Activities duplication via recorded video
Patent No. 9,088,767
A method, system, and computer program product for activities duplication via recorded video are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A playback is performed of a video with control and input data, which includes a recording of video data of a set of activities performed on a second computer, a recording of a set of control data corresponding to the set of activities, and a recording of a set of input data corresponding to the set of activities. Control data from the set of control data is applied to the computer. Applying the control data to the computer changes a state of a process in the computer. Input data from the set of input data is applied to the computer. Applying the input data provides an attribute of the input data to the process in the computer.
Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian (Southfield, Mich.), Rick A. Hamilton II (Richmond), Brian M. O’Connell (Cary, N.C.), Keith R. Walker (Austin, Texas)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp. (Armonk, N.Y.)
July 21, 2015
Valve assembly
Patent No. 9,086,159
A valve assembly includes a valve seat having a valve opening therein. A valve plate is configured to sealingly engage the valve seat in a closed position for closing the valve opening to thereby close a fluid path through the valve assembly, the valve plate being biased toward the closed position by a first spring. An actuator plate can include an inlet opening therein, the actuator plate being biased in a direction away from the valve plate by a second spring. A member includes a first end fixed to the actuator plate, an interior passage in communication with the inlet opening in the actuator plate, and a second end engageable with the valve plate when a portion of the member passes through the valve opening of the valve seat, wherein the valve plate is configured to open in response to direct fluid pressure when fluid is guided to the valve plate by the member or when fluid pressure on the actuator plate is transmitted to the valve plate via the member.
Inventors: Thomas Andrew Johnston (Richmond), Joseph Chapman (Chesterfield, Va.), Ian Cowen (Richmond)
Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Baden, Switzerland)
July 21, 2015
Systems and methods for segmentation of radiopaque structures in images
Patent No. 9,084,888
A method of determining a model of a marker includes obtaining projection images, each of the projection images having an image of a marker that indicates a shape of the marker, determining binary images of the marker for respective ones of the projection images, and constructing a three-dimensional model of the marker using the binary images, the three-dimensional model comprising a set of voxels in a three-dimensional space that collectively indicates a three-dimensional shape of the marker, wherein the act of constructing the three-dimensional model is performed using a processing unit.
Inventors: Per Rugaard Poulsen; (Aabyhoej, Denmark), Walther Fledelius (Horsens, Denmark), Paul Keall (Greenwich, Australia), Elisabeth Weiss (Williamsburg, Va.), Jun Lu (Henrico, Va.), Emily Brackbill (Wyomissing, Penn.), Geoffrey Hugo (Richmond)
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Inc. (Palo Alto, Calif.)
July 21, 2015
Method for determining sulfur content in fibers
Patent No. 9,086,382
The invention concerns methods for measuring sulfur content in a fiber or polymer resin sample comprising: a) contacting the sample with a solution comprising sodium hydroxide to convert sulfur to sodium sulfate, b) combusting the sample of step a) in a furnace to remove essentially all organic materials to produce a residue; c) dissolving the residue in concentrated nitric acid; and d) determining the sulfur content of the sample using ICP Emission Spectrometry.
Inventors: Jonathan Samuel Tschritter (Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: E I Dupont De Nemours and Co. (Wilmington, Del.)
July 21, 2015
Locking mechanism
Patent No. 9,084,913
A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.
Inventors: David Robert Davies III (North Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: Atlas Barbell (North Chesterfield, Va.)
July 21, 2015
Stocking cart conveyance
Patent No. 9,085,314
A stocking cart conveyance may include three tiers, wherein the lower and middle tiers are substantially full length and the upper tier is substantially shorter to improve user sight lines, cart maneuverability, and/or accessibility to items in the middle tier. The upper tier in illustrative embodiments may be approximately 70-80% of the length of the full length tier(s) so as to maintain significant storage volume while still providing improved access, maneuverability, or sight lines. The upper tier may optionally be hinged so as to further improve user accessibility to items placed on the second tier. In illustrative embodiments the carts may longitudinally nest into one another to reduce the space needed to store the carts, and in certain embodiments the carts may be configured to nest when the upper tiers are in an upright position.
Inventors: Erich Selvig (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Chris Johnson (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.)
July 21, 2015
Medicament delivery devices for administration of a medicament within a prefilled syringe
Patent No. 9,084,849
An apparatus includes a housing, a medicament container and a movable member. The medicament container is configured to move within the housing between a first position and a second position in response to a force produced by an energy storage member. A proximal end portion of the medicament container includes a flange and has a plunger disposed therein. A first shoulder of the movable member is configured to exert the force on the flange to move the medicament container from the first position to the second position. A portion of the first shoulder deforms when the medicament container is in the second position such that at least a portion of the force is exerted upon the plunger. A second shoulder of the movable member is configured to exert a retraction force on the flange to move the medicament container from the second position towards the first position.
