最新美国发明专利第2014-05-20期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08728634B2	Appliance transparency A transparency includes a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface. A first coating is provided over at least a portion of the first major surface, the first coating including one or more metal oxide layers. A second coating is provided over at least a portion of the second major surface, the second coating including one or more metallic layers.
US08728632B2	Metal complexes comprising bridged carbene ligands and use thereof in OLEDs Bridged cyclometalated carbene complexes, a process for preparing the bridged cyclometalated carbene complexes, the use of the bridged cyclometalated carbene complexes in organic light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes comprising at least one inventive bridged cyclometalated carbene complex, a light-emitting layer comprising at least one inventive bridged cyclometalated carbene complex, organic light-emitting diodes comprising at least one inventive light-emitting layer and devices which comprise at least one inventive organic light-emitting diode.
US08728631B2	Dendrimer compound and organic luminescent device employing the same A dendrimer compound characterized by comprising a core represented by the following formula (1-1), (1-2), (1-3), or (1-4) and at least one kind of dendritic structure selected among dendritic structures represented by the following formulae (3) and (4).
US08728630B2	Articles incorporating alloy deposits having controlled, varying nanostructure Bipolar wave current, is used to electrodeposit a nanocrystalline grain size. Polarity Ratio is the ratio of absolute value of time integrated amplitude of negative and positive polarity current. Grain size can be controlled in alloys of two or more components, at least one of which is a metal, and at least one of which is most electro-active. Typically, the more electro-active material is preferentially lessened during negative current. Current density, duration of pulse portions, and bath composition are determined with reference to relations showing grain size as a function of deposit composition, and deposit composition as a function of Polarity Ratio, or a single relation showing grain size as a function of Polarity ratio. A specified size can be achieved by selecting a corresponding Polarity Ratio. Coatings can be layered, each having an average grain size, which can vary layer to layer and also graded through a region.
US08728629B2	Terminal for connector and method of producing the same A connector terminal, fabricated from a metallic material for connector which material has a tin or tin alloy layer, formed on a copper or copper alloy base material, wherein the thickness of the tin or tin alloy layer at a contact site on the surface of the terminal is smaller than the thickness of the tin or tin alloy layer in the areas other than the contact site, and a copper-tin alloy layer is formed as an under layer of the tin or tin alloy layer at the contact site; and a connector terminal, fabricated from a metallic material for connector which material has a copper or copper alloy base material, wherein a copper-tin alloy layer is formed in a spot shape at a contact site on the surface of the terminal, and a tin or tin alloy layer is formed in the remaining areas on the surface.
US08728627B2	Manufacturing method of aluminum structural body and aluminum structural body There is provided a manufacturing method of an aluminum structure, including a conductive treatment process of forming an electrically conductive layer on a surface of a resin molded body, the electrically conductive layer being made of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, nickel, copper, cobalt, iron, and aluminum, and a plating process of plating the resin molded body subjected to the conductive treatment process with aluminum in a molten salt bath. The manufacturing method of an aluminum structure allows aluminum plating on the surface of even a porous resin molded body having a three-dimensional network structure. In particular, there is also provided a manufacturing method of an aluminum structure that can form porous aluminum having a large area.
US08728626B2	Method for forming coating film and coated article The present invention provides a coated product having excellent corrosion resistance and excellent finish by a 3-coat 1-bake method; the method including the steps of forming cured coating film (A1) comprising cationic electrodeposition coating composition (A) on a metal object to be coated; forming first colored coated film (B1) by coating first colored aqueous coating composition (B); forming second colored coated film (C1) by coating second colored aqueous coating composition (C) on uncured first colored coated film (B1); forming clear coated film (D1) by coating clear coating composition (D) on uncured second colored coated film (C1); and simultaneously curing uncured first colored coated film (B1), uncured second colored coated film (C1), and uncured clear coated film (D1).
US08728625B2	Water reducible coating compositions including carboxy ester ketals, methods of manufacture, and uses thereof A water-reducible coating composition includes a water-reducible polymer binder; water; and a ketal adduct of formula (1) as well as coated substrates and films formed from the compositions. The films are useful as paints, stains, and clear-coats.
US08728620B2	Fine particles and method of producing thereof, fine particle dispersion liquid, and image display medium and image display apparatus An object of the present invention is to provide white colored fine particles with high white reflectance and not easily precipitating in a dispersion medium compared to inorganic white pigments, a method of producing the fine particles, an image display medium and an image display apparatus having a high whiteness like a paper and an excellent display memorability using the fine particles. Therefore, the fine particles contain a polymer of a compound expressed by the following formula (1): wherein, R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkenyl group, “m” represents an integer of 1 to 10, and at least one of R represents the alkenyl group.
US08728617B2	Microporous material containing a security feature Provided is a microporous material, e.g., a microporous sheet material, having a matrix of polyolefin, finely-divided, substantially water insoluble particulate filler, a network of interconnecting pores communicating throughout the microporous material, and at least one retrospectively identifiable taggant material embedded within the matrix, optionally the at least one taggant being unique to an end user for the microporous material, wherein the polyolefin is present in the microporous material in an amount of 20 to 35 weight percent, based on the weight of the microporous material. The taggant material provides a marker, signature or code that is capable of retrospective identification by machine, instrument or by the naked eye. Articles including the microporous material and processes for preparing the microporous material also are provided.
US08728609B2	Roof tiles and roof tile structures and methods of making same A roof tile having a mesh covered foam core with a cement-based protective coating, a roof covering formed from such tiles and methods for making same.
US08728608B2	Profile element with a sealing element The invention relates to a profile element, in particular a construction profile, for example a dry construction profile, a profile for facades or a rendering profile, comprising, in particular a metallic profile body (17, 18) and at least one sealing element (9, 10, 11). Said sealing element is fixed. at least to a longitudinal side of the profile body and is made of a plastic. Openings (13) are embodied in. the longitudinal side of the profile body and the sealing element comprises projections (12) that are embodied as a single piece with the sealing elements for fixing to the profile body (17, 18, 20) on the side of said sealing elements that face the profile body (17, 18, 20), said projections protruding through the openings. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of profile element.
US08728605B2	Water vapor permeable multi-layer thermal insulation A water vapor permeable multi-layer thermal insulation (10) includes two water vapor permeable outer layers (16, 18) encapsulating inner air and water vapor permeable layers (14) of insulation material and at least one inner separating layer (12) of an air-open fibrous material interleaved with the inner thermal insulation layers (14) and having a mean flow pore size that allows water vapor to move from one side of the at least one inner fibrous separating layer to the other and through the inner insulation layers yet restricts mass movement of air from one side to the other of the at least one inner fibrous separating layer (12) to form a barrier to convection.
US08728600B1	Highly abrasion-resistant grafted polyolefin pipe A pipe- or tube-shaped article comprising an innermost layer made from a grafted polyolefin composition is disclosed which can provide long lifetime, highly abrasion-resistant pipes for mining and other transportation uses. Methods for preparing the article and transporting abrasive materials through the article are also described.
US08728595B1	Buffer air column with three-dimensional structure A buffer air column with a three-dimensional structure includes a first buffer portion and a second buffer portion. The first buffer portion includes a first air column, a first heat sealing section and a second heat sealing section. The second buffer portion includes a second air column, a first connection side, a second connection side and a corner area. One end of the corner area is connected to the first connection side, the other end is connected to the second connection side, and the corner area is used for abutting against a case body. A buffer slot is formed between the second air column and the first air column, and when an article abuts against the first air column, the first air column buffers and protects the article, and the buffer slot is compressed due to the pressure and assists in buffering and protecting the article.
US08728588B2	Method of treating a surface of at least one part by means of individual sources of an electron cyclotron resonance plasma A method of treating a surface of at least one part by individual sources of an electron cyclotron resonance plasma is characterized by subjecting the part(s) to at least one movement of revolution with regard to at least one fixed linear row of elementary sources. The linear row or rows of elementary sources are disposed parallel to the axis or axes of revolution of the part or parts.
US08728587B2	Closed loop process control of plasma processed materials A plasma processing apparatus and method are disclosed which improve the repeatability of various plasma processes. The actual implanted dose is a function of implant conditions, as well as various other parameters. This method used knowledge of current implant conditions, as well as information about historical data to improve repeatability. In one embodiment, a plasma is created, a first sensing system is used to monitor a composition of the plasma and a second sensing system is used to monitor a total number of ions implanted. Information about plasma composition and dose per pulse is used to control one or more operating parameters in the plasma chamber. In another embodiment, this information is combined with historical data to control one or more operating parameters in the plasma chamber. In another embodiment, the thickness of material on the walls is measured, and used to modify one or more operating parameters.
US08728586B2	RF choke for gas delivery to an RF driven electrode in a plasma processing apparatus In large area plasma processing systems, process gases may be introduced to the chamber via the showerhead assembly which may be driven as an RF electrode. The gas feed tube, which is grounded, is electrically isolated from the showerhead. The gas feed tube may provide not only process gases, but also cleaning gases from a remote plasma source to the process chamber. The inside of the gas feed tube may remain at either a low RF field or a zero RF field to avoid premature gas breakdown within the gas feed tube that may lead to parasitic plasma formation between the gas source and the showerhead. By feeding the gas through an RF choke, the RF field and the processing gas may be introduced to the processing chamber through a common location and thus simplify the chamber design.
US08728584B2	Method for patterning polymer surface The invention provides a method for patterning a polymer surface. A polymer layer is formed on a substrate. A conductive grid with a mesh pattern is placed on the polymer layer. The mesh pattern is transferred to the polymer layer by a plasma treatment. The conductive grid is then removed.
US08728583B2	Composite materials, composite film manufactured by using the same and method for manufacturing composite film The present invention provides a composite material comprising a glass cloth; and an organic-inorganic hybrid composition comprising diphenylsilanediol and alkoxy silane, a composite film manufactured by using the same, and a method for manufacturing the composite film.
US08728577B2	Metallic decorative sheet, production method of metallic decorative sheet, and production method of insert molded body using metallic decorative sheet Provided is a production method of a metallic decorative sheet capable of preventing from getting detached at edge portions. The production method of a metallic decorative sheet for insert molding comprises steps of forming a metal thin-film layer 12 on a back surface of a transparent thermoplastic resin film 11; removing a first region J for displaying a non-metallic design on an outer surface of the thermoplastic resin film 11 and a second region K which is at least a part of edge region of the thermoplastic resin film 11 from the metal thin-film layer 12; and laminating an ink layer 14 on at least the metal thin-film layer 12 and the second region K.
US08728576B2	Method for producing photocatalytically active titanium dioxide layers A method for manufacturing photocatalytically active titanium dioxide layers on substrate surfaces. The method reduces the effort for the manufacture of photocatalytically active titanium dioxide layers and increases the choice for the coating of suitable substrate materials. In the method, a titanium compound present in the gas phase and water vapor are directed to a preheated substrate by means of gas phase hydrolysis and a titanium dioxide layer is foamed on the surface of the substrate by chemical reaction. In this respect, the titanium compound and water vapor are supplied separately from one another so that a flow speed of at least 0.5 m/s is achieved and the time between the first contact of the two gases up to the impact on the surface of the substrate is kept lower than 0.05 s, and in this process the photocatalytically active titanium dioxide layer is formed on the substrate surface.
US08728574B2	Methods for introducing a first gas and a second gas into a reaction chamber Gas distribution units of fluidized bed reactors are configured to direct thermally decomposable compounds to the center portion of the reactor and away from the reactor wall to prevent deposition of material on the reactor wall and process for producing polycrystalline silicon product in a reactor that reduce the amount of silicon which deposits on the reactor wall.
US08728572B2	Method for constructing contact element for multi-layer system A device and method relating to a layer system is provided. A substrate with a multi-layer system disposed on the substrate is provided. The multi-layer system has at least one upper layer and at least one layer. A contact element is applied through cold-gas spraying in such a manner that the contact element penetrates the upper layer and contacts the lower layer. The upper layer of the multi-layer system has a scratch-resistant top-layer.
US08728570B2	Droplet discharge method and droplet discharge device A droplet discharge method is for discharging a liquid into a plurality of drawing regions partitioned on a substrate from a plurality of nozzles formed in a droplet discharge head while moving the droplet discharge head relative to the substrate. The droplet discharge method includes dividing the nozzles into a plurality of nozzle groups so that the nozzles in one of the nozzles groups face the same drawing region, correcting an amount of the liquid discharged from the nozzles so that an average value of an amount of the liquid discharged from the nozzles constituting the nozzle groups is substantially uniform among the nozzle groups, and discharging the liquid from the nozzles while the droplet discharge head is moved relative to the substrate.
US08728569B2	Method for reconditioning the worn surface of grinding rollers of a high-compression roller mill The method according to the invention for reprocessing the worn surface of grinding rollers (2) of a material bed roller mill comprises the following method steps: a. providing a mobile processing station (6) which is arranged in a container (8) and comprises at least one machine tool (9) and a drive (10) for rotating the grinding roller, b. removing the complete roller unit (A) containing the grinding roller to be reprocessed from the material bed roller mill, c. positioning the complete roller unit in front on the mobile processing station and coupling the drive to the shaft (1) of the grinding roller, d. producing a new cylindrical surface (2h) using the machine tool, and e. producing a new wear protection comprising new profiled bodies (2c) and/or build-up welding.
US08728567B2	Double complex salts as absorbers in OSC/OPV devices The present invention pertains to the double complex salts in optoelectronic components, like organic diodes, organic transistors or organic lasers, in particular an organic solar cell (OSC, OPP) and in particular from oligomers built from charged metal complexes.
US08728566B2	Method of making carbon nanotube composite materials The present invention is a method of making a composite polymeric material by dissolving a vinyl thermoplastic polymer, un-functionalized carbon nanotubes and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes and optionally additives in a solvent to make a solution and removing at least a portion of the solvent after casting onto a substrate to make thin films. The material has enhanced conductivity properties due to the blending of the un-functionalized and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes.
US08728563B2	Endoluminal implantable surfaces, stents, and grafts and method of making same A method of manufacturing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft includes the steps of providing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft having an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface, and a wall thickness and forming a pattern design into the endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft. At least one groove is created in the inner surface of the intravascular stent by applying a laser machining method to the inner surface.
US08728560B2	Textured pea proteins The invention relates to granulated pea protein composition characterized in that the protein content expressed in terms of a dry substance ranges from 70 to 95% by dry weight, preferably from 70 to 90% by dry weight, more preferably from 80 to 85% by dry weight, a mean diameter ranges from 150 to 300 μm, a compressibility value determined by the HOSOKAWA method ranges from 5 to 15%, preferably from 8 to 13% and a tamped density determined by the HOSOKAWA method ranges from 0.450 and 0.650 g/ml, preferably from 0.550 and 0.650 g/ml. The method for producing said granulated pea protein composition, the use thereof in the form of a raw material for producing textured pea proteins and the thus obtainable textured pea proteins are also disclosed.
US08728554B2	Stabilisation of microwave heated food substrates A method of manufacture and a food product with a substrate impregnated with a stabilizer composition, the impregnated substrate coated with an aqueous or gel coating. The impregnation of the core with the stabilizer contributes to the moisture content of the core during subsequent cooking or reheating. The coating exhibits good adhesion to the impregnated substrate, and can facilitate adhesion of subsequently applied crumb or other fine particles and serve as an additional barrier to loss of moisture from the substrate during the subsequent cooking or reheating.
US08728550B2	Animal meal that includes fungal biomass Disclosed herein are compositions comprising an isolated cellulose degrading fungus. Also disclosed are culture compositions and bioreactor compositions comprising the cellulose degrading fungus. Further described herein are filtration and extraction devices comprising the cellulose degrading fungus. Still further disclosed are bioprocessing facilities for and methods for producing co-products resulting from one or more bioprocesses of the cellulose degrading fungus.
US08728548B2	Parthenolide free bioactive ingredients from feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) and processes for their production The present invention relates to bioactive ingredients that include isolated bioactive fractions derived from cell juice of fresh biomass of a feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) plant. The bioactive fractions are either free of or substantially free of α-unsaturated γ-lactones (e.g., parthenolide). Further, the bioactive fractions have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The present invention also relates to a method for isolating a bioactive fraction that is derived from cell juice of fresh biomass of a feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) plant and that is at least substantially free of α-unsaturated γ-lactones (e.g., parthenolide). The present invention also relates to a method for preparing a stabilized cell juice serum fraction and a stabilized concentrated cell juice serum fraction that are free of α-unsaturated γ-lactones (e.g., parthenolide). The present invention also relates to a bioactive composition that includes a mixture of one or more of the isolated bioactive fractions of the present invention.
US08728546B1	Medicament for treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and inflammation The invention provides a medicament for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and/or inflammation. The medicament may be administered orally, parenterally or topically.
US08728542B2	Protein preparations from sunflower seeds and production thereof The present invention relates to a method of obtaining protein preparations from sunflower seeds as well as protein preparations produced with the method. In the method the sunflower seeds are dehulled to a residual hull content of ≦5% by weight or dehulled sunflower seeds with a residual hull content of ≦5% by weight are provided. Mechanical partial deoiling of the dehulled sunflower seeds is carried out through pressing up to a fat or oil content of the dehulled sunflower seeds in the range 10 to 35% by weight. After carrying out one or more extraction steps with at least one solvent, a defatted flour containing protein is obtained as a protein preparation. Both optically and functionally the protein preparation has very advantageous properties which allow it to be used directly in the food product or animal feed sector.
US08728538B2	Calcium carbonate granulation Highly compactable granulations and methods for preparing highly compactable granulations are disclosed. More particularly, highly compactable calcium carbonate granulations are disclosed. The granulations comprise powdered materials such as calcium carbonate that have small median particle sizes. The disclosed granulations are useful in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical tableting and provide smaller tablet sizes upon compression than previously available.
US08728533B2	Composition comprising crustacean gastrolith components and its use Provided is a formulation containing amorphous or microcrystalline calcium carbonate finely interspersed with organic matter in a ratio of 10 parts of the carbonate per 1 to 3 parts of the organic matter, wherein the organic matter consists of chitin and polypeptide. The formulation is efficient in treating various pathological conditions, including proliferative diseases, neurological disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders.
US08728532B2	Ischemia/reperfusion protection compositions and methods of using The invention provides for ischemia/reperfusion protection compositions having one or more ketone bodies and melatonin. The invention also provides for methods of using such compositions to reduce or prevent ischemia/reperfusion injury due to blood loss, stroke or cardiopulmonary arrest or surgery.
US08728529B2	Nanoparticle contrast agents for diagnostic imaging Compositions of nanoparticles functionalized with at least one zwitterionic moiety, methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles, and methods of their use as diagnostic agents are provided. The nanoparticles have characteristics that result in minimal retention of the particles in the body compared to other nanoparticles. The nanoparticle comprises a core, having a core surface essentially free of silica, and a shell attached to the core surface. The shell comprises at least one silane-functionalized zwitterionic moiety.
US08728525B2	Protein microspheres retaining pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties The present disclosure relates to compositions of methods of making and compositions small compositions of particles of an active agent. In accordance with the method of production, the active agent is dissolved in an aqueous or aqueous-miscible solvent containing a dissolved phase-separation enhancing agent (PSEA) to form a solution in a single liquid phase. The solution is subjected to a liquid-solid phase separation to cause the active agent to form small spherical particles that are substantially amorphous or non-crystalline and are injectable through fine bore needles at high concentrations. The particles exhibit the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamnic properties of the active agent. The disclosure has special application for higher molecular weight proteins such as antibodies.
US08728519B2	Soft gelatin capsules The present invention relates to soft gelatin capsules characterized in that the shell includes a cyclodextrin and in that the filling material contains a liposoluble drug capable of forming a complex with said cyclodextrin for improving the solubility of the active ingredient upon disintegration of the soft gelatin capsule.
US08728518B2	Butylphthalide self-emulsifying drug delivery system, its preparation and method and application The present invention relates to a novel drug delivery and release system, i.e. Self-emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS), of butylphthalide, to a preparation process thereof, and to a use thereof in a pharmaceutical formulation. The drug delivery system comprises as essential ingredients 1% to 65% of butylphthalide and 10% to 65% of a emulsifying agent, together with various excipients as required depending on the desired dosage forms. The present invention significantly increases the contact area between butylphthalide and the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore improves the absorptivity of the drug.
US08728515B2	Adjuvants for use in vaccination A compound of formula (I) for use as an adjuvant in vaccination; wherein R is an optionally-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl moiety having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms; R1 is an optionally-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl moiety having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; each of R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from an optionally-substituted alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene, arylalkylene or alkylarylene moiety having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; each of X, Y and Z is independently selected from an optionally-substituted alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene, alkylarylene or cycloalkylene, ketone, ester, amide, imide, imine, thioether, ether, thioester, thioketone; and P is selected from hydrogen, an alkyl group, a sugar residue, or a metal, phosphonium or ammonium species; wherein at least one of X, Y and Z includes a moiety selected from cyclopropyl, C=A, C-AH and C—OR5; wherein R5 is alkyl or haloalkyl, and A is S, O or NR6, wherein R6 maybe H or 20 alkyl.
US08728514B2	Transdermal preparations containing hydrophoic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Disclosed is a transdermal preparation containing a hydrophobic drug. As a method of continuing the high drug permeation, it is used an unique hydrophilic polymer system in which the drug can be contained in a high concentration under no water environment, a solubility of the hydrophobic drug is decreased as the water is introduced to the patch from the skin, so that the drug is maintained at the saturation concentration even though the drug content is decreased as the drug is permeated to the skin. During the application of the transdermal preparation to the skin, it is possible to continuously permeate the high amount of drug, to maintain the sufficient adhesion during the use and to minimize the skin side effect, because the hydrophilic polymer absorbs the water from the skin. The hydrophilic polymer system can serve the function thereof through the hydrophobic adhesive layer capable of preventing the water quickly absorbed from the skin from being evaporated to the outside of the patch.
US08728512B2	Treatment and composition for wound healing A method and medicament for promoting wound healing in a subject is disclosed. The medicament comprises an effective amount of an agent comprising one or more of; (i) an activated protein C (APC), (ii) a functional fragment of an APC, (iii) an APC mimetic compound, and (iv) protein C. Delivery systems including gels, sponges, gauzes and meshes incorporating the agent for topical administration are also described.
US08728511B2	Method of treatment comprising administering controlled release melatonin Controlled release melatonin formulations are useful for imparting avoidance of mood depression which may be associated with administration of melatonin in conventional form comprising. Particular embodiments of methods use formulations designed to release melatonin according to a profile that simulates a normal endogenous melatonin nocturnal profile. The methods also include co-administration with additional medicaments.
US08728510B1	Biocompatible carrier containing a bioadhesive material A biocompatible carrier for delivery of a therapeutic substance or an active agent is disclosed. The carrier contains a bioadhesive material allowing for increased residence time of the active agent at the treatment site.
US08728498B2	Electrospun silk material systems for wound healing The present invention relates to the processes of preparing silkfibroin/polyethylene oxide blended materials, and the resulting materials thereof, which are suitable for biomedical applications such as wound healing. In particular, the electrospun silk fibroin/PEO mats with a silk:PEO blend ratio of 2:1 to 4:1, treated with controlled evaporation, constraint-drying techniques, and/or alcohol treatment, and/or PEO extraction, demonstrate suitable physical and biofunctional properties, such as fiber structure, topography, absorption, water vapor transmission rates, oxygen permeation, and biodegradability, relevant to biomaterial systems with utility for wound dressings.
US08728496B2	Functionalized RGD peptidomimetics and their manufacture, and implant having a coating containing such functionalized RGD peptidomimetics At least some embodiments of the invention relates to an implant having a coating that contains or is composed of a functionalized RGD peptidomimetic RGD-P1 having the formula (1) and/or a functionalized RGD peptidomimetic RGD-P2 having the formula (2), and an associated manufacturing method.
US08728495B2	Methods and compositions for repair of cartilage using an in vivo bioreactor Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.
US08728490B2	Streptococcus suis vaccines and diagnostic tests Described are Streptococcus suis infections in pigs, vaccines directed against those infections and tests for diagnosing S. suis infections. Provided is an isolated or recombinant nucleic acid encoding a capsular gene cluster of S. suis or a gene or gene fragment derived therefrom. Further provided is a nucleic acid probe or primer allowing species or serotype-specific detection of S. suis. Also provided is a Streptococcus suis antigen and vaccine derived therefrom.
US08728489B2	Immunotherapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection Disclosed are uses of immunotherapeutic compositions in combination with Standard of Care (SOC), or interferon therapy combined with anti-viral therapy, for the improved treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and related conditions, including liver function. The compositions, kits and uses of the invention, as compared to the use of SOC therapy alone: improves the rate of early response to therapy as measured by early virologic markers (e.g., RVR and EVR), enlarges the pool of patients who will have sustained responses to therapy over the long term, offers shortened courses of therapy for certain patients, enables “rescue” of patients who are non-responders or intolerant to SOC therapy, improves liver function and/or reduces liver damage in patients, and enables the personalization of HCV therapy for a patient, which can result in dose sparing, improved patient compliance, reduced side effects, and improved long term therapeutic outcomes.
US08728488B2	Methods of inducing an immune response in a host by administering flavivirus immunogens comprising extracellular viral particles composed of the premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) antigens The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules containing transcription units which encode the flavivirus M and E protein antigens. The flaviviruses include Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue, yellow fever virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The nucleic acids function to provide the M and E protein antigens when the nucleic acid resides in an appropriate host cell, especially when the host cell is the cell of a subject. The invention also encompasses a vaccine whose active agent is the nucleic acid. The invention further encompasses the cultured host cells when they contain within them nucleic acid molecules containing the transcription units. The invention in addition encompasses a method of immunizing a subject against flavivirus infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a vaccine containing a nucleic acid molecule containing the transcription unit of the invention.
US08728487B2	Attenuated live vaccine for prevention of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome The present disclosure provides an attenuated live vaccine strain and the formulations thereof, for preventing pigs from infection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The preparation methods for the vaccines and the formulations are also provided. The attenuated live vaccine strain provided herein offers significant immunological protection to pigs against PRRS. The vaccine formulations of the present disclosure also have advantages in long shelf lives as well as good stability during storage.
US08728486B2	Toll-like receptor-7 and -8 modulatory 1H imidazoquinoline derived compounds The present disclosure provides novel imidazoquinoline derived compounds, derivatives thereof, analogues thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and methods of making and using such compounds. The present disclosure also provides TLR7 agonists and TLR7/TLR8 dual agonists, probes, tissue-specific molecules, adjuvants, immunogenic compositions, therapeutic compositions, and self-adjuvanting vaccines including the imidazoquinoline derived compounds, derivatives thereof, analogues thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Derivatives of the imidazoquinoline derived compounds also include dendrimers and dimers of the imidazoquinoline derived compounds, and methods of making and using the dendrimeic and dimeric imidazoquinoline derived compounds. The present disclosure also provides dual TLR2/TLR7 hybrid agonists that include imidazoquinoline derived compounds of the present disclosure.
US08728485B2	Peptide library obtained from multi-clade chimeric immunogens derived from highly conserved regions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) consensus proteome The present invention provides artificial fusion proteins (AFPs) designed to elicit an anti-HIV immune response, as well as nucleic acid molecules and expression vectors encoding those proteins. The AFPs of the invention may comprise domains from various HIV proteins, such as Gag, Pol, Vif, and Env proteins, which are partial sequences. HIVCON is an AFP in which the HIV domains are from several HIV Glade consensus sequences and which optionally contains additional domains which may be useful, for example, in monitoring expression levels or laboratory animal immune responses. Other aspects of the invention may include compositions and methods for inducing an anti-HIV immune response in a subject, preferably with a DNA prime-MVA boost strategy, and to induce a cell-mediated immune response.
US08728479B2	Antigen-binding proteins comprising recombinant protein scaffolds Disclosed herein are recombinant protein scaffolds and recombinant multifunctional protein scaffolds for use in producing antigen-binding proteins In addition, nucleic acids encoding such recombinant protein scaffolds, recombinant multifunctional protein scaffolds, and antigen-binding proteins are provided Vectors and cells useful for expression of the described proteins are also provided, as are methods of use.
US08728476B2	Compositions and methods to enhance the immune system The invention relates to the field of molecular medicine. In particular, it relates to compositions and methods to enhance the clearance of aberrant cells, e.g. cancer cells or virus-infected cells, by the host's immune system. Provided is a composition comprising (i) a therapeutic compound that can trigger a host's immune effector cells against an aberrant cell, such as a therapeutic antibody, and (ii) at least one agent capable of reducing or preventing inhibitory signal transduction initiated via SIRPalpha.
US08728474B2	Immunopotentiative composition Compositions for cancer or infection treatment via immunopotentiation caused by inhibition of immunosuppressive signal induced by PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2 and therapies using them, immunopotentiative substrates included as the active ingredient, screening methods of the substrates for cancer or infection treatment, cell lines used for the screening methods, evaluation methods that select the substrates for cancer treatment, and carcinoma cell transplanted mammals used for the evaluation methods. The compositions of the present invention that inhibits the function of PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2 are useful for treatment of cancer or infection.
US08728466B2	Treating burn injuries with reduced hypertrophic scarring This document provides methods and materials involved in treating burn injuries. For example, methods and materials for using skin grafts (e.g., autologous skin grafts) treated with an autologous platelet concentrate and autologous thrombin to treat burn injuries (e.g., deep skin burn injuries) are provided.
US08728465B2	Use of toll-like receptor ligands as adjuvants to vaccination therapy for brain tumors Compositions comprising dendritic cells pulsed with tumor lysate and at least one toll-like receptor (TLR) ligand which may be used for eliciting a specific immune response in a mammal in need thereof for treating diseases including a tumor are disclosed. Also disclose are methods of activating dendritic cells, comprising providing at least one toll-like receptor (TLR) ligand; and pulsing a dendentic cell with the at least one TLR ligand. A method further comprises pulsing the dendritic cell with a tumor lysate.
US08728462B2	Antimicrobial compositions and related methods of use Antimicrobial compositions comprising one or more compound components generally recognized as safe for human consumption, and related methods of use, such compositions and methods as can be employed in a wide range of agricultural, industrial, building, pharmaceutical and/or personal care products and applications.
US08728456B2	Programming of cells for tolerogenic therapies Biomaterial systems, e.g., gel scaffolds, are used in vivo to recruit immune cells and promote their activation towards a non-inflammatory phenotype, thereby leading suppression of inflammation. The compositions and methods are useful to reduce the severity of autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, allergy, and periodontal disease.
US08728455B2	Radiation-curable antimicrobial coatings The present invention relates to radiation-curable antimicrobial coatings, to a process for preparation thereof, and to the use thereof.
US08728454B1	Cationic micelles with anionic polymeric counterions compositions thereof The invention relates to polymer-micelle complex. The polymer-micelle complexes include a positively charged micelle selected from the group consisting of a monomeric quaternary ammonium compound, a monomeric biguanide compound, and mixtures thereof. The positively charged micelle is electrostatically bound to a water-soluble polymer bearing a negative charge. The polymer does not comprise block copolymer, latex particles, polymer nanoparticles, cross-linked polymers, silicone copolymer, fluorosurfactant, or amphoteric copolymer. The compositions do not form a coacervate, and do not form a film when applied to a surface.
US08728445B2	Hydrogel Compositions Hydrogel compositions are provided (a) that have a continuous hydrophobic phase and a discontinuous hydrophilic phase, (b) that have a discontinuous hydrophilic phase and a continuous hydrophilic phase, or (c) that are entirely composed of a continuous hydrophilic phase. The hydrophobic phase, if present, is composed of a hydrophobic polymer, particularly a hydrophobic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), a plasticizing elastomer, a tackifying resin, and an optional antioxidant. The discontinuous hydrophilic phase, if present, is composed of a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer, particularly a crosslinked cellulosic polymer such as crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose. For those hydrogel compositions containing a continuous hydrophilic phase, the components of the phase include a cellulose ester composition or an acrylate polymer or copolymer, and a blend of a hydrophilic polymer and a complementary oligomer capable of hydrogen bonding thereto. Films prepared from hydrogel compositions containing or entirely composed of the aforementioned continuous hydrophilic phase can be made translucent, and may be prepared using either melt extrusion or solution casting. A preferred use of the hydrogel compositions is in wound dressings, although numerous other uses are possible as well.
