Patents Examined by Christopher P. Ellis
  • System, apparatus, and methods for a nosecone and propulsive nozzle
    Patent number: 11548664
    Abstract: A nosecone apparatus for hypersonic aircraft, rocket or missiles using a method for the mitigation of the created the shock front of a rocket or aerospace plane flying at hypersonic speeds by using nosecone splines to create both centripetal and isentropic airflows in conjunction with regeneratively cooling the nosecone structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Charl E. Janeke
  • Lure with oscillating blade
    Patent number: 11540499
    Abstract: A fishing lure is comprised of a blade member that is pivotably and slidably coupled to a two-leg wire form member. The first leg of the wire form member passes through a first aperture in the blade member, while the second leg of the wire form member passes through a second aperture in the blade member. The blade member is supported by the wire form member at solely the first and second aperture locations. If desired, the blade member can be removed and replaced without needing to bend the blade member. The lure remains in a generally upright position and the blade member exhibits a rapid oscillating movement as the lure is pulled forward in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Ryan Patrick Rye
  • Small body dynamics control method
    Patent number: 11543220
    Abstract: A projectile including an ejectable aft fin housing assembly. The aft fin housing assembly includes aft fins that increase a distance between a center of gravity and a center of pressure of the projectile, improving passive stabilization of the projectile. Once the projectile has been passively stabilized, the aft fin housing assembly is ejected, decreasing a distance between the center of gravity and the center of pressure, improving active stabilization of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Craig O. Shott, Brayden Peery, Gary W. Liles, Alex Karwas, Gregory J. Larson
  • Aerial vehicle with deployable components
    Patent number: 11541986
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle with deployable components (UAVDC) is disclosed. The UAVDC may comprise a fuselage, at least one wing, and at least one control surface. In some embodiments, the UAVDC may further comprise a propulsion means and/or a modular payload. The UAVDC may be configured in a plurality of arrangements. For example, in a compact arrangement, the UAVDC may comprise the at least one wing stowed against the fuselage and the at least one control surface stowed against the fuselage. In a deployed arrangement, the UAVDC may comprise the at least one wing deployed from the fuselage and the least one control surface deployed from the fuselage. In an expanded arrangement, the UAVDC may comprise the at least one wing telescoped to increase a wingspan of the deployed arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Anduril Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Robert Alley, Joshua Lemming Steele, Jesse Owen Williams, Daniel Kuehme, Jonathan Caleb Phillips
  • Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 11535375
    Abstract: An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for land, sea and air use. The autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is more specifically related to an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to vertically take off and vertically land, fly with fixed wings and stay in the air silently for a long time by means of a balloon inflated behind it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: ISTANBUL TEKNIK UNIVERSITESI, MITOS MIKRODALGA GORUN IULEME SISTEMLER: MUHENDISLHK SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI
    Inventors: Guray Ali Canli, Ibrahim Akduman, Ismail Kurtoglu, Mehmet Cayoren, Pelin Yavuz Gundogdu, Ibrahim Ozkol, Hasan Ercan, Muhammet Tarik Tamyurek
  • Method of navigating an amphibious aerial vehicle on water
    Patent number: 11535372
    Abstract: A method of navigating a detached cabin of an UAV over water. The UAV having a plurality of lift propellers; a cabin engaged with a plurality of lift propellers; a water propulsion system engaged with the cabin to push the cabin in a forward direction when the cabin is at least partially immersed in water; at least one water inlet engaged with the water propulsion system; the cabin is a cargo hold or a passenger cabin. The UAV provided by the disclosure can realize vertical takeoff and landing in the water area, and fly, drive and navigate freely in the whole area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI AUTOFLIGHT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu Tian
  • Individual blade control system for rotorcraft
    Patent number: 11524777
    Abstract: A blade pitch control system includes a plurality of serially stacked swashplate assemblies, each having concentric, ring-shaped inner and outer sections, an associated output pitch link coupled to its outer section and an associated input pitch link coupled to its inner section. The inner and outer sections of each swashplate assembly includes pass through holes to accommodate input pitch links and output pitch links of adjacent ones of the stacked swashplate assemblies. The system also includes a plurality of actuators, each coupled to a respective input pitch link of a respective one of the stacked swashplate assemblies. A central static mast accommodates a rotor drive shaft and the stacked swashplate assemblies are configured to slide axially, parallel to a long axis of the static mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Kinetic Analytics LLC
    Inventors: Neil Rohin Gupta, Terry Buelna
  • Fishing light assembly
    Patent number: 11523598
    Abstract: A fishing light assembly for facilitating a visual indicator for fishing at night includes a housing that has a pair of fin portions extending away from a body portion such that the housing has the ornamental appearance of a fish. The housing is comprised of a translucent material to pass light therethrough. A clip is coupled to the housing to engage a fishing rod for suspending the housing from the fishing rod. A light emitter is positioned within the housing to emit light outwardly therefrom. In this way the light emitter facilitates a visual indicator when the fishing pole is being moved from a fish that has bitten a lure connected to the fishing pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: Liviu Siladi
  • Positioning mechanism, UAV dock using same, and UAV replenishment method
    Patent number: 11524796
    Abstract: A positioning mechanism includes a base including a landing area and a guide member movably arranged at the landing area and configured to guide a moving object. The landing area includes a positioning portion. The guide member is configured to be in a non-operating state or an operating state relative to the base. A form of the guide member in the non-operating state is different from the form of the guide member in the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingxi Wang, Hanping Chen, Xiangyu Chen, Yuan Lin
  • Operation of a tethered drone
    Patent number: 11513536
    Abstract: A drone may receive power from mobile base station equipment via an air-to-ground power feed during flight, which allows the drone to remain in flight for longer periods of time than relying on battery power alone. The air-to-ground power feed may be included in a tether that includes multiple air-to-ground power feeds or communication feeds. In some cases, the drone is powered by an on-board power system during takeoff and landing sequences to avoid damage to the tether or the drone and/or signal interference within the tether. In some cases, the drone may follow flight patterns during takeoff and landing sequences to avoid damage to the tether or the drone and/or signal interference within the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
