Artificial evergreen tree
Patent No. 10,006,624
An artificial evergreen tree is provided having a plurality of branch rings. Each branch ring includes a plurality of nests. A tree branch base is rotatably coupled to each of the plurality of nests and has a branch assembly coupled thereto. The branch ring includes bottom segment having a bottom segment electrical contact. The branch ring includes a top segment having a top segment electrical contact that is in electrical communication with the bottom segment electrical contact. The plurality of nests is positioned between the bottom segment and the top segment. The top segment of a first branch ring is configured to couple to the bottom segment of a second branch ring so that the top segment electrical contact of the first branch ring and the bottom segment electrical contact of the second branch ring are coupled in electrical communication.
Inventors: Eva Austin (Norfolk, Va.), Ashley Kinnaird (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carol McMurtrie (Virginia Beach, Va.), Gwen Owens (Virginia Beach, Va.), Laura Luth (Norfolk, Va.), Gary Lawson (Suffolk, Va.), Margaret Heuisler (Chesapeake, Va.), Stapleton; Katherine (Virginia Beach, Va.), Sanford Caprow (Virginia Beach, VA), Jack Hall (Charleston, Va.), Chris Lemmon (Richmond)
Assignee: General Foam Plastics Corp. (Virginia Beach, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Labyrinth seal bearing housing
Patent No. 10,006,548
Systems and methods for bearing housings are disclosed. A labyrinth seal bearing housing includes: a first seal element that is structured and arranged to be connected to a wall of a mixing vessel; a second seal element that is structured and arranged to be connected to a rotatable shaft; and a bearing support that is structured and arranged to be connected to the first seal element. The second seal element is configured to rotate relative to the first seal element and the bearing support. The first seal element and the second seal element are structured and arranged to create a tortuous flow path between an exterior and an interior of the mixing vessel.
Inventors: Scott J. McCoy (North Prince George, Va.), Frederick Scott Paschke (Henrico, Va.), Eddie M. Tharrington (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
June 26, 2018
Methods and systems for producing high purity gaseous chlorine dioxide
Patent No. 10,005,665
Methods and systems for producing high purity gaseous chlorine dioxide are provided. A solid chlorite reactant is contacted with an ozone-containing reactant gas, or a gas containing both ozone and a component that reacts with any hydroxide byproduct (such as carbon dioxide), to produce chlorine dioxide. The reaction can be monitored and controlled to ensure that excess chlorite reactant is provided and to prevent ozone from passing into the product gas.
Inventors: John Richardson (Hanover, Va.), Kevin White (Richmond), Benjamin Niemaseck (Chesterfield, Va.), Douglas McIlwaine (Ashland, Va.), James Wilkins (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Chemtreat Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Dual-ended lip balm container
Patent No. 10,004,317
A three to six sided lip balm applicator comprises a cap, a liner, and a base, having engagement assemblies for engaging the cap to the liner, the liner to the base, and a base from one lip balm applicator to an equivalent base from another lip balm applicator to form a lip balm container. The base comprises a partition with stabilizers which emerge from the partition and extend radially toward and overhang an aperture in the partition. The lip balm applicator may contain a domed lip balm, filled directly into the lip balm applicator or components thereof as a mold for manufacturing the domed lip balm, filled to a fill level approaching the partition top but not touching the partition top.
Inventors: Matthew Clifton Keller (Richmond), David Dombrowski (Williamsburg, Va.), David Charles Fuhrmeister (Chester Springs, Pa.), William H. Valls (Loveland, Ohio), Zachariah S. Simmering (Mansfield, Ohio), Jonathon Keith Markey (Greensboro, N.C.)
Assignee: Pfizer Inc. (New York, N.Y.)
June 26, 2018
Co-extruded multi-layer polyester films having hydrolytic stability and improved delamination resistance
Patent No. 10,008,617
A co-extruded multi-layer biaxially oriented polyester film comprising a primary polyester layer and a dissimilar secondary polyester layer adjacent to the primary polyester layer, wherein the primary polyester layer and the secondary polyester layer each comprise a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid, wherein the monocarboxylic acid has from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, and wherein said glycidyl ester is in the form of its reaction product with at least some of the end groups of the polyester; and use thereof as a component of a photovoltaic cell.
