Patents by Inventor Robert J. Santoro

Robert J. Santoro 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: 10508917
    Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a carriage including a body having a void, a vertical rod passing through the void, four legs arranged rectangularly and projecting obliquely downward and outward from the body, and a vertical coil spring coaxially encompassing a lower portion of the vertical rod. The carriage is coupled with a retroreflective laser target at the bottom of the vertical rod whereby the top of the spring pushes against the bottom of the body and the bottom of the spring pushes against the top of the target. The target continuously adjusts in height so that the bottom of the target remains in constant spring-tension contact with the surface on which the carriage sits or travels, supported by its legs. The carriage is electromechanically propelled, and laser tracking is conducted to direct laser beams at and receive laser retroreflections from the target at various surface locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Pinkesh D. Bharatia, Robert J. Santoro, Nicholas R. Cifelli, Scott A. Storms, Patrick J. Violante
  • Patent number: 10168421
    Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a carriage including a body having a void, a vertical rod passing through the void, four legs arranged rectangularly and projecting obliquely downward and outward from the body, and a vertical coil spring coaxially encompassing a lower portion of the vertical rod. The carriage is coupled with a retroreflective laser target at the bottom of the vertical rod whereby the top of the spring pushes against the bottom of the body and the bottom of the spring pushes against the top of the target. The target continuously adjusts in height so that the bottom of the target remains in constant spring-tension contact with the surface on which the carriage sits or travels, supported by its legs. The carriage is electromechanically propelled, and laser tracking is conducted to direct laser beams at and receive laser retroreflections from the target at various surface locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Pinkesh D. Bharatia, Robert J. Santoro, Nicholas R. Cifelli, Scott A. Storms, Patrick J. Violante
  • Patent number: 9541232
    Abstract: A Bi-Pod cantilever mount and method for supporting laser metrology equipment on a surface. The cantilever mount includes an adjustable mast and legs for adjustably positioning the laser metrology equipment on one or more surfaces. The adjustability of the mount optimizes the ability to utilize the laser metrology equipment at locations where it has been traditionally difficult to take readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert J. Santoro, Pinkesh Bharatia