IP Library Granted Patent US 12,637,201
Granted Patent B2
US 12,637,201 · App. 18/164,130 · Granted May 26, 2026

Nose cone

Inventor: Thomas Skyler Sartorius (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
B64C11/14A63H27/001B64C11/04B64C11/28B64U50/13B64C2203/00B64D27/402B64F5/40B64U10/25B64U30/291
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,637,201
App. No.
18/164,130
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed here are systems for detachable airframe components including detachable nose cones, propeller assemblies and motors. In some example embodiments, the assemblies include a nose cone with a connection receiver, a motor assembly with a rotatable section, where the rotatable section includes torque arms configured to secure with the nose cone connection receiver, and a propeller assembly, configured to connect to the nose cone.

Claims (36)

1 . An assembly, comprising:

a unitary nose cone,

a motor assembly with a rotatable section configured for rotation about an axis of rotation,

the rotatable section including torque arms configured to secure with the nose cone; and

a propeller assembly including:

a propeller connector bar arranged between the torque arms and extending through opposite slots in the nose cone,

wherein each slot is an aperture formed through a wall of the nose cone such that the slot is completely surrounded by the wall around its perimeter.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the motor assembly is detachably coupled to an airframe.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the nose cone includes at least two apertures, each with a snap ledge.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 wherein the torque arms each include a snap flange, the torque arm snap flanges are configured to mate with the snap ledges of the nose cone apertures.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the propeller connector bar includes flange pairs at both ends, and wherein each of the flange pairs is configured to connect to a hinged propeller.

6 . The assembly of claim 4 wherein the torque arms are deflectably resilient toward each other to allow the nose cone to snap on and off the torque arms of the motor assembly.

7 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the propeller assembly is connected to the nose cone by securing the propeller connector bar in two slot holes in the nose cone.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the nose cone includes four apertures in the nose cone, each with a snap ledge to connect to the rotatable torque arms of the motor assembly.

9 . The assembly of claim 7 wherein the propeller connector bar includes a center hole and the motor assembly includes a center post, the propeller connector bar center hole configured to fit around the motor assembly center post.

10 . An assembly, comprising:

a nose cone with at least four openings including two tab openings and two slot openings,

wherein the slots are closed-perimeter openings in a wall of the nose cone;

a motor assembly with at least two rotatable torque arms,

wherein the at least two rotatable torque arms include tabs configured to fit into the at least two nose cone tab openings;

a propeller assembly, configured to attach to the nose cone,

wherein the propeller assembly includes a propeller connector configured to slide through the two slot openings in the nose cone and attach to at least two propeller blades.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least two propeller blades are configured to attach to the propeller connector by at least two hinges.

12 . The assembly of claim 10 wherein the motor assembly further comprises a center post configured to fit in a center hole of the propeller connector.

13 . The assembly of claim 10 wherein the nose cone is filled with plastic foam.

14 . The assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least two rotatable torque arms of the motor assembly each include a snap flange and are deflectable.

15 . The assembly of claim 14 wherein the at least two rotatable torque arms of the motor assembly snap flanges are configured to snap into the nose cone at the least two tab openings by a snap ledge on each nose cone at least two openings.

16 . The assembly of claim 10 wherein the motor assembly is detachably coupled to an airframe.

17 . An airplane nose assembly, comprising:

a hard plastic shell nose cone with at least two connectors;

a motor assembly rotatably connected to the hard plastic shell nose cone by the two connectors; and

a propeller assembly, attached to the hard plastic shell nose cone, the propeller assembly including:

a propeller connector extending through opposite slots in the nose cone,

wherein each slot is a closed-perimeter aperture formed through a wall of the nose cone.

18 . The airplane nose assembly of claim 17 wherein the at least two nose cone connectors are apertures in the nose cone hard plastic shell, shaped to attach to connection arms on the motor assembly.

19 . The airplane nose assembly of claim 17 wherein the two connectors are plastic and are deflectably resilient.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: SARTORIUS, THOMAS SKYLER
To: UNMANNED INNOVATION INC.
Reel/Frame 062585/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: UNMANNED INNOVATION, INC.
To: AIRWARE, LLC
Reel/Frame 062585/0491 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: AIRWARE, LLC
To: SKYDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 062585/0583 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17738466 · May 6, 2022
Continuation 15693191 · Aug 31, 2017
Provisional Application 62382698 · Sep 1, 2016
Related Publication 20230257106A1 · Aug 17, 2023
References Cited (7)
US 8430709B1 · Wong · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 11358705B2 · Sartorius · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11572153B2 · Sartorius · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20040248496A1 · Harvey · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20060011777A1 · Arlton · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20090212157A1 · Arlton · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20140299708A1 · Green · 2014 [cited by examiner]