Patents by Inventor Frederic Vachon

Frederic Vachon 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: 20200070038
    Abstract: The present document relates to surface covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a top layer. The surface covering panel assembly includes substantially identical surface covering panels. Each one of the surface covering panels includes a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second surface, a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the receiving surface, and an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to one of the at least other substantially identical surface covering panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Frederic VACHON, Richard DI PIETRO
  • Patent number: 10582280
    Abstract: A personal watercraft includes a hull; a deck disposed on the hull, the deck including a pedestal; a straddle seat on the pedestal; a motor disposed between the hull and the deck; a propulsion system operatively connected to the motor; and at least one speaker assembly disposed at a forward portion of one of the left and right foot-wells. The speaker assembly includes a housing defining a bass port, and a water resistant speaker driver. The speaker driver includes a basket a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures being disposed in the interior of the housing, a cone supported by the basket, a surface of the cone fluidly communicating with air surrounding the basket via the plurality of apertures, a dust cap connected to the cone, a suspension element connected to the cone and the basket, and a water resistant voice coil assembly operatively connected to the cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Sebastien Clement, Nicolas Roy, Kim Ross, Frederic Vachon
  • Publication number: 20200002897
    Abstract: Various embodiments for a panel that may be combined with other similar panels to form a padding layer of an athletic field, or other surface, are disclosed. The panel for use in a padding layer of a panel system includes a male locking element configured to form a dove-tail connection with at least one adjacent panel. The dove-tail connection includes a male locking element of the panel coupling with a female locking element of the at least one adjacent panel and forming an interference fit between the male locking element and the female locking element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Publication number: 20200001953
    Abstract: A trim system for a watercraft has a nozzle pivotable about a trim axis, a trim actuator operatively connected to the nozzle, at least one sensor for sensing at least one operating condition of the watercraft, a control unit electronically connected to the at least one sensor for receiving a sensor input signal indicative of the at least one operating condition. In a first trim control mode, the control unit controls the trim actuator to pivot the nozzle about the trim axis within a first range of trim angles. In a second trim control mode, the control unit controls the trim actuator to pivot the nozzle about the trim axis within a second range of trim angles. The first range of trim angles is greater than the second range of trim angles. A watercraft having a trim system and a method of controlling the trim are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Frederic VACHON, Robert KUNANEC
  • Publication number: 20190376241
    Abstract: An artificial turf system for installation over a receiving surface. The artificial turf system comprising: a sheet member made of a flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the receiving surface and a second surface; primary yarns made of straight fibers backstitched in and threaded through the sheet member and upwardly extending from the sheet member to a first elevation; and secondary yarns made of textured fibers backstitched in and threaded through the sheet member and upwardly extending from the sheet member at a second elevation less than the first elevation which is caused by a difference in texture between the primary yarns and the secondary yarns, wherein the secondary yarns are more rigid than the primary yarns, and wherein the primary yarns and the secondary yarns have ends which are cut after being threaded through the sheet member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Frédéric VACHON
  • Patent number: 10471590
    Abstract: A suspension cable robot is provided, its stability can be improved by using at least three groups of three cables arranged in a parallelogram manner. The ability to remain stable when subjected to forces acting on the robot platform or end effector is thereby significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Patent number: 10415193
    Abstract: Various embodiments for a panel that may be combined with other similar panels to form a padding layer of an athletic field, or other surface, are disclosed. The panel for use in a padding layer of a panel system includes a top side having a center configured to support a top layer, the top side having a surface that slopes downwards from the center of the top side to edges of the panel, where the top side comprises top-side projections having a height varied from other ones of the top-side projections. The panel includes a bottom side having a plurality of bottom-side projections and a drainage hole that fluidly couples top-side projections with bottom-side projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: 4427017 CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Publication number: 20180310081
    Abstract: A personal watercraft includes a hull; a deck disposed on the hull, the deck including a pedestal; a straddle seat on the pedestal; a motor disposed between the hull and the deck; a propulsion system operatively connected to the motor; and at least one speaker assembly disposed at a forward portion of one of the left and right foot-wells. The speaker assembly includes a housing defining a bass port, and a water resistant speaker driver. The speaker driver includes a basket a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures being disposed in the interior of the housing, a cone supported by the basket, a surface of the cone fluidly communicating with air surrounding the basket via the plurality of apertures, a dust cap connected to the cone, a suspension element connected to the cone and the basket, and a water resistant voice coil assembly operatively connected to the cone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Sebastien CLEMENT, Nicolas ROY, Kim ROSS, Frederic VACHON
  • Publication number: 20180237998
