Document Document Title
US08211101B2 Systems and methods for treating hemorrhoids
Systems and methods treat hemorrhoids by introducing a treatment device into the anal canal to extend above a hemorrhoidal plexus and adjacent a tissue region containing blood vessels that feed the hemorrhoidal plexus. The systems and methods operate the treatment device to affect tissue morphology in the tissue region to occlude or otherwise reduce blood flow through the vessels.
US08211100B2 Energy delivery algorithm for medical devices based on maintaining a fixed position on a tissue electrical conductivity v. temperature curve
A method for controlling an electrosurgical waveform includes the initial steps of activating an electrosurgical generator and increasing power during a first sample window and determining a direction of change in a first average impedance during the first sample window. The method also includes the steps of performing a first adjustment of power in response to the direction of change in the first average impedance during a subsequent sample window and determining a direction of change in a subsequent average impedance during the subsequent sample window in response to the first adjustment of power. The method also includes performing a subsequent adjustment of power in response to the direction of change in the subsequent average impedance, wherein the subsequent adjustment of power is reverse to that of the first adjustment of power when the direction of change in the first and subsequent average impedances is the same.
US08211092B2 Containment device with multi-layer reservoir cap structure
Devices and methods are provided for the controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents. The device includes a substrate, a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate, reservoir contents disposed in the reservoirs, discrete reservoir caps covering each reservoir to seal the reservoir contents in the reservoirs, and control circuitry for selectively disintegrating the reservoir caps to release or expose the reservoir contents in vivo. At least one of the reservoir caps comprises a first electrically conductive layer coated with one or more protective layers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry comprises an electrical input lead and an electrical output lead connected to and directly contacting each of said reservoir caps and a source of electric power for applying an electrical current through each reservoir cap in an amount effective to rupture each of the reservoir caps.
US08211090B2 Heart tracking device
A vessel tracking device for use with a pressure source has an elongate introduction element configured for introduction into a vessel of a human body, the introduction element having a proximal end and a distal end, and the distal end having a flexible distal end portion containing an internal cavity that is closed at the distal end. A pressure adjuster is configured for communication with said pressure source. The introduction element has a connection channel connected to the pressure adjuster at the proximal end of the introduction element, the connection channel being connected with the internal cavity and placing the internal cavity in communication with the pressure source, with the pressure adjuster controlling an internal pressure in the internal cavity. The distal end portion has different wall portions that are differently deformed as the internal pressure is adjusted, to produce a change in direction of the distal end controlled by the pressure controller.
US08211086B2 Disposable injector with dual-piston dual-chamber system
The invention relates to a method of making a solution for injection from a solvent and an active ingredient using a disposable injector with a housing, an injector-side, first cylinder-piston unit—at least intermittently fillable—arranged thereon and an upstream detachable container adapter, wherein the container adapter bears a likewise at least intermittently fillable second cylinder-piston unit. A solvent is stored in the first cylinder-piston unit. In the second cylinder-piston unit there is a freeze-dried active pharmaceutical ingredient. Immediately before use of the disposable injector the solvent is conveyed to the second cylinder-piston unit to the active pharmaceutical ingredient, where a solution forms. This solution is transfer-pumped into the first cylinder-piston unit to then be administered.
US08211083B2 Coaxial catheter systems for transference of medium
A method, technique and system is disclosed for the delivery of therapeutic agents and/or into the bulk brain tissues and other parts, tissues and organs of the body, including vasculature. A novel form of coaxial catheter provides a means for implanting an outer tube into the brain, then inserting an inner tube into the outer tube and aligning them such that port holes on both of the tubes will overlap and permit a flux of the therapeutic agent to flow into the brain in such a way as to minimize the effects of trapped air, virtually eliminate backflow of the agent, and avoid the potential for additional damage to the brain since only one surgical placement of the outer tube is needed. Similarly, the method, technique system may be utilized to remove fluids or other medium from the brain, tissues, and organs to minimize the effects of escaped air or negative pressure.
US08211079B2 Anti-pop open macrofasteners
A tab and slot closure system has a tab member, a slot member, and an anti-pop open device. The tab member has a tab element which has a first region and a second region. The first region includes a proximal edge, and the second region includes a distal edge. The tab element is attached to the substrate element along a line of attachment. The slot member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and a slot disposed between the inboard portion and the outboard portion. The anti-pop open device is disposed on either the tab member or the slot member and reduces the likelihood of the tab member unintentionally disengaging the slot member when the tab and slot closure system is fastened.
US08211078B2 Sanitary napkins capable of taking complex three-dimensional shape in use
A catamenial device. The device comprises a topsheet having a body facing surface, a backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises three zones differing in stiffness, at least one of the zones comprising laterally-oriented portions where material from the core has been removed, the portions defining slots.
US08211077B2 Disposable pant-type diaper
A disposable pant-type diaper according to the present invention includes a front portion, a back portion, and a crotch portion which is positioned between the front and back portions, in which a waist opening and a pair of leg openings are formed by joining both longitudinal side-edge portions of the front and back portions which face each other, and stretchable elastic members are disposed along at least a part of each opening, wherein a cutout portion is formed in at least a portion of the side-edge portion of at least one of the front and back portions, and the front and back portions assume a non-joining state at the portion where the cutout portion is formed.
US08211071B2 Reduced-pressure system and method employing a gasket
A reduced-pressure treatment system for treating a tissue site on a patient includes a gasket releasably attached around a perimeter of the tissue site that may remain in place for an extended time and allows an over-drape to be attached to it. The system and method further may include a manifold sized and configured to be placed in contact with the tissue site; the over-drape positioned over the manifold and sealed to the gasket to create a sealed space between the over-drape and the tissue site; and a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to the sealed space to deliver reduced pressure to the tissue site. A method is also presented.
US08211070B2 Spring clip safety IV catheter
A safety IV catheter includes a unitary, resilient needle guard received in a catheter hub. The needle guard includes a proximal arm or wall that includes an opening through which a needle passes for axial movement. When the needle is retracted from the catheter, it releases the force that had previously prevented movement of the needle guard within the catheter hub. This in turn causes the needle guard to snap into a position in which it is clamped onto the needle shaft and in which its distal wall blocks access to the needle tip. In this condition, the spring needle guard and needle can be removed from the catheter hub. A slot or crimp may be formed in the needle shaft that engages with the needle guard after the protected needle and needle guard are removed from the catheter hub, thereby to prevent removal of the protected needle from the needle guard.
US08211064B2 Catheter securement device
A catheter securement device includes a planar base having an adhesive side for attaching the base to a patient and a mounting side. A receptacle adapted to nest a catheter hub therein is mounted on the mounting side of the base. The receptacle is generally U-shaped in cross-section and is open along a top surface to receive a catheter hub. The receptacle has opposite side walls and front and rear ends. An endless elastic member is retained by one side wall of the receptacle. The endless elastic member is capable of manipulation and stretching over the opening in the top surface and beyond the opposite side wall of the receptacle to retain a catheter hub nested in the receptacle. A flange extends outwardly at the top surface of the opposite side wall to keep the elastic member in place when nesting a catheter hub in the receptacle.
US08211056B2 Devices and methods to facilitate cannulation of an arteriovenous fistula
The present disclosure is directed to a device for locating a fistula. The device can include a first tine and a second tine each having a distal end and a proximal end with the first tine spaced a distance from the second tine sufficient for allowing a section of a fistula to fit therebetween. A compression member can be placed adjacent to the first tine and the second tine such that the compression member externally compresses and temporarily occludes a fistula thereby increasing blood pressure in a section of a fistula located between the first tine and the second tine.
US08211055B2 Drug eluting balloon
There is disclosed a drug eluting balloon catheter assembly provided with a balloon formed of an inner balloon member of non-compliant material and an outer balloon member of a compliant material and which is provided with holes therein for eluting a drug or other fluid. In use, the outer balloon member is biased by contraction onto the inner balloon member thereby keeping the holes therein normally sealed closed and minimizing dead space in the device.
US08211054B2 System and method for controlling administration of medical fluid
A system for controlling administration of medical fluid includes a fluid passageway to which is attached a first flow regulator, a second flow regulator, and a flow detector. The system also includes a controller for controlling the first and second flow regulators in response to a measurement taken by the flow detector of fluid movement in the fluid passageway. The first flow regulator, such as a pump, is configured to maintain fluid movement at flow values greater than an unrestricted flow value. The second flow regulator, such as a variable adjustable valve, is configured to maintain fluid movement at a flow value less than the unrestricted flow value. A method of controlling administration of medical fluid includes obtaining a target flow value, moving fluid through the disposable assembly, taking a measurement of fluid movement in the disposable assembly, and actuating a flow regulating apparatus.
US08211052B1 Charged hydrator
A charged hydration device and a method of filling the hydration device so the charged hydration that can be mounted to a medical apparatus that provides insufflation fluid to a body cavity either immediately prior to the medical procedure or during a medical procedure with the charged hydration device including an inlet and outlet for an inline connection with the medical apparatus so that an insufflation gas delivered through the charged hydration device is hydrated to prevent tissue damage to a person receiving the insufflation gas.
US08211051B2 Electroactive polymer actuated cerebrospinal fluid shunt
A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt comprises a ventricular catheter and an electroactive polymer actuated valve for regulating the drainage rate of CSF from the brain ventricle of a patient. The shunt system also comprises a distal catheter for discharge of the CSF to a separate location in the patient's body such as the peritoneal cavity or atrium of the heart. The electroactive polymer actuated valve regulates the flow rate of CSF through a predetermined threshold pressure, which can be adjusted and programmed externally from the patient's body by means of an external control unit signal, as well as through a signal indicated by an internal sensor or an electroactive polymer transducer. The sensor also communicates a signal to the external control unit for indicating the internal pressure at a single location or multiple locations throughout the fully implanted shunt assembly.
US08211048B2 System and method for delivery of regional citrate anticoagulation to extracorporeal blood circuits
The present invention includes a comprehensive replacement fluid system and method for the delivery of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) to extracorporeal blood circuits, wherein the system may include an online clearance monitor (OCM) and a circuit effluent online sensor system (OSS) for the continuous determination of patient plasma content of ultrafilterable soultes.
US08211047B2 Blood filtering device
Blood filtering device (1), comprising: * a filter body (3; 103), having an inlet port (4; 104) for blood to be filtered; * a delivery flexible hose (5; 105) of the blood to be filtered, apt to be connected to said inlet port (4; 104) and to further ducts linked to a circulatory system; * peristaltic pump means (10; 105, 109, 114, 115, 117, 118, 143, 144, 145), wherein a case (16; 116) forms at least one peristaltic pump rotor chamber (13; 114), apt to house inside a portion of said delivery flexible hose (5; 105) for obtaining a peristaltic effect, wherein said case (16; 116) defines means for maintaining said filter body (3; 103) in a working position.
US08211038B2 Multiple-biosensor article
An article suitable for conducting one or more assays with an apparatus, e.g., a meter, for determining the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample of biological fluid. The article contains a plurality of biosensors arranged in such a manner that each of the biosensors can be utilized before the article must be removed from the apparatus.
US08211035B2 System and method for monitoring health using exhaled breath
The present invention includes systems and methods for monitoring endogenous compound concentration in blood by detecting markers, such as odors, upon exhalation by a patient, wherein such markers are the endogenous compound itself or result from the endogenous compound. In the case of olfactory markers, the invention preferably utilizes electronic sensor technology, such as the commercial devices referred to as “artificial” or “electronic” noses or tongues, to non-invasively monitor endogenous compound levels in blood. The invention further includes a reporting system capable of tracking endogenous compound concentrations in blood (remote or proximate locations) and providing the necessary alerts with regard to emergent or harmful conditions in a patient.
US08211032B2 Cardiomechanical assessment for cardiac resynchronization therapy
A first lead provides therapeutic stimulation to the heart and includes a first mechanical sensor that measures physical contraction and relaxation of the heart. A controller induces delivery of therapeutic stimulation via the first lead. The controller receives signals from the first mechanical sensor indicative of the contraction and relaxation; develops a template signal that corresponds to the contraction and relaxation; and uses the template signal to modify the delivery of therapeutic stimulations. In another arrangement, a second lead, with a second mechanical sensor also provides signals to the controller indicative of contraction and relaxation. The first mechanical sensor is adapted to be positioned at the interventricular septal region of the heart, and the second mechanical sensor is adapted to be positioned in the lateral region of the left ventricle. The controller processes the signals from the first mechanical sensor and the second mechanical sensor to develop a dysynchrony index.
US08211031B2 Non-invasive intracranial monitor
A method of estimating at least one intracranial hemodynamic parameter in a subject, the method comprising: a) obtaining data of changes in electrical impedance across the subject's head as a function of time; b) analyzing the data; and c) estimating one or more of intracranial pressure, cerebral blood volume, and a factor related to at least one of cerebral perfusion pressure and a mean transit time through cerebral capillaries.
US08211030B2 NIBP target inflation pressure automation using derived SPO2 signals
A method and system for operating a non-invasive blood pressure monitor that utilizes an SpO2 plethysmograph waveform to determine the initial inflation pressure for the NIBP monitor. A pulse sensor is placed on the patient's limb distal to the blood pressure cuff and provides a pulse waveform to the NIBP monitor. The NIBP monitor calculates a second derivative of the pulse waveform, which includes a series of acceleration peaks corresponding to pulse signals within the pulse waveform. When the blood pressure cuff reaches systolic pressure, the acceleration peaks contained within the acceleration waveform are eliminated, thus providing an indication that the cuff pressure has reached systolic pressure for the patient. Use of the SPO2 plethysmograph signal to determine the initial inflation pressure reduces both the over-inflation of the blood pressure cuff and the under-inflation of the blood pressure cuff, which increases the rate at which the blood pressure measurement can be made while increasing patient comfort.
US08211025B2 Four-way steerable catheter system and method of use
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for catheter positioning. Certain embodiments provide a catheter for use in at least intravenous and intracardiac spaces. The catheter includes a catheter body having a length and a tip portion at a distal end of the catheter body. The catheter also includes a plurality of wires for moving the catheter body in a plurality of directions. The catheter further includes a first control for manipulating the plurality of wires in two primary planes of movement for the catheter body. The catheter includes a second control for manipulating the plurality of wires in two secondary planes of movement for the catheter body. The second control is distinct in appearance and operation from the first control.
US08211024B2 Medical ultrasound pressure gradient measurement
Flow information (e.g., velocity and acceleration) and/or pressure gradient information are determined with ultrasound. Both velocity and acceleration are simultaneously estimated using a model and least squares analysis. Anti-aliasing of velocity information may be provided using the model and least squares analysis. Pressure gradient is calculated from velocity information automatically, more likely providing consistent measurements. Consistency may be increased further by automatically positioning a region of interest in either a multidimensional spatial image or a spatial-temporal image. A parametric image of pressure gradient for each spatial location within the image is generated as well as a delta pressure curve. Any single one or combinations of two or more of the features described above may be used.
US08211020B2 Combining tomographic images in situ with direct vision in sterile environments
A device for combining tomographic images with human vision using a half-silvered mirror to merge the visual outer surface of an object (or a robotic mock effector) with a simultaneous reflection of a tomographic image from the interior of the object. The device maybe used with various types of image modalities including ultrasound, CT, and MRI. The image capture device and the display may be enclosed in a sterile container (e.g., a probe bag) and a mirror and mirror housing may be separately attachable to the image capture device and display. In these embodiments, the mirror may be disposable and the sterility of the overall imaging device is maintained.
US08211019B2 Clinical apparatuses
A clinical apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer having at least one oscillator, a transmitter circuit which supplies drive signals to the oscillator of the ultrasound transducer, a receiver circuit which receives echo signals outputted from the oscillator of the ultrasound transducer and which performs phase matching processing on the echo signals, and a data processor which yields superimposed echo signals by superimposing plural beams generated in different directions, where the plural beams are generated by performing at least one of (i) a mechanical scan, (ii) transmission and reception of steered beams in the different directions, and (iii) aperture synthesis in the different directions with respect to the received echo signals.
US08211017B2 Image guided high intensity focused ultrasound treatment of nerves
A method for using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to treat neurological structures to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. Depending on the dosage of HIFU applied, it can have a reversible or irreversible effect on neural structures. For example, a relatively high dose of HIFU can be used to permanently block nerve function, to provide a non-invasive alternative to severing a nerve to treat severe spasticity. Relatively lower doses of HIFU can be used to reversibly block nerve function, to alleviate pain, to achieve an anesthetic effect, or to achieve a cosmetic effect. Where sensory nerves are not necessary for voluntary function, but are involved in pain associated with tumors or bone cancer, HIFU can be used to non-invasively destroy such sensory nerves to alleviate pain without drugs. Preferably, ultrasound imaging synchronized to the HIFU therapy is used to provide real-time ultrasound image guided HIFU therapy of neural structures.
US08211014B2 Chair and ancillary apparatus with medical diagnostic features in a remote health monitoring system
A medical examination chair includes a group of sensors including electrodes in finger-tip sensors, various other types of sensors incorporated in straps for the patient in the chair and load cells supporting the chair, all of which provide data which is partially processed in the electronics mounted in the chair and then transmitted to a central station for patient diagnosis.
US08211012B2 Tissue retractor system
A tissue retractor system includes first and second arms extending from a support assembly, and third and fourth arms extending from a support mechanism. Each arm includes a proximal span, a distal span, and a blade support between the proximal span and distal span. The retractor system features retractor units that can be used independently or in a nested arrangement. The system also includes instruments for inserting a spinal rod. A method for implanting a spinal rod through an incision includes the steps of inserting the spinal rod through a dividable tube, turning the rod subcutaneously toward a rod receiving anchor and advancing the rod subcutaneously toward the rod receiving anchor.
US08211000B2 Conductive roller
A conductive roller has a core and a conductive foam formed on a peripheral surface thereof. The conductive foam constitutes a three-phase rubber composition containing 35 to 50 parts by mass of epichlorohydrin rubber, 25 to 35 parts by mass of ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber, and 25 to 30 parts by mass of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber as a rubber component thereof. The conductive foam does not have a coating layer formed on a surface thereof. The conductive roller has an Asker C hardness, an electric resistance value, an average surface-cell diameter, and a number of surface cells set to 30 to 36°, 106 to 107Ω, 100 to 200 μm, and 50 to 120/1.5 mm square respectively.
US08210998B2 Abdominal exercise device
An abdominal exercise device has a base, a seat mounted on the base, a front frame rotatably on a front of the base, a rear frame rotatably mounted on a rear of the base, a connecter connected pivotally to the front frame and the rear frame, an adjusting assembly mounted on the base and at least one resilient element connected to the rear frame and adjusting assembly. The at least one resilient element pulls the rear frame along with the connecter and the front frame to assist in performing sit-ups so abdominal muscles of a user using the abdominal exercise device is trained.
US08210997B2 Exercise device
The present invention resides in an exercise device that is lightweight and easy to transport, and is particularly effective in improving neuromuscular/proprioceptive coordination, balance and core strength. The exercise device draws on the well known physical fitness benefits of canoe and kayak paddling, and at the same time is a device that can be used in a gym, home, office, or at any land site desired. The exercise device of the present invention comprises a pole that can be grasped in two hands similar to grasping a canoe or kayak paddle. A yoke is positioned at one end of the pole. A roller is held axially in the yoke. A variable resistance brake controls the ease with which the roller is able to rotate within the yoke. An adjustment means may be positioned on the pole that allows the user of the device to control the variable resistance.
US08210996B2 Method and apparatus for magnetically coupling incremental weights to exercise apparatus
A dumbbell comprises a bar that extends generally axially between opposing end regions, a weight plate mass mounted about the bar at each end region, means for retaining the mounted weight plate mass at the respective end regions to define a handle region axially inward of the end regions that can be gripped by a user during exercise movement of the dumbbell, means for mechanically securing the weight plate mass to the dumbbell, said bar extending sufficiently axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass to accommodate an incremental weight plate mounted about the bar axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass, means for magnetically securing a magnetically responsive incremental weight plate to the dumbbell via magnetic attraction unless the mounted incremental weight plate has been rotated about the bar to a decoupling position, and means for establishing a decoupling position in which there is no magnetic attraction between the mounted incremental weight plate and the dumbbell so that the incremental weight plate can be removed from the dumbbell without overcoming the force of magnetic attraction.
US08210989B2 Method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism
A method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism comprises the steps of: detecting a predefined event; moving a locking device into an engaged position with a shift mechanism upon the occurrence of the predefined event to retain the shift mechanism in at least one of a park, reverse, neutral, and drive position; and maintaining an ignition system in a substantially off position during the detecting of the event and the moving of the locking device into the engaged position. A vehicle assembly is also provided comprising the transmission shift mechanism and the locking device coupled to the shift mechanism. The vehicle assembly also includes the ignition system, which is movable between off, accessory, run, and start positions, and a controller with the controller energizing the locking device in response to the predefined event to move the locking device into the locked position while the ignition system remains substantially in the off position.
US08210987B2 Method for actuating an interwheel differential locks
A method of actuating an interwheel differential lock of a mobile vehicle. The interwheel differential lock is actuated to engage depending on the speed of the vehicle, the accelerator pedal position and the gradient of the torque at the transmission output.
US08210980B2 Orbital magnetic speed change
The present invention refers to a speed change mechanism with magnetic torque transmission using two stages of epicyclic transmission, with four bases, containing each base at least one magnetic poles ring, the first stage has one base with orbital motion and one base reciprocal to the housing concentric with the two shafts, the second stage has one base with rotational motion concentric with the lower rotation shaft and one base with orbital motion reciprocal to the orbital motion base of the first stage, the torque transmission of each stage is done by the magnetic poles rings of each base, and the transmission ratio change is done by changing the pair of magnetic poles rings that are transmitting torque.
US08210978B2 Vehicle drive unit
A vehicle drive unit includes a clutch pressure control valve that controls hydraulic pressure for operating the clutch; a clutch control valve that is provided in a first oil passage between the clutch pressure control valve and the clutch, and that controls hydraulic pressure in an engagement state between full engagement and disengagement of the clutch; a second oil passage that bypasses the clutch control valve and that is arranged parallel to the first oil passage; and a shift valve that connects, to an oil passage connected to the clutch, the first oil passage when controlling the engagement state between full engagement and disengagement of the clutch, and the second oil passage when not controlling the engagement state between full engagement and disengagement of the clutch.
US08210976B2 Control system for an automatic transmission having multiple default modes
A hydraulic control system for a automatic transmission includes a plurality of solenoids and valves in fluid communication with a plurality of shift actuators. The shift actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Selective activation of combinations of the solenoids allows for a pressurized fluid to activate at least one of the shift actuators. The solenoids are configured to provide a forward gear ratio and a reverse gear ratio when the solenoids are deengerized.
US08210973B2 Sport ball bladder
A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder. The casing may form at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder may be located within the casing and formed from a plurality of polymer bladder elements joined along abutting edges to form a sealed and valveless structure that encloses a pressurized gas. In some configurations, the bladder may be at least partially formed from an ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane material.
US08210968B2 Table tennis basketball table
A table tennis basketball table includes a front leaf forming a front half of a table tennis table. The front leaf is pivotally mounted so that it folds from a horizontal position to a stowed vertical position. A rear leaf forms a rear half of a table tennis table. The rear leaf is pivotally mounted so that it folds from a horizontal position to a stowed vertical position. The table tennis basketball table has a table tennis mode when the front leaf and the rear leaf or in horizontal position. The table tennis basketball table has a basketball mode so that the front leaf is horizontal and the rear leaf is vertical. A pair of net support posts is movable and supports a net between them. The net support posts are mountable to a surface of the front leaf or a surface of the rear leaf.
US08210966B2 Golf club groove configuration
The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions including a first portion that interfaces the striking surface with a variety of configurations.
US08210963B2 Device for improving a golf swing
Described is a portable and intuitive golf swing improvement device for indicating the proper shift of a golfer's body weight to the front foot during a down swing. More specifically, the swing improvement device measures the shift of the golfer's body weight during a golf swing and indicates when such shift is in accordance with a technically sound swing. Additionally, the swing improvement device is self-sufficient and portable such that the device is deployable almost anywhere. The swing improvement device also provides swing analysis in a manner that is immediately understandable to the golfer.
US08210961B2 Golf club or golf club head having an adjustable ball striking face
This invention relates generally to golf clubs or golf club heads, having an adjustable ball striking face. The golf club head includes a club head body, a ball striking face, and a brace extending from a sole of the club head body to an inner surface of the ball striking face. The brace may further include an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face, a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, a biasing member attached to the fixed rod. The biasing member may provide a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable between a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.
US08210960B1 Golf free swing measurement and analysis system
The presented invention relates to a method for determining the effectiveness of a golfer's swing without the requirement of the club head making contact with a golf ball. More specifically, the present invention relates to a measurement and analysis system comprising a first module that attaches to the club head and captures measurement data and relative position data during the entire swing, further first module wirelessly communicates bi-directionally with a second module that is further connected to a user interface device and computational engine where feedback results are calculated and conveyed to the golfer. The system provides comprehensive feedback for swing characterization including detailed swing timing metrics, dynamic club head orientation and motion metrics and dynamics shaft action metrics all referenced to the spatial domain.
US08210957B2 Golf swing training machine
Disclosed is a golf swing training machine, which allows a golf beginner to comfortably strike a golf ball in a stable mental state without a burden from the golf ball, thus allowing the golf beginner to effectively master a swing posture in a short period of time. In the golf swing training machine, a tee having a golf ball laid thereon and a tee having no golf ball laid thereon are alternately located at a striking point, or one tee is provided at the striking point such that a golf ball is not laid on the tee during aiming and then is laid on the tee just before a point of the striking time, thereby allowing a trainee to aim at the tee having no golf ball during aiming and thus to strike the golf ball in a stable mental state.
US08210940B2 Game mechanics for gifting
The Apparatuses, Methods, and Systems For Game Mechanics For Gifting (“GGM”) transform social graph, interactions, behavior and characteristics data inputs via various GGM components to create optimal gift-giving dynamics. In one embodiment, the GGM may receive a request to provide a gaming resource to a user. In response to the request, the GGM may aggregate and analyze interaction data to identify a provider with prior interactions with the user. The GGM may in turn request the provider for a gaming resource. The GGM may receive an indication to provide a gaming resource to the user in response to the request and may facilitate providing of a gaming resource to the user. The GGM may identify this indication as an instance of interaction and may update the user interaction data accordingly.
US08210935B2 Gaming system, gaming device and method of providing collectors and tokens associated with collectors
Various embodiments of the disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a selection game having a plurality of tokens which are assignable to a plurality of token collectors. Each of the token collectors has a designated capacity which may be the same or different for the token collectors. In one embodiment, the designated capacity of one or more token collectors is a number of tokens. In various other embodiments, the designated capacity of one or more token collectors is a total award value.
US08210932B2 Gaming system with a free game mode
A gaming system starts a free game mode when a predetermined condition is established in a game wherein the game is repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times without consuming a playing value, and gives a dividend to a player based on a result in the free game mode. The gaming system comprises a collective dividend lottery unit which determines a collective dividend in exchange for the game executed a specific number of times, a selection unit which selects any one of (a) reception of the collective dividend and (b) continuation of the game in the free game mode in response to the player's instruction, a collective dividend giving unit which gives the collective dividend to the player, and a remaining number of times control unit which decreases the remaining number of times of the game in the free game mode in exchange for giving the collective dividend.
US08210930B2 Server based gaming system having system triggered loyalty award sequences
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.
US08210928B2 Gaming device method and apparatus employing modified payouts
The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a “jackpot only” pay table. The player may choose to accept the gaming device's offer to switch from using a conventional pay table to using a pay table that only pays top payout amounts. Play with a jackpot only pay table may only require a small wager amount as compared to play with a conventional pay table. Play with a jackpot only pay table may be automated to generate outcomes quickly to allow a player to relatively inexpensively avoid spending time playing a gaming device perceived to be in a “cold period.”
US08210927B2 Player tracking communication mechanisms in a gaming machine
A disclosed player tracking unit provides a display and a player tracking controller designed or configured to provide a web-browser on the display. The player tracking unit may include one or more input devices that can receive selections associated with the web-browser. Furthermore, the player tracking unit can include a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files for output on the display.
US08210926B2 System and method for generating customized odds bets for an event
A system for managing bets comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores information associated with a field of participants for an event, each participant associated with particular odds for the event. The processor receives a bet that a lead participant from the field of participants will finish in a particular subset of finishing positions in the event, wherein the bet is associated with customized odds. The processor further select one or more additional participants from the field of participants to add to the bet such that the odds associated with the lead participant combined with the odds associated with the one or more selected additional participants at least approximates the customized odds for the bet.
US08210925B2 Adjusting difficulty level of a multiplayer game
Systems and methods for controlling a difficulty level of a multiplayer networked game are provided herein. One exemplary method includes setting an initial difficulty level at a gaming server for a game played by a main gaming client and one or more challenger gaming clients. The method further includes sending an input request to the main gaming client and each challenger gaming client based on the initial difficulty level. The method further includes receiving main user input from the main gaming client, and challenger user input from each challenger gaming client responsive to the input request. The method also includes adjusting the initial difficulty level to an adjusted difficulty level based on the challenger user input.
US08210924B2 Dice with RFID tags and dice recognizing system for recognizing dice with RFID tags
This invention discloses a dice with RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags and a dice recognizing system for recognizing dice with RFID tags. The dice with RFID tags comprises at least a dice body and a plurality of RFID tags. The dice body is a regular polyhedron with at least six faces, and at least a pip is disposed on each face of the dice. The plurality of RFID tags are disposed on any two opposite faces of the dice body, respectively. One of the two opposite faces is disposed with at least one RFID tag, and the other one of the opposite faces is disposed with the plurality of RFID tags. The projection spots of all the plurality of RFID tags on the face with the RFID tag can be interconnected into a polygon.
US08210923B2 Dice gaming machine
A dice gaming machine executes a dice game using a plurality of dice. Gaming values are bet with respect to bet areas making up a betting board. Each bet area is associated with a winning condition based on the spots on the dice and a payout magnification ratio. The prize in the dice game is determined based on the amount of gaming values bet on a bet area whose winning condition is satisfied, and a payout magnification ratio. Once acceptance of bets is ended, the dice gaming machine carries out a lottery. The dice gaming machine changes the payout magnification ratio for the bet area(s) based on the lottery result. Changing of the payout magnification ratio is adopted in the terminal(s) constituting the dice gaming machine.
US08210919B2 Card game with a non-integer numerical target
There is disclosed a method of playing a numerical target card game. After bets are accepted from at least one player, one card may be dealt to the player and a banker. The player may elect to receive one or more hit cards. The banker may receive one or more hit cards according to predetermined rules. If the player receives a hand having a value greater than a numerical target, the player loses. If the value of the banker's hand exceeds the numerical target, every player receiving a hand with a value less than or equal to the numerical target wins. When the values of the banker's hand and the player's hand are both less than or equal to the numerical target, the hand with the highest value wins and the hand is a tie if the value of the banker's hand and a player's hand are equal.
US08210914B2 Air removal unit
An air removal unit configured for removing exhaust air from an equipment rack or enclosure includes multiple fans to achieve a high airflow capacity while defining a compact and portable structure. The unit removably installs along an exhaust side of an equipment rack or enclosure to provide capabilities for managing the thermal output of equipment, such as servers, CPUs, communications, internetworking and other types of equipment. The unit includes one or more upper fan modules and one or more lower fan modules positioned below the upper fan modules. The upper and the lower fan modules are arranged in a stacked configuration along the depth of the unit with the lower fan modules positioned in an offset orientation relative to the upper fan modules. The stacked configuration and the offset orientation of the fan modules help to incorporate multiple fans with the unit while maintaining the compact and portable design. The unit is further configured to serve as a door of an equipment rack or enclosure to thereby provide access to the unit and the rack or enclosure during operation. The unit can be incorporated with a ventilation system or a cooling air system associated with an equipment room or data center.
US08210913B2 Air-distribution system, with contactless activation of air outlets
A system for air distribution in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, includes at least one outlet for outflow of air into the passenger compartment, which can be activated by putting one's hand at a short distance therefrom without touching it. Associated to the air outlet is an optical sensor, which is set at distance from the air outlet and is optically connected to a window adjacent to the air outlet.
US08210911B2 Casing brake and method of adjusting the same
A casing brake and method of adjusting the casing brake, to allow the casing brake to be adjusted by hand, without making use of any tools, and to guarantee simultaneously that the casing brake cannot be displaced during operation. The casing brake includes a brake ring, inner and outer shells between which the brake ring is tensioned, and a locking element provided between said inner and outer shells, the locking element connected to said inner or outer shell and establishing a positive or a frictional connection with the respective other shell at a locked position, and further having an actuating device for eliminating the positive or the frictional connection.
US08210904B2 Slurryless mechanical planarization for substrate reclamation
A patterned portion of a patterned semiconductor substrate is removed by abrasive mechanical planarization employing an abrasive pad but without employing any slurry. Preferably, water is supplied to enhance the removal rate during the mechanical planarization. The removal rate of material is substantially independent for common materials employed in back-end-of-line (BEOL) semiconductor materials, which enables non-selective removal of the material containing metallization structures. The removal rate of silicon is lower than the removal rate for the BEOL semiconductor materials, enabling a self-stopping planarization process.
US08210897B2 Interactive intelligent toy
The present invention is directed to an interactive intelligent toy comprising an intelligent element configured to resemble a person, animal, vehicle or other character and an environmental element configured to resemble a related environment, habitat or object. The intelligent element is adapted to perform certain preprogrammed actions upon coming into contact with or proximity to the environmental element. In one embodiment, the intelligent element is a motive component having a drive mechanism, a control mechanism and power source. The motive component is programmed to monitor and detect user and event inputs, and detect and decode embedded codes from an environmental element and perform predetermined actions or generate predetermined sounds in response. The motive component also engages with a coupling component and supplies the drive mechanism and power source for moving both the motive component and the coupling component.
