ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,497,566, issued on Dec. 16, was assigned to PHILERGOS GROUP FOUNDATION (Cochrane, Canada).

"Solid formations of non-volatile bituminous materials suitable for reducing carbon dioxide emissions during transport" was invented by Vassili Paul Giannelia (Cochrane, Canada).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A substantially solid brick of non-volatile bituminous material has a shape that is defined by an irregular outer surface to minimize surface contact with nearby bricks when shipped in bulk. The overall shape is preferably that of a modified tetrahedron having three non-planar face surfaces, a top surface, and a surface or point. Both the top a...