| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07964356B2 |
Method for generating aptamers with improved off-rates
The present disclosure describes methods for producing aptamers and photoaptamers having slower dissociation rate constants than are obtained using prior SELEX and photoSELEX methods. The disclosure further describes aptamers and photoaptamers having slower dissociation rate constants than those obtained using prior methods. This invention relates to the field of diagnostic histology, cytology, histopathology, and cytopathology methods and reagents for the detection of various disease states. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of aptamers in histologic, cytologic, histopathic, and/or cytopathic diagnostic methods. Aptamers may be provided that react with specific target molecules contained within a histological or cytological sample. Aptamers may be used to assess localization, relative density, and presence or absence of one or more target. Targets may be selected that are specific and diagnostic of a given disease state for which the sample was collected. Aptamers may be used to introduce target specific signal moieties. Antigen retrieval methods may be applied to the sample prior to reaction with the specific aptamer/s to improve interaction of the aptamer and target within the sample. Or aptamers may be developed for the specific target that eliminates the need for the antigen retrieval process. In addition to target identification, aptamers may be used to amplify signal generation through a variety of methods. |
| US07964352B2 |
3′-OH unblocked nucleotides and nucleosides, base modified with labels and photocleavable, terminating groups and methods for their use in DNA sequencing
Provided are novel nucleotides, nucleoside, and their derivatives described herein, that can be used in DNA sequencing technology and other types of DNA analysis. In one embodiment, the nucleotide or nucleoside with an unprotected 3′-OH group is derivatized at the nucleobase to include a fluorescent dye attached via a linker to a photocleavable terminating group. The photocleavable-fluorescent group is designed to terminate DNA synthesis as well as be cleaved so that DNA oligomers can be sequenced efficiently in a parallel format. The design of such rapidly cleavable fluorescent groups on nucleotides and nucleosides can enhance the speed and accuracy of sequencing of large oligomers of DNA in parallel, to allow rapid whole genome sequencing, and the identification of polymorphisms and other valuable genetic information, as well as allowing further manipulation and analysis of nucleic acid molecules in their native state following cleavage of the fluorescent group. |
| US07964351B2 |
Risk assessment for adverse drug reactions
The present invention provides a method of predicting the risk of a patient for developing adverse drug reactions, particularly SJS or TEN. It was discovered that an HLA-B allele, HLA-B* 1502, is associated with SJS/TEN that is induced by a variety of drugs. The correlation with HLA-B* 1502 is most significant for carbamazepine-induced SJS/TEN, wherein all the patients tested have the HLA-B* 1502 allele. In addition, another HLA-B allele, HLA-B*5801, is particularly associated with SJS/TEN induced by allopurinol. Milder cutaneous reactions, such as maculopapular rash, erythema multiforme (EM), urticaria, and fixed drug eruption, are particularly associated with a third allele, HLA-B *4601. For any of the alleles, genetic markers (e.g., HLA markers, microsatellite, or single nucleotide polymorphism markers) located between DRB1 and HLA-A region of the specific HLA-B haplotype can also be used for the test. |
| US07964350B1 |
Sample preparation for in situ nucleic acid analysis
Sample preparation processes for in situ RNA or DNA analysis, methods and compositions therefor are provided. Processes provided herein allow DNA or RNA analysis to be carried out in the same tube or on an aliquot of the prepared sample without centrifugation or extraction. The preparation process can be carried out at room temperature in as little as seven minutes and is amenable to high throughput processing using manual or robotic platforms. |
| US07964348B2 |
Cotton event PV-GHBK04 (531) and compositions and methods for detection thereof
The present invention provides assays for detecting the presence of the 531 cotton event nucleic acid sequences in a biological sample based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the cotton genome and of genomic sequences flanking the insertion site in a cotton genome. |
| US07964342B2 |
Methods for analyzing methylated CpG islands and GC rich regions
The present invention provides CpG islands and GC rich regions and methods for identifying methylation states for these CpG islands and GC rich regions. The present invention also provides methods for identifying genes regulated by these CpG islands and GC rich regions, and provides methods for identifying a population of CpG islands and GC rich regions in a genome. |
| US07964337B2 |
Optical recording medium and method of producing the same
An optical recording medium wherein characters can be easily recognized on an optical disk irradiated with a light through a light transmitting layer and a method of producing the same are provided. In an optical disk of a type that an optical recording layer is irradiated with a light through a light transmitting protective layer, dealing with a larger capacity, wherein one main surface of a medium substrate 15 is divided to a signal portion SG and a character portion CA, a signal portion uneven shape (15p) is formed on the signal portion SG and a character portion uneven shape (15p) is formed on the character portion CA, and depths of the signal portion uneven shape and the character portion uneven shape are 25 nm or less. Here, it is configured that characters are recorded to be able to be read as normal characters when looking from the medium substrate 15 side (Y-direction) by outlines of a region formed with the character portion uneven shape on the character portion CA. |
| US07964332B2 |
Methods of forming a pattern of a semiconductor device
In polymers for an anti-reflective coating, compositions for an anti-reflective coating and methods of forming a pattern of a semiconductor device using the same, the compositions for an anti-reflective coating include a polymer that includes a first repeating unit having a basic side group, a second repeating unit having a light-absorbing group, and a third repeating unit having a cross-linkable group; a photoacid generator; a cross-linking agent; and a solvent. The polymer for the anti-reflective coating, which may have a basic side group chemically bound to a backbone of the polymer, may properly adjust diffusion of an acid in an anti-reflective coating layer to improve the profile of a pattern. |
| US07964330B2 |
Electrophotographic resin-coated ferrite carrier, method for producing the same, and electrophotographic developer
There are adopted an electrophotographic resin-coated ferrite carrier having a carrier core coated with a resin, wherein a product of an apparent density ρ (g/cm3), average particle size d (μm) and BET specific surface area S (m2/g) of the carrier core satisfies the following condition, a method for producing the same, and an electrophotographic developer. 4.5≦ρ×d×S≦8.5 (20≦d≦45) |
| US07964328B2 |
Condensation polymer photoconductive elements
The present invention relates to photoconductive elements having an electrically conductive support, an electrical barrier layer and, disposed over the conductive layer, a charge generation layer capable of generating positive charge carriers when exposed to actinic radiation. The electrical barrier layer, which restrains injection of positive charge carriers from the conductive support, comprises a crosslinkable condensation polymer having as a repeating unit a planar, electron-deficient, tetracarbonylbisimide group and optionally a crosslinker. |
| US07964326B2 |
Exposure mask for divided exposure
A divided exposure method for a photolithography process is disclosed, which uses a mask. The mask for an exposer having a left and right light intensity deviation includes a substrate; a first pattern in a middle of the substrate; and second and third patterns on left and right sides of the first pattern, respectively, wherein the first and second patterns compensate for the left and right light intensity deviation of the exposer. |
| US07964323B2 |
Direct oxidation fuel cell
A direct oxidation fuel cell of this invention has at least one unit cell including: a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and the cathode including a catalyst layer and a diffusion layer; an anode-side separator with a fuel flow channel for supplying a fuel to the anode; and a cathode-side separator with an oxidant flow channel for supplying an oxidant to the cathode. The catalyst layer of at least one of the anode and the cathode includes high-porosity regions and low-porosity regions, and the high-porosity regions and the low-porosity regions are arranged in a mixed configuration. |
| US07964318B2 |
Coolant manifold and methods for supplying and discharging coolant
There is provided a coolant manifold that is installed to a fuel cell stack so as to distribute coolant through the fuel cell stack, which is constituted by stacking a plurality of unit cells and has more than one communication holes for coolant supply and at least one communication hole for coolant discharge, in which the coolant flows in an order from the communication holes for coolant supply through a plurality of the unit cells to the communication hole for coolant discharge. The coolant manifold includes a manifold body having a manifold chamber that extends along an alignment direction of the communication holes for coolant supply, and an external communication part having an external communication hole for communicating the manifold chamber with external. A center axis of the external communication hole is placed unparallel and non-vertical relative to a center axis of each communication hole for coolant supply. |
| US07964312B2 |
Fastener, cell stack, fuel cell device, and electronic device
A fastening member includes a pair of fastening members to sandwich an electricity generating cell therebetween. At least one of the pair of fastening members has electrical conductivity and is connected to the electricity generating cell. Current is collected using the at least one of the pair of the fastening members. |
| US07964302B2 |
Process for preparation of secondary battery module
Disclosed herein is a process for preparation of a secondary battery module. The process includes forming coupling through-holes having specific shapes at plate-shaped electrode terminals of a plurality of unit cells, stacking the unit cells one on another, and inserting coupling members through the coupling through-holes to couple the unit cells with each other. Consequently, the secure coupling and the electrical connection between the unit cells is accomplished without using additional members, such as cartridges, and therefore, a compact battery module having high coupling force is prepared. |
| US07964300B2 |
Battery pack
There is provided a risk-free and easy-to-use battery pack using battery cells 1 as a secondary battery, in which internal gases evaporated by applying overvoltage or the like thereto are processed inside a case to be prevented from leaking to the outside of the case and thereby even if the case has been led to rise in pressure due to a thermorunaway of the battery, the case is free from breaking. To realize this performance, the battery pack 10 is provided with a battery cell housing 17 for housing lithium cells 1 and a gas processor 15 for liquefying the internal gases g generated from the lithium cells 1. |
| US07964299B2 |
Method of recycling a battery
A method of the present invention is directed to recycling a battery that includes a plurality of lithium cells removable from one another. The battery is tested to measure internal resistance of the lithium cells to determine if the lithium cells present a predetermined level of operational capability. The lithium cells having the operational level less than the predetermined level of operational capability are replaced with new lithium cells as the battery is re-assembled. The removed lithium cells are recycled. |
| US07964292B2 |
Metal complex, light-emitting device, and display apparatus
A metal complex is provided which is used for an organic EL device and an organic light-emitting device which outputs light with high luminance and high efficiency. The metal complex has a structure in which a nitrogen atom in a 6- to 8-membered non-aromatic cyclic group is bonded to a metal atom. The organic light-emitting device includes a pair of electrodes which are an anode and a cathode, and an organic compound layer interposed between the electrodes. The organic compound layer contains the metal complex represented by the following structural formula. |
| US07964290B2 |
Magnetic material with large magnetic-field-induced deformation
A magnetic materials construct and a method to produce the construct are disclosed. The construct exhibits large magnetic-field-induced deformation through the magnetic-field-induced motion of crystallographic interfaces. The construct is a porous, polycrystalline composite structure of nodes connected by struts wherein the struts may be monocrystalline or polycrystalline. If the struts are polycrystalline, they have a “bamboo” microstructure wherein the grain boundaries traverse the entire width of the strut. The material from which the construct is made is preferably a magnetic shape memory alloy, including polycrystalline Ni—Mn—Ga. The construct is preferably an open-pore foam. The foam is preferably produced with a space-holder technique. Space holders may be dissolvable ceramics and salts including NaAlO2. |
| US07964288B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes exposing a photoresist using an exposing mask provided with a light-shielding pattern having two or more narrow width portions, developing the photoresist to form a plurality of stripe-shaped resist patterns, selectively etching a first conductive film using the resist pattern as a mask, forming an intermediate insulating film on the first conductive film, forming a second conductive film on the intermediate insulating film, and forming, by patterning the first conductive film, the intermediate insulating film, and the second conductive film, a flash memory cell and a structure constructed by forming a lower conductor pattern, a segment of the intermediate insulating film, and a dummy gate electrode in this stacking order. |
| US07964285B2 |
Thin film coating having niobium-titanium layer
The invention provides niobium-titanium films, coatings (e.g., low-emissivity coatings) comprising one or more niobium-titanium films, and substrates bearings such coatings. Methods of depositing niobium-titanium films are also provided. |
| US07964283B2 |
Coating liquid, titanium oxide film formed by coating liquid, and forming method thereof
The present invention provides a coating liquid including organic metal complexes represented by Chemical Formula 1. R1-R8 in Chemical Formula 1 is one of the followings (1)-(4): (1) a group represented by CnH2n+1 (aforementioned n is an integral number equal to or larger than 0); (2) a group represented by COOR9 (aforementioned R9 is a group represented by CmH2m+1, and aforementioned m is an integral number equal to or larger than 0); (3) a halogen atom; and (4) CN or NO2. |
| US07964276B2 |
Fastening system with auto-adhesive layer exposed through rupturable cover layer
A fastening system that includes an auto-adhesive layer and a cover layer. The cover layer engages the auto-adhesive layer such that the auto-adhesive layer is exposed as the cover layer is stretched. In some embodiments, stretching the cover layer causes the cover layer to rupture (i.e., tear) so that the auto-adhesive layer may be exposed for subsequent bonding. The term “auto-adhesive” refers to self-adhesive properties of a polymeric material where an auto-adhesive is substantially non-adhesive with respect to many other materials. Also disclosed is a method of joining a fastening system to an item. The method includes positioning the fastening system near the item. The method further includes exposing an auto-adhesive layer by stretching a cover layer that is engaged with the auto-adhesive layer and then engaging the auto-adhesive layer on the fastening system with an auto-adhesive layer on the item. |
| US07964268B2 |
Insulating structures
An electrical insulator comprises an elongate shank and one or more sheds disposed along the length of the shank. The surface of the insulator comprises longitudinally extending flutes, the depth of which are varied along the length of the insulator such that the circumferential distance of all transverse sections along the length of the insulator is substantially constant or controlled. Instead of flutes, the surface may be formed with an array of protuberances and/or concavities. The insulator thus provides a defined perimeter and surface area along its length, such that areas of the surface are not preferentially heated by surface currents to form dry bands and thereby cause arcing. Such topography also renders the insulator less susceptible to the degrading effects of surface pollution. |
| US07964267B1 |
Ballistic-resistant panel including high modulus ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tape
A ballistic-resistant panel in which the entire panel or a strike-face portion thereof is formed of a plurality of sheets of high modulus high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The sheets of high modulus polyethylene tape can be in the form of cross-plied laminated layers of tape strips or a woven fabric of tape strips. The strips of UHMWPE tape include a width of at least one inch and a modulus of greater than 1400 grams per denier. The ballistic-resistant panel may include a backing layer of conventional high modulus fibers embedded in resin. A wide variety of adhesives were found acceptable for bonding the cross-plied layers of high modulus polyethylene tape together for forming the ballistic-resistant panels of the present invention. |
| US07964258B2 |
Transparent, oxygen-scavenging compositions and articles prepared therefrom
Disclosed are oxygen-scavenging polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides, and a metal catalyst. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about −0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. |
| US07964257B2 |
Synthetic resin preform to be biaxially stretched and blow molded into a bottle
The blow molded preform of a laminated wall structure comprises a bulging shoulder portion, which has a diameter that widens slightly in the downward direction; a bottom shell portion for molding the bottom, which has been blow molded from the corresponding portion of parison P so as to have a widened and deformed shape; an inner overhang wall portion in any position starting from the opposite side of the neck ring and ending at the upper portion of the bulging shoulder portion, with the inner wall portion having a diameter that widens in the downward direction; and/or a radially widened connecting portion of an arced shape, which has a larger diameter than the barrel portion so that the entire bottom including the bottom shell portion takes a bulging spherical shape. With this configuration, no thick area is formed in the inner overhang wall portion on the opposite side of the neck ring and/or in the pinch-off portion. |
| US07964255B2 |
Heat-shrinkable multilayer material
A heat-shrinkable multilayer material for packaging, in particular food packaging, comprises a first layer made of heat-shrinkable material, a microwave susceptible material covering at least a part of the first layer, at least one second layer made of shrinkable or non-shrinkable material, the first and second layer can be connected to each other by embedding the microwave susceptible material, wherein the microwave susceptible material is arranged in a pattern between the first and second layer, the pattern creating areas of increased stiffness within the multilayer material when microwave energy is applied onto. |
| US07964254B2 |
Optical laminate, optical element and liquid crystal display device
An optical laminate having layer A having a resin having a negative intrinsic birefringence and at least one layer B having a transparent resin, having substantially no orientation and laminated at least on one face of layer A and satisfies a relation |Re(A)|>|Re(B)|, wherein Re(A) and Re(B) represent in-plane retardations of layer A and layer B, respectively, measured with light having a wavelength of 400 to 700 nm, an optical element having a laminate of the optical laminate and a polarizer plate, and a liquid crystal display device using at least one sheet of the optical laminate. In the liquid crystal display device, optical compensation can be made in accordance with the mode of the liquid crystal display by the three dimensional control of the refractive index, and the liquid crystal display device provides an image display with liquid crystals exhibiting small change in the phase contrast depending on the viewing angle. |
| US07964250B2 |
Flexible display device having enhanced thin film semiconductive layer and method of manufacture
A manufacturing method for a flat panel display device includes forming a barrier layer on a flexible plastic substrate by RF sputtering, forming an amorphous silicon layer on the plastic substrate, and subjecting the amorphous silicon layer to a rapid heat treatment so as to thereby improve electrical characteristics and/or homogeneity of the amorphous silicon layer. |
| US07964247B2 |
Process and apparatus for the manufacture of a sputtering target
A process for the manufacture of sputtering target comprises the steps of i) providing a substrate; ii) plasma melting of a material selected to form the sputtering target, yielding droplets of molten material; and iii) deposition of the droplets onto the substrate, yielding a sputtering target comprised of the coated layer of the material on the substrate. In some application, it might be preferable that the substrate be a temporary substrate and iv) to join the coated temporary target via its coated layer to a permanent target backing material; and v) to remove the temporary substrate, yielding a sputtering target comprised of the coated layer of the material on the permanent target backing material. The plasma deposition step is carried out at atmospheric pressure or under soft vacuum conditions using, for example, d.c. plasma spraying, d.c. transferred arc deposition or induction plasma spraying. The process is simple and does not require subsequent operation on the resulting target. |
| US07964246B2 |
Process for powering a sprayed insulation application system
An insulation application system is provided that utilizes a sole power source to drive the system's multiple components. In one embodiment the system includes an insulation blower, a hydraulic drive, an electrical generator, and a vacuum fan that is powered by a power-take-off. |
| US07964245B2 |
UV-absorbing and photostabilizing polymers
Polymers comprising monomers having 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-prop-2-enoic acid moieties having the formula are disclosed. Compositions comprising said polymers and methods for increasing the UV-absorbing, water resistance, and photostabilizing properties of compositions comprising such polymers also are disclosed. |
| US07964241B2 |
Film formation method and apparatus for semiconductor process
An insulating film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas, a second process gas containing a nitriding gas or oxynitriding gas, a third process gas containing a boron-containing gas, and a fourth process gas containing a carbon hydride gas. A first step performs supply of the first process gas and a preceding gas, which is one of the third and fourth process gases, while stopping supply of the second process gas and a succeeding gas, which is the other of the third and fourth process gases. A second step performs supply of the succeeding gas, while stopping supply of the second process gas and the preceding gas. A third step performs supply of the second process gas while stopping supply of the first process gas. |
| US07964240B2 |
Producing coated graphitic anode powders by extracting pitch from high volatile matter coke and coating the same in-situ
This invention relates to a process for making carbon coated graphitic anode powders for use in batteries including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries wherein the process includes a side product isotropic pitch for use as a precursor in other products and more preferably, as a coating material for other powder or particle products. The process includes the steps of solvent extraction of volatile materials from high volatile material green coke powder. When a desirable amount of the volatile materials have been extracted, the solvent strength is altered to cause some of the volatile materials to precipitate on the powder particles to coat the same. The coated and solvent-extracted particles are then separated from the solvent and oxidatively stabilized, then carbonized and preferably graphitized. The volatile materials remaining in the solvent are valuable and are recovered for use in other processes and other products. |
| US07964239B2 |
Bearing material coated slide member and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a bearing material coated slide member manufactured by coating a bearing material on a sliding surface of a slide member, and a method for manufacturing the same, in which the bearing material is composed of an Sn containing alloy powder, and is forced to impact on the sliding surface while being maintained in a solid phase, to thereby form a bearing material coated layer. |
| US07964236B2 |
Use of nanomaterials in secondary electrical insulation coatings
Use of the barrier property effect of nanomaterials to improve the electrical insulation resistance, corrosion protection and bond strength properties of electromagnetic devices. The beneficial effects are realized with nanomaterial loadings of 1-20%, and preferably between 1-5%, parts by weight of coating resins. Nanomaterials include, but are not limited to, silica, alumina, zirconia, and antimony pentoxide, which are dispersed either directly into a coating, or pre-dispersed in a carrier appropriate to the solvent of the resin system. Resulting formulations benefit from the fact anti-settling agents need not be incorporated into the resin to keep the inorganic material suspended. Also, the rheology of the resin system is not significantly altered which would otherwise affect processing of the resins for their intended applications. |
| US07964234B2 |
High mineral content dietary supplement
Liquid dietary supplements include vitamins, macro minerals, trace minerals, high Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) compounds, and optionally fulvates. Despite the tendency of minerals in such a liquid mineral and vitamin supplement to precipitate and for the ingredients to quickly degrade, particularly at high ORAC values and low pH, embodiments of the invention stay in solution have a desired shelf life without degrading. In part, this is achieved through the use of the natural preservative Momordica, carefully formulated amounts of the various ingredients, and high-tech processing. |
| US07964233B2 |
Production of whole grain shredded products
Shredded whole grain products, such as ready-to-eat cereals, and sweet and savory snacks, such as whole grain shredded corn chips are continuously produced by pelletizing agglomerates of cooked, tempered, whole cereal grain particles. Cooked whole grains, such as corn and other non-gluten or low-gluten containing grains have a tendency to become hard and rubbery after cooking during the cooling and tempering process. The pelletization results in the production of whole grain pellets having a soft, pliable texture, which are shreddable into continuous net-like sheets on a mass production basis. The pelletizing may be at a pressure of about 200 psig to about 600 psig, preferably from about 400 psig to about 500 psig. The pelletizing temperature may be controlled to provide a pellet temperature of about 80° F. to about 120° F., preferably from about 90° F. to about 110° F., upon exiting the pelletizer. |
| US07964230B2 |
Method of sealing a pod for dispersible materials
A pod for mixing an amount of a dispersible material with water. The pod may include a pod body having a lower aperture and a poppet positioned within the aperture. The poppet may be sized so as to seal the lower aperture until a predetermined pressure is reached within the pod body. |
| US07964224B2 |
Process for extraction and standardization of pharmaceutical quality tinctures and extracts from herbal products
The present invention relates generally to herbal materials and methods for making such materials in medicinally useful and pharmaceutically acceptable forms. Particularly, the present invention relates generally to Hydrstatis canadensis (goldenseal) materials and methods for making such materials in medicinally useful and pharmaceutically acceptable forms. More particularly, the present invention relates a process which allows the precise standardization of at least two marker compounds, berberine and hydrastine, in both hydro-alcoholic tinctures and solid extracts in the processing of goldenseal materials to produce extracts which qualify as pharmaceutical grade compositions which are suitable for use in clinical or veterinary settings to treat and/or ameliorate diseases, disorders or conditions. |
| US07964223B2 |
Berry preparations and extracts
A method for deriving compositions having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity from berries is provided. The method results in a berry extract compositions having stable anthocyanin content. In one aspect, the method comprises exposing a berry to a solvent composition having a pH of from about 1 to about 4.5, and recovering a berry extract having a stabilized anthocyanin content. The berry may be a blackberry. A cryoprotectant may be added, to further stabilize the anthocyanin content. Compositions comprising the berry extract of the present invention, formulated for oral and/or topical administration, are provided also, including nutritional supplements, capsules, enteric-coated capsules, film-coated capsules, tablets, enteric-coated tablets, film-coated tablets, chewing gums, lotions, creams, mucoadhesive gels, vanishing lotions, vanishing creams, and the like. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides methods and compositions for treating inflammation, oxidative damage, or cancer in a mammal. |
| US07964209B2 |
Orienting polymer domains for controlled drug delivery
The present invention provides a method for the formation of a medical device that comprises a therapeutic agent and a release region, which regulates the rate at which the therapeutic agent is released from the medical device. The method comprises providing a precursor region that comprises a polymer composition comprising two or more microphase separated polymer domains that are immiscible with one another, and forming said release region by a process that comprises applying an orienting field comprising an electric field, a magnetic field, a mechanical shear field, or a solvent gradient field, or a combination of two or more fields to said precursor region, wherein said field or combination of fields changes the spatial orientation of the microphase separated polymer domains within the release region. The electric, magnetic, mechanical shear or solvent gradient field is of sufficient strength to change the spatial orientation of the microphase separated domains. Moreover, the spatial orientation of the immiscible microphase separated polymer domains affects the rate of release of the therapeutic agent from the medical device. Hence, the present invention is further directed to methods of modulating the rate of release of a therapeutic agent from a medical device. Other aspects of the invention are directed to medical devices formed from the above techniques. |
| US07964208B2 |
System and methods of maintaining space for augmentation of the alveolar ridge
An implantable screw for maintaining space during bone grafting procedures is provided, where the screw has a highly-polished contoured head having a region adapted to support soft tissue, a threaded shaft and a tip adapted to penetrate bone tissue. Also provided, a device combining multiple implantable screws in series in order to increase the available space to grow new bone and a method for implanting the implantable screw. The implantable screws provided may be used in conjunction with bone graft materials and are removable once a desired amount of new bone is generated. |
| US07964207B2 |
Methods of performing medical procedures that promote bone growth, method of making compositions that promote bone growth, and apparatus for use in such methods
Methods of performing medical procedures, and methods of making bone-growth-promoting compositions useful in performing medical procedures are provided. Apparatus useful both in methods of performing medical procedures, and in methods of making bone-growth-promoting compositions useful in performing medical procedures, are provided. The bone-growth-promoting compositions made according to the disclosed methods are biocompatible, and are adapted to stimulate bone growth when positioned in contact with, or in the vicinity of, a bone of a mammal. |
| US07964206B2 |
Porous medical device and method for its manufacture
Porous bioabsorbable, bioactive and load-bearing composite medical device structure includes a plurality of regular textile planar layers (1a, 1b . . . ) formed of continuous bioabsorbable polymer matrix and bioceramic fibers acting as reinforcements, both included in continuous fibrous elements (3) forming the textile layers. The layers are placed on top of each other to form a structure having two dimensions (x, y) at right angles to each other according to the two dimensions of the textile layer and a third dimension (z) perpendicular to them and resulting from the piling of the layers. A plurality of passages extend through the layers as a result of the openings (2) defined by portions of the continuous fibrous elements (3) extending substantially in the direction of the plane. The continuous fibrous elements (3) comprise both bioactive ceramic reinforcing fibers which form a reinforcing structure and a bioabsorbable polymer matrix material which forms a matrix which binds the layers together and also binds the portions of continuous fibers defining the openings together, thereby forming the passages and stiffening the structure. This bioactive and bioabsorbable composite structure is suitable to be used as a basic structure in medical devices, especially in osteochondral applications where the load-bearing properties of implant are required. |
| US07964201B2 |
Personal care compositions
A concentrate including, by weight (a) 10% to 60%, preferably 25% to 35%, of a saturated fatty acid selected from stearic or palmitic acid, or mixtures thereof, in an adduct of an amidopropyldimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium halide, with substantially no free acid present, and (b) 40% to 90%, preferably 65% to 75%, of a low molecular weight alcohol or saturated fatty alcohol or alcohols, for use in personal care products, including hair care and skin care compositions. |
| US07964200B2 |
Methods and compositions for immunizing against Chlamydia infection
The present invention relates, in part, to methods and compositions for immunizing against infection by Chlamydia trachomatis. The methods and compositions rely, in part, on administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more peptides derived from C. trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) to a subject to be immunized. In some embodiments, the compositions comprise a chimeric immunogen comprising a receptor binding domain, a translocation domain, and a Chlamydia trachomatis antigen. Polynucleotides encoding the chimeric immunogens, expression vectors comprising the polynucleotides, and kits comprising the compositions are also provided. |
| US07964187B2 |
Sensitization of chemotherapeutic agent resistant neoplastic cells with a virus
The present invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of neoplastic cells to chemotherapeutic agents by using a virus, a method of treating proliferative disorders with a virus and chemotherapeutic agents, and a method for preventing a neoplasm from developing drug resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. The virus is preferably a reovirus. |
| US07964183B2 |
Composition and dosage form comprising a particle formulation and suspending vehicle
A liquid composition in an osmotic drug delivery system and a dosage form in an osmotic drug delivery system is disclosed comprising an amphiphilic molecule, a non-aqueous liquid solvent, and a pharmaceutically active agent. |
| US07964182B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising phosphate-binding polymer
The present invention discloses pharmaceutical composition comprising phosphate binding polymers such as Sevelamer carbonate substantially free of monovalent anion other than bicarbonate anion. Particularly, monovalent anion content is less than about 0.05% (w/w). Disclosed are compositions comprising wet granulated Sevelamer carbonate free of added metal ions and/or added monovalent anion source. |
| US07964180B2 |
Method for enhancing effects of colorants and conditioners
Methods are provided for enhancing the longevity of the binding of various benefit agents to hair and skin. Applications of traditional and non-traditional colorants and conditioners to hair and skin are amended with compositions of hair or skin-binding peptides respectively. The presence of the hair or skin-binding peptide compositions act to increase the longevity of the applied colorant or conditioner on the hair or skin. |
| US07964175B2 |
Obtaining multimetallic oxides derived from hydrotalcite type compounds
A procedure for obtaining mixed multimetallic oxides derived from hydrotalcite type compounds, characterized in that the laminar metallic hydroxides obtained are constituted by three or four metallic cations, forming part of the sheets of the hydrotalcite type material represented by the formula: [M(II)1−x−y−zM(II)′xM(III)yM(III)′z(OH)2](An−y+z/n).mH2O. by a process comprising: (1) preparing an aqueous or organic solution containing three or more cations; (2) preparing an alkaline solution; (3) slowly combining solutions (1) and (2) to cause the co-precipitation of the cations in the form of hydroxides; (4) washing the precipitate containing the hydrotalcites with water, until removal of the non-precipitated ions; (5) drying; and (6) calcining the hydrotalcites. |
| US07964173B2 |
Feedstock composition and raw coke for electricity storage carbon material and needle coke
The present invention provides feedstock compositions for use of the production of an activated carbon for electric double layer capacitor electrodes or the production of needle coke, comprising a first heavy oil with an initial boiling point of 300° C. or higher, an asphalten content of 12 percent by mass or less, a saturate content of 50 percent by mass or more and a sulfur content of 0.3 percent by mass or less, produced as a residue resulting from vacuum-distillation of a petroleum-based oil and a second heavy oil with an initial boiling point of 150° C. or higher and a sulfur content of 0.5 percent by mass or less, produced by subjecting a hydrocarbon oil to fluidized catalytic cracking. |
| US07964170B2 |
Method and apparatus for the removal of carbon dioxide from a gas stream
The invention provides methods and apparatuses for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream. In particular, the invention provides methods and apparatuses for absorbing carbon dioxide from a coal-fired boiler flue gas stream using an absorbing solution and for regeneration of an alkaline component used in the absorbing solution. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream by contacting a gas stream containing carbon dioxide with an alkaline liquid stream; absorbing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide into the alkaline liquid stream to produce absorbed carbon dioxide; and catalyzing a reaction of the: absorbed carbon dioxide to a form of carbonate. |
| US07964168B2 |
CO2 capture method with thermal integration of regenerator
The CO2 contained in combustion fumes is captured by carrying out at least the following steps in combination: a) a fuel is burned, producing combustion fumes; b) the fumes are placed in contact with an absorbent solution in order to produce CO2-poor fumes and a CO2-laden solution; c) the CO2-laden solution is regenerated in a thermal regeneration column (RE) in order to produce a regenerated absorbent solution and a CO2-rich gaseous effluent (5); and d) the CO2-rich gaseous effluent is cooled in order to obtain a CO2-enriched gaseous fraction which is evacuated, and a liquid fraction, which is heated by heat exchanged with the combustion fumes and then introduced at the head of regeneration column (RE) as reflux (7). |
| US07964165B2 |
Separation method for zinc sulfide
The separation method for zinc sulfide, in the hydrometallurgical process by a High Pressure Acid Leach for nickel oxide ore comprising leaching and solid/liquid separation step, neutralization step, zinc removal step, and nickel recovery step, which can inhibit clogging of a filter cloth and reduce a frequency of washing operation and replacement operation of a filter cloth by improving filtration performance of zinc sulfide, and inhibit decrease of nickel recovery ratio, in the zinc removal step in which zinc sulfide is formed by adding a sulfurizing agent to the neutralization final liquid containing zinc as well as nickel and cobalt and zinc sulfide is separated to obtain a mother liquid for nickel recovery containing nickel and cobalt.The separation method for zinc sulfide of the present invention is characterized in that in the above-described neutralization step, the leach residue is added to the leach liquor, and pH of the neutralization final liquid is adjusted so as to fall to the range from 3.0 to 3.5, and in the zinc removal step, the suspended solid comprising the neutralized precipitate and the leaching reside are kept remained in said neutralization final liquid so that turbidity thereof falls in the range from 100 to 400 NTU. |
| US07964163B2 |
High density storage of ammonia
A solid ammonia storage and delivery material comprising an ammonia absorbing/desorbing solid material, said storage and delivery material having been compacted to a density above 50% of the theoretic skeleton density provides a solid ammonia storage material which is easy to produce and handle and has a very high density of stored ammonia which is readily released under controlled conditions even though the porosity of the material is very low, and which storage material is safe for storage and transport of ammonia without special safety measures. |
| US07964159B2 |
Nanotube-based sensors and probes
Described herein are novel devices for the study of transport characteristics of complex or simple fluids, interactions among molecules in suspension, interactions between molecules in suspension and wall-bound molecules, and biochemical sensing devices made of reservoirs for fluid containment linked by a nanotubes. Also disclosed are methods of delivering medicaments and monitoring fluidic interactions of molecules or analytes. |
| US07964155B2 |
Apparatus for producing trichlorosilane
An apparatus for producing trichlorosilane, including: a reaction vessel in which a supply gas containing silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen is supplied to an internal reaction passageway to produce a reaction product gas containing trichlorosilane and hydrogen chloride; a heating mechanism having a heater that heats the interior of the reaction vessel; a gas supply section that supplies the supply gas in the reaction vessel; and a gas discharge section that discharges the reaction product gas from the reaction vessel to the outside, wherein the heater is disposed in the center of the reaction vessel, and the reaction passageway is disposed in the periphery of the heater. |
| US07964153B2 |
Reactor having a downcomer producing improved gas-liquid separation and method of use
In an upflow reactor for reacting heavy hydrocarbons with hydrogen gas in a liquefied catalyst slurry, that mixture is recirculated down through a downcomer having an upper degassing section which includes a frusto-conical upper surface. The mixture is caused to flow along that surface in a downward helical path, such that heavier components are centrifugally urged outwardly, and lighter components, e.g., gas, migrate inwardly. The gas bubbles can thus coalesce such that small bubbles become bigger bubbles having a greater tendency to rise out of the downcomer. Baffles placed on the upper surface can maximize the residence time of the mixture in the degassing section. |
| US07964149B1 |
Cemetery incense burner
The apparatus is a cemetery incense burner having a removable resin incense holder retained in a container for accommodating the incense holder. The top and bottom sections of the removable incense holder serve two separate functions. The top concave surface of the removable incense holder is used as a censer for burning incense when inserted into the container in a right side up position. The container has a protrusion in a bottom center thereof to support the removable incense holder and to allow it to rise above the surface of the ground while it is being used as a censer. The bottom surface of the removable incense holder forms a seal with the top of the container and has a built in handle for easy removal when placed upside down (censer side down) in the container for storage. In another embodiment, the container has a flat bottom so that the holder is flush with the surface of the ground and container even in the use position. The container also has vertical recesses in its inner periphery for receiving projections from the periphery of the bottom of the holder to center the holder in the use position and provide a place to grip the holder when in the use position, and to accommodate the projections for forming the seal at the top of the container when the holder is in the storage position. In a further embodiment, the incense holder has a stick incense retaining member for holding stick incense. |
