Patents by Inventor Richard M. Sullivan

Richard M. Sullivan 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).

  • Seating arrangements in a vehicle
    Patent number: 10549659
    Abstract: Various seating arrangements for a vehicle are described. Generally, the vehicle includes an electromagnetic array featured on a floor of the vehicle. The chair includes base having a plurality of magnets featured thereon. The vehicle generates signals for the electromagnetic array to generate a wave and impart a force on the chair in a determined direction via the plurality of magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Richard M. Sullivan, Danil V. Prokhorov, Paxton S. Williams
  • Automated watercraft transfer
    Patent number: 10450002
    Abstract: Various examples of transferring a watercraft between land and water are disclosed. When a vehicle receives a transfer signal, the vehicle locates a launch ramp, and the vehicle moves to the launch ramp. A trailer attached to the vehicle moved into the water using the launch ramp, such that a watercraft can be transferred between land and water via the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Danil V. Prokhorov, Richard M. Sullivan
  • Tilting a human support surface in a vehicle
    Patent number: 10442334
    Abstract: Various examples of tilting a human support surface in a vehicle are disclosed. A frame is attached to the surface of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes rotation system mounted between the frame and a vehicle surface. The rotation system can be controlled to tilt a human support surface of the frame towards a direction of acceleration associated with a driving maneuver as the driving maneuver is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Danil V. Prokhorov, Richard M. Sullivan, Paxton S. Williams
  • Sway control for suspended furniture in a vehicle
    Patent number: 10259348
    Abstract: Various examples for controlling sway of a furniture that is suspended in a vehicle are disclosed herein. In addition to the suspended furniture, the vehicle can include sway control devices operatively connected to the suspended furniture. The sway control devices can be connected to the suspended furniture via sway lines. The sway control devices can be controlled to adjust the rates that the sway lines are let out or retracted. As a result, the vehicle can control how much the suspended furniture sways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Danil V. Prokhorov, Richard M. Sullivan
  • Systems for transporting, deploying, and docking unmanned aerial vehicles mountable on a ground vehicle
    Patent number: 10207820
    Abstract: A housing for a ground vehicle-mountable aerial vehicle is provided. The housing includes a base portion defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity. The cavity is structured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle therein. The cavity is configured so as to open upwardly when the housing is mounted on the vehicle. The housing also includes a drafting wall structured to extend from the base portion at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Sullivan, Paxton S. Williams, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • SEATING ARRANGEMENTS IN A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20190023161
    Abstract: Various seating arrangements for a vehicle are described. Generally, the vehicle includes an electromagnetic array featured on a floor of the vehicle. The chair includes base having a plurality of magnets featured thereon. The vehicle generates signals for the electromagnetic array to generate a wave and impart a force on the chair in a determined direction via the plurality of magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Richard M. Sullivan, Danil V. Prokhorov, Paxton S. Williams
  • SWAY CONTROL FOR SUSPENDED FURNITURE IN A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20190001844
    Abstract: Various examples for controlling sway of a furniture that is suspended in a vehicle are disclosed herein. In addition to the suspended furniture, the vehicle can include sway control devices operatively connected to the suspended furniture. The sway control devices can be connected to the suspended furniture via sway lines. The sway control devices can be controlled to adjust the rates that the sway lines are let out or retracted. As a result, the vehicle can control how much the suspended furniture sways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Danil V. Prokhorov, Richard M. Sullivan
  • TILTING A HUMAN SUPPORT SURFACE IN A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180345841
    Abstract: Various examples of tilting a human support surface in a vehicle are disclosed. A frame is attached to the surface of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes rotation system mounted between the frame and a vehicle surface. The rotation system can be controlled to tilt a human support surface of the frame towards a direction of acceleration associated with a driving maneuver as the driving maneuver is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Danil V. Prokhorov, Richard M. Sullivan, Paxton S. Williams
  • AUTOMATED WATERCRAFT TRANSFER
    Publication number: 20180319470
    Abstract: Various examples of transferring a watercraft between land and water are disclosed. When a vehicle receives a transfer signal, the vehicle locates a launch ramp, and the vehicle moves to the launch ramp. A trailer attached to the vehicle moved into the water using the launch ramp, such that a watercraft can be transferred between land and water via the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Danil V. Prokhorov, Richard M. Sullivan
  • SYSTEMS FOR TRANSPORTING, DEPLOYING, AND DOCKING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES MOUNTABLE ON A GROUND VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180009549
    Abstract: A housing for a ground vehicle-mountable aerial vehicle is provided. The housing includes a base portion defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity. The cavity is structured to receive an unmanned aerial vehicle therein. The cavity is configured so as to open upwardly when the housing is mounted on the vehicle. The housing also includes a drafting wall structured to extend from the base portion at a location forward of at least a portion of the cavity when the housing is mounted on the ground vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Richard M. Sullivan, Paxton S. Williams, Danil V. Prokhorov