| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07851103B2 |
Solid oxide fuel cell with lanthanum-gallate oxide and having high output performance
A solid oxide fuel cell which has high output capacity especially at an operating temperature of 600° C.-800° C. and effectively prevents influence of reaction between respective layers. The solid oxide fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte layer between a fuel electrode and an air electrode, a support comprised of either the fuel electrode or the air electrode, and at least first and second layers provided in turn from the side of the support. The first layer is comprised of a cerium-containing oxide and the second layer is comprised of a lanthanum-gallate oxide containing at least lanthanum and gallate. A sintering assistant for improving sintering property of the cerium-containing oxide is contained in the first layer. When the thickness of the second layer is T μm, the value of T is 2 |
| US07851101B2 |
Fuel cell stack, installation structure of fuel cell stack, method of transporting fuel cell stack, and method of mounting fuel cell stack on vehicle
In order to easily transport a fuel cell stack, without increasing costs, the fuel cell stack according to the present invention includes a stack body 5 in which end plates 8, 8 are arranged at both ends in a cell lamination direction, and suspension hangers 10 provided on the end plates 8, 8. The suspension hangers 10 project outward from a case 6 in which the stack body 5 is stored. With this arrangement, the fuel cell stack can be suspended from outside the case 6, and transported. Also using the suspension hangers 10, this fuel cell stack can be secured in a predetermined installation location. |
| US07851100B2 |
MEA-gasket assembly and polymer electrolyte fuel cell using same
The invention provides an MEA-gasket assembly (1) comprising: an MEA (5) having a polymer electrolyte membrane (5A), catalyst layers and gas diffusing layers (5C); a plate-like frame (6) which is joined to a portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (5A) so as to enclose the MEA (5), the portion being located in a peripheral region of the MEA (5) and which has a plurality of fluid manifold holes (12, 13, 14); and an annular gasket (7) formed on both faces of the frame (6), wherein an annular gap formed between the inner peripheral edge of the annular gasket (7) and the outer peripheral edges of the gas diffusing layers (5C) is at least partially closed. |
| US07851099B2 |
Fuel cell system and control method for fuel cell
A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell which generates electricity by supplying hydrogen to an anode electrode, and a reaction gas to a cathode electrode, an anode gas supply device which supplies hydrogen to the anode electrode, and a cathode gas supply device which drives a compressor using electric power generated by the fuel cell, and supplies pressurized reaction gas to the cathode electrode. The fuel cell system further includes a target pressure setting device which sets a target value for cathode pressure of the fuel cell, a correction device which corrects the target value in accordance with atmospheric pressure, and a control device which controls the cathode pressure of the fuel cell to the corrected target value. Efficient electric power generation can be performed in accordance with the ambient environment. |
| US07851097B2 |
Fuel cell system
The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell. |
| US07851095B2 |
Anode structure
An anode structure for incorporation into a fuel cell includes a first region having one or more electrocatalysts, in which the first region is adjacent to the fuel inlet when the anode structure is incorporated into a fuel cell, and a second region having one or more electrocatalysts, in which the second region is adjacent to the fuel outlet when the anode structure is incorporated into a fuel cell. The first region is better at promoting the electrochemical oxidation of carbon monoxide than the second region. |
| US07851093B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte for secondary battery and secondary battery including the same
A non-aqueous electrolyte for a secondary battery, including a non-aqueous solvent in which a solute is dissolved, a first additive and a second additive, wherein the first additive is a vinyl monomer having an electron donating group, the second additive is a carbonic acid ester having at least one carbon-carbon unsaturated bond, and an e value, which is a polarization factor of the vinyl monomer having an electron donating group, is a negative value. |
| US07851088B2 |
Positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
Disclosed is a positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having at least a lithium-transition metal composite oxide of a layer structure, in which an existence ratio of at least one selected from the group consisting of elements which may become tetravalent and magnesium is 20% or more on a surface of the lithium-transition metal composite oxide. By use of this positive electrode active material, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having excellent battery characteristics, specifically, having excellent high rate characteristics, cycle characteristics, low-temperature characteristics, thermal stability, and the like, under the even more harsh environment for use can be realized. |
| US07851084B2 |
Vinylidene fluoride based core-shell type polymer and use thereof in nonaqueous electrochemical device
A core/shell polymer (A), comprising: a rubbery core comprising a crosslinked vinylidene fluoride copolymer (a) having a vinylidene fluoride content of 30-90 wt. % and a shell comprising a vinylidene fluoride polymer (b) having a vinylidene fluoride content which is larger than in the crosslinked vinylidene fluoride copolymer (a) and at least 80 wt. %, in a weight ratio (a)/(b) of 30/70-90/10. The vinylidene fluoride-based core/shell polymer (A) is excellent in mechanical properties including flexibility and resistance to nonaqueous electrolytic solutions, is capable of forming a composite electrode layer showing excellent flexibility and adhesion to an electroconductive substrate in combination with a powder active substance and is therefore suitable for use as a binder for nonaqueous electrochemical devices. |
| US07851083B2 |
Lithium ion secondary batteries
The present invention relates to lithium ion secondary batteries that have an enclosure with an electrode core compartment for holding the electrode core and a separate protection circuit compartment for holding the protection circuits, and terminal leads connecting the electrodes in the electrode core with the circuits in the protection circuit. The enclosure is made of non-conducting material such as plastic. The lithium batteries of this invention are light, not only because of the weight of the material of their enclosure, but also because its non-conducting character eliminates the necessity of additional protective features that are commonly necessary for enclosures with metal components. |
| US07851082B2 |
Accumulator with cover having tip-safe features
An accumulator, particularly a lead accumulator, has a housing, which encloses multiple cells, and a block cover, which terminates the housing, including a bottom cover (1) and a top cover (2), between which a gas chamber for acid separation is implemented, which is divided into multiple cavities (3-8), corresponding to the number of cells, and which has at least one vent opening, a fill opening (9-14) being provided for each cell in the bottom cover (1). In order to improve an accumulator of this type, a gas outlet (15-20), which discharges into the associated cavity (3-8), is provided for each cell at a distance from the fill opening (9-14) in the bottom cover (1), its size being dimensioned so that in the event of brief tipping of the accumulator, no more acid may escape from the cell than is received by the cavity (3-8) assigned thereto (FIG. 2). |
| US07851073B2 |
Organic electroluminescence device and material for organic electroluminescence device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel compound useful as a constituent of an organic EL element and the use of the compound permits the realization of a highly practical organic EL element whose driving voltage is substantially low and which has a low leakage current. Accordingly, the present invention herein provides a fluoranthene compound represented by the following general formula (1): A-L-B (1) wherein A and B each represent a monovalent group having a fluoranthene structure represented by the following general formula (2), provided that A is linked to the group L present in the general formula (1), at the carbon atom selected from those specified by the numerical values of 7 to 10 appearing in Formula (2) and that B is linked to the group L present in Formula (1), at the carbon atom selected from those specified by the numerical values of 1 to 6 appearing in Formula (2): wherein L is a member selected from the group consisting of a single bond, substituted or unsubstituted arylene groups each having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, divalent groups derived from substituted or unsubstituted arylamines each having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, divalent groups derived from substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic rings each having 3 to 40 carbon atoms and substituted or unsubstituted ethenylene groups. |
| US07851070B2 |
Diffusion barrier alloy film and high-temperature apparatus member
A diffusion barrier alloy film has a diffusion barrier layer which has more excellent diffusion barrier properties than an Re—Cr alloy film, and can stand usage at higher temperatures (e.g., 1150° C. or higher). The diffusion barrier layer is made of an Re—W alloy σ phase containing 12.5 to 56.5% of W in terms of atomic composition and the remainder of Re excluding unavoidable impurities. A metal base has a surface coated with a diffusion barrier layer. If required, the diffusion barrier layer has a surface coated with a diffusion alloy layer containing 10% or greater and less than 50% of Al, Cr, or Si in terms of atomic composition, providing a high-temperature apparatus member. |
| US07851065B2 |
Extreme low resistivity light attenuation anti-reflection coating structure in order to increase transmittance of blue light and method for manufacturing the same
An extreme low resistivity light attenuation anti-reflection coating structure in order to increase transmittance of blue light. The coating structure includes a substrate and a coating module. The coating module is formed on a front surface of the substrate and composed of a plurality of mixture coating layers, a plurality of Al-based oxide coating layers and a plurality of metal coating layers that are alternately stacked onto each other. Each mixture coating layer is composed of silicon carbide compound and Ti-based oxide. |
| US07851064B2 |
Methods and structures for promoting stable synthesis of carbon nanotubes
Methods for synthesizing carbon nanotubes and structures formed thereby, includes forming carbon nanotubes on a plurality of synthesis sites supported by a first substrate, interrupting nanotube synthesis, mounting a free end of each carbon nanotube to a second substrate, and removing the first substrate. Each carbon nanotube is capped by one of the synthesis sites, to which growth reactants have ready access. |
| US07851062B2 |
Metal/fiber laminate and fabrication using a porous metal/fiber preform
A metal/fiber laminate has a plurality of adjacent layers. Each layer is porous and includes an arrangement of fibers. At least one of the layers has its fibers coated with a metal. A polymer matrix permeates each such arrangement. |
| US07851056B2 |
Ultralyophobe interfaces
Ultralyophobe interfaces that are substantially inert to contaminants, thereby resulting in surfaces that are hydrophobic and/or lyophobic. The substrates include a substrate surface and have a bonding layer and a plurality of flexible fibers bound to the bonding layer. The flexible fibers have an elastic modulus and an aspect ratio, wherein as the elastic modulus of the fiber increases, the aspect ratio increases such that the flexible fibers bend upon contact of a liquid surface. |
| US07851051B2 |
Roofing material
An improved roofing material having an upper and lower surface in which a thin layer comprising re-melted polypropylene or other suitable plastic is adhered to at least a portion of its lower surface. |
| US07851049B2 |
Heat-shrinkable cylindrical label
The heat-shrinkable cylindrical label of the invention comprises a laminated substrate made of two or more layers which have an outer layer sheet and an inner layer sheet. In one side end section of this label substrate, an outer layer sheet exposure section having no inner layer sheet is formed. This outer layer sheet exposure section is overlapped with the other end section of the front face of the label substrate to form a center seal section. In such a heat-shrinkable cylindrical label, the center seal section can be formed without interposing the inner layer sheet. Accordingly, the center seal section does not become thick. Thus, a heat-shrinkable cylindrical label having a beautiful external appearance can be provided. |
| US07851043B2 |
Laminates of asymmetric membranes
The present invention is directed to composite filters and methods for preparing same. More specifically, it is directed to filter laminates of multiple discrete layers of material bonded together, with at least one of the layers being an asymmetric membrane. |
| US07851038B2 |
Three-part laminated pliable hand-moldable surface construction
A three-part laminated surface construction can be shaped and molded by hand and will retain that shape until the particular need is met, such as controlling the flow of liquids and resins, or establishing a protective cover. The surface construction includes a center sheet of lead with rubber layers secured over the lead. The perimeter of the rubber layers are secured together. The lead sheet can be provided with outer flaps, one soft rubber side and the other rubber side abrasion-resistant for folding around and protection from sharp objects. |
| US07851035B2 |
Multicolor glass vessel
A multicolor development glass vessel of high surface hardness whose color is differentiated depending on the direction of viewing the glass vessel and a process for producing the same are provided. In the multicolor development glass vessel, a multilayer film is directly or indirectly formed on the external surface and internal surface, or either one thereof of the glass vessel by vapor deposition or sputtering technique and contains, for example, two types of vapor deposition layers whose refractive indices differ from each other by 0.1 or more in an alternate manner. Furthermore, for carrying out the process for producing the multicolor development glass vessel, the following steps (1) and (2) are included.(1) Step of preparing a glass vessel.(2) Step of forming a multilayer film composed of two types of vapor deposition layers having different refractive indices directly or indirectly provided on the external-surface and internal surface, or either one thereof of the glass vessel by a vapor deposition or sputtering technique. |
| US07851034B2 |
Embedded vacuum insulating glass unit, and/or method of making the same
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit surrounded by two glass substrates, with at least one spacer element being disposed adjacent to and/or cradling the VIG and with a sealant sealing the entire unit at each end of the VIG, thereby reducing the chances of the VIG being damaged and/or improving the insulating features of the entire window unit. In certain example embodiments the spacer may be substantially U-shaped, whereas two pillar-like spacers may be used in connection with certain other example embodiments. The spacer element(s) may be butyl-based, foam-based, warm-edge spacer element(s), etc. The sealant may be polysulfide based, one- or two-part silicone based, polyurethane based, a dual seal equivalent sealant product, a hot melt butyl based sealant product, etc. The R-value of the window unit may be at least about 11, but typically is about 15-16, when measured at the center of the lite. |
| US07851033B2 |
Photo-sensitive adhesive and liquid crystal display employing the same
A photo-sensitive adhesive for a flexible liquid crystal display is provided, comprising the following components: an urethane oligomer; a reactive monomer with phenyl group; and a photo-initiator. In an embodiment, the phenyl group of the reactive monomer has a weight ratio of 40 wt %, base on the total weight of the reactive monomer. |
| US07851032B2 |
Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having especially negatively large dielectric anisotropy as the first component, a specific bicyclic compound having a small viscosity as the second component, a specific compound having a high maximum temperature as the third component, a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a low minimum temperature as the fourth component. The liquid crystal composition has a negative dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition. |
| US07851031B2 |
Optically-anisotropic film and liquid-crystal display device
A novel optically-anisotropic film is disclosed. The film is formed of a composition comprising at least one discotic liquid-crystal compound having a ratio, α1, which is a ratio of birefringence at 400 nm to birefringence at 550 nm in a liquid-crystal state, of less than 1.25, in which the molecules of the liquid-crystal compound are fixed in an alignment state at a mean tilt angle ranging from 35 to 85°, wherein its in-plane retardation Re, as measured in a direction normal to a plane of the optically-anisotropic film for 550 nm wavelength light, falls within the range from 60 nm to 220 nm. |
| US07851030B2 |
Method of reducing number of particles on low-k material layer
A method of reducing the number of particles on a low-k material layer is described. The low-k material layer is formed by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, wherein a reaction gas, a cleaning gas, a high-frequency power and a low-frequency power are used. The method includes turning off the reaction gas and the low-frequency power after the low-k material layer is formed, and continuing to provide the cleaning gas during a delay time. |
| US07851029B2 |
Photopolymerisable systems containing low-extractable and low-volatile coinitiators
This invention concerns photopolymerizable systems containing ethylenically unsaturated reactive oligomers and/or monomers comprising at least one photoinitiator and at least one coinitiator having low-extractability and low-volatility; the photopolymerizable systems of the invention are particularly suited for the preparation of food-packaging coatings. |
| US07851020B2 |
Droplet discharge method, electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus
A method for discharging droplets includes: discharging droplets of a plurality of variations of functional liquids by a plurality of discharge heads, on a coated area from a plurality of nozzles installed in each of the discharge heads, while scanning relatively over the coated area provided on a substrate; wherein a location of the nozzles is shifted in an orthogonal direction for each of the discharge heads, the nozzles being installed in an orthogonal direction on both edges whose direction is approximately orthogonal to a scanning direction, and, at the same time, the plurality of nozzles being arranged in each of the discharge heads, so that an overlapped discharge area, where discharge areas of all variations of the functional liquid overlap upon scanning, is formed; and wherein the discharge heads perform scanning so that the overlapped discharge area includes at least part of the coated area that is provided along a side that extends in the scanning direction, when discharging droplets of the functional liquid on the coated area that is provided along the side that extends in the scanning direction, the discharge heads being located on the edge of the orthogonal direction in the substrate. |
| US07851017B2 |
Method and apparatus for duct sealing using a clog-resistant insertable injector
A method for forming a duct access region through one side of a previously installed air duct, wherein the air duct has an air flow with an air flow direction by inserting an aerosol injector into a previously installed air duct through the access region. The aerosol injector includes a liquid tube having a liquid tube orifice for ejecting a liquid to be atomized; and a propellant cap. The method is accomplished by aligning the aerosol injector with the direction of air flow in the duct; activating an air flow within the duct; and spraying a sealant through the aerosol injector to seal the duct in the direction of the air flow. |
| US07851015B2 |
Process for making tape useful as a tire cap ply from greige fabric
An apparatus and process are used to make a ready-to-apply tape from greige fabric. This tape can be used as cap plies, breakers and reinforcement in the carcass of tires. The tape is made by dipping a greige mini-fabric which comprises a plurality of single end cords in a solvent-based cement. The cement, which comprises solvent and an elastomeric composition, is dried so that the majority of the solvent evaporates. The elastomeric composition remains, encapsulating the fabric, thereby forming the tape. |
| US07851012B2 |
Paste for solar cell electrodes, method for the manufacture of solar cell electrodes, and the solar cell
Disclosed is an electrically conducting paste comprising a silver powder, a glass frit, a resin binder and a sintering inhibitor. The paste is used in the manufacture of solar cell electrodes by applying the electrically conducting paste to a substrate and then firing of the coated substrate. |
| US07851009B2 |
Process of making meat-like food products
The present invention provides a meat-like food material having a favorable flavor and a meat-like mouthfeel by heating and pressurizing ingredients including a vegetable protein ingredient, a milk whey protein ingredient and water as the main ingredients with an extruder to obtain a swollen product, and a fried meat-like food product by reconstituting said meat-like food material with a seasoning liquid followed by frying, as well as a glazed fried meat-like food product by coating said fried meat-like food product with a glaze. |
| US07851007B2 |
Rush juice powder
The present invention provides a rush juice powder which is mainly made from rush containing a high percentage of dietary fiber and having an antibacterial function and an anti-inflammatory function, has an extremely high function to eliminate active oxygen through interaction with a matcha (powdered green tea) in addition to the original functions of rush, and further is easy to drink. A rush juice powder contains a powdered rush which is made by soaking a rush in hot water for a blanching treatment, drying the blanched rush by hot-air and then pulverizing the dried rush. Both a matcha (powdered green tea) and a cyclic oligosaccharide are blended at a respectively determined ratio to the powdered rush. |
| US07851001B2 |
Pet chews having internal and external materials of different rigidity
The present invention relates to an animal chew toy and a method of providing an animal chew toy wherein the toy has a body portion and a core portion. The core portion includes a first material including a central portion and a plurality of projections extending from the central portion. The body portion may surround the core portion, encapsulating the core or forming a frame around the core. The chew may be formed via a number of overmolding methods including those utilizing injection molding or extrusion techniques. |
| US07850996B2 |
Selenium-containing compositions and uses thereof
The use of selenite- or selenate-containing preparations supplemented with pharmaceutically acceptable or food-compatible acids for the preparation of an agent intended for topical or buccal application or mucosal administration is described. |
| US07850993B2 |
Drug-releasing system of biodegradable polymer type
A method for producing compression-melt molded product using polylactic acid powder is described. The method comprises the steps of: 1) heat-melting polylactic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 3,000-40,000 at 140-220° C., 2) allowing the melted polylactic acid to cool down to solidify at an ordinary or a lower temperature, 3) pulverizing the solidified polylactic acid at an ordinary temperature into powder, and 4) compressing the powder or a mixture powder prepared by addition of another ingredient, e.g., a biologically active compound, to the carrier powder in a mold at an ordinary temperature to cause the polylactic acid to melt into a molded product of a predetermined shape. |
| US07850986B2 |
Delivery system
The present invention relates to a delivery system comprising a core and a membrane encasing said core, wherein said core and membrane consist essentially of an elastomer composition and said core comprises at least one therapeutically active agent. The delivery system is characterized in that the membrane comprises at least one regulating agent. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the release of at least one therapeutically active agent from a delivery system. |
| US07850983B2 |
Methods and compositions for repair of cartilage using an in vivo bioreactor
Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living, core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain. |
| US07850981B2 |
Immuno-adjuvant PDT treatment of metastatic tumors
Immuno-adjuvant photodynamic therapy to treat and prevent metastatic cancer is effected using photosensitizers in combination with immuno-adjuvants to destroy metastatic tumor cells. |
| US07850980B2 |
Chlamydia OMP antigen
The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotide molecules that encode Chlamydia polypeptides which can be used in methods to prevent, treat, and diagnose Chlamydia infection. In one form of the invention, the polypeptides relate to the 98 KDa OMP antigen designated CPN100686 RY 54 (SEQ ID No:14, encoded in one form by SEQ ID NO:1). |
| US07850978B2 |
Vaccine against feline calicivirus
The present invention relates to improved methods and immunogenic and/or vaccine compositions for providing an immune response to feline calicivirus, including hypervirulent strains of feline calicivirus. |
| US07850970B2 |
Inhibitors of serine protease activity and their use in methods and compositions for treatment of bacterial infections
A novel method of treating and preventing bacterial diseases is provided. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibition of Gram negative, Gram positive and acid fast bacilli in general and tuberculosis (TB), mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), and anthrax in particular. Thus, the invention relates to modulation of cellular activities, including macrophage activity, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to the inhibitory compounds comprising naturally occurring and man-made inhibitors of serine protease. |
| US07850968B2 |
Manipulation of cytokine levels using CD83 gene products
The invention provides methods for modulating cytokine levels, GM-CSF levels and the immune system using CD83 nucleic acids, CD83 polypeptides, anti-CD83 antibodies and factors that influence CD83 activity or expression. The invention also provides mice having a mutant CD83 gene and mice having a transgenic CD83 gene, which are useful for defining the role of CD83 in the immune system and for identifying compounds that can modulate CD83 and the immune system. |
| US07850965B2 |
Anti-orthopoxvirus recombinant polyclonal antibody
Disclosed is an anti-orthopoxvirus recombinant polyclonal antibody comprising distinct members which in union are capable of binding at least three orthopoxvirus related antigens, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody, and a method for its production. Also disclosed is a polyclonal cell line capable of producing the recombinant polyclonal antibody as therapeutic methods utilizing the polyclonal antibody. Finally, the invention also pertains to a method for screening for useful VH and VL pairs useful when preparing the polyclonal antibody. |
| US07850960B2 |
Methods for regulation of stem cells
Methods are provided for increasing stem cells, hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells, mesenchymal progenitor/stem cells, mesodermal progenitor/stem cells, muscle progenitor/stem cells, or neural progenitor/stem cells in vivo in a mammalian subject. Methods are also provided for treating an immune related disease, a mesenchymal/mesoderm degenerative disease, or a neurodegenerative disease in a mammalian subject in need thereof. |
| US07850955B2 |
Gelling agent
Gelling agents which contain a specific N-acylamino acid monoamide monoalkyl ester have a melting temperature of about 100° C., are capable of solidifying a wide variety of oily base materials including silicones, and do not cause “sweating” while retaining a practical level of gel strength. When applied to skin, the resulting gels have a good feeling, good spreadability, and good fittability to skin. |
| US07850954B2 |
Use of solubilized, anionic polyurethanes in skin care compositions
This patent pertains to the use of anionic polyurethanes in a solubilized state which contribute to enhanced aesthetics to skin care compositions. The polyurethanes may be used alone or in combination with another polymer, particularly acrylate and methacrylate polymers. |
| US07850943B2 |
Method of preparing cadmium sulfide nanocrystals emitting light at multiple wavelengths, and cadmium sulfide nanocrystals prepared by the method
A semiconductor nanocrystal, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal shows maximum luminescence peaks at two or more wavelengths and most of the atoms constituting the nanocrystal are present at the surface of the nanocrystal to form defects. |
| US07850940B2 |
Carbonnitride nanotubes with nano-sized pores on their stems, their preparation method and control method of size and quantity of pore thereof
The present application provides a C1-xNx nanotube with pores having nano-sized diameter ranging from 5 to 10 Å, where x ranges from 0.001 to 0.2, and a method for controlling the size and quantity of pores in said nanotube by reacting hydrocarbon gas, nitrogen gas, and oxygen gas or hydrogen gas together in the presence of metal catalyst and by controlling the concentration of nitrogen gas. |
| US07850933B2 |
Nanoparticles, methods of making, and applications using same
Methods for forming nanoparticles under commercially attractive conditions. The nanoparticles can have very small size and high degree of monodispersity. Low temperature sintering is possible, and highly conductive films can be made. Semiconducting and electroluminescent films can be also made. One embodiment provides a method comprising: (a) providing a first mixture comprising at least one nanoparticle precursor and at least one first solvent for the nanoparticle precursor, wherein the nanoparticle precursor comprises a salt comprising a cation comprising a metal; (b) providing a second mixture comprising at least one reactive moiety reactive for the nanoparticle precursor and at least one second solvent for the reactive moiety, wherein the second solvent phase separates when it is mixed with the first solvent; and (c) combining said first and second mixtures in the presence of a surface stabilizing agent, wherein upon combination the first and second mixtures phase-separate and nanoparticles are formed. |
| US07850921B2 |
Dispenser, reagent dispenser and sample analyzer
The present invention is to present a dispenser which is capable of heating a liquid to an approximately constant temperature in the same time regardless of an aspiration amount of the liquid. The dispenser comprises a liquid holder for holding a liquid; aspiration amount information obtaining means for obtaining aspiration amount information indicating an aspiration amount of the liquid; an aspiration-discharge part for aspirating the aspiration amount of the liquid indicated by the obtained aspiration amount information into the liquid holder and discharging the liquid from the liquid holder; a heater for heating the liquid held by the liquid holder; a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the liquid held by the liquid holder; target temperature determining means for determining a target temperature of the liquid based on the aspiration amount of the liquid indicated by the obtained aspiration amount information; and controlling means for controlling the heater so as to conform the temperature detected by the temperature sensor to the target temperature. |
| US07850916B2 |
Disposable chamber for analyzing biologic fluids
An apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid is provided that includes a first planar member, a second planar member, and at least three separators. At least one of planar members is transparent. The separators are disposed between the members, and separate the members to form a chamber having a height. At least one of the members or separators is sufficiently flexible to permit the chamber height to approximate the mean size of the separators. During use, the biologic fluid to be analyzed is disposed within the chamber. |
| US07850906B2 |
Method and apparatus for vapour phase sterilisation
An apparatus for sterilizing a sealable enclosure includes a circuit for flow of a sterilizing gas or gasses. The circuit is connected to the enclosure to be sterilized to form a closed circuit and pumps to circulate gas through the circuit and enclosure. The circuit has parallel branches one of which contains apparatus to deactivate a sterilant to be added to the carrier gas flowing through the circuit and apparatus to dehumidify the gas. The other branch contains apparatus to heat the gas and apparatus to supply a sterilant vapor or vapors to the gas. Control apparatus determines which of the parallel branches the gas flows through. The control apparatus maintains flow through one branch passage until the relative humidity falls below a predetermined level. The flow through that branch is then terminated and flow through the other branch initiated. |
| US07850905B2 |
On board monitor for endoscope reprocessor
An on board monitor for an endoscope reprocessor for monitoring the performance and order of a predetermined set of critical steps for reprocessing an endoscope. The monitor will only allow the overall system to reach the last step indicating successful completion of the process related to the critical steps representing successful reprocessing of an endoscope after the system successfully completes all of the previous critical steps and in the correct order. |
| US07850904B2 |
High-pressure treatment apparatus and method for operating high-pressure treatment apparatus
An object of the present invention is to continuously feed an object to be treated to a high-pressure reactor which treats the object to be treated containing 10 mass % or more of water under high pressure, while preventing backflow of a high-pressure atmosphere from the high-pressure reactor. This is embodied by making a configuration such that the object to be treated is fed to the high-pressure reactor connected to a discharge port of a screw feeder which is provided with a feed unit for the object to be treated and the discharge port on one end side and the other end side respectively and forms a high-pressure atmosphere pressurized to, for example, 2 MPa or higher, while air-tightness between the high-pressure atmosphere and the one end side of the screw feeder is maintained by a sealing action of an accumulation compressed on the other end side of the screw feeder. |
| US07850902B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing molten irons
A method for manufacturing molten iron that improves charging and discharge of the fine iron ore, and an apparatus for manufacturing molten iron using the same. The apparatus for manufacturing molten iron includes i) at least one fluidized-bed reduction reactor that reduces fine iron ore and converts the fine iron ore into reduced iron, ii) a fine iron ore charging bin that supplies the fine iron ore to the fluidized-bed reduction reactor, iii) a fine iron ore charging line that directly connects the fine iron ore charging bin to each of the fluidized-bed reduction reactors, and directly charges the fine iron ore into each of the fluidized-bed reduction reactor, iv) a melter-gasifier into which lumped carbonaceous materials and the reduced iron are charged and oxygen is injected, the melter-gasifier manufacturing molten iron, and v) a reducing gas supply line that supplies a reducing gas discharged from the melter-gasifier to the fluidized-bed reduction reactor. |
| US07850898B1 |
Method for making a reservoir
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a water reservoir with an inlet and an outlet which are compressively sealingly engaged with the water reservoir tank by utilizing the latent heat of extrusion of the extrudate to bond with the exterior surfaces of the inlet and outlet profiles. |
| US07850896B2 |
Method of producing a folded honeycomb structure for a sandwich component and foldable sheet-like material
In a method of producing a folded honeycomb structure for a sandwich component a sheet-like material is provided. The sheet-like material comprises a softening temperature and is heated to at least the softening temperature in a region about predetermined folding lines. Then, the sheet-like material is folded along the heated region of the folding lines into the folded honeycomb structure. |
| US07850895B2 |
Sprue bar shutoff method
A method for connecting and disconnecting an injection molding machine to and from a shutoff assembly includes the steps of mating a nozzle of the injection molding machine to a seat in an exterior wall of a chamber of the shutoff assembly, advancing an elongate stem through a first opening into the chamber, and flowing molten polymer into the chamber and out a second opening in the chamber and on to a mold or sprue bar. The mold may be decompressed by maintaining a movable body disposed in the chamber in a forward position with the elongate stem and allowing the molten polymer to flow out the first opening. The injection molding machine may be disconnected from the shutoff assembly by withdrawing the stem of the nozzle from the chamber through the first opening, allowing molten polymer downstream of the movable body to push the movable body into engagement with a sealing surface of a interior entry wall of the chamber, and disconnecting the nozzle from the seat. |
| US07850889B2 |
Method for manufacturing laser beam transmitting member capable of preventing poor laser welding, resin molding apparatus and method for manufacturing composite resin product
A metal mold is prepared, which has a gate, a cavity in which a virtual curve is formed, which forms at least a welding target part of a laser beam transmitting member along the virtual curve, and in which a filling terminal wall is formed along a curve parallel to the virtual curve, and a throttle part for reducing the flow of a resin flowing from the gate toward the cavity, which is connected to the cavity, and whose connection boundary is formed along a curve parallel to the virtual curve. Then, a resin is injected into the gate and a crystalline laser beam transmitting member is molded out of the injected resin using the metal mold. |
| US07850888B2 |
Striped drinking straw and method of making the same
Extruded, striped drinking straws are formed by coextruding at least two polymers of different color through a common extruder to form an elongated tube. An oscillator consisting of a pair of rolls supported for rotation about their central axes, extending normally to the extension of the tube, bear against opposed sides of the tube and are reciprocated in opposing directions so as to rotate the tube by a gear and spline mechanism. A straight puller draws the tube out of the extruder and through the twisting oscillator and a cutter forms the tube into straw lengths at the output of the puller. |
| US07850886B2 |
Method for the manufacturing of a diffraction grating structure on the surface of pharmaceutical tablet
A diffractive microstructure (11) is implemented as a security feature in the surface of tablet (4). For this purpose the punches (1a, 1b) comprise a microstructure (11), which during the compression process produce the diffractive microstructure on the surface of the tablet (4), by plastic and/or visco-elastic deformation of the powder particles. The method according to the invention is compatible to the existing tablet manufacturing methods with their high production speeds and compression forces. It is also compatible to the usual tabletting adjuvants. |
| US07850884B2 |
Method of compacting material
A method of compacting material such as but not limited to cathode material for electrochemical cells. A mixture is inserted into a die cavity and the mixture is compacted into a disk shape by the action of a first plunger pressing down on the material and a second plunger pressing upwardly on the material. Flashing of material during ejection of the disk from the die is prevented by fitting a polymeric sleeve around the outer surface of the first plunger. The sleeve flexes to bulge outwardly and does not enter the die cavity during compaction of material and returns to its original position during ejection of the compacted disk from the die. Contact between the disk and sleeve prevents flashing during ejection. Alternatively, a polymeric seal ring is placed around the outer surface of the first plunger. The disk presses against the seal ring preventing flashing of material during ejection. |
| US07850878B2 |
Method of forming a biomedical device including an ophthalmic device
A method is provided of forming a biomedical device in a casting mold which has an anterior mold section and a posterior mold section, wherein one of the mold sections includes a plurality of radially extending ribs and the remaining mold section includes an annular shoulder for engaging an outer end of the ribs to define a mold cavity. The method includes engaging the mold sections along a peripheral seal of the mold cavity and a plurality of circumferentially spaced contact points on a shoulder of one of the mold sections. Cured excess material bonds to the ribs of the one mold section and provides repeatable retention and location of the excess material after formation of the biomedical device. |
| US07850876B2 |
Tin oxide-based sputtering target, transparent and conductive films, method for producing such films and composition for use therein
The present invention is directed to a composition consisting essentially of: a) from about 60 to about 99 mole % of SnO2, and b) from about 1 to about 40 mole % of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of i) Nb2O5, ii) NbO, iii) NbO2, iv) WO2, v) a material selected consisting of a) a mixture of MoO2 and Mo and b) Mo, vi) W, vii) Ta2O5, and viii) mixtures thereof, wherein the mole % s are based on the total product and wherein the sum of components a) and b) is 100. The invention is also directed to the sintered product of such composition, a sputtering target made from the sintered product and a transparent electroconductive film made from the composition. |
| US07850874B2 |
Methods and devices for electrophoretic deposition of a uniform carbon nanotube composite film
Methods and devices are provided relating to the homogeneous deposition of a composite film of carbon nanotubes by electrophoresis. The methods comprise linking carbon nanotubes to matrix particles prior to electrophoretic deposition. The methods improve the adhesion of the composite film to the substrate and reduce the surface roughness. Carbon nanotube films and electron field emission cathodes fabricated by this process demonstrate enhanced electron field emission characteristics. |
| US07850870B2 |
Conductive curable compositions
Conductive curable compositions contain a free radical polymerizable monomer, oligomer or polymer (i); an organoborane amine complex (ii), and an electrically or thermally conductive filler (iii). The conductive curable compositions can also contain an amine reactive compound having amine reactive groups (iv); and (v) a component capable of generating a gas when mixed with a compound bearing active hydrogen and a catalyst. The electrically conductive curable compositions can be used in composite articles of manufacture in which substrates are coated or bonded together with the composition and cured; and as electrically conductive rubbers, electrically conductive tapes, electrically conductive adhesives, electrically conductive foams, and electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesives. The thermally conductive compositions can also be used in composite articles of manufacture in which substrates are coated or bonded together with the composition and cured, and as thermal interface materials, thermally conductive rubbers, thermally conductive tapes, thermally conductive adhesives, thermally conductive foams, thermally conductive seals and gaskets, and thermally conductive pressure sensitive adhesives. |
| US07850869B2 |
Aluminate phosphor containing bivalence metal elements, its preparation and the light emitting devices incorporating the same
