Work packet forecasting in a software factory
Patent 8,566,777
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for predicatively selecting which work packets will be needed by a software factory to create a deliverable custom software are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes: presenting an initial checklist that consists of a series of question groups; receiving answers to the initial checklist; in response to determining that received answers to the initial checklist indicate that a new series of questions is required to predict which work packets will be needed to create the deliverable custom software, dynamically generating a new checklist; evaluating leading indicators for the received answers; based on relevancy of answers and the leading indicators, eliminating irrelevant questions from the new checklist; and based on answers to remaining relevant questions, determining if a particular work packet will be needed to create the deliverable custom software in the software factory.
Inventors: Jarir K. Chaar (Tarrytown, N.Y.); Ronald D. Finlayson (Blythewood, S.C.); Thomas A. Jobson, Jr. (New Paltz, N.Y.); Naomi M. Mitsumori (San Jose, Calif.); Francis X. Reddington (Richmond)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
October 22, 2013
Compositions and methods for analyzing immobilized nucleic acids
Patent 8,566,038
The present invention provides methods of detecting a nucleic acid analyte in a sample. The present invention further provides a method for assigning a profile of a feature to a nucleic acid. The present invention further provides a computer program product for use in a subject method. The present invention further provides a system for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample; and a system for assigning a profile of a feature to a nucleic acid. The present invention further provides a method for immobilizing a nucleic acid onto an insoluble support; and further provides insoluble support having nucleic acid(s) immobilized thereon. The present invention further provides a method of diagnosing a disorder or condition in an individual, where the method involves use of a subject method for detecting a nucleic acid analyte.
Inventors: James K. Gimzewski (Topanga, Calif.); Bhubaneswar Mishra (New York); Jason C. Reed (Richmond)
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, Calif.); New York University (New York)
October 22, 2013
Rendering of artifacts in a virtual universe environment in response to user tags
Patent 8,564,591
Methods, services, program products and devices are provided for user-defined configuration of a rendering of a virtual universe domain environment. A first user of a virtual universe domain environment selects or defines an artifact tag comprising rendering data and a protocol for applying the tag to an artifact of the virtual universe domain, the protocol comprising a compliance prerequisite for rendering the tag information to another second user of the virtual universe domain environment. A first user requesting application of a tag to an artifact item within the virtual universe domain, causes a setting or updating of a protocol compliance value. An avatar of another, second user engaging the artifact item causes a virtual universe client of the engaging second user avatar to render the item to the second user in compliance with the tag rendering data if a set or updated compliance value meets a compliance prerequisite.
Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal (Austin, Texas); Rick A. Hamilton II (Richmond); Clifford A. Pickover (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.); James W. Seaman (Herndon, Va.)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
October 22, 2013
Botanical butter stick lip balm
Patent 8,563,048
A stick lip balm with efficacious amounts of natural moisturizer and organoleptic/sensory attributes of lip feel associated with moisturizers and emollients is provided. The lip balm of the invention comprises at least 90% botanically derived materials and can be formed into a stick sufficiently robust to substantially retain the stick shape under normal conditions of shipping, storage and usage. A method of making the stick lip balm is also provided.
Inventors: Sara Vest Magee (Glen Allen); John Oliver Bachert (Richmond); Neil Partridge (Mechanicsville); Jay Roberts Dickerson (Midlothian)
Assignee: Wyeth LLC (Madison, N.J.)
October 22, 2013
Fabric softener active composition
Patent 8,563,499
A fabric softener active composition, comprising from 65 to 95% by weight of a bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid ester having a molar ratio of fatty acid moieties to amine moieties of from 1.80 to 1.96, an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 16 to 18 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 50, from 2 to 8% by weight of a fatty acid triglyceride having an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 10 to 14 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 15, and from 3 to 12% by weight of an alcohol selected from ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol has low melt viscosity, high stability towards dealkylation in the molten state and low flammability.
Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Kohle (Mainhausen, Germany); Matthias Schoppner (Bad Soden Salmunster, Germany); Axel Euler (Steinau an der Strasse, Germany); Harald Jakob (Hasselroth, Germany); Saji John Meledathu (Chester); Todd L. Kurth (Chester); Delbert G. Young (Groveland, Ill.); Ingo Hamann (Chesterfield); Georg Schick (Krefeld, Germany)
Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH (Essen, Germany)
October 22, 2013
Opening device for outer wrapping and method for forming
Patent 8,561,378
Provided is a tamper proof outer wrapping with a reinforced tear zone. The reinforced tear zone includes a tear tape affixed between two layers of the wrapping material. A perforated line runs parallel to the reinforced tear zone on each of the reinforced tear zone. A tab is formed at one end of the reinforced tear zone. The tab is pulled to separate the reinforced tear zone from the remaining wrapping material and open remove the outer wrapping. The wrapping can be used on packages containing smoking articles such as cigarettes or orally consumed products such as candy or pouched tobacco products.
Inventors: Stephen Bellamah (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 22, 2013
Cloning virtual machines
Patent 8,566,821
While current solutions for cloning virtual machines can involve copying and duplicating files associated to a virtual machine (VM), systems and techniques can be devised to create thin clones of a VM using the VM’s associated storage system to copy and deduplicate storage for the VMs. One can create a base VM in a directory of a storage container attached to a hypervisor, and then map the storage container to a volume on a storage system. One can clone the base VM using a snapshot of respective files associated to the base VM, which can comprise creating metadata that identified a physical storage location of the files. Further, the metadata can then be copied to a desired location on the storage container, to create a VM clone. Once copied, the cloned VM can be customized and registered within the hypervisor.
Inventors: Matthew Douglas Robinson (Katonah, N.Y); Peter R. Learmonth (San Jose); Michael Vaughn Stewart (Hillsborough, N.C.); Eric Paul Forgette (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: NetApp Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.)
October 22, 2013
Slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve
Patent 8,561,798
A slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve includes a base panel, a locking panel and at least one embossment. The locking panel is integrally formed with the base panel and hingedly connected to one of the opposing end edges of the base panel to engage at least part of the sleeve to lock the base panel in the sleeve. The locking panel extends from the one of the opposing end edges of the base panel to its free end edge that is located opposed to the one of the opposing end edges of the base panel. The at least one embossment is formed on one of the opposed surfaces of the locking panel. The at least one embossment projects from the one of the opposed surfaces of the locking panel and is spaced apart from the free end edge of the locking panel.
Inventors: Christopher J. Hession (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corp. (Richmond)
October 22, 2013
Process and apparatus for direct chill casting
Patent 8,561,670
An apparatus for direct chill casting of metal having an open ended mold cavity formed by a casting surface, a refractory sleeve adapted to receive molten metal, a coolant delivery system for supplying coolant to chill the descending hot metal body, and a boron nitride ring mounted between the refractory sleeve and the peripheral wall of the mold cavity. A downspout may be used instead of a refractory sleeve having a flow control rod or floating baffle to control the amount of molten metal entering the mold cavity. A process for direct chill casting of a metal including continuously filling the cavity with molten metal and permitting the metal to move downwardly through the mold to form an ingot, and simultaneously chilling the ingot by spraying coolant on the ingot from the coolant delivery system.
Inventors: David R. Gildemeister (Murrysville, Pa.); James L. Kirby (Mechanicsville); Ray T. Richter (Murrysville, Pa.); Charles W. Shanko (Summerville, S.C.)
Assignee: Alcoa Inc. (Pittsburgh)
October 22, 2013
System and method for providing a credit card with multiple credit lines
Patent 8,560,440
A system and method for providing a credit card with multiple lines of credit. One of the disclosed methods include, for example, analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder; establishing a general purpose credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the general purpose credit line being set as a revolving credit line; establishing a private label credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the private label credit line being set as a revolving credit line; and issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established general purpose credit line and private label credit line.
Inventors: Robert Arthur Kottmeier, Jr. (Arlington, Va.); Scott Barton (Richmond)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
October 15, 2013
Shaped heater for an aerosol generating system
Patent 8,558,147
A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array. The elongate array has a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension. The array is arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol. The third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension. An electrically heated aerosol generating system can include the heater.
