Patents Issued in April 17, 2018
  • Patent number: 9943744
    Abstract: A location-aware device includes a position determination sensor that determines a position of the location-aware device. A receiver receives, from a tag coupled to a golf club, data corresponding to an output of a sensor included in the tag. A processor associates the data received from the tag with the determined position, and processes the data received from the tag to determine whether to register a golf shot as having occurred at the determined position. A memory stores a golf shot determined to be registered by the processor along with the determined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SkyHawke Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James W. Meadows, Richard L. Root
  • Patent number: 9943745
    Abstract: A digital video ramp assembly incorporates process-formed structural LED tiles with modular components that join in a system of scalable structural LED tiles forming a complete LED display structure with integrated LED embedded tiles with interlocking and inter-trans-positioning features sometimes requiring additional structural framing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Steve Welck
  • Patent number: 9943746
    Abstract: A protective headgear includes, for example, a headgear body that is wearable on a head of the wearer having a top slot in a top portion of the headgear body, wherein the top slot runs from a front portion of the headgear body that covers a forehead of the wearer to a back portion of the headgear body that covers a back of the head of the wearer. A top piece slidably attaches to the headgear body to cover the top slot, wherein the top piece diffuses energy from an impact to the protective headgear by sliding within the top slot. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: THE HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Kennard, John W. Howard
  • Patent number: 9943747
    Abstract: A liner assembly for a protective helmet has a wrap-around pad inside the helmet with plural circular cells spaced along a curved line, at least one additional cell at each end of the line and one additional cell located off the line. A crown pad removably engageable in a crown of the helmet and two L-shaped jaw pads removably engageable to jaw flaps of the helmet. Each cell includes an outer sheet welded around its perimeter to the perimeter of an inner sheet, each inner sheet engaging a player's head and defining one enclosure for each cell. Each cell containing a foam cushion and multiple spaced apart hollow protrusions contacting the inside of the helmet. Each protrusion has an open large diameter base near the cushion and flat smaller diameter peak engaging the helmet. Each protrusions also having a conical side wall tapering from base to peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Kranos IP Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Erb, Cortney Warmouth, Vincent R. Long, Louis Anthony Vanhoutin, Ray Drake
  • Patent number: 9943748
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a skate blade system including a boot portion; a blade housing, mounted to a bottom of the boot portion; and a blade portion having a heel and a toe end; wherein the blade portion is fastened at the heel end to the blade housing in a fixed relationship and is unattached from the blade portion blade housing at the toe end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Daniel Bruno Azzolin, John Joseph McPhee
  • Patent number: 9943749
    Abstract: A powered skateboard having a skateboard deck formed from a blank core. The skateboard deck has a top surface for supporting a rider of the powered skateboard and a bottom surface configured to facilitate engagement with one or more skateboard trucks. The skateboard deck can include a well in the top surface of the skateboard deck. The well can be adapted to store one of more components of the powered skateboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Inboard Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Cerboneschi
  • Patent number: 9943750
    Abstract: A personal vehicle system including a control system and at least one wheel motor coupled to the personal vehicle system and subject to control by the control system. A control system for a personal vehicle system including steps for calibrating the control system, where the control system includes a sensor system having load sensors incorporated into the personal vehicle system and also having lean forward and lean backward outputs, a user interface that prompts a user to lean forward and backward and allows a user to input a sensitivity value, and an electronic hardware component for calculating a normalization value where the wheel motor current is controlled as a function of the normalization value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Stealth Electric Longboards
    Inventor: Aaron Paul Rogers
  • Patent number: 9943751
    Abstract: An automatic playing card shuffler incorporating means for detecting marked cards. One or more light spectrum emitters or variable light spectrum illuminators transmit light at frequencies/wavelengths which is reflected off card backs through one or more spectrum filters causing invisible markings to become visible. A camera may capture images of the now visible markings. A camera and software collaborate to capture images and analyze the same for markings on the card backs such as smudges, nicks and scuffs and edge demarcations. The automatic playing card shufflers are configured to not only detect marked cards but to detect patterns relative to the card markings. The automatic card shufflers are communicatively linked with a casino management system and/or security system such that casino personnel may be alerted in real time to the discovery of marked cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Shark Trap Gaming & Security Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Earnest Riordan, Louis Wilson DeGregorio, Dino Louis DeGregorio, Steven Louis Forte
