Patents by Inventor R. Thomas

R. 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).

  • Patent number: 8286595
    Abstract: An integrated water coil air heater and economizer arrangement for a boiler has a feedwater inlet for supplying feedwater to the boiler, and conduits and a valve for splitting the feedwater from the inlet into a first partial lower temperature, lower mass flow stream, and a second partial higher temperature, higher flow stream. A water coil air heater for passage of air to be heated for the boiler contains at least one heat transfer loop in heat transfer relationship with the air, the heat transfer loop of the water coil air heater being connected to receive the first partial stream. An economizer for passage of flue gas to be cooled for the boiler contains at least one heat transfer loop in heat transfer relationship with the flue gas, the heat transfer loop of the economizer being connected to the heat transfer loop of the water coil air heater for receiving the first partial stream from the water coil air heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Cerney, William R. Stirgwolt, Melvin J. Albrecht, Kevin R. Thomas, George B. Brechun, John E. Monacelli
  • Patent number: 8287786
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a cryogen for cooling articles, particularly having applications for chilling extrusions. The apparatus and method including removing thermal energy from an article by conductive and convective heat transfer. The apparatus and method allows for heat transfer from an outer surface of an article, and from an inner surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Michael R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8282384
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous curing of a plurality of extruded strands can include a rigid frame structure formed by interconnecting a plurality of rigid frame members. A rigid top plate member and a rigid bottom plate member are attached to the rigid frame structure. A plurality of upper spindle units is rotatably attached to the rigid top plate member and a plurality of lower spindle units is rotatably attached to the rigid bottom plate member. A pair of drive motors is attached to the rigid frame structure. A gear assembly attached to the rigid frame structure is operably engaged to the pair of drive motors and a chamber is supported on the rigid frame structure for curing the plurality of extruded strands. The pair of drive motors drives the gear assembly to continuously pass the plurality of extruded strands through the chamber for continuous curing and post-curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Michael R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8275704
    Abstract: A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Lead Core Fund, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Fred A. Bishop, Bansi L. Sharma, Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8263993
    Abstract: Embodiments of an LED disclosed has an emitter layer shaped to a controlled depth or height relative to a substrate of the LED to maximize the light output of the LED and to achieve a desired intensity distribution. In some embodiments, the exit face of the LED may be selected to conserve radiance. In some embodiments, shaping the entire LED, including the substrate and sidewalls, or shaping the substrate alone can extract 100% or approximately 100% of the light generated at the emitter layers from the emitter layers. In some embodiments, the total efficiency is at least 90% or above. In some embodiments, the emitter layer can be shaped by etching, mechanical shaping, or a combination of various shaping methods. In some embodiments, only a portion of the emitter layer is shaped to form the tiny emitters. The unshaped portion forms a continuous electrical connection for the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Matthew R. Thomas, Elliot M. Pickering, Muhammad Khizar
  • Publication number: 20120217298
    Abstract: A wireless financial transaction instrument, such as a card, has a magnetic stripe, a display, and an on-board power supply, such as a battery, and is usable with a dual capture point of sale terminal. Information is received by such a terminal from the card wirelessly, and also from the magnetic stripe, and the data received contactlessly is preferably used to verify that read from the stripe. The display can display the account number on command, or to display a current balance, or amount of credit remaining, or any combination of these items of information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Bonalle, Michael D. Donovan, Sherrie G. Jackson, Scott Glen Paylor, Medina J. Senghore, Tracey R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120214709
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a modulator or mediator of a biological activity, which activity includes antigenicity and or immunogenicity, said method comprising the step of: (i) producing a gene fragment expression library derived from defined nucleotide sequence fragments; and (ii) assaying the expression library for at least an amino acid sequence derived from step (i) for a biological activity wherein that activity is different from any activity the amino acid sequence may have in its native environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Paul M. Watt, Wayne R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8234212
    Abstract: A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lead Core Fund, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Fred Bishop, Bansi Sharma, Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8226051
    Abstract: An plumbing pipe locator and support is provided for fixing plumbing pipes in position relative to studs in a building. The pipe locator and support comprises an elongated supporting strap having upper and lower sides extending along opposing sides of a longitudinal axis. A first plurality of longitudinally aligned, larger pipe openings are interspersed with a second plurality of smaller, aligned fastener openings that extend into ends of the strap. The upper and lower sides undulate to provide a substantially uniform width between first holes and the adjacent sides and the second holes and the adjacent sides. This undulating surface can provide a strap using less material, with reduced manufacturing time, and a strap that can bend without forming creases or stress fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Securus, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Brown, Virgil E. O'Neil, John R. Thomas, Jeffery A. Jaramillo
  • Patent number: 8220996
    Abstract: Polymeric bag includes first and second opposing body panels attached to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the sides, a reclosable fastener extending along a mouth formed opposite the bottom, a pressure relief opening defined in the first body panel, and a pressure relief valve attached to the first body panel. The valve includes a cover member to cover the opening. The cover member includes an upper layer and a lower layer, the lower layer including a first portion attached to the body panel and a second portion contiguous with the first portion but not attached to the body panel. The upper layer has a first end hingedly connected to the second portion of the lower layer on a first side of the pressure relief opening, and the upper layer has a second end fixedly attached on a second side of the pressure relief opening opposite the first side with the upper layer covering the pressure relief opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Blythe, Wiliam P. Belias, Toby R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120166426
