Patents by Inventor William E. Heap

William E. Heap 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).

  • Publication number: 20260084291
    Abstract: An independent control method of actuators in for example an everting robot or a soft everting robot is provided. The robot has distributed thereto or therewith multiple actuators which steer the robot. Energy is supplied from a single energy line to each of the multiple actuators. This energy enables force and displacement for each of the multiple actuators. Energy from the single energy line to each of the multiple actuators is controlled by a single control line. The single energy line and the single control line can be pneumatic sources or electric sources. The method allows for controlling greater than two actuators with at most two supply lines instead of one supply line per actuator. Reduction of the number of supply lines and complexity of subsystems provides numerous advantages in terms of cost, size, stiffness, friction, amount of material used, ease for tip mounts as well as mobility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Allison M. Okamura, William E. Heap, Alexander M. Kuebler, Nathaniel E. Agharese
  • Patent number: 4306404
    Abstract: An electric lawn mower having a permanent magnet motor and a dynamic braking feature includes a rectifier which is assembled in a switch-box. The novel arrangement of the rectifier in the switch-box assembly is attached to an upper portion of the handle of the mower to permit use of standard three wire cord for connection between the switch-box and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Canadian General Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Edward Szymanis, William E. Heap