US08210894B2 Toy with sound-activated motion
A toy with sound-activated motion is provided. The toy comprises a toy body, a single motor within the body, adapted to turn in opposite directions in response to changes in electrical polarity, and control means to automatically reverse the polarity of an electrical current being supplied to the motor in response to an acoustical or electromagnetic input signal. The control means is adapted to automatically reverse the polarity in response to a changing acoustical or electromagnetic input signal.
US08210893B2 Method and apparatus for control of a flexible material using magnetism
One particular implementation of the present invention may involve a flexible material infused with fine iron particles to form at least a portion of a flexible character or object. The flexible creation may be animated by one or more magnets or electromagnets brought near the flexible creation such that the iron particles blended with the flexible material may interact with the magnetic fields generated by the magnets. The infused iron particles may be attracted to the magnets, causing the object or portions of the object to move toward or away from the controlling magnets, thereby animating the object or portions of the object. Another implementation may use a magnetic field of a magnet to create an iron-infused flexible plant-like object that may be animated by a magnet. The object may be constructed of a flexible iron-infused material that is introduced into the magnetic field while the material is in a liquid or semi-liquid state. The iron filings blended within the flexible material may align with the magnetic field such that the object may take the shape of the magnetic field and hold that shape until the material has solidified.
US08210890B2 Method of fabricating organic electroluminescence display device comprising an elastic contact electrode
An organic electro-luminescence display device includes at least one light emission device, the organic light emission device having a first electrode; at least one thin film transistor for driving the light emission device, a pixel electrode being connected to the at least one thin film transistor; a conductive layer formed of a conductive polymer material to electrically connect the light emission device and the pixel electrode.
US08210889B2 Infrared emitter comprising an opaque reflector and production thereof
A method is provided for producing an infrared emitter made of an endless quartz glass body, wherein a reflector layer is deposited at least partially on the surface of the body made of quartz glass. The quartz body is divided into individual sections after application of the reflector layer. An infrared emitter is also provided.
US08210888B2 Foldable watercraft fin
Foldable or collapsible watercraft fins are described. Preferred examples of such fins are foldable surfboard, paddleboard, and kayak fins, one or more of which can be attached to a surfboard, paddleboard, or kayak.
US08210884B2 Electrical terminal for terminating a wire
An electrical terminal is provided for terminating a wire. The electrical terminal includes an electrical contact and a crimp barrel extending from the electrical contact. The crimp barrel is configured to be crimped around an end of the wire. The crimp barrel includes a base and opposing side walls that extend from the base. The base and the side walls define an opening of the crimp barrel that is configured to receive the end of the wire therein. The side walls extend outwardly from the base to ends. The side walls include base segments that extend from the base and end segments that extend from the base segments and include the ends. A sealing wing extends from the end of at least one of the side walls. The side walls are configured to be folded over when crimped over the end of the wire such that a gap is defined between the end segment and the base segment of at least one of the side walls. The sealing wing is configured to extend within the gap between the end segment and the base segment of the corresponding side wall when the side walls are crimped over the end of the wire.
US08210880B2 Electrical connector assembly and adapter module
An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a plurality of first terminals; a main element for coupling to the first connector, and formed with a terminal recess for reception of the first terminals therein; and an adapter element for coupling to the main element, and including a plurality of adapter terminals. Each adapter terminal has a connecting section that is received in the terminal recess and that is electrically connected to a respective one of the first terminals.
US08210877B2 Modular connector
An electrical connector includes at least two parts: a housing having a mating side (MS) and a rear side (RS) and a terminal module having a mating side and a rear side. One part includes a mounting structure and the other part includes a corresponding receiving structure for receiving the mounting structure of the other part. The mounting structure extends in a direction from the mating side to the rear side of the part and includes a cross-section perpendicular to that direction, which cross-section has an asymmetric profile.
US08210871B2 Electronic accessories for digital music players and related methods
Embodiments of electronic accessories for digital music players are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08210870B2 Coupler including electrical and pneumatic interfaces
A coupler including electrical and pneumatic interfaces. The coupler includes a manifold having pneumatic apertures and a support having connector apertures to accommodate one or more valves.
US08210866B2 Outlet and connector
An outlet (1) includes a plurality of blade receiving members (13) adapted in use to be connected respectively to a plurality of DC supply lines (Wdc1 and Wdc2), and to be connected respectively to a plurality of blades (21) of an outlet plug (2). The outlet (1) is configured to supply DC power from the plurality of the DC supply lines (Wdc1 and Wdc2) to the outlet plug (2) via the plurality of the blade receiving members (13). The outlet (1) includes a wiring detecting means (3). The wiring detecting means (3) is configured to determine proper wiring when the plurality of the DC supply lines is connected respectively to the plurality of the blade receiving members at proper polarity, and to determine improper wiring when the plurality of the DC supply lines is connected respectively to the plurality of the blade receiving members at improper polarity.
US08210865B2 Terminal block and method of assembling the same
To provide a terminal block having a structure for facilitating the mounting operation of a coil spring to the terminal block, and a method for assembling the terminal block. A spring supporting part (25a) has a supporting surface (251a) in which one end of a coil spring (5a) contacts, and a spring end holding portion (252a) for preventing the end of the coil spring contacting supporting surface (251a) from displacing in the radial direction of the coil spring. Spring end holding portion (252a) extends form supporting surface (251a) and is arranged at a part of the periphery of supporting surface (251a), such that spring end holding portion (252a) does not block a slit (27a). The width of slit (27a) is smaller than an outer diameter of coil spring (5a), and the length of slit (27a) is preferably equal to or larger than the radius of coil spring (5a).
US08210863B2 Hybrid connector
A hybrid connector for directly connecting with a female BNC connector and a female TNC connector is provided. The hybrid connector includes a pin, a body, and an outer shell. A distal end of the pin is housed in a dielectric, the dielectric is housed in the body, and a proximate end of the body is housed in the outer shell. The outer shell includes a screw thread that advances axially from a proximate end thereof along an interior surface of the outer shell, and first and second bayonet locking mechanisms disposed therein.
US08210854B2 Electrical socket assembly for electrically connecting adjacent circuit boards
An electrical socket assembly including a socket housing having coupling and flange portions and a contact cavity that extends through the coupling and flange portions along a central axis. The coupling and flange portions have different peripheral contours that extend about the central axis. The peripheral contour of the flange portion being sized and shaped to prevent the flange portion from advancing through a thru-hole of a circuit board. The socket assembly also includes a fastener that is configured to be secured to the coupling portion. The fastener and the flange portion have respective mating surfaces that face each other in opposite directions along the central axis. The respective mating surfaces are configured to grip the circuit board therebetween such that the socket housing has a fixed position relative to the circuit board. A conductive path exists between the power contact and the circuit board.
US08210851B2 Method for modulating listener attention toward synthetic formant transition cues in speech stimuli for training
A method on a computing device for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to differentiate between rapidly presented stimuli. The method utilizes a sequence of phonemes from a confusable pair which are systematically manipulated to make discrimination between the phonemes less difficult or more difficult based on the success of the adult, such as processing the consonant and vowel portions of the phonemes by emphasizing the portions, stretching the portions, and/or separating the consonant and vowel portions by time intervals. As the adult improves in auditory processing, the discriminations are made progressively more difficult by reducing the amount of processing to that of normal speech. Introductory phonemes may each include a blend of a formant-synthesized phoneme and an acoustically naturalistic phoneme that substantially replicates the spectro-temporal aspects of a naturally produced phoneme, with the blends progressing from substantially natural-sounding to substantially formant-synthesized.
US08210850B2 Literacy education system for students with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)
A literacy system provides teaching for reading and writing skills particularly adapted to students with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). In one embodiment, the literacy system may include exercises for teaching visual sequencing, motor skills, phonology, semantics, syntax, and text. The literacy system may have a pre-reading section, which includes exercises for developing visual sequencing skills and motor skills prior to teaching the skills of reading and writing words.
US08210849B1 Online game system and method to promote healthy behaviors
An online game that promotes healthy behavior by engaging computer users and by providing educational information about health and nutrition. User participation is measured in relation to an avatar of a belly that gains and loses weight according to game play. Users are assigned an avatar according to answers to profile questions. Users earn points by correctly answering health and nutrition questions. When a user answers a question correctly, the player can help him- or herself or “sabotage” a friend. Users also have options to help a friend. The game has consequences for incorrect answers. Updates to a leader board and a message board allow users to see how friends are doing. Social networking aspects of the game keep users engaged and entertained, and therefore, more likely to participate. Participation helps users to increase their knowledge of health and nutrition facts and therefore, their knowledge regarding healthy behaviors.
US08210848B1 Method and apparatus for determining user feedback by facial expression
A method and apparatus provide feedback of facial expressions of participants during communication by capturing facial expressions of participants; extracting facial information from the captured facial expressions; transmitting the extracted facial information to communication terminals; and displaying the transmitted facial information by the communication terminals in a symbolic form.
US08210847B2 Disposable dental handpiece
A sterile, substantially maintenance free disposable dental handpiece is constructed from two shells and a center core, the center core having a flow deflector on one end. The shells are joined around the core with mating protrusions and/or tapered walls to form the body and head of the handpiece. A base is integrally-formed with the center core. The base has conduits that allow entry of light and pressurized air and/or water into the body. The head at the opposite end of the body from the base rotatably mounts an impeller assembly having an impeller shaft. The impeller shaft includes blades driven by the pressurized air. The blades can have cavities to reduce weight.
US08210843B2 Gas torch
A gas torch includes a torch head assembly including a coupled base and a connected portion coupled to an outer periphery of the coupled base. A joint assembly, which is coupled to the coupled base and adapted for connecting to a nozzle of a bottled gas tank, includes a first joint member and a second joint member communicating with the first joint member. Two fasteners are inserted through the first and second joint members and engaged with the coupled base of the torch head. The joint assembly enables the torch head assembly to connect to different kinds of gas tanks.
US08210841B2 Apparatus and method for preform relaxation and flow control in liquid composite molding processes
A vacuum-induced injection molding apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tool surface having an injection port extending therethrough. A flexible film extends over and is sealingly coupled to the tool surface. The flexible film comprises an outer surface and an inner surface such that the flexible film inner surface and the tool surface define a volume. A vacuum chamber is sealingly coupled to the outer surface of the flexible film. A vacuum port is in fluid communication with the volume. A method of injection molding a polymer matrix composite is also disclosed.
US08210839B2 Multicolor gelatin ribbons and manufacture of soft gelatin products
The invention provides a new method and apparatus for making multicolor gelatin ribbons and softgel capsules is provided which uses a modification of the gelatin spreader boxes by incorporating especially designed pipelines that are bifurcated with a tee. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for providing decorative coloring effects such as stripes of desired colors on softgel gelatin products comprising: (a) a second gelatin spreader box, with four sides and a bottom, that can be mounted on the outside of a first gelatin spreader box in any convenient manner; (b) at least one orifice in the second spreader box for the dispensing of decorative gelatin; (c) means to adjust the size of said at least one orifice; (d) a main conduit, with at least one opening within said spreader box, providing passage for said decorative gelatin into said box; an into at least one orifice (e) a means to couple said main conduit with said an external source of decorative gelatin; and (f) a means to maintain the temperature of said decorative gelatin within a desired range of temperature; wherein said at least one orifice is constructed to dispense said decorative gelatin onto a base gelatin flowing from said first gelatin spreader box onto a casting drum surface.
US08210838B2 Method and device for producing electrodes for batteries
A method and device for producing a battery electrode (5) by: pouring a powder mixture quantity (6a) into a cavity (2), laying an electrically conductive diverter (4) on powder mixture (6a), pouring a further quantity (6b) of same powder mixture (6) into same cavity (2), and compressing the two powder mixture quantities (6a, 6b). The device has a filling cavity (2) for powder mixture (6), at least one compression means (1) for compressing powder mixture (6), and support (7) and fixing means (8) for positioning and fixing an electrically conductive diverter (4). The diverter (4) is situated so that partial quantities (6a, 6b) of powder mixture (6) are located above and below diverter (4). The support means (7) and fixing means (8) are situated in such a way that a ratio of the partial quantities (6a, 6b) of powder mixture (6) above and below the diverter (4) remains essentially maintained.
US08210836B2 Vane cell pump with adjustable output
The disclosure relates to a vane cell pump having an external rotor, an internal rotor and a plurality of vanes which are secured in a pivotable manner on the external rotor and which are displacably mounted in a radial manner in the inner rotor, essentially in radial slots. The external rotor is guided along the inner circumferential surface of a stator. The axis of the stator and the axis of the internal rotor are offset in relation to each other, and the stator can be adjusted in the radial direction in relation to the internal rotor and can be modified by the offset. Said stator is partially enclosed by a clamp which is mounted in a pivotable bearing in the housing of the vane cell pump. The clamp includes clamp arms which protrude on both sides of the pivotable bearing, which partially enclose, respectively, the stator.
US08210834B2 Air pump for inflatable article
An air pump for an inflatable article has a housing, and a blower, a switch assembly, an air valve and a fan guard mounted in the housing. The switch assembly has a slider and a driving device sliding the slider and the air valve to switch operating modes of the air pump. Thus, the air pump inflates or deflates the inflatable article or maintains or fine-tunes the air pressure inside the inflatable article. Therefore, the first and second openings of the housing are disposed on the housing for connection to different kinds of inflatable articles and the airflow directly flows through the air pump so inflating and deflating the inflatable article is fast.
US08210830B2 Valveless micropump
A channel is formed as an asymmetric diffuser-shaped channel having a narrow channel on a diffuser inlet side and a wide channel on a diffuser outlet side. The narrow channel is communicated with a variable volume chamber which is provided therein with a piezoelectric element. Vibration generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element causes a pressure variation of a fluid in the variable volume chamber to generate a nozzle flow which in turn causes a smooth flow of the fluid from the wide channel to the narrow channel.
US08210828B2 Methods and systems for assisted direct start control
Methods and systems are provided for pressurizing a transmission hydraulic circuit including a transmission mechanical pump coupled to an engine though a gearbox. One example method comprises, during an engine start, adjusting a speed ratio between the transmission pump and the engine between a first speed ratio and a second speed ratio, the pump rotating faster relative to the engine at the first speed ratio as compared with the second speed ratio. In this way, the pump may be driven at different speed ratios relative to the engine to provide better pressurization in the transmission.
US08210820B2 Gas assisted turbine seal
A dovetail seal assembly for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor. The dovetail seal assembly may include a sealing slot positioned about the dovetail, a high-pressure supply hole in communication with the sealing slot, and a deformable seal positioned about the sealing slot and into the gap.
US08210818B2 Helicopter antitorque tail rotor blade
A blade for an antitorque tail rotor of a helicopter, having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite each other and elongated along a longitudinal axis of the blade; the trailing edge, in use, interacts with the air current after the leading edge; the blade also has an end portion extending between a reference section and a radially outer end of the blade with respect to a rotation axis of the blade; the rotation axis is outside the blade and crosswise with respect to the longitudinal axis; the length of the chord at the end portion decreases from the reference section to the radially outer end; and the leading and trailing edges are joined at the radially outer end.
US08210815B2 Hot gas component of a turbomachine including an embedded channel
A component, especially a hot gas component of a turbomachine, has at least one passage (7, 7′), especially a cooling passage, which is embedded in an outer wall (5) of the component (1) of the turbomachine and basically extends parallel to the surface (6) of the component (1). The component (1) has a basic body (8) and at least one coating (9) which is applied to the basic body on the outside, and the passage (7, 7′) on one hand is formed by a cavity which is formed in the basic body (8), and on the other hand is closed off towards the surface (6) of the component (1) by the coating (9).
US08210811B2 Apparatus and method for operation of a wind turbine
A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor including at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the rotor blade. The method includes: determining an actual value of a first variable indicative of an overspeed state of the wind turbine; determining an actual value of a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to the rate of change over time of the first variable; and, estimating an occurrence of an overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least the determined actual values of the first and second variables. The pitch drive system pitches the rotor blade for aerodynamically braking the rotor based on the result of the estimation.
US08210809B2 System for connecting two substantially tubular members, a case comprising such a system and use thereof
A system for connecting two substantially tubular members, particularly ferrules of an axial compressor case, is disclosed. The system includes two flanges, where each flange has a proximal face and a distal face; securing members for clamping distal faces one against the other having a junction latch adapted to be housed into at least one cavity; and at least one collar having two side faces provided so as to abut against the flange proximal faces.
US08210799B1 Bi-metallic strip seal for a turbine shroud
A bi-metallic strip seal used to seal the gap between adjacent shroud segments in a gas turbine engine. The bi-metallic strip seal is formed from one or more layers of bi-metallic materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion. In a cold state the bi metallic strip seal will fit within the slot easily, while in the hot state the strip seal will expand to fit tightly within the slot and block leakage flow. The strip seal can be formed with the bi-metallic layers oriented similarly or oppositely in order to control the seal force and deflection properties. In one embodiment, the strip seal is formed from four bi-metallic layers in which the middle is bonded while the adjacent layers are free from shear.
US08210794B2 Axial-centrifugal compressor with ported shroud
A compressor includes a housing, a rotor, an impeller, and a ported shroud. The rotor is mounted within the housing, and has a first leading edge and a first trailing edge. The rotor is operable, upon rotation thereof, to compress air and to discharge the air in an approximately axial direction. The impeller is mounted within the housing, and has a second leading edge and a second trailing edge. The impeller is operable, upon rotation thereof, to receive the air discharged from the rotor, to further compress the air, and to discharge the air in an approximately radial direction. The shroud at least partially surrounds the impeller. The shroud has an opening therein to at least facilitate allowing the air to travel upstream of the opening.
US08210793B2 Radial flow compressor for a turbo-supercharger
The invention relates to a radial compressor for a turbocharger (5), in particular for an internal combustion engine, with a compressor wheel (4) for conveying and compressing a gas, which has an axial intake end (7) and a radial exhaust end (8), with a compressor wheel space (3), in which the compressor wheel (4) is arranged and which extends from the intake end (7) to the exhaust end (8), with an inlet port (10) leading to the intake end (7) of the compressor wheel (4), with at least one recirculation path (12) which opens at one end into the inlet port (10) and at the other end into the compressor wheel space (3). To increase the efficiency of the compressor (1) and/or the charger (5) equipped with the compressor, a control device (15) is provided for varying the flow-through cross section, namely at least opening and closing the flow-through cross section, of the at least one recirculation path (12).
US08210783B2 Threaded fastener with predetermined torque
The invention relates to a threaded fastener. In particular, the invention relates to a threaded fastener such as a nut or a bolt. In an embodiment of the invention, a threaded fastener in the form of a nut (10) is disclosed. The nut comprises a main body portion (12); a lip portion (14) extending from the main body portion; and a recess (16) formed in the main body portion adjacent the lip portion. The recess is shaped to receive at least part of the deformable lip portion when a mating torque is applied to the fastener causing the deformable lip portion to deform. In this fashion, when the fastener is used to clamp two or more components together, such as flanges (20, 22) on adjacent pipe sections, the lip portion encounters a surface of the component that the fastener is being used to clamp against. As the fastener is torqued-up to a desired level, to provide a determined mating force, the lip portion is deformed into the recess in the main body portion.
US08210781B2 Processing machine
A processing machine includes a machine bed, a spindle seat, a sliding rail unit, and a driving unit. The sliding rail unit is disposed between the machine bed and the spindle seat. The driving unit is used for driving the spindle seat to move within a slot in the machine bed, and includes a threaded rod journalled on a junction between a bottom wall surface and a lateral wall surface of the machine bed, and a nut member disposed fixedly on a junction between a bottom surface and a lateral side surface of the spindle seat and engaging the threaded rod.
US08210779B2 Cutting tap and method of making same
A cutting tap includes a body having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end and a central longitudinal axis. The body has a fluted section at the axial forward end. The fluted section includes a chamfered fluted section extending from the axial forward end of the body and terminating at a first full cutting thread. The chamfered fluted section includes a first cutting thread located a first distance from the axial forward end of the body, and a second cutting thread located a second distance from the axial forward end of the body. The second distance is greater than the first distance. The chamfered fluted section is shaped such that a thickness of a section of material removed by the second cutting thread is smaller than a thickness of a section of material removed by the first cutting thread. A method of making the cutting tap is also disclosed.
US08210774B1 Guided boring machine and method
A guided boring machine includes a cutter head, a steering head and an internal casing with an auger therein for conveying material cut by the cutter head towards the rear end of the auger. The boring machine bores a tunnel from a launch pit to a target pit along a desired boring direction and simultaneously installing a selected one of a plurality of differently-sized product casings in the tunnel. When the internal casing is placed within a selected product casing with its internal casing longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the selected product casing, an annular space is formed with respect to the selected product casing. The guidance assembly includes a laser that is mounted behind the boring machine and oriented so as to direct its beam in a desired boring direction within the annular space. A target mount is mounted to the steering head inside surface. The target mount includes a roll correction slot which is parallel to the adjacent steering head inside surface. A target is mounted to the target mount and adapted to move with respect thereto. The target has a target point which is intersected by the laser beam when the cutter head is properly oriented with respect to the desired boring direction. A gradiometer is mounted to the target to indicate the roll orientation of the steering head, and a roll correction assembly is provided to roll the steering head, if desired, to adjust its roll orientation.
US08210773B2 Process for insitu treatment of soil and groundwater
A process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume, the process comprises the steps of: installing a permeable reactive barrier in the flow path of the groundwater plume, wherein the installation of the permeable reactive barrier comprises the steps of: boring a first borehole with a portion longitudinally extending substantially parallel with an upper surface of the groundwater plume; filling the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole with a reactive material comprising a solid reactant configured to react with the at least one contaminant in the groundwater plume to produce at least one product having less hazardous characteristics than the at least one contaminant; boring a second borehole with a portion proximate, substantially adjacent or overlapping the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole; and filling the portion of the second borehole proximate, substantially adjacent or overlapping the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole, with the reactive material.
US08210771B1 Impervious membrane system for evaporation prevention on open water conveyance structures
A system for reducing evaporation of slow moving water in a water conveyance structure, such as an aqueduct or canal, which includes a series of floating membrane sheets, where each sheet has a leading edge attached to a cable anchored at each end to the water conveyance structure across the water and a trailing edge that underlies the leading edge of the adjacent sheet and that floats on the surface of the water, with the membrane sheets carrying a solar energy system for the production of electrical energy.
US08210770B2 Boom assembly for holding hose outputting liquefied paving material
A hose holder boom assembly (10) includes a first pivotal connector (128) pivotally mounting an open end (122) of a first tube (120) to a sidewall (114) of a cabinet (44) about a first pivot axis. A second pivotal connector (128) mounts an open end (132) of a second tube (130) to the other open end (124) of the first tube (120) about a second pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis. Movement of the first tube (120) relative to the sidewall (114) and relative movement between the first and second tubes (120, 130) are limited to a pivot plane extending perpendicular to the first and second pivot axes and including the first and second tubes (120, 130). The open end (132) of the second tube (130) is pivotable at an obtuse angle to each of two sides of the other open end (124) of the first tube (120). A hose (74) for outputting paving material extends out of the cabinet (44) and through the first and second tubes (120, 130) and the first and second pivotal connectors (128).
US08210768B2 Methods for deicing roads
Roadways are deiced or ice formation on roadways is prevented by applying salt compositions derived from waste water streams from water softening operations.
US08210762B1 Vehicle window cleaning system
A vehicle window cleaning system includes a housing that has an end wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends away from the end wall. The perimeter wall has a distal edge with respect to the end wall defining an opening extending into the housing. A squeegee assembly is removably positionable within the housing. Cleaning fluid is positionable within the housing and accessible by the squeegee assembly.
US08210760B2 Deck stain applicator
The present disclosure generally relates to coating material applicators and more specifically, but not by limitation, to an apparatus for applying a coating material such as stain to a surface such as a deck, characterized by a generally planar surface with intentional gaps between elements (e.g., boards of a deck). In one example, a coating material applicator is provided. The coating material applicator is configured to apply a coating material to a structure having a generally planar surface formed by members having opposed surfaces separated by one or more gaps. The coating material applicator includes a base layer having an applicator surface for applying a coating material to the generally planar surface and a removable implement for applying the coating material to the opposed surfaces.
US08210756B2 Fiber optic connector holder and method
A fiber optic connector holder is sized to fit within an opening for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to permit a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule to be inserted within and releasably held by the connector holder. A system for holding fiber optic connectors includes a fiber optic connector holder mounted within an opening in a bulkhead for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule. A optical fiber connector may be held to a bulkhead when the fiber optic connector includes a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule.
US08210755B2 Identifiable fiber optics
The present invention provides for an optical cable and methods for interconnecting modular components with optical fibers. Each optical fiber is electronically labeled with a unique serial number such that interconnections using the optical fibers can be accurately audited.
US08210753B2 Cylindrical roller bearing device
A gap between a bearing box and a roll portion and so on which are not used for absorbing an expansion of a roll are reduced, and by increasing axial widths of the bearing box and cylindrical roller bearing for that, a loading capacity of the cylindrical roller bearing is enhanced.A first side face 13A of the bearing box 13 located at one side in the axial direction is disposed outwardly with respect to a central line Y2 between two roll portions 22A, 22B than a second side face 13B located at an other side in the axial direction, and a gap a1 between this first side face 13A and the roll portion 22A opposed thereto is made smaller than a gap a2 between the second side face 13B and the roll portion 22B opposed thereto.
US08210751B2 Roller bearing
A roller bearing which has a roller bearing ring. In order to produce a roller bearing that has a high rotational speed value and operational load using minimum quantity lubrication and in which heat produced in the bearing can be removed in a rapid and reliable manner, the roller bearing ring is made of a material composite. The first material composite component forms the running surface and is made of a refractory metal or a sintering material. The thermal conductivity and heat resistance first material composite component is higher than the thermal conductivity and heat resistance of at least one additional material composite component which forms the base body of the roller bearing ring.
US08210750B2 Vehicle bearing assembly
A vehicle bearing assembly includes a sensor mounting hole provided in a cover of an outer ring member; a rotational speed sensor that is inserted in the sensor mounting hole; and an O-ring disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the sensor mounting hole and an outer peripheral surface of the rotational speed sensor. A chamfered portion is formed along the edge of the opening of the sensor mounting hole on the outer face of the cover. A chamfer edge portion as the boundary between the inner peripheral surface of the sensor mounting hole and the chamfered portion has a depth in the axial direction.
US08210749B2 Powder metal bearing cap breathing windows
The present invention provides a PM main bearing cap, and its precursor compact, with an undercut breathing window that is formed during a compaction process. By fabricating the undercut during the compaction process, the invention eliminates the need for a secondary machining operation to form the undercut feature in the bearing caps.
US08210747B2 Bearing elements
Bearing apparatuses including contacting bearing surfaces comprising superhard materials are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to bearings including polycrystalline diamond inserts or compacts defining a plurality of surfaces that move relative to one another and contact one another. For example, apparatuses may include radial bearings, or other bearings including arcuate bearing surfaces that more in relation to one another, without limitation. In one embodiment, a superhard bearing element may comprise a superhard table (e.g., polycrystalline diamond) forming an arcuate bearing surface. Further, such a superhard bearing element may comprise a chamfer formed about at least a portion of a periphery of the arcuate bearing surface. Bearing apparatuses including such bearing elements and various mechanical systems are disclosed.
US08210736B2 Method and apparatus for mixing and dispensing products
An improved post-mix type food product dispenser that includes a housing having a clear, transparent visual display that permits real-time viewing of the mixing process that takes place within a mixing chamber defined by a rotating rotor that is closely received within the housing. The apparatus is operated by the customer and uniquely produces and dispenses on demand individualized portions of freshly prepared food products as selected by the customer.
US08210729B2 Attachment system for light-conducting fibers
In an embodiment, an attachment system for communicating light energy from a light source to a light-conducting fiber includes a light pipe body sufficiently designed to engage a distal end of a light pipe, the light pipe body comprising at least one opening configured to dissipate heat buildup from light energy; a front assembly sufficiently designed to engage the light pipe body, the front assembly comprising an orifice and at least one opening configured to dissipate heat buildup from light energy; a light-conducting fiber body sufficiently designed to engage the front assembly and to hold a proximal portion of a light-conducting fiber, the light-conducting fiber body positioned in the orifice of the front assembly; and an optical taper assembly sufficiently designed to hold an optical taper, the optical taper assembly positioned between and spaced apart from the front assembly, and positioned between and spaced apart from the light pipe.
US08210722B2 LED device for wide beam generation
An apparatus and method is characterized by providing an optical transfer function between a predetermined illuminated surface pattern, such as a street light pattern, and a predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source, such as that from an LED. A lens is formed having a shape defined by the optical transfer function. The optical transfer function is derived by generating an energy distribution pattern using the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. Then the projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is generated. The projection is then compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern to determine if it acceptably matches. The process continues reiteratively until an acceptable match is achieved. Alternatively, the lens shape is numerically or analytically determined by a functional relationship between the shape and the predetermined illuminated surface pattern and predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source as inputs.
US08210720B2 Method and apparatus for lighting with reflection
A mirror module includes a mirror. The module includes a mirror housing. The module includes a mounting box that fits into the housing. The module includes a motorized element disposed in the mounting box. The motorized element having a mirror mounting plate which holds the mirror, and a base plate which is attached to the mounting box through an axis screw at a central axis of the module about which the motorized element rotates.
US08210714B2 Illuminant module with optical film of multiple curvatures
An Illuminant module includes an optical film and a light source array. The optical array includes a plurality of concave surfaces and a plurality of convex surfaces alternatively arranged along at least one direction, wherein each concave surface has a concave surface width along the at least one direction, and each convex surface has a convex surface width along the at least one direction. The light source array includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein the concave surface width is not equal to the convex surface width, and the light from the light source array penetrates the optical film.
US08210713B1 Multi-color light emitting diode headset light
An illuminating device which utilizing multiple colored Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) is disclosed. The device incorporates a voltage regulator to allow it to operate on a wide range of voltages typically found on aircraft electrical systems. Additional controls are provided for brightness or dimming controls, and for the selection of the color output. The device includes a mounting clip for attaching it to a boom microphone on an aviation headset, though it could be used in a handheld manner as well.
US08210710B2 Multi-functional flashlight
A flashlight is described holding at least one battery and an illumination source. A circuit interruption and completion device is provided forming a complete circuit between the illumination source and the battery, when the device is in a closed mode. The device comprises a switch which is manually actuated between at least a first position which causes the device to enter the closed mode and a second position. A switch holding structure comprises a member with means for making an electrical connection associated with the member; and at least one conductive spring is attached to the member to make electrical contact with the means for making an electrical connection with the battery. The switch controls multiple functions of the flashlight including a strobe and a momentary mode. A pushbutton switch may control the multiple functions by multiple pushes on the switch.
US08210705B2 Touch-sensitive lighted hand rail
A wall mounted hand rail system for assisting a patient includes a support beam. A plurality of lighting elements is disposed adjacent a bottom portion of the support beam and is configured selectively to direct light in a downward direction. An electronic system is configured to sense when the support beam has been touched by the patient and is configured to cause the lighting elements to illuminate an area below the support beam when the support beam has been touched by the patient.
US08210697B2 Three-dimensional lighting structure utilizing light active technology
A structure and method for three-dimensional lighting using light active technology. The structure has one or more sheets of light active material, which each sheet of the one or more sheets of light active material having a plurality of lighting elements. The structure additionally has one or more folding elements along which the one or more sheets of light active material are operable to be folded to create a three-dimensional lighting structure. A power supply element can then be used to provide power to the plurality of lighting elements. A fastening element is operable to fasten together the one or more sheets of light active material at one or more fastening points to retain the three-dimensional lighting structure created by folding the one or more sheets of light active material along the one or more folding elements.
US08210691B2 Projector apparatus which controls pulse widths of light beams emitted from pulse-driven light sources of different colors based on deterioration levels thereof
A projector apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light beams of a plurality of color components, emissions of the light beams being controlled individually, a projection unit configured to form images respectively corresponding to the color components using the light beams from the light source for each frame and to sequentially project the images, a driving unit configured to drive the light source so that the light beams are emitted as light pulses having respectively predetermined pulse widths for a period in which the projection unit projects each of the images, a detector configured to detect deterioration levels of the light source respectively for the color components, and a controller configured to control the pulse widths of the light beams emitted from the light source based on the deterioration levels.
US08210687B2 Image displaying apparatus, and a method for adjusting vibrating condition of a reflection mirror in the image displaying apparatus
For enabling to prevent ill effects from being generated in the structures of a reflection mirror, even if increasing an output energy from a light source, thereby preventing ill influences from being exerted on the driving condition thereof, a mirror drive controller unit 7 reads out history data of the past, relating to temperature changes on a micro mirror 1, from a first LUT holder unit 19. Upon basis of the read-out history data of the past is presumed the temperature on the micro mirror 1 at the present time. The presumed temperature on the micro mirror 1 is temperature P temp of the micro mirror 1 at the present time, and upon that P temp are changed vibration (or oscillation) condition of the micro mirror 1 in the horizontal (H) direction and vibration (or oscillation) condition thereof in the vertical (V) direction.
US08210686B2 Projection system
A projection system having a set of projectors that cast images: (i) outwards onto the concave surface of a hemispherical dome, as is usual in planetariums and (ii) inward onto the convex surface of a centrally located sphere. The images thus cast may be coordinated by a controlling computer program, so that changes in the content or orientation of the images on the sphere result in corresponding changes in the images on the dome and vice versa.
