| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07677945B2 |
Method of forming an external electrode fluorescent lamp, thick film electrode compositions used therein, and lamps and LCD devices formed thereof
This invention relates to method(s) of fabricating electrodes of an external electrode fluorescence lamp (EEFL) for use in thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) applications. Also disclosed is a structure with electrodes for external electrode fluorescence lamps used in TFT-LCD backlight units. |
| US07677937B2 |
Operator control system of boat
An operator control system for a boat, where an outboard motor includes a throttle actuator that controls throttle opening of the engine, a shift actuator that controls a shift position to be put into one of neutral, drive, and reverse positions, and an engine control unit that controls the engine. An operation input portion, to control propulsion of the outboard motor and an operation quantity computation portion, that computes control command values including a start and a stop, the throttle opening, and the shift position of the outboard motor by detecting a steering state of a boat driver at the steering seat, are mounted on an operator station. The operation quantity computation portion transmits the control command values to the outboard motor via a communication portion, and the outboard motor performs control of the start and the stop, the throttle opening, and the shift position of the engine according to the control command values received. |
| US07677934B2 |
Female electrical terminal
A female electrical terminal, comprising at least one pair of mutually opposite leaf spring laminas, which are adapted to provide an accommodation and contact region for an associated blade-like male terminal. A first lamina is provided with a protrusion for contact with the blade-like male terminal, while a second opposite lamina has an extraction-preventing tooth which is designed to be inserted with a snap action in the hole of the interposed blade-like male terminal. |
| US07677933B2 |
Stirrup-type power utility electrical connector assemblies
An electrical connector assembly includes a bail, a first conductive member having a first hook portion extending from a first wedge portion, wherein the first hook portion adapted to engage a main conductor, and a second conductive member having a second hook portion extending from a second wedge portion. The second hook portion is adapted to engage the bail. The first wedge portion and the second wedge portion are adapted to nest with one another and be secured to one another to capture and electrically connect the main conductor and the bail. |
| US07677932B2 |
Open face electrical connector
An open-face electrical wire connector for forming an electrical connection to a wire connector lug wherein the wire connector lug, which is free of any sealant can be brought into engagement with another portion of a housing, which carries a sealant, to cause the sealant to flow around the wire connector lug and the electrical connection therein for on-the-go formation of a sealant covered electrical connection. |
| US07677931B2 |
Method for multiport noise compensation
Methods are provided for reducing port to port crosstalk on a multiport assembly. Steps of the method include placing at least one BEMI in at least one compensation region, disposed on a PCB. The BEMI reduces port to port crosstalk noise by generating an opposite polarity signal to an unwanted noise signal generated through port to port adjacency. The PCB includes a plurality of ports, at least including adjacent first and second ports, each of which is an RJ45 jack port. Each port of the plurality of ports includes a plurality of modular insert pins, and is associated with an IDC pin group. The at least one compensation region includes one or more regions for generating noise compensation with respect to crosstalk noise resulting from coupling between respective modular insert pins of, or IDC pins associated with, the first and second ports, respectfully. |
| US07677930B2 |
Next high frequency improvement by using frequency dependent effective capacitance
A connector is provided for simultaneously improving both the NEXT high frequency performance when low crosstalk plugs are used and the NEXT low frequency performance when high crosstalk plugs are used. The connector includes a first compensation structure provided on an inner metalized layer of the PCB at a first stage area of the PCB, and a second compensation structure, provided at a second stage area of the PCB, for increasing compensation capacitance with increasing frequency. |
| US07677929B2 |
Sacrificial laptop computer power connector
A sacrificial power connector engages a power receptacle on a laptop computer. The connector includes a first end that mates with the power receptacle and a second end that receives a plug from a power cord. A tab includes adhesive that maintains the connector in engagement with the power receptacle of the laptop computer. In this manner, the sacrificial power connector wears out and prevents damage to the power receptacle on the laptop computer. The sacrificial connector allows a broken path of electrical current to be reestablished. |
| US07677926B1 |
Connector jack and connector combination using same
A connector jack includes a housing, a receptacle shield, and a brace. The housing is configured for receiving a plug. The receptacle shield defines a receiving space for receiving the housing and exposing a plug receiving chamber of the housing to the outside, and includes two inward projecting prongs. Each prong has a base portion and a free end bent to form a ramped surface projecting inward into the interior of the receptacle. The brace is positioned between the receptacle shield and the housing, and has a main frame and two tabs respectively connected on the two ends of the main frame for abutting the prongs of the receptacle shield. |
| US07677924B2 |
High current coaxial connection with two plug elements, and gradient coil conductor
A high-current coaxial connection with two plug elements that can be connected with one another, in particular to connect a current-carrying coaxial conductor to a gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus, has a first and second coupling rings provided at the respective plug elements. The first coupling ring with a first thread is screwed onto one plug contact to be fixed to the plug element while the second coupling ring with a second thread that overlaps the first coupling ring, is screwed onto a mating thread section at the other plug element. Both coupling rings are rotationally locked relative to one another and the first thread and the second thread are different. |
| US07677923B1 |
Double visual-interface socket
A double visual-interface socket compliant with socket design rules set forth in the Digital Visual Interface standard comprises: a lower socket unit including plural L-shaped terminal pins; an upper socket unit disposed above the lower socket unit and including plural terminal pins; an adapter module including plural L-shaped pins arranged in rows; and a circuit board having plural terminal guide holes and plural extension guide holes. The terminal guide holes are inserted by, soldered to, and therefore electrically connected with the terminal pins of the upper socket unit, respectively. The extension guide holes are electrically connected with the terminal guide holes, respectively, and are inserted by, soldered to, and therefore electrically connected with ends of the L-shaped pins of the adapter module, respectively. The opposite ends of the L-shaped pins of the adapter module are substantially aligned with bottom ends of the L-shaped terminal pins of the lower socket unit. |
| US07677921B2 |
Plug-in amp/watt power meter
A power meter has a measuring circuit composed entirely of analog components that measures the instantaneous current draw of one or more electrical devices, such as home appliances. The power meter may be in the form of a hand-held device that includes elongated connections that allow a homeowner to measure the current draw of an electrical device without significant displacement of the electrical device. In addition to measuring current draw, the power meter may provide an estimated wattage consumed by the measured electrical devices. |
| US07677919B1 |
Battery connector
A battery connector includes an insulating frame having a plurality of parallel partitioning boards spaced from each other in a direction, with a positioning slot defined between two of the partitioning boards adjacent to each other. A pair of terminals is received in each positioning slot. Each pair of terminals includes a first terminal and a second terminal. Each of the first and second terminals includes a body having a first end and a second end. A welding portion extends from the second end. A bend is formed between the body and the welding portion. The first end includes a resilient contact portion having a contact end. The contact ends of each pair of terminals together define a coupling space for coupling with one of a plurality of contact blades of a connector. |
| US07677915B2 |
Electrical contact element for medium or high voltage electrical equipment, and corresponding, method and equipment
An electrical contact member, suitable for electrically interconnecting two conductive members in series, which members can move relative to each other and are part of an electrical apparatus. The electrical contact includes a strength-imparting base layer made of an electrically conductive material, and a coating layer formed from metallic silver and configured to come into contact with the two electrically conductive members. The coating layer has a micro-structure formed by pure silver crystals, with a presence of nodules made of silver and of an additional metallic material formed by at least one additional metal that is different from silver. |
| US07677914B2 |
LED string light engine and devices that are illuminated by the string light engine
A string light engine includes a plurality of LEDs, a plurality of IDC connectors, and an insulated flexible conductor. Each IDC connector is in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of LEDs and is operatively mechanically connected to at least one of the plurality of LEDs. The IDC connectors attach to the conductor. |
| US07677912B2 |
Electrical connector having stiffener with elastic latches
An electrical connector for electrically connecting an IC package to a printed circuit board is provided, which includes an insulative housing including a main body for supporting the IC package and four straight peripheral sidewalls surrounding the main body; a stiffener having a base separably disposed around the insulative housing. The base defines an opening for receiving the insulative housing. And the stiffener further includes four elastic latches extending upwardly from inner sides of the opening for engaging with the insulative housing, and the insulative housing corresponding defines four slots on outside surfaces of the sidewalls for being resisting against the elastic latches. |
| US07677910B2 |
Connector connection apparatus
The present invention is to provide a connector connection apparatus to avoid drop of a connector without increase of cost. The connector connection apparatus includes a holder for receiving therein and holding the connector, a receiving portion main body for receiving therein and holding the holder, and a plate for fixing the holder attached to the receiving portion main body. The receiving portion main body includes a receiving hole having a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the holder and receiving the holder therein. The holder is inserted from an upper opening of the receiving hole into the receiving portion main body. The holder is then held between the plate and the receiving portion main body. |
| US07677908B2 |
Lever-type connector
A lever type connector comprises a first connector housing; a second connector housing including a projection; and a lever pivotally engaged with the first connector housing and including two arm plates and an interconnecting bar which connects the two arm plates. The each arm plate comprises a provisional-retaining projection projecting from the arm plate toward the other arm plate, which abuts to the projection and causes to deform the arm plate so that the arm plate recedes to the other arm plate when the projection is inserted into the cam groove; and a cancellation lever extending from an edge of the arm plate and positioned at a counter side of the inlet with respect to the pivotal support, which cause to deform the arm plate so that the arm plate recedes to the other arm plate when the cancellation lever is pressed to come close to the other cancellation lever. |
| US07677906B2 |
Printed board connector with ground connection
In a board-edge connector designed for directly contacting a printed board includes a ground connection between the printed board and the connector which engages before the printed board is completely mated and connected to the voltage supply. A grounding contact is arranged in one of the corner regions within the plug-in slot of the printed board connector, wherein the grounding contact is connected to a grounding strip on the printed board on which the printed board connector is fixed. During the mating process, the printed board, onto which a grounding strip is applied on at least one of the lateral edges within the mating region, slides past the grounding contact such that an electrostatic equalization between the printed board to be newly inserted and the connector takes place before the contacting of the remaining electric contacts. |
| US07677904B1 |
Electrical connector with terminals bonded to housing
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing and a plurality of electric terminals. The insulating housing defines a plurality of terminal grooves for correspondingly receiving the electric terminals therein. Each of the electric terminals has a welded portion extending outside from a rear of the insulating housing for being soldered to a printed circuit board. A substantially inversed funnel shaped injecting portion is formed at a middle portion of the welded portion for leading liquid-state material to inject therefrom and then flow to the welded portion until the liquid-state material is solidified and integrated with the insulating housing. Therefore, the welded portions are not easily warped while soldered to the printed circuit board. Thus, the welded portions are soldered to the printed circuit board firmly, and the electrical connection between the electrical connector and the printed circuit board is more stable. |
| US07677898B2 |
Patch panel and patch panel connector
An exemplary patch panel includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of signal terminals for connecting to two pairs of peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-E) X1 differential signal terminals of an I/O controller hub (ICH), an interface terminal of a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), four pairs of differential signal terminals of the HDMI, four pairs of differential signal terminals of a graphic and memory controller hub (GMCH), one of another differential signal terminal of the GMCH, and two pairs of differential signal terminals of a PCI-E X16 slot. Therefore, the ICH is connected to the PCI-E X16 slot via the patch panel for supporting a PCI-E X1 card while the GMCH is connected to the HDMI via the patch panel. A patch panel connector is provided to mount the patch panel on a motherboard. |
| US07677895B2 |
Arithmetic measurement system
Arithmetic Measurement System quantifies arithmetic operations just by measurement and without arithmetic calculation or even counting. Playing cards may be annotated with size-coded marks or card tags to represent face value. For example, a tag representing a face value 5 is half the size of one representing a value 10 using a linear tag scale, or about 7/10th the size using a log10 tag scale. Users align linear tags in a contiguous row to add values or overlap tags to subtract values. Users align logarithmic tags in a row to multiply values or overlap tags to divide values. Integrated and separate measures with corresponding linear or logarithmic tag-scales quantify a total value of aggregate or net tag row size. Product developers may use the Arithmetic Measurement System of tags and measures to provide novel educational math manipulatives and playing card games for players unskilled in arithmetic. |
| US07677887B2 |
Shape memory self-ligating orthodontic brackets
Self-ligating orthodontic brackets with archwire retainers formed of materials exhibiting shape memory. Each bracket which includes a base from which extends two spaced and opposing pairs of tie wings each pair of which define an archwire guide slot therebetween. The retainers include at least one flange to retain an archwire within the archwire guide slot but which is yieldable to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the archwire guide slots. Portions of the brackets and/or retainer may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire and the bracket and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance. |
| US07677886B2 |
Maxillofacial orthodontic appliance
A maxillofacial orthotic appliance comprises: a maxilla expander fixed to the maxilla in the mouth of a human and a towed-unit which is connected to the maxilla expander and is towed in an anterior direction from the human. The towed-unit includes: a left wire whose one end is inserted into the left hole of the maxilla expander and the other end is protruding out of the mouth, a right wire whose one end is inserted into the right hole of the maxilla expander and the other end is protruding out of the mouth, a connecting tube provided on the left or right wire and extending in the direction of the distance variation, caused by the maxilla-expander adjusting mechanism, between the left and right contact parts and a connecting wire provided on the other of the left and right wires and inserted into the connecting tube slidably. |
| US07677883B2 |
Trailer mounted smokeless dual-phase burner system
The smokeless liquid two-phase burner system of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for burning a wide variety of flammable liquids using an integrated burner system. The system has both a primary injection path and an alternate injection path for the fuel to be burned, as well as a main air pump or blower. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for selectably injecting a secondary stream of a gas or vapor or volatile liquid into a flare system for the purpose of enhancing combustion. The apparatus is self-contained and self erecting on a transportable trailer. |
| US07677877B2 |
Imprint lithography
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes an imprint template and a radiation source configured to cure photosensitive material, the radiation source including a laser or a light emitting diode. An imprint template is also disclosed. |
| US07677873B2 |
Apparatus and method for molding onto a stretched blank
An apparatus and method for molding a component onto a stretched blank. The apparatus includes a stretching assembly mounted adjacent to a first mold part. The stretching assembly includes a plurality of clamp assemblies that grasp the peripheral edge of the blank and a plurality of slide assemblies that move the clamp assemblies away from one another to apply a stretch to the fabric. The apparatus further includes a press for closing a second mold part onto the first mold part while the fabric is held in a stretched condition by the stretching assembly. In one embodiment, the stretching assembly may include a float plate that is movable with respect to the first mold part between a stretch position and a mold position. The apparatus may include a robot with tooling for moving the fabric onto the stretching assembly. The tooling may include a plurality of shot pins that push the fabric off of the tooling onto corresponding fabric pins in the stretching machine. In one embodiment, the apparatus include a stretch measuring device adapted to measure the stretch applied to the fabric. |
| US07677872B2 |
Low back-flow pulsation fuel injection pump
A fuel pump assembly includes a pump bushing defining a dual-chambered pumping cavity, a fluid channel for shuttling fuel between the chambers, a plunger, and a plurality of fluid control valves. A first check valve is a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump bushing and with either an inlet of a second check valve or an inlet of the pump bushing. Another check valve or a control orifice may be used in parallel with the second check valve, with the third check valve or control orifice being positioned at least partially external to the fuel pump assembly. A vehicle includes a transmission, engine, a returnless high-pressure fuel pump assembly, and a low-pressure fuel line in fluid communication with an inlet side of an inlet control valve. The high-pressure fuel pump assembly inhibits a pressure pulsation from propagating through the low-pressure fuel line. |
| US07677868B2 |
Self-lubricated actuator for on-blade rotor control
A self-lubricated actuator for a rotor blade flap of a helicopter having a housing; a motor having a shaft disposed in a bearing is provided. The actuator further has an output rod and a mechanism operatively associated with the motor and the output rod to transmit movement from the motor to the output rod. The housing includes a lubrication medium capable of substantially immersing the bearing, the motor shaft and the mechanism during operation. |
| US07677867B2 |
Guide vane arrangement of a turbomachine
A guide vane arrangement of a turbomachine includes a casing, at least one guide vane carrier connected to the casing and having a first carrying portion and a second carrying portion spaced apart axially from the first carrying portion, a plurality of guide vanes connected to the guide vane carrier and arranged next to each other in a circumferential direction, and at least one securing element connected to the guide vane carrier and configured to provide an axial fixing of at least one of the guide vanes. Each guide vane has a platform including a first locking portion and a second locking portion spaced apart axially from the first locking portion, wherein each of the first and second locking portions and the respective first and second carrying portion are adapted to provide an axially pluggable and a radially positive fastening between the guide vane carrier and the respective guide vane. |
| US07677865B2 |
Air purifier
An air purifier includes a bell-mouth having an enhanced structure to prevent an increase of noise at a particular frequency when air flows into the blowing fan through the bell-mouth. The air purifier includes a housing, a filter unit and a blowing fan placed inside the housing, and a bell-mouth placed toward an intake side of the blowing fan. The bell-mouth includes an inlet port formed at a center of the bell-mouth, a flow guide extending from a periphery of the inlet port toward the blowing fan, and a flat section positioned to discontinue the flow guide to increase a distance between the blowing fan and the bell-mouth. The flat section is formed at the section in the range of about 240°˜330° with respect to a starting point of a scroll inside the bell-mouth. The flat section may have a saw-tooth shape to effectively distribute air passing therethrough. |
| US07677861B1 |
Slat replacement machine
A slat replacement machine having an elongated rectangular frame supported at each end by a tracked drive unit which provides zero turn capability to the machine. A pair of outrigger assemblies is provided at the forward end of the frame and a pair of outrigger assemblies is provided at the rearward side of the frame. The outrigger assemblies may be pivotally moved from a stowed position adjacent the frame to an outwardly extending position. A telescopic boom is pivotally mounted on the upper end of a rotatable pedestal which extends upwardly from the center of the frame. Various components of the machine such as hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors are radio controlled. |
| US07677855B2 |
Conditioned sheets for binding and method/apparatus for making same
Apparatus and method of increasing adhesion of thermal binder strips to coated papers by conditioning an edge of the sheet by splitting the edge which results in an expansion of the edge followed by compressing the edge so as to reduce or eliminate the expansion. In the case of a stack of sheets, the edge of the stack is conditioned by piercing the edge of the stack and in the case of an individual sheet, the conditioning is carried out by splitting at least a portion of the edge of the sheet. |
| US07677854B2 |
Self-boring and self-tapping screw
The invention relates to a self-boring and thread-forming tapping screw having a screw shaft with a screw tip at one end and at the other end a force application member for the transmission of a turning moment. The screw shaft includes a threaded section with the screw tip and an adjacent thread-free section of the shaft including the force application member. The threaded section has a shaft core and a self-tapping thread. The threaded section includes a core section axially displaced from the tip and having a polygonal core cross section. Corners of the core cross section define an enveloping circle with an enveloping circle diameter larger than a shaft diameter of the thread-free section. |
| US07677853B2 |
Multi-lobular lockbolt and system
A lockbolt which includes a head portion and a shaft which extends from the head portion. The shaft includes at least a portion which is threaded and has a multi-lobular profile. A collar is swageable onto the multi-lobular threaded portion, and thereafter the lobes provide that the collar does not tend to vibrate loose from the threading. The fact that the section which has a multi-lobular profile is also threaded provides that the collar (or a conventional threaded nut) can be selectively rotatably removed and re-installed on the lockbolt. Before swaging, the collar may initially include a cylindrical bore, or a bore which is multi-faceted, preferably generally corresponding to the profile of the multi-lobular portion of the lockbolt. The lockbolt may or may not include a frangible pintail. |
| US07677851B2 |
Fastener assembly
A fastener assembly includes a male threaded fastener and a washer captured between a head of the fastener and a thread of the fastener. A terminal portion of the thread adjacent the washer is provided with crest depressions to thereby form material of the thread run out into elevations of the thread between adjacent depressions, to thereby maintain the specified major diameter of the thread adjacent the washer. |
| US07677849B2 |
Cargo guard
Embodiments of the present invention provide a cargo guard that is readily coupled to and/or removed from a binding strap, and further readily adapted to be repositioned with respect to the strap. The cargo guard may include one or more segments and/or one or more retainers. |
| US07677846B2 |
Method and apparatus for weld profiling
A method for removing a weld crown from a weld joint between first and second work pieces includes steps of positioning a rotary milling tool proximate to the joint and at an offset angle to set a cutting arc relative to the joint. The milling tool is positioned so the cutting arc intersects the weld crown, weld toes, and parent metal on each side of the weld joint. As the milling tool traverses the joint to cut away the weld crown, the milling tool may tilt from side to side to compensate for misalignment between the work pieces along the weld joint. An apparatus for weld crown removal holds a milling tool at an offset angle, and provides a tracking mechanism to permit the milling tool to track misalignment between the work pieces, maintaining the cutting arc in intersection with the weld toes and parent metal along the weld joint. |
| US07677838B2 |
Motion reduction apparatus and floating body therewith
A motion reduction apparatus has an orthorhombic shaped floating main body (11), a plumb plate supported vertically on one side section of the floating main body by stay members (13), and flow sections (15) for flooding with incoming water are provided between the floating main body and the plumb plate in such a way that an upper end section of the plumb plate is at about the same height as the bottom surface of the floating main body. |
| US07677837B2 |
Device for transferring fluid between two floating supports
A device for transferring fluid between two floating supports anchored to the sea bottom, having a rigid central undersea pipe installed below the surface with its ends each being connected to respective ones of two supports via a flexible hose. The main portion of the rigid central pipe includes or co-operates with buoyancy elements such that the central pipe adopts, in a quasi-static rest state, a configuration of an arch, preferably following a curve such that the angles between the half-lines of the axes of the rigid pipe and the horizontal half-lines at each of its ends extending towards the other end present absolute values of less than 20° and the flexible hoses present lengths and curvatures such that variations in the curvatures of the flexible hoses are suitable for compensating the movements of the floating supports. |
| US07677835B2 |
Drainage cell modular raintank and water storage system
A modular raintank and water storage system are described. A modular raintank comprises a plurality of interconnected external sidewall modules. The sidewall modules have a plurality of openings which allow water to freely flow into and out of the modular raintank. The water storage system comprises a plurality of interconnected modular raintanks. The adjacent modular raintanks of the water storage system can share a sidewall, and can be stacked on top of each other and connected in a side-by-side pattern. The shared sidewall comprises a plurality of locking lip members arranged in rows to facilitate the attachment of additional modular plates of adjacent raintanks and a plurality of U-shaped openings to facilitate visual inspection of the tank while underground. |
| US07677832B2 |
Precast concrete slab system and method therefor
A pre-fabricated concrete slab system and method have matching rectangular slabs with cooperatively fitting male and female type connectors which fit adjacent to each other in a checkerboard fashion. The slabs include spaced reinforcing rods extending longitudinally and transversely therethrough. In at least some of the slabs, the rods' distal ends protrude outwardly away from one or more side edges of the slabs to form a plurality of male connectors. Correspondingly, at least some of the slabs include a plurality of corresponding female sockets on one or more sides thereof, each female socket receiving a corresponding male connector when dropped therein. Through interconnection of corresponding female sockets and male connectors by steel reinforcing bars extending in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, a continuous tension reinforcement is established between adjacent slabs in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. |
| US07677829B2 |
Inserts and reusable holder therefor
Method and apparatus for providing inserts, such as lift inserts and step inserts, in cast members. The inserts have breakaway tabs mounted in receiving slots in either a reusable holder or disk-shaped member. The assembled insert and holder are inserted through a collar on the outer jacket of a mold assembly and a locking pin passes through cooperating openings in the holder and collar to retain the lift insert/holder in place during the casting operation. The disk-shaped member is fixed to a jacket of the mold assembly. The breakaway tabs break away from the insert when the cast member is separated from the mold assembly, the breakaway tabs being discarded and the holder (disk-shaped member) being reusable many times for subsequent casting operations. The slots, in one embodiment, have a locking shoulder to lock the tabs in their slots. In another embodiment, a cam surface on the tabs lock the tabs in the slots. In another embodiment, one slot and one tab differ in radial or circumferential length from the other tabs and slots to permit alignment between the slots and tabs in only one position to assure that the tabs are properly mounted in the holder. |
| US07677826B2 |
Packaging and applicator device for applying a cosmetic or another care product
A device may include an applicator including an applicator element that is at least partially elastically deformable and a receptacle configured to contain a substance to be applied and configured to house the applicator element when not in use. The receptacle may include an opening through which the applicator element passes while the applicator element is being removed from the receptacle. The applicator element may include at least one inner cavity that is defined, at least in part, between at least two branches that are at least partially flocked. An outside cross-section of the applicator element may be large enough for the applicator element to deform while passing through the opening of the receptacle, the deformation resulting in a shape of the cavity being modified. |
| US07677820B2 |
Printing supporting apparatus, printing apparatus selecting apparatus, printing supporting program, printing apparatus selecting program, storage medium, method of selecting printing apparatus, method of supporting printing, and method of creating printing apparatus determining tree
A print support apparatus includes: a unit acquiring printing specification information; a unit acquiring printing apparatus information indicating capabilities of printing apparatuses; a unit selecting a printing apparatus as a printing destination based on the printing specification information and the printing apparatus information; a unit acquiring document data associated with the printing specification information; a unit processing the acquired document data based on printing apparatus information indicating a capability of the selected printing apparatus and the acquired printing specification information; a unit creating printing setting information including a printing setting of the selected printing apparatus based on the acquired printing specification information; and a unit requiring printing of the selected printing apparatus based on the created printing setting information and the processed document data. |
| US07677818B2 |
Camera to which plurality of types of photographing lenses or accessories can be detachably attached, and control method of the camera
In a main body of a camera, a recording unit is disposed which is capable of recording specific information of a photographing lens or an accessory. When the specific information of the presently attached photographing lens or accessory has been already registered in the recording unit, the main body of the camera does not acquire all the specific information from the attached photographing lens or accessory by data communication. In a case where the specific information of the attached photographing lens or accessory has been registered in the recording unit, the only identification information of the interchangeable lens or accessory can be enough, even if the data communication is necessary. In consequence, a communication time with respect to the interchangeable lenses or various types of accessories can be reduced as a whole. |
