Multi-Rotor Safety Shield

Abstract

The Multi-Rotor Safety Shield (MRSS) provides a complete and substantial encasement system which can be secured about a Drone, protecting a multitude of aircraft components from contact with any outside disturbance and which can protect the sensitive components from dust, water, wind, rain, snow, fingers, toes, appendages of any kind, and atmospheric changes as example, from disabling the Drone and can protect people, places or things from high velocity spinning exposed rotor/propellers. The MRSS provides rigid non-permeable platform for attaching or incorporating additional safety devices as found in the Drone industry (or other industries) resulting in a safety device that completely prevents the loss a Drone due to the catastrophic failure of any Drone system or combination of systems which would typically result in rapid decent, and/or uncontrolled flight. The MRSS makes Drones safe near humans and safe to use around public gatherings, stadium events, accident scenes, disaster search and rescue and disaster relief, and indoors for the security and communications markets among others expanding the availability of Drones to further assist humanity.

Claims

1. A safety encasement system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said encasement system comprising: a top housing platform and a bottom housing platform, wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform comprise one or more airshafts for housing rotors of the UAV; and one or more landing gears that are evenly distributed on the bottom housing platform; wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform can be secured to a frame of the UAV, and wherein one or more exterior openings of the one or more air shafts are covered by a screen, an air-permeable membrane, or a grill to shield propellers of the UAV from outside disturbance; wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform are configured to accommodate one or more removable middle modular sections.

2. The safety encasement system of claim 1, further comprising one or more accessory bays, wherein the one or more accessory bays are configured to store one or more accessories or payloads to be carried by the UAV for delivery and wherein the one or more accessory bays are positioned on the safety encasement system to facilitate easy deployment of the accessories or payloads.

3. The safety encasement system of claim 1, wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform are configured to be secured to the UAV using a plurality of clamps, snaps, clasps, screws, glue, tape or tie wraps.

4. The safety encasement system of claim 1, wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform further comprise indentations for receiving a middle modular section to be inserted in between the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform.

5. The safety encasement system of claim 4, wherein the indentations are grooved, cut, slatted, or machined.

6. The safety encasement system of claim 4, wherein sealant is used to seal the connections where the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform meet the middle modular section.

7. The safety encasement system of claim 6, wherein the sealant is seated in the indentations and is one of flexible plastic, rubber, and silicone gaskets.

8. The safety encasement system of claim 4, wherein one or more mountable devices are attached to the top housing platform, the middle modular section, or the bottom housing platform.

9. The safety encasement system of claim 8, wherein the one or more mountable devices include light, camera, microphone, sensors, tracking devices, video screens, communication devices, or data recording devices.

10. The safety encasement system of claim 1, wherein the safety encasement system is made of water resistant material.

11. The safety encasement system of claim 1, wherein the safety encasement system is made of air or water permeable material.

12. The safety encasement system of claim 1, wherein the safety encasement system is made of rigid material.

13. The safety encasement system of claim 1, wherein the safety encasement system is made of deformable material.

14. The safety encasement system of claim 1, further comprising a deployable device that can be deployed during emergency.

15. The safety encasement system of claim 14, wherein the deployable device is a parachute, a landing gear, or an inflatable device.

16. The safety encasement system of claim 1, wherein the one or more middle sections are disposed in between the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform.

17. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a safety encasement system, said safety encasement system comprising: a top housing platform and a bottom housing platform, wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform comprise one or more compartments for housing one or more rotors of the UAV; one or more landing gears that are located on the bottom housing platform; wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform are configured to accommodate one or more middle modular sections, and are secured to the frame of the UAV, and wherein one or more exterior openings of the one or more compartments are covered.

18. The UAV of claim 17, wherein the one or more exterior openings of the one or more compartments are covered by a screen, an air-permeable membrane, or a grill.

19. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a safety encasement system, said safety encasement system comprising: one or more compartments for housing one or more rotors of the UAV; one or more accessory bays; an inflatable device stored in the one or more accessory bays; and one or more landing gears; wherein the one or more compartments comprise one or more exterior openings and wherein at least one exterior opening is covered by a screen, an air-permeable membrane, or a grill to shield propellers of the UAV from outside disturbance. wherein the one or more accessory bays are configured to store one or more accessories or payloads to be carried by the UAV for delivery and to facilitate easy deployment of the accessories or payloads.

