Patents Examined by Andrew Polay
  • Patent number: 12037095
    Abstract: The invention provides for a hybrid unmanned aerial and submersible vehicle (UASV) (100) comprising a fuselage (102), at least one wing structure (104, 106), a propulsion system (116, 118) and an empennage. The said vehicle is capable of operating in air, on water and underwater via its wing tilting mechanism wherein the transition of the vehicle between different mediums is seamless. Further, the wing structures (104, 106) are connected on either side of the fuselage (102), such that each wing (104, 106) tilts about a common lateral axis (360° of freedom), and wherein said tilting depends on the mode of operation of the UASV (100). The vehicle of the present invention further includes a propeller protection system, a landing system, control surfaces, and sensors. The present invention also discloses methods for operating the UASV (100) in multiple mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Khalifa University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yahya Hashem Zweiri, Yahya Taha Al-Majali
  • Patent number: 12030603
    Abstract: A modular underwater vehicle includes a hull having a series of modular sections, defining an interior housing, a propulsor coupled to a stern of the hull, a series of control surfaces coupled to the propulsor or the stern of the hull, and a power supply, a processor, and a nonvolatile memory device in the interior housing. The nonvolatile memory device has instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to supply power from the power supply to drive the propulsor and to actuate the plurality of control surfaces. At least one modular section of the series of modular sections is detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Inventors: Robert W. Lautrup, Anthony C. Mulligan
  • Patent number: 12012190
    Abstract: A flange for a pressure vessel includes a rim, a sealing seat, and an undercut fillet. The rim has an annular surface for abutting an annular end of a cylindrical wall of the pressure vessel. The sealing seat has a cylindrical surface for abutting an inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the pressure vessel nearby the annular end. The undercut fillet is disposed between the rim and the sealing seat. A concave surface of the undercut fillet extends the annular surface of the rim radially inward and then curves back outward to intersect the cylindrical surface of the sealing seat. The undercut fillet of the flange helps distribute stress produced from a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jesse T. Caldwell, Brandon J. Wiedemeier
  • Patent number: 12012179
    Abstract: A remotely controlled, self-propelled floating cooler includes a main body member that generally has an ovoid shape, as shown, for streamlined movement through the water. The main body member is generally hollow, which allows for ice, drinks, food, and the like to be placed inside of the main body member through an opening or hatch on top. A lid may be removably secured to the opening on top, and preferably includes securing means for maintaining the lid in a closed position, even in rough water. Remotely controlled propulsion means are attached to an underside of the cooler on one end thereof. Other features include an audio receiver with speakers, port and starboard running lights, GPS navigation, submerged spotlights, and video cameras mounted above and below the waterline, all of which may be operated via a remote control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Lawrence Moses, Merrill Stuart Ross
  • Patent number: 11987329
    Abstract: A method of assembling a floatation device and a floatation device is disclosed. The method can include providing a casing having an upper fabric layer and a lower porous layer. A plurality of dividers can be connected at a first end to the upper fabric layer and at a second end to the lower porous layer. Edges of the upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer can be connected by a zipper. The upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer can define a chamber therebetween, and the plurality of dividers dividing the chamber into a plurality of sleeves. A plurality of foam floatation members can be installed in a respective sleeve of the plurality of sleeves, and the zipper can be closed to form a floatatable platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: VIVERE LTD.
