Patents Examined by Tien Q. Dinh
  • Snow melting system and method for greenhouse
    Patent number: 11006584
    Abstract: A snow melting system for greenhouse comprises sensors for measuring an accumulation of snow on or at the greenhouse. A snow melting processor unit comprises an accumulation rate calculator for calculating an accumulation rate of the snow from the measured accumulation, and a heating prioritizer for actuating at least one of at least two different heating systems of the greenhouse as a function of at least the accumulation rate. A rooftop greenhouse system comprises a greenhouse adapted to be mounted to a rooftop surface. Two or more different heating systems mounted to the greenhouse to heat a roof of the greenhouse, and controlled by the snow melting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: LUFA FARMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Hage, Lauren Rathmell
  • Systems and methods of illuminating plants
    Patent number: 10959381
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods of illuminating plants, in particular, to providing supplemental lighting in addition to natural light to plants, and improving the crop yield when using such supplemental lighting. The invention is well suited for use in horticulture, for instance, in greenhouses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael Krijn, Gabriel-Eugen Onac
  • Aircraft with in-flight form varying apparatus
    Patent number: 10953977
    Abstract: An aircraft operable between a deployed position and a stowed position is disclosed. The aircraft includes a fuselage, a pair of wing segments, and a translation and rotation mechanism for attaching the wing segments to the fuselage. The mechanism includes an upper assembly having an outer shaft and an inner shaft. A first wing segment is attached to the outer shaft and a second wing segment is attached to the inner shaft. The outer shaft translates downward with respect to the inner shaft. Thereafter, the outer and inner shafts rotate in opposite directions in order to rotate the wing segments on top of one another, parallel to a long axis of the fuselage, and into the stowed position. The operation of the outer and inner shafts is reversed in order to return the wing segments to the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Aidan Panthera
  • Spoiler with releasable portion
    Patent number: 10926865
    Abstract: A spoiler mechanism for an aircraft includes a spoiler fore-section and a spoiler aft-section. The spoiler fore-section includes a forward end configured to couple to a wing structure of an aircraft and a hinge end. The hinge end includes a first hinge coupling and a first retainer portion. The spoiler aft-section includes a second retainer portion and a second hinge coupling coupled to the first hinge coupling of the spoiler fore-section. The first retainer portion and the second retainer portion are configured to engage one another when the spoiler aft-section is aligned with the spoiler fore-section, and the first retainer portion and the second retainer portion are configured to disengage from one another responsive to the spoiler aft-section pivoting upward relative to the spoiler fore-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Tsai, Donald Drew Reinhart
  • Aircraft with a propulsion unit with offset fan
    Patent number: 10850859
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a wing having a first upstream spar and a second downstream spar extending in the direction of the span of said wing, and at least one propulsion unit supported by the wing. The propulsion unit includes a turboprop engine and a propeller. The propeller includes an external annular casing fixed to a suction surface of the wing, and at least to the first upstream spar via at least one first and second fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Kevin Morgane Lemarchand, Tewfik Boudebiza, Gilles Alain Charier, Nathalie Nowakowski
  • Method for installing a cultivation floor system and cultivation floor system
    Patent number: 10834875
    Abstract: A cultivation floor system has a floor on which plant containers are to be placed. The system includes a watertight basin and a water-permeable structure in the basin, which structure has a permeable top cloth which forms the top side of the floor on which plant containers are placed. The structure includes one or more water-retaining layers. A watering installation supplies water so that water is available for the plants in the plant containers. A perforated film is placed between the permeable top cloth on the one hand and the one or more water-retaining layers on the other hand, which perforated film is made of impermeable film material which is provided with distributed perforations in such a manner that the film reduces the free evaporation surface for water from the one or more water-retaining layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ERFGOED NEDERALND B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo Willem Lambertus Paans
  • Apparatuses and methods for protecting surfaces from pet-caused damage
    Patent number: 10791711
