Patents by Inventor Michael R. Dennis
Michael R. Dennis 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).
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Publication number: 20130237890Abstract: Apparatuses for reducing migraine headache pain comprising head-contacting expanses of compressible material having pressure-versus-deflection characteristics possessing plateau conditions defined by ranges of compressive material deflections associated throughout with substantially constant material compression produced by an applied, material-compressing pressure which is slightly less than that pressure which, when applied to the anatomy, occludes anatomical, venous-return blood flow, and shells substantially surrounding, and contacting, the compressible-material expanses, appropriately sized, and operable, with the apparatuses in place on a wearers' heads, to place the compressible material in the expanse in its characteristic “plateau” condition of compression, wherein such compression, at every location, is a non-adjustable value dependent entirely upon the fit-spacing at that location between a wearer's head and the inside of the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Inventors: Casey A. Dennis, Michael R. Dennis
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Patent number: 8510885Abstract: A method and structure for furnishing pressure-evenized, dynamic-reaction anatomical support. The method includes (a) supporting the anatomy with a 100% open cell viscoelastic foam, and (b) within the foam, reacting to both static and dynamic, anatomically-produced foam indentations to expand and contract cell-openness size, whereby deeper/sharper indentations result in greater-size cell-openness. Such reacting includes laterally stretching and flowing regions of the foam adjacent such an indentation The overlay structure features (1) a dynamic-response core expanse formed of a 100% open-cell, compressible and flowable, polyurethane, viscoelastic foam possessing a compressed, relaxed-state volume, and (2) an elastomeric, moisture- and gas-flow-managing coating, load-transmissively, bonded to the entirety of the core expanse's outside surface to function as a dynamically-responsive unit with the expanse.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Inventors: Casey A. Dennis, Michael R. Dennis
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Publication number: 20120174744Abstract: Structure, methodology and performance involving and utilizing body armor strand material which includes an elongate strand body possessing elongate brittle ceramic surface structure, elongate ductile core structure disposed within that surface structure, and elongate brittle/ductile transition structure operatively interposed and joining the surface and core structures. Methodology includes the steps of preparing a defined mass of elongate ceramic-surfaced, ductile-cored strand elements, each including, along the outside of its length, elongate, sharp-angular edges, and placing that mass in the impact path of such a projectile in a manner whereby edges in the strands face the projectile impact path.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2007Publication date: July 12, 2012Inventors: Thomas S. Ohnstad, Michael R. Dennis
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Publication number: 20110072589Abstract: An anatomical pressure-evenizing mattress overlay including a dynamic-response core having spaced, upper and lower, surfaces and an intermediate, perimetral edge. The core is formed including a 100% open-cell, compressible and flowable, viscoelastic foam expanse, and possesses a relaxed-state volume which resides in about an 8-10% nominally compressed condition. Load-transmissively bonded to the entire outside of the core, so as to function as a dynamically-responsive unit with it, and possessing a relaxed-state, internal, prestressed, tension condition, is an elastomeric, moisture- and gas-flow-managing coating, including fluid-flow-controlling, baffled, respiration window structure which exposes a portion of the core's edge to accommodate respiration of and for the interior of the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: MJD Innovations, L.L.C.Inventors: Casey A. Dennis, Michael R. Dennis
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Publication number: 20100192306Abstract: A method and structure for furnishing pressure-evenized, dynamic-reaction anatomical support. The method includes (a) supporting the anatomy with a 100% open cell viscoelastic foam, and (b) within the foam, reacting to both static and dynamic, anatomically-produced foam indentations to expand and contract cell-openness size, whereby deeper/sharper indentations result in greater-size cell-openness. Such reacting includes laterally stretching and flowing regions of the foam adjacent such an indentation The overlay structure features (1) a dynamic-response core expanse formed of a 100% open-cell, compressible and flowable, polyurethane, viscoelastic foam possessing a compressed, relaxed-state volume, and (2) an elastomeric, moisture- and gas-flow-managing coating, load-transmissively, bonded to the entirety of the core expanse's outside surface to function as a dynamically-responsive unit with the expanse.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Casey A. Dennis, Michael R. Dennis
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Publication number: 20100186172Abstract: A method and structure for furnishing pressure-evenized, dynamic-reaction anatomical support. The method includes (a) supporting the anatomy with a 100% open cell viscoelastic foam, and (b) thereafter, and within the foam, reacting to both static and dynamic, anatomically-produced foam indentations to expand and contract cell-openness size, whereby deeper/sharper indentations result in greater-size cell-openness. Such reacting includes laterally stretching and flowing regions of the foam adjacent such an indentation The overlay structure features (1) a dynamic-response core expanse formed of a 100% open-cell, compressible and flowable, polyurethane, viscoelastic foam possessing a compressed, relaxed-state volume and (2) an elastomeric, moisture-resistant coating, load-transmissively, interfacially bonded to the entirety of the outside surface of the core expanse to function as a dynamically-responsive unit with the expanse.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Casey A. Dennis, Michael R. Dennis
