Surgical tool holder with engagement portions
Patent 7,857,271
A surgical tool holder that includes a holding member with a clamping jaw, which is movable between open and clamping positions. A gripping member is configured to supportingly grip a surgical tool and is selectively placed in a rotatable or fixed association with the holding member. Engagement portions of the holding member and gripping member are engagable to block rotation therebetween to obtain the fixed association.
Inventors: John Lees (Richmond)
Assignee: Automated Medical Products Corporation (Sewaren, N.J.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Food product checking system and method for identifying and grading food products
Patent 7,860,277
A food product checking system for at least one of identification and grading of food products packed in a tray is provided, comprising a tray positioning area, an illumination device for illuminating the food product with white light, at least one camera for taking images of the illuminated food product, and an evaluation device for image processing of taken images, wherein the evaluation device is adapted to perform a color analysis of taken images.
Inventors: Steven Mulder (Mechanicsville); Calvin Gray (Richmond); Paul Scardino (Layton, Utah.)
Assignee: Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG (Balingen, Germany)
Dec. 28, 2010
Replaceable hand grip
Patent 7,861,380
The replaceable elastic hand grip for framed mobility devices such as walkers that have a substantially elliptical gripping portion with at least one hole, the replaceable hand grip includes a substantially elliptical hand grip cover which includes an opening to form a C-shape cross section for securely installing the grip over the gripping portion of the frame of the mobility device. The hand grip further includes a mechanical means, such as a normally mounted pin on the inner surface of the grip cover that mates with the hole of the gripping portion of the mobility device so that the hand grip is prevented from slipping. The elastic and non-absorbent hand grip provides a replaceable, sanitary, stable grasping point for the user of the framed mobility device.
Inventors: Garry Moore (Chesterfield); Joseph Battiston (Sutherland, Va.)
Assignee: Tubular Fabricators Industry Inc. (Petersburg)
Jan. 4, 2011
Method of making reconstituted tobacco with bonded flavorant
Patent 7,856,988
A process of manufacturing a reconstituted tobacco material is provided which includes: preparing a heated mixture of water and sugar; providing a liquid flavorant such as menthol; mixing tobacco particles, water and a gum binder with the mixture of water and sugar and with the flavorant to form a reconstituted tobacco mixture; and forming the reconstituted tobacco mixture, such as by casting or extruding the reconstituted tobacco mixture, into a reconstituted tobacco material. Exemplary menthol reconstituted tobacco products provided herein enable high levels of menthol to be retained in a tobacco product.
Inventors: Szu-Sung Yang (Midlothian); Trevor Gentry (Midlothian); Robley Pitts Jr. (Midlothian); Ricky Bowman (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 28, 2010
Method and system for authorizing card account transactions by geographic region
Patent 7,857,212
A method and system for authorizing card account transactions by geographic region by providing data for a user interface displaying geographic regions and merchant locations each corresponding to the location of a merchant where a transaction using a card account may be initiated, receiving a user interface selection representing a request to authorize or restrict card account transactions, receiving authorization requests for desired transactions, and authorizing or restricting the transactions in accordance with the request.
Inventors: Michele Matthews (Richmond)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Laminated metal foil packaging material and method of making
Patent 7,857,128
A laminate including a flavorant useful for packaging cigarettes or other products such as food products. The laminate includes crosslinked polymer coatings adhered to at least two metal foils, and a volatile flavor component such as menthol is applied to one of the polymer-coated surfaces. The laminate minimizes loss of volatile and/or heat sensitive flavor components from the package during extended periods at elevated temperature which are often associated with long term storage and/or shipping.
Inventors: Sarojini Deevi (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 28, 2010
Environmentally resistant ballistic composite based on a nitrile rubber binder
Patent 7,858,540
Ballistic resistant fabrics and articles that retain superior ballistic resistance performance after exposure to liquids such as sea water and organic solvents, such as gasoline and other petroleum-based products. The fabrics are formed from high performance fibers coated with a nitrile rubber binder polymer having an acrylonitrile content of from about 15 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, and are optionally coated with a binder that is a blend of a nitrile rubber and a fluorine-containing material.
