Patents Represented by Attorney Steptoe & Johnson LLP
  • Patent number: 8351999
    Abstract: A wireless headset system including a switching unit having a detection circuit coupled to a wireless adapter. The detection circuit provides a first output signal to the wireless adapter upon detection of a triggering event, such as activation of a manual switch or detection of voltage of an audio output signal from a mobile communications device. The first output signal causes the wireless adapter to enter into an active audio channel mode. The detection circuit also provides a second output signal to the wireless adapter when no triggering event is detected, and the second output signal causes the wireless adapter to enter into a standby mode. Placing at least the wireless adapter in a standby mode saves battery life of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Stealthwear, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Crestol
  • Patent number: 8352214
    Abstract: A belt weighing system, including a belt passing over a weigh frame able to measure the weight of conveyed material, and at least one memory to store a zero image for the belt. At least one processor able to determine differences between a measured belt weight and a stored zero image for corresponding points or sections of the belt, and to determine if the differences are constant for different sections of the belt. A condition for an empty belt state can be detected where the instantaneous difference between the stored zero image and the measured belt weight for corresponding belt points or sections is equal to an average difference for different belt points or sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Leonard Ian Burrell
  • Patent number: 8348755
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for a multi-site casino or resort wide promotional winners selection. The system selects a winner based on playing with a card at a table game or slot machine, or just being at an active slot machine, opened table game, or other activity within a resort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Patricia A. McMahan, Frank J. Silvestro, Wayne W. Walkwitz, Paul C. McLaughlin, Ryan Randazzo
  • Patent number: 8349930
    Abstract: There is provided a compound of the formula (I) wherein R1 is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group containing x carbon atoms, wherein x is from 1 to 10, wherein one of R2 and R3 is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group containing y carbon atoms, wherein y is from 1 to 10, wherein the other of R2 and R3 is a branched group of the formula (II) wherein q is from 0 to 3, wherein each R5 is independently selected from —OH and —O—C(O)—R4, wherein n is from 10 to 20 and m is selected from 2n-q, 2n-2-q, 2n-4-q, and 2n-6-q, wherein each R4 is independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups containing z carbon atoms, wherein z is from 7 to 21, wherein z is different to at least one of x and y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Danisco A/S
    Inventors: Bjarne Nielsen, Flemming Vang Sparsø
  • Patent number: 8349849
    Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): that have agonist activity at one or more of the S1P receptors are provided. The compounds are sphingosine analogs that, after phosphorylation, can behave as agonists at S1P receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Biogen Idec MA Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Caldwell, Kevin M. Guckian, Gnanasambandam Kumaravel, Wen-Cherng Lee, Edward Yin-Shiang Lin, Xiaogao Liu, Bin Ma, Daniel M. Scott, Zhan Shi, Jermaine Thomas, Arthur G. Taveras, Guo Zhu Zheng
  • Patent number: 8349616
    Abstract: A method for assaying a sample for each of multiple analysis is described. The method includes contacting an array of spaced-apart test zones with a liquid sample (e.g., whole blood). The test zones are disposed within a channel of a microfluidic device. The channel is defined by at least one flexible wall and a second wall which may or may not be flexible. Each test zone includes a probe compound specific for a respective target analyte. The microfluidic device is compressed to reduce the thickness of the channel, which is the distance between the inner surfaces of the walls within the channel. The presence of each analyte is determined by optically detecting an interaction at each of multiple zones for which the distance between the inner surfaces at the corresponding location is reduced. The interaction at each test zone is indicative of the presence in the sample of a target analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Clondiag GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Schulz, Thomas Kaiser, Thomas Uhlig, Klaus Peter Möbius, Alexander Von Schenk Zu Schweinsberg
  • Patent number: 8349314
    Abstract: Use of whole cells of bacteria from the genera of aerobic organisms in the order of Actinomycetales in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of Type II diabetes and/or obesity and methods of treating or preventing Type II diabetes and/or obesity in a subject by administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a whole cell of a bacterium from a genera of aerobic organisms in the order of Actinomycetales to said subject. Preferably the bacteria is from one or more of the following genera for example: Gordonia, Rhodococcus, Tsukamurella, Nocardia, Dietzia and Mycobacterium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: BIOEOS Limited
    Inventors: John Lawson Stanford, Cynthia Ann Stanford, Graham McIntyre, Oscar Adelmo Bottasso
  • Patent number: 8348782
    Abstract: At least two golf clubs of a set, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, may include a strike face and a perimeter weighting element disposed behind the strike face. The perimeter weighting element may include an inner peripheral wall having a sole surface, a top surface, a heel surface, and a toe surface. A cavity, having a base surface, may be delimited by the inner peripheral wall and may include an insert disposed therein. The insert may comprise a primary element passively flexurally associated with one or more secondary elements and may be substantially identical for each head within the set. The primary element may be associated with the base surface and the at least one secondary element may be associated with at least one of the sole surface, the top surface, the toe surface, and the heel surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Kevin R. Tassistro, Robert Van Der Heyden
  • Patent number: 8348730
    Abstract: A method for mass-production butchering of a chuck roll of beef includes: sectioning the chuck roll anterior to and generally parallel to the first rib to separate a neck portion thereof from a remainder thereof; sectioning the remainder into a first portion and a second portion substantially along a natural seam, the first portion comprising rhomboideus, spinalis dorsi, and serratus ventralis muscles, and the second portion comprising multifidus dorsi, complexus, and longissimus dorsi muscles; sectioning the first portion to substantially remove the rhomboideus and the spinalis dorsi therefrom, leaving a denuded serratus ventralis; sectioning the serratus ventralis into a first set of separate portions. The method may further include: sectioning the second portion into a second set of separate portions, each separate portion in the second set including the multifidus dorsi, complexus, and longissimus dorsi muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lobel's Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Stanley Lobel
  • Patent number: 8341772
    Abstract: The invention provides a workout garment for protecting a wearer from injury while the wearer exercises. The garment includes a plurality of supporting straps for providing customziably adjustable support to the shoulders and arms of the wearer. The supporting straps may be wrapped around the wearer's arms at a tightness suitable to accommodate the wearer's desired amount of support and comfort. Wrapping the straps tighter will provide increased support. Wrapping the straps looser will provide less support but may be more comfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Alfred Flores
  • Patent number: 8343187
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Neotract, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Charles Lamson, Joshua Makower, Joseph Catanese, III, Jacqueline Nerney Welch, Amrish Jayprakash Walke, Claude Vidal, Russell J. Redmond, Michael Collinson
  • Patent number: 8342935
    Abstract: A display and input system 10 provides an enhanced means for displaying service and system information 14 from a system network 18 to a player and to a casino employee. The display and input system 10 enables part or all of a video display screen 40 in a gaming device 50, which had previously been used only as a gaming interface 30, to be utilized as a systems interface 20 for data entry and retrieval of the service and system information 14. This provides a dramatic improvement over traditional system components 60 (input/output peripherals) that have been used as in the past to access service and system information 14 from the system network 18, such as 2-line, 20 character VF displays and 12-digit keypads. The display and input system 10, does not control game play itself (e.g., game play betting, game play flow, or game play operation). Rather, the system 10 provides a limited form of game play monitoring, indirectly, with respect to the monitoring player points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James Morrow, Marvin Hein
  • Patent number: 8340729
    Abstract: Switching signals between a mobile communications device and a wireless headset can include setting a switch in a first position; connecting, through the switch, signals received from a mobile communications device to a wireless adapter for transmission to a wireless headset; and repositioning the switch, in response to input, to a second position, wherein signals received by the wireless adapter from the wireless headset are connected through the switch to the mobile communications device. Further, signals can be transmitted from the wireless adapter to the wireless headset using a short-range radio frequency protocol. Additionally, the input in response to which the switch is repositioned can be received from a hand-held trigger switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Stealthwear, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Crestol
  • Patent number: 8340980
    Abstract: A data visualization system is disclosed that includes a data value memory, a display, and contour generator. The data value memory maintains a finite set of data values. The display is arranged to display a representation of each data value centered on respective data points. The contour generator is arranged to generate and display a representation having a cross-sectional shape of a bell-shaped curve in which each data point is displayed as an apex of the bell-shaped curve. Also disclosed is a method of data visualization and a data visualization computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Cardno, Craig Ivan Soper, Nicholas John Mulgan, Patrick Nicholas Ryan, Paul Alan Cardno, Andreas Mahn, Nichole Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 8337923
    Abstract: The present invention provides an antimicrobial material in an encapsulated form, comprising (i) a core comprising an antimicrobial material and (ii) a shell of encapsulating material, wherein the shell of encapsulating material is impermeable to the antimicrobial material. The invention further provides a process for introducing an antimicrobial material into a foodstuff comprising (i) providing the antimicrobial material in an encapsulated form comprising a core of antimicrobial material and shell of encapsulating material, and (ii) introducing encapsulated antimicrobial material into or onto the foodstuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: DuPont Nutrition Biosciences APS
    Inventors: Bob Coyne, John Faragher, Sébastien Gouin, Carsten Bjorn Hansen, Richard Ingram, Torben Isak, Linda Valerie Thomas, Kathryn Louise Tse
  • Patent number: 8336582
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a method for preparing a hair dye mixture. The method includes a scale and control system in communication with each other. The control system provides for a memory and a display, wherein the memory contains a formula defining instructions for blending a hair dye mixture. The method displays the instructions on the display. The stylist may then view the display of instructions and then adds to a receptacle on the scale, colorant(s) and dye blending material(s) in accordance with the instructions by using hair color manufacturers' standardized packaging, such that non-standardized or specialized packaging of colorants and/or dye blending materials are not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Mitchell H. Saranow
  • Patent number: 8333776
    Abstract: A system and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchor devices for such purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Neotract, Inc.
    Inventors: Floria Cheng, Michael Gearhart, Andrew Johnston, Theodore C. Lamson, Matthew McLean, Daniel Merrick, Paul Suarez, Brian Y. Tachibana, Ben Thompson, Ling-Kang Tong, Joseph Catanese, III
  • Patent number: 8327530
    Abstract: An installation (1) for continuous application of thermally or electrically insulating material (6) around an elongate element (2) having a generally circular cross-section. The installation includes a forcing device (3), in form of a conical tube into which the element (2) is fed simultaneously at the large base end of the conical tube, a sheet (4), on which the insulating material (6) is placed, means for translation of the element through a circular section (2) of the sheet (4), and a device (7) for depositing of insulating material onto the sheet. Such an installation produces thermally insulated tubes or electrically insulated cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Majus, ITP SA
    Inventors: Jean-Aurélien Damour, Philippe Marchal, Pierre Ollier, Guillaume Richard
  • Patent number: 8328660
    Abstract: A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Douglas E. Roberts, Trent E. Garner, Kevin A. Wolfe, Daniel J. Stone, Christopher J. Beck, Todd D. Harman, Brent L. Newsome, Michael J. Wallans, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 8330068
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical switchgear unit designed to be fixed onto a fixing support and comprising at least one electrical switching module and at least one module housing a complementary electrical function, at least one of the complementary modules being situated next to at least one of the above-mentioned switching modules, the or each switching module comprising an arc extinguishing chamber. This unit is characterized in that the arc extinguishing chamber of the module situated facing the complementary module presents a cambered face towards the inside of said arc extinguishing chamber so as to create a space E,F inside said chamber enabling a part of the volume of the complementary module to be housed, and in that the ends of said arc extinguishing chamber encroach on the volume of the complementary module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Amblard, Noël Le-Corre, Luc Moreau