  • Patent number: 9943752
    Abstract: A sudoku-style game for use by a human player includes a game board surface presented to the player which has a plurality of P×Q sub-matrices of cells, each of the cells being divided into a first section and a second section, each section of each cell having sufficient space to contain a visually perceivable indicator, wherein P represents the number of rows in each sub-matrix, and Q represents the number of columns in each sub-matrix, a master matrix having the plurality of P×Q sub-matrices coupled one P×Q sub-matrix to another P×Q sub-matrix to form a desired game board shape, a solution to the game being the completion of the master matrix by the player so that no indicator is repeated more than a respective instructed number of times in each row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Glenn Frederick Mackay
  • Patent number: 9943753
    Abstract: A gaming headset receives a plurality of audio channels during play of a particular game. The plurality of audio channels comprises game audio channels that convey audio for the game, and a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio. The gaming headset includes an integrated analog voiceband modem that modulates data for communication over the chat audio channel, and transmits the modulated data on the chat audio channel that conveys the chat audio. The modulated data may be communicated, via the chat audio channel, to one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game. The modulated data includes one or more dual tone multi-frequency tones. The gaming headset may also receive data, via the chat audio channel, from one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Kulavik
  • Patent number: 9943754
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for capturing data from a plurality of users for providing online gameplay based on captured user sensor data. User sensor data is captured from a plurality of sensor capture devices relative to an associated user so as to be transmitted to a gameplay server. The gameplay server executes instructions to generate a user interface on a user's client computing device for providing gameplay on each user client portable computing device utilizing, and pertinent to, the captured sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Bharat Prasad, Christine M. Brown, Rod Gonzales, Jodi J. Healy
  • Patent number: 9943755
    Abstract: A system recognizes human beings in their natural environment, without special sensing devices attached to the subjects, uniquely identifies them and tracks them in three dimensional space. The resulting representation is presented directly to applications as a multi-point skeletal model delivered in real-time. The device efficiently tracks humans and their natural movements by understanding the natural mechanics and capabilities of the human muscular-skeletal system. The device also uniquely recognizes individuals in order to allow multiple people to interact with the system via natural movements of their limbs and body as well as voice commands/responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: R. Stephen Polzin, Alex A. Kipman, Mark J. Finocchio, Ryan Michael Geiss, Kathryn Stone Perez, Kudo Tsunoda, Darren Alexander Bennett
  • Patent number: 9943756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for associating a wireless device to a host. The wireless device is associated to the host via a binding and discovery process. The binding process establishes the association. A unique identifier and other binding information is provided to the wireless device, which is stored in the wireless device to establish the link to the console. The binding information is retained in the wireless device. The discovery process enables the wireless device to join a session at hosted by the host. The host sends broadcast packets that are compared to the stored information in the wireless device. The broadcast packets are validated and authenticated to complete the discovery process. A visual indicator on the host and/or controller may indicate the success or failure of either the binding or discovery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Lum, Wei Guo, Gary L. Gordon
  • Patent number: 9943757
    Abstract: A thumbstick for a user input device comprises an adjustable tensioning mechanism configured to modify a tilt tension of a tiltable post. The tiltable post is operable to output a control signal based on a position of the tiltable post relative to a default position. The thumbstick comprises a cap with a cylindrical stem that defines a cavity. An engagement body is located within the cavity and contacts an engagement surface of the adjustable tensioning mechanism. The engagement body includes a cam surface disposed around an axis of the tiltable post. An adjustment body within the cavity of the stem comprises a follower that contacts the cam surface. The follower is configured to traverse the cam surface when the cap is rotated to thereby translate the engagement body along the axis of the tiltable post and adjust the tilt tension of the tiltable post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin Tiffany, Aaron Schmitz, Benjamin Michael Finney
  • Patent number: 9943758
    Abstract: An information processing system includes a controller which receives an operation input of a user and an information processing unit which performs an information process based on the operation input received by the controller. The information processing unit includes a game progress unit which controls an own character in the virtual space based on the operation input of the user to draw the virtual space with the corresponding color of the own character and a battle determination unit which performs a battle determination based on a drawing state of a corresponding color of an enemy character, which is different from the corresponding color of the own character, to a virtual space and a drawing state of the corresponding color of the own character to the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shintaro Sato
