Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
  • Exchange rate calculator
    Patent number: 7430522
    Abstract: Provided is a computation apparatus that is able to adequately obtain a relative value of an incentive point issued by each shop, by computing an exchange rate used in exchanging shop points of the shop into common points. The computation apparatus (25) stores a function for defining the exchange rate (250), and internally maintains, for rate computation, the used house point (UHP) that represents a portion of shop points that has been spent (redeemed) in a shop that has issued the shop points), and the active general point (AGP) that represents a portion of common points that is obtained by exchanging shop points and is not spent yet. A rate function is defined so as to yield a higher exchange rate in exchanging shop points of the shop into common points when the used house point (UHP) of the shop is larger, and to yield a lower exchange rate when the active general point (AGP) of the shop is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: SOFTBANKBB Corp.
    Inventor: Keiichi Nakajima
  • Fecal occult blood testing device and method
    Patent number: 7427505
    Abstract: A specimen testing device having a first panel including a first aperture for receiving a first specimen and a second aperture for receiving a second specimen; a second panel; a sheet disposed between the first and second panels for receiving at least the first specimen through the first aperture, wherein the sheet includes a test area having a reagent for possible reaction to the first specimen as part of a primary test procedure; and a removable tab at least partially aligned with the second aperture for receiving the second specimen, the removable tab accessible from an exterior of the device and available for use in a secondary test procedure. A method of testing for the presence of blood in fecal matter including primary and secondary testing of the fecal matter. A test kit including a specimen testing device and reagents for performing a primary test a secondary test on specimens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Immunostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent LaStella
  • Liquid sensing apparatus for a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus, and a liquid container in which the liquid sensing apparatus is built
    Patent number: 7424824
    Abstract: A liquid sensing apparatus includes a liquid sensing chamber 33 having a liquid inlet port that is in communication with an external liquid container in which a liquid is reserved, and a liquid outlet port that is in communication with a liquid consuming apparatus, a movable member 34 movable depending on a liquid level in the liquid sensing chamber 33, a recess portion 33b, 41a for cooperating with a wall surface of the movable member 34 to form a closed space when the movable member 34 is moved to a predetermined position depending the liquid level, and a piezoelectric sensing means 40 for applying a vibration to the recess portion and sensing a state of a free vibration following upon the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Kazuo Koshino, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
    Patent number: 7422317
    Abstract: Ink maintained at a negative pressure state is supplied to an ink-jet recording head via an ink supply mechanism constructed as a differential pressure valve having a coil spring and a movable membrane normally contacted elastically with a valve seat by the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Miyazawa
  • Liquid container and method for detecting remaining quantity of liquid
    Patent number: 7422316
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a liquid container and a method for detecting a remaining quantity of liquid that can precisely detect that the liquid is completely consumed. A bag shaped main pack 11 for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming device 5 and a bag shaped sensor pack 12 in which the liquid to be supplied to the liquid consuming device 5 from the main pack 11 is temporarily held halfway to detect the state of a remaining quantity of the liquid in the main pack 11 are provided. Thus, since the quantity of the liquid held in the sensor pack 12 changes in accordance with the remaining quantity of the liquid of the main pack 11, the changed state appears as a change of the form of the sensor pack 12, and accordingly, a displacement due to the change can be utilized to assuredly detect, for instance, that the liquid in the main pack 11 is completely consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Shinada
  • Universal digital media communications and control system and method
    Patent number: 7420112
    Abstract: A digital media communications and control system includes a plurality of audio devices each of which includes a device interface module for communication of digital media data and control data from at least one of the devices to at least one other of the devices. A universal data link is operatively connected to each of the device interface modules. The device interface modules and universal data links are operative in combination to connect the devices together in the system and provide full duplex communication of the digital media data and control data between the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Gibson Guitar Corp.
    Inventors: Henry E. Juszkiewicz, Nathan W. Yeakel, Shri Amit, Thomas L. Sherman, Richard A. Frantz, Jason S. Flaks
  • Filling apparatus and method
    Patent number: 7412812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filling apparatus having a filling device for filling packages with a hot filling, a sealing device for sealing the package, wherein the package has a package seal for opening the package and a swivelling arrangement for swivelling the package so that the package seal contacts the hot filling. Furthermore the invention relates to a filling method in which a hot filling is filled into a package that is sealed thereafter, wherein the package has a package seal and the package is swivelled so that the package seal contacts the hot filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Indag Gesellschaft Fuer Industriebedarf mbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Wild, Eberhard Kraft, Michael Kurz
  • System and method for the presentation of advertisements
    Patent number: 7412406
    Abstract: A system and method for the presentation of advertisements is present. According to one embodiment, a number of impressions of an advertisement message are presented over a computer network such as the Internet to a variety of viewer computers. Depending on the actions taken by the viewers (e.g., whether the Viewer selects the advertising message and accesses a web-link to the advertiser's web-site), bonus exposure (e.g., an additional number of impressions provided to the viewers) of the advertising message is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Ari Rosenberg
  • Product stream heater
    Patent number: 7411165
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for heating product streams, particularly food product streams containing fruits or fruit pieces, the product 47 flows through a product-carrying channel 2. The apparatus comprises means for generating high electrical alternating fields, wherein the means comprises electrodes, electrode terminals and an alternating field generator. The invention is characterized in that the electrodes are provided within the product-carrying channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: INDAG Gesellschaft Fuer Industriebedarf mbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Wild, Bradley Gunn, Klaus Lochbühler
  • Recorded article with anti-counterfeit measures
    Patent number: 7408630
    Abstract: An object is to provide a recorded article or sticker whereby counterfeited articles and genuine articles can be visually distinguished in simple fashion in the market and wherein it is not possible to identify in the market the location and type of the anti-counterfeiting measures that have been taken. Both an overt region 3 (which can be recognized visually in the market) are printing using a color-change ink or liquid-crystal ink, for example, and a covert region 5 formed by for example optical retro-reflective printing (which cannot be recognized without using a special tool) are provided on the surface of the same recording medium. The overt region 3 and the covert region 4 may be arranged at different locations or may overlap, or may be positionally aligned. The overt letter/design pattern and the covert letter/design pattern may be the same or different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Nakamura, Akio Owatari, Masataka Kamijo, Yasuko Hirano
  • Semiconductor memory device
    Patent number: 7406576
    Abstract: A semiconductor device 10 sets a pass-through flag to ON when the top address of a write-prohibited area is passed. When a request to write data to a write-restricted area WRA is received, the semiconductor memory device 10 determines whether or not the pass-through flag is set to ON, and if the pass-through flag is not set to ON, the semiconductor memory device 10 executes writing of the data to the write-restricted area. On the other hand, if the pass-through flag is set to ON, the semiconductor memory device 10 does not execute writing of the data to the write-restricted area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Asauchi
  • Liquid container
    Patent number: 7404628
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body which stores the liquid in its inside. The container body includes a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside. A detection unit is provided in the container body and outputs an output signal which is changed in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the inside of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Naka, Takahiro Katakura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Satoshi Shinada, Toshio Kumagai, Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hisashi Miyazawa, Takakazu Fukano, Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasunao Uehara, Masahide Matsuyama
  • Digital guitar system
    Patent number: 7399918
    Abstract: A digital guitar system and method includes a digital guitar and a digital guitar interface device, and a method of converting a conventional guitar into a digital guitar. The guitar is adapted to generate analog audio signals, convert those signals into digital signals, format the digital signals according to a digital communication protocol, and to output the formatted signals. The guitar may include a novel multi-signal guitar pickup that generates some of the analog audio signals. The guitar is further adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals. The interface device is adapted to receive digital signals, convert those signals into analog signals, and output the analog signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Gibson Guitar Corp.
