Patents Examined by Rena L. Dye
  • Patent number: 7871684
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oil pipe having a lining imparting substantially reduced adhesion of asphaltenes, paraffin wax, and inorganic scale, so as to reduce plugging of said oil pipe, and impermeability to salt water so as to protect the oil pipe from corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Laurence Waino McKeen
  • Patent number: 7867529
    Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a food material an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the amide group of free asparagine. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David Vincent Zyzak, Robert Alan Sanders, Marko Stojanovic, David Cammiade Gruber, Peter Yau Tak Lin, Maria Dolores Martinez-Serna Villagran, John Keeney Howie, Richard Gerard Schafermeyer
  • Patent number: 7867587
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a process for making solid biodegradable articles from wheat gluten. Hydrated wheat gluten is provided in the form of a cohesive, elastic dough. The cohesive, elastic dough comprises at least 8% by weight wheat gluten and wherein the wheat gluten comprises a protein having a primary structure. The cohesive, elastic dough is formed into a shaped article and placed in an environment sufficient to remove excess water from the shaped article without modifying the primary structure of the wheat gluten protein, such that a solid biodegradable article results. The solid biodegradable articles of the present invention comprise at least 8% by weight wheat gluten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: R&D Green Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Dara L Woerdeman
  • Patent number: 7862844
    Abstract: The present invention in a first aspect relates to taste improvement of foodstuffs, beverages, pharmaceutics, tobacco products and oral care products, using extremely small amounts of a substance according to formula (I), or edible salts thereof: R1—CR2(OR3)—CO—X (I). It was found that at very low concentrations, substances represented by formula (I) are capable of modifying and complementing, the sensory impact of taste imparting substances. Thus, the present taste improving substances are advantageously applied in flavour compositions, foodstuffs, pharmaceutics, tobacco products and oral care products. Typical examples of taste improving substances according to the present invention include N-lactoyl GMP, N-lactoyl AMP, N-lactoyl CMP, N-lactoyl IMP, N-gluconyl GMP, N-gluconyl AMP, N-gluconyl CMP, N-gluconyl IMP, O-lactoyl-GMP, O-lactoyl AMP, O-lactoyl CMP, O-lactoyl IMP, O-gluconyl GMP, O-gluconyl AMP, O-gluconyl CMP and O-gluconyl IMP and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Quest International Services B.V.
    Inventors: Chris Winkel, Harry Renes, Jan Visser, Nico Bouter, Jan Bakker, Bart Ruisch
  • Patent number: 7862872
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer structure based on polyamides and graft copolymers having polyamide blocks, comprising, in this order: a) a first layer (1) formed from a polyamide (A) or else a polyamide (A)/polyolefin (B) blend having a polyamide matrix; b) optionally, a tie layer (2a); c) a layer (2) based on a graft copolymer having polyamide blocks, formed from a polyolefin backbone and from at least one polyamide graft in which: the grafts are attached to the backbone by the residues of an unsaturated monomer (X) having a functional group capable of reacting with a polyamide having an amine end group; the residues of the unsaturated monomer (X) are attached to the backbone by grafting or copolymerization via its double bond; the layers (1), (2a) and (2) being successive and adhering to one another in their respective contact region. One particularly useful application relates to tubes for cooling circuits of internal combustion engines, such as the engines of cars or lorries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Arkema France
    Inventors: Martin Baumert, Sëbastien Micheneau, Thibault Montanari
  • Patent number: 7858131
    Abstract: A method of dating a food product that includes packaging at least two packages of a food product into a storage container and after packaging the at least two packages, the method further includes making the at least two packages with a date while the at least two packages are located within the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Johnsonville Sausage, LLC
    Inventors: Clint R. Billmann, Dale W. Arnold, Erik A. Larson
  • Patent number: 7858016
    Abstract: Layer made of base plastic comprising, in the dispersed form, nodules with a diameter of less than or equal to one micron comprising barrier plastic incompatible with the base plastic; multilayer structure comprising at least one such layer and process for the manufacture of such layers/structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Jules-Joseph Van Schaftingen, Serge Dupont, Barbara Mabed
  • Patent number: 7854974
