Swinging chair
Patent No. 9,345,975
A swinging chair having a base seating portion composed of bungee cords and a suspension system that permits the base seating portion to hang or otherwise be suspended so it dually functions as a swing.
Inventors: Ting Xu (Richmond), Amanda Lacy (Charlottesville, Va.)
Assignee: Plow & Hearth (Madison, Va.)
May 24, 2016
Oral pouch product with flavored wrapper
Patent No. 9,345,267
Provided is an oral pouch flavor product with a fibrous flavored wrapper that encloses an inner filling material. Preferably, the fibrous flavored wrapper includes embedded flavorants. The fibrous flavored wrapper may also include a softening agent, colorants, and/or browning inhibitors. The inner material may include non-tobacco, plant material fibers and preferably has a low moisture content so as to prevent the need for preservatives or refrigeration.
Inventors: Karen M. Torrence (Chester, Va.), Warren D. Winterson (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
May 24, 2016
Apparatus and method for forming and packaging molded tobacco
Patent No. 9,345,266
An apparatus for molding and packaging molded tobacco pieces includes a mold having cavities oriented to allow ejection of molded tobacco pieces into a container. The apparatus also includes a knockout for ejecting the molded tobacco pieces, and a cutter having at least two blades for cutting the molded tobacco pieces into vertically aligned slices by passing one or more blades horizontally through the cavities.
Inventors: Shannon Black (Richmond), Andrew Nathan Carroll (Chester, Va.), Tom Holland (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
May 24, 2016
Paperboard security card with content retaining elements
Patent No. 9,346,596
Paperboard security packages (1) are disclosed wherein content items are contained by at least one card (10) and two adjoining housing (30, 40) attached to the at least one card and protruding from opposite surfaces of the card.
Inventors: Charlotte Hanks (Toronto, Canada), Matthew E. Zacherle (Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: WestRock MWV (Norcross, Ga.)
May 24, 2016
Blister card with retention feature
Patent No. 9,346,597
A package is disclosed which includes first panel (210) having a blister (150) attached thereto. A second panel (220) is hingedly attached to the first panel (210). The second panel (220) includes a cutout area (221) through which the blister body protrudes. A retention feature (155) on the blister body engages an edge of the cutout (221) to hold the second panel (220) in a position relative to the first panel (210).
Inventors: Ryan C. Bradfield (Henrico, Va.)
Assignee: WestRock MWV (Norcross, Ga.)
May 24, 2016
Method and apparatus for pouching tobacco having a high moisture content
Patent No. 9,346,570
An apparatus for dispensing charges of high OV moist smokeless tobacco (MST) includes a rotary metering device. The rotary metering device includes a lower disk, a metering disk, a plurality of cavities in the metering disk; and at least one vacuum housing located around the periphery of the lower disk and in communication with the plurality of cavities. A vacuum is applied to the cavities to aid in the filling of the cavities and an air discharge mechanism ejects a charge of the MST from each cavity at a discharge station.
Inventors: Dwight D. Williams (Powhatan, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
May 24, 2016
Electric power system control with planning of energy demand and energy efficiency using AMI-based data analysis
Patent No. 9,354,641
A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of an energy planning process (EPP) system which can be used to plan a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system applied to an electrical distribution connection system (EEDCS). The EPP system plans modifications to the EEDCS as a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state, in order to maximize the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system control of the EEDCS. The EPP system may also identify potential problems in the EEDCS for correction.
Inventors: Melissa A. Peskin (Richmond), Phillip W. Powell (Chesterfield Co., Va.)
Assignee: Dominion Resources Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
May 31, 2016
Cigarettes and cigarette components containing nanostructured fibril materials
Patent No. 9,351,520
Cigarettes and cigarette components such as tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper, and methods for making cigarette components are provided that comprise nanostructured fibrils. The nanostructured fibrils, which can be formed and deposited in situ on tobacco cut filler and/or cigarette paper by laser vaporization controlled condensation or chemical reaction, are capable of acting as an oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide carbon dioxide and/or as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Cigarettes are provided that comprise tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper, wherein nanostructured fibrils are deposited on, or incorporated in, at least one of the tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper.
Inventors: Khaled Saoud (Richmond), Firooz Rasouli (Midlothian, Va.), Shahryar Rabiei (Richmond), Shalva Gedevanishvili (Richmond), Mohammad R. Hajaligol (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
May 31, 2016
Nicotine lozenge
Patent No. 9,351,936
A nicotine lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a nicotine lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making nicotine lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, nicotine, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150.degree. C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of nicotine lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.
