Patents Issued in March 13, 2018
  • Patent number: 9914039
    Abstract: A golf putting apparatus is presented. The apparatus includes a putter with a shaft and a club head, wherein the club head has a center section carved out to form an opening. The bottom of the opening may be defined by a connector. When used with the opening uncovered, this putter provides the golfer with immediate feedback on his/her swing, such as whether the ball would have contacted the sweet spot of the club had the opening been closed, how hard the ball was hit, and which part of the ball was hit. A club face may be attached across the opening to “close” the opening so the putter may be used in a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Jung Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9914040
    Abstract: A golf club head, and particularly a putter head, comprising at least one visual reference point that shows a golfer the ideal vertical impact height at address and at impact is disclosed herein. The visual reference preferably is an alignment aid, such as an alignment pin or bar, which delineates the vertical center of the face between the top and bottom portions of the golf club head along the vertical z axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: Brett Carter
  • Patent number: 9914041
    Abstract: A hockey practice device in one embodiment includes a base for resting on a horizontal surface, a motor, a rotating firing wheel coupled to the motor, and a puck feed ramp mounted proximate to the firing wheel on the base. The feed ramp includes an arcuately curved and elongated feed surface arranged to slideably engage a puck. In one arrangement, the firing wheel is rotatable in a vertical rotational plane which is arranged in an off-axis manner from the centerline of the ramp feed surface. This engages the puck off center, thereby inducing spin to the puck when it is discharged from the device toward a target which replicates a pass from a hockey stick. A puck loader is provided that holds a plurality of puck which are automatically dispensed in sequential fashion at pre-selected time intervals to the feed ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: David Vorozilchak
  • Patent number: 9914042
    Abstract: A sports glove such as those for hockey, lacrosse, cricket, baseball and the like is formed as a palm and a separate back with a continuous peripheral closure for attachment of the two parts. The fingers inside the finger stalls are protected from contact with the closure material which is typically a metallic or plastic zipper, wherein carefully proportioned padding inside the finger stalls insulates each finger side and distal end from contact with the closure thus offering adequate protection. Furthermore, a pivotable inside wrist cuff flap is provided which creates a smooth transition of inside glove liner material protecting the palm and inside wrist from contact with hook and loop closure materials in the area as the hand is inserted into the glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Chorne, Michel Ferland
  • Patent number: 9914043
    Abstract: The system disclosed and claimed herein is an electric propelling wheel and battery/motor control subsystem enabling the retrofitting of a standard skateboard, having standard truck and wheels, with electrical propulsion capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Bin Lu, Alan Lu
  • Patent number: 9914044
    Abstract: The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ANGEL PLAYING CARDS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 9914045
    Abstract: A casino table game and method of play using between eight and twelve dice, which game is played on a game surface including a dice throw box, a first roll wagering area for wagering on the highest ranking and greatest number of like kind indicia dice resulting from a first dice roll, a first and second roll wagering area for wagering on the actual number of like kind indicia dice that will result from the first dice roll or a first and second dice roll, a large payout wagering area for wagering that most or all of the dice will result with the same indicia face up, and a second roll wagering spot for the players to pay an ante in order to be eligible to wager on the results of a second dice roll, which game provides exciting play with the additional possibility of winning a jackpot or lottery-sized payout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Global Innovative Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lambert, Norman G. Berkowitz
  • Patent number: 9914046
    Abstract: A system, device and method provide for the printing of an instant, scratch-off lottery ticket product on demand at a retail location. In various embodiments, a pre-activation printing process applies an active thermal layer and other coatings on a ticket substrate, but excludes any game indicia or security codes. An activator printer thermally applies game indicia and/or security code(s) at a retail location according to ticket selections made by a user and further according to data generated via a central host, wherein the activator printer applies the indicia and code(s) at least partially under one or more security coatings on the ticket substrate, where the coatings had been applied during the pre-activation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: IGT Global Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Modawell, Thomas K. Oram, Donald L. Stanford, Mark Truman
  • Patent number: 9914047
