最新美国发明专利第2015-10-20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
US09163463B2	Bend limiting stiffener and related methods A bend restrictor device includes at least two bend limiter units coupled together and having at least one stiffness ring disposed therebetween.
US09163462B2	Bi-directionally raisable drilling rig mast A substructure of a drilling rig is positioned above a first wellbore at a first wellbore location, a drilling rig mast is pivotably attached to the substructure and raised from a first mast position wherein an upper end of the drilling rig mast is oriented in a first direction toward a first side of the substructure to a first raised drilling position, after which a first drilling operation is performed on the first wellbore. The substructure is moved to a second wellbore location and positioned above a second wellbore, the drilling rig mast is pivotably attached to the substructure and raised from a second mast position wherein an upper end of the drilling rig mast is oriented in a second direction toward a second side of the substructure to a second raised drilling position, after which a second drilling operation is performed on the second wellbore.
US09163455B2	Ladders, ladder components and related methods Ladders, ladder components and related methods are provided. In some embodiments, adjustable stepladders are provided which include locking mechanisms that enable height adjustment of the ladder through application of a force towards the rails of the ladder. In other embodiments, spreader mechanisms are provided with cross bracing located and configured to provide additional stability to the ladder while also incorporating a handle that enables efficient collapsing of the ladder while reducing the potential of pinching ones hands or fingers. In another embodiment, a device is provided for selective coupling with the ladder that includes a support or safety rail and an adjustable tray. The device may be coupled with the ladder in a number of different positions including a stowed position. In another embodiment, a hinge assembly is provided having a magnetic component configured to be magnetically coupled with and temporarily store an object on the ladder.
US09163451B1	Garage opening privacy screen systems A privacy screen assembly is a set of auxiliary screen panels for covering a garage door opening that provides a view from the inside looking out but appears to be an opaque garage door from the outside, and yet, provides ventilation through the screen panels. The panel is useful for privacy and ventilation while providing an open clear view looking out or for concealing the interior contents in the event that the roll-up garage door is disabled in the open position. The panels may be locked to provide a degree of security.
US09163450B2	Method for flashing a window or door opening A method for flashing an opening defined by a bottom sill, a pair of side jambs, and a top header includes forming a sill diverter dam at the bottom sill to receive a backside of a door or window frame with an adhesive strip placed along the sill diverter dam. The method further includes applying a sheet of flexible membrane at each intersection of the bottom sill and each side jamb, attaching a strip of weep flashing to the wall overlapping the diverter dam at the bottom sill, applying sealant along an upper edge of the door or window frame, attaching a jamb diverter sheet to the wall at each side jamb, applying sealant to the door or window frame, placing the door or window frame in the opening, applying additional sealant along the top header, and attaching a header diverter sheet to the wall along the top header.
US09163447B1	Hinge with damping device A hinge includes a hinge arm, a hinge cup, a spring, a retainer, a damper, and an adjusting member. When the hinge cup, which is pivotally connected to the hinge arm, is being closed relative thereto, the spring provides a resilient closing force to complete the closing action. The retainer is mounted in the hinge cup and has a channel. The damper is mounted in the channel and corresponds to the hinge arm to provide a damping force adjustable via the adjusting member, which is movably mounted to the retainer, includes a surface and at least two contact portions differently spaced from the surface, and can be adjusted relative to the retainer so that one of the contact portions corresponds to the damper.
US09163444B1	Device for mitigating the effects of structure deflection on sliding doors and windows A method and apparatus is provided for maintaining functionality of at least one sliding panel of a sliding unit when a building structure to which the device is attached is subject to upward or downward movement. The method includes attaching a fixed guiding portion to the building and locating a variable panel track inside the fixed guiding portion, the variable panel track allowing a specified range of vertical movement of the sliding unit inside the fixed guiding portion in order to compensate for vertical movement of the building structure such that the at least one sliding panel is retained within the fixed guiding portion during the specified range of vertical movement, where either the fixed guiding portion is a fixed header and the variable panel track is a variable header track or the fixed guiding portion is a fixed floor channel and the variable panel track is a variable floor track.
US09163443B2	Linear center rail structure for sliding door A linear center rail structure for a sliding door includes a linear center rail, a roller part, a base, and an arm. The linear center rail is disposed on a side outer panel of a vehicle. The roller part is guided by the center rail, slid along the center rail, and has hinge holes formed at an end portion thereof. The base is fixed to a sliding door panel and has slots formed in a pop-up direction of the sliding door panel. The arm has one end at which a first hinge shaft rotatably coupled to the hinge holes of the roller part is disposed and the other end at which a second hinge shaft fitted into the slots of the base to thereby be slidably and rotatably coupled to the base is disposed.
US09163442B2	Universal system for mounting rack doors A mount for mounting a door to rack includes a plate including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a hinge arm adjustably coupled with the plate and extending at an angle from a first side of the plate adjacent to the first end, the hinge arm including a door pin receptacle to receive a door pin therein for coupling the door to the rack via the plate.
US09163440B2	Controlled latch clamp A controlled latch clamp including a base and a handle pivotally connected to the base. The clamp has a link pivotally connected to the handle and to a plunger. The plunger also being pivotally connected to the base. The clamp includes an arm connected to an end of the plunger.
US09163436B2	Door outer handle apparatus for vehicle A door-opened-prevention mechanism comprises a lever member, and a biasing member biasing the lever member toward a set position. The lever member is assembled to a connection lever. The lever member is movable between the set position and a fallback position which is in a vehicle outer direction to the set position. When an inertia force, exerted on an outer handle toward the vehicle outer direction at the time of vehicle impact, is not exerted on the outer handle, the lever member is kept in the set position to enable a necessary and sufficient movement of the connection lever in a direction for opening a door, and when the inertia force is exerted on the outer handle, the lever member moves to the fallback position prior to movement of the outer handle for opening the door so as not to enable the necessary and sufficient movement of the connection lever.
US09163429B2	Image forming apparatus having drawer unit An image forming apparatus includes a drawer unit configured to be drawn out from a body of the image forming apparatus. The drawer unit includes a carriage path for carrying a recording medium, a lock unit configured to lock the drawer unit in the body, a driving unit configured to drive the lock unit, the driving unit including at least a driving source, and a drawer unit cover configured to cover at least the drawer unit. The drawer unit cover is a part of an outer cover of the body arranged on a side in a drawing direction of the drawer unit. The drawer unit cover is attached to the drawer unit so that the drawer unit cover is removed from the drawer unit in a state where the drawer unit is attached to the body.
US09163426B1	Collapsible shelter A collapsible shelter is disclosed. The collapsible shelter includes a canopy support subassembly, a canopy subassembly and a canopy cover. The canopy subassembly is removably and pivotally connected to the canopy support subassembly. The canopy cover is removably-disposed over the canopy subassembly. A method is also disclosed.
US09163425B1	Hub assembly for collapsible structures A hub assembly for collapsible structures includes a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The first hub portion has a substantially U-shaped configuration and defines at least a first opening. The second hub portion has a substantially U-shaped configuration and defines at least a first pair of aligned openings. The first hub portion and the second hub portion are connected in a crossing-configuration, such that at least part of the second hub portion is received within the first pair of aligned openings of the first hub portion and at least part of the second hub portion is received within the first opening of the first hub portion.
US09163423B1	Single container wind resistant modular ISO building A single container wind resistant modular ISO building includes a cargo container and a pitched roof structure. However, the pitched roof structure is optional. The cargo container includes a first lengthwise side wall and a second lengthwise side wall. At least one door entrance and window system is formed in at least one of the lengthwise side walls.
US09163421B2	Idler mechanisms for hydraulic devices Devices and methods for inhibiting movement of automatic pool cleaners (APCs) are described. Versions of the devices may cause pool water to bypass flowing through bodies of APCs. Alternatively, they may cause water flowing though bodies of APCs to bypass the associated motive force creators. The devices thus may constitute idler mechanisms, as they effectively prevent movement without requiring operation of the ultimate driver (i.e. the pump) to cease.
US09163420B2	Auditorium seating A multipurpose hall equipped with a set of beams supporting seats (1) bearing independent load-bearing units (3) equipped with a group of seats (4) which can be arranged in a stepped configuration or a flat configuration, characterized in that it comprises means for tilting the groups of seats (4) which for each of the load-bearing units (3) comprises at least one pantograph mechanism (9) comprising a fixed support (10) of one piece with the load-bearing beam (1) and a movable support (11) of one piece with the load-bearing unit (3) and the group of seats, as well as a control linkage whereby the group of seats (4) can be moved between a deployed position and a retracted position by rotation around the fixed support (10).
US09163419B2	Band hardness in fall protection system This invention provides fall protection systems, in metal building construction, and methods of installing such systems. A given such system comprises a suspension fabric, supported by a grid-work of longitudinal and lateral support bands. At least one of the lateral support bands is a relatively softer steel having greater elongation properties, while having lower yield and tensile strengths. The balanced properties better distribute the force of a falling object to the respective members of the fall protection system so as to limit the force which must be tolerated by the suspension fabric, such that the system can catch and hold a dropped test load, or a worker falling onto such system, without catastrophic failure of the suspension fabric.
US09163418B2	Removable and re-useable construction safety barrier A removable safety barrier for a construction site pit, in which piles support the sides of the pit, and having a plurality of upright barrier posts at spaced intervals, supported on the piles, the barrier posts extending below grade level around the edge of the construction pit and also above grade level; a plurality of retention panels, shaped to fit between adjacent posts; personal barrier supports secured to the barrier posts above grade level; and personal barrier members supported in the supports, extending substantially transversely between the upright barrier posts, and the retention panels being located below grade level extending between the barrier posts.
US09163416B2	Texturing a wall or ceiling with non-acoustical joint compound A method of texturing a wall or ceiling with non-acoustical joint compound by providing a collapsible bag having an opening at its top and is adapted to contain non-acoustical joint compound for forming a textured coating on the wall or ceiling and providing a spray nozzle having a low pressure input port, a joint compound suction port attached to the opening at the top of the collapsible bag, and an output port for spraying the non-acoustical joint compound. A low pressure stream of air from an air gun attached to the low pressure input port urges a small quantity of the non-acoustical joint compound to be sprayed out of the spray nozzle when the bottom of the collapsible disposable bag is raised above its top to either allow or force the joint compound to flow into the suction port and into the interior of the spray nozzle.
US09163415B2	Mantel with hidden mounting assembly The invention is a mantel or shelf made of a solid block of reclaimed wood with a hidden mounting assembly. The mantel has sufficient thickness, depth and length to accommodate an elongated L-shaped sheet metal bracket with planar horizontal and vertical flanges to allow selective lateral positioning of the mantel relative to its securement to spaced vertical wall studs. An L-shaped opening in the rear of the mantel is formed by a deep horizontal slot and a shallow vertical recess extending down from the slot. The slot is parallel to and near the top of the mantel, and receives the horizontal flange. The recess receives the vertical flange so the mantel is flush with the wall. A mounting fastener inserted into the mantel pierces the horizontal flange to capture the bracket and secure the mantel to the wall. The bracket, slot and recess are hidden from view during use.
US09163412B2	Alignable foam board A shaped insulating board is disclosed for enabling lining of fiber cement boards and simultaneously enabling attachment of the insulating board on the building studs. Furthermore, the shaped insulating board provides a water drainage panel that allows water to drain downward on both sides of the board. The shaped insulating board also provides aeration between the board and the building surface.
US09163405B2	Post-tension anchor wedge with flat valleys between pairs of radius tip teeth A wedge for a concrete post-tension reinforcement anchorage system is shaped such that the compressive force on the tendon after tensioning of the anchorage system is substantially evenly distributed over a length of the outer surface of the tendon that is engaged by the internal surface of the wedge. The external surface of the wedge may have a first section with a first taper angle and a second section with a second taper angle, the second taper angle being larger than the first taper angle. The internal surface of the wedge may have a first section with a first taper angle and a second section with a second taper angle, the second taper angle being greater than the first taper angle. An anchor with a bore with two taper angles and tooth profiles of threading patterns on the internal surface of the wedge are also disclosed.
US09163400B2	Method and system for improved curtain wall sealing In one aspect, the present invention relates to a plug of the type utilized for sealing a junction between a horizontal member and a vertical mullion of a curtain wall. The plug may include a plug body. The plug body may include a front body portion, a rear body portion, a left body portion, a right body portion, a top surface disposed between the left body portion, the right body portion, the front body portion, and the rear body portion. A rabbet is disposed across the front body portion. A spacer flange extends from the front body portion. A plurality of chamfers are disposed between the top surface and the left body portion, the right body portion, and the rear body portions. The plug is sized to occupy a gap formed in the junction between the horizontal member and the vertical mullion of the curtain wall. The rabbet and the plurality of chamfers form a plurality of large crevices between the plug, the horizontal member, and the vertical mullion. The large crevices allow penetration of a sealant therein.
US09163399B1	Storefront cladding system A retrofit cladding system that allows a home, office, or building to replace its cladding without having to remove the foundational frames utilizing at least one frame clip that can attach to the foundational frame structure of the home, office, building, and a plurality of cladding members that can attach to the foundational frame or the frame clip to cover the foundational frame and provide support for a window.
US09163398B2	Sound barrier systems A cellular material barrier system for reducing sound transmission. The cellular material system includes a planar cellular metamaterial arrangement which includes at least one unit cell, the unit cell includes a sound normalizing arrangement, and a planar metamaterial arrangement coupled to the sound normalizing arrangement on a first side, the planar metamaterial arrangement includes a plate, and a frame affixed to the plate, the sound normalizing arrangement configured to normalize incident sound received at non-normal angle to thereby convey sound at normal angles to the planar metamaterial arrangement, the unit cell further comprising a back layer that is coupled to the sound normalizing arrangement on a second side, opposite the first side, the back layer is made from a porous material, including at least one of a fibrous layer, polymeric foams, ceramic foams, and metallic foams.
US09163396B1	Modular building system A light weight, modular building fastening apparatus which allows rapid construction of custom modular buildings as an improvement to traditional framing systems is provided. The modular fastening system comprises a set of panels that form the roof and walls of the structure which are connected to a set of panels thorough the use of fasteners.
US09163392B2	Reinforcement rib and overhead structure incorporating the same A reinforcement rib for an overhead structure comprises a pair of sidewalls and a top wall that bridges one end of each sidewall. A lower flange extends outwardly from an opposite end of each sidewall. Each lower flange is adapted to be secured to the overhead structure.
US09163390B2	Supporting framework having connection nodes The invention is about a supporting framework, having nodes and at least one framework component. The framework components are either panels or diagonal braces or a combination of them. At least one node has a connector and at least two bars. At least one connector has a plurality of bar receiving members that are located in a corresponding plurality of faces of an imaginary polyhedron and at least one bar has a first end, fixed to the one of the bar receiving members of the connector of a first node and a second end, fixed to the corresponding bar receiving member of the connector of another node. The node further comprise a holder for the diagonal braces or panels.
US09163389B2	Toilet sealing ring A toilet sealing ring for sealing the outlet of a floor mounted toilet to a mating drain pipe comprises an annular mass of a wax based composition comprising a wax component and at least 20 wt. % of a non-wax filler component.
US09163387B2	Fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration systems and methods for controlling electrohydraulic systems used in construction equipment The present disclosure relates to fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration schemes, architectures and methods for use in electrohydraulic actuation systems for construction equipment. In one embodiment, a supervisory controller adapted to interface with a main controller of the construction vehicle is provided. A plurality of control nodes that interface with the supervisory controller are also disclosed, each of which includes pressure and position sensors. The nodes also include a first actuator control node for controlling operation of a first hydraulic actuator, a second actuator control node for controlling operation of a second hydraulic actuator, and a pump control node. The control system has an architecture in which faults are detected and isolated at the supervisory controller level and, where possible, within each of the control nodes at a sensor level, a component level, and a subsystem level.
US09163385B2	Working device The present invention relates to a working device having an element movable via at least one working cylinder, with at least one energy recovery cylinder being provided for recovering energy from the movement of the movable element and having a chamber filled with gas. In this respect, the chamber filled with gas is in operative communication with a pressure store which counters a pressure increase in the chamber filled with gas at least from a maximum pressure onward.
US09163383B2	Method for controlling a power source A method, an electronic control unit, a vehicle control system and a working machine for controlling an power source adapted to drive at least one ground engaging element of the working machine are provided. The method includes receiving an operator control input indicative of the control of the power source, receiving a state input indicative of an operating state of the machine, determining an operation signal in the response to the operator control input and the operating state input, and sending the determined operation signal for controlling the power source accordingly. An accelerator signal converter adapted to perform any of the method steps is provided, as is an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) including the accelerator signal converter, a vehicle control system including the ECU, and a working machine including the vehicle control system.
US09163382B2	Gearbox lock mechanism The gearbox lock mechanism for a post bole auger has a collar coupled to a lower end of a right angle gearbox, the collar rotatable upon operation of the gearbox. The collar comprises a semi-circular outer edge and a fiat side. A male-threaded nipple extends from the collar and threads onto the auger shaft. A lock bar is coupled to the gearbox and acts as a positive lock to lock the collar in place for removal of the shaft from the gearbox. The lock bar is rotatable from a locked position whereby the lock bar is aligned with and contactable with the flat side of the outer edge of the collar, to an unlocked position whereby the lock bar does not contact the flat side of the outer edge of the collar.
