Patents by Inventor Robert D. Wilson
Robert D. Wilson 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).
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Publication number: 20240341063Abstract: A cold plate is disclosed for cooling electronics within a missile. The cold plate includes a housing enclosing a compartment. An outlet manifold is inside the compartment. A wick is inside the compartment and is adjacent to the outlet manifold. A liquid inlet is fluidically connected to the wick. A vapor outlet fluidically connects the outlet manifold to atmosphere or space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: James D. Saraidaridis, Malcolm P. MacDonald, Robert M. Darling, Craig H. McCordic, James S. Wilson
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Publication number: 20240291917Abstract: A method includes: while displaying a wake screen with a first media item as a background and foreground objects displayed over the first media item, detecting first user input that corresponds to a request to display a media gallery; in response to detecting the first user input, ceasing display of the foreground objects; detecting a second user input that corresponds to a request to navigate through media items in the media gallery; in response to detecting the second user input, replacing the first media item with a second media item in the media gallery; detecting a third input that corresponds to a request to dismiss the media gallery; and, in response to detecting the third user input, redisplaying the foreground objects on the display device over a media item from the media gallery that is selected as the background for the wake screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: Christopher I. Wilson, Pedro Mari, Richard D. Lyons, Teofila Connor, Giancarlo Yerkes, Gregory Apodaca, Vitalii Kramar, Gregg S. Suzuki, Robert Garcia, III, Philip A. Ward, Stephen O. Lemay, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Cas G. Lemmens, Alan Dye, Bilal S. Sayed Ahmad, Jussi-Pekka Mantere
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Patent number: 8676676Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments such as social security checks receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as a discount card, rebate, or coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to the sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Patent number: 8671038Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments such as social security checks receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as a discount card, rebate, or coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to the sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Patent number: 8545135Abstract: A test kit for unevenly worn sheave grooves, a tool for regrooving sheave grooves that are found to be unevenly worn, and a method for testing for and maintaining the sheave grooves utilizing the test kit and tool. The test kit includes magnetic standards which adhere to a sheave beneath the portion of the sheave touched by the ropes, facilitating testing without having to unrope the sheave. Unevenly worn sheave grooves are visually ascertained by holding a straightedge adjacent to the magnetic standards. The regrooving tool includes a shank that can be received by a stand set up next to the sheave, a body attached to the shank, and an interchangeable cutting insert received by the body that is inserted in the sheave groove. When the sheave is rotated, the sheave groove is ground by the cutting insert, with each groove being ground sequentially until all grooves are again uniform.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Vertical Motion Innovations, LLCInventors: Robert D. Wilson, Jr., Christian E. Thomsen, James Watson, Keegan Carriveau, Max Wilson
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Patent number: 8548883Abstract: A system and method for providing to a taxpayer a loan in an amount based on the taxpayer's estimated tax refund amount due for a current year, the loan being provided to the taxpayer prior to year end of the current tax year and prior to completion and filing of the taxpayer's current year tax return forms with a taxing authority. The taxpayer's estimated tax refund may be based on historical tax refund data as well as current year income data. A loan granting entity may consider the level of tax refunds that the taxpayer has received in previous years as well as income data for the first three quarters of the year to determine a reasonable estimate of the tax refund amount that the taxpayer will likely receive for the current tax year.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services, LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Patent number: 8521625Abstract: A tax refund system is disclosed in which in exchange for a taxpayer assigning all or a portion of his or her tax refund, a participating provider provides to the taxpayer a spending vehicle with buying power at participating outlets. Tax return data for an individual's tax return is processed by the IRS. A taxpayer consents to using a portion of the tax return data to acquire a spending vehicle from a financial institution of the taxpayer's choosing. Using a portion of the tax return data, the IRS arranges to electronically transfer an amount related to the taxpayer's refund to an account at the financial institution selected by the taxpayer. A taxpayer then receives a spending vehicle such as a credit, debit, or cash card, spending account, coupon, or rebate from a financial institution or other spending vehicle provider such as a retailer, service provider, wholesaler, distributor, or entertainment entity.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: H & R Block Tax Services LLCInventors: Robert D. Wilson, Mark A. Ernst
