Patents by Inventor Brian Hicks

Brian Hicks 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: 12546330
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies having one or more bearing element in a bearing housing for supporting a shaft extending through at least a portion of the bearing housing. The bearing assembly including a recirculation line for delivering fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from a fluid inlet of the bearing housing to at least partially thermally regulate, lubricate, and/or flush the one or more bearing elements during operation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: CHAMPIONX LLC
    Inventors: Brett Champlin, Joey Witt, Brian Hicks, Alex Hageman
  • Patent number: 12397508
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for achieving more accurate 3D printed parts than printed parts achieved by conventional means. The disclosed systems and methods reduce the need for tolerance fitting when designing 3D objects and manufacturing with stereolithographic 3D printers. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable fitted assemblies to be manufactured and produce accurate standoffs where size constraints are critical. Embodiments of the present disclosure realize these solutions without requiring modifications to the printer or the printer software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David Bonanno, Blerta Markowski, Brian Hicks, Freddie Santiago
  • Publication number: 20250228245
    Abstract: Compositions, and methods, for selectively controlling and killing invasive flatworms in Phylum Platyhelminthes. The compositions and methods are designed to control invasive flatworms, their eggs, their cocoons, and their reproductive fragments in and on plants, plant tissue, plant transportative material, water, soil, turf, roots, root balls, sidewalks, drive ways, play areas, common areas, and surfaces and substrates that are both permeable and impermeable. The composition comprises: 1) degreasing solvent, 2) a surfactant compound, 3) an acid or base, and 4) a monohydric alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Jeannine Tilford, Brian Hicks
  • Publication number: 20250217724
    Abstract: An example computer-based system includes at least one computer processor and non-transitory memory. The computer-based system also includes at least one high-power consuming module (e.g., program) configured to be executed on the computer processor or another computer processor. The computer-based system is configured to execute the high-power consuming module efficiently. For example, the computer-based system may include an energy-efficiency module that is configured to determine whether the high-power consuming module may be executed efficiently. The energy-efficiency module may permit or prevent execution of the high-power consuming module based on the determination, thereby improving the efficiency of the computer-based system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Hicks, Ryan Rasmussen, Charlie Fowler
  • Publication number: 20250178088
    Abstract: A system and method of making an additively manufactured, metal near net shape part includes introducing a metallic-element-bearing feedstock into a melt zone of an additive manufacturing printhead. The metallic-element-bearing feedstock is mixed in the melt zone with a flux composition to form a slag bath mixture upon melting. The metallic-element-bearing feedstock is refined in-situ by melting the slag bath mixture with the application of thermal energy to the slag bath mixture to form a phase-separated product including a slag phase and a metal-rich liquid phase. The metal-rich liquid phase is simultaneously deposited to form a first metal layer that is one of a plurality of iteratively deposited metal layers of an additive build according to a three-dimensional digital model. The additive build has successive layers of the deposited, solidified metal-rich liquid that form a near net shape metallic part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Adam Stevens, Sudarsanam Suresh Babu, Rangasayee Kannan, Vanshika Singh, Peeyush Nandwana, Brian Hicks, Ryan R. Dehoff, David A. Frederick, Sarah M. Graham, Douglas J. Kyle, Lonnie J. Love, Roger G. Miller, William H. Peter, Brian K. Post, Yukinori Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20250122882
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies having one or more bearing element in a bearing housing for supporting a shaft extending through at least a portion of the bearing housing. The bearing assembly including a recirculation line for delivering fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from a fluid inlet of the bearing housing to at least partially thermally regulate, lubricate, and/or flush the one or more bearing elements during operation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Brett Champlin, Joey Witt, Brian Hicks, Alex Hageman
  • Patent number: 12173721
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies having one or more bearing element in a bearing housing for supporting a shaft extending through at least a portion of the bearing housing. The bearing assembly including a recirculation line for delivering fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from a fluid inlet of the bearing housing to at least partially thermally regulate, lubricate, and/or flush the one or more bearing elements during operation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: CHAMPIONX LLC
    Inventors: Brett Champlin, Joey Witt, Brian Hicks, Alex Hageman
  • Publication number: 20240409357
    Abstract: A self-synchronizing yarn tension control system is provided. Self-synchronizing yarn tension control includes a yarn brake, a yarn movement sensor, a yarn tension sensor, a yarn brake, and a controller configured to control the system. The controller is configured to store one or more tension thresholds and store instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining a yarn movement signal from the yarn movement sensor, determining whether a textile machine is operational based, at least in part on the yarn movement signal, obtaining a yarn tension signal from the yarn tension sensor, comparing the yarn tension signal to the one or more tension thresholds, generating one or more brake control signals based on said comparison, and operating the yarn brake based upon each of the one or more brake signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel Sauret, Alex Martinez, Jonas Hansson, Brian Hicks
  • Publication number: 20240409358
