Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Hoffmann & Baron, LLP
  • Patent number: 8158884
    Abstract: An outdoor metallic electrical outlet box that includes a back wall having a perimetrical edge and an interior portion; a side wall extending from the back wall to an open front to define a box interior; and one or more niches. Each niche has a base integrally formed in the back wall that extends inwardly from the perimetrical edge to the interior portion of the back wall to a recessed side wall and does not extend beyond the perimetrical edge of the back wall. The recessed side wall extends from the base to a point on the side wall of the box intermediate the base and the open front. The recessed side wall tapers towards the side wall of the box as it extends from the base and has a curved shape. Each base has a mounting screw aperture for attaching the electrical outlet box to a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Rubin de la Borbolla
  • Patent number: 8151823
    Abstract: A fluid power valve arrangement with at least one solenoid valve whose solenoid is connected or able to be connected via only two control lines with an electrical control and/or communication device. The solenoid valve has integrated in it a non-volatile storage device containing identification data of the solenoid valve, and furthermore a modulator for modulation of data of the solenoid valve in the two supply lines. The control and/or communication device possesses a demodulator for demodulation of the modulated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Gehrke, Helmut Deichert
  • Patent number: 8155730
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of optical electrophysiological probing, including: providing a fluorescing chemical probe; contacting a thick portion of tissue with the fluorescing chemical probe to create a thick portion of treated tissue; applying a first range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to the treated portion of tissue; and detecting a plurality of depth-specific emission wavelengths emitted from the thick portion of treated tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Arkady M. Pertsov, Arvydas Matiukas, Leslie M. Loew, Joseph P. Wuskell
  • Patent number: 8152166
    Abstract: A method of providing hybrid control of sheet transport modules in a processing device. The method includes setting velocity of a first sheet transport module of the processing device to a predetermined velocity value before transfer of a sheet from the first sheet transport module to a second sheet transport module of the processing device. The method further includes setting torque of the first sheet transport module to a torque value to control tension of the sheet to a first sheet tension value when the sheet transfers from the first sheet transport module to the second sheet transport module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Krucinski
  • Patent number: 8153895
    Abstract: The present invention provides a weatherproof while-in-use electrical box cover. The box cover includes a base having a back wall including an opening therein for accessing an electrical outlet and permetrical base side walls extending thereabout defining an open front face. The box cover further includes a hood having a front wall for covering the open front face of the base and permetrical hood side walls extending therefrom. The hood is matable with the base and including a cooperative mating assembly on respective side walls for defining a pivot location for pivotally attaching the hood to the base. A hinge pin is insertably connected to the cooperative mating assemblies for hingedly attaching the hood to the base and the hinge pin is configured to non-releaseably engage with the cooperative mating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Drane
  • Patent number: 8151146
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for predicting the fault-proneness of code units (files, modules, packages, and the like) of large-scale, long-lived software systems. The method collects information about the code units and the development process from previous releases, and formats this information for input to an analysis stage. The tool then performs a statistical regression analysis on the collected data, and formulates a model to predict fault counts for code units of the current and future releases. Finally, the method computes an expected fault count for each code unit in the current release by applying the formulated model to data from the current release. The expected fault counts are used to rank the release units in descending order of fault-proneness so that debugging efforts and resources can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Ostrand, Robert Bell, Andrew Gauld, Elaine Weyuker
  • Patent number: 8146903
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include as apparatus for folding printed sheets. The apparatus including first crease roller and a second crease roller longitudinally aligned with the first crease roller. A spacing device separating the first and second crease rollers to form a nip space therebetween. A crease blade is disposed adjacent the nip space and adapted to urge the sheets toward the nip space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Ryan
  • Patent number: 8150725
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a method, medium, and system for generating a distribution attribution value to analyze distribution of telecommunications services. The method including compiling values for at least three variable elements associated with the distribution of telecommunication services. A first total value being defined as a product of first element values associated with the at least three variable elements. A second total value being defined as a product of second element values associated with the at least three variable elements. The method also including generating an attribution value representing an amount of influence at least one of the at least three variable elements has on a difference between the first and the second total values. The attribution value being calculated using the first and second total values. Also, the attribution value being adapted to at least one of verify and adjust the distribution of telecommunication services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Ganesh Subramaniam, Samuel Epstein
  • Patent number: 8143254
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides an ion having the formula: (I) In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for modulating potassium, sodium, and cyclic nucleotide-modulated ion channels in a mammal in need thereof. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for modulating ligand-gated ion channels or transient receptor potential channels in a mammal in need thereof. The methods comprise administering an ion having the formula described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc., Pace University, Research Foundation of City University of New York
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Abbott, Robert Engel, JaimeLee Iolani Rizzo
  • Patent number: 8142437