A phosphor can be excited by UV, purple or blue light LED, its production and the light emitting devices. The general formula of the phosphor is LnaMb(O,F)12:(R3+,M′2+)x, wherein, Ln is at least one metal element selected from a group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Ho, Yb and Sm, 2.6≦a≦3.4; M is at least one element selected from a group consisting of B, Al and Ga, 4.5≦b≦5.5; R is at least one metal element selected from a group consisting of Ce and Tb; M′ is at least one metal element selected from a group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Mn and Zn, 0.001≦x≦0.4. The phosphor possesses broad emitting range, high efficiency, better uniformity and stability. A light emitting device can be obtained by incorporating this phosphor into a UV, purple or blue light emitting device. |
| US07850861B1 |
Microfluidic device, and related methods
A method of making a microfluidic device is provided. The method features patterning a permeable wall on a substrate, and surrounding the permeable wall with a solid, non-permeable boundary structure to establish a microfluidic channel having a cross-sectional dimension less than 5,000 microns and a cross-sectional area at least partially filled with the permeable wall so that fluid flowing through the microfluidic channel at least partially passes through the permeable wall. |
| US07850859B2 |
Water treating methods
A method of treating low-pressure untreated drinking water includes providing a low-pressure water filter device, running low-pressure untreated drinking water from a source of low-pressure untreated drinking water through a low-pressure water filter of the low-pressure water filter device, removing bacteria and viruses from the low pressure untreated drinking water at a level of Filter Bacteria Log Removal of greater than about 2 logs and a Filter Viruses Log Removal of greater than about 1 log, and filling a storage housing with treated drinking water at greater than about 5 mL/min. The low-pressure water filter device may include a connector for connecting to an untreated drinking water source, a low-pressure water filter comprising mesoporous activated carbon particles and a storage housing. The average fluid contact time with the low-pressure water filter may be greater than about 2 seconds. |
| US07850857B2 |
Collector with adjustable input/discharge to control sediment removal
A collector for removing sediment from a waterway. The collector has a housing (24) with an opening (38) and an internal cavity (44) for receiving particles. Means for adjusting the type of sediment is provided. An inlet (120) communicates with the cavity for altering the amount of suction and controlling the water intake and the type of material removed. |
| US07850848B2 |
Apparatus and process for biological wastewater treatment
A self-sustaining wastewater treatment facility abates greenhouse gas abatement, captures CO2 and produces biomass to address multiple critical environmental needs. The facility includes an array of rotating media wheels that create an optimum ordered mixing of algae for sustained growth. Biomass harvested from the rotating media wheels may be provided to other processing facilities to produce, for instance, bio-fuels. Waste CO2 from the processing facility may also be returned to the treatment system for enhanced algae growth. Bacteria are provided to form a symbiotic relationship with the algae, fueled by sunlight to effectively remove toxic materials from the wastewater. The multi-functional facility may also be integrated into a regenerative facility in which the biomass obtained from the algal and bacterial colonies is used in a separate facility and byproducts of the operation of the separate facility are used by the multi-functional facility to fuel further algal growth. |
| US07850844B2 |
Liquid delivery device, liquid chromatograph, and method for operation of liquid delivery device
The present invention provides a liquid delivery device for liquid chromatographs which, by performing liquid delivery at an accurate flow rate with limited pulsation, gives accurate results of analyses. The present invention, with a view to preventing erroneous operation due to errors in measurements at the time of judgment of completion of compression of liquid, establishes the judgment point before the pressure measured by a cylinder pressure detector agrees with the pressure measured by a discharge pressure detector and also calculates the point of completion of compression. Control in this manner prevents pressure fluctuation. It also calculates for control the point of completion of compression from the history of compression performed previously. |
| US07850843B2 |
Separation of complex mixtures by shearing
A more energy-efficient method of processing crude oil is achieved by viscoelastic shearing in order to increase the vapor pressure of the crude oil. This change in vapor pressure allows a more efficient separation of volatile components from non-volatile components in the crude oil. By optimizing the energy expenditure for shearing and the energy expenditure for separating the volatile components from the non-volatile components of the crude oil, while simultaneously removing the volatile components by distillation, one can reduce the overall energy input for the separation. Alternatively, it is possible to affect the distillation at a reduced temperature. |
| US07850838B2 |
Cold weather hydrogen generation system and method of operation
A system for providing hydrogen gas is provided. The system includes a hydrogen generator that produces gas from water. One or more heat generation devices are arranged to provide heating of the enclosure during different modes of operation to prevent freezing of components. A plurality of temperature sensors are arranged and coupled to a controller to selectively activate a heat source if the temperature of the component is less than a predetermined temperature. |
| US07850831B2 |
Method and apparatus for electrochemical machining
An electrochemical machining apparatus and method for machining a workpiece (60). The apparatus provides a pulse of electric power, which is conducted from the workpiece (60), to an electrolyte (68) flowing through a gap (62), and then to an electrode (58). Material is eroded from the workpiece (60) when the pulse of electric power is applied, thus machining the workpiece (60). The apparatus includes a power supply (12) to supply the electric power and a switching portion (40) for producing the pulse by switching the electric power ON and OFF. The switching portion (40) is capable of producing a pulse of electric power with a pulse duration of about 2 microseconds and a current of at least about 2800 amperes. |
| US07850825B2 |
Tissue machine
An apparatus for producing a fibrous web, in particular a tissue web, with a press zone through which the fibrous web is passed in a lying position between a circulating permeable structured belt and a circulating permeable non-structured supporting belt. A press nip is provided on a Yankee Cylinder through which the fibrous web is passed in the lying position together with the structured belt between the structured belt and the Yankee cylinder, whereby the press zone is limited on the side adjacent the supporting belt by a substantially smooth surface, and whereby the supporting belt is not brought together with the fibrous web and the structured belt until proximate to the press zone. |
| US07850824B2 |
Apparatus for cleaning paper machine press fabrics on-the-run
An apparatus is described for cleaning papermaking felt by applying a low concentration of a cleaning solution through the oscillating needle nozzles. The detergent is applied intermittently while paper is being manufactured. Each cleaning period lasts for at least the length of time required for the nozzles to cover the entire surface of the felt, and preferably twice that period of time. The application of cleaning solution is then discontinued for a period of time. This cycle is repeated continuously as the paper is being manufactured. The apparatus includes a first cleaning chemical reservoir, a second cleaning chemical reservoir, a high pressure pump coupled to the first and second reservoirs, and a control unit having programming for selectively injecting the chemicals. |
| US07850823B2 |
Method of controlling adhesive build-up on a yankee dryer
An improved method of controlling build-up of adhesive coating on a Yankee drying cylinder preferably includes intermittently: (a) increasing the add-on rate of resinous adhesive to the drying cylinder substantially above the steady-state add-on rate; (b) segregating the absorbent sheet product produced while the add-on rate of resinous adhesive to the drying cylinder is elevated above the steady-state add-on rate from absorbent sheet product accumulated during steady-state operation; and (c) while the add-on rate of resinous adhesive to the drying cylinder is increased above the steady-state add-on rate, stripping at least a portion of the adhesive coating from the drying cylinder with a cleaning doctor. |
| US07850822B2 |
System and method of wet oxidation of a viscose process stream
A wet oxidation process is used to control the concentration of reduced sulfur compounds from a viscose process. The wet oxidation process oxidizes the reduced sulfur compounds to convert such reduced sulfur compounds to an alkali sulfate and/or thiosulfate species. The alkali sulfate stream is recycled to the viscose process. Oxidation is performed under elevated temperature and pressure conditions such that the offgas has an oxygen concentration of between about 2% to 18% and the alkali sulfate stream has a pH of about 2 to 10. |
| US07850820B2 |
Method for the production of tissue paper
This invention relates to a method for the production of a three-dimensionally structured tissue paper web with which the tissue paper web is pressed, in order for it to be structured, on a three-dimensionally structured mesh and with which the tissue paper web is conveyed, unheld by a skin, in a drying step over a heated surface. The tissue paper web is conveyed, held only by the structured mesh, in another drying step prior to the drying step over at least one heated surface. |
| US07850819B2 |
Plasma reactor with high productivity
The invention relates to a plasma reactor with high productivity for surface coating or modification of objects and/or substrates by plasma processes in a processing chamber, preferably as vacuum processes at reduced pressure, having an entrance lock to the processing chamber and an exit lock. The invention is to create a plasma reactor of high productivity, which, with uniformly high productivity, will make possible a rapid simple and selective cleaning of the plasma sources and adjacent parts of the processing chamber. According to the invention, two plasma sources (1, 2) are provided, each alternately couplable to a reaction chamber (7) or a re-etching chamber (8). The plasma sources (1, 2) are fixed for this purpose to an alternating means (6) in such manner that the plasma sources (1, 2) are positionable by a rotatory motion of the alternating means (6) in the reaction chamber (7) or the re-etching chamber (8). |
| US07850815B2 |
Substrate assembling apparatus and substrate assembling method using the same
A technique which solves the problem of conventional laminating apparatuses that a substrate may be deformed when released by pushing lift pins against the substrate held on an adhesive member by suction. An upper table inside a chamber has, on its substrate holding face, an elastic plate provided with an elastic body, a vacuum suction means and a purge gas blow means. A plurality of adhesive pins are provided on an adhesive pin plate which can move up and down independently from the upper table. The upper table and the elastic plate have through holes through which the adhesive pins can move and the adhesive pins have adhesion means at their tips. |
| US07850809B2 |
Apparatus for producing elastomeric nonwoven laminates
An apparatus for producing an elastomeric nonwoven laminate including a plurality of elastomeric strands joined to a nonwoven web in a controlled distribution is provided. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a plurality of elastomeric strands onto a cooled surface of a rotating drum, which transports the strands in parallel alignment to a nip formed between two rollers rotating about parallel axis. The drum transfers the plurality of strands to the nip in a controlled distribution where it is bonded with the nonwoven. The apparatus also includes elements which automate the apparatus for creating the elastomeric nonwoven laminate. |
| US07850807B2 |
Method for restoring a radial clearance between the stator and rotor parts of a turbogenerating set
The invention relates to power engineering, in particular to a method for restoring a radial clearance between the stator and rotor parts of a turbogenerating set during reparation of the flow section thereof. The inventive method for restoring a radial clearance between the stator and rotor parts of a turbogenerating set, consists in mounting a temporary shroud, which is made of a sheet material and the thickness of which corresponds to a clearance size, on the rotor blades of a demounted rotor, in fixing a protective cover made of a composite material to said shroud, in applying a polymer sable epoxy resin material to the internal surface of the stator and to the protective cover of the blade shroud, in mounting the rotor in the stator and, said resin being polymerized, in removing the shroud and excess of resin, projected in the axial direction during said mounting, from the rotor Said invention makes it possible to reduce labor input for the turbogenerating set maintenance and repair. |
| US07850806B2 |
Waterproof method and construction for a wire end joint portion
A waterproof method for a wire end joint includes expanding a heat shrinkable tube radially outwardly. The method then includes inserting the wire end joint and a melted thermosetting waterproofing agent through an opening at an end of the waterproof protection tube. A solidification starting temperature of the waterproofing agent is set higher than a shrinkage starting temperature of the heat shrinkable tube. The method then applies heating so that the heat shrinkable tube shrinks to the original diameter and so that the waterproofing agent is not solidified. The heating is continued to the solidification starting temperature after the heat shrinkable tube is shrunk to a set inner diameter, thereby causing the thermosetting waterproofing agent to be solidified. |
| US07850805B2 |
Shelf for supporting articles, particularly in refrigerated installations
A shelf, particularly for a refrigerator or the like, including at least one panel and at least one attached plastic structure. The shelf is obtained by shrinking the structure after assembling the panel and the structure. The attached plastic structure can mate and/or exert lateral pressure on the edge of the panel. |
| US07850800B2 |
Bonding sheet applying apparatus and method
A bonding sheet applying apparatus of the present invention includes an applying stage for supporting a board, an applying unit having a bonding-sheet supplying device for supplying a bonding sheet to above the board supported by the applying stage and an applying head provided above the board so as to be movable up and down, for sequentially pressing the bonding sheet supplied by the bonding-sheet supplying device on a plurality of applying positions arranged on the board, a transfer device for transferring the applying unit, which has completed a bonding sheet applying operation for one of the applying positions, to a position upward above another applying position at which a bonding sheet applying operation has not been completed, and an inspection device for inspecting an applied state of the bonding sheet which has already been applied by the applying unit, while the applying unit is successively performing the bonding sheet applying operations. |
| US07850798B2 |
Flash welding of conducting polymer nanofibers
The welding of certain polymeric nanofibers can be accomplished by exposure to an intense short burst of light, such as is provided by a camera flash, resulting in an instantaneous melting of the exposed fibers and a welding of the fibers where they are in contact. The preferred nanofibers are composed of conjugated, conducting polymers, and derivatives and polymer blends including such materials. Alternatively, the nanofibers can be composed of colored thermoplastic polymeric fibers or opaque polymers by proper selection of the frequency or frequency range and intensity (power) of the light source. The flash welding process can also be used to weld nanofibers which comprise a blend of polymeric materials where at least one of the materials in the blend used to form the nanofiber is a conductive, conjugated polymer or a suitable colored thermoplastic. Alternatively the material blend used to form the nanofibers may comprise a polymeric material containing a colored additive, which is not necessarily a polymer, for example carbon black, or a colored nano-particulate organic or inorganic material, dye or pigment. |
| US07850797B2 |
Methods for manufacturing a clip and clip
The present invention relates to a method of making clips which can be used to engage body tissue for the purpose of closing wounds. Such clips are generally annular in shape and have radially inwardly extending tines. The present invention first forms a precursor which, in one embodiment, has the tines extending radially outwardly from the annular body and then forms the clip by inverting the precursor such that the tines extend radially inwardly. In an alternate embodiment, the precursor is formed with an over-sized lateral dimension and then compressed inwardly to bring the tines closer together and to reduce the lateral dimension of the precursor. It is preferred to manufacture such clips from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium, in which case the inverted or compressed precursor must be heated and quenched to heat set the clip in its final shape. |
| US07850796B2 |
Aluminum alloy fin material for brazing
An aluminum alloy fin material for brazing, characterized by comprising an aluminum alloy comprising more than 1.4% by mass but not more than 1.8% by mass of Fe, 0.8% by mass or more but 1.0% by mass or less of Si, and more than 0.6% by mass but not more than 0.9% by mass of Mn, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities,wherein 80% or more of the surface area, as viewed from the surface layer of the fin plane, is occupied by recrystallized grains with a length of 10 mm or more, in a direction rolled. |
| US07850788B2 |
Clean in place gassing manifold
A clean in place gassing manifold comprises a gassing module comprising a hub, the gassing module and the hub being formed as a unitary device; and a complimentary clean in place module for coupling the gassing module, the complimentary clean in place module comprising a head that inserts into the hub of the gassing module. The gassing module coupled with the complimentary clean in place module allow a cleaning solution to be pumped through the coupled modules at and above a minimum flow rate and a minimum velocity for effective cleaning. |
| US07850787B2 |
Dishwashing machine
A dishwashing machine is capable of carrying out a normal washing program with a powder detergent as well as programs using solid detergents with additives having rinse aid properties and/or water softening properties. The machine includes a detergent dispenser having three chambers. Each chamber is adapted for a specific kind of detergent. The chambers include a sensor for detecting the presence of loaded detergent and for adjusting the washing program accordingly. |
| US07850785B2 |
Lens wash station and methods of its use
An apparatus and method for removing debris from ophthalmic lens transfer tips during the manufacturing or the ophthalmic lenses. |
| US07850780B2 |
System for thin film deposition utilizing compensating forces
A process for depositing a thin film material on a substrate is disclosed, comprising simultaneously directing a series of gas flows from the output face of a delivery head of a thin film deposition system toward the surface of a substrate, and wherein the series of gas flows comprises at least a first reactive gaseous material, an inert purge gas, and a second reactive gaseous material, wherein the first reactive gaseous material is capable of reacting with a substrate surface treated with the second reactive gaseous material. A system capable of carrying out such a process is also disclosed. |
| US07850772B2 |
Product stability enhancement with phosphonium salts
The present invention provides a beverage surfactant composition that includes a surfactant, a phosphonium compound, and a carrier; wherein the beverage surfactant composition exhibits stability as a solution or as a dispersion at a temperature of about 0 EC to about 8 EC. The present invention also provides a container or a conveyor for a container having a surface that is at least partially coated with the composition. The present invention also provides a process for lubricating a container that includes contacting at least a portion of a surface of the container and the composition together. The present invention also provides a process for lubricating a conveyor that includes contacting at least a portion of a surface of the conveyor and the composition together. |
| US07850767B2 |
Anti-foaming degassing device for use in fuel dispensing equipment, particularly in biofuel dispensing equipment
An anti-foaming degassing device for use in fuel dispensing equipment, having: a circulating pump (1) for the fuel, a vortex degassing enclosure (2) connected to the outlet of the pump (1) and provided with a lateral outlet pipe (8) for the degassed fuel and with an axial outlet pipe (9) for a gas-enriched fraction of fuel, a separating vessel (3) connected to the axial outlet pipe (9) in which the liquid fuel is separated by gravity before being transferred back to the pump (1), and control means (20) making it possible to vary the flow rate of the fraction collected by the axial outlet pipe (9) according to its gas content. The axial outlet pipe (9) opens in the lower part of the separating vessel (3), into the gravity-separated liquid fuel, in such a way as to prevent the formation of foam in this vessel. |
| US07850766B1 |
Systems and methods for preferentially heating active particles and articles produced thereof
Systems and methods are provided for substantially reducing undesired cumulative effects by preferentially heating the active particles. By preferentially heating the active particles, the active particles are “cleaned” of substances that may reduce or negate particle activity. In addition, preferential heating may reduce active particle adsorption of binder. |
| US07850761B2 |
Method and apparatus for highly purifying nitric oxide for semiconductor
There is provided an apparatus for highly purifying nitric oxide by removing impurities included in nitric oxide, which comprises: a number of dehumidifiers connected to one another in a series, to remove water and carbon dioxide from the nitric oxide; a vaporizing and liquefying unit for respectively separating impurities into a gaseous state and a liquid state by cooling the nitric oxide which passed through the dehumidifiers at sub-zero temperatures; a storage tank for storing highly purified nitric oxide separated by the vaporizing and liquefying unit; an exhaust pump for discharging gaseous impurities, separated by the vaporizing and liquefying unit, to a scrubber; an outlet for discharging liquid impurities, separated by the vaporizing and liquefying unit, to the scrubber; and the scrubber 50 for purifying the gaseous and liquid impurities. |
| US07850760B2 |
Process for production of chain metal powders, chain metal powders produced thereby, and anisotropic conductive film formed using the powders
A chain metal powder, which is free from branches and has a small distribution of the chain length, can be produced by a process of reducing metal ions contained in an aqueous solution, while applying a magnetic field to the solution containing ferromagnetic ions, in the presence of a polymer compound comprising repeating units of the formula (1): and repeating unit of the formula (2): or repeating unit of the formula (4); or a process which comprises the steps of reducing metal ions contained in an aqueous solution, while applying a magnetic filed to the solution, in the presence of both a reducing agent capable of generating a gas during the reduction of metal ions and a foamable water soluble compound, through the generation of a gas, a bubble layer on the surface of the aqueous solution to form a chain metal powder, separating the bubble layer formed on the surface of the aqueous solution from the solution, and collecting the chain metal powder contained in the bubble layer. |
| US07850753B2 |
Vent filter with membrane
A filter (8) for venting an enclosure (1) containing an electrical apparatus (4), such as a lens or lighting unit of a motor vehicle, and exposed to moisture or atmospheric agents, includes a tubular body (20) with a through cavity or conduit (11) opening at opposite ends (9, 10) of the body (20), which is coupled to a venting aperture (6) of the enclosure (1), the filter (8) including a hydrophobic filtering element; the body (20) of this filter (8) has at least two portions (20A, 20B) set at an angle to each other, the membrane filtering element (15) being in the interior of the body (20) and associated therewith so as to form one piece therewith, and being coupled to the body (20) in a manner transverse to an axis of at least one of the portions. The membrane is located within the mould before injection molding. |
| US07850749B2 |
Fuel reformer suppressing uneven temperature distribution in reforming element
A fuel reformer includes a reforming element (7) having at least one reforming catalyst passage (22) supporting a reforming catalyst which generates reformate gas from fuel; and a combustion element (8) having at least one combustion gas passage (11), which heats the reforming element (7) by the heat of combustion gas generated by burning the generated reformate gas supplied in air introduced in said at least one combustion gas passage (11). The reforming element (7) and combustion element (8) are laminated in the fuel reformer. The fuel reformer further includes plural supply holes (13) arranged in a line along said at least one combustion gas passage (11), each supply hole (13) communicating with said at least one combustion gas passage (11). At least part of the generated reformate gas is supplied to each supply hole, and is burnt downstream of each supply hole. |
| US07850745B2 |
Method for concentration and extraction of lubricity compounds from vegetable and animal oils
Methods for recovery of concentrates of lubricating compounds from vegetable and animal oils, fats and greases that allow separation of triglycerides, from components with higher lubricity or enrichment protocols that increase the concentration of high lubricity compounds in the triglyceride. The triglycerides are transesterified with a lower alcohol to produce alkyl esters. Following the conversion process the esters are separated from high molecular weight high lubricity compounds by distillation. The esters have some lubricity and may be sold as pollution reducing fuel components. The high boiling point compounds that are the residues of distillation, however, can contribute significant lubricity and may be used widely in lubricant applications or added to petroleum fuels to decrease friction. |
| US07850741B2 |
Cleansing polyester fabrics, and a process of preparing the same
The present invention provides a cleansing polyester fabric, which comprises (i) a polyester multifilament consisting of ultra yarns (monofilament) of 0.001 to 0.1 deniers or its false twist yarn as warp and (ii) a false twisted mixing yarn consisting of said polyester multifilament and a high shrinkage polyester multifilament with 10-50% of shrinkage rate in boiling water as a weft, and said fabric satisfies the following properties; sum of warp density and weft density: 220-320 yarns/inch, thickness of the fabric: less than 0.3 mm, and weight of the fabric: 70-180 g/m2. The cleansing fabric of the present invention is useful as a makeup cleansing fabric or as wiping fabric for fine products and optical devices since it exhibits excellent cleansing performance, is soft to the touch and does not damage the surface of products to be cleaned. |
| US07850740B2 |
Indirect skeletal coupling and dynamic control of prosthesis
Provided is a prosthesis system for indirectly coupling a prosthesis to the skeletal structure of a person. The system includes a plurality of individual magnets and magnet sets attached to a prosthetic socket of a prosthetic device. The magnets may be permanent magnets or electromagnets. A second plurality of magnets is embedded within a residual limb of a person, mounted to or within a sub-dermal strut. In operation, the magnetic fields generated by the magnets of the prosthetic socket, which may be dynamic magnetic fields, interact with the magnetic fields generated by the magnets anchored beneath the skin of the person, to hold the prosthetic device in position during use. A power supply provides current to any electromagnets, and a controller alters any required magnetic fields based on input received from both load and position sensors in the sub-dermal strut. |
| US07850737B2 |
Prosthetic elbow replacement
A prosthetic elbow replacement includes a humeral component having a stem dimensioned to fit within a medullary canal of the humerus and having a yoke connected to the stem wherein the yoke terminates in spaced apart arms. A pivot pin is mounted between the arms for rotational movement with respect to the humeral component. The pivot pin has a transverse throughhole. There is an ulnar component having an ulnar stem including a distal end dimensioned to fit within a medullary canal of the ulna and an opposite proximal end dimensioned to fit within a first end opening of the throughhole. The ulnar component has a mounting cap dimensioned to fit within a second end opening of the throughhole. A fastener connects the ulnar stem and the mounting cap such the proximal end of the ulnar stem is positioned within the first end opening of the throughhole and the mounting cap is positioned within the second end opening of the throughhole. The pivot pin rotates to allow for flexion of the prosthetic elbow replacement, and also allows for axial rotation of the ulna component in the humeral component. |
| US07850736B2 |
Vertebral fusion implants and methods of use
A vertebral implant for use in vertebral fusion surgeries includes a body with an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior cavity into which bone growth promoting materials such as bone graft are insertable. The body also includes a plurality of apertures that extend from the exterior surface to the interior surface. Further, the vertebral implant includes a cutting feature to decorticate bone that protrudes outward from the exterior surface at each aperture. The cutting feature is shaped so that as a cutting force is applied to move the implant in a cutting direction, the removed bone matter is directed through the apertures and into the interior cavity. |
| US07850732B2 |
Sacral prosthesis and surgical method
A sacral prosthesis for a partial or complete sacrectomy has a central body with a platform on a superior face thereof; first and second arms extending superiorly and laterally from the central body, with the arms including respective terminal portions for anchoring to a respective ilium. The terminal portions are held spaced from one another and the central body is suspended by the arms such that the platform is disposed inferiorly to the terminal portions at a fixed position relative thereto. The sacral prosthesis supports a spinal column against inferior displacement by supporting a vertebral body with the platform, while advantageously simultaneously preventing relative lateral displacement of the ilia. The sacral prosthesis may advantageously be formed of a radiolucent material. |
| US07850730B2 |
Method and apparatus for implanting a hydrogel prosthesis for a nucleus pulposus
An instrument for inserting an elongated hydrogel prosthesis into an intervertebral disc includes an insertion cannula that is inserted through the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc to provide access to the nucleus region of the disc, an elongated hydrogel prosthesis packaged within a tubular container adapted to be coupled to a proximal end of the insertion cannula, and a source of fluid pressure adapted to be coupled to a proximal end of the tubular container. Auxiliary instruments for use in convenient insertion of the insertion cannula through the nucleus pulposus and providing for a complete and controlled passage of the hydrogel prosthesis through the insertion cannula are provided in a kit with the insertion cannula. A sizing apparatus for determining the volume of prosthesis to be inserted includes a catheter or cannula capable of being inserted through the insertion cannula into the nucleus region of the intervertebral disc and having at its distal end a balloon capable of being inflated within the intervertebral disc with a measurable volume of a fluid in order to determine the amount of hydrogel prosthesis to be injected. |
| US07850729B2 |
Deforming jacket for a heart actuation device
The invention consists of a cushioned active cyclically deforming cushion or jacket (39) that surrounds the outer or epicardial surface of at least one chamber (2, 3, 4, 5) of the natural heart, including its base, configured so that internal components may be suspended from the jacket (39) by heart wall-penetrating cords to complete a restraining harness over the entire 3-dimensional boundary of the chamber or chambers. The cushion or jacket (39) provides protective and stabilizing openings (8, 9, 10) for atria and their inflow valves as well as for great vessels and their outflow valves. It is equipped with one or more actuator mechanisms (37, 38) that cyclically change shape at one or more sites, thus altering heart wall shape and chamber volume. |
| US07850723B1 |
Method and apparatus for patient temperature control employing titration of therapy using EEG signals
A system and method for temperature control of the human body includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. Cooling is provided while monitoring an EEG signal of a patient, and employing the same to monitor a depth of hypothermia of the patient. |
| US07850722B2 |
System and method for treating urinary tract disorders
A method, device, and system for treatment of urinary tract disorders is provided. The device includes a catheter having multiple lumens for insertion into a urinary bladder and for providing fluid flow within the bladder and within the fluid reservoir within the urethra. The device further includes an anchor to be placed within the bladder. A port hub having multiple ports is connected at a proximal end of the catheter. A method of treatment includes providing heated fluid to a urinary bladder and to a fluid reservoir for insertion into an adjacent organ such as the urethra. Simultaneous treatment or separate treatment may be done. Optionally, a medicated solution may be added to the heated fluid. Additionally, pressure may be adjusted so as to optimize the therapeutic effect. |
| US07850720B2 |
Method and apparatus for applying light therapy
A method and apparatus for light therapy, which is a method using light for treating diseases and/or maintaining the health of a living organism. The method comprises delivering a light modulated at a specific frequency and intensity for a specified duration to the whole body or a portion of the body of the living organism. Disclosed herein are different sequences of light therapy useful for assisting the recovery from e.g., disease, injury, or malfunction. The improvement in health of the living organism after each treatment is observed. If necessary to increase the improvement in health, the sequence of light may be repeated in one session (such as two back-to-back sequences of treatment in one sitting in one day), and/or the organism may be treated over a period of time, such as receiving the sequence of light every 3 to 5 days, etc., until improvement is observed, the health problem is resolved, or a sense of improved well being is experienced by the treated organism. The living organism is preferably an animal, and is more preferably a human. Also described are devices and electronic systems for delivering such light therapy. Further described are methods for optimizing the light therapy. An electronic circuit supplies and controls timing, repetition rate, intensity and application of the light. |
| US07850717B2 |
Bone anchors having two or more portions exhibiting different performance characteristics and method of forming the same
A bone anchor including a bone engaging element and an implant engaging element. The bone engaging element includes a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material and extending at least partially along a length of the first portion, and with the second portion of the bone engaging element positioned between the first portion and adjacent bone tissue when the bone engaging element is engaged with the bone to provide an interface with the adjacent bone tissue. In one embodiment, the first portion of the bone engaging element exhibits a first level of rigidity and the second portion exhibits a second level of rigidity less than the first level of rigidity. In another embodiment, the bone engaging element includes external threads, with the second portion of the bone engaging element defining at least a portion of the external threads. |
| US07850715B2 |
Orthopedic implant apparatus
Apparatuses are disclosed for use in orthopedic surgery, for example for procedures in which a support member is connected to the spine. A connector member for connecting to an orthopedic implant and a support member is provided. A sleeve fits around the implant, and a locking member or mechanism connects to the sleeve. Locking causes a part of the sleeve to press the support against the connector, and causes a part of the sleeve to compress around the implant, so that the implant and support are substantially inhibited or prevented from moving with respect to each other. |
| US07850709B2 |
Blood vessel closure clip and delivery device
A clip for closing a puncture hole in a blood vessel comprises a ring 12 having a resiliently expandable circumference and a plurality of barbed prongs 14 extending at least approximately in the same direction from one edge of the ring. A device for deploying such a clip is also described. |
| US07850707B2 |
Ultrasonic surgery apparatus
An ultrasonic surgery apparatus enabling smooth surgery. The ultrasonic apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic chip, a vibration inducing unit which induces ultrasonic vibration to the ultrasonic chip, an aspiration unit which aspirates tissue emulsified by vibration of the ultrasonic chip, a detection unit which detects a clogging condition of the ultrasonic chip, a footswitch, having a pedal, for emitting an output signal which is based on a depression amount or a depression position of the pedal, and a control unit which controls at least one of ultrasonic power and a pulse-duty ratio of the ultrasonic vibration based on the output signal from the footswitch and a detection result obtained by the detection unit. |
| US07850706B2 |
Pancreatic-enteric fistulary catheterization system
A catheterization system for forming dual sutureless anastomoses using two catheters connectable to one another. Once the fistula is healed, a dissolvable connection allows the catheters to separate one from the other and the separated pieces are extruded through normal bowel action. The two catheters may be connected in various ways. In one embodiment, a separate guide member may be used to pull a dissolvable suture through the first catheter. The suture is then attached to the second catheter and the suture may be used to pull the second catheter into contact with the first catheter so that the two catheters are closely connected by the suture. When the suture dissolves, the two catheters separate. In another embodiment, the first catheter has a section formed of a dissolvable mesh. The two catheters may be connected together by any of various types of connections. After a period of time, the mesh dissolves and allows the joined catheters to separate into two pieces. |
| US07850704B2 |
Method and apparatus for anchoring implants
Methods, devices and systems facilitate retention of a variety of therapeutic devices. Devices generally include an anchoring element, which has been designed to promote fibrotic ingrowth, and an anchored device, which has been designed to firmly engage the complementary region of the anchoring element. The anchoring element may be placed in a minimally invasive procedure temporally separated from the deployment of the anchored device. Once enough time has passed to ensure appropriate fixation of the anchoring element by tissue and cellular ingrowth at the site of placement, the anchored device may then be deployed during which it firmly engages the complementary region of the anchoring element. In this manner, a firm attachment to the implantation site may be made with a minimum of required hardware. Some embodiments are delivered through a delivery tube or catheter and while some embodiments may require laparoscopy or open surgery for one or more of the placement procedures. Some embodiments anchor devices within the cardiovascular tree while others may anchor devices within the gastrointestinal, peritoneal, pleural, pulmonary, urogynecologic, nasopharyngeal or dermatologic regions of the body. |
| US07850700B2 |
Tissue lifting device and method
A surgical apparatus with an insertion tool and fixation device for lifting or remodeling soft tissue as described. A combination of a fixation device and insertion tool allows for incremental release and engagement of the fixation device, which is supplied with prongs to grasp the soft tissue and hold on the other end to allow suture lifting of the soft tissue. The careful deployment of the fixation device and the manipulation and tension on the insertion tool allows a gradual, adjustable, and uniform lifting of the soft tissue that are to be remodeled. |
| US07850698B2 |
Tibial trialing assembly and method of trialing a tibial implant
A trialing assembly for use during knee replacement procedures to determine size and position of a tibial plate implant as well as the size and thickness of the articular surface prior to implantation of the implant. The trialing assembly includes a broaching plate having a tibia engaging bottom surface adapted for placement atop a tibia and an opposite top surface, the bottom and top surfaces extending between an anterior edge and a posterior edge of the broaching plate. The broaching plate includes an anterior rail and a posterior rail protruding superiorly from the top surface and extending along the anterior and posterior edges, respectively. A trialing plate is configured to removably fit atop the broaching plate between the anterior and posterior rails. The trialing plate includes an engagement member extending from a superior surface of the trialing plate and adapted to engage with an articular surface provisional. |
| US07850683B2 |
Subdermal cryogenic remodeling of muscles, nerves, connective tissue, and/or adipose tissue (fat)
Devices, systems, and methods treat cosmetic defects, and often apply cooling with at least one tissue-penetrating probe inserted through of the skin of a patient. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissue so as to effect a desired change in a composition of the target tissue and/or a change in its behavior. Exemplary embodiments of the cooling treatments will interfere with the nerve/muscle contractile function chain so as to mitigate wrinkles of the skin. Related treatments may be used therapeutically for treatment of back and other muscle spasms, chronic pain, and the like. Some embodiments may remodel subcutaneous adipose tissue so as to alter a shape or appearance of the skin surface. |
| US07850681B2 |
Cryoplasty device and method
A cryoplasty catheter and method for preventing or slowing reclosure of a lesion following angioplasty. The cryoplasty catheter includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a dilatation balloon disposed at the distal end. An intake lumen and exhaust lumen are defined by the shaft to deliver coolant to the balloon and to exhaust or drain coolant from the balloon. The method in accordance with the present invention includes cooling a lesion to aid in remodeling the lesion through dilatation and/or freezing a portion of the lesion adjacent the dilatation balloon to kill cells within the lesion to prevent or retard restenosis. |
| US07850679B2 |
Mitral hook
A mitral hook instrument for use particularly in heart valve operations. The mitral hook is used in particular for grasping or hooking secondary chords for lysis procedures. The interior surface of the hook has a groove or channel to facilitate use of a scalpel to cut a chord or other member which has been grasped and exposed by the hook. Also, markings are preferably provided on the distal end of the mitral hook instrument in order to assist the surgeon. |
| US07850678B2 |
Endoscope, endoscope system, and method of manufacturing endoscope
An endoscope of the invention is the endoscope for applying a propulsion force in a direction of insertion axis of an insertion portion main body in accordance with rotation of the insertion portion main body based on driving force of a driving member, and the endoscope includes a flexible elongated inner layer tube configured as a shaft of the insertion portion; and a spiral-shaped portion rotatable around the inner layer tube as an axial center based on the driving force of a motor, the spiral-shaped portion forming an outer surface of the insertion portion main body, in which the spiral-shaped portion is formed by a nondensely wound coil and a resin thin film provided so as to cover gaps of a wire forming the metal coil. |