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Publication number: 20100191163Abstract: A dynamic-response anatomical bandaging system and methodology utilizing a limb-wrappable, layered, dynamic-response, bandaging expanse which includes a dynamic-response, pressure-applying layer displaying a compressive-load versus compression-deflection behavior which is characterized by a curve having a substantially linear region in which a major change in compression deflection relates to an anatomically insignificant change in compressive load. The system and methodology also feature, relative to use of the bandaging expanse, freely attachable and detachable, dynamic-response (a) splinting structure, and (b) expanse-edge-overlap wrap-closure tensioning structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Michael R. Dennis, Casey A. Dennis
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Publication number: 20100108234Abstract: A shock-mitigating method which is practiceable in a connective interface existing between a pair of interconnected structures, wherein the fundamental practice steps include (a) on one side of that interface, engaging any shock-transmission event with a cushioning material which is characterized by kinetic-energy-to-heat conversion behavior, and (b), on the other side of the interface, engaging such an event with a material which is in shock communication with the cushioning material, and which is characterized by shear-lock behavior.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Michael R. Dennis, Casey A. Dennis
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Publication number: 20100083423Abstract: A cushioning and head-protecting liner insert for the inside of the shell in a helmet includes fore and aft cushioning elements each formed of an expanse of a non-springy, acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic material, with each element possessing, throughout, a uniform thickness which is the same as that possessed by the other element, and with the two elements having edges which are disposed edge-to-edge, but slightly spaced, adjacent one another along a single, continuous, arcuate, reverse-bend line which sweeps from one lateral side of the rear of the insert, at a location spaced laterally from the insert's fore-and-aft extending, laterally central plane, through and over the crown of the insert, to a mirror-image, spaced location on the opposite lateral side of the rear of the insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventors: Anthony P. Erickson, Michael R. Dennis
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Patent number: 7678453Abstract: Barrier structure for furnishing, selectively and variously, penetration and fire-threat protection on the outside surface of a target structure. The barrier structure includes a high-elastomeric coating having an inner face bonded to such a surface, an exposed outer face, and, within this coating, at least one elastomeric layer region extending to the outer face, and containing an embedded distribution of intumescence elements. Basic variations of this structure include (a) an additional layer region which is formed with elastomeric-material including an embedded distribution of liquid-imbiber beads, and (b) an additional layer region which is formed purely of elastomeric material. The elastomeric material employed, and the embedded liquid-imbiber beads where included, react to liquid petroleum-based substances (1) to imbibe such liquid, (2) to swell in size as a result of such imbibing, and (3) to coagulate into a sticky mass.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: High Impact Technology, LLCInventors: Thomas S. Ohnstad, Russell A. Monk, Michael R. Dennis
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Publication number: 20100005955Abstract: Body armor structure including a unitary material body having strike and opposite faces, and an internal structure disposed between these faces which progresses from shatter-prone to ductile. The methodology of the invention includes the steps of responding to a projectile impact first with a fragmentation energy-dissipating mechanism, and thereafter augmenting such responding with a ductile elastic yield mechanism. The methodology further includes the step of telegraphing the responding action through a brittle/ductile transition region in the structure of the invention to engage the ductile elastic yield mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2005Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: Thomas S. Ohnstad, Michael R. Dennis
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Patent number: 7614347Abstract: A solid-fuel rocket assembly including an elongate fuel container having a long axis, and an inner surface spaced outwardly from, and generally circumsurrounding, that axis, and a continuous, elastomeric, heat-insulative, intumescence-behavior jacket adhered to the container's inner surface and defining a central chamber for receiving an elongate body of solid fuel. This structure implements a method for minimizing, in a solid-fuel rocket, heat damage to the wall of a solid-fuel container during burning of contained solid fuel including the steps of (a) producing dual-interface, continuous-presence, heat-insulative barriering in the zone existing between the container and burning fuel, with such barriering being characterized by (1) interfacially following any heat-produced deformations in the container wall, and (2) interfacially confronting the burning fuel with a tendency for intumescence-driven barrier-thickening.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Inventors: Thomas S. Ohnstad, Michael R. Dennis, Russell A. Monk