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatuses and methods for protecting surfaces (e.g., furniture) from animal contact. The surface protection apparatus may comprise a plurality of rigid or semi-rigid members extending from a base portion. The protrusions may comprise a plurality of conical members extending from the base portion or may comprise a plurality of panels extending from the base portion. A plurality of apparatuses may be secured relative to one another to provide an enlarged surface area such that large surfaces (e.g., counters) may be covered by the surface protector to prevent pets from lying on the large surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: PEACHTREE PET LLC
    Inventor: Christian Enterkin
  • Clamp arrangement, setting tool system and use of a setting tool system
    Patent number: 10785923
    Abstract: A clamp arrangement for tree trunks with a main body on which at least three retaining tongues are formed, arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the main body and the retaining tongues are oriented, as blades, in a common cutting direction, and wherein at least two snap lugs are formed on the main body and/or on at least one retaining tongue to allow a detachable connection with a setting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: LATSCHBACHER GMBH
    Inventor: Klaus Latschbacher
  • Safety harness with adjustable separation mechanism
    Patent number: 10772439
    Abstract: The present invention provides a safety harness for a user comprising a first panel arranged to be disposed against the user's chest. The harness further comprises two shoulder portions extending from the first panel and arranged to extend over the shoulders of the user. The harness further comprises a locating portion arranged to be disposed against the user's back. The harness further comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the separation between the first panel and/or the shoulder portions and the locating portion in order to adjust the fit of the first panel and the two shoulder portions against the body of the user. The adjustment mechanism comprises at least one engagement feature. The harness further comprises a securement means located on said first panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: MAGMATIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Law, Joe Allam, Alice Ives, Sarah Perks
  • Multi-skill level animal-operated puzzle and treat toy
    Patent number: 10772298
    Abstract: An animal-operated puzzle and treat toy, includes a body that includes a storage portion defining a treat cavity and a manipulator element connected to the body. The manipulator element is adjustable relative to the body to produce an access opening, to the treat cavity, that is large enough such that a food treat or other reward item may be released through the access opening to the environment. In an initial state, the manipulator element blocks the food treat or other reward item from being released from the treat cavity, and in an adjusted state, the manipulator element has been adjusted, relative to the body, such that the access opening is produced. A plurality of different possible initial states are provided to correspond to different levels of difficulty required to produce the access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: MAKE IDEAS, LLC
    Inventor: Keith Alan Mullin
  • System and method for mooring a lagoon array within a ring
    Patent number: 10766576
    Abstract: Mooring systems and methods are provided. One system may include at least one object partially or fully submerged in a body of water. The system may also include a semi-rigid outer ring that is adrift or moored to at least one sea anchor or to the sea floor by at least one mooring line. At least one object may be connected or tethered by bridle lines to the semi-rigid outer ring to form an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FOREVER OCEANS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Anthony Sims, Jason Heckathorn, Gavin Key
  • Device for hydroponic cultivation
    Patent number: 10757875
    Abstract: A device for hydroponic cultivation, the device including one or more room(s) for receiving one or more seed(s), one or more source(s) of artificial light, arranged to produce photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) to the one or more room(s). The device further includes a control unit for adjusting the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of the artificial light based on the growing phase of the plant(s) being grown in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PLANTUI OY
    Inventors: Janne Loiske, Kari Vuorinen, Matti Alen
  • Impulse dampening system for emergency egress
    Patent number: 10739112
    Abstract: An impulse dampening system reduces peak pressure and impulse acoustic pressures of an acoustic wave to a level that permits initiation of an emergency egress system by personnel in a submerged/flooded cockpit following landing or crashing into water. Initiation of the emergency egress system is available in the air or after the aircraft is in the water. The system attenuates the impulse of the acoustic wave at least 35 dB, where the acoustic wave is usually produced when a detonation chord is initiated. The system includes a first layer of dampening media, a second layer of dampening media, a viscous lensing medium between the layers, and a hard shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Philip Alan Renn, Edward Aloysius Cudahy, IV, Michael Kaige Qin
  • Dog mattress
    Patent number: 10736300
