Patents by Inventor Rory Alan Cooper
Rory Alan Cooper 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).
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Patent number: 11564854Abstract: A wheelchair system includes a wheelchair including a plurality of force sensors including at least three force sensors. A rigid seat pan is placed in contact with each the plurality of force sensors at a different position on the rigid seat pan so that the rigid seat pan does not contact the frame and forces on the rigid seat pan are transferred to the plurality of force sensors. Each of the plurality of force sensors is in communicative connection with a processor system. A memory system is in communicative connection and an interface system is in connection with the processor system and a user interface system in communicative connection with the processor system. Instructions stored on the memory system are executable by the processor system to determine a value of a variable related to a distribution of force on the rigid seat pan over time.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans AftairsInventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Chengshiu Chung, Garrett G. Grindle, Rosemarie Cooper, Sathish Andrea Sundaram
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Patent number: 11504286Abstract: A personal mobility device includes a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and one or more pneumatic motors. Each of the one or more pneumatic motors has a drive shaft in operative connection with at least one of the plurality of wheels. The personal mobility device further includes at least one tank (that is, a storage container) for storage of a pressurized gas in operative connection with the one or more pneumatic motors to supply pressurized gas to the one or more pneumatic motors and a control system in operative connection with the at least one tank and with the one or more pneumatic motors.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.Inventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Hongwu Wang, Brandon Joseph Daveler, Benjamin Todd Gebrosky, Garrett G. Grindle, Jonathan L. Pearlman, Urs Schneider, David Minzenmay
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Publication number: 20220061536Abstract: An access system includes a laterally extending frame, a carriage in operative connection with the laterally extending frame and including a drive to move the carriage laterally on the frame, a seat support attached to the carriage including a seat assembly interface and a lift to raise and lower the seat assembly interface within a range of positions, a seat assembly attached to the seat assembly interface, a controller in operative connection with the drive of the carriage and the lift of the seat support via which the position of the seat support is controllable, and a controller interface in operative connection with the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Michael A. Shulock, Joshua D. Brown, Garrett G. Grindle, Benjamin Todd Gebrosky, Sayeedur Rahman, Sivan Almosnino, Lisa Garamella, Daniel Robin
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Publication number: 20210267826Abstract: A wheelchair system includes a wheelchair including a plurality of force sensors including at least three force sensors. A rigid seat pan is placed in contact with each the plurality of force sensors at a different position on the rigid seat pan so that the rigid seat pan does not contact the frame and forces on the rigid seat pan are transferred to the plurality of force sensors. Each of the plurality of force sensors is in communicative connection with a processor system. A memory system is in communicative connection and an interface system is in connection with the processor system and a user interface system in communicative connection with the processor system. Instructions stored on the memory system are executable by the processor system to determine a value of a variable related to a distribution of force on the rigid seat pan over time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2019Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Chengshiu Chung, Garrett G. Grindle, Rosemarie Cooper, Sathish Andrea Sundaram
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Publication number: 20210128378Abstract: A wheelchair includes a frame, a seat attached to the frame, a first forward wheel on a first side of the frame and a second forward wheel on a second side of the frame, a first rearward wheel on the first side of the frame and a second rearward wheel on the second side of the frame, a first drive wheel on the first side of the frame positioned intermediate between the first forward wheel and the first rearward wheel and a second drive wheel on the second side of the frame positioned intermediate between the second forward wheel and the second rearward wheel, and actuators to independently control the vertical position of the first forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first drive wheel relative to the frame and the vertical position of the second drive wheel relatiType: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2021Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: RORY ALAN COOPER, HONGWU WANG, CHENG-SHIU CHUNG, JORGE LUIS CANDIOTTI, GARRETT G. GRINDLE, JONATHAN L. PEARLMAN, BRANDON JOSEPH DAVELER
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Publication number: 20210045945Abstract: A personal mobility device includes a control system including a manually operated actuator, a first forward control valve having an inlet in fluid connection with a source of pressurized gas and an outlet in fluid connection with a first forward port of at least a first pneumatic motor, and a first rearward control valve having an inlet in fluid connection with the source of pressurized gas and an outlet in fluid connection with a first rearward port of the first pneumatic motor. Movement of the manually operated actuator controls actuation of the first forward control valve and the first rearward control valve and thereby flow of gas from the source of pressurized gas to the first forward port and the first rearward port.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Brandon Joseph Daveler, Garrett G. Grindle, Benjamin Todd Gebrosky
