Patents by Inventor Christopher Johnston

Christopher Johnston 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: 20240300191
    Abstract: A method of embedding a reinforcing fiber into a thermoplastic resin. The method includes providing a cavity defined by first and second members and a seal and enclosing a ply stack. The ply stack includes at least one thermoplastic resin ply including the thermoplastic resin and at least one reinforcing fiber ply including the reinforcing fiber. The method further includes subjecting the cavity to a vacuum to form a vacuum-sealed cavity to impart an impregnation pressure on the ply stack. The method also includes heating the vacuum-sealed cavity to an impregnation temperature above a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin to form a heated thermoplastic resin impregnating into the reinforcing fiber to form a heated composite. The method also includes cooling the heated composite to form a thermoplastic composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventor: Christopher JOHNSTON, VII
  • Publication number: 20240293046
    Abstract: An analyte sensor system may include a first communication circuit configured to transmit a wireless signal in a first communication mode and a second communication mode, and a processor, wherein the processor determines whether a first condition is satisfied, the first condition relating to the sensor signal or to communication by the first communication circuit, and shifts the system to a second communication mode responsive to the first condition being satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Jason HALAC, Douglas William BURNETTE, John Michael GRAY, Carl Erich HOFFMEIER, Neal Davis JOHNSTON, Neel Narayan SHAH, Liang WANG, Riley Christopher YAYLIAN
  • Patent number: 12073184
    Abstract: Artificial intelligence directed controlled-environment facility resident support ticket response and/or action may provide access to a controlled-environment facility media and/or communications terminal or device support application program via one or more controlled-environment facility media and/or communications terminals and/or a plurality of personal controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices, which accept input of a support request, via the support application program, from a controlled-environment facility resident. A controlled-environment facility media and/or communications device services platform receives the request, determines an assigned weight of words in the request and selects one or more passages of predefined response text to compose a response to the request, based on a determined weight of words in the request and tags associated with these words and the passage(s) of predefined text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shuaib Suleman, Adam Christopher Edwards, Brian Huddleston, Kenneth D. Johnston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11897180
    Abstract: A rigid thermoplastic polymeric sheet material forming process. The process includes heating, while under a heating vacuum range, a rigid thermoplastic polymeric sheet in a heating zone to a forming temperature to form a heated rigid thermoplastic polymeric sheet material. The process further includes transferring, while under a feeding vacuum range, the heated rigid thermoplastic polymeric sheet material from the heating zone to feed the heated rigid thermoplastic polymeric sheet material into a forming zone under the feeding vacuum range. The process also includes forming, in the forming zone, the heated rigid thermoplastic sheet material into a formed article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Aerlyte, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Johnston, VII
  • Patent number: 11607836
    Abstract: A heated polymeric sheet material feeding process. The process may include heating a polymeric sheet in a heating zone to a forming temperature to form a heated polymeric sheet material. The process may further include transferring, while under a feeding vacuum range, the heated polymeric sheet from the heating zone to feed the heated polymeric sheet material into a forming zone under the feeding vacuum range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Aerlyte, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Johnston, VII
  • Patent number: 11532296
    Abstract: Broadband acoustic absorbers may be capable providing good absorption performance between 0 and 3,000 Hz, and particularly below 1,000 Hz. Reeds may be incorporated in a single layer, multiple layers, or bundles. Such broadband acoustic absorbers may be applied for acoustic absorption in aircraft, spacecraft, residential and commercial buildings, vehicles, industrial environments, wind tunnels, or any other suitable environment or application where noise reduction is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Lisa Danielle Koch, Michael G. Jones, Peter J. Bonacuse, Christopher J. Miller, James Christopher Johnston, Maria A. Kuczmarski
  • Publication number: 20220389689
    Abstract: Wear caps protect the wearable surfaces of an adapter for an earth working equipment. These wear caps are subjected to erosion and wear by contact with abrasive material, such as experienced in an excavating operation. The wear caps can be attached to upper and lower legs of the adapter and protect them from wear. Each wear cap is secured to a retention feature on an independent mounting structure. The independent mounting structures are aligned and staggered such that installation of a wear cap onto the rearward independent mounting structure is conducted first. The independent mounting structures on an upper leg may be situated one above the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: ESCO Group LLLC
    Inventors: Abram Hernandez, Yesenia Meraz-Torres, Christopher A. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20220325505
    Abstract: A wear member for attaching to a digging edge of a bucket includes a front end and bifurcated legs extending rearwardly from the front end. Each leg includes an inner surface to face the digging edge, a rear wall, and a lock opening to receive a lock therethrough. At least one of the bifurcated legs includes a front portion, a rear portion, and a coupling feature. The rear portion defines a stabilizing region comprising a front facing lateral wall forward of the rear wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: ESCO Group LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Johnston, Scott H. Zenier, Joel S. Hankland, Bruce C. Bingham, Charles G. Ollinger, IV, Kevin S. Stangeland, Zachary R. Englen
  • Patent number: 11447937
