Q: my dad owned patents at chase doors i. his name was xxx. he died years ago. is family owed money?
I am his son
A:
My condolences on the passing of your father.
Your father was listed as an inventor on 3 patents: US 7,526,894; US 7,152,377; and US 6,398,995. Although he was listed as the inventor, he was not the owner. His employer, Chase Industries, is the owner of these patents.
Typically, inventors are employees of the company, and a part of their job function is doing R&D work that leads to patents. Your father was likely making new inventions as a part of his job. He did not have an ownership stake in the patents in a similar way that a chef in a restaurant does not own the meal that he cooks.
Unless there is something that the company promised him (which would be unusual) which they did not pay (which would also be unusual), his estate does not have any claim against the company.
Sorry.
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