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:
Oct. 02, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 01, 2005
Michael Mcnabb, Huntsville, AL (US);
Callum R. Sullivan, New Market, AL (US);
James H. Boschma, Jr., Huntsville, AL (US);
Glenn Martin Tierney, Huntsville, AL (US);
Michael McNabb, Huntsville, AL (US);
Callum R. Sullivan, New Market, AL (US);
James H. Boschma, Jr., Huntsville, AL (US);
Glenn Martin Tierney, Huntsville, AL (US);
Information Systems Laboratories, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for docking an airship to a mooring mast includes a thruster that is mounted to the fore end of the airship. When activated, the thruster generates a thrust vector that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the airship and is selectively directional. In particular, the configuration of the thruster can be changed to vary the direction of the thrust vector around the longitudinal axis to maneuver a connector on the thruster into contact with the mooring mast. Engagement of the connector to the mooring mast then docks the airship to the mooring mast.