    Inventors: Henry E. Juszkiewicz, Nathan W. Yeakel
  • Liquid container
    Patent number: 7396114
    Abstract: The liquid container includes: a container body having a built-in closed storage space for storing liquid, a liquid leading-out path for sending liquid in the storage space to a liquid consumption apparatus, an opening at one end thereof being opened on an outer surface of the container body and an opening at the other end thereof being opened in the storage space, a pressurized fluid introducing path for introducing a pressurized fluid into the storage space, an opening at one end thereof being opened on the outer surface of the container body and an opening at the other end thereof being opened in the storage space, and resistance generation unit arranged in the storage space for giving a resistance to a liquid flow in the storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Hitotoshi Kimura, Satoshi Shinada
  • Card holder for an animal cage
    Patent number: 7395623
    Abstract: An embodiment of a card holder system for retaining a card with an animal cage can comprise a card holder designed and dimensioned to selectively retain the card, and a retention member adapted for retaining the card holder to the cage. The retention member is adapted to be secured to a side wall of the cage. In certain embodiments, the card holder can be selectively retained in one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation. The card holder system can further comprise an adapter member, the adapter member being designed and dimensioned to be coupled with the card holder such that the card holder may be selectively positioned in one of a first orientation and a second orientation, the second orientation being substantially rotated ninety-degrees from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Lab Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chinsoo Park, Lynn Irwin, Rodney Gerringer, Dale Murray, John Huss, Neil Campbell
  • Pocket tape with alternating adhesive and non-adhesive zones and overlying carrier tape
    Patent number: 7395927
    Abstract: A method for sticking, a container, a pocket tape, a method for the production of a pocket tape, a device for the production of a pocket tape, a method for the production of an adhesive tape, an adhesive tape and a device for the production of an adhesive tape, regarding sticking a pocket into a container to receive an article, through use of adhesive in adhesive zones that are spaced from one another by non-adhesive zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: Deutsche Sisi-Werke GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG, Pioflex Kunststoff In Form GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Wild, Eberhard Kraft, Klaus Hagle, Berthold Willi
  • Method of refilling an ink cartridge for use in ink jet recorder
    Patent number: 7393089
    Abstract: A method of refilling an ink bag that is used in an ink jet recorder, the ink bag is initially filled with ink through an opening in the bag, and is sealed after the ink bag is initially filled. The method comprises the steps of removing the ink bag from the ink jet recorder, positioning the ink bag, inserting an ink needle into a separate opening in the ink bag that is different than the first opening through which the ink bag is initially filled with ink, discharging ink from the ink bag through the second opening, and charging the ink bag through the second opening with a specified quantity of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Yamaguchi, Toshio Ito, Masahide Matsuyama, Yasuhiro Ogura, Fuminori Doi, Masanori Kamijo, Hisashi Koike, Takeo Yamaguchi, Hideo Fujimori
  • Ink cartridge and printer using the same
    Patent number: 7393092
    Abstract: Cost of an ink jet printer is reduced using an EEPROM enabling sequential accesses for storage elements in black and color ink cartridges. The data array of a memory cell of the storage elements is determined so that a second storage area, where rewritable data like data on remaining inks are stored, is accessed before a first storage area where read only data are stored. This way rewritable data can be securely written into the second storage area even after power-off. The second storage area has two memory divisions for each ink. Current data on the remaining ink is alternately written into these memory divisions. Alternatively, the current data on the ink is written into these memory divisions in duplicate. Each memory division has a write complete flag to determine if writing has been completed normally. This enables the remaining quantities of the inks to be monitored accurately and continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Saruta, Satoshi Shinada
  • Dual range horn with acoustic crossover
    Patent number: 7392880
    Abstract: A new approach has been developed to combine mid-range and high frequency sound into the throat of a horn designed for sound reinforcement. An acoustic low pass filter element is interposed between the lower frequency passage and the higher frequency passage, so that a smooth combination of the two frequency bands is achieved at the entrance to the horn bell. Thus, each frequency band has nearly identical dispersion, and the two sources have equal delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Gibson Guitar Corp.
    Inventor: Marshall D. Buck
  • News box
    Patent number: D576288
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: 34th Street Partnership, Inc.
    Inventor: Ignacio Juan Ciocchini