Patents by Inventor Merrill E. McKee

Merrill E. McKee 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: 20260050708
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for generating and/or providing a model, such as may be utilized for designing and/or presenting a proposal for a project for a structure or site. The disclosed embodiments can include identifying installation surface faces, installation surface face benefit metrics, obstructions, obstacles affecting placement of elements of the project, and for providing an educational experience, comprising general information and at least one structure-specific installation proposal. A selected plan can be implemented from within a proposal platform of the disclosed systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Applicant: Speed of Light Ops, LLC (dba SOLO)
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Ryan H. Nelson, Landon J. Anderton, Daniel S. Goodrick, Merrill E. McKee, Cheng Zhang, Matthew G. Van Orman, Orrin C. Naylor
  • Publication number: 20260010675
    Abstract: The PPS 300 includes a PPS server 310 and a tablet computer 320, as shown. In one embodiment, the tablet computer 320 may be supplanted by a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or any appropriate personal computing device. The PPS server 310 may be similar in some respects to the PPS server 140 of FIG. 1. The tablet computer 320 may be similar in some respects to the tablet computer 150 of FIG. 1. The tablet computer 320 can comprise an electronic memory, a processor, a communication system, and a display module. The platform 330 can include the Preposalâ„¢ 340 and a container 350 for the interactive proposal 358. The platform 330 can be implemented, executed, or otherwise provided by the PPS 300 to render a presentation of the Preposalâ„¢ 340 and proposal 358 to the display module of the tablet computer 320. The platform 330 is shown in a representational form extending beyond the tablet computer 320 for ease of description and not as an actual physical state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Applicant: Speed of Light Ops, LLC (dba SOLO)
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Merrill E. McKee, Orrin C. Naylor, Cheng Zhang, Zachary K. Vollrath
  • Patent number: 12412005
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for generating and/or providing a model, such as may be utilized for designing and/or presenting a proposal for a project for a structure or site. The disclosed embodiments can include identifying installation surface faces, installation surface face benefit metrics, obstructions, obstacles affecting placement of elements of the project, and for providing an educational experience, comprising general information and at least one structure-specific installation proposal. A selected plan can be implemented from within a proposal platform of the disclosed systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: Speed of Light OPS, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Ryan H. Nelson, Landon J. Anderton, Daniel S. Goodrick, Merrill E. McKee, Cheng Zhang, Matthew G. Van Orman, Orrin C. Naylor
  • Patent number: 12353803
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for designing and proposing an installation of a project for a structure or site that can be based on identifying installation surface faces, installation surface face benefit metrics, obstructions, obstacles affecting placement of elements of the project, and for providing an educational experience for an interested party to the project, comprising general information and at least one structure-specific installation proposal. A selected plan can be implemented from within a proposal platform of the disclosed systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Speed of Light OPS, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Merrill E. McKee, Orrin C. Naylor, Cheng Zhang, Zachary K. Vollrath
  • Publication number: 20240176921
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for designing and proposing an installation of a project for a structure or site that can be based on identifying installation surface faces, installation surface face insolation, obstructions affecting insolation (or similar property), obstacles and penetrations affecting placement of installation equipment, etc., and for providing an educational experience for a potential purchaser of the system comprising general information and at least one structure-specific installation proposal. A selected plan can be implemented from within a proposal platform of the disclosed systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Ryan H. Nelson, Landon J. Anderton, Merrill E. McKee, Daniel S. Goodrick, Orrin C. Naylor, Jay D. Hamilton, Rodney P. Hovley, Cheng Zhang, Zachary K. Vollrath, Niall G. McQuay, Matthew G. Van Orman, Jacob Wright
  • Publication number: 20230169235
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for sunlight obstruction modelling for a site, structure, or other object or surface of interest. The sunlight obstruction modeling can be utilized in designing and/or generating proposals for solar installation projects. The sunlight obstruction modeling can be determined based on identifying installation surface faces, installation surface face insolation, obstructions affecting insolation (or similar property), obstacles and penetrations affecting placement of installation equipment, etc., and for providing an educational experience for a potential purchaser of the system comprising general information and at least one structure-specific installation proposal. A selected plan can be implemented from within a proposal platform of the disclosed systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Ryan H. Nelson, Landon J. Anderton, Daniel S. Goodrick, Merrill E. McKee
  • Publication number: 20230169731
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for generating and/or providing a model, such as may be utilized for designing and/or presenting a proposal for a project for a structure or site. The disclosed embodiments can include identifying installation surface faces, installation surface face benefit metrics, obstructions, obstacles affecting placement of elements of the project, and for providing an educational experience, comprising general information and at least one structure-specific installation proposal. A selected plan can be implemented from within a proposal platform of the disclosed systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Ryan H. Nelson, Landon J. Anderton, Daniel S. Goodrick, Merrill E. McKee, Cheng Zhang, Matthew G. Van Orman, Orrin C. Naylor
  • Publication number: 20230169730
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for designing and proposing an installation of a project for a structure or site that can be based on identifying installation surface faces, installation surface face benefit metrics, obstructions, obstacles affecting placement of elements of the project, and for providing an educational experience for an interested party to the project, comprising general information and at least one structure-specific installation proposal. A selected plan can be implemented from within a proposal platform of the disclosed systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Dennis J. Strader, Merrill E. McKee, Orrin C. Naylor, Cheng Zhang, Zachary K. Vollrath