Patents by Inventor Paul B MacCready, Jr.

Paul B MacCready, Jr. 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: 6666796
    Abstract: Apparatus to assist human walking, incorporating in combination first and second longitudinally extending strut members that are relatively movable, longitudinally, and adapted to transmit body associated loading; the first strut member or members operatively connected to a rack and/or to the user's body; the second strut member or members slaved, i.e. operatively connected to the user's foot or feet, ankles or shoes, to move therewith; and a control that responds to step-by-step treading to control relative movement of the strut members. Such loading is controllably transferred back and forth between left and right pairs of strut members, in response to treading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6290014
    Abstract: A package operable to provide power assist to a pedal operated vehicle having a rear wheel, the vehicle movable longitudinally, comprises: a) a carrier b) a ground engaging drive wheel supported by the carrier and at least one electric battery and an electric battery operated drive supported by the carrier to rotate the drive wheel, c) the carrier coupled to the vehicle for up and down pivoted movement about a generally lateral axis in close association with the vehicle rear wheel, d) the battery or batteries and at least part of the drive being located vertically above the drive wheel so that the weight of the carrier, the battery or batteries, and at least part of the drive bears downwardly on the drive wheel to urge the wheel into ground engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6086518
    Abstract: A squeezable exerciser comprising in combination body structure having surfaces to be squeezed relatively toward one another by application of force exerted by a user, and means associated with the body structure to produce a reference signal or signals as the level of force application reaches a preset limit or limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6086015
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting a load between source and destination locations, comprising an aircraft having a body, power plant carried by the body to drive the aircraft both generally vertically and also generally horizontally, the aircraft also having a wing structure that has a leading edge remaining presented in the direction of flight; and load pick-up, carry and set-down means connected to the aircraft to elevate the load from the source location, transport the elevated and air-borne load generally horizontally, and set the load down at the destination location, the body and power plant configured for vertical flight mode to elevate and set down the load, and for generally horizontal flight mode to transport the elevated load generally horizontally below the level of the aircraft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5758735
    Abstract: For use in determination of chain transmitted power, the combination comprising a tensioned chain having a succession of chain links with undulating edges; an idler supported to be driven in rotation by the chain, and having an undulating perimeter surface having a sine wave configuration and whose width dimension exceeds the width dimension between outermost chain surfaces; and certain of the chain undulating edges engaging portions of the idler undulating perimeter surfaces, whereby the chain changes direction as it travels lengthwise relative to the idler and rotatably drives the idler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Aerovironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. MacCready, Jr., William J. Nicoloff
  • Patent number: 4219887
    Abstract: In a Doppler acoustic radar system, bistatic transmitting and receiving antennas are employed in a manner to significantly improve wind measurement performance, and to simplify equipment deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: Aerovironment Inc.
    Inventor: Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4206892
    Abstract: An efficient aircraft utilizes a stabilizer spaced from a fixed wing, and supported for controlled rolling about an axis extending generally in a forward direction, to control aircraft yaw. The stabilizer extends generally horizontally in straight forward flight. Pitch of the stabilizer is also controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
    Inventors: Paul B. MacCready, Jr., Peter B. S. Lissaman, James D. Burke
  • Patent number: 4057280
    Abstract: An elongated protrusion extends adjacent and along a truck body corner in enveloping relation therewith, the corner located at the junction between the exterior side and top walls of a truck body, said protrusion having two rearwardly elongated edge portions respectively attached to the body exterior side wall and top wall, the protrusion having a rearwardly elongated mid-portion which is outwardly convex and which protrudes laterally throughout the major length of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. MacCready, Jr., Peter B. S. Lissaman
  • Patent number: 3934922
    Abstract: Apparatus combined with or combinable with a vehicle body having a longitudinally elongated corner from which body surfaces extend at an angle, one of the surfaces presented forwardly toward oncoming air flow, and the other surface extending generally rearwardly away from that corner, the apparatus comprisingA. means for preventing, reducing, or delaying separation of the flow boundary layer from said other surface rearwardly of said corner at normal operating speeds of the vehicle,B. said means comprising a longitudinally elongated protrusion having a substantially smooth, arcuate outer surface projecting smoothly outwardly of a first of said body surfaces said protrusion surface having a first longitudinally elongated terminal extent merging toward said first body surface in spaced relation to said corner, and second longitudinally elongated terminal extent merging toward a second of said body surfaces proximate said corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Aerovironment Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B MacCready, Jr., Peter B. S. Lissaman
  • Patent number: D243450
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: Aerovironment Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. MacCready, Jr., Peter B. S. Lissaman