Cork grip for golf putters
Patent D701,275
Claims the ornamental design for a cork grip for golf putters.
Inventors: Mark Button (Richmond); Whitfield Flowers (Tampa, Fla.)
Assignee: MW Outfitters, LLC (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Methods for assaying responses to vaccines
Patent 8,669,105
The present invention incorporates germinal centers (GCs) into three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissue constructs (ETCs). In an embodiment, we have incorporated the GC in the design of an artificial immune system (AIS) to examine immune responses to vaccines and other compounds. Development of an in vitro GC adds functionality to an AIS, in that it enables generation of an in vitro human humoral response by human B lymphocytes that is accurate and reproducible, without using human subjects. The invention also permits evaluation of, for example, vaccines, allergens, and immunogens, and activation of human B cells specific for a given antigen, which can then be used to generate human antibodies. In an embodiment of the present invention the function of the in vitro GC is enhanced by placing FDCs and other immune cells in a 3D ETC; FDCs appear more effective over a longer time (antibody production is sustained for up to about 14 days.
Inventors: Selva Sukumar (Berkeley, Calif.); Mohey Eldin M. El Shikh (Richmond); John G. Tew (Mechanicsville); Guzman Sanchez-Schmitz (Orlando, Fla.); Donald Drake, III (Orlando); Luis Mosquera (Oviedo, Fal.); Conan Li (Los Altos, Calif.); Anatoly M. Kachurin (Orlando); Russell Higbee (Orlando); Heather Fahlenkamp (Cleveland, Okla.); Eric Mishkin (Winter Springs, Fla.; William L. Warren (Orlando)
Assignee: Sanofi Pasteur Vaxdesign Corp. (Orlando); Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Same-day settlement of financial transactions
Patent 8,666,888
A system and method to receive a financial transaction and transfer funds associated with the financial transaction into an account associated with an originator of the financial transaction to settle the financial transaction on the same day that the financial transaction is originated. The financial transaction may be one of a plurality of financial transactions and the financial transaction is identified as being eligible for same-day settlement using routing or transit numbers associated with an entity that receives the financial transaction.
Inventors: David Scott Edmonds (Glen Allen); Stephen Ray Winston (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
March 4, 2014
Three-dimensional apertured film for transmitting dynamically-deposited and statically-retained fluids
Patent 8,674,171
A three-dimensional film for use as a transfer layer in an absorbent article has a continuous surface and a discontinuous surface disposed generally parallel to and spaced from said continuous surface; both the continuous surface and the discontinuous surface have large scale apertures defined by sidewalls originating on the surface and extending outwardly therefrom and sized to permit acquisition of fluids by gravity, and optionally each surface also includes small scale apertures sized to acquire fluids by capillary action.
Inventors: Rickey J. Seyler (Chesterfield)
Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corp. (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Diesel fuel additive
Patent 8,668,749
A diesel fuel additive composition, a fuel containing the fuel additive, a method for improving diesel engine performance using the additive. The diesel fuel additive includes a reaction product of (a) a hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and (b) a reactant selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing compound, a hydroxyl-containing compound, and water that provides a reaction product selected from the group consisting (1) a mono-amide/mono-acid or metal free mono-acid salt thereof, (2) a diacid or metal free diacid salt thereof, and (3) mono-ester/mono-acid or metal free mono-acid salt thereof. The reaction product includes at least about 10 molar percent acid groups based on total moles of the reaction product.
Inventors: Xinggao Fang (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Dispensing system and package for use therewith
Patent 8,668,114
An improved dispensing system for dispensing products provided initially in a package that includes an activatable opening structure is disclosed. The dispensing system comprises a frame being configured to support the package of products and an opening tool associated with the frame. The opening tool engages with the activatable opening structure on the package to create an opening when the package is moved longitudinally along the frame of the dispensing system, thus allowing the products to be at least partially dispensed out of the package into the product display area of the frame through the opening formed on the rear panel or on an angular of the rear and side panels of the package.
Inventors: John Gelardi (Midlothian); Laurel Thomas (Richmond)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corp. (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Tobacco pouch product
Patent 8,671,952
A pouched tobacco product includes a lined pouch material of a web and a water-soluble liner adjacent the web and a tobacco component contained within the lined pouch material. The water-soluble liner is interposed between the web and the tobacco component. The liner preferably reduces staining of the web by the tobacco component. Additionally, the liner may include a flavorant.