| US07677817B2 |
Device comprising camera elements
A device comprising a housing; a first camera element located on a first side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element; a second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element; an activator for providing a signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to a selection, the activator comprising a detector for detecting the selection; and a processor for processing the obtained image information. |
| US07677807B2 |
Hub unit for wheel
A hub unit for wheel is described, with an outer ring having two bearing tracks on its inner circumferential surface, and a hub having a wheel mount flange on the outer end side and an end portion on the axially vehicle center side. The hub has a first bearing track corresponding to the axially vehicle outer end side bearing track of the outer ring, and an inner ring element fitted on the end portion side of the hub. The inner ring element has on its outer circumference a second bearing track opposed to the axially vehicle center side bearing track of the outer ring, and is fixed on the end portion by plastically deforming the end portion of the hub radially outwardly. Rolling members are provided between the two bearing tracks of the outer ring and the first and second bearing tracks. |
| US07677805B2 |
Fluid dynamic bearing and hard disk drive employing the same
A fluid dynamic bearing is constructed to support stably a rotating body to which a non-uniform force is applied, and a hard disk drive (HDD) employing the fluid dynamic bearing is provided. The fluid dynamic bearing includes a journal bearing part supporting a rotary shaft in a radial direction of the rotary shaft, a thrust part formed at one end of the rotary shaft, a thrust bearing part facing the thrust part and supporting the rotary shaft in a longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft, and a plurality of grooves formed on a surface of the thrust bearing part and/or the thrust part. The plurality of grooves include a first groove group including a plurality of grooves having the same shape and arrangement, and a second groove group adjacent to the first groove group and including at least one groove asymmetric with respect to the grooves of the first groove group. |
| US07677798B2 |
System including a portable device for receiving dental images
The system for taking images includes a portable base (2) for managing an image sensor (1) used to take the image of a tooth, providing an electronic image which is transmitted to display circuits (80), and it includes sequencing circuits, which respond to the action of image file validation circuits, the sequencing circuits managing a library, for filing a sequence of image files, by associating, with each validated image file, rank sequence data in the sequence. |
| US07677796B2 |
System and method for providing temperature data from a memory device having a temperature sensor
A circuit and method for providing temperature data indicative of a temperature measured by a temperature sensor. The circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to identify for a coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and generate temperature data that is provided on an asynchronous output data path. |
| US07677793B2 |
Timepiece
In order to counter the effects of the Earth's gravitational force on the operation of a watch movement, the timepiece includes an escapement mechanism designed to drive a finish gear-train of a watch movement which defines a reference plane, and a balance co-operating with the escapement mechanism. Particularly, the balance is mounted in a frame (28, 60), said frame pivoting about a first axis (AA, CC) relative to the reference plane, and the orientation of the frame (28, 60) relative to the first axis (AA, CC) depends on the orientation of the Earth's gravitational force. |
| US07677789B2 |
Mixer rotor with spiral core ribs
An improved rotor design is provided for an internal batch mixing machine. A rotor has a rotor body with an axially extending central cavity, and with a plurality of mixing wings defined on the outer surface of the rotor body. A plurality of internal reinforcing ribs of generally spiral or curved configuration are defined on the rotor body and project into the cavity. |
| US07677787B2 |
Intermeshing type twin screw extruder and mixing degree adjusting device
A mixing degree adjusting device comprises a pair of spacer members arranged at a position sandwiching both round sectional portions of a pair of screws from both sides in the aligning direction of the pair of screws, and a pair of drawing members arranged as a position sandwiching both the round sectional portions from both sides in the orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the aligning direction. The spacer members are movable between an adjusting position opposing to the round sectional portions, and a retracting position, when the screws are extracted from the barrel, for retracting to the outside until the passage of the screws is accepted. Opposing portions opposing to the round sectional portions at the time of moving to the adjusting position are formed in a substantially linear shape extending in parallel with the orthogonal direction seen from the axial direction of the screws. The drawing members are movable in the direction approaching to and retracting from the round sectional portions along the opposing portions in an area intervening between the opposing portions of both the spacer members at the time of moving to the adjusting position, and when the screws are extracted from the barrel, retractable to the outside until the passage of the screws is accepted. |
| US07677781B2 |
Sheet switch module
A sheet switch module including a circuit board (22), at least one key switch (25) disposed on the circuit board, and a flexible light guiding sheet (31) which is disposed on the key switch and configured to cover the circuit board, the light guiding sheet being configured to flexibly fit over and follow the shape of the key switch along an outer surface of the key switch, when the light guiding sheet is disposed on the circuit board. |
| US07677780B2 |
Light guide orientation connector
A light guide assembly and method of forming the assembly. The light guide assembly includes an elongate light guide having an optically smooth surface for propagating light along its length and a light emitting region extending along at least a portion of the light guide length. The light emitting region has light extraction structures extending into the elongate light guide to extract or reflect light radially from the light guide. The assembly also includes a light source connector coupled to the light input end of the light guide. The light input end has primary encoding orientation geometry. The light source connector has a first end with secondary encoding orientation geometry, configured to mate with the primary encoding orientation geometry, and an opposing second end configured to accept a light source. |
| US07677778B2 |
Projector lamp unit
A projector lamp unit includes: a lamp; a lamp case, housing the lamp; a wire protective member, attached to the lamp case, and comprised from resin having a smaller thermal conductivity than the lamp case; and a resin-covering wire, led from the lamp to the outside of the lamp case through a hole provided with the wire protective member. |
| US07677777B2 |
LED apparatus for world homologation
A lamp assembly including a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light guides, and at least one lens. The plurality of light guides are optically connected to the plurality of light sources, and selected plurality of light sources emit light that is selectively propagated through the plurality of light guides. The at least one lens is optically connected to the plurality of light guides. |
| US07677775B2 |
Exterior rear-view mirror for vehicles, especially for motor vehicles
An external rearview mirror assembly is designed for a motor vehicle. The external rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing. A mirror glass carrier is operatively connected to the mirror housing. A piece of mirror glass is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier and is movable with respect to the mirror housing. The mirror glass defines a peripheral edge. An attaching part is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier wherein the attachment part extends about a portion of the peripheral edge. |
| US07677774B2 |
Vehicle interior illumination apparatus
A vehicle interior illumination apparatus includes a first type touch switch which turns illumination ON and OFF when a human body touches a surface of an illumination lens on a vehicle compartment side, and a second type touch switch which switches between linkage and non-linkage between ON and OFF of illumination and a state of a door when the human body moves on the surface of the illumination lens on the vehicle compartment side. The first type touch switch includes a first transparent electrode on a surface of the illumination lens on the light source side for detecting touch of the human body on the surface of the illumination lens on the vehicle compartment side, and the second type touch switch includes a plurality of second transparent electrodes on the surface of the illumination lens on the light source side for detecting movement of the human body on the surface of the illumination lens on the vehicle compartment side. |
| US07677771B2 |
Vehicle instrument panel device
An instrument panel device includes an instrument panel incorporating a speed meter, an odometer, a main switch and a meter cover covering the instrument panel and the main switch. The main switch is provided with a key cylinder projecting inwardly from the side surface of the meter cover. An inclined surface is formed on the side surface of the meter cover so that the projecting direction of the key cylinder is oriented obliquely downwardly. The inclined surface is formed at a position lowered by one step from the outermost circumferential surface of the meter cover. The resulting configuration reduces the size of the instrument panel device by reducing the depth of the instrument panel device incorporating the main switch with the key cylinder. |
| US07677769B2 |
Displaying assembly for portable electronic device
A displaying assembly (100) for use in a portable electronic device, includes a flexible circuit board (40), a light emitting diode (20) mounted on the flexible circuit board, and a light equalizer (10) having an optical attenuator (13) formed thereon. The light emitting diode is electrically connected to the flexible circuit board. The optical attenuator faces the light emitting diode. |
| US07677767B2 |
LED lamp having higher efficiency
An LED lamp includes a heatsink housing, a heatsink plate mounted on the heatsink housing, an LED module mounted on the heatsink plate, and a circuit board mounted in the heatsink housing and electrically connected to the LED module. Thus, when the LED module is operated, the heat produced by the LED module is transferred by a heat conduction of the heatsink plate and by a heat convection between the heatsink plate and the heatsink housing, so that the heat produced by the LED module is carried away exactly and quickly, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation effect of the LED module. |
| US07677765B2 |
Light emitting device having a metal can package for improved heat dissipation
A light emitting device having an hermetically sealed package that includes a light source positioned in a metal can container on which is placed an optically-transparent cover. An enclosed space formed by the metal can container and the optically-transparent cover may be filled with an inert, heat-conducting gas or liquid and the inner surface of the metal can container may be coated with a high-reflector material that prevents absorption of the light emitted by the light source. A method of producing a light-emitting device having an hermetically-sealed package and a method of dissipating heat from a light-emitting device having an hermetically-sealed package is also provided. |
| US07677763B2 |
Method and system for attachment of light emitting diodes to circuitry for use in lighting
A method and system for attaching LEDs to circuitry which would protect the LEDs from heat damage and allows for individual LEDs to be removed. |
| US07677762B1 |
Lighting array and client attraction device
A lighting array comprising a grid to be formed into multiple positions with at least two cells, at least one interconnected wall between each pair of cells, and an opening in each cell. The lighting array further comprises at least a first holding arm secured to each cell, a second holding arm secured to each cell opposite the first holding arm, a rigid housing removably insertable into each cell, at least one light supported within each rigid housing and a power supply connected to each light. |
| US07677761B2 |
Light-emitting diode stacked lighting core for lamp bulb
A light-emitting diode stacked lighting core includes a core top board, a core bottom board, and vertical boards, all being circuit boards. The core top board and the vertical boards are provided with light-emitting diodes and the core bottom board is provided with a circuit that is formed of a rectifier and a voltage reduction element and having two terminals extending outward. The vertical boards form extended fitting tabs and the core top board and the core bottom board respectively form openings corresponding to the fitting tabs to receive the fitting tabs to fit therein and to be fixed thereto by means of soldering, whereby the light-emitting diodes of the core top board and the vertical boards are put in electrical connection with each other to form the lighting core that is receivable and fixed in a light-transmitting enclosure. |
| US07677760B2 |
Efficient and uniformly distributed illumination from multiple source luminaires
Light projecting devices for integrating the light output from multiple light emitting quasi point sources into unified predetermined light patterns. The multiple light emitting quasi point sources (such as LEDs [Light Emitting Diodes]) are generally stacked with a common optical axis, each of the light emitting quasi point light sources further surrounded by a ring collimator designed to collect and project a radial beam of light away from the optical axis. In some embodiments, a series of individual collimators surround each of the light emitting quasi point sources and substitutions for the ring collimator forming an array of beams projected away from the optical axis. Further, either of the systems, whether incorporating a ring collimator or a series of individual collimators, may use reflecting surfaces to intercept and redirect the radiating collimated light into distribution patterns ranging from focused beams to ambient broad light distribution. |
| US07677757B2 |
Lamp holder, backlight device using the same, and display using the same
A lamp holder includes a mounting portion, a lamp holding part which is connected to the mounting portion, and includes an end capable of surrounding a peripheral surface of a lamp, and is capable of being elastically opened and deformed with attaching and detaching of the lamp. The present invention also includes a recessed portion positioned at an opposed surface to the lamp in the lamp holding part and in a position between an end portion and a connecting region to a mounting portion, such that the recessed portion allows the lamp holding part to bend so that the end portion displaces in a direction to be away from the peripheral surface of the lamp. |
| US07677752B2 |
Power tool equipped with light
A power tool includes a main housing, a motor, a hammer case, an end-tool holding part, a driving-force transmitting mechanism, a light-unit mounting part, a light unit, and a cover. The motor is accommodated in the main housing and is configured to generate a driving force. The hammer case has an outer peripheral surface. The end-tool holding part is configured to hold an end tool. The driving-force transmitting mechanism is accommodated in the hammer case. The driving-force transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit the driving force to the end-tool holding part. The light-unit mounting part is formed integrally with the hammer case. The light unit is mounted to the light-unit mounting part. The cover covers the outer peripheral surface of the hammer case and accommodates the light-unit mounting part and the light unit. |
| US07677748B2 |
Light guide device for water spraying device
Disclosed is a light guide device for a water spraying device. The light guide device includes a light guide block that is a light-transmitting block having a refractive index greater than one. The light guide block has a circumferential face in which a plurality of mounting holes is defined for receiving and retaining light-emitting elements. A plurality of through holes is defined through the light guide blocks and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting holes. Each through hole has a roughened inside surface. The through holes are in fluid communication with water discharge holes of the water spraying device so that water jets supplied from the water spraying device can flow through the through holes for discharging. The light-emitting elements emit light rays that transmit through the light guide block and get into the through holes and the water jets. The rays are subject to reflection inside the water jets to provide lighting or luminous effect to the water jets. |
| US07677747B2 |
Computer panel with light-reflecting and light-shielding member
A panel assembly includes a panel (10), a mounting apparatus (50), a light-reflecting member (30) and a rotary member (70). The panel includes a light-pervious area (131) and an opaque area. The mounting apparatus is mounted in an inside of the panel. The light-reflecting member is pivotably coupled to the mounting apparatus. The light-reflecting member has an engaging member (371) and a light-pervious portion (35) for emitting light. The rotary member is rotatably attached to the mounting apparatus and accessible from an outside of the panel, and the rotary member being meshed with the engaging member of the light-reflecting member for driving the light-reflecting member to rotate between a first position where the light-pervious portion is aligned with the light-pervious area and a second position where the light-pervious portion faces toward the opaque area of the panel. |
| US07677746B2 |
Illumination device
The present invention discloses an illumination device for illuminating users of a multimedia communication terminal. In particular, the illumination device includes high power white LEDs together with a reflector and a diffuser integrated in, or connected to, the terminal. Preferably, the light intensity and the position and angle relative to the terminal are controllable through a user interface. |
| US07677744B2 |
Ring pointer illumination
An illuminated pointer assembly for a gauge scale having an outer periphery includes a pointer that moves about a periphery of the gauge scale and is illuminated by a light guide. The light guide is disposed on a plane below the pointer and the gauge scale. The light guide includes at least two LEDs that are disposed adjacent first and second ends of the light guide. The light guide also includes a plurality of reflective elements. The plurality of reflective elements is disposed in sets that are orientated with regard to each of the LEDs. The reflective elements provide for the transmission and direction of light within the light guide into the guide body portion of the pointer. |
| US07677741B2 |
Auxiliary accessory for a vehicle rearview mirror
An auxiliary accessory for a vehicle rearview mirror having a linking segment with an outer end, a casing formed on the outer end of the linking segment with an outer rim and a mirror mounted in the casing has a cover and an auxiliary mirror assembly. The cover is detachably mounted on the casing of the vehicle rearview mirror and has a body, a mounting gap and multiple retaining tabs. The body has a shape corresponding to the casing of the vehicle rearview mirror and two mounting recesses. The auxiliary mirror assembly is detachably connected to the cover and has an auxiliary mirror mounted in one of the mounting recesses of the body to increase the viewing range of the vehicle rearview mirror. |
| US07677736B2 |
Illumination light source and two-dimensional image display using same
An illumination light source uses a beam to scan while a relatively small mirror, such as an MEMS mirror, is oscillated at or in the vicinity of the resonance frequency. In this instance, the scan angle is corrected with the use of a correction optical system for uniform illumination to be achieved. |
| US07677730B2 |
Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus
An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus includes a light source having two or more types of light-emitting-diode (LED) light emitting elements configured to emit light of different wavelengths, an illumination optical system configured to illuminate a fundus of a subject's eye with light emitted by the light source, an imaging optical system configured to form a fundus image from light reflected from the fundus of the subject's eye illuminated by the illumination optical system, and a control unit configured to control the light source to emit light of different wavelengths, with which the fundus of the subject's eye is illuminated, between when the formed fundus image is observed and when the formed fundus image is captured as a still image. |
| US07677726B2 |
Manufacturing method for spectacle lens and spectacle lens
To ensure optical performance within a permissible range, making outward appearance excellent, and making binocular vision comfortable. In cases where a difference of prescription including dioptric power between the right and left eyes is equal to or more than prescribed, when curvature of a first refracting surface and a second refracting surface of the right and left spectacle lenses is designed, binocular vision balanced design such as selection of at least either of a first or second refracting surface out of the right and left spectacle lenses, or an intermediate curvature of the first and second surfaces of the right and left spectacle lenses according to a dominant eye ratio so that a difference between curvature of the first refracting surfaces of right and left spectacle lenses is within a prescribed range after the right and left spectacle lenses fulfill prescription conditions containing dioptric power respectively, and optical performance of the right and left spectacle lenses are within their permissible ranges respectively. |
| US07677725B2 |
Ophthalmic lenses capable of reducing chromatic aberration
A method of designing an aspheric ophthalmic lens with both refractive and diffractive powers that is capable of reducing chromatic aberration and at least one monochromatic aberration of an eye comprises combining aspherical refractive and diffractive surfaces, selecting an appropriate eye model, establishing a design lens having at least one aspheric surface with a capacity to reduce monochromatic aberration in said eye model, establishing a diffractive lens element that corrects for chromatic aberration of the model eye; and adjusting the lens surface design in order to obtain a suitably high polychromatic image quality in a form that is weighted to comply with a spectral merit function. |
| US07677724B1 |
Spectacle frame mount for face mask
A spectacle frame mount provides secure, removable positioning of a spectacle frame in a gas mask or full face respirator. A spring wire mount supports the spectacle frame between two legs of a loop. The spring wire mount includes two leg portions that have lower ends which terminate adjacent each other when the mount is in its use position. The two leg portions positively engage an internal portion of the full face mask so that the spectacle frame will be positioned within the interior of the mask at a location such that the spectacles will be properly positioned for use by the person wearing the mask. |
| US07677723B2 |
Eyeglasses with a heart rate monitor
A pair of glasses with a heart-rate monitor according to one embodiment. The heart-rate monitor is configured to measure the heart rate of the user of the glasses. The heart-rate monitor can include a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver. The radiation could be infrared radiation. In one approach, the receiver measures signals transmitted by the transmitter through a body part of the user to measure the user's heart rate. The sensor could be incorporated in a clip to clip onto the body part of the user, such as the ear lobe of the user. In another approach, the receiver measures signals transmitted by the transmitter and reflected by a body part of the user to measure the user's heart rate. |
| US07677722B1 |
Device for attaching to eyeglass frame
The present invention provides a device for securing to the stem of an eyeglass frame comprising (a) a sleeve member having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a dividing member within said sleeve member, said dividing member having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge being secured to the inner surface of said sleeve member along a first line and said second edge being secured to a second line that is substantially parallel to said first line and spaced there from to thereby define a first channel and a second channel within said sleeve member, said first channel being configured for receiving an eyeglass stem and securing said device to said eyeglass stem and said second channel being configured for retaining an anchor member within said sleeve member; and (c) a clip comprising an anchor member and an arm, said anchor member being retained within said second channel and said anchor member having a first edge and said being arm secured to said first edge of said anchor member and oriented over the outer surface of said sleeve member. |
| US07677721B2 |
Interchangeable decorative arrangement for spectacles
A spectacle frame includes two lenses, a frame body holding said two lenses in position, and an interchangeable decorative arrangement which includes one or more personalizing elements detachably and interchangeably affixing at a personalizing portion of the frame body, wherein the personalizing element, having a shape corresponding to the personalizing portion of said frame body, forms an add-on personal decorative item to personify the frame body so as to enhance an aesthetic appearance of the spectacle frame. |
| US07677720B2 |
Chemically-modified coatings for enhanced performance of ink-jet images
Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided. |
| US07677715B2 |
Ink jet recording apparatus
When an image is formed by imparting aqueous ink discharged from a recording head onto a recording medium P, water content contained in the aqueous ink is evaporated by a heater to suppress curl generated in the recording medium P after the image formation. The aqueous ink contains at least 15% by weight of curl control agent, and the viscosity of the aqueous ink is lower than 4 cp. The viscosity is increased to suppress the curl generation by evaporating the water content contained in the aqueous ink imparted on the recording medium P after the image formation. |
| US07677713B2 |
Solid ink set incorporating naturally derived materials and processes thereof
A solid phase change ink composition that includes an ink vehicle, a colorant, and at least one naturally derived material. At least one naturally derived material is a low melt material having an onset of melting from about 45° C. to about 120° C., and a melt transition width of from about 3° C. to about 30° C. Also provided is a method for producing a solid phase change ink composition that includes selecting at least one naturally derived material, forming an ink vehicle, and adding a colorant, wherein at least one naturally derived material is a low melt material having an onset of melting of from about 45° C. to about 120° C., and a melt transition width of from about 3° C. to about 30° C. An ink jet device that includes the solid phase change ink composition described in the present disclosure is also provided. |
| US07677711B2 |
Ink-feeding device for ink-jet printing apparatus
An ink-feeding device for ink-jet printing apparatus comprises an ink-containing tank (2) and at least one print head (7) connected to the tank (2). The device further comprises a metering device (3) interposed between the tank (2) and the print head (7) and provided with an inner space (10) having a planar major extension to keep the pressure of the ink feeding the print head (7) substantially constant and to improve the print quality. |
| US07677709B2 |
Liquid ejection head and image forming apparatus
The liquid ejection head comprises: a nozzle through which liquid is ejected; a pressure chamber which is connected to the nozzle; a diaphragm which pressurizes the pressure chamber; and a laminated piezoelectric element which causes the diaphragm to deform and is formed on the diaphragm by means of a thin film forming technique, wherein: an effective surface area of the diaphragm forming one inner surface of the pressure chamber is greater than a surface area of a bonding section between the diaphragm and the laminated piezoelectric element; a surface area of an active section of the laminated piezoelectric element is greater than the effective surface area of the diaphragm; and the laminated piezoelectric element is formed in such a manner that a cross-sectional area of the laminated piezoelectric element perpendicular to a direction of lamination becomes smaller as receding from the diaphragm. |
| US07677708B2 |
Discharge device
There is disclosed a small and thin ink jet head having an excellent productivity, in which Piezoelectric elements capable of developing a large displacement amount and a high displacement generation force can highly densely be arranged together with ink chambers and nozzles and in which generation of crosstalk is inhibited. A discharge device comprises a channel section in which a plurality of channels are formed, each channel having an introduction hole, a pressurizing chamber and a discharge hole; and an actuator section having a top plate, a pair of support walls arranged at opposite ends of the top plate and a plurality of piezoelectric elements hanging from the top plate, spread between the pair of support walls, arranged independently of one another and forming pairs with the channels. |
| US07677707B2 |
Method of forming thick layer by screen printing and method of forming piezoelectric actuator of inkjet head
A method to form a thick layer by screen printing and a method to form a piezoelectric actuator of an inkjet head. The method to form the thick layer including forming a guide groove in a surface to a predetermined depth, and forming the thick layer by applying a material to the surface inside the guide groove through screen printing. The method to form the piezoelectric actuator including forming an insulating layer on a top surface of a vibration plate and forming a guide groove in the top surface of the vibration plate or an insulating layer to a predetermined depth at a position corresponding to each of a plurality of pressure chambers, forming a lower electrode on the top surface of the insulating layer; forming a piezoelectric layer inside the guide groove by screen printing, and forming an upper electrode on a top surface of the piezoelectric layer. |
| US07677700B2 |
Liquid discharge head
A liquid discharge head includes a liquid discharge substrate containing an energy generating element and a liquid discharge port, a flow path member of a resinous material fixed to the liquid discharge substrate and having at least a liquid supply path, a sealing material of a resinous material, a concave part, and a support substrate, wherein a distance L1 from a lateral face of the concave part of the flow path member to an end of the support substrate, a distance L2 from the lateral face of the concave part to a lateral face of the liquid discharge substrate, a linear expansion coefficient E1 of the flow path member and a linear expansion coefficient E2 of the sealing material satisfy a relation: L1×E1>L2×E2. |
| US07677696B2 |
Liquid discharge head
In order to suppress peeling of a film formed on a base, and improve the durability and reliability of the film, an overhang is provided on a side surface of a sacrifice layer, whereby a film is formed, which has an edge portion having a thickness distribution, in which a thickness is gradually decreased to substantially zero at an edge of a formed film. |
| US07677695B2 |
Fluid transfer device including a die
Embodiments of a fluid transfer device are disclosed. |
| US07677694B2 |
Image-forming apparatus and image-forming method
An image-forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming a high-quality image without adverse effect (deterioration in printing precision) which may be caused by a dimensional error in producing ink ejection orifice rows, an error in arranging the ink ejection orifice rows, an error in delivering a recording medium, or a like error. With the apparatus employing six rows of ink ejection orifices, an image is formed by ejecting the ink from the third row of the six ink ejection orifice row numbered in the delivery direction onto a raster line zone L3, ejecting the ink from the fifth row onto a raster line zone L5, ejecting the ink from the sixth row onto a raster line zone L6, ejecting the ink from the fourth row onto a raster line zone L4, ejecting the ink from the second row onto a raster line zone L2, and ejecting the ink from the first row numbered in the recording medium delivery direction onto a raster line zone L1. |
| US07677689B2 |
Method of measuring volumes of ink droplets and method of controlling nozzles of inkjet head using the method
A method of measuring the volumes of ink droplets is provided that includes repeatedly forming print patterns each including a plurality of ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head, photographing ink droplets which correspond to each other in terms of ejection order among the ink droplets of the repeatedly formed print patterns and measuring the volumes of the photographed ink droplets. |
| US07677688B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
When printing an image on a printing sheet, it is judged whether or not an RFID tag has been arranged in the printing sheet. When an RFID tag has been arranged, an image indicating the presence of RFID tag is printed, or an RFID tag cutting assistant line or the like for invalidating RFID tag is printed, whereby the user can easily recognize the presence of RFID tag. Also, the user can easily cut out and invalidate the RFID tag. When the user's information has been recorded on the RFID tag, a mark indicating the writing of information into RFID tag is attached to the printing sheet, whereby the user can easily recognize the presence/absence of information recorded on RFID tag. Consequently, there can be provided a method capable of identifying and easily discarding a printing sheet with RFID tag which can leak out the user's secret, privacy information or the like, and a method for easily judging whether or not ID information has already been recorded on a printing sheet with RFID tag. |