US09163381B2	Footrests and floor mats for construction machinery A wheel loader includes: a floor for a driving operation; an operator's seat for an operator to be seated; and a trainer's seat for a trainer to be seated, the operator's seat and the trainer's seat being provided in parallel to each other. A footrest of the wheel loader includes an operator's footrest and a trainer's footrest respectively having placement surfaces on which adjacent feet of the seated operator and trainer are respectively placed. The operator's footrest and the trainer's footrest are integrated with each other.
US09163380B2	Hydraulic excavator A hydraulic excavator includes an engine, a rotating frame, a vehicle body frame, a diesel particulate filtering device, a selective catalytic reduction device and a connecting pipe. The rotating frame supports the engine. The vehicle body frame is provided in a standing manner on the rotating frame, and includes a plurality of column members. The a diesel particulate filtering device and the selective catalytic reduction device process exhaust from the engine, and are supported by the vehicle body frame. The connecting pipe has an extendable bellows part in at least a portion. The connecting pipe connects the engine and the diesel particulate filtering device. The bellows part is located further away from the engine as the bellows part inclines further downward.
US09163373B2	Multi-ribbed geotextile tubes and segments thereof A large scale geotextile tube includes a plurality of cylindrical geotextile segments permanently connected end-to-end via circumferential ribs. In one embodiment, each geotextile segment is formed of the sheet of geotextile fabric that has an overlapping region that measures at least 5% of the elongation at break length of the sheet and permanently connected with at least one transverse rib to form an axial closure.
US09163370B2	Foldable pickup device A foldable pet feces pickup device includes a handle, upper operating stick, and a lower operating stick. The device further includes a linkage accessory connecting the upper operating stick to the lower operating stick. The linkage accessory has an elongated shape with round convex parts. The device further includes a pair of picking-up members for picking up an object; and a shaft connecting the lower operation stick and the pair of picking-up members. If the upper operating stick is moved toward the handle, the pair of picking-up members moves away from each other to open. If the upper operating stick is moved away from the handle, the pair of picking-up members moves toward each other to close. The device is foldable at the linkage portion.
US09163369B2	Energy absorption device An energy absorbing device having a shell comprising at least one external wall defining an internal area, wherein said internal area is further defined by one or more interior wall(s) spanning across at least a portion of said internal area, between opposing sections of said external wall(s).
US09163353B2	Method and apparatus for cutting and sealing A method and apparatus for cutting and sealing a moving length of a fabric by heating, sealing, and finally cutting the fabric in a linear process to form an even, fused edge. The fabric undergoes a sequence of manipulations efficacious for cutting and sealing the fabric to a desired pattern and edge width. The method and apparatus help to minimize frayed edges on the fabric by bonding and fusing the fibers prior to cutting. The fabric is initially drawn through the apparatus in a predetermined pattern, such as a window blind. A heating portion directs a hot gas onto a section of the fiber desired for creating the edges. The heated section is compressed under a seal, which helps fuse perpendicular and parallel cross sections of fibers. The newly sealed section is then immediately cut with a cutting portion to form at least one fused edge.
US09163345B2	Drum washing machine A drum washing machine including a cabinet, a tub disposed at an inside of the cabinet, a drum rotatively disposed at an inside of the tub, a condensing duct configured to condense moisture in air that is introduced from an inside of the drum, and a drying duct configured to heat air being introduced from the condensing duct to supply the heated air to an inside of the drum, wherein the condensing duct is coupled to a rear of the tub, while the drying duct is positioned at an upper portion of the condensing duct and is coupled to the cabinet, and in between the condensing duct and the drying duct, a buffer coupling member configured to mediate the condensing duct and the drying duct is provided.
US09163342B2	Method for manufacturing a mineral fiber-containing element and element produced by that method The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mineral fiber-containing composite and the novel mineral fiber-containing element produced by that method. The invention also relates to an apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of the invention.
US09163338B2	Fibrous mats containing chitosan nanofibers The invention relate to fibrous mats comprising chitosan nanofibers and, optionally, at least one filler material, at least one additive, or both. The invention also relates to methods of making same, and devices that include a fibrous mat comprising chitosan nanofibers.
US09163337B2	PFCB nanometer scale fibers A method for making a fibrous layer for fuel cell applications includes a step of combining a perfluorocyclobutyl-containing resin with a water soluble carrier resin to form a resinous mixture. The resinous mixture is then shaped to form a shaped resinous mixture. The shaped resinous mixture includes perfluorocyclobutyl-containing structures within the carrier resin. The shaped resinous mixture is contacted (i.e., washed) with water to separate the perfluorocyclobutyl-containing structures from the carrier resin. Optional protogenic groups and then a catalyst are added to the perfluorocyclobutyl-containing structures.
US09163325B2	Crystal growth apparatus and manufacturing method of group III nitride crystal A crystal growth apparatus comprises a reaction vessel holding a melt mixture containing an alkali metal and a group III metal, a gas supplying apparatus supplying a nitrogen source gas to a vessel space exposed to the melt mixture inside the reaction vessel, a heating unit heating the melt mixture to a crystal growth temperature, and a support unit supporting a seed crystal of a group III nitride crystal inside the melt mixture.
US09163322B2	Method and apparatus for refurbishing turbine components A refurbishing method, refurbishing apparatus and refurbished article are provided. The refurbishing method includes accessing a plurality of rotatable components attached to a turbine assembly, the turbine assembly being a portion of a turbomachine, providing a predetermined volume of a buffered electrolytic solution in an electro-polishing tank, coupling the plurality of rotatable components to a power supply, immersing an immersion portion of at least one of the plurality of rotatable components in the buffered electrolytic solution, passing an electrical energy through the immersion portion of at least one of the plurality of rotatable components while the immersion portion is immersed in the buffered electrolytic solution, wherein an electrical flux to the immersion portion electro-polishes the immersion portion, separating the immersion portion from the buffered electrolytic solution, and applying a corrosion inhibitor to the plurality of rotatable components.
US09163320B2	Electrolytic cell having a transition duct outlet An electrolytic cell is provided. The cell includes a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet outlet, an anode and a cathode positioned within the housing and defining a reaction chamber therebetween, and a liquid flow path, from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet, which passes through the reaction chamber. A transition duct is positioned at the liquid outlet and has a duct inlet, a duct outlet and a transition section along which internal side walls of the transition section converge along the liquid flow path to define a smooth transition from a first cross-sectional area to a second cross-sectional area of the transition duct. The first cross-sectional area is at least two times greater than the second cross sectional area.
US09163319B2	Three electrode electrolytic cell and method for making hypochlorous acid A method and apparatus are provided for electrolyzing a source liquid in an electrolytic device. The electrolytic device includes a first cathode in a cathode chamber; and an anode and a second, auxiliary cathode in an anode chamber. The anode chamber and cathode chamber are separated by a barrier, and the anode and the auxiliary cathode are separated by a gap that lacks a barrier. While electrolyzing the source liquid with the electrolytic device, a level of current applied to the auxiliary cathode is adjusted in response to pH of an anolyte liquid produced from the source liquid by the anode chamber to maintain the pH within a desired range.
US09163311B2	Film forming apparatus Provided is a film forming apparatus for forming a film on a substrate maintained within a film forming container by supplying a raw material gas to the substrate. The film forming container includes a substrate maintaining unit, a supply mechanism configured to include a supply pipe with supply holes formed thereon to supply a raw material gas to the interior of the film forming container through the supply holes, an exhaust mechanism configured to include an exhaust pipe with exhaust holes formed thereon to exhaust gas from the interior of the film forming container through the exhaust holes, and a controller configured to control the substrate maintaining unit, the supply mechanism, and the exhaust mechanism. The supply holes and the exhaust holes are formed to face each other with the substrate maintained in the substrate maintaining unit interposed therebetween.
US09163310B2	Enhanced deposition of layer on substrate using radicals Embodiments relate to using radicals to at different stages of deposition processes. The radicals may be generated by applying voltage across electrodes in a reactor remote from a substrate. The radicals are injected onto the substrate at different stages of molecular layer deposition (MLD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to improve characteristics of the deposited layer, enable depositing of material otherwise not feasible and/or increase the rate of deposition. Gas used for generating the radicals may include inert gas and other gases. The radicals may disassociate precursors, activate the surface of a deposited layer or cause cross-linking between deposited molecules.
US09163306B2	Patterning slit sheet frame assembly A patterning slit sheet frame assembly includes a patterning slit sheet having a pattern, a patterning slit sheet frame supporting the patterning slit sheet, and a tensile force application unit that applies a tensile force to the patterning slit sheet after the patterning slit sheet is disposed on the patterning slit sheet frame.
US09163305B2	Continuous annealing method and a manufacturing method of hot-dip galvanized steel strips An annealing and manufacturing method of hot-dip galvanized steel strips includes suppression of oxide formation of elements in the steel strips. An annealing furnace includes a heating zone, a soaking zone, and a cooling zone in which a portion of gas is introduced to decrease the gas dew point. A gas suction rate Qo1 in a portion of the cooling zone, a gas suction rate Qo2 in an upper portion and a gas feed rate Qi2 in a lower portion of the soaking zone, a gas feed rate Qi1 in a connection part between the soaking and cooling zones, an atmosphere gas supply rate Qf1 into the cooling zone and its subsequent zone, an atmosphere gas supply rate Qf2 into the soaking zone, an internal volume Vs of the soaking zone, and an average furnace temperature Ts of the soaking zone satisfy relationships including 0.3×Qf1
US09163303B2	Austenitic heat-resistant cast steel An iron (Fe)-based austenitic heat-resistant cast steel includes, based on a total of 100 mass % (indicated below simply as “%”): 0.4 to 0.8% of carbon (C), 3.0% or less of silicon (Si), 0.5 to 2.0% of manganese (Mn), 0.05% or less of phosphorus (P), 0.03 to 0.2% of sulfur (S), 18 to 23% of chromium (Cr), 3.0 to 8.0% of nickel (Ni) and 0.05 to 0.4% of nitrogen (N). A ratio of chromium (Cr) to carbon (C) is in a range of 22.5≦Cr/C≦57.5. The cast steel includes one or two or more of vanadium (V), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W) and niobium (Nb) in a total amount of less than 0.2%.
US09163302B2	Castable heat resistant aluminium alloy The present invention relates to a castable heat resistant aluminum alloy for high temperature applications such as components in combustion engines, in particular for the manufacturing of highly loaded cylinder heads, the alloy comprises the following composition: .Si: 6.5-10 wt %.Mg: 0.25-0.35 wt %.Cu: 0.3-0.7 wt %.Hf: 0.025-0.55 wt % Optionally with the addition of: .Ti: 0-0.2 wt %.Zr: 0-0.3 wt %, the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities including Fe.
US09163301B2	Method of producing tin emitted low alpha radiation by using vacuum refining A method of producing a purified tin, which emits low alpha radiation by using a vacuum refining has developed: the steps are comprising: preparing a crude tin; containing the crude tin in a crucible and placing it in a vacuum furnace; and removing the impurities, which have higher vapor pressures and low boiling points than that of the tin from the vacuum furnace. The impurities, such as a lead and bismuth can be removed as much as possible by utilizing the difference of the vapor pressure of the elements in the tin. It is possible to minimize the emission of alpha radiation, so that it can be prevented the occurrence of the software errors.
US09163300B2	High strength and high conductivity copper alloy pipe, rod, or wire A high strength and high conductivity copper alloy pipe, rod, or wire is composed of an alloy composition containing 0.13 to 0.33 mass % of Co, 0.044 to 0.097 mass % of P, 0.005 to 0.80 mass % of Sn, and 0.00005 to 0.0050 mass % of O, wherein a content [Co] mass % of Co and a content [P] mass % of P satisfy a relationship of 2.9≦([Co]−0.007)/([P]−0.008)≦6.1, and the remainder includes Cu and inevitable impurities. The high strength and high conductivity copper alloy pipe, rod, or wire is produced by a process including a hot extruding process. Strength and conductivity of the high strength and high conductivity copper pipe, rod, or wire are improved by uniform precipitation of a compound of Co and P and by solid solution of Sn.
US09163299B2	Device for producing titanium metal, and method for producing titanium metal A device for producing titanium metal comprises (a) a first heating unit that heats and gasifies magnesium and a first channel that feeds the gaseous magnesium, (b) a second heating unit that heats and gasifies titanium tetrachloride so as to have a temperature of at least 1600° C. and a second channel that feeds the gaseous titanium tetrachloride, (c) a venturi section at which the second channel communicates with an entrance channel, the first channel merges into a throat and as a result the magnesium and the titanium tetrachloride combine in the throat and a mixed gas is formed in the exit channel, and in which the temperature of the throat and the exit channel is regulated to be at least 1600° C., (d) a titanium metal deposition unit that communicates with the exit channel and has a substrate for deposition with a temperature in the range of 715-1500° C., and (e) a mixed gas discharge channel that communicates with the titanium metal deposition unit.
US09163297B2	Method for the integration of carbochlorination into a staged reforming operation as an alternative to direct residue oxidation for the recovery of valuable metals Method of combining industrial processes having inherent carbon capture and conversion capabilities offering maximum flexibility, efficiency, and economics while enabling environmentally and sustainably sound practices. Maximum chemical energy is retained throughout feedstock processing. A hybrid thermochemical cycle couples staged reforming with hydrogen production and chlorination. Hydrogen generated is used to upgrade feedstocks including bitumen, shale, coal, and biomass. Residues of upgrading are chlorinated, metals of interest are removed, and the remainder is reacted with ammonia solution and carbon dioxide to form carbonate minerals. The combination provides emissions free production of synthetic crude oil and derivatives, as well as various metals and fertilizers. Sand and carbonate minerals are potentially the only waste streams. Through this novel processing, major carbon dioxide reduction is afforded byminimizing direct oxidation. Supplemental heat to run the reactions is obtained through external means such as concentrated solar, geothermal, or nuclear.
US09163293B2	Compositions and processes for improving phosphatation clarification of sugar liquors and syrups A process for improving phosphatation clarification of sugars can include adding to a sugar liquor a composition having at least one particulate sulfur reagent and at least one or more other particulate solids selected from, a particulate phosphorous reagent, a particulate carbonaceous reagent, a particulate aluminum reagent, a particulate filter aid, and a particulate ammonium reagent. The composition can be added to the phosphatation chemical reaction tank or prior to the phosphatation chemical reaction tank. Phosphatation chemicals, for example polymer decolorant, phosphoric acid, lime and a flocculent, can be added into the process at least five minutes after adding the composition. In using the process, the amount of phosphatation chemicals added is less than the amount of phosphatation chemicals required in the absence of addition of the composition or the purity of the sugar is improved as measured by one or more of color, turbidity and ash.
US09163292B2	Compositions and process for improving carbonatation clarification of sugar liquors and syrups This invention relates to compositions and processes for improving the carbonatation clarification of sugar liquors and syrups. The improved processes involve adding compositions to a sugar liquor directly in the carbonated liquor holding tank (after the final carbonatation saturator), upstream of the carbonated liquor holding tank but downstream of the final stage Carbonatation saturator, before filtration of the carbonated liquor, or at any stage in the sugar purification process. The compositions provided in this invention are mixed intimately into the sugar liquors or syrups, and allowed sufficient time to react to impart an improvement in the clarified liquor obtained therefrom. Compositions can include combinations of one or more of a particulate sulfur reagent, particulate phosphorous reagent, particulate aluminum reagent, silica reagent, particulate carbonaceous reagent, particulate filter aid, a polymer decolorant, and particulate ammonium reagent.
US09163291B2	Glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase homologue and use thereof The present invention provides a novel glycerol 3-phosphateacyltransferase gene and use thereof. The object of the present invention can be solved by providing a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 4, or 8, SEQ ID NO: 3, 6, or 11, or SEQ ID NO: 7 or 12 and a mutant thereof. The present invention also provides a protein having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, 5, or 9 and a mutant thereof.
US09163290B2	Methods for detecting hepatitis B virus surface gene non-sense mutations A method for in vitro detection of the presence of a C-terminal truncation mutation of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface (S) gene encoding a small S protein in an isolated nucleic acid sample is disclosed. An in vitro diagnostic kit for use in the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
US09163289B2	Kit for detecting HIV-1 and method for detecting HIV-1 using the same A method is described for the real-time detection of HIV-1 gene target DNA in a sample, including obtaining HIV-1 specific cDNA by reverse transcription, amplifying a portion of the cDNA, and detecting the amplicons so produced using probe labeled with a detectable marker.
US09163286B2	Dry composition of reaction compounds with stabilized polymerase The present invention provides methods to obtain dry compositions of reaction compounds that maintain the biological activity of the compounds upon re-solubilization after a certain storage time. Preferably, the dry composition comprises a polymerase, and the dry composition is usable for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification after re-solubilization.
US09163284B2	Methods for identifying a target site of a Cas9 nuclease Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, methods, and reagents for determining nuclease target site preferences and specificity of site-specific endonucleases. Some methods provided herein utilize a novel “one-cut” strategy for screening a library of concatemers comprising repeat units of candidate nuclease target sites and constant insert regions to identify library members that can been cut by a nuclease of interest via sequencing of an intact target site adjacent and identical to a cut target site.
