最新美国发明专利第2011-08-02期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US07989163B2	Detection method and detection apparatus of substance in biological sample A high accuracy method for detecting a biological-related substance is provided by which an abnormal state, such as the adhesion of dust, the reduction of a sample solution, or the like can be judged. Means for detecting a light emitted by the portion for light detection after dividing the light into at least a plurality of wavelength zones is provided. One of the plurality of wavelength zones includes substantially the same wavelength zone as that of the component of the excitation light. The light intensity of the component of the excitation light is detected and it is compared with a predetermined intensity (threshold). A highly accurate fluorescence measurement can be realized, by which the abnormality of a sample can be judged.
US07989159B2	Platelet additive solution with a viscosity of 1.128-1.228 centipoise @ 37C comprising hydroxyethyl starch and methods of making and using Disclosed is a platelet additive solution (PAS) comprising a viscosity increasing agent. The use of a PAS comprising such a viscosity increasing agent, especially at concentrations effective to achieve a viscosity similar to that of blood plasma, promotes platelet recovery during extraction from pooled buffy coats and provides for easier platelet production by maintaining the red cell/platelet-rich-supernatant interface.
US07989157B2	Solution for storing bioprosthetic tissue used in a biological prosthesis A method for processing biological tissue used in biological prostheses includes providing a tissue procurement solution formed from a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution and a chelating agent. The tissue is transferred from the tissue procurement solution and undergoes chemical fixation. The fixed tissue is then immersed in a series of fresh bioburden reduction process (BRP) solutions to extract phospholipids. The tissue procurement solution reduces the bioburden on the stored tissue and preserves tissue architecture by minimizing tissue swelling. The tissue procurement solution further reduces calcium from the incoming water and/or tissue, and inhibits enzymes that digest the collagen matrix. The serial immersion of the tissue in the fresh bioburden solutions ensures optimal extraction of phospholipids thereby mitigating subsequent calcification of the tissue.
US07989152B2	Magneto-optical photoresist A method for a magneto-optical photoresist. The method includes applying a magneto-optical photoresist to a surface, and patterning the magneto-optical photoresist by using a magnetic alignment. The magneto-optical photoresist is also patterned by using a photo exposure, wherein the magnetic alignment provides a photo exposure alignment for the photo exposure.
US07989150B2	Manufacturing method of optical waveguide An optical waveguide production method for producing an optical waveguide comprising the steps of: forming an under-cladding layer and an alignment mark from the same material on a substrate; forming a thin metal film on the alignment mark; forming a first transparent photosensitive resin layer on the resultant substrate to cover the under-cladding layer and the thin metal film; positioning an exposure mask with reference to the thin metal film formed on the alignment mark; and selectively exposing a predetermined portion of the first photosensitive resin layer on the under-cladding layer via the exposure mask to form a core defined by the exposed portion of the first photosensitive resin layer.
US07989149B2	Mold core and method for fabricating mold core An exemplary method for fabricating a mold core includes the following steps. First, an ultraviolet (UV) transmitting glass substrate is provided. Second, a photo resist layer is formed on the substrate. Third, the photo resist layer is exposed under a UV light and developed to form a plurality of spaced through holes therein. Fourth, the areas of the surface of the substrate under the through holes are etched to form a plurality of cavities. Fifth, each cavity is filled with a light-curable material, and the photo resist layer is removed. Sixth, the light-curable material is solidified to form a light-cured material block in each cavity. Lastly, the light-cured material block in each cavity is machined using an ultra-precision machine to form a molding surface of the light-cured material block. Thereby, the mold core with a plurality of the molding surfaces is obtained.
US07989147B2	Method for fabricating liquid crystal display device Disclosed is a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device comprising: providing a first substrate having a pixel portion and a pad portion; sequentially laminating a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer and a first conductive layer on the first substrate where a gate electrode is formed; forming a first PR pattern, which is patterned relatively thin on a channel region of a transistor to be formed, on the first conductive layer with a half-tone mask; patterning the first conductive layer with the first PR pattern; forming a second PR pattern which is aligned with an outer periphery of the first conductive layer by performing a first ashing process on the first PR pattern; patterning the semiconductor layer using the second PR pattern; forming source/drain electrodes using the second PR pattern; forming a passivation layer and a pixel electrode on the first substrate; attaching a second substrate to the first substrate; and forming a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US07989144B2	Antireflective coating composition The present invention relates to an antireflective composition comprising a thermal acid generator and an epoxy polymer comprising at least one unit of structure 1, at least one unit of structure 2, where, R1 to R12 are independently selected from hydrogen and C1-C4 alkyl, structure 1 has a configuration selected from cis, trans or mixture thereof, and x and y are the mole % of the monomeric units in the polymer. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a microelectronic device.
US07989136B2	Photoresist composition and method of forming a photoresist pattern using the same A photoresist composition comprises about 0.5 to about 20 parts by weight of a photo-acid generator, about 10 to about 70 parts by weight of a novolac resin containing a hydroxyl group, about 1 to about 40 parts by weight of a cross-linker that comprises an alkoxymethylmelamine compound, and about 10 to about 150 parts by weight of a solvent.
US07989134B2	Toner, method for manufacturing the same, and image forming method To provide a toner manufacturing method including: dissolving or dispersing a toner material into an organic solvent to prepare a toner solution, the toner material containing at least an active hydrogen group-containing compound, polymer reactive with the active hydrogen group-containing compound, binder resin, releasing agent and coloring agent; emulsifying or dispersing the toner solution into an aqueous medium to prepare an emulsified dispersion; reacting the active hydrogen group-containing compound with the polymer reactive with the active hydrogen group-containing compound in the aqueous medium produce an adhesive base material in the form of particle; and removing the organic solvent, wherein time X (hour) from a point where the organic solvent starts to be removed to a point where the concentration of the organic solvent reaches less than 12% by mass and temperature T (° C.) of the emulsified dispersion at the time X satisfy the relationship 5{exp(−0.2X)+1}≦T≦50X−0.2.
US07989131B2	Toner, developer, image forming method, image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and toner container A toner is provided including a binder resin and a wax having primarily C—H and C—C bonds, and having a melting point of 50 to 90° C., wherein the wax is present in a surface portion of the toner in an amount of from 0.1 to 4.0% by weight, wherein the amount of the wax is determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR); and the use of the toner in an image forming method, image forming apparatus, developer and toner cartridge containing the toner.
US07989128B2	Urea resin containing photogenerating layer photoconductors A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains a urea resin.
US07989127B2	Carbazole containing charge transport layer photoconductors A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the charge transport layer contains a carbazole.
US07989124B2	Photomask blank and photomask making method A photomask blank comprises a transparent substrate, a light-shielding film deposited on the substrate and comprising a metal or metal compound susceptible to fluorine dry etching, and an etching mask film deposited on the light-shielding film and comprising another metal or metal compound resistant to fluorine dry etching. When the light-shielding film is dry etched to form a pattern, pattern size variation arising from pattern density dependency is reduced, so that a photomask is produced at a high accuracy.
US07989123B2	Photomask including ion trapping layer and method of manufacturing semiconductor device using the photomask A photomask includes an ion trapping layer and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device uses the photomask. The photomask includes a transparent substrate and an ion trapping layer formed on a first region of the transparent substrate to trap ions present near the transparent substrate. In manufacturing a semiconductor device, a photosensitive film formed on a substrate is exposed through the photomask in which the ion trapping layer is formed on the transparent substrate, and the substrate is processed using the photosensitive film obtained as the result of the exposure.
US07989121B2	Solid oxide fuel cell and separator A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. A fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layers and the oxidant electrode layers, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collectors and the air electrode current collectors, respectively. Alternatively, indents are provided on the surface of each of the separators, which surface is in contact with one of the current collectors, to increase the dwell volume and hence the retaining time of the gas in the interior of the current collectors.
US07989119B2	Fuel diffusion unit, fuel supply unit, and fuel cell system including the same A fuel diffusion unit including: a fuel diffusion plate; a diffusion sheet disposed on fuel diffusion plate, to evenly distribute a fuel to the fuel diffusion plate; a primary transportation unit disposed on the diffusion sheet; secondary transportation units connected to the primary transportation unit, to distribute the fuel to the fuel from the primary transportation unit to the diffusion sheet. The diffusion sheet has a wetting direction that allows the fuel to flow in a predetermined direction. The fuel diffusion unit can be included in a fuel supply unit and a fuel cell system.
US07989114B2	Fuel-cell comprising capillaries A fuel cell comprising a reaction chamber; a plurality of capillary tubes configured to permit a fuel component to flow there through, the capillary tubes being arranged in bundles in adjacent segments within the reaction chamber; a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the plurality of electrodes passing through each of the plurality of capillary tubes, being against each of the plurality of capillary tubes, or passing through and being against each of the plurality of capillary tubes; and a plurality of counter-electrodes, Each electrode extends beyond ends of its respective capillary tube, and electrodes associated with capillary tubes of a segment are electrically connected to one another at each end at substantially the same electrical potential. Each segment has a wall section to which is attached at least one of the counter-electrodes or wherein the wall section at least partially forms at least one of the counter-electrodes.
US07989113B2	Solid-oxide shaped fuel cell module There is provided a solid oxide fuel cell module comprising a substrate with an internal fuel flow part provided therein, at least a face thereof, in contact with cells, and interconnectors, being an insulator, a plurality of the cells each made of an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode, stacked in sequence, formed on a surface of the substrate, and the interconnectors each electrically connecting in series the cells adjacent to each other, wherein the respective cells are varied in area along the direction of fuel flow, and solid oxide fuel cell bundled modules using the same. With the solid oxide fuel cell module of a multi-segment type, according to the invention, it is possible to aim at higher voltage and to attain an improvement in power generation efficiency and current collecting efficiency.
US07989105B2	Battery pack A battery pack is provided. For example, the battery pack includes a box-shaped or plate-shaped battery pack. The battery pack has a hard outer jacket member, a box-shaped or plate-shaped battery element, a cover, and a circuit board. The hard outer jacket member has a first opening and a second opening formed at both ends. The box-shaped or plate-shaped battery element is contained in the outer jacket member and has electrode terminals. The cover is molded from resin and is fitted to the first opening. The circuit board is connected to the electrode terminal leads and contained in the cover. At least the electrode terminal leads extends from the first opening. The cover has concave portions on both ends of one longer side. The outer jacket member has cut portions that expose at least the concave portions of the cover. At least a longer side of the cover and the outer jacket member are heat-adhered.
US07989104B2	Battery module A battery module includes a case with at least one face which is opened, a plurality of partition walls fixedly installed at predetermined intervals in the case, and a plurality of unit batteries which are separated from each other with the partition walls therebetween to be inserted into the case. The battery module may include a battery fixing structure which is installed between the case and the unit batteries to fix the unit batteries so as to prevent positional movement of the unit batteries in the case. The battery fixing structure may be a concavo-convex engaging structure including fixing projections and projection receiving portions.
US07989103B2	Composite battery separator film and method of making same A microporous separator film for electrochemical cells and a method of making such films is disclosed. The microporous separator film includes an intimate mixture of an electrically insulating matrix phase and a self-switching voltage activated conductive phase, wherein the voltage activated conductive phase provides a plurality of conductive paths from a first face of the microporous separator film to a second face of the microporous separator film. The method for making the composite microporous separator film includes the steps of forming an intimate mixture of at least an insulating matrix phase and a self-switching voltage activated phase, forming a film from the mixture, and generating pores within the film.
US07989096B2	Perpendicular recording media having an exchange-spring structure A recording medium providing improved writeability in perpendicular recording applications includes a magnetic recording layer having an axis of magnetic anisotropy substantially perpendicular to the surface thereof, an exchange-spring layer ferromagnetically exchange coupled to the magnetic recording layer and having a coercivity less than the magnetic recording layer coercivity, and a coupling layer between the magnetic recording layer and the exchange-spring layer. The coupling layer regulates the ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the magnetic recording layer and the exchange-spring layer.
US07989095B2	Magnetic layer with nanodispersoids having a bimodal distribution An article comprising a multilayered structure comprising a series of magnetic layers is provided. The magnetic layers comprise a magnetic material, and an insulating layer is disposed between successive magnetic layers. Each magnetic layer has a thickness of at least about 2 micrometers and magnetic material has an average grain size less than 200 nm. Also provided is a method for making the article.
US07989092B2	Fine grained cemented carbide for turning in heat resistant super alloys (HRSA) Coated cemented carbide inserts, particularly useful in fine turning of super alloys, are disclosed. The inserts are characterized by a composition of a cemented carbide of WC, about 4.0 wt-% Co to about 7.0 wt-% Co, about 0.25 wt-% Cr to 0.50 wt-% Cr, and a coercivity (Hc) of about 28 kA/m to about 38 kA/m. The coating comprises a single (Ti1-xSix)N-layer, where x is between about 0.1 and about 0.25, with a crystal structure of NaCl type and a total thickness between about 0.5 μm and about 2.0 μm with a strong (200)-texture.
US07989089B2	Organic luminescent compounds and methods of making and using same The invention provides organic compounds of the general structure (1) that are photoluminescent and electroluminescent, emitting intense blue light. The invention further provides methods of synthesizing such compounds, methods of producing photoluminescence and electroluminescence, methods of applying the compounds in thin films, and uses of the compounds of the invention in luminescent probes, electroluminescent displays and as pH probes and metal ion detectors.
US07989086B2	High temperature seal for joining ceramic components such as cells in a ceramic oxygen generator A multi-layer seal arrangement includes a dissolution barrier between a braze alloy and a ceramic component. The inventive seal is useful for joining a ceramic component to another ceramic component or a metal component, for example. In one example, the braze comprises a gold alloy and the dissolution barrier comprises a layer of alumina on the order of 2-3 microns thick. A titanium wetting layer is provided between the alumina layer and the alloy. A metallization layer provided between the dissolution barrier and the ceramic component in one example comprises a layer of gold between two thin layers of titanium. In one particular example, a platinum mesh is included with the gold of the braze alloy to control braze flow during the brazing operation.
US07989085B2	Housing of electronic device and electronic device using the same An exemplary housing of electronic device includes a metallic main body and a metallic three-dimensional woven member formed on at least a part of a surface of the metallic main body. An electronic device using the housing is also provided. The housing of the electronic device has a textured touching feeling.
US07989080B2	Method and apparatus for providing hermetic electrical feedthrough A method and apparatus suitable for forming hermetic electrical feedthroughs in a ceramic sheet having a thickness of ≦40 mils. More particularly, the method yields an apparatus including a hermetic electrical feedthrough which is both biocompatible and electrochemically stable and suitable for implantation in a patient's body. The method involves: (a) providing an unfired, ceramic sheet having a thickness of ≦40 mils and preferably comprising ≧99% aluminum oxide; (b) forming multiple blind holes in said sheet; (c) inserting solid wires, preferably of platinum, in said holes; (d) firing the assembly of sheet and wires to a temperature sufficient to sinter the sheet material but insufficient to melt the wires; and (e) removing sufficient material from the sheet lower surface so that the lower ends of said wires are flush with the finished sheet lower surface.
US07989079B2	Insert-molded cover and method for manufacturing same An exemplary insert-molded cover (10) for electronic devices includes a metallic body (11), a plastic antenna lid (12) integrally formed with the metallic body and an oxide film (12) formed on a surface (111) of the metallic body for attaching the plastic antenna lid. The present invention also relates a method for manufacturing the insert-molded cover for electronic devices.
US07989075B2	Chrome-free composition of low temperature curing for treating a metal surface and a metal sheet using the same Provided is a chromium-free, low-temperature curable, metal-surface treatment composition comprising 5 to 30 parts by weight of a silane compound having an epoxy group and a silane compound having an amino group or a hydrolytic condensate thereof; 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of a vanadium compound; 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of a magnesium compound; 1 to 10 parts by weight of organic/inorganic acids; 0.05 to 2 parts by weight of a crosslinking accelerating and coupling agent; 0.01 to 1 part by weight of an antifoaming agent; 1 to 2 parts by weight of a wetting agent; and the balance of water and ethanol, based on 100 parts by weight of the total solution. In addition, a steel sheet coated with the above-described metal-surface treatment composition is low-temperature curable and provides anticorrosiveness while containing no chromium components.
US07989071B2	Organic electronic devices The invention relates to the improvement of organic electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescence devices, to which end inclusion compounds are used, especially as charge injection materials and/or charge transporting materials.
US07989069B2	Polymeric organometallic films An organometallic coating deposited from a metal alkoxide composition under conditions sufficient to form a polymeric metal oxide coating with unreacted alkoxide and hydroxyl groups is disclosed. Also disclosed are substrates coated with the organometallic coating and a method for applying the organometallic coating to a substrate.
US07989064B2	Ceramic-coated tungsten powder The coating the tungsten powder particles with a ceramic barrier suppresses the leachability of tungsten in aqueous media. Preferably, the ceramic coating substantially encapsulates each particle of tungsten and has a thickness of at least about 30 nm and, more preferable, from about 200 nm to about 500 nm. Examples of ceramic coatings that may be used include, but are not limited to, aluminum oxide (alumina), aluminum oxyhydroxide (AlOOH), zirconium oxide (zirconia), cerium oxide (ceria), hafnium oxide (hafnia), and magnesium oxide (magnesia).
US07989062B2	Biodegradable continuous filament web A biodegradable nonwoven web comprising substantially continuous multicomponent filaments is provided. The filaments comprise a first component and a second component. The first component contains at least one high-melting point aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 160° C. to about 250° C. and the second component contains at least one low-melting point aliphatic polyester. The melting point of the low-melting point aliphatic polyester is at least about 30° C. less than the melting point of the high-melting point aliphatic polyester. The low-melting point aliphatic polyester has a number average molecular weight of from about 30,000 to about 120,000 Daltons, a glass transition temperature of less than about 25° C., and an apparent viscosity of from about 50 to about 215 Pascal-seconds, as determined at a temperature of 160° C. and a shear rate of 1000 sec−1.
US07989060B2	Oxide coated cutting insert A cutting tool insert, particularly useful for machining of steel and stainless steel, comprising a body of a hard alloy of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material or high speed steel a hard and wear resistant coating; and at least (Al,Cr)2O3 layer applied to said body is disclosed. Methods of making a cutting tool insert are also disclosed. In addition, methods for machining of cast iron using the cutting tool inserts are disclosed.
US07989058B2	Fibrous structures Fibrous structures that exhibit a Dry Burst of greater than 360 g as measured according to the Dry Burst Test Method and optionally, a Total Dry Tensile of less than 2450 g/76.2 mm and/or a Machine Direction (MD) Dry Tensile of less than 1520 g/76.2 mm and/or a Geometric Mean (GM) Total Dry Tensile of less than 1180 g/76.2 mm as measured according to the Tensile Strength Test Method are provided.
US07989054B2	Digital printing of polymer-coated paper or board The invention relates to a method for digitally printing a polymer-coated paper or board (1), to a paper or board suitable for the method and to the production of a product package equipped with digital prints. During digital printing, printing ink particles are applied in an electric field to the printing surface formed of a polymer coating at locations corresponding to the print, and the printing ink is adhered to the printing surface by fusion with the aid of infrared radiation. In accordance with the invention, the paper or board (2) to be printed is equipped with an inner coating layer (3) containing electrically chargeable ethene acrylate copolymer, such as ethene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA), and with a polyolefin-based outer shield layer (4) on top of this, which contains e.g. low-density polyethene (LDPE) and provides mechanical strength, forming the printing surface receiving the printing ink.
US07989047B2	Hexagonal-cell honeycomb structure A hexagonal-cell honeycomb structure having a plurality of cell walls having a hexagonal shape in cross-section and forming a plurality of hexagonal cell passages, and a tubular skin layer surrounding the cell walls, The thickness of the basic cell walls is 140 μm or less and an inscribed circle diameter Da inscribed at an intersectional portion of the basic cell walls 2 and an cell pitch P having the relationship Da/P≧0.13.
US07989040B2	Insulating glass unit having multi-height internal standoffs and visible decoration An insulating glass unit having a decorative pattern visible to the unaided eye. The glass unit comprises a pair of glass sheets disposed in a parallel, but spaced apart arrangement, thereby defining a gap between their respective inner surfaces. The glass unit further comprises a frame attached around the periphery of both sheets to form a sealed cavity. A first plurality of dots are disposed within the sealed cavity. Each dot of the first plurality is attached to the inner surface of one of the sheets, and has a height substantially equal to the width of the gap. A second plurality of dots are disposed within the sealed cavity. Each dot of the second plurality is attached to the inner surface of one of the sheets and has a height less than the width of the gap. The dots of the second plurality are arranged so as to form a pattern on the sheet that is visible to the unaided eye.
US07989038B2	Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase comprising two components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (1), and the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (2), and the third component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (3): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by fluorine; ring A and ring B are each independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene; 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; and X1, X2, X3 and X4 are each independently hydrogen or fluorine.
US07989036B2	Optical compensation films with disk groups for liquid crystal display Optical compensation films (positive C-plate) with disk anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that have high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<λ<800 nm are provided. The optical compensation films may be processed by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. Such optical compensation films are suitable for use as a positive C-plate in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.
US07989031B2	Component surface with three-dimensional surface texture and method for the creation of a component surface with three-dimensional surface texture This invention relates to a component surface (side section 1a), in particular a vehicle surface, with a three-dimensional surface texture. This invention further relates to a method for the creation of a component surface (side section 1a), in particular a vehicle surface, with a three-dimensional surface texture. To keep the effort and expense required for the achievement of a three-dimensional surface texture low, the invention teaches that a film is glued to the component surface (side section 1a), which film has been provided prior to the gluing with a plurality of coats of paint, each using the screen printing process, which in their totality form a three-dimensional surface texture.
US07989028B2	Continuously manufactured colored metallic products and method of manufacture of such products Metallic tube, pipe and conduit are made in a continuous process that includes a zinc galvanization stage, a first passivation stage, a second passivation stage and a third passivation stage. A colorant is added to the tube, pipe or conduit during the continuous manufacturing process, and the colorant imparts the appearance of a color, such as red. The continuous movement of the tube, pipe or conduit is not halted during normal operation of the tube, pipe or conduit manufacturing and coloring process.
US07989025B2	Film forming method, method for manufacturing organic electroluminescent device, organic electroluminescent device, and electronic apparatus A film forming method for forming a film including arranging a liquid composition on a substrate and drying the liquid composition, the liquid composition being obtained by dissolving a functional material in a solvent with a plurality of species of liquid mixed therein, is provided. The method includes: a) firstly reducing a pressure surrounding the liquid composition arranged on the substrate at a first depressurizing speed; b) increasing the pressure surrounding the liquid composition to a predetermined pressures after the step a); and c) secondly reducing the pressure surrounding the liquid composition at a second depressurizing speed, after the step b).
US07989021B2	Vaporizing material at a uniform rate A method of vaporizing material at a uniform rate for forming a layer on a substrate includes feeding a column of vaporizable material from a temperature controlled region maintained below the vaporizable material's effective vaporization temperature to a source of vaporization energy, wherein the volume of the column can vary during vaporization; and providing a source of vaporization energy delivering a constant heat flux to the surface of the column so that a uniform volume per unit time of the vaporizable material is vaporized to form the layer on the substrate, irrespective of the feeding rate.
US07989018B2	Fluid treatment of a polymeric coating on an implantable medical device A method for modifying a polymeric coating on an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The method includes application of a fluid to a wet or dry polymeric coating with and without drugs.
US07989015B2	Methods of forming heat stable soy milk concentrates Methods are provided to prepare heat stable soy milk concentrates above 3.2× based on the level of protein that are thermally stable upon achieving an Fo of at least 5. One method removes soluble carbohydrates prior to concentration. Another method removes both soluble and insoluble carbohydrates prior to concentration. Yet other methods prepare soy milk concentrates using partially hydrolyzed soy protein isolate.
US07989012B2	Induction cooking structure and system and method of using the same In summary, the invention is a method of producing an edible food product. The method includes the step of forming a vessel core with a first material having a first level of susceptibility to heating by induction. The method also includes the step of casting an apron of a second material with a second level of susceptibility to heating by induction lower than said first level around at least a first portion the vessel core in an in situ casting process to form a clad cooking vessel having a cooking surface. An uncooked food product is then disposed on the cooking surface of the clad cooking vessel and heated to produce the edible food product by subjecting the vessel core to a magnetic field.
US07989009B2	Composition and method for promoting weight loss A composition for promoting weight loss comprising black tea extract, white tea extract, oolong tea extract, guarana extract, green maté extract, thiamine, choline and N-acetylcysteine. The composition may be administered in methods for promoting weight loss by increasing fat oxidation and/or controlling appetite.
US07989007B2	Weight loss composition The present invention comprises a purposefully formulated weight loss composition and a method for causing a meaningful weight loss in a living human subject. The formulated weight loss composition, in its most preferred embodiments comprises: at least one amino acid that is a pharmacologically active precursor in the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway; one or more sympathomimetic agents; a lipolytic agent; a high-Dalton macromolecular protein, and a plurality of micronutrients. The preferred composition is formulated as a dry particulate admixture initially; and then is made into a fluid beverage, which is able to achieve multiple physiologic functions in-vivo. These in-vivo functions include: causing a meaningful weight loss, with a preference for lipolysis and fat metabolism; providing for a low glycemic index; offering lean muscle maintenance and replenishment; and concomitantly initiating dopaminergic (D2-receptor) brain stimulation, resulting in improved cognitive function and affective augmentation.
US07989003B2	Method and composition for delivering zinc to the nasal membrane A viscous gel for delivering minor effective amounts of active substances through the nasal membrane into the body.
US07988999B2	Pharmaceutical preparation in the form of a paste comprising an acid-labile active ingredient The present invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical technology and describes a pharmaceutical preparation in the form of a paste comprising an acid-labile active ingredient, in particular an acid-labile proton pump inhibitor. The invention also relates to processes for producing the paste. The paste is particularly suitable for administering acid-labile active ingredients to animals or to people who have difficulty taking solid dosage forms such as tablets or capsules.
US07988996B2	Pharmaceutical tablets with height greater than width Described is a compressed multiple layer pharmaceutical tablet that has a height that exceeds the width of the tablet. The height is measured vertically from the top to the bottom of the tablet while it is in the tablet die in which it is fully compressed, after compression has been completed. The width is measured as the greatest horizontal dimension of the tablet at a location halfway between the top and the bottom of the tablet, except that when the horizontal cross-section of the tablet is substantially rectangular, the width is defined by locating the two shorter sides of the perimeter of the horizontal cross-section, and measuring the length of a line that is at right angle to the shorter sides. The layers can form a segment or, preferably, more than one segment.
US07988995B1	Pharmaceutical compositions for lipophilic drugs Stable solutions of lipophilic drugs, such as cyclosporin, forming a polar lipid self-emulsifying drug delivery system. The solutions can include lipophilic drugs, such as cyclosporin, dissolved in a polar lipid, such as having a C6-C12 fatty acid monoglyceride content of at least about 50%, surfactants and triglycerides. The composition forms a fine emulsion on exposure to water. The encapsulated dosage form of this composition needs neither a hydrophilic component nor air-tight blister packaging, and is particularly suitable for oral administration.
US07988994B2	Capsule formulation of pirfenidone and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients A capsule formulation of pirfenidone is provided that includes pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. In one embodiment, this capsule formulation is capable of sustaining desirable pharmacokinetic responses in a patient. Further provided are methods of treating fibrotic conditions and other cytokine-mediated disorders by administering pirfenidone capsules of such formulation to a patient in need.
US07988990B2	Thin aqueous cataplasm A thin aqueous cataplasm prepared by laminating an adhesive layer (base) having specified constituents on a support which consists of a fiber film prepared by heat-fusing a soft plastic resin on a composite fiber prepared by entangling a natural fiber and a soft plastic fiber, or consists of a fiber film prepared by heat-fusing a plastic resin having a soft part and a hard part in common on a fiber consisting of a plastic having a soft part and hard part in common.The thin aqueous cataplasm retains a moisture-protecting effect on the skin and provides comfortable feeling in its use.
US07988989B2	Nutritional product for enhancing growth and/or strengthening the immune system of equine foals A novel nutritional product and methods for the manufacture and administration of the same are disclosed for the feeding of equine foals and other animals. The nutritional product of the present invention is effective in supporting the growth and health of equine foals, and in supporting and stimulating its immune system as well. The nutritional product of the present invention consists of safe and natural ingredients rather than drugs, and is orally administrable. The ingredients of the nutritional product of the present invention when combined provide a synergistic efficacy which greatly exceeds the sum of the efficacies of the individual ingredients, making the nutritional product highly effective in promoting and enhancing the growth, nutritional uptake, and immune system of equine foals.
US07988983B2	Microencapsulation coating for gloves The present invention provides for a coating having microcapsules for use with a glove. The coating improves both wet and dry and donnability of the glove. The coating comprises microcapsules, water and a polyurethane for application to a glove.
US07988979B2	Neisseria meningitidis antigens and compositions The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.
US07988978B2	Composition and method for controlling intestinal pathogenic organisms An antigen composition for stimulating an immune response in an inoculated avian species to at least one intestinal pathogenic organism includes seven field strains of E. coli, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Aerobacter aerogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella agona, and Salmonella Kentucky. The antigen composition can be used alone or in combination with a Marek's Disease vaccine to reduce shedding of E. coli and/or Salmonella bacteria.
US07988974B2	Antifusogenic proteins comprising human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 DP-178 polypeptide variants and a macromolecular carrier The present invention relates to fusion peptides which exhibit potent anti-retroviral activity. The fusion peptides of the invention comprise a macromolecular carrier group fused to a gp41-derived DP178 (SEQ ID NO:1) peptide corresponding to amino acids 638 to 673 of the HIV-1LA1 gp41 protein, or fragments, analogs or homologs of DP178. The invention further relates to the uses of such fusion peptides as inhibitory of human and non-human retroviral, especially HIV, transmission to uninfected cells.
US07988972B2	Immunoreactive peptides from Epstein-Barr virus The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) specific polypeptides ETFTETWNRFITHTE (SEQ. ID NO: 1), GMLEASEGLDGWIHQ (SEQ. ID NO:2), HQQGGWSTLIEDNIP (SEQ. ID NO:3), and KQKHPKKVKQAFNPL (SEQ. ID NO:4) are among those disclosed. Also disclosed are the use of these polypeptides for the production of polypeptide-specific antibodies and the diagnosis and treatment of EBV-associated disease.
US07988968B2	Method of treating an IL-1 related coronary condition An IL-1β binding antibody or IL-1β binding fragment thereof comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and related nucleic acids, vectors, cells, and compositions, as well as method of using same to treat or prevent a disease, and a method of preparing an affinity matured IL-1β binding polypeptide. IL-1β binding antibodies or IL-1β binding fragments thereof are provided which have desirable affinity and potency.
US07988966B2	Method for the potentiation of opioid analgesics effects on pain According to the invention there is provided use of an anti-TrkA antibody capable of inhibiting the binding between NGF and TrkA combined with at least one opioid analgesic for the preparation of a medicament for treating and/or preventing pain.
US07988965B2	Methods of treating systemic lupus erythematosus with an antibody against costimulatory signal transduction molecule ailim Immunization of human antibody-producing transgenic mice, which have been created using genetic engineering techniques, with AILIM molecule as an antigen resulted in various human monoclonal antibodies capable of binding to AILIM and capable of controlling a variety of biological reactions (for example, cell proliferation, cytokine production, immune cytolysis, cell death, induction of ADCC, etc.) associated with AILIM-mediated costimulatory signal (secondary signal) transduction. Furthermore, it has been revealed that the human monoclonal antibody is effective to treat and prevent various diseases associated with AILIM-mediated costimulatory signal transduction, being capable of inhibiting the onset and/or advancement of the diseases.
US07988958B2	Enterococcus and Streptococcus strains and bacteriocins Novel Enterococcus and Streptococcus bacteriocins produced by novel Enterococcus and Streptococcus strains are used for at least reducing the levels of colonization by at least one target bacteria in animals, especially poultry.
US07988957B2	Gene introduction efficiency enhancer A gene transfer efficiency enhancer of the present invention which contains a histone deacetylase inhibitor (especially compound (A)) as an active ingredient is capable of enhancing gene transfer efficiency in a gene transfer mediated by an adeno-associated virus vector while retaining the advantages of the adeno-associated virus vector.
US07988956B2	Hydrolytically degradable carbamate derivatives of poly(ethylene glycol) Poly(ethylene glycol) carbamate derivatives useful as water-soluble pro-drugs are disclosed. These degradable poly(ethylene glycol) carbamate derivatives also have potential applications in controlled hydrolytic degradation of hydrogels. In such degradable hydrogels, drugs may be either trapped in the gel and released by diffusion as the gel degrades, or they may be covalently bound through hydrolyzable carbamate linkages. Hydrolysis of these carbamate linkages releases the amine drug at a controllable rate as the gel degrades.
US07988955B2	Conditioning composition The present invention is related to stabilization of color of conditioning compositions for hair on aqueous basis, suitable for use after using cleansing compositions by using at least one chelating agent and at least one UV absorbing substance.
US07988950B2	Contrast agents endowed with high relaxivity for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which contain a chelating moiety with polyhydroxylated substituents The present invention relates to a novel class of paramagnetic ion-based contrast i agents of formula (I), wherein a chelating backbone moiety is highly functionalized by the presence of one or more polyhydroxylated chain, that show a pharmacokinetic i profile analogous to that of the commonly used T1-general extravascular agents (NSA) but are further characterized by a higher relaxivity. Formula (I): A(LR)v wherein: A is a linear or cyclic chelating backbone moiety; R is, independently, H or a C2-C70aminopolyol moiety comprising a ‘straight or branched alkyl chain substituted by from 2 to 30 hydroxyl groups, the said chain being optionally interrupted by one or more groups selected from -0-, —NH—, —N<, —CO—, —CONH—, —NHCO—, —CON< or >NCO—; and optionally substituted by one or more C4-C10 cyclic units; L is, independently, a direct bond or “a divalent straight or branched linker moiety between A and R, at most comprising 20 carbon atoms; V is a positive integer from 1 to 7; with the proviso that at least one of the R groups is other than H; or a physiologically acceptable salt of such ligand.