Inventors: Eric S. Edwards (Midlothian, Va.), Evan T. Edwards (Gordonsville, Va.), Mark J. Licata (Doswell, Va.), Paul F. Meyers (Fishers, Ind.)
Assignee: kaleo, Inc. (Richmond)
July 21, 2015
System to determine product characteristics, counts, and per unit weight details
Patent No. 9,091,623
A system for determining the characteristics of a volume of preferable small fungible products within an acceptable size range. The system differentiates among products even if in close contact to identify acceptable product. The system may store data for later review or for dispensing of product in real time. The system may include a scale to determine a sample’s weight, a camera to image the sample, an imaging table to permit viewing of the sample, a processor to determine the number of products in the sample, and a processor to determine the density of desired product. The system may also determine product count-per-weight, product volume-per-weight, and/or product surface-area-per-weight. These determinations may be useful, including in determining product processing and packaging options.
Inventors: William Keith Beaty (Webster, Texas), Patric Carey Pike (Hopkins, Mich.), Calvin G. Gray (Richmond)
Assignee: Satake USA Inc. (Stafford, Texas)
July 28, 2015
Phosphorus anti-wear compounds for use in lubricant compositions
Patent No. 9,090,850
The present disclosure describes anti-wear compounds that improve the pack stability of a lubricant composition and are resistant to in situ degradation while maintaining effective anti-wear performance.
Inventors: David Ryan Edwards (Richmond), Carey Garber Lehner (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Lubricant compositions containing a heteroaromatic compound
Patent No. 9,090,847
An ashless additive for lubricating oil compositions, lubricating oil compositions and methods for lubricating that are effective to improve the total base number (TBN) of a lubricant composition. The additive is a reaction product of a compound of the formula: ##STR00001## with NH.sub.3, an alcohol, an amine, or a hydrocarbyl amine, wherein R.sup.1 is selected from H, a hydrocarbyl group, the alcohol or amine contains from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, and the hydrocarbyl amine has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 100 to about 6000.
Inventors: Naresh Mathur (Midlothian, Va.), Jason A. Lagona (Richmond), John T. Loper (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Smoking articles containing polymers of polycarboxylic acid esters
Patent No. 9,089,162
Disclosed is a smoking article containing a rod containing a smokable composition, an optional wrapper for the rod, and at least one polymer or oligomer comprising monomer units of a polycarboxylic acid ester disposed on or in the rod, the wrapper, or both. The polycarboxylic acid ester contains an acid moiety having at least two carboxylic groups, and at least two alcohol moieties independently selected from those corresponding to a cycloalkyl alcohol or an aryl alcohol. The cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol is a flavorant, or chemesthetic agent, or both. In addition, a method for the controlled release of these flavorant or chemesthetic agents is described, which comprises pyrolyzing at least one polymer or oligomer.
Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.), Kathryne E. Paine (Midlothian, Va.), John B. Paine III (Midlothian, Va.), Shengsheng Liu (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Product dispensing system
Patent No. 9,090,390
A product dispensing system including a container having a plurality of walls that define an internal volume and an opening into the internal volume, and a dispenser including a frame configured to support the container and a catch element connected to the frame, the catch element being positioned to engage the opening when the container is loaded onto the frame.
Inventors: Bradford J. Walling (Chesterfield, Va.), John Gelardi (Midlothian, Va.), Aaron L. Bates (Moseley, Va.)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corp. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Advanced aromatic amine heterocyclic catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction
Patent No. 9,090,976
Methods and systems for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using advanced aromatic amine heterocyclic catalysts are disclosed. A method for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce water to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a solution of an electrolyte, a catalyst, and a cathode. The catalyst may include at least two aromatic amine heterocycles that are at least one of (a) fused or (b) configured to become electronically conjugated upon one electron reduction. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode in the electrochemical cell sufficient for the cathode to reduce the carbon dioxide to a product mixture.
Inventors: Andrew Bocarsly (Plainsboro, N.J.), Prasad Lakkaraju (East Brunswick, N.J.), Amanda Morris (Morrisville, Penn.), Raymond Dominey (Henrico, Va.)
Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton, N.J.)
