Patents by Inventor Frank E. Joutras

Frank E. Joutras 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: 9984541
    Abstract: Portable force feedback controllers (PFFCs) are designed to be worn on a user's limb, track the movement of the user's limb, and provide force feedback capability. In some embodiments, the PFFCs may include interchangeable modules that can be quickly and easily connected and disconnected so that the PFFC may be easily modified for a particular application. In yet other embodiments, various PFFC modules are moveably coupled and have at least one degree of freedom so that the PFFC can accurately follow the natural movements of a user's limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Aviles, Frank E. Joutras
  • Publication number: 20160196727
    Abstract: Portable force feedback controllers (PFFCs) are designed to be worn on a user's limb, track the movement of the user's limb, and provide force feedback capability. In some embodiments, the PFFCs may include interchangeable modules that can be quickly and easily connected and disconnected so that the PFFC may be easily modified for a particular application. In yet other embodiments, various PFFC modules are moveably coupled and have at least one degree of freedom so that the PFFC can accurately follow the natural movements of a user's limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Walter A. Aviles, Frank E. Joutras
  • Patent number: 9299230
    Abstract: Portable force feedback controllers (PFFCs) designed to be worn on a user's limb, track the movement of the user's limb, and provide force feedback capability. In some embodiments, the PFFCs may include interchangeable modules that can be quickly and easily connected and disconnected so that the PFFC may be easily modified for a particular application. In yet other embodiments, various PFFC modules are moveably coupled and have at least one degree of freedom so that the PFFC can accurately follow the natural movements of a user's limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Aviles, Frank E. Joutras
  • Publication number: 20140240109
    Abstract: Portable force feedback controllers (PFFCs) designed to be worn on a user's limb, track the movement of the user's limb, and provide force feedback capability. In some embodiments, the PFFCs may include interchangeable modules that can be quickly and easily connected and disconnected so that the PFFC may be easily modified for a particular application. In yet other embodiments, various PFFC modules are moveably coupled and have at least one degree of freedom so that the PFFC can accurately follow the natural movements of a user's limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Novint Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Aviles, Frank E. Joutras
  • Publication number: 20120142416
    Abstract: Controlled resistance to movement of body parts of a person is provided based on the person's body position and related to an activity depicted in a visual image provided to the person. The resistance is controlled by a sensor input and a visual input provided to a microprocessor and a software program based on the sensing of the position of at least one part of the person's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Frank E. Joutras
  • Patent number: 4869492
    Abstract: A hand grip includes first and second grip members connected to each other at a pivot point for permitting said first and second grip members to be moved together and away from each other. The two hand grip members are connected together through a pawl and ratchet, friction disks and a spring so that they are moved toward each other against an adjustable friction force and spring returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Frank Joutras
    Inventor: Frank E. Joutras
  • Patent number: 4778173
    Abstract: To reduce bearing wear and rope delay when jumping rope, a weight-adjustable jumping rope handle includes a hollow handle body having a longitudinal axis and a hand grip formed on the outer surface of the body circumscribing the longitudinal axis. A pivotable rope holder is mounted to pivot with respect to the handle about the longitudinal axis and includes a pivotable adjustable clamp for holding the end of the rope in a direction perpendicular to the handle body. A different selected weight is inserted into two hollow handle bodies with the weights being equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Flexion Fitness Products
    Inventor: Frank E. Joutras