Patents by Inventor Alex Whiteaker

Alex Whiteaker 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).

  • Patent number: 11113931
    Abstract: An arcade game includes a rotating and tilting prize receptacle for rotating captured prizes past an RFID antenna and dumping captured prizes back into the playing area. To improve the accuracy of reading RFID tags on the prizes, the receptacle spins to pass the captured prizes past the antenna multiple times. Each RFID tag may be assigned a serial number that is read by the RFID reader to assure that captured prizes are not counted multiple times. After the RFID tags have been read, the receptacle is tilted, preferably while still spinning, to dump the prizes back into the playing area. The captured-prize handling apparatus may include a lighted tower that surrounds the electro-mechanical elements and attracts attention to the game. The receptacle is shaped to urge the captured prizes into a position within the receptacle that enhances accurate reading of the RFID tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Smart Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Smart, Jimmy G. Dupree, Jr., Alex Whiteaker, Tyler Wampler, Loren Ostema
  • Patent number: 11084707
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a beverage dispensing system that controls the flow of beverage based on information acquisitioned from a marker associated with a vessel for the beverage. The system utilizes a switching apparatus located in the tap of the dispensing unit that can selectively enable mechanical connection between the hand lever of the tap and the stem based on the information acquisitioned. Some embodiments include a hand tilt device for automatically controlling the flow of beverage, and a vessel tilt device to adjusting the tilt of the vessel so as to achieve a preferred pour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ValidFill LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, James Wampler, Frank Uellenberg, Paul Wade, Peter Dorney, Alex Whiteaker
  • Publication number: 20200247662
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a beverage dispensing system that controls the flow of beverage based on information acquisitioned from a marker associated with a vessel for the beverage. The system utilizes a switching apparatus located in the tap of the dispensing unit that can selectively enable mechanical connection between the hand lever of the tap and the stem based on the information acquisitioned. Some embodiments include a hand tilt device for automatically controlling the flow of beverage, and a vessel tilt device to adjusting the tilt of the vessel so as to achieve a preferred pour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, James Wampler, Frank Uellenberg, Paul Wade, Peter Dorney, Alex Whiteaker
  • Publication number: 20200126366
    Abstract: An arcade game includes a rotating and tilting prize receptacle for rotating captured prizes past an RFID antenna and dumping captured prizes back into the playing area. To improve the accuracy of reading RFID tags on the prizes, the receptacle spins to pass the captured prizes past the antenna multiple times. Each RFID tag may be assigned a serial number that is read by the RFID reader to assure that captured prizes are not counted multiple times. After the RFID tags have been read, the receptacle is tilted, preferably while still spinning, to dump the prizes back into the playing area. The captured-prize handling apparatus may include a lighted tower that surrounds the electro-mechanical elements and attracts attention to the game. The receptacle is shaped to urge the captured prizes into a position within the receptacle that enhances accurate reading of the RFID tags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Smart, Jimmy G. Dupree, JR., Alex Whiteaker, Tyler Wampler, Loren Ostema
  • Patent number: 10229387
    Abstract: Embodiments of the system can relate to information tracking of items and/or other objects associated with the items. Some embodiments can include information tracking of the use of the items and/or objects. Some embodiments can include the use of markers associated with the items. At least one of the markers may be modifiable. In at least one embodiment, a marker can be configured to generate a certain detectable property (e.g., emit a signal, have a certain pattern, have a certain color, have a certain magnetic property, etc.). During use of the item and/or object associated with the item, the marker can be used to generate tracking information. Upon changing its detectable property, the marker can be caused to generate different and/or additional tracking information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ValidFill LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Christian Kersey, Paul Wade, Alex Whiteaker
  • Publication number: 20170330137
    Abstract: Embodiments of the system can relate to information tracking of items and/or other objects associated with the items. Some embodiments can include information tracking of the use of the items and/or objects. Some embodiments can include the use of markers associated with the items. At least one of the markers may be modifiable. In at least one embodiment, a marker can be configured to generate a certain detectable property (e.g., emit a signal, have a certain pattern, have a certain color, have a certain magnetic property, etc.). During use of the item and/or object associated with the item, the marker can be used to generate tracking information. Upon changing its detectable property, the marker can be caused to generate different and/or additional tracking information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Christian Kersey, Paul Wade, Alex Whiteaker