Utilizing machine learning to reduce cloud instances in a cloud computing environment
Patent No. 10,382,260
A device receives, from a cloud computing environment, cloud instance information associated with cloud instances in the cloud computing environment, and processes the cloud instance information, with a machine learning model, to determine containers for one or more of the cloud instances and whether cloud instances should be removed from the cloud computing environment. The device causes a first subset of the cloud instances to be removed from the cloud computing environment, based on determining which of the cloud instances should be removed, and causes the containers to be created for a second subset of the cloud instances based on determining the containers. The device receives, from the cloud computing environment, cloud container information associated with the containers created in the cloud computing environment, and causes one or more of the containers to be scaled based on the cloud container information.
Inventors: Sunil Narang (Glen Allen, Virginia), Abhishek Kumar Singh (Henrico, Virginia), Nazia Sarang (Henrico, Virginia), Vikas Vijay (Richmond)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Systems and methods for providing cash redemption to a third party
Patent No. 10,380,567
A system includes one or more memory devices storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform steps of a method. Upon receiving a request to provide cash redemption to a third party from a provider client terminal, the system may allocate an amount of cash to a temporary financial account and generate a temporary access code that may be used to access the cash in the temporary financial account. The system may transmit the temporary access code to a recipient client terminal and upon an ATM terminal’s receipt of the input access code, the system may authorize the withdrawal of the amount of cash.
Inventors: Angela Baber (Richmond), Peter Davey (Powhatan, Virginia), Abhinav Agrawal (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Walter Avery Miller (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Bacteriophage and methods of making and using
Patent No. 10,377,992
Bacteriophage are provided, and methods of making and using the bacteriophage also are provided. The bacteriophage can be provided in a tobacco product, where the bacteriophage reduces the number of viable bacteria in the tobacco product and includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding an endolysin having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2.
Inventors: Dongmei Xu (Glen Allen, Virginia), Elisabeth Miller (Chesterfield, Virginia), James Arthur Strickland (Richmond), Ujwala Warek (Chester, Virginia), Steven Hagens (Bennekom, Netherlands)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond) & Micreos BV (Wageningen, Netherlands)
Aug. 13, 2019
Fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using the same
Patent No. 10,377,677
Generally, the instant disclosure relates to fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using the same. More specifically, the instant disclosure relates to blast suppressant and/or blast resistant ammonium nitrate fertilizer compositions, as well as methods of making and using the same.
Inventors: Mark L. Weaver (Greenwell Springs, Louisiana), Kyle A. Crum (Oakmont, Pennsylvania), Judodine Nichols (Murrysville, Pennsylvania), David F. Iwig (Greensburg, Pennsylvania), Steven C. Orkis (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Gerald E. Carkin (Tarentum, Pennsylvania), Deniz Gencaga (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Stephen P. Sunday (Richmond), Ian Ross Harrison (Port Kennedy, Australia), John R. Smith (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Shannon I. Parks (Sarver, Pennsylvania), Mikhail Gershenzon (Murrysville, Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Aug. 13, 2019
OmpA and ASP14 in vaccine compositions and as diagnostic targets
Patent No. 10,376,570
Anaplasma phagocytophilum surface proteins Asp14 and OmpA and homologous genes from Anaplasmatacaea family members are used in compositions suitable for vaccines to treat or prevent infections caused by tick-born bacteria of the Anaplasmatacaea family. Asp14 and/or OmpA proteins or peptide fragments may be used in combination with other Anaplasmatacaea surface proteins to elicit an immune response. Furthermore, antibodies to Asp14 and/or OmpA proteins can be used in diagnostic methods to determine whether an individual has contracted an Anaplasmatacaea infection. Because of the conserved invasin domains in the surface proteins, a wide range of Anaplasmatacaea infections may be diagnosed, treated or prevented using compositions of the invention.
Inventors: Jason A. Carlyon (Richmond)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Blender with quiet shield
Patent No. 10,376,102
A blender comprises a housing and a shield. The housing has a first portion enclosing a motor and a second portion for selectively receiving a blender jar assembly. The second portion defines an opening through which the blender jar assembly is selectively received. The shield is selectively coupled to the second portion via a substantially vertical pivot point that enables the shield to be selectively pivoted between a closed position closing off the opening in the second portion and an open position enabling the blender jar assembly to be inserted into or removed from the second portion. The pivot point comprises an overcenter cam that urges the shield toward the closed position when the shield is positioned between the closed position and a maximum displacement point of the overcenter cam and that urges the shield toward the open position when the shield is positioned between the open position and the maximum displacement point.