Inventors: Olivier Greim (Villars-Burquin, Switzerland); Felix Fernando (Wokingham, Great Britain); Charles Higgins (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Glycerine based jelly compositions
Patent 8,557,264
The present disclosure describes a replacement for petroleum jelly as a base for products which is suitable for most any application for which petroleum jelly can be used. The jelly is a glycerine based jelly composition comprising; vegetable derived glycerine and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier can be any known and/or commercially available glucoside containing emulsifier. Other suitable emulsifiers together with glycerine and essential or vegetable based oils with or without inorganic fillers may also be added to the jelly to impart fragrance, color, UVA and UVB sun protection factor(s), immuno-enhancing aromatherapeutics, as well as free radical scavenging constituents. In addition, temperature stabilizers and stiffening agents such as waxes and other inorganic fillers including silica and clays may also be added during manufacture as required. The glycerine is preferably present in the range of 50-95%. Other ingredients which may be added include vitamins and provitamins, carotenoids, as well as aloe vera gel or juice.
Inventors: Guerry L. Grune (Virginia Beach); William Wingfield (Richmond)
Assignee: 3rd Rock Sunblock, Inc. (Virginia Beach)
October 15, 2013
Mannich detergents for hydrocarbon fuels
Patent 8,557,003
New, highly effective substantially pure Mannich detergents for use in hydrocarbon fuels reduce engine deposits in spark and compression ignition internal combustion engines. The Mannich condensation reaction products are obtainable by reacting: (i) a polyamine having primary amino groups, (ii) a hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound, and (iii) an aldehyde, wherein the reaction is conducted at in a molar ratio of (i):(ii):(iii) of approximately 1:2:3 or 1:1:2. The Mannich detergent compounds may be dispersed in a liquid carrier to provide a fuel additive concentrate for hydrocarbon engine fuels which effectively control engine deposit formation in intake valves, port fuel injectors and combustion chambers.
Inventors: Dennis J. Malfer (Glen Allen); May D. Thomas (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Container device for tobacco articles
Patent 8,556,070
Some embodiments of a tobacco product package device can be used to enhance freshness and other characteristics of tobacco products or other products contained therein. Certain features can improve product freshness both during shelf life and during consumer use.
Inventors: David Karl Bried (Brentwood, Tenn.); James Arthur Strickland (Richmond); Mark T. Nielsen (Nicholasville, Ky.); Frank Scott Atchley (Midlothian); Lamar Eugene Walters, II (Brentwood, Tenn.); Gregory A. Pace (Nunnelly, Tenn.)
Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Activated carbon from microcrystalline cellulose
Patent 8,555,896
A method of forming activated carbon from microcrystalline cellulose comprises converting the microcrystalline cellulose powder into microcrystalline cellulose beads using extrusion and spheronization, carbonizing microcrystalline cellulose to form carbonized microcrystalline cellulose and activating the carbonized microcrystalline cellulose to form activated carbon. The final size of the activated carbon beads, which preferably are of practically spherical shape, can be controlled through the process of making microcrystalline cellulose beads.
Inventors: Georgios D. Karles (Richmond); Shuzhong Zhuang (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Multi-layer article comprising polyimide nanoweb
Patent 8,557,444
This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nanoweb with enhanced properties is also provided.