US08728436B2	Synthesis strategy toward microspheric carbon coated off-stoichiometric lithium—iron—phosphorus compound materials A cathode active material represented by the formula, LiFexPO4/C, wherein 0.9≦x<1, preferably 0.96≦x<1, which was obtained from carbon pre-coated off-stoichiometric FexPO4, wherein 0.9≦x<1, preferably 0.96≦x<1. The materials may be double-carbon-coated particles obtained by carbon coating a mixture of a lithium component and FexPO4/C sub-particles, wherein the FexPO4/C sub-particles may be obtained by carbon coating FexPO4.
US08728434B2	Preparation of nanocrystals for thermoelectric and solar cell applications using sulfide-based nanocrystal precursors in colloidal systems Disclosed herein is a method of synthesizing a nanocrystal. The method can include reacting a bismuth material, an antimony material, and a ligand together with a heat source. The method may also include injecting a sulfur precursor at a predetermined temperature and maintaining the predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time to form a plurality of precursor nanocrystals. The precursor nanocrystals may include Bi0.5Sb1.5S3 nanocrystals.
US08728429B2	Production of conductive nanodiamond by dynamic synthesis approaches In certain implementations, a method of manufacturing electrically conductive nanodiamond particles involves providing at least one type of carbon-containing explosive material and at least one type of non-explosive material; wherein the non-explosive material contains at least one or more than one element or species other than nitrogen that serve as a nanodiamond dopant; mixing the carbon containing explosive material with the non-explosive material; detonating the mixture under conditions of negative oxygen balance in the presence of a cooling medium; purifying the product of detonation from incombustible impurities; and carrying out additional processing for activation or enhancement of electrical conductance. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08728426B2	Hybrid reactor with two reaction zones The invention relates to a hybrid reverse flow catalytic apparatus having two reaction zones: a homogeneous reaction zone in porous ceramic and a heterogeneous reaction zone with catalyst, arranged in two different catalyst beds. A first catalytic bed located in a central region of the reactor is provided with a low activity catalyst and a second catalyst bed located in a peripheral region of the reactor is provided with a high activity catalyst. The provision of two catalyst beds containing different catalysts reduces the effect of radial temperature gradients in the reactor and improves the overall efficiency of the reactor. The invention also relates to method of performing catalytic and thermochemical reactions in said apparatus.
US08728423B2	Method and apparatus for flue gas treatment A method for flue gas treatment includes branching part of a flue gas stream emitted from a gas turbine from an upstream side or a downstream side of an exhaust heat recovery boiler and subjecting the branched part to combustion with a fuel in an auxiliary boiler so as to increase carbon dioxide concentration in the branched part prior to recombining the flue gas stream from the auxiliary boiler with the remaining part of the flue gas stream from the gas turbine to form a combined flue gas stream having a carbon dioxide concentration for efficient recovery in a carbon dioxide recovery apparatus.
US08728419B1	Process for recycling alkaline batteries The invention relates to the recovery of manganese dioxide, zinc hydroxide/oxide and steel from metal cased alkaline dry cell batteries which have been wet crushed. There is also a process for recovery of the steel and high purity manganese dioxide which can be directly utilized in the electrode for alkaline dry cell batteries.
US08728414B2	Closure, containing apparatus, and method of using same A closure for a container has a closure body having a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion opposite the first portion. The closure also has a connector disposed in at least one of the first and second portions. The connector is adapted to connect one of a sample collection device and an applicator to the closure. A containing apparatus including the closure, a container, and optionally one of a sample collection device and an applicator is also disclosed. A method of using the containing apparatus is also disclosed.
US08728410B2	Device for and method of extracting a fraction from a biological sample A device and method are provided for facilitating extraction of a fraction from a biological sample. The biological sample includes non-desired material and a fraction-bound solid phase substrate. The device includes an input zone for receiving the biological sample therein and a phase-gate zone for receiving an isolation buffer therein. An output zone receives a reagent therein. A force is movable between a first position adjacent the input zone and a second position adjacent the output zone. The force urges the fraction-bound solid phase substrate from the input zone, through the phase-gate zone and into the output zone.
US08728409B2	Apparatus and method for suspension wicking of nanoparticles into microchannels A method of forming a device on a substrate comprising creating a depository and at least one attached capillary; the depository being of millimeter scale; providing a liquid containing particles in the range 1 nanometer to 1 millimeter; depositing into the depository the liquid containing particles which flows into at least one capillary by capillary action; evaporating the liquid such that the particles form an agglomerate beginning at the end of the at least one capillary with a substantially uniform distribution of the particles within the agglomerate; which is used to form a device. A microelectronic integrated circuit device comprising a substrate; a depository coupled to said substrate, the depository being formed by at least one wall adjacent to the substrate; at least one capillary channel coupled to at least one depository that is formed by walls adapted to be filled with a liquid (by capillary action) comprising nanoparticles.
US08728408B2	Nozzle assembly for mounting in mechanical or electronic pipette The nozzle (3) is in its lower part formed respectively for receiving a pipette exchangeable tip (19) and is in its upper part releasably connected with the holder (2). In the holder (2) a pressure sleeve (6) is placed as being slidably borne in the holder (2). The pressure sleeve (6) is via a pressure sub-assembly seated in the holder (2) pressed to the sealing means placed between the pressure sleeve (6) and the nozzle (3). The plunger (1) is slidably borne in the pressure sleeve (6) and in the pressure sub-assembly. Due to this, leakproofness of the plunger (1) in the nozzle (3), which is indispensable for a correct and reliable pipette operation, is provided in PIPETTING, ADJUSTMENT or CALIBRATION MODES of the pipette. Simultaneously, in MAINTENANCE MODE of the pipette the sealing means automatically slide out from an abutting surface (2c) of the holder (2).
US08728396B2	Sample analyzer and sample transporting method The present invention is a sample analyzer including: a first and a second measurement unit configured to measure a sample accommodated in a sample container; a rack transport unit configured to transport each of a plurality of sample containers held in a sample rack to either the first or the second measurement unit; and a controller configured to acquire a measurement item information indicating a measurement item of each of samples accommodated in the plurality of sample containers held in the sample rack, determine a sample container to be a transport object and a measurement unit to be a transport destination of the sample container based on the acquired plurality of measurement item information, and control the rack transport unit to transport the sample container determined as the transport object to the measurement unit determined as the transport destination.
US08728393B2	Apparatus and method of sterilizing inner walls of containers with a reflector apparatus An apparatus and a method of sterilizing inner walls of containers, wherein the apparatus has at least one electron beam emitter with at least one electron beam accelerator and an outlet window for the electron beams, a conveying device for conveying the containers to be sterilized and a reciprocating device for permitting a relative movement between the containers and the outlet window in a longitudinal direction of the containers. A reflector apparatus is connected to the electron beam emitter in a positively locking and/or friction locking manner at least locally in a region of the outlet window and is capable of being introduced at least locally during a defined period of time into an interior space of the container to be sterilized, in order to apply the electron beams to the inner walls of the container.
US08728390B2	Vibration machines for powder coating A method of making a permanent magnet includes a step of forming a coating on an alloy powder by physical vapor deposition. The alloy powder includes neodymium, iron, boron and other metals. The coating includes a component selected from the group consisting of dysprosium, terbium, iron, and the alloys thereof. The alloy powder is vibrated during formation of the coating. Finally, a permanent magnet is formed from the coated powder, the permanent magnet having a non-uniform distribution of dysprosium and/or terbium. A method of making a permanent magnet using a vibrating transport belt is also provided.
US08728388B2	Method of fabricating turbine components for engines A method is provided that includes depositing metal powder over a seed crystal having a predetermined primary orientation, scanning an initial pattern into the metal powder to melt or sinter the deposited metal powder, and re-scanning the initial pattern to re-melt the scanned metal powder and form an initial layer having the predetermined primary orientation. The method further includes depositing additional metal powder over the initial layer, scanning an additional pattern into the additional metal powder to melt or sinter at least a portion of the additional metal powder, re-scanning the additional pattern to re-melt a portion of the initial layer and the scanned deposited additional metal powder to form a successive layer having the predetermined primary orientation, and repeating the steps of depositing additional metal powder, scanning the additional pattern, and re-scanning the additional pattern, until a final shape of the component is achieved.
US08728387B2	Laser-produced porous surface A method of forming an implant having a porous tissue ingrowth structure and a bearing support structure. The method includes depositing a first layer of a metal powder onto a substrate, scanning a laser beam over the powder so as to sinter the metal powder at predetermined locations, depositing at least one layer of the metal powder onto the first layer and repeating the scanning of the laser beam.
US08728384B2	Process and device for charging into a smelting unit A process and a device for charging a primary product for pig iron into a smelting unit are provided. According to the process and device, some of the primary product that has been formed by reducing oxidic iron carriers is stored in the hot state in a reservoir tank before being supplied into the storage device or charging device that is directly connected to the smelting unit.
US08728379B2	Methods for making oxidation resistant polymeric material The present invention relates to methods for making oxidation resistant medical devices that comprise polymeric materials, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The invention also provides methods of making antioxidant-doped medical implants, for example, doping of medical devices containing cross-linked UHMWPE with vitamin E by diffusion and materials used therein.
US08728378B2	Actuator mount system A system for mounting an injection molding system actuator to a manifold and a clamp plate comprising: a mount comprised of a thermally conductive material having first and second thermally conductive surfaces, the actuator being mounted to the first thermally conductive surface in thermal communication with the second thermally conductive surface, the clamp plate being mounted in thermal communication with the second thermally conductive surface, the actuator being mounted in thermal communication with the heated manifold; wherein the clamp plate, manifold and mold are assembled together with the actuator and the mount in an assembled operating arrangement such that the second thermally conductive surface is in compressed contact with the clamp plate under a spring force.
US08728373B2	Industrial fabric having a thermochromic sensor The present invention is directed to endless belts and fabrics incorporating thermochromic material such as polythiophene for use as a process control aid which can be used in thermal profiling of industrial thermal process, the industrial fabrics used in such a process, the manufacture of the industrial fabrics thereof and/or the products produced or carried thereon.
US08728372B2	PTFE layers and methods of manufacturing Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.
US08728371B2	Method of producing stretched film and stretched film A method of producing a stretched film comprising melt-coextruding a thermoplastic resin A and a thermoplastic resin B to produce a composite film 1 having both-end films 2 of the thermoplastic resin B arranged in parallel at both end portions of the main film 1a of the thermoplastic resin A in the direction of width thereof, stretching the composite film, and cutting and removing both end portions of the stretched film in the direction of width, wherein a film stretch stress value of the both-end films 2 is larger than a film stretch stress value of the main film 1a at the same stretching ratio. This minimizes an increase in the thickness at both end portions of the film in stretching the film and decreases the widths by which both end portions of the expensive resin film are to be cut and removed for producing a film.
US08728370B2	Polyolefinic molding composition having improved resistance to thermooxidative degradation and its use for the production of pipes A molding composition is suitable for the production of pipes having improved resistance to thermooxidative degradation when these pipes are in long-term contact with liquids comprising disinfectants having an oxidizing effect. Such molding composition comprises, in addition to thermoplastic polyolefins, a polyoxy compound and/or a polyhydroxy compound as additive in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0% by weight. In addition, the molding composition can further comprise an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in an amount of up to 5% by weight. The invention also relates to a process for improving the long-term resistance of water pipes to damage caused by oxidizing disinfectants from the water by use of this molding composition.
US08728368B2	Method for crystallizing crystallizable polymers having a high tendency to agglomerate The invention relates to a method for producing a semicrystalline polymer, said method comprising the following steps: producing a polymer melt from a crystallizable polymer; shaping particles and solidifying the polymer melt, the step of shaping the particles being carried out before or after solidification; cooling the particles; treating the particles to reduce their tendency to agglomerate; crystallizing the particles. The invention is characterized in that the treatment is carried out by shaking at a temperature T1 which is below the glass transition temperature of the polymer plus 10° C., i.e. T1
US08728366B2	Method and device for making an optical plate formed with a microstructure A method for making an optical plate formed with a microstructure includes: extruding a substrate material and advancing the same to pass through a first nip formed between an embossing roller and a first pressing roller, the embossing roller having a micropatterned surface formed with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of grooves, the protrusions and the grooves cooperatively defining a microstructure-forming space; applying a photosensitive resin to the micropatterned surface and filling the same into the microstructure-forming space upstream of the first nip to form a plurality of microelements respectively in the microstructure-forming space; allowing the photosensitive resin applied to the micropatterned surface to pass through the first nip together with the substrate material, thereby bonding the microelements to the substrate material; and irradiating and curing the photosensitive resin downstream of the first nip to form the optical plate.
US08728359B2	Fire retardant materials and methods Fire retardant materials are provided that contain carbon nanotubes and particles capable of endothermically reacting when exposed to elevated temperatures. The carbon nanotubes may be a buckypaper. Methods also are provided for making a fire retardant material and for improving the fire retardation capabilities of a material.
US08728358B2	Sintered compact, amorphous film and crystalline film of composite oxide, and process for producing the films An amorphous film comprising indium, tin, calcium and oxygen, wherein tin is contained at a ratio of 5 to 15% based on an atomicity ratio of Sn/(In+Sn+Ca) and calcium is contained at a ratio of 0.1 to 2.0% based on an atomicity ratio of Ca/(In+Sn+Ca), and remnant is indium and oxygen, is provided. The film can be crystallized by annealing at 260° C. or lower in which resistivity of the film will be 0.4 mΩcm or less. In this manner, an ITO thin film for use as a display electrode or the like in a flat panel display can be made into an amorphous ITO film by way of sputter deposition without heating the substrate or adding water during deposition. This ITO film can be crystallized by annealing at a low temperature and will have low resistivity. Methods of producing such films and sintered compacts are provided.
US08728356B2	Composite thermoelectric material and method for producing the same The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric material which can be formed into a flexible and thin type material. The thermoelectric material is a composite that includes a binder resin, thermoelectric material particles dispersed in the binder resin, and fine metal particles supported on a surface of the thermoelectric material particles.
US08728354B2	Electrically conducting compositions Disclosed herein is an electrically conducting polymer composition and method of making a composition including an organic polymer; and a first filler including at least one ceramic filler, at least one metallic filler, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing fillers, wherein a trip temperature of the composition does not change by an amount of greater than or equal to ±10° C. when the composition is cycled 100 times between room temperature and the trip temperature. Disclosed herein as well is an electrically conducting polymer composition including a first filler including at least one ceramic filler, at least one metallic filler, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing fillers and a second filler. The compositions of the present invention have a trip temperature that is lower than the HDT temperature of the composition and can have tunable trip temperatures.
US08728353B2	Burned plant material and electromagnetic shielding member An electrically conductive composition capable of making specific volume resistivity control easier, is a carbonaceous material produced by burning plant material including soybean hulls, rapeseed meal, sesame meal, cotton seed meal, cotton hulls, rice hulls, rice bran, soybean chaffs, rice straws, cereal hulls or the like by adjusting any of the carbon content, burning temperature and median diameter. The burned and carbonized plant material is ground and sieved to give a median diameter of approx. 80 μm or below. The burned plant material is obtained by burning at a temperature of 700° C. or higher.
US08728347B2	Oxygen absorber, oxygen absorbent resin composition, and oxygen absorbent film The oxygen absorber of the present invention contains gallic acid and a transition metal compound; in addition, it may contain an alkali carbonate whereby the oxygen absorbent provides safety and the same oxygen absorption capability as the oxygen absorber using iron powder.
US08728342B2	Cathode active material plate-like particle for lithium secondary battery An object of the present invention is to realize more effective intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions in a cathode active material. The preset invention provides a cathode active material plate-like particle for a lithium secondary battery, the particle having a layered rock salt structure, wherein lithium-intercalation/deintercalation-plane-oriented grains (primary crystal grains whose (003) plane is oriented so as to intersect a plate surface of the plate-like particle) are present in a dispersed state among numerous (003)-plane-oriented grains (primary crystal grains whose (003) plane is oriented in parallel with the plate surface of the plate-like particle).
US08728338B2	Ultra high-speed wet etching apparatus There is provided with an etching method using an etching apparatus. Four arms can be positioned in a direction substantially from a center of the stage toward a peripheral portion with an angle difference of about 90°. Etchant is supplied to a first position nearest to the center of the object which is rotating, from a first etchant supply nozzle placed on a first arm. Etchant is further supplied to a second position second nearest to the center of the object, from a second etchant supply nozzle placed on a second arm. The second arm is substantially symmetrically positioned with respect to the first arm and the second arm has an angle difference of about 180° with respect to the first arm.
US08728336B2	Printed masking process A method of chemically milling a workpiece includes the step of depositing a masking material on portions of a workpiece according to a predefined masking pattern such that other portions of the workpiece that are desired to be milled are unmasked. The masking material is deposited using a masking printer that moves in three dimensions to deposit the masking material onto the workpiece. The method also includes the step of chemically removing material from unmasked desired milling areas of the workpiece.
US08728331B2	Methods of fabricating imprint mold and of forming pattern using the imprint mold A method of fabricating an imprint mold is disclosed. The method includes: forming a first photo resist pattern on a substrate; etching the substrate using the first photo resist pattern as an etch mask to form a first pattern in the substrate; ashing the first photo resist pattern to form a second photo resist pattern; and etching the substrate using the second photo resist pattern to form a second pattern derived from the substrate and a third pattern derived from the first pattern.
US08728326B2	Polymer and methods for preparing and using the same The invention relates to a polymer comprising structural units of formula and formula wherein R1, R2, R5 and R6 are independently hydrogen, a methyl group, or —COOH, only one of R1 and R2 or R5 and R6 is —COOH; R3 and R7 are independently hydrogen, or a methyl group; R4 is —COOH, —CONH2 or —OH, when R4 is —OH, R1, R2 and R3 are respectively hydrogen; and R8 is —COO, —CONH, or —O—, when R8 is —O—, R5, R6 and R7 are respectively hydrogen. Methods for preparing and using the polymer are also described herein.
US08728325B2	Advanced oxidation of kinetic hydrate inhibitors Advanced oxidation process namely ozonation and Fenton's (hydrogen peroxide/Fe:2+) were utilized to degrade kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI). The oxidized solution after scavenging oxygen can be successfully disposed to the injection well. This facilitates use of KHI more frequently and in higher concentrations for future projects oil & gas operations. It also offers an alternative that competes efficiently with thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor (THI) or complements THI.
US08728324B2	Method of controlling scale in steam generating systems Water soluble or water dispersible terpolymers are employed in high pressure steam generating systems to control deposit formation and contaminant transport in the aqueous medium in such systems. The terpolymer may comprise repeat units formed from acrylic acid, allylalkoxylated ethers, and allylhydroxylated alkyl ether.
US08728322B2	Process for the purification of water using surface treated calcium carbonate The present invention relates to a process for the purification of water, wherein a surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate is brought into contact with the water to be purified, the surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate being the reaction product of a natural calcium carbonate with an acid and carbon dioxide, which is formed in situ by the acid treatment and/or supplied externally.
US08728321B2	Process for separating one or more solids from water miscible fluids and an apparatus therefor This invention relates to a process for removing solid matter from process liquids that are miscible with water. A brine made from water and dissolved salt and which is more dense than the process liquid is placed underneath and in contact with the mixture of process liquid and solid matter. The particles and pieces of solid matter move from the process liquid and then through the brine. In so doing the process liquid that is carried with the solid matter is displaced by the more dense brine.
US08728318B2	Settling device, purifier comprising a settling device and methods for anaerobic or aerobic purification of waste water A three phase separator or settling device (2) or a digester (1) including the settling device. The settling device can receive a fluid containing liquid, gas and particulate material. The settling device includes a settling chamber to be filled with this fluid. The device can also include a liquid-discharge (5) for discharging liquid from the settling chamber and fitted close to the liquid level (30), a fluid inlet (6) for supplying the fluid into the settling chamber (3), a particulate material separation device (7) and a sludge outlet (8). A flow of fluid is provided into and out of the settling device and settling chamber. The inlet includes a gas separation device (4) for separating gas from the fluid including channels, the inlet positioned close to the fluid level. The inlet and transition (75) into the settling chamber is arranged to create a pre-separated flow pattern including a generally laminar liquid flow.
US08728316B2	Membrane filter unit A membrane filter unit includes a hollow fiber membrane module with a plurality of sheet-like hollow fiber membrane elements arrayed in parallel at predetermined intervals, each of the hollow fiber membrane elements obtained by arranging a great number of porous hollow fiber membranes in parallel, and an air diffuser arranged below the hollow fiber membrane module for releasing minute bubbles toward a lower end of the hollow fiber membrane module and generating a gas-liquid mixed flow vertically swirling between an inner space and an outer space of the hollow fiber membrane module. The membrane filter unit has a residue eliminating mechanism for forming a forced flow in part of the mixed flow between the porous hollow fiber membranes and between the sheet-like hollow fiber membrane elements of the fiber membrane module.
US08728313B2	Filter system with removable enhancement media A water filter system including a base configured for receiving water from a faucet and a filter cartridge connected to the base. The filter cartridge defines a peripheral opening and a first chamber having at least one filter element, and a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. An enhancement cartridge is removably inserted through the peripheral opening and into the second chamber. The enhancement cartridge includes an enhancement material for adding minerals to the water and is removable from the system independently from the filter cartridge.
US08728311B2	Structure and method for handling magnetic particles in biological assays Magnetic handling structure comprising a retractable magnet and a probe for the manipulation of magnetic particles in biological samples and methods of handling magnetic particles in biological samples.
US08728309B2	System and method for feature alignment In a system and method for feature alignment in chromatographic systems, the system runs a first sample through a first separation column. The system determines a first set of features for the first sample run. The system runs a second sample through a second separation column and detects a second set of features for the second sample run. The system estimates a systematic shift in features between the first sample run through the first separation column and the second sample run through the second separation column. The system adjusts the second set of features detected for the second sample run through the second separation column based on the estimated systematic shift to obtain a third set of adjusted features.
US08728307B2	Whirlpool skimmer A whirlpool skimming device removes surface debris from a pool by creating a whirlpool having an upper bound at the surface of the pool. The uppermost portion of the whirlpool is free standing and is not bounded by the device. The device includes an outer cup-shaped portion and an inner cup-shaped portion coaxially disposed therein. An opening is disposed in the bottom of the inner cup-shaped portion which communicates with a source of suction which is preferably a Venturi tube feeding the outlet water to a filter bag. There is a first nozzle supplying water at an upper, inner edge of the inner cup-shaped portion at a slightly downward angle in a first direction, and there is a second nozzle supplying water at a lower, outer edge of the inner cup-shaped portion and mounted on an opposite side of the inner cup-shaped portion. The device causes coaxial rotational flow patterns relative to the inner cup-shaped portion, in which the outer rotational flow takes an upwardly spiral path outside the inner cup-shaped portion, and the inner rotational flow takes a downwardly spiral path inside the inner cup-shaped portion of the device.
US08728302B2	Spent catalyst riser distributor The present invention relates to an improved design for use in fluid cracking processes, preferably used in either a fluid catalytic cracking (“FCC”) process or a fluid coking process. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and process for improving the separation and distributing spent catalyst and gases in a spent catalyst riser associated with a fluid cracking process, and most preferably for use in a spent catalyst riser associated with an FCC regenerator vessel. A novel catalyst distributor design and associated processes are presented herein which significantly improve combustion in the dense-phase fluidized catalyst bed of a regenerator and results in improved regenerator dense bed combustion and lower migration of oxygen into the regenerator overhead region. As a result, afterburn is significantly reduced in the regenerator and higher catalyst bed temperatures are achieved with significantly more uniform bed temperatures due to the improved combustion characteristics in the dense-phase fluidized catalyst bed.
US08728301B2	Integrated butane isomerization and ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation processes Integrated isomerization and ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation processes may comprise integrating ionic liquid alkylation and n-butane isomerization using a common distillation unit for separating an n-butane containing fraction from at least one of an alkylation hydrocarbon phase from an ionic liquid alkylation reactor and an isomerization hydrocarbon stream from an isomerization unit. The n-butane containing fraction may undergo isomerization to provide an isomerization reactor effluent comprising the isomerization hydrocarbon stream. An isobutane containing fraction, separated from at least one of the alkylation hydrocarbon phase and the isomerization hydrocarbon stream, may be recycled from the distillation unit to the ionic liquid alkylation reactor.
US08728293B2	Preparing electrodes for electroplating A method of immersing an electrode in an electroplating solution while under vacuum, to substantially eliminate air and/or other gas from microscopic holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. A method of electroplating an electrode in an electroplating solution including the application of a vacuum to the electrode while it is immersed in the electroplating solution to thereby substantially eliminate air and/or other gas from microscopic holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. The electroplating liquid may be applied to only one side of the electrode (“the wet side”) in which case, sufficient time is allowed to pass for the immersion liquid to fill the microscopic through-holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. An enhancement of this mode is to force liquid through the microscopic holes from the wet side. A highly penetrating solvent may be used as an immersion liquid. Alternatively, carbon dioxide can be used as an immersion liquid, in which case the liquid carbon dioxide may be obtained by adjusting the temperature and pressure conditions in a closed container of gaseous carbon dioxide.
US08728292B2	Apparatus for the measurement of a concentration of a charged species in a sample An apparatus (1) for the measurement of a concentration of a charged species in a sample (10) is disclosed. The sample (10) comprises a plurality of types of charged species and at least one insoluble component. The apparatus (1) comprises a first circuit with a voltage control device (54) connectable to two first electrodes (30, 30′) arranged along a channel (12) holding the sample (10) and a second circuit with a conductivity detection device (55) connectable to two second electrodes (5, 5′) arranged in the channel (12). The first circuit and the second circuit are dc and ac electrically isolated from each other.
US08728290B1	Microfluidic device having an immobilized pH gradient and page gels for protein separation and analysis Disclosed is a novel microfluidic device enabling on-chip implementation of a two-dimensional separation methodology. Previously disclosed microscale immobilized pH gradients (IPG) are combined with perpendicular polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) microchannels to achieve orthogonal separations of biological samples. Device modifications enable inclusion of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the second dimension. The device can be fabricated to use either continuous IPG gels, or the microscale isoelectric fractionation membranes we have also previously disclosed, for the first dimension. The invention represents the first all-gel two-dimensional separation microdevice, with significantly higher resolution power over existing devices.
US08728287B2	Oxynitride sputtering target A cathode sputtering target includes: between 30 and 40 atomic % of a metal, between 2 and 10 atomic % of nitrogen, and between 35 and 50 atomic % of oxygen. The remainder up to 100% is constituted by at least one element selected from the group that comprises phosphorous (P), boron (B), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), gallium (Ga), sulphur (S) and aluminium (Al). Also provides a method of manufacturing a thin film from the target, and an electrochemical device comprising the thin film.
US08728285B2	Transparent conductive oxides A method of deposition of a transparent conductive film from a metallic target is presented. A method of forming a transparent conductive oxide film according to embodiments of the present invention include depositing the transparent conductive oxide film in a pulsed DC reactive ion process with substrate bias, and controlling at least one process parameter to affect at least one characteristic of the conductive oxide film. The resulting transparent oxide film, which in some embodiments can be an indium-tin oxide film, can exhibit a wide range of material properties depending on variations in process parameters. For example, varying the process parameters can result in a film with a wide range of resistive properties and surface smoothness of the film.
US08728283B2	Process for forming a film, piezoelectric film, piezoelectric device, and liquid discharge apparatus Film formation conditions are determined in accordance with relationships among a film formation temperature Ts (° C.), a difference Vs−Vf (V), which is the difference between a plasma potential Vs (V) in the plasma at the time of the film formation and a floating potential Vf (V), and characteristics of the formed film. For a piezoelectric film containing at least one kind of Pb-containing perovskite type oxide, the film formation conditions should preferably be determined within a range such that Formulas (1) and (2) shown below are satisfied: Ts(° C.)≧400 (1) −0.2Ts+100
US08728280B2	Industrial fabric including spirally wound material strips with reinforcement An industrial fabric such as an endless belt or sleeve for use in the production of nonwovens, and a method of making thereof are disclosed. The industrial fabric is produced by spirally winding strips of polymeric material, such as an industrial strapping or ribbon material, and joining the adjoining sides of the strips of material using ultrasonic welding or laser welding techniques. The fabric may then be perforated using a suitable technique to make it permeable to air and/or water.
US08728278B2	Feeding system having pumps in parallel for a continuous digester The feed system is for a continuous digester where at least two pumps are arranged in parallel in the bottom of a pre-treatment vessel and a liquid level of at least 10 meters is established. The system makes it possible to provide a feed system with an improved accessibility and more reliable operation, and to operate the main part of the pumps at optimal efficiency even if the production capacity is reduced.
US08728277B2	Device and method for producing a material web A method to dewater a fibrous web includes directing the fibrous web through a first press zone defined between a revolving permeable belt and a revolving permeable support belt and having a first press zone length. The fibrous web is arranged lying between the revolving permeable belt and the revolving permeable support belt. A fluid is caused to flow through the permeable belt, the fibrous web and the support belt at least over a section of the first press zone length. The fibrous web is dewatered in a second press zone following the first press zone and defined between the revolving permeable belt and the revolving permeable support belt, the second press zone having a second press zone length. The fibrous web is led through the second press zone between the permeable belt and the support belt, the permeable belt and the support belt each having a different compressibility.
US08728276B2	Apparatus and method for controlling curling potential of paper, paperboard, or other product during manufacture A method includes receiving a measurement associated with an anisotropy of a first surface and a measurement associated with an anisotropy of a second surface of a sheet of material. The method also includes adjusting an operating parameter associated with a headbox based on the measurements. The headbox is associated with manufacture of the sheet. The operating parameter could include a jet speed, a jet impingement angle, a jet thickness, a slice opening, and/or a slice apron projection. Adjusting the operating parameter could be based on a difference between a measured anisotropy of the first surface and a measured anisotropy of the second surface. For example, the operating parameter could be adjusted to achieve a desired difference between the measured anisotropy of the first surface and the measured anisotropy of the second surface. Multiple headboxes could be controlled, such as when different headboxes are used to produce different layers of a multi-layer sheet.
US08728275B2	Glycerol-based polymers for reducing deposition of organic contaminants in papermaking processes Described herein are methods of reducing the deposition of organic contaminants, such as pitch and stickies, in papermaking processes.
US08728270B2	Water-resistant corrugated paperboard and method of preparing the same A method of preparing water-resistant corrugated paperboard includes providing a corrugated medium treated with a water-proofing agent on both sides thereof, and providing a liner treated with the water-proofing agent on at least an inner surface thereof. The liner and corrugated medium are adhered, with the inner surface of the liner adhered to the corrugated medium. The liner and corrugated medium are adhered with an adhesive composition comprising carrier starch, uncooked pearl starch, borax, a water-proofing resin, a penetration-enhancing additive, and water. The carrier starch comprises cooked starch and uncooked starch. The liner and corrugated medium are treated with the water-proofing agent prior to adhering the liner and corrugated medium. Due to the use of the particular adhesive composition for adhering the liner and the corrugated medium, use of liner treated with the water-proofing agent is possible with acceptable bonding and preservation of Cobb ratings.
US08728263B2	Composite fabric with rigid member structure A composite structure is provided including a first fabric and a second fabric. A substantially elongate and substantially rigid first member is spaced apart from and coupled with the first fabric via the second fabric. A resin substantially is infused into the first fabric and the second fabric, and substantially encapsulates the first member to form a unitary structure.
US08728256B2	Multi-element heat-resistant aluminum alloy material with high strength and preparation method thereof A heat-resistant aluminum alloy material with high strength and preparation method thereof are provided. The aluminum alloy material comprises (by weight %): Cu: 1.0˜10.0, Mn: 0.05˜1.5, Cd: 0.01˜0.5, Ti: 0.01˜0.5%, B: 0.01˜0.2 or C: 0.0001˜0.15, Zr: 0.01˜1.0, R: 0.001˜3 or (R1+R2): 0.001˜3, RE: 0.05˜5, and balance Al:, wherein, R, R1, and R2 include Be, Co, Cr, Li, Mo, Nb, Ni, W. The Al alloy has the advantages of narrow quasi-solid phases temperature range of alloys, low hot cracking liability during casting improved high temperature strength and high heat resistance.
US08728249B2	Packing machine Proposed is a packing machine (1), in particular a roller or deep drawing machine, tray sealing machine or the like with components which have to be cleaned regularly, in which machine the cleaning of the components to be cleaned is improved. This object is achieved in that the packing machine (1) comprises a fluid supply unit (16) for providing at least one cleaning fluid.
