最新美国发明专利第2011-06-14期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US07959728B2	Mesoporous silica particles and production process thereof A process for wet pulverizing mesoporous silica particles while a surfactant exists in mesopores, and mesoporous silica particles having an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less, wherein the volume of mesopores having a diameter of 2 to 50 nm is 0.7 mL/g or more and the geometric standard deviation of a mesopore distribution is 2.0 or less. Mesoporous silica particles having a particle diameter in a submicron order can be obtained at a high yield without causing the marked collapse of mesopores and can be produced efficiently by using an ordinary pulverizer and safely by using an aqueous medium. The mesoporous silica particles having an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less are useful as an ink absorbent for ink jet recording paper, low-dielectric film, catalyst support, separating agent, adsorbent and medical carrier for medicines.
US07959727B2	Interference pigments on the basis of silicon oxides The present invention relates to pigments, the particles of which generally have a length of from 2 μm to 5 mm, a width of from 2 μm to 2 mm, and a thickness of from 20 nm to 2 μm, and a ratio of length to thickness of at least 2:1, wherein the particles contain a core of SiO2 or a silicon/silicon oxide obtained by heating SiOy flakes with 1.1≦y≦1.8 in an oxygen-free atmosphere at a temperature of at least 400° C., which core has a narrow distribution of particle sizes and two substantially parallel faces, the distance between which is the shortest axis of the core, and a material layer having a high index of refraction a metal oxide; a process for their production and their use in paints, ink-jet printing, for dyeing textiles, for pigmenting coatings (paints), printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, glazes for ceramics and glass.
US07959726B2	Blends of carbon blacks and products containing the same Blends of carbon black or other fillers is described. The blends of carbon black or other fillers are preferably pre-blended prior to introducing the blend into a product such as an elastomeric or polymeric product.
US07959724B2	Substrate having inkjet ink comprising naphthalocyanine dye disposed thereon A substrate having an inkjet ink disposed thereon. The ink comprises an IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein: M is a metal group; R1 and R2 are selected from the group consisting of: H and C1-12 alkoxy; W is selected from the group consisting of: a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof; and a sulfonamide group; n1 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n2 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n3 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0. n4 is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that at least one of n1, n2, n3 or n4 is greater than 0.
US07959723B2	Use of biocide compositions for wood preservation The invention is directed to the use of compositions (a) biocides, and (b) dialkylamides, for wood protection.
US07959721B2	Turn-around scrubber A modular scrubbing system is presented. The scrubber system comprises multiple modules that allow a gas flow to turn-around return back through scrubbing modules. Contemplated modules include inlets, outlets, turn-arounds, and scrubbing modules.
US07959719B2	Humidity control device A device for controlling relative humidity in an environment with a solidified humectant composition. The solidified humectant composition is made from a humectant salt, water, and a carrier. The solidified humectant may be formed into a tablet with the aid of a binder, or it may be contained within a thermoformed felt material, a sachet, or a water permeable canister. In a preferred embodiment, the sachet is made of a micro-perforated polyester/paper/polyethylene material. Preferred humectant salts include CaCl2, K2CO3, LiCl, NaCl, K2SO4, and combinations thereof. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the use of one or more of: an antimicrobial agent, activated carbon, a volatile organic, a moisture adsorber and an oxygen absorber, in combination with the solidified humectant salt.
US07959717B2	Air conditioning system with electrostatically atomizing function An air conditioning system with an electrostatically atomizing function includes an electrostatically atomizing unit and a ventilation duct which flows conditioned air. The electrostatically atomizing unit generates a mist of charged minute water particles. The electrostatically atomizing unit is provided with a discharge port which locates adjacent to an air outlet of the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles flows into an airflow which is sent from the ventilation duct. The mist of the charged minute water particles effectively spreads to the space by the air flow without dissipating inside the ventilation duct.
US07959714B2	Authorized filter servicing and replacement A method is provided for servicing a filter, and structure is provided disabling assembly of the filter unless an authorized replacement filter element is used.
US07959712B2	Continuous concentration system and method for volatile organic compounds using moving-bed reactor A continuous concentration system for volatile organic compounds for concentrating volatile organic compounds that undergo an absorption process and a removal process includes: a moving-bed chamber in which modules for absorbing volatile organic compounds are absorbed. An absorption bed line to which the volatile organic compounds are supplied to be absorbed to the module is provided on one side of the moving-bed chamber. A removal-cooling bed line for performing a removal process for removing the volatile organic compounds absorbed to the module and a cooling process for cooling the module that has undergone the removal process is provided on the other side of the moving-bed chamber.
US07959710B2	System and method for removing water and siloxanes from gas A method of removing siloxanes from a gas that contains siloxanes and water, the method comprising: (a) expanding the gas to cool the gas and freeze at least some of the water in the gas; and (b) removing the siloxanes and frozen water from the expanded and cooled gas. The method may also include compressing the gas prior to expanding it. The step of expanding the gas may include expanding it through a turbine. The method may also include using an energy input mechanism to drive one or both of the compressor or turbine. The ice and siloxanes may be removed from the gas with a cyclonic separator.
US07959707B2	Methods for producing consolidated materials Aspects of the invention include methods for producing purified semiconductor or metallic materials. In one embodiment, the methods include admixing a particulate composition of a material, for instance, a metal, with a metal halide to produce a metal-metal halide admixture. The admixture is then heated to a temperature that is above the material's melting point in a container that is chemically and physically stable at that temperature. The molten admixture is allowed to segregate into a lower of the material and an layer of the metal halide and cooled. The metal halide is then separated from the material and a purified semiconductor or metallic material is thereby produced. Also provided are purified material crystals, shaped ingots and/or taper, sheet, or ribbons produced by such methods, as well as the silicon chips and solar panels in which such products are employed.
US07959701B2	Filter and method A fluted filter element may include one or more bridging elements to provide resistance to telescoping of the layers of the fluted filter element. The bridging elements are attached to one or both of the filter faces via adhesives, and/or mechanical means, and may also take the form of one or more beads of adhesive applied across one or both ends of the filter element. The adhesive beads may include a flexible element, such as a string, or strip of material embedded in the adhesive bead.
US07959700B2	Filter orientation ribs The present invention provides an orientation device for enforcing correct orientation of a pleated filter element during installation into a filter support frame or filter housing, for example an automotive air cleaner. The orientation device includes at least one substantially rigid orientation rib positioned and mounted to have a portion of the rib extending between adjacent pleats of the pleated filter when the pleated filter is in an installed position. The orientation rib is positioned and mounted to block against at least a portion of the pleats of the filter element when the filter element is in an incorrect orientation, thereby preventing installation of the filter element.
US07959699B2	Collapsible filter with folding arms The present invention addresses the need for a collapsible filter that is easily assembled and installed. The collapsible filter comprises top and bottom arms rotatably attached to the top and bottom edges of two end caps. A pleated filter media is provided attached to at least one of the end caps. The present invention also addresses the need for mechanisms to facilitation the expansion of the pleated filter media, utilizing spring-like devices or other materials that may be compressed but expand to a natural state. Similarly, the present invention further addresses the need for mechanisms that allow for controlling the distance between adjacent pleats within a pleated, collapsible filter media. The present invention recognizes that a combination of these approaches may be utilized to provide a collapsible filter that is easily constructed at a manufacturing facility, assembled in the field, and installed within a system having need for a filter.
US07959697B2	Auger screen A bulk loader including an air inlet, an air-particulates separating chamber in communication with the air inlet, an air outlet in communication with the air-particulates separating chamber, means for moving air and particulates into the air-particulates separating chamber, means for separating air from particulates positioned within the air-particulates separating chamber, means for removing air from the air-particulates separating chamber, an auger, the auger being in communication with the air-particulates separating chamber by way of an auger opening in the air-particulates separating chamber, and a screen positioned across a portion of the auger opening adapted to permit air to flow therethrough and adapted to prevent particulates from flowing therethrough.
US07959696B2	Kitchen extractor hood with innovative design The present invention relates to an extractor hood that comprises an extraction conduit and a delivery conduit, the first one housing an air treatment unit that extracts air through the lower mouth of the same conduit, and the second one housing an air treatment unit that produces a forced air flow with inside-outside direction, which is suitably conveyed by a deflector with downward inclination to generate a pneumatic screen above the cook top that conveys fumes rising from the cook top towards the lower mouth of the extraction conduit.
US07959691B2	Composition The present invention provides a composition comprising: i) at least one compound of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-19 hydrocarbyl or a group of formula (II): wherein Q is a bond or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbyl group; wherein R3 is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen and unsubstituted or substituted C1-18 hydrocarbyl; wherein the R1—C—R2 backbone is from 5 to 20 atoms in length; wherein each A and B is independently an unsubstituted or substituted unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl group; and wherein n is an integer from 0 to 10; and ii) a diluent or carrier; wherein the compound(s) of formula (I) is present in an amount sufficient to provide, at −30° C., at least 1 wt % of iron, based on the weight of the composition.
US07959686B2	Dry-cleaning article, composition and methods Dry cleaning and fabric-treatment compositions, methods and articles incorporating the same that are suitable for use in drying machines, such as hot air drying machines found in households, apartments, and laundromats, which are normally adapted to dry wet garments and the like from a washing machine. In some embodiments, the composition includes at least one organic solvent, with the at least one organic solvent forming the greatest weight percentage of the active components in the composition. In some embodiments, the composition also may include water and/or at least one surfactant, emulsifier, perfume, and/or application-specific composition. In some embodiments, the article includes a dispenser from which the composition is selectively dispensed onto a dry garment or other object to be cleaned. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes an internal chamber containing the composition, and the composition is dispensed onto objects prior to placing the objects in a drying machine.
US07959683B2	Packed demineralized cancellous tissue forms for disc nucleus augmentation, restoration, or replacement and methods of implantation A composition for spinal disc repair comprising a plurality of uniformly shaped demineralized cancellous bone pieces ranging in size from about 2.0 mm to about 4.0 mm loaded into a porous mesh container with the cancellous bone pieces being treated so that they are not osteoinductive and are packed in the porous mesh container under compression forces.
US07959680B2	Method and apparatus for performing a shoulder implant procedure Disclosed is a set of prosthetic components for use in shoulder replacements. A glenoid component having a base and a plurality of coupling members are disclosed. The coupling members are used to couple the base to at least one of the acromion or coracoid process. A polymer insert which is configured to couple to the base member and articulate with a humeral component is provided.
US07959678B2	Intervertebral disk implant The invention relates to an intervertebral disk implant having two implant plates contacting prepared vertebral body surfaces in the implanted state and an implant core which can be introduced between the implant plates. The invention further relates to a method for the manufacture of an intervertebral disk implant.
US07959677B2	Artificial functional spinal unit system and method for use Insertion methods for placing dynamic interbody devices between a first vertebra and a second vertebra using a posterior approach are provided. In an embodiment, the insertion method may be based on the first vertebra. A bridge assembly may be attached to tap shafts positioned in the first vertebra. The bridge assembly may establish an insertion angle of implants into a disc space between the vertebrae. In an embodiment, the insertion method may be based on the position of expandable trials positioned between the vertebrae. The trials may be positioned and a bridge assembly may be coupled to the expandable trials and taps positioned in the first vertebra. One or more posterior stabilization systems may be coupled to the vertebrae after insertion of the dynamic interbody devices between the vertebrae.
US07959674B2	Suture locking assembly and method of use A suture locking assembly for use with a heart valve repair device. The suture locking assembly including a rim and a suture band. The rim defines a first flange and a second flange spaced from the first flange. The rim is configured to extend at least partially around a periphery of the heart valve repair device. The suture band is maintained between the first flange and the second flange. The suture locking assembly is configured to securely maintain a suture segment that is pulled from a first position to a second position relative the suture locking assembly, the second position being at least partially defined near an outer periphery of the rim.
US07959672B2	Replacement valve and anchor Apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve, including: a replacement valve adapted to be delivered endovascularly to a vicinity of the heart valve; an expandable anchor adapted to be delivered endovascularly to the vicinity of the heart valve; and a lock mechanism configured to maintain a minimum amount of anchor expansion. The invention also includes a method for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of: endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve; expanding the anchor to a deployed configuration; and locking the anchor in the deployed configuration.
US07959671B2	Differential covering and coating methods The present invention, in an exemplary embodiment, provides a stent, which combines many of the excellent characteristics of both silicone and metal stents while eliminating the undesirable ones. In particular, a principal objective in accordance with the present invention is to provide a family of stents where the relative hardness/softness of regions of the stent can differ from other regions of the stent to provide additional patient comfort and resistance to compression forces. Exemplary embodiments provide a stent that is covered so as to provide certain predefined characteristics. In particular, a covered stent is provided that is coated internally such that the outer scaffolding surface of the stent has enhanced friction points while the internal surface exemplifies certain characteristics.
US07959669B2	Bifurcated stent with open ended side branch support In some embodiments, a stent comprises a side branch structure defining an inner side branch cell. The inner side branch cell has a shape that is different from any other cell of the stent. The stent further comprises first and second support members, which are positioned on opposite sides of the side branch structure. The first and second support members each have a strut width that is greater than the width of a strut included in the side branch structure. The stent further comprises first and second connecting members, which are positioned on opposite ends of the side branch structure. Each connecting member is connected at one end to the first support member and is connected at the other end to the second support member. Each connecting member comprises a serpentine structure having a plurality of straight struts and turns. One or both of the connecting members includes at least one straight strut that has a length that is at least ten times its width. In some embodiments, each connecting member comprises at least four struts that have a length that is at least then times their width.
US07959664B2	Flat process of drug coating for stents A drug-coated stent and a method for fabricating the stent are disclosed. The stent has an originally flat pattern and connection points where the sides of the flat pattern are joined. The method includes the steps of a) cutting a stent pattern into a flat piece of metal thereby to produce a metal pattern, b) spraying the flat metal stent pattern with a polymer and a drug, c) deforming the metal pattern so as to cause two opposing sides to meet, and d) joining the two opposing sides at least at one point. Substantially no portion of the stent projects into the lumen of the stent when the stent is expanded against the internal wall of a blood vessel.
US07959662B2	Endovascular prosthesis A endovascular prosthesis for implantation in a body passageway. The prosthesis comprises a tubular wall which is: (i) movable between a first longitudinal length and a second longitudinally length, and (ii) radially expandable for implantation of the prosthesis in the body passageway. In one embodiment, the tubular wall has a longitudinally length which is variable by an “accordion”-like action. In another embodiment, the tubular wall has a longitudinally length which is variable by an “telescoping”-like action. The longitudinal length of the tubular wall may be varied in vivo to optimize deployment of the endovascular prosthesis.
US07959659B2	High-density lipoprotein coated medical devices An implantable medical device is disclosed comprising a high-density lipoprotein (HDL), recombinant HDL, high-density lipoprotein mimics (HDLm), or a combination thereof. Method are also disclosed for local and systemic administration HDL, recombinant HDL or HDLm for the prevention, treatment, or amelioration of a vascular disorder, disease or occlusion such as restenosis or vulnerable plaque.
US07959658B2	Heating system to alleviate hypothermia A medical, electrically powered thermal cover for fitting predominantly the trunk and head of a person experiencing or potentially experiencing traumatic or cold-exposure hypothermia. The thermal cover encases all of the torso and neck, and portions of other body areas. Heating may be distinctly non-uniform, being applied to the body surface only in special regions where the body's capacity for heat uptake may be relatively high. In sum, the system may monitor deep body core temperature, direct heat to the body core where it may be most needed, and controls therapy over time to restore normothermia.
US07959654B2	Vertebral fixing system The present invention relates to a vertebral fixing system adapted to be mounted on a vertebra of the spine to connect it to a rod. Said fixing system comprises: a connecting part adapted to face the rib and/or said transverse process and to be connected to said rod; an elongate flexible ligature adapted to connect together said connecting part and at least one rib and/or one transverse process; and adjustable locking means fastened to said connecting part and adapted to fix simultaneously in position said connecting part relative to said rod and at least one portion of said ligature relative to said connecting part, so as to prevent relative displacement of said rod and said vertebra in opposite directions.
US07959652B2	Interspinous process implant having deployable wings and method of implantation An embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention can include an implant having a spacer with a thickness and a wing, wherein a first configuration of the wing has a first height substantially similar to the thickness and wherein the wing is adapted to be selectably arranged in a second configuration such that the wing has a second height greater than the first height. A periphery of the implant has a shape generally conformal with a shape of an inner surface of a cannula and a cross-sectional diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cannula. The cannula is inserted such that a proximal end of the cannula is arranged between the adjacent spinous processes. The implant is then urged into position between the adjacent spinous processes by way of the cannula, and subsequently arranged in a second configuration to fix the implant in position.
US07959649B2	Suture anchor device, kit and method A suture anchor and kit for anchoring a suture member to human bone in an interference fit. A suture anchor includes a threaded portion and has a head at the proximal end thereof, the head being generally circular. A tip is located at a distal end of the shank. The shank is at least partially threaded and includes walls defining a reel portion. The shank also includes walls for engaging a suture, the walls for engaging the suture typically adjacent walls defining the reel portion. The head typically includes walls for engaging a drive tool. The kit includes a drive tool for rotating the suture anchor when a suture member is engaged with the walls for engaging the suture such that rotation of the anchor causes the suture material to wrap around the reel portion of the shank.
US07959645B2	Retrievable vena cava filter A filter device positionable within a blood vessel for trapping emboli in the vessel, the filter device having a head and a plurality of divergent legs each secured at a first end to the head; each leg having one or more hooks at a second end. The hooks can include an expandable and contractible sleeve or hook that provides securing means for the legs and which also allows for easy removal of the filter device.
US07959643B2	Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation with concurrent hypothermia Devices, systems and methods for treating disorders characterized by low cardiac output. The devices, systems and methods use intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in combination with hypothermia of all or a portion of a human or veterinary patient's body to improve coronary perfusion and cardiac output. To effect the hypothermia, a heat exchange catheter may be positioned in the a patient's vasculature separately from the intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation catheter. Alternatively, a combination Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation/heat exchange catheter may be utilized. Such combination catheter comprises a) a catheter sized for insertion into the aorta, b) a counterpulsation balloon and c) a heat exchanger. A drive/control system receives temperature and electrocardiograph signals and drives the inflation/deflation of the counterpulsation balloon as well as the heating/cooling of the heat exchanger.
US07959641B2	Tubular cutter device and methods for cutting and removing strips of tissue from the body of a patient Methods and devices for cutting strips of tissue from masses of tissue inside or outside of the bodies of human or animal subjects. The device generally comprises a) an elongate cutting tube that has a distal end and a lumen that opens through an opening in the distal end and b) first and second cutting edges formed on generally opposite edges of the distal end of the cutting tube and separated by a distance D. The device is advanced through tissue to cut a strip of tissue of approximate width W. Width W is approximately equal to distance D.
US07959639B1	Trialing system and method utilizing offset An improvement in a trialing system and method for use in connection with the implant of a prosthetic joint component having a first part for engaging bone at an implant site to secure the component at the implant site, and a second part for enabling articulation of the prosthetic joint. A trial first member corresponds to the first part of the component, a trial second member corresponds to the second part of the component, and an offset adapter facilitates selective coupling and uncoupling of the trial first member and the trial second member with the trial second member offset from the trial first member and placed at a selected angular orientation relative to the offset adapter. Thus, during a trialing procedure the trial second member is selectively released readily for replacement of the trial second member with alternate trial second members, and replacement of the offset adapter with alternate offset adapters, as well as facilitating the selected angular orientation of a trial second member relative to an offset adapter, as required in order to expedite an accurate trialing procedure.
US07959633B2	Electrosurgical pencil with improved controls An electrosurgical pencil is provided which includes an elongated housing, an electrocautery blade supported within the housing and extending distally from the housing. The electrocautery blade is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy. The pencil also includes at least one activation switch supported on the housing which is configured and adapted to complete a control loop extending from the source of electrosurgical energy. At least one voltage divider network is also supported on the housing and is electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy.
US07959630B2	Medical probes for creating and diagnosing circumferential lesions within or around the ostium of a vessel The present inventions provide assemblies, probes, and methods for creating circumferential lesions in tissue, e.g., the tissue within or around the ostium of a vessel. An ablation probe with an ablative structure can be placed in contact within or around the ostium of the vessel. A diagnostic probe can be introduced through a lumen within the ablation probe and inserted into the vessel. The energy can be provided to the ablative structure to create a circumferential lesion within or around the ostium of the vessel, and the diagnostic structure can be used to diagnose the tissue to determine whether the circumferential lesion can be properly created.
US07959627B2	Precision ablating device Apparatus for treating abnormal mucosa in an alimentary tract are provided. The apparatus include an ablation structure configured to be removably coupled to an endoscope and a deflection mechanism adapted to move the ablation structure with respect to the endoscope and toward a tissue surface.
US07959625B2	Method and system for cryoablating fibroadenomas A cryosurgical system adapted for treatment of fibroadenomas within the breast of a patient. The system includes cryoprobes and a control system which operates the cryoprobes to accomplish freezing in two stages, including a high power freeze and a low power freeze.
US07959622B2	Sanitary napkin A sanitary napkin includes a liquid-permeable topsheet, a backsheet, and a liquid-absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The liquid-absorbent layer has a vagina-facing region on a longitudinal centerline of the sanitary napkin and side regions on both sides of the vagina-facing region. The liquid-absorbent layer has a greater thickness and a greater bending stiffness in the vagina-facing region than in the side regions to provide hinge lines along boundaries between the vagina-facing region and the side regions.
US07959621B2	Array of disposable absorbent articles having a sequence of graphics corresponding to a wearer's stages of development An array of disposable absorbent articles comprising a sequence of graphic designs corresponding to a wearer's stage of development. For a disposable diaper, the array of disposable absorbent article graphic designs may comprise a first absorbent article graphic design for newborns and infants, a second absorbent article graphic design for toddlers, and a third absorbent article graphic design for older wearers, and other absorbent article graphic designs.
US07959618B2	Pant-shaped article with improved fit A pant-shaped garment includes an outer panty having a length direction and a transverse direction and having a rear portion, a front portion, and a crotch portion. The garment includes a waist opening with a waist edge extending in the transverse direction and two leg openings each being bordered by a leg edge having a front part of the leg edge being located generally on the front portion and a rear part of the leg edge being located generally on the rear portion and on the crotch portion. The rear and front portions are mutually connected in two side joins running in the length direction from the waist opening to each leg opening. The front and rear portions of the outer panty substantially comprise an elastically extensible material. The rear part of each leg edge is curve-shaped and exhibits a concave curved segment located mainly on the rear portion.
US07959616B2	Medicated sleeve Embodiments of the invention provide a stretchable sleeve having a medicinal section that can be loaded with a medicinal composition and a perforated section comprising a plurality of openings, wherein the medicinal section and the perforated section overlap, and wherein the sleeve is sized so that the interior surface of the medicinal section comfortably fits a body portion and the medicinal section contacts the body portion at the site of pain. Embodiments of the invention also provide methods for preparing a sleeve by applying a medicinal composition to the inner surface of the medicinal section through the openings at the perforated section. Embodiments of the invention also provide methods for relieving pain in a body portion by pulling the sleeve in an outside-out configuration straight up a body portion without having to roll and flip its exterior surface outside.
US07959614B2	Pressure actuated flow control valve A pressure actuated flow control valve for an infusion catheter permits gravity flow of a liquid through the catheter and into a patient while resisting back flow of blood from the patient and into the catheter. The valve has a hemispherical body with an outstanding circumferential flange and a normally closed, diametric slit. The slit is longer on the convex outer surface than on the concave inner surface. Dome thickness diminishes in the area adjacent the slit, reducing total apical deflection upon collapse of the slit toward the concave surface. An inner orthogonal rib biases the slit closed. Upon application of a predetermined pressure, the slit opens toward the concave surface to permit forward fluid flow. At lower pressures, the slit closes to check fluid flow. Greater reverse pressure is required to collapse the slit toward the concave surface to permit reverse fluid flow.
US07959613B2	Catheter introducer assembly having safety shielded needle An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and an inwardly disposed resilient flange or a clip disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle.
US07959611B2	Urinary catheter immobilizer Disclosed is a urinary catheter immobilizer for immobilizing movement of a urinary catheter in a human body. The urinary catheter immobilizer comprises a funnel-shaped member and a body member configured to be received over the funnel-shaped member. The funnel-shaped member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is capable of being received over a urinary meatus of the human body. The body member is configured to be received over the second end portion of the funnel-shaped member and capable of removably attaching to an external portion of the urinary catheter. The body member comprises a torus-shaped structure and at least one elongated tubular structure. The torus-shaped structure comprises at least one channel. The at least one channel is capable of receiving the at least one elongated tubular structure for looping around the torus-shaped structure for immobilizing the urinary catheter.
US07959610B2	Apparatus and method for the insertion of a medical device An apparatus and method for insertion of medical devices is disclosed. One embodiment includes an access tube with a retention portion disposed at a distal end. The retention portion is reconfigurable between first and second configurations of reduced and increased lateral extent. A trocar can be movably disposed within the access tube, which can be movably disposed within an overtube. One method of the invention includes inserting the trocar and access tube through a patient's body wall where the retention portion is configured from a reduced to an increased lateral extent. An overtube can be inserted around the access tube through the body wall where the retention portion can be received through a slot defined by the overtube. The retention portion can be returned to reduced lateral extent. The access tube can be removed and the medical device can be inserted within the overtube.
US07959609B2	Accurate metering system The present invention is directed to metering devices, systems, and methods that mitigate differential thermal expansion/contraction for the efficient, accurate, and reproducible metered delivery of fluids. The present invention allows the net fluid volume and a plunger location within a fluid dispensing container to automatically adjust under the influence of differential thermal expansion/contraction between the fluid and the fluid dispensing container that the fluid is contained within. Further, the present invention allows the metering system drive to sense the adjusted plunger location and allows the metering system drive to re-zero itself to produce an accurate volumetric delivery of fluid from the fluid dispensing container. The metering system includes means for controlling the travel of the metering system drive, and hence the travel of the plunger into the fluid dispensing container, for delivering accurate/precise amounts of the fluid from the fluid dispensing container. The metering system may also mitigate dead volume in the metering system.
