Antimicrobial solution and methods of making and using the same
Patent No. 9,132,296
A chitosan solution is formed from chitin, which is a homopolymer of beta (1-4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Rinsed, dried and ground chitin undergoes a process of deacetylation to convert some N-acetyl glucosamine to glucosamine, a primary component of chitosan. The chitosan solution is prepared by mixing 5chitosan with an alpha-hydroxy acid such as glycolic acid. An aqueous chelated silver solution is prepared by mixing silver oxide with a carboxylic acid such as citric acid. The chitosan solution can then be mixed with the silver solution resulting in a cationic complex. The cationic complex of the present invention may then be electrostatically bonded with generally negatively charged surfaces. In use, citrate promotes uptake of the silver by microbes. The antimicrobial complex can be applied via several methods of application, including an impregnated wipe, a foam, a gel, a spray, a lotion and an ointment.
Inventors: William Wingfield (Richmond)
Assignee: AG Essence (Richmond)
September 15, 2015
Device for facilitating artificial prosthesis installation with measured applied pressure and method therefor
Patent No. 9,131,974
Devices and methods provide for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure. Embodiments include a clamp having an upper frame arm, a lower frame arm and a clamp assembly, and further include a clamp with a knob assembly and a pressure monitor assembly. Differently sized clamp inserts can be interchangeably employed with a clamp stem to adapt to the relative sizes of objects being clamped.
Inventors: John Stuart Boyer (Henrico, Va.), Bruce Reed Anderson (Richmond)
Assignee: Boyer Anderson LLC (Henrico, Va.)
September 15, 2015
Methods for making polymer particulates in gel form
Patent No. 9,133,337
Methods for making polymer particles in gel form via an emulsion and/or suspension process are provided. The method can include preparing a reactant mixture comprising a carrier fluid and a monomer component containing one or more phenolic compounds and optionally one or more crosslinking compounds, a mixture of Maillard reactants, or a combination thereof. The monomer component can polymerize to form the polymer particles in gel form. The reactant mixture can be located within a reactor having one or more inner surfaces in contaConn. with the reactant mixture during polymerization of the monomer component. The one or more inner surfaces limit a release of metal, metal ions, or a combination thereof into the reactant mixture to produce the polymer particles in gel form containing less than 1 wt % metal atoms, metal ions, or a combination thereof, based on the total weight of the polymer particles in gel form.
Inventors: Joseph F. Ludvik (Midlothian, Va.), Xing Dong (Decatur, Ga.)
Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC (Atlanta, Ga.)
September 15, 2015
Preparation of phenol-formaldehyde resin beads using suspension or emulsion polymerization
Patent No. 9,133,295
Methods for making polymer particles in gel form via an emulsion and/or suspension polymerization are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the method can include reacting a first reaction mixture comprising a phenolic monomer, an aldehyde monomer, and a first catalyst to produce a prepolymer. The method can also include combining the prepolymer with a carrier fluid and a second catalyst to produce a second reaction mixture. The second catalyst can include a dicarboxylic acid, an anhydride, a dihydroxybenzene, or any mixture thereof. The method can also include polymerizing the prepolymer to form polymer particles in gel form.
Inventors: Shahid P. Qureshi (Duluth, Ga.), Dong; Xing Dong (Decatur, Ga.), Charles C. Chan (Snellville, Ga.), Joseph Frank Ludvik (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC (Atlanta, Ga.)
September 15, 2015
Toaster with keep warm feature and method of toasting with the same
Patent No. 9,131,804
A toaster comprises a housing, at least one spring-loaded bread tray, one or more heating elements, a bread tray retaining mechanism, a bread tray partial retaining mechanism, and a lifter arm slot. The bread tray is movable between an up position and a down position and is biased toward the up position. The bread tray retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in the down position while the toasting operation is in progress and releases the bread tray from the down position when the toasting operation is complete. The bread tray partial retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in a position between the down position and the up position after the bread tray is released by the bread tray retaining mechanism. In one embodiment, the lifter arm slot comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion.
Inventors: Mark Francis Turner (Mechanicsville, Va.), Drew Carlson (Henrico, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
September 15, 2015
Portable projector and screen support system having foldable frame assembly
Patent No. 9,140,963
A portable projection and display system can include a frame assembly having one or more folding trusses, a counterweight bar arranged on a rearward bottom portion of the frame to help provide a stable base, and an adjustable boom. A projector can be mounted on one end of an adjustable boom. The boom can be configured to be capable of adjusting a distance between the projector and the display screen. The boom can be mounted to the frame with a hinged connection to permit it to act as a lever to raise and lower the projector. An adjustable boom bar can further be provided. The adjustable boom bar can be attached to an end of the boom opposite the project orsuch that adjustment of the boom bar raises and lowers the projector via a lever action about a fulcrum.
