Patents by Inventor Richard A. Brandt

Richard A. Brandt 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: 11287339
    Abstract: This patent describes devices and methods to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of protective equipment in providing protection to players of contact sports, and to determine if a given protective product (pad) is compliant with a specified performance standard. To simulate the impacts experienced by these players, a pad-protected specially modified and instrumented manikin is impacted with solid loads of various weights at various speeds. The impacts are designed to model the impact forces and impact times encountered in typical game collisions. For each impact, measurements are made of the force exerted onto the pad, and the parts of this force that are transmitted through the pad onto various locations on the manikin, as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 11255765
    Abstract: A method for testing a helmet for effectiveness of user protection includes moving a load along a predetermined path, supporting a target body at an impact location in the predetermined path, the target body including a head model and a helmet disposed on the head model, and impacting the target body with a force generated by the moving of the load. The impacting of the target body entails contacting the target body with an impactor free to move perpendicularly and tangentially relative to a surface of the target body. The supporting of the target body is at least reduced, if not eliminated, before or during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location. Forces generated are automatically measured or sensed during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 11215548
    Abstract: A face mask or a sample of air-permeable sheet material thereof is moved through a chamber containing a stationary particle-imbedded aerosol. A drive mechanism is preferably operatively connected to a mask holder or supporting shuttle for sliding the shuttle and the mask material along a linear path or a circular path. An aerosol supply and a photodetector are connected to a container that defines the chamber and communicate with the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20210109000
    Abstract: A method for testing a helmet for effectiveness of user protection includes moving a load along a predetermined path, supporting a target body at an impact location in the predetermined path, the target body including a head model and a helmet disposed on the head model, and impacting the target body with a force generated by the moving of the load. The impacting of the target body entails contacting the target body with an impactor free to move perpendicularly and tangentially relative to a surface of the target body. The supporting of the target body is at least reduced, if not eliminated, before or during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location. Forces generated are automatically measured or sensed during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: RICHARD A. BRANDT
  • Patent number: 10939719
    Abstract: A helmet has inner and outer shells separated by a plurality of interconnected relatively soft columns or posts. The columns each have a middle post or pillar section, a capital that is of larger diameter than the post, and a base also of larger transverse dimension than the post. When an impact above a design threshold occurs on the outer shell, the columns, particularly the post sections thereof, near the impact location compress and buckle, dissipating impact kinetic energy, while columns spaced from the impact zone stretch and support more of the impact force. The applied force is therefore reduced and spread out over a relatively large area, and a resultant wave created within the column manifold disperses additional heat, further reducing the force and torque applied on the outer shell and transmitted to the inner shell and onto the skull of a helmet user. A method and mold for fabricating the column manifold are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Richard A. Brandt, Dragoslav Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 10837887
    Abstract: A method for testing a helmet for effectiveness of user protection includes moving a load along a predetermined path, supporting a target body at an impact location in the predetermined path, the target body including a head model and a helmet disposed on the head model, and impacting the target body with a force generated by the moving of the load. The impacting of the target body entails contacting the target body with an impactor free to move perpendicularly and tangentially relative to a surface of the target body. The supporting of the target body is at least reduced, if not eliminated, before or during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location. Forces generated are automatically measured or sensed during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 10814186
    Abstract: A portable device for determining whether a tennis ball is compliant with a stated deformation standard compresses a tennis ball by application of a pre-determined pre-load followed by a pre-determined force. A scale is provided for measuring the deformation of the tennis ball after it is compressed. The device includes several plate members disposed in parallel and relatively movable a controllable amount by a shifting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20200288807
    Abstract: A helmet has inner and outer shells separated by a plurality of interconnected relatively soft columns or posts. The columns each have a middle post or pillar section, a capital that is of larger diameter than the post, and a base also of larger transverse dimension than the post. When an impact above a design threshold occurs on the outer shell, the columns, particularly the post sections thereof, near the impact location compress and buckle, dissipating impact kinetic energy, while columns spaced from the impact zone stretch and support more of the impact force. The applied force is therefore reduced and spread out over a relatively large area, and a resultant wave created within the column manifold disperses additional heat, further reducing the force and torque applied on the outer shell and transmitted to the inner shell and onto the skull of a helmet user. A method and mold for fabricating the column manifold are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: RICHARD A. BRANDT, Dragoslav Scepanovic
  • Publication number: 20200254313
    Abstract: A portable device for determining whether a tennis ball is compliant with a stated deformation standard compresses a tennis ball by application of a pre-determined pre-load followed by a pre-determined force. A scale is provided for measuring the deformation of the tennis ball after it is compressed. The device includes several plate members disposed in parallel and relatively movable a controllable amount by a shifting mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 10660389
    Abstract: A helmet has inner and outer shells separated by a plurality of interconnected relatively soft columns or posts. The columns each have a middle post or pillar section, a capital that is of larger diameter than the post, and a base also of larger transverse dimension than the post. When an impact above a design threshold occurs on the outer shell, the columns, particularly the post sections thereof, near the impact location compress and buckle, dissipating impact kinetic energy, while columns spaced from the impact zone stretch and support more of the impact force. The applied force is therefore reduced and spread out over a relatively large area, and a resultant wave created within the column manifold disperses additional heat, further reducing the force and torque applied on the outer shell and transmitted to the inner shell and onto the skull of a helmet user. A method and mold for fabricating the column manifold are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventors: Richard A. Brandt, Dragoslav Scepanovic
  • Publication number: 20190388766