20. The UAV of claim 19, wherein said safe encasement system further comprises: a top housing platform and a bottom housing platform; wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform are secured to the UAV via mechanical or chemical means, and wherein the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform comprise indentations for receiving a middle modular section that can be inserted in between the top housing platform and the bottom housing platform.

Description

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

[0021] In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the top housing component for the MRSS in a top view exploded perspective in accordance with one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 1A shows the top housing component for the MRSS in a top view perspective in accordance with one embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 1B shows the middle housing component for the MRSS in a top view perspective in accordance with one embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 1C shows the bottom housing component for the MRSS in a top view perspective in accordance with one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the top housing component for the MRSS in a bottom exploded perspective in accordance with one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 2A shows the top housing component for the MRSS in a bottom view in accordance with one embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 2B shows the middle housing component for the MRSS in a bottom view in accordance with one embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 2C shows the bottom housing component for the MRSS in a bottom view in accordance with one embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows various aspects of the MRSS in a sectional detail.

[0031] FIG. 3A. 1 shows various aspects of the MRSS in a sectional detail for the top housing circumferential groove, bottom housing circumferential groove and circumferential gasket.

[0032] FIG. 3B. 1 shows various aspects of the MRSS in a sectional detail for the top housing circumferential groove, middle housing circumferential groove, bottom housing circumferential groove and circumferential gasket.

[0033] FIG. 3C. 1 shows various aspects of the MRSS in a detail showing an exploded view of the manifold/crossbar junction.

[0034] FIG. 3C.2 shows various aspects of the MRSS in a side view detail showing the manifold/crossbar grommet.

[0035] FIG. 3C.3 shows various aspects of the MRSS in a top view detail showing the manifold/crossbar grommet.

[0036]

TABLE-US-00003 DRAWINGS - REFERENCE NUMBERALS 1 Top housing component 2 Intake manifold 3 Parachute and parachute bay 4 Manifold screen 8 Accessory bays 10 Middle housing component 11 Middle housing to manifold attachment 12 Manifold groove 13 Visual media presentation screen LED 14 Speaker 15 Auxiliary camera 16 Microphone 17 Pass through manifold 18 Manifold gasket 19 Drone crossbar 20 Bottom housing component 21 Exhaust manifold 22 Manifold/crossbar opening 23 Manifold screen 24 Drone 25 Exhaust manifold/crossbar grommet 26 Housing component circumferential gasket 27 Bottom housing component gasket groove 28 Landing gear 29 Inflatable device 30 Intake manifold groove 31 Universal gimbal adaptor 33 Top housing component gasket groove 34 Illumination device/light 35 Middle housing component gasket groove

[0037] Several illustrations containing one embodiment of the Multi-Rotor Safety Shield are provided as drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The MRSS is described below with respect to the figures. As will be known to those of skill in the art, the below descriptions and illustrations are to provide but one means for performing the inventive concepts and are not to be limiting in any way as to system components or method steps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIRST EMBODIMENT

[0038] As shown, one embodiment (FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C) of the MRSS can include a plurality of housings, capable of surrounding a Drone. For example, the housings (not limited to the number discussed) can include an upper housing 1, a middle housing 10 and a lower housing 20, capable of enclosing a Drone, and can prevent the Drone's rotors/propellers from accidental contact with people, places or things thereby avoiding damage and/or catastrophic failure to either. The complete and substantial encasement system includes any number of flexible water and air resistant gaskets, grommets, plugs, seals, or sealers 18, 25, and 26 as example made of rubber, silicone, acrylic or any other elastic material in a grooved, cut, slatted, or machined indentation, as example, 12, 27, 30, 33, and 34 between where any two housing components come together and/or meet and in conjunction with the manifold/crossbar pass through grommets 25 between the intake 2 and exhaust 21 manifolds, and protects the interior mechanical, electrical or physical components of the Drone from dust, water, wind, rain, snow, atmospheric occurrences or any other disturbance that could disable the Drone systems and cause catastrophic in flight failure. The MRSS acts as water and impact resistant shell or bumper to provide an additional aspect of safety from contact with unknown or unseen objects. The complete and substantial encasement system includes intake 2 and exhaust 21 manifolds that are covered with any form of screen cover 4 or any form of permeable grid that can prevent the failure of the rotors/propellers as a result of contact with any outside disturbance and prevent any outside disturbance from coming in contact with the rotor/propellers. The multitude of housing possibilities for the MRSS can include various forms of fall protection by automatically deploying parachutes 3, and/or inflatable bladders 28, airbags, foam, inner tube or any other deflective devices that can cushion impact with people, places or things and can create large air pockets surrounding a disabled Drone, if it is determined that the Drones is in freefall, or in uncontrolled flight.