University of Richmond (Richmond)
Activities duplication via recorded video
Patent No. 9,088,767
A method, system, and computer program product for activities duplication via recorded video are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A playback is performed of a video with control and input data, which includes a recording of video data of a set of activities performed on a second computer, a recording of a set of control data corresponding to the set of activities, and a recording of a set of input data corresponding to the set of activities. Control data from the set of control data is applied to the computer. Applying the control data to the computer changes a state of a process in the computer. Input data from the set of input data is applied to the computer. Applying the input data provides an attribute of the input data to the process in the computer.
Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian (Southfield, Mich.), Rick A. Hamilton II (Richmond), Brian M. O’Connell (Cary, N.C.), Keith R. Walker (Austin, Texas)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp. (Armonk, N.Y.)
July 21, 2015
Valve assembly
Patent No. 9,086,159
A valve assembly includes a valve seat having a valve opening therein. A valve plate is configured to sealingly engage the valve seat in a closed position for closing the valve opening to thereby close a fluid path through the valve assembly, the valve plate being biased toward the closed position by a first spring. An actuator plate can include an inlet opening therein, the actuator plate being biased in a direction away from the valve plate by a second spring. A member includes a first end fixed to the actuator plate, an interior passage in communication with the inlet opening in the actuator plate, and a second end engageable with the valve plate when a portion of the member passes through the valve opening of the valve seat, wherein the valve plate is configured to open in response to direct fluid pressure when fluid is guided to the valve plate by the member or when fluid pressure on the actuator plate is transmitted to the valve plate via the member.
Inventors: Thomas Andrew Johnston (Richmond), Joseph Chapman (Chesterfield, Va.), Ian Cowen (Richmond)
Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Baden, Switzerland)
July 21, 2015
Systems and methods for segmentation of radiopaque structures in images
Patent No. 9,084,888
A method of determining a model of a marker includes obtaining projection images, each of the projection images having an image of a marker that indicates a shape of the marker, determining binary images of the marker for respective ones of the projection images, and constructing a three-dimensional model of the marker using the binary images, the three-dimensional model comprising a set of voxels in a three-dimensional space that collectively indicates a three-dimensional shape of the marker, wherein the act of constructing the three-dimensional model is performed using a processing unit.
Inventors: Per Rugaard Poulsen; (Aabyhoej, Denmark), Walther Fledelius (Horsens, Denmark), Paul Keall (Greenwich, Australia), Elisabeth Weiss (Williamsburg, Va.), Jun Lu (Henrico, Va.), Emily Brackbill (Wyomissing, Penn.), Geoffrey Hugo (Richmond)
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Inc. (Palo Alto, Calif.)
July 21, 2015
Method for determining sulfur content in fibers
Patent No. 9,086,382
The invention concerns methods for measuring sulfur content in a fiber or polymer resin sample comprising: a) contacting the sample with a solution comprising sodium hydroxide to convert sulfur to sodium sulfate, b) combusting the sample of step a) in a furnace to remove essentially all organic materials to produce a residue; c) dissolving the residue in concentrated nitric acid; and d) determining the sulfur content of the sample using ICP Emission Spectrometry.
Inventors: Jonathan Samuel Tschritter (Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: E I Dupont De Nemours and Co. (Wilmington, Del.)
July 21, 2015
Locking mechanism
Patent No. 9,084,913
A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.
Inventors: David Robert Davies III (North Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: Atlas Barbell (North Chesterfield, Va.)
July 21, 2015
Stocking cart conveyance
Patent No. 9,085,314
A stocking cart conveyance may include three tiers, wherein the lower and middle tiers are substantially full length and the upper tier is substantially shorter to improve user sight lines, cart maneuverability, and/or accessibility to items in the middle tier. The upper tier in illustrative embodiments may be approximately 70-80% of the length of the full length tier(s) so as to maintain significant storage volume while still providing improved access, maneuverability, or sight lines. The upper tier may optionally be hinged so as to further improve user accessibility to items placed on the second tier. In illustrative embodiments the carts may longitudinally nest into one another to reduce the space needed to store the carts, and in certain embodiments the carts may be configured to nest when the upper tiers are in an upright position.
Inventors: Erich Selvig (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Chris Johnson (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.)
July 21, 2015
Medicament delivery devices for administration of a medicament within a prefilled syringe
Patent No. 9,084,849
An apparatus includes a housing, a medicament container and a movable member. The medicament container is configured to move within the housing between a first position and a second position in response to a force produced by an energy storage member. A proximal end portion of the medicament container includes a flange and has a plunger disposed therein. A first shoulder of the movable member is configured to exert the force on the flange to move the medicament container from the first position to the second position. A portion of the first shoulder deforms when the medicament container is in the second position such that at least a portion of the force is exerted upon the plunger. A second shoulder of the movable member is configured to exert a retraction force on the flange to move the medicament container from the second position towards the first position.
