Patents by Inventor Robert A. Dolan

Robert A. Dolan 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).

  • Patent number: 11325466
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for extending the length of a vehicle without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly. The method includes disconnecting the front drive shaft segment from the vehicle transmission, extending the length of the vehicle frame, and inserting a drive shaft extension segment which includes: a rigid tubular shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis; a universal joint mounted at the tubular shaft front end and having a front flange configured for mounting to the transmission; and a bearing assembly mounted to the tubular shaft The extension segment rear end includes a rearward facing flange configured for mounting to a forward facing flange of the front drive shaft segment that was disconnected from the vehicle transmission. The extension segment is installed in the vehicle between the vehicle transmission and the front drive shaft segment without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: U-HAUL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Dean Cerimeli, Robert A Dolan, Michael H Dilgard, Javier Nolasco, Jeremy Donohue
  • Patent number: 9944226
    Abstract: A light assembly includes a housing adapted for mounting on a vehicle, wherein the housing includes a brake light input coupled to the light source and a marker light input coupled to the light source. An electrical circuit is configured to energize the light source at a brightness suitable for an identification lamp when at least one headlight of the vehicle is illuminated and also is configured to energize the light source at a brightness suitable for a stop lamp when the vehicle brake is applied, whether or not the identification lamp is energized. In this configuration, the can function as an identification light and as a center high mount stop light (CHMSL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: U-Haul International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A Dolan
  • Patent number: 9647978
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David Frank Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
  • Publication number: 20160301653
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David Frank Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
  • Patent number: 9458650
    Abstract: A latch assembly is provided for a holding a vehicle endgate in a closed position. The assembly includes a latch pin having a main shaft disposed generally along an axis and a projection that is spaced apart from and projects toward the main shaft axis. A first receiving member is connected to one of a vehicle frame and the endgate and has a hole for receiving the latch pin main shaft. A second receiving member is connected to the other of the frame and the endgate and has a hole for receiving the latch pin main shaft. The first receiving hole and the second receiving member hole are in alignment when the endgate is in the closed position. The first receiving member includes an inclined annular groove for receiving the latch pin projection. When the latch pin projection is disposed in the annular groove, gravity will impede the latch pin projection from exiting the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: U-Haul International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Votruba, Robert A. Dolan
  • Publication number: 20160152136
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for extending the length of a vehicle without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly. The method includes disconnecting the front drive shaft segment from the vehicle transmission, extending the length of the vehicle frame, and inserting a drive shaft extension segment which includes: a rigid tubular shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis; a universal joint mounted at the tubular shaft front end and having a front flange configured for mounting to the transmission; and a bearing assembly mounted to the tubular shaft The extension segment rear end includes a rearward facing flange configured for mounting to a forward facing flange of the front drive shaft segment that was disconnected from the vehicle transmission. The extension segment is installed in the vehicle between the vehicle transmission and the front drive shaft segment without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Dean Cerimeli, Robert A. Dolan, Michael H. Dilgard, Javier Nolasco, Jeremy Donohue
  • Patent number: 9319523
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin D. Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David F. Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
  • Patent number: 9283842
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for extending the length of a vehicle without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly. The method includes disconnecting the front drive shaft segment from the vehicle transmission, extending the length of the vehicle frame, and inserting a drive shaft extension segment which includes: a rigid tubular shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis; a universal joint mounted at the tubular shaft front end and having a front flange configured for mounting to the transmission; and a bearing assembly mounted to the tubular shaft. The extension segment rear end includes a rearward facing flange configured for mounting to a forward facing flange of the front drive shaft segment that was disconnected from the vehicle transmission. The extension segment is installed in the vehicle between the vehicle transmission and the front drive shaft segment without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: U-Haul International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Cerimeli, Robert A Dolan, Michael H Dilgard, Javier Nolasco, Jeremy Donohue
  • Publication number: 20150215459
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin D. Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David F. Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
  • Publication number: 20150016138
    Abstract: A light assembly includes a housing adapted for mounting on a vehicle, wherein the housing includes a brake light input coupled to the light source and a marker light input coupled to the light source. An electrical circuit is configured to energize the light source at a brightness suitable for an identification lamp when at least one headlight of the vehicle is illuminated and also is configured to energize the light source at a brightness suitable for a stop lamp when the vehicle brake is applied, whether or not the identification lamp is energized. In this configuration, the can function as an identification light and as a center high mount stop light (CHMSL).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Robert A. Dolan