US07988949B2	Nanoparticles for protein drug delivery The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one antibiotics or equivalent bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability in oral drug delivery.
US07988948B2	Steam-hydrocarbon reforming method with limited steam export A method for generating hydrogen and/or syngas in a production facility where little or no export steam is produced. Most or all of the steam produced from the waste heat from the process is used in the steam-hydrocarbon reformer. Reformed gas is passed to a pressure swing adsorption system for H2 purification. In the method, CO2 is removed from the pressure swing adsorber residual gas prior to recycling the residual gas to the reformer for use as feed and as fuel. Plant efficiencies using the method and prior art-type methods are compared.
US07988946B2	Method for recycling zirconium tetrafluoride into zirconia The method allows ZrF4 to be converted into ZrO2, by carrying out a thermal conversion operation based on solid ZrF4 and water which are heated in a reactor until converted into ZrO2. The initial ratio by weight of ZrF4 to water is in particular between 1/5 and 1/500, and this ratio is maintained substantially for the entire duration of the conversion. The thermal conversion is carried out at a temperature greater than or equal to 300° C. The invention is used in particular for recycling pickling baths for zirconium alloys.
US07988941B2	Graphene sheet and method of preparing the same An economical method of preparing a large-sized graphene sheet having a desired thickness includes forming a film, the film comprising a graphitizing catalyst; heat-treating a gaseous carbon source in the presence of the graphitizing catalyst to form graphene; and cooling the graphene to form a graphene sheet. A graphene sheet prepared according to the disclosed method is also described.
US07988935B2	Handheld and portable microfluidic device to automatically prepare nucleic acids for analysis A handheld and portable extraction device is directed to a microfluidic-based system to be used in the field to extract and purify an analyte, preferably a nucleic acid, from a fluid-based sample. Preferably, the fluid-based sample is water-based. The fluid-based sample can also be a biological fluid sample. The handheld and portable extraction device includes a syringe-like device coupled to a purification chip. The purification chip is preferably included within a chip block which is removable from the remaining portion of the handheld and portable extraction device. The analyte collected within the purification chip can be later removed and collected for analysis.
US07988934B2	Carrier for positioning objects in relation to laboratory articles Relates to a carrier (1) for positioning objects (5), which are oriented in the Z direction of a coordinate system, in relation to laboratory articles. Z rods (12) comprise a Z guide (43), on a cage (10) carrying the individual drive wheel (17), on which the Z rod (12) is guided in the Z direction. Each drive wheel (17) comprises a section (41), which is tailored to the cross-section of the profiled rod (18) of the Z drive of the carrier (1), individually driven by a motor, on which the drive wheel (17) is seated so it is not rotatable and is displaceable by sliding in the Y direction. The carrier (1) is characterized in that the attack faces (40) of the profiled rods (18) for driving a drive wheel are larger than the attack faces of a profiled rod having a square cross-section but having equally large radius.
US07988932B2	Micro mechanical methods and systems for performing assays The present invention provides a micro mechanical system for performing assays for determining the presence of one or more selected analytes in a sample. The device comprises of a base and a disposable strip with at least one reaction well and at least one moveable member capable of moving fluids and parts through the fluids in a defined reaction well. Reagents in the reaction chambers and or the moveable members, react with the sample to yield a physically detectable change. The moveable parts are capable of executing motions that either mix, move reaction components, exchange or systematically deliver reagents to targets in the cartridge. Sensors in the base are configured to detect and or quantify the presence of a sample in the reaction well and of analytes in the sample. The signal is converted to an output on a visual display window on the external part of the base.
US07988931B2	Support grid for filling material packings and method for mounting the support grid A support grid for filling material packings includes plate-shaped support strips which extend perpendicularly to an installation plane and are connected in a cruciform manner to spacer strips also extending perpendicularly to the installation plane. Contour strips which are provided with openings and are disposed at an angle and at a distance from one another, are placed in the direction of the spacer strips. The size of the openings as well as the distances are selected in such a way that supported filling material cannot penetrate. The maximum cross-section of the openings amounts to 90 percent. A method for mounting a support grid for filling material packings, is also provided.
US07988927B2	Method of varying the temperature of a tube bundle reactor A method of varying the temperature of a tube bundle reactor for catalytic gas phase reactions upon start-up and shut-down, the tube bundle reactor comprising a major reactor portion which includes a bundle of vertically disposed reactor tubes, upper and lower tubesheets tightly connected to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the reactor tubes, and a reactor shell enclosing the tube bundle, a heat transfer medium having a melting temperature in the range of from 100° C. to 450° C. flowing around the outer surfaces of the reactor tubes during normal operation and being circulated in at least one circuit through the major reactor portion, comprising the steps: (a) varying the heat transfer medium temperature during circulation of the heat transfer medium; and (b) passing a temperature gas through the reactor tubes at least when the heat transfer medium is not yet or no longer circulated.
US07988923B2	Device, system and method for an advanced oxidation process using photohydroionization A device, system, and method, for the formation of advanced oxidation products by contacting a hydrated catalytic surface of a catalytic target structure with broad spectrum ultraviolet light in the 100 nm to 300 nm range that preferably includes 185 nm and 254 nm wavelengths. The catalytic surface reacts with the ultraviolet light energy and hydrate at the catalytic surface to form advanced oxidation products. The catalytic surface in one embodiment includes a hydrophilic agent, titanium dioxide, silver, copper, and rhodium. Preferably, the catalytic surface is coated with a coating that includes the hydrophilic agent, titanium dioxide, silver, copper, and rhodium. A photohydroionization cell (100) that includes an ultraviolet light source (204) and a catalytic target structure (110) in an air environment to form advanced oxidation product is also provided. A U.V. light indicator and a monitor and/or control system for the photohydroionization cell (100) are also provided.
US07988922B2	Honeycomb filter and exhaust gas purifying apparatus A honeycomb filter includes a honeycomb fired body having cells longitudinally disposed either end of each cell being sealed. The honeycomb filter includes an outlet-side catalyst supporting area, an inlet-side catalyst supporting area, and a catalyst unsupporting area formed between the catalyst supporting areas. A thermal conductivity of the catalyst unsupporting area is larger than those of the catalyst supporting areas. Y (%), Z (%), and X (%) satisfy the following inequalities, about 1≦Y≦about 19, (880−70Y)/9≦Z≦(825−15Y)/9 (about 1≦Y≦about 10), (330−15Y)/9≦Z≦(1375−70Y)/9 (about 10≦Y≦about 19), and X=100−Y−Z in which Y, Z, X indicate a ratio of a length of the outlet-side catalyst supporting area, the inlet-side catalyst supporting area, the catalyst unsupporting area, respectively, to an entire length of the honeycomb filter.
US07988920B2	Device for aerating a region after injection with vaporized hydrogen peroxide A method and apparatus for aerating a region exposed to a gaseous/vaporous sterilant. A catalytic destroyer and a reactive chemical unit are used to reduce the concentration of the gaseous/vaporous sterilant within the region. The reactive chemical unit includes a chemistry that is chemically reactive with the gaseous/vaporous sterilant. In one embodiment, the gaseous/vaporous sterilant is vaporized hydrogen peroxide and the chemistry of the reactive chemical unit includes thiosulfate and iodide.
US07988919B2	Laboratory scale continuous flow hydrogenation process A process for hydrogenating a sample in a pressure range below supercritical pressure values includes supplying at least a solvent of the sample to be hydrogenated by a feed pump with a constant volume rate into a flow path to create a base solution; adding the sample being dissolved into the flow path; feeding hydrogen into the flow path through a valve configured to transmit hydrogen only into a single direction; leading the dissolved sample in the presence of a catalyst through a hydrogenation reactor, where the reactor is inserted into a section of the flow path located after the hydrogen feeding position; maintaining the pressure of the reaction in a given pressure range by element of a pressure-adjusting unit, and collecting a hydrogenate formed within the hydrogenation reactor in a product receptacle connected to the end of the flow path.
US07988916B2	Apparatus for mixing and/or testing small volumes of fluids An apparatus and method for measuring a range of small volumes of fluids to a high degree of precision, said apparatus including: a) a single reaction chamber (20); b) a piston (30) operable within said chamber to selectively and precisely vary the internal volume of said chamber; c) a first inlet (41) to said chamber in communication with one or more fluid sources of which a portion of a first fluid of said one or more fluids is adapted to be drawn into said chamber; d) at least one further inlet (43) including a second inlet to said chamber in communication with one or more fluid sources of which a portion of a second fluid of said one or more fluids is adapted to be drawn into said chamber; and e) a sealable outlet (45), wherein said piston is adapted to progressive draw said portion of a second fluid into said chamber until either accurare metering of a volume of said first or second portion of fluid is achived or a reaction involving said first and second portions in said chamber (such as a titration reaction) is completed.
US07988914B2	Sample analyzer and its components A sample analyzer includes a liquid aspirator to be stuck into the closed container for aspirating a sample from a closed container; a preparing section for preparing an analysis sample using the aspirated sample; and an analyzing section for analyzing the prepared analysis sample; the liquid aspirator including an elongated pipe, the pipe having a liquid flow path extending therein and a plurality of communicating sections provided in an outer surface thereof, at least one of the communicating sections communicating between an inside and an outside of the container when the pipe is stuck into the container.
US07988907B2	Method for manufacturing pressure-resistant container liner and liquid crystal resin liner A resin composition formed by blending 10 to 25 weight parts of the epoxy modified polystyrene resin (B) to 100 weight parts of the liquid crystal polyester and/or the liquid crystal polyester amide (A) and by melt-kneading the two materials, wherein the resin composition having a melt viscosity of 60 to 4000 Pa·s at a shear rate of 1000/second at a temperature which is 20° C. higher than the melting point and having a melt tension of 20 mN or more at a take-over speed of 15 m/minute, is melt within a temperature range of a melting point to the melting point +40° C., a parison P is formed by extruding it with an extrusion speed equal to or higher than 0.3 kg/minute and lower than 5 kg/minute, a pair of moldings placed so as to sandwich the parison P are closed at a predetermined mold closing pressure, and air is blown into the parison P.
US07988906B2	Three-dimensional layer-by-layer production process with powders based on cyclic oligomers A process for the production of moldings via a layer-by-layer process by selectively melting regions of one or more powder layers that contain cyclic oligomers and have a median grain diameter determined by laser diffraction of between 25 and 150 μm via input of electromagnetic energy, and permitting the layers to solidify to provide a solid mass, where selectivity is achieved by applying one or more aids amongst the group of susceptors, inhibitors, absorbers, masks, and focusing of a laser beam.
US07988904B2	Resin molding process and resin-molding mold device A resin-molding mold device is provided for carrying out the resin molding process to mold the resin molded article, wherein when cooling after charging a molten synthetic resin into a cavity (14) and maintaining the pressure, a movable core (11) is urged to the side in which the capacity of the cavity (14) is decreased. This enables a resin molded article having a proper shape to be reliably molded by preventing a design surface from parting from a cavity wall surface when die-molding the resin molded article by charging a molten synthetic resin into a cavity formed from a plurality of dies.
US07988903B2	Fast curing vulcanizable multi-part elastomer composition, and process for blending, injection molding and curing of elastomer composition A multi-part rubber compound comprising: (1) a first compound comprising an elastomer (1)(a) and a vulcanizing agent, and having a ts2 of at least 1.5 minutes; (2) a second compound comprising an elastomer (2)(a) and a cure accelerator, and having a ts2 of at least 1.5 minutes; and (3) one or more optional compound comprising an elastomer (3)(a) and having a ts2 of at least 1.5 minutes; wherein: at least one of (1)(a), (2)(a) and (3)(a) has a Mooney viscosity of 20-75 measured at 100° C. (ASTM D1646), the first, second and optional compounds are kept separate until the multi-part compound is used, a blend of equal volumes of the first and second compounds, optionally with an equal volume of the optional compound, has a ts2 of less than 0.7 minutes, ts2 being measured at 190° C. (ASTM D2084), and a process for blending, injection molding and curing a rubber compound by injecting combined streams of rubber compounds from an injection chamber at a pressure of at least 10,000 psi into a motionless mixer provided downstream.
US07988902B1	Interconnecting microfluidic package and fabrication method A one-piece, microfluidic package with standardized multiple ports allows devices to be connected in series without resorting to extra tubing connections or bonding processes. The one-piece construction consists of microfluidic channels that can be connected to fluid reservoirs and other fluidic components fabricated with interconnecting and interlocking ports. The size of the friction-fit interlocking ports is designed such that the smaller male port fits snugly into the larger female port in a manner that is leak-free and adhesive-free. The friction-fit ports can also be reconfigured. Thus, the interconnection of microfluidic packages can be in an extended series including connections to sensors and devices such as a bio/biochemical/chemical sensor chip, a dielectrophoretic manipulator chip, and a microfluidic reactor chip.
US07988899B2	Stamper and method for making soft mold An exemplary method for making a soft mold is provided. A transparent substrate is provided. A to-be-solidified film is formed on the transparent substrate. A stamper and a guiding plate are further provided. The guiding plate is positioned between the stamper and the to-be-solidified film. The stamper inserts one of the through holes of the guiding plate. The first alignment mark is aligned with one of the second alignment marks. The stamper is pressed into the to-be-solidified film. The pressed portion of the to-be-solidified film is solidified to obtain a second molding surface on the to-be-solidified film. The previous steps are repeated for the stamper and the rest of the through holes of the guiding plate to obtain a soft mold having a plurality of the second molding surfaces.
US07988896B2	Method of preparing carbon nanotube/polymer composite material A method of preparing a carbon nanotube/polymer composite material is provided. The method includes (a) providing a carbon nanotube-based film and a pre-polymer solution; (b) placing the carbon nanotube-based film at a bottom of a container, and pouring the pre-polymer solution in the container; and (c) polymerizing the pre-polymer solution and simultaneously integrating the pre-polymer solution with the carbon nanotube-based film. As such, a carbon nanotube/polymer composite material, including the polymer-impregnated nanotube layer and an upper polymer layer, is obtained. A multi-layer composite can be produced by essentially repeating this process, using the upper polymer layer as the base layer for the formation of the next layer set thereon.
US07988894B2	Method of making biaxially oriented polyolefin film for cold seal applications The present invention relates to methods of manufacturing multi-layered polyolefin films that provide excellent adhesion to cold seal cohesive formulations. A surface of the film is discharge-treated. It has been found that when the discharge-treated surface has at least 0.3% nitrogen functional groups, it provides an excellent cold seal receptive surface. A biaxially oriented polypropylene film made according the invention may also have a second skin layer, opposite the first layer, which may be used for metallizing, laminating, or printing.
US07988891B2	Monopersulfate treatment of membranes A method of improving the water permeability and/or cleaning a porous polymeric microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane, preferably a hydrophobic/hydrophilic blended membrane, eg P VdF/PVP comprising the step of contacting the porous polymeric membrane with a source of monopersulfate, preferably an aqueous solution of 2KHSO5.KHSO4.K2SO4.
US07988887B2	Metal-polymer composites comprising nanostructures and applications thereof Metal-polymer composites, and methods of making and use thereof, said composites comprising a thermally-cured dense polyaniline substrate; an acid dopant; and, metal nanostructure deposits wherein the deposits have a morphology dependent upon the acid dopant.
US07988885B2	Electrochromic electrolyte blends The present invention is directed to electrochromic electrolyte polymer blends. These blends comprise an amorphous polymer and an electrochromophore component. The electrochromophore component comprises a polyalkylene polymer copolymerized with an electrochromic moiety. The blends can be used to make elastomeric films and coatings that can be used in laminates, which can be used to form manufactured articles such as architectural and vehicular glazing, eyewear, displays and signage.
US07988884B2	Preparation of sterically hindered hydroxyphenylcarboxylic acid esters A novel manufacturing process is described for producing hindered phenolic alkyl esters, which may be useful as antioxidants. This process simplifies catalyst neutralization and removal during the preparation of hindered phenolic esters. Compositions that comprise the hindered phenolic esters produced according to these methods are also described.
US07988878B2	Selective barrier slurry for chemical mechanical polishing The polishing solution is useful for removing a barrier from a semiconductor substrate. The solution contains by weight percent 0.001 to 25 oxidizer, 0.0001 to 5 anionic surfactant, 0 to 15 inhibitor for a nonferrous metal, 0 to 40 abrasive, 0 to 20 complexing agent for the nonferrous metal, 0.01 to 12 barrier removal agent selected from imine derivative compounds, hydrazine derivative compounds and mixtures thereof, and water; and the solution has an acidic pH.
US07988877B2	Methods of making fluorinated ethers, fluorinated ethers, and uses thereof A method of making a fluorinated ether includes combining, in a polar aprotic solvent: a fluorinated alcohol represented by the formula X—Rf1CH2OH, and a fluorinated sulfonate ester represented by the formula Rf2CH2OS(═O)2Rf3, and base; and obtaining a fluorinated ether represented by the formula Y—Rf1CH2OCH2Rf2—Y. Rf1 is selected from perfluorinated C1-C10 alkylene groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and partially fluorinated C1-C10 alkylene groups, and derivatives thereof having catenated heteroatom(s). X represents H, F, or an HOCH2— group. Rf2 is selected from perfluorinated C1-C10 alkyl groups and partially fluorinated C1-C10 alkyl groups, and derivatives thereof having catenated heteroatom(s). Rf3 is a C1-C4 alkyl group. Y represents H, F, or an Rf2CH2OCH2— group. A variant method, useful for preparing symmetric fluorinated ethers, is also disclosed. The present disclosure also provides fluorinated ethers preparable according to the methods. Use of fluorinated ethers in various applications is also disclosed.
US07988871B2	Method of lifting off and fabricating array substrate for liquid crystal display device using the same A method of lifting off includes forming a first material layer on a substrate; forming a photoresist pattern including first and second holes and on the first material layer; patterning the first material layer using the photoresist pattern as a patterning mask to form a material pattern having first and second grooves within the material pattern, the first and second grooves corresponding to the first and second holes, respectively; forming a second material layer on an entire surface of the substrate including the photoresist pattern and the first and second grooves; and removing the photoresist pattern and the second material layer on the photoresist pattern at the same time, wherein a portion of the material pattern between the first and second grooves and portions of the material pattern at sides of the first and second grooves constitute a line as a whole.
US07988865B2	Feedwell dilution system for thickeners in oil sands A feedwell dilution system for diluting an influent feed stream, which include at least one eductor assembly, and a feedwell assembly. The at least one eductor assembly includes a feed pipe which converges to a narrow throat portion or nozzle; a mix tube positioned downstream from the narrow throat portion that is sized and configured to provide mixing of the influent feed stream and a clarified liquid drawn from a settling tank; and an enclosure, which is installed around the narrow throat portion and an inlet portion of the mix tube and includes an open-ended portion on a bottom thereof, which is sized and configured to allow a clarified liquid to be pulled into the mix tube from below the inlet portion of the mix tube. The feedwell assembly is sized and configured to receive the mixture of the influent feed stream and the clarified liquid from the mix tube.
US07988864B2	Process and device for separation of liquids emulsified in mixtures of liquids and gases dissolved in mixtures of liquids and gases by localized pressure reduction A process and a device implementing the process, for separating fluids in emulsion and/or in solution, and/or for low pressure distillation, in particular of water and/or gaseous hydrocarbons dissolved in crude petroleum, and/or for separation of crude petroleum droplets emulsified in water, to obtain water with necessary characteristics for its injection without pollution of underground aquifers, and/or when the mixture is dominant in crude petroleum, acceleration of settling of the water in the lower part of the mixture, and/or for low pressure distillation of crude petroleum. The method creates a localized zone of reduced pressure on part of the free surface of a liquid to be processed, within a closed processing tank, without the overall pressure inside the closed processing tank being affected.
US07988863B2	Silane substituted polyalkylene oxide reagents and methods of using for preventing or reducin aluminosilicate scale in industrial processes Materials and methods are provided whereby polymers with least 0.5 mole % of the pendant group or end group containing —Si(OR″)3 are used to control aluminosilicate scaling in an industrial process having an alkaline process stream such as a pulping mill process stream or a high level nuclear waste processing plant. When materials of the present invention are added to the alkaline process stream, they reduce and even completely prevent formation of aluminosilicate scale on equipment surfaces such as evaporator walls and heating surfaces. The present materials are effective at treatment concentrations that make them economically practical.
US07988861B2	Materials based on tangled nanotubes or nanofibres, preparation method thereof and use of same A method of preparing a solid material based on tangled nanotubes and/or nanofibers, includes a step of growing carbon nanofibers and/or nanotubes with restraint in a contained reactor; and the materials thus obtained. The different uses of the materials are also disclosed.
US07988860B2	Superabsorbent-containing web that can act as a filter, absorbent, reactive layer or fuel fuse The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent layer that can act as an moisture sensitive fuel shut-off valve, absorbent, adsorbent or reactant. The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent fabric or layer made of a superabsorbent particle or fiber. The web can comprise a nanofiber layer having dispersed within the nanofiber layer a super absorbent particulate and optionally a second particulate material that can act as an absorbent, adsorbent or reactant. Fluid, gas or liquid, that flows through or by the assemblies of the invention can have any gas, liquid or solid material dispersed or dissolved in the fluid interact with the super absorbent particulate. If needed these materials can also react with, be absorbed by, or adsorbed onto, the active particulate within the nanofiber layer. The structures of the invention can act simply as flow-by reactive, absorptive, or adsorptive layers with no filtration properties, or the structures of the invention can be assembled into filters that can filter particulate from a mobile fluid in a flow-through mode while simultaneously reacting, absorbing, or adsorbing materials from the mobile fluid.
US07988853B2	Water treatment apparatus with easy filter replacement construction A water treatment apparatus includes a frame and a plurality of connecting accessories, manifolds and filter cartridges. Each of the connecting accessories includes a seat ring fixed on the frame and a communicating pipe coaxially received in the seat ring. The seat rings together with the communicating pipes are spaced at a distance from one another. Each of the manifolds is suspended between adjacent two of the connecting accessories and has inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends. The inlet and outlet ports of each of the manifolds are rotatably and coaxially received in adjacent the seat rings respectively with their exterior walls in contact with inner walls of adjacent the seat rings and their interior walls in contact with outer walls of adjacent the communicating pipes. Additionally, the filter cartridges are detachably joined to the manifolds respectively.
US07988850B2	Medical apparatus with improved user interface A medical apparatus comprises a control system allowing storage of a number of shaping profiles. Each shaping profile is stored as a plurality of pairs, including a shaping profile reference value and a time interval value. The reference value is represented as fraction, for instance a percentage, of the total weight loss the apparatus should achieve at the end of a treatment time. Each time interval value is represented either as fraction of the total treatment time or as a prefixed actual time interval. The control system calculates the actual weight loss rate versus time profile based on the desired total weight loss, on the desired total treatment time as well as on selected desired shaping profile.
US07988846B1	Methods and systems for modifying asphalts A method for modifying asphalt comprises blowing an oxygen-containing gas through a base asphalt at a high gas flow rate while simultaneously agitating the base asphalt at a high shear rate and at an elevated temperature for a period of time that is effective to substantially improve at least two paving properties of the base asphalt. In preferred embodiments, modified asphalts are produced having both substantially improved rutting resistance and substantially improved fatigue resistance as compared to the base asphalt.
US07988844B2	Method for measuring an iodine adsorption number of carbon black, electrolytic cell, and kit for measuring an iodine adsorption number of carbon black A method for measuring an iodine adsorption number of carbon black includes: (a) electrochemically reducing an unknown amount of iodine adsorbed by a predetermined amount of a carbon black sample; (b) measuring the electrical charge used for reducing the unknown amount of the iodine adsorbed by the carbon black sample; and (c) obtaining the iodine adsorption number from the measured electrical charge. An electrolytic cell and a kit for measuring an iodine adsorption number of carbon black are also disclosed.
US07988842B2	Continuous copper electroplating method A continuous copper electroplating method wherein copper is continuously plated on a workpiece to be placed in a plating vessel accommodating a copper sulfate plating bath containing organic additives by use of a soluble or insoluble anode and a workpiece as a cathode, the method including overflowing the plating bath from the plating vessel in an overflow vessel under which the plating bath in the overflow vessel is returned to the plating vessel, providing an oxidative decomposition vessel, and returning a plating bath from the oxidative decomposition vessel through the overflow vessel to the plating vessel to circulate the plating bath between the plating vessel and oxidative decomposition vessel, and metallic copper is immersed in the plating bath in the oxidative decomposition vessel and exposed to air bubbling, so that decomposed/degenerated organic products formed by decomposition or degeneration produced during the copper electroplating can be oxidatively decomposed.
US07988841B2	Treatment of biological samples using dielectrophoresis A plurality of planar electrodes (5) in a microchannel (4) is used for separation, lysis and PCR in a chip (10). Cells from a sample are brought to the electrodes (5). Depending on sample properties, phase pattern, frequency and voltage of the electrodes and flow velocity are chosen to trap target cells (16) using DEP, whereas the majority of unwanted cells (17) flushes through. After separation the target cell (16) are lysed while still trapped. Lysis is carried out by applying RF pulses and/or thermally so as to change the dielectric properties of the trapped cells. After lysis, the target cells (16) are amplified within the microchannel (4), so as to obtain separation, lysis and PCR on same chip (1).
US07988840B2	Method for continuous particle separation using obstacle arrays asymmetrically aligned to fields The present invention relates to methods and devices for separating particles according to size. More specifically, the present invention relates to a microfluidic method and device for the separation of particles according to size using an array comprising a network of gaps, wherein the field flux from each gap divides unequally into subsequent gaps. In one embodiment, the array comprises an ordered array of obstacles in a microfluidic channel, in which the obstacle array is asymmetric with respect to the direction of an applied field.
US07988837B2	Set of parts for positioning electrodes in cells for the electrodepositing of metals A vertical guide for electrodes characterized in that it includes 1) an upper portion or aligning head and a lower portion that corresponds to the guide itself, whose aligning head, designed to make it easier to introduce the cathode in the guide, has cylindrical-hexahedral perforations that permit attaching the vertical guide by means of bolts or another means to the electrolytic cell's support structure made of insulating material; 2) the head formed by a cylindrical housing having a horizontal axis and two inclined symmetrical surfaces that approach each other in a downward line until they become tangential to the interior faces of the “U” profile that continues downward, so that they are similar to a funnel open on one side; 3) a lower portion made up of the actual guide, whose space through which the electrode slides must be slightly wider than it, consists of a U-type profile with flanges, and which, on the outside, has triangular, or rectangular stiffening ribs, or both types, preferably separated at regular intervals; and 4) a lower end that is introduced into the vertical housing of the union elbow.
US07988833B2	System and method for detecting non-cathode arcing in a plasma generation apparatus A system and method for detecting the potential of non-cathode arcing in a plasma generation apparatus, such as a physical vapor deposition chamber. The system and method involve computing a statistical parameter of cathode-arcing event data in the chamber and performing a pattern recognition technique to a moving average of the statistical parameter.
US07988830B2	Waste processing process using acid Waste processing system, for performing a waste processing process, the system including a shredder, a grinder and a steam explosion device such as a cooking extruder. The waste processing system is used to process raw waste, such as consumer waste, into an end product such as pellets. The waste processing includes an acid treatment step to sanitize, purify and/or increase a cellulose content of the waste. The acid is preferably a weak acid and/or an organic acid.
US07988824B2	Tissue product having a transferable additive composition A tissue product is disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition may be, for instance, a composition designed to provide benefits to a user's skin. In accordance with the present disclosure, the additive composition is located in a target delivery zone on a base web. The base web is modified in the target delivery zone so that the additive composition more efficiently transfers to an opposing surface during use.
US07988820B2	Method for cleaning and/or cooling a liquor gun in a chemical recovery boiler An apparatus for cleaning and cooling a liquor nozzle, the nozzle including at least a liquor tube for feeding liquor and chemicals into a furnace of a recovery boiler. The apparatus includes an outer casing tube, which defines a space whereto conduits are provided for introducing water and steam to generate an emulsion or a conduit for introducing emulsion generated by the water and steam and the surface of which is provided with openings, such as pores or holes, for discharging the emulsion formed by water and steam through the outer casing.
US07988815B2	Plasma reactor with reduced electrical skew using electrical bypass elements RF ground return current flow is diverted away from asymmetrical features of the reactor chamber by providing bypass current flow paths. One bypass current flow path avoids the pumping port in the chamber floor, and comprises a conductive symmetrical grill extending from the side wall to the grounded pedestal base. Another bypass current flow path avoids the wafer slit valve, and comprises an array of conductive straps bridging the section of the sidewall occupied by the slit valve.
US07988813B2	Dynamic control of process chemistry for improved within-substrate process uniformity A method and system for dynamically controlling a process chemistry above a substrate is described. The system for adjusting the process chemistry comprises a ring configured to surround a peripheral edge of a substrate in a vacuum processing system. The ring comprises one or more gas distribution passages formed within the ring and configured to supply an additive process gas through an upper surface of the ring to the peripheral region of the substrate, wherein the one or more gas distribution passages are configured to be coupled to one or more corresponding gas supply passages formed within the substrate holder upon which the ring rests.
US07988807B2	Laminate body, method, and apparatus for manufacturing ultrathin substrate using the laminate body Provided is a laminated body comprising a substrate to be ground and a support, where the substrate is ground to a very small thickness and can then be separated from the support without damaging the substrate. One embodiment of the present invention is a laminated body comprising a substrate to be ground, a joining layer in contact with the substrate to be ground, a photothermal conversion layer comprising a light absorbing agent and a heat decomposable resin, and a light transmitting support. After grinding the substrate surface which is opposite that in contact with the joining layer, the laminated body is irradiated through the light transmitting layer and the photothermal conversion layer decomposes to separate the substrate and the light transmitting support.
US07988802B2	Thermite torch formulation including combined oxidizers A thermite torch formulation that consists essentially of a metal fuel, a first oxidizer CuO, a second oxidizer MoO3, and a binder material. When the thermite formulation is reacted, a torch may direct at least one reaction product onto a certain region of an object to deliver a large amount of energy to that region of the object.
US07988800B2	Method for producing Mg-REM-Ni based hydrogen-absorbing alloy In order to accurately and efficiently alloy a Mg-REM-Ni based hydrogen-absorbing alloy in accordance with a target composition, which was difficult in the industrial production by the conventional technique, a rare earth element starting material and a nickel starting material are firstly melted in a melting furnace to form a melt of REM-Ni alloy, and then a magnesium starting material is added to the alloy melt and an interior of the melting furnace is kept at a given pressure to form a melt of Mg-REM-Ni alloy, and thereafter the alloy melt is cooled and solidified at a given cooling rate to produce a Mg-REM-Ni based hydrogen-absorbing alloy.
US07988799B2	Welding repair method for full hoop structures A unique heat treat method for relieving stresses caused by a repairing weld joint in a full hoop part heat treats locally, at the location of the weld joint, and at a diametrically opposed location. By providing the diametrically opposed heat treat location, the present invention relieves stresses caused by the weld joint, without creating any additional residual stress in the weld joint.
US07988796B2	Sheave member for belt-type continuously variable transmission and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a sheave member for a belt-type continuously variable transmission includes a forming step wherein an intermediate product having a sheave surface is formed by forging a steel material; a carburization step wherein the intermediate product is heated in a carburization gas; a gradual cooling step wherein the cooling speed is equal to or less than 20° C./sec, at least until the temperature of the intermediate product has passed through the transformation point; a high-frequency electrical heating step wherein a selected portion(s) of the intermediate product is heated; a water quenching step wherein the selected portion is quenched by contact with water; and a finishing step wherein a grinding process is applied to the intermediate product to attain the final shape. In the cooling step, preferably, the intermediate product is contacted with a cooling gas at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.
US07988794B2	Semiconductor device and method A semiconductor device having a topology adjustment and a method for adjusting the topology of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer having first and second opposing sides with an active area formed on a first portion of the first side having a topology extending a first distance above the first side. A support member is attached to a second portion of the first side and extending a second distance above the first side, wherein the first distance is about the same as the second distance. In some exemplary embodiments, the support member is formed by applying adhesive to the second portion. The wafer is then spun to adjust the second distance.
US07988787B2	Workpiece support system and method A workpiece support system for a vacuum coating machine includes a base table having a rotating spindle rod that extends in a vertical direction away from the base table and is capable of powered rotation. A stop post is connected to the table and extends in a vertical direction at a distance from the spindle rod. A workpiece support module is connected to the spindle rod and the stop post, and includes a rotating table with peripheral openings arranged symmetrically around its periphery, a plurality of cogs positioned in the openings, a stationary table connected to the stop post and axially supporting the rotating table, and a driver finger connected to the stationary table. At least one bearing is located around the spindle rod and rotatably isolates the rotating table from the stationary table.
US07988786B2	Carbon film coated member The present invention provides a carbon film coated member comprising: a base material; and a coated film formed on at least part of a surface of the base material, the coated film comprising: a matrix composed of amorphous carbon; and at least one of metal and metal carbide contained in the matrix, wherein an atomic ratio (M/C) of the metal (M) to carbon (C) constituting the coated film is 0.01 to 0.7. According to the above structure, there can be provided a carbon film coated member excellent in low-friction property, wear resistance and durability, and capable of suppressing a dust generation, peeling-off and deterioration of the coated film even if the carbon film coated member is used as semiconductor equipment members such as wafer cassette, dummy wafer, probe pin or the like under severe operating conditions, so that the carbon film coated member would not exert a bad influence onto the resultant semiconductor products.