Inventors: Henry Ardiff (Chesterfield); Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond); David Hurst (Richmond); Brian Arvidson (Chester); Lori Wagner (Richmond)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
Dec. 28, 2010
High tenacity polyolefin ropes having improved strength
Patent 7,858,180
A rope comprising a plurality of high tenacity polyolefin yarns aligned in a substantially uniaxial direction along the length of the rope. The rope yarns are substantially untwisted and are substantially parallel to each other. The yarns are formed from a plurality of fibers aligned in a substantially uniaxial direction along the length of the yarns, with the fibers being substantially untwisted and being substantially parallel to each other. The fibers comprise high tenacity polyolefin fibers. Adjacent yarns are connected together by contact of their respective resin surface coatings.
Inventors: Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond); Lori Wagner (Richmond); Gregory Davis (Mechanicsville); Barbara Costain (Richmond); Henry Ardiff (Chesterfield)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Method and apparatus for the production of high tenacity polyolefin sheet
Patent 7,858,004
A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced. According to a highly preferred embodiment, initially, the nip is set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder and once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip the temperature in the nip is lowered to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and the gap increased to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle.
Inventors: Kenneth Harding (Midlothian); Gene Weedon (Richmond)
Assignee: BAE Systems Tensylon H.P.M., Inc. (Monroe, N.C.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Electrostatically produced fast dissolving fibers
Patent 7,856,989
Fibrous structures composed of electrostatically prepared polysaccharide micro- and nanofibers are described which contain active agents such as drugs and/or flavorants encapsulated within the structures. When exposed to moisture, the structures are disrupted and the active agent rapidly released. The fibrous structures containing active agents such as flavorants can be incorporated into smoking articles which, when smoked, release the flavorants.
Inventors: Georgios Karles (Richmond); Diane Gee (Richmond); John Layman (Chester)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 28, 2010
Additives for lubricants and fuels
Patent 7,863,228
A multi-functional composition for use as an additive for fuels and lubricants. The composition includes an amination product of a hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acylating agent and a mixture containing an aliphatic polyamine and an aromatic polyamine. The molar ratio of aliphatic polyamine to aromatic polyamine in the mixture ranges from about 10:0.1 to about 0.1:10. The amination product contains at least about 0.1 molar equivalent of the polyamine mixture to 1 molar equivalent of the hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acylating agent.
Inventors: John Loper (Richmond); Paul Griffin (Glen Allen); David Hutchison (Powhatan); Robert Dittmeier (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation (Richmond)
Jan. 4, 2011
Method for fabricating a capacitor
Patent 7,863,149
In a method for fabricating a capacitor that includes an electrode structure (80), an auxiliary layer (40) is formed over a substrate (10). A recess (60), which determines the shape of the electrode structure (80), is etched into the auxiliary layer (40), and the electrode structure of the capacitor is formed in the recess. As an example, the auxiliary layer can be a semiconductor layer (40).
Inventors: Srivatsa Kundalgurki (Richmond); Peter Moll (Dresden, Germany); Dirk Manger (Dresden); Kristin Schupke (Weixdorf, Germany); Till Schloesser (Dresden)
Assignee: Qimonda AG (Munich, Germany)
Jan. 4, 2011
Mixed metal catalyst additive and method for use in hydrocarbonaceous fuel combustion system
Patent 7,862,628
A hydrocarbonaceous fuel additive, fuel composition, and method all lower both carbon particulate emissions and improve slag properties in combustion systems including, for instance, utility furnaces and boiler systems. The mixed metal catalyst may include a transition metal-containing compound, an alkali metal compound, and a magnesium-containing compound.
Inventors: Stephen Factor (Richmond); Joseph Roos (Mechanicsville); Allen Aradi (Richmond)
Assignee: Ethyl Petroleum Additives, Inc. (Richmond)
Jan. 4, 2011
Integrated circuit including silicide region to inhibit parasitic currents
Patent 7,863,610
An integrated circuit is disclosed. One embodiment includes a first diode, a second diode, and a semiconductor line coupled to the first diode and the second diode. The line includes a first silicide region between the first diode and the second diode.
Inventors: Bipin Rajendran (White Plains, N.Y.); Shoaib Hasan Zaidi (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: Qimonda North America Corp. (Cary, N.C.)
International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
Jan. 4, 2011
Michael Schwartz is a BizSense reporter. Please send news tips to [email protected].
