Patents by Inventor Michael Troy Richardson
Michael Troy Richardson 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: 20230415795Abstract: For braking a zip line trolley, a wheel rides on the zip line cable. An array of toothed slots is disposed downslope from the wheel. A slope adjustment pin is fixed downward into a first toothed slot. At least one selection tab connects the slope adjustment pin to a rider. A brake pad is disposed downslope from the slope adjustment pin. The weight of the rider rotates the brake pad about the wheel to apply a braking force.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Publication number: 20230382437Abstract: For zipline spring segment, the spring segment includes two spring sub-segments, an end cap, and a guide. The two spring sub-segments each include a set of spring coils, each spring coil set including a large diameter end and a small diameter end, wherein each of the spring coils of the spring segment nests completely within a neighboring spring coil and a cable passes through the spring coils. The end cap is disposed on the large diameter end of the spring coils, the end cap including a hole that receives the cable. The guide connects the two sets of spring coils of the spring sub-segments at the small diameter ends. The guide guides the cable through a center of the spring segment, wherein the guide and the end caps are configured to be in contact upon a full compression of the spring coil segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Patent number: 11772684Abstract: For A zip line trolley brake system includes a cable suspended between upper and lower support platforms which, together, function with rider harnessing, loading, and take-off with a passive braking trolley allowing a controlled descent and barrel spring system providing addition braking near the end of a cable termination. The zip line trolley positioned atop a cable includes a frame assembled from a pair of parallel side plates, a four-sided rotational brake pad, and a parabolic groove wheel which is sandwiched between side plates, and a lever. A lever from which a rider is suspended, can be pinned anywhere within the trolley's circular toothed slot instilling a brake force for the cable slope. A trolley brake generally square sides are grooved for cables and fabricated from a durable polymeric material is rotatably within affixed side plates.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Publication number: 20230234625Abstract: For stopping a zip line trolley, a zip line braking system includes an impact device, a non-zip liner parallel cable, a freewheeling pulley, a tether, and at least one spring. The impact device rides on a zip line cable, wherein the impact device is positioned down the zip line cable from a zip line trolley that rides on the zip line cable. The impact device does not ride on the non-zip liner parallel cable. The tether connects the impact device to a first freewheeling pulley. The impact device applies a force to the first freewheeling pulley via the tether in response to a zip line trolley contacting the freewheeling pulley. The at least one spring is disposed on the non-zip liner parallel cable and slows the freewheeling pulley, wherein the freewheeling pulley decelerates the impact device and the zip line trolley via the tether to a stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Michael Troy Richardson, Michael Timothy Holder
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Publication number: 20210061316Abstract: For A zip line trolley brake system includes a cable suspended between upper and lower support platforms which, together, function with rider harnessing, loading, and take-off with a passive braking trolley allowing a controlled descent and barrel spring system providing addition braking near the end of a cable termination. The zip line trolley positioned atop a cable includes a frame assembled from a pair of parallel side plates, a four-sided rotational brake pad, and a parabolic groove wheel which is sandwiched between side plates, and a lever. A lever from which a rider is suspended, can be pinned anywhere within the trolley's circular toothed slot instilling a brake force for the cable slope. A trolley brake generally square sides are grooved for cables and fabricated from a durable polymeric material is rotatably within affixed side plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Patent number: 10807613Abstract: For travel on a cable, the zipline trolley includes a wheel, a brake, a frame, a hanger, and a lower slot. The wheel is disposed on a proximal end of a frame. The wheel includes a groove that receives a cable at a lower portion of the wheel and a wheel bearing. The brake is disposed on a distal end of the frame. The brake is connected to a given lever point and includes a groove along a brake bottom that receives the cable. The frame includes an array of lever points disposed between the brake and the wheel. The hanger is connected to a given lever point and suspends a weight. The weight applies a force about the wheel to the brake to control a rate of descent of the device along the cable. The lower slot receives the cable.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Publication number: 20200023865Abstract: For travel on a cable, the zipline trolley includes a wheel, a brake, a frame, a hanger, and a lower slot. The wheel is disposed on a proximal end of a frame. The wheel includes a groove that receives a cable at a lower portion of the wheel and a wheel bearing. The brake is disposed on a distal end of the frame. The brake is connected to a given lever point and includes a groove along a brake bottom that receives the cable. The frame includes an array of lever points disposed between the brake and the wheel. The hanger is connected to a given lever point and suspends a weight. The weight applies a force about the wheel to the brake to control a rate of descent of the device along the cable. The lower slot receives the cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Patent number: 10471971Abstract: For travel on a cable, the zipline trolley includes a wheel, a brake, a frame, a hanger, and a lower slot. The wheel is disposed on a proximal end of a frame. The wheel includes a groove that receives a cable at a lower portion of the wheel and a wheel bearing. The brake is disposed on a distal end of the frame. The brake is connected to a given lever point and includes a groove along a brake bottom that receives the cable. The frame includes an array of lever points disposed between the brake and the wheel. The hanger is connected to a given lever point and suspends a weight. The weight applies a force about the wheel to the brake to control a rate of descent of the device along the cable. The lower slot receives the cable.