Inventors: Brian Bock (Midlothian, Virginia), David Matthew Schandel (Henrico, Virginia), Paul Diaz (Richmond), Benjamin H. Branson III (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Development of tobacco varieties with no or significantly reduced anatabine content
Patent No. 10,375,910
A process for producing a reduced tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) tobacco plant comprising reducing and/or eliminating anatabine biosynthesis in wild-type tobacco plant. In addition, use of such plants for discovery of molecular markers that are closely linked with genes required for anatabine biosynthesis and for discovery of genes required for anatabine biosynthesis. In addition, a smoking composition, a smoking article and a smokeless tobacco oral delivery product contain the tobacco material.
Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi (Midlothian, Virginia), Rutger Van der Hoeven (Midlothian, Virginia), Ndjido Kane (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Carton and blank therefor
Patent No. 10,377,523
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton for packaging one or more articles. The carton includes a tubular structure having a plurality of outer walls defining an interior volume for receiving one or more articles. The carton includes an inner end closure flap hinged to a first one of the plurality of outer walls and an outer end closure flap hinged to a second one of the plurality of outer walls. The outer end closure flap at least partially overlies the inner end closure flap. The carton includes an automatically erecting article retaining structure hingedly connected to the outer end closure flap.
Inventors: David T. Hayslette (Midlothian, Virginia), Bradford J. Walling (Chesterfield, Virginia), Matthew E. Zacherle (Chesterfield, Virginia)
Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems (Atlanta, Georgia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Modular electric guitar pedalboard
Patent No. 10,380,984
A modular instrument pedalboard is provided. The modular instrument pedalboard provides a plurality removably connectable pods, which may be effect pedal pods, power distribution pods, audio distribution pods, power/audio distribution pods, or a combination thereof. The pods include a base that has a first part of a connector that is adapted to be coupled to a second part of the connector which allows the pods to be connected, rearranged, expanded, contracted, and/or a combination thereof. Further the connectable pods include a circuit board to for parts of one or more audio loops as well as a power bar to transmit audio signals and power between pods.
Inventors: Jerry L. Calder (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: N/A
Aug. 13, 2019
Lubricants for use in boosted engines
Patent No. 10,377,963
A lubricating oil composition and method of operating a boosted internal combustion engine. The lubricating oil composition is formulated to be resistant to turbocharger deposit formation in the boosted internal combustion engine, as shown by its ability to ensure a TCO Temperature Increase of less than 9.0% as measured using the 2015 version of the General Motors Dexos1.RTM. Turbocharger Coking Test. The lubricating oil composition may also have a low NOACK volatility, as measured by the method of ASTM D-5800 at 250.degree. C.
Inventors: Kongsheng Yang (Glen Allen, Virginia), Kristin Fletcher (Midlothian, Virginia), William Y. Lam (Glen Allen, Virginia), Jeremy Styer (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Cigarette wrapper with novel pattern
Patent No. 10,375,988
A wrapper for a smoking article has a base web and a plurality of elements each having at least a pair of patch areas where diffusivity is in the range of 0 to about 0.2 cm/sec. Patches of adjacent elements are circumferentially offset from one another along the axis of a smoking article. The add-on material can be applied by gravure printing in a single pass in a chevron pattern such that an apex of the element is co-linear with substantially symmetrically spaced points on a trailing, outer edge of an adjacent element. Testing elements may be simultaneously printed with the add-on material to monitor diffusivity and/or presence of add-on material.
Inventors: Marc Rose (Mechanicsville, Virginia), Timothy S. Sherwood (Midlothian, Virginia), Robert N. Smith (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Electronic inhalation device including an abrasive element
Patent No. 10,375,991
An electronic inhalation device includes an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, an air inlet, an outlet, a formulation, and an abrasive element, which contacts a surface of the formulation. The abrasive element is configured to generate a particle cloud from the formulation by removing particles from the formulation and entraining the particles in an air flow.