| US07677685B2 |
Nozzle assembly for an inkjet printer for ejecting a low volume droplet
A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current. A drive transistor provides an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator, and control logic controls the drive transistor. The volume of said droplet is less than 3 pl. |
| US07677676B2 |
Vehicle wheel for a double-track vehicle or cover therefor
A vehicle wheel for a double-track vehicle or an external cover therefor is provided, having passage openings, particularly for a cooling air flow for a wheel brake provided on the interior side of the wheel, in the lateral projection. The passage openings have a width in the radial direction which changes when viewed in the circumferential direction such that, viewed against the rotating direction of the wheel when the vehicle is driving forward, the above-mentioned width Viewed in the radial direction, centers of the virtual segments of the passage opening which follow one another against the rotating direction move in the direction of the wheel center. As a result, the force as well as the lever arm of the drag is reduced, so that a moment of resistance is obtained which is significantly decreased. The passage openings are preferably bounded by spokes extending essentially in the radial direction. |
| US07677674B2 |
Cutting machine
In a cutting machine (1) with cutting heads or rollers (7) rotationally mounted on a pivotable cutting arm (6), including a loading ramp or a conveyor (9) extending in the direction to the mine face for receiving and removing the cut material, wherein the cutting arm (6) is mounted on a carriage (4) displaceable on guides extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, the carriage (4) carries guide rods (12) extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine and engaging in tubular guides (13) of the machine frame (3) carrying a chassis (2). |
| US07677673B2 |
Stimulation and recovery of heavy hydrocarbon fluids
The present invention is directed to the use of electromagnetic radiation, acoustic energy, and surfactant injection to recover hydrocarbon-containing materials from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. |
| US07677670B2 |
Patient chair
A back for a patient chair with which a patient may be moved from a generally upright sitting position to a generally supine position comprises a back shell and a cushion. The back shell has a front surface, a back surface, a top, a bottom, opposed first and second outer sides, a central section extending longitudinally from a region adjacent the top to a region adjacent the bottom and opposed side sections extending laterally outwardly from the central section toward the first and second outer sides. The cushion is attached to the back shell. The central section of the back shell comprises a plurality of stiffening elements that extend longitudinally of the back shell. A patient chair including the back is also described. |
| US07677663B1 |
Safety seat assembly
An assembly for safely supporting an occupant in a vehicle such as, but not limited to, a watercraft and including a seat assembly and a support frame. A connector assembly is disposed and structured to movably interconnect the seat assembly to said support frame along a first rotational axis. A mount assembly is connected to the vehicle and includes an attachment assembly disposed and structured to movably interconnect the support frame to the mount assembly along a second rotational axis. The support frame and the connector assembly associated therewith as well as the mount assembly and the attachment assembly associated therewith are cooperatively disposed and structured to orient said first and second rotational axes in substantially perpendicular relation to one another, such that the seat assembly will be able to move in a substantially gimbal-like fashion relative to the movement of the vehicle while traveling. |
| US07677659B2 |
Active head restraint systems for vehicle seats
Multiple vehicle seats are disclosed with active head restraint systems that receive an input force from an occupant during an impact by a torso support, which consequently actuates a linkage that translates a head restraint upward and forward to the head of the occupant. In one embodiment, the torso support has a translatable connection with the seatback frame and another translatable connection with the linkage. In another embodiment, a torso support is pivotally connected to a pair of links which are each pivotally connected to the frame. In yet another embodiment, the seatback frame includes a structural wire, which provides pivotal connections for two of the links of the linkage. |
| US07677658B2 |
Automotive headrest
Disclosed herein is an automotive headrest, which is constructed so that the automotive headrest is not tilted, but is displaced in a straight line in only one direction in a rectilinear motion, and is then returned to its original position. The automotive headrest includes a stay rod having vertical parts secured to a seat, and a horizontal part coupling the vertical parts to each other. A horizontal guide frame is secured to the horizontal part of the stay rod. A ratchet slider is movably mounted to the horizontal guide frame. A ratchet pawl locks or releases the ratchet slider. A tension spring returns the displaced ratchet slider to its original position. A ratchet spring provides tensile force to the ratchet pawl. |
| US07677655B2 |
Combination seat and storage enclosure method and apparatus
A seat having a back portion and a bottom portion can be inverted to form a storage enclosure, wherein the back portion forms the top of the enclosure and the bottom portion forms a side of the enclosure. Movable end panels may also be provided to secure the ends of the enclosure. |
| US07677654B2 |
Foldable armrest
An armrest for a vehicle seat includes a seat cushion and a backrest. The armrest is intended to be turned around a pivot axis between a first active position and a second folded-away position. The armrest includes an upper part, which in the active position is positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a substantially vertical plane through a side surface constituting an outer edge surface of the vehicle seat and intended to support a user's forearm, and at least one lower part provided with a fixing device for attaching the upper part to the vehicle seat. The lower part includes a linking mechanism arranged for setting the upper part in a transverse direction between a first position outside the side surface and an adjustable second position, and a locking device that is arranged to activate a catch that locks the upper part in a set position after it has been moved to the second position. A vehicle seat provided with an armrest and to a vehicle including an armrest are also provided. |
| US07677644B2 |
Rear body panel for a golf car
A rear body panel for a golf car includes a seat support portion and a bag well portion disposed rearward from the seat support portion. The rear body panel also includes a pair of wheel wells disposed on opposite sides of the bag well portion. The seat support portion includes a discontinuous recessed flange, a lower end trim edge, and at least one tab for limiting movement of the rear body panel on the golf car. Stiffening ribs are also included adjacent the wheel wells, and hand hold apertures are further included. The bag well portion includes a front wall portion, a pair of outwardly sloped side walls, and a floor portion with an impact absorption feature. |
| US07677643B2 |
Body framework construction
A body framework construction, includes: a rear seat cross member, extending in a transverse direction of a vehicle, in a rear part of a body in a lower part of a passenger compartment; a dash cross member upper, extending in the transverse direction, in a front part of the passenger compartment; and a backbone, configured into a thin, long shape having a closed cross section, and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A front end portion of the backbone is connected to the dash cross member upper via a gusset, and a rear end portion of the backbone is joined to the rear seat cross member. The gusset is deformed more easily than the backbone relative to a force from a front. |
| US07677641B1 |
Camper truck tent
A Camper Truck Tent for detachably mounting on a pickup truck, consisting of front and rear mounting supports attached to the truck cargo box sidewalls, various tent poles attaching the folded out tent to the mounting supports, erecting means for folding out the tent and two beds placed inside the erected tent. When dismantled, all these components occupy minimum space. The tent itself is stored in a self-contained pouch on the cargo box floor, the mounting supports in an envelope integral with one bed and the tent poles in an envelope integral with the second bed. The stored components are close to the cargo box floor and out of sight of the truck driver. Several tent pole configurations are available: two main configurations and three alternative configurations. Front and aft erecting means keep the tent folded out. The front means is a front strap secured to the front of the truck or a cramping tent pole. The aft means are aft straps secured to the downed tailgate. |
| US07677636B2 |
Method for controlling a power-operated vehicle accessory, in particular a power-operated folding hardtop roof
A motor vehicle configuration includes a folding roof and an electro-hydraulic system for moving the folding roof between a closed position and an open position. A roof actuation request for moving the folding roof from the closed position to the open position is blocked if the total number of roof actuation requests occurring in a period when the engine is off has reached a given maximum number in order to protect the vehicle battery. A display provides a driver alert information if the total number of roof actuation requests occurring in the period when the engine is off has reached the given maximum number. A method for controlling a power-operated vehicle roof is also provided. |
| US07677633B2 |
Convertible vehicle and hinge device
In a convertible vehicle having a folding convertible top (16), whose rear side is affixed to a tensioning bow (20) laterally supported relative to the vehicle, and a rear trunk lid (14) laterally supported relative to the vehicle, wherein its front side is arranged in the vicinity of the tensioning bow in its closed state, the tensioning bow (20) can be brought into an upwardly pivoted position during the opening of the rear trunk lid (14) or when the rear trunk lid is opened, so that an opening for loading of a luggage compartment, which is arranged underneath the rear trunk lid and underneath the tensioning bow at least when the folding convertible top is closed, is enlarged. |
| US07677632B2 |
Roof construction for motor vehicles
A roof structure for motor vehicles has at least one roof panel attached to the body of the motor vehicle, a headliner, a linkage for shifting the roof panel from an out-of-service position into a use position, and at least one support element carrying a portion of the headliner for displacement between an out-of-service end position and a working end position. The headliner portion in the respective out-of-service end position covers a motor-vehicle portion and in the working position frees the motor-vehicle portion. The support element is pivotal to displace the portion about a pivot axis fixed relative to the roof panel. |
| US07677631B1 |
Vehicle access assembly
An access assembly for a vehicle body. The access assembly includes a body panel movably mounted to the vehicle body for movement between an open position and a closed position and defining an access opening. A door assembly is provided on the body panel and has a cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. A vehicle component is disposed in a substantially fixed position with respect to the vehicle body, the vehicle component having a receptacle that is substantially aligned with the access opening when the body panel is in the closed position. The access opening is exposed when the cover is in the open position, and the access opening is concealed when the cover is in the closed position. |
| US07677623B2 |
Active rigging device
An active rigging system, using multiple lines to support a load, places a constant tension on at least one of the lines. The constant tension allows a resistance to slack in the line, which in turn allows the line to maintain support of the lines' respective share of the load. This configuration allows a reduction of stress in the load and an enablement of support of loads having an unequal weight distribution. Additionally, the invention includes a method for relieving stress from a load, supported by multiple lines generally susceptible to slack. The method includes placing a constant tension on at least one of the lines to allow that line to resist slack. The resistance to slack involves utilizing a tension force and an adjustment of the line via a pulley. |
| US07677620B1 |
Disc retrieving apparatus
A disc retrieving apparatus includes an elongated pole that has a first end and a second end. The pole is telescopic and is selectively extended into an engaged position or retracted into a stored position. A head is attached to the pole adjacent to the first end of the pole. The head includes a plate attached to the pole and a plurality of tines extending away from the plate. The tines are approximately coplanar with each other. Each of the tines has a distal end with respect to the plate. Each of a plurality of teeth is attached to one of the distal end. The teeth extend downwardly from a plane of the tines. The pole is extended to the engaged position as needed to retrieve an object from water with the head. |
| US07677618B2 |
Sanitary tubular pet waste removal device
A sanitary tubular pet waste removal device includes a hollow proximal section having a handle extending from a first end thereof and a hollow distal section extending from a second end of the proximal section, the second end opposite the first end. One or both of the distal and proximal sections includes a scoop arranged to nest within the sections when not in use, and the interior of the distal section is adapted to temporarily hold and sanitarily retain fecal matter. Together, the proximal and distal sections form a bat-like structure when not in use, thereby facilitating ease of carrying by a user. The handle of the proximal section includes a separable light source arranged to illuminate the exterior of the unit, acting as a safety light, and also arranged to shine down to the ground beneath, thereby facilitating the process of locating target fecal matter. |
| US07677616B2 |
Bumper absorber
A bumper absorber includes an upper leg and a lower leg, each of which extends in a longitudinal direction of an automobile, and a spanning portion. The spanning portion connects the upper leg and the lower leg, and faces an outer surface side of the bumper absorber in a longitudinal direction of the automobile. Each of the upper leg and the lower leg includes a buckling inductive portion that serves as a starting point of the buckling that is caused when the spanning portion receives an impact load. The buckling inductive portion is formed as an angular transition portion in which the angle of inclination between inner side surfaces changes. The inner side surfaces mutually face between the upper leg and the lower leg that include the buckling inductive portion. |
| US07677614B2 |
Device for operating locks on doors or hatches of vehicles
In a device for operating locks (16) on doors or hatches of vehicles, a fixed support (10) is a arranged on the door. A moving unit (20) is mounted (11, 12), such as to pivot on the support (10), belonging to which is at least one handle (21). Spring loading (25, 26) ensures the unoperated moving unit (20) is held in a flat rest position on the support (10). On operating the handle, the moving unit (20) must be pivoted against said spring loading, whereby the lock (16) is operated. A damping unit (30) ensures that the returning moving unit (20) pivoting action is decelerated. A reliable, economical damping unit (30) is obtained, whereby an elastic body (31) is arranged in at least one position on the moving unit (20) which extends outwards with a projection (32). On the return movement (39) into the rest position the extending projection (32) is deformed against a fixed counter-surface (40), whereupon the movement energy is largely dissipated. On reaching the rest position, the deformed projection (32) is supported against the counter-surface (40). |
| US07677611B2 |
Flanged joint
A flanged joint for a pressure medium. The flanged joint includes a first component and a second component having an interior. Also included is at least one flat gasket held between facing surfaces of the first and second components. An annular groove and a radially opposed working diameter are located between the interior and the at least one flat gasket. At least one lamella ring is held in the annular groove and biased, essentially without a gap, against the working diameter. |
| US07677608B2 |
Quick connector
When a retainer is mounted on or in a retainer mounting portion and is positioned at an inserting position, a pipe is inserted into the retainer mounting portion. An annular engaging projection of the pipe advances in the connector housing while spreading leg portions of the retainer outwardly. When the annular engaging projection reaches a connecting position, the retainer is automatically moved to an engaging position and snap-engages with the annular engaging projection. |
| US07677607B2 |
Adjustable fluid coupling assembly
A coupling assembly including a union member having a first receiving portion with internal threads and a second receiving portion with oppositely oriented internal threads, a first coupling member (e.g., a hose adapter) having external threads that are threadingly engaged to the internal threads of the union member, and a second coupling member (e.g., an elbow fitting) having external threads that are threadingly engaged to the oppositely oriented internal threads of the union member. Upon rotation of the union member, the length and/or phase angle between the first and second coupling members changes. |
| US07677599B2 |
Swiveling roll bar
The invention relates to a swivelable roll bar, in particular for construction vehicles, with two vertical carriers, each of which has a pair of spars, whereby in each, one spar is connected swivelably through a link joint with the another spar, and the link joint comprises a lock and a stop. The stop consists of a joint stiffener, which is built as an extension of one spar and partially grips about the end of the other. In addition to that, the lock has a continuously adjustable final control element, with which the joint stiffener can be braced against the other spar. With the grip about the other spar, the flexural strength of the link joint of the swivelable roll bar is increased. Further, the bracing of the joint stiffener against the other spar eliminates the play in the link joint. The joint stiffener is preferably built as a U-shaped tubular segment that is attached to the latter as an extension of the spar. |
| US07677598B1 |
Integrated side airbag and inflatable belt
A vehicle seat and integrated side impact protection system includes a seat bottom, a seat back movably attached to the seat bottom, and a fold-flat mechanism within a lower portion of the seat back for permitting movement of the seat back between a seating configuration and a fold-flat configuration. An airbag module is located within an upper portion of the seat back adjacent the outboard side thereof and includes a side airbag and an inflator supplying inflation gasses. A lap belt extends between inboard and outboard sides of the seat and has an inflatable portion adjacent the outboard side of the seat. A gas conduit extends between the airbag module and the lap belt for conducting gasses released by the inflator to the inflatable portion of the lap belt. The gas conduit has a flexible portion permitting folding movement of the seat back. |
| US07677596B2 |
Side airbag intensifier pocket
An apparatus for assisting and guiding deployment of a side airbag through a deployment seam of a seat cover for a vehicle seat having a seat frame includes an airbag assembly connectable to a support portion of the seat back frame, an intensifier pocket having an inboard and outboard panel, and an elongate support rod releasably connectable to the seat back frame of the vehicle seat for closing and anchoring an opening in the pocket. Each panel has a first peripheral portion connected to opposite edges of the deployment seam in the seat cover to be forced open during inflation of the side airbag, second peripheral portions extending inwardly toward the seat back frame where the inboard and outboard panels are connected to one another, and third peripheral portions defining an opening in the pocket of sufficient size to allow the pocket to be positioned over the airbag assembly and support portion of the seat back frame. The support rod can be engaged through at least one sleeve formed along the third peripheral portion of each panel for closing and anchoring the opening in the pocket. |
| US07677594B2 |
Vehicle seat having a side airbag deployment strap
A seat assembly for supporting an occupant in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat back for supporting the back of the occupant. The seat back includes an airbag module, a frame, a trim cover and a plurality of straps connecting the trim cover to the frame. The airbag module has an inflatable airbag. The trim cover covers the airbag module, foam pad and frame. The trim cover has a first seam through which the airbag can deploy during operation of the airbag module. The trim cover has a second seam spaced apart from the first seam. The plurality of straps prevent stretching of the trim cover during deployment of the airbag and direct the energy associated with the deployment of the airbag toward the first seam. First and second straps of the plurality of straps each have a first end fixedly secured to the trim cover along the first seam and a second end fixedly secured to the frame. The airbag module is disposed the first and second straps. A third strap of the plurality of straps has a first end fixedly secured to the trim cover along the second seam and a second end fixedly secured to the frame. |
| US07677592B2 |
Bicycle pod transport system
A trailer with interchangeable cargo specific pods positionable into alignment with a flatbed of the trailer and including fasteners in vertical alignment with fasteners of the trailer. The cargo specific pods may carry cargo such as bicycles, kayaks, canoes, skis, sailboats, skidoos, luggage, seadoos, surfboards, livestock, scoreboards, advertising panels, rowing sculls, contractor's equipment, camping units, and camper trailer pods. One or more pods may be placed on the flatbed at a time for transport by the trailer. One cargo pod includes doors to allow for easy access to cargo. A bicycle pod includes an arrangement of inclined grooved supports for receiving bicycle tires. Sets of hooks may be staggered in height from highest to lowest. Each grooved support includes a hook for hooking about a bicycle tire. A watercraft pod comprises a ladder assembly having opposing ladder towers, each tower including at least one support formed from a rung which pairs with an opposing rung. The ladder towers are supported by an adjustable brace assembly. |
| US07677591B2 |
Beach cart for recreation and sports
The beach cart has two arcuate rails having two ends. Upon one end, the rails have a handle and on the other end, an axle and a pivoting plate. The axle spans the rails and has two wheels. The plate attaches to each rail at a hinge. The plate pivots from a position perpendicular to the rails to a position folded upon the rails. When unfolded, the plate supports cargo, and when folded, the plate supports a tabletop as the handle is positioned down and the cart positioned flat. Between the rails, a curved panel stiffens the cart. The curved panel has a tube in communication with two openings for carrying an umbrella. Centered at the crest of the panel, an aperture receives a beach umbrella when the invention is placed down at the beach. |
| US07677582B2 |
Vehicular component apparatus
An apparatus for removing, installing and/or servicing a vehicular component, such as a wheel/tyre, a motor or the like, particularly for large mining and/or earthmoving equipment. The apparatus includes a carrier device (100) and a component handling device (200). The carrier device (100) enables the apparatus to be moved over a substrate surface, and is preferably a U-shaped chassis having a pair of outwardly extending arms (140), and at least three wheels (120,130). The component handling device (200) is removably coupled to the carrier device (100). The component handling device (200) includes a frame (270) of complementary shape to the chassis to support the lower portion of the vehicular component, and, a support element (210). At least one retaining arm (220) extends from the support element (210) to provide support to an upper end of the vehicular component. |
| US07677579B2 |
Seal assembly for dividing an annular space in a double-walled pipeline
A seal assembly for dividing an annular space defined between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled pipeline. The seal assembly comprises an annular member fitted within the annular space and at least one longitudinal conveyor passing through the annular member, wherein the longitudinal conveyor communicates with the annular space on either side of the seal assembly. The longitudinal conveyor may comprise for example an electrical conductor or an optical fiber. |
| US07677575B2 |
Apparatus for playing a lawn game
Golf Gladiator is a lawn game of skill involving balls or other objects connected by a string or rope and a ladder design that has rungs at various distances from the players due to its unique angled design. To play, the ladder assembly is placed a predetermined distance from the players. A player grabs one ball and rope assembly and swings its at the ladder rungs, attempting to get it to wrap around a rung. Each rung has a point value assigned to it. There are three ball and rope assemblies per person or team. Each player or team throws all of his or its ball and rope assemblies and then the next player or team takes his or its turn. A variety of variations on these rules are possible. |
| US07677574B1 |
Random chance device for use in a game where cards are drawn during play
A game assembly and method of adding additional randomness to a game that uses a deck of cards during play. The deck of cards contains event cards that cause players to perform certain actions if drawn during the play of the game. A random selection device is provided. The random selection device utilizes indicia that correspond to the event cards and/or some new event activity. The random selection device embodies a means to randomly select a single indicia from the plurality of indicia being used. At least one card is added to the deck of cards that indicates that the selection device is to be used. Accordingly, when the card is drawn, the random selection device is utilized. The game is played as if the card indicated by the random selection device had been drawn from the deck of cards. |
| US07677565B2 |
Card shuffler with card rank and value reading capability
A card shuffling device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards, a collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, and an elevator for raising the collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. An automatic card shuffler includes a microprocessor with memory. An automated calibration system is provided that calibrates the precise position of the card supporting platform on the elevator so that precise insertion of cards can be performed during card handling procedures. |
| US07677562B2 |
Recording medium transport device, recording device, and liquid ejecting apparatus
A paper guide up unit pivotally supporting a transport driven roller making contact with a transport driving roller is provided so as to be able to be displaced by the rotation of cams. The angle α made by a straight line passing the rotation axis line position of the transport driving roller and the rotation axis line position of the transport driven roller when viewed from the paper transport pathway side and a straight perpendicular to the paper transport direction is changed by the displacement of the paper guide up unit. Control means for controlling the displacement operation of the paper guide up unit reduces the angle α before the paper back end is passed through the nip point of the transport driving roller and the transport driven roller. |
| US07677560B2 |
Apparatus for deflecting sheet material
An apparatus for deflecting sheet material from a first transport direction to a second transport direction while maintaining the orientation of the sheet material comprises a deflecting area (5) with a sheet-material supply zone (5a) and a sheet-material removal zone (5b), as well as at least one slider (11) with slider elements (12), which engages on the trailing edge of the sheet material to be deflected. By moving the slider from the sheet-material supply zone to the sheet-material removal zone around a rotation axis (13) the sheet material is deflected by the desired deflection angle. The sheet-material transport path preferably has two steps and the rotation axis (13) of the sliders (11) is preferably arranged in such a fashion that the slider elements (12) substantially only engage with the sheet-material transport path in the deflecting area (5) and emerge from the sheet-material transport path both upstream of the sheet-material supply zone (5a) and downstream of the sheet-material removal zone (5b). |
| US07677556B2 |
Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus
A holding member is rotatably axially supported to the apparatus main body, holds the sheet feeding unit to a rotational edge, and moves the sheet feeding unit to one of a sheet feeding position and a standby position and a gear train. By transferring the rotation of the opening/closing operation of the feed tray to the holding member through the gear train so that the sheet feeding unit is moved along with the opening/closing operation of the feed tray. |
| US07677552B2 |
Unstacker apparatus having a retractable blower member
Unstacker apparatus (1) for unstacking flat items (E), the unstacker apparatus comprising a flat item feed magazine (M) in which the flat items are disposed in a stack and on edge and are moved in a certain direction (D) until they reach an unstacking plate (6) disposed in alignment with said feed magazine, whereupon they are ejected one-by-one in a perpendicular direction (P) that is perpendicular to said certain direction (D), the unstacker apparatus further comprising a blower member (13) which is disposed so as to blow a jet of air onto the flat items, and which is mounted in a manner such as to be retractable into the unstacking plate. |
| US07677551B2 |
Document conveying apparatus
A document conveying apparatus (1) includes a conveying unit (30) inside a document feeding section (10), and the conveying unit (30) includes two fans (34) for cooling the inside of the document conveying apparatus (1). The fans (34) are arranged to pass air from upstream to downstream with respect to the document conveying direction. Thus, the stream of air produced by the fan (34) flows along the document conveying direction so that a document sheet is conveyed without being affected by a braking effect. Moreover, the air stream produced by the fan (34) flows along the document conveying passage (13) both on the air intake side and the air exhaust side of the fan (34). This facilitates the conveying of a document sheet by pulling it on the air intake side of the fan (34) and pushing it on the air exhaust side of the fan (34). |
| US07677549B2 |
Sheet supplying apparatus
A sheet supplying apparatus capable of being connected with sheet feeding apparatuses, image forming apparatuses and post processing apparatuses having: a common conveyance path to convey the sheet from the apparatuses on the upper stream side or sheet storing sections to down stream side having, a plurality of sheet feeding paths, a receiving conveyance path, a sending conveyance path, and a transit path to connect the receiving conveyance path and sending conveyance path, wherein the sending conveyance path has a shared conveyance path in which a plurality of sheet conveyance paths to feed the sheet from a plurality of the sheet storing sections are merge and reach to a sheet outlet, and the transit conveyance path is provided integrally with any one of the sheet storing sections, which can be withdrawn from a sheet supplying apparatus main body, at the bottom of the sheet storing section thereof. |
| US07677548B2 |
Cassette and image forming apparatus with multiple separation portions
A cassette for mounting on an image forming apparatus body and supplying media to the apparatus body. The cassette includes a first tray, a second tray and a slide mechanism. The first tray and second tray are each able to contain multiple media. The slide mechanism allows the trays to be movable relative to each other. The first tray has an oblique surface and a first separation portion, and the second tray has an oblique surface and a second separation portion. Each of the oblique surfaces can separate an uppermost medium from other media such that distal ends of the media during delivery abut against the oblique surface. Each of the first and second separation portions guides the separated medium along the oblique surface in a paper feeding direction. The first separation portion has a different structure than the second separation portion provided for the second tray. |
| US07677545B2 |
Paper-sheet storing and feeding device
A sheet storing/feeding device includes a receptacle for holding standing sheets, a stacking and feeding mechanism to successively carry the sheets into the receptacle and to feed a forefront sheet out of the receptacle. A pushing member configured to be optionally advanced and retracted is provided on the side of the forefront sheet in the receptacle, and a holding member is provided to be in contact with a backmost sheet in the receptacle. A retaining member is provided to be optionally advanced and retracted relative to a storage space defined between the stacking and feeding mechanism and the holding member. The retaining member, when advanced, can hold the sheets in the receptacle between the retaining member and the holding member so as to bring them into a temporary holding state, while, when retracted, can release the paper-sheets in the temporary holding state. |
| US07677532B2 |
System to guide a wire, chain or cable onboard a vessel