Inventors: Warren D. Winterson (Chester); Timothy D. Cochran (Richmond); Tommy C. Holland (Midlothian); Karen M. Torrence (Chester); Steve Rinehart (Chesterfield); G. Robert Scott (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Methods of manufacturing cigarettes and filter subassemblies with squeezable flavor capsule
Patent 8,671,951
A cigarette filter subassembly is manufactured from a filter member having absorbent material encased within an outer cover. A plunger is passed axially through the absorbent material such that a pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly against the cover to form a liner of compressed absorbent material along the cover’s inside surface. An inner surface of the liner surrounds a hollow axial opening which is to receive absorbent members and capsules inserted axially therein. The capsules are adapted to be broken by a smoker to release an additive material which modifies characteristics of tobacco smoke. An outer cylindrical surface of the plunger optionally carries a transferable binder material that becomes smeared onto the inner surface of the liner to form thereon a coating which is impermeable to the additive material released from the capsule.
Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi (Mechanicsville); Martin T. Garthaffner (Chesterfield); Dwight D. Williams (Powhatan)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Respiratory humidification system
Patent 8,662,479
A respiratory humidification system having a capillary passage in communication with a ventilator, the ventilator adapted to deliver an air stream, a heater operable to at least partially vaporize water in the capillary passage, a pumping unit adapted to supply water to the capillary passage, wherein the water upon heating is at least partially vaporized to form an aerosol stream. The aerosol stream is combined with the air stream to form a humidified air stream.
Inventors: Walter A. Nichols (Chesterfield); Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian); Amit Limaye (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
March 4, 2014
Production of and drying of copolymer fibers
Patent 8,671,524
The present invention concerns processes for reducing water in never-dried fiber comprising copolymer derived from the copolymerization of para-phenylenediamine, 5(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole; and terephthaloyl dichloride, the process having the following steps in a continuous process, (a) a step of drying a never-dried fiber having at least 0.1% sulfur at less than 150.degree. C. until the moisture content of the fiber is less than 60 weight percent; and (b) a step of further drying the fiber above 150.degree. C. while the moisture content of the fiber is no more than 60 weight percent; and the fiber being further heated to at least 350.degree. C. in either an additional continuous or separate step.
Inventors: Steven R. Allen (Midlothian); Christopher William Newton (Richmond)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
March 18, 2014
High melt flow fluoropolymer
Patent 8,674,042
The present invention relates to a partially-crystalline copolymer comprising tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene in an amount corresponding to HFPI of from about 2.8 to 5.3, and preferably from about 0.2% to 3% by weight of perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), said copolymer having less than about 50 ppm alkali metal ion, having a melt flow rate of within the range of about 30.+-.3 g/10 min, and having no more than about 50 unstable endgroups/10.sup.6 carbon atoms and which can be extruded at high speed onto conductor over a broad polymer melt temperature range to give insulated wire of high quality.
Inventors: Thomas Robert Earnest, Jr. (Wilmington, Del.); Daniel A. Favereau (Chambesy, Switzerland); Niall D. McKee (West Grove, Pa.); Patricia A. Tooley (Midlothian)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
March 18, 2014
Method of making improved ballistic products
Patent 8,673,198
A method of making a ballistic resistant composite material having improved resistance to high energy rifle bullets and the like. The method comprises providing at least one fibrous layer comprising a network of high tenacity aramid fibers. The fibrous layer is coated with a thermoplastic polyurethane resin. The coated fibrous layer is molded at a pressure of at least about 1,500 psi (10.3 MPa). Preferably, a plurality of fibrous layers are employed, each of which is formed from unidirectionally oriented aramid fibers in a thermoplastic polyurethane resin matrix. Adjacent fibrous layers are preferably oriented at 90.degree. with respect to each other.
Inventors: Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond); Lori L. Wagner (Richmond); David A. Hurst (Richmond); Brian D. Arvidson (Chester)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc (Morristown, N.J.)
March 18, 2014
System and method for providing a streamlined checkout process
Patent 8,676,660
Once a purchaser has proceeded through a check out experience with an online retail system, the settings established during that checkout experience will be applied to future checkout experiences by that purchaser. By capturing and thereafter using checkout settings in this manner, a purchaser can proceed from a shopping cart directly to a checkout review page with the checkout review page being pre-populated with such prior established settings. Furthermore, the methodology allows the purchaser to have a virtually unlimited number of goods in their shopping cart and to have multiple different types of order fulfillment options (e.g., shipping, store pickup, delivery to an organization, etc.) automatically established for those goods.
Inventors: James Yu (Glenview, Ill.); Greg Franczyk (Carpentersville, Ill.); Jason Ruud (South Elgin, Ill.); Brian Jordan (West Dundee, Ill.); Robert Richard Roy (Glen Allen); Eric J. Klondnick (Chicago); Mahesh Bommireddy (Palatine, Ill.)
Assignee: Sears Brands, LLC (Hoffman Estates, Ill.)
March 18, 2014
Process and apparatus for producing nanofibers using a two phase flow nozzle
Patent 8,668,854
The disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for producing nanofibers and non-woven nanofibrous materials from polymer melts, liquids and particles using a two-phase flow nozzle. The process comprises supplying a first phase comprising a polymer melt and a second phase comprising a pressurized gas stream to a two-phase flow nozzle; injecting the polymer melt and the pressurized gas stream into a mixing chamber within the two-phase flow nozzle wherein the mixing chamber combines the polymer flow and pressurized gas into a two-phase flow; distributing the two-phase flow uniformly to a converging channel terminating into an channel exit wherein the converging channel accelerates the two-phase flow creating a polymeric film along the surface of the converging channel and fibrillating the polymeric film at the channel exit of the converging channel in the form of a plurality of nanofibers.
Inventors: Larry Marshall (Chesterfield); Michael Bryner (Midlothian)
Assignee: Verdex Technologies, Inc. (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Elastic laminate and method of making
Patent 8,664,128
An elastic laminate for use as a tear resistant diaper side panel. The elastic laminate comprises an elastic substrate bonded to at least one layer of a tensioned spunbond nonwoven web comprising thermoplastic filaments comprising at least about 10% by weight polyethylene. The laminate is then incrementally stretched in the transverse direction to provide a service stretch greater than 100% and a strength ratio greater than 0.35. In one embodiment, the elastic substrate is bonded between the tensioned nonwoven webs by point bonding or hot melt adhesives. Also disclosed is a method for making an elastic laminate comprising the steps of providing at least one layer of a tensioned spunbond nonwoven web comprising thermoplastic filaments comprising at least about 10% by weight polyethylene, providing an elastic substrate, bonding the elastic substrate and the at least one layer of nonwoven web to provide an elastic laminate, and incrementally stretching the laminate in the transverse direction to provide a service stretch greater than 100% and a strength ratio greater than 0.35.
Inventors: James W. Cree (Chesterfield)
Assignee: Advantage Creation Enterprise LLC (Chesterfield)
March 4, 2014
Cork grip for golf putters
Patent D701,275
Claims the ornamental design for a cork grip for golf putters.
Inventors: Mark Button (Richmond); Whitfield Flowers (Tampa, Fla.)
Assignee: MW Outfitters, LLC (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Methods for assaying responses to vaccines
Patent 8,669,105
The present invention incorporates germinal centers (GCs) into three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissue constructs (ETCs). In an embodiment, we have incorporated the GC in the design of an artificial immune system (AIS) to examine immune responses to vaccines and other compounds. Development of an in vitro GC adds functionality to an AIS, in that it enables generation of an in vitro human humoral response by human B lymphocytes that is accurate and reproducible, without using human subjects. The invention also permits evaluation of, for example, vaccines, allergens, and immunogens, and activation of human B cells specific for a given antigen, which can then be used to generate human antibodies. In an embodiment of the present invention the function of the in vitro GC is enhanced by placing FDCs and other immune cells in a 3D ETC; FDCs appear more effective over a longer time (antibody production is sustained for up to about 14 days.
Inventors: Selva Sukumar (Berkeley, Calif.); Mohey Eldin M. El Shikh (Richmond); John G. Tew (Mechanicsville); Guzman Sanchez-Schmitz (Orlando, Fla.); Donald Drake, III (Orlando); Luis Mosquera (Oviedo, Fal.); Conan Li (Los Altos, Calif.); Anatoly M. Kachurin (Orlando); Russell Higbee (Orlando); Heather Fahlenkamp (Cleveland, Okla.); Eric Mishkin (Winter Springs, Fla.; William L. Warren (Orlando)
Assignee: Sanofi Pasteur Vaxdesign Corp. (Orlando); Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Same-day settlement of financial transactions
Patent 8,666,888
A system and method to receive a financial transaction and transfer funds associated with the financial transaction into an account associated with an originator of the financial transaction to settle the financial transaction on the same day that the financial transaction is originated. The financial transaction may be one of a plurality of financial transactions and the financial transaction is identified as being eligible for same-day settlement using routing or transit numbers associated with an entity that receives the financial transaction.
Inventors: David Scott Edmonds (Glen Allen); Stephen Ray Winston (Glen Allen)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
March 4, 2014
Three-dimensional apertured film for transmitting dynamically-deposited and statically-retained fluids
Patent 8,674,171
A three-dimensional film for use as a transfer layer in an absorbent article has a continuous surface and a discontinuous surface disposed generally parallel to and spaced from said continuous surface; both the continuous surface and the discontinuous surface have large scale apertures defined by sidewalls originating on the surface and extending outwardly therefrom and sized to permit acquisition of fluids by gravity, and optionally each surface also includes small scale apertures sized to acquire fluids by capillary action.
Inventors: Rickey J. Seyler (Chesterfield)
Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corp. (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Diesel fuel additive
Patent 8,668,749
A diesel fuel additive composition, a fuel containing the fuel additive, a method for improving diesel engine performance using the additive. The diesel fuel additive includes a reaction product of (a) a hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and (b) a reactant selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing compound, a hydroxyl-containing compound, and water that provides a reaction product selected from the group consisting (1) a mono-amide/mono-acid or metal free mono-acid salt thereof, (2) a diacid or metal free diacid salt thereof, and (3) mono-ester/mono-acid or metal free mono-acid salt thereof. The reaction product includes at least about 10 molar percent acid groups based on total moles of the reaction product.
Inventors: Xinggao Fang (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Dispensing system and package for use therewith
Patent 8,668,114
An improved dispensing system for dispensing products provided initially in a package that includes an activatable opening structure is disclosed. The dispensing system comprises a frame being configured to support the package of products and an opening tool associated with the frame. The opening tool engages with the activatable opening structure on the package to create an opening when the package is moved longitudinally along the frame of the dispensing system, thus allowing the products to be at least partially dispensed out of the package into the product display area of the frame through the opening formed on the rear panel or on an angular of the rear and side panels of the package.
Inventors: John Gelardi (Midlothian); Laurel Thomas (Richmond)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corp. (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Tobacco pouch product
Patent 8,671,952
A pouched tobacco product includes a lined pouch material of a web and a water-soluble liner adjacent the web and a tobacco component contained within the lined pouch material. The water-soluble liner is interposed between the web and the tobacco component. The liner preferably reduces staining of the web by the tobacco component. Additionally, the liner may include a flavorant.
Inventors: Warren D. Winterson (Chester); Timothy D. Cochran (Richmond); Tommy C. Holland (Midlothian); Karen M. Torrence (Chester); Steve Rinehart (Chesterfield); G. Robert Scott (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Methods of manufacturing cigarettes and filter subassemblies with squeezable flavor capsule
Patent 8,671,951
A cigarette filter subassembly is manufactured from a filter member having absorbent material encased within an outer cover. A plunger is passed axially through the absorbent material such that a pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly against the cover to form a liner of compressed absorbent material along the cover’s inside surface. An inner surface of the liner surrounds a hollow axial opening which is to receive absorbent members and capsules inserted axially therein. The capsules are adapted to be broken by a smoker to release an additive material which modifies characteristics of tobacco smoke. An outer cylindrical surface of the plunger optionally carries a transferable binder material that becomes smeared onto the inner surface of the liner to form thereon a coating which is impermeable to the additive material released from the capsule.
Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi (Mechanicsville); Martin T. Garthaffner (Chesterfield); Dwight D. Williams (Powhatan)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
March 18, 2014
Respiratory humidification system
Patent 8,662,479
A respiratory humidification system having a capillary passage in communication with a ventilator, the ventilator adapted to deliver an air stream, a heater operable to at least partially vaporize water in the capillary passage, a pumping unit adapted to supply water to the capillary passage, wherein the water upon heating is at least partially vaporized to form an aerosol stream. The aerosol stream is combined with the air stream to form a humidified air stream.
Inventors: Walter A. Nichols (Chesterfield); Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian); Amit Limaye (Midlothian)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
March 4, 2014
Production of and drying of copolymer fibers
Patent 8,671,524
The present invention concerns processes for reducing water in never-dried fiber comprising copolymer derived from the copolymerization of para-phenylenediamine, 5(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole; and terephthaloyl dichloride, the process having the following steps in a continuous process, (a) a step of drying a never-dried fiber having at least 0.1% sulfur at less than 150.degree. C. until the moisture content of the fiber is less than 60 weight percent; and (b) a step of further drying the fiber above 150.degree. C. while the moisture content of the fiber is no more than 60 weight percent; and the fiber being further heated to at least 350.degree. C. in either an additional continuous or separate step.
Inventors: Steven R. Allen (Midlothian); Christopher William Newton (Richmond)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
March 18, 2014
High melt flow fluoropolymer
Patent 8,674,042
The present invention relates to a partially-crystalline copolymer comprising tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene in an amount corresponding to HFPI of from about 2.8 to 5.3, and preferably from about 0.2% to 3% by weight of perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), said copolymer having less than about 50 ppm alkali metal ion, having a melt flow rate of within the range of about 30.+-.3 g/10 min, and having no more than about 50 unstable endgroups/10.sup.6 carbon atoms and which can be extruded at high speed onto conductor over a broad polymer melt temperature range to give insulated wire of high quality.
Inventors: Thomas Robert Earnest, Jr. (Wilmington, Del.); Daniel A. Favereau (Chambesy, Switzerland); Niall D. McKee (West Grove, Pa.); Patricia A. Tooley (Midlothian)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.)
March 18, 2014
Method of making improved ballistic products
Patent 8,673,198
A method of making a ballistic resistant composite material having improved resistance to high energy rifle bullets and the like. The method comprises providing at least one fibrous layer comprising a network of high tenacity aramid fibers. The fibrous layer is coated with a thermoplastic polyurethane resin. The coated fibrous layer is molded at a pressure of at least about 1,500 psi (10.3 MPa). Preferably, a plurality of fibrous layers are employed, each of which is formed from unidirectionally oriented aramid fibers in a thermoplastic polyurethane resin matrix. Adjacent fibrous layers are preferably oriented at 90.degree. with respect to each other.
Inventors: Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond); Lori L. Wagner (Richmond); David A. Hurst (Richmond); Brian D. Arvidson (Chester)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc (Morristown, N.J.)
March 18, 2014
System and method for providing a streamlined checkout process
Patent 8,676,660
Once a purchaser has proceeded through a check out experience with an online retail system, the settings established during that checkout experience will be applied to future checkout experiences by that purchaser. By capturing and thereafter using checkout settings in this manner, a purchaser can proceed from a shopping cart directly to a checkout review page with the checkout review page being pre-populated with such prior established settings. Furthermore, the methodology allows the purchaser to have a virtually unlimited number of goods in their shopping cart and to have multiple different types of order fulfillment options (e.g., shipping, store pickup, delivery to an organization, etc.) automatically established for those goods.
Inventors: James Yu (Glenview, Ill.); Greg Franczyk (Carpentersville, Ill.); Jason Ruud (South Elgin, Ill.); Brian Jordan (West Dundee, Ill.); Robert Richard Roy (Glen Allen); Eric J. Klondnick (Chicago); Mahesh Bommireddy (Palatine, Ill.)
Assignee: Sears Brands, LLC (Hoffman Estates, Ill.)
March 18, 2014
Process and apparatus for producing nanofibers using a two phase flow nozzle
Patent 8,668,854
The disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for producing nanofibers and non-woven nanofibrous materials from polymer melts, liquids and particles using a two-phase flow nozzle. The process comprises supplying a first phase comprising a polymer melt and a second phase comprising a pressurized gas stream to a two-phase flow nozzle; injecting the polymer melt and the pressurized gas stream into a mixing chamber within the two-phase flow nozzle wherein the mixing chamber combines the polymer flow and pressurized gas into a two-phase flow; distributing the two-phase flow uniformly to a converging channel terminating into an channel exit wherein the converging channel accelerates the two-phase flow creating a polymeric film along the surface of the converging channel and fibrillating the polymeric film at the channel exit of the converging channel in the form of a plurality of nanofibers.
Inventors: Larry Marshall (Chesterfield); Michael Bryner (Midlothian)
Assignee: Verdex Technologies, Inc. (Richmond)
March 11, 2014
Elastic laminate and method of making
Patent 8,664,128
An elastic laminate for use as a tear resistant diaper side panel. The elastic laminate comprises an elastic substrate bonded to at least one layer of a tensioned spunbond nonwoven web comprising thermoplastic filaments comprising at least about 10% by weight polyethylene. The laminate is then incrementally stretched in the transverse direction to provide a service stretch greater than 100% and a strength ratio greater than 0.35. In one embodiment, the elastic substrate is bonded between the tensioned nonwoven webs by point bonding or hot melt adhesives. Also disclosed is a method for making an elastic laminate comprising the steps of providing at least one layer of a tensioned spunbond nonwoven web comprising thermoplastic filaments comprising at least about 10% by weight polyethylene, providing an elastic substrate, bonding the elastic substrate and the at least one layer of nonwoven web to provide an elastic laminate, and incrementally stretching the laminate in the transverse direction to provide a service stretch greater than 100% and a strength ratio greater than 0.35.
Inventors: James W. Cree (Chesterfield)
Assignee: Advantage Creation Enterprise LLC (Chesterfield)
March 4, 2014