Inventors: Peter Lipowicz (Midlothian, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Artificial surfing reef for affecting surface waves
Patent No. 10,378,225
The present invention is an artificial surfing reef for modifying a body of water’s bathymetry to create surfing waves. The artificial surfing reef is a shaped structure made up of many sized and shaped Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam blocks. As swell moves toward the shore, its bottom is resisted by the leading edge of the Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam artificial surfing reef. As the swell transverses over the Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam Artificial reef, the wave topples over and forms a plunging surfing wave. An earth anchor, connected to a cable, linked to a round shaped anchor disc, is attached to each Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam block for maintaining the foam artificial reef at a desired location submersed underwater. A plurality of Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam blocks may be attached to one another and configured so as to define a surf reef, which enhances the suitability of waves for surfing.
Inventors: Walter Judson Bennett (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: N/A
Aug. 13, 2019
E-vaping device cartridge with internal infrared sensor
Patent No. 10,375,993
A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes an infrared sensor configured to measure infrared radiation emitted by at least a portion of a heating element coupled to a dispensing interface in the cartridge. The field of view of the infrared sensor may encompass an entirety of the heating element. The infrared sensor may be an infrared light emitting diode. The e-vaping device may include control circuitry configured to determine the temperature of the heating element based on sensor data generated by the infrared sensor and control the electrical power supplied to the cartridge based on the temperature of the heating element. The control circuitry may control the electrical power to maintain the temperature of the heating element below a threshold temperature. The control circuitry may determine the heating element temperature based on accessing at least a portion of the sensor data stored at a storage device in the cartridge.
Inventors: Ed Cadieux (Mechanicsville, Virginia), Barry S. Smith (Kilmarnock, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Spacing drum and method
Patent No. 10,375,986
A spacing drum comprising: a segment receiving drum section capable of receiving a predetermined number of segments per revolution of the drum from a procession of segments approaching the segment receiving drum section at a segment-feed spacing and a segment-feed speed; a segment releasing drum section capable of releasing the predetermined number of segments at a segment-release spacing and a segment-release speed; and a radial profile flight comprising a continuous arc segment extending across at least portions of the segment receiving drum section and the segment releasing drum section. Associated methods are also provided, including method of changing pitch along a spacing drum progressively with a radial profile flight.
Inventors: Dwight David Williams (Powhatan, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Electric power system control with planning of energy demand and energy efficiency using AMI-based data analysis
Patent No. 10,386,872
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 County, Virginia)
Assignee: Dominion Energy (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
Polymer encased smokeless tobacco products
Patent No. 10,384,816
Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.
Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll (Chester, Virginia), Shannon Maxwell Black (Richmond), Yan Helen Sun (Midlothian, Virginia), William J. Burke (Nashville, Tennessee), Christopher Joseph DiNovi (Richmond), David Phillips (Richmond), Jason Andrew Macko (Richmond), Robert Smith (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
Backpack support device
Patent No. 10,383,427
A backpack support device for coupling a backpack to a user includes a frame that is substantially rectangularly shaped. The frame comprises a pair of first rods and a plurality of second rods. Each first rod comprises a plurality of nested section so that the first rod is selectively extensible. Each first rod is arcuate proximate to a top of the first rod to define a shoulder hook that is configured to position over a respective shoulder of a user. Each second rod comprises a plurality of nested segments so that the second rod is selectively extensible. Each second rod is coupled to and extends between an associated pair of nested sections. A pair of fasteners is coupled singly proximate to the shoulder hooks on a back of the frame. The fasteners are configured to couple to shoulder straps of a backpack to couple the backpack to the frame.
Inventors: Ralph Walker (Chesterfield, Virginia)
Assignee: N/A
Aug. 20, 2019
Smokeless tobacco product sized, shaped and adapted for oral consumption
Patent No. 10,383,355
A consumable tobacco film strip adapted to dissolve in the oral cavity includes a tobacco component, a binder, a humectant, and optionally a flavorant. The tobacco component can include ground or powdered tobacco and/or a tobacco extract. Tobacco flavoring can be incorporated in the film strip by casting or extruding a mixture or the tobacco component may be added to a film strip after formation of the film. The film strips are adapted to dissolve and provide tobacco satisfaction.
Inventors: Susan E. Wrenn (Chesterfield, Virginia), Maria Carolina Marun (Midlothian, Virginia)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
Electronic smoking article and improved heater element
Patent No. 10,383,371
An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, and a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater. The heater is formed of a mesh material.
Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian, Virginia), Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
ATM skimmer detection based upon incidental RF emissions
Patent No. 10,388,118
The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for detecting ATM skimmers based upon radio frequency (RF) signal. In one aspect, the disclosed embodiments include a system for detecting ATM skimmers including a memory storing instructions and one or more processors that execute the instructions to perform one or more operations for detecting ATM skimmers. The operations may include, for example, receiving radio frequency (RF) signal data corresponding to one or more RF signals detected by an antenna located within communication range of the ATM. The operations may also include determining one or more unidentified RF signals of the detected ATM RF signals that differ from one or more baseline RF signals. The operations may also include determining whether the one or more unidentified RF signals are present for a predetermined period of time, and determining whether a skimmer is present at the ATM based on a determination that the one or more unidentified RF signals are present for the predetermined period of time.
Inventors: William A. Hodges (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 20, 2019
Rounder bar with blade having zonal adjustment to control dough leakage
Patent No. 10,383,340
A rounder bar including a blade in continuous contact with a conveyor for forming dough into various shapes. An adjustable footer on the rounder bar includes a plurality of adjustment tools that can be adjusted in selectable zones to minimize dough leakage in any selected zone across the length of the rounder bar. Each adjustment tool is connected to a corresponding locking plate that is disposed in a recess in the blade. The pressure of the blade against the conveyor in a particular zone is responsive to rotation of the adjustment tool in that particular zone, enabling adjustment of dough leakage in that zone.
Inventors: Hunter Freed (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: Machine Specialties (Ashland, Virginia)
Aug. 20, 2019
Multifactor authentication for vehicle operation
Patent No. 10,384,648
A system for limiting vehicle operation is disclosed. The system may comprise one or more memory units for storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform operations. The operations may comprise determining that a key device is inside the vehicle; performing an authentication; setting the vehicle in a first vehicle mode; starting the vehicle based on the determination and the first authentication; and limiting vehicle operation based on the first vehicle mode.
Inventors: Ann Claudia Chapin (Powhatan, Virginia)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 20, 2019
Utilizing machine learning to reduce cloud instances in a cloud computing environment
Patent No. 10,382,260
A device receives, from a cloud computing environment, cloud instance information associated with cloud instances in the cloud computing environment, and processes the cloud instance information, with a machine learning model, to determine containers for one or more of the cloud instances and whether cloud instances should be removed from the cloud computing environment. The device causes a first subset of the cloud instances to be removed from the cloud computing environment, based on determining which of the cloud instances should be removed, and causes the containers to be created for a second subset of the cloud instances based on determining the containers. The device receives, from the cloud computing environment, cloud container information associated with the containers created in the cloud computing environment, and causes one or more of the containers to be scaled based on the cloud container information.
Inventors: Sunil Narang (Glen Allen, Virginia), Abhishek Kumar Singh (Henrico, Virginia), Nazia Sarang (Henrico, Virginia), Vikas Vijay (Richmond)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Systems and methods for providing cash redemption to a third party
Patent No. 10,380,567
A system includes one or more memory devices storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform steps of a method. Upon receiving a request to provide cash redemption to a third party from a provider client terminal, the system may allocate an amount of cash to a temporary financial account and generate a temporary access code that may be used to access the cash in the temporary financial account. The system may transmit the temporary access code to a recipient client terminal and upon an ATM terminal’s receipt of the input access code, the system may authorize the withdrawal of the amount of cash.
Inventors: Angela Baber (Richmond), Peter Davey (Powhatan, Virginia), Abhinav Agrawal (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Walter Avery Miller (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Bacteriophage and methods of making and using
Patent No. 10,377,992
Bacteriophage are provided, and methods of making and using the bacteriophage also are provided. The bacteriophage can be provided in a tobacco product, where the bacteriophage reduces the number of viable bacteria in the tobacco product and includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding an endolysin having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2.
Inventors: Dongmei Xu (Glen Allen, Virginia), Elisabeth Miller (Chesterfield, Virginia), James Arthur Strickland (Richmond), Ujwala Warek (Chester, Virginia), Steven Hagens (Bennekom, Netherlands)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond) & Micreos BV (Wageningen, Netherlands)
Aug. 13, 2019
Fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using the same
Patent No. 10,377,677
Generally, the instant disclosure relates to fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using the same. More specifically, the instant disclosure relates to blast suppressant and/or blast resistant ammonium nitrate fertilizer compositions, as well as methods of making and using the same.