[0039] In addition to protecting Drones, drone components, people, places and things, the MRSS can function as a platform for many additional components which can enhance the performance and/or utility of the Drones to which it is secured. In this regard, the shield housings can include, or can be configured to receive any number of items such as lights 34, cameras 15, landing gear 28, microphones 16, sensors, tracking devices, Wi-Fi hot spots, and flight data crash analysis recorders, among many others as examples.

[0040] By providing safety aspects, never before available, the MRSS allows for expanded use of Drones beyond the current FAA restrictions. Some current FAA restrictions, as they apply to the Drones in an outdoor environment, require the Drone to be away from crowds or people, within line of sight, and maintain an altitude no higher than 400 feet. Because of the advanced safety and anti-failure measures of the MRSS it will now be possible to expand the use of Drones into close proximity of humans, gathering of humans, stadium gatherings or indoors as example there by providing a much larger industry application for use of Drones than the current unshielded Drone. In addition as Drone usage expands to interior applications it is most certain that the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ, possibly OSHA) will require complete and substantial encasement as a certain measure to insure safety in said environments.

[0041] The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the invention may be formed or combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive of combinations of features; rather the invention may comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

OPERATION—FIRST EMBODIMENT

[0042] Now that a basic understanding of the intent and principals of the Multi-Rotor Safety Shield (MRSS) have been described, the following detailed disclosure is provided. As will be known to those of skill in the art, however, the invention is not to be construed as limiting to the following description, as many other shapes, sizes, construction materials and uses are also contemplated.

[0043] In one embodiment the MRSS is a modular system with two primary components 1, 20 and an optional third component 10. The composition of the MRSS is of any variety of thermoformed or machinable plastic including but not limited to ABS, Acetyl, Acrylic, HDPE, PVC, UHMW or PTFE. Composition of the MRSS can also be any variety of metal including but not limited to aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, bronze, or lightweight metals and or any future lightweight materials that become available.

[0044] In one embodiment the bottom housing component 20 is any shape or configuration that provides the bottom component for the complete and substantial water resistant and non-permeable encasement system and provides the Drone, people, places and things with protection in the event of any catastrophic systemic failure of electrical or mechanical systems. It protects the rotor/propeller from impact by providing the housing for an exhaust manifold 21 (consistent with the number of rotors) and provides for attachment to any type of screen or grid 23 covering the exterior portion of the manifold further preventing any contact with the rotor/propeller. In one embodiment the bottom housing component 20 is attached to an existing drone with 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 or any number of attachment points with a crossbar manifold pass through attachment grommet 25 which can attach directly onto to any or all of the crossbars of the airframe. The MRSS employs any number of flexible water and air resistant gaskets, grommets, plugs, seals, or sealers 18, 25, and 26 as example made of rubber, silicone, acrylic or any other elastic material in a grooved, cut, slat, machined indentation, as example, 12, 27, 30, 33, and 34 and also between where any two housing components come together or meet and with the manifold/crossbar pass through grommets 25 located between where the intake 2 and exhaust 21 manifolds junction with the Drone crossbars 24. The bottom housing component has any number of inflatable devices 29 that will deploy if the Drones is in freefall, or uncontrolled flight. The inflatable device is intended to secure a safe landing, be buoyant (in case of a water landing) and is deployed to protect the public and the Drone from a sudden and catastrophic decent even if the parachute 3 has been deployed.

