Patents by Inventor Jared Leidich
Jared Leidich 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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Publication number: 20240051669Abstract: A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are constrained. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members open or assist with opening the canopy. The members may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes and use a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate. The ends connected to the canopy may be restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Jared Leidich, Taber Kyle MacCallum, Ty Bowen
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Publication number: 20240034452Abstract: An example reusable high-altitude balloon system includes a balloon with a first end supporting a payload and a second end with an aperture and an apex fitting that is positioned within the aperture. A clamp applies a pressure to a plurality of pleated folds formed in the perimeter of the aperture around the apex fitting to form an air-tight seal against the balloon at the perimeter of the aperture. The reusable high-altitude balloon system further includes control circuitry that controllably releases the apex fitting from the balloon to initiate a descent sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Jared LEIDICH, Andrew F. ANTONIO, Mitch SWEENEY, Daniel W. MCFATTER, Maxmillion James West MCLAUGHLIN
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Patent number: 11851155Abstract: Small volume, zero pressure balloon systems for remote sensing activities in the upper atmosphere. A balloon system includes an air ingestion clip proximate the nadir fitting to inhibit air ingestion during ascent, the clip releasing to allow air expulsion at a predetermined altitude. Another balloon system includes a parachute system having inflation guards that inhibit the parachute from inflating when inverted during ascent and float, the guards releasing to allow parachute inflation during descent.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: URBAN SKY THEORY INC.Inventors: Jared Leidich, Maxmillion J. W. McLaughlin, Nolan G. Smith, Mitchell W. Sweeney
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Patent number: 11814151Abstract: An example reusable high-altitude balloon system includes a balloon with a first end supporting a payload and a second end with an aperture and an apex fitting that is positioned within the aperture. A clamp applies a pressure to a plurality of pleated folds formed in the perimeter of the aperture around the apex fitting to form an air-tight seal against the balloon at the perimeter of the aperture. The reusable high-altitude balloon system further includes control circuitry that controllably releases the apex fitting from the balloon to initiate a descent sequence.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: URBAN SKYInventors: Jared Leidich, Andrew F. Antonio, Mitch Sweeney, Daniel W. McFatter, Maxmillion James West McLaughlin
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Publication number: 20230271690Abstract: An example method for launching a high-altitude balloon includes securing a launch collar around a balloon envelope to form a choke point separating an upper portion of the balloon envelope from a lower portion of the balloon envelope. The balloon envelope is structurally secured to a launch platform via a tether that is coupled to the launch collar. The launch collar is configured such that release of the launch collar from the choke point releases the balloon envelope from the launch platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Jared LEIDICH, Mitchell W. SWEENEY, Nolan G. SMITH, Maxmillion J.W. MCLAUGHLIN, Andrew F. ANTONIO
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Publication number: 20230206580Abstract: A method for creating a composite image includes receiving a group of images indexed according to a time-consecutive capture sequence. Each image is evaluated for inclusion in the composite image, and the evaluation of each image entails determining whether a spatial footprint of the image is entirely internal to a polygon formed based on a union of spatial footprints corresponding to images positioned on a same side of the image within the time-consecutive capture sequence. If the spatial footprint of the image is not entirely internal to the polygon, an identifier for the image is added to a composite image array. Otherwise, the identifier for the image is excluded from the composite image array. After all images have been evaluated, the composite image is created by stitching together images with respective identifiers included in the composite image array.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Mark ROBERTSON, Jared LEIDICH, Maxmillion J.W. MCLAUGHLIN
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Patent number: 11679854Abstract: An example method for launching a high-altitude balloon includes securing a launch collar around a balloon envelope to form a choke point separating an upper portion of the balloon envelope from a lower portion of the balloon envelope. The balloon envelope is structurally secured to a launch platform via a tether that is coupled to the launch collar. The launch collar is configured such that release of the launch collar from the choke point releases the balloon envelope from the launch platform.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: URBAN SKY THEORY INC.Inventors: Jared Leidich, Mitchell W. Sweeney, Nolan G. Smith, Maxmillion J. W. McLaughlin, Andrew F. Antonio
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Publication number: 20230159173Abstract: A system enabling safe manned and unmanned operations at extremely high altitudes (above 70,000 feet). The system utilizes a balloon launch system and parachute and/or parafoil recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Taber K. MacCallum, Jacob H. Dang, Robert Alan Eustace, John Zaniel Maccagnano, Julian R. Nott, Sebastian A. Padilla, Sreenivasan Shankarnarayan, John Straus, Jared Leidich, Daniel Pieter Jacobus Blignaut
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Patent number: 11613364Abstract: A system enabling safe manned and unmanned operations at extremely high altitudes (above 70,000 feet). The system utilizes a balloon launch system and parachute and/or parafoil recovery.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: World View Enterprises Inc.Inventors: Taber K. MacCallum, Jacob H. Dang, Robert Alan Eustace, John Zaniel Maccagnano, Julian R. Nott, Sebastian A. Padilla, Sreenivasan Shankarnarayan, John Straus, Jared Leidich, Daniel Pieter Jacobus Blignaut