Inventors: Eric S. Edwards (Midlothian, Va.), Evan T. Edwards (Gordonsville, Va.), Mark J. Licata (Doswell, Va.), Paul F. Meyers (Fishers, Ind.)
Assignee: kaleo, Inc. (Richmond)
July 21, 2015
System to determine product characteristics, counts, and per unit weight details
Patent No. 9,091,623
A system for determining the characteristics of a volume of preferable small fungible products within an acceptable size range. The system differentiates among products even if in close contact to identify acceptable product. The system may store data for later review or for dispensing of product in real time. The system may include a scale to determine a sample’s weight, a camera to image the sample, an imaging table to permit viewing of the sample, a processor to determine the number of products in the sample, and a processor to determine the density of desired product. The system may also determine product count-per-weight, product volume-per-weight, and/or product surface-area-per-weight. These determinations may be useful, including in determining product processing and packaging options.
Inventors: William Keith Beaty (Webster, Texas), Patric Carey Pike (Hopkins, Mich.), Calvin G. Gray (Richmond)
Assignee: Satake USA Inc. (Stafford, Texas)
July 28, 2015
Phosphorus anti-wear compounds for use in lubricant compositions
Patent No. 9,090,850
The present disclosure describes anti-wear compounds that improve the pack stability of a lubricant composition and are resistant to in situ degradation while maintaining effective anti-wear performance.
Inventors: David Ryan Edwards (Richmond), Carey Garber Lehner (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Lubricant compositions containing a heteroaromatic compound
Patent No. 9,090,847
An ashless additive for lubricating oil compositions, lubricating oil compositions and methods for lubricating that are effective to improve the total base number (TBN) of a lubricant composition. The additive is a reaction product of a compound of the formula: ##STR00001## with NH.sub.3, an alcohol, an amine, or a hydrocarbyl amine, wherein R.sup.1 is selected from H, a hydrocarbyl group, the alcohol or amine contains from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, and the hydrocarbyl amine has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 100 to about 6000.
Inventors: Naresh Mathur (Midlothian, Va.), Jason A. Lagona (Richmond), John T. Loper (Richmond)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corp. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Smoking articles containing polymers of polycarboxylic acid esters
Patent No. 9,089,162
Disclosed is a smoking article containing a rod containing a smokable composition, an optional wrapper for the rod, and at least one polymer or oligomer comprising monomer units of a polycarboxylic acid ester disposed on or in the rod, the wrapper, or both. The polycarboxylic acid ester contains an acid moiety having at least two carboxylic groups, and at least two alcohol moieties independently selected from those corresponding to a cycloalkyl alcohol or an aryl alcohol. The cycloalkyl alcohol or aryl alcohol is a flavorant, or chemesthetic agent, or both. In addition, a method for the controlled release of these flavorant or chemesthetic agents is described, which comprises pyrolyzing at least one polymer or oligomer.
Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, Va.), Kathryne E. Paine (Midlothian, Va.), John B. Paine III (Midlothian, Va.), Shengsheng Liu (Richmond)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Product dispensing system
Patent No. 9,090,390
A product dispensing system including a container having a plurality of walls that define an internal volume and an opening into the internal volume, and a dispenser including a frame configured to support the container and a catch element connected to the frame, the catch element being positioned to engage the opening when the container is loaded onto the frame.
Inventors: Bradford J. Walling (Chesterfield, Va.), John Gelardi (Midlothian, Va.), Aaron L. Bates (Moseley, Va.)
Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corp. (Richmond)
July 28, 2015
Advanced aromatic amine heterocyclic catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction
Patent No. 9,090,976
Methods and systems for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using advanced aromatic amine heterocyclic catalysts are disclosed. A method for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce water to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a solution of an electrolyte, a catalyst, and a cathode. The catalyst may include at least two aromatic amine heterocycles that are at least one of (a) fused or (b) configured to become electronically conjugated upon one electron reduction. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode in the electrochemical cell sufficient for the cathode to reduce the carbon dioxide to a product mixture.
Inventors: Andrew Bocarsly (Plainsboro, N.J.), Prasad Lakkaraju (East Brunswick, N.J.), Amanda Morris (Morrisville, Penn.), Raymond Dominey (Henrico, Va.)
Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton, N.J.)
University of Richmond (Richmond)