US08728248B2	Adjustable filter system for a dishwashing appliance An adjustable filter system for a dishwashing appliance is provided. More specifically, a filter system is provided whereby the relative amount of fluid filtered by two different filters can be selectively controlled during operation of the dishwashing appliance. Flow can be directed primarily to one filter or the other depending upon the size of the soil particles expected at certain times during the cleaning process. Selection can be e.g., based on the temperature of fluid used in the appliance or determined by a controller.
US08728247B2	Substrate processing method, storage medium storing program for executing substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus There is provided a substrate processing method capable of preventing pattern collapse when a rinse solution is removed from a substrate on which a microscopic resist pattern is formed and also capable of reducing cost for processing the substrate by decreasing an amount of usage of a hydrophobicizing agent. The substrate processing method includes a rinse solution supply process (step S12) for supplying the rinse solution onto the substrate on which the resist pattern is formed; and a rinse solution removing process (steps S14 to S16) for removing the rinse solution from the substrate in an atmosphere including vapor of a first processing solution that hydrophobicizes the resist pattern.
US08728239B2	Methods and apparatus for a gas panel with constant gas flow A gas panel according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to deliver a constant flow rate of gases to a reaction chamber during a deposition process step. In one embodiment, the gas panel comprises a deposition sub-panel having a deposition injection line, a deposition vent line, and at least one deposition process gas line. The deposition injection line supplies a mass flow rate of a carrier gas to a reactor chamber. Each deposition process gas line may include a pair of switching valves that are configured to selectively direct a deposition process gas to the reactor chamber or a vent line. The deposition vent line also includes a switching valve configured to selectively direct a second mass flow rate of the carrier gas that is equal to the sum of the mass flow rate for all of the deposition process gases to the reactor chamber or a vent line. The gas panel is configured to substitute the mass flow rate of the deposition vent line with the mass flow rate of the deposition process lines, such that when the deposition vent line is directed to the reactor chamber the deposition process lines are directed to the vent line and when the deposition vent line is directed to the vent line the deposition process lines are directed to the reactor chamber. The substitution of the two mass flow rates maintains a constant mass flow rate of gases to the reactor chamber throughout the deposition process step.
US08728236B2	Low dislocation density III-V nitride substrate including filled pits and process for making the same Large area single crystal III-V nitride material having an area of at least 2 cm2, having a uniformly low dislocation density not exceeding 3×106 dislocations per cm2 of growth surface area, and including a plurality of distinct regions having elevated impurity concentration, wherein each distinct region has at least one dimension greater than 50 microns, is disclosed. Such material can be formed on a substrate by a process including (i) a first phase of growing the III-V nitride material on the substrate under pitted growth conditions, e.g., forming pits over at least 50% of the growth surface of the III-V nitride material, wherein the pit density on the growth surface is at least 102 pits/cm2 of the growth surface, and (ii) a second phase of growing the III-V nitride material under pit-filling conditions.
US08728233B2	Method for the production of group III nitride bulk crystals or crystal layers from fused metals The present invention relates to a method for the production of crystal layers or bulk crystals of group III nitride or of mixtures of different group III nitrides by means of precipitation, at a first temperature T1 in a first temperature range, from a group-III containing fused metal on a group-III-nitride crystal seed placed in the fused metal or on a foreign substrate placed in the fused metal, with the admixture of nitrogen in the fused metal at a pressure P.With the method a solvent additive is added to the fused metal which increases the conversion rate of group III metal to group III nitride in the fused metal. The fused metal runs through at least one temperature cycle with a first and a second process phase in which cycle the fused metal cools after the first process phase from the first temperature to a second temperature T2 below the first temperature range and at the end of the second process phase is heated from the second temperature back to a temperature within the first temperature range. The described method permits producing group III nitride crystal layers with a thickness of >10 μm, respectively massive crystals with a diameter of >10 mm at dislocation densities of <108 cm−2 at temperatures below 1100° C. and process pressures below 5×105 Pa.
US08728231B2	Biodegradable set retarder for a cement composition Compositions and methods are directed to a cement composition for use in a subterranean formation. In an embodiment the cement composition comprises: (A) cement; (B) water; and (C) a polymer, wherein the polymer: (i) consists essentially of a monomer or monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, esters of acrylic acid, maleic acid, methacrylic acid, esters of methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, fumeric acid, citraconic acid, mesoconic acid, and any alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium salt of any of the foregoing, and any combination of any of the foregoing.
US08728230B2	Temperature-stable liquid aqueous polysaccharide suspensions and use thereof as thickening agents in cementitious compositions A liquid aqueous suspension of polysaccharide, contains a mass concentration of at least one polysaccharide of between 15 and 35% in the form of partially hydrated particles dispersed in an aqueous solution of a strong base salt, excluding ammonium salts, with an ionic strength of between 1.25 mol/L and 15 mol/L, has a pH greater than 9 and contains at least one non-phyllitic crystalline mineral powder, referred to hereafter as filler, which is chemically inert in the aqueous suspension and which has a grain size of between 0.1 and 100 micrometers and an attapulgite in micronized form, the aqueous suspension being stable at least in a temperature range from 5 to 30° C. The suspension is suitable for use as an agent for thickening cementitious compositions.
US08728227B2	High-gloss multilayer effect pigments having a silver interference color and a narrow size distribution, and method for the production thereof Multilayer pearlescent pigments with a silver interference color, based on platelet-shaped transparent substrates with an optically active coating, where the optically active coating includes at least a) a high-index layer A having a refractive index n ≧1.8 b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n <1.8 c) a high-index layer C having a refractive index n ≧1.8 and also d) optionally an outer protective layer D. The multilayer pearlescent pigments have the indices D10, D50, D90 from the cumulative frequency distribution of the volume-averaged size distribution function, with a span ΔD of 0.7 -1.4, the span ΔD being calculated in accordance with the formula ΔD =(D90 - D10)/D50. The invention further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pearlescent pigments, and also to their use.
US08728225B2	Composition containing quaternary amino-functional organosilicon compounds and production and use thereof The invention relates to a composition and to a method for the production thereof, comprising quaternary amino-functional organosilicon compounds, in particular in the form of oligomers and polymers, which can be present ranging from partially hydrolyzed form to completely hydrolyzed form, and which are in particular soluble in water, have a low VOC content, and to the use thereof.
US08728221B2	Modified wet scrubber for removal of airborne toner A modified wet scrubber for removing airborne toner particles including, increased recirculation pumping capacity, and controlling the operating fluid level by relating the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet air streams to proper operating fluid level.
US08728218B2	Sorbent substrates for CO2 capture and methods for forming the same Sorbent substrates for CO2 capture and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for forming a sorbent substrate for CO2 capture may include forming a plurality of matrix rods from a sorbent material and forming a plurality of channel rods from a support material. The plurality of matrix rods may then be co-extruded with the plurality of channel rods to form a plurality of sorbent filaments comprising a matrix of the sorbent material in which channels of support material are positioned such that the channels extend in an axial direction of each of the plurality of sorbent filaments. The plurality of sorbent filaments may then be stacked to form a filament assembly in which the plurality of sorbent filaments are axially aligned. Thereafter, the plurality of sorbent filaments of the filament assembly may be bonded to one another to form the sorbent substrate.
US08728213B2	Radial split ring seal for filtration systems A radial seal is described for use in a filtration system having annular elements. The rings or annuli fit in a groove in an outer surface of a seal plate. Each annulus has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of a cylindrical housing of the filtration system. A gap in the annulus has a width selected to enable the annular element to deform sufficiently to permit insertion of the at least one annulus into the cylindrical housing. Two or more annuli can be configured such that the gaps of the annuli are misaligned when both annuli are installed in the groove, thereby minimizing leakage in operation. A registration system includes a registration element that cooperates with a registration element of the other annulus to ensure misalignment of the gaps of the pair of annuli.
US08728211B2	Nozzle for spraying liquid and a mixer comprising the nozzle A nozzle for spraying a liquid, comprising a central body which comprises a connecting portion for connecting the nozzle to a supply of liquid, an atomizing portion forming droplets of the liquid, and a liquid supply pipe forwarding liquid to the atomizing portion. The nozzle further comprises a sleeve mounted on the central body, the sleeve comprising a central aperture, which at least partly encloses the atomizing portion of the central body, and a spray angle controlling rim which at least partly encircles the atomizing portion.
US08728210B2	Exhaust gas treatment apparatus and method An exhaust gas treatment apparatus comprises an ammonia absorption system and an ammonia conversion system. The ammonia absorption receives ammonia-containing tail gas generated by a semiconductor process, and removes dust from the tail gas, absorbs and decomposes ammonia gas from the tail gas, converts the ammonia gas into aqueous ammonia, and emits the tail gas without the dust and the ammonia to an external environment. The ammonia conversion system receives the ammonia solution from the ammonia absorption system, and converts it into gaseous ammonia, and then converts the gaseous ammonia to produce liquid ammonia by vaporization and cooling-pressurized liquefaction. After that, the liquid ammonia is purified by a purification system to formed hi-purity liquid ammonia.
US08728207B2	Method and system for separating mercury from waste gases of a cement production process In the method according to the invention for separating mercury from waste gases of a cement production process, the mercury is sorbed on a sorbent, the sorbent is subsequently discharged from the process and supplied to a discharge reactor which is operated with a carrier gas. The sorbent is heated there to temperatures of more than 250° C. so that the mercury is discharged from the sorbent and changed into the gas phase, the gas of the discharge reactor that has accumulated mercury subsequently having the dust removed from it in a preliminary dust removal device, and only a part-flow of the gas which has been enriched and had the dust removed from it in this manner being drawn off at high temperatures and cleaned in a subsequent sorption stage, whilst the remaining part-flow is brought to the temperature required for the discharge of the mercury in the discharge reactor in a heat transfer system and is again supplied as a carrier gas to the discharge reactor.
US08728197B2	Metal nanoparticles with a pre-selected number of atoms A metron refers to a molecule which contains a pre-defined number of high affinity binding sites for metal ions. Metrons may be used to prepare homogenous populations of nanoparticles each composed of a same, specific number of atoms, wherein each particle has the same size ranging from 2 atoms to about ten nanometers.
US08728194B2	Method for controlling foamed slag in a stainless melt in an electronic arc furnace A method for controlling foamed slag in a stainless melt in an electric arc furnace. Slag level in the electric arc furnace is continuously detected thermographically as a function of time and slag level, and an addition of foaming material is controlled depending on the temperature and temperature gradient.
US08728190B2	Vortex finder support and cyclone herewith A vortex finder support is provided for fixing a vortex finder in an inlet region of a cyclone that includes a waste gas conduit leading out of the inlet region. A sleeve-shaped support element is configured to be disposed in the waste gas conduit and associated to the vortex finder, the support element including at least one lateral mounting hole having an approximately rectangular cross-section. A ring is configured to surround the support element and at least one of surround and be integrated in the waste gas conduit, the ring including a lateral opening. At least one holt having an approximately rectangular cross-section is configured to extend through the lateral opening of the ring and the mounting hole of the support element so as to connect the ring with the support element.
US08728188B2	Dust-collecting apparatus with a packing member Disclosed is a dust-collecting apparatus with a packing member. The disclosed dust-collecting apparatus for separating dust from introduced air comprises: a dust-collecting receptacle with an open bottom; a dust discharge cover arranged at the bottom of the dust-collecting receptacle such that that the dust discharge cover can be opened/closed; and a packing member for sealing the dust-collecting receptacle and the dust discharge cover, wherein the packing member presses the dust discharge cover in the direction of opening the dust discharge cover. Thus, the dust discharge cover can be opened from the bottom of the dust-collecting receptacle in an easier manner.
US08728187B2	Safety cabinet A safety cabinet adaptable for a variation in body height of a worker using the safety cabinet, that is, a safety cabinet which prevents various bacteria from proceeding from the outside of the safety cabinet into a working space of the safety cabinet and prevents bacteria or virus from proceeding from the working space to the outside of the safety cabinet irrespective of a change in opening area of a front opening, is provided.A flow velocity of a clean air supplied into the working space and a flow velocity of the air flowing through the front opening are set at respective velocities predetermined to keep a physical isolation for preventing the contamination in accordance with a size of the front opening.Further, in the safety cabinet, the size of the front opening communicating with the working space under the front surface shutter is adjustable between 200 mm and 300 m.
US08728183B2	Processes for hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam, syngas, a hydromethanation catalyst and an oxygen-rich gas stream.
US08728179B2	Ethanol compositions In one embodiment, the present invention is to an ethanol composition comprising at least 85 wt. % ethanol and from 95 wppm to 850 wppm isopropanol.
US08728178B2	Lighter fluid compositions with n-butanol and biodiesel An improved, environmentally friendly lighter fluid composition made from renewable resources is described that includes n-butanol and biodiesel. This lighter fluid has reduced VOCs compared to a petroleum-based lighter fluid. The fuel sources such as charcoal ignited with the lighter fluid composition maintain desirable temperature profiles. Food cooked using the lighter fluid composition as the ignition source have improved taste characteristics due to reduced VOCs. Methods of using the lighter fluid compositions are also described.
US08728165B2	Orthopaedic implants and protheses The present invention provides cervical implant (30) comprising an upper surface (38), a lower surface (40), a posterior portion (34) and an anterior portion (36) and including a perimeter (42) and one or more apertures (44,46) within said anterior portion for receiving securing means, said apertures having respective longitudinal axes M1, M2, characterized in that said axes extend in a direction substantially through said anterior portion (36) and converge at a point in a plane outside of said perimeter (42).
US08728161B2	Tissue prosthesis insertion system and method A tissue prosthesis insertion system (80) includes a first assembly (10) comprising a plurality of nested tubes (12), one of the tubes being a carrier tube (14) which, in use, receives a component (16) of a tissue prosthesis at a distal end of the carrier tube (14). A magnetic mount (44) is carried at a proximal end of the first assembly (10). A second assembly (82) is removably attachable to the first assembly (10). An attachment device (92) is carried at a distal end of the second assembly (82), the attachment device (92) being responsive to the magnetic mount (44) of the first assembly (10), the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92) carrying complementary engaging formations to facilitate hermetic sealing between the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92).
US08728152B2	Woven aortic sinus prosthesis having a bulb A woven aortic sinus prosthesis has a first substantially cylindrical section position away from a patient's heart, which optionally passes into an aortic arch of the patient, a second section having a greater diameter than the first section and forming a bulb, which second section is connected to the first section, and optionally a third substantially cylindrical section close to the heart, which is connected to the bulb section, wherein the prosthesis is continuously woven and has a constant number of warp yarns over its axial length, whereby there is a greater distance between the warp yarns in a region of the bulb section than in the first and third cylindrical sections.
US08728151B2	Woven textile vascular prosthesis A woven textile vascular prosthesis including a tubular trunk and at least one fork, each fork having an apex located between outgoing tubular branches with a small diameter, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the prosthesis in a zone of the apex is woven more densely than in other zones having an original weave construction.
US08728149B2	Assembly for making a polymeric medical device A polymeric tube is positioned on a polymeric mandrel and then laser cut to form an implantable medical device, such as a stent. The assembly and method reduces contamination of the inner surface of the stent, which would be caused if conventional glass or metal mandrels are used, while simultaneously reducing damage to the inner surface of the stent due to the shielding effect of the polymeric mandrel.
US08728148B2	Diameter reducing tie arrangement for endoluminal prosthesis An endoluminal prosthesis may include a tubular body of a biocompatible graft material having proximal and distal ends and anterior and posterior sides. The prosthesis may include at least a first and a second fenestration. The first and second fenestrations may be spaced from one another circumferentially around the tubular body. The prosthesis may include at least one first diameter reducing tie positioned circumferentially on the posterior side of the prosthesis and engaging at least a circumferential segment of the posterior side to restrain the engaged segment from expansion. The prosthesis may include at least one second diameter reducing tie positioned circumferentially between the first and second fenestrations on the anterior side of the prosthesis and engaging at least a circumferential segment of the anterior side to restrain the engaged segment from expansion.
US08728147B2	Longitudinally flexible expandable stent Segmented articulatable stent of open structure comprised of end-connected struts of first and second lengths making up first and second segments with angular interconnects between adjacent first and second segments.
US08728145B2	Low profile non-symmetrical stents and stent-grafts Various stents and stent-graft systems for treatment of medical conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary stent-graft comprises first and second stents, which each may comprise a series of distal apices disposed distal to a proximal end of the graft, and a series of proximal apices disposed proximally beyond the proximal end of the graft. In one example, the first stent comprises a first uniform segment, and the second stent comprises a second uniform wire segment, where the first uniform segment comprises portions disposed both internal and external to the second uniform wire segment.
US08728143B2	Endoprosthesis deployment system for treating vascular bifurcations A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent delivery system configured to carry one or more of a pair of dissimilar stents. At least one of the stents is particularly suited for treating a widened portion of a blood vessel immediately proximal to a bifurcation. The stent delivery system can also include a handpiece adapted to selectively deliver the stents.
US08728142B2	Apparatus for deployment of micro-coil using a catheter The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil detachably mounts the therapeutic device to a distal portion of a pusher member. In one embodiment, the therapeutic device is detachably mounted to the distal portion of the pusher member by a tubular collar that can be heated by a heater such as an electrical resistance coil to expand the collar and release and deploy the therapeutic device. The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil may also provide for a pusher member and a connector fiber for securing the therapeutic device to the pusher member. The connector fiber passes through a heater within the distal portion of the pusher member, for heating and breaking the connector fiber to release the therapeutic device when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.
US08728139B2	System and method for energy delivery to a tissue using an electrode array Devices, systems, and related methods for electric fields delivery for preferential destruction of cancerous cells and tissue ablation.
US08728138B2	Methods for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues.
US08728137B2	Methods for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues.
US08728135B2	Treating spinal cord injuries via laser therapy Aspects for treating spinal cord injuries are disclosed. In a particular aspect, a method includes identifying a neurological level of a spinal cord injury, and activating neurons via laser therapy in which a laser beam is applied to an area proximate to the neurological level. In another aspect, a computer-readable storage medium includes computer-readable instructions for performing various acts. Such acts comprise ascertaining a neurological level of a spinal cord injury, and receiving data corresponding to a severity of the spinal cord injury. The acts further comprise outputting a laser calibration according to the neurological level and the severity. A medical device apparatus is also provided, which includes various computer executable components. The computer executable components include an assessment component configured to receive parameters corresponding to a spinal cord injury, and a calibration component configured to ascertain a laser calibration according to the at least one parameter.
US08728133B2	Bone repair system and method A bone repair system and method for percutaneously fixing a first bone segment to a second bone segment, such as rib bone segments, in a body of a patient include drilling a first hole through the first bone segment and a second hole through the second bone segment, and feeding a first tether through the first hole and a second tether through the second hole, each tether having a proximal end and a distal end. The first and second tether distal ends are withdrawn from the body while the first and second tether proximal ends have not passed through the first and second bone segments, respectively. A reinforcing member, such as a bone plate, having first and second openings, is passed onto the first and second tether distal ends, and the reinforcing member is pulled into engagement with the first and second bone segments guided by the tethers. The reinforcing member is secured to the first bone segment with a first fastener assembly through the first hole and the first opening and to the second bone segment with a second fastener assembly through the second hole and the second opening to fix the first bone segment to the second bone segment.
US08728132B2	Internal pedicle insulator apparatus and method of use Internal pedicle insulator apparatuses and methods are provided. A representative method includes: providing an internal pedicle insulator implant; inserting the implant into a pedicle such that the implant is positioned between a nerve and material that is to be applied in a vicinity of the nerve; applying the material in the vicinity of the nerve; and using the implant to prevent the material from contacting the nerve.
US08728131B2	Wedged Profile Plate A bone plate used in conjunction with various procedures to correct certain deformities, such as a Latarjet procedure. The bone plate is provided with a plurality of spikes having a truncated, pyramidal shape with a plurality of sides or faces that converge to a tip line. The height of each spike is of about 2.5 to about 3 mm. The design of the spikes allows the plate to stay in the right position by simply pressing the plate with the fingers on the bone or using a specific instrument (before the fixation holes are drilled and the fixation devices such as screws are secured). The bone plate may be provided with side, lateral faces that have a non-uniform width (i.e., a wedged profile) to allow for orthograde placement of the fixation device, even in the case of angled bone surfaces.
US08728130B2	Implant plate screw locking system and screw having a locking member Spinal fusion system and method utilizing an implant and screw, wherein at least one pawl is mounted on or integral with the screw to prevent said plate or screw from moving in at least one of an axial direction or a rotational direction.
US08728129B2	Variable angled locking screw A variable angle locking screw assembly that includes a plate material, a screw, and a washer at least partially located within the plate material, the washer and screw cooperating to create a wedge locking the screw in one of a plurality of axial and rotational positions, where the locked position may be undone and adjusted by manipulation of at least one of the screw and washer.
US08728127B2	Bone plate incorporating a compression mechanism and associated surgical methods The present invention provides a bone plate that includes a sliding mechanism that allows for both static and dynamic loading and the associated stabilization or partial or whole immobilization of two or more adjacent bone fragments or vertebral bodies of the spine. This sliding mechanism is designed such that as bone resorbs or the like, the sliding mechanism maintains axial compression in a collinear manner across the bone segments.
US08728121B2	Puncture needle and medical procedure using puncture needle that is performed via natural orifice A puncture needle includes: a needle part that has a first needle part and a second needle part that are hollow, adjacent, and have resiliency; and a sheath that retractably accommodates the needle part; in which a bend part that separates distal end sides of the first needle part and the second needle part to be further apart than proximal end sides thereof is provided in at least one of the first needle part and the second needle part.
US08728120B2	Biomechanical fastener According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a biomechanical fastener is provided and includes a backspan defining an upper surface, a lower surface and a pair of side surfaces; at least a pair of legs depending from the backspan; and at least one contact pad extending from the lower surface to the upper surface of the backspan. At least one of the pair of legs contacts at least one of the contact pads upon a formation thereof.
US08728118B2	Tool with end effector force limiter The invention provides surgical or diagnostic tools and associated methods that offer improved user control for operating remotely within regions of the body. In some embodiments these tools include a proximally-located actuator for the operation of a distal end effector, as well as proximally-located actuators for articulational and rotational movements of the end effector. Control mechanisms and methods refine operator control of end effector actuation and of these articulational and rotational movements. A force limiter mechanism protects the end effector and manipulated objects from the harm of potentially excessive force applied by the operator. The tool may also include other features. A multi-state ratchet for end effector actuation provides enablement-disablement options with tactile feedback. An articulation lock allows the fixing and releasing of both neutral and articulated configurations of the tool and of consequent placement of the end effector. A rotation lock provides for enablement and disablement of rotatability of the end effector.
US08728117B1	Flow disrupting devices Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.
US08728112B2	Vascular occlusion device A vascular occlusion device for occluding a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a hub having proximal and distal ends and a plurality of anchoring struts. Each anchoring strut has a first end and a second end. The first ends are connected together at the hub. Each of the second ends extends freely from the first end to engage the body vessel for anchoring the device therein. The device further comprises a central strut attached to the proximal end of the hub. The device further comprises a proximal and distal members and an extracellular matrix material. The proximal and distal members are slidibly disposed about the central strut. The extracellular matrix material is disposed about the central strut between the proximal and distal members.
US08728110B2	Balloon dilation catheter shaft having end transition A balloon dilation catheter includes a dilation balloon and a shaft having a coaxial portion including an outer tubular member having a bore, a proximate end and a distal end and a transition neck formed at the distal end of the coaxial portion, the transition neck having a proximate end at the distal end of the outer tubular member and a distal end, an access fitting adjacent the proximate end of the catheter shaft for directing a guidewire into the catheter shaft, an inflation port for directing an incompressible inflation medium into the catheter shaft, a guidewire tubular member disposed coaxially in the outer tubular member and extending continuously through the outer tubular member to the distal end of the outer tubular member and through the transition neck, the outer tubular member and guidewire tubular member defining a first, annular inflation/deflation lumen therebetween in fluid communication with the inflation port, at least one second inflation/deflation lumen formed through the transition neck, the second inflation/deflation lumen separate from and non-coaxial with the guidewire tubular member and having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the first inflation/deflation lumen and opening at a proximate end into the first inflation/deflation lumen and at the distal end of the transition neck whereby the second inflation/deflation lumen provides fluid communication from the first inflation/deflation lumen through the transition neck such that inflation fluid passing through the first inflation lumen may flow though the second inflation/deflation lumen and directly into the dilation balloon.
US08728109B2	Laparoscopic instrument and trocar systems and related surgical method Laparoscopic instruments and trocars are provided for performing laparoscopic procedures entirely through the umbilicus. A generally C-shaped trocar provides increased work space between the hands of the surgeon as well as S-shaped laparoscopic instruments placed through the trocar when laparoscopic instrument-trocar units are placed through the umbilicus. In order to facilitate retraction of intra-abdominal structures during a laparoscopic procedure, an angulated needle and thread with either one-or two sharp ends is provided. Alternatively, an inflatable unit having at least one generally C-shaped trocar incorporated within the unit's walls can be placed through the umbilicus following a single incision. Generally S-shaped laparoscopic instruments may be placed through the generally C-shaped trocars to facilitate access to intra-abdominal structures.
US08728107B2	Method of removing cerumen or a foreign body from an ear canal and articulating curette for use therewith A method of removing cerumen or a foreign body from an ear canal utilizes an articulating ear curette.
US08728105B2	Elongate magnet for a magnetic anastomosis device A magnetic anastomosis device is provided for forming an anastomosis between two bodily walls. The device includes a first magnet assembly and a second magnet assembly configured to be magnetically coupled to compress the two bodily walls therebetween to form the anastomosis. The first magnet assembly includes a first magnet and a second magnet disposed within a first jacket and the second magnet assembly includes a third magnet and a fourth magnet disposed within a second jacket.
US08728104B2	Devices and methods for fastening tissue layers Endoscopic devices and methods used for fastening multiple tissue layers, such as, for example, an endoscopic fundoplication procedure, are disclosed. The device may include, for example, an elongated tubular member having a proximal end for extending outside of the body and a distal end for positioning proximate the multiple tissue layers, a grasper configured for positioning proximate the distal end of the tubular member and for grasping at least one of the multiple tissue layers, a device coupled to the distal end of the tubular member for folding the multiple tissue layers together, a tissue fastener configured to be inserted into the tissue layers to hold the tissue layers together, and a fastener head for inserting the tissue fastener into the tissue layers.
US08728102B2	Absorbable fastener and applying apparatus A surgical fastener apparatus, for securing a surgical mesh material to body tissue including a pair of anchors each having retaining structure formed on an outer surface thereof; and a suture tether interconnecting the pair of anchors to one another. The pair of anchors having a substantially cylindrical body having a conically tapered distal end and a planar proximal end. The retaining structure includes a series of semi-circular angled projections having a planar proximal surface and a tapered distal end, wherein a center of each of the angled projections is spaced a distance from a longitudinal central axis of the body portion. The surgical fastener is made from a bioabsorbable material which reabsorbs into body tissue at an appropriate rate, such as for example, polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.
US08728101B2	System and method for providing an obturator for enhanced directional capabilities in a vascular environment An apparatus for assisting in a vascular procedure includes an obturator that interfaces with a surface of tissue, the obturator including a shaft and a groove that can guide one or more tips of a medical device into a targeted region. In more specific embodiments, the targeted region is an aortic hole. The obturator can include a knob that stabilizes the medical device laterally on a surface of the targeted region. The obturator can also include a flange element that extends beyond the knob onto an outside surface of the targeted region. The knob can include a chamfer feature that can provide room for the tips of the medical device to enter the targeted region at an angle without bumping into the knob. In still other embodiments, the tips are sharp needle tips of the medical device and the groove is a V-shaped groove.
US08728100B2	Suturing assembly providing bi-directional needle movement through uni-directional actuator movement A suturing assembly includes shaft attached between a handle and a head. The handle includes a brace and an actuator attached to the handle, where the actuator has a neutral position that is distal the brace. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis of the assembly. The head includes a proximal portion housing a needle that is movable through a needle exit port, and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat. The distal end is radially offset from the longitudinal axis and defines a cavity. Movement of the actuator from the neutral position to the brace moves the needle both in a first direction out of the needle exit port into the cavity and in a second direction out of the cavity and into the needle exit port.
US08728098B2	Surgical fasteners, applicator instruments, and methods for deploying surgical fasteners An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal end coupled with the housing and a distal end remote therefrom, and a firing system for dispensing surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft. The firing system includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft, the firing system having a firing cycle with a first stage for advancing the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a first rate of speed and a second stage for advancing the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a second rate of speed that is greater than the first rate of speed.
US08728097B1	Tissue plication devices and methods for their use A tissue plication device and method of using the same is described. The tissue plication device includes a helical fastener having a distal portion with a first pitch and a proximal portion with a second pitch that is smaller than the first pitch. The method includes introducing the distal tip of the helical fastener into the tissue and advancing the helical fastener to plicate the tissue. Another tissue plication device includes a helical fastener having a first configuration with a first pitch and a second configuration with a second pitch. The helical fastener in the first configuration is advanced into a tissue and then converted to the second configuration by applying a stimulus.
US08728096B2	Ligating band dispenser with a sliding deployment system A ligating band dispenser for attachment to an endoscope having sliding elements that are positioned on the outer surface of a support structure of the ligating band dispenser. The sliding elements may be slidably engaged to the support structure. For example, the sliding elements may slide along a groove on the outer surface of the support structure. The sliding elements are advanced forward along the groove, causing the sliding elements to impact a ligating band and push the ligating band forward until it is deployed off the dispenser.
US08728095B2	Flexible endoscopic surgical instrument for invagination and fundoplication An instrument for fastening tissue within a body includes an elongated tube having a proximal end for extending outside of the body and a distal end for positioning proximate the tissue; and a distal member configured to fold the tissue together. The distal member includes a first member having a proximal end coupled to the distal end of the tube; and a second member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the first member. The first and second members are configured to install at least one fastener. A grasper is coupled to at least one of the first member and the second member. The second member is pivotable between an open position for receiving tissue and a closed position for folding tissue therebetween. The grasper is configured to project outward from at least one of the first member and the second member when in the open position.
US08728088B2	Flexible depth probe An instrument includes a flexible shaft portion and a hook portion. The flexible shaft portion has a proximal end and a distal end and includes markings along an outer surface of the shaft portion. The hook portion is located at the distal end of the shaft portion. The shaft portion and the hook portion define a lumen that terminates in an opening at the hook portion.
US08728085B2	Bone cutting assembly An assembly for use in cutting a bone during a surgical procedure comprises a cutting tool and a guide block. The cutting tool includes a blade and a drive unit for imparting a cutting motion to the blade. The guide block can be positioned against the bone and has a reference surface for guiding the blade during the cutting step, the guide block having a screen surface which provides a point of reference to indicate proper alignment of the blade. The cutting tool includes means for directing a collimated beam of light in a direction parallel to the blade, on to the screen surface on the guide block when the blade is in contact with the guide surface, the distance between the blade axis and the light beam being equal to the distance between the reference surface and the point of reference on the screen surface.
US08728080B2	Spinal fixation plates and plate extensions A spinal fixation plate that is adapted to be implanted in a variety of positions in the occiput is provided. In general, the plate has a substantially planar configuration and it includes a mid-line or central portion having several thru-bores formed therein, and first and second opposed branch portions that extend from the central portion and that also include at least one thru-bore formed therein. The configuration of the branch portions relative to the central portion, as well as the position of the mid-line thru-bores formed in the central portion in relation to the thru-bore(s) formed in each branch portion, allow the spinal fixation plate to be implanted in a variety of positions in the occiput, thus allowing the optimal implant site to be selected.
US08728078B2	Clamping assembly with links An external fixation system includes a clamp system configured to capture a fixation element. The clamp system has a first and a second jaw and a first and a second link attached to the first and second jaws that are configured to control the motion of the jaws. The links are arranged such that, when the first and second jaws are moved to a closed position, the action of trying to open the jaws is resisted by the position of the links, and to open the jaws, the links must be actuated.
US08728076B2	Surgical apparatus with removable tool cartridge A surgical apparatus for coagulating and cutting tissue includes a handle assembly and a tool cartridge. The tool cartridge includes electrically conductive movable tools, such as jaws and a blade, for cutting tissue. The jaws and blade each are connected to a transmission to facilitate movement. Multiple sheaths are used to encompass and protect the transmissions. Slidable grips are disposed outside of the sheaths and operatively connected to the transmissions that are disposed within the sheaths. At least one lever is supported by the handle assembly and engagable with the grips to facilitate movement of the grips, and thus, the tools.