    Abstract: A foam-based dog bed with no loose fiber comprising 5 components: 4 identical bolsters and 1 internal mattress is described. Both the internal mattress and bolsters may be comprised of 2-layers of different foam qualities. The foam pieces are wrapped in foam sheaths to make stuffing and un-stuffing into the outer fabric cover easier. The outer fabric cover is comprised of a top fabric, border fabric and bottom fabric. The top fabric incorporates specifically tailored wrinkles to allow a dog to dig, scratch, and prepare their bed. On the bottom panel of the dog bed is an outer perimeter zipper. The outer zipper starts and stops at a zipper pocket, which also serves as a hinge to open/close the bottom panel. The zipper pocket holds the zipper pull to prevent a dog from biting at it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Casper Sleep Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Menayan, Carly Price, Jeffrey Chapin, Jonathan Belfort, Gen Suzuki, Brittany Kleinman
  • Interactive automatic kitty litter box
    Patent number: 10729096
    Abstract: An automatic interactive kitty litter box includes a base; a removable base pan; a sensor that activates a retractable cover to protect contents of the automatic interactive kitty litter box; LEDs; a rotational energy connecting element; a motor; a cover; a key pad; a solar material; a small led screen; a video screen; BLUETOOTH or WIFI; a camera; a thermometer; a weight scale; and an outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Peter Orgias
  • Two-stage molded pet toy
    Patent number: 10721916
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a two-stage molded pet toy, which consists of a hard plastic liner which is primarily molded and a flexible material mantle which is secondarily molded and sleeves the liner, wherein the liner is a hollow shell formed by mutually butting half shells of upper and lower parts, openings are formed in its two opposite ends, multiple ribs are arranged perpendicular to a length direction of the liner in the liner, nicks are formed in all of the ribs, openings are also formed in two ends of the mantle respectively, and the openings in the two ends of the mantle correspond to the openings in the two ends of the liner respectively. The pet toy is multifunctional, and has both teething and food leakage functions; and in addition, the pet toy has advantages of the hard and flexible materials, and is multifunctional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZHUHAI HENGQIN SUPER TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Tianle Yang, Yibao Zeng
  • Protective housing for dog chews
    Patent number: 10716290
    Abstract: A protective housing for a dog chew may comprise an elongated middle section coupled with bulbous end sections at either end. The middle section may comprise a tunnel extending lengthwise there through, and at least one of the end sections may have a chew insertion window. The chew insertion window may be in line with the tunnel axis, thereby allowing insertion of a chew through the chew insertion window and into the tunnel. Chew access windows may be formed along the middle section, thereby allowing partial access to the chew, while also protecting the chew to extend its life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: HIMALAYAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alan J. Dewey
  • Systems and methods of intensive recirculating aquaculture
    Patent number: 10694722
    Abstract: Systems and methods for intensive recirculating aquaculture are provided herein. An example system includes water sourced from a first segment of a saline aquifer, a recirculating aquaculture system receiving the sourced water and producing discharge water, and a water discharge point located within second segment of the saline aquifer disposed below the first segment of the saline aquifer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Atlantic Sapphire IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thue Holm, Johan E. Andreassen
  • Fishing apparatus and method
    Patent number: 10694729
    Abstract: A fish chute and method for assisting fishermen in retrieving fish that have been hooked, particularly large game fish. Once a fish has been hooked, the fish chute deploys a chute. As the fish tries to swim away, the chute acts as a drag, slowing the fish down and causing it to tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: John J. Carciero
  • Feedthrough electrical connection, and experimental animal cages and monitoring systems including the same
    Patent number: 10687509
    Abstract: A cage for housing at least one experimental animal is disclosed. The cage may include one or more walls that enclose a living space for at least one experimental animal with at least one wall comprising a plastic material. At least one electrical feedthrough may traverse the wall. The electrical feedthrough may include an internal electrical contact located inside the living space and an external electrical contact located outside the living space. The internal and external electrical contacts may be electrically connected. A system for monitoring at least one experimental animal and an electrical feedthrough for providing electrical continuity through a wall of a cage for housing an experimental animal is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Vium, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Harada, Jonathan Noble Betts-Lacroix