Patents by Inventor Bryan Everett Copeland

Bryan Everett Copeland 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: 10036139
    Abstract: An input device is disclosed for use with a machine having a work tool. The input device may have a handle with proximal and distal ends. The input device may also have a proportional control element located at the distal end, and configured to pivot in a first direction to generate a first signal and to pivot in a second direction to generate a second signal. The work tool may have a first axis of rotation that is generally horizontal relative to a ground surface and generally perpendicular relative to a travel direction, and a second axis of rotation that is generally vertical relative to the ground surface and generally perpendicular relative to the first axis. The first signal may be indicative of a desire to pitch the work tool about the first axis, and the second signal may be indicative of a desire to yaw the work tool about the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Daniel French, Andrew John Kieser, Tony Ross Metzger, Bryan Everett Copeland, David Allen Ober, Brad R. Van De Veer
  • Publication number: 20160145828
    Abstract: An input device is disclosed for use with a machine having a work tool. The input device may have a handle with proximal and distal ends. The input device may also have a proportional control element located at the distal end, and configured to pivot in a first direction to generate a first signal and to pivot in a second direction to generate a second signal. The work tool may have a first axis of rotation that is generally horizontal relative to a ground surface and generally perpendicular relative to a travel direction, and a second axis of rotation that is generally vertical relative to the ground surface and generally perpendicular relative to the first axis. The first signal may be indicative of a desire to pitch the work tool about the first axis, and the second signal may be indicative of a desire to yaw the work tool about the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Nathan Daniel FRENCH, Andrew John KIESER, Tony Ross METZGER, Bryan Everett COPELAND, David Allen OBER, Brad R. VAN DE VEER
  • Patent number: 8746395
    Abstract: An operator interface for advanced transmission control of a vehicle is disclosed. The operator interface may include a hand operated joystick mounted on a vehicle and a roller mounted on the joystick, the roller having at least two detents for providing at least four distinct states of speed control, the at least four distinct states including one or more increasing states and one or more decreasing states. In another embodiment, the roller of the operator interface may include at least one detent for providing at least three distinct states of speed control, the at least three distinct states including at least one increasing state, at least one decreasing state, and at least one other speed state provided in one of either an increasing state or a decreasing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Ryan Frazier, David Allen Ober, Bryan Everett Copeland, Todd Bartholomew Smith, Shane C. McBride
  • Publication number: 20130306395
    Abstract: An operator interface for advanced transmission control of a vehicle is disclosed. The operator interface may include a hand operated joystick mounted on a vehicle and a roller mounted on the joystick, the roller having at least two detents for providing at least four distinct states of speed control, the at least four distinct states including one or more increasing states and one or more decreasing states. In another embodiment, the roller of the operator interface may include at least one detent for providing at least three distinct states of speed control, the at least three distinct states including at least one increasing state, at least one decreasing state, and at least one other speed state provided in one of either an increasing state or a decreasing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Brent Ryan Frazier, David Allen Ober, Bryan Everett Copeland, Todd Bartholomew Smith, Shane C. McBride
  • Patent number: 8483914
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable control interface for a machine comprises a vertical adjustment assembly arranged in vertical support of a control pod module. The vertical adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a vertical position of the control pod module in response to a vertical adjustment command signal generated by a controller. The electrically adjustable control interface also comprises a horizontal adjustment assembly coupled to the control pod module. The horizontal adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a horizontal position of the control pod module in response to a horizontal adjustment command signal generated by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Everett Copeland, Amory Rodriguez Diccion, Jamie Lance McClintock, Patrick Andrew Pryor
  • Publication number: 20100057307
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable control interface for a machine comprises a vertical adjustment assembly arranged in vertical support of a control pod module. The vertical adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a vertical position of the control pod module in response to a vertical adjustment command signal generated by a controller. The electrically adjustable control interface also comprises a horizontal adjustment assembly coupled to the control pod module. The horizontal adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a horizontal position of the control pod module in response to a horizontal adjustment command signal generated by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Bryan Everett Copeland, Amory Rodriguez Diccion, Jamie Lance McClintock, Patrick Andrew Pryor
  • Patent number: D747721
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Gentle, Bryan Everett Copeland, Phillip Alan Newberry, Kevin Lee Welty, David Allen Ober, Michael David Seyfert
  • Patent number: D753118
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Daniel French, Andrew John Kieser, Tony Ross Metzger, Bryan Everett Copeland, David Allen Ober, Brad R. Van De Veer