Inventors: Robert W. Corey (Glen Allen, Va.), William H. Anderson (Richmond), Paul Joseph Indelicato (Locust Grove, Va.)
Assignee: Spec Ops Inc. (Ashland, Va.)
September 22, 2015
Brush seal cover assembly
Patent No. 9,140,363
A brush seal cover assembly that includes a brush cover having a shroud that substantially encloses a brush mounted in a holder without removing the holder from the equipment to which it is mounted. The assembly includes a pair of brush cover halves integrally formed to provide an outer bristle guard capable of supporting the weight of a person and a pair of brush shields on opposite sides of the brush that prevent direct impingement of pressurized gas or liquid enabling maintenance and cleaning of the equipment to be performed while leaving the brush mounted in place without damaging the brush. The cover includes a pair of mounting plates configured for mounting of the cover by clamping or by compression between fasteners without having to remove the brush holder from the equipment or the brush from the holder.
Inventors: Roger Ferryman (Moseley, Va.), Patrick Fitzgerald (Richmond), David Chrisman (Sandston, Va.), Pavan Kumar Ravulaparthy (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Sealeze, A Unit of Jason Inc. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
Flavor pouch
Patent No. 9,139,360
A flavor pouch includes a porous covering that encloses a carrier having a flavorant. The carrier may be solid or particulate. Flavorants may be one or more of tea, coffee, rose hips, honey, royal jelly, fruit extracts, mint, sweeteners, ginger, pepper extracts., exotic flavors, ethnic flavors and the like. Where the carrier comprises a plurality of beads, the beads may have randomly dissolvable encapsulation to extend the time duration of flavor release. To use the flavor pouch, it is placed in the mouth and masticated or exposed to saliva to thereby release the flavorant.
Inventors: Bruce Neidle (Midlothian, Va.), Kenneth Newman (Prince George, Va.), William R. Sweeney (Richmond), Cynthia S. Hayes (Midlothian, Va.), Robert T. Mitten (Glen Allen, Va.), Danielle R. Crawford (Chester, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
High performance laminated tapes and related products for ballistic applications
Patent No. 9,138,961
Highly uniform woven fibrous structures formed from fibrous tapes, wherein the tapes constitute the warp and weft tapes of a woven fabric. The individual fibrous tapes may be woven or non-woven, and may be formed as narrow tapes or may be cut from a wider fabric web.
Inventors: Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond), Brian Duane Arvidson (Chester, Va.), Henry Gerard Ardiff (Chesterfield, Va.), Charles Arnett (Richmond), David A. Hurst (Richmond)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
Ultrasound detectable interventional medical device
Patent No. 9,138,286
An interventional medical device for use with a motion-sensitive ultrasonic imaging system comprising a flexible elongated member for insertion into soft tissue, a two-axis, flexing mechanism coupled to the flexible elongated member and a mechanism for controlled electrical excitation of the flexible elongated member. Each of the axial flexing mechanisms, when acted upon by electrical excitation, forcibly bends the elongated member along a section of it length causing its tip to move in the plane of the applied bending force. As a direct result of direct energy coupling by bending rather than vibration, the relative phases of the two axes can be controlled to accomplish specific movement of the tip of the flexible elongated member.
Inventors: John M. Davis (Richmond), Patrick J. LePivert (Jupiter, Fla.)
Assignee: Nuvue Therapeutics Inc. (Bristow, Va.)
September 22, 2015
Low peel force surface protection film and method of using same
Patent No. 9,138,979
A method of protecting a smooth surfaced substrate by a surface protection film that has improved high temperature peel force properties and low residue upon removal of the surface protection film from the smooth surfaced substrate.
Inventors: Gary Balakoff (Midlothian, Va.), Bankim D. Desai (Chesterfield, Va.), Shailesh C. Patel (Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corp. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
Smoking articles with significantly reduced gas vapor phase smoking constituents
Patent No. 9,138,016
A smoking article having a tobacco rod, which is adapted to produce mainstream smoke, and a filter attached to said tobacco rod. A permeable wrapping paper circumscribes the tobacco rod and the filter. The filter has an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, and includes a flow restricting segment of smoke impermeable material, which includes at least one open flow passage therethrough to deliver mainstream smoke, and a cavity downstream of the flow restricting segment. The smoking article also includes at least one ventilation zone upstream of the flow restricting segment.