  • Patent number: 9943759
    Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a surface that displays a plurality of images related to a game, a vehicle comprising interface circuitry configured to receive an input from the rider related to a vehicle path on the surface, wherein the vehicle operates according to the input to move on the surface on the vehicle path, and a controller that determines that the vehicle has moved over a first image of the plurality of images while on the vehicle path based on a signal from the vehicle, the surface, an external sensor, or a combination thereof; provides instructions to display circuitry associated with the surface to change the first image when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path; and updates a score associated with the vehicle when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Patent number: 9943760
    Abstract: A game console includes a receiver that receives motion data in response to motion of a gaming object. A trajectory generation module generates trajectory data based on the motion data and based on a motion prediction model. A processor executes a gaming application based on the trajectory data to generate display data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD
    Inventors: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Nambirajan Seshadri, Brima B. Ibrahim, John Walley, Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 9943761
    Abstract: A money transfer system is promoted by providing a user access to a game or contest generated by a promotions engine computer. The user is directed to a customer relations portal accessible via an access device to participate in the game or contest. The customer relations portal comprising a server configured to manage the game or contest and associated with the promotions engine computer. A response is received from the user at the server related to the user's participation in the game or contest. The server determines whether the user is to receive a reward or prize based on the response from the user, and an output is provided to the user on the access device indicating whether the user is to receive the reward or prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MoneyGram International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassir Zouiten, Dorilyn Lee Sletten
  • Patent number: 9943762
    Abstract: A reward associated with a game may be provided based at least partly on a characteristic associated with a user device used to play the game. A threshold or level associated with the device characteristic may be determined. A current level of the characteristic while a user is playing the game via the user device may be determined. Based at least partly on a determination that the current level of the characteristic satisfies the threshold or the level during play of the game, a reward associated with the game may be provided to the user device and/or the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Big Fish Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Galic, John Frederick Comstock, John Amos Starin, Noah Kanter, Michael Byrd
  • Patent number: 9943763
    Abstract: An information equipment has obtained identification information including a store ID indicating a predetermined shop store. An application ID indicating a game application running on information equipment and a user ID indicating a user of the game application are received together with the store ID over a network from the information equipment. A first database which manages a progress level of the game for the user in association with the application ID and the user ID and a second database which manages the application ID and a first game remuneration ID indicating a first game remuneration corresponding to the progress level are referred to, in accordance with the application ID and the user ID. First indication data indicating that the first game remuneration corresponding to the progress level of the game is provided to the user of the game application is transmitted over the network to the information equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 9943764
    Abstract: When a predetermined time has elapsed after a handheld game apparatus received “game information” from another handheld game apparatus, a character corresponding to a player of the another handheld game apparatus appears as a passerby in a shopping center in a game world of a game of the handheld game apparatus. The predetermined time is determined based on the positional relationship between the shopping center in the game world and the present position of the player character of the game of the another handheld game apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kinashi, Shuhei Furukawa
  • Patent number: 9943765
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for creating a fantasy sport team. The method may include receiving a user input for a fantasy sport contest that is associated with one or more real-life sporting events that are scheduled to occur, in which a plurality of athletes are scheduled to play in first and second player positions, and displaying athletes that are scheduled to play in the first player position in the scheduled sporting events based on the selected contest. The method may include receiving a user input selecting a first athlete, and upon the receiving the user input selecting the first athlete, automatically displaying a plurality of selectable second athletes that are scheduled to play in the second player position in the scheduled sporting events. The method may include receiving a user input selecting a second athlete, and displaying a fantasy user team that includes the selected first and second athletes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Score Fantasy Sports Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew F. Himelstein, Michael S. Ferguson, Vladimir K. Kozyrev, William R. Wright
