Patents by Inventor Paul Hawkins
Paul Hawkins 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).
-
Publication number: 20240149794Abstract: A roof rail includes a gasket that is formed of a liquid gasket material that is applied in a liquid state and cured to define a gasket. The liquid gasket material may be applied robotically. The liquid gasket material may be applied either before or after the roof rail is attached to a corresponding vehicle structure. The gasket may be recessed, flush, or proud relative to a lower surface of the roof rail. The liquid gasket material may be applied during the molding process of the roof rail. The roof rail may be formed of a plateable resin material, and the liquid gasket material may be non-platable and bonded bond to the plateable resin material. The roof rail having the gasket may be plated, with the plating material bonding to the areas of the roof rail that are not covered by the gasket.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2024Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Brian Wojtczak, Thomas Hawkins, Paul Nikandrou, Ryan Lacks, Nick Hrnyak
-
Patent number: 11945408Abstract: A roof rail for a vehicle is provided that is made of only one piece and is solid across its length. The roof rail may be made using a co-injection molding process, a two-shot injection molding process or an extrusion molding process.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Lacks Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Hawkins, Paul Nikandrou, Ryan Lacks, Nick Hrnyak
-
Patent number: 11776356Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine and, a method of gaming thereon, comprising: a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols during play of a game, the set of symbols including a plurality of function symbols; a display having at least a game area, the selected symbols being displayed in said game area; an outcome evaluator for determining that at least one predefined triggering criterion is satisfied; and a game area expander for expanding said game area in response to said at least one predefined triggering criterion being satisfied, such that at least one additional symbol of the set of symbols is displayed in an expanded game area.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Publication number: 20230021862Abstract: The present invention relates to gaming machines, systems and methods of gaming. There are a number of different ways available for determining an award by current gaming machines and systems. In this embodiment, a game controller is arranged to determine an award depending on the number of columns spanned by a cluster of symbols and the number of symbol positions in the cluster.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Publication number: 20220351157Abstract: A cashless gaming method including receiving payment for a selected gaming ticket having a predefined fixed value, the gaming ticket being redeemable at a cashless-enabled gaming machine for an associated amount of wagerable credits, and issuing the fixed value gaming ticket to the player responsive to receiving the payment.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventor: Ryan Paul Hawkins
-
Patent number: 11468746Abstract: The present invention relates to gaming machines, systems and methods of gaming. There are a number of different ways available for determining an award by current gaming machines and systems. In this embodiment, a game controller is arranged to determine an award depending on the number of columns spanned by a cluster of symbols and the number of symbol positions in the cluster.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITEDInventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Patent number: 11392905Abstract: A cashless gaming method including receiving payment for a selected gaming ticket having a predefined fixed value, the gaming ticket being redeemable at a cashless-enabled gaming machine for an associated amount of wagerable credits, and issuing the fixed value gaming ticket to the player responsive to receiving the payment.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Ryan Paul Hawkins
-
Publication number: 20220028216Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine and, a method of gaming thereon, comprising: a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols during play of a game, the set of symbols including a plurality of function symbols; a display having at least a game area, the selected symbols being displayed in said game area; an outcome evaluator for determining that at least one predefined triggering criterion is satisfied; and a game area expander for expanding said game area in response to said at least one predefined triggering criterion being satisfied, such that at least one additional symbol of the set of symbols is displayed in an expanded game area.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Patent number: 11151840Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine and, a method of gaming thereon, comprising: a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols during play of a game, the set of symbols including a plurality of function symbols; a display having at least a game area, the selected symbols being displayed in said game area; an outcome evaluator for determining that at least one predefined triggering criterion is satisfied; and a game area expander for expanding said game area in response to said at least one predefined triggering criterion being satisfied, such that at least one additional symbol of the set of symbols is displayed in an expanded game area.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Publication number: 20210295641Abstract: A gaming machine having a display and a user interface. At least one symbol is spun up on each of a plurality of spinning reels and displayed on the display to form outcomes. If a particular outcome occurs, the gaming machine awards an award. Each reel has an associated set of symbols. The display also displays a plurality of game options, each game option designating a respective number of free games that are each associated with a designated multiplier. A game controller (a) receives an input choosing one of the options; and (b) sequentially plays each of the number of free games according to the chosen game option. If an award is payable as a result of playing the number of free games, that award is modified by the designated multiplier associated with the respective number of free games for the chosen game option.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis
-