    Abstract: Tubular silicon members advantageously formed by extrusion from a silicon melt or by fixing together silicon staves in a barrel shape. A silicon-based wafer support tower is particularly useful for batch-mode thermal chemical vapor deposition and other high-temperature processes, especially reflow of silicate glass at above 1200° C. The surfaces of the silicon tower are bead blasted to introduce sub-surface damage, which produces pits and cracks in the surface, which anchor subsequently deposited layer of, for example, silicon nitride, thereby inhibiting peeling of the nitride film. Wafer support portions of the tower are preferably composed of virgin polysilicon. The invention can be applied to other silicon parts in a deposition or other substrate processing reactor, such as tubular sleeves and reactor walls. The tower parts are preferably pre-coated with silicon nitride or polysilicon prior to chemical vapor deposition of these materials, or with silicon nitride prior to reflow of silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Integrated Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranaan Y. Zehavi, James E. Boyle
  • Patent number: 7854975
    Abstract: A joined body includes a first ceramic member, a second ceramic member, and a joining layer which contains soft metal, and joins the first ceramic member and the second ceramic member to each other by being thermally compressed at a joining temperature lower than a solidus of the soft metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 7851035
    Abstract: A multicolor development glass vessel of high surface hardness whose color is differentiated depending on the direction of viewing the glass vessel and a process for producing the same are provided. In the multicolor development glass vessel, a multilayer film is directly or indirectly formed on the external surface and internal surface, or either one thereof of the glass vessel by vapor deposition or sputtering technique and contains, for example, two types of vapor deposition layers whose refractive indices differ from each other by 0.1 or more in an alternate manner. Furthermore, for carrying out the process for producing the multicolor development glass vessel, the following steps (1) and (2) are included. (1) Step of preparing a glass vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Koa Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Fushimi, Eiji Ue
  • Patent number: 7851036
    Abstract: A shoe is fabricated from an upper structure and a sole structure wherein the sole structure contains a gas-filled cushioning device composed of a multi-layer film formed into a gas-filled membrane having an interior compartment enclosing at least one capture gas. The multi-layer film comprises an outer layer of an elastomeric thermoplastic material such as a polyurethane, an inner layer of an elastomeric thermoplastic material such as a polyurethane and a barrier layer interposed therebetween which is derived from a combination of at least one ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and up to about 50 wt. % of an aliphatic thermoplastic urethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Coatings GmbH
    Inventors: Henry W Bonk, David Goldwasser
  • Patent number: 7851388
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for finishing knitted fabrics and fabrics finished by the novel process. In one embodiment, the method of finishing a knitted fabric includes the steps of: (a) stretching the fabric above about 5% but less than about 25% in width, and above about (?)7% but less than about 10% in length, (b) heat-setting the fabric to the stretched width and length at a temperature above about 120 degrees Centigrade and lower than about 250 degrees Centigrade, and (c) applying a polymeric protective binder coating resin to the fabric at a concentration of at least 5% but less than 25% based on the weight of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Yong Ku Kim, Armand Francis Lewis
  • Patent number: 7846517
    Abstract: A heat-shrinkable polylactic acid (PLA) film and a method of its manufacture are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the PLA films exhibit heat-induced growth in the cross direction with concomitant shrinkage in the machine direction. The films may comprise any grade of PLA polymer, optionally including additives, such as antiblock, slip, viscosity enhancers and combinations thereof. A method of manufacture is disclosed which includes a post-extrusion temperature conditioning step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Plastic Suppliers, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph B. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 7842628
    Abstract: A woven or knitted fabric, formed from two types of yarns different in self-elongating property upon absorbing water and capable of facilitating the air-permeability when wetted with water, is constituted so that a ratio A/B of a mean length A of yarns (1) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongating property to a mean length B of yarns (2) arranged in the same direction as that of the yarn (1) and having a lower water-absorbing, self-elongating property than that of the yarn (1) is adjusted to 0.9 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Teijin Fibers Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Yasui, Seiji Mizohata, Takeshi Yamaguchi, Kengo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7842629
