Patents Represented by Attorney Beem Patent Law Firm
  • Patent number: 8337294
    Abstract: A method and system for generating and receiving a combination bet may include presenting a plurality of betting events in a display resembling a slot machine. In one embodiment, the user may place a total wager for a combination bet prior to knowing what the betting events are. Placing the bet may “spin” the reels to randomly generate a plurality of betting events, and success in the combination bet may require that each individual bet is a winner. In another embodiment, the user may be able to “spin” the reels prior to placing the bet. Betting events still may be randomly generated, but the user may have the ability to select the events on which to wager. Events may comprise in-live sporting events, and the user may have the ability to select various event features, such as the type of events displayed and the odds for each event, in order to customize the betting experience to the user's interests and risk tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: PartyGaming IA Limited
    Inventors: Alexander Sharkov, Rumyana Uzunova, Michael Maerz, Damon Barnard
  • Patent number: 8333271
    Abstract: A convertible luggage or storage case having wheels and a telescoping or extending handle that may extend generally linearly from a retracted position to at least one, and preferably a plurality, of extended positions, so that case may be wheeled from one location to another. Handle may include a pair of arms and a cross-piece and also may pivot about an end opposite the cross-piece to form a leg, which may be part of a stand for case. Prior to pivoting, a second leg having a pair of arms and a cross-piece may be located generally coplanar with the handle or first leg, preferably in the interior space between arms. The second leg may pivot at a point between the cross-piece and the opposite end, and an end of the second leg may be located in a groove. As such, the first and second legs may cooperate to form a stand for the case, elevating the case for convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Brian D. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8333356
    Abstract: A substrate-mountable holder system comprising: a first portion, a cover, an anchor and at least one fastener, the first portion having a hook extending therefrom and at least one opening for receiving the fastener(s), a cover configured to engage the first portion and hide the fastener(s). The first portion may include a lobe proximate the top of the rear surface and a pad spaced from the lobe, the opening between the lobe and pad, for controlling deformation of the first portion. The first and second portions also may have a plurality of releasably engaging detents to lock the second portion in place, and the bottom of the second portion may angle rearward so as to bear against the substrate when the second portion is installed. Moreover, the first portion may include a barb on the lobe and/or one or more tangs extending from a recess in the rear surface of the first portion to embed in the substrate and inhibit rotation of the holder system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm, Mark E. Gonciarz
  • Patent number: 8317148
    Abstract: A substrate-mountable holder system comprising: a first portion, a cover, an anchor and at least one fastener, the first portion having a hook extending therefrom and at least one opening for receiving the fastener(s), a cover configured to engage the first portion and hide the fastener(s). The first portion may include a lobe proximate the top of the rear surface to bias the bottom of the first portion toward the substrate to aid in more stable mounting of the first portion and further may include a tang projecting rearwardly from proximate the bottom for engagement with the substrate or a second fastener spaced proximate the first fastener to inhibit rotation of the system when installed. In addition, the first portion and the cover may have various features to fasten the cover securely to the first portion and provide the appearance of a unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm, Mark E. Gonciarz
  • Patent number: 8320071
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus for transmitting tapes within a tape library is disclosed. The transmission apparatus comprises a tray for transmitting a tape cartridge. A plurality of pinion gears is provided. The pinion gears are operably connected to each other and are rotatably attached to the tray. A plurality of vertically disposed racks is provided for engagement by the plurality of pinion gears for rotational movement therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Venture Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Kar Woh Fok, Chee Teck Ong, Sheau Yeng Wei
  • Patent number: 8277298
    Abstract: A blackjack tournament including a plurality of players, each seated at a single player table with the same predetermined starting amount of funds to wager, each player being dealt to from at least one deck of playing cards arranged in the same predetermined order as the at least one deck used for each other player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: PartyGaming IA Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Mace, Dinesh Jasti
  • Patent number: 8277312
