Patents by Inventor Michael W. Lowe
Michael W. Lowe 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: 20210000210Abstract: A protective helmet having a protective shell, a low friction layer, and a comfort liner is disclosed. The protective shell includes an energy absorbing material and an inner surface. The low friction layer is coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell. The low friction layer may be plastic having a thickness of less than approximately 3 mm. The comfort liner is removably coupled to the low friction layer opposite the protective shell, and includes a low friction material, such as brushed nylon, adjacent the low friction liner. The comfort liner may be removebly coupled protective shell with either clips that removably couple to receivers embedded in the brow of the helmet, with elastically deformable couplings that extend from the comfort liner to the protective shell, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
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Publication number: 20200301258Abstract: In one embodiment, a mounting device engageable with a fence includes a mounting platform from which a first engaging member and a second engaging member extend. The first engaging member includes a number of receptacles configured to receive a portion of a fence wire, and the second engaging member includes a number of receptacles configured to receive a portion of a fence wire. In one form, a portion of the first engaging member including the number of receptacles is movable relative to the mounting platform and a portion of the second engaging member including the number of receptacles is movable relative to the mounting platform. The mounting device may be used, for example, in connection with the positioning of one or more items relative to the fence.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Michael W. Lowe, Satya Narayan Braj Mohan
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Patent number: 10721987Abstract: A protective helmet having a protective shell, a low friction layer, and a comfort liner is disclosed. The protective shell includes an energy absorbing material and an inner surface. The low friction layer is coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell. The low friction layer may be plastic having a thickness of less than approximately 3 mm. The comfort liner is removably coupled to the low friction layer opposite the protective shell, and includes a low friction material, such as brushed nylon, adjacent the low friction liner. The comfort liner may be removeably coupled protective shell with either clips that removably couple to receivers embedded in the brow of the helmet, with elastically deformable couplings that extend from the comfort liner to the protective shell, or both.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
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Publication number: 20190350299Abstract: A protective helmet to be worn by a player engaged in a sport comprises a flexible outer shell and a multi-layer liner assembly disposed within the outer shell. The multi-layer liner assembly includes an inner-layer, a middle-layer and an outer-layer, and permits relative rotational movement between said layers when the helmet is worn by the player and receives an impact. The inner-layer is made from a first material with a first density and is mechanically coupled to the outer-layer without adhesive. The outer-layer is made from a second material with a second density that is greater than the first density of the inner-layer. The middle-layer is made from a third material that has a third density that is greater than the first density. The outer-layer also has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inner-layer and varies between a front region of the outer-layer and a crown region of the outer-layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
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Publication number: 20190269194Abstract: A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2018Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
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Patent number: 10362829Abstract: A protective helmet can include an outer shell and a multi-layer liner disposed within the outer shell and sized for receiving a wearer's head. The multi-layer liner can include and inner-layer, a middle-layer, and an outer-layer. The inner-layer can include an inner surface oriented towards an inner area of a helmet for receiving a wearer's head. The inner-layer can comprise a mid-energy management material with a density in a range of 40-70 g/L. The middle-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the inner-layer, wherein the middle-layer comprises a low-energy management material with a density in a range of 10-20 g/L. The outer-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the middle-layer, the outer-layer comprising an outer surface oriented towards the outer shell, wherein the outer-layer comprises a high-energy management material with a density in a range of 20-50 grams g/L.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
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Patent number: 10159296Abstract: A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Riddell, Inc.Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
