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U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Nevada (July 18)(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Targeted News Service Targeted News Service ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- The following federal patents were awarded to inventors in Nevada. *** Nevada Inventor Develops Patent for Golf Swing Formation Aid ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- Thomas S. Clawson, Las Vegas, has developed a patent (7,976,398) for a "golf swing formation aid." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A golf swing formation aid has a resilient cushion sandwiched between two additional resilient cushions, with sleeves to receive the arms of a golfer holding a golf club to provide between the arms a predetermined spacing during a swing of the golf club by the golfer. A differential in the resilience of the cushions allows for accommodation of the movement of the arms during the swing while maintaining the predetermined spacing. The cushions have different degrees of resilience." The patent application was filed on July 13, 2009 (12/460,087). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,398&OS=79,76,398&RS=79,76,398 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** IGT Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- IGT, Reno, Nev., has been assigned a patent (7,976,390) developed by Richard J. Schneider, Las Vegas, Lawrence R. Pitman, Corvallis, Ore., and Michael B. Shelby, Corvallis, Ore., for "awarding a bonus based on a maximum bonus cycle time." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "By awarding bonuses during predetermined bonus periods, gaming establishments can exercise greater control over bonus wins and, in doing so, can create player excitement and increase play during historically off-peak times, realizing greater revenue for the casino. The time based bonus begins when a maximum time for the bonus period is selected and divided into time increments, with each time increment having its own weight. A winning increment is randomly selected and a bonus is awarded when the time increment has been reached." The patent application was filed on March 21, 2005 (11/086,256). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,390&OS=79,76,390&RS=79,76,390 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** IGT Assigned Patent for Casino Gaming Apparatus with a Bonus Associated with a Cash Out ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- IGT, Reno, Nev., has been assigned a patent (7,976,382) developed by Jamal Benbrahim, Reno, Nev., for a "casino gaming apparatus with a bonus associated with a cash out." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A casino gaming apparatus may include a display unit capable of generating video images, a value input device, a user input device and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image to be generated on the display unit, to cause a bonus image to be generated on the display unit for a time period in response to a trigger event, to award a bonus in response to the person making an input via the user input device in response to generation of the bonus image on the display unit, and to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of the game." The patent application was filed on Jan. 29, 2007 (11/668,344). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,382&OS=79,76,382&RS=79,76,382 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** IGT Assigned Patent for Contactless Card Reading in a Gaming Machine ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- IGT, Reno, Nev., has been assigned a patent (7,976,384) developed by Chauncey W. Griswold, Reno, Nev., for a "contactless card reading in a gaming machine." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A gaming machine may be activated by an individual player for subsequent play by displaying to the gaming machine, without physical contact with the gaming machine, a card carried by the player. The card carries indicia which may include suitable electronic memory, to be sensed by apparatus associated with the gaming machine, to cause the wireless transfer of individualized data concerning the player from the card to the gaming machine or to a computer network that is associated with the gaming machine. The data is evaluated against a stored database, which database may include identification of the card holder. The data is then evaluated against the stored database, and the gaming machine is activated for subsequent play upon favorable evaluation of the data." The patent application was filed on Feb. 27, 2002 (10/084,820). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,384&OS=79,76,384&RS=79,76,384 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** IGT Assigned Patent for Gaming System and Method having Configurable Bonus Game Triggering Outcomes ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- IGT, Reno, Nev., has been assigned a patent (7,976,379) developed by Anthony J. Baerlocher, Reno, Nev., for a "gaming system and method having configurable bonus game triggering outcomes." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A gaming system and method which provides for one or more gaming device triggered bonus games to be skipped or otherwise not provided to the players at the gaming devices which triggered such bonus games. The average expected payouts of skipped gaming device triggered bonus games are contributed to a bonus accumulation pool or fund. The accumulation pool is subsequently utilized to provide one or more gaming system triggered bonuses to one or more players at one or more of the gaming devices in the gaming system. A player's accumulated triggering symbols determine, at least in part, the player's probability of winning part of the bonus accumulation pool and/or the player's portion of the bonus accumulation pool." The patent application was filed on Nov. 11, 2008 (12/268,841). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,379&OS=79,76,379&RS=79,76,379 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Bally Gaming Assigned Patent for Apparatus for Providing Amusement ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- Bally Gaming, Las Vegas, has been assigned a patent (7,976,373) developed by seven co-inventors for an "apparatus for providing amusement." The co-inventors are John G. Kroeckel, San Ramon, Calif., Gennady I. Soliterman, San Ramon, Calif., Bryan M. Kelly, Alamo, Calif., Dennis Lockard, Tracy, Calif., Jeffrey C. Tallcott, Modesto, Calif., Jeffrey Allen, Pleasanton, Calif., and Robert Luciano, Reno, Nev. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments are taught which include a game comprising, a digital processor, digital storage coupled to the digital processor for storing instructions, a display coupled to the digital processor displaying a first plurality of indicia arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns such that there are a plurality of paylines through a contiguous plurality of indicia, a user interface coupled to the digital processor to select a subset of the first plurality of indicia taken along at least one column and to initiate a display of a second plurality of indicia which includes the selected subset of the first plurality of indicia on the display, and an award dispenser providing an award which is at least as large as the largest award associated with the plurality of paylines." The patent application was filed on Jan. 9, 2007 (11/651,918). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,373.PN.&OS=PN/79,76,373&RS=PN/79,76,373 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** IGT Assigned Patent for Gaming Device having Odds of Winning Which Increase as a Player's Wager Increases ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- IGT, Reno, Nev., has been assigned a patent (7,976,378) developed by Anthony J. Baerlocher, Reno, Nev., for a "gaming device having odds of winning which increase as a player's wager increases." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A gaming device having a game which requires the same average investment from a player to win an award, including a jackpot award, regardless of the amount that the player bets at any one time. The award can be unchanging, e.g., $10,000, each time a player plays the gaming device. The award can also vary such as with a progressive jackpot, i.e., the jackpot builds unfit a player "hits" the jackpot. The game enables the average investment necessary to win the jackpot to be uniform by varying the odds of winning the jackpot as the player's bet varies. That is, a player betting less money needs to play the game more times, on average, to win the jackpot. Likewise, a player betting more money needs to play the game less times, on average, to win the jackpot. The average overall bet or investment thus remains constant despite the player's betting habits or betting ability." The patent application was filed on April 11, 2008 (12/101,695). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,378&OS=79,76,378&RS=79,76,378 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** IGT Assigned Patent Method and Apparatus for Gaming Machines with a Tournament Play Bonus Feature ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- IGT, Reno, Nev., has been assigned a patent (7,976,389) developed by Lee E. Cannon, Bozeman, Mont., and Robert Guinn, Reno, Nev., for a "method and apparatus for gaming machines with a tournament play bonus feature." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A tournament gaming system is disclosed including one or more gaming machines programmed for play of at least one tournament game. A plurality of gaming machines may be linked for tournament play, as through a host computer. Qualification for tournament play may be, at least in part, effectuated through participation in one or more primary games at a gaming machine programmed for tournament play. Tournament games may be conducted at a predetermined minimum rate of play. Variable rates of play responsive to specific game outcomes during tournament games are also disclosed." The patent application was filed on May 24, 2001 (09/864,927). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,389&OS=79,76,389&RS=79,76,389 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Multimedia Games Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- Multimedia Games, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (7,976,393) developed by Matthew H. Haga, Austin, Texas, Frank C. DeSimone, Henderson, Nev., and Leroy H. Gutknecht, Las Vegas, for a "button panel mount for a gaming machine cabinet." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A gaming machine cabinet has a cabinet door is pivotaliy connected thereto and movable between a closed and open positions. A cabinet door button panel includes a panel support surface opposite the door's inner side, a capture structure at a first boundary of a button panel opening, and a blocking structure at a button panel second boundary opposite the first boundary. A button panel base has a first edge received in a button panel frame capture structure, and second edge received on the panel support surface. A locking flange with a locking projection extends from the button panel base lower side, the locking projection moveable between extended and retracted positions. With the button panel base in an operating position, a locking projection may he placed in the extended position to contact the blocking structure and thereby retain the button panel base in the operating position." The patent application was filed on Nov. 16, 2007 (11/941,628). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,393&OS=79,76,393&RS=79,76,393 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Bally Gaming Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- Bally Gaming, Las Vegas, has been assigned a patent (7,976,376) developed by eight co-inventors for "methods for providing amusement." The co-inventors are John G. Kroeckel, San Ramon, Calif., Gennady I. Soliterman, San Ramon, Calif., Bryan M. Kelly, Alamo, Calif., Dennis Lockard, Tracy, Calif., Jeffrey C. Tallcott, Modesto, Calif., Jeffrey Allen, Pleasanton, Calif., Robert Luciano, Reno, Nev., and Robert Luciano Sr., Reno, Nev. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments are disclosed which teach a method for playing a game comprising initiating a game play, displaying a first plurality of indicia arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns such that there are a plurality of paylines through a contiguous plurality of indicia, selecting a subset of the first plurality of indicia taken along one or more columns, displaying a second plurality of indicia which includes the selected subset of the first plurality of indicia, achieving an award at least as large as the largest award associated with the plurality of paylines. A payline can be selectively displayed to the user. Legal tender, a token, and a non-legal tender prize are non-limiting examples of the kinds of awards that may be awarded. The columns of indicia for the game are, for example, arranged as visually spinable reels. In certain embodiments a video display may be utilized to display the indicia." The patent application was filed on Jan. 9, 2007 (11/651,951). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,376.PN.&OS=PN/79,76,376&RS=PN/79,76,376 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** IGT Assigned Patent for Gaming System having Multiple Player Simultaneous Display/Input Device ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- IGT, Reno, Nev., has been assigned a patent (7,976,372) developed by nine co-inventors for a "gaming system having multiple player simultaneous display/input device." The co-inventors are Anthony J. Baerlocher, Reno, Nev., Kimberly M. Campbell, Reno, Nev., Christiaan R. Champagne, Las Vegas, Dwayne A. Davis, Reno, Nev., Hans Elias, Reno, Nev., Damien C. Ennis, Reno, Nev., Michael P. Khamis, Reno, Nev., David N. Myers, Reno, Nev., and David M. Palmer, Reno, Nev. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A game table having a multiplayer interactive display/input device which enables multiple players to simultaneously play primary or base wagering games and/or secondary or bonus games using the display/input device. The display/input device enables multiple players to simultaneously interact with the game table and the various games using the same display/input device. The game table enables multiple players to manipulate displayed objects (such as virtual cards or other game symbols) displayed by the display/input device at the same time. This enables the display/input device to simultaneously display the same game to multiple players in an integrated seamless manner without the need for multiple different sets of display devices and input devices for each of the players." The patent application was filed on Nov. 7, 2008 (12/267,092). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=79,76,372.PN.&OS=PN/79,76,372&RS=PN/79,76,372 Written by Rajat Puri; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Nestec Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- Nestec, Vevey, Switzerland, has been assigned a patent (7,976,884) developed by Christopher Alan Weinberg, Reno, Nev., for an "edible animal chew toy." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An edible pet chew that is made of rehydrated hide about an inner fill via a positioning shealth." The patent application was filed on Sept. 8, 2008 (12/206,149). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,976,884&OS=7,976,884&RS=7,976,884 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** California, Nevada Inventors Develop Patent for Integrated Wafer Transfer Mechanism ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 18 -- David Barker, Walnut Creek, Calif., Robert T. LoBianco, Sunnyvale, Calif., Sai Mantripragada, Fremont, Calif., and Farzad Tabrizi, Reno, Nev., have developed a patent (7,976,263) for an "integrated wafer transfer mechanism." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An integrated high speed robotic mechanism is disclosed for improving transport equipment, integrating an object movement with other functionalities such as alignment or identification. The disclosed integrated robot assembly typically comprises an end effector for moving the object in and out of a chamber, a rotation chuck incorporated on the robot body to provide centering and theta alignment capability, and an optional identification subsystem for identifying the object during transport. The present invention also discloses a transfer robot system, employing a plurality of integrated robot assemblies; a transfer system where a transfer robot system can service a plurality of connected chambers such as FOUP or FOSB; a front end module (FEM); or a sorter system. Through the use of these incorporated capabilities into the moving robot, single object transfer operations can exceed 500 parts per hour." The patent application was filed on Sept. 22, 2007 (11/859,752). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,976,263.PN.&OS=PN/7,976,263&RS=PN/7,976,263 Written by Shabnam Sheikh; edited by Jaya Anand. For more information about Targeted News Service products and services, please contact: Myron Struck, editor, Targeted News Service LLC, Springfield, Va., 703/304-1897; [email protected]; http://targetednews.com. -1054649 (c) 2011 Targeted News Service |