US08728075B2	Multi-directional deflectable catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for renal neuromodulation Multi-directional deflectable catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a catheter treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a thermal element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermally or electrical renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or cool, or otherwise electrically modulate, neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.
US08728074B2	Devices, systems and methods for treating tissue regions of the body Improved devices, systems and methods for treating a tissue region provide straightforward, yet reliable ways for installing diverse functional components within the confined space of a catheter-based instrument.
US08728071B2	Systems and methods employing radiofrequency energy for skin treatment This disclosure relates generally to electrosurgical methods and devices. In one embodiment, an electrosurgical device is provided suitable for applying phase controlled RF energy to a treatment site. The electrosurgical device comprises a multi-electrode electrosurgical probe electrically coupled to a plurality of RF generators. Also provided are methods of use of such an electrosurgical device, as well as other electrosurgical devices. The methods and devices disclosed herein find utility, for example, in the field of medicine.
US08728060B2	Infusion device provided with a water-tight cover The invention relates to an infusion device for therapeutic use comprising a water-tight cover in the form of a housing, a housing part or a receptacle for holding said infusion device and a control system which is used for controlling the cover water tightness and comprises c) a medium arranged in the cover and characterized by at least one physical or chemical quantity variable according to the cover water tightness and d) an information system which automatically transmits at least one information signal when said quantity changes in such a way that the loss of the cover water tightness is indicated.
US08728059B2	System and method for assuring validity of monitoring parameter in combination with a therapeutic device The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for assuring validity of monitoring parameters in combination with a therapeutic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present technique comprises perturbing a treatment administered to a patient, measuring at least one parameter of the patient reflecting the underlying physiological state and associated with the treatment, and comparing the perturbations of the treatment to measurements of the at least one parameter to determine if the perturbations to the treatment are reflected by the parameter.
US08728057B2	Devices and methods for catheter advancement Catheter advancing devices, systems and methods for advancing a catheter into the urethra of a user are disclosed. The catheter advancement device includes a body portion that couples to a guide portion of the catheter, the guide portion being movably coupled to the proximal end of a catheter. The catheter advancement device further includes a pair of flexible handles extending outwards from the body portion, and a gripping portion extending inwards from each of the flexible handles. A surface of the gripping portion comes in contact with the catheter when the flexible handles are engaged, and the surface of the gripping portion in contact with the catheter applies pressure to the catheter when the handles are engaged to advance the catheter through the guide portion.
US08728054B2	Syringe-carpule assembly A syringe-carpule assembly comprising first and second carpules, a housing holding the first and second carpules in an end-to-end relationship, an outer hollow plunger rod supported by and slidable relative to the housing, and an inner hollow rod having first and second openings and being slidably arranged inside the outer hollow plunger rod. The inner hollow rod is slidable between first and second positions. The inner hollow rod in the first position has the first opening disposed within the first carpule and the second opening disposed within the second carpule. This allows liquid solvent in the second carpule to flow into the first carpule, which comprises an evacuated chamber containing solid matter that dissolves in the presence of that solvent to form a mixture. The second carpule is then removed and the mixture in the first carpule is injected into the patient.
US08728053B2	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.
US08728048B2	Male external catheter and method of making same A male external catheter formed of injection-moldable plastic material is disclosed, which has a neck section with inner and outer surfaces having substantially different contours. The male external catheter has a generally cylindrical body section, a drain tube section and the funnel-shaped neck section. The drain tube section has a smaller cross-section than the body section, and the funnel shaped neck section is interposed between and merges with the body and the drain tube sections. A method of manufacture of such a catheter is also disclosed.
US08728040B2	Injector for auto-injection of medication and associated method of use A key-shaped portable injector for delivering a dose of medication, the injector preferably including a cap, a body having an internal cavity, a syringe or cartridge with an attached needle within the internal cavity, a protective sleeve, an activation mechanism and a safety mechanism wherein the injector is reconfigurable from a first, non-deployed configuration where the activation mechanism, syringe or cartridge and a safety mechanism are all in a first position with respect to the body to a second, deployed configuration where the safety mechanism, activation mechanism, and syringe or cartridge are all in a second position with respect to the body and to a third, depleted configuration where the activation mechanism is back to its first position and a protective sleeve is in its second position.
US08728039B2	Medical anchoring system An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a base, a cover, and a compressible member including a receptacle into which the medical article to be retained is placed. When the cover is closed, the medical article is secured within the receptacle by the pressure of the compressible member and the cover upon the medical article. One or more biasing members act upon the compressible member to increase the frictional forces acting on the retained section of the medical article. The receptacle may form a channel that follows a curved path through the retainer. The retainer may also include guide extensions to support the medical article along a transverse bend toward the skin of the patient.
US08728035B2	Intravenous catheter insertion device and method of use A catheter insertion device with a housing and an interior space. An access needle and a guide wire supported by and moveable relative to the access needle. A restraining element attached to a handle to limit the motion of the guide wire relative to the access needle. A catheter insertion device with a housing and an interior space. An access needle and a guide wire channel attached to the access needle. A guide wire supported by the guide wire channel. A handle attached to the guide wire to move the guide wire relative to the guide wire support channel. A method of introducing a catheter into a vessel by inserting a guide wire substantially contained within a housing into a vessel. Next, advance a catheter over the guide wire and into the vessel. Next, withdraw the guide wire out of the vessel and completely into the housing.
US08728031B2	Compound for local deletion of tumors A compound for injecting locally into an intratumoral space of a body made of a mixture of a biocompatible wax, admixed with biocompatible oil. The compound is liquid at a temperature above body temperature but compatible with the life of healthy cells. It exhibits an increasing viscosity with decreasing temperature and becomes a solid close to body temperature. The compound is then metabolized by the human body.
US08728024B2	Infusion pump methods, systems and apparatus A system for priming an infusion pump is disclosed. The system includes a priming cap including a septum and configured to matably connect with a male part comprising a needle and attached to a length of tubing for fluid, wherein when matably connected with the male part, the priming cap occludes the tubing.
US08728018B2	Post operative hinge brace A hinge brace for supporting and restricting the range of motion of a patient's joint and methods of using the brace. The hinge brace includes a hinge with a first setting arm and second setting arm, corresponding, respectively, to a maximum angle of extension and maximum angle of flexion of the joint. The hinge can be adjusted using a single hand or finger. The hinge can be fitted to a variety of patients by using a telescopic extension mechanism.
US08728014B2	Moving body posture angle processing device A moving body attitude angle processing apparatus capable of reducing cumulative errors in continuously measuring the attitude angle of a moving body is provided. The moving body attitude angle processing apparatus estimates the attitude angle of a moving body in accordance with outputs from an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a gyro sensor that are mounted to the moving body, and outputs the attitude angle thus estimated. The moving body attitude angle processing apparatus includes: a gyro sensor that outputs an angular velocity vector; an acceleration sensor that outputs an acceleration vector; a magnetic sensor that outputs a magnetic field vector; a movement state determining device that determines a movement state of a moving body in accordance with an output from the acceleration sensor; and a gyro-sensor zero-point output estimating device that, when the movement state determining device determines the movement state to have been detected as a stationary state of the moving body, carries out a process of estimating a zero-point output of the gyro sensor in accordance with the output from the acceleration sensor, an output from the magnetic sensor, and an output from the gyro sensor.
US08728012B2	Apparatus and method for measuring blood vessels An apparatus comprising a blood vessel measuring device is disclosed. The blood vessel measuring device may comprise a handle. A measuring member may be attached to the handle. The measuring member may be dimensioned to wrap around a blood vessel to measure a size of the blood vessel. The blood vessel measuring device may comprise an extension, and a first end of the extension may be attached to the handle. The blood vessel measuring device may comprise a connector attached to a second end of the extension. A method is also disclosed. The method may comprise inserting a measuring device into an incision in a patient. The measuring device may comprise a measuring member. The method may also comprise wrapping the measuring member around a blood vessel of the patient and measuring a dimension of the blood vessel with the measuring member.
US08728009B2	Biosensor with finger-positioning function The present invention provides a biosensor with finger-positioning function, comprising: a bottom plate, a cover, and a test-strip socket; wherein the cover mounted on the bottom plate has a front end provided with a guiding plate for positioning a finger, and the guiding plate has a center line and a guiding surface, in which the center line passes through a center of the guiding surface; and the test-strip socket is formed at the front end of the cover. When using the biosensor, the user can rest his/her wrist and palm on the cover of the biosensor and rest the punctured finger on the guiding surface provided at the front end of the cover to align the test strip with the blood drop on the finger so as to simplify the measurement.
US08728007B2	Method and system for managing patient data The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing patient data. In one aspect, the invention relates to a system for managing patient data having many instruments. The instruments have a sampling member for sampling a body fluid from a patient and are in direct communication with at least one other instrument.
US08728000B2	Method and device for carrying out a signal-processing viewing of a measurement signal that is correlated to the respiratory activity of an individual The invention relates to a method and device for carrying out a signal-processing viewing of a measurement signal that is correlated with the respiratory activity of an individual, for example, of a measurement signal that is correlated with the respiratory gas. The aim of the invention is to provide solutions with which an improved electronic analysis of the signals that are representative with regard to respiratory activity can be achieved. To this end, the invention provides that viewing results are obtained within the scope of a signal-processing viewing of said measurement signal and make a differentiation between obstructive and central respiratory disorders possible. The viewing results are determined, in particular, while taking into account changes of selected breathing characteristics such as, for example, the change in the ratio of inhalation time to exhalation time.
US08727997B2	Volume status monitor: peripheral venous pressure, hypervolemia and coherence analysis Systems and methods are provided for monitoring changes in blood volume using waveforms in the peripheral vasculature. In particular, the systems and methods relate to detecting ventilation-induced variation (VIV) of waveforms in the peripheral vasculature. Advantageously, the systems and methods may relate to analyzing VIV in peripheral venous pressure (PVP). Thus, the VIV of PVP may be measured, wherein decreased VIV is indicative of decreased blood volume In exemplary embodiments, such as involving spontaneous breathing, it may be necessary to account for changes in respiratory signal strength. Thus systems and methods are also provided for assessing coherence between ventilation and VIV for a flow or pressure waveform. Specifically, coherence is evaluated by comparing the waveform to a detected respiratory signal. Finally, systems and method are provided for distinguishing the impact of respiration on the PG signal during hypervolemia as compared to hypovolemia. Such systems and methods may advantageously be utilized to monitor fluid status during fluid replacement.
US08727995B2	Reduction of motion artifacts in ultrasound imaging with a flexible ultrasound transducer Reduction of motion artifacts from flexible transducers are provided in ultrasound imaging. Temporal and/or amplitude modulation of an acoustic radiation force impulse pushing pulse may be designed to control the motion of a moveable transducer. The motion may be controlled to stabilize the transducer in one position or in a predictable (e.g. linear) movement in order to better estimate tissue displacement. Reduced motion artifact may be provided with transmitted waveforms requiring less time and power than required of a brute force approach. For example, pre-loading transmissions may not be provided. As another example, pre-loading transmissions may require less than 10 ms.
US08727993B2	Apparatuses comprising catheter tips, including mechanically scanning ultrasound probe catheter tip A catheter tip (50, 170, 750) is provided that is adapted for mating attachment to a catheter body (90, 300, 790). In an embodiment, the catheter tip (50, 170, 750) comprises a transducer array (32, 60, 110, 210, 710) in electrical communication with an interconnect (120, 220, 720) and in a mechanical driven relationship with an actuator (80, 730), also in the catheter tip (50, 170, 750), via a drive shaft (38, 82, 732). The transducer array (710) is encapsulated in a potting material body 711 providing a desired ultrasound acoustical transmission, A defined annular space 761 exists between an outer capsule 752 of the catheter tip 750 and the potting material body 711. Oscillating back and forth motion of the transducer array (32, 60, 110, 210, 710) provides ultrasonic imaging functionality that may include real time three-dimensional imaging. Other embodiments of the catheter tip (50, 170, 750) and methods of fabrication also are provided.
US08727988B2	Tissue penetrating catheters having integral imaging transducers and their methods of use Devices and methods for penetrating from a vessel lumen in which a catheter device is positioned to a target location outside of that vessel lumen. A tissue penetrator advances from a catheter positioned within the vessel lumen to the target location when properly aimed. An imaging transducer fixedly mounted on or within the catheter body provides an imaging signal from which an image of the target location can be obtained. An imageable marker may be present on the catheter to form on the image obtainable from the imaging signal to predict the path that will be followed by the tissue penetrator when the tissue penetrator exits from the catheter. Alternatively, or addition thereto, the imaging transducer may comprise a plurality of imaging elements which are located so that the penetrator path indication can be obtained electronically without use of an imageable marker on the catheter.
US08727983B2	Systems and methods for making and using a conductive-fluid detector for a catheter-based medical device A catheter-based medical device includes a catheter that is configured and arranged for at least partial insertion into a patient and that defines at least one lumen that is configured and arranged to receive a first fluid. A conductive-fluid detector is coupled to the at least one lumen and is configured and arranged to detect when a second fluid is disposed within the at least one lumen that is more conductive than the first fluid. The conductive-fluid detector includes a plurality of axially-positioned bodies, each body defining a lumen. The lumens of the axially-positioned bodies are aligned to form a shared lumen in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the catheter. Spaced apart electrodes are disposed within the shared lumen.
US08727975B1	Retractor for use in spinal surgery A retractor for use in spinal surgery comprises a frame including a ring member defining a generally central interior space. A plurality of blades is releasably supported respectively to slidable arms each supported on the ring member for individual translational movement relative to the ring member. The blades define an initial substantially enclosed opening that is expandable for use in a surgical procedure. A clutch mechanism supported on the ring member is associated with each arm to individually selectively engage each such arm with a rotatable main gear such that upon rotation of the main gear by a single actuator any one, all or any desired combination of arms may be translated relative to the ring member to move the blades and expand the opening in one or more selected desired directions.
US08727974B2	Access assembly including one or more compressible vents An access assembly is provided including a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end in mechanical cooperation with at least one slit seal member configured to create a fluid-tight seal in a first configuration. The access assembly also includes a first ring secured at the proximal end of the tubular member and a second ring secured at the distal end of the tubular member. The at least one slit seal member is configured to create an opening in a second configuration when forces are applied at opposing ends of the first ring.
US08727973B2	Seal port with adjustable height A surgical apparatus, for positioning within a tissue tract to access an underlying body cavity, is provided. The surgical apparatus includes a first and second member. The first member has a proximal ramp section, an accordion section, and a retaining portion. The first member defines a first longitudinal axis, a first proximal end, and a first distal end. The second member has a tubular proximal section, a portal portion, and a distal flange. The second member defines a second longitudinal axis, a second proximal end, and a second distal end. The second member includes a retaining structure to couple the first member to the second member. The first member is located at least partially in the tubular section of the second member.
US08727971B2	Light-source driver for portable endoscope A light-source driver for a light-source, detachable from an endoscope body includes a first switch, a pilot lamp, a warning lamp, a second switch, and a light switcher. The first switch switches between the On-state and Off-state in connection with the attachment and detachment of the light-source to the endoscope body. The pilot lamp indicates that the illumination light source is energized. The warning lamp indicates that the output voltage of a battery has dropped below a predetermined value. The second switch switches the warning lamp between the On-state and Off-state in connection with the On-state and Off-state of the first switch. The light switcher switches the pilot lamp to the Off-state and enables the second switch when the second switch is set to the On-state and the output voltage has declined to or below the predetermined value.
US08727966B2	Endoscope with rotationally deployed arms A medical device such as an endoscope, a laparoscope, or other device including an entry guide uses outriggers or arms that are mounted on the distal end of the entry guide and rotationally deployed to provide separation of instruments when the entry guide reaches a work site. Deployment can be implemented with as few as one cable or actuator to operate the arms. This mechanism may achieve working separation in a short axial length without complicating instrument channels that may be used for other instruments introduced through the entry guide.
US08727965B2	Methods and compositions to support tissue integration and inosculation of transplanted tissue and transplanted engineered penile tissue with adipose stromal cells The present invention generally relates to methods, compositions and uses thereof for enhancing vascularization of a tissue or cell transplant for transplantation into a subject. In particular, one aspect of the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising the use of a population of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells to encapsulate or surround a tissue or cell transplant to enhance vascularization of the tissue or cell transplant. Another aspect of the present invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing vascularization of a tissue or cell transplant by combining a population of SVF cells with a tissue or cell transplant to form a transplant mixed with SVF cells. Another aspect provides a composition comprising an engineered corpus cavernosum tissue comprising SVF cells and corpus cavernosum cells, wherein the SVF cells can be mixed with or encasing the corpus cavernosum cells, and methods of uses thereof, for example in method for the treatment of impotence and erectile dysfunction and/or enhance or construct a penis. In some embodiments, the SVF cells can be generically engineered to secrete therapeutic proteins or pro-angiogenic factors.
US08727961B2	Apparatus for the prevention of urinary incontinence in females An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence, comprising a node; a support section adapted for providing urethral support attached to the node; and, an anchoring section adapted for resisting movement of the apparatus attached to the node; wherein the node is no longer than 30% of the entire length of the apparatus comprising the node, support section and the anchoring section together.
US08727960B2	Auxiliary artificial heart pump drive device and auxiliary artificial heart system An auxiliary artificial heart pump drive device for driving an auxiliary artificial heart pump includes first and second pump control parts which are arranged in duplexed configuration. Each pump control part controls the auxiliary artificial heart pump by outputting a drive signal to the auxiliary artificial heart pump. Each pump control part has a means which, when a failure is detected in the pump control part, electrically cuts off a path through which the drive signal is outputted to the auxiliary artificial heart pump. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an auxiliary artificial heart pump drive device and an auxiliary artificial heart system which exhibit high availability even when a serious failure occurs by any chance without duplexing a pump device.
US08727958B2	Apparatus and method for transferring energy and/or a substance to rotating means The presently disclosed subject matter proposes an apparatus (42) and a method for transferring energy and/or a substance from a non-rotating component of an apparatus to a rotating device (43)—or vice versa—through an intermediary component (1, 1′). In one configuration, the intermediary component (1,1′) is a symmetrically arranged pair of tubes, useful in centrifugal separation, and which is subject to continuous rotation while tube ends are fixed in a lower, stationary range or stand still.
US08727956B2	Waist and hip developer A waist and hip developer includes a track curving smoothly upwardly toward two distal ends thereof and having two stop members respectively located at two distal ends thereof, foot members affixed to the track for supporting the track on the floor steadily, a slide slidably coupled to the track with rollers thereof and movable back and forth along the track between the stop members, a seat rotatably supported on the slide with a ball bearing within a predetermined angle and selectively lockable to the slide with a lock screw, two grips respectively affixed to the two distal ends of the track, and a counter for counting of the number of reciprocating cycles of the slide moving by the user sitting on the seat.
US08727952B1	Exercise apparatus An exercise apparatus for performing a wide range of full body motions against cabled weight resistance by providing user-selectable arrangements of pulleys. A pulley carriage carries one or more carriage pulleys and is slidable on a vertical stanchion. Each pulley arrangement comprises the combination of a user-selectable, vertical height for the carriage pulleys together with user-selectable locations on the frame of the apparatus for attachment of a pair of hand pulleys, whereby the amount of slack in cables routed through the pulleys is adjustable by varying the height of the carriage pulleys.
US08727949B2	Reaction training belt with variable release resistance A cost effective training belt that offers the ability to vary the release resistance and that allows the release resistance to remain relatively constant throughout the life of the belt. In one disclosed embodiment, the reaction belt has a first and second belt detachably secured together with a detaching structure that can connect the first and second belts together in at least two different ways. Each of the connecting ways offers a different release resistance; thereby a user can select the desired release resistance by selecting which way to connect the two belts together.
US08727938B2	Engine stop control system for hybrid electric vehicle An engine stop control system for a hybrid electric vehicle including a powertrain having an engine, an electric motor/generator, and driving wheels, including a first clutch coupling the engine to the motor/generator, a second clutch coupling the motor/generator to the driving wheels, a controller configured to select between two driving modes of the vehicle by controlling engagement and disengagement of the first clutch and the second clutch so that the vehicle may be driven either solely by the motor/generator or a combination of the engine and the motor/generator, and to control the stop position of the engine to be a desired stop position by controlling the rotation speed of the motor/generator while the first clutch in complete engagement and the second clutch in a slip state.
US08727936B2	Rotary connector A rotary connector includes a stationary housing that includes an outer cylindrical body, and a movable housing that is disposed coaxially with the stationary housing and includes an inner cylindrical body facing the outer cylindrical body. An annular space portion is formed between the inner and outer cylindrical bodies facing each other and flat cables are wound and received in the annular space portion. An internal gear is provided on the outer cylindrical body of the stationary housing. A sun gear is provided on the inner cylindrical body of the movable housing. A planetary gear, which meshes with both the sun gear and the internal gear and is movable along the inner surface of a bottom plate portion of the stationary housing, is provided between the sun gear and the internal gear. The planetary gear and the sun gear include a plurality of void portions in the circumferential direction.
US08727930B2	Forced speed changing apparatus of bicycle Provided is a forced speed changing apparatus of bicycle. The forced speed changing apparatus of bicycle is characterized in that a pressure member is disposed at the pawl controlling ring 15, and a spline groove 27, 27a and 27b is formed at an inner circumference of the carrier 20 so that the pressure member is moved by rotation of the carrier 20 so as to press the pawl 12, 13 and to release engagement between the pawl 12, 13 and the sun gear 23, 24. Therefore the function and operation of the forced speed changing apparatus of bicycle can be enhanced.
US08727926B2	Vehicle door driving device A driving mechanism is arranged such that at least a part is contained within a space corresponding to the external shape of a driving motor, that is, within a space corresponding to a distance in the radial direction of the driving motor. The driving mechanism comprises a pinion, a transmission gear, a ring gear that forms a fixed axis, and a carrier. The pinion is connected to a rotary shaft of the driving motor. The transmission gear has a disk gear portion that meshes with the pinion, and a sun gear portion that is located on the same side as the pinion with respect to the disk gear portion. The carrier has a planet gear and rotates with a drum.
US08727923B2	Drivetrain A drivetrain has at least one drive machine (2, 3) with a drive output shaft (6) that can be coupled via a transmission (10) to at least one drive wheel. The transmission (10) is mounted on the drive machine (2, 3) and has a planetary gear set (18). To reduce the expenditure for the development and/or manufacture of the drivetrain, the transmission (10) has different mounting positions rotated relative to the drive output shaft (6) of the drive machine (2, 3).
US08727918B1	Illuminated game projectile with cradled light source An illuminated game projectile with a cradled light source with an outer shell, a light source structure disposed within an open inner volume of the outer shell, and a cradle structure disposed within the open inner volume of the outer shell to retain the inner light source structure in a predetermined position. The outer shell can be spherical or puck or otherwise shaped. The cradle structure can be formed by walls disposed in a general X-shape relative to each hemispherical half of the outer shell to encircle the light source structure substantially entirely and retain the light source structure in a position substantially concentric with the outer shell. Where the outer shell is disk shaped, the cradle structure can be formed by a plurality of radially communicating cradling fins.
US08727913B2	Multi-color golf ball The present invention is directed to a golf ball possessing an overall unique and perceptively pleasing multi-color appearance and being constructed of at least two layers wherein each layer has at least two discrete color regions which contribute substantially to the golf ball's overall color appearance, the inner and outer layers being strategically positioned and aligned in relation to each other to create the overall golf ball color appearance. A resulting unique overall golf ball multiple color appearance is achieved by the positioning and aligning one layer about another.
US08727912B2	Dual core golf ball having negative-hardness-gradient thermoplastic inner core and shallow positive-hardness-gradient thermoset outer core layer A golf ball includes an inner core layer formed from a thermoplastic material. The inner core has a center hardness that is greater than the surface hardness to define a negative hardness gradient. An outer core layer is disposed about the inner core. The outer core has a surface hardness that is greater than the surface hardness of the inner core to define a positive hardness gradient. An inner cover layer and an outer core layer are formed over the outer core layer. The negative hardness gradient of the inner core is about −1 to −5 Shore C, the positive hardness gradient of the outer core layer is less than 25 Shore C, the surface hardness of the outer core layer is about 45 Shore D to about 70 Shore D, and the surface hardness of the inner core is about 20 Shore D to about 60 Shore D.
US08727911B2	Golf club head A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying sole and crown design is disclosed herein. The face component, which may be composed of a metal material, (60) has a striking area portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which may be composed of a non-metal material such as composite or thermoplastic material, is composed of a crown portion (62) and a sole portion (64). The sound modifying design, which may include deep pockets or pillars extending from the sole portion (64) to the crown portion (62), alters the sound of the golf dub head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.
US08727909B2	Advanced hybrid iron type golf club The present invention is a unique advanced hybrid iron type golf club. The club is characterized by a long blade length with a long heel blade length section, while having a small club moment arm, Zcg, and volume, and producing a high moment of inertia. The golf club incorporates the discovery of unique relationships among key club head engineering variables that are inconsistent with merely striving to obtain a high moment of inertia using conventional golf club head design wisdom.
US08727907B2	Method of manufacturing golf club head, golf club head, and head base body This invention provides a method of manufacturing a golf club head by processing a head base body having a face base surface which becomes a face surface by finishing. The head base body includes a main body portion having the face base surface, and projecting portions which project from the main body portion. The method includes a finishing step of performing the finishing while the head base body is fixed in position by supporting the projecting portions, and a separation step of separating the projecting portions after the finishing.
US08727906B1	Adjustable golf club shaft and hosel assembly An adjustable shaft and hosel assembly allows for dependent and independent adjustment of a golf club's face angle, loft angle, and lie angle. The adjustable shaft and hosel assembly comprises a shaft sleeve, a hosel portion, and at least two tubular adjustment pieces having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces, wherein the tubular adjustment pieces include loft and lie angle indicators that can be added together to determine overall club head loft and lie angles.
US08727904B1	Golf club shaft grip A golf club shaft grip and method include a coiled strip component adapted to be spirally wrapped under tension around a golf club shaft; a continuous groove joint formed along a spiral path adjacent the coiled strip component; an elongated bonding strip permanently seated into the continuous groove joint; and a prehensile tab operatively connected at an end of the elongated bonding strip. A single component golf club shaft grip and method include a coiled strip component adapted to be spirally wrapped under tension around a golf club shaft; and continuous groove joint integrally formed with the coiled strip component and positioned along a spiral path adjacent the coiled strip component, wherein the groove joint comprises a flange wall adjacent to only one of a top or bottom of the outer surface of the coiled strip, wherein the flange wall is formed along the spiral path adjacent the outer surface.
US08727903B2	Putting stroke training system A putting stroke training system identifies a preferred putting stroke and facilitates training for a golfer to repeat the preferred putting stroke. The training system includes a grid box with a fixed side wall and a movable side wall. The movable side wall is positionable relative to the fixed side wall into alignment with the preferred putting stroke. The training system also includes an alignment sensor attachable to a putter head. In some embodiments, the alignment sensor signals when the putter head deviates from the preferred stroke.
US08727899B1	Adjustable golf club hosel assembly An adjustable hosel assembly allows for adjustment of shaft angle and the distance between the shaft and the club head. The adjustable hosel assembly comprises a hosel portion, a cam piece, a bolt, and a golf club head having a convex or concave surface, wherein the hosel portion can move along the surface of the cam piece, and the cam piece can move along the surface of the club head, to adjust the orientation of a shaft placed within the hosel with respect to the club head, and wherein the bolt secures the cam piece and the hosel to the golf club head.
US08727897B2	Amusement apparatus A game apparatus 100 of the present invention includes a mount body 200 and a decoration stand 300. A hollow cavity for letting a user play is formed to mount body 200. And the hollow cavity inner wall is mirrors 220. A decoration stand 300 is located on outside the mount body 200, and part or all of the turn board provided on decoration stand 300 is viewable from the hollow cavity of the mount body 200.
US08727889B2	Game information consolidation system A game playing information integration system is provided which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, and is capable of effectively making entry into market, based on a result of logical analysis of a gaming machine invoking demands of a player and a manger in gaming facility in a well-balanced manner. The system includes a plurality of gaming machine units and a server connected to enable communication with each of the gaming machine units. Each of the gaming machine units includes player identification information reading means, number-of-consumptions data output means, and number-of-payouts data output means. Gaming machine unit identification information is individually assigned to each of the gaming machine units. The server stores data storage means for storing each of number-of-consumptions data and number-of-payouts data in association with reception time data, player identification information, and gaming machine unit identification information.
US08727887B2	Enabling users to transfer virtual items based on their locations A method of enabling users to transfer virtual items based on their locations is disclosed. A presence of a player of a computer-implemented game at a location is detected. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location is detected. The player is enabled to transfer a virtual item to the additional player based on the detection of the presence of the player at the location and the detection of the presence of the additional player at the location.
US08727886B2	System for direct remote access to money-operated amusement device An amusement device communication system for direct remote access to money-operated amusement device includes an amusement device, an internet-based server, and a remote computer device. The amusement device has a memory, a display and a controller. The controller is operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The memory stores at least one electronic game and a system control program. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The internet-based server is in communication with the amusement device through the internet. The remote computer device is configured to access the amusement device through a secured-communication connection through the internet-based server to allow access and control of the amusement device by the remote computer device.
US08727885B2	Social information game system A method to share challenges between users of a social game system is described. The method may include accessing relationship data reflecting a relationship between a first user and a second user, and accessing challenge data in a challenge database. Based on (1) the challenge data and (2) the relationship between the first user and the second user reflected by the relationship data, the challenge data is selectively communicated as part of a challenge about the first user to the second user, with the challenge forming part of a challenge game.
US08727884B2	Wagering game history features This description describes techniques for storing and utilizing wagering game histories. In one embodiment, a method for recording progress of a wagering game can include detecting a first event indicating a first activity of the wagering game. The method can also include storing the first event according to a first data format and detecting a second event indicating a second activity of the wagering game, wherein the second event includes random number information indicating a result of the wagering game. The method can also include encrypting the second event and storing the second event according to the first data format.
US08727882B2	Game controller that converts between wireless operation and wired operation A game controller operates in both a wired mode and a wireless mode, and is able to switch between these two modes without permanent disruption to an ongoing game. The game controller is configured to detect a condition that suggests switching from the wireless mode of operation to a wired mode of operation, convey the indication to a host game system, and transition from the wireless mode of operation to the wired mode of operation.
US08727877B2	Device for controlling player character dialog in a video game located on a computer readable storage medium In a computing machine having a processing unit, memory and a display device for playing a video game, the video game comprising at least one or more game characters, the at least one or more game character being controlled by a special purpose computing input device connected to said computer and operable by a game player, the video game further comprising character dialog between or among the at least one or more game characters, the character dialog comprising vignettes of dialog wherein movement from one vignette to another is determined by the game player introducing emotion into the dialog by means of the special purpose computing input device. The special purpose computing input device introduces emotion into the video game during a character dialog or character encounter along an axis of a joystick or other game controller element.
US08727872B2	Gaming system, gaming device and method for normalizing different features of an on-demand bonus game In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provides a bonus game which enables players to combine different, independent features without introducing any significant advantage or significant disadvantage to players for combining certain features over other features. The gaming system utilizes one or more bonus game supplemental awards to insure that the average expected payout per selected feature remains the same or substantially the same regardless of which bonus game features or combinations of features are employed for a play of a bonus game.
US08727871B2	Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
US08727869B1	Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for enabling real-time competition having an entertaining experience based on commodities or currencies Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for enabling real-time competition based on commodities. An exemplary computer-implemented method executed by one or more computing devices for enabling real-time competition based on commodities includes receiving information from a first user including a selection of a commodity and a competitive position corresponding to a criteria associated with the commodity, determining, based at least in part on real-time information regarding the selected commodity, whether the competitive position regarding the criteria is consistent with the real-time information, transmitting information to the first user indicating an outcome that is favorable based at least in part of a determination that the competitive position regarding the criteria is consistent with the real-time information, and transmitting information to the first user indicating an outcome that is not favorable based at least in part of a determination that the competitive position regarding the criteria is not consistent with the real-time information.