US07959608B2	Thrombectomy and soft debris removal device A device suitable for removing material from a living being is provided, featuring an infusate pump, and an aspiration pump, both powered by a motor. The aspiration pump and infusate pump preferably feature a helical pumping mechanism, and operate at a high rate of rotation, thereby ensuring adequate pumping performance and flexibility. Additionally, a narrow crossing profile is maintained, ensuring that the device may reach more tortuous regions of the vasculature.
US07959606B2	Device and method employing shape memory alloy A system for the metering and delivery of small discrete volumes of liquid is comprised of a small or minimal number of inexpensive components. One such component is a movable member, such as a miniature precision reciprocating displacement pump head, which is driven by an actuator that comprises a shape memory alloy material. The operating mechanism of the system is of little or minimal complexity. The system facilitates the precise metering and delivery of the small discrete volumes of liquid. Potential applications for the system include subcutaneous, long-term, automated drug delivery, for example, the delivery of insulin to a person with diabetes. In such an application, the small, simple and inexpensive nature of the invention would allow for its use as both a portable and a disposable system.
US07959600B2	Container closure delivery system A container closure delivery system that is suitable for lyophilized pharmaceutical injectable powder products is disclosed. The system comprises storage stable powder formulations and a container closure assembly design wherein the formulation can be filled and lyophilized with a standard fill finish equipment, and the formulations and lyophilization processes are optimized to produce a powder that readily dissolves upon contact with a diluent, thereby facilitating the direct injection of the lyophilized product without the need for a separate reconstitution/mixing/priming step.
US07959597B2	Irrigation and aspiration device and method An irrigation and aspiration system is disclosed. The system can be configured to aspirate and irrigate alone, sequentially or concurrently. The system can be configured to aspirate and irrigate the nasal cavity. The system can be manually controlled. The system can have removable and easily cleanable reservoirs for aspirant and irrigant.
US07959594B2	Access disconnection systems and methods Apparatuses, devices, systems and methods for detecting access disconnection are provided. In one embodiment, a medical fluid system includes (i) a medical fluid machine and (ii) a device operable with the medical fluid machine, the device configured to provide electrical contact with a medical fluid, the device including (a) a tube used during dialysis therapy through which the medical fluid can flow, and (b) a conductive element configured to self-sealingly pierce the tube, the conductive element having a first portion exposed to the medical fluid and a second portion external to the tube.
US07959593B2	Blood purification apparatus and method for evaluating connection conditions of needles A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a blood purifying device, a driving device, an air bubble detection device, and a connection condition evaluation device. The blood circuit is provided with arterial and venous blood circuits, to which needles are attached at ends thereof. The blood purifying device is connected between the arterial and venous circuits. In a blood purifying treatment after a priming operation, the driving device drives the blood in the arterial blood circuit in a forward direction, and drives the blood in the venous blood circuit in a reverse direction. The air bubble detection device detects air bubbles in a liquid flowing in the arterial and venous blood circuits. The connection condition evaluation device evaluates connection conditions of the needles to the ends of the arterial and venous blood circuits based on the detection by the air bubble detection device.
US07959587B2	Portable electronic sound, physioacoustic, and colored light therapy system The present invention is a portable integrated sound, physioacoustic, and colored light apparatus. This is a self-contained electrically powered device designed to stimulate and facilitate the human body's innate self-healing mechanisms. The active components are housed in a portable pyramidal-shaped lower enclosure (100) with a single recessed panel (102) on one side of the unit containing a user interface for controlling the pitch and tonal quality of the generated sound and physioacoustic frequencies. The unit also contains specified colored light elements situated under a quartz crystal pyramid capstone (108) which react with the sound frequencies by increasing and decreasing in intensity. The user or therapist has the capability to access the electronically generated sound source to achieve a wide variety of tonal sound and vibrational components, as well as the ability to select the desired colored light therapy component.
US07959585B2	Device and method for the time-based analysis of the agitation of a bedridden patient Device for the time-based analysis of the agitation of a bedridden patient includes elements (4) for acquiring the patient's shouts and elements (5) for acquiring the patient's movements, the acquisition elements being connected to storage elements (9) suitable for storing the acquired data accompanied by a time stamping of the latter, the storage elements being connected to analysis and presentation elements (10) suitable for providing care staff with a representation of the frequency and duration of the patient's shouts and movements which are representative of the patient's agitation over a determined time span, characterized in that the elements for acquiring shouts include a bandpass filter (6) suitable for isolating the shouts from speech and ambient noise.
US07959584B2	Dedicated distal protection guidewires A dedicated distal protection guidewire having proximal and distal stops disposed about an elongated core wire is disclosed. A guidewire in accordance with the present invention includes an elongated core wire having a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section, a distal stop disposed about a portion of the elongated core wire, and a proximal stop disposed about a portion of the elongated core wire proximal the distal stop. The distal stop may be formed from an enlarged outer diameter portion on the elongated core wire, or may be formed from an object disposed about and secured to a portion of the elongated core wire. The proximal stop may include an O-ring disposed within a recessed surface on the elongated core wire, or an annular ring having several circumferentially disposed notches. In one exemplary embodiment, a distal protection guidewire may include a proximal stop comprising a first tubular member, a second tubular member, and a plurality of expandable struts actuatable between a collapsed position and a deployed position.
US07959582B2	Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site that includes a single drive force generator. A plurality of penetrating members are operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves each of the members along a path out of a housing with a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A flexible support member couples the penetrating members to define a linear array. The support member is movable and configured to move each of the penetrating members to a launch position associated with the force generator. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, penetrating member performance or a penetrating member setting.
US07959580B2	Quick cycle biopsy system A biopsy apparatus includes a cannula having a closed distal end. An orifice is located on a circumferential surface of the cannula. The orifice is configured to receive a tissue sample into a lumen of the cannula. A cutting sheath is slidably and coaxially disposed over the cannula. The cutting sheath is adapted to seal the opening of the orifice. A pressure generating device is connected to a proximal portion of the cannula for altering a pressure in the lumen of the cannula. A valve is positioned between the cannula and the pressure generating device for controlling a flow of a fluid between the lumen of the cannula and the pressure generating device.
US07959579B2	Apparatus for medical measurement A measuring device for medical applications in at least one example embodiment includes a first part provided with measuring means for measuring data of a patient, and a second part provided with communication means for sending the data. In at least one example embodiment, the second part is releasably connected to the first part.
US07959578B2	Methods and techniques to measure, map and correlate ocular micro-movement and ocular micro-tremor (OMT) signals with cognitive processing capabilities in ADD/ADHD individuals An apparatus and method of collecting elements of and assembling various portions of ocular micro motions such as ocular micro-tremor (OMT) movements of the eye, and correlating them directly with OMT waveforms acquired from both known and unknown states of cognition and cognitive function. Comparing newly acquired waveforms from patients with undiagnosed cognitive dysfunctions, permits an individual or caregiver the ability to identify those unknown issues or cognitive states based on matching or relating statistically elements of their waveform with categories of other known cognitive processing normals and abnormals, functional and dysfunctional individuals. It also allows for measuring the effects of therapeutic agents (psychological or pharmacological) by relating them to measurable changes in cognitive function as a result of correlated changes in waveforms.
US07959577B2	Method, system, and apparatus for neural localization Described herein are devices, systems and methods for determining if a nerve is nearby a device or a region of a device. In general, a device for determining if a nerve is nearby a device includes an elongate body having an outer surface with one or more bipole pairs arranged on the outer surface. Bipole pairs may also be referred to as tight bipoles. The bipole pairs may be arranged as a bipole network, and may include a cathode and an anode that are spaced relatively close together to form a limited broadcast field. In general, the broadcast filed is a controlled or “tight” broadcast field that extends from the bipole pair(s). Methods of using these devices and system are also described.
US07959576B2	Apparatus for detecting diastolic heart failure An implantable medical apparatus for detecting diastolic heart failure, DHF, has a DHF determining device for determining at least one DHF parameter for detecting a DHF state of the heart of a patient. The DHF includes circuitry for determining, as the DHF parameter, the time duration of a predetermined phase of diastole. A pacemaker has such an apparatus and a control unit that optimizes pacing therapy and pacemaker settings depending on the determined time duration. A corresponding method of detecting diastolic heart failure, DHF, includes determining at least one DHF parameter for detecting a DHF state of the heart of a patient. As the DHF parameter, the time duration of a predetermined phase of diastole is determined.
US07959575B2	Blood rheology measuring apparatus A blood rheology measuring apparatus has a measuring portion for measuring a flow velocity of the blood flowing in a blood vessel of a person in a mode of a Doppler shift signal by transmitting and receiving a wave to and from a surface of the person's skin. An information processing portion calculates an intensity at each of frequency components of the Doppler shift signal, extracts a maximum frequency in a signal at an intensity level equal to or larger than a threshold in the histogram or a maximum frequency when an integrated value from a low frequency component reaches a predetermined rate of a total thereof in the histogram, and provides a temporal change waveform of the extracted frequency. The blood rheology is analyzed based on the maximum frequency in the frequency waveform.
US07959570B2	Eye tonometry apparatus, systems and methods A system for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising a plurality of force sensors that are adapted to contact a surface of an eye, means for measuring the forces exerted on the force sensors when in contact with the eye surface, and processing means that is adapted to receive the measured forces and determine IOP of the eye as a function of the measured forces.
US07959569B2	System and methods for processing analyte sensor data Systems and methods for processing sensor analyte data, including initiating calibration, updating calibration, evaluating clinical acceptability of reference and sensor analyte data, and evaluating the quality of sensor calibration. During initial calibration, the analyte sensor data is evaluated over a period of time to determine stability of the sensor. The sensor may be calibrated using a calibration set of one or more matched sensor and reference analyte data pairs. The calibration may be updated after evaluating the calibration set for best calibration based on inclusion criteria with newly received reference analyte data. Fail-safe mechanisms are provided based on clinical acceptability of reference and analyte data and quality of sensor calibration. Algorithms provide for optimized prospective and retrospective analysis of estimated blood analyte data from an analyte sensor.
US07959568B2	Advanced patient management for identifying, displaying and assisting with correlating health-related data Systems, devices and methods for identifying, displaying and assisting in correlating health-related data. One aspect is a programmable device having machine executable instructions for performing a method for use in correlating data to manage a patient's health. In various embodiments, data related to the patient's health is acquired. The acquired data includes one or more trended health-related parameters, and at least one of one or more predetermined health-related events and one or more health-related alerts. Correlations are identified. The one or more trended health-related parameters and the at least one of the one or more predetermined health-related events and the one or more health-related alerts establish a causal relationship between the acquired data and the patient's health.
US07959565B2	Method and apparatus for estimating a likelihood of shoulder dystocia A method and an apparatus for estimating a level of risk of shoulder dystocia with neonatal injury associated to an obstetrics patient are provided. A set of information data elements associated to an obstetrics patient is received including information derived from a maternal weight component, a maternal height component and a fetal weight component. The set of information data elements is processing to derive a ranking data element associated to the obstetrics patient. The ranking data element conveys a level of risk of shoulder dystocia associated to the obstetrics patient. The ranking data element is then released.
US07959562B2	Body-insertable apparatus, in-vivo information acquiring system, and body-insertable apparatus manufacturing method An object of the present invention is to make it possible to closely examine a specific region by making most use of an advantage of a compound-eye capsule endoscope that picks up images of an interior of a body cavity forward and backward in a movement direction of a capsule casing. By disposing imaging devices of respective imaging blocks in a capsule casing while having a relationship between arrangement directions of the imaging devices, e.g., making upward and downward directions U and D coincident with each other, a correspondence/positional relationship between the images picked up by the imaging devices is clear when the specific region such as an affected part in the body cavity is to be observed using the respective images forward and backward in the movement direction, thereby facilitating close examination on the specific region using the both images.
US07959561B2	Endoscope system having rigid endoscope and wiper sheath An endoscope system includes a rigid endoscope including an optical system in a rigid insert section thereof, and a wiper sheath. The wiper sheath includes a wiper insert section receiving the insert section of the rigid endoscope, a wiper arranged on a distal end portion of the wiper insert section and enabled to be placed in contact with a distal-end face of the rigid endoscope received in the wiper insert section, and an operation unit, arranged at a proximal end portion of the wiper insert section, for switching the wiper between a contact state with the wiper placed to be in contact with the distal-end face of the rigid endoscope and a detached state with the wiper spaced apart from the distal-end face of the rigid endoscope, and for moving the wiper on and along the distal-end face of the rigid endoscope when the wiper is in the contact state.
US07959557B2	Robotic medical instrument system A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises introducing a medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate the tool located on the medical instrument to secure a stent to an anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel, such as an abdominal aorta). The tool may be a sewing tool that is controlled to stitch the stent to the anatomical vessel. In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument.
US07959556B2	Penile prosthesis cap, assembly, and implantation tool A cap configured to be attached to a cylinder of an implantable penile prosthesis includes a body section and a tip section. The body section defines a recess that is attachable to an end of the cylinder of the implantable penile prosthesis and the tip section terminates in a tip having a curved exterior surface. The tip section defines at least one slot formed therein that extends away from the body section and has a slot axis that intersects with a longitudinal axis of the cap.
US07959551B2	Blood pump bearings with separated contact surfaces Rotary hydrodynamic blood pumps have been used to treat over a thousand patients. The Jarvik 2000 has supported a patient for seven years and uses blood immersed bearings washed by high flow to avoid excessive thrombus formation. This permits the pump to be very simple and small. Nonetheless, the present Jarvik 2000 bearings and all other mechanical blood immersed bearings of the prior art have a supporting structure that predisposes to thrombus adjacent to the bearings. The present invention provides a bearing structure that eliminates this predilection site for thrombus formation, and may provide indefinite thrombus free operation. The rotor of the preferred embodiment includes a tapered hub fabricated of wear resistant material supported by three posts at each end of the rotor, upon which the rotor rotates. Blood washes the unobstructed spaces between the posts to prevent the accumulation of a torus of thrombus that could enlarge excessively.
US07959549B2	Percutaneous array delivery system A system for treating tissue includes a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and the distal ends, and an array of delivery tubes at least partially disposed within the lumen, each of the delivery tube having a lumen, wherein each of the delivery tubes is slidable relative to the cannula, and has a first configuration when inside the lumen, and a second configuration when outside the lumen. A system for treating tissue includes a treatment device having a distal end, and an indexing device for controlling a longitudinal position of the distal end of the treatment device relative to a target tissue region, the indexing device having a tubular portion for receiving the treatment device.
US07959546B2	Oil centrifuge for extracting particulates from a continuous flow of fluid A centrifuge is employed to continuously remove particulates from a fluid. In one embodiment, the centrifuge removes small particles of soot from lubricating oil of large diesel engines. The fluid in introduced into the centrifuge through an inducer so that vortexes are not propagated in the fluid. Flow constrainers and flow straighteners maintain laminar flow of the fluid as it passes axially through the centrifuge. An exducer decelerates the fluid prior to its exit from the centrifuge. The exducer thus contributes to maintaining laminar flow conditions. Laminar flow may contribute to the soot-removal effectiveness of the centrifuge.
US07959534B2	Hybrid driving apparatus with multistage transmission provided in power transmission path and control method thereof When a sub transmission mechanism is switched to the LO-side gear stage, a hybrid control unit executes a control operation such that vehicle speed does not exceed limit vehicle speed determined in advance in accordance with the transmission gear ratio of LO-side gear stage. Specifically, the hybrid control unit reduces at least one of the driving torque generated by the engine and the second motor generator, so that rotation speed of the second motor generator does not exceed tolerable rotation speed. Further, the hybrid control unit reduces at least one of the driving torque generated by the engine and the second motor generator when any of temperatures respectively detected by temperature sensors exceed corresponding upper limit temperatures.
US07959531B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US07959526B2	Golf ball position marking device and method of use A golf ball position marking device enables a user to reliably and unobtrusively mark the position of a golf ball on a putting green. The golf ball position marking device comprises a putting green contact surface, a marker material dispensing port, a marker material dispensing actuator and a marker material reservoir. The putting green contact surface is sized and shaped to permit stable positioning of the golf ball position marking device on a putting green in close proximity to a golf ball on the putting green thereby providing oriented alignment of the golf ball position marking device with the golf ball on the putting green. Activation of the marker material dispensing actuator results in the dispensing of a marker material from the marker material reservoir onto the putting green at a predetermined vector position relative to the point where the golf ball contacts the putting green.
US07959525B1	Dual composition golf tee A dual composition polymeric device to be used as a golf tee, the device having a polymeric hollow stiff stem portion with an integral cone portion at its top end, a cone-shaped polymeric flexible face portion mechanically joined to the cone and stiff stem portion and an internal air passage through the center of the cone-shaped flexible face and a removable mechanical screw joining the cone-shaped flexible face portion with the stiff stem portion and its integral cone portion. The flexible face portion internal cone is made from a 50-85 durometer elastomer material and the stiff stem portion and its integral external cone is made from a 90-95 durometer elastomer material.
US07959515B1	Combination pool table having a rebound surface convertible from eight sides to a circular shape and portions thereof A combination pool table having a rebound surface convertible from eight sides to a circular shape and portions thereof being a circular pool table comprising a flat circular playing surface having a plurality of pockets equally spaced around the periphery thereof. A circular rail surrounds the flat circular playing surface. The circular rail has a plurality of sockets in alignment with the pockets. At least one rebound cushion is removably mounted onto the flat circular playing surface against the circular rail between two of the pockets.
US07959510B2	Network game system A game machine operable to execute a game program is communicatively connected to a center server. In the center server, a first transmitter transmits, to the game machine, first data indicating a settled play amount out of a played amount which is represented by either an accumulated number or time period that the game program has been executed. In the game machine, a first storage is operable to store the first data, a second storage is operable to store second data indicating the played amount, and a third storage is operable to store third data indicating an allowable unsettled play amount which represents either an allowable number or time period of which the game program is executed without settlement. In the game machine, a first receiver receives the first data transmitted by the first transmitter, an updater updates the first data stored in the first storage with the first data received by the first receiver, and a controller controls the game machine based on the first data stored in the first storage, the second data stored in the second storage and the third data stored in the third storage.
US07959508B2	Gaming machine with player selection of options in bonus game In one embodiment, a gaming machine carries out a main game, such as a spinning reel type game, either using physical reels or simulated reels on a video screen. A special combination of symbols activates a video bonus game. The bonus game comprises a plurality of N unknown options in the form of icons, where the player may only make M choices, where M is less than N. In another embodiment, M is less than or equal to N. The unknown options may include, for example, different award credits. The options may be presented as hidden values behind doors or using other attractive presentation. The N values behind the closed doors are displayed in an order unrelated to the arrangement of the unknown options so the player sees what she can possibly win. The player then makes her M selections to win the awards behind the doors. There may be additional levels of the bonus game. Numerous other embodiments are described relating to providing the player unknown options and allowing the player to select a subset of the options. In one embodiment, the games involve some player strategy. For example, the game reveals a hidden value to a player, and the player must choose whether to take the revealed value or select another door.
US07959504B2	Gaming device game applying randomly selected features to an array of symbols Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more paylines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. A trigger event, such as the occurrence of a special symbol (e.g., a $ symbol), initiates a special feature. Once the trigger event occurs, one of a plurality of features is randomly selected and applied to the symbols in the existing array of symbols, and an award is then granted based on the results. An example of the group of available features is: 1) multiply the number of $ symbols in the array by X credits; 2) randomly place a $ symbol on reels 1, 2, 4, and 5; 3) change certain predetermined symbols to the $ symbol; and 4) fill two, three, or four reels (randomly selected) with the $ symbol.
US07959502B2	Method of playing a game of chance including a computer-based game A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type game. A result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in another medium. In one example, the result is revealed during multiple game instances of one or more online games. In one example, the online game includes a poker game. In another example, the poker game is coupled with a second level game in which the result is revealed. In a specific example, the second level game is a slot machine game.
US07959500B1	Process for preparing rib meat product A cooked and de-boned substantially intact slab of rib meat is provided. A process for preparing a de-boned rib meat product from a pork or beef rib cut is also provided. The process for preparing the rib meat product involves cooking a length of rib meat having rib bones embedded therein at a temperature and for a time sufficient to enable the removal of the rib bones from the length of rib meat, while maintaining a substantially intact length of rib meat.
US07959495B2	Method and apparatus for finishing the surface of rubber covered rollers A method and apparatus for finishing the surface of rubber or synthetic covered rollers (10) is disclosed. As seen in FIG. 3, a rotating hub (16) having a circumferential abrasion band (47) and an adjacent set of rasp blades (20) arranged end-to-end and extending circumferentially about the hub is used to progressively and sequentially removebands of surface material by cutting and then abrading as the hub and roller are rotated and one is moved axially relative to the other.
US07959492B2	Disk-shaped substrate inner circumference polishing method The disk-shaped substrate inner circumference polishing method for polishing an inner circumference of a disk-shaped substrate including a portion having an opening hole at the center thereof includes inserting a brush having a shaft core into the portion having the opening hole of the disk-shaped substrate; fixing one end and the other end of the brush to a pair of rotating shafts that are provided at mutually detached positions and pulling at least any one of the one end and the other end of the brush and applying tension in the axial direction to the shaft core of the brush; and rotating the brush and polishing the inner circumference of the disk-shaped substrate.
US07959491B2	Method for slicing workpiece by using wire saw and wire saw The present invention is a wire saw in which a wire is wound around a plurality of grooved rollers, the workpiece is sliced into wafers by causing the wire to travel and pressing the workpiece against the wire while a slurry is supplied to the grooved rollers, the wire saw controlling in such a manner that the workpiece is sliced while a supply temperature of the slurry is increased from the start to the end of slicing the workpiece. As a result, there is provided a wire saw in which Warp of the workpiece to be sliced can be improved by suppressing a decrease in a temperature of the workpiece in the vicinity of the slicing end portion of the workpiece and by making an increase in displacement of the grooved roller during slicing straight, that is, by making the slicing trajectory depicted in the workpiece close to a straight line.
US07959489B2	Devices and methods for securing a clothing strap Devices, methods, and kits for securing clothing, in particular, for securing a bra strap to a blouse strap. The device includes a long, thin material, having a first end, a second end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The long, thin material is formed into a plurality of opposing segments. A first of the plurality of opposing segments is continuous with a first end of a second of the plurality of the opposing segments at a first junction, and a first end of the third of the plurality of opposing segments is continuous with a second end of the second of the plurality of the opposing segments at a second junction. A fourth of the plurality of opposing segments is continuous with a second end of the third of the plurality of the opposing segments at a third junction.
US07959482B2	Manufacturing method for ignition plug involves removing leading end portion of shell extended from end surface of insulator A manufacturing method for an ignition plug is provided. The method includes: preparing an insulator having a cavity provided at a leading end portion thereof by disposing a leading end of the center electrode more inwards than a leading end of the insulator; building the insulator in an interior of the metal shell such that the leading end of the insulator is situated closer to a rear end side than the leading end of the metal shell; removing at least part of a leading end portion of the metal shell which projects from a leading end face of the insulator; and disposing the ground electrode at the leading end portion of the metal shell and welding the ground electrode and the metal shell together after the removal step.
US07959473B2	Universal connector assembly and method of manufacturing An advanced modular plug connector assembly incorporating an insert assembly disposed in the rear portion of the connector housing. In one embodiment, the connector has a plurality of ports in multi-row configuration, and the insert assembly includes a substrate adapted to receive one or more electronic components such as choke coils, transformers, or other signal conditioning elements or magnetics. The substrate also interfaces with the conductors of two modular ports of the connector, and is removable from the housing such that an insert assembly of a different electronics or terminal configuration can be substituted therefor. In this fashion, the connector can be configured to a plurality of different standards (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet and 10/100). In yet another embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a plurality of light sources (e.g., LEDs) received within the housing. Methods for manufacturing the aforementioned embodiments are also disclosed.
US07959469B2	Connector device and connector assembly A connector device (10) has a connector (20) to be mounted on a metal case (11) that accommodates a device therein and is covered by a first shield shell (50) and a second shield shell (60). Connecting portions for connecting the first and second shield shells (50, 60) are provided at least at three positions and these connecting portions are arranged at positions displaced in a connecting direction of the connector (20) and a mating connector (40) and a direction orthogonal to the connecting direction. The connecting positions of the first and second shield shells (50, 60) are well-balanced to provide a good a shielding performance.
US07959467B2	Communication module ground contact A transceiver module that utilizes a side contact spring portion to ground a shielded cable that is plugged into the transceiver module. In one example embodiment, a transceiver module includes a housing, a jack, and a side contact spring portion. The housing is operative to be electrically connected to chassis ground when the transceiver module is received within a host port. The jack is defined in the housing and operative to receive a shielded plug. The side contact spring portion is substantially implemented within the jack and is configured to be in electrical contact with both the housing and a conductive element of the shielded plug received by the jack such that a chassis ground is established between the housing and the shielded plug and such that a moveable bail pivot lever is able to move without disrupting the electrical contact between the side contact spring portion and the housing and/or the conductive element of the shielded plug.
US07959463B1	Heated connector for snow plow lighting system A pair of mating electrical connectors are disclosed that include at least one heat generating element to prevent the electrical connectors from becoming covered with ice or snow in cold climates and to also make the electrical connectors easier to separate or plug together in cold environments. When the mating electrical connectors are connected and energized, electricity will flow through the at least one electrical heat generating element generating heat within the electrical connectors. The amount of heat that is generated within the electrical connectors is sufficient to prevent snow and ice from forming on the exterior of the mating electrical connectors, even in very cold ambient weather conditions, and to ease the disconnection of the mated electrical connectors in such cold ambient weather conditions.
US07959461B1	MiniPCI connector An improved MiniPCI connector structure includes a mini area bus connector and a set of plate type antenna connector. The bus connector comprises an upper unit and a lower unit buckling to each other. The upper unit has a plurality of contacting terminals within, and the adjacent sides of contacting terminals protrude out of the opening of the upper unit to form adapting slot and plug; the flange of the upper unit has two buckling portions, and the lower unit has corresponding adapting slot and corresponding buckling portion corresponding to the contacting terminals and the buckling portions at the flange of the upper unit. Thus, the interne card can be adapted into the adapting slot of the upper unit and the buckling of the buckling portion and the corresponding buckling portion enables the upper unit joining with the lower unit as a mini area bus connector and a set of plate type antenna connector positioning on the circuit board.
