Patents by Inventor Derek Thomas

Derek Thomas 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: 20220048626
    Abstract: There is provided an external load transport assembly for an aerial vehicle. The assembly includes a load suspension line having a first end connectable to the aerial vehicle and a second end connectable to an external load. The assembly includes a relative humidity indicator positioned to monitor moisture content of the load suspension line. The assembly includes an at least partially transparent coating encasing the load suspension line and the relative humidity indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Boost Human External Cargo Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Yarnold, Derek Thomas, Colin Patrick O'Neill, Paul William Beau Allard
  • Patent number: 10751988
    Abstract: A system comprising an additive manufacturing device to create a macrostructure as a continuous piece, an applicator to apply a conductive coating to an inner surface of the macrostructure, and a signal attenuation tuner to attenuate a signal by modification of a physical dimension of the macrostructure. A method and another system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: MADE IN SPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Snyder, Andrew Rush, Derek Thomas
  • Patent number: 10745131
    Abstract: A load beam for an aerial vehicle comprises an elongate beam having a bottom. There is a plurality of load attachment points disposed along the bottom of the elongate beam. Each of the load attachment points is configured to selectively couple to a load such that the load is coupled to a first one of the load attachment points, or the load is coupled to a second one of the load attachment points and a third one of the load attachment points, whereby the load is connected to the load beam so as to be airlifted by the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BOOST HUMAN EXTERNAL CARGO SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Derek Thomas, Jeff Yarnold
  • Publication number: 20190130058
    Abstract: U-splines are an improved spline construction for representing smooth objects in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE). A spline is a piecewise-defined function that satisfies continuity constraints between adjacent elements in a mesh. U-splines differ from existing spline constructions, such as Non-Uniform Rational B-splines (NURBS), subdivision surfaces, T-splines, and hierarchical B-splines, in that they can accommodate local geometrically exact adaptivity in h (element size) t) (polynomial degree), and (smoothness) simultaneously over any mesh topology. U-splines have no restrictions on the placement of T-junctions in the mesh. Mixed element meshes (e.g., triangle and quadrilateral elements in the same surface mesh) are also supported. Additionally, the U-spline basis is positive, forms a partition of unity, is linearly independent, and provides optimal approximation when used in analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventor: Derek Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180345154
    Abstract: A modular, portable arena for housing a plurality of escape room game environments is described. The arena provides basic services such as power, control, sales, marketing, climate control, and isolation from the surrounding environment needed to support the individual games and their rooms. Games are temporarily installed within the arena, and can easily be swapped out. Arena is configurable to support various types and shapes of escape room type games. Each game environment could have multiple rooms or levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Derek Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180111687
    Abstract: A load beam for an aerial vehicle comprises an elongate beam having a bottom. There is a plurality of load attachment points disposed along the bottom of the elongate beam. Each of the load attachment points is configured to selectively couple to a load such that the load is coupled to a first one of the load attachment points, or the load is coupled to a second one of the load attachment points and a third one of the load attachment points, whereby the load is connected to the load beam so as to be airlifted by the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Derek Thomas, Jeff Yarnold
  • Patent number: 9944394
    Abstract: A load beam for an aerial vehicle comprises an elongate beam with a radial slot and a lug extending from the radial slot. A hook is pivotably connected to the lug. There is a first arm pivotably connected to the beam and a second arm pivotably connected to the beam. The first arm may be pivotably connected to a first mount and the second arm may be pivotably connected to a second mount. A pivot axis of the first arm relative to the elongate beam may be substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the first arm relative to the first mount. A pivot axis of the second arm relative to the elongate beam may substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the second arm relative to the second mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Boost Human External Cargo Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Thomas, Jeff Yarnold
  • Publication number: 20160236779
    Abstract: A load beam for an aerial vehicle comprises an elongate beam with a radial slot and a lug extending from the radial slot. A hook is pivotably connected to the lug. There is a first arm pivotably connected to the beam and a second arm pivotably connected to the beam. The first arm may be pivotably connected to a first mount and the second arm may be pivotably connected to a second mount. A pivot axis of the first arm relative to the elongate beam may be substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the first arm relative to the first mount. A pivot axis of the second arm relative to the elongate beam may substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the second arm relative to the second mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Derek Thomas, Jeff Yarnold
  • Patent number: 6832503
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a weight-drop machine for calibrating and verifying the calibration of an occupant detection system in a vehicle. The machine comprises a lift frame that is adapted to support and lift a seat pallet toward a keeper plate to cause the pallet to engage the keeper plate so that the pallet is prevented from movement. Another weight-drop machine a weight supported for movement relative to a frame, which, in turn, is supported for movement in a direction having both a horizontal component and a vertical component of movement in a single motion. Yet another weight-drop machine comprises one or more sensors that are adapted to sense the position of a vehicle seat. Still another weight-drop machine comprises a sensor for measuring displacement of the drop weight. A towel bar lift may be provided for lifting a towel bar for operating a manual seat lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Marentic, John Sapielak, Roland Monk, Derek Thomas, Gary Rock, Glenn Kremer, Don Hamilton, Greg Krom, Matt Debusk, Troy Deuchler, John Nathan
  • Publication number: 20040118178
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a weight-drop machine for calibrating and verifying the calibration of an occupant detection system in a vehicle. The machine comprises a lift frame that is adapted to support and lift a seat pallet toward a keeper plate to cause the pallet to engage the keeper plate so that the pallet is prevented from movement. Another weight-drop machine a weight supported for movement relative to a frame, which, in turn, is supported for movement in a direction having both a horizontal component and a vertical component of movement in a single motion. Yet another weight-drop machine comprises one or more sensors that are adapted to sense the position of a vehicle seat. Still another weight-drop machine comprises a sensor for measuring displacement of the drop weight. A towel bar lift may be provided for lifting a towel bar for operating a manual seat lock mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Marentic, John Sapielak, Roland Monk, Derek Thomas, Gary Rock, Glenn Kremer, Don Hamilton, Greg Krom, Matt Debusk, Troy Deuchler, John Nathan
  • Patent number: 4009257
    Abstract: A soluble immunogenic extract of human blood lymphocytes, a non-toxic immunosuppressive antilymphocytic serum raised by the extract, a non-toxic immunosuppressive antilymphocytic immunoglobulin G derived from the serum, and methods of isolating the extract, raising the antiserum and isolating the immunoglobulin G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1971
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: Burroughs Wellcome, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Thomas, Heddy Zola