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Patent number: 10912688Abstract: A wheelchair includes a frame, a seat attached to the frame, a first forward wheel on a first side of the frame and a second forward wheel on a second side of the frame, a first rearward wheel on the first side of the frame and a second rearward wheel on the second side of the frame, a first drive wheel on the first side of the frame positioned intermediate between the first forward wheel and the first rearward wheel and a second drive wheel on the second side of the frame positioned intermediate between the second forward wheel and the second rearward wheel, and actuators to independently control the vertical position of the first forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first drive wheel relative to the frame and the vertical position of the second drive wheel relatiType: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignees: The United States Government As Represented By The Department of Veterans Affairs, University of Pittsburgh—Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher EducationInventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Hongwu Wang, Cheng-Shiu Chung, Jorge Luis Candiotti, Garrett G. Grindle, Jonathan L. Pearlman, Brandon Joseph Daveler
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Patent number: 10690774Abstract: A pathway measurement system hereof includes a rigid frame and a mobility system attached to the frame. The mobility system includes at least one movable element which is adapted to contact a surface of a pathway via which the frame may be moved relative to the pathway. The pathway measurement system further includes at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one characteristic of a pathway. The pathway measurement system has a first mode of operation in which the mobility system moves the frame along the pathway to move the at least one sensor relative to the pathway. The at least one sensor is connected to the pathway system such that a distance between the at least one sensor and an axis of rotation of one of the moveable elements remains constant in the first mode of operation. In general, the at least one sensor is isolated from any compliance or suspension system.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Jonathan L. Pearlman, Eric Joseph Sinagra, Jonathan Aaron Duvall, Joshua D. Brown, Dianna Rae Stuckey, Tianyang Chen, Ian Patrick McIntyre, Rory Alan Cooper
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Publication number: 20200121526Abstract: A wheelchair includes a frame, a seat attached to the frame, a first forward wheel on a first side of the frame and a second forward wheel on a second side of the frame, a first rearward wheel on the first side of the frame and a second rearward wheel on the second side of the frame, a first drive wheel on the first side of the frame positioned intermediate between the first forward wheel and the first rearward wheel and a second drive wheel on the second side of the frame positioned intermediate between the second forward wheel and the second rearward wheel, and actuators to independently control the vertical position of the first forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second forward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the second rearward wheel relative to the frame, the vertical position of the first drive wheel relative to the frame and the vertical position of the second drive wheel relatiType: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Hongwu Wang, Cheng-Shiu Chung, Jorge Luis Candiotti, Garrett G. Grindle, Jonathan L. Pearlman, Brandon Joseph Daveler
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Patent number: 10322048Abstract: The invention includes methods and apparatuses for patient transfer from a rollable chair to a bed and back. A rollable chair includes a first frame having a seat; a second frame coupled to the first frame, the second frame having a backrest configured to move relative to the first frame; and a third frame coupled to the first frame, the third frame having a track having a curvilinear length configured to allow the first frame to rotate and to translate relative to the third frame. A bed includes a chair-receiving frame configured to couple to the first frame of the rollable chair. The rollable chair and the bed work in tandem to transfer a patient, for example using coordinated, automated motions.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignees: NextHealth, LLC, University of Pittsburgh—of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Rory Alan Cooper, David Beckstrom, Raymond A. Curatolo, Garrett Grindle, Richard Kovacsics
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Patent number: 10289650Abstract: A system for use with a mobile device includes at least one sensor to sense a variable related to tilting of the mobile device and at least one activatable system in operative connection with the sensor. The at least one activatable system increases stability of the mobile device upon actuation/change in state thereof on the basis of data measured by the at least one sensor. A variable related to tilting includes variables that indicate concurrent, actual tilting as described herein as well as variables predictive of imminent tilting. Activatable systems hereof change state upon actuation or activation to increase stability of the mobile device by reducing, eliminating or preventing tilting.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Jonathan L. Pearlman, Jonathan Aaron Duvall, Benjamin Todd Gebrosky, Rory Alan Cooper
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Publication number: 20190064360Abstract: A pathway measurement system hereof includes a rigid frame and a mobility system attached to the frame. The mobility system includes at least one movable element which is adapted to contact a surface of a pathway via which the frame may be moved relative to the pathway. The pathway measurement system further includes at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one characteristic of a pathway. The pathway measurement system has a first mode of operation in which the mobility system moves the frame along the pathway to move the at least one sensor relative to the pathway. The at least one sensor is connected to the pathway system such that a distance between the at least one sensor and an axis of rotation of one of the moveable elements remains constant in the first mode of operation. In general, the at least one sensor is isolated from any compliance or suspension system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Jonathan L. Pearlman, Eric Joseph Sinagra, Jonathan Aaron Duvall, Joshua D. Brown, Dianna Rae Stuckey, Tianyang Chen, Ian Patrick McIntyre, Rory Alan Cooper
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Publication number: 20190021920Abstract: A personal mobility device includes a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and one or more pneumatic motors. Each of the one or more pneumatic motors has a drive shaft in operative connection with at least one of the plurality of wheels. The personal mobility device further includes at least one tank (that is, a storage container) for storage of a pressurized gas in operative connection with the one or more pneumatic motors to supply pressurized gas to the one or more pneumatic motors and a control system in operative connection with the at least one tank and with the one or more pneumatic motors.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicants: University of Pittsburgh Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.Inventors: Rory Alan COOPER, Hongwu WANG, Brandon Joseph DAVELER, Benjamin Todd GEBROSKY, Garrett G. GRINDLE, Jonathan L. PEARLMAN, Urs SCHNEIDER, David MINZENMAY
