Patents by Inventor Kenneth R. Hamm

Kenneth R. Hamm 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).

  • Transformable and reconfigurable entry, descent and landing systems and methods
    Patent number: 8733706
    Abstract: A deployable aerodynamic decelerator structure includes a ring member disposed along a central axis of the aerodynamic decelerator, a plurality of jointed rib members extending radially from the ring member and a flexible layer attached to the plurality of rib members. A deployment device is operable to reconfigure the flexible layer from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration by movement of the rib members and a control device is operable to redirect a lift vector of the decelerator structure by changing an orientation of the flexible layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Ian M. Fernandez, Ethiraj Venkatapathy, Kenneth R. Hamm