US09163279B2	Device and apparatus A device (1) for carrying out a chemical or biochemical reaction and detecting the results is described. The device may be used in an assay to detect a target nucleic acid in a sample. The device includes (i) a well (8) in which a chemical or biochemical reaction such as a nucleic acid amplification reaction may be effected in a liquid phase or a receiver for such a well; (ii) a channel (16) extending from the well; (iii) a lateral flow assay device (32) arranged to receive liquid contents from channel, on a bibulous membrane thereon. The membrane contains elements that are able to detect the products of the chemical or biochemical reaction such as a target nucleic acid. Methods for using such devices and apparatus for carrying out assays using these are also described and claimed.
US09163276B2	Method for fabricating stable-isotope-labeled target peptide fragment in mass spectrometry An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a stable isotope-labeled target peptide fragment in mass spectrometry, which achieves inexpensive and convenient production. As a solution to attain the object, the stable isotope-labeled target peptide fragment in mass spectrometry is produced using a method comprising the steps of: expressing a DNA conjugate in a system having a stable isotope-labeled amino acid to thereby prepare a stable isotope-labeled protein, wherein the DNA conjugate comprises: a tandemly linked DNA in which two or more DNAs encoding one or more types of target peptide fragments are linked in tandem; and a DNA encoding a peptide fragment for concentration measurement; subjecting the stable isotope-labeled protein to fragmentation treatment with trypsin to prepare a stable isotope-labeled peptide fragment for concentration measurement and stable isotope-labeled target peptide fragments; quantifying the stable isotope-labeled peptide fragment for concentration measurement using a liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS); and calculating the concentration of the stable isotope-labeled target peptide fragment of each type from the quantification value of the stable isotope-labeled peptide fragment for concentration measurement.
US09163275B2	Liquid tissue preparation from histopathologically processed biologically samples, tissues and cells The current invention provides a method for directly converting histopathologically processed biological samples, tissues, and cells into a multi-use biomolecule lysate. This method allows for simultaneous extraction, isolation, solublization, and storage of all biomolecules contained within the histopathologically processed biological sample, thereby forming a representative library of said sample. This multi-use biomolecule lysate is dilutable, soluble, capable of being fractionated, and used in any number of subsequent experiments.
US09163274B2	Method for producing embryos by in vitro culture, and method, apparatus, and system for selecting embryos An object of the present invention is to provide a means for efficiently obtaining mammalian embryos having high conception rates. A first aspect of the present invention is a method for selecting a mammalian embryo prepared by in vitro culture from a fertilized egg, comprising a step of selecting an embryo using two or more of the following indicators: the time from fertilization to the completion of first cleavage; the morphology at a stage after first cleavage and before second cleavage; the morphology at a stage after third cleavage and before fourth cleavage; and the amount of oxygen consumed at the early blastocyst stage, the blastocyst stage, or the expanded blastocyst stage.
US09163273B2	Biosensors and methods for making and using them Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors having optimized permselective membranes and methods for making and using such sensors. Embodiments of the invention also provide analyte sensors such as those having porous matrices coated with an analyte sensing composition and methods for making and using such sensors. Illustrative embodiments include electrochemical glucose sensors having glucose oxidase coatings.
US09163272B2	Protein synthesis kit, and method for expressing and extracting proteins using automatic extraction equipment Provided is a method of protein synthesis. The method of protein synthesis according to the present invention uses an automatic biological material purification apparatus including: a well plate kit; a heating part; and a magnetic field applying part, such that a plurality of target proteins may be more quickly and simply obtained as compared to target proteins obtained by using the existing method for expressing/purifying proteins through conventional cell culture, and a reproducible synthesis efficiency on the same proteins may be obtained due to no deviation between reaction wells.
US09163267B2	Metathesis transformations of microbially-produced fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives Methods of producing olefins, bifunctional molecules, and 7-tetradecene are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise subjecting a omega-7-olefinic fatty acid or derivative thereof to metathesis transformation, wherein the omega-7-olefinic fatty acid or derivative thereof was produced in a genetically engineered microorganism.
US09163260B2	Adeno-associated virus serotype I nucleic acid sequences, vectors and host cells containing same The nucleic acid sequences of adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 1 are provided, as are vectors and host cells containing these sequences and functional fragments thereof. Also provided are methods of delivering genes via AAV-1 derived vectors.
US09163258B2	Method for the treatment of obesity The present invention relates to therapeutic compositions for treating or preventing obesity and obesity-related disorders in a subject using immunotherapy to target and eliminate adipocytes.
US09163257B2	Expression vector and methods of producing high levels of proteins A process for high expression of protein of interest using an expression vector. The process comprises at least the following regulatory elements: a) a CMV promoter, or its functional variants, b) an intron, c) TPL or its functional variants, d) VA genes or functional variants, and e) a bovine growth hormone polyadenylation sequence or functional variants.
US09163254B2	Recombinant DNA molecule encoding 5′ UTR capable of preventing inhibition of translation under environmental stresses An object of the present invention is to identify sequence features of the 5′ UTR, which are involved in changes in the translational state of plants under environmental stresses, and to provide a recombinant DNA molecule, an expression vector, a transformant, and the like, having the above sequence features. The present invention provides a recombinant DNA molecule encoding mRNA containing the 5′ UTR (a) or (b) defined below, a vector obtained by ligating the recombinant DNA molecule to a site immediately downstream of the transcription initiation point of a promoter, and a transformant comprising the vector:(a) 5′ UTR in which a sequence of bases 1 to 7 and a sequence of bases 12 to 32 from the 5′ end are, respectively, a sequence of bases 1 to 7 and a sequence of bases 12 to 32 of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 20, 36, or 60; and(b) 5′ UTR in which one or more bases in the base sequence of the 5′ UTR of (a) are replaced, and which escapes translational repression induced by at least one environmental stress selected from the group consisting of heat stress and salt stress.
US09163251B2	Mature leaf-specific promoter The present invention provides gene expression regulatory DNA having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner. The following is provided: gene expression regulatory DNA having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner, which comprises any one of the following (a) to (d): (a) DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) DNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence that has a deletion, a substitution, an addition, or an insertion of one or a plurality of nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner; (c) DNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence having 90% or more sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner; and (d) DNA hybridizing under stringent conditions to DNA consisting of a sequence complementary to a part or the entirety of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner.
US09163249B2	Production methods The present invention provides methods of reducing the levels of a titratable selectable pressure required, the number of amplification cycles, and the time taken to generate protein expressing cell lines by altering the codons of the desired open-reading-frames. Through the use of codon adaptation for this purpose the methods of the invention consistently provide sufficient yields in faster time frames saving many weeks in cell line development activities. Furthermore the methods of the invention also generate cell lines with lower concentrations of selection and amplification agent than previously achievable. Accordingly lower levels of selection and amplification marker in the final cells lines are observed.
US09163248B2	Targeting pseudotyped retroviral vectors The present invention provides targeted lentiviral vectors that are psuedotyped with mutated Sindbis envelopes. For example, mutations in the Sindbis E2 protein are used to alter viral titer, specificity, specificity index, tropism, and susceptibility to host immune response. Typically, one or more of the E1, E2, or E3 proteins can be mutated at one or more amino acid positions. The psuedotyped, targeted lentiviral vectors of the invention are used to transduce heterologous genes into a cell and can be used for in vivo and ex vivo therapeutic applications, as well as for diagnostic and research tool applications.
US09163243B2	Nucleic acids specifically binding CGRP The present invention is related to a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to CGRP, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises a central stretch of nucleotides, wherein the central stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ HWn1n2YGGAn3An4UMn5n6Yn7n8n9n10n11Kn12Rn13ADn14n15 ARn16Un17Cn18n19Un20n21 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 99], wherein H, W, Y, G, A, U, M, B, K, R, D, C are ribonucleotides, and n1 is R or dG, n2 is U or dT, n3 is K or dG, n4 is C or dC, n5 is M or dC, n6 is B or dU, n7 is N or dG, n8 is Y or dT, n9 is N or dC, n10 is R or dG, n11 is V or dA, n12 is K or dT or dU, n13 is G or dG, n14 is A or dA, n15 is U or dT, n16 is R or dG, n17 is Y or dC, n18 is C or dC, n19 is B or dC, n20 is C or dC, n21 is C or dC, and dG, dT, dC, dA and dU are 2′-deoxyribonucleotides.
US09163241B2	Cell-type specific aptamer-siRNA delivery system for HIV-1 therapy The present invention relates to compositions and methods for delivery of siRNA to specific cells or tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for cell type-specific delivery of anti-HIV siRNAs via fusion to an anti-gp120 aptamer.
US09163236B2	Pharmaceutical composition comprising NANOG SHRNA, and method of using NANOG SHRNA to treat cancer The present description relates to an inhibitory RNA molecule, comprising an oligonucleotide that selectively knocks down expression of either Nanog or a Nanog pseudogene, a vector capable of encoding such inhibitory RNA molecule, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said vector, and methods of treating cancer by administration of said pharmaceutical composition.
US09163234B2	Culture method The invention provides methods of culturing cells, particularly maintaining the differentiation potential of a population of cells with differentiation potential. The methods involve contacting cells with an inhibitor of miRNA-181a* and/or incubation in a serum-free medium. A serum-free medium is also provided. Also provided are progeny stem cells, methods of obtaining them, and uses thereof.
US09163226B2	Storage-stable liquid washing or cleaning agent containing proteases Phosphonate-containing liquid washing or cleaning agent exhibiting advantageous proteolytic activity and improved storage stability comprising a protease having an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence stated in SEQ ID NO. 1 and which comprises in position 99 in the numbering according to SEQ ID NO. 1 the amino acid glutamic acid (E) or aspartic acid (D) or the amino acid asparagine (N) or glutamine (Q) or the amino acid alanine (A) or glycine (G) or serine (S).
US09163225B2	Methods for purifying insect membrane-bound receptor proteins from recombinant production hosts The invention is drawn to a method for purifying membrane-bound proteins expressed in recombinant insect cells using N-laurosarcosine. The invention is particularly suited for expressing cadherin-type receptors cloned from Ostrinia nubilalis, European Corn Borer, and expressed in Sf9 insect cells. The method is optionally adapted for use with 6-his tag proteins.
US09163223B2	Polypeptide having acetyl xylan esterase activity and uses thereof The invention relates to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant polypeptide or variant polynucleotide thereof, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least 82% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or the variant polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide that has at least 82% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention features the full length coding sequence of the novel gene as well as the amino acid sequence of the full-length functional polypeptide and functional equivalents of the gene or the amino acid sequence. The invention also relates to methods for using the polypeptide in industrial processes. Also included in the invention are cells transformed with a polynucleotide according to the invention suitable for producing these proteins.
US09163221B2	Fatty alcohol forming acyl reductases (FARs) and methods of use thereof The present disclosure provides methods useful for producing fatty alcohol compositions from recombinant host cells. The disclosure further provides variant fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the variant FAR enzymes, and vectors and host cells comprising the same.
US09163218B2	Method for increasing the efficiency of inducing pluripotent stem cells The present invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of inducing pluripotent stem cells by utilizing genes Jhdm1a that modify histone. By utilizing Jhdm1a, and a stem cell inducing factor, the present invention increases the efficiency of inducing pluripotent stem cells and increases the quality of induced pluripotent stem cells. The stem cell inducing factor is a combination of Oct4 and Klf4, or a combination of Sox2, Oct4, and Klf4, or a combination of Oct4 and Sox2, and Oct4 alone. The method further comprises exposing the cells to vitamin C, which further increases the efficiency of inducing pluripotent stem cells as compared with the case where no vitamin C is used. By using less stem cell reducing factors, the method of the present invention reduces the potential carcinogenicity, obtains a high inducing efficiency, and provides high-quality induced pluripotent stem cells capable of germ-line transmission.
US09163213B2	RNA preparations comprising purified modified RNA for reprogramming cells The present invention provides compositions and methods for reprogramming somatic cells using purified RNA preparations comprising single-strand mRNA encoding an iPS cell induction factor. The purified RNA preparations are preferably substantially free of RNA contaminant molecules that: i) would activate an immune response in the somatic cells, ii) would decrease expression of the single-stranded mRNA in the somatic cells, and/or iii) active RNA sensors in the somatic cells. In certain embodiments, the purified RNA preparations are substantially free of partial mRNAs, double-stranded RNAs, un-capped RNA molecules, and/or single-stranded run-on mRNAs.
US09163211B2	Animal protein free media for cultivation of cells The present invention relates to animal protein free cell culture media comprising a combination of non-animal derived peptides derived from soy hydrolysate and yeast hydrolysate. The invention also provides an animal protein free culture process, wherein cells are cultivated, propagated and passaged without animal-derived components. This process is useful for cultivating cells, such as recombinant cells or cells infected with a virus, and for production biological products by cell culture processes under conditions devoid of animal protein components.
US09163205B2	Process for making films from nonwoven webs A process for making a film from a nonwoven web by converting the nonwoven web into a film and films and unit dose products made therefrom are provided.
US09163203B2	Lipolytic enzyme variant with improved stability and polynucleotides encoding same The invention provides lipolytic enzyme variants having improved in-detergent stability and polynucleotides encoding same. Lipolytic enzyme variants with improved in-detergent stability are obtained by substituting certain specified amino acid residues in a parent lipolytic enzyme.
US09163202B2	Aqueous cleaning compositions including an alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate Cleaning compositions and methods of making and using the same are provided. The cleaning compositions of the present invention may include at least one alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate and water, optionally including at least one surfactant and one or more additional additives. The cleaning compositions of the present invention, which are non-toxic and environmentally benign, can be useful to remove many types of soils from a range of different substrates in a variety of domestic, industrial, and/or institutional applications.
US09163200B2	Liquid cleaning and/or cleansing composition The present invention relates to a liquid, cleaning and/or cleansing composition comprising abrasive cleaning particles.
US09163199B1	Linear alkylbenzenes from natural oils and methods of producing A linear alkyl benzene product and production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil are provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
US09163197B1	Methods of extracting phytochemicals from sorghum bran A method of extracting phytochemical products from sorghum is achieved by treating a sorghum bran material composed of removed outer portions of whole sorghum seeds. The removed outer portions constitute those portions of the outer 40% or less by weight of the whole sorghum seeds. By utilizing different treatment techniques, phytochemical products of fats and oils, pigments, waxes, and antioxidants can be obtained from the sorghum material.
US09163192B2	Coal processing with added biomass and volatile control A process for treating input coal includes treating input coal in a pyrolysis step to form coal char. The pyrolysis step includes heating the coal substantially in the absence of oxygen to remove volatile material from the coal. The volatile material evolved from the coal in the pyrolysis step is treated to separate the volatile material into gases and liquids, wherein the liquids contain condensed volatile material. A portion of the liquids is directed to the coal char, and the returned portion of the liquids is mixed with the coal char, thereby returning some of the volatile material to the coal char.
US09163189B2	Balanced unleaded fuel compositions Balanced unleaded fuel compositions exhibiting: a pump octane rating of greater than 93; a T50 (maximum) of 104.4° C. (220° F.) and a T90 (maximum) of 165.6° C. (330° F.), as required under the CARB Phase 3 model; and, producing a higher average torque and/or higher average power output than commercially available fuels stated to meet the CARB Phase 3 model.
US09163188B2	Separation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen A process is described for separating a gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) impurities into a hydrogen (H2) rich vapor stream, a carbon dioxide (CO2) stream and an H2S rich vapor stream in an apparatus that comprises a compression and/or cooling system comprising at least one compressor and/or heat exchanger and a gas-liquid separator vessel, and an H2S recovery unit. In examples, the process comprises the steps of: (a) feeding the gas stream to the compression and/or cooling system such that carbon dioxide in the gas stream condenses to form a two-phase stream; (b) passing the two-phase stream either directly or indirectly to a gas-liquid separator vessel and withdrawing a hydrogen rich vapor stream and a liquid CO2 stream containing dissolved H2S impurities from the separator vessel; (c) passing the liquid CO2 stream containing dissolved H2S impurities to an H2S recovery unit comprising an evaporator/condenser in which the CO2 and H2S are vaporized and an H2S absorber in which the gaseous H2S and CO2 are separated, wherein the two phase stream passed to the separator is at a pressure of from 80 bar to 400 bar. In some applications, the pressure of the H2S recovery unit is at least 30 bar. In a preferred example, residual CO2 in the hydrogen rich vapor stream is removed in an optional step by solvent extraction in a CO2 absorber most preferably in a configuration where the H2S and CO2 absorbers share the same (preferably methanol) solvent.
US09163187B2	Gasification of combustible organic materials The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a combustible gas having a lower heating value of at least 1 MJ/Nm3, comprising the reaction of an oxidizing gas comprising steam or oxygen or CO2 with an organic material in contact with a molten silicate bath held in a tank and comprising a heat supply into the molten silicate, said process operating continuously, silicate being regularly drained from the tank and vitrifiable materials being regularly introduced in order to feed the silicate bath. The heat supply is preferably of the submerged combustion type. The invention also relates to a continuous industrial manufacturing process comprising continuous production, in an industrial production unit comprising a gaseous fuel burner that generates combustion gases; continuous production of steam in a boiler; and continuous production of combustible gas in a unit for producing combustible gas comprising the reaction of an oxidizing gas comprising steam with an organic material, the combustion gases being conveyed to the boiler in order to vaporize water and produce steam, the steam produced by the boiler being conveyed to the unit for producing combustible gas in order to react with the organic material, the combustible gas being conveyed to the industrial production unit in order to be burnt therein as a gaseous fuel.