    Abstract: A system for percutaneously fixing a connecting rod to vertebrae comprises first and second bone screws, each with a corresponding hollow bone screw extension mounted thereto, and a connecting rod of length sized for subcutaneous receipt in the yokes of the bone screws. A rod introducer is provided for inserting the connecting rod into slots of the screw extensions and into the yokes of the bone screws. A rod persuader may also be provided that is attachable to at least one of the screw extensions, the rod persuader being operable to engage the connecting rod and urge the rod into the slot of the yoke of the corresponding bone screws. A rod detector may also be provided for insertion one of the screw extensions, the rod detector having an indicator sensing the presence of a rod in the slot of the yoke of at least one of the bone screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Spine Wave, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott McLean, Steven Seyer
  • Patent number: 8142789
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biology, more specifically to the field of immunology and microbiology. The invention further relates to the field of vaccines against microbial infections and especially bacterial vaccines, in particular to pneumococcal vaccines. More in particular, the invention relates to means and methods to identify, select and isolate a vaccine component for passive and/or active immunisation against a microorganism that can be killed by opsonophagocytic cells. The invention relates to a method to identify an opsonophagocytosis inducing antigen as a vaccine component for immunisation against a microorganism. The invention describes three pneumococcal proteins SlrA, IgAl proteinase, and PsaA, and their use as a vaccine component with or without PpmA. The invention also discloses the use of antibodies against said proteins for passive immunization and diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mucosis B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Johannes Leenhouts, Ronald de Groot, Peter Wilhelmus Maria Hermans
  • Patent number: 8137363
    Abstract: An electrical dermabrasion device (10) for exfoliating a foot includes a hollow main body (12); an abrasion unit (32, 42) connected to the main body (12), for exfoliating the foot; and a driving unit (14, 16, 18) incorporated in a hollow portion of the main body (12), for rotating the abrasion unit (32, 42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Gyung Su Cho
  • Patent number: 8136774
    Abstract: A light bulb holder including a gripper unit for holding an elongate tubular light bulb during installation of the bulb in a light fixture. The gripper unit generally includes an attachment member for removably attaching the gripper unit to a ladder and at least one gripper supported on the attachment member. The gripper has opposed resilient fingers defining an opening for receiving a light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Gem Temp, LLC
    Inventor: William S. Melittas
  • Patent number: 8137652
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of functionalizing the sidewalls of a plurality of carbon nanotubes with oxygen moieties, the method comprising: exposing a carbon nanotube dispersion to an ozone/oxygen mixture to form a plurality of ozonized carbon nanotubes; and contacting the plurality of ozonized carbon nanotubes with a cleaving agent to form a plurality of sidewall-functionalized carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Stanislaus S. Wong, Sarbajit Banerjee
  • Patent number: 8137313
    Abstract: A medical device for the injection of a product. The device includes a body receiving an injection needle and a container containing the product to be injected; an arrangement for holding the needle in an injection position; an arrangement for holding the container in a position permitting injection; and, a piston engaged in the container. The device also includes first and second actuators which make it possible, at the end of the injection, to respectively release the arrangement for holding the needle before, or simultaneously to, the release of the arrangement for holding the container. A container support is mounted slidably on the body and is displaceable relative to the latter in order to perform the injection. The container support is held in a standby position before injection with the needle being held in the injection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson France S.A.S.
    Inventor: Lionel Vedrine
  • Patent number: 8132830
    Abstract: The invention concerns a security and/or value document, in particular a banknote. The security and/or value document has a support (1) of a paper material and an in particular strip-form or thread-form film element (2) which contains one or more optical security features. The support (1) has one or more window-shaped openings (35) which are closed by means of the film element (2) which projects beyond the openings on all sides. Applied to the side of the support (1) of a paper material, which is in opposite relationship to the film element (2), is a sealing layer (4) which covers the surfaces of the film element (2) at least in the region of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ludwig Brehm, Klaus Weber
  • Patent number: 8133476
    Abstract: The present invention relates to oral delivery systems, such as confectionery and chewing gum compositions, and methods for remineralizing tooth enamel in mammals. In particular, the oral delivery systems include a phosphopeptide or phosphoprotein stabilized calcium phosphate or calcium fluoride phosphate complex and a salt selected from calcium salts, phosphate salts and combinations thereof. The delivery systems promote remineralization of tooth enamel of consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Cadbury Adams USA LLC
    Inventors: Doris Tancredi, Samantha Holme, Shiuh Luo
  • Patent number: 8132736
    Abstract: The invention relates to a document of value, in particular a credit card, identity card or ticket, and to a transfer film for the production of a document of value. The latter has on one of its surfaces a security element (2), which has a magnetic layer (25) for storing machine-readable information and a reflective, non-magnetizable metal layer (23). The metal layer is arranged above the magnetic layer (25) in relation to the surface of the document of value. The metal layer and the magnetic layer overlap, at least in some regions. The region of the metal layer (23) that overlaps the magnetic layer (25) is subdivided into at least two regions (231) isolated electrically from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Wild, Ludwig Brehm
  • Patent number: 8133289
    Abstract: Method for the manufacture of 5-alkoxymethylfurfural derivatives by reacting a fructose and/or glucose-containing starting material with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic or sub-stoechiometric amount of solid (“heterogeneous”) acid catalyst. The catalysts may be employed in a continuous flow fixed bed or catalytic distillation reactor. The ethers can be applied as a fuel or fuel additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Furanix Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Johannes Maria Gruter, Frits Dautzenberg
  • Patent number: 8134258
    Abstract: An electrical direct linear drive device, with a stator (10) having two guide rails (12, 13) for the linear guidance of a driven carriage (11) is proposed, wherein a permanent magnet arrangement (18) providing the electrical drive, and a drive coil arrangement (19), which is movable relatively thereto, are provided. The guide rails (12, 13) are arranged on sides (14, 15) of the stator (10) which are differently oriented, wherein the carriage (11) extends at least partially over each one of these sides (14, 15). Guide elements having guide channels for the guide rails (12, 13) are arranged on the carriage (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Finkbeiner, Tom Unger