Patents by Inventor Benjamin William Gasser

Benjamin William Gasser 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).

  • Publication number: 20230190548
    Abstract: A wheelchair including a steering assembly configured to selectively attach to the wheelchair, the steering assembly including a steering member, a front wheel operably connected to the steering member, a frame assembly configured to carry the steering member and the front wheel, and a mounting assembly coupled to the frame assembly, and a drive assembly coupled to the wheelchair. The drive assembly is configured to operate in a first configuration in response to the steering assembly being detached from the wheelchair, and the drive assembly is configured to operate in a second configuration in response to the steering assembly being attached to the wheelchair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: William Alexander Emfinger, Benjamin William Gasser, Benjamin Phillip Hemkens
  • Publication number: 20230190546
    Abstract: A steering system for a wheelchair includes a steering device configured to be engaged by a user, a front wheel operably connected to the steering device, and a frame assembly configured to carry the steering device and the front wheel. The frame assembly is configured to removably engage a mounting member of the wheelchair. A mounting assembly can be coupled to the frame assembly. The mounting assembly is configured to selectively couple to the mounting member of the wheelchair and selectively electrically connect to a motorized drive assembly coupled to the wheelchair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: William Alexander Emfinger, Benjamin William Gasser, Benjamin Phillip Hemkens
  • Publication number: 20230190547
    Abstract: An alignment system for a wheelchair based steering column includes a fork assembly configured to carry a front wheel, a bearing coupled to the fork assembly, a tube member that receives the bearing and a portion of the fork assembly, a cam defining sloped cam surface leading to a recess, the cam positioned in the tube member, a biasing member configured to apply a restoring force onto the cam, the biasing member positioned in the tube member, and a steering device coupled to the fork assembly. In response to applying a rotational force to the steering device, the fork assembly rotates, responsively rotating the front wheel and sliding the bearing along the cam surface away from the recess, the cam responsively linearly translates relative to the fork assembly overcoming the restoring force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: William Alexander Emfinger, Benjamin William Gasser, Benjamin Phillip Hemkens
  • Publication number: 20230092096
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the orthotic device can include a powered hand portion, a switching element, and a controller. The wearer can interact with the switching element to generate input signals for adjusting an operation of the powered hand portion. The controller can receive the input signals and generate control signals to accordingly adjust the operation of the powered hand portion. In some embodiments, a powered hand portion can be comprised of a plurality of linkages and at least one powered actuator to assist with an opening and closing of the hand portion. The plurality of linkages can be operated by at least one electric motor with quick-connect elements to link onto fingers of a user. In some embodiments, an electrically-actuated clutch mechanism can be affixed to an upper arm section and a lower arm section of an orthotic device. The clutch mechanism can be configured into different positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Goldfarb, Benjamin William Gasser, Daniel Alvin Bennett
  • Patent number: 11534321
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the orthotic device can include a powered hand portion, a switching element, and a controller. The wearer can interact with the switching element to generate input signals for adjusting an operation of the powered hand portion. The controller can receive the input signals and generate control signals to accordingly adjust the operation of the powered hand portion. In some embodiments, a powered hand portion can be comprised of a plurality of linkages and at least one powered actuator to assist with an opening and closing of the hand portion. The plurality of linkages can be operated by at least one electric motor with quick-connect elements to link onto fingers of a user. In some embodiments, an electrically-actuated clutch mechanism can be affixed to an upper arm section and a lower arm section of an orthotic device. The clutch mechanism can be configured into different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Michael Goldfarb, Benjamin William Gasser, Daniel Alvin Bennett
  • Publication number: 20200163787
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the orthotic device can include a powered hand portion, a switching element, and a controller. The wearer can interact with the switching element to generate input signals for adjusting an operation of the powered hand portion. The controller can receive the input signals and generate control signals to accordingly adjust the operation of the powered hand portion. In some embodiments, a powered hand portion can be comprised of a plurality of linkages and at least one powered actuator to assist with an opening and closing of the hand portion. The plurality of linkages can be operated by at least one electric motor with quick-connect elements to link onto fingers of a user. In some embodiments, an electrically-actuated clutch mechanism can be affixed to an upper arm section and a lower arm section of an orthotic device. The clutch mechanism can be configured into different positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Goldfarb, Benjamin William Gasser, Daniel Alvin Bennett