US08727865B2	Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods with non-competitive play and optional competitive play In an embodiment, a gaming system includes a plurality of gaming devices and a controller configured to communicate with the gaming devices. The gaming system enables a plurality of players to play an interactive game in a non-competitive mode and in a competitive mode. If at least two players play the interactive game in the competitive mode, for a competitive wagering event, which includes a competition between two players, the gaming system determines a winning player and a losing player. The gaming system causes the winning player to contribute a winning player portion toward a wager associated with the competitive wagering event and causes the losing player to contribute a losing player portion toward the wager associated with the competitive wagering event. The losing player portion is less than the winning player portion. The gaming system randomly determines and provides any awards to the winning player based on the wager.
US08727861B2	Gaming device having a related winning symbol selection game The present invention relates to a gaming device and method having a bonus game, where the bonus game displays a target set including a plurality of player selectable symbols. At least one of the symbols is designated as a target symbol in a target set. The gaming device provides a predetermined number of picks to begin a bonus game and enables a player to use the picks to pick symbols from the target set. If the player picks a symbol that is not a target symbol, a relationship indicator indicates the relationship between the target symbol and the picked symbol. The player continues to pick symbols in the target set until the player picks the target symbol. If the player picks a target symbol, the gaming device enables the player to pick symbols from a new target set. The player continues to pick symbols in target sets until the player has no picks remaining. Preferably, the gaming device provides an award for each picked target symbol.
US08727857B2	Wager gaming voting leaderboard Techniques and equipment for providing a voting point leaderboard system are provided. Players playing wagering games may be awarded voting points for use in a poll with a plurality of candidates in exchange for game-play related activity. Players voting for the winning candidate in the poll may be given an award. Polls may include candidates which may be involved in a real-world contest. Players may be rewarded for voting for the candidate which wins the real-world contest.
US08727849B2	Board games and methods of playing A board game includes a plurality of game pieces, a plurality of reward cards, and a game board, where the game board includes a travel path on the game board, said travel path including a plurality of instruction spaces, a plurality of hidden cache spaces, and a plurality of open cache spaces, where one of said plurality of hidden cache spaces and one of said plurality of open cache spaces are associated with one of said plurality of game pieces, and at least one instruction space includes directions to add one of said plurality of reward cards to one of said plurality of open cache spaces that is associated with one of said plurality of game pieces.
US08727844B2	Ventilation member and method of manufacturing the same A ventilation member 13 includes a gas-permeable sheet 6 and a support body 11 in which a through-hole 11h is formed. One opening of the through-hole 11h is closed by the sheet 6. As a face to which the sheet 6 is to be attached, the support body 11 has a ring-shaped opening end face 12 parallel to the in-plane direction of the sheet 6. In an outer peripheral region 12j of the opening end face 12, the sheet 6 is welded to the support body 11, forming a ring-shaped welded portion 15. The sheet 6 is not welded to the support body 11 in an inner peripheral region 12k of the opening end face 12. The inner peripheral region 12k is surrounded by the welded portion 15.
US08727843B2	Self-powered fluid control apparatus A self-powered fluid control apparatus includes a casing having an interior section defined by a plurality of walls, at least one louver positioned within the interior section and extending along a plane, and a fluid flow-driven electrical generator positioned within the interior section substantially along the plane, the fluid flow-driven electrical generator being configured to generate an output current when sufficiently driven by a fluid flow stream through the generator. The flow control apparatus also includes a motor coupled to the at least one louver and a controller configured to generate and provide the control signal to the motor, in which the motor and the controller are powered solely by the output current generated by the fluid flow-driven electrical generator.
US08727840B2	Method of cutting a pork loin A method of cutting a pork loin creating an anterior portion, a center portion, and posterior portion of a pork loin to provide pork products having enhanced value. The method includes cutting an anterior portion of a pork loin to form a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a substantially intact spinalis dorsi and multifidus muscles, and a substantially intact longissimus dorsi in the second portion. The method also includes cutting a posterior portion of a pork loin in a manner that results in a substantially intact gluteus medius muscle such that the resulting pork product resembles a pork loin filet in appearance and shape.
US08727837B2	Rotatable disc head as well as floor treatment machine comprising such disc head A rotatable disc head for a floor treatment device includes a pair of coupling members which are pivotably connected to each other according to pivot axes which are transversely oriented with respect to each other. A rotation axis is defined which is transversely oriented with respect to the pivot axes. The coupling members are furthermore connected to each other by means of at least one elastically deformable connection element. One of the coupling members includes fitting means for mounting the coupling member to the rotary drive of the floor treatment device and the other coupling member includes carrier means onto which a floor treatment element, such as a grinding disc, can be mounted. The connection of the connection elements to one of the coupling members is an adjustable connection allowing displacements which are oriented transversely with respect to the rotation axis.
US08727827B2	Method for making field emission electron source A method for making field emission electron source comprises following steps. An insulating layer is coated on outer surface of a linear carbon nanotube structure. A field emission electron source preform is formed by locating a plurality of conductive ring on outer surface of the insulating layer, wherein the plurality of conductive ring is space from each other, and each conductive ring comprises a first ring face and a second ring face opposite to the first ring face. A plurality of field emission electron source is formed by cutting off the plurality of conductive ring, the insulating layer, and the linear carbon nanotube structure, wherein each field emission electron source comprises at least one conductive ring, and a ring face of the conductive ring, end surface of the insulating layer, and end surface of the linear carbon nanotube structure are coplanar.
US08727824B2	Venting apparatus for a floating board An air vent for a floating board such as a paddleboard, which includes a tubular vent member that has an upper end and a lower end. A mounting supports the tubular vent member in a vertical orientation with the upper end of the tubular vent member protruding above an upper surface of the floating board. The tubular vent is mounted in a central zone comprising a central one third of the floating board, and along a crown positioned between a first side and a second side of the floating board.
US08727820B2	Hybrid drive system for a ship A hybrid drive system for a ship, designed as a parallel hybrid drive system, and comprising an internal combustion engine (103), an electric machine (105), acting as a generator or motor, depending on switching an electric controller (107), a battery (106), at least one switching clutch (115, 116), and a drive device (109) for transferring the drive power to at least one propeller (108). The electric machine (105) together with a first (115) and a second switched clutch (116), form a drive unit (140), that can be modularly disposed between the internal combustion engine (103) and the drive device (109). The first switched clutch (115) is disposed between the electric machine (105) and the internal combustion engine (103) and the second switched clutch (116) is disposed between the electric machine (105) and the drive device (109).
US08727819B2	Contact clamp and connector having contact clamp A contact clamp for connecting a conductor end with an electrical contact and having an insertion side, from which the conductor end can be inserted in the contact clamp, comprising a retaining frame with a contact section, with which the conductor end can establish a contact, as well as a clamping leg, which is pivotally mounted in the retaining frame and can be pivoted back and forth between an open pivot position and a closed pivot position. The clamping leg runs at an angle to the contact section when in the closed pivot position, and is resiliently movable, such that the conductor end can be inserted in the contact, subject to the elastically spring-loaded opening of the clamping leg, to the target contact position, when in the closed pivot position.
US08727816B2	Connector A connector includes a plurality of metal terminals, a connector housing and a spacer. The connector housing respectively receives the metal terminals, has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers which are aligned in parallel therein and are partitioned with a partition wall each other, and has a first outer wall which is formed with a first opening and a second outer wall which is formed with a second opening. The spacer is inserted into the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers through the first opening so as to hold the plurality of metal terminals so that the metal terminals are prevented from withdrawal from the connector housing, and has a superposing wall which extends toward the second outer wall. The superposing wall superposes on the partition wall and a distal end portion of the superposing wall is located within the second opening.
US08727812B2	Low profile male connector Various embodiments of low profile male connectors are described. In one embodiment, a connector includes a plug housing having a depth and an interior cavity designed to accommodate pins that extend within the interior cavity in a direction of the depth. The plug housing may be designed to be fully insertable into a receptacle connector of an electronic device, and to have a rear surface that conforms with a shape of an exterior surface of the electronic device. The pins arranged in the plug housing may include various features, such as connecting portions protruding from the plug housing at an angle of approximately 90 degrees for coupling to a cable, bases including cutouts for extending a length of an elongated shaft of the pin, barbs for engaging the plug housing, and limit stops for distributing a force applied to the elongated shaft upon engagement with a receiving pin.
US08727811B2	Electrical connector socket and plug having two transmission interfaces An electrical connector socket includes an outer frame, an insulating base, first socket terminals, and second socket terminals. The outer frame includes a first and second insert space which respectively meets a first and second standard. The insulating base has a tongue including a first and second tongue portion. The thickness of the first tongue portion is different from that of the second tongue portion. One end of the first socket terminals is embedded in the base, and the other end is disposed at the first tongue portion and faces the first insert space. One end of the second socket terminals is embedded in the base, the other end of part of second socket terminals is disposed at the second tongue portion and faces the first insert space, and the other end of the other part is disposed at the second tongue portion and faces the second insert space.
US08727809B2	Center conductor with surrounding shield and edge card connector with same An edge card connector includes a connector housing; a plurality of center conductors disposed in the connector housing, spaced apart from one another, and arranged to make contact with a surface of an edge card when the edge card is inserted into the edge card connector; and a plurality of shields disposed in the connector housing, surrounding three sides of a corresponding one of the plurality of center conductors, and arranged to make contact with the surface of the edge card when the edge card is inserted into the edge card connector.
US08727802B2	Generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector A method and apparatus are described for generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a sensor is coupled to a receptacle for the connector and configured to sense a mating of the receptacle and a plug for the connector. An actuator is coupled to the receptacle, and a processing subsystem is coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to use the actuator to generate a synthetic tactile sensation based on information received from the sensor.
US08727801B2	Pluggable modules having latch mechanisms for gripping receptacle assemblies Pluggable module that includes a module housing having mating and trailing ends and a sidewall that extends therebetween. The sidewall extends along a longitudinal axis. The pluggable module further comprises a latch mechanism that is attached to the trailing end of the module housing. The latch mechanism includes a coupling arm that extends along the sidewall toward the mating end and also an operator handle that is operatively connected to the coupling arm at a latch joint. The operator handle projects away from the trailing end of the module housing. The operator handle is configured to be pressed by an actuating force to move the coupling arm into a flexed position. The latch joint moves when the operator handle is pressed and the coupling arm moves away from the sidewall to the flexed position. The coupling arm returns toward the sidewall when the actuating force is removed.
US08727793B2	Optical module design in an SFP form factor to support increased rates of data transmission A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module includes a board with an end portion to be inserted into a connector device. A first set of signal pads is arranged along an edge of a first surface of the SFP board at the end portion and a second set of signal pads along an edge of a second surface of the SFP board at the end portion. A third set of signal pads is disposed on the second surface at the end portion, offset from the edge of the second surface. A transceiver, coupled to the signal pads of the first, second, and third sets of signal pads, is configured to transmit and receive signals via the third set of signal pads and to transmit and receive signals via at least one of the first and second sets of signal pads.
US08727792B2	Semiconductior device socket including contact block In a contact block comprising a contact holder having multiple through-holes arranged in a position adjustment direction, two positioning pins are inserted via the through-holes to two through-holes selected from multiple through-holes formed in a contact block accommodation portion in the position adjustment direction, and thereby the relative positions of contact portions of contact terminals held by the contact holder can be adjusted with respect to terminals of a semiconductor device.
US08727791B2	Electrical connector assembly Electrical connectors for interconnecting circuit boards. One such connector includes an integral flange for mounting a guidance pin in any of multiple orientations. A corresponding keying block may have a polarization component that can be mounted in a corresponding number of positions. The connector can accept conductive elements with different shapes for signals and grounds, but the housing may be adapted to receive either type of contact in any contact location. Protection of contact elements from excessive yield is provided within the insulative housing of the backplane connector. On the daughter card connector, height difference between ground and signal contacts in wafer assemblies protects components from electrostatic discharge.
US08727786B2	Inflatable exhibit of a human heart and method An inflatable exhibit of a heart includes an inflatable infrastructure inflatable to a three-dimensional partial representation of the heart at a scale greater than at least, 10:1, but more preferably greater than 20:1, and most preferably, greater than 25:1. The infrastructure includes a cross-sectional plane thereacross. The exhibit further includes a walk-through passageway defined, at least, in part by the inflated infrastructure, and extending through the inflated infrastructure. The cross-sectional plane defines a plane of the passageway.
US08727785B2	Method and device for gravity like simulation of natural balance movements We present a tool that can enhance the concept of BWS training by allowing natural APAs to occur mediolaterally. While in a supine position in a 90 degree tilted environment built around a modified hospital bed, subjects wear a backpack frame that is freely moving on air-hearings, as a puck on an air hockey table, and attached through a cable to a pneumatic cylinder that provides a load that can be set to emulate various G-like loads. Veridical visual input is provided through two 3-D automultiscopic displays that allow glasses free 3-D vision representing a virtual surrounding environment that may be acquired from sites chosen by the patient. Two groups of 12 healthy subjects were exposed to either strength training alone or a combination of strength and balance training in such a tilted environment over a period of four weeks.
US08727784B1	Sports board drill training apparatus and method therefore A sports board training apparatus. Implementations may include a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface including a mock board layout resembling a basketball court. A plurality of lights may be mounted on the locations on the mock board layout corresponding with a plurality of shot locations. A timing clock may be mounted above the top side of the mock board layout and one or more game control buttons may be mounted on the mock board layout. One or more switches may be mounted on the rear surface. A microprocessor may be included and adapted to actuate each of the plurality of lights, receive inputs from the one or more game control buttons, and to receive signal from the one or more switches. The microprocessor, the plurality of lights, the timing clock, and the one or more switches may be electrically coupled with an electrical power supply.
US08727782B2	Hazard-zone incident command training and certification systems Systems designed to train and certify persons to act as at least one responsible person(s) for decision making and management operations as part of an emergency response at incidents that contain at least one hazard zone; such hazard zone defined as any work area which contains a hazard that can injure or kill, for example, burning structures, hazardous material incidents, roadways with active traffic, natural disaster sites, and/or other emergency response scenes.
US08727781B2	Online educational system with multiple navigational modes A web-based educational system comprising at least one area of skill, interest, or expertise, a plurality of activities associated with each area of skill, interest, or expertise, and at least three navigational modes, wherein the navigational modes comprise a sequenced navigational mode, a guided navigational mode, and an independent navigational mode. Optionally, the learner can switch between available navigational modes.
US08727778B2	Tactile overlay for point of sale terminal Systems and methods provide tactile assistance to a consumer completing a transaction at a point of sale terminal. A tactile overlay, either permanent or removable, couples with a consumer interface such as a touch screen of the point of sale terminal. The tactile overlay includes one or more overlay inputs that provide a distinct tactile impression in comparison with the remainder of the overlay. For example, the overlay inputs can be depressions, apertures, protrusions, dimples, or the like, or provide a different texture such as a rougher or smoother texture than the surrounding overlay. The overlay inputs are configured to correspond with underlying touch screen inputs such that the consumer using the tactile overlay can discern the proper location on the touch screen for providing the desired input.
US08727776B2	Method for producing denture parts or for tooth restoration using electronic dental representations The invention relates to a method for producing denture parts or for tooth restoration. According to said method, to reconstruct a tooth requiring repair or a defective condition, at least some of the missing exterior surfaces of denture parts or tooth restorations are adapted to the existing residual tooth material and/or the opposing teeth and/or the position of the neighbouring tooth and/or the occlusion position, by means of the optimisation of a generic dental-model data record of the desired tooth type, thus varying the linear factors of at least the most important components, (determined from the electronic data records of a larger number of measured tooth surfaces by primary axis analysis methods), in such a way that the selected optimisation criteria are fulfilled by the minimisation of an error function. After the successful adaptation of said surfaces to the residual occlusion position and the completion of the data record, the reconstructed denture part or the reconstructed tooth restoration is machine-manufactured.
US08727774B1	Dental implant carrier device and implant carrier device assembly An implant carrier device for removable engagement with a dental implant includes a linear body member having first and second faceted exterior ends and an axial bore there through. A screw member having a head end and a threaded end is rotationally captured within the axial bore, with the threaded end extending exterior the second end of the carrier device. The threaded end of the screw member is adapted for rotational engagement of a threaded well within a dental implant. A dental implant engaged with both the faceted exterior second end of the linear body member and the threaded end of the captured screw member is partially driven into an osteotomy by way of the implant carrier device, followed by disengagement of the implant carrier device from the partially driven implant by rotation of the screw member captured within the axial bore of the implant carrier.
US08727771B2	Apparatus and methods for providing dentifrice advancement According to various embodiments, a dental prophylaxis angle is provided that includes including a content lumen within the body, wherein the proximal end of the body is attachable to a concentric drive dental handpiece and the distal end of the body includes a denial tip and a content portal proximate the dental tip. The dental prophylaxis angle can also include a collapsible container disposed within the content lumen and in fluid communication with content portal. The dental prophylaxis angle can also include a reciprocating advancement mechanism including a gripping section slidably attached to an exterior surface of the body and at least one member extending through the body and into the content lumen in communication with the proximal end of the collapsible container. When sliding the gripping section proximally along the longitudinal axis of the body the member at least partially compresses the collapsible container in the distal direction.
US08727768B2	Rotating-gas distribution design A burner includes a generally cylindrical casing (1) and a burner head (2) mounted within the casing, the burner head including one or more vanes (9) rotatably mounted on the head and rotatable about the head to sweep through a region between the burner head (2) and the casing (1). The vanes (9) each include one or more gas outlets for introducing gas into an air flow through the region.
US08727766B2	Nozzle-tip insulator having a body defining a void formation coaxially concentrically positioned relative to each other A nozzle-tip insulator (100), comprising: a nozzle-contact surface (102); a mold-gate contact surface (104) being offset from the nozzle-contact surface (102); and a body (106) connecting the nozzle-contact surface (102) with the mold-gate contact surface (104), the body (106) being resiliently compressible, the body (106) defining a void formation (108), and the body (106) and the void formation (108) being coaxially concentrically positioned relative to each other.
US08727761B2	Die for underwater cutting type pelletizer A die for an underwater cutting type pelletizer, the die including a die orifice part in which a thermoplastic resin is inhibited from solidifying within the die orifices. The die can have a reduced difference in temperature between the die orifice part and an inner periphery-side fixing part for fixing the die orifice part to a mixer/extruder, and can thereby inhibit the generation of thermal stress. The die is characterized by being equipped with a heating jacket for heating the inner periphery-side fixing part, the heating jacket being disposed within the inner periphery-side fixing part along an inner annular passage formed within either the die orifice part or the inner periphery-side fixing part or both along the boundary between the die orifice part and the inner periphery-side fixing part.
US08727760B2	Device for producing thermoplastic corrugated pipes An apparatus for producing thermoplastic corrugated pipes may include an extrusion device with an extruder and an extrusion die device and a corrugator device with traveling mold jaws. The extrusion device and the corrugator device are positionally movable in relation to one another, for example for adjustment. The extrusion device is positionally movable in relation to the corrugator device in a horizontal plane, while the corrugator device is movable exclusively in height here.
US08727759B1	Fully integrated structural building system A Fully Integrated Structural Building System has a pair of pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors. The pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floors are adapted to contact each other on one parallel side edge to form peripheral edges and a central joining edge. A part of a building is coupled to a pre-stressed multi-stemmed concrete floor. The building is constructed with a primary structural frame and a secondary structural frame separated by a rigid foam spacer. The spacer is a Class I non-combustible closed-cell foam. The building is strong, energy efficient, non-combustible and easily transported from the factory to the building site. The building is Green and constructed only with renewable and recyclable materials.
US08727751B2	Vacuum pumping arrangement A vacuum pumping arrangement comprises a turbomolecular pumping mechanism and a molecular drag pumping mechanism connected in series. A rotor of the molecular drag pumping mechanism is supported by the rotor blades of the turbomolecular pumping mechanism.
US08727745B2	Device and method employing shape memory alloy A system for the metering and delivery of small discrete volumes of liquid is comprised of a small or minimal number of inexpensive components. One such component is a movable member, such as a miniature precision reciprocating displacement pump head, which is driven by an actuator that comprises a shape memory alloy material. The operating mechanism of the system is of little or minimal complexity. The system facilitates the precise metering and delivery of the small discrete volumes of liquid. Potential applications for the system include subcutaneous, long-term, automated drug delivery, for example, the delivery of insulin to a person with diabetes. In such an application, the small, simple and inexpensive nature of the invention would allow for its use as both a portable and a disposable system.
US08727743B2	Opposing swash plate piston pump/motor A first swash plate (30) and a second swash plate (40) are disposed on either side of a cylinder block (4), and a plurality of cylinders (6) are disposed in the cylinder block (4). A first piston (8) and a second piston (9) are inserted opposite to each other in each cylinder (6) such that the first piston (8) slides on the first swash plate (30) and the second piston (9) slides on the second swash plate (40). By providing a servo mechanism (33) that tilts the first swash plate (30) and a tilt linking mechanism (40, 70) that tilts the second swash plate (40) in conjunction with the tilting of the first swash plate (30), tilt angles of the two swash plates (30, 40) can be controlled by the single servo mechanism (33).
US08727741B2	Portable air compressor A portable air compressor includes an air tank for storing compressed air, the air tank having a generally flattened spherical shape defining a circumference lying in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to a support surface in a resting position. The portable air compressor also includes compressor components in fluid communication with the air tank for providing compressed air to the air tank, the compressor components positioned adjacent to the air tank substantially on one side of the plane. At least one foot is coupled to the air tank and extends substantially parallel to the plane, the at least one foot for at least partially supporting the air compressor on the support surface such that the plane is oriented substantially perpendicular to the support surface. A handle extends from the air tank substantially parallel to the plane and in a direction generally opposite the at least one foot.
US08727738B2	Jet pump assembly having increased entrainment flow A jet pump assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention includes an inlet body arranged in proximity with a throat structure so as to provide an entrainment entrance between a discharge end of the inlet body and the throat structure. A drive flow of a motive fluid is supplied at a first velocity to the inlet body and is discharged through at least one nozzle at a higher second velocity, thereby creating a pressure drop in the throat structure. The pressure drop facilitates a first entrained flow of suction fluid into the entrainment entrance and a second entrained flow of suction fluid through at least one channel passing through the inlet body. The at least one channel is configured such that the second entrained flow is isolated from the drive flow while passing through the inlet body.
US08727732B2	Fan blade mounting system A ceiling fan (10) is disclosed having a motor housing (11) suspended through a downrod (12). An electric motor (13) is mounted within the housing which drives an annular array of blade irons (14) each having a blade (15) mounted thereto. Each blade has three clearance or mounting hole (16) and a resilient annular grommet (17) is positioned within each mounting hole. Each blade iron (14) has a blade mounting portion (23) with a peripheral seat (23)′ and three blade fasteners (24). Each blade fastener is configured to pass through the fastener mounting hole and grommet. Each fastener has a neck (25) with an annular groove (26), and a head (27) having a diameter larger than that of the neck. The head is positioned directly adjacent the groove so that contact between the head and the grommet forces a portion of the grommet into the annular groove.
US08727728B2	Convertible bearing for a wind turbine and method for operating same A bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing housing and a bearing surface defining a passageway configured to receive a shaft. The bearing surface includes a stationary portion and a movable portion, the movable portion being defined by a movable member coupled to the bearing housing. The movable member is movable between a first position, wherein the movable portion is flush with the stationary portion such that the bearing surface is smooth, and a second position wherein the movable portion is spaced from the stationary portion to define a fluid cavity in the bearing surface. A method of operating a plain bearing assembly includes operating the plain bearing assembly as a hydrostatic plain bearing during low dynamic conditions and operating the plain bearing assembly as a hydrodynamic plain bearing during high dynamic conditions.
US08727727B2	Components with cooling channels and methods of manufacture A component is disclosed. The component includes a substrate comprising an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines at least one hollow, interior space, and the outer surface defines one or more grooves that extend at least partially along the outer substrate surface and have a respective base. One or more access holes are formed through the base of a respective groove, to connect the groove in fluid communication with the respective hollow interior space. The component further includes a coating comprising one or more layers disposed over at least a portion of the outer substrate surface. The groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component. One or more trenches are formed through one or more coating layers and at least partially define at least one exit region for the cooling channel(s). A method of fabricating a component is also provided.
US08727725B1	Turbine vane with leading edge fillet region cooling A turbine vane for use in a gas turbine engine, the vane including an airfoil portion and an endwall in which fillets extend around the airfoil at the junction to the endwall. A row of film cooling holes that connects to a cooling air supply cavity on the outer side of the endwall and open into breakout holes that are located in the fillets discharge film cooling air into the fillet. The breakout holes extend around the leading edge in the fillet and extend along the pressure side fillet and the suction side fillet just past the leading edge region to discharge film cooling air into the fillets. The film cooling holes are straight holes and are aligned with the curvature of the fillet at the midpoint height of the fillet.
US08727721B2	Vane with spar mounted composite airfoil A vane includes a composite airfoil having one or more pockets and one or more spars received therein respectively. The spars extending radially away from a bridge of a vane mount supporting airfoil. The spars may be integrally formed with the bridge. The spars may be adhesively bonded to the composite airfoil within the pockets. A passage may extend between an airfoil base and an airfoil tip. A gas turbine engine annular fan frame includes an annular row of the composite outlet guide vanes extending radially between and connecting radially inner and outer rings of the fan frame.
US08727720B2	Guide vane of a gas turbine and method for replacing a cover plate of a guide vane of a gas turbine The guide vane of a gas turbine comprises a blade having an outer platform connectable to a guide vane carrier or gas turbine casing, and at the opposite end an inner platform that carries a cover plate. The inner platform has a dovetail housing to which the cover plate is connected. The method for replacing the cover plate consists in separating the cover plate from the inner platform by cutting along the profile of the dovetail housing, then making the cover plate to slide out of the dovetail housing, thus inserting a new or refurbished cover plate into the dovetail housing.
US08727714B2	Method of forming a multi-panel outer wall of a component for use in a gas turbine engine A method of forming and/or assembling a multi-panel outer wall (14) for a component (12) in a machine subjected to high thermal stresses comprising providing such a component (12) that includes an inner panel wall (16) having an outer surface, and an array of interconnecting ribs (38) on the outer surface of the component (12). An intermediate panel (22) is provided and preferably preformed to a general outer contour of the component (12), and is positioned over the inner panel (16). An external pressure force is applied across a surface area of the intermediate panel (22) against the outer surface of the component (12) to contour the intermediate panel (22) according to a geometric configuration formed by the ribs (38) thereby forming cooling chambers (24) between the outer surface and ribs (38) of the component (12) and the intermediate panel (22).
US08727712B2	Abradable coating with safety fuse An abradable coating for interaction with tips of airfoils (such as vanes or blades of a compressor of a gas turbine engine) includes a metal bond coat thermal, a ceramic layer, and an abradable layer. The ceramic layer on the metal bond coat provides insulation and acts as a fuse that is adapted to spall off upon high rub interaction. The abradable coating on the ceramic layer contacts the tips of the airfoils during operation of the compressor. The abradable coating is sufficiently abradable to roundup the coating by contact with the airfoil tips.
US08727711B2	Turbocharger with a variable turbine geometry VTG A turbocharger with a variable turbine geometry, includes at least one rolling body element respectively disposed on an associated fixing element for the variable turbine geometry. A device for adjusting the variable turbine geometry can roll off on the respective rolling body element.
US08727707B2	Intake duct liner for a turbofan gas turbine engine A turbofan gas turbine engine includes a fan and an intake duct upstream of the fan. The fan has a fan rotor having a plurality of fan blades. The intake duct has a liner, which includes an acoustic liner positioned upstream of the fan and a buzz-saw tone noise liner positioned upstream of the acoustic liner. The buzz-saw tone noise liner is positioned substantially at, or near, an upstream end of the intake duct. The intake duct has a lip and the buzz-saw tone noise liner is positioned at, or near, the lip.
US08727706B2	System for providing cooling and purging air flow to a rotary machine online monitoring system In one embodiment, a system includes a sight tube configured to optically communicate with an interior of a rotary machine via insertion within an inspection port. The sight tube includes a window and multiple openings configured to direct purge air across the window. The system also includes a curtain tube disposed about the sight tube and configured to direct purge air from a first air source to the openings via a first passage formed between an inner surface of the curtain tube and an outer surface of the sight tube. The curtain tube includes multiple outlets configured to direct curtain air around the window, and the curtain tube is configured to direct the curtain air from a second air source to the outlets via a second passage formed between an outer surface of the curtain tube and an inner surface of the inspection port.
US08727704B2	Ring segment with serpentine cooling passages A ring segment for a gas turbine engine includes a panel and a cooling system. The cooling system receives cooling fluid from an outer side of the panel for cooling the panel and includes at least one cooling fluid supply passage, at least one serpentine cooling passage, and at least one cooling fluid discharge passage. The cooling fluid supply passage(s) receive the cooling fluid from the outer side of the panel and deliver the cooling fluid to a first cooling fluid chamber within the panel. The serpentine cooling passage(s) receive the cooling fluid from the first cooling fluid chamber, wherein the cooling fluid provides convective cooling to the panel as it passes through the serpentine cooling passage(s). The cooling fluid discharge passage(s) discharge the cooling fluid from the cooling system.
US08727698B1	Atmospheric energy extraction devices and methods An electricity generating tower includes a tower wall whose inner radius profile has a hyperbolic shape for a least a portion thereof. Moisture is added to the top of the tower and mixes with air to generate a downdraft of wind within the interior of the tower. A base beneath the tower wall contains a plurality of radially extending wind tunnels each having a turbine arranged therein to convert the wind into electricity.
US08727696B2	Calibration of an actuator for a variable geometry turbine A variable geometry turbine of the kind used in a turbocharger has a variable geometry element such as a nozzle ring or an annular array of swing vanes that is operated by an actuator. The actuator has an output shaft coupled to a transmission mechanism for moving the variable geometry element. A rotary sensor device coupled to the output shaft of the actuator has a sensor wheel with a stop, slip clutch mechanism and a rotary position sensor. The device converts movement of the actuator output shaft into rotation of the wheel and the sensor generates an output signal representative of the rotary position of the wheel to provide a value indicative of the position of the variable geometry element. The actuator is calibrated to the position of the variable geometry element by rotating the sensor wheel in a first rotational direction until the variable geometry element reaches the first limit position, then rotating the sensor wheel in a second direction until the variable geometry element reaches the second limit position. The value of the output signal is logged at one of these positions as a limit value. The sensor wheel is allowed to declutch in the event that it encounters the stop in either direction of rotation. The output signal is monitored and the limit value is deducted to determine the position of the variable geometry element.
US08727693B2	Apparatus for object processing The present invention provides apparatuses for processing an object just as semiconductor chips and dies. The first embodiment comprises two or more pick and place heads (FIG. 1) which operate sequentially (ie leap frog) to pick components from a first location to a second. The second embodiment (FIG. 8) comprises a flipping head combined with a pick and place heads where an object is picked up by the flipping head, turned over and then presented to a pick and place head for relocation to an output.
US08727692B2	Removable platform and load bed for vehicles A movable frame is adapted to be loaded onto and unloaded from a stationary frame mounted on a vehicle. A platform is releasably mountable onto said movable frame. The platform and movable frame may be hoisted simultaneously when being loaded and unloaded from the stationary frame. The platform includes a downwardly depending support legs which are of sufficient length to maintain the platform elevated above a first portion of the movable frame which is inserted under said platform when said movable frame is resting in a lowered position when unloaded from the stationary frame. The movable frame may be raised to engage with the underside of said platform. Interlocks cooperate between said platform and said movable frame so that the movable frame centers onto and mates with said underside of said platform.
US08727688B2	Riveting element and associated installation tool The invention relates to a riveting element (R) for riveting parts which are made from composite materials (M1 and M2) and provided with a through-hole. The invention is characterized in that it consists of: a hollow bushing (200) including, at one end, a head (210) bearing on the surface of one of the parts to be assembled and a hollow rod (220); and a semi-tubular insert (100) including a first end (110) capable of being inserted into the hollow part of the bushing (200) and an open end (130) capable of deforming in order to form an enlarged base that bears on the surface of the other part that is to be assembled once the insert (100) is translatably locked inside the bushing (200). The invention also relates to the installation tool configured for one such element.