    Abstract: A self-synchronizing yarn tension control system is provided. Self-synchronizing yarn tension control includes a yarn tension sensor, a yarn brake, and a controller configured to control the system. The controller includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices. The memory devices configured to store the more memory devices configured to store one or more tension pulses, store one or more tension thresholds, and store instructions that when executed by the processors cause the processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining a first yarn tension value and selectively operating the yarn brake based on the tension pulses. Obtaining a second yarn tension value by operating the yarn brake based on the tension pulses. Determining whether the first tension value exceeds the second tension value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel Sauret, Alex Martinez, Jonas Hansson, Brian Hicks
  • Publication number: 20240051230
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for achieving more accurate 3D printed parts than printed parts achieved by conventional means. The disclosed systems and methods reduce the need for tolerance fitting when designing 3D objects and manufacturing with stereolithographic 3D printers. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable fitted assemblies to be manufactured and produce accurate standoffs where size constraints are critical. Embodiments of the present disclosure realize these solutions without requiring modifications to the printer or the printer software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: David Bonanno, Blerta Markowski, Brian Hicks, Freddie Santiago
  • Publication number: 20230184255
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies having one or more bearing element in a bearing housing for supporting a shaft extending through at least a portion of the bearing housing. The bearing assembly including a recirculation line for delivering fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from a fluid inlet of the bearing housing to at least partially thermally regulate, lubricate, and/or flush the one or more bearing elements during operation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Brett Champlin, Joey Witt, Brian Hicks, Alex Hageman
  • Publication number: 20170133580
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for the transfer of a mechanical force to a piezo-electric element for the generation of an electrical signal corresponding to the mechanical force, e.g. the tension of a thread or the like and/or the movement of the same, wherein the piezo-electric element is positioned in a holder in order to be actuated by the mechanical force on the end surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Jonas Hansson, Bengt Karlsson, Brian Hicks
  • Patent number: 9364059
    Abstract: A trolley suitcase with deployable storage includes a front panel and a back panel. The front and back panels both have top and bottom edges, as well as first and second opposing side edges. An extendable handle extends from the top edge of the back panel and is moveable between a recessed position and an extended position. A deployable container is provided, deployable to define an auxiliary storage compartment external to the main storage compartment. The deployable container has a stored configuration and a deployed configuration. When in the stored configuration, the deployable container is collapsed, such that a first end thereof and a second end thereof are in adjacent positions. When in the deployed configuration, the first end of the deployable container is retained at its original position, while the second end of the deployable container is extended away from the first end. The auxiliary storage compartment is defined between the first end and the second end of the deployable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Brian Hicks
  • Publication number: 20150078683
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. The device includes a body having an opening on an upper portion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closed position. The device further includes one or more flap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between the first portion and the second portion of the game head. The device also includes one or more closing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Brian HICKS
  • Patent number: 8936172
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. The device includes a body having an opening on an upper portion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closed position. The device further includes one or more flap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between the first portion and the second portion of the game head. The device also includes one or more closing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Hicks
  • Patent number: 8503761
    Abstract: A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model database configured to store a digital surface model (DSM) of a geographical area, and to store image data of the geographical area. The image data may have a spectral range indicative of a difference between buildings and vegetation. The geospatial modeling system may also include a processor cooperating with the geospatial model database to separate bare earth data from remaining building and vegetation data in the DSM to define a building and vegetation DSM. The processor may also register the image data with the building and vegetation DSM, and classify each point of the building and vegetation DSM as either building or vegetation based upon the spectral range of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Morteza Akbari, Mark Rahmes, Patrick Kelley, Brian Hicks
  • Patent number: 8306288
    Abstract: A system and method for inpainting areas in a fingerprint image is provided. The method includes the steps of dividing a fingerprint image into a plurality of image blocks (506) and computing a plurality of block scores for the plurality of image blocks (508). The method also includes generating a blur matrix for the fingerprint image based on the plurality of block scores (510). The method further includes deriving an inpaint region (IR) matrix for the fingerprint image based on a weighting function and the blur matrix, the IR matrix identifying a portion of the plurality of image blocks for inpainting (512, 514).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Rahmes, Josef Allen, David Lyle, Brian Hicks
  • Publication number: 20120145720
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. The device includes a body having an opening on an upper portion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closed position. The device further includes one or more flap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between the first portion and the second portion of the game head. The game head transfer device also includes one or more closing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Brian Hicks
  • Patent number: D733586
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ELTEX OF SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Bengt Karlsson, Jonas Hansson, Brian Hicks
  • Patent number: D758008
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: Klexius Kolby, Brian Hicks, Mang Lai Winnie Cheung