Patents Issued in September 20, 2016
  • Patent number: 9446301
    Abstract: Reactive targets and target frames are provided that react to being impacted by a projectile in such a manner as to cause longitudinal movement and/or rotation of the target frame. The movement, in turn, exposes different primary targets and/or a secondary target(s) to the participant. Participants can take either offensive shots against the competitor's targets or defensive shots to protect their targets from being impacted by the competitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Dwight Albert Leimberer
  • Patent number: 9446302
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving health of a user is provided, including a first sensor, adapted to measure a first physiological variable, which is indicative of a voluntary action of the user. A second sensor is adapted to measure a second physiological variable, which is substantially governed by an autonomic nervous system of the user. Circuitry is adapted to receive respective first and second sensor signals from the first and second sensors, and, responsive thereto, to generate an output signal which directs the user to modify a parameter of the voluntary action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: 2BREATHE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Benjamin Gavish
  • Patent number: 9446303
    Abstract: Diversification of a game field is realized while maintaining appropriate visibilities of the game field and a player object. An information processing apparatus includes: an object control section which controls movement of the virtual object by performing, based on a predetermined condition, switching between a first and a second state in which a virtual object movable region in the virtual space is restricted to a first and a second region, respectively; an image generation section which generates an image taken by a virtual camera; and a virtual camera control section which sets, in the first state, the position of the virtual camera to a first viewpoint that is a high-angle viewpoint with respect to the first region, and sets, in the second state, the position of the virtual camera to a second viewpoint that is a viewpoint other than the high-angle viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Masahiro Nakamura, Shiro Mouri, Shinji Okane, Kentaro Tominaga, Yoshihiko Sakuraba
  • Patent number: 9446304
    Abstract: To provide an image processing device and the like capable of improving visibility of images in a game and so on with respect to a user. A player object operated by the user and plural objects different from the player object are generated in a three dimensional virtual space, and an object existing within a given range including the player object in these plural objects is selected as an object to be imaged, and a position of a virtual camera is determined so that the player object and the object to be imaged are captured into the two dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michio Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9446305
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently processing a video stream using limited hardware and/or software resources. For example, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method for efficiently processing a video stream with a processor pipeline having a plurality of pipeline stages, comprises: identifying a bottleneck stage within the processor pipeline the bottleneck stage processing frames of the video stream; receiving a feedback signal from the bottleneck stage at one or more upstream stages, the feedback signal providing an indication of the speed at which the bottleneck stage is processing the frames of the video stream; and responsively adjusting the speed at which the one or more upstream stages are processing frames of the video stream to approximate the speed at which the bottleneck stage is processing the frames of the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Sim Dietrich, Jr., Nico Benitez, Timothy Cotter
  • Patent number: 9446306
    Abstract: A system and method for local multiplayer gaming are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of mobile client devices including a mobile client device designated as a server device. Each mobile client device comprises a display, at least one local network interface for communication with said server device and a processor. The processor is programmed for playing a multiplayer game with other mobile client devices and rendering on said display a game situation depending on commands sent by a plurality of mobile client devices to said server device over said at least local network interface. At least one of said mobile client devices is configured for overhearing commands sent by at least one other mobile client device to said server device or another mobile client device and for rendering on its display a game situation depending on said overheard command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Minh Thoai Anh Le, Lorenzo Keller, Athina Markopoulou, Christina Fragouli
  • Patent number: 9446307
    Abstract: A board apparatus for balance exercises and balance games having a platform that is tiltable on a base part, freely rotatable around a vertical axis, and mounted movably along the vertical axis. A restoring part generates restoring forces that counteract motions of the platform and can be modified by the user. The restoring part includes four elastomer springs that are arranged at a distance from the center of the base part. The elastomer springs can be offset inward or outward with respect to the center of the base part, enabling accurate adaptation of the restoring forces. When twisting the platform around the vertical axis, the restoring part always returns the support part into one of two initial positions that are located 180 degree opposite to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: EXTRALEVEL GbR
