Patents by Inventor Ellis C. Seal

Ellis C. Seal 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: 20230326433
    Abstract: A soundboard for a musical instrument is disclosed the soundboard having at least one layer of material. In some embodiments the material comprising carbon fiber, fibrous laminate material, resin or a plastic matrix and combinations thereof. At least one bracing structure is engaged to the at least one layer of material. The at least one bracing structure comprising at least one layer of honeycomb or shaped core and at least one sheet of material bonded to the honeycomb or shaped core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 11676559
    Abstract: A soundboard for a musical instrument is disclosed the soundboard having at least one layer of material. In some embodiments the material comprising carbon fiber, fibrous laminate material, resin or a plastic matrix and combinations thereof. At least one bracing structure is engaged to the at least one layer of material. The at least one bracing structure comprising at least one layer of honeycomb or shaped core and at least one sheet of material bonded to the honeycomb or shaped core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 11011143
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument comprises a bridge that receives a plurality of strings. The bridge comprises at least one internal pocket. In some embodiments, the bridge comprises a plurality of internal pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Publication number: 20190027122
    Abstract: A soundboard for a musical instrument is disclosed the soundboard having at least one layer of material. In some embodiments the material comprising carbon fiber, fibrous laminate material, resin or a plastic matrix and combinations thereof. At least one bracing structure is engaged to the at least one layer of material. The at least one bracing structure comprising at least one layer of honeycomb or shaped core and at least one sheet of material bonded to the honeycomb or shaped core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Publication number: 20190019477
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument comprises a bridge that receives a plurality of strings. The bridge comprises at least one internal pocket. In some embodiments, the bridge comprises a plurality of internal pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 10074348
    Abstract: A soundboard for a musical instrument is disclosed the soundboard having at least one layer of material. In some embodiments the material comprising carbon fiber, fibrous laminate material, resin or a plastic matrix and combinations thereof. At least one bracing structure is engaged to the at least one layer of material. The at least one bracing structure comprising at least one layer of honeycomb or shaped core and at least one sheet of material bonded to the honeycomb or shaped core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 10032439
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument comprises a bridge that receives a plurality of strings. The bridge comprises at least one internal pocket. In some embodiments, the bridge comprises a plurality of internal pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Publication number: 20170287449
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument comprises a bridge that receives a plurality of strings. The bridge comprises at least one internal pocket. In some embodiments, the bridge comprises a plurality of internal pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 9685145
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument has a molded sound box and neck where the sound box is formed of between 20% to 60% carbon fibers, or other suitable fibers, and a polymeric resin or binder. The composition of materials utilized in the sound box is selected to increase stiffness and to control the tone of the instrument. The sound box includes an adjustable attachment mechanism having a pivot which is used to secure the neck to the sound box. The sound box includes a molded bracing structure having a plurality of braces and a molded bridge having a plurality of pockets which are used to enhance the structure for the sound box and provide a desired tone quality for the stringed instrument. The neck may include a molded neck insert and a molded fingerboard which are used to enhance the stiffness and stability of the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Publication number: 20160063968
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument has a molded sound box and neck where the sound box is formed of between 20% to 60% carbon fibers, or other suitable fibers, and a polymeric resin or binder. The composition of materials utilized in the sound box is selected to increase stiffness and to control the tone of the instrument. The sound box includes an adjustable attachment mechanism having a pivot which is used to secure the neck to the sound box. The sound box includes a molded bracing structure having a plurality of braces and a molded bridge having a plurality of pockets which are used to enhance the structure for the sound box and provide a desired tone quality for the stringed instrument. The neck may include a molded neck insert and a molded fingerboard which are used to enhance the stiffness and stability of the neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 9171528
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument has a molded sound box and neck where the sound box is formed of between 20% to 60% carbon fibers, or other suitable fibers, and a polymeric resin or binder. The composition of materials utilized in the sound box is selected to increase stiffness and to control the tone of the instrument. The sound box includes an adjustable attachment mechanism having a pivot which is used to secure the neck to the sound box. The sound box includes a molded bracing structure having a plurality of braces and a molded bridge having a plurality of pockets which are used to enhance the structure for the sound box and provide a desired tone quality for the stringed instrument. The neck may include a molded neck insert and a molded fingerboard which are used to enhance the stiffness and stability of the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Publication number: 20150101473
    Abstract: A soundboard for a musical instrument is disclosed the soundboard having at least one layer of material. In some embodiments the material comprising carbon fiber, fibrous laminate material, resin or a plastic matrix and combinations thereof. At least one bracing structure is engaged to the at least one layer of material. The at least one bracing structure comprising at least one layer of honeycomb or shaped core and at least one sheet of material bonded to the honeycomb or shaped core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Publication number: 20140144306