    Inventor: Steve Fischer
  • Fish lures and methods for making fish lures and luring fish
    Patent number: 11503817
    Abstract: Soft bait lures emulating a fish are provided. The lure can provide at least one channel within at least one of the exterior surfaces of the tail. Methods for manufacturing a soft bait fishing lure are also provided. The methods can include removing one or more portions of one or more exterior surfaces of the tail to define one or more channels within the one or more surfaces of the tail. Methods for luring fish using a soft bait fishing lure are also provided. The methods can include channeling at least some of the water through one or more channels within the surface of the tail of the fishing lure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Eric Smith
  • Configuration for vertical take-off and landing system for aerial vehicles
    Patent number: 11505316
    Abstract: A vehicle, includes a main body. A fluid generator is coupled to the main body and produces a fluid stream. At least one fore conduit and at least one tail conduit are fluidly coupled to the generator. First and second fore ejectors are fluidly coupled to the fore conduit, coupled to the main body and respectively coupled to a starboard side and port side of the vehicle. The fore ejectors respectively comprise an outlet structure out of which fluid flows. At least one tail ejector is fluidly coupled to the tail conduit. The tail ejector comprises an outlet structure out of which fluid flows. A primary airfoil element is coupled to the tail portion. A surface of the primary airfoil element is located directly downstream of the first and second fore ejectors such that the fluid from the first and second fore ejectors flows over the such surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: JETOPTERA, INC.
    Inventor: Andrei Evulet
  • Aircraft
    Patent number: 11505087
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a first battery, provisions for transport that are powered by a second battery, and a management system for transferring energy between the first battery and the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Müller
  • Fishing lure
    Patent number: 11484017
    Abstract: A fishing lure with a head made of a hard plastic, a formed wire partially embedded in the head, wherein the wire is formed to have one or two adjacent loops in the front of the head, a loop at the top of the head, and a loop at the bottom of the head, a cavity in the rear portion of the head, a screw projecting out from the front wall of the cavity, and a soft plastic body that is configured to be attached to the head by screwing the body onto the screw. The front of the body fits into the cavity in the head. The body has a projecting male end at its front that presents a stub that is configured to be coupled to the screw, to attach the body to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Andrew Hajjar
  • Rudder twist lock method and apparatus
    Patent number: 11485475
    Abstract: An example of an aerial vehicle includes a rudder removably connected to the aerial vehicle by a twist lock mechanism. The twist lock mechanism is biased in a locked position by an elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Levi Charles Hefner, Danielle Lynn Moore, Dakota Charles Easley
  • Chum delivery device
    Patent number: 11477972
    Abstract: A chum delivery device having a body with a plurality of openings, at least one open end, at least one removable cap, and one or more hook attachments. The plurality of openings of the body are configured to allow chum housed within the body to be released. The removable cap(s) is/are configured to seal the open end(s) of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Matthew Brian Troshinsky
  • Split gimbal
    Patent number: 11479343
    Abstract: A gimbal having a split design, which can be used in an assembly for actuating an aerodynamic high lift device, is described. The gimbal enables a rotating load path when a force is transferred from the actuator to the high lift device via the gimbal. In particular, the split design can include two receivers which can be coupled to posts extending from a nut. The nut can be secured to a shaft which receives a force generated by the actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator can rotate the shaft to cause the gimbal to translate along the shaft. The split design provides a more compact form factor and is lighter in weight than traditional gimbal designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Tsai, Bret Alan Bowers
  • Flying vehicle systems and methods
    Patent number: 11472572
    Abstract: An example charging station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the charging station generally including a nest and a charging device. The nest includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion defines an upper opening sized and shaped to receive a landing apparatus of the UAV, and a diameter of the nest reduces from a first diameter at the upper opening to a second diameter at the lower portion. The charging device is mounted in the nest, and includes a first contact pad and a second contact pad. The charging device is configured to apply a voltage differential across the first contact pad and the second contact pad such that the charging station is operable to charge a power supply of the UAV via the landing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Workhorse Group Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Ratajczak, Wei Wei, Haonan Zhang, Thaddeus Bort, Scott Wilson
  • Multicopter with wide span rotor configuration and protective fuselage
    Patent number: 11465736
    Abstract: An inner middle rotor is rotated while an inner front rotor, an inner back rotor, and an outer rotor are not rotated. The inner middle rotor is surrounded by the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, the outer rotor, and a fuselage. After rotating the inner middle rotor while not rotating the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor, the inner middle rotor, the inner front rotor, the inner back rotor, and the outer rotor are simultaneously rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Reichert, Cameron Robertson, Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Method for assembling at least two parts by transparent welding, method for assembling a primary structure of an aircraft pylon by transparent welding, primary structure of an aircraft pylon thus obtained and aircraft comprising said primary structure
    Patent number: 11459123
    Abstract: A method for assembling at least two parts includes using transparent welding using an energy input beam which travels a trajectory in a closed loop. The trajectory of the energy input beam and/or at least one parameter of the energy input beam is configured so that the weld bead has mechanical and/or geometrical characteristics that are substantially constant over all its length. A method for assembling a primary structure of an aircraft pylon which uses this assembly method to link the panels of the primary structure to one another, a primary structure of an aircraft pylon thus obtained, as well as an aircraft comprising at least one such primary structure is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Julien Allain, Stephane Pernodet