Patents Represented by Attorney D'Ambrosio & Menon, PLLC
  • Patent number: 8343343
    Abstract: An underdrain apparatus includes one or more underdrain blocks and an anchor assembly that includes one or more support members. Each of the underdrain blocks includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a pair of opposing end walls, and a center separation wall that extends between the pair of opposing end walls. The center separation wall of at least one of the underdrain blocks may have one or more apertures formed therein, the apertures configured to receive at least one of the support members. One or more of the side walls of the pair of opposing side walls of the underdrain blocks may have one or more side clips. At least one of the side clips defines an aperture for receiving a support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Severn Trent Water Purification, Inc.
    Inventors: Navin Kadakia, Edward Kuchtjak, Keith Baker
  • Patent number: 8341918
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a device for erecting a tower. The method comprises assembling proximate to the ground a base section, top section, and one or more intermediate sections of the tower into an assembled tower lying in a substantially horizontal first plane, the assembled tower comprising a top end including the top section and a bottom end including the base section. The method also includes orienting the attitude of the assembled tower using a lift initiator to lie in a second plane defining an acute angle to the first plane, so that the top end of the tower is higher in elevation than the bottom end. The method also includes lifting the assembled tower from the second plane to a vertical plane with a primary lift assembly and coupling the assembled tower to the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Tony Jolly
  • Patent number: 8317843
    Abstract: A multi-axis connection for transferring load from the vertebrae of a patient to a plate extending from one vertebra to another vertebra when affixed to the respective vertebrae by screws extending through holes in the plate at the level of the respective vertebrae, each screw being oriented at any of a plurality of angles relative to the plate. The threaded shank of each screw is screwed into the vertebral body and the head is positioned in the central portion of the hole, the hole being defined by an aperture, an opening through which the screw extends, and the central portion between aperture and opening. The diameter of the head is larger than the aperture of the hole in the plate and is provided with a screw thread that engages the smaller diameter aperture of the hole to pull the head into the central portion of the hole when the screw is rotated, the head of the screw being retained within the hole by the smaller diameter aperture and the opening of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Perumala Corporation
    Inventor: Madhavan Pisharodi
  • Patent number: 8291471
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems for protecting a document from access by one or more users based on one or more document access rules. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a data set representing the one or more document access rules, storing the document and the associated data set, determining and storing a key for opening the document when one or more document access rules from the data set are met, and releasing the key to open the document to one or more users in response to a request from a user which meets one or more document access rules, thereby enabling the user to access the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sandro Piccinini, Luigi Pichetti, Marco Secchi, Antonio Secomandi
  • Patent number: 8281445
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a heated eyelid cleansing apparatus, a method of manufacturing a heated eyelid cleansing apparatus, a kit for providing treatment to the eyelids, and a method for cleansing an eyelid with a heated eyelid cleansing composition. The apparatus comprises an eyelid cleansing composition, a fabric pad impregnated with the eyelid cleansing composition, and a heating element. The heating element may be encased within the fabric pad or it may be external to the fabric pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: OCuSOFT, Inc.
    Inventors: Nat G. Adkins, Jr., Daniel Banov, August Bassani, Patrick Witham
  • Patent number: 8269190
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing the ultraviolet output of a water disinfection apparatus by: (i) maintaining the source of the UV radiation at a stable operating temperature and, (ii) facilitating an efficient transfer of microwave energy to the source of the UV radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Severn Trent Water Purification, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Dornblaser, Dennis Downie, Jeremy Meier, Per Olov Risman
  • Patent number: 8255431
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products for managing memory. In one general embodiment, the method includes assigning an isolated virtual heap in a global kernel heap of a global operating system environment to each of a plurality of isolated virtual operating system environments operating in a global operating system environment; and in response to an invocation of kernel heap memory allocation from one of the isolated virtual operating system environments, dynamically allocating memory to the invoking isolated virtual operating system environment from the virtual kernel heap assigned to the invoking isolated virtual operating system environment. The method may also include running the plurality of isolated virtual operating system environments in the global operating system environment. The plurality of isolated virtual operating system environments may share a single common kernel. The isolated virtual operating system environments may run under the same operating system image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudanan Kandasamy, Vidya Ranganathan, Murali Vaddagiri
  • Patent number: 8220213
    Abstract: Non-cementitious tower foundations and structures, kits and methods for making the non-cementitious tower foundations. Aspects of the present invention operate to decouple the required mass for the foundation from the structural components needed to resist compression and tension forces. Aspects of the present invention include a foundation structure made of structural components for resisting the expected forces transferred from the tower. This foundation structure may be filled with non-cementitious fill of any type to provide the required mass to stabilize the foundation and the tower. A non-cementitious tower foundation structure includes a central shaft; a storage tank; and structural members coupling the central shaft to the storage tank. The storage tank comprises one or more voids for containing non-cementitious fill as ballast to stabilize the central shaft. The total volume capacity of the voids may be at least a threshold volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Tony Jolly
  • Patent number: 8202853
    Abstract: The present invention offers an eyelid treatment kit used for convenient combination therapy for improving overall eyelid hygiene while also providing for adjunctive eyelid therapy. The eyelid treatment kit comprises low dose doxycycline hyclate tablets, a non-irritating eyelid cleansing composition, an anti-bacterial eyelid preparation and at least one pair of moist heat goggles and/or one pair of moisture chamber goggles. The eyelid treatment kit further comprises instruction sheets containing dosage and administration information on the doxycycline hyclate coupled with information on improving eyelid hygiene. The various embodiments of the eyelid treatment kit of the invention facilitate treatment of dry eyes due to infected eyelids, and proper cleansing of the eyelids to prevent recurring infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: OCuSOFT, Inc.