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aiming method for a shooting game, which is applied to a mobile terminal having a touch display screen. The method comprises the following steps: a positioning step, acquiring a current rotation angle of a virtual camera when the mobile terminal is in a game interface; a rotation step, acquiring a coordinate position of a contact object when detecting that there is contact on the game interface, so that the current rotation angle of the virtual camera matches the coordinate position; and an adjusting step, acquiring a corresponding waggle angle via a sensor of the mobile terminal when detecting that the mobile terminal is waggling, so that the current rotation angle of the virtual camera matches the waggle angle. The present invention further relates to an aiming device for a shooting game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Wanjie (Shanghai) Network Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Rong Chen
  • Patent number: 9914048
    Abstract: A method for handling communication for a computer game is provided. Once example method includes executing the computer game for game play by a user. The computer game has an interface for recording audio signatures to use during game play based specific qualifying events. During game play, the method detects that a qualifying event has occurred by examining metadata associated with the game play. The method includes generating a message in response to detecting the qualifying event. The message is configured to include an audio signature that was associated with the qualifying event. Then, transmit the message including the audio signature to a predefined recipient that is playing the computer game via a second computing device. The audio signature is output by a speaker associated with the second computing device upon receiving the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Gary Zalewski
  • Patent number: 9914049
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting a plurality of stimulus signals generated by a gaming accessory device, identifying a plurality of substitute gaming stimulations associated with the plurality of stimulus signals, substituting the plurality of stimulus signals with the plurality of substitute gaming stimulations, incorporating in each of the plurality of substitute gaming stimulations a first unique identifier to generate a plurality of updated substitute gaming stimulations, transmitting the plurality of updated substitute gaming stimulations to a computing device executing a gaming application, and receiving from the computing device a plurality of game action results, where each of the plurality of gaming action results comprises the first unique identifier of a corresponding one of the plurality of updated substitute gaming stimulations. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Kim Rom, Jeffrey Nicholas Mahlmeister, Jacob Wolff-Petersen, Bruce Hawver, Francis Arnold Grever, Tino Soelberg, Christopher John Nicolella
  • Patent number: 9914050
    Abstract: A guitar-shaped video game controller includes a body having a shape that resembles a guitar body, and a neck that is pivotally coupled to the guitar body via a hinge so that the neck can pivot between an extended position and a folded position relative to the guitar body. A latch assembly is actuatable to selectively lock the neck in the extended position to the body. A cable extends between and electrically connects the neck and the body to maintain an electrical connection between the neck and the body when the neck is in the extended and the folded positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
    Inventors: Eric Fulghum, Brad Strahle, Gaston Santiago, KK Leung, Raymond Leung, Jacky Kam
  • Patent number: 9914051
    Abstract: Video server systems and methods for providing video streams to a plurality of remote clients are described. In one implementation, the video streams are based on game states received from a remote game server. The game states are dependent on game commands received by the video server system from the remote clients and forwarded to the remote game server. The video server system is configured to appear, from the point of view of the game server, as more than one client. For example, the video server system may receive game states from the remote game server at more than one different Internet Protocol address and each of these Internet Protocol addresses may be associated with a different game session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: David Perry, Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira, Andrew Buchanan Gault
  • Patent number: 9914052
    Abstract: A system has a first web node, a first server node, a second server node, a push messaging server, and a second web node. The first web node receives a message from a first player at a first client node for a second player at a second client node within an online game. The first server node maintains a first persistent connection with the first client node. The second server node maintains a second persistent connection with the second client node. The push messaging server stores a game state of the first and second players of the online game, updates the game state based on the message, and notifies the first and second server node. The second web node receives the message from the push messaging server and forwards the message to the second client node via the second persistent connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Munson
  • Patent number: 9914053
    Abstract: In some aspects, a system is provided that includes (1) a plurality of mobile devices; and (2) an application on each mobile device, the application adapted to (a) allow exercisers to form an exercise group; (b) track position or change in position of each exerciser in the exerciser group; and (c) display an avatar having a position that is controlled by a position or change in position of one or more member of the exercise group. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Brian M. Dugan
  • Patent number: 9914054
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure provide real-time display of achievements to a user during gameplay. A computing device receives a request from a user to display a portion of achievement data describing performance of the user in a gaming application. Responsive to the received request, the achievement data is filtered based on contextual criteria. The filtered achievement data is provided to a user interface for display during gameplay. The displayed achievement data is updated by the computing device updates during gameplay. The achievement data may be system-level achievement data. Further, the achievement data may be displayed on another computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Smith, Zane W S Teh, Nathan Johnson, Mengyuan Tu, Mitch A. Johnson, Casey Baker, Eric Cancino, Cierra D. McDonald
  • Patent number: 9914055
    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: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Reiche, Ray West
  • Patent number: 9914056
    Abstract: In an exemplary image generation system, a virtual camera is set in accordance with a position and an orientation of an object in a virtual space. While a predetermined operation is being performed, an orientation of a display device is detected by using an angular velocity sensor provided in the display device, and an orientation of the virtual camera is changed based on the detected orientation. When the predetermined operation is not performed, the virtual camera is positioned based on an original orientation which is determined in accordance with the position and the orientation of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Amano, Kiyoshi Takeuchi, Koichi Hayashida
  • Patent number: 9914057
    Abstract: Techniques for providing an immersive storytelling experience using a plurality of storytelling devices. Each of the storytelling devices may be configured to perform one or more actions based on a current context of a story and in response to a stimulus event. The actions include at least one of an auditory and a visual effect. Embodiments also provide a controller device configured to manage a playback of the story, by adjusting the stimulus event and the effect of each of the plurality of storytelling devices, based on the current context of the story, thereby creating an interactive and immersive storytelling experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Wilson Muhlheim, Eric Charles Haseltine, Joseph O'Brien Garlington, Theodore Wei-Yun Leung, Gabriel Sebastian Schlumberger
  • Patent number: 9914058
    Abstract: If a carryover condition has been satisfied such that the attacks against an enemy character, which are carried out by the player character in a first battle scene against the enemy character that appears in said first battle scene, can be extended to other enemy characters, the carryover processing module sequentially executes a process that uses a first attack value generated as a result of the player character's attacks against the enemy character in the first battle scene to offset defeat parameter values required to defeat enemy characters configured in each of the enemy characters appearing in each battle scene provided subsequent to said first battle scene, skips the appearance of the enemy characters whose defeat parameter values have been reduced to zero and, additionally, causes the subsequently appearing enemy character to appear in a state in which the defeat parameter value of said enemy character has been offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minehiro Nagata, Yoshiki Watabe
  • Patent number: 9914059
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a platform that allows individual users to compete against other users in a virtual league. The platform allows individual users to maintain personal performance statistics, which, collectively, are used to determine a projection result of the user's performance in a competition within the league. The platform employs projection result, in combination with, or as a substitute for, results associated with a real race completed by the user, in the scoring of the user against other competitors in the league.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Beat Your Mark Group Limited
    Inventor: Federico Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9914060
    Abstract: A controller docking device comprising a controller casing having a mobile device receptacle extending inward from a casing front panel. Common game controller user input devices are integrated into the front panel, preferably locating a directional controller on a left side and an action controller on a right side of the mobile device receptacle. Additional user input devices can be integrated into the controller casing. The additional user input devices can include additional controller inputs located proximate one or both of the common game controller user input devices, along an intermediary circumferential panel of the casing, and the like. Various mobile device controller communicative buttons can be integrated into the controller casing providing the user with an interface for operational capabilities of the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Bryan Corigliano
  • Patent number: 9914061
    Abstract: A combined type toy top separated through induction control, includes a main top, an auxiliary top and an elastic part. When the combined type toy top is in a first state, the main top is limited and fixed by the auxiliary top, above the auxiliary top, and meanwhile the main top compresses the elastic part so that the elastic part is compressed. The combined type toy top is characterized in that a sensing mechanism is arranged in the auxiliary top. The sensing mechanism can controllably relieve limiting fixation of the main top from the auxiliary top under a second state through induction control. The main top pops up under an elasticity action of the elastic part, and, accordingly, the main top and the auxiliary top rotate independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: Guangdong Alpha Animation & Culture Co., Ltd., Guangdong Auldey Animation & Toy Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Alpha Culture Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dongqing Cai
  • Patent number: 9914062
    Abstract: A wirelessly communicative cuddly toy including a stuffed animal toy having a motorized, articulated robotic interior member disposed therein surrounded by flocculent stuffing material. The robotic interior member includes a transceiver wirelessly communicable by NFC protocol with any appropriate peripheral device. An articulated head member is disposed upon the robotic interior member and configured to animate a mouth of the stuffed animal toy when a speaker, disposed to play audio signals relayed by the transceiver, is activated. Audio executed on the peripheral device is thus playable through the speaker on the robotic interior member and the articulated head member animates the stuffed animal toy in simulation of verbal communication with a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Laura Jiencke
  • Patent number: 9914063
    Abstract: A device designed to spin in a user's hands may include a body with a centrally mounted ball bearing positioned within a center orifice of the body, wherein an outer race of the ball bearing is attached to the frame; a button made of a pair of bearing caps attached to one another through the ball bearing and clamped against an inner race of the ball bearing, such that when the button is held between a user's thumb and finger, the body freely rotates about the ball bearing; and a plurality of weights distributed at opposite ends of the body, creating at least a bipolar weight distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MD INTELLECTUAL HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Michael Scott McCoskery
  • Patent number: 9914064
    Abstract: A foam play den includes a rectangular base having perimeter edges. Walls include two side panel walls, a front wall and a rear wall, where each of the walls have a linear bottom edge and a curved top edge and forms and arched-shaped panel covered by a fabric. A front half section of each curved top edge of each side panel wall is attached to a top edge section of the front wall. A back half section of each side panel wall edge is attached to a top edge section of the back wall at opposing sides. Each of the plurality of walls meet at the high point of their curves to form an apex. The front wall includes an opening sized to accommodate a human entry; and the attached walls form a freestanding den wherein structural support for the den is provided by the joined plurality of walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Denise Daye
  • Patent number: 9914065
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a selectively conductive toy building element, comprising: a body adapted for releasable engagement to at least one other toy building element body or to a corresponding baseplate, the body including at least one conductive portion having at least one contact area adapted to generate pressure on a conductive portion or contact area of an adjacent toy building element body, in such a way that ensures electrical conduction between said toy building elements in a desired location and direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: BRIXO SMART TOYS LTD.
    Inventors: Boaz Almog, Amir Saraf
  • Patent number: 9914066
    Abstract: A building block is described which has a plurality of faces each with an associated coupling element, such that a first coupling element is adjacent to a first face and a second coupling element is adjacent to a second face, etc. An RF switch in the block is arranged to selectively couple two of the coupling elements together under the control of a processor. The processor controls the RF switch in response to signals received from a transceiver module. A sensing and switching arrangement within the building block selectively connects the processor to one of the coupling elements based on a detected orientation of the block (e.g. so that power harvested from the transceiver module can be used to power the processor). The coupling elements are either all antennas or all electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Cletheroe, Greg Saul, Nicolas Villar, Oscar Salandin, Haiyan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9914067
    Abstract: A flexible building segment includes a first outer-section, a second outer-section, a central-section, a first ribs-section and a second ribs-section. The first outer-section includes a first magnet embedded therein. The second outer-section includes a second magnet embedded therein. The central-section includes a central magnet embedded therein and at least two central attachment slots at opposite sides thereof. The first ribs-section includes a first flexible portion and respective ribs. The first flexible portion couples the central-section with the first outer-section. The ribs, respective of the first ribs-section, are attached to the first flexible portion and parallel to each other. The second ribs-section includes a second flexible portion and respective ribs. The first flexible portion couples the central-section with the second outer-section. The ribs, respective of the second ribs-section, are attached to the second flexible portion and parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: WOWWEE GROUP LTD.
    Inventors: Davin Sufer, Ellyn Le Masson, Anthony Lemire
  • Patent number: 9914068
    Abstract: The toy structure kit includes an accessory defining an opening, a toy structure defining an opening, and a connector having a base member and a collar, the connector configured to couple the accessory to the toy structure, the base member including a first projection member and a second projection member, the first projection member configured to extend through the opening defined by the accessory and receive the collar, the second projection member configured to extend through the opening defined by the toy structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan K. Wood, Rawn Trinidad, Nicole Luo, Tai To Lee, Xuan Liang, Leo Shen, Chun Kit Ho
  • Patent number: 9914069
    Abstract: A flying disc device appears to “flutter” in flight when rotating. The design is interesting and visually appealing when in use, is easy to see in flight, and can be easily retrieved when laying flat on the ground or another flat surface owing to its angularly oriented dual-disc design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Kenn W. Lehman, Rose E. Lehman
  • Patent number: 9914070
    Abstract: A folding book moves between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The book includes a book body and a plurality of layers forming the book body. Each layer moves between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The folding book moves from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration by moving each layer of the plurality of layers from the folded configuration to the unfolded configuration in a predetermined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Foliage Library
    Inventors: Emily Brooks, Matthew Holbein
  • Patent number: 9914071
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems for isolating and/or purifying byproducts of anaerobic fermentation processes, and methods of using same. In one embodiment, gas compositions comprising conjugated diolefins (e.g., 1,3-biobutadiene and/or isoprene) and various amounts of impurities (e.g., water vapor from fermentation media, carbon dioxide from microbe respiration, and organic bio-byproducts such as propanol) are produced in a fermentation process. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more compressors and/or one or more distillers suitable for low-temperature separation of the conjugated olefin(s) from a substantial amount of the impurities in the gas composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Braskem S.A.
    Inventors: Luiz Felipe de Souza Tavares, Bruno Maia Moreira, Roberto Werneck Do Carmo, Paulo Luiz de Andrade Coutinho
  • Patent number: 9914072
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a process for supplying a first reactant and a second reactant (reactants) to a simulated moving bed reactor (SMBR) at each step of a sequential repeating injection cycle, where the SMBR includes zones each having an injection point and each containing a solid separation media; reacting the reactants in the SMBR during the sequential repeating injection cycle (cycle) to form a first product; separating the first product in the SMBR with the solid separation media; and changing an amount of one or both of the reactants injected at one or more of the injection points of the SMBR during a step of the cycle. Changing the amount of the reactants can be done at each step of the sequential repeating injection cycle. Changing the amount can include changing an inlet concentration of the reactants injected at one or more of the injection points during each step of the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Andreas S. Bommarius, Jungmin Oh, Gaurav Agrawal, Balamurali Sreedhar
  • Patent number: 9914073
    Abstract: A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank that is equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals arranged to provide a treatment flow path isolated from a surrounding volume of the electrostatic separator section of the tank. An oil-and-water stream or mixture entering the set of electrostatic internals travels along the treatment flow path and is subjected to an electric field. The treatment flow path is in an upwardly direction toward the oil outlet section and in a downwardly opposite direction toward the water outlet section of the tank. Employing electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Sprenkel, Gary W. Sams, S. Pavankumar B. Mandewalkar, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9914074
    Abstract: A polar liquid mixture containing suspended or dissolved particles or solute is exposed to air or a hydrophilic surface. An exclusion zone having a reduced concentration of particles or solute is formed in the polar liquid adjacent to the interface with air or the hydrophilic surface. One or more fractions of purified polar liquid and/or concentrated particles or solute are collected. A sensor can provide feedback to the collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: 4th-Phase, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald H. Pollack
  • Patent number: 9914075
