Patents by Inventor Thomas Parham

Thomas Parham 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: 8657229
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided, including an actuator system that may be connected to a wing frame for controlling an active element. The actuator system may include sliding elements movable along an axis parallel to the span-wise axis of the wing. The sliding elements may be connected to fixed elements and a crank element, the crank element generally comprising a beam element and a pivot element. The beam element may be offset from the pivot element so that the crank element is rotatable about the pivot element with a negative stiffness under an external force that tends to pull the sliding elements away from the fixed elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Troy C Schank, Peter H Kintzinger, Paul B Sherrill, Thomas Parham
  • Publication number: 20130296029
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining an event at a gaming device during game play for a first player. One or more bonus event symbols are determined in response to the event. The method sends the one or more bonus event symbols for a bonus game to a second player. When one or more of the bonus event symbols match a predetermined outcome, the second player is awarded a bonus award. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a bonus event symbol from a second gaming device during game play on a first gaming device for a first player. It is determined if the bonus event symbol provides a match to a predetermined outcome. The second player is awarded a bonus award if the match is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Tyler Thomas Parham
  • Publication number: 20130145737
    Abstract: In one contemplated embodiment, the present invention is a liquid delivery device for attaching to a walk-behind lawn mower or other similar machine. The device includes at least one means for attaching the device to the machine, and preferably a pair of straps for releasably attaching the tank assembly to the handle-portion of the lawn mower. The device includes the tank body assembly having at least one vertical sidewall coupled to a closed bottom at an end opposite an open top to define an interior volume. A cap selectively seals the open top and includes a pressurizing assembly. A wand assembly is operationally coupled to the fluid storage tank assembly, the wand assembly includes a hose operationally coupled to the interior volume of the tank assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Parham
  • Publication number: 20130082136
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided, including an actuator system that may be connected to a wing frame for controlling an active element. The actuator system may include sliding elements movable along an axis parallel to the span-wise axis of the wing. The sliding elements may be connected to fixed elements and a crank element, the crank element generally comprising a beam element and a pivot element. The beam element may be offset from the pivot element so that the crank element is rotatable about the pivot element with a negative stiffness under an external force that tends to pull the sliding elements away from the fixed elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Troy C Schank, Peter H Kintzinger, Paul B Sherrill, Thomas Parham
  • Publication number: 20120172111
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes dealing a first hand of cards for a poker game. A draw input is received for a draw for the first hand of cards. The method deals one or more cards from at least one card for an additional hand during or after the draw for the first hand of cards and determines if a card in the first hand matches a card in the additional hand. If the match is determined, the method performs: determining a bonus feature and applying the bonus feature to game play of the poker game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: LEAP FORWARD GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, Ali Saffari, Kirk Frederick Korver
  • Publication number: 20110130196
    Abstract: A method receives information for a pay table for a game. The pay table including a first set of fixed payouts for a set of outcomes that are possible when playing the game. Information is received for at least a portion of the set of outcomes, the information including an independently specified balancing point between a minimum and a maximum for each of the at least a portion of the set of outcomes. A second set of payouts for the set of outcomes is determined. The at least portion of the second set of payouts includes, for each of the at least a portion of the set of outcomes, a random payout dynamically generated using the balancing point to be between the minimum and maximum. A random payout in the second set of payouts for an outcome is different from the fixed payout in the first set of payouts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: GAMING ENHANCEMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, Richard E. Michaelson, William K. Bertram
  • Patent number: 7887415
    Abstract: A method of providing a game for a gaming device using random payout from a prize pool, the game including a plurality of possible game outcomes, is provided. The method comprises: receiving, at the gaming device, a wager amount; receiving an input to initiate game play; and qualifying the wager amount to win a random award from the prize pool for each of at least two game outcomes from the plurality of game outcomes. A predetermined average pool size for the progressive prize pool is stored. A random payout is calculated using a function that calculates the random payout using a specified minimum amount, a specified maximum amount, and a specified average value. The specified average value is independently specified between the specified minimum value and specified maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Gaming Enhancements, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, Richard E. Michaelson, William K. Bertram
  • Patent number: 7871328
