Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mark A. Litman & Associates
  • Patent number: 8342531
    Abstract: A method for conducting blackjack-style wagering games includes favorable player options to enhance its appeal. The player elects to undo a pair of initial cards in a two-card blackjack hand split to increase his chance of winning his hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Betwiser Games, LLC
    Inventor: Shenli Ko
  • Patent number: 8337280
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using continuous-loop wires to drive circular flat-surfaced disk-type workholders which are positioned between two opposed upper and lower abrasive-surfaced rotatable platens. Flat-surfaced workpieces are mounted in receptacle openings in the workholders where both surfaces of the workpieces are simultaneously abraded by the two opposed platen that have annular bands of abrasive coatings. The drive wires allow the workholders to be driven at high speeds because of the smooth-action interface between the wires and the circular workholder disks that have circular wire grooves around the peripheries of the workholders. Each workholder assembly consists of a workholder disk, a drive wire, wire idlers, workholder idlers, a wire-tension device, a workholder disk support device and a wire drive motor. The workholder assemblies can be moved away from the platen surface to change platen abrasive disks. Three workholders provide stable three-point support of a floating upper platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Wayne O. Duescher
  • Patent number: 8328600
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three rigid flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on a flat surface of an abrading machine base where the spindle surfaces are in a common plane. Three spindles are positioned to form a three-point triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading surface. The spindles are supported by two-piece spindle-mount devices having a common-radius spherical joint that allows the spindles to be rotated to co-planar align the top flat surfaces of the rotatable spindle-tops and then to be locked into this aligned position. Spindle-mount spherical-action locking devices include mechanical fasteners and stress-free adhesive tabs. Precision-flat platens can be used as an alignment jig for co-planar alignment of the spindles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Wayne O. Duescher
  • Patent number: 8287352
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus performs a gaming method with a symbol display system for a wagering game, a processor controlling the symbol display system and software executed by the processor, has software perform electronic functions of: a) providing a method of value crediting and debiting system; b) providing a game control component that determines rules of play of a game; c) providing activation of selection from virtual spinners that have individual game determinant outcomes or individual symbol determinant outcomes mathematically distributed within the virtual outcome determinant space of the virtual spinner; d) providing a file of images available for display on the symbol display system; e) the software randomly accessing the predetermined weighted portions of the outcome determinant space to select individual symbols, sets of symbols or collective symbols for use in the game; f) determining game outcomes; and g) resolving all value placed at risk in the play of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Jordan B. Pollack
  • Patent number: 8256091
    Abstract: A method of producing equal-sized spherical shaped beads of a wide range of materials is described. These beads are produced by forming the parent bead material into a liquid solution and by filling equal volume cells in a sheet with the liquid solution. The sheet cells establish the volumes of each of the cell mixture volumes which are then ejected from the cells by an impinging fluid. Surface tension forces acting on the ejected equal sized solution entities form them into spherical beads. The ejected beads are then subjected to a solidification environment which solidifies the spherical beads. The beads can be solid or porous or hollow and can also have bead coatings of multiple material layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Wayne O. Duescher
  • Patent number: 8257749
    Abstract: A process reduces the insect, arthropod or pest content in land mass by providing molecular iodine in the land mass in a concentration in aqueous material in the land mass of at least 10 parts per million. The molecular iodine may be added in gaseous or liquid or solid state, and may be formed in situ in the land mass using available water in the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Biolargo Life Technologies, Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Code
  • Patent number: 8229840
    Abstract: Option contracts are traded by valuing an option that has at least one of a) strike price or b) expiration time unknown at the time the option is valued. The previously unknown values of the option are assigned at the time or after the time the trade is completed. An implied underlying price stream is generated from the option prices through the use of feed back between market participants and the marketplace. The resulting system is useful in trading option contracts of short time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Microtick LLC
    Inventors: Mark Daniel Jackson, David James Norman
  • Patent number: 8226964
    Abstract: A process for improving a liquid carrying system comprising physically disrupting a biofilm on interior surfaces of the liquid carrying system and then providing molecular iodine onto the disrupted biofilm in a concentration in aqueous material onto the biofilm of at least 10 parts per million. The reactants may be provided before physical disruption also. The molecular iodine may be added in gaseous or liquid or solid state, and may be formed in situ in the interior of the liquid carrier system using available or added water in the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Biolargo Life Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Code
  • Patent number: 8211240
    Abstract: A method removes organic liquids from surfaces or volumes by identifying the presence of organic liquids on a surface or within a volume; providing absorbent, solid non-glass inorganic particles onto areas of the surface or within a volume where the organic liquids are present; absorbing or adsorbing organic liquids into the particles; and removing the particles with organic liquid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: David H. Morgan
  • Patent number: 8153866
    Abstract: A maize inbred line having the characteristics selected from those of FAR045, including plant parts, tissue, and pigments of the inbred is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Suntava LLC
    Inventor: Lee K. French
  • Patent number: 8152663
    Abstract: An arrow for use with a bow has a shaft, an arrowhead and vanes, wherein at least one of the vanes or the shaft contain substantive phosphorescent dye or substantive phosphorescent pigment in a transparent or translucent carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Vincent Grundman
  • Patent number: 8144893