    Inventors: Maximilian Klein, Peter Lutz
  • Patent number: 9446308
    Abstract: A method of gaming is generally described which includes detecting motions associated with the user by a feedback sensor device and providing motion information from the feedback sensor device to the game device. The method also includes providing a vestibular stimulation signal to a user, by a vestibular stimulation device in communication with a game device in response to the motion information and the game content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9446309
    Abstract: An example system includes: a communication device including a first wireless communication part performing short-distance wireless communication; and an information processing apparatus including a second wireless communication part performing short-distance wireless communication, a processing part performing processing concerning input or output of information, a restriction part, in correspondence to the processing of one of the second wireless communication part and the processing part, restricting the processing of the other, and an information processing part performing information processing corresponding to a processing result of the second wireless communication part or the processing part whose processing is not restricted by the restriction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Shimohata, Kuniaki Ito, Hideki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9446310
    Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems provide a suggested list of people for a user of a social network system to play a game with. A social networking system receives a trigger for providing the user access from a user device to the game over a network. The social networking system identifies a pool of people who have a personal connection with the user and who have not played the game before. From the pool of people, a suggested list of people is selected based on closeness to the user. The suggested list is sent to the user device for the user device for the user to selectively invite one or more of the people to play the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Hoskins, Anh Tuan Khuc
  • Patent number: 9446311
    Abstract: In an embodiment there is provided a method of controlling a user interface responsive to user input with a displayed game board comprising a plurality of object positions on said interface, the method comprising the following implemented by at least one processor of a device in communication with said interface and at least one memory: displaying a game board having a plurality of first and second game objects displayed on said game board positions, each first and second object having one or more characteristics stored in said at least one memory, the second game objects having a third characteristic, detecting an input trajectory comprising a selection of a sequence of one or more neighbouring first game objects sharing at least one same characteristic in response to user input, determining a target direction comprising a portion of said input trajectory with respect to the game board, and generating a further game object having a movement vector comprising said target direction in dependence on said portio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventors: Johannes Barte, Calle Stodberg, Robin Brook, Sebastien Bellanger
  • Patent number: 9446312
    Abstract: Example systems and methods relate to playing a multi-player video game in which multiple players each supply inputs to a respective input device to control a corresponding game character in a game world displayed on a display screen. Movements of each game character in the game world are controlled in accordance with respective first game character control operations during the playing of the multi-player video game. In response to satisfaction of one or more conditions, one player's game character is protected from harm in the game world, wherein one of the one or more conditions is a condition triggered voluntarily by the one player. Movements of the protected game character in the game world are controlled based on a position of another, unprotected game character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Kimura, Shigeyuki Asuke
  • Patent number: 9446313
    Abstract: In an embodiment there is provided a device having a user interface configured to display a game board having a plurality of game objects, each game object having one or more characteristics, said user interface being configured to receive user input, and at least one processor in connection or communication with at least one memory configured to detect a selection of at least one game object with respect to said displayed game board in response to player input, re-order said selected game objects on said displayed game board with respect to said input, create a further game object sharing at least one of the one or more characteristics of said re-ordered game objects in accordance with at least one rule stored in said at least one memory, and replace said re-ordered game objects with said further game object for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventor: Klas Norden
  • Patent number: 9446314
    Abstract: A method/apparatus/system for generation of a cross-dimensional gaming network is described herein. The gaming network contains a plurality of gaming objects each made of an aggregation of gaming content. The gaming objects of the gaming network are interconnected based on one or several skill levels embodied in the gaming content of the gaming objects. These skill levels can be based on the subject matter of the gaming content and/or can be independent of the subject matter of the gaming content. A new gaming object can be placed within the gaming network based on the skill level of the gaming object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: PEARSON EDUCATION, INC.
