Patents by Inventor Robert F. O'Connor

Robert F. O'Connor 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: 20170312604
    Abstract: A golf hole enlargement device includes a first horizontal disk, a second horizontal disk, and an aperture wall. The horizontal disks have aperture walls formed therethrough. The aperture wall extends between the horizontal disks and mounts a bottom surface of the first horizontal disk to a top surface of the second horizontal disk. The aperture walls define a hole sized to accept an end of a flagstick for a golf green to position the first horizontal disk and the second horizontal disk adjacent a golf hole of the golf green. The first horizontal disk and the second horizontal disk have a diameter greater than six inches, and a minimum vertical distance between them is selected to be less than a diameter of a ball to be trapped by the golf hole enlargement device when the golf hole enlargement device is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Loughlin
  • Publication number: 20140164027
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a benefits contract includes an agreement to provide a plurality of benefits for at least one person. The agreement provides for an account including a plurality of units. Each unit is associated with multiple benefits. For example each unit may be associated with multiple benefits such as life insurance, health insurance, supplemental health insurance, long-term care insurance, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, prescription drug insurance, a plurality of income payments, a withdrawal benefit, an annuity, a property and casualty benefit, or other similar benefits. The agreement is such that a person associated with the benefits contract may choose to exercise a particular unit, or fraction thereof, to receive only one of the three or more benefits; and such that the benefits account (or plurality of units) may be purchased tax-free using funds from a tax-deferred retirement account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Malcolm A. Cheung, Robert A. Fishbein, Jacob M. Herschler, N. David Kuperstock, Robert F. O'Donnell, Steven L. Putterman
  • Patent number: 8655776
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a benefits contract includes an agreement to provide a plurality of benefits for at least one person. The agreement provides for an account including a plurality of units. Each unit is associated with multiple benefits. For example each unit may be associated with multiple benefits such as life insurance, health insurance, supplemental health insurance, long-term care insurance, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, prescription drug insurance, a plurality of income payments, a withdrawal benefit, an annuity, a property and casualty benefit, or other similar benefits. The agreement is such that a person associated with the benefits contract may choose to exercise a particular unit, or fraction thereof, to receive only one of the three or more benefits; and such that the benefits account (or plurality of units) may be purchased tax-free using funds from a tax-deferred retirement account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Malcolm A. Cheung, Robert A. Fishbein, Jacob M. Herschler, N. David Kuperstock, Robert F. O'Donnell, Steven L. Putterman
  • Patent number: 8504460
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing a financial instrument including determining a current account balance for a financial account, calculating a liability ratio for the financial account, and determining whether to transfer at least a portion of the account balance from a variable sub-account to a low-risk sub-account based on the liability ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The Prudential Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Jacob M. Herschler, Daniel O. Kane, N. David Kuperstock, Robert F. O'Donnell, Steven L. Putterman, Dain E. Runestad, Robert J. Schwartz, Nicholas Berardis, Jr., John L. Grucza, Michael A. Guido, J. Scott Dunn
  • Publication number: 20110124428
    Abstract: A golf hole enlargement device is provided. The golf hole enlargement device includes a collar and a flange. The collar includes a first surface extending from a first edge to a second edge, a second surface extending from a first edge to a second edge, and a bottom surface extending from a first edge to a second edge. The first surface slopes upwards from the first edge to the second edge is configured to rest on a horizontal surface. The second surface slopes downwards from the first edge to the second edge and mounts to the first surface. The first edge of the bottom surface is mounted to the first edge of the first surface. The flange is mounted to the second edge of the bottom surface and the second edge of the second surface and forms an open ring in a center of the collar for positioning over a golf hole of a golf green.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Loughlin
  • Patent number: 7215412
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining a distance to a target. The method includes sending light, at a first time, to a light reflector mounted in a reflector device, receiving light reflected from the light reflector at a second time, and determining the distance to the reflector device using the difference between the first time and the second time. The reflector device has a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface parallel to the first lateral surface, and a rod surface extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface. The reflector device includes sockets arranged in the rod surface with a light reflector mounted in each socket. The sockets may be arranged in a plurality of rows with possibly a plurality of sockets in each row. The reflector device may be mounted as an insert to or at the top of a target to determine the distance to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Golf Solutions 1, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert F. O'Loughlin, Michael D. Plitman, Daniel Steiner, Wayne Timberman
  • Patent number: 6651071