US08727686B2	Device for attaching an aircraft monument An aircraft monument mounting system is disclosed having a rail adapted to support a monument panel thereon, the rail including a recess for receiving an attachment device from below. The attachment device comprises a threaded fastener such as a poppet, a lock nut, an eccentric washer, and a thumbwheel. Rotation of the thumbwheel causes the eccentric washer to move the panel laterally, and the lock nut can raise or lower the panel, providing flexibility as to the positioning of the panel without disrupting the attachment point to the aircraft structure.
US08727683B2	Latch arrangement for cargo restraint An improved cargo restraint for installation on a preselected track mounted in or on the surface of a vehicle carrying the cargo and the restraint is mounted on a bracket which abuts the cargo to restrain the movement of the cargo and the restraint is slidingly movable on the track and has a locking position on the track wherein the bracket restrains the cargo and the restraint has no relative movement with respect to the track or the bracket or the vehicle so that there is no rattling of the restraint when in the locked position.
US08727680B2	Cutting drill and method for manufacturing printed wiring board A cutting drill includes a shank having a hole and formed to be gripped in a tool holder, and a drill body having a rod shape and locked into the hole of the shank. The shank has an axis around which the drill body rotates. The drill body has a cutting-edge portion forming a tip portion of the drill body and a neck portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the cutting-edge portion. The cutting-edge portion has a first cutting-edge portion and a second cutting-edge portion formed between the first cutting-edge portion and the neck portion. The first cutting-edge portion is contiguous to the second cutting-edge portion by a step portion such that the second cutting-edge portion has a diameter which is smaller than a diameter of the first cutting-edge portion.
US08727678B2	Autobalancing system for boring tool and boring tool incorporating same A boring head comprises a housing disposed about a central longitudinal axis and a movement transmission mechanism disposed at least one of on or in the housing. The housing includes a first end adapted to be coupled to a machine tool and an opposite second end having a cutting insert movably coupled thereto. The movement transmission mechanism comprises a rotatable member mounted to be rotatable relative to the housing, a balancing mass, and a main shaft disposed in the housing. The main shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis and operationally coupled to the ring, the balancing mass, and the cutting insert. Rotation of the rotatable member a predetermined amount causes movement of the cutting insert a corresponding predetermined amount in a first radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis and movement of the balancing mass a corresponding predetermined amount in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction.
US08727677B2	Boring apparatus and boring method A boring device includes a base on which a work is placed, a cutting tool inserted into the through hole of the work, a rotatingly driving device for rotating the cutting tool, and supporting jigs for supporting the cutting tool by bush surfaces. The cutting tool includes a tool body having a main flow path and second branch flow paths and cutting edges formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tool body. Recessed pockets are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the cutting tool at the respective portions opposed to the bush surfaces of the support jigs. A set screw is detachably fitted to each of the second branch flow paths. The set screw includes an orifice allowing the upstream side and the downstream side of each of the second branch flow paths to communicate with each other.
US08727673B2	Cutting insert with internal coolant delivery and surface feature for enhanced coolant flow A metalcutting insert that is useful in chipforming and material removal from a workpiece. The metalcutting insert includes a metalcutting insert body, which includes a cutting edge having at least one discrete cutting location. The metalcutting insert body further contains a distinct interior coolant passage communicating with the discrete cutting location. The distinct interior coolant passage has a coolant passage inlet defining a coolant passage inlet cross-sectional area, a coolant passage discharge defining a coolant passage discharge cross-sectional area, and an axial coolant passage length. The distinct interior coolant passage defines a coolant flow cross-sectional area along the axial coolant passage length thereof. The metalcutting insert further includes a plurality of surface features for enhancing coolant flow to the cutting edge.
US08727672B2	Method and device for conveying particulate material during the layer-wise production of patterns The present invention relates to a method for conveying particulate material during the manufacture of patterns in layers, wherein powder is conveyed out of a reservoir into a spreader unit and, if applicable, excess powder fed to the spreader unit is again conveyed back into the reservoir and wherein this conveying takes place in a closed conveying circuit.
US08727671B2	Waste conveying system A waste conveying system in which waste is collected/conveyed, e.g. by a suction system, in a waste container (10) of a regional waste space (16) or a transport container in which/from which the waste is then conveyed to further treatment. The waste space (16) and/or the waste container (10) or the transport container is arranged in a tunnel (20), such as a traffic tunnel, advantageously an underground tunnel, or in its vicinity, or there is a conveying connection from them to the tunnel (20) through which the waste is conveyed away.
US08727667B2	Vortex-induced vibration suppression device and mating collar system A system including a votex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device dimensioned to suppress a vortex induced vibration of a support structure, the VIV suppression device having a base portion that encircles at least a portion of the support structure and a support member formed along the base portion. The system further including a collar having a body portion defining an annular channel and a flange portion extending outwardly from the annular channel, the flange portion dimensioned to form a receiving channel around the support structure for receiving the support member. The support member is received within the receiving channel to secure the VIV suppression device to the support structure and the VIV suppression device is capable of rotating around the support structure along the receiving channel.
US08727662B2	Influent liquid treatment system A system for treating influent liquid includes a treatment module having an elongated member arranged in a predetermined configuration. The elongated member has a core structure wrapped in a fabric configured for the passage of the influent liquid therethrough. Filter field medium is disposed about open areas defined by the predetermined configuration of the elongated member and is configured for receiving the influent liquid from the elongated member and passing the influent liquid therethrough. A bladder containing the treatment module has an outlet for providing treated influent liquid passing through the filter medium. A distribution conduit is coupled to the bladder and has an outlet for distributing the influent liquid to the elongated member.
US08727661B2	Variable speed boat lift motor controller Systems, apparatuses, and methods for controlling a variable speed boat lift motor. The systems, apparatuses, and methods include a user interface for connection to a variable speed boat lift drive. The user interface transmits a signal to a variable speed boat lift drive that causes the variable speed boat lift drive to rise at a first speed set by a user through the user interface and lower at a second speed set by a user through the user interface.
US08727655B2	Folding chair safety lock Devices for safely locking collapsible furniture in a fixed configuration. In particular, locks for collapsible furniture which are automatically engaged and require multiple affirmative steps to unlock.
US08727654B2	Separation system with shock attenuation A system for separating a first component and a second component is provided. The system includes a first joinder flange having at least one first fastener feature for coupling the first joinder flange to the first component. A second joinder flange is provided having at least one second fastener feature for coupling the second joinder flange to the second component. A separation portion is coupled between the first joinder flange and the second joinder flange, the frangible joint having at least one groove extending along width of the separation portion. An explosive member is arranged adjacent the separation portion. Wherein the first joinder flange includes at least one integral shock attenuation feature formed therein between the explosive member and the at least one first fastener feature.
US08727652B2	Oral care system, kit and method An oral care system, such as a toothbrush having a detachable dispenser containing an oral care material. In one embodiment, the dispenser may include a housing; an internal reservoir for containing a fluid and a dispensing orifice for dispensing the fluid; a first cam surface, the first cam surface being non-rotatable with respect to the housing; a reciprocator comprising an actuator, a drive screw, and a second cam surface, the reciprocator being rotatable with respect to the housing; an elevator forming a transverse end wall of the reservoir, the elevator being non-rotatable with respect to the housing and threadily coupled to the drive screw; wherein rotation of the actuator causes the elevator to (1) axially advance, and (2) axially reciprocate.
US08727651B2	Twistable container for elevating a solid stick An elevating container includes an elliptically shaped main tube, a non-circularly shaped moveable support unit which moves upwardly or downwardly along an inner surface of a storage tube of the main tube without rotating, and a driving unit fitted to the main tube to rotate in threaded engagement to the support unit without moving upwardly or downwardly. A seal section at the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the storage tube and a sealing cylinder at the lower end of the support unit are air-tightly fitted to each other. In addition, positioning ribs are provided at the lower end of the storage tube, and positioning notches are provided at the lower end of the moveable support unit. When the positioning ribs and the positioning notches are engaged with each other, a circumferential misalignment between the main tube and the support unit is corrected.
US08727650B2	Retractable substance dispenser Disclosed is a cosmetic dispenser comprising a reservoir configured to hold a substance; an applicator selectively extendable or retractable from the dispenser; and, means for ejecting the substance in the reservoir through the applicator. Also disclosed are methods related to the use of the cosmetic dispenser.
US08727647B2	Actuator An actuator including a magnetic field generator configured to provide a magnetic field; and a conductive element mounted for movement relative to the magnetic field generator wherein the conductive element forms a series of loops around a series of different axes.
US08727640B2	Dynamic range alignment tolerant optical coupling for fiber optic communications In one exemplary embodiment, an optical coupler of a fiber optic system can include a light-source input cavity packaged in an outer casing. The cavity can receive an optical signal from a light source. An optical collimator packaged in the outer casing such that a receiving end of the optical collimator can receive the light source from the light-source input cavity. The optical collimator can include at least one beam forming stage. The optical collimator can generate a collimated beam output from the optical signal. An optical cavity can receive the collimated beam output of the optical collimator. The optical cavity can be coaxially included in a receiving optical fiber coupled with the outer casing coupled with optical cavity. The optical cavity can receive the collimated beam output of the optical collimator and input the collimated beam into the receiving optical fiber.
US08727637B2	Fiber optic interface devices for electronic devices Fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) for electronic devices (300) are disclosed. A plug-type fiber optic interface (20) has an axially moveable multi-fiber ferrule (100) that supports optical fibers (52) or a combination of optical fibers and gradient-index lenses (600). A resilient member (150) serves to provide the ferrule with forward-bias and rear-bias positions relative to a recessed front end (22) of a housing (21). A fiber optic interface assembly (570) that includes mated plug and receptacle fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) is also disclosed.
US08727636B2	Fiber optic interface device with positionable cleaning cover A fiber optic interface device (10) with a positionable cover (100) is disclosed. The device includes a ferrule (50) supported by a housing (21). The ferrule has a front section (65) with a surface (66) and is configured to support at least one optical path interface (OPI) at the front-section surface. The cover supports a cleaning member (170) and is positionable in open and closed positions. In the closed position, the cleaning member is proximate to the at least one optical path interface, and in the open position the at least one optical path interface is exposed.
US08727633B2	Bearing support assembly A bearing support assembly (10) comprising a bearing (12) supported within a bearing block (14) is provided. A shaft (26) is arranged to rotate within the bearing (12) and a disc member (34) is carried on the shaft (26) proximate to the bearing block (14). A ring member (20) is secured to the bearing block (14) so that in the event of bearing failure the disc member (34) engages with the ring member (20) so as to support the shaft (26) in rotational motion. The disc member has a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the ring member. The ring member (20) is at least partially recessed into the thickness of the disc member (34). The assembly may be utilized in agricultural machinery which include rotors (30) which are supported on rotating shafts. The ring member (20) may provide a labyrinth seal which inhibits the ingress of particulate matter into the bearing.
US08727631B2	Retainer, deep groove ball bearing, and bearing with seal A retainer provides torque reduction. The retainer is formed by two annular retaining plates each including semispherical swelling portions arranged at predetermined intervals along a circumferential direction. The semispherical swelling portions face each other and form pockets for retaining balls. Each of the pockets has ball-facing surfaces each including a ball non-contact portion, and a contact area in each of the pockets with respect to each of the balls is reduced by from 15% to 30% by the ball non-contact portion. Each of the seal members serves as a contact seal having a seal lip portion coming into contact with another of raceway, and a material of at least a distal end of the seal lip portion includes a high-abrasion material which is prone to abrasion.
US08727630B2	Self-aligning miniature ball bearings with press-fit and self-clinching capabilities A self-aligning miniature ball bearing assembly is disclosed for being pressed into an opening formed in a substrate such as a sheet, a pillar block, a mounting flange, or a shaft. In one embodiment, the assembly is self-clinching when pressed into the opening and in an alternate embodiment the assembly is press-fittable into the opening and held with a friction fit. The miniature ball bearing of the assembly is mounted within a retainer and held against an angled bearing seat by a elastomeric compression ring. This allows the axis of the ball bearing to assume any orientation within a cone having a half angle of about 5 degrees with respect to an axis of the retainer. The ball bearing is thereby self-aligning upon receiving a shaft to be rotationally mounted in the assembly.
US08727628B2	Dual mode scavenge scoop A system for removing oil from a bearing compartment has a port connected to an end wall of the compartment through which the oil exits the compartment, a scavenge scoop connected to the port for collecting the oil, and a separation device connected to the scavenge scoop for creating an oil collection region.
US08727626B2	Method and device for adjusting the bearing play in a ceramic hybrid bearing A method and a device for adapting a bearing clearance in a ceramic-hybrid bearing having rolling elements in the form of balls or rollers made from a ceramic material and an outer and an inner bearing shell made from ferromagnetic material. In order to be in a position to adapt the bearing clearance also during operation, a magnetic flux is introduced into an outer side of the stationary, non-rotating bearing shell and exits again at the opposite outer side of the bearing shell, with a magnetic field and an associated magnetic flux being generated, and that a deformation of the bearing shell in the sense of a decrease or increase in the circumference of the bearing shell is brought about due to the resulting magnetostrictive effect from a change in the magnetic flux.
US08727622B2	Sliding member To provide a sliding member which can control a relationship between dynamic friction force and static friction force, a sliding member 1 constitutes a bearing having a cylindrical shape and its internal circumferential surface is a sliding layer 2 along a shaft. The sliding member 1 is provided a surface of the sliding layer 2 with uneven surface 6. The uneven surface 6 has the line-like projections 6a, vertexes of which are arranged in gridlike fashion, in the embodiment, to prevent an oil film from being formed and to make the dynamic friction force larger and keep the rate of change in the dynamic friction force in relation to the static friction force smaller. The sliding layer is configured so that a porous layer made of alloy material is formed on a surface of a metal substrate and the resin filled into the porous layer is sintered.
US08727621B2	Easy open and reclosable package with die-cut web and reclosure mechanism An easy-open and reclosable package includes a pouch including a reclosure mechanism including a first and second interlocking strip each having an interlocking segment having a base surface and an interlocking surface; a die cut in a first panel, the die cut defining a die cut segment so arranged that when the die cut segment is displaced, and the package is opened, a product can be accessed between the first and second interlocking strips, the first and second interlocking surfaces are at least partially exposed, and the package can thereafter be reclosed by folding the package such that the interlocking surface of the first interlocking strip is interlocked with the interlocking surface of the second interlocking strip. The first and second strips are not exposed until the package is initially opened, and are not interlocked with one another until the package is initially opened and then reclosed.
US08727619B2	Radiographic image capturing system Disclosed is an radiographic image capturing system, which makes it possible to establish second β-correction data for the replacement-use radiographic image capturing apparatus, even if a console is busy. The system includes: a radiographic image capturing apparatus provided with radiation detecting elements two dimensionally arranged, to output image data representing a radiographic image; a radiation source to emit radiation; a cradle provided in an image capturing room; and a console to create a radiographic image based on the image data. When the replacement-use radiographic image capturing apparatus is inserted into the cradle, the cradle reads out first β-correction data, therefrom, and then, based on the first β-correction data, the first α-correction data and second α-correction data, the cradle calculates second β-correction data corresponding to the radiation source currently residing in the image capturing room, so as to establish the second β-correction data above-calculated for the replacement-use radiographic image capturing apparatus.
US08727615B2	Method of measuring the internal surface temperature of a pipe and associated device A method of and associated device for measuring temperature of an internal surface of a pipe, including: a) at least one temperature-sensitive element that is moved away from a probe, radially with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the pipe, so as to bring the temperature-sensitive element(s) into contact against the internal surface of the pipe, b) wherein the contact force applied between the sensitive element(s) of the probe and the internal surface is increased until the contact force reaches a defined value at any point on the surface.
US08727613B2	Method and system for measuring a parameter in a high temperature environment using an optical sensor A dual parameter sensor for sensing temperature and mechanical or chemical or related information is disclosed. The sensor is formed of an optical waveguide suitable for use in-situ in a high temperature environment having a Bragg grating written into a core region thereof with short-pulsed electromagnetic radiation. By noting the thermal Black Body radiation level above 650° C., wavelength shifts due to temperature can be decoupled from wavelength shifts due to the other parameter being sensed. Advantageously the thermal radiation can be used as an optical source to probe the Bragg grating, considerably simplifying the interrogating apparatus, removing the need for an extrinsic optical source to probe the sensor.
US08727612B2	Imaging measuring system and measuring method for measuring thermal output to a target object An imaging thermographic measuring system to measure the thermal output (Qout) at a target object, such as a building wall, building facade, or the like, comprising a measuring station provided for the arrangement distant from the object with an electric imaging device to record a thermographic thermal image, with a temperature distribution to be allocated thereto, and with a temperature sensor distant from the object to measure a temperature (Tref) distant from the object; at least one thermal transition sensor provided to be arrange close to the object, a transmission arrangement to transmit values between at least one thermal transition sensor and the measuring station, with the thermal transition sensor being embodied to predetermine the test values to determine a thermal transition coefficient (h).
US08727611B2	System and method for integrating sensors in thermostats Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant. In one embodiment, the grille member openings are slit-like openings oriented along a substantially horizontal direction.
US08727605B2	One-way mixer homogenizer, extractor, fractioner or slurry producer A single-use mixer or homogenizer is provided that includes a container provided with a lid which is provided as a compression element (29) for substances (45) in the container (1). The compression element (29) is rotatably arranged in relation to the container (1). The substances (45) are pressed and ground through the sieve (13) into the collecting chamber (27) by the rotation of the compression element (29), and can be removed by a pipette (43) which passes through both the compression element (29) and the cover on the sieve (13).
US08727604B2	Method and system for calculating and reporting slump in delivery vehicles A system for calculating and reporting slump in a delivery vehicle having a mixing drum 14 and hydraulic drive 16 for rotating the mixing drum, including a rotational sensor 20 configured to sense a rotational speed of the mixing drum, a hydraulic sensor 22 coupled to the hydraulic drive and configured to sense a hydraulic pressure required to turn the mixing drum, and a communications port 26 configured to communicate a slump calculation to a status system 28 commonly used in the concrete industry, wherein the sensing of the rotational speed of the mixing drum is used to qualify a calculation of current slump based on the hydraulic pressure required to turn the mixing drum.
US08727600B2	Backlight unit There is provided a backlight unit. The backlight unit is configured to include: a plurality of light sources; a plurality of light guide plates being arranged alternately with the light sources so that light emitted from the light sources is incident; and a chassis receiving the light sources and the light guide plates, wherein the plurality of light guide plates are disposed to be spaced apart from each other, being symmetrical to each other in order to face the central region of the chassis, a pair of light guide plates opposed to each other on the central region being connected to each other so that the light therefrom is mixed.
US08727599B2	Light guide plate and backlight module using same The present invention provides a light guide plate and a side-edge backlight module using the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a plurality of air barrier walls formed therein. The air barrier walls divide the light guide plate into a plurality of sections. With the arrangement of air barrier walls between independent sections of the light guide plate according to the present invention, by means of total reflection, light incident into each independent section is blocked from penetrating through the air gaps and is thus confined within the independent section. Thus, brightness sectioning and independent control of sectionalized brightness of the light guide plate can be realized and improved light isolation result, improved yield, being mass producible, and low cost can be achieved. The side-edge backlight module uses the light guide plate so as to realize brightness sectioning and independent control of sectionalized brightness of the backlight module.
US08727595B2	Backlight structure with reflective light source cover and manufacturing method A backlight structure includes a light guide plate, at least one light source module, and a reflective cover. The light guide plate has a light incident side and a light-exiting surface, wherein the light-exiting surface is formed at an edge of the light incident side. The light source module includes a substrate and at least one light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element disposed on the substrate emits light to the light incident side. The reflective cover has a first reflecting portion and a second reflecting portion, wherein the second reflecting portion extends from the first reflecting portion disposed between a surface of the substrate and the light incident side of the light guide plate and covers a part of the light-exiting surface, so that the reflective cover reflects light emitted from the light emitting element to the light guide plate.
US08727594B2	Display device The end surface of the light guide plate has a flat surface and a protruding surface which protrudes with respect to the flat surface. Light traveling from the light source in a direction perpendicular to the flat surface enters the light guide plate in an expanded manner due to refraction at the protruding surface. The protruding surface has a shape in which cylindrical surfaces are integrated, the respective cylindrical surfaces being formed about central axes which are orthogonal to the front surface from which the light exits. A pair of cylindrical surfaces, which is positioned at both end portions of the protruding surface in an arraying direction of the cylindrical surfaces, is each adjacent to the flat surface. Adjacent cylindrical surfaces are connected to each other at a position shifted in a protruding direction of the protruding surface with respect to the flat surface.
US08727593B2	Displays with rounded-tip turning films An electronic device may be provided with a display having backlight structures. The backlight structures may include a light source. Light from the light source may be coupled into an edge of a light guide plate. The backlight structures may include layers such as a diffuser layer and one or more layers of brightness enhancing film. The brightness enhancing film layers may be used to collimate light scattered from the light guide plate and thereby enhance backlight efficiency. Brightness enhancing films may be formed from transparent substrates such as layers of polyester. A patterned polymer layer such as a layer of patterned cured resin may be formed on the transparent substrate of a backlight enhancing film. A roller-based manufacturing process may be used to form the patterned polymer layer on the substrate. The patterned polymer layer may include a series of parallel ridges with rounded peaks.
US08727592B2	Light source module and electronic apparatus provided with same A light source module of the present invention is configured such that there is a through hole (23) in one longitudinal end portion of a light guide (21) that constitutes a light guide plate, into which through hole (23) a positioning pin (24) for positioning an LED light source (12) and the light guide (21) fits. Further, a guide (9) is provided to the other end portion of the light guide (21), which guide (9) restrains the light guide (21) in a direction of a short side but does not restrain the light guide (21) in a direction of a long side. This makes it possible to provide a light source module that can reduce warping and cracking caused by expansion of a light guide, and an electronic apparatus including the light source module.
US08727589B2	Vehicular lamp, vehicular component part for use in the same, and method of producing the vehicular component A vehicular lamp includes a vehicular component part that is molded by charging molten resin into a cavity defined by a first die that has a mirror surface-molding portion and a semi-gloss surface-molding portion and a second die that is movable relative to the first die and cooling the molten resin. The vehicular component part includes a mirror surface-formed portion having a mirror surface that is formed by the mirror surface-molding portion and a semi-gloss surface-formed portion having a semi-gloss surface that is formed by the semi-gloss surface-molding portion. A step surface is provided between the mirror surface and the semi-gloss surface of the vehicular component part. The semi-gloss surface-formed portion is protruded on a first die side relative to the mirror surface-formed portion.
US08727584B2	LED bulb structure A LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb structure includes a base, a plurality of fins and a shell. One end of the base is electrically connected to a power source, and the other end of the base is used for holding a LED light source. The fins are disposed on a surface of the base. The shell encloses the fins, and the shell includes a plurality of first heat-dissipation holes and a plurality of second heat-dissipation holes. The first heat-dissipation holes are arranged around the shell and corresponding to the fins for allowing airflow entering the first heat-dissipation holes to directly pass through each of the fins corresponding to each of the first heat-dissipation holes. The second heat-dissipation holes are arranged around the shell and disposed above the first heat-dissipation holes for enabling the first heat-dissipation holes and the second heat-dissipation holes to conduct thermal convection.
US08727580B2	Illuminating device An illuminating device has a light source that includes a plurality of light emitting devices and a phosphor; and a lens sheet that stays on an optical axis of the light source, the lens sheet having a plurality of prisms that is symmetrically arranged with respect to the optical axis of the light source. The plurality of prisms is configured at least on a surface of the lens sheet in which to face the light source, and a plurality of light scattering elements is configured at least on a surface of the lens sheet in which not to face the light source.
US08727576B1	Light assembly for flashlights A nonimaging light assembly for flashlights, including a light source and a lens symmetrical about an optical axis for receiving light from the light source and producing therefrom a light beam having concentrated and divergent components resulting in a high intensity core beam surrounded by a smoothly transitioning lower intensity surround beam. In a preferred embodiment utilizing a light emitting diode as the light source, the combined light beam produced by the light assembly has a substantially circular cross section.
US08727574B2	LED light module with light pipe and reflectors An economical LED light module configured to emit a uniform pattern of light from a single LED utilizing a minimal amount of energy and exhibiting a long and useful life is provided. The LED light module includes a main hyperbolic reflector and a plug receptacle having an electrical connector configured for electrical communication with a power source. A LED is mounted in electrical communication with the electrical connector. An elongate light pipe extends between a light receiving end configured to receive light emitted from the LED and a light emitting end. The light emitting end has a parabolic reflector positioned concentrically about a focal point of the hyperbolic reflector.
US08727566B1	Assembly and method for retrofitting LED lights into a fluorescent bulb ceiling fixture A system and method of converting a light fixture from a fluorescent light fixture to an LED light fixture. Originally, the fluorescent light fixture has a sheet metal troffer, a fluorescent light power supply, and receptacles for retaining fluorescent tube lights. The conversion is accomplished in the following manner. A circuit board assembly is provided that has a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon. An LED power supply is also provided, as is thermally conductive adhesive. The fluorescent light power supply is removed from the light fixture and the LED power supply is installed in its place. The circuit board assembly is directly mounted to the sheet metal troffer with thermally conductive adhesive. The circuit board assembly is then connected to the LED power supply and the light fixture is ready for use.
US08727563B2	Luminescent device for the conversion of pump light A luminescent device is disclosed comprising a luminescent substance for the conversion of pump light, wherein a scattering body which scatters the pump light is provided. The pump light input into the scattering body may first be scattered at inert scatterers provided in the scattering body and subsequently converted. Light scattered at luminescent particles may also be simultaneously converted.
US08727560B2	Wind-powered light-emitting diode lamp A wind-powered lamp includes lower and upper covers confining a space and having inlet and outlet holes, a reflective casing disposed in the space to extend outward from the inlet hole in the lower cover, a lamp plate affixed to the reflective casing, a fixing frame, a power generating motor, a rotor and a storage battery. The upper and lower covers respectively have an open end defining inlet and out holes, an inner sidewall extending inwardly from the open end. The motor fixing frame has engaging ribs engaging with slots formed on inner side wall to affix the motor fixing frame. The power generating motor is affixed within the fixing frame such that a motor shaft passes through a shaft hole in the fixing frame to connect with the rotor. The power generating motor, the storage battery and the lamp plate are serially and electrically connected to one another.
US08727558B2	Medical headlamp for tracking eye locations Provided is a medical headlamp including a main body put on a head, a driving unit installed and connected to one side of the main body and to provide a driving force, a location adjustment unit installed and connected to one side of the driving unit, a lamp unit installed and connected to one side of the location adjustment unit to move along with a movement of the location adjustment unit, and irradiate light onto one side of a front end thereof, a capturing unit installed and connected to one side of the main body and to capture eye locations, a control unit installed and connected to the driving unit and the capturing unit to analyze an image captured by the capturing unit, calculate the eye locations, and operate the driving unit according to the calculated eye calculation, and a power supply unit installed and connected to the control unit, the driving unit, and the lamp unit and to apply a current thereto.
US08727552B2	Spotlight with diffuser The invention relates to an illumination device, in particular in the form of a luminous emitter (14) for TV recordings, stages, etc. The luminous emitter (14) comprises a light source (29) and a plate-type element (25) arranged in the beam path of the light source (29). The plate-type element (25) comprises two transparent plates (26) with a layer of liquid crystals (22) arranged in between. The liquid crystals (22) are disordered in a first state. The liquid crystals (22) are aligned with one another in a second state. An electrical voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer in order to change between the states. The invention enables a rapid change between direct illumination and diffuse illumination.
US08727550B2	Hybrid electroluminescent assembly A hybrid electroluminescent assembly is described wherein the assembly includes one or more electroluminescent structures and a plurality of discontinuous retroreflective segments. Discontinuous retroreflective segments are disposed at least partially in the light path of the one or more electroluminescent structures.
US08727547B2	Variable reflectance mirror reflective element for exterior mirror assembly An exterior mirror reflective element includes front and rear substrates and a mirror reflector having a stack of thin films. No part of the rear substrate extends beyond any part of the front substrate. A perimeter layer is disposed at a second surface of the front substrate proximate a perimeter edge of the front substrate. Light that reflects off of the mirror reflector and passes through the electrochromic medium and the front substrate exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic to a person viewing the reflective element when no voltage is applied to the electrochromic medium. The substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic is established by the refractive index and physical thickness of the individual thin films of the stack of thin films. At least a portion of the mirror reflector extends out under the seal towards a perimeter edge of the rear substrate.
US08727545B2	Method for controlling retroreflectivity by application of opaque and transmissive agents to a retroreflective film and sheeting produced thereby A retroreflective sheet, which may be a beaded retroreflective sheet or a prismatic retroreflective sheet, is comprised of a substrate having a first and second surfaces with a plurality of retroreflective elements disposed on the second surface of the substrate to form the retroreflective sheet having an initial performance standard and a printed pattern disposed on the second surface, the pattern provided in an amount ranging from 30% to about 100% of an area of the second surface to change a performance level of the retroreflective sheet from the initial performance standard to a selected performance standard. A method for producing the retroreflective sheeting and a system for controlling the retroreflectivity of the retroreflective sheeting by altering a surface of the retroreflective sheeting is provided.
US08727540B2	Image projecting device having a toppling detecting part An image projecting device for projecting an image on a screen is provided. The image projecting device includes a toppling detecting part that detects a toppling of the image projecting device; a toppling direction detecting part that detects a direction in which the image projecting device topples; and a controlling part that controls the image projecting device such that the image projecting device continues to project the image if the toppling detecting part detects the toppling of the image projecting device and the toppling direction detected by the toppling direction detecting part is directed toward the screen, while the image projecting device stops projecting the image if the toppling direction detected by the toppling direction detecting part is directed away from the screen.
US08727537B2	Image projection apparatus and color separation/combination optical system An image projection apparatus guides light from a light source to a first and a second image modulation elements and projects light modulated by the first and second image modulation elements towards an image plane. A first color separation element reflects first linearly polarized light of a first color light so as to guide the first linearly polarized light to the first image modulation element side, transmits second linearly polarized light of the first color light so as to guide the second linearly polarized light to the second image modulation element side, and reflects or transmits both of the first and second linearly polarized light of a second color light so as to guide both of the first and second linearly polarized light of the second color light to the second image modulation element side.
US08727536B2	Polarization conversion system and method for projecting polarization encoded imagery A polarization conversion system separates light from an unpolarized image source into a first state of polarization (SOP) and an orthogonal second SOP, and directs the polarized light on first and second light paths. The SOP of light on only one of the light paths is transformed to an orthogonal state such that both light paths have the same SOP. A polarization modulator temporally modulates the light on the first and second light paths to first and second output states of polarization. First and second projection lenses direct light on the first and second light paths toward a projection screen to form substantially overlapping polarization encoded images. The polarization modulator may be located before or after the projection lenses. The polarization-encoded images may be viewed using eyewear with appropriate polarization filters.
US08727530B2	Image forming apparatus with cover An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a flexible cover member, and a support member. The main body has a bottom face opposing a surface on which the image forming apparatus rests. The cover member is at least partially flexible, has a bottom opening, and is dimensioned to entirely cover the image forming apparatus except for the bottom face of the image forming apparatus. The support member is pivotably supported on the main body. The support member has base end portions supported on the main body and a front end portion to support a portion of the cover member. With a pivotal movement of the support member, the cover member displaces and deforms and an end of the bottom opening of the cover member moves upward to expose a portion of the image forming apparatus to be accessed by a user operating the image forming apparatus.
US08727525B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus includes: an image formation unit which deposits aqueous ink onto a recording surface of a recording sheet to form an image on the recording surface; a drying unit which dries the recording surface on which the image has been formed, the drying unit including a double-side heat application device which performs drying of the recording surface by applying heat to both the recording surface and a rear surface of the recording sheet opposite to the recording surface; and a drying control unit which controls a first intensity of heat applied to the recording surface and a second intensity of heat applied to the rear surface independently from each other, in accordance with a thickness of the recording sheet.
US08727522B2	Ultraviolet crosslinking ink and inkjet recording method An ultraviolet crosslinking ink including a radically polymerizable and anionically polymerizable monomer; a photoradical generator; and a photo-base generator. An inkjet recording method including ejecting an ultraviolet crosslinking ink including a radically polymerizable and anionically polymerizable monomer; a photoradical generator; a photo-base generator; and a colorant, toward a surface of a recording material to form an ink image, and irradiating the ink image with ultraviolet light using a light emitting diode.