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Patent number: 9795180Abstract: A helmet an include a shell, a liner disposed within the shell, a flexible band disposed between the shell and a portion of the liner to releasably couple the liner to the shell without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps. The helmet can also include an energy-absorbing layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) including a groove. The comfort liner can be attached to the energy-absorbing layer without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps, and a flexible band can be releasably disposed between the energy-absorbing layer and the comfort liner. The helmet can also include a groove on an inner surface of an outer shell. An energy-absorbing liner can include expanded polypropylene (EPP), and a flexible band can be disposed between the outer shell and the energy-absorbing liner to provide additional energy management, to releasably couple the energy-absorbing liner to the outer shell, or both.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.Inventors: Michael W. Lowe, Eamon Briggs
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Publication number: 20160113346Abstract: A protective helmet having a protective shell, a low friction layer, and a comfort liner is disclosed. The protective shell includes an energy absorbing material and an inner surface. The low friction layer is coupled to the inner surface of the protective shell. The low friction layer may be plastic having a thickness of less than approximately 3 mm. The comfort liner is removably coupled to the low friction layer opposite the protective shell, and includes a low friction material, such as brushed nylon, adjacent the low friction liner. The comfort liner may be removeably coupled protective shell with either clips that removably couple to receivers embedded in the brow of the helmet, with elastically deformable couplings that extend from the comfort liner to the protective shell, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
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Publication number: 20150320135Abstract: A full-face motorcycle helmet can include a faceport opening that includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and an A-pillar extending between the upper edge of the faceport and the lower edge of the faceport. The chinbar can include a recess that begins immediately adjacent the A-pillar and includes a chinbar height Hc1 within the recess that is greater than or equal to 60 millimeters (mm) and a chin bar height Hc2 outside and immediately adjacent the recess that is greater than or equal to 70 mm. The recess can include a height Hr that is greater than or equal to 5 mm for a distance in a range of 15-60 mm. The recess can further include a stair-step between the bottom of the recess and the top of the recess comprising a length that is less than or equal to 35 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
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Publication number: 20150157083Abstract: A protective helmet can include an outer shell and a multi-layer liner disposed within the outer shell and sized for receiving a wearer's head. The multi-layer liner can include and inner-layer, a middle-layer, and an outer-layer. The inner-layer can include an inner surface oriented towards an inner area of a helmet for receiving a wearer's head. The inner-layer can comprise a mid-energy management material with a density in a range of 40-70 g/L. The middle-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the inner-layer, wherein the middle-layer comprises a low-energy management material with a density in a range of 10-20 g/L. The outer-layer can be disposed adjacent an outer surface of the middle-layer, the outer-layer comprising an outer surface oriented towards the outer shell, wherein the outer-layer comprises a high-energy management material with a density in a range of 20-50 grams g/L.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventor: Michael W. Lowe
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Publication number: 20150089725Abstract: A helmet an include a shell, a liner disposed within the shell, a flexible band disposed between the shell and a portion of the liner to releasably couple the liner to the shell without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps. The helmet can also include an energy-absorbing layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) including a groove. The comfort liner can be attached to the energy-absorbing layer without glue, hook and loop fasteners, or snaps, and a flexible band can be releasably disposed between the energy-absorbing layer and the comfort liner. The helmet can also include a groove on an inner surface of an outer shell. An energy-absorbing liner can include expanded polypropylene (EPP), and a flexible band can be disposed between the outer shell and the energy-absorbing liner to provide additional energy management, to releasably couple the energy-absorbing liner to the outer shell, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Michael W. Lowe, Eamon Briggs
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Publication number: 20140201889Abstract: A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Bell Sports, Inc.Inventors: Christopher T. Pietrzak, Michael W. Lowe
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Patent number: 6159158Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying and marking regions of tissue obstruction in the upper airway of a patient. The invention provides a greatly improved method for use during a sleep apnea study to particularize the location of a region of obstruction. The precise location of the obstruction may be marked for surgical removal or reduction. Broadly speaking, the apparatus includes a multiluminate catheter having an outer wall circumscribed by multiple discrete perforate regions. The proximal portion of each lumen opens into a selected perforate region and the distal portion is coupled with a pressure transducer. Each lumen is equipped with a syringe port for injecting a tissue marking dye into the obstructing tissue region. The catheter outer wall may include a radiopaque marker in order to facilitate location of the catheter within the airway of a patient.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1999Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Inventor: Michael W. Lowe