    Inventor: Perry M. Spagnola
  • Patent number: 9446315
    Abstract: Data characterizing a quantifiable outcome for each of a plurality of game trials can be accessed. Each game trial can be associated with one of a plurality of players and a game. The game can be a digital game played on a computing platform. Using the accessed data, a first variance measure of the quantifiable outcome for all game trials associated with the plurality of players can be computed. For one or more of the plurality of players and using the accessed data, a second variance measure of the quantifiable outcome for the game trials associated with the one or more of the plurality of players can be computed. Based on at least the first variance measure and the second variance measure, a skill factor for the game can be computed. Data characterizing the skill factor can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Skillz Inc
    Inventors: Andrew Paradise, Casey Chafkin, Jason Petralia, Peter Winkler
  • Patent number: 9446316
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a video game system comprising a video game console and an object or toy used in connection with the video game console, wherein the object or toy has a rewritable data storage device, and wherein the video game console stores information in the rewritable data storage device in response to game play events occurring in a first gaming session. The stored information is subsequently retrieved by the video game console in a second gaming session, and the retrieved information is used to conduct the game play of the second gaming session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Reiche, Ray West
  • Patent number: 9446317
    Abstract: A server system refers to the login history of a registered friend player within a given period when an authenticated player has been subjected to a login process. The server system gives a bonus that corresponds to the number (login friend count) of friend users who have logged in within the given period to the authenticated player when the authenticated player has logged in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masataka Shimono, Takashi Hamamura
  • Patent number: 9446318
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a first group of gaming results associated with a first gamer, receiving a second group of gaming results associated with a second gamer, presenting renditions of first and second peripherals, where the first peripheral represents a first gaming accessory for use by the first gamer to generate a first group of stimulus signals, and where the second peripheral represents a second gaming accessory for use by the second gamer to generate a second group of stimulus signals, and presenting competitive information of the first and second gamers determined from at least a portion of the first and second group of gaming results, the first and second group of stimulus signals, or combinations thereof. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Kim Rom, Jeffrey Nicholas Mahlmeister, Jacob Wolff-Petersen, Bruce Hawver, Francis Arnold Grever, Tino Soelberg, Christopher John Nicolella
  • Patent number: 9446319
    Abstract: An interactive gaming toy is provided for playing a game having both physical and virtual gameplay elements. The gaming toy comprises a physical toy, such as a toy wand, doll or action figure, having an RFID tag pre-programmed with a unique identifier that identifies the toy within an associated computer-animated game. The RFID tag stores information describing certain attributes or abilities of a corresponding virtual character or object in the computer-animated game. Additional information may be stored on the RFID tag as the corresponding virtual character evolves or changes over time based on player performance and/or gameplay progression. The interactive gaming toy thus allows developed character attributes and the like to be stored and easily transported to other games and compatible gaming platforms. One or more optional auxiliary components may be attached to the gaming toy to selectively create a modified gaming toy having additional desired functionality and/or aesthetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: MQ Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Barney, Denise C. Weston
  • Patent number: 9446320
    Abstract: An entertainment device comprises a display generator arranged to generate for display a representation of an on-line virtual environment corresponding to a first instance of a plurality of substantially similar on-line virtual environments and to generate for display within the representation of the on-line virtual environment an avatar controlled by the user of the entertainment device and one or more software-controlled avatars; a data communications arrangement operable to transmit an alert signal in response to a predetermined action of the user of the entertainment device within the first instance of the on-line virtual environment, said signal serving to request interaction with a human operator, the data communications arrangement being further operable to receive a notification signal; the display generator being arranged to respond to the notification signal by changing the mode of a software controlled avatar to represent an additional user of another entertainment device in data communication with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Ralph Ealey
  • Patent number: 9446321
    Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for providing public gameplay is provided. Gameboard display data is generated to display a gameboard of a game. A move associated with the game is received from a client device of a player. The gameboard display data and move display data are provided to the client device to display the move on the gameboard. The gameboard display data and the move display data are also sent to a broadcast server to display the move on the gameboard via a public medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: M. Ian Graham, Ya-Bing Chu, Randall William Allred, Jr., Christopher Delbuck
  • Patent number: 9446322
