Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130304561 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A USER INCENTIVE PROGRAM USING SMART CARD TECHNOLOGY - Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large number of providers and manufactures. The loyalty system also integrates the activities associated with the user incentive program (e.g., coupon collection, storage, and redemption, etc.), with existing payment methods (e.g., charging a credit card, etc.) using smart card technology. Thus, the loyalty system allows the user to obtain savings and otherwise participate in the user incentive program without adding time consuming and tedious processing that is normally associated with coupon and rebate programs. | 11-14-2013 |
20150379550 | IDENTIFYING AND DISPENSING SPECIAL OFFERS BASED ON CURRENT AND/OR PAST TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large number of providers and manufactures. The loyalty system also integrates the activities associated with the user incentive program (e.g., coupon collection, storage, and redemption, etc.), with existing payment methods (e.g., charging a credit card, etc.) using smart card technology. Thus, the loyalty system allows the user to obtain savings and otherwise participate in the user incentive program without adding time consuming and tedious processing that is normally associated with coupon and rebate programs. | 12-31-2015 |
20160005067 | IDENTIFYING PRODUCTS OF INTEREST BASED ON A USER PROFILE - Systems and methods for providing a loyalty and rewards system that implements a user incentive program using smart card technology are provided. A loyalty system allows a user to systematically search, identify, store, and redeem electronic coupons and rebates associated with products from a large number of providers and manufactures. The loyalty system also integrates the activities associated with the user incentive program (e.g., coupon collection, storage, and redemption, etc.), with existing payment methods (e.g., charging a credit card, etc.) using smart card technology. Thus, the loyalty system allows the user to obtain savings and otherwise participate in the user incentive program without adding time consuming and tedious processing that is normally associated with coupon and rebate programs. | 01-07-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080256778 | Method for Joining Tubes - A method is provided for joining tubes. An outer tube and an inner tube are provided. An end of the inner tube is inserted into an end of the outer tube to form an overlapped region of tube wall and form a pressure tight joint between the tubes. The overlapped region of the tubes is heated. The tubes are placed in pair of dies having a die cavity adjacent to the outer tube. Pressure is introduced into the tubes to expand the overlapped region of the tubes outwardly into the die cavity and thereby form an interlocking joint between the overlapped region of the outer tube and the inner tube. | 10-23-2008 |
20090178453 | BENDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF BENDING A METAL OBJECT - A method of bending a metal object, such as a tube, is provided that uses real time, closed-loop feedback of the actual springback of the object in order to modify the applied bending force or preprogrammed bending coordinates so that the final desired bend geometry is achieved. The variability of springback from object to object is thus accounted for and the number of objects that must be scrapped due to incorrect bends (over bend or under bend) is reduced. The method is carried out using an apparatus such as a rotary draw bender with a measuring device operable to measure actual bend coordinates of metal objects bent by the bender. A controller is operatively connected to the bender and the measuring device and is configured to control the bender to bend the metal objects at least partly based on measured bend coordinates provided by the measuring device. | 07-16-2009 |
20100008737 | TOOL FOR AND METHOD OF FORMING AT TAPPED HOLE IN A SINGLE PASS - A tool adapted to form and method of forming a tapped hole within a workpiece in a single pass, includes a piercing section operable to punch a pilot hole in and produce a slug attached to the workpiece, and a tapping section operable to form a female thread along the periphery of the hole, and more preferably, an extruding section operable to push workpiece material away from the exterior surface defined thereby, an expanding section operable to expand the diameter of the hole, a sealing section operable to seal the hole during a hydroforming process, and a burnishing section operable to further expand and treat the periphery of the hole prior to tapping. | 01-14-2010 |
20110138633 | TOOL FOR FINISHING A WELD JOINT BETWEEN TWO WIRE ELECTRODES - A tool for scraping, grinding, smoothing, machining or otherwise finishing a weld joint between two wire electrodes, such as those used in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) systems. When two wire electrode ends are coaxially joined together by a process such as butt welding, it creates a weld joint that can jam a GMAW welding gun or other device with tight dimensional tolerances. The tool described herein may be used to finish such a weld joint so that a relatively uniform cross-sectional shape and/or size is produced across the weld joint, thus, making it less likely to jam the welding gun. According to an exemplary embodiment, the tool is designed to fit over two wire electrodes connected by a weld joint, and generally includes a housing assembly and a cutting device. | 06-16-2011 |
20110174035 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TUBE BENDER SET-UP - A method is provided for setting up a tube bender having a bend die, a clamp die, a pressure die and a wiper die. The method includes providing a test-piece having an outer surface defined by a length and a substantially round cross-section. The method also includes arranging the pressure die, the clamp die, and the wiper die relative to each other in the tube bender, and arranging the test-piece relative to the pressure die, the clamp die, and the wiper die. The method further includes applying a force by the tube bender to clamp the test-piece, and determining whether the applied force is within a predetermined range of forces. Additionally, the method includes adjusting the arrangement of at least one of the pressure die, the clamp die, and the wiper die to apply a force to the test-piece that is within the predetermined range of forces. | 07-21-2011 |