Inventors: Tina Wright (County Durham, Great Britain), Rachel Little (Glasgow, Great Britain), William James Brenna (Middlesbrough, Great Britain), Erik Jevon Nelson (Chester, Va.), Mark Russell Hodgson (Teeside, Great Britain), Nori Mandokoro (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Limited Partnership (Chester, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Application of a multi-chamber cartridge
Patent No. 10,004,265
An e-vaping device having a cartridge including an outer container extending in a longitudinal direction, a conduit within the outer container, a storage portion including pre-vapor formulation ingredients, the storage portion being between the outer container and the conduit and including a plurality of chambers, a plurality of wicks, each of the wicks being in communication with each of the chambers and the conduit and being configured to deliver one or more ingredients in each of the chambers to the conduit, and a coil heater located in the chimney and operatively coupled to each of the wicks. The e-vaping device also includes a power supply source coupled to the cartridge, the power supply source is configured to heat the wicks to vaporize ingredients located in respective chambers and generate a vapor corresponding to each of the vaporized ingredients.
Inventors: Shaoyong Yu (Henrico, Va.), Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
June 26, 2018
Extending DNSSEC trust chains to objects outside the DNS
Patent No. 10,009,181
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for extending a chain of trust beyond the DNS. Some embodiments provide a verifier with the ability to validate a chain of trust starting with the trust anchor at the DNS root all the way to a service or object of interest outside the DNS.
Inventors: Burton S. Kaliski Jr. (McLean, Va.), Eric Osterweil (Fairfax, Va.), Glen Wiley (Goochland, Va.)
Assignee: Verisign Inc. (Reston, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Foam drying apparatus
Patent No. 10,012,440
A foam drying apparatus is provided. The apparatus is configured to pass air, and in some cases heated and/or dried air, through a quantity of foam. This air passing through the foam absorbs or otherwise carries moisture out of the foam, drying it. The apparatus may utilize a pressure differential on opposite sides of the foam, causing air on the higher pressure side to pass through the foam. Typical applications may include the drying of foam assemblies which use water based adhesives to accelerate drying of the adhesive and/or removal of water from the foam assembly, and packaging of the foam assembly.
Inventors: Steven E. Adams (Richmond), Andrew T. Sinclair (Richmond), Robert J. Rose (Richmond), Ian L. Churcher (Richmond)
Assignee: Worthen Industries (Nashua, N.H.)
July 3, 2018
Fuel additive mixtures and fuels containing them
A fuel additive concentrate for gasoline, a gasoline fuel containing an additive mixture, a method for reducing wear in an engine and in a fuel delivery system of a gasoline engine, and a method for improving injector performance. The additive concentrate includes an aromatic solvent and a mixture that contains (i) N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamide, (ii) 2-((2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)ethyl alkanoate and N-(2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamide, and (iii) fatty acid ester(s) and amide(s) derived from a self-condensation product of diethanolamine (DEA) containing at least 3 amino groups. A weight ratio of (i) to (ii) to (iii) in the concentrate ranges from about 8:2:0 to about 2:5:3. The fuel additive mixture is substantially devoid of glycerin and remains fluid at a temperature down to about -20.degree. C.
Inventors: Michel Nuckols (Midlothian, Va.), Charles Shanahan (Richmond), Scott A. Culley (Midlothian, Va.), Keihann Yavari (Margny-les-Compiegne, France), Van Hecke; Lieven (Kortrijk, Belgium)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Lighter holder for cigarette and cigar packs
Patent No. 10,011,420
A lighter holder for a cigarette or cigar package, comprising a substantially rectangular member foldable into the lighter holder, the rectangular member having a length and a width and five discrete panels defined in the length direction by foldable score lines in the width direction, the second and fourth panels being internally foldable and having apertures at corresponding locations in the width directions thereof.
Inventors: Scott A. Fath (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Charger assembly and charging system for an electronic vaping device
Patent No. 10,010,114
A charger assembly is configured to charge the electronic vaping device. The charger assembly includes a base including a housing defining a port. The port is configured to receive a tip end of an electronic vaping device. The port includes a magnetic electrical contact centrally positioned at a bottom of the port and a first pin positioned at the bottom of the port. The charger assembly also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the magnetic electrical contact and the first pin.
Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian, Va.), Barry S. Smith (Hopewell, Va.), Douglas A. Burton (Glen Allen, Va.), Eric Hawes (Richmond, Va.), Sean Sundberg (Richmond), Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Systems, devices, and methods for changing therapeutic aerosol size and improving efficiency of ventilation and aerosol drug delivery
Patent No. 10,010,692
A mixer-heater device provides controllable reduction in aerosol droplet size. Additionally, an intermittent delivery mode for administering an aerosol to a patient may take into account patient expiration and reduce aerosol losses without prolonging treatment time. Depositional losses in aerosol delivery systems may be reduced by streamlining the three dimensional geometry of conduits which change stream direction or flow path diameter. Ventilation systems may also benefit from streamlined components, in particular Y-connectors, with resulting advantages such as reduced rebreathed CO.sub.2.
Inventors: Philip Worth Longest (Midlothian, Va.), Michael Hindle (North Chesterfiel, Va.)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
E-vaping device
Patent No. 10,010,111
An e-vaping device includes a first cartomizer section including a housing body with an inner tube extending longitudinally within the housing. A tubular reservoir for storing an e-vaping liquid is positioned between the housing body and the inner tube, with a wick in fluid communication with the tubular reservoir. A heater is configured to vaporize the e-vaping liquid in the wick. The tubular reservoir is helically wound around the inner tube, and a vent hole is included in a distal end of the tubular reservoir. A cross-sectional diameter of the wick equals a cross-sectional diameter of the tubular reservoir.
Inventors: Ali A. Rostami (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Electronic smoking article with alternative air flow paths
Patent No. 10,010,109
An apparatus and method of controlling resistance-to-draw of an electronic smoking article is disclosed, which includes a reusable portion and a cartomizer portion, and which includes: supplying an air flow from one or more inlets in an outer cylindrical housing of the electronic smoking article to a cartomizer via a cartomizer inlet having a fixed diameter configured to control a resistance-to-draw of the electronic smoking article and wherein the cartomizer inlet is located inside the outer cylindrical housing of the electronic smoking article, wherein a combined air flow area of the one or more inlets in the outer housing of the electronic smoking article are greater than a cross-sectional area of the cartomizer inlet; heating a liquid material from a reservoir to form an aerosol; and combining the at least initially volatilized liquid material with the air flow from the cartomizer inlet.
Inventors: Srinivasan Janardhan (Glen Allen, Va.), Eric Hawes (Midlothian, Va.), Yezdi B. Pithawalla (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Reconfigurable equipment distribution cart
Patent No. 10,011,290
A utility cart for storage and transport of a touch-screen voting terminal, separate ballot counter, and multiple (collapsible) voting booths in a more convenient and secure manner. The cart is generally formed with a pair of opposing side-rails of tubing bent in a rectangular loop with one or more pairs of horizontal struts for supporting a suspended shelving unit, wherein the vertical distance between a shelving unit and the corresponding pair of horizontal struts is adjustable to allow for various combinations of differently sized voting equipment to alternately be stored thereon. The suspended shelves increase the weight capacity of the shelving unit. The cart may also have a bumper along the bottom edge of a lower deck to allow several carts to be stored or transported together and moved by laypersons while minimizing the risk of injury or impact to equipment housed on the carts.
Inventors: Gary V. Abel (Ellicott City, Md.), Robert M. Giberson (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: N/A
July 3, 2018
Sandwich making appliance and method of making a sandwich with the same
Patent No. 10,010,216
A small cooking appliance with a bottom housing, a top housing, and a ring assembly. An uppermost cooking cavity is defined in the top housing and may be used to cook or heat a top food layer. The uppermost cooking cavity includes a floor that forms an uppermost cooking surface. The uppermost cooking cavity may have an open top. The appliance may include a hinged or pivoting lid to selectively close off the open top of the uppermost cooking cavity. The uppermost cooking surface may be heated by one or more heating elements in the top housing. The appliance cooks a food item in an assembled manner save a top food layer of the food item needs to be manually removed from the uppermost cooking cavity and placed onto the other layers.
Inventors: Michael Garman (Moseley, Va.), David L. Jackson (Mechanicsville, Va.), Abraham S. Longmire (Ashland, Va.), George Stamper (Quinton, Va.), Micheal M. PIerce (Henrico, Va.), Derek A. McCullough (Henrico, Va.), Mark C. Steiner (Midlothian, Va.), Andrea L. Radford (Montpelier, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
July 3, 2018.
