Patents Represented by Attorney Martin & Miller LLC

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  • Inspection of installed/manufactured material
    Patent number: 8198887
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for inspecting use a sensor for detecting taggant particles in a material after installation. The sensor is positioned adjacent a finished surface of the installed material and is connected to a control device for displaying an indication of a distribution of the taggant particles below the surface. The control device also generates a profile of the taggant particles versus a distance from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas C. Targosz
  • Hydrogen sensor assembly
    Patent number: 8196448
    Abstract: A hydrogen sensor assembly is disclosed. The hydrogen sensor assembly includes a sensing element within a sensor housing. The sensor housing includes an opening to facilitate a fluid communication between the sensing element and an exhaust stream of a fuel cell. A substantially water-vapor-impermeable membrane is disposed within the opening between the sensing element and the exhaust stream to militate against water vapor from the exhaust stream entering the sensor housing. The sensor housing may include a second opening to facilitate a fluid communication between the sensing element and an external environment to evacuate water vapor generated by the sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Christoph Kuebel
  • Method for temporary protection of blank surfaces against corrosion, and component with temporary corrosion protection
    Patent number: 8197628
    Abstract: A method for temporary protection of blank surfaces of a component against corrosion includes a first step wherein a corrosion protection foil is applied to a blank surface to be protected and a second step wherein a self-sealing, semi-solid protection layer is applied in order to at least partly cover the corrosion protection foil. At a later time at least a part of the blank surface can be exposed by pulling off the corrosion protection foil inclusive of the protection layer disposed thereon. The self-sealing protection layer forms a closed film and the corrosion protection foil and/or the protection layer comprise hydrophobically acting components in order to prevent moisture from penetrating to the blank surface to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Frank Resch, René Kunz
  • Method for producing a liner of a vessel
    Patent number: 8192666
    Abstract: A vessel and method for forming the vessel is disclosed, the vessel having an injection blow molded hollow liner, wherein the hollow liner includes reinforced interfacial features formed substantially around a portion of at least one vessel penetration element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ludger Strack, Markus Lindner
  • Molding process of liner with divided boss adapter
    Patent number: 8186536
    Abstract: A boss for use with a vessel is disclosed. The boss includes a first component adapted to be formed in an opening of the vessel, wherein the first component includes a first coupling element, and a second component including a second coupling element, wherein the second coupling element engages the first coupling element to secure the second component to the first component, and wherein a liner of the vessel is disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ludger Strack
  • Method and system for internal cleaning of complex castings
    Patent number: 8186419
    Abstract: A decoring method and system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing the casting having a core material disposed in the internal passage; providing the decoring apparatus configured to selectively oscillate the casting and selectively rotate the casting; securing the casting in the decoring apparatus; introducing a quantity of shot into the internal passage of the casting; oscillating the casting; and rotating the casting. A decoring apparatus configured to selectively oscillate the casting along a first axis, rotate the casting about a second axis, and rotate the casting about a third axis, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Thomas P. Newcomb
  • End-connector and method for fastening a flat-belt type suspension means of an elevator system
    Patent number: 8181312
    Abstract: An end-connector for fastening a flat-belt type suspension device of an elevator system comprises a housing with two side walls and a first and a second wrapping element each of which extends between the two side walls and is wrappable by the flat-belt type suspension device in a specified arrangement so as to hold the suspension means fast in the end-connector by frictional engagement. Marked on at least one of the two side walls on the outside that faces away from the wrapping elements is the specified arrangement of the suspension device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Adrian Attinger, Daniel Fischer, David Risch
  • Method to maximize fuel cell voltage during start-up
    Patent number: 8178252
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein water is purged from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation, and a current is produced in the fuel cell system following the shutdown purge to produce product water to hydrate the proton exchange membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Eric L. Thompson
  • Card holder
    Patent number: 8166683
    Abstract: A card holder includes a unitary hollow main body having with a base portion, a first side, a second side, and a top portion. The first side and the second side are angled toward one another and coupled to the top portion. The base portion is coupled to at least one of the first side and the second side. At least one of the first side, the second side, and the top portion has a plurality of grooves formed therein. Each of the grooves has a depth sufficient to hold at least one card in a substantially upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Craig Cheetwood
  • Elevator with belt-like transmission means, particularly with wedge-ribbed belt, as support means and/or drive means
    Patent number: 8157058
    Abstract: A transmission belt for driving and/or supporting an elevator car has a longitudinally extending body including an area tensile layer reinforced by chemical fibers. The belt can have a flat friction layer or a friction layer including alternating longitudinally extending wedge-shaped ribs and grooves. Transverse grooves can be formed across the width of the longitudinally grooved friction layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Friedrich Ach
  • Elevator installation with braking equipment and method of braking in an elevator installation
    Patent number: 8157060
    Abstract: An elevator installation has an elevator car that moves in a vertical direction along guide tracks and is braked or held at standstill by a braking equipment. The braking equipment includes at least two brake units, at least one of the brake units, but preferably each of the brake units, is provided with a wear-compensating device which, when the brake unit is opened or released, sets a clearance distance between a brake lining and an associated brake surface, which clearance arises on opening of the brake unit, in correspondence with a substantially constant value. Thereby, use may be made of customary and thus economic brake materials which may wear during braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Hans Kocher, Josef A. Muff