Inventors: Pankaj Arora (Chesterfield); Stephane Francois Bazzana (Wilmington, Del.); T. Joseph Dennes (Parkesburg, Pa.); Eric P. Holowka (Philadelphia); Lakshmi Krishnamurthy (Wilmington, Del.); Stephen Mazur (Wilmington); Glen E. Simmonds (Avondale, Pa.)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Co. (Wilmington)
October 15, 2013
Method of making a cigarette and method of reducing cytotoxicity in tobacco smoke
Patent 8,555,897
A tobacco smoking mixture including an ammonia-release compound adapted to be formed into a lit-end cigarette is provided. The ammonia-release compound is incorporated in or on tobacco cut filler in an amount effective to reduce the cytotoxicity, and/or selective smoke constituents of cigarette smoke. Exemplary ammonia-release compounds include ammonium acetate, ammonium hydroxide, hexammine cobalt (III) chloride, hexammine cobalt (III) acetate, and combinations thereof. The ammonia-release compounds can release ammonia at temperatures between about 60.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C. Ammonia-release compounds can be combined with additives, such as glycerine, cobalt acetate, copper (II) acetate, zinc acetate, other metal salts or combinations thereof, to further reduce the cytotoxicity of cigarette smoke.
Inventors: Lixin Xue (Midlothian); W. Geoffrey Chan (Chesterfield); Mohammad Hajaligol (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Mouthpiece of a smoking article
Patent D691,766
Claims the ornamental design for a mouthpiece of a smoking article.
Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian); Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian); Barry S. Smith (Hopewell); Ali A. Rostami (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Altria Client Services Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Electronic smoking article
Patent D691,765
Claims the ornamental design for an electronic smoking article.
Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian); Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian); Barry S. Smith (Hopewell); Ali A. Rostami (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Altria Client Services Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Lubricating compositions
Patent 8,557,752
There is provided an automatic transmission fluid composition comprising a major amount of a base oil; one or more friction modifiers, wherein total nitrogen content provided by the one or more friction modifiers is greater than or equal to about 300 ppm; and one or more ashless dispersants, wherein the total nitrogen content provided by the one or more ashless dispersants is greater than or equal to about 500 ppm. The automatic transmission fluid may have a kinematic viscosity at 100.degree. C. of from about 4 cSt to about 6.5 cSt and a Brookfield viscosity at -40 .degree. C. of from about 4,000 cP to about 20,000 cP.
Inventors: Nubar Ozbalik (Midlothian); Kenji Yatsunami (Tokyo, Japan); Samuel H. Tersigni (Glen Allen); Lee D. Saathoff (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Synaptotagmin and collapsin response mediator protein as biomarkers for traumatic brain injury
Patent 8,557,526
Collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) decreased in tissue and increased in biological fluids after neural injury from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Significant decreases of CRMP1, CRMP2, CRMP4 and CRMP5 were accompanied by the appearance of distinct 58 kDa (CRMP-2) or 55 kDa (CRMP-4) breakdown products from proteolytic cleavage by calpain. Synaptotagmin breakdown products were also associated with TBI and could be detected along with intact protein in human cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Both biomarkers were detected in human biofluid and related to recovery from traumatic brain injury.
Inventors: Andrew K. Ottens (Glen Allen); Firas H. Kobaissy (Gainesville, Fla.); Ka-Wang Wang (Gainesville); Ronald L. Hayes (Gainesville); Zhiqun Zhang (Gainesville); Ming Chen Liu (Gainesville); Monika Oli (Gainesville)
Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation Inc. (Gainesville); Banyan Biomarkers Inc. (Alachua, Fla.)
October 15, 2013
Asymmetrical multilateral decision support system
Patent 8,560,478
A system and methodology which can effectively provide decision makers with a better means of making decisions in a way that greatly improves the availability, reliability, and relevance of the information which they provide and use to make decisions. The system and methodology facilitates maximizing mutual utility in the context of a mutual decision between multiple users and groups of users identified generally as Parties and Counterparties and performs user specified actions based on meeting mutual threshold parameters.
Inventors: Erin C. DeSpain (Midlothian)
October 15, 2013
Silicate-containing antifog coatings
Patent 8,557,384
A coating composition comprising an alkali metal silicate, a wetting agent, and a hydrophilic antifog agent forms an antifog coating on a substrate. The coating may be applied to the surface of a film from an aqueous dispersion of the ingredients, followed by drying to form a composite film.
