Patents by Inventor Michael R. O'Connor

Michael R. O'Connor 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: 5173851
    Abstract: A system for creating discount coupons in response to the purchases of products. Improvements disclosed include the printing of a "negative" coupon in response to the failure to purchase a particular product, and the printing of a coupon in response to the purchase of multiple triggering items, either without limitation as to the identification of the items, or with the requirement that the items fall into a predefined trade group. Other features of the invention permit the use of instantly redeemable "coupons," such that an instant discount is applied to a customer bill rather than having a coupon printed, and the logging, without printing, of possible coupon printings for statistical purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing International, Inc.
    Inventors: George W. Off, Michael C. Scroggie, Thomas L. Mindrum, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4934562
    Abstract: A waste container cover which can be vertically raised and lowered to open and close the container and rolled to either side from the open position. The cover has special tracks which ride on rollers to allow side to side movement of the cover. When the cover is above the opening, notches in the tracks are in registration with the rollers. A sliding plate in each track can be slid until inclined slots in the plate register with the notch and allow the cover to lower onto the container to tightly seal it closed. Crank and screw mechanisms operate the sliding plates. The cover can be tipped alongside either side of the container and is then supported in a vertical position by hook shaped levers which bear on pins on the container top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Aero Transportation Products
    Inventors: Stephen R. Early, Del E. Walker, Freddie L. Selby, Edward G. Spanknoble, Orville E. Blume, Michael R. O'Hanlon
  • Patent number: 4910672
    Abstract: A system for creating discount coupons in response to the purchases of products. Improvements disclosed include the printing of a "negative" coupon in response to the failure to purchase a particular product, and the printing of a coupon in response to the purchase of multiple triggering items, either without limitation as to the identification of the items, or with the requirement that the items fall into a predefined trade group. Other features of the invention permit the use of instantly redeemable "coupons," such that an instant discount is applied to a customer bill rather than having a coupon printed, and the logging, without printing, of possible coupon printings for statistical purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Off, Michael C. Scroggie, Thomas L. Mindrum, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4723212
    Abstract: Apparatus, and a corresponding method, for creating a discount coupon in response to the purchase of a product other than the one to which the coupon applies. A record pertaining to each item purchased is examined to determine whether the item is intended to trigger the creation of a coupon. If it is, at least one associated coupon deal record is retrieved, and a coupon becomes a candidate for printing, subject to a maximum number of coupons per transaction. The apparatus also validates coupons presented for redemption, scanning a list of purchased products to determine whether any falls into the same product group specified on the coupon, and also determining whether the coupon date is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas Mindrum, George Off, Michael C. Scroggie, Michael R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4664152
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes an outer housing with a central bore in communication with pressure, return and working ports in the housing, and an inner cartridge subassembly disposed in the housing bore. The subassembly being slidably and sealably receivable within, and removable from, the housing bore is composed of concentrically-nested members arranged for relative movement to define fluid flow paths within the subassembly for connecting the pressure, return and working bores in selected ways. First, the subassembly has a hollow cylinder and a by-pass sleeve press fitted within the cylinder with both adapted to be disposed in a stationary position within the outer housing. Also, a hollow valve spool plugged at its opposite ends to define an interior flow cavity is slidably received within the by-pass sleeve and axially movable to change the fluid flow paths between the housing ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Inventor: Michael R. O'Mara
  • Patent number: D359131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventors: Mark E. Stillwell, Michael R. O'Connor
  • Patent number: D359132
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventors: Mark E. Stillwell, Michael R. O'Connor