    Abstract: A game that includes both a slot-type game portion and a role-playing-type game portion. The game may include a plurality of characters with various abilities that may have modifiable values. The slot game may allow the player to play multiple lines and may include a multiplier that augments the value of any prize on any winning line. In addition, the slot game may include ability-related symbols on its reels, whereby an ability value for a selected character may be increased if the ability-related symbol appears on the reels after a spin. The role-playing type game may include features or subgames related to the abilities, where the features allow the character to compete to increase the ability values and to win additional prizes or compensation. Successfully completing a feature may be a random event, like the spin's of the slot game, or, alternatively, success may depend on the player's skill or ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: PartyGaming IA Limited
    Inventors: Ian Matthews, Damon Barnard
  • Patent number: 8278541
    Abstract: A drum pedal sensing system may include a base, a foot board, a pedestal, a beater, beater stem, and beater holder operatively connected to the foot board, a sensor holder, and a sensor fixedly coupled to the sensor holder. The beater holder may include a sensing surface that may rotate as the foot board is depressed and that may remain a substantially constant distance from the sensor as the sensing surface rotates. Additionally, the system may include a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensor that receives signals from the sensor corresponding to motion of the sensing surface. Based on sensed changes such as changes in position, velocity, or acceleration, the microprocessor may determine whether the beater has contacted a drum face and, if so, may send an output signal to a stomp box, drum brain or similar element, with the amplitude of this output signal proportional to strength of the hit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Trick Percussion Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dorfman, Thomas Baker, Alexander Moon, George Szwaya
  • Patent number: 8272619
    Abstract: An object-mounting aid such as a wire guide, comprising a first leg at a proximal end and a second leg at a distal end, with a hinge therebetween, wherein the second leg is longer than the first leg. The hinge may allow the second leg to pivot relative to the first leg so as to increase or decrease a gap between the second leg and the mounting surface, which may make it easier to position a wire on the second leg and may allow the second leg to serve as a ramp surface for the wire. The first leg includes a channel configured to receive and couple to a portion of a mounting device, e.g., by frictional engagement, which may be assisted through the use of detents on the guide. In addition, the guide may include a notch on the rear face of the first leg, the notch shaped so as to mirror or otherwise interface with at least a portion of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
  • Patent number: 8272610
    Abstract: In one aspect, a holder assembly includes a substrate-mountable holder having a metal base having a centerline, the base having a plurality of openings to receive a plurality of fasteners, a generally symmetrical wireform having a pair of legs with a portion therebetween, the portion welded to the base, each leg having a first segment extending parallel to the base and a second segment extending outwardly of the base. First segment of each leg may be generally parallel to the centerline, or first segment may be angled with respect to the centerline. Second segment of legs may extend generally linearly outwardly of the base or may have radii of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
  • Patent number: 8241172
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a corresponding planetary gear for increasing the rotation speed including a sun wheel (12), a gear rim (10), a planet gear (14), a power input shaft (46), and a planet carrier. A construction (40) allowing flexing is placed between the support length (f) of the first fastening end (62) of the shaft (20) of the planet wheel (18) and the closest bearing for dynamically adapting the mesh geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Moventas Oy
    Inventors: Petri Lahtinen, Ari Ryymin
  • Patent number: 8231478
    Abstract: A golf facilitating device (sometimes herein referred to as a “golf club” or a “Gimme Club”) is disclosed. The golf club may include a shaft, a club head coupled to the shaft, and a rotatable guiding mechanism coupled to at least one of the shaft and the club head. The guiding mechanism may include at least one guardrail, and a receptacle coupled to the at least one guardrail, wherein the rotatable guiding mechanism facilitates guiding a golf ball between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Michael A. Cox
  • Patent number: 8204245
    Abstract: A sound projecting bumper may include a vehicle bumper configured to be attached to a vehicle, the bumper comprising a plurality of uprights and at least one generally horizontal member, the bumper further comprising a horn for emitting sound, the horn comprising a driver, a cone, a speaker and a diaphragm for producing the sound, and wiring to connect the bumper device to the vehicle's electrical system. The horn may be configured to focus sound particularly forward of the vehicle. The driver may be attached to one of the uprights, and the bumper may include a second driver attached to a second one of the uprights. The horn may be generally aligned with one of the uprights, or the horn may be formed in a generally horizontal member. The bumper may further include a channel in the generally horizontal member, wherein the channel extends generally along a portion of the generally horizontal member, turning to form the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Lund Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Tobin, Paul A. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 8196998