| US07964148B1 |
System for providing compressed substantially oxygen-free exhaust gas
A method and system of providing compressed substantially oxygen-free exhaust gas for industrial purposes including the steps of extracting exhaust gas from a lean burn engine consuming a mixture of natural gas fuel and air, passing the extracted exhaust gas through a cooling step to cause entrained water vapor therein to condense out, separating and disposing of the condensed water, measuring the oxygen content of the exhaust gas, using the measurement to regulate the quantity of natural gas fed into an igniter into which the exhaust gas is also fed so that substantially all of the oxygen in the exhaust gas is consumed by combustion with the natural gas in the igniter to provide at an outlet of the igniter substantially oxygen-free exhaust gas, and compressing the substantially oxygen-free exhaust gas to provide compressed exhaust gas for industrial applications. |
| US07964147B2 |
Hand-held analysis device
The invention relates to a hand-held analytical device for analyzing a sample, in particular a biological fluid, for a medically significant component, comprising a housing comprising a loading opening for receiving a replaceable cartridge having multiple chambers that may contain analytical consumables, in particular test strips, and each chamber comprising an opening on at least one face of the cartridge and each opening may be sealed by a sealing foil, a removal facility for removing one of the analytical consumables from the cartridge. The removal facility can be used to remove one of the consumables from one of the chambers of the cartridge, in the process of which the opening sealed by the sealing foil is opened. A drive allows the cartridge to be moved in order to position one chamber in a removal position in which a consumable can be removed from the chamber by the removal facility. The invention provides for the hand-held analytical device to comprise a testing facility that can generate a signal containing information regarding whether the opening of one of the chambers is sealed by sealing foil. |
| US07964146B2 |
Measuring device and methods for use therewith
The ability to switch at will between amperometric measurements and potentiometric measurements provides great flexibility in performing analyses of unknowns. Apparatus and methods can provide such switching to collect data from an electrochemical cell. The cell may contain a reagent disposed to measure glucose in human blood. |
| US07964139B2 |
Microfluidic rotary flow reactor matrix
A microfluidic device comprises a matrix of rotary flow reactors. The microfluidic matrix device offers a solution to the “world-to-chip” interface problem by accomplishing two important goals simultaneously: an economy of scale in reagent consumption is achieved, while simultaneously minimizing pipetting steps. N2 independent assays can be performed with only 2N+1 pipetting steps, using a single aliquot of enzyme amortized over all reactors. The chip reduces labor relative to conventional fluid handling techniques by using an order of magnitude less pipetting steps, and reduces cost by consuming two to three orders of magnitude less reagents per reaction. A PCR format has immediate applications in medical diagnosis and gene testing. Beyond PCR, the microfluidic matrix chip provides a universal and flexible platform for biological and chemical assays requiring parsimonious use of precious reagents and highly automated processing. |
| US07964137B2 |
Short-cycle sterilisation system for autoclave and operation method thereof
A control system of a surgery autoclave is described, which is capable of establishing a sterilization cycle which includes at least a first evacuation step of a sterilization chamber and of heating of a load and a final drying step. The autoclave includes a device capable of detecting a parameter proportional to the energy used up in a step of the cycle preceding the drying step and the control system establishes at least a reduction of the drying step upon determining that, the parameter of used up energy lies below a preset threshold. |
| US07964135B2 |
Method and apparatus for imprinting energy ray-setting resin, and discs and semiconductor devices with imprinted resin layer
Disclosed herein is a method for transferring a pattern of minute dents and projections to an energy ray-setting resin layer coated on a substrate plate by pressing a master pattern on a transfer mold, followed by irradiation of energy rays. The pattern transfer method comprises the steps of pressing a master pattern on a transfer mold against the resin layer under a predetermined imprinting pressure, irradiating the resin layer under the imprinting pressure with energy rays, interrupting the irradiation of energy rays and at the same time cancelling application of the imprinting pressure and holding the resin layer and the transfer mold in a non-pressed state to relieve the resin layer of internal stresses, and recommencing irradiation of the resin layer with energy rays to complete hardening of the resin layer which is held in contact with the transfer mold in a non-pressed state. |
| US07964124B2 |
Method of forming cellular material
Systems, devices and methods are provided that are related to cellular materials that have a precisely-determined arrangement of voids formed using surface transformation. In various embodiments, the cellular materials are suitable for use in various structural, mechanical and/or thermal applications. One aspect of the present subject matter is a method of forming cellular material. According to various embodiments of the method, a predetermined arrangement of the plurality of holes is formed in a volume of material through a surface of the volume of material. The volume of material is annealed such that the volume of material undergoes a surface transformation in which the arrangement of the plurality of holes is transformed into a predetermined arrangement of at least one empty space below the surface of the volume of material. Other aspects are provided herein. |
| US07964123B2 |
Embolization
Embolization, as well as related particles and methods, are described. |
| US07964117B2 |
Cocrystalline metallic compounds and electrochemical redox active material employing the same
The present invention includes an electrochemical redox active material. The electrochemical redox active material includes a cocrystalline metallic compound having a general formula AxMO4-yXOy.M′O, where A is at least one metallic element selected from a group consisting of alkali metals, M and M′ may be identical or different and independently of one another at least one selected from a group consisting of transition metals and semimetals, X is P or As, 0.9≦x≦1.1, and 0 |
| US07964113B2 |
Nitride phosphor and production process thereof, and light emitting device
To provide a phosphor containing a comparatively much red component and having high light emitting efficiency, high brightness and further high durability, the nitride phosphor is represented by the general formula LXMYN((2/3)X+(4/3)Y):R or LXMYOZN((2/3)X+(4/3)Y−(2/3)Z):R (wherein L is at least one or more selected from the Group II Elements consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn, M is at least one or more selected from the Group IV Elements in which Si is essential among C, Si and Ge, and R is at least one or more selected from the rare earth elements in which Eu is essential among Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Lu.); contains the another elements. |
| US07964111B2 |
Solid hydrogen source compounds and method for generating hydrogen
The present invention relates to solid compounds which generate hydrogen by combustion, and to a method for generating hydrogen based on the combustion of said compounds. Said compounds have a composition which includes at least one inorganic borohydride, selected from alkali borohydrides, alkaline-earth borohydrides and mixtures thereof, and at least one inorganic oxidant. Characteristically, said composition comprises sulfur. Said method is advantageously implemented for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell. |
| US07964110B2 |
Cure system for halogenated elastomer compositions, a curable halogenated elastomer composition, and a method for curing halogenated elastomer compositions
The instant invention is a cure system for halogenated elastomer compositions, a curable halogenated elastomer composition, and a method for curing a halogenated elastomer composition. The cure system for halogenated elastomer compositions includes a polymercapto crosslinking agent, an inorganic base, and a hydrated salt selected from the group consisting of lithium citrate, trilithium citrate pentahydrate, trilithium citrate tetrahydrate, and monolithium dihydrogen citrate monohydrate. The curable halogenated elastomer composition includes a chlorinated elastomer, and a cure system including a polymercapto crosslinking agent, an inorganic base, and a hydrated salt selected from the group consisting of lithium citrate, trilithium citrate pentahydrate, trilithium citrate tetrahydrate, and monolithium dihydrogen citrate monohydrate. Furthermore, the method for curing a halogenated elastomer composition includes the following steps: (1) providing a chlorinated elastomer composition; (2) providing a cure system composition including a polymercapto crosslinking agent, an inorganic base, and a hydrated salt selected from the group consisting of lithium citrate, trilithium citrate pentahydrate, trilithium citrate tetrahydrate, and monolithium dihydrogen citrate monohydrate; (3) uniformly blending the cure system into the chlorinated elastomer composition; (4) thereby forming a curable chlorinated elastomer composition; (5) subjecting the curable chlorinated elastomer composition to heat or heat and pressure; and (6) thereby curing the curable chlorinated elastomer composition. |
| US07964107B2 |
Methods using block copolymer self-assembly for sub-lithographic patterning
Block copolymers can be self-assembled and used in methods as described herein for sub-lithographic patterning, for example. The block copolymers can be diblock copolymers, triblock copolymers, multiblock copolymers, or combinations thereof. Such methods can be useful for making devices that include, for example, sub-lithographic conductive lines. |
| US07964106B2 |
Method for fabricating a packaging substrate
A method of fabricating a packaging substrate is disclosed. A cladding sheet comprised of a first metal foil, a second metal foil and an etch stop layer interposed between the first and second metal foils is provided. The first metal foil is then patterned into a first circuit trace. An insulating layer is laminated onto the first circuit trace. Thereafter, the second metal foil is patterned into a plurality of bump pads. The etch stop layer that is not covered by the bump pads is stripped off. A solder mask is applied to fill the spacing between the bump pads. A top surface of each of the bump pads is etched to form a bonding aperture in a self-aligned fashion. |
| US07964103B2 |
Computer-implemented method of monitoring the performance of a reverse osmosis membrane in a drinking water supply system
A water treatment system is provided having an encapsulate manifold with a reverse osmosis cartridge and one or more filter cartridges. The filter cartridge includes a detent for being received within a slot in the manifold head for secure locking engagement. The water treatment system further includes a single probe conductivity monitoring system for monitoring the performance of a reverse osmosis membrane. The water treatment system is also provided in a modular arrangement wherein manifold heads are physically and fluidly coupled together via a clip which interfaces with the modular manifold heads. The water treatment system also allows for a retrofit application to include a permeate pump. The cartridges are also designed to provide a minimum annular inlet gap to minimize spillage during changing of the cartridges. |
| US07964102B2 |
Titanium composition for water treatment and method
A personally portable water purification compound prepared in unit dosage form such as tablets, packages and the like and having titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the form of fine particles, and adsorbed chlorine held at the surface of the titanium dioxide particles; and a titanium based coagulant; the compound being prepared in a plurality of unit dose size packages, for personal use by individuals. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a personally portable water purification compound consisting of the steps of heating titanium dioxide particles up to a temperature between about 260-500° C., passing a cold dry gaseous chlorine flow around the titanium dioxide particles; and cooling the titanium dioxide during the treatment. Also disclosed is a method of purifying water containing contaminants and bacteria consisting of the steps of segregating a predetermined volume of the water, introducing a first predetermined quantity of titanium dioxide particles activated with adsorbed chlorine, simultaneously introducing a second predetermined quantity of a titanium coagulant, agitating the water and releasing the chlorine from the titanium dioxide particles, the chlorine destroying the bacteria, allowing the water to stand for a predetermined dwell time, during which the titanium dioxide without chlorine attracts contaminants, and after which the titanium coagulant forms flocs into masses heavier than water which masses settle out, leaving the water purified. |
| US07964098B2 |
Apparatus and method for filtering biological samples
An apparatus and method for filtering a biological sample is presented. The apparatus comprises a body member has an upper end and a lower end and defining a workspace therewithin. A first attachment portion is integrally joined to the lower end of the body member for interlockingly receiving a filtered sample container. A second attachment portion is integrally joined to the upper end of the body member for interlockingly receiving a sample transport container. A substantially conically-shaped filter member, located within the workspace, is integrally joined to the lower end of the body member and extends upwardly above the lower end of the body member toward the upper end of the body member. The filter member defines a plurality of openings in its upwardly extending portion. |
| US07964095B1 |
Floor drain
A floor drain communicates with a vertical floor drain pipe. The floor drain has a flanged cylindrical body that fits within the vertical pipe or fitting, a ring that overlaps and is spaced above the flange, and a grate or cover that fits upon the upper surface of the ring. The ring is supported by elevating screws that pass through the flange of the body. Adjustment of the elevating screws enable the height and pitch of the ring and grate or cover to be quickly and easily adjusted. |
| US07964093B2 |
Selenium removal process
Methods and apparatus relate to treating fluid to at least reduce selenium content within the fluid, which may be an aqueous liquid and form a feed stream. The treating removes selenium that may be present in compounds, such as selenocyanate, from the feed stream based on adsorption from contact of the fluid with a sorbent. Flowing a gaseous hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide containing stream over a support, such as activated carbon, may provide the sorbent impregnated with sulfur and utilized in the treating of the fluid. |
| US07964083B2 |
Polyamine brightening agent
A zinc electroplating bath includes zinc ions and a brightening agent. The brightening agent is a polyamine or a mixture of polyamines that include a quaternary ammonium group. |
| US07964081B2 |
Enhanced magnetic plating method
An apparatus for plating a magnetic film on a substrate includes: a track including a plurality of stopping points along the track; a permanent magnet placed on the track such that the permanent magnet can be moved along the track towards and away from the stopping points; at least one plating tank positioned on the stopping point; and a removable high permeability iron flux concentrator inserted into gaps between the substrate and inside walls of the plating tank, substantially surrounding the substrate and extending around and under the substrate. |
| US07964072B2 |
Sensor material and gas sensor element and gas sensor derived therefrom
A NOX sensor material includes a composition of Ba(1-X)AXFe(12-Y)BYO19. Constituent A and constituent B are doping elements. Constituent A is selected from the group consisting of Bi, La and Pb and X is a real number where 0≦X<1. Constituent B is selected from the group consisting of Al, B, Bi, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Er, Ga, In, Mg, Mn, Ni, Nb, Rh, Pb, Si, Sr, Ti, Ta, Zn and Zr and Y is a real number where 0≦Y<12. The NOX sensor material may be used in a sensor element of a NOX sensor. |
| US07964070B2 |
Highly pure hafnium material, target thin film comprising the same and method for producing highly pure hafnium
Provided is a manufacturing method of high purity hafnium including the steps of making aqueous solution of chloride of hafnium, thereafter removing zirconium therefrom via solvent extraction, performing neutralization treatment to obtain hafnium oxide, further performing chlorination to obtain hafnium chloride, obtaining hafnium sponge via reducing said hafnium chloride, and performing electron beam melting to the hafnium sponge in order to obtain a hafnium ingot, as well as a high purity hafnium material obtained thereby and a target and thin film formed from such material. The present invention relates to a high purity hafnium material with reduced zirconium content contained in the hafnium, a target and thin film formed from such material, and the manufacturing method thereof, and provides efficient and stable manufacturing technology, a high purity hafnium material obtained according to such manufacturing technology, and a target and high purity hafnium thin film formed from such material. |
| US07964068B2 |
Membrane-electrode assembly, electrolytic unit using the same, electrolytic water ejecting apparatus, and method of sterilization
The present invention provides: a membrane-electrode assembly having a first electrode having a shape of a rod-form or a cylindrical-form, a strip-form diaphragm covering the periphery of the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the strip-form diaphragm; an electrolytic unit containing the membrane-electrode assembly; an electrolytic water ejecting apparatus containing the electrolytic unit; and a method of sterilization using the membrane-electrode assembly. |
| US07964066B2 |
Method for controlling structure of nano-scale substance, and method for preparing low dimensional quantum structure having nano-scale using the method for controlling structure
A method for controlling a structure of a nano-scale substance, which comprises irradiating a mixture of low-dimensional quantum structures having a nano-scale with an electromagnetic wave in an oxygen atmosphere, to thereby selectively oxidize a low-dimensional quantum structure having a density of states resonating with the electromagnetic wave used for the irradiation. The method allows a low-dimensional quantum structure having a specific structure to be selectively disappeared from the mixture of low-dimensional quantum structures having a nano-scale. |
| US07964061B2 |
Roofing mat and the process for making a roofing mat using modified urea-formaldehyde binder
Provided is thermosetting urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin binder formulation modified with a thickener. The formulation preferably has a viscosity in the range of from 3 to 10 cP and a surface tension of from 35 to 50 mN/m, and is preferably prepared from a binder composition exhibiting a viscosity of from 175 to 250 cP. |
| US07964060B2 |
Roofing mat using urea-formaldehyde binder of particular viscosity and surface tension
Provided is thermosetting urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin binder formulation, preferably prepared with modified styrene-maleic anhydride. The formulation has a viscosity in the range of from 3 to 10 cP and a surface tension of from 35 to 50 mN/m, and is prepared using a UF resin composition exhibiting a viscosity of from 175 to 250 cP. |
| US07964054B2 |
Method of applying a material on a substrate
A method of applying material on a substrate. The material to be applied can be a pattern of material. |
| US07964050B2 |
Method for processing a composite
A method for processing a composite includes consolidating a section of a continuous length of a first feedstock together with a section of a continuous length of a second feedstock to form a consolidated section. The first feedstock is made of a first composite layer that is releasably bonded to a first release layer, and the second feedstock is made of a second composite layer that is releasably bonded to a second release layer. The first release layer is then separated from the consolidated section and from a portion of the first composite layer a distance beyond an edge of the consolidated section. The first composite layer is then cut within the distance beyond the edge to release the consolidated section from the remaining continuous length of the first feedstock. |
| US07964048B2 |
Heat weld tubing connectors
The present invention provides thermoplastic tubes, thermoplastic melting plates, thermoplastic tube connecting apparatus, and methods for using the same. |
| US07964045B1 |
Method for producing and using high explosive material
High explosive coatings and inks suitable for use in micro-electronic initiators for micro-electro-mechanical mechanisms used as safe and arm devices, are prepared from coating compositions of crystalline energetic materials and applied using various methods. These methods include wiping and spraying, as well as, pressure applications using a syringe or the like, and application of thick film ink to write specified patterns on a selected surface. A volatile mobile phase may be added to the coating composition to partially dissolve the energetic material so that, upon evaporation of the mobile phase, the energetic material precipitates and adheres to the selected surface. |
| US07964043B2 |
Method for producing nanocrystalline magnet cores, and device for carrying out said method
The invention relates to a method and to a device for carrying out a manufacturing process in which all magnet cores to be produced are first continuously crystallized. Depending on whether the required hysteresis loops should be round, flat or rectangular, the magnet cores are either immediately finished, that is enclosed in housings, conditioned to a rectangular hysteresis loop in a direct-axis magnetic field or to a flat hysteresis loop in a magnetic cross-field and then finished. |
| US07964037B2 |
Deposition apparatus
A vacuum deposition apparatus capable of enhancing the productivity of an organic electroluminescence device is realized. A first pipe is connected to a deposition source for evaporating an organic electroluminescence material, and two second pipes are directed to two film deposition objects comprised of substrates and masks, whereby an organic deposition film is formed. Vapor is released simultaneously from the deposition source to plural film deposition objects on different planes to deposit films, which promotes the reduction in film deposition time and the miniaturization of an apparatus. |
| US07964030B1 |
Magnesium coating solution and method for preparing the same
A vanadate solution for conversion treating of surface of a magnesium alloy workpiece contains 8.20×104 to 8.20×10−2 mol/liter of metavanadate ion, 1.18×104 to 1.18×10−2 mol/liter of a polyhydroxylated aromatic compound, and balance of water. The pH value of the vanadate solution exceeds 1 and is less than 4. A method for preparing the vanadate solution is also provided. |
| US07964024B2 |
Apparatus for installing or uninstalling carbon dioxide absorbent canister
Disclosed is an apparatus for installing a carbon dioxide absorbent canister which comprises a body, a lifting member, and a lifting mechanism. The body comprises a breathing circuit and an adapter for connecting the carbon dioxide absorbent canister with the breathing circuit. The adapter is located at or near the bottom of the body. The lifting member comprises a base portion, a positioning portion beneath the adapter, and a connecting portion. The lifting mechanism has a force receiving portion and a force applying portion and which actuates the lifting member. Actuating the handle in the first direction causes the canister to be connected to the breathing circuit and to close the breathing circuit bypass. Turning the handle in a second direction actuates the canister to enable replacement of the canister and to cause the breathing bypass to open. The process can be achieved simply with one hand. |
| US07964022B2 |
Method and apparatus for selective capture of gas phase analytes using metal β-diketonate polymers
A process and sensor device are disclosed that employ metal β-diketonate polymers to selectively capture gas-phase explosives and weaponized chemical agents in a sampling area or volume. The metal β-diketonate polymers can be applied to surfaces in various analytical formats for detection of: improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordinance, munitions hidden in cargo holds, explosives, and chemical weapons in public areas. |
| US07964021B2 |
Systems and methods for inducing swirl in particles
Embodiments of systems and methods for inducing swirl in particles are provided. In one embodiment, a system for inducing swirl in particles may include a supply including a plurality of electrically charged particles, and at least one swirling chamber for creating at least one electrical field therein, which may include an entry path in communication with the supply and an exit path. According to this example embodiment, the plurality of electrically charged particles may flow through the swirling chamber or chambers, causing at least one of the plurality of electrically charged particles to rotate about a radial axis of the swirling chamber as a result of the electrical field. |
| US07964002B2 |
Antioxidant additive for biodiesel fuels
A synergistic combination antioxidant mixture that provides excellent characteristics for biodiesel fuel compositions, when incorporated therein. |
| US07964000B2 |
Biodiesel fuel blend
Biodiesel fuel blends with improved low temperature filterability include a biodiesel source with reduced glycerin contaminants, and reduced monopalmitin and monostearin contaminants, or with cold filter characteristics equivalent with the base diesel. |
| US07963997B2 |
Device for regeneration of articular cartilage and other tissue
An implantable device for facilitating the healing of voids in bone, cartilage and soft tissue is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a cartilage region comprising a polyelectrolytic complex joined with a subchondral bone region. The cartilage region, of this embodiment, enhances the environment for chondrocytes to grow articular cartilage; while the subchondral bone region enhances the environment for cells which migrate into that region's macrostructure and which differentiate into osteoblasts. A hydrophobic barrier exists between the regions, of this embodiment. In one embodiment, the polyelectrolytic complex transforms to hydrogel, following the implant procedure. |
| US07963995B2 |
Minimally invasive spine implant for restoration of motion
The present invention provides a vertebral implant comprising a wall forming two short sides (100, 101) and two elongated sides (102, 103) to define a generally elongated structure having a passageway (106) therethrough. At least one of the two elongated sides is resiliently compressible into the passageway, or resiliently expandable away from the passageway, under a force applied to the implant by movement of the spine into which the implant is placed. This resilient opposition to forces in the spine causes the device to want to return to its at-rest position, thereby aiding the spine in its return to a normal position after movement is relaxed, thereby aiding proper spine alignment. Preferably, the device comprises a flexible body having a generally loop-shaped configuration defined by the wall, wherein the wall material and thickness is selected so that the device has appropriate degrees of flexibility and strength. |
| US07963993B2 |
Methods of distracting tissue layers of the human spine
Methods of separating and/or supporting layers of tissue in the human spine. Such methods generally comprise inserting at least a distal end portion of a guide member between layers of tissue in the human spine wherein the distal end portion defines a predetermined shape. A distraction device is advanced over at least the distal end portion of the guide member so that the distraction device substantially assumes the predetermined shape of the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure between the tissue layers that separates and/or supports the tissue layers. |
| US07963992B2 |
Method and apparatus for the treatment of the intervertebral disc annulus
The present invention provides methods and devices for treating the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices can employ an expandable treatment device which is deployed at least partially in the subannular space. Fixation devices and methods are also disclosed, which help to secure the treatment device in place. |
| US07963989B2 |
Implantable prosthetic device for connection to a fluid flow pathway of a patient
An implantable prosthetic for connection to a fluid flow pathway of a patient. The prosthetic is comprised of a primary tube structure which is in communication with a plurality of secondary tube structures each of which contains filters for trapping embolic particles, such as blood clots, air bubbles, thrombus. etc. within a fluid flow pathway within a patient. The prosthetic also contains a monitoring device to non-invasively the flow of fluids through a patient's fluid flow pathway. |
| US07963981B2 |
Bone fixation plate
An apparatus for reducing the profile of a bone fixation plate while preventing backing out of screws is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one section of relief and sections of engagement. The plate has at least two openings though which two screws can pass through bony tissue. As the screw is tightened, it will begin to lag the plate to the bone. When the screw head interferes with the plate at the interference point, there is a slight resistance that insertion forces can overcome. When the screw is advanced further, it snaps into the sliding fit area and is allowed to move freely. The forces that cause the screw to back out from the plate are preferably not strong enough to pass the screw head back past the interference section. It may be desirable to include a set screw to help prevent backout. |
| US07963976B2 |
Articulated surgical probe and method for use
A surgical probe includes an articulated digit located at a distal end of a positioning shaft having a longitudinal axis. An actuator is located at a proximal end of the positioning shaft that is operatively connected to the articulated digit so as to move it between a continuous range of positions from an extended position to a substantially curved position while maintaining a kinesthetic relationship between a surgeon's finger engaging the actuator and the articulated digit. Preferably, the surgeons finger position and shape directly correspond to the position and shape of the articulated digit. A method is provided for probing, dissecting, and retracting anatomical structures. |
| US07963971B2 |
Instrumentation for insertion of an inter-vertebral prosthesis
An instrument for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis, comprising two prosthesis holders which are connected by a parellel guide and can be spread apart from one another and are intended to receive a pair of prosthesis plates. The first prosthesis holder is arranged fixedly on an elongate instrument body. The second prosthesis holder is held from the instrument body by means of a parallel guide. The parts connecting the second prosthesis holder to the instrument body or to the first prosthesis holder delimit on both sides a central through-opening which extends like a channel in the longitudinal direction of the instrument body and whose width corresponds at least to the transverse dimensions of a prosthesis core, to be inserted between the prosthesis plates, and of the prosthesis core holder provided for this. |
| US07963969B2 |
Provisional orthopedic implant and recutting instrument guide
A provisional component for use with differently sized first and second prosthetic orthopedic components. The provisional component has a configuration which is substantially similar to the first prosthetic component and has a predefined correspondence to the second prosthetic component. The provisional component is mounted on a bone to assess the fit of the first prosthetic component. The provisional component includes a referencing element for defining a reference point on the bone if the fit of the provisional component indicates that the second prosthetic component should be used. An instrument guide is aligned with the reference point and used to properly position a surgical instrument to prepare the bone to receive the second prosthetic component. The provisional and prosthetic components may all be femoral components which have an articulating surface defining a single condylar-shaped projection. |
| US07963963B2 |
Electrosurgical hemostat
A hemostat-type device for ablative treatment of tissue, particularly for treatment of atrial fibrillation, is constructed with features that provide easy and effective treatment. The device may include a swiveling head assembly that allows the jaws to be adjusted in pitch and/or roll. The device may include a malleable or articulating handle shaft, as well as, malleable or curved rigid jaws that can permit curved lesion shapes. A locking detent can secure the jaws in a closed position during the procedure. The device may include one or more remote actuators making the hemostat-type device useful for minimally invasive procedures. |
| US07963959B2 |
Automated cryogenic skin treatment
An apparatus and methods for treating lesions on skin are presented. The apparatus collects information about a lesion and can automatically determine a course of treatment for the lesion. The device can include a controller that positions the nozzle proximate to a surface region of the lesion and automatically dispenses a pulse of the cryogenic fluid from the nozzle. The controller then positions the nozzle proximate to another surface region of the lesion and automatically dispenses a pulse of the cryogenic fluid from the nozzle. |
| US07963956B2 |
Portable equipment for administration of fluids into tissues and tumors by convection enhanced delivery technique
The present invention is directed to a device for a portable convection enhanced delivery system that allows administering liquids to specific locations within the body, especially tissues and tumors also allowing outsubject treatment. The application system comprises a portable extracorporal pump with a fluid reservoir that is connected via an infusion system to an infusion catheter placeable to any tissue or tumor the fluid should be administered to by high flow microperfusion. The system enables administration of fluids of any kind by convection enhanced delivery also in out-patient treatment. The system can be used for delivering various drugs, proteins, protein toxins, antibodies-for treatment or imaging, proteins in enzyme replacement therapy, growth factors and viruses or oligonucleotides in gene therapy etc. The application methods as well as the surgical method to implant this device are enclosed to this invention. |
| US07963949B2 |
Safety assembly for a syringe
A safety support device for a syringe comprises a support sheath (16) for the body (10) of the syringe and an inner sheath (18) suitable for sliding relative to the support sheath between a waiting, retracted position and the extended position for protecting the needle (14) of the syringe. The device has means for holding the syringe body (10) relative to the support sheath (16) and retaining means (30, 32, 22) suitable for being activated to retain g the inner sheath in the waiting, retracted position inside the support sheath and for being deactivated by the piston (12) of the syringe to allow the inner sheath (18) to extend into its protective, extended position. |
| US07963948B2 |
Hemostasis valve system
A hemostasis valve system for controlling a flow of fluid includes a housing having a chamber therein, and a valve disposed in the chamber. The valve comprises a plurality of elastomeric valve members, each having opposing shaped first and second faces, a shaped inner edge portion, and a shaped outer edge portion. The valve members are collectively structured and arranged in the valve such that the shaped faces and the shaped inner edges are engaged in interlocking relationship. The valve members have sufficient elasticity to define a yieldable opening along the engaged inner edge portions upon passage therethrough of a medical interventional device. |
| US07963944B2 |
Immobilizing objects in the body
Stabilizing an object in the body of a patient involves the injection of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) material or other flowable material into the body of the patient so that the material contacts the object. The LCST material or other flowable material then forms a gel in the body such that the object is contained at least partially within the gel and thereby stabilized by the gel such that the object can then be easily fragmented within the body and/or retrieved from the body. |
| US07963941B2 |
Intra-abdominal medical method and associated device
In a surgical method, a hollow needle is inserted into a hollow internal organ of a patient through a natural body opening. A wireless scanning apparatus is operated externally of the patient to obtain data as to internal structures of the patient on a side of a wall of the organ opposite the body cavity. A distal tip or free end of the needle is passed through the wall of the organ only upon detecting, via the wireless scanning apparatus, an absence of internal organic tissues of the patient in contact with the wall of the organ on the side of the organ opposite the body cavity. Upon the passing of the distal tip or free end of the needle through the wall of the organ, pressurized CO2 gas is conveyed through the needle into the patient on the side of the wall opposite the body cavity. The needle may be connected to the distal end of an elongate flexible hollow shaft and an endoscope may be optionally used to view the needle deployment procedure. |
| US07963940B2 |
Local perfusion device
A device for providing a fluid to a target tissue region of a body vessel is described. The device includes an elongate member having a lumen to receive a fluid, and a structure deployable from a distal portion of the elongate member to channel blood flowing in the vessel. Also described are a method of, and a system for, providing a fluid to a target tissue region inside a body. |
| US07963937B2 |
Syringe for a multi-component paste
The present invention relates to a syringe for storage, mixing and dispensing of multi-component paste materials, and more precisely to a syringe for two or more components of a paste material which are to be mixed together. The syringe may be activated so that the chambers containing the components are opened, and the components may be mixed together and extruded through a mixing tip. |
| US07963935B2 |
Microprojection array having a beneficial agent containing coating
The device including a plurality of stratum corneum-piercing microprojections, and a solid coating disposed upon the microprojections, wherein the solid coating includes at least one beneficial agent and a biocompatible carrier is provided. The device is applied to the skin of a living animal (e.g., a human), causing the microprojections to pierce the stratum corneum and deliver an effective dose of the agent to the animal. |
| US07963934B2 |
Tampon applicator assembly
The tampon applicator assembly includes a tampon applicator section, an outer housing section, and a plunger section. The combined tampon applicator section and plunger section function as a conventional plunger-type tampon applicator. The outer housing section includes a sleeve with a proximal portion and a distal portion. The (distal) insertion end of the tampon applicator section essentially fits inside the proximal portion of the sleeve, and the distal portion of the sleeve is designed to accommodate a feminine hygiene product, such as a pad, a disposable wipe, a towelette disposal mitt, a simple disposal bag, and other products associated with menstruation. |
| US07963929B2 |
Devices and systems for sizing of a gastric pouch
Devices, methods, and systems for measuring the size of gastric pouches. At least some embodiments include a catheter comprising an outer elongate tube, an inner elongate tube disposed within the outer elongate tube, a proximal balloon attached to the outer elongate tube, a distal balloon having a first end attached to the outer elongate tube and a second end attached to the inner elongate tube, at least two detection electrodes positioned on the outer elongate tube relative to at least two excitation electrodes, and a pressure transducer positioned on the outer elongate tube. |
| US07963928B2 |
Automated biopsy and delivery device
An automated device for obtaining a tissue biopsy and delivering material to provide hemostatis, therapeutic agents or marker material is described. The device has an outer casing, a power source, a drive mechanism, an application chamber through which the biopsy mechanism, typically a cutting needle, passes through and an application channel. The cutting biopsy mechanism has a mechanical or electromechanical mechanism to rapidly fire a stylet with a biopsy trough into the intended tissue and then rapidly propel a biopsy cannula over the stylet to sever and retain tissue that has protruded into the biopsy trough. At least one application channel is formed by a tube centrically slipped over the biopsy cannula wall. To enable the collection of tissue specimens, the distal segment of the application channel forms a close fitting and concentric sheath around the biopsy cannula. |
| US07963926B2 |
Trending of systolic murmur intensity for monitoring cardiac disease with implantable device
Described is an implantable device configured to monitor for changes in the intensity and/or duration of a systolic murmur such as mitral regurgitation by means of an acoustic sensor. Such changes may be taken to indicate a change in a patient's heart failure status. Upon detection of a worsening in the patient's heart failure statue, the device may be programmed to alert clinical personnel over a patient management network and/or make appropriate adjustments to pacing therapy. |
| US07963924B2 |
Heart simulator
A development system for a cardiac pacemaker control system, the development system comprising: a cardiac pacemaker prototype including an adaptive control system; and a heart simulator in communication with the cardiac pacemaker prototype comprising: a means for receiving pacing stimulations output from the cardiac pacemaker prototype; and a hemodynamic sensor model responsive to the received pacing stimulations, the hemodynamic sensor model being operable to output a signal simulating a hemodynamic sensor in a plurality of heart states, the hemodynamic sensor model being further operative to output the signal simulating the hemodynamic sensor in the plurality of heart states in a plurality of heart conditions. |
| US07963923B2 |
Blood pressure meter
A blood-pressure meter having storing means for storing a blood pressure measurement result, and time measurement means for measuring a time is disclosed. The blood-pressure meter includes: input means for entering behavior history; means for storing the blood pressure measurement result into the storing means while associating the blood pressure measurement result with a time when blood pressure measurement is performed; and means for storing the entered behavior history into the storing means while associating the behavior history with a time corresponding to the behavior history. |
| US07963917B2 |
System and method for continuous non-invasive glucose monitoring
A system and method for continuous non-invasive glucose monitoring is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of (1) contacting a remote device to an area of biological membrane having a permeability level, the remote device comprising a sensor and a transmitter; (2) extracting the at least one analyte through and out of the area of biological membrane and into the sensor; (3) generating an electrical signal representative of a level of the at least one analyte; (4) transmitting the electrical signal to a base device; (5) processing the electrical signal to determine the level of the at least one analyte; and (6) displaying the level of the at least one analyte in real time. The system includes a remote device that includes a sensor that generates an electrical signal representative of the concentration of the at least one analyte; and a transmitter that transmits the electrical signal. The system further includes a base device that includes a receiver that receives the electrical signal; a processor that processes the electrical signal; and a display that displays the processed signal in real time. |
| US07963914B2 |
Endoscope
In an endoscope, air/water feed pipe lines are arranged through an elongated insertion portion having an image pickup unit at its front end. In an operation portion arranged at the rear end of the insertion portion, there are provided an antenna, and a wireless transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting, using this antenna, information including image data on a subject picked up by the image pickup unit, to endoscope peripheral apparatuses in the outside. |
| US07963913B2 |
Instrument interface of a robotic surgical system
