Patents by Inventor Thomas Rice

Thomas Rice 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).

  • Publication number: 20120292249
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Su Lu, Hua Li, Steven Thomas Rice, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Bing Zhang, Chen Wang, Lawrence Charles Costa, Steven John Harrold, David Allen Olson, Wenqing Peng
  • Patent number: 8301413
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for testing analytics. Embodiments herein disclosed provide for automating the collection and storage of test data, automating test performance calculations across a multitude of segments within the test group and automating test result information delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Michael David Napolin, Jennifer Prem, Ronald A. Hollis, Jr., Chunrong Li, Mei-Ling Johnson, Brooke Marie Durham, Michael Newbold, Jr., Matthew Thomas Rice, James A. Greco, Hans D. Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20120210679
    Abstract: A carton decasing system for removing stacks of cartons or carton blanks from cases or containers includes a case infeed conveyor on which the cases with the cartons or carton blanks stacked therein are moved to an inverting assembly. The inverting assembly reorients the cases and places the cases with the cartons stacked therein on a decasing assembly which removes the cases from the stacks of cartons. The stacks of cartons are thereafter conveyed along a magazine conveyor with the stacks of cartons supported by a stack pusher assembly as the cartons are moved to a discharge point at the distal end of the magazine conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Thomas A. Rice
  • Patent number: 8197955
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a proton conductor; and crosslinking the proton conductor to form a cross-linked proton-conducting network. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a crosslinked proton conductor disposed on the porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager
  • Publication number: 20120080380
    Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane; at least one of the organic solution and the aqueous solution further including multi-walled carbon nanotubes having an outside diameter of less than about 30 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Gary William Yeager, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice
  • Publication number: 20120080381
    Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide and carbon nanotubes with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane, wherein the organic solution additionally comprises a saturated cyclic C5-C20 hydrocarbon solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Gary William Yeager, Steven Thomas Rice
  • Publication number: 20110106496
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for testing analytics. Embodiments herein disclosed provide for automating the collection and storage of test data, automating test performance calculations across a multitude of segments within the test group and automating test result information delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael David Napolin, Jennifer Prem, Ronald A. Hollis, JR., Chunrong Li, Mei-Ling Johnson, Brooke Marie Durham, Michael Newbold, JR., Matthew Thomas Rice, James A. Greco, Hans D. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 7855241
    Abstract: The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one e-beam active nanoparticle compound and at least one thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an electron beam source. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Hieu Minh Duong
  • Publication number: 20100297429
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Su Lu, Hua Li, Steven Thomas Rice, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Bing Zhang, Chen Wang, Lawrence Charles Costa, Steven John Harrold, David Allen Olson, Wenqing Peng
  • Publication number: 20100055534
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a crosslinked proton conductor; and sulfonating the proton conductor. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a sulfonated crosslinked proton conductor disposed within pores of the porous substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager
  • Publication number: 20100055535
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a proton conductor; and crosslinking the proton conductor to form a cross-linked proton-conducting network. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a crosslinked proton conductor disposed on the porous substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager
  • Patent number: 7576140
    Abstract: The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one siloxane compound and at least one thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an energy source selected from an electron beam source, a gamma radiation source, and a combination thereof. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SABIC Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Hieu Minh Duong
  • Patent number: 7524562
    Abstract: The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one e-beam active thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an electron beam source. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Hieu Minh Duong, Xian-Zhi Zhou, Gary Charles Davis, Elliott West Shanklin
  • Publication number: 20080161957
    Abstract: A transaction interface sits between a client application and hardware of a measurement instrument. The client application submits queries to the transaction interface to determine what capabilities the measurement instrument possesses. The query conforms to a standard format required by the transaction interface. The transaction interface executes the query and returns a response to the client application. The response includes the instrument capabilities. The client application then utilizes the desired capability of the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas A. Rice, Morihiro Ryu
  • Publication number: 20070136837
    Abstract: A crop plant having an induced mutant allele of an endogenous gene, the induced mutant allele conferring tolerance to glyphosate as compared with a wild-type plant of the same species, wherein the glyphosate tolerance is due to the presence of the induced mutant allele of the endogenous plant gene, is provided. Also provided are methods of making and using the crop plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: OMEGA GENETICS, LLC
    Inventors: Calvin Konzak, Thomas Rice
  • Patent number: 7104027
    Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Thomas Rice, Steven Brown
  • Publication number: 20060070349
    Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Thomas Rice, Steven Brown
  • Patent number: 6993889
    Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Thomas Rice, Steven Brown
  • Publication number: 20050092530
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved apparatus for measuring the weight of an object being carried by a fork lift truck. Accurate weight is obtained by combining the measurements of the tension load(s) exerted by the chain(s) used to lift and support the fork carrying carriage with a measurement of the vertical forces imposed on the carriage by the mast through the carriage guides that are used to contain carriage movement within the mast and support the moment created by the object being weighed. The weight thusly determined can be easily calibrated for both pitch and roll mast angles. The apparatus can be integrated into the mast system of the fork truck without significantly affecting the fork truck's load carrying capacity. Specifically, the scale apparatus does not increase the overturning moment created by the weight of the object as compared with that of the standard non-instrumented carriage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Rice, Steven Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6822172
    Abstract: The current invention involves a method and device of combining vehicle scales platforms to eliminate potential checking interferences. Disclosed is a novel method of combining independent scale platforms enabling independent weighing on each platform and at the same time a singular checking system for the combined scale. It involves utilizing three tie rod type links, which have been used in the past to combine scales longitudinally, and in the new invention, are used in the lateral direction. This reduces the complexity and associated cost of the combined scale checking system and increases the accuracy of said scale system by eliminating potential checking interferences. This is extremely significant in situations where side checking is inconvenient near where two scales connect, or in pit less and above ground scale designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Rice, Zepu Liang, Steve Hamilton