Inventors: Feng Gao (Midlothian, Va.), Diane L. Gee (Chesterfield, Va.), Phillip M. Hulan (Midlothian, Va.), Shuzhong Zhuang (Glen Allen, Va.), William J. Burke (Nashville, Tenn.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond, Va.)
May 31, 2016
System and method for providing contactless payment with a near field communications attachment
Patent No. 9,355,399
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include an attachment with a near field communication antenna, a secure element, a plug capable of connecting the attachment to an audio jack on a mobile device. Further, a system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving a payment initiation instruction from a customer, using a near field communication antenna, sending payment information to a point of sale device, using one or more computer processors, encoding data related to the payment as audio data, and transmitting the data related to the payment through an audio jack.
Inventors: Thomas S. Poole (Chantilly, Va.), Paul Young Moreton (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
May 31, 2016
Quantifying the level of intermacromolecular interactions by using pyrene excimer formation
Patent No. 9,354,180
The present invention relates to methods for determining the level of intermolecular interaction of a polymer based on the fraction of intermolecular interaction (f.sub.inter) relative to the inter, total molecular interaction, which includes both intermolecular and intramolecular interactions. Further provided herein is a method of identifying a suitable viscosity index improver based on the value of f.sub.inter. The identified suitable viscosity index improver can be used in a lubricating oil composition for, e.g., a power transmission system.
Inventors: Sheng Jiang (Glen Allen, Va.), Akhilesh Duggal (Magnolia, Texas), Jean Duhamel (Waterloo, Canada), Solmaz Pirouz (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond, Va.)
University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Canada)
May 31, 2016
High performance toilet with rim-jet control capable of enhanced operation at reduced flush volumes
Patent No. 9,353,512
A siphonic, gravity-powered toilet bowl assembly having a toilet bowl, which includes a bowl inlet in fluid communication with a source of fluid; a rim around an upper perimeter of the bowl defining a rim channel, having an inlet port in fluid communication with the bowl inlet and at least one outlet port; a bowl outlet in fluid communication with a sewage outlet; a direct-fed jet having an inlet port in fluid communication with the bowl inlet for receiving fluid and the bowl outlet for discharging fluid; and a control unit arranged in communication with the bowl inlet for controlling flow from the source of fluid passing through the bowl inlet into the inlet ports of the rim channel and the direct-fed jet, having a first extending rear portion and a second rim channel end portion, wherein the rear portion may extend at least partially into the bowl inlet.
Inventors: James McHale (Hillsborough, N.J.), Christophe Bucher (Hillsborough, N.J.), David Grover (Hamilton, N.J.), Jian Zhou (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: AS IP Holdco (Piscataway, N.J.)
May 31, 2016
Kitchen appliance and method of assembling same
Patent No. 9,351,606
A kitchen appliance includes a housing with a base, a side wall and a cavity. The housing has a housing rim defining an opening to the cavity. A hinge base is mounted to the side wall. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening. The container fits within the cavity of the housing. A lid at least partially covers the opening of the container when placed on the container rim. The lid has an exterior surface, and an opposing interior surface facing the interior of the container when the lid is placed on the container rim. A bracket is mounted to the exterior surface of the lid. At least a portion of the bracket is rotatably and selectively removably received within at least a portion of the hinge base to rotatably andselectively removable mount to the lid of the housing.
Inventors: James Robert Gaynor (Glen Allen, Va.), Mark C. Steiner (Glen Allen, Va.), Brian Bock (Glen Allen, Va.), John D. Barnes (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
May 31, 2015
Synergistic fuel additives and fuels containing the additives
Patent No. 9,353,326
A fuel additive for a gasoline fuel composition, a gasoline fuel composition and a method for reducing wear in a gasoline delivery system of an engine. The fuel additive includes a synergistic mixture of (i) N,N-bis(hydroxyalkyl)-alkylamine, and (ii) an amide reaction product of a hydroxy acid, hydroxy ester, or lactone and an amine or ether amine, wherein a weight ratio of (i) to (ii) in the synergistic mixture ranges from about 1:5 to about 5:1.
