Patents by Inventor Kirk William Charles

Kirk William Charles 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: 11591998
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydro-electric power generation are disclosed. The system includes a frame or structure positioned in a waterway or channel, with one or more hydro-transition units secured to corners of the frame. The hydro-transition units include a body of reinforced fabric for redirecting water flow towards the inlet of the frame, effectively increasing the current of the water and allowing for turbines within the frame to generate power at an increased rate. Anchors and bracket systems may secure the hydro-transition units to both the waterway and the frame, thereby allowing the body of reinforced fabric to withstanding force from water-flow within the waterway. The system includes various failsafe mechanisms for disengaging or detaching the hydro-transition units from the frame and/or anchor for reacting to high water flow or volumes (e.g., flooding).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: EMRGY INC.
    Inventors: Emily A. Morris, Craig J. Cochran, Madeleine M. White, Kirk William Charles, Thorsten Stoesser
  • Patent number: 11261574
    Abstract: An exemplary turbine system for generating hydroelectric power. The exemplary turbine system is generally installed in shallow waterways and accelerates water flowing therein. The accelerated water generates power via spinning one or more turbine rotors of the system. An exemplary method for installing the turbine system is disclosed. The method includes first lowering a turbine system base into the shallow waterway, where the base includes a depression for accepting a mortise insert. The mortise insert includes one or more sockets for accepting notches in a base plate, where the base plate is coupled to one or more turbine rotors. The base plate mates with the mortise insert for ease of installation and securely positioning the one or more turbine rotors within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: EMRGY INC.
    Inventors: Emily A. Morris, Craig J. Cochran, Madeleine M. White, Kirk William Charles, Thorsten Stoesser, Stefan Runge
  • Publication number: 20210095632
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydro-electric power generation are disclosed. The system includes a frame or structure positioned in a waterway or channel, with one or more hydro-transition units secured to corners of the frame. The hydro-transition units include a body of reinforced fabric for redirecting water flow towards the inlet of the frame, effectively increasing the current of the water and allowing for turbines within the frame to generate power at an increased rate. Anchors and bracket systems may secure the hydro-transition units to both the waterway and the frame, thereby allowing the body of reinforced fabric to withstanding force from water-flow within the waterway. The system includes various failsafe mechanisms for disengaging or detaching the hydro-transition units from the frame and/or anchor for reacting to high water flow or volumes (e.g., flooding).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Emily A. Morris, Craig J. Cochran, Madeleine M. White, Kirk William Charles, Thorsten Stoesser
  • Patent number: 10724497
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydro-electric power generation are disclosed. The system includes a frame or structure positioned in a waterway or channel, with one or more hydro-transition units secured to corners of the frame. The hydro-transition units include a body of reinforced fabric for redirecting water flow towards the inlet of the frame, effectively increasing the current of the water and allowing for turbines within the frame to generate power at an increased rate. Anchors and bracket systems may secure the hydro-transition units to both the waterway and the frame, thereby allowing the body of reinforced fabric to withstanding force from water-flow within the waterway. The system includes various failsafe mechanisms for disengaging or detaching the hydro-transition units from the frame and/or anchor for reacting to high water flow or volumes (e.g., flooding).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: EMRGY INC.
    Inventors: Emily A. Morris, Craig J. Cochran, Madeleine M. White, Kirk William Charles, Thorsten Stoesser
  • Patent number: 10544027
    Abstract: The present application thus provides a beverage dispensing system for combining a macro-ingredient flow and a carbonated water flow. The beverage dispensing system may include a nozzle, a carbonated water source in communication with the nozzle via a carbonated water conduit and a carbonated water recirculation conduit, a macro-ingredient source in communication with the nozzle via a macro-ingredient conduit, and a macro-ingredient pump and an air chamber in communication with the macro-ingredient conduit. The carbonated water recirculation conduit is in communication with the air chamber for heat exchange therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Shaun B. Gatipon, Adam Daniel Ambrecht, Kirk William Charles, Craig Jay Cochran, Christopher Ross Vickers
  • Publication number: 20190085813
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydro-electric power generation are disclosed. The system includes a frame or structure positioned in a waterway or channel, with one or more hydro-transition units secured to corners of the frame. The hydro-transition units include a body of reinforced fabric for redirecting water flow towards the inlet of the frame, effectively increasing the current of the water and allowing for turbines within the frame to generate power at an increased rate. Anchors and bracket systems may secure the hydro-transition units to both the waterway and the frame, thereby allowing the body of reinforced fabric to withstanding force from water-flow within the waterway. The system includes various failsafe mechanisms for disengaging or detaching the hydro-transition units from the frame and/or anchor for reacting to high water flow or volumes (e.g., flooding).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Emily A. Morris, Craig J. Cochran, Madeleine M. White, Kirk William Charles, Thorsten Stoesser
  • Publication number: 20190031487
    Abstract: The present application thus provides a beverage dispensing system for combining a macro-ingredient flow and a carbonated water flow. The beverage dispensing system may include a nozzle, a carbonated water source in communication with the nozzle via a carbonated water conduit and a carbonated water recirculation conduit, a macro-ingredient source in communication with the nozzle via a macro-ingredient conduit, and a macro-ingredient pump and an air chamber in communication with the macro-ingredient conduit. The carbonated water recirculation conduit is in communication with the air chamber for heat exchange therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Shaun B. GATIPON, Adam Daniel AMBRECHT, Kirk William CHARLES, Craig Jay COCHRAN, Christopher Ross VICKERS
  • Patent number: 9169042
    Abstract: An embodiment of an energy absorbing container may include a shell formed of a plastic material, one or more energy absorbing components for absorbing energy resulting from impact loads, and an opening mechanism for opening the container and allowing the placement or removal of a bottle therefrom. The energy absorbing components securing a bottle stored within the container to may inhibit or prevent movement of the bottle within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MERIAL, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Richard Guelkner, Robert Brett Holben, Robert Burton Brownell, Jr., Russell Joseph Kroll, Suzuko Hisata, Steven Craig Vandeberg, Kirk William Charles, Angus Donald Ross McLeod
  • Publication number: 20110174659
    Abstract: An embodiment of an energy absorbing container may include a shell formed of a plastic material, one or more energy absorbing components for absorbing energy resulting from impact loads, and an opening mechanism for opening the container and allowing the placement or removal of a bottle therefrom. The energy absorbing components securing a bottle stored within the container to may inhibit or prevent movement of the bottle within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Benjamin Richard Guelkner, Robert Brett Holben, Robert Burton Brownell, JR., Russell Joseph Kroll, Suzuko Hisata, Steven Craig Vandeberg, Kirk William Charles, Angus Donald Ross McLead