Patents by Inventor Nathaniel W. MacDonald

Nathaniel W. MacDonald 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: 11872503
    Abstract: Circuit blocks are provided. A circuit block may include a substrate and at least one electrical component mounted on the substrate. The circuit block may also include a non-conductive frame coupled to the substrate, and at least one post coupled to the substrate and extending from the substrate and through at least a portion of the frame in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. Moreover, the circuit block may include a contact coupled to a second, opposite surface of the substrate and including a corner section projecting outwardly from the frame and extending in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one post. The block may also include at least one magnet positioned proximate the flexible corner section of the contact and configured to magnetically attract at least one other circuit block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Tenka Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F. Schuster
  • Publication number: 20220203253
    Abstract: Circuit blocks are provided. A circuit block may include a substrate and at least one electrical component mounted on the substrate. The circuit block may also include a non-conductive frame coupled to the substrate, and at least one post coupled to the substrate and extending from the substrate and through at least a portion of the frame in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. Moreover, the circuit block may include a contact coupled to a second, opposite surface of the substrate and including a corner section projecting outwardly from the frame and extending in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one post. The block may also include at least one magnet positioned proximate the flexible corner section of the contact and configured to magnetically attract at least one other circuit block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F. Schuster
  • Patent number: 11291925
    Abstract: Circuit blocks are provided. A circuit block may include a substrate and at least one electrical component mounted on the substrate. The circuit block may also include a non-conductive frame coupled to the substrate, and at least one post coupled to the substrate and extending from the substrate and through at least a portion of the frame in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. Moreover, the circuit block may include a contact coupled to a second, opposite surface of the substrate and including a corner section projecting outwardly from the frame and extending in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one post. The block may also include at least one magnet positioned proximate the flexible corner section of the contact and configured to magnetically attract at least one other circuit block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Tenka Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F. Schuster
  • Publication number: 20200086225
    Abstract: Circuit blocks are provided. A circuit block may include a substrate and at least one electrical component mounted on the substrate. The circuit block may also include a non-conductive frame coupled to the substrate, and at least one post coupled to the substrate and extending from the substrate and through at least a portion of the frame in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. Moreover, the circuit block may include a contact coupled to a second, opposite surface of the substrate and including a corner section projecting outwardly from the frame and extending in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one post. The block may also include at least one magnet positioned proximate the flexible corner section of the contact and configured to magnetically attract at least one other circuit block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F. Schuster
  • Patent number: 10512853
    Abstract: Circuit blocks are provided. A circuit block may include a substrate and at least one electrical component mounted on the substrate. The circuit block may also include a non-conductive frame coupled to the substrate, and at least one post coupled to the substrate and extending from the substrate and through at least a portion of the frame in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. Moreover, the circuit block may include a contact coupled to a second, opposite surface of the substrate and including a corner section projecting outwardly from the frame and extending in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one post. The block may also include at least one magnet positioned proximate the flexible corner section of the contact and configured to magnetically attract at least one other circuit block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Tenka Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F Schuster
  • Publication number: 20170291116
    Abstract: Circuit blocks are provided. A circuit block may include a substrate and at least one electrical component mounted on the substrate. The circuit block may also include a non-conductive frame coupled to the substrate, and at least one post coupled to the substrate and extending from the substrate and through at least a portion of the frame in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. Moreover, the circuit block may include a contact coupled to a second, opposite surface of the substrate and including a corner section projecting outwardly from the frame and extending in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one post. The block may also include at least one magnet positioned proximate the flexible corner section of the contact and configured to magnetically attract at least one other circuit block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F. Schuster
  • Patent number: D864131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Tenka Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F. Schuster
  • Patent number: D882537
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Tenka, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F Schuster
  • Patent number: D882538
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Tenka Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F Schuster
  • Patent number: D886072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Tenka Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel W. MacDonald, John F Schuster