US08210684B2 Illumination apparatus and projection display apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes multiple liquid crystal panels, a polarization-state adjusting element, and a cross dichroic prism. A green component light includes a central-wavelength component light, a short-wavelength component light, and a long-wavelength component light. The polarization-state adjusting element separately adjusts a polarization state of the central-wavelength component light and each of polarization states of the long-wavelength component light and the short-wavelength component light.
US08210681B2 Method and device for assessing the field of vision
The invention relates to a method for assessing the field of vision, wherein FDF stimuli are produced and detected by a person using the at least one eye to be examined. The invention is based on the object of providing a novel method and a device in order to efficiently assess the field of vision of a person and/or in order to recognize early signs of disease processes, which can lead to limitations in the field of vision. For this purpose, the invention provides that the production of the FDF stimuli is carried out by utilizing a computer-controlled system for the efficient determination of the vision and that the respective FDF stimulus is generated by utilizing an imaging device.
US08210679B2 Array of progressive ophthalmic lens elements
An array of progressive ophthalmic lens elements is disclosed. The progressive ophthalmic elements contained in the array having substantially the same addition power and substantially the same optical prescription for distance vision. Each of the progressive ophthalmic lens elements has a progressive lens design characterized by a set of parameters defining a distance zone providing a refracting power for distance vision, a near zone providing a refracting power for near vision and a corridor having a refracting power varying from that of the distance zone to that of the near zone. The progressive ophthalmic lens elements provide, for a range of values or categories of at least two lifestyle and/or biometric parameters of lens wearers, different progressive lens designs in which at least two of the lens design parameters each have a respective value or characteristic attributable to, or associated with, a particular value or category of a respective one of the lifestyle and/or biometric parameters.
US08210676B1 Sportsman's reading glasses
A fisherman can clip a left reading glass frame to the left side of his visor. He can clip a right reading glass frame to the right side of his visor. He can bend the flex arm connected to the clip to store each lens above the visor in a passive mode. When reading glass focus is needed, perhaps to tie the fly onto the leader, he bends each frame half down in front of his eye and connects the two halves to provide a pair of reading glasses.
US08210668B2 Container
A fluid container includes a body having an inlet configured to receive a fluid, a printhead configured to eject the fluid received at the inlet, and an optical receiver at the body and positioned in optical communication with the inlet such that optical signals received at the inlet are received at the optical receiver.
US08210663B2 Ink jet printing
A continuous ink jet printer comprises a gutter for collecting ink droplets not used in printing. Pumping apparatus draws ink from the gutter and control apparatus is configured to vary the level of pumping by the pumping apparatus depending on the temperature or other parameter of the ink. As the temperature of the ink increases the level of pumping is reduced. The pumping apparatus may comprise two venturi pumps connected in parallel each having its throat connected to the gutter.
US08210660B2 High volume ink delivery manifold for a page wide printhead
An ink manifold for supplying liquid ink to a heater chip of an inkjet printhead. Ink ports on one side of the manifold feed liquid ink to the ink channels on the other side of the manifold, and thus to the backside ink trenches of the heater chip. The placement and number of ink ports formed in the ink manifold are optimized so that when the heater chip and the ink manifold are scaled down in size, the ink carrying capacity of the printhead components is not compromised. Similarly, when the ink manifold is scaled down, the optimization process allows the seal width between the ink port features of the manifold to be maintained above a specified minimum.
US08210658B2 Piezoelectric material, method for producing piezoelectric material, piezoelectric device and liquid discharge device
A piezoelectric material of the invention includes a perovskite oxide (P) (which may contain inevitable impurities) represented by the formula below: Pba(Zrx, Tiy, Mb−x−y)bOc   (P) (wherein M represents one or two or more metal elements; wherein 0
US08210656B2 Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting head includes: a plurality of head main bodies in which nozzle openings are arranged and manifolds communicate with the nozzle openings; and a passage member which includes a plurality of passages supplying a liquid supplied from an upstream side to the plurality of manifolds of the head main bodies. The plurality of head main bodies is disposed so that the manifolds are arranged in a first direction. The plurality of passages of the passage member includes a passage group in which an outflow port communicating with the manifold is disposed in the first direction and an inflow port to which the liquid is supplied from the upstream side is disposed in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
US08210654B2 Fluid ejection device with electrodes to generate electric field within chamber
A fluid ejection device includes a chamber, and first and second electrodes configured to generate an electric field within the chamber. A related method includes, in a firing chamber, separating whole ink into colloidal particles and ink vehicle such that the firing fluid within the chamber comprises primarily ink vehicle.
US08210648B2 Flow through dispenser including two dimensional array
A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening including an end, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel. A structure extends from the end of the outlet opening and is shaped to direct the portion of the liquid diverted from the liquid dispensing channel through a steep angle relative to the direction of travel of the liquid provided by the liquid supply channel.
US08210646B2 Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arrayed and eject liquid. A wiping member moves relative to a nozzle-forming surface of the liquid ejecting head and wipes the nozzle-forming surface along a direction that intersects a nozzle row direction. Caulking portions are exposed to the nozzle-forming surface. Insertion portions are exposed to the nozzle-forming surface and allow positioning members to be inserted therethrough. The nozzle-forming surface includes a first region ranging from a wiping start position for the wiping member to a nozzle row forming region in which the nozzle row is formed and a second, opposite, region. A first caulking portion is formed in the first region outside the nozzle row along the nozzle row direction, and a second caulking portion is formed in the second region inside the insertion portions along the nozzle row direction.
US08210645B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head including a plurality of printing elements each of which offsets at least in a auxiliary-scanning direction one another and ejects droplets toward a recording medium. The image forming apparatus further includes a main scanning unit configured to scan the recording head, relative to the recording medium, in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the auxiliary-scanning direction. The image forming apparatus still further includes a auxiliary-scanning unit configured to scan the recording head, relative to the recording medium, in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the auxiliary-scanning direction. The image forming apparatus still yet further includes a controller configured to control the printing head, the main scanning unit and the auxiliary-scanning unit to form dots in rows arranged in the auxiliary-scanning direction at a first predetermined interval, and columns arranged in the main scanning direction at a second predetermined interval while performing main scans and sub-scans repeatedly. The controller controls the printing head, the main scanning unit and the auxiliary-scanning unit to form first dots in an area of the printing medium at first alternate columns by a first main scan, and to form second dots in the area by a second main scan at second alternate columns different from the first alternate columns. The second dots are shifted, relative to the first dots, a first predetermined distance smaller the first predetermined interval.
US08210642B2 Inkjet recording apparatus having cleaning member for cleaning an image sensor
An inkjet recording apparatus comprises a conveying section having a conveying surface configured to convey a recording medium. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises an inkjet head having a discharge surface. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises a maintenance unit configured to maintain the inkjet head and a maintenance-unit moving mechanism configured to move the maintenance unit between a maintenance position and a withdrawal position. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises an image sensor capable of picking up an image on the recording medium or on the conveying surface. The image sensor has a reading surface that opposes the conveying surface. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises a cleaning member secured to the maintenance unit and configured to clean the reading surface. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises an image-sensor moving mechanism configured to move the image sensor between an image pickup position and a cleaning position.
US08210640B2 Recording head and recording apparatus, and inspection apparatus of recording head and method thereof
A temperature detection circuit acquires first temperature data detected by a temperature sensor corresponding to a heater of a recording head in a state in which no electric current is flowed into the heater, and second temperature data for the heater in a state in which an electric current is flowed into the heater. Correction data for correcting the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is obtained based on the first and second temperature data. The temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is corrected based on the correction data.
US08210638B2 Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet priting method
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printing apparatus which can prevent possible stripe-like density unevenness in a joint in a print head constructed by joining a plurality of chips together even if the print head is inclined to the regular position of the print head. The present invention uses a print head having the nozzle arrays being shifted in a direction in which the nozzles are arranged, so as to have overlapping portions in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arranging direction. The present invention controls an ink ejecting operation of the nozzles in the overlapping portions between the plurality of nozzle arrays on the basis of an angle between the nozzle array arranging direction and a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the print head moves relative to the print medium.
US08210633B2 Image data processing apparatus and liquid ejection apparatus
Quantizing means generates a quantized density and a quantization error component for a target pixel in a plurality of pixels. A subtracter calculates, for the target pixel, a quantization error correction component by subtracting the density of the target pixel contained in preliminary ejection data from the quantization error component output from the quantizing means. An allocator allocates the quantization error correction component calculated by the subtracter to a plurality of the pixels around the target pixel. The quantizing means outputs the quantized density and the quantization error component of the target pixel by performing an addition using the density of the target pixel contained in the image data, the density of the target pixel contained in the preliminary ejection data, and the accumulated diffused error component assigned to the target pixel by the allocator when other pixels are quantized.
US08210632B2 Printing apparatus and control method of the printing apparatus
In an ink jet printing apparatus using a plurality of printing heads arranged in a convey direction of a printing medium, an inclination angle of the printing medium to a predetermined convey direction is detected to adjust, in accordance with the resultant inclination angle, timings at which ink is jetted from the plurality of printing heads. This allows, even when the printing medium being subjected to a printing operation has a slight meander shape, an image to be formed on a printing medium so that printing positions of the plurality of printing heads have no dislocation.
US08210628B2 Printer and print-condition setting method for the same
An interface, to which a recording medium storing at least one first setting information item is removably attached to a printer. A storage stores hardware specification data. A reader reads out the at least one first setting information item from the recording medium attached to the interface. A register judges whether the at least one read out first setting information item matches with the hardware specification data, and registers the first setting information item which matches with the hardware specification data as at least one second setting information item. A selector selects one of the at least one second setting information item as a print condition.
US08210620B2 Braking force control system for vehicles
According to the braking force control system of the present invention it is prevented that the braking root pressure is increased unnecessarily high when the braking force increase suppressing control was initiated during the execution of the brake assist control without losing the effects of increasing the braking force available when the brake assist control only is executed. When the brake assist control is initiated, the pressure increase Pcf, Pcr of the braking root pressure of the front and rear wheels is increased relative to the master cylinder pressure Pm, but when the anti-skid control is executed for the left and right of the front or rear wheels, when the anti-skid control is executed for one of the front left and right wheels, while a yaw behavior control is executed for the other of the front left and right wheels, or when a braking force front/rear distribution control is executed, during the execution of the anti-skid control, the increase of the braking root pressure for the front or rear wheels is suppressed.
US08210619B2 Braking control system of two-wheeled motor vehicle
An object of the invention is to provide a braking control system of a two-wheeled motor vehicle, by which when a front-and-rear-wheel-interlocked brake operates, operation feeling of a brake lever is improved, and consequently more natural operation feeling may be provided. A braking control system of a two-wheeled motor vehicle according to the invention performs front-and-rear-wheel-interlocked braking control that allows a front-wheel brake and a rear-wheel brake to operate in an interlocked manner. The front-wheel brake is configured of a front-wheel first brake and a front-wheel second brake. ECU 400 controls a front-wheel hydraulic circuit 100 so that the first brake operates according to the front-and-rear-wheel-interlocked braking control. Furthermore, the ECU 400 controls the front-wheel hydraulic circuit 100 so that the front-wheel second brake receives hydraulic pressure caused along with operation of a brake lever 101 during performing the front-and-rear-wheel-interlocked braking control. Thus, operation feeling of the brake lever 101 is improved.
US08210616B2 Faux wood building materials and articles therefrom
Building materials formed from synthetic polymer materials have an appearance which simulates natural woods. The building materials may be used in the construction of fences, sheds, decking materials, indoor/outdoor furniture, railings and numerous other products. The faux wood material is constructed to include reinforcing fibers and voids for weight reduction. The aesthetic appearance of the finished product can be enhanced by applying a color wash which includes a polymer component and a color component adhering to the surface of the material.
US08210614B2 Interlock for a seat recliner mechanism
A seat control mechanism for a seat frame has an interlock device that includes a lock plate slidably coupled to a seatback for movement between a locked and a released position. A stop bracket is coupled to a seat bottom and has a first end engageable with the lock plate in the locked position when the seatback is in a full-forward position and a second end engageable with the lock plate in the locked position when the seat back is in a fold-flat position. An actuator moves the lock plate from the locked to the released position to release the lock plate and permit movement of the seatback between the full-forward position and the fold-flat position. The lock plate is biased toward the locked position to engage the ends of the stop bracket to lock the seat back in either the full-forward or the fold-flat position after releasing the actuator.
US08210606B2 Energy absorption device for automobile seat, and assembly and set including said device
The invention relates to an energy absorption device in particular for the seat of an automobile in case of a shock, said device being substantially in the form of a plate including a succession of cutouts following each other in a deformation direction (X) between a first cutout and a last cutout and defining between them at least one bridge extending in a stretching direction (Y) transverse to the deformation direction (X), the first cutout having a shape slightly flaring in the deformation (X) direction towards the following cutouts.
US08210597B2 Seal for a hole
A seal is provided for a hole in a sheet. The clamped hole surface has an articulated line, which divides the hole surface into a first partial surface and a second partial surface inclined relative thereto, exhibiting the following features: a sealing surface for the hole, the geometry of which corresponds to the hole geometry; an elastic element secured to the sealing surface; and the elastic element is incorporated into the hole abuts on one side (e.g., interior) of the sheet, pressing the sealing surface against a second side (e.g., exterior) of the sheet.
US08210596B2 Vehicle door with door beam
A bracket is fixed to a door beam which is fixed to an inner panel between the inner panel and an outer panel of the door. The bracket extends from the door beam toward the outer panel and includes at an end thereof a curved part protruding toward the outer panel. The bracket is connected at the end thereof to the outer panel through the vibration damping member. The bracket has a predetermined length and is fixed to the inner panel at an angle between the inner panel reference plane and the extending direction. The angle is determined on the basis of a distance between the door beam and the outer panel.
US08210595B2 Lap shade
The present invention is a lap shade that comprises a plurality of section pads attached to form a dashboard piece, a plurality of frames attached to form a door piece, and a plurality of attachment means on both the dashboard piece and the door piece for attachment purposes on the dash board and a side window of a vehicle respectively. A hook and fastener is attached at a bottom side of the dashboard piece to be engaged with a hook and fastener on the door piece. The lap shade includes a plurality of joints, which allow folding of the lap shade. The plurality of attachment means on the dashboard piece is provided with a sliding mechanism, which includes a slider assembly to allow the attachment means to be extended as desired. The door piece is foldable against the dashboard piece followed by folding the section pads.
US08210590B1 Double hinge storage pocket
A trim panel assembly for an automotive vehicle having a pocket door that is moveable between a reduced width position and an increased width position. The trim panel assembly includes a panel having a recessed portion. A pocket door is mounted over at least a portion of the recessed portion such that the pocket door and the recessed portion define a storage pocket. The pocket door is mounted for translational movement between first and second positions. In the first position, the storage pocket has a first width defined between an outboard side wall and an inboard side wall. In the second position, the width of the storage pocket is increased. This increase in width occurs over the vertical extent of the storage pocket.
US08210578B2 Electronic device enclosure
An electronic device enclosure includes a housing defining a latching groove, a cover defining a latching hook to engage in the latching groove, and an opening assembly mounted in the housing. The opening assembly includes a sliding member slidably positioned in the latching groove, and an operation member positioned in the housing and connected to sliding member. The sliding member defines an abutting surface on the sliding member. The operating member is capable of pulling the sliding member to slide along the latching groove, so that the abutting surface of the sliding member pushes against the latching hook and disengages the latching hook from the latching groove.
US08210575B2 Band clamp with embossed gasket for slotted pipe lap joints
A band clamp used for forming a pipe lap joint. The band clamp includes a band, tightening mechanism, and gasket. The band extends circumferentially from a first end to a second end and is sized to fit over an outside pipe end. The tightening mechanism is connected to the band at the first and second end. The tightening mechanism includes at least one fastener to bring the first and second ends toward each other to tighten the band over the outside pipe end. The gasket is constructed to fit over an inside pipe end and within the outside pipe end such that the gasket is at least partially sandwiched between said inside and outside pipe ends. The gasket has an embossment extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the gasket and being constructed to be received at least partly within a slot of the outside pipe end.
US08210573B2 Pipe coupling
Apparatus and methods for joining similar pieces of plastic pipe includes using the shape memory of the pipe pieces to slightly deform a “female” end to permit insertion therein of a non-deformed male end. The deformation is sufficient to permit the insertion but not so large as to preclude the substantially complete “recovery” of the female end's shape and size, using the “shape memory” of the pipe material. Embodiments include, without limitation, single-walled (or mono-walled) pipe, pipe formed from multiple material layers, corrugated pipe, flat-walled pipe, and others. Preferred tools and apparatus are disclosed for stretching the female end and maintaining the desired stretch during transportation and storage, for sealing the joint (via adhesive/sealant, flange gasket, O-ring, or the like), and for further protecting the resulting joint.
US08210570B1 Ski pole grip having a smoking apparatus
The ski pole grip having a smoking apparatus includes a housing, a bowl piece disposed within the housing, the bowl piece including a bowl portion having a circular opening formed at a bottom thereof, a bowl plate attached to a top of the bowl piece, the bowl plate having an opening aligned with the circular opening of the bowl portion and a bowl, a smoke chamber attached to the circular opening of the bowl portion, and a retractable inhale tube closely received through the opening of the bowl plate and in the smoke chamber. Inhalation through the retractable inhale tube causes air to flow through the bowl, the bowl portion, the smoke chamber and the retractable inhale tube.
US08210568B2 Vehicle seat unit
A side airbag unit for a vehicle seat including a generally cylindrical gas generator unit having a longitudinal axis. The vehicle seat has a backrest with a front surface and a side surface. In order to achieve the result that the airbag requires little additional space and nevertheless is relatively easy to mount on the vehicle seat, the longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to the front surface and perpendicular to the side surface of the vehicle seat.
US08210564B2 Interior lining part for a motor vehicle
A vehicle interior decor element, in particular an air bag cover, comprising a front side (36) facing the vehicle interior and an opposite rear side (34), a cover (18) and a decorative element (20) which is provided at the cover (18), is visible from the front and is at least partly translucent. The decorative element (20) includes sections (24) between which the decorative element (20) has a gap (26) through which the cover (18) is accessible from the front side (36). The decorative element (20) extends with at least one portion (44) thereof towards the rear side (34) towards or into a cavity (42) which is formed in the cover (18) and in which an illuminant (50) for illuminating the decorative element (20) is accommodated.
US08210561B2 Ski boots
Ski boots of different sizes, adapted for being used with skis provided with mounted bindings having front and rear jaws. The ski boots are embodied in at least two types (1, 1′, 1″) which differ from each other by sole length (a, b, c). Each of the ski boot types comprises at least two ski boot (outer shell) sizes having the same sole length. Each ski boot size is suitable for receiving inner boots in at least one inner boot size (foot size), and advantageously inner boots (3a to 3d, 3′a to 3′d, 3″a to 3″d) in at least two boot sizes (2a-2b, 2′a-2′-b, 2″a-2″b). Skis (6, 6′, 6″) may be provided with fixed jaws (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) mounted in such a way that they correspond to the sole lengths (a, b, c) of the different types of boots (1, 1′, 1″).
US08210554B2 Bicycle frame having a multiple step and lap joint
A bicycle frame assembly that includes at least one joint having a number of steps and laps formed between adjoining frame members. A first frame member includes a male portion of the joint and has at least three steps that are separated by rises between adjacent steps formed on an exterior surface of the first frame member. A second frame member includes a female portion of the joint and has the same number of steps and rises as the first frame member formed on an interior surface of the second frame member. The steps and rises of the first and second frame members are constructed and orientated so that the first frame member slidably cooperates with the second frame member to form a continuous multidirectional joint therebetween.
US08210550B2 Suspension system for baby stroller
A suspension system for a stroller is described. The suspension system may include a rotating damper mechanism used between a stroller frame and a stroller wheel. In one example, apparatus for providing suspension/damping of a stroller includes a first member attached to a stroller frame, a second member disposed co-axially with the first member and operable to rotate relative to the first member, and at least one elastic member (e.g., urethane) positioned between the first and second members for damping motion (e.g., rotational or translational motion) therebetween. In one example, four elastic members are disposed between the first and second members.
US08210547B2 Active magneto-rheological spring assemblies and vehicle suspension systems incorporating the same
A Magneto-Rheological Elastomer (MRE) spring system includes a spring, an MRE unit in cooperation with the spring, and an electromagnet. The electromagnet may be configured to produce an adjustable magnetic field, wherein when the electromagnet produces a magnetic field, the MRE unit stiffens such that the MRE spring system stiffens.
US08210544B2 Apparatus for preventing incorrect installation of machinery components together
Apparatus for preventing incorrect installation of machinery components together includes a tab, pin and pin-receiving hole. The tab on the seal plate protrudes angularly from its periphery and laterally beyond it so as to prevent incorrect installation of two seal plates together in a faulty sealing relationship with machinery components by their tabs making interfering contact with one another producing a visible gap between the two seal plates. The pin is mounted on and protrudes axially from a surface of one machinery component facing the seal plate and prevents incorrect installation of the machinery components together in a faulty sealing relationship without the seal plate between them by the pin contacting the surface of the other machinery component and producing a gap between the machinery components. The hole extends through the seal plate to receive the pin within it when one seal plate is correctly installed between the machinery components.
US08210543B2 Seal for a bushing
A bushing, including a core, a sleeve that surrounds the core and a spring element that is arranged between the core and the sleeve, wherein, on at least one face of the bushing, there is a sealing element that seals the spring element vis-à-vis the environment.
US08210542B1 Plunger seal ring
One or more elastomeric multifunction rings augment a plunger packing assembly within a plunger pump packing box. Each such ring comprises a totally-enclosed circumferential tubular cavity filled with a fluid medium which transmits hydraulic pressure throughout the tubular cavity. Longitudinal ring compression secondary to pumped fluid pressure acts through the compliance of each ring to increase tubular cavity hydraulic pressure, resulting in radial ring expansion. Ring expansion is both inward toward a plunger and, simultaneously, outward toward its packing box. Inward expansion tends to seal the extrusion gap, while outward expansion improves heat transfer via the ring from plunger to packing box. Periodic reduction of pumped fluid pressure tends to reverse radial ring expansion. Thus, relatively more effective sealing and heat transfer functions occur as a pump's pressure stroke increases pumped fluid pressure. And sealing is attenuated between pressure strokes to reduce both frictional ring wear and heat generation.
US08210539B2 Video cribbage
The present invention provides a game for play by a player using a plurality of cards. The game includes a wager placed by the player and a player hand including at least four cards. A player score is calculated for the player hand according to a set of cribbage rules. The player receives a payout based on the wager if the player score exceeds a predetermined total. The payout preferably increases as the player score increases based on the odds of achieving a given player score. The game may include an initial player hand, with the player replacing between none and all of the cards from the initial player hand to create the player hand. The game may be played using a video display or live.
US08210534B2 Inflatable vehicles for simulating driving for use with video games
An inflatable vehicle for simulating a driving experience while playing realistic computer-video driving games such as the WII games. The vehicle is life-like in construction and allows a player to sit therein while playing driving game. A steering wheel or handle bar is configured to receive a game controller—which controls the video game when the steering wheel or handle bar is manipulated like a real life equivalent thereof.
US08210530B1 Clutched nip separator device for a roll assembly
A roll assembly, including a frame; a first component mounted to the frame and having a shaft, the shaft; a second component rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed in proximity with the first component, wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is translatable relative to the other; and at least two separator devices mounted on ends of the shaft of one of the first and second component when in a first rotational position separate the first component and second component. Each separator device includes an aperture for mounting on a clutch that is mounted on the shaft of the first component and rotation of the second component in the first direction disengages the separation devices allowing the first and second components to touch and the separation devices to move to a second rotational position and rotation of the shaft in the first direction engages the clutch to rotate the separation devices back to the first rotational position.
US08210527B2 Paper ejecting device with swinging protruding members
A paper ejecting device with a plurality of swinging protruding members is provided which allows a sheet jumping from a paper ejecting device to a paper receiving tray to be ejected with a desired shape by changing the corrected shape of the sheet according to the kind (size, thickness) of paper.
US08210520B2 Document feeding mechanism having stopper means
A document feeding mechanism includes a frame, a document picking means positioned in the frame for picking up and conveying a document, a stopper means positioned in the frame for blocking the conveyance of the document, a supporting portion cooperating with the stopper means for supporting the document picking up means while the document picking up means is raised at a predetermined level, and a blocking portion restricting a rotatable angle of the stopper means for blocking the conveyance of the document while the document picking up means is raised at the predetermined level. The document feeding means is kept at the predetermined level via the cooperation of the supporting portion and the stopper means for supporting the document feeding means. Since, the document feeding mechanism has high reliability to resist shake and crash for preventing the document picking up means from being drooped.
US08210513B2 Binding machine a cassette machine and booklet binding method
The present invention relates to a booklet binding machine (201). The machine includes cassette receiving means (202, 203), an infeed mechanism (206) a combining unit and an activating unit. According to the invention, the cassette receiving means is adapted to receive a cassette pack in which the booklet covers are disposed in a bundle in a non-folded state in the cassette. The machine also includes means (211, 212, 213) for folding the booklet covers along two fold lines. The invention also relates to a cassette pack which includes an infeed cassette and a bundle of booklet covers in the cassette. According to the invention, the booklet covers are in a non-folded state in the cassette. Each booklet cover includes fold lines and an activatable adhesive. The invention also relates to a booklet binding method.
US08210512B2 Arrangement for the timed processing of a printed product with the aid of a transfer device
With an arrangement for the timed processing of a book block, consisting of at least one printed sheet or at least one signature, a transfer device is arranged in-between the feed devices for the book blocks and the device for the further conveying of such a book block, wherein this transfer device supplies the book blocks to at least one other processing station. The transfer device is provided with a translation device for taking over or clamping in the book block, wherein this translation device executes at least one rotary or quasi-rotary translation movement. The translation device itself operates in at least two spatial dimensions for the transfer of the book block, wherein the translation movement occurs with a uniform or a changeable movement speed. The center axis for the translation device occupies an optional position in space, relative to the further processing station.
US08210508B2 Bump stopper for suspension system
A bump stopper for a suspension system that has at least a parting line along a longitudinal direction of the bumper stopper, may include at least two convex portions coaxially connected each other in the longitudinal direction of the bump stopper and contacting each other in a compressed state, a first array including first reinforcing blocks integrally formed on the respective convex portions along the parting line, each abutting first reinforcing block having a first contact angle therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the bumper stopper, and a second array including second reinforcing blocks integrally formed on the respective convex portions, each abutting second reinforcing block having a second contact angle therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the bumper stopper, wherein the first array is disposed with a predetermined angle from the first array along a circumferential direction of the bumper stopper.
US08210504B1 Fence rail hanger bracket
A bracket for attaching a fence rail end to a fence post, the bracket having two upstanding sidewalls spaced for receiving the fence rail end therebetween and a rear wall connecting and extending between the two sidewalls. The rear wall is secured to the fence post. A bottom wall is provided between the two sidewalls and defines a support surface for supporting the rail end. One of these sidewalls is hinged to the rear wall for hinging this hinged sidewall outwardly to receive a fence rail end into the bracket from the side. Apertures are provided in the sidewall for securing it to the fence rail after it is received in the bracket with fasteners. The bottom wall which supports the rail end is securable to the rear wall whereby the bracket is adaptable to selectively provide either a left hand bracket or a right hand bracket. A unitary fence rail assembly may thus be installed from the front or side as opposed to having to lower and raise the entire panel for the full height of the fence.
US08210503B2 Fence panel interlock
A plurality of interlocking panels is provided. A panel assembly comprises a plurality of generally rectangular panel members assembled in interlocking relationship. Each panel member has a substantially flat planar main body and two side edges that interconnect with adjacent panel members. After the panels are interlocked together, the interlocking components on the inner walls of the side edges are covered by the smooth outer walls of the side edges. The panels may be used to fabricate a fence.
US08210501B2 Inflation valve
An inflation valve is revealed. The inflation valve includes a longitudinal valve body, a valve member and an elastic member sleeved between the valve member and the longitudinal valve body. The longitudinal valve body includes an axially extending hole disposed therein, a projecting edge arranged on the axially extending hole and a round through hole disposed on a center of the projecting edge, and two alignment members having at least one projecting body and/or one concave slot. A round valve head is arranged on the front end of the valve member and alignment members corresponding to the alignment members of the longitudinal valve body disposed on an outer edge of the valve head. While being assembled, the valve head passes the through hole by alignment of the alignment members between the valve member and the longitudinal valve body and becomes staggered. Moreover, by the elastic member, the valve head presses and locks onto the round through hole to form a closed state.
US08210500B2 Seat ring
An upstream seat ring and an auxiliary seat ring, which improve valve's capability resistant to erosion by the fluid carrying solid particles or containing liquid drops. One end of the auxiliary seat ring passes through bore of the upstream seat ring and the other end is fixed in the pocket of the valve upstream passageway. There are many bar barriers or analogous mechanism with rectangular, tooth-like or any other geometrical shapes cross-section around the circumferential surface of their bores, which are radially concaved inward or projected outward from the circumferential surface, are longitudinally extended an overall distance from one radial end face of the seats to opposite radial end face or a distance from the radial end face next to the upstream surface of the valve closure member towards the opposite radial end face, and spaced each other radially.
US08210499B2 Automated ball valve and actuator
A ball valve and ball valve actuator including a unique valve stem seal and mounting connection between the ball valve and actuator. The stem seal design reduces leakage issues and significantly lengthens the life span of the ball valve and actuator and the mounting connection between the actuator. The ball valve maintains the centrality of the valve stem in connection with the actuator pinion and minimizes torque and shear forces transferred to the valve stem and hence the stem seal itself.
US08210498B2 Gate valve for a system for circulating cooling air through a turbomachine
A gate valve for a system controlling cooling in a turbomachine is disclosed. The gate valve includes a gate mounted so that it can pivot about an axis between a position in which it shuts off an air passage orifice and a position in which it opens the orifice, and a rotating device for rotating the gate about the axis. The rotating device includes two superposed coaxial rotary members collaborating with one another via cam surfaces designed such that rotating the first rotary member from the shut-off position causes a translational movement of the second rotary member and of the gate along the axis of rotation followed by a rotation of this member and of the gate about this axis.
US08210489B2 Frame that supports a housing
There is provided a frame for holding an electronic device, the frame including an inner member that has a shape of continuous or discontinuous loop, and is made of hollow metal having a closed cross-section; and a plurality of corner reinforcing members that are made of metal and are fixed at positions that cover curved portions of the inner member.
US08210487B2 Automatic mounting apparatus
An apparatus includes a bracket, a pushing member having a pushing surface, a magazine member to fitting about a plurality of clamping rings, a sending member, a fixing member fixed to the bracket and a resisting member fixed to the fixing member. The fixing member defines a positioning hole for fixing the magazine member, with the clamping rings freely sliding through the positioning hole. The sending member includes two guiding rods fixed to the fixing member, two elastic elements fitting about the corresponding guiding rods, and a moving board slidably mounted to the guiding rods. The elasticity of the elastic elements urges the moving board to drive one of the plurality of clamping rings to resist against the resisting member. When the pushing member is moved towards the fixing member, the pushing surface pushes the one clamping ring to clamp a shaft of a connecting piece.
US08210485B2 Trash bag apparatus and method of use
One possible embodiment of the invention could be a trash bag holder and methodology of operating same, the trash bag holder comprises a resilient strip that is looped to adjustably form a hoop of an desired circumference; a catch mechanism that reversibly fixes the hoop at the desired circumference; a handle with two ends, a first end being pivotally attached to at least a portion of the hoop; wherein the hoop retains and holds open an open mouth portion of a trash bag placed upon the hoop by adjusting the circumference of the hoop to at least meet the circumference of the open mouth portion of the trash bag. The holder may further comprise a base reversibly attached to the handle to respectively orient the hoop parallel to and the handle perpendicular to the ground. The hoop may further encapsulate the base edge in a compact state.
US08210484B2 Fire hose safety anchor and method
A fire hose safety anchor and securement system and method for efficiently and safely retaining multiple fire hoses during pressure testing is provided. The fire hose safety anchor and securement system includes a base member comprised of a base plate and a pair of attached mounting plates interconnected by a pair of retaining brackets and retaining pins. The base member is preferably secured to a floor surface by extending fasteners through a plurality of first anchor apertures. Hoses laid upon the base member are held in place by the retaining brackets. The retaining brackets may be slidably coupled to the base member. The base member may have at least one hose channel with separate retaining brackets for each hose channel allowing at least one hose to be removed from the system while pressure testing of the remaining hoses continues.
US08210481B2 Spacecraft having a magnetic space radiation shield
There is provided a radiation shield device for providing radiation protection to an area, such as a spacecraft including, for example, a manned vehicle. The radiation shield device comprises a magnetic field generator, such as a solenoid, of superconductive material that provides a magnetic field around the area to shield the area from radiation. The solenoid preferably defines an axial length that is substantially smaller than a diameter of the solenoid. A thermal control system, comprising a limited amount of coolant or a refrigeration cycle, is included to control a temperature of the superconductive material during operation of the magnetic field generator. A magnetic shield device is also provided between the magnetic field generator and the area to be shielded from radiation to substantially shield the area from the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator.
US08210478B2 Aircraft with optimized usable volume and method to optimize the usable volume of an aircraft
An aircraft including a fuselage including a cabin to accommodate persons and/or a load, and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes at least one tank and/or one combustion chamber, wherein part of the propulsion system can be used as an extension of the cabin to accommodate persons and/or a load, the part of the propulsion system lying adjacent the cabin and separated from the cabin by a partition.
