Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Banks

Thomas B. Banks 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).

  • Method and apparatus for display sequencing personalized social occasion products
    Patent number: 5559714
    Abstract: A vending machine for displaying and dispensing personalized products includes apparatus for sequentially displaying personalized products of a given type in accordance with prior viewing and sales of each personalized product. The machine includes an enclosure with selection means on the outside thereof and with storage and handling means on the inside thereof, all coupled to computer equipment which is on the inside of the enclosure. The computer equipment is programmed to facilitate a customer's creation from among designs of products of a given type by ranking each of the designs and thereafter sequentially displaying the designs in accordance with its ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas B. Banks, Daniel B. Laughlin
  • Computer controlled system for vending personalized products
    Patent number: 5546316
    Abstract: A machine is disclosed which includes an enclosure with selection and payment means on the outside thereof and with storage and handling means on the inside thereof, all coupled to computer equipment which is on the inside of the enclosure. The computer equipment is programmed to facilitate a customer's creation from among types of products to be delivered and the desired mode of personalization thereof and to deliver a completed personalized product to a receptacle from which it may be removed by the customer. The machine of the invention improves customer service and availability by periodically reporting sales and other information. In addition, the machine self detects errors of operation and provides the capability of stocking new products or software programming revisions via data transmission from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen P. Buckley, Thomas B. Banks
  • Computer controlled machine for vending personalized products or the like
    Patent number: 5513116
    Abstract: A machine for vending greeting cards or other personalized or customized products includes audio and video presentations of available products and options available to a customer, provisions for payment and apparatus for automatic delivery of products. Base products such as preprinted forms are stored for selective transfer by a robot device to modifying apparatus such as a printer, modified products being delivered to a delivery receptacle, all operations being under computer control and being changeable as desired for adding or substituting new forms of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen P. Buckley, Richard A. Robinson, Kurt A. Pfahl, Arthur E. Doerflinger, Thomas B. Banks, Lynn Vandemark