Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Sears

Thomas M. Sears 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: 11948426
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. The payment vehicle can be, for example, a credit payment vehicle or a debit payment vehicle. The player can load funds from the financial account to a wagering account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sightline Payments LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11908279
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Sightline Payments LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20240029513
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing a casino level player account associated with a gaming environment. The casino level player account is associated with a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Funds held within the casino level player account can be used for wagering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11881084
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player loyalty account of a player with a stored value account. The player can accumulate loyalty points over time. The accumulated loyalty points can be converted to value, such as cash or coupons, associated with the stored value account. The value can be accessed by the player through the use of a stored value payment vehicle associated with the stored value account. The value added to the stored value account can be restricted such that the use of the value is limited to particular merchants or particular types of transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sightline Payments LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20230410596
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for provisionally crediting a financial account of a gaming environment based on player funds received by gaming devices in the form of wagers. The financial account can be maintained at a financial institution. The player funds can be currency, electronic funds, or combinations therefor. Once the currency is physically transferred to the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Similarly, for wagers using electronic funds, once the settled funds are received by the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Using provisional credits, benefits from the funds can be enjoyed by the gaming operator prior to the physical currency and/or settled funds being received and processed by the financial institution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11798363
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing a casino level player account associated with a gaming environment. The casino level player account is associated with a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Funds held within the casino level player account can be used for wagering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SIGHTLINE PAYMENTS LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11735001
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for provisionally crediting a financial account of a gaming environment based on player funds received by gaming devices in the form of wagers. The financial account can be maintained at a financial institution. The player funds can be currency, electronic funds, or combinations therefor. Once the currency is physically transferred to the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Similarly, for wagers using electronic funds, once the settled funds are received by the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Using provisional credits, benefits from the funds can be enjoyed by the gaming operator prior to the physical currency and/or settled funds being received and processed by the financial institution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Sightline Payments LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20230169825
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11568712
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SIGHTLINE PAYMENTS LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11551520
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. The payment vehicle can be, for example, a credit payment vehicle or a debit payment vehicle. The player can load funds from the financial account to a wagering account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SIGHTLINE PAYMENTS LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20220319277
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player loyalty account of a player with a stored value account. The player can accumulate loyalty points over time. The accumulated loyalty points can be converted to value, such as cash or coupons, associated with the stored value account. The value can be accessed by the player through the use of a stored value payment vehicle associated with the stored value account. The value added to the stored value account can be restricted such that the use of the value is limited to particular merchants or particular types of transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20220223006
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a stored value account. The stored value account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a stored value payment vehicle. The stored value payment vehicle can be a reloadable stored value payment vehicle or a non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the stored value payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11367326
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player loyalty account of a player with a stored value account. The player can accumulate loyalty points over time. The accumulated loyalty points can be converted to value, such as cash or coupons, associated with the stored value account. The value can be accessed by the player through the use of a stored value payment vehicle associated with the stored value account. The value added to the stored value account can be restricted such that the use of the value is limited to particular merchants or particular types of transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Sightline Payments LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20220122418
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for provisionally crediting a financial account of a gaming environment based on player funds received by gaming devices in the form of wagers. The financial account can be maintained at a financial institution. The player funds can be currency, electronic funds, or combinations therefor. Once the currency is physically transferred to the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Similarly, for wagers using electronic funds, once the settled funds are received by the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Using provisional credits, benefits from the funds can be enjoyed by the gaming operator prior to the physical currency and/or settled funds being received and processed by the financial institution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11302146
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a stored value account. The stored value account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a stored value payment vehicle. The stored value payment vehicle can be a reloadable stored value payment vehicle or a non-reloadable stored value payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the stored value payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sightline Payments LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20220028217
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing a casino level player account associated with a gaming environment. The casino level player account is associated with a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Funds held within the casino level player account can be used for wagering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11210897
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for provisionally crediting a financial account of a gaming environment based on player funds received by gaming devices in the form of wagers. The financial account can be maintained at a financial institution. The player funds can be currency, electronic funds, or combinations therefor. Once the currency is physically transferred to the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Similarly, for wagers using electronic funds, once the settled funds are received by the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Using provisional credits, benefits from the funds can be enjoyed by the gaming operator prior to the physical currency and/or settled funds being received and processed by the financial institution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SIGHTLINE PAYMENTS LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20210233352
    Abstract: A transaction facilitation system is disclosed that is configured to affect crediting and debiting of gaming accounts for two or more gaming environments and structured to communicate with an issuing financial institution of a stored value account to affect crediting and debiting of the stored value accounts. The two or more gaming environments can be members of an alliance of gaming environments that are associated with the stored value account. Financial transactions using the stored value account can be used for customer relationship purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Patent number: 11074783
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing a casino level player account associated with a gaming environment. The casino level player account is associated with a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Funds held within the casino level player account can be used for wagering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SIGHTLINE INTERACTIVE LLC
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar
  • Publication number: 20210225123
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. The payment vehicle can be, for example, a credit payment vehicle or a debit payment vehicle. The player can load funds from the financial account to a wagering account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Kirk E. Sanford, Thomas M. Sears, Omer Sattar