US08210474B2 Multi-path inlet for aircraft engine
An inlet for an aircraft, missile or other high speed airborne mobile platform, to receive intake air and compress the intake air for delivery to an engine of the mobile platform. The inlet has an array of inlet elements placed in side-by-side arrangement. Each inlet element has a passage for delivery of intake air. The array provides for compact volume and effective aerodynamic performance. The inlet may be mounted for rotation to start the inlet when at a supersonic speed. The inlet is shorter in length than traditional inlets and can be integrated into a wider variety of airframes, or at locations on existing airframes that would be difficult or impossible to integrate a traditional inlet on.
US08210471B2 Air vehicle flight mechanism and control method
Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.
US08210465B2 Methods and apparatus for airborne unpowered rotor delivery systems
In various representative aspects, an airborne delivery system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a container and an autorotating rotor system. The container may contain contents, and the rotor system facilitates control of at least a portion of the flight of the airborne system and the descent. Exemplary features may include a guidance system, for example to guide and control the airborne system, and a wing for gliding.
US08210455B2 Deep drawn nozzle for precision liquid dispensing
A nozzle for delivering a measured quantity of viscous liquid including a flared opening defined by a horizontal perimeter and a flare wall extending inward from the perimeter, a cylindrically-shaped barrel wall extending from the flare wall downward to a break point defined by a circle parallel to the flare opening and spaced-apart therefrom, a cone-shaped wall extending downward from the circular break point and inward therefrom to a circular exit opening, and a small-diameter exit tube extending from the circular exit opening to a circular exit aperture.
US08210452B2 Device for introducing catalyst into atomized coating composition
The present invention is directed to a delivery device and a system for introducing the catalyst into the atomized coating composition. This invention is also directed to a system for producing a mixed composition comprising two or more components.
US08210449B2 Texture sprayer
A hand-held apparatus for spraying texture material includes a body having a handle, a texture material hopper mounted on the body, and a nozzle extending from the body for spraying texture material. The apparatus also includes an air source connection component operable to connect and disconnect a source of air to and from the body. The air source connection component comprises a first connection structure on the body that is configured to receive a corresponding second connection structure associated with the air source and secure the second connection structure to the body by rotating the second connection structure with respect to the body.
US08210447B2 Combination birdbath fountain with water level maintaining reservoir
A birdbath fountain includes a water reservoir and recirculating system. Water for the fountain is pumped from the reservoir, with the excess water from the bowl being returned to the reservoir, thereby allowing for a bowl which remains full or at a consistent depth for a longer period of time, including periods of dry or windy weather conditions. In the preferred configuration, the bowl has a depth defined by an outer raised rim and an inner raised rim. A water-containing reservoir having a depth greater than the depth of the bowl resides within the inner raised rim. An electrically operated submersible pump disposed in the water-containing reservoir is operative to pump water from the reservoir to the fountain head, after which the water returns to the bowl. At least one notch in the inner raised rim provides a fluid path from the bowl back to the reservoir, thereby keeping the water level of the bowl substantially constant.
US08210445B2 Mobile drip system
A mobile drip irrigation system that includes a supply pipe connected at one end to a liquid source and extending therefrom. At least one tower supports the supply pipe above the ground, and includes a driver for moving the tower and supply pipe in a desired direction. A plurality of ports are positioned along the supply pipe. The system includes a plurality of vertically oriented drop line assemblies. Each drop line assembly has an upper end connected to one of the plurality of ports, and a lower end spaced above the ground. A horizontal liquid distribution system is fluidly connected to the plurality of drop line assemblies to allow a horizontally uniformly spaced drip of the liquid at a desired distance from the ground.
US08210441B2 Water control fixture having a failed closed bypass valve
A water control fixture for use in a water circulation system includes a housing having a plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a bypass port, and a fixture outlet port, wherein water is dispensed via the fixture outlet port. The water control fixture includes at least one operating valve disposed in the housing for controlling a flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the fixture outlet port, and a bypass valve disposed in the housing for controlling a flow of water through a bypass path between the hot water inlet port and the bypass port. The bypass valve includes a valve unit in the bypass path of the water circulation system that is operable in a closed state, an open state, and a failed state. The valve unit restricts water flow through the bypass path in the closed state, the valve unit allows water flow through the bypass path in the open state, and the valve unit restricts water flow through the bypass path in the failed state. The bypass valve includes a control mechanism in the bypass path of the water circulation system that is used for controlling the operation of the valve unit, wherein water flowing through the bypass path flows past the control mechanism.
US08210440B1 Low-cost magnetic stripe reader using independent switching thresholds
A F/2F waveform generator has a comparator and an analog multiplexer. In a low-cost magnetic card reader application, a magnetic track signal is amplified, filtered, and compared with a threshold signal to create a digital signal output. The analog multiplexer detects changes in state of the digital signal. When a change of state is detected, the analog multiplexer switches among dynamically tunable threshold signals. The selected threshold signal is used for comparison with the magnetic track signal. Switching level detection enables accurate F/2F waveform generation from relatively noisy magnetic track signals, thus improving the robustness of magnetic card readers. The analog implementation eliminates the need for expensive A/D conversion and processing and the design can be readily implemented in a very compact and low-cost package.
US08210439B2 Merchandise security tag for an article of merchandise
A merchandise security tag device for use in a merchandise monitoring system is provided. The merchandise security tag device may be configured to display at least one predetermined optical validation image in response to a signal received from a validation scanning process of the merchandise monitoring system. The validation scanning process may verify that the article of merchandise has been paid for by the customer. The optical validation image may be within the visible spectrum and may be verified by a store employee.
US08210438B2 Medium processing device and method of controlling the same
A card reader has a contact mechanism (IC contact block) coming into contact with a terminal (IC terminal pattern) of an integrated circuit mounted on a card, detection means (detection switch) for detecting that the card is inserted to a contact position at which the terminal and the contact mechanism are in contact with each other, locking means (locking lever etc.) for fixing the card to the contact position, and control means (CPU etc.) for controlling execution and release of locking by the locking means. As soon as the detection means detects insertion of the card, the control means executes locking effected by the locking means and after that, when the card is not activated in response to activation processing by the integrated circuit, release the locking of the locking means.
US08210431B2 Voting device including dynamic keypad and gesture voting
A voting device and system for voting is described having a touch sensitive membrane input surface including at least one of an arc input and a slider input, at least one sensor for detecting movement and orientation of the voting device, and at least one transmitter. The voting device receives a voting response inputted by a user from at least one of the arc input, the slider input and the sensor, and then sends the user inputted response upon at least one of a pressure and a release of pressure on the touch sensitive membrane input surface.
US08210428B2 Method for handling discarded identification numbers
A container having a compactor and bin for waste is disclosed permitting on-premises and remote monitoring of the system and collection is disclosed. The system can also detect non-complaint materials placed therein and act thereon. Methods are further disclosed for inventorying identification tags for tracking packages, merchandise and tags disposed of.
US08210426B1 Cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
An automated banking machine is operative to carry out financial transactions and includes a user interface. The user interface includes a card reader which is operative to read data on user cards which identify user's financial accounts. A fascia of the machine includes a keypad through which users input confidential data. Covers prevent unauthorized persons from viewing confidential inputs to the keypad. Alternatively, movable panels are movable to prevent unauthorized viewing of confidential inputs. Alternatively a keypad cover is selectively collapsible to prevent digit access. A visual indicator is operative to indicate to a user that keypad inputs are being encrypted. Disinfecting techniques may be used to disinfect manual contact surfaces of the machine.
US08210425B2 Multiple rate currency consolidator
A multiple currency rate consolidator addresses the needs of multi-national companies that do business in different currencies and tax localities. A consolidated view of financial data may be provided in real time. The multiple currency rate consolidator allows each subsidiary within a subsidiary hierarchy to enter and manage transactional data as well as budget/forecast data in a corresponding localized functional currency. The multiple currency rate consolidator allows different consolidation levels to view localized, consolidated values of subsidiary transactions. The multiple currency rate consolidator also accommodates statutory, ad hoc and management reporting consolidation using different subsidiary configurations for the same time periods, as well as the versioning of the subsidiary hierarchy to accommodate structural changes across different time periods.
US08210423B2 Method for making magnesium-based composite material
The present disclosure relates to a method for fabricating the above-described a magnesium-based composite material. The method includes providing at least two magnesium-based plates, providing at least one nanoscale reinforcement film, sandwiching the at least one nanoscale reinforcement film between the at least two magnesium-based plates to form a preform, and hot rolling the preform to achieve the magnesium-based composite material.
US08210422B2 Solder containment brackets
Electronic assemblies with solder containment brackets are provided. A solder containment bracket may have a planar base and a vertically extending wall. The wall may protrude upwards from the base to form an enclosed region. The base may have a hole that corresponds to the shape of the enclosed region. The wall may have an opening. A wire may be inserted into the opening. The wire may be soldered to the solder containment bracket to form a solder joint that electrically connects the wire to the bracket. The solder joint formed within the enclosed region may have a size that is defined by the bracket wall. The solder containment bracket may be soldered to a solder pad on a printed circuit board by reflowing a layer of solder paste.
US08210419B1 Hideaway doors for a workstation
A work station including hide away doors is presented. The work station includes a frame defining a work area, a front door assembly movable within the frame and a front door assembly track disposed within the frame, the front door assembly movable along the front door assembly track. A drive mechanism is disposed along the frame, the drive mechanism in mechanical communication with the front door assembly, the drive mechanism operable to position the front door assembly in a plurality of positions along the front door assembly track. The front door assembly is capable of being positioned beneath a device within the work area thereby allowing full frontal access to the device within the work area and full overhead access to the device within the work area.
US08210416B2 Surgical stapling apparatus
A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly. The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit. A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body. A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device.
US08210412B2 Surgical stapling apparatus with powered retraction
A surgical stapling apparatus comprises a handle assembly, an actuation shaft having a connector, and a retraction mechanism positioned within the handle assembly. The retraction mechanism includes a motor coupled to a transmission shaft, a first gear rotatably mounted on the transmission shaft, the first gear configured to engage a second gear, a clutch operatively attached to the second gear, a main shaft rotatably connected to the clutch, and a pulley coupled to the main shaft, the pulley being operatively attached to the connector. The connector and the pulley may be attached via a cable. The retraction mechanism may include a spring motor for maintaining the cable in tension. The spring motor may have a spring element wrapped around and interconnecting at least two arbors.
US08210406B2 Tool lanyard wrist cuff
A tool lanyard wrist cuff includes a fixed, closed loop band having a first mating portion of a fastening mechanism fixedly attached to an outside surface of the closed loop band, an adjustment tab extending from the fixed, closed loop band where the adjustment tab has a second mating portion of the fastening mechanism configured for releasable engagement with the first mating portion when the fixed closed loop band is folded onto itself positioning the adjustment tab over and onto the outside surface of the closed loop band, and a lanyard retaining component integrally formed on the outside surface of the closed loop band.
US08210404B2 Spare tire and rim theft prevention device
A device for preventing theft of a spare tire and rim comprising, a first cylinder having a length, an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a second cylinder having a length, an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a spring and a cable. The cylinders prevent access to a cable holding the spare tire and rim in place for storage. The cylinders protect the cable from being severed whereby the tire and rim would be released from storage and could be stolen.
US08210403B2 Dispenser for delivering medicament
A method for the vaporization of particulate material (10) includes providing one or more containers (15) each containing possibly distinct particulate materials (10) each having at least one component, fluidizing the particulate material (10) in at least one of the containers (15), and providing a vaporization zone (50) that is thermally isolated from at least one of the containers (15). The method further includes delivering particulate material received from each container (15) to the vaporization zone (50), and applying heat to vaporize the delivered particulate materials (10) at the vaporization zone (50).
US08210402B2 Slag control shape device with L-shape loading bracket
A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a mounted member carried on a molten vessel or an adjacent base. The mounted member includes an L-shaped bracket carrying a movable member to release the slag control shape and an actuator for selectively releasing the slag control shape. The mounting member further includes a sleeve secured to the vessel or adjacent base. A rotating shaft is connectable to both the L-shaped bracket and sleeve to provide rotatable movement in selective positions, of the L-shaped bracket relative to the sleeve.
US08210401B2 Condiment dispensing container and carousel
A substantially cylindrical condiment container with a vertically sliding cap to cover and uncover a dispensing outlet opening in the top portion of the container. Preferably, the outlet opening is in the side wall of the container body and the cap slides up to unblock the opening and down to block it. Optionally, a rotary pre-measuring dispense structure can be located at the lower end of the container to dispense condiments in pre-measured increments through an outlet in the bottom of the container. Preferably, the top portion of the container is wider than the middle portion to facilitate hanging the container from support arms on a support such as a carousel.
US08210396B2 Liquid concentrate/extract beverage dispenser with replaceable concentrate/extract cartridge
A concentrate/extract cartridge for dispensing a liquid concentrate/extract is provided. The cartridge includes a hollow body and a dispensing tube that contains a pumping device. The cartridge includes a valve having a valve stem that passes through a port of a valve seat connected to the dispensing tube. A piston is located at a first end of the valve stem and a valve body is located at a second end of the valve stem in removable contact with the valve seat for alternately opening and closing the port. The piston can also includes a membrane positioned on a side facing the valve stem configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the valve body is in contact with the valve seat and to permit the fluid to be forcibly expressed from the dispensing tube when the valve body is moved from its contact position. A liquid dispenser suitable for numerous applications, having a removably insertable concentrate/extract cartridge and a method of dispensing a liquid are also provided.
US08210393B1 Tissue dispensing device
A tissue dispensing device for use with a standard tissue carton is formed as a helical coil spring that is highly stretchy and has a top coil that is fastened around a dispenser aperture in a top surface of the tissue carton with the remainder of the helical coil spring inserted into a space between the top surface of the tissue carton and top of the stack of tissues within the carton with a bottom coil thereof resting on top of the stack of tissues. The helical coil spring forms an open circular space within its coils under gravity that provides a vertically-extending support structure for supporting a tissue next to be dispensed from the tissue stack in a vertical standing position with a leading part thereof extending through a membrane opening of the dispenser aperture of the tissue carton to enable a user to grasp the leading part to withdraw the next tissue to be dispensed.
US08210384B2 Closure cap
Disclosed is a closure cap (1) comprising a exterior marginal web (5), a shielding section (4) that protrudes past the marginal web (5), and a hot-melt adhesive (11) which is arranged in the area of the shielding section (4) and is deformable in a plastic manner when heated above a softening temperature. A number of gripping abutment elements (7) are embodied on the marginal web (5) while a joint zone (3) having a reduced flexural rigidity is configured between the marginal web (5) and the shielding section (4). The distance between the abutment elements (7) and the bottom side of the hot-melt adhesive, which faces the marginal web (5), is smaller than the thickness of the material of a basic part (13) in the area of the opening such that an initial tension is created in the joint zone (3) when the closure cap (1) is inserted into the opening, resulting in a simple self-acting closing process after heating the hot-melt adhesive (11).
US08210380B2 Dustbin of adjustable height
A dustbin with an adjustable height comprises an outside container body, an inside container body, a compression spring provided between the bottom of outside container body and the bottom of inside container body, a longitudinal row of grooves provided at the side wall of the inside container body and a level regulator provided at the side wall of the outside container body. The level regulator has a left end for embedding in the groove and a right end for coupling with a switch means to control the horizontal motion of the level regulator. The height of inside container body can be adjusted to satisfy the users of different heights by the level regulator.
US08210378B2 Waterproof box
The present invention provides a waterproof box which has small size, high workability in its assembling, and high waterproof character. The waterproof box includes a body including a peripheral body wall which has an annular convex rim defining an opening, and a first fulcrum portion which is provided on the peripheral body wall; and a cover covering the opening and including a peripheral cover wall which has an annular chase defined by a inner wall and an outer wall and engaged with the annular convex rim, and a second fulcrum portion which is provided on the peripheral cover wall and engaged with the first fulcrum portion so that the cover rotates about the fulcrum portions. A height of a first edge of the inner wall corresponding to the second fulcrum portion is lower than that of a second edge of the inner wall adjacent to the first edge.
US08210377B2 Closure edge protection via polymer coated metal
Metal closure components and methods for making the same are provided. The closures may be formed from a metal sheet having a pre-formed polymer film adhered on at least one face. A circular blank may be cut from the sheet, such that the blank may have a circular “raw” cut edge unprotected by the polymer film. The metal blank may then be formed such that the cut edged may be embedded into the film.
US08210375B2 Pour cap for fluid containers having gasket configured to form fluid flow passage and low pressure seals in open position and high pressure seal in closed position
A pour cap for a fluid container includes a cap body, a gasket mounted to the cap body, and a threaded ring attached to the cap body. The cap can be positioned on the container in a closed position wherein the container is hydraulically sealed with a high pressure seal, or in an open position wherein fluid flow occurs through flow passages on the gasket and the cap body with first and second low pressure seals preventing unwanted leakage between joining parts on the cap. A method for sealing and pouring a fluid from a container includes the steps of providing the pour cap with the cap body, the gasket and the threaded ring; tightening the cap body to a closed position wherein deformation of the gasket seals the container with a high pressure seal; and then rotating the cap body to an open position wherein the gasket returns to an essentially undeformed state to form a fluid flow passage, while providing first and second low pressure seals for preventing unwanted fluid flow through the cap body and the threaded ring.
US08210374B2 Rackable collapsible stackable unit
A rackable, collapsible, and stackable unit including corner posts being foldable inwardly and downwardly, side bars connecting a pair of opposite corner posts, upper end bars connecting a pair of adjacent corner posts, lower end bars connecting the pair of adjacent upright corner posts, a core holder located on the upper end bars for retaining one end of a core, a plurality of hinges, one connected at each joint between each corner post and the side bars, and hinged support braces pivotally and diagonally connected between one of the corner posts and one of the side bars to hold the corner posts in an upright position when the unit is opened and which, in combination with the hinges, makes it possible to fold the corner posts inwardly and downwardly so as to lie substantially flat against the side bars.
US08210373B2 Structure of parts stand
A parts stand includes a base that is coupled to and supports a coupling collar with a cylindrical section thereof. The coupling collar is coupled to and supports a tray. A support collar is then assembled thereto and another tray is further assembled. Guide blocks of the tray engage lug plates of the support collar. Afterwards, the support collars is coupled to another support collar, and the another support collars is fit into another tray, so that the trays are vertically and sequentially stacked. The parts stand may further include a coupling tube composed of tubular sections extending internally the parts stand and a coupling bar composed of bar segments extending internally through the coupling tube. The coupling bar is secured to a bottom cap and a crown tray with bolts to facilitate smooth rotation of the trays of the parts stand. The trays form storage chambers for storing parts. The trays and the support collars or the coupling collar are rotatable on the base or other support collars to facilitate access to the parts. An additional small-sized tray can be selectively provided above the trays to facilitate access to the parts stored in the next large-sized tray.
US08210367B2 Width-adjustable product display tray with novel mounting arrangement
A display tray with a push-forward means for the display of product items in a back to front column, with the forwardmost item of the column being at all times urged tot the front of the tray. A special mounting arrangement is provided for the tray in which product side guides, preferably width adjustable, also serve to mount the trays on a rectangular bar positioned horizontally at the back of a display gondola or the like, enabling a plurality of such trays to be mounted side by side and movable laterally for desired spacing and appearance. To particular advantage, the side guides are formed of a rigid sheet material, typically sheet metal, provided at front and back portions with transverse mounting rods engageable with base members of the tray to accommodate lateral adjustment of the side guides relative to the central portions of the tray.
US08210366B2 Universal sport board rack
A rack for storing and displaying surfboards, sail boards and other kinds of sport boards and sporting equipment. The rack is conveniently though not necessarily wall-mountable, and can also support an additional system for the hanging, drying, storage and display of wet suits and other dampened gear.
US08210365B2 Motorcycle accessory rack
A motorcycle accessory rack is provided which includes spaced-apart first and second brackets having a plurality of support rods secured thereto and extending therebetween. The first and second brackets may be secured to a supporting surface such as a wall or the like. The rods may be moved in their respective slots or openings or moved to different slots or openings to accommodate accessories from different models of motorcycles. Optional helmet hangers and jacket hangers are also provided at the sides of the rack.
US08210359B2 Flotation cell
A flotation cell for separating hydrophobic particles from hydrophilic particles uses a mixer (1) with an air inlet (8) and slurry feed (7) to form a bubbly mixture in a u-tube mixer (4, 5, 6) and feed the mixture into a separation vessel (2). Plant cost and operating efficiencies are optimised by gravity feed of slurry and admitting air at atmospheric pressure. The separation vessel (2) has an upper inclined plate (9) which guides the froth layer (33) containing the hydrophobic particles to an overflow launder (11) without any significant turbulence or change in direction optimising the retention of hydrophobic particles in the froth, while the hydrophilic particles drop down in the liquid layer (34) guided along a lower inclined plate (24) to a tailings outlet (14).
US08210356B1 Organizational methods and apparatus
A storage device includes a box having a bottom wall, a top wall, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, and an internal wall that divides the box into a first compartment and a relatively larger, second compartment. A roll of tape is rotatably mounted inside the first compartment. First and second bottom drawers occupy a lower portion of the second compartment in side-by-side relationship to one another, and a top drawer rests on top of the bottom drawers. A display panel is rotatably mounted on the box for rotation between a first orientation, blocking access to the second compartment, and a second orientation, allowing access to the second compartment. At least one of a photograph and an erasable writing surface are disposed on the display panel and face forward when the display panel occupies the first orientation. Key-ring hooks are secured to a front edge of the bottom wall.
US08210353B2 Vacuum storage slipcover and storage and/or transport bag integrating such a slipcover
It is the object of the present invention to provide a storage slipcover for at least one article, especially textile articles, comprising a first envelope extending vertically and fitted at its upper end with an opening for insertion of said at least one article, and a plate fitted with folding means for the formation of a parallelepiped base in which is placed at least the lower part of the first envelope, said storage slipcover further comprising a second envelope assembled horizontally below the lower end of the first envelope, this second envelope comprising dimensions slightly greater than the plate, and at least one opening for introducing this plate in said second envelope.
US08210348B1 Storage device for wrapping paper and associated supplies
A storage device for storing and organizing wrapping paper and wrapping supplies featuring a main housing having an inner cavity and a top panel functioning as a lid, the top panel can move between an open position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the inner cavity; and a first set of tubes, a second set of tubes, and a third set of tubes, each tube extending through the inner cavity of the housing from the bottom panel upwardly toward the top panel, each tubes is adapted to receive a roll of wrapping paper, wherein the first set of tubes has a height greater than a height of the second set of tubes, and the height of the second set of tubes is greater than a height of the third set of tubes.
US08210347B2 Universal lipstick refill case
The present disclosure could generally provide a reusable and universal case for personal items such as, for example, removable lipstick refills. Manufacturers could provide relatively cost-effective lipstick refills suitable for use with a more elegantly packaged and fully functional universal case. The case could include an elongated tube to house a lipstick refill. The case could also include a notch disposed on an interior surface of an elongated tube to receive a groove disposed on an exterior surface of an insert disposed within a second end of the tube. The case could further include a protrusion on an interior surface of the insert that is disposed along a surface of the lipstick refill.
US08210341B2 Conveyor transfer system with floating transfer platform
A conveyor transfer system and a transfer platform for transferring articles from an upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor across a gap. The transfer platform fits in the gap between two conveyors arranged end to end. At least one of the conveyors includes a conveyor belt that reverses direction around a reversing element at the gap. The transfer platform floats in the gap supported by the conveyor belt or its reversing element without a direct connection to the conveyor frame.
US08210337B2 Method and sensor for sensing coins for valuation
A coin sensor and method of identifying coins by size and also discriminating invalid coins includes a portion of a coin track (63) over which coins (14) pass in a single file, an illumination source (92) for illuminating at least portions of the coins (14) as the coins move along the coin track (63), an optical detector (95) spaced from the coin track (63) for detecting a size of at least a portion of each coin passing the coin sensor along the coin track, and a telecentric lens (94) positioned between the optical detector (95) and the coin track (63), such that the portion of each coin passing the optical detector (95) is seen to have an apparent size and configuration independent of a variation in distance of the coin from the telecentric lens (94) as each coin moves along the coin track (63). The optical sensor and detector (90) can be angled to assist in preventing stray light from the bottom of the coins from being transmitted to the detector (95). The sensor assembly (67) also includes inductive sensors (98, 99) and a Hall effect sensor (97) for discriminating invalid coins.
US08210335B2 Bill and coin acceptor
A compact size bill and coin acceptor for use in an automatic vending machine or game machine is disclosed to include a face panel having a bill slot, a coin slot and a coin-return slot, a first housing that comprises a bill passage, a power drive mechanism adapted for transferring an inserted bill from the bill slot through the bill passage and a bill recognition module adapted for recognizing the authenticity and value of an inserted bill, and a second housing that comprises a coin passage in communication with the coin slot, a coin sensor module and an optical recognition device adapted for sensing the authenticity and value of an inserted coin, a driven gear set for assisting transfer of an inserted bill through the bill passage, a coin-return passage in communication with the coin-return slot and a gate movable by an electromagnetic valve to open the passage between the coin passage and the coin-return passage.
US08210334B2 Motorcycle with centrifugal clutch
A centrifugal clutch of a motorcycle has clutch housing which includes a friction plate, a clutch boss including a clutch plate, a pressure plate that pressure-contacts the friction plate with the clutch plate, a roller weight that receives a centrifugal force and presses the pressure plate toward a plate group side. The centrifugal clutch also includes an elastic body that constantly biases the pressure plate toward the plate group side to transmit a portion of a driving force from the clutch housing to the clutch boss even when the motorcycle engine is in an idling state. The elastic body may comprise a disc spring that biases the pressure plate toward the plate group and a coil spring that biases the pressure plate away from the plate group.
US08210328B2 Disc rotor
A disc rotor includes a sliding portion, a hat portion, and a connecting unit connecting the sliding portion and the hat portion. The connecting unit includes a washer arranged between the radially inner portion of the sliding portion and the radially outer portion of the hat portion, and a connecting pin having a head portion, having a shaft portion inserted through a first through-hole formed at the sliding portion, the washer and a second through-hole formed at the hat portion in an axial direction of the rotor, and riveted at an end portion of the shaft portion so as to integrally fasten the sliding portion, the washer and the hat portion. A riveted portion of the connecting pin is formed into a taper shape, and an outer circumferential surface of the riveted portion contacts and engages a tapered surface formed at the second through-hole of the hat portion.
US08210327B2 Combined motion control and brake release apparatus
A combined motion control and brake apparatus and method includes a linear longitudinal rail, a bearing block supported on the linear longitudinal rail, a linear rail brake fixed to the linear longitudinal rail, a carrier connected to the rail brake and supported by the bearing block, a pair of linear cross slide rails fixed on the carrier, the cross slide rails disposed generally at right angles to the longitudinal rail, a cross slide bearing block mounted on each cross slide rail, a cross slide supported on the cross slide bearing block moveable in both longitudinal and lateral directions, relative to the longitudinal rails, the cross slide including an engagement feature, and an engager operable to engage the engagement feature to release the rail brake and to move the cross slide rail.
US08210321B2 System and method for determining a destination story based on movement direction of a person on an access story
A method and system for transporting people in a building using an elevator installation having at least one elevator cage determines a destination story based on the movement direction of people on an access story. The movement direction of one or more persons on an access story is detected using a movement direction sensor. The destination story may be based on detected movement and the access story on which the movement is detected. The elevator cage is entered by people on at least one first access floor (S1, S2). In order to increase the transport efficiency at least one target floor (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) is associated with the access floor (S1, S2) in a fixed manner, in such a way that the elevator cage (11) travels from the first access floor (S1, S2) to the target floor (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) associated therewith.
US08210320B2 Elevator with belt-like transmission means, particularly with wedge-ribbed belt, as support means and/or drive means
A transmission belt for driving and/or supporting an elevator car has a longitudinally extending body including an area tensile layer reinforced by chemical fibers. The belt can have a flat friction layer or a friction layer including alternating longitudinally extending wedge-shaped ribs and grooves. Transverse grooves can be formed across the width of the longitudinally grooved friction layer.
US08210316B2 Oil scavenge system for a gas turbine engine
An oil scavenge system includes a scavenge pipe which extends forward into a relatively long and narrow compartment area of a rear bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine with aggressive core size constraints. The scavenger pipe communicates collected oil to a scavenger pump to return oil to the oil sump and evacuate the oil before flooding of the seals may occur.
US08210315B2 Component assembly comprising a sheet metal part and a nut element attached thereto and also a method for the manufacture of such a component assembly
A component assembly comprising a sheet metal part and a nut element attached thereto, the nut element being arranged in an opening of the sheet metal part and being adapted to receive a bolt element having a shaft part with a thread and a head part of larger radial dimensions is wherein the sheet metal part has at least one hole adjacent to the nut element which is not covered over by the nut element but can be covered over by the head part of the screwed-in bolt element. A component assembly of this kind is in particular suitable for an oil pan since the oil can flow through the holes. A method is also claimed.
US08210308B2 Sound attentuator
An apparatus and method for attenuating the sound generated by a fan powered terminal unit or other equipment in an HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system is described. The apparatus utilizes internal geometry to minimize noise due to air disturbances and aerodynamic effects within the apparatus. Specifically, a silencer is described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet; a condensate deflector positioned at the inlet to the casing; at least one baffle being operable to attenuate noise in a gas flowing through the silencer; and an air pathway through the silencer, defined by positions of the condensate deflector and the at least one baffle within the casing. The air pathway is angled or curved to substantially minimize the line-of-sight pathway from the inlet to the outlet.
US08210306B2 System and method for disabling a vehicle
A system for disabling a vehicle carrying a storage tank includes a coupler component supported by the vehicle for receiving a connection from a delivery line. A cap is attachable to an end of the coupler component for preventing connection of the delivery line when the cap is attached. A proximity sensor is disposed outside of the coupler component and senses whether the cap is attached without making contact with the cap. A switch is in electrically connected to the sensor and disables at least one drive element of the vehicle, e.g., the transmission, when the cap is not attached to the coupler component.
US08210304B2 Motorized personal transport vehicle
The vehicle (1) includes a chassis (2) and a pair of track assemblies (3, 4) mounted at the front and rear of the chassis respectively. At least one of the track assemblies is powered by a motor (5) to propel the vehicle. The chassis include mounting points (6, 7) for attaching the track assemblies. A deck area including rider footpads (8, 9) flanks a central motor mounting section (10).
US08210298B2 Device for fixing a heat transfer device, in particular a coolant radiator for motor vehicles
A device for fixing a heat transfer device, in particular a coolant radiator (3), in the frame-type assembly support (2) of a front end module (1) for a motor vehicle. Said assembly support (2) comprises an upper crossmember (2a), two lateral parts (2c, 2d) and preferably a lower crossmember (2b) and the heat transfer device (3) essentially has four bearings (9, 10, 11, 12), which are elastically supported on the assembly support (2). The heat transfer device (3) is provided with bearing journals, which are held in elastically deformable bushings. The two upper bearings (11, 12) comprise intermediate supports, which hold the bushings and can be fixed to the assembly support (2) without additional auxiliary elements.
US08210297B2 Layout of compact all terrain vehicle for exhaust outlet duct and air inlet duct positioning
The exhaust port 35b of the transmission air exhaust duct 35 is provided to one side of the steering shaft 28 with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle, an air intake port 9a is provided to the other side of the steering shaft 28 with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle.
US08210292B2 Compression system for internal combustion engine including a rotationally uncoupled exhaust gas turbine
As one example, a vehicle propulsion system is provided. The system includes: an engine with an intake air compressor and an exhaust gas turbine. Further, a control is provided to operate the compressor at a different speed than the turbine, at least under an operating condition, and to adjust an amount of opening overlap between engine valves in response to a rotational speed of the compressor.
US08210288B2 Rotary drill bits with protected cutting elements and methods
A rotary drill bit with cutting elements operable to control depth of cut and rate of penetration during formation of a wellbore are provided. Respective sets of secondary cutting elements and primary cutting elements may also be disposed on exterior portions of a rotary drill bit. A number of blades may extend from exterior portions of the drill bit with a number of cutting elements disposed on exterior portions of each blade. Each cutting element may include a substrate with a cutting surface disposed thereon. A respective protector may extend from the cutting surface of one or more cutting elements to limit depth of penetration of the associated cutting element into adjacent portions of a downhole formation and/or to control rate of penetration of an associated rotary drill bit.
US08210287B1 Mining core drill bit and method of making thereof
A core drill bit includes an elongate hollow cylindrical body having opposite first and second ends with an end section having an end face defining an annular non-planar surface. The cutting head includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart cutting segments, the cutting segments being electrical welded to the non-planar surface whereby raised portions of the surface melt during the welding to affix the cutting segments with the face of the tool body.
US08210285B2 Cutting element apparatuses, drill bits including same, methods of cutting, and methods of rotating a cutting element
A subterranean drilling system may include a drill string and a rotary drill bit coupled to the drill string. The rotary drill bit may include a bit body and a cutting element coupled to the bit body, with the cutting element being structured to rotate in response to torque applied to the cutting element. The system also may include a cam assembly coupled to the drill string, a cam follower assembly in contact with a cam surface of the cam assembly, and a torque-applying structure coupled to the cam follower assembly. The torque-applying structure may be configured to apply torque to the cutting element in response to relative rotation between the cam assembly and the cam follower assembly.
US08210281B2 Method and system for installing geothermal transfer apparatuses with a sonic drill
The present invention relates to a method for drilling a hole and installing a geothermal transfer apparatus. A sonic drilling apparatus is positioned at a desired location. The sonic drilling apparatus includes a rotating and vibrating apparatus for rotating and vibrating a hollow drill string into the ground, the hollow drill string having an inner space. The hole is drilled to a desired depth by rotating and vibrating the hollow drill string into the ground while discharging fluid into the inner space of the hollow drill string. A geothermal transfer apparatus is lowered into the inner space of the hollow drill string following the drilling of the hole to the desired depth. The drill string is then removed from the ground.
US08210274B2 Vibration hammer
A vibration hammer is provided, including a main body; a striking unit having a piston housing installed to be elevated by a hydraulic pressure controlling valve unit installed in the main body, a hammer guide slidably installed on the main body to be coaxial with the piston housing, and a piston having both ends fixed to the piston housing and a hammer guide and elastically deformable at a predetermined angle with an elevating direction of the piston housing; and a rotating unit installed in the main body and reciprocally rotating the hammer guide elevated together with the piston. The vibration hammer can prevent the piston from being damaged by being elastically deformed when a lateral pressure applied to the rod connected to the piston.
US08210272B2 Tiller
A tiller with chassis, pair of handles, and tines, wherein simultaneously raising one handle and lowering the other twists the chassis to lower one tine and raise the other. The tines comprise pairs of blades, each blade having a pair of upturned tips. The height of tines is adjusted by adjusting the support for a wheel. The tiller is supported by an arm having a single ground engaging wheel, pivoting the arm and locking in position to adjust the height of the tiller. The tiller includes a third handle located along its chassis. The chassis is formed from two longitudinally split components. A blade cover for the tiller is thin and curved to lie in an arc spaced from the rotating tips of the tines. An attachment for the tiller has a V-shaped tip and shaped to form a furrow.
US08210271B2 Vapor recovery and fire suppression system for oil skimmer
One or more aspects of the present invention is directed to a fire suppression system for use with an oil and vapor recovery system, such as for example, a system having a float system for adjusting the height of oil and vapor recovery intakes. The float system is preferably adjustable to allow connection of additional floats to maintain buoyancy and keep the vapor intake above the level of the oil in the holding tank and to maintain the oil intake above the level of the water contained in the holding tank. Vapor is drawn out of the holding tank using a vacuum assisted siphon. Oil can be withdrawn from the holding tank by suction or simply by letting the oil flow into an outlet by gravity. By reversing the flow of the existing suction pipes or by providing additional inlet pipes to the nozzles, fire suppression or other chemicals can be added to the tank without having to gain physical access to the tanks, thereby potentially saving lives, money as well as the fluids within the tanks.
US08210268B2 Top drive system
In one embodiment, a top drive system includes a quill; a motor operable to rotate the quill; a gripper operable to engage a joint of casing; a connector bi-directionally rotationally coupled to the quill and the gripper and longitudinally coupled to the gripper; and a compensator longitudinally coupled to the quill and the connector. The compensator is operable to allow relative longitudinal movement between the connector and the quill.
US08210267B2 Downhole pressure chamber and method of making same
Disclosed herein is an atmospheric chamber. The atmospheric chamber includes, a first opposing wall of the chamber and a second opposing wall of the chamber, end members sealingly joining the first and second opposing walls of the chamber to create a fluid tight volumetric space, and at least one support substantially bridging between the first opposing wall and the second opposing wall positioned between respective end members.
US08210266B2 Drill pipe
A drill pipe having a tubular body through which is provided a main bore, a side port provided in an exterior surface of the body, a side bore extending through the body from the main bore to the side port, and a valve member which is movable between a closed position in which fluid flow through the side bore is substantially prevented and an open position in which fluid flow through the side bore is permitted, wherein the movement of the valve member between the closed position and the open position comprises translational movement, and the valve member is located at least predominantly within the side bore.
US08210265B2 Aluminum riser assembly
An aluminum riser assembly has a plurality of riser joints connectable together to form a riser string. When upper and lower joints are assembled, clamps support auxiliary pipes for carrying hydraulic lines. A drive rotates a sleeve rotatably supported on the upper joint, and the sleeve rotates a union nut rotatably disposed on the upper joint. As the union nut rotates, it moves axially along the riser joint and threads onto the lower joint. The union nut is tightened until it engages an external collar to complete the coupling between the upper and lower riser joints. The entire process can then be repeated for additional upper riser joints to make up a riser string.
US08210264B2 Subsea overload release system and method
The disclosure provides a subsea overload release system and method. The disclosure provides a releasable connection system than can be overridden during an overload condition, and is resettable in a subsea location in situ. During normal operation, a collet sleeve is slidably engageable with a collet having one or more fingers that can releasably couple a first member with a second member. During an overload condition, an overload piston acting on fluid in an overload reservoir causes an overload pressure and a rupture or other release of fluid through an overload pressure member, causing the overload reservoir to at least partially collapse. The collapse allows the system to extend and force open the fingers to disengage the second member from the first member. When the overload symptom is rectified, the overload reservoir can be reset and the overload pressure member reset or replaced without requiring repairs above sea surface.
US08210253B2 Oil well pump
A pump system for use in with a downhole pipe string has a pump comprising at least one cylinder with at least one piston inside the cylinder, the movement of the piston causing fluid to be drawn into the pump through a pump inlet before being pushed out through a pump outlet. The pump is housed in a tube having a cammed surface formed by internal wall of the tube, and the piston has a cam follower such that rotation of the piston relative to the tube causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder. Further, a pump system is shown which has two or more such pumps arranged along the downhole pipe string, the pump outlets feeding into a common manifold. The strokes of the piston or pistons of one pump may be out of step with the strokes of the piston or pistons of another pump such that the outlet stream is more uniform.
US08210251B2 Slickline conveyed tubular cutter system
A tubular cutter is run in on slickline. It features onboard power to selectively actuate an anchor and to initiate a tubular cutting operation with a cutter that is extendable and rotatable on its axis and the axis of the tool that carries an on board power supply.
US08210246B2 High performance three-fluid vehicle heater
A heat exchanger assembly includes a pair of outer headers each defining an outer cavity and a pair of inner headers each defining an inner cavity. Each inner header is disposed in one of the outer headers, and each header defines a plurality of header slots. A plurality of first fluid tubes extend between the outer headers from one of the header slots of each outer header to fluidly interconnect the outer cavities defined by the outer headers and a plurality of second fluid tubes are interleaved with the first refrigerant tubes and extend between the outer headers and through one of the header slots of each outer header and through the associated outer cavities defined by the outer headers and to the one of the header slots of each inner header to fluidly interconnect the inner cavities defined by the inner headers.
US08210244B2 Heat exchanger, in particular radiator for motor vehicles
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a radiator for motor vehicles, comprising a black consisting of tubes and ribs and a lower and upper collection chamber, the lower collection chamber having several chambers which are separated from one another by partitions and between which a fluidic connection can be established. If necessary, by means of a displaceable actuator via connection orifices (17, 18, 19) that are located in a connection channel (16). According to the invention, the actuator is configured as a piston (30) that can be displaced axially between an open and a closed position and the cross-sections of the connection channel (16) and the piston (30) taper from the exterior to the interior in the vicinity of the connection orifices (17, 18, 19).
US08210241B2 Heat sink fan
An axial fan having a rotatable impeller is arranged above a heat sink with a rotation axis of the impeller substantially coincident with a center axis of a base portion of the heat sink. Radially outer ends of fins arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the base station define an envelope which is provided with a recess therein. The axial fan has a hosing including a surrounding portion surrounding the impeller and arms extending from the surrounding portion. Each arm is provided with an engagement portion engaging with the recess of the heat sink, so that the axial fan is secured to the heat sink. Each arm also has an attachment portion at its lower end. At the attachment portion, an assembly of the axial fan and the heat sink is attached to a motherboard with an object to be cooled mounted thereon.
US08210236B2 Method of and apparatus for measuring separation of casting surfaces
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a method of measuring the separation of moving confronting casting surfaces within a casting cavity of a casting apparatus. The method involves attaching at least one separation sensing device to a first one of a pair of confronting casting surfaces outside the casting cavity and then moving the casting surfaces to advance the sensing device(s) through the casting cavity while operating the device(s) to generate signals. The signals are monitored continuously or at regular intervals and converted to distance measurements representing separation of the surfaces at a plurality of positions through the casting cavity. Other exemplary embodiments provide apparatus for carrying out the method, and methods of measuring irregularities of casting belts or the like.
US08210233B2 Apparatus for manufacturing metal articles, in particular of light alloy
An apparatus for manufacturing metal articles, in particular of light, alloy, includes a die including a pair of portions which can be separated to each other, which, in the closed condition, delimitate forging cavities having a shape corresponding to one or more articles to be forged, and a furnace adapted to melt the metal and to control the reaching by the molten metal of the hollow impressions of the die, as a result of overflowing through a duct connected to the furnace. A portion of the die includes, for each hollow impression, a movable punch adapted to apply a predetermined pressure on the relevant article during the forging step. Each punch is moveable in a manner independent from the other punches, and the apparatus includes a controller for controlling the pressure applied by each punch during the forging step, which allow to level the pressure applied by all the punches on the relevant article.
US08210228B2 Roller shade system having a pleated shade fabric
A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The pleated roller shade system comprises a drive system, such as a motor or manual drive system, for controlling of the rotation of the roller tube. The roller shade system may comprise a pleating hem bar that is contained within a hem bar pocket of the shade fabric and has a non-linear shape for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The roller shade system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. The pleating assembly includes a plurality of pleating elements that each have a T-shaped or funnel-shaped structure for causing the shade fabric to hang with the pleats.
US08210222B2 Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire having improved driving stability and wear resistance on dry road surfaces and improved running performance on snow. The pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with first, second and third main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and a plurality of lug grooves each extending from one shoulder side to the other shoulder side. A width of a first land section defined between the first and second main grooves is set greater than a width of a second land section defined between the first and third main grooves, a plurality of inclined grooves are provided in the first land section, where each inclined groove communicates with at least three of the lug grooves while being inclined to the tire circumferential direction, and one end of each inclined groove is open to one of the lug grooves while the other end thereof is terminated within a block.
US08210220B2 Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire having a tread surface provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves and lateral grooves each having one end opened into that circumferential groove and the other end terminating in a land portion. At least one lateral groove is always included completely in the ground contact surface of the tread. The groove width of the lateral grooves is at least locally not less than 30% of the groove width of the circumferential grooves. Each lateral groove has an extending length not less than 40% of an extending length of the circumferential grooves in the ground contact surface and is provided with a region having a cross-sectional area which increases from its side of opening into the circumferential groove toward its terminal end, and including a starting end with a minimum cross-sectional area that is situated closer to the circumferential groove in which the lateral groove opens.
US08210219B2 Pneumatic tire with tread having crown rib and middle ribs
A pneumatic tire comprises circumferentially-continuously-extending crown main grooves and shoulder main grooves to divide the tread portion into one crown rib, two middle ribs and two shoulder ribs. The middle rib is provided with a circumferentially-continuously-extending middle sub groove to define an axially inner part and an axially outer part. The axially inner part is provided with inner middle lug grooves comprising an axially outer wide main part and an axially inner narrow part. The axially outer part is provided with outer middle lug grooves comprising an axially outer main part an axially inner sipe-like narrow part . The width and position of the middle sub groove, and the widths of the lug grooves are specifically defined in order to improve the wet performance and noise performance in a well balanced manner while maintaining the steering stability.
US08210218B2 Pneumatic tire with tread having isosceles trapezoidal block portion between lug grooves
A pneumatic tire which prevents one-sided biased abrasion from being generated, the pneumatic tire having a non-directed rotational direction and comprises lug grooves 20 cutting across a land portion at a shoulder side of a tread portion 16 at both sides in a tire width direction. Each of the lug grooves 20 has a tapered groove portion 21 such that the groove width gradually becomes narrower such that a trapezoidal block portion 22 having a short side at the shoulder side as seen from a tire tread surface side is formed between the lug grooves 20 in a tire peripheral direction. The tapered groove portion 21 is formed so as to extend beyond a one quarter point Q from a tread end T. Accordingly, since in whichever direction the pneumatic tire 10 is rotated, a lug angle α of a trailing end near the one quarter point Q becomes 90 degrees or less, it is possible to prevent one-sided biased abrasion from being generated.
US08210216B2 Paint supplying system and apparatus
A paint supplying system and apparatus for delivering paint to a container system from a supply of paint at a remote location by a paint delivery system to permit application of the paint delivered to the container by a separate coating implement is provided. The container system includes a vessel having a bottom and a peripheral side wall, the peripheral side wall and the bottom define an open interior space. A connector includes a body with opposed first and second ends, a first port on the first end, a second port on the second end, and a through passage connecting the first and second ports, the body being attached at the first end to the bottom such that the first port is in fluid communication with the open interior space, and connectable at the second end to the hand wand such that the second port is in fluid communication with the supply passage.
US08210214B2 Apparatus and method for providing hydrogen at a high pressure
An apparatus and method for providing a hydrogen rich gas stream at a high pressure for use by hydrogen vehicles or other devices requiring hydrogen rich feed streams are disclosed in the present invention. As the pressure of gaseous hydrogen is increased, the temperature of the gaseous hydrogen also increases due to the heat of compression. The apparatus and method of the present invention utilize localized cooling via a vortex tube to cool the gaseous hydrogen caused by the increase in pressure.
US08210211B2 Method of manufacturing a unitary conduit for transporting fluids
A method for fabricating a unitary conduit is disclosed the method comprising the steps of determining three-dimensional information of the unitary conduit having at least one flow passage, converting the three-dimensional information into a plurality of slices that each define a cross-sectional layer of the unitary conduit, and successively forming each layer of the unitary conduit by fusing a metallic powder using laser energy. A unitary conduit is disclosed, comprising a body and a flow passage, wherein the flow passage and the body have a unitary construction, and made by using a rapid manufacturing process.
US08210209B2 Microfluidic system including a bubble valve for regulating fluid flow through a microchannel
A microfluidic system includes a bubble valve for regulating fluid flow through a microchannel. The bubble valve includes a fluid meniscus interfacing the microchannel interior and an actuator for deflecting the membrane into the microchannel interior to regulate fluid flow. The actuator generates a gas bubble in a liquid in the microchannel when a sufficient pressure is generated on the membrane.
US08210207B2 Directly piloted valve assembly
A directly piloted valve assembly has a valve body including a bore, at least one inlet port, at least one outlet port and at least one exhaust port or second outlet port wherein the ports are all in fluid communication with the bore. A spool is received in the bore. The spool includes a wall defining a lumen. An actuator is received in the lumen. The actuator includes a shuttle seal channel. A shuttle seal is received in the shuttle seal channel. A solenoid is connected to the valve body. The wall of the spool includes at least one pilot hole in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the spool and the bore of the valve body.
US08210198B1 Wall hydrant with support brackets
A wall hydrant assembly for movably positioning a wall hydrant between a first and second structural member includes a first and second rail adapted to be secured to the first and second structural member. The first rail is adapted to engage a first portion of the wall hydrant and the second rail is adapted to engage a second portion of the wall hydrant to allow the wall hydrant to move substantially along the length of the first and second rails. The wall hydrant assembly can include first and second tabs which co-act with the first and second rails. The first and second rails can each define an elongated slot. The first and second tabs can each include a shaft which co-acts with the elongated slot to allow the wall hydrant to be moveable along the first and second rails.
US08210196B2 Vacuum control system and vacuum control method
A vacuum control system using a vacuum pump to control a vacuum pressure and a flow of a processing gas in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum control system includes: a plurality of vacuum control valves, each of the valves being connected between each of a plurality of gas discharge ports and the vacuum pump; a pressure measurement unit configured to measure the vacuum pressure of the processing gas supplied to the object; and a controller configured to manipulate respective openings of the valves in accordance with the measured vacuum pressure.
US08210193B2 Sun shade protector
An apparatus for providing protection from rays from the sun while performing outdoor tasks including at least one of mowing a lawn with a lawn mower and pushing a stroller. The apparatus comprises a sunshade having a predetermined shape, a predetermined size and formed of a first predetermined material. A frame member includes at least two substantially U-shaped members and is engageable with an underside of the sunshade. A respective one of a pair of elongated members is engageable at a first end thereof with a respective end of one of the at least two substantially U-shaped members and is further engageable on a second end with a handle of at least one of a lawn mower and a stroller. One of a clamp and a screw member is used for securing the pair of elongated members to such handle of such lawn mower and such stroller.
US08210192B1 Oscillating washbox for cylinder head utilizing echelon formation nozzle alignment and an improved nozzle plate design
A bottom wall, a pitched top wall, and sidewalls cooperate to define a washbox for washing a part. The pitched top wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface is pitched with a maximum distance from the bottom wall at a peak of the pitched top wall. The exterior surface is smooth and free from projections. The washbox further includes ports that extend through the sidewalls to provide fluid to the washbox. A plurality of bores extend through the pitched top wall and are arranged in a row echelon pattern for spraying the part.
US08210191B2 Dishwasher having multi-mode spray arm system
A spray assembly for an automatic dishwasher is provided comprising a conduit system for receiving pressurized washing liquid, and an elongated spray arm including an upper surface and a lower surface. The spray arm includes a dividing wall between the upper surface and the lower surface. The spray arm includes a plurality of orifices formed in the upper surface and the lower surface for distributing the liquid throughout the dishwasher. The dividing wall and the upper surface define an upper interior compartment and the dividing wall and the lower surface define a lower interior compartment. The conduit includes a water feed system and a water diverting mechanism for selectively diverting water into the upper compartment, the lower compartment, or both the upper and the lower compartments.
US08210189B2 Method, apparatus, and system for bi-solvent based cleaning of precision component
A bi-solvent cleaning system for cleaning precision components without the use of VOC solvents. The bi-solvent cleaning system provides for is a two mode operation for cleaning and rinsing precision components using VOC exempt solvents that is as effective as prior art VOC solvent based systems while subsequently allowing for recovery and reuse of a VOC exempt solvent.
US08210184B2 Controlled biothermotherapy
A method for thermotherapy of a biological tissue by determining the temperature at which to heat a target site to be treated to provide a temperature to the site to effect therapy, the temperature above body temperature but below a protein denaturation temperature, as determined by a patient's experience of a sensation of pain. Thermotherapy is effected in the absence of coagulative effects by providing oscillatory energy at the predetermined temperature.
US08210183B2 Device, system, kit, and method for epicardial access
Described are equipment, a system, a kit and a method for the performance of a minimally-intensive body access, such as cardiac access. Epicardial Access Surgery (EAS) is disclosed. EAS does not need general anesthesia or extracorporeal circulation nor does it need a chest opening, which is very advantageous for various aspects. For instance an operation of a coronary artery bypass is created by creating a direct path of flow from one body artery into a coronary artery with the aid of catheter-based minimally-invasive EAS based bypass surgery. In addition, various medical devices are used, such as a special partially flexible needle, a special partially covered stent, and a special partially flexible port.
US08210180B2 Mask with integral cushion and forehead piece
A respiratory mask has an adjustable forehead support member that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The forehead support member may be adjusted by rotating a forehead pad about an off-center bore or by bending an angular adjustment beam. The mask has a mask cushion with an accordionate membrane having at least two hinged portions. The mask may be constructed with a mask frame, the mask cushion, and the forehead support member molded as one piece.
US08210176B2 Method and system to decrease intracranial pressure, enhance circulation, and encourage spontaneous respiration
Systems and methods are provided for decreasing intracranial pressure and enhancing circulation in a breathing person, as well as for increasing the respiratory rate and encouraging spontaneous respiration. According to such methods, a valve system is interfaced to a person's airway. The valve system has a threshold valve and an airway member that interfaces with the person's airway. The threshold valve is configured to prevent respiratory gas flow to the person's lungs during a portion of an inhalation event until the inspiration equals or exceeds an opening pressure of the threshold valve. Also, a small level of external vacuum is constantly supplied at a juncture between the threshold valve and the airway member.
US08210166B2 Vial multi-access adapter
A multi-access adapter operable to dispense doses of a medicament in succession from a bulk container, such as a vial. A preferred adapter may be used alone, or in combination with various discharge devices. A first preferred combination includes the adapter paired with a needle for injection of the medicament into one or more patients. A second preferred combination includes an atomizing nozzle affixed to the adapter and arranged for discharge of the medicament therethrough. Sometimes the atomizing nozzle carries a nostril guide structure that can be absorbent and may operate as a splash guard.
US08210159B1 Multiple eye paintball loader motor control
A multiple eye paintball loader motor controller having a container and an outfeed tube to direct paintballs to a marker. Ball sensors are in the loader outfeed tube to predict incoming paintballs and the rate of supply. A controller is connected to the ball sensor to sense the incoming balls to control or adapt the operation of the loader in accordance with the supply rate. Secondary sensors may also be utilized to provide additional information. Secondary sensors may be placed in the outfeed tube, placed to provide supplemental side information, or a combination of these placements. Various placements provide feed rate information and may also detect jammed ball positions in the transition area at the end of the outfeed tube.
US08210155B2 Method of and device for controlling pressure in accumulation chamber of accumulation fuel injection apparatus
A method of and a device for controlling a pressure is provided in which control performance of accumulation chamber pressure is not deteriorated even in the presence of a disturbance by estimating, with observer control, a disturbance pressure that acts on an accumulation chamber (common rail) constituting an accumulator fuel injection apparatus adapted for use in a diesel engine and the like, and by correcting a pump discharge command with a compensation value capable of compensating for the estimated disturbance pressure.Provision of a feedback control unit 42 capable of calculating a pump discharge command value of a fuel pump based on a pressure difference between an actual accumulation chamber pressure detected by a fuel pressure sensor 46 and a target pressure of an accumulation chamber and a disturbance observer control unit 44 capable of deriving a compensation value compensating the disturbance by the numerical model of the pump discharge command value to the fuel pump, the disturbance pressure acting on the accumulation chamber, and an accumulation chamber pressure by using a transfer function of the fuel pump and by estimating the disturbance pressure from the numerical model, and an output from the feedback control unit 42 is corrected with the disturbance compensation value from the disturbance observer control unit 44.
US08210154B2 Variable valve actuation apparatus of internal combustion engine
In a variable valve actuation apparatus of an internal combustion engine configured to variably control at least a working angle of an engine valve, a valve actuation mechanism is configured to control a valve acceleration characteristic of the engine valve depending on an engine operating condition. The valve actuation mechanism is configured to bring about a first state where a maximum positive valve-closing acceleration of the engine valve becomes less than a maximum positive valve-opening acceleration of the engine valve, at a maximum working angle. The valve actuation mechanism is further configured so that a second state where the maximum positive valve-opening acceleration of the engine valve becomes less than the maximum positive valve-closing acceleration of the engine valve, exists at a working angle less than the maximum working angle.
US08210150B2 Frictionless hybrid thermionic rotary engine
A motor according to the invention includes a combustion chamber; a central rotor disposed within the combustion chamber; a shaft, which engages the rotor longitudinally and extends from the combustion chamber in opposite directions; and a proximal rotor and a distal rotor, which are coupled to the shaft in symmetrically opposite positions and have passages defined thereon to receive at least some of the exhaust gas exiting the combustion chamber and impart a vertical motion to that exhaust gas. After exiting the proximal and distal rotors, the exhaust gas is directed to an interspace between the shaft and a housing of the motor and forms pneumatic bearings between the shaft and the housing, which maintain the shaft in a frictionless suspended position during operation of the motor. In one embodiment, some of the exhaust gas energizes batteries disposed around the motor.
US08210149B2 Baffle plate
A baffle plate includes a discharge portion that discharges lubricating oil that has dropped onto the baffle plate, to an oil pan. The discharge portion extends to be inclined in a direction in which cylinders are arranged, with respect to a rotation central axis of a crankshaft. The discharge portion includes a guide groove in which an upstream portion in a rotational direction of the crankshaft is located under a counter weight, and a downstream portion in the rotational direction of the crankshaft is located under a crank bearing. The discharge portion includes a discharge hole that is formed in the downstream portion of the guide groove in the rotational direction, and that provides communication between the oil pan and an engine block.
US08210143B2 Adjustable camshaft arrangement
A camshaft arrangement having two shafts disposed coaxially, one inside the other. A connecting element is inserted into a receptacle in the inner shaft, such that a part of the connecting element protrudes out of the receptacle, and that the protruding part is inserted at least partially in a recess, the recess is designed to be open at least toward an end face of the inner shaft cam, and that the protruding part has at least two opposite side surfaces contacting two corresponding inner surfaces of the recess of each inner shaft cam with a force fit. The further connecting element is designed as a radial pin pressed through a hole in the inner shaft cam element into a receptacle of the inner shaft.
US08210139B2 Engine electronic valve actuation
A head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes an electromagnetic valve actuation system. The head has an intake or exhaust passage defined therein. A valve is disposed in the passage and is operable to selectively open and close the passage. The head has a cooling passage defined therein for passage of a cooling fluid. An electromagnetic actuator has a piston in mechanical communication with the valve and a coil in fluid communication with the cooling passage. The electromagnetic actuator is operable to move the valve between a closed and an open position.
US08210133B2 Engine-driven power generator apparatus
Engine cooling structure directs cooling air, introduced into a case by operation of a fan, to a cylinder block of an engine and then discharges the cooling air out of the case through an outlet port along meandering flow passages. Case cooling structure directs cooling along the inner surface of the case. Further cooling flow passage directs the air to vertically-oriented heat radiating fins so that the cooling air flows upward along the fins and then is discharged through the outlet port. Metal cooling-fan cover is supported by the lower cover via mounting members, and a resin-made cover guide is fastened to the engine together with supporting portions and interposed between the fan cover and the engine.
US08210124B2 Method of artificially rearing lobster larvae and rearing apparatus
A method of artificially rearing lobster larvae, in which lobster larvae of the Palinuridae and Scyllaridae families are guided toward jellyfish so that the lobster larvae parasitize the jellyfish and grow on the host jellyfish. An apparatus for rearing lobster larvae wherein a symbiotic feeding tank (1), in which the larvae are reared in the state of being parasitic on the jellyfish, and a jellyfish rearing tank (2) are connected together via a pipe (3), through which water and the jellyfish are supplied from the jellyfish rearing tank (2) to the symbiotic feeding tank (1), and the pipe (3) is provided with a switching valve (7).
US08210118B2 Food breader
A breading machine for dispensing a coating material onto a food product includes a breading chamber, a continuous conveyor for transporting food products through the breading chamber, a hopper including at least one downspout and a sloped bottom for dispensing coating material onto the food products, a hopper conveyor positioned within the hopper. At least one of an angular position or a vertical position of the hopper conveyor is adjustable to accommodate a variety of free flowing and non-free flowing coating materials. One or more air knives may be positioned in the downspouts to fluidize the coating material to alleviate bridging and/or build-up of the coating material within the downspout.
US08210113B1 Web cutting and sewing apparatus
A sewing system is disclosed for facilitating the sewing together with a sewing machine ends of at least two webs that are held by a spooling machine. A substantially horizontal carriage rail is supported by a support mounting means in fixed relationship with the spooling machine and itself slidably supports a sewing carriage adapted to hold the sewing machine. A trimming carriage is also slidably supported on the carriage rail and supports a conventional trimming machine that trims the ends of each web ahead of the sewing machine. The trimming carriage is selectively and mechanically fixed with the sewing carriage with a mechanical fastener, so that as the sewing carriage is moved along the carriage rail, the trimming carriage is also moved along thereby. A substantially horizontal support platform is fixed with the carriage rail and adapted to hold each web fixed with respect thereto with a plurality of vertically-movable pins that traverse each web in a raised position.
US08210112B2 Method for improving the slag quality of grate firing systems
A method for improving a slag quality of slag in a grate firing system. The method includes providing slag in a grate firing system including a combustion chamber disposed above a combustion bed. The combustion bed has a plurality of fixed-bed burnout zones in series on a combustion grate. The fixed-bed burnout zones include a first series of fixed-bed burnout zones and a second fixed bed burn-out zone disposed downstream of the first series. The first series of fixed-bed burnout zones is traversed with a flow of oxygen-containing gas. A portion of the combustion bed associated with the second fixed bed burn-out zone is traversed with a flow of a hot combustion gas from the combustion chamber.
US08210109B1 Pneumatic adjustable-height table
An adjustable table is easily moved from coffee table height to dining table. The weight of the table top is supported by a pneumatic cylinder, preferably exerting a force slightly greater than the weight of the table top. The cylinder connects to a much larger air tank, so that essentially constant lifting force is exerted. For stability of the table top a guide mechanism firmly retains the table against rotation, side movement or tilting. A unique locking mechanism retains the table at a selected height and is easily released with a finger lever.
US08210107B2 Plastic pallet structure
An industrial platform for material handling, such as a plastic pallet, is constructed of three scuffed thermoplastic sheets, including exterior intumescent polymeric surfaces for resisting the spread of combustion flames and insulating the interior surfaces from the high temperature of fire. The pallet is reinforced with optional rigidifying structures without article modification. Pallet members are joined with snap together features providing an assembled article. The pallet includes handles for ergonomic manipulation by worker, and is readily adapted to receive a number of unitization accessories for enhancing material handling operations.
US08210104B2 Moveable printing plate registration member
A method for registering a printing plate includes supporting the printing plate on a support surface. A plurality of registration members adapted to register an edge of the printing plate is provided. The first printing plate is moved over the support surface along a first direction to a position where the edge of the printing plate contacts a first registration member of the plurality of registration members. The first registration member is moved along a second direction that intersects the first direction while maintaining contact between the first registration member and the edge of the printing plate at a location on the edge that does not substantially vary as the first registration member moves along the second direction. Contact is established between the printing plate and a second registration member of the plurality of registration members after the first registration member has commenced moving along the second direction.
US08210102B2 Switch-over processing method and apparatus
A switch-over processing method includes the steps of performing a first process on a sheet passing between a first cylinder and a second cylinder with a first mounted body being mounted on a circumferential surface of the second cylinder arranged to oppose the first cylinder, and performing a second process different from the first process on the sheet passing between the first cylinder and the second cylinder with a second mounted body being mounted on a circumferential surface of the second cylinder in place of the first mounted body. A switch-over processing apparatus is also disclosed.
US08210100B2 Cooking apparatus and method with product recognition
Cooking apparatus having first and second platens with product recognition. A positioning mechanism moves the second platen toward the first. A detector senses the second platen making contact with a food product disposed on the first platen and provides a signal. A controller uses the signal to measure the travel distance of the second platen. The product thickness is a function of the travel distance, which is used to select a cooking procedure for the food product. The controller then executes the selected cooking procedure to cook the food product. The detector can include a micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor, sonar sensor or positioning load change sensor.
US08210099B2 Baby formula maker
A baby formula maker including: a main body in which a water tub and a baby formula tub are installed; a heating portion installed in the main body and heating water contained in the water tub; a time controller controlling time at which the water is heated by the heating portion; a cooling portion including a radiator cooling the water heated by the heating portion and one or a plurality of Peltier cooling modules attached to the radiator so as to lower the temperature of the radiator; and a electric current controller controlling temperatures of the one or the plurality of Peltier cooling modules. The time required to make milk for nursing can be remarkably reduced, and if milk for nursing is needed, immediate nursing can be carried out, and speed and convenience can be provided to the user, and the baby formula maker is sanitary and compact and has a simple structure and thus can be economically manufactured on a mass scale.
US08210098B2 Brewing device for capsule with closure mechanism of variable transmission ratio
A brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient, the device including a main frame, a first capsule holding part, a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule mobile relative to the first capsule holding part in the frame and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism that includes knuckle joints; and a manual handle forming lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The closing mechanism includes an additional force transmitting member associated with the handle and arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joints that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule.
US08210097B2 Machine for automatically preparing and dispensing beverages, by performing mechanical operations on spherical capsules
The technical problem of the present invention is to provide a machine for automatically preparing and dispensing beverages that has an infusion chamber of simple design and optimises the infusion of the capsule so that all areas of the latter are subjected to water injection. The solution of the invention is an assembly including a machine for automatically and dispensing beverages that comprises an infusion chamber (11) adapted for receiving a capsule (1) formed by a compacted aggregate of a substance to be infused trapped in an airtight and watertight conditioning envelope, said infusion chamber being provided with a member (12) for puncturing said conditioning envelope, penetrating into said aggregate of substance to be infused and injecting pressurized water into said capsule, said infusion chamber including a puncture area (20) adapted for locally puncturing or piercing said conditioning envelope, said puncture area (20) communicating with a device (21, 21a, 22) for recovering the liquid flowing through the punctured or pierced area of said conditioning envelope, characterized in that the puncture area (20) is located in the infusion chamber (11) on the same side as the puncturing member (12), said puncture area being provided at the base of said puncturing member and connected thereto, the water being injected towards the portion of the capsule (1) opposite said puncture area so as to be evenly distributed into the entire capsule.
US08210096B2 Infusion device for prepare beverages from single-serving capsules
A device including a first portion of an infusion chamber and a second portion of an infusion chamber, movable with respect to each other according to an opening and closing direction; a first duct to feed an infusion fluid into said infusion chamber; a second duct for delivery of the food product from the infusion chamber; a pair of guide channels to insert a capsule into a space between the first portion of the infusion chamber and the second portion of the infusion chamber. The guide channels are each produced on a respective movable element; and the movable elements are positioned substantially opposite each other and can be opened to release the capsule into the infusion chamber.
US08210087B2 Apparatus and method for securing a suppressor to a weapon
The invention is an adapter and a method for securing a silencer/suppressor to the barrel of a firearm. The invention incorporates a uniformly deformable spring washer positioned within a cavity within the adapter. The cavity communicates with an opening in the silencer/suppressor into which the discharge end of the barrel of the firearm is fitted. As the silencer/suppressor is secured to the discharge end of the barrel of the weapon, the uniformly deformable spring washer is deformed uniformly, locking the silencer/suppressor together with the barrel of the weapon, and preventing the silencer/suppressor from separating from the barrel.