  • Elevator installation with a braking device and method for braking and holding an elevator installation
    Patent number: 8157061
    Abstract: An elevator installation has braking equipment for braking and holding an elevator car which moves in vertical direction within guide tracks or rails. The braking equipment consists of at least two brake units each comprising a normal force regulation device that sets a normal force (FN) in correspondence with a normal force value determined by a brake control unit and/or a locking device that locks the brake unit in a set braking position and which preferably maintains the set braking position in the case of an interrupted energy supply. The braking equipment provides a gentle braking or holding of the elevator car, which corresponds with the operational state of the elevator installation, with a low energy requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Steffen Grundmann, Hans Kocher
  • Ballast flocculation and sedimentation water treatment system with simplified sludge recirculation, and process therefor
    Patent number: 8157988
    Abstract: A process for water treatment, including a combination of methods from the group comprising coagulation, sedimentation, flocculation and ballast flocculation, which is further improved by the addition of a simplified sludge recirculation system. The recirculation system corresponding to this process allows higher sludge density as well as less significant water volume losses by making the sludge accumulating at the bottom of the sedimentation zone go through a hydro cyclone a certain number of times in repeated cycles thus augmenting the solid particles density of the extracted sludge. The system may also be controlled by a suspended solid analyser, a flow meter and/or a timer. The present invention also includes a method of producing specific fluid flow control behavior with this simplified sludge recirculation system, which furthermore improves the efficiency of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventor: Luc Quevillon
  • Adjustable container
    Patent number: 8157114
    Abstract: An adjustable container is disclosed, wherein a plunger assembly disposed the container body cooperates with a support formed on an interior of the body to force the contents of the container upwardly towards a top thereof and to militate against the downward movement of said plunger assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Vickie L. Baylous, Donald L. Baylous, Jr.
  • Device for the linear movement of a carriage
    Patent number: 8151974
    Abstract: A linear axle for contactless energy transmission has a belt with an electrical conductor, a movable carriage and a circuit that is movable with the carriage and which is electrically connected with the conductor. In addition, a locationally fixed circuit and an inductive coupling device are provided to inductively couple electrical energy from the locationally fixed circuit into the conductor of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Peter Flury, Christoph Peter, Dominik Staubli, Stefan Viviroli
  • Container for producing predetermined food portions
    Patent number: 8146469
    Abstract: A container or pan for producing predetermined food portions is disclosed. Indicia are formed on the container at selected intervals adjacent an outer peripheral edge. A cutting blade is provided having a length substantially equivalent to a length, or a width, or a diameter of the container; or to a distance between a pair of cooperating indicia. The cutting blade is adapted to extend from the indicia on one side of the container to the indicia on another side of the container. The cutting member is placed in alignment with the respective indicia and then forced downwardly through the food. The indicia provide a guide to readily align the cutting blade for cutting the food into selected sized portions without having to measure and mark the food prior to cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Becky Parr
  • System and method for distinguishing particles in a transient fluid
    Patent number: 8149401
    Abstract: A method for detecting a presence of a particle in a fluid is disclosed. The method includes the steps of directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation into the transient fluid; providing a sensor to detect an intensity of the radiation after passing through at least a portion of the fluid; generating a data representing the intensity detected by the sensor; and analyzing the data based upon a statistical analysis to detect the presence of a particle in the fluid and determine whether the particle is water or a solid particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Velcon Filters, LLC
    Inventors: Jed Stevens, Gregory Sprenger
  • Reconfigurable center stack with touch sensing
    Patent number: 8142030
    Abstract: A display system for a center stack of a vehicle is disclosed including a translucent material and a projection system. Dynamic graphical content derived from an input by a passenger of the vehicle via at least one of simulated controls and hard-tooled switches is projected onto the material by the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Upton Beall Bowden, Royce Duchante' Channey, Henry Lee Pope
  • Shower garment
    Patent number: 8141173
    Abstract: A garment for use in a shower is disclosed. The shower garment includes a first panel, a second panel, and a strap. The strap has a first end releasably coupled to a second end thereof and is adapted to extend around a waist of a user. The first panel and the second panel depend from the strap and substantially cover the pelvic region and the buttocks, respectively, of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Stephen M. Sterling
  • High potency clinical anti-craving treatment and method of use
    Patent number: 8142799
    Abstract: A practical high potency anti-craving medication is disclosed which comprises three components: an amino-acid component, a vitamin component, and a mineral component, wherein each component is selected for maximum efficacy in the body of an individual suffering from substance abuse disorder as opposed to the body of a healthy individual. Additionally, the active agents are received by means of a prolonged administration, preferably by means of an IV drip, thus assuring a period of time in which the active agents are present in desired concentrations, and more preferably a prolonged time during which they are simultaneously present in desired concentrations. The agents of each component are also selected so as to allow easy administration of the medication to patients in three vials of medication rather than as a large number of individual vials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Tamea Rae Sisco, Keith Kenneth Skinner, Theodore R Keller