    Abstract: A method centrally controls communication at a single venue. A central communications point with a moderator is provided. User information, at least at the venue, is provided to users for transmitting electronic signals to the central communication point. The moderator enables at least one electronic communication transmission from a user who has access to the central communication point to have at least part of the transmission broadcast at the venue or allow open communication from the user to be broadcast at the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth N. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8124143
    Abstract: Anthocyanin pigments/dyes are extracted from corn kernels by adding corn kernels with less than 5% by weight of corn kernels comprising broken kernels to an aqueous medium to form an aqueous-corn medium. The corn kernels have in excess of 0.1 mg of anthocyanin pigment/dye per gram of corn kernel therein. The anthocyanin pigment/dye in the corn kernels has greater than 40% by weight of anthocyanin as an acid or acylated form of the anthocyanin. The aqueous corn medium is agitated at a temperature above 35° C. The solid corn kernels are separated from the aqueous corn medium to form an extract of anthocyanin in aqueous medium having less than 1.0% solids therein before concentration or purification steps are performed on the extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Suntava, LLC
    Inventors: Regina Celia Bertoldo de Barros, Michele Ann French, Frederic John Rigelhof, Lee Kent French
  • Patent number: 8119975
    Abstract: A data providing device associated with a trajectory sensing system has at least a frame. The frame supports at least two sensing receivers and at least one emitter for the sensing receivers. The sensors sense movement and/or position with respect to a surface. The frame supports a third sensor that senses information (e.g., image data) from the surface at least in addition to movement. There is also a communication link from the two sensing receivers to a data storage device; a communication link from the third sensor to a data storage device or to a processor and then a data storage device; and a processor that determines position of the system with respect to the surface based at least in part on data from the two sensing receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Crowsocs, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin G. Downs, III
  • Patent number: 8096984
    Abstract: A cell delivery catheter having one of more apearutres is used to positon and deliver cells to an implant site in a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: John Kucharczyk, George T. Gillies, William C. Broaddus, Helen L. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 8091716
    Abstract: A structure is provided having a base and relatively vertical structural support element (such as a post, pole, platform, stairs, etc.) from which extend arms that support removable image holders. The removable image holders may contain images that can be readily replaced. The removable image holders can restrain the images in six directions (up, down, forward, backward, left and right), although restraint may be effected by only friction or gripping, rather than an immovable wall. The removable image holders may be relatively secured to the arms, although they may easily swing for ease of viewing. The structure may have ornamentation thereon that is indicative of a theme (birthday, wedding, graduation, holiday, memorial, season, sports event and the like).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Helen Bair
  • Patent number: 8084101
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems form structures from nanoparticles by: providing a source of nanoparticles, the particles being capable of being moved by application of a field, such as an electrical field, magnetic field and even electromagnetic radiation or fields such as light, UV, IR, radiowaves, radiation and the like; depositing the nanoparticles to a surface in a first distribution of the nanoparticles; applying a field to the nanoparticles on the surface that applies a force to the particles; and rearranging the nanoparticles on the surface by the force from the field to form a second distribution of nanoparticles on the surface. The second distribution of nanoparticles is more ordered or more patterned than the first distribution of nanoparticles as a result of the rearranging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the Nevada Systems of Higher Education on behalf of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    Inventor: Biswajit Das
  • Patent number: 8083720
    Abstract: A device, system and method deliver an agent to a soft mass, such as an area of the body, and more specifically the brain. One aspect includes creation of one or more channels, tunnels or grooves in tissue using a relatively small diameter, minimally-invasive stylet and then removing the stylet prior to infusion. The stylet-created channels become paths of increased hydraulic conductivity, through which the infusate will tend to flow and produce a predictable infusion pattern. Infusate will be carried into these channels with relatively low resistance, and then infuse outward from these channels into the surrounding tissue. By carefully positioning these channels, one can control and modify the preferred paths and duration of distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventors: Matthew S. Solar, Chris Ross, Martin L. Brady, Raghu Raghavan
  • Patent number: 8062098
    Abstract: A rotatable abrasive lapper machine platen assembly is attached to a lapper machine frame. The assembly has at least: a) a circular-shaped rotatable horizontal platen having i) a front surface and ii) a back surface; b) the circular platen having a platen radius, a platen outer circumference and a platen outer periphery; c) the circular platen front surface having an outer annular planar portion where the platen outer annular planar portion extends radially to the circular platen outer circumference; and d) a flexible abrasive disk secured in conformable flat contact with the circular platen front surface outer annular planar portion wherein the abrasive disk is positioned concentric with the circular platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Wayne O. Duescher
  • Patent number: RE42982
    Abstract: The present invention relates to medical devices that are inserted or implanted into patients and that have antimicrobial coatings that release free radicals into the vicinity of the device. These devices may have coatings that alter their rate of flow release or elution release of an antibacterial agent from a coating on the device upon external stimulation. The coating should therefore be responsive to external control such as by heating, external RF stimulus, sonic control, visible or ultraviolet light exposure and the like. By having control of the release rate, and in some structures without invasion of the patient by mechanical means in addition to the device itself, the release rate can be in response to need at the implant site. The class of compounds to be released are free radical generating or initiating compounds, or compounds that release free radicals upon immersion or stimulation, the free radicals acting as the antimicrobial agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Mark A. Mitchnick