A system is described for handling a wire, a chain, a cable, etc. (12) onboard a vessel, comprising a number of winches (10) to pull in and let out said wire, chain, etc. (12), and also a number of tow pins (14) and shark jaws (16), mounted in an area at the stern of the vessel, and which is arranged to guide and/or to hold said wire, chain, etc. (12) that runs from or to said winches (10). The system further comprises at least one centering device (18) arranged between said tow pins (14) and shark jaws (16) and winches (10), preferably adjoining said tow pins (14) and shark jaws (16), where the centering device (18) comprises at least two guiding plates (20) that can be raised and lowered and which are arranged to guide and possibly to hold said wire, chain, etc. (12). |
| US07677531B1 |
Non-axial actuable valve capable of retaining both high and low pressures
The present invention relates to improved fluid valves actuable by a non-axial movement of an actuation stem. The non-linear actuable valves embodied in the present invention maintain pressure containment through a novel approach over the prior-art. The exemplary embodiments teach improved non-linear actuable valves that reduce the chances for seal extrusion, particularly at elevated retaining pressure, while keeping the component count low, and are capable of functioning under both high and low pressure. |
| US07677527B2 |
Dual position pilot operated valve assembly
A dual position pilot operated valve assembly having a main piston, with a valve member, reciprocable within a valve body, wherein the valve body is adapted for sealingly mating with a valve seat and passage located intermediate the valve body inlet and outlet ports, the valve body having a cylindrical adapter secured to an open end thereof and housing a secondary piston, reciprocable therein, with an axial stem depending from the second piston bottom surface and extending through the adaptor to the first piston cavity for intermittent contact therewith; and an end cap secured to and closing the adapter and having an inlet port interconnected with a source of high pressure control gas and respective first and second conduits leading to the main and secondary piston bore cavities, with an adjustment mechanism controlling the degree of opening/closing of the valve assembly. Several methods of operation are also set forth. |
| US07677525B2 |
Vegetation attachment device
A vegetation attachment device for supporting plant limbs is used in combination with an overhead support member, such as the horizontal support wire of a trellis system used to support grape vines. Embodiments of the device generally comprise an attachment hook configured to engage the overhead support wire, a closing hook, a catch member for engaging the closing hook, a deformable limb containment structure, and biasing means for maintaining the engagement of the closing hook to the catch member. The deformable limb containment structure deforms to accommodate limited lateral deflection or growth in the vine or plant limb. Embodiments of the disclosed apparatus may be used instead of currently known devices, such as wire ties, for supporting vines and branches. |
| US07677522B2 |
Support bracket for a column
A, support bracket and column for supporting an elevated structure during and after construction. The support bracket includes a connection plate that is attached to and overlapped by the column base so that the support bracket is concealed from view when construction is completed, and variations of the support bracket provide means to raise or lower the attached column during construction. |
| US07677518B2 |
Adjustable stand for monitor and keyboard
The adjustable stand has lower and upper components spaced vertically apart. The upper component supports a monitor of a computer and is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the lower component while the lower component remains fixed in position. An operator of the computer can accordingly adjust the monitor to eye-level whether the operator is standing or is seated. A platform supports a keyboard and is movable with the upper component. The level of the platform may be adjusted selectively upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper component. |
| US07677513B1 |
Spiral/coil wrap stand
Coil/helix shaped stands and methods of using and installing the stands that can be wrapped about elongated supports. The stands can have looped holders for supporting objects such as planters and pots, off ground level. The looped holders can be adjustable so as to remain level with different size diameter elongated supports. The stands can be aesthetically pleasing and attractive and be easy to assembly and mount. The stands are easily removable. Additionally, the coil stands can support other objects such as tables, flagpoles and umbrellas. |
| US07677512B1 |
Mounting bracket for electrical outlet and low voltage units
A rough-in bracket is provided consisting of a border with a central opening sized to fit one or more receptacles and one or more low voltage units. The bracket has a snap-off alignment bar to properly align the receptacle. Rearward protruding wiring flanges provides support for low voltage wires and cabling. Another embodiment has a removable via plastic nubs alignment tool snapped on and is snapped into the mounted receptacle to allow the border to be screwed into the stud. Then the alignment tool is removed. Screw in bases in the forward flange of the border provide a mount for a low voltage unit, whereby a single plastic cover can esthetically cover both the receptacle and the low voltage unit. |
| US07677510B2 |
Tripod for a camera
A tripod for supporting a camera includes a main body, a supporting plate pivotally connecting with a top of the main body for mounting the camera and three telescopic legs pivotally connecting with a bottom of the main body. Each of at least two of the three telescopic legs comprises a fist section pivotally connecting with the main body and a second section telescopically received in the first section. The second section comprises a first pivotal portion and a second pivotal portion pivotally engaging with the first pivotal portion. The second pivotal portion can be foldable relative to around the first pivotal portion to form an angle between the first and second pivotal portions. |
| US07677509B2 |
Monitor stand
A monitor stand is provided and includes a base, a stand body, a stand top assembly, an upper hinge assembly, a top slide, a first elastic member, and a locking unit. The stand body is supported by the base. The stand top assembly is pivotably supported by the stand body. The upper hinge assembly is provided with a rotating shaft to pivotably connect the stand body to the stand top assembly. The top slide slides along the stand top assembly and has a monitor mounted thereon. The first elastic member is supported on the stand top assembly, to impart an upward elasticity to the top slide. The locking unit restricts a sliding of the top slide with respect to the stand top assembly, when the stand top assembly is pivoted from a vertical position to beyond a predetermined angle. |
| US07677508B1 |
Easy sweep trash bag holder
A bag holder combined with a trash bag for easy pickup and removal of leaves on a ground surface. The bag holder is a self-standing frame that has two adjustable legs to allow the bag holder to stand upward by itself. An attached clip holds a garbage in place in an open position so that leaves may easily be swept or blown into the bag. |
| US07677502B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating lift
A method of generating lift for a vehicle including heating a flow of gas using a gas generator mounted on the vehicle that contributes no more than about ten percent of thrust used to propel the vehicle in a forward direction, and driving a lift fan using the heated gas flow to generate lift for the vehicle. |
| US07677500B2 |
Aircraft structural element provided with a cavity and drainage element
An aircraft structural element having a cavity. The structural element has an opening in a wall of the cavity through which moisture located in the cavity can escape into the surroundings, wherein a drainage element for sealing the opening in the wall of the cavity is provided in the opening. In order that the structural element can be produced with a low expenditure on components and assembly equipment, the drainage element comprises a hollow cylinder which connects the cavity of the structural element to the surroundings, which is provided with an external thread having a predefined external diameter, and a head at one end which has a predefined diameter, wherein the external diameter of the thread is smaller than the head diameter. |
| US07677497B2 |
Hatch-actuating mechanism, particularly for an aircraft landing gear
A hatch-actuating mechanism, particularly for aircraft landing gear. The mechanism includes a lateral closing panel (1) and a secondary closing panel (4) articulated to one another. A lateral pivoting fitting (5) is joined to the lateral panel (1) and pivots about a fixed point on the structure (7). A secondary pivoting fitting (8) is joined to the secondary panel (4). A lateral actuating cylinder (10) controls the movement of the lateral panel. An intermediate actuating cylinder controls the movement of the secondary panel, the intermediate actuating cylinder (13) being actuatable independently from the lateral actuating cylinder (10). |
| US07677496B2 |
Stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of reinforcing thereof
The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of reinforcing such a stringer in which the stringer is formed with a substantially lambda shaped section. |
| US07677493B2 |
Engine assembly for aircraft comprising an engine and a mounting device for such an engine
The invention relates to an aircraft engine assembly (1) including an engine (6) and an engine mounting device (4), the mounting device being designed to be inserted between a wing of the aircraft and the engine, and comprising a rigid structure (8) and means of mounting the engine onto the rigid structure, the mounting means comprising a forward fastener (10) and an aft fastener (12). According to the invention, the aft fastener comprises two aft half-fasteners (12a) that will each resist at least the forces applied along a longitudinal direction (X) of the engine, and the two aft half-fasteners are arranged so that a horizontal plane (P) passing through a longitudinal axis (5) of the engine passes through each of them. |
| US07677485B2 |
Multi-blade food processing apparatus
A multi-blade food processing apparatus having two independent blade assemblies, each of which blade assemblies having two opposed horizontal cutting blades, wherein the upper of two independent blade assemblies is selectively removable from the apparatus, the cutting blades are spaced apart in elevation, and are offset in orientation 90 degrees for improved cutting efficiency. The blade assemblies are positioned at 90 degrees from each other but may include additional positions for orienting the blades at any angle with respect to each other. |
| US07677483B2 |
Substrate destruction apparatus with shared rotating shaft
A substrate destruction apparatus for destruction of paper and optical discs, wherein first and second shafts are used for shredding paper fed through a paper receiving opening and second shaft is shared such that the second shaft and a stationary structure are used to damage optical discs. First and second shafts are provided with a plurality of cutter elements that interleave with when rotated relative to each other during use in a paper mode. When the apparatus is operated in a disc destruction mode, the shared second shaft is rotated in an opposite direction than the paper shredding direction and interleaves with the stationary structure to at least damage an optical disc fed through the disc receiving opening. Cutting elements on the second shaft have radial projections and protrusions for damaging at least the surface of the disc with a plurality of scratches, depressions, or cuts, rendering the disc unreadable. |
| US07677474B2 |
Sprinkler nozzle and flow channel
A sprinkler is disclosed for improved flow characteristics. The sprinkler has a sprinkler head rotatably supported for distributing water and defining a flow channel for directing water flow therethrough with reduced head loss. The flow channel has a smoothly tapered portion for receiving water and channeling the water towards an outlet in communication with a first nozzle for distributing the water. The flow channel with reduced head loss produces a greater throw distance at a lower trajectory with a lower flow rate and pressure. The flow channel may be formed within a flow channel member positioned within the sprinkler head. The flow channel member may cooperate with the sprinkler head to define a cavity allowing water to pass through the cavity from the flow channel for emission from a plurality of other nozzles. |
| US07677469B1 |
Sprinkler with reversing planetary gear drive
A sprinkler for irrigating turf and/or landscaping includes a turbine and a nozzle. A planetary gear drive and a reversing mechanism rotatably coupling the turbine and the nozzle. The planetary gear drive includes at least a portion of the reversing mechanism. |
| US07677466B2 |
Insulated rail joint assembly
An insulated rail joint assembly comprises a rail with a thick web section, held in place by joint bars and secured with electrically isolated fasteners. The joint bars have non-uniform cross-sections, being shaped with a thicker midsection area and thinner ends. Electrically non-conductive shear pins through the rail and the joint bars provide shear resistance and prevent glue bond failure. High strength cloth between the rail ends and between the rail and the joint bars strengthens the joint, as does an insulating rail clip resiliently fastened to an insulating tie plate, which itself may be supported on a cross tie of increased width. |
| US07677463B2 |
Process for tag imaging and decoding of machine readable coded data
Provided is a process for tag imaging and decoding of machine readable coded data which comprises a plurality of layouts. Each layout has at least order n rotational symmetry, where n is at least two. The layout encodes a first codeword comprising a sequence of at least n first symbols, the first symbols being distributed at n locations about a center of rotational symmetry of the layout such that decoding the first symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the first codeword. Each representation includes a different cyclic shift of the first codeword and being indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout. Each representation also includes a second codeword comprising a number of second symbols, the second codeword being indicative of information regarding the respective layout. The process includes the steps of acquiring an image which includes said coded data, enhancing said image to obtain improved image contrast and uniform pixel intensities, and identifying at least one layout. The process also includes decoding the layout to determine at least a representation of the first codeword, and determining a degree of rotation of the layout from the decoded representation. |
| US07677457B2 |
System and method for decoding a barcode
Described is a method and system for barcode decoding. The method comprises receiving an input signal corresponding to a reflection of light from a bar code. The input signal is divided into a predetermined number of segments. Each segment includes a plurality of samples. Each of the segments is represented using at least one of the samples therefrom. At least one sample from each segment is analyzed to determine a location the bar code within the input signal. |
| US07677456B2 |
Information reader, object, information processing apparatus, information communicating system, information reading method, and program
An information reader includes an object reading unit for reading an image of an object and obtaining the image as image data, an object data obtaining unit for analyzing the image data and obtaining object data as data contained in the object itself, a state data obtaining unit for obtaining state data indicating a state of the object during object image reading operation to read an image of the object, and an identifying unit for identifying predetermined processing by using as identification data the object data and at least one of the state data. The information which is obtained when an object is shot and which is meaningless in the conventional techniques can be effectively used. Therefore, the quantity of overall information can be increased without adding new hardware to the information reader. |
| US07677450B1 |
Control system for cashless transactions at metered vending output devices
A local area network has a first node to receive an input in the form of account identification data, and a second node to receive this input from the first node via a transport layer protocol. A vending control device connected to the second node includes a relay to be activated and deactivated by the second node. The relay is to enable and disable the functioning of an output device. A circuit is to meter an amount of output processed by the output device. The vending control device is to communicate the amount of output that has been processed to the second node. The second node calculates a cost of the processed output and sends the cost via the transport layer protocol to a remote server. The remote server in turn sends the costs to a gateway through which a payment transaction is settled. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07677447B2 |
Method and system for automated teller machine remote diagnostics and configuration
Methods, systems, and software are disclosed for configuring an ATM. The ATM receives one or more configuration messages in an XML-based format. The ATM interprets the one or more configuration messages. The ATM restricts one or more ATM operations based on at least a portion of the one or more configuration messages. |
| US07677445B2 |
Method of counting currency
A method of counting currency documents including a plurality of coded data portions thereon. Each coded data portion is indicative of an identity of the currency document and the method includes, sensing at least one coded data portion for each currency document using a sensing device. This is used to generate indicating data, which is transferred to a computer system, to allow the computer system to determine the identity for each currency document. The identity is then used to determine a value for each currency document, allowing the documents to be counted. |
| US07677442B2 |
Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may be dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host. |
| US07677441B2 |
Relaxed currency constraints
The subject invention pertains to transaction processing systems and methodologies that allows update transactions to read stale data copies and update a data store therewith. Each transactional operation, including a read, can carry or be associated with one or more freshness constraints or tests that specify how fresh a data copy must be in order to be read. More specifically, the subject invention provides systems and methods that extend transactions and serializability to account for out-of-date reads that are justified by freshness requirements. |
| US07677433B2 |
Materials for and method for manufacturing container and resulting container
In accordance with the invention, a method of manufacturing containers such as shipping, display and display ready packaging, for example, and resulting containers and associated preassemblies and blanks are provided, which, when utilized, result in preassemblies that are more easily and quickly assembled into fully assembled containers. According to the invention, a primary flank is affixed to an auxiliary blank using adhesive applied to a second portion section of each of the plurality of divider sections included in the primary blank, such that, as the container is assembled, pressure on the auxiliary blank separates a first portion of each of the plurality of divider sections from second portion and carries each of the plurality of divider tabs to engage with corresponding lock slots of the first and/or second divider lock. |
| US07677431B2 |
Electronic device handler for a bonding apparatus
A large electronic device having a bonding area on one side that comprises first and second portions may be bonded by first locating the first portion but not the second portion of the electronic device for bonding by a bonding tool. After the first portion of the electronic device has been bonded, the electronic device is conveyed to a rotary platform that is rotatable along a substantially horizontal plane. The electronic device is rotated on the rotary platform to change the respective positions of the bonded first portion and unbonded second portion of the electronic device, before the electronic device is conveyed to the bonding tool such that the second portion of the electronic device is located for bonding by the bonding tool. The second portion of the electronic device may then be bonded. |
| US07677430B2 |
Cold-pressure welding method and metal product welded by the method
A welded metal product includes a first metal plate having a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface; and a second metal plate being cold-pressure welded with the second surface of the first metal plate by directly pressing the first metal plate with the die. The first surface has a recess portion which is deformed by directly pressing with a die. A hardness of the first metal plate is greater than a hardness of the second metal plate. |
| US07677427B2 |
Welding tool for friction-stir welding apparatus
The invention is a welding tool used in a friction-stir welding apparatus for welding a plurality of members to be welded. The welding tool includes: a tool holder having a front end and a base end, the base end being held by the friction-stir welding apparatus so as to be driven to rotate and move by the friction-stir welding apparatus; and a welding unit of a wear resistant material adapted to be removably mounted on the front end of the tool holder, the welding unit mounted on the front end of the tool holder being immersed into a part of the members to be welded during a friction-stir welding. |
| US07677424B2 |
Portable shoehorn
A portable shoehorn that can be easily and quickly be used by a user to put on his/her shoes, scratch his/her back when itchy, and massage a part of his/her body when stress is to be relieved. In the portable shoehorn 1, a plate member, which is bent in the breadth direction, is also bent in the longitudinal direction approximately like a bow into a slender plate to form a shoehorn and a grip section 1a is fold into two at the central portion to reduce the total length approximately by half. A backscratcher 2 is formed at the tip of the grip section 1a and an elastic body 3 for patting the body is mounted attachably/detachably to the backscratcher 2 and to the shoehorn portion 1b of the shoehorn section. |
| US07677420B1 |
Aerosol spray texture apparatus for a particulate containing material
A texturing system for applying texture material to a surface. The texturing system comprises a container, a valve assembly, texture material, and propellant material. The container assembly defines a product chamber. The valve assembly is mounted to the container assembly and is operable in closed and open configurations. The texture material comprises a coating portion and a particulate portion and is disposed within the product chamber. The particulate portion comprises urethane particles. The propellant material is disposed within the product chamber and is substantially inert to the urethane particles. Operation of the valve assembly in the open configuration allows the propellant material to force the texture material from the product chamber and onto the surface. |
| US07677419B2 |
Syringes and methods of syringe manufacturing
A syringe for holding fluids susceptible to void formation when frozen and thawed before use. The interior surface of the syringe sidewall may be roughened, which serves to prevent or significantly reduce the incidence of void formation in the fluid. The required level of surface roughening for counteracting void formation may be reduced by increasing the sidewall flexibility. Alternatively, the flexibility of the syringe sidewall may operate over certain thickness ranges to prevent or significantly reduce void formation in the fluid without intentionally roughening the interior surface. |
| US07677414B2 |
Device for applying foamed hot melt adhesive, and method for selectively applying foamed hot melt adhesive and solid hot melt adhesive
In application of a foamed hot melt adhesive, a mixing ratio of foam can be selectably and quickly set, and also application of a foamed hot melt adhesive and that of a solid hot melt adhesive can be selectively performed by a single application device. A first gear pump and a second gear pump are driven by drive mechanisms independent from each other. The pressure of a liquid being sent by the pressure in the second compression process is detected, and this causes the speed of the first gear pump and the second gear pump to be sequence-controlled to automatically control the amount of mixing of gas. A gas suction opening is provided between the first gear pump and the second gear pump, and a mixer is provided between the gas suction opening and the second gear pump. The end of a return circuit is set on the downstream side of the first gear pump to prevent foam from returning to the tank side. A restriction valve is installed in a gun to produce a single bubble. The ratio of discharges between the first gear pump and the second gear pump is automatically controlled and set at a value greater than 1/1, enabling solid hot melt adhesive application and foamed hot melt application to be selectively performed. |
| US07677412B2 |
Fluid dispensing system suitable for dispensing liquid flavorings
A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a pulse generator coupled to a pump that operates in discrete cycles. Each cycle includes a first part in which fluid is drawn into the pump through an inlet, and a second part in which fluid is expelled from the pump through an outlet. Each cycle results in a discrete, consistent volume of fluid being expelled. The pulse generator transmits discrete pulses to the pump, causing the pump to operate for a set number of cycles per pulse. The total number of cycles is a multiple of the number of pulses transmitted, so that the number of pulses determines the volume of fluid dispensed. Alternatively, the pump is driven through increments of the second part of the cycle, with the number of pulses supplied to the pump determining the proportion of the second part of the cycle completed, and therefore the volume of fluid dispensed. |
| US07677409B2 |
Test sensor cartridges and sensor-dispensing instruments
The cartridge comprises a housing, a plurality of test sensors, a mechanical mechanism, and a pusher assembly. The housing forms at least one opening therethrough. The plurality of test sensors is stacked in the housing. The plurality of test sensors is adapted to assist in testing at least one analyte. The mechanical mechanism is adapted to urge the plurality of test sensors in a first direction. One of the plurality of test sensors is positioned for extraction from the cartridge. The pusher assembly is adapted to push one of the plurality of test sensors from the cartridge. The pusher assembly includes a ferromagnetic material or a magnet. |
| US07677408B2 |
Laundry basket with hip hugging feature
A laundry basket has a bottom panel with a perimeter. A contiguous side wall extends generally upward from the perimeter of the bottom panel and terminates at an upper end. A basket interior is defined above the bottom panel and bounded by the side wall. A curved wall section of the side wall is curved concavely inward toward the basket interior. The bottom panel and the contiguous side wall, including the curved wall section, are formed of a primary material. A cushion pad is positioned generally at the upper end of the curved wall section and is formed from a secondary material that is softer than the primary material of the curved wall portion. |
| US07677406B2 |
Insulating container
An insulation container includes a flexible exterior container and a rigid interior container for maintaining stored items at a cool temperature. The exterior housing includes a lid for selectively sealing the entire open top thereof for selectively inserting or removing large or multiple items, the lid having an auxiliary door for quickly removing small or single items from the internal storage area. Opening only the auxiliary door also helps to maintain the internal temperature for a longer time than is possible if the entire lid is opened. The interior housing may be constructed of stainless steel for enhanced insulation with an intermediate housing sandwiched between interior and exterior housings. The intermediate housing may include a rubber material for preventing condensation from forming on the exterior housing. |
| US07677404B2 |
Tab, tooling for the manufacture of the tab and method of manufacturing the tab
The invention generally relates to a tab used to open food can ends and beer/beverage can ends. The tab has a nose portion located at a front end of the tab and a lift portion located at a back end of the tab. The tab also has a rivet receiving portion located proximate to the nose portion with a rivet hole. The rivet receiving portion is coupled to the nose portion. The rivet hole has a non-round perimeter with a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion. The first diameter portion has a plurality of first arcuate segments and the second diameter portion has a plurality of notches. The second diameter portion is greater in length than the first diameter portion. Tooling for the manufacture of the tab is also provided. A method for manufacturing the tab is additionally provided as well. |
| US07677403B2 |
Glued or heat-sealed cap for resealing test tubes for clinical analyses
This invention refers to a glued or heat-sealed cap for resealing test tubes for clinical analyses which can be easily perforated and permits the application of a second cap. |
| US07677394B2 |
Wafer shipping container
A wafer shipping container has a first housing subcontainer. A second housing subcontainer mates with the first housing subcontainer to form a housing. The first housing subcontainer is substantially the same as the second housing subcontainer. A process carrier fits inside the housing. |
| US07677391B2 |
Storage device for tools, especially screwdriver bits
A storage device for tools comprising a basic housing that is provided with a swiveling-in space for a pivotable part which is hinged to the basic housing so as to be pivotable from a storage position into a removal position. The pivotable part encompasses retaining openings for tool retaining arranged in a first row and extend into a tool accommodating compartment in the storage position. At least one additional row of retaining openings is provided that runs parallel to the first row. The retaining openings of the first and the at least one additional row are offset relative to one another in a zigzag-shaped manner. |
| US07677390B2 |
Individual packaging unit for precision tools
An individual packaging unit for precision tools that includes a base part with a receiving opening for receiving a shaft of a breakable object loosely and with clearance. A protective part with a groove-shaped receiving device for anchoring the precision tool is disposed on the base part in a way to be pivotable, said protective part comprising at least two functionally separate portions wherein one portion is a clamping part, and the other portion is a receiving part. The individual packaging unit is closed with a push-on protective cap that is pushed in a longitudinal direction to engage the base part. The clamping part clamps the precision tool when the protective cap is pushed onto the individual packaging unit. |
| US07677389B2 |
Commodities package
A commodities package is provided for containing commodities, such as staples. The package includes a base container and a cover, the base container and cover having interengaging structure in order to hold them together. The base container and cover are wrapped with shrink wrap to provide a sealed package. An outer package contains a plurality of commodity packages and facilitates loading of the commodity packages onto a display structure. The outer package is manually alterable so that it supports each of the plurality of commodity packages while the display structure is received by hanger members provided on the commodity packages. Once the commodity packages are loaded onto the display structure, the outer package is pulled away. |
| US07677387B2 |
Carrier for containers
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier has panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carrier. The panels comprise at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels. A divider flap is foldably attached to the back panel and the front panel. The side panels, the back panel, the divider flap, and the front panel are arranged to at least partially define at least two container-receiving spaces of the interior. |
| US07677386B1 |
Multi-component soap system
A first uppermost tray is constructed of longitudinal and latitudinal components. Perforations are formed between the components. A fourth lowermost tray consists of a base, upstanding side and end walls and upstanding end walls. At least one intermediate tray is in a funnel like configuration. The intermediate tray has a centrally located aperture. The intermediate tray has spacer coupling posts separating the uppermost, intermediate and lowermost trays. A directing component is located above the base of the lowermost tray and beneath the aperture of the intermediate tray. |
| US07677383B2 |
Guide path for electronic components
A guide path for electronic components has guide elements by means of which the components are guided obliquely with respect to the direction of the light beams at least in the area of a light barrier, such that the component produces a shadow area which is higher than the side end surface of the component. |
| US07677382B2 |
Method and apparatus for assembling and manufacturing
An assembling apparatus and method easily applicable to an existing production line and capable of improving assembling quality and reducing equipment cost. The assembling apparatus performs processing such as part assembling or the like to a processed part which is free-flow conveyed by a processed part conveyor. The processing is performed by a robot which is conveyed in the same direction as the processed part by a robot conveyor having its own motor. The processed part conveyor is provided with a removable pallet for supporting the processed part. The robot conveyor comprises a turntable which mounts and rotationally positions the robot thereon, a pallet support provided on the turntable so that the removed pallet from the processed part conveyor is supported thereon, and a connector for connecting with the processed part conveyor to synchronously convey the same. |
| US07677376B2 |
