Patents Examined by Katherine June Walter
  • Patent number: 12371143
    Abstract: Apparatus, method for draining fluid, and method of fabricating a drainage apparatus for drainage of fluid through an exterior of an aircraft are disclosed. The apparatus includes a drain element having an aft end portion and an annular connector, wherein the annular connector is to be disposed within a drain port in an exterior panel of the aircraft. The drain element includes a forward end portion with a contoured protrusion disposed over the annular connector, and a drain opening at the aft end of the contoured protrusion. The contoured protrusion enables fluid to flow from the drain port through the annular connector and out the drain opening. An airflow across the contoured protrusion creates a reduced pressure region external to the drain opening relative to the pressure at the annular connector and drain port, so as to induce fluid flow through the annular connector in the drain port and out the drain opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Alex Zierden, Brendamari Rodriguez, Christopher Satterwhite
  • Patent number: 12351301
    Abstract: A blade pitch detection apparatus for an aircraft having a lower rotor hub assembly and an upper rotor hub assembly, the upper rotor hub assembly including a blade pitch adjustment linkage configured to maintain the rotor blades at a first blade pitch while a rotational velocity of the upper rotor hub assembly is below a threshold and to maintain the rotor blades at a second blade pitch while the rotational velocity is above a threshold. The pitch detection apparatus includes a magnet coupled to a component of the blade pitch adjustment linkage and a sensor coupled to a component of the lower rotor hub assembly and configured to generate a signal in the presence of the magnet. Processing circuitry in communication with the sensor can determine whether the plurality of rotor blades are at the first blade pitch or the second blade pitch based on the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Unmanned Aerospace LLC
    Inventor: Gad Shaanan
  • Patent number: 12342789
    Abstract: A pet booster seat comprising a base and an attachment member configured to detachably couple the base to a car seat of a vehicle. The base can include a shell, a liner removably coupled to the shell and configured to cover an interior of the shell, and a frame configured to maintain at least a shape of an upper portion of the base. The pet booster seat can be further configured to transition from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration automatically when no upward pulling force is exerted at or near the upper portion of the base. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.
    Inventors: Casey Ferrara, Jeffrey Stocker Watson, Xue Hai Shen
  • Patent number: 12324417
    Abstract: A pet restraint bag includes an outer layer body including a first open end having a first closing member selectively closing the first open end, a closed end, and a first extension portion having a length having two ends respectively connected to the first open end and the closed end, the outer layer body having an internal receiving space, the first extension portion having a through opening; and an inner layer body receivable in the receiving space and including a second open end having a second closing member selectively closing the second open end, a third open end, and a second extension portion having a length having two ends respectively connected to the second open end and the third open end, the third open end being connected to an inside of the first extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Inventor: Su-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 12324422
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a degassing device and an aquaculture system with such a degassing device. The degassing device includes perforated rotating blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: TD HOLT HOLDING APS
    Inventor: Thomas Holt
  • Patent number: 12325515
    Abstract: A wingless vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle has a main body including airfoil sections on either side of a central module in which a load may be carried. Articulated forward thrust systems are mounted on a leading edge of the main body and lateral members are located on either side of the main body and form winglets. At least one rear vertical-thrust system may also be provided and, in one embodiment, is mounted in an aperture aft of the central module. The forward thrust systems transition between a vertical flight configuration and a horizontal flight configuration. The lateral members are configured as both vortex-damping members and also to channel backwash from the forward thrust systems over the airfoil formed by the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Inventor: William Walker
  • Patent number: 12310333
    Abstract: A dog harness assembly includes a dog harness having a chest strap and a back strap releasably engageable with the chest strap around a dog. The dog harness assembly includes a seatbelt harness releasably engageable with a seatbelt webbing of a vehicle and a seatback harness releasably engageable with a child seat anchor of a vehicle. The seatbelt harness has a clip releasably engageable with the chest strap and the seatback harness has a clip releasably engageable with the back strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mara Santiz, Kevin Pline, Derek Board
  • Patent number: 12284980
    Abstract: An animal litter product comprising a foam polymer, wherein the foam polymer is compressible, resilient and has a density in the range of about of about 325 to 650 kg/m3, wherein the foamed polymer has limited compressibility and returns to approximately its original volume, wherein, optionally, the foam polymer is blended with other animal litter components, such as clays or other absorbent materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Boxiecat, LLC
    Inventors: Alvin Kershman, Josh Wiesenfeld, Jeff Shear, Harold Cole
  • Patent number: 12274241
    Abstract: A pet collar. A plurality of connecting rods is pivotally connected via a ball-and-socket connection to a plurality of socket segments. A center section is pivotally connected via a ball-and-socket connection to two innermost socket segments. A collar connector is pivotally connected via a ball-and-socket connection to two outermost socket segments. In a preferred embodiment the collar connector includes a slidable magnet for locking the collar connector. Also, in a preferred embodiment the center section includes a NFT tag for pet safety and identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Inventor: David Dekarske
  • Patent number: 12269584
    Abstract: The landing gear actuation system includes an attachment point integral to a movable member, a flexible pull member having a first end coupled to the attachment point, and a motor configured to move the flexible pull member, wherein the movement of the flexible pull member moves the attachment point and the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harald Klode, Kyle M. Madey, Gerard Cox
  • Patent number: 12250930
    Abstract: A propeller assembly to facilitate the cleaning of aquaculture nets. The propeller assembly has a centrally disposed hub with a plurality of aluminum alloy blades extending outwardly to a perimeter ring. A plurality of triangular shaped rigid knuckles is coupled to the perimeter ring. A blade spacer is attached to a leading edge of each blade, the blade spacer constructed of a wear resistant material. In operation, rotation of the blades provides thrust for positioning the knuckles against an aquaculture net, whereby the knuckles remove fouling from the aquaculture net by violently shaking the aquaculture net. The blade spacer positions the propeller assembly a predetermined distance from the aquaculture net to protect the leading edge by distance and/or use of a wear resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Inventor: Peter B. Lindgren
  • Patent number: 12240603
    Abstract: An oblique all-wing (OAW) vehicle and methods are described where the OAW vehicle has a unique configuration and can be used to, for example, launch a payload. The OAW vehicle can include an elongated airfoil body with a longitudinal axis, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, a first longitudinal edge at a first juncture between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a second longitudinal edge at a second juncture between the top surface and the bottom surface. The elongated airfoil body has an airfoil-shaped cross-section, with the first longitudinal edge defining a leading edge and the second longitudinal edge defining a trailing edge. A rocket engine or other propulsion device is mounted to the elongated airfoil body at the first longitudinal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: EXQUADRUM, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin E. Mahaffy