  • Patent number: 9943766
    Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing fantasy sports competitions. In one aspect, a method includes generating fantasy team rosters, each fantasy team roster including distinct individual athletes, where each fantasy team roster is balanced to the other fantasy team rosters based on historical data from a database of computed fantasy sports statistics and a database of predictive modeling of projected individual fantasy sports statistics; receiving selected teams within the at least two fantasy team rosters from users; obtaining real-time statistics of the athletes; creating a dynamic database including fantasy scoring of the athletes based on a fantasy scoring scheme; and displaying in real time the dynamic database comparing the fantasy sports statistics for each fantasy team roster to determine which fantasy team roster has amassed higher scoring fantasy sports statistics based on the fantasy scoring scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Brian Balsbaugh
  • Patent number: 9943767
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for processing operations of a computer game to be played on a computing device. One method includes an operation for detecting a petition for help from a first player to a second player to obtain a first game asset for the first player. The petition is sent to the second player notifying the second player that a game asset needed by the second player would be awarded to the second player for helping the first player. Further, the method includes operations for selecting a game asset to award the second player, the game asset being from a wish list of the second player, the wish list including game assets pre-identified by the second player. The second player is awarded with the game asset that is selected from the wish list of the second player, and as a result, both the first and second players are enabled to make progress within the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Edan Nahari, Ian Guthridge
  • Patent number: 9943768
    Abstract: An example system includes: a data acquisition unit for performing near field communication with a data storage medium having a near field communication function and acquiring character data stored in the data storage medium; an information processing unit for performing information processing to control a character corresponding to the character data, which has been acquired by the data acquisition unit, as a non player character; and a data changing unit for changing the character data depending on a processing result of the information processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Izuno, Shinya Saito, Kaori Miyachi, Masahiro Shiotani, Masahiro Sakurai, Kenji Anabuki
  • Patent number: 9943769
    Abstract: A system for controlling ride experiences through a ride space of an amusement park ride based on a passenger's present state. The system includes a sensor mounted on an automated trackless vehicle, being controlled to travel along a first ride path, sensing passenger data for a passenger. The system includes a controller processing the passenger data to determine a passenger state at a particular point in time during the ride experience. The controller determines a location of the automated trackless vehicle on the first ride path. The controller, based on the passenger state and the location of the automated trackless vehicle on the first ride path, determines a second ride path for the automated trackless vehicle for the ride space. The controller then controls the automated trackless vehicle to move from the first ride path to the second ride path to alter the passenger's state to enhance their ride experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Dumene Comploi
  • Patent number: 9943771
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are for a method, apparatus, and system for toy building blocks with chain reaction trigger. The blocks are configured to be coupled together in order to build structures with the blocks. The blocks house a trigger mechanism system that when triggered will then actively trigger the adjacent block's trigger mechanism system. Thus, the blocks will disconnect and/or break away from each other in a chain reaction or sequenced manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Anthony T. Blow
  • Patent number: 9943772
    Abstract: One example embodiment includes a mobile action sports ramp. The mobile action sports ramp includes an incline portion connected to a vehicle portion by a hinge. The incline portion includes a lower incline portion connected to an upper incline portion by a hinge. The lower incline portion folds onto the upper incline portion and the incline portion then rests upon the vehicle portion when the mobile action sports ramp is collapsed and capable of transportation. The lower incline portion unfolds into alignment with the upper incline portion and the incline portion then raises up when the mobile action sports ramp is erected and capable of use in various action sports. Methods for erecting and collapsing a mobile action sports ramp are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: John Bethers
  • Patent number: 9943773
    Abstract: A platform dynamic vehicle, comprising a vehicle body (100), the vehicle body (100) moving on a rail track by means of vehicle wheels (110) on the bottom of the vehicle body, a bracket (200) being arranged vertically on the vehicle body (100), the upper part of the bracket (200) being connected movably to a viewing platform (400), a plurality of rows of viewing seats (300) being disposed on the viewing platform (400), a seat drive apparatus used for driving the viewing seats (300) to tilt forwards or recline backwards being disposed on the viewing seats (300), a platform drive apparatus used for driving the viewing platform (400) to rotate on the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis being disposed on the viewing platform (400), and a vehicle drive apparatus used for driving the vehicle body (100) to move along the rail track being disposed on the vehicle body (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN OCT VISION INC.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Hongguang Wen, Baoluo Jia