    Inventor: Jason Stoter
  • Patent number: 11988486
    Abstract: A counter-underwater vehicle apparatus and marker. Moreover, a counter-underwater vehicle apparatus comprising a plurality of entanglement lines; a box configured to contain the plurality of entanglement lines; a suction cup coupled to the box configured to attach the box to a surface of an underwater vehicle; a release mechanism coupled to the box configured to detach the box from a bite plate and release the plurality of entanglement lines; and the bite plate selectively coupled to the release mechanism. Additionally a marker configured to highlight the location of an underwater vehicle, a box configured to contain and release the marker, a suction cup coupled to the box configured to attach to the box a surface of an underwater vehicle, a release mechanism coupled to the box configured to detach the box from a bite plate and release the marker, and the bite plate selectively coupled to the release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert Burgoa
  • Patent number: 11987333
    Abstract: A modular underwater vehicle includes a hull having a series of modular sections, defining an interior housing, a propulsor coupled to a stern of the hull, a series of control surfaces coupled to the propulsor or the stern of the hull, and a power supply, a processor, and a nonvolatile memory device in the interior housing. The nonvolatile memory device has instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to supply power from the power supply to drive the propulsor and to actuate the plurality of control surfaces. At least one modular section of the series of modular sections is detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventors: Robert W. Lautrup, Anthony C. Mulligan
  • Patent number: 11981411
    Abstract: A method is for making a marine drive for propelling a marine vessel in water. The method includes providing a gearcase; installing a propeller shaft assembly that extends forwardly from the gearcase; coupling front and rear propellers to the propeller shaft assembly, forwardly of the gearcase, such that rotation of the propeller shaft assembly causes rotation of the front and rear propellers, respectively, which thereby propels the marine vessel in the water; and reducing deleterious effects of cavitation on the gearcase by the combination of forming the gearcase with a wide trailing end portion, in particular to maintain pressure alongside the gearcase, and configuring the front and rear propellers so that the front propeller absorbs more torque/thrust load than the rear propeller during said rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Scherer, III, Roger E. Koepsel, Andrew C. Gunderson
  • Patent number: 11970259
    Abstract: A linking drive system comprises a first drive shaft of the first drivetrain connected between a first prime mover and a first propulsor. The linking drive system comprises a second drive shaft of the second drivetrain connected between a second prime mover and a second propulsor. The linking drive system further comprises a linking drive clutch, which comprises at least a first clutch part and a second clutch part. The first clutch part and the second clutch part are engageable with each other and can transmit rotation therebetween. At least one flexible drive link is coupled between the linking drive clutch and the first and/or second drive shafts. Rotation from one of the first and second drive shafts is transferred to the other of the first and second drive shafts when the linking drive clutch is engaged thereby linking the first and second drivetrains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Svitzer A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Bangslund, Esben Grundtvig
  • Patent number: 11970256
    Abstract: An air deployable buoyant device for transmitting data on its location and the conditions in the air as it descends to the surface of a body of water, and on conditions on a body of water on a real-time basis is disclosed. The device includes a buoy and a plurality of sensors and a transmitter associated with the buoy. The transmitter transmits data on the location of the device and the conditions in the air and on a body of water on a real-time basis to at least one receiver. The receiver may be located over the horizon or in line of sight with the device. The sensors are in communication with the transmitter, and each sensor measures at least one condition in the air and/or on a body of water to assist in locating a person in the water and provide information on the water conditions to a rescue team. Methods of deploying and using the buoyant device are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Gene David Sauder, II, Bon Strout
  • Patent number: 11970254
    Abstract: A cold weather infant survival suit includes a principal body cavity having infant/baby holding attachments to fit/hold their small bodies and a coverable cranial opening. The structure of the suit includes a layered structure of mechanically interconnected cavities within cavities. A composite of tear-proof and insulation material forms an internal suit or first envelope that is surrounded by a waterproof suit and then by a tear resistant suit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventor: Diego Jacobson
  • Patent number: 11970255
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a baby float. The multi-functional baby float comprises a float body and a buoyant tail for increasing the buoyancy of the back; the buoyant tail is detachably connected with the end of the float body; and the back of a head of the float body is provided with an elevating mechanism for raising the head of the float body. The elevating mechanism comprises an inflatable airbag or a connecting structure. The connecting structure comprises some rows of female buckles; the buoyant tail is provided with son buckles; and the buoyant tail is fixedly connected with the float body through the matching of the son buckles and the female buckles. The present invention has the characteristics that the back buoyancy can be increased to prevent roll-back, the buoyant tail can be detached and installed below a headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Zhejiang Mambobaby Baby Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Weixin Zhou
