Skywriting Patents (Class 40/213)
  • Patent number: 11922685
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for presenting information in the sky using drones are disclosed. The presentation of information includes navigating one or more drones to locations in the sky where the locations are associated with an image, emitting light signals at the locations, capturing the light signals with a user device, processing the captured signals to identify the image, capturing a background image including at least one of the locations associated with the image, and presenting simultaneously, on the user device, the identified image and the background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SNAP INC.
    Inventors: Simon Saito Haagen Nielsen, Zachary Collins Conatser
  • Patent number: 11481997
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for presenting information in the sky using drones are disclosed. The presentation of information includes navigating one or more drones to locations in the sky where the locations are associated with an image, emitting light signals at the locations, capturing the light signals with a user device, processing the captured signals to identify the image, capturing a background image including at least one of the locations associated with the image, and presenting simultaneously, on the user device, the identified image and the background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Saito Haagen Nielsen, Zachary Collins Conatser
  • Patent number: 11260974
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for generating and dispersing plumes of reflective aerosols. Methods include: supplying fuel to an engine of an aircraft for combustion; supplying an additive to the fuel, where the additive includes at least one of a reflective aerosol or a precursor thereof; combusting the fuel and the additive to the fuel in the engine; and generating, in the exhaust from the engine, a plume of reflective aerosol, where the reflective aerosol reflects sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hiller
  • Patent number: 10902759
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for generating indicia in the sky using a single pass of an aircraft. A system of an embodiment for communicating a message from an aircraft includes: a plurality of valves; a tank in fluid communication with each of the plurality of valves; a plurality of nozzles, where each nozzle is associated with a corresponding valve, and where the plurality of nozzles are distributed along a span of a wing of the aircraft; a controller configured to control each of the plurality of valves, where the controller is configured to actuate the plurality of valves to generate, from contents of the tank received at each nozzle, a plume to be suspended in air to form a plurality of plumes; and a light source configured to project indicia on the plurality of plumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hiller
  • Patent number: 10551810
    Abstract: A privacy protection method and system (10) is provided for a building, home, apartment, or other area (12) protected by a connected security system (14). The system (10) includes a detector drone (16) and the security system (14). The drone (16) includes at least one drone detecting sensor (24) and automatically initiates a wireless signal (30) in response to the sensor (24) indicating the presence of a foreign drone (17). The security system (14) includes a central processor (40) and at least one electronic device (46) having a privacy condition wherein the device (46) protects against privacy intrusions by a foreign drone (17) and a non-privacy condition wherein the device (46) does not protect from the privacy intrusion. The processor (40) is configured to command the device (46) to change from the non-privacy condition to the privacy condition in response to the wireless signal (30) from the detector drone (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ADEMCO INC.
    Inventors: Deepak Sundar Meganathan, Sreevas Raghavan
  • Publication number: 20100096491
    Abstract: A rocket-powered vehicle used for entertainment, namely races, exhibitions, competitions, and revenue-generating events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Rocket Racing, Inc.
    Inventors: Granger Whitelaw, Michael R. D'Angelo, Peter H. Diamandis
  • Patent number: 7082706
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating aerial messages using multiple aircraft. Each of the aircraft includes a control box located in the aircraft for receiving data from and transmitting data to a software program running on a main computer. The systems and methods employ a wireless network to transmit and receive data between the aircraft and the software program, with each aircraft (or its respective control box) representing a node on the wireless network. Additionally, the systems and methods may operate on remote controlled devices, such as miniature remote controlled aircraft, and may be used to produce colored aerial messages. The systems and methods may be used to create an aerial vapor screen capable of displaying projected images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Skytypers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Stinis, Stephen G. Stinis, Curtiss T. Stinis
  • Patent number: 5992065
    Abstract: An aerial message system uses a plurality of aircraft flying in formation to form a visible message in the sky. A lead or master aircraft carries a small computer which may be programmed with the message(s) to be formed, as well as other factors such as the true airspeed of the aircraft and the configuration of the formation. An interface and encoder are placed between the computer and a transmitter aboard the lead aircraft, with the interface and encoder serving to accept a signal from the computer which is compatible with a dot matrix printer, and reformatting the signal to output to the transmitter. The transmitter transmits a plurality of discrete pulses or signals to the receiving or slave aircraft, with each of the slave aircraft receivers being tuned or adjusted to receive a signal corresponding to the position of that aircraft in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Arthur H. Bond
    Inventor: Gerard A. Preiser
  • Patent number: 5932978
    Abstract: A smoke generator for radio controlled aircraft having an internal combustion engine. The smoke generator includes a bracket for attachment to the radio controlled aircraft and a cradle releasably secured to the bracket. A container, a valve assembly, and a servo are all carried by the cradle. The container holds a pressurized, smoke-generating liquid and is placed in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine by a conduit. The valve assembly regulates the flow of pressurized, smoke-generating liquid from the container into the conduit. The servo has a motor-driven crank for operating the valve assembly in response to radio signals received from a remote transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: John M. Geyer
  • Patent number: 4921255
    Abstract: Golf balls have dimple patterns on their surfaces which are generated in toto from simple formulae. The dimples are arranged in rows parallel to the ball's equator. The number of dimples are based on code numbers that are multiples of four and are greater than twelve. The golf balls of the invention have markedly greater dimple symmetry than heretofore. Also one or more series of dimple patterns, as above, are disclosed whose test carry is constant for the series and in which test trajectories become flatter as the code number increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Inventor: William W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4561201
    Abstract: Advertising in the sky is produced by a plurality of fog emitting nozzles, for example each at the outlet of a canister containing fog producing material under pressure, which canisters are supported in spaced apart relation along a length of a winch line cable suspended from an aircraft. Each nozzle is controlled by a solenoid valve, the solenoid of which is activated on a timed schedule predetermined to contribute to the production of one or more letters, numerals, and/or designs in the sky in the creation of advertising material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Inventor: George A. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 4122618
    Abstract: A skywriting apparatus produces visible vapor in a predetermined pattern to write messages in the sky and has a plurality of vapor generators attached to an airplane and spaced in a predetermined pattern. Each vapor generator has a burner which continuously burns, once ignited, until extinguished, and an oil injector which injects oil responsive to a remote control unit. The vapor generators are attached in a spaced relationship from a cable supported from a winch in the airplane and includes a second cable for spacing the generators as they are lowered from the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Inventor: Gerald A. Gay