Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Barnhart

Thomas L. Barnhart 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: 20100234087
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Hidden Image Technology Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas L. Barnhart, Joel M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 7747472
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: WS Packaging Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Barnhart
  • Publication number: 20030232639
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas L. Barnhart
  • Publication number: 20030216968
    Abstract: A system and method for attracting visitors to an online site through use of a hidden-award substrate. In particular, a system and method of distributing substrates containing a hidden image to a plurality of offline content recipients is disclosed. The hidden image may be revealed by placing the substrate in front of a revealing screen, such as a portion of a web page. To either review the revealing screen, accept the award or redeem the award, the user may be requested to input visitor information including a unique account number associated with the substrate as well as other user identifying information to enable the system to determine the effectiveness of the distribution of these devices. The system may develop and manage risk and reward sharing agreements, including a back-end revenue model in which the online content providers may pay based on the number of offline content receivers that actually visit an online destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas L. Barnhart
  • Patent number: 6629888
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may he used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas L. Barnhart
  • Publication number: 20020169672
    Abstract: A system and method for attracting visitors to an online site through use of a hidden-award substrate. In particular, a system and method of distributing substrates containing a hidden image to a plurality of offline content recipients is disclosed. The hidden image may be revealed by placing the substrate in front of a revealing screen, such as a portion of a web page. To either review the revealing screen, accept the award or redeem the award, the user may be requested to input visitor information including a unique account number associated with the substrate as well as other user identifying information to enable the system to determine the effectiveness of the distribution of these devices. The system may develop and manage risk and reward sharing agreements, including a back-end revenue model in which the online content providers may pay based on the number of offline content receivers that actually visit an online destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas L. Barnhart
  • Publication number: 20020018879
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas L. Barnhart, Joel M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 6296900
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas L. Barnhart, Joel M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5984367
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas L. Barnhart
    Inventors: Thomas L. Barnhart, Joel M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5401032
    Abstract: A game having a number of cards on which a story is written. Certain elements of the story are obscured by chromatic camouflage. A decoder having a chromatic filter may be used to view the obscured elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Cassette Productions Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Barnhart, Frank M. Smith