Inventors: Zhaohua Luan (Ledgewood, N.J.), Mohammad R. Hajaligol (Glen Allen, Va.), Randall E. Barin (Glen Allen, Va.), Darin S. Colassaco (Midlothian, Va.), Firooz Rasouli (Pully, Switzerland)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
Isotopically-enriched boron-containing compounds, and methods of making and using same
Patent No. 9,142,387
An isotopically-enriched, boron-containing compound comprising two or more boron atoms and at least one fluorine atom, wherein at least one of the boron atoms contains a desired isotope of boron in a concentration or ratio greater than a natural abundance concentration or ratio thereof. The compound may have a chemical formula of B.sub.2F.sub.4. Synthesis methods for such compounds, and ion implantation methods using such compounds, are described, as well as storage and dispensing vessels in which the isotopically-enriched, boron-containing compound is advantageously contained for subsequent dispensing use.
Inventors: Robert Kaim (Brookline, Mass.), Joseph D. Sweeney (New Milford, Conn.), Oleg Byl (Southbury, Conn.), Sharad N. Yedave (Danbury, Conn.), Edward E. Jones (Woodbury, Conn.), Peng Zou (Ridgefield, Conn.), Ying Tang (Brookfield, Conn.), Barry Lewis Chambers (Midlothian, Va.), Richard S. Ray (New Milford, Conn.)
Assignee: Entegris Inc. (Billerica, Mass.)
September 22, 2015
Method of making bipolar junction transistor by forming base epitaxy region on etched opening in DARC layer
Patent No. 9,142,546
A method is provided of forming a bipolar transistor device. The method comprises depositing a collector dielectric layer over a substrate in a collector active region, depositing a dielectric anti-reflective (DARC) layer over the collector dielectric layer, dry etching away a base opening in the DARC layer, and wet etching away a portion of the collector dielectric layer in the base opening to provide an extended base opening to the substrate. The method further comprises performing a base deposition to form a base epitaxy region in the extended base opening and extending over first and second portions of the DARC layer that remains as a result of the dry etching away the base opening in the DARC layer, and forming an emitter region over the base epitaxy region.
Inventors: Patrick B. Shea (Washington, D.C.), Michael Rennie (Mechanicsville, Va.), Sandro J. Di Giacomo (Ellicott City, Md.)
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. (Falls Church, Va.)
September 22, 2015
Antimicrobial solution and methods of making and using the same
Patent No. 9,132,296
A chitosan solution is formed from chitin, which is a homopolymer of beta (1-4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Rinsed, dried and ground chitin undergoes a process of deacetylation to convert some N-acetyl glucosamine to glucosamine, a primary component of chitosan. The chitosan solution is prepared by mixing 5chitosan with an alpha-hydroxy acid such as glycolic acid. An aqueous chelated silver solution is prepared by mixing silver oxide with a carboxylic acid such as citric acid. The chitosan solution can then be mixed with the silver solution resulting in a cationic complex. The cationic complex of the present invention may then be electrostatically bonded with generally negatively charged surfaces. In use, citrate promotes uptake of the silver by microbes. The antimicrobial complex can be applied via several methods of application, including an impregnated wipe, a foam, a gel, a spray, a lotion and an ointment.
Inventors: William Wingfield (Richmond)
Assignee: AG Essence (Richmond)
September 15, 2015
Device for facilitating artificial prosthesis installation with measured applied pressure and method therefor
Patent No. 9,131,974
Devices and methods provide for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure. Embodiments include a clamp having an upper frame arm, a lower frame arm and a clamp assembly, and further include a clamp with a knob assembly and a pressure monitor assembly. Differently sized clamp inserts can be interchangeably employed with a clamp stem to adapt to the relative sizes of objects being clamped.
Inventors: John Stuart Boyer (Henrico, Va.), Bruce Reed Anderson (Richmond)
Assignee: Boyer Anderson LLC (Henrico, Va.)
September 15, 2015
Methods for making polymer particulates in gel form
Patent No. 9,133,337
Methods for making polymer particles in gel form via an emulsion and/or suspension process are provided. The method can include preparing a reactant mixture comprising a carrier fluid and a monomer component containing one or more phenolic compounds and optionally one or more crosslinking compounds, a mixture of Maillard reactants, or a combination thereof. The monomer component can polymerize to form the polymer particles in gel form. The reactant mixture can be located within a reactor having one or more inner surfaces in contaConn. with the reactant mixture during polymerization of the monomer component. The one or more inner surfaces limit a release of metal, metal ions, or a combination thereof into the reactant mixture to produce the polymer particles in gel form containing less than 1 wt % metal atoms, metal ions, or a combination thereof, based on the total weight of the polymer particles in gel form.