US08727521B2	Inkjet image forming method There is disclosed an inkjet image forming method. The method includes recording an image on a recording medium by an inkjet method; supplying a liquid including powder particles having a volume-average particle diameter of 1 μm or more to a surface of a heating roller; and applying the powder particles onto the recording medium via the heating roller.
US08727520B2	Liquid ejecting method and liquid ejecting apparatus After one ink of a white ink or a silver ink is ejected in a predetermined position of a recording medium such as a piece of recording paper to form a base layer, the other ink thereof is ejected on the base layer to form an intermediate layer, and a clear ink is ejected on the intermediate layer to form an epidermal layer.
US08727514B2	Liquid injecting apparatus Provided is a liquid injecting apparatus equipped with a liquid injecting head, which is mounted on a carriage and moved reciprocally in a widthwise direction of a target, and a valve unit, which is mounted on the carriage to be supplied with liquid via a supply passage from a liquid retainer and to supply liquid to the liquid injecting head. The valve unit has a pressure chamber connected to the liquid retainer via the supply passage; a valve, which opens or closes the supply passage to supply liquid to the pressure chamber; and a flexible film member, which is displaced based on a negative pressure generated as liquid in the pressure chamber decreases to thereby operate the valve.
US08727511B2	Printhead coupling for fluid distribution A coupling for distributing fluid to a printhead, the coupling having a housing, a port plate movably mounted on the housing by a shaft, the port plate having a plurality of ports for receiving respective fluid spouts of the printhead, a seal member mounted on the housing between the housing and the port plate, the seal member having a plurality of seals which align with respective ones of the ports of the port plate and a compression spring mounted on the shaft by a washer so as to be compressed between the washer and the port plate.
US08727510B2	Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus A liquid ejection head includes a substrate in which a pressure generating chamber that communicates with a nozzle opening is formed; and a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode that is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer on a side of the substrate so as to correspond to the pressure generating chamber, and a second electrode that is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite to the side on which the first electrode is formed so as to extend over a plurality of the pressure generating chambers, wherein the second electrode is formed to extend to an outside of the pressure generating chamber in a longitudinal direction of the pressure generating chamber.
US08727504B2	Microfluidic jetting device with piezoelectric actuator and method for making the same Disclosed herein is a microfluidic jetting device having a piezoelectric member positioned above a displaceable membrane. A voltage is applied across the piezoelectric member causing deformation of the piezoelectric member. The deformation of the piezoelectric member results in a displacement of the membrane, which is formed above a cavity. Displacement of the membrane creates pressure to jet or eject liquid from the cavity and suction liquid into the cavity through ports or apertures formed in the in membrane.
US08727503B2	Liquid jet recording head and manufacturing method thereof A primary flow path forming member is provided with a groove which becomes a recording liquid supply path on a bottom surface thereof. A second flow path forming member is provided with an arm portion. The arm portion of the second flow path forming member is used as a cap for closing the opening of the groove which becomes the liquid supply path formed on the bottom surface of the prime flow path forming member. The primary flow path forming member and the second flow path forming member as described above are formed by injection-molding and bonded with each other by a bonding member. The bonding member is formed to cover a portion where the opening edge of the groove which becomes the recording liquid supply path, in the primary flow path forming member abuts on the arm portion of the second flow path forming member.
US08727502B2	Inkjet print head with flow-path micro-pattern and manufacturing method thereof An inkjet print head configured to smoothly discharge high viscosity ink includes a nozzle part configured to discharge ink, a supply flow path part configured to define a flow path to supply ink to be discharged from the nozzle part, and a micro pattern part formed at least one portion of the supply flow path part that is configured to reduce of a flow resistance of the ink flowing through the supply flow path part.
US08727501B2	Membrane MEMS actuator with moving working fluid A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. A liquid supply channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A liquid return channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A heater is associated with the second liquid chamber. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber relative to each other. A liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply.
US08727498B2	Drive circuit for inkjet recording head, and inkjet recording device A drive circuit for an inkjet recording head includes a plurality of electrically capacitive actuator elements, a drive signal source, a plurality of switching elements, and a plurality of resistances. The actuator elements are provided for a plurality of nozzles, and drive the nozzles to eject ink therefrom. The drive signal source outputs a drive signal for driving the actuator elements. The switching elements are connected to the respective actuator elements to separately drive the actuator elements, and selectively apply the output drive signal to the actuator elements. The resistances are provided for the respective actuator elements, and are connected to low potential sides of the actuator elements. Each of the resistances has a resistance value adjusted in accordance with the length of a wire between the corresponding one of the actuator elements and the drive signal source.
US08727497B2	Piezoelectric actuator, liquid-jetting apparatus, and method for producing piezoelectric actuator A piezoelectric actuator is provided, including a piezoelectric layer arranged on one surface of a base member; a plurality of driving electrodes arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric layer; a plurality of leading electrodes led from the driving electrodes to apply a voltage to the driving electrodes; and a low dielectric layer arranged between the piezoelectric layer and the leading electrode, and having a dielectric constant lower than that of the piezoelectric layer. Surroundings of driving areas of the piezoelectric layer including areas facing the plurality of driving electrodes are joined to the base member. The plurality of leading electrodes extend to outside of the driving areas, respectively, some of the plurality of leading electrodes being led in a predetermined first direction, and others of the plurality of leading electrodes being led in a second direction different from the first direction.
US08727496B2	Printing A method of printing includes firing a first group of one or more printheads at a moving medium at a first firing angle to the medium and firing a second group of one or more printheads at the moving medium at a second, different, firing angle to the medium.
US08727495B2	Liquid droplet discharge apparatus, piezoelectric actuator, and method for producing liquid droplet discharge apparatus A liquid droplet discharge apparatus, which discharges liquid droplets of a liquid, includes: a flow passage unit which is formed with a plurality of nozzles for discharging the liquid droplets of the liquid and a plurality of liquid flow passages including a plurality of pressure chambers communicated with the plurality of nozzles respectively; an actuator which has a sealing plate joined to the flow passage unit for defining the plurality of pressure chambers and which applies a pressure to the liquid contained in each of the plurality of pressure chambers by changing a volume of each of the plurality of pressure chambers by deforming the sealing plate; and a deformation adjusting member which adjusts a deformation amount of the sealing plate.
US08727487B2	Image recording apparatus When a jam detector detects jamming, forced discharging from a head and wiping of an ejection surface are performed after a recording medium jammed is removed from a conveyor. When the count on a jam counter matches with any of one or more thresholds, at least the number of times the wiping is executed after the jammed recording medium is removed from the conveyor is greater than that executed when the count on the jam counter does not match with any of one or more thresholds.
US08727486B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an ejecting head including a nozzle from which an ink is ejected; a wiper member configured to wipe ink from a surface of the nozzle of the ejecting head; a wiper cleaning portion configured to remove an ink attached to the wiper member when the wiper member is pressed against the wiper cleaning portion, a scraping member actuated in a longitudinal direction of the wiper cleaning portion reciprocatively, and configured to scrape ink attached to the wiper cleaning portion; and a cleaning member configured to remove ink accumulated on the top portion of the scraping member.
US08727483B2	Liquid ejection apparatus A liquid ejection apparatus includes a cap, an opposing member opposing an ejection surface of a liquid ejection head which is elongated in one direction, and a cap moving mechanism arranged to move the cap. The cap includes a lip component, a diaphragm, and a holder having a lower linear expansion coefficient and higher rigidity than the lip component. On the elongated portions of the lip component, either first hooks or first receiving portions hooked on the first hooks are formed, whereas the other first hooks or first receiving portions are formed at parts of the holder which parts oppose the elongated portions. The lip component is connected with the holder such that the first hooks hook the first receiving portions in a direction orthogonal to the ejection surface. In the one direction, gaps are formed between the first hooks and the first receiving portions.
US08727481B2	Printhead module A printhead module includes a substrate and a head mount. The substrate includes a bottom surface having a plurality of nozzles formed therein and a top surface on a side of the substrate opposite the bottom surface. The substrate includes a plurality of actuators. Each actuator of the plurality of actuators is configured to cause a fluid to be ejected from a nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. The head mount is secured to the substrate and extends over the top surface of the substrate. The head mount includes a first side surface extending upwardly from the bottom surface and a groove formed in the first side surface. The groove is sized and shaped to cause fluid on the first side surface to be drawn by capillary action into the groove.
US08727478B2	Ink loader having optical sensors to identify solid ink sticks An ink loader enables identification of features on a solid ink stick placed on an ink stick support in the ink loader. The ink loader includes two optical sources configured to emit diffuse light toward different surfaces of the solid ink stick. Two corresponding sets of optical sensors are positioned to receive light reflected from identifying features, if present, on the solid ink stick. A controller receives signals generated by the two sets of optical sensors and identifies the ink stick with reference to the signals from the sensors.
US08727475B2	Control of velocity through a nozzle A method is described wherein one or more parameters are measured that affect the nozzle velocity at which a printing fluid is ejected from a pumping chamber through a nozzle. The printing fluid is contained in the pumping chamber actuated by deflection of a piezoelectric layer. A surface area of an electrode actuating the piezoelectric layer is reduced based at least in part on the measured one or more parameters. Reducing the surface area of the electrode reduces the actuated area of the piezoelectric layer.
US08727472B2	Image recording apparatus With an ink jet head in which color nozzles are aligned with an interval of three times an interval of black nozzles at the right side in a scanning direction of the black nozzles, when an image is recorded by ejecting black ink and color ink superposed on each other, a first unit recording operation is repeatedly executed, in which scanning by ejecting ink from at least one of the black nozzles and color nozzles is repeated three times while moving a carriage in the scanning direction, and a recording sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount every time scanning is completed. In the first unit recording operation, the carriage is moved to the left side while ink is ejected from both the black nozzles and color nozzles at the first scanning. Moreover, in each of the second and third scanning operations, ink is ejected only from the color nozzles.
US08727464B2	Multi-function peripheral A multi-function peripheral includes: a recording unit having a carriage for recording which supports and moves a recording head for performing recording on a recording medium; and an image reading unit having a carriage for reading which supports and moves a reading sensor for reading an image and a driving source which is mounted in the carriage for reading in order to move the carriage for reading. The carriage for reading moves above the carriage for recording, and the driving source of the image reading unit is disposed to overlap with the carriage for recording in an up and down direction at a position deviating from a movement area of the carriage for recording.
US08727462B2	Marking head and marking device An inner peripheral surface of a tube-shaped inner casing has a regular hexagonal shape when viewed from the axial direction, a plurality of pins are arranged in the inner casing so as to take a posture parallel to the axial direction of the inner casing, and in this arrangement, a plurality of rows of the pins arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the row direction of the pins, the adjacent pins of the adjacent rows are offset from each other in the row direction of the pins, and each pin contacts the pins adjacent thereto.
US08727459B2	Multiple-door switchgear cabinet A multiple-door switchgear cabinet includes a cabinet housing containing electrical equipment and being connectable to a power source. Doors attached to the cabinet housing provide access to the electrical equipment and include a first door and secondary doors. The first door, when closed, provides for electrical continuity through a main electrical power switch, and removes electrical continuity when open. A mechanical interlock controls the order in which the doors are closed. The mechanical interlock is mounted to the cabinet and is in contact with the doors when they are closed, the interlock being biased by a biasing device to bear against the first door when any of the other doors is opened. A locking bar is movably attached to the first door, and releasably attached to the secondary door. wherein attachment to the secondary door prevents both doors from inadvertent opening.
US08727458B2	High density telecommunications mounting drawer A drawer for mounting telecommunications equipment to a rack is disclosed. The drawer includes a lower platform and an upper platform for supporting the telecommunications equipment. The upper platform is pivotably coupled to the lower platform. The drawer further includes a mounting structure for mounting the drawer to the rack, wherein the mounting structure includes telescoping portions that allow the drawer to be slid away from and toward the rack.
US08727455B2	Brake control apparatus A brake control apparatus for a vehicle having a regenerative braking system, has first to fourth brake circuits, a pump, a gate-out valve, an inflow valve, an outflow valve, a reservoir, a fluid suction cylinder, a branch oil passage, a switch valve, a regulation valve, and a hydraulic pressure control unit. The hydraulic pressure control unit controls a brake fluid pressure by operating the gate-out valve, the inflow valve, the outflow valve, the switch valve and the pump in accordance with a regenerative operation state of the regenerative braking system. Also the hydraulic pressure control unit stores the brake fluid flowing out from a master cylinder in the fluid suction cylinder by operating the pump when the regenerative braking system works, and supplies the brake fluid stored in the fluid suction cylinder to a wheel cylinder when a regenerative braking amount of the regenerative braking system lowers.
US08727454B2	Method and system to increase electric brake clamping force accuracy The method and system for increasing accuracy of clamping force of electric aircraft carbon brakes, once braking has been commenced, provides a first pair of electric brake actuators with a range of low brake clamping force responsive to low brake clamping force commands, and a second pair of electric brake actuators with a range of high brake clamping force responsive to high brake clamping force commands. The first pair of electric brake actuators is actuated to apply a minimum residual braking force once wheel braking is commenced, and the second pair of electric brake actuators is actuated only when the commanded braking force is in the high range of brake clamping force.
US08727452B2	Tractor wheels Improved variable color wheel covers for tractor wheels are provided.
US08727451B2	Rotatable grading pick with debris clearing feature A rotatable grading pick has a head portion, a shank portion extending rearwardly from the head portion, and a polygonal portion on the rotatable grading pick. At least a portion of the outer perimeter of the polygonal portion can be engaged by a tool so that the polygonal portion can be rotated, and the shank portion can be rotated to clear debris between the shank portion and a retainer placed around a part of the shank portion.
US08727450B2	Mining machine with driven disc cutters A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight.
US08727449B2	Vehicular trim applications using film adhesive in lieu of stitching A trim covering for a seat assembly of a vehicle, the trim cover having an inner and outer surface and a bonding tape applied to at least one of the inner or outer surfaces. The bonding tape is used to bond portions of the trim cover together, provide additional structural integrated to the trim cover and provide improved craftsmanship in closing-out certain areas of the trim cover. A method of performing a trim cover assembly for use in a seat assembly of a vehicle. The method includes applying heat and pressure over a predetermined time period to bonding tape arranged at a joint between at least two trim components, placing such bonding tape and trim components in a mold, and applying heat and pressure over a predetermined time period to such trim components having the bonding tape arranged at a joint, to form a one-piece trim assembly.
US08727444B2	Infant carrier apparatus having a backrest and its adjusting method An infant carrier apparatus comprises a support frame including a seat assembly that has a longitudinal axis extending from a front end to a rear end thereof, and a backrest assembly including a backrest frame and at least a holder socket, the backrest frame being mounted with the support frame via the holder socket, and the holder socket being adjustable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position. In other embodiments, a method of adjusting the backrest assembly of the infant carrier apparatus is also described.
US08727442B2	In-line recliner return mechanism A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back operatively coupled to a seat cushion for pivotal movement between an upright seating position, a folded position disposed forwardly of the upright seating position, and a spring engagement/disengagement position between the upright seating position and the folded position. A recliner return mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back during pivotal movement of the seat back between the upright seating position and the spring engagement/disengagement position such that the recliner return mechanism biases the seat back forwardly toward the spring engagement/disengagement position. The recliner return mechanism is operatively decoupled from the seat back during pivotal movement of the seat back between the spring engagement/disengagement position and the folded position such that the seat back pivots freely between the spring engagement/disengagement position and the folded position.
US08727441B1	Aircraft seat A aircraft seat having a seat tracking mechanism constructed of interlocking boxes, a seat suspension system having webbed netting, a retractable armrest, a movable headrest and a movable leg rest. The headrest has wings which extend outward from the side of the headrest to increase the size of the headrest.
US08727439B2	Integrated single, multiple and rolling car seat systems Apparatus is provided for integrated, single and multiple person vehicle car seats, modular car seat systems, dual person car seats, variable base height and width car seats, car seat-inserts inserted into another car seat, foldable, for use in a land, sea or air vehicle, mounted onto the vehicle's built-in seat and used for securing a car seat user within a vehicle's regular seating positions. Car seat systems include components enabling addition or removal of seating positions for a desired number of car seat users as needed, limited only by available width and height space of the vehicle seat onto which it is mounted.
US08727435B2	Tray apparatus and methods of making and using same A tray apparatus includes a bib portion and a tray portion. The bib portion is sized and dimensioned to be positioned about an individual. The tray portion substantially surrounding the bib portion so as to provide a surface for providing a sanitary barrier. The tray apparatus further includes a loop member connected to the tray portion for keeping the tray portion taut or for collapsing the tray apparatus.
US08727429B2	Front portion structure of vehicle body With a structure for a front portion of a vehicle body, a front side frame has a front side frame main unit of which a cross-sectional shape is generally hat-shaped and of which an opening faces the outer direction where a front wheel is placed, a back plate forming a closed cross-section with the inner face of the front side frame main unit being layered with and joined with a flange facing toward the outer direction, and a tire clearance portion formed in a curved shape to correspond to steering range of the front wheels. A sidewall is formed into a sidewall straight portion in an approximately straight line from the tip of the front side frame to the middle including the tire clearance portion. The flange has a flange straight portion formed to the tire clearance portion, approximately parallel with the sidewall straight portion of the sidewall.
US08727425B1	Aerodynamic trucking systems A system of aerodynamic skirt fairings designed to minimize aerodynamic drag and maintain smoother air flow over highway-operated long-haul tractor-trailer vehicles.
US08727422B2	Back door for automobile The present invention provides a back door for an automobile including an inner panel and an outer panel made of resin. A pair of reinforcement metal plates is disposed on an inner wall of the inner panel at end portions in a left-to-right direction of a space formed between the inner panel and the outer panel integrated together. The reinforcement metal plates each include a damper attachment portion to which a damper-connecting member connected to a damper is attached, and a hinge attachment portion to which a hinge extending toward a car body is fixed.
US08727421B2	Door beam assembly with roll formed beam A door beam assembly for a passenger vehicle comprises a roll formed longitudinally-swept tubular beam having a constant cross section defining a generally-orthogonal shape, with the outside wall having an integral channel rib formed into the wall to stiffen the wall. C-shaped mounting brackets are attached to beam ends, with opposing walls welded to and supporting walls of the beam, and with a transverse wall spaced from the adjacent wall of the beam. In one aspect, right and left door beam assemblies includes identical beams, front and rear mounting brackets attached to each end, and identical center brackets.
US08727416B2	Vehicle body rear portion structure A battery 4 and a toolbox storage portion 5 are provided in a laterally arranged state on a reverse side of a seatback 2 of a vehicle, a toolbox 9 stored in the toolbox storage portion 5 is exposed when the seatback 2 is tilted forward, and an emergency stop switch 10 of the battery 4 is exposed so as to be operable when the toolbox 9 is removed from the above toolbox storage portion 5.
US08727413B2	Storage compartment The present invention relates to a storage compartment for a vehicle interior, comprising a cover (2) that can be pivoted between a completely closed and a maximally opened position, and a base (3) that is hidden below in case of the cover (2) being closed, wherein the cover (2) may be locked between the completely closed and the maximally opened position at any desired intermediate position, at least within a partial region of a movement tolerance, for holding an object (6) between the base (3) and the cover (2).
US08727412B2	Exterior rear view mirror for a motor vehicle To avoid wind noises and to reduce soiling of mirror glass during travel in the rain, the exterior rear view mirror for a motor vehicle has a droplet channel in a first circumferential region of the mirror housing that includes the housing top and a separation edge in a second circumferential region on the housing bottom. The droplet channel and the separation edge overlap in a lateral region. Rain droplets that strike the mirror housing during travel flow both on the bottom housing side and on the top housing side toward the rear edge of the housing. Water droplets flowing on the bottom are collected by the separation edge and are blown away by the air flow which is directed down at the separation edge. On the housing top side, the droplets are collected by the droplet channel and conducted away laterally toward the housing bottom.
US08727408B1	Tongs including tapered fingers Tongs are provided having a base and two elongate, resilient fingers supported by and cantilevered from the base. At least one and preferably both of the fingers includes a tapered section having a taper increasing in thickness from a proximal location at or near the base to a distal location at or near the distal end. The tapered fingers are more flexible at proximal lengthwise portions near the base and more durable at distal lengthwise portions near the distal ends. The distal gripping faces of the fingers can flatten out, to conform to the shape of the object, and spread out the force on the object, allowing the object to be grasped both firmly and gently.
US08727407B2	Apparatus and method for holding a cookie An apparatus and method for holding a cookie includes a handle and a holder configured to hold a cookie to be dipped in a beverage. The holder includes a pair of retainer panels and a generally C-shaped clip. The C-shaped clip separates the pair of retainer panels and is adapted to hold the cookie between the panels. The handle is gripped and the cookie inserted into the holder such that the C-shaped clip resiliently bends around at least a portion of the cookie. The cookie is held by the holder and may be dipped into a beverage, such as milk.
US08727404B2	System and device for maintaining a door in an open position and/or preventing a door from locking A device for preventing a door with an automatic locking mechanism from locking and for propping a door in an open position is provided. The device includes a bar with a first surface and an opposing second surface. One or more magnets are connected to the first surface by glue. A foam layer is also connected to the first surface.
US08727398B2	Motor vehicle lock The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock having the locking elements of a lock catch and a pawl and having a lock mechanism, with it being possible for the lock mechanism to be moved into different functional states such as “unlocked”, “locked”, “anti-theft locked” or “child-safety locked” and with the lock mechanism having for this purpose at least one functional element which can be adjusted into corresponding functional positions. It is proposed that at least one functional element is designed as a resiliently elastically bendable wire or strip, and can thereby be bent in a resiliently elastic manner, as a bendable functional element, into different functional positions.
US08727397B1	Vehicle occupant reminder systems An occupant reminder system to remind at least one occupant of a vehicle, prior to leaving such vehicle, that there is at least one other occupant in the vehicle (such as a child or pet). Upon initial setting and occupancy of a vehicle, the reminder system temporarily prevents the door of the responsible occupant from latching shut to assist reminding the responsible occupant of such at least one other occupant.
US08727395B2	Latch mechanisms for slidable windows Latch mechanisms for a slidable window generally disposed about the center of mass of a window pane on an edge perpendicular to its travel path to provide a straight line-pull using minimal mechanical effort and to provide a plurality of latch points to selectively secure a window pane in place along its travel path. Preferred embodiment provides a latch assembly for a window having first and second parallel edges slidably disposed between parallel first and second guiderails of a frame and can have a housing attached to a third window edge perpendicular to the first and second parallel sides, a latch handle connected to a drive gear engaged to a locking element slidably disposed within a channel of a housing in response to rotation of the drive gear about a pivot; the locking element movable from a biased extended position to a retracted position in response to rotation of the drive gear by a force sufficient to overcome the bias; and the first guiderail having a plurality of recesses spaced along the window travel path to receive the first end of the locking element in the operational position.
US08727392B2	Convertible motorized latch Disclosed is a convertible motorized latch that may be configured in either of a slam latch or a dead bolt latch configuration, just by desired selection and replacement of a minimal number of components, and which may be used on new (oem) equipment or in retrofit applications. In either preferred configuration, an electric motor contained within the latch housing operates to open or unlock the latch. Latch closure may be provided by spring actuation in a slam configuration or by further motor operation in a dead bolt configuration. Either present configuration may make use of an electrical feedback switch for signaling latch retraction while the dead bolt configuration may also include a second electrical feedback switch for signaling latch extension. A gear train may be incorporated within the latch housing to provide reduced speed and increased torque from the electric motor.
US08727390B2	Side-driven action pin latch A pin latch including a mounting block having a longitudinal axis, a pin slidably retained within the mounting block and having a pivot-pin, and a sliding plate slidably retained within the mounting block, the plate having a slot and a longitudinal axis extending from first and second ends thereof and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mounting block. The pivot-pin engages the slot of the plate such that movement of the sliding plate along its longitudinal axis induces movement of the pin in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the mounting block. A plurality of pin latches are connected in series by links in a side-by-side fashion or around corners. One link emanating from an actuator is connected to one of the plates that the actuator can actuate the pins of all the pin latches simultaneously.
US08727389B2	Gas appliance A coupling for attaching a fuel canister to an appliance such as a torch comprises a first connector on the canister. The first connector comprises a first set of screw threads where the first set of screw threads are interrupted to define a shape. A second connector on the appliance comprises a locking element. The locking element has a matching shape that matches the shape such that the locking element closely receives the first connector when the first connector is in a first orientation relative to the second connector.
US08727384B2	Quick connect coupler with differential locking A coupler for coupling a first fluid delivery device to a second fluid delivery device includes a base adapted for mounting at one of the opening of first fluid delivery device, a locking member coupled to the base about the base's longitudinal axis, with the locking member being movable along the base along the base's longitudinal axis between a locking position and an unlocking position. A connector member having a body adapted for releasably mounting at one of the openings of the second fluid delivery device is releasably engageable with the locking member and with the base wherein the fluid flow passageways of the base and the connector member are in fluidic communication. Further, the locking member is biased toward the connector member to thereby engage the connector member with a first force when fluid is flowing through the coupler and with a second lower force when fluid is not flowing through the coupler wherein when no fluid is flowing through the coupler, the connector member may be disconnected from the locking member by simply overcoming the second lower biasing force.
US08727378B2	Air bag and air bag device In an air bag main body which inflates step by step in a first stage and a second stage by bonding its peripheral edge portion and bonding its inner side than the peripheral edge portion, a connecting member bridging between a lid member opening and closing a vent hole and a coupling member can be always set to a tension state by arranging an adjusting portion in the coupling member which defining a maximum facing distance between a front panel and a rear panel in the tension state in each of the first stage and the second stage, and whereby a closed state of the vent hole can be maintained.
US08727375B2	Side air bag device, occupant protection device and occupant protection method There are provided a side air bag device, an occupant protection device and an occupant protection method. The side air bag device that expands a side air bag member and a curtain air bag member between a side door and a passenger in a widthwise direction of a vehicle so as to protect the passenger from a shock caused by a side impact on the side door. The side air bag member is expanded such that a first chamber of the side air bag member directs toward a compartment in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.
US08727371B2	Airbag apparatus of vehicle An airbag apparatus includes a fixing bracket fixed to an upper portion of the side wall of a vehicle. The fixing bracket has an inflator support portion that supports an inflator, a fastening portion fastened and fixed to the upper portion of the side wall of the vehicle at a position below the inflator, and a restraining wall that extends along the axis direction of the fastening portion under the inflator. An airbag body is disposed between the inflator and an upper wall portion of the restraining wall, and the airbag body is compressed by the inflator and the upper wall portion and held between the inflator and the upper wall portion. The restraining wall restrains displacement of the airbag body so that the airbag body does not overlap a fastening operation area into which the fixing bracket is fastened.
US08727364B2	Injection-molded plastic hitch step A trailer hitch step, integrally injection-molded of a thermoplastic polymer compound, is capable of accepting a predetermined off-axis vertical load without an objectionable degree of torsional displacement, while capable of absorbing energy from rear impacts.
US08727362B2	Wheel suspension element comprising at least a supporting structure and a rod A wheel suspension element for a motor vehicle which comprises a supporting structure (1) for an axle of a motor vehicle and at least a rod for guiding, with the rod, at least an articulated wheel carrier (2) which can be connected to the supporting structure (1). The supporting structure (1) is formed from a fiber composite material. The rod of the wheel suspension element is designed as an elastic spring rod (3, 4) and is formed from a fiber composite material as one element with the supporting structure (1).
US08727360B2	Drop deck trailer This invention relates to a trailer comprising a body, a wheel assembly on each side of and floating relative to the trailer body, a linear actuator driving means adapted to selectively raise and lower body relative to its wheel assemblies while keeping the body substantially parallel to the ground throughout its range of movement and providing a mechanical advantage to the actuator.
US08727357B2	Toolholder secondary retention system A toolholder support member for retaining the shank of a toolholder has a bore to accept the toolholder shank. A retention member extends through the bore wall to engage a perforation extending through the shank or indentation within the shank, thereby retaining the shank within the receiving bore. The retention member is biased to provide resistance for insertion or extraction of the shank within the receiving bore. Furthermore, the retention bore is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the receiving bore so that the force required to insert the toolholder within the receiving bore is minimized, while the force required to extract the toolholder from the receiving bore is maximized.
US08727353B2	Cooling arrangement for brush seal A brush seal adapted to restrict a fluid flow through a gap between a first component and a second component, comprising: a body; a brush pack secured to the body; and a passage through the body for introducing a cooling flow to said gap. The passage has a first end that is exposed to the gap and a second end that is not exposed to the gap. The passage discharges a cooling flow to the brush seal, the cooling flow being discrete from the fluid flow.
US08727352B2	Method and apparatus for providing advice regarding gaming strategies Methods for providing gaming advice are provided. For example, regarding a blackjack game, one or more first player cards are identified for a first player and one or more second player cards are identified for a second player. The first and second player cards are displayed to the first player. A probability associated with a first one of the plurality of playing options is determined based at least on a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first player cards, and the one or more second player cards. It is then determined, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option.
US08727351B2	Cube puzzle game A puzzle unit for an amusement device comprises a first puzzle unit assembly, a second puzzle unit assembly, a third removable unit face, and a fourth removable unit face. The first puzzle unit assembly includes a first support member and a second support member projecting from a first inner surface of the first unit assembly, and a first triangular unit face on an outer surface of the first unit assembly. A space between the first support member and the second support member define a first linear slot. The second puzzle unit assembly is geometrically identical to the first unit assembly, including a third support member and a fourth support member projecting from a second inner surface of the second unit assembly, and a second triangular unit face on an outer surface of the second unit assembly.
US08727350B2	Card shoe A card shoe comprising security features. The card shoe may include a housing and a flexible flag to at least partially overlie a front cover and an opening in the front cover. The card shoe may include an opening between a playing card support and a bottom of the front cover sized to allow only one playing card to be withdrawn at one time. The card shoe may include identification tags and areas for advertising. A form of advertising may include light-emitting diodes incorporated into the housing of the card shoe.
US08727348B2	Air-blowing assembly of game table An air-blowing assembly of game table, which is installed in a table frame of the game table, includes a face board, an inner board and an air space defined between the boards. One or more flow guide members are arranged in the air space, each flow guide member has multiple lattices arranged in rows. At least one air guide channel is formed on each flow guide member so that at least one lattice row has longitudinal notches and/or lateral notches. Accordingly, the flow guide member has longitudinal and/or transverse airflow passages. A fan is used to blow air into the air space. Under the guide of the air guide channels, the air flows out of the face board from fine orifices thereof.
US08727347B2	Sheet feeding apparatus A sheet feeding apparatus, including: a sheet feeding mechanism; a sheet sensor for detecting, as a detection value, a physical quantity related to a fed sheet; a physical-quantity judgment section for judging whether the detection value falls within a predetermined range; an another-sheet judgment section for judging whether there is another sheet after a sheet to be judged by the physical-quantity judgment section; and a double-feeding judgment section for judging that double feeding has occurred when the physical-quantity judgment section judges that the detection value does not fall within the predetermined range and when the another-sheet judgment section judges that there is another sheet, and judging that the double feeding has not occurred when the physical-quantity judgment section judges that the detection value does not fall within the predetermined range and when the another-sheet judgment section judges that there is no another sheet.
US08727344B2	System for improving stacking of flat items A system for improving stacking of flat items stacked on edge and forming a batch of items in a sort bin (200a) of the type comprising a stacking deck (210) for supporting the batch of items, a paddle (220) movably connected to a shaft (224) mounted on the stacking deck for registering the batch of items while applying a first stacking pressure to the batch of items, a driving device (228) for applying at least another adjustable pressure to the batch of items for refining their registering against the paddle, and a movement control module (229) for controlling the driving device so as to adjust pressure in the batch of items, wherein the batch of items and the paddle are driven synchronously and separately.
US08727342B2	Feeding device and image forming apparatus A feeding device includes a carrying roller to carry a top sheet of sheets in a conveying direction, a reverse roller to transfer subsequent sheets beneath the top sheet in a direction opposite to the conveying direction while being moved in the conveying direction with the top sheet, and an end fence to restrict rear end positions of the subsequent sheets. The end fence includes an upper contacting member to come into contact with an upper surface of the top sheet, and a restricting member extending from the upper contacting member along a rear end surface of the sheets to stop rear ends of the sheets in its entire width direction, the upper contacting member and the restricting member being arranged such that a width dimension of the end fence is changeable in the width direction, and the end fence being arranged above the top sheet.
