Patents by Inventor James Loren CHRISTIAN

James Loren CHRISTIAN 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: 20160377763
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at a snowpack measurement device that is configurable between a skiing configuration, in which it can be used as a ski pole, and a snowpack measurement configuration, in which it can be used as a probe to measure one or more characteristics of a snowpack. In some embodiments, the device can wirelessly transmit snowpack measurement results, for example, to a user's mobile device. The device can house sensitive electronics and sensors for the snowpack measurement tool within a ski pole handle of the device when not in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: James Loren Christian, Andrew Stockton Bennett, Garrett Marshall Harmsen, David Hoffman, Richard Kirby, Thomas Laakso, Brint Markle, Joseph J. Trovato
  • Patent number: 9465020
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense a temperature of a layer of snow as the sensing unit is being driven into the layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including resistance to penetration, humidity, grain size, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow layer temperature according to depth based on the sensed temperature. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: AvaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: James Loren Christian, Samuel Tileston Whittemore, Brinton J. W. Markle
  • Publication number: 20150355152
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense a temperature of a layer of snow as the sensing unit is being driven into the layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including resistance to penetration, humidity, grain size, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow layer temperature according to depth based on the sensed temperature. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: James Loren CHRISTIAN, Samuel Tileston WHITTEMORE, Brinton J.W. MARKLE
  • Patent number: 9057803
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to measure a size of snow grains as the sensing unit is being driven into a layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including resistance to penetration, temperature, humidity, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow grain size according to depth based on the measured size of snow grains. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: AVATECH, INC.
    Inventors: James Loren Christian, Samuel Tileston Whittemore, Brinton Johnston Wadsworth Markle
  • Patent number: 9057804
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense a resistance to penetration as the sensing unit is being driven into a layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including temperature, humidity, grain size, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow layer hardness according to depth based on the sensed resistance to penetration and identifying areas of concern which may indicate an avalanche risk. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: AVATECH, INC.
    Inventors: James Loren Christian, Samuel Tileston Whittemore, Brinton J.W. Markle
  • Publication number: 20140366648
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense a resistance to penetration as the sensing unit is being driven into a layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including temperature, humidity, grain size, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow layer hardness according to depth based on the sensed resistance to penetration and identifying areas of concern which may indicate an avalanche risk. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: James Loren CHRISTIAN, Samuel Tileston WHITTEMORE, Brinton J.W. MARKLE, Nicolas RAKOVER
  • Publication number: 20140116127
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to measure a size of snow grains as the sensing unit is being driven into a layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including resistance to penetration, temperature, humidity, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow grain size according to depth based on the measured size of snow grains. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: AVATECH, INC.
    Inventors: James Loren CHRISTIAN, Samuel Tileston WHITTEMORE, Brinton Johnston Wadsworth MARKLE
  • Publication number: 20140116162
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense a temperature of a layer of snow as the sensing unit is being driven into the layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including resistance to penetration, humidity, grain size, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow layer temperature according to depth based on the sensed temperature. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: AvaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: James Loren CHRISTIAN, Samuel Tileston WHITTEMORE, Brinton Johnston Wadsworth MARKLE
  • Publication number: 20140116157
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for measuring snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk. The disclosed apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense a resistance to penetration as the sensing unit is being driven into a layer of snow. The disclosed apparatus may also be configured to take other environmental measurements, including temperature, humidity, grain size, slope aspect and inclination. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for generating a profile of snow layer hardness according to depth based on the sensed resistance to penetration and identifying areas of concern which may indicate an avalanche risk. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed for sharing the generated profiles among a plurality of users via a central server, and for evaluating an avalanche risk at a geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: AVATECH, INC.
    Inventors: James Loren CHRISTIAN, Samuel Tileston WHITTEMORE, Brinton J.W. MARKLE
  • Publication number: 20140118165
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to methods, apparatus and systems for sharing measurements related to snow stability and structure which may be used to assess avalanche risk among multiple users. Such measurements may include a profile of snow layer hardness according to depth, a profile of snow temperature according to depth, a profile of snow grain size according to depth, ambient temperature, slope aspect and inclination, and humidity. The disclosed apparatus includes a mobile device configured to send and receive said measurements, and to display such measurements on an area map. The disclosed apparatus also includes a server configured to receive said measurements from a plurality of mobile devices, analyze the measurements to evaluate the avalanche risk at a geographic area, and transmit said measurements and evaluated avalanche risk to the mobile devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: AVATECH, INC.
    Inventors: James Loren CHRISTIAN, Samuel Tileston WHITTEMORE, Brinton J.W. MARKLE