US07988785B2	Printing head for nano patterning The present invention provides a printing head for nano patterning including a manifold for accommodating a liquid printing material, a cartridge with an injection chamber communicating with the manifold, and a sample holder for patterning installed outside the injection chamber of the cartridge. The printing head comprises a shadow mask which is installed outside the injection chamber to be finely moved in an X-Y direction and has a single injection hole with a relatively very small size; an actuator for finely moving the shadow mask; an injection-inducing unit including a high voltage generator, a power supply electrode that is installed within the injection chamber and receives power from the high voltage generator to generate positive charges, and an opposite electrode for generating negative charges on the sample holder in a state where the shadow mask is interposed between the power supply electrode and the opposite electrode, thereby generating induced discharge from the injection chamber toward the sample holder; and a control unit for controlling the driving of the actuator so that the injection hole of the shadow mask can be moved to patterning positions corresponding to patterning data input in advance. According to the present invention, patterning accuracy can be improved, ultra-fine patterning and patterning of arbitrary shapes can be achieved, and a configuration for injecting the printing material can be simplified.
US07988784B2	Method for manufacturing III metal nitride single crystal It is used a substrate main body 1 having a side face 1b and a pair of main faces 1a and an underlying film 2 of a single crystal of a nitride of a metal belonging to the group III formed at least on one main face of the substrate main body 1. A single crystal 3 of a nitride of a metal belonging to the group III is grown on the main face 1a of the substrate main body 1 by a liquid phase process. The underlying film 2 has a shape of a convex figure in a plan view. A surface 4 without the underlying film thereon surrounds the entire circumference of the underlying film 2. The single crystal 3 of a nitride of a metal belonging to the group III grown on the underlying film 2 is not brought into contact with a single crystal of a nitride of a metal belonging to group III formed on another underlying film.
US07988775B2	White rust inhibiting composition for aluminum parts The present invention provides an aluminum white rust inhibiting composition containing alkali metal metasilicate and alkali metal hydroxide as essential components. The composition described by the present invention can provide an anti-corrosion function to vehicle aluminum parts without a separate surface process, thus reducing the manufacturing cost by reducing the number of processes and improving the durability of the vehicle aluminum parts.
US07988773B2	Electroless gold plating bath, electroless gold plating method and electronic parts An electroless gold plating bath includes a water-soluble gold compound, a complexing agent, an aldehyde compound, and an amine compound represented by R1—NH—C2H4—NH—R2 or (CH2—NH—C2H4—NH—CH2)n—R4 (wherein R1 to R4 represent —OH, —CH3, —CH2OH, —C2H4OH, —CH2N(CH3)2, —CH2NH(CH2OH), —CH2NH(C2H4OH), —C2H4NH(CH2OH), —C2H4NH(C2H4OH), —CH2N(CH2OH)2, —CH2N(C2H4OH)2, —C2H4N(CH2OH)2 or —C2H4N(C2H4OH)2, and n is an integer of 1 to 4). The electroless gold plating can be carried out without corrosion of an underlying metal to be plated at a stable deposition rate. Because of the high deposition rate and the immersion and reduction types, thickening of a plated coating is possible in one solution and the color of the coating is not degraded to provide a good appearance while keeping a lemon yellow color inherent to gold.
US07988771B2	Apparatus and method for controlling odor within an appliance An apparatus for controlling odor within a refrigeration appliance is provided. The apparatus includes a frame removably positioned within an airflow path configured to supply cooled air to a food storage compartment of the refrigeration appliance. The frame defines a chamber. A filter medium is positioned within the chamber. The filter medium is configured to filter air channeled therethrough and remove odorous molecules.
US07988769B2	Device and process for separating wet paint overspray In order to provide a device for separating wet paint overspray from an exhaust air flow containing overspray particles, passing into the exhaust air flow in an application region of a painting assembly, the device includes at least one separation device for separating the overspray from at least a part of the exhaust air flow. Clogging of a wall surface of the device with wet paint overspray is prevented. It is proposed that the device is divided into a plurality of sections below the application region. At least one separation device is provided in one of the sections. The device includes at least one air curtain producing device for generating an air curtain on a wall surface, which delimits the flow path of the exhaust air flow and is arranged on the at least one flow guide element.
US07988763B2	Use of a binary salt flux of NaCl and MgCl2 for the purification of aluminium or aluminium alloys, and method thereof A method for the purification of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, wherein the metal is in a liquid phase and is contacted with a salt flux consisting of a binary mixture of NaCl and MgCl2. Preferably, more than 22% by weight of the binary mixture consists of NaCl.
US07988761B2	Method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles comprising rod-shaped nanoparticles The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles containing rod-shaped nanoparticles, the method including: producing metal oxide nanoparticle intermediates having at least rod-shaped metal oxide nanoparticles by heating a mixture of a nonpolar solvent, a metal precursor and an amine including secondary amine at 60-300° C.; producing metal nanoparticles by adding a capping molecule and a reducing agent to the mixture and heating the result mixture at 90-150° C.; and recovering the metal nanoparticles. According to the present invention, the shape of metal nanoparticle can be controlled by mixing primary amines or secondary amines as proper ratio without using apparatus additionally, as well as, the size of metal nanoparticle can be controlled to several nm.
US07988755B2	Byproduct collecting apparatus of semiconductor apparatus Provided is a byproduct collecting apparatus for efficiently collecting reaction-byproducts contained in an exhaust gas exhausted from a process chamber during a semiconductor manufacturing process. The apparatus includes a housing and a trap module. The housing has a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port. The trap module is installed inside the housing and has first plates curved or inclined to guide an exhaust gas flow in a curved fashion.
US07988754B1	Process for producing clean liquid fuels from coal waste The present invention is directed to a process for producing ultra clean liquid fuel from abandoned mine waste. A feedstock is prepared from water and coal mine waste having relatively high ash (non-carbonaceous matter) content. Foundry slag is added to the feedstock as a fluxant to adjust the melting behavior of the ash in the feedstock. Preferably, the fluxant is blast furnace slag provided in a particle size of less than about 150 μm and is provided in an amount sufficient to lower the melting point of the ash in the feedstock by at least about 200° F. The feedstock is admitted with a flow of oxygen into a pressurized chamber of an entrained flow gasifier in which the feedstock and oxygen are heated to produce a synthetic gas from a coal component of the feedstock and molten slag from the ash and fluxant components of the feedstock. The molten slag is of a viscosity to freely flow out of the gasifier through an exit port in the bottom of the gasifier. The synthetic gas can be used to produce paraffin from which ultra clean liquid fuel can be produced.
US07988747B2	Production of low sulphur alkylate gasoline fuel A method for producing a low sulphur containing fuel from a hydrocarbon feed having from 10 to 80 ppm of sulphur is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one olefin having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one paraffin having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms with an ionic liquid catalyst and a halide containing additive in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylating conditions to produce a fuel having sulphur content up to 10 ppm.
US07988746B2	Battery structures, self-organizing structures and related methods An energy storage device includes a first electrode comprising a first material and a second electrode comprising a second material, at least a portion of the first and second materials forming an interpenetrating network when dispersed in an electrolyte, the electrolyte, the first material and the second material are selected so that the first and second materials exert a repelling force on each other when combined. An electrochemical device, includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector; a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector; and an ionically conductive medium in ionic contact with said first and second electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the first and second electrodes form an interpenetrating network and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises an electrode structure providing two or more pathways to its current collector.
US07988745B2	Method for manufacturing battery, battery manufactured by the method, and method for inspecting battery A method for manufacturing highly reliable batteries includes the steps of placing in a battery container an electrode assembly; arranging an upper current collecting plate to be electrically connected to one of the electrodes of the electrode assembly; bringing a lead previously welded to the inner surface of a lid in contact with the upper current collecting plate; and welding the points of contact between the lead and the upper current collecting plate. Also batteries are produced by the method, and a method for inspecting battery including the steps of detecting defective welds by measuring alternating-current resistance of a battery.
US07988742B2	Art wrap bandage The present invention provides a decorative medical covering for the protective wrapping of a skin injury or an orthopedic injury. The decorative medical covering is produced by providing a strip of material of a predetermined length and a predetermined width. The material is composed of a plurality of fibers. An aesthetically pleasing image is stored onto a sublimation transferal medium. The image is transferred from the sublimation transfer medium onto the strip wherein the image is permanently incorporated into the plurality of fibers of the material.
US07988740B2	Keratin dyeing compositions comprising a radical scavenger and use thereof The invention relates to colorant compositions for the oxidative dyeing of keratin fibers comprising radical scavengers in the dyeing composition. The invention also relates to methods for reducing color formation outside of the keratin fiber during oxidative dyeing comprising using such compositions.
US07988738B2	Process for the lightening dyeing of keratin materials using an emulsion comprising a dye and an alkaline agent and an oxidizing composition Provided herein is a process for dyeing keratin materials, comprising: applying to said keratin materials a dyeing composition, comprising, a direct emulsion (A) comprising at least one fatty substance other than fatty acids present in an amount greater than 25% by weight; at least one surfactant; at least one alkaline agent; at least one colored or coloring entity chosen from direct dyes and oxidation dyes; and water in an amount greater than 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the direct emulsion (A); and a composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent. Also provided herein is a multi-compartment device comprising, in a first compartment, a direct emulsion (A) comprising at least one fatty substance other than fatty acids present in an amount greater than 25% by weight; at least one surfactant; at least one alkaline agent; at least one colored or coloring entity chosen from direct dyes and oxidation dyes; and water in an amount greater than 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the direct emulsion (A); and, in another compartment, a composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent.
US07988734B2	Spinal system and method including lateral approach Embodiments of the invention include devices and methods for implanting a vertebral body spacer. A lateral surgical approach is contemplated with some disclosed procedures. Instruments of some embodiments are insertable into a disc space to achieve distraction, to determine a desired disc space height, and to select a corresponding implant.
US07988731B2	Lightweight implantable prosthetic device A reduced weight implantable prosthesis, including, an outer surface shell for encapsulating the prosthesis, a gel mixture comprising a mixture of a cohesive gel and micro-spheres for filling the shell, one or more inner volumes internal to the shell which do not contain the gel mixture; and wherein the gel mixture contains less than 60% by volume of micro-spheres mixed into the cohesive gel.
US07988730B2	Quasi-spherical orbital implant A quasi-spherical orbital implant that comprises an off center conical elongation toward its posterior and medial aspects. The conical elongation mimics the natural shape of an orbit. The implant comprises a number of holes and tunnels for suturing the patient's eye muscles and tissue to the implant. A number of hollow voids in the implant serve to progressively host the formation of tissue which secures the implant to the muscles and covering tissue and helps to prevent migration after the sutures have dissolved. The anterior portion of the implant has a number of details which key with the prosthetic eye and help improve its stability and motility.
US07988722B2	Method for producing strain induced austenite This invention relates to medical devices comprising shape memory alloys which have been subjected to a thermal and mechanical treatment to increase the austenite start temperature As to As′ such that the shape memory alloy is martensitic at body temperature and when subsequently subjected to a controlled deformation, the shape memory alloy preferentially reverts to the parent phase. The shape memory alloy comprises nickel, titanium and a ternary element, preferably 3 at. % to about 20 at. %. The ternary element is insoluble in a Ni—Ti matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the element is selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum and zirconium.
US07988716B2	Stent for a vascular meniscal repair and regeneration A surgical stent made of biocompatible material for implantation in human tissue to enable blood and nutrients to flow from an area of vascular tissue to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.
US07988708B2	Interspinous process distraction device An interspinous process distraction device includes a male distraction element and a female distraction element, which both have a clamping portion for fixedly pushing and rejecting the interspinous processes and also respectively have a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion connected at the other end of the clamping portion. Here, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are paired for blocking with each other so as to form the interspinous process distraction device capable of having an opposite rotation. Besides, through clamping two interspinous processes which stress the nerve by the male distraction element and the female distraction element and rotating them to oppositely rotate, the two interspinous processes can therefore be moved to be in alignment as the normal condition.
US07988706B2	Tissue puncture closure device with automatic torque sensing tamping system Methods and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug are disclosed. The methods and apparatus provide for automatic tamping of the sealing plug. In addition, torque required to tamp the sealing plug is automatically sensed and gear ratios of an automatic tamping device are automatically changed in response to sensed changes in torque. A planetary transmission may be used to automatically change gear ratios in response to the changes in torque.
US07988705B2	Steerable device having a corewire within a tube and combination with a functional medical component An integrated guiding device has a tube and a corewire within the tube and a torque coupler. The torque coupler can couple the rotational motion of the tube with the rotational motion of the corewire. The wire can be moved longitudinally at least some amount relative to the tube. The device can further comprise a functional medical structure, such as an embolism protection structure. The device can be used in medical procedures, such as less invasive procedures within the cardiovascular system. Improved fiber based embolism protection devices comprise fiber bundles that are twisted prior to delivery.
US07988701B2	Preloaded IOL injector A preloaded intraocular lens injection device includes a retainer for releasably holding an IOL in an unstressed state. The retainer and IOL are removably attached to an injector body and are sealed in the same package for delivery to a surgeon. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer and IOL are coupled together and sealed in one package and the injector body is sealed in a separate package with the surgeon attaching the retainer to the injector body at the time of surgery. To deliver the IOL through the injector body, the retainer is removed from the injector body causing the IOL to release from the retainer and become located in an unstressed state in the injector body. A compressor is moved to the closed position to compress the IOL, the injector tip is inserted through a small incision in an eye and a plunger is advanced to push the IOL through and out the injector body tip and into an eye.
US07988700B2	Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is engageable with a second member connected with the second bone portion. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion from a first position toward a second position to move the first and second bone portions away from each other. An actuator connected with the second portion moves the second portion relative to the first portion in a direction extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US07988695B2	Articulated delivery instrument An articulated delivery instrument for the proper positioning and placements of inserts, for example, an insert such as a lumbar interbody fusion device (“LIF”). The instrument may comprise a body and a first member slidingly coupled to the body. A rotating member for releasably retaining an insert may be pivotally coupled to a distal end of the body and the first member. A first actuator may function to translate the first member relative to the body. Translation of the first member relative to the body may rotate the rotating member relative to the instrument. A second actuator may function to transition the rotating member between release and retention of the insert.
US07988692B2	Surgical tool holder and surgical tool A surgical tool holder 12 and tool system 10 is provided. The surgical tool holder (12) is adapted to connect to a tool support (14) having an interface receiver (36). The tool support provides a mount for a surgical tool head. The tool holder (12) includes a center rod (20), a tool interface (28) and a quick connect mechanism (50). The center rod (20) has a first shank end (24) and a second tool end (26). The tool interface (28) is disposed on the tool end (26) of the center rod (20). The tool interface (28) has at least one transversely extending portion (44, 44a), extending radially outward, beyond the diameter of the center rod (20) at the tool end (26). The interface (28) is adapted to engage with the interface receiver (36). The quick connect mechanism (50) is disposed on the center rod (20) to move in a rotationally-constrained manner thereon proximate the tool interface (28). The mechanism (50) includes protrusions (66) biased to bear against and engage the tool support (14) when the tool support is engaged with the tool interface (28). This securely holds the tool support (14) and prevents its relative rotation with respect to the tool holder (12).
US07988689B2	Electrosurgical apparatus and methods for treatment and removal of tissue Apparatus and methods for ablating, severing, cutting, shrinking, coagulating, or otherwise modifying a target tissue to be treated. In a method for treating a target tissue, an active electrode of an electrosurgical probe is positioned in at least close proximity to the target tissue in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. A high frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode and a return electrode, wherein, the high frequency voltage is sufficient to volumetrically remove (ablate), sever, or modify at least a portion of the target tissue. The probe comprises a multi-lumen shaft having a plurality of internal lumens, and a return electrode coil oriented substantially parallel to the shaft distal end. The active electrode may be in the form of a metal disc, a hook, or an active electrode coil. In the latter embodiment, the active electrode coil is typically arranged substantially orthogonal to the return electrode coil. Methods of making an active electrode coil, a return electrode coil, and an electrosurgical probe are also disclosed.
US07988687B2	Infusion device provided with a water-tight cover The invention relates to an infusion device for therapeutic use comprising a water-tight cover 1 in the form of a housing, a housing part or a receptacle for holding said infusion device and a control system which is used for controlling the cover 1 water tightness and comprises c) a medium arranged in the cover 1 and characterised by at least one physical or chemical quantity variable according to the cover water tightness and d) an information system 6, 8, 9 which automatically transmits at least one information signal when said quantity changes in such a way that the loss of the cover 1 water tightness is indicated.
US07988685B2	Hydrogel compositions, devices, and microscale components The invention provides hydrogel compositions, components, and hydrogel-actuated or mediated devices, and methods for the incorporation of hydrogel microscale components in microscale devices and systems. The methods and devices result in active microvalves that are useful in microfluidic applications, including analyte sensing, in process chemical and fermentation stream monitoring, and drug delivery. In particular, the devices are useful for controlled drug delivery either in response to a pre-determined stimulus or for pulsatile delivery.
US07988683B2	Reservoir connector A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. The elements of the apparatus are organized so that it is capable of being inserted and secured in an infusion pump housing.
US07988682B2	Prefastened absorbent product with releasable fasteners and flaps having welds An absorbent prefastened product in the form of a disposable pants diaper is provided with a side closure arrangement on each side. The side closure includes front and rear side flaps having elastic portions where an inner surface of a rear side flap is overlapped and welded to an outer surface of a front side flap. Each side flap is also provided with one part of a releasable fastening system located such that the weld is located on at least one of the elastic portions and such that it lies inward of the releasable fastening system in the prefastened state. A method of forming the absorbent product is also provided, in which an overlapped attachment is formed by joining front and rear side flap members together and attaching the side flap members to an absorbent chassis member.
US07988681B2	Portable rapidly deployable waste containment device The present invention relates to a portable waste containment device that is rapidly deployable. The waste containment device allows containment of liquid or semi-liquid waste until permanently disposed. The present invention also provides a portable waste containment system wherein the waste containment device is enclosed within a package for storage and when pulled from the package the waste containment device is ready for use. Still further, the present invention provides a method of using the portable waste containment device of the present invention.
US07988675B2	Automatic injection and retraction devices for use with pre-filled syringe cartridges An automatic injection and retraction device having a longitudinal axis is provided that includes an injection assembly, a retraction assembly, and a pre-filled syringe cartridge. The injection assembly has an activation-prevention feature moveable between an on position and an off position. The retraction assembly has a needle guard that is removable in a direction along the longitudinal axis upon application of a removal force. The pre-filled syringe cartridge has a hypodermic needle with a needle sheath thereon. The retraction and injection assemblies are secured to one another so that the pre-filled syringe cartridge is in the retraction assembly with the needle sheath secured to the needle guard. The retraction and injection assemblies are configured so that, upon application of a twisting torque to the injection and retraction assemblies, the activation-prevention feature moves from the on position to the off position simultaneous with applying the removal force to the needle guard.
US07988671B2	Pleated trocar shield A surgical access device or trocar defines an access channel for instruments extending from a proximal end to the distal end thereof. The trocar comprises a cannula and a seal assembly disposed at the proximal end of the cannula. The seal assembly comprises a first or zero seal, a second or instrument seal, and a trocar shield disposed proximally of the first seal and the second seal. The first seal seals the access channel in the absence of an instrument extending therethrough. The second seal seals the access channel in the presence of an instrument extending therethrough. The trocar shield protects the first seal and second seal from damage as an instrument is advanced through the access channel. The trocar shield comprises an open proximal end and a tapered distal end comprising a plurality of longitudinal pleats, converging in an opening.
US07988670B2	Trocar assembly with rotatable obturator housing A trocar system includes a cannula having a cannula housing and a cannula sleeve extending from the cannula housing, and an obturator at least partially positionable within the cannula. The obturator includes an obturator housing adapted for mating with the cannula housing, an obturator shaft connected to the obturator housing and receivable within the cannula sleeve, an obturator blade connected to the obturator shaft, a protective member including a protective guard coaxially mounted about the obturator blade and a latch member associated with the obturator housing and operatively connected to the protective guard. The obturator shaft and the obturator blade are adapted for relative rotational movement. The protective guard is adapted for longitudinal movement between a first position substantially enclosing the obturator blade and a second position to at least partially expose the obturator blade. The latch member is moveable from an initial position securing the protective guard in the first position to an actuated position operatively releasing the protective guard to permit the protective guard to move to the second position thereof. The latch member is preferably adapted to move to the actuated position upon mating of the obturator housing and the cannula housing.
US07988669B2	Port fixation with filament actuating member The present disclosure relates to surgical access apparatus for positioning within a percutaneous tissue tract to facilitate access to an underlying surgical worksite. In one embodiment, the disclosed surgical access includes a housing with proximal and distal ends that is configured to removably receive at least one surgical instrument, a tubular member that extends distally from the housing along a longitudinal axis, a connective member that is secured to the tubular member, either internally or externally, at least one filament that is secured to the connective member so as to extend proximally therefrom, and at least one manual member that is secured to the at least one filament.
US07988668B2	Microsyringe for pre-packaged delivery of pharmaceuticals A microsyringe includes a body, a barrier movable within the body, and a flow regulator. The body includes a pressurizable chamber, an inlet fluidly connected to the pressurizable chamber, an outlet fluidly connected to the pressurizable chamber, and a cannula fluidly connected to the outlet. The flow regulator is fluidly connected to the cannula to limit the flow of a pharmaceutical through the cannula to a maximum rate. The movable barrier fluidly separates the inlet from the outlet. A pharmaceutical is disposed in a space between the movable barrier and the outlet. The inlet is designed to mechanically and fluidly couple to a hydraulic fluid delivery system. Hydraulic fluid from the inlet pressurizes the chamber, causing the barrier to move and displace the pharmaceutical out of the chamber and into the cannula. The movable barrier may be a piston or a collapsible membrane.
US07988667B2	Piercing tool A piercing tool (1) can safely and reliably pierce a piercing needle (411) into a skin layer. The piercing tool (1) comprises a belt-like flexible fixing member (2) having an opening (3) formed for raising skin, and a piercing needle moving means (4) mounted on the belt-like fixing member (2) for movably holding the piercing needle (411). By moving the piercing needle moving means (4), the piercing needle (411) is moved so as to be pierced into the skin raised from the opening (3).
US07988661B2	Breastshield with multi-pressure and expansible chamber construction, related breastpump and method Inner and outer shield parts of a breastshield are joined to form an enclosure defining a pressurizable chamber. The inner shield part has at least a portion thereof movable relative to the outer shield part when the chamber is subject to a negative or a positive pressure. A first pressure port is in communication respectively with the chamber for connection with a fluid pressure source of a first pressure. A second pressure port is in communication with the interior for connection with a pressure source of a second pressure. The breastshield is thus capable of being subjected to two different pressures, such as a positive pressure to move (expand) the chamber into the interior, so as to compress or massage the nipple/breast, and a negative pressure in the interior to draw the nipple/breast further therein for the expression of milk. The pressures can be independently controlled.
US07988658B2	Catheter and method of manufacture A blood vessel catheter includes a dual lumen catheter tube and a bolus insert attached to the distal end of the tube. First and second ports are formed between the nose section of the bolus and distal end openings of first and second lumens in the tube. The catheter is fabricated by insert molding a thermoplastic bolus onto the distal end of a thermoplastic tube.
US07988656B2	Natural orifice medical operation and endoscopic overtube In order to control the pressure in an abdominal cavity of a patient and a pressure in a hollow organ, a medical system includes: a first pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of a gas in the abdominal cavity; a first port for insufflating and evacuating the abdominal cavity; a second pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of a gas in the hollow organ; a second port for insufflating and evacuating the hollow organ; an air supply apparatus connected to the second port for controlling the air supply and evacuation based on the output by the first and second pressure sensors; a third port connected to the second pressure sensor in the air supply apparatus; an endoscope connected to the air supply apparatus; a pneumoperitoneum needle connected to the first port; and a puncture needle connected to the second port.
US07988654B2	Brace hosiery apparatus, assembly and method of use A brace hosiery apparatus including a hollow, cylindrical brace covering disposed about at least a portion of an orthotic brace and a first connector that when removably connected to a second connector secures the brace covering to the orthotic brace.
US07988652B2	Joint brace adjustable device The present invention discloses a pivotal disc is pivotally coupled to a first brace and a second brace. The pivotal disc has a motion-limit member and a positioning member limiting the angle by which the second brace rotates with respect to the first brace with the pivotal disc being the axis and fixing the angle between the first and second braces. The present invention is characterized in that the motion-limit member uses a range-adjust member to push a slide block and determine the range that a block portion of the second brace is blocked by the slide block, and that the positioning member uses a switch knob actuates on end of a positioning rod to engage with or depart from a positioning notch on the pivotal disc, and that the pivotal disc has two limit elements to define the maximum movement range of the first brace and the second brace.
US07988650B2	Massage device with spiral wave form action A massage device includes a handle engaged to a driving unit having a rotatable output shaft for driving an actuation unit which produces a spiral wave form action in a longitudinal direction is disclosed. The actuation unit includes an arrangement of bearing plates engaged to one another and mounted on the rotatable output shaft. Each of the bearing plates is engaged to a respective rotary ring in a manner that permits a rotating action by the bearing plates while the rotary rings have a slipping action relative to the output shaft in order to produce the spiral wave form action by the massage device.
US07988649B1	Therapeutic massage system This invention teaches methods, devices, and systems for spasm control and pain relief in any area of the back. It comprises a plurality of adjustable programmable integrated vibratory, thermal and electrical stimulation contacts, which are strategically and symmetrically co-located in plurality of foam layers and an inflatable pillow to provide balanced relief on either side of the spine in any position from lying down to sitting up.
US07988645B2	Self optimizing lancing device with adaptation means to temporal variations in cutaneous properties A lancing device, an embodiment of which controls the advancement and retraction of a lancet by monitoring the position of the lancet in conjunction with a lancet controller which incorporates a feedback loop for modulating the lancet driver to follow a predetermined tissue lancing profile.
US07988637B2	Plethysmograph pulse recognition processor A time domain rule-based processor provides recognition of individual pulses in a pulse oximeter-derived waveform.
US07988633B2	Apparatus and method for use of RFID catheter intelligence A method and system is provided for using backscattered data and known parameters to characterize vascular tissue. Specifically, methods and devices for identifying information about the imaging element used to gather the backscattered data are provided in order to permit an operation console having a plurality of Virtual Histology classification trees to select the appropriate VH classification tree for analyzing data gathered using that imaging element. In order to select the appropriate VH database for analyzing data from a specific imaging catheter, it is advantageous to know information regarding the function and performance of the catheter, such as the operating frequency of the catheter and whether it is a rotational or phased-array catheter. The present invention provides a device and method for storing this information on the imaging catheter and communicating the information to the operation console. In addition, information related to additional functions of the catheter may also be stored on the catheter and used to further optimize catheter performance and/or select the appropriate Virtual Histology classification tree for analyzing data from the catheter imaging element.
US07988631B2	Shock wave therapy device with image production The invention relates to a shock wave therapy device with a shock wave source for the emission of a shock wave and an ultrasound unit for obtaining image information by means of the emission and reception of ultrasound, whereby the ultrasound unit is provided for the reception of reflected or scattered components of the shock wave for obtaining image information. In addition, the invention relates to a method for obtaining image information for shock wave therapy with the steps: a) emitting ultrasound using an ultrasound unit, b) receiving the reflections of the emitted ultrasound using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information, c) emitting a shock wave using a shock wave source and d) receiving reflected or scattered components of the shock wave using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information.
US07988625B2	Surgical retractor with removable scissor arms A retractor having interchangeable or replaceable blades facilitates the expansion of a surgical site below an incision in the skin, and establishes a work-through surgical space. The retractor includes a frame connected to two collar arms, a pair of blades connected to the collar arms, a sheath for encompassing the blades and providing a circumscribed working space, and a device for rotating the collar arms, thereby displacing the blades and any tissue surrounding them.
US07988622B2	Luminous optical laryngoscope The invention relates to a luminous optical laryngoscope having a heating device built into the end that is inserted into the patient or the distal end thereof in order to prevent the formation of condensation and to facilitate viewing inside the patient through the laryngoscope.
US07988621B2	Torque-transmitting, variably-flexible, corrugated insertion device and method for transmitting torque and variably flexing a corrugated insertion device A torque-transmitting, variably-flexible, corrugated insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A vacuum-activated device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. A corrugated tube transmits torque from the proximal end toward the distal end. A method for transmitting torque and variably flexing an insertion device for receiving an instrument includes providing a hollow body, transmitting torque along the hollow body with a corrugated tube, applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body for placing the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition, and relieving the vacuum for placing the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition.
US07988615B2	Transobturator surgical articles and methods A surgical instrument for treating incontinence includes a handle portion elongate along a handle axis and a needle portion connected to the handle portion. The needle portion has a spacer portion along the handle axis, and has a distal end. The needle portion includes a substantially helical portion that is a variable spiral portion, extending from the straight spacer portion. The variable spiral portion is sized and shaped to extend from an incision substantially adjacent the patient's obturator foramen through the obturator foramen along a path in a region between the superior pubic ramus and the inferior pubic ramus. The needle portion has a structure near the distal end that associates the instrument with an implantable material configured to treat incontinence.
US07988613B2	Method and apparatus for the treatment of physical and mental disorders with low frequency, low flux density magnetic fields A method and apparatus for generating electromagnetic fields for healing. A device preferably includes a microcontroller and associated memory, a wire coil in electrical communication with a driving circuit that is controlled by the microcontroller in accordance with a program stored in the associated memory, wherein the driving circuit is effective to produce a pulsed DC output having a frequency in the range of about 0-45 Hz, more preferably in the range of 0.5-14.1 Hz and most preferably around 9.6 Hz. A user interface is provided for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation and a port (e.g., a USB port) is provided to allow the program stored in the associated memory to be modified by way of a computer, memory card or the Internet. In another embodiment, the apparatus takes the form of a medallion that can be worn around a user's neck or strategically placed on a user's body or embedded in other user hardware such as a combat or racing helmet.
US07988612B2	Carrier-free 103Pd brachytherapy seeds A brachytherapy seed comprising (a) carrier-free 103Pd isotope, (b) a substrate for the carrier-free 103Pd radioisotope, and (c) a casing for encapsulating the carrier-free 103Pd-laden substrate, is disclosed.
US07988611B2	After-loader for positioning implants for needle delivery in brachytherapy and other radiation therapy In one embodiment an after-loader for providing an implant to a hollow needle, the after-loader comprising a body having a distal end including a bevel for receiving a hub of a seed lock needle, and a bore therethrough for receiving a hub of a MICK® needle; a proximal end having a funnel shaped opening; a shield adapted to be provided over the body; and wherein the distal end further includes a taper along a portion of a distance from the distal end to the proximal end for providing a friction fit to a shield. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of the invention.
US07988610B2	Particle separation apparatus and method A particle separation apparatus includes a base, a disc-shaped container rotatable on the base at a constant speed and a suspension supply tank for separating in the container particles contained in a suspension supplied from the tank according to specific gravities or particle diameters of the particles. The container includes a plurality of centrifugation vessels disposed around a rotation axis and in a circumferential direction of the container, particle supply cylinders disposed at a center of the container for discharging the particles in the suspension toward the vessels and a lid, and has a structure controllable in rotational speed to adjust a distance of relative movement in a rotation direction between large-gravity particles and small-gravity particles. The vessels are individually in a form of dents independent of one another and are each formed of an inner circumferential wall and a bottom wall. Each of the cylinders has means for discharging the particles in the suspension toward a centrifugation vessel filled beforehand with water.
US07988602B1	Method and apparatus for treating plantar fasciitis A device and method for treating and preventing plantar fasciitis includes a wedge adapted to be placed under the big toe. The wedge has a top surface for supporting the big toe, a first support surface separated from the top surface by a first angle, and a second support separated from the top surface by a second angle. The first and second support surfaces are perpendicular with each other so that one rests on the floor and the other serves as a backstop. The wedge has a first position for inclining the top surface upwardly at the first angle to provide moderate stretching of the plantar fascia, and a second position for inclining the top surface upwardly at the second angle to provide maximum stretching. The first angle is within a range of 20 to 25 degrees, and the second angle is within a range of 65 to 70 degrees.
US07988599B2	Service tracking and alerting system for fitness equipment An electronic method of obtaining a service alert pertaining to exercise equipment uses a control server associated with a fitness facility to gather service information from at least one fitness equipment unit. The method further includes determining whether the service information gathered is significant, automatically sending a service alert message to at least one predefined recipient regarding service information that is significant.
US07988596B2	Vehicle and four wheeled vehicle for irregular ground A vehicle includes a first detecting means for detecting an engine speed, a second detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of a rotating member, an engine speed changing means for changing the engine speed, and a control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the first detecting means, the second detecting means, and the engine speed changing means and controls the engine speed changing means when the rotational speed of the rotating member detected by the second detecting means is lower than a set rotational speed previously set in a range from zero to a rotational speed of the rotating member during rotation of the engine in a range between a speed more than an idle rotational speed and a speed less than a predetermined maximum limit rotational speed.
US07988590B2	Pawl for a planetary gear mechanism A pawl for controlling the rotation of a gear in a planetary gear mechanism. The pawl includes a nose and first and second pivot axes. The nose is engageable with the gear. The pawl is rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first mode permitting rotation of the gear in a first direction and a second direction and a second mode preventing rotation of the gear in the first direction. The pawl is rotatable about the second pivot axis to permit rotation of the gear in the second direction while the pawl is the second mode.
US07988589B2	Gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle A gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set composed of two simple planetary gear sets, three clutches, and two brakes, and thus the gear train of an automatic transmission may realize six forward speeds and one reverse speed.
US07988583B2	Final reduction gear device A final reduction gear device including an orthogonal axis gear and a speed reduction mechanism portion employing a planetary gear is provided. A radial bearing, more specifically a cylindrical roller bearing, having a large radial load capacity is disposed between a bevel ring gear of the orthogonal axis gear and a differential case. A thrust bearing, more specifically a thrust ball bearing or a thrust roller bearing, having a large axial load capacity is disposed between an axial end portion of a sun gear, and an inner race side of the radial bearing and the side of a fitting portion of the differential case, to which the inner race is fitted. A thrust bearing, more specifically a thrust ball bearing or a thrust roller bearing, having a large axial load capacity is disposed between the bevel ring gear and a planetary carrier of the speed reduction mechanism portion.