US08727341B2	Feeding apparatus for flat items processed in a mail sorting machine with pulleys located under transport deck Flat item feeding apparatus (10) having a delivering section (12) for receiving a large batch of flat items on a transport surface (24, 26a, 26b) and a singulating section (14) for extracting these items one by one and transferring them downstream. The delivering section includes a transport device (22) for conveying the stacked on edge flat items towards the singulating section, a pushing device (30) for jogging the stacked on edge flat items during the conveying. The transport device has an endless belt (26a, 26b) protruding a transport deck (24) within a conveying zone B of length d of the delivering section and located a distance d2 from a downstream pulley (29a, 29b) and a distance d1 from an upstream pulley (27a, 27b), the distances d1 and d2 respectively defining determined conveying zone A, C in which the at least one endless belt remains below the transport deck.
US08727339B2	Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus When a retard roller is rotating in a sheet feeding direction, the rotation is transmitted to a pickup roller and the pickup roller rotates in a direction for conveying the sheet. When the retard roller is rotating in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction or is stationary, the pickup roller does not feed the sheet. Therefore, in a successive feeding operation, the sheet to be fed next is always conveyed such that the leading end thereof reaches a nip position between a feed roller and the retard roller. Therefore, the intervals between the sheets are uniform in the successive feeding operation.
US08727337B2	Vending machine system A vending machine system for stackable goods such as vehicle air fresheners includes a hopper and a reciprocating arm. The hopper is configured to hold a stack of the stackable goods. The hopper has an aperture formed in a base of the hopper for dispensing the stackable goods from the hopper. The reciprocating arm is disposed adjacent the aperture. The reciprocating arm is linearly movable between a retracted position and an extended position. One of the stackable goods is received by the reciprocating arm when the reciprocating arm is in the retracted position, and is pushed from the stack of stackable goods by the reciprocating arm when the reciprocating arm is in the extended position.
US08727336B2	Condition determining A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a condition at an item of media container. The method includes the steps of locating a suction element at a pick up region of a container, selectively connecting a source of negative pressure to the suction element, determining a pressure at the suction element, and determining a condition of the container responsive to the determined pressure.
US08727331B2	Sheet buffer apparatus, post-processing apparatus, control method, and image forming apparatus A sheet buffer apparatus retains a sheet to be conveyed to a post-processing unit and is configured to perform post-processing for a sheet. The apparatus comprises a buffer unit configured to perform buffer processing to retain a sheet to be conveyed to the post-processing unit and overlay the sheet to be retained and a succeeding sheet, a determination unit configured to determine whether a sheet is inhibited from the buffer processing by the buffer unit, and a control unit configured, when the determination unit determines that the sheet succeeding the sheet to be retained is a sheet for which the buffer processing is inhibited, to control the buffer unit not to perform the retaining of the sheet to be retained.
US08727330B2	Grounding component for electric welding systems and methods A variety of work stands and support assemblies for supporting workpieces such as pipes, are described. The work stands include a base plate and a welding stand-off or grounding lug, at which an electrical grounding cable can be readily attached.
US08727325B2	Method, apparatus and system for concentrating solutions using evaporation The present disclosure is directed at a system, apparatus and method for concentrating a solution. The system includes a humidification device and a solution flow path for flow of a solution to be concentrated to the humidification device. The humidification device includes humidification media to facilitate evaporation of liquid from the solution to be concentrated to gas as the solution to be concentrated passes through the humidification media thereby concentrating the solution. The method includes flowing a solution to be concentrated along a flow path to a humidification device including humidification media, flowing a gas through the humidification media, and flowing the solution to be concentrated through the humidification media. There is evaporation of liquid from the solution to the gas as the solution passes through the humidification media thereby concentrating the solution and producing a humidified gas. The solution to be concentrated may be salt water and the gas may be air.
US08727324B2	Wine aerator A device for aerating a liquid, such as wine, includes a cup portion with a cavity that receives an amount of liquid therein, the cavity extending between a proximal opening and a distal opening. A neck portion of the device defines an aeration section in fluid communication with the cavity. Passages in the aeration section extend laterally to an outer surface of the neck portion through which air is drawn into the aeration section. A central passage through the neck portion is in fluid communication with the aeration section and extends to a distal opening of the device. A diffuser element between the cavity and the aeration section has arms that are configured to contact the liquid as it flows from the cavity to inhibit a swirling flow of the liquid so that the liquid passes into the aeration section in a generally vertical and linear manner.
US08727320B1	Bearing less block A single and double bearing less block is shown and described. The blocks can be used in block and tackle applications or anywhere a mechanical advantage is needed for a line. The blocks are designed to provide a slippery surface for the lines that are being retained and which thereby allows easy adjustment without the use of bearings or moving parts. The blocks also have ears with holes through which a retainer or smaller line can be tied to help retain the line in the block when the line is not under tension. Alternatively the retainer can be inserted through the holes and can be used to secure both a lashing and the line to the blocks when the blocks are used in alternative applications.
US08727317B2	Rescue cylinder The present invention relates to a portable rescue cylinder (1) having a hydraulic cylinder (2) which is operated hydraulically and which can extend, said hydraulic cylinder having a first end and a second end opposite the same, wherein a force is generated by means of enlargement of the distance between the first and the second ends, having a hydraulic tank (3), having a pump (4) for driving the hydraulic cylinder (2), having a power source for supplying the pump (4) with power, and having a switch device (6) for the operation of the hydraulic cylinder (2). In order to provide a device which is as comfortable as possible and has small dimensions, it is suggested that the hydraulic tank and the pump should be integrated components of the rescue cylinder. Particularly, the hydraulic tank (3) and the pump (4) are located in a housing (7) which is located directly on the rescue cylinder (1) and/or the hydraulic cylinder (2).
US08727316B1	Knife gate valve with urethane liner A knife gate valve for specific environments comprises a knife valve with a body, a hand wheel, a yoke sleeve, a gland packing, a gland bushing, a stem, a wedge gate, seating surfaces and the like. All internal components of the device are provided with a high quality elastomeric liner. This surface is present on wetted surfaces such as body, seat and wedge surfaces exposed to the controlled material. This feature provides corrosion resistance, long life, and reduces leakage when compared to conventional valves. Its new style of internal design provides waterproof resistance for virtually types of industrial applications.
US08727312B2	Butterfly valve A butterfly valve having a valve body is provided. The butterfly valve includes a valve disk assembly rotationally coupled to the valve body. The valve disk assembly has a disk member with a first surface disposed about a periphery having a first diameter and a second surface offset from the first surface. A seal ring is arranged adjacent the first surface, the seal ring having a first outer surface with a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter. A retainer is coupled to the second surface adjacent the seal ring opposite the first surface. The retainer has inner surface arranged to radially constraining the seal ring on the disk member.
US08727309B2	Fluid valves having adjustable sealing characteristics Fluid valves having adjustable sealing characteristics are described. An example fluid valve includes a valve body having a flow aperture to enable the flow of fluid therethrough. Additionally, the fluid valve includes a seal surrounding the flow aperture and a sealing member having a shaft extending therefrom. The sealing member is movable relative to the seal and the flow aperture to control the flow of fluid through the flow aperture. Further, the fluid valve includes a support body movably coupled to the valve body and having a passage to receive the shaft. The support body holds the shaft and the sealing member to enable rotation of the shaft and the sealing member relative to the valve body and the seal, and at least one of the support body or the valve body includes at least one elongated opening to enable movement of the support body relative to the valve body to change an amount of engagement between the sealing member and the seal when the fluid valve is in a closed position.
US08727308B2	Adjustable electromagnetic fluid flow control valve An adjustable electromagnetic fluid flow control valve includes: a tubular member of non-magnetizable material. One end of the tubular member is forming an inlet and serves as the main entry port for: gases or other fluids entering the valve. The opposite end of the tubular member is forming an outlet The valve includes at least one annularly configured electromagnetic coil which is surrounded from outside and partially inside by a core preferably built from ferrous laminations. The coil is connected to a power supply and can be energized by the power supply under control of a controller: A disk occluder of a magnetic material has diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the tubular member. The occluder is disposed Within the tubular member and occludes the fluid flow when is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. The occluder rests on a supporting non-magnetic-member with at least one passageway for fluid flow. The occluder is pressed against the supporting member by a spring. All spring-loaded members of the valve are locked In place between two inner locking members rigidly mounted within the tubular member. The magnetic torque, exerting influence on the occluder increases or decreases With changes in the electric power to the coil and this changes the cross-sectional area of the flow pass.
US08727306B2	Valve handle for butterfly valve for bulk commodity hopper with tee A valve handle for a bulk commodity hopper valve, the handle including an extended handle bar member, with a valve stem socket opening near its distal end, an associated, shorter lock lever member positioned to extend generally adjacent the handle bar member, the handle bar and lock lever members having corresponding offset bends along their lengths to clear interfering equipment and being pivotally connected to one another at an intermediate position along their lengths, and a biasing spring normally biasing the proximate ends of the handle bar and lock lever members away from one another and the distal ends thereof towards one another, with the distal end of the lock lever member having a lever tip associated therewith movable into and out of engagement with the valve lock notches as the proximate ends of the handle bar member and lock lever member are squeezed together and released by a user and the valve handle is rotated to operate the valve.
US08727303B2	Variable bore packer for a blowout preventer A variable bore packer used in a blowout preventer to form a seal against different diameter tubular members for oil and gas drilling operations. The variable bore packer includes a packer member molded of elastomeric material with certain mechanical properties and including an inside curved surface. The packer also includes a plurality of packer inserts molded within the packer member to form an insert array. Additionally, the packer includes a protrusion extending from and bonded to the packer member inside curved surface, the protrusion including increased mechanical properties compared to the packer member. The packer member, the insert array, and the protrusion are molded into a unitary structure and sized to form a seal against the different diameter tubular members upon closure of the blowout preventer. Also, the insert array and the protrusion diminishing extrusion of the elastomeric material between the packer inserts and the tubular members.
US08727302B2	Anchor system of a concrete wall formwork A locking device 21 for an anchor bar 2 of an anchor system of a concrete wall formwork has an annular sealing element 15 for sealing off an anchor penetration hole 13 in the formwork facing 7 and a threaded nut element 24 for threading the anchor bar 2 into a threaded nut thread of the threaded nut element. A tubular guiding device 45 is flush with the threaded nut thread of the threaded nut element 24 on the end of the threaded nut element 24 to be located at the concrete formwork side. The sealing element 15 has an elastic rubber inner sealing ring 46 and the free end 51 of the guiding device 45 to be located at the formwork element side is sealingly inserted with the inner sealing ring 46 into the sealing element 15.
US08727300B2	Mounting plate for a machine base The disclosure relates to a mounting plate for fixing a machine base. The mounting plate comprises a slot in a second region, said slot comprising a first narrow section and a broad section for enclosing the machine base.
US08727297B2	Music stand An organizational music stand architecture for practicing or performing, while at the same time organizing and storing various accessories for music. The stand comprises a base section, two side sections, and a back section secured together. An accessory plate assembly, situated at the top of the unit, is secured to the two side sections. A music rest platform is secured to the accessory plate assembly so as to display objects in a near vertical position. The height of the base section is designed for placement of the organizational stand on a floor surface. Typically, the organizational stand would also comprise wheels, positioned at the bottom of the base section toward the rear of the stand, enabling the stand to be rolled on the wheels to another location. There would also be at least one or two drawers, such as a utility drawer and a hanging-file drawer.
US08727296B1	Combination flexible trivet and coaster A combination coaster and trivet that is made of a flexible silicon material. It is molded into a generally square form that have several slits formed in it. These slits allow the form to be folded generally square for use as a coaster, or expanded to form a larger apparatus suitable for use as a trivet. The form has a button formed on one end and a corresponding slot on the other end that allows the user to lock the ends together making a flower like form. Moreover because the material is flexible, the form can be used vertically. Locked together, the device can be used as a potholder to lift and carry hot bowls or pots. For example, the device can be wrapped around a bowl and placed in a microwave oven. When the cooking is complete, the user can remove the hot bowl safely by gripping the device.
US08727294B1	Handgun holding system A handgun holding system featuring a base plate with a pair of slots, each slot has a bracket that can slide and rotate within its respective slot. The first bracket has a spring clip for temporarily engaging the grip portion of a handgun, and the second bracket has a boot with an inner magnet for temporarily engaging the barrel of the handgun. The base plate can be mounted to a surface via a mounting means.
US08727293B2	Support structure for supporting video displays A video support structure for supporting video, a video display system, and a method of securing the support structure are disclosed. The video support structure includes a first support member, a second support member, a portion of the second support member being receivable by a surface or space formed by the first support member, a pinnable joint having an opening in each of the first support member and the second support member, the openings being alignable to receive one or more pins, and the one or more pins, the one or more pins being configured to secure the first support member to the second support member to form at least a portion of the video support structure.
US08727292B2	Image reading system using an angle adjustment device An angle adjustment device, include a fixed portion; a movable portion; a connection portion which rotatably connects the movable portion to the fixed portion; and an elastic member which is arranged between the movable portion and the fixed portion and restricts rotational movement of the movable portion with kinetic friction generated between the movable portion and the fixed portion.
US08727290B1	Flat touch screen mounting system and method The present invention is directed to a mounting device for supporting a tablet computer while freeing the hands of a user. The mounting device includes an attaching means for temporary or permanently attaching the system to a surface or object, a holding device for safely holding the tablet computer in place, and a flexible connector attached to the holding device via a swivel joint connector and extending between the holding device and attaching means. The swivel joint and flexible connector provide the combinational benefit of adjusting the position of the tablet computer. The attaching means may include a wall mount or spring clamp. The holding device includes a number of different embodiments one of which includes a pair of audio speakers.
US08727283B2	Launch abort and orbital maneuver system A spacecraft includes a first engine configured to provide primary launch abort thrust and a second engine disposed radially from a center of gravity, the second engine configured to provide a secondary launch abort thrust, a primary orbital maneuvering thrust, and a primary control thrust.
US08727274B2	Method of managing a ground connection of an aircraft A method of managing a ground connection of an aircraft having landing gear with wheels that are subjected to static loads, some of which wheels are fitted with respective braking devices and others are fitted with respective independent drive devices, the method including the step of causing a modification to a distribution of the static loading to which the wheels of the landing gear are subjected in such a manner as to: increase the loading on at least some wheels fitted with respective braking devices, during a braking stage; and increase the loading on at least some wheels fitted with respective independent drive devices, during an independent drive stage.
US08727273B2	Shrink shock strut locking mechanism for retractable aircraft landing gear A shrink shock strut assembly for retractable aircraft landing gear is disclosed which includes an elongated strut cylinder, an elongated strut piston coaxially mounted for reciprocal movement within the strut cylinder between a shrunk condition when the landing gear is retracted into a wheel well of an aircraft and a fully extended condition when the landing gear is deployed from the wheel well for landing the aircraft, and a blocking mechanism operatively associated with the strut cylinder and mounted for movement into a blocking position with respect to the strut piston, when the landing gear is retracted within the wheel well, to prevent axial movement of the strut piston into the fully extended condition within the wheel well.
US08727271B2	Aircraft using turbo-electric hybrid propulsion system An air vehicle incorporating a hybrid propulsion system. The system includes a gas turbine engine as a first motive power source, and one or more battery packs as a second motive power source. Through selective coupling to a DC electric motor that can in turn be connected to a bladed rotor or other lift-producing device, the motive sources provide differing ways in which an aircraft can operate. In one example, the gas turbine engine can provide operation for a majority of the flight envelope of the aircraft, while the battery packs can provide operation during such times when gas turbine-based motive power is unavailable or particularly disadvantageous. In another example, both sources of motive power may be decoupled from the bladed rotor such that the vehicle can operate as an autogyro.
US08727269B2	System and method for mounting an aircraft engine A mounting system and method capable of reducing backbone deflection in a high-bypass turbofan engine. The system includes a rigid structure and a linkage mechanism having at least first and second links that are each pivotally connected to the rigid structure and adapted to be pivotally connected to an engine support structure of the aircraft. The first and second links are configured to define a focal point thereof at a location that is a distance from a centerline of the engine of not more than 15% of an inlet diameter at an inlet of the engine, and is located aft of a vector of an inlet load to which the engine is subjected when the aircraft is in a climb maneuver. The location of the focal point is such that a moment of a thrust load of the engine and a moment of the inlet load oppose each other, thereby reducing backbone bending of the engine during the climb maneuver.
US08727267B2	Variable contraction ratio nacelle assembly for a gas turbine engine A nacelle assembly includes an inlet lip section having a highlight diameter and a throat diameter. One of the highlight diameter and the throat diameter is fixed and the other of the highlight diameter and the throat diameter is selectively adjustable in each of a first direction and a second direction relative to the inlet lip section to influence a contraction ratio associated with the inlet lip section.
US08727266B2	Flying machine comprising twin contra-rotating vertical axis propellers A flying machine comprises a chassis on the underside of which is mounted two vertical axis contra-rotating propellers, which share a common rotational axis. The propellers are driven by two motors through a common drive mechanism, the motors being mounted on the chassis above the propellers and being longitudinally spaced apart along the chassis. Handlebars are movably mounted on the chassis between a seat and a nose piece. A user of the machine thus sits substantially centrally on top of the propellers with their legs straddling the motors and drive mechanism, the riding position thus being closely similar to that of a motorbike. Various collective and cyclic blade pitch control mechanisms are also disclosed. The handlebars and seat in some embodiments are replaced by a load carrying region.
US08727265B2	Helicopter with cycloidal rotor system The invention is related to a helicopter (10) comprising a main rotor (12), a cycloidal rotor (14) and a rotating cylinder (18). The rotating cylinder (18) extends along a longitudinal axis of a tail boom (13). The cycloidal rotor (14) extends at least partly along said same tail boom (13) and rotates outside the rotating cylinder (18).
US08727262B2	Cable despooling and spooling In some embodiments, a cable spool includes a hub having an outer surface that is retractable and expandable, and a single end plate affixed to an end of the hub. In other embodiments, an apparatus includes an assembly of cascaded, temporarily interlocked spools that can be used for simultaneous despooling or spooling of multiple cable coils.
US08727260B2	Winder assembly and method of use thereof A winder assembly is provided and includes two or more cores mounted for rotation on a turret assembly and a web of sheet-type work material is wound around a core. A lay-on roll assembly roller and a core cooperate to define a first nip. A transfer roll assembly includes a roller coupled for rotation to a rail such that the roller and a core cooperate to define a second nip. A cutting means for cutting the work material includes a traverse assembly having a work material guide means. During operation, after cutting work material, the turret assembly indexes a core into a winding position and the work material guide means is moved to the operating position such that the roller coupled to the rail causes the work material to be fed into the second nip and begin winding around the core.
US08727255B2	Automatic paper feed-sensing apparatus for a paper shredder, paper-feeding apparatus comprising same, and paper shredder comprising the automatic paper feed-sensing apparatus and the paper-feeding apparatus Disclosed are an automatic paper feeding sensing device and a paper feeding device for a paper shredder, and a paper shredder including the automatic paper feeding sensing device and the paper feeding device. The automatic paper feeding sensing device of the present invention includes a detection sensor fixed to an end of a sensor bracket disposed at a side of a paper feeding entrance of a paper shredder; and a rotating lever rotatably disposed between the paper feeding entrance and the detection sensor to open or close a front side of the detection sensor by the rotation thereof. The paper feeding device of the present invention includes a paper feeding section, a paper feeding entrance, a paper feeding rollers and a pressurizing portion. The paper shredder includes the paper feeding device of claim 5 with the automatic paper feeding sensing device of claim 1, the paper shredder including a cutter portion which comprises a plurality of cutter blades to shred paper and a driving motor configured to drive the cutter portion.
US08727253B2	Three roll mill A three roll mill having a feed roll, a center roll, and an apron roll with that are driven so that their cylindrical surfaces move in the same direction but different speeds in each nip. One end of each roll is engaged by a drive shaft at a first side of the mill, whereas the other end of each roll rotates freely at a second side of the mill. Each roll can be removed individually and without tools by moving the roll away from the first side against a spring force in the second side. This disengages the roll from its drive shaft, whereupon it can be lifted out of the mill.
US08727251B2	Kitchen shredder An apparatus for pre-composting organic material, comprising: a housing with two openings and a pre-composting means between the two openings wherein kitchen scraps may be fed in the first opening and the pre-composted scraps exit the second opening. In an embodiment of the present invention the pre-composter includes: a lid assembly which may facilitate feeding scraps into the pre-composter; a hopper and blade assembly for pre-composting or cutting and shredding the scraps; a component tray for securing the housing to the hopper; a bin for collecting the pre-composted scraps; and a crank assembly which delivers rotational power to the blade assembly.
US08727250B2	System and method for creating a test sample from individual seeds or tissue structures The present invention is generally directed to a system and method for obtaining a test sample from a seed or seeds. The method generally includes placing at least one seed into a seed sampling chamber, breaking the seed into a plurality of seed particles inside the seed sampling chamber, placing a sampling element into the seed sampling chamber, and collecting at least a portion of the plurality of seed particles with the sampling element by attracting at least a portion of the seed particles to a surface of the sampling element or by forcing at least a portion of the seed particles into a feature of the sampling element. In some embodiments, the method further includes using a sampling element transfer device to transfer the sampling element to an extraction well, which may be used to extract DNA or proteins from the collected portion of seed particles.
US08727249B2	Roller mill for grinding particulate material A roller mill for grinding particulate material such as for example cement raw materials, cement clinker and similar materials, said roller mill comprising a mill housing enclosing a grinding table and a set of rollers rotatable about a vertical shaft. The set of rollers are configured for interactive operation with the grinding table and comprising a number of rollers each rotating about a roller shaft which is connected to the vertical shaft via a hinged connection with a center of rotation which allows a free circular movement of the roller in upward and downward direction in a plane comprising the centerline of the roller shaft. The center of rotation of the hinged connection in a vertical plane is located under the centerline of the roller shaft. The grinding table is rotatable about the vertical shaft and the roller mill may include mechanisms or devices that are sized and configured to introduce gases into the mill housing and may also include mechanisms or devices configured to allow for continuously diverting ground material suspended in gases out of the mill housing.
US08727248B2	Comminutor with screening conditioner A comminutor for shredding rag-like materials includes a frame member having a cutter bar that is affixed thereto and has a plurality of cutter teeth, and includes screen bars aligned with the cutter teeth. Each of the screen bars has an end that fits closely to its adjacent cutter tooth and the frame member so as to close a gap between the cutter tooth and the frame member. The end of the screen bar may include a flange that fits closely to the frame member and a tab proximate to the flange that fits closely to the cutter tooth. In an embodiment where the cutter tooth is flush with the frame member, the end of the screen bar includes a flange that fits closely to both frame member and the cutter tooth.
US08727246B2	Process for dry-grinding a polysaccharide derivative In a process for producing a particulate polysaccharide derivative by dry-grinding a moist polysaccharide derivative the median length of the particles after dry-grinding is controlled by controlling the moisture content of the polysaccharide derivative prior to dry-grinding. Advantageously the median length of the particles after dry-grinding is adjusted to a first value by a first moisture content of the polysaccharide derivative prior to dry-grinding and is adjusted to a second value by a second moisture content.
US08727240B2	Fuel injector A fuel injector has a valve needle that has a maximum diameter at a flow-off edge, and a valve seat acting together with the valve needle using a sealing seat, the valve seat widening, starting from the sealing seat up to a discharge edge, and the flow-off edge of the valve needle being offset backwards, in relation to the flow direction, with respect to the discharge edge of the valve seat, when the fuel injector is closed. The flow-off edge of the valve needle is offset backwards with respect to the discharge edge of the valve seat in a predetermined range of 2 micrometers to 20 micrometers, in the direction of a longitudinal valve axis.
US08727238B1	Irrigation sprinkler with re-configurable secondary nozzle holder An irrigation sprinkler has a riser assembly that includes a rotatably mounted nozzle turret, a secondary nozzle holder removably mounted on the nozzle turret, and a turbine. A drive assembly is mounted in the riser assembly and couples the turbine and the nozzle turret so that pressurized water entering a lower end of the riser assembly will cause the nozzle turret to rotate. The nozzle turret has a primary nozzle and the secondary nozzle holder has at least one secondary nozzle.
US08727236B2	Electrically heated spray nozzle An electrically heated spray nozzle comprising a ceramic pin is described, the ceramic pin comprises a flow channel having at least one opening for a fluid to be atomized, wherein the ceramic pin includes a ceramic inner conductor and a ceramic outer conductor, between which a ceramic insulator is disposed.
US08727231B2	Sealed microfluidic conduit assemblies and methods for fabricating them A sealed microfluidic conduit assembly is fabricated by forming a joint through which a first conduit fluidly communicates with a second conduit, by bringing the first conduit into contact with the second conduit. A layer of malleable material surrounding one or both conduits is compressed against the joint to fluidly seal the joint, by applying a radial force to an outer surface of a jacket surrounding the conduits and malleable layer. The respective compositions and/or sizes of the first conduit and second conduit may be different.
US08727230B2	System for fastening a rail to a sleeper The invention relates to a system for fastening a rail to a sleeper with a baseplate, which includes at least one side portion and a bearing surface adjoining the side portion for the rail to be fastened, and with at least one guide plate that sits on the side portion. In order to simplify the installation on the respective sleeper in such a system, the invention provides that the guide plate is held on the baseplate by a catch connection formed in the region of the side portion.
US08727206B2	Cup made of a paper material A cup made of paper material having a fillable interior is provided. The cup is formed by a conical sleeve and a bottom. The bottom is attached to the sleeve at the lower end of the interior with a bottom skirt in an essentially liquid-tight way. The sleeve and/or the bottom in the area of the bottom skirt and/or the bottom skirt itself includes, at least in one area along the periphery, an outwardly projecting widening. A lower edge of the widening forms a standing surface for the cup. The widening can form a structure for holding another cup of the same type, which structure can act together with a similar cup during stacking. The cup can include a heat-insulting outer sleeve.
US08727204B2	Expandable carton A package for holding a food product. The package comprises a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least two side panels. A tear feature extends at least partially across the plurality of panels for at least partially separating the carton into an upper portion and a lower portion. The package also comprises a liner disposed in the interior of the carton. The liner comprises an expandable region proximate to the tear feature of the carton.
US08727201B2	Tool for ultrasonic welding device The invention relates to a tool for an ultrasonic welding device, wherein a contact face of a carrier body (1) produced from a metal facing a component to be welded is provided with a diamond coating (3). To improve the durability, it is proposed in accordance with the invention for the diamond coating to be produced by means of CVD methods and to have a thickness (D2) in the range from 0.5 to 20 μm.
US08727185B2	Dispenser device and system A dispensing device is described. The dispensing device can include a body comprising a downwardly extending, elongated handle, at least one plunger slidably coupled to the body, and a trigger pivotably coupled to the body at a pivot point. The trigger can include a trigger portion extending downward from the pivot point and a transfer arm extending above the pivot point. The dispensing device can also include an actuator for engaging and advancing the at least one plunger in an axial direction and an elongated linkage extending axially and transmitting motion from the transfer arm to the actuator. The actuator can be positioned behind the handle and the linkage can cause the actuator to move forward axially when the trigger portion is pulled.
US08727183B2	Water dispenser with flow-interruptible dispensing arrangement A water dispenser having a water reservoir for retaining water to be dispensed, a dispensing arrangement for flow-interruptible dispensing of water from the reservoir and a filtration unit in fluid flow connection with the reservoir, the filtration unit being located externally to the water reservoir.
US08727182B2	Feeder for particle delivery A feeder apparatus includes a hopper having a longitudinal axis and a wall having an external surface and an internal surface defining a thickness therebetween. The wall defines an infeed end for receipt of particulate material and an outfeed end for conveyance of the particulate material from the hopper. The outfeed end defines or has an outfeed aperture therein. A base disposed such that at least a portion of the base is substantially coextensive with the outfeed aperture. The base has at least one base aperture therethrough to facilitate conveyance of the particulate material from the hopper. The base aperture may be concentrically or eccentrically disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of said hopper. At least one of the base and the hopper is capable of rotation relative to another of the base and hopper, such that the base aperture is in at least intermittent in particulate flow communication with the outfeed aperture.
US08727181B2	Liquid dispensing device Trash receptacles are rarely cleaned. These containers can contain germs and disease in them in many situations. This liquid dispensing device will spray a liquid of choice with in the interior of the trash receptacle automatically every time it is emptied and replaced onto the support surface. These liquids may drastically reduce the amount of bacteria, germs, insects, and disease with in the container. This device will provide this sanitation service automatically. This liquid dispensing device may be attached to industrial dumpsters as well as to residential trash containers. This device does not require a power supply.
US08727179B2	Merchandise dispensing apparatus providing theft deterrence A box structure has a plurality of walls positioned and configured to prevent access to an interior space housing merchandise in a secure manner. A first movable wall permits manual access to a frontal portion of the interior space while at the same time moving a barrier strip to prevent manual access to other than said frontal portion of the interior space. A roll-out shelf mounts merchandise supporting modules with pushers to move merchandise toward the front of the structure where ejection mechanisms in each of the modules are able to direct selected items to the front of the structure where they can be accessed by consumers. The ejection process creates a characteristic noise to alert store personnel that products are being dispensed.
US08727176B2	Seal mechanism for beverage container A lid assembly for a beverage container having a lid housing, a seal assembly and a trigger member. The seal assembly has one or more drink seals that engage a corresponding one or more drink apertures to close the drink apertures. The seal assembly is rotatedly connected to the lid housing and movable between a use position and a cleaning position for cleaning. The trigger member is connected to the lid housing and is capable of engaging the seal assembly in the use position, but not in the cleaning position. The trigger member is connected to the seal assembly such that the vent aperture is opened during a first portion of the operation of the trigger, and the drink apertures are opened during a second portion of the operation of the trigger so that the vent aperture is opened before the drink apertures.
US08727174B2	Tank and manufacturing method thereof A tank which optimizes a laminating configuration of hoop layers and helical layers to enhance an efficiency of strength development by wound fibers, and a manufacturing method of the tank. The tank includes a liner, and an FRP layer constituted of an axial fiber layer formed by winding fibers around the outer periphery of the liner at a winding angle in a range exceeding 0° and less than 30° with respect to a tank axis in the center of the tank and a peripheral fiber layer formed by winding the fibers around the outer periphery of the liner at a winding angle in a range of 30° or more and less than 90° with respect to the tank axis, and folded fiber ends of the peripheral fiber layer in a tank axial direction draw a track.
US08727173B2	Fuel tank assembly A baffle system for guiding fuel stored within a fuel tank is disclosed. The baffle system may include first and second baffle walls. Each of the first and second baffle walls may be formed from inner, intermediate, and outer portions. Each inner portion may extend from the respective intermediate portion. Each outer portion may extend from the respective intermediate portion, with an angle at a junction of the outer and intermediate portions being between approximately 120 degrees and 150 degrees. The first and second baffles walls may form a partially-closed volume with the first and second inner and intermediate portions, where the partially-closed volume may be configured to retain fuel guided into the volume by the first and second outer portions.
US08727172B2	Container with divider A container comprises a receptacle defining a space where the receptacle comprises a wall having a draft. A divider is mounted to the receptacle such that the divider rotates between a first position and a second position such that when the divider is in the first position the space defines a single space and when the divider is in the second position the divider defines two spaces. In another embodiment a divider is mounted to the receptacle such that the divider translates between a first position and a second position such that when the divider is in the first position the space defines a single space and when the divider is in the second position the divider defines two spaces.
US08727171B1	Multi-compartment food preparation apparatus An apparatus is disclosed that includes a base, a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment is enclosed at the base and has a first opening, and the second compartment is enclosed at the base has a second opening. The first compartment is adjoined to and positioned on the base, and has a wall that is substantially perpendicular to the base. The second compartment is adjoined to and positioned on the base and shares at least a portion of the wall. The second opening is smaller than the first opening.
US08727169B2	Metallic beverage can end closure with offset countersink The present invention describes a beverage container end closure that utilizes less material and has improved internal buckle strength based on the geometric configuration of a chuck wall, inner panel wall, outer panel wall, and central panel and that utilizes an outwardly oriented countersink.
US08727168B2	Product container strainer A single use packing and dispensing technique includes a filter element as part of the packaging to permit a user to drain the packing fluid while retaining the primary package contents such as pickles, olives, canned vegetables, fruit, canned meats, poultry and fish. A strainer may be incorporated into any suitable aspect of the packaging along with a removable sealing element.

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