US07959459B2	Retractable information handling system cable An information handling system disposed within a housing may include a cable coupled to the information handling system. The cable may be configured to move from a retracted position substantially within the housing to an extended position wherein a portion of the cable is external to the housing. Further, a connector end of the cable may be configured to communicatively couple the information handling system to a portable device.
US07959457B2	Battery connection device The invention discloses a battery connection device comprising a connection block positioned at an electrode end of a battery; the connection block is provided with a series connection mechanism at both ends respectively, and with a parallel connection mechanism at all sides respectively; the series connection mechanism is provided inside with a conductive slice electrically connected with the electrode end of the battery; the conductive slice is further led out to a fitting face of the parallel connection mechanism; and thus the conductive slices on the two connection blocks are electrically connected when the two batteries respectively fitted with the connection block are parallel. The invention can make each unit battery connected modularly in series or parallel like a building block; the battery does not further need electrode connection by welding or battery fixing by assembling, which is convenient for operation as well as safe and reliable.
US07959456B2	Wiring cable connector A connector (10) to be mounted in a metallic transmission case (C) has a base housing (20). Terminal fittings (40) have a wire connecting portion (41) and a terminal connecting portion (42) arranged in an L-shape. The terminal connecting portions (42) are inserted through the base housing (20) and the wire connecting portions (41) are arranged side by side on the base housing (20). A cover housing (30) is assembled with the base housing (20) to cover the wire connecting portions (41). Lock projections (22) and lock pieces (31) lock the cover housing (30) and the base housing (20) together. A wall (33) projects from the cover housing (30) toward the base housing (20) between adjacent wire connecting portions (41); and a groove (26) is provided in the base housing (20) at a position corresponding to the wall (33) and into which the wall (33) is press-fit.
US07959454B2	Wet mate connector A submersible connector has releasably mateable plug and receptacle units. The plug unit has at least one electrical pin while the receptacle unit has at least one electrical socket module which receives a forward portion of the electrical pin when the units are mated. The pin is surrounded by semi-conductive seals and a conductive housing, while the socket module has a semi-conductive outer layer, and front seals of semi-conductive material on the pin and socket modules are in sealing engagement in the mated condition, isolating the pins from sea water exposure and forming a ground plane continuation at least from receptacle to plug in the mated condition and providing shielding from phase to phase interaction in a multiple pin and socket connector.
US07959453B2	Electrical cabinet with electrical connection to its door The invention concerns an electrical cabinet (1) including a housing (2), a door (3) and a hinge (4). The housing and the door support electric wires which are each routed from an electrical component located inside an electrical equipment compartment (11) formed by the housing towards the outside of the compartment to be connected to a corresponding electrical connector (17). Therefor, according to the invention the electric wires are routed through the hinge which is itself connected to the electrical connector. The hinge forms at least one passage orifice (18, 19) guiding, the electric wires from inside the compartment towards the outside of the compartment while directing them towards the electrical connector.
US07959452B2	Lever-type connector A lever-type connector capable of detecting displacement of a slider within a housing is provided. The lever-type connector includes a housing that has a contact receiving passageway for receiving a contact, a movable slider that is received within the housing, and a lever that can rotate between a mating start position and a mating completion position. By positioning the lever to the mating completion position, the slider is set to a mating position, thereby completing mating with a mating connector. The lever-type connector further includes an inspection hole that corresponds and communicates with a cam groove only when the slider is set to the mating position. The inspection hole is provided on a front surface of the housing.
US07959451B2	Lever-type connector A connector is provided with a first housing (10) including a lever 30 rotatably mounted about supporting shaft bearings (34), and a second housing 60 including cam followers (63) engageable with cam grooves 41 of the lever 30 and to be connected with the first housing (10) by a cam action displayed between the cam grooves (41) and the cam followers (63) as the lever (30) is rotated. The second housing (60) includes posture correcting pins (66) at the opposite sides of the cam followers (63). The lever (30) is formed with posture correcting grooves (45) engageable with the posture correcting pins (66) in a rotating process thereof and extending along arcs centered on the supporting shaft bearings (34).
US07959448B1	Flash memory device with slidable contact module A flash memory device includes a circuit board and a contact module slidable with respect to the circuit board. The circuit board includes a plurality of first contacts each having a stiff first contact portion. The contact module includes a slider and a plurality of second contacts fixed to the slider. The slider is slidable with respect to the circuit board along a front-to-rear direction between a first position and a second position. The flash memory device is compatible to USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 receptacle connectors via the slidable contact module.
US07959444B2	Retractable adapter The present invention provides a retractable adapter for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle. The retractable adapter may include a lower housing, an upper housing and a retractable mechanism to store the wiring harness when not in use with the towed vehicle. The lower housing may be attached to the towing vehicle. The adapter may include a rotating disc assembly, a wire guide assembly and an electrical connector or wiring harness that may be coiled around the wire guide assembly. The adapter may also include a circuit tester with light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a backup alarm. In addition, the adapter may mate a seven-way blade connector to a four-flat connecter harness.
US07959441B2	Laser based enhanced generation of photoacoustic pressure waves in dental and medical treatments and procedures A laser tip, and method for the use thereof, is described for utilization in medical and dental applications. Specifically, a tip with an increased photoacoustic wave emission capability is formed by beveling the tip and further enhanced by stripping the adjacent sheath. Preferably, this conic and/or stripped tip section is surface modified, for example, by texturing, derivatization or metalization. In the field of endodontics the tip is inserted into a solution that has been introduced into a root canal and the pulsed laser is fired. The resulting generation of an enhanced photoacoustic wave propagates through the solution. These photoacoustic waves turbulently clean the interior of the root and lateral canal systems and/or causes cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems.
US07959440B2	Implant having circumferentially oriented roughness A self-tapping dental implant includes a shaft including a coronal end, an apical end, self-tapping structure at the apical end, and an outer surface having a first axial section and a second axial section. The first axial section may be located coronally of the second axial section. Each of the first and second axial sections may include a series of peaks being axially spaced apart by troughs. In addition, the axial spacing between the adjacent peaks in the first axial section may be different than the axial spacing between adjacent peaks in the second axial section. Substantially all of the troughs in the first axial section may lie on an axial plane parallel to a main axis of the dental implant. Furthermore, the self-tapping structure may extend coronally from the apical end into the first axial section. A coronal end portion of the shaft may include the first axial section of the outer surface, and an apical end portion of the shaft may include the second axial section of the outer surface.
US07959435B2	Method and apparatus for reducing NOx emissions in rotary kilns by SNCR A method of operating a mineral processing kiln includes introducing a quantity of a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) reducing agent into the kiln. The SNCR reducing agent may be a solid, liquid, or a gas. A mineral processing kiln modified for the implementation of SNCR is also disclosed.
US07959434B2	Flame arrester arrangement and method of incorporating bore in a flame arrester arrangement In a flame arrester arrangement which is formed from two metal strips (8, 9) which are wound together to form a disk having an approximately circular outer circumference and of which a first metal strip (8) is a smooth strip and the second metal strip (9) is a corrugated strip having defined corrugation, the two strips (8, 9), by bearing against one another, forming defined gaps (11) for passage of a fluid and being held in position, relative to one another by fixing pins inserted into radial bores (6), the radial bores (6) can be incorporated without deforming the gaps (11) even in the region of the bores (6) by virtue of the fact that the bores (6) are incorporated by spark erosion without deforming the corrugation formed in the second metal strip, such that the gaps (11) are also present in the region of the bores (6) in the manner defined by the corrugation.
US07959431B2	Radiant tube with recirculation A burner fires into a radiant tube to provide a downstream flow of combustion products within the radiant tube. Staged fuel is injected upstream into the radiant tube. A recirculation conduit inside the radiant tube receives the staged fuel along with combustion products that are inspirated into the recirculation conduit by the staged fuel. The recirculation conduit has an outlet for discharging a mixture of the inspirated combustion products and staged fuel into the downstream flow of combustion products.
US07959425B2	Injection molding machine having an electrical discharge system According to one embodiment, an injection molding machine includes a first die and a second die, a driving mechanism configured to move the second die between the first position and the second position, a holder configured to hold a film for in-mold formation, the film including metallic sheets used for covering the surface of the molded product, and an electric discharge mechanism. The electrical discharge mechanism is moved to a contact position with movement of the second die from the first position to the second position, used as a driving source. The electrical discharge mechanism is moved to a retracted position with movement of the second die from the second position to the first position, used as a driving source.
US07959423B2	Vacuum pump with a lubricant pump A vacuum pump includes a quick-rotatable component a bearing for supporting the quick-rotatable component and a lubricant pump for feeding lubricant to the bearing and having a rotor, with the bearing and the lubricant pump forming parts of a closed lubrication circuit having a hollow axle on which the rotor of the lubricant pump is rotatably supported.
US07959421B2	Compressor having a shutdown valve A compressor includes a shell, a compression mechanism supported within a suction pressure region of the shell and including a discharge outlet in communication with the discharge chamber, and a discharge valve assembly. The discharge valve assembly includes a valve member, a valve stop including an opening therethrough, and a communication member defining a fluid passage and extending into the discharge chamber from the valve stop toward the discharge outlet in the discharge chamber to provide fluid communication between the opening in the valve stop and a location downstream of the valve stop.
US07959420B1	Constant torque unloader system for a compressor An unloader system for a reciprocating gas compressor includes an unloader valve assembly which may be installed as the suction valve assembly or the discharge valve assembly of the compressor. The valve assembly includes a valve seat having one or more seat passages formed therethrough and a valve guard having a number of valve members movably mounted thereon equal to the number of seat passages. One of the valve guard and valve seat is rotatable relative to the other. The rotatable member is driven by a constant torque motor or other power source which stalls when a retarding force caused by pressure differentials across the valve members overcomes the torque supplied. Once pressures across the valve members equalize, the rotatable member can resume rotation. A method of unloading a compressor using the unloader system includes selecting a rotational speed for the rotating member to allow backflow.
US07959418B2	Mounting structure and motor compressor having the same A mounting structure has a base member, a mounted member and a plurality of C-shaped retainer rings. The base member has an opening. The mounted member is fitted to the opening. The plurality of C-shaped retainer rings is fitted to the base member for preventing the mounted member from moving away from the base member.
US07959414B2	Control system and method for protection against breakage of lubricanting-oil film in compressor bearings The present invention relates to a control system for protection against breakage of the lubricating-oil film in the bearings of hermetic compressors, as well as to a control method that has the objective of guaranteeing that a variable-capacity compressor should be maintained above a minimum rotation in order to prevent the oil film close to the respective bearing from breaking. One of the forms of achieving the objectives of the present invention is by means of a control system for protection against break of the lubricating-oil film in bearings of hermetic compressors, a microprocessor (10) actuating a set of switches (SW2M) selectively, so as to generate a rotation at the motor-compressor assembly (20, 21), the compressor (21) having a minimum rotation (RPMmin) of the compressor (21) so that the oil film will not be broken.
US07959412B2	Wind turbine rotor blade with acoustic lining A rotor blade for a wind turbine is provided, the rotor blade comprising an acoustically porous surface layer at least partially covering at least one surface of the rotor blade, at least one reactive acoustic element located below said acoustically porous surface layer, and a resistive acoustic layer located between said acoustically porous surface layer and said at least one reactive acoustic element.
US07959406B2	Close coupled gearbox assembly for a tip turbine engine A gearbox assembly (90) closely couples a fan-turbine rotor assembly (25) and an axial compressor rotor (46) to reduce the overall engine length and minimizes the number of engine bearings.
US07959405B2	Blade containment structure The fan duct of a ducted fan gas turbine engine has a fan case (20) lined with a honeycomb structure (22) that acts to absorb the energy of a separated part of a blade (16). A layer of composite material (24) lining honeycomb structure (22) delaminates/breaks when a separated blade part passes through a further, inner honeycomb liner (26) and hits it.The resulting free end of composite liner (24) wraps round the striking end of the blade part, thus blunting the cutting action of the blade part and spreading the generated forces to the extent that the blade part is de-energised sufficiently to prevent it penetrating the fan case (20).
US07959404B2	Wind turbine A wind turbine for generating electricity has been developed. The turbine includes a housing for securement to a support. A wheel is mounted within the housing and is rotatable about a horizontal axis. The wheel has an axle assembly and a number of blade assemblies affixed thereto. Each of the blade assemblies has a frame with a spaced-apart pair of uprights and a crosspiece connecting the uprights. Each of the blade assemblies also having a pair of movable blades positioned within the frame with each of the blades being hingedly fastened to a respective one of the uprights. A brake actuator assembly is associated with each of the blades for relieving pressure imparted by strong winds on the blades. A brake operator assembly, disposed principally within said axle assembly, synchronizes the movement of the blades. An electrical current generator is connected to the wheel so as to be powered thereby.
US07959397B1	Side mounted material unloader A material unloader has a frame for removably mounting to the side of a dump truck. The frame has a platform, a pair of longitudinal flanges coupled together by a stabilizing bracket, a plurality of cross-braces extending between the flanges, inclined side walls, a back plate and a height adjustment chain. The platform supports a chain driven conveyor assembly including an endless drive mechanism having a pair of parallel drive chains connected together by a plurality of bars. The assembly includes a lower end drivably located about a pair of drive sprockets secured to a transverse drive shaft, and an upper end trained about idler sprockets mounted on a traverse shaft. The unloader has a power train powered by a hydraulic fluid system of the dump truck, and includes a hydraulic motor, a gearbox and a driveshaft.
US07959395B2	Substrate processing apparatus Substrate processing apparatus having a transport chamber, a linear array of substrate holding modules alongside the transport chamber, and a substrate transport located in the chamber. The chamber can hold an isolated atmosphere, and defines more than one substantially linear transport paths extending longitudinally along the transport chamber. The transport in the chamber is capable of transporting the substrate along the linear transport paths. The transport has a transporter capable of holding and moving the substrate. The transporter interfaces a wall of the transport chamber for moving along at least one of linear paths. The transport chamber has interfaces for mating with other substrate holding modules at opposite ends of the transport chamber. Each interface has an opening through which at least one of the more than one linear transport paths extends, and the transport chamber has a selectably variable longitudinal length between the interfaces.
US07959394B2	Glue applicator for applying an adhesive to the spine or adjacent areas of a book block being conducted past the glue applicator in a transport direction A glue applicator for applying an adhesive to the spine of a book block or to adjacent areas of a book block of stacked printed sheets being conducted past the glue applicator includes a tank holding liquid adhesive, into which at least one glue applicator roll dips to take up the adhesive and to transfer it to the spine of the book block, the roll being driven in the same travel direction as the book block, wherein the glue applicator roll works together with a doctor blade which is installed above the surface of the glue in the tank, and wherein the doctor blade determines the thickness of the adhesive film to be transferred to the spine of the book block through variation of its distance from the glue applicator roll, and where an actuating element for the doctor blade is positively connected to a cam disk, which is driven by a motor.
US07959391B2	Dry wall hand tool An dry wall hand tool for a dry wall includes a pusher handle and a penetrating pin including an elongated pin body having a tail end portion protruding from the pusher handle and a sharp penetrating tip for initially penetrating into the dry wall to form a hole thereat in a tool-less manner when a rotational pushing hand force is applied at the pusher handle. The dry wall hand tool further includes locking arrangement including a retention pin slidably extended from the pusher handle at a position that the retention pin is spaced apart from the penetrating pin, wherein the retention pin is arranged for penetrating into the dry wall after the penetrating pin penetrated into the dry wall, such that the pusher handle is securely locked up by the retention pin to prevent the pusher handle being rotated to remove the penetrating pin from the dry wall.
US07959385B2	Printed circuit board machining apparatus A printed circuit board machining apparatus includes a spindle that holds a tool for machining a printed circuit board and a pressure unit for pressing the printed circuit board to a table in machining the printed circuit board. The pressure unit includes a pressure foot movable up an down along the spindle, a rotating member having a plurality of pressure pieces through which a through hole for passing the tool is formed and provided so as to select one among the plurality of pressure pieces, a motor for moving the rotating member, cylinders and electromagnetic valves for moving the pressure foot up and down and a control section for controlling the cylinders and electromagnetic valves. The control section rotates the motor so as to select the pressure piece and controls the cylinders and the electromagnetic valves to change force for pressing the printed circuit board.
US07959384B2	Tool for chip removing machining and a basic body therefor In an embodiment, the invention provides a tool for chip removing machining, including a replaceable cutting insert and a basic body. The basic body includes a rear fixing part, a front supporting part having an insert seat, and a tightening part spaced apart from the front supporting part by a first gap and from the rear fixing part by a second gap. The tightening part is connected to the basic body via a joint around which the tightening part is pivoted to press the cutting insert against the insert seat by a front finger. The rear fixing part includes a first channel having an inlet and an outlet for feed of a fluid toward the cutting insert. The tightening part includes an internal, second channel that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A hollow coupling member extends between the tightening part and one of the rear fixing part and the front supporting part while bridging the respective gap to establish a fluid communication path between the outlet of the first channel and the inlet of the second channel.
US07959382B2	End mill for orbital drilling A center or non-center cutting end mill for orbital drilling includes a shank having a shank diameter; a neck having a neck diameter; a cutting head having a cutting diameter; a corner radius; a dish angle; and a longitudinal axis, the cutting head including a forward cutting end having a convexly curved section located between the longitudinal axis and the corner radius, wherein the convexly curved section causes material removed from a workpiece to flow radially outward from an initial contact area toward the corner radius, thereby minimizing the accumulation of material in a central portion of the forward cutting end.
US07959379B2	Bolt anchor A bolt anchor is comprised of a body and sleeve. The body is generally wedge shaped with a threaded bore along its axis and at least one stop near its smaller end. The sleeve has a round collar with leaves extending from the collar parallel to the axis of the collar and each other. The at least one stop maintains the assembly of the body and sleeve. Prongs on the sleeve prevent the retraction or turning of the bolt anchor when a bolt is installed in a hole using the bolt anchor. Reduced material thickness associated with the leaves on the sleeve produces hinges which allow the leaves to be more easily deformed outwardly to engage the sides of a hole. Inserting a bolt and bolt anchor assembly into the hole and then turning the bolt pulls the body into the sleeve and creates a wedging effect in the hole.
US07959378B2	Base for a drilling device In a starter car for a drilling device for mining underground deposits, including a base frame (5) mounted to rotate about a vertical axis (6) and a starter pipe (7) mounted to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis (13) and provided for receiving the drilling device, the starter pipe (7) is arranged to be displaceable relative to the base frame (5) transversely to the horizontal pivot axis (13).
US07959376B1	Methods of reducing greenhouse gases in landfills and coal mines A method of reducing greenhouse gases while simultaneously generating carbon credits includes mitigating greenhouse gases at unregulated landfill sites or mitigating greenhouse gases at regulated landfill sites in excess of the required mitigation activities, obtaining carbon credits in an amount created by the mitigation efforts and selling or using the carbon credits in an open market to, for example, offset the costs of the mitigation efforts or to fund or support other greenhouse gas emission activities.
US07959375B2	Horizontal scissor-tip compaction wheel cleat A compactor cleat for reducing the amount of refuse build-up on the compactor wheel is disclosed. The compactor cleat includes a first tooth angled upward away from the compactor wheel in a first direction and a second tooth positioned adjacent the first tooth and being angled upward away from the compactor wheel in a second direction opposite from the first direction. The first tooth and the second tooth are formed such that an inner edge of the first tooth intersects an inner edge of the second tooth to form a scissor-shaped junction between the first tooth and the second tooth.
US07959372B2	Molded sectional curb constructions in combination with paved roadways and method A gutter curb for paved roadways is constructed of an assembled series of elongated sections of gutter curbs connected together end to end, which are assembled along at least one side of a road bed. The gutter curb sections are molded from rubber from recycled tires and are held to the adjacent roadway pavement by tie rods passing through opposite sides gutter curb sections and projecting into the pavement itself to be securely held thereto.
US07959371B2	Hole saw assembly A hole-saw assembly including a hole-saw having at one end a plurality of cutting teeth and at the other end two shafts. The assembly includes a mandrel coaxially aligned with said hole-saw and including a body having two bores therethrough coaxially aligned with said shafts. An annulus located on top of the body is coaxially aligned with said mandrel and hole-saw and includes two holes, the annulus rotatable around its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position. In the first position, the annulus holes are aligned with the bores and shafts allowing the shafts to be freely insertable and removable and in the second position the holes are misaligned to lock the shafts to the annulus. Such an arrangement allows the hole-saw and the mandrel to be easily and quickly mountable and demountable.
US07959367B2	Image generating apparatus An image generating apparatus capable of inhibiting a take-up member from falling without separately providing a stop member is obtained. This image generating apparatus includes a take-up member for taking up an ink sheet, including a spring mount portion, a rotary shaft rotatably inserted into the take-up member, a spring member for regulating the take-up member to rotate only in a take-up direction, mounted on the spring mount portion of the take-up member, and a spring engaging portion engaged with a first end of the spring member. The spring mount portion of the take-up member is integrally provided with a stop portion for inhibiting the spring member from falling.
US07959366B2	Mobile image forming apparatus A mobile image forming apparatus forming an image on a media including a main body, a folding part, which is provided to be folded and unfolded via a predetermined rotating shaft, rotating between a closed configuration coupled to the main body and an opened configuration opened from the main body and having a folding transferring path for transferring the media, and an image forming part provided in at least one of the main body and the folding part.
US07959355B2	Method and apparatus for imaging using digital dental X-ray sensor A method and apparatus including an intraoral dental X-ray electronic sensor facing an x-ray source and connected to a signal processing unit that allows taking and storing multiple x-ray images even without the unit to be connected to database computer. The processing unit has a memory that may be equipped with energy source and the unit is mounted on the sensor holder and can be easily removed from it. The images from the memory can be downloaded into a database using standard serial digital interfaces during or after the image acquisition.
US07959350B2	Chronograph The control mechanism of a simple three-cycle chronograph includes a single pusher (A) that acts on a shuttle (1) of a chronograph cam. The mechanism can include a display (17, 18) of the state of the chronograph.
US07959348B2	Agitating canister for viscous fluids dispensed from multiple fluid dispensers An improved canister assembly for a multi-fluid dispenser is shown and described. The canister assembly comprises an annular outer shell with an outer cylindrical wall connected to a bottom which, in turn, is connected to an inner cylindrical wall that serves as a standpipe. The bottom includes an outlet connected to a pump A hollow agitator shaft slides over the inner standpipe and includes a plurality of outwardly extending blades for stirring or “agitating” the fluid. An annular screen element is disposed below the bottom end of the agitator shaft. Beneath the annular screen element is a lower agitator blade element The lower blade element and the lower end of the agitator shaft are snap-fitted together with the annular screen element sandwiched therebetween. The screen element includes a cylindrical shell with the annular screen disposed upwards from the lower end of the cylindrical shell so that the screen is spaced above the bottom wall and to make room for the lower blade element. Blades disposed on the lower end of the agitator shaft scrape or brush a top surface of the annular screen and the blades of the lower blade element scrape or brush a bottom surface of the annular screen. Sufficient space is provided between annular screen and the bottom outlet to prevent clogging. A deflector cap is provided for a top end of the hollow agitator shaft to prevent spillage of fluid material through the agitator shaft when the canister is refilled. The deflector cap can also be snap-fitted to the agitator shaft. A centralizer is also provided for holding the agitator shaft in place during refilling of the canister.
US07959346B2	Drink shaker having breaking protrusions A beverage mixing vessel or drink shaker has internal features effective for breaking up ice as the beverage mixing vessel or drink shaker is shaken. One or more protrusions disposed near the bottom of a container have apexes aligned in the direction of shaking motion. The impact of ice cubes upon the apexes of the protrusions facilitates breaking the ice cubes into smaller pieces, thereby having the effect of cooling a mixed beverage more quickly.
US07959342B2	Waveguide member and keypad assembly using the same Disclosed are a waveguide member and a keypad assembly including the same. The waveguide member includes a waveguide for guiding light propagated inside, and at least one recess formed in a direction perpendicular to a direction of guidance of light coupled to the inside of the waveguide so that light guided by the waveguide is reflected to the waveguide. The keypad assembly includes a keypad having at least one key button and an elastic sheet fixing the key button, a waveguide member positioned beneath the keypad, the waveguide member having a waveguide for guiding light coupled to an inside and at least one recess for reflecting light guided by the waveguide to the waveguide, and a switch pad positioned beneath the waveguide member so as to establish an electric contact when the key button is pressed.
US07959339B2	Illumination apparatus and endoscope An illumination apparatus includes a light source which generates heat when emitting an illumination light from a light-emitting surface, a light guide bundle which has a light-receiving surface opposed to the light-emitting surface of the light source, to receive the illumination light emitted from the light-emitting surface of the light source, and guides the illumination light from the light source received by the light-receiving surface, and a light guide connector which has an end face arranged along the light guide bundle and opposed to the light-emitting surface of the light source, and a contact part in which at least a part of the end face directly contacts the light-emitting surface, and absorbs the heat generated on the light-emitting surface of the light source.
US07959335B1	Portable fishing light A portable fishing light has a base housing, a mounting element adapted for removably mounting the base housing on the boat, and a light wand having a white light source and a UV light source. A flexible control arm adjustably mounts the light wand to the base housing so that the light wand can be adjustably positioned relative to the base housing.
US07959332B2	Light emitting diode recessed light fixture A recessed light fixture includes an LED module, which includes a single LED package that is configured to generate all light emitted by the recessed light fixture. For example, the LED package can include multiple LEDs mounted to a common substrate. The LED package can be coupled to a heat sink for dissipating heat from the LEDs. The heat sink can include a core member from which fins extend. Each fin can include one or more straight and/or curved portions. A reflector housing may be coupled to the heat sink and configured to receive a reflector. The reflector can have any geometry, such as a bell-shaped geometry including two radii of curvature that join together at an inflection point. An optic coupler can be coupled to the reflector housing and configured to cover electrical connections at the substrate and to guide light emitted by the LED package.
