Patents by Inventor Kirkwood Hines

Kirkwood Hines 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).

  • Publication number: 20230419672
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for configurable modular devices are disclosed. For example, a system may be configured for swappable wiring configurations, LED light engine encodings, wireless network health determination and wireless health heatmap generation, wireless power transfer and replaceable batteries, AI modules for switch configurations, and/or the like individually and/or in combination. The system may include a modular control unit with a backplate. The backplate may include a first assembly configured to be fastened to a junction box and a removably couplable cup portion configured to be removably couplable to the first assembly and configured to electrically couple to wires of the junction box. The removably couplable cup portion may include a recess that includes a set of backplate electrical contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick Prendergast, Kirkwood Hines, Nathan Diehl, Derek Richardson, Stephen Bird, Nathan Weathers
  • Patent number: 9783376
    Abstract: An example system includes a first tote handling assembly having a wiper bar, a first plurality of actuators connected to and moveable with the first wiper bar, and a first tab associated with a first actuator of the first plurality of actuators. The system may also includes a second tote handling assembly disposed substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the first tote handling assembly. The second tote handling assembly includes a second wiper bar, a second plurality of actuators connected to and moveable with the second wiper bar, and a second tab associated with a second actuator of the second plurality of actuators. In such a system, movement of the first wiper bar in a first direction along a transverse axis of the first tote handling assembly, while the first tab is engaged with a tote disposed on the first tote handling assembly, transfers the tote from the first tote handling assembly to the second tote handling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bruce McCalib, Jr., Brian C. Smith, Kirkwood Hines
  • Patent number: 9637319
    Abstract: An example system includes a first tote handling assembly having a wiper bar, a first plurality of actuators connected to and moveable with the first wiper bar, and a first tab associated with a first actuator of the first plurality of actuators. The system may also includes a second tote handling assembly disposed substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the first tote handling assembly. The second tote handling assembly includes a second wiper bar, a second plurality of actuators connected to and moveable with the second wiper bar, and a second tab associated with a second actuator of the second plurality of actuators. In such a system, movement of the first wiper bar in a first direction along a transverse axis of the first tote handling assembly, while the first tab is engaged with a tote disposed on the first tote handling assembly, transfers the tote from the first tote handling assembly to the second tote handling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bruce McCalib, Jr., Brian C. Smith, Kirkwood Hines