Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Cunningham

Stephen M. Cunningham 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: 11231254
    Abstract: A system for defeating a threat unmanned aerial vehicle. The system includes a friendly unmanned aerial vehicle, a capturing device configured to be suspended from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle for arresting a threat unmanned aerial vehicle, and one or more load-limited release mechanisms for removably suspending a releasable portion of the capturing device from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle. In certain embodiments, the load-limited release mechanisms are configured to release the entirety of the capturing device from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle upon capture of the threat unmanned aerial vehicle. In other embodiments, the load limited release mechanisms are configured to release only a peripheral portion of the capturing device to reposition a captured unmanned aerial vehicle to a central portion of the capturing device for carrying the captured vehicle to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Hunter I. Stephens, Stephen M. Cunningham, Andrew J. Lichtsinn, Travis M. Edwards, Michael L. Anderson, Cory A. Cooper
  • Patent number: 7648664
    Abstract: A material feed system for solid freeform fabrication. The build material is delivered in discrete or quantized amounts by a clamp feed system in a non-flowable state to the dispensing device and the material is then changed to a flowable state prior to being dispensed. The feed system can be used to build three-dimensional objects in color, if desired. The clamped feed system is integrated with a waste removal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Teal, Ryan J. Theal, Dave B. Petch, Thomas O'Regan, Stephen M. Cunningham