    Abstract: A system for indexing unstructured or semi-structured data is disclosed. The system may identify regions within the data, such as “Abstract” or “References”. The system may identify linguistic units such as sentences, noun groups, verb groups. The system may also identify concepts such as companies, people, diseases, amounts, and so forth. The query results may be formatted so that similar results from different documents, or from the same document, are clustered together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: David R. Milward, James R. Thomas, Sylvia F. Knight, Roger W. Hale
  • Patent number: 8201733
    Abstract: A wireless financial transaction instrument, such as a card, has a magnetic stripe, a display, and an on-board power supply, such as a battery, and is usable with a dual capture point of sale terminal. Information is received by such a terminal from the card wirelessly, and also from the magnetic stripe, and the data received contactlessly is preferably used to verify that read from the stripe. The display can display the account number on command, or to display a current balance, or amount of credit remaining, or any combination of these items of information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Bonalle, Michael D. Donovan, Sherrie G. Jackson, Scott Glen Paylor, Medina J. Senghore, Tracey R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120143138
    Abstract: Tear-away sheath introducers for catheters and methods for making and using such introducers are described. The sheath introducers contain movable valves that are encapsulated in a movable housing that allows the valve to move along the introducer axis. As the movable valve and housing travel along the axis, a portion of the hub protrudes past the valve and is exposed. As well, the sheath introducers can also contain a stationary valve and housing that can be opened to expose a portion of the hub when a conduit penetrates the stationary valve. The conduit can include a one-way, two-way, or other suitable valve actuator that can penetrate and open the valve, yet remain attached to a portion of the introducer when the introducer is split for removal from a patient. In both instances, the protruding portion of the hub contains a friction-free pathway for a catheter into the sheath introducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Eric M. King, Spencer R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8188270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel polymorphic form and the amorphous form of 5-chloro-N-({(5S)-2-oxo-3-[4-(3-oxo-4-morpholinyl)-phenyl]-1,3-oxazolidin-5-yl}-methyl)-2-thiophene-carboxamide, processes for their preparation, medicaments comprising these forms, and their use in the control of diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Bayer Schering Pharma Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfons Grunenberg, Jana Lenz, Gerhard Arnold Braun, Birgit Keil, Christian R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8188873
    Abstract: A water leak detection and active surveillance system applied to one or more single or multiple-story buildings that timely alerts and contacts a decision maker(s) of the leak so that that corrective intervention may be implemented. The system includes multiple water detection endpoints and a base station that is connected by wireless transmission or other communication means. The system also includes a central server which augments the alarms with text messaging and emails as well as maintains a customer database of all water incidents and alarming procedures. The system also monitors the functionality (operating health) of all detection components. The system also provides proprietary access to the database by qualified users through an internet portal. The system includes the capability to implement a water shutoff action to the water source of the affected building. The system can also operate in mixed mode detection where it can detect a combination of alarm conditions such as smoke, motion, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Dtection, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Thomas Barth, William D. Baker
  • Publication number: 20120130857
    Abstract: A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP), conducting IP transactions and searching IP related data is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. Data associations are tags are established to relate IP content to vertical silos of data, such as an industry silo, A search engine enables customized search of a the vertical silos.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracey R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8177065
    Abstract: A kit comprising a plurality of holding devices interchangeably attached thereto a side bed frame for storing various items and anchoring a pivoting tray table is herein disclosed. The kit provides storage of such items as television remotes, flashlights, bed operating controls, reading material, lotions, flashlight, snacks and even a handgun along a side bed frame as well as providing an anchoring means thereto a bed-side tray table. Each interchangeable holding device and anchor is attached to the side bed frame rail by means of a “U”-shaped clamp and wing nut mechanism allowing. The holders are available in multiple colors and styles and may be discreetly covered by a comforter, bedspread, or blanket when access is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Frederick R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120089642
    Abstract: The system and methods described herein provide results previewing for an interactive text mining system in order to feedback partial query results to users before all results that are responsive to a query have been found. These partial results allow the user to see the progress of their text mining query much sooner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: David R. Milward, Roger W. Hale, Malcolm R. Parsons, Sylvia F. Knight, Christopher I. Sullivan, Jason Trenouth, James R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120083599
    Abstract: Novel biotin analogues, such as 2-Azidobiotin, comprising the ureido ring of natural biotin with the thiophene ring, optionally modified, and a modified sidechain having a functional end group, preferably selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid, amine, alcohol, thiol, aldehyde and a halide, and at least one bio-orthogonally reactive chemical group located elsewhere in the sidechain. The analogues are used for labelling target structures and biomolecules, such as peptides and proteins in vitro or in vivo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
    Inventors: Neil R. Thomas, Yang Yong-Qing, William C. Drewe
  • Publication number: 20120059321
    Abstract: A tunneler for producing a subcutaneous tunnel in connection with the placement of a catheter within a body of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tunneler comprises an elongate tunneler member and a sheath. The tunneler member includes a handle on its proximal end and a tapered distal end. The sheath defines an elongate lumen inside which the tunneler member is initially received. The tunneler member is configured to define a tunnel through subcutaneous tissue while disposed in the sheath, then is removable from the sheath lumen thereafter. The sheath is configured to remain within the tunnel so that a catheter can be inserted through the sheath within the tunnel. The sheath is splittable in one embodiment so as to enable its removal from the tunnel while leaving the catheter in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: C. R. BARD, INC.
    Inventors: Alisha M. Hammond, Matthew W. Bown, Jeremy C. Horton, Spencer R. Thomas