    Abstract: A toy horse having a horse body, wherein the horse body includes a saddle board, two side boards, each side board being provided with a straight horse-back panel on its top, the two side boards being arranged opposite to each other symmetrically, which makes the horse-back panel of the two side boards being coplanar, the two side boards being removably installed on the saddle board, which makes the horse-back panel of the two side boards being abutted against the bottom of the saddle board, and the bottom of two side boards being shaped curly. The toy horse allows for portability of carry, convenience of assemble and comfortableness of ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC PU FOAM CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Ping Fun Alex Ng, Kin Wai Ho
  • Patent number: 9446323
    Abstract: A recreational slide is presented having a lubricious top surface having an entry end and an exit end. Two side tubes are affixed laterally along each side of the slide to prevent water and users from sliding off the slide while in use. One or more water sprayers are located along the interconnection between the slide and one or both of the tubes to provide a continuous water supply to the surface of the slide. The exit end of the tube is configured with a connecting flap which removably attaches to the entry end of a tube of an adjoining slide to make a seamless transition between tubes. In addition, the water sprayers are configured so that the exit end of one water sprayer is interconnectable with the entry end of an adjoining water sprayer to make a seamless transition between water sprayers when interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Super Sweet Air, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Goldreyer
  • Patent number: 9446324
    Abstract: A launching device for grasping and launching an action figure is provided, the launching device having: a base member; an arm member pivotally secured to the base member for movement between a first position and a second position; a pair of grasping members rotatably secured to the arm member, wherein the pair of arm members are configured to releasably grasp a portion of the action figure; a drivetrain coupled to the pair of grasping members wherein the drivetrain is configured to rotate the pair of grasping members about an axis of the arm member as the arm member moves between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Barthold, Michael Strauss
  • Patent number: 9446325
    Abstract: Provided is a communication processing module, which is compatible with various kinds of devices to be operated by an operation input device. The communication processing module for the device to be operated receives any one of a standard operation signal specifying a standard action and a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated, which are transmitted by the operation input device. When the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, the communication processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal, and when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal, transfers data contained in the signal to a unique processing module. The unique processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the data transferred from the communication processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gen Kudo, Toshiyuki Kurosaki, Hideki Tanabe, Kiyoto Shibuya
  • Patent number: 9446326
    Abstract: An integrated bioethanol production and evaporation process and system produce reduces high quality ethanol and concentrated stillage. The process and system provide a significant energy savings over conventional bioethanol production and evaporation systems by using the energy (“vapor”) that drives the distillation process to also drive a multiple effect evaporator, preferably a multiple effect TASTE™ evaporator to “flash” or vaporize alcohol from the distillate. Additional energy savings are provided by passing fermented material through one or more pre-heaters of the multiple effect evaporator to increase the temperature of the fermented material prior to its distillation. The system preferably includes a pre-flash evaporator upstream of an alcohol recovery assembly in the direction of vapor flow and a multi-effect post-flash evaporator downstream of the alcohol recovery assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: DX RESOURCES LLC
    Inventor: David Walker
  • Patent number: 9446327
    Abstract: The present invention is capable of precisely controlling a supply ratio of liquid and continuously supplying liquid at a constant rate by using partition plates for controlling the amount of liquid distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: AMTPacific Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byeong Kyeom Lee, Kwang Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9446328
    Abstract: Described herein is a liquid filtration device is disclosed comprising a fluid conduit fluidly connecting a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet; and a water filtration medium disposed in the fluid conduit; the water filter medium comprising a metal-containing particulate, wherein the metal-containing particulate comprises a thermolysis product of a metal salt wherein the salt is selected from nitrogen-containing oxyanions, sulfur-containing anions, chlorides, phosphates, and combinations thereof; and methods of removing chloramines from aqueous solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark R. Stouffer, Meredith McMurdo Doyle, Allen R. Siedle, Thomas E. Wood
  • Patent number: 9446329
    Abstract: A method of determining the relative component proportions of at least one each of: a buffer; an acid or a base; a solvent; and optionally a salt, for providing a liquid mixture of pre-defined pH and ionic strength, wherein the relative component proportions are determined using the equation of Debye-Hückel, wherein the ion size parameter a in the Debye-Hückel equation is determined as the weighted mean ion size of all species contributing to the ionic strength of the liquid mixture, and wherein the ionic strength of each species is used as weighting parameter. The present method is also applicable in a method of providing a liquid mixture. Further there is provided a buffer preparation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Lennart Bjorkesten, Enrique Carredano, Gunnar Malmquist, Gustav Rodrigo, Nils Stafstrom
  • Patent number: 9446330
    Abstract: A high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) capillary column device, system and method for processing a HPLC sample with a cartridge housing a packed capillary column; at least one inlet connection to the capillary column for a sample fluid; and at least one outlet connection from the capillary column for the sample fluid. The outlet connection is able to accommodate either a spray tip for atomizing the sample fluid or a transport tube for transporting the sample fluid from a spray tip column to a spray tip. Inlet connections enable supply of electrical power to the capillary column through electrical connections disposed within the cartridge housing; and gas for evaporating the sample liquid is supplied to at least one outlet connection from the capillary column for the sample fluid through a gas supply line within the cartridge housing. The temperature of the sample liquid can be controlled through a heat connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher C. Benevides, Robert Collamati, Bruce J. Compton, Theodore Dourdeville
  • Patent number: 9446331
    Abstract: A system comprises: a filter for removing at least one of a contaminant or gas bubbles from a liquid photoresist to provide a filtered photoresist at an outlet of the filter. The filter has a filter vent. A trap has an inlet coupled to receive the filtered photoresist from the filter, for removing a remaining contaminant or gas bubbles from the filtered photoresist. One or more valves and one or more conduits are connected to the filter and the trap. The one or more valves are operable to reverse a direction of flow of the filtered photoresist, so that the photoresist flows from the inlet of the trap, through the outlet of the filter, to the filter vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9446332
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for separating gas and liquid. The apparatus for separating gas and liquid includes a housing, a rotating shaft provided inside the housing, a drive unit configured to rotate the rotating shaft, a rotating cone mounted at the rotating shaft to rotate about the rotating shaft and having a diameter decreasing from an upper end to a lower end thereof, a fixed cone fixed in the housing to be spaced apart from the rotating cone and having a diameter decreasing from an upper end to a lower end thereof, and a scraper configured to remove scale generated in at least one of the fixed cone and the rotating cone, based on the rotation of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Young Shin, Eun Jung Joo, Dong Kwon Lee, Chang Hoe Heo, Jong Ku Lee
  • Patent number: 9446333
    Abstract: A filter element includes a ring of filtration media circumscribing a central axis and defining a central cavity. An annular end cap of the filter element is sealingly bonded at an end of the media. The end cap includes a central opening into the central cavity, and a lateral opening spaced laterally outward from the central opening. The central opening includes a threaded connection portion to enable the element to be spun-on to a complimentarily-threaded connection portion of a filter head. The connection portion of the central opening includes at least one axially-extending slot opening radially away from the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Vercammen
  • Patent number: 9446334
    Abstract: A filter base system may include a mounting bracket configured to be coupled to a machine, and an extension coupled to the mounting bracket. The filter base system may further include a filter assembly coupler associated with the extension. The filter assembly coupler may include an inlet passage configured to provide flow communication from the machine to the filter element, and an outlet passage configured to provide flow communication from the filter element to the machine. The filter assembly coupler may also include a receiver including a receiver passage extending transverse to longitudinal axes of the inlet and outlet passages. The filter assembly coupler may further include a base plug including a base plug body including a plug surface configured to cooperate with the filter element, such that orientation of the filter element with respect to the filter assembly coupler depends on orientation of the base plug in the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant A. Morris, Jeffrey R. Ries
  • Patent number: 9446336
    Abstract: A stabilizer for suppressing vibration, shock, translational, and rotational forces, on a dual cartridge filter system. The stabilizer uses opposing curved surfaces which correspond with, and follow the curvature of, the diameter of each cartridge cylindrical housing. The stabilizer is formed having a stabilizer base with locking members or leg portions radially extending along a bottom portion of each opposing curved surface. The stabilizer is secured to each filter housing by having the locking members inserted within indents on a rim of the filter housing bottom end cap. In alternative embodiments, the locking member is a resilient tab that forms a friction fit with a complementary structure on the filter housing bottom end cap, or an interlocking snap-fit male/female clip complementary to a female/male clip or snap on the filter housing lower cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KX TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Stephen P. Huda, Steven J. Haehn, Michael J. Sherman
  • Patent number: 9446337
    Abstract: A filter media is generally described including an upstream layer of a nonwoven fiber having a denier between about 5.0 and 7.0 and a weight of between about 3.0 and 5.0 opsy, optionally a scrim, and a cap layer of a fiber having a denier between about 0.1 and 5.0, and a weight between about 2.0 and 4.0 opsy carried by the upstream layer and disposed downstream from the upstream layer. The upstream layer, scrim and cap layer can have a weight of about 4.0 opsy, 2.0 opsy and 3.0 opsy respectively. A downstream layer can be disposed between the upstream layer and the cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Southern Felt Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Winters, John Lewis, Brian Fields, Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 9446338
    Abstract: A filter part for fluid lines, preferably high-pressure lines with pressures in the range of 150 to 900 bar, preferably in the range of 200 to 350 bar, more preferably in the range of 700 to 875 bar, for use especially in filling nipples, non-return valves, pressure regulators, cylinder valves, filling couplings, switching valves, break-off safety devices, quick couplings and also as a separate filter part. The filter part comprises a base body and at least one fluid passage opening, wherein the base body and the fluid passage opening are covered by at least one filter element. The invention further relates to a method for producing a filter part with a base body and a filter element, especially in form of a screen filter which is also known as a filter mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Erwin Weh, Wolfgang Weh
  • Patent number: 9446339
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air filter element (200) for insertion into an air filter housing, comprising an intake surface (275), a discharge surface (285), a filter medium (210), and a filter element-retaining device (240) which extends along at least a section of the periphery of the filter medium (210), between the intake surface (275) and the discharge surface (285), and which includes a retaining arrangement (270) that radially projects from the filter medium (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Mario Rieger, Werner Blossey, Pascal Neef, Gelase Mbadinga Mouanda, Sven Epli, Franziska Schulz, Martin Schmid, Alfons-Alois Schwinghammer, Joachim-Paul Krieger, Michael Kolmeder
  • Patent number: 9446340
    Abstract: Filters capable of dissipating static charges. One example includes a filter media pack comprising fluted media secured to facing media; the fluted media having cellulose fibers; and the fluted media including an amount of carbon black sufficient to impart a static charge dissipative property thereto. One example includes an air filter cartridge having a filter media pack comprising fluted media secured to facing media; the fluted media comprising cellulose fibers; the fluted media having at least one side coated with a static charge dissipative amount of a metallic coating. These filters are useable in, for example, dust collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Babcock, Heather M. Tate, Mark D. Belcher, Brain Zauner, Kyle W. Undesser, Douglas A. Wersal
  • Patent number: 9446341
    Abstract: In order to minimize the amount of contaminants that pass through a pump, or that are allowed to accumulate therein, a sub-atmospheric pressure gas scrubber suitable for use upstream of a vacuum pump is provided. The gas scrubber comprising a vessel and means for forming a spray of cleaning solvent within the vessel, the vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet for the gas to be cleaned at sub atmospheric pressure, the inlet and outlet being arranged to cause the gas to be cleaned to pass through the spray of cleaning solvent, the means for forming a spray comprising a cleaning solvent inlet connected to at least one spray nozzle and a cleaning solvent outlet through which used solvent can be pumped from the vessel using a pump, wherein the pump is arranged to recirculate the used solvent back to the cleaning solvent inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: Manilal Gordhandas Rana, Donovan Collins
  • Patent number: 9446342
    Abstract: The cylindrical or conical shaped particle separator operates based on cyclone-induced flow sweeping the face of the cylindrical separator screen, creating inertial separation of suspended particles. The separator screen comprises of multitude of parallel, evenly spaced, asymmetrically profiled, linear, screen elements arranged in a cylindrical or conical grid-like shape parallel with the axis of the cylinder or cone. The cyclone effect is created by the rotational, helical path of the fluid inside or outside of the cylindrical or conical separator screen. The spinning, rotating fluid sweeps the inner or outer side of the stationary or rotating screen, passing approximately perpendicularly over the linear grid-like elements and gaps between the elements. The screen elements may be wires, bars, narrow strips, airfoil vanes or other similar linear elements with a flow separation edge on the trailing end of the profile of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Abbas Motakef
  • Patent number: 9446343
    Abstract: A system and method for separating and/or purification of CO2 gas from a CO2 feed stream is described. The system and method include a plurality of fixed sorbent beds, adsorption zones and desorption zones, where the sorbent beds are connected via valve and lines to create a simulated moving bed system, where the sorbent beds move from one adsorption position to another adsorption position, and then into one regeneration position to another regeneration position, and optionally back to an adsorption position. The system and method operate by concentration swing adsorption/desorption and by adsorptive/desorptive displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, TDA RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Jeannine Elizabeth Elliott, Robert James Copeland, Jeff Lind, Daniel P. Leta, Patrick P. McCall
  • Patent number: 9446344
