Patents by Inventor James Thomas Grutta
James Thomas Grutta 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).
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Patent number: 9492711Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, harness, and a container. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the use from impact and/or provide flotation during an avalanche. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The harness may be a backpack that enables a user to transport the system while engaging in activities that may be exposed to avalanche risk. The container is releasably coupled to the harness including a coupled and a separate state. The container independently includes a container chamber that is selectively enclosable by a container opening. The releasable coupling between the container and the harness may include a periphery zipper type coupling.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Walker, Pete Gompert, David Kuhlman Blackwell, Derick J Noffsinger, James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Miles Kuder, Robert John Horacek
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Patent number: 9289633Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The harness may be a backpack that enables a user to transport the system while engaging in activities that may be exposed to avalanche risk. The harness may include hip straps, shoulder straps, internal compartments, etc.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Walker, David K Blackwell, Derick J. Noffsinger, James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Miles Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Robert John Horacek
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Publication number: 20160015094Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, harness, and a container. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the use from impact and/or provide flotation during an avalanche. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The harness may be a backpack that enables a user to transport the system while engaging in activities that may be exposed to avalanche risk. The container is releasably coupled to the harness including a coupled and a separate state. The container independently includes a container chamber that is selectively enclosable by a container opening. The releasable coupling between the container and the harness may include a periphery zipper type coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Applicant: Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Walker, Pete Gompert, David Kuhlman Blackwell, Derick J. Noffsinger, James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Miles Kuder, Robert John Horacek
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Patent number: 9004116Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for inflating a chamber within an inflatable avalanche safety system. The method includes providing an inflatable avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber; receiving a user-triggered action intended to activate the avalanche safety system; transmitting ambient air from an external region to within the inflatable chamber; and inflating the inflatable chamber entirely with the transmitted external ambient air to a particular internal pressure and shape configured to protect the user from burial during an avalanche. The transmission of ambient air within the inflatable chamber may be accomplished with a fan or an electrical component.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Black Diamond Equipmnt Ltd.Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Walker, David K. Blackwell, Derick J. Neffsinger, James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Miles Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Robert John Horacek
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Patent number: 8851948Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The activation system also includes a reinflation algorithm configured to automatically reactivate the inflation system after a period of time to maintain the inflated state of the inflatable chamber. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Black Diamond Equipment, LtdInventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Derick Noffsinger, Robert Joan Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
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Patent number: 8851949Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from impact and/or provide inverse segregation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system is configured to transmit gas into and out of the inflatable chamber to transition between the inflated state and compressed state. The inflation system may automatically deflate or transmit the gas from the inflatable chamber external of the system. Automatic deflation of the inflatable chamber may be via a valve corresponding to a particular value such as time or three dimensional position of the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Black Diamond Equipment, LtdInventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompet, Derick J. Neffsinger, Robert John Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
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Patent number: 8777684Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, diagnostic system and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The diagnostic system includes a at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter corresponding to the inflation system and a display configured to visually, audibly, and/or tactilely display the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Black Diamond Equipment, LtdInventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Derick Noffsinger, Robert John Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
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Publication number: 20130149923Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The harness may be a backpack that enables a user to transport the system while engaging in activities that may be exposed to avalanche risk. The harness may include hip straps, shoulder straps, internal compartments, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Walker, David K. Blackwell, Derick J. Noffsinger, James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Miles Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Robert John Horacek
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Publication number: 20130149924Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, diagnostic system and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Derick Noffsinger, Robert John Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
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Publication number: 20130145528Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The activation system also includes a reinflation algorithm configured to automatically reactivate the inflation system after a period of time to maintain the inflated state of the inflatable chamber. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Derick Noffsinger, Robert Joan Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
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Publication number: 20130145529Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from impact and/or provide inverse segregation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system is configured to transmit gas into and out of the inflatable chamber to transition between the inflated state and compressed state. The inflation system may automatically deflate or transmit the gas from the inflatable chamber external of the system. Automatic deflation of the inflatable chamber may be via a valve corresponding to a particular value such as time or three dimensional position of the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompet, Derick J. Neffsinger, Robert John Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
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Publication number: 20130146175Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for inflating a chamber within an inflatable avalanche safety system. The method includes providing an inflatable avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber; receiving a user-triggered action intended to activate the avalanche safety system; transmitting ambient air from an external region to within the inflatable chamber; and inflating the inflatable chamber entirely with the transmitted external ambient air to a particular internal pressure and shape configured to protect the user from burial during an avalanche. The transmission of ambient air within the inflatable chamber may be accomplished with a fan or an electrical component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Walker, David K. Blackwell, Derick J. Neffsinger, James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Miles Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Robert John Horacek