US09163180B2	Process for the conversion of carbon-based material by a hybrid route combining direct liquefaction and indirect liquefaction in the presence of hydrogen resulting from non-fossil resources A process for the conversion of carbon-based material to fuel bases by a hybrid route combining direct ebullent bed liquefaction and indirect liquefaction by gasification followed by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, including a stage of production of hydrogen resulting from non-fossil resources and a reverse water gas reaction stage. This process makes it possible to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.
US09163174B2	Highly efficient phosphorescent materials Novel phosphorescent heteroleptic iridium complexes with substituted phenylquinoline ligands are provided. The alkyl substitution on the phenylquinoline ligands together with larger alkyl substituents on the acetylacetone-derived ligands produces complexes with improved properties that are useful when incorporated into OLED devices.
US09163170B2	Epoxy resin composition including silica and core-shell polymer particles Disclosed is an impact resistant adhesive composition including silica and core-shell polymer particles. The impact resistant adhesive composition includes: (a) a first component including an epoxy resin and a polymeric dispersant, or an epoxy resin-polymeric dispersant prepolymer; (b) a second component including silica and core-shell polymer particles having a particle diameter of 20 to 250 nm; and (c) a third component including a curing agent and an additive mixture. The polymeric dispersant is a flexible polyether monoamine or polyether diamine which includes a mixed form of a lipophilic alkyl oxide chain and a hydrophilic ethylene oxide chain in the main chain, and has a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 4,000.
US09163169B2	Adhesive compositions having a reduced cure time and methods for making and using same Adhesive compositions having a reduced cure time and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the adhesive composition can include a mixture of one or more phenolic-aldehyde resins and one or more cure accelerants. The one or more cure accelerants can be selected from the group consisting of: ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, one or more primary amines, one or more secondary amines, one or more tertiary amines, one or more alkanolamines, one or more aromatic amines, one or more polyamines, one or more amides, one or more polyamides, one or more compounds containing at least one amine functional group and at least one sulfur functional group, and any mixture thereof. In one or more embodiments, the adhesive composition can also include one or more hardeners.
US09163168B2	UV-crosslinkable PSAs with UV absorber, methods for producing them and use The invention provides meltable and UV-crosslinkable pressure-sensitive adhesives, such as acrylate hotmelts or hotmelt formulations, which can be processed by commonplace hotmelt processes and also on customary hotmelt coating lines, without any immediate alteration in the product properties in the event of (unwanted) deviation in the operational parameters. The compositions of the invention are UV-crosslinkable and meltable pressure-sensitive adhesives comprising (i) mixtures of UV-crosslinkable polyacrylate polymers selected from a) mixtures of UV-crosslinkable polymers with at least one photoinitiator bonded covalently to the backbone of the polymers, and b) mixtures of UV-crosslinkable polyacrylate polymers, monomers and at least one photoinitiator, and also (ii) at least one UV stabilizer, and also methods for producing them and the use thereof as bonding agents.
US09163165B2	Primerless removable adhesive systems This invention relates to a primerless removable or repositionable pressure sensitive tape or label comprises a porous substrate material, and a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) composition comprising (i) 10 to 90 wt. %, based on the combined weight of parts (i) and (ii), of one or more aqueous adhesive (co)polymer, and (ii) 90 to 10 wt. %, based on the combined weight of parts (i) and (ii), of one of more water-dispersed thermoplastic material, wherein the water-dispersed thermoplastic material is incompatible with the aqueous adhesive (co)polymer.
US09163162B2	Polishing agent, polishing agent set and method for polishing base A polishing agent according to one embodiment of the present invention contains a liquid medium, an abrasive grain including a hydroxide of a tetravalent metal element, a polymer compound having an aromatic ring and a polyoxyalkylene chain, and a cationic polymer, wherein a weight average molecular weight of the polymer compound is 1000 or more.
US09163157B2	Acrylic resin composition and moldings in which said composition is used The present invention relates to a multilayer laminated product which at least contains a layer formed of an acrylic resin composition containing an acrylic resin as a main component, and a specific terminally-modified polycarbonate resin. Moreover, the multilayer laminated product of the present invention has an excellent releasability and low frictional properties.
US09163151B2	Coating composition for a food or beverage can A two component coating composition, suitable for coating onto a metal substrate, especially food and beverage cans, the coating composition comprising: a first component comprising an acrylic latex material; and a second component comprising a functional silane material.
US09163140B2	Polyester compositions The invention relates to compositions based on polyester, titanium dioxide, and glass fibers, to the use of said compositions for producing short-period-heat-resistant products and also to a process for producing short-period-heat-resistant polyester-based products, in particular polyester-based optoelectronic products.
US09163139B2	Extended film and the manufacturing method thereof An extended film and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The extended film includes a poly(lactic acid) and a block copolymer, wherein the block polymer includes a first block, a second block and a third block that connected with each other by chemical bonds. The extended film is formed by steps of mixing poly(lactic acid) and the block copolymer to form a mixture, compressing the mixture to form a board body and extending the board body to form an extended film, thereby forming an extended film having properties of high thermal-resistance and high transparency, the film thus obtained is applicable for packaging use.
US09163131B2	Resin composition containing ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer The present invention provides a resin composition containing (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and (B) an unsaturated aldehyde (B), in which the content of the unsaturated aldehyde (B) with respect to the resin composition containing the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is 0.01 ppm or more and 100 ppm or less. The unsaturated aldehyde (B) is preferably crotonaldehyde, 2,4-hexadienal, 2,4,6-octatrienal or a combination thereof. In addition, it is preferred that the resin composition further contains a boron compound, and the content of the boron compound is 100 ppm or more and 5,000 ppm or less. Also, it is preferred that the resin composition further contains a conjugated polyene compound, and the content of the conjugated polyene compound is 0.01 ppm or more and 1,000 ppm or less.
US09163129B2	Black pigment, and glaze and paint containing same Provided is a novel pigment that has the ability to selectively reflect infrared light. The pigment is a black pigment which comprises a (Cr,Fe)2O3 solid solution, wherein the ratio of the Cr and the Fe (molar ratio) is (90-97):(10-3), the solid solution having a non-spinel structure.
US09163128B2	Titanium oxide-containing aluminum oxide particles based on corundum melted in an electric arc furnace from calcined alumina, and a method for the production thereof Titanium oxide-containing aluminum oxide particles are based on corundum melted in an electric arc furnace from calcined alumina. The particles may have an aluminum oxide content of less than 97.0% by weight, a titanium oxide content ranging from 1.3% by weight to 1.8% by weight, and a zirconium oxide content of ranging from 0.02% by weight to 0.1% by weight. The aluminum oxide particles may have an arithmetic mean compactness of less than 0.8.
US09163127B2	Rubber composition suitable for use as a cap ply in a tire Disclosed is a rubber composition suitable for use as a cap ply rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises: (a) at least one natural or synthetic rubbery polymer; (b) from 0.1 to 20 phr of at least one hydrazide compound; (c) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene donor; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene acceptor resin; and (e) from 0.1 to 10 phr of zinc oxide. A method of making the same is also disclosed.
US09163125B2	Method of preparing a transparent polymer material comprising a thermoplastic polycarbonate and surface-modified mineral nanoparticles A method of preparing a transparent polymer material includes i) obtaining composite nanoparticles having mineral nanoparticles at least partially coated with at least one monomer and/or at least one polymer suitable for promoting physicochemical interactions at the interface between the mineral nanoparticles and a thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix, the mineral nanoparticles being surface-modified by the monomer and/or the polymer, either directly by grafting or directly by adsorption of the monomer and/or polymer onto the surface of the mineral nanoparticles; or via a coupling agent selected from a chlorosilane or an organosilane including a functional group that is capable of reacting by a radical pathway. The composite nanoparticles obtained in step i) are mixed with the thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix in the molten state to obtain the transparent polymer material.
US09163120B2	Initiator An initiator for cationic polymerization comprises a salt of a protic acid as well as a protic add. The molar ratio of protic acid to salt is in the range from 1:0.01 to 1:2000. The initiator is used for example for cationic homo- or copolymerization of trioxane, and permits stable and flexible operation of the polymerization.
US09163118B2	Poly(amide-imide) block copolymer, article including same, and display device including the article A poly(amide-imide) block copolymer that includes: a first segment including a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1A, a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1B, a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1C, or a combination thereof; and a second segment including a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 2:
US09163116B2	Polycarbonate resin composition To provide a polycarbonate resin composition excellent in low-birefringence and strength.Disclosed is a polycarbonate resin composition prepared by blending a polycarbonate resin (A) prepared by forming carbonate bonds in a 95-5% by mole of dihydroxy compound represented by formula (1) and a 5-95% by mole of dihydroxy compound represented by formula (2) with a diester carbonate, and a polycarbonate resin (B) prepared by forming carbonate bonds in dihydroxy compound represented by formula (3) with a diester carbonate or phosgene in a 45-85% ratio by weight of (100×(A))/((A)+(B)). (in the formula, R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom or methyl respectively.)
US09163109B2	Method for producing hydrophilic, aliphatic polyurethane foams having a low bulk density The invention relates to a method for producing hydrophilic, aliphatic polyurethane foams having a low bulk density. The invention also relates to a hydrophilic, aliphatic polyurethane foam which can be obtained according to said method and to the use thereof as a wound dressing, incontinence product or as a cosmetic article.
US09163108B2	Photochromic polyurethane laminate A photochromic polyurethane laminate wherein the photochromic polyurethane layer of the laminate has been crosslinked with a isocyanate-active prepolymer using a crosslinking agent. The crosslinking agent is formulated to have at least three functional groups that are reactive with functional groups of the polyurethane or of the isocyanate-active prepolymer. A method of making the photochromic polyurethane laminate includes steps of causing the crosslinking.
US09163107B2	Cationic polymers formed from amino group-bearing monomers and heterocyclic linkers The present invention is directed to a design of and a method to synthesize polycations for gene (DNA and RNA) delivery. According to this design, the polycations (also said cationic polymers) are formed by polymerization of endogenous monomers bearing sufficient amino groups through degradable bonds with linker molecules. The amino group-bearing monomers are those naturally existing or nontoxic to human body. The linker molecules are those which are not only degradable to nontoxic fragments but also able to release the amino group-bearing monomers in their native state upon degradation. Some examples for the endogenous amino group-bearing monomers are spermine and spermidine (or their derivatives). Examples for the degradable chemical bonds formed between the amino group-bearing monomers are imines. In order to improve degradability or proton sponging effect, low pKa (<8) amino group(s), free amino groups generated by polymer degradation (such as those generated by degradation of imine linkages), or other electron donating group(s) such as imidazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, or even benzene is incorporated in the linker between the two (or three) reactive groups for linking the amino group-bearing monomers. These polycationic carrier systems can be used for nano-encapsulation and transfection of gene materials.
US09163105B2	Conjugated diene based polymer, and polymer composition containing the polymer The present invention relates to a conjugated diene based polymer comprising a monomer unit derived from at least one conjugated diene selected from 1,3-butadiene and isoprene and a monomer unit derived from a compound having two conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds and one or more non-conjugated carbon-carbon double bond.
US09163099B2	Polybutadiene modified polymer polyols, foams prepared from polybutadiene modified polymer polyols, and processes for the production thereof This invention relates to polybutadiene modified polymer polyols which comprise one or more base polyols, at least one preformed stabilizer, one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and polybutadiene, in the presence of at least one free radical polymerization catalyst, and optionally, one or more chain transfer agents. The polybutadiene present in these polybutadiene modified polymer polyols may be carried into the polymer polyol through the preformed stabilizer, by a polybutadiene containing component that is added separately from the preformed stabilizer to the polymer polyol, or a combination thereof, with the total amount of polybutadiene ranging from 0.03 to 1.0% by weight of polybutadiene, based on 100% by weight of the polymer polyol. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing these polybutadiene modified polymer polyols, to foams prepared from these polybutadiene modified polymer polyols, and to processes for producing foams from these polybutadiene modified polymer polyols.
US09163095B2	Cellulose powder and processes for its production The invention relates to a process for producing spherical, non-fibrillar cellulose particles with a particle size in the range of from about 1 μm to about 400 μm from a solution of cellulose in which the solution is cooled down to below its solidification temperature wherein it is flowing freely, the solvent is washed out, the solidified cellulose solution is disintegrated to form cellulose powder comprising particles, and the disintegrated and washed out particles are dried. The invention also relates to the cellulose powder and particles made in accordance with the process of the invention.
US09163088B2	Tumor antigens elicit anti-tumor humoral immune reactions in a subset of patients with polycythemia vera The invention provides novel antigens, MPD5, PV13, and PV65, which belongs to the group of cryptic antigens without conventional genomic structure and is encoded by a cryptic open reading frame located in the 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) of myotrophin mRNA. The antigens elicit IgG antibody responses in a subset of PV patients, as well as patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and prostate cancer. The translation of MPD5, PV13 and PV65 was mediated by a novel internal ribosome entry site (IRES) upstream of the open reading frame. Eliciting anti-tumor immune response against MPD5, PV13 and/or PV65 antigen in patients with myeloproliferative diseases is a novel immunotherapy.
US09163083B2	Human oncostatin M antibodies Antibodies and compositions capable of neutralizing oncostatin M biological functions are useful in treating diseases and disorders associated with oncostatin M, such as osteoarthritis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
US09163079B2	Monospecific polypeptide reagents The present invention relates to a novel antigen-binding protein construct or “modubody”, which contains at least three functional single domain modules of an antibody. The modubodies contain a domain from the heavy chain variable region of an antibody (VH), a domain from the light chain variable region of an antibody (VL) and bind monospecifically to an antigen. The modubodies further contain a domain from the constant region of antibodies. The modubodies can be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
US09163076B2	Human skin equivalents expressing exogenous polypeptides The present invention relates generally to compositions for wound healing. More specifically, the present invention provides human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous proteinase inhibitor polypeptides (e.g., TIMP-1 polypeptides) and compositions and methods for making human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides. In addition, the present invention provides methods for treatment of wounds with human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides.
US09163074B2	Human T2R nucleic acid sequences Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G Protein-Coupled Receptors and the genes encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T2R taste G Protein-Coupled Receptors that are believed to be involved in bitter taste sensation, and the genes encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular tastant in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating a novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes.
US09163070B2	Designed ankyrin repeat proteins binding to platelet-derived growth factor New designed ankyrin repeat proteins with binding specificity for PDGF-BB are described, as well as nucleic acids encoding such PDGF binding proteins, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such proteins and the use of such proteins in the treatment of diseases.
US09163069B2	Fusion proteins representing different allergens and a vaccine against allergy to mites The present invention refers to recombinant DNA molecules encoding fusion peptides from different allergens from Blomia tropicalis and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus having potential usefulness in prevention and treatment of allergies caused by domestic mites. Specifically, the invention discloses fusion proteins comprising different fragments of allergens Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 7, Der p 8, Blo t 5, Blo t 8, Blo t 18, Blo t 12 and Blo t 13 with reduced serum IgE reactivity in allergic and non-allergic individuals. It also discloses methods for production of these molecules in an expression system based on E. coli and purification. The invention refers also to effective and safe vaccines.
US09163067B2	HIV-1 integrase derived stimulatory peptides interfering with integrase—Rev protein binding Isolated peptides comprising sequences derived from the protein integrase of HIV-1, as well as their analogs, mixtures, conjugates with permeability enhancing moieties, and pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed. The peptides and compositions are capable of selectively killing HIV-1 infected cells and are used in treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.
US09163065B2	Depsipeptide and uses thereof The present invention relates generally to novel depsipeptides, to methods for the preparation of these novel depsipeptides, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel depsipeptides; and to methods of using the novel depsipeptides to treat or inhibit various disorders.
US09163064B1	Water buffalo derived monomeric peptides containing proline for antibiotic therapies The present disclosure relates to antimicrobial agents and methods of using such agents. The disclosure includes antimicrobial agents having broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, nucleic acids and amino acid sequences encoding such antimicrobial agents, as well as methods of using the antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial agents of the disclosure may be used to reduce survival of a microbe, as an antimicrobial therapeutic, in microbial treatment protocols, and in research, as well as other uses related to reducing microbe survival. In addition, the disclosure also includes compositions, as well as articles of manufacture, that comprise a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent.
US09163062B2	Albumin-amyloid peptide conjugates and uses thereof The invention provides conjugates comprising albumin and a peptide derived from the C-terminal region of amyloid beta peptide, as well as uses thereof for the treatment of diseases characterized by the deposition of amyloid proteins and, in particular, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US09163061B2	HCV protease inhibitors and uses thereof The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US09163057B2	Methods of myocardial perfusion imaging The present invention provides a method of myocardial perfusion imaging using reduced doses of (1-{9-[(4S,2R,3R,5R)3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-6-aminopurin-2-yl}pyrazol-4-yl)-N-methylcarboxamide.
US09163055B2	Methods for treating glaucoma using uridine diphosphate derivatives This disclosure relates to prodrugs of uridine diphosphate (UDP) derivatives, compositions comprising therapeutically effective amounts of those prodrugs of the UDP derivatives and methods of using those prodrugs or compositions in treating disorders that are responsive to ligands, such as agonists, of P2Y6 receptor, e.g., neuronal disorders, including neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease) and traumatic CNS injury, pain, Down Syndrome (DS), glaucoma, and inflammatory conditions.