Inventors: Mark L. Weaver (Greenwell Springs, Louisiana), Kyle A. Crum (Oakmont, Pennsylvania), Judodine Nichols (Murrysville, Pennsylvania), David F. Iwig (Greensburg, Pennsylvania), Steven C. Orkis (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Gerald E. Carkin (Tarentum, Pennsylvania), Deniz Gencaga (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Stephen P. Sunday (Richmond), Ian Ross Harrison (Port Kennedy, Australia), John R. Smith (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Shannon I. Parks (Sarver, Pennsylvania), Mikhail Gershenzon (Murrysville, Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Aug. 13, 2019
OmpA and ASP14 in vaccine compositions and as diagnostic targets
Patent No. 10,376,570
Anaplasma phagocytophilum surface proteins Asp14 and OmpA and homologous genes from Anaplasmatacaea family members are used in compositions suitable for vaccines to treat or prevent infections caused by tick-born bacteria of the Anaplasmatacaea family. Asp14 and/or OmpA proteins or peptide fragments may be used in combination with other Anaplasmatacaea surface proteins to elicit an immune response. Furthermore, antibodies to Asp14 and/or OmpA proteins can be used in diagnostic methods to determine whether an individual has contracted an Anaplasmatacaea infection. Because of the conserved invasin domains in the surface proteins, a wide range of Anaplasmatacaea infections may be diagnosed, treated or prevented using compositions of the invention.
Inventors: Jason A. Carlyon (Richmond)
Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Blender with quiet shield
Patent No. 10,376,102
A blender comprises a housing and a shield. The housing has a first portion enclosing a motor and a second portion for selectively receiving a blender jar assembly. The second portion defines an opening through which the blender jar assembly is selectively received. The shield is selectively coupled to the second portion via a substantially vertical pivot point that enables the shield to be selectively pivoted between a closed position closing off the opening in the second portion and an open position enabling the blender jar assembly to be inserted into or removed from the second portion. The pivot point comprises an overcenter cam that urges the shield toward the closed position when the shield is positioned between the closed position and a maximum displacement point of the overcenter cam and that urges the shield toward the open position when the shield is positioned between the open position and the maximum displacement point.
Inventors: Brian Bock (Midlothian, Virginia), David Matthew Schandel (Henrico, Virginia), Paul Diaz (Richmond), Benjamin H. Branson III (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Development of tobacco varieties with no or significantly reduced anatabine content
Patent No. 10,375,910
A process for producing a reduced tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) tobacco plant comprising reducing and/or eliminating anatabine biosynthesis in wild-type tobacco plant. In addition, use of such plants for discovery of molecular markers that are closely linked with genes required for anatabine biosynthesis and for discovery of genes required for anatabine biosynthesis. In addition, a smoking composition, a smoking article and a smokeless tobacco oral delivery product contain the tobacco material.
Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi (Midlothian, Virginia), Rutger Van der Hoeven (Midlothian, Virginia), Ndjido Kane (Richmond)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Carton and blank therefor
Patent No. 10,377,523
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton for packaging one or more articles. The carton includes a tubular structure having a plurality of outer walls defining an interior volume for receiving one or more articles. The carton includes an inner end closure flap hinged to a first one of the plurality of outer walls and an outer end closure flap hinged to a second one of the plurality of outer walls. The outer end closure flap at least partially overlies the inner end closure flap. The carton includes an automatically erecting article retaining structure hingedly connected to the outer end closure flap.
Inventors: David T. Hayslette (Midlothian, Virginia), Bradford J. Walling (Chesterfield, Virginia), Matthew E. Zacherle (Chesterfield, Virginia)
Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems (Atlanta, Georgia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Modular electric guitar pedalboard
Patent No. 10,380,984
A modular instrument pedalboard is provided. The modular instrument pedalboard provides a plurality removably connectable pods, which may be effect pedal pods, power distribution pods, audio distribution pods, power/audio distribution pods, or a combination thereof. The pods include a base that has a first part of a connector that is adapted to be coupled to a second part of the connector which allows the pods to be connected, rearranged, expanded, contracted, and/or a combination thereof. Further the connectable pods include a circuit board to for parts of one or more audio loops as well as a power bar to transmit audio signals and power between pods.
