Patents by Inventor Michael A. Spadafora

Michael A. Spadafora 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).

  • Bonus credit system for money-operated machines
    Patent number: 7896193
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus can be placed between the money acceptor and the operative components of a gaming or vending machine to award a bonus based on predetermined utilization rates of the machine. The apparatus may incorporate dip switches to permit the number of bonuses to be varied and to change the frequency at which the bonuses are awarded. In gaming machines the bonus can be in the form of additional credits or increased play, while in vending machines the bonus can be in the form of additional credits or the dispensing of bonus product with the product purchased from the machine. Alternatively, the bonus award system can be incorporated into the money acceptor. In vending machines, a sensor may be incorporated to sense the dispensing of product from the vending machine to ascertain the utilization rate of the machine for the awarding of bonuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Spadafora
  • Trash can hold down apparatus
    Patent number: 6739565
    Abstract: A trash can hold down apparatus is attached to the sides of a conventional household trash can to permit engagement by a person's feet to restrain vertical movement of the trash can when the trash bag liner is removed from the trash can. The hold down apparatus is formed with an upright portion and an integral engagement portion that projects generally orthogonally from the upright portion. The engagement portion is free to move relative to the upright portion to allow the engagement portion to rest on the surface of the floor irrespective of the angle at which the upright portion is attached to the sides of the conventional household trash can. The upright portion is provided with an adhesive attachment device to fix the upright portion to the sides of the trash can. Preferably, the attachment device is in the form of a hook and loop fastener to permit the hold down apparatus to be detached from the trash can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Spadafora
  • Compressor bleed sensor and control for turbine type power plants
    Patent number: 3972641
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved surge control for a gas turbine type of power plant that bleeds the compressor to avoid surge and serves to isolate the effect that the engine area change has on the compressor discharge pressure rate signal to effectuate a viable signal indicative solely of acceleration and deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kermit I. Harner, William W. Hixson, Michael A. Spadafora, Charles F. Stearns
  • Wastebasket hold down attachment
    Patent number: D467697
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Spadafora