Patents by Inventor Mike Thomas
Mike Thomas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20160355986Abstract: The invention provides a multi-ply tissue product having different surface characteristics on each side of the product. The multi-ply tissue product may be formed from two or more plies where one surface is formed by a substantially smooth creped ply and the other surface is formed by a textured through-air dried ply. In this manner the tissue product may be used for both personal care, which requires a soft and smooth surface, and general household wiping, which requires a rough, durable surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Mike Thomas Goulet, Elizabeth Oriel Bradley, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow
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Patent number: 9499942Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to creped tissue webs, and products produced therefrom. The creped webs and products are strong, soft, and have fine crepe structure, such as less than about 12, measured as % COV at a STFI wavelength of 16 to 32 mm, using the test method set forth herein. Fine crepe structure is achieved even at basis weights in excess of 16 gsm per ply.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael William Smaby, John Alexander Werner, IV, Michael John Rekoske, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Joseph Dyer
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Patent number: 9447546Abstract: The invention provides a multi-ply tissue product having different surface characteristics on each side of the product. The multi-ply tissue product may be formed from two or more plies where one surface is formed by a substantially smooth creped ply and the other surface is formed by a textured through-air dried ply. In this manner the tissue product may be used for both personal care, which requires a soft and smooth surface, and general household wiping, which requires a rough, durable surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Mike Thomas Goulet, Elizabeth Oriel Bradley, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow
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Patent number: 9442567Abstract: Methods for enabling hands-free selection of virtual objects are described. In some embodiments, a gaze swipe gesture may be used to select a virtual object. The gaze swipe gesture may involve an end user of a head-mounted display device (HMD) performing head movements that are tracked by the HMD to detect whether a virtual pointer controlled by the end user has swiped across two or more edges of the virtual object. In some cases, the gaze swipe gesture may comprise the end user using their head movements to move the virtual pointer through two edges of the virtual object while the end user gazes at the virtual object. In response to detecting the gaze swipe gesture, the HMD may determine a second virtual object to be displayed on the HMD based on a speed of the gaze swipe gesture and a size of the virtual object.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Jason Scott, Arthur C. Tomlin, Mike Thomas, Matthew Kaplan, Cameron G. Brown, Jonathan Plumb, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Daniel J. McCulloch, Jeremy Lee
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Patent number: 9410292Abstract: The disclosure provides a multilayered tissue web comprising treated cellulosic fibers selectively disposed in one or more layers, wherein the tissue layer comprising treated fibers is adjacent to a layer comprising untreated fiber and which is substantially free from untreated fiber. Generally the treated fibers have a rate of substitution of about 0.02 to 0.07. In this manner, the disclosure provides a multi-layered tissue web having treated fiber selectively incorporated therein, where the tissue web has basis weight greater than about 10 grams per square meter (gsm), such as from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater than about 8 cc/g, such as from about 8 to about 15 cc/g and Stiffness Index less than about 15, such as from about 8 to about 12.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Jian Qin, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Deborah Joy Calewarts, Kenneth John Zwick
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Patent number: 9390561Abstract: Methods for generating and displaying personalized virtual billboards within an augmented reality environment are described. The personalized virtual billboards may facilitate the sharing of personalized information between persons within an environment who have varying degrees of acquaintance (e.g., ranging from close familial relationships to strangers). In some embodiments, a head-mounted display device (HMD) may detect a mobile device associated with a particular person within an environment, acquire a personalized information set corresponding with the particular person, generate a virtual billboard based on the personalized information set, and display the virtual billboard on the HMD. The personalized information set may include information associated with the particular person such as shopping lists and classified advertisements.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Cameron G. Brown, Abby Lee, Brian J. Mount, Daniel J. McCulloch, Michael J. Scavezze, Ryan L. Hastings, John Bevis, Mike Thomas, Ron Amador-Leon
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Publication number: 20160189426Abstract: Methods for generating virtual proxy objects and controlling the location of the virtual proxy objects within an augmented reality environment are described. In some embodiments, a head-mounted display device (HMD) may identify a real-world object for which to generate a virtual proxy object, generate the virtual proxy object corresponding with the real-world object, and display the virtual proxy object using the HMD such that the virtual proxy object is perceived to exist within an augmented reality environment displayed to an end user of the HMD. In some cases, image processing techniques may be applied to depth images derived from a depth camera embedded within the HMD in order to identify boundary points for the real-world object and to determine the dimensions of the virtual proxy object corresponding with the real-world object.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Mike Thomas, Cameron G. Brown, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Jamie Bryant Kirschenbaum
