Patents by Inventor Aaron D. LaPrade

Aaron D. LaPrade has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11753170
    Abstract: An aircraft seat may include a seat pan cushion coupled to a seat base. The aircraft seat may include a seat back cushion. The aircraft seat may include an auxiliary rear section. The auxiliary rear section may be configured to transition between an extended position and a retracted position. The seat pan cushion and the seat back cushion may be configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The auxiliary rear section may be configured to be in the extended position when the seat pan cushion and the seat back cushion are in the first position. The auxiliary rear section may be configured to be in the retracted position when the seat pan cushion and the seat back cushion are in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy Pence, Aaron D. LaPrade, Twinkle V. Jacob, Catalin Bunea, Horng Lin
  • Patent number: 11565819
    Abstract: A dynamic electro-mechanical ottoman may include a rail assembly with one or more actuatable tracks coupled to one or more rails. The dynamic electro-mechanical ottoman may include a cushion assembly translatable via the one or more actuatable tracks between a first translation position and a second translation position. The cushion assembly may include one or more cross plates coupled to a pivot shaft and the one or more actuatable tracks, and a cushion sub-assembly. The cushion sub-assembly may include one or more support plates coupled to a cushion and the pivot shaft, and may be rotatable about an axis through the pivot shaft between a first rotation position and a second rotation position. A top surface of the cushion may at least partially face an aircraft seat when the cushion sub-assembly is in the second rotation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Mayne, Daniel Flashman, Aaron D. LaPrade
  • Publication number: 20210300566
    Abstract: An aircraft seat may include a seat pan cushion coupled to a seat base. The aircraft seat may include a seat back cushion. The aircraft seat may include an auxiliary rear section. The auxiliary rear section may be configured to transition between an extended position and a retracted position. The seat pan cushion and the seat back cushion may be configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The auxiliary rear section may be configured to be in the extended position when the seat pan cushion and the seat back cushion are in the first position. The auxiliary rear section may be configured to be in the retracted position when the seat pan cushion and the seat back cushion are in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tracy Pence, Aaron D. LaPrade, Twinkle V. Jacob, Catalin Bunea, Horng Lin
  • Patent number: 10985584
    Abstract: A reactive illuminated wireless charging surface incorporated into a seating module or worksurface aboard an aircraft or other mobile platform has a translucent exterior surface beneath which a wireless charging device may be positioned and over which a PED may be placed for charging. The illuminated wireless charging surface may incorporate arrays or strips of individually addressable light emitting diodes (LED) or other like luminous devices set into flexible printed control boards (PCB) beneath the exterior surface. The illuminated wireless charging surface may have a display controller for driving the LED arrays in practical or aesthetically appealing ways to provide dynamic visual indication of a charging status, e.g., by adjusting individual LEDs or groups thereof to shift in color or intensity according to predetermined or preprogrammed patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Haytham Hakla, Alexander Pozzi, Aaron D. LaPrade
  • Patent number: 10926880
    Abstract: A timed passenger tray with infinite position is disclosed. In embodiments, a passenger tray assembly includes a base member with a first gear/pulley coupled to the base member and a passenger tray with a second gear/pulley coupled to the passenger tray. The passenger tray assembly further includes a tray support member extending from the first gear/pulley to the second gear/pulley. The tray support member is configured to support the passenger tray and can rotate about the first gear/pulley when the passenger tray is repositioned. The passenger tray assembly further includes a timing drive at least partially disposed within the tray support member and configured to engage the first and second gears/pulleys so that the first and second gears/pulleys are simultaneously actuated when the passenger tray is repositioned in a manner that causes the tray support member to rotate about the first gear/pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Mayne, Daniel Flashman, Aaron D. LaPrade
  • Patent number: 10926878
    Abstract: A passenger tray with an integrated user interface device is disclosed. In embodiments, a passenger tray assembly includes a passenger tray with a cavity defined in a surface of the passenger tray. A user interface device is disposed within the cavity. The user interface device includes a capacitive touch interface that is configured to generate signals for controlling one or more electronic components in a passenger environment. For example, the capacitive touch interface can be configured to generate signals for controlling an in-flight entertainment device, an actuator of a passenger chair, a passenger light system, and/or a flight attendant alert system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Mayne, Daniel Flashman, Aaron D. LaPrade
  • Publication number: 20200130846
    Abstract: A dynamic electro-mechanical ottoman may include a rail assembly with one or more actuatable tracks coupled to one or more rails. The dynamic electro-mechanical ottoman may include a cushion assembly translatable via the one or more actuatable tracks between a first translation position and a second translation position. The cushion assembly may include one or more cross plates coupled to a pivot shaft and the one or more actuatable tracks, and a cushion sub-assembly. The cushion sub-assembly may include one or more support plates coupled to a cushion and the pivot shaft, and may be rotatable about an axis through the pivot shaft between a first rotation position and a second rotation position. A top surface of the cushion may at least partially face an aircraft seat when the cushion sub-assembly is in the second rotation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Mayne, Daniel Flashman, Aaron D. LaPrade
  • Publication number: 20200070982
    Abstract: A passenger tray with an integrated user interface device is disclosed. In embodiments, a passenger tray assembly includes a passenger tray with a cavity defined in a surface of the passenger tray. A user interface device is disposed within the cavity. The user interface device includes a capacitive touch interface that is configured to generate signals for controlling one or more electronic components in a passenger environment. For example, the capacitive touch interface can be configured to generate signals for controlling an in-flight entertainment device, an actuator of a passenger chair, a passenger light system, and/or a flight attendant alert system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Mayne, Daniel Flashman, Aaron D. LaPrade
  • Publication number: 20200036205
    Abstract: A reactive illuminated wireless charging surface incorporated into a seating module or worksurface aboard an aircraft or other mobile platform has a translucent exterior surface beneath which a wireless charging device may be positioned and over which a PED may be placed for charging. The illuminated wireless charging surface may incorporate arrays or strips of individually addressable light emitting diodes (LED) or other like luminous devices set into flexible printed control boards (PCB) beneath the exterior surface. The illuminated wireless charging surface may have a display controller for driving the LED arrays in practical or aesthetically appealing ways to provide dynamic visual indication of a charging status, e.g., by adjusting individual LEDs or groups thereof to shift in color or intensity according to predetermined or preprogrammed patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Haytham Hakla, Alexander Pozzi, Aaron D. LaPrade