An instrument interface of a robotic manipulator and a surgical system including the instrument interface are provided. In one embodiment, the instrument interface includes a spring-loaded input for providing axial load and torque to a sterile adaptor capable of operably coupling an instrument. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical manipulator system includes a manipulator assembly, including a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator arm, and a carriage link movably coupled to the base link along a lengthwise axis, the carriage link including an integrated instrument interface. The system further includes an instrument operably coupled to the carriage link via the instrument interface, and a processor operably coupled to the manipulator assembly for sensing presence of the instrument. |
| US07963912B2 |
Endoscopic translumenal surgical methods using a sheath
The present invention provides methods and devices for shielding an endo scope during insertion through a body lumen, and in particular using a sheath for preventing contact between the endoscope (or trocar sleeve) and the body lumen, thus preventing bacteria from being carried into a body cavity. |
| US07963910B2 |
Endoscope accessory, endoscope system and method for mounting endoscope accessory to endoscope
An endoscope accessory, used with an endoscope including a suction conduit communicating with a suction device, an accessory insertion channel, and an operation portion at which entrances of the conduit and channel are formed, includes a tubular insertion unit to be inserted into the channel through the entrance of the channel and to be movable along the channel, and a tubular connection unit provided at a proximal end of the insertion unit and detachably connected to the entrance of the suction conduit. An endoscope system is constituted by combining the accessory with the endoscope. In a method for mounting the accessory onto the endoscope, the insertion unit of the accessory is inserted into the channel through its entrance in the operation portion of the endoscope to be movable along the channel, and the connection unit of the accessory is detachably connected to the entrance of the conduit. |
| US07963909B2 |
Methods of manufacturing fluid reservoirs for penile implant devices
A fluid reservoir for a penile implant device that includes a body portion having a sleeve from which a tube may extend. The body portion includes support structure positioned at an interior surface of the body portion near an orifice of the reservoir, which orifice leads to a fluid passage of the tube. The support structure may comprise a plurality of protrusions that are arranged around the orifice and that extend from a base portion of the body portion. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a fluid reservoir for a penile implant device, which includes positioning a tube in a mold and injection molding a reservoir body onto the tube. More particularly, the method may include providing a mold, positioning a tube in the mold, injecting material into the mold, curing the material, and opening the mold to remove the reservoir body and tube assembly. |
| US07963907B2 |
Closed loop gastric restriction devices and methods
In some embodiments, methods to sense parameters associated with restriction procedures and/or devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, the parameters are sensed directly from the region of the procedure and/or device and in other embodiments, associated neural pathways are sensed. Methods for further optimization of the obesity treatment regimens are also disclosed. |
| US07963903B2 |
Magnetic core for medical procedures
The inventive technique include a system, method and device for treating a patient. The inventive system includes a magnetic core having a highly saturable magnetic material and a conductor wound around at least a portion of the magnetic core. The magnetic core has a first section with a first end and a second end, a second section with a first end and a second end. The first end of the second section is connected at an angle to the first end of the first section. The magnetic core also has a third section with a first end and a second end. The first end of the third section is connected at an angle to the second end of the second section. |
| US07963901B2 |
Blood processing apparatus with cell capture chamber with protruding inlet
A disposable blood separation set of a centrifugal blood processing system comprising a blood processing chamber adapted to be mounted on a rotor of a centrifuge; a frustro-conical cell separation chamber in fluid communication with the processing chamber, the cell separation chamber having a protruding inlet therein. The protruding inlet may have a frustro-conical inner surface that slants radially outwardly from an inlet to a mouth of the protruding inlet. A circumferential well may surround the protruding inlet. The cell separation chamber may have a baffle within a separation area. The baffle may have a plurality of vanes with openings therein. |
| US07963900B2 |
Centrifuge loading process within an automated laboratory system
A scheduling process for loading samples into two or more centrifuges in a loading scheme that reduces the time required for high priority sample to be centrifuged. One centrifuge is initially loaded to about one-half of capacity and samples processed while the remaining centrifuge is loaded to full capacity before being operated. This creates a time-shift in the operational status of the two centrifuges so that a high-priority sample may advantageously be shuttled to whichever of the two centrifuges will be first-fully loaded and thus next-operated. |
| US07963897B2 |
Resistance apparatus for a waist-twisting exerciser
A resistance apparatus for a waist-twisting exerciser wherein the resistance apparatus includes a spring and an adjuster with a pulley block. The adjuster is mounted on a swing element while the spring is fixed at a proper position of the swing element such that the spring is correctly engaged into the pulley block of the adjuster. In applying force to the swing element in motion, the spring may be pulled to create an effective exercise resistance force for increasing the exercise effect. Moreover, the position of the adjuster is adjustable for changing the tension of the spring. |
| US07963896B2 |
Child exercise seat
A child exercise device including a base assembly, a kick panel support assembly, a kick panel assembly, and a seat assembly. The base assembly includes a housing and a plurality of tracks oriented substantially parallel to each other. The kick panel support assembly is supported by the base and includes a plate coupled to the housing and a front panel coupled to the plate, the front panel having a plurality of apertures. The kick panel assembly is received by the plurality of apertures and includes a frame and a panel supported by the frame. The seat assembly includes a seat adapted to support the child and a plurality of wheels coupled to the seat and adapted to be received in one of the tracks in the base. |
| US07963889B2 |
Indoor exercise cycle with tilt function
A cycle apparatus for physical exercise, rehabilitation of injuries and increased balance, the apparatus designed as a stationary exercise cycle. The apparatus consist of a first lower stable frame configured to be supported on a floor and a second upper frame rotary connected on axle fixed cantilever on first frame. The upper frame has an adjustable tilt movement relative the lower frame crosswise the flywheel's revolving motion. Stabilizing of the upper frame is done by turning handlebars. |
| US07963881B2 |
Powertrain and method of controlling the same
When a reduction in a supply hydraulic pressure to a second shift portion is sensed, an engagement command of C0 clutch is generated so that a power split device (electrical differential portion) is brought into a locked state. In the locked state, a sun gear, a carrier rotated by an engine and a ring gear rotated by a second MG integrally rotate, whereby inertia is increased. Thus, high-speed rotation of a transmission member corresponding to an input shaft of the second shift portion can be prevented. |
| US07963879B2 |
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 may include clutches and brakes. |
| US07963876B2 |
Multi-speed transmission
A multi-speed transmission offers seven forward speed ratios with a pleasing ratio step progression, with the seventh forward speed ratio offering a relatively large percentage of the ratio spread, relatively low pinion speeds and only light torque loading on gear members carrying torque in the seventh forward speed ratio due to a brake-type torque transmitting mechanism engaged in the seventh forward speed ratio. |
| US07963874B2 |
Dual mode EVT with input split reverse mode
A transmission is provided with a reverse input split mode and, preferably, a reverse low fixed speed ratio which provides sufficient reverse grade performance while allowing motor size and planetary and transmission ratios to be optimized for fuel economy or other design criteria. Engine-on reverse performance is improved, reducing dependence on the battery and electric motors to meet reverse grade performance requirements. |
| US07963873B2 |
Transmission belt
A transmission belt is formed by annularly arranging elements including a plate-shaped first element and a plate-shaped second element, and annularly connecting the elements using a ring. The first element includes a first edge surface on which a burr is formed when the first element is formed by a press operation. The second element includes a second edge surface on which a burr is formed when the second element is formed by the press operation. The first and second edge surfaces face in directions opposite to each other in a direction in which the elements are arranged. The first edge surface includes a first rocking edge that contacts the element adjacent to the first element when the elements are arranged in an arc. The second edge surface includes a second rocking edge that contacts the element adjacent to the second element when the elements are arranged in the arc. |
| US07963871B2 |
Bicycle front derailleur with angle adjustment
A bicycle front derailleur includes a base member, a movable member, and a chain guide with an angle adjustable plate member. The base member is configured to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle. The movable member has a first support side coupled to the base member and a second support side spaced from the first support side. The movable member is configured to move the second support side between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base member. The angle adjustable plate member is coupled to the second support side for movement therewith. The chain guide includes a chain cage with the angle adjustable plate member operatively coupled to selectively adjust an angular orientation of the chain cage relative to the angle adjustable plate member. |
| US07963863B2 |
Golf ball with negative hardness gradient core
A golf ball comprising a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core, the layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center, an outer core region adjacent the outer surface, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions and extending radially from about 8 mm to about 18 mm from the geometric center. The single layer core has first, second and third hardness disposed within the inner core region, outer core region, intermediate core region, respectively, wherein the third hardness is greater than the first hardness and the second hardness, and a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center. |
| US07963862B2 |
Golf balls having at least two core layers formed from HNP compositions
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. |
| US07963851B2 |
Entertainment device using cards
A card game apparatus 12 includes an image sensor 54. The image sensor photographs a design (31: FIG. 2) printed on a card 30. A photographic signal from the image sensor is sampled by a game processor 64, and is further re-sampled to form a photographic pixel data array. A ROM 66 is provided with a database (67A: FIG. 7) which is assigned a comparison data array and a card ID for each entry. By searching the database based on the photographic pixel data array, the processor 64 obtains one card ID and displays card data of the card identified by the card ID on a television monitor. |
| US07963849B2 |
Input arrangement for video game terminal
A durable input arrangement for a video game terminal uses a joystick controller protected by a player actuating a control assembly. This assembly protects the joystick controller from abusive forces that would otherwise render the controller inoperative. |
| US07963847B2 |
Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards. |
| US07963839B2 |
Regulated gaming exchange
System architecture and methods for enabling (a) freelance game developers gather intelligence data such as to offer dazzling electronic games to the regulated casino gaming marketplace and receive compensation based on the success of their games, and (b) game operators gather intelligence data to enables them to tailor their regulated game offerings. Intelligence data for both the freelance game developers and the game operators are based on demand/popularity of identical trial games available to the public over a predetermined computer site, the trial games using simulated money only. In addition, players are provided with the location of the casinos offering their favorite game(s) for playing with real money, together with the promotions offered if any. Operators are provided with the contacts of the players and their list of favorite games such as to offer incentives to attract them to their casino. |
| US07963837B2 |
Stud poker games
A stud poker game in which a partial hand of cards are dealt as the player's hand. The player is then permitted to choose one of the undealt cards to be added to the player's hand. The remaining cards needed to complete the player's final hand are dealt. If the player has achieved a winning card combination on his final hand, the player receives an award. The award is based on the poker hand ranking of the final player's hand and the amount wagered by the player. |
| US07963834B2 |
Game device, game advancing method, program, and recording medium
A game apparatus executes a game in which a player character and an enemy character fight against each other. The game apparatus includes an attack determiner that determines whether the player character has an attack turn. When the attack determiner determines that the player character has an attack turn, an attack technique selector enables a player to select a desired attack technique to be executed by the player character. A selection time value accumulator accumulates a selection time value that corresponds to a shortness of time until the attack technique is selected by the player. When the selection time value exceeds a predetermined value, the attack technique selector enables the player to select a special attack to be selected by the player as the attack technique. |
| US07963831B2 |
Integrated system and method of battery cooling for a hybrid or fuel cell vehicle
An acoustically improved cooling system is provided for an energy storage system including a battery with air from a carpeted vehicle compartment, the cooling system including: a carpet portion sufficiently spaced from a floor panel of a vehicle to define a cavity forming an air passage through which air may flow and including an air inlet opening integrally formed therein through which the air from the compartment may be drawn; a fan for circulating air from the cavity into heat exchange relationship with the battery for cooling the battery; and a vent opening connecting the cavity and the fan in air flow communication. The frame is curved above the vent opening, to force noise reflection off the curved portion of the frame. A sound absorption layer is installed underneath the curved portion of the frame for noise attenuation. |
| US07963830B2 |
System for directing and controlling two separate streams of air to a kitchen
A system for directing two separate streams of air to a commercial or industrial kitchen environment. The system includes a dual airflow plenum that is normally disposed adjacent a kitchen exhaust hood. Typically one stream of air is a tempered, that is heated or cooled, and is directed through the dual airflow plenum to where it is exhausted at an area or point adjacent the exhaust hood. A second untempered, that is ambient air, air stream is directed through the same dual air flow plenum and is exhausted into an area adjacent the exhaust hood. Preferably the plenum is positioned with respect to the exhaust hood such that the outlet for the untempered air is disposed generally between the exhaust hood and the outlet for the tempered air. Moreover, the relative velocity of the two air streams is maintained or controlled such that the velocity of the tempered air stream is equal to or greater than the velocity of the untempered air stream. |
| US07963828B2 |
Method and apparatus for preparing poultry carcasses for defeathering operations
A process includes contacting a feathered poultry carcass with an ammonia-based treatment material to increase the pH at the skin of the carcass and thereby effect a loosening of the feathers on the carcass. After the contact with the ammonia-based treatment material, mild heat may be applied to the feathered carcass to further loosen the feathers. The prepared feathered carcass is then defeathered in a suitable defeathering process. Ammonia may be removed from the carcass before, after, and/or during defeathering. The defeathered carcass is then passed on for further processing to produce the final poultry product. |
| US07963826B2 |
Apparatus and methods for conditioning a polishing pad
Apparatus and methods for conditioning a polishing pad include an arm adapted to support a conditioning disk; a drive mechanism coupled to the arm; and a flexible coupling between the drive mechanism and the conditioning disk adapted to allow the conditioning disk to tilt while transmitting rotary motion from the drive mechanism to the conditioning disk. Numerous other aspects are disclosed. |
| US07963822B2 |
Brassiere with reinforced edges
A brassiere is provided having a front piece incorporating two breast cups and with two side pieces extending around the upper body of an individual wearing the brassiere, which side pieces can be connected to one another in a back closure and with two shoulder straps that extend from the upper edge of the breast cups to the back area of the side pieces. The base material of the brassiere is reinforced on at least part of its edge by applying facing bands or the like. In accordance with the invention it is provided that to form an edge reinforcement, in each case a facing band is fixed with a longitudinal edge to the corresponding edge of the blank made of the base material of the brassiere by linear ultrasonic welding and also is fixed at least partially in a two-dimensional manner with the base material by means of an adhesive layer. |
| US07963819B2 |
External diaphragm game call with manual diaphragm manipulation
A game call having a mouthpiece with an internal latex diaphragm and secured to said mouthpiece is a diaphragm plunger which is operable by pressing an artificial tongue-like pliable section into contacting with the diaphragm, thereby changing the pitch of the sound produced. |
| US07963815B2 |
Shape-adjustable mold, skin and interior-core structures for custom board production
A mold and construction method for forming aquatic sports boards is provided. The method and molds provide skin and interior core structures made shape-adjustable by a pre-molded perimeter rail. Division(s) in the structural exterior skin allow the skin core to be trimmed and bonded to a variety of convex, shape-defining core structures to produce a plurality of different shapes. A reusable shape-defining mold allows the board structure to be modified in shape. The mold is reversible and male/female configurations produce convex, shape-defining board substrates for a wide array of custom designs. |
| US07963814B2 |
Electric motor-driven water craft, which is cooled by the surrounding water
An electric motor-driven water craft including a fuselage, on which a user can at least partially lie or stand. The fuselage has a flow channel with a screw that is driven by an electric motor and contains the electric motor and batteries, in addition to a control device for the electric motor and the screw, and those items are housed at least partially in the flow channel. This invention provides a higher power for motor-driven water craft of this type by locating the batteries in a water-tight housing. At least some sections of the batteries are in thermally conductive contact with the housing. The housing can be at least partially of a thermally conductive material and/or the electric motor is an internal-rotor motor. The stator is in thermal conductive contact with a housing of the electric motor by a heat conducting unit. At least part of the region of the housing that is assigned to the heat conducting unit can be of a thermally conductive material and the housing can be located at least partially in the flow channel. |
| US07963812B2 |
Wire termination apparatus and method
An electrical termination and method comprising an element and a conductive member is disclosed. A wire is manually or tool-lessly securable in electrical communication with the conductive member. |
| US07963809B2 |
Microdvi connector
A small form-factor, high performance connector is disclosed. This connector is intended for use with high bandwidth digital video, implementing differential digital signaling, as well as for high bandwidth analog video. The described connector system performs the function of the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connector, but in a significantly smaller package. Signal integrity is maintained in the smaller form factor by the expedient assignment of signals to pins so that the pin above or below any signal is not used on that interface, thus reducing the chances for signal crosstalk. The pin shape and spacing are created to match pin lengths and minimize inductance while maintaining the proper impedance up to 2.5 GHz. This connector system also implements a tactile feedback mechanism to aid with cable plug insertion, and incorporates a keying mechanism to prevent reverse-plugging. |
| US07963802B2 |
External electrical connectors for solar modules
Provided are low profile, water-resistant and touch safe safe electrical connectors for solar modules. According to various embodiments, the electrical connectors include a low-profile conductive stud, a low-profile sheath that surrounds the stud, and a socket to mate with the stud. According to various embodiments, the sheath and socket mate via keyed inter-engageable features. Also according to certain embodiments, the socket is fastened to the stud and/or sheath via snap fastening. |
| US07963801B1 |
Connector assembly
A connector assembly can include a connector with a ground pin and a case. The case can have an electrically conductive surface. A capacitor is connected to the ground pin. The capacitor is also connected to the electrically conductive surface. The capacitor can be connected between the electrically conductive surface and the ground pin so that the electrically conductive surface and the ground pin are capacitively coupled. |
| US07963800B1 |
Electrical connector having improved housing and shell
An electrical connector is adapted for being mounted to a printed circuit board. The electrical connector includes a housing, a plurality of terminals, a shell and a bracket. A front edge of a periphery of the housing is protruded outward to form a flange. The terminals are received in the housing. The shell surrounds the housing. A front edge of the shell abuts against the flange. The bracket has a base board, and two opposite ends of the base board extends downward to form two blocking boards. Bottoms of the blocking boards extend outward to form two soldering boards. The base board of the bracket is mounted on the top board of the shell. The blocking boards are mounted on the two side boards. Front edges of the base board and the blocking boards of the bracket abut against the flange. |
| US07963798B1 |
Electrical connector with locking member for mounting thereof to printed circuit board
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts and a locking member. A pair of slots is defined in the opposite ends of the housing. A longitudinal groove is formed on a top surface of the housing with two ends connecting the slots respectively. A transversal groove is formed on the top surface and intersects the longitudinal groove perpendicularly. A narrow hole is defined in the transversal groove. The locking member has a main beam and a pair of straight mounting legs. The main beam has a fixed portion extended downwardly from a portion thereof. Each mounting leg passes through the slot. The distal end of the mounting leg extends out of the housing. The main beam is secured in the longitudinal groove. The fixed portion is secured in the narrow hole of the housing. |
| US07963797B2 |
Console for medical supply
A console (1) with a vertically arranged support frame (2) and with multiple jacks (3,4,29) for medical-technological supply. A first vertically arranged column (6) is arranged on a first side (5) of the support frame (2), and a second vertically arranged column (8) is arranged on a second opposing side (7), each with three modules (9.1-9.3,9.4-9.6) positioned on top of each other. The modules (9.1-9.6) consist of sections (10,10.1) of an extrusion profile (11,11.1). The extrusion profile (11,11.1) has a first and a second side wall (12,13) of equal width (14) at a right angle. A first channel (16) is arranged in a first end area (15) of the first side wall (12), a second channel (18) is arranged in a second end area (17) of the second sidewall (13), and a third channel (21) is arranged in an edge area (19) of an angle edge (20), each with a circular cross-section. The upper and lower cover plates (22,23) each have an extension (26) on the side (25) of the modules (1-9.3;9.4-9.6) that is open; the extensions (26) all have a pivot bearing (27) and are flexibly connected to the support frame (2) with an individual joint (28) (FIGS. 29-31) to swivel the first and the second column (6,8) away from the support frame (2). |
| US07963795B1 |
Light guiding structure for electric connector
A light guiding structure for electric connector includes an insertion base being provided at two opposite lateral sides with a recessed portion each; at least two light-guiding units being separately connected to the two lateral sides of the insertion base, and respectively having an end formed into two engaging sections for fitting in the recessed portions; and an enclosure for enclosing the insertion base and the light-guiding units therein. The light guiding structure for electric connector can be easily and firmly assembled through engagement of the engaging sections of the light-guiding units with the recessed portions on the insertion base, and the light-guiding units are prevented from light leakage. |
| US07963793B2 |
Hybrid/electric vehicle charge handle latch mechanism
A charge handle for use in charging a plug-in vehicle having a charge port includes a body having a receptacle for engaging the charge port to provide for charging the vehicle. A latch rotatably mounted to the body has a first end for securing the engagement of the receptacle to the charge port, and has a second end. An actuator lever is rotatably mounted to the body. The actuator lever has a first end connected to the second end of the latch, and has a second end. A trigger mechanism includes a trigger located on the opposite side of the body from the latch. The trigger mechanism is arranged such that depressing the trigger pushes the second end of the actuator lever to rotate the actuator lever to cause the latch to rotate and disengage the receptacle from the charge port. |
| US07963788B2 |
Electrical connector having datum block facilitating precise alignment
An electrical connector (100) used to transmit electric and optical signal from a module to a circuit substrate comprises an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing (1) and a cover (3) being assembled on the insulative housing (1) and can move between an opened position to a closed position, the insulative housing (1) comprises a bottom wall (141) and a plurality of sidewalls (142) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (141), each of the sidewalls (142) each defines a plurality of datum blocks (145) and the inner surface of the datum (145) on one sidewall (142) are located in one plane, the datum blocks (145) together formed a space (14) to receive the module. |
| US07963786B1 |
Audio jack
Provided is an audio jack, including an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts, a waterproof covering body and a retaining shell. The insulating housing disposes an inserting hole and a plurality of contact-receiving grooves. The contacts are separately inserted into the contact-receiving grooves. The waterproof covering body encompasses the insulating housing and is made of elastic material. The waterproof covering body disposes a ring-shaped protruding edge extending out of an end surface of the insulating housing. The retaining shell is mounted on the outside of the waterproof covering body and disposes a plurality of hook portions. The audio jack of the present invention can make the hook portions tightly hook the circuit board and make the protruding edge be tightly pressed on one surface of the circuit board, so that no gap exists between the audio jack and the circuit board and the waterproof function can be obtained. |
| US07963783B2 |
Separable connector system with vents in bushing nose
Separable connector assemblies include one or more pairs of connectors that engage and disengage one another in electrical connection and disconnection operations, respectively. An operator can disengage the connectors by pushing the connectors together and then pulling the connectors apart. Pushing the connectors together shears interface adhesion between the connectors, making it easier for the operator to pull the connectors apart. An indicator integral or coupled to one of the connectors can indicate whether the first and second connectors are in the pushed-in-position. A window in the other connector includes an opening, channel, and/or translucent or semi-translucent material through which the indicator may be seen. The window and/or one or more vents in a tubular member of one of the connectors can include a channel that provides an air path for ingress of air between the connectors, to thereby remove or reduce a vacuum or partial vacuum between the connectors. |
| US07963781B2 |
Low insertion force connector
The present invention provides a LIF (Low Insertion Force) connector fixing a vehicle body panel capable of reducing the number of parts and improving workability. The LIF connector fixed to a vehicle body panel includes a frame including a first guide groove, a first connector connected to the frame so as to be rotated and including a second guide groove, a second connector having a first boss and connected to the first connector by rotating the first connector from a position where the first boss is inserted into the first and the second guide groove at the same time. |
| US07963776B1 |
Electrical connector assembly having direct connection terminals
An electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board having vias extending at least partially through the circuit board along via axes. The circuit board has traces and mounting pads that are electrically connected to corresponding traces, and that are exposed within corresponding vias. The vias have a staged diameter along the via axis with a constricted region proximate to the mounting. An electrical connector is mounted on the circuit board. The electrical connector includes a housing and signal terminals held by the housing. The signal terminals include mounting contacts being received in respective vias of the circuit board that engage corresponding mounting pads in the constricted region. |
| US07963772B1 |
Learning apparatus
The present invention concerns that of a new and improved learning apparatus that includes a base with an appealing shape, a covered amount of writing media for a toddler or child to write on repeatedly, and a storage area on the base for placement of at least one learning book. The base preferably has a shape that is interesting and fun for children, such as an apple. Attached to the base is a frame that encloses a writing medium underneath a transparent, flexible cover. The cover gives toddlers and children the ability to write on the transparent cover, while at the same time, allowing an individual, such as a parent or guardian, to remove the writing placed on the cover by merely wiping it off. The learning apparatus also includes a storage area that could be used to house at least one educational book. |
| US07963771B2 |
Experiment and education system employing a plurality of units
When a mechanism constituent unit having a base is secured to a magnetic base at a predetermined position, a fixture having a detachable mechanism inside itself is employed, and the fixture is disposed on a notch of the base of the mechanism constituent unit in a non-adsorption state in which magnetic force lines of a permanent magnet of the detachable mechanism permeate the fixture. In this state, a rotation casing is rotated 90 degrees to be in a lock state, and a fixing casing is firmly adsorbed to the magnetic base such that magnetic force of the permanent magnet inside it permeate to the magnetic base side. Thus, the mechanism constituent unit base is firmly sandwiched by a pressing portion of the fixing casing and the magnetic base, and the base of the mechanism constituent unit is firmly secured to the magnetic base at a predetermined position. |
| US07963770B2 |
Surgical-training device and method of manufacturing the same
A surgical-training device for measuring roughness (non-delicate manipulation) during a simulated-surgical technique is described. The device has a housing, a platform, and a sensor module. The platform is movably coupled to the housing, and is configured for three-dimensional motion relative to the housing. The platform is further configured to move from a start position to a displaced position when a force is applied to the platform as a result of a user performing a simulated-surgical technique on the platform. A sensor module, coupled to the housing, is configured to determine when the platform moves a distance (from the start position to the displaced position) that exceeds a preset-threshold distance. If the preset-threshold distance is exceeded, sensor module indicates (by visual and/or auditory alarms within the device, and/or computerized counting and scoring reports) that the user applied excessive force, and was therefore too rough when performing the simulated-surgical technique. A method of manufacturing a surgical-training device is also provided. |
| US07963766B2 |
Orthodontic appliance with embedded wire for moving teeth
The present invention provides an orthodontic appliance including a unitary appliance body positionable about a portion of a single dental arch, where the appliance body may define a lingual portion, a labial-buccal portion, and a contoured portion therebetween. The appliance body may further define an anterior portion and a posterior portion, as well as a first wire coupled to the appliance body, with the first wire extending from the lingual portion of the appliance body to the labial-buccal portion of the appliance body. In addition, a first portion of the first wire may be embedded in the appliance body while a second portion of the first wire extends from the posterior portion of the appliance body. The appliance may further include a second wire disposed about the appliance body between the first wire and the anterior portion of the appliance body. A series of appliances may be used to shift a patient's bite to proper bite orientation. |
| US07963764B2 |
Hybrid burner lance
A lance for a hybrid burner of a combustor of a gas turbine, includes an inner passage for a liquid fuel, an outer passage coaxially enclosing the inner passage for a gaseous fuel, a plurality of star like arranged outer nozzles branching off radially from the outer passage, a plurality of inner nozzles, which branch off radially from the inner passage and which each extend coaxially inside one of the outer nozzles, and a distributor section, which is arranged upstream of the outer nozzles in the outer passage and has a plurality of star like arranged, coaxially extending through-openings for the gaseous fuel. In order to reduce the flow resistance in the gas path of the lance, the through-openings each have an opening width which is larger in the circumferential direction than in the radial direction. |
| US07963763B2 |
Multi-gas cooker, with a rotary valve provided with interchangeable regulating means
The cooking appliance (1) having a control panel (2) is equipped with one or more gas flow (Q) regulating valves, wherein the rotary regulating plug (6) is provided with various peripheral through holes (16-19). The control knob (9) being interchangeable for fitting to the actuating shaft (7), is chosen from the two units available, one and the other permitting different angular limit positions of the regulating plug (6) for the supply of a constant minimum gas flow Qmin, adjusted each one for a different type of gas N gas or LP gas. The outlet conduit (5) of the valve is equipped with a further injector nozzle (21,23) for adjusting a constant gas flow Qmax to be fed into the conduit (25) of the correspondent burner, when the cooking appliance is supplied with a LP gas. |
| US07963759B1 |
Mold base hold retainer and method of using
A locking device for use with first and second mold plates, comprising an upper block including an axial cavity adapted to receive an upper projection end and adapted to be affixed to a first mold plate; a projection having upper and lower projection ends; a base adapted to be secured to a second mold plate, including a longitudinal bore adapted to receive at least one roller actuator assembly and at least one biasing element therein, and a projection receiving bore adapted to receive the lower projection end; at least one roller actuator assembly adapted to mechanically engage the lower projection end; a plurality of biasing elements, each adapted to mechanically engage a roller actuator assembly and a retention plate; and a plurality of retention plates adapted to be secured to the base and retain at least one roller actuator assembly and at least one biasing element within the longitudinal bore. |
| US07963753B2 |
Scroll compressor bodies with scroll tip seals and extended thrust region
A scroll compressor includes scroll compressor bodies with axial tip seals projecting from the respective scroll ribs of fixed and movable scroll compressor bodies. An extended thrust region is provided in surrounding relation to an inner axial tip sealing region to provide for carrying thrust loads in the event that the scroll compressor bodies are forced axially together. Part of the thrust region may carry a tip seal, while another part may be free of a tip seal. This provides for at least a nominal reverse operation capability. |
| US07963748B2 |
Centrifugal air compressor
If the ambient temperature of a pressure volute measured by a temperature sensor exceeds 0° C., a compressor is instantly started at normal operation. If the temperature of the pressure volute measured by the temperature sensor is 0° C. or lower, vibration along the axial direction is given to the rotary shaft by way of an axial magnetic bearing. If the vibration amplitude of the thus given vibration exceeds a predetermined value, the compressor is started at normal operation after idle operation. On the other hand, if the vibration amplitude is lower than a predetermined value, the heater is actuated to heat the pressure volute only for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the ambient temperature is detected again, and if the ambient temperature exceeds 0° C., the compressor is started. |
| US07963747B2 |
Braided wind turbine blades and method of making same
A blade for a wind turbine and a method for making same are provided. The blade includes a skin having a braided fiber sock. One or more stiffeners are attached to the braided fiber sock. |
| US07963746B2 |
Turbine blade and gas turbine equipped with a turbine blade
The invention relates to a turbine blade comprising a vane that runs along a blade axis and a platform region, located at the root of the vane having a platform that extends transversally to the blade axis. The aim of the invention is to configure a delimitation of a flow channel of a gas turbine in the simplest possible manner. Therefore, the platform is configured by an elastic sheet metal part that rests on the vane. Said part leads to a gas turbine comprising a flow conduit that runs along an axis of the gas turbine, said conduit having an annular cross-section for a working medium and a second vane stage that is situated downstream of a first vane stage, which runs along the axis. |
| US07963741B2 |
Motor and fan device using the same
The present invention provides a motor which includes a stator including a plurality of one-phase stators composed of a pair of stator cores having claw-type teeth and a coil for generating magnetic flux at the claw-type teeth, and a rotor for generating torque at a rotary shaft, wherein the stator core includes a plurality of split cores having the same shape, and the split cores are formed to have a recessed portion and a projected portion to be fitted in the recessed portion. Thereby, by using a plurality of the split cores having the same shape, one stator core is formed. On this occasion, the shape of the split cores is molded so that the recessed portion and the projected portion of one stator core are disposed at positions at which those are fitted to the projected portion and the recessed portion of the opposing stator core, respectively. |
| US07963736B2 |
Wafer processing apparatus with wafer alignment device
A semiconductor-processing apparatus includes: a wafer handling chamber; a wafer processing chamber; a wafer handling device; a first photosensor disposed in the wafer handling chamber in front of the wafer processing chamber at a position where the wafer partially blocks light received by the first photosensor at a ready-to-load position and substantially entirely blocks light received by the first photosensor when the wafer moves from the ready-to-load position toward the wafer processing chamber in the x-axis direction; and a second photosensor disposed in the wafer handling chamber in front of the wafer processing chamber at a position where the wafer does not block light received by the second photosensor at the ready-to-load position and partially blocks light received by the second photosensor when the wafer moves from the ready-to-load position toward the wafer processing chamber in the x-axis direction. |
| US07963720B2 |
Polymer coated nanoparticle activation of oxidants for remediation and methods of use thereof
Methods of decreasing the amount of one or more contaminants in contaminated soil comprise introducing polymer-coated nanoparticles into the contaminated soil, optionally with other reagents. The polymer-coated nanoparticles exhibit an enhanced ability to migrate through the soil and provide greater control of the rate of activation of other chemicals, such as oxidants, in the contaminated soil. |
| US07963719B2 |
Apparatus and method for applying coatings to a surface
A method and apparatus for applying various different coating on surfaces including but not limited to roadways, parking lots, bridge decks, airport runways, offshore heliports and workboat walkways. Preferably, an applicator is provided that allows numerous different coatings to be applied to a surface. The coatings may be protective, decorative, non-skid and/or reflective in nature. Preferably, the applicator allows for the dispensing of two or more materials in at least two different manners (e.g., (i) two or more materials simultaneously applied to the surface to be coated; and, (ii) one material applied followed by application of one or more additional materials). Preferably, the applicator is lightweight and compact so that a single individual can carry the applicator while applying a coating to a surface to be coated. This allows the applicator to be used to coat surfaces in constricted areas including but not limited to workboat walkways. The applicator, in its preferred form, permits a non-skid coating to be applied in a single step with the aggregate being encapsulated by the binder or coating material to prolong the life of the non-skid surface. |
| US07963716B2 |
Pin connection device
Assembly of a pin guide member for retaining a pair of connecting pins is facilitated for improvement in an assembling property and cost reduction. On the premise that inner brackets are overlapped with outer brackets, and pins are inserted into pin holes thereof so as to connect the brackets to each other, inner collar portions of pin guide members for retaining the pins are combined and integrated with each other by bolts and nuts through a supporting plate serving as a connection member. Meanwhile, outer collar portions of both the pin guide members are supported in the pin radial direction with respect to the inner brackets and rotation thereof is prevented. |
| US07963715B2 |
Push-in connector
A push-in connector provides for easy manufacturing and assembly using a flat-stamped flexible retainer clip. The retainer clip is inserted into the connector and flexes to snap-fit within in the connector. The flex of the clip also flexes wings of the clip which engage with a receiving boss. The flexion of the clip allows for easy push-in of the connector and sufficient resistance to accidental pull-out. The push-in connector design eliminates the need for screw-mounting of the connector. The connector assembly may be manufactured for use in connection with a variety of ball studs, as well as other items such as shafts of various objects and wires, or may be used a fastener. |
| US07963714B2 |
Safety coupling arrangement