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Publication number: 20160153142Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to creped tissue webs, and products produced therefrom. The creped webs and products are strong, soft, and have fine crepe structure, such as less than about 12, measured as % COV at a STFI wavelength of 16 to 32 mm, using the test method set forth herein. Fine crepe structure is achieved even at basis weights in excess of 16 gsm per ply.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael William Smaby, John Alexander Werner, IV, Michael John Rekoske, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Joseph Dyer
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Patent number: 9283730Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to creped tissue webs, and products produced therefrom. The creped webs and products are strong, soft, and have fine crepe structure, such as less than about 12, measured as % COV at a STFI wavelength of 16 to 32 mm, using the test method set forth herein. Fine crepe structure is achieved even at basis weights in excess of 16 gsm per ply.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael William Smaby, John Alexander Werner, IV, Michael John Rekoske, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Joseph Dyer
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Publication number: 20160048204Abstract: Methods for enabling hands-free selection of virtual objects are described. In some embodiments, a gaze swipe gesture may be used to select a virtual object. The gaze swipe gesture may involve an end user of a head-mounted display device (HMD) performing head movements that are tracked by the HMD to detect whether a virtual pointer controlled by the end user has swiped across two or more edges of the virtual object. In some cases, the gaze swipe gesture may comprise the end user using their head movements to move the virtual pointer through two edges of the virtual object while the end user gazes at the virtual object. In response to detecting the gaze swipe gesture, the HMD may determine a second virtual object to be displayed on the HMD based on a speed of the gaze swipe gesture and a size of the virtual object.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Jason Scott, Arthur C. Tomlin, Mike Thomas, Matthew Kaplan, Cameron G. Brown, Jonathan Plumb, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Daniel J. McCulloch, Jeremy Lee
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Publication number: 20160002861Abstract: The invention provides a multi-ply tissue product having different surface characteristics on each side of the product. The multi-ply tissue product may be formed from two or more plies where one surface is formed by a substantially smooth creped ply and the other surface is formed by a textured through-air dried ply. In this manner the tissue product may be used for both personal care, which requires a soft and smooth surface, and general household wiping, which requires a rough, durable surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Mike Thomas Goulet, Elizabeth Oriel Bradley, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow
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Patent number: 9201578Abstract: Methods for enabling hands-free selection of virtual objects are described. In some embodiments, a gaze swipe gesture may be used to select a virtual object. The gaze swipe gesture may involve an end user of a head-mounted display device (HMD) performing head movements that are tracked by the HMD to detect whether a virtual pointer controlled by the end user has swiped across two or more edges of the virtual object. In some cases, the gaze swipe gesture may comprise the end user using their head movements to move the virtual pointer through two edges of the virtual object while the end user gazes at the virtual object. In response to detecting the gaze swipe gesture, the HMD may determine a second virtual object to be displayed on the HMD based on a speed of the gaze swipe gesture and a size of the virtual object.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Jason Scott, Arthur C. Tomlin, Mike Thomas, Matthew Kaplan, Cameron G. Brown, Jonathan Plumb, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Daniel J. McCulloch, Jeremy Lee
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Publication number: 20150205494Abstract: Methods for enabling hands-free selection of virtual objects are described. In some embodiments, a gaze swipe gesture may be used to select a virtual object. The gaze swipe gesture may involve an end user of a head-mounted display device (HMD) performing head movements that are tracked by the HMD to detect whether a virtual pointer controlled by the end user has swiped across two or more edges of the virtual object. In some cases, the gaze swipe gesture may comprise the end user using their head movements to move the virtual pointer through two edges of the virtual object while the end user gazes at the virtual object. In response to detecting the gaze swipe gesture, the HMD may determine a second virtual object to be displayed on the HMD based on a speed of the gaze swipe gesture and a size of the virtual object.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Jason Scott, Arthur C. Tomlin, Mike Thomas, Matthew Kaplan, Cameron G. Brown, Jonathan Plumb, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Daniel J. McCulloch, Jeremy Lee
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Publication number: 20150176222Abstract: The disclosure provides a multilayered tissue web comprising treated cellulosic fibers selectively disposed in one or more layers, wherein the tissue layer comprising treated fibers is adjacent to a layer comprising untreated fiber and which is substantially free from untreated fiber. Generally the treated fibers have a rate of substitution of about 0.02 to 0.07. In this manner, the disclosure provides a multi-layered tissue web having treated fiber selectively incorporated therein, where the tissue web has basis weight greater than about 10 grams per square meter (gsm), such as from about 10 to about 50 gsm, a sheet bulk greater than about 8 cc/g, such as from about 8 to about 15 cc/g and Stiffness Index less than about 15, such as from about 8 to about 12.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Stephen Michael Lindsay, Michael Andrew Zawadzki, Jian Qin, Mike Thomas Goulet, Cathleen Mae Uttecht, Donald Eugene Waldroup, Deborah Joy Calewarts, Kenneth John Zwick
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Patent number: 9052024Abstract: A pressure relief system and a non-intrusive, low chatter pressure relief valve for use with such as system are disclosed. The pressure relief valve allows excess pressure in a pressurized fluid line to flow through a flow return line to a fluid reservoir when the fluid pressure exceeds the valve's pressure limit setting. The establishment of a uniform channel between the valve stem and the inner surface of a housing in which the valve stem is slidably located, as well as the use of a vent and sight tube to remove air from the top portion of the housing upon a spring being compressed during the opening of the valve, reduces the occurrence of pulsation and vibration when the valve is cycled between its open and closed positions. When the valve is in its closed position, the bottom end of the valve stem is in close proximity to the inner surface of the main fluid passageway in the pressurized fluid line, but does not intrusively interfere with the flow of fluid through the main fluid passageway.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: FINISHING BRANDS HOLDINGS INC.Inventors: Bill Bertakis, Jan Pitzer, Mike Thomas, Dale Wesener, Mike Wallace
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Patent number: 8894813Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to creped tissue webs, and products produced therefrom. The creped webs and products are strong, soft, and have improved strike-through and absorbency properties. The improvement in both strike-through and absorbency is achieved in-part by increasing the basis weight of the web, while at the same time reducing the creping composition add-on levels.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael William Smaby, Michael John Rekoske, Thomas Joseph Dyer, Mike Thomas Goulet
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Publication number: 20140306994Abstract: Methods for generating and displaying personalized virtual billboards within an augmented reality environment are described. The personalized virtual billboards may facilitate the sharing of personalized information between persons within an environment who have varying degrees of acquaintance (e.g., ranging from close familial relationships to strangers). In some embodiments, a head-mounted display device (HMD) may detect a mobile device associated with a particular person within an environment, acquire a personalized information set corresponding with the particular person, generate a virtual billboard based on the personalized information set, and display the virtual billboard on the HMD. The personalized information set may include information associated with the particular person such as shopping lists and classified advertisements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2013Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventors: Cameron G. Brown, Abby Lee, Brian J. Mount, Daniel J. McCulloch, Michael J. Scavezze, Ryan L. Hastings, John Bevis, Mike Thomas, Ron Amador-Leon
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Publication number: 20140050890Abstract: Low slough, high basis weight tissue webs and products are provided. The tissue webs generally have basis weights greater than about 16 grams per square meter (gsm), while maintaining less than about 4 mg of slough. All while yielding tissue products that are both thick and soft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Michael William Smaby, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael John Rekoske, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Joseph Dyer, John Alexander Werner, IV
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Publication number: 20140048224Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to creped tissue webs, and products produced therefrom. The creped webs and products are strong, soft, and have improved strike-through and absorbency properties. The improvement in both strike-through and absorbency is achieved in-part by increasing the basis weight of the web, while at the same time reducing the creping composition add-on levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael William Smaby, Michael John Rekoske, Thomas Joseph Dyer, Mike Thomas Goulet
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Publication number: 20140050889Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to creped tissue webs, and products produced therefrom. The creped webs and products are strong, soft, and have fine crepe structure, such as less than about 12, measured as % COV at a STFI wavelength of 16 to 32 mm, using the test method set forth herein. Fine crepe structure is achieved even at basis weights in excess of 16 gsm per ply.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Peter Lee Carson, Gary Lee Shanklin, Michael William Smaby, John Alexander Werner, IV, Michael John Rekoske, Mike Thomas Goulet, Thomas Joseph Dyer