Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120007267 | Method of Producing Compostable or Biobased Foams - The present invention describes compostable or biobased foams that are useful for fabricating foamed articles. The foams are produced using a compound comprising a compostable or biobased polyester and a blowing agent. Additives including plasticizers and chain extenders are optionally included in the compostable or biobased composition. These foams can be produced using conventional melt processing techniques, such as single and twin-screw extrusion processes. In one embodiment, foamed strand profiles are cooled and cut using conventional strand pelletizing equipment. In another embodiment, foamed beads are produced by cutting the foamed strand at the face of the extrusion die and the foamed bead or strand is subsequently cooled. The resulting compostable or biobased foamed bead has a specific gravity less than 0.15 g/cm | 01-12-2012 |
20120009420 | Compostable or Biobased Foams - The present invention describes compostable or biobased foams that are useful for fabricating foamed articles. The foams are produced using a compound comprising a compostable or biobased polyester and a blowing agent. Additives including plasticizers and chain extenders are optionally included in the compostable or biobased composition. These foams can be produced using conventional melt processing techniques, such as single and twin-screw extrusion processes. In one embodiment, foamed strand profiles are cooled and cut using conventional strand pelletizing equipment. In another embodiment, foamed beads are produced by cutting the foamed strand at the face of the extrusion die and the foamed bead or strand is subsequently cooled. The resulting compostable or biobased foamed bead has a specific gravity less than 0.15 g/cm | 01-12-2012 |
20120010307 | Expandable Beads of a Compostable or Biobased Thermoplastic Polymer - The invention provides a composition and process for producing expandable beads from a compostable or biobased thermoplastic polymer. A key aspect of this invention is the ability to incorporate sufficient amounts of hydrocarbon blowing agent into the matrix of the compostable or biobased polymer. The following process may be used. First, the raw materials of compostable or biobased polymers, hydrophobic additive, and other additives are mixed by melt processing techniques. Next, a hydrocarbon blowing agent is added to the admixture, either by addition into the melt or by impregnation into the solid, to produce an expandable bead. Small, lightweight, foamed beads are produced by heating the expandable bead. Then, the expanded beads are subsequently used in conventional operations for molding into foamed articles. | 01-12-2012 |
20120065286 | PROCESS FOR ENABLING SECONDARY EXPANSION OF EXPANDABLE BEADS - The present invention enables the secondary expansion of lightweight foamed beads. The foamed beads are produced using a compound comprising a compostable or biobased polyester and a physical blowing agent as well as a chemical blowing agent. Secondary expansion can be used either to lower the density of the foamed bead further or to enable expansion of the beads during molding to promote fusion. The foam beads can be produced using conventional melt processing techniques, such as single and twin-screw extrusion processes. | 03-15-2012 |
20120088072 | Microfabricated Particles in Composite Materials and Methods for Producing the Same - Microfabricated particles are dispersed throughout a matrix to create a composite. The microfabricated particles are engineered to a specific structure and composition to enhance the physical attributes of a composite material. | 04-12-2012 |
20120244779 | OPTICALLY ENHANCED FILMS FOR AEROSTATS - The present invention enhances the optical features of aerostats. The invention utilizes a barrier film having at least one layer containing optically enhancing elements. Aerostats formed from the barrier film possess unique aesthetic features. | 09-27-2012 |
20130172509 | Methods of Producing Microfabricated Particles for Composite Materials - Microfabricated particles are dispersed throughout a matrix to create a composite. The microfabricated particles are engineered to a specific structure and composition to enhance the physical attributes of a composite material. The microfabricated particles are generated by forming a profile extrudate. A profile extrudate is an article of indefinite length that has a cross sectional profile of a desired structure with micro-scale dimensions. Upon or after formation, the profile extrudate may be divided along its length into a plurality of microfabricated particles. | 07-04-2013 |
20130236937 | Algal Thermoplastics, Thermosets, Paper, Adsorbants and Absorbants - Provided are biomass-based materials and valuable uses of microalgal biomass including: (i) acetylation of microalgal biomass to produce a material useful in the production of thermoplastics; (ii) use of triglyceride containing microalgal biomass for production of thermoplastics; (iii) combination of microalgal biomass and at least one type of plant polymer to produce a material useful in the production of thermoplastics; (iv) anionization of microalgal biomass to form a water absorbant material; (v) cationization of microalgal biomass, and optional flocculation, to form a water absorbant material; (vi) crosslinking of anionized microalgal biomass; (vii) carbonization of microalgal biomass; and (viii) use of microalgal biomass in the making of paper. | 09-12-2013 |