US07959329B2	Lighting devices, lighting assemblies, fixtures and method of using same Lighting devices which comprise a connector portion, a light emitter, a casing and a heat transfer component. At least a first portion of the heat transfer component which is in contact with the casing is spaced farther from an axis of the connector portion than a second portion of the heat transfer component. Also, fixtures comprising a housing, a socket and at least one heat transfer component. Also, lighting assemblies comprising a housing, a socket, a heat transfer component and a lighting device which comprises a light emitter and a casing, respective portions of the heat transfer component being in contact with the casing and with the housing. Also, lighting devices comprising means for transferring heat, and methods of deploying lighting devices.
US07959328B2	Laterally emitting, radiation-generating component and lens for one such component A laterally emitting radiation-generating component comprising a radiation source, the optical axis of which runs perpendicular to a mounting area of the component, and comprising an optical device arranged downstream of the radiation source. The optical device includes a reflective surface shaped like a V in cross section and a refractive surface that is shaped convexly as seen externally and is arranged between the reflective surface and a bottom area facing the radiation source. The bottom area is arranged and formed in such a way that through it electromagnetic radiation from the radiation source couples into the optical device. The reflective surface is arranged and formed in such a way that a central first portion of the coupled-in radiation is deflected toward the refractive surface by the reflective surface. The refractive surface is arranged and formed in such a way that both a radiation coming from the reflective surface and a radiation coming directly from the radiation source are coupled out through it with simultaneous beam focusing laterally with respect to the optical axis of the radiation source.
US07959323B2	Illuminating device An illuminating device includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes, a plurality of first light-reflecting parts, and a plurality of second light-reflecting parts. Each of the plurality of first light-reflecting parts has a first light reflecting surface surrounding one of the light-emitting diodes. Each of the plurality of second light-reflecting parts has a second light reflecting surface surrounding one of the light-emitting diodes. The shape of the first light reflecting surface is different from that of the second light reflecting surface.
US07959317B2	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. 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. A ribbon having four traces couples a bottom switch and negative contacts to control circuitry. 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.
US07959311B2	Portable electronic device having illuminated keyboard A portable electronic device having an illuminated keyboard includes a display having a recessed portion and a main body pivotally connected with the display. The main body includes a casing, a keyboard, a fastening element, and a plurality of light-emitting elements. The keyboard is disposed at the casing and includes a plurality of keys made of a first light-transmitting material. Each key has a light incident surface and a light output surface. The fastening element is fastened to the casing and has a first portion made of a second light-transmitting material. The fastening element corresponds to the recessed portion. The light-emitting elements are disposed in the fastening element. The light emitted by the light-emitting elements passes through the first portion of the fastening element to directly enter into the key through the light incident surface and to be outputted from the key through the light output surface.
US07959309B2	Retractable rear view mirror A mirror assembly for trucks, vans and the like, for providing front or rear viewing as the vehicle is moving forward or is backing up, for example, into a truck loading dock area. The mirror assembly comprises a mirror unit that is connected by a mirror arm to a support structure, e.g., a flange or bracket, that is fixed to the vehicle. The support structure projects minimally sideways of the vehicle and pivotably supports the mirror arm in a manner whereby the mirror unit and its arm can swing about a pivot axis, enabling the mirror and its arm to lie alongside a side wall of the vehicle or tightly against the rear of the vehicle. A return or rebound mechanism returns the mirror unit to its normal operational position automatically, once contact with an obstruction that has pivoted the mirror unit from its normal position, has been removed.
US07959292B2	Vision screener Generally, the present invention relates to medical devices and a method of vision screening, and more particularly to a pediatric vision screening system and method thereof that identifies a risk factor for amblyopia or diagnoses amblyopia by measurement of microstrabismus. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of patient screening for risk factors for amblyopia which includes the steps of illuminating the eye with polarized light, scanning the polarized light about the eye, capturing the retro-reflected light emanating back from the eye, analyzing the retro-reflected light to determine ocular misalignment; and calculating a metric to determine if the patient passes or fails the screening test thereby providing an indication that the patient may have a risk of amblyopia based on either strabismus or anisometropia. The method is effective at detecting amblyopia related to focusing problems without the measuring the focus of the eye directly.
US07959290B2	Scanning ophthalmoscopes A scanning ophthalmoscope (10) and method is provided for scanning the retina of an eye comprising a source of collimated light (12), a first scanning element (14), a second scanning element (16), scan compensation means (18), wherein the source of collimated light, the first and second scanning elements and the scan compensation means combine to provide a two-dimensional collimated light scan from an apparent point source, and the scanning ophthalmoscope further comprises scan transfer means (20), wherein the scan transfer means has two foci and the apparent point source is provided at a first focus of the scan transfer means and an eye (22) is accommodated at a second focus of the scan transfer means.
US07959289B2	Ophthalmological device and ophthalmological measuring method An opthalmologic device and an opthalmologic measuring method in accordance with an embodiment of the present application in which, cross-sectional images of cross-sectional portions illuminated from different instrument positions by a light projector are captured in Scheimpflug configuration. Furthermore, corresponding top view images are also captured from the different instrument positions. At least one reference section and at least one comparative section are extracted from an initial instrument position or from an advanced instrument position, respectively. The displacement between the reference section and the comparative section is determined and the cross-sectional images are positioned relative to one another, based on the displacement. A coherent examination of the entire eye is made possible in which the relative movements of the eye with respect to the device, particularly rotational movements, are taken into consideration.
US07959288B2	Ophthalmologic imager An ophthalmologic imager comprises an illuminating optical system for projecting an illuminating light beam onto an ocular fundus, a light-receiving optical system having a focusing lens and serving to guiding the light reflected from the ocular fundus to an imaging section, and a focusing target projecting optical system having a bar mirror detachably inserted in the optical path of the illuminating optical system and serving to project split focusing target light beams onto the ocular fundus through the bar mirror and the illuminating optical system. A mirror image of the bar mirror is projected onto the ocular fundus by using the illuminating light beam. The ophthalmologic imager further comprises a judging device which judges the sharpness of the contour of the mirror image or the focusing target light imagers from the output of the light-receiving section and judges the focusing state by the focusing lens from the sharpness.
US07959287B1	Eyeglass frame sizing systems and methods An eyeglass frame sizing system includes a frame member, a pair of adjustable rims supported by the frame member, each rim including an indicator for indicating a center of the rim, an adjustable nosepiece supported by the frame member, a pair of adjustable temples each supported by one of the pair of rims and a plurality of sensors for detecting positions of the pair of adjustable rims, the pair of adjustable temples and the adjustable nosepiece.
US07959280B2	Ink-jet recording method, ink-jet ink, ink-jet recording unit, ink cartridge for ink-jet recording and ink-jet recording apparatus The present invention provides an ink-jet recording method for forming an image by applying an ink to a recording medium, wherein the ink used contains at least water, a pigment, a dispersing agent for dispersing the pigment and an acid form of an anionic surfactant. The ink has a surface tension higher than the critical surface tension of the recording medium. The ink is applied to the recording medium, and the surface tension of the ink is reduced to a surface tension below the critical surface tension of the recording medium after contacting the recording medium.
US07959279B2	Ink composition, ink jet recording method, method for producing planographic printing plate and planographic printing plate The invention provides an ink composition including (A) a polymerization initiator and (B) a (meth)acrylic acid ester having an alicyclic group as a substituent or amide having an alicyclic group as a substituent. The ink composition preferably further contains (D) a colorant and (E) a sensitizing dye. The ink composition is used for ink jet recording.
US07959278B2	Method and apparatus for ink jet printing on patterned substrate Method and apparatus for printing an image-wise ink pattern on a receiver. A primary imaging member includes a series of substantially equal-sized cells located over the substrate surface thereof. The primary imaging member has an electrically conductive layer. An ink jet printhead selectively ejects drops of ink into the primary imaging member cells in a desired image-wise ink pattern. The image-wise ink on the primary imaging member is fractionated to separate the liquid in the ink. A receiver is transported into operative association with the primary imaging member, and a transfer mechanism applies a pressure between the receiver and the primary imaging member, and establishes an electrostatic field to transfer the image-wise ink pattern to the receiver.
US07959276B2	Configuration for exchanging inkjet printing modules A configuration for exchanging inkjet printing modules in a franking and/or addressing machine having a shaft-shaped receptacle with a locking device for the inkjet printing modules. The functional reliability and an extension of the service life of the printing device are improved by achieving simple and reliable exchanging of the inkjet printing module. In particular, easy drawing of the inkjet printing module is made possible and mechanical impairment of the mating contacts for the inkjet printing module is prevented. Devices are provided for pulling and releasing the contact of the inkjet printing module in the receptacle. These devices are coupled mechanically to one another in such a way that, when the pulling process is initiated, contact is released at the same time. A wiping apparatus is arranged in the pivoting region of the rear edge of the nozzle surface of the inkjet print head.
US07959275B2	Printing system having coupled media drive A printing system is provided having a printhead, a media drive mechanism for driving media to the printhead for printing, and a media cartridge for supplying the media. The cartridge has a rotatable core for a roll of media and a media delivery arrangement having an opening in the cartridge. The media delivery arrangement is arranged to enable a roller of the print media drive mechanism to contact a wound portion of the roll of media so as to feed an unwound portion of the media from the roll to the printhead on demand operation of the roller on the wound portion.
US07959272B2	Print cartridge assembly with ink storage reservoirs and print media A print cartridge assembly includes a print cartridge. The print cartridge includes a core defining a plurality of ink storage reservoirs and a length of print media wound upon the core. The print cartridge further includes a roller assembly for feeding the print media from the core. A printhead assembly includes a chassis, a pair of printhead supports extending from the chassis and an ink ejection printhead supported by the supports to print ink from the reservoirs upon the fed print media.
US07959265B2	Thermal inkjet printhead Provided is a thermal inkjet printhead. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate; an insulating layer formed on the substrate; a heater formed on the insulating layer and an electrode to apply current to the heater; a chamber layer that is stacked on the insulating layer and includes an ink chamber; a nozzle layer that is stacked on the chamber layer and includes a nozzle; and at least a heat transfer layer that is formed inside the insulating layer and dissipates heat generated in by the heater toward the substrate.
US07959261B2	Micro-fluid ejection devices having reduced input/output addressable heaters Micro-fluid ejection devices, methods for making micro-fluid ejection, heads, and micro-fluid ejection heads having N actuators on a first substrate and logic capable of driving the N actuators on a second substrate. The ejection heads also have less than N electrical connections between the first and second substrates.
US07959260B2	Ink jet recording method A method for discharging liquid from a recording head including a first discharge port configured to discharge a liquid, a second discharge port configured to discharge a liquid, an amount of which is smaller than an amount of the liquid discharged from the first discharge port, and a substrate including a first heating element corresponding to the first discharge port, a second heating element corresponding to the second discharge port and the liquid supply port, wherein a distance between the liquid supply port and the second heating element is longer than a distance between the liquid supply port and the first heating element, and wherein discharge of the liquid from the first discharge port is performed by a discharge method in which a bubble formed by the first heating element communicates with atmosphere and an amount of the liquid discharged from the second discharge port is less than 2 pico liters.
US07959259B2	Inkjet printing apparatus and driving control method In a configuration in which a printhead including a plurality of first printing elements for discharging ink droplets and a plurality of second printing elements for discharging ink droplets larger than ink droplets discharged by the first printing elements is used, the first and second plurality of printing elements are divided into multiple blocks in such a manner that the first printing elements belong to one block and the second printing elements belong to another block. The blocks are individually driven in a time-divisional manner. In the time-divisional driving, the block consisting of the plurality of first printing elements is driven first and then the block consisting of the second printing elements is driven.
US07959257B2	Print engine pipeline subsystem of a printer controller Provided is a print engine pipeline subsystem of a printer controller. The subsystem includes a print engine pipeline controller for reading and writing print engine pipeline registers, and a contone decoder unit for expanding JPEG compressed continuous tone (“contone”) layers. Also included are a lossless bi-level decoder for expanding compressed bi-level layers, a line loader unit for expanding page images for a printhead, and a printhead interface for sending dot data to the printhead and for providing line synchronization between multiple printer controllers.
US07959255B2	Liquid droplet jetting apparatus A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit which has a nozzle which jets droplets of a liquid, and a heat generating section, a suction port which is formed in the jetting head unit, and which opens near the nozzle, and a suction device which sucks air around the nozzle from the suction port, and cools down the heat generating section of the jetting head unit by the air which is sucked. Since the heat generating portion is cooled down by the air sucked from the suction port by the suction device, it is possible to reduce a possibility of the heat of the heat generating section being transferred to the jetting head unit, and destabilizing an operation of the jetting head unit. Moreover, since the suction port opens near the nozzle, it is possible to suck fine liquid droplets together with air around the nozzle.
US07959253B2	Printing method, test pattern, method of producing test pattern, and printing apparatus A printing method of the present invention is a printing method for forming, on a medium, a plurality of correction patterns each including a pre-carry pattern and a post-carry pattern, and includes: forming the pre-carry pattern on the medium, carrying the medium in a carrying direction after forming the pre-carry pattern, and then forming the post-carry pattern on the medium after carrying the medium. In the printing method of the present invention, the plurality of correction patterns are formed on the medium lined up in a direction that intersects the carrying direction. With this printing method, it is possible to form a greater number of correction patterns in a narrow region on the medium.
US07959252B2	Method for forming ejection-test pattern, method for testing ejection, printing apparatus, computer-readable medium, and printing system Ejection of a clear-ink nozzle is inspected with ease. When forming an ejection-test pattern for a clear ink, for example, the clear ink is ejected toward a medium from a clear-ink nozzle to form the ejection-test pattern, and a color ink is ejected toward a region in which the clear ink is to adhere from at least two color-ink nozzles to form the ejection-test pattern.
US07959248B2	Recording apparatus and method for controlling the recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record an image on a recording medium, a roller configured to convey the recording medium, a first signal generation unit configured to generate a first period signal according to a movement of the recording medium, a second signal generation unit configured to generate a second period signal according to a rotation of the roller, a correction unit configured to correct the first period signal when a period value of the first period signal is outside a predetermined range, an information generation unit configured to generate variation information of a moving speed of the recording medium based on the first period signal, and a control unit configured to control recording on the recording medium based on the variation information and the second period signal.
US07959247B2	Ink-jet printer device and ink-jet printing method An ink-jet printer has a print head that performs printing on a print medium transported in a print medium transport direction by scanning in a scanning direction intersecting the print medium transport direction. A platen supports the print medium while the print medium is transported along the print medium transport direction. The platen has heater blocks that become smaller in width in the scanning direction toward both ends of the platen. A measurement section measures a surface temperature of each of portions of the print medium supported by the platen. A calculation section calculates an output value of each of the heater blocks for making the surface temperature of each of the portions of the print medium uniform based on the surface temperature measured by the measurement section. A heater temperature control section controls an output of each of the heater blocks based on the output value calculated by the calculation section.
US07959246B2	Apparatus and method for driving first and second nozzle arrays A printing apparatus prints on a printing medium by using a printhead which has a first nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles from which a first nozzle amount of the ink is discharged and a second nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles from which a second nozzle amount of the ink is discharged. This printing apparatus time-divisionally drives a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing each of the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array. The printing apparatus selects, from the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array, a block to be driven by the driving unit within a predetermined period. This printing apparatus controls the selection unit to alternately select a block from the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array and sequentially select a block from each nozzle array in a predetermined order.
US07959245B2	Device and method for measuring ink levels in a container An ink level sensing device and associated method. The ink level sensing device includes a near infrared illumination source that emits near infrared light, and a container configured to accommodate a supply of ink containing light absorption material. The device further includes a protruding chamber adjacent to the container. The protruding chamber is configured to accommodate a portion of the supply of ink accommodated by the container. The device also includes a sensor that is configured to receive a signal based on an amount of the light that passes through the protruding chamber. The method includes emitting a light from a near infrared illumination source and directing the light toward a protruding chamber of the ink supply. The method further includes sensing an amount of the light that passes through the protruding chamber in the ink supply.
US07959243B2	Printhead, head cartridge, and printing apparatus employing either of same A printhead that minimizes increased size and cost of an apparatus by reducing a number of input pads, while making use of the advantages of employing a differential input circuit. This printhead has an input pad to which a differential signal obtained by superimposing two or more logic signals is input. The differential input circuit includes a circuit that disassembles the differential signal input via the input pad into separate logic signals.
US07959239B2	Track assembly having wear inhibiting contact members A track assembly for a track-type machine is disclosed. The track assembly includes inner and outer track links. A rotatable bushing is positioned about a track pin and a sleeve bearing is positioned about the track pin. A first seal member is disposed between an inner track link and the rotatable bushing and a second seal member is disposed between inner and outer track links. A first thrust ring is engaged with the rotatable bushing and a second thrust ring is engaged with the sleeve bearing. A first contact member is engaged with the first seal member and a second contact member is engaged with the second seal member. The first and second contact members are configured to inhibit wear of the first and second seal members.
US07959231B2	Armrest for multiple seating A dual plane armrest includes upper and lower forearm supports that overlap to permit respective use by neighbors. The upper support may be cut-away at the rear to accommodate the elbow of the user of the lower support. The upper forearm support is disposed above the lower forearm support partially or completely. The dual plane armrest provides increased lateral space for neighbors without increasing lateral seat pitch.
US07959224B2	Active head restraint having multiple horizontal pivot points A system comprising a seat having upper and lower members, a restraint, and a connector assembly having first and second members connected with the restraint and the seat. The first member has a top and a bottom, with the top being connected to the restraint and being pivotally connected to the upper member at an upper pivot point. The second member has a top and a bottom, with the top being pivotally connected to the bottom of the first member at a middle pivot point, and the bottom being pivotally connected to the lower member at a lower pivot point. The upper and lower pivot points are fixed relative to the seat. The first member pivots about the upper pivot point and the second member pivots about the lower pivot point. Aft movement of the middle pivot point results in fore movement of the restraint.
US07959218B2	Tilt lock structure of driver's cabin A first engaging hole and a second engaging hole are formed in a fan-shaped standing portion which is fixed to a vehicle body frame and concentrically constructed with respect to a tilt direction of a the driver's cabin with a hinge shaft as a center of tilting. The first and second engaging holes respectively correspond to a tilt down position and a tilt up position of the driver's cabin. The standing portion is inserted into an actuating member fixed to a driver's cabin frame, and a locking pin urged by a spring is slidably disposed to the actuating member. Since the locking pin slides on a surface of the standing portion, the locking pin can be automatically engaged with the first or second engaging hole.
US07959214B2	Unit carrier for fitting into a door structure of a motor vehicle door A unit carrier for fitting into a door structure of a motor vehicle door, on which functional components of the motor vehicle door may be premounted, so that the unit carrier, together with the functional components, may be fitted as a door module into the door structure, includes a surface of the unit carrier on the door structure side and fastening elements provided on the unit carrier. The fastening elements protrude from the surface of the unit carrier on the door structure side and engage in associated fastening points of the door structure, when the unit carrier is fitted into the door structure. The fastening elements are retained in a mounted position on the unit carrier before fitting the unit carrier into the door structure such that they do not protrude from the surface of the unit carrier on the door structure side.
US07959203B2	Vehicle tailgate enclosure with enhanced adjustment A vehicle tailgate enclosure can be adapted for rapid assembly and adjustable width. The enclosure includes two side sections and a center section. The center section is formed as an assembly of two portions. The side sections can each comprise beams which are advanced into recesses of the center section and retained. The width of the tailgate enclosure can be adjusted by the depth of advancement of the beams into the recesses of the center section. The center section can be constructed of a plastic material while the side sections can be metallic, thus leading to cost and weight savings. The tailgate enclosure can be easily and rapidly assembled by hand using a single tool.
US07959202B2	Vehicle tray having an open-prevention mechanism A vehicle tray having an open-prevention mechanism may include a rotating member integrally connected to a tray cover and rotatably coupled to the tray to support the tray cover, and an inertia detecting member pivotally coupled to the tray, a portion of the inertia detecting member being selectively engaged with a stopper portion of the rotating member according to an impact to prevent rotation of the rotating member when the impact greater than a predetermined level is applied to the tray.
US07959199B2	Finger unit for robot hand and method of assembling the same A multi-joint finger unit (1) has first and second joint sections (3, 5) constructed by using bevel gears. In each joint section (3, 5), the section where a driving bevel gear (10, 44) and a driven bevel gear (14, 56) mesh with each other and also a bearing section of a joint shaft (15, 57) are assembled in a tubular housing (13, 51) whose forward end is closed. Rear end openings (13A, 52) of the tubular housings (13, 51) are closed by a tubular housing (7) at a finger root and a tubular housing (41) at a finger body section. The section where the gears of the joint sections (3, 5) mesh and the bearing section are substantially sealed, so that a foreign matter is prevented from entering from the outside to these sections and lubricant does not leaks from these sections. The multi-joint finger unit is suitable for use in place where thick powder dust is present and in a clean room.
US07959197B2	Bumper beam with multi-concavity-defining cross section A bumper system includes primary and secondary structural cross beams, at least one having an S-shaped cross section with forwardly-facing (or outwardly-facing) top concavity. The beams include different arrangements of stiffening ribs in concavities formed by the S-shaped cross section for impact and bending strength. In one form, the beams are made of polymeric material. The beams may include integrally formed crush cans for attachment to the vehicle frame, or alternatively can be attached to vehicle frame rail tips by separate metal crush cans and brackets.
US07959190B2	Cuffed connection system (“bfm fitting assembly”) A cuffed connection system for the transport of a particulate material includes a tube, a conduit, or a duct, and a flexible tube end that is received and snap fit so as to be inter-engaged within the tube, the conduit, or the duct. The snap fit inter-engagement is of a pair of outward circumferential forms each fit into a complementary receiving groove of a ferrule.
US07959188B2	Lottery ticket having matched indicia grid with row and column win indicators A scratch off lottery game card is that includes a substrate on which a plurality of game indicia printed on a game indicia area in an M×N matrix and a plurality of player indicia printed on a player indicia area. The game indicia are preferably grouped by different identifier. If the game identified by an identifier have matched to the player indicia, the player wins a prize.
US07959185B2	Inflator bottle for combustible gas mixture An inflator bottle adapted for controlled release of product gas to deploy an inflatable cushion and a method thereof is provided. The inflator bottle comprises a compartment filled with a combustible gas mixture having a partition that divides the compartment into a first region and a second region. Upon a crash event, an igniter on the inflator bottle ignites initiating combustion in the first region. Combustion propagates in the first region toward a nozzle building pressure in the first region sufficient to rupture a burst disk over the passage of the nozzle releasing product gas through the nozzle. The release of product gas through the nozzle draws combustible gas mixture from the second region flowing through the gas portal on the partition into the first region for combustion. The area of the gas portal between the regions is sized in relation to the size of the minimum area of the passage of the nozzle to supply the combustible gas mixture to the first region at a rate that maintains the flame front while preventing it from propagating out into the second region or out the nozzle until the remaining combustible gas mixture in the compartment is consumed.
US07959177B2	Motor vehicle operator identification and maximum speed limiter A programmable device that interfaces with a motor vehicle. The device is programmed to identify the operator who is gaining access to the motor vehicle. The device is further programmed to associate a maximum allowable speed with each person allowed to operate the motor vehicle. The device incorporates an access and operation means together with a computer that is compatible with the motor vehicle on board computer. The computer includes in it's output a signal that controls the maximum allowable speed that the on board computer will permit the motor vehicle to operate at for the identified operator.
US07959176B2	Manually propelled wheelchair device A conveyance has a plurality of wheels and, at least, first and second drive axles, which are mounted, or disposed, between the wheels. One of the wheels defines a first wheel that is rotatably mounted to one end of the first drive axle. A second of the wheels is rotatably mounted to one end of the second drive axle. The conveyance further includes a first actuation device for the first drive axle, on the opposite end of the first drive axle from the first wheel and proximate to the second wheel, and a second actuation device for the second drive axle on the opposite end of the second drive axle from the second wheel and proximate the first wheel. The first actuation device is selectively operated to apply a selective relative rotation to the first wheel and the second actuation device is selectively operated to apply a selective relative rotation to the second wheel.
US07959175B2	Torsion beam suspension A torsion beam type suspension including a torsion beam in which arms are formed by bending both ends of a pipe material and also includes wheel installation members fixed to the arms, respectively. Portions to be inserted of the wheel installation members are inserted into open ends of the arms, and the wheel installation members are welded to the arms. The torsion beam type suspension can be produced at low cost and have high quality.
US07959172B2	Push-in-bung assembly and suspension system using same A push-in-bung assembly is provided that improves vibration and lateral movement control for vehicle suspension systems. The push-in-bung assembly includes a bung formed of rigid material and having a first end configured to connect to a vehicle frame and a second end configured to connect to a vehicle differential. A track bar can be included between the bung and the vehicle frame. The track bar can connect with the vehicle frame using a bracket assembly.
US07959164B2	Roll control devices An example roll control device uses differential pressure values, for example, that are conveyed by a motor driven pump to a first actuator associated with a first stabilizer. The differential pressure values are also conveyed from the motor driven pump to a second stabilizer through a proportional valve in one example. In another example, multiple actuators are utilized with each actuator being associated with a separate motor driven pump in communication with a common controller.
US07959162B2	Releasing instrument holder and method of operating the instrument holder An automatically releasing instrument holder includes a grip to be held by an operator for guiding an instrument, an actuator to be activated by the operator and a biasing device exerting a force. A clamp is moved by the actuator toward the instrument against the force of the biasing device and is moved by the biasing device away from the instrument upon releasing the actuator. A method for operating the instrument holder is also provided.
US07959156B2	Mechanical seal with enhanced face stability A seal assembly for use with a rotating shaft comprises a seal ring, a seal ring shell and bellows. The seal ring defines an axially extending annular surface and a radially extending seal face. The seal ring shell includes a foot portion connected to a radially extending shin portion located radially outward of the foot portion. The foot portion defining an axially extending engagement surface in interference-fit engagement with the annular surface of the seal ring. The engagement surface is positioned so as to have a near-zero moment about the center of gravity of the seal ring due to the engagement. The bellows defines an effective diameter at zero pressure applied on the seal ring. The interface of the foot portion with the seal ring defines an interference diameter.