  • Patent number: 9943774
    Abstract: A reservoir evaporation system for evaporating fluid from an open reservoir of effluent containing a contaminant includes a fluid evaporator, an air pump, and an air supply conduit functionally connecting the fluid evaporator with the air pump. The fluid evaporator includes a vessel adapted to be positioned in an operative position partially submerged on the top surface of the effluent in the reservoir with a lower chamber submerged in the effluent and an upper chamber extending above the top surface of the effluent. In operation, air from the air pump mixes with the effluent inside the fluid evaporator and subsequently is discharged through exhaust openings. A fluid discharge pipe can also simultaneously discharge aerated effluent back down into the reservoir. Fluid is thereby separated from the effluent in the lower chamber by evaporation in a controlled manner that minimizes spread of contaminants to surrounding environments by wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Craig Clerkin, Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 9943775
    Abstract: The invention concerns a flexible process for purifying a solvent which inhibits the formation of hydrates during gas processing, in particular monoethylene glycol (MEG), said solvent having a boiling point which is higher than that of water and, at least at one point in time, being mixed with water and salts, the process operating in a different manner with the same facility as a function of the quantity of salts in the MEG to be treated. The process operates in accordance with a phase known as reclaiming (separation of salts under vacuum followed by vacuum distillation) when the salts content exceeds the precipitation threshold and if not, the process operates in a regeneration phase (absence of separation of salts and no operation under vacuum). Advantageously, the change is made under the control of means for testing the salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: PROSERNAT
    Inventors: Jeremie Esquier, Bernard Chambon, Christian Streicher
  • Patent number: 9943776
    Abstract: The invention is a distributor tray having at least one perforated wall defining compartments. The distributor tray has at least one distribution compartment through which gas and the liquid flows through the tray, and at least one retention compartment through which the liquid cannot flow through the tray. The at least one retention compartment is on the periphery of the tray. The invention also relates to a column for heat and/or material exchange between a gas and a liquid equipped with a distributor tray, to a floating barge including the column and to the use of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Yacine Haroun, Pascal Alix, Manel Fourati
  • Patent number: 9943777
    Abstract: Provided is a separator including: a first header into which gas flows from an exterior of the separator; a core connected to the first header and including at least one flow path configured to cool the gas flowing from the first header through the flow path; and a second header connected to the core and configured to guide the gas passing through the at least one flow path to the exterior of the separator, wherein the second header includes at least one first baffle provided on an inner wall of the second header and configured to remove moisture from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoyoul Park, Honggi Park
  • Patent number: 9943778
    Abstract: A condensate treatment system includes a housing attached to an A/C condensate drain line having a biocide received within an interior chamber. A load cell continuously measures the weight of biocide in the interior chamber in order to calculate a remaining amount. A control unit is in communication with the load cell and various sensors for monitoring operational variables associated with the condensate system. The control unit has Wi-Fi capability to allow the sensor readings and the remaining amount of biocide to be accessed wirelessly from a supervisor's remote computer or smart phone. If the control unit detects rising condensate levels in the drip pan or the housing, it disables the air conditioner to prevent an overflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: John Gutierrez, Aamar Quershi
  • Patent number: 9943780
    Abstract: A module for optionally recharging sorbent materials in-line, including zirconium phosphate, with an optional bypass and conduits for a sorbent cartridge. The sorbent cartridge can have one or more modules contained therein having connectors connecting each of the modules. One or more of the modules can be reusable and the sorbent materials therein recharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant J. Pudil, Martin T. Gerber, David B. Lura, Thomas E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 9943781
    Abstract: A parallel assembly (2; 11; 51) of chromatography column modules (3a,b,c; 13a,b,c; 53a,b,c, 90a, b) connected in a rigid housing (21; 61), the assembly having one common assembly inlet (15; 55) and one common assembly outlet (17; 57), each column module comprising a bed space (29) filled with chromatography medium and each column module comprises integrated fluid conduits which when the column module is connected with other column modules in the rigid housing are adapted to connect the bed space (29) of the column module with the assembly inlet (15; 55) and the assembly outlet (17; 57), wherein the total length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the assembly inlet to one bed space together with the length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the same bed space to the assembly outlet is substantially the same for all bed spaces and modules installed in the parallel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIOPROCESS R&D AB