US08210080B2 Workpiece cutting method and band saw machine
A workpiece cutting method utilizing a band-saw machine, includes the following steps of: guiding tooth tips of an endless band-saw blade provided on the band-saw machine in a direction of a workpiece by a band-saw blade guiding apparatus; and applying vibrations to the band-saw blade in a cutting direction to the workpiece so as to perform cutting of the workpiece by a vibration applying unit provided on the band-saw blade guiding apparatus.
US08210077B2 Device for cutting labels in a labelling machine
A device (1) for cutting labels in a labelling machine, including a cutting roller (2) having at least one blade (3) co-operating with a fixed counter-blade (4) able to be operatively associated to the roller for cutting the labels, a mechanical shaft (5) whereon is keyed said cutting roller (2), a frame (6) to support said mechanical shaft (5) and a heat exchanger circuit containing an operating fluid. Precisely, a first portion (9a) of said circuit is constructed on said support frame (6) and a second portion (9b) of said exchanger circuit is constructed on said mechanical shaft (5), said exchanger circuit thermally interacting with said frame (6) and with said cutting roller (2). The device further includes an impeller for generating a flow of said operating fluid within the heat exchanger circuit, said impeller for generating a flow of said operating fluid being connected to the mechanical shaft (5) and being operatively inserted in said heat exchanger circuit.
US08210066B2 Electromagnetic synchronizer actuating system
An assembly for actuating a synchronizer includes a shift fork, a shift rail, and a permanent magnet connected to the shift rail. A first control coil is disposed in proximity to the permanent magnet. The first control coil is operable to produce a magnetomotive force on the permanent magnet in a first direction when a current is applied to the first control coil. A second control coil is disposed in proximity to the permanent magnet. The second control coil is operable to produce a magnetomotive force on the permanent magnet in a second direction when a current is applied to the second control coil. The permanent magnet is moved to a first position when the current is applied to the first control coil and the permanent magnet is moved to a second position when the current is applied to the second control coil. Movement of the magnet in turn moves the synchronizer between engaged positions.
US08210061B2 Gas sensor fitting structure
A gas sensor is fitted to an exhaust pipe such that an end face in which a vent-hole is formed is not visible from any position of inlet portions of the exhaust pipe. Thus, it is possible to suppress entry of condensed water through the vent hole formed in the end face of the gas sensor. As a result, it is possible to minimize occurrence of a crack in the gas sensor.
US08210058B2 LNG sampling cylinder and method
A sampling cylinder for LNG (liquefied natural gas) is provided. The sampling cylinder includes a piston cylinder arrangement having opposite end members closing the chamber inside the cylinder. Various porting arrangements are provided for allowing fluid to be fed into a chamber inside the cylinder on opposite sides of a piston. A sample chamber is provided at one end member of the cylinder. The end member containing the sample chamber is also provided with a heat exchanger that may be connected to a source of coolant and preferably the LNG to be sampled to effect cooling of the end member at least partially prior to the sample chamber having a sample of LNG injected thereinto.
US08210056B2 Air filtration sampling point adaptor
Air filtration sampling point adaptors for pulsed air filtration sampling of gas turbine air intakes. According to one aspect of the invention, a sampling apparatus is described. The sampling apparatus can include a mounting base plate having a first surface and a second surface, an outer tubing shell having a first end disposed on the first surface of mounting base plate, a tripod configuration coupled to the mounting base plate and the outer tubing shell and a sampling nozzle disposed on a second end of the outer tubing shell and configured to receive an air flow.
US08210053B2 Apparatus for testing object strength
An apparatus for testing object strength includes a support platform, a force gauge for reading push or pull force exerted on an object, an installation mechanism for slidable installation of the force gauge on the support platform, an installation board supporting the object, a pull-push mechanism connected to the force gauge to be pushed or pulled by the force gauge and exert force on the object, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a pedestal secured to the support platform, a slider slidably mounted to the pedestal, an adjustment rod pivotally mounted to the pedestal and threaded into the slider, and a manipulation member fixed to the adjustment rod. The manipulation member rotates the adjustment rod relative to the slider. Thus the slider slides relative to the pedestal. The installation board adjusts the object relative to the support platform.
US08210051B2 System and method for cyclic testing
A control system is disclosed for controlling a mechanical test comprising a flow control valve that controls a fluidic mechanical muscle having a sheath and a bladder disposed within the sheath, and a servo-controller that controls the operation of the flow control valve based on an output signal from a master controller based on an input signal corresponding to a desired test profile. A method of controlling a component test is disclosed comprising the steps of programming a test profile in a logic controller, supplying a signal to a master controller, supplying a signal from the master controller to a servo-controller, and controlling the flow of a fluid into a fluidic mechanical muscle having a sheath and a bladder disposed within the sheath for applying and reducing mechanical loads on a test specimen.
US08210046B2 Composition for acoustic damping
In one embodiment of the invention, a composition for a damping wedge in an ultrasonic probe having a wedge body is disclosed, the composition including: a viscoelastic material having a ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the modulus of elasticity of at least about 5% and an acoustic impedance less than that of the wedge body; a filament-shaped filler in an effective amount to provide good dispersability in the viscoelastic material and to substantially match the acoustic impedance of the damping wedge to the wedge body; and a viscosity enhancer in an effective amount to increase the viscosity of the composition to maintain a homogenous distribution of the filament-shaped filler by preventing the filament-shaped filler from settling.
US08210045B2 Continuous laser generation of ultrasound
A new invention for the laser-based generation of ultrasound is described. In conventional laser-based ultrasound, a pulse of light is incident on a solid. The light is converted to heat expanding the material near the surface. This thermoelastic expansion creates an acoustic wave in the material. Detection of the ultrasound allows the nondestructive inspection of the material. The rate of performing an ultrasound scan is inherently limited by the pulse rate of the laser. In this invention, a continuous wave (cw) high-power laser sweeps across the material, using thermoelastic expansion to create an ultrasound wavefront on the surface of and in the material. Detection of the ultrasound wavefront provides evidence of the strength of the material and the presence of defects. With Continuous Laser Generation of Ultrasound, material analysts will be able to perform ultrasound scans potentially hundreds of times faster than the current methods.
US08210044B1 Covert laser remote sensing and vibrometry
Designs of single-beam laser vibrometry systems and methods. For example, a method for detecting vibrations of a target based on optical sensing is provided to include operating a laser to produce a laser probe beam at a laser frequency and modulated at a modulation frequency onto a target; collecting light at or near the laser to collect light from the target while the target is being illuminated by the laser probe beam through an optical receiver aperture; using a narrow-band optical filter centered at the laser frequency to filter light collected from the optical receiver aperture to transmit light at the laser frequency while blocking light at other frequencies; using an optical detector to convert filtered light from the narrow-band optical filter to produce a receiver electrical signal; using a lock-in amplifier to detect and amplify the receiver electrical signal at the modulation frequency while rejecting signal components at other frequencies to produce an amplified receiver electrical signal; processing the amplified receiver electrical signal to extract information on vibrations of the target carried by reflected laser probe beam in the collected light; and controlling optical power of the laser probe beam at the target to follow optical power of background illumination at the target.
US08210039B2 Vibrating gyroscope with quadrature signals reduction
A vibrating gyroscope includes a proof mass (1); a spring suspension system (5, 6, 7, 8; 9) for suspending the proof mass; an electrical drive mechanism for vibrating the proof mass along a drive axis (x); and electrodes (2, 3) for building together with at least a part of the proof mass (1) a capacitance system for detecting moves of the proof mass along a sense axis (z) perpendicular to the drive axis. The gyroscope is arranged so that quadrature forces generate displacements of the proof mass without substantially displacing the neutral point (10) of the proof mass along the sense axis (z). This may be achieved by tilting the proof mass while keeping its neutral point at a constant position along the sense axis, or by applying a constant electrostatic force.
US08210038B2 Drive frequency tunable MEMS gyroscope
A drive frequency tunable MEMS sensor in one embodiment includes a mass, a mass drive component configured to drive the mass within a plane, a plurality of non-linear springs supporting the mass a first tuner operably connected to the plurality of non-linear springs for modifying the stress condition of the plurality of non-linear springs in response to a trim voltage, and a trim circuit electrically coupled with the first tuner for providing the trim voltage.
US08210030B2 Fluid probe
A device for detecting a property of a fluid includes a body region and a flexible element having a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly located on the body region. The flexible element is arranged to move from at least a first configuration to a second configuration via bending of the flexible element. The flexible element includes an actuating portion arranged to move the flexible element between the first configuration and the second configuration. The device also includes a movement detector for detecting movement of the flexible element.
US08210029B2 Pipe pressure testing method and apparatus
A pipeline pressure testing assembly has a fitting defining a flow path and having a port on a wall of the fitting into which a pressure testing device is removably inserted along a central axis of the port for pressure testing. The port is circular, larger than the interior diameter of the pipeline and located at or above the tube forming the flow path through the fitting. The fitting has a recess encircling at least part of the flow path and opening to the port to receive the testing and sealing devices. The recess is formed by two opposing walls inclined relative to the central axis of the recess. The recess walls at the top of the flow path by the port are spaced apart a distance as large as the pipe diameter for cleanout and inspection. A tubular valve stem screws into the testing device and has a rotary valve blocking flow through the tubular valve stem. Flow through the fitting is blocked with the rotary valve closed and the tubular valve stem in a first position. Flow through the testing device is allowed with the rotary valve closed and the tubular valve stem in an open position. With the rotary valve open, flow through the tubular valve stem is permitted when the tubular valve stem is in either the first or second position to provide multiple drain and fill options.
US08210024B2 Damage impactor
In one embodiment a damage impactor comprises a housing defining a passage, an impact assembly, an actuator assembly, and an engagement assembly. In one embodiment the impact assembly comprises a guide rod comprising an impact head, and a bias mechanism to bias the guide rod in a first direction. The actuator assembly comprises an actuator, and an actuator rod coupled to the actuator. The engagement assembly selectively couples the impact assembly to the actuator assembly by driving the actuator rod in the first direction to an engagement position where the engagement assembly couples the actuator rod to the guide rod, retracting the actuator rod in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to a release position and releasing the guide rod from the actuator rod. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08210023B2 Method for calibrating a scale factor in an axisymmetrical vibrating gyrometer
The method of calibrating a scale factor of an axially-symmetrical vibrating rate gyro operating by applying an amplitude control signal (CA) and a precession control signal (CP) to a vibrator member (1) set into vibration at a given frequency comprises a pre-calibration step consisting in calculating a reference gain ratio between a drive gain (Gmx) in a first direction and a drive gain (Gmy) in a second direction in modal quadrature with the first direction, and in storing the reference gain ratio, and a calibration step consisting in calculating a value for a measurable magnitude associated with the scale factor by a proportionality relationship including the reference gain ratio, and calculating a corrected scale factor on the basis of the value of the measurable magnitude and the stored reference gain ratio.
US08210014B2 Flexible forming device for forming three-dimensional shaped workpieces
A flexible forming device for forming three-dimensional shaped workpieces, comprising a frame, at least two working rollers, one or more working roller driving mechanisms and one or more adjusting mechanisms, wherein the working rollers, the one or more working roller driving mechanisms and the one or more adjusting mechanisms are installed on the frame respectively. At least one of the working rollers is a flexible working roller, which is bendable and adjustable. The forming device need not use mold and can realize the continuous formation of a three-dimensional curved surface of a plate-shaped workpiece, and the gradual formation of a tube-shaped or bar-shaped three-dimensional shaped workpiece. The forming device can save manpower, material and time.
US08210011B2 Continuous repetitive rolling method for metal strip
A continuous repetitive method of rolling a series combination of asymmetric rolling and skin pass rolling operations is provided. Differential-speed rolling is performed as the asymmetric rolling, and a winder temporarily winds a metal strip with a collapsed plate shape by traverse winding (loose winding which allows the metal strip to be wound in a zigzag manner). Then, the skin pass rolling is performed, and orderly winding is performed in a coil form. In the flow of rolling, tandem rolling may be performed by arranging two or more rolling mills side by side so that the asymmetric rolling and the skin pass rolling operations are continuously performed without the traverse winding therebetween.
US08210008B2 Ignition module with multi-beam spring
An ignition module assembly having a housing member connectable to an ignition system the housing having an undulating surface. A slider member is connected to the housing member and moved between a plurality of discrete positions. The slider member controls the ignition system based on its discrete position. The slider member is configured to receive a key fob. A spring member is compressed between the slider member and the undulating surface and is configured to slide along the undulating surface as the slider member moves between the plurality of discrete positions. The undulations correspond to the discrete positions and a user inserting the key fob into the ignition module assembly and moving the slider member receives haptic feedback to discern the position of the slider member.
US08209997B2 ISO-pressure open refrigeration NGL recovery
The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.
US08209995B2 Collapsible insulated container
A collapsible insulated container has a base wall and a peripheral wall with an open end defining an enclosure. The peripheral wall has at least two layers and is divided into elongate pockets between the layers, with foldable crease lines between adjacent pockets. Each pocket contains a flexible-walled, insulating gel pack which substantially fills the pocket. The crease lines may be defined by stitching securing the outer and inner layers of the container together. The gel packs may be surrounded by matting, foam or mesh material which is sewn into the lines of stitching, or may have integral peripheral rims sewn into the lines of stitching. The container is foldable between an erect, open condition and a storage condition in which it is folded along the crease lines into a substantially flattened package.
US08209994B1 Water condensing system
A community-scale water condensing system which reclaims and stores double-filtered potable water from the air utilizing at least one condenser unit including polyethylene pipe suspended over a collection tank and shaken by a self-contained power source upon activation of a moisture sensor to release water into the collection tank. Water flows from the collection tank into a storage tank through a ball valve and a water storage filter. At least one dispensing unit operationally communicates with the storage tank, each dispensing unit including at least one feeder line with an output valve that can be accessed by an individual through a water tap or other outlet mechanism. A water usage filter disposed between each output valve and each water tap removes debris from the water prior to dispensing the water from the water tap. An auxiliary dispensing unit selectively dispenses additional water during maintenance or shutdown of the other dispensing units.
US08209993B2 Warm water cooling
A method of providing cooled air to electronic equipment includes capturing heated air from a volume containing electronic equipment, cooling the heated air by more than fifteen degrees Celsius in an air-to-water heat exchanger, and supplying cooling water to the air-to-water heat exchanger at a temperature above a dew point temperature of the heated air.
US08209991B2 Cooling storage and method of operating the same
The liquid refrigerant from the compressor 20 and the condenser 21 is alternately supplied to the cooling device for the freezing room 27F and the evaporator for the refrigeration room 27R through the three-way valve 24, so that the freezing room and the refrigeration room are alternately cooled. Here, the ratio of the refrigerant supply time to each evaporator is controlled based not on a deviation between a target temperature set for each storage room and an actual storage room temperature measured in each storage room, but on an integrated value obtained by integrating the difference of these deviations. In a cooling storage, in which from one compressor a refrigerant is selectively supplied to multiple evaporators respectively disposed in multiple storage rooms of varied thermal loads, a one-storage room cooling mode is prevented from being unnecessarily switched to a alternate cooling mode.
US08209989B2 Microarchitecture control for thermoelectric cooling
An integrated circuit is cooled by microarchitecture controlled Peltier effect cooling. In one embodiment, a temperature sensor thermally coupled to at least a portion of the integrated circuit of a die is adapted to provide an output as a function of the temperature of an integrated circuit portion. Operation of a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the integrated circuit portion is controlled as a function of the sensor output, wherein a controller of the integrated circuit controls the thermal electric cooler. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08209987B2 Augmentor pilot
A gas turbine engine augmenter has a gas flowpath. A number of vanes extend into the gas flowpath. A number of augmenter fuel conduits have outlets along at least some of the vanes. At least one burner discharge outlet is along at least one of the vanes for discharging a pilot gas.
US08209986B2 Multi-tube thermal fuse for nozzle protection from a flame holding or flashback event
A protection system for a pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine, includes: a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish a fuel delivery plenum; and a plurality of fuel mixing tubes that extend through at least a portion of the fuel delivery plenum, each of the plurality of fuel mixing tubes including at least one fuel feed opening fluidly connected to the fuel delivery plenum; at least one thermal fuse disposed on an exterior surface of at least one tube, the at least one thermal fuse including a material that will melt upon ignition of fuel within the at least one tube and cause a diversion of fuel from the fuel feed opening to at least one bypass opening. A method and a turbine engine in accordance with the protection system are also provided.
US08209972B2 X-tube and corresponding exhaust system
An X-tube (1) is provided, for an at least partly double-flow exhaust system (2) of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, with a housing (3), which comprises two half shells (4, 5) and which has two inlet openings (7, 8) on an inlet side (6) and two outlet openings (10, 11) on an outlet side (9). The housing provides an interior space (12), which is enclosed by the housing (3) and to which the openings (7, 8, 10, 11) are connected in a communicating manner, with a bottom—partition (13), which is designed as a separate component in relation to the two half shells (4, 5) and which divides the interior space (12) into two ducts (14, 15), which are each connected to an inlet opening (7, 8) and to an outlet opening (10, 11) in a communicating manner. The bottom (13) is made permeable for airborne sound and connects the two ducts (14, 15) to one another in an airborne sound-transmitting manner.
US08209968B2 Hybrid vehicle and method of controlling same
A hybrid vehicle including an engine, a generator capable of generating power by being driven by the engine, an electric motor capable of running on power supplied from the generator, a power split device that transmits output from the engine to a driving wheel and the generator and also transmits output from the electric motor to the driving wheel, and a main ECU that controls an output ratio of the engine and an output ratio of the electric motor using the power split device according to the running state of the vehicle. When the operating mode of the engine is switched between a lean burn operating mode and a stoichiometric burn operating mode, the main ECU selectively increases and decreases the output ratio of the electric motor so that the total output, which is the combined output of the engine and the electric motor, is constant.
US08209967B2 Internal combustion engine exhaust system
An internal combustion engine exhaust system comprises an exhaust gas recirculation pipe which, in use, recirculates engine exhaust gas into the engine air intake. A particulate filter is provided and a burner arrangement is arranged to burn off particulates caught by the filter.
US08209965B2 Additive-agent diffusion plate structure in exhaust passage, and additive-agent diffusion plate in exhaust passage
An additive-agent diffusion plate structure in an exhaust passage for an engine includes: an injection port that injects an additive agent, and that is disposed so that the injected additive agent crosses the exhaust passage; and an additive-agent diffusion plate that diffuses the additive agent injected from the injection port into the exhaust passage, at a position upstream of an exhaust gas purification device disposed in the exhaust passage. The additive-agent diffusion plate includes: a bottom wall that is disposed to extend in an exhaust-gas flow direction in which exhaust gas flows; a collision portion with which the additive agent injected into the exhaust passage collides; and a passage portion that is open behind the collision portion, when the additive-agent diffusion plate is seen from a position of the injection port.
US08209961B2 Engine-off ammonia vapor management system and method
A method of managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system for a vehicle is described. The method may include storing ammonia containing vapors generated in the reductant delivery system during engine-off and then purging said stored ammonia into an exhaust of the engine to react in a catalyst in the exhaust flow during engine operation.
US08209954B2 Exhaust purification device of an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine wherein an NOx storing catalyst is arranged in an engine exhaust passage and an NOx selective reducing catalyst is arranged downstream of the NOx storing catalyst. Just before the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx storing catalyst is temporarily switched from lean to rich to release NOx from the NOx storing catalyst, an amount of NOx necessary for removing ammonia adsorbed on the NOx selective reducing catalyst is fed to the NOx selective reducing catalyst under a lean air-fuel ratio.
US08209948B2 Multilayer structured spun yarn, process for producing the same, and, fabricated from the yarn, heat-resistant fabric and heat-resistant protective suit
The multilayer-structured spun yarn of the present invention is a multilayer-structured spun yarn C composed of a core fiber A and a cover fiber B that wraps around the core fiber; the core fiber A is in a range of 20 to 50 wt %; the cover fiber B is in a range of 50 to 80 wt %; the core fiber A contains a para-aramid fiber and is a stretch breaking twist yarn; the cover fiber B contains a flame-retardant acrylic fiber, a polyetherimide fiber, or a meta-aramid fiber; the direction of twist of the stretch breaking yarn and the direction of twist of the multilayer-structured yarn are the same; and the multilayer-structured yarn C has a twist number 1.2 to 1.6 times greater than that of the stretch breaking yarn. The heat-resistant textile of the present invention uses the aforementioned multilayer-structured spun yarn. The heat-resistant protective suit of the present invention uses the aforementioned heat-resistant textile.
US08209944B1 Custom dispensing of prescription pharmaceuticals
A pharmaceutical storing and dispensing device including a child resistant mode and a non-child resistant mode between the container and the closure. The closure comprises a non-child resistant cap shaped to removeably engage the container and a child-resistant cap shaped to be permanently fixed to the non-resistant cap. The non-child resistant cap and child resistant cap are provided in intentionally varying quantities such that the quantity of child resistant caps is less than the quantity of non-child resistant caps.
US08209943B2 Distributed medicine supplying device and medicine packaging device
There is provided a distributed medicine supplying device, which allows medicines to be distributed at a time relative to a plurality of prescription data and to be distributed appropriately in response to various types of requests. The distributed medicine supplying device includes: a receiving unit 7 for receiving prescription data; a storing unit 8 for storing an assignment condition to medicine to be accommodated in measures 4 of a tray 5; a central processing unit 10 for determining a position of the medicine to be distributed to each of the measures 4 of the tray 5 in accordance with the assignment condition stored in the storing unit 8 based on the prescription data 12 sequentially received by the receiving unit 7; and a displaying unit 9 for displaying the distribution position determined by the central processing unit 10.
US08209939B2 System and method for supporting a load across a plurality of non-intersecting beams
A system for supporting a load across non-intersecting beams each having a web depending from an upper chord with an upper surface generally parallel with a chordal plane includes at least one crossing member intersecting the beams at intersection loci. At each intersection locus the beam presents a channel receiving a crossing member in a nesting orientation in an installed orientation. The crossing member includes a support expanse configured for an abutting relation with the upper chord to present the upper surface and a top surface of the crossing member as coplanar in the installed orientation. The beam and the crossing member have aperture-pairs in register in the installed orientation. The apertures accommodate tension resisting members or compression resisting members coupled with the upper chord and traversing the crossing member for resisting tension or compression forces on the upper chord in the installed orientation.
US08209933B2 Connector
A connector comprising a guide tube, and a dowel, the guide tube being arranged to receive an end of the dowel, characterized by the end of the dowel passing through the guide tube into a fixing chamber via an orifice, 5 the fixing chamber being arranged to receive a fixing means, the fixing means being arranged to restrict the motion of the dowel within the guide tube.
US08209927B2 Structural fiber cement building materials
A structural fiber cement sheet containing cementitious matrix and reinforcing cellulose fibers distributed throughout the matrix having a dry density less than 1.25 g/cm3, a thickness less than 0.7500 in, and able to withstand uniform loads of 200 psf or greater according to test method of Section 6.4.2.4 of PS2 and with a deflection of less than 0.067 inches at 60 psf when spaced on a span of 24 inches or less on center.
US08209926B2 Assembly for reducing ice damming on roof
An assembly for reducing ice damming along a roof using solar energy is provided including at least one tabular solar collection panel having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface shaped in a rectangular shape. Each panel includes a plurality of holes extending entirely through the panel. A plurality of pads is attached to the opposing surface of said tabular panel for spacing the entire tabular panel from a substrate such as a roof surface. Each panel further includes a “U” shaped offset member attached to an interconnecting member which in turn is attached to the assembly.
US08209925B2 Connector system for securing an end portion of a steel structural member to a vertical cast concrete member
A steel structural member such as a joist or beam is secured to a vertical cast concrete by a connector system including a fabricated steel receiver embedded within the wall. Embedded anchors are attached to the receiver which has front wall portions flush with the concrete wall and define a front opening. A support bracket has an attachment plate secured to the beam and a vertical plate which fits through the front opening within the receiver. The bracket is attached to the beam which is then elevated, and the vertical plate is inserted through the opening into the receiver. The beam and vertical plate are then shifted until opposite edge portions of the vertical plate are blocked by the front wall portions of the receiver. In the illustrated embodiments, the front opening and vertical plate are generally triangular, and the support bracket has a vertical or horizontal attachment plate.
US08209919B2 Mounting support for photovoltaic modules
A mounting support for mounting photovoltaic modules constructed with at least one glass pane on a flat roof surface includes a flexible elongated strip having a bottom side with a substantially smooth surface for attachment to the roof surface and a top side with a substantially smooth surface for supporting the photovoltaic modules. The top side of the strip includes recesses oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip and separating strip segments which allows the mounting support or strip to be easily rolled up. The strip segments include integrally formed fastening members configured to engage with cooperating fasteners for securing the photovoltaic modules on top side of the strip. The top surface may also include longitudinal grooves or tubes holding the fastening members.
US08209917B1 Temporary, non-load bearing wall assembly
A temporary, non-load bearing wall panel that when joined together with other like panels, is used as a barrier (also known as a barricade wall) that keeps a construction area, vacant store, or any other undesirable element out of the reach and view of pedestrians. If required by the end user, the panels could be laminated with a visual graphic for reasons of aesthetic enhancement, advertisement of service, announcement of future business expectations, etc. A door and/or window display, dust curtains, etc. may be added to the panels as dictated by the end user.
US08209915B2 Wall construction air barrier system
A wall construction air barrier system includes a foundation structure and a frame structure positioned on top of the foundation structure. The frame structure has an exterior surface and the frame structure includes a sill plate. At least one exterior sheathing is attached to the frame structure. The exterior sheathing has an interior surface. A continuous sealing gasket has a lateral portion positioned between the sill plate and the foundation structure and an extension portion positioned between the exterior surface of the frame structure and the interior surface of the exterior sheathing.
US08209914B2 Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof
A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
US08209913B2 Tubular structure and wind turbine generator
An object of the invention is to propose a tubular structure and a wind turbine generator in which work on an outer surface of the tower structure can be performed easily. A tubular structure comprises: a plurality of tubular sections 21 that are stacked one on top of another in a vertical direction, the adjacent tubular sections 21 being joined together with use of a splice plate 22 arranged on at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of abutting ends of the adjacent tubular sections 21 and a fastening member 25 fastening the splice plate 22 and the adjacent tubular sections 21; an opening for operation 26 which is arranged in a vicinity of the splice plate 22 on a circumferential surface of the tubular sections 21; and a reinforcing rib 28 arranged in the vertical direction on the circumferential surface of the tubular sections 21, wherein a vertical position of the reinforcing rib 28 includes at least a vertical range where the opening for operation 26 is arranged.
US08209912B2 Horticulture light fixture with glass retention rails
A horticulture light system comprising a housing, glass retention rails, gasket, glass sheet, and threaded fasteners. The housing constructed of no more than three portions of sheet metal, defining an interior space therein and having an open end towards the plants, the housing interior space constructed and arranged for containing a grow lamp and reflector to project a pattern of light out the open end of the housing at the plants, the open end including a rectangular sealing face for mating with the gasket, the gasket sealing the glass surface to the rectangular sealing face when compressed by the glass retention rails. The glass retention rails also constructed from sheet metal, easily formed into a L shape, attached by common threaded screws, and as tightened, compressively secure the glass to the gasket and housing. Loosening the threaded screws removes the compressive force, unsealing the glass from the housing, making for easy glass removal, facilitating maintenance and cleaning.
US08209906B2 Noise dampener for a garage door opener
A noise dampener for a garage door opener includes a pair of resilient members, each resilient member of the pair of resilient members having first and second opposite ends. The first ends are adapted for mounting to a garage ceiling mounting bracket. The second ends are adapted for mounting to motor mounts mounted to an upper side of a motor housing of the garage door opener. The first and second ends of the resilient members are mountable to the ceiling mounting bracket and the motor mounts respectively by fastening means through apertures in the first and second ends. A vibration dampening pad is provided for mounting between the garage wall adjacent the garage door and a chain channel support extending from the motor housing.
US08209905B2 Greening system
A greening system us disclosed for enabling plants/vegetation to grow only with natural rainfall, without any particular irrigation facilities, enabling a full-blown garden to be constructed on building rooftops, minimizing the applicable loads on the building, and free from the risk of leakage. Planting container 1 comprises box 2 with stickers 3 to carry perforated partition panel 4. The lower half of the container is constituted as water storage 5, and drain holes 6 are opened on sides of the container. Soil layer 7 placed on partition panel 4 is formed of light woody soil-based on charcoal 9 and humus timber chips for absorbing moisture transported from the water 8 stored in water storage 5 by evaporation or difference in humidity, to have a large water capacity letting less water evaporate into the air. Charcoal 9 absorbs water from the air inside the lower half of the container to water the plants. Water storage 5 assures an amount of water necessary for plants to grow.
US08209901B2 Administering substances to plants by injection
The invention relates to a method and device for administering at least one substance to a plant or plant material, comprising of: (i) providing at least one substrate with a surface and at least one plant location therein; (ii) providing injecting means; (iii) moving the substrate and the injection means relative to each other; (iv) controlling an alignment of the injecting means relative to the plant location; and (v) injecting the substance of the position of the plant location using the injecting means.
US08209899B2 Flyline connecting device
The invention provides a convenient, lightweight and streamlined connecting device for attaching a leader or tippet to a fly-fishing line. The Fly Line Connecting Device is configured with an expandable tubular lattice that allows for an in-line connection to the fly line. The connection device has an integral tubular lattice sized with an internal diameter that is slightly smaller that the fly line and when compressively displaced, operates to expand the internal diameter to allow insertion of the fly line. Once the fly line is fully inserted, the tubular lattice is allowed to contract and elastically constrict onto and thereby grip the semi-resilient surface of the fly line. When the fly line and leader line are placed in tension through the connecting device, the tubular lattice acts to constrict down on the fly-line to resist separation. The connecting device of the invention is configured with a loop, eyelet, knot-trapping feature, or short tippet to allow for the convenient attachment of the leader line. Alternatively, the connecting device is permanently attached or integrally formed with a full-length leader. The preferred embodiment of the connecting device is injection molded in an intermediate form that is configured to be manually or machine cold-drawn to the final working dimensions and optimal physical properties.
US08209898B2 Sight accessory
The instant invention is a sight accessory that attaches to a scope. The double vision blocker attaches with hook and loop fasteners and is further secured by a plurality of “O” rings. The blocker allows the user to sight with both eyes open preventing the occurrence of double vision. This creates an opportunity for the user to be more accurate on a consistent basis. The device is also suitable for use for both right handed and left handed users without any modification. The sight accessory can be attached to archery sights, scopes and any other instrument used for sighting.
US08209887B2 Wear resistant support structures for utility equipment
The present invention relates to a wear shoe for use with utility equipment comprising a unitary housing having therein at least one cavity containing a wear resistant insert bound within the unitary housing and methods for making the same. Most preferably, the wear resistant insert is a ceramic material.
US08209882B2 Actively ventilated shoe
The invention relates to an article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe, wherein the article of footwear includes a ventilation system with at least one active ventilation element arranged in a midfoot area of the article of footwear. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes at least one air channel with an inlet and an outlet which are arranged in the sole area in the interior of the article of footwear. The active ventilation element is arranged such that air is sucked from the interior of the article of footwear through the inlet and is blown into the interior of article of footwear shoe through the outlet.
US08209881B2 Condensation type dryer
Disclosed herein is a condensation type dryer. The dryer includes a circulation tube communicating at both ends thereof with a tub to define a passage through which air inside the tub is circulated, a blowing fan disposed inside the circulation tube to circulate the air inside the tub, a heater disposed inside the circulation tube to heat air supplied into the tub, and a condensation tube connected to a water supply source to supply cooling water into the circulation tube, the condensation tube has a serpentine shape.
US08209880B2 Dryer and method of controlling the same
Disclosed herein is a dryer having a function of spraying steam onto laundry. The dryer includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed inside the cabinet, an exhaust part communicating with the drum and provided with a ventilation fan, a drive unit rotating the drum and the ventilation fan; and a drive force transmission unit selectively transmitting a drive force from the drive unit to the ventilation fan. A method of controlling the dryer is also disclosed.
US08209879B2 Method for removing chemistry buildup in a dispensing dryer
A method for operating a dispenser dryer to remove treating chemistry in the dispenser dryer.
US08209877B2 Hair straightening device
The present invention relates to a hair straightening device to be placed on an air blower, comprising a first straightening element and a second straightening element positioned on either side of an air diffuser (9), each of the two elements comprising an outer comb (1) and an inner comb (2), removably attached so as to allow a sliding movement of one relative to the other, said sliding movement of the two outer (1) or inner (2) combs allowing to grip the hair and to stretch it above the air diffuser (9), the teeth of the outer combs (1) being formed by a succession of arches (3) whose holes define two tunnels (4) that make space for the inner combs (2) in such a way as to allow an arrangement of said inner combs (2) beneath said outer combs (1) within said tunnels (4) and to allow said sliding movement of the inner combs (2) relative to the outer combs (1) in order to displace the teeth (5) of said inner combs (2) relative to the planes formed by the arches (3) of the outer combs (1).
US08209874B1 Building frame construction tools and methods using laser alignment
A frame construction tool system, for wood frame buildings, or for metal, polymer, concrete, or composite frame buildings, and methods of using some or all of the tools of said tool system, are particularly well-adapted for roof and/or wall construction. Preferably, a laser light unit comprises a plurality of adjustments for directing the laser light in a variety of directions, preferably for vertical, horizontal, and pivotal adjustment. The laser light unit may be used with targets, cuttings guides, and/or prism units for splitting and/or redirecting the laser beam. In one embodiment, the laser light unit is used with reflective and/or translucent/transparent targets to accurately build a “build-over roof” wherein the laser light unit maps out points and lines of an accurate connection between the roofs. In another embodiment, the laser light unit is used with one or more targets used at the top of a stud wall, to produce a straight line reference from one end/corner of a wall to another. In another embodiment, the laser light unit may be used with a cooperating cutting guide, to measure and properly cut a straight overhang for the roof or a deck and/or to measure and properly cut upending stud members in a pony wall. The preferred laser unit may be used with prism units to layout an entire building.
