Patents by Inventor Jerry Daniel Claridge

Jerry Daniel Claridge 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: 20230303244
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a High Speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that includes fixed wing flight capabilities. The High Speed VTOL aircraft may include at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a main wing, and at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a vertical wing. The rotors may be driven by electric motors. However, other power sources may be used such as combustion or hybrid engines. By adjusting the speed and/or the pitch of the rotors, the aircraft can transition from a vertical flight configuration to a horizontal flight configuration and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Patent number: 11420737
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a High Speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that includes fixed wing flight capabilities. The High Speed VTOL aircraft may include at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a main wing, and at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a vertical wing. The rotors may be driven by electric motors. However, other power sources may be used such as combustion or hybrid engines. By adjusting the speed and/or the pitch of the rotors, the aircraft can transition from a vertical flight configuration to a horizontal flight configuration and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: xCraft Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Publication number: 20220177130
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for enhanced responsiveness in responding to an emergency situation using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Drones are fully autonomous in that they are operated without human intervention from a pilot, an operator, or other personnel. The disclosed drone utilizes movable access doors to provide the capability of vertically takeoff and landing. The drone also includes an emergency recovery system including a mechanism to deploy a parachute in an event of a failure of the on-board autopilot. Also disclosed herein is a drone port that provides an IR-based docking mechanism for precision landing of the drone, with a very low margin of error. Additionally, the drone port includes pads that provide automatic charge to the drone's batteries by contact-based charging via the drone's landing gear legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Philip E. Burks, James Nipp, Jerry Daniel Claridge, Paul Miller
  • Patent number: 11279481
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for enhanced responsiveness in responding to an emergency situation using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Drones are fully autonomous in that they are operated without human intervention from a pilot, an operator, or other personnel. The disclosed drone utilizes movable access doors to provide the capability of vertically takeoff and landing. The drone also includes an emergency recovery system including a mechanism to deploy a parachute in an event of a failure of the on-board autopilot. Also disclosed herein is a drone port that provides an IR-based docking mechanism for precision landing of the drone, with a very low margin of error. Additionally, the drone port includes pads that provide automatic charge to the drone's batteries by contact-based charging via the drone's landing gear legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PHIRST TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Philip E. Burks, James Nipp, Jerry Daniel Claridge, Paul Miller
  • Publication number: 20220024561
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a High Speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that includes fixed wing flight capabilities. The High Speed VTOL aircraft may include at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a main wing, and at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a vertical wing. The rotors may be driven by electric motors. However, other power sources may be used such as combustion or hybrid engines. By adjusting the speed and/or the pitch of the rotors, the aircraft can transition from a vertical flight configuration to a horizontal flight configuration and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Publication number: 20200102093
    Abstract: A method for deploying a drone including transporting a drone from a first location to a second location with a vehicle and supplying electricity from the vehicle to the drone while the drone is being transported. A launch command can be initiated from within the vehicle to direct the drone to ascend and hover above the vehicle. The drone can be transported in a drone port mounted to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Phil Burks
  • Patent number: 10479500
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to an Unmanned Aerial Device (UAV) that uses a removable computing device for command and control. The UAV may include an airframe with rotors and an adjustable cradle to attach a computing device. The computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, MP3 player, or the like, may provide the necessary avionics and computing equipment to control the UAV autonomously. For example, the adjustable cradle may be extended to fit a tablet or other large computing device, or retracted to fit a smart phone or other small computing device. Thus, the adjustable cradle may provide for the attachment and use of a plurality of different computing devices in conjunction with a single airframe. Additionally the UAV may comprise adjustable arms to assist in balancing the load of the different computing devices and/or additional equipment attached to the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: xCraft Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Publication number: 20190135428
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a High Speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that includes fixed wing flight capabilities. The High Speed VTOL aircraft may include at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a main wing, and at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a vertical wing. The rotors may be driven by electric motors. However, other power sources may be used such as combustion or hybrid engines. By adjusting the speed and/or the pitch of the rotors, the aircraft can transition from a vertical flight configuration to a horizontal flight configuration and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Publication number: 20180327091
