Patents by Inventor Kris Houghton

Kris Houghton 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).

  • Highly mobile vehicle suspension system with blast mitigation features
    Patent number: 10077974
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is disclosed a modular, blast resistant suspension module for an armored vehicle. Each suspension module has a first and second axle assembly. The first axle assembly has a Short-Long Arm (SLA) suspension system pivotally connected to a blast resistant differential housing and the second axle assembly has a Road Arm (RA) suspension system pivotally connected to the differential housing. The suspension modules may be used to form 4×4 or 8×8 vehicle configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans, Benjamin J. Wright
  • Seating arrangement
    Patent number: 9908437
    Abstract: An improved seating system is provided for vehicles, including military vehicles. Center-facing seats are staggered to provide for a narrow vehicle profile, improved ingress and egress, and increased blast survivability. Seats may be reclined or reclinable, and seats may have seat pans upwardly movable away from a center aisle between rows of seats to increase an effective width of the aisle for improved ingress and egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans
  • MULTIPLE LAYER HULL
    Publication number: 20180058820
    Abstract: An improved multiple layer hull system may be used in vehicle applications. An upper hull may be monolithic or may have a plurality of seams. A sacrificial lower hull may be entirely U-shaped or partially flat-bottomed, or may have a U-shaped or partially flat-bottomed base with outwardly extending wings complementing a lower surface of the upper hull. A blast deflector may be beneath the lower hull or base either as a separate part or as an integral part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans
  • HIGHLY MOBILE VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH BLAST MITIGATION FEATURES
    Publication number: 20180058821
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is disclosed a modular, blast resistant suspension module for an armored vehicle. Each suspension module has a first and second axle assembly. The first axle assembly has a Short-Long Arm (SLA) suspension system pivotally connected to a blast resistant differential housing and the second axle assembly has a Road Arm (RA) suspension system pivotally connected to the differential housing. The suspension modules may be used to form 4×4 or 8×8 vehicle configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans, Benjamin J. Wright
  • SEATING ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20180056815
    Abstract: An improved seating system is provided for vehicles, including military vehicles. Center-facing seats are staggered to provide for a narrow vehicle profile, improved ingress and egress, and increased blast survivability. Seats may be reclined or reclinable, and seats may have seat pans upwardly movable away from a center aisle between rows of seats to increase an effective width of the aisle for improved ingress and egress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans