Patents Represented by Attorney McAndrews, Held & Malloy
  • Patent number: 8322567
    Abstract: A container useful for singly dispensing a tablet includes a leaf integrally formed with the sidewall and projecting generally radially inward to a distal portion. One or more such leaves define a dispensing opening having a smaller diameter than the mouth of the container. The leaves or other undercut structure can be formed using a mold element having a leading portion for forming a portion of the part beyond the resilient projection and a following portion for forming a portion of the sidewall short of the resilient projection. The following portion is withdrawn at least partially away from the outside surface of the resilient projection, leaving a space between the leading and following portions. The leading portion is withdrawn from the mold cavity against an undercut portion of the resilient projection, folding the resilient projection into the space left by retracting the following portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Capitol Plastic Products LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Giraud
  • Patent number: 8323185
    Abstract: A surgical access device assembly that allows access to a pathology being treated while significantly reducing the risk of damaging anatomical structures proximate the pathology. The access device assembly includes a base portion having a central bore extending therethrough, and retractor blades pivotably mounted to the base portion. An insertion handle is coupled to the base portion to thread the retractor blades into the patient. The insertion handle is removed from the base portion, and a core hollow screw is threaded into the base portion to separate the retractor blades to gain access to the pathology through the hollow screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Thompson MIS, LLC
    Inventors: Mick J. Perez-Cruet, John R. Pepper
  • Patent number: 8323109
    Abstract: A method, gaming machine and gaming system is described that provides for session information monitoring. Session information is formed by monitoring play of a game by a player on a gaming machine. At the option of the player of the gaming machine the session information is either combined with session information from another gaming machine, or is not combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: John Francis Cromwell Carr-Greg
  • Patent number: 8323651
    Abstract: The present application relates to isolated proteins, particularly monoclonal antibodies, in particular CDR-grafted, humanized antibodies which bind to RAGE protein. Specifically, these antibodies have the ability to inhibit the binding of RAGE to its various ligands. The antibodies or portions thereof of described in the present application are useful for treating a disease or disorder characterized by or induced by pathophysiological ligands of RAGE, for example misfolded proteins like amyloid ? and advanced glycation-end-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jijie Gu, Chung-Ming Hsieh, Zhen Wu, Enrico L. DiGiammarino, Feng Luo, Gerard B. Fox, John E. Harlan, Martin Schmidt, Ralf Loebbert, Reinhold Mueller, Ulrich Ebert, Volker Nimmrich
  • Patent number: 8317903
    Abstract: A contaminant is removed from a gas in a method in which the gas is contacted with a solvent for the contaminant, and the resultant solution is contacted with intercalated graphite onto which the contaminant is adsorbed. The solvent will normally comprise water, and may itself be a contaminated liquid. In a preferred method the solvent is in a reservoir with particulate intercalated graphite; the contaminated gas is delivered to the base of the reservoir; and the gas rises in the solvent mobilizing the intercalated graphite in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Arvia Technology Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Willis Brown, Edward P. L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8316713
    Abstract: A high spatial resolution phase-sensitive technique employs a scanning near field ultrasound holography (SNFUH) methodology for imaging elastic as well as viscoelastic variations across a sample surface. SNFUH uses a near-field approach to measure time-resolved variations in ultrasonic oscillations at a sample surface. As such, it overcomes the spatial resolution limitations of conventional phase-resolved acoustic microscopy (i.e. holography) by eliminating the need for far-field acoustic lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Gajendra Shekhawat, Vinayak P. Dravid
  • Patent number: 8317595
    Abstract: In one example, there is provided a method of gaming comprising initiating play, conducting a feature game in response to a feature trigger condition being met, providing at least two alternative continuations which may be accessed if a further trigger condition is met during the feature game, determining which of the alternative continuations to apply upon the further trigger condition being met, and continuing play with the determined continuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Sek Hwan Joung
  • Patent number: 8318389
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an image sensor includes forming an insulation layer over a substrate in a logic circuit region and a pixel region, forming a photoresist over the insulation layer, patterning the photoresist to form a photoresist pattern where the insulation layer in the pixel region is exposed and the insulation layer in the logic circuit region is not exposed, wherein a thickness of the photoresist pattern is gradually decreased in an interfacial region between the pixel region and the logic circuit region in a direction of the logic circuit region to the pixel region, and performing an etch back process over the insulation layer and the photoresist pattern in conditions that an etch rate of the photoresist pattern are substantially the same as that of the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventors: Hyun-Hee Nam, Jeong-Lyeol Park
  • Patent number: 8317593
    Abstract: A method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of symbols and displaying the selected symbols at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a grid having a plurality of display positions arranged between a plurality of pairs of opposing sides, each symbol being selected from a symbol set; determining whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed by one or more designated symbols between a pair of opposing sides of the grid; and making an award in response to a positive determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: John Andrew Curtin
  • Patent number: 8317605