US08209870B2 Safety cutting apparatus
A cutting apparatus has a unidirectionally-locking blade cover that automatically snaps back over the exposed blade after each cut, and a dependent, index finger operated unlocking trigger.
US08209869B2 Cantilever comb guard
A shaving blade assembly having a blade unit with at least one blade and a guard bar positioned in front of the blade. A cantilever guard is positioned in front of the blade unit defining a gap between the guard bar and the cantilever guard. The cantilever guard has a plurality of spaced apart fingers extending transverse to the blade. The fingers have a wedge shaped cross section in a direction transverse to the blades and are movable relative to the guard bar between a first position and a second position during a shaving stroke.
US08209866B2 Method for producing fire rated door by inserting intumescent material in a perimeter channel of a first and second door panel
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for producing fire rated doors having added strength, better finishing and low cost manufacturing flexibility. The fire rated doors are made from two panels “sandwiched” together. An optional interior layer (e.g., fire resistant material, lead sheeting, steel or Kevlar) can be added between the door panels for various purposes. Splines, stiles or sticks are inserted in longitudinal channels in the door panels to provide assistance in aligning the door panels and greater hardware holding strength. An intumescent banding material concealed by a banding material around the perimeter of the door seals the door within its frame during a fire. The door design and the automated manufacturing process provide greater design choice, reduced cost and faster fabrication.
US08209863B2 Methods of manufacturing rotor core for motor-driven valve, rotor feed screw and rotor
To improve methods of manufacturing a rotor core, a rotor feed screw, and a rotor for motor-driven valves and reduce manufacturing cost of the motor-driven valves. A method of manufacturing the rotor core comprising the steps of: using an openable/closable die device 23 defining a molding recess 28 for the sleeve 14; forming to the die device 23 a molding recess 24a for the valve closing limit stopper 14a and a first positioning portion 27a positionally corresponding to the molding recess 24a; forming to the bushing 11 a second positioning portion 11c such that when the second positioning portion 11c coincides with the first positioning portion 27a a thread-cut leading end 11b of the female screw 11a and the molding recess 24a for the valve closing limit stopper 14a are positionally corresponding to each other; mounting the bushing 11 to the die device 23 such that the second positioning portion 11c coincides with the first positioning portion 27a; and closing the die device 23 and casting molten resin into the molding recess 28 to manufacture the rotor core 19. In the same manner as described above, a rotor feed screw 20 and a rotor 40 can be manufactured.
US08209860B2 Method of manufacturing printed circuit board having metal bump
Disclosed herein are a printed circuit board having metal bumps which have uniform diameter and are formed at fine pitch, and a method of manufacturing the printed circuit board.
US08209859B2 Techniques for direct encasement of circuit board structures
A technique for processing an electronic apparatus (e.g., manufacturing an assembled circuit board, treating an assembled circuit board, etc.) involves applying encasement material to an area of the circuit board assembly while leaving at least a portion of the circuit board assembly exposed. The technique further involves causing the applied encasement material to harden (e.g., heating the encasement material in a curing oven, applying radiation, providing a chemical catalyst, etc.). Application and hardening of the encasement material may take place shortly after circuit board assembly (e.g., by automated equipment at a manufacturing facility in order to treat newly assembled boards) or at some later time in the field (e.g., by a technician servicing a legacy board).
US08209858B2 Method for mounting electronic components on a support
An arrangement for mounting a multiplicity of components (9, 10), particularly with irregular surface topography, on a support (7) using an assembly tool which has a tool substructure (5) and a tool superstructure (6), where the tool substructure (5) is designed to receive the support and the components which are to be mounted thereon, and the tool superstructure (6) has, in addition to an arrangement (11, 12) for transmitting assembly forces, an arrangement for compensating for tilts between the components and the support and/or an arrangement for compensating for irregular surface topologies.
US08209857B2 Method of making a thin film device
A thin-film device and a method of fabricating the thin-film device are provided herein. The thin-film device comprises a bond layer, a film layer that has bulk material properties, and a substrate that has a heat-sensitive component disposed thereon. The method of fabricating the thin-film device comprises the step of providing an active material that has bulk material properties. The active material is bonded to the substrate through the bond layer. After bonding the active material to the substrate, the active material that is bonded to the substrate is thinned to produce the film layer of the thin-film device. The substrate is provided with the heat-sensitive component disposed thereon prior to bonding the active material to the substrate.
US08209856B2 Printed wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments of the present invention provide a printed wiring board in which solder bumps of a mounted semiconductor chip are less prone to be ruptured. The printed wiring board includes a coreless substrate which includes: a dielectric layer having a main surface and a connecting pad embedded in the dielectric layer. The connecting pad is shaped like a brimmed hat. That is, the connecting pad includes a plate portion whose diameter φ1 is about 95 μm and a contact portion whose diameter φc is about 75 μm. The main surface of the contact portion is exposed at the main surface of the dielectric layer. Since diameter φc of the contact portion is substantially the same as diameter φ2 of an under bump metal at the semiconductor chip side, even if mechanical stress is applied in a direction in which the semiconductor chip is peeled off from the coreless substrate, the stress disperses evenly to both of the connecting pad and the under bump metal, and thus rupture is less prone to occur.
US08209853B2 Rework soldering jig
A rework soldering jig is used for heating a surface mounted slot. The rework soldering jig includes a body and an assembly frame. The assembly frame is detachably disposed on the body. The body and the assembly frame together wrap the surface mounted slot. Since the rework soldering jig has the detachable assembly frame, a size thereof can be adjusted according to different forms of slots.
US08209852B2 Arrangement for locking the screws of electric terminals
An arrangement for securing at least one screw of an electric terminal includes a deformable insulating housing element, and at least one shaft having a shaft wall extending vertically in the housing element. The shaft wall includes profiling in an area thereof. The shaft is configured to receive a screw having a screw-head so that the screw is countersunk. The profiling is elastically deformable and configured to deform during insertion of the screw and to elastically return towards an interior of the shaft so as to secure the screw. At least one of the shaft and the screw has a non-circular shape.
US08209845B2 Machined component manufacturing method for enhanced low cycle fatigue life
A manufacturing method includes providing a component, such as a superalloy aircraft component, with a substrate surface having damaged brittle compound particles from machining. The manufacturing method removes the damaged compound particles from the substrate surface without producing significant amount of new damaged compound particles in the substrate surface. In one example, the damaged compound particles are removed with an abrasive media. The method results in a machined substrate surface free from damaged intermetallic component particles.
US08209844B2 Brake pad for a disc brake
A brake pad includes a support plate which is embodied as a cast piece as well as a friction lining that is attached therein. The support plate is provided with a planiform base and raised, positively connected parts, which are molded onto the base and are enclosed by the friction lining. At least some of the positively connected parts are surrounded in at least some areas by an adjacent cavity of the base, resulting in an improved connection of the friction lining to the support plate.
US08209843B2 Non-porous graft with fastening elements
A method of making a non-porous tubular graft is disclosed. The method includes the step of securing a plurality of fastening elements extending through an outer layer of knitted, woven, or braided material along a length of the outer layer, wherein the fastening elements extend outwardly from the outer layer. The method further includes the steps of placing an inner layer of non-porous material within the outer layer such that an underside of each fastening element is positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer and laminating the outer layer to the inner layer to form the non-porous tubular graft.
US08209841B2 Method of manufacturing multicolored illuminator
A method of manufacturing a multicolored illuminator is disclosed. In an embodiment, a first transparent sheet comprising light diffusing particles is provided. Second and third transparent cladding sheets are provided on either sides of the first transparent sheet. A mirror is provided adjacent to the second sheet. The first sheet, second sheet, third sheet and mirror are merged to give a multicolored illuminator.
US08209840B2 Rotating coupling for robotic tool changer
In a robotic tool coupler, a rotating cam member having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact an angled surface in the other tool coupling unit. Further rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the angled surface. A component of that force is directed by the angled surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together. The cam member may include a failsafe surface and/or a failsafe lobe to maintain the two units locked together in the event of a loss of power to positively actuate the cam member.
US08209834B2 Centering a part inside a shaft
A device for centering a tube inside a hollow shaft is disclosed. The device includes a deformable device interposed between the tube and the hollow shaft and including bearing members for bearing against the inside surface of the shaft and suitable for being spaced away from the inside surface of the shaft in order to enable them to be moved inside the shaft. The deformable device is made of a shape-memory material suitable for deforming to press the bearing members against the inside surface of the shaft or to space them away therefrom on being subjected to a predetermined temperature.
US08209831B2 Surface conditioning for thermal spray layers
The invention relates to a process for roughening metal surfaces to improve adhesion of layers which are thermally sprayed thereon, in that in a first process step recesses or depressions (2) are introduced into the surface in a material-detaching or material-removing treatment so that the protruding metal of the surface forms raised microstructures (3), in particular projections, ridges, protuberances or bumps, these microstructures being reworked in at least a second process step by shaping and/or breaking so that a significant proportion of the structures form undercuts (4) in relation to the surface.
US08209828B2 Method for making a piezoceramic device
The invention concerns a method for making a piezoelectrical device, whose electrode layers contain copper. The usage of copper in the electrode layers is enabled by a debindering process, which is carried out by steam.
US08209824B2 Magnetic jewelry clasp with catch
A magnetic jewelry clasp is described that includes a first body member having a magnet that defines a first magnetically attractive surface. The clasp includes a second body member that has a magnet that defines a second magnetically attractive surface that magnetically connects to the first magnetically attractive surface to define a first locking arrangement of the clasp. The clasp includes a safety catch that has a first protuberance that is adapted to open and close the safety catch. The safety catch includes a second protuberance that fits over the end of the second body member which defines a second locking arrangement of the clasp. The Safety catch is designed so that it will function whether the two bodies are brought together with both right side up or with one up side down. It includes a pair of side panels that prevent misalignment of the first and second body members. There is also disclosed a safety catch with a magnet.
US08209822B2 Draw cord adjuster
A draw cord adjuster includes a closure member having a first end and a second end. At least one locking member is anchored to one of the first end and the second end of the closure member. At least one anchoring member is positioned proximate the one of the first end and the second end of the closure member to which a corresponding locking member is anchored, with each anchoring member being movably secured to the corresponding locking member.
US08209821B1 Lockable ratchet buckle
The ratchet buckle for tightening a strap under a ratchet action provides a lock to positively prevent the ratchet buckle from inadvertently releasing the strap. The lock requires a removable handle to be installed on the ratchet buckle before the lock can be released. The removable handle extends the ratchet buckle crank arm for increased leverage in exercising the ratchet buckle and when removed reduces the overall size of the ratchet buckle and eliminates a crank arm portion that would otherwise extend beyond the ratchet buckle base.
US08209814B2 Air intake for vacuum-conveyance waste collection system
There is provided an air intake for a vacuum-conveyance waste collection system, to form a high-speed air flow by allowing air to enter a conveying line through which waste being put into a waste receiving device is conveyed to a central waste collection station.The air intake for the vacuum-conveyance waste collection system according to the present invention comprises: an air inflow pipe 1 including an upper air inflow opening 1a and a lower air inflow opening 1b to allow outside air to enter; a noise pipe 4 with an upper end inserted under the air inflow pipe 1 and a sound absorption material 4c attached to an inner wall of the noise pipe 4; and a housing 5 including an air suction valve 6 installed inside and a sound absorption material 5a attached to an inner wall of the housing 5, the housing connected to a lower end of the noise pipe 4, to guide the air entered through the air inflow pipe 1 to a waste conveying line 10, wherein un upper rain cap in a cone shape is installed at an upper position in the air inflow pipe, a mesh is installed at the upper end of the noise pipe, and a lower rain cap in a frustum shape including a central through-hole is installed between the upper rain cap and the mesh.
US08209812B1 Grill cleaning brush
The grill cleaning brush provides for the cleaning of accumulated deposits from the sides of grill grate bars, along with the simultaneous cleaning of collected grease, oil, fat and other liquids or semi-liquids that have accumulated on the grill grate. The grill cleaning brush includes a base having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a gripping handle mounted on the upper surface of the base, and a cleaning layer attached to the lower surface of the base. The cleaning layer includes both a wire scrubber and a grease absorbent pad embedded within the wire scrubber. Preferably, the wire scrubber is provided as first and second wire scrubber pads attached to the lower surface of the base, the grease absorbent pad being sandwiched therebetween. The grease absorbent pad may be formed from cotton, paper, a combination of the two, or the like.
US08209811B2 Disposable floor mat carrying sanitizer
A disposable mat that carries a sanitizer and is sized and shaped to be positioned on a floor and enables a user to stand upon the mat without directly contacting the floor. The mat may have a toe fold formed in or attached to the front portion of the mat, which toe fold forms an envelope that is closed on at least three sides and allows a user to insert their toes into the envelope. The mat may also be separable along an approximate midline of the disposable mat.
US08209809B2 Artificial field litter pick-up device
A device for cleaning an artificial “infill turf” field includes a rotating brush assembly and a basket for receiving waste and infill material. The basket has a bottom with openings that allow infill material to be returned to the field, and a vibrator to promote separation of infill from waste. The device may include wheels connected to the brush assembly in a manner effective to rotate the brush when one or both of the wheels rotate, and a magnet for picking magnetic waste material from the field. The device may include an actuator for adjusting the height of the brushes, and a tow bar that allows the device to be positioned in an “active” orientation to sweep a field, or an “uplifted” orientation to transport the device across curbs or rough terrain. Multiple brushes and/or baskets may be provided.
US08209808B2 Toothbrush and attachment therefor
An attachment for an electric toothbrush, including a working head and coupling member mountable on a toothbrush handpiece. The coupling member includes a sleeve-shaped coupling insert with an engagement section for locking with the handpiece. The coupling insert is displaceable relative to the coupling member or an actuating member such that an axial movement of the coupling insert relative to the coupling member or actuating member produces an unlocking/locking movement of the engagement section in a direction transverse to the attachment longitudinal direction. The attachment or actuating member is first moved axially relative to a locked coupling insert until the axial relative movement releases the lock for the coupling insert and the attachment to be separated from the toothbrush handpiece. This two-stage attaching or connecting mechanism permits use of non-self-locking connecting or faying contours because the locking movement takes place in a direction transverse to the attachment longitudinal direction.
US08209805B2 Operating method in washing machine
An object of the present invention is to provide a washing method of a washing machine, in which an out of order of a water level sensor in a steam generator which generates steam is detected exactly, for safe protection of the steam generator and laundry, and effective performance of the washing. To achieve the object of the present invention, the washing method includes the steps of ($ sensing a water level sensor being out of order during steam washing, and (B) turning off the′ steam generator if it is sensed that the water level sensor is out of order.
US08209803B2 Patient transport support
A patient transport device includes a generally planar board having a width, length, and thickness defining a volume. At least one handle element is movably connected to the board. The at least one handle element is movable between a first, storage position in which the handle element is contained within the volume of the board, and a second, deployed position in which the handle element extends outwardly from the board. At least one foot support element is movably connected to the board, and is movable between a first, storage position in which the foot support element is contained within the volume of the board, and a second, deployed position in which the foot support element extends outwardly from the board. At least one roller element is rotatably secured to a bottom surface of the board. A patient to be transported is secured to the board and partially supported by the foot support and rolled via the at least one roller element by a single user of the board grasping the at least one handle element.
US08209800B2 Single driver connecting structure for an electric bed or chair
A single driver connecting structure for an electric bed or chair comprises: a primary frame, a driver and a link rod. The second structural component has two first angle brackets, and the first angle brackets each include a sliding slot. The third structural component has two second angle brackets, and each second angle bracket includes an aperture. The driver has a positioning portion and an extendable rod, and the positioning portion is pivoted to the securing aperture. The link rod has a first aperture and a second aperture. The first aperture is pivoted to the through hole of the driver with a control pin, and the control pin is slibable in, and limited in, the sliding slot. The second aperture and the aperture of the third structural component are pivoted together such that the driver drives the link rod to affect different movements of the main frame.
US08209795B2 Prefabricated shower pan having varying sidewall heights and method of attaching a modular curb
A prefabricated, polyurethane reaction injection molded, leak-proof shower module suitable for use in constructing a tiled shower includes a floor and a plurality of sidewalls wherein a first sidewall is taller than at least a portion of a second sidewall and the difference in height between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is sufficient to permit the attachment of a modular curb to the second sidewall. The floor is bounded along peripheral edges by the plurality of sidewalls which extend substantially vertically from the edges. A method of installing a tiled shower is implemented in one embodiment by applying adhesive material on a subfloor within an area bounded by stud framing, setting the prefabricated shower module in place on the subfloor, installing a prefabricated modular curb proximate to at least one sidewall of the module, attaching wallboard to the framing, and installing tile over the wallboard, module and curb.
US08209794B1 Automatic pool level
An automatic pool level controller that maintains a water level water in a swimming pool to protect the pool both from a low water level and from overflow conditions that disable pool equipment from operating. The controller monitors water level with a plurality of adjustable conducting sensors that connect to a plurality of relays that control a plurality of switches and a solenoid valve to automatically add water to the pool when the water level falls below the desired level, and halt addition of water when the desired level is achieved, automatically turning on a pump to expel water to reduce the water level, and automatically turning a pump off to halt the discharge of water when the water is reduced to the desired level, maintaining the water level sufficient for operating pool equipment. The controller has an immersible sensor board, a submersible pump and runs on household current.
US08209791B2 Toilet leak alert
Embodiments of the invention include devices for reliably indicating when the water level in a toilet tank rises to the top of the overflow tube. Indicators use the presence of water in the overflow to provide for visual, olfactory and/or auditory indication of the malfunction. Features of the invention provide for a safe, inexpensive and reliable device for detecting toilet malfunction. Indicators are housed in a device that is positioned to intercept overflow water passing from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl. The presence of water in the device housing is used to release indicators into the toilet bowl water or into the air. Improvements are provided that eliminate false positive indications and prevent inadvertent damage to the toilet.
US08209788B2 Chemical solution distributing apparatus and chemicals
A chemical solution distributing apparatus which is installed in a water tank in water closets or the like and distributes chemical solutions periodically in the water tank including a bottomed tubular apparatus main body which has an opening at its lower end; a chemical retaining section which is present inside this apparatus main body and mounts/retains chemicals; and a drawn-water passage section which is installed outside the apparatus main body and in which one end thereof is connected to the inside of the apparatus main body via the opening while the other end thereof is positioned higher than the lower end of the apparatus main body; wherein the chemical retaining section has holes in order to mix chemicals with the water inside the apparatus main body or inside the water tank; and wherein a check valve to allow release of air inside the apparatus main body to the outside is also formed.
US08209784B2 Helmet with an attachment mechanism for a faceguard
A helmet having a shell configured to fit about a head of a wearer of the helmet. The shell includes a top portion that defines a front edge and a bottom portion adjoining the top portion. The bottom portion defines a first side edge integral with a first end of the front edge and a second side edge integral with a second end of the front edge. The front edge, first side edge, and second side edge define a segment of a circumference of the shell. The helmet includes a faceguard comprising a faceguard assembly formed in a substantially closed loop. A top portion of the faceguard assembly overlies the top portion of the shell and substantially overlies and coincides with an entire shape of the front edge. At least a segment of a top portion of the faceguard assembly makes direct contact with the top portion of the shell.
US08209783B1 Helmet visor with wiper apparatus
The helmet visor with wiper apparatus provides a visor that can wipe inclement weather products off of the visor center section with a pendulum action wiper blade that is replaceable. The visor removably fits most existing helmets. The center section of the visor provides for less curvature than do the left section and right section, thereby providing for most efficient cleaning. The center section outward flares provide best all around visibility from the center section. Also, the wiper mechanism removably fastens to the visor, providing for inexpensive wiper mechanism replacement without having to replace the entire apparatus and further providing for the various components of the wiper mechanism to be serviced and replaced easily, without great expense. The flexible blade is replaceable.
US08209782B1 Motorcycle helmet horns
A motorcycle helmet enhancing horn having a horn shaped, hollow body initiating at a broad base tapering to a distal point. The horn arches is formed about a curved central axis spanning between a center of the broad base and a central point of the distal end. The central axis can be a single or compound curved shape. A mounting flange supports the horn body. The mounting flange is contiguous about and extends substantially perpendicularly outward from the base edge. An adhesive is applied to the bonding surface of the mounting flange for securing the horn to a motorcycle helmet. The horns can be provided in mirror image pairs having individual flanges or in a series assembled in a linear, spatial arrangement on a single flange. The flanges are shaped in a compound curve for mating to an outer surface of a motorcycle helmet.
US08209781B2 Protective earflap unit
During use of a firefighter helmet or a similar helmet, a detachable protective earflap unit can be used to provide convenient and easy storage of personal items for the firefighter or other helmet wearer secured at the back of the helmet and below the rear brim or rear lower edge of the helmet by a utility strap securement assembly. The protective earflap unit comprises an earflap having a utility strap securement assembly that selectively may encircle and retain eyewear, an eyewear case, a utility bag, or other small personal item.
US08209774B2 Coated glove with multiple material layers
The present invention is a knit or cloth glove that includes one or more additional protective layers attached thereto to improve the protective attributes of the glove as desired by the wearer. The protective layers are formed of materials that provide puncture, cut, chemical and water resistant properties to the glove, and are secured to a base layer of the glove that is formed of a stretchable and breathable natural or synthetic fabric material. An outer coating layer is applied over the base layer and the protective layers to provide enhanced protective features, as well as a seamless appearance, to the glove.
US08209771B1 Protective pad with inter-digit separators
A protective pad for the palm of a wearer's hand consisting of a compressible, sponge-like material contained within an impervious material held in the palm region by a single attachment strap surrounding the wearer's hand. The attachment strap uses an adjustable fastener, preferably hook-and-loop material or a self-adhesive system. The pad shape is chosen to be non-obvious to others when in place on a user's hand. It may be provided in more than one size to help accomplish that objective. The palm pad is designed as a low-cost, disposable unit to promote sanitation (e.g., prevent infection, etc.) through daily exchanges of the pads. The compressibility of the pads is believed to provide therapeutic benefit by preventing further tightening of the hand while preventing nail impaction.
US08209769B1 Hands free bomb suit tool carrier
A bomb suit carrier is constructed from a sheet of fabric material shaped to fit within the front torso portion of a bomb suit. A sheet of loop material is attached to the sheet of fabric material and a plurality of parallel straps are attached to the side of the sheet of fabric material having the sheet of loop material. The parallel straps form a pouch attachment ladder system and include loop material along their entire length. A hole passes through the sheet of fabric material to accommodate a rapid doffing handle of a bomb suit to which the bomb suit carrier is attached. An attachment mechanism is provided to secure the sheet of fabric material to the bomb suit.
US08214915B2 Cantilever, cantilever system, scanning probe microscope, mass sensor apparatus, viscoelasticity measuring instrument, manipulation apparatus, displacement determination method of cantilever, vibration method of cantilever and deformation method of cantilever
Provided is a cantilever that is capable of bending and deforming in an active manner by itself. The cantilever includes: a lever portion having a proximal end that is supported by a main body part; and a resistor member that is formed in the cantilever and generates heat when a voltage is applied, to thereby deform the lever portion by thermal expansion due to the heat.
US08214914B2 Securing wakeup network events
In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method of this embodiment provides receiving a packet having a wake-up pattern, and waking up if the wake-up pattern corresponds to one of a number of dynamically modifiable passwords on a pattern wake list, each of the dynamically modifiable passwords being based, at least in part, on a seed value.
US08214909B2 Information display device
An information display device for displaying prescribed information on a prescribed display body, includes: an authentication operation request section for allowing a user to make user authentication; and an operation permission section for accepting an operation on said information display device for a prescribed permission time since said information display device is lastly operated, if the user who makes the authentication operation is authorized to perform the operation of said information display device; wherein said operation permission section sets said permission time based on the display contents on said display body.
US08214901B2 Method and apparatus for combating malicious code
A method and apparatus are provided for combating malicious code. In one embodiment, a method for combating malicious code in a network includes implementing a resource-limiting technique to slow a propagation of the malicious code and implementing a leap-ahead technique in parallel with the resource-limiting technique to defend against the malicious code reaching a full saturation potential in the network.
US08214897B2 System and method for usage-based misinformation detection and response
Methods of detecting, and providing a notification of, the existence of misinformation using usage patterns of a network service enable an organization to respond to the misinformation. The method includes establishing common usage patterns of the network service, identifying an irregular usage pattern, determining that the irregular usage pattern was caused by misinformation, and responding to the misinformation.
US08214896B2 Method of securing USB keyboard
Provided is a method of securing a Universal Serial Bus (USB) keyboard. According to the method, a keyboard security operation is performed at a host controller driver level, which is one level lower than a USB hub driver level. Thus, it is possible to rapidly and effectively prevent a malicious program from leaking information input from a keyboard that is in communication with a main frame and transfers data via a USB.
US08214894B2 Information processor, authentication control method, and storage medium
An information processor is disclosed that includes an authentication part configured to authenticate a user based on predetermined information; an information obtaining part configured to obtain first information to be used to authenticate the user from an external device; and an authentication control part configured to cause the authentication part to authenticate the user by inputting information based on the first information to the authentication part as the predetermined information. The information obtaining part is configured to obtain the first information using a program module whose correlation with the information obtaining part is recorded in a recording medium.
US08214892B2 Password authentication system and methods
A system and methods authenticate sensitive information such as passwords. Password characters are transformed into distorted characters and distorted character groups are generated such that each distorted password character is part of a group. An image is created containing the groups and the password or other sensitive information is authenticated when groups are identified within the image that contain the password characters in an expected sequence.
US08214890B2 Login authentication using a trusted device
A user working on a client computer is allowed to remotely login to a server over a computer network. A first secure connection is established between the client and the server. Communications with a trusted device which is in the user's control is established via a communication channel between the trusted device and the client, where this channel is not part of the network. A second secure connection is established between the trusted device and the server through the client, where this second secure connection is tunneled within the first secure connection. The user remotely logs into the server over the second secure connection using the trusted device.
US08214889B2 Selective auto-revocation of firewall security settings
Management of security firewall settings in a networked computing environment is described. One example embodiment includes applying security settings and exceptions to the security settings based on network class for network communication, and upon detection of an event, revoking at least one exception for at least one network in a specified class.
US08214887B2 Method and system for providing user access to a secure application
A method and system for providing remote user access to secure applications by deployment of SSO software to client workstations, including navigating to a secure server using a web browser on a remote workstation; providing user authorization details to the secure server; downloading an SSO deployment file to the remote workstation upon validation of the user authorization details; executing the SSO deployment file to install an SSO client application on the remote workstation; reading workstation settings and user credentials from a secure file or data store; and running the SSO client application on the workstation to employ the user credentials to logon to the secure application.
US08214886B2 Method and apparatus for enabling a user to select an authentication method
The present invention facilitates access to a restricted service related to secure transactions via a network. The present invention allows a user to select a minimum security level of authentication for its own login to a restricted service. The user's selected minimum security level of authentication may be registered in an authentication method system, so that the user must use the selected minimum security level for authentication in order to gain access to the restricted service. Alternatively, the user may specify that the selected minimum security level for authentication may be over-turned by the user, or optionally re-set to a new authentication method depending on the needs of the user. As such, the present invention allows the user the flexibility to select its own authentication method for accessing a restricted service.
US08214882B2 Server discovery, spawning collector threads to collect information from servers, and reporting information
Server discovery, spawning collector threads to collect information from servers, and reporting such information, is disclosed. A method of one embodiment determines a number of servers communicatively coupled to a network. For each server, a collector thread is spawned to collect information regarding the server by sending requests to the server and receiving responses from the server. The collector threads can be spawned by and run on a computing device other than the number of servers, such that no computer-executable code is installed on the servers for collecting the information. Upon completion of the collector thread for each server, the information regarding the server as collected is stored to a database by one or more writer threads. The information may include dynamic load-oriented and function-oriented information regarding the servers, as well as static configuration information, from which server utilization-oriented statistics may be distilled to identify candidate servers for server consolidation.
US08214879B2 System and method for enforcing policy in a communication network
A system for enforcing policy in a communication network includes a policy server which is operable to receive a request to invoke an application, receive a policy profile for a network user, and decide a proper allocation of network users based on the policy profile, the application, and available network resources. The policy server is further operable to communicate with a non-SIP application. The system also includes a network resource manager operably associated with the policy server and operable to monitor available network in the resources in the communication network. In addition, the network resource manager is functional to allocate network resource amongst a plurality of network users. The system also contains an application control point which is operably associated with the policy server and operable to communicate with a SIP application. The system is operable to use policy peering between the home and visited network to enable user-specific policies to be enforced while roaming.
US08214875B2 Network security policy enforcement using application session information and object attributes
A packet traversing on the computer network is received; session information is generated from the packet with the session information including a client network address and a server network address; the packet is associated with at least one object attribute from the directory by using the session information; and a security policy defined for the network environment is enforced by using the session information and the object attribute(s) to determine whether the packet violates the security policy.
US08214868B2 Flexible traffic management and shaping processing for multimedia distribution
Apparatus for distributing streaming multimedia to at least one end client over a network includes memory and at least one processor operatively connected to the memory. The processor is operative: (i) to receive the streaming multimedia from at least one multimedia source via at least one of a plurality of channels in the network; (ii) when a channel change request generated by the end client for changing a channel and corresponding multimedia content from the multimedia source is not detected, to deliver the at least one multimedia stream to the end client at a first data rate; and (iii) when the channel change request has been detected, to deliver the at least one multimedia stream to the end client at a second rate for a prescribed period of time after receiving the channel change request and, after the prescribed period of time, to deliver the at least one multimedia stream to the end client at the first data rate, wherein the second data rate is greater than the first data rate.
US08214867B2 Delivery of feedback information to scheduling service to determine optimum broadcast times based upon client platform tuner contention
Delivery of feedback information to a scheduling service to determine optimum broadcast times based upon client platform tuner contention is described. A usage pattern of an electronic media device is recorded. The usage pattern is communicated to a scheduling server. Media content is received during a time period selected by the scheduling server based upon the usage pattern.
US08214866B2 Video processing apparatus, mobile apparatus, and control method of video processing apparatus
A video processing apparatus, a mobile apparatus and a control method of the video processing apparatus are provided. The video processing apparatus includes: a communicating unit which communicates with a video file supplying source that stores a video file and a header file corresponding to the video file, in which the video file contains video information and header information stored behind the video file information and transmitted later than the video information and used for reproducing the video information; a video processing unit which processes the video file to be reproduced; and a controller which receives the header file and the video file from the video file supplying source through the communicating unit and controls the video processing unit to reproduce the video file on the basis of the header file.
US08214863B2 Method and system for controlling peripheral devices connected to a video device
A method and apparatus for effectively performing optimal connection configuration by recognizing the connection status between a video device and external peripheral devices. The method for identifying predetermined peripheral devices connected to a video device over serial communication control lines, includes, transmitting a command to establish connection of a current peripheral device having no given device ID to its upper peripheral device among the predetermined peripheral devices, and transmitting a command to disconnect a connection to its lower peripheral device; requesting unique device identification information to the predetermined peripheral devices; receiving a response to the request from the current peripheral device; and giving a device ID to the current peripheral device.
US08214862B1 Conserving bandwidth by restricting videos communicated in a wireless telecommunications network
A system and method for managing bandwidth used by videos in a wireless telecommunications network is provided. In one embodiment, the videos originate at mobile devices generating videos of a single event such as a concert, sporting event, graduation, or other event attended by multiple users. The mobile devices may communicate the videos to social networking websites where the videos may be viewed by multiple users. Embodiments of the present invention conserve bandwidth by selecting one or more of the videos of the single event to send to each of the destinations specified by all of the videos capturing the event. An instruction is then sent to each of the mobile devices generating nonselected video streams to discontinue transmission of the video streams.
US08214858B2 Audio and/or video generation apparatus and method of generating audio and/or video signals
An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium.Furthermore, the meta data generation processor may be operable to generate at least one sample image which is representative of a video image from the recorded video signals, and to associate the sample image with an address on the recording medium at which the video image is recorded. The video and/or audio generation apparatus provides an advantage in generating and utilising meta data to facilitate the generation of audio/video productions. Accordingly, a system for generating an audio and/or video production comprises an acquisition processor operable in use to receive instructions from a user which instructions are representative of a list of content items for the audio and/or video production. The audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged in use to receive information representative of the list of content items, and to generate audio and/or video signals in accordance with the content items on the list. An ingestion processor may be provided to receive the list of content items, and the audio and/or video signals and to form the audio and/or video production by associating the audio and/or video signals with the list of content items.
US08214854B2 Method and system for facilitating analysis of audience ratings data for content
There is provided a method for use by a content processing device for facilitating the analysis of audience ratings data for content. In one embodiment, content is received from a source. Then, the content is encoded into a target format to enable insertion of a first number of markers in the content, each of the first number of markers indexing a time period of the content. Thereafter, a content records database that includes the audience ratings data corresponding to the content are accessed. The audience ratings data are then associated with the first number of markers. The audience ratings data are displayed during playback of the content.
US08214851B2 API interface to make dispatch tables to match API routines
A method, system and apparatus for constructing dispatch tables match application program interface service routines. The invention includes reading a header file of the application program interface. The invention further includes generating a corresponding dispatch table for at least one device indicated in the header file, wherein the corresponding dispatch tables are generated based on information read from the header file. The invention further includes verifying that the information contained in the dispatch tables is consistent with current requirements of the application program interface.
