Patents by Inventor Michael K. Colby

Michael K. Colby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230351490
    Abstract: This document discloses a method, system, and/or software configured to provide improved color rendering of an item or scene, such as an item for sale through web sites or printed brochures (e.g., color catalogs). This improved color rendering can be provided through improved accuracy when rendering an online item, such as on a user's laptop, smartphone, or desktop computer showing a webpage. Further still, this document discloses ways in which to solve numerous problems in the field of online sales where an accurate rendering of an item, and even a customized rendering of an item to fit a buyer's intended use for the item, is desired. This document also describes ways in which to improve color renderings for a print item through use of a user's device to capture an image using the device's camera, and then display the item more accurately or congruently than it was originally displayed in print.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Lydia Ann Colby, Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20230301448
    Abstract: This document discloses a disposable beverage cup with a non-removable straw. This disposable beverage cup and non-removable straw substantially reduce, or even eliminate, a chance that the straw will end up, on its own, polluting the world's oceans or land. This is due to the straw being non-removable and, along with the disposable beverage cup, being more likely to be properly disposed of, composted, or otherwise responsibly handled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Patent number: 11727476
    Abstract: This document discloses a method, system, and/or software configured to provide improved color rendering of an item or scene, such as an item for sale through web sites or printed brochures (e.g., color catalogs). This improved color rendering can be provided through improved accuracy when rendering an online item, such as on a user's laptop, smartphone, or desktop computer showing a webpage. Further still, this document discloses ways in which to solve numerous problems in the field of online sales where an accurate rendering of an item, and even a customized rendering of an item to fit a buyer's intended use for the item, is desired. This document also describes ways in which to improve color renderings for a print item through use of a user's device to capture an image using the device's camera, and then display the item more accurately or congruently than it was originally displayed in print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Lydia Ann Colby, Michael K. Colby
  • Patent number: 11672366
    Abstract: This document discloses a disposable beverage cup with a non-removable straw. This disposable beverage cup and non-removable straw substantially reduce, or even eliminate, a chance that the straw will end up, on its own, polluting the world's oceans or land. This is due to the straw being non-removable and, along with the disposable beverage cup, being more likely to be properly disposed of, composted, or otherwise responsibly handled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20210224889
    Abstract: This document discloses a method, system, and/or software configured to provide improved color rendering of an item or scene, such as an item for sale through web sites or printed brochures (e.g., color catalogs). This improved color rendering can be provided through improved accuracy when rendering an online item, such as on a user's laptop, smartphone, or desktop computer showing a webpage. Further still, this document discloses ways in which to solve numerous problems in the field of online sales where an accurate rendering of an item, and even a customized rendering of an item to fit a buyer's intended use for the item, is desired. This document also describes ways in which to improve color renderings for a print item through use of a user's device to capture an image using the device's camera, and then display the item more accurately or congruently than it was originally displayed in print.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Lydia Ann Colby, Michael K. Colby
  • Patent number: 10900797
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for load-based mapping. The techniques provide routes for drivers that take into account a cognitive, emotional, or psychological load for the routes. By so doing, a driver can receive a route from one point to another that the driver may better enjoy, feel less tired or stressed by, or take less mental effort to drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20200337482
    Abstract: This document discloses a disposable beverage cup with a non-removable straw. This disposable beverage cup and non-removable straw substantially reduce, or even eliminate, a chance that the straw will end up, on its own, polluting the world's oceans or land. This is due to the straw being non-removable and, along with the disposable beverage cup, being more likely to be properly disposed of, composted, or otherwise responsibly handled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20200132487
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for load-based mapping. The techniques provide routes for drivers that take into account a cognitive, emotional, or psychological load for the routes. By so doing, a driver can receive a route from one point to another that the driver may better enjoy, feel less tired or stressed by, or take less mental effort to drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 1, 2020
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Patent number: 10527441
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for load-based mapping. The techniques provide routes for drivers that take into account a cognitive, emotional, or psychological load for the routes. By so doing, a driver can receive a route from one point to another that the driver may better enjoy, feel less tired or stressed by, or take less mental effort to drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Michael K Colby
  • Publication number: 20190049261
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for load-based mapping. The techniques provide routes for drivers that take into account a cognitive, emotional, or psychological load for the routes. By so doing, a driver can receive a route from one point to another that the driver may better enjoy, feel less tired or stressed by, or take less mental effort to drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventor: Michael K Colby
  • Patent number: 9924814
    Abstract: This document describes fixable cup sleeves. One of these cup sleeves is selectively fixable to a cup using a temperature-dependent adhesive that is effective to fix the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when the cup is holding a warm or hot beverage. Another of these cups sleeves includes a fixing element capable of holding the cup sleeve in a closed position and fixing the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Patent number: 9696877
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques enabling character-string completion. These techniques present characters and character strings responsive to a selected prior character and enable selection of one of these characters or character strings quickly, easily, and/or accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20170139559
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques enabling character-string completion. These techniques present characters and character strings responsive to a selected prior character and enable selection of one of these characters or character strings quickly, easily, and/or accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Patent number: 9557890
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques enabling character-string completion. These techniques present characters and character strings responsive to a selected prior character and enable selection of one of these characters or character strings quickly, easily, and/or accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Michael K Colby
  • Publication number: 20150327701
    Abstract: This document describes fixable cup sleeves. One of these cup sleeves is selectively fixable to a cup using a temperature-dependent adhesive that is effective to fix the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when the cup is holding a warm or hot beverage. Another of these cups sleeves includes a fixing element capable of holding the cup sleeve in a closed position and fixing the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Patent number: 9090397
    Abstract: This document describes fixable cup sleeves. One of these cup sleeves is selectively fixable to a cup using a temperature-dependent adhesive that is effective to fix the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when the cup is holding a warm or hot beverage. Another of these cups sleeves includes a fixing element capable of holding the cup sleeve in a closed position and fixing the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20130205242
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques enabling character-string completion. These techniques present characters and character strings responsive to a selected prior character and enable selection of one of these characters or character strings quickly, easily, and/or accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20110093809
    Abstract: This document describes methods and/or apparatuses for enabling a window to be scrolled without the window having to be selected to become active or primary, along with other techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby
  • Publication number: 20110068114
    Abstract: This document describes fixable cup sleeves. One of these cup sleeves is selectively fixable to a cup using a temperature-dependent adhesive that is effective to fix the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when the cup is holding a warm or hot beverage. Another of these cups sleeves includes a fixing element capable of holding the cup sleeve in a closed position and fixing the cup sleeve to a disposable beverage cup when opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Michael K. Colby