Electromagnetic friction engaged clutch, method for the operation thereof, and use thereof in a drive train for automatically actuating a vehicle door or a vehicle flap
An electromagnetic frictionally engaged clutch provided with a rotor part including a friction lining. An electrical coil and a first permanent magnet are arranged on the rotor part. The clutch also includes an armature disk which is connected to a second shaft and can be displaced in a rotationally fixed manner, but axially from a coupled end position to an uncoupled end position. The coil of the clutch is enabled to be current-free both in the coupled state and in the uncoupled state. To this end, a second permanent magnet is provided for exerting an axial force opposing the magnetic force of the first permanent magnet on the armature disk. |
| US07677374B2 |
Axial setting device with torque determining means
A method of determining the coupling moment in a friction coupling with an electro-mechanical actuator which comprises a supporting element axially supported in a housing and a displaceable setting element axially supported on said supporting element, wherein the supporting element is axially supported in the housing via an undisplaceably enclosed hydraulic medium and that the pressure in the hydraulic medium is measured and used by lookup tables of values for the actuator and for the friction coupling for the purpose of calculating the coupling moment in a central ECU. |
| US07677373B2 |
Lock-up clutch control method
A torque converter lock-up clutch may be controlled by a lock-up clutch regulator control valve. The valve is utilized to selectively direct a fluid to the torque converter or to a pressure regulator valve. For example, in a hydrodynamic condition of the torque converter, the valve permits fluid to flow to the torque converter. In a lock-up condition of the torque converter, the valve directs fluid to a pressure regulator valve which selectively permits pressure to build in the torque converter. |
| US07677369B2 |
Hydroformed drum brake shoe assembly for vehicles and method of making same
A hydroformed drum brake shoe assembly for a vehicle and method of making same includes a hydroformed drum brake shoe. The hydroformed drum brake shoe assembly also includes a friction lining secured to the hydroformed drum brake shoe. The hydroformed drum brake shoe is a monolithic structure being integral, unitary, and one-piece. |
| US07677366B2 |
Disc brake caliper and manufacturing method of disc brake caliper
After chemical nickel plating has been applied onto a rotor-side surface 10 of a caliper 5a made of aluminum alloy and an opposite surface 11 disposed in an opposite side of the rotor-side surface, nickel-tungsten alloy plating is applied onto these both surfaces 10, 11. Then, gold plating is applied onto only the rotor-side surface 10. As a result, a reflectance to incident light on the rotor-side surface 10 is made higher than a reflectance to incident light on the opposite surface 11. |
| US07677364B2 |
Elevator installation comprising a light module in the door sill profile
An elevator installation contains an elevator car (12) that is arranged movably between floors (S1, S2) in an elevator hoistway (11). The elevator car (12) has a car door (14), and the elevator hoistway (11) has on the each floor (S1, S2) a hoistway door (13). Assigned to the car door (14), or to the hoistway door (13), is a sill-section (16). To draw attention to a gap (30), or give a warning of a step, between elevator car (12) and floor (S1, S2), it is proposed to arrange in the sill-section (16) of the elevator car (12), or of the floor (S1, S2), at least one light module (20, 21, 22). |
| US07677359B2 |
Sound absorbent
Sound absorbent (1) of a hard material, such as metal, glass, hard plastic or composites thereof, for absorption of acoustic waves by friction of viscous flow, essentially in the frequency range between 100 and 4000 Hz. The sound absorbent (1) comprises a panel element (3) with microslits (5) therethrough, said microslits (5) having a minimum slit width (b) of less than 0.45 mm. When in use, the panel element (3) is arranged with a distance to a rear surface. |
| US07677357B2 |
Muffler and vehicle equipped with muffler
A muffler that inhibits reduction in engine performance and reduces exhaust noise volume includes a conduit that passes through an expansion chamber. A partition wall is provided at a central section of the conduit. An upstream section upstream from the partition wall includes an outflow section that has a side surface in which outflow holes are formed that allow exhaust gas to flow out to the expansion chamber. A downstream section downstream from the partition wall has an inflow section that has a side surface formed with inflow holes that allow exhaust gas to flow in from the expansion chamber. An inner diameter of at least one section of the downstream section is smaller than an inner diameter of the outflow section. |
| US07677355B2 |
Speaker diaphragms, manufacturing methods of the same, and dynamic speakers
On one surface of a piece of wooden sheet, a cloth or paper is adhered to make an adhered sheet. An approximately V-shaped notch is provided on the adhered sheet, the adhered sheet is wetted to be softened, and a lubricant which acts to keep water is impregnated thereinto. Edge portions of the notch are overlapped, and the adhered sheet is tentatively molded in an approximately horn shape by a first hot press molding. The adhered sheet is then dried, impregnated with thermosetting resin, and half-dried. The adhered sheet is subject to a second hot press molding. A moisture-proof agent is applied on the adhered sheet, a center hole for a voice coil and periphery are removed to make a speaker diaphragm having a predetermined dimension and shape. |
| US07677351B2 |
Electrohydraulic steering system
An electrohydraulic steering system includes a steering unit, triggerable via a user control element, for supplying a steering motor with pressure fluid. As a function of the actuation of the user control element or as a function of an external signal, the steering motor can be supplied with an additional quantity of pressure fluid via a steering valve. A blocking valve is located in the flow path of the additional pressure fluid and can be put in a blocking position in order to block the flow path of the additional pressure fluid to the steering motor. |
| US07677350B2 |
Construction vehicle
The construction vehicle includes an engine, an accelerator pedal, a main pump configured to be driven by the engine, first and second traveling motors driven by pressured oil discharged from the main pump to generate driving force for traveling, a driving shaft configured to receive the driving force from the first traveling motor and the driving force from the second traveling motor, a clutch configured to switch between transmission and non-transmission of the driving force from the second traveling motor to the driving shaft, an accelerator opening degree detection unit, a vehicle velocity detection unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to determine the switchover velocity depending on the opening degree of the accelerator pedal, and to control the clutch when the vehicle velocity that is detected by the vehicle velocity detection unit reaches the switchover velocity. |
| US07677349B2 |
Drive unit for motor vehicles
The invention relates to a drive unit for motor vehicles, comprising an internal combustion engine, a transmission which is mounted downstream therefrom and is provided with an integrated differential, and a separating clutch that is disposed between the internal combustion engine and the transmission. The differential is driven via a bevel wheel and a bevel-gear drive comprising a drive pinion on an output shaft of the transmission. In order to create a drive unit that is advantageous regarding structure and efficiency, the bevel wheel (48) of the differential (16) is placed laterally from the separating clutch (26) from a vertical perspective and partly protrudes (A) therefrom in an axial direction. |
| US07677348B1 |
Apparatus for detering instability of a motorcycle
An apparatus for deterring instability of a motorcycle comprising: a support member; a stabilizer link communicating with the support member, and a frame bracket communicating with the stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer link maintains a substantially constant positional relationship between the support member and the frame bracket. |
| US07677347B2 |
Adjustable shock
A motorcycle shock system has a shock body formed at least partially of aluminum and an air compressor that provides pressurized air to the shock body when necessary. A piston held within the shock body defines a rear air chamber and a forward air chamber on the opposite side of the piston. Four electrically controlled air valves include a first air valve that when actuated opens a passage to allow air to flow into the forward chamber, a second air valve that when actuated opens a passage to allow air to flow out of the forward chamber to the atmosphere, a third air valve that when actuated opens a passage to allow air to flow out of the rear air chamber, and a fourth air valve that when actuated opens a passage to allow air to flow into the rear air chamber. |
| US07677345B2 |
Moving robot
Within a moving robot of narrow footprint, having quick traveling performance on a plane-surface, as well as, anti-tumbling function, and further being suitable for operations under coexistence with a human being, being able to travel coping with traveling situations on a level difference, etc.: in front and rear of main driving wheels 2 and 3, each being controlled through the inverted pendulum control, are disposed supporting legs 4 and 5, tips of which can be lifted up and down, wherein the tips of the supporting legs 4 and 5 are positioned to keep a predetermined distance between a traveling surface, when running on the inverted two-wheels travel, and the supporting legs 4 and 5 are fixed or either one in the fall-down direction is thrust out into the fall-down direction, so as to protect it from falling down. Further, upon the basis of detection information of floor-surface distance sensors 4e and 5e and side-surface distance sensor 4f, 4g, 5f and 5g, which are provided at the tips of the supporting legs 4 and 5, the robot senses an existence of a level difference and/or an inclined surface, so as to let the supporting legs to escape from the level difference and/or the inclined surface, and holds the position of gravity center thereof, stably, through other one of the supporting legs, being landed on the ground, and the main driving wheels 2 and 3; thereby enabling to travel over the level difference and the inclines surface. |
| US07677333B2 |
Drill bit with multiple cutter geometries
A drill bit has cutting elements with multiple cutting surface geometries that are positioned so that their cutting profiles overlap, but do not completely contain or engulf one another. The different cutting surface geometries and the specific overlap create a zone of high density in the middle regions of the cutting profiles and low density in the periphery, resulting in a cutting profile that becomes sharper with increasing wear. Such an arrangement is more effective and stable as the drill bit encounters hard and abrasive formation materials. Moreover, cutting elements with larger axial volumes may be combined with cutting elements having smaller axial volumes, resulting in an even more effective drill bit in terms of durability and ability to drill efficiently in hard and abrasive formations. |
| US07677326B2 |
Ram for powered hammer
A driving mechanism for a powered hammer having a motor and a tool holder includes a ram mounted for reciprocation in a guide tube section. The ram has a radially outwardly projecting sealing portion and an outer circumferential surface that defines a helically shaped vent channel running from a front end portion of the circumferential surface to a rear end portion of the circumferential surface and being interrupted by the sealing portion. A piston is driven in reciprocating motion of the motor such that an air cushion is generated in a space between the ram and the piston to cause an impact on the tool bit by movement of the ram towards the tool bit. The space between the ram and the piston is temporarily connected with ambient air through the helical vent channel and a recess in the wall of the guide tube section after causing the impact on the tool bit. |
| US07677323B2 |
System and method for automatically adjusting control gains on an earthmoving machine
System and method for automatically adjusting control gains on an earthmoving machine include a control system for controlling mechanisms that supply power to an earthmoving implement. The gains associated with the force to the implement are automatically adjusted depending on a blade load that may be determined by a calculation of torque attributable to a blade load. The control gains include a proportional gain and a derivative gain that may be used to determine a control effort lift command associated with the control gains for supplying an appropriate gain to the mechanisms that control the implement. |
| US07677321B2 |
Expandable tubulars for use in geologic structures, methods for expanding tubulars, and methods of manufacturing expandable tubulars
Expandable tubulars for use in geologic structures, including methods for expanding the expandable tubulars, and methods of manufacturing them, include the use of an expansive energy storage component, which provides a self-expanding feature for the expandable tubulars. |
| US07677319B2 |
Subsea tree cap and method for installing the subsea tree cap
A retrievable tree cap for use on a subsea tree having a concentric bore. The tree cap may be installed and retrieved using a remotely operated vehicle. Hydraulic pressure may be used to lock the tree cap onto the subsea tree and to set the tree cap seals. The tree cap is locked onto the subsea tree before setting the seals within the concentric bore. The tree cap includes a locking means that may engage a profile within the subsea tree regardless of the radial orientation of the tree cap. The tree cap may be used to hydraulically isolate an annulus bore from the production bore of the subsea tree. The tree cap may provide for the injection of a corrosion inhibitor within a cavity of the tree cap and may also provide for the removal of water trapped between the tree cap and the subsea tree. |
| US07677318B2 |
Well maintenance equipment and procedure
The present invention relates to a method of removing deposits from various types of wells (17) including environmental recovery, water supply, horizontal, barrier, injection, recharge, and/or disposal wells (17). The method includes equipping a well (17) with an automated energy delivering system that is attached to the well (17). The energy delivering system is used to clean the surface of the well (17) and aquifer by supplying various types of energy to the well (17) and aquifer via injection lines (5, 6, 11, 12 and 13) and an educator pipe (10). A pump (14) is used to pump the energy through flow valves (20 and 21) and injection lines (5, 6, 11, 12 and 13) and into the well (17). The energy that is supplied to the well (17) mobilizes any deposits in the well (17) and aquifer and cause them to flow into and up the wellbore thereby cleaning the well (17) and aquifer. |
| US07677317B2 |
Liquid carbon dioxide cleaning of wellbores and near-wellbore areas using high precision stimulation
The invention relates to a method to clean a wellbore and the near wellbore area adjacent to the wellbore of a hydrocarbon bearing formation adjacent to the production zone of the wellbore. The invention includes a method to clean a casing inserted into a wellbore and a method for cleaning a wellbore of fracturing fluid, with or without proppant. Each of the methods includes the steps of injecting a treatment medium comprising liquid carbon dioxide into a wellbore where pressure within the wellbore is regulated to either maintain the treatment medium in the liquid state, or allow at least a portion of the treatment medium to vaporize upon introduction into the wellbore. The treatment medium vaporizes to loosen and/or entrain undesirable materials from within the wellbore or casing and escape through the wellhead, carrying with it the undesirable materials. |
| US07677312B2 |
Degradable cement compositions containing degrading materials and methods of cementing in wellbores
A temporary matrix is provided in treating a subterranean formation by providing a composition comprising a matrix forming material and a matrix degrading material. The matrix degrading material is capable of degrading the matrix after a period of time when subjected to existing or induced conditions of the subterranean formation. The composition is placed into a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation. The composition is allowed to form a matrix within the wellbore, whereby the matrix at least one of significantly reduces the passage of fluid across or near the matrix or provides structural strength. A treatment operation is performed on the subterranean formation or wellbore and the degrading material is allowed to degrade the matrix. |
| US07677311B2 |
Internal breaker for oilfield treatments
A composition and method for improving the fluid efficiency of many oilfield treatments is given. The composition is a solid additive, in a viscosified fluid, in a size range small enough that it enters formation pores; it optionally bridges there to form an internal filter cake, and then decomposes to provide a breaker for the viscosifying system for the fluid. Examples of suitable additives include waxes, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyacetals, polymelamines, polyvinyl chlorides, and polyvinyl acetates. Degradation of the additive may be accelerated or delayed. |
| US07677309B2 |
Method for increased oil recovery from an oil field
A method for increasing oil recovery from an oil reservoir in which method surplus gas streams from a plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons from natural gas is injected into the reservoir, is described. The surplus streams from the plant is the tailgas from the synthesis and optionally nitrogen from an air separation unit which delivers oxygen or oxygen enriched air to the plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons. |
| US07677308B2 |
Gas separator
A combination liquid and gas separator and jetting tool includes a housing containing a rotatable drum, a stator in the inlet end of the housing for swirling a liquid/gas mixture, a rotor attached to the drum for rotation by the mixture; whereby the gas and liquid are separated. The liquid and gas are discharged through separate restricted orifices downstream of the drum. Orifices can be located in a rotating head for cleaning, cutting or other downhole operations. |
| US07677306B2 |
Hydraulic fracturing
Method and apparatus for estimating a fluid driven fracture volume during hydraulic fracturing treatment of a ground formation. A series of tiltmeters are positioned at spaced apart tiltmeter stations at which tilt changes due to the hydraulic fracturing treatment are measurable by those tiltmeters. Tilt measurements obtained from the tiltmeters at progressive times during the fracture treatment are analysed to produce estimates of the fluid driven fracture volume at each of those times as the treatment is in progress. The analysis may be performed sufficiently rapidly to provide real time estimates of the fluid driven fracture volume and may also produce estimates of fracture orientation. The estimates of fracture volume may be compared with the volume of fluid injected to derive an indication of treatment efficiency. |
| US07677304B1 |
Passable no-go device for downhole valve
A downhole valve has a flow tube hydraulically actuated to open and close a flapper. The flow tube moved to a first position closes the flapper to restrict flow through the valve. The flow tube moved to a second position opens the flapper. A passable no-go device disposed in the valve permits or restricts mechanical passage through the valve in response to the position of the flow tube. The apparatus has a support and one or more dogs supported in windows of the support and biased by springs. The flow tube in the first position pushes the dogs to an extended position that restricts mechanical passage through valve so that a tool cannot be passed through the valve while the flapper is closed. When the flow tube is in the second position, however, the dogs retract so the tool can be passed through the valve while the flapper is open. |
| US07677303B2 |
Zero-relaxation packer setting lock system
A packer mandrel is radially surrounded by an axially compressible packer element and a backing ring. A setting sleeve arrangement also surrounds the packer mandrel adjacent the packer element. A hydraulic locking mechanism is used to secure the setting sleeve arrangement against the packer element. The hydraulic locking mechanism includes an expansible fluid-sealed chamber that is defined between the setting sleeve and the central packer mandrel. |
| US07677298B2 |
Jointing structure of a heat dissipating fin
A jointing structure of a heat dissipating fin, disposed on an upper level edge and a lower level edge of each fin body of the heat dissipating fin, comprises at least one hole or more on each of the level edges, at least one lock tab or more on the fin body of the heat dissipating fin corresponding to the hole, and the lock tab is formed by directly folding the fin body instead of extendingly disposed from the upper and lower level edges. More than one protrusion is disposed on each of the lock tabs. The protrusions on the lock tabs of the upper and lower level edges in a previous fin body are coupled into the corresponding holes of the upper and lower level edges in a next fin body, so as to join multiple heat dissipating fins integrally and stably. |
| US07677297B2 |
Reducing residual stresses during sand casting
Residual stress is reduced in light metal alloy articles, e.g. aluminum alloy articles, formed as castings against a sand casting mold body by incorporating a wax composition of suitable softening or melting temperature with the sand particles of the mold or core body. The hot cast metal heats adjoining surfaces of the mold body. As the cooling metal forms a solid shell, the surrounding sand particle and wax mixture are heated sufficiently to melt or soften the wax incorporated on or between sand particles. This softens portions of the rigid mold body that could otherwise restrain shrinking surfaces of the casting and produce unwanted stressed regions that are retained in the casting and must be removed by subsequent processing. |
| US07677296B2 |
Precision cast dental instrument
An endodontic file (200) is provided particularly adapted for the removal of tooth structure, decayed or damaged nerve tissues or dentine material on the interior walls of a root canal or dentine and/or enamel from the external tooth wall. The endodontic instrument includes a shaft (202) having a shank portion (204) and a generally elongated working portion (206). The working portion preferably includes cutting or abrading features (232) adapted upon rotation and/or reciprocation of the instrument to cut, abrade or remove tissue from the interior walls of a root canal or dentine and/or enamel from the external tooth wall. The working portion extends from a proximal end (207) adjacent the shank portion to a distal end (208) terminating at a tip (250). The entire instrument and/or at least the working portion thereof is formed of an amorphous or essentially amorphous material having no or essentially no detectable crystalline structure and/or from a nanocrystalline material having an average crystalline grain size less than about 1 μm. The instrument may be formed by conventional grinding operations or by direct casting, forging or molding, in a manner producing an integral as-molded instrument having one or more sharp cutting edges. The instrument is inexpensive to manufacture and exhibits improved cutting-edge sharpness, wear resistance, lubriciousness and resistance to breakage. |
| US07677282B2 |
Knife assembly and chipping knife therefor
A knife assembly and chipping knife therefor. The knife is rotated about an axis and has a front side facing the direction of rotation. The knife has a single deflector ridge extending from the front side of the knife and two indexing features on either side of the deflector ridge, each corresponding to spaced apart, parallel cutting edges of the knife defining a plane. |
| US07677280B2 |
Router
A power tool, such as, for example a router. In some aspects, a router includes a base, a motor housing supported by the base, a motor supported by the motor housing, and a hand grip forming at least a portion of one of the base and the housing and being contoured to fit a hand of an operator. The one of the base and the housing may be grasped by the operator when the operator grasps the hand grip to control movement of the router on the work piece surface. In other aspects, a router includes a base, a motor housing supported by and movable relative to the base, and a motor supported by the motor housing. The base is contoured to fit a hand of an operator and includes at least one of a slot or a ridge to provide improved gripping for an operator. |
| US07677275B2 |
One hand syringe filling device
A device and method for easily filling a syringe with one hand is disclosed. The device includes a flat hand for holding a medicine bottle, a syringe holder with a curved finger for holding a syringe, a mounted post for securing the device and a swivel arm mounted to the post which holds the flat hand, wherein the swivel arm allows the user to invert the flat hand and the medicine bottle secured therein, and easily draw medicine from the medicine bottle into the syringe with one hand. |
| US07677273B2 |
Beading loom with removable warp thread cartridge
The beading loom with a removable warp thread cartridge has warp threads mounted in a cartridge that is removably received in a frame of the loom, allowing the user to bead the threads in a conventional manner, but without having to wrap the threads on the loom manually. Once finished with one beading product, the user may then remove the cartridge from the loom and replace the beaded project with a fresh cartridge of warp threads. The frame has an elongated base having an adjustable length along the longitudinal direction. |
| US07677272B2 |
Insulator apparatus for vacuum insulated tubing
An insulating apparatus for use with vacuum insulated tubing sting to reduce heat loss through the joints, where the apparatus includes an insulator adapted to surround the joint and a latching joint protector adapted to surround the insulator and hold the insulator against the joint, where the protector also includes a channel for receiving injection and/or control tubing. The insulator is capable of reducing heat loss through the joints of a vacuum insulated tubing string by as much as 95%. |
| US07677270B2 |
Plug for a hydraulic fitting
A hydraulic or other type of high-pressure hose fitting can be temporarily sealed using a special type of plug. The plug is made of a rubber like material and can be used both as a male plug or a female plug. The plug contains a plug body with a tapered end portion that can be pushed into and seal against the tapered seat of a female hydraulic fitting. The plug also contains an internal open ended bore that can be pushed over a male fitting with the threads of the male fitting tightly pressing into the rubber material to form a seal and minimize the plug being blown off the fitting. |
| US07677266B2 |
Compact manifolded fail safe hydraulic control system
A manifolded fail-safe hydraulic control system provides fail-safe operation of a pipeline valve using no more than a total of 45 proprietary parts in the system. The system controls the operation of a spring return actuator, which in turn strokes the pipeline valve from the normal operating position to the fail-safe position, or from the fail-safe position to the normal operating position. The system enables the valve to automatically stroke to its fail-safe position without external power. |
| US07677264B2 |
Manifold-type solenoid valve with external port
A manifold-type solenoid valve comprises a main valve section and a solenoid operating section. The main valve section has a spool in a valve hole to which respective switching flow paths for supply, output, and discharge are opened. The main valve section comprises connecting flow paths for collective supply and/or collective discharge having connecting ports, output ports, and an external port for connecting an external piping for independent supply or independent discharge. The output ports are in communication with the switching flow path for output. The connecting flow paths for collective supply and/or collective discharge are in communication with the switching flow path for supply and the switching flow path for discharge. Additionally, the external port is in communication with the switching flow path for supply or the switching flow path for discharge. |
| US07677263B2 |
Tandem pump valve structure
When the pressure in a main fluid supply channel is lower than a no-load operation start pressure, the spool moves against the biasing force of a biasing member, and the area of opening of a auxiliary fluid supply channel is reduced with regards to opening of the internal flow channel. When the pressure in the main fluid supply channel rises and reaches a no-load operation start pressure, the area of opening in the auxiliary fluid supply channel with regards to opening of the internal flow channel becomes smaller and while connected to the main fluid supply channel, the auxiliary fluid supply channel is connected to the return flow channel. When the pressure in the main fluid supply channel rises above the no-load operating start pressure and reaches a no-load operation pressure, the auxiliary fluid supply channel is cut off from the main fluid supply channel. |
| US07677260B2 |
Tent with pass-through port
A tent having a pass-through port through a wall panel for allowing an item to be passed in and out of the tent without opening the tent door. The pass-through port can be snugly tightened about a cord or hose extending therethrough to prevent insects from entering the tent. |
| US07677257B2 |
Artificial nail and method of forming same
An artificial nail is formed by injection molding a first section and a second section. The first section and second section are adjacent to one another. One of the sections defines a front distal tip of the artificial nail and is formed by injecting a quantity of heated material under pressure from a nozzle into a sprue, through a runner and through a cavity gate into a mold cavity. The other section is formed by injecting another quantity of heated material under pressure from a heated nozzle through another cavity gate into the mold cavity. |
| US07677255B2 |
Nanoscale particles of iron aluminide and iron aluminum carbide by the reduction of iron salts
A method of making intermetallic nanoscale particles comprising iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of a solvent, an iron salt and LiAlH4, and heating the mixture to form the intermetallic nanoscale particles. The intermetallic nanoscale particles, which can comprise intermetallic nanoscale particles of iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide in an alumina matrix, are capable of reducing the amount of 1,3-butadiene in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette. |
| US07677254B2 |
Reduction of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide in smoking articles using iron oxynitride
Smoking article components, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided that use nitrided transition metal oxide nanoscale particles and/or nitrided transition metal oxide clusters capable of catalyzing and/or oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or adsorbing carbon monoxide and catalyzing and/or reducing nitric oxide to nitrogen and/or adsorbing nitric oxide. Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper and cigarette filter material can comprise nitrided transition metal oxide nanoscale particles and/or nitrided transition metal oxide clusters. |
| US07677248B2 |
Stiffened filter mask
A flat-folding mask includes a filter layer forming a rim. The filter layer has first and second side panels extending from the rim. A substantially centrally located front panel bridges the first and second side panels, the front panel being substantially flat. The filter layer further includes a fused portion that is seamless and spaced from the rim. Triangular pleats may add support to the side walls and increase the effective filtration area of the mask. |
| US07677247B2 |
Safety system and method of an underground mine
A breathable air safety system and method having at least one fill site is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of safety of a mine structure is disclosed. A prescribed pressure of an emergency support system is ensured to be within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system. The prescribed pressure of the emergency support system is designated based on an authority agency that specifies a pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus. An air extraction process is expedited from the emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill panel to fill a breathable air apparatus. |
| US07677243B2 |
Solar heating system and architectural structure with a solar heating system
A solar heating system for a building and other architectural structures including a solar heating system. The solar heating system comprises a solar heating module with an enclosure of panels bounding a plenum. An interior panel is disposed inside the enclosure. A collector panel, which is separated from the interior panel to define a heating chamber, is exposed to, and heated by, solar radiation. Outside air enters the heating chamber though passages in the collector panel, where the air is heated by heat transferred from the collector panel. An air-moving device is coupled with an air outlet from the plenum. The air-moving device applies a negative pressure in the heating chamber effective for drawing the outside air through the passages into the heating chamber and for withdrawing the heated air from the heating chamber through a delivery opening to the plenum for subsequent removal through the air outlet. |
| US07677242B2 |
Solar-panel unit
A solar-panel unit is provided with: an attachment structure; at least one solar panel, which is delimited by an extensive plane surface of incidence of the solar radiation and is connected to the attachment structure; and a hinging assembly, set between the attachment structure and the solar panel, to enable rotation of the solar panel with respect to the attachment structure about an inclined hinge axis forming an angle smaller than 90° with a horizontal plane. |
| US07677238B2 |
Furnace with integrated blower housing and heat exchanger