    Abstract: A method of gaming comprising conducting one or more paid game rounds initiated in response to the payment of a wager by a player and a series of one or more free game rounds initiated in response to a free game series trigger event, the method comprising: in each paid game round, selecting a set of paid game round symbols for display to the player, determining a paid game round outcome based on the selected symbols, and incrementing a jackpot by a paid game jackpot increment; in each free game round, selecting a set of free game round symbols for display to the player, determining a free game round outcome based on the selected symbols, and incrementing the jackpot by a free game jackpot increment; and awarding the jackpot on the occurrence of a jackpot award event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Paul Francis Jason Bramble
  • Patent number: 8315624
    Abstract: A hybrid cordless telephone system allows a user to place or receive a call over either a data network or a PSTN network. In one aspect, a system router and PSTN unit are coupled with a communications manager to avoid extensive redesign of router components and PSTN components while providing a wireless user with data network and PSTN connectivity. In another aspect, the system router of the hybrid cordless telephone system includes a communications manager configured to provide termination of data network calls or PSTN calls at the system router. Accordingly, a plurality of handsets can each access the system router to place or receive calls from the data or PSTN networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited
    Inventor: Sukhdeep Hundal
  • Patent number: 8315653
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for routing data messages between a cellular telephone and a cordless telephone system having a plurality of cordless handsets configured to communicate with a single cordless base station when in range. Messages are received at the cordless base station via a first radio frequency transfer protocol. The message is transmitted to the cordless base station from the cellular telephone after the cellular telephone has received the message from a cellular network. The cordless base station transmits the message to a desired one of the plurality of cordless handsets via a second radio frequency transfer protocol. The desired one of the plurality of cordless handsets is chosen based on predetermined message routing settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon Ryley, Julian Lee, Sukhdeep Hundal
  • Patent number: 8311915
    Abstract: Methods for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for initiating a control operation for a user-selectable video game character, for emphasizing an advertisement in a computer generated display, and for presenting multiple GUIs in desktop user interfaces using detail-in-context graphical distortions. The method for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for a user-selectable item presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising: receiving a selection signal for the item from a user; distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the item to provide the user with detailed information for the item; and, receiving a purchase signal for the item from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Noregin Assets, N.V., LLC
    Inventors: David J. P. Baar, Ali Solehdin
  • Patent number: 8309993
    Abstract: A pixel of an image sensor includes a polysilicon layer, and an active region which needs to be electrically coupled with the polysilicon layer, wherein the polysilicon layer extends over a portion of the active region, such that the polysilicon layer and the active region are partially overlapped, and the polysilicon layer and the active region are coupled through a buried contact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventors: Woon-Il Choi, Hyung-Sik Kim, Ui-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 8311925
    Abstract: A method of comparing financing options to facilitate the purchase and finance of products offered for sale. The method may include receiving personal or credit information relating to the potential buyer, to identify a plurality of financing options that may be used to finance the purchase of the product. These financing options may then be delivered for display to the buyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade
  • Patent number: 8308553
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising gaming machine terminal means operable by at least one member of a syndicate of members, server means for monitoring interactions on the gaming machine terminal means, wherein the gaming machine terminal means and the server means are linked by a communications network and a syndicate member is able to communicate with another syndicate member using the gaming machine terminal means. A syndicate member is identified to the system through a member identification means and is able to operate the gaming machine terminal means using the member identification means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen William Byng
  • Patent number: 8303395
    Abstract: A gaming machine has display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means An underlying game is played in which one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets. Each set containing a plurality of prize outcomes, from which prize sets a prize is to be drawn and awarded to the player, typically by a random process. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected by the player from the two or more different prize sets. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin or simulate spinning before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome won by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Edgar Pau, Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 8302850
    Abstract: A method is disclosed with which a terminal (3) can retrieve information associated to an EPC code from an EPC network (4, 5, 6, 7). The EPC code is virtual, is generated independently of RFID tags and is stored permanently and is not—or not permanently—associated to an RFID tag. A terminal (3) sends a message with the EPC code over a telecommunication network (4) to an object name server (6), the server (6) replies with the address of the desired PML page and the terminal (3) access the content of said PML page. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Swisscom AG
    Inventor: Eric Lauper
  • Patent number: 8306898
    Abstract: A method of comparing financing options to facilitate the purchase and finance of products offered for sale. The method may include receiving information regarding the product being offered for sale, along with personal or credit information relating to the potential buyer, to identify a plurality of financing options that may be used to finance the purchase of the product. These financing options may then be delivered for display to the buyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade
  • Patent number: D670183
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Ross Carl