US07988581B2	Rotation output device A compact rotation output device is realized by disposing an output shaft of a reduction gear transmission coaxially with an axis line of a rotating disk while simultaneously ensuring a space in a rear face of the rotating disk through which a columnar bar or wiring etc. can pass.A reduction gear transmission is provided with an input shaft having an eccentric rotation member, an external gear that has a through hole at its center and revolves orbitally while engaging with the eccentric rotation member, and an internal gear that surrounds the external gear while meshing with the external gear and allows the orbital revolution of the external gear. The number of teeth of the external gear differs from the number of teeth of the internal gear. The rotating disk is fixed to one of the external gear and the internal gear of the reduction gear transmission. The columnar bar is formed on the rotating disk, this columnar bar rotating together with the rotating disk, passing through the external gear, and extending longer than the input shaft.
US07988578B2	Belt tensioner assembly A belt tensioning device for use in a machine motion application.
US07988577B2	Friction drive belt and method for fabricating the same In a friction drive belt B, at least a contact part 13 of a belt body 10 with a pulley is made of an elastomer composition. The contact part 13 of the belt body 10 with a pulley has a large number of cellular pores 15 formed in the contact surface with the pulley.
US07988576B2	Disengageable pulley device The disengageable pulley device includes a pulley mounted on an internal transmission element, and a free wheel provided with a plurality of wedges and with a cage for the wedges, said free wheel being designed to provide one-way engagement between the pulley and the internal transmission element. The device includes an elastic connecting member provided with a first fixing part for fixing it to the internal transmission element, with a second fixing part for fixing it to the cage, and with a working part between said fixing parts, said working part being radially moveable relative to the internal transmission element and being adapted to exert a circumferential return force on the cage.
US07988572B1	Putting guide method and apparatus An improved system, method, and apparatus, computer-readable medium for a putting reference guide is provided that includes a plurality of reference indicia graphically representing a hole and a green surrounding the hole, wherein the hole is a center point in a center of a series of circumferential rings around the hole, wherein each ring represents a distance out from the hole, and a series of spokes radiating from the center point, wherein each spoke represents a putt's angle with respect to a reference point, wherein within each ring and between each spoke the expected break is provided.
US07988569B2	Multi-layer core golf ball Golf balls having a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core contains a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The outer core layer is thin relative to the center and outer core layer. In one embodiment, the relatively hard intermediate core layer has a surface hardness of 80 to 90 Shore C which is greater than the center hardness and surface hardness of the outer core layer. In another embodiment, the cover includes an inner cover layer having a surface hardness of 60 Shore D or greater and an outer cover layer having a surface hardness of 20 to 70 Shore D.
US07988566B2	Soft golf club head Provided is a soft golf club head that forms a striking surface with a plurality of strings fixed to a body of the head and a tension adjusting screw to enable adjusting of string tension, so that shock transferred to a golfer is reduced, flight distance of the golf ball can be adjusted, and a broader demography can enjoy golfing with less restrictions.
US07988563B2	Golf swing training apparatus A golf swing training apparatus including a golf club guide and, preferably, a support frame having spaced apart front and rear frame members connected together by a base frame member. The support frame is adjustably inclined at the lie angle of the golf club by a support arm. The golf club guide includes closely spaced apart front and rear guide ring segments which define a substantially planar circular shaped golf club swing slot therebetween, the swing slot having an unobstructed preferably adjustable width for free swing a golf club therewithin. The front guide ring segment is attached to and is supported by the front frame members while the rear guide ring segment is attached to and is supported by the rear frame member. An economy embodiment is also provided. A substantially flat club shaft guide supportively aligns the golf club shaft at the lie angle of the head.
US07988561B1	Base frame for game using an electric probe in adaptable configurations A revised universal base structure which is adapted for use in manufacturing various different versions of an electromechanical game using the same base structure. The base structure provides a network or grid of recessed areas above which a ground plate may extend. The recessed areas are formed as small squares and various small playing pieces are receivable in the recesses so that they can be retrieved by players during the course of game play. However, the base structure can be used with various uniquely different ground plates and unique upper boards to form various different embodiments of the differing games.
US07988560B1	Providing highlights of players from a fantasy sports team One aspect of the disclosure allows fantasy-sports league participants to receive video highlights of the players on their fantasy-league team. In at least one implementation, presenting player highlights includes receiving a request from a participant in a fantasy-sports league. The request is for player highlights related to a participant-specified team roster. In response to receiving the request, an identity of at least one player on the participant-specified team roster is accessed electronically. At least one video source having content relating to the identified player is accessed. Specific content within the video source that relates to the identified player is determined, and the specific content is presented to the participant.
US07988557B2	Method for playing games using brain waves The method is for playing a game by providing each player with a sensor for measuring brain wave frequencies of the players. The player moves a unit on a playing area in an x-direction toward the player when the brain wave frequency of the player is at a first frequency and the brain wave frequency of the player is at a second frequency wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency. The player moves the unit in a y-direction perpendicular to the x-direction when the brain wave frequency of the player is at a third frequency and the brain wave frequency of the player is at a fourth frequency wherein the third frequency is greater than the fourth frequency.
US07988556B2	Game console and emulator for the game console A portable game system includes two display screens, at least one of which is touch-sensitive. A memory card is selectively connectable to the portable game system.
US07988552B2	Wagering game having progressive amounts represented in various ways A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes receiving a credit value from a player via an input device. At least a portion of the credit value is a wager input for playing a wagering game. The method further includes programming a controller to select a randomly-selected outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving the wager input. The credit value is represented on a display as a dynamic element having an original size, the dynamic element being able to change between the original size and another size. The original size of the dynamic element is modified in accordance with changes in the credit value received via the input device to visually represent the changes in the credit value as the changes are occurring.
US07988544B2	Bird/animal restricting vent for fluid/air discharge conduits A vent assembly for attachment to a fluid discharge conduit of the type connected to a clothes dryer, room exhaust fan, or the like includes a mount having an opening received on the conduit and a door pivotally received by the mount. The door includes a first surface portion for covering at least a portion of the opening and a second surface portion joined to the first surface portion and extending from the door and protruding into the opening. The door is operable for displacement with respect to the opening between an open position and a closed position when engaged by a fluid flowing through the discharge conduit. The door is in the open position only after the door pivots sufficiently to move the first and second surface portions fully out of the opening, whereby birds, animals, and the like are restricted from entering the conduit.
US07988542B1	Method of separation of backbone part of fish and device therefor To obtain a quality-meat-attached backbone part suitable as a material for minced fish the invention proposes cutting off a fin part and a kidney from a meat-attached backbone part obtained when filleting a fish into three pieces. The meat-attached backbone part is conveyed by a pair of upper and lower conveyor belts while being sandwiched and held between the belts. When the backbone part reaches a fin cutter arranged in a midstream of the conveyance, a belly part is pushed by a first pushing lever while a back part of the meat-attached backbone part is received and stopped by a receiving and stopping lever, and the back skin from a back fin to a tail fin is cut off by the fin cutter. Then, when the meat-attached backbone part reaches a kidney cutter, the belly part of the meat-attached backbone part is pushed by a second pushing lever to position the kidney-attached backbone section of the meat-attached backbone part at a cutting position by a kidney cutter. The kidney-attached backbone section is cut off by the kidney cutter to obtain the quality-meat-attached backbone part.
US07988539B2	Abrasive cleaning device A cleaning element (36) for a cement floor surface mounted to a housing (32). Each cleaning element has a flat flexible abrasive surface (39) that is transversely positioned to the direction of motion to provide flex during cleaning of a cement floor surface.
US07988535B2	Platen exhaust for chemical mechanical polishing system The present invention generally relates to a substrate transferring system. Particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and method to effectively remove the chemical fume, vapor and other byproducts generated during a polishing process. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for polishing a substrate comprising a platen having a polishing surface configured to polish the substrate by contacting the substrate while moving relatively to the substrate, a polishing head configured to support the substrate and position the substrate to be in contact with the polishing surface during polishing, a solution nozzle configured to dispense a polishing solution on the polishing surface, and an exhaust assembly configured to remove fume, vapor and other byproducts generated during polishing.
US07988533B2	Scratch removal device and method A polishing wheel including a lower polishing surface and defining a different color from a secondary portion of the polishing wheel, so as to indicate wear of the polishing surface. The polishing surface includes a plurality of main radial flutes extending from a central passage to an outer edge. A reduced profile for the main radial flutes is provided adjacent to the outer edge. A plurality of secondary radial flutes is provided extending from the outer edge, but not in communication with either the central passage or the main radial flutes.
US07988532B2	Apparatus for fabricating liquid crystal display panels A cut section checking/aligning unit simultaneously checks cut sections of unit liquid crystal display panels that are separated from within first and second base substrates and aligns the unit liquid crystal display panels to a reference position. A grinding unit grinds edges of the unit liquid crystal display panels. The cut section checking/aligning unit and the grinding unit are integrated within a grinding device.
US07988528B2	Apparatus and method for grinding threaded portion of workpiece An apparatus for grinding a threaded portion of a workpiece, is provided. The threaded portion has a spiral groove formed therein. The apparatus includes a motor, a grinding cord, a detector and a controller. The motor has a rotary portion for rotating the threaded portion of the workpiece about an axis. The grinding cord is configured for being looped around the threaded portion of the workpiece with a middle part thereof engagingly received in a given portion of turns of the spiral groove for grinding the thread portion of the workpiece. The detector is for detecting a rotating cycle of the rotary portion. The controller is communicatively coupled to the detector for controlling the rotary portion to selectively rotate in a first rotating direction or in a reverse second rotating direction based on the received signal from the detector.
US07988526B2	Modesty foam pad and brassiere made A pad for a brassiere having a foam layer; a liner layer and a shaped cover positioned between the foam layer and the liner layer is provided. The shaped cover is positioned between the foam layer and the liner layer to provide enhanced coverage to the brassiere. A brassiere having a pair of breast-receiving cups is provided. Each of the pair of breast-receiving cups has a pad having a foam layer, a liner layer, and a shaped cover positioned between the foam layer and the liner layer. The shaped cover is positioned between the foam layer and the said liner layer to provide enhanced coverage to the brassiere.
US07988524B2	Childrens ride-on vehicles having mechanical assemblies A children's ride-on vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a body including at least one seat sized for a child; a plurality of wheels including at least one driven wheel; a battery-powered drive assembly configured to selectively drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel; a mechanical assembly including a first mechanical member movably connected to the body and configured to move among a plurality of positions including a first position in which one or more portions of the first mechanical member are not visible, and a second position in which the one or more portions of the first mechanical member are visible; and at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child sitting on the at least one seat, and configured to selectively move the first mechanical member between the first and second positions.
US07988523B2	Eye An eye is disclosed, which includes a spherical shell, a transparent body, a movable plate suspended inside the spherical shell, an elastic body disposed between the transparent body and the movable plate, and an electromagnetic driving device. The electromagnetic driving device drives the movable plate close to or away from the elastic body, and the elastic body is deformed when the electromagnetic driving assembly drives the movable plate.
US07988518B2	Magnetic block toy A magnetic block toy is provided that includes a plurality of magnetic blocks coupled to one another by magnets therein. Each of the magnetic blocks includes a body part having two or more end portions and a magnet-mounting part at each end portion of the body part adapted to mount magnets having different polarities on upper and lower surfaces thereof so as to be rotatably supported by a shaft formed on both sides of an outer periphery thereof. When one magnetic block approaches another magnetic block, the magnets are rotated to cause the magnetic blocks to be coupled to each other irrespective of a coupling direction. When the magnetic blocks are coupled to each other, they do not slide against or separate from each other.
US07988511B2	Freediving safety apparatus An apparatus for use in the activity of freediving, providing the freediver with increased safety and protection in the event of Shallow Water Blackout, incapacitating hypoxia, or other emergency occurring in or under the water, while providing greater reliability of functioning, and comfort of wearing during the activity of freediving.
US07988504B2	Plug connector The plug connector has a housing made of insulating material which includes an opening on one face for insertion of conductive contact pins and another opening on another face for insertion of the stripped ends of electrical conductors. There is a spring force terminal connection in each conductor connection area which pushes the stripped end of a conductor toward the contact pin insertion opening. The width (B1) of a passage for a contact pin is less than the width (B2) in the contact area adjacent to the contact pin insertion opening. The stripped end of the electrical conductor makes contact at a conductor contact section and can be moved against the spring force of an associated spring element.
US07988502B2	Connector According to the invention, the lance for primarily retaining the terminal is formed integrally on the retainer for secondarily retaining the terminal. Therefore, there is no need to form the lance on the connector housing, and therefore the structure of the connector housing can be simplified, and the moldability of the resin-made connector housing can be enhanced.
US07988493B2	Electrical component holder An electrical component holder contains an electrical component to be connected to an internal circuit of a vehicle-installed electrical junction box. The holder has a casing main body and a lid to be mounted on an upper surface of the casing main body. The casing main body has a box-like configuration that is open at a lower end so that the casing main body can be placed on an electrical component mounting section of the electrical junction box. The casing main body has an upper wall that defines a through-hole that receives and holds a support portion of a terminal member of the electrical component. The support portion of the terminal member is inserted into and secured to the through-hole so that the terminal member projects into a hollow interior of the casing main body. The terminal member is inserted into and secured to a terminal aperture in the electrical component mounting section, under the condition that the casing main body is attached to the electrical component mounting section.
US07988491B2	Electrical connector having contact modules A contact module is provided for an electrical connector. The contact module includes a housing having a mating edge, a mounting edge, and a side. An electrical lead is held by the housing. The electrical lead extends from a mating contact to a mounting contact. The mating contact extends outwardly from the mating edge of the housing. The mounting contact extends outwardly from the mounting edge of the housing. An inner ground shield is mounted on the housing. The inner ground shield includes a housing side segment that extends over at least a portion of the side of the housing between the mating and mounting edges thereof. An outer ground shield is mounted on the housing. The outer ground shield extends over at least a portion of the housing side segment of the inner ground shield.
US07988490B2	Retaining clip for connector An exemplary retaining clip is used for holding a connector to a printed circuit board. The retaining clip includes a cover plate and a clamping plate. The cover plate includes two bent portions respectively extending from opposite sides of the cover plate. The clamping plate includes a main portion and two arms connected to the main portion. Each arm is fixed to a corresponding bent portion. The cover plate and the arms are for surrounding the connector, and the main portion is for clamping a peripheral edge of the printed circuit board.
US07988489B2	Electrical connector The invention proposes a housing of an electrical connector including a contact holder and a front grid arranged for being mounted together, wherein: —the contact holder includes channels for receiving electrical contacts within, each channel being limited by resilient members stressable by an electrical contact whose position in the channel is not correct; —the front grid comprises a front panel with a plurality of transversal connecting windows for facing corresponding channels of the contact holder; characterized in that the housing includes members for locking the front grid to the contact holder by translating the front grid with respect to the contact holder according to a lateral direction.
US07988488B2	Barrel nut connector assembly A connector assembly comprises a connector having a connector threaded section with threads along a length of an external surface of the connector threaded section; and a barrel nut. The barrel nut comprises a nut threaded section having threads along an internal surface of the nut threaded section, wherein the nut threaded section is barrel shaped having a length and a diameter; a fastening section coupled to the nut threaded section, the fastening section having a length and a non-circular shape comprising a plurality of sides; and a nut circular opening extending through the entire length of the fastening section and the entire length of the nut threaded section; wherein the diameter of the nut threaded section is larger than a diameter of the connector threaded section and smaller than a diameter of an opening in a barrier through which the nut is coupled to the connector.
US07988487B2	Connector A number of the terminal rows RT1 to RT3 are minimized, as compared to a number of the connect rows RC1 to RC4. In the terminal row RT1, the terminal portions 304 of the signal contact pair C22, C23 are arranged between the terminal portions 304 of the signal contact pair C11, C12 and the terminal portions 304 of the signal contact pair C14, C15. In the terminal row RT3, the terminal portions 304 of the signal contact pair C42, C43 are arranged between the terminal portions 304 of the signal contact pair C31, C32 and the terminal portions 304 of the signal contact pair C34, C35. Thus, a size of the footprint of the connector 100 can be reduced, and cross talks between the signal contact pair C11, C12 and the signal contact pair C14, C15 and between the signal contact pair C31, C32 and the signal contact pair C34, C35 can be reduced.
US07988486B1	Junction box and conductive terminals therein Disclosed are a conductive terminal and a junction box having the conductive terminals. The conductive terminal comprises a conducting wire cover, a terminal main body, a first clamping member and a second clamping member. The terminal main body serially comprises a conducting wire base, a sheet body, a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion. The conducting wire cover comprises a first base, a top, a first bend, a first tongue piece and a second bend. The conducting wire base comprises a pair of lodging parts, a second opening, a third opening and a third protrusion projected from the third opening. The first clamping member comprises a pair of third wings, which clamps the first gripping portion. The second clamping member comprises a second tongue piece and a third tongue piece. The pair of the forth protrusions of the second tongue piece engages with the second gripping portion.
US07988485B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes a base and a fixing assembly. The assembly includes a shaft, at least one positioning post, and at least one connecting bar. The shaft is slidably connected to the base and able to slide toward a first direction. The at least one positioning post is slidably connected to the base and able to slide toward a second direction. A threaded pole protrudes from each of the at least one positioning post. Ends of each of the at least one connecting bar is rotatably connected to the shaft and one of the at least one positioning post, respectively. The sliding of the shaft toward the first direction causes the at least one positioning post to slide toward the second direction, and when the shaft is caused to slide from a first position to a second position, the at least one threaded pole engages another electrical connector.
US07988482B2	Connector for vehicle effectively removing or reducing noise and providing secure connection The present invention provides a connector for use in a vehicle, the connector including a male connector, a female connector and a connector cover mounted on the circumferential surface of the female connector thereby providing secure connection and removing/reducing noise of the vehicle. More specifically, the female connector includes a housing, a projection formed to project on top of the housing, an operating lever horizontally disposed over the housing in the forward and backward direction to perform a seesaw motion, and a locking projection formed at the front bottom of the operating lever. On the other hand, the male connector is configured to be inserted into the female connector and connected to the female connector by the locking projection. Furthermore, the female connector is double locked and the connector cover is molded with ferrite powder to remove or reduce noise of the vehicle.
US07988481B2	Electrical disconnect with push-in connectors A wire connector has an enclosure including a housing and a cap and one or more contacts supported in the enclosure. The contacts each have outer ends opposite wire ports in the cap to receive a stripped end of a wire in a push-in engagement. One set of contacts has a male blade and the other set of contacts has a female socket at the inner or forward ends thereof. The housings are arranged so that two housings are releasably engagable with one another. When two housings are engaged the male contacts electrically engages the female contacts of the other housing. The female contacts include a sacrificial tine that is always first to make and last to break engagement with the male contact so that any degradation due to arcing always occurs at the sacrificial tine.
US07988473B2	Electrical card connector having a shield assisting in retaining an inserted card to a slider An electrical card connector (100), used for receiving a card (6) having a cutout (61), includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing, a metal shield (3) covering the insulative housing to define a card receiving room (8) and a card inserting port, and an ejector (4) assembled on the insulative housing. The metal shield includes a main plate (31) and a pair of vertical walls (32) extending from the main plate. A ridge (321) is formed at one of the vertical walls. The ejector includes a slider (41), a spring member (42) and a pin member (43) for cooperatively guiding/ejecting a card. The slider has a main portion (41) extending along the card's insertion/ejection direction. The main portion forms a protruding portion (412) facing toward the card receiving room and a confronting portion (413) facing toward the one vertical wall. The protruding portion is engaged with the cutout of the card when the card is moved into a locked position in such a manner that the ridge leans against the confronting portion and presses the slider towards the card receiving room.
US07988470B2	Methods of fabricating metal oxide or metal oxynitride TFTs using wet process for source-drain metal etch The present invention generally relates to thin film transistors (TFTs) and methods of making TFTs. The active channel of the TFT may comprise one or more metals selected from the group consisting of zinc, gallium, tin, indium, and cadmium. The active channel may also comprise nitrogen and oxygen. To protect the active channel during source-drain electrode patterning, an etch stop layer may be deposited over the active layer. The etch stop layer prevents the active channel from being exposed to the plasma used to define the source and drain electrodes. The etch stop layer and the source and drain electrodes may be used as a mask when wet etching the active material layer that is used for the active channel.
US07988469B1	Universal serial bus adapter A universal serial bus adapter includes an adapter board, a sliding element, a receiving cover, and a pivoting element. The adapter board includes a main board, a golden finger board extending from an end of the main board, and a number of signal pins arranged on the main board. The golden finger board includes a number of golden fingers attached on the golden finger board and correspondingly electrically connected to the signal pins. The sliding element includes a main body slidably mounted to the signal pins. The receiving cover is operable to receive the main board and the main body, with the golden finger board exposed outside of the receiving cover. The pivoting element includes a board pivotally mounted on the receiving cover.
US07988467B1	Electrical connector with only one of the two electrodes movable between a first and second positions An exemplary receiving connector adapted for connecting to an insert connector to achieve electrical connection therebetween includes a main body, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an operating member. The first electrode and the second electrode are mounted to the main body. The operating member includes an operating pole mounted with the second electrode. The operating pole is capable of being manipulated by a user to drive the second electrode to move between a first position and a second position.
US07988466B2	Portable electronic devices A portable electronic device includes a connector case and defines a cavity communicating to the air. A guiding portion is formed in the cavity. The connector case includes at least one interface and an engaging portion. The engaging portion is slidably attached to the guiding portion. The at least one interface is exposed when the connector case slides out from the cavity.
US07988465B2	Circuit board based connector with raised projection section Provided is a circuit board based connector with raised projection section, which is formed by applying substrate bonding and formation techniques to make a connector that features a raised projection section. The circuit substrate has an end that is provided with conductive terminals and an opposite end that is provided with flat cable connection terminals for connection with a flat cable. The circuit substrate has a first surface on which the projection section is formed. A shielding layer covers the projection section and a portion of the first surface. The circuit substrate has a second surface on which a second shielding layer is selectively formed. When the circuit substrate is inserted into an insertion space defined in a connection socket with the conductive terminals thereof, the shielding layer and the projection section of the circuit substrate are put into engagement with and thus retained by the insertion space of the connection socket to thereby fix within the connection socket.
US07988462B2	Electrical connector having high density contacts for miniaturization An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (1) with a rear portion (11) and a front portion (12) along a first direction (A), a spacer (4) assembled on the rear portion (11) which has a plurality of first wedged positioning sections (42, 43) in an inner side thereof and arranged along a second direction (B) and a plurality of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing and comprising a soldering portion (203) extending out of the insulative housing. The spacer (4) includes a plurality of positioning grooves (45) in an external side thereof for receiving and positioning the soldering portions (203c) of one part contacts (23) located at an upper side of the front portion (12). The soldering portions (203a, 203b) of the other contacts (21a, 21b) are sandwiched between the spacer (4) and the rear portion (11) thereby forms a waved configuration.
US07988461B1	Electrical connector assembly An electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board having vias each extending at least partially through the circuit board along parallel via axes and an electrical connector configured to be mounted on the circuit board. The electrical connector includes a plurality of variable depth signal terminals configured to extend different depths into respective vias of the circuit board. The signal terminals each have a terminal axis, and the signal terminals are arranged in pairs carrying differential pair signals. The signal terminals of each pair extend to the same depth in the respective vias of the circuit board. The terminal axes of the signal terminals of each pair are offset with respect to the corresponding via axes along a majority of the signal terminals within the vias.
US07988458B2	Socket connector for digital camera module A socket connector for a digital camera module includes a base, a plurality of contact terminals, and a flex printed circuit board. The base includes a base body and a plurality of arms extending from the base. The contact terminals are mounted in the base, each contact terminal including an angled portion and a bent portion, the angled portion electronically connected to the digital cameral module. The flex printed circuit board is electronically connected to the bent portion.
US07988451B2	Injection training pad Disclosed is an injection training pad that allows a user to practice intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections all on the same device. The injection training pad includes a container having an open top and a closed bottom. A lid having a hole removably engages the open top of the container. The pad also includes a retaining member having a base with at least one leg. At least a portion of the retaining member is disposed within the container. A cap having a flange is positioned between the retaining member and the lid, and a cushion is positioned between the retaining member and the cap.
US07988446B2	Mold assembly A mold assembly includes an upper mold cavity, a base plate, and a flow element. The upper mold cavity defines a primary runner and a plurality of sub-runners on a top surface in communication with the upper mold cavity. A gate is defined in the primary runner for injecting liquefied plastic into the upper mold cavity. The base plate defines an outlet thereon corresponding to the gate for outputting the liquefied plastic. The upper mold cavity and the base plate corporately form a closed cavity therebetween. The flow element is received in the closed cavity and movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the flow element is engaged with the primary runner and plurality of sub-runners. In the second position, the flow element is separated with the primary runner and plurality of sub-runners.
US07988445B2	Injection molding apparatus having a nozzle tip component for taking a nozzle out-of-service An injection molding apparatus includes a plurality of valve-gated nozzles, each nozzle having a respective valve pin that is actuated by an actuator. A nozzle tip component for taking one of the valve-gated nozzles of the injection molding apparatus out-of service, wherein the nozzle tip component has a surface that grips the respective valve pin to lock the valve pin in an out-of-service position thereby preventing flow of molding material into an associated mold cavity and causing disengagement of the valve pin from the actuator.
US07988443B2	Mold clearing tool A mold clearing tool includes a support portion and a draft portion. The support portion includes a bracket and two poles extending downward from two ends of the bracket. The bracket includes a second through hole defined therein. The draft portion includes a main body and a spiral draft end on one end of the main body. The spiral draft end is threaded outside. The draft portion is movably received through the second through hole for clearing excess material remaining in a molding chamber. The molding chamber includes a plurality of first through holes defined therein.
US07988441B2	Optical element molding apparatus An optical element manufacturing apparatus is provided with a fixed side metal mold 5 attached to a fixed platen 1, and a movable side metal mold 6 attached to a movable platen 2. The fixed side metal mold 5 and the movable side metal mold 6 are clamped by bringing both platens 1 and 2 close to each other. In the clamped status, a molding material is injected into a molding cavity between the both metal molds and an optical element is produced. A taper recessed section 11a and a taper protruding section 21a, provided on the fixed side metal mold 5 and the movable side metal mold 6 respectively, fit each other. The movable side metal mold 6 provides a friction mechanism section 23 which permits the metal mold to shift within a plane perpendicular to the clamping direction with respect to the movable platen 2.
US07988440B2	Apparatus for the measurement of the vertical position of upper and lower punches of a rotary tablet press The present invention is related to an apparatus and a method for the measurement of the vertical position of upper and lower punches, pairwisely associated to a rotatably driven rotor of a rotary tablet press and rotating synchronously with the rotor, which perform a vertical movement in certain regions along the circumference of their rotational movement during a rotation of the rotor. The apparatus features at least one scale arranged on at least one of the upper and/or lower punches, running in parallel to the vertical movement direction of the respective upper and/or lower punch, and at least one reading device associated to the scale, also rotating synchronously with the rotor, by means of which a vertical position of the respective upper and/or lower punch can be measured by reading out the scale. The inventions is furthermore related to a corresponding rotary tablet press and a corresponding method.
US07988435B2	Oilless screw compressor and compressed air cooling unit An oilless screw compressor incorporating water-cooled cooling units for cooling compressed air discharged from compressor bodies having a pair of male and female screw rotors which can be rotated in a contactless and oilless manner, the cooling units comprising a plate type heat-exchanger, and the amount of cooling water for the plate type heat-exchanger being adjustable. With this configuration, a difference between a temperature during load operation and a temperature upon automatic stopping and during unload operation of the compressor can be reduced, so that the cooling unit can be restrained from being damaged or broken within a short period, thereby it is possible to provide a highly reliable oilless screw compressor.
US07988434B2	Compressor having capacity modulation system A compressor may include a housing and first and second scroll members supported within the housing, each having an end plate with a spiral wrap extending therefrom and meshingly engaged with the other to form a series of compression pockets operating at an intermediate fluid pressure between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure. A first passage in communication with one of the compression pockets extends from a first side of the first end plate to a second side of the first end plate generally opposite the first side. A modulation plate overlies the second side of the first scroll member for radial displacement between first and second positions. The modulation plate isolates the first passage from communication with a suction pressure region of the compressor when in the first position and provides communication between the first passage and the suction pressure region when in the second position.
US07988432B2	Rotary compressor for changing compression capacity A rotary compressor has two compression capacities according to two different rotational directions of the driving shaft. The rotary compressor includes a driving shaft with an eccentric portion. A roller rotates on the shaft along an inner circumference of the cylinder. A vane installed in the cylinder continuously contacts the roller. An upper and a lower bearing are respectively disposed on the top and bottom of the cylinder. A disc shaped valve rotates between two positions and has at least one suction port for selectively supplying refrigerant inside the compression chamber according to the rotational direction of the driving shaft and at least one discharge port communicates with the compression chamber for discharging the compressed refrigerant. The refrigerant is supplied through a communication hole to a port formed on the outer valve.
US07988430B2	Linear compressor A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor may include a cylinder in which refrigerant flows in an axial direction, a piston that reciprocates within the cylinder so as to compress the refrigerant, and a linear motor that drives the piston. At least one of the cylinder or the piston may be sintering molded.
US07988425B1	Pump and alarm control A pump and alarm control promotes water safety and prevents entrapment in swimming pools, spas, and water features, such as fountains and waterfalls. The pump and alarm control monitors the vacuum on the influent side of a pump for the pool, spa and/or water feature and a two speed pump for a spa and automatically detects blockages in the pool, spa and/or water feature drains. The pump and alarm control is capable of detecting entrapment and blockages in different and distinct normal pressure operating conditions. Upon detecting a blockage the pump and alarm control shuts down pump operations and activates audible and visual alarms.
US07988420B2	Airfoil shape for a turbine bucket and turbine incorporating same Third stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z′ set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z′ values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z′ values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of +/−.0.040 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.
US07988418B2	Microcircuits for small engines A turbine engine component for use in a small engine application has an airfoil portion having a root portion, a tip portion, a suction side wall, and a pressure side wall. The suction side wall and the pressure side wall have the same thickness. Still further, the turbine engine component has a platform with an internal cooling circuit.
US07988417B1	Air cooled turbine blade A turbine blade with a 5-pass serpentine flow cooling circuit for mid-blade cooling that is formed from a 3-pass forward flowing serpentine circuit followed by a 2-pass aft flowing serpentine circuit with the first leg or supply channel for the circuit located between the second leg and the fourth leg. A crossover channel connects the third leg to the fourth leg and passes underneath the blade tip to provide convective cooling and also discharges cooling air through tip cooling holes.
US07988412B2	Structures for damping of turbine components Disclosed is a coating for gas turbine components including at least one material having vibration-damping properties. Further disclosed is an airfoil of a gas turbine having damped vibrational characteristics including an airfoil substrate and a coating applied to the airfoil substrate including at least one material having vibration-damping properties. A method of damping vibration of a gas turbine component includes applying a coating including at least one material having damping properties to the turbine component.
US07988410B1	Blade tip shroud with circular grooves A blade tip shroud segment for a gas turbine engine in which the shroud segment is cooled and sealed using a combination of vortex cooling air flow and cooling air discharge film cooling. The shroud segment includes a row of vortex chambers formed within the shroud segment and a row of circumferential circular grooves formed on the hot gas flow surface of the shroud segment, where each groove is connected to a vortex chamber through a slot. Cooling air is to the vortex chambers from individual cooling air feed slots or through inter-linking channels connecting adjacent vortex chambers.
US07988407B2	Axial fan An axial fan is provided. The axial fan includes a base, a rotor, a guide and a plurality of blades. The guide connects to a guide tube to provide airflow. Each blade has a passive part and an active part, wherein the passive part is driven by the airflow from the guide to rotate the active part synchronously. The axial fan increases air quantity and decreases air pressure to provide efficient heat dissipation.
US07988406B2	Method for operating an order-picking system The invention relates to a method for operating an order-picking systems (100; 100′), wherein the order-picking system comprises a high-bay warehouse (10), at least one tray warehouse (16), at least one packing station (20; 32), and at least one shipping station (22), comprising the following steps: a) depalletizing (S20) in a layerwise manner packing units (42), which form a, particularly complete, pallet layer (40), from a pallet (44), particularly a EuroPallet, which respectively carries a plurality of packing units (42), which are to be picked, of a type of article, onto a correspondingly dimensioned tray (46); b) bringing (S30) the tray (46) loaded with the pallet layer (40) into the tray warehouse (16), preferably by means of a conveyor technique (14), a storage machine and/or a lift; c) recalling (S40) the tray (46) loaded with the pallet layer (40) in accordance with an order-picking order or several order-picking orders to the packing station (20; 32); removing in accordance with the order-picking order or one of the order-picking orders a predetermined number of packing units (42), which are to be picked, and packing the retrieved packing units onto a shipping support, in order to ship the shipping support to the customer, if the order-picking order is completed.
US07988396B2	Deck screw A fastener for composite material having a dense composition employs a head which has a socket and a recessed underside and a lower rim. The shank has an upper portion with an enlarged diameter and a left hand thread while the lower portion has a tri-lobed configuration and is traversed by a right hand thread. The right hand thread may have a plurality of notches which, in one embodiment, are arranged in a spiral array.
US07988394B2	Hollow fastener element, electrical connections and component assembly The invention relates to a method for creating an electrically conductive connection between an electric terminal device having a cavity, such as a cable shoe, and a sheet metal part. According to said method, a hollow fixing element is riveted to the sheet metal part to prevent torsion, thus producing an electrically conductive connection between the fixing element and the sheet metal part and the assembled component is then provided with an electrically non-conductive or poorly conductive protective coating, such as for example a lacquer coating or powder coating. Said method is characterised in that a receptacle for the electric terminal device is configured in the vicinity of the front face of the fixing element, to which the electric terminal device is attached, said receptacle preventing the torsion of the terminal device in relation to the fixing element and the sheet metal part and that a thread forming or cutting screw is screwed through the cavity of the electric terminal device into the hollow fixing element, said screwing action forming or cutting a thread. The invention also relates to a corresponding fixing element and an assembled component that is produced in this manner.