| US07850676B2 |
System with a reservoir for perfusion management
A system for perfusion management that monitors, maintains, diagnoses, or treats perfusion deficiencies. |
| US07850675B2 |
Reinforced venous access catheter
A catheter for medical procedures comprises a shaft portion having a distal end insertable into a body lumen, the shaft portion having a wall defining a working lumen extending therewithin and a first strengthening element coupled to the wall to increase a burst pressure of the shaft portion, wherein the first strengthening element cooperates with a base material of the wall to define a flexible region of the shaft portion allowing the shaft portion to be atraumatically inserted into the body lumen. |
| US07850674B2 |
Glucose measuring module and insulin pump combination
A combination glucose measuring and insulin pumping device is described. The two major components, a glucose measuring module and an insulin pump, are held together by a quick attach and release mechanism. Communication between the glucose measuring module and the insulin pump is by a wireless modality. The glucose measuring module determines the glucose level in a sample, and wirelessly transmits the data to the insulin pump, where the data are stored in a memory, and are available for visual display on the insulin pump, and for incorporation into selection of appropriate protocols for the rate of insulin infusion by the pump into the patient. |
| US07850672B2 |
Absorbent article comprising an absorbent structure
An absorbent article such as a diaper, an incontinence guard, a sanitary napkin or the like, includes a liquid permeable upper surface and an absorbent structure, which in the longitudinal direction exhibits a crotch portion and two end portions, wherein the absorbent structure has an acquisition layer and at least one first storage layer. The first storage layer has at least 50 percent by weight of a super absorbent material calculated on the total weight of the first storage layer. The material of the first storage layer in a dry condition has a density exceeding 0.4 g/cm3. Further, the first storage layer at least in the crotch portion of the absorbent structure has apertures or recesses. |
| US07850671B1 |
Diaper system
A diaper system for distributing a rash inhibiting powdered material onto a pelvic area of a child includes a diaper being worn around the pelvic area of the child. The diaper includes a front edge positioned around a front of the pelvic area and a rear edge positioned around a back of the pelvic area when the diaper is worn. A pouch is coupled to an interior surface of the diaper. The pouch is positioned in a closed state when the diaper is folded in half. The pouch is opened when the diaper is opened to be placed on the child. A rash inhibiting powdered material is positioned in the pouch when the diaper is folded in half. The powdered material is exposed during opening of the diaper and distributed on the pelvic area of the child to inhibit diaper rash when the diaper is placed on the child. |
| US07850670B2 |
Better fit to the bottom area of a disposable product
An absorbent article is provided with a chassis having an anterior portion and a crotch portion and a belt coupled to the chassis. The belt has end portions extending outwardly beyond side edges of the chassis. The end portions of the belt are configured to be fastened between the crotch portion and the anterior portion, and the belt is configured to draw the crotch portion toward the anterior portion of the chassis about a body portion of a wearer to limit sag and leakage at the crotch portion of the chassis. |
| US07850669B1 |
Feeding apparatus
A feeding apparatus includes a feeding tube that has a first end and a second end. A tether is removably attached to the feeding tube and is configured to secure the feeding tube to a neck or torso of a person receiving the feeding tube. |
| US07850664B1 |
Method and system for protecting and using biopsy system instruments
A system and method for reducing the risk of contamination of a sterile biopsy system via using a sterile sheath with an exterior structure to aid in opening the sheath, and further having a self-sealing target disposed at an opposing closed end of said sheath. |
| US07850661B2 |
Needle sheathing device with flexible end-piece for syringe
The invention relates to a safe support device for a syringe, said support comprising a support sheath for the body of a syringe, and safety means which comprise an inner sheath suitable for sliding relative to said support sheath between a waiting retracted position, in which said inner sheath is substantially retracted inside said support sheath, and an active protection position, in which said inner sheath projects from said support sheath. The inner sheath has a free end portion formed by a flexible end-piece. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a safe support device and a syringe having a body, a piston and a needle disposed at one end of said body. |
| US07850657B2 |
Microneedle structure and production method therefor
A method for processing a wafer to form a plurality of hollow microneedles projecting from a substrate includes forming, by use of a dry etching process, a number of groups of recessed features, each including at least one slot deployed to form an open shape having an included area and at least one hole located within the included area. The internal surfaces of the holes and the slots are then coated with a protective layer. An anisotropic wet etching process is then performed in such a manner as to remove material from outside the included areas while leaving a projecting feature within each of the included areas. The protective layer is then removed to reveal the microneedles. |
| US07850649B2 |
Mechanical volume control for injection devices
A needleless fluid delivery system allowing for selective control of amounts of therapeutic fluids that are administered to treatment sites within a patient. The fluid delivery system includes an injector source and an access device. The fluid delivery system generally includes an adjustable volume control system for selectively metering the amount of therapeutic fluid to be delivered to the treatment location. The adjustable volume control system generally includes a mechanical stop system with a plunger member and a stop member, wherein the plunger member and stop member physically interact to restrict a plunger insertion length which simultaneously controls an amount of therapeutic fluid expelled by said plunger. |
| US07850643B1 |
Drug diffusion barriers for a catheter assembly
Materials having barrier characteristics are used with a balloon of a catheter assembly and a sheath for covering the balloon. The barrier materials prevent significant absorption of therapeutic substances used in association with the balloon, for example via a medicated prosthesis, into the balloon wall or the sheath. Accordingly the quantity and concentration of the therapeutic substances are preserved. Materials which can serve as a barrier include barrier polymers, polymers with additive fillers, polymers with a metallic coating, metallic films, polymers with a main group element oxide coating, and sulfonated or fluorinated polymers. For the sheath, materials such as glass and metals also function effectively. |
| US07850636B2 |
Closed-type blood reservoir and extracorporeal blood circulation apparatus using the same
An example of the closed-type blood reservoir of the invention is furnished with an outer shell in which a space is formed within its interior, a flexible septum that is interposed between a blood storage chamber shell and a volume adjustment chamber shell and that divides the space into a blood storage chamber for storing blood and a volume adjustment chamber for storing volume adjustment liquid, a blood inlet port, a blood outlet port, and a blood storage chamber air discharge port that are provided in the blood storage chamber shell such that they are in communication with the blood storage chamber, and a volume adjustment liquid port that is provided in the volume adjustment chamber shell such that it is in communication with the volume adjustment chamber, for injecting and ejecting the volume adjustment liquid into and away from the volume adjustment chamber, wherein the blood inlet port and the blood outlet port each are provided tangentially to the inner surface of the blood storage chamber shell such that blood that flows into the blood storage chamber from the blood inlet port can swirl along the inner surface of the blood storage chamber shell, and wherein the closed-type blood reservoir has a first blood flow route, provided in the blood storage chamber, that is formed by an outward concavity of the inner surface of the blood storage chamber shell, and that is in communication with the blood outlet port and at least part of which is formed in the direction of extension of the blood outlet port. |
| US07850635B2 |
Low hydraulic resistance cartridge
A cartridge for treating medical or biological fluid includes a first cap having an inlet for the fluid, a container including a plurality of compartments and a second cap including an outlet for the fluid, wherein each compartment contains a plurality of particles, wherein the fluid is adapted to flow through the compartments and react with the plurality of particles. |
| US07850634B2 |
Method for collecting a desired blood component and performing a photopheresis treatment
An improved method for separating whole blood into components and collecting a desired blood component. The method allows a desired blood component to be subjected to centrifugal forces within a separator for prolonged periods of time, yielding a cleaner cut and higher yield of the desired blood component. Whole blood is drawn from a source and pumped into a separator, the undesired blood components are removed from the separator at rates so as to build up the desired blood component in the separator. The desired blood component is only removed after a predetermined amount of the desired blood component has built up in the separator. It is preferred that the desired blood component be buffy coat and that the method be used to perform photopheresis treatments. In another aspect, the invention is a method of performing a full photopheresis treatment to treat diseases in a reduced time, preferably less than about 70 minutes, and more preferably less than about 45 minutes. |
| US07850633B2 |
Systems and methods of blood-based therapies having a microfluidic membraneless exchange device
The present invention is directed to devices, systems and methods for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The invention is useful in a variety of situations where a sample fluid is to be purified via a diffusion mechanism against an extractor fluid. Moreover, the invention may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of ‘small’ molecules, ‘middle’ molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid. |
| US07850632B2 |
Knee brace having an adaptable thigh pad
A knee brace including an adaptable anterior thigh pad for securing an upper portion of the brace to a user's thigh wherein the anterior thigh pad automatically adjusts to underlying soft tissue motion during knee and leg movement. The anterior thigh pad includes a flexible upper horizontal connection and a pair of substantially rigid x-crossing connections. The anterior thigh pad tightens and loosens during normal leg flexing and straightening so as to maintain a tight skeletal grip on the users leg while adapting to thigh muscle movement. The individual straps of the anterior thigh pad connecting the thigh pad to the rigid arms of the knee brace are independently adjustable to accommodate any leg size or shape. |
| US07850631B2 |
Foot abduction bracing apparatus
An improved foot abduction brace device in which the shoe are connected by an abduction bar which is a single bar that can be bent by the treating heal care professional to hold the shoes in the desired angles of abduction and dorsiflexion. The abduction bar is bent near the heel portion of the shoe and is made of a material that allows the bar to retain the selected position once bent. However, the bar is sufficiently strong so that the child cannot bend the bar and therefore change the selected angles. |
| US07850629B2 |
Compression apparatus for applying localized pressure to an extremity
An apparatus for applying compression therapy to a portion of the human body includes a flexible member and an air bladder chamber. The flexible member is adapted to wrap around the body portion to secure the air bladder chamber thereto. An air pump inflates the air bladder chamber to a pressurized state. An adjustable pressure regulator is fluidly coupled to the bladder chamber and automatically limits the pressure to a selected amount. The pressure regulator preferably includes a plurality of check valves, each being operable at a different pressure and a selector element. The check valves are fluidly coupled to the selector and the selector is fluidly coupled to the bladder chamber. Operation of the selector fluidly couples one of the check valves to the bladder chamber. According to the presently preferred embodiment, three check valves are provided, operable at 20 mmHg, 30 mmHg, and 40 mmHg. |
| US07850626B2 |
Method and probe for using high intensity focused ultrasound
A plurality of concepts related to HIFU therapy are disclosed, including a technique to spatially track and display the relative positions of a HIFU focal point and an imaging plane from an ultrasound imager, so that a clinician can ensure that the HIFU focus remains in the image plane during HIFU therapy, thereby facilitating image guided HIFU therapy. Also disclosed are a plurality of transvaginal probes that include a HIFU transducer optimized for the treatment of uterine fibroids. In one embodiment, the probe includes a piezoceramic crystal bonded to an aluminum lens, to achieve a HIFU transducer having a focal length of about 4 cm. In another embodiment, the probe includes a generally spoon-shaped transducer including a plurality of individual emitter elements. Still another concept disclosed herein is a method for evaluating a quality of a coupling between a liquid-filled volume encompassing a HIFU transducer and a tissue interface. |
| US07850623B2 |
Elongate medical device with continuous reinforcement member
An elongate medical device including an inner elongate member, a reinforcing member, and an outer tubular member is described. The reinforcing member may be a helically wound continuous wire including a first portion having a first cross-sectional profile, a second portion having a second cross-sectional profile, and a transition region located between the first portion and the second portion. The first cross-sectional profile may be different from the second cross-sectional profile. In some embodiments, the first cross-sectional profile may be circular or non-circular and the second cross-sectional profile may be circular or non-circular. |
| US07850620B2 |
Biopsy devices and related methods
Apparatus and methods provided to remove biopsy specimens from bone and/or associated bone marrow. A powered driver may rotate a biopsy needle at an optimum speed to obtain the biopsy specimen. A thread or a groove may be disposed on interior portions of the biopsy needle. The thread or groove may engage a biopsy specimen and enhance removal of a bone marrow core from cancellous bone. Manufacturing procedures are provided for bonding a single helical thread with interior portions of the biopsy needle. The apparatus may also include a biopsy sample ejector and/or ejector funnel. A biopsy needle set may include a cannula and a trocar with respective tips having optimum configurations, dimensions and/or orientations relative to each other to optimize penetration of a bone and/or bone marrow with minimum patient trauma and enhanced reliability of obtaining a biopsy specimen. |
| US07850616B1 |
Determination of diastolic heart failure
An exemplary method includes detecting a change in state of a cardiac valve, detecting elongation of the left ventricle substantially along its major axis, determining a time difference between the change in state of the cardiac valve and the elongation of the left ventricle and, based at least in part on the time difference, deciding whether a diastolic abnormality exists. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US07850611B2 |
System and methods for improved ultrasound imaging
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving the resolution and quality of an image formed by signals from an array of receivers. Multiple receivers introduce variations in arrival times that can be less than the period of an operating signal, and also less than the period associated with a sampling operation. Thus, multiple receivers allow sampling of fine features of reflected signals that would be considered beyond the resolution associated with the operating signal. Use of multiple receivers also provides an effective sampling rate that is greater than the sampling rate of an individual receiver. Similar advantages can be obtained using multiple transmitters. Such advantageous features can be used to obtain high resolution images of objects in a medium in applications such as ultrasound imaging. |
| US07850610B2 |
Electrode location mapping system and method
A mapped location of one or more electrodes within an electrical mapping volume is superimposed onto an ultrasound image corresponding to the electrical mapping volume. |
| US07850608B2 |
Minimal incision maximal access MIS spine instrumentation and method
A minimal incision maximal access system allows for maximum desirable work space exposure within the incision along with maximum access to the operative field utilizing a minimum incision as small as the width of the working tube. Instead of multiple insertions of dilating tubes the design is a streamlined single entry device to avoid repetitive skin surface entry. The system offers the capability to expand to optimum exposure size for the surgery utilizing retractors depending from a bi-hinged frame having internal or external controls to control the angle and separation of the retractors. Interchangeable retractor blades can be attached to the frame. At least one retractor blade is independently controlled. |
| US07850606B2 |
Endoscope device
An endoscope device of the present invention has an insertion portion capable of attachment and detachment of a plurality of optical adapters. The endoscope device comprises a resistor for detecting attachment and detachment of the optical adapter as well as an attachment and detachment detection portion, a ROM for storing a setting table as a specific set value for each of the plurality of optical adapters, an LCD for displaying a list of the optical adapters on the basis of the setting table, and an operation switch for selecting one optical adapter from the list of the optical adapters. |
| US07850598B2 |
Endoscope apparatus for performing measurement using image
A CPU includes: an original image recording function for recording a still image or a recorded image as an original image; a contrast correction function for performing contrast correction on a still image or a recorded image; a coordinate calculation function for calculating pixel coordinates on an original image which correspond to pixel coordinates designated on a contrast corrected image; a stereo measurement function for performing stereo measurement using pixel coordinates of an original image calculated by the coordinate calculation function; a measurement result reflection function for reflecting on a contrast corrected image a measurement result of stereo measurement performed by the stereo measurement function; and a dynamic range expansion function for enhancing brightness of an image area which is darker than a predetermined threshold. These functions enable stereo measurement to be performed precisely using an image on which image processing has been performed. |
| US07850597B2 |
Interactive hypnotic bio-stabilization system
An interactive biological stabilization (IBS) device includes at least one communication path enabling operative coupling with at least one patient data monitoring device, and a processing device enabled for operative coupling with the at least one patient monitoring device through the at least one communication path. The processing device includes a hypnotherapeutic treatment decision block selecting at least one hypnotherapeutic treatment modality based on patient data received from the at least one patient data monitoring device through the at least one communication path. A system for interactively biologically stabilizing a patient includes the IBS device. A method for interactively biologically stabilizing a patient includes the steps of providing at least one apparatus monitoring vital patient data and providing at least one processor processing the vital patient data which selects a hypnotherapeutic treatment modality based on the processing of the vital patient data. |
| US07850592B2 |
Device for the epicardial support and/or resumption of cardiac activity
A device for epicardial support and/or the assuming of cardiac activity having a double membrane (1) consisting of an elastic inner membrane (2) and a non-expandable outer membrane (3) as well as a closed cavity (4) formed therebetween which can be inflated and deflated by means of a fluid exhibiting a first chamber (6) allocated to the right ventricle (5) and a second chamber (8) allocated to the left ventricle (7). With the objective of further developing a device of the type indicated so that it provides for simple device operability while maintaining the advantage of being able to augment only one ventricle, it is provided for the first chamber (6) and the second chamber (8) are connected to one another by at least one valve (9) in a dividing wall (10) separating the two chambers (6, 8). |
| US07850590B2 |
Separator having a rigidly connected stator, an elastic support and ultra sockets
A separator includes a centrifuge drum having a vertical rotational axis and a feed line to feed a product to be centrifugally processed. Further included is a drive spindle having an impeller to drive the centrifugal drum, which drive spindle is rotatably mounted in a housing by a bearing device and which is supported on a machine frame by an elastic support. Also included is a lubrication arrangement and a drive device including an electric drive motor having a stator and a motor rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle. |
| US07850585B1 |
Exercise apparatus
The exercise apparatus has a plurality of flat belt-shaped elastomeric resistance bands provided in like or differing elastomeric resistance and like or differing lengths. A specifically designed rectangular mounting bracket is provided for each band end. Each rectangular bracket is designed to be mounted to an existing truck seat base mount, with existing fasteners or otherwise available fasteners, so that a trucker can exercise privately and effectively when experiencing any downtime in travels. The brackets are not limited to seat base attachment only. The apparatus is especially effective for abdominal and lumbar muscle activity. |
| US07850582B2 |
Flexible exercise device and related systems
An exercise device comprises an elongate rod having opposite ends each being configured to be grasped by a user. The rod includes a flexible inner core having a pair of opposite ends and an outer sheath substantially circumscribing at least a central portion of the inner core. A pair of grip sections are each positioned on an opposite end of the rod, the grip sections being configured to allow a user to grasp each end of the rod when performing exercises. At least one end cap is fixed to one of the opposite ends of the rod, the end cap including engaging structure associated therewith to facilitate engagement with a safety strap. A safety strap is engaged with the end cap and is configured to be releasably secured to the user to prevent accidental release of a grip section of the rod. |
| US07850581B2 |
Selectorized dumbbell having shock absorbing nested weights and a shock absorbing selector
A selectorized dumbbell has a handle that can be inserted into a gap between stacks of nested left and right weight plates. A selector determines how many left weight plates are coupled to the left end of the handle and how many right weight plates are coupled to the right end of the handle. Each weight plate is held between a pair of flexible arms on a forked carrier. The arms allow the weight plates to deflect out of a normal, substantially upright, orientation if an impact shock is delivered to the dumbbell. The arms are restored to their normal orientation once the impact shock dissipates. Alternatively, the weight plates may comprise a metallic inner weight plate covered with an elastomer encasement and with an integral elastomer lug attaching the weight plates to at least one interconnecting member. The selector may comprise a connecting pin with at least one flexible shock absorbing prong. |
| US07850577B2 |
Free wheel clutch mechanism for bicycle drive train
A clutch mechanism may be positioned in engagement with a slave sprocket of a drive train and a hub of a flywheel to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold. When the drive train is actuated in the forward direction, the slave sprocket and the hub may move together, and when the drive train is actuated in the rearward direction under the influence of a force greater than the break-free force threshold, the clutch mechanism may slip between the slave sprocket and the hub, allowing the slave sprocket and the flywheel to move independently of one another. The clutch mechanism may also include a spring tensioner whereby the break-free force may be adjusted. |
| US07850576B2 |
Portable assembly for sports skill development or recreation and methods related thereto
A portable support or goal assembly includes, among other things, a top frame portion, a base frame portion, two or more post frame members, and a plurality of releasably lockable hinge connectors. The portable support assembly provides support for a user and includes a U-shaped top frame portion configured to be gripped by the user and a U-shaped base frame portion having wheels or low-friction feet to facilitate mobility on a support surface. The goal assembly provides a U-shaped goal opening defined by an aligned top frame portion supported at each end by vertically extending side post members, the latter of which are attached to a U-shaped base frame portion. In one example, the top and base frame portions, the post frame members, and the hinge connectors are reconfigurable between the support assembly, the goal assembly, and a collapsed orientation. Also discussed is a method for assembly reconfiguration. |
| US07850575B1 |
Trampoline surrounding net bracing structure
A trampoline surrounding net bracing structure to provide improved connection between a trampoline and a surrounding net includes a framed bed, a plurality of supporting posts and a surrounding net. The framed bed has a jumping area to allow users to do jumping and bouncing exercise thereon. The supporting posts are located upright on the periphery of the framed bed. Each of the supporting posts has a top end equipped with a buffer means connecting to a bracing rack. The surrounding net has a bottom rim girded on the circumference of the jumping area and a top rim fastened to the bracing rack. Thus the surrounding net is stretched and surrounds the jumping area to form a confined movable space to allow the users to do jumping and bouncing exercise safer. |
| US07850571B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a line pressure of an automatic transmission
An apparatus and method for controlling line pressure of an automatic transmission. A driving information detection unit obtains information. A shift control unit determines if a power-on downshift is requested based on the information of the driving information detection unit, and controls the line pressure based on if the power-on downshift is requested. An actuator forms the line pressure according to a control signal of the shift control unit. A pressure supply control unit controls supply of the line pressure to on-coming and off-going frictional elements of the transmission. The method outputs a first value of a line pressure control duty if the power-on downshift is requested; subsequently outputs a second, lower value of the line pressure control duty if a first shifting is started during outputting of the first value; and subsequently outputs the first value if a turbine speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed. |
| US07850570B2 |
Method for determining the application point of an automatically controlled friction clutch
A method of determining an application point of an automatically actuated clutch of an automatic mechanical transmission. After pre-selecting a new gear, the clutch automatically separates, the activated gear disengages, the engine rotational speed is brought to a target value for the new gear and the clutch, with higher advancing speed, is advanced to an application point at which the transmission input shaft is precisely entrained. To determine the application point, the gradient of the time curve of the rotational speed of the transmission input shaft is monitored, an important change of the gradient, that adjusts itself when reaching the application point, is determined and the current position of the clutch is defined as the application point. The application point is determined during downshifts, the time rotational speed curve of the transmission input shaft is between slowdown and re-acceleration, which is easily and accurately determined. |
| US07850569B2 |
Gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle
A gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle includes: a first planetary gear set that receives an input speed from an input shaft and outputs a reduced speed; a second planetary gear set that receives the reduced speed of the first planetary gear set and selectively outputs a same speed or a reversed speed; and a third planetary gear set that receives the reduced speed of the first planetary gear set, the input speed from the input shaft, and the output speed of the second planetary gear set, and then outputs a shifted output speed. |
| US07850566B2 |
System for transmitting hydraulic pressure
A system for transmitting hydraulic pressure in an automatic transmission housed in a transmission case. The system includes a valve body for generating the hydraulic pressure, a first hole unit in the transmission case, and a second hole unit. The first hole unit includes at least one hole perpendicular to an output shaft of the automatic transmission so as to transmit the hydraulic pressure to a first passage. The second hole unit includes at least one additional hole for receiving the hydraulic pressure through the first passage and transmitting the hydraulic pressure to a second passage. |
| US07850565B2 |
Plate-link chain
A plate-link chain, in particular a toothed plate-link chain, made up of a plurality of plates that form sets of plates which are connected to neighboring sets of plates with a hinged connection. One rocker member of a hinged connection is connected to the plates of a set of plates through a connection opening, and two rocker members of neighboring sets of plates form the hinged connection. The rocker members can roll against each other at a roller profile, and the set of plates includes at least one guide plate. The rocker member includes a guide profile that is connected to a rocker profile through a first connecting profile and a second connecting profile. The guide plate has at least one connection opening which has an undercut or recess in the region of the first and/or second connecting profile. |
| US07850563B2 |
Power transmission mechanism and manipulator
A power transmission mechanism comprising: a flexible power transmission element; a pair of a drive pulley and a driven pulley on which the flexible power transmission element is wound, each the pulley having a pin-embedding hole formed to extend from the outer circumferential thereof toward the center thereof, and a slit elongated in the circumferential direction of the pulley to extend to opposite sides of the embedding hole and communicating with the embedding hole; and a pair of columnar or tapered anchor pins each having a path hole penetrating the anchor pin across the lengthwise direction thereof to receive the flexible power transmission element inserted therein, wherein each the anchor pin receiving the flexible power transmission element in the path hole thereof is embedded in the embedding hole of the associated pulley under pressure, and the flexible power transmission element is thereby held on the pulley. |
| US07850559B2 |
Hydraulic tensioning system
A hydraulic tensioning system (10) for an endless drive (1) of an internal combustion engine (2). In an operating mode, the piston (9) of the tensioning system (10), which is supplied with a hydraulic fluid, is supported against a tensioning rail (6) with a non-positive fit, with the rail pre-tensioning the traction drive element (4). If the hydraulic fluid in the tensioning system (10) is not sufficient, the tensioning rail (6) is supported on an elastic end stop (13a) of the system (10). |
| US07850551B2 |
Mobile practice targets
A mobile practice target is described, which includes a framework comprising a base support and at least one substantially vertical support extending above the base support and an angled support above the vertical support, together with a pocket comprising a resilient material having at least one front opening parallel to the vertical support capable of receiving a football propelled from the horizontal direction, and a top opening parallel to the angled support for receiving a propelled football from above. A baffle is secured to the top of the front opening which can absorb the momentum of the propelled football and/or deflect the propelled football downward into the pocket. A mobility means associated with the base support is provided to facilitate transport of the mobile practice target. The mobile practice target captures and contains propelled footballs and prevents them from bouncing out of the pocket when traversing the front opening. |
| US07850547B2 |
Multi-piece solid golf ball
The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball composed of a solid core encased by a cover of one or more layer, which solid core has an inner core layer and an outer core layer. The inner core layer is formed primarily of a specific, highly neutralized, ionomeric resin composition, has a diameter of from 10 to 38 mm, and has a cross-sectional hardness difference of within ±5 between any two points on a cross-section formed by cutting the inner core layer in half. The outer core layer is formed of a rubber composition made primarily of polybutadiene rubber. The solid core has a diameter of from 30 to 42 mm. The sum of the respective hardnesses at the center of the inner core layer, at the outer core layer 1 mm outside a boundary between the inner core layer and the outer core layer, at the inner core layer 1 mm inside the boundary, and at the surface of the outer core layer is set to a value in a range of from 260 to 360. Such a golf ball is able to achieve an increased distance. |
| US07850546B2 |
Golf club head having a composite face insert
A golf club head having a composite face insert attached to a metallic body is provided. The club head preferably has a volume of at least 200 cc and provides superior durability and club performance. The face insert includes prepreg plies having a fiber areal weight (FAW) of less than 100 g/m2. The face insert preferably has a thickness less than 4 mm and a mass at least 10 grams less than an insert of equivalent volume formed of the metallic material of the body of the club head. A metallic cap with a peripheral rim is also provided to protect the ends of the composite material of the face insert. Related methods of manufacturing and alternative materials are disclosed. The resin content of the prepreg plies can be controlled through management of the timing and environment in which the resultant prepreg plies are cured and soaked. |
| US07850544B2 |
Composite metal wood club
A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively. |
| US07850542B2 |
Golf club with high moment of inertia
A golf club (40) has a golf club head with a large mass, relatively short club length and a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared. The golf club (40) preferably has an inertia ratio greater than 0.0019. |
| US07850540B2 |
Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head. |
| US07850539B2 |
Grip hook golf ball retriever
A retrieval apparatus for retrieving golf balls is disclosed. The retrieval apparatus may be attached to a golf club handle and may include a flexible collar disposed for attachment around the golf club handle. The retrieval apparatus may also include a pair of tines projecting distally from a neck portion and the collar wherein the neck portion bridges the collar to the pair of tines and, wherein the tines define a substantially circular forked carrier for holding the golf ball. The tines may also include a sloped surface on each of the tines disposed to lift the golf ball and guide the golf ball into the forked carrier. |
| US07850535B2 |
Tethered ball game having targets and indicators
The embodiments may relate to games or sports using tangible projectiles. A tethered ball game embodiment may include a play ball and a tether that may be connected to the play ball and a sensor head assembly. The tether may be elastic. The sensor head assembly may have a force sensor to determine an impact power imparted to the play ball, a spin sensor to determine a rotational value of the play ball, a travel path sensor to determine a path of travel of the play ball, and a play ball strike sensor to determine a strike to the play ball. The tethered ball game also includes a target device and a player feedback system having lights and audio feedback, all controlled by a controls system. |
| US07850517B2 |
Electronic lottery system for increasing the usage of tickets in a lottery game
A lottery gaming system utilizes one or more distribution groups of game play records. The gaming system preferably distributes a distribution group of game play records to each of a number of assignment components in the gaming system. Various ones of the play records are assigned from a distribution group in response to game play requests from respective players. The game play records that remain unassigned after a collection condition is met are collected and used to form a new distribution group available for re-distributing to an assignment component in the gaming system. |
| US07850516B2 |
Payout distributions for games of chance
Based on a metric that represents a value of a game of chance, a payout distribution is optimized with respect to the metric. |
| US07850515B2 |
Card game
A card game and video gaming system includes a matrix of card positions in addition to cards dealt for a player's hand. The player may select betting lines or line paths in the matrix to play and set a wager for the selected line paths. Line paths may include a variety of line configurations including rows and/or columns of the matrix. One or more cards may be selected for retention from the player's hand and combined with cards in each of the selected line path of the matrix to form patterns. The matrix may activate card positions or cards depending on line path selections as well as a number of cards selected for retention. A payout may be determined based on the number of patterns formed as well as the type of patterns. |
| US07850513B1 |
High efficiency solar powered fans
Highly efficient solar fans used in portable and built in configurations. A ventilation fan can be used for exhausting air out from underneath roofs, and/or for being portable in use and application. The fan can include optimized airflow blades having a twisted configuration that can move at a rotational speed operation of up to approximately 500 rpm. The approximately 15 inch diameter twisted blades can be premolded on a hub that together form a single molded unit of plastic. They can also be fabricated using metal. The unit can be mounted in an exhaust outlet having a conical diffuser on or adjacent to a roof. Another embodiment allows for portable solar powered fans used anywhere there is a need for ventilation and moving of air. The blades can rotate by a solar powered motor, where the blades and motor can generate up to approximately 1040 cfm while using no more than approximately 16 Watts. Portable fans can be powered by solar panels. One embodiment has solar panels mounted to a handtruck. Another embodiment has solar panels in a carrying case with a handle having leg(s) which can bend downward to different angled positions. The solar panel carrying case and the fan can each have single handles that allows for the portable fan assembly to carried and transported by both hands of a single user. |
| US07850512B2 |
Method for determining physiological parameters of a slaughtered animal body
The invention concerns a method for determining physiological parameters of a slaughtered animal body or piece thereof with respect to determining its commercial value and/or its processing. The method will lead to a more exact calculation of meat proportions and weight proportions and preferably to a more precise determination of cutting-up points for automated cutting up, in particular by including volumetric parameters.In order to solve the problem, the object, i.e., the slaughtered animal body or one of its pieces, is acquired by means of an image acquisition device. Then a software-supported evaluation of the image acquired from the respective object is made. According to the invention, the object to be evaluated is thus acquired, however, not with a video system of the conventional type, but rather a tomographic method, such as computer tomography or nuclear spin tomography is used as the imaging method. |
| US07850511B2 |
Method and a device for facilitating the removal of pin bones in fish
A method and a device for facilitating the removal of a pin bone (2) from fish flesh, wherein the pin bone (2) is cut within a filet part of the fish flesh. |
| US07850509B2 |
Substrate holding apparatus
The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus includes a top ring body for holding the substrate, an elastic pad for contacting the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further includes a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for contacting the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus also includes a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. |
| US07850507B2 |
Underwire end protector having a flexible zone and underwire assembly incorporating same
A protective device for an end portion of an underwire for a garment including a cushion tip having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion has “an internal cavity extending over a portion of the length of the proximal portion and is dimensioned to receive the end of an underwire of similar cross-section. The distal end of the cushion tip extends from the proximal portion a distance beyond the cavity length and includes at least one portion of relatively reduced bending strength formed by reducing the cross-sectional area by way of a groove or grooves, or the like. The at least one groove provides a flexible region between the proximal and distal portions. The portion of relatively reduced bending strength can be provided by other known means such as molding the protective device with different materials of relatively different strengths. |
| US07850506B2 |
Balloon weight and method for presenting lighter-than-air balloons for retail sale
A balloon weight includes a display clip having first and second clip members biased to be in close proximity to each other at a clip end and separate from each other each other at a squeeze end. The display clip has a base mass. A first weight piece is adapted to be selectively affixed to one of the first and second clip members. This first weight piece has a first supplemental mass. A ribbon has a first end secured to either the first weight piece or display clip and a second end affixed to a lighter-than-air balloon. A second weight piece may also be selectively affixed to the other of the first and second clip members. This permits the creation of composite balloon weights with different masses. |
| US07850505B2 |
Fabric diving stick
A diving stick of the type that, after being tossed into a swimming pool, sinks to the bottom while maintaining an upright posture so that it be can easily grasped by a diver. The stick includes a soft hollow shank designed to prevent accidental impalement. |
| US07850504B2 |
Stimulating feeding device for a child
An example feeding device includes a container and a controller that determines an orientation of the container. The controller activates a first stimulus when the container is in a first orientation and a second stimulus when the container is in another orientation. The first stimulus may please a child, and the second stimulus may displease a child. |
| US07850502B2 |
Method of manufacturing electron-emitting device and method of manufacturing image display apparatus