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Patent number: 10101454Abstract: A pathway measurement system hereof includes a rigid frame and a mobility system attached to the frame. The mobility system includes at least one movable element which is adapted to contact a surface of a pathway via which the frame may be moved relative to the pathway. The pathway measurement system further includes at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one characteristic of a pathway. The pathway measurement system has a first mode of operation in which the mobility system moves the frame along the pathway to move the at least one sensor relative to the pathway. The at least one sensor is connected to the pathway system such that a distance between the at least one sensor and an axis of rotation of one of the moveable elements remains constant in the first mode of operation. In general, the at least one sensor is isolated from any compliance or suspension system.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Jonathan L. Pearlman, Eric Joseph Sinagra, Jonathan Aaron Duvall, Joshua D. Brown, Dianna Rae Stuckey, Tianyang Chen, Ian Patrick McIntyre, Rory Alan Cooper
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Publication number: 20180214330Abstract: The invention includes methods and apparatuses for patient transfer from a rollable chair to a bed and back. A rollable chair includes a first frame having a seat; a second frame coupled to the first frame, the second frame having a backrest configured to move relative to the first frame; and a third frame coupled to the first frame, the third frame having a track having a curvilinear length configured to allow the first frame to rotate and to translate relative to the third frame. A bed includes a chair-receiving frame configured to couple to the first frame of the rollable chair. The rollable chair and the bed work in tandem to transfer a patient, for example using coordinated, automated motions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Rory Alan Cooper, David Beckstrom, Raymond A. Curatolo, Garrett Grindle, Richard Kovacsics
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Publication number: 20180011815Abstract: A system for use with a mobile device includes at least one sensor to sense a variable related to tilting of the mobile device and at least one activatable system in operative connection with the sensor. The at least one activatable system increases stability of the mobile device upon actuation/change in state thereof on the basis of data measured by the at least one sensor. A variable related to tilting includes variables that indicate concurrent, actual tilting as described herein as well as variables predictive of imminent tilting. Activatable systems hereof change state upon actuation or activation to increase stability of the mobile device by reducing, eliminating or preventing tilting.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2016Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Jonathan L. Pearlman, Jonathan Aaron Duvall, Benjamin Todd Gebrosky, Rory Alan Cooper
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Patent number: 9623875Abstract: A system for evaluation of an operator of a vehicle including a steering system under observation of an evaluator within the vehicle includes a steering sensor system adapted to measure intervention of the evaluator in operating the steering system. A method for evaluating vehicle control of a driving entity of a vehicle under observation of an evaluator in the vehicle includes providing at least one sensor system adapted to measure intervention of the evaluator in operating the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Nahom Minassie Beyene, Amy Karas Lane, Rory Alan Cooper, Joshua D. Brown
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Patent number: 9454509Abstract: A system for use with a mobile device includes at least one sensor to sense a variable related to tilting of the mobile device and at least one activatable system in operative connection with the sensor. The at least one activatable system increases stability of the mobile device upon actuation/change in state thereof on the basis of data measured by the at least one sensor. A variable related to tilting includes variables that indicate concurrent, actual tilting as described herein as well as variables predictive of imminent tilting. Activatable systems hereof change state upon actuation or activation to increase stability of the mobile device by reducing, eliminating or preventing tilting.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Inventors: Jonathan L. Pearlman, Jonathan A. Duvall, Benjamin T. Gebrosky, Rory Alan Cooper
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Publication number: 20150360698Abstract: A system for evaluation of an operator of a vehicle including a steering system under observation of an evaluator within the vehicle includes a steering sensor system adapted to measure intervention of the evaluator in operating the steering system. A method for evaluating vehicle control of a driving entity of a vehicle under observation of an evaluator in the vehicle includes providing at least one sensor system adapted to measure intervention of the evaluator in operating the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Nahom Minassie Beyene, Amy Karas Lane, Rory Alan Cooper, Joshua D. Brown
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Publication number: 20150209207Abstract: A wheelchair system includes a wheelchair including at least one adjustable seating function, a sensor system in operative connection with the wheelchair which includes at least one sensor to measure or sense a position of the at least one adjustable seating function, a processor system in operative connection with the sensor system, a memory system in operative connection with the processor system, and a communication system in operative connection with the processor system. The communication system is, for example, adapted to wirelessly communicate with one or more remote systems (that is, a system remote from the wheelchair; for example a remote system or server, which may include a database). The wheelchair system further includes a user interface system in operative connection with the processor system and at least one application stored on the memory system and executable by the processor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: RORY ALAN COOPER, YU-KUANG WU, BRANDON JOSEPH DAVELER, HSIN-YI LIU, HONGWU WANG, JONATHAN L. PEARLMAN, GARRETT G. GRINDLE