Patents by Inventor Stephen H. Sprigle

Stephen H. Sprigle 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: 8960699
    Abstract: A suspension seat comprises a structural layer and a stretchable top layer above the structural layer. The structural layer comprises a cut-out. The perimeter of the cut-out is defined by a plurality of discrete members. The discrete members allow the buttocks (i.e., the tissue surrounding the ischial sacrococcygeal aspects of the skeleton) of a wheelchair user to enter into the cut-out with gradual pressure minimizing high pressure concentrations at the edges of the cut-out. The stretchable top layer bears load via tension as the wheelchair user buttocks deflects into the cut-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen H. Sprigle, Randy Bernard
  • Publication number: 20140088380
    Abstract: Multispectral filter arrays and methods of making and using the arrays are described herein. Multispectral imaging systems and methods of making and using the systems are also described. A multispectral filter array includes a mosaic of light sensitive elements that includes a first element sensitive to a first narrow spectral region, a second element sensitive to a second narrow spectral region, and a third element sensitive to a third narrow spectral region. A multispectral imaging system includes an illumination system having at least three lighting elements, each of which are configured to transmit light at a different wavelength, and the multispectral filter array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Sprigle, Linghua Kong, Jayme J. Caspall, Mark G. Duckworth
  • Patent number: 8622178
    Abstract: An in-hub braking system for a wheelchair comprises a brake shell fixed against rotation movement in relation to a wheelchair frame. A wheelchair drive wheel having a hub supporting a braking system is supported for rotational movement in relation to the brake shell. A lever is operatively connected to the braking system for activating that braking system to cause the braking system to frictionally engage the brake shell. A push rim, which when urged forward, rotates the drive wheel in a forward direction to propel the wheelchair in a forward direction. When urged rearward together with the drive wheel, the push rim rotates with the drive wheel in a rearward direction to propel the wheelchair in a rearward direction. The push rim is operatively connected to the lever so that the push rim, which when urged rearward independent of the drive wheel, operates the lever to activate the braking system to frictionally engage the brake shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Jowers, Stephen H. Sprigle
  • Publication number: 20130161923
    Abstract: A suspension seat comprises a structural layer and a stretchable top layer above the structural layer. The structural layer comprises a cut-out. The perimeter of the cut-out is defined by a plurality of discrete members. The discrete members allow the buttocks (i.e., the tissue surrounding the ischial sacrococcygeal aspects of the skeleton) of a wheelchair user to enter into the cut-out with gradual pressure minimizing high pressure concentrations at the edges of the cut-out. The stretchable top layer bears load via tension as the wheelchair user buttocks deflects into the cut-out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen H. Sprigle, Randy Bernard
  • Publication number: 20120035469
    Abstract: A portable, hand-held, non-contact surface measuring system comprises an image capturing element, at least four projectable reference elements positioned parallel to one another at known locations around the image capturing element, a processing unit, and a user interface. The invention further discloses a method for the noncontact surface measurement comprising projecting at least four references onto a target surface, capturing an image of the targeted surface and the projected references with the image transferring device, transferring the image to a processing unit, processing the image using triangulation-based computer vision techniques to correct for skew and to obtain surface measurement data, transferring the data to the user interface, modifying the data with the user interface. The systems and methods for the measurement of surfaces can be applied to the measurement of biological surfaces, such as skin, wounds, lesions, and ulcers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas J. Whelan, Stephen H. Sprigle, Robin D. Knight, Daniel H. Packard, Collin J. Horvat
  • Publication number: 20110304195
    Abstract: An in-hub braking system for a wheelchair comprises a brake shell fixed against rotation movement in relation to a wheelchair frame. A wheelchair drive wheel having a hub supporting a braking system is supported for rotational movement in relation to the brake shell. A lever is operatively connected to the braking system for activating that braking system to cause the braking system to frictionally engage the brake shell. A push rim, which when urged forward, rotates the drive wheel in a forward direction to propel the wheelchair in a forward direction. When urged rearward together with the drive wheel, the push rim rotates with the drive wheel in a rearward direction to propel the wheelchair in a rearward direction. The push rim is operatively connected to the lever so that the push rim, which when urged rearward independent of the drive wheel, operates the lever to activate the braking system to frictionally engage the brake shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Jonathan E. JOWERS, Stephen H. Sprigle
  • Publication number: 20100140461
    Abstract: Multispectral filter arrays and methods of making and using the arrays are described herein. Multispectral imaging systems and methods of making and using the systems are also described. A multispectral filter array includes a mosaic of light sensitive elements that includes a first element sensitive to a first narrow spectral region, a second element sensitive to a second narrow spectral region, and a third element sensitive to a third narrow spectral region. A multispectral imaging system includes an illumination system having at least three lighting elements, each of which are configured to transmit light at a different wavelength, and the multispectral filter array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Sprigle, Linghua Kong, Jayme J. Caspall, Mark G. Duckworth
  • Patent number: D374368
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Sprigle, Richard W. Raburn