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for enriching at least one component from a gaseous mixture of substances, comprising the steps of (i) contacting a flow of a first gaseous mixture of substances which contains at least one component to be enriched, with a composite material at a first pressure p1 such that the at least one component to be enriched is adsorbed to the composite material and a charged composite material is obtained, said composite material comprising (a) a porous matrix of a fluorine-containing polymer having a percentage of tetrafluoroethylene monomer units of at least 95 mol % based on the total number of monomer units and (b) zeolite particles which are embedded in the matrix and around which matrix filaments extend; (ii) disrupting the flow of the gaseous mixture of substances and (iii) desorbing the at least one component to be enriched from the charged composite material by reducing the pressure to a pressure p2, with p1?p2?200 mbar, such that a second gaseous mixture of substances is prod
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: CLARIANT PRODUKTE (DEUTSCHLAND) GMBH
    Inventors: Achim Koch, Michael Zavrel, Christoph Kröhnke, Ulrich Kettling
  • Patent number: 9446345
    Abstract: Provided are a downward-inclined-flow passage to which flows flue gas from the flue path connecting a boiler with a stack, a sprayer arranged upstream in the downward-inclined-flow passage to inject absorbing liquid absorptive of sulfur oxides in a direction same as that of flue gas flow, an upward-inclined-flow passage to guide flue gas from the downward-inclined-flow passage to the flue path, a reservoir arranged between lower ends of the flow passages, an auxiliary sprayer arranged in the downward-inclined-flow passage downstream of the sprayer to inject absorbing liquid for uniformization thereof in the downward-inclined-flow passage and a baffle plate arranged in the downward-inclined-flow passage downstream of the auxiliary sprayer and in an upper zone of the flow passage to throttle the flow-passage inner diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Naito
  • Patent number: 9446346
    Abstract: There is provided an acidic gas absorbing agent that is large in absorption amount and high in absorption rate of an acidic gas per unit volume and can prevent the diffusion of ingredients of the absorbing agent. The acidic gas absorbing agent includes an amino acid salt of formula 1 or formula 2 and an amine compound of formula 3. wherein COOMe represents a carboxylate group; Me represents an alkali metal. R1 and R2 represent an C1-4 alkylene chain; R3 represents a cycloalkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an C1-4 alkyl group; and R5 represents a hydroxyalkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinji Murai, Yasuhiro Kato, Takehiko Muramatsu, Satoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 9446347
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of obtaining carbon dioxide from a CO2-containing gas mixture. The methods combine the benefits of gas membrane separation with cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: David J. Hasse, Sudhir S. Kulkarni, Edgar S. Sanders, Jr., Jean-Pierre Tranier, Paul Terrien
  • Patent number: 9446348
    Abstract: The present invention provides gels, solutions, films, membranes, compositions, and other materials containing polymerized and/or non-polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation and as antistatic agents. The RTILs are preferably imidazolium-based RTILs which are optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxyl groups. Optionally, the materials of the present invention are composite materials comprising both polymerized and non-polymerized RTILs. The RTIL polymer is formed from polymerized RTIL cations typically synthesized as monomers and polymerized in the presence of the non-polymerized RTIL cations to provide a solid composite material. The non-polymerized RTIL cations are not covalently bound to the cationic polymer but remain as free cations within the composite material able to associate with charged subunits of the polymer. These composite materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation, and antistatic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Jason E. Bara, Trevor K. Carlisle, Evan S. Hatakeyama, Douglas L. Gin, Richard D. Noble, Robert L. Kerr, Andrew L. LaFrate
  • Patent number: 9446349
    Abstract: Disclosed are an adsorptive permeation hollow fiber membrane formed by uniformly dispersing an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing only a specific gas in mixed gas components inside a porous hollow fiber membrane having a sponge structure capable of non-selectively permeating a mixed gas in a powder or crystalline powder form, a method of manufacturing the same, and a gas adsorptive/desorptive separation system utilizing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SEPRATEK Inc.
    Inventors: Choong Kyun Yeom, ByungJae Park
  • Patent number: 9446350
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a gas decomposition apparatus and a gas decomposition method in which no safety problems occur in spite of the application of a relatively high voltage between an anode and a cathode for the purpose of decomposing odorous gases of many types. [Solution] A catalytic electrode layer 6 that contains a catalyst and is porous; a counter electrode layer 7 that forms a pair with the catalytic electrode; and an electrolyte layer 15 that is sandwiched between the catalytic electrode and the counter electrode and has ion conductivity are included. The catalyst is held by the catalytic electrode in the form of being carried by a carrier containing a conductive material or the catalyst is directly carried by the catalytic electrode. A conductive material in the catalytic electrode, the conductive material being in contact with the catalyst, is not a noncovalent carbon material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Majima, Shinji Inazawa, Koji Nitta, Masahiro Yamakawa, Takayasu Sugihara, Yasuhiro Takeda, Yoshihiro Akahane, Takahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 9446351
    Abstract: A filtration medium comprises a textile substrate and a mercury abatement coating on a least a portion of the surface of the textile substrate. The mercury abatement coating comprises a copper salt, a binder, and other optional components. A process for removing mercury from a gaseous stream uses the filtration medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Shulong Li, Richard A. Mayernik, Xinfei Yu