US09163051B2	Crystal of spiroketal derivatives and process for preparation of spiroketal derivatives The present invention provides a process for preparing a spiroketal derivative, via an intermediate represented by Formula (VI): wherein variable groups and numbers are as defined in the specification, which can be produced from dihalobenzene derivatives in one pot reaction.
US09163046B2	Process for producing substituted metallocene compounds for olefin polymerization A process for producing a substituted metallocene compound comprises reacting a first compound with a transfer-agent, wherein the first compound comprises a complex of a transition metal atom selected from Group 3, 4, 5 or 6 of the Periodic Table of Elements, or a lanthanide metal atom, or actinide metal atom and at least one monocyclic or polycyclic ligand that is pi-bonded to M and is substituted with at least one halogen or sulfonate substituent and the transfer-agent comprises a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, silylcarbyl, or germylcarbyl radical capable of replacing said at least one halogen or sulfonate substituent of said first compound under reaction conditions.
US09163045B2	Process for preparing diketonato-rhodium(I)-carbonyl complexes The invention relates to a process for preparing diketonato-rhodium(I)-carbonyl complexes, especially diketonato-rhodium(I)-triorganophosphine-carbonyl complexes, for example Rh(CO)(PPh3)acac. The process according to the invention is a “one-pot synthesis” and features a process procedure without intermediate isolation stages. After introduction of an Rh(III) halide precursor into a solvent and sparging with carbon monoxide (CO), a diketo compound of the R′—C(═O)—CH2—C(═O)—R″ type and a base are added, forming the intermediate compound diketonato-Rh(CO)2. After addition of a triorganophosphine of the PR3 type, the reaction mixture is heated and the diketonatocarbonyltriorganophosphine-rhodium(I) complex is removed. The process enables a rapid operation and a high yield. The complex Rh(CO)(PPh3)acac prepared in accordance with the invention, because of its purity, is particularly suitable as a catalyst or precatalyst for homogeneous catalysis, for example for hydroformylation reactions.
US09163043B2	Oxazolidinone derivatives The present invention relates to novel derivatives of oxazolidinone, a method thereof and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the derivatives for use in an antibiotic. The oxazolidinone derivatives of the present invention show inhibitory activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria and lower toxicity. The prodrugs, prepared by reacting the compound having hydroxyl group with amino acid or phosphate, have an excellent efficiency on solubility thereof against water. Further, the derivatives of the present invention may exert potent antibacterial activity versus various human and animal pathogens, including Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococi, Enterococci and Streptococi, anaerobic microorganisms such as Bacteroides and Clostridia, and acid-resistant microorganisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium. Accordingly, the compositions comprising the oxazolidinone are used in an antibiotic.
US09163042B2	Prodrugs of pyridone amides useful as modulators of sodium channels The invention relates to prodrug compounds of formula I: wherein R2, R3, R5, R7 and X are as defined herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders, including pain. The compounds of formula I possess advantageous solubility and physicochemical properties.
US09163037B2	Hydrosilylation method, method for producing organosilicon compound, and organosilicon compound A hydrosilylation method is provided. In this hydrosilylation method, silylation of the carbon atom other than the terminal carbon atom and generation of the by-product isomer by internal migration of the double bond are suppressed without sacrificing the hydrosilylation reactivity, even if an olefin compound having tertiary amine atom which can be a catalyst poison was used. In the hydrosilylation, an olefin compound having carbon-carbon unsaturated bond, and a compound having hydrogensilyl group are reacted in the presence of an acid amide compound, a nitrile compound and an aromatic hydroxyl compound, or an organoamine salt compound, by using catalytic action of platinum and/or its complex compound.
US09163033B2	Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and methods of making the same The present invention relates to 7-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and methods of making the same. Using a novel aza-[4+3] cycloaddition reaction, the 7-membered heterocyclic compounds are synthesized by reacting a first reactant and a second reactant. Exemplary first reactants and second reactants include α-halohydroxamates and dienes, respectively.
US09163029B2	Substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[1,2-d]pyrazines for treating respiratory syncytial virus infections The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) its salts, isomers or prodrugs thereof useful in the treatment of viral infections, in particular respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing the compounds and intermediates used in their preparation.
US09163026B2	Inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase Disclosed herein are compounds of Formula (D) that form covalent bonds with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also described are irreversible inhibitors of Btk. Methods for the preparation of the compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds. Methods of using the Btk inhibitors are disclosed, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions.
US09163024B2	Tris salts of 8-chloro-3-pentyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione The present invention relates to a tris salt of 8-chloro-3-pentyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione of Formula (A) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: corresponding pharmaceutical formulations, manufacture processes and uses of the aforementioned compound in therapy, particularly in treatment of diseases where under-activation of the HM74A receptor contributes to the disease or where activation of the receptor will be beneficial.
US09163022B2	Tricyclic compounds as modulators of TNF-α synthesis and as PDE4 inhibitors The present invention relates to chemical compounds of Formula (I) are as herein defined, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use in the treatment of conditions or disorders mediated by TNF-α or by PDE4, including but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis.
US09163021B2	Pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine tropomyosin-related kinase inhibitors The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, wherein the substituents are as described herein, and their use in medicine, in particular as Trk antagonists.
US09163014B2	Crystals of pyrroloquinolinequinone sodium salts A crystal of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt having peaks at 2θ of 9.1°, 10.3°, 13.8°, 17.7°, 18.3°, 24.0°, 27.4°, 31.2° and 39.5° (±0.2° for each) in powder X-ray diffractometry using Cu Kα radiation, or a crystal of pyrroloquinoline quinone trisodium salt having peaks at 2θ of 6.6°, 11.4°, 13.0°, 22.6°, 26.9°, 27.9°, 37.0°, 38.9° and 43.4° (±0.2° for each) in powder X-ray diffractometry using Cu Kα radiation.
US09163011B2	Oxazine derivatives and their use in the treatment of disease The invention relates to novel oxazine derivatives of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in which all of the variables are as defined in the specification, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, combinations thereof, and their use as medicaments, particularly for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease or diabetes via inhibition of BACE-1 or BACE-2.
US09163010B2	Indolinone protein kinase inhibitors The present invention relates to new indolinone compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs for treating and preventing VEGFR related cellular disorders such as cancer.
US09163008B2	Pyrimidines as sodium channel blockers The present disclosure provides substituted pyrimidine compounds of Formula (I), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof, wherein A1, X, A2, W1, W2, E, Z, and R4 are defined as set forth in the specification. The present disclosure is also directed to the use of compounds of Formula (I) to treat a disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium channels. Compounds of the present disclosure are especially useful for treating pain.
US09163004B2	Organic light-emitting device A heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1 below and an organic light-emitting device including the heterocyclic compound: wherein R1 through R9 are defined as in the specification.
US09162998B2	Preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from saccharide solutions in the presence of a solvent having a boiling point greater than 60° C. and less than 200° C. (at standard pressure, called low boiler for short) A process for preparing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which comprises a) feeding solutions (hereinafter called starting solution) comprising one or more saccharides and an organic solvent having a boiling point greater than 200° C. (at standard pressure) (called high boiler for short) and water, and a solvent having a boiling point greater than 60° C. and less than 200° C. (at standard pressure, called low boiler for short) to a reaction vessel, b) effecting a conversion of hexose to HMF in the reaction vessel in the presence of water vapor with simultaneous distillative removal of the HMF and c) obtaining, as the distillate, an aqueous, HMF-comprising solution (hereinafter called distillate).
US09162993B2	Preparation and pharmaceuticals of biphenyl benzamide-derived derivatives The present invention provides a biphenyl benzamide-derived derivatives, which structure is selected from formula I or formula II and the synthesis and the application thereof.
US09162992B2	Compounds and compositions for treatment of breathing control disorders or diseases The present invention includes compounds, and compositions comprising the same, that are useful in the treatment of breathing control diseases or disorders in a subject in need thereof. The present invention also includes a method of treating a respiratory disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention. The present invention further includes a method of preventing destabilization or stabilizing breathing rhythm in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention.
US09162988B2	Therapeutic or prophylactic agent for allergic dermatitis A therapeutic or prophylactic agent for allergic dermatitis is disclosed. The therapeutic or prophylactic agent comprises as an effective ingredient a glycine derivative having a specific structure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for example, the below-described compound [(E)-2-(2,6-dichlorobenzamido)-5-[4-(isopropyl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)phenyl]pent-4-enoic acid]. The therapeutic or prophylactic agent for allergic dermatitis according to the present invention has high therapeutic or prophylactic effect.
US09162987B2	Iodo pyrimidine derivatives useful for the treatment of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-implicated diseases and conditions Compounds useful for the inhibition of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are provided herein, having the Formula (I): wherein A is selected from the group consisting of aromatic or non-aromatic rings, bicyclic rings, polycyclic rings, alkenes or alkynes; B is H, OH, OR, SR, NH2, NHR, or alkyl; R is H or alkyl, and X and Y are independently N or CH, but one of X and Y must be N. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a Formula I compound and methods for the treatment of MIF-implicated diseases or conditions, comprising administering a safe and effective amount of a Formula I compound.
US09162980B2	Anti-depression compounds This technology relates generally to compounds and methods for stimulating neurogenesis (e.g., post-natal neurogenesis, including post-natal hippocampal and hypothalamic neurogenesis) and/or protecting neuronal cell from cell death. Various compounds are disclosed herein. In vivo activity tests suggest that these compounds may have therapeutic benefits in neuropsychiatric and/or neurodegenerative diseases such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, normal aging, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, stroke, radiation therapy, chronic stress, abuse of a neuro-active drug, retinal degeneration, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, physiological weight loss associated with various conditions, as well as cognitive decline associated with normal aging, chemotherapy, and the like.
US09162979B2	1,5-Diary1-2-alkylpyrrole-3-substituted nitro esters, selective COX-2 inhibitors and nitric oxide donors 1,5-diaryl-2-alkylpyrrole-3-substituted nitro esters, of Formula (I) are provided. Such compounds are potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors which are able to release NO in concentrations that make it possible to counteract the side effects due to selective COX-2 inhibition, without giving rise to hypotensive effects. Formula (I) includes compounds wherein the groups R′ and R″ are: —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —CH3, —CF3, —OCH3, —SCH3, R1 is methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxymethyl, methoxymethyl and the substituent in position −3 of the pyrrole ring is a chain, where the groups X, Y, Z, W and R2 are: X is a carbonyl or a group —(CHR3)—, Y is an oxygen atom or the group —NR3— and Z is a carbonyl or a group —(CHR3)—, or a [—CH(COOH)—] group, or a group —(NR3)—, W is an aliphatic chain substituted with one or two (—O—NO2) groups, R2 is: —H, —OH, —OCH3, or —NHR3. R3 is: —H, —CH3, —CH2CH3, [—CH2(CH3)2]. R′″ is methylsulphonyl or sulphonamido. Pharmaceutical formulations and methods of making an using such formulations are also provided.
US09162976B2	Composition containing a dibenzoylmethane screening agent and a hydrophilic or water-soluble merocyanin uv-screening agent; process for photostabilizing the dibenzoylmethane screening agent The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing a combination i) of at least one screening agent of the dibenzoylmethane derivative type and ii) of at least one particular hydrophilic or water-soluble merocyanin UV-screening agent, especially corresponding to one of the formulae (I) or (II) below: in which at least one or two of the radicals contain: either an alkylsulfonate radical in its acid or salified form, or one or two hydroxyl radicals. The invention also relates to a process for the radiation-photostabilization of at least one screening agent of the dibenzoylmethane derivative type with an effective amount of at least one particular hydrophilic or water-soluble merocyanin UV-screening agent, especially corresponding to one of the formulae (I) or (II).
US09162975B2	Phenyl carbamate compounds for use in alleviating or treating pain A phenyl carbamate compound; a composition for treating and/or alleviating pain containing the phenyl carbamate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient; a method of treating and/or alleviating pain comprising administering the phenyl carbamate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient in need of pain treatment; and a use of the phenyl carbamate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in treating and/or alleviating pain, are provided.
US09162974B2	Process for the preparation of vorinostat The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient vorinostat. In particular it relates to a process for preparing vorinostat substantially free from impurities.
US09162972B2	Method for production of hydroxycarboxylic acid amide compounds and novel arylboronic acid compound A method for production of hydroxycarboxylic acid amide compounds, including performing amide condensation between an α- or β-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound and an amine compound in the presence as a catalyst of an alkylboronic acid represented by R3B(OH)2 (wherein R3 is a primary alkyl group) or an arylboronic acid compound to produce a hydroxycarboxylic acid amide compound, the arylboronic acid compound being represented by Formula (1): (in Formula (1), —(CH2)nNR1R2 is bonded at an ortho position or a para position, n is 1 or 2, R1 is a tertiary alkyl group, R2 is a secondary or tertiary alkyl group, and —NR1R2 may be a ring).
US09162969B2	Nitrooxyesters, their preparation and use The present invention relates to the novel compounds of the formula (I), as well as to their manufacture and use and compositions comprising them. The invention also relates to a change in oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons admixed to these compounds. Furthermore the invention relates to (bio)diesel fuel comprising such compounds.
US09162965B2	Method for producing a lactic ester from a fermentation juice containing ammonium lactate The present invention relates to an industrial process for producing a lactic ester containing in total at least seven carbon atoms, from a fermentation liquor containing ammonium lactate in order to avoid the inherent production of gypsum, with a high yield and according to which the loss of lactic ester in the form of lactamide is limited as much as possible.
US09162964B2	Acrylate production process A process comprising for preparing C1 to C4 alkyl(meth)acrylates, such as butyl acrylate, wherein vaporized reactor contents are fed directly to a column, the aqueous reflux ratio to the column is from 4 to 12, and the level of acrylic acid in the primarily organic phase separated from the overhead condensate of the column is less than 2000 ppm.
US09162961B2	Process for manufacturing succinic acid A process for the preparation of succinic acid comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous medium comprising magnesium succinate by fermentation of a carbohydrate source, in the presence of a magnesium base; b) processing the aqueous medium wherein the magnesium succinate is treated with a monovalent base, prior to or after a crystallization step, to provide a magnesium base and an aqueous solution comprising a monovalent succinate salt; c) adjusting the concentration of the monovalent succinate salt to between 10 and 35 wt. %; d) subjecting the aqueous solution to water-splitting electrodialysis, to produce a first solution comprising monovalent base and a second solution comprising succinic acid and monovalent succinate salt, the electrodialysis causing conversion of 40 to 95 mole %; e) separating the second solution into succinic acid and the monovalent succinate salt by crystallization; f) recycling the monovalent succinate salt solution of step e) to step d).
US09162960B2	Process for the preparation of a benzene derivative A substituted benzene derivative is prepared in a process, which includes reacting a furan derivative of formula (I): wherein R is an alkyl group, with an olefin of formula (II): R1—CH═CH—R2 (II) wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and independently are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —CN, —CHO and —COOR3, wherein R3 is selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group, or R1 and R2 together form a —C(O)—O—(O)C— group, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not both hydrogen, to produce a bicyclic ether; and dehydrating the bicyclic ether to obtain a benzene derivative. The benzene derivative thus obtained can suitably be converted to a benzene carboxylic acid compound by oxidation.
US09162951B2	Continuous process for conversion of lignin to useful compounds This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.
US09162945B2	Process for preparing 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene Provided is a process for preparing 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, wherein at least one chlorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of chloropropane represented by formula (1): CX3CHClCH2Cl, wherein each X is the same or different and each represents Cl or F, chloropropene represented by formula (2): CClY2CCl═CH2, wherein each Y is the same or different and each represents Cl or F, and chloropropene represented by formula (3): CZ2═CClCH2Cl, wherein each Z is the same or different and each represents Cl or F, is used as a starting compound, and said at least one chlorine-containing compound is reacted with hydrogen fluoride while being heated in a gaseous state in the presence of 50 ppm or more of water relative to the chlorine-containing compound. The process of the present invention makes it possible to produce 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233xf) in a manner that is easily conducted, economically advantageous, and suitable for industrial scale production.
US09162938B2	Conversion of triacylglycerides-containing oils to hydrocarbons A process for converting triacylglycerides-containing oils into crude oil precursors and/or distillate hydrocarbon fuels is disclosed. The process may include: reacting a triacylglycerides-containing oil-water-hydrogen mixture at a temperature in the range from about 250° C. to about 525° C. and a pressure greater than about 75 bar to convert at least a portion of the triacylglycerides and recovering a reaction effluent comprising water and one or more of isoolefins, isoparaffins, cycloolefins, cycloparaffins, and aromatics; hydrotreating the reaction effluent to form a hydrotreated effluent.
US09162934B2	Process for producing optically active alcohol The object of the present invention is to solve the problems in the prior arts, and to find more improved reaction conditions for suppressing the racemization of the product and obtaining an optically active alcohol at a high optical purity. The inventors achieved to solve the above problems by using a solvent system that is capable of resolving both an asymmetric catalyst and a formate salt, allowing the hydrogen source and the asymmetric catalyst to be present in the same phase.
