Patents Represented by Attorney Michael E. Woods
  • Patent number: 8322393
    Abstract: The system includes a module fixture supporting a plurality of elements, the module fixture defining a plurality of bonding wells with each bonding well accepting a first portion of one or more of the elements with the module fixture including one or more apertures communicated with one or more of the bonding wells with the bonding wells having a nominal depth; and a dispensing system, coupled to the module fixture, for dispensing a high-wettability adhesive into each the bonding well and surrounding each the element substantially filling the bonding well up to the nominal depth without significant overfill, the adhesive being selectively curable upon application of a curing modality; and a curing structure for selectively exposing the adhesive to the curing modality as the adhesive emerges from the apertures during dispensation of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Scott Ira Kohn
  • Patent number: 8324863
    Abstract: A voltage converter for charging an energy storage module from an alternating current line voltage, includes a first charging stage, coupled to the energy storage module, converting the line voltage to a first rectified direct current module charging voltage communicated to the energy storage module, the first rectified direct current module charging voltage greater than the line voltage, the first charging stage including an inductance for communicating a first charging current to the energy storage module; a second charging stage, switchably coupled serially with the first charging stage, down-converting the alternating current line voltage to a second rectified direct current module voltage, the second rectified direct current module voltage less than the first rectified direct current module charging voltage, wherein the second charging stage produces a second charging current not greater than the first charging current; and a controller for selectably switching the second charging stage serially with the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy A. Nergaard
  • Patent number: 8326379
    Abstract: An electronic headset for a user, the headset including a housing; a first microphone to receive a first audio input provided by the user; a second microphone to receive a second audio input provided by one or more audio sources other than the user; a controller converting the first audio input into a first electronic signal when the controller operates in a first operational mode and converting the second audio input into a second electronic signal when the controller operates in a second operational mode; a first output system active in the first operational mode to communicate the first electronic signal to a second electronic device; a second output system active in the second operational mode and including a sound generator to convert the second electronic signal into an audio signal; and a mode control for setting the controller into one of the operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Richard S. Slevin
  • Patent number: 8314686
    Abstract: A security system including an RFID subsystem for detecting entry of an RFID tag within a monitored area; an RFID token associated with a person accessing the monitored area; and an indicator system for providing an indication when the person enters into the monitored area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventor: James M. Kirtley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8282109
    Abstract: An apparatus which is convertible from a portable cargo container to a wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention is a backpack or article of luggage that includes a deployable wheeled platform so that the backpack or luggage is convertible to a scooter type vehicle. The present invention is particularly useful for transporting relatively heavy loads along with a human operator, quickly and with minimal effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Hamid Arjomand, Phillip H. Neal
  • Patent number: 8282658
    Abstract: A member of a rigid flexible elastic material, the member including a body portion and an aperture portion with the member adapted for delivery through an axial longitudinal channel of a percutaneous delivery subsystem, the aperture portion including an expanded mode having a lateral dimension greater than an inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion extends outside the channel and a collapsed mode wherein the lateral dimension is not greater than the inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion is within the channel, the channel including a first axial opening and a second axial opening with the aperture portion transitioning from the expanded mode to the collapsed mode when inserted into the openings and the aperture transitioning from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode when exiting from the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas P. Knapp, Bernhard Uihlein, Stanley O. Thompson, Timothy J. Coonahan, Jon Taylor
  • Patent number: 8266828
    Abstract: A clothing article for a foot including a sole including a sealed collapsible air cavity having disposed therein a return support for expanding a collapsed air cavity wherein the air cavity includes an outlet permitting a quantity of air to exit when the air cavity is collapsed; an upper, coupled to the sole, for covering a portion of the foot; an air-actuated active element coupled to the upper, the active element including a first mode and a second mode, the active element biased to the first mode and responsive to the quantity of air to transition from the first mode to the second mode; and a communication channel, coupled to the outlet and to the active element, for transferring the quantity of air from the air cavity to the active element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Finn Alexander Strong
  • Patent number: 8251221
    Abstract: An improved reusable protective enclosure system, comprising a protective housing (20) and cap member (12) for jars, bottles and similar receptacles of glass (50) or other fragile material. Its main object is the construction of a housing that renders a vial or jar contained therein resistant from breakage if the housing (20) is allowed to fall or suffers a sudden shock. Another object of the reusable protective enclosure system is the construction of an airtight enclosure (20), which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Other advantages of the invention are that the inner receptacle (50) be it made of glass or other fragile material, can be readily and repeatedly accessed, removed for sterilization or recycling and replaced for continued use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Aldo Francisco Castaneda
  • Patent number: 8242739
    Abstract: A charging system and method that accommodates and reduces potential residual or leakage current when electrical grounds of a charger and an energy storage system are equalized at the moment of initiating charging. The charging system using an alternating current (AC) line voltage for conductive charging of an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to a polyphase motor drive circuit communicated to a polyphase motor, and converting the line voltage to a charging voltage communicated to the energy storage system using a set of the plurality of driver stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Krauer, Nick Kalayjian
  • Patent number: 8216091
    Abstract: A structure motivated by an impulse to slide over a surface, including: an impulse-receiving portion for receiving the impulse, the impulse-receiving portion defining a section of a generally semi-hemispherical structure and produced from a foam material patterned to represent at least a portion of a sports ball; and a sliding portion, coupled to the impulse-receiving portion, for sliding contact with the surface on a contact surface of the sliding portion responsive to the impulse the contact surface having a generally planar smooth surface having a periphery surrounded by an extension of the impulse receiving portion, wherein a tumbling of a coupled combination of the impulse-receiving portion and the sliding portion is inhibited by shifting a center of gravity downward by a greater weighting of the sliding portion relative to the impulse-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Diggin Active, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip H. Neal, Royce Nelson
  • Patent number: 8210381
    Abstract: A single, thin piece of folded material attaches to a single serving container to provide a strong, sanitary spoon. Folding score lines on the handle portion of the spoon give the utensil strength and provide a simplicity of use suitable for children. The disclosed utensil may be attached to existing containers or may be built into containers during the manufacture of the underlying container, or may be available as a stand-alone product. The disclosed utensil may be integrated into packaging material such as overwrap sleeves used to package food containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: EcoTensil Inc.