    Abstract: Various embodiments for a panel that may be combined with other similar panels to form a padding layer of an athletic field, or other surface, are disclosed. The panel for use in a padding layer of a panel system includes a top side having a center configured to support a top layer, the top side having a surface that slopes downwards from the center of the top side to edges of the panel, where the top side comprises top-side projections having a height varied from other ones of the top-side projections. The panel includes a bottom side having a plurality of bottom-side projections and a drainage hole that fluidly couples top-side projections with bottom-side projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Patent number: 9908601
    Abstract: A method for decelerating a watercraft is disclosed. The watercraft has a reverse gate and a reverse gate actuator operatively connected to the reverse gate for moving the reverse gate between at least a stowed position and a deceleration position. The method includes: receiving, in a control unit, a deceleration signal from a deceleration device position sensor, the deceleration signal being indicative of an actuated position of a deceleration device; controlling, by the control unit, an operation of the reverse gate actuator based at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device; and moving the reverse gate from the stowed position to the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator, the reverse gate actuator being controlled such that a speed of rotation of the reverse gate depends at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Frederic Vachon
  • Publication number: 20170152012
    Abstract: A method for decelerating a watercraft is disclosed. The watercraft has a reverse gate and a reverse gate actuator operatively connected to the reverse gate for moving the reverse gate between at least a stowed position and a deceleration position. The method includes: receiving, in a control unit, a deceleration signal from a deceleration device position sensor, the deceleration signal being indicative of an actuated position of a deceleration device; controlling, by the control unit, an operation of the reverse gate actuator based at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device; and moving the reverse gate from the stowed position to the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator, the reverse gate actuator being controlled such that a speed of rotation of the reverse gate depends at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Frederic Vachon
  • Publication number: 20160265170
    Abstract: An artificial turf system for installation over a receiving surface that comprises a sheet member made of a flexible material, with the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the receiving surface and a turf simulating surface. The artificial turf system further comprises a plurality of primary yarns made of straight fibers upwardly extending from the second surface of the sheet member, and a plurality of secondary yarns made of textured fibers upwardly extending from the second surface of the sheet material and interspersed within the plurality of primary yarns, wherein the plurality of secondary yarns representing more than 50% in weight of the plurality of primary and secondary yarns together. The primary and secondary yarns therefore simulate together the look and feel of the different blades of grass of natural grass cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: Nexxfield Inc. (4427017 Canada Inc.)
    Inventors: Frédéric VACHON, Seymour TOMARIN
  • Publication number: 20150024150
    Abstract: The present document relates to surface covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a top layer. The surface covering panel assembly includes substantially identical surface covering panels. Each one of the surface covering panels includes a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second surface, a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the receiving surface, and an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to one of the at least other substantially identical surface covering panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Frédéric Vachon, Richard DiPietro
  • Patent number: 8858349
    Abstract: The present document describes a padding layer for a multi-layered sports playing field. Various improvements are proposed for enhancing athlete's safety, surface hardness, water drainage, heat management, ease of assembly/installation, durability/longevity, uniformity, resistance to change in weather according to seasons, and stability. The improvements include: matching (multiple-wise) of spacing between rows of backstitches of the top layer and the drainage channels on top surface of the padding layer; a slit in the external tab portion of the padding layer panel, a slit near the lateral part of the tab or blank portion providing a hinging effect thereto, and/or protrusions at various positions on the tab or blank portions to account for change in size of the padding layer panel; drainage holes within the drainage channels; and various configurations of drainage channels on the bottom surface of the padding layer to improve evacuation of water toward the sides of the playing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Publication number: 20130102403
    Abstract: The present document describes a padding layer for a multi-layered sports playing field. Various improvements are proposed for enhancing athlete's safety, surface hardness, water drainage, heat management, ease of assembly/installation, durability/longevity, uniformity, resistance to change in weather according to seasons, and stability. The improvements include: matching (multiple-wise) of spacing between rows of backstitches of the top layer and the drainage channels on top surface of the padding layer; a slit in the external tab portion of the padding layer panel, a slit near the lateral part of the tab or blank portion providing a hinging effect thereto, and/or protrusions at various positions on the tab or blank portions to account for change in size of the padding layer panel; drainage holes within the drainage channels; and various configurations of drainage channels on the bottom surface of the padding layer to improve evacuation of water toward the sides of the playing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon
  • Patent number: D874682
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: 4427017 CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Frédéric Vachon