Patents by Inventor George A. Sparks

George A. Sparks 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: 8764548
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming system which may randomly generate a plurality of directional symbols. Each directional symbol may have an input direction and an output direction. The gaming system may analyze the generated directional symbols to determine whether any formed sets, chains or sequences of compatible directional symbols are associated with any awards. More specifically, the gaming system may determine whether to form any sets of compatible directional symbols based on if one or more input directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols are compatible with one or more output directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols. The gaming system then may determine and may provide a player an award based on one or more of any formed sets of compatible directional symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: George Spark-Stahl, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8641505
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming system which may randomly generate a plurality of directional symbols. Each directional symbol may have an input direction and an output direction. The gaming system may analyze the generated directional symbols to determine whether any formed sets, chains or sequences of compatible directional symbols are associated with any awards. More specifically, the gaming system may determine whether to form any sets of compatible directional symbols based on if one or more input directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols are compatible with one or more output directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols. The gaming system then may determine and may provide a player an award based on one or more of any formed sets of compatible directional symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: George Spark-Stahl, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8394496
    Abstract: Substrates prone to heat distortion may be coated with a coating composition containing chlorinated polyolefin-modified acrylic latex emulsion, polyurethane dispersion, non-gelling self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion, and glycol-based solvent. The coating composition contains sufficient non-gelling self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion and glycol-based solvent so that a 0.1 mm wet thickness layer of the coating composition will form a tack-free film when heated at 65° C. for fifteen minutes, and the glycol-based solvent is selected so that the coating composition is shelf stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Valspar Sourcing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Foster, Nellie M. Moretz, George A. Sparks, Willette D. Crosby
  • Publication number: 20130053122
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming system which may randomly generate a plurality of directional symbols. Each directional symbol may have an input direction and an output direction. The gaming system may analyze the generated directional symbols to determine whether any formed sets, chains or sequences of compatible directional symbols are associated with any awards. More specifically, the gaming system may determine whether to form any sets of compatible directional symbols based on if one or more input directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols are compatible with one or more output directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols. The gaming system then may determine and may provide a player an award based on one or more of any formed sets of compatible directional symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: George Spark-Stahl, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20130053128
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming system which may randomly generate a plurality of directional symbols. Each directional symbol may have an input direction and an output direction. The gaming system may analyze the generated directional symbols to determine whether any formed sets, chains or sequences of compatible directional symbols are associated with any awards. More specifically, the gaming system may determine whether to form any sets of compatible directional symbols based on if one or more input directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols are compatible with one or more output directions of one or more of the generated directional symbols. The gaming system then may determine and may provide a player an award based on one or more of any formed sets of compatible directional symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: George Spark-Stahl, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20100178494
    Abstract: Substrates prone to heat distortion may be coated with a coating composition containing chlorinated polyolefin-modified acrylic latex emulsion, polyurethane dispersion, non-gelling self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion, and glycol-based solvent. The coating composition contains sufficient non-gelling self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion and glycol-based solvent so that a 0.1 mm wet thickness layer of the coating composition will form a tack-free film when heated at 65° C. for fifteen minutes, and the glycol-based solvent is selected so that the coating composition is shelf stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Michael D. Foster, Nellie M. Moretz, George A. Sparks, Willette D. Crosby
  • Publication number: 20080278284
    Abstract: Methods and systems of a lockable document storage system for communicating physical documents between an entity and a customer are provided. The system includes a plurality of document storage bins coupled together to form a modular document storage unit, a first access portal associated with more than one of the plurality of document storage bins, and a second access portal associated with each of the plurality of document storage bins wherein the second access portal includes at least one of a door and a drawer configured to control access to one of the plurality of document storage bins and wherein the at least one of a door and a drawer includes a reprogrammable locking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: George Sparks Milnor, II