Inventors: Chen Zhao (Newark, Del.); Cornell Chappell Jr. (Petersburg)
Assignee: DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Limited Partnership (Chester)
October 15, 2013
Work packet forecasting in a software factory
Patent 8,566,777
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for predicatively selecting which work packets will be needed by a software factory to create a deliverable custom software are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes: presenting an initial checklist that consists of a series of question groups; receiving answers to the initial checklist; in response to determining that received answers to the initial checklist indicate that a new series of questions is required to predict which work packets will be needed to create the deliverable custom software, dynamically generating a new checklist; evaluating leading indicators for the received answers; based on relevancy of answers and the leading indicators, eliminating irrelevant questions from the new checklist; and based on answers to remaining relevant questions, determining if a particular work packet will be needed to create the deliverable custom software in the software factory.
Inventors: Jarir K. Chaar (Tarrytown, N.Y.); Ronald D. Finlayson (Blythewood, S.C.); Thomas A. Jobson, Jr. (New Paltz, N.Y.); Naomi M. Mitsumori (San Jose, Calif.); Francis X. Reddington (Richmond)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
October 22, 2013
Compositions and methods for analyzing immobilized nucleic acids
Patent 8,566,038
The present invention provides methods of detecting a nucleic acid analyte in a sample. The present invention further provides a method for assigning a profile of a feature to a nucleic acid. The present invention further provides a computer program product for use in a subject method. The present invention further provides a system for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample; and a system for assigning a profile of a feature to a nucleic acid. The present invention further provides a method for immobilizing a nucleic acid onto an insoluble support; and further provides insoluble support having nucleic acid(s) immobilized thereon. The present invention further provides a method of diagnosing a disorder or condition in an individual, where the method involves use of a subject method for detecting a nucleic acid analyte.
Inventors: James K. Gimzewski (Topanga, Calif.); Bhubaneswar Mishra (New York); Jason C. Reed (Richmond)
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, Calif.); New York University (New York)
October 22, 2013
Rendering of artifacts in a virtual universe environment in response to user tags
Patent 8,564,591
Methods, services, program products and devices are provided for user-defined configuration of a rendering of a virtual universe domain environment. A first user of a virtual universe domain environment selects or defines an artifact tag comprising rendering data and a protocol for applying the tag to an artifact of the virtual universe domain, the protocol comprising a compliance prerequisite for rendering the tag information to another second user of the virtual universe domain environment. A first user requesting application of a tag to an artifact item within the virtual universe domain, causes a setting or updating of a protocol compliance value. An avatar of another, second user engaging the artifact item causes a virtual universe client of the engaging second user avatar to render the item to the second user in compliance with the tag rendering data if a set or updated compliance value meets a compliance prerequisite.
Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal (Austin, Texas); Rick A. Hamilton II (Richmond); Clifford A. Pickover (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.); James W. Seaman (Herndon, Va.)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, N.Y.)
October 22, 2013
Botanical butter stick lip balm
Patent 8,563,048
A stick lip balm with efficacious amounts of natural moisturizer and organoleptic/sensory attributes of lip feel associated with moisturizers and emollients is provided. The lip balm of the invention comprises at least 90% botanically derived materials and can be formed into a stick sufficiently robust to substantially retain the stick shape under normal conditions of shipping, storage and usage. A method of making the stick lip balm is also provided.
Inventors: Sara Vest Magee (Glen Allen); John Oliver Bachert (Richmond); Neil Partridge (Mechanicsville); Jay Roberts Dickerson (Midlothian)
Assignee: Wyeth LLC (Madison, N.J.)
October 22, 2013
Fabric softener active composition
Patent 8,563,499
A fabric softener active composition, comprising from 65 to 95% by weight of a bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid ester having a molar ratio of fatty acid moieties to amine moieties of from 1.80 to 1.96, an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 16 to 18 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 50, from 2 to 8% by weight of a fatty acid triglyceride having an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 10 to 14 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 15, and from 3 to 12% by weight of an alcohol selected from ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol has low melt viscosity, high stability towards dealkylation in the molten state and low flammability.
Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Kohle (Mainhausen, Germany); Matthias Schoppner (Bad Soden Salmunster, Germany); Axel Euler (Steinau an der Strasse, Germany); Harald Jakob (Hasselroth, Germany); Saji John Meledathu (Chester); Todd L. Kurth (Chester); Delbert G. Young (Groveland, Ill.); Ingo Hamann (Chesterfield); Georg Schick (Krefeld, Germany)
Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH (Essen, Germany)
October 22, 2013
Opening device for outer wrapping and method for forming
Patent 8,561,378
Provided is a tamper proof outer wrapping with a reinforced tear zone. The reinforced tear zone includes a tear tape affixed between two layers of the wrapping material. A perforated line runs parallel to the reinforced tear zone on each of the reinforced tear zone. A tab is formed at one end of the reinforced tear zone. The tab is pulled to separate the reinforced tear zone from the remaining wrapping material and open remove the outer wrapping. The wrapping can be used on packages containing smoking articles such as cigarettes or orally consumed products such as candy or pouched tobacco products.
Inventors: Stephen Bellamah (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 22, 2013
Cloning virtual machines
Patent 8,566,821
While current solutions for cloning virtual machines can involve copying and duplicating files associated to a virtual machine (VM), systems and techniques can be devised to create thin clones of a VM using the VM’s associated storage system to copy and deduplicate storage for the VMs. One can create a base VM in a directory of a storage container attached to a hypervisor, and then map the storage container to a volume on a storage system. One can clone the base VM using a snapshot of respective files associated to the base VM, which can comprise creating metadata that identified a physical storage location of the files. Further, the metadata can then be copied to a desired location on the storage container, to create a VM clone. Once copied, the cloned VM can be customized and registered within the hypervisor.
Inventors: Matthew Douglas Robinson (Katonah, N.Y); Peter R. Learmonth (San Jose); Michael Vaughn Stewart (Hillsborough, N.C.); Eric Paul Forgette (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: NetApp Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.)
October 22, 2013
Slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve
Patent 8,561,798
A slide card for selective insertion and withdrawal from a sleeve includes a base panel, a locking panel and at least one embossment. The locking panel is integrally formed with the base panel and hingedly connected to one of the opposing end edges of the base panel to engage at least part of the sleeve to lock the base panel in the sleeve. The locking panel extends from the one of the opposing end edges of the base panel to its free end edge that is located opposed to the one of the opposing end edges of the base panel. The at least one embossment is formed on one of the opposed surfaces of the locking panel. The at least one embossment projects from the one of the opposed surfaces of the locking panel and is spaced apart from the free end edge of the locking panel.
Inventors: Christopher J. Hession (Mechanicsville)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corp. (Richmond)
October 22, 2013
Process and apparatus for direct chill casting
Patent 8,561,670
An apparatus for direct chill casting of metal having an open ended mold cavity formed by a casting surface, a refractory sleeve adapted to receive molten metal, a coolant delivery system for supplying coolant to chill the descending hot metal body, and a boron nitride ring mounted between the refractory sleeve and the peripheral wall of the mold cavity. A downspout may be used instead of a refractory sleeve having a flow control rod or floating baffle to control the amount of molten metal entering the mold cavity. A process for direct chill casting of a metal including continuously filling the cavity with molten metal and permitting the metal to move downwardly through the mold to form an ingot, and simultaneously chilling the ingot by spraying coolant on the ingot from the coolant delivery system.
Inventors: David R. Gildemeister (Murrysville, Pa.); James L. Kirby (Mechanicsville); Ray T. Richter (Murrysville, Pa.); Charles W. Shanko (Summerville, S.C.)
Assignee: Alcoa Inc. (Pittsburgh)
October 22, 2013
System and method for providing a credit card with multiple credit lines
Patent 8,560,440
A system and method for providing a credit card with multiple lines of credit. One of the disclosed methods include, for example, analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder; establishing a general purpose credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the general purpose credit line being set as a revolving credit line; establishing a private label credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the private label credit line being set as a revolving credit line; and issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established general purpose credit line and private label credit line.