  • Patent number: 11964743
    Abstract: A floatation apparel system for discreetly providing buoyancy includes a garment being worn by a user while engaged in aquatic activities. The garment includes a plurality of body apertures having a portion of a person's body extending through. Each body aperture has a perimeter edge, and at least one tubular ring is attached to the garment and is co-extensive with one of the body apertures. Furthermore, at least one tubular ring is buoyant in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Roger Collins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11958570
    Abstract: A sandwich cable fairing designed for attachment to cables that are towed at operational speeds by marine vessels. The sandwich cable fairing has a design that combines layers of elastic and damping materials. The fairing dampens the vibration caused when the cable is towed at operational speeds. The outer layers (“bread”) of the fairing are made from a material with a modulus of elasticity that provides a desired amount of stiffness. In the middle of the sandwich cable fairing is damping layer made from a viscoelastic material. The layering of materials allows the fairing to have the flexibility to be crushed by cable equipment while maintaining the requisite stiffness to reducing flapping and the resulting vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David B Coakley
  • Patent number: 11958569
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a float assembly that can prevent the floats from flipping. The present invention provides a float assembly including a plurality of floats connected together comprising: a filled float having a hollow portion, wherein the hollow portion has a part filled with a filler, and the filled float is arranged at a position facing an assembly periphery surrounding the float assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KYORAKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sakaguchi, Hirofumi Nagai, Yasunobu Ueda, Takaya Niimi, Ayumu Yukawa
  • Patent number: 11945555
    Abstract: A seabased resupply system includes a fuel containment structure containing fuel and extending fore and aft along a longitudinal axis, a pump on the fuel containment structure operable to pump the fuel, containers located on an exterior of opposite lateral sides of the fuel containment structure, and an operating system located inside one or more of the containers, the operating system comprising at least one selected from a power supply, a communication system, and a control processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Nissen, Troy Cyril Schank, Peter Charles Robichaux, Jason Paul Hurst, Todd Christopher Worden
  • Patent number: 11939037
    Abstract: Constraints on arrangement of catalysts are reduced, and early activation and long-term performance maintenance of the catalysts are both achieved. An exhaust pipe includes a first catalyst provided in a first exhaust pipe extending upward on the side of an exhaust manifold, and a second catalyst provided in a second exhaust pipe that extends downward from a bent pipe extending from the first exhaust pipe and that is adjacent to the first exhaust pipe. The second catalyst is disposed at a position offset to a higher location from an up-down middle position of the first exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11938768
    Abstract: An amphibious vehicle for traversing land and bodies of water includes a chassis, and a cycloidal propeller coupled to the chassis and which includes a plurality of cycloidal propeller blades rotatably coupled to the chassis and each extending parallel a rotational axis of the cycloidal propeller, and an extension/retraction system configured to extend the plurality of cycloidal propeller blades away from the chassis and to retract the plurality of cycloidal propeller blades towards the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Moble Benedict, Sean M. McHugh, Chase B. Wiley, Ramsay A. Ramsey, Adam Kellen, Yin Lu Young
  • Patent number: 11939031
    Abstract: A system for propelling a paddleboard or surfboard along the surface of a body of water, comprising a controller motor coupled to a propeller, a rechargeable battery, a controller which may be wearable on the wrist of a user, and a housing structure that is adapted to be attached to the fin box of a paddleboard without the need to remove the fin. The apparatus presents a low-drag profile, has a long battery life for extended range, and is able to be controlled so that user may operate the paddleboard at any desired speed, and in a forward or rearward direction, or in a controllable direction of thrust. The housing structure is adaptable to various fin box T-bolt separation distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Howard Cohen
  • Patent number: 11932369
    Abstract: A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. The device includes a mounting bracket configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A support frame has a carriage and is configured for the propulsor to be coupled thereto, where the carriage is configured to slidably engage with the mounting bracket into a fixed position. A member is manually engageable to prevent the carriage from sliding out of the fixed position. The propulsor is coupled to the marine vessel by sliding the carriage into the fixed position and engaging the member, where the propulsor is operable to propel the marine vessel in water when the carriage is in the fixed position, and where the propulsor is configured for decoupling from the marine vessel by disengaging the member and sliding the carriage out of engagement with the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Perdomo Tornbaum, Tom Geng, Steven Lu, Matthew Z. Seta, Jeremy J. Kraus, Keith W. Schmidt, James E. Erickson, Ronald L. Hall, Derek J. Fletcher