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Patent number: 11608181Abstract: A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise flexible members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are deformed, storing elastic energy. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members spring back to their undeformed shapes, thereby opening or assisting with opening the canopy. The flexible member may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes that can be flexed using a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate, so that the ends connected to the canopy are restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: World View Enterprises Inc.Inventors: Jared Leidich, Taber Kyle MacCallum, Ty Bowen
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Patent number: 11601599Abstract: An example arial image capture system captures a sequence of images from a camera attached to a flight vehicle while the flight vehicle moves in a lateral direction relative to underlying terrain and while concurrently rotating the camera along a circular path about an axis of rotation. The rotation of the camera controllably alters the camera's field-of-view to trace a curved swath of the underlying terrain with each rotation period of the camera around an area external to the camera's field-of-view.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: URBAN SKY THEORY INC.Inventors: Jared Leidich, Maxmillion J. W. McLaughlin
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Publication number: 20220289357Abstract: An example reusable high-altitude balloon system includes a balloon with a first end supporting a payload and a second end with an aperture and an apex fitting that is positioned within the aperture. A clamp applies a pressure to a plurality of pleated folds formed in the perimeter of the aperture around the apex fitting to form an air-tight seal against the balloon at the perimeter of the aperture. The reusable high-altitude balloon system further includes control circuitry that controllably releases the apex fitting from the balloon to initiate a descent sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Jared LEIDICH, Andrew F. ANTONIO, Mitch SWEENEY, Daniel W. MCFATTER, Maxmillion James West MCLAUGHLIN
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Publication number: 20220204151Abstract: An example method for launching a high-altitude balloon includes securing a launch collar around a balloon envelope to form a choke point separating an upper portion of the balloon envelope from a lower portion of the balloon envelope. The balloon envelope is structurally secured to a launch platform via a tether that is coupled to the launch collar. The launch collar is configured such that release of the launch collar from the choke point releases the balloon envelope from the launch platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Jared LEIDICH, Mitchell W. SWEENEY, Nolan G. SMITH, Maxmillion J.W. MCLAUGHLIN, Andrew F. ANTONIO
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Publication number: 20210394886Abstract: An example reusable high-altitude balloon system includes a control system configured to initiate a termination sequence by separating a payload from an Earth-facing end of the balloon body. Separation of the payload from the balloon body generates a torque that causes the balloon body to invert and release lift gas through a vent duct, initiating a flight termination sequence that facilitates landing of the reusable balloon system without destroying the balloon body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Jared LEIDICH, Andrew F. ANTONIO, Mitch SWEENEY, Daniel W. MCFATTER, Maxmillion James West MCLAUGHLIN
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Publication number: 20210309338Abstract: Described herein are features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) is attached in tandem with one or more air super-pressure balloons (SPB). The ZPB provides lift for the system while the SPB may provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. Various advanced performance targets relating to ascent rate, descent rate, range and maximum altitude are achievable with various scaled versions of the basic design of the LTA system. Advanced navigation and control techniques, such as more efficient high altitude station-keeping approaches, made possible with the LTA system are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Taber Kyle MacCallum, Sebastian Padilla, Rodger Farley, Iain Beveridge, G. Ryan Lee, Tim Basta, Jared Leidich, John Straus, John Z. Maccagnano
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Publication number: 20210122479Abstract: A system enabling safe manned and unmanned operations at extremely high altitudes (above 70,000 feet). The system utilizes a balloon launch system and parachute and/or parafoil recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Taber K. MacCallum, Jacob H. Dang, Robert Alan Eustace, John Zaniel Maccagnano, Julian R. Nott, Sebastian A. Padilla, Sreenivasan Shankarnarayan, John Straus, Jared Leidich, Daniel Pieter Jacobus Blignaut
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Patent number: 10988227Abstract: Features for a high altitude lighter-than-air (LTA) system and associated methods. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) is attached in tandem with one or more variable ballast air super-pressure balloons (SPB) having a continuous skin and multiple SPB compartments. The ZPB provides lift for the system while the multi-compartment SPB uses a centrifugal compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. Various performance targets relating to ascent rate, descent rate, range and maximum altitude are achievable with various scaled versions of the basic design of the LTA system. Navigation and control techniques, such as high altitude station-keeping approaches, are made possible with the LTA system.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: World View Enterprises Inc.Inventors: Taber Kyle MacCallum, Sebastian Padilla, Rodger Farley, Iain Beveridge, G. Ryan Lee, Tim Basta, Jared Leidich, John Straus, John Z. Maccagnano
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Patent number: 10953975Abstract: An example reusable high-altitude balloon system includes a control system configured to initiate a termination sequence by separating a payload from an Earth-facing end of the balloon body. Separation of the payload from the balloon body generates a torque that causes the balloon body to invert and release lift gas through a vent duct, initiating a flight termination sequence that facilitates landing of the reusable balloon system without destroying the balloon body.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: URBAN SKYInventors: Jared Leidich, Andrew F. Antonio, Mitch Sweeney, Daniel W. McFatter, Maxmillion James West McLaughlin
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Patent number: D940683Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: AMPERE LLCInventors: Chase Larson, Reid Covington, Grant Shi, George Du, Jared Leidich
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Patent number: D1021782Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: AMPERE LLCInventors: Reid Covington, Chase Larson, Grant Shi, George Du, Jared Leidich