Patents by Inventor David Timothy Dobney

David Timothy Dobney 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: 11786807
    Abstract: A wearable electronic kit, system and method for playing a game involving a plurality of players is disclosed. The kit includes a transmitter configured to emit a signal identifying the player wearing the electronic kit and a receiver configured to read the signals transmitted by the electronic kits worn by other players and measure the signal strength of each of said signals. The kit includes a processor coupled to the receiver which creates zones of influence around the other players by defining a preselected signal strength threshold for each signal. The processor is configured to recognize a presence event in the zone of influence by comparison of the signal strength read by the receiver to the preselected signal strength threshold of the player. The processor is configured to store a set of rules and to use the recognition of the presence event in the application of the rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: David Timothy Dobney
  • Publication number: 20220203221
    Abstract: A wearable electronic kit, system and method for playing a game involving a plurality of players is disclosed. The kit includes a transmitter configured to emit a signal identifying the player wearing the electronic kit and a receiver configured to read the signals transmitted by the electronic kits worn by other players and measure the signal strength of each of said signals. The kit includes a processor coupled to the receiver which creates zones of influence around the other players by defining a preselected signal strength threshold for each signal. The processor is configured to recognize a presence event in the zone of influence by comparison of the signal strength read by the receiver to the preselected signal strength threshold of the player. The processor is configured to store a set of rules and to use the recognition of the presence event in the application of the rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: David Timothy Dobney
  • Patent number: 9673751
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating solar concentrating device wherein reflective sheets hung in a catenary trough shape capable of solar concentration may be protectively furled and balanced and rotated about a vertical axis. The reflective sheets may be furled to protect them from damage from wind, rain, and dust. In some embodiments, rotating parts of the device may be hung from supports above. In some embodiments, a furling mechanism may initiate protective furling in response to damaging environmental factors. Some embodiments may concentrate light on a photovoltaic cell wherein the photovoltaic cell is cooled by immersion in a heat pipe. In some embodiments, reflective surfaces may be supported by cables that are tensioned by a hanging, rotating ballast. In some embodiments, the device may be employed in a ganged array. In some embodiments, the invention may harvest wind energy as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: David Timothy Dobney
  • Publication number: 20150318820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating solar concentrating device wherein reflective sheets hung in a catenary trough shape capable of solar concentration may be protectively furled and balanced and rotated about a vertical axis. The reflective sheets may be furled to protect them from damage from wind, rain, and dust. In some embodiments, rotating parts of the device may be hung from supports above. In some embodiments, a furling mechanism may initiate protective furling in response to damaging environmental factors. Some embodiments may concentrate light on a photovoltaic cell wherein the photovoltaic cell is cooled by immersion in a heat pipe. In some embodiments, reflective surfaces may be supported by cables that are tensioned by a hanging, rotating ballast. In some embodiments, the device may be employed in a ganged array. In some embodiments, the invention may harvest wind energy as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventor: David Timothy Dobney
  • Publication number: 20080049342
    Abstract: A balanced radiation concentrating device used to focus radiation from a moving source onto a stationary receiver is disclosed. The primary application of such an invention relates to concentrating the radiation from the sun onto a stationary target. In such an application the device may be termed a “ganged heliostat”, which is an array of mirrors controlled by a common positioning mechanism such that each mirror reflects light from the sun onto a stationary target. The design of the device is greatly simplified in comparison to ganged heliostats of the prior art. One major improvement included in the present invention as compared to devices of the prior art is the balancing feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: David Timothy Dobney