US09162933B1	Auto-ignition composition An auto ignition composition is provided that contains a sugar and/or carboxylic acid such as DL-tartaric acid as a first fuel; a binder; and an alkali or alkaline earth metal chlorate such as potassium chlorate as a first oxidizer. Alkali metal perchlorates such as potassium perchlorate may also be included as a second oxidizer. The composition(s) is typically contained within a gas generating system such as an airbag inflator or seat belt assembly, or more broadly within a vehicle occupant protection system. The compositions may also be applied to the insides of military armament.
US09162931B1	Tailored interfaces between two dissimilar nano-materials and method of manufacture Provided are methods to fabricate bulk quantities at relatively low-cost of isotropic homogeneous nanostructured materials with high interfacial area whose properties are controlled and optimized by tailored interfaces between discrete dissimilar materials. In a preferred embodiment, the material is formed by uniformly and intimately mixing nanoparticles of different composition and then compacting and consolidating them to near theoretical density by a process that minimizes grain growth and controls the structure of the interfacial film-like region. One preferred application of these materials is a fast ion conducting material that can be used as a solid electrolyte in gas electrolyzers, electrochemical pumps, gas sensors, catalytic reactors, and most importantly in fuel cells.
US09162929B2	SiC bodies and process for the fabrication of SiC bodies Disclosed is a method for the synthesis of silicon carbide (SiC) bodies having a relative density of 99% or higher and a SiC body synthesized according to the method.
US09162926B2	Process for manufacturing a hydraulic bonding agent, corresponding additive and its use The invention relates to a method for producing a hydraulic binder, comprising contacting a composition comprising cement clinker, before, during or after the grinding procedure, with (a) a defoaming agent and (b) 0.0005% to 2% by weight, based on the total composition, of at least one air-introducing compound, the defoaming agent (a) comprising 0.0001% to 0.5% by weight, based on the total composition, of at least one defoaming agent of the formula R10—(CmH2m—O—)x—(CdH2d—O—)c—H and the ratio of (a) to (b) being between 1:1 to 1:200.
US09162925B2	Tailings stream treatment processes A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting (1) a gelling agent and (2) an activator with said tailings stream to produce a gel; (b) entrapping solids including sand and clay, and other solid particles with the gel; and (c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify to produce a trafficable deposit; wherein the tailings stream comprises water and solids, which solids comprise sand, clay and other solids particles, and wherein 5% by volume to 100% by volume of the solids have a particle size less than 0.05 mm, based on the total volume of the solids. The process may further comprises spreading the gel produced in step (a) or the trafficable deposit produced in step (c) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.
US09162924B2	Moisture wicking mortar with microtubes A novel mortar mix and mortar formed therewith. The mortar contains sand, lime, cement and microtubes in a mixture thereof. The microtubes assist in wicking moisture directly through a wet mortar compound formed by adding water to the mortar mix. Wicking moisture directly through the mortar decreases the reliance on a continuous, unobstructed cavity behind the masonry wall, as well as prevent cracking from water's freeze-thaw cycle. It also allows water to pass through the mortar in a similar manner as the masonry, creating two in-sync cycles, rather then two disparate cycles for water flow. In various embodiments, the microtubes could be composed of cellulose, fabricated polymer or graphite.
US09162921B2	Method of producing fluorescent material dispersed glass and fluorescent material dispersed glass A method of manufacturing fluorescent material-dispersed glass, comprising: performing production of a fluorescent material-dispersed gel utilizing sol-gel reaction and acid-base reaction by preparing a fluorescent material-dispersed sol containing silicon alkoxide, metal chloride and/or metal aklkoxide, and fluorescent material, and subsequently gelling the fluorescent material-dispersed sol; and performing production of a fluorescent material-dispersed glass by heating the fluorescent material-dispersed gel.
US09162920B2	Method for manufacturing porous glass, and method for manufacturing optical element A method for manufacturing a porous glass includes: forming a phase-separated glass by heating at a temperature in a range of 300 to 500 degrees Celsius for 3 to 50 hours for phase separation of a glass body in which the concentration of SiO2 is 50 to 70 percent by weight, the concentration of B2O3 is 15 to 40 percent by weight, the concentration of Li2O is 1.0 to 8.0 percent by weight, the concentration of Na2O is 2.0 to 8.0 percent by weight, the concentration of K2O is 0.3 to 5.0 percent by weight, the total concentration of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O is 3.5 to 15 percent by weight, and the ratio of the concentration of K2O to the total concentration of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O is 0.10 to 0.30; and forming a porous glass by etching the phase-separated glass.
US09162913B2	Mixer assembly for digestion tank The invention relates to a mixer assembly for agitating material in a digestion tank (1), comprising a drive unit (7, 8, 9) and an output shaft (10) extending from said drive unit, which output shaft is arranged to hang down into said digestion tank (1) rotatably suspended from the drive unit. According to the invention the mixer assembly (6) furthermore comprises a stabilizer (12) comprising a swivel (13) and at least one resilient element (14) connected to said swivel (13), the stabilizer (12) being connected to the lower end of the output shaft (10) of the mixer assembly (6) and being arranged to be connected to a floor (2) of said digestion tank.
US09162911B2	Chemical free and energy efficient desalination system A desalination system (100) having an intake unit (110) providing seawater to a pre-treatment unit (120) connected to a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination unit (130) and a post treatment unit (150). The desalination system (100) is configured to operate without any external addition of chemicals to simplify logistics and regulation concerns. The units of the system are configured to prevent biofouling, scaling and corrosion by mechanical and biological means including high flow speeds, biological flocculation of colloids, and making the water entering the RO units inhospitable to bacteria and other organisms that cause biofouling, hence preventing their settlement and removing them with the brine. Recovery rate is lowered and energy is recovered to increase the energetic efficiency and minerals that are added to the product water are taken from the brine.
US09162909B2	Method and apparatus for the bio-remediation of aqueous waste compositions Numerous different types of waste compositions generally in an aqueous environment are bio-remediated under aerobic conditions utilizing highly diverse and multiple microorganisms within a reactor. The process is carried out with the microorganisms attached or bound by a variety of different surface characteristics to packing substrates, located within the reactor, having high surface areas and high porosity in the form of small micropores. Multiple different types of substrates are generally utilized that efficiently dissolve air into the water, as well as to maximize the concentration and diversity of types of microorganisms. Reactors are utilized that desirably have tubes therein containing the multiple types of packings and microorganisms and contain at least one perforated chimney through which air can flow and optimize dissolving oxygen into the aqueous environment of the various bio-remediation stages.
US09162908B2	Separator device for a heating system A separator device for removing particles from suspension in a fluid comprising: a housing, having a central axis extending between first and second opposing ends; an inlet and an outlet provided in an end of the housing; a separation chamber for separating solid particles from the fluid, including obstruction means to slow the flow of fluid within the chamber.
US09162904B2	Cleaning solution generator A cleaning solution generator comprising a housing with an interior reservoir and a brine tank, the cleaning solution generator being configured to generate an alkaline solution from a mixed solution and to operably direct the generated alkaline solution to the interior reservoir of the housing.
US09162903B2	Photo-catalyzing fluid mobilizing system and method A photo-catalyzing fluid mobilizing system and method are disclosed. A chamber has a power source. A fluid mobilizer is mounted in the chamber and connected with the power source to mobilize a fluid through the chamber. The fluid mobilizer includes one or more fan blades that are coated with a photo catalyst. A UV light source is mounted in the chamber proximate the fluid mobilizer and connected with the power source to catalyze the photo catalyst coating the blades to purifier the fluid being mobilized thereover.
US09162898B2	Purification of trichlorosilane Systems and methods for removing boron-containing contaminants from a composition comprising trichlorosilane to form a purified product comprising trichlorosilane are disclosed. Purification columns and devices, having various locations of inlet and outlet ports, are fluidly connected to each other in order to remove various types of boron species and other impurities present in TCS.
US09162892B2	Carbon nanotube array A carbon nanotube array suitable for use in labeling is provided. The carbon nanotube array includes at least two different isotope-doped carbon nanotube sub-arrays. Each isotope-doped carbon nanotube sub-array includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes in different isotope-doped carbon nanotube sub-arrays are composed of different kinds of carbon isotopes.
US09162891B2	Apparatus for manufacturing carbon nanostructure and method for manufacturing carbon nanostructure An apparatus for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure and a method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure that can achieve an increase in length and shape stabilization of the carbon nanostructure can be obtained. A manufacturing apparatus for a carbon nanostructure includes a catalyst member on which a carbon nanostructure is grown, a source gas supply unit and a source gas supply pipe, a coil, and a heater. The source gas supply unit and the source gas supply pipe supply the catalyst member with carbon for forming the carbon nanotube. The coil applies a gradient magnetic field (e.g., a cusped magnetic field indicated by magnetic flux line whose magnetic field strength gradually increases from one surface of the catalyst member to the other surface opposite to the one surface. The heater heats the catalyst member.
US09162880B2	Mass transfer tool Systems and methods for transferring a micro device from a carrier substrate are disclosed. In an embodiment, a mass transfer tool includes an articulating transfer head assembly, a carrier substrate holder, and an actuator assembly to adjust a spatial relationship between the articulating transfer head assembly and the carrier substrate holder. The articulating transfer head assembly may include an electrostatic voltage source connection and a substrate supporting an array of electrostatic transfer heads.
US09162878B2	Wafer level hermetic bond using metal alloy with raised feature and wetting layer Systems and methods for forming an encapsulated device include a substantially hermetic seal which seals a device in an environment between two substrates. The substantially hermetic seal is formed by an alloy of two metal layers, one having a lower melting temperature than the other. The metal layers may be deposited two substrates, along with a raised feature formed under at least one of the metal layers. The two metals may form an alloy of a predefined stoichiometry in at least two locations on either side of the midpoint of the raised feature. The formation of the alloy may be improved by the use of an organic wetting layer adjacent to the lower melting temperature metal. Design guidelines are set forth for reducing or eliminating the leakage of molten metal into the areas adjacent to the bondlines.
US09162875B2	Sensors An inertial sensor is described in which a resonant element is driven by control electronics into resonance. The control electronics includes an oscillator. A circuit is provided for matching the frequency of the oscillator with the frequency of the output of the resonant element such that the time to operation from start up of the sensor is minimized and the requirement of frequency matching a given sensor to the control electronics is removed.
US09162874B2	Semiconductor structure and method forming the same A semiconductor structure having a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) device is provided. The MEMS device includes a first and a second type electrical terminal, and a semiconductor interconnector. The semiconductor interconnector connects the first type electrical terminal with an external circuitry through a conductor. The conductor serves to electrically connecting the semiconductor interconnector with the first type electrical terminal. The second type electrical terminal surrounds the first type electrical terminal. In addition, the second type electrical terminal is interposed between the semiconductor interconnector and the first type electrical terminal. An isolative layer is provided around the conductor. The isolative layer is positioned under the first type electrical terminal, the second type electrical terminal and the semiconductor interconnector.
US09162873B2	Component and method for producing same A packaging concept for MEMS components having at least one diaphragm structure formed in the front side of the component is provided, according to which the MEMS component is mounted on a support which at least laterally delimits a cavity adjoining the diaphragm structure. In addition, at least one electrical feedthrough is formed in the support which allows electrical contacting of the MEMS component through the support. To achieve the largest possible rear volume for the diaphragm structure of the MEMS component for a given chip surface area, and also to simplify the processing of the support, according to the invention the electrical feedthroughs are integrated into the wall of the cavity adjoining the diaphragm structure, in that at least one section of such a feedthrough is implemented in the form of an electrically conductive coating of a side wall section of the cavity.
US09162872B2	Pre-molded MEMS device package having conductive column coupled to leadframe and cover A MEMS lead frame package body encloses a MEMS device enclosed in an internal cavity formed by the mold body and cover. To accommodate a MEMS microphone, an acoustic aperture extends through the mold body. In some embodiments, a conductive column extends through the pre-molded body to allow electrical connection from a partially encapsulated lead frame to the conductive cover. Some embodiments may include a multi-tiered cavity within the mold body for mounting an integrated circuit separated by a gap above the MEMS device.
US09162871B1	Metal mesh lid MEMS package and method A metal mesh lid MEMS package includes a substrate, a MEMS electronic component coupled to the substrate, and a metal mesh lid coupled to the substrate with a lid adhesive. The metal mesh lid includes a polymeric lid body having a top port formed therein and a metal mesh cap coupled to the lid body. The metal mesh cap covers the top port and serves as both a particulate filter and a continuous conductive shield for EMI/RF interferences. Further, the metal mesh cap provides a locking feature for the lid adhesive to maximize the attach strength of the metal mesh lid to the substrate.
US09162860B2	Hydraulic cylinder A hydraulic cylinder includes a piston that defines a driving pressure chamber and a cushion pressure chamber within a cylinder tube, an air chamber defined inside a hollow piston rod, an orifice that leads a working fluid in the cushion pressure chamber into the air chamber when the cushion pressure chamber contracts during an extension operation, a check valve that returns a working fluid in the air chamber to the driving pressure chamber when a differential pressure between the air chamber and the driving pressure chamber rises to or above a predetermined value, and a valve housing that houses the check valve. A throttle gap is defined between an outer peripheral surface of the valve housing and an inner peripheral surface of the piston rod, and a working fluid ejected from the orifice during the extension operation flows into the air chamber through the throttle gap.
US09162858B2	Battery-powered forklift To facilitate loading-unloading operation of a battery even when a large-sized battery is mounted, in a battery-powered forklift which is driven with power of a battery mounted on a vehicle body including a fork which is arranged at a front part of the vehicle body, a counter weight which is arranged at a rear part of the vehicle body, and a top plate which is supported at a position to cover an area above a driver seat via a pair of rear stays 44 extended upward from both sides of the rear part of the vehicle body, post members arranged in a raised manner at both sides of the counter weight guide movement of the battery along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body between the post members.
US09162857B2	Pneumatic jack An apparatus comprises a base, a top member, and a bladder. The top member defines a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the top member is pivotally coupled to the base. The bladder, in turn, is disposed between the base and the top member. Arranged in this manner, the apparatus is operative to raise the distal end of the top member away from the base as the bladder is inflated.
US09162852B2	Method for controlling a concrete mix casting equipment dismountably attached to a crane and a concrete mix casting equipment dismountably attached to a crane A concrete mix casting equipment that can be dismountably attached to a crane, and method for controlling the same, by controlling motion of the casting equipment in the horizontal plane by moving the crane, and by controlling a substantially vertical motion of the casting equipment during the operation of the casting equipment by vertically moving the lifting element of the crane such that this engages the upper part of a lower frame of the casting equipment, thereby moving the lower frame of the casting equipment vertically relative to an upper frame of the casting equipment.
US09162846B2	Slip lift core for drums A package for coiled welding wire includes an outer housing and a slip lift core within the outer housing. The outer housing and the slip lift core form an annular space for coiling a quantity of welding wire. The slip lift core includes a fixed core and a slip core. The slip core is capable of telescopic movement relative to the fixed core from a retracted position to an extended position. At least one of the fixed core and the slip core includes a locking mechanism integrally formed with the at least one of the fixed core and the slip core, and the locking mechanism is configured to hold the slip core in the extended position. A further example of the package for coiled welding wire can include a winding surface for the welding wire to be wound around the slip lift core in a series of turns.
US09162844B2	Image forming system having movable stapler, sheet post-processing apparatus, and control method An image forming system which is capable of, when a manual stapling process is to be carried out on sheets, reducing waiting time for a user and decreasing power consumption. The image forming system has an image forming apparatus, which forms images on sheets, and a sheet post-processing apparatus. When the sheet post-processing apparatus is to shift into a power-saving state, a movable stapler is moved to a manual stapling position. When it is detected that sheets have been set into a sheet setting unit in a state in which the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus have shifted into the power-saving state, the image forming apparatus is held in the power-saving state, and the sheet post-processing apparatus is returned from the power-saving state.
US09162842B2	Medium receiving cassette and recording apparatus Provided is a medium receiving cassette that includes a medium receiving portion in which a medium is received, a medium support tray which is pivotally provided on the medium receiving portion and of which a state can be switched, in a pivoting manner, between a received state in which the medium support tray is positioned above the medium receiving portion and a medium support surface for supporting the medium is directed downward and an expanded state in which the medium support surface is directed upward and at least a part of the medium support surface is expanded outside the medium receiving portion, and a drawer portion which is drawn out from the medium receiving portion to extend a length of the medium receiving portion in a medium discharging direction.
US09162837B2	Sheet supply device and image forming apparatus The first remaining amount holding unit stores the remaining amount of sheet detected by the remaining amount detection unit before a sheet adding operation to the sheet stacking surface. The second remaining amount holding unit stores the remaining amount of sheet detected by the remaining amount detection unit after the sheet adding operation to the sheet stacking surface. The determination unit determines a sheet adding position based on the respective remaining amount of sheet stored in the first remaining amount holding unit and the second remaining amount holding unit. The feeding speed control unit changes a sheet feeding speed of the pickup roller based on the sheet adding position determined by the determination unit and the sheet remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection unit.
US09162830B2	Plug resistant nozzle for fluidization of particulates Apparatus, systems, and methods for fluidizing particulates in a fluid/particulate mixture. A nozzle can include a gas entry segment, a gas exit segment, and an access segment. The gas exit segment can be coupled to the gas entry segment, and a longitudinal axis of the gas exit segment can be oriented at an angle of between about 70° and about 110° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the gas entry segment. The access segment can be coupled to the gas entry segment and the gas exit segment, and a longitudinal axis of the access segment can be substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the gas exit segment.
