Patents by Inventor Patrick E. Morford

Patrick E. Morford 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).

  • Card dispensing apparatuses and associated methods of operation
    Patent number: 8038059
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for dispensing magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, other cards, and/or other items from kiosks and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus includes at least a first card hopper and a card transport assembly. The first card hopper is configured to hold a stack of cards that includes at least a first card stacked on a second card. The card transport assembly includes a card carrier moveable between a first position proximate to the first card hopper and a second position spaced apart from the first card hopper. The card carrier is configured to lift the first card off the second card when the card carrier is in the first position. The card carrier is further configured to release the first card toward an outlet when the card carrier is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Martin, Patrick E. Morford, Gregory P. Winters
  • CARD DISPENSING APPARATUSES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF OPERATION
    Publication number: 20100308107
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for dispensing magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, other cards, and/or other items from kiosks and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus includes at least a first card hopper and a card transport assembly. The first card hopper is configured to hold a stack of cards that includes at least a first card stacked on a second card. The card transport assembly includes a card carrier moveable between a first position proximate to the first card hopper and a second position spaced apart from the first card hopper. The card carrier is configured to lift the first card off the second card when the card carrier is in the first position. The card carrier is further configured to release the first card toward an outlet when the card carrier is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas A. Martin, Patrick E. Morford, Gregory P. Winters
  • Card dispensing apparatuses and associated methods of operation
    Patent number: 7748619
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for dispensing magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, other cards, and/or other items from kiosks and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus includes at least a first card hopper and a card transport assembly. The first card hopper is configured to hold a stack of cards that includes at least a first card stacked on a second card. The card transport assembly includes a card carrier moveable between a first position proximate to the first card hopper and a second position spaced apart from the first card hopper. The card carrier is configured to lift the first card off the second card when the card carrier is in the first position. The card carrier is further configured to release the first card toward an outlet when the card carrier is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Martin, Patrick E. Morford, Gregory P. Winters