Patents Assigned to Smarte Carte, Inc.
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Patent number: 9558608Abstract: A locker rental system includes electronic lockers centrally managed by a locker manager. The locker manager is in communication with a separate external system, which handles admissions and sales for a venue. Users are provided with a unique external identification (ID) code for purposes such as admission to the venue. Determinative sequences of the external ID codes are provided to the locker manager as validation codes. When the external ID code is scanned, the locker manager validates the external ID code using the validation codes. A valid external ID code may be used to rent and access lockers in the locker system. In some implementations, locker rights may be sold through the external system and details of the transaction provided to the locker manager. If the external ID code is valid, the locker manager generates a rental plan.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventor: Keith Louis Amdahl
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Patent number: 9430892Abstract: A locker rental system includes electronic lockers centrally managed by a locker manager. The locker manager is in communication with a separate external system, which handles admissions and sales for a venue. Users are provided with a unique external identification (ID) code for purposes such as admission to the venue. Determinative sequences of the external ID codes are provided to the locker manager as validation codes. When the external ID code is scanned, the locker manager validates the external ID code using the validation codes. A valid external ID code may be used to rent and access lockers in the locker system. In some implementations, locker rights may be sold through the external system and details of the transaction provided to the locker manager. If the external ID code is valid, the locker manager generates a rental plan.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventor: Keith Louis Amdahl
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Patent number: 9158946Abstract: A locker system includes one or more banks of electronic lockers. Each locker has a door lock that releasably retains the door in the closed position. The locker system also includes at least one barcode scanner selectively unlocks the door of at least one of the lockers. A locker manager is coupled to each of the electronic lockers via an electronic network. The locker manager stores a list of unique barcodes that are each associated with a locker rental plan including at least one locker account. Each locker account includes an activation indication, a use indication, a locker type indication, and a duration. The unique barcodes are printed or otherwise included on wristbands, which may be scanned at the barcode scanner to gain access to one or more of the lockers.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Kong Meng Vang, Matthew Charles Burk
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Patent number: 8910951Abstract: A caster wheel arrangement includes a base; a yoke rotatably mounted to the base via a kingpin; at least a first caster wheel rotatably mounted to the yoke; and an assist arrangement moveably mounted to the yoke. The assist arrangement facilitates travel of the caster wheel arrangement over a surface transition (e.g., a gap, a rise, etc.). Non-limiting example assist arrangements include a leading wheel, a leading variable radius wheel, a trailing wheel, a step member, and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Leigh Otterson, Matthew Charles Burk, Daniel Edwin Maleitzke
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Publication number: 20140203076Abstract: A locker system includes one or more banks of electronic lockers. Each locker has a door lock that releasably retains the door in the closed position. The locker system also includes at least one barcode scanner selectively unlocks the door of at least one of the lockers. A locker manager is coupled to each of the electronic lockers via an electronic network. The locker manager stores a list of unique barcodes that are each associated with a locker rental plan including at least one locker account. Each locker account includes an activation indication, a use indication, a locker type indication, and a duration. The unique barcodes are printed or otherwise included on wristbands, which may be scanned at the barcode scanner to gain access to one or more of the lockers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Kong Meng Vang, Matthew Charles Burk
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Patent number: 8714452Abstract: A locker system includes one or more banks of electronic lockers. Each locker has a door lock that releasably retains the door in the closed position. The locker system also includes at least one barcode scanner selectively unlocks the door of at least one of the lockers. A locker manager is coupled to each of the electronic lockers via an electronic network. The locker manager stores a list of unique barcodes that are each associated with a locker rental plan including at least one locker account. Each locker account includes an activation indication, a use indication, a locker type indication, and a duration. The unique barcodes are printed or otherwise included on wristbands, which may be scanned at the barcode scanner to gain access to one or more of the lockers.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Kong Meng Vang, Matthew Charles Burk
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Patent number: 8500012Abstract: A locker system includes one or more banks of electronic lockers. Each locker has a door lock that releasably retains the door in the closed position. The locker system also includes at least one barcode scanner selectively unlocks the door of at least one of the lockers. A locker manager is coupled to each of the electronic lockers via an electronic network. The locker manager stores a list of unique barcodes that are each associated with a locker rental plan including at least one locker account. Each locker account includes an activation indication, a use indication, a locker type indication, and a duration. The unique barcodes are printed or otherwise included on wristbands, which may be scanned at the barcode scanner to gain access to one or more of the lockers.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Smarte Carte Inc.Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Kong Meng Vang
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Patent number: 7857108Abstract: A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson
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Publication number: 20090127808Abstract: A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventor: Dan L. Otterson
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Patent number: 6244366Abstract: A power operated vehicle, of the type guided by a walking attendant, for conveying a plurality of nestable carts. The vehicle has a main body portion and is supported by a front rotatable caster and two rear drive wheels mounted on an axle. The drive wheels are in differential and are driven by a motor connected to a power supply. A control handle is offset to the side for controlling the operation of the vehicle. An adjustable hitch is attached to the rear for accepting the lead nestable cart. The adjustable hitch pivots at a point proximal the axle. The adjustable hitch pivots independent of the movement of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1997Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Otterson, Paul F. Stephan
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Patent number: 6237725Abstract: A nestable cart, of the type guided by a walking attendant, for conveying a material such as luggage. The cart has a frame and is supported by two rear wheels and a front rotatable caster. A brake is contained within each rear wheel. The brake is automatically engaged when the cart is left unattended. Movement of the handle disengages each brake. A cable connected between the handle and brake linkage disengages the brake shoe, allowing each wheel to freely rotate.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Otterson, Gary Erickson
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Patent number: 6142283Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Mark G. Bussey, Fred C. Zimmerman, Verne L. Severson
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Patent number: 6125985Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Mark G. Bussey, Fred C. Zimmerman, Verne L. Severson
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Patent number: 6041894Abstract: A nestable cart, of the type guided by a walking attendant, for conveying a material such as luggage. The cart has a frame and is supported by two rear wheels and a front rotatable caster. A brake is contained within each rear wheel. The brake is automatically engaged when the cart is left unattended. Movement of the handle disengages each brake. A cable connected between the handle and brake linkage disengages the brake shoe, allowing each wheel to freely rotate.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Otterson, Gary Erickson
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Patent number: 6024203Abstract: A cart management apparatus and method for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining device for selective retaining at least one of the carts; a cart identification sensor for uniquely identifying carts retained by the retaining device; a control device for controlling the vending and returning of carts, wherein the control device maintains a queue of carts identified by a cart identification sensor and retained by the retaining device; a reward device for dispensing a reward when a cart is returned to the retaining device; and a counter for counting a number of times that an identification of the cart is missed from the queue of carts so as to prevent the reward device from dispensing a reward when the number of times exceeds a predetermined value of the counter.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1997Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Christopher J. Rogney, Mark G. Bussey
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Patent number: 5526916Abstract: A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Amdahl, Dan L. Otterson, Christopher J. Rogney, Verne L. Severson
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Patent number: D556098Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Matthew Charles Burk
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Patent number: D360392Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1994Date of Patent: July 18, 1995Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventor: Mark S. Lewandowski
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Patent number: D360393Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1994Date of Patent: July 18, 1995Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventor: Mark S. Lewandowski
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Patent number: D413550Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Otterson, Paul F. Stephan