20140163144 | Biobased Polymer Compositions - Polymeric composites are produced by melt processing biobased polymers with an acrylated silicone polyether at temperatures that promote free radical reactions between the bio-based polymer and the acrylated silicone polyether. The bio-based compositions have an excellent balance of mechanical properties and are suitable for flame retardant applications. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163171 | FLAME RETARDANT COMPOSITIONS - A substrate having a flame retardant polymer chemically bonded to at least a portion of the substrate. The use of a substrate possessing at least a partially coated outer surface of a flame retardant polymer enables the manufacturing of polymer composites, containing the coated substrate, that possess very effective flame retardant performance while reducing the loading levels over conventional flame retardant additives. | 06-12-2014 |
20140275355 | WOOD PLASTIC AND THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES - Described herein are a wood plastic composite including an oleaginous microbial biomass, a thermoplastic composite including a heterotrophically cultivated microalgal biomass, and related articles and methods. | 09-18-2014 |
20150148459 | GRAPHENE COATED SUBSTRATES AND RESULTING COMPOSITES - The deposition of graphene is accomplished by various techniques that result in a change of the graphene's solubility in the liquid medium. The solubility change enables the deposition of the graphene onto the substrate. Once the graphene is deposited onto the substrate, the at least partially coated substrate may be separated from the liquid medium. The substrates may then serve as a carrier to deliver the graphene to a desired application. | 05-28-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100284632 | Pouch And Airtight Resealable Closure Mechanism Therefor - A pouch has an airtight elongate closure mechanism adapted to provide vacuum retention within an interior of the pouch over an extended period of time when sealed. The closure mechanism includes a first pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, a second pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, and sealing members that form an air tight seal disposed between the first and second pairs of interlocking members. The closure elements may be connected with opposing sidewalls of the pouch in a manner designed to provide differential opening and closing forces. The pouch may also include a check valve and air evacuation channels to aid in evacuating air from the interior. | 11-11-2010 |
20110085747 | Pouch and Airtight Resealable Closure Mechanism Therefor - A pouch has an elongate closure mechanism adapted to provide vacuum retention within an interior of the pouch over an extended period of time when sealed. The closure mechanism includes a first pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, a second pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, and a pair of sealing members that form an air tight seal separate from the interlocking members disposed between the first and second pairs of interlocking members. The closure members are connected with opposing panels of the pouch in a manner designed to provide differential opening and closing forces. The pouch may include a check valve and air evacuation channels to aid in evacuating air from the interior. | 04-14-2011 |
20110311168 | Tactile Enhancement Mechanism for a Closure Mechanism - A tactile enhancement mechanism for a closure mechanism on a pouch includes one or more tactile strips disposed adjacent and offset laterally up and/or down from the closure mechanism along an exterior surface of the pouch. The outer surface of the tactile strips may be textured to provide an additional tactile sensation to a user when closing the closure mechanism. A smooth region on the exterior surface of the pouch is disposed opposite the closure profile between the first and second tactile strips and may be coextensive with the closure profile. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311169 | Tactile enhancement mechanism for a closure mechanism - A pouch including opposing sidewalls sealed together in a closed distal portion to form an interior that is accessible by a proximal opening. A closure profile extends along an interior surface of the opposing sidewalls for selectively sealing the proximal opening, wherein the closure profile substantially extends a length of the proximal opening. A plurality of tactile strips are disposed on an interior surface of at least one of the opposing sidewalls between the closure profile and the proximal opening, the tactile strips being variably spaced. Preferably, each tactile strip has a well-formed triangular cross-sectional shape with a height from the respective sidewall approximately double a thickness of the respective sidewall. | 12-22-2011 |
20120106874 | RECLOSABLE BAG HAVING A SOUND PRODUCING ZIPPER - A zipper for use in a reclosable bag including an elongated groove profile having two arms which form a general U-shape to define an opening to a channel, and an elongated rib profile opposing the groove profile. A plurality of first segments of the rib profile alternate with a plurality of second segments of the rib profile to create a structural discontinuity along a length thereof. The first segments have larger cross-sections and shorter lengths than the second segments such that interlocking the groove and rib profiles creates the audible clicking sound when the groove and rib profiles are engaged. | 05-03-2012 |