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for enhanced responsiveness in responding to an emergency situation using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Drones are fully autonomous in that they are operated without human intervention from a pilot, an operator, or other personnel. The disclosed drone utilizes movable access doors to provide the capability of vertically takeoff and landing. The drone also includes an emergency recovery system including a mechanism to deploy a parachute in an event of a failure of the on-board autopilot. Also disclosed herein is a drone port that provides an IR-based docking mechanism for precision landing of the drone, with a very low margin of error. Additionally, the drone port includes pads that provide automatic charge to the drone's batteries by contact-based charging via the drone's landing gear legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Philip E. Burks, James Nipp, Jerry Daniel Claridge, Paul Miller
  • Publication number: 20180290744
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a High Speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that includes fixed wing flight capabilities. The High Speed VTOL aircraft may include at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a main wing, and at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a vertical wing. The rotors may be driven by electric motors. However, other power sources may be used such as combustion or hybrid engines. By adjusting the speed and/or the pitch of the rotors, the aircraft can transition from a vertical flight configuration to a horizontal flight configuration and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Publication number: 20180170539
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to an Unmanned Aerial Device (UAV) that uses a removable computing device for command and control. The UAV may include an airframe with rotors and an adjustable cradle to attach a computing device. The computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, MP3 player, or the like, may provide the necessary avionics and computing equipment to control the UAV autonomously. For example, the adjustable cradle may be extended to fit a tablet or other large computing device, or retracted to fit a smart phone or other small computing device. Thus, the adjustable cradle may provide for the attachment and use of a plurality of different computing devices in conjunction with a single airframe. Additionally the UAV may comprise adjustable arms to assist in balancing the load of the different computing devices and/or additional equipment attached to the airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Patent number: 9994313
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a High Speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that includes fixed wing flight capabilities. The High Speed VTOL aircraft may include at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a main wing, and at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a vertical wing. The rotors may be driven by electric motors. However, other power sources may be used such as combustion or hybrid engines. By adjusting the speed and/or the pitch of the rotors, the aircraft can transition from a vertical flight configuration to a horizontal flight configuration and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: XCraft Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Patent number: 9738380
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to an Unmanned Aerial Device (UAV) that uses a removable computing device for command and control. The UAV may include an airframe with rotors and an adjustable cradle to attach a computing device. The computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, MP3 player, or the like, may provide the necessary avionics and computing equipment to control the UAV autonomously. For example, the adjustable cradle may be extended to fit a tablet or other large computing device, or retracted to fit a smart phone or other small computing device. Thus, the adjustable cradle may provide for the attachment and use of a plurality of different computing devices in conjunction with a single airframe. Additionally the UAV may comprise adjustable arms to assist in balancing the load of the different computing devices and/or additional equipment attached to the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: XCraft Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Publication number: 20160376004
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to an Unmanned Aerial Device (UAV) that uses a removable computing device for command and control. The UAV may include an airframe with rotors and an adjustable cradle to attach a computing device. The computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, MP3 player, or the like, may provide the necessary avionics and computing equipment to control the UAV autonomously. For example, the adjustable cradle may be extended to fit a tablet or other large computing device, or retracted to fit a smart phone or other small computing device. Thus, the adjustable cradle may provide for the attachment and use of a plurality of different computing devices in conjunction with a single airframe. Additionally the UAV may comprise adjustable arms to assist in balancing the load of the different computing devices and/or additional equipment attached to the airframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning
  • Publication number: 20160144957
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a High Speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that includes fixed wing flight capabilities. The High Speed VTOL aircraft may include at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a main wing, and at least two thrust producing rotors located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the aircraft on a vertical wing. The rotors may be driven by electric motors. However, other power sources may be used such as combustion or hybrid engines. By adjusting the speed and/or the pitch of the rotors, the aircraft can transition from a vertical flight configuration to a horizontal flight configuration and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Jerry Daniel Claridge, Charles Fischer Manning