US07988390B2	Precision machine utilizing imaging system A precision machine includes a base having an outer wall, a cutting tool for machining a workpiece mounted on the base, a fixing member detachably located on the outer wall, a first connecting member having a first end and a second end and an imaging system. The first connecting member is capable of maintaining a shape after adjustment thereto by application of an external force, and the first end of the first connecting member is fixed to the fixing member. The imaging system is attached to the second end of the first connecting member such that a position of the imaging system relative to the tool can be adjusted by changing shape of the connecting member.
US07988389B2	Twist drill The invention relates to a twist drill, with an elongated drill body displaying a connecting end, a middle part, and a working end with a center point, in addition to at least two main cutting edges that run roughly transversely to the longitudinal axis of the drill body and lie opposite one another in relation to the longitudinal axis, where main cutting edges are each provided with a radially outer tip, which projects in feed direction x of twist drill, a helical chip removal flute follows on from each main cutting edge, center point displays at least two pilot cutting edges, and pilot cutting edges start from the free end of center point, run roughly transversely to the longitudinal axis of drill body and lie opposite one another in relation to the longitudinal axis. In order to achieve a drill hole with flawless, clean edges, pilot cutting edges are each be provided with a radially outer tip projecting in the feed direction of the twist drill, and a pilot chip removal flute follows on from each pilot cutting edge, transitioning into chip removal flute.
US07988388B2	Spindle attachment device for machine tool A spindle attachment device attached, for use, to a distal end of a spindle of a machine tool is provided. The spindle attachment device (11) includes a hollow casing (13) having an internal space; an input shaft (17) rotatably supported inside the casing; an output shaft (19) rotatably supported inside the casing; a coupling member (15) connected to the input shaft in order to join the input shaft to the spindle of the machine tool; a gear train (21) disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft in order to increase a rotation speed of the input shaft for a transmission to the output shaft; and a tap holder (25, 27) for mounting a tapping tool on the output shaft. The spindle attachment device increases the rotation speed of the spindle and transfers it to the tapping tool, and thus makes it possible to perform a tapping process on a workpiece at high speed, while maintaining the rotation speed of the spindle at a low level.
US07988378B2	Friction coupling A friction coupling for locking a shaft relative to a hub is disclosed. The friction coupling includes a radially deformable inner sleeve, a radially deformable outer sleeve, an annular piston which is axially movable relative to the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, the annular piston having a conical surface, which cooperates with the inner sleeve and/or the outer sleeve and which is arranged to deform the inner sleeve and/or the outer sleeve when the annular piston is moved relative to the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve so as to provide the locking. In at least one embodiment, the friction coupling further includes at least one actuating device to produce a movement of the annular piston for locking the friction coupling, and at least one deactuating device to produce a movement of the annular piston for unlocking the friction coupling. The at least one actuating and deactuating devices are located, seen in the axial direction, on the same side of the annular piston.
US07988374B2	Sheet cutting device and printer A printing device has a platen roller, a print head for printing on a sheet material, and a sheet cutting device for cutting the sheet material on which printing has been performed. The sheet cutting device has a stationary blade and a movable blade for cutting the sheet material in a pressing contact state with respect to the stationary blade. A release mechanism is disposed in the stationary blade frame and is movable to first and second positions to release the stationary and movable blades. In the first position of the release mechanism, the blades are in the pressing contact state, the platen roller is in contact with the print head, and ends of a platen roller shaft of the platen roller are disposed adjacent to one end of respective elongated holes of a stationary blade frame supporting the stationary blades. In the second position of the release mechanism, the blades are moved out of the pressing contact state, the platen roller is in contact with the print head, and the ends of the platen roller shaft are disposed adjacent to the other end of the respective elongated holes of the stationary blade frame.
US07988373B2	Tape printer, tape printing system, ink ribbon cassette for a tape printer, method of loading a tape cassette and an ink ribbon cassette into a tape printer, and tape cassette for a tape printer A tape printer for use with a tape cassette and an ink ribbon cassette, the printer comprising a housing and a printhead having a line of printing elements thereon, wherein said printer comprises at least one cassette receiving portion in said housing for receiving the tape cassette and the ink ribbon cassette, such that the cassettes are receivable in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the line of printing elements on the printhead when the printhead is in a printing position.
US07988372B2	Camera having detachable lens module A camera having a detachable lens is provided. More particularly, the camera includes a main body and a lens module configured so that it can be mounted to or detached from the main body according to a rotating state of the lens module with respect to the main body. The camera also includes a first coupling structure that is configured to provide the lens module with coupling when the lens module is set to a mounting position. The camera also includes a secondary coupling structure that is configured to provide the lens module with temporary coupling when the lens module is set to a detaching position. As a result of this structure, an unwanted dropping of the lens module due to an instant loss of supporting force when the lens module is detached from the main body may be prevented.
US07988369B2	Package and assembly for optical components such as optical fibres A package comprises a substrate (101, 401) with a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction perpendicular thereto. The substrate (101, 401) has a recess (103, 403) formed in a first surface (102, 402) and the recess (103, 403) extends in the longitudinal direction of the substrate (101, 401), said recess (103, 403) having an inner surface. The inner surface of the recess (103, 403) comprises at least a first set of conductive areas. The first set comprises at least a first area (106, 406) and a second area (107, 407) being provided with a conductive layer, said first area (106, 406) and said second area (107, 407) being mutually spaced in the lateral direction. The package additionally comprises a cap (151, 251, 351, 451.) with a first surface (152, 252, 352, 452) for mounting on top of said first surface (102, 402) of said substrate (101, 401), the cap (151, 251, 351, 451) and the recess (103, 403) of the substrate (101, 401) defining an elongated channel in the longitudinal direction. The cap (151, 251, 351) comprises at least a first set of conductive areas, said first set comprising at least a first area (156, 256, 356) and a second area (157, 257, 357) provided with a conductive layer, said first area (156, 256, 356) and said second area (157, 257, 357) being mutually spaced in the lateral direction.
US07988366B2	Retainer for rolling bearing and rolling bearing The present invention provides a rolling bearing which does not contain a hazardous substance and thus does not pollute environment. The present invention also provides a retainer, for holding rolling elements of the rolling bearing, which is made of a cold rolled steel plate. The retainer is subjected to at least one kind of surface treatment selected from among electrogalvanizing, electrotinning, electrolytic tin-zinc alloy plating, electrolytic zinc-iron alloy plating, and electrolytic zinc-nickel alloy plating. The retainer is further chromated with trivalent chromium. The rolling bearing uses the retainer for the rolling bearing.
US07988363B2	Bearing with rotation detection device To downsize a bearing assembly with a rotation detection device, a magnetic generating element (2) having a directionality about a rotation axis O is provided on an inner race (21) side of the bearing assembly (20). A rotation sensor (3) capable of detecting a magnetism of the magnetic generating element (2) and outputting information descriptive of rotation or angle is fitted to an outer race (22) side in alignment with a bearing axis. The magnetic generating element (2) is fixed to a fixing member, for example, a rotary shaft (10) that is fixed to an inner diametric side of the inner race (21) of the bearing assembly (20).
US07988362B2	Bearing bush system for a two-part steering shaft A bearing bush system includes a bearing bush of polyamide that is held on an outer steering shaft with a stopping collar and on the free face of which the one-piece sealing element of thermoplastic elastomer that seals statically with a ring seal as well as dynamically with sealing lips is held in a form-fitting fashion by means of watchtower-like denticulated ribs provided on both sides. The bearing bush system of two plastics forms a single component, requires low manufacturing expenditures, can be easily assembled and also ensures a reliable seal.
US07988360B2	Motion guide device Provided is a motion guide device having a scooping portion that is not damaged even when a moving member is moved at high speed.When seen in an axial direction of a track shaft 1, a direction change path 10 is inclined relative to a contact angle line L1 (line connecting a center C of a ball 3 and a bottom P1 of a ball rolling groove 1a). The direction change path 10 including a scooping portion 17 has a cross section of Gothic arch groove shape formed of two arcs R1 in such a manner that the ball 3 is in contact with the direction change path 10 at two points. The direction change path 10 is twisted in such a manner that a locus 18 of the top of the Gothic arch groove shape approaches the contact angle line L1 at the scooping portion 17.
US07988355B2	Electronic thermometer with flex circuit location An electronic thermometer is configured for ease and accuracy in construction. A probe of the thermometer includes a flex circuit containing electronic components used to measure temperature and transmit signals to a calculating unit of the thermometer. A resilient locator can function to pre-position the flex circuit prior to final fixation so that the electronic components are reliably positioned in manufacture.
US07988347B2	Fastening system and lamp having a fastening system A fastening system for fastening a lamp has at least one electrical source of radiant light, in place in a light system. Part of the lamp projects into an opening in the light system and is releasably connected thereto. At least three lugs take the form of electrical contacts and reference points in this case, and the areas of contact of the lug and lug-receptacle system are so arranged that, in the end position, their mating areas can be caused to mate in positive inter-engagement by an axially applied force.
US07988345B2	Projection module of an automobile headlight The invention relates to a projection module of an automobile headlight. The module includes several semiconductor light sources to broadcast optical irradiation of a primary optics assembly to bundle the emitted irradiation, and a secondary optics assembly that projects the bundled irradiation to create the desired light distribution in front of the vehicle. In order to reduce the weight and dimensions of the projection module, it is proposed that the secondary optics assembly is formed as a multi-part complex lens that includes several lens segments. Each of these lens segments is assigned to at least one irradiation bundle of irradiation bundled from the primary optics assembly, and projects this assembly as partial distribution in front of the vehicle, whereby the overall distribution of the projection module results from overlapping the partial distributions.
US07988342B2	Adjustment clip for a suspended light fixture Systems and methods for installing row-mounted suspended light fixtures. Each of a row of suspended light fixtures includes brackets disposed on opposite ends of the fixture. Each bracket includes a slot configured to slidably receive an adjustment clip coupled to a support member, such as a ceiling cable or pendant. Each adjustment clip includes first and second segments disposed at a non-zero, acute angle relative to one another such that a space separates the first and second segments. The space is configured to receive a portion of one or more brackets associated with the adjustment clip, proximate the bracket slot(s). An operator can install the light fixtures by positioning a fastener through each adjustment clip, outside the bracket slot(s). He also can adjust an alignment and balance of one or more of the light fixtures by sliding one or more of the adjustment clips along the slot(s) associated therewith.
US07988341B2	Outdoor high powder light-emitting diode illuminating equipment The invention provides a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment. The light-emitting diode illuminating equipment of the invention includes a heat-dissipating plate device, a plurality of heat-dissipating fins, a diode light-emitting apparatus, a plurality of heat-conducting devices, and a shield device. The heat-dissipating fins extend from a surface of the heat-dissipating plate device. By tightly mounting the heat-conducting devices on the surface of the heat-dissipating plate device and disposing between the heat-dissipating fins, heat generated during the operation of the diode light-emitting apparatus is distributed uniformly on the heat-dissipating plate device and the heat-dissipating fins due to the high efficiency heat-conducting of the heat-conducting devices, and then is dissipated. Besides, the shield device has a waterproof passage for a power cord passing through to power a control circuit, such that the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment is adapted to be installed outdoors.
US07988338B2	Optical transformation device The present invention relates to an optical transformation device, and more particularly to an optical transformation device able to transform a projected light beam from a spot light source to form rectangular projection surfaces, which primarily includes a refracting body composed of an emergent surface structured from a combination of a plurality of optical surfaces and an incident surface configured as a concave spherical surface. Two reflecting surfaces located at two sides of the meridian of the emergent surface enable the luminous flux of incoming light to completely impinge upon the refracting body, and the interactive effect from the combined optical surfaces transforms the light shape of a light beam from a spot light source, and is projected to produce an almost rectangular shaped illumination projection surface.
US07988336B1	LED-based illumination module attachment to a light fixture A mounting collar on a light fixture provides a compressive force between the illumination module and a light fixture. For example, a mounting collar that is fixed to the light fixture may engage with an illumination module to deform elastic mounting members on the illumination module to generate the compressive force. The mounting collar may include tapered features on first and second members that are moveable with respect to each other and that when engaged generate the compressive force. The mounting collar may include elastic mounting members on first and second members that move with respect to each other, wherein the movement deforms the elastic mounting members to generate the compressive force. The mounting collar may include an elastic member, wherein movement movement of the mounting collar relative to a light fixture deforms the elastic member to generate the compressive force.
US07988334B2	Illuminating device with adjustable illumination range An illuminating device includes a housing, a light source module, and a plurality of replaceable optical elements. The light source module is positioned in the housing for emitting light having an initial illumination range. The optical elements are configured for respectively converting the initial illumination range into different outputting illumination ranges, each of the optical elements is selectively detachably mountable to the housing for achieving a desired illumination range.
US07988332B2	Integrally formed single piece light emitting diode light wire A flexible, integrally formed single piece light emitting diode (LED) light wire that provides a smooth, uniform lighting effect from all directions of the LED light wire. The integrally formed single piece LED light wire contains a conductive base comprising first and second bus elements formed from a conductive material. The bus elements distribute power from a power source to LEDs that are mounted on the first and second bus elements so that it draws power from and adds mechanical stability to the first and second bus elements. The flexible, integrally formed single piece LED light wire is assembled so that the first and second bus elements are connected to each other prior to the LED being mounted and such integrally formed single piece LED light wire is formed without a substrate.
US07988329B2	Input device capable of enhancing symbol readability for electronic product An input device capable of enhancing symbol readability for an electronic product includes a plurality of keypads for displaying a plurality of first kind symbols and a plurality of second kind symbols; a detection unit for detecting an operation mode of the electronic device; and a control unit coupled to the detection unit and the plurality of keypads for controlling the plurality of keypads to display the plurality of first kind symbols or the plurality of second kind symbols according to a detection result of the detection unit.
US07988327B1	LED luminaire A LED luminaire comprises a heat sink disposed above an LED array and in thermal communication with the LED array, the LED array having at least one red LED and a plurality of cool white LEDs, the at least one red LED providing a warmer correlated color temperature for an output light and the plurality of white LEDs providing a higher efficacy, a diffuser positioned to enclose the LED array between the heat sink and the diffuser, the diffuser color mixing the at least one red LED and the plurality of cool white LEDs rendering a red light from the at least one red LED indiscernible from a cool white light of the plurality of white LEDs, a reflector positioned adjacent the heat sink.
US07988322B2	Decorative lamp A decorative lamp includes an opaque bracket, an opaque cover, a transparent light source consisting of a plurality of LEDs and a light guiding sheet. The cover engages with the bracket to define a chamber between the bracket and the cover. A slit is defined in the cover and communicates with the chamber. The light source is received in the chamber of the bracket and the cover and thermally connects with a heat sink in the chamber. The light guiding sheet includes a first end filled in the slit of the cover and a terminal second end opposite to the first end and located at outside of the cover. Light emitted from the light source travels to an outside of the decorative lamp along the light guiding sheet.
US07988315B1	Simultaneous multiple light source viewer A device for simultaneously illuminating objects with light from more than one light source for improved color matching and comparison that includes more than one light source, baffles for separating the light sources and for forming viewing slots, and a platform area in which samples can be simultaneously illuminated on separate portions by each light source.
US07988314B2	Quadrant lighting apparatus A lighting apparatus for a Gunner's Quadrant including a housing and a flexible circuit board including lights. The lighting apparatus illuminates portions of the M1 A1 or M1 A2 Gunner's Quadrant. The lighting apparatus may be removably attached to the Gunner's Quadrant. The invention also includes a method of manufacturing a lighting apparatus for a Gunner's Quadrant, including applying a flexible circuit board including lights to a housing.
US07988305B2	Projection type display device and light source device Miniaturization is realized and high-output lights are obtained by optimizing the arrangement of a laser light source unit and a homogenizer.A laser light source unit 1 has a light emission region for emitting an elliptical laser light. A focusing lens unit 2 focuses the laser light emitted from the laser light source unit 1. A rod integrator 4 has a rectangular incident surface on luminous flux focused by the focusing lens unit 2. A spatial light modulation element 7 modulates the laser light emitted from the rod integrator 4. A projection lens 8 projects the laser light modulated by the spatial light modulation element 7. The incident surface of the rod integrator 4 has a rectangular shape, and the laser light source unit 1 is arranged such that a longer axis direction of the light emission region and a longer side direction of the incident surface of the rod integrator are parallel.
US07988303B2	Image projection apparatus and image display system The image projection apparatus includes a heat generating member disposed inside the apparatus, an exhaust fan exhausting an air that has cooled the heat generating member to the outside of the apparatus, and a duct guiding the air from the heat generating member to the exhaust fan. An outflow opening of the duct is oriented in a direction different from an inflow direction of the air into an inflow opening thereof. At least one air guiding wall is provided inside the duct, which forms plural airflow paths within a cross section extending along the inflow direction and an outflow direction of the air. The apparatus is capable of reducing unevenness in flow rate of the air when guiding the air toward the exhaust fan using a bent-type duct.
US07988300B2	Illumination device, projection video display device, and fly-eye lens An illumination device includes a light source for emitting a light flux having a solid angle; an optical element for converging the light from the light source in at least one direction to convert the light into parallel light; and a fly-eye lens for allowing incidence of the parallel light from the optical element to guide uniform light to an area for illumination. Assuming that a certain number of lens cells in the fly-eye lens in a column direction or a row direction are defined as a lens cell unit, one of the lens cell units is relatively displaced with respect to the other one of the lens cell units in the column direction or the row direction, and the number of steps for displacement among the lens cell units in the fly-eye lens is set to 2 or more.
US07988297B2	Non-rigidly coupled, overlapping, non-feedback, optical systems for spatial filtering of fourier transform optical patterns and image shape content characterization Non-rigidly coupled, overlapping, non-feedback optical systems for spatial filtering of Fourier transform optical patterns and image shape characterization comprises a first optical subsystem that includes a lens for focusing a polarized, coherent beam to a focal point, an image input device that spatially modulates phase positioned between the lens and the focal point, and a spatial filter at the Fourier transform pattern, and a second optical subsystem overlapping the first optical subsystem includes a projection lens and a detector. The second optical subsystem is optically coupled to the first optical subsystem.
US07988295B2	Laser control with phase plate feedback An ophthalmic imaging system includes a light source, focusing optics, compensating optics, and a computer that coordinates both of the optics to optimize the Diffraction Limited Point Spread Function (DL-PSF) of the imaging light beam. In detail, the compensating optics includes a customized phase plate that provides substantially complete compensation for static aberrations introduced by an eye into the imaging light beam. Further, the computer measures an operational error signal that results from dynamic aberrations. The computer then uses the error signal to control the compensating optics and thereby optimize the DL-PSF by compensating for both static and dynamic aberrations. For an alternate embodiment, an active mirror can be included in the compensating optics to provide additional compensation for the dynamic aberrations.
US07988293B2	Method of qualifying light spots for optical measurements and measurement instrument employing method of qualifying light spots A method of determining a wavefront of a received light beam includes: (a) receiving a light beam; (b) producing a group of light spots from the light beam; (c) qualifying a set of the light spots for use in determining a wavefront of the received light beam; and (d) determining the wavefront of the received light beam using the qualified set of light spots. Qualifying the set of light spots includes, for each light spot: calculating a first calculated location of the light spot using a first calculation algorithm; calculating a second calculated location of the light spot using a second calculation algorithm; and when a difference between the first and second calculated locations for the light spot is greater than an agreement threshold, excluding the light spot from the set of light spots and/or from being employed in determining the wavefront of the received light beam.
US07988292B2	System and method of measuring and mapping three dimensional structures A system for mapping a three-dimensional structure includes a projecting optical system adapted to project light onto an object, a correction system adapted to compensate the light for at least one aberration in the object, an imaging system adapted to collect light scattered by the object and a wavefront sensor adapted to receive the light collected by the imaging system and to sense a wavefront of the received light. For highly aberrated structures, a number of wavefront measurements are made which are valid over different portions of the structure, and the valid wavefront data is stitched together to yield a characterization of the total structure.
US07988290B2	Systems and methods for measuring the shape and location of an object A system for determining the shape of an object and/or a distance of the object from the system includes a first plurality of light source, a second plurality of light sources, and a detector or detector array. The first plurality of light sources are disposed about a central axis and are separated from the central axis by radial distances defining an aperture in the first plurality of light sources. The system also includes an optical system adapted to provide light from the second plurality of light sources through the aperture to the object. The system may further include a computer configured to determine the shape of the object and/or the distance of the object from the system using light from the first and second plurality of light sources that is reflected from the object and received by the detector.
US07988286B2	Static progressive surface region in optical communication with a dynamic optic An ophthalmic lens is presented in which the lens includes a progressive addition region and a dynamic optic. The dynamic optic and the progressive addition region are in optical communication. The progressive addition region has an add power which is less than a user's near viewing distance add power. The dynamic optic, when activated, provides the additional needed optical power for the wearer to see clearly at a near distance. This combination leads to the unexpected result that not only does the wearer have the ability to see clearly at intermediate and near distances, but the level of unwanted astigmatism, distortion, and vision compromise are reduced significantly.
US07988281B2	Structural member for eyeglass, eyeglass frame comprising the structural member, and processes for production of the structural member and the eyeglass frame Disclosed are: a structural member for use in an eyeglass which has a super elastic property and shape memory property while retaining an excellent biocompatibility in addition to the fact that it is N-free, and which also has an excellent cold workability; an eyeglass frame containing the structural member; and a process for producing the structural member or eyeglass frame. A structural member for an eyeglass containing a Ti—Nb—Zr alloy which comprises (A) 40 to 75% by weight of Ti, (B) 18 to 30% by weight of Nb, (C) 10 to 30% by weight of Zr and (D) 0.2 to 3.7% by weight of at least one additive metal element selected from the group consisting of Al, In and Ga.
US07988277B2	Ink set, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, recording unit, ink jet recording method, and aqueous ink An ink set is provided which can suppress bleeding irrespective of the type of recording medium. The ink set includes a plurality of aqueous inks each containing a dye, and has at least a first aqueous ink containing a dye, wherein the difference between the dynamic surface tension of the first aqueous ink at a lifetime of 50 milliseconds and the dynamic surface tension of the first aqueous ink at a lifetime of 500 milliseconds is 7 mN/m or more; and, between the first aqueous ink and at least one type of aqueous ink except the first aqueous ink included in the ink set, dynamic surface tension γa (mN/m) of an ink A having relatively higher lightness at a lifetime of 500 milliseconds and dynamic surface tension γb (mN/m) of an ink B having relatively lower lightness at a lifetime of 500 milliseconds satisfy −5≦(γa−γb)≦3.
US07988276B2	Ink jet printing method and ink jet printing apparatus An ink jet printing apparatus is provided which can produce an image in good condition without contaminating the interior of the printing apparatus or the back of the print medium if the “marginless printing” using an ink that tends to coagulate is performed. To that end, a step is provided which applies to the ink absorber the coagulation inhibiting liquid that inhibits a colorant contained in the ink from coagulating. This suppresses the coagulation of the colorant on the surface of the absorber, allowing the colorant to quickly soak into the absorber. Therefore, the colorant is prevented from depositing on the absorber surface, alleviating the problems associated with the colorant deposit.
US07988267B2	Ink jet printer A buffer tank mounted on a head holder has a plurality of air discharge valves for discharging the air accumulated in inks to the outside. The air discharge valve includes a valve body for opening and closing the passage bore and a valve rod provided extending from the valve body downwardly. A maintenance unit is provided outside the buffer tank, which includes an air discharge cap for covering the lower ends of the passage bores and a plurality of air discharge rods provided corresponding to the air discharge valves respectively. The air discharge rods are different in length from one another, depending on the colors of ink. When the air discharge rods are lifted up simultaneously by a lifting, they come into direct contact with the lower ends of the corresponding valve rods in sequence as their movements are delayed one after another, hence opening the valve bodies separately.
US07988265B2	Air detection in inkjet pens An inkjet pen includes a standpipe plenum, a printhead in fluid communication with the standpipe plenum, and a detector for detecting the amount of air in the standpipe plenum. A printing system including such an inkjet pen further includes structure for removing air from the standpipe plenum. Air is removed from the standpipe plenum when the amount of air detected in the standpipe plenum reaches a predetermined level.
US07988262B2	Fluid-ejecting integrated circuit utilizing electromagnetic displacement A fluid ejecting integrated circuit (IC) includes a nozzle chamber defined by chamber side walls extending from a wafer substrate, and a roof wall provided on the chamber side walls; a fluid ejecting member provided within the nozzle chamber between the roof wall of the nozzle chamber and the wafer substrate; a support formation provided within the nozzle chamber and spaced inwardly away from the chamber side walls, the support formation extending from the wafer substrate to support the fluid ejecting member thereon; a first planar electrode layered to the fluid ejecting member; a second planar electrode layered on the wafer substrate; and a projection provided on the first planar electrode on a side facing the second planar electrode, the projection for contacting the second planar electrode to prevent contact between the first planar electrode and the second planar electrode. The first and second planar electrode establish a potential therebetween to deform the first planar electrode towards the second planar electrode.
US07988261B2	Printhead having layered heater elements and electrodes A printhead is provided having nozzles and heaters having heater elements and electrodes connecting current from a power source to the heater elements to heat, and form gas bubbles in, liquid within the nozzles which causes ejection of the liquid from the nozzles. The heaters are formed of layers of a single material. A first layer of the single material has portions of different thickness respectively defining the heater elements and electrodes. A second layer of the single material overlaying and spaced from the first layer has a single thickness defining the electrodes.
US07988258B2	Line-type liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus including the same A line-type liquid ejecting head includes an ejection unit group constituted by a plurality of ejection units each including a plurality of nozzle openings through which droplets of liquid are ejected, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle openings, and a pressure generator capable of generating a pressure change in the liquid in the pressure chamber, the liquid being supplied from a liquid source through a liquid supply channel to the pressure chambers and being ejected through the nozzle openings in a form of droplets by the pressure generators. The ejection unit group is sectioned into a plurality of unit blocks each constituted by a plurality of sets of the ejection units. Each of the unit blocks is provided with a block common channel, a distribution channel communicating with the liquid supply channel and the block common channel, and individual supply channels extending from the block common channel to the pressure chambers of the ejection units. The liquid supplied through the liquid supply channel is distributed through the distribution channels to the block common channels and is further supplied from the block common channels through the individual supply channels to the ejection units in the unit blocks. Droplets of the liquid are simultaneously ejected through the nozzle openings provided in the pressure chamber in each ejection unit upon driving of the corresponding pressure generator.
US07988256B2	Web A web has a surface layer integrally extending between opposite transverse edges. The surface layer includes absorbent region separated by at least one nonabsorbent region.
US07988251B2	Method and system for high speed multi-pass inkjet printing A method of printing from a printhead includes virtually dividing a nozzle array of the printhead into first and second nozzle sections. N print masks associated with the first and second nozzle sections govern the deposition of ink drops on a print medium. The N print masks are associated with one swath and are defined as a mask grid. The mask grid is arranged as a series of vertically extending adjacent mask columns and a series of horizontally extending mask rows. The vertically extending mask columns comprise enabling mask columns comprising first mask elements and disabling mask columns consisting essentially of second mask elements. The N print masks are associated with the first and second nozzle sections for printing an input image. Each print mask is defined as a mask grid arranged in an N series of vertically extending adjacent mask columns and a series of Z horizontally extending mask rows. The series of mask rows are divided in first and second adjacent mask sections corresponding to the first and second nozzle sections, respectively. The mask rows of the second mask section are arranged spaced from one another by N−1 adjacent second mask elements and the mask rows of the first nozzle section are arranged spaced from one another by 2N−1 adjacent second mask elements within the same mask row.
US07988247B2	Ejection of drops having variable drop size from an ink jet printer A method for causing ink to be ejected from an ink chamber of an ink jet printer includes causing a first bolus of ink to be extruded from the ink chamber; and following lapse of a selected interval, causing a second bolus of ink to be extruded from the ink chamber. The interval is selected to be greater than the reciprocal of the fundamental resonant frequency of the chamber, and such that the first bolus remains in contact with ink in the ink chamber at the time that the second bolus is extruded.
US07988240B2	Bicycle wheel having flexible spokes A spoked wheel is described that uses flexible spokes having a termination on each end that couple with a rim using nipples. The flexible spokes are supported mid-span by a hub flange cradle that transfers torque from the hub to the rim via two sub-spokes. The hub flange cradle determines whether a sub-spoke is tangential or radial. A plurality of spokes may be used on each side of the wheel.
US07988230B2	Juvenile vehicle seat with lap belt lock-off mechanism A seat support for a juvenile restraint adapted to receive a juvenile seat. The seat support includes an anchor belt retainer for anchoring a seat-base anchor belt to the seat support and for anchoring a vehicle anchor belt to the seat support.
US07988225B2	Vehicle front fascia support member A support member for attaching a vehicle fascia such as a front bumper fascia, to a vehicle frame or other support component is described. The support member includes a bracket at one end of the member and various fasteners for attachment to the vehicle fascia.
US07988221B2	Mounting structure of impact absorbing member and method of mounting same An impact-absorbing member to be installed in a vehicle body component includes a main body positioned on an inner panel of the vehicle body component such that a portion of the main body is adjacent to an outboard surface of the inner panel, and a mount protruding from the main body to an opening in the inner panel such that the mount is adjacent to an inboard surface of the inner panel, wherein the impact-absorbing member is secured by gripping an edge portion of the inner panel surrounding the opening between the mount adjacent to the inboard surface and the portion of the main body adjacent to the outboard surface.
US07988217B2	Hatchback door water management brackets A water management bracket includes a first angled portion with first interior surface, a second angled portion with second interior surface and a body portion with body interior surface. The first angled portion may be disposed between the body and second angled portions and oriented at an angle with respect to the body portion such that a normal to the first interior surface may be co-planar with a normal to the body interior surface. The second angled portion may be oriented at an angle with respect to the first angled portion and rotated away from the first angled portion such that a normal to the second interior surface is non-coplanar with the normals of the first and third interior surfaces, wherein, when the hatchback door assembly is open, the body interior surface may receive water flowing along the hatchback door assembly, and divert it away from a vehicle interior vehicle.
US07988209B2	Tamper evident security device having a double click seal An improved seal for a tamper evident security device employs out-of-plane curved barbs and an elongated slot to provide visual and tactile indications of proper seal installation. The out-of-plane curved barbs require elevating the seal body for installation. Only if the barbs are properly inserted into a seal receptacle does the body then assume a flat contiguous position. The elongated slot cooperates with a raised bar on the security device to provide a second distinct indication of proper seal installation.
US07988205B2	Wedge thread with torque shoulder A threaded pipe connection includes a pin member having an external thread increasing in width in one direction, a box member having an internal thread increasing in width in an opposite direction so that complementary internal and external threads move into engagement upon make-up of the connection, and at least one contact zone in which the pin member and box member are in sealed contact.
US07988203B2	Minimal penetration lateral pipe connection assembly A pipe connection assembly is disclosed including a cylindrical hub having an interior diameter and a leading end having an exterior beveled surface that defines a leading edge of the hub; and a cylindrical elastomeric sleeve having an inner end that includes a radially inwardly projecting lip having a seat surface inclined to correspond to the beveled surface of the hub so the seat surface engages the beveled surface of the hub. The lip includes an annular stop projecting inwardly and having an interior diameter that is less than the interior diameter of the hub, thereby to define a stop surface that contacts the leading edge of the hub when the hub is inserted into the sleeve. The assembly restricts to a minimal amount the penetration of a hub component of the assembly into the cored hole of the mainline pipe to which the assembly is connected.
US07988201B2	Fluid coupling assembly having a rotatable coupling A fluid coupling assembly includes a rotatable fluid coupling and fastener, and a gasket having upper and lower washers interconnected by a deflectable strap. When the strap is laterally deflected, the fastener passes through openings in the coupling with minimal interference. The strap exerts a return force for engaging the washers with the fastener upon release. Tangs on the washers engage the fastener, and one washer forms a seal against a surface. A banjo joint assembly includes a rotatable banjo coupling, the gasket, a gasket with tangs, and a bolt retained to the coupling by the tangs. A method for preparing a fluid coupling assembly for attachment to an external surface includes providing a gasket with deflectable portions, positioning a fluid coupling in the space therebetween, deflecting the portions sufficiently to insert a fastener into the coupling, and retaining the coupling on the fastener when the portions are not deflecting.
US07988200B2	Fluid system coupling with pivoting handle actuating member A fluid system component includes first and second elements configured to be removably engaged with each other to define a fluid passageway. The first element defines at least one groove. Correspondingly, the second element includes at least one engagement member configured to be received in a corresponding groove. The presence of a line pressure in the passageway substantially forecloses disengagement of the first and second elements until the fluid pressure in the fluid passageway has decreased to a predetermined magnitude. A handling and locking mechanism for selectively securing the second element relative to the first element is included. The locking mechanism includes a pin controlled by a crank arm assembly adjacent a collar handle. The crank arm assembly includes a crank arm handle that rotates to withdrawn the pin from the second element and which facilitates rotation of the first element relative to the second element.
US07988199B2	Safety skin applique kit for identification of lost persons A safety skin appliqué kit for parents and custodians of children, disabled persons, and the elderly, including a marking pen and a pre-packaged collection of preprinted skin appliqués each removably sandwiched between two carrier sheets. Each of the appliqués further comprise a die cut section of breathable polyurethane tape, printed with a forward image on one side defined by a lightly-colored high-contrast window, and pre-printed plea to call if lost. The appliqués are coated with hypoallergenic acrylate adhesive for application to skin or other surfaces. Parents and custodians can apply one of said appliques' to their child, disabled person, or elderly charge, and write a contact telephone number in the window of the appliqué. This way, if their charge becomes lost, passersby will notice the appliqué, read the contact telephone number, and call the custodian.
