Patents by Inventor Joel A. Nichols

Joel A. Nichols 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: 11814026
    Abstract: A compression wheel chock system is disclosed. The system is comprised of two, triangular-shaped devices having longitudinal channels and a lanyard. An object of the apparatus is to enhance wheel chocking by preventing a wheel from moving both fore and aft while chocked. During installation, the lanyard is fed through a channel in each chock and is drawn tight by the user. As the lanyard is tightened it compresses the chocks around the wheel while at the same time compressing the channels and securing the lanyard therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Joel A Nichols, Josh D Thomas, Connor Digan
  • Publication number: 20230358374
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting device configured to connect to an object. The lighting device includes a body and a control device. One or more ultraviolet light sources are attached to the body and connected to the control device. The ultraviolet light source(s) emit ultraviolet light in a wavelength range from 10 nm to 445 nm. The control device controls the frequency and duration of strobing of the ultraviolet light source(s). The control device cooperates with nearby emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems to designate and protect gaps in time from visible light illumination from the nearby emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems. The control device synchronizes the strobing of the ultraviolet light source(s) with the absence of visible light illumination from the nearby emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems during the designated gaps in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: Avid Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Dominic Picciuto, Connor Digan, Adam Brososky
  • Publication number: 20230194066
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting device arranged to attach to a vehicle. The lighting device includes at least two ultraviolet lights and at least one sensor. The sensor determines whether any of at least two areas or zones adjacent to the lighting device are poorly visibly illuminated and/or occupied by personnel, and illuminates these areas or zones with ultraviolet light. The lighting system is configured to operate in conjunction with existing emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems by using the sensors to sense visible illumination of each individual area or zone provided by the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems. The lighting system may be configured to synchronize the illumination of each individual area or zone in ultraviolet light with intermittent absence of visible light illumination in each area or zone from the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Avid Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Dominic Picciuto
  • Publication number: 20220377865
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting device arranged to attach to a vehicle. The lighting device includes at least two ultraviolet lights and at least one sensor. The sensor determines whether any of at least two areas or zones adjacent to the lighting device are poorly visibly illuminated and/or occupied by personnel, and illuminates these areas or zones with ultraviolet light. The lighting system is configured to operate in conjunction with existing emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems by using the sensors to sense visible illumination of each individual area or zone provided by the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems. The lighting system may be configured to synchronize the illumination of each individual area or zone in ultraviolet light with intermittent absence of visible light illumination in each area or zone from the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Avid Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Dominic Picciuto
  • Patent number: 11506373
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a plurality of lighting fixtures coupled to a cooling pipe, each lighting fixture having an open sided pipe coupling portion and a lighting member connected to the coupling portion. The lighting member being thermally coupled to an inside portion of the pipe coupling portion. The lighting member having a light emanating away from the cooling pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Joel A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 11466833
    Abstract: A lighting device is attached to a vehicle and includes a forward facing visible light source that emits visible light in a forward direction relative to the vehicle. The lighting device further includes a rearward facing ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light in a rearward direction relative to the vehicle, such that a reflecting material of an object, which is not illuminated by the visible light source, is illuminated by the ultraviolet light source. A control device is connected to the light sources, and is configured to turn the light sources on and off. A light sensor is connected to the control device and is configured to sense ambient light and to provide a signal to the control device. The control device is configured to turn the ultraviolet light source on and off responsive to the signal of the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Dominic Picciuto, Michael F. Esmonde, Andrew Trenton
  • Patent number: 11457517
    Abstract: A lighting system including a lighting device configured to be connected to an object. The lighting device includes a body, at least one visible light source connected to the body, and at least one ultraviolet light source connected to the body. The at least one ultraviolet light source is operably coupled to the at least one visible light source. The lighting device is configured for strobing the visible light and ultraviolet light sources by turning the at least one ultraviolet light source on upon the at least one visible light source turning off and turning the at least one ultraviolet light source off upon the at least one visible light source turning on such that a reflectance material of an object, which is not being illuminated by the at least one visible light source, is illuminated by the at least one ultraviolet light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Dominic Picciuto
  • Publication number: 20220169212
    Abstract: A compression wheel chock system is disclosed. The system is comprised of two, triangular-shaped devices having longitudinal channels and a lanyard. An object of the apparatus is to enhance wheel chocking by preventing a wheel from moving both fore and aft while chocked. During installation, the lanyard is fed through a channel in each chock and is drawn tight by the user. As the lanyard is tightened it compresses the chocks around the wheel while at the same time compressing the channels and securing the lanyard therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: JOEL A NICHOLS, Josh D Thomas, CONNOR DIGAN
  • Publication number: 20220003379
