Patents Represented by Attorney Foley & Lardner LLP
  • Patent number: 8346355
    Abstract: A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor includes providing a medical device comprising a wet-tantalum capacitor. The capacitor has a rated voltage and including a hydrated anodic deposit. The method further includes charging the capacitor to a voltage that is less than approximately seventy-five percent of the rated voltage and at least partially discharging the capacitor after the charging step. The charging step is performed at a sufficient voltage to dehydrate the anodic deposit while not significantly decreasing the service life of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Medtronic, Inc., Kemet Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Norton, Brian J. Melody, John Tony Kinard
  • Patent number: 8338697
    Abstract: The thermoplastic resin composition (X1) of the present invention comprises (A1), (B1), (C1), and optionally (D1) below: 1 to 90 wt % of an isotactic polypropylene (A1); 9 to 98 wt % of a propylene/ethylene/?-olefin copolymer (B1) containing 45 to 89 mol % of propylene-derived structural units, 10 to 25 mol % of ethylene-derived structural units, and optionally, 0 to 30 mol % of C4-C20 ?-olefin-derived structural units (a1); 1 to 80 wt % of a styrene-based elastomer (C1); and 0 to 70 wt % of an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer (D1) whose density is in the range of 0.850 to 0.910 g/cm3, wherein (A1)+(B1)+(C1)+(D1)=100 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hoya, Kiminori Noda, Norihide Inoue, Hiroshi Uehara, Eiji Shiba, Masayoshi Yamaguchi, Manabu Kawamoto, Akira Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8337172
    Abstract: A pressure washer system includes an engine block, a water conduit, a water pump, and a spray gun. The engine block is for a horizontally-shafted internal combustion engine, and has a chamber therein. The chamber is designed to contain oil for cooling and lubricating the internal combustion engine. The water conduit has a garden hose connector on an end thereof, and is fastened to the engine block. As such, heat transfers from the engine block to a flow of water passing through the water conduit during operation of the internal combustion engine. The water pump is coupled to the water conduit, where the flow of water is driven by the water pump. The spray gun is coupled to the water pump, where the flow of water exits the pressure washer system via the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Klika, David A. Kratz, Gary J. Gracyalny, David Procknow
  • Patent number: 8340130
    Abstract: A type of input stored by a packet in a recorded session is identified, this recorded session comprises a plurality of packets that represent display data that is generated by an application program. At least one of the packets can be marked responsive to determining the type of input stored in that packet. A destination for rendering the contents of the packet can also be stored in a playback data structure in response to marking at least one of the packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard James Mazzaferri
  • Patent number: 8337377
    Abstract: A method for folding an airbag for an airbag module in which the airbag is disposed on a support is provided. At least one piling element for folding the airbag is provided next to the exterior edge of the airbag disposed on the support. The airbag is folded together using the at least one piling element in that the piling element is moved along the support in the direction toward the interior of the airbag disposed on the support. A retainer protrudes from the at least one piling element and moving together with the piling element during the movement thereof and reaching over or under an edge area of the airbag. The at least one retainer acts on an edge area of the airbag in such a way that an undercut is formed in the airbag through the effect of the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Andre Buchholz, Dirk Franke
  • Patent number: 8340877
    Abstract: An engine speed synchronizer for a manual transmission with an engine clutch, synchronizes rotation of the engine side of the engine clutch with rotation of the transmission side of the engine clutch by engine speed control with reference to operation of a shift lever under condition that the engine clutch is disengaged. The engine speed synchronizer determines whether or not a transmission input speed has started to change in a direction conforming to the operation of the shift lever; permits the synchronization in response to determination that the transmission input speed has started to change in the conforming direction; and inhibits the synchronization in response to determination that the transmission input speed has not started to change in the conforming direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Murayama, Masahiro Iriyama
  • Patent number: 8337884
    Abstract: A transdermal composition is disclosed which contains a blend of one or more polymers, one or more drugs, at least one of which has a low molecular weight and is liquid at or about room temperatures. The composition is substantially free of water and liquids which have a normal boiling point (a) optionally below processing temperatures and (b) greater than or equal to the temperature of the low molecular weight drugs. The composition does not suffer from the substantial loss of the lower molecular weight drug during production of the transdermal system. A transdermal composition is also disclosed which has one or more drugs, at least one of which has a low molecular weight and is liquid at or about room temperatures, and a polymer matrix including one or more high shear resistant polymers. The high shear resistant polymer(s) reduce the plasticizing effect of the low molecular weight drug, and has sufficient tack and shear for application to a human being.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Mantelle, David Houze
  • Patent number: 8338821
    Abstract: A pressure detection apparatus (30) detects, among a plurality of superconductor thin films (11 to 14) having different critical pressures at which a transition from a superconductor to an insulator occurs, the superconductor thin films (12 to 14) that have undergone the transition to the insulator with ammeters (242, 252, 262); and to detect, as an internal pressure of a housing (10), the maximum critical pressure among the critical pressures of the detected superconductor thin films (12 to 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hiroshima University
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8340355
