Patents by Inventor Charles Alan Rocco

Charles Alan Rocco 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: 8227224
    Abstract: A method of making a molded part, including forming a liquid aggregate. A fungal inoculum and the liquid aggregate are inserted into a mold cavity. A portion of an object is inserted into the mold cavity. The fungal inoculum is grown into live mycelium that operably couples with the object. The mycelium is heated to terminate further growth and develop a composite part made of mycelium and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Patent number: 8227233
    Abstract: A method of making a molded part, including forming a liquid aggregate from a mixture of finely ground aggregate and a fluid. A mixture of a fungal inoculum and the liquid aggregate is formed. Nanoparticles are homogenously distributed throughout the mixture. The mixture is inserted into a mold cavity. Live mycelium is grown to fill the mold cavity. The live mycelium is heated to terminate further growth and develop a formed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Patent number: 8227225
    Abstract: A method of making a plasticized mycelium structure, including dissolving a soluble polymer in a liquid thereby forming a polymer solution of polymer particles. The polymer solution is combined with a fungal inoculum capable of growing hyphae in the presence of an aggregate. The resulting mixture is allowed to grow into a mycelium network. The mycelium network is made up of hyphae which bond with the polymer particles found in the polymer solution forming a structure substantially made up of mycelium that has a plasticizer homogenously distributed throughout the structure. The structure is cured to terminate mycelium growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Alan Rocco, Raymond Edward Kalisz
  • Publication number: 20120124839
    Abstract: A method of making a vehicle part, including growing a live mycelium mat from interwoven hyphae. The mycelium mat is cured to terminate mycelium growth. The mycelium is cut into a single structural component without further processing for use in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Publication number: 20110306107
    Abstract: A method of preparing a mycelium component, including growing live mycelium from a fungal inoculum and a liquid aggregate. The live mycelium is cured to terminate further mycelium growth and form a mycelium structure. Moisture is applied to the mycelium structure such that the mycelium structure is nearly fully saturated. The mycelium structure is dried to form a hardened mycelium structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Publication number: 20110269218
    Abstract: A method of making a hardened elongate structure, including growing a live mycelium mat having branching hyphae. The live mycelium mat is layered to form a multi-layered structure. The hyphae are allowed to grow inward into the multi-layered structure such that the hyphae are interwoven throughout the multi-layered structure. The multi-layered structure is cured to terminate mycelium growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Publication number: 20110268980
    Abstract: A method of making a molded part, including forming a liquid aggregate. A fungal inoculum and the liquid aggregate are inserted into a mold cavity. A portion of an object is inserted into the mold cavity. The fungal inoculum is grown into live mycelium that operably couples with the object. The mycelium is heated to terminate further growth and develop a composite part made of mycelium and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Publication number: 20110266831
    Abstract: A method of making a vehicle part, including growing a live mycelium mat from interwoven hyphae. The mycelium mat is cured to terminate mycelium growth. The mycelium is cut into a single structural component without further processing for use in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Publication number: 20110268947
    Abstract: A method of making a molded part, including adding a fungal inoculum with a liquid aggregate to form a mixture. The mixture is inserted into a mold cavity. The mold cavity is covered with a cover. Live mycelium is grown from the mixture that fills the mold cavity and physically couples with the cover. The live mycelium is heated to terminate further growth and develop a composite component made of mycelium and the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Charles Alan Rocco, Raymond Edward Kalisz
  • Publication number: 20110265688
    Abstract: A method of making a molded part, including forming a liquid aggregate from a mixture of ground aggregate and a fluid. A fungal inoculum and the liquid aggregate are injected into a first mold cavity. The first mold cavity is sealed against a second mold cavity. Live mycelium is grown from the fungal inoculum to fill the first and second mold cavities. The live mycelium is cured to terminate further growth and develop a formed substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco, Elizabeth Cleary Johnston Tengler, Rosaria Lee Petrella-Lovasik
  • Publication number: 20110269209
    Abstract: A method of making a plasticized mycelium structure, including dissolving a soluble polymer in a liquid thereby forming a polymer solution of polymer particles. The polymer solution is combined with a fungal inoculum capable of growing hyphae in the presence of an aggregate. The resulting mixture is allowed to grow into a mycelium network. The mycelium network is made up of hyphae which bond with the polymer particles found in the polymer solution forming a structure substantially made up of mycelium that has a plasticizer homogenously distributed throughout the structure. The structure is cured to terminate mycelium growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Charles Alan Rocco, Raymond Edward Kalisz
  • Publication number: 20110268955
    Abstract: A method of making a molded part, including forming a liquid aggregate from a mixture of finely ground aggregate and a fluid. A mixture of a fungal inoculum and the liquid aggregate is formed. Nanoparticles are homogenously distributed throughout the mixture. The mixture is inserted into a mold cavity. Live mycelium is grown to fill the mold cavity. The live mycelium is heated to terminate further growth and develop a formed part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Charles Alan Rocco, Raymond Edward Kalisz
  • Publication number: 20110269214
    Abstract: A method of making a molded part, including forming a liquid aggregate from a mixture of finely ground aggregate and a fluid. A mixture of a fungal inoculum and the liquid aggregate is formed. Nanoparticles are homogenously distributed throughout the mixture. The mixture is inserted into a mold cavity. Live mycelium is grown to fill the mold cavity. The live mycelium is heated to terminate further growth and develop a formed part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Kalisz, Charles Alan Rocco
  • Publication number: 20100308604
    Abstract: A lockable latch system includes an anchor bar rigidly connected to a vehicle and a rigid hook operably engaged with the anchor bar. A springboard is disposed on the rigid hook. The springboard is operable between an obstructing position, wherein the springboard prevents disengagement of the rigid hook from the bar and an unobstructing position, wherein the springboard does not prevent disengagement of the rigid hook from the bar. A lock assembly includes a cam operable between an interference position, wherein the cam prevents the springboard from entering the unobstructing position and a non-interference position, wherein the cam does not prevent the springboard from entering the unobstructing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Junko Pauken, Charles Alan Rocco, Michael James Whitens