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Patent number: 8469155Abstract: A gate below an elevator car which prevents access to an elevator hoistway. The gate slidably mounts behind a toe guard and retracts upwardly if the bottom of the gate encounters a person, object or the floor of the elevator pit during downward travel of the elevator. The gate latches when fully retracted so that it may be out of the way during maintenance. A microswitch is wired into the emergency stop circuit that engages when the gate is latched. A trip wire defining the bottom edge of the gate is also wired into the emergency stop circuit, so that the elevator will stop its downward travel if it encounters an obstruction. Rubber bumpers on the bottom edge of the gate cushion impact to people or objects who happen to be below the elevator car and are struck by the gate during downward elevator movement.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Vertical Motion Innovations, LLCInventors: Christian E. Thomsen, Robert D. Wilson, Jr., James Watson, Keegan Carriveau, Max Wilson
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Publication number: 20130039706Abstract: A test kit for unevenly worn sheave grooves, a tool for regrooving sheave grooves that are found to be unevenly worn, and a method for testing for and maintaining the sheave grooves utilizing the test kit and tool. The test kit includes magnetic standards which adhere to a sheave beneath the portion of the sheave touched by the ropes, facilitating testing without having to unrope the sheave. Unevenly worn sheave grooves are visually ascertained by holding a straightedge adjacent to the magnetic standards. The regrooving tool includes a shank that can be received by a stand set up next to the sheave, a body attached to the shank, and an interchangeable cutting insert received by the body that is inserted in the sheave groove. When the sheave is rotated, the sheave groove is ground by the cutting insert, with each groove being ground sequentially until all grooves are again uniform.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2012Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: VERTICAL MOTION INNOVATIONS, LLCInventors: Robert D. Wilson, JR., Christian E. Thomsen, James Watson, Keegan Carriveau, Max Wilson
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Patent number: 8336429Abstract: A test kit for unevenly worn sheave grooves, a tool for regrooving sheave grooves that are found to be unevenly worn, and a method for testing for and maintaining the sheave grooves utilizing the test kit and tool. The test kit includes magnetic standards which adhere to a sheave beneath the portion of the sheave touched by the ropes, facilitating testing without having to unrope the sheave. Unevenly worn sheave grooves are visually ascertained by holding a straightedge adjacent to the magnetic standards. The regrooving tool includes a shank that can be received by a stand set up next to the sheave, a body attached to the shank, and an interchangeable cutting insert received by the body that is inserted in the sheave groove. When the sheave is rotated, the sheave groove is ground by the cutting insert, with each groove being ground sequentially until all grooves are again uniform.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Vertical Motion Innovations, LLCInventors: Robert D. Wilson, Jr., Christian E. Thomsen, James Watson, Keegan Carriveau, Max Wilson
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Patent number: 8332289Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments, such as tax refunds or social security checks, receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle, such as a debit card, pre-paid credit, or other card having funds stored thereon. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to a sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Patent number: 8326711Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments such as social security checks receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as a discount card, rebate, or coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to the sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Publication number: 20120205197Abstract: A gate below an elevator car which prevents access to an elevator hoistway. The gate slidably mounts behind a toe guard and retracts upwardly if the bottom of the gate encounters a person, object or the floor of the elevator pit during downward travel of the elevator. The gate latches when fully retracted so that it may be out of the way during maintenance. A microswitch is wired into the emergency stop circuit that engages when the gate is latched. A trip wire defining the bottom edge of the gate is also wired into the emergency stop circuit, so that the elevator will stop its downward travel if it encounters an obstruction. Rubber bumpers on the bottom edge of the gate cushion impact to people or objects who happen to be below the elevator car and are struck by the gate during downward elevator movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventors: Christian E. Thomsen, Robert D. Wilson, JR., James Watson, Keegan Carriveau, Max Wilson