A safety coupling apparatus which includes first and second annular coupling parts for attachment to first and second coaxial rotatable shafts. The second coupling part defines an axial chamber which has an open end facing the first coupling part, and a radially-extending recess between a collar and a flange, both extending and located radially outwardly of the axial chamber, wherein the flange is spaced from the collar. An expandable hollow body of the first coupling part axially extends through the open end and into the axial chamber. A cavity subdivides the hollow body into inner and outer cylindrical sections and can (1) be filled with, or (2) emptied of pressurized fluid to expand or contract the inner and outer sections relative to one another and cause or prevent external surfaces thereof to contact adjacent surfaces of the axial chamber and thereby prevent or enable relative rotation of the first and second coupling parts. |
| US07963708B1 |
Minimize carbonization of developer liquid
An apparatus designed to minimize carbonization of developer liquid within a printing plate developer device (100). The apparatus includes, at least one open tank (204, 220) containing developer waste (148) positioned in proximity to plate developer tank (104) inside the developer device, and a replenishment element (212). The replenishment element is configured to replenish the at least one open tank with a developer waste. The developer waste and the air trapped (132) in proximity to the printing plate developer tank will generate a carbonization reaction. |
| US07963706B2 |
Lens barrel, camera and portable information terminal apparatus
A lens barrel includes a telescopic cylinder, at least one movable lens, and a retractable lens. The telescopic cylinder includes at least one movable cylinder that can be accommodated in a fixed cylinder. The movable lens is retained in the movable cylinder. An optical axis of the movable lens determines a reference axis of the lens barrel. The retractable lens can be retracted in a plane perpendicular to the reference axis from a photographing position on the reference axis to a retracted position off the reference axis. In a photographing state, the retractable lens is adjacent to the movable lens, and the movable lens and the retractable lens are coaxially aligned along the reference axis. The retractable lens moves to the reference axis from the retracted position immediately after the movable cylinder of the movable lens reaches a maximum protruded position. |
| US07963705B2 |
Molded interconnect device (MID) optical connector with metal retaining clip
A molded interconnect device (MID) optical connector includes a molded plastic body and a metal retaining clip. The body has a receptacle portion shaped to receive and guide a mating optical fiber ferrule into a connected position. In the connected position, the end of a fiber retained in the ferrule is in optical alignment with an opto-electronic device in the MID optical connector. The retaining clip has one or more contact portions that extend into the receptacle portion of the body and exert a spring force upon the ferrule to retain and stabilize it in the connected position. |
| US07963704B2 |
Hermaphroditic fibre optical connector system
The connector system provides two identical hermaphroditic housings, which accomplish a reliable connection of standard optical fiber connectors without the use of an adaptor. The connector system includes a first housing mounted to a first printed wiring board and a second housing mounted to a second printed wiring board. Each housing supports an optical fiber connector therein. Each housing includes an inner member and an outer member. Springs are provided between the inner and outer members to provide biasing of the housings in the mating direction of the optical connectors. |
| US07963694B2 |
Temperature sensitive label for detecting temperature changes to a temperature sensitive item
A temperature sensitive label may be affixed to a temperature sensitive item. The temperature sensitive label conveys when the item has reached a tripping temperature. The tripping temperature may be a temperature at which the item is compromised. To convey this, the label changes properties and functions with a message to convey that the item has been exposed to the tripping temperature. For example, the label may reveal, block, or alter a message that conveys whether the item has been exposed to the tripping temperature. The message may be part of the label or separate from the label. |
| US07963693B2 |
Mechanical oscillator
The present invention concerns a mechanical oscillator, comprising an oscillating system comprising a balance (1) and its return spring (3). This oscillator also comprises two elastic strips (9, 10) fixed by one end and acting in opposition intermittently by their other end on a connecting organ (8) secured to the oscillating system. |
| US07963690B2 |
Dispenser with dynamic mixer for two-part compositions
Novel dispenser means are provided for mixing and dispensing two-part curable compositions wherein the mixer elements are isolated from the curable components. |
| US07963686B2 |
Thermal dispersing structure for LED or SMD LED lights
A thermal dispersing structure for LED or SMD LED lights is to mount a lamp base on a light head. The lamp base is funnel-shaped and has an interior annular cutout near its top edge. A substrate engages the annular cutout to carry one or multiple LED or SMD LED units at a center or other proper locations. Moreover, a rim is formed on the substrate around the LED or SMD LED units. The substrate has multiple holes defined corresponding to thermal conducting bases under the LED or SMD LED units and defined slightly larger or smaller than the LED thermal conducting base. Additionally, a thermal dispersing body is secured under the substrate and has multiple posts corresponding to the holes of the thermal conducting bases. Each post penetrates the substrate to snugly engage the thermal conducting base so that thermal dispersing efficiency is improved. |
| US07963685B2 |
Rear combination lamp
A rear combination lamp y for a vehicle includes a rear combination lamp housing with an inboard cavity, an intermediate cavity, and an outboard cavity. First, second, and third light-emitting diodes extend into the inboard cavity, intermediate cavity, and outboard cavity, respectively. A turn signal member is operably connected to the first, second, and third light-emitting diodes and engagement of the turn signal activates the first, second, and third light-emitting diodes sequentially. |
| US07963684B2 |
Semiconductor projection module having two-part reflector for an automobile headlamp
A projection module for an automobile headlamp includes at least one semiconductor emission source which emits electromagnetic radiation, a reflector reflecting the emitted irradiation, a baffle arrangement shading at least a portion of the reflected irradiation, and a projection lens for projecting the reflected irradiation. The irradiation passes by the baffle arrangement to create a desired emission distribution from the projection module in front of the automobile. At least one emission source is mounted on, or near, the rear side of the baffle arrangement, and a main irradiation direction of the minimum of one emission source is directed into the semi-open space opposite the irradiation-output direction from the projection module. |
| US07963679B2 |
Thermal module assembly
A thermal module assembly is applied to dissipate heat energy released from a lighting assembly when working, and comprises a plurality of heat-dissipating fins being chain-connected and a fixing ring. The heat-dissipating fins are radially extended from a central region, and each heat-dissipating fin comprises a fin body, a chain-connected mechanism and an extended folded plate. The chain-connected mechanism is located on an inner side of the fin body for chain-connecting the neighbor heat-dissipating fin, and the extended folded plate is located on an outer side of the fin body. The fixing ring hitches the outer side of each heat-dissipating fin, and the fixing ring is formed with a plurality of positioning folded plates along an inner ring edge thereof, so as to fix the extended folded plate and keep any two neighboring heat-dissipating fins in a unit pitch distance. |
| US07963677B2 |
Light source device, having wavelength conversion and separation means, and projector
A light source device includes a light source unit emitting light of a first wavelength and a wavelength converting element converting light of the first wavelength into light of a second wavelength. An external resonator transmits light of the second wavelength toward an emission destination and reflects light of the first wavelength to resonate between the light source unit and the external resonator. A wavelength separating section transmits light converted from the first wavelength to the second wavelength while traveling from the external resonator to the light source unit and reflects light of the first wavelength in order to separate the different wavelength light. A turnback section reflects light of the second wavelength separated by the wavelength separating section toward the emission destination. In addition, the wavelength separating section reflects light of the first wavelength from the light source unit to travel toward the wavelength converting element. |
| US07963676B2 |
Reflector window for use in a light lamp
A reflector window includes a light transmission window having a center and an outer edge and an optical coating of at least first and second materials having differing refractive indices deposited on a proximate side of the light transmission window. The optical coating includes a plurality of alternating layers of the first and second materials with each layer having a thickness which increases from the center to the outer edge of the light transmission window. |
| US07963674B2 |
Light emitting diode package having flexible PCT directly connected to light source
A light emitting diode package comprising a substrate electrically connectable to an external unit with a reduced height. A flexible PCB for electrical connection between a light emitting diode and the external unit is directly connected to a light emitting element. The direct connection is conducted by applying a conductive resin to an electrode on the flexible PCB, on which the light emitting element is mounted; mounting the light emitting element; curing the conductive resin in a high-temperature furnace. The present invention requires neither a lead frame for electrical connection of the light emitting element to the flexible PCB nor a rigid PCB for supporting the flexible PCB, thus reducing the total height of the light emitting diode package. |
| US07963671B2 |
LED module and light modulator with the same
A light emitting diode (LED) module includes a driving circuit board, at least one LED, a thermal dispersing sheet and a heat sink. The driving circuit board includes a front surface and an opposite back surface. The at least one LED is mounted on the front surface of the driving circuit board and electrically connected to it. The thermal dispersing sheet is attached on the back surface. The heat sink is mounted on the driving circuit board in contacting the thermal dispersing sheet. |
| US07963668B2 |
Street lamp emitting filtered light
A street lamp includes a lampshade, a light-emitting diode array, a lens array, and a filter film. The lampshade includes a bottom wall and a sidewall extending around the bottom wall, the lampshade defines a receiving space with an opening opposite to the bottom wall. The light-emitting diode array is received in the receiving space and has a number of light-emitting diodes which light emitting direction faces to the opening of the lampshade. The lens array has a number of lenses corresponding to the light-emitting diodes, the lenses is capable of converging light emitting from the light-emitting diodes. The filter film is disposed on the optical path of the plurality of light-emitting diodes for filtering light of predetermined wavelength ranges. |
| US07963664B2 |
Lighting device with OLEDs
A lighting device with a light emitter includes OLEDs of at least two different primary colors. The light emitter is followed by a primary optics, e.g. a collimator or a lens, and a tapered tubular reflector with a diameter that increases from its narrow end to its wide end. The light emitter may include concentric rings of different OLEDs. |
| US07963659B2 |
Projector
A direction control plate is fitted near an exhaust aperture of a lamp unit, and a partition plate is fitted so as to surround the front and the bottom of the exhaust aperture. The direction control plate is fitted so as to surround three sides of the periphery of the exhaust aperture in the shape of a letter “U”. Furthermore, the side plate is provided so as somewhat to close the exhaust aperture, and so as to be inclined by an angle θ towards the wall of a case. If a lamp within the lamp unit should break, the direction of scattering of the broken pieces is controlled by this direction control plate, and it is possible to prevent these broken pieces from being scattered to the exterior of the device, since the broken pieces can be made to collide with the partition plate. |
| US07963657B2 |
Projection display device
An imager is shifted with respect to an optical axis of a refractive optical system. Thereby, a throw distance of a projector is shortened. A wavelength-selective half wavelength plate for rotating a polarization direction of green light beams is disposed between a dichroic prism and the refractive optical system in such a manner that the polarization direction of the green light beams is in parallel to the shifting direction. Thereby, the green light beams are incident onto the refractive optical system as P-polarized beams, whereby a transmittance of the green light beams in the refractive optical system is increased, while suppressing lowering of the light amount of the green light beams, and color non-uniformity resulting from lowering of the light amount of the green light beams. |
| US07963651B2 |
Eyewear with wire frame inserted into slots in lenses
A rimless eyeglass assembly is constructed using a first lens and a second lens with slotted openings for receiving a wire. A wire having a first end and a second end is inserted into the slotted openings of the first and second lens to form an entire pair of eyeglasses. |
| US07963647B2 |
Light irradiation apparatus and injet printer
A light irradiation apparatus in which high peak irradiance is obtained and the heat influence on the article being irradiated with light is reduced, and also an inkjet printer which has such a light irradiation apparatus in which pictures with high image quality can be reliably made and the amount of heat influence on the recording medium is low is achieved using a light irradiation apparatus having a discharge lamp of the short arc type and a reflection component for reflecting the light of this discharge lamp. The light of the discharge lamp is radiated in a state in which it is focused by the reflection component so as to extending linearly on the light irradiation area. The inkjet printer has a head part with the above described light irradiation apparatus, the light from which sets ink of the photosetting type which has been applied to the recording medium |
| US07963640B2 |
Liquid discharge head and method for manufacturing the liquid discharge head
A liquid discharge head according to the present invention comprises plural pressure chambers for applying pressure to liquid, which respectively communicate with liquid discharge openings for discharging liquid; and plural piezoelectric elements, arranged respectively corresponding to the plural pressure chambers, which respectively include lower electrodes, piezoelectric layers and upper electrodes layered in order from the pressure chambers, the lower electrodes being extended to areas corresponding to areas between the plural pressure chambers, and wherein an insulating layer is provided so as to cover at least all the lower electrodes located in the areas corresponding to areas between the plural pressure chambers. |
| US07963636B2 |
Liquid ejection head
A liquid ejecting head is constituted by a substrate to which elements for generating energy utilized for ejecting liquid and a supply port for supplying the liquid to be ejected are provided; a plurality of ejection outlets, for ejecting the liquid, provided corresponding to the elements; pressure chambers each communicating with an associated ejection outlet; and flow paths communicating between the pressure chambers and the supply port. The flow paths include at least one pair of flow paths connected to an associated pressure chamber in a symmetrical manner and include flow paths overlapping with each other with respect to a direction from an associated ejection outlet toward the substrate. |
| US07963635B2 |
Inkjet print head
The landing precision of ink drops is improved to improve the image quality and increase the printing speed. An inkjet print head ejects ink supplied from an ink supply port from a plurality of ejection ports respectively connecting to ink paths having different flow resistances by using energy generated by a plurality of electrothermal transducer elements respectively corresponding to the plurality of the ejection ports, wherein each of the plurality of the ejection ports connected to the ink paths having a low ink flow resistance is arranged so that the center of each of the plurality of the ejection ports is positioned farther away from the ink supply port to the center of the corresponding electrothermal transducer element than each of the plurality of the ejection ports connected to the ink paths having a high ink flow resistance. |
| US07963633B2 |
Ink jet recording head and ink jet recording apparatus
An ink jet recording head and an ink jet recording apparatus are provided to prevent occurrence of a white line or recording unevenness due to a head tilt, and realize a high image quality recording. For this purpose, in a recording head provided with nozzles ejecting three types of droplets, a large droplet, medium droplet and small droplet, nozzles are configured such that no nozzles are arranged on the same line at the centers thereof in the main scanning direction. |
| US07963630B2 |
Method for setting the relative speed between a print head and a recording medium in a thermotransfer printing device
In a method and thermotransfer printing device for setting the speed of a relative movement between the print head and a recording medium during a printing procedure in the thermotransfer printing device, in particular for setting the transport speed of a mail piece in a thermotransfer printing franking machine, the heat energies required for the generation of a predeterminable print image are calculated for the individual heating elements of the print head from start value that has been established for the desired speed. It is subsequently computationally checked whether the respectively calculated heat energy can be emitted at the respective heating element in a first time interval predetermined by the start value of the desired speed and a predeterminable remaining time. If so, a printing procedure follows in which the beginning of the printing procedure ensues using the end value of the desired speed. |
| US07963627B2 |
Liquid droplet jetting-inspection apparatus and liquid droplet jetting-inspection method
A pressurized liquid is supplied to an ink-jet head, and is discharged continuously from nozzles. In this state, a driving signal is applied to the ink-jet head at a predetermined time interval, and a light source is made to emit light in multiples of the predetermined time interval. Liquid droplets which are jetted continuously in the form of beads from the nozzles by the driving signal are picked up, and bending in a direction of jetting and state of liquid droplets are observed. Accordingly, a liquid droplet jetting-inspection apparatus and a liquid droplet jetting-inspection method which are capable of detecting easily a defect which is caused due to a channel and a nozzle as well as an electrical structure and a drive element of a liquid droplet-jetting apparatus are provided. |
| US07963625B2 |
Printer providing temperature equalization for plural color inks
An inkjet printer performs printing by circulating cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks in their respective passages. The printer includes a heat exchanger which the passages enter together, and which is configured to promote the temperatures of the inks to be equal to each other. |
| US07963622B2 |
Liquid discharging device and electro optic device
A liquid droplet-discharging device comprises: a droplet-discharging head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged in a predetermined direction and discharge liquid droplets; a scanning unit for relatively moving the droplet-discharging head and a substrate toward a scanning direction: a memory memorizing pattern data corresponding to driving nozzles that are selected from the plurality of nozzles in each of a plurality of discharged regions, by partitioning a drew region of the substrate into the plurality of discharged regions every discharging frequency along a scanning direction of the substrate; a transferring unit for developing the patterned data memorized by the memory into a plurality of data to be divided and transferring the divided data to the liquid droplet-discharging head in order; and an output unit for outputting a driving signal that drives a driving nozzle selected by the divided data to discharge the liquid droplets. The patterned data are data that allocates the plurality of nozzles to a plurality of blocks and corresponds each of the plurality of blocks to each of the plurality of discharging regions. |
| US07963619B2 |
Hydraulic unit
A hydraulic unit for a slip-controlled brake system, comprising an accommodating member accommodating inlet and outlet valves in several valve accommodating bores. The inlet and outlet valves thereof being necessary for brake slip control are arranged in one single valve row (X) in a particularly space-saving fashion. |
| US07963617B2 |
Degradation assembly
A degradation assembly for use with a driving mechanism includes a working portion coupled to a shank assembly. The working portion has an impact tip brazed to a working end of a carbide extension. The carbide extension has a cavity formed in a base end that is adapted to engage with a shank and a locking mechanism of the shank assembly. The shank has an outer surface proximate a first end which is receivable within the cavity of the carbide extension. The locking mechanism has a radially extending catch configured to engage with the cavity and couple the shank assembly to the working portion. The shank has an outer surface proximate a second end which is adapted to be press-fitted within a recess of a driving mechanism. |
| US07963611B1 |
Wheelchair leg support
A wheelchair leg support includes a pad having an inclined upper portion for supporting an upper leg and a lower portion extending angularly downward from the upper portion for supporting a user's leg and preventing a user's lower legs or feet from passing beneath a moving wheelchair avoiding injury. The lower portion includes a relief or cut-out to cradle the lower leg to resist the leg from slipping off the leg support and for comfort of the user. |
| US07963603B2 |
Vehicle seat stabilization system and a stabilization device
A vehicle seat stabilization system configured for minimizing downward displacement of a seat cushion upon vehicle impact includes a vehicle seat and a stabilization device. The seat has a first and second vertical position and includes the cushion, a torque tube, mounting arrangement, slide assembly, and lift linkage. The device is configured for minimizing downward displacement of the cushion upon vehicle impact and includes a piston, rod, first cylinder, and a second cylinder disposed entirely within and cooperating with the first cylinder to define a conduit. The piston divides the second cylinder and defines a first and second chamber in fluid communication via the conduit. The device includes fluid and a member disposed within the second cylinder moveable upon vehicle impact to seal off fluid communication between the conduit and the second chamber to minimize downward displacement of the cushion upon impact when the seat is in the second position. |
| US07963599B2 |
Vehicle seat with cushion plate
A vehicle seat comprises a seat back frame having a pair of side frames, a seat spring mounted between the side frames, a single plate-shaped flexible cushion plate mounted to the seat spring, a seat back cushion provided in front of the cushion plate, a single plate-shaped flexible auxiliary plate mounted on the cushion plate. The auxiliary plate is located between the cushion plate and the seat back cushion. The auxiliary plate pushes the seat back cushion to the front by being forwardly bent in response to an operation member. A collision detector is located on the rear side of the cushion plate having a predetermined distance there between. |
| US07963596B2 |
Removable and adjustable canopy covering
An adjustable seating canopy that is removably mounted to a seat. The canopy includes a set of frame elements that defines a curved shape of the canopy. The canopy includes a set of air channels that are formed by partially joining two layers of fabric that form the canopy. In addition, the set of air channels are oriented substantially perpendicular to an arced axis traveled by at least one frame element in the set of frame elements. The canopy includes a set of pivoting mechanisms attached to one or more frame elements which causes the canopy to be adjustably positioned above the chair along the arced axis. The canopy also includes a set of detachable clamping devices for mounting the canopy to the chair. |
| US07963595B2 |
Vehicle seats
A vehicle seat includes a seat back and a head rest. The seat back has an air blower that is capable of aspirating air, and a blower duct that is capable of introducing the aspirated air toward a blowhole formed in the seat back. The head rest has a head rest main body and a stay attached to the head rest main body. The stay is inserted into the seat back, so that the head rest main body is vertically movably attached to the seat back. The air blower is disposed on the seat back such that a rotation center thereof can be positioned above the level of a terminal end of the stay that is moved to a lowermost position. |
| US07963592B1 |
Lawn chair
A improved lawn chair that is designed to allow an individual to more easily lie on one's stomach while resting on the lawn chair, and furthermore, provide components to enable one to store sunbathing accessories. The lawn chair is fabricated from an aluminum framework and vinyl strapping and includes an oval-shaped head cutout, which allows an individual to rest on their stomach, with their head placed facedown over the head cutout area. The lawn chair also includes a reading rack and an attached multi-compartment pouch. |
| US07963588B2 |
Vehicle body lower structure
An object is to suppress vehicle body deformation in a side collision without sacrificing a vehicle interior space.Provided is a first reinforcing member 10 disposed in a locker 12 at a vehicle lateral direction inner side, and a second reinforcing member 20 disposed in locker 12 at a vehicle lateral direction outer side, which opposes first reinforcing member 10 in a vehicle lateral direction, and which is provided with a side surface 20A and an end surface 20E (engaging portions) that engage with first reinforcing member 10 when locker 12 deforms. When locker 12 begins to deform due to a side collision to a vehicle 18, end surface 20E of second reinforcing member 20 contacts and engages flange 10E of first reinforcing member 10, and a torsional deformation can be suppressed, and side surface 20A contacts flange 10D, and a crushing deformation of locker 12 in a vehicle lateral direction can be suppressed. Since first reinforcing member 10 and second reinforcing member 20 are provided in locker 12, vehicle interior space is not sacrificed. |
| US07963587B2 |
Attachments to sliding doors and vehicles including same
A sliding door comprises a door structure and a guide rail. The door structure comprises a first surface, a second surface and at least one attachment assembly and defines at least one door aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface. The at least one attachment assembly comprises a first attachment member and a second attachment member. The second attachment member engages the first attachment member and extends through the at least one door aperture having at least a portion of the second attachment member extending beyond the second surface. The guide rail comprises a first contact surface and a second contact surface and defines at least one rail aperture configured to align with the at least one door aperture of the door structure. The second attachment member abuts the second contact surface of the guide rail. Methods of attaching a guide rail to a door structure are also provided herein. Vehicles are also provided. |
| US07963578B2 |
Integrated vacuum gripper with internal releasable magnet and method of using same
An integrated vacuum and magnetic gripper includes a rigid housing defining an internal chamber, and a flexible vacuum cup operatively connected thereto. A vacuum cavity is defined by the vacuum cup and a vacuum source is configured to reduce pressure in the vacuum cavity. A permanent magnet is disposed within the rigid housing, and a magnet release mechanism is configured to selectively render the magnet incapable of exerting sufficient force to hold the work piece. A pole plate may be interposed between the internal chamber and vacuum cavity, such that the pole plate forms a portion of the internal chamber and may act to provide friction on the work piece. A method of using the gripped includes operating at high acceleration while the vacuum gripper is monitored as fully operational and operating only at lower acceleration while the vacuum gripper is not fully operational. |
| US07963574B2 |
Fail safe/fail secure lock with quick change access window
An electric door lock interchangeable between fail safe and fail secure modes comprising a housing for receiving a plurality of internal components of the door lock. A window is included in the housing, the window allowing access to the internal components to change the operation of the lock between fail safe an fail secure modes. |
| US07963573B2 |
Locking device and a method of assembling same
The invention relates to a locking device at a spagnolet mechanism (1), anchored in a door or window case (39), which mechanism comprises a central adjusting mechanism (2), from which locking rods (7) originate in mutually opposite directions, the free ends of the locking rods (7) being anchored in recesses (41) in a frame (40), a locking bolt (42) being responsible for the locking, which is pivotable around a stationary revolving spindle pin (44) by the locking rods, which locking bolt (42) via a connection link (43) with joints adjacent its ends in a locking house (16) is connected to the associated locking rod. According to the invention the locking bolt (42) is partially inserted into the locking house (16) and is anchored there by way of the revolving spindle pin (44). The locking bolt is connected in an extreme outwardly pivoted position to the connection link (43) via its first joint (45) and is pivoted into the locking house jointly with connection link, which in the locking house is connected to its second joint (46) with the corresponding locking rod end, which jointly with the adjusting mechanism (2) prevent the locking bolt (42) from pivoting back to the extreme position. In this way the unity of the coupling is secured. |
| US07963572B2 |
Differential pitch hammerless connection with hydraulic driving mechanism
A threaded connection assembly comprises a nut, a multiplier connected to the nut via a first threaded interface having a first number of threads per inch and a well servicing pipe coupling connected to the multiplier via a second threaded interface having a second number of threads per inch. A method of forming a threaded connection for a well servicing application comprises forming a pipe coupling between two well servicing pipe sections and threading a connector to the pipe coupling to form a threaded connection without impact loading the connector. Another method for forming a threaded connection comprises disposing a first pipe section partially within a nut, threading a multiplier into the nut, threading the multiplier onto a second pipe section, and leveraging the multiplier against the nut, or vice versa. |
| US07963570B2 |
Quick connect coupling stabilization apparatus, systems and methods
A quick to connect and quick to disconnect fluid coupling includes a clip, a male stem having an annular clip groove adapted to receive the clip, a female port having a step groove adapted to receive the clip upon insertion of the stem into the port, and a sleeve slideably disposed about the stem adapted to abut the clip and minimize shuttling of the stem within the port. The sleeve may be biased toward the clip by a dust seal abutting a shoulder of the sleeve distal from a lead-in end of the sleeve abutting the clip. Also, the sleeve may radially retain the clip, compressed in an annular groove of the stem, and/or the sleeve abutting the clip may stabilize the clip and axially align the clip with the stem, for insertion of the stem into the port. |
| US07963567B2 |
Anti-rotation pipe locator and holder
A plumbing strap is fastened to a building. A tubular insert is placed through a hole in a strap with posts on the tubular insert aligning with cut-outs in the strap to restrict rotation of the tubular insert relative to the strap. A flange on one end of the tubular insert abuts the strap to restrict longitudinal motion of the tubular insert. Latches on the tubular insert extend through the hole in the strap to engage the side of the strap opposite the flange and further restrict longitudinal movement of the tubular insert. A collar is placed over the tubular insert and a pipe extends through the tubular insert and collar. The tubular insert has a base adjacent the flange and a skirt distal from the flange. Longitudinal slits in the base and skirt define resilient members in the base and in the skirt that extend in opposing directions, but that can move inward. The collar screws onto the tubular insert causing abutting surfaces on the collar and on the resilient members to force the resilient members inward to grip the pipe and restrain longitudinal and rotational movement of the pipe relative to the tubular insert and strap. |
| US07963565B2 |
System with adapter for cleaning medical appliances
An adapter (1) for cleaning a medical appliance comprises a fluid channel (2) with an inlet (3) and at least one outlet (4.1), at least one outlet being provided with a coupling unit (5.1) for an opening of a medical device. The coupling unit (5.1) is designed as a single-use coupling which, after the medical device has been coupled for the first time, generates a leak in the fluid channel at the time of uncoupling. This ensures totally hygienic cleaning of medical devices. |
| US07963555B2 |
Airbag module for motor vehicle
An airbag module for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag module comprising a first subassembly which may be arranged on a motor vehicle, an airbag of the first subassembly which may be inflated for protecting a person, which comprises an interior which may be filled with gas for inflating the airbag, a housing of the first subassembly, for receiving the airbag, a gas generator of the first subassembly for inflating the airbag with gas, an additional second subassembly and a reservoir of the second subassembly (for storing a coolant which is designed and provided for cooling gases located in the interior of the airbag. The additional second subassembly is separate from the first subassembly and is designed and provided to be arranged at a distance from the first subassembly on the motor vehicle. |
| US07963549B2 |
Inflatable airbag cushion assemblies with modified throat portions
During the manufacture of an inflatable airbag cushion, an inflator may be inserted into, and coupled to, a throat portion of the inflatable airbag cushion. This process may be achieved more quickly and with higher reproducibility of the placement of the inflator within the throat portion by forming an assembly aid in the throat portion of the cushion. The assembly aid functions to assist in the separation of the two panels of material from which the throat portion is manufactured. The separation can be achieved by forming one or more pleats, tabs, or loops in the throat portion near an inflator insert aperture. A throat liner may optionally be used within an airbag throat portion, in which case the assembly aid may also be formed in the throat liner. |
| US07963548B2 |
Fastener for air-bag curtain
In a fastener and a fastening system for fixing a curtain airbag in a vehicle, the fastener is fixed to a mounting hole in a body frame or the like of the vehicle by inserting an attachment portion of the fastener into the mounting hole while a head portion securing the attachment of the airbag curtain to the fastener and the vehicle. The fastener is formed as one single piece made from polymeric material. |
| US07963545B2 |
Interchangeable hitch ball
An interchangeable hitch ball assembly is provided having hitch post, a removable hitch ball, and a connector pin. The hitch post defines an annular groove proximate to the top end that is sized to receive spaced-apart prongs of the connector pin along opposing sides of the hitch post. Removable hitch ball defines a pin recess aligned with the annular groove of the hitch post. The user can remove the hitch ball by extracting the connector pin. In this manner, the user can utilize hitch balls of different sizes, as needed. |
| US07963544B2 |
Self-locking, universal trailer hitch and method of use thereof
A self-locking universal trailer hitch comprising a hitch receiver, a bar and a pivoting second receiver, wherein the hitch receiver is secured to a towing vehicle, and wherein the bar is removably secured to the hitch receiver, and wherein the second receiver comprises a locking mechanism to removably secure the pivoting second receiver to the bar. The self-locking universal trailer hitch is utilized by securing a trailer to a towing vehicle by obtaining a towing vehicle with a first hitch receiver and a universal trailer hitch with a second hitch receiver, a bar and a pivoting second receiver having a locking mechanism, inserting the bar into the pivoting second hitch receiver, locking the bar to the second hitch receiver, inserting the bar into the second receiver and locking the bar to the second receiver via the locking mechanism. |
| US07963541B2 |
Bicycle assembly with rear shock
A bicycle assembly can have a main frame, a sub-frame, a main shock section, an extension section, and a fastener. The sub-frame can move in relation to the main frame and the main shock section can be used to regulate that relationship. The extension section can have a receiving portion, wherein an end of the main shock section can fit into the receiving portion. The fastener can be used to secure the main shock section within the receiving portion of the extension section. |
| US07963533B2 |
All-terrain retail merchandising unit
An all-terrain retail merchandising unit or kiosk that can be used outdoors and across grass and gravel for outdoor events. The all-terrain retail merchandising unit can include a chassis, pneumatic tires, and steering that can provide the all-terrain retail merchandising unit with mobility across grass, gravel, and any other uneven or non-flat surfaces. The all-terrain retail merchandising unit can be used inside facilities, moved across a campus, shifted from place-to-place during indoor or outdoor events, and loaded on trucks or trailers for away events. |
| US07963530B1 |
Beach wagon
The beach wagon is a modified wagon including a plurality of large wheels, a plurality of foldable chair carrying racks, and side bars that can carry umbrellas, tables, and the like. The beach wagon is also capable of storing items inside of the wagon bed, such as coolers and beach toys. |
| US07963527B2 |
Chuck and method for manufacturing a chuck
A chuck (10) has a chuck body (12), which is provided with three guide devices (24), on each of which is received a radially movable clamping holder (34) for fixing a workpiece to chuck body (12), the guide device (24) being constructed separately from the chuck body (12). Guide device (24) is integrally joined by a polymer concrete filling (46) to the chuck body (12) for a force transfer between guide device (24) and chuck body (12). There is no need for a particularly precise manufacture of the outer contour of guide device (24) and the recess (20) in chuck body (12), because the polymer concrete (46) is able to compensate tolerances. |
| US07963524B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet of recording media includes a discharge port formed in an upper portion of a main body of the image forming apparatus and exposed from above, a discharge portion to which the sheet is discharged, disposed downstream from the discharge port in a direction in which a sheet is discharged, a discharge roller disposed at the discharge port, a facing member disposed facing the discharge roller, forming a discharge nip together with the discharge roller, and a rotatable sheet discharge member. The sheet discharge member is provided in the discharge portion to form a sloped portion continuous with a downstream side of the discharge port in the direction in which the sheet is discharged. Rotation of the sheet discharge member causes a position of the discharge nip to change. |
| US07963521B2 |
Sheet flipping device
A sheet flipping device including a receiving member for receiving a sheet, a flipping volume defined by the flipping movement of the sheet when in operation, a flipping element for flipping the sheet around an axis of rotation within the flipping volume onto the receiving member, and a discharge element arranged adjacent to said flipping volume, the discharge element having a base extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation and having multiple electrodes with an end portion extending in a direction towards the flipping volume. The sheet flipping device is useable in a sheet stacking device and an image reproduction apparatus. |
| US07963518B2 |
Printing system inverter apparatus and method
A media sheet inverter apparatus and method is disclosed. The media sheet inverter, according to one embodiment of the disclosure, comprises an input nip configured to receive a media sheet and a reversing roll nip configured to receive a media sheet from the input nip. The media sheet is subsequently held within the inverter for a predetermined time before being ejected to an output nip configured to receive the media sheet from the reversing roll nip. The inverter apparatus and method is especially suited to inverting alternating media sheets. |
| US07963515B2 |
Adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus and method
An adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus is provided. The adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus includes a variable cutting apparatus cutting a printed web into a first signature and a second signature, a first assembly receiving the first signature and a second assembly downstream of the first assembly receiving the second signature. Also included are a first delivery section for receiving the first signature from the first assembly, a second delivery section for receiving the second signature from the second assembly and a stack receiving conveyor for receiving the first signature and the second signature. The first delivery section is movable between a first delivery and a first non-delivery position. The second delivery section is movable between a second delivery position and a second non-delivery position. The stacking receiving conveyor is movable between a conveying position and a non-conveying position. A method of producing and delivering signatures is also provided. |
| US07963508B1 |
Method and apparatus for digesting sludge
A method and apparatus for aerating liquid which includes an aeration chamber having an inlet port at its lower end an outlet port at its upper end wherein the chamber is divided into multiple internal chambers using a plurality of internal divider walls. The chamber is weighted with a base member so that it will not float. Air is inlet at its upper end through an air inlet hole into an upper air manifold wherein the air then travels downwardly through an air feed pipe to a plurality of air outlet holes wherein the air is released and rises thereby causing a flow of material through the inlet ports upwardly along the internal divider walls and aeration chamber and then out of the chamber at its upper outlet port so that the stream of material is directed onto a series of stationary concentric ridges wherein the solids in the liquid material are forcefully impacted against the stationary concentric ridges so as to break the solid particles up into smaller particles. |
| US07963507B2 |
Smoke generator
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming fog by using at least one air stream connected to a tank where the air stream forms homogeneous droplets of a fluid, which droplets flow further in the air stream towards and through at least one outlet for forming a fog. The scope of the invention is to achieve a highly effective method and apparatus for generating fog with a long stand time having a small energy consumption. This can be achieved by a method and an apparatus as described in the beginning if the method further includes a first high pressure air stream that is lead to flow in a partly parallel direction to a liquid surface for forming at least one liquid sheet, which sheet brakes into droplets where a second air stream having a lower pressure transports the droplets through at least one outlet. Hereby, it is achieved that the liquid sheet moves forward continuously as it breaks up at the edges all the way around. When this liquid film breaks up, the droplets are formed with a size depending on the thickness of the liquid sheet so that most of the droplets have a very homogeneous size. The second air stream then blows out these droplets through an outlet, and a fog is formed in the surroundings of the apparatus. Because most of the droplets have a homogenous size, they can remain in the air a very long time without letting the fog break down. In this way, a very effective fog generator is achieved. |
