Patents by Inventor Bradley M. Appelhans

Bradley M. Appelhans 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).

  • Food/beverage vending machine with adjustable delivery delays
    Patent number: 10854034
    Abstract: A method and system for encouraging the selection of healthy products with a vending machine are provided. The method includes providing a vending machine that displays an inventory of products. Each product of the inventory of products includes a dispensing countdown time displayed on the vending machine. The method also includes receiving a first customer selection of a first product from the inventory of products, where the first product has a first dispensing countdown time. Additionally, the method includes actuating a countdown timer to count down to zero seconds from the first dispensing countdown time. The method also includes dispensing the first product once the countdown timer reaches zero seconds. The first product is only dispensed if a customer does not select a second product having a second dispensing countdown time before the first dispensing countdown time counts down to zero seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Rush University Medical Center
    Inventor: Bradley M. Appelhans
  • Food/Beverage Vending Machine with Adjustable Delivery Delays
    Publication number: 20190304237
    Abstract: A method and system for encouraging the selection of healthy products with a vending machine are provided. The method includes providing a vending machine that displays an inventory of products. Each product of the inventory of products includes a dispensing countdown time displayed on the vending machine. The method also includes receiving a first customer selection of a first product from the inventory of products, where the first product has a first dispensing countdown time. Additionally, the method includes actuating a countdown timer to count down to zero seconds from the first dispensing countdown time. The method also includes dispensing the first product once the countdown timer reaches zero seconds. The first product is only dispensed if a customer does not select a second product having a second dispensing countdown time before the first dispensing countdown time counts down to zero seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Rush University Medical Center
    Inventor: Bradley M. Appelhans
  • Food/beverage vending machine with adjustable delivery delays
    Patent number: 10325441
    Abstract: A method and system for encouraging the selection of healthy products with a vending machine are provided. The method includes providing a vending machine that displays an inventory of products. Each product of the inventory of products includes a dispensing countdown time displayed on the vending machine. The method also includes receiving a first customer selection of a first product from the inventory of products, where the first product has a first dispensing countdown time. Additionally, the method includes actuating a countdown timer to count down to zero seconds from the first dispensing countdown time. The method also includes dispensing the first product once the countdown timer reaches zero seconds. The first product is only dispensed if a customer does not select a second product having a second dispensing countdown time before the first dispensing countdown time counts down to zero seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Rush University Medical Center
    Inventor: Bradley M. Appelhans
  • Food/Beverage Vending Machine with Adjustable Delivery Delays
    Publication number: 20170270739
    Abstract: A method and system for encouraging the selection of healthy products with a vending machine are provided. The method includes providing a vending machine that displays an inventory of products. Each product of the inventory of products includes a dispensing countdown time displayed on the vending machine. The method also includes receiving a first customer selection of a first product from the inventory of products, where the first product has a first dispensing countdown time. Additionally, the method includes actuating a countdown timer to count down to zero seconds from the first dispensing countdown time. The method also includes dispensing the first product once the countdown timer reaches zero seconds. The first product is only dispensed if a customer does not select a second product having a second dispensing countdown time before the first dispensing countdown time counts down to zero seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Rush University Medical Center
    Inventor: Bradley M. Appelhans