    Inventors: Klaus Gebauer, Manoj Kumar Ramakrishna, Daniel Salomonsson, Per Uselius
  • Patent number: 9943782
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of separating an oil-in-water emulsion formed during crude oil production into a water phase and an oil phase that includes adding 1 part-per-million (ppm) to 10000 ppm of a cationic vinyl imidazolium-based copolymer to the oil-in-water emulsion, based on the total volume of the oil-in-water emulsion, to form a water phase and an oil phase, and separating the water phase from the oil phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: M. J. Yanjarappa, Cecile Boyer, Stephen M. Hoyles, Michael K. Poindexter
  • Patent number: 9943783
    Abstract: A de-sanding tank with a conical bottom. The de-sanding tank includes an enclosed tank having a vertical wall that extends down to a flat bottom. A conical bottom is disposed within an interior of the tank. The conical bottom is secured to the vertical wall forming an enclosing space bounded by a wall of the conical bottom and the vertical wall and flat bottom of the tank. A solids outlet is disposed at a lower tip of the conical bottom configured for removal of solids. The conical bottom is supported by a foam structure located within the enclosing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KBK INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Will Dexter Ball, IV, Brian Baalmann
  • Patent number: 9943784
    Abstract: A nozzle is disclosed for use within a filter for inputting a jetting stream into the filter media to clean the filter media. The nozzle comprises an inlet for communication with a jetting stream source, and a plurality of plates stacked parallel and abutting one another. The plurality of plates comprises at least a top plate and a bottom plate, one of the plates having an aperture through the center thereof for receiving the jetting stream, wherein between adjacent plates at least one space is provided extending from the outside edge of the plates to the interior of plates and in fluid communication with the aperture for channelling the jetting stream radially outward from and substantially parallel with the longitudinal plane of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Exterran Water Solutions ULC
    Inventors: Todd William Kirk, Daniel Clifford Whitney, Douglas Walker Lee
  • Patent number: 9943785
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water purifier including a first storage cistern in which an inlet for flowing in water is formed, a second storage cistern for storing the purified water and having a nozzle at the outside thereof, and a filter constituted by a ceramic filter, a cartridge filter, and a mineral filter and installed to the inside of the first storage cistern and the second storage cistern to filter the water flown in the first storage cistern and make the purified water flow in the second storage cistern, the water purifier comprises a ceramic filter formed as a mixture by mixing the conventional used silicon dioxide with its particle size of 1˜100 micrometer with additionally one or two or more selected among silicon dioxide, tungsten, alumina (Al2O3), silver, zinc (Zn), white gold (PT), gold (Au), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) with nano particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NANOPOLY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gu Wan Jeong
  • Patent number: 9943786
    Abstract: A screen intake apparatus for a water intake system uses a cleaning system to clean one or more screen intakes. To clean debris from a screen, pipes in the interior of the screen receive pumped liquid (e.g., water or incompressible liquid) from a pump. Outlets, such as apertures or nozzles, on the pipes then direct the pumped liquid into the interior of the screen. One or more valves can vary, agitate, or pulse the flow of pumped fluid and/or can selectively deliver the pumped liquid to the pipes to remove collected debris from the exterior of the screen. A heater of the system can also heat the pumped liquid for delivery to the pipes to remove or prevent ice formation on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Aqseptence Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ekholm, Dilipkumar P. Shah
  • Patent number: 9943787
    Abstract: An oil filter assembly is disclosed for a machine, such as an internal combustion engine, that has an oil output port and an oil input port. A mounting plate may be fixed with an outer enclosure and may be adapted for securing to the machine. The mounting plate may be further adapted to conduct oil from the machine into a peripheral portion of the outer enclosure, and then returning oil from a central portion of the outer enclosure back to the machine. Oil may pass from the peripheral portion to the central portion through a primary filter having a first porosity. A pressure-actuated valve may be fixed fluidly between the peripheral portion and central portion of the outer enclosure. Oil may pass through the pressure-actuated valve only when an oil pressure differential between the peripheral portion and the central portion of the outer enclosure exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hubb Filters, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher M. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 9943788
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus (10) with a rotatable carousel (18) including five equispaced cylindrical chambers (22). Beneath the chambers (22) a kidney shaped filter plate (40) is provided, and also a downwardly extending opening (36). The chambers (22) are selectively moveable to be located over the filter (40), or over the opening (36), in which latter position material can be ejected from the respective chamber (22) by a piston and cylinder (34) located spaced above the opening (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Alconbury Weston Ltd
