060032601Abstract: A wax tree assembly heating system for heating wax on the surface of a wax component is provided. The system includes an elongated bar of heat conducting material, having a heating surface, and a heating element for heating the heating surface. The heating surface is configured to contact a wax component, such as a wax runner or a gate of a wax pattern, and has a space for retaining molten wax when the heating surface contacts a surface of the wax component. In another embodiment, the wax tree assembly heating system has a plurality of raised heating surfaces that are configured for producing molten wax on a plurality of areas on one or more surfaces of at least one wax component. Additionally, an electrical circuit is provided which includes a heating element and a temperature controller to control the temperature at which wax is melted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Inventors: Raymond Puffer, Bruce Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory MacKean, Jason Chalfant, Keith Hedrick
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Patent number: 6957686Abstract: A knife for heating the wax on the surface of a wax runner. The knife as a surface which is recessed in the center of the surface to permit melted wax to flow up into the recessed area and not flow away from the knife. Alternately, conformal heating surface which melts only that portion of the wax runner to which the pattern gate is affixed. Additionally an electrical circuit is provided which includes a heater and a temperature controller to limit the temperature at which wax is melted.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: MPI IncorporatedInventors: Raymond H. Puffer, Jr., Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory Mackean, Jason Chalfant, Keith F. Hendrck
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Patent number: 6929050Abstract: A wax runner is provided having risers along the edge of the surface which is melted to attach the wax gates of wax patterns to the wax runner. The risers prevent the flow of molten wax over the edge of the wax runner. In addition to the risers or separately, at least one locator extends from both ends of the wax runners, the locators are aligned with one another and assure a constant distance between the ends of the wax runner and the wax pattern being affixed to it. The locators further provide a fixed reference point.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: MPI IncorporatedInventors: Raymond H. Puffer, Jr., Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory MacKean, Jason Chalfant
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Publication number: 20040256076Abstract: A knife for heating the wax on the surface of a wax runner. The knife as a surface which is recessed in the center of the surface to permit melted wax to flow up into the recessed area and not flow away from the knife. Alternately, conformal heating surface which melts only that portion of the wax runner to which the pattern gate is affixed. Additionally an electrical circuit is provided which includes a heater and a temperature controller to limit the temperature at which wax is melted.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2003Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Raymond H. Puffer,, Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory Mackean, Jason Chalfant, Keith F. Hedrick
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Publication number: 20040256072Abstract: A wax runner is provided having risers along the edge of the surface which is melted to attach the wax gates of wax patterns to the wax runner. The risers prevent the flow of molten wax over the edge of the wax runner. In addition to the risers or separately, at least one locator extends from both ends of the wax runners, the locators are aligned with one another and assure a constant distance between the ends of the wax runner and the wax pattern being affixed to it. The locators further provide a fixed reference point.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2003Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Raymond H. Puffer, Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory MacKean, Jason Chalfant
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Patent number: 6634994Abstract: The jump rope device employs DC motors to rotate two ropes and a dual closed loop control system is used to synchronize the turning movements of the two ropes. An infrared beam is used to monitor the use of the machine by a user. Each motor housing is mounted on a tripod support which can be collapsed for ease of transportation and storage. A floor mat with sensors may be employed for various exercises.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteInventors: Tahira Reid, Burt Swersey, Paul Fiscarelli, Rory MacKean, Joe Doucette, Lakisha Anderson, Maneesh Shrivastav, Colleen Conlon, Thomas Manning, Kevin Haynes, Serge Rigaud, Eileen Carrier, William Foley
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Publication number: 20020123413Abstract: The jump rope device employs DC motors to rotate two ropes and a dual closed loop control system is used to synchronize the turning movements of the two ropes. An infrared beam is used to monitor the use of the machine by a user. Each motor housing is mounted on a tripod support which can be collapsed for ease of transportation and storage. A floor mat with sensors may be employed for various exercises.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2001Publication date: September 5, 2002Inventors: Tahira Reid, Burt Swersey, Paul Fiscarelli, Rory Mackean, Joe Doucette, Lakisha Anderson, Maneesh Shrivastav, Colleen Conlon, Thomas Manning, Kevin Haynes, Serge Rigaud, Eileen Carrier, William Foley