Patents by Inventor B. Thomas Craven

B. Thomas Craven 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: 5627338
    Abstract: A system and method for launching projectiles, such as fireworks projectiles, which explode in the air into a pyrotechnic display. The projectile includes a shell constructed from a binding agent and an explosive additive which explodes the shell into small particles. The explosive additive, which may be nitrocellulose, causes the exploded particles to be rapidly burned and consumed to form lightweight, inert flakes that fall harmlessly to the ground. The projectile is aimed and launched by a launcher to rapidly expel the projectile from a launching tube. Once in the air at a predetermined location in the sky, a fuse inside the projectile operates to detonate the projectile into its intended pyrotechnic display. The fuse is extremely accurate and enables detonation of the projectile at precise altitudes. An electronic control system controls launching and detonation of the projectiles in a precise and repeatable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventors: Kyle W. Poor, B. Thomas Craven, Bernard M. Durgin
  • Patent number: 5526750
    Abstract: A system and method for launching projectiles, such as fireworks projectiles, which explode in the air into a pyrotechnic display. The projectile includes a shell constructed from a binding agent and an explosive additive which explodes the shell into small particles. The explosive additive, which may be nitrocellulose, causes the exploded particles to be rapidly burned and consumed to form lightweight, inert flakes that fall harmlessly to the ground. The projectile is aimed and launched by a launcher to rapidly expel the projectile from a launching tube. Once in the air at a predetermined location in the sky, a fuse inside the projectile operates to detonate the projectile into its intended pyrotechnic display. The fuse is extremely accurate and enables detonation of the projectile at precise altitudes. An electronic control system controls launching and detonation of the projectiles in a precise and repeatable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventors: Kyle W. Poor, B. Thomas Craven, Bernard M. Durgin
  • Patent number: 5339741
    Abstract: A system and method for launching projectiles, such as fireworks projectiles, which explode in the air into a pyrotechnic display. The projectile includes a shell constructed from a binding agent and an explosive additive which explodes the shell into small particles. The explosive additive, which may be nitrocellulose, causes the exploded particles to be rapidly burned and consumed to form lightweight, inert flakes that fall harmlessly to the ground. The projectile is aimed and launched by a launcher using a compressed gas to rapidly expel the projectile from a launching tube. Once in the air at a predetermined location in the sky, an electronic fuse inside the projectile operates to detonate the projectile into its intended pyrotechnic display. The fuse is extremely accurate and enables detonation of the projectile at precise altitudes. An electronic control system controls launching and detonation of the projectiles in a precise and repeatable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventors: B. Thomas Craven, William G. Wiedefeld, Kyle W. Poor, Bruce S. Johnson, John W. Sogge, Michael H. Peterson, William G. Adamson, Ronald W. Froelich