US07988197B2	Seat belt retractor and seat belt apparatus provided therwith A seat belt retractor (6) according to the present invention, when mounted on a vehicle body, has an ECU (16) laid out in such a manner that an ECU connector (16c) faces a vehicle side connector (18) mounted to a predetermined position of the vehicle body. Such a vehicle side connector (18) is connected to a power supply (17). Such a layout of the ECU (16) allows the ECU connector (16c) to be directly electrically connected to the vehicle side connector (18).
US07988194B2	Airbag apparatus An airbag apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprises an inflatable chamber formed by at least one fabric panel and configured to be filled with an inflation gas and deploy into position to protect the occupant; and a tether connected to the panel to restrain deployment of the airbag. During the initial deployment sequence of the airbag, the tether fully extends to a first length. The tether unfolds in order to fully extend to a second length when a sufficient force is applied to the tether by the deploying airbag.
US07988181B2	Work place and storage apparatus A storage and work place apparatus used in conjunction with a wheelbarrow or similar item. The apparatus includes a housing having a bottom portion and a side portion extending outwardly to form an open chamber the bottom portion is intended to a lie atop a wheelbarrow a cover is used in conjunction with the open chamber and is hingedly or slidingly attached to the housing in order to extend laterally from the housing. At least a first leg attainably connects to the housing and extends outwardly to contact a ground surface adjacent the wheel barrow. At least a second leg is rotatable attached to the cover and also extends outwardly therefrom to support the cover above the ground surface when the leg contacts the ground surface.
US07988178B2	Anti-binding motorcycle trailer hitch assembly A motorcycle hitch assembly is disclosed for attachment to a hitch support on a motorcycle for towing a trailer. The hitch assembly comprises a base and a pivotal trailer ball carried by the base for being coupled with the trailer coupling. The trailer ball includes a ball element and a ball shank extending from the ball element having a free end. A pivot support connects the base and the ball shaft so that the trailer ball and base pivot relative to each other generally in a vertical plane so that the trailer ball remains generally vertical as the motorcycle and base lean during turning. A clearance space defined between the free end of the shank and a bottom of the base allow the trailer ball to pivot freely in a vertical plane. Binding between the trailer coupler and the trailer ball element is reduced during turning.
US07988176B2	Fifth-wheel hitch assembly adaptable for use with multiple vehicle hitch coupling systems An adaptive fifth-wheel hitch system operable with a vehicle hitch coupling system, the fifth-wheel hitch assembly comprising a fifth-wheel hitch assembly configured to removably couple a fifth-wheel trailer to a vehicle; an adapter configured to operably relate and to removably couple the fifth-wheel hitch assembly to the vehicle hitch coupling system, the fifth-wheel hitch assembly and the vehicle hitch coupling system otherwise being inoperable with one another, the adapter comprising a mounting component having a first interface operable to relate and secure the adapter to the fifth-wheel hitch assembly, and a coupling component having a second interface operable to relate and secure the adapter to the vehicle hitch coupling system, the coupling component corresponding to a receiving component of the vehicle hitch coupling system.
US07988175B2	Bicycle frame with storage element The present invention relates to a storage element, preferably aerodynamic, designed for a bicycle frame, and more particularly a storage element designed in conjunction with the frame so as to increase the volume for storage proximate the frame.
US07988174B2	Electrically-extendible bicycle An electrically-extendible bicycle includes two shaft tubes, which are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of a head tube that is set atop a front fork. The two shaft tubes extend through a guide sleeve. The shaft tubes have bottom surfaces on which racks are respectively formed. A motor is set on a rear fork of the bicycle and is coupled to a transmission gear train, which mates the racks on the bottom surfaces of the shaft tubes. After the operation of the motor is activated, the transmission gear train selectively drives forward and backward movement of the shaft tubes so as to extend and retract the bicycle.
US07988171B2	Bi-folding wheelchair The present invention is directed to a bi-folding wheelchair (10) with side frames (12) and (14) that fold together with a compound scissor action moving the large rear wheels (96) to a central location while the backrest (50) is folding downwardly. Two separate locking mechanisms (28) and (40) hold the frame apart in the upright position while two additional locking mechanisms (77) hold the backrest (50) upright or down in the collapsed position. All the major components of the conventional wheelchairs like the foot rests, the arm rests, large wheels, caster wheels and the backrest fit into a compact package narrower than the unfolded wheelchair and slightly larger than the diameter of the back wheels with all parts folding in and out simultaneously. The large rear wheel assemblies can be quickly removed further reducing the size and weight of the device for shipping or storage.
US07988170B1	Scooter An improved scooter includes a frame, a front wheel, a rear wheel, a stem, a handle, left and right pedal devices, and left and right first driving devices and second driving device. The left and right first driving devices are driven by the left and right pedal devices respectively for solely or jointly driving the second driving devices, and the driven second driving devices can drive the rear wheel to rotate and roll forward, such that the front and rear wheels can jointly drive the scooter to move forward. Users can pedal the pedal device(s) by one leg or both legs alternately to operate the scooter. The scooter not only complies with the simple, smooth, power-saving, stable and safe ergonomic design, but also comes with a unique operation and driving mode and achieves the effects of providing a recreational sport with fun as well as a transportation tool.
US07988168B2	Toy vehicle A toy vehicle includes a base, a body, and at least one of a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly. The base includes a first curved member, a second curved member, and a cross member securing the first curved member to the second curved member. The first curved member includes a first front arm and a first rear arm and the second curved member has a second front arm and a second rear arm. The front wheel assembly includes a first front wheel assembly and a second front wheel assembly having respective first and second wheels. The front wheel assemblies mount to the respective first front arms. The front wheels are movable between among at least one of a first position and a second position. Methods of converting a toy vehicle are also provided herein.
US07988166B2	Positioning feature and method for precise vehicle heights A corner assembly includes a suspension module and a wheel assembly. In order to compensate for tolerance stack up in relation to a specified height of the corner assembly, the attachment between a damper of the suspension module and a knuckle of the wheel assembly is adjusted. The amount of adjustment is determined by measuring the assembled length of the suspension module, comparing the measured length to a standard length and determining an amount of adjustment necessary.
US07988161B2	Piano dolly A dolly on which a grand piano can be mounted to facilitate movement thereof over a surface from one location to another, which includes a central hub shaped in the form of a miniature grand piano, two fixed length arms of equal length pivotally connected to the front of the hub at opposite corners thereof, and a fixed length rear arm having a longitudinal slot which is pivotally connected to the rear of the hub at selectively adjustable positions along the length of the slot to accommodate grand pianos having a range of different lengths.
US07988159B2	Lean-to-turn wheeled device A wheeled device having pairs of wheels positioned on opposite sides (e.g. skateboard or “quad” skate) that includes a base and at least one turnable wheel assembly. A turnable wheel assembly includes two wheels having negative camber angle, and is configured such that the axles of the wheels can pivot about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. This configuration is conducive to the use of large wheels.
US07988157B2	Wheelchair stair assist apparatus An apparatus is disclosed for use on standard or customized wheelchairs for moving the wheelchair and wheelchair occupant up or down a stairway or stairway-like structure (e.g., a curb) with greater confidence and stability to the occupant of the wheelchair and its handler(s). The apparatus includes a motorized assembly that interacts with stair steps when the apparatus and wheelchair are tilted backwardly. The motorized assembly allows the wheelchair to glide or move up or down the steps without experiencing the bumps commonly associated with rolling a wheelchair up or down a set of stairs. The apparatus includes a headrest to provide comfort to the occupant during operation and includes pivoting handlebars to allow the operator of the wheelchair to control the movement of the wheelchair. The apparatus is mountable to, and removable from (when not in use), the wheelchair. The apparatus can be considered as a retrofit.
US07988156B2	Additive pump A seal assembly, for an additive pump having a reciprocating piston, is provided. The seal assembly includes a seal carrier having first and second components each having a bore therein to receive the piston. Each component has an end face arranged to abut one another when arranged axially on the piston, and a face seal is interposed between the end faces to inhibit egress of fluid between the end faces. A pair of circumferential seals at axially spaced locations are provided along the seal carrier and operable to engage the piston during reciprocating thereof, and a drain port intersecting one of the bores intermediate the seals is provided to permit egress of fluid from between the seals.
US07988155B2	Submachine gun target system A submachine gun target system has a target support having a target attachment facility and a target having an attachment element. The target attachment facility may have a first position and a second position, such that the target may be suspended from the target attachment facility with the attachment element residing at the first position or the second position. The target attachment facility may have a retention surface operable to retain the target attachment facility in the first position in response to a bullet strike on the target. The retention surface may be in a forward direction from the second attachment position, such that the retention element does not prevent the target attachment element from being dislodged from the attachment facility when residing at the second position in response to a bullet strike on the target from the forward direction.
US07988153B2	Westernized mahjong game composed of specialized playing cards or tiles The invention disclosed herein relates to a game that uses a plurality of specialized playing cards or tiles that entwines traditional symbols of Chinese origin (associated with the tile game of mahjong) together with numerically ranked and suited playing cards (associated with western-style card decks of the 52 playing card to a deck variety). Each inventive card or tile has displayed on one of its faces a symbol of Chinese origin, a numerical rank, and a suit of French origin. The symbol of Chinese origin is selected from the group consisting of a wan, a bamboo, a ring, a dragon, or a wind; whereas the numerical rank is selected the group consisting of a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, and king; and whereas the suit is selected from the group consisting of a spade, a heart, a club, and a diamond.
US07988144B2	Device for selecting mailpieces with two cooperating comb-shaped guides A mailpiece selector device for separating mailpieces one-by-one from a stack of mailpieces and for transporting them downstream, the mailpiece selector device having a first guide followed by a second guide, both of which guides co-operate with a plurality of opposite selector rollers to select the mailpieces one-by-one and to transport them downstream, the first guide being able to pivot about a first pivot axis in opposition to first resilient returner, the second pivot axis being offset upstream relative to the first pivot axis, and the first and second guides having a driver for making it possible, above a predetermined mailpiece thickness range, for the second guide to pivot automatically when the first guide pivots.
US07988141B2	Bill deposit/withdrawal machine for depositing/withdrawing bills A bill deposit/withdrawal machine includes a deposit/withdrawal port, a bill discriminating unit, a plurality of bill accepting boxes and a bill transport path which connects the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting boxes through the bill discriminating unit which transports bills. The deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit are disposed in an upper part of the machine, and the bill accepting boxes are disposed in a lower part of the machine. The bill transport path includes an upper bill transport path provided in the upper part of the machine, and a lower bill transport path provided in the lower part of the machine. The lower bill transport path is installed along the bill accepting boxes and includes a mechanism for bidirectionally transporting bills and a switchable gate connecting with one of the bill accepting boxes.
US07988138B2	Gatherer stitcher with variable chain pitch A gatherer stitcher for collating signatures made of paper, paperboard and the like, for stitching the collated signatures and for delivering the stitched signatures, includes a gathering section, a stitching station and a delivery station. The stitching station has a stitching carriage with at least one stitching head and, during a stitching operation, the stitching carriage is moved by a stitching carriage drive at a speed of the collated signatures. A switching unit is disposed between the stitching carriage drive and the stitching carriage for adapting a stitching carriage movement to a gatherer chain pitch, that is to say for adapting a horizontal reciprocating movement of the stitching carriage, and for adapting a horizontal distance between the stitching carriage and the delivery station.
US07988131B1	Electric scissor jack apparatus The electric scissor jack apparatus uses electrical power to elevate an automobile with a cigar lighter plug of an auto to power the high torque electric motor of the apparatus. The motor is in communication with the scissor jack via the gear reduction member so that maximum torque is applied to the scissor jack. Of significant importance is that the fail-safe coupling between the gear reduction drive and the scissor jack ensures against excessive or premature wear, failure, and danger to an operator. By avoiding any jack encasement, the apparatus provides for inexpensive multiple jack size utilization in that various sizes of scissor jacks are optionally fitted to the coupling housing of the gear reduction member.
US07988130B2	Valve for vacuum exhaustion system The invention provides a valve and a method of operating the valve that makes it possible to reduce the diameter of the vacuum exhaustion pipings to make the facility for the vacuum exhaustion system small, which results in lower costs and shortens vacuum exhaustion time, and also which can prevent corrosion, cloggings, and seal leakages inside the piping system caused by the accumulation of substances produced by the decomposition of gas flowing through the pipings. In particular, in accordance with the present invention, an aluminum passivation is applied on the piping parts, i.e. the valve and others, that are used in the vacuum exhaustion system so as to inhibit gas decomposition caused by temperature rise at the time of baking so that components for reduction in the diameter size in the vacuum exhaustion system are provided. Thus, corrosion, cloggings and seat leakages caused by gas decomposition are prevented.
US07988124B2	Needle valve Provided is a needle valve in which a gap between a valve casing and a needle is reliably sealed and an origin of the needle can be readily obtained with high precision. A needle (6) is screwed into a cylindrical rotor (44) of a stepping motor (7) so as to be retractable, and a rotation regulating member (47) prevents the needle (6) from rotating together with the rotor (44). Accordingly, in a case of driving the motor (7) to rotate the rotor (44), the needle (6) vertically moves without rotating. A lower limit sensor (61) and an upper limit sensor (60) detects a detection target piece (49) provided to the rotation regulating member (47), so a lower limit position and an upper limit position of the needle (6) are obtained. The motor (7) is controlled such that, after the motor (7) is driven until the lower limit sensor (61) detects the detection target piece (49), an origin sensor (71) monitors an origin detection plate (62) so as to stop at a predetermined rotation stop position. Thus, an origin of the needle (6) is obtained.
US07988121B2	Wall hanger A wall hanger for hanging a display device on a wall includes a latching member, an outer hanger member, an inner hanger member and a screw. The inner hanger member includes a threaded portion with a threaded hole and a lock portion with a lock hole. The lock portion is integrally formed with the threaded portion and bent to face the threaded portion with a predetermined space therebetween so that the threaded hole and the lock hole are concentrically positioned. The screw has a predetermined length so that the inner and outer hanger members sandwich a rear cover of the display device when the rear cover of the display device is disposed therebetween. The lock hole prevents a long screw from being threaded into the display device by mating an inner peripheral face of the lock hole with a distal end of the long screw.
US07988120B2	Foldable stand for a machine A foldable stand for supporting a machine can be folded or extended between a collapsed position, an extended supporting position, and a hand carrying position. The foldable stand includes a platform formed by two bearing bars that define a bearing surface for supporting a machine. Two support units are pivotally connected to the bearing bars and can be pivoted, and selectively locked, between a collapsed position, an extended supporting position, and a hand carrying position. The selective locking is achieved by the selective engagement of positioning devices with locating grooves formed on the foldable stand.
US07988115B2	Pivoting support hook assembly An articulating hook assembly adapted to pivot between open and closed positions as desired. The assembly includes a support frame, a hook pivot base of cloven construction projecting outwardly away from the support frame and a support hook adapted to pivotally engage the hook pivot base. The hook pivot base includes a pair of ear members separated by a variable width gap. At least one ear member includes a contoured inner face with a pattern of variable height surface structures including at least a first depression and a second depression with a raised height platform disposed between the first depression and a second depression. A projection finger on the support hook rides in sandwiched relation within the variable width gap such that upon rotation of the support hook between open and closed positions, the finger projection moves across the raised height platform surface between the first depression and a second depression.
US07988112B2	Multi-screen display device A multi-screen display device includes a display device and a folding bracket. The display device includes a first display frame and a second display frame. The folding bracket includes an inner rotating portion pivotally connected to the first display frame, and an outer rotating portion pivotally connected to the inner rotating portion and pivotally connected to the second display frame.
US07988108B2	Support for video-photographic equipment A tripod support for video-photographic equipment comprises a crosspiece with a tube, a column with a shaft sliding inside the tube of the crosspiece, the column having a plate arranged to be fitted at one end of the shaft and an end plug arranged to be fitted at the axially opposite end of the shaft as well as removable fixing means between the plate and shaft and between the shaft and plug respectively to remove the plate and plug from the shaft and the shaft from the tube. The fixing means onto the plate and onto the plug are mutually connectable, as an alternative to being connected to the shaft, to directly fix the plate and the plug to the opposite ends of the tube of the crosspiece when removed from the shaft.
US07988107B2	Stemware holder for an automatic dishwasher A stemware holder for holding a stem of a stemware in a wire-frame dish rack. The dish rack comprises a bottom wall formed by wires with multiple tines extending from the bottom wall. The stemware holder comprises a stem holder configured to hold the stem, a rack mount configured to couple the stem holder to the dish rack, and a radial lock configured to releasably hold the stem holder at multiple radial positions relative to an axis generally perpendicular to the bottom wall when the stemware holder is mounted to the rack.
US07988106B2	Adaptive mounting structure A novel adaptive mounting device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container containing a substantially plastically formable composition; a frame at least partially embedded in the plastically formable composition; and a presentation structure substantially supported on the frame external of the container. A method for manufacturing the novel adaptive mounting device is also provided.
US07988105B2	Fastener easily detached from attached objects A fastener for attaching an attached article to an attaching object is taught that preferably include a holding member that is arranged and constructed to hold the attached article, and an engagement leg that is arranged and constructed to engage an engagement hole formed in the attaching object. The engagement leg is connected to the holding member via a breakable connecting device. The connecting device is arranged and constructed to be easily broken when a substantial force is applied thereto.
US07988101B2	Airfoil trailing edge plasma flow control apparatus and method A flow control system and method especially well adapted for use on a Coanda surface. In one embodiment a plurality of plasma actuators are disposed over a Coanda surface of a wing of an aircraft. The actuators are selectively energized to either delay the onset of boundary layer flow separation from the Coanda surface, or to promote flow separation. One embodiment discloses using dual mode plasma actuators on a Coanda surface. The system and method is applicable to a wide variety of aerodynamic surfaces where control over the separation of a boundary layer flow over a trailing edge surface is desired.
US07988100B2	Wing tip device An aircraft includes a wing having a positive dihedral, the wing having a tip and a wing tip device mounted in the region of the tip. The wing tip device is generally downwardly extending and has a region inclined at a cant of more than 180 degrees. The region is arranged to generate lift during flight. The region inclined at a cant of more than 180 degrees may be located at the distal end of the wing tip device. The wing tip may be swept and may aeroelastically deform during flight.
US07988098B2	Actuator for systems for guiding space equipment with a variable rate of rotation Actuator for a device for the rotary positioning of a movable element for space equipment comprising a part attached to the fixed portion of said equipment, a bearing, a sleeve designed to actuate the movable portion of said equipment and mounted on an output shaft supported by a first race of said bearing, said actuator comprising a mechanically movable input means and being capable of converting a movement of the input means into a rotary movement of the output shaft about the axis of said bearing, characterized in that said second race of said bearing is connected in rotation to the part of said equipment, in that an adjustable stop so as to angularly limit the relative rotation of the two races of the bearing, and in that the rate of rotation of the output shaft in response to a movement of the input means is different depending on whether or not the sleeve is resting on the adjustable stop.
US07988092B2	Vortex generator at hot gas output A vortex-generating device is presented to reduce a thermal exposure of an aircraft to hot exhaust gases discharged from an aircraft engine. The engine also discharges cold air from a fan of the engine. The aircraft engine may be coupled to the aircraft via a support mast located on a main wing. A portion of the support mast of an aircraft engine is located near a hot gas flow being discharged from the engine. The vortex-generating device is positioned on a surface of the support mast. The device generates a vortex which crosses the hot gases and prevents the hot gas flow from reaching a heat sensitive portion of the support mast. This device is adaptable to the operating conditions of an already-built aircraft without any notable increased weight.
US07988091B2	Luggage compartment actuation This device is provided for a luggage compartment designed to be placed overhead. The compartment comprises a mobile part (4) between an open position and a closed position and a mechanism for acting on said mobile part (4) to promote its closing. Said mobile part (4) presents an opening (14) designed for introducing and retrieving luggage as well as a lower exterior surface (12). The control device comprises detection means reacting when pressure is exerted on a predetermined zone of the lower exterior surface (12) of the mobile part (4) as well as for sending a control signal to the mechanism acting on the mobile part (4) to close the part when pressure is exerted on said detection means. The detection means are disposed at the lower exterior surface (12) of the mobile part (4).
US07988083B2	Thread accumulation device A thread accumulation device that essentially consists of a discharge chute for receiving and guiding a strand that is formed by a thread take-up device (10) and a carriage (14) for taking up a thread spiral, guided in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the discharge chute that is equipped with a tension rail device and resting on the end of the strand of the side that is opposite to the thread take-up device (10). The device is characterized in that the carriage (14) for taking up a thread spiral that is guided on the discharge chute is equipped with a unit (16) for monitoring its movement and support on the end of the strand of the side that is opposite to the thread take-up device (10). The invention can be applied more particularly in the field of the textile industry, in particular of the treatment of thread.
US07988071B2	Lawn sprinkler A lawn sprinkler providing water distribution over an irregular or unique shaped water receiving area. The apparatus includes a water impeller, a first water regulator, a second water regulator, and a bypass channel. The sprinkler regulates the delivery of water according to the shape of the area to be irrigated, so that water is not wasted on adjacent areas which do not require irrigation.
US07988069B2	Shower header with replaceable internal cleaning brush assembly A shower header type spraying device having an elongated spray header with a plurality of laterally-spaced nozzles and an elongated cleaning brush assembly supported in said spray header for cleaning inlet apertures of said spray nozzles. The cleaning brush assembly includes an axially extending rod and a plurality of brush elements each mounted on the rod by means of a self-aligning member that has an arcuate shape corresponding to the outer circumference of the rod for orienting a row of brush bristles of the brush element in predetermined relation to the elongated axis of the rod. The illustrated brush rod assembly includes a plurality of brush rod segments each having a self-aligning coupling at an axial end thereof such that joining of adjacent rod segments automatically orients the brush elements in predetermined angular offset relation to each other.
US07988066B2	Rail track crossing A rail track crossing comprising a support element (29) associated with each rail (11) of a rail track and configured to be supported from a sleeper (13) whereby the support element extends to each side of each rail, the support element having an engagement portion (31) which is to be at each side of the respective rail, a set of panels comprising a pair of lateral panels (37) and a central panel (39) wherein the central panel is to be received between the rails and supported upon the support elements and to be engaged by the engagement portions, the lateral panels being intended to be located to the sides of the rail track to be engaged with the engagement portion located at the respective side, wherein when the lateral panels and the central panel are in position their upper surfaces jointly provide a substantially continuous surface across the rail track.
US07988063B1	Method for controlling cooling in a data storage system A system having: a midplane having air flow channels therein; a disk drive mounted to a first side of the midplane; and a temperature sensors mounted to the midplane. The system includes a pair of electrical chassis connected to a second side of the midplane. A first one of the chassis has therein: a fan; and a fan controller for controlling speed of the fan in response to a temperature control signal. A second one of the chassis has therein: a microprocessor for: detecting temperature signals produced by the temperature sensors; comparing differences between the detected temperature signals; and selecting one of the detected temperature control signal from the compared differences as the temperature control signal. A faulty one of the temperature sensors is detected by: selecting one of the detected temperature control signal as the faulty one of the plurality of temperature sensors from the compared differences.
US07988062B2	Temperature control device for target substrate, temperature control method and plasma processing apparatus including same A temperature control device for a target substrate includes a mounting table having temperature control members respectively provided in temperature systems to control temperatures of regions of the target substrate to respective predetermined temperature levels; circulation channels through which fluids passing through the temperature control members flow; and heating channels each for flowing therein a heated fluid having a higher temperature compared to the fluids circulating in the circulation channels. The device further includes cooling channels each for flowing therein a cooled fluid having a lower temperature compared to the fluids circulating in the circulation channels; and joining units that join the circulation channels to build the respective temperature control systems, the joining units having flow rate control units that controls flow rate ratios of the fluids supplied from the respective channels to the temperature control members.
US07988061B2	Article having an embedded accessible storage member, apparatus and method for using same A portable card adapted to interact with a data processing station when the portable card and the data processing station are moved relative to each other is disclosed. The portable card includes a substrate having a predetermined shape, e.g. rectangular. An accessible embedded storage member is enclosed within said substrate. The storage member includes at least one layer of storage material for storing information in a predetermined format for processing by the data processing station. The storage member and the substrate are adapted to be transported relative to each other to expose at least a portion of the storage member to the data processing station to facilitate processing of stored information and for embedment of the storage member within the substrate. The storage member may be in the form of an elongated strip member, or a circular member.
US07988060B2	Dual use payment device A mobile device includes an antenna and at least one control device coupled to the antenna. The at least one control device is selectively operable in a first mode and in a second mode. In the first mode, the at least one control device transmits a payment card account number via the antenna to a point of sale terminal. In the second mode, the at least one control device transmits a message to the point of sale terminal via the antenna to request that the point of sale terminal download transaction information to the mobile device.
US07988058B2	Payment device with audio and/or visual capability and associated method A payment device includes a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, a communications module coupled to the processor and configured to interact with a payment terminal, a sound-producing element coupled to the processor, and an associated body portion. The memory is configured to store at least one representation of at least one sound and the processor is configured to cause the sound-producing element to produce a sound corresponding to the at least one representation of the at least one sound when such representation is stored in the memory, responsive to the communications module interacting with the payment terminal, substantially without usage of a battery on the device. Visual stimuli can be employed in addition to or in lieu of sounds. Sounds can be downloaded to devices with or without batteries, as part of a service offering.
US07988054B2	Secure card reader A secure card reader includes several security measures. Access to the reader's main circuitry is prevented by an enclosed whose walls contain embedded conductive paths. Breaking or grounding of one of these paths can be detected electronically. A similar arrangement of conductive paths prevent enlarging of a card received slot (9c). If tampering is detected using the embedded conductive paths, the reader's memory is wiped. The enclosure has apertures in its walls and is held in place by a potting material that extends into the apertures. A method is also provided to detect attempts to probe behind a keypad membrane. The contacts for the chip of a chip card are arranged so that their leads all extend away from the card insertion slot.
US07988052B2	Optical reader having an imager There is described a device having a two dimensional imager. The device having a two dimensional image sensor can be a hand held device. Imaging optics can be provided for focusing light reflected from a target onto the two dimensional imager. An image including imaging data can be obtained utilizing the hand held device. The image can include a representation of a signature.
US07988049B2	System and method for calibrating a vending apparatus A system and method for calibrating a vending apparatus is provided. A vertical base reference position of a selector arm is stored, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of rows in a cylindrical storage device. A horizontal base reference position is stored, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to a compartment identifier identifying a compartment within each of the plurality of rows. A position of the selector arm corresponding to a media storage compartment is also stored, wherein the position comprises a vertical position and a horizontal position. A motor is initiated to move the selector arm along a vertical axis, wherein a movement of the selector arm results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the vertical position of the selector arm. A stepper motor is initiated to rotate the cylindrical storage device, wherein a rotation of the device results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the horizontal position of the selector arm.
US07988043B2	Fraud prevention in issuance of identification credentials According to one aspect, the detailed technology concerns assessment of the fraud risk presented by an applicant for a driver's license, based on a particular ensemble of information presented by the applicant. For example, certain collateral identification documents presented by the applicant (birth certificate, passport, student body ID card, etc.)—or certain combinations of documents—may be found to have relatively higher or lower historical incidences of fraud associated therewith. Based on such historical insight, the issuing agency can tailor its scrutiny of the applicant accordingly. In one arrangement a score is determined based on the presented information. If it falls below a threshold, extra verification checks can be undertaken, such as querying additional third party databases (credit bureaus, military discharge records, etc.). An automated system may guide the evaluation process, based on the particular ensemble of information presented, and on the results of any database queries.
US07988039B1	Card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine firmware authentication system A card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine is provided which is operative to authenticate firmware in at least one hardware device of the machine. The hardware device is operative to generate through operation of at least one processor in the at least one hardware device a firmware certificate responsive to the at least one measurement request message and the firmware content. The automated banking machine is operative to send a message from the automated banking machine to a host banking system responsive to the firmware certificate. The host banking machine may authenticate the message and send the automated banking machine an authorization message for performing a transaction function with the automated banking machine. Such a transaction function may include dispensing cash with a cash dispenser of the automated banking machine.
US07988038B2	System for biometric security using a fob The present invention discloses a system and methods for biometric security using biometrics in a transponder-reader system. The biometric security system also includes a biometric sensor that detects biometric samples and a device for verifying biometric samples. In one embodiment, the biometric security system includes a transponder configured with a biometric sensor. In another embodiment, the system includes a reader configured with a biometric sensor. The device for verifying samples compares the biometric samples with information stored on databases.
US07988036B2	Article having an embedded accessible storage member, apparatus and method for using same A portable card adapted to interact with a data processing station when the portable card and the data processing station are moved relative to each other is disclosed. The portable card includes a substrate having a predetermined shape, e.g. rectangular. An accessible embedded storage member is enclosed within said substrate. The storage member includes at least one layer of storage material for storing information in a predetermined format for processing by the data processing station. The storage member and the substrate are adapted to be transported relative to each other to expose at least a portion of the storage member to the data processing station to facilitate processing of stored information and for embedment of the storage member within the substrate. The storage member may be in the form of an elongated strip member, or a circular member.
US07988033B2	Method of reducing wire bond profile height in integrated circuits mounted to circuit boards A method of profiling a wire bond between a contact pad on a die, and a conductor on a supporting structure, by electrically connecting the contact pad on the die to the conductor on the supporting structure with a wire bond, the wire bond extending in an arc from the contact pad to the conductor, pushing on the wire bond to collapse the arc and plastically deform the wire bond, and then releasing the wire bonds such that the plastic deformation maintains the wire bond in a flatter profile shape. The strength of the wire bond is known to be relatively small; of the order of 3 to 5 grams force. However, the Applicant's work has found that the wire bond structure is robust enough to withstand a certain degree of work hardening from plastic deformation. The arc of the wire bond can be deformed into a flatter profile without compromising the electrical connection with the PCB.
US07988032B2	Method of welding tubular components Two tubular components (10, 14) are provided with integral end caps (11, 15). The end caps (11, 15) are placed in abutting relationship and are held together under pressure whilst the tubular component (10) is rotated. A pressure is applied and this causes frictional heating. A friction welded joint (18) occurs at the interface between the two end caps (11, 15). On completion of the welding process a machining tool is then passed through the internal bore (12 or 16) in either of the tubular components. The machining tool cuts through the joined end caps (11, 15) to produce a single uniform bore thorough the joined components. In a further post processing operation the extruded flash (20) is removed from the outer surfaces (13, 17).
US07988031B2	Reflow furnace and heater for blowing hot air A reflow furnace using a conventional heater for blowing hot air has difficulty in reducing Δt and in stabilizing the oxygen concentration at a low level. In addition, it is difficult to uniformly discharge hot air from the discharge holes in a perforated plate of a conventional heater for blowing hot air. In a reflow furnace according to the present invention, the total area per unit area of discharge holes formed in a perforated plate in a heater for blowing hot air installed in a main heating zone is 1.5-5 times the total area per unit area of the discharge holes formed in a perforated plate of a heater for blowing hot air installed in a preheating zone. A heater for blowing hot air has a body divided into three chambers by partitions.
US07988026B2	Endocutter with staple feed A surgical endocutter may include an end effector, at least one feeder belt that extends at least partially into the end effector; and two or more staples, where each staple has a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second, free end, and where the staples form at least one row. The endocutter may be used to treat a patient by inserting the end effector into the body of a patient through an opening such as a trocar port, engaging tissue with the end effector, stapling tissue along two staple lines with the end effector; cutting tissue between the staple lines with the end effector, releasing the tissue from the end effector, and repeating the holding, stapling and engaging on tissue at a different location within the body of the patient without removing the end effector from within the body of the patient.
US07988025B2	Pneumatic fastener A nose casting assembly for a pneumatic fastener includes a body having a driver channel formed therein for receiving a driver blade. The body includes a first end having an aperture for allowing passage of a driver blade into the channel. The body further includes a second end configured for allowing a fastener to be expelled from the nose casting assembly. The body further includes an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface having a loading aperture formed therein for allowing passage of a fastener into the driver channel. Additionally, the interior surface includes a nose casting groove formed therein, the nose casting groove extending linearly along the interior surface of the body towards the second end of the body, wherein the nose casting groove is configured for receiving the shank of a fastener being utilized with the pneumatic fastener for preventing the fastener from becoming wedged between the driver blade and the interior surface of the nose casting assembly when a shank of a fastener is oriented toward the driver blade.
US07988020B2	Wearable disinfecting gel dispenser Provided is a wearable fluid dispenser including a reusable holster and a disposable cartridge containing fluid, wherein the cartridge is made of material having a flexibility higher than the flexibility of the holster, and wherein applying pressure to the cartridge allows dispensing onto the palm of the user's hand by way of increased pressure within the bottle resulting in the silicone valve opening and gel dispensing downwards.
US07988017B2	Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing assembly and an adjustment system. The housing assembly includes a first inlet wall and a second inlet wall that is moveable relative to the first inlet wall. The housing assembly defines a hopper chamber that houses pharmaceutical articles, and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path. The inlet is defined at least in part by the first and second inlet walls. The adjustment system is operable to adjust the position of the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall to adjust the size of the inlet to singulate the pharmaceutical articles passing through the inlet. The adjustment system includes an input mechanism and an operator feedback mechanism. The input mechanism is selectively operable by an operator to selectively move the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall. The operator feedback mechanism provides tactile and/or audible feedback to the operator responsive to operation of the input mechanism by the operator to indicate prescribed increments of movement of the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall.