    Abstract: This patent describes devices and methods to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of protective equipment in providing protection to players of contact sports, and to determine if a given protective product (pad) is compliant with a specified performance standard. To simulate the impacts experienced by these players, a pad-protected specially modified and instrumented manikin is impacted with solid loads of various weights at various speeds. The impacts are designed to model the impact forces and impact times encountered in typical game collisions. For each impact, measurements are made of the force exerted onto the pad, and the parts of this force that are transmitted through the pad onto various locations on the manikin, as a function of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventor: RICHARD A. BRANDT
  • Publication number: 20190086309
    Abstract: A method for testing a helmet for effectiveness of user protection includes moving a load along a predetermined path, supporting a target body at an impact location in the predetermined path, the target body including a head model and a helmet disposed on the head model, and impacting the target body with a force generated by the moving of the load. The impacting of the target body entails contacting the target body with an impactor free to move perpendicularly and tangentially relative to a surface of the target body. The supporting of the target body is at least reduced, if not eliminated, before or during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location. Forces generated are automatically measured or sensed during the impact of the impactor with the target body at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: RICHARD A. BRANDT, Dragoslav Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 10197484
    Abstract: This patent describes devices and methods to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of protective equipment in providing protection to players of contact sports, and to determine if a given protective product (pad) is compliant with a specified performance standard. To simulate the impacts experienced by these players, a pad-protected specially modified and instrumented manikin is impacted with solid loads of various weights at various speeds. The impacts are designed to model the impact forces and impact times encountered in typical game collisions. For each impact, measurements are made of the force exerted onto the pad, and the parts of this force that are transmitted through the pad onto various locations on the manikin, as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Patent number: 10166445
    Abstract: A head assembly for a golf putter includes a head piece, a hosel or connector for attaching a putter shaft to the head piece, and a releasable clamping element. A body portion of the hosel is formed with a concavity defined by a cylindrical concave surface. A finger extension of the hosel has a bore for receiving an end of a putter shaft. The head piece includes an elongate body having a putting face on one side and a cylindrical convex surface on an opposite side. The cylindrical convex surface is insertable into the concavity in the hosel body and is engageable with the cylindrical concave surface thereof. The clamping element adjustably fixes the hosel and the head piece to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20180249778
    Abstract: A helmet has inner and outer shells separated by a plurality of interconnected relatively soft columns or posts. The columns each have a middle post or pillar section, a capital that is of larger diameter than the post, and a base also of larger transverse dimension than the post. When an impact above a design threshold occurs on the outer shell, the columns, particularly the post sections thereof, near the impact location compress and buckle, dissipating impact kinetic energy, while columns spaced from the impact zone stretch and support more of the impact force. The applied force is therefore reduced and spread out over a relatively large area, and a resultant wave created within the column manifold disperses additional heat, further reducing the force and torque applied on the outer shell and transmitted to the inner shell and onto the skull of a helmet user. A method and mold for fabricating the column manifold are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Richard A. Brandt, Dragoslav Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 9868039
    Abstract: A method for use in testing sports equipment such as a baseball bat for conformity to a performance standard or specification utilizes a compression contact member having a geometrical form identical in whole or in part to a baseball. In the method one supports one side of the bat in a cradle and presses the contact member into the batting member at a point of maximum performance on the bat. One continues alternating between compressions of successively increasing depth and elasticity test compressions, pausing to measure performance when the elasticity increases by a given percentage. The bat passes if it exhibits damage prior to exceeding a maximum permissible performance level or if its performance level is still less than that maximum once a maximum compression depth is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20170361179
    Abstract: In a golf club head assembly a body member has a top-forward angled front face, the face comprising a plurality of generally forward-facing teeth. The golf club head assembly further comprises a loft angle adjustment mechanism attached to the body member for adjusting a loft angle of the face. The mechanism includes a hosel element releasably attached to a bar rotatably mounted to an upper side of the body member parallel to the face. The bar is rotatably journaled or mounted in a pair of bar supports attached to the body member. Set screws reside in threaded holes in the bar supports, the set screws operable to releasably lock the bar in a selected orientation relative to the body member, where the selected orientation of the bar corresponds to and determines the loft angle of the front face. The forward angle of the front face, the angles of the teeth, and loft angle of the face are jointly chosen to impart a pure rolling motion onto a struck golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: RICHARD A. BRANDT, Dragoslav SCEPANOVIC
  • Publication number: 20170239535
    Abstract: A head assembly for a golf putter includes a head piece, a hosel or connector for attaching a putter shaft to the head piece, and a releasable clamping element. A body portion of the hosel is formed with a concavity defined by a cylindrical concave surface. A finger extension of the hosel has a bore for receiving an end of a putter shaft. The head piece includes an elongate body having a putting face on one side and a cylindrical convex surface on an opposite side. The cylindrical convex surface is insertable into the concavity in the hosel body and is engageable with the cylindrical concave surface thereof. The clamping element adjustably fixes the hosel and the head piece to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: RICHARD A. BRANDT
  • Patent number: 9551638
    Abstract: Performance of an article of sporting equipment, such as a ball bat, is measured by applying a force through a spring of known elastic properties to compress the article of sporting equipment. Compliance of the article of sporting equipment to a known standard is based on the compression of the article of sporting equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Richard A. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20160296813
    Abstract: A method for use in testing sports equipment such as a baseball bat for conformity to a performance standard or specification utilizes a compression contact member having a geometrical form identical in whole or in part to a baseball. In the method one supports one side of the bat in a cradle and presses the contact member into the batting member at a point of maximum performance on the bat. One continues alternating between compressions of successively increasing depth and elasticity test compressions, pausing to measure performance when the elasticity increases by a given percentage. The bat passes if it exhibits damage prior to exceeding a maximum permissible performance level or if its performance level is still less than that maximum once a maximum compression depth is attained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: RICHARD A. BRANDT