    Inventor: Alastair William Barton
  • Patent number: 9943789
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to modular filtration cassettes for filtering liquids including, for example, liquids used in semiconductor manufacturing. A filter housing may define a filter cavity comprising an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The filter may further comprise a filter element disposed in the filter cavity. The filter element may at least partially overlap the filter inlet on a first side of the filter element. The filter element may comprise a rectangular pleated filter with a set of pleats having a first set of pleat tips on an upstream side of the filter element and a second set of pleat tips on a downstream side of the pleated filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Puglia, Louis Barrows, Jr., Christopher John Lowe, Ben Mai Pak Lee, Marc Laverdiere
  • Patent number: 9943790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtering assembly for filtering at least one fluid flowing in particular in a hydraulic motor or device, comprising: —a filter body which comprises a vessel and a cover which are configured to engage with one another in order to enable the filter body to close, —a tube, in particular a central tube, inside the filter body extending along a longitudinal axis (X), —a removable filter cartridge which is housed in the filter body and includes an upper end plate, a lower end plate and a filter medium which extends between the upper end plate and the lower end plate, the filter cartridge having a tubular opening for surrounding the tube, characterized in that the cover has a circular rib which is formed such as to project into an inner space of the filter body, and in that the upper end plate has a circular edge which is designed to sealingly engage radially and inwardly with said circular rib of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration Sarl
    Inventors: Emmanuel Page, Loïck Menez
  • Patent number: 9943791
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing unitized formed mineral-based construction materials includes providing starting materials that include an aggregate, a cementing agent and water. The starting materials are mixed to achieve a mixture of the starting materials which is then placed into a form and cured to allow the mixture of starting materials to become a solidified unit. The solidified unit of the mixture of starting materials is defined by a minimum dimension of thickness, length, and/or diameter. The solidified unit of the mixture of starting materials is placed into a kiln which is then heated to a processing temperature of between about 1000° C. and about 1350° C. and maintained for a period of time of between about 10 minutes and about 60 minutes per centimeter of the minimum dimension of the solidified unit of the mixture of starting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Matthew F. Russell
  • Patent number: 9943792
    Abstract: A filter material for a fluid, particularly a hydraulic fluid, has a multi-layer filter medium (10) through which a fluid can flow and having a filter layer (20) and a drainage layer (32) forming a three-dimensional structure designed to enlarge the flow channels formed for the fluid to flow through. The drainage layer cooperates with an adjacent drainage layer and/or has individual line elements (33) that form a mesh or grid structure. Those line elements are arc-shaped or curved at least to some extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Schwender
  • Patent number: 9943793
    Abstract: A method of producing a polymer nanofiber structural body of the present invention includes: forming, on a base material, a first layer in which polymer nanofibers are irregularly integrated by an electrospinning method; cutting the first layer together with the base material; and irradiating an argon beam from a base material side in parallel with a fracture surface to direct the length directions of the polymer nanofibers of the first layer on the base material side toward the thickness direction of the first layer to form a second layer different from the first layer in pore structure, thereby providing a polymer nanofiber structural body having a plurality of pore structures and free of any clear interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Takashima, Tetsuo Hino, Kazuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9943794
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided that may include a first air cleaning module including a first fan that generates air flow toward a first discharge outlet from a first suction inlet; a second air cleaning module including a second fan that generates air flow toward a second discharge outlet from a second suction inlet; and a divider provided between the first air cleaning module and the second air cleaning module, the divider being configured to block air discharged through the first discharge outlet from being suctioned into the second suction inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soonki Jung, Hyunpil Ha, Yeongcheol Mun, Jaekyun Park, Soohyun Bae
  • Patent number: 9943795
    Abstract: A rotary dust screen for a cooling unit of an agricultural vehicle includes a frame having a ring shape, wherein a dust screen is mounted in the frame and wherein the frame includes a seal extending along the ring and comprising a lip adapted to abut, when the rotary dust screen is mounted on the cooling unit, against a housing of the cooling unit to prevent contaminants from entering the cooling unit at an edge of the dust screen, wherein the rotary dust screen further has a driving belt adapted to be driven by a rotary actuator to rotate the dust screen, wherein the driving belt engages with the rotary dust screen at an outer surface of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Lode A. Demonie, Jolan Heyns, Steven Titeca