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Publication number: 20180304907Abstract: For travel on a cable, the zipline trolley includes a wheel, a brake, a frame, a hanger, and a lower slot. The wheel is disposed on a proximal end of a frame. The wheel includes a groove that receives a cable at a lower portion of the wheel and a wheel bearing. The brake is disposed on a distal end of the frame. The brake is connected to a given lever point and includes a groove along a brake bottom that receives the cable. The frame includes an array of lever points disposed between the brake and the wheel. The hanger is connected to a given lever point and suspends a weight. The weight applies a force about the wheel to the brake to control a rate of descent of the device along the cable. The lower slot receives the cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Patent number: 8424460Abstract: A zip line trolley includes a frame assembled from a pair of spaced-apart parallel side plates and an inner beam, which is partially sandwiched between the side plates. The inner beam has a gallery of block-T-shaped cross section which extends its length. A shackle, from which a rider is suspended, can be pinned anywhere within the gallery. A main pulley, which is installed in an upper middle portion of the frame, rotates on a pair of sealed ball bearing races that are pressed on a hollow keyed shaft which slides into opposed grooves machined into each of the side plates. The keyed shaft is bolted between the side plates with a shoulder bolt passing transversely through both side plates. A water-wiping brake pad is pivotally mounted within the frame in front of the main pulley. A bumper is bolted between front portions of the side plates.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Inventors: Shawn Geoffrey Lerner, Michael Troy Richardson
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Publication number: 20120160122Abstract: A zip line trolley includes a frame assembled from a pair of spaced-apart parallel side plates and an inner beam, which is partially sandwiched between the side plates. The inner beam has a gallery of block-T-shaped cross section which extends its length. A shackle, from which a rider is suspended, can be pinned anywhere within the gallery. A main pulley, which is installed in an upper middle portion of the frame, rotates on a pair of sealed ball bearing races that are pressed on a hollow keyed shaft which slides into opposed grooves machined into each of the side plates. The keyed shaft is bolted between the side plates with a shoulder bolt passing transversely through both side plates. A water-wiping brake pad is pivotally mounted within the frame in front of the main pulley. A bumper is bolted between front portions of the side plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventors: Shawn Geoffrey LERNER, Michael Troy Richardson
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Publication number: 20120006023Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a loop thermal energy system. A heat pump heats a first fluid to first temperature using heat from a heat source. A first pressure tank charges with the heated first fluid while a second pressure tank discharges the heated first fluid stored from a previous charging. The discharged heated first fluid motivates an engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Keith Sterling Johnson, Michael Troy Richardson, Brent Harvey
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Publication number: 20040198502Abstract: A zip line thrill ride system includes a cable suspended between a upper cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the harnessing, loading, and take-off point for the ride, and a lower cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the landing, unloading and unharnessing point of the ride. Multiple, substantially identical trolleys are designed to quickly engage and disengage the cable. The trolley includes a frame of generally I-beam cross section, a generally tubular brake retainer, having a longitudinal slit therein, is welded to an upper rear portion of the frame. A grooved, generally cylindrical brake fabricated from a durable polymeric material is rotatably affixed within the tubular brake retainer. When the trolley is affixed to the suspended cable by sliding the cable into the slit and rotating the brake, the grooved insert rides against the suspended cable and generates friction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson
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Patent number: 6666773Abstract: A zip line thrill ride system includes a cable suspended between a upper cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the harnessing, loading, and take-off point for the ride, and a lower cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the landing, unloading and unharnessing point of the ride. Multiple, substantially identical trolleys are designed to quickly engage and disengage the cable. The trolley includes a frame of generally I-beam cross section, a generally tubular brake retainer, having a longitudinal slit therein, is welded to an upper rear portion of the frame. A grooved, generally cylindrical brake fabricated from a durable polymeric material is rotatably affixed within the tubular brake retainer. When the trolley is affixed to the suspended cable by sliding the cable into the slit and rotating the brake, the grooved insert rides against the suspended cable and generates friction.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2003Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Inventor: Michael Troy Richardson