Inventors: Jerry L. Calder (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: N/A
Aug. 13, 2019
Lubricants for use in boosted engines
Patent No. 10,377,963
A lubricating oil composition and method of operating a boosted internal combustion engine. The lubricating oil composition is formulated to be resistant to turbocharger deposit formation in the boosted internal combustion engine, as shown by its ability to ensure a TCO Temperature Increase of less than 9.0% as measured using the 2015 version of the General Motors Dexos1.RTM. Turbocharger Coking Test. The lubricating oil composition may also have a low NOACK volatility, as measured by the method of ASTM D-5800 at 250.degree. C.
Inventors: Kongsheng Yang (Glen Allen, Virginia), Kristin Fletcher (Midlothian, Virginia), William Y. Lam (Glen Allen, Virginia), Jeremy Styer (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond, Virginia)
Aug. 13, 2019
Cigarette wrapper with novel pattern
Patent No. 10,375,988
A wrapper for a smoking article has a base web and a plurality of elements each having at least a pair of patch areas where diffusivity is in the range of 0 to about 0.2 cm/sec. Patches of adjacent elements are circumferentially offset from one another along the axis of a smoking article. The add-on material can be applied by gravure printing in a single pass in a chevron pattern such that an apex of the element is co-linear with substantially symmetrically spaced points on a trailing, outer edge of an adjacent element. Testing elements may be simultaneously printed with the add-on material to monitor diffusivity and/or presence of add-on material.
Inventors: Marc Rose (Mechanicsville, Virginia), Timothy S. Sherwood (Midlothian, Virginia), Robert N. Smith (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Electronic inhalation device including an abrasive element
Patent No. 10,375,991
An electronic inhalation device includes an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, an air inlet, an outlet, a formulation, and an abrasive element, which contacts a surface of the formulation. The abrasive element is configured to generate a particle cloud from the formulation by removing particles from the formulation and entraining the particles in an air flow.
Inventors: Peter Lipowicz (Midlothian, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Artificial surfing reef for affecting surface waves
Patent No. 10,378,225
The present invention is an artificial surfing reef for modifying a body of water’s bathymetry to create surfing waves. The artificial surfing reef is a shaped structure made up of many sized and shaped Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam blocks. As swell moves toward the shore, its bottom is resisted by the leading edge of the Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam artificial surfing reef. As the swell transverses over the Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam Artificial reef, the wave topples over and forms a plunging surfing wave. An earth anchor, connected to a cable, linked to a round shaped anchor disc, is attached to each Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam block for maintaining the foam artificial reef at a desired location submersed underwater. A plurality of Expanded Polystyrene Geo Foam blocks may be attached to one another and configured so as to define a surf reef, which enhances the suitability of waves for surfing.
Inventors: Walter Judson Bennett (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: N/A
Aug. 13, 2019
E-vaping device cartridge with internal infrared sensor
Patent No. 10,375,993
A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes an infrared sensor configured to measure infrared radiation emitted by at least a portion of a heating element coupled to a dispensing interface in the cartridge. The field of view of the infrared sensor may encompass an entirety of the heating element. The infrared sensor may be an infrared light emitting diode. The e-vaping device may include control circuitry configured to determine the temperature of the heating element based on sensor data generated by the infrared sensor and control the electrical power supplied to the cartridge based on the temperature of the heating element. The control circuitry may control the electrical power to maintain the temperature of the heating element below a threshold temperature. The control circuitry may determine the heating element temperature based on accessing at least a portion of the sensor data stored at a storage device in the cartridge.
Inventors: Ed Cadieux (Mechanicsville, Virginia), Barry S. Smith (Kilmarnock, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Spacing drum and method
Patent No. 10,375,986
A spacing drum comprising: a segment receiving drum section capable of receiving a predetermined number of segments per revolution of the drum from a procession of segments approaching the segment receiving drum section at a segment-feed spacing and a segment-feed speed; a segment releasing drum section capable of releasing the predetermined number of segments at a segment-release spacing and a segment-release speed; and a radial profile flight comprising a continuous arc segment extending across at least portions of the segment receiving drum section and the segment releasing drum section. Associated methods are also provided, including method of changing pitch along a spacing drum progressively with a radial profile flight.
