Patents by Inventor Frank J. Sherman

Frank J. Sherman 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).

  • INCENTIVIZED CROWD FUNDING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL INNOVATION BY AN ORGANIZATION
    Publication number: 20210097460
    Abstract: Crowd funding for innovation includes distributing a proposal with a description of a project idea, an amount of funds requested, and a time frame for raising the funds. Ownership of the project is transferred to an entity, which receives contributions from contributors and for each of the received contributions converts the contribution to a corresponding amount of virtual coin and adds the contribution to the funds. If the funding goal is complete within the time frame, the entity converts the coins to actual money and releases the money to the requestor. After completion of the project, the entity determines if the project is successful and can commercialize successful projects. For certain successful projects, the entity can also distribute funds to the contributors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Robert R. Kieschke, Frank J. Sherman, Mario A. Perez, Raymond P. Johnston, Kandyce M. Bohannon
  • Incentivized crowd funding system for internal innovation by an organization
    Patent number: 10896391
    Abstract: Crowd funding for innovation includes distributing a proposal with a description of a project idea, an amount of funds requested, and a time frame for raising the funds. Ownership of the project is transferred to an entity, which receives contributions from contributors and for each of the received contributions converts the contribution to a corresponding amount of virtual coin and adds the contribution to the funds. If the funding goal is complete within the time frame, the entity converts the coins to actual money and releases the money to the requestor. After completion of the project, the entity determines if the project is successful and can commercialize successful projects. For certain successful projects, the entity can also distribute funds to the contributors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Robert R. Kieschke, Frank J. Sherman, Mario A. Perez, Raymond P. Johnston, Kandyce M. Bohannon
  • Incentivized crowd funding system for internal innovation by an organization
    Patent number: 10740734
    Abstract: Crowd funding for innovation includes distributing a proposal with a description of a project idea, an amount of funds requested, and a time frame for raising the funds. Ownership of the project is transferred to an entity, which receives contributions from contributors and for each of the received contributions converts the contribution to a corresponding amount of virtual coin and adds the contribution to the funds. If the funding goal is complete within the time frame, the entity converts the coins to actual money and releases the money to the requestor. After completion of the project, the entity determines if the project is successful and can commercialize successful projects. For certain successful projects, the entity can also distribute the back funds to the contributors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Robert R. Kieschke, Frank J. Sherman, Mario A. Perez, Raymond P. Johnston, Kandyce M. Bohannon
  • INCENTIVIZED CROWD FUNDING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL INNOVATION BY AN ORGANIZATION
    Publication number: 20170330119
    Abstract: Crowd funding for innovation includes distributing a proposal with a description of a project idea, an amount of funds requested, and a time frame for raising the funds. Ownership of the project is transferred to an entity, which receives contributions from contributors and for each of the received contributions converts the contribution to a corresponding amount of virtual coin and adds the contribution to the funds. If the funding goal is complete within the time frame, the entity converts the coins to actual money and releases the money to the requestor. After completion of the project, the entity determines if the project is successful and can commercialize successful projects. For certain successful projects, the entity can also distribute funds to the contributors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Robert R. Kieschke, Frank J. Sherman, Mario A. Perez, Raymond P. Johnston, Kandyce M. Bohannon
  • INCENTIVIZED CROWD FUNDING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL INNOVATION BY AN ORGANIZATION
    Publication number: 20160335610
    Abstract: Crowd funding for innovation includes distributing a proposal with a description of a project idea, an amount of funds requested, and a time frame for raising the funds. Ownership of the project is transferred to an entity, which receives contributions from contributors and for each of the received contributions converts the contribution to a corresponding amount of virtual coin and adds the contribution to the funds. If the funding goal is complete within the time frame, the entity converts the coins to actual money and releases the money to the requestor. After completion of the project, the entity determines if the project is successful and can commercialize successful projects. For certain successful projects, the entity can also distribute the back funds to the contributors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Audrey A. Sherman, Robert R. Kieschke, Frank J. Sherman, Mario A. Perez, Raymond P. Johnston, Kandyce M. Bohannon