US09162829B2	Conveyor A conveyor, such as a bucket conveyor comprising an endless belt (23), the endless belt having a length along which it is endless and comprising a plurality of generally planar sliding members (1), and a plurality of sliding couplings (6) which couple the sliding members (1) together such that each sliding member (1) can slide in a direction along the length of the endless belt over an adjacent sliding member (1) so as to vary the length of the endless belt.
US09162825B2	Machine for packaging products in rigid or semirigid trays sealed across the top by a thermoplastic film, particularly for producing packs in a modified atmosphere A machine with a series of three operating stations, of which the first station arranges the full trays in a predetermined pattern while the second station closes the full trays with a film and in which the third station discharges the full trays. The stations are equidistant from each other. A transfer structure has combs that have a length such as to occupy simultaneously two consecutive such stations and that are provided with the teeth that can grasp the trays, lift the groups of trays and then move longitudinally to transfer the groups of trays from one station to the next, then lower the tray to deposit the groups of trays in the new stations.
US09162824B2	Belt conveyor and electromagnetic drive A belt conveyor having an electromagnetic drive comprising a rotor and a stator sealed in separate nonmagnetic and nonconductive housings. The rotor is mounted to a drive shaft. A drive drum or drive sprockets supported on the shaft have peripheral drive surfaces that engage a conveyor belt. The rotor is coaxial with the peripheral drive surface—either sealed within the drum or sprockets or housed on the shaft axially spaced from the drive surface. The rotor may include conductive rotor bars or permanent magnets. The stator is spaced apart from the rotor across a narrow gap and produces a traveling magnetic flux wave across the gap that causes the rotor and the peripheral drive surface to rotate and drive the conveyor belt.
US09162823B2	Conveying system, conveying element, and guide track A conveying system includes rolling bodies each with a rolling element cage and rolling elements. The rolling elements are arranged in recesses of the rolling element cage and for the rolling in a guide channel. In each case two or three or more rolling elements form a roller set, and the rolling elements of a roller set roll on one another as well as on the guide channel, and at least one roller set is present per rolling body. The conveying system includes at least two guide channels which run at an essentially constant distance to one another and together form a guide path; and at least two rolling bodies are connected to one other by way of a connection element, into a conveying element, and the conveying element with its at least two rolling bodies is movable in at least two guide channels along the guide path.
US09162822B2	Clamping conveyor having a tensioning apparatus A clamping conveyor for transporting preforms for plastics containers by at least one clamping belt, the clamping conveyor having at least one tensioning unit with a tensioning roller over which the return strands of the at least one clamping belt are guided, a first force measuring apparatus for a force that acts on the tensioning roller, and a mechanical transmission device arranged within the clamping conveyor. The tensioning roller is operatively connected to the mechanical transmission device at least via a first cable element, the first force measuring apparatus being operatively connected to the mechanical transmission device via a second cable element and being coupled to an adjusting device for setting the force that acts on the tensioning roller.
US09162819B2	Belt having embedded tension members In a force transmission belt or a conveyor belt, in particular a toothed belt, having a main belt body or a cord embedding zone made of a customary belt elastomer (20), in particular of polyurethane, and having at least one tension member of carbon cord (10; 1, 2) embedded in the elastomer (20), a material (30) is provided, which is enclosed between the strands (1) of the cord (10), and which could have been introduced by applying coatings onto strands (1) of the cord (10), for example. Said filler material (30), which is different from the elastomer (20) in which the carbon cord is embedded, consists of a composition of hydroxyaromates and aldehydes, without any addition of rubber or rubber latex, a hydroxyaromates-aldehyde resin that does not contain rubber, reaction products from hydroxyaromates or hydroxyaromates-aldehyde compositions with isocyanates or isocyanate prepolymers, and/or aromatically or polyaromatically cross-linked polyurethanes, or contains these substances. The elasticity of the carbon cord (10; 1, 2) is thus successfully maintained, good integration in the belt elastomer (20) is ensured, and the service time of the belt is substantially increased.
US09162813B2	Pacifier holder and protector A pacifier holder and protector for protecting a pacifier from dirt and other contaminants includes a pouch, a clip connected to the pouch that can be used to connect the holder to an infant's clothing or other item, and a ribbon having one end connected to the pouch and a second end that can be connected to a pacifier. An alternative embodiment of the holder and protector includes an animal character, fictional character, or other object having a built-in pacifier nipple protector connected to a clip or article of clothing and an optional ribbon or strap having one end connected to the clip of other article of clothing and a second end that can be connected to a pacifier.
US09162812B1	Aerosol drying agent for oil paints An aerosol composition for facilitating drying of oil paintings comprises a solvent system, an acrylic binder, one or more drying agents, one or more anti-skinning agents; a UV absorber, a hindered amine light stabilizer, and a propellant. The aerosol composition is sprayed from an aerosol container onto an oil painting to aid in drying the top surface of the paint.
US09162811B2	Knife blade dispenser A knife blade dispenser including a plurality of knife blades, a frame, a cover coupled the frame to define a storage volume between the cover and the frame for the plurality of knife blades, a spacer assembly positioned within the storage volume to separate the storage volume into a new knife blade region for the plurality of knife blades to be stored and a used knife blade region configured to store a plurality of used knife blades that is in communication with the used blade slot, and a shuttle to dispense at least one of the plurality of knife blades from within the storage volume.
US09162810B2	Device for attaching a figurine onto a beverage bottle, combination of a figurine and a device, and a combination of a figurine and device attached to a beverage bottle The invention concerns a device for the attachment of a figurine with a cylindrical base part onto a beverage bottle. Furthermore, the invention concerns a combination of such a device and a figurine as well as a beverage bottle made of plastic, which forms a sales unit with such a device and such a figurine. In order to enable the figurine to be joined separably to the beverage bottle to form a sales unit in a simple, aesthetical and sales-promoting manner, the device according to the invention comprises a body having means for separable attachment of the figurine and having a recess for holding a screw cap and/or a neck part provided with an outside thread of the beverage bottle.
US09162806B2	Bag in box cleanable connector system having conical plunger The system and method discloses a cleanable connector system for a Bag-In-Box (“BIB”) type package having a valve arrangement that prevents the mixing of product within the bag and in the line. Various embodiments provide a connector system including a valve arrangement having a line-side valve and a bag-side valve, wherein the valve arrangement allows connection to a bag and to a line-side connector while preventing the product within the bag and in the line from mixing. The system improves the user experience by only requiring a relatively weak connection force between the line-side valve and the bag-side valve. The system and method improves the shelf life of products within the bag and reduces the risk of contamination of the bag, the line, and the product within the bag by minimizing the risk of introducing biological and other foreign material into the system when connecting the bag and the line.
US09162805B1	Pallet wrap A reusable wrap for releasable securing laden goods on a pallet. One embodiment of the pallet wrap comprises a flexible wrap having a plurality of pockets adjacent its ends for receiving corresponding rods, and a plurality of hook and loop strap fasteners attached to one end of the wrap for engaging corresponding rings secured to the second end of the wrap to permit the straps to be folded back and attached to themselves to secure the wrap around the goods. Corner webbing members may be attached to the bottom of the wrap to assist in securing the wrap to the pallet itself during use. A hook and loop strap may also be attached to the top of the wrap to extend across the top of the loaded goods. Identification and/or shipping information or materials may be placed in a clear vinyl pocket for easy access and viewing.
US09162803B2	Non-removable tamper resistant lid The present invention relates to a tamper resistant lid (10) for a container (1). The lid (10) exhibits a center axis (X) and comprises an outer and an inner member (20, 40). The outer and inner members (20, 40) are further adapted to be substantially prevented from displacement along the center axis (X) with respect to each other. At least a part of the inner member (40) comprises threads (48) enabling a threaded connection to the container (1) by means of rotating the outer member (20) in a first direction. The lid (10) further comprises at least one stop member (51, 52, 53, 60) preventing the inner member (40) from rotation with respect to the outer member (20). The at least one stop member (51, 52, 53, 60) is adapted to be controllably disabled with a designated force after said inner member (40) has been connected to the container (1), so that the outer member (20) can be freely rotated with respect to the inner member (40) to thereby prevent removal of the lid from the container (1). The present invention enables the sealing of a container, while substantially preventing the container from being reopened.
US09162799B2	Storage container and identification system In the present application, a storage container is configured to provide a sealed portion for the storage of identification material. The storage container includes a container for holding various elements and a sleeve coupled to the container. The sleeve has an opening to accept the identification material. The sleeve is configured to be selectively sealed such that the interior of the sleeve is isolated from the interior of the container and the exterior of the container.
US09162794B2	Beverage delivery can A beverage delivery can may comprise various configurations. Such configurations may comprise various aperture shapes, sizes, and configurations and various shapes, textures, configurations, and dimensions of the lid and surface of the can. A beverage can may comprise various exterior shapes such as a tapered shape, a faceted shape, a pint glass shape and the like. In embodiments, the beverage can may comprise various types of nucleation devices. In embodiments, various external packaging may be used with one or more beverage delivery cans.
US09162790B2	Method for preparing paper cup A paper cup, including: a cup body including a surface, and a base. A plurality of uneven stiffeners are arranged on the surface of the cup body. A method for preparing the paper cup includes: 1) selecting polyethylene (PE) or polylactic acid (PLA) coated paper as a raw material, the PE or the PLA coated paper including: a coated side, and a printed side; 2) printing a figure on the printed side of the PE or the PLA coated paper; 3) embossing uneven stiffeners on the paper via an embossing device; 4) cutting the paper into a shape of a section as a cup body via a die cutting machine; 5) shaping the cup body and the base into the paper cup via a molding machine; and 6) sterilizing, and packaging the paper cups.
US09162789B2	Card product package assembly having enhanced security A package for display and sale of a card product including a first portion including a first panel connected to a second panel via a first fold line and a third panel connected to the second panel via a second fold line, the first panel including a first opening, the third panel including a second opening, which, in a folded state where the first panel has been folded to overlap the second panel via the first fold line and the second panel has been folded to overlap the third panel via a second fold line and the fourth panel has been folded to overlap the third panel via the third fold line, the first opening at least partially overlaps the second opening, a second portion foldably connected to the first portion, wherein the second portion displays information about the card product, a first fastener, and a second fastener releasably attached to the first fastener when the first portion and the second portion are in a closed position, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener re-attachably separate from one another when the first portion and the second portion are in an open position.
US09162787B2	Tangential airstream heat shrinking device of plastic film A tangential airstream heat shrinking device of plastic film has a chassis, a heating chamber, air blowers, and high-temperature airstream ejectors. The heating chamber is mounted on the chassis and the heating channel is under the heating chamber. The air blowers are mounted to a bottom of the chassis. The high-temperature airstream ejectors are respectively fit into the mounting holes of the heating chamber. Heated air is discharged through a high-temperature airstream discharging opening of the air blade section under a respective high-temperature airstream ejector. A high-temperature airstream discharging opening is located inside the heating channel of the heating chamber. Each high-temperature airstream ejector can be rotationally adjusted so that the high-temperature airstreams are supplied along routes defined by different tangents at different angles along the circumference of a film-packaged article.
US09162783B2	Apparatus and method for producing customised containers of cigarettes Cigarettes are stored in one or more reservoirs at a customer location. A computer receives customer orders and transmits them to a dispenser. Upon receipt of a customer order, a pre-selected number of cigarettes is automatically removed from the reservoir(s) by the dispenser and then automatically packed in a container by a packer comprising a collation mandrel which is movable relative to the dispenser. A preferred type of substantially air-tight, self-sealing container has a lid portion, a body portion and a collar, which is mounted within the body portion. The body portion is provided with one or more upwardly extending protrusions on the upper surface of the base thereof. An air and moisture impermeable membrane is sealed about the upper periphery of the collar.
US09162777B2	Apparatus and method for monitoring status of satellite Provided is an apparatus and method for monitoring a status of a satellite, including classifying satellite telemetry information and space weather information and storing the information in a storage unit including respective databases, predicting whether a predetermined type of satellite failure occurs based on the space weather information, and generating satellite control command information to change a status of a predetermined satellite configuration when a satellite failure determining index used to determine a possibility of the satellite failure is beyond a predetermined critical alert range.
US09162775B2	Venting gas from a tank The present invention provides a tank vent device for venting gas from a tank 10 comprising a gas inlet 107 for receiving gas from a vent outlet of the tank, a gas outlet 109 for discharging the gas received, and a pressure valve 70 connecting the gas inlet and gas outlet, wherein the pressure valve is connected to a control pressure input 108 and is controllable by control pressure supplied at the control pressure input, whereby, in use, the pressure valve is controlled by the control pressure to open and close so as to regulate the flow of gas between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The present invention also provides a vent tank 10, methods of venting gas and refueling an aircraft.
US09162772B2	Tank, a fuel storage system, and an aircraft A storage tank (25) of a storage system. The storage tank (25) includes a container (30) and a dynamic ventilation line (35) incorporated therein, said dynamic ventilation line (35) being provided with an air-no-fuel valve (45) that shuts off in the presence of fuel, the air-no-fuel valve (45) communicating with an internal space (INT) of the container (30) via an upstream pipe (40) placed inside the container (30), a downstream pipe (50) secured to a wall (31) of the container (30) extending from the air-no-fuel valve (45) and opening out into a dynamic air intake (53) communicating with the outside air (200), said storage tank having at least one communication orifice (300) for communicating with other tanks.
US09162769B2	Occupancy sensor that measures electric current through a heating element An occupancy sensor has three layers. The bottom layer contains two electrodes, and a resistive element between the electrodes. The middle layer is a spacer. The top layer is a third electrode, divided into two parts. When a person sits on the sensor, both parts of the third layer contact the resistive element. This causes current to flow through all of the electrodes. Accordingly, occupancy can be detected by measuring current flow through the electrodes. The device additionally provides heating via the resistive element. The sensor can be arranged in a vehicle seat.
US09162767B2	Aircraft passenger seat device An aircraft passenger seat device comprises an aircraft passenger seat with at least one armrest element which is provided for delimiting a seating area of the aircraft passenger seat, and a seat blocking device which is provided for blocking a seating area of the aircraft passenger seat in a mounted state. The seat blocking device is designed to be connected to the at least one armrest element by a toolless form fit.
US09162765B2	Loading system for an aircraft and method for conveying a piece of cargo on a cargo deck The invention concerns a loading system for an aircraft, wherein the loading system comprises a control computer; a multiplicity of cargo conveying devices for conveying a piece of cargo on a cargo loading deck of the aircraft, wherein to control the cargo conveying devices, the control computer is communicatively connected with the cargo conveying devices; at least one input device which is communicatively connected with the control computer to transfer user inputs to the control computer. An aspect of the invention is that the one input device may be formed as a touchscreen.
US09162761B2	Partially-inflated rigid-structure glider A partially-inflated rigid-structure glider is a portable or collapsible gliding apparatus that a user can transport in a carrying case. The gliding apparatus includes a rigid yet collapsible frame, tension membranes over both on the wings and tail, and inflatable bladder, a pair of drogue brakes, and a left and right steering mechanism. The pair of drogue brakes is located on opposing sides of the gliding apparatus and create drag on its respective side in order to turn the gliding apparatus either left or right. The user can activate either drogue brake with the left and right steering mechanism, which are control lines attached to each drogue brake. The tension membranes are fitted over the frame so that the gliding apparatus has an airfoil shape in order to create lift with the wings and tail while the gliding apparatus is in flight.
US09162760B2	Radial fluid device with multi-harmonic output According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device contains a cylinder block mounted for rotation, a first and second plurality of radially extending cylinders, and a first and second cam. The cylinder block contains the first and second plurality of radially extending cylinders, and each radially extending cylinder contains a piston. The cams are disposed about each plurality of radially extending cylinders, and the second cam has at least one more lobe than the first cam.
US09162755B2	Multiple controllable airflow modification devices An active wing extension includes a body portion substantially parallel to a wing of an aircraft, as if it were an extension of the wing. The body portion is attachable to an aircraft wing and includes multiple controllable airflow modification devices coupled thereto. By virtue of having multiple controllable airflow modification devices, the wing extension is capable of adjusting control surfaces of the multiple controllable airflow modification devices in response to in-flight conditions, to reduce wing loads, improve wing fatigue characteristics, increase range, and/or increase efficiency.
US09162754B2	Method of using an active flow control system for lift enhancement or destruction in a wind turbine blade A method for actively manipulating a primary fluid flow over a surface using an active flow control system including an active fluid flow device to provide lift enhancement and lift destruction. The method including the disposing of an active fluid flow device in the surface. The active fluid flow device is then operated to generate at least one of a steady blowing secondary fluid flow, a pulsed secondary fluid flow or an oscillating secondary fluid flow. While flowing the primary fluid over the surface to create a primary flow field, a secondary fluid flow is injected in an upstream direction and substantially opposed to the incoming primary fluid flow. The injecting of the secondary fluid flow in this manner provides for influencing of the primary flow field by manipulating a momentum of the secondary fluid flow to influence the incoming primary fluid flow and resultant lift.