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Patent number: 8011842Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes an apparatus for ergonomic typing. The apparatus includes a first surface having first set of keys including a plurality of alphabetic keys, where the first set of keys is operable by a user's thumbs. The apparatus includes a second surface having a second set of keys including a plurality of alphabetic keys, where the second set of keys is operable by the user's fingers. The second surface includes first structures for home positioning of fingers of the user's left and right hands and second structures for positioning of the fingers of the user's left and right hands when moving to and from home position keys during typing.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Inventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Publication number: 20100293079Abstract: A tax refund system is disclosed in which in exchange for a taxpayer assigning all or a portion of his or her tax refund, a participating provider provides to the taxpayer a spending vehicle with buying power at participating outlets. Tax return data for an individual's tax return is processed by the IRS. A taxpayer consents to using a portion of the tax return data to acquire a spending vehicle from a financial institution of the taxpayer's choosing. Using a portion of the tax return data, the IRS arranges to electronically transfer an amount related to the taxpayer's refund to an account at the financial institution selected by the taxpayer. A taxpayer then receives a spending vehicle such as a credit, debit, or cash card, spending account, coupon, or rebate from a financial institution or other spending vehicle provider such as a retailer, service provider, wholesaler, distributor, or entertainment entity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: H&R BLOCK TAX SERVICES LLCInventors: Robert D. Wilson, Mark A. Ernst
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Patent number: 7765132Abstract: A tax refund system is disclosed in which in exchange for a taxpayer assigning all or a portion of his or her tax refund, a participating provider provides to the taxpayer a spending vehicle with buying power at participating outlets. Tax return data for an individual's tax return is processed by the IRS. A taxpayer consents to using a portion of the tax return data to acquire a spending vehicle from a financial institution of the taxpayer's choosing. Using a portion of the tax return data, the IRS arranges to electronically transfer an amount related to the taxpayer's refund to an account at the financial institution selected by the taxpayer. A taxpayer then receives a spending vehicle such as a credit, debit, or cash card, spending account, coupon, or rebate from a financial institution or other spending vehicle provider such as a retailer, service provider, wholesaler, distributor, or entertainment entity.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services, LLCInventors: Robert D. Wilson, Mark A. Ernst
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Publication number: 20100153268Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments such as social security checks receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as a discount card, rebate, or coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to the sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2010Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: H&R Block Tax Services, LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Publication number: 20100145849Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments such as social security checks receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as a discount card, rebate, or coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to the sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2010Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: H&R Block Tax Services LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Patent number: 7668764Abstract: A system and method for associating payments with spending vehicles so that an individual who is entitled to receive periodic or special payments such as social security checks receives in place of the payment a spending vehicle such as a discount card, rebate, or coupon for use with purchases of the sponsor's products or services. Sponsors include companies and organizations interested in offering purchase incentives to their customers. An individual who wishes to receive a spending vehicle rather than the regular payment selects the spending vehicle he or she would like to receive. The individual then assigns his or her right to receive the payment to a third party. The third party then arranges to give a spending vehicle to the individual and to transfer the individual's payment to the sponsor of the spending vehicle. The third party may take a portion of the payment as compensation for the service.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services LLCInventor: Robert D. Wilson
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Publication number: 20090269118Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes an apparatus for ergonomic typing. The apparatus includes a first surface having first set of keys including a plurality of alphabetic keys, where the first set of keys is operable by a user's thumbs. The apparatus includes a second surface having a second set of keys including a plurality of alphabetic keys, where the second set of keys is operable by the user's fingers. The second surface includes first structures for home positioning of fingers of the user's left and right hands and second structures for positioning of the fingers of the user's left and right hands when moving to and from home position keys during typing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventor: Robert D. Wilson