US07988016B2	Medicine container with single pill dispenser A pill dispensing cap that secures to a conventional pill container. The pill dispensing cap has a lower cap, a pill discharge port, and a spring loaded rotatable and slidable upper cap. Pills are dispensed one at a time, and the remaining pills are isolated from external contamination. A child resistant lock prevents small children and/or mentally handicapped individuals from easily accessing medicine inside the container. The child resistant lock uses a vertically slidable upper cap that is slidably and rotatably attached to the lower cap. A child safety lock uses a key in the upper cap that must be aligned with a slot in the lower cap to allow a pill to be dispensed. When the key and slot are aligned, the upper cap is vertically compressed against the lower cap. As the upper cap moves toward the base cap, a gravity fed pill discharge port is exposed which releases a single pill.
US07988011B1	Gardener's waste can A gardener's waste can includes a frusto-conical container having a flexible sidewall, a closed bottom end and an open top end defining a circular rim. An arcuate hinge is formed in the sidewall of the container. The hinge has opposite ends respectively intersecting the rim of the container and is arranged such that, when the sidewall of the container is laid against the ground, a hinged portion of the sidewall connected to the hinge and disposed between the two ends thereof swings inwardly into the container and lies generally flat against the ground so that leaves, cuttings on the ground are easily swept over the flat portion of the container sidewall and into the container.
US07988010B2	Protective case for portable electronic devices A protective device for portable electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing and a connecting strap. One end of the connecting strap is attached to the first housing and another end of the connecting strap is attached to the second housing. The connecting strap is pulled outwardly to bring the first housing and the second housing together to be connected to each other or pulled inwardly as the first housing and the second housing are separated from each other.
US07988002B2	Plastic container and closure and system and method of making the same A plastic container and closure and method of making the same. The container can include a solid bottom end, an outer sidewall extending from the solid bottom end, and a neck portion extending from the outer sidewall to create an open end of the container. The neck portion may have a spout portion having an aperture formed therein. The spout portion can be inverted to form a flange receptacle. The closure can include a sealing portion which includes a first receptacle, a spring portion that includes a second receptacle, and a planar center area configured in the center of the closure and extending inward from the spring portion. The container may be filled with a product and the closure secured to the container, over the open end, to create a primary seal and a secondary seal. When the closure is secured to the container, the spring portion can exert a sealing pressure against the neck portion of the container to create the primary seal.
US07988001B2	Container provided with a pressure equalization opening A process for producing a container comprising an outer container, an inner bag disposed therein and a pressure equalisation opening disposed in the outer container, and a container produced according to this process, is described, wherein a pre-moulding, comprising two coaxial tubes, is first produced by co-extrusion with the help of a blow mould and with an outwardly-projecting base seam being formed. The process forms a pressure equalisation opening in the outer container without endangering the integrity of the container, wherein a lower wastage rate and higher productivity are achieved. To do this, the base seam is partially cut off and a force which acts in the direction of the seam is introduced into the pre-moulding, which has a temperature of 40 degrees C. to 70 degrees C., which force breaks open and plastically deforms the base seam so that a pressure equalisation opening is formed in the base area.
US07988000B2	Display fixture accessories A merchandising system includes a display fixture placed on a floor in a retail environment. The display fixture includes a first end piece resting supported on the floor, a second end piece supported on the floor, a first member, and a second member, each of the first member and the second member being substantially horizontal with the second member extending substantially parallel to, and vertically offset from the first member. A display fixture accessory is releasably secured to the display fixture by receiving the first member in a first bracket of the display fixture accessory and receiving the second member in a second bracket of the display fixture accessory. A display piece is inserted into the display fixture accessory. Additionally, the display piece is maintained with the display fixture accessory in a substantially vertical position with the display fixture accessory extending above the display fixture.
US07987999B2	Product display highlighter A product display highlighter has a product carrier body for containing and displaying product, and which is configured to fit with a relatively larger display in a manner in which the product carrier body of the display highlighter and products therein are physically set apart from the products of the larger display. The product display highlighter can be placed at any of multiple locations on a larger display, and multiple product display highlighters can be used in connection with a single larger display.
US07987998B1	Method and apparatus for marketing greeting cards in display fixtures A greeting card display includes an upper tier and a lower tier positioned below the upper tier. The upper and lower tiers include multiple rows of pockets for displaying greeting cards. The pockets of the upper tier typically present greeting cards in a full-facing manner to display the full face of each greeting card. The pockets of the lower tier typically present greeting cards in a partial-facing manner. The upper tier can include a card highlighter positioned along one of the rows of pockets and having pockets to present and highlight cards placed therein. Shadowboxes capable of displaying a greeting card in a full-facing manner can be positioned above the upper tier on the display and are designed to attract the attention of the consumer. A display panel, designed to evoke emotions associated with greeting cards in the shadowboxes, can be positioned between one or more of the shadowboxes.
US07987997B2	Bed frame display unit A mattress display is provided. The mattress display includes a base frame built of angle bars for supporting a mattress. A handle mounted to the base frame facilitates manipulation via wheels mounted to the frame. Signage can be mounted to the handle.
US07987996B2	Filter medium, fluid filter, and engine oil filter A filter medium comprises a modified cross-section fiber (A) having a fiber diameter between 40 and 70 μm, an extremely fine fiber (B) having a fiber diameter of more than 5 μm and no more than 10 μm and a modified cross-section fiber (C) having a fiber diameter between 15 and 30 μm, the content of the extremely fine fiber (B) is between 3 and 10% by mass, and the content of the modified cross-section fiber (C) is between 5 and 15% by mass based on 100% by mass of total the fibers in the filter medium.
US07987984B2	Method of marketing for absorbent paper products through branded print packaging A method of communicating benefits to a consumer of an absorbent paper product, the method having the steps of: producing an absorbent paper product wherein the absorbent paper product includes a primary benefit and packaging the absorbent paper product for retail sale. The packaging includes a primary brand logo that is associated with an absorbent paper product and a secondary brand logo that is associated with a fabric softener.
US07987983B1	Tubular container An apparatus to store tubular storage containers is herein disclosed. Each tube has a closed end and an open end provided with a threaded cap that can be easily removed by hand. The tubes are ideal for storing long, thin objects, but can also be used to store small objects such as nails, screws, fasteners and the like. To aid in the storage of the tubes themselves, a wall-mounted enclosure is provided preferably providing twelve (12) tubes; however, the size of the enclosure and number of tubes may vary depending on the application. The apparatus is provided with a wall mounting plate allowing easy hanging and removal and may also be set upon a workbench or carried using an integral handle as well. The tubes are simply slid in and out of the enclosure for easy access.
US07987980B1	Brush glove A paintbrush protection and revitalization system includes a case having a paintbrush support shelf with graduated bristle support projections and tapered tip support therein. The case has auto-convection ports, an air induction port and a brush insertion port. The auto-convection ports include at least one air inlet port and at least one water vapor exchange port for reducing drying time of a paintbrush contained within the case. A living hinge connects a cover to the case with the case, the cover and the living hinge being an integrally-molded unit, which is preferably made of plastic.
US07987979B2	Data collection device enclosure An enclosure for housing a portable data transfer device, such as a bar code scanner, data collection device, or other equipment, for use in environments requiring a certain level of cleanliness, for protection against transmission of infection or merely dust or dirt, while allowing a full range of functional capability of such devices and equipment.
US07987977B2	Hearing aid package A hearing aid is enclosed in a gas-impermeable or substantially gas-impermeable package to prevent inadvertent activation of the hearing aid during transport. The package may include a housing having a groove that substantially conforms to at least a portion of the shape of the hearing aid to snugly hold the hearing aid. The groove may be substantially open adjacent a switch on the hearing aid. A securing member, such as a strap, may be used to immobilize the switch relative to the housing.
US07987974B2	Buttonless conveyor belt A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.
US07987972B2	Wire plate conveyor belt A conveyor belt includes a plurality of spaced rods transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and a plurality of plate elements overlying at least some of the rods so as to provide a support surface which imparts a predetermined marking or lack of marking to the product being conveyed.
US07987966B2	Removable cartridge cleaner A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that allows for faster and easier removal of the belt cleaner blades out from under a conveyor belt. In one aspect the assembly includes a biasing surface of one of an elongate support assembly and a channel member configured to be engaged by a securing member and urge distal ends of legs of the channel member into tight engagement with the elongate support assembly and minimize debris accumulation therebetween. In another aspect, the elongate base member and rail member each include lateral portions configured to slidably engage corresponding wedge portions to urge the rail member toward the base member. A method of installing a belt cleaner assembly is also provided which includes camming a rail member downwardly toward the support member upper surface.
US07987965B2	Assembly device An assembly device (20) used in assembling portable electronic devices is provided. The assembly device (20) includes a support, a transmission belt (24) moveably mounted on the support and several fans (25) rotatably mounted on the transmission belt (24) for dissipating heat in the area of the transmission belt (24).
US07987959B2	Actuator, range changeover device for automatic transmission, and parking device An actuator for a state changeover element that is actuated in a manner interlocking with the tilting of a tilt member is provided. The actuator is equipped with a rotational power generating portion, an output shaft coaxially and integrally rotatably coupled to a tilt spindle of the tilt member to output a rotational power generated by the rotational power generating portion, a casing that covers the actuator and having an opening for exposing one axial end side of the output shaft to an outside. The actuator is further equipped with a rotational angle limiting unit provided between the output shaft and a wall portion of the casing radially facing the output shaft to physically limit a rotational angle of the output shaft. A range changeover device for an automatic transmission equipped with this actuator and a parking device equipped with this actuator are provided.
US07987957B2	Bushing-type roller overrunning clutch with a cage for needles or rollers A bushing-type roller overrunning clutch comprising at least an inner or an outer ring that comprises clamping ramps adapted to the needles or rollers, said overrunning clutch further comprising a cage for the needles or rollers, as also pressure springs, said cage comprising cage elements that are made in one piece with the inner or outer ring, and a method of making a bushing-type roller overrunning clutch in which the inner or outer ring together with the clamping ramps and at least one border arranged on one side of the clamping ramps is made by deep-drawing, spring-retaining lugs are cut out of the border, and the spring-retaining lugs are bent radially towards the inner or outer ring and the free-standing tabs of the spring-retaining lugs are bent over into the region of the clamping ramps.
US07987956B2	Automatic transmission control device and method of controlling automatic transmission A transmission ECU calculates a differential rotation, which is the rotational speed difference between a friction plate and a separator plate, when it is determined that a second brake is not engaged. If it is determined that the differential rotation is equal to or above a predetermined value, the transmission ECU narrows the pack clearance of the second brake. If it is determined that the differential rotation is less than the predetermined value, the transmission ECU widens the pack clearance of the second brake.
US07987953B2	Compact combined brake cylinder A brake cylinder for pneumatically actuated vehicle brakes includes a parking brake spring-loaded brake section and a service brake section combined to form a structural unit in a housing. The housing is divided into two chambers by a piston. A cylinder spring of the spring-loaded brake section acts on another spring-loaded piston in the chamber, which can be blocked in relation to the first piston by a pneumatically actuated locking mechanism, and can be released from the first piston by the releasing action of the blocking mechanism. Following the release, the cylinder spring acts between the two pistons and moves the two pistons in relation to each other during a parking brake process. The pneumatically actuatable blocking mechanism acts only in an expansion direction of the spring.
US07987951B2	Electromechanical parking brake There is provided an electromechanical actuator for a parking brake system of a vehicle, including an electric motor, reduction gear train associated with the motor for transmitting motion from the motor to a single power transmission chain sprocket, one power transmission chain section drivable by the sprocket partly encircling one sheave, rotatably mounted on a free longitudinally movable pulley block, an end of the power transmission chain being attached to a first stationary anchor point, and a connector connecting the pulley block to the vehicle's parking brake system.
US07987950B2	Single motor electro wedge brake system using solenoid mechanism for implementing additional functions The present invention provides an electro wedge brake (EWB) system that implements a main braking function by using power generated by one motor. Further, the electro wedge brake system implements various additional functions such as a function for maintaining a set clearance of a pad, a Fail-Safe function, and an EPB function, by using that the forward movement of a push rod shaft screwed using a NSL (Non-Self Locking) type screw is restrained or released on the basis of ON/OFF control of the solenoid mechanism interlocked with the main braking function motor. Accordingly, since only one motor is used to generate power, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and to simplify the structure.
US07987949B2	Parking brake lever system The present invention relates to parking brake lever system 1 for manually tightening and releasing of at least one brake cable 90, wherein the parking brake lever system 1 comprises at least one rotation arm 10, 12 pivotably supported at a fixed support 50, wherein the rotation arm 10, 12 is connected to the brake cable 90, and at least one actuation lever 20, 22, which at a first end thereof is pivotably connected to the rotation arm 10, 12 and which at a second end thereof is rigidly connected to a hand grip 40, wherein the actuation lever 20, 22 is slidingly supported at the fixed support 50, such that the hand grip 40 defines a curved path during actuation of the parking brake lever system 1.
US07987943B2	Apparatus and method for generating a seismic source signal A seismic source signal generator includes a mass, a primary accumulator and a secondary accumulator, the secondary accumulator having an internal volume smaller than an internal volume of the primary accumulator. A method for generating a signal using a seismic vibrator includes operating the seismic vibrator using hydraulic fluid, damping hydraulic pressure deviations in the hydraulic fluid using a first accumulator in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic fluid, and damping pressure deviations in the hydraulic fluid using a second accumulator in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic fluid, the second accumulator having an internal volume smaller than an internal volume of the first accumulator.
US07987936B2	Air guide plate To prevent an engine from being thermally affected by the air that has passed a radiator. A engine and a radiator for cooling the engine are attached to the body frame. An air guide plate permits lead air striking the radiator to a desired position to be disposed between the radiator and the engine. The air guide plate is formed with an upper wall at its upper portion, with lateral walls at its respective left and right lateral portion, and with an opening portion at its lower portion for discharging the discharge air of the radiator.
US07987928B2	Injection system and method comprising an impactor motive device An excavation system for forming a wellbore through a subterranean formation, the system employing pressurized drilling fluid with impactors mixed therein. The pressurized fluid with impactors is directed to a drill string having a drill bit with nozzles on its lower end. The fluid impactor mixture is discharged from the nozzles and against the formation, wherein the impactors contact, compress, and fracture the formation to excavate through the formation. The system includes an impactor injection system that injects impactors into a stream of pressurized drilling fluid to form the mixture. The injection system operates at substantially the same pressure as the pressurized drilling fluid.
US07987926B2	Tension/collar/reamer assemblies and methods The present invention provides drilling assembles and methods that are especially useful for a bottom hole drilling assembly for drilling/reaming/or other operations related to drilling a borehole through an earth formation. In one embodiment, the drilling assembly utilizes standard drill collars which are modified to accept force transfer sections. In another embodiment, the drilling assembly comprises a tension inducing sub which creates a force that may be used to place the bottom hole assembly or portions thereof in tension. In another embodiment, a reaming assembly is held in tension to provide a stiffer reaming assembly.
US07987922B2	Automatic gear shifting power tool While a load torque applied to a tool shaft is lower than a predetermined value, a moving member is maintained at a first position, and a sun gear is rotated integrally with an internal gear. When the load torque applied to the tool shaft reaches or exceeds the predetermined value, the moving member is moved to a second position, to thereby prohibit relative rotation of the internal gear and a gear case. A latch member is engaged in a catching portion of the moving member when the moving member is moved to the second position, to thereby prevent the moving member from moving back to the first position. In this manner, repetitive switching between speed reduction ratios can be prevented even when the load torque applied to the tool shaft fluctuates.
US07987921B2	Hammer A hammer comprising: a body; a tool holder mounted on the body for holding a cutting tool; a handle pivotally mounted on the body about an axis; a vibration dampener which connects between the handle and the body and which reduces the amount of angular vibrations transmitted from the body to the handle; a motor mounted within the body; a hammer mechanism mounted in the body, capable of being driven by the motor when the motor is activated, the hammer mechanism, when driven, imparting impacts onto a cutting tool 6 when held by the tool holder; wherein the handle is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis which passes through the centre of gravity of the hammer.
US07987917B1	Multistage crop roller The multi-stage crop termination system includes a main frame assembly connected to first and second roller frames. A first roller is installed in the first roller frame and a second roller is installed in the second roller frame. A compression frame extends between the main frame and the second roller frame so that a downwardly compression force is applied to the second roller. In the preferred embodiment, the first roller is a smooth drum and the second roller is a central cylindrical drum with a plurality of crimping bars extending outwardly from the drum. In operation, crops are flattened by the first roller and then crimped by the second roller. A pivot joint between the first roller frame and the second roller frame ensures that the second roller is able to maintain contact with the ground as the system traverses uneven terrain.
US07987915B1	Circulating sub with mudsaver for dispensing and circulating fluid in a well bore A circulator sub tool and fluid saver with a system and method for dispensing and circulating fluid in a well bore having a threaded packer sub with a quick coupler body, and wherein diameters for each annulus of the quick coupler body and the sub body are substantially identical enhancing laminar flow through the threaded packer sub.
US07987909B2	Apparatus and methods for allowing fluid flow inside at least one screen and outside a pipe disposed in a well bore Apparatus for allowing fluid flow inside at least one screen and outside a span of pipe disposed in a well bore includes at least one flow path for fluid entering at least one screen. The flow path extends from the screens) along the outside of the pipe to at least one desired entry inlet into the pipe.
US07987906B1	Well bore tool A gas insertion tool for cleaning a well bore is connected to the down hole end of a fluid supply tubing inserted through a positioning string within a well bore. Fluid pressure within the string pushes the well tool therethrough pulling the fluid supply line and then exiting the well string within the well bore adjacent its termination. The positioning string is retrieved leaving the tool wedgeably secured within the well bore for dispensing pressurized fluid within the well bore dislodging fluid and trapped foreign material within the horizontal leg of the well bore.
US07987904B1	Sealed well cellar A well cellar system includes a substantially planar base plate, the base defining an aperture sized to receive a conductor pipe. The planar base plate is an integral structural member which, in conjunction with the seal between the base plate and the wall and the riser and the conductor, are sufficiently robust to support the weight of the conductor pipe and its auxiliary equipment. The sealed well cellar is afforded with a laterally extending flange which serves as an anti-buoyancy anchor. A anti-buoyancy port allows the upward floatation pressure to be balanced out by water pressure within the cellar during placement to avoid floatation. A sacrificial anode housing is provided with a removable lid and holes for allowing passage of electrolyte. Although the preferred embodiments of sealed well cellars are metal and plastic, a cementaceous embodiment is also envisioned.
US07987900B2	Heat exchanger with heat exchange chambers utilizing respective medium directing members A heat exchange chamber includes an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of walls defining a chamber interior. The inlet receives a heat exchange medium flowing in a first flow direction in an initial line of flow. Disposed within the chamber interior is a medium directing member, having an inclined surface, which diverts the medium from the initial flow direction so that it disperses within the chamber interior. The medium exits the chamber, via the outlet, in the initial line of flow. The chambers are interconnected by tubes to form assemblies. Plural sets of chamber and tube assemblies are arranged between manifolds to provide a heat exchanger.
US07987894B2	Apparatus for making magnesium-based carbon nanotube composite material and method for making the same An apparatus for fabrication of a magnesium-based carbon nanotube composite material, the apparatus includes a thixomolding machine, and a feeding device. The thixomolding machine includes a heating barrel, a feeding inlet, a nozzle, a heating portion, and a plunger. The heating barrel includes a first end and a second end. The feeding inlet is disposed at the first end. The nozzle is disposed at the second end. The heating portion is disposed around the heating barrel. The plunger is disposed at a center of the heating barrel. The feeding device includes a hopper; an aspirator connected to the hopper, a first container, and a second container. The hopper is in communication with the first container and the second container. A method for fabricating a magnesium-based carbon nanotube composite material is also provided.
US07987893B2	Methods of forming metal matrix composites and metal matrix composites formed thereby The invention provides a method of forming a metal matrix composite (MMC) comprising a metal matrix and a fibrous material embedded therein, the method comprising bringing the metal matrix into the molten state and contacting the fibrous material with the metal matrix in the molten state in a directionally controlled manner, whereby the Young's modulus of the resultant cooled MMC is controlled in one or more particular direction and optionally at one or more particular location.
US07987891B2	Triple layer folding door A triple layer folding door includes an inner layer door, an outer layer door, a middle layer door provided therebetween, and a sliding arrangement, which comprises: a left and right pulley mounted on a both end portion of the middle layer door respectively, a left belt winding on the left pulley, wherein a first end of the left belt extending to the right end portion of the inner layer door from the left pulley and a second end of the left belt extending to the right end portion of the outer layer door from the left pulley, and a right belt winding on the right pulley, wherein a first end of the right belt extending to the left end portion of the inner layer door and a second end of the right belt extending to the left end portion of the outer layer door.
US07987885B2	System and die for forming a continuous filament reinforced structural plastic profile by pultrusion/coextrusion A system and method are disclosed for producing a continuous filament reinforced thermoplastic profile having consistent cross section. A continuous reinforcing filament is pre-wetted with a first thermoplastic resin and introduced into a die, where it is contacted with a second thermoplastic resin extruded from an extruder at melt state. The temperature of the die is carefully controlled so that the pre-wetted filament and first resin do not cure or solidify until after they have contacted and mixed with the second thermoplastic resin. The mixture temperature is then controlled to make a substantially solidified profile pre-shape. A capping layer comprising a third thermoplastic resin is then coextruded onto the outer surface of the pre-shape. A multistage die for bringing together the filament and thermoplastic resins and for maintaining appropriate temperatures at each stage of the profile-forming process is also disclosed.
US07987882B2	Heavy-duty pneumatic tire A heavy-duty pneumatic tire capable of sufficiently suppressing the amount of strain occurring in side edges of a belt layer is sufficiently suppressed, despite the required increase in width of the narrow belt layers on the inner layer side, so as to effectively prevent separation of the belt layer and, hence, separation of the belt. The tire includes two narrow belt layers (1B, 2B) on the inner layer side, and two wide belt layers (3B, 4B) on the outer layer side, which are larger in width than the narrow belt layers. The narrow belt layers and the wide belt layers are sequentially arranged on the outer circumferential side of a crown region of a radial carcass (5). The innermost narrow belt layer (1B) has side edges that are convex radially outwards.
US07987879B2	Methods and apparatus for dense particle loading Methods and apparatus enable filling a receptacle with solid particles introduced into the receptacle with a controlled flow rate and pattern of distribution of the particles. A pneumatic loader may dispense the particles into the receptacle with ability to adjust the flow rate and pattern of distribution of the particles. Further, a laser sensor may enable detecting a topographic level of the particles loaded by movement of the laser sensor around a point to make linear measurements across the reactor at multiple angularly offset orientations.
US07987877B2	Method for managing storage of gaseous hydrogen In order to increase the hydrogen utilization rate of the cascade storage system, after dispensing gaseous hydrogen to a hydrogen vehicle, gaseous hydrogen is transferred via a compressor from at least one storage vessel at a lower pressure to at least one storage vessel at a higher, dispensable pressure. The methods of the present invention economically and efficiently increase the utilization rate of gaseous hydrogen stored in a cascade storage system by managing the storage of gaseous hydrogen and increasing the utilization rate of gaseous hydrogen stored in a cascade storage system.
US07987875B2	Flexible pipe, its manufacture and use A flexible, typically un-bonded, armored pipe, and a method manufacturing a flexible pipe. The pipe has a center axis and comprises an inner liner surrounded by a radial armoring and an axial armoring, the radial and axial armoring each comprising at least one armoring layer of armoring profiles wound with winding angles αi relative to the center axis. The winding angle of the innermost armoring layer αinnermost is larger than the winding angle of the outermost armoring layer αoutermost. The outer radial armoring layer has sufficient strength and flexibility to prevent prohibitively large radial deformations of underlying axial armoring layers without considerably increasing the radial contact pressure on underlying axial armoring layer. At least one fibrous layer, comprising at least two fibrous cords wound on an underlying layer, surrounds the outermost armoring layer. The flexible pipe is useful in terrestrial and/or subsea transport of fluids at elevated temperature and/or pressures.
US07987874B2	Hose system for high pressure hydraulic system Hose system for use in an hydraulic system, includes a working hose for the transfer of hydraulic fluid having a pressure substantially higher than atmospheric pressure, and a safety hose surrounding the working hose, the working hose and the safety hose being tightly joined. A pressure transmitter is arranged for indicating a rise in pressure in a space between the two hoses. The system includes at least one bushing for releasable connection to the working hose and the safety hose. The cross-section of the safety hose allows space for the passing of the end couplings of the working hose. The bushing includes a space communicating with the space between the working hose and the safety hose, the space being in communication with a pressure transmitter able to signal an increase in pressure in the space between the working hose and the safety hose.
US07987870B2	Overpressure protection device and connection subassembly comprising same The invention relates to a protection device which defines a through hole (21) for the passage of a fluid which may be under overpressure conditions. In addition, the inventive device comprises: a stop plug (26) which can move between an open position and a position in which a first section of the hole (21) is sealed; a stop valve (28) which can move between an open position and a position in which a second section of the hole (21) is sealed; and means (22, 23, 27) for triggering both the movement of the stop plug (26) and the movement of the valve (28) from the open position to the sealing position in response to an overpressure (P2) in the hole (21). The invention is particularly suitable for self-contained equipment used to supply electrical power by means of a fuel cell.
US07987869B2	Valve stem holding device The present invention relates to a device for holding a faucet handle to a valve stem. The device tightens onto the valve stem when drawn upwardly into the faucet handle.
US07987868B2	Decoupled housing seat An exhaust gas valve assembly includes a housing defining a cavity therein and having an intake port and an exhaust port. A valve seat has a first axial end secured to the housing and a second axial end that is disposed within but decoupled a distance from the housing. The second axial end defines one or more apertures that provide fluid communication between the intake and exhaust ports. A seal is disposed between the second axial end of the valve seat and the housing so as to close the decoupled distance therebetween. A piston is received within and is axially movable relative to the valve seat so as to open and close the one or more apertures and thereby regulate exhaust gas flow between the intake and exhaust ports.
US07987864B1	Deployable structures and methods for assembling same Deployable structures and methods for assembling the same including a structural mechanism defining a columnar space comprising a plurality of structural members, a plurality of couplings and a plurality of tension lines, wherein each of the couplings interconnects three of the structural members and each of the tension lines interconnects one of the couplings and one of the structural members. Each of the tension lines interconnects one of the couplings and an end of one of the structural members not interconnected with one of the couplings. A columnar space, devoid of any structural members, is centrally located within the structural mechanism. Each of the couplings interconnects two of three structural members such that they are substantially aligned along their respective longitudinal axes and the third of the three structural members is interconnected such that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the other two structural members.
US07987863B2	Modular pole tent and joining means A tensile pole tent having improved wind performance, having a polygonal projection in plan view, perimeter catenaries, a flexible canopy continuously attached to the catenaries, corner posts to support the catenaries, a membrane interface or field joint between adjacent membrane modules consisting of, for example, a novel water-shedding keder rail, or a zipper or daisy chain grommets and loops. The membrane interface can be sealed against precipitation by cover flaps that extend upwards from the membrane and come into contact above the interface.
US07987858B2	Method of making a tobacco product A tobacco product is formed by rolling a sheet of material supplied by a roll or rolls (e.g. moistened tobacco leaves) and/or homogenized sheet tobacco about a slit mandrel to form a shaped tube. The shaped tube is then packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The shaped tube remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the shaped tube is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the tube with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the sheet or to the finished tube to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring. The tubes are unfilled when packaged and sent to a consumer/end user in tube form so that they have a “memory” that helps hold a tubular cigar shape after they are filled with selected tobacco fill material.
US07987855B2	Apparatus and method for delaminating parcels of tobacco The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel comprise conveyor means for delivering a parcel of tobacco to a separating location and a rotatable tine assembly mounted on an axis extending at right angle to the conveyor means and parallel the layering of the parcel. The rotatable tine assembly includes a plurality of tines which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means. The tines are adapted to enter the parcel at an entering location in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel and to accelerate a layer away from the parcel for effecting separation of the layer of tobacco from the parcel. The axis of the tine assembly is arranged at a distance above the parcel such that the line from the axis of the tine assembly to the entering location forms an angle between 14 and 24° with the horizontal and the peripheral speed of the tine assembly is about three to five times the linear speed of the conveyor means.
US07987853B2	Devices and methods for occluding a fallopian tube Devices and method for occluding a fallopian tube. The devices, in one embodiment, may include a plurality of expandable occluding members coupled by respective dissolvable connecting members.
US07987852B2	Nasal devices Described herein are adhesive nasal devices. In particular, the adhesive nasal respiratory devices described herein are configured to be worn in communication with a subject's nasal cavity and may include a rim body having a passageway therethrough, an airflow resistor in communication with the passageway of the rim body, and a flexible, adhesive holdfast layer extending outward from the periphery of the rim body. The rim body region may be formed from multiple parts (e.g., a first and a second rim body region), and the airflow resistor may be secured between the parts forming the rim body. Methods of manufacturing and assembling these adhesive nasal devices are also described.
US07987850B2	Nasal interface prong device An infant nasal interface prong device for use with an nCPAP system. The device includes first and second nasal prongs and a base. Each prong includes a bellows segment, a tip, and a lumen. The tip extends from the bellows segment to a tip end and is adapted for insertion with an infant's naris. The lumen extends through the tip and the bellows segment. In an undeflected state, a central axis of the lumen along the bellows segment is transversely offset from the lumen axis at the tip end. The base is connected to each of the nasal prongs and is adapted for coupling to a CPAP generator. The bellows segment renders the corresponding prong highly flexible relative to the base. The offset positioning of the tip end promotes desired positioning of the base/CPAP generator, relative to the patient and more closely conforms to the expected nasal anatomy.
US07987848B2	System and method of integrating anesthesia agent monitoring in a respiratory carestation The present invention is a system and method for integrating anesthesia agent monitoring in a respiratory carestation, wherein the respiratory carestation is configured to be compatible with a variety of monitoring modules. Any one of the monitoring modules is inserted into a module bay, and a sampling line couples the monitoring module to the patient circuit, such that the patient monitoring parameters are displayed on a user interface of the respiratory carestation.
US07987847B2	Characterisation of mask systems A method and a CPAP apparatus for characterizing different mask systems, e.g., masks and hoses, are provided. The apparatus can be calibrated for different mask systems and hoses by including sensors for measuring flow and pressure at a flow generator of the apparatus. When the flow generator is fitted to a new system, or changes are made to an existing system, mask or patient interface, and/or hose, a method of calibrating the flow generator is provided. The method includes determining air flow characteristics of the hose using flow measurements made during a first test period when flow through the system is open, measuring or estimating pressure in the system during a second test period when flow through the system is blocked, and determining air flow characteristics of the diffuser using the air first test period flow characteristics of the air delivery hose and the second test period pressure measurements.
US07987830B2	Oil supply structure for continuous variable valve timing apparatus and cylinder head employing the same An oil supply structure of a continuously variable valve timing apparatus includes: a first oil filter to receive and filter oil from a main gallery; a first oil control valve to receive oil from the first oil filter; a first continuously variable valve timing apparatus to receive oil from the first oil control valve; a second oil filter to receive and filter oil from the main gallery; a second oil control valve to receive oil from the second oil filter; a second continuously variable valve timing apparatus to receive oil from the second oil control valve; and an oil supply line in a cylinder head, that fluidly connects the main gallery, the oil filters, the oil control valves, and the continuously variable valve timing apparatuses. The cylinder head includes the oil supply line, and various holes for the components of the oil supply structure to be disposed therein.
US07987828B2	Mechanically variable cam timing device The mechanical variable cam timing device has a camshaft connector, a sprocket, a sprocket ring and a connector ring, all of which have teeth with slanted side walls that mate to form a circumferential ring. The sprocket ring and the connector ring move axially so as to shift the spacing between the teeth and provide for a phase shift.
US07987827B2	Valve timing control apparatus A valve timing control apparatus for controlling valve timing includes a first rotor, a second rotor, and a controller. The second rotor and the first rotor defines therebetween an advance chamber and a retard chamber. The controller includes a supply passage, at least one drain passage, a spool valve, at least one connection passage, and at least one check valve. The at least one connection passage connects the supply passage to the at least one drain passage when a spool of the spool valve is moved to one of the advance and retard positions. The at least one check valve is respectively provided in the at least one connection passage. The check valve allows working fluid to flow in a direction from the at least one drain passage toward the supply passage and limits working fluid from flowing in an opposite direction.
US07987823B2	Hybrid piston/rotary engine A Hybrid Piston/Rotary engine has a stationary elliptical housing with a circumscribed inner cam surface to provide thrust, and sides with bearing supports for rotation of a rotor, at least one cylinder, a shaft with apertures therein to provide rotary valves combined with intake and exhaust ports within the bearing supports. Each cylinder has two opposed pistons connecting cam followers pivoted to the rotor which reciprocate upon rotation. During the intake stroke, the pistons separate as an intake valve opens; and fuel mixture fills the cylinder and closes as pistons compress the mixture. The rotor ports become aligned with the spark plugs within the bearing supports, and ignited gasses force the pistons apart causing the cam followers to provide thrust to the rotor. The exhaust valve is opened as the pistons contract. Four strokes are completed each rotation. The valves can also be arranged to operate as a pump.
US07987821B2	Detonation combustor cleaning device and method of cleaning a vessel with a detonation combustor cleaning device A detonation combustor cleaning device includes at least one combustion chamber having combustion flow path and including a deflection member. An ignition device is operatively connected to the at least one combustion chamber is selectively activated to ignite a combustible fuel within the at least one combustion chamber to produce a shockwave that moves in a first direction along the combustion flow path, impacts the deflection member, reverses direction and passes into a vessel to dislodge particles clinging to inner surfaces thereof.
US07987819B1	Animal washing system A portable animal washing system having a means of dispensing a pressurized liquid cleaning agent, a means of dispensing a pressurized liquid rinsing agent, a means of extracting said liquid cleaning and rinsing agents as well as any dislodged dirt, debris, parasites, or foreign matter from the animal's coat, and a means of drying the animal's coat. The device is designed in such a way that both the cleaning and the rinsing agents may be directed into and under the animal's coat and then be immediately extracted along with any dislodged dirt, debris, parasites or other foreign material. The device is also design in such a way as to direct a stream of heated forced air into and under the coat of the animal so as to dry the animal.