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Publication number: 20090031481Abstract: A shock-absorbing, protective interface pad structure usable between the shell of a helmet and the head of a helmet wearer including (a) an acceleration-rate-sensitive, viscoelastic core structure made of a product having substantially the same characteristics as at least one of Confor CF-42 or Confor CF-45 manufactured by EAR Specialty Composites in Indianapolis, Ind., and (b) a water-moisture-blocking, bidirectionally gas-permeable barrier layer spray-applied to and fully enclosing the core structure, made of the a product having substantially the same characteristics as the product manufactured, and designated V-2000, by Russell Products Company, Inc. in Akron, Ohio.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventors: Michael R. Dennis, Anthony P. Erickson
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Publication number: 20080264661Abstract: Dual-character shock-isolation structure, and associated methodology, for minimizing the transmission of shock through a connective interface existing between a pair of interconnected structures, such as between the handle of an impact-delivering tool and a user's hand and arm. The proposed structure includes kinetic-energy-to-heat cushioning structure, and twin-layer, facially releasably, interengaged shear-lock structure operatively joined to, and positioned in shock-transmission series with, the cushioning structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Michael R. Dennis, Casey A. Dennis
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Patent number: 7354106Abstract: A vehicle safety seat and related methodology featuring (a) an anti-spring-back seat platform having a generally upwardly facing support surface, (b) a triggerable acceleration structure disposed cooperatively relative to that support surface in a manner whereby the acceleration structure is operatively interposed that surface and any person occupying the seat, with this acceleration structure being triggerable to accelerate such a person generally upwardly away from the support surface, and (c) trigger structure responsive to the detection of a preselected downward deceleration of the seat platform to trigger the acceleration structure. A viscoelastic, acceleration-rate-sensitive cushioning structure is selectively interposed the acceleration structure and any seated occupant.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: MJD Innovations, LLCInventor: Michael R. Dennis
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Patent number: 7299505Abstract: A site-selectable, helmet-installable load-cushioning pad structure employable inside a helmet shell as a part of a plural-spaced-pad distribution featuring a compressible viscoelastic foam core which resists rapid, but not slow-movement, compression. Associated methodology includes the steps of providing such a structure for installation inside the shell of a helmet, and pre-arming the core of that structure with a load-response characteristics which (a) resists sudden-movement, rapid compression, yet (b) offers less resistance to slow-movement compression. An encapsulating moisture barrier layer may be provided around the foam core.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2005Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: MJD Innovations, LLCInventors: Michael R. Dennis, Michael W. Tucker, Gerhard Paasche
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Patent number: 7282462Abstract: Structure, methodology and performance involving and utilizing body armor strand material which includes an elongate strand body possessing elongate brittle ceramic surface structure, elongate ductile core structure disposed within that surface structure, and elongate brittle/ductile transition structure operatively interposed and joining the surface and core structures. Methodology includes the steps of preparing a defined mass of elongate ceramic-surfaced, ductile-cored strand elements, each including, along the outside of its length, elongate, sharp-angular edges, and placing that mass in the impact path of such a projectile in a manner whereby edges in the strands face the projectile impact path.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: MJD Innovations, LLCInventors: Thomas S. Ohnstad, Michael R. Dennis
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Patent number: 7269860Abstract: A moisture-barriered, body-contact protective interface structure including a core, viscoelastic, acceleration-rate-sensitive cushioning structure, and a moisture-barriering container surrounding the cushioning structure, with the container being operable to block the flow of moisture while accommodating gas breathability for the cushioning structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: MJD Innovation, LLCInventors: Michael R. Dennis, Michael W. Tucker, Gerhard Paasche
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Patent number: 7246385Abstract: Helmet chin-strap harness structure including a pair of bilaterally symmetric, bilaterally equi-flex, non-rigid, fabric-strap-like, substantially mirror-image, flexible lateral elements which define opposite sides for the harness structure, and a bilaterally symmetric chin-strap substructure having laterally opposite sides releasably attachable for fore-and-aft translational sliding on the two lateral elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: MJD Innovations, L.L.C.Inventors: Michael R. Dennis, Gerhard Paasche
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Patent number: 7217184Abstract: A ventilating and particle-filtering airflow methodology for managing the flow of air to the electrical sliding-contact zone of an on-board aircraft (vehicle) electrical generator. Conduit structure collects intaken air during aircraft (vehicle) engine operation, filters this air to capture and prevent the passage of particles, and directs filtered airflow to that brush region through a close-coupled fluid-flow connection which closes upon and substantially isolates (in terms of incoming airflow) that region. Water drainage is provided for in a region near where filtering takes place. The filtered airflow is substantially the only airflow admitted to this protected region.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2006Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: MJD Innovations, L.L.C.Inventor: Michael R. Dennis