Patents Assigned to ZipAir
  • Patent number: 12434834
    Abstract: A flying device includes a main body, to which a combustion engine, an electric motor, an electricity generator and an electrical energy transfer circuit are attached. The combustion engine and electric motor are arranged to create thrust vectors and are placed on either side of the main body in order to create thrust vectors on each side of a plane of separation of said body. The electricity generator is mechanically coupled to the combustion engine in order to be driven thereby. The electrical energy transfer circuit is connected between the electricity generator and the electric motor, the energy transfer circuit being configured to create mechanical resistance that slows the combustion engine and to produce electrical energy in order to power the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie Zapata
  • Patent number: 12371155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for controlling an actuator comprising a plurality of redundant servo devices and producing values of the same magnitude from the same set point and the same measurement data, the redundant servo devices furthermore being in mutual communication so that each redundant servo device accesses, by reading, the last values of the variable produced by the redundant servo devices and implements a method for correcting the respective productions thereof by coupling. The invention thus prevents any divergence of these variables. Such a system may equip a vehicle with a load consisting of a driver, a passenger and/or goods or freight and comprising one or more actuators controlled in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventors: Frankie Zapata, Laurent Aulagnier, Frédéric Bighelli, Benoît Imbert, Adrien Uhl
  • Patent number: 12319423
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting the thrust vector created by a thrust unit associated with electrical correction means of the thrust vector. Such a thrust unit comprises a mechanical rotor moved in rotation by a rotary shaft of an internal combustion engine in response to a power command. Such a method comprises a step of generating this latter in order to reduce the error value between a rotation speed setpoint and a measured rotation speed of the shaft of the internal combustion engine and thus to correct the speed of the shaft of said internal combustion engine. The method also comprises a step of generating an actuation command of thrust vector electrical correction means generated based on the error value independently of the speed correction of the shaft of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventors: Frankie Zapata, Laurent Aulagnier, Adrien Uhl
  • Patent number: 12312082
    Abstract: A propulsion device includes a platform, a thrust unit, support means arranged to hold and support the thrust unit, integrally cooperating with the platform via one or more mechanical connections, projecting means, integrally cooperating via mechanical connections with the platform, a central foot, passing through the center of inertia of the propulsion device and integrally cooperating via a mechanical connection at its proximal end with the platform. In order to enable a landing of said propulsion device on receiving surfaces having relatively small dimensions with respect to the propulsion device and/or moving surfaces, the projecting means and the central foot are mutually arranged so that the central foot always provides the first contact between the device and a surface receiving the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie Zapata
  • Publication number: 20250136287
    Abstract: A flying device includes a main body, to which a combustion engine, an electric motor, an electricity generator and an electrical energy transfer circuit are attached. The combustion engine and electric motor are arranged to create thrust vectors and are placed on either side of the main body in order to create thrust vectors on each side of a plane of separation of said body. The electricity generator is mechanically coupled to the combustion engine in order to be driven thereby. The electrical energy transfer circuit is connected between the electricity generator and the electric motor, the energy transfer circuit being configured to create mechanical resistance that slows the combustion engine and to produce electrical energy in order to power the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie ZAPATA
  • Publication number: 20250108912
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for controlling an actuator comprising a plurality of redundant servo devices and producing values of the same magnitude from the same set point and the same measurement data, the redundant servo devices furthermore being in mutual communication so that each redundant servo device accesses, by reading, the last values of the variable produced by the redundant servo devices and implements a method for correcting the respective productions thereof by coupling. The invention thus prevents any divergence of these variables. Such a system may equip a vehicle with a load consisting of a driver, a passenger and/or goods or freight and comprising one or more actuators controlled in this way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventors: Frankie ZAPATA, Laurent AULAGNIER, Frédéric BIGHELLI, Benoît IMBERT, Adrien UHL
  • Patent number: 12122516
    Abstract: A thrust unit for a propulsion device includes a thrust engine, arranged to provide a thrust force oriented in a direction so as to provide substantially vertical take-off and landing capability, and a deflector assembly comprising a pair of deflecting elements arranged to selectively divert the ejected fluid and movably mounted in the fluid outlet path. In order to reduce the bulk of the thrust unit and improve reliability and responsiveness, the invention relates more particularly to the positioning of the deflecting elements opposite the ejected fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie Zapata
  • Publication number: 20240262520
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting the thrust vector created by a thrust unit associated with electrical correction means of the thrust vector. Such a thrust unit comprises a mechanical rotor moved in rotation by a rotary shaft of an internal combustion engine in response to a power command. Such a method comprises a step of generating this latter in order to reduce the error value between a rotation speed setpoint and a measured rotation speed of the shaft of the internal combustion engine and thus to correct the speed of the shaft of said internal combustion engine. The method also comprises a step of generating an actuation command of thrust vector electrical correction means generated based on the error value independently of the speed correction of the shaft of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventors: Frankie ZAPATA, Laurent AULAGNIER, Adrien UHL
