Patents Represented by Attorney Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
  • Patent number: 8266047
    Abstract: Systems, program product, and methods for securing or procuring destination currency funds for a traveler to be used for travel in a destination country commencing at a scheduled future travel date, are provided. A system can include a domestic financial institution server including foreign destination currency transaction account program product. The system provides for establishing an interest-bearing foreign destination currency transaction account having a user-selected maturity date coinciding with a preselected travel date, and near, but prior to the preselected travel date, providing to the traveler a travel debit card having access to the balance of foreign destination currency funds including both principal and accrued interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Metabank
    Inventor: Scott Galit
  • Patent number: 8260678
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and program product for facilitating electronic ordering of goods, services, or goods and services, or other products, through messaging over a financial services electronic payment network, are provided. A customer provides electronic order registration activation information for an electronic order transaction card. The customer is provided an electronic order card having a unique electronic payment network compatible electronic order card identifier including a non-financial transaction IIN and a customer number, and is provided a catalogue or list including product order codes each associated with a different product, to enable electronic ordering over the financial services electronic payment network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Metabank
    Inventor: Eric D. Miller
  • Patent number: 8256337
    Abstract: An initiator for initiating detonation in a detonation cord of a perforating system, where the initiator comprises a modular electronic igniter that quick connects into a portion of high explosive. The high explosive is disposed in a housing having an end of detonation cord crimped therein. The electronic igniter may be shipped to the field and/or stored separate from the high explosive then the two may be assembled just prior to deploying the perforating gun assembly in a wellbore. Various methods of quick connecting the electronic igniter to the high explosive may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Freeman L. Hill, Randy L. Evans
  • Patent number: 8256519
    Abstract: A technique is provided for producing a slurry of solid particulates and hydrocarbon production fluid for transport via a subsea flow line. The technique utilizes a cold flow system that cools production fluid to a temperature below the temperature at which hydrates and other substances precipitate from the production fluid and form solid particulates. An instrumentation and control system is used to receive and process data from sensors in the system. The instrumentation and control system then provides control signals to one or more components of the cold flow system to produce a slurry having solid particulates with desirable characteristics. In addition, a cooling gas may be used to facilitate sub-cooling of the production fluid. The cooling gas is compressed and cools the production fluid as the gas expands via Joule-Thompson expansion. Furthermore, a discharge pressure controller may be used to control flow through the cold flow system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: John Daniel Friedemann
  • Patent number: 8260632
    Abstract: A system, software and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long term care facilities are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmacological operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities, a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication therewith, a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, and a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility and in communication with the remote pharmacy group server or the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tech Pharmacy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Moncrief, James J. Martin
  • Patent number: 8253587
    Abstract: A system and method to monitor the condition of a structure is provided. In one embodiment, a sensor node can include a power supply that can scavenge available energy, a sensor for sensing conditions in the immediate environment, and a communications interface for communicating the sensed operating conditions. Readers can be used to acquire data from the sensor nodes. In one embodiment, the readers can determine if the data from the sensor nodes is an exception and, if so, determine whether trend data is sufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Emad Andarawis, Ertugrul Berkcan, Samantha Rao, Eladio Delgado
  • Patent number: 8247729
    Abstract: An electrode for EDM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Steven L. Bichsel
  • Patent number: 8245776
    Abstract: A wellhead system comprising an outer wellhead housing, an inner wellhead member, and an annulus therebetween. The inner wellhead member, such as a casing hanger, is adapted to land in the outer wellhead housing. The outer wellhead housing may comprise a wickers formed in a hardened metal inlay. Alternatively, or in addition to the wickers formed in the outer wellhead housing, wickers may be formed in a hardened metal inlay in the inner wellhead member. An annular metal seal may be disposed in the annulus and driven into the wickers to seal the annulus between the inner wellhead member and the outer wellhead housing and to axially restrain the seal within the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Gette, Daniel W. Fish
  • Patent number: 8245787
    Abstract: A utility skid tree system for subsea wellheads enables a tree to be mounted by and interface with utility skids. Production bore access is provided through an extended production wing block. The system reacts and transfers installation loads and potential snag loads to the conductor. The tree accepts skids for flow boosting, metering, water-oil separation, etc. A conventional choke may be fitted outboard of the utility insert profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. White
  • Patent number: 8240389
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly provided over a wellbore, the assembly having a wellhead housing, a tubing hanger in the housing, a production tree on the wellhead housing above the tubing hanger, and a control circuit that passes axially downward from the production tree and through the tubing hanger. A tree stab assembly may be included that is set between the tubing hanger and production tree. The wellhead assembly can also include a casing hanger landed in the housing, casing attached to the casing hanger, and tubing attached to the tubing hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Christie
  • Patent number: 8241542