    Abstract: A lighting device is attached to a vehicle and includes a forward facing visible light source that emits visible light in a forward direction relative to the vehicle. The lighting device further includes a rearward facing ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light in a rearward direction relative to the vehicle, such that a reflecting material of an object, which is not illuminated by the visible light source, is illuminated by the ultraviolet light source. A control device is connected to the light sources, and is configured to turn the light sources on and off. A light sensor is connected to the control device and is configured to sense ambient light and to provide a signal to the control device. The control device is configured to turn the ultraviolet light source on and off responsive to the signal of the light sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Dominic Picciuto, Michael F. Esmonde, Andrew Trenton
  • Publication number: 20210401006
    Abstract: A popcorn popper including a cooking member having a cooking surface with at least one elevated support and at least one groove. The at least one elevated support providing for a downward flow of oil toward the at least one groove and an upward support of popped grain thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Aaron Prins
  • Patent number: 11138842
    Abstract: A system for detecting patterns on objects having reflective or high visibility colored material thereon. The system includes a lighting unit that includes a main housing having a front opening and a cavity, a first visual lighting assembly positioned within the cavity of the main housing that emits light in the visible spectrum, and a second ultraviolet lighting assembly positioned a fixed distance from the first visual lighting assembly within the cavity of the main housing that emits light in the ultraviolet spectrum, a camera having a field of view within which the system is configured to detect patterns of reflective or high visibility colored material on one or more objects, a warning device to alert the operator when a marked object enters the camera's field of view. A controller/processor is programmed to detect when a pattern of reflective or high visibility colored material enters the camera's field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Matrix Design Group LLC
    Inventors: Timothy R. Moore, Ryan Jones, Joel Nichols
  • Patent number: 11117678
    Abstract: An airport lighting system includes a plurality of lighting fixtures aligned along an airport taxiway and/or an airport runway. Each lighting fixture has a vertically oriented structural member and a lighting member supported by the structural member. The lighting member has an upward emanating light of a visible spectrum and a downwardly emanating light of an invisible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Joel A. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20210172591
    Abstract: A lighting system that includes a lighting device configured to be removably connected to a transportation device. The lighting device includes a body, at least one visible light source connected to the body, the at least one visible light source is configured for emitting visible light, and at least one ultraviolet light source connected to the body. The at least one ultraviolet light source is configured for emitting ultraviolet light such that a reflectance material of an object, which is not being illuminated by the at least one visible light source, is illuminated by the at least one ultraviolet light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Michael F. Esmonde, Andrew Trenton
  • Publication number: 20210140618
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a plurality of lighting fixtures coupled to a cooling pipe, each lighting fixture having an open sided pipe coupling portion and a lighting member connected to the coupling portion. The lighting member being thermally coupled to an inside portion of the pipe coupling portion. The lighting member having a light emanating away from the cooling pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joel A. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20210120641
    Abstract: A lighting system including a lighting device configured to be connected to an object. The lighting device includes a body, at least one visible light source connected to the body, and at least one ultraviolet light source connected to the body. The at least one ultraviolet light source is operably coupled to the at least one visible light source. The lighting device is configured for strobing the visible light and ultraviolet light sources by turning the at least one ultraviolet light source on upon the at least one visible light source turning off and turning the at least one ultraviolet light source off upon the at least one visible light source turning on such that a reflectance material of an object, which is not being illuminated by the at least one visible light source, is illuminated by the at least one ultraviolet light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Dominic Picciuto
  • Publication number: 20200377226
    Abstract: An airport lighting system includes a plurality of lighting fixtures aligned along an airport taxiway and/or an airport runway. Each lighting fixture has a vertically oriented structural member and a lighting member supported by the structural member. The lighting member has an upward emanating light of a visible spectrum and a downwardly emanating light of an invisible spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joel A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10845034
    Abstract: A lighting system that includes an extrusion having at least one T-shaped slot therein. The T-shaped slot has an opening along a length of the extrusion, with a lighting encasing unit inserted into the T-shaped slot. The lighting encasing unit includes a shaped light conducting encasement having an internal channel along at least a substantial portion of a length of the shaped light conducting encasement and a light emitting tape assembly inserted into the internal channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Alexander W. Tollington
  • Publication number: 20200309345
    Abstract: A structural lighting system including a structural member having an outward facing portion and an inward facing portion. The structural member being configured to support a light transmissive environmental barrier. The outward facing portion of the structural member having a reduced light blocking shape as compared to the inward facing portion. A light source is coupled to the structural member, the light source being arranged to emit light from the inward facing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joel A. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20200263842
    Abstract: A lighting system that includes an extrusion that is generally Y-shaped having two arms and a mounting portion, and a light strip inserted between the two arms, the light strip being oriented to emit light outward in a general direction that bisects an angle between the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Keersten E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D926104
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: AVID Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Nichols, Andrew Trenton