Inventors: Joseph F. Ludvik (Midlothian, Va.), Xing Dong (Decatur, Ga.)
Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC (Atlanta, Ga.)
September 15, 2015
Preparation of phenol-formaldehyde resin beads using suspension or emulsion polymerization
Patent No. 9,133,295
Methods for making polymer particles in gel form via an emulsion and/or suspension polymerization are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the method can include reacting a first reaction mixture comprising a phenolic monomer, an aldehyde monomer, and a first catalyst to produce a prepolymer. The method can also include combining the prepolymer with a carrier fluid and a second catalyst to produce a second reaction mixture. The second catalyst can include a dicarboxylic acid, an anhydride, a dihydroxybenzene, or any mixture thereof. The method can also include polymerizing the prepolymer to form polymer particles in gel form.
Inventors: Shahid P. Qureshi (Duluth, Ga.), Dong; Xing Dong (Decatur, Ga.), Charles C. Chan (Snellville, Ga.), Joseph Frank Ludvik (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC (Atlanta, Ga.)
September 15, 2015
Toaster with keep warm feature and method of toasting with the same
Patent No. 9,131,804
A toaster comprises a housing, at least one spring-loaded bread tray, one or more heating elements, a bread tray retaining mechanism, a bread tray partial retaining mechanism, and a lifter arm slot. The bread tray is movable between an up position and a down position and is biased toward the up position. The bread tray retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in the down position while the toasting operation is in progress and releases the bread tray from the down position when the toasting operation is complete. The bread tray partial retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in a position between the down position and the up position after the bread tray is released by the bread tray retaining mechanism. In one embodiment, the lifter arm slot comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion.
Inventors: Mark Francis Turner (Mechanicsville, Va.), Drew Carlson (Henrico, Va.)
Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. (Glen Allen, Va.)
September 15, 2015
Portable projector and screen support system having foldable frame assembly
Patent No. 9,140,963
A portable projection and display system can include a frame assembly having one or more folding trusses, a counterweight bar arranged on a rearward bottom portion of the frame to help provide a stable base, and an adjustable boom. A projector can be mounted on one end of an adjustable boom. The boom can be configured to be capable of adjusting a distance between the projector and the display screen. The boom can be mounted to the frame with a hinged connection to permit it to act as a lever to raise and lower the projector. An adjustable boom bar can further be provided. The adjustable boom bar can be attached to an end of the boom opposite the project orsuch that adjustment of the boom bar raises and lowers the projector via a lever action about a fulcrum.
Inventors: Robert W. Corey (Glen Allen, Va.), William H. Anderson (Richmond), Paul Joseph Indelicato (Locust Grove, Va.)
Assignee: Spec Ops Inc. (Ashland, Va.)
September 22, 2015
Brush seal cover assembly
Patent No. 9,140,363
A brush seal cover assembly that includes a brush cover having a shroud that substantially encloses a brush mounted in a holder without removing the holder from the equipment to which it is mounted. The assembly includes a pair of brush cover halves integrally formed to provide an outer bristle guard capable of supporting the weight of a person and a pair of brush shields on opposite sides of the brush that prevent direct impingement of pressurized gas or liquid enabling maintenance and cleaning of the equipment to be performed while leaving the brush mounted in place without damaging the brush. The cover includes a pair of mounting plates configured for mounting of the cover by clamping or by compression between fasteners without having to remove the brush holder from the equipment or the brush from the holder.
Inventors: Roger Ferryman (Moseley, Va.), Patrick Fitzgerald (Richmond), David Chrisman (Sandston, Va.), Pavan Kumar Ravulaparthy (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: Sealeze, A Unit of Jason Inc. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
Flavor pouch
Patent No. 9,139,360
A flavor pouch includes a porous covering that encloses a carrier having a flavorant. The carrier may be solid or particulate. Flavorants may be one or more of tea, coffee, rose hips, honey, royal jelly, fruit extracts, mint, sweeteners, ginger, pepper extracts., exotic flavors, ethnic flavors and the like. Where the carrier comprises a plurality of beads, the beads may have randomly dissolvable encapsulation to extend the time duration of flavor release. To use the flavor pouch, it is placed in the mouth and masticated or exposed to saliva to thereby release the flavorant.
Inventors: Bruce Neidle (Midlothian, Va.), Kenneth Newman (Prince George, Va.), William R. Sweeney (Richmond), Cynthia S. Hayes (Midlothian, Va.), Robert T. Mitten (Glen Allen, Va.), Danielle R. Crawford (Chester, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
High performance laminated tapes and related products for ballistic applications
Patent No. 9,138,961
Highly uniform woven fibrous structures formed from fibrous tapes, wherein the tapes constitute the warp and weft tapes of a woven fabric. The individual fibrous tapes may be woven or non-woven, and may be formed as narrow tapes or may be cut from a wider fabric web.
