Patents by Inventor Robert Cairns

Robert Cairns 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: 11780647
    Abstract: A food bag closure assembly includes a clip that has a pair of jaws being biased against each other for closing an opened food bag. A gas unit is provided that stores an inert gas and the gas unit is integrated into the clip. The gas unit is in fluid communication with an interior of the food bag when the clip is positioned on the food bag. Moreover, the gas unit is actuated to release a pre-determined volume of the inert gas each time the clip is closed. In this way the gas unit injects the inert gas into the food bag for extending the shelf life of food contained in the food bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Cairns
  • Publication number: 20220119158
    Abstract: A food bag closure assembly includes a clip that has a pair of jaws being biased against each other for closing an opened food bag. A gas unit is provided that stores an inert gas and the gas unit is integrated into the clip. The gas unit is in fluid communication with an interior of the food bag when the clip is positioned on the food bag. Moreover, the gas unit is actuated to release a pre-determined volume of the inert gas each time the clip is closed. In this way the gas unit injects the inert gas into the food bag for extending the shelf life of food contained in the food bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventor: Robert Cairns
  • Patent number: 9658251
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Darran Robert Cairns, Wade W. Huebsch, Konstantinos A. Sierros, Matthew S. Shafran
  • Publication number: 20150233971
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Darran Robert Cairns, Wade W. Huebsch, Konstantinos A. Sierros, Matthew S. Shafran
  • Patent number: 9035644
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Darran Robert Cairns, Wade W. Huebsch, Konstantinos A. Sierros, Matthew S. Shafran
  • Patent number: 8362760
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: West Virginia University Research Corporation, WVU Office of Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Darren Robert Cairns, Wade W. Huebsch, Konstantinos A. Sierros, Matthew S. Shafran
  • Publication number: 20090261815
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darren Robert Cairns, Wade W. Huebsch, Konstantinos A. Sierros, Matthew S. Shafran
  • Publication number: 20070212360
    Abstract: The HIF-1 transcription factor drives gene expression changes in hypoxia. While HIF-1 stimulates glycolysis, it also actively represses mitochondrial function and oxygen consumption by inducing pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1). PDK1 phosphorylates and inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase from converting pyruvate to acetyl-CoA to fuel the mitochondrial TCA cycle. This causes a drop in mitochondrial oxygen utilization and results in a relative increase in intracellular oxygen tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Nicholas Denko, Robert Cairns, Ioanna Papandreou
  • Patent number: 7208222
    Abstract: A porous structure having a plurality of bonded sheets each sheet having at least one aperture that partially overlaps an aperture of at least one other sheet. A method of producing a porous structure including stacking a plurality of sheets each sheet having a multiplicity of apertures, and bonding each sheet to its adjoining sheet. An open-pore network structure having a multiplicity of sheets each having a repeatable pattern. At least a portion of each sheet is bonded to the web of an adjacent sheet. The porous area of at least one of the sheets is askew to the porous area of at least another of the sheets. An open-pore structure having a multiplicity of bonded sheets, each sheet having a repeatable pattern defining a multiplicity of perforations, and a plurality of apertures defined by the repeatable pattern, the apertures extending through the perforations of at least two adjacent plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Viasys Healthcare Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Rolfe, Mark P. Amrich, Joseph A. Buturlia, Robert Cairns, Robert Lynch, Michael Gerry
  • Publication number: 20060051489
    Abstract: A process for preparation of nutritionally upgraded oilseed meals which are protein and lipid-rich and have a reduced fibre content, and plant oils from oilseeds for use in fish or other non-human animal diets or human foods comprising the steps of: providing a source of oilseed; subjecting the oilseed to heat treatment to substantially reduce the concentration of at least some antinutritional components normally present in the oilseed to obtain heat-treated seed; dehulling the heat-treated seed to produce a meat fraction, a hull fraction or a mixture thereof; and cold pressing the meat fraction or the mixture to yeild the plant oils and the protein and lipid-rich meals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: David Higgs, Robert Cairns, Ian Shand
  • Publication number: 20050112397
    Abstract: A porous structure having a plurality of bonded sheets each sheet having at least one aperture that partially overlaps an aperture of at least one other sheet. A method of producing a porous structure including stacking a plurality of sheets each sheet having a multiplicity of apertures, and bonding each sheet to its adjoining sheet. An open-pore network structure having a multiplicity of sheets each having a repeatable pattern. At least a portion of each sheet is bonded to the web of an adjacent sheet. The porous area of at least one of the sheets is askew to the porous area of at least another of the sheets. An open-pore structure having a multiplicity of bonded sheets, each sheet having a repeatable pattern defining a multiplicity of perforations, and a plurality of apertures defined by the repeatable pattern, the apertures extending through the perforations of at least two adjacent plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Jonathan Rolfe, Mark Amrich, Joseph Buturlia, Robert Cairns, Robert Lynch, Michael Gerry