An electron-emitting device manufacturing method includes a first step of forming a conductive film on an insulating layer having an upper surface and a side surface connected to the upper surface via a corner portion so as to extend from the side surface to the upper surface and cover at least a part of the corner portion, and a second step of etching the conductive film in a film thickness direction. At the first step, the conductive film is formed so that film density of the conductive film on the side surface of the insulating layer becomes the same as or higher than film density of the conductive film on the upper portion of the insulating film. |
| US07850496B1 |
Lubrication system of a marine propulsion device
A lubrication draining and filling system provides oil passages that direct a flow of liquid oil from a bottom region of an oil sump, located within a rotatable portion of the marine propulsion system, to a discharge port which is connectable in fluid communication with a device that can sufficiently lower the pressure at the discharge port to induce the upward flow of oil from the lower portion of the oil sump within the gear case. The cavity of the oil sump within the gear case is disposed within a rotatable portion of the marine propulsion device while the discharge port is located within a stationary portion of the marine propulsion device. A transitional region comprises a space located between the stationary and rotatable portions. The oil can therefore flow from a rotatable portion, into the space, and then from the space into the stationary portion which allows it to be removed from the marine propulsion device. |
| US07850493B2 |
Connector with foolproof structure
A connector includes a housing and a base. The housing has a receiving hole for receiving a first-type plug. The base is assembled with the housing and has at least one foolproof structure. The foolproof structure and the base are formed as a single piece. The foolproof structure is protruded inside the receiving hole for blocking an insertion of an incompatible plug. |
| US07850492B1 |
Communication connector with improved crosstalk compensation
A communication jack has a housing with a face having a plug receiving aperture. A plurality of conductive path pairs extends from corresponding plug interface contacts located at the plug receiving aperture to corresponding output terminals. A first circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and a second circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and the output terminals. The first circuit board has a first single stage of crosstalk compensation with opposite polarity of the crosstalk of a plug for a first combination of the conductive path pairs. The second circuit board includes a second single stage of opposite polarity crosstalk compensation for some of the conductive path pairs not compensated on the first circuit board. The stages cancel substantially all of the crosstalk caused by the plug, for the signal operating frequencies, for corresponding combinations of the conductive path pairs. |
| US07850490B2 |
Electrical connector, cable and apparatus utilizing same
An electrical connector, such as a circuit board connector, includes a housing having therein a divided multi-connector element. The electrical connector is adapted to electrically connect with a substrate, such as a circuit board. The divided multi-connector element includes a divided electrical contact configuration that includes a first group or subassembly of electrical contacts physically separate from an adjacent and second group or subassembly of contacts. The first group of electrical contacts and second group of electrical contacts each include a row of lower contacts and upper contacts. The second group of electrical contacts has an identical but mirrored configuration as the first group of electrical contacts. |
| US07850489B1 |
Electrical connector system
An electrical connector system includes an electrical connector assembly and an electrical connector. The electrical connector assembly includes an insulative carrier and a plurality of termination devices supported in the insulative carrier. The electrical connector includes a plurality of interlocking plates defining a plurality of cavities and at least one electrical contact positioned within a cavity. The at least one electrical contact is electrically isolated from the interlocking plates and configured to mate with a socket contact of the termination device. The electrical connector assembly and the electrical connector are configured such that the socket contact of each termination device makes electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact of the electrical connector and the shield element of each termination device makes electrical contact with the interlocking plates of the electrical connector when the electrical connector assembly and the electrical connector are in a mated configuration. |
| US07850485B2 |
Plug connector for front plate or back plate assembly
A plug connector having a housing located at a plate opening in an operating position, and the plug connector contains wires and/or braids of a cable and electrical contacts. Assembly on the plate is realized by a flange plate attached to the outside of the housing having an interior recess with an interior dimension for engaging the housing of the plug connector. The flange plate is constructed as a single piece, and one of the interior recesses has a continuous slot extending to the outside, which slot acts as a clamp slot with the interior dimension of the interior recess being made smaller by narrowing the slot, and an arrangement is provided, by which the flange plate can be pressed in and thus clamped onto the outside of the housing. Preferably, the slot is reduced by at least one clamp screw with locking threads, or a lock nut. |
| US07850484B2 |
Connecting apparatus for connecting to an electronic apparatus
There is provided a connecting apparatus for connecting to an electronic apparatus including a connector, the connecting apparatus including: a body that includes a base portion and a back portion substantially perpendicular to each other so as to define a holding space for holding the electronic apparatus; a connector provided on the base portion, and to be connected with the connector of the electronic apparatus; and a positioning unit which adjusts the electronic apparatus to a predetermined position with respect to the base portion in a state where the connector of the electronic apparatus is connected to the connector of the connecting apparatus. |
| US07850483B2 |
Power meter socket to circuit breaker connection
A one-piece power meter socket to circuit breaker connection structure includes an elongated trunk section connecting a lower spade section with a forwardly offset connection plate at an upper end. The connection plate is joined to the trunk section by an angled extension section. The connection plate has an aperture to receive a fastener to connect it and a meter jaw to a meter jaw base. The spade section includes a pair of laterally spaced, forwardly projection breaker receiving spades for reception in a receptacle of a circuit beaker. The connection structures are used in pairs with an insulating circuit breaker base to connect load-side meter jaws of a power meter socket to spade receptacles of a plug-in type of circuit breaker. The one-piece connection structure is formed of a sheet of metal having a thickness equal to the thickness specified for the spades engaged by the circuit breaker. |
| US07850480B2 |
Connector mounting structure
An electrical component (1) includes a bracket (30) and a connector (10) that is mountable to a mount hole (R2) of a casing (R). The bracket (30) prevents loose movements of the connector (10) until immediately before the connector (10) is mounted into the mount hole (R2) while permitting loose movements of the connector (10) in the course of mounting the connector (10) into the mount hole (R2). |
| US07850479B2 |
Cable connection guiding method using a terminal indicating device
A cable connection guiding method includes the steps of extracting conductor identification information being used to identify a conductor from a RFID tag connected to the conductor of a cable, and indicating a terminal indicating device associated with an obtained terminal, according to terminal identification information. |
| US07850476B2 |
Low profile solar laminate connector assembly
A low profile photovoltaic (PV) connector for placement in space restricted areas. The connector includes a plug and receptacle for interconnecting PV solar arrays. The receptacle is mechanically secured to a solar array. The mechanical connection between the receptacle and the solar array may be a staking process (e.g., ultrasonic, heat). The plug and receptacle may be locking, where only an extraction tool or other similar device may remove the plug from the receptacle. The plug and receptacle may also be non-locking. |
| US07850470B2 |
Conductive connector attachment having a solder material for a printed circuit board
The present disclosure is directed to conductive connector attachments for use in electrically connecting printed circuit boards to absorbent products such as diapers, training pants, incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and the like. Specifically, various configurations and methods of securely attaching conventional conductive hook and loop attachments to printed circuit boards are disclosed. |
| US07850469B2 |
Connector assembly with a case and a dummy connector having a guide projection with a transverse protrusion
Male and female connectors (10, 50) include male and female housings (11, 51) with accommodating portions (25, 61) that have rear end insertion openings for accommodating dummy connectors (30, 70). The dummy connectors (30, 70) include protrusions (37, 78) that interfere with the opening edges of the accommodating portions (25, 61) and prevent insertion if the dummy connectors (30, 70) are reversed forward/backward. However, properly oriented dummy connectors (30, 70) can be inserted into the accommodating portions (25, 61) while leaving the protrusions (37, 70) projecting out from the insertion openings. |
| US07850462B2 |
Spring tab of an electric junction box
An obliquely bent spring tab is projected from a circumference of a bolt hole in a power connector of a bus bar. When the bus bar is housed in and fixed to a case, the spring tab is in stable surface contact with a bolt. Thereby, conductivity inspection can be performed by connecting a conductivity inspection apparatus to the bolt. |
| US07850461B2 |
Clip for maintaining connection with electrical tail
Disclosed is a mechanical device that can be used to help maintain a connection between an electrical tail and an electronic device such as a touch sensor screen. The mechanical device deflects upon installation over the tail and the electronic device so that pressure caused by spring action helps maintain the connection. The mechanical device also includes a cutout region designed so that the tail can freely pass through the mechanical device. |
| US07850460B2 |
Electrical contact element for contacting an electrical component under test and contacting apparatus
An elongate electrical contact element (1) for physically contacting electrical components under test, having two electrical contacting end regions (2, 3) and an elongate intermediate region (4) situated between the end regions (2, 3). The intermediate region (4) has an essentially rectangular cross-section and is configured lamellar along its longitudinal extent. Also disclosed is a corresponding contacting apparatus (22) including such a contact element (1) and a contact element holder (23). |
| US07850454B2 |
Simulated anatomical structures incorporating an embedded image layer
A simulated physiological structure includes an image layer configured to enhance a visual appearance of the simulated physiological structure. The image layer includes a substrate onto which an image has been printed. Preferably, the substrate is a relatively thin layer, compared to other layers of material in the simulated physiological structure. Where the simulated physiological structure includes surface irregularities, the substrate is preferably sufficiently thin so as to be able to readily conform to the surface irregularities. Particularly preferred substrates include fabrics, fibrous materials, meshes, and plastic sheets. The image, which can be of an actual anatomical element, or a rendering of an anatomical element, is transferred onto the substrate using conventional printing technologies, including ink jet printing. Particularly preferred images illustrate vascular structures and disease conditions. Preferably, the substrate is coupled to an elastomeric material that forms at least part of the simulated physiological structure. |
| US07850445B2 |
Oil preheater for a multi oil burner
A device and method of preheating oil for use in a multi oil burner that uses a heated liquid to convey heat energy to oil. The device is made of a thermally conductive material which has a passageway for oil and a passageway for a heated liquid. Heat energy from the heated liquid conductively transfers to the oil within the device. This method of preheating oil for combustion eliminates carbon creation and minimizes oil preheat temperature fluctuations thereby significantly lowering the cost and maintenance to operate a multi oil combustion system. |
| US07850443B2 |
Apparatus for injection molding
An apparatus for injection molding using a stack mold comprising first and second mold assemblies interposed between a movable platen and a stationary platen comprises at least one centering device for coupling movement of the movable platen to intermediate mold members of the mold assemblies, the centering device comprising first and second helical gear mechanisms and a transmission coupling rotation of helical gear segments of the first and second helical gear mechanisms. Effective pitch of the helical gear mechanisms and the ratio of rotation coupled by the transmission are chosen to maintain the intermediate mold members centered in or offset from center in the separation between the movable platen and stationary platen. |
| US07850440B2 |
Dough shaping device and kit
A dough shaping device includes a base manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a substantially flat upper surface for supporting a predetermined amount of dough. A rolling pin support member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and first predetermined shape and is disposed at a first end of such base member. A dough template is manufactured from a third predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a third predetermined size and a predetermined thickness. At least one aperture having a third predetermined shape and a fourth predetermined size is formed through such dough template. |
| US07850436B2 |
Fixing structure and method for fixing upper cup muffler
A structure and method for fixing an upper cup muffler to an upper bearing portion. The upper bearing portion includes a step portion having an upper, lower and side surfaces. A peripheral edge portion between the upper and side surfaces of the upper bearing portion is declined outwardly to have a slant surface. The upper cup muffler includes a bottom surface and a peripheral side surface lower portion that extends downwardly from the edge portion of the bottom surface. The peripheral side surface lower portion gets across the slant surface of the upper bearing portion and is brought into linear or planar contact with at least one of the outer side surface and the lower surface of the step portion when the bottom surface of the upper cup muffler and the upper surface of the upper bearing portion are fixed to each other. |
| US07850433B2 |
Water circulation systems for ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water
Circulation systems for ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water. In one set of embodiments, water is drawn up from the depths of the body for exposure to the atmosphere and to generate an overall, high flow circulation pattern throughout the entire body. In other embodiments, the circulation in the body of water is primarily limited to an upper aerobic zone with only small and controlled volumes from a lower anaerobic zone being brought up. Each system preferably includes a flotation platform, dish, impeller, and draft tube with specific modifications to the various systems to adapt them for use in a variety of environments. |
| US07850429B2 |
Helicopter rotor
There is described a rotor for a helicopter, having a hub rotating about a first axis; a number of blades projecting from the hub in respective longitudinal directions lying in a plane crosswise to the first axis, and each connected to the hub so as to be movable at least about a second axis crosswise to the first axis and to the relative longitudinal direction; and a number of damping devices for damping vibration of the helicopter, each interposed between a respective blade and the hub; each damping device has a plate member fixed, on one side, to the hub, elastically connected, on the opposite side, to the relative blade, and flexible, during movement of the blade, about a third axis coaxial with the second axis. |
| US07850428B2 |
Aerofoils
An aerofoil 20 for a gas turbine engine includes a root portion 22, a tip portion 24 located radially outwardly of the root portion 22, leading and trailing edges 26, 28 extending between the root portion 22 and the tip portion 24 and an internal cooling passage 34. The aerofoil 20 includes a plurality of cooling fluid discharge apertures 36 extending between the root portion 22 and the tip portion 24 in a trailing edge region 28a to discharge cooling fluid from the internal cooling passage 34 to an outer surface 31 of the aerofoil in the trailing edge region 28a and thereby provide a cooling film in the trailing edge region 28a. The cooling fluid discharge apertures 36 are arranged so that the flow rate of the cooling fluid discharged from the internal cooling passage 34 to the outer surface trailing edge region 28a varies between the root portion 22 and the tip portion 24. |
| US07850425B2 |
Outer sidewall retention scheme for a singlet first stage nozzle
An outer sidewall retention scheme for a singlet first stage nozzle of a gas turbine. The retention scheme includes a circumferential retaining ring with a main body and a pair of circumferential retaining lands projecting inward radially. A circumferential annular retaining groove is formed between the pair of circumferential retaining lands. A first lug and a second lug mounted on an outer face of the outer sidewall of each nozzle are adapted to fit within the circumferential annular retaining groove of the retaining ring and are supported radially and circumferentially by a first retaining pin and a second retaining pin, each pin passing though the circumferential retaining lands. Each nozzle further includes a chordal hinge rail and seal on the outer sidewall and a chordal hinge rail and seal on the inner sidewall providing axial support for the nozzle. |
| US07850423B2 |
Steam turbine and turbine rotor
High-temperature steam at 620° C. or higher is introduced to a reheat steam turbine 100, and a turbine rotor 113 of the reheat steam turbine 100 includes: a high-temperature turbine rotor constituent part 113a positioned in an area extending from a nozzle 114a on a first stage to a moving blade 115a on a stage where temperature of the steam becomes 550° C. and made of a corrosion and heat resistant material; and low-temperature turbine rotor constituent parts 113b connected to and sandwiching the high-temperature turbine rotor constituent part 113a and made of a material different from the material of the high-temperature turbine rotor constituent part 113a. |
| US07850420B2 |
Two-part stator blade
The present invention broadly comprises a blade for a torque converter stator including a first blade segment connected to inner and outer circumferential sections of the stator and a second blade segment, separately formed from the first blade segment, and connected to the circumferential sections. In some aspects, the blade segments are: in contact along edges, overlapped, circumferentially misaligned, at least partially folded, stamped, or cast. Configurations of the blade segments can be selected to modify performance characteristics of the stator such as torque ratio, efficiency, and capacity. In some aspects, the blade segments are in a circumferential alignment, and the stator includes an alignment element operatively arranged to control the circumferential alignment, for example, in response to pressure from fluid in the stator upon the blade. In some aspects, the stator includes axial halves, separately formed and fixedly connected and the blade segments are connected to respective halves. |
| US07850414B2 |
Linear transfer mechanism and transfer robot using the same
A linear transfer mechanism includes a guide member, a transfer carriage movable along a horizontal linear transfer path provided on the guide member, and a drive mechanism provided with a drive pulley and an output belt wound around the drive pulley for reciprocating movement in a reciprocating movement section in parallel to the transfer path. The transfer mechanism also includes a drive source for driving the drive pulley. The transfer carriage is connected with the output belt of the drive mechanism by a connecting member. Both the drive mechanism and the drive source are supported by the guide member. |
| US07850413B2 |
System and method for transporting inventory items
An apparatus for transporting inventory items includes a housing, a drive module, a docking module, an elevating shaft, and a rotation module. The drive module is capable of propelling the apparatus in at least a first direction. The docking head is capable of coupling to or supporting an inventory holder. The rotation module is capable of inducing rotation in the housing relative to the elevating shaft. The elevating shaft connects to the docking head and is capable of raising the docking head when the housing is rotated relative to the elevating shaft. |
| US07850394B2 |
Paving stone
A polygonal paving stone has a plurality of substantially planar sides extending perpendicularly between parallel upper and lower faces of the stone. A row of substantially identical and outwardly projecting narrow coupling members of a predetermined member width on each of the sides are separated by spaces of a predetermined space width. These narrow members are positioned on the respective sides such that when a plurality of the paving stones are fitted together with their upper faces generally coplanar the narrow coupling members of confronting sides of adjacent paving stones fit between one another A single wide coupling member on each of the sides has a width a greater than that of the member width of the narrow members and smaller than the space width so it can fit between two of the narrow members of a confronting side of an adjacent paving stone. |
| US07850393B2 |
Dry-cast concrete block
A dry-cast concrete block for use in a structure comprising a plurality of concrete blocks. The dry-cast concrete block comprises three convex sides and three concave sides alternating with the three convex sides. The dry-cast concrete block also comprises a surface located between the three convex sides and the three concave sides and comprising at least one portion having a cast texture with a natural stone appearance. Each of the three convex sides is adapted to register with either one of three concave sides of an adjacent one of the concrete blocks to enable positioning of the dry-cast concrete block in different positions relative to the adjacent one of the concrete blocks. |
| US07850392B2 |
Portable road barrier unit
The present invention relates an apparatus for deflating at least one tire of a vehicle including, an extendible tire deflating means attached to a housing, a plurality of biasing members adapted to urge the tire deflating means into an extended position, and a retraction means for withdrawing the tire deflating means into a retracted position within said housing, wherein in said retracted position the tire deflating means is held in place against the influence of said biasing members. The tire deflating means can be remotely extended and retracted, which ensures that the user can be positioned in a location where they are not in physical danger. |
| US07850391B2 |
Fixed bollard system
A fixed bollard system includes a plurality of spaced apart, elongated bollards each longitudinally disposed along a corresponding X-axis, each bollard being comprised of an I-beam having a front face and a opposing back face extending between a top end and an opposing bottom end. A plurality of horizontal support beams are each longitudinally disposed along a corresponding Y-axis, each horizontal support beam being comprised of an I-beam and having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of each horizontal support beam being connected to the back face of a corresponding bollard at the bottom end thereof. An elongated lateral front beam connects to the front face of each of the plurality of bollard at the bottom ends thereof. An elongated lateral rear beam connects to the second end of each of the plurality of horizontal support beams. |
| US07850390B2 |
Frame with self-locking joint
A frame is comprised of plural frame members, each of which has plural projections and plural recesses in opposed relationship to the respective projections of the corresponding frame member. The frame is assembled by snapping selected ones of the frame members together so that the projections of a selected one or more of the frame members are urged into nesting engagement with the recesses of a selected other one or more of the frame members. Selected ones of the frame members are equipped with locking tabs to maintain the frame members in their assembled configuration and to counteract a force tending to disengage the projections from the respective recesses. |
| US07850382B2 |
Valve made from two materials and writing utensil with retractable tip incorporating same
A valve includes a first valve portion made from a first material, the first valve portion including a body, a door, and an inner hinge pivotably connecting the body to the door, the body including a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end opposite the first end, and a circumferential recess disposed in the second end, wherein the inner hinge pivotably connects the door to the body at the first end and a second valve portion made from a second material, the second valve portion including an inner seal disposed in the circumferential recess, the inner seal including a circumferential ridge extending inwardly, the second valve portion further including a door seal disposed on the first end of the body. |
| US07850380B2 |
Mechanical pencil
A chuck (4) for grasping a writing lead and a rotor (6) arranged to be movable in a direction of rotation and an axial direction within a body cylinder (1). By axial movement of the rotor in conjunction with writing operation, the rotor rotates and the writing lead is also subjected to rotational movement. The writing lead can be inched out of the chuck by way of knock operation of the knock cover (26) arranged at a rear end port ion of the body cylinder. A separation part having a gap (G) is formed at any location along a knock operation transmitting path between the above-mentioned knock cover and the above-mentioned chuck, the separation part transmits the above-mentioned knock operation to the above-mentioned chuck and inhibits rotation operation from being transmitted. |
| US07850379B2 |
Two-nib crayon and method of manufacture
A two-nib crayon includes two crayon halves of different colors, each crayon half including a flat end and a nib end. The flat ends are fused together to form an integrated one-piece structure such that the respective nib ends are disposed in opposing relation. The two-nib crayon makes learning exercises using a color activity more fun. |
| US07850378B1 |
Webbed keyboard assembly
A keyboard assembly configured for converting keystroke activation into electrical signals. The keyboard assembly includes a plurality of key caps, each of the plurality of key caps being configured to transition between a rest position and a depressed position. The keyboard assembly also includes a web-like structure having a plurality of interconnected ribs defining a plurality of apertures. The plurality of key caps are disposed such that the plurality of key caps move within the plurality of apertures and traverse a plane formed by an upper surface of the web-like structure when the plurality of key caps transition between the rest position and the depressed position. |
| US07850376B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus which is capable of effectively removing dust attached to an optical member due to mounting/removing of a photographic lens in a power-off state, to thereby prevent degradation of image quality. In the image pickup apparatus, when position information of a contact brush that moves in a manner interlocked with mounting/removing of the photographic lens differs immediately after execution of power-on operation from position information obtained immediately after execution of power-off operation, it is determined that photographic lens mounting/removing operation was carried out during power-off, and a camera microcomputer outputs a warning advising cleaning of the optical member. |
| US07850368B2 |
Closure device for a reclosable pouch
A reclosable pouch comprises a body portion having first and second pouch walls. A first closure mechanism is disposed on internal sides of the first and second walls. The first closure mechanism includes a first female profile having first and second spaced legs and a first male profile. A second closure mechanism is disposed on the internal sides of the first and second pouch walls. The second closure mechanism includes a second female profile having third and fourth spaced legs and a second male profile. One of the first, second, third, or fourth spaced legs is longer than the other leg of the same female profile. Further, the first and second closure mechanisms comprise differing opening and closing characteristics. |
| US07850367B2 |
Imaging system and driving method thereof
When a gain correction is performed for the radiographed object image, the acquisition of the object image having a high grade quality and no artifact is realized. For that purpose, an image storing unit is provided for storing an image for correction radiographed based on conditions set with the table in a state in which no object exists to each operation modes of the plurality of operation modes; and an image processing unit is provided for performing a gain correction processing of the radiographed object image and performs the gain correction processing of the radiographed object image obtained based on the conditions set in the table of the operation mode selected by the selecting unit in a state in which the object exists using a corresponding image for correction extracted from the image storage unit based on the operation mode selected by the selecting unit. |
| US07850366B2 |
Sheet for shielding soft X-rays in a remover using soft X-rays that removes static charges and a method of manufacturing it
A sheet 1 for shielding soft X-rays comprises a first outer sheet, an interlayer sheet, and a second outer sheet. In the first outer sheet a port for supplying ionized air is formed. In the interlayer sheet a passage for the ionized air, which passage communicates with the port for supplying the ionized air, is formed. In the second outer sheet a port for discharging the ionized air, which port communicates with the passage for the ionized air, is formed. The sheets 2, 3, and 4 are stacked and adhered so that the sheet 1 has one or more portions 9 for transmitting the ionized air, which portions connect the port for supplying the ionized air, the passage for the ionized air, and the port for discharging the ionized air. |
| US07850364B2 |
Concrete batch plant with polymeric mixer drum
A concrete batch plant is disclosed including a frame and a transit mixer drum having an open end and a closed end. The drum is configured to be utilized both with the concrete batch plant and on a transit mixer truck. The drum may be pivotally coupled to the frame of the concrete batch plant for movement between a first position in which the open end is positioned to receive cement from a cement supply and to receive aggregate from an aggregate supply and a second position in which the open end is positioned to discharge the mixed cement and aggregate. Further, the drum may be a polymeric drum including an interior surface formed by a plurality of complementary molded helical polymeric sections joined along a helical seam. |
| US07850362B2 |
Removable LED lamp holder with socket
Disclosed is an LED lamp assembly that allows an LED lamp to be removably replaced in a lamp holder. A solid, electrical connection is created between the LED pins and electrical terminals as well as connecting wires without soldering. An LED lamp is removably connected to a base that can be inserted in and removed from a socket that is attached to connecting wires. The LED lamp can be removed from the base for replacement of the LED lamp. |
| US07850361B2 |
Removable LED lamp holder
Disclosed is an LED lamp assembly that allows an LED lamp to be removably replaced in a lamp holder. A solid, electrical connection is created between the LED pins and electrical terminals as well as connecting wires without soldering. An LED lamp is removably connected to a base that can be inserted in and removed from a socket that is attached to connecting wires. The LED lamp can be removed from the base for replacement of the LED lamp. |
| US07850359B2 |
Optical film of a display, method for producing the same and said display
An optical film of a display and a method for producing the same are provided. The display includes a light source and an optical film. The light source provides the first light. The optical film includes at least one coating layer. The coating layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The coating layer is adapted to absorb the first light from the first surface to excite a second light to emit through the second surface. The intensity of the second light is larger than that of the first light. |
| US07850357B2 |
Optical guide bar, line light source device, surface light illumination device, and display apparatus
Provided is an optical guide bar including: a light exit portion; light incident portions, on which light is incident, formed on both sides of the light exit portion; and a reflective portion facing the light exit portion and including a prism pattern that reflects light transmitted through the light incident portions towards the light exit portion. A shape of the reflective portion is determined in consideration of an effective light emission width of the light incident portion so that the intensity of light at any portion of the reflective portion is uniform. |
| US07850347B2 |
Light source comprising edge emitting elements
The present invention provides a light source generally comprising one or more edge emitting elements, each having a substantially same or similar emission spectrum, or respective emission spectra/colours, and a number of heat extractors thermally coupled thereto. Driving means are also provided to drive the edge emitting elements. Output optical means, such as reflectors, lenses, diffusers, collimators, filters and the like may also be included to collect, mix and/or redirect light emitted by the edge emitting elements to produce a desired optical effect. The light source may also comprise an optional control feedback system adapted to monitor an output of the light source and adjust the driving means and/or output optical means to maintain a desired or optimal output. |
| US07850345B2 |
Optic for LEDs and other light sources
An LED lighting device comprises an LED light source; a thermal management element coupled to the LED light source to manage heat generated by the LED light source; a primary reflector with at least one reflective surface oriented to collect light from the LED light source and direct collected light into a first reflected beam; at least one central inclined reflector surface disposed to receive light from the LED light source; and at least one corresponding angled mirror surface disposed to collect light from the central inclined reflector surface and to direct the collected light into a second reflected beam (see FIG. 1). |
| US07850343B2 |
Mercury light source tube, a light source device having the mercury light source tube, a display device, and a television receiver
A mercury light source tube such that a detrimental effect on its lifetime caused by gathering of mercury at peripheral portions of electrodes can be prevented or controlled, a light source device, and a display device. The mercury light source tube has a tube body in which mercury is sealed, electrodes provided to the tube body, and projections provided on an outer surface of the tube body to be integral with the tube body. The projections are placed between the electrodes or in positions at a distance from the electrodes toward the tube body center. The projections locally increase the surface area of the tube body so as to easily radiate heat to the outside, and locally decrease temperatures of the positions where the projections are placed and their peripheral portions so that mercury gathers at the low temperature portions. |
| US07850330B2 |
Lighting device configured to operate with different batteries
A lighting device in the form of a handheld flashlight is provided that includes a plurality of light sources located within a swivel head pivotally connected to a main body. The main body has a yoke portion connected to the swivel head by a head attachment mechanism that includes locking detents to lock the swivel head into one of a plurality of positions. The lighting device also has a tail cap that engages the main body by way of a cam lock wheel to provide a closure to the battery compartment. The lighting device further includes multiple modes of operation having a plurality of switches that provide control in various lighting modes. The lighting device is configured to be powered by one number of batteries supplying a first voltage output and is configured to be powered by a second different number of batteries supplying a second different voltage output, and the batteries are installed in battery compartments and include spring biased contacts for ensuring proper orientation of the batteries. |
| US07850327B2 |
Apparatus, logic and method for emulating the lighting effect of a candle
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises receiving a time-varying power waveform. The power waveform may be periodic and/or phase-controlled. Compressed within a power range associated with the time-varying power waveform, a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal is produced, which is supplied to a light source in order to produce a lighting effect emulating lighting from a candle flame. |
| US07850319B2 |
Light-absorbing member
A light-absorbing member has a substrate (101, 111) made of a material capable of absorbing light of which reflection is to be prevented, and an antireflection structure (102, 112, 303) having structural elements arranged on the surface of the curve in an array form at a period smaller than the wavelength of the light. The substrate having the shape of a curve viewed from a macroscopic viewpoint. The structural elements have a shape protruding or being recessed from a reference face corresponding to the curve of the substrate, and are arranged so that the straight lines connecting the reference face to the tips of the respective structural elements are nearly parallel to one another. |
| US07850318B2 |
Vehicle interior mirror device
A vehicle interior mirror device disposed in a passenger compartment for reflecting a state of rear seats and traffic conditions behind a vehicle. The interior mirror device has reflection restricting means notched in a lower end of the interior mirror device to prevent a face of a passenger from being reflected, so that eyes of passengers seated in seats other than the driver's seat do not meet. |
| US07850307B2 |
Eyeball locating method and system
An eyeball locating system includes a display panel, an application program and a matrix optical sensor. The matrix optical sensor is disposed in the display panel. The application program controls the matrix optical sensor, executing an eyeball locating method to measure the movement of an eyeball including an eye white and a pupil. The method includes: providing a default graph showing the change of light energy; defining a default characteristic value of the pupil according to the default graph; shining light on the eye white and the pupil, a part of the light reflected by the eye white and the pupil to form a reflecting light; detecting the reflecting light energy to form a measured graph showing the change of reflected light energy; calculating a measured characteristic value according to the measured graph; and comparing the default with the measured characteristic values to determine the change of the pupil. |
| US07850303B2 |
Optically decentered face shield
A face protector includes a one piece shield in which an optical center is displaced away from the normal straight ahead line of sight toward an activity specific line of sight to minimize image shift that occurs when a direction of gaze passes across the edge of the shield. An apex of the shield is formed at a forwardmost point of the shield, or a virtual extension of the shield, when the shield is in an as worn position on a wearer. In particular examples, an optical axis extends through the optical center, at a non-zero angle to the normal straight ahead line of sight and substantially parallel to the activity specific line of sight, with the optical center being placed away from the apex. In particular examples, the optical axis is closer to (or coincident with) an activity specific line of sight of one of the right or left eye. The face protector is particularly useful in activities such as sports, for example hockey, football, or baseball which involve activity specific lines of sight. In one disclosed embodiment, the optical center is positioned at or below a bottom edge of the shield so that a hockey player can view an object on the ice below the lower edge of the shield with reduced image shift. |
| US07850296B2 |
Inkjet ink reservoir
An ink jet ink reservoir having a part of its members formed of a polyolefin resin is provided which is free from printing defects caused by filter clogging attributable to a compound derived from an antioxidant. An ink jet ink reservoir used in an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a part of constituent members of the ink jet ink reservoir is formed of a polyolefin resin, wherein the polyolefin resin contains as additive an antioxidant at least with a hindered phenol skeleton and a phosphorus antioxidant more hydrophobic than bis(2,6-di-t-butylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite (denoted by P-6). The members are free from a phosphorus antioxidant having hydrophobicity equal to or lower than the above P-6. |
| US07850291B2 |
Printhead assembly having an elongate ink delivery extrusion with a fitted end cap
A printhead assembly for an ink jet printer. The printhead assembly includes an ink supply assembly having an elongate extrusion defining a number of distribution channels for distributing ink to a printhead via an end cap operatively fitted to said extrusion. The end cap includes an upper plate and a lower plate hingedly linked by means of a spine, and a plurality of plugs defined on the spine to plug said distribution channels when the cap is fitted to the extrusion. The upper plate defines apertures for operatively arranging said distribution channels in fluid communication with ink delivery hoses. |
| US07850290B2 |
Ink jet recording apparatus, ink supplying mechanism and ink supplying method
An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head having a pressure chamber opposed to a nozzle, an upstream port that communicates with the pressure chamber, and a downstream port, a first tank that communicates with the ink jet head via the downstream port and is capable of storing an ink, a second tank that communicates with the first tank and is capable of storing the ink, a third tank that communicates with the ink jet head via the upstream port and communicates with the second tank and is capable of storing the ink, an opening and closing mechanism that is capable of opening and closing a circulation path that connects the ink jet head, the first tank, the second tank, and the third tank, and an air pressure adjusting mechanism that is capable of adjusting an internal air pressure in at least one of the first tank, the second tank, and the third tank. The ink is fed through the circulation path according to an air pressure generated by adjustment of the air pressure and an opening and closing state of the circulation path. |
| US07850289B2 |
Steering fluid jets
A printer includes a printhead and a source of fluid. The printhead includes a nozzle. The fluid is under pressure sufficient to eject a column of the fluid through the nozzle. The fluid has a temperature. An asymmetric thermal modulator is associated with the nozzle and includes a structure that transiently lowers the temperature of a first portion of the fluid as the fluid is ejected through the nozzle and a structure that transiently raises the temperature of a second portion of the fluid as the fluid is ejected through the nozzle. |
| US07850279B2 |
Liquid droplet ejecting head and liquid droplet ejecting apparatus
A liquid droplet ejecting head including: a piezoelectric element that includes a piezoelectric body, a first electrode disposed on one side of the piezoelectric body, and a second electrode disposed on the other side of the piezoelectric body; a first layer on one side of which the second electrode of the piezoelectric element is disposed; a second layer disposed on the other side of the first layer; a first electrical wire formed between the first layer and the second layer; and a second electrical wire that connects the first electrical wire and the second electrode, is provided. |
| US07850274B1 |
Printers and methods to reduce vapor emissions in printers
Printers and methods to reduce vapor emissions in printers are disclosed. An example printer is described, including a fan to urge an airflow from a first printer portion, a duct to direct the airflow from the first printer portion and to substantially prevent adding air to the airflow, a condenser in communication with the duct, the condenser comprising a first condensing fin to condense oil in the airflow into a liquid, and an airflow reflection reducer associated with the condenser to reduce reflection of the airflow off of the first condenser fin. |
| US07850272B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus for performing recording by scanning a recording head includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire temperature information of the recording head, a generation unit configured to generate a signal that indicates outputting of an output voltage based on the temperature information, a voltage control unit configured to control a voltage to be output to the recording head based on the signal, and a control unit configured to simultaneously perform preliminary ejection processing in an interval between a previous scan and a next scan of the recording head and output processing of the signal. |
| US07850271B2 |
Inkjet printing system with movable print heads and methods thereof
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a deposition printing system which includes two or more print units capable of moving with respect to each other during printing, each of the print units having one or more print heads together forming a head arrangement; and a controller to control movement of the print units to dynamically change the head arrangement during the printing. |
| US07850269B2 |
Configurable printer cartridge
A printer cartridge is provided having a cartridge body removably mountable to a printer cradle unit, a printing fluid storage supported by the cartridge body, a printhead mounted to the cartridge body and a power and data interface for communicating a capacity of the printing fluid storage to a print controller of the cradle unit and receiving print data from the print controller for printing at a rate determined by the print controller in accordance with the communicated capacity. The printhead has a plurality of printing fluid ejection nozzles in fluid communication with the printing fluid storage and is configured to eject printing fluid from the nozzles at the received rate. |
| US07850265B2 |
Capacitive load driving circuit and method, liquid droplet ejection device, and piezoelectric speaker driving device
There is provided a capacitive load driving circuit which applies a driving signal to a capacitive load. The driving circuit includes: an operational amplifier outputting a difference signal between signals from an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal, and setting a loop gain; a pulse width modulator pulse-width-modulating the difference signal outputted by the operational amplifier, and outputting resultant digital signal; a digital voltage amplifier amplifying a voltage of the digital signal; a first filter smoothing a digital signal from the digital voltage amplifier, and supplying a smoothed signal to the capacitive load as the driving signal; an impedance converting circuit converting an impedance of an output signal of the first filter; and a first feedback circuit feeding-back the driving signal, which is outputted from the first filter, to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier via the impedance converting circuit. |
| US07850262B2 |
Head substrate, printhead, head cartridge, and printing apparatus
This invention is directed to: a printhead substrate which employs a constant current driving method and can suppress power consumption in a standby state, prevent an increase in printhead temperature, and stably discharge ink; a printhead using the printhead substrate; a head cartridge incorporating the printhead; and a printing apparatus using the printhead. The head substrate includes a plurality of printing elements; a plurality of driving elements which are provided in correspondence with the plurality of printing elements and drive the plurality of printing elements; a reference voltage generation circuit which generates a reference voltage; a reference current generation circuit which generates a first reference current on the basis of the generated reference voltage; a plurality of constant current sources, each of which generates a constant current to drive the plurality of printing elements on the basis of the generated first reference current; and a switch which controls supply of the first reference current in accordance with a printing operation. |
| US07850260B2 |
Injection/ejection mechanism
An injection/ejection mechanism is provided for mounting and dismounting of a unit in a chassis. The mechanism includes a drive screw that cooperates with a threaded barrel, the threaded barrel being rotatable for engagement and disengagement with at least one chassis component. The drive screw can be rotated in a first rotational direction to urge the threaded barrel in a first longitudinal direction against at least one chassis component for mounting of the unit and can be rotated in an opposite rotational direction to urge the threaded barrel in an opposite longitudinal direction against at least one chassis component for dismounting of the unit. |
| US07850256B2 |
Dual-bushing track chain cartridge
An endless track chairs for use with a track-type vehicle comprises a cartridge joined to the links of first and second link sets for relative rotation between the link sets. |
| US07850252B2 |
Loose terrain traction-assist device for wheeled all-terrain and utility vehicles
A loose terrain traction assist device for wheeled vehicles includes a generally frusto-conical structure having a proximal portion with a diameter smaller than an overall diameter of a tire of a vehicle, a distal portion that extends outwardly from the wheel, and an outer surface defined between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The traction assist device also includes an attachment arrangement for releasably coupling the frusto-conical structure to a wheel assembly of the vehicle, such that at least part of the frusto-conical structure is adapted to engage with terrain during operation of the vehicle in loose terrain and to not engage with terrain during operation of the vehicle on normal terrain. |
| US07850251B1 |
Wheel hub and brake rotor assembly
A vehicle wheel assembly has a vehicle wheel with a number of angularly spaced mounting bolt receiving apertures, a wheel hub with axially inboard and outboard surfaces and a plurality of radially outwardly protruding bosses interspersed with clearance spaces and a disc brake rotor having a like plurality of radially inwardly protruding bosses interspersed with clearance spaces. A first set of threaded fasteners couple the wheel to the outboard surface of the hub and a second set of threaded fasteners couple the rotor to the inboard surface of the hub. Each hub boss includes an axial depression in the region of the bore for receiving one of the second set of threaded fasteners allowing a head of the threaded fastener to be axially recessed inboard of the wheel receiving portion of the outboard hub surface. |
| US07850246B2 |
Shingled thin seat construction for vehicle
A shingled thin seat back for a vehicle having a generally centrally-located panel which is movable in the rearward direction when the seat is occupied and which is immovable in the forward direction when folded flat to accept a load. The seat back includes a support structure which provides support to the movable panel. The support structure includes at least one edge and the panel includes at least one edge. The panel is movable from a first position where the edge of the support structure and the edge of the panel are in overlapping contact (creating a shingled arrangement) to a second position where the edge of the support structure and the edge of the panel are not in contact with one another but instead are spaced apart from one another. |
| US07850245B2 |
Footrest apparatus
Footrests and spa apparatuses are provided. In this regard, a representative footrest, among others, includes a first structure and a second structure. The first structure has a top wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall has a pin attached on the outer surface of the first sidewall. The second sidewall has a protrusion on the inner surface of the second sidewall. The second structure is coupled to the first structure via a rod. The second structure has a bottom wall, a first sidewall, and second sidewall. The first sidewall has a pin attached on the outer surface of the first sidewall of the second structure. The second sidewall of the second structure having a protrusion on the inner surface of the second sidewall of the second structure. The pin of at least one of the first sidewalls of the first and second structures is configured to engage the protrusion of at least one of the second sidewalls of the first and second structures. The engagement between the pin and the protrusion forms at least one of a closed position and an intermediate opening position. |
| US07850242B2 |
Vehicle seats
A vehicle seat may include a seat main body, a rotation mechanism that is arranged and constructed to horizontally rotate the seat main body between a forwardly facing position and a laterally facing position, a sliding mechanism, and a rotation locking mechanism. The rotation locking mechanism is arranged and constructed to prevent the seat main body from rotating when the seat main body is in a laterally facing position. The rotation locking mechanism includes a first engagement portion, a second engagement portion, and a lock releasing portion. The second engagement portion is capable of moving between a condition in which it does not engage the first engagement portion and a position in which it engages the first engagement portion when the seat main body is in the laterally facing position. The lock releasing portion is arranged and constructed to be engaged with and disengaged from the second engagement portion depending upon the sliding motion of the sliding mechanism. |
| US07850238B2 |
Dynamic furniture
Dynamic furniture having platforms in dynamic attachment to an actuator assembly that in turn is in dynamic attachment to a base. Use of motional platforms supported by a motional actuator assembly permits an article of the furniture to conform to the many and varied body positions a user wants, and allows a user to more easily change body positions while remaining within the furniture, and in medical scenarios may obviate most needs to transfer a patient from one article of furniture to another. |
| US07850233B2 |
Ergonomic carry handle for juvenile vehicle seat
An infant carrier includes a shell and a carry handle coupled to the shell. The carry handle includes first and second side arms coupled to the shell. |
| US07850230B2 |
Vehicle roof with a roof part that can be displaced above the roof
The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a movable roof part, which by means of a tilt lever, which is connected in an articulated manner close to the rear edge of the roof part, can first be tilted into a ventilating position and can then be slid above the vehicle roof or above an at least partially fixed roof part for the at least partial release of an opening in the vehicle roof, the movable roof part being continuously supported in the area of its rear edge when it is slid from the ventilating position backwards and the movable roof part having a continuous side skirt in the area of its side edges. In order to ensure reliable support and at the same time a pleasing appearance, the rear edge of the movable roof part is continuously supported during the tilting movement and the sliding movement by means of the tilt lever and the side skirt, which is independent of the support system for the movable roof part, lies continuously adjacent a seal arranged at the edge of the roof opening or close to the upper end of the guide rail during the tilting movement and during the sliding movement. |
| US07850223B2 |
Folding top with a top cloth which is connected to a frame link
A folding top for a vehicle comprises a roof frame which comprises at least one front frame part and one rear frame part, a top cloth and a frame link, which is coupled kinematically to the roof frame, for moving the roof frame from a storage position, in which the top is put away in a receiving space, into a closed position, in which the top spans a passenger compartment. The top cloth is at least partially connected laterally to the frame link. |
| US07850222B2 |
Cabriolet vehicle
A convertible vehicle with a roof, which includes, in the closed state, a section of a laterally running roof strut on an area directly or indirectly adjacent to the windshield frame that protrudes farther into the passenger compartment than roof areas lying behind it. The section, on a surface facing the passenger compartment, has at least one large-area recess, coverable by at least one deformable covering. |
| US07850221B2 |
Cowling structure for motorcycle
A cowling structure is provided for a motorcycle in which a radiator is disposed behind a front wheel of the motorcycle. The cowling structure includes a main cowling and a sub cowling. The main cowling covers a periphery of the radiator from the front of a handlebar. The sub cowling is provided in the rear of the cowling through a space. The sub cowling is separate from the cowling. The cowling structure allows wind to effectively hit a radiator, and reduces a force necessary for inclining a vehicle body at the time of cornering. |
| US07850220B2 |
Mono leg transformer seat
A vehicle seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor having a recess includes a seat cushion and seat back pivotally coupled thereto. A riser mechanism includes at least one front and rear leg, each leg extending between a lower end pivotally coupled to the floor and an upper end pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. A seat adjustment mechanism disposed between the seat cushion and upper end of the rear leg is operable between locked and unlocked states allowing the legs to pivot about the lower ends thereby moving the seat assembly between a seating position and a stowed position disposed in the recess. An arcuate channel is operatively coupled to the rear leg selectively receiving a laterally extending guide pin mounted to the front leg for operatively coupling the front and rear legs to rotate together as the seat assembly moves between the seating and stowed positions. |
| US07850217B2 |
Equidistance pick-and-place device for ICs
An equidistance pick-and-place device for ICs is disclosed. It comprises a housing, a driving device, a guideway structure, a moving structure, a lazy tongs, a plurality of pick-and-place structures, and a transmission structure. The housing supports the equidistance pick-and-place device. The guideway structure is set on the housing. The moving structure slides on the guideway structure. The pick-and-place structures are set on the moving structure. The free end and the shafts of the lazy tongs are fixed in the moving structure. The transmission structure is connected with the driving device and the moving structure for driving the moving structure. The equidistance pick-and-place device utilizes the lazy tongs to drive the pick-and-place structures moving with equidistance to pick and place a plurality of ICs at a time. Therefore, the present invention can improve the efficiency and reduce cost. |
| US07850213B2 |
Coupling with crossable means for couplings to connect endportions of pipes and valves
A coupling to connect two pipes, and to connect pipe fittings and valves with pipes, which includes arcuates provided with inner flanges in their end portions, where said arcuates are positioned around crossable inner means, which means can also be used by different types of cylindrical couplings which couplings require grooves around cylindrical rings mounted around the end portions of pipes; where crossable inner means is comprised of a centrally located partitioner ring located between two pipes, which ring separates two gaskets provided with backup rings which backup rings are provided with radial circumferential grooves for the attachment of said arcuates bridging across said inner means. Said backup rings are attachable to the shoulders constructed around the end portions of two opposite pipes. |
| US07850210B2 |
Plug-in coupling for fluid systems
The invention relates to a plug-in coupling for fluid systems having two coupling parts connectable to one another, which each have coordinated catches for connecting them together, one of the coupling parts having an end union section, by means of which it can be plugged into the other coupling part, and one of the coupling parts having at least one end retaining section carrying its catches, by means of which section it grips over an outer peripheral contour of the other coupling part, on which the coordinated complementary catches are formed. In order to achieve a simplified means of detachment whilst ensuring ease of assembly and a highly stable connection of such a plug-in coupling, it is proposed to provide a separate release part, which in the assembled state is held on the first coupling part and/or the second coupling part and which serves for separating the locking connection between the catches of the first coupling part and the catches of the second coupling part. |
| US07850206B2 |
Automatic flap lifter and method
The present invention relates to a mud flap lifting system for raising and lowering a pair of mud flaps connected to a rear portion of a vehicle and suspended behind corresponding rear wheels of the vehicle. A shaft extends between the mud flaps. First and second sheaves are disposed on the shaft, wherein each of the sheaves is aligned with one of the mud flaps. A pair of cables is provided, each of the cables having a first end connected to one of the sheaves and a second end connected to the correspondingly aligned mud flap. A motor is coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft is axially rotated upon actuation of the motor. Each of the cables is coiled around the corresponding sheave upon rotation of the shaft in a first direction, thereby raising the mud flaps. |
| US07850203B2 |
External and internal airbag tether arrangement
An example tethered airbag arrangement includes an airbag movable to an expanded position. The airbag includes a contact face. An internal tether constrains expansion of the contact face. An external tether system includes tether portions and at least one bridge portion. The tether portions constrain expansion of the contact face. The bridge portion limits separation between one of the tether portions and an adjacent one of the tether portions as the airbag moves to an expanded position. |
| US07850197B2 |
Trim panel breakaway feature
A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a trim panel, a handle and an airbag. The trim panel is configured to overlay a portion of the pillar and conceal the airbag. The trim panel includes a first trim portion and a second trim portion that is separable from the first trim portion along a predetermined separation line. The handle is rigidly attached to the pillar by at least one fastener that extends through the second trim portion of the trim panel. The airbag is disposed between the trim panel and the pillar such that in response to deployment of the airbag at least a portion of the first trim portion separates from the second trim portion along the predetermined separation line. |
| US07850196B2 |
Occupant leg restraining device and retainer
An occupant leg restraining device includes a knee airbag that expands in front of legs of an occupant in a vehicle, a gas generator that inflates the knee airbag by ejecting gas, and a retainer that accommodates and holds the gas generator and the folded knee airbag. The retainer has outlets adjacent to both ends of the gas generator in a longitudinal direction of the gas generator that is accommodated in the retainer. |
| US07850195B2 |
Tandem suspension for steerable axles
A tandem suspension for connecting a vehicle chassis to front and rear steerable axles is provided. The tandem suspension includes, on each side of the vehicle, a front leaf spring linking the chassis and the front axle, a rear leaf spring linking the chassis and the rear axle, an equalizer assembly mounted to the chassis for equalizing the front and rear axles, a front air spring disposed between the chassis and the front axle, a rear air spring disposed between the chassis and the rear axle, and a pneumatic control system pneumatically linked to the front and rear air springs for supplying pressurised gas thereto and operable to unload one of the front and rear air springs. A method of installing a tandem suspension in a vehicle having a first steerable axle and a front leaf spring is also provided. |
| US07850192B2 |
Adjustable hitch for towing
An adjustable ball-type hitch assembly, and a method for using it. The hitch assembly is connected to a hitch receiver of a towing vehicle on one end, and to a vehicle to be towed having a ball receiver, on the other end. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable hitch assembly may include a base attachable to the receiver, and a sliding element such as a tongue supporting the ball and pivotally attached to the base. The sliding element may include a slot or groove enabling the sliding element to move along its longitudinal axis relative to the base, and to also rotate about a vertical axis perpendicular to a horizontal plane containing at least a portion of the sliding element, enabling the ball to be moved in various directions in a substantially horizontal plane to facilitate connection of the ball to the towed vehicle. Preferably the hitch includes means for locking and unlocking angular and linear movement of the sliding element and ball, such as a cam lock, which is preferably and easily manipulable by one hand. |
| US07850191B1 |
Trailer wiring connection
A trailer hitch apparatus for mechanically and electrically coupling a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle includes: a receiver and a trailer mount. The receiver has a receiver tube with an open end; a first electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts for attaching to the towing vehicle electrical system; and a second electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts of the first electrical connector. The trailer mount is installed within the open end of the receiver tube and includes a mounting tube comprising a first end and a second end for inserting into the receiver tube; a third electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts and operable to mate with the second electrical connector; an attachment mount connected to the second end of the mounting tube; a trailer attachment device connected to the attachment mount for attaching a towed vehicle; and an electrical receptacle electrically having a plurality of electrical contacts and connected with the third electrical connector for providing an electrical signal to an electrical system of the towed vehicle. |
| US07850189B2 |
Curb climbing wheelchair attachment
A curb climbing wheelchair system having left and right side attachments are designed to be attached to left and right side portions, respectively, of a standard wheelchair to enable a wheelchair occupant to climb a curb, bump or other obstruction without the aid of another individual. Each attachment includes a ramp extending from a telescoping arm that is designed to be attached, via a clamping system, to one side of the wheelchair. When not in use, the ramps are folded and stowed away on the sides of the wheelchair. During use, the ends of the ramps are placed on the curb to allow the wheelchair occupant to roll up the curb. To retrieve the ramps (now disposed behind the wheelchair), the wheelchair occupant moves the telescoping arms, if necessary with the aid of an attached circular handle, to lift the ramps thus allowing the wheelchair occupant to grab the ramps. The retrieved ramps then are stowed away until needed. |
| US07850186B2 |
Bicycle frame with a receiving space
A bicycle frame includes a head tube, a seat tube and at least one tube connected between the head tube and the seat tube. The at least one tube includes a first longitudinal tube connected to the head tube and a second longitudinal tube connected to the seat tube, a transverse tube is connected between the first and second longitudinal tubes. The transverse tube includes a receiving space in which a lock or a light device is received. |
| US07850177B2 |
Stroller platforms
In this patent, mechanically simple and inexpensive to produce platforms for modification of a stroller such that an additional child or a pet or a package may be transported are taught. |
| US07850176B2 |
Method and apparatus for dual lever wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow including a first lever providing at least one handle rigidly coupled to a second lever providing a bucket for carrying a payload. A lever assembly rigidly coupled to the second lever. |
| US07850174B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus and focus ring
A plasma processing apparatus and a focus ring enables to perform uniform plasma processing over the entire surface of a substrate to be processed to thereby improve in-surface uniformity of plasma processing compared with conventional cases. The focus ring is disposed on a susceptor 2, which serves to mount thereon a semiconductor wafer W and further functions as a lower electrode, to surround a periphery of the semiconductor wafer W. The focus ring 6 includes a ring member of a thin plate shape disposed to surround the periphery of the wafer W while maintaining a gap therebetween and a lower ring body installed below the semiconductor wafer and the ring member of the thin plate shape. |
| US07850172B2 |
Three-dimensional puzzle
An apparatus includes a multisurfaced object having at least a first surface and a second surface, with at least a first symbol disposed on the first surface and a second symbol disposed on the second surface. The apparatus also includes a container having an interior compartment and an opening in the container, wherein the multisurfaced object is positioned within the interior compartment, and at least the first surface is visible through the opening. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism associated with the multisurfaced object, adapted to rotate the multisurfaced object such that the second symbol is visible through the opening. |
| US07850167B2 |
Device and tray for depositing sheets
The invention relates to a device for depositing sheets in a machine that preferably processes sheets by graphic means, in particular for a printing machine, preferably for an electrophotographically operating machine, comprising at least one deposit tray for depositing and preferably also for stacking processed sheets. Furthermore, the invention relates to a deposit tray for a device of the aforementioned type. The object of the invention is to provide a device or a deposit tray of the aforementioned type, which permits a controlled depositing and stacking of sheets, in particular, at greater sheet-processing speeds, and, preferably, in a cost-effective manner. In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in that a deposit surface of the deposit tray is arranged, or can be arranged, at an angle that deviates from the horizontal. |
| US07850166B2 |
Sheet delivery/guide apparatus
In a sheet delivery/guide apparatus, a sheet released from a convey device and falling piles on a first pile device. A first blowing device is arranged above the first pile device and blows toward the first pile device. An air controller selectively performs switching between an air supply state and an air supply stop state of the first blowing device for the sheet. A guide member is supported movably and guides the sheet that passes the first pile device while being held by the convey device. A guide member switching unit switches the guide member between a guide position to enter a sheet falling path, extending from the convey device to the first pile device, to guide the sheet, and a retreat position to retreat from the sheet falling path. A controller controls the air controller and the guide member switching unit on the basis of a convey speed of the convey device. Thus, in a first mode in which the sheet piles on the first pile device, the air supply state of the first blowing device for the sheet is effected and the guide member is positioned at the retreat position. In a second mode in which the sheet passes the first pile device and is conveyed downstream in a sheet convey direction, the air supply stop state of the first blowing device for the sheet is effected and the guide member is positioned at the guide position. |
| US07850164B2 |
Cassette with spacers for adjusting the position of a currency note guide structure for assuring correct mounting for an automatic teller machine
A cassette for a currency note dispensing machine, in which the cassette is slidably mounted to easily fill with currency note, can receive various kinds of currency note by adjusting a currency note guide, and prevent wrong mounting of a push plate to smoothly pay the currency note. The cassette includes a cassette housing formed in a box shape with an upper surface opened, in which currency note vertically stands up and stacks, slidably mounted to a main frame of the currency note dispensing machine, and having a groove for establishing sheet separating means at one side of a rear plate so that currency note contacts with the sheet separating means after one edge of the currency note is supported, and a push plate supporting the currency note stacked between a front plate of the cassette housing and the rear plate and coupled to a resilient member to press the currency note toward the rear plate of the cassette housing. |
| US07850161B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A pressing member pressed against a sheet stack portion can be moved to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet by the aligning portion is not prevented and a pressing position where the aligned sheet S1 is pressed against the sheet stack portion. Moreover, a regulation member for regulating upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet in a conveyance direction can be moved in association with movement of the pressing member to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet S1 by the aligning portion is not prevented and a regulating position where upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet S1 in a conveyance direction is regulated. |
| US07850160B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system
A sheet processing apparatus, including: a booklet making section for making a booklet by covering a sheet bundle comprised of a plurality of sheets with a cover in a U-shape; a folding section for forming a fold-line on a coversheet, which covers the booklet made by the book making section; cover sheet conveyance section for conveying the coversheet; a measurement section for measuring a thickness of the sheet bundle; and a control section for controlling operations of the cover sheet conveyance section and the folding section to determine a folding position on the coversheet and form a fold-line on the folding position; wherein the folding position has been determined based on size information of the coversheet, size information of a sheet of the sheet bundle and thickness information of the sheet bundle measured by the measurement section. |
| US07850156B2 |
Sheet finisher, image forming apparatus using the same, and sheet finishing method
A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller with a structure for preventing an occurrence of a wrinkle, and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position located at a position separate from an end of the sheet bundle. |
| US07850154B2 |
Assembly for clamping a workpiece
An assembly for clamping a workpiece, the workpiece comprised of two pieces. The assembly includes a clamp having an L-shaped member. The L-shaped member has a leg and foot portion. The clamp also has an upright extending generally perpendicularly to the leg and the upright has a threaded portion. The clamp includes a threaded adjuster having a head, a threaded body, and a base. The base includes outer walls defining a polygon shape and handle. The handle has removed ends thereon. The handle has outer walls and inner walls, the inner walls are dimensioned to removably, slideably and snugly engage the outer walls of the base. The handle has more than one set of walls and so can be positioned to apply different torque to the base. A drill, a drill bit, and a socket may also be included in the assembly, to engage the handle and drive the threaded adjuster. |
| US07850153B2 |
Pad spring device
The invention relates to an upholstery spring device (1), especially for upholstery cushions, mattresses, or similar, comprising a plurality of upholstery spring elements (2). The aim of the invention is to create an upholstery spring device (1) which can be used with a great degree of flexibility while being simple and inexpensive to produce. Said aim is achieved by an upholstery spring device (1) comprising a plurality of adjacent upholstery spring elements (2) which are joined to each other by means of a flexible connecting device (5, 120) so as to form a joint unit. |
| US07850150B2 |
Support grid apparatus and method
A support grid having a longitudinal axis, having a frame. The frame includes a series of columns that extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and a series of girts that intersect the series of columns to form a plurality of windows. The support grid also includes a first retainer integral with the frame. The first retainer extends from the frame into at least one of the plurality of windows at a first axial location. The support grid also includes slider portions that extend in opposed relation for the frame into the at least one plurality of windows. |
| US07850149B2 |
Pressure blast pre-filming spray nozzle
Disclosed is a nozzle assembly which includes a nozzle housing and a valve element axially slidable therewithin between a closed and an open position. The nozzle housing has a housing inlet and a housing outlet fluidly interconnected by a plurality of housing passages. The valve element has a truncated conical valve body including a conical outer surface and a concave inner surface with a plurality of valve apertures extending through the valve body. The outer surface is sealingly engagable to a valve seat formed in the housing outlet such that the flow of cooling water through the valve apertures is prevented when the valve element is in the closed position. The outer surface and valve seat collectively define an annular gap when the valve element is axially displaced to the open position such that a portion of the cooling water flowing through the annular gap may pass through the valve apertures. |
| US07850140B2 |
Clamping member
An improved clamping mechanism for clamping a dock support frame having a hollow recess and a U-shaped cut-out to a vertical support member has an anvil clamping member comprised of extruded aluminum. The anvil clamping member has an arc-shaped clamping surface and is fixedly disposed inside the hollow recess in the support frame. A hammer clamping member comprised of extruded aluminum and having a corresponding arc-shaped clamping surface is adjustably attached to the anvil clamping member such that the vertical support member can pass between the hammer clamping member and the anvil clamping member and through the U-shaped cut-out of the support frame. By this arrangement, the arc-shaped clamping surface of the anvil member and the corresponding arc-shaped clamping surface of the hammer clamping member together clamp together to make a friction connection with the vertical support member so the vertical support member can hold the dock support member above a waterline allowing the dock support member to support a dock structure member above the waterline an anvil clamping member comprised of extruded aluminum and having an arc-shaped clamping surface. |
| US07850137B2 |
Latch system for an adjustable vehicle seat
A latch system for a vehicle seat track includes locks. The locks are moveable between locked and unlocked positions. The locks lock with a web attached with the seat track. |
| US07850132B2 |
Supporting mechanism for electronic device
A supporting mechanism for an electronic device includes a connecting bracket configured to connect to the electronic device and a supporting bracket connected to the connecting bracket and configured to support the electronic device. The supporting bracket includes a supporting portion having a receiving space, a locating member received in the receiving space, a supporting plate, and a resilient sliding member engaged in the locating member. A sliding slot is defined in the locating member. The resilient sliding member is secured on the supporting plate through the sliding slot. The resilient sliding member is compressed to disengage from the locating member, and slide in the sliding slot with the supporting plate relative to the locating member and the supporting portion along an extending direction of the supporting portion to change a length of the supporting bracket. |
| US07850131B2 |
Telescopic lifting column with a safety device
The invention is a telescopic column (1) comprising: two or more tubular members (2; 3) telescopically engaging one inside the other; a drive unit (6) contained inside the tubular members (2; 3); a cover (4) attached to the end of the inner tubular member (3); a supporting plate (8) attached to the outside of the cover (4); a tubular rod (5) associated with the drive unit (6), installed inside the tubular members (2; 3) with its end (5a) associated with the cover (4); means (7) for controlling the extension and withdrawal of the tubular members (2; 3). During the withdrawal of the tubular rod (5) inside the tubular members (2; 3), a safety device (9) operatively connected to the control means (7) stops the drive unit (6) if a counteracting element (C) obstructs the lowering of the supporting plate (8). |
| US07850130B2 |
Support arm with reversed elastic and inelastic ranges
A support arm which utilizes a material with material properties such that the support arm may be easily placed into a position within a range, yet at the edges of this range have elastic properties. |
| US07850127B2 |
Cab signal receiver demodulator employing redundant, diverse field programmable gate arrays
A processor includes a first field programmable gate array (FPGA) having a first central processing unit (CPU) core programmed to perform a first function, and first programmable hardware logics (PHLs) programmed to perform a second function. A second FPGA includes a second CPU core programmed to perform a third function, and second PHLs programmed to perform a fourth function. A communication interface is between the first and second CPU cores. The first and second FPGAs are diverse. A portion of the first function communicates first information from the first CPU core to the second CPU core through the interface. A portion of the third function communicates second information from the second CPU core to the first CPU core through the interface, and, otherwise, the first function is substantially the same as the third function. The second function is substantially the same as the fourth function. |
| US07850123B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a cable retractor
Methods and apparatus for a cable retractor to facilitate removal of a cable connector from an item after release from a vehicle. In one embodiment, the cable retractor pulls in the connector after the item is released. |
| US07850121B2 |
Enhanced ruddevator for improved air refueling boom flight control
In-flight fuel transfer from one aircraft to another aircraft or aerial refueling can extend the flight duration of a receiver aircraft and thereby increase its operational range and/or effectiveness by enabling it to fly farther or for longer duration without returning to the ground. Improved aerial fuel transfer is disclosed in connection with a method and system for in flight transfers of fuel from one aircraft to another. Enhanced fuel transfer operations including boom control are disclosed. |
| US07850112B2 |
Belt retractor
A belt retractor (10) includes a frame (12), a belt spool (14) being rotatably supported in the frame (12), a locking disc (16) being rotatably mounted on the belt spool (14), a load limiting element (18) being effective between the belt spool (14) and the locking disc (16), a holding element (20) being able to hold the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a drive element (22) for the belt spool (14), the drive element (22) being rotatable to a limited extent relative to the belt spool (14) between an initial position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) holds the locking disc (16) relative to the belt spool (14) so as to be locked against relative rotation, and a release position in which the drive element (22) ensures that the holding element (20) frees the locking disc (16). |
| US07850108B2 |
Method and device for clamping of crushing shell
A gyratory crusher includes an outer shell, which should be fastened in a frame included in the crusher, and an inner shell, which is intended to be fastened on a crushing head and to define together with the outer shell a crushing gap for receipt of material to be crushed. Upon fastening of the outer shell a first abutment surface on the outer periphery of the outer shell is brought in a first step to abutment against a first contact surface on the frame. In a second step a spacer member is pressed in for clamping of the outer shell between a second surface on the outer periphery of the outer shell and the frame. A good abutment is provided both at the first abutment. Surface of the outer shell and at the second abutment surface thereof. |
| US07850107B2 |
Rotor for tree mulching machine
A rotor assembly for a tree cutting attachment for a skid loader. The rotor assembly is made up of a central driven shaft journaled for rotation in the frame of the tree cutting attachment. Circular endplates are disposed proximately on the opposed ends of the central driven shaft. Two diametrically opposed rows of regularly spaced-apart semicircular support plates extend between the circular end plates. The semicircular support plates are held in parallel-spaced relationship by a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced bars extending between the endplates. Swinging hammers are mounted for free pivotal movement in an alternating pattern between the support plates. Each hammer includes a main shaft extending between the support plates, a body member pivotally connected to the main shaft at the pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the central driven shaft and a generally flat tooth member extending radially outward from the body member. |
| US07850105B2 |
Jet mill
A jet mill in which crushed material introduced into a crushing chamber 12 is comminuted by gas being sprayed from a plurality of gas-jet nozzles 20, 21, wherein high-efficiency pulverization is performed by optimizing various pulverization conditions according to the type of crushed material or other such properties. The direction in which gas is sprayed into the crushing chamber 12 is variably adjustable; the spraying direction of each nozzle is displaced simultaneously by the [*18] electromotive actuator; swirl flow is produced in three dimensions, including the flow of a directional component that is perpendicular to the horizontal swirl flow; and a fine-powder discharge port of a first pulverization chamber and a fine powder introduction port of a second pulverization chamber are communicatingly connected by a ventilation duct. |
| US07850104B2 |
Inferential pulverized fuel flow sensing and manipulation within a coal mill
The subject matter herein relates to coal mills and, more particularly, inferential pulverized fuel flow sensing and manipulation within a coal mill. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and software to manipulate a primary air flow rate and a coal feed rate into a coal mill to produce a target pulverized fuel flow. Some embodiments include sensing a differential pressure between two or more locations within a coal mill to estimate a recirculated load of coal at one or more stages within the coal mill. |
| US07850102B2 |
Amorphous submicron particles
A process for milling amorphous solids using a milling apparatus can result in particles having a median particle diameter d50 of <1.5 μm. The process includes: operating a mill in a milling phase with an operating medium selected from the group consisting of gas, vapor, steam, a gas containing steam and mixtures thereof, and heating a milling chamber in a heat-up phase before the actual operation with the operating medium in such a way that a temperature in the milling chamber, the mill exit or both, is higher than a dew point of the operating medium. |
| US07850101B2 |
Line marking apparatus
An apparatus for applying paint and reflective glass beads to a surface that comprises an airless paint sprayer system, a bead dispensing system, a chassis, a power source, and a user-activated control switch. The airless paint sprayer system comprises a paint reservoir, one or more airless spray heads for spraying paint onto the surface, and a pump for pumping paint from the reservoir to the spray heads. The bead dispensing system comprises a bead reservoir, one or more bead dispensing nozzles for dispensing beads onto the paint sprayed onto the surface by the spray heads, an air reservoir for holding pressurized air, one or more pneumatic cylinders configured for opening and closing a corresponding dispensing nozzle, and one or more flow control regulators for controlling air into and out of a corresponding pneumatic cylinder. |
| US07850096B2 |
Injection head for the combustion chamber of a rocket propulsion unit
An injection head for the combustion chamber of a rock propulsion unit has a base area with a plurality of injection elements distributed on it. Propellant constituents can be injected from each outlet of the injection elements into the combustion chamber, generating hot gases by a mixing and combustion of the propellant constituents in the combustion chamber, which hot gas can be accelerated to a high velocity for generating thrust. The base area of the injection head had a contoured shape which prevents or reduces the formation of zones of a reduced pressure, particularly between directly adjacent outlets. |
| US07850093B2 |
System, method and apparatus for agitated and pressurized reservoir mounted directly to automated spray dispenser
An agitated and pressurized paint pot that is mounted directly to a paint spray dispenser uses a small volume pressurized pot with constant agitation. This design prevents the settling of material and ensures that the materials are applied through the system at a consistent feed rate to meet the specific needs of applying radar absorbing materials. |
| US07850087B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes at least one first contact pin on a first substrate and at least one second contact pin on a second substrate. The at least one first and second contact pins may be included in first and second contact pin arrays. The first and second contact pins of the first and second contact pin arrays may be aligned. |
| US07850086B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and noncontact information system including it
The present invention extends the reading range between a contactless type information medium (semiconductor integrated circuit) and a reader/writer, which exchanges data in contactless communications with the contactless type information medium, and enables a stable data exchange even if the power supply voltage is lowered when data is returned from the contactless type information medium to the reader/writer. Specifically, when data is returned from the contactless type information medium, the data to be returned is held in the logic circuit section 200 capable of operating at a lower voltage than the non-volatile memory circuit section 300, and the reset detection lower limit voltage to be used by the reset generating circuit 160 during the data-returning period is set to be lower than that during periods other than the data-returning period. |
| US07850085B2 |
Barcode scanner with mirror antenna
An barcode scanner with a pattern mirror that doubles as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader antenna to provide better overlap between barcode label and RFID tag reader reading zones. The barcode scanner includes at least one of pattern mirror with a conductive coating, and a radio frequency identification tag reader coupled to the conductive coating of the one pattern mirror. The conductive coating of the one pattern mirror functions as an antenna for the radio frequency identification tag reader. |
| US07850082B1 |
Extended universal serial bus (USB) card reader
An extended universal serial bus (USB) card reader device is described herein. In one embodiment, a card reader includes a first extended USB (EUSB) connector to be coupled to an external host system, multiple flash memory card sockets capable of receiving multiple flash memory cards inserted therein, multiple flash controllers coupled to the plurality of flash memory card sockets respectively. The card reader further includes a memory for storing executable code, a processor coupled to each of the flash controllers for executing the executable code to control each of the plurality of flash controllers in order to access the corresponding flash memory card inserted therein. The card reader further includes a second EUSB connector to be coupled to an external EUSB device using the extended USB protocols, which is one of an EUSB slave device and an EUSB hub device. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US07850077B2 |
Apparatus and method for secure identification of security features in value items
A document authentication apparatus and system is provided comprising a scanner, PC, a central database and a network. The scanner emits a stimulus which illuminates security features such as ink, fibers or planchettes in or on a substrate of a value item such as a check, bank note, credit card or identification document. A sensor(s) detect the illuminated security features and values are generated relating to the color, coordinates on and depth of the security features in the substrate. The values are digitized and recorded for comparison when a value item is presented for authentication. Matching digitized values indicates a match of the substrates thereby identifying the value item. |
| US07850073B1 |
Cash dispensing automated banking machine
An automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records such as user cards includes a user interface having electronic ink displays. Displays can be used as identification labels. A display identifying the function of a transaction function device can be located adjacent to that device. Displays can also be used to provide instructions to machine users. A display on how to insert a card into the ATM can be located adjacent the card input slot. A system that operates to carry out financial transfers operates in response to data read from data bearing records. A cell phone having a camera or other reader operates to cause item identifying data and account data to be transmitted to a transaction system to enable item purchase. |
| US07850072B2 |
Billing process apparatus
In a bill processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, a lock device 400 is mechanically operated in connection with the movement of a loading tray 60 that is moved by a movement device 70. Accordingly, it is possible to drive the lock device 400 as well as the movement device 70 using only a driving source of the movement device 70. Therefore, it is possible to drive the lock device 400 with low power consumption. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a driving source for driving the lock device 400, the number of parts is decreased and the entire apparatus is thus made to be small. |
| US07850064B2 |
Food-transport container with monoplanar multipart end panels
A container is adapted to transport food or other articles. The container includes a floor, two side walls, a front end closure coupled to the side walls, and a rear end closure coupled to the side walls. |
| US07850059B2 |
Dissimilar metal joining method
According to a metal joining method of the present invention, first and second dissimilar metals are joined together by interposing between the first and second metal materials a third metal material dissimilar to the first and second metal materials and causing eutectic melting at least either at an interface between the first and third metal materials or at an interface between the second and third metal materials. |
| US07850055B2 |
Assembly having gasket resistant to side loading by pressurized fluid
An assembly that includes first and second housing members, a gasket and a plurality of bolts that exert a clamp force to clamp the gasket between the first and second housing members. The gasket includes a plurality of tab members that engage the interior of one or both of the first and second housing members. The gasket tabs can resist a force exerted by a pressurized fluid within one or both of the first and second housing members. A method for assembling and operating an article is also provided. |
| US07850054B2 |
Stapler with a mechanism for cutting staple legs
A cut chip of a staple leg cut by a cutter unit is discharged to a lower face side of the cutter unit by way of an opening formed at the cutter unit. The cut chip is guided in directions of both sides of the stapler by a pair of chutes arranged on a lower face side of the cutter unit to be continuous to the opening portion. The cut chip guided by the chutes is guided to a containing portion formed at a rear lower portion of the stapler by way of guide case portions formed at both side faces of the stapler. |
| US07850052B2 |
Waistpack having quick access/deposit hydration bottle
Apparatus transportable by an exercising person, for maintaining a liquid drink within one-handed reach while the person is exercising, includes a container for the liquid drink, an adjustable belt for fitting about the person's waist, a holster connected to the belt, for releasably retaining therewithin the container, and a cradling web extending between the holster and the belt, connected thereto at respective web extremities but being arcuately spaced therefrom along a middle portion of the web. |
| US07850046B2 |
Nebuliser micro-pump
A nebuliser micro-pump (1) provided with an element (2) for covering and triggering its dispensing push-button (3), has an elongated body (5) with central axis (x), whereon is mounted a dispensing push-button complete with a tube (4) for orienting the spray, rotatable around the axis. The element has a lower fixed half-shell (12) integral with the elongated body and a lower half-shell (17) movable around a hinging axis (y) that is perpendicular to the central axis and offset relative thereto at the opposite side from the tube. The upper half-shell has a protuberance (20) acting on the dispensing push-button in the rotation of the movable half-shell relative to the fixed half-shell according to the arrow (W). The half-shells (12, 17) have respective through openings (15, 23) wherefrom simultaneously projects the tube in two angular positions, one non operative and the other one operative for the micro-pump. |
| US07850042B2 |
Air barrier
A vending machine apparatus comprising a housing defining an internal cavity and an article storage compartment positioned inside the cavity. An air barrier arrangement having a plurality of moveable barriers separates the article storage compartment from an article extracting device. |
| US07850036B2 |
Protective cover for a paintball gun gas canister
A protective cover for protecting a paintball gun gas canister is disclosed. The protective cover is preferably formed from an elastic rubber material such as neoprene. The protective cover has the ability to adapt its shape when placed over a canister, thus enabling use with canisters of various sizes. |
| US07850033B2 |
Synthetic two-piece induction seal products
A two-piece induction seal for use in creating clean, safe, and secure inner seals on containers having a monolayer plastic formed from synthetic fibers with stable pore dimensions for fluid permeability while retaining dimensional stability for compression. An inductive innerseal membrane is provided having a first side and a second side thereof, with an adhesive layer at the first side of the membrane. The second side of the membrane is detachably bound to the synthetic material with a wax layer. The synthetic material is further suitable for absorbing substantially all of said wax layer when said wax layer is in liquid form. |
| US07850032B2 |
Sealed window for dry box
A window having multiple integral seals, the window being formed of a substantially optically transparent flexible membrane window panel; a substantially continuous peripheral window seal mechanism surrounding the window panel with the window seal mechanism being a continuous peripheral slot having an opening facing away from the window panel and being structured to receive thereinto a substantially rigid inner peripheral window aperture frame; a contoured skirt completely surrounding the window sealing mechanism; a substantially continuous peripheral door seal mechanism formed adjacent to an edge of the contoured skirt; and wherein the window panel, the window seal mechanism, the contoured skirt and the door seal mechanism are mutually integrally formed of a substantially water-resistant and resiliently pliable material. |
| US07850027B2 |
Quick mixing baby formula cylinder
Baby-bottle attachment for holding dry formula separated from water in bottle has a bottom portion with internal bottle-mating threads that mate to a threaded top on a baby bottle. The attachment includes a partition having an aperture and a seal on its upper surface. The bottom portion has channels partially imbedded therein. An upper chamber has external threads that mate with a nipple. The upper chamber has a partially open bottom with an off-center aperture. A seal pad is adhered underneath the at least partially open bottom of the upper chamber. A top member has a depressible release button that extends from the end, and is attached to outer surface near the bottom of the upper chamber. |
| US07850026B2 |
Crane assembly
A lifting assembly comprising parallel guides (18, 20), a carriage (26, 28) associated with each parallel guide (18, 20) and movable along the length of the parallel guides, a displacement arm (40) pivotally connected to each carriage (26, 28) and pivotally supporting a bridge (14), preferably a trolley (13) located on the bridge (14) including attachment means (12) for supporting a lifting device. |
| US07850025B2 |
Method for controlling the orientation of a crane load
A method for controlling the orientation of a crane load is described, wherein a manipulator 416 for manipulating the load is connected by a rotator unit to a hook suspended on ropes 410 and the rotational angle φL of the load is controlled by a control unit using the moment of inertia JL of the load as most important parameter. The control unit is an adaptive control unit wherein the moment of inertia JL of the load is identified during operation of the crane based on data obtained by measuring the state of the system. |
| US07850021B2 |
Iron pipe furniture assembly structure
An iron pipe furniture assembly structure employs a pipe connector as a connection construction component for connecting a supporting shaft and a pipe element. The assembly utilizes an elongated round-shaped fastening shaft of the pipe connector for connecting the pipe element. The pipe element is connected to the fastening shaft via an insertion cork of the pipe element. Embedded ribs on the insertion cork engage embedded grooves on the fastening shaft to secure the pipe element to the pipe connector. A tool engages a groove in the pipe element to rotate the pipe element to cause the embedded ribs to engage and disengage with the embedded grooves. |
| US07850012B2 |
Silane-treated silica filter media
The present invention provides methods for separating one or more components of interest from a sample containing particulates and soluble materials. The method comprises the steps of: (a) filtering a sample through silica filter media whose surface silanol groups have reacted with one or more silanes, and (b) simultaneously capturing particulates and binding a soluble component to the silica filter media. The bound soluble component of interest is subsequently eluted from the silica filter media. In one embodiment of the invention, unwanted soluble materials are captured by the treated silica filter media and desired component of interest is recovered from the flow-through. In another embodiment, different components of interest are recovered from both the eluate and the flow-through. Preferred treated silica filter media are silane-treated rice hull ash or diatomaceous earth with functional quarternary ammonium group or functional sulphonate group. The present invention also provides silane-treated silica filter media. |
| US07850008B2 |
Esters of 5-aminolevulinic acid as photosensitizing agents in photochemotherapy
The present invention relates to compounds being esters of 5-aminolevulinic acids or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, including compounds of formula (I) R22N—CH2COCH2-CH2CO—OR1 (wherein R1 may represent alkyl optionally substituted by hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, amino, aryl, oxo or fluoro groups and optionally interrupted by oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur or phosphorus atoms; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a group R1, and both R2 groups may be the identical or different), and their use in diagnosis and photochemotherapy of disorders or abnormalities of external or internal surfaces of the body, and products and kits for performing the invention. |
| US07850000B2 |
Guide assembly for conveyor of articles with resistance to bending
A guide for conveying articles includes a first and a second element for guiding and/or routing the articles along a transport path, the elements both having substantially planar portions, a mounting assembly for mounting the first and the second elements to a support bar, the support bar being connected to a frame of a conveyor, wherein the mounting assembly keeps the first and the second elements together, and wherein the planar portions of the first and the second elements are adapted to clamp the support bar there between. |
| US07849997B2 |
Conveyor for and method of conveying heated material
A conveyor for conveying hot ash may include a frame, a trough supported on the frame to receive a quantity of hot ash, the trough including a trough wall with a plurality of semi-circular steel plates that define a surface of the trough wall and a plenum disposed beneath the semi-circular steel plates, and a vibratory generator operatively coupled to the trough. The conveyor may also include a first plurality of apertures in the trough wall in fluid communication with the plenum, and a plurality of baffles spaced above the first plurality of apertures in the trough wall, the baffles defining a second plurality of apertures through which air exiting the first plurality of apertures may pass in a direction along the surface of the trough wall. |
| US07849993B2 |
Devices and method for the production of sheet material
The invention relates to sheet material having an electrical circuit and to apparatuses and methods for processing said sheet material.The present invention describes sheet material having an electrical circuit as well as apparatuses and methods for processing same, which reduce the effort required for processing the sheet material and/or facilitate processing and/or improve it and/or make it more reliable. For this purpose, the sheet material has at least one electrical circuit, with energy and/or data being transmitted from the apparatus to the electrical circuit and/or from the electrical circuit to the apparatus and at least part of the transmitted data being used for processing. |
| US07849987B2 |
Centrifugal blade brake clutch apparatuses and methods
Centrifugal blade brake clutch apparatuses and methods are provided. In one aspect, a centrifugal blade brake clutch includes a rotatable clutch housing having an axis extending therethrough. The clutch housing can have a base and side walls. The clutch housing also can have a brake surface thereon and an integral clutch surface disposed on a side wall surface of the side walls. At least one centrifugally extendable clutch shoe device can be disposed within the clutch housing and configured for engaging the integral clutch surface of the clutch housing. A brake assembly can be positioned proximal to the clutch housing with the axis of the clutch housing passing therethrough. The brake assembly can include a brake member that has a braking surface and is configured to move in a direction parallel with the axis of the clutch housing to axially engage the brake surface of the clutch housing with the braking surface of the brake member. |
| US07849983B2 |
Controllable vehicle suspension system with a controllable magnetorheological fluid strut
The controllable suspension system includes a strut with a magnetorheological fluid damper. The magnetorheological fluid damper includes a longitudinal damper tubular housing having a longitudinally extending axis and an inner wall for containing magnetorheological fluid. The damper includes a piston head movable within the damper tubular housing along a longitudinal length the housing, with the damper piston head providing a first upper variable volume magnetorheological fluid chamber and a second lower variable volume magnetorheological fluid chamber, with a fluid flow gap between the upper and lower fluid chambers with a piston head fluid flow interface length HL, the damper piston having a longitudinal piston rod for supporting the piston head within the housing, with the piston supported within the housing with a piston rod bearing assembly disposed between the housing and the rod, with the piston rod bearing assembly having a piston rod bearing seal interface length BL, wherein contact between the piston head and the damper tubular housing inner wall is inhibited. |
| US07849980B2 |
Disk braking device and motorcycle provided with the disk braking device
A disk braking device for a motorcycle ensures radiation quality of a disk plate and reduces friction member abrasion of a friction member. A plurality of through-holes are formed in the disk plate and a plurality of notches are formed at peripheral edges of the disk plate. The through-holes are arranged so that one of the through-holes or less is disposed on a radial line extending from the center of the disk plate. |
| US07849976B2 |
Electro-mechanical brake
An electro-mechanical brake achieves a safe traveling and braking with a high accuracy device for detecting a piston position at which a brake pad and a disk rotor contact each other. A pad contact position detecting device in which an electric circuit is not formed to prevent an electric current from flowing therethrough when a pad pressing force is not generated and the electric circuit is formed to enable the electric current to flow therethrough when the pad pressing force is generated is applied to the electro-mechanical brake. A pad contact position can thereby be detected accurately. |
| US07849973B2 |
Refuge support system of double deck elevator
An evacuation support system for a double-deck elevator allows people stranded in a building to evacuate to an evacuation floor upon an occurrence of a fire in the building including a plurality of floors. The evacuation support system includes an evacuation support apparatus including a rescue floor setting mechanism, and a double-deck elevator including a connected car including an upper car and a lower car which are vertically connected to each other. The rescue floor setting mechanism determines two adjacent floors among respective floors satisfying a predetermined condition as candidate rescue floors and sets, based on a floor on which the fire occurs, at least any one of the candidate rescue floors as the rescue floor. The double deck elevator performs an evacuation operation for moving the connected car in a reciprocating manner between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor based on a command from the evacuation support apparatus. |
| US07849968B1 |
Oil filter draining funnel and associated method
An oil filter draining apparatus includes a bifurcated funnel with a first region defining an open top end and a second region defining a tapered spout. The apparatus further includes a plurality of channels formed within the support wall and extending downwardly to the spout and a rigid puncturing implement removably attached to the funnel and centrally aligned within the top end. Such a puncturing implement is anchored to the support wall and extends vertically up from the support wall and terminates at an axially opposed position from the spout. The puncturing implement is penetrable into one end of the existing filters and thereby causes oil to drain out therefrom while the existing filter is attached to the existing engine such that residual oil trapped within the existing filter is substantially drained before the existing filter is removed from the engine. |
| US07849965B2 |
Method and apparatus for reaching from outside an upper level of a tall structure
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system having a pulley attached to a building. A closed loop of cable is installed around the pulley. The loop is of sufficient length so as to reach, when deployed outside of the building, below the pulley to where emergency personnel gather in an area next to a base of the building (when responding to a disaster situation in the building). A winch around which the loop is to be operatively installed is located in the area next to the base. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07849964B2 |
Climbing tree stand and game cart
The present disclosure relates to tree stands which grasp upright columnar members for example, trees, poles, which are arranged to facilitate climbing and adjusting the height of the tree stand to a desired level and angle. When assembled as a cart, the invention consists of an upper climbing member or frame, lower climbing member or frame, a mechanical-interlocking system, an axle, wheels and a wheel attachment device. The two-climbing-member tree stand may be of a manually adjusting type or of a self-adjusting type which permit adjustment of the spacing of the grasping members so as to effect adjustment of the angle of each tree climber relative to the upright columnar member. |
| US07849962B2 |
Portable railcar step and railcar therewith
A rail vehicle step mounts to the sill step of a rail vehicle. The rail vehicle step comprises a support sized to support a rail worker. A coupling is supported in relation to an end of the support. The coupling is sized and configured to hold the support in fixed relation to the sill step. The support is sized to extend outward beyond the rail vehicle and support a rail worker. |
| US07849960B2 |
Silencer
The invention relates to a silencer for an airborne sound conducting pipe system, including a housing enclosing an interior space, an inlet pipe having an outlet within the interior space, a bypass pipe branching off from inlet pipe within the housing and having an outlet, a control element actuated by the gas flow and arranged downstream of bypass pipe on or in the inlet pipe, and at least one outlet pipe having an inlet within the interior space. Furthermore, the interior space is acoustically unseparated in such a manner that the volume of the interior space loaded with the airborne sound is equal with opened and with closed control element. |
| US07849957B2 |
Control apparatus for electric power steering
An electric power steering apparatus including a steering angle detection part that detects a steering angle of a steering wheel and outputs a steering angle signal, a steering control unit that controls a motor to give an assist torque to the steering wheel, an abnormality detection part that determines an abnormality of the steering angle detection part, and a motor angle detection part that detects a rotational angle of the motor. The steering control unit calculates a steering angle information based on at least the steering angle signal, and includes a signal storage part that stores the steering angle information. The steering control unit runs the motor continuously when the abnormality detection part detects the abnormality of the steering angle detection part until a vehicle stops or until the abnormality detection part determines that the steering angle signal returns to a normal state from the occurrence of the abnormality. |
| US07849956B2 |
On-demand electro-hydraulic steering system
A method of steering a vehicle with a hydraulic steering system is disclosed. A first control signal is sent to a pilot valve. The pilot valve is operated to direct pilot fluid to a main valve in response to the first control signal. The main valve is opened to a first position in response to the pilot fluid. Fluid is directed through the main valve to a first actuator. Resistance to actuation of the first actuator is detected. The detected resistance is compared to a threshold resistance. A second control signal is sent to the pilot valve when the detected resistance exceeds the threshold resistance. The pilot valve is operated to direct pilot fluid to the main valve in response to the second control signal. The main valve is opened to a second position in response to the pilot fluid. Fluid is directed through the main valve to the first actuator and a second actuator. |
| US07849953B2 |
Control system and method for operating a hydrostatically driven vehicle
A hydrostatically powered vehicle includes an engine operatively associated with a pump that supplies fluid to a propel motor. Based on various sensed and engine operating conditions, a controller determines a desired operating condition for the engine while maintaining the travel speed of the vehicle constant. |
| US07849952B2 |
Tractor with two engine settings
A tractor has hydraulically driven wheels at a cab end and castor wheels at an engine end. It can be driven cab forward in a working mode with a header on the forward end. It is rotated to engine forward in the transport position for more stable higher speed travel. The driver's console is rotated in the cab with the steering and speed control elements moved with the seat for the driver to face forwards and its position is detected by switches. In the engine forward position for transportation, the control system detects the seat position and operates the controls for higher speed drive and to prevent operation of the header. The engine has a series of ratings which can be selected depending upon whether the header motor is engaged so that a highest engine speed is used only when the header is disengaged and the lower speed is used for higher fuel efficiency when the header is operating. |
| US07849951B2 |
Materials handling vehicle having at least one controller coupled to a front wall of a frame
A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including structure for defining an operator compartment and structure for defining a battery compartment; first and second front wheels coupled to the frame; a rear steer wheel assembly coupled to the frame; an electric motor; and a controller coupled to a front wall of the frame to control the operation of the electric motor. |
| US07849947B2 |
Motorcycle frame structure
A motorcycle frame structure in which a pair of left and right main frame sections extend rearward and downward from a head pipe and are integrally provided with engine hangers each hanging downward from the intermediate portion of the main frame, such that weight reduction of the main frame is enabled while preventing strength reduction. A front edge of an engine hanger is formed to be inclined forwardly upwardly toward the head pipe. A main frame is provided with a through-hole above the engine hanger. A reinforcing portion extending generally parallel to the front edge of the engine hanger is provided in the main frame to longitudinally transverse the through-hole. |
| US07849942B2 |
Deep water amphibious vehicle
A vehicle is adapted to operate on land and in water having a depth of over four feet. The vehicle includes a chassis, one or more pontoons supported by the chassis, and a track system disposed on each of the one or more pontoons and adapted to provide propulsion to the vehicle. Each pontoon has a height of at least four feet, a width and a length adjacent to the land, wherein a ratio of the height to the width exceeds 1.4, and a volume configured to provide buoyancy and support the chassis weight. |
| US07849940B2 |
Drill bit having the ability to drill vertically and laterally
A drill bit having a plurality of cutters on its lower surface, each of which can having a plurality of PDC cutter elements disposed thereon. The cutting surface on each of the cutters is mounted in in an orientation that allows drilling of oversize boreholes which enables the drill bit to be turned more easily to facilitate the boreholes being drilled on a smaller radius. The placement of the cutters on each of the blades enables the drill bit to drill both vertically and laterally. |
| US07849938B1 |
Ground augering assembly
A ground augering assembly comprising a dirt dispersing plate having a forward dirt screeding face and having a lower augering depth stopping face; a “C” clamp for alternatively mounting on to and releasing from an auger blade; and a rotation facilitating helically threaded lug, eyed plate, and helically threaded nut combination interconnecting the dirt dispersing plate and the “C” clamp. |
| US07849936B2 |
Steerable rotary directional drilling tool for drilling boreholes
A directional drilling apparatus for use in the directional drilling of bore holes is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of cutting elements movably mounted with respect to a rotatable body member, wherein the cutting elements are movable between first, radially retracted, positions and radially extended, positions for cutting. A rotary valve is provided for synchronising the movement of the cutting elements between their respective extended and retracted positions in accordance with the rotational position of the body member in the bore hole being drilled. Control of the directional drilling system is affected by synchronised movement of the cutting elements from an inner to an outer radial position in accordance with the angular position of the drill bit. A near bit stabiliser contacts with the portion of the well bore which was not removed with the dynamic cutters and this contact exerts a force onto the drill bit. |
| US07849934B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting drill bit performance data
Drill bits and methods for sampling sensor data associated with the state of a drill bit are disclosed. A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprises a bit body and a shank. The shank further includes a central bore formed through an inside diameter of the shank and configured for receiving a data analysis module. The data analysis module comprises a plurality of sensors, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured for executing computer instructions to collect the sensor data by sampling the plurality of sensors, analyze the sensor data to develop a severity index, compare the sensor data to at least one adaptive threshold, and modify a data sampling mode responsive to the comparison. A method comprises collecting sensor data by sampling a plurality of physical parameters associated with a drill bit state while in various sampling modes and transitioning between those sampling modes. |
| US07849930B2 |
Swellable packer construction
A swellable packer construction. A method of forming an annular barrier in a well includes the steps of: embedding a reinforcement material within a swellable seal material to form a seal assembly; and swelling the seal material by contacting the seal material with well fluid. A method of constructing a well packer includes the steps of: embedding a reinforcement material in a swellable seal material to form a seal assembly; and then installing the seal assembly on a base pipe. A swellable packer construction comprises a seal assembly including a swellable seal material having a reinforcement material embedded therein, the seal material being cylindrical shaped and disposed both external and internal relative to the reinforcement material, and the seal material being swellable in response to contact with well fluid. |
| US07849928B2 |
System and method for supporting power cable in downhole tubing
ESP power cable is inserted into a length of tubing disposed in a wellbore. The device comprises a support attachable to the cable that is in frictional sliding contact with the tubing inner surface. The frictional sliding contact between the support and the tubing reduces axial stress in the cable. Support devices are added at intervals on the cable length, thereby distributing the cable axial stress along the cable. |
| US07849924B2 |
Method and apparatus for moving a high pressure fluid aperture in a well bore servicing tool
A well bore servicing apparatus comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and a through bore, and a movable member disposed in said housing, said movable member having a through bore and a fluid aperture therein, wherein said movable member is movable between a first stop position and a second stop position relative to said housing and along said axis, wherein said fluid aperture is in fluid communication with said housing through bore and said movable member through bore to provide a fluid stream to the well bore in said first and second axially spaced stop positions. A well bore servicing apparatus comprising a work string, a housing coupled to said work string, and a member slidably coupled to said housing, said slidable member having a fluid jetting nozzle and a fluid path therethrough communicating fluid to said fluid jetting nozzle, wherein said slidable member is operable to place said fluid jetting nozzle in a plurality of axially spaced stop positions relative to said housing and said work string. |
| US07849920B2 |
System and method for optimizing production in a well
For optimizing well production, intervals are selected along a deviated wellbore, and a well test and treatment string is deployed in the wellbore. Each interval is then isolated to enable performance of desired testing. The test data obtained is evaluated to determine an appropriate remedial action which is then implemented via the well test and treatment string. The system and method enable the testing and treatment of a plurality of intervals along a horizontal well during the same run downhole. |
| US07849919B2 |
Methods and systems for generating and using plasma conduits
Systems are disclosed for providing a plasma conduit maintaining ionized particles within a perforation hole in a body, and a power source configured to provide electrical power through the plasma conduit. Methods are disclosed for detonating a plasma generator, the detonation forming a plasma conduit within a body perforation hole, and connecting a power source to the plasma conduit, the power source configured to provide electrical power through the plasma conduit. Systems are also disclosed for generating a plasma conduit. The system includes two or more explosive devices containing ionizable material, and the explosive devices are adapted to, upon detonation, form a plasma conduit in a body by generating intersecting perforation holes including plasma for conducting electrical energy from a power source. |
| US07849915B2 |
Heat exchange tube having multiple fluid paths
A heat exchange tube having a flat shape includes a plurality of fluid paths having a circular cross section and extending in a longitudinal direction of the tube. Each fluid path is parallel to each other fluid path. The tube is dimensioned such that a distance between two adjacent fluid paths is defined as Wt, and a circumferential thickness between a surface of the tube and an outermost fluid path is defined as Ht. The distance Wt and the circumferential thickness Ht have a relationship as 0.42≦Ht/Wt≦0.98. |
| US07849913B2 |
Rotating heat exchanger and method for sealing the same
The invention relates to a rotating heat exchanger (1) with a rotatably mounted rotor (3), comprising a first flow sector (4), for external (5) and supply air (6) and a second flow sector (7), for exhaust (8) and venting air (9), through which the above runs on rotating and a housing (2), enclosing the rotor (3) around the circumference thereof, whereby to improve the sealing of the rotor (3), the housing (2) around the circumference thereof is filled with housing or sealing air, whereby the pressure of the housing or sealing air is higher than the pressure of the airflows (5, 6; 8, 9) flowing through the rotor (3). |
| US07849912B2 |
Process for electroslag remelting of metals and ingot mould therefor
The energy consumption during electroslag remelting is determined to a considerable extent by the heat losses of a slag bath on the wall of a water-cooled ingot mould. A process and an ingot mould suitable for carrying it out wherein these heat losses may be avoided for the most part. Remelting thus takes place in a short, two-part sliding ingot mould known per se, except in the start-up phase, during normal block construction, the metal surface is always kept in the lower, water-cooled part of the ingot mould- that is below the line of separation between water-cooled part and insulated part of the same—by corresponding control of the relative movement between ingot mould and remelting block, so that the distance between the surface area of the metal surface on the one hand and the planes determined by the line of separation between cooled part and insulated part on the other hand, is at least 5 mm, but 100 mm at the most. |
| US07849911B2 |
Method and device for the continuous casting and direct deformation of a metal strand, especially a cast steel strand
A device for continuous casting and direct deformation of a metal strand, with a strand guide which is curved after the continuous casting mold in the direction of strand travel, a spray device for liquid coolant, a bending-straightening unit, and an automatic control system for a uniform temperature field in the strand cross section. The cast strand is cooled with a liquid coolant only in the longitudinal sections in which the cast strand is liquid in the cross section. The curved strand guide with the spray device for liquid coolant is followed by a dry zone, which operates without liquid coolant and serves as insulation against the elimination of radiant heat and systematically surrounds the cast strand. A reduction line is provided, which includes individual, hydraulically adjustable deforming rolls or several hydraulically adjustable roll segments and precedes, coincides with, or follows the region of the bending-straightening unit. |
| US07849910B2 |
Method and apparatus for casting metal articles
A plurality of molds are disposed on a rotatable base. The base is rotated to move each of the molds in turn through a pouring station to an article removing station and back to the pouring station. A molten nickel chrome super alloy is poured into each of the molds in turn at the pouring station. The molds are cooled by a flow of cooling fluid. The nickel chrome super alloy articles are removed from the molds at the article removal station. The base may be continuously or intermittently rotated relative to the pouring station. Molten metal may be continuously or intermittently poured at the pouring station. |
| US07849902B2 |
Apparatus for making a spunbond web
An apparatus for making a spunbond web has a foraminous deposition belt, a system for depositing fibers on the belt such that some of the fibers engage through the belt, and an output roller over which the belt is spanned for normally advancing an upper stretch of the belt in a transport direction toward the output roller. The output roller has a radially outwardly directed outer surface engaging the belt and formed with a profiling in turn formed by high spots contacting the belt and low spots out of contact with the belt so that fibers engaged through the belt are only pinched between the belt and the output roller at the high spots. The web is pulled downstream off the belt at the output roller. |
| US07849901B2 |
Autoclave for curing retreaded tires
An improved autoclave for curing retread tires includes a chamber with circulating air flow having turbulence generating devices located in a middle length-wise portion of the chamber. The turbulence generating devices include apertures to guide air from a supply duct into the chamber, and/or wedge-shaped elements or fins mounted on the interior wall of the chamber to disrupt the air flow and cause turbulence. |
| US07849897B2 |
Apparatus and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: a collet; an alignment stage; and a sheet feeding mechanism. The collet is configured to suck a surface of a semiconductor chip. The surface is on opposite side of a bonding surface to be bonded to a bonding target. The bonding surface is provided with a film-like adhesive layer. The collet includes a heater for heating the adhesive layer. The alignment stage is configured to support the semiconductor chip and to correct position of the semiconductor chip. The sheet feeding mechanism is configured to feed a release sheet onto the alignment stage. |
| US07849896B2 |
Bondhead alignment tool for a bonding apparatus
An alignment tool for a bonding apparatus comprises a loading surface for receiving a pushing force from a surface of a device which is attached to the bonding apparatus, the loading surface being arranged and constructed to experience a tilting moment upon receiving an unequally distributed pushing force from a misaligned device acting on it. The loading surface transmits the tilting moment experienced by it to a sensing surface which is operatively connected to the loading surface through a columnar body, which has a smaller width than the loading surface and the sensing surface, and which connects the loading surface and the sensing surface. An array of piezoelectric elements communicates with the sensing surface and produces electrical signals in response to the tilting moment such that a computing unit operatively connected to the piezoelectric elements may detect a direction of tilt of the loading surface from the electrical signals produced by the piezoelectric elements. |
| US07849894B2 |
Log rotation and verification system and method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a log rotation verification system having an optimizer configured to determine an optimized cutting solution for the log and configured to identify an optimized rotational position, and a position indicator applicable to a log to indicate a reference rotational position of the log. A log rotator may be configured to rotate the log to reduce the difference between the reference rotational position and the optimized rotational position. And, a primary detector may be configured to detect a current rotational position of the position indicator. |
| US07849890B2 |
Apparatus for and methods of draining an enclosure
An assembly includes a sensor element operable to generate a signal in response to moisture being present at a predetermined level within a sealed housing, and a valve element coupled to the housing and, in response to the signal, operable to enable at least a portion of the moisture to exit the housing. |
| US07849889B2 |
Applicator wheel for filling cavities with metered amounts of particulate material
A machine and process function to fill cavities with metered amounts of particulate material. An applicator wheel includes a series of equally spaced apart peripheral pockets each having a perforated bottom wall, and a vacuum manifold inside the wheel includes a vacuum chamber for supplying vacuum to the perforated bottom walls of the pockets as the wheel rotates. Particulate material from a filling chamber of such material outside the wheel is withdrawn into the pockets by the vacuum chamber. A downstream vacuum relief on the vacuum manifold functions to discharge particulate material from the pockets into the cavities at a predetermined discharge location on the wheel. Adjustment structure is connected to rotatably adjust the position of the vacuum manifold within the applicator wheel to thereby advance or retard the discharge location depending upon the speed of the machine. |
| US07849885B2 |
Hose member
A hose member having a central region surrounded by a circumferential portion comprising a number of metal tubes that are substantially parallel to each other and wound in a helical manner around a longitudinal axis of the hose member. The central region may be defined by a carrier made of a polymeric material, or a longitudinal central cavity. |
| US07849882B1 |
Double plug head for plugging pipe
A double plug head for plugging a pipe. The double plug head includes a primary rubber packing, a roller support, a tube support and a rubber tube. The primary rubber packing is provided on a mounting plate of a plugging machine. The roller support is provided with a plurality of rollers. The tube support is provided between the primary rubber packing and the roller support. A tube seating depression is formed around the circumferential surface of the tube support. A fluid feed path is formed in the tube support. The rubber tube is seated into the tube seating depression and has a nipple connected to an outlet of the fluid feed path. Communication holes which communicate with the fluid feed path are respectively formed in the primary rubber packing and the mounting plate. A fluid hose is connected to the communication hole of the mounting plate. |
| US07849876B2 |
Valve assembly with sealing force
A valve assembly (10) comprising a valve member (14) having surfaces (70, 72, 74, 76, 78) radially sized and axially situated to provide an axial sealing force to insure leakfree operation. When the valve member (14) is in a supply position, the sum of fluid forces imposed on the radial surfaces is positive towards supply position, and, when the valve member (14) is a nonsupply position, the sum of fluid forces imposed on the radial surfaces is positive towards the nonsupply position. The valve assembly (10) is compatible with a piezo-type actuator (18) that provides lift-shift forces early in its stroke. Once movement of the valve member (14) has been initiated by the actuator (18), the fluid forces can be relied upon to complete the shift and seal the valve member (14) against the corresponding seat (40/42). |
| US07849873B2 |
Heater unit for installation on valve
A heater unit having a main body constructed in the form of a housing and covers the entire flow path forming sections of the valve and joints, and a heater built in the main body is mounted on the valve. The heater includes a direct heating section and a radiant heating section. The direct heating section heats at least a part of the flow path forming sections of the valve through direct contact heating. The radiant heating section heats the inside of the main body of the heater unit by radiant heat. |
| US07849871B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid system
A water controlling kit is connected to the fluid system, of a fire truck for example, used for pumping water to one or more fire hoses. The kit has a water level gauge, a signaling element and a control valve and is adapted to maintain the pressure at the inlet of the pump of the fire truck within a preselected range of about 1.5 to about 3 psi. during discharge from the pump and pressure fluctuations of the pressurized water supply supplying water to the fire truck reservoir. |
| US07849870B2 |
Piezoelectric pressure control valve
A pressure control valve having a common plenum formed by two flow control valves that each utilize electrically controlled piezoelectric actuators to generate a number of possible operating states and thus control an output pressure from the common plenum formed by the two flow control valves. The flow control valves each have at least one pressure fitting and nozzle, and a nozzle orifice sealing mechanism coupled to the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator may be a piezo-ceramic actuator fixed along one side to a chamber of the flow control valve and having a free side opposite the fixed side. Upon receiving a voltage of a desired magnitude and polarity, the free side of the piezo-ceramic actuator and the nozzle orifice sealing mechanism moves to control a fluid flow into the common plenum. By controllably dithering the piezoelectric actuators, the output pressure from the common plenum may be accurately regulated. |
| US07849868B2 |
Erectable shelter with three way awning
The erectable shelter includes an awning assembly for a shelter that is removably mounted to two or more adjacent legs of the shelter. The awning assembly is mounted so that it can be moved between a downwardly directed vertical position and an upwardly directed vertical position, and to an intermediate horizontal position between the downwardly directed vertical position and an upwardly directed vertical position, allowing the awning to provide shade and to serve as a holder for signage. |
| US07849866B1 |
Portable privacy shelter
The present invention may be used for privacy of individuals when changing clothes, for toilet privacy or other user privacy needs. A privacy shelter may have a wall that may be of generally tubular shape and may have a lower portion that may be an opaque, flexible material and an upper portion that is partially transparent. A top may be generally circular and flat in shape and may be attached at a peripheral edge to a top edge of the wall. A first ring may be attached to the top edge; a second ring may be attached interior to the wall adjacent a bottom edge; and a third ring may be attached interior to the wall intermediate the top edge and the bottom edge. A toilet stool or toilet chair may be disposed in the privacy shelter. |
| US07849861B2 |
Intravascular catheter device for selective occlusion of iliac vasculature
An improved catheter device for selectively isolating and occluding a portion of the iliac vasculature of a patient includes an elongate hollow catheter shaft which is advanceable though the vascular system of the patient. The catheter shaft has a proximal portion that extends out from the patient and a distal portion adapted to be disposed within the iliac vasculature of the patient. A plurality of expandable members are disposed on the distal portion. One expandable member is dimensioned and configured so that when expanded it rests within the bifurcation of the descending aorta to the common iliac arteries (and/or within the bifurcation of the inferior vena cava that leads to the common iliac veins) so as to fixate the catheter within the iliac vasculature of the patient. At least two other expandable members are spaced apart from the fixation member and configured to selectively isolate and occlude blood flow through different portions of the iliac vasculature. |
| US07849859B2 |
Device for facilitating medical examination
A device (10) for facilitating a medical examination includes a movable body (12) having a storage compartment (24) therein and a door member (42, 44) movably mounted to the body (12) for at least partially covering the storage compartment (24). A supporting unit (72, 72) is mounted to the body (12) for supporting a foot of a patient during the performance of a medical examination. |
| US07849857B2 |
Tracheal ventilation device
Tracheal ventilation device, particularly a tracheal tube, which seals the trachea in a substantially air-tight manner. The device includes a cuff that blocks the trachea below the glottis and is traversed by a ventilation cannula. The cuff is larger in its filled, freely displaceable, unrestricted state than in its filled state positioned in the trachea. The cuff is of a flexible soft film material and lies against the trachea by means of its folds. The device is adapted to the morphology of a child's larynx and is available in finely graded sizes. |
| US07849848B2 |
Erectable and stowable decorative firebowl and stand assembly
A firebowl assembly is provided which includes a firebowl and a stand for the firebowl. The stand has a first, erected mode wherein the stand supports the firebowl and a second, folded mode wherein the stand is adapted to be received within the firebowl for storage therein. The stand includes a support ring for supporting the firebowl in the first state of the stand and a plurality of legs pivotably connected to the ring and pivotable between (i) an erected state in the first mode of the stand and (ii) a folded state in the second mode of the stand. |
| US07849844B2 |
Diagnostic method and device for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas catalyst, a first exhaust gas sensor that is arranged for use in lambda control, and a second sensor that is arranged for trim control. The measuring signal of the second sensor is used to determine a NOx quality value depending on the HC quality value and the NOx correction factor. A lambda quality value is determined depending on an actual value and a basic set value of the air/fuel ratio. An error indicator is determined depending on the lambda quality value and the NOx quality value, the error indicator being representative of a mixture component error in a first range and being representative of an exhaust gas catalyst error in a second range. At least one control parameter of a trim control and/or the trim set value of the trim control is adapted depending on the NOx correction factor. |
| US07849841B2 |
Crankcase ventilation system with engine driven pumped scavenged oil
A crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine has an engine driven pump pumping scavenged separated oil from the oil outlet of an air-oil separator to the crankcase, preferably using engine generated pulsating oscillatory positive and negative relative pressure pulses. |
| US07849837B2 |
Vaporized fuel processing device in work machine
In an working machine in which: an engine and a fuel tank for the engine are mounted on a machine body; an air cleaner mounted outside the machine body has a cleaner case including a cylindrical case body and a lid body being mounted on one end of the case body, and a cleaner element being housed in the cleaner case and dividing the inside of the cleaner case into a pre-purification chamber and a post-purification chamber; and an air-outlet pipe is connected to an intake system of the engine with an intake duct interposed therebetween, a canister capable of absorbing a vaporized fuel generated in the fuel tank is attached to the fuel tank or the machine body; a purge joint communicating with the post-purification chamber is provided to the lid body of the air cleaner; and a purge conduit extending from the canister is connected to the purge joint. Accordingly, it is possible to take a vaporized fuel generated in the fuel tank into the engine by utilizing the lid body of the air cleaner. |
| US07849836B2 |
Cooling feature for fuel injector and fuel system using same
A thermal load control assembly for a fuel injector includes a rail inlet port, a cooling inlet port and a fuel drain port. A leakage path channels leaked fuel originating from the rail inlet port to the fuel drain port. A cooling path channels fuel originating from the cooling inlet port to the fuel drain port. A fuel system using a thermal load control assembly includes a single fuel tank that supplies fuel to the rail inlet port and the cooling inlet port of a plurality of fuel injectors and collect fuel from the fuel drain port of the plurality of fuel injectors. |
| US07849834B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling emissions from internal combustion engines
An internal combustion engine is provided with a control arrangement for influencing exhaust gas pressures and the level of In-Cylinder-Charge-Dilution (ICCD) so as to provide cycles with different emission characteristics. The exhaust gas pressure may be influenced by adjusting a combustion parameter between various cycles. The adjustment of the combustion parameter may, for example, include an adjustment of the injection timing, a change in shot mode, or a change in fuel quantity. By making such adjustments, cycle-to-cycle exhaust gas pressure variations may be introduced so as to influence future combustion events and reduce overall emissions and noise levels. |
| US07849830B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug for igniting a combustible gas mixture in an internal combustion engine includes an ignition electrode with an electrical supply line is connected thereto. A pipe housing is provided for enclosing the electrical supply line and a venting channel is provided for discharging combustion gases from the pipe housing. The venting channel provides for discharging combustion gases infiltrating the spark plug as leakage gases run along the supply line. |
| US07849826B2 |
Valve system
A valve system includes a first valve provided on an intake or exhaust port; a second valve provided on another intake or exhaust port; a first cam unit on a camshaft, defining first and second lobe heights; and a second cam unit on the camshaft, defining a third lobe height. The first cam unit moves the first valve by a distance of either the first or the second lobe height, and the second cam unit moves the second valve by a distance of the third lobe height. |
| US07849825B2 |
Control valve for a device for changing the control times of an internal combustion engine
A control valve (20) for a device for variably setting the control times of gas exchange valves (110, 111) of an internal combustion engine (100). Two working ports (A, B) and one supply port (24) are formed on an outer casing surface of a valve housing (22) of the control valve (20), the working ports (A, B) are arranged directly adjacent one another, and the supply port adjoins them. Further, two pressure medium ducts (40, 41) are formed on the control piston (30), at least one of the pressure medium ducts (40, 41) is embodied so that it is not rotationally symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis (36) of the control piston (30). |
| US07849822B2 |
Reciprocating rotation type engine and power transferring device and hybrid system using the same
A reciprocating rotary engine includes a torus-shaped chamber which is divided into two regions. Each divided region forms a sealed chamber. Each sealed chamber is divided by a piston attached to a shaft whereby four sealed chambers are formed. A power converter includes two power combination devices and two motor/generator dual role electric motors. Each combination device has three rotational axes with the torques of two axes being combined together and transferred to the remaining axis. The two electric motors modulate the torque of an axis periodically in accordance with reciprocating rotary motion of the engine, to provide a counterforce to oscillating power and transfer unidirectional torque to a drive shaft. |
| US07849818B2 |
Animal litter box
To provide an animal litter box that is easy to clean and whose setup space is not large. An animal litter box equipped with an excreta container; a lower container; and a hood, the hood has a fixed hood at a backside; a movable hood disposed at a front side; and a pair of linking portions. The movable hood is formed with an opening. When the movable hood is changed from a closed state to an opened state, the protruding height T3 that is the difference of the height T1 of the highest portion in the track of movement of the movable hood and the height T2 of the highest portion of the animal litter box when the movable hood is in a closed state is lower than the height T4 of the movable hood. |
| US07849809B2 |
Yacht and ballast assembly therefor
A yacht having an adjustable ballast assembly comprising a ballast, an elongated hollow ballast guide o mounted to the hull of the watercraft to extend transversely of the hull, the ballast being located within the guide and there being means for selectively moving the ballast longitudinally of the guide between respective opposite end positions in which at least part of the ballast is located laterally outwardly of the hull. The elongated guide may be located within an outer hollow guide and mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the outer guide so as to be capable of projecting telescopically from opposite ends of the outer guide. |
| US07849802B2 |
Protective housing assembly for a tank car manway
A railway tank car is provided having a manway formed in a body of the tank car. The tank car includes a manway cover plate coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed over at least a portion of the manway. A protective housing assembly is coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed around the manway cover plate. At least one structural support is coupled with an interior surface of the body of the tank car adjacent to the protective housing assembly. |
| US07849798B2 |
Air-powered electro-mechanical fuze for submunition grenades
A fuze for a submunition comprises a fuze housing with a stabilizer ribbon for aerodynamic orientation, a fuze slider released by tension on the stabilizer ribbon, an air-powered electric generator extended into the airstream by the fuze slider and powered in flight by high-speed airflow, a MEMS safety and arming device, a fuze circuit board including an explosive fireset, and an electrically initiated firetrain. The fuze is fixed to and communicates explosively with the end of a grenade warhead. |
| US07849794B2 |
Device for transporting sheets in straight printing or perfecting operation by way of tongs grippers
A device for transporting sheets in recto or verso printing operation has tongs grippers each with upper and lower grippers. The upper gripper, or rigid gripper, that forms the gripper pad can be locked directly or indirectly in recto printing operation. |
| US07849792B2 |
System for printing passing objects
Objects to be printed are loaded one-by-one onto a conveyor extending through and upstream from a printing station in a longitudinally extending row in groups each having a predetermined number n of longitudinally aligned objects and a longitudinal length equal to n times a predetermined step length and with the groups separated in the row from one another by an empty gap having a short length equal to n−1 times the predetermined step length. The thus oriented objects are moved by the conveyor through the printing station in alternating long steps having a long length equal to n times the predetermined step length and short steps equal to n−1 times the predetermined step length such that with each long step one of the groups is positioned in the printing station. In the printing station the objects are taken off the conveyor, printed, and returned to the conveyor between the long steps. |
| US07849783B2 |
Plastic shoes for compressors
Embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a bearing for a piston engine has a bearing made of a plastic material and having a substantially planar base and a substantially hemispherical portion. The base is configured to engage with a swash plate, and the hemispherical portion is configured to engage with a piston. |
| US07849781B2 |
Bullet resistant barrier
A barrier comprising a base unit composed of a bullet resistant material and a transparent upper wall removably interconnected to the base unit and composed of a bullet resistant material. The base unit includes a front wall and two side walls extending from the front wall to provide protection to the front and sides of a person standing behind the barrier. A series of casters, preferably locking casters, are attached to the bottom edges of the side walls, and a pair of handles connected to each of the side walls permitting the barrier to be conveniently transported from one site to another. |
| US07849779B1 |
Composite treatment of ceramic tile armor
An improved ceramic tile armor has a core of boron nitride and a polymer matrix composite (PMC) facing of carbon fibers fused directly to the impact face of the tile. A polyethylene fiber composite backing and spall cover are preferred. The carbon fiber layers are cured directly onto the tile, not adhered using a separate adhesive so that they are integral with the tile, not a separate layer. |
| US07849778B1 |
Air-based vertical launch ballistic missile defense
An air-based vertical launch system is described by means of which ballistic missile defense can be achieved effectively from a large aircraft. A method for ensuring safe missile egress is proposed. A method for ensuring that the missile strikes the ballistic missile payload section is also proposed. Together, the air basing method employing vertical (or near-vertical) launch and semi-active laser guidance yield an affordable and operationally effective missile defense against both tactical and long-range ballistic missiles. The affordability of missile defense is enhanced by the ability of an aircraft equipped with a vertical launcher to simultaneously carry out several defensive and offensive missions and to provide other capabilities such as satellite launch at other times. Methods for employing an aircraft equipped with a vertical (or near-vertical launcher) and one or more of the proposed egress assurance mechanisms in offensive ground attack missions, mine laying, and satellite launch missions are also proposed. |
| US07849777B1 |
Firearm with an improved breech bolt assembly
A firearm with an improved breech bolt assembly comprises a barrel (12), a breech bolt assembly (18, 21), a body (14) equipped on opposite sides with ports (15) for the ejection of a cartridge case, in addition to a magazine (17), wherein the breech bolt assembly, which is moveable with respect to the body (14) comprises a breech bolt-holder slide (21), a breech bolt (18) equipped with a rotating locking head (25), cam guide rails (26, 27) of the relative movement between the breech bolt (18) and slide (21), and also stopping means (28, 29) of the relative movement comprising a control pin (28) which can be moved vertically with respect to a first control seat (29), charged by a recoil spring (30) applied between the slide (21) and the pin (28), said pin (28) having a cocking handle (23), or reloading lever, rotatingly applied thereto, for the manual moving of the breech bolt assembly (10). |
| US07849774B2 |
Power miter saw having digital displays
Embodiments are directed to a power compound miter saw having miter angle as well as bevel angle adjustment capabilities, with sensing units that can measure the angular position of the miter table relative to the base as well as the bevel angle of the blade relative to the table. Such sensing units generate position signals that can be used to provide a digital display of the miter and bevel angles to a high degree of accuracy. Moreover, the embodiments utilize mechanisms which enable a user to tighten the pivot connections of the table and the base as well as the pivot connection between the table and the bevel pivot support housing without damaging the sensing units. The sensing units are configured and mounted in such a way as to not interfere with access to the nut which can be rotated to vary the amount of friction between the adjacent components. |
| US07849771B2 |
Proportional length food slicing system
This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product. |
| US07849770B2 |
Film cutter
A cutting apparatus cuts shrink wrap film residing in a roll. The apparatus includes a first roller pair receiving the film from the roll and carrying the film away from the roll; and without the need for a second roller pair to receive the cut sheet of film. Film snap-back is prevented by cutting the film between a shear deck with teeth and a rotating blade with teeth intermeshing with the teeth of the shear deck. A method for cutting a sheet of shrink wrap film, includes: feeding the film into a first roller pair; and cutting the film between the first roller pair and the second roller pair using a rotating knife with a number of teeth intermeshing with a shear bar with teeth. |
| US07849767B1 |
Connectors for a wrench assembly
Connectors capable of connecting socket and/or ratchet elements in a wrench assembly in such a manner that a nut- or bolt-engaging member at one end of the assembly is disposed at a selected position or orientation with respect to a handle at the opposite end of the assembly. The connectors include a variety of connectors characterized by male and female connector elements disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to each other. The connectors further include parallel offset connectors in which male and female connector elements are disposed in offset, parallel relationship to each other. The male and female connector elements are capable of removably engaging companion female and male connector elements, respectively, of various socket and/or ratchet elements to assemble the wrench assembly and facilitate positioning of a wrench handle at one end of the wrench assembly at a selected orientation with respect to a nut- or bolt-engaging element at the opposite end of the assembly. A connector optionally includes a sliding interface providing an adjusting span between the male and female connector elements. |
| US07849761B2 |
Wrist unit to a robot arm
A wrist unit to be arranged in an industrial robot including a control system and a manipulator. The manipulator includes a robot arm and a wrist unit arranged on the robot arm and including a wrist housing arranged for rotation about a fourth axis of rotation, a wrist part/tilt pivotally journalled in the wrist housing for rotation about a fifth axis of rotation. A second transmission is configured to transmit rotation form a second drive unit to the turn disc about the sixth axis of rotation where the control system controls the first and second drive units. |
| US07849759B2 |
Shifting device for a transmission
A shifting device (1) for a transmission with a selection actuator and a shifting actuator, which a shifting shaft (2) comprising shifting forks (3) or selector forks, which engage in sliding collars for engaging the gears in which the shifting motion can be carried out by way of an axial motion of the shifting shaft (2), while the selection motion is kinematically disengaged from the shifting motion and the shifting shaft (2) does not rotate during the selection motion. |
| US07849756B2 |
Linear drive with safety mechanism for moving a structure
A linear drive for adjusting at least one movable structure includes at least one spindle drive having a rotatable spindle. Disposed on the spindle and restrained against rotation is a lifting nut which is linked to the movable structure. At least one safety mechanism is disposed on the spindle without connection to the lifting nut and restrained against rotation. The safety mechanism includes an inner nut attached to the spindle and an outer guide bushing attached onto the inner nut, wherein the inner nut and the guide bushing have an engagement structure which effects a form-fitting engagement between the inner nut and the guide bushing during normal operation and is so constructed as to effect a disengagement between the inner nut and the guide bushing, when the safety mechanism is subjected to a predefined load torque. |
| US07849754B2 |
Method and system for sampling syngas
A method is provided for sampling hot gas. The method includes inserting a probe into a flow of hot gas, and collecting a sample of the hot gas with the probe. The sample of the hot gas is quenched prior to an analysis of the sample. |
| US07849751B2 |
Contact sensors and methods for making same
The present invention is directed to novel contact sensors. The contact sensors of the invention include a conductive composite material formed of a polymer and a conductive filler. In one particular embodiment, the composite materials can include less than about 10 wt % conductive filler. Thus, the composite material of the contact sensors can have physical characteristics essentially identical to the polymer, while being electrically conductive with the electrical resistance proportional to the load on the sensor. If desired, the sensors can be formed of the same polymeric material as the bearing that is being examined. The sensors can provide real time dynamic contact information for joint members under conditions expected during use. In one particular embodiment, the sensors can be used to examine dynamic wear characteristics of artificial joint bearings such as artificial knee, hip, or shoulder bearings. |
| US07849748B2 |
Method of and an apparatus for in situ ultrasonic rail inspection of a railroad rail
An ultrasonic railroad rail inspection system, apparatus and method for in situ rail inspection including a wheel assembly containing a fluid-filled tire and an ultrasonic transducer mounted within the wheel assembly. The transducer is supported in the tire such that the ultrasonic beam generated by the transducer has a beam axis that intersects a head of a railroad rail at a position offset from the longitudinal median plane of the rail to the side of the head penetrated by the ultrasonic beam. The ultrasonic beam is reflected by flaws in the rail in the form of echoes. The echoes return to the transducer identifying the location of flaws. |
| US07849746B2 |
Driver device, physical quantity measuring device, and electronic instrument
A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that is provided in the oscillation loop and converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, and a GCA as a comparator that is provided in the oscillation loop and outputs a signal corresponding to a comparison result between an output from the current-voltage converter and a given voltage. The GCA outputs a first high-level voltage or a low-level voltage during oscillation startup, and outputs a second high-level voltage or the low-level voltage in a steady oscillation state. The first high-level voltage is a voltage higher in potential than the second high-level voltage. |
| US07849743B2 |
Acceleration sensing device
An acceleration sensing device includes a movable sensing member, a frame member and a supporting member. The supporting member is coupled between the movable sensing member and the frame member so as to support the movable sensing member. The acceleration sensing device further includes a covering member disposed above the movable sensing member, with a gap between the covering member and the movable sensing member. The acceleration sensing device still further includes internal electrodes, interconnection films, external electrodes and a resin film. The internal electrodes are arranged around the covering member. The interconnection films are disposed on the frame member so as to be coupled to the internal electrodes. The external electrodes are disposed on the interconnection films. The resin film is disposed on the frame member so as to seal the covering member. |
| US07849742B2 |
Out-of-plane sensing device
An out-of-plane sensing device is provided. A proof mass is movable with respect to a substrate. A frame is positioned on the substrate and encloses the proof mass. At least one spring connects the proof mass to the frame so that the spring will exert a force on the proof mass to make the proof mass move back to its equilibrium position when the proof mass moves perpendicularly to the substrate. An electrode extends from the proof mass toward the frame. A counter electrode extends from the frame toward the proof mass, wherein the projection of the electrode onto the substrate overlaps with that of the counter electrode onto the substrate. |
| US07849733B2 |
Misfire judging device of internal combustion engine, vehicle mounted with it and misfire judging method
When an operating state constituted of a rotation speed Ne and torque Te of an engine belongs in a resonance region in a post-stage including a damper connected to a crankshaft of the engine, a subtraction sine wave for removing an influence by resonance is calculated, and misfire is judged depending on whether or not a variation amount ΔF of a rotation speed F after processing, obtained by subtracting the calculated subtraction sine wave from a variation in 30-degree rotation speed N30 which is a rotation speed every time the crankshaft rotates by 30 degrees, is less than a threshold value Fref. Thereby, even when the operating state belongs in the resonance region, misfire can be judged more reliably and more accurately. |
| US07849732B2 |
Controlling fuel supply to a combustor of a gas turbine engine
The minimum fuel flow to a combustor of a gas turbine engine is limited in response to the engine inlet temperature T1 and x, an exponent dependent on engine configuration and engine entry pressure P1, in order to provide a fuel air ratio (FAR) limit which responds to both factors. This enables the fuel flow to be limited such that the FAR is set to avoid unintentionally extinguishing the combustor flame and the rate of deceleration is maximised, regardless of ambient temperature and engine altitude. |
| US07849728B2 |
Fueling system vapor recovery and containment performance monitor and method of operation thereof
A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance is disclosed. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a conventional gas pump nozzle naturally displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow (using a vapor flow sensor) on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide for the determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatus also provide for the determination of fuel dispensing system vapor containment integrity, and the differentiation of true vapor recovery failures as opposed to false failures resulting from the refueling of vehicles provided with onboard vapor recovery systems. |
| US07849726B2 |
Gas chromatograph with digital processing of thermoconductivity detector signals
A gas chromatograph for connection to a source of carrier gas and a source of a sample gas. The gas chromatograph includes a first bridge circuit with a sample sensor connected therein and a second bridge circuit with a reference sensor connected therein. The outputs of the bridge circuits are digitized and then subtracted from each other in a processor. |
| US07849725B1 |
Air cannon apparatus and system for golf ball testing
An air cannon apparatus and system for test launching golf balls. The apparatus includes a barrel sized to slidably receive a golf ball, an air pressure tank coupled to the barrel by an air control valve, a golf ball air clamp assembly for holding a golf ball for rotation about a spin axis within and transverse to the barrel, and a servomotor coupled to the air clamp assembly for controlledly spinning the golf ball prior to launching. The air control valve releases a charge of pressurized air from the air pressure tank into the barrel against the spinning golf ball simultaneous with releasing the clamp whereupon the golf ball is launched from the barrel. The system also includes a frame assembly for lockable positioning of the apparatus at a selected inclination angle and a system controller. The apparatus is selectively rotatable to vary the angular orientation of the spin axis. |
| US07849724B2 |
Method of manufacturing a ring-shaped member
The outer side of a pair of curved parts 3d of a longitudinal annular blank is pressed and energized towards the curved part 3d of the opponent side with a molding outer die 14 of a shaping device 13 to press and widen each curved part 3d to a large curved part of large curvature radius, and a half-finished article 17 is molded, and thereafter, the half-finished article 17 is pressed and widened by cooperative operation of a finishing inner die of the shaping device and a window part of a perfect circle functioning as an outer die to manufacture a ring-shaped member. Therefore, a yield rate or a percentage of the weight of the ring-shaped member with respect to the weight of the raw material and the yield rate or the percentage of the ring-shaped member with respect to the blank can be improved, and the cost can be reduced. |
| US07849722B2 |
Method and plant for integrated monitoring and control of strip flatness and strip profile
Apparatus and method of controlling strip geometry in casting strip having a rolling mill. A target thickness profile is calculated as a function of the measured entry thickness profile of the strip while satisfying profile and flatness operating requirements. A differential strain feedback from longitudinal strain in the strip is calculated by a control system by comparing the exit thickness profile with the target thickness profile, and a control signal is generated to control a device capable of affecting the geometry of the strip processed by the hot rolling mill. A feed-forward control reference and/or sensitivity vector may also be calculated as a function of the target thickness profile, and used in generating the control signal sent to the control device. The control device may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of a bending controller, gap controller and coolant controller. |
| US07849721B2 |
Radio frequency identification (RFID) system for manufacturing distribution and retailing of keys
The present invention generally provides apparatus and methods for tracking, counting and inventorying keys throughout the supply chain, from manufacturing through retailing to the end user. In addition, the present invention provides apparatus and methods for improving the accuracy of duplicating keys. The apparatus and methods generally rely on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, where information is stored to and collected from RFID tags that are located proximate to keys. The apparatus and methods provided for in this invention improve efficiency and accuracy in the key supply chain. |
| US07849720B2 |
Cam pin stop apparatus
A cam pin stop apparatus is provided which is resistant to a malicious pop-open condition. The cam pin stop apparatus includes a cam pin configured to be movable along a first axis, and a cam pin stop configured to be movable to a release location to prevent the cam pin from substantially moving along a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A potential energy may be released by the cam pin stop when it moves to the release location. |
| US07849717B2 |
Modular laundry system with horizontal module spanning two laundry appliances
A modular laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance and a second laundry appliance horizontally arranged relative to the first laundry appliance. The modular laundry system further comprises a laundry care function horizontal module vertically arranged with the first and second laundry appliances and having an associated laundry care function. The laundry care function can be one of washing, drying, refreshing, sanitizing, stain removal, and hand steaming. The horizontal module can be a non-tumble dryer. |
| US07849715B2 |
Variable power zone spacer fabric
A fabric having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an intermediate surface between the first surface and the second surface is provided. At least one of the first surface and the second surface is knitted with at least one elasticized yarn at at least one predetermined zone to provide a selected zone of elasticity to at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the fabric. |
| US07849709B2 |
Indoor unit of an air conditioner
An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a cross flow fan and an indoor heat exchanger. The cross flow fan generates a flow of air. The heat exchanger has a two row part and a one row part. The one row part has an area that is smaller than the two row part, and is disposed so that it overlaps one part of the two row part in an air transit direction. Furthermore, during a cooling operation, a refrigerant flows to the two row part before flowing to the one row part. |
| US07849707B2 |
Water spillage management for in the door ice maker
A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed. |
| US07849698B2 |
Method and apparatus to sense and establish operation mode for an HVAC control
A method for configuring a controller for an HVAC system. The method comprises providing a closed loop refrigerant system and a control system to control the closed loop refrigerant system. The control system comprises a controller, an input device, and a processor including a signal sensing circuit. The input device is activated to provide one or more signals to the controller to control the components of the closed loop refrigerant system. One or more signals are sensed with the signal sensing circuit to determine whether signals are present between the input device and the controller. The signals are processed with the processor to determine what type of closed loop refrigerant system is present. The controller is then configured to control the type of system determined by the processor. |
| US07849697B2 |
Air-conditioning apparatus using thermoelectric device
An air conditioner includes a thermoelectric device, and a first line with a first fluid therein. The first line is configured such that the first fluid can exchange heat with a first surface of the thermoelectric device, and configured to discharge the fluid to a space. A second line has a second fluid therein. The second line is configured such that the second fluid can exchange heat with a second surface of the thermoelectric device, and pass through a heat sink to further exchange heat. A control unit supplies electricity to the thermoelectric device such that the first surface absorbs heat in a cooling mode and the second surface absorbs heat in a heating mode. The control unit also controls a flow rate of the second fluid, such that the flow rate is higher in the cooling mode than in the heating mode. |
| US07849695B1 |
Rocket thruster comprising load-balanced pintle valve
A rocket thruster of this invention includes a nozzle and a valve assembly. The valve subassembly includes a pintle with a head portion, which has a truncated substantially conical surface region facing and concentric with converging and throat regions of the nozzle to provide a variable effective throat area therebetween. The truncated portion of the head portion has an outer edge defining a bleed passageway opening communicating with a primary bleed passage leading through the head portion to a bleed cavity located on an opposite side of the head portion. During activation of a rocket motor to which the rocket thruster is coupled, gases imparting a load on the head portion pass through the primary bleed passage to the opposite side of the head portion for counterbalancing loads acting on the head portion. A thrust control subassembly moves the pintle axially for changing the effective throat area. |
| US07849685B2 |
Control device for hydraulic cylinder and operating machine including control device
A control device includes an arm cylinder having a cylinder body and a piston that slides inside the cylinder body and a pump that supplies working oil to the arm cylinder, and decelerates the piston when it approaches a stroke end of the arm cylinder by adjusting a supply rate of the working oil supplied from the pump to the arm cylinder and a discharge rate of the working oil discharged from the arm cylinder. The position at which the piston starts decelerating is set further from the stroke end as the moving speed of the piston becomes higher. |
| US07849684B2 |
Exhaust gas throttle means
An exhaust gas throttle means for motor vehicles comprises a housing in which an exhaust gas throttle is arranged. The exhaust gas throttle is connected with a throttle shaft which is supported in bearing elements. Inside the housing two stopper elements are provided which are arranged in recesses of the housing to be received in correct positional arrangement. |
| US07849681B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for engine-generated heat utilization in a NOx-adsorber aftertreatment system
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for utilizing engine-generated heat in a NOx-adsorber system. The apparatus may comprise a combustion device generating a heated exhaust stream. The apparatus may include a catalytic component that initiates at least one exhaust conditioning reaction within the heated exhaust stream. The catalytic component is fluidly coupled to the engine with a downpipe segment configured to preserve a minimum temperature at the catalytic component inlet based on specified operating conditions for the combustion device. The apparatus may also include a NOx-adsorber fluidly coupled to the catalytic component with a second downpipe segment. |
| US07849680B2 |
Diesel particulate filter system for auxiliary power units
A system for reducing the emissions produced by an engine affixed to a body during operation and reducing noise and vibration. The present invention is particularly related to a small form factor active/passive Diesel Particulate Filter system having an exhaust backpressure sensor, a heating element, a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, a power relay switch, a filter and an electronic control unit for controlling the heating element based on backpressure detected by the sensor. |
| US07849677B2 |
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 (ΔP/GA) is greater than a correction reference value (Dp), the ECU adds a correction value corresponding to the exhaust pressure difference to the estimated accumulation amount. This causes the estimated accumulation amount to approach the actual accumulation amount. |
| US07849675B2 |
Supply system for a medium for treating exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine; exhaust gas cleaning device; and a method for operating a supply system
A medium supply system of an exhaust gas cleaning device for treating the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine comprising a storage tank and a supply line which is connected to the storage tank for supplying the medium to a dosing unit connected to an exhaust pipe and to a recycling line for recycling the medium to the storage tank. The supply line and/or the recycling line are provided with at least one conduit area comprising at least one first and second parallel partial channels for the medium circulation, wherein said partial channels exhibit different insulation properties. An exhaust gas cleaning device comprising the inventive supply system and a method for the operation thereof are also disclosed. |
| US07849674B2 |
Exhaust emission purifying apparatus for engine
A NOx reduction catalyst and an ammonia slip oxidation catalyst are disposed in an exhaust system in this order, and also, an electric fan is disposed on piping which communicates an upper space of a storage tank storing therein a reducing agent with the exhaust upstream of the NOx reduction catalyst. Then, when the temperature of the ammonia slip oxidation catalyst reaches or exceeds the temperature for activating a catalyst thereof, the electric fan is operated for a predetermined period of time, so that the gas (ammonia series gas) in the upper space of the storage tank is forcibly discharged to the upstream side of the NOx reduction catalyst. Further, a discharge-forcing device, such as an electric fan or the like, forcibly discharging the gas in the upper space of the storage tank, an adsorbing device temporarily adsorbing thereto the forcibly discharged gas and an oxidation catalyst oxidizing the gas desorbed from the adsorbing device, may be disposed to the storage tank in this order. |
| US07849671B2 |
Method and device for determining an oxygen storage capacity of the exhaust gas catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine and method and device for determining a dynamic time duration for exhaust gas probes of an internal combustion engine
An exhaust catalyst is charged with oxygen until saturated. A given first rich air/fuel ratio is set in a combustion chamber of a cylinder. A first oxygen storage capacity value is determined depending on the measured signals from first and second exhaust probes. The exhaust catalyst is charged with oxygen until saturated. A given second rich air/fuel ratio is set in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. A second oxygen storage capacity value is determined depending on the measured signal from the first and second exhaust probe. A corrected oxygen storage capacity value is determined depending on the first and second oxygen storage capacity values. |
| US07849670B2 |
Propulsion system with integrated rocket accelerator
The present invention relates to a propulsion system for a vehicle. The propulsion system has an airframe integrated hydrocarbon fueled airbreathing engine, such as a ramjet or a scramjet. The propulsion system further has at least one rocket positioned so as to use the aft body contour of the vehicle directly for flow expansion. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of rockets are arrayed across the width of the engine nozzle. |
| US07849669B2 |
Turbofan engine utilizing an aerodynamically coupled pre-combustion power turbine
A turbofan jet engine design that utilizes aerodynamic coupling to transmit power from a high-speed engine core to a lower speed fan, thereby simplifying the design and improving the thrust-to-weight ratio compared to previous turbofan designs. The engine uses a low speed co-rotating power turbine located upstream of the engine core to drive the fan. The high-speed core uses a centrifugal impeller to pressurize the inlet flow, the flow exits the high-speed impeller without diffusing its high-speed angular momentum and enters directly into the low speed co-rotating power turbine impeller. The incoming flow is then turned by the low speed co-rotating turbine impeller and exits the turbine opposing its direction of rotation, thereby extracting power from the flow to drive the fan. The exit flow from the low speed power turbine then enters the combustor inlet. This engine configuration enables the power turbine to be constructed from high strength, low-density materials (that are not suitable for use in higher temperature power turbines) thereby reducing the weight of the engine. This engine configuration also eliminates the need for the core compressor diffuser, the power turbine nozzle guide vanes, and the low speed shaft that connects the fan to the power turbine in conventional turbofans. |
| US07849668B2 |
Rotor brake and windmilling lubrication system for geared turbofan engine
A journal bearing provides lubrication to planetary gears during windmilling operation of a fan section. A primary oil pump provides oil from an oil supply during driven operation of the fan and a secondary oil pump driven by a generator provides oil during windmilling operation of the fan. The generator acts as a dynamic brake when the aircraft is grounded to prevent windmilling. A switch selects between the primary and secondary oil pump and controls the brake application. |
| US07849667B2 |
Cable drag system comprising a cable drag device and a retaining device receiving the same
The invention relates to a cable drag device (1) for guiding power supply cables. Said cable drag device is constituted of a plurality of members (2) that are hinged to each other and that comprise two respective side bars (3) inter-linked by a cross connection. The aim of the invention is to provide a cable drag device (1) whose upper strand is suitably supported in a suitable retaining device for the upper strand. For this purpose, the side bars (3) of at least some members (2) comprise supporting elements (9) that project outward beyond the remaining areas of the outer face (10) of the respective side bar (3) when having a substantially linear relative position to an adjacent member. These supporting elements do not project outward beyond the remaining areas of the outer face (10) of the respective side bar (3) when offset relative to the adjacent member. An adjusting device (11) provided on the adjacent member effects the aforementioned positioning of the supporting elements (9) depending on the relative position of the members. |
| US07849662B2 |
Blister package and method for packing a blister in the blister package
A blister pack and a method for packaging a blister in the blister pack are proposed. The blister pack 10 in this case comprises a base field 14 with at least one recess 16 or perforation 18 for removal of at least one product arranged in a blister 36. A bottom field 26 is connected to the base field 14. A closure field 30 is connected to the bottom field 26. The blister pack 10 is distinguished by a fixing tab 22 which is mounted on the base field 14 for the purpose of fixing at least one blister 36 that is to be packaged in the blister pack 10. |
| US07849657B2 |
Connector for frames used in building
A clip or connector is provided for assembling part of a door or window frame having first and second sheet material frame members to be retained in abutting relationship and in a particular predetermined position relative to each other. Each frame member has a concave channel formation along its length. The clip has a head and a body with a neck therebetween. The head engages with a tight interference or frictional fit within the channel formation of the first frame member and the body engages with a tight interference or frictional fit within the channel of the second frame member, such that the frame members are located and held in their particular predetermined position. |
| US07849656B2 |
Dry cast block arrangement and methods
A first concrete block has an exposure face with a non-planar first topographical definition and a first edge along the side face and a second edge along the second side face. The first edge has a first irregular profile. A second concrete block has an exposure face with a non-planar second topographical definition and a first edge and a second edge. The second topographical definition is different from the first topographical definition. The second edge of the second block has an irregular profile that is the mirror image of the first irregular profile. The blocks can be oriented adjacent and against each other for a seamless appearance. Assembling methods include orienting the first side of the first block against the second side of the second block and aligning the first irregular profile of the first block with the first irregular profile of the second block for a seamless appearance. |
| US07849654B2 |
Flooring system
Flooring blocks which can be easily joined to each other and removed have a square-shaped main body and have, on the sides of a square-shaped main body, concave portions and convex portions. In the block main body, block main body side pin insertion paths are perforated along the sides on which the concave portions are formed, and in the convex portions, convex portion side pin insertion paths are perforated. In the block main body side pin insertion paths, pin main bodies of lock pins are inserted slidably between joining positions and housed positions, and the block main body side pin insertion path is partially formed into an open groove opened to the block main body surface, and the open groove is provided with a first lateral groove and a second lateral groove, and block main bodies adjacent to each other are joined to each other by sliding the pin main body of the lock pin in a state that the concave portion and the convex portion are engaged with each other. |
| US07849649B2 |
Non-combustible reinforced cementitious lightweight panels and metal frame system for shear walls
A vertical shear wall system including vertical metal framing members, for example, C-joists, U-joists, open web joists, or other metal frame systems that support a reinforced, lightweight, dimensionally stable SCP panel. The shear wall system is non-combustible, water durable, mold and rot resistant, termite resistant and is capable of resisting shear loads equal to or exceeding shear loads provided by plywood or oriented strand board panels. The panels employ one or more layers of a continuous phase resulting from the curing of an aqueous mixture of inorganic binder, for example, calcium sulfate alpha hemihydrate, hydraulic cement, an active pozzolan and lime. The continuous phase is reinforced with glass fibers and contains lightweight filler particles, for example, ceramic microspheres. |
| US07849646B2 |
Gymnastic floor structure
A gymnastic floor structure includes an elastic collective floor substrate 30 having a given area formed by arranging a plurality of plywood unit floor panels 3 equipped with a plurality of elastically supporting leg members 2 provided on a bottom surface thereof on a floor surface of a building, and an elastic layer including a flat cushioning air mat 4 and a fiber mat 5 as essential structural elements provided on the floor substrate 30. The air mat 4 includes a linking body 41 in which a pair of textile inner sheets 41a and 41b are linked by a plurality of linking threads 43 and airtight external sheets 42 and 42a entirely covering the linking body 41, and has an airtight space 44 therein. |
| US07849644B2 |
System for insulating attic openings
A cover for closing an access opening that leads to an infrequently used space within a building, such as an attic, provides thermal and acoustic insulation at the access opening. The cover may be in one or two portions, including a closure alone or a closure and a frame having an aperture that can be closed by engagement between the closure and the frame. When the cover is used alone it engages a frame or a wall circumscribing the access opening. The cover is sized and shaped to close a stairwell, or the opening at one end of a stairway, or an opening in a generally vertical wall that is not necessarily associated with a stairway. The closure and frame are each made of one or more components. |
| US07849642B2 |
Tile with wide coupling configuration and method for the same
A method and apparatus providing a tile configured to form a modular floor covering including an array of substantially identical tiles. The tile includes a top surface, bottom side, front and rear sides and first and second lateral sides. The top surface includes an elongated shape and the bottom side includes a support grid. The front and rear sides are defined along a longitudinal length of the elongated shape. The front side includes at least one first hinge member and the rear side includes at least one complementary second hinge member configured to be engageable with the at least one first hinge member of an adjacently positioned tile. The first and second lateral sides define a width of the elongated shape with the first and second lateral sides including a respective tab and slot coupling portion each having a coupling length at least one-third the width of the elongated shape. |
| US07849641B2 |
Undercarriage for a telescopic frame
A telescopic undercarriage for raising and lowering a frame. The undercarriage includes a base section having a pair of parallel base legs extending from a first end to a second end of the base section, the base section including a first plurality of braces extending between respective upper surfaces of the base legs and a second plurality of braces extending between respective lower surfaces of the base legs, the base legs, first plurality of braces and second plurality of braces collectively providing an elongate central base section passage. The undercarriage also includes an extendable section slidably disposed within the base section passage and having opposed legs, a drive system for extending and retracting the extendable section relative to the base section. |
| US07849639B2 |
Stressed membrane structure
A demountable building structure that is readily assembled from a set of components is disclosed. The building structure includes a plurality of arc frame members spaced along a length of the building structure. Each of the arc frame members extends from a first foot portion to a peak, and back to a second foot portion. Each of the arc frame members includes a plurality of beams. Each of the beams includes two opposed flanges. Each of the flanges has two bifurcated ends. The ends define c-shaped rope chases with openings. The building structure further includes bases slidably mateable with the first and second foot portions, and elongate membranes having beaded longitudinal edges. The membranes are stretched between adjacent of the arc frame members. The longitudinal edges are within the rope chases. Spreaders extend between adjacent of the arc frame members for urging apart the arc frame members from each other and for maintaining the membranes in a stretched condition. |
| US07849637B2 |
Fold-up scaffold for semi-trailer shop
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a fold-up scaffold system that includes multiple spaced vertical beams supported at one end on a floor of a building and scaffold sections extending across the vertical beams. The system also includes means at opposite ends of the scaffold sections for pivotally supporting the scaffold sections to the vertical beams and at least two air cylinders for each scaffold section connected between the scaffold sections and the vertical beams. In addition, each of the at least two air cylinders is adapted to be actuated between a lowered and a raised position, the scaffold sections being pivoted away from the vertical beams when the at least two air cylinders are actuated to the lowered position to provide a substantially horizontal surface and is positioned substantially vertically against the beam when the at least two air cylinders are actuated to the raised position. |
| US07849633B2 |
Device for guiding plate-like object
A plurality of sliding doors 3 arranged side by side to close an opening of a frame 1. The sliding doors 3 are flush with each other. A rotatable link 50 is disposed in an upper edge portion of an opening section 2x. The rotatable link 50 has a short rail portion 51 formed at a distal end thereof. A roller 15 is disposed in an upper edge portion of the sliding door 3. The roller 15 rides on the rail portion 51. When the sliding door 3 moves from a closed position to an opening preparation position in a front or rear direction, the rotatable link 50 rotates from a first rotation position to a second rotation position, thereby positioning the rail portion 51 coaxial with a fixed rail 39. The sliding door 3 is provided with a rail member 11. The rail member 11 of the sliding door 3 in the closed position is coaxial with the fixed rail 39. The roller 15 of the sliding door 3 moving to an open position runs on the rail member 11 of the sliding door 3 in the closed position and the fixed rail 39. |
| US07849631B2 |
Method for avoiding frost damage in crops and/or for improving the fructification at low temperatures and device applied with such a method
Method for avoiding frost damage in crops (35) and/or for improving the fructification at low temperatures, characterized in that it consists in periodically heating and cooling the air on the site of the crops (35) between a minimum and a maximum temperature with a minimal temperature variation of 0.2° C. |
| US07849630B2 |
Fishing rod holder
A fishing rod holding device having a long U-shaped barrel with a longitudinal opening between a pair of opposing longitudinal walls, and a notch formed through an outer edge of each of the opposing longitudinal walls. A is bail structured to fit over the longitudinal opening between the pair of opposing longitudinal walls of the U-shaped barrel at least covering the wall notches and portions of the barrel on either side of the wall notches. A hinge mechanism is provided between the bail and the outer edge of a first one of the opposing longitudinal walls of the semi-tubular barrel for swinging the bail over the longitudinal opening thereof, and a locking mechanism is provided between the bail and the outer edge of a second one of the opposing longitudinal walls for securing the bail relative to the semi-tubular barrel. |
| US07849628B2 |
Rifle launcher for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
A launcher system and method for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the launcher system comprises a barrel comprising a prepackaged internal pusher cup configured behind the UAV housed within the barrel; an expansion chamber operatively connected around the barrel, wherein the barrel extends out of a first end of the expansion chamber; a muzzle adapter operatively connected to a second end of the expansion chamber, wherein the first end of the expansion chamber is positioned opposite to the second end of the expansion chamber; a rifle slip-fitted to the muzzle adapter; and a stand operatively connected to the expansion chamber, wherein a triggering of the rifle causes the internal pusher cup to push the UAV out of the barrel at a predetermined launch velocity in order to attain a predetermined self-propelled flight trajectory. |
| US07849627B2 |
Foam projectile
A combat game weapon system includes a pneumatic launcher and an elastic projectile. The pneumatic launcher includes a barrel. The barrel includes a distal end and a bore with an inside diameter. The elastic projectile is configured for being expelled from the distal end of the barrel. The elastic projectile includes a cavity configured for expanding when the cavity receives a propellant from the pneumatic launcher and thereby for causing the elastic projectile to sealingly engage the inside diameter. |
| US07849625B2 |
Gun barrel lock
A lock for a gun barrel has plugs insertable into the chamber and muzzle. The plugs impinge against existing stops on the barrel so as to limit travel of the plugs toward each other in the barrel. Once the plugs are in the barrel, a linkage connects them so that each stop prevents removal of the opposite plug from the barrel. Preferably the stops, such as the chamber diameter reduction and the muzzle choke seat, are inside the barrel and the length of each plug is coordinated with the distance to its in-barrel stop so that no part of the gun barrel lock is exposed to out-of-bore tampering. A lock prevents unauthorized disengagement of the linkage from the plugs. The gun barrel lock is of adjustable length and the plugs may have interchangeable diameter adapters to accommodate a variety of gun barrel lengths and calibers. |
| US07849624B2 |
Systems and methods for qualified registration
A product is sold at retail in an unusable state. Activation of the product does not require any steps be taken by the retail seller. To activate the product, the purchaser uses a phone or personal computer to interact with a registration server for this type of product. Alter the consumer has provided sufficient identifying information, the registration server interacts with a qualification server that determines whether the purchaser meets the qualifications set for this type of product. For a weapon sale, this is typically a criminal background check. If qualified, the registration server receives an indication of qualification from the qualification server. The registration server and product communicate over a network to establish trust, store information in the product, and then activate the product. The product receives information via a network appliance, for example, a phone or personal computer. The receiver may sense sound from a speaker or light from a display of the network appliance. The product transmits information onto the network directly when the network appliance has a suitable receiver. Otherwise, the product provides the information to the purchaser who enters the information into a user interface of the network appliance. The user interface may perform voice recognition or accept data via a pointing device or keyboard. The serial number of the product is transmitted to the registration server. A description of the purchaser and/or qualification results are stored in the product. |
| US07849623B1 |
Muzzleloading rifle with rolling block trigger assembly
A muzzleloading firearm for engaging a firing pin to discharge a primer includes a trigger plate connected between a front stock and a rear stock, with a central cavity traversing the trigger plate to support a sear and a trigger in mechanical communication with the sear. A hammer assembly is pivotally mounted to the trigger plate to rotate between a cocked position and a resting position, and includes a base extending into the central cavity. The base includes an upper arcuate surface opposite a lower locking surface having a shoulder. A hammer head member is connected to the upper arcuate surface to engage a firing pin. A rolling breechblock is pivotally attached to the plate between a retracted loading position and a firing position, and has a curved upper surface to engage the arcuate surface of the hammer assembly when moving between the loading position and the firing position to force the distal end of the sear to engage shoulder of the base. The firearm also includes a hammer safety pivotally connected to the hammer head member to move between a hammer firing position engaging the firing pin and a hammer safety position engaging the rolling breechblock. |
| US07849621B2 |
Fastening device for an accessory
A fastening device for fastening an accessory to a body part. The fastening device has a support element and a holding element. The support element is mounted to the body part from an exposed side and the holding element is mounted from a hidden side. The holding element has undercut elements via which it reaches from the hidden side through corresponding openings in the body part and reaches behind holding contours formed on the body part such that it is automatically fixed on the body part. |
| US07849618B2 |
Collapsible sign for use in or near a roadway
A sign system is disclosed in which a flexible sign panel is supported by light weight frame numbers such as fiberglass ribs joined together with a pivot connection. A sign panel of flexible material has a center section disposed between a pair of opposed sign panel portions. The center portion of the sign panel engages a cross member with the sign panel portions being folded over on either side of an upright support member. Free ends of the sign panel member are secured with a stretchable elastic cord, ribbon or the like, to a mounting member having a socket for receiving one end of the vertical support member. By engaging the mounting member and stretching the elastic cords, the mounting member is disposed over one end of the vertical support and one released, engages the vertical support holding the sign panel portions in a display position. |
| US07849614B2 |
Universal front and rear equipment mount for ATV
A universal front and rear equipment mount for an ATV includes a telescoping central frame member with telescoping front and rear mounting arms extending therefrom for connection to independent axle structures of the ATV, front and rear angled hitch brackets, each with upturned tabs having aligned holes to receive a hitch pin, and front and rear angled pulley brackets having pulleys mounted thereon for routing a winch cable of a winch mounted either on the front or rear of the vehicle or on the front or rear pulley brackets. An implement can be hitched either to the front or rear hitch bracket, and the implement can be raised or lowered by use of the winch, which has its cable routed over selected pulleys and connected to a hitch tongue or other part of the implement. |
| US07849612B2 |
Orthotic device
An adhesive strip for use with a balancing disc for balancing the gait of the user comprises a medial polyester sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface. An acrylic adhesive is the disposed on both the upper and lower surfaces. A silicone release sheet is disposed atop the upper layer of acrylic adhesive and a circular polyester sheet is disposed over the lower layer of adhesive. The overlying polyester sheet is scored to facilitate removal of at least a portion thereof in order to expose a portion of the acrylic adhesive for immediate adherence to a surface of an associated balancing disc. After emplacement, the other portion of the polyester sheet is removed to secure the adhesive to the disc. When the silicone release sheet is removed, the disc can then be readily applied to an insole or to a footwear item. |
| US07849609B2 |
Interior and upper members for articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices
Interior members for foot-receiving devices, such as bootie elements for articles of footwear, include a material element at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber. This material element may include, in some examples, a heel-surrounding portion, a lateral side portion, a medial side portion, and a seamless plantar portion in a continuous, one-piece arrangement. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the material element may include a heel-surrounding portion, a lateral side portion, a medial side portion, a plantar surface, and a double layer of the material element at least along an Achilles area portion. Additional aspects relate to material blanks for forming such interior members as well as to foot-receiving devices, such as athletic footwear, including such interior members. |
| US07849608B2 |
Apparatus for drying leaf products
Apparatus for drying leaf products including a product supply or loading section, a product centrifugation and drying section and a dried product discharging section. The loading section comprises a conveyor belt for continuously supplying the entering product and then discharges the collected product on the drying section. The centrifugation and drying section, downward of the supply section comprises a continuous conveyor with two parallel chains on which a plurality of centrifugation baskets is mounted, each one rotating about its own axis. The discharge section, receiving the dried product from the centrifugation section, and transferring the same at the exit, comprises an elevator conveyor belt operated by a motor. |
| US07849607B2 |
Adjustable measuring gauge
An adjustable measuring gauge has at least two sized and shaped operatively associated members made of a durable material. The lower member has an upper side and a first elongated and square side edge with a plurality of measurements beginning at zero marked at the upper surface. At least one upper member is slidably and adjustably connected to the lower member and has a second elongated square side edge disposed in assembled position on adjustable movement of the upper and lower member to uncover and reveal the desired measurement marked on the lower member. Elongated aligned slots and threaded pegs are provided to achieve unidirectional movement for an accurate measurement. A clamping assembly is provided to both hold the operative associated members so the adjustable measuring gauge can be reused for another measurement; further, a non-skid fabric on at least the upper member to facilitate use and handling. |
| US07849605B2 |
Measuring assembly and method for determining the relative position of machine parts
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional measuring assembly for determining the relative position of components, such as machine parts and/or instruments. The invention also relates to a method for determining the relative position of components, such as more particularly machine parts, using a reference member according to any of the foregoing claims. |
| US07849603B2 |
Barber tool
A tool comprising a scissors, the scissors including two handles, each handle including an aperture therethrough is disclosed. The tool includes a comb attached to the scissors. The comb includes a handle portion and a comb portion. The handle portion of the comb includes a plurality of extensions therefrom, the extensions for engaging the aperture of one of the handles of the scissors, wherein the comb can be removed from the scissors by disengaging the extensions. |
| US07849599B2 |
Imputing strength gradient in pressure vessels
A process to manufacture an oilfield component comprises selectively reinforcing a base material with an age-hardenable clad material and age-hardening the clad material for a selected time and at a selected temperature profile, wherein the age-hardening results in the clad material developing a selected strength gradient. A body of a ram blowout preventer comprises, a low-ally base material, a vertical bore through the body, and a horizontal bore through the body intersecting the vertical bore, wherein at least a portion of the body is selectively reinforced with a clad material, and wherein the clad material is age-hardened for a selected time and at a selected temperature profile resulting in the clad material developing a selected strength gradient. |
| US07849598B2 |
Method for manufacturing an isothermal plate
A method for manufacturing an isothermal plate includes the steps of preparing a plurality of heat pipes, a first plate body and a second plate body; pressing on the second plate body to form a plurality of shielding covers recessed into the bottom surface of the second plate body and protruding from the top surface of the second plate body, the recessed portion of each shielding cover having a cambered space for horizontally accommodating the heat pipe therein; disposing each heat pipe into each cambered space to make the first plate body adhered to the bottom surface of the second plate body and the two plate bodies overlapped with each other; and applying an external force to the second plate body to bring each heat pipe into a tight and planar contact with the inner wall of its corresponding cambered space in the direction of pressing. |
| US07849594B2 |
Manufacturing method for integrating passive component within substrate
A manufacturing method for integrating a passive component within a substrate is disclosed. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of: providing a circuit layer, wherein a positioning blind hole is formed in the circuit layer; forming a conductive material in the positioning blind hole; positioning the passive component in the positioning blind hole of the circuit layer and electrically connecting the passive component to the circuit layer via the conductive material in the positioning blind hole; and laminating a core layer, the passive component, and the circuit layer as the substrate. |
| US07849593B2 |
Method of making multi-layer circuit board
The invention provides a multi-layer circuit board sequentially having an insulating substrate, a first electrically conductive pattern arbitrarily formed, an insulating material layer and a second electrically conductive pattern formed by providing an electrically conductive material on a graft polymer pattern formed on the insulating material layer, and having an electrically conductive path which electrically connects the first electrically conductive pattern present on the insulating substrate and the second electrically conductive pattern. The graft polymer pattern includes a combination of a region where a graft polymer is present and a region where no graft polymer is present, or a combination of a region where a hydrophilic graft polymer is present and a region where a hydrophobic graft polymer is present. |
| US07849592B2 |
Method of compensating for thermal expansion in SMT interconnects
The present invention relates to a method of providing end and center locating connectors in interconnects between surface mount technology (SMT) connectors and printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connectors are adapted to maintain their connection even when the printed circuit board and/or the SMT connector expands or contracts. |
| US07849587B2 |
Method of manufacturing a solenoidal magnet
A method of manufacturing a solenoidal magnet structure, includes the step of providing a collapsible accurate mold in which to wind the coils winding wire into defined positions in the mold, placing a mechanical support structure over the coils so wound, impregnating the coils and the mechanical support structure with a thermosetting resin, allowing the thermosetting resin to harden, and collapsing the mold and removing the resultant solenoidal magnet structure formed by the resin impregnated coils and the mechanical support structure from the mold as a single solid piece. |
| US07849576B2 |
Slide fastener manufacturing apparatus
An apparatus and method for manufacturing a slide fastener. The apparatus may provide a chain transfer path inclined downward for transferring a fastener chain, a chain cutting portion disposed at a middle of the transfer path and a feed portion disposed on an upstream side of the chain cutting portion of the chain transfer path. A control portion may also be provided for a) stopping to transfer the fastener chain by the feed portion and b) operating the chain cutting portion. A pivoting section may also be provided, which pivots the chain cutting portion by a predetermined angle on the chain transfer path around an axis line orthogonal to the transfer path. |
| US07849574B2 |
Device and method for locking together the shafts of an automatic transmission during installation of shaft retaining nuts
A device and method used for locking three shafts of an automatic transmission during tightening of a shaft-retaining nut. The device has a housing with a sidewall defining a fluid chamber and a tip at the first end of the housing. A fluid passage extends through the tip from the fluid chamber at one end of the tip and a clutch apply port at a second, opposite end of the tip. A tube, such as a coupling, is mounted to the housing sidewall through which a fluid passage extends in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. A compressed gas conduit is mounted to the coupling and is in fluid communication with the coupling fluid passage. As a park mechanism on the transmission is applied, a predetermined amount of air pressure from the compressed gas conduit is applied through the coupling, housing and tip to the clutch apply port, thereby locking the three shafts of the automatic transmission together. The shaft retaining nuts are tightened and the device can be released, thereby releasing the shaft. |
| US07849567B2 |
Spring fastener with highly improved removal to insertion ratio
A fastener comprises two engagement springs on opposite sides of the fastener. Each engagement spring has an elongated rib. The elongated ribs may have a substantially rectangular shape, or any suitable shape, and they may protrude away from the opposite side of the fastener. Additionally, the elongated ribs may have same or different slopes at each end of the ribs. According to one embodiment, the elongated rib increases the removal to insertion force ratio as compared to such ratio when the engagement springs do not have the elongated rib. |
| US07849563B2 |
Handle assembly for a domestic appliance
A handle assembly for mounting to a door of an appliance includes a main body member having first and second end portions separated by an intermediate portion. Each of the first and second end portions includes a cavity adapted to receive an end insert formed of soft material. Each of the end inserts includes an attachment member. The handle is mounted to a front face of the door through interengagment of the attachment members and base members provided on the door without scratching the surface of the door. |
| US07849558B2 |
Head for a suction cleaner
A cleaning head for a suction cleaner, the head including a body; a rotatable tool connected to the body by support means; driving means; and transmission means providing a driving connection between the driving means and the tool; wherein the support means contains the transmission means, and provides for movement of the tool upwardly and downwardly relative to the body in use. |
| US07849556B1 |
Extraction with heated cleaning fluid
A portable carpet cleaning apparatus comprises a module for movement along a surface, a cleaning fluid dispensing system for applying a cleaning fluid to the surface, optionally, a rotating brush assembly, a suction nozzle and a vacuum source fluidly connected to the suction nozzle and a heating element for heating the cleaning fluid immediately prior to the application of the cleaning fluid to the surface. |
| US07849552B2 |
Wiper drive unit on a support frame
The invention relates to a wiper drive comprising a housing, a reversing motor and a gear mechanism connected downstream of the reversing motor, wherein a swaying element for driving at least one wiper arm or a wiper arm rod is provided on the gear mechanism output shaft, and wherein the operating range of the swaying element lies within a pivoting range which is delimited by two mechanical stops, wherein at least one stop is designed such that it can be removed and/or moved in such a way that the swaying element, when the wiper drive is mounted on a support frame, can be moved from a first mounting position, which lies outside the pivoting range, into the pivoting range without being obstructed by the stop. The invention furthermore relates to methods for mounting a wiper drive on a support frame. |
| US07849549B2 |
Oral brushing devices
An oral hygiene device having two toothbrushes connected or connectable to the end of a handle, the one or more toothbrushes providing a desirable fit about the teeth and/or gums and/or providing a desirable brushing action. An oral hygiene device hereof may provide for mechanically providing the brushing movements of the professionally recommended manual tooth-brushing method known as the “Bass” or “Modified Bass” technique to thus reduce or eliminate the element of human error associated with the brushing of a user's teeth and gums. |
| US07849541B2 |
Bed with rigid platform and fluid suspension
A bed mattress support apparatus and method includes a fluid filled bladder or multiplicity of bladders to vertically support a rigid platform. The rigid platform provides a suspended surface to support a mattress, foam pad, or other mattress-like device. A frame surrounds the bladder to prevent lateral movement of the bladder. Motion limiting features control vertical displacement of the platform. |
| US07849539B2 |
Frame for a patient-support apparatus
A patient-support apparatus includes a patient-support deck having a head deck section, seat deck section, and foot deck section each of which is supported on a frame. The head deck section pivots and translates relative to the frame when driven. The drive systems of the deck sections are configured such that movement of links driving the deck sections occurs above the lowest point on the frame. |
| US07849536B2 |
Underlay
Underlay for single use for protection of e.g. chair cushions, bedclothes or changing tables, having a liquid-receiving coversheet intended to face away from the object requiring protection, a liquid impermeable backsheet intended to face the object requiring protection upon use, wherein the underlay can be attached to the user. |
| US07849532B1 |
Movement assisting bed covering system
A movement assisting bed covering system includes a rectangular central panel of satin or sateen cloth having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a first end edge and a second end edge. Each of the first and second end edges has one of a pair of end panels attached thereto. The end panels have a higher coefficient of friction than the central panel. The central panel is positionable on the mattress to cover a central area of the mattress while leaving areas of an upper surface of the mattress adjacent to a head and a foot of the mattress at least partially exposed. Each of the end panels is positionable below the mattress and abuttable against a lower side of the mattress to retain the central panel on the mattress. |
| US07849531B2 |
Configurable shower system
A shower system is provided that includes first and second panels that at least partially defining a shower space. The shower system also includes a basin sized to receive a lower edge of the first and second panels such that the panels are arrangeable with respect to the basin in one of at least two configurations. |
| US07849530B2 |
Waste-water heat recovery system
The present invention relates to a household heat recovery device and more specifically to a wastewater heat recovery unit, which absorbs residual heat from the water flowing onto the floor and down the drain of an ordinary household shower or bathtub unit. In one embodiment, the heat recovery device adapts for ease-of-use and enables quick set-up in most existing and typical showers or bathtubs without any tools and without coupling to the existing plumbing. Internal passages direct the effluent shower water through a serpentine path to a discharge drain. Over time, the heat transferred from the water to the device then radiates into the environment—thus reducing the total energy cost for a household by reducing the thermal load on the main heating unit for the household. |
| US07849528B1 |
Therapeutic tub device
A therapeutic tub device for receiving water and a person to allow the person to soak in the water includes a tub being filled with water. The tub receives a person to allow the person to soak in the water. The tub is insulated to maintain a temperature of the water in the tub. The tub includes a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define an interior space of the tub. An upper edge of the perimeter wall defines an open top end to permit the water and the person to enter the interior space. A telescopic cover is coupled to the upper edge of the tub. The telescopic cover telescopically extends from a foot end of the tub to a head end of the tub to cover the open top end of the tub. |