Inventors: Robert Arthur Kottmeier, Jr. (Arlington, Va.); Scott Barton (Richmond)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
October 15, 2013
Shaped heater for an aerosol generating system
Patent 8,558,147
A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array. The elongate array has a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension. The array is arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol. The third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension. An electrically heated aerosol generating system can include the heater.
Inventors: Olivier Greim (Villars-Burquin, Switzerland); Felix Fernando (Wokingham, Great Britain); Charles Higgins (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Glycerine based jelly compositions
Patent 8,557,264
The present disclosure describes a replacement for petroleum jelly as a base for products which is suitable for most any application for which petroleum jelly can be used. The jelly is a glycerine based jelly composition comprising; vegetable derived glycerine and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier can be any known and/or commercially available glucoside containing emulsifier. Other suitable emulsifiers together with glycerine and essential or vegetable based oils with or without inorganic fillers may also be added to the jelly to impart fragrance, color, UVA and UVB sun protection factor(s), immuno-enhancing aromatherapeutics, as well as free radical scavenging constituents. In addition, temperature stabilizers and stiffening agents such as waxes and other inorganic fillers including silica and clays may also be added during manufacture as required. The glycerine is preferably present in the range of 50-95%. Other ingredients which may be added include vitamins and provitamins, carotenoids, as well as aloe vera gel or juice.
Inventors: Guerry L. Grune (Virginia Beach); William Wingfield (Richmond)
Assignee: 3rd Rock Sunblock, Inc. (Virginia Beach)
October 15, 2013
Mannich detergents for hydrocarbon fuels
Patent 8,557,003
New, highly effective substantially pure Mannich detergents for use in hydrocarbon fuels reduce engine deposits in spark and compression ignition internal combustion engines. The Mannich condensation reaction products are obtainable by reacting: (i) a polyamine having primary amino groups, (ii) a hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound, and (iii) an aldehyde, wherein the reaction is conducted at in a molar ratio of (i):(ii):(iii) of approximately 1:2:3 or 1:1:2. The Mannich detergent compounds may be dispersed in a liquid carrier to provide a fuel additive concentrate for hydrocarbon engine fuels which effectively control engine deposit formation in intake valves, port fuel injectors and combustion chambers.
Inventors: Dennis J. Malfer (Glen Allen); May D. Thomas (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Container device for tobacco articles
Patent 8,556,070
Some embodiments of a tobacco product package device can be used to enhance freshness and other characteristics of tobacco products or other products contained therein. Certain features can improve product freshness both during shelf life and during consumer use.
Inventors: David Karl Bried (Brentwood, Tenn.); James Arthur Strickland (Richmond); Mark T. Nielsen (Nicholasville, Ky.); Frank Scott Atchley (Midlothian); Lamar Eugene Walters, II (Brentwood, Tenn.); Gregory A. Pace (Nunnelly, Tenn.)
Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Activated carbon from microcrystalline cellulose
Patent 8,555,896
A method of forming activated carbon from microcrystalline cellulose comprises converting the microcrystalline cellulose powder into microcrystalline cellulose beads using extrusion and spheronization, carbonizing microcrystalline cellulose to form carbonized microcrystalline cellulose and activating the carbonized microcrystalline cellulose to form activated carbon. The final size of the activated carbon beads, which preferably are of practically spherical shape, can be controlled through the process of making microcrystalline cellulose beads.
Inventors: Georgios D. Karles (Richmond); Shuzhong Zhuang (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Multi-layer article comprising polyimide nanoweb
Patent 8,557,444
This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nanoweb with enhanced properties is also provided.