    Abstract: A stringed musical instrument has a molded sound box and neck where the sound box is formed of between 20% to 60% carbon fibers, or other suitable fibers, and a polymeric resin or binder. The composition of materials utilized in the sound box is selected to increase stiffness and to control the tone of the instrument. The sound box includes an adjustable attachment mechanism having a pivot which is used to secure the neck to the sound box. The sound box includes a molded bracing structure having a plurality of braces and a molded bridge having a plurality of pockets which are used to enhance the structure for the sound box and provide a desired tone quality for the stringed instrument. The neck may include a molded neck insert and a molded fingerboard which are used to enhance the stiffness and stability of the neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 6521296
    Abstract: A novel materials technology has been developed and demonstrated for providing a high modulus composite material for use to 1000° F. and above. This material can be produced at 5-20% of the cost of refractory materials, and has higher structural properties. This technology successfully resolves the problem of “thermal shock” or “ply lift,” which limits traditional high temperature laminates (such as graphite/polyimide and graphite/phenolic) to temperatures of 550-650° F. in thicker (0.25″ and above) laminates. The technology disclosed herein is an enabling technology for the nose for the External Tank (ET) of the Space Shuttle, and has been shown to be capable of withstanding the severe environments encountered by the nose cone through wind tunnel testing, high temperature subcomponent testing, and full scale structural, dynamic, acoustic, and damage tolerance testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Robert William Biggs, Jr., Venu Prasad Bodepudi, John A. Cranston
  • Patent number: 6401963
    Abstract: An innovative technology for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) has been developed which significantly increases cost effectiveness, increases reliability, and reduces weight over state-of-the-art COPVs. This technology combines an innovative thin liner made of a metal having a high modulus of elasticity and a high ductility, a high-performance composite overwrap and a high-performance film adhesive at the overwrap/liner interface. The metal liner can be fabricated from readily available titanium alloy sheet and plate using a combination of spin forming and machining to fabricate components and electron-beam welding for tank assembly. The composite overwrap is filament-wound onto an adhesive-covered titanium liner and the overwrap and adhesive are co-cured in an oven to yield an integrated tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Norman C. Elfer, Torben Brandt, Robert O. Edman
  • Patent number: 6087568
    Abstract: A guitar is described which is essentially made up of a plurality of plies of composite laminates individually selected and arranged together to provide desired sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Ellis C. Seal
  • Patent number: 6013361
    Abstract: A novel materials technology has been developed and demonstrated for providing a high modulus composite material for use to 1000.degree. F. and above. This material can be produced at 5-20% of the cost of refractory materials, and has higher structural properties. This technology successfully resolves the problem of "thermal shock" or "ply lift," which limits traditional high temperature laminates (such as graphite/polyimide and graphite/phenolic) to temperatures of 550-650.degree. F. in thicker (0.25" and above) laminates. The technology disclosed herein is an enabling technology for the nose for the External Tank (ET) of the Space Shuttle, and has been shown to be capable of withstanding the severe environments encountered by the nose cone through wind tunnel testing, high temperature subcomponent testing, and full scale structural, dynamic, acoustic, and damage tolerance testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Robert William Biggs, Jr., Venu Prasad Bodepudi, John A. Cranston
  • Patent number: 5822838
    Abstract: An innovative technology for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) has been developed which significantly increases cost effectiveness, increases reliability, and reduces weight over state-of-the-art COPVs. This technology combines an innovative thin liner made of a metal having a high modulus of elasticity and a high ductility, a high-performance composite overwrap and a high-performance film adhesive at the overwrap/liner interface. The metal liner can be fabricated from readily available titanium alloy sheet and plate using a combination of spin forming and machining to fabricate components and electron-beam welding for tank assembly. The composite overwrap is filament-wound onto an adhesive-covered titanium liner and the overwrap and adhesive are co-cured in an oven to yield an integrated tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Norman C. Elfer
  • Patent number: 5419139
    Abstract: An aerospace vehicle fuel pressure, or cryogen tank apparatus includes a tank load bearing wall of composite laminate construction that is lined with a film laminate liner that includes at least two metalized layers bonded with adhesive with the metalized coatings facing each other. The liner is bonded to the load bearing wall with an adhesive. The improved tank apparatus is able to withstand extreme pressure and extreme temperature conditions, and while containing cryogens such as liquid helium and liquid hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventors: Celia M. Blum, Ellis C. Seal, Elizabeth P. Kirn
  • Patent number: RE38433
    Abstract: An innovative technology for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) has been developed which significantly increases cost effectiveness, increases reliability, and reduces weight over state-of-the-art COPVs. This technology combines an innovative thin liner made of a metal having a high modulus of elasticity and a high ductility, a high-performance composite overwrap and a high-performance film adhesive at the overwrap/liner interface. The metal liner can be fabricated from readily available titanium alloy sheet and plate using a combination of spin forming and machining to fabricate components and electron-beam welding for tank assembly. The composite overwrap is filament-wound onto an adhesive-covered titanium liner and the overwrap and adhesive are co-cured in an oven to yield an integrated tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Norman C. Elfer, Torben Brandt, Robert O. Edman