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.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 28, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 16, 2004
Brian T. Mcgeer, Underwood, WA (US);
Cory Roeseler, Hood River, OR (US);
Andreas H. Von Flotow, Hood River, OR (US);
Brian T. McGeer, Underwood, WA (US);
Cory Roeseler, Hood River, OR (US);
Andreas H. von Flotow, Hood River, OR (US);
The Insitu Group, Inc., Bingen, WA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can belaunched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch axis. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the fuselage of the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff.