Methods for producing autologous immune cells resistant to myeloid-derived suppressor cells effects
Patent No. 8,741,642
Methods for the ex vivo generation of cells of the innate (NKT cells and NK cells) and adaptive (T cells) immune systems for use in adoptive cell transfer (ACT) are provided. The NKT cells render T cells resistant to immune suppression (e.g. they are resistant to the effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The method involves culturing disease-primed immune cells (obtained from a cancer patient or from a patient with an infectious disease) with i) bryostatin and ionomycin (B/I) to activate and differentiate the cells; followed by sequentially culturing the cells with a) a combination of IL-7 and IL-15 and then b) IL-2, to further differentiate the cells and to render them immune resistant. The resistant immune cells are used to treat and prevent cancer and infectious diseases.
Inventors: Masoud H. Manjili (Richmond, Va.), Harry D. Bear (Richmond, Va.), Maciej Kmieciak (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Mining sled with movable bed
Patent No. 8,740,312
A mining sled with a movable bed. The movable bed nests within the sled and is slidable with respect to the sled. Stops are located on the sled to limit the distance the movable bed can travel with respect to the sled. The movable bed includes brackets at a first end for attachment to the pull-out rope of a pull-out winch. The second end of the movable bed includes a mount for attachment of a pulley. The pulley on the movable bed facilitates attachment to a pull-in rope that is connected to a pull-in winch for transporting the sled toward the continuous miner.
Inventors: Sterling Wayne (Glen Allen, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Tactical stretcher and convertible first aid table with detachable IV pole
Patent No. 8,739,335
The tactical stretcher and convertible first aid table with detachable IV pole includes a small and lightweight stretcher that is manually lifted with two sets of handles located at distal ends of the stretcher. The stretcher includes a plurality of straps to secure and immobilize a patient lying on the top surface of the stretcher. Two pairs of foldable legs rotate downwardly from a bottom surface to convert the stretcher to a first aid table. The foldable legs are limited to 90 degrees range of rotational movement from a horizontal position to a vertical position. An IV holder accessory is optionally provided, and secures itself to one of the handles. The IV holder includes a telescoping construction in order to adjust the elevation of an IV bag with respect to the stretcher.
Inventors: Johnathan Hoggatt (Ashland, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Pill crusher device and method
Patent No. 8,740,119
A pill crushing apparatus for use with first and second nestable cups includes a first stage of operation wherein a first cup holder is moved linearly toward a second cup mounting surface holding a second cup and a second stage of operation wherein the first cup holder rotates relative to the rotationally fixed second cup. During the first stage of operation, the pills first may begin to crush against the linear load being applied thereto, and thereafter grind into a fine powder due to the rotational force of the first cup against the second cup.
Inventors: Sean D. Anderson (Powhatan, Va.)
Assignee: First Wave Products Group LLC (Batavia, N.Y.)
June 3, 2014
Identity verification in virtual worlds using encoded data
Patent No. 8,745,726
An avatar in a virtual world is provided with credentials for access to various parts of the virtual world by embedding information derived from avatar identification and authorized credential information in the form of a graphic image associated with the avatar. The embedded information is preferably encrypted.
Inventors: Rick A Hamilton II (Richmond, Va.), Richard J Newhook (West Chester, Penn.), Martin S. Ramsey (Westminster, Md.), James W. Seaman (Fairfax, Va.)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
June 3, 2014
Nanoparticle additives and lubricant formulations containing the nanoparticle additives
Patent No. 8,741,821
A method for reducing a friction coefficient adjacent a lubricated surface, and a lubricant composition for reducing a friction coefficient between lubricated surfaces. The method includes providing an amount of metal-containing dispersed in a fully formulated lubricant composition containing a base oil of lubricating viscosity, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particles size ranging from about 1 to about 10 nanometers. The lubricant composition containing the metal-containing nanoparticles is applied to a surface to be lubricated.
Inventors: Tze-Chi Jao (Glen Allen, Va.), Mark T. Devlin (Richmond, Va.), Allen A. Aradi (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation (Richmond, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Check destruction tracking and reconstruction
Patent No. 8,751,340
A method for check destruction tracking and reconstruction relates to tracking the destruction of financial institution items, such as paper checks. The method includes transferring the financial institution items to a bin for transporting the items to be destroyed. The bin is associated with a bin identifier. The items which are in the bin are identified and the bin is transported for destruction. If the items are safely transported and safely destroyed, a notification of destruction of the items in the bin is sent. If the items are either not safely transported or not safely destroyed, a notification of an incident is sent. Appropriate action may be taken in response to receiving such notification.
Inventors: Humberto Kenneth Piedra (Miami, Fla.), Tarry Hamilton Boyd (Atlanta, Ga.), Mark David Felse (Fort Mill, SC), Barry Thomas Vanlandingham (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Bank of America Corp. (Charlotte, N.C.)
June 10, 2014
Bowl with lid
Patent No. 8,746,486
A food storage container includes a bowl that connects to a lid in a closed position. Upon movement of the bowl and lid into the closed position, an audible sound or signal is generated as well as visual and tactile indications.
Inventors: Maria Alexandra Del Solar (Stamford, Conn.), Paul Maguire (Goochland, Va.), Au Kin Fo Bryan (Kowloon, Hong Kong)
Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc. (St. Louis, Missouri)
June 10, 2014
Solution spun fiber process
Patent No. 8,747,723
The invention relates to a process for forming fibers from a spinning solution utilizing a high speed rotary sprayer. The fibers can be collected into a uniform web for selective barrier end uses. Fibers with an average fiber diameter of less that 1,000 nm can be produced.
Inventors: Larry R. Marshall (Chesterfield, Va.), Jack Eugene Armantrout (Richmond, Va.), Tao Huang (Downingtown, Penn.), John R. Moore (Lansdale, Penn.), Neal Pfeiffenberger (Chambersburg, Penn.)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Co. (Wilmington, Del.)
June 10, 2014
Tobacco-free pouched product containing flavor beads providing immediate and long-lasting flavor release
Patent No. 8,747,562
A tobacco-free oral pouch product providing immediate and long lasting flavor release comprises a pouch wrapper and tobacco-free flavor beads contained within the pouch wrapper. The flavor beads comprise at least one of microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and sodium alginate, at least one polymer having a higher solubility in saliva than microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and/or sodium alginate, and at least one flavorant. The pectin and sodium alginate are cross-linked. The tobacco-free flavor beads provide immediate release of the flavorant upon placement of a pouch product in a user’s mouth and long lasting release of the flavorant for about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes. The oral pouch product contains only tobacco-free flavor beads.
Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.), Biao Duan (Henrico, Va.), Daqing Wu (Suwanee, Ga.), William R. Sweeney (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Storage case for a hand mixer
Patent No. 8,746,957
A storage case is removably attachable to a hand mixer for mixing foodstuffs. The storage case includes a bottom wall that extends generally parallel to a bottom surface of the hand mixer when the storage case is attached to the hand mixer. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing side walls extend generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall of the storage case. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing end walls each extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall and the side walls of the storage case. At least a portion of one of the walls of the storage case is pivotally attached by a hinge. The bottom wall, side walls and end walls in combination with the bottom wall generally define a cavity for storing at least one mixing tool therein.
Inventors: Michael Garman (Midlothian, Va.), Guoyao Ye (Richmond, Va.), Michael Allen (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Pre-portioned moist product and method of making
Patent No. 8,746,256
A pre-portioned moist product comprising a portion of plant material and a coating is disclosed. Preferably, the plant material comprises tobacco. The coating includes a soluble, non-cross-linkable component and an cross-linkable component which becomes substantially water-insoluble upon crosslinking. The soluble component of the coating dissolves upon placement in the mouth, while the insoluble component disintegrates and/or loses structural integrity once the soluble component has dissolved to release and disperse the plant material in the user’s mouth.
Inventors: Shengsheng Liu (Richmond, Va.), Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.), William R. Sweeney (Richmond, Va.), Feng Gao (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Composite materials and their use in smoking articles
Patent No. 8,746,254
Smoking articles, filters, and methods for selectively removing selected components from tobacco smoke are disclosed. The smoking articles and filters include composites composed of a porous alumina and/or aluminosilicate matrix containing particles of activated carbon and zeolite molecular sieve adsorbents distributed throughout the matrix which can selectively remove selected components of tobacco smoke. The composites may be made by admixing the adsorbent mixture and a binder such as aluminum hydroxide or montmorillonite clay, adding an aqueous mineral acid to gel the mixture and drying and firing the gel paste. The proportions and adsorption capacities of the components can be selected to tailor the adsorption characteristics of the composites to selectively remove targeted constituents such as acrolein and 1,3-butadiene in tobacco smoke. Methods for making filters and smoking articles using the composites, as well as methods for smoking products comprising the composites, are also provided.
Inventors: Zhaohua Luan (Midlothian, Va.), Diane L. Gee (Richmond, Va.), Jose Nepomuceno (Beaverdam, Va.), Shuzhong Zhuang (Midlothian, Va.), Jay A. Fournier (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Ultra-high strength UHMW PE fibers and products
Patent No. 8,747,715
Multi-filament UHMW PE yarns can be produced according to processes that result in improved properties. The UHMW PE can have an intrinsic viscosity in decalin at 135.degree. C. of at least about 30 dl/g, and can be processed under optimal conditions to achieve a gel spun yarn having a tenacity of greater than about 45 g/d (40.5 g/dtex).
Inventors: Thomas Y. Tam (Chesterfield, Va.), John A. Young (Midlothian, Va.), Norman Aminuddin (Madison, Conn.), John E. Hermes (Colonial Heights, Va.)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
June 10, 2014
Seat attachment for a stroller
Patent No. 8,746,731
The invention relates to a seat attachment for a stroller, single stroller and double strollers. Such a seat attachment may be used to reversibly convert a single stroller into a double stroller. More specifically, versions of the seat attachment relate to a seat attachment for a stroller capable of supporting a seat such as, but not limited to, a stroller seat, a baby seat, bassinet, a pram, a car seat, or a baby carrier, for example. The seat may be supported in front of a permanent seat of the stroller.
Inventors: Mark Zehfuss (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Baby Jogger LLC (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Methods for producing autologous immune cells resistant to myeloid-derived suppressor cells effects
Patent No. 8,741,642
Methods for the ex vivo generation of cells of the innate (NKT cells and NK cells) and adaptive (T cells) immune systems for use in adoptive cell transfer (ACT) are provided. The NKT cells render T cells resistant to immune suppression (e.g. they are resistant to the effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The method involves culturing disease-primed immune cells (obtained from a cancer patient or from a patient with an infectious disease) with i) bryostatin and ionomycin (B/I) to activate and differentiate the cells; followed by sequentially culturing the cells with a) a combination of IL-7 and IL-15 and then b) IL-2, to further differentiate the cells and to render them immune resistant. The resistant immune cells are used to treat and prevent cancer and infectious diseases.
Inventors: Masoud H. Manjili (Richmond, Va.), Harry D. Bear (Richmond, Va.), Maciej Kmieciak (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Mining sled with movable bed
Patent No. 8,740,312
A mining sled with a movable bed. The movable bed nests within the sled and is slidable with respect to the sled. Stops are located on the sled to limit the distance the movable bed can travel with respect to the sled. The movable bed includes brackets at a first end for attachment to the pull-out rope of a pull-out winch. The second end of the movable bed includes a mount for attachment of a pulley. The pulley on the movable bed facilitates attachment to a pull-in rope that is connected to a pull-in winch for transporting the sled toward the continuous miner.
Inventors: Sterling Wayne (Glen Allen, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Tactical stretcher and convertible first aid table with detachable IV pole
Patent No. 8,739,335
The tactical stretcher and convertible first aid table with detachable IV pole includes a small and lightweight stretcher that is manually lifted with two sets of handles located at distal ends of the stretcher. The stretcher includes a plurality of straps to secure and immobilize a patient lying on the top surface of the stretcher. Two pairs of foldable legs rotate downwardly from a bottom surface to convert the stretcher to a first aid table. The foldable legs are limited to 90 degrees range of rotational movement from a horizontal position to a vertical position. An IV holder accessory is optionally provided, and secures itself to one of the handles. The IV holder includes a telescoping construction in order to adjust the elevation of an IV bag with respect to the stretcher.
Inventors: Johnathan Hoggatt (Ashland, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Pill crusher device and method
Patent No. 8,740,119
A pill crushing apparatus for use with first and second nestable cups includes a first stage of operation wherein a first cup holder is moved linearly toward a second cup mounting surface holding a second cup and a second stage of operation wherein the first cup holder rotates relative to the rotationally fixed second cup. During the first stage of operation, the pills first may begin to crush against the linear load being applied thereto, and thereafter grind into a fine powder due to the rotational force of the first cup against the second cup.
Inventors: Sean D. Anderson (Powhatan, Va.)
Assignee: First Wave Products Group LLC (Batavia, N.Y.)
June 3, 2014
Identity verification in virtual worlds using encoded data
Patent No. 8,745,726
An avatar in a virtual world is provided with credentials for access to various parts of the virtual world by embedding information derived from avatar identification and authorized credential information in the form of a graphic image associated with the avatar. The embedded information is preferably encrypted.
Inventors: Rick A Hamilton II (Richmond, Va.), Richard J Newhook (West Chester, Penn.), Martin S. Ramsey (Westminster, Md.), James W. Seaman (Fairfax, Va.)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
June 3, 2014
Nanoparticle additives and lubricant formulations containing the nanoparticle additives
Patent No. 8,741,821
A method for reducing a friction coefficient adjacent a lubricated surface, and a lubricant composition for reducing a friction coefficient between lubricated surfaces. The method includes providing an amount of metal-containing dispersed in a fully formulated lubricant composition containing a base oil of lubricating viscosity, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particles size ranging from about 1 to about 10 nanometers. The lubricant composition containing the metal-containing nanoparticles is applied to a surface to be lubricated.
Inventors: Tze-Chi Jao (Glen Allen, Va.), Mark T. Devlin (Richmond, Va.), Allen A. Aradi (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation (Richmond, Va.)
June 3, 2014
Check destruction tracking and reconstruction
Patent No. 8,751,340
A method for check destruction tracking and reconstruction relates to tracking the destruction of financial institution items, such as paper checks. The method includes transferring the financial institution items to a bin for transporting the items to be destroyed. The bin is associated with a bin identifier. The items which are in the bin are identified and the bin is transported for destruction. If the items are safely transported and safely destroyed, a notification of destruction of the items in the bin is sent. If the items are either not safely transported or not safely destroyed, a notification of an incident is sent. Appropriate action may be taken in response to receiving such notification.
Inventors: Humberto Kenneth Piedra (Miami, Fla.), Tarry Hamilton Boyd (Atlanta, Ga.), Mark David Felse (Fort Mill, SC), Barry Thomas Vanlandingham (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Bank of America Corp. (Charlotte, N.C.)
June 10, 2014
Bowl with lid
Patent No. 8,746,486
A food storage container includes a bowl that connects to a lid in a closed position. Upon movement of the bowl and lid into the closed position, an audible sound or signal is generated as well as visual and tactile indications.
Inventors: Maria Alexandra Del Solar (Stamford, Conn.), Paul Maguire (Goochland, Va.), Au Kin Fo Bryan (Kowloon, Hong Kong)
Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc. (St. Louis, Missouri)
June 10, 2014
Solution spun fiber process
Patent No. 8,747,723
The invention relates to a process for forming fibers from a spinning solution utilizing a high speed rotary sprayer. The fibers can be collected into a uniform web for selective barrier end uses. Fibers with an average fiber diameter of less that 1,000 nm can be produced.
Inventors: Larry R. Marshall (Chesterfield, Va.), Jack Eugene Armantrout (Richmond, Va.), Tao Huang (Downingtown, Penn.), John R. Moore (Lansdale, Penn.), Neal Pfeiffenberger (Chambersburg, Penn.)
Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Co. (Wilmington, Del.)