US08214844B2 Systems and methods for adjusting service queue capacity
Systems and methods for adjusting the number of tasks that are accepted for processing in a computer based on processing resources required by the tasks, processing resources available in the computer system, and the time allowed to complete at least one of the tasks. The tasks that are accepted for processing can be scheduled to timeshare the processing resources available so that the task(s) complete within the time allowed.
US08214839B1 Streaming distribution of file data based on predicted need
File resources that are most likely to be used on a target computer are proactively cached, so that the resources are available before they are needed. This greatly reduces or eliminates associated user wait times. It is determined which file resources are most likely to be used, the cost of transmitting them to the cache, the cost of storing them in the cache and the amount of cache space available. Based on a weighted balancing analysis of factors such as these, specific file resources are proactively streamed for use on the target computer. The determination as to which resources are most likely to be used can be based on a variety of factors, such as usage patterns, schedule based information, user and group based information, target computer and network information, etc.
US08214837B2 Method, apparatus and system for dynamically allocating sequestered computing resources
A method, apparatus, and system enable sequestered partitions on a device. A scheduler may allocate resources to each of the sequestered partitions and dynamically reallocate the resources from one partition to another, as necessary. In one embodiment, the scheduler may dedicate resources to an operating system in a first partition and dedicate resources to a digital video recorder in a second partition. Additionally, the scheduler may reallocate resources to the second partition in response to the resource requirements of the digital video recorder.
US08214835B2 Scheduler of virtual machine module, scheduling method therefor, and device containing computer software
A scheduler of a virtual machine (VM) module, a scheduling method thereof, and a device containing computer software are provided. The scheduler has a classification module and a scheduling module. The classification module receives at least one VM module and analyzes a resource proportion parameter to generate classification result information. The scheduling module has a first schedule queue and a second schedule queue, sort an immediately resource-required VM module to the first schedule queue and a non immediately resource-required VM module to the second schedule queue, and determine whether the VM module of the first schedule queue exists or not, and if yes, it outputs the VM module of the first schedule queue to a processor; otherwise, outputs the VM module of the second schedule queue to the processor.
US08214833B2 Systems and methods for supporting software transactional memory using inconsistency-aware compilers and libraries
Systems and methods may reduce overhead associated with read set consistency validation in software transactional memory implementations. These systems and methods may employ an inconsistency-aware compiler-library technique, in which an inconsistency-aware compiler communicates to various inconsistency-aware library functions knowledge about whether a given transaction has read consistent values to date. The inconsistency-aware library functions may exploit this information to avoid the need to validate the transaction, or portions thereof. If read set values are known to be consistent prior to the function call, the compiler may pass a parameter value to the function indicating as much. Otherwise, it may pass a value indicating that the read set values may be inconsistent. An inconsistency-aware function may determine that it will not perform a dangerous action, even though its parameters may not be consistent. Otherwise, the inconsistency-aware function may invoke a validation operation, or may perform other error avoidance operations.
US08214830B2 Performance in a virtualization architecture with a processor abstraction layer
Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for improving performance in a virtualization architecture are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor and a processor abstraction layer. The processor abstraction layer includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, support techniques to improve the performance of the apparatus in a virtualization architecture.
US08214828B2 Module state management in a virtual machine environment
A method for managing software modules of at least two operating systems sharing physical resources of a computing environment, but running in different partitions separated by a virtualization boundary comprises accumulating module information in a virtualization subsystem that directs the creation and management of the partitions. The accumulated module information is used across the virtualization boundary to manage the use of the software modules. Also, a method for managing software modules comprises making at least two operating systems aware that they are being hosted in a virtualized computing environment.
US08214826B2 Optimized targeting in a large scale system
A mechanism is provided that utilizes the attributes of the nodes to build a target list and creates filters based on the node attributes. The filters are installed on the mediators. Each mediator then applies that filter to its own local node list to create a local target list. This local target list will then contain the list of local nodes that need to have a targeted action applied, such as software installed, on them. The mediator then carries out the targeted action, such as software installation, on those nodes. By extending discovered node information with arbitrary attributes, the resolution of target lists defined by filters applied to the master node list is increased.
US08214825B2 Electronic device and method for installing software
A peripheral for a computer and a method of using the peripheral is for installing software onto the computer using Direct Memory Access. The peripheral comprises a computer accessible medium and a program product. The program product has codes to read and write to the Random Access Memory of the computer; and to bypass restrictions of the host computer Operating System that prevent the peripheral from gaining full access to all portions of the host computer's Random Access Memory. The preferred methods of using the peripheral automatically install software on a computer or copies forensic data from the computer's Random Access Memory once the peripheral is connected to the computer.
US08214823B2 Cluster system, process for updating software, service provision node, and computer-readable medium storing service provision program
In a cluster system: a heartbeat transmission unit in a service provision node transmits to a monitoring node a heartbeat packet which contains interval information indicating an interval greater than normal intervals at which normal heartbeat packets are transmitted, when an execution unit in the service provision node receives a stop command. Thereafter, when software realizing the execution unit is updated and the execution unit is restarted, the heartbeat transmission unit periodically transmits the normal heartbeat packets to the monitoring node at the normal intervals, where the normal heartbeat packets contain interval information indicating the normal intervals. A heartbeat monitoring unit in the monitoring node determines that the execution unit is in operation, while the monitoring node receives heartbeat packets at intervals indicated by the interval information stored in the monitoring node and updated with received interval information.
US08214818B2 Method and apparatus to achieve maximum outer level parallelism of a loop
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for constructing a data dependency graph (DDG) for a loop to be transformed, performing statement shifting to transform the loop into a first transformed loop according to at least one of first and second algorithms, performing unimodular and echelon transformations of a selected one of the first or second transformed loops, partitioning the selected transformed loop to obtain maximum outer level parallelism (MOLP), and partitioning the selected transformed loop into multiple sub-loops. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08214817B2 Detecting change in program behavior for adaptive code optimization
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating an optimization insensitive behavior profile. In one embodiment, a source identifier is assigned to each instruction in an original control flow graph representing a program code prior to optimization. The identifiers identify a basic block associated with the instruction or a group of basic blocks. A source identifier in the set of source identifiers is assigned to instructions in an optimized control flow graph representing the program code after optimizing the program code. The instructions in the optimized control flow graph are mapped to the original control flow graph using the set of source identifiers to form a mapping transformation. Behavior profile data associated with the optimized program code is moved to basic blocks in the original control flow graph using the mapping transformation to form the optimization insensitive behavior profile.
US08214814B2 Sharing compiler optimizations in a multi-node system
Embodiments of the invention enable application programs running across multiple compute nodes of a highly-parallel system to compile source code into native instructions, and subsequently share the optimizations used to compile the source code with other nodes. For example, determining what optimizations to use may consume significant processing power and memory on a node. In cases where multiple nodes exhibit similar characteristics, it is possible that these nodes may use the same set of optimizations when compiling similar pieces of code. Therefore, when one node compiles source code into native instructions, it may share the optimizations used with other similar nodes, thereby removing the burden for the other nodes to figure out which optimizations to use. Thus, while one node may suffer a performance hit for determining the necessary optimizations, other nodes may be saved from this burden by simply using the optimizations provided to them.
US08214812B2 Method of interpreting method bytecode and system operated by the same
A method, a system, and a computer-readable medium storing instructions for interpreting a method bytecode. The method bytecode is interpreted by determining whether a called method is a bottleneck method, generating an interpreter loop for the called method if the called method is the bottleneck method, and interpreting a bytecode of the called method using the generated interpreter loop.
US08214811B2 Instantiating an interface or abstract class in application code
Mechanisms for instantiating an interface or abstract class in application code are provided. An object-oriented programming language is extended such that interfaces and abstract classes can be instantiated in application code without a concrete class specified. Metadata is defined which maps each interface or abstract class instantiation in the application code to a concrete class to be used either by the compiler at build time, or the virtual machine at runtime. Once the appropriate concrete class is determined from the metadata, the class is instantiated with a conventional class loader. The metadata may be provided, for example, as a separate file, such as a markup language file, defined with a virtual machine switch, as annotations in the application code, or the like.
US08214807B2 Code path tracking
Methods, systems, and products are provided for code path tracking. Embodiments include identifying an instrumented trace point in software code to be path tracked; identifying a function executed at the instrumented trace point in the software code; identifying parameters for the function executed at the instrumented trace point; and recording a description of the function, the parameters, and the result of the execution of the function using the parameters.
US08214803B2 Program testing method and testing device
A testing device for testing a system configured of an application and a set of execution-environment-dependent resources used by the application includes a DI container for injecting one resource set (EUT) into an application for which a test is executed via an application interface, the resource set being a candidate of dependency injection into the application, and a test execution unit that executes a test on the application with the one resource set having been injected therein. When another resource set that is different from the one resource set exists the injection by the DI container and the test by the test execution unit are executed on the other resource set.
US08214802B1 Providing visual preview of intermediate steps of software configuration
A step-by-step visual preview into a guided software configuration process is provided, where the preview is updated in real time as users specify the parameters of the software during the software configuration process, thereby providing a visual explanation of the various components of the software and their relationship to one another. Before the newly assembled software configuration is actually performed, the complete graphical representation of the software configuration is displayed for approval.
US08214798B2 Automatic calculation of orthogonal defect classification (ODC) fields
Mechanisms for Orthogonal Defect Classification (ODC) analysis in a computing system are provided. One implementation involves determining a defect in a software application, providing a defect fix to the software application, linking the source code fix to the defect, and automatically performing ODC analysis and calculating ODC information based on calculations against the source code linked to the defect fixed.
US08214796B2 Event firing node for asynchronously passing events from a graphical data flow program to a statechart
A system and method for creating a graphical program operable to asynchronously pass one or more trigger events to a statechart. The graphical program may include a first node which is operable to asynchronously send one or more trigger events to a statechart. For example, in some embodiments the first node may be operable to place the one or more trigger events in an event queue associated with the statechart. The statechart may receive and process events from the event queue asynchronously with respect to when the events are placed in the event queue.
US08214794B2 Populating information contained in java annotations into existing EMF models
A core idea of the present approach is to provide a mapping format (and corresponding utility code for handling such mapping) that would allow the specification of mappings between parts of an EMF model and the corresponding Java annotations. Based on this mapping, the code in this framework utilizes generic EMF APIs to populate EMF model objects from information obtained in the Java annotations.
US08214790B2 Low RC global clock distribution
A semiconductor die includes: a clock distribution network that distributes a clock signal within the die. The clock distribution network includes: a clock tree corresponding to one or more metal layers of the die, a plurality of clock spines corresponding to a metal layer of the die, a plurality of clock wings corresponding to a metal layer of the die, a plurality of clock grid drivers placed in one or more gaps of a floorplan corresponding to the semiconductor layer of the die, a clock grid placed in the one or more gaps of the floorplan, a plurality of buffers placed in a local gain buffer pair configuration wherein the local gain buffer pair connects the clock grid to a shorting bar, and a plurality of conductors that connect the shorting bar to a plurality of loads.
US08214786B2 Scalable, component-accessible, and highly interconnected three-dimensional component arrangement within a system
Embodiments of the present invention include dense, but accessible and well-interconnected component arrangements within multi-component systems, such as high-end multi-processor computer systems, and methods for constructing such arrangements. In a described embodiment, integrated-circuit-containing processing components, referred to as a “flat components,” are arranged into local blocks of intercommunicating flat components. The local flat-component blocks are arranged into interconnected, primitive multi-local-block repeating units, and the primitive local-block repeating units are layered together in a three-dimensional, regularly repeating structure that can be assembled to approximately fill any specified three-dimensional volume. The arrangement provides for relatively short, direct pathways from the surface of the specified volume to any particular local block and flat component within the three-dimensional arrangement.
US08214785B2 Method and device for estimating simultaneous switching noise in semiconductor device, and storage medium
The method comprises a number of simultaneously switching signals calculation step in which the number of simultaneously switching signals is calculated for each set of user setting information for the input and output signal on the basis of pin arrangement information and the user setting information of the pins in a neighboring area of a pin to be executed in the estimation process; and a simultaneous switching noise calculation step in which a difference is calculated between noise corresponding to an initial point and that to a terminal point in a range of the number of simultaneously switching signals calculated for each set of user setting information on the basis of a relationship between the number of simultaneously switching signals and the noise caused by the number of simultaneously switching signals for each set of user setting information.
US08214783B2 Stage evaluation of a state machine
The present invention provides a method and system for stage evaluation of a state machine model. Two types of transitions are used: first-stage transitions and second-stage transitions for a two-stage evaluation. In one embodiment, top-down processing and bottom-up processing may be combined using a two-stage evaluation. First-stage transitions are used with top-down processing while second-stage transitions are used with bottom-up processing. Certain conditions are used to determine if a switch from one type of stage processing to another type of stage processing is needed.
US08214779B2 Making a discrete spatial correlation continuous
A mechanism is provided for making a discrete spatial correlation on a 2D grid continuous. The region has given grid points and each of the grid points has its discrete stochastic variable. Additional grid points and associated stochastic variables are established on the boundary and corners of the region. All correlation coefficients are obtained among the given discrete stochastic variables and the additional discrete stochastic variables. For each of two given spatial points whose spatial correlation is needed, a quadrilateral containing it is identified by four grid points, and a stochastic variable for it is expressed as a weighted linear combination of four stochastic variables at four grid points, with four weights being a continuous function of the coordinate of the point. The resulting spatial correlation is a weighted linear combination of multiple discrete correlation coefficients each weight being a continuous function of the coordinates of the two given points.
US08214778B2 Methods for cell phasing and placement in dynamic array architecture and implementation of the same
A semiconductor chip is defined to include a logic block area having a first chip level in which layout features are placed according to a first virtual grate, and a second chip level in which layout features are placed according to a second virtual grate. A rational spatial relationship exists between the first and second virtual grates. A number of cells are placed within the logic block area. Each of the number of cells is defined according to an appropriate one of a number of cell phases. The appropriate one of the number of cell phases causes layout features in the first and second chip levels of a given placed cell to be aligned with the first and second virtual grates as positioned within the given placed cell.
US08214777B2 On-chip leakage current modeling and measurement circuit
A leakage current monitor circuit provides an accurate statistically representative analog of true off-state leakage current in a digital circuit integrated on a die. At least one N-type transistor and at least one P-type transistor separate from the digital circuit are sized to represent the total area of the corresponding type transistors in the digital circuit. The gates of the N-type transistor and P-type transistors are set to voltages according to the corresponding off-state logic levels of the digital circuit. The N-type and P-type transistors form a portion of corresponding current mirror circuits, which can provide outputs to a leakage current monitor and/or a control circuit such as a comparator that determines when leakage current for the N-type or P-type devices has exceeded a threshold. The output of the measurement/control circuit can be used to determine a temperature of and/or control operation of the digital circuit or the system environment of the integrated circuit.
US08214776B2 Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing the same, method for generating mask data, mask and computer readable recording medium
A semiconductor device has first wiring layers 30 and a plurality of dummy wiring layers 32 that are provided on the same level as the first wiring layers 30. The semiconductor device defines a row direction, and first virtual linear lines L1 extending in a direction traversing the row direction. The row direction and the first virtual linear lines L1 define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers 32 are disposed in a manner to be located on the first virtual linear lines L1. The semiconductor device also defines a column direction perpendicular to the row direction, and second virtual linear lines L2 extending in a direction traversing the column direction. The column direction and the second virtual linear lines L2 define an angle of 2-40 degrees, and the dummy wiring layers 32 are disposed in a manner to be located on the second virtual linear lines L2.
US08214771B2 Scatterometry metrology target design optimization
A metrology target design may be optimized using inputs including metrology target design information, substrate information, process information, and metrology system information. Acquisition of a metrology signal with a metrology system may be modeled using the inputs to generate one or more optical characteristics of the metrology target. A metrology algorithm may be applied to the characteristics to determine a predicted accuracy and precision of measurements of the metrology target made by the metrology system. Part of the information relating to the metrology target design may be modified and the signal modeling and metrology algorithm may be repeated to optimize the accuracy and precision of the one or more measurements. The metrology target design may be displayed or stored after the accuracy and precision are optimized.
US08214764B2 System and process for presenting search results in a histogram/cluster format
A user interface system and process for graphically displaying the results of a standard search, such as a database search, to a user on a display device via an interactive search results window in which the user views and filters search results items. These results can be presented in either a cluster or histogram format, or both. This allows the user to visualize the results graphically, rather than just displaying a list of the items found. In addition the presentation of the search results can be graphically manipulated to easily filter the results as desired by the user.
US08214763B2 Auto-positioning a context menu on a GUI
A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for positioning a context menu on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) are presented. A cursor over a selected element on the GUI is clicked to display a context window. When scrolling to a chosen option within the context window occurs, the entire context menu moves, thus keeping the selected element aligned next to a scrolled-to option in the context window.
US08214758B2 Information processing apparatus, method of control for same, and program
An information processing apparatus is configured to execute a plurality of operations in parallel. A display unit displays a header identifying each operation in a plurality of operation on a display unit. A control unit switches a current operation based on selection of the header via an input unit and, when switching the current operation, controls display of suspension information to indicate a suspension state of a suspended operation on the header for the suspended operation in addition to the current operation.
US08214756B2 User interface for iterative image modification
A user interface for display or editing of a three dimensional medical image is provided on a display and is responsive to user inputs in a medical imaging system. The user interface includes a framing tool for defining a region of interest on the medical image. An image matrix is then provided on the user interface, which includes a plurality of cross-sectional images each corresponding to a cross-section of the medical image at one of a plurality of cut planes within the region of interest. One or more reference views of the medical image are also displayed, which each include a plurality of reference indicia, each of which corresponds to a location of one of the plurality of cut planes.
US08214754B2 Registration of applications and complimentary features for interactive user interfaces
An exemplary computer-implementable method includes receiving a call from an application executing on a host computer, the host computer having a collection of graphical user interfaces, and, in response to the call, registering the application whereby the registering comprises providing one or more entry points for the application wherein each entry point corresponds to at least one of the graphical user interfaces of the collection of graphical user interfaces. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08214753B2 Logic for designing portlet views
A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product of designing views of portlets are presented. The computer-implemented method, which is executed on a specific processor, receives, from a client, multiple requirements for portlets and views of a portal application. Common business components are then extracted from the multiple requirements, and the business components are classified into categories of containers, data entry forms, or tables. A library of implemented common business components is created and provided to multiple developers, who are then able to design the views of the portlets, such that the portal application views will have a similar look and feel.
US08214741B2 Synchronization of video and data
A system including a video stream and a data stream. The system synchronizes the data stream to different portions of the video stream.
US08214740B2 Song flow methodology in random playback
An electronic device can play back media items using a random playback mode. To ensure that related media items are played back in a proper order (e.g., live music is played back in concert order), the electronic device can define metadata or other data coupling related media items in a predefined or preset sequence. For example, related media items can include metadata tags identifying the previous and next media items to play back in the sequence. As another example, the electronic device can store a listing of media items of a sequence and the order in which to play them back. When the electronic device reaches a media item that is part of a preset sequence during random playback, the electronic device can identify at least the subsequent media items in the sequence, and insert the subsequent media items in the playback queue. The electronic device can then play back the entire sequence before moving to the next media item in the playback queue.
US08214736B2 Method and system of identifying textual passages that affect document length
The system relates to identifying critical textual passages that influence the pagination of electronic documents such that the addition or removal of text to these critical passages will have the effect of shortening or lengthening the document.
US08214732B2 Table column spanning
Disclosed are a method and system for grouping columns of data into different levels for subsequent multiple level operations. The method comprises the steps of providing sub-columns within a single table column, said table columns and each of the sub-columns having an associated header; and using multiple dummy tables and displaying them separately on different locations, one of the dummy tables including one or more of the associated headers. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a tool, referred to as the Jtable class, which is used to display and edit regular two-dimensional tables of cells. The present invention is able to support multilevel headers and column spanning by using multiple tables and displaying them separately. Preferably, this is done using another tool, GridBagLayout, which is associated with Jpanel tool.
US08214727B2 Method and apparatus for turbo encoding
An apparatus for encoding an information bit stream using turbo code is provided. The apparatus includes a temporary bit generator for creating a temporary bit stream, an interleaver for independently receiving the information bit stream and the temporary bit stream, a first constituent encoder for independently receiving the information bit stream and the temporary bit stream and generating a first parity bit stream and a second constituent encoder for receiving an output of the interleaver and generating a second parity bit stream. Performance of a turbo code can be enhanced without changing a code rate by making a decoded bit stream longer.
US08214725B2 Memory access system
The Error Correction Code (ECC) circuit generates the first syndrome of write data, which have not been written to the memory. The Error Detection Code (EDC) circuit generates the second syndrome of verification read data, which have been written to the memory. The EDC circuit detects errors due only to the “read disturb phenomenon” using the second syndrome, the errors occurring in data scanned from the memory. The ECC circuit detects and corrects errors due to the “program disturb phenomenon” and the “read disturb phenomenon” using the first syndrome, the errors occurring in the data in which the errors due only to the “read disturb phenomenon” have been detected. As a result, both the circuit size and the processing time can be reduced.
US08214721B2 System and method for achieving higher data rates in physical layer devices
A system and method for achieving higher data rates in physical layer devices. Costs imposed by large data rate increases represented by generational increases in Ethernet standards activities are avoided through physical layer device modifications that enable marginal increases in data bandwidth. Building-block reuse can be promoted through the selective use of clocking rate increase, increase in coding efficiency, and bit reuse.
US08214709B2 Communication apparatus, communication method and program
A communication apparatus includes an error detection unit conducting error detection on N packet data units received in N transmission processes; a first transmission unit transmitting an affirmative response signal or a first retransmission request signal depending on a result of the error detection; a storage unit storing an affirmatively responding packet for forwarding to an upper layer; a second transmission unit, if affirmatively responding packets are not consecutive, determining whether a missing packet must be retransmitted and transmitting a second retransmission request signal; and a forwarding unit reordering the packet data units and forwarding the packets in the storage unit to the upper layer.
US08214708B2 Video transmitting apparatus, video receiving apparatus, and video transmission system
A video transmitting apparatus includes a providing unit configured to provide retransmission request information including information for retransmitting video information to be transmitted to a video receiving apparatus, a control unit configured to perform connection control for communication with the video receiving apparatus, a transmitting unit configured to transmit the retransmission request information provided by the providing unit and the video information to the video receiving apparatus, through communication for which connection control is performed by the control unit, a receiving unit configured to receive a retransmission request based on the retransmission request information, the retransmission request being transmitted from the video receiving apparatus, and a retransmitting unit configured to retransmit a specific part of the video information in accordance with the retransmission request received by the receiving unit.
US08214707B2 Method and system for reliable data transfer
This disclosure relates to network data communication. Some embodiments include initiating a network connection between an original source and an ultimate destination, transmitting a block of data from the original source to the ultimate destination on the network, requesting retransmission of lost blocks from the ultimate destination to the source and retransmitting the lost blocks from source to the ultimate destination. These embodiments further include measuring round-trip time of a retransmit request, the round-trip time measured from a time of transmission of a retransmit request from the ultimate destination to a time of reception at the ultimate destination after retransmission from the original source and setting the round-trip time as a minimum retransmission request time for the network connection, wherein the round-trip time includes latencies of the network connection and in data processes at the original source and at the ultimate destination.
US08214700B2 Non-volatile memory and method with post-write read and adaptive re-write to manage errors
Data errors in non-volatile memory inevitably increase with usage and with higher density of bits stored per cell. For acceptable quality assurance, conventional error correction codes (“ECC”) have to correct a maximum number of error bits up to the far tail end of a statistical population. The present memory is configured to have a first portion operating with less error but of lower density storage, and a second portion operating with a higher density but less robust storage. If excessive error bits (at the far tail-end) occur after writing a group of data to the second portion, the data is adaptively rewritten to the first portion which will produce less error bits. Preferably, the data is initially written to a cache also in the first portion to provide source data for any rewrites. Thus, a more efficient ECC not requiring to correcting for the far tail end can be used.
US08214693B2 Damaged software system detection
Damage to a software stack accessed by multiple application programs can be detected by monitoring the rate of stack failures at the stack via a stack monitor and comparing the rate of stack failures with a time related threshold. An alarm is generated when the rate of stack failures exceeds the time related threshold.
US08214691B1 System and method for testing internet functionality of a computing device in a simulated internet environment
A system and method is disclosed for testing internet functionality of a computing device in a simulated Internet environment. In a testing environment, one or more local web servers are isolated from the Internet and configured to simulate one or more websites on the Internet. A request for a website located on the Internet is received from a computing device under test at a testing station. In response to receiving the request, information which simulates the website located on the Internet is provided to the computing device by the one or more local web servers, without access to the Internet.
US08214690B2 Method for testing a control apparatus and test device
A method is described and represented for testing a control apparatus with a test device, where the control apparatus has at least one state variable and at least one actual functionality that contains a time dependency, and the control apparatus and the test device are connected to each other via a signal interface.The problem of the present invention is to prevent—at least partially—the disadvantages known from the state of the art, and, particularly, to provide a method for testing a control apparatus, which allows as simple and flexible an acquisition of the target functionality of a control apparatus is possible, and which takes into account the time dependency of the target functionality as comprehensively as possible during the test case generation.
US08214688B1 Automated delayed message redelivery
Method and system are disclosed for redelivering failed messages in asynchronous communication systems. The methods and systems automatically delay redelivery of such failed messages in order to allow required system resources to become available. In one implementation, the methods and systems provide two levels of redelivery: a micro level in which redelivery is attempted right away for a certain number of times, and a macro level in which a predefined, user-selectable delay is imposed before any additional micro level redeliveries are attempted. After a certain number of unsuccessful macro level redeliveries, the message is backed out to a backout queue for manual intervention by a system operator. Such an arrangement reduces or eliminates the burden on the system operator to manually resolve failed message deliveries.
US08214687B2 Disaster recovery based on journaling events prioritization in information technology environments
Disaster recovery is performed based on journaling events prioritization in information in an information technology environment. One implementation involves prioritizing log file events for scheduling of jobs on a computing system, by logging events concerning each job execution plan, in a log file, and for disaster recovery, prioritizing logged events based on corresponding job urgency and relevance level and performing recovery by reapplying the events of log files in the priority order such that more urgent and relevant jobs are recovered first.
US08214683B2 Image forming apparatus, control method, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus that can be used even when an access error occurs due to replacement of component elements. When replacement of a component element of the image forming apparatus is detected, it is determined whether or not a predetermined process has been normally carried out on the component element. When it is determined that the predetermined process has not been normally carried out, another process different from the predetermined process is carried out. When the other process has been normally carried out, the predetermined process for the component element is changed to the other process.
US08214679B2 Multi-core processor system with thread queue based power management
A multi-core processor system includes: a plurality of processor cores; a power supply unit that stops supplying or supplies power to each of the processor cores individually; and a thread queue that stores threads that the multi-core processor system causes the processor cores to execute. Each of the processor cores includes: a power-supply stopping unit that causes the power supply unit to stop power supply to an own processor core when a number of threads stored in the thread queue is equal to or smaller than a first threshold; and a power-supply resuming unit that causes the power supply unit to resume power supply to the other stopped processor cores when the number of threads stored in the thread queue exceeds a second value equal to or lager than the first threshold.
US08214678B2 Serial data transfer apparatus
A serial data transfer apparatus includes a transport controller that performs a process of a transport layer, a link controller that performs a process of a link layer, and a physical layer circuit that performs a process of a physical layer. The serial data transfer apparatus transmits and receives data with a destination apparatus via a serial bus. The link controller outputs idle data, which is received from the destination apparatus, to the physical layer circuit, and stops to operate of a unit responsible for generating data to transmit to the destination apparatus while outputting the idle data to the physical layer circuit. This enables to output idle data defined in the standard in an idle period of the serial data transfer apparatus and also reduce the power consumption.
US08214673B2 Power saving method for computer system
A server system, method, and program product are provided for setting a power level of a central processing unit (CPU) included in the server computer system—the CPU being operable at a plurality of levels of power, and the server providing a service that follows a predetermined protocol identified by a port number to a client computer via a computer network. The method includes the steps of monitoring connection establishment or close of communication with the client computer and a port number for the established or closed communication, determining a power level to be set as the power level of the CPU in accordance with the port number, and setting the determined power level as the power level of the CPU.
US08214666B2 Power managing system
A power managing system includes a power supply, a first converter, a second converter, and a complex programmable logic device. The power supply outputs a first verification signal and a first power upon the condition that the power supply receives a power supply on signal from a motherboard. The first and second converters convert the first power to a second power, a third power, and output a second verification signal, a third verification signal respectively. The complex programmable logic device outputs an enable signal to the motherboard to make the motherboard receive the first, the second, and the third powers upon the condition that the complex programmable logic device receives the first, the second, and the third verification signals.
US08214658B2 Enhanced thermal management for improved module reliability
Mitigating effects of delamination of components in the data processing system is provided. A signal is received from one or more sensors in the data processing system. A determination is made as to whether the signal indicates that one threshold in a plurality of thresholds has been reached or exceeded. Responsive to the signal indicating that one threshold in the plurality of thresholds has been reached or exceeded, a determination is made as to whether the one threshold is a low temperature threshold or a high temperature threshold. Responsive to the one threshold being a low temperature threshold, one of a plurality of actions is initiated to increase a temperature of the data processing system thereby mitigating effects of delamination of the components in the data processing system.
US08214657B2 Resistance sensing for defeating microchip exploitation
A method, program product and apparatus include resistance structures positioned proximate security sensitive microchip circuitry. Alteration in the position, makeup or arrangement of the resistance structures may be detected and initiate an action for defending against a reverse engineering or other exploitation effort. The resistance structures may be automatically and selectively designated for monitoring. Some of the resistance structures may have different resistivities. The sensed resistance may be compared to an expected resistance, ratio or other resistance-related value. The structures may be intermingled with false structures, and may be overlapped or otherwise arranged relative to one another to further complicate unwelcome analysis.
US08214655B2 Data structure of multimedia file format, encrypting method and device thereof, and decrypting method and device thereof
In a data structure of a multimedia file format, a movie box and a media data box are provided. In each box, a non-encrypted size field, a non-encrypted type field and box data field are provided. In box data of the movie box, information data regarding multimedia data is stored. The multimedia data is encrypted and stored in box data of the media data box. The information data is obtained by referring to the container in the movie box. This information data is held as encryption and encoding information data. By referring to the information data, a data unit of the encrypted multimedia data in the media data box is obtained, and the unit data is decrypted.
US08214654B1 Method and system for loading a secure firmware update on an adapter device of a computer system
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for loading a secure firmware update onto an adapter device in a computer system. The method includes the steps of sending a duplet of encrypted data conveying a same portion of an encrypted update image along a transfer path to the adapter device, restoring two portions of source data from the duplet, and determining whether to accept the source data based on the result of a comparison of the two portions of source data.
US08214650B2 Context sensitive dynamic authentication in a cryptographic system
A system for performing authentication of a first user to a second user includes the ability for the first user to submit multiple instances of authentication data which are evaluated and then used to generate an overall level of confidence in the claimed identity of the first user. The individual authentication instances are evaluated based upon: the degree of match between the user provided by the first user during the authentication and the data provided by the first user during his enrollment; the inherent reliability of the authentication technique being used; the circumstances surrounding the generation of the authentication data by the first user; and the circumstances surrounding the generation of the enrollment data by the first user. This confidence level is compared with a required trust level which is based at least in part upon the requirements of the second user, and the authentication result is based upon this comparison.
US08214647B2 Distributed information generator and restoring device
Check data corresponding to distributed confidential information is generated, and the confidential information and check data are distribution-coded. When the confidential information is restored, the confidential information and check data are restored and it is determined whether or not the restored check data correspond to the restored confidential information. If the data correspond to the information, the information is determined to be correct and is output. If not, the information is judged to be false (i.e., tampered distributed information), and a symbol indicating that falsity has been detected is output.
US08214645B2 Systems, devices, and methods for securely transmitting a security parameter to a computing device
Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an image or audio signal. The image or audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the image or audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.
US08214644B2 Method for installing rights object for content in memory card
A method, device and system for stably issuing a rights object (RO) to a memory, namely, an SRM, via a terminal. When RO has been issued to the memory card, namely, to the SRM, by using the stable procedure, the RO can be compatible with a different terminal that does not support the stable procedure, whereby the RO can be completely used by the different terminal.
US08214642B2 System and method for distribution of credentials
The invention relates to a method for distribution of a set of credentials from a credential issuer to a credential user. The credential user is provided with a user device. A first channel and a second channel are provided for communication between the user device and the credential issuer. A shared key is distributed between the user device and the credential issuer by means of the second channel. A binary representation of the set of credentials with a predefined maximum level of deviation from a uniform distribution is generated. The binary representation of the set of credentials is encrypted by means of the shared key. The encrypted set of credentials is distributed via the first channel from the credential issuer to the user device. The encrypted set of credentials is decrypted by the user device by means of the shared key.
US08214635B2 Transparent proxy of encrypted sessions
In one embodiment, a server and a client are configured to trust a certificate of an intermediate proxy device. The proxy device may then intercept a client-server security session request message sent from the client to the server. In response, the proxy device initiates a proxy-server security session with the server and obtains server security information from the server. Then, the proxy device initiates a client-proxy security session with the client using the trusted proxy certificate, and obtains client security information from the client. Upon obtaining the client security information, the proxy device creates a dynamic certificate using the obtained client security information and the trusted proxy certificate, and establishes the initiated proxy-server security session with the dynamic certificate. The proxy device then establishes the initiated client-proxy session, wherein the client-proxy security session and proxy-server security session transparently appear to the client and server as the requested client-server security session.