20120106875 | RECLOSABLE BAG HAVING A LOUD SOUND DURING CLOSING - A zipper for a reclosable bag including an elongated groove profile having two arms which form a general U-shape to define an opening to a channel, and an elongated rib profile opposing the groove profile, wherein a plurality of first segments of the rib profile alternate with a plurality of second segments of the rib profile to create a structural discontinuity along a length thereof, wherein during interlocking the groove and rib profiles, an audible clicking sound of at least 50 dB on average is created during opening and closing. | 05-03-2012 |
20120106876 | RECLOSABLE BAG HAVING A LOUD SOUND DURING CLOSING - A zipper for a reclosable bag including an elongated groove profile having two arms which form a general U-shape to define an opening to a channel, and an elongated rib profile opposing the groove profile, wherein a plurality of first segments of the rib profile alternate with a plurality of second segments of the rib profile to create a structural discontinuity along a length thereof, wherein during interlocking the groove and rib profiles, an audible clicking sound of at least 50 dB on average is created during opening and closing. | 05-03-2012 |
20130236129 | TACTILE ENHANCEMENT MECHANISM FOR A CLOSURE MECHANISM - A pouch includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall that connects to the first side sidewall so as to form an interior of the pouch with an opening to the interior, and a closure mechanism that extends along an interior surface of the first sidewall for sealing the opening, the closure mechanism extending from one end of the opening to an opposite end of the opening. A first tactile strip is disposed on an exterior surface of the first sidewall and is spaced above the closure mechanism. A second tactile strip is disposed on the exterior surface of the first sidewall and is spaced below the closure mechanism. An exterior surface of at least one of the first tactile strip and the second tactile strip is provided with a texture, with the texture including a plurality of openings that open into the exterior surface. A smooth region is formed on the exterior surface of the first sidewall. The smooth region is disposed opposite to the closure mechanism and extends between the first and second tactile strips. | 09-12-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140295935 | ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE WITH CONDITIONAL SYNCHRONIZED REEL GAMES - Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The systems and methods may initiate one or more conditional synchronized reel structures. The systems and methods may determine one or more replacement symbols for the one or more symbols of the plurality of primary game symbols. The systems and methods may determine one or more payouts based on the additional gaming functionality. The systems and methods may display one or more presentations based on the additional gaming functionality. | 10-02-2014 |
20140309010 | ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE WITH QUASI-PERSISTENT SYNCHRONIZED REEL GAMES - Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The systems and methods may initiate one or more quasi-persistent synchronized reel structures. The systems and methods may determine one or more replacement symbols for the one or more symbols of the plurality of primary game symbols. The systems and methods may determine one or more payouts based on the additional gaming functionality. The systems and methods may display one or more presentations based on the additional gaming functionality. | 10-16-2014 |
20140309011 | ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE WITH QUASI-PERSISTENT SYNCHRONIZED REEL GAMES - Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The systems and methods may initiate one or more quasi-persistent synchronized reel structures. The systems and methods may determine one or more replacement symbols for the one or more symbols of the plurality of primary game symbols. The systems and methods may determine one or more payouts based on the additional gaming functionality. The systems and methods may display one or more presentations based on the additional gaming functionality. | 10-16-2014 |
20140349732 | GAME INDEPENDENT OUTCOMES ON A GAMING DEVICE - Examples disclosed herein relate to an electronic gaming device including a memory, a processor, and a plurality of reels. The plurality of reels may include one or more areas. The memory may include one or more independent features structures. The processor may generate one or more symbols to be located in the one or more areas. The processor may initiate at least a first independent feature structure based on an independent feature triggering event. | 11-27-2014 |
20150080085 | ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE WITH REEL-OF-ONE FUNCTIONALITY - Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for utilizing one or more reel-of-one symbol functionalities. The electronic gaming device may include a memory, a processor, and a plurality of reels. The plurality of reels may include one or more areas. The memory may include one or more reel-of-one functionality modules. The processor may generate one or more symbols to be located in the one or more areas and to generate one or more reel-of-one symbol groupings to be placed on one or more reels. | 03-19-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100124970 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A GUARANTEED WIN FEATURE - The gaming system, gaming device and method disclosed herein provides a player with a guaranteed win feature for a bonus event. The guaranteed win feature guarantees that the player will win an award of at least a minimum award amount for each of a number of free activations of the bonus event. In one embodiment, the minimum award amount is determined based on the player's wager on a wagering game. | 05-20-2010 |