    Abstract: An educational institution requires that each student demonstrate proficiency in a plurality of abilities in order to receive a degree. A database is employed to store a portfolio of information evidencing each student's work related to those abilities. A user interface is provided to selectively present information from the portfolio in a plurality of formats, thereby enabling a student or a faculty member to evaluate the student's progress toward mastering the abilities and associated knowledge in order to make informed plans for improvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Alverno College
    Inventors: Kathleen A. O'Brien, Georgine Loacker, Linda A. Ehley, L. Kelly Talley, Robert F. O'Brien Hokanson, Mary E. Diez, William H. Rickards
  • Patent number: 5392622
    Abstract: A combination device for retaining a key and a knife having a primary base plate and a secondary base plate. Also included are a spacer plate, a pair of securement pins, a key, and a knife. The primary base plate, the secondary base plate, and the spacer plate are in a stacked orientation with the key and the knife secured between the aforementioned plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 4813575
    Abstract: Non-refillable valve has a housing with a central bore, which has a lower portion that is narrower than its middle portion that in turn is narrower than its upper portion. A side port is present in the lower region of the middle portion. An outlet nozzle is located in the side port. The lower end of the housing sealingly engages the pressure container to provide communication therebetween. The valve stem is rotatably positioned in the upper portion of the central bore. The valve stem contains a vertical bore in its bottom portion. A resilient valve sealing member has a body portion and a top pin which slidably fits in the bore in the valve stem. The sealing member has a top rim portion which has a continuous outer surface and does not have any slots, identations or the like. Also, the body portion does not have any arm or arms, particularly around its periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Amtrol Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 4688694
    Abstract: A container for pressurized gas, having a valve for filling and emptying the container, a frangible safety relief cup located near the valve and a deflector plate attached to the bottom portion of the valve. The safety relief cup is frangible so that the safety relief cup will rupture if the container is filled to too high of a gas pressure. The problem with such safety feature is that upon rupture the escaping gas often travels in an upwards direction at a very high speed, allowing the discharging contents to spray on the face or upper torso by the person causing injury to the face of refrigerant frost bite or the like. The deflector plate is wide enough and extends far enough over top of the frangible safety relief cup to prevent the upwards flow of the escaping pressurized gas from the ruptured safety relief device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Amtrol Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Kirk, Robert F. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 4573611
    Abstract: Non-refillable valve for a pressure container which includes a housing with a central bore, which has a lower portion that is narrower than its middle portion which in turn is narrower than its upper portion. A side port is present in the lower region of the middle portion and an outlet nozzle is attached to the side port. The lower end of the housing is adapted to sealingly engage the pressure to provide communication therebetween. The valve stem is rotatably positioned in the upper portion of the central bore. A tube is mounted on the internal end of the valve stem which extends into the middle portion of the central bore. A resilient valve sealing member has a body portion and an upper flange that extends upwardly and outwardly from the body. A longitudinal passageway is present part way through the body portion. A vertical post is positioned in the middle of the longitudinal passageway and slidingly engaging the tube on the bottom of the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Amtrol Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 4162581
    Abstract: The improved educational teaching and storage system of the present invention comprises a rack having a plate with a plurality of staggered rows of spaced apertures extending therethrough, a plurality of art paintbrushes releasably disposed in the apertures, and indicia associated with the apertures and brushes to permit proper placement of the brushes in the apertures. The brushes can be easily dried, after use, while in the rack and can be stored indefinitely therein. The system is particularly applicable to art students and art classes, primarily classes of younger children, and the present method contemplates having the students withdraw the brushes from the rack and then replace them in the proper apertures for drying and storage, the placing being based on recognition of particular indicia. This improves hand-to-eye coordination and also trains mental skills. The indicia may be in the form of clues as to similar sizes and shapes, or color, or numbers or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 3992640
    Abstract: A housing for a piezoelectric crystal comprising an outer shell, preferably formed of nylon, in which are assembled two anvils and a piezoelectric crystal. The outer shell is heated and spun over to retain the anvils and crystals within the housing. Also disclosed is a mount for retaining the housing within a photographic camera and for providing electrical connections to the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Brien
  • Patent number: D546243
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Golf Solutions 1, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert F. O'Loughlin, Michael Plitman, Daniel Steiner, Wayne Timberman
  • Patent number: D284072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Neil
  • Patent number: D564405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Golf Solutions I, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert F. O'Loughlin, Michael D. Plitman, Daniel Steiner, Wayne Timberman
  • Patent number: D842410
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Loughlin
  • Patent number: D900672
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Inventor: Robert F. O'Loughlin