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention can include a turbidity measuring device. Typically, the turbidity measuring device can include a fluidic module and a measurement module. The measurement module can removably couple to the fluidic module and be implemented to measure a turbidity of a liquid passing through the fluidic module. The fluidic module can include a sub-assembly that can form a deaerator within the fluidic module. In one instance, the deaerator can be implemented to separate entrained air and/or other gases from a continuous flow of liquid by means of nucleation before the liquid is assayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Perry Palumbo
  • Patent number: 9914076
    Abstract: A convertible filtration system for use with cartridge filters and bag-type filters for filtering contaminated fluids comprising a filtration system housing, a base attached to the filtration system housing, and a lid mechanism for generating sealing pressure between the lid mechanism and the filtration system housing. The filtration system housing includes a basket support flange and an integral basin for accommodating both cartridge and bag-type filters. When fluid is introduced into the filtration system housing through one or more fluid inlet ports, the basket support flange and integral basin additionally serve to prevent contaminated fluids from contaminating any filtered fluids that exit the filtration system housing through one or more fluid outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Clarus Fluid Intelligence, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Koreis, Galen A. Bliss
  • Patent number: 9914077
    Abstract: An end member (3A) for a spiral separation membrane element includes: an inner annular portion (31); an outer annular portion (32) surrounding the inner annular portion (31) at a distance from the inner annular portion (31); a plurality of connecting portions (33) connecting the inner annular portion (31) and the outer annular portion (32); and a shield plate (34) disposed between at least one pair of the connecting portions (33) and forming an opening (41) between the shield plate (34) and the outer annular portion (32). According to this configuration, a radially outwardly spreading flow is formed by the shield plate (34), and therefore suspended solids in a feed liquid can be effectively directed to the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Chikura, Yasuhiro Uda, Toshimitsu Hamada
  • Patent number: 9914078
    Abstract: Provided are flexible containers for holding a concentrate, the containers comprising: a flexible body holding the concentrate, a spout, a filter element disposed in the spout, the filter element comprising a filter and an attachment element configured to attach to a water source. Also provided are methods of reconstituting concentrated products using the flexible containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Cardones, H. Michael Moscherosch
  • Patent number: 9914079
    Abstract: A filter system for filtering fluids has a housing, an inlet, and an outlet. A filter element is arranged inside the housing. A cover closes the housing and provides access to the filter element inside the housing. A securing device prevents the housing from being closed by the cover when the filter element is missing. The filter element has at least one filter element guide path section. The housing or the cover has a rim area with at least one rim guide path section. The filter element guide path section and the rim guide path section supplement one another to a guide path. The securing device comprises at least one securing element arranged on the cover or the housing. The securing element is guided on the guide path when a closing movement is carried out for closing the housing by the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Kocksch, Thomas Rodewaldt
  • Patent number: 9914080
    Abstract: A fuel filter for a vehicle may include an upper case with a fuel inlet at a first side; a main filter disposed in the upper case to filter fuel flowing between an inner surface of the upper case and an external diameter of the main filter; a lower case provided in a structure having a fuel outlet and joined with a second side of the upper case; a first auxiliary filter assembly installed between the upper case and the main filter to secondarily filter the fuel; and a second auxiliary filter assembly installed between the main filter and the lower case to secondarily filter the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chang Han Kim, Myeong Hwan Kim, Jae Min Lee, Jae Hwa Park, Jong Sup Choi
  • Patent number: 9914081
    Abstract: An aircraft engine having a device for separating oil from an air-oil volume flow, where a fluid volume flow with a lower oil load than the air-oil volume flow supplied to the device can be discharged from the device via a line area. The fluid volume flow can be supplied via the line area to a unit by means of which a pressure in the line area downstream of the unit can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Juergen Beier, Gideon Venter
  • Patent number: 9914082