Surgical tool holder with engagement portions
Patent 7,857,271
A surgical tool holder that includes a holding member with a clamping jaw, which is movable between open and clamping positions. A gripping member is configured to supportingly grip a surgical tool and is selectively placed in a rotatable or fixed association with the holding member. Engagement portions of the holding member and gripping member are engagable to block rotation therebetween to obtain the fixed association.
Inventors: John Lees (Richmond)
Assignee: Automated Medical Products Corporation (Sewaren, N.J.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Food product checking system and method for identifying and grading food products
Patent 7,860,277
A food product checking system for at least one of identification and grading of food products packed in a tray is provided, comprising a tray positioning area, an illumination device for illuminating the food product with white light, at least one camera for taking images of the illuminated food product, and an evaluation device for image processing of taken images, wherein the evaluation device is adapted to perform a color analysis of taken images.
Inventors: Steven Mulder (Mechanicsville); Calvin Gray (Richmond); Paul Scardino (Layton, Utah.)
Assignee: Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG (Balingen, Germany)
Dec. 28, 2010
Replaceable hand grip
Patent 7,861,380
The replaceable elastic hand grip for framed mobility devices such as walkers that have a substantially elliptical gripping portion with at least one hole, the replaceable hand grip includes a substantially elliptical hand grip cover which includes an opening to form a C-shape cross section for securely installing the grip over the gripping portion of the frame of the mobility device. The hand grip further includes a mechanical means, such as a normally mounted pin on the inner surface of the grip cover that mates with the hole of the gripping portion of the mobility device so that the hand grip is prevented from slipping. The elastic and non-absorbent hand grip provides a replaceable, sanitary, stable grasping point for the user of the framed mobility device.
Inventors: Garry Moore (Chesterfield); Joseph Battiston (Sutherland, Va.)
Assignee: Tubular Fabricators Industry Inc. (Petersburg)
Jan. 4, 2011
Method of making reconstituted tobacco with bonded flavorant
Patent 7,856,988
A process of manufacturing a reconstituted tobacco material is provided which includes: preparing a heated mixture of water and sugar; providing a liquid flavorant such as menthol; mixing tobacco particles, water and a gum binder with the mixture of water and sugar and with the flavorant to form a reconstituted tobacco mixture; and forming the reconstituted tobacco mixture, such as by casting or extruding the reconstituted tobacco mixture, into a reconstituted tobacco material. Exemplary menthol reconstituted tobacco products provided herein enable high levels of menthol to be retained in a tobacco product.
Inventors: Szu-Sung Yang (Midlothian); Trevor Gentry (Midlothian); Robley Pitts Jr. (Midlothian); Ricky Bowman (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 28, 2010
Method and system for authorizing card account transactions by geographic region
Patent 7,857,212
A method and system for authorizing card account transactions by geographic region by providing data for a user interface displaying geographic regions and merchant locations each corresponding to the location of a merchant where a transaction using a card account may be initiated, receiving a user interface selection representing a request to authorize or restrict card account transactions, receiving authorization requests for desired transactions, and authorizing or restricting the transactions in accordance with the request.
Inventors: Michele Matthews (Richmond)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Laminated metal foil packaging material and method of making
Patent 7,857,128
A laminate including a flavorant useful for packaging cigarettes or other products such as food products. The laminate includes crosslinked polymer coatings adhered to at least two metal foils, and a volatile flavor component such as menthol is applied to one of the polymer-coated surfaces. The laminate minimizes loss of volatile and/or heat sensitive flavor components from the package during extended periods at elevated temperature which are often associated with long term storage and/or shipping.
Inventors: Sarojini Deevi (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 28, 2010
Environmentally resistant ballistic composite based on a nitrile rubber binder
Patent 7,858,540
Ballistic resistant fabrics and articles that retain superior ballistic resistance performance after exposure to liquids such as sea water and organic solvents, such as gasoline and other petroleum-based products. The fabrics are formed from high performance fibers coated with a nitrile rubber binder polymer having an acrylonitrile content of from about 15 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, and are optionally coated with a binder that is a blend of a nitrile rubber and a fluorine-containing material.
