Patents by Inventor Kelly A. Comstock

Kelly A. Comstock 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).

  • Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites
    Patent number: 11772815
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover an aircraft includes a mast extending from a base, a boom extending from the mast at a first end of the boom to a second end of the boom opposite the first end, a tether line extending between the mast to the base and guided by the boom, a portion of the tether line extending between the second end of the boom and the base, and a mount to operatively coupled the a kite to the tether line, the kite to support the tether line as the aircraft contacts the portion for recovery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INSITU, INC. (A SUBSIDIARY OF THE BOEING COMPANY)
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice E. Fockele, Jesse D. Kiewit, Jacob S. Allen, John R. Wong, Kelly A. Comstock, Daniel L. Shaw
  • Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites
    Patent number: 11772816
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a tether line to be supported by a kite at a distal end thereof, and a release to deploy and expand a parafoil from at least one of the tether line or the kite in response to the aircraft contacting the tether line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice E. Fockele, Jesse D. Kiewit, Jacob S. Allen, John R. Wong, Kelly A. Comstock, Daniel L. Shaw
  • Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with kites
    Patent number: 11745897
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover a UAV during flight includes a tether line, a tensioner operatively coupled to the tether line, and a kite operatively coupled to the tether line to support the tether line for recovery of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice Fockele, Kelly A. Comstock, John Wong, Jacob Allen, Daniel L. Shaw, Jesse D. Kiewit
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO RECOVER UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES WITH KITES
    Publication number: 20230002075
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to recover an aircraft includes a mast extending from a base, a boom extending from the mast at a first end of the boom to a second end of the boom opposite the first end, a tether line extending between the mast to the base and guided by the boom, a portion of the tether line extending between the second end of the boom and the base, and a mount to operatively coupled the a kite to the tether line, the kite to support the tether line as the aircraft contacts the portion for recovery thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice E. Fockele, Jesse D. Kiewit, Jacob S. Allen, John R. Wong, Kelly A. Comstock, Daniel L. Shaw
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO RECOVER UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES WITH KITES
    Publication number: 20230002076
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles with kites are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a tether line to be supported by a kite at a distal end thereof, and a release to deploy and expand a parafoil from at least one of the tether line or the kite in response to the aircraft contacting the tether line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice E. Fockele, Jesse D. Kiewit, Jacob S. Allen, John R. Wong, Kelly A. Comstock, Daniel L. Shaw
  • Methods and apparatus to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by kites
    Patent number: 11542037
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by kites are disclosed. An example apparatus to deploy a UAV includes a tether line to support the UAV, a tensioner operatively coupled to the tether line, and a kite operatively coupled to the tether line to support the tether line for deployment of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: INSITU, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice Fockele, Kelly A. Comstock, John Wong, Jacob Allen, Daniel L. Shaw, Jesse D. Kiewit
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO RECOVER UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVs) WITH KITES
    Publication number: 20210171216
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to recover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with kites are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice Fockele, Kelly A. Comstock, John Wong, Jacob Allen, Daniel L. Shaw, Jesse D. Kiewit
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DEPLOY UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVs) BY KITES
    Publication number: 20210171217
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by kites are disclosed. An example apparatus to deploy a UAV includes a tether line to support the UAV, a tensioner operatively coupled to the tether line, and a kite operatively coupled to the tether line to support the tether line for deployment of the UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Brown, Alice Fockele, Kelly A. Comstock, John Wong, Jacob Allen, Daniel L. Shaw, Jesse D. Kiewit