US07959153B2	Playing card sorter and cancelling apparatus A used card handling device includes both a card cancelling device and a card sorting unit, as well as an imaging device, a transport mechanism for transporting cards between the card imaging, cancelling, and sorting devices or units, and a controller for controlling the card imaging, cancelling, sorting, and transporting devices or units. The sorting device includes a holding device for each type of card, and output pockets to which the holding devices distribute the cards in a desired order.
US07959147B2	Sheet feeding apparatus and image recording apparatus A sheet feeding apparatus includes a switchable transmission mechanism disposed between a pickup roller and a driving source, and switches the driving source between a first state for rotating in the forward direction to rotate the pickup roller, and a second state for not rotating the pickup roller, the forward direction is opposite to a direction in which the driving source is rotated to rotate a feeder roller in a sheet feed direction. The sheet feeding apparatus also includes a control portion rotating the driving source in the forward direction to rotate the pickup roller in a sheet supply direction, and switches the switchable transmission mechanism between the first state, when a sheet is supplied from a sheet holding portion, and the second state, when the sheet is fed by the feeder roller.
US07959146B2	Banknote handling Means for superposing a bundle of value sheets which have been misfed from a value sheet store is disclosed. Also disclosed is a value sheet handler which includes a first value sheet store for receiving value sheets from, and dispensing value sheets to, a user and a second value sheet store where the second value sheet store provides value sheets to resupply the first value sheet store. The handler may include means for detecting a misfeed from the second value sheet store and a bundle of misfed value sheets may be stored in a third store after superposition of the bundle, where it includes overlapping value sheets.
US07959145B2	Method for loading a folded sheet bundle A method for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: supporting an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle by a hill, the hill including a slope between a folded edge support and the sheet bundle provider, the hill further including a valley wall declined steeper than the slope from the higher side to the lower side between the slope and the folded edge support; supporting the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle by the folded edge support; and moving the folded edge support without rotation in a direction declined from a higher side near the sheet bundle provider to a lower side farther from the sheet bundle provider than the higher side.
US07959140B2	Magnetic positioning device A magnetic positioning device is disclosed and claimed wherein two magnetic arms are hingeably connected by an axle connector with locking bolt and nut, and an activation hole with pin inserting through the connection disks having arc-shaped toothed-groove made the selection of frequently used angles straight-forward and easy, when the pre-select angles are built to the “indents” in the toothed-groove, so that the enlarged head on the pin can be used to easily engaging to the selected angle, by pushing toward the spring located inside the hole on the disk. An optional switch is provided on the second end of the magnetic arm for easy control of the magnetic power direction.
US07959137B2	Distance indicating system and method A distance indicating system includes a transceiver broadcasting an electromagnetic wave and a transponder spaced a distance from the transceiver that receives the electromagnetic wave. The transponder is adapted to induce a modulation of the electromagnetic wave in relation to the distance between the transceiver and the transponder. A method is also disclosed.
US07959135B2	Shock absorber The present invention provides a shock absorbing device comprising: a hollow spring including a chamber having a proximal end, a distal end, and a bellows comprised of a springy material connecting the proximal end to the distal end and enclosing the chamber; a shock absorber extending through the hollow spring, the shock absorber including a cylinder and a piston which slidably engages the cylinder, the cylinder extending through and being attached to the hollow spring proximal end, the piston extending through and slidably engaging the hollow spring distal and the piston including contacting device located distally of the hollow spring distal end for urging the hollow spring distal end proximally when the contacting device is forced against the hollow spring distal end and for urging the piston distally when the hollow spring distal end is forced against the contacting device. The present invention also provides mounts for a shock absorbing device and a shock absorbing system employing the shock absorbing device of the present invention.
US07959132B2	Apparatus for emitting a chemical agent Apparatus for emitting a chemical agent as a vapour which apparatus includes operative parts and a decorative cover. The decorative cover has curved air inlet channels. The operative parts include a reservoir containing the chemical agent in liquid form; a wick in communication with the chemical agent; an emanator carried by the wick and located outside the reservoir and a fan, preferably battery-powered, to impel air over the emanator.
US07959131B2	Deflection sensing system The system incorporates wire deflection, taut wire detection for perimeter security applications. Generally, the system of the invention provides intrusion detection by an internal mechanism. The internal mechanism can detect wire deflection in any direction. In turn, given a sufficient amount of wire deflection, a security system is signaled. However, the force required to sufficiently deflect the wires is high enough so as to minimize nuisance alarms. The internal mechanism is generally held within a structure so that it is protected from tampering. As such, the internal mechanism is also kept separate from the wire array so that it is protected from attempts by an intruder to isolate the wire array.
US07959129B2	Two-port solenoid valve A first cap is mounted at a movable iron core, a second cap holding a valve member is fitted to the first cap, capable of displacement, an biasing force F1 of an iron-core return spring biasing the movable iron core toward an initial position and an biasing force F2 of a buffer spring interposed between the movable iron core and the valve member are set so as to have a relation of F1>F2, and when the movable core is located at the initial position, gaps x, y are interposed between the valve member and a regulating portion of the second cap and between an engagement projection portion of the second cap and a front end wall of an engagement recess portion of the first cap, respectively.
US07959124B2	Reading stand The invention provides a reading stand. The reading stand may include a base including a base member case. Further, the reading stand may include a reading lid disposed upon the base member case, the reading lid including a reading platform having a front side and a backside; and at least one page holder adjustably mounted on the reading platform so as to assist in retaining a document on the front side of the reading platform. Further, a support member is provided. The support member extends from the backside of the reading platform, and is adapted to engage with the base so as to support the reading lid upon the base. For example, the support member may be in the form of a side support clip that substantially vertically supports the reading lid upon the base for side reading.
US07959122B1	Catheter drainage bag holding assembly A catheter drainage bag holding assembly includes a clamp with an arcuate member having a pair of free ends. The arcuate member forms at least 60% of a complete circle. A threaded rod is threadably coupled to and extends through the arcuate member. The arcuate member is positionable on a post and the rod is abuttable against the post. A leg is attached to and extends away from the arcuate member. A primary loop is attached to the leg. The primary loop lies in same plane as the arcuate member. At least one of hook from a catheter drainage bag is extendable into the primary hook.
US07959121B1	Adjustable cup holder An adjustable cup holder incorporates an elongated clamp assembly and cup support assembly. The clamp assembly has a proximal end and a distal clamping end. The cup support assembly is connected at the proximal end of the clamp assembly, and comprises a body portion and a pair of arcuate cup-encircling arms having respective spaced-apart free ends. A pivot pin enables pivot adjustment of the cup support assembly at the proximal end of the clamp assembly, such that the cup support assembly is movable between a desired in-use position depending from the clamp assembly, and a folded stowed position beside the clamp assembly. In the stowed position, the clamp assembly passes between the spaced-apart free ends of the cup-encircling arms and into an area defined between the cup-encircling arms.
US07959119B2	Protection device stem design The present invention relates to a connection system for use with an active or passive protection device that minimizes weight. In accordance with the present invention, a single stem connection system for use with an active protection device includes a single bent cable that is attached to the single cable terminal of the active protection device. A stem tube is fitted over a portion of the bent cable giving the appearance and benefits of a single stem. However, a portion of the bent cable is left separated thereby automatically forming a clip-in point for the entire active protection device. Unlike conventional single stem connection systems, the single stem system in accordance with the present invention only requires coupling the cable to the cable terminal thereby reducing manufacturing cost and minimizing overall weight. Alternatively, a similar connection system can be used with a passive protection device to provide many of the same benefits.
US07959116B2	Configurable mounting bracket A multiply configurable tripodal mounting bracket having multiple permanently bendable solid metal support rods, means for clamping a first end of each support rod in a fixed tripodal arrangement, and means for securing a second end of each support rod relative to an external surface, such as a vehicle floorboard. The mounting bracket also includes means for fixing an external device, such as a portable desk or laptop computer, to the clamp portion of the bracket.
US07959115B2	Versatile pole support, system and method An apparatus includes a lockable, adjustable pole support rail allowing a user to adjust a mounted pole to vertical on sloping terrain. The apparatus has multiple embodiments and useful applications, in that it can be attached to a vehicle's hitch receiver, or can be self-supporting utilizing fold-out stabilizing or attachable legs, for example. In addition, the apparatus may include wheels, thus permitting ease of transport to or from a vehicle. The pole can be deployed with a range of attachments or devices depending on the application. Exemplary applications include a photography camera, a surveillance camera, an infra-red camera, an antenna, loudspeakers, lighting equipment, signage, weather monitoring equipment, inspection equipment, and detection equipment.
US07959112B2	Wheel detection and classification system for railroad data network A system for detecting and classifying a wheel of a rail vehicle traveling on a railway track includes a plurality of wheel detectors coupled to one rail of the railway track and configured to detect presence of the wheel and to generate signals representative thereof. A processing system is coupled to the wheel detectors and configured to receive and process the signals. The processing system is configured to classify the wheel based on a speed independent classification value calculated based on the signals from the wheel detectors.
US07959111B1	Angle of attack automated flight control system vertical control function The present invention is directed to an AOA (angle of attack) vertical control function for an AFCS (automated flight control system) for an aircraft. The AOA vertical control function of the AFCS causes the aircraft to climb or descend while maintaining the aircraft at a constant AOA. The AFCS may maintain the constant AOA despite changing air data parameters by increasing or decreasing the thrust of the aircraft, the pitch angle of the aircraft, or the angle of incidence of the aircraft wing. By utilizing AOA, an aircraft can be safely directed to automatically climb or descend to any altitude the aircraft is capable of reaching without the risk of stall (unlike Vertical Speed Mode) or the irritation of the FLCH (Flight Level Change) Mode erratic climb.
US07959107B2	Hinge device of a nacelle cowling of an aircraft engine on a supporting structure A hinge device of a nacelle cowling of an aircraft engine on a supporting structure is disclosed. The hinge device includes two fittings and a link rod connected thereto and mounted on the fitting by an end connection. The link rod is further mounted on the fitting by an intermediate connection including a pivot pin slidably housed in a hole, and the end connection includes a guide pin slidably housed in a guide ramp. The connections are designed so as to create, upon rotation of the link rod about the pin, a relative movement of the axis in the ramp, simultaneously causing a relative movement of the pin in the hole.
US07959105B2	Aircraft provided with a silent shrouded rotor An aircraft has a streamlined structure (10) pierced by an air flow duct (20) having an axis of symmetry (AX) contained in a plane of symmetry (P) perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (AL) of the aircraft, the aircraft possessing a shrouded rotor (1) having a plurality of blades (2) arranged in the air flow duct (20). The aircraft is also fitted with blower elements (40) suitable for propelling compressed air towards a first injection zone (44) opening out in a first front inject (22′) of a first lip (22) of the periphery (21) of the duct (20) and towards a second injection zone (45) opening out in a second front portion (24′) of a second lip (22) of the periphery (21) of the duct (20).
US07959101B2	Hose reel cart with multi-position crank handle The present invention relates to hose reel carts for handling and storage of flexible hoses, such as garden or air hoses. The hose reel cart is primarily constructed of plastic components having a centrally rotatable spool for winding of the flexible hose, a frame for supporting the spool and a multi-position crank arm assembly allowing the consumer to place the crank handle in a lowered position or a raised position. The crank remotely drives the spool, for winding the hose, through a series of gears located within the crank arm assembly. The device may further include a reciprocating guide assembly that operates during rotation of the spool to rewind the hose into a compact configuration.
US07959100B2	Double-gear driving mechanism for a reel unit A double-gear driving mechanism for a reel unit comprises a reel chamber in which a rotor drive shaft is disposed longitudinally and a master gear shaft is disposed laterally. A main gear is formed around a periphery of the drive shaft, and a first master gear is fixed on one end of the master gear shaft. A crank handle is connected to a male thread portion of the master gear shaft. The inner teeth around a periphery of the first master gear engage the teeth of the main gear. An idle pinion provided on the other side of the drive shaft in parallel and it engages the main gear. On the other end of the master gear shaft is fixed a second master gear, inner teeth of which engage the teeth of the idle pinion. The present invention provides a double-gear drive mode of the rotor drive shaft by using the idle pinion. This increases the lifting capability of the rotor drive shaft while the original strength of the pinion teeth still remaining unchanged. Meanwhile, the double-gear driving mechanism of the present invention features a high specific speed, at the same time it is easy to manufacture and exhibits good mating conditions.
US07959094B2	Virtual electrode mineral particle disintegrator The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for breaking mineral particles comprising suspending the particles in a liquid flowing in a conduction path, the liquid comprising a dielectric constant higher than the particles and wherein an electric voltage pulse is sent to electrodes to pass an electric field in the mineral particles with sufficient stress to fracture the mineral particles.
US07959091B2	Mobile foam producing unit A mobile foam producing unit (10) includes a first hose and hose assembly (110) and a second hose assembly (120). Water is provided to the mobile foam producing unit (10) by a supply hose (100). A foam gun (140) provides for the dispensing of a foam. A sanitizer gun (160) provides for a sanitizing solution being dispensed with water as well as, in another mode, a rinse mode wherein only water is dispensed.
US07959090B2	Vehicle windshield cleaning system Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus also has expandable and compressible features and parts for protection against freezing.
US07959086B2	System and method for RFID-based printed media reading activity data acquisition and analysis The subject invention provides a means of automatically detecting and recording a person's use of magazines, i.e. printed media exposure, for the purpose of market research. The present invention comprises one or more electrically conductive marker regions applied to certain specific locations on one or more magazine pages. In one general embodiment, the presence and relative separation of the marker regions are detected by a capacitive sensors and electronic device that stores, processes and communicates the data wirelessly to an external device. In another embodiment, a passive chip less tag is used to indirectly measure the change in conductivity of the conductive regions caused by prolonged exposure to air or light. Exemplary methods are described for acquiring readership and exposure data using the present invention.
US07959084B2	Multi-functional mobile computing device utilizing a removable processor module A system for reading product indicia includes a mobile computing headset and a wearable data-capture accessory. The mobile computing headset preferably includes a removable processing module shaped and sized to be attachable to the wearable data-capture accessory and one or more communication modules to communicate information between the data-capture accessory and existing infrastructure devices. The data-capture accessory includes a product indicia reader and a communication module for transmitting information to and from the mobile headset.
US07959073B2	Method and system for random data access for security applications A method for securely handling processing of information in a chip may include randomly selecting one of a plurality of data processes based on a random process index. A time interval may be randomly allocated on the chip, for processing the randomly selected one of the plurality of data processes. When the randomly allocated time interval has elapsed, the randomly selected one of the plurality of data processes may be initiated. The randomly selected one of the plurality of data processes may include one or both of accessing data and acquiring the data. Data may be verified by the randomly selected one of the plurality of data processes prior to the processing of the data. The data may be verified utilizing at least one digital signature verification algorithm, such as a Rivest-Shamir-Adelman (RSA) algorithm and/or a secure hash algorithm (SHA-1).
US07959064B2	User customized news content delivery using a sensing device able to sense coded data A method for providing news content includes receiving, through a computer system, news content from a sender, and printing the news content in a document (print media) including coded data, the coded data including an indication of the identity of the news content and at least one reference point on the document. The method also includes using a sensing device to capture images of at least some of the coded data, when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the document. Indicating data generated by the sensing device is then received in the computer system. The indicating data includes information regarding the identity of the news content and at least one action of the sensing device in relation to the document using at least some of the coded data.
US07959061B2	Folded pot cover A foldable pot cover provides a foldable die cut pattern which can be imprinted on its exterior surfaces with any of a number of designs. The pot cover is formed from a die cut pattern which can be folded into overlapping flaps and tabs which are folded and interlocked to define a generally trapezoidal pot cover which can receive a variety of different pot sizes and types and resists moisture. The die cut pattern forming the pot cover can be of a universal shape but formed in a variety of different sizes to accommodate different sized potted plants.
US07959057B2	Tool and method for assembling metal parts by impacting with the aid of a magnetic force using two electromagnetic coils movable with respect to each other A tool for assembling a part made of a ferromagnetic material with a part made of a paramagnetic material. The tool includes a first tool part including a first abutment and a first electromagnetic coil. The tool also includes a second part including a second abutment, wherein the second part is mechanically assembled with the first part such that the first and second abutments are selectively attracted or repelled with respect to each other. The first electromagnetic coil is used for generating an electromagnetic flux that enables the paramagnetic part to be pushed towards the second abutment and/or the ferromagnetic part to be attracted thereto when the first and/or second part is placed between the first and second abutments.
US07959055B2	Wave soldering tank In a wave soldering tank using a conventional screw pump, pulsation sometimes occurred in which molten solder spouting from the discharge nozzle moved up and down. The cause of the occurrence of the pulsation in a screw pump was that the gap between the screw pump and the casing was wide, so there was reverse flow through the gap. It is conceivable to narrow the gap, but if the gap is made narrow, the screw pump ends up contacting the casing if the screw pump becomes eccentric.A wave soldering tank according to the present invention makes the diameter of the inlet in the bottom of the casing smaller than the diameter of the screw pump so that reverse flow does not take place even if the gap between the screw pump and the casing is wide. Flow is made more stable by providing outwardly flaring guide walls on the outlet of the casing.
US07959053B2	Hollow tissue inosculation apparatus A hollow tissue inosculation apparatus is to inosculate two hollow tissues to each other with a staple having a plurality of elastically deformable bent staple pins. The hollow tissue inosculation apparatus includes a staple holder to hold the staple, a curvature control mechanism to control curvature of the staple pins of the staple held in the staple holder, and a gap control mechanism to control gaps of the hollow tissues with respect to the staple holder. The curvature control mechanism substantially straightens the staple pins. The gap control mechanism reduces the gaps to cause the substantially straightened staple pins to penetrate the hollow tissues. The curvature control mechanism and the gap control mechanism are independent from each other.
US07959052B2	Endoscopic stapler having camera The invention is a stapler device comprising an anvil and staple cartridge located in the distal tip of an endoscopic device. The staple cartridge is comprised of a fixed proximal portion and a moveable distal portion, which slides into said fixed portion. Means are provided for moving the anvil back and forth, such that the anvil pushes against the distal face of the staple cartridge thereby pushing the moveable portion of the staple cartridge into the fixed portion and causing the staples to be ejected from said staple cartridge passively without said staples moving. The stapler of the invention has two embodiments, a side fastening embodiment and a front fastening embodiment. The endoscopic device that comprises the stapler can be used to perform many different stapling tasks, e.g. closure of a hole in the wall of an internal organ.
US07959045B2	Spout assembly and method of manufacturing packaging bag provided with spout assembly A spout assembly for a packaging bag for improving the prevention of oxidation to an inner content and discharging such content at a desired amount. The spout assembly mounted to the bag body includes a spool to move along the axial direction of the spout assembly and an urging member having an outer peripheral surface fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the spout assembly and adapted to urge the spool toward the bag body side. A check valve allows the inner content to flow only from the bag body side toward the mouth portion side. The urging member has a seat surface for the spool and the urging member presses the spool against the seat surface to shut off the flow of the inner content, and when an inner pressure of the bag body or a suction force of the mouth reaches a predetermined value, the spool separates from the seat surface.
US07959032B2	Reclosable pouring element and method for assembling said element A re-closable pouring element for liquid food packaged in cardboard/plastic composite packages, comprising a base encircled by a flange and having both a solidly constructed inner thread and an outer thread, an opening element having at least one cutting edge and a screw cap formed as a threaded lid. The opening element has a solidly constructed outer thread and is arranged inside the base. The opening element is formed in such a way that when the screw cap is operated for the first time, it cuts an opening in the package material located under the pouring element.
US07959031B2	Method for metering and dispensing device A method for a metering and dispensing device for free flowing materials includes a volume body having first and second ends, and a volumetric channel extending therethrough. The second end of the volume body is adapted for attachment to the opening of a container holding the free flowing material. The device further includes a measuring partition operatively associated with the second end of the volume body. The measuring partition includes a barrier lip portion extending therefrom into the volumetric channel, and a measuring opening selectively movable from a closed position to an open position relative to the volumetric channel, wherein the selective movement of the measuring opening simultaneously causes the barrier lip portion to vary the volume of the volumetric channel relative to the measuring opening. The device further includes a feed partition proximate the second end of the volume body, operatively associated with the measuring partition, the feed partition including a feed opening selectively movable from a closed position to an open position relative to the measuring opening. The device also includes a discharge partition operatively associated with the first end of the volume body, which includes a discharge opening selectively movable from a closed position to an open position relative to the volumetric channel.
US07959030B2	Roller brush adaptable hand-held container having sidewall ramp portion The present invention is a container comprising a bottom wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, and a handle. The sidewall has a top section and a bottom section, a front section and a rear section, and an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the sidewall comprises a base portion extending from the inner surface of the bottom wall and a ramp portion extending at an acute angle from the base portion at the front section of the sidewall. The handle is connected to the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent both the top section and the rear section of the sidewall.
US07959022B2	Container with a polygonal neck A container, such as a flask or a flexible tube, provided with a cap, the container including a side wall and a plastic head with a neck and a shoulder linking the neck to the side wall. The cap is provided with a circular cylindrical skirt on its inner surface with one or more first screwing means. The wall of the neck is substantially shaped like a prism where the cross-section is globally a polygon having a symmetry of order n about an axis A substantially parallel to the generatrix of the prism, n being an integer strictly greater than 1, and the neck is provided on its outer surface with n second screwing means, uniformly distributed about the axis A. The assembly of n second screwing means of the neck co-operates with the first screwing means of the cap.
US07959009B2	System and apparatus for protecting a support frame used in a screening arrangement A screening arrangement and a modular system and modular protective cover for protecting a support frame in a screening arrangement is disclosed. The modular system includes a plurality of modular protective covers mounted in side-by-side relationship. Each of the modular protective covers includes a top surface and two opposing side walls that define a recess. The modular protective cover has a male component located at a first end of the modular protective cover and a female component located at a second end of the modular protective cover. The male component of the modular protective cover is adapted to mate with the female component of an adjacent modular protective cover to provide a generally continuous protective surface along a length of a support frame.
US07959008B2	Method and device for screening out particles The invention relates to a method and a device for screening first particles out of a granulate comprised of first and second particles by conveying the granulate along a first screen surface which extends outward from a vibrating device, wherein the first particles have an aspect ratio a1, with a1>3:1, and the dimensions of the second particles allow them to fall through the mesh of the first screen surface. To screen a certain material fraction which differs geometrically from the remainder of the material in terms of at least one dimension out of the granulate, it is proposed that the granulate be conveyed along the screen surface between said surface and a cover which extends along the screen surface, and that the cover should cause the first particles to be aligned with their longitudinal axes extending along the screen surface, wherein the longitudinal extension of each first particle is greater than the mesh width of the screen which forms the first screen surface, and the longitudinal extension of the second particles is equal to or less than the mesh width.
US07959007B1	Shipping and display container with article support A one-piece tray for shipping and then displaying articles in an upright position at a point of sale has a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, and opposite side walls and is made of corrugated board having a bottom liner, a top liner, and a fluted medium. A plurality of grooves extend across the width of the bottom wall in a top surface thereof to engage bottom edges of articles standing upright in the tray and hold them in position as other articles are removed from the front of the tray. The grooves are formed by cuts made through the top liner and a portion of the medium and crushed areas extending along one side of each cut, forming a rearwardly facing abutment at each cut for engaging bottom edges of articles to prevent the bottom edges from sliding forward in the tray.
US07959006B2	Bag with elastic support members A bag has two handles extending from a containing structure that holds items. An elastic member is attached to each handle and each elastic member defines at least part of a passage. Arms of a bag rack assembly are placed through the passages defined by the elastic members so that the bag is supported on the bag rack by the elastic members.
US07959003B2	Air enclosure and check valve thereof capable of being filled with high pressure air In an air enclosure and a check valve capable of being filled with high pressure air, two first inner films are installed between two outer films, and two second inner films are then stacked together between the two first inner film. The two outer films and the two first inner films are adhered together by means of hot sealing to allow the two first inner films to be positioned between the two outer films and an air cylinder to be formed between the two outer films; the two second inner films are adhered to each other by means of hot sealing to form a second air inlet between the two second inner films. Thereafter, an air filling tool may be used to force high pressure air into the second air inlet and into the air cylinder, causing the air cylinder to fill with air and expand.
US07959001B2	Wrapping for used chewing gum The wrapping for used chewing gum is formed by an upper part (1) and a lower part (2) of identical form and size, applied together by their full surfaces, where both parts (1), (2) are provided with opposite situated vertical pre-scored lines (3) and where parts (1,2) are attached together along their margins partially, from one-third to one-half of the circumference of the parts (1,2).
US07959000B2	Device for collection, storage, retrieval and shipping of hair follicles from animals The present invention relates to a novel device for the collection, storage, shipping and retrieval of hair follicles from animals for the purpose of isolating DNA or other genetic material from the follicles for analysis. The device has outer flaps for the protection as well as identification of the samples and an inner part where samples are placed. The inner device has thicker base and a clear plastic cover, the easy peel back of which is facilitated by a) low tack adhesives that hold the two together and b) a touch cut on one end, through the base sheet which creates a grip. This makes the device convenient and easy to use, and yet a robust collection device for hair follicles from animals in a farm or real-life situation. Hair follicles can be punched out through the inner device for direct DNA isolation and analysis.
US07958997B2	Reversible modular can interlocking device A reversible modular beverage can interlocking device which is adapted for forming a plurality of conventional beverage cans into a building block for use as a toy or in display applications or in building construction. The device generally comprises a plurality of thermoplastic reversible annular means for can retention, each sized and shaped for the releasable retention of either the top lipped portion of a beverage can, or the bottom non-lipped portion of a beverage can.
US07958996B2	Welding wire package A package for containing and dispensing wire from a coil of welding wire. The package having an outer layer with a bottom and an outer side wall having an upper edge defining a box opening for removing the wire from the package. The package further including an inner core positioned within the inner cylindrical opening of the wire coil wherein the inner core has a base supported by the package bottom and an oppositely facing core top. The core base being generally maintained relatively to the package bottom to prevent the core from “walking-up” the wire coil and the core top being allowed to tilt as the wire exits the package.