| US07963503B2 |
Metal seal with flexible insert
A rotary valve includes a valve body with an inlet, an outlet, a flow passage extending between the inlet and the outlet, and a rotating control element disposed within the valve body for selectively opening and closing the flow passage. The valve also includes a retainer ring mountable to the valve body which holds in place a seal carrier ring having an annular mounting flange mounted between the valve body and the retainer ring. The seal carrier ring also includes a seal carrier cartridge and a flexible portion coupling the seal carrier cartridge to the mounting flange to provide an improved seal and greater ease of assembly. |
| US07963502B2 |
Low friction live-loaded packing
A valve packing assembly for a control valve includes a seal assembly, a loading assembly, and a packing retainer. The seal assembly has a seal component to provide a fluid seal around a valve stem and an anti-extrusion component to substantially prevent extrusion of the seal component about the valve stem. The loading assembly is configured to advantageously provide a predetermined packing stress to the seal assembly that is in the same direction as a process stress applied to the seal assembly by a process fluid, thereby substantially reducing packing friction and packing wear in the control valve assembly. |
| US07963500B1 |
Snowman mold
A mold for forming a snowman includes lower, intermediate and upper generally spherical, hollow members comprised of clear plastic. Each plastic member includes an upper aperture for filling the member with snow. The lower member includes a generally flat base portion for positioning stability and an upper connection ring adapted for secure coupling to a lower connection ring on the intermediate member. The intermediate member also includes an upper connection ring adapted for secure coupling to a lower connection ring on the upper member. The three connected members form a hollow, vertical structure which when filled with snow provides a snowman of classic shape, symmetry and proportions. The individual spherical hollow members are easily connected and disconnected, with the intermediate and upper members having apertures for receiving eye, nose, mouth and arm indicia, with the upper member further including a hat mounting arrangement in one embodiment. |
| US07963497B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mounting devices
A device mounting apparatus includes a mounting base portion having a plurality of opposing pairs of rails. The mounting base portion is adapted for mounting on a support structure. The apparatus further includes a mounting tab affixed to a device for snap in mounting between a pair of rails, whereby the device is captively retained on the mounting base portion, and can be disengaged therefrom by snapping the mounting tabs out of the associated pairs of rails. |
| US07963496B2 |
Vehicle seat sliding apparatus
In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus wherein rotating an operating lever causes a lock lever to allow a sliding movement of an upper rail along a lower rail, the operating lever is held within a bracket connected to the upper rail via torsion spring. The torsion spring is made from a single piece of wire and formed into a specific shape for easy provision of the operating lever to the bracket during an assembly of the seat sliding apparatus. |
| US07963493B2 |
Display assembly
A display assembly for displaying items and being mountable to a vertical surface and comprising at least two longitudinal runners and an elongate member. The longitudinal runners are mountable to the vertical surface. Each runner includes elongate-member-mounting elements. The elongate-member-mounting elements of at least one of the runners include a protrusion-receiving element. The elongate member includes one end mountable to one of the runners and an opposite end mountable to the other of the runners. The one end has a moveable protrusion assembly for releasably engaging the protrusion-receiving element. The opposite end is so configured and sized as to be mountable to the elongate-member-mounting elements. The elongate member includes display-member-engaging elements. The moveable protrusion assembly is moveable between a runner-engaging position for engaging the protrusion-receiving element and a runner-disengaging position for disengaging the protrusion-receiving element. |
| US07963488B2 |
Stand for a thin display
A stand for a thin display includes a vertical position adjustment mechanism; and a switchover mechanism for switching over between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation of a thin display. When the switchover mechanism has rotated the thin display, the vertical position adjustment mechanism has different movement ranges between the vertical orientation and the horizontal orientation. Accordingly, when the thin display is in a vertical orientation, the lower end of the thin display does not hit against a base, which provides a easy and reliable operation even in a vertical orientation or in a horizontal orientation. |
| US07963486B2 |
Cable management assembly with variably spaced projections
A variably spaced cable management assembly according to the present invention is used in conjunction with a conventional equipment rack to route cables between and otherwise to or from equipment stored in the conventional rack. Implementations of the variably spaced assembly include various elongated guide members projecting from a rear wall of the variably spaced assembly interspaced in juxtaposition with one another by a variable amount. |
| US07963485B2 |
Trimmable horizontal stabilizer
A trimmable horizontal stabilizer is provided adjacent to the fuselage of an aircraft and has a predetermined aerodynamic profile. A movable elevator is arranged adjacent to the horizontal stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer has a load-bearing structure which extends in the span direction and is firmly connected to the fuselage of the aircraft, and movable areas which are connected to the load-bearing structure such that they can move and can be moved independently of the elevator in order to trim the horizontal stabilizer by varying the aerodynamic profile. |
| US07963482B2 |
Aircraft door
A cabin door assembly is provided for use with a pressurized aircraft. The assembly includes two door halves for engaging the fuselage of the aircraft. Structurally, each door half includes a waist section integral with an adjoining tapered section. Further, the assembly includes an activator that is mounted on the fuselage and attached to the door halves. Specifically, the activator is attached to each door half to concertedly move each door half between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the door halves are sealed to the fuselage and to each other for pressurization of the aircraft. In the open configuration, the door halves extend outwardly from the fuselage to allow for aircraft ingress and egress. |
| US07963478B2 |
Wing-flapping flying apparatus and method of using the same
The present invention provides a wing-flapping flying apparatus, which can fly by moving its wings similar to a bird hovering or flying in the air by flapping its wings. The wing-flapping flying apparatus comprises: a body; a rotating shaft rotatably joined to the body; driving means for rotating the rotating shaft; and wings reciprocated between two points and connected to the rotating shaft so as to be rotated together with the rotating shaft and to be relatively torsionally rotated with respect to the rotating shaft. The wing-flapping flying apparatus generates lift throughout an entire wing-flapping movement without generating lift only throughout the half of a wing-flapping movement or offsetting the generated lift by the other half of the wing-flapping movement. Therefore, the wing-flapping flying apparatus can provide not only a stable flight but also a softly hovering or ascending and descending flight. |
| US07963477B2 |
Aircraft that comprises a structure that ensures the structural and electrical functions
An aircraft includes a structure with structural elements (16) that are assembled to form a three-dimensional framework to which an aerodynamic envelope (14) is attached. At least some structural elements (16) are at least partly metallic and—at the connection with the aerodynamic envelope (14)—including an interface that is made of material that has a conductivity that is below a threshold on the order of 10,000 S/m so as to form at least one electrical path that ensures the functions of electric return and metallization of the electrical systems, whereby connections that ensure the electrical conduction are provided between the structural elements (16). |
| US07963476B2 |
Stackable tippet spool
A tippet spool is self-orientating when displayed on pegs at retail. The tippet spool also has structures adapted to interlock adjacent tippet spools in a stack with one spool rotatable with respect to its neighbors. The tippet spool is self orientating because of an asymmetrical central opening with the center of mass of the tippet spool opposite the portion of the central opening furthest from the center of the spool. |
| US07963474B2 |
Belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt
A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt has a frame, a belt spool for the safety belt which is rotatably arranged in the frame, a locking disc which is arranged on the belt spool and is connected therewith through an energy absorption element, and a blocking mechanism which allows to block the locking disc against a rotation in the unwinding direction of the safety belt in the frame. A detent is provided which is movably arranged in the belt spool and can prevent a rotation of the locking disc relative to the belt spool as a function of its position. |
| US07963473B2 |
Retractor with pretensioner
A retractor includes a pretensioner whereby increased control and variation over the load limitation characteristics of the retractor are provided. The seat belt and spool are linked to a locking mechanism through a first force limiting element, while the pretensioner is linked to the seat belt and spool through a second force limiting element. A selectively actuatable clutch is provided to operatively link the pretensioner to the spool via the second force limiting element. |
| US07963471B2 |
Fine grinding roller mill
A roller mill 10 for pulverizing fine material has a grinding mechanism that includes a plurality of grinding rolls 64 and a grinding ring 66 that coact to pulverize material within a mill housing. The grinding ring has an inner grinding surface wherein the inner surface includes an upper vertical portion and inwardly sloped lower portion. The lower portion of the ring provides a means for retaining more fine particles on the ring during pulverizing, as well as an increase in grinding surface. The grinding rolls have a generally cylindrical shape with an outer grinding surface that includes an upper vertical portion and a lower portion of the outer grinding surface. The outer grinding surface of the roll is complementary to the inner grinding surface of the grinding ring. |
| US07963469B2 |
Water recycling food waste disposer system
A food waste disposer having a fluid recycling device includes a plate disposed for rotation within the food waste disposer. At least one fluid recovery member connects a first side of the plate defining a food grinding cavity to a second side of the plate defining a waste receiving cavity. Rotating the plate forces a portion of a waste water/slurry in the waste receiving cavity to back-flow into the food grinding cavity, to recycle/reuse the water. The fluid recovery member can include a fluid passageway oriented at an angle with respect to the plate. A control device can also be used to recycle the portion of the food waste water/slurry. |
| US07963464B2 |
Fuel injector and method of assembly therefor
A fuel injector and a method of assembly includes a determination of various flow areas through clearances or openings formed in various components of the injector. With the various flow areas determined, the various components can be classified according to their flow areas such that sets of components can be selected having desirable flow area characteristics for assembly of the fuel injector. |
| US07963462B1 |
Recreational vehicle toilet tank cleaning assembly
A recreational vehicle toilet tank cleaning assembly includes a tube that has a terminal end. A nozzle is removably coupled to the terminal end. The nozzle has a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall extending between the first and second ends. The first end is open and is threadably coupled to the terminal end of the tube. The nozzle has a plurality of apertures therein. The apertures include a primary aperture extending through the second end that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The perimeter wall has a break therein and the nozzle includes a first portion rotatably coupled to a second portion. The second portion includes the plurality of apertures. The tube is fluidly couplable to a water source and the nozzle placed in a recreational vehicle toilet tank to eject water outwardly of the plurality of apertures and clean the tank. |
| US07963461B2 |
Fuel injection nozzle
Disclosed is a fuel injection nozzle comprising a cooling duct (6) that is disposed in the final region of a housing (1), which faces the combustion chamber. In order to cool the zones that are subjected to high thermal stress, the cooling duct (6) is positioned closer to the bore (2) of the valve needle than to the external face of the housing (1) and is provided with a cross-sectional area that has a width corresponding to no more than the height which extends in the axial direction of the nozzle. |
| US07963456B2 |
Track part and fastening element for toy car racing track
The invention relates to a track part (10) for a lane-guided toy car racing track, which, on at least one end face (18), has a fastening device for a further track part (10), wherein the fastening device has at least one first pocket (22) and at least one pin (20) that fits into the first pocket (22), which are arranged symmetrically to one another with respect to a center (24) of the end face (18), such that, when two track parts (10) are inserted together, one pin (20) engages in a first pocket (22) in each case. The fastening device additionally has at least one pair (28) of second pockets (30), which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center (24) of the end face (18), such that, when two track parts (10) are inserted together, two second pockets (30) come into contact with each another in each case. |
| US07963454B2 |
Remote HVAC control with remote sensor wiring diagram generation
An HVAC control system that accommodates and/or facilitates control from a remote location. The HVAC control system may include a web-enabled building control appliance with a controller, a first port and a second port. The controller may implement a web server that is coupled to the first port for serving up one or more web pages on a first network and for receiving a number of responses. The controller may be coupled to the second port so as to communicate with one or more communicating thermostats via a second network. The web server may provide one or more web-pages via the first port that solicit and receive information pertaining to one or more remote sensors that are to be connected to one of the one or more thermostats. The web server may provide a wiring diagram for the one or more remote sensors that is dependent on the received information pertaining to one or more remote sensors. |
| US07963451B2 |
Antenna unit and noncontact IC tag
An antenna unit by which a noncontact IC tag having different resonance frequencies can be easily manufactured, and the noncontact IC tag are provided. An antenna unit has an impedance matching wiring portion and an antenna, in which when an IC chip is electrically connected to the impedance matching wiring portion and the antenna, a noncontact IC tag is formed; wherein connectable regions are provided in the impedance matching wiring portion, the regions making a direct or indirect connecting position of the IC chip to be adjustable within a predetermined range, so that effective partial length for impedance matching is made adjustable. |
| US07963447B2 |
Enhanced monitoring of laser output power in electro-optical readers
Laser power monitoring arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of operating conditions not conforming to preestablished standards. An auxiliary light detector independently monitors the output power of a laser beam, and directly receives a portion of the laser beam reflected from a diffractive optical lens surface of an optical assembly for optically modifying the laser beam, or from a coated or uncoated inclined surface of a split collimating lens of the optical assembly. The split collimating lens may have its lens portions in mutual contact or separated by an air gap. |
| US07963445B2 |
Arrangement for and method of suppressing electromagnetic radiation interference in an imaging reader
An imager in an imaging reader captures light from a target, generates image data from the captured light, and generates a pixel clock signal having a pixel clock frequency in synchronism with the image data. A controller is connected via an electrical conductor to the imager, and controls the imager to transfer the image data, receives the image data, and processes the image data. A circuit suppresses electromagnetic radiation generated by the conductor during the image data transfer, and includes a spread spectrum modulator for modulating the pixel clock signal to generate a variable spread spectrum signal having a spread spectrum frequency that periodically varies above and below the pixel clock frequency, and a buffer having a plurality of registers for receiving and temporarily storing the image data, and for varying as a function of the spread spectrum frequency how much of the image data is being temporarily stored. |
| US07963444B2 |
Arrangement for and method of guiding an operator to move an imaging reader to an optimum reading position
An operator is guided to move an imaging reader to an optimum reading position in which to read a symbol by image capture. Optimum image capture occurs substantially at an imaging plane of an imaging assembly, and the operator is visually guided so that the symbol is located substantially at the imaging plane in a working range of distances. |
| US07963442B2 |
Spin stabilized projectile trajectory control
A Reconfigurable Nose Control System (RNCS) is designed to adjust the flight path of spin-stabilized artillery projectiles. The RNCS uses the surface of a projectile nose cone as a trim tab. The nose cone may be despun by the action of aerodynamic surfaces, to zero spin relative to earth fixed coordinates using local air flow, and deflected by a simple rotary motion of a Divert Motor about the longitudinal axis of the projectile. A forward section of the nose cone having an ogive is mounted at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile, forming an axial offset of an axis of the forward section with respect to the longitudinal axis of the projectile. Another section of the nose cone includes another motor, the Roll Generator Motor, that is rotationally decoupled from the forward section and rotates the deflected forward section so that its axis may be pointed in any direction within its range of motion. Accordingly, deflection and direction of the forward section may be modulated by combined action of the motors during flight of the projectile. |
| US07963441B2 |
System and method for providing self service checkout and product delivery using a mobile device
A mobile device is provided with an information extracting application in response to a message received from the mobile device while located within retail establishment. Information that is then extracted by the mobile device from an information carrying indicia via use of the information extracting application is received from the mobile device and used to cause a display on the mobile device of a first web/wireless access protocal (“WAP”) page having information related to a product, wherein the first web/WAP page includes a link activatable while the mobile device is located within the retail establishment to initiate a purchase of the product. In response to activation of the link, the mobile device is caused to display at least a second web/WAP page to allow a user to specify a payment method to be used to purchase the product to specify a method by which the product is to be checked out/picked up/delivered to the user. |
| US07963438B2 |
System and method for personalizing a card
Systems and methods for personalizing data card are disclosed. One embodiment includes a card receiver configured to receive one or more data cards, a control system connected to the card receiver, the control system configured to receive personalization information, an encoder system connected to the control system, the encoder system configured to encode the one or more data cards with at least some portion of the personalization information, a card reader connected to the control system, the card reader configured to read magnetic fingerprint information from the one or more data cards, and the control system configured to store the magnetic fingerprint information. |
| US07963435B2 |
Method of forming bonded body and bonded body
A method of forming a bonded body comprised of a first base member, a second base member, and a first bonding film and a second bonding film provided between the first base member and the second base member is provided. The first bonding film and the second bonding film are constituted of copper and an organic component, and an amount of copper contained in each of the first bonding film and the second bonding film is 90 atom % or higher but lower than 99 atom % at an atomic ratio. The method is comprised of: forming the first bonding film on the first base member by using a chemical vapor-film formation method; forming the second bonding film on the second base member by using a chemical vapor-film formation method; bringing the first bonding film formed on the first base member into contact with the second bonding film formed on the second base member so that the first bonding film faces the second bonding film; and applying a compressive force to the first base member and the second base member so that the first bonding film and the second bonding film are bonded together to thereby obtain the bonded body. Two base members can be firmly and efficiently bonded together with high dimensional accuracy at a low temperature, and the two base members can be efficiently separated (peeled off) to each other after use of the bonded body. Further, a bonded body is also provided. |
| US07963433B2 |
Surgical device having multiple drivers
A surgical device is provided, the surgical device including a first driver for performing a first movement function; a second driver for performing a second movement function; a first rotatable drive shaft configured, upon actuation, to cause selective engagement of one of the first and second drivers with a second rotatable drive shaft, wherein the second rotatable drive shaft is configured to drive the selectively engaged one of the first and second drivers. Third and fourth drivers may also be included. The drivers may function to rotate a shaft portion of the surgical device relative to, and about the longitudinal axis of, a handle; move a jaw portion relative to the shaft portion; move a first jaw relative to a second jaw; and/or move a surgical member within the second jaw. |
| US07963432B2 |
Driverless surgical stapler
An exemplary driverless surgical stapler may include a staple holder; staples positioned within that staple holder; and at least one wedge, where each wedge is slidable to directly contact at least one staple, where that contact causes deployment of each contacted staple. An exemplary surgical method may include providing a driverless surgical stapler that has a staple holder, staples positioned within the staple holder, and at least one wedge; and sliding at least one wedge relative to the staples to directly contact at least one staple. |
| US07963426B2 |
Receptacle which can be fixed to a head covering and is intended for attachments for sighting devices
An attachment receptacle (10) which can be fixed on a head covering, such as a helmet 5, of a user and has a clamping device is provided. The attachment receptacle 10 is fixed by means of a fixing component, for example having hook-like retaining brackets 9a, 9b, on the back of a head covering and is connected via a clamping element to the front or to a sighting device mounted on the front, such as a night vision device 2. The attachment receptacle 10 with the clamping device is formed in such a way that externally accessible components are integrated in the form of the receptacle, in such a way that no projecting or protruding components can cause unintentional actuation of the clamping device. The attachment receptacle 10 is furthermore advantageously formed on the head covering so as to be adjustable in height. |
| US07963425B2 |
Shrink sleeve for pump dispenser
A shrink sleeve on a vertical pump-up dispenser covers a portion of the actuator, the container and the gap between the actuator and the container. The shrink sleeve may have upper and lower transparent portions to display properties of the dispenser and a middle portion to display product use information. The shrink sleeve may be removable via a tear strip so that the dispenser has an uncluttered appearance when used by the consumer. |
| US07963423B2 |
Fuel dispensing unit with gas sensor
A fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles, comprising a fuel line having a fuel inlet, a gas exit and a fuel exit. A sensor is arranged to measure the amount of gas in the fuel flowing through the fuel line. |
| US07963421B2 |
Hinged lid for a food container
A hinged lid for a food container is provided. The lid structure includes a rim with an attached cover member. The lid structure also includes a mounting structure for mounting the lid structure to a food container. A tamper evidence latch is provided to releasably secure the rim in a closed configuration overlying the open end of the food container. The rim engages an upper rolled lip of the food container sidewall when the lid structure is in a closed configuration. |
| US07963418B2 |
Paint liner, and kit including the same
A paint liner having a containment area within the paint liner for receiving and containing paint, the containment area defining a peripheral edge provided with a rim, the rim being provided with male and female components, the male and female components of the paint liner being positioned, shaped and sized with respect to one another so that the paint liner can be operated along first and second operating modes, where in the first operating mode the male component of the paint liner is insertable into a corresponding female component of another paint liner so that the paint liners can be nested into one another, and where in the second operating mode the paint liner is turned over so that the male component of the paint liner is insertable into another corresponding female component of the other paint liner in order to have the first paint liner cover the containment area of the other paint liner. |
| US07963417B2 |
Tank filling region of a motor vehicle
A tank filling region of a motor vehicle contains at least one tank filler neck, a tank cap for closing the same, and a device for receiving the tank cap in the state in which it is removed from the tank filler neck. The device has a recess formed on a region surrounding the tank filler neck. In this case, it is important that the tank cap has a retaining pin which protrudes from an end side of the latter and with which the tank cap can be plugged into the recess such that it can be fixed to the motor vehicle via the retaining pin, which is plugged into the recess, in its state in which it is removed from the tank filler neck. |
| US07963415B2 |
Building design of a container-drum
A building design of container-drum is described that includes a lid (10) positioned at the top and at the base of a container-drum (20) and this lid (10) matches the shape of the container-drum's body (20) and has a surface with a circular projection (101) and an orthogonal projection of the rim (102) around the edge of the container-drum's body (20) and this surface (101) has a lowered hub (103) and concentric guides (104) in order to fit the fastening belts (30) and these concentric guides come off of the central hub (103), having cavities and spoked reinforcements (105) set in between the guides (104) with the lid (10) having rims on the top surface with a beveled region (106). |
| US07963414B1 |
Waste disposal device with self-closing lid
Waste disposal device adapted to receive a waste-containing member includes a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening, a lid connected to the container and lid having a first, closed position covering the opening of the container and a second, open position in which the opening is exposed, and a rotation mechanism arranged in the container to rotate the waste-containing member when present in the container. The rotation mechanism is arranged to rotate the waste-containing member upon closure of the lid without manual handling of the lid. |
| US07963412B1 |
Drainage apparatus for a sump of a floating roof tank
An drainage apparatus for use with the sump of a floating roof tank has a first pipe pivotally connected at one end to an outlet of the sump, a second pipe pivotally connected at one end to an opposite end the first pipe and extending downwardly therefrom, and an outlet pipe pivotally connected to an opposite end of the second pipe. The outlet pipe end extends through the outer wall of the tank. The outlet pipe is offset from the wall of the sump when the roof is positioned adjacent to the floor of the tank. The opposite end of the first pipe is laterally offset from the an end of the second pipe. |
| US07963411B2 |
Container with a lock
The invention relates to a container (1), which is provided with a lock, can be filled with a liquid and is positively connectable with at least one another container (1). In order to form an assembly of several containers (1), the invention is characterized in that the containers (1) are provided with at least one flat surface, several containers can be assembled according to a two-dimensional interconnection, and a form fit is obtainable with at least one adjacent container, at least one first form (2, 5) projected with respect to the base form of the container (1), is engageable into at least one second corresponding form embedded in the base form of the container (1), and extends at least to one surface thereof. |
| US07963407B2 |
Rotating stand (carousel) bottle and tube holder
A holder for displaying and conveniently using consumables is disclosed, in which a two or more disks having corresponding, but differently sized, holes, arranged in rows, are ganged into a pair of disks, thereby allowing users to place bottles and tubes containing consumables into such holes for easy storage and access. The pair of disks is provided with rotational means, additional pairs of disks may be added in a modular fashion to increase storage capacity, and the rows of holes may be non-radially arranged, or even spirally arranged, to increase view and access to bottles and tubes. |
| US07963399B2 |
Method and apparatus for sorting particles
A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate. |
| US07963396B2 |
Vacuum package system
A vacuum packaging system for transporting a plurality of medical containers includes a plurality of medical a tray that receives and supports the medical containers. The tray includes opposing first and second side walls, opposing side and rear walls and a bottom floor. The walls extend generally perpendicularly from the bottom floor of the tray to a top edge thereof. A nesting plate is removably mountable in the tray and includes a plurality of generally cylindrical sleeves each receiving one of the plurality of medical containers. A support surface within the tray generally extends parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom floor of the tray and receives and supports the nesting plate. An air impervious flexible film defines an internal cavity and completely surrounds the tray and the medical containers. The internal cavity is evacuated to and maintained at a predetermined vacuum level below atmospheric pressure. |
| US07963394B2 |
Palletised loads of containers
A preferred form of slip sheet (62) for use between layers (L) of containers, especially bottles (20), in a palletised load, comprises a rectangular board (63) having marginal portions (34) formed with corrugations (65, 66) extending perpendicular from their edges and merging into the general plane of the board (63), whereby, in use, a ‘throat’ (TD) is formed between the upward corrugations (66) on a lower slip sheet (62) and the downward corrugations (65) on an upper slip sheet (62) which prevents ‘walking’ of the outermost rows of bottles (20) in the intervening layer. Curved corners of the board (63) are provided with diverging corrugations (65X, 66X) to prevent ‘walking’ of bottles (20) from the corners of layers (L). A plurality of such slip sheets (62) can be stacked compactly and with great stability by virtue of the corrugations (65, 66) nesting in the corrugations of neighbouring slip sheets. |
| US07963392B2 |
Bar connecting apparatus
A bar connecting apparatus applies clips to connect transverse bars used in reinforced concrete. A clip string is fed into the bar connecting apparatus by a clip feed assembly, so several pairs of transverse bars can be connected in rapid succession. A hammer reciprocates in the barrel of the bar connecting apparatus, and drives a clip from the barrel into engagement with the bars. An alignment head aligns the bar connecting apparatus with the transverse bars so the clips properly engage the bars. |
| US07963390B2 |
Contact lens storage case
A contact lens storage case comprising a case body including a pair of chambers for containing contact lenses therein, and a pair of lids for closing and opening the chambers, wherein inner faces of the chambers of the case body are formed by a synthetic resin including a silver based inorganic antimicrobic agent comprising a silver based compound carried on an inorganic carrier selected from the group consisting of a zeolite, a water soluble glass, zirconium phosphate, silica gel and activated charcoal. The contact lens storage case inhibits acanthamoeba. |
| US07963389B2 |
Conveyor
A conveyor for conveying piece goods or the like through a helical path around a central axis in a vertical direction includes a frame which supports an endless conveyor belt that is movable along the helical path in a conveying direction. The conveyor belt includes carrier plates which are movably connected to each other. The frame includes at least a guide and at least a number of carrier plates comprise at least a guide roller rotatable about an axis of rotation. The guide roller has at least a first guide roller surface which is in contact with the guide in a first contact location, and a second guide roller surface which is in contact with the guide in a second contact location. The first and second contact locations are spaced from each other and the normal to the first guide roller surface in the first contact location deviates from the normal to the second guide roller surface in the second contact location. The invention provides a conveyor with a high driving efficiency as a consequence of low resistance between the carrier plate and the guide. |
| US07963385B2 |
High speed diverter
A diverter assembly for handling articles transported on a conveying surface is disclosed. The diverter assembly includes at least one diverter arm and a motor coupled to a drive arrangement for swinging the diverter arm over the conveying surface. An inverter controller is provided for operating the motor at a plurality of speeds. A sensor arrangement is coupled to the inverter controller for monitoring the position of the diverter arm. The sensor arrangement sends a slow-down signal to the inverter controller when the diverter arm reaches a pre-determined position, causing the inverter controller to operate the motor at a slower speed. |
| US07963384B2 |
Automated order sequencing method and system
An automated case order preparation system including a crane for transporting groups of depalletized product cases to temporary storage on shelving, and to a plurality of gravity-powered case guides, for accumulating and dispensing cases to fulfill client order pallets. |
| US07963377B2 |
Dual stage dampers for vehicles suspensions
Dampers for vehicle suspensions include a housing comprising a tube attached to a wheel axle of a vehicle and a piston rod extending from a piston within the tube and attached to the vehicle body. The piston divides the tube into first and second chambers. In order to damp responses when minor smooth road imperfections impart low force excitations to the wheel of the vehicle, a fluid bypass passageway in the form of a sleeve is positioned around the tube and overlies the piston. This provides second stage quasi-ideal damping at low force excitations to the wheels and thus to the wheel axles of the vehicle. The sleeve communicates with the first and second chambers through metered orifices or valves. As low force excitations from smooth road imperfections displace fluid within the tube through the metered orifices or valves, the orifices damp responses to the low force excitations, thereby smoothing the ride of the vehicle. The fluid bypass passageway facilitates calibrating the damper to respond at least close to an empirically obtained quasi-ideal damper response with respect to the low force excitations. |
| US07963372B2 |
Evacuation assistance device for elevator
An elevator evacuation support apparatus evacuates building occupants that have been left inside a building to a refuge floor in an emergency by managing operation of an elevator in which a plurality of floors function as service floors. The elevator evacuation support apparatus has an evacuating operation implementing portion, an evacuating operation time calculating portion, and an evacuating operation determining portion. The evacuating operation implementing portion designates at least one of the service floors as a rescue floor, and implements an evacuating operation for the elevator for transporting the building occupants from the rescue floor to the refuge floor. The evacuating operation time calculating portion receives urgency level information that indicates a degree of urgency, and calculates an estimated amount of time for continuing the evacuating operation as an evacuating operation time based on the urgency level information. The evacuating operation determining portion determines ability to continue the evacuating operation based on information from the evacuating operation time calculating portion. The evacuating operation implementing portion controls the evacuating operation based on information from the evacuating operation determining portion. |
| US07963369B2 |
Step stool and method
A folding step stool includes a front rail assembly. The step stool includes a rear rail assembly, pivotally connected to the front rail assembly, having a crossbar. The step stool includes a step pivotally attached to the front rail assembly having notches which fit over the crossbar when the stool is in an open position. The step stool includes a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the crossbar. The linkage assembly compresses to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar and the linkage assembly exerting a force to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position. A method for securing a step stool includes the steps of moving the notches of a step against a crossbar of a rear rail assembly pivotally connected to a front rail assembly of the step stool. There is the step of compressing a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the crossbar to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar. There is the step of exerting a force with the linkage assembly to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position. |
| US07963368B2 |
Suspended anchored climbing device with safety features
A ladder or climbing device has hollow tubular jaws at its head end that permit a rope or cable to pass around the target tree or pole. A tubular cable guide is positioned along side the vertical rail for feeding the cable to the hollow jaws. The rail is formed of extension sections that are joined together. A security clamp or clasp attached over both the head of the device and the cable to secure to the worker's safety harness. |
| US07963364B2 |
Porous metal bodies used for attenuating aviation turbine noise
A structural element used for attenuating aviation turbine noise is provided with pores (1, 2) embodied in the form of cylindrical channels which are open on the first ends inside the turbine housing and closed on the opposite ends thereof, wherein the diameter (D) of each channel ranges approximately from 0.1 to 0.3 mm, each channel is remote at least along one part of the length thereof from the closest neighbors at a minimum distance ranging approximately from 0.02 to 0.3 mm and the ratio between the channel length and diameter thereof is of the order of 102. |
| US07963361B2 |
Steering axle transport positioning structure and method
A steering axle assembly of a work machine such as an agricultural harvester includes telescoping axles and hub assemblies on the telescoping axles, with front and rear hydraulic cylinders for axially and angularly adjusting positions of the wheel hub assemblies, including steering the hubs to angles sufficient to minimize a width of the steering axle assembly for transport. |
| US07963359B2 |
Swing arm type suspension for vehicle
To limit a vehicle-widthwise swing amount of a shock absorber to a smaller amount, thereby reducing the width of a vehicle. When a shock absorber is attached to an upper bracket portion provided on a swing arm via a spherical joint, both the end faces of the upper bracket portion provided on both sides of one end of the shock absorber via gaps are such that the size of the end face in the back-and-forth direction of the vehicle body (i.e., the diameter D of the end face) is greater than the vehicle-widthwise distance S between both the end faces. |
| US07963356B2 |
Locomotive-radiator-cooling-fan tankhead assembly
Apparatus including a locomotive-radiator-cooling-fan tankhead assembly having a substantially-circular base plate and a substantially-circular outer ring. The base plate has a central longitudinal axis and a circumference. The outer ring is substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis and is attached to the base plate proximate the circumference. The base plate has a substantially-planar first surface having a central recess substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis and having circumferentially-separated, first and second peripheral recesses each radially spaced apart from the central recess and extending radially inward from proximate the circumference. The outer ring longitudinally extends beyond the first surface. The tankhead assembly is devoid of any gussets attached to the base plate and is devoid of any gussets attached to the outer ring. |
| US07963354B2 |
Air-inlet structure for motorcycle
To provide an air-inlet structure of a motorcycle in which air-inlet ducts can be connected to an air box without providing through holes for allowing passage of the air-inlet ducts on the main frame or bending the air-inlet ducts to bypass a main frame. An engine is supported on a pair of left and right front frames that extend from a head pipe that supports a front wheel rearward and downward. An air box supplies air to the engine and is arranged above the engine. Air-inlet ducts introduce air to the air box and extend on the outer sides of the front frames in a fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle body to be connected to an air-inlet port of the air box at the back of the front frames. |
| US07963349B2 |
Drive and steering equipment for a floor conveyor
A drive and steering equipment for a floor conveyor, with a drive unit which has a driving motor, a gear and a driving wheel and which is mounted in a bearing around vertical axis in a vehicle-fixed frame of the floor conveyor, a steering motor which pivots the drive unit around the vertical axis, and a control arm, an angle sensor and a steering control equipment, which adjusts a steering angle of the driving wheel through the steering motor in accordance to the signal of the angle sensor, characterised in that the control arm is rotatably mounted in a bearing coaxially or axially parallel to the drive unit via a bearing component part, the angle sensor is attached on the bearing component part and measures the relative angle between the drive unit and the bearing component part and the steering control equipment adjusts the drive unit via the steering motor such that the relative angle becomes zero. |
| US07963348B2 |
Expandable earth boring apparatus using impregnated and matrix materials for enlarging a borehole
A tool for enlarging a borehole that includes an elongated tubular body; at least one movable arm affixed to the tubular body, the at least one movable arm comprising an outer surface formed of at least one of a matrix material and an abrasive material; and at least one actuating member for expanding at least one movable arm from the collapsed state to an expanded state is disclosed. |
| US07963347B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing backward whirling while drilling
According to the invention, a system for drilling a cavity in a medium is disclosed. The system may include a bottom hole assembly. The bottom hole assembly may include a first longitudinal segment and at least one drill bit. The first longitudinal segment may include a first length of chassis having a first cross section. The first cross section may be configured such that the first longitudinal segment may have a greater stiffness in a first lateral direction than in a lateral direction different than the first lateral direction. |
| US07963346B2 |