Artificial evergreen tree
Patent No. 10,006,624
An artificial evergreen tree is provided having a plurality of branch rings. Each branch ring includes a plurality of nests. A tree branch base is rotatably coupled to each of the plurality of nests and has a branch assembly coupled thereto. The branch ring includes bottom segment having a bottom segment electrical contact. The branch ring includes a top segment having a top segment electrical contact that is in electrical communication with the bottom segment electrical contact. The plurality of nests is positioned between the bottom segment and the top segment. The top segment of a first branch ring is configured to couple to the bottom segment of a second branch ring so that the top segment electrical contact of the first branch ring and the bottom segment electrical contact of the second branch ring are coupled in electrical communication.
Inventors: Eva Austin (Norfolk, Va.), Ashley Kinnaird (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carol McMurtrie (Virginia Beach, Va.), Gwen Owens (Virginia Beach, Va.), Laura Luth (Norfolk, Va.), Gary Lawson (Suffolk, Va.), Margaret Heuisler (Chesapeake, Va.), Stapleton; Katherine (Virginia Beach, Va.), Sanford Caprow (Virginia Beach, VA), Jack Hall (Charleston, Va.), Chris Lemmon (Richmond)
Assignee: General Foam Plastics Corp. (Virginia Beach, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Labyrinth seal bearing housing
Patent No. 10,006,548
Systems and methods for bearing housings are disclosed. A labyrinth seal bearing housing includes: a first seal element that is structured and arranged to be connected to a wall of a mixing vessel; a second seal element that is structured and arranged to be connected to a rotatable shaft; and a bearing support that is structured and arranged to be connected to the first seal element. The second seal element is configured to rotate relative to the first seal element and the bearing support. The first seal element and the second seal element are structured and arranged to create a tortuous flow path between an exterior and an interior of the mixing vessel.
Inventors: Scott J. McCoy (North Prince George, Va.), Frederick Scott Paschke (Henrico, Va.), Eddie M. Tharrington (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
June 26, 2018
Methods and systems for producing high purity gaseous chlorine dioxide
Patent No. 10,005,665
Methods and systems for producing high purity gaseous chlorine dioxide are provided. A solid chlorite reactant is contacted with an ozone-containing reactant gas, or a gas containing both ozone and a component that reacts with any hydroxide byproduct (such as carbon dioxide), to produce chlorine dioxide. The reaction can be monitored and controlled to ensure that excess chlorite reactant is provided and to prevent ozone from passing into the product gas.
Inventors: John Richardson (Hanover, Va.), Kevin White (Richmond), Benjamin Niemaseck (Chesterfield, Va.), Douglas McIlwaine (Ashland, Va.), James Wilkins (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Chemtreat Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Dual-ended lip balm container
Patent No. 10,004,317
A three to six sided lip balm applicator comprises a cap, a liner, and a base, having engagement assemblies for engaging the cap to the liner, the liner to the base, and a base from one lip balm applicator to an equivalent base from another lip balm applicator to form a lip balm container. The base comprises a partition with stabilizers which emerge from the partition and extend radially toward and overhang an aperture in the partition. The lip balm applicator may contain a domed lip balm, filled directly into the lip balm applicator or components thereof as a mold for manufacturing the domed lip balm, filled to a fill level approaching the partition top but not touching the partition top.
Inventors: Matthew Clifton Keller (Richmond), David Dombrowski (Williamsburg, Va.), David Charles Fuhrmeister (Chester Springs, Pa.), William H. Valls (Loveland, Ohio), Zachariah S. Simmering (Mansfield, Ohio), Jonathon Keith Markey (Greensboro, N.C.)
Assignee: Pfizer Inc. (New York, N.Y.)
June 26, 2018
Co-extruded multi-layer polyester films having hydrolytic stability and improved delamination resistance
Patent No. 10,008,617
A co-extruded multi-layer biaxially oriented polyester film comprising a primary polyester layer and a dissimilar secondary polyester layer adjacent to the primary polyester layer, wherein the primary polyester layer and the secondary polyester layer each comprise a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid, wherein the monocarboxylic acid has from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, and wherein said glycidyl ester is in the form of its reaction product with at least some of the end groups of the polyester; and use thereof as a component of a photovoltaic cell.