    Abstract: A gypsum board comprises a set gypsum layer having a first face and a second face. A fibrous mat is affixed to at least one of the faces. The mat comprises a non-woven web bonded together with a resinous binder. The web comprises a blend of a major portion composed of chopped continuous glass fibers having an average fiber diameter ranging from about 8 to 17 ?m and a minor portion composed of fine staple fibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 5.5 ?m, the minor portion comprising about 1-30 percent of the dry weight of the web. The board is exceedingly durable. It has a smooth surface that is readily finished in an aesthetically pleasing way, using paint or other wall covering systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventor: Alan Michael Jaffee
  • Patent number: 7838447
    Abstract: A pre-moistened wiper that exhibits good antimicrobial kill at relatively small levels of antimicrobial agent is provided. In one embodiment, for example, the wiper contains a sanitizing formulation that includes between about 0.01% by weight to about 1% by weight of an antimicrobial agent, including a quaternary ammonium compound, and water. The sanitizing formulation is capable of being released from the wiper as a solution such that the quaternary ammonium compound is present within the solution in an amount less than about 2000 parts per million of the solution. The wiper can exhibit a log reduction for E. Coli of at least about 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Clark, Shawn E. Jenkins, Julie W. Trusock
  • Patent number: 7833466
    Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester container with a uniformly and sufficiently elongated and thin-walled bottom part having excellent drop strength, improved ESC resistance and reduced weight, and a method of manufacturing the container. The biaxially oriented polyester container of the present invention is characterized in that, when an X-ray diffraction measurement is performed in and near a bottom center area of the biaxially oriented polyester container formed by a double-stage orientation blow molding method, a peak indicative of molecular orientation is observed near a diffraction angle of 2?=15 to 30° and an orientation parameter (BO) expressed by the following formula (1) is in the range of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihisa Hirota, Satoshi Shibata
  • Patent number: 7833596
    Abstract: A floor covering produced by coating and including a thermoplastic-based structure, in particular plasticized PVC, reinforced with a textile reinforcement, optionally combined with a foam backing. The visible surface consists of a surface coating providing decoration and wear resistance to the product. The back surface, designed to be in contact with the floor, consists of a textile web, the bonding between the textile structure and the supporting back surface being produced by means of an additional plastisol layer, which penetrates over a minor part of the thickness of the textile structure and which, after gelling, bonds the textile to the thermoplastic substrate back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Gerflor
    Inventors: Paul Plusquellec, Gilles Dogneton
  • Patent number: 7833588
    Abstract: The transparent conductive laminate of the invention is a laminate comprising a film made of a polymer with a photoelastic constant of no greater than 70×10?12 Pa?1, a light-scattering layer with a haze value in the range of 0.2-1.4% formed on one side thereof, and a transparent conductive layer formed on the other side thereof, wherein the laminate exhibits an overall retardation of ?/4. By using the laminate it is possible to provide touch panels with reduced light reflection, no coloration, excellent visibility and high reliability for outdoor use, as well as touch panel-equipped liquid crystal displays employing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mikoshiba, Haruhiko Ito, Isao Shiroishi
  • Patent number: 7833379
    Abstract: An end face of an intermediate layer of a multilayer structure is stably covered by surface resin layers at a time of cutting the multilayer structure. A cutting method of the multilayer structure 10 includes the steps of: compressing and deforming the multilayer structure, while extending respective layers 11, 12, 13 of the multilayer structure to provide a thin thickness portion, so that an upper layer bites into a lower layer by pushing a push cutter 15, by a predetermined amount, into the multilayer structure supported by a cutter receiving portion 14, in a fused state of at least one of the resin layers forming the multilayer structure; and push-cutting the compressed thin thickness portion S till the push cutter abuts against the cutter receiving portion so as to converge an intermediate layer 11 and surface resin layers 12, 13 of the multilayer structure to the abutting portion A of the push cutter 15 and the cutter receiving portion 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd., Asano Laboratories Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kikuo Matsuoka, Shinji Tanaka, Yasuyo Sano, Toshihiro Takai, Kenichi Mizoguchi, Hideki Usami, Tomoaki Haruta