Patents Examined by Timothy D. Collins
  • Mounting system and mounting method for gas turbine aero engine
    Patent number: 11292605
    Abstract: A system for mounting a gas turbine engine to a pylon on a wing of an aircraft. A temporary forward link, being length-adjustable, and at least one temporary rearward link, being length-adjustable, are provided. These are for temporarily attaching the gas turbine engine to the pylon. The temporary forward link and the temporary rearward link are each adapted to resist tension and compression, to maintain a positional relationship between the gas turbine engine and the pylon in the absence of adjustment of the lengths of the temporary forward link and the temporary rearward link. Adjustment of the length of the temporary links brings engine mounts into alignment with pylon mounts for service attachment of the gas turbine engine to the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Joseph B. Cooper
  • Anti-icing system of aircraft, aircraft including anti-icing system, program for controlling anti-icing system, and method for controlling anti-icing system
    Patent number: 11292601
    Abstract: An anti-icing system at least includes: a precooler that exchanges heat between bleed air and outside air; and an anti-icing unit that receives the bleed air passed through the precooler. A bleed air flow rate adjusting section that adjusts a flow rate of the bleed air supplied to the anti-icing unit adjusts the flow rate of the bleed air to suppress pressure of the bleed air to a pressure upper limit or lower by using relationship r1 and relationship r2. The relationship r1 is a relationship between an altitude and a pressure upper limit of the bleed air. The relationship r2 is a relationship between the pressure upper limit and outside air temperature at which the temperature of the bleed air reaches allowable temperature of ducts and other members through which the bleed air flows. The relationship r2 is provided based on the altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Uefuji, Masatoshi Morishita, Toshiyuki Ishida, Gento Ichikawa
  • Flight module for an aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 11292590
    Abstract: A rotor includes a rotor axis, two elongate blades, a hub on the rotor axis, and a rotational drive system on the rotor axis. The hub supports the blades for pivotation relative thereto, including folding one blade over the hub between radial opposition with the other blade about the rotor axis and alongside the other blade. The rotational drive system supports the blades on the hub for rotation about the rotor axis, and supports the blades on the hub for teetering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom M. Neuman
  • Modular pet bed
    Patent number: 11278001
    Abstract: Modular pet beds that can be disassembled into multiple smaller parts are provided. The individual parts can maintain their shape and can be fastened back together once they are clean and dry. Contemplated pet beds can comprise two or more pet bed components, and a set of fastener assemblies operable to couple the pet bed component together. Some pet bed components can comprise a single segment, or can comprise multiple segments that are permanently and/or removably coupled to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventor: Kristen M. Autenrieth
  • Modular weapon carriage and deployment (MWCD) system
    Patent number: 11279483
    Abstract: A modular weapon carriage and deployment (MWCD) system includes a strongback structure mountable to an aircraft. Left and right guide struts have respective upper ends attached to the strongback structure in spaced lateral positions. Each guide strut extends downward in a parallel arrangement. Each guide strut comprising a vertically-extending first engaging surface. Left and right suspension modules are engageable to opposite lateral sides of a first airborne store. Each suspension module includes a vertical channel that receives the engaging surface of the corresponding one of the left and right guide struts for relative vertical translation. A locking mechanism controllably locks to first engaging surface of the corresponding one of the left and right guide struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Jerry Provenza
  • Vinyl raised bed garden planter kit with modular extension option
    Patent number: 11277978
    Abstract: A raised garden box assembly. The raised garden box assembly may include a plurality of hollow sidewalls, each hollow sidewall may have a top rail, a bottom rail, an inner side member and an outer side member, where the top rail is connected to an outer side member and an inner side member and the bottom rail is also connected to the inner side member and the outer side member. The outer side member and the inner side member may form a hollow interior space and each of the plurality of hollow sidewalls may include a plurality of support ribs, each of the plurality of support ribs may directly contact the outer side member and the inner side member. The top rail, bottom rail, outer side member, inner side member and plurality of support ribs of each hollow sidewall may be integrally formed as a single unitary piece via an extrusion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen Fitzwater
  • Modular avian structure
    Patent number: 11272691
