Patents by Inventor Allen F. Leatt

Allen F. Leatt 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).

  • Apparatus and method for deploying, recovering, servicing, and operating an autonomous underwater vehicle
    Patent number: 6390012
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for deploying, recovering, and servicing an AUV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The linelatch system can be connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical on one end and to an AUV on the other end. In addition to providing a mechanical connection, between the AUV and a surface vessel, the linelatch system can also carry power and data between the surface vessel (i.e., through the umbilical) and the AUV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Coflexip, S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Watt, Allen F. Leatt, Calum MacKinnon
  • Underwater latch and power supply
    Patent number: 6257162
    Abstract: An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the flying latch vehicle. The flying latch vehicle interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods for recovering, deploying, and relaying power to a subsurface vehicle using the linelatch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Coflexip, S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Watt, Allen F. Leatt, Calum MacKinnon
  • Underwater power and data relay
    Patent number: 6223675
    Abstract: An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the flying latch vehicle. The flying latch vehicle interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods of transferring power and/or data between two or more underwater devices using the linelatch system of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Coflexip, S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Watt, Allen F. Leatt, Calum MacKinnon
  • Apparatus and method for deploying, recovering, servicing, and operating an autonomous underwater vehicle
    Patent number: 6189476
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for deploying, recovering, and servicing an AUV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The linelatch system can be connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical on one end and to an AUV on the other end. In addition to providing a mechanical connection, between the AUV and a surface vessel, the linelatch system can also carry power and data between the surface vessel (i.e., through the umbilical) and the AUV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Coflexip, S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Watt, Allen F. Leatt, Calum MacKinnon
  • Underwater vehicle
    Patent number: 6167831
    Abstract: An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a underwater vehicle that is made up of a tether management system connected to a detachable flying craft by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the detachable flying craft. The detachable flying craft interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods of transferring power and/or data between two or more underwater devices using the underwater vehicle of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Coflexip S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Watt, Allen F. Leatt, Calum MacKinnon