Bizarre Patents
Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7665659 | Product display A display includes a visual aspect and, in certain embodiments, a sampling aspect. The visual aspect displays items of visual interest to a consumer. Product samples are associated with the sampling aspect for dispensing to a consumer such that the consumer may samp... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7658327 | Virtual retail assistant The present invention, as embodied in the claims, relates to customer care management via a communications systems and methods including, in embodiments, a combination of automated and human services to be provided to a customer in a retail store environment in real... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7641113 | Systems and methods for generating revenue from banking transactions using a stored-value card Systems and methods for generating revenue from banking transactions use a kiosk to perform financial services. The kiosk determines a stored-value account related to a stored-value card for a user of the kiosk. The kiosk performs a banking transaction using the sto... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7624922 | Method and apparatus for vending a containerized liquid product utilizing an automatic self-service refill system A method and apparatus for vending a containerized fluid includes placing a machine-readable indicia on the container identifying the base fluid. The container may be filled and then distributed or distributed prior to filling through various distribution channels t... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7611053 | Ticket issuing system, storage medium and electronic ticket issuing and managing method There is provided a ticket issuing system issuing an electronic ticket for digital content to a user system attempting to utilize the digital content by means of the electronic ticket. The ticket issuing system includes a receiver that receives a request to issue th... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7611052 | Beverage dispensing system and method A beverage dispensing system includes serving spouts in fluid connection with inlet pipes locatable within beverage receptacles. The serving spouts have receptacle identifiers and are associated with prices/price groups or points/points groups. Product data sets in ... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7600678 | Method of issuing a ticket paid for by illegal payment means, and a vending machine and ticket reader for implementing the method A method of issuing a ticket, paid for with illegal payment means during a transaction between a user and a ticket vending machine, where if the payment means are identified as being illegal, the printed ticket is marked in such a manner as to enable the marked tick... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7597252 | Fuel pumping system and method A fuel pumping system includes at least one fuel pump including a fuel nozzle. Each of a plurality of vehicles has a vehicle identification positioned thereon and each of the vehicles has a panel mounted thereon. The panels each have different barcode indicia thereo... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7591421 | Radio frequency identification method and system of distributing products A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and c... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7549578 | Contents distribution system, method thereof, accounting device, contents distribution apparatus, and program A contents distribution system capable of using contents from a wireless device without using a Kiosk terminal, its method, an accounting device, a contents distribution apparatus, and a program. A wireless device 10 issues a purchase request for contents to ... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7540414 | System and method of managing a ticket order A system for managing the production of retail tickets in accordance with a ticket order includes a ticketing services bureau that receives the ticket order and a print center that prints tickets in accordance with the ticket order. The system additionally includes ... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7540413 | Radio frequency identifiers in game tickets Systems and methods of distributing, dispensing and validating game tickets provide for the use of radio frequency identifiers (RFIDS). Game ticket consumables may also be tracked with RFIDS. Ticket data such as game numbers, void if removed numbers, theme descripti... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7530494 | Multi-functional scanner for reading barcodes A device is provided for recognizing individual bar codes from selected household items and registering bar code data at a central monitoring station via a web browser on the Internet. The device includes a control module directly connected to a television and inclu... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7523861 | Radio frequency identifiers in game tickets Game ticketing systems and methods provide for the use of radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs). Game tickets such as instant lottery tickets include a substrate having game data and a removable mask covering the game data. A transponder is coupled to the substrate wh... | 04/28/2009 |
| 7516887 | Surface mountable multiformat reader for vending machine application A surface mountable multiformat card reader for vending equipment is disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a surface mountable card reader that comprises a mounting bracket for attaching to a vending machine. The surface mo... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7510116 | Lottery and gaming systems with dynamic lottery tickets In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method for conducting a dynamic lottery game, and may include determining an opening entry for the player for the dynamic lottery game. The method may also include dispensing a dynamic lottery game ticket to the player, ... | 03/31/2009 |
| 7494059 | Card dispenser having a mobile sensor holder box A card dispenser includes a dispenser body, which defines an accommodation chamber for receiving a stack of cards for dispensing, a conveying unit mounted in the dispenser body and controlled to deliver the loaded cards from the accommodation chamber through a deliv... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7481366 | Methods and systems for customer validation using an identification document and/or one or more pins The present invention provides systems and methods for remote authorization of fuel dispensing and authorization or confirmation of participation in frequent shopper programs, club memberships, and the like. In one embodiment, identification documents may be used as... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7472828 | System and method of managing a ticket order A system for managing the production of retail tickets in accordance with a ticket order includes a ticketing services bureau adapted to receive the ticket order and a print center to print tickets in accordance with the ticket order. The system additionally include... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7464866 | Print processing apparatus and method A print processing apparatus that reads and processes data to be printed in response to a print instruction for previously stored data, and prints out the data thus processed by means of an image forming unit after completing settlement processing of a print service... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7464867 | Cashless vending system with tethered payment interface The present invention relates to a cashless vending system that utilizes a tethered payment interface. The tethered payment interface is mountable on the external surface of a vending machine while the payment module portion of the system resides inside the vending ... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7458510 | Authentication of automated vending machines by wireless communications devices A wireless device includes a contactless communications facility such as a contactless Integrated Circuit (IC) card to engage in a transaction with a vending machine. The wireless device obtains credential information from the vending machine and authenticates the v... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7455223 | RFID-based method for a networked cashless vending system A cashless vending system, comprising, a plurality of vending machines, wherein each vending machine comprises a Vending Machine Controller that supports the international Multi-Drop Bus/Internal Communication Protocol standard; wherein each vending machine includes... | 11/25/2008 |
