Patents by Inventor David Hurd

David Hurd 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: 11041655
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a ventilation system for an aviary including at least one exterior wall disposed between a floor and a roof. The ventilation system includes a first fan disposed in one of the at least one exterior walls. A plenum is disposed on one of the at least one exterior walls. A second fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum. The present embodiments also provide a method of constructing a ventilation system in an aviary, which aviary includes at least one exterior wall disposed between a floor and a roof, a first fan, a plenum, and a second fan. The method includes disposing the first fan in one of the at least one exterior walls. The method also includes disposing the plenum on one of the at least one exterior walls. The method also includes disposing the second fan in flow communication with the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Patent number: 10779513
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a method of building an aviary comprising a floor, a roof, a frame, an exterior wall, and a cage tower including a plurality of support members. The method includes disposing the cage tower on the floor. The method also includes attaching the frame to the plurality of support members. The method also includes attaching at least one of the exterior wall and the roof to the frame. The present embodiments also provide an aviary having a cage tower including a plurality of support members. The cage tower is disposed on a floor. A frame is attached to the plurality of support members. At least one of an exterior wall and a roof is attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Patent number: 10575502
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a floor, a roof, and at least one wall having a plenum to draw air adjacent the roof down the plenum toward the floor. At least one cage tower is disposed on the floor. At least one walkway is disposed adjacent the at least one cage tower and is configured to facilitate bird access to the at least one cage tower. A fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum to circulate air in the aviary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20190327941
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a floor, a roof, and at least one wall having a plenum to draw air adjacent the roof down the plenum toward the floor. At least one cage tower is disposed on the floor. At least one walkway is disposed adjacent the at least one cage tower and is configured to facilitate bird access to the at least one cage tower. A fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum to circulate air in the aviary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Patent number: 10375935
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a floor, a roof, and at least one wall having a plenum to draw air adjacent the roof down the plenum toward the floor. At least one cage tower is disposed on the floor. At least one walkway is disposed adjacent the at least one cage tower and is configured to facilitate bird access to the at least one cage tower. A fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum to circulate air in the aviary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Patent number: 10130078
    Abstract: An aviary cage having a cage tower is provided. The cage tower includes a nesting area positioned in the cage tower and a belt extending below the nesting area. A scratching floor extends from the cage tower and is oriented with respect to the belt such that a deposit on the scratching floor is directed back to the belt. The belt is configured to capture eggs laid outside the nesting area. The belt is configured to capture a deposit. The belt may be further configured to remove dead animals from the aviary cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Rust, David Hurd
  • Patent number: 9723818
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a cage tower and an egg collector. A cover is positioned over the egg collector and includes an inner end and an outer end. A cover adjustment member is coupled to the cover to reversibly raise one of the inner end and the outer end to a higher position than the other of the inner end and the outer end to facilitate movement of a deposit disposed on the cover toward the lower positioned end. The present embodiments also provide a method of operating an adjustable balcony in an aviary, which aviary includes a cage tower, an egg collector, a cover including an inner end and an outer end, and a deposit. The method includes disposing the cage tower in the aviary, disposing the egg collector on the cage tower, disposing the cover above the egg collector, and disposing the deposit on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Patent number: 9504234
    Abstract: An aviary is provided, wherein the aviary includes a cage tower including an outside surface. An egg collector extends from the outside surface of the cage tower. A cover is positioned over the egg collector. A perch is positioned adjacent to the egg collector so that a gap is formed between the perch and the cover. The gap is sized to prevent eggs from rolling between the perch and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20150122193
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a cage tower and an egg collector. A cover is positioned over the egg collector and includes an inner end and an outer end. A cover adjustment member is coupled to the cover to reversibly raise one of the inner end and the outer end to a higher position than the other of the inner end and the outer end to facilitate movement of a deposit disposed on the cover toward the lower positioned end. The present embodiments also provide a method of operating an adjustable balcony in an aviary, which aviary includes a cage tower, an egg collector, a cover including an inner end and an outer end, and a deposit. The method includes disposing the cage tower in the aviary, disposing the egg collector on the cage tower, disposing the cover above the egg collector, and disposing the deposit on the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20150126105