A combustion furnace includes a blower housing with a centrifugal blower impeller disposed therein and plural heat exchanger tubes disposed substantially around a major portion of the periphery of the impeller. The heat exchanger tubes receive combustion gasses from plural burner nozzles and discharge combustion gasses to a plenum in communication with a motor driven inducer gas pump. The integrated blower housing and heat exchanger may be disposed in a cabinet including support structure for a fuel delivery manifold, associated burner nozzles and forming air inlet and outlet openings for air being circulated by the blower. |
| US07677235B2 |
Toy gun
A toy gun includes a firing mechanism activated to cause rapid movement of a pneumatic piston to cause rapid ingress of air into a cartridge to cause firing of a soft projectile. A release mechanism causes ejection of spent cartridges from the gun after firing. |
| US07677233B2 |
Crossbow support rod
A weapon, such as a crossbow or firearm, may have a main beam, a trigger mechanism mounted to the main beam and, a support rod that can be positioned into a first use position and a second stowed position. The support rod may have a first end used to support the main beam and a second end used to contact a ground surface. In one embodiment, a contact member with a hemispherical contact surface is attached to the second end of the support rod. In another embodiment, the support rod has a handgrip portion that receives a user's hand in supporting the weapon when shooting the weapon when the support rod is in the second stowed position. In still another embodiment, a mounting bracket is used to provide at least two locations for attaching the support rod to the main beam. |
| US07677231B2 |
Control system for an exhaust gas sensor
An exhaust sensor control system for an exhaust sensor is mounted in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust sensor includes a sensor element for generating an output in accordance with the status of an exhaust gas and a heater for heating the sensor element. The exhaust sensor control system includes a recovery value counting means for counting the elapsed time or the cumulative intake air amount after internal combustion engine startup as a characteristics recovery value; a heater control means for controlling the heater with a recovery target temperature; a stop period counting means for counting stop period during which the internal combustion engine is stopped; and a determination value correction means for decreasing the characteristics recovery value or increasing a recovery determination value with an increase in the stop period during which the internal combustion engine is stopped. |
| US07677230B2 |
Internal combustion engine with multiple spark plugs per cylinder and ion current sensing
A system and method for operating a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder include selectively isolating all but one spark plug associated with the cylinder at least during an ionization current sensing period to reduce or eliminate interference among ionization current signals flowing through more than one spark plug. |
| US07677227B2 |
Apparatus and method of abnormality diagnosis for supercharging pressure control system
An opening of a waste gate vale is adjusted to control an actual supercharging pressure of intake air. Abnormality in a changing characteristic of the actual supercharging pressure relative to a change in a TCV control duty value can be detected. When an engine is in a steady operation condition, the TCV control duty value is forcibly changed repeatedly by a predetermined amount from 0% to 100%. A deviation between a target supercharging pressure corresponding to the TCV control duty value and an actual supercharging pressure is calculated each time the TCV control duty value is changed by the predetermined amount. This deviation is compared with an abnormality determination value to determine presence/absence of the abnormality in the changing characteristic of the actual supercharging pressure relative to the change in the TCV control duty value. |
| US07677223B2 |
Air-fuel-ratio control apparatus for internal combustion engine
The air-fuel-ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine obtains a composite air-fuel ratio abyfs from a downstream-side correction value Vafsfb(k) based upon an output value Voxs from a downstream air-fuel-ratio sensor 67 and an output value Vabyfs from an upstream air-fuel-ratio sensor 66, and obtains an upstream-side feedback correction value DFi on the basis of the composite air-fuel ratio abyfs. A fuel injection quantity Fi is determined to a value obtained by adding the upstream-side correction value DFi to a control-use base fuel injection quantity Fbasec (=base fuel injection quantity Fbase·coefficient Ksub). The coefficient Ksub is determined on the basis of the downstream-side feedback correction value Vafsfb(k) in such a manner that the control-use base fuel injection quantity Fbasec (accordingly, the fuel injection quantity Fi) is determined such that the output value Vabyfs from the upstream air-fuel-ratio sensor 66 changes in the direction of canceling the change in the downstream-side feedback correction value Vafsfb(k). |
| US07677222B2 |
Diesel engine control device
In a diesel engine control device, a normal injection mode that implements normal combustion and a premixed injection mode that implements premixed combustion are set, the normal injection mode is implemented when the actual engine operating conditions are in the normal region, and the premixed injection mode is implemented when the actual engine operating conditions are in the premixed region. When one control mode is being implemented in the corresponding engine operating region, the control mode is forcibly switched to the other control mode when the engine enters a predetermined transition state. This makes it possible to switch earlier than normal, and in particular when accelerating, the desired acceleration performance can be obtained. |
| US07677221B2 |
Internal-combustion engine, notably of direct injection type, with a piston provided with a bowl comprising a teat
The invention concerns an internal combustion engine, in particular with direct injection comprising at least one cylinder (10), one piston (30) sliding in said cylinder, a combustion chamber (26) delimited on one side by the upper side of the piston including a concave trough (32) wherein is arranged a dog point (34) with apex angle (a2) and a fuel injector (22) for injecting fuel at a spray angle (a1) not greater than 2 Arctg CD/2f where CD is the diameter of the cylinder (10) and F the distance between the point of origin of the fuel jets derived from the injector and the position of the piston (30) corresponding to a crankshaft angle of 50° relative to the upper dead center. The invention is characterized in that the apex angle (a2) of the dog point is greater than the spray angle (a1) by an angle ranging between 30° and 60°. |
| US07677217B2 |
Power assembly for internal combustion engine with in-cylinder deposit scraper
A power assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder with a circular wall defining a first inside diameter. A piston is reciprocably housed within the cylinder. An integral, unitary piston deposit scraper is formed in a portion of the circular wall of the cylinder by upsetting a portion of the metallic wall so as to configure a piston scraper with a second inside diameter which is less than the first inside diameter. The inside diameter of the piston scraper closely matches that of the outside diameter of the top land of the piston. As a result, the piston scraper removes combustion deposits from the piston each time it moves into the top dead center position. |
| US07677216B2 |
Engine start controller
An engine start controller having a starter motor that is driven by battery to start engine, an activation switch that sends to the starter motor a START command for starting the engine, an activation circuit that connects the starter motor to the battery to supply a drive current, and an engine start control unit that issues an OPERATE command for operating the activation circuit when receiving the START command from the activation switch, and supplies the drive current to the starter motor. The controller is provided with a bypass circuit that directly sends to the activation circuit the START command that has been sent from the activation switch. |
| US07677214B2 |
Device for deactivation of at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine
The present invention relates to a device (1) for shutting down at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The device (1) is connected to a rocker lever (2) which actuates an intake/exhaust valve (6) of the respective cylinder. In active cylinder operation, the rocker lever (2) executes an oscillating tilting movement about a pivot axle (10) which is situated in the area of the connection to the cylinder head (9), whereas when the respective cylinder is deactivated, the rocker lever (2) is lifted by the cylinder head (9) and therefore its pivot axle (10) is shifted in the direction of the connection of the rocker lever (2) to the valve of the respective cylinder. It is essential to the invention here that the device (1) is arranged essentially between the rocker lever (2) and the cylinder head (9) and the device has a guide element (11), a pivot axle element (12) displaceably mounted on the guide element (11) and a spring (15) stretched between two abutments (13, 14). |
| US07677210B2 |
Rotating barrel type internal combustion engine
An internal combustion barrel engine having rotating cylinders and pistons which together form combustion spaces. The combustion spaces are maintained at a substantially constant volume while a compressed air-fuel mixture is combusted therein. |
| US07677207B2 |
Rotary internal combustion engine
A rotary internal combustion engine has a circular inner chamber, which houses a plurality of cylinders with reciprocating pistons that move in a radial direction towards and away from the center of the inner chamber. A flywheel with distinct vanes or portions is positioned for rotation about a central axis of the inner chamber. A gear assembly operationally connected to the reciprocating pistons forces the flywheel to rotate and impart torque to a central shaft extending though the inner chamber. |
| US07677206B1 |
Orthopedic boot for animals
A boot (10) for enclosing a foot of a quadruped up to, but not including, a carpal or tarsal joint (32), made generally of a first flexible material (14) with a slit (16) forming an opening for inserting the foot. A lower portion of the first flexible material forms a toe box (20). An upper portion of the toe box is formed of a second flexible material (12A, 12B) that is more elastic than the first flexible material, such as an elastic fabric. The elastic fabric allows the toes to flex downward at the end of each step, then pulls them upward to prevent them from curling under the foot on the next step. An upper retainer (16) may be provided on an upward extension strap (15). The upper retainer loops around the leg above the carpal or tarsal joint (32) to provide vertical retention of the boot. |
| US07677201B1 |
Disposable sanitary shield for kitty litter containers
A sanitary shield includes a body formed from liquid absorbing material. An uppermost section is monolithically formed with a bottom section wherein the uppermost section is pivotal along a fulcrum axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body. First, second and third edges define an outer periphery of the bottom section, and fourth, fifth and sixth edges define an outer periphery of the uppermost section. A bend line indentation extends along the fulcrum axis and defines a line of weakness about which the uppermost section is pivotal. The uppermost section is disposed above a top edge of the litter container, and the bottom section is partially submerged beneath the litter housed within the litter container. The litter remains positioned forwardly of the bottom section. A mechanism affixes the bottom section of the body to an inner surface of the litter container. |
| US07677200B2 |
Doggie fountain
An apparatus engageable with a water source for providing dogs access to fresh, clean water. The apparatus comprises a base member and a housing member engageable with an upper surface of the base member. Such housing member has a predetermined configuration and is formed of a predetermined material. At least one tubular member is disposed within the housing member, a first end of the at least one tubular member extends outwardly from a bottom portion of the housing member for engagement with such source of water and a second end of the at least one tubular member extends outwardly through an upper surface of the housing member. A water valve is disposed within the at least one tubular member for controlling water flow. There is a paddle member that is engageable with the water valve for activating the water valve and permitting water to flow from the second end of the at least one tubular member and for deactivating the water valve so as to stop a flow of water from the second end of the at least one tubular member. |
| US07677194B2 |
Finger flag assembly
A flag capable of being unfurled or crested in the wind without a flagpole comprising a flag with means for attaching the flag to a finger on a hand, the attaching means comprising panels that sandwich an end section of the flag, the attaching means further comprising a tubular member integrally attached to the panels, and wherein the tubular member has an inside diameter in an unstretched mode less than the outside diameter of a finger. |
| US07677191B2 |
Frictional resistance reduction ship and operation method
A ship is provided with microbubble generators attached below the waterline to supply microbubbles, which decrease the ship's frictional resistance during navigation and improve fuel efficiency. The below waterline region (L.W.L.) of the ship is divided into an upper region (R1) proximate the waterline, and a lower region (R2) proximate the ship's bottom. The air supply to the microbubble generators (10) in the upper region (R1) is performed through a pipe (3), one end of which is exposed to the atmosphere. The air supply to the microbubble generators (10) in the lower region (R2) is performed through a branch pipe (6) from a pipe (5) using an assist compressor (4), which is arranged as a closed system instead of being exposed to the atmosphere. |
| US07677190B2 |
Slotted hulls for boats
A boat hull providing substantially enhanced stability, safety and comfort over conventional boat hulls in common use, incorporating at least one relatively narrow, more-or-less vertical slot (23) running longitudinally and/or laterally through the hull of the boat and positioned so that the slot(s) (23) intersects a major portion of the depth of the water displaced by the boat hull. The slot(s) (23) may be fully or partially closed at any of its fore-end (31) or aft-end (33) or bottom-edge (25). |
| US07677185B2 |
Method and system for treating chemical waste
The invention is a system and method for neutralizing fluid chemical waste products that result from a chemical production process and are collected from the production line. The invention comprises a pyrolysis/reaction chamber into which the fluid chemical waste is pumped through an atomizer. The jet of small droplets of liquid waste that is formed by the atomizer effectively contacts the plasma stream created by a plasma torch. When the droplets contact the plasma stream the molecules of the waste from which the droplets are composed are dissociated into atoms and/or ions. These atoms and ions move out of the immediate region of the plasma stream and recombine to form a mixture of product gases which exits the chamber. The product gases then enter a post-pyrolysis subsystem, which is designed to neutralize and/or collect the components comprising the mixture of product gases. |
| US07677181B2 |
Interlocking precision flexible rail system
An interlocking precision flexible rail system for carrying a positionable machine tool employs a first rail element having a first step on a lower surface extending from a first end to a termination at a predetermined length and a second rail element having a mating step on an upper surface extending from a second end to receive the first step. A pair of first clips is removably affixed to a top surface of the first rail element adjacent the first end with a first pin and to the second rail element with a second pin in each clip. A pair of second clips is removably affixed to a bottom surface of the second rail element adjacent the second end with a third pin and to the first rail element with a forth pin in each clip. Alignment holes to receive the pins have tolerances defined in conjunction with the predetermined length of the step, the length of the step allowing a reduced tolerance. The first and second pairs of clips and associated pins laterally secure the rail elements in mated engagement. |
| US07677180B2 |
Apparatus and method for steering transport vehicles in semiconductor processing
A steering apparatus and method is implemented that allows high speed, clean, particle-free transport of a semiconductor wafer or lithographic reticle on a transport vehicle at various positions on the vehicle track, especially when entering and exiting turns. Three computer-controlled electro-magnets are mounted at the left, center, and right side of a front steering truck, and are energized to attract strategically placed permanent magnet material mounted on a side of the track where the vehicle enters or exits a turn. The transport vehicle can be levitated by an air cushion or travel on wheels, and controlled by electromotive or electromagnetic forces about the track. Using the steering electro-magnets as a LVDT, a computer processor monitors the location of the transport vehicle about the track. |
| US07677175B2 |
Installation for changing ink in a printing station of a flexographic printer
A method and an installation operable for cleaning an inking blade acting against a chambered printing cylinder of a flexographic printing machine. A cleaning device includes a blade cleaner, a recovery device for ink removed from the blade, a first prewash cleaning system, a subsequent regular wash system and an air nozzle system to clean out ink. The ink is recovered before the washing. The ink washed out is recovered and this polluted wash fluid is used in a subsequent cleaning as a prewash. |
| US07677173B2 |
Blanket holding rail
In the case of a blanket holding rail for the releasable attachment of a blanket (12) on a printing mechanism roll comprising two holding limbs (13a and 13b) having an elongated configuration, and joined together by way of a back portion (14) and between which the blanket (12) may be clamped and be so fixed by means of additional securing means that the blanket (12) is secured to avoid its being pulled out athwart the longitudinal direction of the rail, the additional securing means are constituted by a claw means (16), which digs into the material of the blanket on clamping the blanket (12) in position. |
| US07677168B1 |
Easy-maintenance strap guide system of a strapping machine
An easy-maintenance strap guide system of a strapping machine includes a board, a driving set, a first rod, a second rod, a first matching portion, a second matching portion, and an engaging element. The driving set includes an advance roller portion and a retreat roller portion for conveying a strap. When the engaging element disengages with the first rod, the first rod rotates and makes the second rod, the first matching and the second matching portion moving. Hence, a maintenance space is formed. Thus, the maintenance work can be done quickly without the use of tools. It saves the detaching and assembling time. Plus, it can release automatically due to the gravity. |
| US07677167B2 |
Paper recycling device
A device and related method for storing and bundling papers, magazines and/or cardboard, for easy disposal and recycling comprised of a storage unit comprising four side walls and a bottom surface wherein a top area is open and permits stacking of papers on said bottom service; and a single source of twine in a pre-arranged pattern within said storage unit for easy bundling of the papers, magazines and/or cardboard. |
| US07677163B2 |
Cooking device with a cooking chamber outlet
A cooking device has a cooking chamber as well as a cooking chamber outlet for a fluid. An air trap is provided downstream of the cooking chamber outlet. A device outlet is arranged in turn downstream of the air trap. A water reservoir is located in the air trap. A connection pipe leads from the water reservoir in the air trap into the cooking chamber. Associated with the connection pipe is a transport means, which permits a controllable supply of fluid from the water reservoir in the air trap into the cooking chamber. |
| US07677162B2 |
High temperature, oil saving, rapid cook fryer system
A deep fat fryer able to quickly cook food items, in about one-third to one-half of a typical cook time in the art for corresponding food items, includes a high powered, preferably high efficiency heating unit utilized to establish a cooking oil temperature in the order of about forty or more degrees Fahrenheit above a typical cook time, while preferably remaining lower than or equal to 410° F. A controller regulates the heat input from the heating unit so as to keep the temperature of the oil from dropping drastically after a product to be fried is placed in the oil for cooking. The amount of cooking oil employed is minimized. A sensing arrangement is utilized to input sensed operating conditions to the controller in order to maintain a desired operating temperature and oil level. |
| US07677160B2 |
Boiler assembly for a griddle
A griddle for cooking a food product includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side, a second side, a front side and a rear side. A serpentine passageway is formed on the lower surface. A collector tank is secured directly to the lower surface adjacent to the first side of the griddle. The collector tank is in communication with the serpentine passageway formed on the lower surface. A boiler is secured directly to the lower surface adjacent to the second side of the griddle. The boiler is in communication with the serpentine passageway formed on the lower surface. Heat may be applied directly to at least one of the collector tank and the boiler for heating a fluid disposed therein and supplying the heated fluid to the serpentine passageway for providing heat for cooking a food product disposed on the upper surface of the griddle. |
| US07677159B2 |
Apparatus for preparing hot beverages, in particular soups
An apparatus for preparing hot beverages, in particular soups, includes a frame (1) containing a heating system (2) for heating water drawn from a water main or, alternatively, from a tank, and for converting the water into pressurized steam. The steam is delivered to a heating chamber (3) having a discharge duct (4) that passes through the heating chamber. A beverage to be prepared is stored in an aseptic pack (61) placed in a removable receptacle (7) housed in the frame (1). The liquid beverage is delivered from the aseptic pack (61) to the discharge duct (4) by a sequential dispenser (6), and is then discharged to a container (5). |
| US07677158B2 |
Beverage maker having brewing chamber adapted to receive coffee pods or loose coffee
A beverage maker is provided that allows a user to make a brewed beverage or dispense hot water. Various sealing and latching mechanisms are further provided for effectively sealing the brewing chamber under pressure. A mechanism is provided for reducing splashing when relatively short vessels are positioned beneath the brewing chamber. |
| US07677150B2 |
Mounting system for muzzle devices and firearms
A system for connecting an accessory to a firearm having an enlarged muzzle portion has a body with a bore sized to closely receive the enlarged portion. The body has a stop to limit the insertion depth of the muzzle. A gate is received by the body for movement along the path perpendicular to the bore axis. The gate has a recessed area sized to receive the enlarged muzzle portion. A spring generates axial force to retain the muzzle portion within the recessed area. Compression of the spring enables movement of the gate to shift between an open and closed position, so that the accessory may be removed or installed when in the open position, and secured when in the closed position. |
| US07677149B2 |
Coping apparatus and method of operation
Embodiments of the present invention include a coping apparatus and method of operation that automates the process of forming coped butt joints on strips of molding for placement on internal wall angles that alleviates at least some of the problems associated with the use of miter joints or time consuming hand or powered coping using conventional coping saws. |
| US07677145B2 |
Cutting insert, cutting insert tool, and method for machining a workpiece
This application relates to a cutting insert and method for machining a workpiece. This application further relates to a method for the machining of a workpiece using such an indexable insert. In this case, the term “machining” means, among other things, the first-time machining and/or a re-profiling of a wheel or of a brake disc of a wheel set of a railway vehicle. An object of at least one possible embodiment of the present application is to create a cutting insert that is as economical as possible. An additional object of at least one possible embodiment of the present application is the most effective method possible and a lathe tool that is well-suited for the machining of a workpiece, such as for the copy turning and/or for the first-time machining and/or for the re-profiling of a wheel or of a brake disc of a wheel set of a railway vehicle, using a cutting insert described herein. |
| US07677144B2 |
Brake drum finishing and balancing
An improved brake drum and method for machining and balancing a brake drum are provided. The inner facing surface and the outer facing surface of the brake drum are machined. The inner and outer faces of the hub end of the brake drum are also machined. The machining is accomplished in a single operation that results in a radially balanced brake drum. |
| US07677143B1 |
Impact tool and method
An impact tool will fit around a fastener such as a nut or bolt head. The tool has an annular section with an outside and an inside surface encircling the central axis of the fastener. The outside surface has at least one recess with a striking surface and guide surface. The striking surface lies in a plane intersecting the central axis. With the annular section placed around the fastener, the striking surface intersects a predetermined radial projection from the central axis. The striking surface is struck at a right angle to the predetermined radial projection to turn the nut or bolt head. |
| US07677136B2 |
Pneumatic tire puncture repair device
A tire repairing assembly for inserting a resilient tire puncture plug into a punctured pneumatic tire. The assembly being adapted to be rolled over by the tire while still mounted to the wheel and the wheel mounted to the automobile. The tire repairing assembly having an arcuate base member and an insertion pin mounted to the base member. In an alternative embodiment, the insertion pin is moveably or pivotally mounted to the base member. |
| US07677134B2 |
Forged product and method of making the product
A forged product is made of a magnesium alloy and includes a through hole making portion to make a through hole that runs in a predetermined direction, and a bottom portion that lies on a plane intersecting with the predetermined direction. The through hole includes a first portion that has been formed by a forging process and a second portion that has been formed after the forging process. The second portion of the through hole has shifted toward the bottom portion with respect to the middle of the through hole in the predetermined direction. |
| US07677131B2 |
Gear arrangement
A steering-wheel arrangement is disclosed which comprises a steering-wheel having a first gear element. A second gear element is provided which is mounted on a steering column. The first and second gear elements inter-engage one another and the arrangement is further provided with an anti-backlash gear which is mounted on one of the gear elements. The anti-backlash gear has teeth configures to as to align substantially with the teeth of the gear element upon which it is mounted, and the anti-backlash gear is biased relative to the gear element upon which it is mounted towards a position in which the teeth of the anti-backlash gear become displaced from the corresponding teeth of the gear element. This gear arrangement has been found to provide improved “feel” for a person driving a motor vehicle. |
| US07677128B2 |
Vehicular shift lock device having pivotal stopper and linkage devices
A vehicular shift lock device for selectively inhibiting and permitting a movement of a shift lever, including (a) a stopper member pivotable about an axis between a stopping position and a non-stopping position for respectively preventing and permitting a movement of a manually operable member provided to place the shift lock device in its unlocking state, (b) a first biasing member biasing the stopper member toward the stopping position, (c) a first linkage device pivotable about an axis in a first direction by the movement of the manually operable member, (d) a second biasing member biasing the first linkage device in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and (e) a second linkage device pivotable about an axis to its operated position and having a connected state and a disconnected state in which the second linkage device is connected to and disconnected from the stopper member, respectively, and wherein second linkage device is operatively connected to the first linkage device such that the stopper member is pivoted to the non-stopping position when the second linkage device placed in the connected state is pivoted to the operated position by a pivotal movement of the first linkage device in the first direction. |
| US07677126B2 |
Ball screw mechanism
A ball screw mechanism including a screw having a first axis and at least one screw groove extending along a first helical path about the first axis, and a nut having a first aperture receiving the screw. The nut also includes at least one nut groove extending along a second helical path about the first axis between first and second edges disposed on opposite sides of the screw. The at least one screw groove and the at least one nut groove are aligned and cooperate to form a helical passageway extending at least 180 degrees about the first axis between a first opening at the first edge and a second opening at the second edge. The ball screw mechanism also includes a plurality of balls moving, in part, along the helical passageway. The ball screw mechanism also includes an external ball nut return radially spaced from the screw extending at least partially around the nut between a first end communicating with the first opening and a second end communicating with the second opening to circulate the plurality of balls with respect to the helical passageway. |
| US07677125B2 |
Rack and pinion stabilizer system
A rack and pinion stabilizer system for a refrigerator drawer. The rack and pinion stabilizer system comprises a pair of drawer glides attached to first and second liner walls of a refrigerator. Each of the drawer glides has an attached rack gear with at least one tooth having an irregular profile. A pair of gear wheels having an axle therebetween are also provided. The gear wheels are provided in rotatable engagement with the rack gears and are capable of rotating in unison. An alignment mechanism is also provided. The alignment mechanism is attached to at least one of the rack gears for providing initial alignment of the first and second rack gears with the first and second gear wheels. Additionally, a drawer in operable communication with at least one of the drawer glides and axle is disclosed. When the drawer is inserted completely within the cabinet, the first and second gear wheels are positioned over the irregular teeth, providing a tolerance permitting closure of the drawer in the event of misalignment. |
| US07677124B2 |
Transmission of vehicle
The invention provides a transmission of a vehicle which can smoothly execute shift-up and shift-down operations. The transmission is provided with change gears, a shift member, a change drum, a change shaft rotationally operated at a predetermined angle by a rider, and a change operation force transmitting mechanism transmitting the rotation of the change shaft to the change drum. The change operation force transmitting mechanism includes a driven body integrally rotating with the change drum and having a concave portion in an inner peripheral surface, a pole holder arranged in an inner side of the driven body and rotationally reciprocating on the basis of a rotational reciprocation of the change shaft, a pole held to the pole holder, and being displaceable around a supporting point between an engaged state in which a leading end is engaged with the concave portion and a non-engaged state in which a leading end is away from the concave portion toward an inner side in a diametrical direction of the pole holder, an energizing means for energizing the pole to the engaged state, and a limiting means for limiting in such a manner that the supporting point of the pole is not displaced with respect to the pole holder. |
| US07677123B2 |
Impact absorbing device
An impact absorbing device has fixed discs and rotary discs alternately and coaxially disposed. Each disc has two surfaces, and two surfaces of each pair of fixed and rotary discs face each other through a lubricant. Each surface has dimples, respectively, surrounded by concave portions. A position of each dimple in the rotary discs is differentiated from a position of any dimple of the fixed discs in a radial direction of the discs. In response to an impact given to the rotary discs, the rotary discs are rotated on the fixed discs against a frictional force between the discs to absorb the impact. During this rotation, each dimple of the rotary discs is moved along a circumferential direction of the discs, and no concave portions of the rotary discs are placed just on the concave portions of the fixed discs. |
| US07677122B2 |
Steering angle sensor assembly for vehicle
In a steering angle sensor assembly for a vehicle, dependent gears are provided to mesh with an inner periphery of a rotary member rotated together with a steering wheel and to be rotated, and a circuit board that detects the rotation of the dependent gears and generates electric signals is also provided on the side of the dependent gears provided on the inner periphery of the rotary member. Accordingly, the entire size of the steering angle sensor assembly can be reduced to be substantially the same as the size of the rotary member rotated together with the steering wheel. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the entire size of the steering angle sensor assembly. |
| US07677121B2 |
Apparatus and methods for measuring shape of both sides of a plate