Power tool with angle drive and pinion adjustment
A power tool comprises a housing (10;110) with an output shaft (11;111) driven by a rotation motor and an angle drive (12;112) connecting the output shaft (11;111) to the motor, wherein the angle drive (12;112) comprises a drive spindle (15;115) connected to the motor and carrying a pinion (15;115), and a bevel gear (17;117) secured to the output shaft (11;111). The drive spindle (15;115) and the pinion (16:116) are supported in the housing (10;110) via a ball type thrust bearing (24;124) having in one of its embodiments an inner ring (31) with a thread for cooperation with a threaded portion (33) on the drive spindle (15), and an outer ring (26;126) which is rigidly secured in the housing (10). The inner ring (31) is adjustable and lockable relative to the drive spindle, (15) by an annular lock element (35). In an alternative embodiment the inner ring (131) is secured to the drive spindle (115), whereas the outer ring (126) is threaded into a threaded portion of housing (110) such that the outer ring (126), the drive spindle (115) and the pinion (116) are adjustable relative to the housing (110) and the bevel gear (117). A deformable lock element (135) the outer ring (126) in set position. |
| US07963344B2 |
Tiller with removable battery
A tiller can include a frame supported by at least one wheel. An upright assembly can extend from the frame. A drive mechanism can be supported by the frame and include a motor having an output member. A tilling implement can have a drive shaft that is driven by the output member. The tilling implement can comprise at least one tine plate. A slider assembly can communicate with the wheel and be movably coupled along the upright assembly. The slider assembly can be configured to securably locate in at least a first position wherein the wheel is located at a first elevation relative to the frame and a second position wherein the wheel is located at a second elevation relative to the frame. The first and second elevations can be distinct. |
| US07963343B1 |
Automatic fire extinguishing system for an existing Christmas tree and associated method
A Christmas tree fire prevention device preferably includes an air-pressurized reservoir containing fire-retardant agent and a mechanism for automatically discharging the fire-retardant agent. The discharging mechanism may be connected to the reservoir via a flexible hose may also be removably attached to the apex of an existing Christmas tree and camouflaged as a holiday decoration. A mechanism for automatically emitting an alarm signal when the automatic fire-retardant agent discharging mechanism is activated may further be included. The discharging mechanism may include a valve with a metal-alloy plug which has a relatively low melting point. Flame heated air preferably causes the plug to melt and activates the discharging mechanism, which ejects the plug from the valve. The pressurized fire-retardant may then egress through the valve, deflect off a guard located on top of the discharging mechanism, and cover the Christmas tree. |
| US07963342B2 |
Downhole isolation valve and methods for use
A method and apparatus for actuating a downhole tool in a wellbore. The method and apparatus including an actuator that operates the tool in response to the functioning of an energetic charge. The energetic charge may be set off as a part of a perforating operation. |
| US07963340B2 |
Method for disintegrating a barrier in a well isolation device
Disclosed herein is a temporary well isolation device, which is sealingly disposable in downhole tubing, and which has a housing with an axial passage. The temporary well isolation device also has frangible barrier element within the housing, where the frangible barrier element is sealingly engaged in the passage blocking fluid flow through the passage. The frangible barrier element bears a load from fluid pressure. The temporary well isolation device also has a disengageable constraint in contact with a frangible barrier element so as to redirect the load on the frangible barrier element from a first component of the load to a second component of the load, thereby preventing rupture of the frangible barrier element. Also disclosed herein is a method for disintegrating a frangible barrier element disposed in a passage of a temporary well isolation device. |
| US07963333B2 |
Controlling the pressure within an annular volume of a wellbore
A process is described for replacing at least a portion of the liquid within the annular volume of a casing system within a wellbore with a second liquid. The second liquid is preselected to provide a measure of control of the pressure within the annular volume as the fluid within the volume is being heated. |
| US07963330B2 |
Resin compositions and methods of using resin compositions to control proppant flow-back
Methods and compositions that include a resin composition having from about 5% to about 30% phenol, from about 40% to about 70% phenol formaldehyde, from about 10 to about 40% furfuryl alcohol, from about 0.1% to about 3% of a silane coupling agent, and from about 1% to about 15% of a surfactant and methods of using of that resin in controlling particulate flowback from a subterranean formation. |
| US07963329B2 |
Recovery and recycling of chemicals in chemical flooding process
A method including a) injecting into the formation an aqueous solution containing a polymer and a surfactant to create a organic phase and a aqueous phase, the surfactant being capable of reducing the interfacial tension between the phases to less than 1 dyne/cm; b) recovering a portion of the organic and aqueous phases containing at least a portion of the polymer and surfactant components and a portion of native petroleum surfactants generated in the porous formation; c) adjusting the conditions of the recovered portions to force a portion of the polymer and surfactant from one phase into the other phase by use of chemical, physical, electrical or gravitational means or a combination of said means; d) separating the polymer-and surfactant-containing phase; e) concentrating the polymer and surfactant components in the separated phase; and f) re-injecting at least a portion of the concentrated polymer and surfactant components into the formation. |
| US07963321B2 |
Swellable downhole packer
A swellable downhole packer (10) is provided for positioning downhole in a well to seal with the interior surface of a borehole or the interior surface of a downhole tubular. The packer includes a swellable elastomeric sleeve-shaped body (14) positioned over a mandrel (12) for swelling, and a rigid end ring (16,18). An elastomeric anti-extrusion member (20) is spaced axially between the sleeve-shaped body and the rigid end ring, and has a radial thickness adjacent the end ring greater than the radial thickness adjacent the sleeve-shaped body. A swellable elastomeric member (32) is spaced radially between the exterior surface of the mandrel and the elastomeric anti-extrusion member. |
| US07963319B2 |
Downhole cable gripping/shearing device
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and apparatuses for gripping and shearing a downhole cable. In one embodiment, a line cutter mandrel includes: a tubular mandrel; a pocket disposed along an outer surface of the mandrel and longitudinally coupled to the mandrel; a channel disposed through the pocket for receiving a cable; and a line cutter. The line cutter includes a blade, is operable to engage an outer surface of the cable in a gripping position, is operable to at least substantially sever the cable with the blade in a cutting position, and is operable from the gripping position to the cutting position by relative longitudinal movement between the cable and the pocket. |
| US07963316B2 |
Sealing structure of a rotation unit and air conditioning apparatus having the same
An air conditioning apparatus has a case, a heat exchanger rotatable about a rotation axis in the case, and a pipe unit in communication with the heat exchanger. The pipe unit has a first section fixed to the case and a second section coaxially coupled to the first section. The second section is coupled to the heat exchanger and rotatable with the heat exchanger. The first section has a first annular portion, a second annular portion, a cylindrical portion, and a support member. The second section has a flange portion disposed between the first annular portion and the support member. An O-ring is disposed in a groove provided by the first annular portion and the cylindrical portion, and is in contact with a surface of the first annular portion and the flange portion in a direction parallel to the rotation axis. |
| US07963313B1 |
Wind abatement system
A fabric panel has an interior and exterior face with a top, a bottom, and sides. An upper seam forms an upper passageway. A lower seam forms a lower passageway. A bar is secured within each hem. A plurality of support holes extends through the hem and bar at the top and at the bottom of the primary panel. A plurality of threaded bolts are provided. Each bolt has a threaded end. The threaded end is adapted to be received by recipient surfaces adjacent to the top and bottom of the panel. Each bolt has an exposed end. In this manner coupling and uncoupling is facilitated. Each bolt has a central portion. The central portion extends through a hole in a hem and bar at the top and at the bottom of the panel. |
| US07963308B2 |
Apparatus and method for fabricating bonded substrate
A bonded-substrate fabricating apparatus capable of reducing defective bonded substrates fabricated. A transfer robot sucks the outer edge area of the bottom surface of a substrate and spouts gas toward the bottom surface of the substrate to carry the substrate into a vacuum process chamber of a press machine while keeping the substrate horizontally. A press plate holds the substrate, which is held by the transfer robot, by suction. |
| US07963306B2 |
Self-tightening snow chain and methods of use
Self-tightening snow chain for attachment to a vehicle wheel to provide traction. The preferred self-tightening snow chain includes a traction cable and a tensioning device including a housing having a top including a set of housing teeth, a bottom and at least one aperture; a lever interconnected to the housing; a ratchet spool within the housing having a set of ratchet teeth that mate with the housing teeth and a channel between upper and under surfaces to receive a cord that is interconnected with the ratchet spool; a tension spring that places a bias on the ratchet spool toward a wind-up direction; and a wave spring. A preferred tensioning device includes a cord sub-unit having two knobs, one on each end, and a grommet encircling the cord. A method of assembling the tensioning device is also disclosed. |
| US07963305B2 |
Filling valve having a three-position valve rod
Filling valve (5) including: a hollow housing (11) having a valve seat (25); a moving valve rod (14) slidingly mounted in the housing (11) and having a sealing surface (23), the moving valve rod (14) and the hollow housing (11) together defining a liquid chamber (18); a liquid inlet (26) for putting the liquid chamber (18) into communication with a liquid supply pipe (6); a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a first, full-open position, in which the sealing surface (23) is spaced from the valve seat (25), thereby forming a passage (27) for the liquid; a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a second, closed position, in which the sealing surface (23) is in sealing contact with the valve seat (25), thereby closing the passage (27), and a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a third, predetermined, semi-open position in which the sealing surface (23) is spaced from the valve seat (25) but closer to the same than in the full-open position. |
| US07963297B2 |
Dispensing head for air pump
A dispensing head for an air pump includes a sleeve connected to the air pump and a chamber is defined in an end of the sleeve. The end having the chamber of the sleeve is received in a housing and a mount piece is securely received in the housing. A first seal ring is mounted to the mount piece and in contact with an inner periphery of the chamber. The mount piece includes a plurality of inner threads defined axially in a central passage in the mount piece, so that the threaded section of a French valve is threadedly connected to the inner threads. A second groove is defined in the mount piece and a second seal ring is engaged with the second groove. The second seal ring is mounted to a neck of the French valve. |
| US07963296B2 |
Fuel cutoff valve
The fuel cutoff valve comprises a float and a valve mechanism situated within the valve chamber of a casing. The float has a supporting portion disposed in the upper portion of the float for supporting the valve mechanism, and having a supporting face formed with a flat surface or concave surface. The valve mechanism comprises a comprises a first valve main body having a supported part of convex shape supported on the supporting face, and a seat portion disposed on the first valve main body for opening and closing a connecting passage. The center of gravity of the valve mechanism is established below the point of support, when the supported part is supported on the supporting face so as to be balanced with the supported lower end portion as the point of support. |
| US07963294B1 |
Assistive walker apparatus
An assistive walker for assisting a user in going on foot and for reinforcing recommended walker use technique includes a walker frame including opposed leading and trailing ends formed between opposed handled and footed ends and that together define a user-receiving area extending from the trailing end of the walker frame to the leading end of the walker frame, and the walker frame is for supporting a user in the user-receiving area and aiding ambulation thereof. The walker frame is formed with a motion sensor apparatus including a motion sensor assembly to detect user movement at the user-receiving area, and a signal device operatively coupled to the motion sensor assembly to emit the signal in response to a substantial lack of detected user movement at the user-receiving area. |
| US07963291B2 |
Hair holder
A hair holder (1) composed of two hair holding sheets (3) for holding a hair bundle in a prescribed shape. The hair holding sheet (3) is an agent-impregnated sheet (3a) having a Taber stiffness of 0.2 mN·m or higher and a water retention of 0.03 g/cm2 or more and impregnated with a hair treating agent. Two agent-impregnated sheets (3a) are joined together to make a flat tube (1A) having an opening at each end thereof and a hollow (12) through which a hair bundle is to be inserted. |
| US07963290B2 |
Hair styling tool, system and method of use
A winding and fastening device which utilizes a flexible body part (1-A), an elastic band and a pointed contoured stick, or pick, or rod (1-C) to arrange and secure flexible material, such as human or animal hair in a desired position. |
| US07963288B2 |
Robotic catheter system
A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a guide instrument interface including a plurality of guide instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate guide instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The guide instrument includes a plurality of guide instrument control elements operatively coupled to respective guide drive elements and secured to the distal end of the guide instrument. The guide instrument control elements are axially moveable relative to the guide instrument such that movement of the guide instrument distal end may be controlled by the master input device. |
| US07963285B2 |
Adhesive condom and deployment
Means of easy manufacture and deployment of condoms are provided. A practical and inexpensive adhesive condom is achieved to augment user satisfaction, provide increased barrier protection and contraceptive efficacy. Compression to the penis is reduced, thereby facilitating the ease of attaining and maintaining erection, improving barrier protection and preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as increasing utilization rates by enhancing sensation. |
| US07963284B2 |
Custom fitted mask and method of forming same
In one embodiment, a custom-fitted mask includes a thin sheet of deformable material that has been formed and fitted to a portion of a face surrounding the nostrils to conform substantially optimally to unique facial features. The thin sheet includes a perimeter defining only soft cartilaginous portions of the nose and portions on either side of and below the soft cartilaginous portions. and excludes hard bony portions of the nose; and an interior within the perimeter. In another embodiment, a mask blank for using in forming a custom-fitted mask includes a thin sheet of deformable material adapted to be transitioned from a non-deformable state into a deformable state, applied against a portion of a face surrounding the nostrils while the mask blank is in the deformable state, and deformed against the face to cause the mask blank to conform substantially optimally to unique facial features to form the custom-fitted mask. |
| US07963283B2 |
Myoelectrically activated respiratory leak sealing
The method and system are for sealing/unsealing (regulating) airway leaks occurring between the ventilator circuit and respiratory airways during lung ventilatory support in response to myoelectrical activity of diaphragm. Myolectrical activity of a patient's respiratory-related muscle is sensed to detect respiratory effort, and to produce a myoelectrical signal representative of the sensed muscle myoelectrical activity. Respiratory flow and pressure can also be measured to produce respective respiratory pressure and respiratory flow signals. A logic trigger sealing/unsealing of airway leaks in relation to the myoelectrical signal, respiratory flow signal and/or respiratory pressure signal to assist respiration of the patient. The amplitude of the myoelectrical signal is compared to a given threshold, and airway leaks are sealed when the amplitude of the myoelectrical signal is higher than this threshold. Increment of myoelectrical signal amplitude can be also detected to trigger the airway leak regulating device to seal the airway leaks, while decrement of the myoelectrical signal amplitude can be detected to unseal the airway leaks and thus permit air evacuation from the patient's lungs. |
| US07963280B2 |
Magazine for air gun having rotary clip
There has been a problem that a projected part of a rear part of a pellet gets stuck with an end side of an attachment wall and rotation is interrupted when a rotary clip moves from a hit pin concave to an end side (i.e., attachment wall) of a magazine main body if the rear end of a pellet in a bore projects from a bore. In order to resolve the problem, there is proposed a magazine main body 1 and a magazine main body 1 having a rotary clip 2 rotatably attached to a rotary clip attachment part 3 of a magazine main body 1 characterized in that a clip opposing wall surface 33 of an attachment wall 34 of a clip opposing wall surface 33 gradually moves away from a cylindrical end surface of opposing rotary clip 2 towards an end side 31 of an attachment wall 34 within a range 35 of a rotational opposing surface positioned between a hit pin concave 32 and a side surface part 10 in the rotational direction of rotary clip 2. |
| US07963279B2 |
Drop-away arrow rest
An arrow rest that drops away or otherwise moves away from a discharging shaft of an arrow or another projectile. An arrow holder is operable between two support positions and a launch position. A support force is used to keep or maintain the arrow holder in the support position. A movement force can be transferred to the arrow holder for overcoming the support force and moving the arrow rest into a launch position, away from a discharging arrow shaft and the corresponding fletching. |
| US07963272B2 |
System and method for fueling diesel engines with vegetable oil
A heated fuel delivery system for vegetable oil or other fuels of temperature dependent viscosity, which may be used as fuel for a diesel engine. The system includes one or more heated fuel lines and/or a heated fuel tank to heat the fuel and reduce its viscosity for more efficient use. Recovered engine heat from the engine coolant system is transferred to heat the fuel. |
| US07963271B2 |
System and method for heating viscous fuel supplied to diesel engines
A heat transfer system is used for heating a viscous fuel supplied to a diesel engine. The heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger provided at a predetermined location within the heat transfer system. A hot fluid and viscous fuel are circulated in a heat exchanging relationship within the heat exchanger to heat the viscous fuel supplied to the engine from a first temperature to a second temperature. |
| US07963265B2 |
Tunable air intake system
An air intake system for a two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engine that is tunable through the use of interchangeable velocity stacks. |
| US07963264B2 |
Engine cranking system and method
A vehicle has an engine, a starter motor, an energy storage system (ESS) for powering an auxiliary system, and a supercapacitor module for powering the starter motor during engine cranking and starting. The supercapacitor module disconnects from the starter motor to recharge. A DC-DC booster converter increases the level of voltage supplied from the ESS so as to charge the supercapacitor module to a relatively higher voltage level, such as approximately 125 to 140 percent of the voltage level supplied by the ESS. A method for preventing voltage sag in an auxiliary system of the vehicle includes disconnecting the supercapacitor module from the starter motor when the engine is running, and then charging the supercapacitor module using the ESS until a cranking support voltage equals a stored target voltage. A detected commanded cranking and starting of the engine causes the connection of the supercapacitor module to the starter motor. |
| US07963263B2 |
Spark ignition device for internal combustion engine
An engine spark ignition device for internal combustion engines having electrical coupling of the firing spark plug wire to the non-firing spark plug wires. The device is for use with an engine having a plurality of spark plug wires connected between a distributor and a spark plug disposed in the engine cylinder and comprises identical elongated electrically conductive semi-circular plates which enclose identical elongated electrically conductive planar plates having apertures therein that intersect to form spaces for receiving the spark plug wires. The interaction between firing spark plug wires and non-firing spark plug wires results in more efficient and cleaner combustion in the combustion chambers. |
| US07963252B2 |
Composition to accelerate the exponential growth of lag phase-preserved heterotrophic bacteria
Broiler chickens are grown in barns with poultry litter, typically 4-6 inches of pine bark shavings. Growing chickens live on this litter, adding their manure to the litter bed. A liquid top dressing of alkaline-soluble, oxidized humic acid and non indigenous bacteria between flocks can release ammonia harmlessly to the atmosphere and tie up any unreleased nitrogen and phosphorous as water insoluble nitrogen and water insoluble phosphorous. Farmers typically remove and replace the litter bed after 6-8 flocks. Surprisingly, the combination of neutralized, low conductivity humic acid, non indigenous bacteria and substantially complete mechanical litter bed turnover between flocks allows the virtually indefinite use of said litter. |
| US07963247B2 |
Diffusion tube, dopant source for a diffusion process and diffusion method using the diffusion tube and the dopant source
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a diffusion tube includes a diffusion housing which includes a first cavity within a first end which receives a diffusion target, a second cavity within a second end which receives a dopant source for diffusion, and a diffusion port disposed between the diffusion target and the dopant source, wherein the diffusion port provides fluid communication between the first cavity and the second cavity. |
| US07963244B2 |
Electrostatic coating apparatus
An electrostatic coating apparatus for coating an object includes a base module, a nozzle, an electric field generator and a power supply. The object is mounted on the base module. The nozzle receives gas and liquid and ejects the gas and the liquid. The electric field generator mounted on the base module generates an electric field. The power supply has a first pole electrically connected to a first pole of the electric field generator, and a second pole electrically connected to the object and a second pole of the electric field generator such that the electric field is generated in the electric field generator and the atomized liquid passing through the electric field generator is charged and absorbed onto the object to form a coating layer on the object. |
| US07963239B2 |
Zigzag sewing machine
A zigzag sewing machine is provided. The zigzag sewing machine includes a stitching motor which moves a needle, a feeding motor which moves a feed dog to feed a cloth, a needle swinging motor which swings the needle, a multistage-operating portion operable to adjust at least one of a feed amount of the cloth and a swing amount of the needle in a minimum adjustable unit, and a control section which controls the stitching motor, the feeding motor and the needle swinging motor to carry out a zigzag sewing in accordance with the at least one of the feed amount and the swing amount adjusted by the multistage-operating portion. The control section is configured to selectively assign a first value and a second to the minimum adjustable unit depending on whether the stitching motor is in operation or not. |
| US07963238B2 |
Magnetic hoop assembly
A placement holder for an embroiderable comprising a magnetic hoop assembly for use in an embroidery machine. The magnetic hoop assembly includes a first hoop comprising a magnetic material and a second hoop comprising a quantity of metal sufficient for the first hoop to be attracted to the second hoop. The magnetic attraction between the first hoop and the second hoop enables the embroiderable to be held in place between the first hoop and the second hoop for embroidery. An adapter is attached to either the first hoop or second hoop. One end of the adapter is attached to the first hoop or second hoop, and the other end of the adapter attaches to an attachment mechanism on a pantograph on the embroidery machine. |
| US07963233B2 |
Mouse pad having massage function
A mouse pad includes a pad plate and a rotary massage device disposed on a side of the pad plate. The massage device includes a massage head and a wheel box fixed on the pad plate. A motor and a transmission mechanism driven by the motor are mounted in the wheel box. The massage head connects with the transmission mechanism so as to be rotated and extends above the wheel box for massaging the operator's wrist. In a preferable embodiment, the transmission mechanism includes a worm, a double-gear and a gear wheel. The worm is disposed on an output shaft of the motor and engages with the double-gear, the double-gear engages with the gear wheel, and the massage head connects with the gear wheel. Such mouse pad not only has the functions as the conventional mouse pad has, but also can massage the operator's wrist to ease the weariness of the wrist while operating a computer mouse thereon, thus to achieve a health care effect. |
| US07963231B2 |
Folding table and support frame assembly
A folding table and support frame assembly is disclosed. The table comprises two planar portions connected by a hinging member. One of the planar portions is coupled to a support frame such that the folded table can be moved into a stowed position within the support frame assembly. The planar portions comprise a proximal portion or inner member and a distal portion or outer member. The proximal portion and distal portion are connected to one another by the hinging member or middle member. The hinging member enables the rotation of the distal portion into a folded relationship upon the proximal portion. When the two planar portions are folded, they provide a smaller table surface in a half-open or partially extended position. When the two planar portions are opened along the hinging member, the planar portions and the hinging member provide a larger contiguous table in the fully extended position. |
| US07963230B2 |
Shield assembly for railroad tank car
A shield for protecting an exterior wall of a railroad car during a lifting operation includes a body having a first face for engaging that exterior wall. The first face may have a radius of curvature to substantially match the radius of curvature of the tank car. |
| US07963221B2 |
Systems and methods for forming continuous ink images
A wheel assembly for applying ink to a target surface comprises a wheel member defining a support portion, at least one adhesive sheet, and at least one inking member. The at least one adhesive sheet is detachably attached to the support portion of the wheel member. The at least one adhesive sheet defines an outer adhesive surface. The at least one inking member is detachably attached to the outer adhesive surface of the at least one adhesive sheet. When the at least one inking member detachably attached to the adhesive surface is brought into contact with the target surface, ink on the at least one inking member is transferred to the target surface. |
| US07963220B2 |
Stencil printing apparatus
A stencil printing apparatus in which the generation of discharge sheet peeling problems and defects such as creasing and tear of the stencil base sheet can be prevented while printing on a coated sheet. When a printing sheet set in a sheet-feed device is indicated by input via a sheet-type input device as a coated sheet, or when a printing sheet set in a sheet-feed device is automatically detected by a sheet-type detection device as a coated sheet, a control device judges on the basis of a detected signal from the base-sheet type detection device whether or not the stencil base sheet type set in the platemaking apparatus is for coated sheet printing, and permits platemaking start if the stencil base sheet is for coated sheet printing and issues a warning without permitting platemaking start if the stencil base sheet is for non-coated sheet printing. |
| US07963218B2 |
Screw press with radial gate valve and supported screw shaft
A screw press is provided having a radial gate valve and supported longitudinally-extending screw shaft. The screw shaft includes a central shaft and helical threads which is driven by a drive package. The screw shaft is encapsulated within a housing including a hopper portion, transition portion, bearing portion and screen portion. A transition portion includes a radial gate valve which is angled such that the radial gate valve's axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the screw shaft threads. In addition, the screw shaft is supported by a first support at its proximal extremity and a second support towards its distal extremity. The support at its distal extremity includes one or more wear bearings which concentrically support the threads of the screw shaft in a frictional engagement manner. Back flow of material is prevented by a radial gate valve. The angle of the radial gate valve with respect to the screw presses housing provides for greater pressure build up within the screen portion. Moreover, the use of wear bearings reduces wear to the housing and screen due to metal on metal contact with the screw threads and also provides for increased efficiency of the screw press operation. |
| US07963215B2 |
Electromagnetic induction heating grill toaster
An electromagnetic induction heating grill toaster that includes a first casing body, a first baking tray, a second casing body, and a second baking tray. The first casing body has a first electromagnetic induction element, a first micro-crystal plate, and a control element. The first baking tray is detachably disposed on the first casing body. The second casing body has one side pivoted on one side of the first casing body and has a second electromagnetic induction element and a second micro-crystal plate. The second baking tray is detachably disposed on the second casing body. The present invention utilizes the advantage of quick heating of electromagnetic induction, in order to reduce the amount of time users need to wait for the grill toast to preheat. Hence, the present invention not only reduces power use, but also saves time for the user. |
| US07963213B1 |
Beverage making apparatus
An apparatus for preparing a beverage is provided. The apparatus may comprise a frame having a base, a top, front and back sides, and right and left sides; a beverage chamber disposed inside the frame; a heating element connected to the frame; a cooling element disposed inside the frame between the beverage chamber and the frame; a gas valve connected to the frame and penetrating the frame to extend into the beverage chamber; and a spigot connected to the frame, the spigot having a channel contiguous with the beverage chamber for emptying the contents of the chamber. |
| US07963210B2 |
Spring-loaded brake cylinder having locked stop body
A spring-loaded brake cylinder for commercial vehicles includes at least one spring-loaded brake piston that can be actuated by a pre-loaded spring and is supported in a housing. A mechanical emergency release device is provided for the emergency release of the spring-loaded brake cylinder. The emergency release device includes an indicator that has an indicator rod indicating the position of the spring-loaded brake piston. The rod extends through a threaded spindle of the emergency release device and is movable in the axial direction. A stop body is disposed in the region of one end of the indicator rod. The stop body is positively connected to the indicator rod by a detent connection produced by an axial relative movement between the indicator rod and the stop body. |
| US07963209B2 |
Water hydraulic machine
Motor start circuit for an induction motor, particularly a single-phase AC induction motor, with a main winding (4) and an auxiliary winding (5), which are supplied with current, particularly alternating current, via current supply connections (24, 25), and with a start switching device (15) serving the purpose of interrupting the current flow through the auxiliary winding (5) after the start of the motor, the start switching device (15) being connected to a control device (20) via a connector (18), the control device (20) being connected between the current supply connections (24, 25), and with a winding protection switch (28), which is normally closed and which opens on the occurrence of a fault. The invention is characterized in that the control device (20) is connected to the winding protection switch (28) via at least one further connector (22, 17), preferably via at least one further connector (22, 17) and the auxiliary winding (5). |
| US07963205B1 |
Tri-mount cradle system
A weapon mounting system for securing a weapon such as a machine gun to a platform comprises a cradle assembly including a pair of opposed front and rear flanges having apertures therein for engaging a retaining pin to secure a weapon thereto. The cradle assembly of the present invention is formed of a single piece of high strength material, for example aluminum stainless steel or titanium. The cradle assembly further includes a pair of pintle flanges to engage a pintle, thereby enabling rotation of cradle and concomitant weapon around two axes. |
| US07963202B1 |
Superalloy mortar tube
A finless mortar tube made of a superalloy includes, seriatim, a breech end, a beginning taper point, an ending taper point, a lower clamp region, an upper clamp region, and a muzzle end. The nominal wall thickness of the tube is constant from forward of the breech end to the beginning taper point and the nominal wall thickness of the tube decreases from the beginning taper point to the ending taper point. The mortar tube is capable of a substantial increase in the rate of fire compared to conventional mortar tubes. |
| US07963201B2 |
Medication dispensing method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for dispensing prepackaged medication packages includes an apparatus having a body with an internal cavity and an opening. A central processing unit operably communicates with an actuator within the cavity to regulate and monitor the dispensation of the packages, while the actuator operably communicates with a feed mechanism within the cavity to dispense the packages. |
| US07963199B2 |
Vertical spinner
The present invention relates to a spinning apparatus for forming a workpiece when the workpiece is arranged in a substantially vertical orientation. The spinning apparatus includes at least one tool capable of altering the shape of the workpiece while spinning. The apparatus also includes a clamp configured to hold the workpiece as the tool works the workpiece. The spinning apparatus includes a spinning arrangement allowing for the vertical arrangement of the workpiece while the tool is working on the workpiece. |
| US07963198B2 |
Tool for cutting used containers of recyclable plastic material into ribbons
A tool for cutting PET bottles and the like into ribbons. The tool includes a toolhead having an opening, a cutting blade housed inside the opening and a slot open above and extending perpendicular to the plane of the blade, downwards through the toolhead a short distance past the blade. The blade has a sharp edge across the slot. The slot receives the edge of the bottle obtained by cutting off the bottle bottom or the funnel and spout thereof. The edge is inserted in the slot and the bottle turned so that the blade cuts through the bottle following a spiral path and producing a ribbon of PET material at an outlet side of the slot. |
| US07963197B2 |
Plumbing tool
A plumbing tool permits a drain body to be held in a drain opening of a bathtub from behind a drain end of the bathtub. The plumbing too has a head that can be engaged to the drain body and a handle that can be positioned so that an end of the handle projects through an overflow opening of the bathtub. The tool can prevent rotation and lifting of the drain body. |
| US07963195B2 |
Powered ratchet assembly
A powered ratchet tool generally includes a housing having a handle portion with a trigger assembly. A motor has an output shaft member that rotates about a longitudinal axis. A ratchet assembly includes a ratchet hub member that connects to the output shaft member. A selector member connects to the ratchet assembly and is operable to change the ratchet assembly between a tighten condition and a loosen condition. A drive member is connected to the ratchet assembly. The drive member rotates about the longitudinal axis about which the ratchet hub member, the selector member and the output shaft member rotates. |
| US07963194B2 |
Screw fastener
A screw fastener includes a screwdriver that includes a sleeve having an absorption hole configured to absorb a top surface of a screw, a bit housed in the absorption hole and having a tip engageable with a recess of the screw, and a rotation unit configured to rotate the bit with the sleeve, a movement unit configured to move the screwdriver between a container configured to accommodate the screw and a work, a positional shift detector configured to detect a positional shift on a plane between a center axis of the screw perpendicular to the plane and a center axis of the bit perpendicular to the plane, and a controller controls a movement of the movement unit so as to reduce the positional shift, based on a detection result of the positional shift detector. |
| US07963193B2 |
Adjustable multiple nail holder-extension
An improved nail holder that allows the user to safely and comfortably hold a multiplicity of nails while extending his or her reach into hard-to-reach or otherwise inaccessible places. The present invention represents a significant improvement over those inventions disclosed in the prior art in that it: (1) permits the user to hold and position a multiplicity of nails at the same time, (2) provides the user with an ergonomic handle that is comfortable, efficient and safe to hold, (3) extends the reach of the user beyond arm's length and into hard-to-reach or otherwise inaccessible places, and (4) moves the nails held therein horizontally and/or vertically so as to permit operation in additional hard-to-reach or otherwise inaccessible places. |
| US07963188B2 |
Industrial robot having a suspended unit
Since the rotating unit is disposed so that the drive part, which constitutes the rotating unit, is located in the inner side of the bent portion with the curved surface of the CABLEVEYOR in the side of the straight axis, there is no problem occurs by locating the drive part connected with the rotating unit in the inner side of the bent portion of the CABLEVEYOR. Therefore, the dead space formed in the inner side of the bent portion of the CABLEVEYOR can be used effectively. |
| US07963184B2 |
Vehicle transmission
To reduce the engaging sound to a low level, generated at the time of changing over the change gear stage by sliding a shifter, an intermittent feed mechanism includes a drum shifter, a pair of pawls symmetrically mounted to the drum shifter and energized in tilting-up directions, engaging recesses provided at regular intervals along the circumferential direction at the inner periphery of a shift drum center so as to be capable of engagement with both the pawls, and a fixed guide plate for guiding the tilted conditions of both the pawls. The guide plate is provided with a large-diameter arcuate part, a small-diameter arcuate part, and connecting parts. The pawls are engaged with the engaging recesses by the connecting parts, in the course of turning of the drum shifter by a turning amount necessary for changing over the establishment conditions of a plurality of change gear stages of gear trains. |
| US07963182B2 |
Gear shift mechanism
A power-assisted gearshift mechanism for a manual transmission, comprising a shift rail mounted for axial movement to select one or more gears, a control arm engageable with the shift rail to cause axial movement of the shift rail in response to operation of a operator control, and a fluid pressure actuator, the fluid pressure actuator comprising a piston moveable in a cylinder, wherein fluid pressure in the cylinder causes force to be applied to the shift rail, the cylinder having a fluid supply connection and a fluid exit connection, and wherein the fluid exit connection is closeable to cause the fluid pressure within the cylinder to change, and the fluid exit connection comprising a bore within the shift rail, wherein movement of the control linkage is operable to open or close the bore. |
| US07963179B2 |
Arrangement for the non-contact measurement of torque
An arrangement for the non-contact measurement of torque on a shaft of a transmission. The arrangement having at least one detector (1) for detecting a variation in a magnetic field (2) as a function of a torque applied to the shaft. The shaft is a hollow shaft (3) and the detector (1) is arranged inside the hollow shaft (3). |
| US07963176B2 |
Clamp-on ultrasonic flow rate measuring device having a guide frame for guiding the ultrasonic transducer
An ultrasonic flow rate measuring device, especially a clamp-on type, is mounted on a line through which medium flows with at least one ultrasonic transducer and a guide frame for guiding and holding the ultrasonic transducer. A fixing mechanism allows the ultrasonic transducer to be moved onto the line or away from the line and also allows it to be axially moved and fixed on the guide frame or unclamped from it. The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device is able to be easily unclamped for maintenance and repair purposes and then re-attachable to the line in the original configuration. |
| US07963166B2 |
Ultrasonic fault detection system using a high dynamic range analog to digital conversion system
A method and apparatus for effecting ultrasonic flaw detection of an object processes an echo signal received from the object being tested in at least three signal channels, wherein the echo signal is scaled to different degrees along each channel to increase and extend the dynamic range of an associated A/D converter system, in a manner which dispenses with the need for using numerous analog high pass and low pass filters and a variable gain amplifier. This reduces complexity and avoids performance limitations. The digital to analog converters sample the differently scaled input signal and a selection circuit selects the output of the digital output obtained from that analog to digital converter which has the highest gain, but which has not overflowed. The digital outputs are seamlessly merged to produce an output that can be displayed as a scan display which shows the location of faults. |
| US07963165B2 |
Non-contact feature detection using ultrasonic Lamb waves
Apparatus and method for non-contact ultrasonic detection of features on or within the walls of hollow pipes are described. An air-coupled, high-power ultrasonic transducer for generating guided waves in the pipe wall, and a high-sensitivity, air-coupled transducer for detecting these waves, are disposed at a distance apart and at chosen angle with respect to the surface of the pipe, either inside of or outside of the pipe. Measurements may be made in reflection or transmission modes depending on the relative position of the transducers and the pipe. Data are taken by sweeping the frequency of the incident ultrasonic waves, using a tracking narrow-band filter to reduce detected noise, and transforming the frequency domain data into the time domain using fast Fourier transformation, if required. |
| US07963163B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting fluids
Fluids such as saline solution that are disposed in containers such as contact lens packages can be detected by directing ultrasonic energy at the container and receiving a return reflection of the ultrasonic energy. The ultrasonic energy and the return reflection can propagate through a shroud that substantially isolates the ultrasonic energy and the return reflection from air currents. |
| US07963162B2 |
300° C flow sensor