    Abstract: A modular avian structure is provided. The structure includes a first shelter member, a second shelter member secured to the first shelter to define an enclosure having an interior volume, and an adjustable partition assembly positioned within the interior volume. Partition panels of the partition assembly may be manipulated to divide the interior volume into multiple different compartmental configurations as desired by a user. Each compartmental configuration is defined by a plurality of separate walled compartments, each of which may be utilized as either a bird dwelling compartment or as a feed storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventor: Carl Elwood Barrett
  • Canine self exercise device
    Patent number: 11266121
    Abstract: A self-exercise device that provides resistance to tugging, and is operable to intermittently change the resistance so as to mimic an actual tug-of-war game. The device includes ball gallery and ratchet structures that cooperate to provide additional intermittent resistance to provide action to the device that mimics an actual tug-of-war experience wherein the opposing resistance is randomly changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Davante Amir Rowe
  • Stem bayonet clip
    Patent number: 11266075
    Abstract: A stem bayonet clip having a compression portion with opposing main body portions movable with respect to one another; which may include one or more compression ribs provided on interior surfaces of the opposing main body portions; a locking mechanism provided about an edge portion of the opposing main body portions, the locking mechanism being configured to retain a compressive force applied to a stem of a floral element inserted between the opposing main body portions; and a bayonet portion configured to be inserted into floral foam or similar material. The stem bayonet clip configured to grip the stem portion of a flower while the bayonet portion holds the flower in place (in floral foam) as part of a flower arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: James Current
  • Spinner bait with hydro-drive rattle
    Patent number: 11266136
    Abstract: A spinner bait lure includes a wire harness having a line eye. A fishing hook is coupled to the wire harness. A spinner blade is rotatably coupled to the wire harness. A bead is rotatably coupled to the wire harness. Retrieval of the spinner bait lure through a water body causes the spinner blade and the bead to rotate. The spinner blade and the bead rotate about a common axis of rotation and a path of rotation of the bead intersects with the spinner blade. Therefore, the bead knocks into the spinner blade, causing deflection and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Chris Allen Choate
  • Pot assembly with a saucer
    Patent number: 11266079
    Abstract: A pot with a base is pivotally connected to, and supported upon a saucer. A cam surface is provided between the saucer and the pot so that rotation of the pot in a first rotary direction relative to the saucer extends the pot from the saucer, and rotation of the pot in a second rotary direction relative to the saucer retracts the pot to the saucer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ATT Southern, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun Hung, Amy Brinckerhoff, Robert Stein
  • Apparatus and method of providing a preload for the assembly of large structures
    Patent number: 11260955
    Abstract: An apparatus and its method of use provide a preload to the assembly of large structures, for example the assembly of an aircraft wing panel to an aircraft wing frame. The apparatus and its method of use preloads the aircraft wing panel of the aircraft wing structure and presses the aircraft wing panel against the aircraft wing frame of the aircraft wing structure, temporarily securing the aircraft wing panel against the aircraft wing frame and indexing the aircraft wing panel to the aircraft wing frame for the installation of permanent fasteners securing the aircraft wing panel to the aircraft wing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jerry D. Chungbin
  • Mounting system and mounting method for gas turbine aero engine
    Patent number: 11254447
    Abstract: A system for mounting a gas turbine engine to a pylon on a wing of an aircraft. At least one temporary forward link, being length-adjustable, and at least one temporary rearward link, being length-adjustable, are provided. These are for temporarily attaching the gas turbine engine to the pylon. The temporary forward link and the temporary rearward link each comprise a respective winch operable to adjust pay out of a respective tension member thereby to provide length adjustment. The temporary forward link and the temporary rearward link maintain a positional relationship between the gas turbine engine and the pylon in the absence of adjustment of the lengths of the temporary forward link and the temporary rearward link. Adjustment of the length of the temporary links brings engine mounts into alignment with pylon mounts for service attachment of the gas turbine engine to the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Joseph B. Cooper
  • Ring-shaped airfoil aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, and hovering
    Patent number: 11242146
    Abstract: A ring-shaped airfoil aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, and hovering, comprising: a fuselage, a cockpit; a passenger cabin, a power bay, a tapered tail rudder, a ring-shaped airfoil; a flight controller. The ring-shaped airfoil aircraft has the flying abilities for vertical takeoff and landing and hovering at a fixed altitude of multiaxial rotary wing powered aircraft, but compared with multiaxial rotary wing powered aircraft, its flight attitude is hardly in by air side flow, the flight attitude is more reliable. In addition, it can implement the airspeed of fixed wing ducted aircraft, and the flight energy consumption is much less than the existing fixed wing ducted aircraft, and its takeoff and landing are free of runways. The ring-shaped airfoil aircraft can obtain the lift for aircraft, reduce the drag to aircraft and enhance its flight safety performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Tiankan Geng