Inventors: Pankaj Arora (Chesterfield); Stephane Francois Bazzana (Wilmington, Del.); T. Joseph Dennes (Parkesburg, Pa.); Eric P. Holowka (Philadelphia); Lakshmi Krishnamurthy (Wilmington, Del.); Stephen Mazur (Wilmington); Glen E. Simmonds (Avondale, Pa.)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Co. (Wilmington)
October 15, 2013
Method of making a cigarette and method of reducing cytotoxicity in tobacco smoke
Patent 8,555,897
A tobacco smoking mixture including an ammonia-release compound adapted to be formed into a lit-end cigarette is provided. The ammonia-release compound is incorporated in or on tobacco cut filler in an amount effective to reduce the cytotoxicity, and/or selective smoke constituents of cigarette smoke. Exemplary ammonia-release compounds include ammonium acetate, ammonium hydroxide, hexammine cobalt (III) chloride, hexammine cobalt (III) acetate, and combinations thereof. The ammonia-release compounds can release ammonia at temperatures between about 60.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C. Ammonia-release compounds can be combined with additives, such as glycerine, cobalt acetate, copper (II) acetate, zinc acetate, other metal salts or combinations thereof, to further reduce the cytotoxicity of cigarette smoke.
Inventors: Lixin Xue (Midlothian); W. Geoffrey Chan (Chesterfield); Mohammad Hajaligol (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Mouthpiece of a smoking article
Patent D691,766
Claims the ornamental design for a mouthpiece of a smoking article.
Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian); Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian); Barry S. Smith (Hopewell); Ali A. Rostami (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Altria Client Services Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Electronic smoking article
Patent D691,765
Claims the ornamental design for an electronic smoking article.
Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian); Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian); Barry S. Smith (Hopewell); Ali A. Rostami (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Altria Client Services Inc. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Lubricating compositions
Patent 8,557,752
There is provided an automatic transmission fluid composition comprising a major amount of a base oil; one or more friction modifiers, wherein total nitrogen content provided by the one or more friction modifiers is greater than or equal to about 300 ppm; and one or more ashless dispersants, wherein the total nitrogen content provided by the one or more ashless dispersants is greater than or equal to about 500 ppm. The automatic transmission fluid may have a kinematic viscosity at 100.degree. C. of from about 4 cSt to about 6.5 cSt and a Brookfield viscosity at -40 .degree. C. of from about 4,000 cP to about 20,000 cP.
Inventors: Nubar Ozbalik (Midlothian); Kenji Yatsunami (Tokyo, Japan); Samuel H. Tersigni (Glen Allen); Lee D. Saathoff (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
October 15, 2013
Synaptotagmin and collapsin response mediator protein as biomarkers for traumatic brain injury
Patent 8,557,526
Collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) decreased in tissue and increased in biological fluids after neural injury from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Significant decreases of CRMP1, CRMP2, CRMP4 and CRMP5 were accompanied by the appearance of distinct 58 kDa (CRMP-2) or 55 kDa (CRMP-4) breakdown products from proteolytic cleavage by calpain. Synaptotagmin breakdown products were also associated with TBI and could be detected along with intact protein in human cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Both biomarkers were detected in human biofluid and related to recovery from traumatic brain injury.
Inventors: Andrew K. Ottens (Glen Allen); Firas H. Kobaissy (Gainesville, Fla.); Ka-Wang Wang (Gainesville); Ronald L. Hayes (Gainesville); Zhiqun Zhang (Gainesville); Ming Chen Liu (Gainesville); Monika Oli (Gainesville)
Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation Inc. (Gainesville); Banyan Biomarkers Inc. (Alachua, Fla.)
October 15, 2013
Asymmetrical multilateral decision support system
Patent 8,560,478
A system and methodology which can effectively provide decision makers with a better means of making decisions in a way that greatly improves the availability, reliability, and relevance of the information which they provide and use to make decisions. The system and methodology facilitates maximizing mutual utility in the context of a mutual decision between multiple users and groups of users identified generally as Parties and Counterparties and performs user specified actions based on meeting mutual threshold parameters.
Inventors: Erin C. DeSpain (Midlothian)
October 15, 2013
Silicate-containing antifog coatings
Patent 8,557,384
A coating composition comprising an alkali metal silicate, a wetting agent, and a hydrophilic antifog agent forms an antifog coating on a substrate. The coating may be applied to the surface of a film from an aqueous dispersion of the ingredients, followed by drying to form a composite film.
Inventors: Chen Zhao (Newark, Del.); Cornell Chappell Jr. (Petersburg)
Assignee: DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Limited Partnership (Chester)
October 15, 2013