    Abstract: A composite material having exposed nanofibers is prepared by dividing a polymer nanofiber matrix into sections. A portion of a polymeric substrate material is removed to expose lengths of nanofibers that together can act as a nanoadhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert James Perry, Kasiraman Krishnan, Amitabh Bansal
  • Patent number: 8240616
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide distributed flow control actuation to manage the behavior of a global flow field, are provided. An example of a system can include an aerodynamic structure having an outer surface, and an array of a plurality of effectors connected to the outer surface of the aerodynamic structure to be in fluid contact with a flowing fluid when operationally flowing, to induce controlled, globally distributed disturbances at a viscous wall sublayer of a turbulent boundary layer of the flowing fluid when operationally flowing and to manipulate fluid behavior of the flowing fluid to thereby substantially reduce pressure loss associated with incipient separation of the fluid flow from portions of the aerodynamic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel N. Miller, Brent N. McCallum, Stewart A. Jenkins, David M. Wells
  • Patent number: 8244611
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a private label promotion card as a bank product, being issued and managed by the bank and using an open payment network for purchase authorization and payments. A bank computer processes activation information for a promotion card. The bank computer then authorizes purchase requests to use one or more activated promotion cards as payment for a consumer purchase from the retailer via an open payment network and transfers funds to the open payment network to satisfy the authorized consumer purchase. Next, the bank computer receives funds on behalf of the retailer for payment responsive to consumer purchases using the one or more promotion cards as payment and payment for a value remaining on the one or more promotion cards responsive to an expiration of the one or more promotion cards, perhaps at a discount to a customer value of the promotion card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Metabank
    Inventor: Scott Galit
  • Patent number: 8242192
    Abstract: This invention relates woven jumbo polypropylene bags manufactured from a polypropylene resin that includes a low molecular weight hindered amine light stabilizer, a high molecular weight hindered amine light stabilizer, a first antioxidant, and a second antioxidant. Also provided are methods for the preparation of woven jumbo polypropylene bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Ali Basfar, Khondoker Muhammad Idriss Ali, Milind M. Vaidya, Ahmed Abdullah Bahamdan
  • Patent number: 8240371
    Abstract: A multi-function sub is connected between a top drive of a drilling rig and a casing gripper. The sub has telescoping upper and lower members that rotate with each other. A sleeve is mounted to one of the members. That sleeve is prevented from rotation with the upper and lower members by an anti-rotation device. A piston is located on the other member and reciprocally carried within the sleeve. An external pump is connected to the sleeve for supplying pressurized fluid into the sleeve to act against the piston. This fluid provides compensation for thread makeup when a new joint of casing is being secured to a string of casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tesco Corporation
    Inventors: Radovan Tepavac, Milo Markovic
  • Patent number: 8244637
    Abstract: A loan transaction for a pre-paid card is approved for a borrower so that release of the loan proceeds is pending an activation of a pre-paid card. A financial institution computer converts loan data to be compatible with a prepaid card processor. The prepaid card processor activates a pre-paid card account responsive to an activation request on behalf of the borrower. The financial institution computer releases the pending loan proceeds to the pre-paid card processor so that the loan proceeds are released to the borrower and are immediately available to thereby convert the pre-paid card into a loan delivery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Metabank
    Inventors: Scott H. Galit, Trent Sorbe
  • Patent number: 8235122
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly includes an outer wellhead member with a bore containing at least one conical generally upward facing load shoulder that inclines relative to an axis of the bore. The outer wellhead member also contains an overpull recess having a generally downward facing overpull shoulder positioned below the at least one generally upward facing load shoulder. An inner wellhead member is lowered into the housing, the inner wellhead member having at least one conical downward facing load shoulder that inclines relative to an axis of the bore. A load ring has an inner profile that slidingly engages the downward facing load shoulder and an outer profile that slidingly engages the upward facing load shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas P. Gette
  • Patent number: 8235125
    Abstract: A technique is provided for terminating tubing. In the technique, a tubing termination assembly is used to terminate control line tubing from a downhole safety valve at a wellhead component. The tubing termination assembly utilizes a seal ring to form a seal around control line tubing extending from a port through a wellhead component. A seating surface is provided in the seal ring, rather than in the wellhead component, to which a seal member is abutted to form the seal with the control line tubing. The seal ring also comprises a threaded portion to enable a threaded member to urge the seal member against the seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene A. Borak, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8237549
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, combinations, devices and methods of enhanced Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) protection are provided. An embodiment of a combination of a separate RFID device and a separate RFID blocking device each adapted to be positioned separately into a container includes a separate RFID device adapted to be positioned in the container a separate RFID blocking device adapted to be positioned adjacent the separate RFID device and in the container so that when an unauthorized RFID interrogation device attempts to read the separate RFID device from within the container the separate RFID blocking device positioned adjacent the separate RFID device blocks the attempted read and so that when an authorized user desires to use the separate RFID device for an authorized read the authorized user selectively removes either the separate RFID device or the separate RFID blocking device and presents the separate RFID device for the authorized read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Curio Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregory L Horne
  • Patent number: D664888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventors: Harry Villiers, Tim Villiers