Patents by Inventor Tom Heckman

Tom Heckman 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: 20110101058
    Abstract: A tablet mount assembly for mounting an electronic device (e.g., an Apple® iPad®) in the cockpit of an aircraft, and more specifically on the steering control of the aircraft. The tablet mount includes a receiving piece and a pivot mount assembly that includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is rotatable with respect to the lower portion. The upper portion includes a slot for connecting to the receiving piece, and the lower portion includes a securing mechanism and a positioning flange. The upper portion of the assembly is rotatable with respect to the lower portion, thereby allowing the electronic device to be mounted to be rotated from a portrait to a landscape orientation without removing the same from the mount. An indexing position system may be integrated between the lower and upper portions of the mount assembly and provides predetermined rotation increments for the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: TOM HECKMAN
  • Publication number: 20100301080
    Abstract: A pivot mount assembly for mounting an electronic device (e.g., an Electronic Flight Bag—EFB) in the cockpit of an aircraft, and more specifically on the steering control (i.e., yoke) of the aircraft. The pivot mount assembly preferably includes an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion, where the upper portion is rotatable with respect to the intermediate portion, and the intermediate portion is slidable with respect to the lower portion. The upper portion includes a receiving slot for receiving a device to be mounted, and the lower portion includes a securing mechanism and a positioning flange. A receiving mount within the yoke receives the positioning flange to position the pivot mount assembly within the same, and the securing mechanism operates in conjunction with the receiving mount to secure the lower portion to the same, and thereby the entire pivot mount assembly within the receiving mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Tom Heckman
  • Publication number: 20100301185
    Abstract: A pivot mount assembly for mounting an electronic device (e.g., an Electronic Flight Bag—EFB) in the cockpit of an aircraft, and more specifically on the steering control (i.e., yoke) of the aircraft. The pivot mount assembly preferably includes an upper portion and a lower portion, where the upper portion is rotatable with respect to the lower portion. The upper portion includes a receiving slot for receiving a device to be mounted, and the lower portion includes a securing mechanism and a positioning flange. A receiving mount within the yoke receives the positioning flange to position the pivot mount assembly within the same, and the securing mechanism operates in conjunction with the receiving mount to secure the lower portion to the same, and thereby the entire pivot mount assembly within the receiving mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Tom Heckman