Patents by Inventor William Robert Clos
William Robert Clos 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: 11628953Abstract: A trolley system for transferring cargo in relation to a cargo compartment of a vehicle includes a frame defining a cargo-retaining platform. The cargo-retaining platform is configured to receive and retain the cargo. At least a portion of a lower surface of the frame is formed of a low friction material. One or more handles are moveably coupled to the frame. The handle(s) are configured to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. One or more attachments are configured to secure the cargo on the cargo-retaining platform.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: William Robert Clos
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Publication number: 20220219836Abstract: A trolley system for transferring cargo in relation to a cargo compartment of a vehicle includes a frame defining a cargo-retaining platform. The cargo-retaining platform is configured to receive and retain the cargo. At least a portion of a lower surface of the frame is formed of a low friction material. One or more handles are moveably coupled to the frame. The handle(s) are configured to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. One or more attachments are configured to secure the cargo on the cargo-retaining platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: William Robert Clos
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Patent number: 11332263Abstract: A trolley system for transferring cargo in relation to a cargo compartment of a vehicle includes a frame defining a cargo-retaining platform. The cargo-retaining platform is configured to receive and retain the cargo. At least a portion of a lower surface of the frame is formed of a low friction material. One or more handles are moveably coupled to the frame. The handle(s) are configured to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. One or more attachments are configured to secure the cargo on the cargo-retaining platform.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: William Robert Clos
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Publication number: 20210300593Abstract: A trolley system for transferring cargo in relation to a cargo compartment of a vehicle includes a frame defining a cargo-retaining platform. The cargo-retaining platform is configured to receive and retain the cargo. At least a portion of a lower surface of the frame is formed of a low friction material. One or more handles are moveably coupled to the frame. The handle(s) are configured to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. One or more attachments are configured to secure the cargo on the cargo-retaining platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: William Robert Clos
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Publication number: 20200407062Abstract: A cargo handling system is configured to load and unload a cargo container with respect to a cargo holding area of a vehicle. The cargo handling system includes parallel roller tracks extending from a floor. The roller tracks are separated by a clearance space. The roller tracks include rollers that are configured to rotatably support the cargo container. A mobile cargo mover is configured to move within the clearance space. The cargo mover is configured to engage the cargo container to move the cargo container on the roller tracks. The cargo mover is configured to disengage the cargo container to move away from the cargo container.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas Alan Brown, William Robert Clos, Karen L. Hills, Avery Riddle, Cynthia A. Vandewall
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Patent number: 10816367Abstract: The latch detection system and latch detection method disclosed herein determines an orientation of one or more latches used to secure cargo in a cargo hold, and thus improves latch security and cargo transportation safety. To that end, aspects presented herein provide an optical latch detection system that detects whether one or more latches are in the locked or unlocked orientation. More particularly, aspects presented herein rely on a reflective laser system to determine the orientation of one or more latches based on the amount of reflected light detected by the laser system. In so doing, the disclosed latch detection system provides a reliable and repeatable option for determining the orientation of latch(es) in a cargo hold.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William Robert Clos, Darrin Michael Noe
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Patent number: 10814982Abstract: A cargo handling system is configured to load and unload a cargo container with respect to a cargo holding area of a vehicle. The cargo handling system includes parallel roller tracks extending from a floor. The roller tracks are separated by a clearance space. The roller tracks include rollers that are configured to rotatably support the cargo container. A mobile cargo mover is configured to move within the clearance space. The cargo mover is configured to engage the cargo container to move the cargo container on the roller tracks. The cargo mover is configured to disengage the cargo container to move away from the cargo container.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas Alan Brown, William Robert Clos, Karen L. Hills, Avery Riddle, Cynthia A. Vandewall
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Publication number: 20190301899Abstract: The latch detection system and latch detection method disclosed herein determines an orientation of one or more latches used to secure cargo in a cargo hold, and thus improves latch security and cargo transportation safety. To that end, aspects presented herein provide an optical latch detection system that detects whether one or more latches are in the locked or unlocked orientation. More particularly, aspects presented herein rely on a reflective laser system to determine the orientation of one or more latches based on the amount of reflected light detected by the laser system. In so doing, the disclosed latch detection system provides a reliable and repeatable option for determining the orientation of latch(es) in a cargo hold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: William Robert Clos, Darrin Michael Noe