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure has a pair of right and left apron side members 1 each extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and having a closed cross section structure, a bumper 2 located on the vehicle front side Fr of the front end portion of the apron side member 1, and a grille 5 attached to air intake openings 3, 4 in the bumper 2. In this vehicle front structure, shock absorbing parts 20 formed integrally with the grille 5 are disposed between the bumper 2 and the front end portions of the apron side members 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Ohno, Taku Sumino, Hironori Shigemasu, Idemitsu Masuda, Akito Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8192123
    Abstract: A self-drilling fastener for use in a friable material with or without an underlying member at the point of use comprises an elongated body, a threaded exterior, an enlarged head with torque transmitting surfaces, proximal, intermediate, and distal portions, and a drilling tip generally opposite enlarged head. Proximal portion has an axial length, a threaded exterior having root and crest diameters and a thread height, where the crest diameter is about twice the root diameter. Intermediate portion has an axial length, a threaded exterior having a root, a crest diameter substantially smaller than proximal portion crest diameter and a thread height substantially smaller than proximal portion thread height. Distal portion has an axial length, a threaded exterior with a root that tapers toward the drilling tip, a crest diameter substantially smaller than the proximal portion crest diameter, and a thread height substantially smaller than the proximal portion thread height portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Ernst, John P. Grimm
  • Patent number: 8186575
    Abstract: An electrical digital computer machine and a data processing system, methods of making and for using the machine, products produced thereby, as well as data structures and articles of manufacture pertaining thereto, and all necessary intermediates of that which is discussed herein, all in the field of computerized aspects of card crediting to mortgages and the like. A computer system applying a card debit to a mortgage, a first computer system enabling a debt to be incurred in connection with usage of a card, such as a debit, credit, or Sharia-compliant card. A second computer system can enabling a mortgage, such as a first mortgage, and apply debit from the card to the mortgage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Philip Carragher
  • Patent number: 8133121
    Abstract: A system and process for aggregating and displaying information about a plurality of gaming tables to a user comprising a stacking component and a console area. The console area displays one or more active tables, while the stacking component displays changing information about each table the user has open. The stacking component may include one or more sub-components or dialogs, including a table list dialog, a player information dialog, a hand information dialog and/or an action area dialog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: PartyGaming IA Limited
    Inventors: Andreas Hartmann, Paul Fraser, Gavin O'Reilly, Kiran Kumar Potladurthi
  • Patent number: 8114226
    Abstract: A holder having a baseplate with a tang extending rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners and a plurality of legs extending from the baseplate, the tang being heat treated or work hardened to harden the tang and facilitate its detachment for non-friable substrate applications. Work hardening may be accomplished, for example, by heating and quenching the tang to increase both its hardness and its brittleness to a level that allows the tang to be broken off with an impact force but not when inserted into a friable substrate so that the holder retains greater functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm
  • Patent number: 8108187
    Abstract: A method and system of surface analysis or product design comprising using a plurality of input scans, commonly orienting the scans, establishing a common origin, creating a ray mesh having a plurality of rays extending from the origin, calculating intersections of the rays with the input scans, analyzing the intersection along each ray, generating percentile envelopes by connecting similar percentile points on each ray, and designing products using percentile envelopes as a guide. The system may comprise a device for scanning surfaces, a fit plan setting forth predetermined guidelines for the product, a coordinate transformation algorithm, an envelope processor comprising an intersection calculation algorithm for analyzing data sets and generating output surfaces, and an output file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: David C. Brown
  • Patent number: D672637
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Hyuk Joon Chung, Richard J. Ernst, John P. Grimm, Craig J. Zurko