  • Video camera trap for ecological research
    Patent number: 11240994
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing ventral images of aquatic organisms, such as amphibians, for example, of newts the apparatus comprising a hollow conduct and a watertight container. The hollow conduct has a first opening and a second opening being opposed from each other. The hollow conduct and the watertight container are separated by a wall which transmits the wavelengths comprised between 390 nm and 1.4 ?m. The apparatus is opaque to the wavelengths comprised between 390 nm and 1.4 ?m. The watertight container comprises an underwater video camera oriented towards the wall. The apparatus is remarkable in that the watertight container is positioned below the hollow conduct, the watertight container being filled with clean water. Additionally, a method for detecting, identifying and/or individualizing aquatic animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology (LIST)
    Inventors: Xavier Mestdagh, Lionel L'Hoste, Nicolas Tytgat
  • Indoor garden center with a resilient sealing element
    Patent number: 11240974
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods, the grow module defining a plurality of grow chambers spaced apart along the circumferential direction. One or more resilient sealing elements, e.g., formed from silicone, are positioned at the distal ends of the grow module to seal a gap between the grow module and the liner. The resilient sealing elements define one or more air ducts for providing a flow of air through the resilient sealing element into one of the plurality of chambers and a flow regulating device for regulating the flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Live bait rig
    Patent number: 11240998
    Abstract: A live bait rig for adding motion to live bait as it moves through the water. The live bait rig generally includes a leader with a fixed loop adapted for attachment to a fishing line, the leader also being attached to or including a fishhook. The rig also includes a float on the leader positioned between the fixed loop and the fishhook, the float having a flat front surface toward the fixed loop and a curved rear surface toward the fishhook, and having an opening that extends from the flat front surface to the curved rear surface, wherein the opening is asymmetrically positioned on the float, wherein the leader passes through the opening such that the float is free to rotate on the leader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Curt R. Reeff
  • Toy for stimulating the intelligence of dogs
    Patent number: 11234415
    Abstract: A toy for stimulating the intelligence of dogs has a basic body into which food rewards can be introduced. Movable panels define different functional levels. The panels have apertures and are arranged one above the other in the body. Two top sub-panels that close of the upper side of the body can be pushed apart from one another by the dog's paw. An access panel underneath has retaining bracket which allows the dog's paw to lift it out in the upward direction. Retaining pins pass through apertures in the panel. A sliding panel, which is underneath, has an oblong opening through which likewise removable arresting pins and special arresting pins can pass. The sliding panel can only be displaced by the dog and drawn out of the body in order for the food reward to be exposed to the dog after the locking and arresting pins have been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Andrzej Citak
  • Horse training device
    Patent number: 11235967
    Abstract: A horse training device which is adjustable to fit various sizes of horse heads and neck sizes. The training device includes a generally U-shaped bosal-like member having a forward end and first and second legs extending rearwardly therefrom. A first ring is secured to the rearward ends of the first and second legs. A first U-shaped strap has its lower ends secured to second and third rings secured to the first and second legs respectively. A second strap has one end thereof secured to a cross-member which extends between the first and second legs. The other end of the second strap has a fourth ring member secured thereto. The lower ends of a U-shaped third strap are secured to the fourth ring. A U-shaped fourth strap is connected to the first and third straps and extend around the head of the horse below the ears of the horse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Casey D. Hurlburt
  • Shelters for plants
    Patent number: 11219170
    Abstract: Shelters for enhancing the growth of trees by protecting tree trunks from damaging sunlight. The shelters include a longitudinal tubular structure having a top edge and a bottom edge. The shelters includes a conduit extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of the shelter. The longitudinal tubular structure may be formed from a polymeric material including a pigment selected to block at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation. The polymeric material including the pigment blocks at least about 30% of electromagnetic radiation at any wavelength from about 200 nm to about 2500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Berry Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Stuart Wormald, Andrew Mark McCarthy, Timothy Oliver