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided with cameras and string-shaped members. The user is allowed to know working distances based upon the lengths of the string-shaped members. The optical axis direction of the camera is adjusted so that the leading edge of the string-shaped member is included in the viewing field of the camera, and the optical axis direction of the camera is adjusted so that the leading edge of the string-shaped member is included in the viewing field of the camera. Even in the case when no image-pickup object is present, by presuming the position of the image-pickup portion of the object, the working distance from the presumed position can be found by the string-shaped member. Moreover, since the string-shaped members are coupled to each other at the image-pickup position, the directions of the optical axes of the cameras can be determined based upon the extending directions of the string members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yano, Shiro Fujieda, Yasuyuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8338778
    Abstract: Provided are methods for determining the amount of vitamin C in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing vitamin C in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of vitamin C in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated
    Inventors: Qibo Jiang, Richard Reitz, Sum Chan
  • Patent number: 8337967
    Abstract: The present technology provides a bisphenol A capture system for food and beverage containers which include BPA-containing coatings. The capture system is made of one or more materials which bind any BPA eluting from the BPA-containing coating. The present capture system therefore reduces or prevents BPA from migrating from the can coating into the food or beverages stored in the can. The present technology further provides methods of manufacturing and using such coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Fujiko Ozawa, Takahisa Kusuura
  • Patent number: 8337043
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a first raceway disposed at a first end of the light fixture, a second raceway disposed at a second end of the light fixture, and a detachable cover that is removably coupled to the first raceway and to the second raceway. A ballast and power input wiring is coupled to the detachable cover, and an elongated lamp electrically coupled to the ballast. The light fixture also includes a power input connector having a socket portion and a plug portion, one of the socket portion and the plug portion coupled to the detachable cover and electrically connected to the power input wiring, and the other of the socket portion and the plug portion connectable to a power supply line to provide electrical power to the light fixture from a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Ronald E. Ernst, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp
  • Patent number: 8338453
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating progressive neurodegenerative diseases, and their associated symptoms by administration of ibudilast (3-isobutyryl-2 -isopropylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Medicinova, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Kalafer, Kenneth W. Locke, Kazuko Matsuda, Richard E. Gammans
  • Patent number: 8341022
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a virtual reality system that includes an instrumented device used to present a virtual shopping environment to a simulation participant. The participant's interactions with the virtual shopping environment may be used to conduct market research into the consumer decision making process. The virtual shopping environment may include one or more smart objects configured to be responsive to participant interaction. The virtual shopping environment may recreate a real-world shopping environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Red Dot Square Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark Edwards
  • Patent number: 8338275
    Abstract: A method of forming a metal contact on a silicon substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing a nanoparticle ink on a substrate surface in a pattern, the nanoparticle ink comprising set of nanoparticles and a set of solvents. The method also includes heating the substrate in a baking ambient to a first temperature and for a first time period in order to create a densified nanoparticle layer with a nanoparticle layer thickness of greater than about 50 nm. The method further includes depositing an SiNx layer on the substrate surface, SiNx layer having a SiNx layer thickness of between about 50 nm and about 110 nm; exposing the substrate to an etchant that is selective to the densified nanoparticle layer for a second time period and at a second temperature in order to create a via; and forming a metal contact in the via, wherein an ohmic contact is formed with the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Innovalight, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm Abbott, Daniel Kray
  • Patent number: 8336499
    Abstract: An aquaculture net forming an open basket has a front wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a back wall, and a bottom. The front wall, the left side wall, the right side wall, and the bottom all preferably have the form of a rectangle. At least part of the left side wall is foldable or has been folded over a diagonal of the at least part of the left side wall and at least part of the right side wall is foldable or has been folded over a diagonal of the at least part of the right side wall, in order to facilitate transport of the aquaculture net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: NV Bekaert SA
    Inventors: Samuel Enrique Kunz Astete, Guillermo Alejandro Vidal Rudloff
  • Patent number: 8341011
    Abstract: A method for reporting one or more results that occur based on a price change includes receiving price planning input including at least one price change from at least one of an automated pricing engine and a manual pricing engine. The method further includes generating at least one result that will occur based on the price planning input and reporting the at least one result along with the at least one price change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Veit
  • Patent number: D673113
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Better Energy Systems Inc.
    Inventor: David Fowler
  • Patent number: D673298
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy E. Perrin, Theodore E. Dhein
  • Patent number: PP23270
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘HJ-6’. The new variety resulted from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross of two non-patented varieties: “Obsidian” as the female, and “Eaton” as the male. The new, trailing cultivar can be distinguished by its consistent, large fruit size and appearance during the late spring and summer period for the fresh market. The fruit of this cultivar is produced on dark red, strong, thorny canes. When plants are grown and pruned correctly, yield in central California, USA can be up to 9,000 crates/acres, and the fruit ships well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Plant Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold A. Johnson, Jr., Judith E. Johnson