June 10, 2014
Tobacco-free pouched product containing flavor beads providing immediate and long-lasting flavor release
Patent No. 8,747,562
A tobacco-free oral pouch product providing immediate and long lasting flavor release comprises a pouch wrapper and tobacco-free flavor beads contained within the pouch wrapper. The flavor beads comprise at least one of microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and sodium alginate, at least one polymer having a higher solubility in saliva than microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and/or sodium alginate, and at least one flavorant. The pectin and sodium alginate are cross-linked. The tobacco-free flavor beads provide immediate release of the flavorant upon placement of a pouch product in a user’s mouth and long lasting release of the flavorant for about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes. The oral pouch product contains only tobacco-free flavor beads.
Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.), Biao Duan (Henrico, Va.), Daqing Wu (Suwanee, Ga.), William R. Sweeney (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Storage case for a hand mixer
Patent No. 8,746,957
A storage case is removably attachable to a hand mixer for mixing foodstuffs. The storage case includes a bottom wall that extends generally parallel to a bottom surface of the hand mixer when the storage case is attached to the hand mixer. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing side walls extend generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall of the storage case. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing end walls each extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall and the side walls of the storage case. At least a portion of one of the walls of the storage case is pivotally attached by a hinge. The bottom wall, side walls and end walls in combination with the bottom wall generally define a cavity for storing at least one mixing tool therein.
Inventors: Michael Garman (Midlothian, Va.), Guoyao Ye (Richmond, Va.), Michael Allen (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Pre-portioned moist product and method of making
Patent No. 8,746,256
A pre-portioned moist product comprising a portion of plant material and a coating is disclosed. Preferably, the plant material comprises tobacco. The coating includes a soluble, non-cross-linkable component and an cross-linkable component which becomes substantially water-insoluble upon crosslinking. The soluble component of the coating dissolves upon placement in the mouth, while the insoluble component disintegrates and/or loses structural integrity once the soluble component has dissolved to release and disperse the plant material in the user’s mouth.
Inventors: Shengsheng Liu (Richmond, Va.), Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.), William R. Sweeney (Richmond, Va.), Feng Gao (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Composite materials and their use in smoking articles
Patent No. 8,746,254
Smoking articles, filters, and methods for selectively removing selected components from tobacco smoke are disclosed. The smoking articles and filters include composites composed of a porous alumina and/or aluminosilicate matrix containing particles of activated carbon and zeolite molecular sieve adsorbents distributed throughout the matrix which can selectively remove selected components of tobacco smoke. The composites may be made by admixing the adsorbent mixture and a binder such as aluminum hydroxide or montmorillonite clay, adding an aqueous mineral acid to gel the mixture and drying and firing the gel paste. The proportions and adsorption capacities of the components can be selected to tailor the adsorption characteristics of the composites to selectively remove targeted constituents such as acrolein and 1,3-butadiene in tobacco smoke. Methods for making filters and smoking articles using the composites, as well as methods for smoking products comprising the composites, are also provided.
Inventors: Zhaohua Luan (Midlothian, Va.), Diane L. Gee (Richmond, Va.), Jose Nepomuceno (Beaverdam, Va.), Shuzhong Zhuang (Midlothian, Va.), Jay A. Fournier (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014
Ultra-high strength UHMW PE fibers and products
Patent No. 8,747,715
Multi-filament UHMW PE yarns can be produced according to processes that result in improved properties. The UHMW PE can have an intrinsic viscosity in decalin at 135.degree. C. of at least about 30 dl/g, and can be processed under optimal conditions to achieve a gel spun yarn having a tenacity of greater than about 45 g/d (40.5 g/dtex).
Inventors: Thomas Y. Tam (Chesterfield, Va.), John A. Young (Midlothian, Va.), Norman Aminuddin (Madison, Conn.), John E. Hermes (Colonial Heights, Va.)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
June 10, 2014
Seat attachment for a stroller
Patent No. 8,746,731
The invention relates to a seat attachment for a stroller, single stroller and double strollers. Such a seat attachment may be used to reversibly convert a single stroller into a double stroller. More specifically, versions of the seat attachment relate to a seat attachment for a stroller capable of supporting a seat such as, but not limited to, a stroller seat, a baby seat, bassinet, a pram, a car seat, or a baby carrier, for example. The seat may be supported in front of a permanent seat of the stroller.
Inventors: Mark Zehfuss (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Baby Jogger LLC (Richmond, Va.)
June 10, 2014