Inventors: Dwight David Williams (Powhatan, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 13, 2019
Electric power system control with planning of energy demand and energy efficiency using AMI-based data analysis
Patent No. 10,386,872
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 County, Virginia)
Assignee: Dominion Energy (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
Polymer encased smokeless tobacco products
Patent No. 10,384,816
Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.
Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll (Chester, Virginia), Shannon Maxwell Black (Richmond), Yan Helen Sun (Midlothian, Virginia), William J. Burke (Nashville, Tennessee), Christopher Joseph DiNovi (Richmond), David Phillips (Richmond), Jason Andrew Macko (Richmond), Robert Smith (Glen Allen, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
Backpack support device
Patent No. 10,383,427
A backpack support device for coupling a backpack to a user includes a frame that is substantially rectangularly shaped. The frame comprises a pair of first rods and a plurality of second rods. Each first rod comprises a plurality of nested section so that the first rod is selectively extensible. Each first rod is arcuate proximate to a top of the first rod to define a shoulder hook that is configured to position over a respective shoulder of a user. Each second rod comprises a plurality of nested segments so that the second rod is selectively extensible. Each second rod is coupled to and extends between an associated pair of nested sections. A pair of fasteners is coupled singly proximate to the shoulder hooks on a back of the frame. The fasteners are configured to couple to shoulder straps of a backpack to couple the backpack to the frame.
Inventors: Ralph Walker (Chesterfield, Virginia)
Assignee: N/A
Aug. 20, 2019
Smokeless tobacco product sized, shaped and adapted for oral consumption
Patent No. 10,383,355
A consumable tobacco film strip adapted to dissolve in the oral cavity includes a tobacco component, a binder, a humectant, and optionally a flavorant. The tobacco component can include ground or powdered tobacco and/or a tobacco extract. Tobacco flavoring can be incorporated in the film strip by casting or extruding a mixture or the tobacco component may be added to a film strip after formation of the film. The film strips are adapted to dissolve and provide tobacco satisfaction.
Inventors: Susan E. Wrenn (Chesterfield, Virginia), Maria Carolina Marun (Midlothian, Virginia)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
Electronic smoking article and improved heater element
Patent No. 10,383,371
An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, and a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater. The heater is formed of a mesh material.
Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian, Virginia), Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian, Virginia)
Assignee: Altria Client Services (Richmond)
Aug. 20, 2019
ATM skimmer detection based upon incidental RF emissions
Patent No. 10,388,118
The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for detecting ATM skimmers based upon radio frequency (RF) signal. In one aspect, the disclosed embodiments include a system for detecting ATM skimmers including a memory storing instructions and one or more processors that execute the instructions to perform one or more operations for detecting ATM skimmers. The operations may include, for example, receiving radio frequency (RF) signal data corresponding to one or more RF signals detected by an antenna located within communication range of the ATM. The operations may also include determining one or more unidentified RF signals of the detected ATM RF signals that differ from one or more baseline RF signals. The operations may also include determining whether the one or more unidentified RF signals are present for a predetermined period of time, and determining whether a skimmer is present at the ATM based on a determination that the one or more unidentified RF signals are present for the predetermined period of time.
Inventors: William A. Hodges (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 20, 2019
Rounder bar with blade having zonal adjustment to control dough leakage
Patent No. 10,383,340
A rounder bar including a blade in continuous contact with a conveyor for forming dough into various shapes. An adjustable footer on the rounder bar includes a plurality of adjustment tools that can be adjusted in selectable zones to minimize dough leakage in any selected zone across the length of the rounder bar. Each adjustment tool is connected to a corresponding locking plate that is disposed in a recess in the blade. The pressure of the blade against the conveyor in a particular zone is responsive to rotation of the adjustment tool in that particular zone, enabling adjustment of dough leakage in that zone.
Inventors: Hunter Freed (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Assignee: Machine Specialties (Ashland, Virginia)
Aug. 20, 2019
Multifactor authentication for vehicle operation
Patent No. 10,384,648
A system for limiting vehicle operation is disclosed. The system may comprise one or more memory units for storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform operations. The operations may comprise determining that a key device is inside the vehicle; performing an authentication; setting the vehicle in a first vehicle mode; starting the vehicle based on the determination and the first authentication; and limiting vehicle operation based on the first vehicle mode.
Inventors: Ann Claudia Chapin (Powhatan, Virginia)
Assignee: Capital One Services (McLean, Virginia)
Aug. 20, 2019