US07958995B2	Bag-in-bag container for bulk handling of fluids A palletized shipping container (10) for bulk handling of liquids and fluent materials has a collapsible inner bag (30) enclosed in a flexible outer liner/bag (11) having rigid stiffener panels (20) in pocketed sides. The inner bag has a bung at its top end for filling or discharge and a valve fitment (50) near the bottom for receiving a discharge valve. Tape tabs (34, 19) at upper ends of the inner bag and outer liner/bag attach to the top panel and/or stiffener panels to maintain the bags in an erect uncollapsed configuration. The stiffener panels prevent bulging of the inner bag and provide vertical support, but their lateral sides are spaced apart and form non-structural “floating corners” to maximize volume, minimize shock, vibration and abrasive forces on the inner bag, yet maintain impact and compression strength meeting international certification standards. The bung is disposed beneath the top panel after filling the bag to prevent access and provide a tamper resistant assembly.
US07958988B2	Conveying device and image forming apparatus A conveying device includes a guiding member that has a contact portion that comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface of a conveying belt in which a plurality of suction holes is formed, and an endless conveying belt that has ridges to hold a recording medium lest the recording medium come into contact with the suction holes. A plurality of slits is formed in the contact portion to attract the recording medium to the endless conveying belt through the suction holes. The slits are formed to prevent the conveying belt from falling in the slits when the conveying belt is pressed due to suction.
US07958987B2	Method for transferring articles from a first machine to a second machine which packs the articles in relative containers A method for transferring articles from a first to a second machine, which packs the articles in containers, using a transport line, interposed between the machines, which removably receives and moves the trays, each tray affording at least a seating complementarily shaped to an article, as well as at least two stores, for receiving the trays, respectively associated to a first station located at a start of the line and a second station located downstream of the first station with a first store containing a predetermined number of empty trays, the method comprising a partial filling of the second store with trays containing articles, and is such that a temporary malfunctioning of the first machine maintains the second machine in service up to emptying of the second store, and a temporary malfunctioning of the second machine maintains the first machine in service up to complete filling of the second store.
US07958985B2	Parking lock gear for a parking lock arrangement A parking lock gear (1) for a parking lock arrangement for locking an output shaft of a transmission of a vehicle has teeth (5). An annular element (2) is fixed to the parking lock gear (1) and has outer teeth (3) which engage an actuated locking pawl.
US07958984B2	Friction plate for wet-type multiplate clutch A friction plate for a wet-type multiplate clutch can include a core plate and friction linings bonded on opposite sides of the core plate, respectively. Each of the friction linings can include plural segment pieces bonded at angular intervals on a corresponding opposite side. The segment pieces can each include at least one first oil groove and at least one second oil groove. The first oil groove opens to a radially-inner side of its corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in a radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece. The second oil groove opens to a radially-outer side of the corresponding segment piece and has a closed end portion located in another radially-intermediate part of the corresponding segment piece. Adjacent ones of the segment pieces are provided, in radially-middle parts of opposing side walls thereof, with angularly-extending recessed portions, respectively.
US07958983B2	Hydraulic system in motor vehicles A hydraulic system in motor vehicles with at least one hydraulically actuated clutch, which entails minimized control complexity for supplying the clutch with hydraulic oil and which takes up less structural space. These characteristics are achieved essentially in that the pressure control of the hydraulically actuated clutch is effected directly and exclusively by an electrically driven and electronically controlled oil pump.
US07958981B2	Shock absorber A shock absorber interposed in parallel with a suspension spring between a vehicle wheel and a vehicle body of a vehicle comprises a main piston (2) partitioning a cylinder (1) into a first operating chamber (R1) and a second operating chamber (R2), and connected to a piston rod (8). The first operating chamber (R1) and the second operating chamber (R2) are connected by a laminated leaf valve (V1, V2) under a first flow resistance. A passage (4a) connects one of the pressure chambers (R3A, R3B) partitioned by a free piston (5) and the first operating chamber (R1) under a second flow resistance. A passage (4b) connects the other of the pressure chambers (R3A, R3B) and the second operating chamber (R2) under a third flow resistance. The shock absorber displays stable damping force characteristics as a result of a spring (S) supporting the free piston (5) in a predetermined neutral position.
US07958974B2	Electromechanically actuable disc brake with actuating plunger A self-boosting electromechanically actuable disc brake, having an application device for applying the brake pad, which application device has a rotary brake lever and a self-boosting device, wherein the rotary brake lever acts on an actuating plunger which acts on the application-side brake lining directly or via a pressure plate, is characterized in that the actuating plunger is pivotably mounted on the rotary brake lever and on the pressure plate or the application-side brake lining with an intersecting rotational axis.
US07958973B2	Wheel chock A method of chocking a wheel comprises a step of providing a wheel chock. The wheel chock comprises a stationary body and a rocking body. The rocking body is pivotally connected to the stationary body. The method also comprises a step of rolling a wheel into contact with the rocking body in a manner causing the rocking body to rotate to a wheel securing position relative to the stationary body and causing the wheel to reach a chocked position relative to the stationary body. The method further comprises a step of activating a locking mechanism that limits pivotal movement of the rocking body away from the wheel securing position relative to the stationary body. The activating of the locking mechanism occurs while the wheel is in the chocked position. After activating the locking mechanism, the wheel is fully secured to the wheel chock.
US07958970B2	Acceleration sensor calibrated hoist positioning A hoist positioning system includes an accelerometer attached to a hoist, a control unit for processing signals from the accelerometer and comparing the processed signals with reference data to determine a position of the hoist, a drive system for moving the hoist up and down, and a relay that is switched ON and OFF by a control signal from the control unit. When the relay is switched ON, power is supplied to the drive system from a high-voltage power source and the hoist is driven up or down. When the relay is switched OFF, power from the high-voltage power source to the drive system is cut off and the hoist stops moving up or down.
US07958969B2	Transfer device for vehicle A transfer device for a vehicle includes a casing, a cylindrical input shaft supported by the casing, a first end of the input shaft engaging with a driveshaft, an output shaft supported on an internal surface of a second end of the input shaft and engaging with the second end of the input shaft, the output shaft including an oil passage formed therein in an axial direction, and a lubrication fluid supply passage supplying a lubrication fluid from the casing to the oil passage. The lubrication fluid supply passage includes an inner fluid tight chamber annularly formed with an external surface of the output shaft and an internal surface of the input shaft, a first passage establishing a communication between the inner fluid tight chamber and the oil passage, and a second passage establishing a communication between the inner fluid tight chamber and an external surface of the input shaft.
US07958963B2	Assembly support for a motor vehicle transmission An assembly support has a supporting element which is connected to the vehicle body and has an upper shell with a connected closing plate, and reinforcing bars are arranged in the region of fastening openings between the upper shell and the closing plate. A bridge support is connected to the supporting element, the bridge support is held with free limb ends in bearing eyes of the supporting element, and a bearing spindle for a transmission bearing being arranged between the bearing eyes.
US07958958B2	Inputs for optimizing performance in hybrid vehicles A hybrid vehicle controller operates to use GPS navigation information to determine how much energy should be delivered from or sent to, the battery. The battery charge can be better managed by using knowledge of the future path of the vehicle.
US07958957B2	Hybrid vehicle and control method thereof A hybrid vehicle 20 sets a tentative limit value Win0 of determining a fuel increase relation with respect to a selected gearshift position SP for driving (S220, S230, S350), and performs increasing correction of a fuel injection amount according to either a first OT increase factor setting map or a second OT increase factor setting map that is enabled based on a relation of an input limit Win of the battery 50 to the tentative limit value Win0. Prohibition of fuel cutoff may be cancelled, based on a relation of the input limit Win to a driving force demand in an accelerator-off state set at the selected gearshift position SP. Even in this case, the increasing correction enables temperature regulation of an exhaust gas purification catalyst, with a view to controlling deterioration of the exhaust gas purification catalyst in an actual fuel cutoff condition after cancellation of the prohibition of the fuel cutoff. The deterioration of the exhaust gas purification catalyst is thus favorably controlled, irrespective of the selected gearshift position SP.
US07958956B2	Coaxial two-wheel vehicle A coaxial two-wheel vehicle on which a rider stably travels without the upper body being swayed left and right in a riding state of the center of gravity being positioned high is provided.The coaxial two-wheel vehicle includes: a step plate for a driver to ride; a vehicle body that supports the step plate so as to be capable of changing a posture in a roll direction of rotating around a roll axis as the center, when a traveling direction is made the roll axis; a pair of wheels disposed on both sides on the same axis in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle body and rotatably supported by the vehicle body; a pair of wheel drive means to drive and rotate the pair of wheels independently; and a handle for directly changing a posture of the step plate or indirectly changing the posture through the vehicle body.
US07958954B2	Drill bits with enclosed slots Core drill bits with long crown heights are described herein. The core drill bits have a series of slots or openings that are not located at the tip of the crown and are therefore enclosed in the body of the crown. The slots may be staggered and/or stepped throughout the crown. As the cutting portion of the drill bit erodes through normal use, the fluid/debris notches at the tip of the bit are eliminated. As the erosion progresses, the slots become exposed and then they function as fluid/debris ways. This configuration allows the crown height to be extended and lengthened without substantially reducing the structural integrity of the drill bit.
US07958952B2	Pulse rate of penetration enhancement device and method The system and device described relates to flow pulsing for use in down-hole drilling rate of penetration (ROP) enhancement and measurement while drilling (MWD) using a pulse drilling device (PDD) with a fast acting valve in conjunction with a pilot valve to produce high pressure, high amplitude, low duration pressure pulses.
US07958949B2	Method and apparatus for three dimensional geosteering A technique for drilling a borehole includes obtaining data from a tool in the borehole for a plurality of positions in the borehole that is being drilled to form acquired data indicative of directional electromagnetic propagation measurements. The technique includes identifying a plurality of distances to a boundary between formations in ground from the plurality of positions in the borehole based on the measurements; identifying a trajectory of the borehole using the plurality of distances; and deciding whether to change the trajectory of the borehole using a change in the plurality of distances between the trajectory and the boundary. The trajectory of the borehole may be changed in both inclination and azimuth.
US07958945B2	Pneumatic tool with sectional adjustment of torsional force The present invention provides a pneumatic tool enabling sectional adjustment of torsional force, including a main body and a cylinder mounted into the accommodation space of main body. The cylinder is fitted with air vents and also a rotor. A plurality of exhaust holes is arranged at one side of the cylinder tube of the cylinder. An exhaust duct switching member is arranged between the exhaust holes of the cylinder tube and air exhaust duct of the main body and used to switch the airflow for air exhaust by different exhaust holes. The pneumatic tool enables sectional adjustment of its torsional force, thus promoting the torsional force efficiently with better applicability.
US07958942B2	Potato harvester A potato harvester has a lifting device for lifting soil ridges, wherein the lifting device has a digging device with digging shares. At least one support element for supporting the lifting device on the ground is provided. The at least one support element has at least two wheels that are movable along opposite sides of an intermediately positioned soil ridge, respectively. The wheels form a guide unit that supports at least one part of a weight of the at least one digging device, wherein the guide unit controls the digging shares and acts on a soil ridge to be lifted as an intake aid.
US07958941B2	Hydraulic running tool assembly and method of its use An assembly and method for downhole equipment deployment comprising a liner hanger attachable to deployable equipment, a top sub insertable into the liner hanger and attachable to a tubing string, a lock piston releasably connectable to the top sub, and lock pins insertable through the top sub, the liner hanger, and the lock piston, the liner hanger and associated equipment remotely releasable from the top sub and the lock piston.
US07958939B2	Composition and method for producing a pumpable hydrocarbon hydrate slurry at high water-cut Embodiments of the invention relate to a process for providing a pumpable hydrate slurry in a hydrocarbon pipeline fluid mixture having a water-cut greater than about 50 volume percent. In one or more embodiments the process comprises treating the fluid mixture with an anti-agglomerant and adding water to the fluid mixture in an amount sufficient to lower the gas-water ratio sufficiently to achieve a pumpable hydrate slurry. Also disclosed are methods for producing hydrocarbons utilizing a process for providing a pumpable hydrate slurry in a hydrocarbon pipeline fluid mixture having a water -cut greater than about 50 volume percent.
US07958938B2	System and vessel for supporting offshore fields A system for supporting multiple-well-site, offshore, hydrocarbon-bearing fields, each well-site has one or more wells. In general, the system first comprises a floating vessel that is relocatable from a first subsea well-site to a second subsea well-site. The system also comprises two separate systems: (1) an operations control system for providing subsea well-site operations such as power and communications; and (2) an intervention system for conducting intervention services to an individual subsea well such as workover services and maintenance services. The operations system may provide control to wells and other subsea equipment at either the first well-site or the second well-site, regardless of the location of the floating vessel. The intervention system may provide workover and/or maintenance to subsea equipment or individual wells at the well-site at which it is located.
US07958936B2	Downhole formation sampling Methods, systems, and apparatuses for downhole sampling are presented. The sampling system includes a control unit and a housing to engage a conduit. The housing at least partially encloses at least one formation sampler to collect a formation sample. The formation sampler is stored in a sampler carousel. A sampler propulsion system forces the formation sampler into the formation. The propulsion system is in communication with the control unit.
US07958935B2	Low-profile thermosyphon-based cooling system for computers and other electronic devices This invention provides a cooling system comprising a thermosyphon for computer and electronic devices. The thermosyphon comprises an evaporator placed on top of a heat source, such as CPU. Heat from the heat source causes liquid coolant inside the evaporator to evaporate or boil. The resulting vapor enters a condenser and returns to a liquid phase. Cooling fins are attached to the condenser to facilitate heat transfer with the surrounding airflow. The cooling system and computer or electronic device fit within standard computer cases and high density server rack-mountable cases.
US07958934B2	Counter-stream-mode oscillating-flow heat transport apparatus A counter-stream-mode oscillating-flow heat transport apparatus improves heat transport capability by imparting oscillatory displacement to a fluid located near a heat-generating element such that the fluid is directed toward the heat-generating element. Turning portions of serpentine flow paths are disposed to face the heat-generating element. The flow paths are stacked in multiple layers in the direction from the heat-generating element to the flow paths, and a plurality of flow paths are disposed adjacent to the heat-generating element in the direction of fluid oscillation.
US07958926B2	Single-Track stacking panel covering for an architectural opening A single-track stacking panel covering for an architectural opening has a headrail for mounting the covering above and in front of the opening, such as a window or door. The headrail has a single track. Suspended from the headrail and translatable therealong are panels oriented at a small angle relative to the headrail. When the covering is open, the panels form an overlappingly stacked array at one end of the headrail.
US07958921B2	Pneumatic tire with tread having sub grooves in blocks, center main groove and subsidiary main grooves A pneumatic tire having a designated rotational direction is disclosed, wherein an entire area having a width 85% of a total tire width and a center area having a width 30% of the total tire width are defined in a tread portion. A center main groove is positioned on a tire equatorial line and extends in a tire circumferential direction. Subsidiary main grooves are positioned on two sides of the center main groove and extend in the tire circumferential direction. Angled and lateral grooves extend at an angle, in a direction opposite the rotational direction towards an outside in the tire width direction. Lateral grooves extend from each subsidiary main groove. Sub grooves extend from the lateral grooves towards the rotational direction. A total length of a block edge in the center area is from 40% to 60% of a total length of a block edge in the entire area.
US07958920B1	Compact reusable shopping bag assembly A compact, user-friendly and reusable shopping bag assembly has a pocket with a cavity having a top opening accommodating a plurality of reusable auxiliary shopping bags. A primary shopping bag is hinged to the pocket for movement between a compact folded position adjacent a side of the pocket to an unfolded position for holding merchandise. A panel assembly having pockets for holding printed materials are attached to the front of the pocket.
US07958915B2	Liquid color gravimetric metering apparatus and methods Apparatus and methods for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin processing machine include a scale for weighing a container of liquid color, a pump for removing liquid color from the container, controller for actuating pushers in the pump in a sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze the delivery tube while a second and third pusher are not displaced thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube squeezing, whereupon a second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and substantially trapped liquid color in the tube at the first and second position of tube squeezing, whereupon the first pusher permits liquid color to flow through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing and the third pusher squeezes the tube and thereby forces at least a portion of the trapped liquid color material through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing thereby supplying liquid color to the plastic resin processing machine at a predetermined rate according to a selected recipe to produce plastic parts having desired characteristics.
US07958909B2	Spool valve Two stage spool valves having, in a single assembly, a first stage spool and a second stage spool. The first stage spool may have a solenoid actuator with a return spring, with the second stage spool having either a hydraulic return or a spring return, or both. The solenoid actuator may be comprised of a stationary structure defining a magnetic flux path, including a stationary structure pole face, that together with a moveable structure, including a moveable structure pole face, define a substantially zero air gap magnetic circuit when the solenoid actuator is actuated, the pole faces of the stationary structure and the moveable structure each being defined in part by soft magnetic iron and in part by hardened steel, the hardened steel of the moveable structure contacting the hardened steel of the stationary structure and the soft magnetic iron of the moveable structure being face to face with the soft magnetic iron of the stationary structure when the solenoid actuator is actuated.
US07958908B2	Flow control valve A capacity control valve, comprising a first valve chamber formed in a valve body, a first fluid passage communicating with the first valve chamber to flow a fluid with a discharge pressure therein, a valve seat formed around a valve port between the first valve chamber and the first fluid passage, a second fluid passage communicating with the first valve chamber to flow the fluid with the discharge pressure therefrom, a second valve chamber communicating with the first valve chamber through a guide hole, a third fluid passage communicating with the second valve chamber to flow the fluid with a suction pressure therein and therefrom, a valve element disposed in the first valve chamber and having a valve part separated from and brought into contact with the valve seat to flow the fluid with the discharge pressure therein and a stem part movably fitted to the guide hole, and a solenoid having a solenoid rod connected to the connection face of the valve element and moving the solenoid rod with a current, A discharge pressure receiving area in a connection surface between the valve part and the valve seat is set larger than the pressure receiving area of the stem part.
US07958904B2	Collapsible hunting blind A collapsible hunting blind includes a blind awning and a collapsible frame. The blind awning includes two sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall. The collapsible frame includes a retention frame and two tensional frames. The retention frame is detachably coupling between the sidewalls to retain a distance therebetween at the setup position, wherein when the retention frame is released from the sidewalls, the sidewalls are adapted to overlap with each other at the folded position. The two tensional frames are provided at the sidewalls respectively for providing a tensional force thereat at the setup position to stretch out the sidewalls in a tensional manner. When each of the tensional frames is actuated to reduce the tensional force at the respective sidewall of the blind awning, the sidewall is adapted to overlappedly fold into a compact structure at the folded position.
US07958899B2	Substrate cleaning apparatus and substrate cleaning method At a vibration applying position, ultrasonic vibration is applied upon a liquid film which is on a surface of a substrate. Concurrently with this, at a drop arrival position which is different from the vibration applying position, drops of a cleaning liquid are supplied to the liquid film, whereby wave-generating vibration which is different from the ultrasonic vibration is applied upon the liquid film. This dramatically improves removal of particles adhering to the surface of the substrate as compared with mere application of ultrasonic vibration. Hence, even when the output, the frequency and the like of the ultrasonic vibration are set to such an extent not damaging the substrate, it is possible to effectively remove particles with the wave-generating vibration and favorably clean the surface of the substrate.
US07958896B2	Magnetic force devices, systems, and methods for resisting tissue collapse within the pharyngeal conduit Devices, systems and methods employ magnetic force to resist tissue collapse in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit during sleep.
US07958890B2	Dry powder inhaler A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater airflow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.
US07958889B1	Protective face cover and moldable attachment A protective face cover, mask or respirator with a moldable attachment that allows different devices or solids to be inserted into and withdrawn from inside the face cover of the wearer without removing it and the moldable attachment itself. The same moldable attachment can contain also an exhalation port to provide the mask with exhalation capability.
US07958888B2	Circulation apparatus and method for use of same A circulation apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, tubing provides gas communication between an air intake portion disposed at a first end and a breathing sub-apparatus at a second end. A bladder, which may be incorporated into a clothing garment or sleeping gear, is coupled to the tubing between the first and second ends. At least one valve is disposed within the tubing in order to selectively allow gas communication from the air intake portion to the breathing sub-apparatus and selectively allow gas communication from the breathing sub-apparatus to the bladder. Following an inhalation, heated exhaled air is circulated through the bladder to maintain a healthy core temperature and prevent hypothermia.
US07958886B2	Torque arm assembly and method A torque arm assembly, used with a solar collector mounted to a drive shaft, comprises a torque arm with first and second ends and a torque arm coupling assembly including a drive shaft enclosure defining an open-ended channel sized to house the drive shaft. The channel has a circumferentially extending substantially continuous drive surface between the ends that lies adjacent to the drive shaft so the drive shaft and the drive shaft enclosure rotate together. In some examples contiguous abutment structure, such as weld lines, shims and/or adhesive, connects each side of the drive shaft to the drive shaft enclosure. The invention may also be carried out as a connection improvement method.
US07958883B2	Cooking device The present invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a burner group (3), provided to be easily emplaced into the housing (15) without any problems after being detached and taken apart for maintenance, providing complete burning thereby preventing the formation of poisonous gases.
US07958880B1	Portable batting device and method A portable batting device that includes a housing, a pneumatically operated ball launching assembly partially disposed within the housing, and a funnel-shaped ball capturing assembly positioned on the top side of the housing. The launching assembly launching a first ball upward into a hitting zone so that a batter may attempt to hit the first ball with a bat. The hitting zone is at a predetermined and adjustable vertical height. The ball capturing assembly receives the first ball should the batter swing the bat and not hit the ball and funnels the first ball into position for a subsequent launch by the launching assembly. The batting device may have a ball feeding assembly operatively associated with the ball capturing assembly.
US07958877B2	Launching system for launching target and retrieval devices An apparatus is disclosed for launching targets, retrieval devices and combination target and retrieval devices, wherein the targets and retrieval devices may be irregularly shaped, such as like birds. Multiple targets are held on a carousel delivery system and eventually moved in a launching position by a push arm. A throwing arm is then rotated, pushing the target along a throwing guide until it reaches a launching position, at which point the target is released for use in shooting practice and/or training retrieving dogs.
US07958874B2	Exhaust gas recirculation apparatus An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus includes a housing connected with an EGR cooler via a mount face. The housing has a valve chamber accommodating a selector valve. The housing has a partition extending from the mount face close to the valve chamber to divide first and second exhaust ports opened in the mount face. A first passage leads exhaust gas into the EGR cooler through the valve chamber. A second passage recirculates exhaust gas to the intake passage through the EGR cooler and the valve chamber. A bypass passage leads exhaust gas from the engine through the valve chamber to bypass the EGR cooler. A rotation axis of the selector valve is perpendicular to an axis of the mount face, and offset away from the partition.
US07958873B2	Open loop Brayton cycle for EGR cooling A system for reducing the temperature of waste heat from a waste heat source of a vehicle engine, including an open loop Brayton cycle having a cooler, a compressor, a turbine, and a shaft coupling the compressor to the turbine. Waste heat and compressed air from the compressor flow through the cooler, thereby transferring heat from the waste heat to the compressed air and lowering the temperature of the waste heat. The heated and compressed air is expanded across the turbine, to cause rotation of the shaft, thereby powering rotation of the compressor. Excess power beyond that necessary to drive the compressor may be drawn off through a generator which has its rotor mounted on the same shaft as the compressor and turbine.
US07958867B2	Accelerator position sensor arrangement structure for motorcycle To provide an accelerator position sensor arrangement structure for a motorcycle that can prevent an increased vehicle-width without change of operational feeling of a throttle. An accelerator position sensor is connected to a throttle grip via a pair of throttle cables and disposed externally of main frames, of a body frame, extending from a head pipe toward the rearward of a vehicle body.
US07958864B2	Compression ignition engines and methods Compression ignition engines and methods of the type wherein the engines operate with one cylinder used as a compression cylinder and a second cylinder used as a combustion cylinder. The engines have all cylinders configured so as to be able to operate as a compression cylinder or a combustion cylinder. In the method of operation, a cylinder may switch its operation between being a compression cylinder and then operate a combustion cylinder. Switching the operation between compression and combustion operation results in an even temperature distribution within the engine, and eliminates the need for special cooling requirements, facilitating retrofit of existing engines. Also use of an air storage tank allows all cylinders to operate as combustion cylinders for short bursts of power. Various other features are disclosed.
US07958859B2	Camshaft assembly A camshaft assembly is disclosed which comprises an inner shaft, an outer tube surrounding and rotatable relative to the inner shaft, and two groups of cam lobes mounted on the outer tube, the first group of cam lobes being fast in rotation with the outer tube, the second group being rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the tube and connected for rotation with the inner shaft. The connection between the second group of cam lobes and the inner shaft is effected by means of driving members whose positions are adjustable in order to compensate for significant manufacturing inaccuracies between the inner shaft and its associated group of cam lobes.
US07958858B2	Variable valve timing system and method for controlling the same A variable valve timing system changes a valve phase by reducing an operation amount of an actuator at a speed reduction ratio that varies depending on a phase region. When the valve phase is outside a region in which the ratio of the amount of change in the phase with respect to the operation amount of the actuator is low, namely a high speed reduction ratio, the actuator may be operated due to, for example, a reaction force applied to a camshaft, and an undesirable valve phase change may result. Accordingly, when an engine stop command is possibly issued, the target phase value is restricted to a region more delayed than a phase restriction value set in consideration of the amount by which the valve timing can be changed from when an engine stop command is issued until when the engine is stopped.
US07958855B2	Air-cooled V-type combustion engine A cooling fan assembly has an inner surface provided with a guide body for guiding a cooling air towards a first engine cylinder, positioned on a leading side with respect to the direction of rotation of the cooling fan assembly, and a second engine cylinder, positioned on a trailing side, after the cooling air has been separated. The guide body includes an upright wall protruding from the inner surface of the fan casing in an axial direction of the cooling fan assembly and extending radially outwardly and spirally from the inner surface of the fan casing as it progresses from the trailing side towards the leading side, and a ceiling wall connected with a projecting end of the upright wall and extending inside the spirality and operable to guide the cooling air inside the spirality of the upright wall towards the first engine cylinder.
US07958854B2	Multi-stage cooling system A cooling system is provided having a first heat exchanger configured to remove heat from at least a portion of a first fluid and a second heat exchanger configured to remove heat from a portion of a second fluid. The second heat exchanger is located downstream of the first heat exchanger relative to the flow of air passing through the first heat exchanger so that a substantial portion of the air passing through the first heat exchanger also passes through the second heat exchanger. The cooling system also has a valve located to regulate the flow of the second fluid through the second heat exchanger. The cooling system further has a controller configured to actuate the valve to restrict the flow of the second fluid through the second heat exchanger when the first heat exchanger is removing heat from the first fluid.
US07958853B2	Steam generator A steam generator has a pressure casing formed in the shape of a drum. The longitudinal axis of this pressure casing is oriented horizontally or largely horizontally. A hollow tube (1) is formed in such a way that at least two hollow tube sections (1′) are provided, preferably a plurality of hollow tube sections which extend predominantly parallel to each other, and which are arranged in stack-form vertically or vertically offset above each other, and which in each case are interconnected in pairs at an end section, wherein this hollow tube is located in the vertical direction above the feed section (8).
US07958851B2	Catnip enhanced cat scratcher A recreational pet toy for cats which includes an outer covering and a cord attached to the pet toy for hanging the recreational pet toy during use. The pet toy also includes an elongated channel for receiving catnip and distributing the catnip along its length.
US07958843B2	In-ovo injection machine with transversely movable egg tray assembly for manual egg transfer after injection An in-ovo egg injection machine has a transversely or laterally movable supporting structure which is mounted beneath and adjacent the injector assembly and enables the operator to move egg trays into and out of the injection area from the side of the machine. The supporting structure includes two longitudinally extending opposed support rails that are mounted on a movable member so that the longitudinal support rails are spaced from one another at a set distance to define a support cradle. The movable member is supported on two transversely extending guide rails that are approximately twice the width of the injection area in length so as to allow the support cradle to be moved, preferably by hand, to an injection position directly under the injector assembly and then, by moving the support cradle in a lateral direction on the guide rails, to a loading/unloading position horizontally spaced from the injection area.
US07958842B2	Substrate processing apparatus A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a processing chamber which is to accommodate at least one substrate; a gas supply system which is to supply processing gas into the processing chamber; an exhaust system which is to exhaust atmosphere in the processing chamber; and at least one pair of electrodes which are to bring the processing gas into an active state and which are accommodated in protection tubes such that the electrodes can be inserted into and pulled out from the protection tubes, wherein the electrodes are accommodated in the protection tube in a state where at least a portion of the electrodes is bent, and the electrodes are formed of flexible members, is disclosed.
US07958835B2	Offshore floating production, storage, and off-loading vessel for use in ice-covered and clear water applications An offshore floating production, storage, and off-loading vessel has a hull of generally cylindrical or polygonal configuration surrounding a central double tapered conical moon pool and contains water ballast and oil and/or liquefied gas storage compartments. The exterior side walls of the polygonal hull have flat surfaces and sharp corners to cut ice sheets, resist and break ice, and move ice pressure ridges away from the structure. An adjustable water ballast system induces heave, roll, pitch and surge motions of the vessel to dynamically position and maneuver the vessel to accomplish ice cutting, breaking and moving operations. The moon pool shape and other devices on the vessel provide added virtual mass for increasing the natural period of the roll and heave modes, reducing dynamic amplification and resonance due to waves and vessel motion, and facilitate maneuvering the vessel. A disconnectable turret buoy at the bottom of the moon pool connects risers and mooring lines.
US07958834B2	Template for use in circular sewing A template for circular sewing is used for repeatedly sewing a single pattern into a circular arrangement with use of a sewing machine equipped with a circular sewing device. The template includes a transparent sheet member having a center point, a plurality of arc-shaped base lines arranged in a concentric pattern about the center point of the sheet member, and a plurality of linear pattern pitch measurement lines which are provided for measuring a pitch of the patterns and which are arranged on the sheet member so as to pass through the center point of the sheet member and across the arc-shaped base lines. A total number of patterns is indicated near to an end of the template. The total number of patterns is obtained when a pattern with a pitch substantially coinciding with one of the pattern pitch measurement lines has been sewn into a circular arrangement.
US07958830B2	Contactless energy supply for moving consumers A contactless energy supply for electrical consumers mounted on the mobile part of a linear motor is provided, the energy supply being provided without additional voltage sources. A higher frequency energy supply field is superposed over the propulsion field, the energy supply field being inductively decoupled using the energy transmitting interface of the secondary part, and supplying consumers mounted on the secondary part with energy.
US07958826B2	Variable distance detonation mechanism A grenade includes an explosion chamber having an explosive charge to which an ignition charge is connected. The grenade also includes a primer and trigger coupled to the ignition charge for detonation of the explosive charge held within the explosion chamber. A variable distance detonation mechanism has a trigger and primer for allowing controlled detonation of the grenade a specific distance from the launch point thereof.
US07958823B2	Controllable digital solid state cluster thrusters for rocket propulsion and gas generation A thruster stack assembly and method for manufacturing the same is provided. The thruster stack assembly includes a plurality of grain elements having a common core region (e.g., a channel or passageway), where each grain element comprises a volume of electrically ignitable propellant. The thruster stack assembly further includes electrodes associated with the plurality of grain elements, the electrodes adapted for selectively igniting the plurality of grain elements. In one example, one or more of the grain elements may be ignited and combusted without igniting or damaging adjacent grain elements of the stack. The core region serves to channel combustion gases and exhaust from the thruster stack. Multiple stacks may be assembled together to form three-dimensional thruster arrays.
US07958821B2	Printing unit of a printing machine, a method for use thereof and a printing machine with a plurality of modules A printing unit of a printing machine is supported by a pair of spaced side frames that are disposed opposite to each other. The printing unit includes at least one printing machine and at least one ink unit. The printing machine is formed by a plurality of printing cylinders. Each of the spaced side frames include a longitudinal crossbar that runs in the direction of transfer of a print substrate traveling through the printing unit. The two longitudinal crossbars form the boundaries of a foot space of the printing unit at two parallel sides. A plurality of pipelines are disposed in the foot space between the two longitudinal crossbars. These pipelines supply flowable media to the printing unit, which flowable media can be either liquid or gaseous. At least one of the pipelines is connected to a user of one of the supplied flowable media in the printing unit or to at least one source of the flowable media. The printing machine can utilize a plurality of printing units.
US07958819B2	Blender and juicer system A blender and juicer system involving a blender container, having an open top and an open bottom, and a removable juicer member being open at each end and adapted for insertion into the blender container. The blender container is adapted to prevent the over-insertion of the removable juicer member. The inserted juicer member is adapted to engage operatively the interior of the blender container. The blender and juicer system also involves a plunger adapted for insertion into the juicer member. The inserted plunger is utilized during a juice extraction operation. The plunger includes a top exterior lip that defines the optimal range of plunger insertion into the juicer member.
US07958817B2	Food heating device One embodiment of a food heating device includes a platen (101) and an opening (103) disposed in the platen (101). The opening (103) is arranged and sized to receive a food product (203) from a first side of the platen (101) and to output the food product (203) to a second side of the platen (101). Alternative embodiments involve diagonally guiding a food product (203) along a different arrangements of platens (801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1401).
US07958812B2	Flexible spike and ballistic resistant panel A flexible spike and ballistics panel having a strike surface and a rear surface. The panel contains a strike face grouping and a rear face grouping, where the normalized stiffness of each strike face layer is about 3 to 50 times greater than the normalized stiffness of each textile layer. The strike face grouping contains at least two strike face layers, each strike face layer having resin and high tenacity yarns, where the high tenacity yarns are in an amount of at least 50% by weight in each layer, where the high tenacity yarns have a tenacity of at least 5 grams per denier, and where the strike face grouping forms the strike surface of the panel. The rear face grouping contains at least ten layers of a spike resistant textile layer, each textile layer having a plurality of interwoven yarns or fibers having a tenacity of about 5 or more grams per denier, where at least one of the surfaces of the spike resistant textile layer contains about 10 wt. % or less, based on the total weight of the textile layer, of a coating comprising a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 20 μm or less.
US07958811B2	Semi-fabricated armor layer, an armor layer produced therefrom and method of production thereof A semi-fabricated armor layer for use in production of an armor panel adapted to protect a body from an incoming projectile comprises a carrier and a plurality of armor elements. Each armor element has front and rear end surfaces and a side surface extending therebetween along a height axis of the element. The carrier is flexible and each of a majority of the armor elements is bonded to the carrier at one of its end surfaces and is free of bonding to adjacent armor elements at its side surface. When the carrier has a planar orientation, at least a majority of the armor elements has their height axes essentially parallel to each other and, when the carrier is at least slightly bent, the height axis of at least one of the elements is inclined relative to the height axis of another of the armor elements adjacent thereto.
US07958809B1	Method for neutralizing explosives and electronics Disclosed is a method for neutralizing explosives and electronics utilizing a high voltage electrical discharge.
US07958804B2	Screwdriver handle having removable rotating cap A handle for a tool which provides for simultaneously providing a downward force and a rotating force on the work piece. By providing a cap assembly attachable to the end of the tool having a rotatable top which permits the top to remain fixed while the tool is rotated.
US07958801B2	Harmonic force generator for an active vibration control system A force generator for an active vibration control (AVC) system provides a mass located upon an inner circular member which is movable within an outer circular member to simultaneously complete one revolution about its axis as it orbits within the outer circular member to compensate for sensed vibrations. A crank mounts the inner circular member and a counterweight. The crank is rotated by a prime mover such as an electric motor. The mass will therefore generate a sinusoidal inertial force in a straight line. Multiple systems are suitably arranged to be used in conjunction with one another to provide a wide range of inertial force outputs.
US07958799B1	Brake for gear cone transmission A brake assembly is activated by a vehicle brake. The brake assembly is mounted upstream from a transmission and either up or downstream from a clutch. A controller for the transmission brake allows the driver to adjust both a transmission brake lead/lag time and force relative to the vehicle wheel brakes.
US07958794B2	Device for sensing the contents of a fluid in a duct with a tubular body extending into the duct A device is disclosed for sensing the contents of a fluid flowing in a duct system, such as in a ventilation duct. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the device includes a sensing element and a tubular body extending over a cross-sectional portion of the duct at issue and a supply duct with an inlet facing the main flow direction of the fluid and a discharge duct with an outlet located downstream of the inlet, to divert from the flowing fluid a partial flow which is made to pass the sensing element and then re-enter the duct. The outlet is located upstream of the downstream boundary of the tubular body.
US07958789B2	Capacitive sensor A capacitive sensor includes a dielectric layer made of an elastomer and a pair of electrodes arranged via the dielectric layer, and detects deformation on the basis of electrostatic capacity variation between the pair of electrodes. The pair of electrodes contain an elastomer and conductive fillers filled into the elastomer, are expandable and contractible in accordance with deformation of the dielectric layer, and exhibit little conductivity variation even when the pair of electrodes expand and contract. At least one of the dielectric layer and the electrodes is formed by a printing method using a dielectric layer coating containing a formation component of the dielectric layer or an electrode coating containing a formation component of the electrode.
US07958786B2	Flow measurement system and method using enhanced phase difference detection A flow measurement system and method uses enhanced phase detection based on a ratio of amplitudes of summations of two oppositely propagating acoustic signals. A need for direct time measurement and extensive difference calculation is consequently avoided so that in some implementations compact, simple, low power analog circuitry can be used.
US07958783B2	Method and device for analyzing the effects of the vibrations of a vehicle transmitted to a person Device and method for recording vibrations transmitted from a vehicle to a person. The person is using a cushioned and preferably sprung vehicle seat of a vehicle by way of at least one detector unit for detecting vibration values, whereby the detector unit is arranged on the vehicle seat frame or an associated component and an analysis unit for analyzing the vibration values detected calculates vibration results for the vibration acting on the person using a preset transmission function.
US07958780B2	Wind tunnel testing technique A wind tunnel testing technique or method involves using feedback to position control surfaces of a model so that there is substantially no moment on the model for its given orientation to the airstream. The model is mounted on a sting that allows change in orientation of the model relative to the airstream. A balance is used to provide data regarding the forces and/or moments on the model. This data on forces and/or moments is used in one or more feedback loops to position the control surfaces of the model so that there are substantially no moments on the model. This may be done automatically, with a controller automatically controlling the position of the control surfaces to zero out the moments on the model. The use of the method may allow faster determination of model characteristics, such as determination of the trim envelope of the model.
US07958777B1	Thermal mechanical fatigue test rig A thermal mechanical fatigue test rig for testing a coating, such as a thermal barrier coating, under high temperature and pressure to simulate the actual operating environment of the coating. The test rig includes a combustor to produce a hot gas flow, a hollow test specimen on which the coating is placed, and a sapphire vessel that encloses the hollow test specimen to form a hot gas flow path over the coating. The sapphire vessel is clear so that the coating can be observed by a camera during the testing. An exhaust plenum is formed around the sapphire vessel to collect the exhaust form the hot gas flow in which additional cooling air and water for quenching can be injected to reduce the temperature of the hot gas flow prior to discharge from the test rig.
US07958766B2	Self-aligning tools and a mandrel with retention sleeve Self-aligning tools may be used to install and reposition an expandable structure in a workpiece. A self-aligning installation system may include an expansion mandrel, self-aligning nose cap assembly, and an installation tool for driving the mandrel. The expansion mandrel is sized to fit within a passageway of an expandable member such that the expandable member radially expands when the expansion mandrel is moved through the passageway. The self-aligning nose cap assembly moves relative to the installation tool and mandrel. A self-aligning seating system can be used to move the installed expandable member. The self-aligning seating system includes a seat backing, a seat base, and a pull rod coupled to the seat backing and extending through the seat base. The seat backing slidably engages the seat base to permit rotation of the pull rod.
US07958765B2	Pressing machine with die cushion device A pressing machine 1 includes: a bed 6 on which a die-cushion device 10 is provided; and a bolster 51 provided on the bed 6. The bed 6 has an inner space 61 in which a die-cushion pad 13 of the die-cushion device 10 is lifted up and down. A supporting portion 63 penetrating the die-cushion pad 13 in a lifting direction and supporting a lower surface of the bolster 51 via a carrier 52 is provided in the inner space 61. With this arrangement, since the bolster 51 is supported by the supporting portion 63, the bolster 51 can be prevented from being flexed during a press forming operation, whereby a highly accurate press forming operation can be realized. In addition, since the supporting portion 63 penetrates the die-cushion pad 13, unlike conventional arrangements, the die-cushion pad 13 does not need to be divided, whereby a complication of the arrangement can be avoided.
US07958760B2	Lock and key system with improved tumblers in the lock A lock and key system is disclosed including locks of the kind comprising a cylindrical key plug (203) with locking tumblers (205) having a body part (206a) and an integral key sensing part (206b) for engagement with an associated key (100). The key sensing part (206b) of each locking tumbler comprises at least two neighbouring key contacting portions (210a, 211a), confined within a limited region, for possible sliding engagement with a longitudinal code pattern of the associated key, at least one but not necessarily all of these key contacting portions of each locking tumbler actually engaging with a corresponding code portion of the associated key upon fully inserting the latter into the key slot of the lock.
US07958759B2	Key-removable lock core A key-removable lock core that is retained in a core receptacle by a retaining lug, and which can operated by an operating key to align the pins of the pin chambers for shear at the operating shear line, and to allow the key plug to be rotated, and which employs a control tool with the operating key for manipulating the pins into alignment for shear at the control shear line, to allow the sleeve and the key plug together to be rotated, to move the retaining lug on the sleeve between a projected position in which the lug is engaged behind a rearward-facing shoulder in the core receptacle to retain the core in the receptacle, and a retracted position within the profile of the core.
US07958755B2	Linen treatment device with imbalance monitoring, level monitoring, or load monitoring An acceleration sensor for a household device which serves for levelling the appliance and also for weighing the material introduced into the appliance, for example on a laundry unit or crockery and furthermore, in particular for a linen treatment device, for monitoring imbalances. The sensor is based on the principle that a temperature profile, generated by a thermal source, for example, an immersion heater, in a sealed chamber which contains a gas, undergoes a displacement as a result of the acceleration, which is measured by temperature sensors arranged on a flat plate.
US07958754B2	Warp-knitting machine A warp-knitting machine (1) comprising a unitary supporting structure (2), at least one needle bed (3) mounted on the unitary supporting structure (2), at least one thread-guide bar (4) for feeding yarn to the needle bed (3), mounted on the unitary supporting structure (2), a yarn feeding device (5) to the thread-guide bar (4) and to the needle bed (3); and electric and electronic devices (6) for the operation of the warp-knitting machine (1), the electric and electronic devices comprising at least main electronic devices (8) for the operation of the warp-knitting machine (1), the main electronic devices (8) comprising at least the power electronic devices and/or the servodrives for piloting the motors of the machine (1) and being mounted on the unitary supporting structure (2).
US07958747B2	Method of manufacture of glass flasks with stem and apparatus for performing of this method The cake (7), fitted with the rough pressing (71) of the stem parison (61) is situated on the ring (8) where by the action of its own gravity, it streams off till the rough pressing (71) fits into the cavity (41) of the bottom mould (4). There the rough pressing (71) is fastened by the underpressure and the air is blasted into the flask (6) and, in the same time, the bottom mould (4) is forced downwards. When the orifice (42) of the cavity (41) comes on the level of the surface (51) of the bottom opening of the glass-blowing mould (5), the glass-blowing mould (5) is closed and the air is blasted into the flask (6) until it obtains the shape of the inner wall (52) of the glass-blowing mould (5).
US07958740B2	Vehicular air-conditioner A vehicle air-conditioner provided with an inside air-conditioning unit introducing at least one of inside air and outside air, adjusting the state of the introduced air, and blowing it out into the vehicle compartment, where an air-conditioning electronic control device judges if window glass is liable to fog up based on a window glass surface relative humidity near the window glass in the compartment (degree of ease of fogging). When it is judged that the window glass is liable to fog up, the inside air-conditioning unit is controlled to prevent the window glass from fogging up in defrost control, while when it is judged that the window glass is resistant to fogging, the inside air-conditioning unit is controlled to introduce at least inside air into the compartment.
US07958738B2	Direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and a method of direct expansion ammonia refrigeration A direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and a method of direct expansion ammonia refrigeration is described and which includes a source of liquid ammonia refrigerant which is delivered in fluid flowing relation to a plurality of evaporator tubes which incorporate wicking structures, and which through capillary action facilitated by the wicking structures are effective for drawing liquid ammonia refrigerant along the inside facing surface of the evaporator tubes so as to substantially reduce any stratified and/or wavy flow patterns of the liquid ammonia refrigerant within the evaporator tubes. The invention further includes a novel accumulator vessel and heat exchanger vessel which are coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and which facilitate the removal of water from the ammonia refrigerant in order to enhance the operation of the direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system.
US07958735B2	Turbine static structure for reduced leakage air A turbine static structure having reduced leakage air is disclosed. A static structure turbine support ring having few segments is disclosed in which the segments have improved thermal expansion capability with reduced air leakage. A plurality of radially extending slots are placed in the segments to reduce stiffness. In order to minimize air leakage through the support ring, generally circumferential slots are placed in the ring and connect with the generally radially extending slots. Positioned in each of the generally radially extending slots and generally circumferential slots, and in contact with each other, are two sheet metal plates. The plates are staked to the support ring structure so as to provide a seal member, yet compensate for thermal growth.
US07958730B2	Control of dual stage turbocharging The invention concerns turbochargers, or more particularly to multivariable dual stage series turbochargers having two degrees of freedom. A multistage series turbocharger apparatus has a low pressure turbocharger comprising a low pressure compressor and a low pressure turbine; a high pressure turbocharger comprising a high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine, and a exhaust gas recirculation device. A controller controls the operation of at least two of the low pressure compressor, high pressure compressor, low pressure turbine, high pressure turbine, and exhaust gas recirculation device such that at least one operating parameter is maintained at about a selected value.
US07958728B2	Device for turbocharging an internal combusting engine comprising a pulsation damping chamber A device for turbocharging an internal combustion engine including a turbocompessor including a turbine driven by the engine exhaust gas and a compressor driven by the turbine and compresses the engine intake air. An air intake conduit connects the compressor output to an air intake manifold to the engine and includes a chamber for damping pulsations generated at the compressor output. The damping chamber is connected directly to the compressor output.
US07958726B2	Apparatus and associated methods to generate useable energy The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and associated methods for generating energy by capturing and taking benefit of the energy generated by any quantity of air surfacing inside water. In exemplary embodiments, the apparatus comprises compressing a lower density gas in a liquid medium, allowing the gas to naturally rise to the surface of the liquid medium and then capturing the energy generated by the surfacing gas. An apparatus and method is disclosed to provide a low energy technique to compress air into water. In exemplary embodiments, air is introduced into water by simultaneously providing a low pressure area in the liquid medium and compressing the air into the low pressure area. By compressing the air into water in low pressure areas, the energy required to compress the air is greatly reduced. The amount of energy generated by the rising air is less than the amount of energy required to compress air underneath the water.
US07958722B2	Valve device and secondary air supply system having the same A valve device includes a control valve for manipulating a communication between a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel. The valve device further includes a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in the first fluid channel. The pressure sensor is provided on a side face defining the first fluid channel. The pressure sensor has a pressure detection face directly opposed to the first fluid channel. The pressure detection face is substantially in parallel with a first axis of the first fluid channel.
US07958719B2	Noncircular transient fluid fuel injector control channels in propellant injector combustion systems A fuel injector system for combustion engines and motors, such as pulsed bipropellant thrusters, includes noncircular fuel and oxidizer injectors at the ends of respective dribble channels for controlling the mixture ratio of the propellants passing into a combustion chambers for maintaining a desire or ideal mixture ratio as determined by the cross-sectional area of the injectors well suited for pulse combustion fuel injector systems.
US07958718B1	Precision controlled variable thrust solid propellant rocket motor A multiple-stage solid rocket motor is operated in a manner designed to control its mass discharge profile. This is accomplished by providing means for igniting one stage and then igniting a subsequent stage while the first continues to burn.
US07958715B2	Chain with identification apparatus A link member (e.g. a chain link or an elevator link) having a body, the body having two spaced-apart ends, wave-energizable apparatus (one or more) on the link body, and, in one aspect, a wrap or wraps securing the wave-energizable apparatus to the link. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
US07958714B2	False twisting yarn and production method thereof A false twisting yarn composed of monofilaments containing a polyester component of which main component is polytrimethylene terephthalate, wherein the false twisting yarn is a false twisting yarn which satisfies all of the requirements of (1) a shrinkage ratio by wet heat treatment at 98° C. for 20 minutes is 5% or less, (2) a ratio (TS/WS) of elastic stretch ratio after wet heat treatment at 90° C. for 20 minutes (WS) and elastic stretch ratio after dry heat treatment at 90° C. for 15 minutes (TS) is, 0
US07958712B2	Compact lawn mower motor adjustment A compact lawn mower that includes at least a shroud positioned a fixed distance from a lawn, by a common rear axle extended between and supported by a pair of rear wheels, is provided. The exemplary embodiment further includes a motor adjustment member confined within and supported by the shroud. The motor adjustment member interacts with a motor, which includes a cutting member attached to a motor shaft of the motor. By manipulating the motor adjustment member, the height of the cutting member relative to the ground surface is set. That is, the motor adjustment member is rotated in a first direction to move the motor closer to the lawn, and in the opposite direction to move the motor further from the lawn, allowing the grass to be cut to a desired length, while the shroud remains a fixed distance from the lawn.
US07958705B1	Waterborne vegetation harvesting apparatus A waterborne vegetation harvesting apparatus includes a watercraft, a conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt carried by the watercraft and at least one vegetation shredder disposed in communication with the conveyor assembly.
US07958703B2	Closure system with orientation and removal capability A positive orientation container and closure combination is provided. The container includes at least one flange segment having a front and a back face. The container further includes a gap defined by the front face of one of the flange segments and the back face of one of the flange segments. The closure includes a plurality of collar segments. The closure includes at least one collar segment having an engagement face to establish a positive orientation of the closure at a predetermined position.
US07958700B2	System, method, and apparatus for packaging coins In one embodiment, a system has components that include A) an interface to receive a signal associated with a point-of-sale transaction, the signal further indicating coins to be given to a customer in accord with the point-of-sale transaction; B) a first dispenser to access a number of coins in accord with the signal; and C) a packager to package the accessed coins.
US07958699B2	Apparatus and method for compressing and bagging a loose material An apparatus for compressing a loose material that includes a compression chamber. Movement of a first ram discharges the loose material in a compressed state through an outlet port in the compression chamber. A packaging receptacle is positioned proximate the outlet port to receive the compressed material. The packaging receptacle is then moved to a second position where the movement of a second ram ejects the compressed material from the inner volume of the packaging receptacle. The second ram may be alternatively extended into and retracted from the packaging receptacle during ejection of the compressed material. The refilling of the compression chamber for the next cycle may begin prior to the retraction of the second ram from the packaging receptacle. A packaging jacket may be positioned about the packaging receptacle such that the ejection of the compressed material injects the compressed material into the packaging jacket.
US07958698B2	Residual gas removal method A method of removing a residual gas from inside a conventional shipping container is disclosed. The method first involves the step of accessing the container by opening a door of the container and fitting a panel to the open door space. Next the method involves extracting at least some of the residual gas present in the container via an outlet valve located at the panel using an external suction pump. Finally the method involves providing a flow of a flushing gas into the container via an inlet valve located at the panel to flush residual gas from the container. The total pressure of gases in the container can be monitored and controlled by adjusting the flow of gases in the inlet and outlet holes or valves.