    Inventor: Nat G Adkins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8200620
    Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and computer program products for managing a service process that includes a plurality of service steps. A repository holds, for each of at least one configuration item, a set of data that represents at least one predetermined attribute of the configuration item and a relation between the configuration item and a second configuration item. The method includes detecting data on a resource for executing at least one of a plurality of service steps of the service process; creating, in response to a particular service process starting, data using a first configuration item model in which the particular service process is defined as a single configuration item; and creating data from the detected data using a second configuration item model in which one or more particular service steps are defined as a single configuration item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Akiyama, Takeshi Fukuda, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Tadashi Tsumura
  • Patent number: 8200651
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems for facilitating computer-assisted user comprehension of digitally encoded texts. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user is provided with the ability to perform multiple searches with different dictionaries or search engines, according to the user's needs. The user has the option of marking the words (or sentences) with several different symbols or colors or text highlighting and associating each of these marking to a specific dictionary or search engine. Searches of each of the selected text portions is performed within the associated dictionary databases, and the user is provided with the results of the searches for facilitating comprehension of the text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cristina Bonanni, Paola Carlesimo, Alessandra Rotunno
  • Patent number: 8196197
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products for preventing the selection of trivial character combinations in passwords. Methods may include maintaining a database of trivial patterns representing sequences on the keyboard and independent from the starting point of the sequence. When a new password is proposed a check is done to verify if the pattern of the new password matches with an existing “forbidden” pattern and in such case it is refused by the system. Any number and kind of trivial patterns may be forbidden. The security administrator may choose patterns which should not be permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanna Cannizzaro, Patrizia Manganelli, Alessandro Raniolo
  • Patent number: 8195895
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling information read/write processing. The method includes assigning a plurality of division areas to a shared storage area for storing a shared object: specifying a division area used for read/write processing in accordance with user identification information for identifying a user; and executing the read processing for reading information from a specified division area and the write processing for writing information to the specified division area. The shared object is shared among a plurality of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanehiro Furuichi, Atsumi Ikebe, Yasuhide Niimura, Masami Tada
  • Patent number: 8195608
    Abstract: Methods and products for storing data for synchronizing one or more files between two or more nodes. One embodiment of the method includes commencing to create a metadata object associated with a file to be synchronized: determining a file location on the or each node; adding the file location of the or each node to the metadata object such that the metadata object includes details relating to the file and the location thereof in one or more of the two or more nodes; and making the metadata object available to predetermined users via a central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mauro Arcese, Michele D'urso, Luca Gimondo
  • Patent number: 8177970
    Abstract: A water filtration apparatus has at least one tank in fluid communication with a conduit through at least one aperture in a wall. Each tank uses filter blocks to support the filter medium and to direct the filtered water to the conduit via the aperture. An end plate for the filter block is provided, the end plate being adapted to seal against a free end of the filter block. The end plate also provides apertures for fluid flow into and out of the filter block, and a device for receiving a sealant to provide a seal between the end plate and the wall. The end plate improves the installation of the apparatus, and the sealant improves the reliability of the seal round the apertures, which in turn improves the efficiency of a backwash operation used to clean the filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Severn Trent Services, Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Paul Thoresby Bradley, Mark Hadley, Neil Dodsley
  • Patent number: 8162048
    Abstract: A method for the controlled delivery of a fracturing fluid to a well bore comprises formulating an aqueous base fluid such that it meets or exhibits desired physical and chemical characteristics for an optimal fracturing fluid. The formulation of the aqueous base fluid max involve commingling one or more sources of waste water with a source of fresh water followed by controlled injection of one or more additives. This process is substantially completed prior to delivering the aqueous base fluid to the well site. This allows the delivery of an optimal volume of the aqueous base fluid with homogeneously blended additives to the well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Tetra Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrico J. Termine, Robert I. Richie
  • Patent number: 8152989
    Abstract: A system and process for treating ballast water within an ocean going vessel by generating hypochlorite for treating the ballast water. The system comprises one or more hypochlorite electrolytic cells in fluid communication with ballast water. The total organic carbon content of the ballast water is ascertained and the amount of hypochlorite generated is modulated in response to the total organic carbon content of the ballast water. In one embodiment the system comprises a total organic carbon analyzer for measuring total organic carbon content. In one embodiment of the process of the invention, hypochlorite production is modulated so that the residual halogen-containing oxidizing agent is maintained in the ballast water. In another embodiment of the process, hypochlorite production is modulated to maintain a weight ratio of hypochlorite to total organic carbon in the ballast water ranging from about 1.0 to about 3.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Severn Trent De Nora, LLC
    Inventors: Harold E. Childers, II, Randolfo Fernandez, Rudolf C. Matousek, James B. Moore, David W. Hill
  • Patent number: 8150637
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for evaluating the performance of a gas lift well are disclosed. A gas lift well surveillance kit is disclosed. A method for evaluating the performance of a gas lift well includes injecting a tracer into an annulus, measuring a concentration of the tracer present in a substance retrieved from the well, determining actual travel times of the tracer, segmenting the gas lift well into a plurality of ranges of well depth, determining lift gas loss parameters, calculating lift gas velocities in the annulus and in the production tubing for each of the plurality of ranges of well depth based on the lift gas loss parameters, and determining points of entry of the lift gas into the production tubing based on: (i) the actual travel times of the tracer, and (ii) the lift gas velocities in the annulus and in the production tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: WellTracer Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Peacock, Dan Dees
  • Patent number: D673990
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: I.P. Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Schnell
  • Patent number: D673991
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: I.P. Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Schnell