Patents by Inventor Nels E. Benda

Nels E. Benda 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: 12045050
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing input to a vehicle control system to navigate, position and direct a vehicle, by use of a gesture sensing device. The gesture sensing device may be in the form of: a remote, a mobile computing device such as a smartphone, a tablet or smart-watch, or a direction/motion sensor. The vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is useful for the control of radio controlled vehicles, drones and driver and driverless vehicles. In preferred embodiments, the vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is used to control GNSS/GPS enabled electric steer trolling motors, such as motors utilizing the ProNav® Angler, Rhodan® HD GPS® Anchor, Minn-Kota® IPilot, and the MotorGuide® Pinpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventors: Nels E. Benda, Austin K. Erva, Zachary R. Erkkila
  • Publication number: 20210356957
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing input to a vehicle control system to navigate, position and direct a vehicle, by use of a gesture sensing device. The gesture sensing device may be in the form of: a remote, a mobile computing device such as a smartphone, a tablet or smart-watch, or a direction/motion sensor. The vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is useful for the control of radio controlled vehicles, drones and driver and driverless vehicles. In preferred embodiments, the vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is used to control GNSS/GPS enabled electric steer trolling motors, such as motors utilizing the ProNav® Angler, Rhodan® HD GPS® Anchor, Minn-Kota® IPilot, and the MotorGuide® Pinpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: Superior Marine Products LLC
    Inventors: Nels E. Benda, Austin K. Erva, Zachary R. Erkkila
  • Patent number: 11079751
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing input to a vehicle control system to navigate, position and direct a vehicle, by use of a gesture sensing device. The gesture sensing device may be in the form of: a remote, a mobile computing device such as a smartphone, a tablet or smart-watch, or a direction/motion sensor. The vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is useful for the control of radio controlled vehicles, drones and driver and driverless vehicles. In preferred embodiments, the vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is used to control GNSS/GPS enabled electric steer trolling motors, such as motors utilizing the ProNav® Angler, Rhodan® HD GPS® Anchor, Minn-Kota® IPilot, and the MotorGuide® Pinpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Superior Marine Products LLC
    Inventors: Nels E. Benda, Austin K. Erva, Zachary R. Erkkila
  • Publication number: 20200062365
    Abstract: A control system for a steerable thrusting device is disclosed comprising a mobile device and application which interface with an electronic controller to command the output power and directional heading of the steerable thrusting device. In at least one embodiment, the mobile device serves the functions of a mapping and input device that communicates bi-directionally with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and direction device-equipped electronic controller, which in turn controls the power and heading of the thrusting device on a marine vessel. Data can be stored on the mobile device or procured in real-time via network access to a dedicated database and communicated to the electronic controller in order to execute specific functions of the thrusting device control system. The data created can be shared over a cloud network. A feature control system is introduced for alternately enabling and disabling features of the steerable thrusting device control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Neil D. Anderson, Nels E. Benda, Travis M. White
  • Patent number: 10464653
    Abstract: A control system for a steerable thrusting device is disclosed comprising a mobile device and application which interface with an electronic controller to command the output power and directional heading of the steerable thrusting device. In at least one embodiment, the mobile device serves the functions of a mapping and input device that communicates bi-directionally with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and direction device-equipped electronic controller, which in turn controls the power and heading of the thrusting device on a marine vessel. Data can be stored on the mobile device or procured in real-time via network access to a dedicated database and communicated to the electronic controller in order to execute specific functions of the thrusting device control system. The data created in the control system is capable of being shared amongst similar devices via the use of a cloud network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Neil D. Anderson, Nels E. Benda, Travis M. White
  • Patent number: 10431401
    Abstract: A device and related method temporarily restrict use of a control via one or more of lock out and tag out. The device includes a first and second portion. The first portion has a passageway adapted for the reception of a tie that extends through the first portion along a distance of passageway extension. The second portion has a tang and is movable relative to the first portion to move the tang transversely across the passageway relative to the direction of passageway extension to toggle the device between an opened position and a closed position. A tie may be received in the passageway and the reception of this tie in the passageway may prevent the device from being moved from the closed position back into the opened position due to inability of the tang of the second portion to be moved past the tie in the passageway of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Nels E. Benda, Chad M. Benda
  • Publication number: 20190219997
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing input to a vehicle control system to navigate, position and direct a vehicle, by use of a gesture sensing device. The gesture sensing device may be in the form of: a remote, a mobile computing device such as a smartphone, a tablet or smart-watch, or a direction/motion sensor. The vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is useful for the control of radio controlled vehicles, drones and driver and driverless vehicles. In preferred embodiments, the vehicle control system with gesture sensing device is used to control GNSS/GPS enabled electric steer trolling motors, such as motors utilizing the ProNav® Angler, Rhodan® HD GPS® Anchor, Minn-Kota® IPilot, and the MotorGuide® Pinpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Superior Marine Products LLC
    Inventors: Nels E. Benda, Austin K. Erva, Zachary R. Erkkila
  • Publication number: 20160336122
    Abstract: A device and related method temporarily restrict use of a control via one or more of lock out and tag out. The device includes a first and second portion. The first portion has a passageway adapted for the reception of a tie that extends through the first portion along a distance of passageway extension. The second portion has a tang and is movable relative to the first portion to move the tang transversely across the passageway relative to the direction of passageway extension to toggle the device between an opened position and a closed position. A tie may be received in the passageway and the reception of this tie in the passageway may prevent the device from being moved from the closed position back into the opened position due to inability of the tang of the second portion to be moved past the tie in the passageway of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Nels E. Benda, Chad M. Benda
  • Publication number: 20160016651
    Abstract: A control system for a steerable thrusting device is disclosed comprising a mobile device and application which interface with an electronic controller to command the output power and directional heading of the steerable thrusting device. In at least one embodiment, the mobile device serves the functions of a mapping and input device that communicates bi-directionally with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and direction device-equipped electronic controller, which in turn controls the power and heading of the thrusting device on a marine vessel. Data can be stored on the mobile device or procured in real-time via network access to a dedicated database and communicated to the electronic controller in order to execute specific functions of the thrusting device control system. The data created in the control system is capable of being shared amongst similar devices via the use of a cloud network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Neil D. Anderson, Nels E. Benda, Travis M. White
  • Patent number: D798246
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Nels E. Benda, Chad M. Benda, Katherine A. Cherney, Andrew N. Enger
  • Patent number: D808345
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Nels E. Benda, Chad M. Benda, Katherine A. Cherney, Andrew N. Enger
  • Patent number: D808346
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Nels E. Benda, Chad M. Benda, Katherine A. Cherney, Andrew N. Enger
  • Patent number: D808347
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Nels E. Benda, Chad M. Benda, Katherine A. Cherney, Andrew N. Enger
  • Patent number: D845257
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Nels E. Benda, Chad M. Benda, Katherine A. Cherney, Andrew N. Enger