Patents by Inventor James R. Thiele

James R. Thiele 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: 8403260
    Abstract: Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An airship handling device in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle. The device can also include a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis. The second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle. The device can further include a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member. The handling line is not coupled to a winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: American Blimp Co., LLC
    Inventors: James R. Thiele, Carl F. Daley
  • Publication number: 20130009006
    Abstract: Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An airship handling device in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle. The device can also include a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis. The second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle. The device can further include a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member. The handling line is not coupled to a winch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: American Blimp Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Thiele, Carl F. Daley
  • Patent number: 8081141
    Abstract: Airborne transmission/reception arrays and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An airborne image display device in accordance with one embodiment includes a plurality of electrically interconnected display units, with individual display units including at least one flexible support member mountable to an exterior surface of an airborne device. The display unit can further include a plurality of pixel carriers supported by the flexible support member, with each pixel carrier having multiple, spaced apart pixels. In other embodiments, the systems can include other transmission/reception arrays, for example, radar arrays or solar arrays, in lieu of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: American Blimp Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Thiele, Rudolf H. Bartel, Lance L. Nordby
  • Publication number: 20090272845
    Abstract: Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An airship handling device in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle. The device can also include a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis. The second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle. The device can further include a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member. The handling line is not coupled to a winch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: James R. Thiele, Carl F. Daley
  • Publication number: 20080047176
    Abstract: Airborne transmission/reception arrays and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An airborne image display device in accordance with one embodiment includes a plurality of electrically interconnected display units, with individual display units including at least one flexible support member mountable to an exterior surface of an airborne device. The display unit can further include a plurality of pixel carriers supported by the flexible support member, with each pixel carrier having multiple, spaced apart pixels. In other embodiments, the systems can include other transmission/reception arrays, for example, radar arrays or solar arrays, in lieu of the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: James R. Thiele, Rudolf H. Bartel, Lance L. Nordby