    Abstract: A wager amount from a player is received. A programmer input of information based on a specified average value, a specified minimum value, and a specified maximum value is determined. The specified average value is independently specified between the specified minimum value and specified maximum value. A portion of non-gaming revenues is allocated to the progressive prize pool. A random amount is calculated from the progressive prize pool using a function that calculates the random amount using the specified minimum value, the specified maximum value and the specified average value. The calculated random amount is generated between the specified minimum value and the specified maximum value and the function is configured to calculate random amounts that average over time substantially the specified average value. The player is eligible to win the random amount from the progressive prize pool in which the portion of non-gaming revenues was allocated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Gaming Enhancements, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, Richard E. Michaelson, William K. Bertram
  • Patent number: 7811168
    Abstract: A method of providing a game for a gaming device using random payout from a prize pool, the game including a plurality of possible game outcomes, is provided. The method comprises: receiving, at the gaming device, a wager amount; receiving an input to initiate game play; and qualifying the wager amount to win a random award from the prize pool for each of at least two game outcomes from the plurality of game outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Gaming Enhancement, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, Richard E. Michaelson, William K. Bertram
  • Publication number: 20100124987
    Abstract: A random community bonus having a plurality of bonus awards. A threshold is randomly selected for awarding the community bonus. The random threshold may be the number of bonus awards that players qualify for. The bonus awards are displayed on a screen. A maximum of M number of awards, such as ten awards, may be shown on the screen. After the threshold is set, eligible players playing an underlying primary game are qualified for the community bonus. The number of qualified players cannot be more than the threshold value. A compensatory award can be received if a player opts out. A running count of eligible players that have qualified for the community bonus game is also displayed. When the number of eligible players or the number of bonus awards qualified for reaches the threshold value, the community bonus is triggered to award at least one bonus award to each and every qualified player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: GAMING ENHANCEMENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Tyler Thomas Parham
  • Patent number: 7575517
    Abstract: A method of providing a game for a gaming device is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of average values. Average values in the plurality of average values represent different values of a prize pool. A wager amount and an input to initiate game play are received. An average value is selected from the plurality of average values and a random award is determined from the prize pool. The random award is determined from the average value selected from the plurality of average values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Gaming Enhancements, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, William K. Bertram
  • Publication number: 20090197674
    Abstract: A method of providing a game for a gaming device is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of average values. Average values in the plurality of average values represent different values of a prize pool. A wager amount and an input to initiate game play are received. An average value is selected from the plurality of average values and a random award is determined from the prize pool. The random award is determined from the average value selected from the plurality of average values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Gaming Enhancements, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, William K. Bertram
  • Patent number: 7172198
    Abstract: A player makes a wager and initiates game play, dealing a first hand of at least five cards all face up to the player. The player may hold none, one or more of the face up cards and draw replacement cards for the unheld cards. The player also has the options to wager on and duplicate none, one or more of the dealt cards into one or more five-card hands. If the player holds none of the cards and duplicates the dealt cards only, the player can hold the cards in the dealt hand and the duplicated hands in any traditional manner the player selects. The player is also given the option to select none, one or more winning outcomes for one or more of the five card hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Tyler Thomas Parham
  • Patent number: 6626758
    Abstract: The method of the present invention allows a player who bets the proper wager amount and initiates game play on one or more new or existing electronic or computer-controlled gaming devices, to become eligible to win one or more randomly selected monetary percentages as a function of a random number from 0 to 100% of an entire fixed or progressed prize pool with or without regard to game outcome. If the gaming device is networked to a progressive gaming system, a percentage of each gaming wager from at least one gaming device and/or a percentage of non-gaming revenues e.g., rooms, food, beverage, etc., may be contributed to the total progressive pool amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Gaming Enhancements, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Thomas Parham, Richard E. Michaelson
  • Publication number: 20030173742
    Abstract: A player makes a wager and initiates game play, dealing a first hand of at least five cards all face up to the player. The player may hold none, one or more of the face up cards and draw replacement cards for the unheld cards. The player also has the options to wager on and duplicate none, one or more of the dealt cards into one or more five-card hands. If the player holds none of the cards and duplicates the dealt cards only, the player can hold the cards in the dealt hand and the duplicated hands in any traditional manner the player selects. The player is also given the option to select none, one or more winning outcomes for one or more of the five card hands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Tyler Thomas Parham