A measurement device, particularly an anemometric measurement device, is provided for mounting in an exhaust-gas pipe, particularly an exhaust-gas recirculation pipe. The device includes a ceramic carrier embedded in an injection-molded housing made of plastic, with at least one film resistor mounted on the ceramic carrier on an end opposite the embedding. Electrical connections lead out from the film resistor to the embedded end of the ceramic carrier, and the electrical connections are passed through the injection molding, sealed and mounted within the injection-molded part. Additional components can be used for the sealing and mounting. |
| US07963160B2 |
Test bench comprising angle adjustment means and methods for testing wind turbine equipment
The invention relates to a test bench for testing wind turbine equipment. The test bench comprises one or more load applying means directly or indirectly applying load to the equipment during said test and wherein the test bench comprises angle adjustment means for adjusting a test angle (A) of the equipment in relation to a horizontal plane. The invention further relates to methods for testing wind turbine equipment. |
| US07963152B2 |
Modular device for analyzing a biological fluid, such as blood
The invention relates to a modular device for implementation in a biological fluid analysis system. It comprises functional modules, each comprising a support for supporting hydraulic components, the support including at least two plates having etched therein circuits that enable channels to be defined when the two plates are assembled side by side. According to the invention, said functional modules comprise at least a preparation first functional module for preparing a fluid for analysis and supporting at least one dilution vessel, and an injection second functional module for injecting the fluid prepared in said dilution vessel towards an analysis unit, said first and second modules being connected to one another. |
| US07963150B2 |
Method to test for a leak in a fuel tank system
A method to test for a leak in a fuel tank system of a motor vehicle includes a fuel tank is cut off during the overrun by means of at least one cutoff device, and the pressure, which builds up in the fuel tank within a specifiable time interval is acquired; if a specifiable maximum pressure or a specifiable vacuum threshold is not achieved, said cutoff device is opened and closed again after a specifiable time period, and a vacuum is produced and acquired in a subsequent vacuum phase, and a parameter, which characterizes the leak tightness, is determined and evaluated from the vacuum achieved within a specifiable time period and the overpressure, which is achieved, and the test for a leak is concluded; if the specifiable maximum pressure is achieved, a parameter characterizing the leak tightness is determined from the acquired overpressure and the specifiable overpressure threshold and is compared with a specifiable reference value and for the case that the determined parameter is smaller than the reference value, a leak-proof fuel tank system is suggested and the test for a leak is concluded, and if the determined parameter is greater than the specifiable reference value, the cutoff device is opened and a vacuum is produced and acquired in the fuel tank in a subsequent vacuum phase, whereby a leak-proof fuel tank system is then suggested if a specifiable vacuum threshold is achieved, and hence the test for a leak is concluded, and whereby the test for a leak is then concluded if the vacuum threshold is not achieved within a specifiable time period, and hence the parameter characterizing the leak tightness is evaluated. |
| US07963149B2 |
Method and device for determining hydraulic leakage rate in liquid-conveying sections, in particular, injection valves of internal combustion engines
A method and device for determining the hydraulic leakage rate of liquid-conveying parts, in particular injection valves for internal combustion engines, place the liquid-conveying part into a test body, and the liquid-conveying part is charged with a test liquid under a particular pressure, and a carrier gas stream is provided in a flow duct of the test body, and a vapor mixture behind the liquid-conveying part is conducted to an analyzer, and a measurement and analysis are carried out, using the analyzer, of the hydraulic leakage rate of the liquid-conveying part via the concentration of test liquid in the vapor mixture, the carrier gas stream being brought in via a nozzle element close to the leakage point of the liquid-conveying part, and/or a heating of the vapor mixture being provided behind the liquid-conveying part for complete conversion into the gas phase. The testing device is particularly suitable for leakage measurement in fuel injection valves used in fuel injection systems of mixture-compressing externally ignited internal combustion engines. |
| US07963147B2 |
Micro gas sensor and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are a micro gas sensor for measuring a gas concentration configured to achieve a high heating and cooling rate of a gas sensitive layer, achieve temperature uniformity, and achieve durability against thermal impact and mechanical impact; and a method for manufacturing the micro gas sensor. The micro gas sensor includes: a vacuum cavity disposed in a substrate; a support layer covering the vacuum cavity; a sealing layer sealing the support layer and the vacuum cavity; a micro heater disposed on the sealing layer; a plurality of electrodes disposed on the micro heater, insulated from the micro heater; and a gas sensitive layer covering the electrodes. |
| US07963145B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting combustible gas within atmosphere to be detected
In apparatus and method for detecting a combustible gas within an atmosphere to be detected, a calculated humidity deviation corresponding to a past gas concentration stored in a memory unit of a microcomputer is calculated on the basis of a correlation between a preset gas concentration of the combustible gas and the calculated humidity deviation, a calculated humidity of the atmosphere to be detected is corrected using the calculated humidity deviation to calculate a corrected humidity, and, when a concentration of the combustible gas is calculated on the basis of a terminal voltage, a temperature of the atmosphere to be detected, and a humidity of the atmosphere to be detected, the calculated corrected humidity is used for the humidity of the atmosphere to be detected calculated on the basis of terminal voltages across first and second heating resistors and the temperature of the detected temperature. |
| US07963143B2 |
Procedure for operating a particle sensor that is arranged downstream after a particle filter and device for implementing this procedure
A procedure for operating a particle sensor that is arranged downstream after a particle filter, at which an ash contamination can occur, and a device for implementing the procedure, are suggested. A remaining operating time determination determines the remaining operating time of the particle sensor related to an ash contamination. Alternatively or additionally the remaining operating time determination provides a correction signal, with which the sensitivity loss of the particle sensor caused by the ash contamination can be considered. |
| US07963141B2 |
Press working method and press working apparatus
In a press working apparatus, while a servo motor is acting, an upper die is made to come close to a lower die and press working of the first time is conducted on a steel plate. A slider is raised to a movable punch preparation position. A movable punch is protruded from a die face of the upper die by width and locked by a mechanical lock. The upper die is made to come close to the lower die again and the steel plate is pushed with the upper die and at the same time an additional worked portion is pushed and deformed with the movable punch so as to conduct press working of the second time. After the movable punch has been retracted, the slider is raised. |
| US07963138B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming a changed diameter portion of a workpiece
A plurality of intermediate cross sections and center points thereof are provided for a plurality of target processed portions from an unprocessed portion of a workpiece up to a final target processed portion. By adjusting a relative position between each intermediate cross section of the workpiece W and rollers 11, 12 revolving around the workpiece between neighboring intermediate cross sections, adjusting a revolution diameter of the roller and an angle of its revolution plane, mating the center point, diameter and inclined angle of the revolution plane inside of a revolving locus of the roller, with the center point, diameter and inclined angle of each intermediate cross section of the workpiece, and driving the roller and workpiece relatively to each other, with a part of outer peripheral surface of the roller being always in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the workpiece, a spinning process is performed to change the diameter of the portion to be processed of the workpiece. |
| US07963137B2 |
Apparatus comprising a protection device
The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular to a bending apparatus, including at least one movable apparatus part; an operating device for the operation of the apparatus, with at least one first signal for the actuation of the apparatus and one second signal for the stopping of the apparatus being able to be triggered via the operating device; a protection device for the monitoring of a protected zone of the apparatus; and a device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone before the actuation of the apparatus, with the device for the adaptation of the protected zone being able to be acted on by means of a third signal of the operating device. Alternatively, the device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone can include a voice input device. |
| US07963135B1 |
System for obstructing movement of lock pins
A system for obstructing movement of a pin in a pin tumbler lock is disclosed. The system includes a pin movable in a bore in a plug of a pin tumbler lock, and the pin has a channel formed thereon for receiving a portion of a sidebar of the lock. The system further includes a blocking member mounted on the pin and configured to obstruct movement of the portion of the sidebar along the channel of the pin. |
| US07963134B2 |
Deadbolt lock
A deadbolt lock includes a deadbolt, a user rotatable actuator, and a lock interface. The user rotatable actuator is operatively connected with the deadbolt for movement of the deadbolt between locked and unlocked conditions when the actuator is changed from an inoperable condition to an operable condition. The lock interface is configured to change the actuator from the inoperable condition to the operable condition in response to proper user manipulation of the lock interface. |
| US07963133B2 |
Cylinder lock and unlocking device comprising thereof
A cylinder lock, includes a sleeve, a key plug arranged in the sleeve and having a key insert hole opening on an edge face of a key insert side, a key matching member movably supported on the key plug, detachably arranged in the sleeve and withdrawn from the sleeve by an insertion of a matching key into the key insert hole, and a clutch arranged on an opposite side of the key insert side of the sleeve for transmitting an unlocking movement of an operating handle to a locking mechanism. The clutch has an input clutch element pivoting/moving by an input of the unlocking movement of the operating handle and an output clutch element moving by receiving a moving force from the input clutch element, the output clutch element is detachably coupled with the sleeve, and the input clutch element is detachably coupled with the sleeve and is arranged in a position to withdraw the output clutch element from the sleeve moving in an axial direction by a pivotal movement by the input of the unlocking movement in a locking state of the key matching member. |
| US07963131B2 |
Security container with rearward facing lock
A security container for retaining an item of merchandise therein; said security container comprising a base, a lid, a slider within the lid, a lid hole, a slider tab extending from the slider through the lid hole, and a locking mechanism unlocked through magnetic manipulation. The slider tab is located proximate the hinged side of the lid. As a user positions a key to magnetically unlock the locking mechanism, a protrusion on the key simultaneously pushes the slider tab which unlocks internal L-shaped lock tabs from hook tabs. The slider tab is located on the hinged side of the lid for aesthetic as well as safety purposes. By hiding the security features, potential customers focus on the product within the box. Likewise, a casual thief observing from the front and sides of the container is presented with no immediate means for entry. Thus, the invention provides a more secure container for displaying upscale merchandise. |
| US07963130B2 |
Heater-combining structure of washing machine
A washing machine includes a water-storing tub for storing washing water, a heater having a heat-generating unit disposed in the water-storing tub and a terminal unit formed on first and second ends of the heat-generating unit, a heater cover covering the heater, a clamp fastening the heat-generating unit, a thermostat associated with the clamp to detect a temperature of the heater, and a water infiltration protecting cover for protecting the terminal unit. |
| US07963125B2 |
Glass fibers having improved strength
A glass fiber and a method of manufacturing a glass fiber for reinforcing a transparent composite matrix are disclosed. The glass fiber includes a first glass material having a first set of mechanical properties including a first modulus and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a second glass material having a second set of mechanical properties including a second modulus and a second CTE. The second glass material forms a substantially uniform coating on the first glass material. The second CTE is less than the first CTE. The glass fiber is formed by reducing the cross-section of a glass fiber preform of the first glass material coated with the second glass material by hot working. Because of the selected difference in the CTE's, the first glass material imparts a compressive force upon the second glass material, which improves the strength of the glass fiber. |
| US07963117B2 |
DC-powered HVAC system
An HVAC system for a motorized vehicle or vessel is provided that includes a variable-speed compressor, a variable-speed condenser fan and a variable-speed evaporator fan. The HVAC system further includes a DC-power system for supplying DC power to the variable-speed compressor, the variable-speed condenser fan and the variable-speed evaporator fan regardless if the mobile unit's engine is operating or not operating. A controller and an operator interface are also provided for controlling the operation of the HVAC system. |
| US07963116B2 |
Bulk-scaffolded hydrogen storage and releasing materials and methods for preparing and using same
Compositions are disclosed for storing and releasing hydrogen and methods for preparing and using same. These hydrogen storage and releasing materials exhibit fast release rates at low release temperatures without unwanted side reactions, thus preserving desired levels of purity and enabling applications in combustion and fuel cell applications. |
| US07963106B2 |
Method and apparatus for the defined regeneration of sooty surfaces
In a method and an apparatus for the defined regeneration of a sooty surface, in particular a ceramic sensor surface, in which the soot particles adhering to the surface are burned off by a dielectrically hindered discharge by of a discharge device, power of the dielectrically hindered discharge is set such that a higher rate of removal of the soot particles than their rate of deposition on the surface is effected, after the regeneration phase, the remaining soot deposit is detected by a measuring device mounted on the surface, wherein an undefined state of the sensor surface does not occur, and the discharge device and the measuring device may be mounted very compactly on one or two ceramic substrate elements. |
| US07963105B2 |
Exhaust purification system for internal combustion engine
An exhaust purification system includes a catalyst disposed in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine; a fuel pump that supplies fuel to a common rail; an exhaust-side fuel injection valve that is interposed in the exhaust path so as to be located upstream of the catalyst and injects into the exhaust path the fuel supplied from the fuel pump; and estimation section that estimates a clogging degree of an injection port of the exhaust-side fuel injection valve on the basis of fluctuations in pressure of the common rail and those in revolution speed of the internal combustion engine at the time of fuel injection by the exhaust-side fuel injection valve. |
| US07963101B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying device for an internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas purifying device for an internal combustion engine, comprises: a first catalyst (TWC 7, example) having a reducing capability; a second catalyst (LNC 9, example) provided downstream of the first catalyst, the second catalyst is adapted to trap NOx in a lean condition of air fuel ratio of an exhaust gas and reduce the trapped NOx in a rich condition of air fuel ratio of the exhaust gas; and an exhaust air fuel ratio control means for controlling an exhaust air fuel ratio to decrease the NOx in the first and second catalysts, wherein the exhaust air fuel ratio control means conducts NOx decreasing control suitable for the first catalyst when the second catalyst is in an inactive state and the first catalyst is in an active state, and wherein the exhaust air fuel ratio control means conducts NOx decreasing control suitable for the second catalyst after the second catalyst is activated. |
| US07963098B2 |
Composite duct assembly
A carbon composite duct assembly has a duct body having an opening. The duct body extends along an axis. The opening extends transversely to the axis. The duct body has a carbon composite fabric layer. The duct body has an axial flange extending along the axis and a peripheral flange extending along the opening. The axial flange and the peripheral flange overlap forming a corner of the carbon composite fabric layer. |
| US07963097B2 |
Flexible assembly of recuperator for combustion turbine exhaust
A recuperator includes a heating gas duct; an inlet manifold; a discharge manifold; and a once-through heating area disposed in the heating-gas duct through which a heating gas flow is conducted. The once-through heating area is formed from a plurality of first single-row header-and-tube assemblies and a plurality of second single-row header-and-tube assemblies. Each of the plurality of first single-row header-and-tube assemblies including a plurality of first heat exchanger generator tubes is connected in parallel for a through flow of a flow medium therethrough and further includes an inlet header connected to the inlet manifold. Each of the plurality of second single-row header-and-tube assemblies including a plurality of second heat exchanger generator tubes is connected in parallel for a through flow of the flow medium therethrough from respective first heat exchanger generator tubes, and further includes a discharge header connected to the discharge manifold. Each of the inlet headers is connected to the inlet manifold via a respective at least one of a plurality of first link pipes and each of the discharge headers is connected to the discharge manifold via a respective at least one of a plurality of second link pipes. Each of the heat exchanger tubes of each of the first and second single-row header-and-tube assemblies have an inside diameter that is less than an inside diameter of any of the plurality of first and second link pipes. |
| US07963095B2 |
Inlet air conditioning system
An embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioning system located upstream of the inlet system for a gas turbine. The air conditioning system may include at least one conditioning module for adjusting the temperature of the airstream. The at least one conditioning module may have a plurality of forms including at least one of the following systems: a chiller, an evaporative cooler; a spray cooler, or combinations thereof. The specific form of the at least one conditioning module may be determined in part the configuration of the gas turbine. |
| US07963094B1 |
Fragmentor for bird ingestible gas turbine engine
In an aircraft turbofan or turbojet engine including a fan blade assembly mounted thereon rotating about the central axis of the engine, there are provided aerodynamically profiled rotating cutting rings arranged concentrically to the engine axis upstream of the fan blade assembly on which a bird traveling toward the engine will fragment to extravasations and evisceration to produce bird debris of a sufficiently low density to be safely ingested by the engine. |
| US07963090B2 |
Flexible full package deflators and former
A deflator apparatus for use in a form, fill and seal bagging machine to deflate excess air from and form a filled or partially filled package of bulk goods includes a first deflator having a plurality of first flexible bands that extends between a pair of first arms. The apparatus further includes a second deflator having at least one second flexible band that extends between a pair of second arms. The first and second deflators are spaced from one another and movable relative to one another to sandwich the package of bulk goods between the plurality of first flexible bands and the at least one second flexible band to remove excess air from the package and form the package. |
| US07963089B2 |
Deep draw container forming method
The present disclosure is directed to processes for manufacturing shaped articles for unit-dose packaging with at least one formed recess (e.g., a blister), in particular for unit-dose packaging of pharmaceutical dosage forms. In certain embodiments, the first step of the process is directed to drawing the film material (e.g., metal-plastic foil) with one or more plungers to form a primary contour, the contour having a depth of at least 100% and up to 150% of the depth of the formed recess. The second stage involves shaping the primary contour with one or more plunger(s) to the desired formed recess, with a depth that is less than the depth of the primary contour, while substantially maintaining the surface area of the primary contour formed in the first stage. The formed recess may be formed using warm-forming or cold-forming techniques. |
| US07963087B2 |
Wrapping device and method for operating a wrapping device
The invention relates to a wrapping device, which includes a frame, a wrapping ring arranged to move relative to the frame, which in the wrapping position is arranged to travel through the center hole of the piece being wrapped, and which, in the vertical direction, can be at least partly moved away from the wrapping position, in order to change the piece being wrapped, and a wrapping head arranged to rotate around the wrapping ring, in order to wrap the wrapping material around the piece. The wrapping ring can be moved away from inside the center hole of the piece being wrapped, in order to move the wrapping ring in its entirety away from the said wrapping position. In addition, the invention also relates to a method for operating the wrapping device. |
| US07963086B2 |
Package unbundling system
A package unbundling station receives bundles of articles to be unwrapped. The station includes a clamp for holding a bundle in a fixed position and a pair of spaced-apart movable cutter assemblies which cut at least one of wrapping and banding on at least two sides of the bundle, resulting in an “open envelope” which is transferred to a work station for easy removal of the articles which are then conveyed for subsequent sorting. In one embodiment, an unbundling station is coupled with a package sorting system and receives banded and/or wrapped bundles of articles and includes at least a pair of spaced-apart movable cutter assemblies which cut at least one of the banding and/or wrapping materials of the bundle and subsequently outputs the opened bundle to an output station for subsequent processing. |
| US07963085B2 |
Multifunctional periodic cellular solids and the method of making same
Methods of making truss-based periodic cellular solids that have improved structural properties and multifunctional design. Many materials (metals, ceramics, glasses, polymers, composites and even semiconductors) can be shaped into cellular, truss-like architectures with open, closed or mixed types of porosity and then very uniformly arranged in controlled, three-dimensional space-filling arrays. The truss-like elements do not necessarily have a constant cross-section, nor are they necessarily straight or solid throughout (they could be hollow). Their cross sections can be circular, square, triangular, I-beam or other shapes of interest depending on multifunctional needs. When bonded together by solid state, liquid phase, pressing or other methods at points of contact, a cellular structure of highly repeatable cell geometry and few imperfections results. The bonds hold the truss elements together in a desired configuration, allow load to be efficiently transferred amongst them and make the resulting structure significantly more rigid when bent, compressed or sheared. These constructed cellular solids offer a broad range of multifunctional structural uses with a tremendous freedom for choosing the truss type, orientation and distribution. Multiple materials can be intermixed. |
| US07963079B2 |
Standardized compression bar system for a braced front construction
A compression bar system for a braced façade structure is disclosed. The system includes a compression bar, and connecting elements connectable to the compression bar. Each connecting element is formed as a pre-fabricated part and is connectable to tie elements. |
| US07963068B2 |
Apparatus and method to package articles for storage and identification
A method and apparatus for containing, protecting, isolating, and individually identifying sets of one or more articles in a plurality of compartments such that information related to the sets can be easily and efficiently linked to the set. In an example of the apparatus, the apparatus has a compartment layer, a sealant layer, and indicia which may individually identify compartments. In another example, a method includes taking a compartment layer and sealant layer, loading compartments with sets of one or more articles, closing the compartment layer with the sealant layer, and identifying each compartment for each seed or portion thereof with a positionally-addressable ordered array of indicia on at least one of the layers of the package. |
| US07963066B2 |
Fishing lure
A fishing lure that includes a bait head, bait body and an attachable action lip, where the lure can provide a realistic swimming action or a twitching or jerking motion when used for jigging. The action lip is mounted in a bowed attitude between a bait head rearwardly pointing lip stop wire and at a lip center keyhole opening that is fitted onto an eyelet that extends from the bait head nose, where the lip stop wire is mounted to extend rearwardly from a bait head rear lower edge, with the bait head nose eyelet to receive a fishing line attached thereto. |
| US07963064B2 |
Assembly and method for moving decoys
An assembly and method for moving decoys is disclosed. The assembly includes one or more components for horizontally moving decoys floating on water, such that the decoys appear to be swimming. In addition, the device includes one or more component for rotating decoys, such that the decoys appear to be changing direction while swimming. For example, the assembly may include at least two posts connected by one or more slide rails. Each post includes a rotation initiation bar and a series of timing pins to engage a decoy carrier, which slides between the posts along the one or more slide rails. The decoy carrier is connected to pull lines, which are wound about a rotatable reel or spool. |
| US07963060B2 |
Product display device
A product display device includes a support frame, a plurality of placard devices, a pair of carousel display devices and a messaging unit disposed between the pair of carousel display devices. The placard devices, the carousel display devices and the messaging unit providing an integrated display of products to prospective consumers. The messaging unit including a removable interactive display for providing at least one of textual, graphic, image, pictorial and visual illustrations and representations of product information and promotional information to prospective customers. |
| US07963051B2 |
Post-puller and method
A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc, the plate having a opening with a top wall and a bottom wall, moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the fence post such that an upper portion of the post enters the opening with the bottom and upper walls of the opening engaging the post with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth and raising the lift arm to pull the post from the earth in a substantially vertical direction. |
| US07963048B2 |
Dual path kiln
An dual path kiln is provided that includes a kiln having one or more chambers and at least two lumber charge paths adapted to convey lumber through the kiln in opposite directions. |
| US07963045B2 |
Detection device for detecting distance between centers of two through holes
A detection device for detecting a distance between centers of two through holes includes a support member, a base member, and a measurement member. The base member and the measurement member are set on opposite ends of the support member. The base member is operable to enter one of the through holes. A distance between a center of the base member and a center of the measurement member is equal to a normal distance between centers of the two through holes. If an actual distance between the centers of the two through holes meets a determined specification, the measurement member will enter the other through hole. If the actual distance between the centers of the two through holes does not meet the determined specification, the measurement member cannot enter the other through hole. |
| US07963043B2 |
Support shoe for a reciprocating saw
A reciprocating saw includes a housing and a support shoe mounted on the front end of the housing which is adjacent to a saw blade. The support shoe includes a guide plate which is partly mounted in the housing and is movable thereabout, and a base plate pivotally connected to the guide plate. The guide plate has a series of recesses or apertures. The reciprocating saw also includes a locking member which is movable in the housing along a first direction and at least a portion of which could be engaged with any one of the recesses or apertures, and an adjusting member which is movable along a direction perpendicular to the first direction from a first position to a second position. The locking member is disposed between the adjusting member and the guide plate. |
| US07963041B1 |
Guard for filament-type trimmer for protection while trimming vegetation
A guard including three sub-systems: a main guard body, a solid shield, and an attachment mechanism. The main guard body includes a base, a peripheral exterior ring, and a plurality of supports for holding the peripheral exterior ring in spaced relationship with the base. Together, the base, the peripheral exterior ring, and the plurality of supports define at least one aperture. The solid shield is attachable to the main guard body. The attachment mechanism is used to attach the main guard body to an extension member of a filament-type trimmer. When positioned, a rotatable non-rigid filament of the filament-type trimmer is peripherally surrounded by the main guard body when the rotatable non-rigid filament is rotating. |
| US07963039B2 |
Method of constructing a mandrel for fabrication of a monolithic nacelle composite panel
A method of constructing, assembling and disassembling a mandrel for fabricating a monolithic composite nacelle panel for use on an airplane comprises attaching a first fairing bar including an exposed ball roller assembly to a tilting plate; attaching a first outer section to said first fairing bar; attaching a second outer section to said first fairing bar; attaching a center section to said first outer section and said second outer section; attaching a nozzle section to said first fairing bar and positioned adjacent an inner wall of said first outer section, an inner wall of said center section, and an inner wall of said second outer section; attaching a second fairing bar to said first outer section, said center section, and said second outer section; and attaching a cavity section to said second fairing bar. |
| US07963036B2 |
Method of manufacturing bearing device for vehicle
An outer ring of a bearing device for a vehicle has a cylindrical main body extending from an inner vehicle side to an axially opposite side. The main body has a raceway at an inner peripheral surface. A flange is provided at an outer peripheral surface of the outer ring toward the ring's vehicle inner side end. A cylindrical fitting tolerance part also is provided at the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, at a position closer to the vehicle inner side end than the flange. The axial length of the cylindrical fitting tolerance part may be designed to be any of various lengths. The bearing device is manufactured by turning the cylindrical main body while holding the flange, such as for embodiments in which the cylindrical fitting tolerance part has a short length unsuitable for holding. |
| US07963035B2 |
Manufacturing method for a radiator and a structure thereof
A manufacturing method for a radiator and a structure thereof are disclosed. The manufacturing method for a radiator includes the following steps. A substrate and a plurality of cooling sheets are provided. The side wall of the substrate has a plurality of concave troughs. The cooling sheets are respectively plugged into the concave troughs. The two side walls of each of the concave troughs tightly contact the two opposing surfaces of the cooling sheet. Thereby, each of the cooling sheets is located at the side wall of the substrate, and the top portion and the bottom portion of the cooling sheet extend to outside of the top surface and the bottom surface of the substrate. By using the riveting technology to directly fasten the cooling sheets via the two side walls of the concave troughs, the present invention prevents the heat-conduction loss from being occurred. |
| US07963034B2 |
Assembly of a labyrinthe seal support on a turbine machine rotor
A method of attaching a labyrinth seal support to a turbine engine shaft is disclosed. The method includes inserting axial bolts to secure the labyrinth seal support, the shaft and a device for driving the turbine module with the shaft, and screwing tightening screws in extracting holes, for extracting the drive device with respect to the shaft, provided on the shaft to tighten the labyrinth seal support onto the shaft. |
| US07963032B2 |
Method for determining the position of a wire fitting on a wire
A fitting head has a sleeve receptacle and a widener, the fitting head being displaceable forward/backward in the direction of the longitudinal axis of a wire. Also arranged on the fitting head are a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter generates a curtain-like beam that is positioned between the sleeve receptacle and the widener and can be measured by the receiver. Like the sleeve receptacle and the widener, transmitter and receiver are displaceable forward/backward in the longitudinal axis of the wire, during the forward movement the wire fitting or sleeve being fitted onto the wire and during the backward movement the sleeve being positionally measured. The movement of the fitting head is measured by a stationary measuring head and a scale that moves together with the fitting head. During evaluation of the measurement results, fitting faults are detected. |
| US07963015B2 |
Method of suppressing extension of fatigue crack, method of detecting fatigue crack and paste used for the methods
A method of detecting fatigue crack by which the fatigue crack can be easily detected by visual observation even in a relatively early stage, and a method of restraining propagation thereof. The detection method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a paste in which particles having hardness not less than that of a base material and an oil having viscosity are mixed with each other; (b) applying the paste to a desired portion of the base material; and (c) detecting fatigue crack based on a change in color generated by movement of base material powder to a surface of the paste, and the base material powder is produced when the particles grind the base material due to opening and closing of the fatigue crack in the base material. |
| US07963014B2 |
Method for retrofitting an existing idler assembly
A method for retrofitting a piece of equipment having a flexible track assembly is disclosed and may include disassembling an existing idler shaft from an idler gear and from at least one bearing block attached to the piece of equipment. The method may also include attaching a sleeve within the opening of the idler gear. A new idler shaft may then be positioned within an opening of at least one of the bearing blocks and within an opening in the sleeve. The new idler shaft and idler gear being configured such that the new idler shaft, idler gear, and sleeve rotate together. The method may then include placing at least one bushing liner within the opening of at least one bearing block and attaching a retaining device to at least one end of the new idler shaft to retain the new idler shaft axially. |
| US07963009B2 |
Slide fastener top end stop
A top end stop is provided to adjoin a fastener element row, and a projecting portion is formed on an inner side face of a main body such that the projecting portion projects sideway, so as to form a concave portion in which a flange of a slider invades. A projecting piece thinner than the projecting portion is located in the concave portion such that the projecting piece extends from a contact face of the projecting portion to the inner side face of the main body in a triangular shape while its front end is inclined. Consequently, the flange presses the top end stop against a tape face by sliding of the slider, the top end stop itself is reinforced, the longitudinal pulling strength is improved, and a step between the main body and the projecting portion is smoothed, whereby a top end stop favorably tactile to the skin is produced. |
| US07963007B2 |
High burst zipper assembly for large reclosable packages
The present disclosure relates to a high burst slider zipper which allows for bottom filling of reclosable packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing a peel seal or other frangible or separable connection between the zipper profiles, and by sealing a portion of one of the flanges to itself by a hard seal above the peel seal. This causes the external forces on a bag from bottom filling or shock loading to be directed toward the hard seal and further directed so as to cause a shear force against the peel seal, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces. |
| US07963001B2 |
Door hinge
A door hinge has a bottom bracket and a bottom bracket mounting rib extends from the bottom bracket. A piston has a piston housing and a piston extension connecting in telescopic connection to the piston housing. The piston housing is connected to the bottom bracket at a bottom bracket mounting rib ball joint. The door bracket extension extends from the door bracket. A connection between the door bracket extension and the piston connector is a door bracket extension ball joint. An intermediate connector is connected to the door bracket at an intermediate door bracket joint, wherein the intermediate door bracket joint is a swivel joint. The top bracket is connected to the intermediate connector at a top bracket axle. |
| US07963000B2 |
Flip apparatus and electronic device using the same
A flip apparatus and an electronic device using the same are provided. The flip apparatus is disposed in the electronic device including a first casing and a second casing. The flip apparatus includes a sliding mechanism, a rotating mechanism pivotally connected to the second casing, and an actuating element disposed at the second casing. The sliding mechanism is disposed at the first casing and is slidably connected to the second casing to drive the first casing to slide to a rotating position relative to the second casing. The rotating mechanism includes a rotating block pivotally connected to the second casing and fixed to the first casing, a moving block slidably provided at the rotating block and is fixed to the sliding mechanism, and an elastic element coupled to the rotating block and has elastic potential energy. The rotating block can be driven to rotate by releasing the elastic potential energy. |
| US07962996B1 |
Mobile yard vacuum cart for use with hand-held leaf blowers
A mobile yard vacuum cart that incorporates a leaf blower and trash can into a vertical support assembly that allows an operator to collect leaves into the trash can for disposal simultaneously while moving the mobile yard vacuum cart across a lawn without lugging the leaf blower. The mobile yard vacuum cart has a vertical support assembly, a pickup assembly, a discharge assembly and a strap assembly. The coupling of the leaf blower with the pickup assembly allows the operator to simply push the mobile yard vacuum cart without having to simultaneously manipulate a blower intake tube across the lawn surface. If the leaf blower has a chopping impeller blade, the mobile yard vacuum cart advantageously directs the leaves into the impeller of the leaf blower for chopping. The mobile yard vacuum cart provides adaptors in a variety of configurations to couple the tubes supplied with the leaf blower. |
| US07962989B2 |
Apparatus for cleaning flat panel display and roll brush used therein
An apparatus for cleaning a flat panel display and a roll brush used therein are provided. The apparatus includes an internal wall, hollow cylindrical joint parts, each of which is joined with the internal wall and having an opening therein, and roll brushes, each of which includes a rotation shaft passing through the opening of the hollow cylindrical joint part, a hollow cylindrical liquid blocking member integrated with the rotation shaft to have an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the joint part, and a brush. |
| US07962987B1 |
Portable curb ramp
A portable ramp made according to this invention includes a pair of interconnected ramps for use with high-centering wheeled lawn equipment such as commercial walk-behind mowers. The ramps allow the equipment to move between a first lower elevation and a second higher elevation without its front wheels becoming airborne as the equipment traverses the ramps in a forward direction. The ramps are connected to one another by a flexible tether that allows the distance between the ramps to be easily adjusted and provides a means for stowing the ramps over the handles of the equipment Magnets may be included in a bottom portion of the ramp to provide an optional means for stowing the ramps on the equipment. |
| US07962981B2 |
Hospital bed
A patient bed includes a base, a patent support supported by the base, and a control system. The patient support includes a pivotal head-end section, with the control system including an actuator to pivot the head-end section and being adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot the head-end section at a greater speed. |
| US07962978B2 |
Comforter set
A comforter set includes a comforter piece having a peripheral edge, a comforter bag, and a fastening arrangement. The comforter bag has two cover layers overlapping to form a receiving cavity and an attachment edge. The fastening arrangement includes a plurality of first fasteners spacedly provided along an outer side of the peripheral edge of the comforter piece, and a plurality of second fasteners spacedly provided along an inner side of the attachment edge, wherein the second fasteners are detachably fastened with the first fasteners respectively to fittingly retain the comforter piece in the receiving cavity of the comforter bag at a position that the attachment edge is alignedly covered on the peripheral edge in an edge-to-edge manner to substantially pull the peripheral edge close to the attachment edge. |
| US07962972B2 |
Head mounted device and head mounted system
Provided is a head mounted device that can be smoothly mounted onto a head. The head mounted device includes: a frame extending from a front head side to a back head side in a mounted state onto a head; and a head holding portion attached to the frame and provided with a pad pressed to the head; in which the head holding portion, in a non-mounted state in which the device is not mounted to the head, holds the pad such that the pad is opened toward a direction in which the head mounted device is mounted onto the head as compared to the mounted state onto the head. |
| US07962967B2 |
Weld characteristic communication system for a welding mask
Methods and systems for transmitting a torch angle and/or a torch-to-workpiece distance error to a welding operator when these parameters are outside of a preset optimal range via real time visual and/or audio cues are provided. One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to weld characteristic communication via intuitive arrays of visual indicators located on the periphery of a lens, which indicate to the welding operator the direction and severity of the torch angle error. In one embodiment, audio cues, such as pulsed or continuous tones may be used to communicate torch-to-workpiece distance to the welding operator. In certain embodiments, vertical visual indicator arrays may be used to indicate additional weld or auxiliary information, such as battery charge state, torch speed and so forth, to the welding operator. All the components of the communication system may be located in or on the welding helmet or the components may be split between the helmet and a belt pack. |
| US07966662B2 |
Method and system for managing authentication and payment for use of broadcast material