Inventors: Tina Wright (County Durham, Great Britain), Rachel Little (Glasgow, Great Britain), William James Brenna (Middlesbrough, Great Britain), Erik Jevon Nelson (Chester, Va.), Mark Russell Hodgson (Teeside, Great Britain), Nori Mandokoro (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Limited Partnership (Chester, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Application of a multi-chamber cartridge
Patent No. 10,004,265
An e-vaping device having a cartridge including an outer container extending in a longitudinal direction, a conduit within the outer container, a storage portion including pre-vapor formulation ingredients, the storage portion being between the outer container and the conduit and including a plurality of chambers, a plurality of wicks, each of the wicks being in communication with each of the chambers and the conduit and being configured to deliver one or more ingredients in each of the chambers to the conduit, and a coil heater located in the chimney and operatively coupled to each of the wicks. The e-vaping device also includes a power supply source coupled to the cartridge, the power supply source is configured to heat the wicks to vaporize ingredients located in respective chambers and generate a vapor corresponding to each of the vaporized ingredients.
Inventors: Shaoyong Yu (Henrico, Va.), Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
June 26, 2018
Extending DNSSEC trust chains to objects outside the DNS
Patent No. 10,009,181
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for extending a chain of trust beyond the DNS. Some embodiments provide a verifier with the ability to validate a chain of trust starting with the trust anchor at the DNS root all the way to a service or object of interest outside the DNS.
Inventors: Burton S. Kaliski Jr. (McLean, Va.), Eric Osterweil (Fairfax, Va.), Glen Wiley (Goochland, Va.)
Assignee: Verisign Inc. (Reston, Va.)
June 26, 2018
Foam drying apparatus
Patent No. 10,012,440
A foam drying apparatus is provided. The apparatus is configured to pass air, and in some cases heated and/or dried air, through a quantity of foam. This air passing through the foam absorbs or otherwise carries moisture out of the foam, drying it. The apparatus may utilize a pressure differential on opposite sides of the foam, causing air on the higher pressure side to pass through the foam. Typical applications may include the drying of foam assemblies which use water based adhesives to accelerate drying of the adhesive and/or removal of water from the foam assembly, and packaging of the foam assembly.
Inventors: Steven E. Adams (Richmond), Andrew T. Sinclair (Richmond), Robert J. Rose (Richmond), Ian L. Churcher (Richmond)
Assignee: Worthen Industries (Nashua, N.H.)
July 3, 2018
Fuel additive mixtures and fuels containing them
A fuel additive concentrate for gasoline, a gasoline fuel containing an additive mixture, a method for reducing wear in an engine and in a fuel delivery system of a gasoline engine, and a method for improving injector performance. The additive concentrate includes an aromatic solvent and a mixture that contains (i) N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamide, (ii) 2-((2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)ethyl alkanoate and N-(2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamide, and (iii) fatty acid ester(s) and amide(s) derived from a self-condensation product of diethanolamine (DEA) containing at least 3 amino groups. A weight ratio of (i) to (ii) to (iii) in the concentrate ranges from about 8:2:0 to about 2:5:3. The fuel additive mixture is substantially devoid of glycerin and remains fluid at a temperature down to about -20.degree. C.
Inventors: Michel Nuckols (Midlothian, Va.), Charles Shanahan (Richmond), Scott A. Culley (Midlothian, Va.), Keihann Yavari (Margny-les-Compiegne, France), Van Hecke; Lieven (Kortrijk, Belgium)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Lighter holder for cigarette and cigar packs
Patent No. 10,011,420
A lighter holder for a cigarette or cigar package, comprising a substantially rectangular member foldable into the lighter holder, the rectangular member having a length and a width and five discrete panels defined in the length direction by foldable score lines in the width direction, the second and fourth panels being internally foldable and having apertures at corresponding locations in the width directions thereof.
Inventors: Scott A. Fath (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Charger assembly and charging system for an electronic vaping device
Patent No. 10,010,114
A charger assembly is configured to charge the electronic vaping device. The charger assembly includes a base including a housing defining a port. The port is configured to receive a tip end of an electronic vaping device. The port includes a magnetic electrical contact centrally positioned at a bottom of the port and a first pin positioned at the bottom of the port. The charger assembly also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the magnetic electrical contact and the first pin.
Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian, Va.), Barry S. Smith (Hopewell, Va.), Douglas A. Burton (Glen Allen, Va.), Eric Hawes (Richmond, Va.), Sean Sundberg (Richmond), Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Systems, devices, and methods for changing therapeutic aerosol size and improving efficiency of ventilation and aerosol drug delivery
Patent No. 10,010,692
A mixer-heater device provides controllable reduction in aerosol droplet size. Additionally, an intermittent delivery mode for administering an aerosol to a patient may take into account patient expiration and reduce aerosol losses without prolonging treatment time. Depositional losses in aerosol delivery systems may be reduced by streamlining the three dimensional geometry of conduits which change stream direction or flow path diameter. Ventilation systems may also benefit from streamlined components, in particular Y-connectors, with resulting advantages such as reduced rebreathed CO.sub.2.
Inventors: Philip Worth Longest (Midlothian, Va.), Michael Hindle (North Chesterfiel, Va.)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
E-vaping device
Patent No. 10,010,111
An e-vaping device includes a first cartomizer section including a housing body with an inner tube extending longitudinally within the housing. A tubular reservoir for storing an e-vaping liquid is positioned between the housing body and the inner tube, with a wick in fluid communication with the tubular reservoir. A heater is configured to vaporize the e-vaping liquid in the wick. The tubular reservoir is helically wound around the inner tube, and a vent hole is included in a distal end of the tubular reservoir. A cross-sectional diameter of the wick equals a cross-sectional diameter of the tubular reservoir.
Inventors: Ali A. Rostami (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Electronic smoking article with alternative air flow paths
Patent No. 10,010,109
An apparatus and method of controlling resistance-to-draw of an electronic smoking article is disclosed, which includes a reusable portion and a cartomizer portion, and which includes: supplying an air flow from one or more inlets in an outer cylindrical housing of the electronic smoking article to a cartomizer via a cartomizer inlet having a fixed diameter configured to control a resistance-to-draw of the electronic smoking article and wherein the cartomizer inlet is located inside the outer cylindrical housing of the electronic smoking article, wherein a combined air flow area of the one or more inlets in the outer housing of the electronic smoking article are greater than a cross-sectional area of the cartomizer inlet; heating a liquid material from a reservoir to form an aerosol; and combining the at least initially volatilized liquid material with the air flow from the cartomizer inlet.
Inventors: Srinivasan Janardhan (Glen Allen, Va.), Eric Hawes (Midlothian, Va.), Yezdi B. Pithawalla (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
July 3, 2018
Reconfigurable equipment distribution cart
Patent No. 10,011,290
A utility cart for storage and transport of a touch-screen voting terminal, separate ballot counter, and multiple (collapsible) voting booths in a more convenient and secure manner. The cart is generally formed with a pair of opposing side-rails of tubing bent in a rectangular loop with one or more pairs of horizontal struts for supporting a suspended shelving unit, wherein the vertical distance between a shelving unit and the corresponding pair of horizontal struts is adjustable to allow for various combinations of differently sized voting equipment to alternately be stored thereon. The suspended shelves increase the weight capacity of the shelving unit. The cart may also have a bumper along the bottom edge of a lower deck to allow several carts to be stored or transported together and moved by laypersons while minimizing the risk of injury or impact to equipment housed on the carts.
Inventors: Gary V. Abel (Ellicott City, Md.), Robert M. Giberson (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: N/A
July 3, 2018
Sandwich making appliance and method of making a sandwich with the same
Patent No. 10,010,216
A small cooking appliance with a bottom housing, a top housing, and a ring assembly. An uppermost cooking cavity is defined in the top housing and may be used to cook or heat a top food layer. The uppermost cooking cavity includes a floor that forms an uppermost cooking surface. The uppermost cooking cavity may have an open top. The appliance may include a hinged or pivoting lid to selectively close off the open top of the uppermost cooking cavity. The uppermost cooking surface may be heated by one or more heating elements in the top housing. The appliance cooks a food item in an assembled manner save a top food layer of the food item needs to be manually removed from the uppermost cooking cavity and placed onto the other layers.
Inventors: Michael Garman (Moseley, Va.), David L. Jackson (Mechanicsville, Va.), Abraham S. Longmire (Ashland, Va.), George Stamper (Quinton, Va.), Micheal M. PIerce (Henrico, Va.), Derek A. McCullough (Henrico, Va.), Mark C. Steiner (Midlothian, Va.), Andrea L. Radford (Montpelier, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
July 3, 2018.