Patents by Inventor Jose Franco-Vila

Jose Franco-Vila 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: 7018079
    Abstract: The present invention is a lighting system for providing illumination to an aircraft evacuation slide. Light sources are safely utilized with an existing evacuation slide, a substantial improvement over prior assemblies that use a hard, plastic housing enclosing the light source. The invention increases light transmission, eliminates housing cracking, inadvertent puncturing, clouding, and decreases weight and cost of conventional slide systems. Each assembly comprises a mounting surface and a printed circuit board thereon, light sources, preferably light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the mounting surface, the light sources illuminating the aircraft evacuation slide, and a flexible containment covering, such as a heat shrink wrap that covers the assembly and protects the light sources. A protective shield can cover the mounting surface while allowing the LEDs to protrude through an aperture in the shield, protecting the LEDs from damaging forces while allowing light to illuminate the landing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: DME Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Franco-Vila, Philip Pelfrey, Glenn Levine
  • Patent number: 6447060
    Abstract: A small child and infant restraint device is disclosed which can be used with an existing seat of a transportation member such as an aircraft passenger seat. The restraint device includes a base member connected to a back panel by a hinge member. A seat pan provides a seating surface for the child or infant. A seat belt path is defined between the seat pan and the base member for disposal across the base member of a seat belt associated with the existing passenger seat, for attaching the restraint device to the existing passenger seat. The restraint device can be utilized in a forward facing configuration or in an aft facing configuration. The forward facing configuration is utilized with small children and toddlers, while the aft facing configuration is utilized with infants and small children without sufficient neck development. When the device is not in use, the back panel is folded down towards the base member to form a relatively thin stowable assembly where it can be properly stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: DME Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Franco Vila, Dean T. Brady, Michael J. Brookman
  • Patent number: 6220662
    Abstract: A small child and infant restraint device is disclosed which can be used with an existing seat of a transportation member such as an aircraft passenger seat. The restraint device includes a base member connected to a back panel by a hinge member. A seat pan provides a seating surface for the child or infant. A seat belt path is defined between the seat pan and the base member for disposal across the base member of a seat belt associated with the existing passenger seat, for attaching the restraint device to the existing passenger seat. The restraint device can be utilized in a forward facing configuration or in an aft facing configuration. The forward facing configuration is utilized with small children and toddlers, while the aft facing configuration is utilized with infants and small children without sufficient neck development. When the device is not in use, the back panel is folded down towards the base member to form a relatively thin stowable assembly where it can be properly stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: DME Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Franco-Vila, Dean T. Brady, Michael J. Brookman