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided that may include a cylindrical case including an inlet through which air is suctioned in a radial direction into the cylindrical case; a filter configured to be detachably provided in the case and having a cylindrical shape; and a filter frame configured to support the filter. The filter frame may include a lower frame provided at a lower portion of the filter; an upper frame provided at an upper portion of the filter; and a plurality of supporting frames that extends toward the upper frame from the lower frame. An entry portion for the suctioned air may be formed between the plurality of support frames, the entry portion being configured to receive the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaekyun Park, Hyunpil Ha, Soonki Jung, Yeongcheol Mun, Soohyun Bae, Sangjun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9914083
    Abstract: A steam strainer and a method for producing a steam strainer is provided. The steam strainer has a skeleton-like tube body, in which, to construct a shell surface, at least two shell-type individual elements are provided for mounting, wherein the skeleton-like tube body has two end surfaces which are kept at a defined spacing by at least one longitudinal strut connecting the two end surfaces, and wherein the at least two shell-type individual elements have a plurality of screen openings, and wherein the at least two shell-type individual elements and the longitudinal strut are independently exchangeable. In addition, a method for producing such a steam strainer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Rehme, Armin Trubel
  • Patent number: 9914084
    Abstract: Filter cartridge arrangements, features, and methods of construction are described. Also described are filter assemblies having the filter cartridge installed therein as a removable service component. The filter cartridge generally comprises a media pack having an end with an end piece positioned thereon. The end piece includes an end cap section and a seal support. A seal member is secured in the end cap. Methods of assembly and use are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Campbell, Steven Gieseke, Andrew L. Albitz
  • Patent number: 9914085
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter element (10), comprising a filter body (12) having a longitudinal axis (L) arranged between a clean side (50) and a crude side (52) of the filter element, as well as comprising at least one first end disk (16) arranged on an end face (15) of the filter body (12). The end disk (16) has a sealing arrangement (22) for forming a seal between the clean side (50) and the crude side (52). In addition, the sealing arrangement (22) has a sealing region (23) that forms a radial seal and a separate holding region (20) arranged concentrically with the sealing region (23) and acts as a radial floating bearing. The invention also relates to a filter system (100) for replaceable installation of such a filter element (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Hasenfratz, Fabian Wagner, André Roesgen, Christian Thalmann, Frank Pflueger, Vit Wognar, Leos Burda, Michal Tuma
  • Patent number: 9914086
    Abstract: A general ventilation and air filtration system includes an air filtration control unit that monitors and controls an air flow through an air filter and maintains the air flow at a target velocity set point. The target velocity set point is maintained by monitoring and regulating the power of a motor powering a blower that generates an air flow though the air filtration system and through the air filter. By regulating the air flow and maintaining it in the target set point, power consumption and air filter life are significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: IVEC Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David Bohrer, Daniel Bohrer, DuWayne Bohrer, Thomas Scott Rich
  • Patent number: 9914087
    Abstract: Certain aspects and examples are directed to sorbent devices and methods of using them. In certain embodiments, a sorbent device comprising a body comprising a sampling inlet, a sampling outlet and a cavity between the inlet and the outlet, the cavity comprising a serial arrangement of at least four different sorbent materials is described. In some embodiments, the sorbent materials are arranged from a material with a weakest sorbent strength to a material with a strongest sorbent strength with the weakest sorbent strength material adjacent to the sampling inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Marotta, Miles Snow
  • Patent number: 9914088
    Abstract: A CO2 recovery unit for recovery and removal of CO2 in a CO2-containing flue gas using a CO2-absorbent within a CO2 absorber is provided. The CO2 absorber includes a CO2-absorbing unit for the absorption of CO2 in a CO2-containing flue gas, a main water rinsing unit that is provided on a gas flow downstream side of the CO2-absorbing unit and that uses rinsing water to recover the accompanying CO2-absorbent while cooling decarbonated flue gas, and a preliminary water rinsing unit provided between the CO2-absorbing unit and the main water rinsing unit. A portion of the rinsing water containing the CO2-absorbent that is circulated in the main water rinsing unit is withdrawn and is subjected to preliminary water rinsing in the preliminary water rinsing unit. The preliminary rinsing water is allowed to meet with a CO2-absorbent while allowing the rinsing water to directly flow down on the CO2-absorbing unit side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Hiromitsu Nagayasu, Takuya Hirata, Tsuyoshi Oishi, Takashi Kamijo