  • Patent number: 8891753
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David F. Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
  • Patent number: 8845159
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system, method, and apparatus for configuring one modified marker light to function as one or more of a marker light, a CHMSL, and a brake light. The modified marker light includes a first input coupled to a CHMSL, a second input coupled to one or more marker lights, a third input coupled to a ground, and a circuit associated with the modified marker light to control the function of the marker light, the CHMSL, and the brake light. The modified marker light illuminates (as one or more of the marker light, the CHMSL, and the brake light) upon a driver using a brake of a vehicle when the one or more marker lights are not energized. The modified marker light illuminates as one or more of the marker light, the CHMSL, and the brake light upon a driver using the brake of the vehicle when the one or more marker lights are already energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: U-Haul International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Dolan
  • Publication number: 20140144023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for extending the length of a vehicle without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly. The method includes disconnecting the front drive shaft segment from the vehicle transmission, extending the length of the vehicle frame, and inserting a drive shaft extension segment which includes: a rigid tubular shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis; a universal joint mounted at the tubular shaft front end and having a front flange configured for mounting to the transmission; and a bearing assembly mounted to the tubular shaft. The extension segment rear end includes a rearward facing flange configured for mounting to a forward facing flange of the front drive shaft segment that was disconnected from the vehicle transmission. The extension segment is installed in the vehicle between the vehicle transmission and the front drive shaft segment without the need to rebalance the original drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: Dean Cerimeli, Robert A. Dolan, Michael H. Dilgard, Javier Nolasco, Jeremy Donohue
  • Publication number: 20130343205
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CALLWAVE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Robert Smith, David S. Trandal
  • Patent number: 8594287
    Abstract: The present invention relates to telephone call processing. In one embodiment, a call processing system receives from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information. The call processing system determines whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information and whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted. If the caller identification information is restricted, the call processing system instructs the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user. The call processing system determines whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call, and if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, the call processing system provides at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Lee Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 8407049
    Abstract: This invention description details systems and methods for improving human conversations by enhancing conversation participants' ability to: —Distill out and record core ideas of conversations. —Classify and prioritize these key concepts. —Recollect commitments and issues and take appropriate action. —Analyze and uncover new insight from the linkage of these ideas with those from other conversations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: COGI, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Cromack, Robert Dolan, Andreas Wittenstein, David Brahm
  • Patent number: 8401164
    Abstract: System and method for putting control of incoming telephone calls in the hands of subscribers with the aid of computer software and the Internet. In effect, a very efficient multiplexer is provided that does not require a change in the behavior of the called party or the calling party. This system permits the called party to hear a spoken message by the calling party in real time, and the content of the spoken message permits the called party to decide how to handle the call. The system adaptively learns and captures the rules of the called party for handling calls, and learns which callers the called party always wishes to talk to. The system uses special control software on the called party's computer which is connected to the Internet. The system employs a central server in which all of the required intelligence is resident. Audio signals are exchanged via non-data channels provided by the telephone companies and by the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 8400664
    Abstract: A fax processing system handles faxes that are originally destined for a recipient's phone number. The fax processing system communicates with the fax recipient via a data communications network (for example, the Internet) and can provide more sophisticated fax handling capabilities than conventional fax machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: j2 Global Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, Leland W. Kirchhoff, Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 8351591
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Callwave Communications LLC
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David Frank Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
  • Patent number: 8335689
    Abstract: A method and system for improving the efficiency of speech transcription by automating the management of a varying pool of human and machine transcribers having diverse qualifications, skills, and reliability for a fluctuating load of speech transcription tasks of diverse requirements such as accuracy, promptness, privacy, and security, from sources of diverse characteristics such as language, dialect, accent, speech style, voice type, vocabulary, audio quality, and duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: COGI, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Wittenstein, David Brahm, Mark Cromack, Robert Dolan