Patents Assigned to Service
  • Patent number: 8544641
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a garment box insert comprising a bottom panel; a container portion comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall; and contiguous to the first side wall, a first walled enclosure portion. The walled enclosure portion comprises: a first fold over panel comprising two apertures configured to receive at least an upper portion of a handle portion; and a second fold over panel comprising an elongate aperture positioned such that opposing ends of an elongate aperture are approximately aligned with the two apertures of the first fold over panel and a central portion of the elongate aperture being approximately aligned with the elongate slot located in the first side wall. Such alignment allows one or more clothes hangers to be inserted through the elongate aperture of the second fold over panel and secured on the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gijs Houdijk, Koen De Greef, Frits Stam
  • Patent number: 8546137
    Abstract: The invention involves the discovery that if dendritic cells loaded with a tumor antigen are cultured in interleukin-15 (IL-15), or if T cells activated by the dendritic cells are cultured in IL-15, Treg activity that is specific for the tumor antigen is reduced. This reduction in Treg activity results in an increase in anti-tumor immune response. Another embodiment of the invention involves the discovery that incubating dendritic cells with a MAP kinase inhibitor in combination with IL-15 gives synergistic benefits when the dendritic cells are used to activate T cells. Dendritic cell and T cell compositions incubated with IL-15 or a MAP kinase inhibitor are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, National Institutes of Health, US Dept. of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Martin J. Cannon, Kellie L. Kozak, Timothy J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8547556
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a fluid sample from a reservoir comprises: collecting the sample in a sampling container, wherein the sample container includes a sample receptacle, and wherein the step of collecting comprises allowing or causing the sample to flow into the sample receptacle; and determining at least one property of the sample, wherein the step of determining comprises using a multivariate optical element (MOE) calculation device, and wherein the step of determining is performed during the step of collecting and wherein the MOE calculation device is located at one end of the sample receptacle, or the step of determining is performed after the step of collecting. The sample is analyzed as the sample flows into the sample container or as the sample is being transferred from the sample container into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Cyrus A. Irani
  • Patent number: 8544567
    Abstract: A drill bit comprises: a drill bit head having a cutting face with one or more fixed cutting elements; a flow passage extending through the drill bit head to the cutting face; a flow interrupter within the drill bit head and positioned to interrupt flow of fluid through the flow passage; and a power section connected to drive the flow interrupter and cause, in operation, variable flow of fluid through the flow passage. A method of drilling comprises: flowing fluid through a flow passage extending through a drill bit head to a cutting face of the drill bit head, the cutting face having one or more fixed cutting elements; and driving a flow interrupter within the drill bit head with a power section to interrupt the flow of fluid through the flow passage and cause variable flow of fluid through the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Northbasin Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Laurier E. Comeau, Geir Hareland, Jeff Janzen, John Kaminski
  • Patent number: 8546449
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the generation of a peroxyacetic acid sanitizer in proximity to the point-of-use are disclosed. These methods comprise introducing a hydrogen peroxide-acetyl precursor solution to water, mixing, and then adding an aqueous source of a alkali metal or earth alkali metal hydroxide. Triacetin is a preferred acetyl precursor and is converted rapidly and with a high conversion rate into peracetic acid. These methods produce solutions with a high level of peracetic acid. Methods for preparing the hydrogen peroxide-acetyl precursor solution are also provided. Also disclosed are solid compositions comprising a liquid acetyl precursor, a water-soluble source of hydrogen peroxide, and a water-soluble source of alkalinity. The solid composition is a freely-flowable solid that is used as a bleaching agent and a stain remover for the treatment of articles such as fabrics, dentures, textile garments, and equipment used in the food and beverage industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Enviro Tech Chemical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Harvey, Jonathan N. Howarth
  • Patent number: 8548786
    Abstract: Method and system for determining a cognitive enhancement and/or anti-epileptic effect comprising: detecting synchronized neuronal activity in neuronal tissue (601), monitoring spreading of the synchronized neuronal activity (602), determining a parameter (604, 605) indicative of the closeness of the synchronized neuronal activity to the critical state and comparing (613) the parameter to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health & Human Services
    Inventor: Dietmar Plenz
  • Patent number: 8548845
    Abstract: Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Jay E. Hedley, Neal Patrick Thornburg
  • Patent number: 8546310
    Abstract: Of the many compositions and methods provided herein, an example method includes a method of treating a subterranean formation that comprises combining components comprising water and a density-matched suspension to prepare a treatment fluid, wherein the density-matched suspension comprises a suspending liquid and a solid particle suspended in the suspending liquid, and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore. An example composition includes a suspension that comprises a suspending liquid comprising a hydrophobic liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid hydrolyzes when placed in contact with an aqueous fluid to form hydrophilic products, and a solid particle suspended in the suspending liquid, wherein the suspension is a density-matched suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Lewis, Michael Szymanski, Christopher Gordon
  • Patent number: 8544564
    Abstract: An apparatus for wireless communications in a drilling operations environment can include an instrument hub that is inline with drill pipe of a drill string. The instrument hub includes a sensor to receive downhole communications from downhole. The instrument hub also includes a transmitter to wireless transmit data representative of the downhole communications to a data processor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L Moore, Vimal V. Shah, Wallace R. Gardner, Donald G. Kyle, Malcolm Douglas McGregor, Randal Thomas Beste, Jesse Kevin Hensarling, Sergei A Sharonov
  • Patent number: 8545197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pump, especially usable as a peristaltic pump in an apparatus for blood treatment, wherein it is provided with at least a hammer element which interacts with at least one tube portion in which a fluid to be pumped flows and with motion means for said hammer element which push the hammer element against said tube portion so as to press it, the value of the stroke executed by said element not allowing the complete crushing of the tube itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Medical Service S.R.L.