An authentication system is disclosed. The authentication system includes a content provider configured to distribute encrypted content, wherein the encrypted content is generated using a content key, and a client having a symmetric key and configured to store the encrypted content received from the content provider and issue a request to the content provider, wherein the request includes a cryptographic function configured to have the symmetric key and the encrypted content as input, wherein the content provider is further configured to verify the client via the request to ensure that the client has received the encrypted content. |
| US07966661B2 |
Network amplification attack mitigation
An improved network protocol for mitigating network amplification attacks is provided. The absolute network load that any transient distributed attack can cause is bounded based on a resource crediting scheme. The protocol accumulates “credit” upon reception and detection of candidate attack request packets, and draws against that credit when transmitting responsive packets. In some implementations, the time frame of such an attack is also bounded using time limits applied to a resource crediting scheme. Other resources may also be bounded by the resource crediting scheme, including without limitation CPU utilization, storage capacity, power, etc. |
| US07966657B2 |
Method for a secure information transfer
A method of securely transmitting information between a user device and a central computing device, located in a self-contained network. The method includes: sending a request from the user device to a second computing device located outside of the self-contained network to connect with the central computing device; transmitting from the second network device to a third computing device located in the self-contained network a message containing a unique identification; storing in a database, via the third computing device, the unique identification when the identification is validated, and sending, via the third computing device, a confirmation message to the second computing device; and initializing a connection with the central computing device through the user device, using information contained in the confirmation message to initialize a connection with the central computing device, and the connection through the central computing device is accepted when access by the user device is authorized. |
| US07966654B2 |
Computerized system and method for policy-based content filtering
Firewalls and other filtering gateways have become common security devices for improving computer network security. As more features and functionality are added to these devices they become quite complex to configure. By associating configuration schemes with firewall policies, configuration can be simplified without compromising flexibility. Administrators have more options to filter different traffic streams based on their type and sources. They also have increased flexibility to be able to filter traffic on a per user basis, through authentication mechanisms tied to various filtering options. |
| US07966652B2 |
Mashauth: using mashssl for efficient delegated authentication
The present invention provides a method that allows the MashSSL protocol to be used to provide a secure and efficient way for delegated authentication. The invention allows services which already have an SSL infrastructure to reuse that infrastructure for delegated authentication, and to do so in a fashion where the cryptographic overhead is amortized across multiple users, and which provides the user with greater control of what information is shared on their behalf. |
| US07966651B2 |
Method for realizing the network security by segmenting the TTL
A method for realizing the network security by segmenting the TTL (time to live), includes: assigning the different TTL segments to the wholesale service provider network, the lower service provider network and the user network in the service provider network-building; realizing the TTL Partition Security Mechanism (TPSM) in the wholesale service provider network and the lower service provider network simultaneously using the assigned TTL segments. And a system for realizing the network security by segmenting the TTL is provided, in the condition of the service provider CsC network-building, TPSM is realized simultaneously in the wholesale service provider network and the lower service provider network. |
| US07966650B2 |
Dynamic internet address assignment based on user identity and policy compliance
In embodiments of the present invention, improved capabilities are described for a method presenting a client, providing client information and requesting an IP address from a DHCP server, where the DHCP server may formulate a first IP assignment and a first multiple DHCP options. A policy management facility may be associated with the interception of the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options, which may result in the first IP assignment and the first multiple DHCP options not being sent to the client. The method may send client information to the policy management facility. The policy management facility may formulate a second multiple DHCP options and may send it to the DHCP server. The DHCP server may change first IP assignment and first multiple DHCP option to a second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options. The second IP assignment and the second multiple DHCP options may then be forwarded to the client. |
| US07966648B2 |
Dynamic quality of service pre-authorization in a communications environment
The claimed subject matter relates to systems and methods for authorizing services. A method includes receiving a set of data relating to Quality of Service (QoS) pre-authorization, and conditionally processing subsequent QoS configuration requests based at least in part on the pre-authorization information. Depending on the pre-authorization information corresponding to a QoS configuration request, the request may be granted, denied, or result in sending of a request for authorization. |
| US07966642B2 |
Resource-adaptive management of video storage
A method for providing adaptive video compression includes encoding a video stream in a first compressed format, storing the video stream in a storage device, retrieving the video stream from the storage device, decoding the video stream, encoding the video stream in a second compressed format, and storing the video stream in the storage device. Systems and other methods for providing adaptive video compression are also disclosed. |
| US07966638B2 |
Interactive media display across devices
A computer-implemented method includes identifying a computer-based portable program module, automatically altering code in the portable program module to permit display of the module on a television-based display so that the displayed module has a substantially similar appearance on the television-based display as on a computer display, and providing the altered code for execution on a processor connected to a television-based display. |
| US07966637B2 |
Hardware module for adding functionality to television
A modular interface allows new functionalities to be added to a television receiver. A module can be added to the television receiver through the interface that will enable additional functionalities on the television. The interface allows copy protection of digital video and audio content by incorporating HDCP technology, thereby also allowing the manufacturer of the interface to control the access to the interface. |
| US07966635B2 |
Updating download options for unavailable media content
A method provides download options for purchasable recordable media (PRM). The method includes storing a download option associated with a PRM content instance, updating the option, and transmitting the option to a digital home communication terminal. The option includes a time at which the PRM content instance is downloadable from a digital content delivery system. The update and transmit occurs in response to a change in availability of resources for transmitting the PRM content instance to a subscriber. Another method includes providing a download option to a user. The option is associated with a PRM content instance and includes an indication of a time at which the PRM content instance is available for download from the remote server. The option is updated responsive to a change in availability of the option due to a change in download resources that are associated with transmitting the PRM content instance to the subscriber. |
| US07966632B1 |
Visual presentation of video recommendations
A system, method and various user interfaces enable visually browsing multiple groups of video recommendations. A group of video recommendations includes a central video and a set of related videos displayed at its corresponding display distance from the central video and from each other. The corresponding display distance of a video is calculated as a function of the video's recommendation score and correlation with other videos of the group. The recommendation score is generated based on a weighted covisitation measure. Visually presenting recommended videos to a user provides a quick and intuitive way to find videos of interest and visualize the browsing of the recommended videos. |
| US07966627B2 |
Emergency ejecting apparatus for optical disc drive
The present invention discloses an optical disc drive including a pickup head for reading data from a disc; a spindle motor for supporting and rotating the disc; a loading/ejecting apparatus for loading or ejecting the disc; and an emergency ejecting apparatus. The emergency ejecting apparatus includes a slider for connecting the loading/ejecting apparatus, a rack, an elastic component for connecting the slider and the rack and a rotator rotated with the movement of the slider. When a user drives the rotator and the elastic component is elastically deformed, the slider is moved in the optical disc drive to drive the loading/ejecting apparatus to eject the disc. |
| US07966624B2 |
Using message passing interface (MPI) profiling interface for emulating different MPI implementations
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving an application linked against a first application binary interface (ABI), providing an ABI wrapper associated with the application, and binding the application to a native message passing interface (MPI) library using the ABI wrapper and the profiling message passing interface (PMPI). Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07966618B2 |
Controlling data transfers from an origin compute node to a target compute node
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for controlling data transfers from an origin compute node to a target compute node that include: receiving, by an application messaging module on the target compute node, an indication of a data transfer from an origin compute node to the target compute node; and administering, by the application messaging module on the target compute node, the data transfer using one or more messaging primitives of a system messaging module in dependence upon the indication. |
| US07966612B2 |
Method, system and computer program for installing shared software components
A method, system, and computer program for installing a shared software component on a computer are proposed. The process is driven by an exploiter of this (new) shared component. If the required shared component is not available on the computer, it is installed at the desired location (specified by the exploiter). On the contrary, if another shared component is already available (for further exploiters), the process verifies whether this available shared component is at the required level. If not, the available shared component is upgraded accordingly; for example, this result can be achieved by causing the available shared component to refuse any new request and then waiting for the completion of any pending request. In this case, the install location of the available shared component is returned to the exploiter, so as to have it point to the available shared component automatically. |
| US07966609B2 |
Optimal floating-point expression translation method based on pattern matching
Embodiments of the present invention include code generation methods. In one embodiment, a table of patterns is generated. Each pattern in the table includes an FMA (fused multiply-add) DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph), a canonical form equivalent of the FMA DAG, and a shape corresponding to the canonical form equivalent. Incoming floating-point expressions are matched against the patterns in the table during compilation of a program to obtain optical sequences of FMA, FMS (fused multiply-subtract), and FNMA (fused negate multiply-add) instructions as compiled instructions for computing the floating point expressions. |
| US07966602B1 |
Incremental modification detector, and methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing the same
A method for selecting an annotation processor associated with an annotation for reprocessing is provided. The annotation is included in a computer software source code. An annotation snapshot is captured and a hash value is generated for the annotation snapshot. The annotation snapshot hash value is compared with a hash value of a previous annotation snapshot. The annotation processor associated with the annotation is marked for reprocessing when the annotation snapshot hash value is different from the hash value of the previous annotation snapshot. |
| US07966600B2 |
Distributed resource understanding tool management
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for a distributed resource understanding tool. In one embodiment of the invention, a distributed resources understanding tool data processing system can include an IDE configured for operation in a local development platform coupled to a remote host, a local implementation of a resource understanding tool coupled to the IDE, a remote implementation of the resource understanding tool associated with the remote host, and resource understanding tool synchronization logic. The logic can include program code enabled to invoke the local implementation of the resource understanding tool, further invoke the remote implementation of the resource understanding tool, combine results sets produced by each of the local and remote implementations of the resource understanding tool to produce a composite results set, and render the composite results set in the IDE. |
| US07966598B2 |
Top level hierarchy wiring via 1×N compiler
Embodiments that route 1×N building blocks using higher-level wiring information for a 1×N compiler are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise determining higher-level coordinates for a blockage of a 1×N building block, determining intra-1×N coordinates for a shape of the blockage via the higher-level coordinates, and creating routes of intra-1×N wires of the 1×N building block that avoid the intra-1×N coordinates. Further embodiments comprise an apparatus having a higher-level wiring examiner to examine higher-level wiring of an area near a 1×N building block of a physical design representation. The apparatus may also have a blockage determiner to determine a blockage that affects intra-1×N wiring for the 1×N building block and a coordinate calculator to calculate coordinates of a shape of the blockage, wherein the calculated coordinates may enable a routing tool to avoid the shape when creating intra-1×N wiring for the 1×N building block. |
| US07966597B2 |
Method and system for routing of integrated circuit design
The invention relates to a method and a system for routing electric circuits in integrated circuit chip design. Specifically, the invention encompasses the steps of performing a congestion analysis for a given routed placement of cells containing said electric circuits on a chip; defining a critical area on said chip based on congestion information; analyzing actual wiring quality within said critical area; comparing an actual wiring quality of said critical area with a reference wiring quality of said critical area; and rerouting said critical area based on a comparison between the actual wiring quality and the reference wiring quality. |
| US07966593B1 |
Integrated circuit design system, method, and computer program product that takes into account the stability of various design signals
An integrated circuit design system, method, and computer program product are provided that takes into account signal stability. In use, at least one condition is identified where an output of a logic element before receipt of a clock signal is the same as the output of the logic element after receipt of the clock signal. To this end, such logic element may be disabled based on the identified condition for power savings or other purposes. |
| US07966592B2 |
Dual path static timing analysis
A method to analyze timing in a circuit, generally including (A) simulating reception of an input signal and a clock signal at a first flip-flop, wherein (i) the input signal has a latest transition, (ii) the input signal arrives through a first path and (iii) the clock signal has an active edge, (B) calculating a value of a time difference between the latest transition and the active edge, (C) calculating a delay between the active edge and the latest transition appearing in an output signal, wherein (i) the delay is based on a model responding to the value, (ii) the model characterizes a clock-to-output delay as a function of the time difference and (iii) the characterization covering a range of values, (D) calculating an arrival time of the latest transition at a second flip-flop through a second signal path and (E) storing the arrival time in a recording medium. |
| US07966590B2 |
Circuit design data conversion apparatus, circuit design data conversion method, and computer product
A single module includes a shared combinational circuit, a multiplexed sequential circuit, and a common I/F and is substituted for a multiplexed module formed of plural modules of an identical category and type and including plural CPUs. Specifically, the shared combinational circuit is substituted for n combinational circuits, the multiplexed sequential circuit is substituted for n sequential circuits, and the common I/F is substituted for n input pins and n output pins. |
| US07966589B2 |
Structure for dynamic latch state saving device and protocol
The invention comprises a design structure for a dynamic voltage state-saving latch electrical circuit comprising a charge device adapted as a storage element, an integrated recovery mechanism, a supply voltage rail connected to the charge device, a hold signal allocated to the integrated recovery mechanism, a data signal input allocated to said charge device, a data signal output distributed from the charge device, and a clock signal allotted to the charge device, wherein said integrated recovery mechanism maintains a state of the charge device independent of the charge device. |
| US07966585B2 |
Selective shielding for multiple exposure masks
A system for preparing mask data to create a desired layout pattern on a wafer with a multiple exposure photolithographic printing system. In one embodiment, boundaries of features are expanded to create shields for those features, or portions thereof, that are not oriented in a direction that are printed with greater fidelity by an illumination pattern used in the multiple exposure printing system. |
| US07966584B2 |
Pattern-producing method for semiconductor device
Disclosed is a method of producing a pattern for a semiconductor device, comprising extracting part of a pattern layout, perturbing a pattern included in the part of the pattern layout to generate a perturbation pattern, correcting the perturbation pattern, predicting a first pattern, to be formed on a wafer, from the corrected perturbation pattern, acquiring a first difference between the perturbation pattern and the first pattern, and storing information concerning the perturbation pattern including information concerning the first difference. |
| US07966581B2 |
Generic non-volatile service layer
Method and apparatus for constructing and operating an integrated circuit in an electronic device. In some embodiments, a generic service layer is integrated in a three dimensional integrated circuit and tested using a testing pattern stored in a non-volatile memory. The generic service layer is reconfigured to a permanent non-testing functional component of the integrated circuit. |
| US07966578B2 |
Portable multifunction device, method, and graphical user interface for translating displayed content
A computer-implemented method, for use in conjunction with a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display, comprises displaying a portion of page content, including a frame displaying a portion of frame content and also including other content of the page, on the touch screen display. An N-finger translation gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display. In response, the page content, including the displayed portion of the frame content and the other content of the page, is translated to display a new portion of page content on the touch screen display. An M-finger translation gesture is detected on or near the touch screen display, where M is a different number than N. In response, the frame content is translated to display a new portion of frame content on the touch screen display, without translating the other content of the page. |
| US07966575B1 |
Menu display for a graphical user interface
Methods of providing a menu display 1 for a GUI 31 are disclosed together with a computer program, a computer-readable storage medium 34 and apparatus 31 for the same. Methods include the steps of displaying a menu 1 in the form of a group of icons 3, 20, 21 wherein each icon corresponds to a menu option and is selectable by a user, and displaying an icon selector graphic 4 adapted to identify the icon 20 corresponding to a menu option currently selected by a user. A textual label 19 or a submenu 6-11 corresponding to the currently selected menu option/icon 20 may be displayed. Also, the group of icons and the icon selector graphic may be rotatable relative to each other and where the icon selector graphic is stationary and the group of icons rotatable, the center of rotation of the group of icons may be located outside the periphery of a display. Further disclosed is a rotatable menu window 5. |
| US07966574B2 |
Method of learning character segments during text input, and associated handheld electronic device
An improved method of learning character segments during text input enables facilitated text input on an improved handheld electronic device. In response to a series of inputs, segments and other objects are analyzed to generate a proposed character interpretation of the series of inputs. Responsive to detecting a replacement of a character of the character interpretation with another character, a character learning string comprising the another character and a number of additional characters of the character interpretation are stored as a candidate. In response to another series of inputs, another proposed character interpretation is generated. Responsive to detecting another replacement of a character of the another character interpretation with a different character, another character learning string comprising the different character and a number of characters of the another character interpretation are compared with the stored candidate. If a set of characters in the another character learning string match characters in the candidate, the set of characters are stored as a segment. |
| US07966571B2 |
Methods, apparatus and computer programs for navigating within a user interface
A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed for navigating within a user interface. Navigation within the user interface is monitored and, if detected navigation instructions satisfy a predefined criterion such as if they exceed a predefined rate of movement, one or more return points or bookmarks within the user interface are recorded to facilitate return to those positions. |
| US07966566B2 |
Systems and methods to create follow-up meetings
A system may include reception of an instruction to create a next meeting based on a source meeting, the source meeting associated with a first plurality of meeting particulars, and automatically creation, in response to the instruction, of the next meeting in association with a second plurality of meeting particulars, wherein at least one of the second plurality of meeting particulars provides an indication of the source meeting. |
| US07966565B2 |
Method and system for sharing images over a communication network between multiple users
A system and a method for sharing a compilation of digital images over a communication network among a plurality of users on user display devices using a controlling computer. The controlling computers controls the forwarding of the compilation to the plurality of users over the communication network in accordance with a predetermined user sequence. Each of the users have the ability to add an image to the compilation and/or information with respect to the images in the compilation and each of the subsequent users are able to view the compilation of images and/or data provided in association with the images. |
| US07966564B2 |
Web page server process using visitor context and page features to select optimized web pages for display
Embodiments of a web page optimization system are described. The system utilizes an accumulated body of visitor data regarding interaction with one or more web pages to determine an optimized web page to display to a visitor. Various types of session data, including network traffic data for the client computer, demographic information about the visitor, and general and specific session data of other visitors in similar browsing sessions are defined and compiled. Continuous full-path optimization from initial visitor interaction with the web page is provided through a visitor context analysis component that analyzes certain parameters related to how the visitor has accessed the web page. A real-time web page optimizer component introduces variations in one or more features of a web page to create a new web page, conducts structured tests of the new web page, compares the performance of the web page with one or more known served web pages and removes from presentation eligibility those pages with inferior performance. This facilitates real-time decision making of which web page to serve to a visitor based on an accumulated visitor context. It further allows the authoring of web pages that are optimized with respect to eliciting a desired user interaction with the web page. |
| US07966561B1 |
System and method for indicating information flow among documents
System and method for accessing and displaying information related to information flow and relationships among various electronic tax or financial documents presented by tax programs or other types of financial return preparation programs. A mechanism or mechanisms may enable users to view information related to the flow of information among electronic documents in a tax program starting at the level of a field or a document, or alternatively starting at a high-level outline view or summary of the tax preparation process or a portion thereof. These mechanism(s) may enable a preparer or other user to access graphical and/or textual displays of information related to values in fields of electronic tax or financial documents presented by tax programs and in other types of financial return preparation programs and of the relationships among fields and documents in the tax or financial return preparation process. |
| US07966556B1 |
Reviewing and editing word processing documents
Methods and systems, including computer program products, implementing techniques for reviewing and editing word processing documents. The techniques include receiving from a reviewer a plurality of comments about a word processing document. The comments include a first and second comment. The techniques further include associating the comments with the word processing document; and assigning the comments to one or more editors. The first comment is assigned to a first editor, and the second comment is assigned to a second editor. |
| US07966550B2 |
Soft bit data transmission for error correction control in non-volatile memory
Data stored in non-volatile storage is decoded using iterative probabilistic decoding. An error correcting code such as a low density parity check code may be used. In one approach, initial reliability metrics, such as logarithmic likelihood ratios, are used in decoding sensed states of a set of non-volatile storage element. The decoding attempts to converge by adjusting the reliability metrics for bits in code words which represent the sensed state. Soft data bits are read from the memory if the decoding fails to converge. Initial reliability metric values are provided after receiving the hard read results and at each phase of the soft bit operation(s). In one embodiment, a second soft bit is read from the memory using multiple subsets of soft bit compare levels. While reading at the second subset of compare levels, decoding can be performed based on the first subset data. |
| US07966545B2 |
Apparatus and method for correcting error in a multiple-input multiple-output communication system
A method for performing Forward Error Correction (FEC) in a Turbo-Bell Labs Layered Space-Time (BLAST) Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication system. The FEC method includes performing soft decision on a frame received via a plurality of antennas; performing iterative decoding on the soft decision result value a predetermined number of times, and outputting Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR) values for information bits and first parity bits constituting the frame; generating second parity bits by coding information bits calculated from the LLR values, and comparing the first parity bits calculated from the LLR values with the coded second parity bits; and if the first parity bits are identical to the second parity bits, outputting the information bits, determining that there is no error, and if the first parity bits are not identical to the second parity bits, feeding back the LLR values as a-priori information of the soft decision, and returning to the performing of soft decision. |
| US07966540B1 |
Transmitting error correction information
A method of operating a communication system to communicate with a plurality of wireless devices comprises determining a first shape for a first wireless signal to reach the plurality of wireless devices, transmitting the first wireless signal encoded with a first communication to the plurality of wireless devices, receiving an acknowledgment from a first device of the plurality of wireless devices indicating that the first device received and decoded the first communication, determining a second shape for a second wireless signal to reach a second device of the plurality of wireless devices, and transmitting the second wireless signal encoded with error correction information for the first communication to the second device of the plurality of wireless devices. |
| US07966532B2 |
Method for selectively retrieving column redundancy data in memory device
Column redundancy data is selectively retrieved in a memory device according to a set of storage elements which is currently being accessed, such as in a read or write operation. The memory device is organized into sets of storage elements such as logical blocks, where column redundancy data is loaded from a non-volatile storage location to a volatile storage location for one or more particular blocks which are being accessed. The volatile storage location need only be large enough to store the current data entries. The size of the set of storage elements for which column redundancy data is concurrently loaded can be configured based on an expected maximum number of defects and a desired repair probability. During a manufacturing lifecycle, the size of the set can be increased as the number of defects is reduced due to improvements in manufacturing processes and materials. |
| US07966523B2 |
Industrial automation and information solutions having industry specific modalities
The innovation relates to a system and/or methodology for the configuration and creation of industrial automation designs. The system providing for the generation of functional specifications, software and hardware designs, as well as testing and testing schemas. Additionally, the innovation provides a user interface for modification of the designs and specifications. |
| US07966521B2 |
Light weight and high throughput test case generation methodology for testing cache/TLB intervention and diagnostics
A test case manager selects a first test case and a second test case from a plurality of test cases. The test case manager provides the first test case to a first processor and provides the second test case to a second processor. As such, the first processor executes the first test case and the second processor executes the second test case. After the execution, the test case manager loads the first test case onto the second processor and loads the second test case onto the first processor. In turn, the first processor executes the second test case and the second processor executes the first test case. |
| US07966517B2 |
Method and apparatus for virtual network attached storage remote migration
A system and a method for causing migration of VNASs formed on NAS heads of one NAS system to other NAS heads on the same NAS system or on other NAS systems including independent storage systems. A VNAS management program on each NAS head includes a VNAS assign program, a failure detect program and a load balance program, that all include a capability for causing remote migration of VNASs on the NAS head in case a VNAS fails, the NAS head fails, or the entire NAS system fails. The VNAS management capability may cause VNAS migration if a NAS head is over loaded or if it is lightly loaded and may be powered down after its VNASs have been transferred. |
| US07966514B2 |
Scalable fault tolerant system
A fault tolerant system for a highly scalable distributed processing system in which fault tolerant groups (hereafter referred to as “FT groups”) are formed based on the functionalities of applications. A given FT group includes instances of the same applications and also different applications that perform the same function. The instances within the FT group are ranked as a primary and mirrors, which descend in rank. When the primary instance in the FT group crashes, that is, fails or becomes otherwise unavailable, the system utilizes the next ranking available (running) instance in the FT group as the primary instance. The change over to the next ranking mirror application is performed quickly and without loss of functionality through an exchange of “FT messages” under the control of a central monitoring and change-over control sub-system. |
| US07966506B2 |
Saving power in a computer system
A power management unit (PMU) may promote a processing core from a working state to a first non-working power saving state after receiving a signal from an automatic core C-state promotion (ACCP) unit. An OS component may detect the idling of the processing core and may initiate the ACCP. The ACCP may initiate the PMU to promote the processing core to a first non-working power saving state. The ACCP may track the residency time of the processing core in the first non-working power saving state and may initiate the PMU to promote the processing core to a next non-working power saving state if residency time of the processing core in the first non-working power saving state exceeds a first value. The ACCP may initiate the PMU to demote the processing core back to the working state if a break event occurs during the residency time. |
| US07966503B2 |
Gateway card, gateway device, gateway control method, and computer product
Clients and server are interconnected through a gateway card of a personal computer. The clients and the servers have different communication protocols. When a client makes a request to access a server, the gateway card executes this access request even if the personal computer is in a power-save mode. When a client makes a request to access the personal computer and if the personal computer is in power-save mode, the gateway card changes the mode of the personal computer to a normal mode, executes the access request, and changes the mode of the personal computer to the power-save mode. |
| US07966501B2 |
Multi-function peripheral, power supply apparatus, and power supply control method
A digital multi-function peripheral includes a multi-function peripheral unit that has plural functions, a switching power supply unit connected to a commercial power supply as a main power supply for the multi-function peripheral unit, and an electrical storage device charged in advance as an auxiliary power supply for the multi-function peripheral unit. The digital multi-function peripheral further includes a control circuit that monitors a load current flowing to the multi-function peripheral unit, supplies electric power from the electrical storage device to the multi-function peripheral unit instead of electric power from the switching power supply unit when the load current is smaller than a threshold set as an allowable lower limit of power efficiency of the switching power supply unit, and supplies the electric power from the switching power supply unit to the multi-function peripheral unit when the load current increases to be equal to or larger than the threshold. |
| US07966499B2 |
System and method for obscuring bit-wise and two's complement integer computations in software
Systems and methods related to concealing mathematical and logical operations in software. Mathematical and logical operations are disguised by replacing them with logically equivalent expressions. Each equivalent expression has at least two expression constants whose values are based on scaling and bias constants assigned to variables in the original mathematical or logical operation. Each of the expression constants may also be based on additive or multiplicative inverses modulo n of the scaling and bias constants. By replacing the original operations with more complex but logically equivalent expressions containing variables that also involve more operations, the true nature of the original operations is disguised. |
| US07966497B2 |
System and method for acoustic two factor authentication
A hand-held token can be operated to generate an acoustic or other wireless signal representing a digital signature produced from the private key of a public key/private key pair, with the public key being confidential in that it is known only to authorized entities, such as bank computers. The signal from the token can be received by, e.g., a receiver at a bank ATM that also requires a PIN for account access. The user enters the PIN into the ATM, and the ATM encrypts the signal from the token with the PIN and sends it on to the bank computer over a link that need not be secure, since even if the PIN is guessed there is no way to verify that it is the correct PIN without also knowing the confidential public key held by the bank computer. |
| US07966493B2 |
Method of and system for determining if an electronic signature is necessary in order to commit a transaction to a database
A method of and system for intercepting a transaction instantiated by a database application to determine if an electronic signature is necessary to commit the transaction to the database is disclosed. In one embodiment the method comprises calling an application program interface to raise an event in response to a triggering action generated by the database application; initiating a workflow process that executes a rule to determine if an electronic signature is required to approve the transaction; and if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required for the transaction, instantiating a signature collection process. Some embodiments further comprise obtaining an electronic signature in response to the signature collection process and thereafter, verifying the electronic signature and updating a filed of the electronic record to indicate a valid signature was collected if the electronic signature is verified. |
| US07966489B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting an appropriate authentication method on a client
In one embodiment, a method for facilitating authentication and ease the configuration of authentication includes receiving a credential type selection and selecting one or more authentication types based on the credential type selection and one or more policies set by the administrators. The policies can be preconfigured or dynamically pushed or fetched and updated to the client. |
| US07966484B1 |
Automatic alternating bootable storage devices between different kinds of boot files
Backup for a computer system that automatically creates files that will allow the user the choice of which storage device with a bootable operating system to boot. An embodiment may automatically detect if the operating system is any of a plurality of versions of Windows XP or Windows Vista and create the appropriate files identifying the storage devices containing bootable operating system of the right types for use with these operating systems. |
| US07966482B2 |
Interleaving saturated lower half of data elements from two source registers of packed data
An apparatus includes an instruction decoder, first and second source registers and a circuit coupled to the decoder to receive packed data from the source registers and to pack the packed data responsive to a pack instruction received by the decoder. A first packed data element and a second packed data element are received from the first source register. A third packed data element and a fourth packed data element are received from the second source register. The circuit packs packing a portion of each of the packed data elements into a destination register resulting with the portion from second packed data element adjacent to the portion from the first packed data element, and the portion from the fourth packed data element adjacent to the portion from the third packed data element. |
| US07966481B2 |
Computer system and method for executing port communications without interrupting the receiving computer
A microprocessor system in which an array of processors communicates more efficiently through the use of a worker mode function. Processors that are not currently executing code remain in an inactive but alert state until a task is sent to them by an adjacent processor. Processors can also be programmed to temporarily suspend a task to check for incoming tasks or messages. |
| US07966478B2 |
Limiting entries in load reorder queue searched for snoop check to between snoop peril and tail pointers
A method for reducing entries searched in a load reorder queue (LRQ) when snoop instructions are executed by a processor, including checking load reorder queue (LRQ) entries located between a load_peril_snoop register and a lrq_tail register for addresses matching the address of the snoop; and setting a snooped bit in the LRQ entry for any matches found. |
| US07966474B2 |
System, method and computer program product for translating storage elements
A system, method and computer program product for translations in a computer system. The system includes a general purpose register containing a base address of an address translation table. The system also includes a millicode accessible special displacement register configured to receive a plurality of elements to be translated. The system further includes a multiplexer for selecting a particular one of the plurality of elements from the millicode accessible special displacement register and for generating a displacement or offset value. The system further includes an address generator for creating a combined address containing the base address from the general purpose register and the generated displacement or offset value. |
| US07966473B2 |
Optimised storage addressing method
The invention concerns a method for read-addressing a site among a plurality of storage units using a coded address derived from an instruction. The method comprises the following steps: a) predicting (104) the storage unit corresponding to the site to be addressed; b) decoding (108) the address of the site to be addressed and determining (109) the storage unit to be addressed; c) managing (105) a potential read and rewrite conflict assuming that the predicted storage unit is the storage unit to be addressed; d) controlling (111) the addressing of the predicted storage unit at the end of the managing step (105); e) at the end of step b), determining (110) whether the storage unit to be addressed corresponds to the predicted storage unit; and f) if the storage unit to be addressed does not correspond to the predicted storage unit, managing (115) a possible read and rewrite conflict in the storage unit to be addressed and addressing the site of the storage unit to be addressed. |
| US07966471B2 |
Storage controller and method for control of a data storage device
A storage controller of the present invention can input and output data even when the track size, which is the host management unit, is not consistent with the block size of the storage device. A boundary correction unit adds gap data corresponding to a gap size to data in a buffer memory so that the boundary of the track and boundary of the block inside the storage device match. A guarantee code is added to each logical block received from the host, and these guarantee code-appended blocks are stored in a cache memory. By providing a gap in the storage device every 116 extended logical blocks, the start position of the lead block of a track matches up with the start position of the logical blocks of the storage device. |
| US07966469B2 |
Memory system and method for operating a memory system
A memory system, in particular a buffered memory system, e.g., a fully buffered memory system, a method for operating a memory system, and a device for use with a memory system is disclosed. The memory system may include a first buffered memory module, and a second buffered memory module, wherein the first and the second buffered memory modules are adapted to be accessed in parallel. According to a further embodiment of the invention, a device is provided which is adapted to map consecutive accesses to the first or the second memory module to a parallel access of both the first and the second memory module. |