    Abstract: Wear caps protect the wearable surfaces of an adapter for an earth working equipment. These wear caps are subjected to erosion and wear by contact with abrasive material, such as experienced in an excavating operation. The wear caps can be attached to upper and lower legs of the adapter and protect them from wear. Each wear cap is secured to a retention feature on an independent mounting structure. The independent mounting structures are aligned and staggered such that installation of a wear cap onto the rearward independent mounting structure is conducted first. The independent mounting structures on an upper leg may be situated one above the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Abram Hernandez, Yesenia Meraz-Torres, Christopher A. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20220098599
    Abstract: Embodiments include engineered minicircle-producing bacterium with differential methylation capability, as well as kits and compositions comprising the bacterium. Further described are methods of using of the bacterium for producing differentially methylated minicircle DNA, and for improving transformation efficiency of exogenous DNA in intractable bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher JOHNSTON, Sean COTTON
  • Patent number: 11220025
    Abstract: A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Aerlyte, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Johnston, VII
  • Patent number: 11155982
    Abstract: Wear members for wear assemblies include a lock configured to secure the wear member to a base, where the lock has two engagement positions, namely: (a) a first position that secures the lock to the wear member, and (b) a second position that secures the wear member to the base. The locks are further configured to be unlatched and removed from the wear member in two phases, a first retraction of the latching mechanism, followed by a rotation of the lock itself with removal from the wear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Johnston, Donald M. Conklin, Michael B. Roska, William D. Rossi, Kevin S. Stangeland
  • Publication number: 20210129387
    Abstract: A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher JOHNSTON, VII
  • Publication number: 20210010168
    Abstract: A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher JOHNSTON, VII
  • Patent number: 10793201
    Abstract: A pickup truck cargo box subassembly includes a load floor composed of a sandwich structure having an upper skin, a lower skin and a core extending therebetween. The upper skin is formed of a composite material including continuous reinforcing fibers. The pickup truck cargo box subassembly also includes a left inner sidewall panel having an integrated left inner sidewall panel joining surface extending horizontally along at least a portion of a length of the left inner sidewall panel. The pickup truck cargo box subassembly also includes a right inner sidewall panel having an integral right inner sidewall panel joining surface extending horizontally along at least a portion of a length of the right inner sidewall panel. The left and right inner sidewall panel joining surfaces join a peripheral portion of the load floor. The pickup truck cargo box subassembly also includes a headboard and a rear cross sill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Aerlyte, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Johnston, VII
  • Publication number: 20200256040
    Abstract: Wear caps protect the wearable surfaces of an adapter for an earth working equipment. These wear caps are subjected to erosion and wear by contact with abrasive material, such as experienced in an excavating operation. The wear caps can be attached to upper and lower legs of the adapter and protect them from wear. Each wear cap is secured to a retention feature on an independent mounting structure. The independent mounting structures are aligned and staggered such that installation of a wear cap onto the rearward independent mounting structure is conducted first. The independent mounting structures on an upper leg may be situated one above the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: ESCO Group LLC
    Inventors: Abram Hernandez, Yesenia Meraz-Torres, Christopher A. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20200240120
    Abstract: Wear members for wear assemblies include a lock configured to secure the wear member to a base, where the lock has two engagement positions, namely: (a) a first position that secures the lock to the wear member, and (b) a second position that secures the wear member to the base. The locks are further configured to be unlatched and removed from the wear member in two phases, a first retraction of the latching mechanism, followed by a rotation of the lock itself with removal from the wear member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher A. Johnston, Donald M. Conklin, Michael B. Roska, William D. Rossi, Kevin S. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 10655307
    Abstract: Wear members for wear assemblies include a lock configured to secure the wear member to a base, where the lock has two engagement positions, namely: (a) a first position that secures the lock to the wear member, and (b) a second position that secures the wear member to the base. The locks are further configured to be unlatched and removed from the wear member in two phases, a first retraction of the latching mechanism, followed by a rotation of the lock itself with removal from the wear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ECSO Group LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Johnston, Donald M. Conklin, Michael B. Roska, William D. Rossi, Kevin S. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 10576662
    Abstract: A method of forming a fiber-reinforced molding compound. The method includes establishing a melt stream of a source material including a first polymeric material having a first melt temperature in an extruder and dosing a composite material into the melt stream. The composite material includes pre-impregnated reinforcing fibers comprising reinforcing filaments and a second polymeric material having a second melt temperature greater than the first melt temperature. The composite material has at least 30% of the reinforcing filaments protected by the polymeric material such that the polymeric material surrounds each filament completely forming a barrier between it and an adjacent filament in the at least 30% of the filaments. The temperature of the melt stream at dosing is below the second melt temperature. The method includes forming a molding compound from the source and composite materials. The method includes dispensing the molding compound to produce a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: AERLYTE, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Johnston, VII
  • Patent number: 10518442
    Abstract: A method of forming fiber-reinforced composites. The method includes stabilizing two or more carbon fibers tows together (a) with a stabilizing resin and (b) in-line with a commercial carbon fiber production process to form a semi-finished tape; and impregnating the semi-finished tape with a matrix resin in a process offline of the carbon fiber production process to form a prepreg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Aerlyte, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Johnston, VII