In an apparatus for measuring shapes of both sides of a plate, a measuring apparatus body includes a reference plane of a longitudinal surface plate disposed in an almost vertical state at one end on a metallic bed, a holding mechanism for holding a plate to be measured in almost parallel therewith, and a displacement gauge scanning column. The displacement gauge scanning column includes a first air slide for mounting a first (second) displacement gauge and a second air slide for mounting a third displacement gauge, and is moved in a horizontal axis direction along a pair of V grooves. Moreover, the first (second) air slide is moved in a vertical axis direction. A shape of one of plate surfaces of the plate to be measured is measured by the scan of the first (second) displacement gauge, and at the same time, a shape of the other surface of the plate surface is measured by the scan of the third displacement gauge. |
| US07677120B2 |
Apparatus for sample preparation
The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, methods and devices relating to processing a sample. Aspects presented herein relate to collecting, stabilizing, pulverizing, fragmenting, and/or analyzing biological and non-biological sample specimens. Before constituents of sample specimens are analyzed, the sample specimens may be fragmented into a plurality of smaller specimens. Such smaller specimens may then be stored, analyzed, or further processed. |
| US07677114B2 |
Torque sensor for electric power steering system
A torque sensor, which is for an electric power steering system that has an output shaft for rotating in response to rotation of an input shaft, may include a first rotor for rotating with the input shaft, a second rotor for rotating with the output shaft, a first pinion gear mounted for rotating in response to rotation of the first rotor, a first magnet mounted for rotating with the first pinion gear, a second pinion gear mounted for rotating in response to rotation of the second rotor, a second magnet mounted for rotating with the second pinion gear, a first sensor positioned for sensing an angular position of the first magnet, and a second sensor positioned for sensing an angular position of the second magnet. The first rotor and the second rotor are mounted so that there can be relative rotation between the first rotor and the second rotor. |
| US07677112B2 |
Coriolis flowmeter having constant voltage sensor
Coriolis mass flowmeter with a Coriolis tube and with an optical detection device, which optical detection device includes at least one optical sensor for generating a signal that is representative of the movement of the Coriolis tube, the optical sensor comprising a light source and a photosensitive sensor, wherein the optical detection device includes elements for applying a constant voltage across the photosensitive sensor during operation independently of the current generated by the photosensitive sensor in response to incident light, as well as elements for determining the value of the current generated by the photosensitive sensor and converting it into an output signal. |
| US07677107B2 |
Wireless pressure sensor and method for fabricating wireless pressure sensor for integration with an implantable device
A method for fabricating a wireless pressure sensor includes providing a first substrate. A portion of the first substrate is controllably displaced to form a cavity. A conducting material is patterned on the first substrate to form a first capacitor plate and a first inductor. A second substrate is provided. A conducting material is patterned on the second substrate to form a second capacitor plate. The second substrate is attached to the first substrate to seal the cavity such that at least a portion of the second substrate is movable with respect to the first substrate within the cavity in response to a change in an external condition. A hermetically sealed capacitive pressure sensor may reside in the cavity between the first substrate and second substrate. |
| US07677101B2 |
Estimating propagation velocity through a surface acoustic wave sensor
Techniques are described for estimating the propagation velocity through a surface acoustic wave sensor. In particular, techniques which measure and exploit a proper segment of phase frequency response of the surface acoustic wave sensor are described for use as a basis of bacterial detection by the sensor. As described, use of velocity estimation based on a proper segment of phase frequency response has advantages over conventional techniques that use phase shift as the basis for detection. |
| US07677100B2 |
Composite sensor and acceleration sensor
In an acceleration sensor, a first vibrator is arranged on a surface of a substrate such that the vibrator can vibrate in an X-axis direction. An angular-velocity-detecting vibrator is arranged inside the first vibrator such that the vibrator can be displaced in a Y-axis direction. A vibration generating unit and a vibration monitor unit are provided between the substrate and the first vibrator. An angular-velocity-detecting displacement detecting unit is provided between the substrate and the angular-velocity-detecting vibrator. A second vibrator is provided outside the first vibrator such that the vibrator can be displaced in the Y-axis direction. An acceleration-detecting displacement detecting unit is provided between the first and second vibrators. An angular velocity detecting circuit detects angular velocity by performing synchronous detection on a displacement detection signal from the displacement detecting unit using a monitor signal from the vibration monitor unit. On the other hand, an acceleration detecting circuit detects acceleration by performing synchronous detection on a displacement detection signal from the displacement detecting unit using a monitor signal from the vibration monitor unit. |
| US07677099B2 |
Integrated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) vibrating mass Z-axis rate sensor
A sensor that measures angular velocity about an axis that is normal to a sensing plane of the sensor. The sensor comprises a sensing subassembly that includes a planar frame parallel to the sensing plane, a first proof mass disposed in the sensing plane, a second proof mass disposed in the sensing plane laterally to the first proof mass, and a linkage within the frame and connected to the frame. The linkage is connected to the first proof mass and to the second proof mass. The sensor further includes actuator for driving the first proof mass and the second proof mass into oscillation along a drive axis in the sensing plane. The sensor further includes a first transducer to sense motion of the frame in response to a Coriolis force acting on the oscillating first proof mass and the oscillating second proof mass. |
| US07677096B2 |
Landing gear ground test
A method of applying a test load to a landing gear mounted on an aircraft, the method comprising parking the aircraft with at least one tire of the landing gear on a platform; and moving the platform so as to apply the test load to the landing gear via the tire. An array of six platforms is mounted on a sliding chassis in a recessed oil bath. The platforms can be independently rotated to apply torque. The spacing between the platforms can be adjusted to adapt for different landing gear configurations. |
| US07677086B2 |
Engine oil viscosity diagnostic systems and methods
An engine oil viscosity measurement system is provided. The system includes: a solenoid response module that determines an actual response time based on a position signal; an expected response module that determines an expected response time based on a system voltage and engine oil temperature; and a diagnostic module that diagnoses viscosity of the engine oil based on the actual response time and the expected response time. |
| US07677085B1 |
Gas leak detection apparatus
A gas leak detection apparatus includes a main body, a magnetically operated valve, a magnetically exciting device, a pressure sensing device, and a pressure detector. Thus, if the pressure detector detects that the gas leak happens to the pipe located at the rear side of the gas regulator, the control circuit board drives the magnetically exciting device to produce a magnetic force to drive the magnetically operated valve to close the conduit of the valve chamber and the outlet of the main body so as to interrupt the gas flow, thereby preventing the gas from entering the pipe located at the rear side of the gas regulator so as to provide a safety effect to the user. |
| US07677084B2 |
Filtration tester
A filtration tester has a scale, a collector disposed on the scale, a pump having an outlet aligned with an opening of the collector, and a force sensor connected to the pump. |
| US07677083B2 |
Internal combustion engine knock determination device
An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: setting a knock waveform model corresponding to engine speed sensed by a crank position sensor; calculating knock intensity N based on the result of comparison between a detected waveform and the set knock waveform model; when the knock intensity N is larger than a predetermined reference value, determining that knocking has occurred; and when the knock intensity N is not larger than the predetermined reference value, determining that knocking has not occurred. |
| US07677082B2 |
Solid state gas sensors based on tunnel junction geometry
A gas detector utilizing tunnel junction geometry is disclosed. The gas detector comprises a first electrically conductive material layer, an electrically nonconductive material layer disposed on the first electrically conductive material layer, a second electrically conductive material layer disposed on the electrically nonconductive material layer, a gas source (34) in fluid communication with the second electrically conductive material layer; and a power source in electrical communication with the first and second electrically conductive material layers. A method of detecting a gas utilizing the detector of the present invention is also disclosed. A method of making a gas detector is likewise disclosed. |
| US07677076B2 |
Angular velocity sensor unit and angular velocity sensor diagnosing device
An angular velocity sensor unit judging whether there is a failure in both of two angular velocity sensors. The angular velocity sensor unit includes a first angular velocity sensor (12) and a second angular velocity sensor (13), each including an oscillator having a shaft portion and an oscillatory portion. Each of the angular velocity sensors (12, 13) is arranged such that its shaft portion is not in parallel with an XY-plane defined by an X-axis and a Y-axis of three orthogonal axes. The failure of the second angular velocity sensor is judged based on whether or not a detection value of an angular velocity about a Z-axis lies outside a tolerance range of a detection value of the angular velocity about the Z-axis by the other angular velocity sensor, and the failure of the first angular velocity sensor is judged by comparison with a pseudo-calculated angular velocity. |
| US07677073B2 |
Method of manufacturing tooth profile part
A method of manufacturing a part with a tooth profile by cold forging includes an initial step of forming a initial tooth profile and a finishing step of forming a completed tooth profile by sizing. Between the initial step and the finishing step, is an intermediate step tooth thickness of the initial tooth profile is either maintained or reduced by 10% or less from the tooth thickness of the initial tooth profile. In the intermediate step an addendum part is expanded beyond the initial tooth profile by cold forging. |
| US07677072B2 |
Method of and apparatus for strip blow-off
The invention relates to a method of strip blow-off at an exit of rolling mills for producing a spotless and clean rolled strip, according to which the strip (5) is blown off with at least one nozzle (16) arranged above the upper side (14) of the strip, and a rolling oil/emulsion stuck on the strip (5) is aspirated from their edges (18′, 18″) by a suction device (20), and wherein on the upper side (14) and a lower side (15) of the strip (5), a chamber (21, 22) in which overpressure prevails, is formed and to a corresponding device. |
| US07677069B2 |
Threaded joint for an oil well pipe and method for manufacturing same
A threaded joint for an oil well pipe in which a conventional threaded joint for an oil well pipe is improved so that sufficient fatigue fracture strength is secured, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. An axial-direction residual stress of a threaded bottom part is set to −400 MPa or less as a value of X-ray stress analysis between a surface and a part with a depth of 40 μm. |
| US07677068B2 |
Air brake plunger securing device
The invention is an easy-to-use one-piece air brake securing device designed for use in recreational vehicles, trucks, and other automotive vehicles employing air-operated parking brakes. The device is designed to fit around the shaft of the air brake plunger and to prevent the plunger from being moved unintentionally or inadvertently in a manner that may disengage the air brake. |
| US07677063B2 |
Washing machine
Disclosed herein is a washing machine. A stator is mounted at the inside surface of a tub, a spider is mounted at a drum, a rotor is mounted at the spider such that the rotor is rotated by the stator, and a support shaft is mounted at the spider for supporting the drum, the rotor, and the spider. Consequently, the capacities of the drum and the tub are increased as compared with the case that the stator and the rotor are mounted at the rear of the tub, and therefore, washing capacity of the washing machine is greatly increased. |
| US07677061B2 |
Socks of multi-stage pile structure
To provide a sock with a performance that matches its purpose of use and seasonal requirements. To change the thickness and strength of different parts of the sock according to the load distribution on the sole and the impact that the different parts of the sock are subjected to when walking and running.Knitting structures of different thicknesses and airspace ratios, e.g., flat stitches P, short-terry stitches SP, long-terry stitches LP, mesh stitches M, short-terry stitches based on mesh stitches M-SP, long-terry stitches based on mesh stitches M-LP, short-terry stitches based on reinforced mesh stitches M-R-SP, long-terry stitches based on reinforced mesh stitches M-R-LP, short-terry stitches with reinforcement yarn R-SP and long-terry stitches with reinforcement yarn R-LP are distributed in different parts of the sock. |
| US07677060B2 |
Method for manufacturing optical fiber and the cooling of the optical fiber
A method for manufacturing an optical fiber by drawing an optical fiber preform softened by heating, includes cooling the optical fiber at a cooling rate of not more than 4000° C. per second at a temperature of 1200 to 1400° C. of the optical fiber; and cooling the optical fiber at a cooling rate of not more than 8000° C. per second at a temperature of 850 to 1200° C. of the optical fiber. A drawing rate of the optical fiber is not less than 1000 meters per minute. |
| US07677059B2 |
Tellurite optical fiber and production method thereof
A fabrication method of an optical fiber using as a core material tellurite glass. The method includes a first process of molding a tellurite glass melt into a mold, the mold having a plurality of convex portions defining an inner wall, which portions run parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction in order to make a polygon columnar glass preform, and a second process of inserting the glass preform into a cylindrical jacket tube made of tellurite glass and carrying out fiber-drawing under pressure so as to maintain or enlarge air holes which are gaps generated between the glass preform and the jacket tube. |
| US07677056B2 |
Portable cooling system for a beverage container
A portable cooling system for maintaining a beverage container at an internal temperature dissimilar to that of the temperature of its external surroundings comprising of a substantially circular shaped storage compartments with a hingly attached lid. The portable cooling system further includes a flexible temperature sleeve positioned in the interior volume of the storage compartment during use. The temperature sleeve contains a plurality of ribs being configure to have an internal chamber filled with temperature controlling substance. |
| US07677055B2 |
Refrigerator
According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified. |
| US07677051B2 |
Compressor lubrication
A system has a compressor having a compression path between a suction port located to receive a working fluid and a discharge port located to discharge the working fluid. The system has means for controlling a flow of at least one of additional working fluid and lubricant responsive to changes in at least one pressure parameter. |
| US07677046B2 |
Method for starting a pressure storage plant
An air storage plant comprises a storage volume for a pressurized storage fluid, a storage fluid expansion machine and a generator which is arranged with the expansion machine on a common power train. During the start up of the air storage plant, the generator is operated at least temporarily electromotively in order to assist the acceleration of the rotor of the expansion machine. This allows a more rapid acceleration of the expansion machine to the rated rotational speed and, consequently, earlier synchronization and an earlier power output than acceleration caused solely by the storage fluid flowing through. |
| US07677045B2 |
Gas turbine transition duct
A transition duct having a panel assembly with an inlet end of generally circular cross section and an outlet end having a generally rectangular arc-like cross section is disclosed. The panel assembly has an uncoated internal profile substantially in accordance with coordinate values X, Y, and Z as set forth in Table 1. The coordinates are taken at a sweep angle θ wherein θ is an angle measured from the inlet end and X, Y, and Z are coordinates defining the panel assembly profile at each angle θ from the inlet end. An alternate embodiment is also disclosed defining an envelope for the uncoated internal profile of the panel assembly. |
| US07677044B2 |
Heat shield
A heat shield according to the invention on a support structure comprises a number of heat shield elements, which are configured and arranged on the support structure such that they abut each other leaving gaps. The support structure of the heat shield according to the invention has a peripheral direction and an axial direction, the heat shield elements abutting each other in the peripheral direction of the support structure leaving a gap, hereafter referred to as a peripheral gap, and in the axial direction of the support structure leaving a gap, hereafter referred to as an axial gap. Both the peripheral gaps and the axial gaps are also sealed by sealing elements, the sealing elements sealing the axial gaps being at a different distance from the support structure from the sealing elements sealing the peripheral gaps. |
| US07677043B1 |
Steam powered hybrid vehicle
The idea within the scope of the present invention is for a vehicle to be driven by an electric motor. An external combustion engine drive a generator which supplies electricity for the electric motor. Surplus energy is stored in the batteries. The external combustion engine would be a preferred gasoline or diesel fueled steam engine. Steam is probably the best currently understood technology for the engine of the present invention. The combination use of steam and electric has advantages. A steam engine takes time to build pressure in a boiler before it can produce power. During this time the batteries will power the electric motor. The system of the present invention overcomes the problem of limited range in a pure electric powered vehicle, inefficiency of an internal combustion powered vehicle and long startup problems of pure steam driven vehicles. The present invention does not require a whole new fuel delivery infrastructure like a hydrogen fuel cell does. |
| US07677042B2 |
Water vaporization apparatus
A water vaporization apparatus is provided which uses the heat from the sun to vaporize water from a water collection means. The water collection means has a water container member which may be partially submerged in a water reservoir, or connected to a remote reservoir of water. The water container member has a water transport member connected to it, through which water from the water reservoir may move into the water container member, as the sun vaporizes water from the water container member, since the water levels will naturally try and reach equilibrium. An electricity generation means may be operatively connected to the water collection means in such a manner that the movement of the water through said water transport member may be used to generate electricity. In an alternate configuration, a water condenser means may be connected to the water collection means in such a manner that the vaporized water may be transformed back into liquid form, for use as drinking water and/or industrial water. |
| US07677041B2 |
Bearing systems for high-speed rotating machinery
Bearing systems for high speed rotating shafts, such as turbocharger shafts, include a first ball bearing in one end of an elongated cylinder capable of carrying axial thrust in both directions and a second ball bearing in the opposite end of the elongated cylinder with its outer race slideably mounted in the cylinder against the biasing force of a preload spring. The second ball bearing is free to move axially with the shaft upon axial expansion of the shaft when exposed to high temperature. The inner races of the ball bearings are clamped to and rotate with the shaft as part of the rotating assembly. |
| US07677040B2 |
Turbocharger with wastegate
An actuator rod (17) for a turbocharger pressure control assembly comprises a first elongate portion (17a) defining a first rod end and a second portion (17b) defining a second rod end. The first and second portions are pivotally joined to one another to allow a degree of relative pivotal motion therebetween in at least one plane perpendicular to the axis of said elongate first portion (17a). |
| US07677038B2 |
Pump unit
There is provided a pump unit including plurality of hydraulic pumps respectively fluidly connected to plurality of hydraulic motors, which are disposed away from the pump unit, so as to form closed circuits, the pump unit including a pump case accommodating the plurality of hydraulic pumps so that the plurality of hydraulic pumps are operatively driven by a common power source; and a filter mounted at the pump case so as to be inserted in a charge passage for replenishing operation fluid from a fluid sump to the closed circuits. |
| US07677037B2 |
Hydraulic drive system with precharge logic
A hydraulic drive system for storing and releasing hydraulic fluid includes a high pressure storage device, a low pressure storage device and a pump-motor operating at a range of pump-motor speeds for converting between hydraulic energy and mechanical energy. The pump-motor is disposed between the high pressure device and the low pressure device. In normal operation, the hydraulic drive system enters a motoring mode where hydraulic energy is released from the high pressure storage device and converted to mechanical energy using the pump-motor. It also enters a pumping mode where mechanical energy is converted into hydraulic energy. A neutral state exists where hydraulic energy is neither stored nor released from the high pressure storage device. An approach for facilitating the precharging of the high pressure storage device to a minimum threshold pressure promotes efficiency within the hydraulic drive system. |
| US07677036B2 |
Hydraulic energy storage with an internal element
In one aspect of the present invention, a system for performing work having a hydraulic circuit comprising a length of hose a hydraulic fluid in the circuit in communication with the hose, a hydraulic actuator for doing the work, at least one compressible element disposed within the hose, and a mechanism for pressurizing the hydraulic circuit such that at least 50 foot pounds of energy is stored within the hose to perform the work. |
| US07677035B2 |
Control system for a hydraulic servomotor
A control system for a hydraulic servomotor (13) is disclosed. The control system comprises an electro hydraulic actuator (2) comprising a number of valves (9, 10, 11, 12, 18) for controlling fluid flows, a main control module (1), and one or more connectors. The control system further comprises at least one extension control module (3) comprising one or more connectors. Finally, the control system comprises means (6) for communicating signals between the main control module (1) and each of the extension control module(s) (3). Since the main control module (1) and the extension control module(s) (3) are able to communicate signals, it is possible to provide signals to/from the main control module (1) via an extension module (3), thereby in effect providing additional connectors to the main control module (1). Thereby the main control module (1) may be able to perform additional functions as compared to similar prior art control modules. |
| US07677033B2 |
Apparatus for joining components to a hub
The present invention broadly includes a hub assembly for a torque converter having a hub arranged to rotationally connect to a transmission input shaft and includes first and second radial surfaces, a first plate rotationally connected to a turbine, rotationally connected to the hub, and fixed in a first axial direction by the first surface and a second plate rotationally connected to the first plate and fixed in a second axial direction, opposite the first direction, by the second surface. The hub assembly may include a hub having at least one radially disposed protrusion, the protrusion includes the second radial surface, and the first plate is rotationally connected to the protrusion. The hub may further include a body with a first diameter and the protrusion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The first and second radial surfaces may be arranged to axially fix a turbine with respect to the hub, or the first and second radial surfaces may be coplanar. The first plate may be in contact with the first radial surface, or the second plate may be in contact with the second radial surface. |
| US07677029B2 |
Regeneration controller for exhaust purification apparatus of internal combustion engine
A regeneration controller for an exhaust purification apparatus (36, 38) of an engine (2) that appropriately burns particulate matter accumulated in the exhaust purification apparatus. The regeneration controller includes an ECU (70) that determines whether an estimated accumulation amount (PMsm) of particulate matter deviates from an actual accumulation amount. When the estimated accumulation amount is less than or equal to a maximum value (BUpm) and an exhaust pressure difference (&Dgr;P/GA) is greater than a replacement reference value (Dp), the ECU replaces the estimated accumulation amount with a greater replacement amount (UPpm). This causes the estimated accumulation amount to approach or to be the same as the actual accumulation amount. |
| US07677016B2 |
Capsule filling machine and method for producing hard gelatin capsules
A capsule filling machine (100) for the production of hard gelatin capsules (C) of the type with lid (3) and body (2) containing a quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material comprises a rotary turret or carousel (15) which defines at least one capsule (C) handling line (L) and on which the following are positioned, one after the other: at least one station (6) for feeding empty capsules (C); at least one opening station (20) where the capsule bodies (2) are separated from the lids (3) to form two separate rows of capsule bodies (2) and lids (3); at least one station (7) for feeding and dosing the quantities (1) of pharmaceutical material to be filled into the capsule bodies (2); and at least one station (8) for closing the capsules (C) by placing a lid (3) over each respective body (2); the machine (100) also comprises means (9) for detecting and volumetrically checking the quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material filled into each capsule body (2), the detecting and checking means (9) comprise transducer means (5) for measuring the volume of said quantities (1) before they are filled into the capsule bodies (2). |
| US07677013B2 |
Spout installation method and spout installation device
A rotary type pouch reception/delivery unit is configured to receive a pouch supplied by a pouch supply unit at a pouch reception/delivery position α, conveys it to a pouch reception/delivery position β, and delivers it to a spout installation unit at a pouch reception/delivery position β. The pouch reception/delivery unit is provided with a plurality of take-up members rotating at a constant rotation speed so as to pass the pouch reception/delivery position α and a pouch reception/delivery position β. The pouch reception/delivery unit receives the pouch supplied in a standing state at the pouch reception/delivery position α by sucking and holding it by a take-up member and tilts the pouch during conveyance. At the pouch reception/delivery position β, the pouch receipt/delivery unit delivers the pouch to the spout installation device with a spout installation edge portion horizontally tilted. |
| US07677010B2 |
Modular structural system
A modular structural system includes a hub in the general shape of a polygon, such as a hexagon or octagon, which may be somewhat rounded or may have a regular shape. The system includes a plurality of other structural members, such as hub spokes, for interfacing adjacent the hub, and leg spokes, for interfacing with the hub or with the hub spokes. The system also includes cross braces for providing additional support between the hub spokes and leg spokes. The hub, the hub spokes, leg spokes, and cross braces are joined by bores in the individual pieces and a plurality of dowels or rods placed into the bores. From these modular pieces, and currently available structural members, many useful and recreational structures may be assembled and then disassembled, such as frames, garden structures, furniture, shelving, and the like. |
| US07677009B2 |
Roof truss system
An adjustable roof truss that includes roof truss members, roof base members and a central body containing a polymer matrix. The roof truss members include a pivot end, a connection end, a roof facing edge, an inside edge, and a pivot surface. The roof base members include a receiving end, a connecting end, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a contact surface. The roof truss members are pivotally connected to the roof base members by a pivot fastener inserted through a pivot opening on the roof base members and a stator opening on the roof truss members. One or both of the roof truss members and the roof base members include an embedded portion extending from the roof facing edge or the bottom edge respectively into the central body. Expansion hole(s) are positioned along the embedded portion such that the polymer matrix expands through the expansion holes. |
| US07677005B2 |
Mechanical locking system for floorboards
A joint system having a flexible spring located in a horizontal groove of a panel, the spring having an inner flexible part and being displaceable horizontally in the groove. |
| US07677004B2 |
Conformable wide wall angle
A wide wall angle useful in locations of seismic activity to support ceiling tile and grid tees of a suspended ceiling comprising an assembly of an elongated base angle and an elongated extension strip, the base angle having generally perpendicular legs integral with one another and intersecting at a longitudinally extending corner, one leg being adapted to be fixed against a wall with the corner down, and the other adapted to project horizontally from the wall, the extension strip having a face with greater than the width of the horizontal leg, the extension strip having a multiple layer construction, two layers of the extension strip being held together in close parallel relation by an intermediate web integral with the layers, at least portions of the two layers being arranged to frictionally engage at least a part of the horizontal leg of the base angle spaced from the corner such that the strip can be assembled on and frictionally retained on the horizontal leg of the base angle, the horizontal leg of the base angle being disposed between the two layers of the extension strip. |
| US07677003B2 |
Integrated storm shutter including latch pin corner connection and/or center louver support rail
A shutter having a unitary frame formed by four perimeter rails, each having a receptacle at each of its distal ends, with four connection members, each having structure inserted into and secured within one receptacle of each of two of the perimeter rails. Optionally, a latch pin is movable through a guide hole formed in one of the corner connection members. A further option is louvers extending through a center support. |
| US07677002B2 |
Wall sheathing system and method of installation
The invention comprises a wall sheathing barrier system having moisture permeability and simple improved installation method. The system comprises adjoined structural panels. Each panel has an overlay paper bonded permanently to the structural panel, which provides a moisture permeable barrier and a textured skid-resistant surface. The skid resistant surface may include indicia for aligning strips of tape or for aligning fasteners. Further, the seams of adjoining panels are sealed with a sealing means to complete the moisture barrier. |
| US07677000B2 |
Post system for a railing
A post system for a railing, the post system including a railing post, an insert and a post base. The railing post includes an elongated tubular body with first and second ends. The insert may snugly be insertable within the first end of the railing post. The post base may be connectable to the first end of the railing post and may have an inner member and an outer member substantially encasing the inner member. The inner member may be constructed from a first material, while the outer member may be constructed of a second material. The post base may include a base member and a housing member connected to and extending from the base member. The housing member may be adapted to engage the railing post. |
| US07676993B2 |
Exterior siding mounting bracket assembly and method of assembly
An exterior siding mounting bracket assembly used in conjunction with siding placed over sheathing of an exterior wall has a base member having a mounting flange fastened to the sheathing and a water diversion fitting also fastened to the sheathing and flashed in-part beneath the lower end of the mounting flange. A wall arrangement projects laterally outward from the mounting flange and away from the sheathing. A trim member of the bracket assembly has a partition arrangement that preferably snap fits to the wall arrangement and a trim flange constructed and arranged to substantially cover the water diversion fitting and the cut edges of the siding that cover in-part the mounting flange. Preferably, the water diversion fitting has an elongated drip edge spaced outwardly from the siding to shed water collected from generally cascaded from the mounting flange and outward from the siding. |
| US07676992B2 |
Wall mountable frame structure for mounting equipment
A wall mountable frame structure for supporting appliances, entertainment equipment or other devices including peripheral horizontal and vertical structural beams with at least one intermediate vertical beam extending between and secured to the horizontal beams. A plurality of cladding panels removably attached to the vertical beams by way of a stud having a trapping member at its terminus which fits within a complimentary receiving portion of the vertical beams to secure the cladding panel to the vertical beams. A support bracket to be affixed to a wall and having mounting forks pivotally secured thereto is provided. A plurality of transverse mounting members are affixed to the vertical beams and are received by the mounting forks to secure the frame to a wall. The mounting forks are rotatable between first and second positions with the frame positioned away from the wall in the first position and against the wall in the second position. Each of the vertical beams defines a channel within which there is received a moveable fastener which is utilized to attach one or more pieces of equipment to the frame structure. The movable fastener frictionally engages the side walls of the channel to hold the fastener in position once it is adjusted to a desired location. |
| US07676990B2 |
Positive action lock for sliding windows
A sliding window having a pair of sashes with a latch mechanism on the meeting rail of one of the sashes for latching the sashes together. To open the window, the latch mechanism is disengaged by grasping a finger grip on a latch handle to retract a latch bolt. As one or more of the sashes is slid to open the window and the latch mechanism clears the meeting rail of the other sash, a trigger cam rotates so that a portion extends outward from the latch mechanism and another portion releases a spring tab to engage and hold the latch bolt in the retracted position. When the window is closed, the outwardly extending portion of the trigger cam contacts the meeting rail of the other sash, causing the trigger cam to rotate in the opposite direction and releasing the latch bolt. |
| US07676988B2 |
Capillary hydration system and method
A capillary hydration system and method for facilitating the growth of plants are provided. An exemplary system comprises a base having a reservoir for holding nutrient solution, and an insert portion. The insert portion comprises at least one downwardly extending plant receiving depression that is capable of holding a growth substrate. The plant receiving depression has at least one capillary opening such that when the capillary opening is in liquid communication with the nutrient solution in the reservoir, nutrient solution is wicked from the reservoir to the growth substrate by capillary action. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the capillary hydration system may further comprise cover, including a cover with a supply component for refilling the nutrient solution without removing the insert portion or the cover, and a nutrient supply level indicator. |
| US07676986B2 |
Capturing device for insects
A device for manually capturing and restraining intended insects, the same comprising a pad of stacked, singular sheets each sheet having a partial enveloping means comprised of hydrophillic absorbing material and collapsible sheet construction whereby the sheet partially conforms in response to the insects body mass. Each sheet has a region is coated with a mild compression adhesive material capable of trapping of an insect in response to the physical manipulation by a human being. The pad of stacked adhesive sheets can be used by separating each sheet individually or as a stack. Upon apprehension of an insect, the sheet restraining the insect is separated, if not already separated from its stack, folded to encase the insect and ready for disposal. The pad of stacked adhesive sheets can have various sheet sizes, thickness and density with varying enveloping ability—all depending upon intended insect to be trapped. For increasing the maneuverability of the device, the device can be attached to an elongated rod such as a fly swatter's handle. |
| US07676985B1 |
System and device for pest monitoring and eradication
A system and device for pest monitoring and eradication includes member having a dark crack and crevice environment for attracting, housing, retaining, and eradicating bedbugs and other similar pests. The system and device provides for boundary barriers adaptable to the perimeter of interconnected planar surfaces to maximize bedbug population monitoring and eradication activities. |
| US07676984B2 |
Energy absorbing support for downrigger weight
An energy absorbing member for use in suspending a weight to a downrigger assembly for fishing. The member is formed of a viscoelastic material. |
| US07676980B2 |
Adjustable mass tuner for rifle barrels
An apparatus for mass-tuning a gun barrel comprises a body portion configured for attachment to the gun barrel. The body portion includes a main bore therethrough and defines a plurality of predetermined mass attachment locations. Each mass attachment location comprises a mating portion configured to engage a complimentary mating portion of a mass attachment. In some embodiments, mass attachments can be used to configure the total mass of the device. |
| US07676979B1 |
Bipod support and rifle forearm
A rifle stock for used with the bipod support. The rifle stock has a front forearm and the front forearm has a bottom. There is a leg support cutout in the bottom of the front forearm. The leg support cutout large is enough to receive a bipod support in a folded position for storage of the bipod support. There are two leg grooves to receive legs of the bipod support when in a folded position for storage of the bipod support. |
| US07676977B1 |
Bipod
A bipod for a firearm is provided, including a body with cutouts to receive a bipod base, and a pair of legs. The bipod base is pivotally mounted to the body, and a firearm mounting bracket is pivotally mounted to the bipod base, allowing for a traversing and/or canting motion. A ball lock mounts each leg to the body, allowing the legs to be independently deployed or stored with the push of a plunger. The legs also telescope to allow adjustment of the bipod height. |
| US07676974B2 |
Automatic rifle converted for non-military use
In an automatic rifle which has been converted for non-military purposes to be semi-automatic by the removal of parts that allow its automatic function, additional suppressing elements are provided to ensure that the interruptor remains depressed until the bolt carrier fully passes the striker catch before the striker catch is engaged by the interruptor. This prevents premature connection of the striker catch and the interruptor, which could prevent sufficient striker spring pressure so that the next round can be fired. In one embodiment the trigger mechanism is fitted with an additional suppressing element (10) formed as a side push plate 7 on the bridge (6) of bolt carrier (5). In a second embodiment the interruptor is provided with a pin (8) protruding to the left, in a direction of fire, while the receiver side wall has a cavity (11), over which a thin metal sheet (9) with a beveled corner is placed such that between the lower edge of metal sheet (9) and the lower edge of cavity (11), as well as between rear edge of metal sheet (9) and rear edge of cavity (11) a gap (12) is provided to receive the pin. The additional suppressing element is particularly applicable to a Czech model SA vz.58 semi-automatic rifle which has been converted for non-military purposes. |
| US07676973B1 |
Firearm or repeating pyrotechnic mortar that advances cartridges from a magazine into a firing chamber by a chemical detonation or steam explosion
A method of loading individual caseless cartridges sequentially into a firearm firing chamber by the expansive force of a small detonation in the magazine focused locally on the current top cartridge in a magazine without damaging remaining cartridges. Small individual propelling charges containing an igniter microchip located in the magazine behind each cartridge provides the loading thrust. More energetic charges containing igniter microchips are imbedded in the cartridges to fire the cartridge in the firing chamber at will. |
| US07676965B1 |
Air powered vacuum apparatus
An air powered vacuum apparatus for use in an air vacuum excavation system creates a fluid flow under vacuum and reduces the sound level of the exhausting air. The apparatus comprises an injector assembly and a container for collecting spoil, i.e., dirt, sand, gravel, etc. drawn in from the excavation site. The vacuum is produced by an injector and a supersonic nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the container. The injector has converging, straight and diverging sections, and the supersonic nozzle assembly extends into the converging section. The supersonic air ejected from the nozzle assembly mixes with the air drawn up from the container, and the air mixture travels through the diverging section and out of the injector assembly and creates a vacuum in the container. |
| US07676963B2 |
Snow plow including mold board having back plate
A snow plow for attachment to a vehicle, preferably an all terrain vehicle, the snow plow including a mounting apparatus having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including at least one mounting upright. The snow plow further including a plow blade. The preferred plow blade has a mold board including a main surface, a back surface and a plate secured proximate the back of the mold board, the plow also has a rubber scraper proximate the main surface and a retention apparatus constructed and arranged to disengageably secure the plow blade with the mounting upright; wherein the retention apparatus allows the plow blade to pivot with respect to the mounting upright such that the rubber scraper can pivot away from the mounting upright when the plow blade is in a working orientation and the vehicle moves in a direction rearward from the plow blade. |
| US07676959B2 |
Contoured skate boot
Embodiments of the present invention contemplated herein describe a contoured skate boot having contour seams formed therein for introducing preferential biases in the boot material. By strategically creating notches in the boot upper material and subsequently rejoining the edges of each notch, the boot upper may be biased to conform to the complex contours of a skater's foot and ankle. Moreover, by introducing boot contours such that the boot is able to closer approximate the natural contours of a skater's foot, fewer stiffeners and less padding is required to result in a comfortable fit while providing increased control of the boot. Additionally, by reducing the quantity of stiffeners and volume of padding, a lighter boot is provided, thus resulting in a more efficient energy transfer from the skater through the skate. |
| US07676958B2 |
Ski boot
A ski boot comprising a conventional rigid sole from which there protrudes, from the area of the forefoot and approximately up to the area of the arch of the foot, a shell open in the direction of the area of the heel of the sole, thereat and to which there is rearwardly and slideably connectable a buttress element interacting with adjustment and guiding elements of the axial position with respect to the sole and to which a height-adjustable cuff is rotatably connectable. |
| US07676955B2 |
Article of footwear having a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure
A sole component and a method of manufacturing the sole component are disclosed. In general, the sole component includes a fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing structure extending around the bladder. The reinforcing structure is bonded to the exterior of the bladder, and may be recessed into the bladder. In some embodiments, the reinforcing structure extends along the side surfaces of the bladder and between upper and lower surfaces of bladder. In manufacturing the sole component, the reinforcing structure may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing structure during the molding process. |
| US07676953B2 |
Calibration and metering methods for wood kiln moisture measurement
A moisture metering calibration method and system for, e.g., determining the moisture lumber within a lumber drying kiln is disclosed. Calibration of moisture indicative electrical signals obtained from, e.g., moisture sensing capacitive plates spaced apart within a stack of drying lumber is performed, wherein long lengths (e.g., up to 1000 linear feet or more) of coaxial cable can be used for transmitting the signals, and effectively removing signal anomalies induced in such cabling so that accurate lumber moisture measurements result. Such extended cable lengths provides flexibility with respect to placement of electronic moisture metering equipment. This flexibility allows such equipment to be placed in an environmentally-controlled enclosure, rather than on the weather exposed exterior of a kiln whose lumber is being monitored. |
| US07676950B2 |
Carpenters square with tape measure
An improved adjustable carpenters square is presented, which aids carpenters in marking and measuring work product to be cut or formed. The adjustable square can be set at a variety of angles to enable cut marking. It also possesses an attached measuring tape and a straight edge to combine three useful features in one tool, as well as a press-down tape stop to hold the tape in place.This invention can be used to scribe a line along a piece of material using the leading edge of the square as a guide instead of using the index finger of one hand, which often results in injury due to slivers from the material being scribed. |
| US07676948B2 |
Tape dispenser for children
The disclosure depicts a children's tape dispenser and method that incorporates it into practice. The apparatus has a housing in the form of a toy, and has a tape coil positioned within the housing. Tape having a gentle and nonpermanent adhesive is dispensed underneath the apparatus as it is moved across a surface. |
| US07676947B2 |
Adhesive label application system
A label printing kit, system, and method of use is disclosed which enables a user to print and easily apply labels to one or more units of a product with precise registration of the label on each unit of the product. The system utilizes labels with adhesive on a backside and a jig so that the labels can be easily, rapidly, and precisely applied manually to one or more units of a particular product, item or object. |
| US07676945B2 |
Modular measurement probe
A measurement probe, such as a touch trigger probe, is described that comprises a stylus module attachable to a base module. The stylus module comprising a housing and a stylus holder moveably attached to the housing. The base module comprises a measurement portion for generating measurement data indicative of movement of the stylus holder relative to the housing. The stylus module has an inbuilt failure mode and thereby a substantially predetermined operational lifetime. In one embodiment, the inbuilt failure mode is provided by integrating a battery into the stylus module. Providing a mechanical failure mode in which a component of the stylus module catastrophically fails after a certain amount of usage is also described. |
| US07676942B2 |
Multi-axis positioning and measuring system and method of using
The positioning and measuring system includes a coordinate positioning machine comprising a movable spindle (60) movable relative to a reference surface 30, a rotor (100) rotatably connected with the movable spindle, an actuator (500) for driving the rotor (100) in rotation around a rotation axis (65), and a coordinate probe (150, 190) detachably connectable to the rotor (100) for measuring coordinate of points (350) of a workpiece (200, 201, 250) along a path resulting from the composition of a translation movement of the spindle (60) and a rotation of the rotor (100). The points (350) are offset (r) with respect to the rotation axis (65) of the rotor (100). |
| US07676941B2 |
Chalk line or string attachment clamp for marking lines (straight angled or radius) on flat surfaces
The chalk line attachment clamp is a new approach to snapping a chalk line on a flat surface such as plywood, sheetrock and other construction materials. It holds the chalk line at the specific desired location and allows one person to make an accurate straight line to cut the flat surface material at any angle, thereby saving man-hours at the same time improving the accuracy of the saw cut to allow a better fitting of the parts being cut and improving the quality of the assembled project. The old method of requiring one worker at each end of the chalk line is no longer necessary. It will not be required to damage the material by driving a nail into the material to hold a chalk line in place. |
| US07676940B2 |
Level
A level includes a body having first and second arms attached to each other for relative pivotal movement about a pivot axis between open and closed positions. The level also includes a bubble vial mounted to the body and having a longitudinal axis coaxial with the pivot axis. Movement of the arms from their closed position to their open position exposes a measurement portion of the first bubble vial for use. Movement of the arms from their open position to their closed position shields the measurement portion of the first bubble vial within the body to protect the bubble vial from damage during storage. |
| US07676934B2 |
Keyless adjusting mechanism for chain saw
A keyless adjusting mechanism for a chain saw is disclosed herein, which comprises a protection cover, an adjusting bolt, an adjusting stud, and an adjusting ring with a driver gear, wherein the adjusting bolt is coupled with a driven gear for engaging with the driver gear of the adjusting ring, the adjusting stud is coupled with a chain board and has a threaded hole for engaging with the corresponding adjusting bolt. Accordingly, when the adjusting ring is rotated, the driver gear can bring the driven gear to let the adjusting stud move axially along the adjusting bolt such that the chain could be adjusted to tighten or loosen. In addition, a knob with a handle is coupled to the adjusting ring. The handle can be withdrawn in the knob or extended out of the knob for convenient twist. |
| US07676933B2 |
Spatula and blade
A spatula having a body with a top working surface and a bottom surface is provided. The spatula body also includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A handle is mounted to the first end of the body and the body has a first mounting member depending from the spatula body proximate the second end of the spatula body. The mounting member has an interior for receiving a mounting portion of the spatula blade and a second open end opposed to the first open end. The spatula body includes an opening in the body for cleaning the mounting member. A blade is provided for the spatula. The blade has a front section having a top surface and a bottom surface. At least a first spring tab extends rearwardly of the front section. The spring tab has a concave surface for one of its top and bottom surfaces. |
| US07676932B2 |
Knife with spring-assisted blade articulation mechanism
A knife with a spring-assisted articulation mechanism for assisting the user in the folding and unfolding of the blade from the pocket of the liner. The spring-assisted articulation mechanism also helps retain the blade in the folded position to prevent the blade from becoming unintentionally unfolded. The knife includes a pocketed liner and a blade attached to liner at one end of the liner by a pivot pin. The blade has a pointed end and a base end, the base end pivotally secured to the second end of the liner by the pivot pin such that the blade is capable of pivoting between a folded “closed” position and an unfolded “open” position. A guide pin is also attached to the blade of the knife at the base. A spring is provided to exert a closing force on the blade when the blade is in the closed position and an opening force on the blade when the user moves the blade into a partially open position. |
| US07676922B1 |
Method of forming a saucer-shaped half-loop MEMS inductor with very low resistance
A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) inductor is formed in a saucer shape that completely surrounds a magnetic core structure which is formed from a ferromagnetic material. In addition, an array of MEMS inductors can be formed by dividing up the saucer-shaped MEMS inductor into a number of electrically-isolated MEMS inductor wedges. |
| US07676921B2 |
Method of manufacturing printed circuit board including embedded capacitors
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board including embedded capacitors, composed of a polymer condenser laminate including a plurality of polymer condenser layers, each of which has a polymer sheet and a conductor pattern formed on the polymer sheet, and a via hole for interlayer connection therethrough, and a circuit layer formed on either surface or both surfaces of the polymer condenser laminate and having a circuit pattern and a via hole for interlayer connection therethrough. The printed circuit board manufactured by the method of the current invention has higher capacitance density per unit area than conventional embedded capacitor printed circuit boards, whereby capacitors having various capacitance values, such as multilayered ceramic capacitors having high capacitance, can be embedded in the printed circuit board, instead of being mounted thereon. |
| US07676917B2 |
Method of manufacturing a circuit board
A method of manufacturing a circuit board which may include the steps of forming a circuit board with horizontal and vertical fiberglass fibers, rotating the circuit board, and cutting the circuit board so that the horizontal and vertical fiberglass fibers form a non-right angle with a cut line of the circuit board. The circuit board may have a plurality of conductive traces located thereon which pass by areas of higher fiberglass-to-resin material and lower fiberglass-to-resin material to assist in reducing differential to common mode conversion between signals in the plurality of conducive traces. |
| US07676912B2 |
Method of manufacturing electronic component package
An electronic component package includes: a main body including a plurality of layer portions that are stacked and that have their respective side surfaces, the main body having a side surface including the side surfaces of the layer portions; and wiring disposed on the side surface of the main body. Each of the layer portions has at least one electronic component chip and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the side surface of the layer portion. A method of manufacturing the electronic component package includes the steps of: fabricating a main body aggregate including a plurality of pre-main-body portions each of which is to become the main body later, the pre-main-body portions being arranged in one direction orthogonal to the direction of stacking of the plurality of layer portions; forming the wiring for each of the pre-main-body portions of the main body aggregate; and cutting the main body aggregate after the formation of the wiring so as to separate the plurality of pre-main-body portions from each other so that each of them becomes the main body and a plurality of electronic component packages are thereby formed. |
| US07676911B2 |
Method to reduce module inductance
A DC bus for use in a power module has a positive DC conductor bus plate parallel with a negative DC conductor bus plate. One or more positive leads are connected to the positive bus and are connectable to a positive terminal of a power source. One or more negative leads are connected to the negative bus and are connectable to a negative terminal of a power source. The DC bus has one or more positive connections fastenable from the positive bus to the high side of a power module. The DC bus also has one or more negative connections fastenable from the negative bus to the low side of the power module. The positive bus and negative bus permit counter-flow of currents, thereby canceling magnetic fields and their associated inductances, and the positive and negative bus are connectable to the center portion of a power module. |
| US07676904B2 |
Method of manufacturing high sensitivity spin valve designs with ion beam treatment
A method of manufacturing a GMR, TMR or CPP GMR sensor having a smooth interface between magnetic and non-magnetic layers to improve sensor performance by exposing a layer to a low energy ion beam prior to depositing a subsequent layer. |
| US07676903B1 |
Microelectromechanical slow-wave phase shifter method of use
/The present invention provides a method of use for a monolithic device utilizing cascaded, switchable slow-wave CPW sections that are integrated along the length of a planar transmission line. The purpose of the switchable slow-wave CPW sections element is to enable control of the propagation constant along the transmission line while maintaining a quasi-constant characteristic impedance. The method can be used to produce true time delay phase shifting components in which large amounts of time delay can be achieved without significant variation in the effective characteristic impedance of the transmission line, and thus also the input/output return loss of the component. Additionally, for a particular value of return loss, greater time delay per unit length can be achieved in comparison to tunable capacitance-only delay components. |
| US07676901B2 |
Producing method of solid state pickup device, and attaching method and device for the same
A producing method of producing a solid state pickup device is provided. Imaging elements are formed on a wafer in a matrix form. Each of the imaging elements has a light receiving surface and plural contact points. Receiving surface border portions are formed on a glass plate to protrude therefrom in a matrix form by etching. The receiving surface border portions are attached to the wafer to surround the light receiving surface in each of the receiving surface border portions. The light receiving surface is spaced from the glass plate. The glass plate is diced outside respectively the receiving surface border portions, to form shield glass for covering the light receiving surface. The wafer is diced for each of the imaging elements, to obtain the solid state pickup device having the shield glass and one of the imaging elements. |
| US07676900B2 |
Apparatus for processing a carrier with electronic components
The invention relates to an apparatus for processing electronic components mounted on a carrier, comprising at least two engaging elements which co-act when engaging on a carrier. The invention also relates to a processing element for processing electronic components mounted on a carrier, which processing element can be coupled interchangeably to an apparatus according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a method for product-related adjustment of such an apparatus. |
| US07676897B2 |
Process of refurbishing brake components
A method of refurbishing components such as brake rotors and drums is disclosed. The method may involve identifying, sorting and cleaning used or worn components. The components may then be blasted with an abrasive material to prepare them for a metal deposition process. Metal may then be added to the components using an arc spray gun, for example. The component may then be cryogenically treated to improve the wear characteristics of the component. The component may then be machined to place the component within a specified configuration. Components may be refurbished repeatedly in this manner so as to utilize resources more efficiently and reduce waste. Moreover, the components may exhibit improved wear characteristics over components manufactured by other methods. |
| US07676895B2 |
Shoe lace end
An end piece for the end of a lace, string, filament or the like flexible article. The end piece includes a tube into which the end of the lace or the like is installed. A pin passes through and across the tube and pierces or traps the end of the flexible article in the tube. A decoration may be applied on the pin. A decoration support may be supported on the pin. The decoration support may have the form of a pivotable bridle attached on the ends of the pin. The bridle is supported to the tube by pintles. The pin passes through one pintle and into the other arm of the bridle. |
| US07676886B2 |
Carpet cleaner with pressed-down suction
A carpet cleaner with a base, a handle, and a plurality of wheels is provided. The carpet cleaner includes a suction opening provided at a front portion of the base of the carpet cleaner and a detachable pressing bar extended from the front portion of the base above the suction opening, wherein the suction opening is pressed down to the carpet floor by pushing down the detachable pressing bar, wherein the suction opening contacts the carpet floor tight for facilitating suction of the carpet cleaner. The detachable pressing bar includes a built-in spring for regulating the amount of pressure to the detachable pressing bar. The pressing bar includes a handle adapted to grab and push. |
| US07676882B1 |
Debris collection device
A debris collection device for collecting debris along a vertical surface during drilling of the vertical surface includes a tray being positionable adjacent a vertical surface and under a drill to collect falling debris when the vertical surface is drilled. The tray includes a bottom wall and a perimeter wall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The perimeter wall and the bottom wall define a collection space to receive the debris. |
| US07676874B2 |
Washing machine with stillness mode and method of operating the same
Disclosed herein is a still operation of a washing machine, and more particularly, a washing machine which includes an operation condition of the washing machine in correspondence with each of a plurality of stillness modes and operates according to the operation condition corresponding to any one selected from the plurality of stillness modes. The washing machine includes a controller which, by the selection of any one of a plurality of stillness modes which are distinguished according to a stillness degree of an operation, controls the washing machine according to an operation condition corresponding to the selected stillness mode. |
| US07676870B2 |
Pillow to prevent snoring
The present invention provides a pillow to prevent snoring. The pillow includes a base and a mobile seat A shift control assembly shifts the mobile seat between positions and includes a motor, gear set and drive assembly. The shift control assembly also contains a motor output control module for controlling the rotational cycle of output end of the motor. The mobile seat shifts to different positions prior to and after shift based on the set value of the rotational cycle, and this rotational cycle is accurately controlled. The head position or posture happens through different positioning of the mobile seat prior to and after shift, thus helping to stop the snore with improved applicability. |
| US07676862B2 |
Siderail for hospital bed
A siderail assembly for a hospital bed is provided. In one embodiment the bed is a chair bed having a first deck section, a second deck section and a third deck section. A pair of siderails are operably connected to the third deck section of the bed. In another embodiment, the siderail coupled to the third deck section remains stationary relative to the third deck section during movement of the third deck section between the generally horizontal and the substantially vertical position. The siderail is configured to be gripped by a patient while the patient is entering and exiting the chair bed. |
| US07676859B2 |
Folding bed with scissors-type lifting arrangement
The invention relates to a folding bed which is covered with a mattress (9) and comprises a head frame, back frame and foot frame (8, 7, 6) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and are arranged in a collapsed state in a basic frame (1) or box such that they can be raised and lowered by means of a lifting mechanism (4), in which case the lifting mechanism (4) comprises scissors-type lifting arrangements which are provided on both sides of the head frame (8), are spring-loaded for lifting action, and have their top ends articulated on the end sides of the head frame (8), and that the first scissors arm (47) is articulated, at the top end, on a short block link (43) at the back-part head-frame end at an articulation (44) on which acts a link plate (42) which is connected in an articulated manner to a control arm (41) and is connected to a spacing head-frame connector (20) of the head frame (8) and of the back frame (7). Supporting legs and catches secure the end positions; claddings prevent access to movable parts and springs. |
| US07676857B1 |
Toilet seat and lid lifter assembly
A toilet seat and lid lifter assembly which is constructed of a first frame member of generally U-shape and a second frame member of generally S-shape for gripping both a toilet seat and a toilet lid together such that the seat and lid can be simultaneously lifted or lowered without having to touch by hand. |
| US07676856B1 |
Deodorizing device for toilet bowls
A device for controlling odor from a toilet bowl has a housing primarily formed by a top member, a bottom member and a canister holding section for attaching to the bottom member. The canister holding section holds a canister having a nozzle for providing an odor treating spray from the canister. The housing also has two plates depending downwardly from the bottom member and which form an inverted U-shape for mounting the device on a rim of the toilet bowl. Between the top member and bottom member is a biasing device such as springs for biasing a seat of the toilet bowl in an upward direction when the seat is empty, and for allowing the seat to move in a downward direction in response to someone sitting on the seat. The downward motion of the seat moves the top member down, thereby actuating a nozzle on the canister, spraying a metered amount a substantially fixed predetermined amount, of spray into the toilet bowl. A method of deodorizing the bowl in response to sitting includes mounting a device on the rim, biasing the seat into a first position which is not fully down, responding to someone sitting on the seat by moving a top member down in response to the seat moving down, and causing a metered amount of spray from the nozzle of the canister to be sprayed into the bowl. |
| US07676848B2 |
Catching tool for baseball or softball
A web part comprises a lower-side web part provided on a pocket-part side of a glove and an upper-side web part provided on an opposite side relative to the pocket-part side. An extended part resulting from extension of a ball-receiving leather of a main body of the glove into between a thumb stall and a forefinger stall constitutes the lower-side web part. The lower-side web part is provided on a back side of the glove in comparison to a smoothly curved line which connects an intermediate point of the thumb stall in a thickness direction thereof and an intermediate point of the forefinger stall in a thickness direction thereof in a sectional surface in a lateral direction starting from the thumb stall, passing through the lower-side web part and reaching the forefinger stall. |