Masonry line block
US Patent 7,770,299
August 10, 2010
An anchoring device for a mason’s line and method for its use includes a first and a second spaced apart parallel rail. Each rail includes a belaying nub to provide a protuberance upon which to tie the mason’s line and a leg in opposed relation to the belaying nub. A bight spans between the first and the second rail. The bight joins each rail assembly at a junction between the belaying nub and the leg.
Shower curtain rod assembly
US Patent 7,770,243
August 10, 2010
A shower curtain-rod assembly is arranged to have distinct and structurally separate gravitational and torsional load bearing capabilities. The shower curtain may be formed with folded pockets to receive shower curtain stays. The pockets are made by creating overlapping layers of the shower curtain and then ultrasonically welding the overlapping layers together. The shower curtain-rod assembly includes a shower rod having an internal track, a shower ring coupled to a shower curtain stay, and rollers supported on the internal track and coupled to the stay. The internal track generally supports the weight of the shower curtain, the rollers, the stays, and the shower ring. In one embodiment, a channel formed in an outer wall of the shower rod cooperates with a torsional restraint tab extending from an inner surface of the shower ring, which is located over the shower rod.
System and method for transmitting voice input from a remote location over a wireless data channel
US Patent 7,769,143
August 3, 2010
A system and method for improving voice recognition processing at a server system that receives voice input from a remotely located user system. The user system includes a microphone, a processor that performs front-end voice recognition processing of the received user voice input, and a communication component configured to send the front-end processed user voice input to a destination wirelessly over a network. The server system includes a communication component configured to receive the sent front-end processed user voice input, and a processor configured to complete voice recognition processing of the sent front-end processed user voice input.
Methods and compositions for modulating C5-a-mediated inflammatory responses
US Patent 7,763,708
July 27, 2010
PL37 (RAARISLGPRCIKAFTE [SEQ ID NO: 2]) is an Antisense Homology Box peptide composed of amino acids 37 to 53 of C5a-anaphylatoxin. Complementary peptides, ASGAPAPGPAGPLRPMF (Pep-A [SEQ ID NO: 1]) and ASTAPARAGLPRLPKFF (Pep-B [SEQ ID NO: 3]) were designed and characterized. Pep-A bound to PL37 and to C5a with very slow dissociation, whereas Pep-B failed to bind at all. C5a was inactivated by 7 nM or more of Pep-A and this concentration of Pep-A inhibited induction of intracellular Ca.sup.++ influx in neutrophils. Patch clamp studies also showed the effectiveness of Pep-A in C5a-receptor-expressing neuroblastoma cells. Pep-A administration prevented rats from C5a-mediated rapid lethal shock. A-Pep-A (Pep-A acetylated with alanine at the amino-terminus) was more stable in vivo and showed stronger inhibition of inflammatory reactions in mice and rats. Chemical modification of Pep-A (e.g., acetylation, or single or multiple amino acid replacement, insertion, or deletion within the native Pep-A sequence) will yield effective inhibitors, and will often improve inhibitory function on C5a anaphylatoxin. In such modified constructs it will often be desired to conserve some or all 5 prolines found in Pep-A to preserve inhibitory function on C5a.
Temperature control assembly receivable in a container lid
US Patent 7,764,497
July 27, 2010
A transit container, such as a rack-mount style container, includes a temperature control system for maintaining a desired temperature within the container such that any cargo within the container remains operational at selected times and possibly in selected locations. The temperature control system includes support or mounting brackets, a temperature control assembly, shock isolation devices for shock attenuation of the temperature control assembly, exhaust assemblies that include exhaust fans and exhaust/intake louvers, and a mounting plate attachable to a lid of the transit container. The temperature control assembly and the aforementioned components may be arranged to have a low-height profile or envelope, which in turn permits the temperature control system to be located in a cavity or chamber of the lid.
Methods for accurately measuring the thickness of an epitaxial layer on a silicon wafer
US Patent 7,762,152
July 27, 2010
Methods for measuring thickness of an epitaxial layer of a wafer. An example method applies photoresist over the epitaxial layer, and then portions of the photoresist within a sacrificial region of the wafer are removed. Next, the epitaxial layer is isotropically etched through the removed portions of the photoresist until a portion of the silicon handle layer is exposed. The remaining photoresist layer is removed. Then, the silicon handle layer is anisotropically etched to form a well. Profile information of the epitaxial layer and the etched handle layer generated. Next, the thickness of the epitaxial layer is determined based on the profile information. The acceptability of the epitaxial layer may be determined based on the determined thickness of the epitaxial layer. If the epi layer is acceptable, then the geometry of devices that are to be etched into the epitaxial layer are determined based on the determined thickness.
Food chopper
US Patent 7,762,169
July 27, 2010
A food chopping or slicing device preferably includes three primary components, including a lid, a blade tray, and a food reservoir. The lid and the food reservoir are pivotally connected to one another, with the blade tray being removably mounted within an upper rim of the reservoir. In some embodiments a reservoir bottom is removable and the device includes orthogonal volumetric markings.
BLG Prevails in Trade Dress and Patent Dispute
July 23, 2010
| Intellectual Property News
BLG, now Lowe Graham Jones, achieved a victory on summary judgment for its client Star Asia USA in a lawsuit filed by Great Neck Saw Manufacturers. In the lawsuit, Great Neck asserted that Star Asia’s folding utility knives sold under the Titan trademark infringed trade dress and patent rights held by Great Neck, in accordance with folding knives sold by Great Neck under the Sheffield, Craftsman, and Husky brands.
The lawsuit was complicated at least in part because Great Neck asserted so many claims against Star Asia. First, Great Neck alleged that Star Asia infringed a utility patent for a folding utility knife that uses a replaceable razor blade. The court agreed with Star Asia that the accused knives were made differently, without infringing the patent.
Second, Great Neck claimed that the Star Asia knife infringed seven different Great Neck design patents. Star Asia was able to establish that there were numerous design attributes in the accused knife that differed from each of the asserted patents, making infringement impossible for Great Neck to prove at trial. Following the recent Supreme Court decision in Egyptian Goddess, the court held that the ordinary purchaser of the knives, giving the degree of attention such a purchaser usually gives, and recognizing the context of the prior art, would not be deceived into thinking that the Star Asia knives are the same as the designs of the Great Neck design patents.
Finally, Great Neck alleged that the Star Asia knife infringed its trade dress. The court agreed with Star Asia that the design of the knife was functional, not aesthetic, and therefore not entitled to trade dress protection at all. Having dismissed all of Great Neck’s claims, the court dismissed the action in favor of Star Asia.
Instantaneous ultrasonic echo measurement of bladder volume with a limited number of ultrasound beam
US Patent 7,749,165
July 6, 2010
An apparatus and methods to quantify the volume of urine in a human bladder with a limited number of acoustic beams is disclosed. In a first version a plurality of narrow ultrasound beams is transmitted in different directions towards the bladder. Returning echoes are converted to digital form and stored in memory. A volume display on the apparatus allows to define the optimal apposition of the transducer assembly. Signal processing software automatically determines the bladder Depth D and Height H and computes the volume of urine. In a second version, a single wide angle ultrasound beam transducer transmits ultrasounds signals at a fundamental frequency to quantify the urine volume. Return signals originating from a depth beyond the usual position of the posterior wall depth of a filled bladder are analyzed for presence of higher harmonic signals, which in turn are related to the presence or absence of urine.
Coagulant-enhanced pre-filtration system
US Patent 7,749,391
July 6, 2010
A system and method is disclosed for pre-treating water to remove substantial amounts of particulates prior to filtration. A coagulant, such as chitosan is mixed with turbid water and adheres to particulate matter to form large clumps. The water/coagulant mixture is placed in a first reservoir elevated above a second reservoir having a strip of porous material, such as polyester felt, positioned with one end in the first reservoir and another end above the second reservoir and preferably below the waterline in the first reservoir. A middle portion of the porous material is elevated above the first and second ends, but at a height relative to the waterline of the first reservoir that is equal or less than the height water will rise in the porous material due to capillary action.
