Patents by Inventor Stephen Ruff

Stephen Ruff 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: 10399685
    Abstract: A buckle assembly includes at least one socket to receive and retain at least one lug therein, and an emergency release arrangement. The emergency release arrangement is operable to release the at least one lug from the socket in response to a predetermined trigger signal. The assembly also includes a manually operable resetting arrangement that is operable to retain the lug(s) re-inserted into the socket(s), following the triggering of the emergency release arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MARTIN-BAKER AIRCRAFT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Graham Hartnell, Stephen Ruff
  • Patent number: 10344712
    Abstract: A rocket motor assembly (3) for use with an aircraft ejection seat comprises a rocket motor (4) having a rocket motor housing (5) and an exhaust outlet (6-9) to permit exhaust gas to be output from the rocket motor (4) along a thrust vector. The rocket motor assembly (3) comprises a first rotational coupling (12) which is configured to rotationally couple a first part (13) of the rocket motor housing (5) to a support structure (10) and a releasable coupling (14) which is configured to releasably couple a second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to the support structure (10). The releasable coupling (14) is configured to release the second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to permit the rocket motor housing (5) to rotate about the rotational coupling (12) to change the angle of the thrust vector of exhaust gas output from the exhaust outlet (6-9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Martin Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Stephen Ruff
  • Publication number: 20180223771
    Abstract: A rocket motor assembly (3) for use with an aircraft ejection seat comprises a rocket motor (4) having a rocket motor housing (5) and an exhaust outlet (6-9) to permit exhaust gas to be output from the rocket motor (4) along a thrust vector. The rocket motor assembly (3) comprises a first rotational coupling (12) which is configured to rotationally couple a first part (13) of the rocket motor housing (5) to a support structure (10) and a releasable coupling (14) which is configured to releasably couple a second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to the support structure (10). The releasable coupling (14) is configured to release the second part (15) of the rocket motor housing (5) to permit the rocket motor housing (5) to rotate about the rotational coupling (12) to change the angle of the thrust vector of exhaust gas output from the exhaust outlet (6-9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Stephen Ruff
  • Patent number: 9038948
    Abstract: A headrest assembly (1) for an ejection seat, comprising: a support mounting (2); and a pair of inflatable side beams (3), each attached at one end to the support mounting and spaced apart from one another, the side beams (3) being configured to be inflated from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the side beams extend from the support panel, the side beams (3) configured to deploy through: a capturing phase, during which the side beams are partially inflated from the stowed configuration such that they extend outwardly and upwardly from the support mounting and away from one another to surround the head of an occupant of the ejection seat toward a central location with respect to the support mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Ruff, Colin Pickett, James Robert Lorbiecki
  • Publication number: 20150047155
    Abstract: A buckle assembly includes at least one socket to receive and retain at least one lug therein, and an emergency release arrangement. The emergency release arrangement is operable to release the at least one lug from the socket in response to a predetermined trigger signal. The assembly also includes a manually operable resetting arrangement that is operable to retain the lug(s) re-inserted into the socket(s), following the triggering of the emergency release arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Graham Hartnell, Stephen Ruff
  • Publication number: 20130187003
    Abstract: A headrest assembly (1) for an ejection seat, comprising: a support mounting (2); and a pair of inflatable side beams (3), each attached at one end to the support mounting and spaced apart from one another, the side beams (3) being configured to be inflated from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the side beams extend from the support panel, the side beams (3) configured to deploy through: a capturing phase, during which the side beams are partially inflated from the stowed configuration such that they extend outwardly and upwardly from the support mounting and away from one another to surround the head of an occupant of the ejection seat toward a central location with respect to the support mounting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: MARTIN-BAKER AIRCRAFT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Stephen Ruff, Colin Pickett, James Robert Lorbiecki
  • Patent number: 8136752
    Abstract: A pawl assembly comprising a pawl held in a floating engagement with a support structure and being operable to engage a ratchet, the support structure having an abutment portion, wherein in a first phase, on initial contact with the ratchet, the pawl remains in the floating engagement and is operable to move into a second phase, in which the pawl is operable to contact the abutment portion, to rotate the pawl towards full engagement with the ratchet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Ruff, Navdeep S. Riarh
  • Publication number: 20110031342
    Abstract: A pawl assembly comprising a pawl held in a floating engagement with a support structure and being operable to engage a ratchet, the support structure having an abutment portion, wherein in a first phase, on initial contact with the ratchet, the pawl remains in the floating engagement and is operable to move into a second phase, in which the pawl is operable to contact the abutment portion, to rotate the pawl towards full engagement with the ratchet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Ruff, Navdeep S. Riarh
  • Publication number: 20050016031
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole portion; a second portion above the sole portion, the second portion including a compartment therein; and a drawer which is receivable within the compartment of the second portion and elastically attached to the article of footwear. The second portion is preferably a heel portion of the article of footwear, and the drawer is preferably engaged with the article of footwear by an elastic thread. The drawer may have an interior portion which is divided into a plurality of compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventor: Stephen Ruff