US07987810B1	Articulating paper dispenser An articulating paper dispenser is provided including an upper housing and a lower housing that, when engaged together, form a both a lubricant container and a chamber for containing an articulating paper roll. The articulating paper that is unwound from the articulating paper roll is passed through the lubricant container. The articulating paper dispenser will preferably include pressure rollers to guide the articulating paper through a dispensing slot in the dispenser. The lubricant container is configured to contain a lubricant that increases the marking ability of the articulating paper. As the articulating paper is dispensed from the articulating paper system, it is coated on both sides with a thin layer of the lubricant. The lubricant-coated articulating paper is then used to check a patient's occlusion more accurately and precisely.
US07987807B2	Boat cover suspension device The present invention provides a device for suspending a boat cover from a vertical projection attached to a boat, such that the boat cover is maintained under tension to prevent the formation of pools of water on the cover.
US07987804B2	Boat propulsion engine A boat propulsion engine (1) comprises a main body (4) that extends substantially vertically in relation to a hull (Si), a lift generator (20) disposed in a rear portion of the main body (4), and supporting bodies (24) that support the lift generator (20) on the main body (4). The lift generator (20) has a surface (21g, 21h) that extends transversely relative to the main body (4) and that is located behind at least the main body (4). The supporting bodies (24) extend backward from the main body (4) to the lift generator (20) in a single vertical direction relative to a surface (21g, 21h) of the lift generator (20).
US07987800B2	Folding table with transport mechanism A folding table includes two tabletop halves pivotally joined together at an axle, with one or more legs connected to each half. A transport member, such as a wheel is mounted on the axle. To transform the table from an “in-use” condition to a “transport” condition, the legs are collapsed to seat adjacent to the underside of the associated tabletop half. The tabletop halves are then pivoted toward each other until the undersides are in facing relationship to each other. So pivoting the tabletop halves exposes the transport member, which can be positioned against the ground to roll or slide the table to a different location.
US07987794B2	Side shift raise climbing system A side-shift raise climbing system is provided that utilizes a side-cut excavated into the wall of the access drift for a raise in a mine. A transfer section is incorporated into the existing length of rail servicing the raise. The transfer section includes a laterally transferable rail that can be detached from the existing rail and shifted along a set of monorails that extend into the side-cut. The transfer section enables a raise climber, when parked thereon, to be shifted out of the access drift without requiring additional access drifts or parking/nesting areas to accommodate the use of muck removal equipment.
US07987790B1	Ring airfoil glider expendable cartridge and glider launching method My Ring Airfoil Glider Expendable Cartridge and Glider Launching Method is form launching a reduced caliber ring airfoil glider from a conventional grenade launcher barrel with preferred application for less lethal use. A caseless ammunition base contains a primer communicating with a propellant in a rupture disk sealed chamber with a vent used to create, seal and channel propelling gas into a space behind a sabot mounted on a central guide on the base, whereupon releasing the gas, the sabot aligns, seals, pushes and rotates the glider in passage down the barrel, to a point of maximum velocity, whereon, the propelling gas is vented ahead of the glider by the central passage in the sabot as it leaves the guide, whereupon, the bore decelerates the sabot by friction freeing the glider to fly down the bore centered by a turbulent boundary layer of air until it exits the muzzle.
US07987787B1	Electronic ignition safety device configured to reject signals below a predetermined ‘all-fire voltage’ An electronic ignition safety device configured to reject signals below a predetermined ‘all-fire’ voltage comprising an exploding foil initiator having an electrical input and an output end, a pickup comprising a secondary explosive donor charge adjacent to the exploding foil initiator's output end and separated from a secondary explosive acceptor charge by an integral barrier, and an output charge adjacent to the acceptor charge.
US07987786B2	Printing members having permeability-transition layers and related methods Permeability transitions rather than ablation mechanisms facilitate selective removal of the imaging layer of a lithographic plate, which allows for imaging with low-power lasers that need not impart ablation-inducing energy levels.
US07987785B2	Printing members having permeability-transition layers and related methods Permeability transitions rather than ablation mechanisms facilitate selective removal of the imaging layer of a lithographic plate, which allows for imaging with low-power lasers that need not impart ablation-inducing energy levels.
US07987780B2	Cancellation apparatus Apparatus designed to cancel at least one postage or franking mark on a surface of a mailpiece moving on edge in a belt conveyor, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor portion with a plurality of small superposed belts and a plurality of superposed print heads; and control means for controlling the print heads in such a manner as to cause a print head to print one or more cancellation marks over the franking mark(s) detected on the mailpiece. Each print head is suitable for operating selectively with a plurality of superposed inkjets so as to print only a portion (¾, ½, ¼) of said cancellation mark or a scaled-down version thereof over the franking mark when said franking mark is positioned in such a manner as to be off-center between two belts.
US07987774B2	Cooking extruder with enhanced steam injection properties An improved extruder (10) is provided which permits successful introduction of very high quantities of injected steam into material being processed, on the order of 6-8% or more by weight steam. The extruder (10) includes an elongated extruder barrel (12) having at least one elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted extrusion screw (16,18) therein. The barrel (12) is equipped with obliquely oriented steam injection ports (44, 46) along the length thereof, housing steam injectors (48, 50). The barrel (12) includes relatively high free volume steam injection heads (32 and 38, 40) having therein screw sections (78, 82) of relatively long pitch length, together with steam restriction heads (30, 34, and 42) on opposite sides of the injection heads (32, and 38, 40) having therein relatively short pitch length screw sections (76, 80, 84).
US07987772B2	Passive heater A passive heater including a carriage actuatable to move along a cooking surface and a cover. In one exemplary embodiment, the carriage may be positioned on a guide bar to direct movement of the carriage along the cooking surface. The cover may be connected to the carriage and positionable near the cooking surface. Advantageously, positioning the cover near the cooking surface provides for the retention of nearby heat. Thus, the top surface of a food item cooking on the cooking surface may be heated by placing the cover over the food item. In another exemplary embodiment, the cover has a lifted position and a lowered position. By moving the cover from the lifted position to the lowered position, the cover may contact the cooking surface to surround food cooking thereon. In another exemplary embodiment, the lowered positioned may be spaced upwardly from the cooking surface, allowing the cover to cap food thereon.
US07987771B2	Beverage maker, and pump unit and cartridge for use in a beverage maker A pump unit includes a reservoir for containing a liquid, a duct system for conveying the liquid, and a pumping section for subjecting the liquid to a pumping force. The initial filling of at least a portion of a duct for conveying the liquid from the reservoir to the pumping section is brought about under the influence of another force other than the pumping force, for example, under the influence of gravity.
US07987770B2	Water pitcher and cover therefore A pitcher includes a container body defining a liquid storage cavity therein and having an open end and a cover removably coupled to the container body. The cover extends along the open end, and the cover defining a fill opening configured to receive a liquid therein. The fill opening is in communication with the liquid storage cavity. The pitcher also includes a lid assembly having a lid closing access to the fill opening. A slide mechanism is coupled to the lid, and the slide mechanism is slidably coupled to the cover.
US07987769B2	Water dispenser and filter cartridge for use therein A water dispenser including a water inlet adapted to receive water from a water supply, a water filter operative to filter water received from the water supply via the water inlet, a water outlet operative to provide filtered water received from the water filter, a water spill collector and a pivotably mounted drainage-equipped water container support having a first operative orientation underlying the water outlet and defining a downwardly inclined water spill drainage pathway communicating with the water spill collector and a second, non-operative, orientation not underlying the water outlet.
US07987768B2	Brewing mechanism A dispensing system for injecting a fluid into a number of containers. The dispensing system may include a turret plate for holding the containers and an injection system positioned about the turret plate. The injection system may include a piston for contacting a container. The piston may include an injection surface in communication with an internal spring such that the internal spring forces the injection surface against the container.
US07987765B2	Hydraulic control system for high flow applications in motor vehicles A hydraulic control system for high flow applications in motor vehicles, in particular for active wheel suspensions and active steering arrangements, includes at least one passive high flow valve which is controlled hydraulically by at least one low flow valve.
US07987752B2	System and method for delivering pressurized fluid to a rotary cutting blade Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems and methods for delivering pressurized fluid to a rotary cutting blade. For example, in certain embodiments, a system for delivering pressurized fluid to a rotary cutting blade includes: a pump configured to receive fluid from a fluid source and pressurize the fluid; and a nozzle configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and deliver the pressurized fluid to a rotary cutting blade as an atomized fluid stream, wherein the pump pressurizes the fluid to a pressure sufficient to cause the fluid to be atomized when the fluid is passed through the nozzle. For example, in certain embodiments, a method for delivering pressurized fluid to a rotary cutting blade includes: delivering fluid to a pump; pressurizing the fluid using the pump; and delivering the pressurized fluid to a rotary cutting blade through a nozzle as an atomized fluid stream.
US07987751B2	Sheet trimming apparatus and image forming system A sheet trimming apparatus including: a trimming section provided with a trimming cutter blade for trimming a sheet bundle; a paper scrap container for storing paper scraps separated from the sheet bundle by the trimming cutter blade; and a paper scrap guide member, which is provided to create a falling space where the paper scraps are made to fall from the trimming section to the paper scrap container, wherein the paper scrap guide member assumes a first state for expanding a gap in the falling space, and a second state for creating an inclined surface for guiding the paper scraps to fall.
US07987750B2	Cutter structure of labeling machine The present invention discloses a cutter structure of a labeling machine, wherein a transmission belt driven by a power source is utilized to drive a ring-shaped gear, which is concentric with a through hole and supported by a bearing, and through the inner teeth on the inner surface of the ring-shaped gear engaging with the gears mounted on the top ends of the tool posts, which are disposed along the outer edge of the through hole, the tool posts can be driven by the ring-shaped gear to turn, and at the same time cut the thermal shrinkable film in the through hole, thereby forming a cutter structure with uniform transmission force and high speed and stable cutting process.
US07987749B2	Wrench with a rotatable head A wrench with a rotatable head comprises a handle and a head, which are connected via a first and a second ends. The first end includes an upper and a lower lugs. A first toothed hole is formed in the upper lug; a hole is formed in the lower lug. A second toothed hole is formed in the second end. The second end is inserted between the upper and lower lugs and the second toothed hole is located between the first toothed hole and the hole. A toothed pillar is movably engaged in the toothed holes. When in the engagement position, the toothed pillar is engaged with the first and second toothed holes to fix the head and the handle. When in the disengagement position, the toothed pillar is disengaged from the teeth of the first toothed hole but still engaged with the teeth of the second toothed hole, so that the head and handle are rotatable with respect to each other.
US07987745B2	Variable gear ratio ratchet This invention relates to a fastener driving device including a variable ratio gear mechanism that enables the ratio of the rotation of the handle to the rotation of a driving bit extending from the handle to be varied to allow the bit to rotate at different speeds from the handle. The device includes a gear mechanism disposed within a housing for the device that includes a locking member and a biasing member. The biasing member urges the locking member into engagement with the gear mechanism to lock the gear mechanism in a configuration for a 1:1 gear ratio. A selector switch is secured to the device over the gear mechanism and is operable to move the locking member into and out of engagement with the planetary gears against the bias of the biasing member to provide an increased gear ratio for the gear mechanism when desired.
US07987743B2	Positive release crash pedal mechanism Provided herein is a pedal assembly for a vehicle with a push rod releasably connected to a pedal arm. The push rod is connected to the pedal arm via a pivoting reaction mount that is capable of rotating from a first position to a second position during vehicle collision. Upon rotation to the second position, the push rod is disconnected from the pedal arm, thereby reducing injury to the driver. The pivoting reaction mount may include a rotatable lever. An actuation mechanism, such as a reaction bracket, is mounted to a vehicle structure adjacent the push rod, and may actuate rotation of the pivoting reaction mount.
US07987742B2	Transportation apparatus and tension adjustment method of belt in the same A transportation apparatus operable to linearly transport an object includes a first transmission unit provided in a first intermediate table and which is operable to transmit torque from one of a pair of first links to one of a pair of second links. The transmission unit includes a pair of pulleys supported by a pair of first intermediate shafts and fixed to the one of the first links and the one of the second links; and an upper belt and lower belt are partially wound around the pulley in opposite directions with each other and fixed to the pulleys so as to transmit the torque. One of the pulley is divided into an upper part fixed with the upper belt and a lower fixed with the lower belt in an axial direction of the first intermediate shafts.
US07987739B2	Transmission The present invention is directed to a transmission capable of minimizing the number of speed-change driven gears on a first countershaft to ensure a layout space in an engine compartment of a vehicle, and reducing a driving torque to be applied to a second countershaft to facilitate downsizing of the transmission. In the transmission, the first countershaft 2 is arranged at a position above an input shaft 1, and a first-speed driven gear 14 and a second-speed driven gear 24 are provided on the first countershaft 2.
US07987732B2	Ultrasonic measuring unit having integrated humidity analysis An ultrasonic measuring unit and a method for detecting ultrasonic signal run-times, in which the ultrasonic measuring unit has two ultrasonic transducers for coupling ultrasonic signals into a flowing medium. Analysis electronics are provided to be accommodated on or in a flow tube, in which a gaseous medium such as circulating air flows. A probe unit is accommodated in the flow tube, the probe unit being assigned a temperature probe having a flow around it, whose measured value is used for correcting a temperature signal detected by ultrasound.
US07987720B2	Ultrasonic sensing array system and method A system and method for detecting leaks in substantially closed objects, such as automobiles, airplanes, tanks, and other vehicles, using an ultrasonic transmitter and one or more ultrasonic sensors or receivers supported on a frame. Ultrasonic amplitude readings obtained from the sensor or sensors are processed to determine if they are representative of a defective or leaking object. The position of the leak may be determined by examining the readings from individual sensors. The system is particularly well-adapted for use in detecting defects and leaks in automobiles on an assembly line without interrupting the assembly process or damaging the automobile.
US07987718B2	Vibroacoustic system for vibration testing Forces are applied to a device under test and its mechanical response is measured by a laser vibrometer (50). The forces are applied without making physical contact with the device by producing an acoustical force with an ultrasonic beam (54). One embodiment employs two confocal transducers (56, 58) that produce beams that flood the device. Drive signals modulate the ultrasonic beams to produce the desired forces, and the use on a plurality of ultrasonic beams enable selective excitation of different modes of vibration of the object (7).
US07987711B2	Device and method for diagnosing a disorder A device (1) for diagnosing a disorder comprises a stop for stopping a human extremity (5), such as a finger, when said extremity exerts a force on the stop. Detection means are provided for detecting said exerted force. The device has a support member (20) for supporting the stop. The stop comprises one or more resilient strips (8,17), each of which projects from the support member up to in each case a free end. The resilient strips are arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from one another. Each resilient strip can, by being deformed, contact an adjacent resilient strip.
US07987710B2	Pressure vessel with CO2 liquid level indicator for a paintball marker A pressure vessel 12 with a CO2 liquid level indicator 14, for use with a paintball marker 10, includes a magnetic float assembly 42 disposed within the pressure vessel 12 and adapted to float on liquid phase CO2 39 contained within the pressure vessel 12, in combination with a magnetically sensitive indicator 44 on an outer surface 40 of the pressure vessel 12 and which is adapted to detect and to display the location of the magnetic float assembly 42 within the pressure vessel 12. When connected to a conventional paintball marker 10, the pressure vessel 12 magnetically shows the indicated location of the magnetic float assembly 42, thereby showing the amount of liquid phase CO2 39 remaining within the pressure vessel 12. This remaining amount of liquid phase CO2 39 can be correlated to an approximate number of additional paintball rounds that can be shot before the CO2 is depleted.
US07987708B1	Apparatus for the testing of downhole injection assemblies An apparatus for the testing of downhole a injection assembly prior to installation of the injection assembly in the completion string. The apparatus is comprised an injection tubing, an injection sub, an injection valve, an injection sub test block, a pressure foot, a pressure foot test block, and means for introducing pressure at a desired level. The injection sub test block, pressure foot, pressure foot test block are interchangeably engageable with the injection sub for testing in a sequence to allow the pre-testing of the connections of components of the injection assembly at the surface of the well.
US07987705B2	Method for estimating a tire performance during a braking situation A method for estimating the performance, during a braking situation, of a tire to be provided to a vehicle, this method comprising an experimental phase (EXPERIM) including a step (EVAL_MU) of assessing the grip coefficient (μ) of the tire on the ground. This assessment step is performed for different values (Vi) of the relative displacement speed of the tire axis with regard to the ground and for different values (gi %) of the tire slip rate on the ground. The experimental phase (EXPERIM) further comprises a modelization step (MODEL) of representing the grip coefficient of this tire, as resulting from the assessment step (EVAL_MU), by a function (MU3D) of the relative displacement speed of the tire axis with regard to the ground and of the slip rate of this tire on the ground.
US07987701B2	Real-time, on-line analysis for the quantification of total haloacetic acid and trihalomethane species in drinking water supplies Capillary membrane sampling-flow injection analyzer (CMS-FIA) analyses of drinking water samples for quantity measurements of total trihalomethane and haloacetic acid contaminants therein are provided. With the necessity to chlorinate drinking water to remove harmful bacteria and other potential toxins, trihalomethane and haloacetic acid byproducts are generated that may harm humans after consumption as well. A reliable manner of measuring such drinking water supplies for such trihalomethane and/or haloacetic acids at locations far from the source and closer to dispensers is highly desirable. The CMS-FIA analysis method of the invention has been found to be nearly as reliable as source measuring methods for the same purpose, but with the versatility to measure for such trihalomethane and haloacetic acid contaminants anywhere along the drinking water supply line.
US07987700B2	Apparatus for measuring osmotic pressure, conductance, viscosity and surface tension of liquid solution The present invention provides an apparatus (Oscosurvismeter) for measuring osmotic pressure, surface tension, viscosity and conductance. Oscosurvismeter is made of Borosil glass material for measuring osmotic pressure, specific conductance, viscosity and surface tension of solutions. Solutions of different strengths are taken in two cells/compartments, partitioned by semi permeable membrane (SPM), respectively. Concentration gradient makes the solvent move towards concentrated solution to establish equilibrium that measures osmotic pressure. The Oscosurvismeter saves time and material, and enhances accuracy and precision in measurements, the instrument consists of six parts: Survismeter, Osmometer, Electrode, Metallic clamp, Semipermeable membrane (SPM), and High Potential metallic springs. The high accuracies data are noted with the instrument.
US07987698B2	Gas leak detection apparatus and method According to the present invention, mistaken detection of a gas leak can be prevented even when using an appliance which has been newly installed in a dwelling receiving a gas supply, and whereby a gas leak can be detected rapidly, efficiently and accurately. The characteristics extraction means 5 extracts characteristics of a gas flow including a combination of the instantaneous flow volume data and the instantaneous flow volume time differential value, on the basis of the data obtained by the flow volume measurement means 1, pressure measurement means 2, instantaneous flow volume time differential operation means 3 and pressure time differential operation means 4. The leak detection means 7 compares the characteristics data for respective types of gas appliance or for a gas leak registered in the storage means 6 with the characteristics extracted by the characteristics extraction means 5, and if a matching is not achieved, further judges whether there is a flow volume variation or nozzle variation, and whereby it judges whether there is a gas leak or whether an unregistered appliance is in use. If occurrence of a gas leak, the warning means 9 issues a warning. If an unregistered appliance is in use, the characteristics data forming the basis of the judgment is registered as a new characteristics data in the storage means 6 by the characteristics data registration means 8.
US07987693B2	Method and device for automated electronic green speed measurement Method and apparatus for measuring the coefficient of rolling friction or speed of a horizontal surface over which a round object is rolled such as a putting green encountered in the game of golf. The method includes a device for launching a ball across the surface at a constant and consistent velocity. An included timing device is triggered to start counting the elapsed time when the ball exits the launching device and continues counting until the ball has decelerated to a stop. At the instant the ball ceases moving the timer is triggered to terminate the count. The time required for a body with a specific velocity to come to rest after experiencing constant deceleration is determined by the laws of motion. The coefficient of friction or “speed” of the green which is proportional to the amount of deceleration may then be calculated. This time measurement is therefore sufficient to determine the speed of the green surface which may be reported as an equivalent “stimp” value.
US07987692B2	Door leveler An apparatus for aligning and leveling an associated vehicle door having an elongated member, a head member attached to said elongated member adapted to engage a vehicle door lock recess, a support member extending downwardly from said elongated member towards a vehicle door and a support plate attached to said support member adapted to rest on said vehicle door. The apparatus is designed to aid in the leveling and aligning processes of a vehicle door after assembly of the vehicle. The elongated member may include a series of bends to improve the ergonomic efficiency of the vehicle door leveler.
US07987687B2	Electromechanical rotary lock cylinder Disclosed is a rotary lock cylinder comprising a blocking element (25, 64) that engages into the rotor (10) in a closed position while releasing the rotor (10) in an open position. An actuator (17, 78) can be controlled in accordance with data located on the key (2). In order to displace the blocking element (25, 64) from the closed position into the open position, a latch element (33, 63) is provided which can be moved along with the key (2). The blocking element (25, 64) can be attached by means of the actuator (17). The energy required for moving the blocking element (25) is supplied by the user when introducing the key (2) into the key duct (11) such that the load on the power source used for actuating the actuator (17, 78) is minimal.
US07987684B2	Refrigerator with air guide duct Disclosed is a refrigerator in which a space occupied by an evaporating dish can be minimized, evaporation efficiency of defrost water by convection-heat transfer can be improved, air can be easily exhausted in a machine room, and thus the cooling efficiency of a compressor and a condenser can be improved. The refrigerator includes: a cooling apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; a blowing fan blowing air to cool at least one of the compressor and the condenser; a blowing guide duct guiding the air blown by the blowing fan to an exterior; and an evaporating dish installed in a lower portion of the blowing guide duct in order to collect and evaporate defrost water, the evaporating dish having an opened upper portion to communicate with a path of the blowing guide duct.
US07987679B2	Air conditioning apparatus By studying or storing refrigerating cycle characteristics of an air conditioning apparatus at the normal time and comparing them with refrigerating cycle characteristics acquired from the air conditioning apparatus at the time of operation, it becomes possible to exactly and accurately diagnose normality or abnormality of the air conditioning apparatus under any installation conditions and environmental conditions, which eliminates operations of inputting a difference between apparatus model names, a piping length, a height difference, etc at the time of apparatus installation. Accordingly, it aims at shortening the time of judging normality or abnormality, and improving the operability. It is characterized by calculating and comparing a measured value (a value of liquid phase temperature efficiency εL (SC/dTc) calculated from temperature information) concerning an amount of a liquid phase part of the refrigerant in the high-pressure-side heat exchanger with a theoretical value (a value of liquid phase temperature efficiency εL (1−EXP(−NTUR)) calculated from the transfer unit number NTUR at refrigerant side).
US07987677B2	Radial counterflow steam stripper Turbine exhaust steam, axially fed between counter-rotating radial flow disk turbines, separates into: (1) a radially inward flow of low enthalpy dry steam, and (2) a radially outward flow of high enthalpy steam, noncondensibles, and condensate. The radially inward flow goes to a conventional condenser. The radially outward flow loses enthalpy turning the disk turbines as it passes in the boundary layers against the disks, thus becoming low enthalpy dry steam, and the counter-rotation of the disks by impinging mass flow of condensate, high enthalpy steam, and noncondensibles sustains a cascade of dynamic vortex tubes in the shear layer between the boundary layers. The low enthalpy dry steam resulting from work being done flows into the condenser through the vortex cores of fractal turbulence. Condensate exits the periphery of the workspace, ready to be pumped back into the Rankine cycle.
US07987673B2	Turbo-compound system The invention concerns a turbo compound system, including a crankshaft driven by an internal combustion engine; a blowdown turbine arranged in the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine; a hydrodynamic clutch, including a driving torus and a driven torus, which form with each other a working chamber that is fillable or filled with working fluid; where the driven torus of the hydrodynamic clutch is arranged on a shaft on the crankshaft side, which is in drive connection with the crankshaft and is geared up relative to the crankshaft; and where the driving torus of the hydrodynamic clutch is arranged on a shaft on the blowdown turbine side, which is in drive connection with the blowdown turbine, and where a rotary pump is arranged on the shaft on the crankshaft side or on the shaft on the blowdown turbine side, whose impeller is driven by this shaft.
US07987670B2	External combustion engine In a steam engine having multiple main containers, first and second communication pipes are arranged in parallel to each other for respectively communication an auxiliary container with the main containers. Restricted portions and a first switching device are formed in the first communication pipe. The first communication pipe is closed during a start-up step of a starting operation of the engine, in order to prevent that an excess amount of working fluid may flow back from the auxiliary container to the main containers. As a result, a start-up time can be reduced.
US07987669B2	Hydraulic steering transaxle and hydraulic driving vehicle A fluid passage member includes a pump mounting surface onto which a hydraulic pump having a rotary axis is mounted; first and second kidney ports opened at the pump mounting surface; a first fluid extraction port outwardly opened and connected to the first kidney port; a motor mounting surface onto which a hydraulic motor having a rotary axis is mounted so that the rotary axis of the hydraulic motor is parallel to the rotary axis of the hydraulic pump; third and fourth kidney ports opened at the motor mounting surface; and a second fluid extraction port outwardly opened and connected to the third kidney port.
US07987660B2	Gas turbine, method of controlling air supply and computer program product for controlling air supply The present invention provides a gas turbine capable of reducing energy consumption while suppressing a so-called cat back phenomenon. The gas turbine includes a combustor-accommodating chamber casing for accommodating therein a combustor which burns fuel and air compressed by a compressor to generate combustion gas and which injects the combustion gas to a turbine. The gas turbine also includes a first air supply passage and a second air supply passage on an upper portion of the combustor-accommodating chamber casing in the vertical direction. The first air supply passage discharges air toward the compressor in the combustor-accommodating chamber casing. The second air supply passage discharges air in a direction different from that of the first air supply passage.
US07987658B1	Multi-purpose garden tool with pivotable gardening head A multi-purpose tool includes, in one embodiment, an elongated pole and a head that are pivotally joined by a coupling mechanism. The head is a unitary member that includes a semi-circular edger plate and a comb-like rake. The coupling mechanism includes a pivot screw pivotally connecting the pole to the gardening head, a lock rod extending longitudinally through the elongated pole, and a pull cam mounted within one end of the hollow pole, the pull cam being threadingly coupled to one end of the lock rod. By disposing the gardening head in a variety of fixed positions relative to the pole, a plurality of distinct gardening instruments can be created. Locking the position of the gardening head relative to the elongated pole is achieved through rotation of a handle that is mounted onto the free end of the pole, the handle being connected to the free end the lock rod.
US07987655B2	Tubular bagging machine and method A tubular bagging machine includes an innovative indentation-forming device and a modified cross-sealing device. The innovative indentation-forming device includes two punches that form two indentations in the foil web. The machine then forms the foil web into a foil tube with the indentations aligned directly opposite each other and bowed outward. The cross-sealing device includes two opposing sealing jaws each having a blank formed in it. The jaws are closed together to form transverse seal zones in the foil tube. The blanks are aligned with each other and receive the aligned indentations so that they are not sealed together, resulting in the formation of an air bubble in one of the seal zones. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the bags, bags produced by the disclosed machines and methods, and retrofit kits for upgrading existing tubular bagging machines.
US07987653B2	Plastic embossed carrier tape process An embossed carrier tape manufacturing apparatus includes features for integrating with other processing equipment so that other processes such as forming, filling, and sealing the tape can be performed sequentially in one integrated process. The apparatus includes retractable contact spot heaters for heating the tape prior to embossing, along with a unique heat shield arrangement that is interposable between the heaters and the tape so that the process may be paused. Also, a synchronizing apparatus is integrated so that the carrier tape embossing process may be automatically paused for adjusting to the input rate of other carrier tape processing apparatus.
US07987651B2	Automatic bale wrapping apparatus Apparatus is disclosed for enclosing bales of materials with at least four substantially rectilinear sides in flexible sheet material tubes having one open end into which the bales are inserted leaving the tube open end projecting loosely beyond the end of the bale utilizing structure temporarily placed inside the tube open end tending to resist inward movement of said tube such that the tube end may be formed into pleats at the four corners of the end of the bale and structure external of the tube cooperating to form and fold the pleats against the bale end surface where they are affixed.
US07987650B2	Device and method for repairing building surfaces The disclosure relates to a clip and associated method and building structure. The clip is provided for repairing building surfaces. The clip includes a first generally planar elongate portion having an inner face and an outer face, and a second generally planar elongate portion having an inner face and an outer face. The first elongate portion and second elongate portion are joined to define a generally U-shaped member having a generally elongate gap defined by the inner faces of the first and second elongate portions, the gap being adapted and configured to receive a building member therein.
US07987649B1	Vent strip for installation with soffit boards of different thicknesses A vent strip has a generally rectangular vent strip body having a width that is greater than an aperture width of an aperture through a soffit board. A plurality of apertures through the vent strip enabling air circulation. A pair of resilient board engaging elements extend upwardly and outwardly from the vent strip body for engaging the aperture. A plurality of board engaging notches or fingers, of each of the resilient board engaging elements, are adapted for engaging the soffit board regardless of the thickness of the soffit board.
US07987648B1	Modular wall panel system A decorative, modular wall panel system is disclosed that allows easy installation and that is adaptable to a variety of wall lengths by allowing the decorative panels to float on an easily installed frame assembly. A skeletal, hidden frame structure is attached to the preexisting wall over which the modular wall panel system is to be installed, and is configured to hold the decorative panel system in place without penetrating the decorative members with fasteners such as nails or screws, thus eliminating the need for wood fillers, plugs, caulking, paints, or stains and touch-up kits to fix blemishes on the decorative panels that would otherwise be caused by attaching them to a wall surface.
US07987645B2	Noise isolating underlayment A noise-reducing substrate for use in a flooring system which ha a subfloor and a floating floor upper layer. The substrate comprises a series of edge butted panels, each having a bottom surface, a top surface and side surfaces. A profile in the bottom surface of the substrate changes the substrate's effective stiffness improving the noise isolation of the substrate compared to the stiffness and noise isolation of the panel without the profile. Additionally, the profile reduces the weight of the panel, thereby reducing manufacturing and installation costs. Material hardness and profile flatness of the upper surface provide the strength and texture required to allow for installation of the floating floor layer without the need for an additional rigid backing material. Such a system greatly improves the impact noise reduction on floor/ceiling systems while keeping the installation cost low and adding little to the total system thickness.
US07987644B2	Curtainwall system A modular curtainwall system and a method for forming a curtainwall unit are provided. The modular curtainwall system comprises a unit frame and a cassette. The cassette comprises a subframe and an interior portion. The stick unit frame and cassette may be assembled into a curtainwall unit at an offsite facility.
US07987641B2	Mounting system for a solar panel An integrated module frame and racking system for a solar panel is disclosed. The solar panel comprises a plurality of solar modules and a plurality of splices for coupling the plurality of solar modules together. The plurality of splices provide a way to make the connected modules mechanically rigid both during transport to the roof and after mounting for the lifetime of the system, provide wiring connections between modules, provide an electrical grounding path for the modules, provide a way to add modules to the panel, and provide a way to remove or change a defective module. Connector sockets are provided on the sides of the modules to simplify the electrical assembly of modules when the modules are connected together with splices.
US07987636B2	Truss seat and anchor strap assembly A seat and anchor assembly for mounting and securing a wood joist or roof truss to a tie beam of a building including a central web portion and an upwardly extending wall portion disposed along a longitudinal edge thereof wherein a lower portion of the roof truss or joist fits within what may be considered a seat defined by the web and the upstanding wall portion. An elongated anchor strap is adjustably attached to the wall portion and is adapted to be secured by nails or like connectors to the top portion of the roof truss and further wherein the anchor strap includes a lower length disposed and adapted to be embedded in wet concrete initially defining the tie beam of the building on which the seat and truss rests.
US07987635B2	Partition system A partition system includes a first pilaster and a door coupled to the first pilaster and rotatable from a closed position to an open position. The door is configurable in a first configuration wherein the door is rotatable from the closed position to the open position in a first direction and prevented from rotating in a second direction from the closed position, the second direction opposite the first direction. The door is further configurable in a second configuration wherein the door is rotatable from the closed position to the open position in the second direction and prevented from rotating in the first direction from the closed position. The door is coupled to the first pilaster to define a seam and prevents a line of sight from being established through the seam.
US07987631B2	Insect lure trap with flow restrictor A flow restrictor is provided to reduce pressure in the flow of a fluid, such as a hydrocarbon-based fuel. The flow restrictor takes the form of a capillary that is void of any abrupt flow disruptions. The flow restrictor may be used in place of an orifice and provides the advantage that it has a larger diameter than an orifice of similar function. Precipitation is less likely to form on the restrictor and any precipitation is less likely to have an adverse affect on performance.
US07987630B2	Pest control system and method In a system and method for at least one of monitoring and controlling pests, a container having an interior chamber, is located in an area in which pests are to be at least one of monitored and controlled. At least a portion of the container is constructed of an environmentally degradable plastic. At least one of a pest monitoring material and a pest bait material is disposed within the interior chamber of the container for at least one of monitoring and controlling pests. The container is inspected at least once prior to the end of a predetermined time period to determine whether pests are present within the container. The container is replaced, along with the at least one of the monitoring material and the bait material, no later than about six months beyond the predetermined period of time following placement of the container in the area.
US07987628B2	Animal trap An animal trap for catching mice has a box-shaped housing with foundation housing and attached to it is the cover housing, capable of swiveling. Arranged in the interior of the housing, there is a triggering system designed like a seesaw with a stepping platform. The cover housing is locked in the open position with the help of mechanical restraint devices. A locking mechanism resting in the cover housing has an unlocking button for restoring the open position, as well as an operating button for the user to transfer the cover housing into closed position.

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