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a ventilation system for an aviary including at least one exterior wall disposed between a floor and a roof. The ventilation system includes a first fan disposed in one of the at least one exterior walls. A plenum is disposed on one of the at least one exterior walls. A second fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum. The present embodiments also provide a method of constructing a ventilation system in an aviary, which aviary includes at least one exterior wall disposed between a floor and a roof, a first fan, a plenum, and a second fan. The method includes disposing the first fan in one of the at least one exterior walls. The method also includes disposing the plenum on one of the at least one exterior walls. The method also includes disposing the second fan in flow communication with the plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20150122190
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a floor, a roof, and at least one wall having a plenum to draw air adjacent the roof down the plenum toward the floor. At least one cage tower is disposed on the floor. At least one walkway is disposed adjacent the at least one cage tower and is configured to facilitate bird access to the at least one cage tower. A fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum to circulate air in the aviary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20150122192
    Abstract: An aviary is provided, wherein the aviary includes a cage tower including an outside surface. An egg collector extends from the outside surface of the cage tower. A cover is positioned over the egg collector. A perch is positioned adjacent to the egg collector so that a gap is formed between the perch and the cover. The gap is sized to prevent eggs from rolling between the perch and the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20150122191
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary cage having a cage tower. The cage tower includes a nesting area positioned in the cage tower and a belt extending below the nesting area. A scratching floor extends from the cage tower and is oriented with respect to the belt such that a deposit on the scratching floor is directed back to the belt. The belt is configured to capture eggs laid outside the nesting area. The belt is configured to capture a deposit. The belt may be further configured to remove dead animals from the aviary cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Rose Acre Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Rust, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20150122195
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a method of building an aviary comprising a floor, a roof, a frame, an exterior wall, and a cage tower including a plurality of support members. The method includes disposing the cage tower on the floor. The method also includes attaching the frame to the plurality of support members. The method also includes attaching at least one of the exterior wall and the roof to the frame. The present embodiments also provide an aviary having a cage tower including a plurality of support members. The cage tower is disposed on a floor. A frame is attached to the plurality of support members. At least one of an exterior wall and a roof is attached to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus D. Rust, Joseph M. Dart, David Hurd
  • Patent number: 8662290
    Abstract: A conveyor belt monitoring system is disclosed that uses sensors to measure magnetic disruptions (“events”) in a conveyor belt which are indicative of one or more splice joints, rip panels and reinforcing cord damage. The system may comprise a plurality of sensing components, including coils or Hall Effect sensors for sensing rip panels, splices and generalized reinforcing cord damage. The system may also have RFID-based rip panels and may use RFID chips to identify various belt components. A PLC-based control system may communicate with the aforementioned components via an Ethernet link. Data received by the control system is used to chart belt wear and damage trends and to provide user alarms when signal levels exceed predetermined norms. The system may stop the belt when imminent belt failure is predicted. The PLC-based control system is highly scalable and will integrate easily into existing conveyor control systems and facility-wide monitoring systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fenner Dunlop Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Mick Twigger, George Mark Myers, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20120168281
    Abstract: A conveyor belt monitoring system is disclosed that uses sensors to measure magnetic disruptions (“events”) in a conveyor belt which are indicative of one or more splice joints, rip panels and reinforcing cord damage. The system may comprise a plurality of sensing components, including coils or Hall Effect sensors for sensing rip panels, splices and generalized reinforcing cord damage. The system may also have RFID-based rip panels and may use RFID chips to identify various belt components. A PLC-based control system may communicate with the aforementioned components via an Ethernet link Data received by the control system is used to chart belt wear and damage trends and to provide user alarms when signal levels exceed predetermined norms. The system may stop the belt when imminent belt failure is predicted. The PLC-based control system is highly scalable and will integrate easily into existing conveyor control systems and facility-wide monitoring systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: FENNER DUNLOP AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Mick Twigger, George Mark Myers, David Hurd
  • Publication number: 20110189640
    Abstract: Disclosed is a body panel inspection device that may be used to determine if a vehicle was in an accident. The inspection device uses a magnet with a particular magnetic strength and other characteristics in order to more accurately determine if a vehicle body panel has been damaged and subsequently repaired through use of non-ferrous filler materials. Also disclosed is a vehicle inspection kit carrying the disclosed magnetic inspection device and further including a method of vehicle inspection by use of the disclosed kit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: William David Hurd
  • Patent number: D560943
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: David Hurd