[0045] In one embodiment the top housing component 1 is any shape or configuration that provides the top component for the complete and substantial water resistant and non-permeable encasement system and provides the Drone, people, places or things with protection in the event of any catastrophic systemic failure of electrical or mechanical systems and protects the rotor/propeller from impact by providing the housing for an intake manifold 2 (consistent with the number of rotors) and provides for attachment to any type of screen or grid 4 covering the exterior portion of the manifold further preventing any contact with the propeller or rotor. In one embodiment the top housing component is temporarily attached to a second housing either the bottom housing 20 and/or middle housing 10 and/or any number of housings by a variety of clamps, snaps, clasps, screws, glue, tape, or tie wrap devices, as example, or any other method of connecting the two housings. The top housing shares the use of flexible water and air resistant gasket 26 in its own grooved indentation 5 between where any two housing components are fastened together which includes a complete circumferential water and air resistant barrier around the exterior of the MRSS and a complete circumferential water and air resistant barrier around the intake manifold 2. In one embodiment the top housing component 1 is removable and not permanently attached to the bottom housing component 20 allowing access to the rotors, electronics, camera systems, recording devices, amplifiers, speakers, microphones or any other payload. It attaches to the top 1 and bottom housings 20 by a variety of clamps, snaps, clasps, screws, glue, tape, or tie wrap devices, as example, or any other method of connecting the two housings together. The top housing component 1 has any number of parachute type devices 3 that will deploy if the Drone is in freefall, or uncontrolled flight, including but not limited to, communications failure, weather changes, electrical and or mechanical malfunctions and any other malfunctions including human error. The parachute device 3 is intended to secure a safe landing in case the Drone is lost due to communications failure and is deployed to protect the public and the Drone from a sudden and catastrophic decent even if the bottom housing component inflatable device 29 has been deployed.

[0046] The optional middle housing component 10, is of any height with straight or curved sides, and is an insert between the bottom housing 20 and the top housing 1. This middle housing 10 has pass through manifolds 17 (consistent with the number of rotors) and is attached to the bottom housing 20 and the top housing component 1 by any variety of clamps, snaps, clasps, screws, glue, tape, or tie wrap devices, as example, or any other method of connecting the two housings.

[0047] The middle housing shares a flexible water and air resistant gasket 26 in a grooved indentation 35 between where any two housing components are fastened together which includes a complete circumferential flexible barrier around the exterior of the MRSS and a complete circumferential water and air resistant flexible barrier around the pass thru manifold 17. In one embodiment the middle housing component 10 can be removable and not permanently attached to the top housing component 1 or the bottom housing component 20. The middle housing component 10 is defined as an Advertising, News Reporting and or Disaster two way communication system accessory to the MRSS, but is not limited to this purpose as it may have future unknown uses. At the exterior vertical surface of the middle housing component 10 is a surface mounted visual media presentation strip that may be a flexible LED strip 13 or any other medium for relaying visual image presentation that encompasses any variety of heights filling the space between the top housing component 1 and the bottom housing component 20 and can be continuous around the entire middle housing 10. In one embodiment this middle housing 10 includes a plurality of cameras, multiple speakers, multiple short range and long range microphones and is powered by battery or a small combustion engine or any other propulsion devices previously stated.

[0048] The middle housing component 10 is a communication device intended to provide visual advertising, and to allow broadcasting of audio and video including but not limited to live voice, music or broadcast of video images and can include accessories such as lighting by LED strip lighting or any other lighting/illumination component available now or in the future. The middle housing component 10 also allows for audio recording and real time transmission of audio recording by any means to a recording medium. The middle housing component 10 can include a recording device to mimic a Flight Data Recorder and that records audio, video, GPS, navigation, thus adding to the overall safety aspects of the MRSS by recording all components of the Drones actions in the event of any failure of any system causing communications loss, freefall, or uncontrolled flight.

Conclusion, Ramifications and Scope

[0049] Thus the reader will see that in at least one embodiment of the Multi-Rotor Safety Shield (MRSS) it provides a complete and substantial encasement system that protects people, places and things from being damaged by high velocity rotor/propellers and protects the Drone from catastrophic damage by people, places or things. The MRSS protects all sensitive electronic and mechanical equipment and a multitude of rotor/propellers from malfunctioning. The MRSS provides a rigid non-permeable encasement system about the Drone which includes a physical barrier to outside disturbances and includes water and air resistant barriers. The MRSS completely eliminates “fly away Drones,” a common industry occurrence that are not only dangerous but costly to the Drone owner, by means of automatic deployment of a parachute, to eliminate rapid decent, and air bag type system, for a soft ground landing, and thereby safely returns the Drone to earth in case of any catastrophic equipment failure or communications loss. The reader will also see that by implementing a complete and substantial encasement system to surround Drones they can be adapted to a wider variety of uses including but not limited to indoor and outdoor stadium events, crime and disaster scenes and can be completely safe to fly indoors around people, places and things further expanding the use of Drones for humanity. The essence of the MRSS is to provide a never before used safety device to attach to a Drone that makes any plurality of Drones the safest machines in the world.

[0050] As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent to those skilled in the arts from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.