20100261524 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PROGRESSIVE AWARD MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE RESETTING THE DISPLAYED VALUE OF THE PROVIDED PROGRESSIVE AWARD - In various embodiments, the gaming system and method disclosed herein maintains a progressive award that is associated with a plurality of different progressive award trigger values or progressive award hit values. In such embodiments, the displayed value of the progressive award does not reset to a reset value or reset amount until the displayed value of that progressive award has incremented to each of the plurality of progressive award hit values associated with that progressive award. In these embodiments, the gaming system provides a plurality of displayed incremented values of a progressive award a plurality of times before the displayed value of that progressive award is reset to the reset value. Such a configuration provides that after the gaming system provides a currently displayed value of a progressive award to a player at least a first time, the displayed value of that progressive award continues incrementing from the provided value. | 10-14-2010 |
20110077071 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY PROVIDING AN ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT THAT FUNDS AN AWARD THROUGH EXPECTED VALUES OF UNPLAYED TOURNAMENT GAMES OF ELIMINATED PLAYERS - A gaming system including a central server operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming devices to provide non-tournament game play and provide an elimination tournament. The gaming system contributes an average expected payout value of tournament games that were determined to be subsequently played by tournament players but were then not played because the players were eliminated before the end of the tournament to a tournament award. The tournament award is provided to a winner of the tournament. | 03-31-2011 |
20120184365 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PROGRESSIVE AWARD MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE RESETTING THE DISPLAYED VALUE OF THE PROVIDED PROGRESSIVE AWARD - In various embodiments, the gaming system and method disclosed herein maintains a progressive award that is associated with a plurality of different progressive award trigger values or progressive award hit values. In such embodiments, the displayed value of the progressive award does not reset to a reset value or reset amount until the displayed value of that progressive award has incremented to each of the plurality of progressive award hit values associated with that progressive award. In these embodiments, the gaming system provides a plurality of displayed incremented values of a progressive award a plurality of times before the displayed value of that progressive award is reset to the reset value. Such a configuration provides that after the gaming system provides a currently displayed value of a progressive award to a player at least a first time, the displayed value of that progressive award continues incrementing from the provided value. | 07-19-2012 |
20130217480 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY PROVIDING AN ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT THAT FUNDS AN AWARD THROUGH EXPECTED VALUES OF UNPLAYED TOURNAMENT GAMES OF ELIMINATED PLAYERS - A gaming system including a central server operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming devices to provide non-tournament game play and provide an elimination tournament. The gaming system contributes an average expected payout value of tournament games that were determined to be subsequently played by tournament players but were then not played because the players were eliminated before the end of the tournament to a tournament award. The tournament award is provided to a winner of the tournament. | 08-22-2013 |
20130244770 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PROGRESSIVE AWARD MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE RESETTING THE DISPLAYED VALUE OF THE PROVIDED PROGRESSIVE AWARD - In various embodiments, the gaming system and method disclosed herein maintains a progressive award that is associated with a plurality of different progressive award trigger values or progressive award hit values. In such embodiments, the displayed value of the progressive award does not reset to a reset value or reset amount until the displayed value of that progressive award has incremented to each of the plurality of progressive award hit values associated with that progressive award. In these embodiments, the gaming system provides a plurality of displayed incremented values of a progressive award a plurality of times before the displayed value of that progressive award is reset to the reset value. Such a configuration provides that after the gaming system provides a currently displayed value of a progressive award to a player at least a first time, the displayed value of that progressive award continues incrementing from the provided value. | 09-19-2013 |