US07958693B2	Boom for excavation machine In a boom 15 for a working machine 10 attached to an upper rotational body 30 supported on a center of an upper portion of a crawler-type traveling device 40 to be transversely rotatable, the boom 15 includes, as portions cast by integral molding, a boom support point part 16, a boom cylinder rod support point part 18, and an arm support point part 19, and is configured so that the boom support point part 16 is connected to the boom cylinder rod support point part 18 by a general-purpose first rectangular pipe 61, and so that the boom cylinder rod support point part 18 is connected to the arm support point part 19 by a general-purpose second rectangular pipe 62.
US07958690B2	Stitching system hold-down A coupling system for securing an elongated wood member having a surface to a second body comprises a stitching body having a first end and a second end defining a length, and a first side and a second side. A first plurality of angled fastener bores is positioned generally on the first side of the stitching body, each configured to position a first side fastener element resting therein at least a first angle with respect to the surface of the elongated wood member. A second plurality of angled fastener bores positioned generally on the second side of the stitching body, each configured to position a second side fastener element resting therein at least a second angle with respect to the surface of the elongated wood member, such that ones of said second side fasteners and said first side fasteners form an intersection when viewed along the length of the stitching body. In one aspect, the coupling system is a hold-down securing a column having a surface to a foundation. The hold-down includes an anchor securing section securing an anchor bolt having a first end positioned in a foundation, the securing section having a first side and a second side defining a width, and a first end and a second end defining a length. A method for installing a hold-down is also provided.
US07958680B2	Apparatus and method for managing runoff water from a down spout of a gutter system An apparatus and method for connecting to the down spout of a gutter system to slow, disrupt, diffuse and absorb energy from runoff water to thereby eliminate erosion and destruction of surrounding landscaping is beneficial and desirable. The apparatus has an enclosure for passing runoff water therethrough. At least one upwardly extending baffle is used to slow and disrupt water from the down spout and at least one downwardly extending baffle is also used to slow, disrupt and diffuse runoff water from the down spout. The upwardly extending baffle and the downwardly extending baffle are for managing runoff water from the down spout to prevent erosion and destruction of surrounding landscaping.
US07958679B2	Variable connectors for angling modular wall systems A system for connecting wall modules in a variable and a flexible fashion includes a flexible angle connector and a flexible spacing connector. The flexible angle connector and the flexible spacing connector can be used together at the same wall module joint as part of joints means. The flexible connectors provide the ability to angle wall modules at virtually any angle or degree of curvature. In addition, the flexible connectors can be configured to block light, air and sound. The flexible connectors can be used to provide a virtually endless wall/angle alignment in a given interior or exterior space.
US07958676B2	Deflection device for an adjustment device of a motor vehicle A deflection device includes a support, at least one deflection element which is arranged on the support, a receptacle which is integrally formed on the support and protrudes from the support for the deflection element, an undercut which is formed on the receptacle and an elastic element which is integrally formed on the support or the deflection element and acts on the deflection element in such a manner that the deflection element tends to engage in the undercut of the receptacle. The deflection device is configured for an adjustment device of a motor vehicle for the deflection of an elongate, flexible traction means which can be moved along a direction of extent by means of an adjustment drive and to which a motor vehicle part which is to be adjusted with the adjustment device can be connected.
US07958674B2	Door sealing element The present invention relates to a door sealing element for sealing a gap between a movable door and a stationary floor side mating face, comprising two pieces of flexible tubing which are connected to each other such that they communicate on one end, namely a first piece of tubing, to be provided in the region of the door edge on the gap side, and a second piece of tubing, to be provided in the region of a door edge to be moved against a stationary stop surface in a closed position of the door.
US07958673B2	Product server with breath guard A product server for holding and displaying products. The product server has a front customer side, a rear employee side and a breath guard. The breath guard comprises a cover attached to the product server that is moveable between a lowered position covering the products held by the product server and a raised position in which the cover serves as a breath guard and allows access to the products. The cover is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of the products from the customer side of the product server.
US07958671B2	Plant container A semi-circular flexible flower box (top section) and a semi-circular flexible mounting shelf (bottom section), are both functional companion units. The top section functions as a flower box but has a flexible accordion pleat (inside/outside diameters) configured in a semi-circle to allow for attachment to cylindrical objects. The bottom section functions as a mounting shelf for the top section and is structured not only in the same flexible semi-circular fashion, but is designed in such a way as to capture the flower box section allowing it to rest securely on the mounting shelf or bottom section. Configured to the inside or backside diameter of the mounting shelf are slots that allow for insertion of an attachment strap. The attachment strap allows for a precise and snug fit of the mounting shelf and companion flower box, top section to cylindrical objects within the range of the mounting shelf's diameter.
US07958663B2	Suspended gun rest The suspended gun rest includes a pivoting arm adjustably mounted to a rigid support by a mount. The mount comprises an L-shaped bracket with a mounting hole and three holes for adjustment screws. A cradle is provided which includes two strings, a string routing system, a locking mechanism and a spindle. A hook is connected to one end of the pivoting arm. The two strings are connected to the spindle and routed through the cradle by the routing system and attached to the hook on the pivoting arm.
US07958662B2	Conditional activation of a cartridge A weapon conditionally activates a cartridge. The cartridge has a projectile and a first mechanical feature. The weapon includes an activator and a station. The activator includes a second mechanical feature. The station positions the cartridge so that the first feature opposes the second feature. On condition that the first feature does not mechanically interfere with the second feature, the activator activates the cartridge to launch the projectile from the cartridge. On condition that the first feature mechanically interferes with the second feature resulting in an excess head space, the activator is inhibited by the excess head space from activating the cartridge.
US07958661B2	Firearm having universal magazine release mechanism A universal magazine release mechanism for firearms has a frame defining a cartridge magazine chamber receiving a cartridge magazine and having a magazine release receptacle intersecting the cartridge magazine chamber. A magazine release member is mounted within the magazine release receptacle and has linear movement to a magazine retaining position and a magazine release position. A spring urges the magazine release member toward the magazine retaining position. A magazine release button extends from the magazine release member and is exposed externally of the firearm frame for engagement and linear movement by the thumb of a user's hand. The magazine release member is selectively positioned to locate the magazine release button for thumb actuation by a right-handed user or a left-handed user.
US07958658B2	Recordable card holder unit The present invention discloses a recordable card holder having an electronic record device invisibly perched within a plastic ornament body for supplementing a recording function of a card holder. The present invention discloses a way to personalize gifts of flower bouquets, flow baskets and gift boxes, and thus enhance gift value.
US07958655B2	Fold-over thermal laminate for footwear Protective footwear, such as a motorcycle or motocross boot, having a molded top gasket and/or a fold-over thermal laminate. The molded top gasket may be a substantially annular unitary piece or multi-piece construction of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, that snugly wraps around the wearer's lower leg or ankle when the footwear is worn. The fold-over thermal laminate is a piece of thermally resistant material on the outer surface of the footwear upper that extends over a portion of the rim and into the inside of the upper. One or more optional control pads also may be placed on the exterior surface of the thermal laminate.
US07958653B2	Cushioned orthotic An orthotic is disclosed. The orthotic may include a cushioning layer configured to extend from at least the metatarsal region to the proximal heel region, the cushioning layer having a heel region with a protruding heel piece integrally molded as part of the cushioning layer. The orthotic may also include an outer shell layer fixedly coupled to the cushioning layer, the outer shell layer extending longitudinally from at least the medial cuneiform-first metatarsal joint region to the calcaneus bone region of the user, the outer shell layer configured to receive the protruding heel piece.
US07958647B2	Lock-bumping and lock-picking detection A system for controlling access to a secure area includes a lock and an electronic access device for controlling access to a secure area. The lock includes pins for locking and unlocking the lock. The access device communicates with the pins for electrically measuring movement of the pins. The access device stores an unlock pin code for the predetermined position of the pins for unlocking the lock. The electronic access device electrically measures pin movement by a key. A control device electrically communicates with the electronic access device for determining when a lock compromising technique has occurred to identify a lock tamper event.
US07958642B2	Hedge trimmer A hedge trimmer has a housing. A blade bar projects forwards from the housing along a longitudinal axis. An electric drive motor drives the blade bar. At least one battery supplies the drive motor with electrical energy. The blade bar, the drive motor and the battery are mounted on the housing. The hedge trimmer has a top handle arranged above a center of gravity of the hedge trimmer, and a rear handle arranged behind the hedge-trimmer center of gravity. The battery is arranged on the housing at least mainly in front of the rear handle.
US07958641B1	Rolling plate assembly attachment for portable power cutting tools including an improved structural design and manufactured out of improved materials, an improved wheel configuration, and an adjustable bevel gear and a cutting guide The present invention is an attachable rolling plate assembly which can be attached as a single unit to a portable cutting tool to facilitate the safe rolling movement of the portable cutting tool on the workpiece. The invention comprises a frame assembly formed from a single piece of molded material such as fiber enriched plastic having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal sidewalls with stabilizer fins extending therefrom, and a flat base portion having a pair of parallel stabilizer tubes molded therein. The invention further includes an adjustable bevel gear assembly by which the angle of orientation of the cutting blade can be quickly changed. The invention also includes a cutting guide assembly to facilitate a straight cut, reduce torsional rotation of the saw blade and reduce kickback of the saw.
US07958640B1	Pole saw head having a rope setting auxiliary hook A pole saw head which comprises a cheek plate having an integral downwardly curved arm and an integral upwardly rope setting auxiliary notched hook strategically positioned on an end of the arm. The notched hook will hold a loop of a length of rope tied in a monkey's fist knot thereto. A mechanism is for coupling the cheek plate to a top end of a pole. When the pole is manually manipulated by a person grasping the pole the notched hook can release the loop on the monkey's fist knot, so that the monkey's fist knot will appropriately uncoil when the rope is tossed over a branch of a tree.
US07958638B2	Method for the production of a sheet metal plate, in particular of steel, for the Manufacture of motor vehicle body components The invention relates to a sheet metal plate, especially made of steel, for producing motor vehicle body components. In order to make the body component sufficiently rigid at highly stressed points in spite of using lightweight materials, the sheet metal plate (11) is provided with local reinforcement zones (13, 14). To this avail, the sheet metal plate (11) is joined together from at least two cut metal sheets (7, 9) with a straight seam (10). At least one of the cut metal sheets (7) comprises several parallel strips (2 to 6) having different strengths while each local reinforcement zone (13, 14) lies within a reinforced strip (2, 3).
US07958637B2	Assembly of a shaft and a housing assembly A shaft is held in place within a bore of a housing with a band of resilient material that is located between the shaft and the housing and has a series of projections extending radially inwards. The shaft surface has a first part that lies closer to the longitudinal axis of the bore than a second part, when the shaft and housing are assembled. The shaft is initially inserted into the resilient band, which is held within the bore, such that the first part of the shaft surface is oriented towards one of the projections of the resilient band. In this orientation of the shaft, the projection is not compressed. By orienting the second part of the shaft surface, the projection is brought under compression and the shaft is held firmly within the bore.
US07958636B2	Method of manufacturing light-alloy wheel for vehicle and the wheel An outer rim molded material is molded by forging or casting, a portion of the outer rim which extends from a hump to a bead seat is separated from part of a rim flange precursor 2a and is caused to fall in a sloping fashion inwards of a wheel width so as to form a bead seat precursor 12a, and the bead seat precursor 12a so formed is then joined to be welded to a top or side of a rim well rising portion precursor 5b. An external surface is cut to be finished to a proper shape, and an annular hollow portion 8 is formed underneath a lower surface of the bead seat portion.
US07958635B2	Process for producing a pulley for a continuously variable belt drive transmission A process for producing a pulley for a belt drive CVT, including subjecting tapered surfaces of a preform of at least one of input and output pulleys to surface hardening, subjecting the surface-hardened tapered surfaces of the preform to hard turning to form microgrooves radially spaced from one another thereon, between which microprojections are formed, and reducing a height of the microprojections. Alternatively, a process for producing a pulley for a belt drive CVT, including subjecting tapered surfaces of a preform of at least one of input and output pulleys to surface hardening, subjecting the surface-hardened tapered surfaces of the preform to shot peening, and subjecting the shot-peened tapered surfaces of the preform to finishing to form microgrooves having a substantially equal pitch thereon.
US07958634B2	Liquid ejecting head manufacturing method A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid supplied from a liquid storing member through a liquid supply path. The method includes positioning a filter to a first or second supply member by using positioning pins upon disposing the filter between first and second liquid supply paths. The first supply member has the first liquid supply path. The second supply member has the second liquid supply path on the side of one surface of the first supply member to communicate with the first liquid supply path. At least the first supply member and the second supply member are integrated such that a fixed portion is molded by injecting a resin material from an injection portion of a mold at a position where the first and second liquid supply paths are interposed between the positioning pins.
US07958629B2	Overmolded electronic module with an integrated electromagnetic shield using SMT shield wall components A method for making an electronic module with an integrated electromagnetic shield uses surface mount shield wall components. At least one electronic component and two or more of the shield wall components are mounted on a surface of a circuit board panel using a pick-and-place process. Each shield wall component has a conductive portion and a non-conductive portion mounted in contact with the surface of the circuit board panel. The mounted shield wall components form a conductive wall to electromagnetically shield the electronic component. The non-conductive portion of one or more of the mounted shield wall components is sawn through, leaving some or all of the conductive portion of the mounted shield wall components. A top conductive shield can be applied. The non-conductive portions can provide stability during a reflow soldering process, while the sacrificial non-conductive portions are sawn through so that they can be removed to reduce the amount of area occupied by the overmoldable shield structure.
US07958627B2	Method of attaching an electronic device to an MLCC having a curved surface A method of forming an electrical component is provided. The method comprises preparing a subassembly by electrically connecting an integrated circuit to a flexible circuit; and attaching the subassembly to a multilayer ceramic capacitor having a mounting surface with a curvature deviation exceeding 0.008 inches per inch.
US07958625B2	Assembly device An assembly device includes a base having a supporting portion upon which an isolation cover and a main body are disposed. A press-fitting mechanism is movably connected to the base, and includes a press-fitting portion facing the supporting portion and disposed corresponding in position to the supporting portion, and further portions for guiding and bending second positioning portions. The further portions are movably disposed on external side faces of the press-fitting portion. The press-fitting mechanism also has first portions for holding the further portions to the external side faces of the press-fitting portion, and has second portions passing through upper ends of the further portions. A drive mechanism is disposed at the base and has a drive portion connected to the press-fitting mechanism, for driving the press-fitting mechanism to move towards the supporting portion via the drive portion, so as to bend and fasten ends of second positioning portions.
US07958624B2	Software and methods for automated pallet inspection and repair An automated pallet inspection and repair apparatus includes an inspection station and a repair station. The inspection station includes a laser that illuminates a pallet, a camera that collects the reflected light and a computer system. The computer system analyzes the output of the camera and acquires the pallet's geometry and topography. The design of the pallet is determined by the computer software. A decision to repair the pallet is made by comparing the acquired pallet data against the design criteria. If the pallet needs repair, a recipe of repair steps is constructed by inspecting each of the pallet's elements. The recipe is transmitted to the automated repair station.
US07958623B2	Method of manufacturing a current switch magnetic intensifier A method of manufacturing a current switch magnetic intensifier that is constructed to be secured in generally close proximity to the stationary contact of the current switch. During termination of the communication of power through the contactor assembly, the magnetic intensifier accentuates a magnetic field associated with a stationary contact and increases the magnitude of a magnetic force directed to the arc arrestor. The intensifier is fitted proximate the stationary contact so that a pair of arc rails extend beyond the stationary contact such that a force of a magnetic field generated by the contactor magnetic intensified is directed in a common direction with a direction of reduced resistance of the pair of arc rails to ensure efficient, repeatable, and expedient transfer of a circuit termination arc to the arc arrestor.
US07958620B2	Method of producing a rotary encoder A method of determining the eccentricity of an encoder scale member of a rotary encoder includes taking an encoder scale blank having a geometric center and mounting the encoder scale blank centered about a second center. A scale can then be produced on the encoder scale blank thereby forming an encoder scale member. The scale of the encoder scale member is centered about the second center. Any eccentricity between the geometric center and the second center is measured by, for example, measuring any change in the apparent radius of the encoder scale member. The encoder scale member may then be mounted in a working location wherein it is rotated about a third axis. The eccentricity when mounted in the working location may be matched to that measured during manufacture thereof and/or the eccentricity errors arising from both manufacture and mounting of the encoder scale member may be determined.
US07958619B1	Disk chuck with radial force limiter A chuck holds a disk by the inside diameter with a plurality of contact surfaces at the end of fingers. Axial motion of an actuator is translated into outward radial movement of the fingers to place the contact surfaces in contact with the inside diameter of the disk. The force that is applied to the disk is limited to reduce or eliminate warping or curvature of the disk, e.g., a sleeve that surrounds the fingers can be used as a hard stop to physically limit the range of outward radial movement of the fingers.
US07958616B2	Portable corral and method A method is provided for locking a chain in a locking device. The method includes sliding a chain along a surface of a chain-locking device until contacting another surface of the chain-locking device. Subsequently, the chain is slid along the contacted surface until reaching the end of the contacted surface. At the end, or in close proximity thereto, the chain passes, or falls, or is slid into a slot of the chain-locking device to lock the chain in place. A method is also provided for coupling together a pair of portable-corral members. A portable-corral panel is provided as having a panel support structure, and a portable-corral door connected to and within the panel support structure such as to be generally flush with the panel support structure when in a closed posture. A method is provided for directing the movement of livestock with a collapsible portable-corral by opening a portable-corral gate which is pivotally secured to and within a portable-corral support structure, and moving livestock through the opened portable-corral gate. Also provided is a portable-corral gate assembly comprising a portable-corral gate support structure, and a portable-corral gate coupled to the portable-corral gate support structure.
US07958611B2	Method for quality checking a screw joint tightening process performed by a torque impulse wrench A number of pre-production calibration tightenings are performed at a screw joint identical to a screw joint used in production and using the same impulse wrench as to be used in production tightening. The value of one or more tightening related parameters are registered at the attainment of the desired pre-tension level, and those parameter values are used to statistically form a basis for a reference set-up. The tightening parameter values registered during production tightening are compared to the reference set-up, and an indication is obtained as to discrepancies between the reference set-up and the actually registered parameter values to get an indication as to whether the impulse wrench is malfunctioning and/or the screw joint is faulty.
US07958603B2	Rotary handle for a closing mechanism of a sash of a window or the like and method for actuating a closing mechanism The invention relates to a rotary handle for a closing mechanism of a sash of a window, a leaf of a door, or the like, particularly a sliding sash or leaf, comprising an actuating grip, which in the neutral position can be disposed such that it is retracted in the sash or leaf at least partially with regard to the height and which can be pivoted from the neutral position in a working position as a folding grip such that it protrudes, wherein in the working position it can be rotated about a rotational axis. An operating element is provided, which is used to bring about a coupling or decoupling position in relation to a control element, which rotates together with the actuating grip in the coupling position and does not rotate along in the decoupling position.
US07958601B2	Foldable handrail structure A foldable handrail structure includes a casing, a first handrail member and a first locking member. The first handrail member is rotatably connected to the casing. The first locking member is rotatably disposed in the casing. The first locking member is capable of rotating between a first locked position and a first unlocked position, so as to selectively restrain the first handrail member from rotating.
US07958600B2	Pivot mechanism and electronic device applying the same A pivot mechanism and an electronic device applying the same are provided. The pivot mechanism includes a pedestal having a bore passing through the pedestal; a shaft inserted into the bore and having at least two leaning surfaces in parallel to an extending direction of the shaft; two bushes coupled to the shaft and fixed in the bore; and a reed set disposed in the bore and arranged between the two bushes. The reed set includes at least one reed, wherein each reed is wedged in the bore and has a hole through which the shaft penetrates. At least one position limiting portion is formed in the periphery of the hole for orienting the shaft. The position limitation portion further extends inwardly to form a slot, by which a cantilever is formed between the slot and the axis hole to lean against the shaft.
US07958596B2	Rotary broom with vacuum dust control A vacuum assembly module mountable to a work machine attachment for providing dust-reducing capabilities is provided. The vacuum assembly module is a self-supported unit and can be mountable to work machine attachments such as rotary brooms, cold planers, and the like to retrofit the attachment with dust-reducing capabilities. The vacuum assembly module includes a central frame that provides an air flow passage. The central frame supports a filter and a fan within the air flow passage. A fan motor operably drives the fan to draw air through the air flow passage and filter. The fan motor is operably connected to an auxiliary power source, such as a work machine. An optional vibrator may be included for operably shaking and dislodging debris from the filter. The vacuum assembly module may be attached to a debris collecting bin to form a vacuum having a hose.
US07958595B2	Floor cleaning apparatus A cleaning apparatus having a cleaning system including at least one downwardly directed spray nozzle is supported by the chassis proximal the chassis forward end and in fluid communication with at least one cleaning solution tank. The at least one spray nozzle sprays cleaning solution from the tank onto the floor. At least one ground engaging agitation brush is disposed rearwardly of the at least one spray nozzle for agitating the cleaning solution sprayed onto the floor. At least one vacuum shoe is supported by the chassis rearwardly of the at least one agitation brush, and in fluid communication with the at least one recovery tank. Cleaning solution drawn into the vacuum shoe is deposited into the at least one recovery tank. In one embodiment, the apparatus is drivable. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a second cleaning system including a vacuum squeegee.
US07958590B2	Cleaning tool handle for use with a disposable toilet brush A cleaning tool is disclosed for cleaning adjacent surfaces. In one embodiment, for instance, the cleaning tool may be used as a toilet bowl brush. The cleaning tool includes a handle comprised of a first handle member pivotally attached to a second handle member. Each handle member terminates in a clamping plate. The clamping plates move towards and away from each other as the handle members are likewise moved towards and away from each other. The handle can include a locking member that engages the first handle member with the second handle member in order to clamp or hold a cleaning pad in between the clamping plates. The clamping plates can include raised wave-like protrusions that further assist in gripping a cleaning pad.
US07958589B2	Toothbrushes Toothbrush heads, e.g., for power toothbrushes, are provided. An embodiment of the toothbrush heads include a support structure, a plurality of upstanding accurate members extending upward from a surface of the support structure forming an open center area, a second cleaning element disposed within the open center area and plurality of bristle tufts extending from the support structure and at least partially surrounding at least one of the plurality of arcuate segments
US07958585B2	Method and apparatus for monitoring load size and load imbalance in a washing machine A method of determining static and dynamic imbalance conditions in a horizontal axis washing machine utilizes a number of dynamic algorithms to automatically determine the total load size, the magnitude of any static load imbalance, and the magnitude of any dynamic load imbalance for any given load in a given washing machine based on power measurements from the washing machine motor obtained in predetermined speed profiles.
US07958583B1	Thread removal device A thread removal device preferably includes a thread cutter, a grasping implement and a finger base. The thread cutter preferably includes a blade projection and a safety projection extending from a cutter base. A cover cap may be placed over the thread cutter. The grasping implement includes a first grasping leg and a second grasping leg. A first contact pad is formed on one end of first grasping leg and a second contact pad is formed on one end of the second grasping leg. The first and second contact pads are biased away from each other. The other ends of the first and second grasping legs receive cutter base. The first grasping leg, the second grasping leg and the thread cutter may be attached to each other with any suitable assembly method. The finger base may be retained over grasping implement and the thread cutter.
US07958582B1	Travel pillow A travel pillow includes a U-shaped cushion formed of a pair of spaced side panels, each having a front end, a rear end, a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface of each side panel has an upwardly-inclined front portion that extends to a concave, downwardly-facing shoulder indention, proximal the rear end. Interconnecting the front ends of the side panels is a substantially-tubular cross member having a contoured upper surface that nudges the head rearwardly toward a seat backrest when engaged by a falling chin. On the rear end of each side panel is a fastener for engaging a mating fastener positioned on a passenger seat backrest.
US07958581B2	Apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products and method for incontinence management According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products is disclosed. The apparatus may include a bed frame, a lower plate having a container coupled thereto, an upper plate having an aperture defined therein, a mattress having an aperture defined therein, a mattress cover having an aperture defined therein and an absorbent pad having a bag coupled thereto. The apparatus may allow for continuous collection of human waste products while maintaining the patient in a comfortable position. The apparatus may further facilitate preventing human waste products from contacting the skin of the patient, thereby substantially reducing the occurrence of pressure ulcers. Additionally, the apparatus may reduce the need for the use of Foley catheters for incontinence management, thereby reducing the occurrence of urinary tract infections related to such use.
US07958580B2	Method and apparatus for inserting a pillow into a pillowcase An apparatus and method for aiding the insertion of a pillow into a pillowcase. The apparatus or device is flexible and lays flat in a neutral condition. After the pillow is placed onto the device, the device is wrapped around the pillow to compress the pillow, and edges of the device are engaged with one another to maintain the pillow in a compressed condition. The device and compressed pillow are slid into a pillowcase, or the pillowcase is slid over the device and compressed pillow, and the device is then slid outwardly from the pillowcase, allowing the pillow to expand and fill the pillowcase. Optionally, the edges of the device may first be disengaged to allow expansion of the pillow to fill the pillowcase prior to sliding the device outwardly from the pillowcase.
US07958579B2	System for providing cyclic motion In one embodiment, a system for providing cyclic motion includes a magnetic drive having an electrically conductive coil defining a bore and a magnetic member movable through the bore. A control provides current to the coil and selectively reverses the direction of the current to move the magnetic member through the bore. In another embodiment, the system includes a counterbalance. The counterbalance includes a biasing member for reacting against a load applied to a support, and a lever arm coupled to the biasing member for varying a preload of the biasing member. In another embodiment, the magnetic drive and the counterbalance may be incorporated into an apparatus for reciprocating a person.
US07958567B2	Low protrusion safety fastener for ballistic helmet A safety fastener for mounting fitting equipment such as suspension and retention systems onto a ballistic helmet. The nut portion of the fastener fits substantially within a grommet that is attached to a strap that forms part of the suspension or retention systems. The nut retains, rather than clamps, the grommet to the helmet. The grommet can be pulled off the nut. The pull-out force is less than the fastener fracture force. The configuration of the fastener allows ballistic threat energy to be absorbed by helmet deformation and delamination along with grommet pull-out to provide energy dissipation in stages which avoids the creation of secondary projectiles from the fastener itself.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9