Inventors: Xinggao Fang (Midlothian, Va.), Scott A. Culley (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
May 31, 2016
Swinging chair
Patent No. 9,345,975
A swinging chair having a base seating portion composed of bungee cords and a suspension system that permits the base seating portion to hang or otherwise be suspended so it dually functions as a swing.
Inventors: Ting Xu (Richmond), Amanda Lacy (Charlottesville, Va.)
Assignee: Plow & Hearth (Madison, Va.)
May 24, 2016
Oral pouch product with flavored wrapper
Patent No. 9,345,267
Provided is an oral pouch flavor product with a fibrous flavored wrapper that encloses an inner filling material. Preferably, the fibrous flavored wrapper includes embedded flavorants. The fibrous flavored wrapper may also include a softening agent, colorants, and/or browning inhibitors. The inner material may include non-tobacco, plant material fibers and preferably has a low moisture content so as to prevent the need for preservatives or refrigeration.
Inventors: Karen M. Torrence (Chester, Va.), Warren D. Winterson (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
May 24, 2016
Apparatus and method for forming and packaging molded tobacco
Patent No. 9,345,266
An apparatus for molding and packaging molded tobacco pieces includes a mold having cavities oriented to allow ejection of molded tobacco pieces into a container. The apparatus also includes a knockout for ejecting the molded tobacco pieces, and a cutter having at least two blades for cutting the molded tobacco pieces into vertically aligned slices by passing one or more blades horizontally through the cavities.
Inventors: Shannon Black (Richmond), Andrew Nathan Carroll (Chester, Va.), Tom Holland (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
May 24, 2016
Paperboard security card with content retaining elements
Patent No. 9,346,596
Paperboard security packages (1) are disclosed wherein content items are contained by at least one card (10) and two adjoining housing (30, 40) attached to the at least one card and protruding from opposite surfaces of the card.
Inventors: Charlotte Hanks (Toronto, Canada), Matthew E. Zacherle (Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: WestRock MWV (Norcross, Ga.)
May 24, 2016
Blister card with retention feature
Patent No. 9,346,597
A package is disclosed which includes first panel (210) having a blister (150) attached thereto. A second panel (220) is hingedly attached to the first panel (210). The second panel (220) includes a cutout area (221) through which the blister body protrudes. A retention feature (155) on the blister body engages an edge of the cutout (221) to hold the second panel (220) in a position relative to the first panel (210).
Inventors: Ryan C. Bradfield (Henrico, Va.)
Assignee: WestRock MWV (Norcross, Ga.)
May 24, 2016
Method and apparatus for pouching tobacco having a high moisture content
Patent No. 9,346,570
An apparatus for dispensing charges of high OV moist smokeless tobacco (MST) includes a rotary metering device. The rotary metering device includes a lower disk, a metering disk, a plurality of cavities in the metering disk; and at least one vacuum housing located around the periphery of the lower disk and in communication with the plurality of cavities. A vacuum is applied to the cavities to aid in the filling of the cavities and an air discharge mechanism ejects a charge of the MST from each cavity at a discharge station.
Inventors: Dwight D. Williams (Powhatan, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
May 24, 2016
Electric power system control with planning of energy demand and energy efficiency using AMI-based data analysis
Patent No. 9,354,641
A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of an energy planning process (EPP) system which can be used to plan a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system applied to an electrical distribution connection system (EEDCS). The EPP system plans modifications to the EEDCS as a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state, in order to maximize the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system control of the EEDCS. The EPP system may also identify potential problems in the EEDCS for correction.
Inventors: Melissa A. Peskin (Richmond), Phillip W. Powell (Chesterfield Co., Va.)
Assignee: Dominion Resources Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
May 31, 2016
Cigarettes and cigarette components containing nanostructured fibril materials
Patent No. 9,351,520
Cigarettes and cigarette components such as tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper, and methods for making cigarette components are provided that comprise nanostructured fibrils. The nanostructured fibrils, which can be formed and deposited in situ on tobacco cut filler and/or cigarette paper by laser vaporization controlled condensation or chemical reaction, are capable of acting as an oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide carbon dioxide and/or as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Cigarettes are provided that comprise tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper, wherein nanostructured fibrils are deposited on, or incorporated in, at least one of the tobacco cut filler and cigarette paper.
Inventors: Khaled Saoud (Richmond), Firooz Rasouli (Midlothian, Va.), Shahryar Rabiei (Richmond), Shalva Gedevanishvili (Richmond), Mohammad R. Hajaligol (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
May 31, 2016
Nicotine lozenge
Patent No. 9,351,936
A nicotine lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a nicotine lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making nicotine lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, nicotine, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150.degree. C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of nicotine lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.