    Inventor: Canio Caramuta
  • Patent number: 8546091
    Abstract: Methods for determining whether a cancer patient is likely to benefit from treatment with a taxane compound based on Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation status are provided, together with kits for determining Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation status and methods for improving treatment of a cancer patient that include obtaining a determination of the Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation status of the cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Sherry X. Yang, Sandra M. Swain
  • Patent number: 8548929
    Abstract: A method and system for managing employment candidate data utilizes a pre-screen application to enable pre-screening of employment candidates who log on to a website and are prompted to enter additional information and schedule pre-employment tests via the website. The method and system for managing employment candidate data also uses a tracking and testing application to handle screening of candidates' paper-based applications, administration of interviews, hiring pool management, job offer support, and scheduling of training, and is integrated with an applicant tracking system. A resume tracking application of the method and system for managing employment candidate data automatically identifies and merges duplicate resume information to create a single unique resume in the tracking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Goodwin, Andrew L. Anderson, Stefan Zander, Narciso Tauler, William J. Brannen, Candice B. Morris
  • Patent number: 8546524
    Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated or purified polypeptide or peptidomimetic comprising an amino acid sequence of a portion of a Smoothened (SMO) protein, wherein the portion comprises an amino acid sequence of any of the intracellular loops of the SMO protein, a functional fragment thereof, or a functional variant of either the portion or the functional fragment, wherein the functional fragment comprises at least 7 contiguous amino acids of the intracellular loops, and wherein the functional fragment or functional variant inhibits proliferation of a diseased cell, or a fatty acid derivative thereof. Related conjugates, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, and pharmaceutical compositions are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Nadya Tarasova, Michael Dean, Hong Lou
  • Patent number: 8545888
    Abstract: The invention relates to tendon stem cell useful for treating a variety of diseases and conditions, including tendon repair and attachment of tendon to bone. The invention is also directed to treatment and/or inhibition of bone formation by use of biglycan and/or fibromodulin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Marian F. Young, Yanming Bi, Songtao Shi
  • Patent number: 8545935
    Abstract: Methods of creating particulates coated with acid-releasing degradable material comprising the steps of: combining an acid-releasing degradable material with a solvent or a plasticizer to create a coating solution; providing a first flowing stream comprising the coating solution; providing a second flowing stream comprising particulates; and, combining the first and second flowing streams to create a third flowing stream comprising particulates coated with the coating solution. Wherein the acid-releasing degradable material comprises at least one acid-releasing degradable material selected from the group consisting of: poly(orthoester); a lactide, a poly(lactide); a glycolide; a poly(glycolide); a poly(?-caprolactone); a poly(hydroxybutyrate); a substantially water insoluble anhydride; a poly(anhydride); a poly(amino acid); a copolymer of two or more of the above-listed compounds; and any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh K. Saini, Bradley L. Todd
  • Patent number: 8544421
    Abstract: An animal control pole has a first end adapted to be held by a user, and a second end adapted to ensnare and assist in the control of an animal. The pole has an axial bore extending therethrough and a cable that extends through the axial bore and extends from each end of the pole. A retaining element is located at the second end of the pole and retains the free end of the cable that extends from the second end, so as to form a closed animal engageable adjustable loop. The animal control pole includes dual release mechanisms. A first release mechanism releases the free end of the cable that extends through the second end of the pole. A second release mechanism forces an additional length of cable through the axial bore of the second end and thereby increases the size of the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Animal Care Equipment & Services, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Katers
  • Patent number: 8549303
    Abstract: A method for electronically signing an electronic transcript. The method includes obtaining an image of a court reporter's signature which may be incorporated into an electronic transcript. A hash operation performed on the electronic transcript to generate a representation of the contents of the electronic transcript. The representation of the contents of the electronic transcript is recorded/time stamped by a digital notary service, from which a notary record of the time stamping is obtained from the digital notary service. The notary record is digitally signed, and an electronically signed electronic transcript is formed by bundling the digitally signed notary record with the electronic transcript and with the data identifying the user. In this manner, an electronic transcript with an electronic signature is created. The electronic transcript may be viewed, with the image displayed in the viewer having an image of the court reporter's signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: West Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Davin Fifield, Kevin Koch
  • Patent number: 8544543
    Abstract: Disclosed are spacer fluids and methods of use in subterranean formations. Embodiments may include use of consolidating spacer fluids in displacement of drilling fluids from a well bore annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiten Chatterji, D. Chad Brenneis, Crystal L. Keys, James R. Benkley, Craig W. Roddy, Ronnie G. Morgan, Rickey L. Morgan
  • Patent number: 8544730
    Abstract: An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records corresponding to authorized user or financial account data. The machine includes a card reader for reading data from user cards. The automated banking machine causes financial transfers related to financial accounts that correspond to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine also includes devices that control the supply of power to included devices to avoid exceeding power supply capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Songtao Ma, Eric Toepke, Mike R. Ryan, Randall W. Jenkins, Natarajan Ramachandran, Thomas D. Ertle, Tim Crews, Willis Miller, Nick Billett, Steven Shepley, Dave Krzic, Victor A. Cogan
  • Patent number: 8548883
    Abstract: A system and method for providing to a taxpayer a loan in an amount based on the taxpayer's estimated tax refund amount due for a current year, the loan being provided to the taxpayer prior to year end of the current tax year and prior to completion and filing of the taxpayer's current year tax return forms with a taxing authority. The taxpayer's estimated tax refund may be based on historical tax refund data as well as current year income data. A loan granting entity may consider the level of tax refunds that the taxpayer has received in previous years as well as income data for the first three quarters of the year to determine a reasonable estimate of the tax refund amount that the taxpayer will likely receive for the current tax year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services, LLC
    Inventor: Robert D. Wilson