Patents by Inventor Loren Ostema

Loren Ostema 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: 11939203
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disbursing system including a dispensing unit and a read area having at least two readers. Each of the at least two readers is configured to generate a signal when detecting a marker disposed on a beverage container. The beverage container includes at least two markers. The system includes a switch in electro-mechanical connection with the dispensing unit. The system includes a control module in operative connection with the switch and in communication with the at least two readers. When the at least two readers generate at least two signals detecting at least two markers, the control module actuates the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: VALIDFILL, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Dorney, Loren Ostema
  • Publication number: 20230109097
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disbursing system including a dispensing unit and a read area having at least two readers. Each of the at least two readers is configured to generate a signal when detecting a marker disposed on a beverage container. The beverage container includes at least two markers. The system includes a switch in electro-mechanical connection with the dispensing unit. The system includes a control module in operative connection with the switch and in communication with the at least two readers. When the at least two readers generate at least two signals detecting at least two markers, the control module actuates the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Dorney, Loren Ostema
  • Publication number: 20210387844
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a touchless valve device including an emitter configured to emit an emission. The device includes a receiver configured to detect the emission. The receiver is positioned within an emission path of the emitter. The receiver is configured to, upon detection of the emission by the receiver, the receiver generates a first signal. The receiver is configured to generate a second signal when the receiver does not detect the emission. The receiver is configured to transmit the first signal and/or the second signal to a processor that controls a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Tyler Wampler, Kolby Wade, Loren Ostema, Paul Wade
  • 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: 20210074128
    Abstract: A crane-style arcade game has an enclosed prize chamber wherein the prizes comprise RFID tags with assigned point values. an RFID reader reads the RFID tag on a captured prize as the captured prize is moved past the RFID reader. A recording device is connected to the RFID reader to record the assigned point values of the RFID tags of captured prizes read by the RFID reader. A rotary table mechanism is used to move a captured prize past the RFID reader and then to a storage area below the enclosed prize chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Smart, Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Clarence Wygal Mabe
  • Patent number: 10839651
    Abstract: A crane-style arcade game has an enclosed prize chamber wherein the prizes comprise RFID tags with assigned point values. an RFID reader reads the RFID tag on a captured prize as the captured prize is moved past the RFID reader. A recording device is connected to the RFID reader to record the assigned point values of the RFID tags of captured prizes read by the RFID reader. A rotary table mechanism is used to move a captured prize past the RFID reader and then to a storage area below the enclosed prize chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Smart Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Smart, Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Clarence W. Mabe
  • 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: 20180137718
    Abstract: A crane-style arcade game has an enclosed prize chamber wherein the prizes comprise RFID tags with assigned point values. an RFID reader reads the RFID tag on a captured prize as the captured prize is moved past the RFID reader. A recording device is connected to the RFID reader to record the assigned point values of the RFID tags of captured prizes read by the RFID reader. A rotary table mechanism is used to move a captured prize past the RFID reader and then to a storage area below the enclosed prize chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Smart, Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Clarence W. Mabe
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8408255
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ValidFill, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Ken Kemski, Peter Dorney
  • Patent number: 8245739
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ValidFill, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wade, Loren Ostema, Ken Kemski, Peter Dorney