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Patent number: 10220947Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially environmentally isolating a volume, such as by environmentally isolating the cargo compartment from the passenger compartment of an aircraft. In the context of an apparatus, a barrier curtain is provided that partially defines the volume. The apparatus also includes a cable extending along one or more walls that partially define the volume. The barrier curtain is supported by the cable. The apparatus may also include a cable release mechanism. The cable is held in place by the cable release mechanism and the cable release mechanism is configured to detach the cable at a predetermined load, thereby permitting the barrier curtain to drop in response to a decompression event.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: William Robert Clos
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Patent number: 10220868Abstract: A dolly assembly comprises a base, a plurality of pneumatic cylinders connected to the base, a plurality of wheel assemblies connected to the plurality of pneumatic cylinders, and a pressure relief mechanism. The base has an outer surface configured to support cargo. The pressure relief mechanism is configured to bleed pressure from the plurality of pneumatic cylinders when the base is oriented at or exceeding a set angle.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William Robert Clos, Douglas Alan Brown
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Publication number: 20180194468Abstract: A cargo handling system is configured to load and unload a cargo container with respect to a cargo holding area of a vehicle. The cargo handling system includes parallel roller tracks extending from a floor. The roller tracks are separated by a clearance space. The roller tracks include rollers that are configured to rotatably support the cargo container. A mobile cargo mover is configured to move within the clearance space. The cargo mover is configured to engage the cargo container to move the cargo container on the roller tracks. The cargo mover is configured to disengage the cargo container to move away from the cargo container.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2017Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas Alan Brown, William Robert Clos, Karen L. Hills, Avery Riddle, Cynthia A. Vandewall
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Patent number: 9988160Abstract: A fire detection system includes a heat detector controller and a multiplicity of heat detectors. The heat detectors are positioned at predetermined locations along a ceiling of a cargo compartment and/or on an exterior side of a cargo compartment liner from an interior of the cargo compartment. Each of the multiplicity of heat detectors are configured to measure temperature and to transmit temperature measurements to the heat detector controller. The heat detector controller is configured to determine that a fire has breached the cargo compartment liner based on the temperature measurements.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William Robert Clos, Darrin M. Noe
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Publication number: 20170129609Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially environmentally isolating a volume, such as by environmentally isolating the cargo compartment from the passenger compartment of an aircraft. In the context of an apparatus, a barrier curtain is provided that partially defines the volume. The apparatus also includes a cable extending along one or more walls that partially define the volume. The barrier curtain is supported by the cable. The apparatus may also include a cable release mechanism. The cable is held in place by the cable release mechanism and the cable release mechanism is configured to detach the cable at a predetermined load, thereby permitting the barrier curtain to drop in response to a decompression event.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventor: William Robert Clos
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Patent number: 9556667Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially environmentally isolating a volume, such as by environmentally isolating the cargo compartment from the passenger compartment of an aircraft. In the context of an apparatus, a barrier curtain is provided that partially defines the volume. The apparatus also includes a cable extending along one or more walls that partially define the volume. The barrier curtain is supported by the cable. The apparatus may also include a cable release mechanism. The cable is held in place by the cable release mechanism and the cable release mechanism is configured to detach the cable at a predetermined load, thereby permitting the barrier curtain to drop in response to a decompression event.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: William Robert Clos
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Publication number: 20130292069Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially environmentally isolating a volume, such as by environmentally isolating the cargo compartment from the passenger compartment of an aircraft. In the context of an apparatus, a barrier curtain is provided that partially defines the volume. The apparatus also includes a cable extending along one or more walls that partially define the volume. The barrier curtain is supported by the cable. The apparatus may also include a cable release mechanism. The cable is held in place by the cable release mechanism and the cable release mechanism is configured to detach the cable at a predetermined load, thereby permitting the barrier curtain to drop in response to a decompression event.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: William Robert Clos