Inventors: Feng Gao (Midlothian, Va.), Diane L. Gee (Chesterfield, Va.), Phillip M. Hulan (Midlothian, Va.), Shuzhong Zhuang (Glen Allen, Va.), William J. Burke (Nashville, Tenn.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond, Va.)
May 31, 2016
System and method for providing contactless payment with a near field communications attachment
Patent No. 9,355,399
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include an attachment with a near field communication antenna, a secure element, a plug capable of connecting the attachment to an audio jack on a mobile device. Further, a system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving a payment initiation instruction from a customer, using a near field communication antenna, sending payment information to a point of sale device, using one or more computer processors, encoding data related to the payment as audio data, and transmitting the data related to the payment through an audio jack.
Inventors: Thomas S. Poole (Chantilly, Va.), Paul Young Moreton (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Capital One Financial Corp. (McLean, Va.)
May 31, 2016
Quantifying the level of intermacromolecular interactions by using pyrene excimer formation
Patent No. 9,354,180
The present invention relates to methods for determining the level of intermolecular interaction of a polymer based on the fraction of intermolecular interaction (f.sub.inter) relative to the inter, total molecular interaction, which includes both intermolecular and intramolecular interactions. Further provided herein is a method of identifying a suitable viscosity index improver based on the value of f.sub.inter. The identified suitable viscosity index improver can be used in a lubricating oil composition for, e.g., a power transmission system.
Inventors: Sheng Jiang (Glen Allen, Va.), Akhilesh Duggal (Magnolia, Texas), Jean Duhamel (Waterloo, Canada), Solmaz Pirouz (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond, Va.)
University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Canada)
May 31, 2016
High performance toilet with rim-jet control capable of enhanced operation at reduced flush volumes
Patent No. 9,353,512
A siphonic, gravity-powered toilet bowl assembly having a toilet bowl, which includes a bowl inlet in fluid communication with a source of fluid; a rim around an upper perimeter of the bowl defining a rim channel, having an inlet port in fluid communication with the bowl inlet and at least one outlet port; a bowl outlet in fluid communication with a sewage outlet; a direct-fed jet having an inlet port in fluid communication with the bowl inlet for receiving fluid and the bowl outlet for discharging fluid; and a control unit arranged in communication with the bowl inlet for controlling flow from the source of fluid passing through the bowl inlet into the inlet ports of the rim channel and the direct-fed jet, having a first extending rear portion and a second rim channel end portion, wherein the rear portion may extend at least partially into the bowl inlet.
Inventors: James McHale (Hillsborough, N.J.), Christophe Bucher (Hillsborough, N.J.), David Grover (Hamilton, N.J.), Jian Zhou (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: AS IP Holdco (Piscataway, N.J.)
May 31, 2016
Kitchen appliance and method of assembling same
Patent No. 9,351,606
A kitchen appliance includes a housing with a base, a side wall and a cavity. The housing has a housing rim defining an opening to the cavity. A hinge base is mounted to the side wall. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening. The container fits within the cavity of the housing. A lid at least partially covers the opening of the container when placed on the container rim. The lid has an exterior surface, and an opposing interior surface facing the interior of the container when the lid is placed on the container rim. A bracket is mounted to the exterior surface of the lid. At least a portion of the bracket is rotatably and selectively removably received within at least a portion of the hinge base to rotatably andselectively removable mount to the lid of the housing.
Inventors: James Robert Gaynor (Glen Allen, Va.), Mark C. Steiner (Glen Allen, Va.), Brian Bock (Glen Allen, Va.), John D. Barnes (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
May 31, 2015
Synergistic fuel additives and fuels containing the additives
Patent No. 9,353,326
A fuel additive for a gasoline fuel composition, a gasoline fuel composition and a method for reducing wear in a gasoline delivery system of an engine. The fuel additive includes a synergistic mixture of (i) N,N-bis(hydroxyalkyl)-alkylamine, and (ii) an amide reaction product of a hydroxy acid, hydroxy ester, or lactone and an amine or ether amine, wherein a weight ratio of (i) to (ii) in the synergistic mixture ranges from about 1:5 to about 5:1.
Inventors: Xinggao Fang (Midlothian, Va.), Scott A. Culley (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
May 31, 2016