Patents by Inventor William Howard Tobey

William Howard Tobey 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).

  • Patent number: 6076770
    Abstract: An improved truss is disclosed that is deployable from a folded, or stowed position to an extended, or deployed position. The truss design facilitates compact storage and is particularly apt for space craft applications. In one aspect of the invention, a truss assembly is provided that includes at least three interconnected truss member sets, each of the truss member sets including first and second truss members that are pivotably interconnected, wherein the truss member sets combinatively define a polygonal structure in the deployed position. The first and second truss members of at least one of the truss member sets are pivotably interconnected to fold inwardly when in the folded position, and the first and second truss members of a second of the truss member sets are pivotably interconnected to fold outwardly when in the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Nygren, William Howard Tobey