  • Patent number: 11840325
    Abstract: A propulsion device has a body including a platform and a thrust unit, the thrust unit including a first thermal thruster configured to eject a gaseous flow along an axis normal to the platform, the body of the propulsion device including support means of the thrust unit, wherein said thrust unit includes a first electrical secondary thruster configured to correct the attitude of the propulsion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie Zapata
  • Publication number: 20230111162
    Abstract: A thrust unit for a propulsion device includes a thrust engine, arranged to provide a thrust force oriented in a direction so as to provide substantially vertical take-off and landing capability, and a deflector assembly comprising a pair of deflecting elements arranged to selectively divert the ejected fluid and movably mounted in the fluid outlet path. In order to reduce the bulk of the thrust unit and improve reliability and responsiveness, the invention relates more particularly to the positioning of the deflecting elements opposite the ejected fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie ZAPATA
  • Publication number: 20230094788
    Abstract: The invention relates to a propulsion device comprising a platform, a thrust unit, support means arranged to hold and support the thrust unit, integrally cooperating with the platform via one or more suitable mechanical connections, projecting means, integrally cooperating via suitable mechanical connections with the platform, a central foot, passing through the centre of inertia of the propulsion device and integrally cooperating via a suitable mechanical connection at its proximal end with the platform. In order to enable a landing of said propulsion device on receiving surfaces having relatively small dimensions with respect to the propulsion device and/or moving surfaces, the projecting means and the central foot are mutually arranged so that the central foot can provide the first contact between the device and a surface receiving the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie ZAPATA
  • Patent number: 11479345
    Abstract: A propulsion device, including a platform configured to support a passenger thereon; a thrust engine coupled to the platform, wherein the thrust engine is configured to provide a thrust output substantially along a first axis; a deflector assembly positioned proximate the thrust output, wherein the deflector assembly includes two deflecting guides to divert the thrust output into at least two thrust vectors angled with respect to the first axis; an actuator coupled to each deflecting guide to controllably adjust a position of the deflecting guides with respect to the thrust engine; and a controller in communication with the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuator in response to one or more signals from at least one of the passenger and a sensor coupled to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventors: Chrystelle Charron, Frankie Zapata
  • Patent number: 11453479
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for propelling a passenger, comprising a body arranged to receive said passenger and cooperating with a fuel-fed thrust unit. The arrangement of such a device enables great freedom of movement in the air. More specifically, the thrust unit comprises at least one thrust sub-unit, each advantageously comprising at least two thrusters and secondary course-correction and/attitude-correction thrusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie Zapata
  • Publication number: 20220024586
    Abstract: A propulsion device has a body including a platform and a thrust unit, the thrust unit including a first thermal thruster configured to eject a gaseous flow along an axis normal to the platform, the body of the propulsion device including support means of the thrust unit, wherein said thrust unit includes a first electrical secondary thruster configured to correct the attitude of the propulsion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie ZAPATA
  • Publication number: 20210171188
    Abstract: A propulsion device, including a platform configured to support a passenger thereon; a thrust engine coupled to the platform, wherein the thrust engine is configured to provide a thrust output substantially along a first axis; a deflector assembly positioned proximate the thrust output, wherein the deflector assembly includes two deflecting guides to divert the thrust output into at least two thrust vectors angled with respect to the first axis; an actuator coupled to each deflecting guide to controllably adjust a position of the deflecting guides with respect to the thrust engine; and a controller in communication with the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuator in response to one or more signals from at least one of the passenger and a sensor coupled to the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventors: Chrystelle CHARRON, Frankie ZAPATA
  • Publication number: 20190161188
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for propelling a passenger, comprising a body arranged to receive said passenger and cooperating with a fuel-fed thrust unit. The arrangement of such a device enables great freedom of movement in the air. More specifically, the thrust unit comprises at least one thrust sub-unit, each advantageously comprising at least two thrusters and secondary course-correction and/attitude-correction thrusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie Zapata
  • Publication number: 20190135415
    Abstract: A personal propulsion device, including a platform, first and second sensors coupled to the platform to measure at least one of a force or pressure exerted by first and second feet; a first thrust system coupled to the platform to provide thrust in a first direction; a second thrust system coupled to the platform to provide thrust in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a controller configured to (i) calculate a difference between a measurement by the first sensor and a measurement by the second sensor, and (ii) adjust an output of the second thrust system based at least in part on the calculated difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: ZipAir
    Inventor: Franky Zapata
  • Patent number: D1122843
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: ZIPAIR
    Inventor: Frankie Zapata