Patents by Inventor Matthew E. Fife

Matthew E. Fife 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: 10890000
    Abstract: A safety system alerts individuals to the presence of a floor opening in a floor grid or work platform decking that is supporting the individuals. The safety system is a passive safety system that is operatively connected to a stationary first floor panel that is adjacent a second floor panel. The safety system is automatically operated to deploy a signal flag above the first floor panel (and activate an audio warning signal) when the second floor panel is removed, exposing a floor opening adjacent the first floor panel. The deployed signal flag alerts individuals on the floor grid or work platform decking to the presence of the floor opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew E. Fife, Ryan W. Throckmorton, Harpreet Ghuman, Kevin R. Krostag
  • Publication number: 20200291665
    Abstract: A safety system alerts individuals to the presence of a floor opening in a floor grid or work platform decking that is supporting the individuals. The safety system is a passive safety system that is operatively connected to a stationary first floor panel that is adjacent a second floor panel. The safety system is automatically operated to deploy a signal flag above the first floor panel (and activate an audio warning signal) when the second floor panel is removed, exposing a floor opening adjacent the first floor panel. The deployed signal flag alerts individuals on the floor grid or work platform decking to the presence of the floor opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew E. Fife, Ryan W. Throckmorton, Harpreet Ghuman, Kevin R. Krostag
  • Patent number: 10274913
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for a variable length self-locking lifeline system that prevents a user from falling off an elevated surface. In one example, a variable length self-locking lifeline system includes a processor and a lanyard. The lanyard is coupled between an anchor point and a user. One or more sensors determine, in real time, a current length and orientation of the lanyard as the lanyard responds to a user moving on an elevated surface. The processor is configured to trigger a locking mechanism to selectively lock the lanyard from further extension when a determined current length and current orientation exceeds a predefined safety perimeter of the elevated surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew E. Fife, Paul M. Sewell, Jonathan B. Creed
  • Publication number: 20170368387
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for a variable length self-locking lifeline system that prevents a user from falling off an elevated surface. In one example, a variable length self-locking lifeline system includes a processor and a lanyard. The lanyard is coupled between an anchor point and a user. One or more sensors determine, in real time, a current length and orientation of the lanyard as the lanyard responds to a user moving on an elevated surface. The processor is configured to trigger a locking mechanism to selectively lock the lanyard from further extension when a determined current length and current orientation exceeds a predefined safety perimeter of the elevated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew E. Fife, Paul M. Sewell, Jonathan B. Creed