| 7448539 | Method for maintaining a customer account A customer is provided a telephone number to which a calling party incurs a charge to be connected. An account balance, which reflects funds deposited into the customer's account but not yet used by the customer, is increased in proportion to the incurred charge. Ot... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7445150 | Pre-paid credit card A method of acquiring goods and services using a pre-paid credit card, issued by either merchants in any network of merchants or service providers, a bank card network or a financial institution, credit card companies and a system for settling a used amount with the... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7441697 | Limited use pin system and method The present invention facilitates transactions by providing a limited use PIN that is associated with a primary account and/or PIN number, wherein the limited use PIN is presented to the merchant to initiate a transaction. More particularly, the system involves the ... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7444296 | Disk dispensing and retrieval system and associated methods A kiosk dispenses and receives recorded optical disk media using an interconnected system central server computer through an Internet Service Provider. The system central server contains databases and processing, and is connected to a credit verification system. The... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7440924 | Method and system for processing financial instrument deposits physically remote from a financial institution A system that includes computer hardware, computer software, apparatus, and methodology that enables individuals, businesses, and all types of organizations (both for profit and non-profit) to capture and securely transmit check images (including, but not limited to... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7438222 | Card reading arrangement including robotic card handling responsive to card sensing A card reader arrangement includes a robotic card handling device to enable reading of a user card during a card-based transaction. A card sensing device is located adjacent a card slot remotely located from a card reader. Responsive to the card sensing device sensi... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7438220 | Automated banking machine including deposit storage chest and card reader cooling device An automated banking machine includes a card reader, a display device, a currency dispenser, and a deposit storage chest. The machine can receive user deposits for storage in the chest. The machine includes a card reader cooling device. The machine can also facilita... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7439859 | RF device in drinkware to record data/initiate sequence of behavior A drinkware is provided to provide information to a receiver. The drinkware is a RF device coupled to a handheld drinking container. The RF device can receive and send RF signals and communicate with a sensory device. A transmitter can send a signal to the communica... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7428987 | Cashless vending system There is provided a cashless vending system including a vending machine 12 having a device 16 that reads transaction history information from a medium 11 and a communication device that sends transaction history information to an information cen... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7427022 | Ticket management system, terminal device, ticket management server, register device, value conversion method, computer program, and recording medium A ticket management system is provided which can perform adjustments using a ticket to which non-updatable value information is assigned together with an electronic value, according to a payment form. The ticket management system includes an IC tag attached to a mon... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7424969 | Cheque deposit at a self-service terminal A system and method for depositing a cheque at a self-service terminal such as an automated teller machine. The method comprises the steps of: transporting the cheque from an entrance slot to a process zone; determining whether to accept or reject the document; and ... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7422146 | Method and apparatus for promotion of transaction card An envelope for carrying a transaction card is provided. A transaction card is a gift certificate or the like redeemable for additional goods from a retail store or the like. The envelope includes a planar surface having a first side and a second side. A slot is cut... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7424441 | Systems and methods for integrating loyalty and stored-value programs Systems and methods are provided for operating an integrated stored-value and loyalty program within a financial infrastructure. An identifier and a packet of transaction information defining a transaction between a merchant and a customer are received at a loyalty ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7422150 | Electronic voting apparatus, system and method The voting apparatus, system and method of the invention provides at least two independently means for recording and counting votes, e.g., one associated with the voting apparatus and one separate therefrom. A preferred voting apparatus, system and method may provid... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7422148 | Apparatus and method for providing point of purchase products The present invention provides various apparatuses and methods that allow point of purchase products to be automatically dispensed. In an embodiment, the present invention operates with a self-scanning checkout and enables products to be dispensed with other retail ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7419089 | Automated banking machine which dispenses, receives and stores notes and other financial instrument sheets An automated banking machine (10) accepts deposit items such as currency, checks, gift certificates or other items of value. Deposited items after being accepted in the machine and processed are moved to the container (260). The container includes an i... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7419091 | Cash dispensing automated banking machine with disposable cash display An automated banking machine system and method is provided which is operative to display a disposable cash amount associated with an account. The disposable cash amount is calculated responsive to the current Available Balance and responsive to future debit and cred... | 09/02/2008 |