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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12218370 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 2025

Filed:

Apr. 01, 2022

Unmanned aerial vehicle (uav) landing gear system for holding delivery canisters

Applicant:

United Parcel Service of America, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US);

Inventors:

Julio Gil, Veldhoven, NL;

Julian Bell, Decatur, GA (US);

Assignee:

United Parcel Service of America, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US);

Attorney:

Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Primary Examiner:

Philip J Bonzell

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64C 25/34 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 1/12 (2006.01); B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64D 9/00 (2006.01); B64F 1/32 (2006.01); B64U 50/39 (2023.01); B64U 60/00 (2023.01); B65G 51/26 (2006.01); F15B 15/20 (2006.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01); B64U 101/64 (2023.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M 50/249 (2021.01); B64C 25/34 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/12 (2013.01); B64D 1/22 (2013.01); B64D 9/00 (2013.01); B64F 1/32 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 50/39 (2023.01); B64U 60/00 (2023.01); B65G 51/26 (2013.01); F15B 15/20 (2013.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); B64U 2101/64 (2023.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01);
Abstract

A landing gear system that can be used with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) retrieves and releases canisters suitable for delivering items. To do so, the landing gear comprises a first leg and a second leg. The first landing leg and the second landing leg are rotationally engages at a first leg connection end and a second leg connection end. A tensioning member applies a rotational force about the engagement location, biasing the first leg toward the second leg. Each of the first and second legs can include a curved portion. A UAV comprising the landing gear can be lowered over a canister, and the canister is secured in place within the curved portions of the legs. To release, the landing legs are rotated against the bias, which can be facilitated by landing the UAV and placing the rotors into a reverse thrust.

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