Publication number: 20210201629Abstract: The present invention relates to gaming machines, systems and methods of gaming. There are a number of different ways available for determining an award by current gaming machines and systems. In this embodiment, a game controller is arranged to determine an award depending on the number of columns spanned by a cluster of symbols and the number of symbol positions in the cluster.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Patent number: 11043063Abstract: A gaming machine having a display and a user interface. At least one symbol is spun up on each of a plurality of spinning reels and displayed on the display to form outcomes. If a particular outcome occurs, the gaming machine awards an award. Each reel has an associated set of symbols. The display also displays a plurality of game options, each game option designating a respective number of free games that are each associated with a designated multiplier. A game controller (a) receives an input choosing one of the options; and (b) sequentially plays each of the number of free games according to the chosen game option. If an award is payable as a result of playing the number of free games, that award is modified by the designated multiplier associated with the respective number of free games for the chosen game option.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Inventors: Robert Honeycutt, Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis
-
Patent number: 10964173Abstract: The present invention relates to gaming machines, systems and methods of gaming. There are a number of different ways available for determining an award by current gaming machines and systems. In this embodiment, a game controller is arranged to determine an award depending on the number of columns spanned by a cluster of symbols and the number of symbol positions in the cluster.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITEDInventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Publication number: 20210042715Abstract: A cashless gaming method including receiving payment for a selected gaming ticket having a predefined fixed value, the gaming ticket being redeemable at a cashless-enabled gaming machine for an associated amount of wagerable credits, and issuing the fixed value gaming ticket to the player responsive to receiving the payment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventor: Ryan Paul Hawkins
-
Patent number: 10817851Abstract: A cashless gaming method including receiving payment for a selected gaming ticket having a predefined fixed value, the gaming ticket being redeemable at a cashless-enabled gaming machine for an associated amount of wagerable credits, and issuing the fixed value gaming ticket to the player responsive to receiving the payment.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Ryan Paul Hawkins
-
Patent number: 10788327Abstract: An apparatus includes input circuitry and processor circuitry. The input circuitry is configured to receive, from a camera attached to a vehicle, a plurality of images as the vehicle travels along the track. The processor circuitry is configured to, for at least one of the plurality of captured images, perform feature recognition on the image, to assign an indicator to at least one recognised feature in the image indicative of a suitability of the at least one recognised feature for adjusting the position of the vehicle on the map. The processor circuitry is configured to, for each recognised feature in the image with the indicator, adjust the position of the vehicle on the map when the recognised feature is represented in the map of the track, and add a representation of the recognised feature to the map when the recognised feature is not represented in the map of the track.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Europe B.V.Inventors: Paul Hawkins, Luke Dodd
-
Publication number: 20190371121Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine and, a method of gaming thereon, comprising: a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols during play of a game, the set of symbols including a plurality of function symbols; a display having at least a game area, the selected symbols being displayed in said game area; an outcome evaluator for determining that at least one predefined triggering criterion is satisfied; and a game area expander for expanding said game area in response to said at least one predefined triggering criterion being satisfied, such that at least one additional symbol of the set of symbols is displayed in an expanded game area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Patent number: 10410068Abstract: A method of determining the position of an object in a scene, comprising: receiving captured images of the scene, each image being captured from a different field of view of the scene, wherein a portion of the scene with a volume comprises a detectable object, the volume is divided into volume portions, and each volume portion is within the captured field of view of at least two of the captured images so that an image of each volume portion appears in the at least two of the captured images; detecting, for each volume portion in each of the captured images within which an image of that volume portion appears, whether or not an image of one of the detectable objects in the scene is positioned within a distance of the position of the image of that volume portion, a correspondence between the images of the detectable objects detected in the at least two of the images is established, the correspondence indicating that the images of the detectable objects detected in the at least two of the images correspond to aType: GrantFiled: June 2, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Europe LimitedInventors: Luke Dodd, Paul Hawkins
-
Patent number: 10395475Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine and, a method of gaming thereon, comprising: a symbol selector for selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols during play of a game, the set of symbols including a plurality of function symbols; a display having at least a game area, the selected symbols being displayed in said game area; an outcome evaluator for determining that at least one predefined triggering criterion is satisfied; and a game area expander for expanding said game area in response to said at least one predefined triggering criterion being satisfied, such that at least one additional symbol of the set of symbols is displayed in an expanded game area.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUDTRALIA PTY LTD.Inventors: Ryan Paul Hawkins, Yanis Tsombanidis, Stephanie Johns, Robert Honeycutt
-
Publication number: 20180216943Abstract: The present technique provides an apparatus for determining a position of a vehicle on a track, the apparatus comprising: a storage medium operable to store a map of the track comprising a representation of one or more features of the track and to store a position of the vehicle on the map; input circuitry operable to receive, from a camera attached to the vehicle, a plurality of images captured by the camera as the vehicle travels along the track; and processor circuitry operable, for at least one of the plurality of captured images: to perform feature recognition on the image, to assign an indicator to at least one recognised feature in the image indicative of the suitability of the at least one recognised feature for adjusting the position of the vehicle on the map based on the recognised feature, and for each recognised feature in the image with an indicator which indicates that the recognised feature is suitable for adjusting the position of the vehicle on the map based on the recognised feature: when thType: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Europe LimitedInventors: Paul HAWKINS, Luke DODD