    Inventor: Peggy V K Cross
  • Patent number: 8196878
    Abstract: A multiuse platform and system having a flexible shape-retaining shaft for engaging, holding and pointing devices (e.g., imaging devices like cameras or video recorders). It includes a respositionable mounting system having a flexible assembly having a first end and a second end, the assembly adapted to be repetitively positioned into a plurality of orientations by moving the assembly into a first particular orientation wherein the assembly retains the particular orientation until the assembly is moved into a second particular orientation; and a first mounting head, coupled to the first end, for engaging a first mating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Grifiti LLC
    Inventors: Philip G. Wessells, Andrew Lee Choy, Michael E. Woods
  • Patent number: 8191212
    Abstract: The security buckle includes a first body member having one or more walls defining a receiving cavity and one or more mating slots; and a second body member adapted to engage the receiving cavity, the second body member including one or more latching tabs for engaging the one or more mating slots wherein the second body member is inhibited from disengagement while the one or more latching tabs engage the one or more mating slots, and wherein the first body member includes a portion of the one or more walls defining a security slot adapted for receiving an interfering object that includes an engagement mode for insertion and removal from the slot and an interfering mode for inhibiting the one or more latching tabs from disengaging from the one or more mating tabs until the interfering object is transitioned to the engagement mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E. Woods
  • Patent number: 8190217
    Abstract: An electronic headset for a user, the headset including a housing; a first microphone to receive a first audio input provided by the user; a second microphone to receive a second audio input provided by one or more audio sources other than the user; a controller converting the first audio input into a first electronic signal when the controller operates in a first operational mode and converting the second audio input into a second electronic signal when the controller operates in a second operational mode; a first output system active in the first operational mode to communicate the first electronic signal to a second electronic device; a second output system active in the second operational mode and including a sound generator to convert the second electronic signal into an audio signal; and a mode control for setting the controller into one of the operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Richard S. Slevin
  • Patent number: 8181272
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an environmentally-friendly disposable product and method that permits a caretaker to easily deploy and accurately position the product with confidence that the product is hygienic, effective in efficiently protecting the caretaker's clothing, and resistant to repositioning. The apparatus for overlaying a shoulder of a user includes a generally elongate absorbent soak-resistant body element including a front portion, a rear portion and an intermediate portion joining the front portion to the rear portion, the body element shaped for deployment over the shoulder with the intermediate portion generally disposed on top of the shoulder having the front portion overlaying a portion of a chest of the user and having the rear portion overlaying a portion of a back of the user; and a retentive element coupled to the body element, the retentive element interacting with the user to resist displacement of the body element after the body element is deployed over the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: luxebaby, LLC
    Inventor: Debra L. Lee
  • Patent number: 8123527
    Abstract: An activity device including an activity sensor generating an activity interaction signal responsive to a sustained large-muscle physical activity of a user operating the activity device; a controller, coupled to the activity monitor, generating a virtual environment supporting a virtual user frame-of-reference in the virtual environment, the controller generating a set of virtual education elements in the environment and a goal for the set virtual representation with respect to the virtual education elements wherein the controller is responsive to the activity interaction signal to produce an affected interaction of the virtual representation with the virtual education elements with the controller measuring a conformation of the goal by the affected interaction; and a feedback system, coupled to the controller, presenting the virtual environment with the frame-of-reference in relation to the virtual education elements providing the user with feedback regarding the goal and the conformation of the goal by the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: H. Christian Hölljes
  • Patent number: 8123585
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for a solution that safely enables a person to safely operate a body-engaging gyroscopic toy. A gyroscopic toy includes a gyroscopic disk body; an elongated central axle rod extending from both sides of the disk body, the axle rod defining a pair of body-engagement handles; and a safety, selectably releasably engaging the axle rod to a rotational axis of the disk body, inducing a rotation of the axle rod about a lateral axis of the axle rod in response to a rotation of the disk body wherein the safety disengages the induced rotation of the axle body upon an application of an anti-rotation force to the axle whenever the anti-rotation force exceeds a predetermined threshold wherein the disk body continues to rotate freely and the axle rod rotates slower than the disk body while the anti-rotation force is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: Finn A. Strong
  • Patent number: 8126234
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing information for surgical planning based on automated biomechanical analysis of a bone-implant system using finite element analysis of a patient's 3D medical image, including automated biomechanical analysis of bone-implant systems for use in surgical planning both pre-operatively and intra-operatively and for use in research and development studies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: O.N.Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: John Edwards, Paul F. Hoffmann, Tony M. Keaveny, David L. Kopperdahl
  • Patent number: D670082
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Genimex Jersey Ltd.
    Inventors: David Dennys Chitayat, Heather Tomasetti, Pieter Schouten
  • Patent number: D672150
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Genimex Jersey Ltd.
    Inventors: David Dennys Chitayat, Heather Tomasetti, Pieter Schouten