Inventors: Ashok Bhatnagar (Richmond), Brian Duane Arvidson (Chester, Va.), Henry Gerard Ardiff (Chesterfield, Va.), Charles Arnett (Richmond), David A. Hurst (Richmond)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, N.J.)
Ultrasound detectable interventional medical device
Patent No. 9,138,286
An interventional medical device for use with a motion-sensitive ultrasonic imaging system comprising a flexible elongated member for insertion into soft tissue, a two-axis, flexing mechanism coupled to the flexible elongated member and a mechanism for controlled electrical excitation of the flexible elongated member. Each of the axial flexing mechanisms, when acted upon by electrical excitation, forcibly bends the elongated member along a section of it length causing its tip to move in the plane of the applied bending force. As a direct result of direct energy coupling by bending rather than vibration, the relative phases of the two axes can be controlled to accomplish specific movement of the tip of the flexible elongated member.
Inventors: John M. Davis (Richmond), Patrick J. LePivert (Jupiter, Fla.)
Assignee: Nuvue Therapeutics Inc. (Bristow, Va.)
September 22, 2015
Low peel force surface protection film and method of using same
Patent No. 9,138,979
A method of protecting a smooth surfaced substrate by a surface protection film that has improved high temperature peel force properties and low residue upon removal of the surface protection film from the smooth surfaced substrate.
Inventors: Gary Balakoff (Midlothian, Va.), Bankim D. Desai (Chesterfield, Va.), Shailesh C. Patel (Chesterfield, Va.)
Assignee: Tredegar Film Products Corp. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
Smoking articles with significantly reduced gas vapor phase smoking constituents
Patent No. 9,138,016
A smoking article having a tobacco rod, which is adapted to produce mainstream smoke, and a filter attached to said tobacco rod. A permeable wrapping paper circumscribes the tobacco rod and the filter. The filter has an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, and includes a flow restricting segment of smoke impermeable material, which includes at least one open flow passage therethrough to deliver mainstream smoke, and a cavity downstream of the flow restricting segment. The smoking article also includes at least one ventilation zone upstream of the flow restricting segment.
Inventors: Zhaohua Luan (Ledgewood, N.J.), Mohammad R. Hajaligol (Glen Allen, Va.), Randall E. Barin (Glen Allen, Va.), Darin S. Colassaco (Midlothian, Va.), Firooz Rasouli (Pully, Switzerland)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond)
September 22, 2015
Isotopically-enriched boron-containing compounds, and methods of making and using same
Patent No. 9,142,387
An isotopically-enriched, boron-containing compound comprising two or more boron atoms and at least one fluorine atom, wherein at least one of the boron atoms contains a desired isotope of boron in a concentration or ratio greater than a natural abundance concentration or ratio thereof. The compound may have a chemical formula of B.sub.2F.sub.4. Synthesis methods for such compounds, and ion implantation methods using such compounds, are described, as well as storage and dispensing vessels in which the isotopically-enriched, boron-containing compound is advantageously contained for subsequent dispensing use.
Inventors: Robert Kaim (Brookline, Mass.), Joseph D. Sweeney (New Milford, Conn.), Oleg Byl (Southbury, Conn.), Sharad N. Yedave (Danbury, Conn.), Edward E. Jones (Woodbury, Conn.), Peng Zou (Ridgefield, Conn.), Ying Tang (Brookfield, Conn.), Barry Lewis Chambers (Midlothian, Va.), Richard S. Ray (New Milford, Conn.)
Assignee: Entegris Inc. (Billerica, Mass.)
September 22, 2015
Method of making bipolar junction transistor by forming base epitaxy region on etched opening in DARC layer
Patent No. 9,142,546
A method is provided of forming a bipolar transistor device. The method comprises depositing a collector dielectric layer over a substrate in a collector active region, depositing a dielectric anti-reflective (DARC) layer over the collector dielectric layer, dry etching away a base opening in the DARC layer, and wet etching away a portion of the collector dielectric layer in the base opening to provide an extended base opening to the substrate. The method further comprises performing a base deposition to form a base epitaxy region in the extended base opening and extending over first and second portions of the DARC layer that remains as a result of the dry etching away the base opening in the DARC layer, and forming an emitter region over the base epitaxy region.
Inventors: Patrick B. Shea (Washington, D.C.), Michael Rennie (Mechanicsville, Va.), Sandro J. Di Giacomo (Ellicott City, Md.)
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. (Falls Church, Va.)
September 22, 2015