Inventors: Henry Ardiff (Chesterfield); Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond); David Hurst (Richmond); Brian Arvidson (Chester); Lori Wagner (Richmond)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
Dec. 28, 2010
High tenacity polyolefin ropes having improved strength
Patent 7,858,180
A rope comprising a plurality of high tenacity polyolefin yarns aligned in a substantially uniaxial direction along the length of the rope. The rope yarns are substantially untwisted and are substantially parallel to each other. The yarns are formed from a plurality of fibers aligned in a substantially uniaxial direction along the length of the yarns, with the fibers being substantially untwisted and being substantially parallel to each other. The fibers comprise high tenacity polyolefin fibers. Adjacent yarns are connected together by contact of their respective resin surface coatings.
Inventors: Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond); Lori Wagner (Richmond); Gregory Davis (Mechanicsville); Barbara Costain (Richmond); Henry Ardiff (Chesterfield)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Method and apparatus for the production of high tenacity polyolefin sheet
Patent 7,858,004
A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced. According to a highly preferred embodiment, initially, the nip is set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder and once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip the temperature in the nip is lowered to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and the gap increased to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle.
Inventors: Kenneth Harding (Midlothian); Gene Weedon (Richmond)
Assignee: BAE Systems Tensylon H.P.M., Inc. (Monroe, N.C.)
Dec. 28, 2010
Electrostatically produced fast dissolving fibers
Patent 7,856,989
Fibrous structures composed of electrostatically prepared polysaccharide micro- and nanofibers are described which contain active agents such as drugs and/or flavorants encapsulated within the structures. When exposed to moisture, the structures are disrupted and the active agent rapidly released. The fibrous structures containing active agents such as flavorants can be incorporated into smoking articles which, when smoked, release the flavorants.
Inventors: Georgios Karles (Richmond); Diane Gee (Richmond); John Layman (Chester)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
Dec. 28, 2010
Additives for lubricants and fuels
Patent 7,863,228
A multi-functional composition for use as an additive for fuels and lubricants. The composition includes an amination product of a hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acylating agent and a mixture containing an aliphatic polyamine and an aromatic polyamine. The molar ratio of aliphatic polyamine to aromatic polyamine in the mixture ranges from about 10:0.1 to about 0.1:10. The amination product contains at least about 0.1 molar equivalent of the polyamine mixture to 1 molar equivalent of the hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acylating agent.
Inventors: John Loper (Richmond); Paul Griffin (Glen Allen); David Hutchison (Powhatan); Robert Dittmeier (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation (Richmond)
Jan. 4, 2011
Method for fabricating a capacitor
Patent 7,863,149
In a method for fabricating a capacitor that includes an electrode structure (80), an auxiliary layer (40) is formed over a substrate (10). A recess (60), which determines the shape of the electrode structure (80), is etched into the auxiliary layer (40), and the electrode structure of the capacitor is formed in the recess. As an example, the auxiliary layer can be a semiconductor layer (40).
Inventors: Srivatsa Kundalgurki (Richmond); Peter Moll (Dresden, Germany); Dirk Manger (Dresden); Kristin Schupke (Weixdorf, Germany); Till Schloesser (Dresden)
Assignee: Qimonda AG (Munich, Germany)
Jan. 4, 2011
Mixed metal catalyst additive and method for use in hydrocarbonaceous fuel combustion system
Patent 7,862,628
A hydrocarbonaceous fuel additive, fuel composition, and method all lower both carbon particulate emissions and improve slag properties in combustion systems including, for instance, utility furnaces and boiler systems. The mixed metal catalyst may include a transition metal-containing compound, an alkali metal compound, and a magnesium-containing compound.
Inventors: Stephen Factor (Richmond); Joseph Roos (Mechanicsville); Allen Aradi (Richmond)
Assignee: Ethyl Petroleum Additives, Inc. (Richmond)
Jan. 4, 2011
Integrated circuit including silicide region to inhibit parasitic currents
Patent 7,863,610
An integrated circuit is disclosed. One embodiment includes a first diode, a second diode, and a semiconductor line coupled to the first diode and the second diode. The line includes a first silicide region between the first diode and the second diode.
Inventors: Bipin Rajendran (White Plains, N.Y.); Shoaib Hasan Zaidi (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: Qimonda North America Corp. (Cary, N.C.)
International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
Jan. 4, 2011
Michael Schwartz is a BizSense reporter. Please send news tips to [email protected].