US09162753B1	Unmanned aerial vehicle for monitoring infrastructure assets An unmanned aerial vehicle and associated methods for inspecting infrastructure assets includes a multirotor, electrically driven helicopter apparatus and power supply; a flight computer; positioning and collision avoidance equipment; and at least one sensor such as a camera. The flight computer is programmed for automated travel to and inspection of selected waypoints, at which condition data is collected for further analysis. The method also includes protocols for segmenting the flight path to accomplish sequential inspection of a linear asset such as a power line using limited-range equipment.
US09162752B2	Flight control laws for automatic hover hold A system and method to control hovering flight of a rotary aircraft. The system including a lateral speed hold loop, a longitudinal loop, a vertical control loop, and a directional loop. The method includes defining a first flight envelope having a first groundspeed threshold; defining a second flight envelope having a second groundspeed threshold, the second flight envelope being defined within the first envelope; engaging a hover hold with a control law hover hold architecture as the aircraft enters the first flight envelope; and engaging a position hold with a control law position hold architecture as the aircraft enters the second flight envelope.
US09162746B2	Latch with a built-in adjustment mechanism An apparatus comprising a latch body and a plurality of locking mechanisms. The latch body has a plurality of channels that extend through the latch body. The plurality of locking mechanisms is housed within the latch body. A locking mechanism in the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plate and a spring mechanism. The plate has an opening positioned relative to a corresponding channel in the plurality of channels. The spring mechanism is configured to hold the plate in a locked position within the latch body.
US09162740B2	Undersea free vehicle and components A free vehicle suitable to serve as a platform to carry a variety of equipment to the ocean floor, actuate devices at the floor and at intermediate points on the way to and returning from the ocean floor is described. The free vehicle includes standardized power, control electronics, navigation equipment and mechanical release mechanisms that can be used in conjunction with custom experiments. Exemplary experiments include sensors and sampling equipment used for deep-sea exploration. The free vehicle platform provides for scalable designs to meet scientific needs and surface vessel constraints.
US09162739B2	Inflatable portable platform An inflatable buoyant platform (100) comprising a hollow inflatable enclosure (105) having a top surface (165) and a bottom surface (170), which are being peripherally joined by a flexible curtain (175). A support means (180) being provided inside the enclosure (105), the support means (180) adopts an extended form inside the enclosure (105) to enhance the rigidity of the enclosure (105) when the platform (100) is inflated, the support means (180) adapts a retracted form inside the enclosure (105) when the enclosure (105) is deflated. At least one inflating valve (135) on the enclosure (105) for inflating the enclosure (105) by an external source of compressed gas; at least one deflating valve (145) on the enclosure (105) for deflating the enclosure by the external source of compressed gas; and at least one exit valve (185) on the enclosure (105) for allowing the compressed gas to escape while deflating the enclosure (105).
US09162738B1	Inflatable life raft with detachable accessory pouch An inflatable life raft having one or more air channels forming a generally rectangular shaped body when the raft is unfolded and inflated. Valves in fluid communication with the air channels for inflating and deflating the life raft. A storage carrier is integrally constructed with the life raft for storing the folded normally deflated life raft so that the raft can be easily carried, transported, and automatically deployed. The inflatable raft includes a waterproof pouch releasably attached to the raft for storing items such as a rope, flare launcher, strobe light, glow sticks, and whistle. A tether couples the life raft to a user, and a plurality of reflectors is attached to the surface of the inflatable life raft. A replaceable gas cylinder, and manual hand pump are operatively coupled to the valves for automatically or manually inflating the life raft.
US09162732B2	Stepped hull An improved watercraft hull providing stability and maneuverability in turns. The hull may include a longitudinal centerline extending from bow to stern, a first and second transverse air channel that are fluidly isolated from the rest of the hull, the first and second air channels separating the hull into a bow planing portion, a middle planing portion, and a stern planing portion, a first plurality of strakes protruding from the bow planing portion, a second plurality of strakes protruding from the middle planing portion, and a third plurality of strakes protruding from the stern portion. The hull may also include a V-shaped keel portion at the bow portion centerline, and a flattened hull portion at the stern portion centerline having a deadrise angle of 0°, the flattened hull portion being disposed between and directly adjacent to two adjacent longitudinal elements of the third plurality of longitudinal elements.
US09162727B2	Tricycle vehicle having a swivel wheel and a cart The present invention discloses a tricycle vehicle having a cart. According to the invention the tricycle vehicle includes a riding module (101) having a front wheel (102), a steering assembly (107) and a frame (105) having a rear tube. The tricycle vehicle also includes a cart module (103) having two wheels (104), a body (111) configured to carry a bag, a base having a base frame and a handle (112) configured for steering the tricycle vehicle.
US09162717B2	Truck track drive A truck track drive can include two rollers. The truck track drive can also include a tread configured to pass over top and bottom of a dual rear wheel assembly on a truck and to be moved by rotation of the dual rear wheels. The track drive can also include a compulsory drive unit.
US09162715B1	Corner closeout member and assembly for pickup truck box A closeout member is provided which may be disposed within an opening partially defined by a corner member and a rail edge of a side panel adjacent to a tailgate and tail lamp of a pickup truck box. The closeout member may include an outboard side secured to the corner member and shaped to substantially match a curvature of the corner member and a forward side secured at the rail edge such that the closeout member reinforces the curvature of the corner member. The closeout member may also include an inboard edge and an extension member extending at a substantially ninety degree angle downwardly from the inboard edge and may be at least partially secured to the corner member. The side panel and closeout member may be five or six thousand series aluminum.
US09162708B2	Steering hanger assembly for vehicle A steering hanger assembly for a vehicle, the steering hanger assembly including a beam structure for supporting a steering column. The beam structure includes a first beam that extends from a right front pillar toward the center of the vehicle width, a second beam that extends from a left front pillar toward the center of the vehicle width and that overlaps the front end of the first beam, and left and right beam connection members that connect the front ends of the first and second beams together. The beam structure is connected by vehicle body connection members also to other vehicle body constituting members of the vehicle body, which are different from the left and right front pillars.
US09162707B2	Body component A motor vehicle column includes an inner shell and an outer shell made from a metal, which are connected to each other in respective flange regions and which enclose a hollow space between them. In the hollow space a reinforcement element having a basic body made from a fiber composite plastic is arranged to strengthen the body component. The reinforcement element includes a metallic insert, which connects the reinforcement element to the inner and/or outer shell.
US09162704B2	PID control system In a PID control system, a proportionality coefficient multiplication unit multiplies a valve opening degree command value by a proportionality coefficient. A first angle deviation computation unit computes a deviation between an output value from a proportionality coefficient multiplication unit and a detected rotation angle of a valve driving motor. A differential coefficient multiplication unit multiplies the valve opening degree command value by a differential coefficient. A third angle deviation computation unit computes a deviation between an output value from the differential coefficient multiplication unit and the detected rotation angle of the valve driving motor.
US09162698B2	Vehicular input apparatus An input apparatus disposed on a core unit of a steering wheel has an operable body. The operable body has multiple straining bodies that have a transfer surface part. The transfer surface part has a displacement transfer surface formed thereon, and the displacement transfer surface has a detector for detecting a displacement of the displacement transfer surface according to an operation force applied to an operation surface. The straining bodies and the operable body are arranged such that a portion of the operable body extends towards a rim of the steering wheel from, or across, a line connecting two straining bodies that are positioned closer to the rim than other straining bodies.
US09162695B2	Collapsible three-wheeled all-in-one golf cart A cart that combines the utilities of a conventional three-wheeled pushcart and golf bag into a single piece of equipment. The cart comprises a collapsible three wheeled configuration and push bar. These collapsible mechanisms enable the cart to be transformed into two positions: folded or extended. The cart is also equipped with 14 individual slots (pipes) for holding a standard set of golf clubs. Two tool belts are also attached to each side of the cart for personal storage. In an extended position, the cart is designed to be used for walking as one would when using a “pushcart and bag combination”. In a folded position, the cart can be mounted securely onto the back of a motorized cart for riding, similar to a conventional golf bag. This compact folded position is also intended for the purpose and convenience of storage.
US09162693B2	Hand truck mounting structure A mounting structure for a hand truck is described. Embodiments of the present invention include a mounting structure adapted to be secured to a hand truck. Generally, the mounting structure can be implemented to secure a strapping device to the hand truck. The mounting structure can generally include a body, a first member, a second member, and a spring. Typically, the first member can be slidably coupled to the body and the second member can be fixedly coupled to the body. The first member and the second member can include concave faces to interface with a frame of the hand truck. The mounting structure can couple to the hand truck in a variety of locations to ensure that the strapping device is optimally positioned to secure a particular load.
US09162692B2	Game cart device A convertible game cart including a first wheel rotatable about a first axis, a second wheel rotatable about a second axis, and a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting mechanism couples the first wheel and the second wheel. The pivoting mechanism is configured to pivot the first wheel relative to the second wheel from a first orientation with the first axis and the second axis being generally parallel to a second orientation with the first axis and the second axis being generally perpendicular.
US09162690B2	System and method for controlling movement of vehicles A method includes determining an operational parameter of a first vehicle traveling with a plurality of vehicles in a transportation network and/or a route in the transportation network, identifying a failure condition of the first vehicle and/or the route based on the operational parameter, obtaining plural different sets of remedial actions that dictate operations to be taken based on the operational parameter, simulating travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network based on implementation of the different sets of remedial actions, determining potential consequences on travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network when the different sets of remedial actions are implemented in the travel that is simulated, and based on the potential consequences, receiving a selection of at least one of the different sets of remedial actions to be implemented in actual travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network.
US09162688B2	Vibrational component acceleration estimation device and vibrational component acceleration estimation method for railway vehicle A device for estimating the acceleration of a vibrational component acting on a vehicle body in a lateral direction when a railway vehicle having a vehicle body tilting device runs in a curve section includes a sensor for detecting the acceleration acting on the vehicle body in a lateral direction, a calculation unit for acquiring track information at a running point, a running speed, and ON/OFF information of vehicle body tilting operation, and calculating a theoretical excess centrifugal acceleration αL acting on the vehicle body by equations, and a calculation unit for deriving the acceleration of the vibrational component acting on the vehicle body based on the acceleration detected by the sensor and the acceleration αL determined by the calculation unit. Vibration generated in the vehicle body in a lateral direction is suppressed, so that the acceleration of the vibrational component can be estimated.
US09162687B2	Membrane for secondary air suspension of a land or rail vehicle, method of manufacturing same, its suspension and vehicle incorporating same The present invention relates to a membrane for secondary air suspension of a land or rail vehicle, in particular of heavy truck or passenger wagon type, this secondary suspension incorporating it, such a vehicle which is provided therewith, and the method for manufacturing this membrane.This substantially toroidal membrane (103) comprises two attachment areas (110) and at least one corded layer (106) of fabric and/or metallic threads which is situated between two radially internal (104) and external (105) elastomer layers and which extends between these attachment areas.According to the invention, said at least one corded layer has its or each of its thread(s) individually sheathed by an elastomer sheath compatible with the internal and external layers.
US09162686B2	Drive support device and drive support method A drive support device that supports driving operation of a vehicle, includes: a vehicle speed sensor that detects a current vehicle speed of the vehicle; a target vehicle speed control unit that calculates a reference target vehicle speed range of the vehicle, that sets an indication upper limit speed on the basis of the current vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor, and determines a target vehicle speed range that is a speed range lower than or equal to the indication upper limit speed on the basis of the reference target vehicle speed range; and a target vehicle speed indicating unit that indicates the target vehicle speed range determined by the target vehicle speed control unit.
US09162684B2	Electronic control unit for vehicle An electronic control unit includes a threshold acquiring element, a behavior determining element and a storing element. The threshold acquiring element acquires a threshold for defining a determination condition. The threshold is set to correspond to a road condition on which a vehicle travels. The behavior determining element determines whether a vehicle behavior satisfies the determination condition defined by the threshold. The storing element stores predetermined operation data of the vehicle when the behavior determining element determines that the vehicle behavior satisfies the determination condition.
US09162680B1	Method of controlling automatic transmission coasting downshift A method of controlling a transmission and engine during a coasting downshift is particularly suited to transmission arrangements exhibiting strong inertia coupling. During the inertia phase of the downshift, a third clutch such as a torque converter bypass clutch is modulated to control output torque. Simultaneously, engine torque is modulated to control engine speed. The resulting control scheme is only semi-coupled.
US09162678B2	Method for controlling a means for recovering energy generated by the braking of a motor vehicle A method for controlling a motor vehicle including driven wheels, a mechanism recovering energy generated by braking, and a torque transmission chain transmitting torque from the driven wheels to the energy recovery mechanism, the method including: a) acquiring a braking instruction and dynamic characteristics of the motor vehicle, b) controlling the energy recovery according to a control set point calculated as a function of the braking instructions and the dynamic characteristics acquired in a), and c) controlling the brakes according to a control set point calculated as a function of the braking instruction and the dynamic characteristics acquired in a). In b), the control set point for energy recovery is calculated by a preventive filter that filters the braking instruction to attenuate amplitude thereof around the resonant frequency of the torque transmission chain.
US09162676B2	Vehicle control device A control device of a vehicle comprises: an electric motor connected to a drive force transmission path through a first connecting/disconnecting device connecting/interrupting power transmission; and an engine connected to the electric motor through a second connecting/disconnecting device connecting/interrupting power transmission, the control device of a vehicle disconnecting the first connecting/disconnecting device or the second connecting/disconnecting device during running to perform coasting with the engine separated, when performing coasting, a determination whether a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined determination vehicle speed implemented, the engine separated by disconnecting the second connecting/disconnecting device with the first connecting/disconnecting device kept connected at a low vehicle speed where the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined determination vehicle speed, and the engine separated by disconnecting the first connecting/disconnecting device at a high vehicle speed where the vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined determination vehicle speed.
US09162675B2	Control device of hybrid system The invention relates to a control device of a hybrid system. The control device selectively performs first and second modes for concomitantly using an EV mode for operating the electric motor (12) with the engine operation being stopped and an HV mode for selectively operating the engine and stopping the engine operation with the electric motor being operated by switching the EV and HV modes according to a predetermined switching condition set such that a proportion of an engine operation time in the first mode is smaller than that in the second mode. When an actual acceleration pedal manipulation amount is smaller than a first manipulation amount, an amount of the hybrid system power increased according to the increasing of the actual acceleration pedal manipulation amount in the first mode is made larger than that in the second mode.
US09162673B2	Gear shift control system for automatic transmission A gear shift control system for vehicles is provided which mathematically calculates a rate of deceleration of the vehicle equipped an automatic transmission upon start of deceleration of the vehicle and inhibits the automatic transmission from upshifting or changes a permissible gear shift range of the automatic transmission as a function of the rate of deceleration of the vehicle, thereby ensuring a desired degree of braking force including an engine braking force while the vehicle is decelerating.
US09162672B2	Method for controlling an exhaust-gas aftertreatment device of a hybrid drive, and hybrid drive A method for controlling an exhaust gas aftertreatment device of a vehicle hybrid drive is provided. The method comprises operating the hybrid drive only by a combustion engine, only by a non-combustion motor, or by both, as a function of a temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment device, and conducting exhaust gas of the hybrid drive at least partially through the exhaust aftertreatment device, the engine and motor each providing output to power the vehicle. In this way, the aftertreatment device may be operated at an optimal temperature for conversion performance.
US09162667B2	Power transmitting apparatus for vehicle A power transmitting apparatus includes: an electric supplementary drive unit; a torque converting device including a planetary gear set having a first rotation element connected to the electric supplementary drive unit, a second rotation element connected to an engine, and a third rotation element operated as an output element; an input device including a first input shaft selectively connected to the second rotation element through one clutch and provided with at least one input gear fixedly disposed thereon, and a second input shaft disposed on the same axis as the first input shaft without rotational interference with the first input shaft, directly connected to the third rotation element, selectively connected to the second rotation element through the other clutch, and provide with at least one input gear fixedly disposed thereon; and a speed output device converting torque of the input device and outputting the converted torque.
US09162666B2	Hybrid vehicle and method of braking by controlling an exhaust heat recovery device bypass valve on a hybrid vehicle A method of braking a vehicle includes determining via a controller a desired braking power for braking the vehicle. Under the method, a bypass valve that controls exhaust gas flow through the exhaust heat recovery device is moved via the controller to a relatively restrictive position to provide at least some of the desired braking power.
US09162665B2	Kick-down shift control device for electric vehicle By increasing accelerator opening APO from time t1, kick-down shift is started at time t2. While the kick-down shift is carried out by changeover from a release element to an engagement element, a motor torque tTm that is increased as Tmo with an increase in accelerator opening APO is restricted as follows. In a shift initial stage from time t2 to inertia phase start time t3, motor torque tTm is restricted to not exceed upper limit value Tlimit obtained by subtracting an inertia phase progressing torque increment Tip from an inertia phase end outputtable maximum motor torque Tmo2 that is outputtable with motor rotation speed Nmo2 at inertia phase end time t4. During an inertia phase (t3-t4), the motor torque tTm is restricted to a value Tlimit+Tip.
US09162661B2	Vehicle brake system with an electric servomotor and hydraulic reaction piston A brake system is described with a master cylinder actuated by a control rod connected to a plunger piston and an actuator piston acting directly on the primary piston. A hydraulic reaction piston is housed in the piston so it can be subjected to the pressure of the primary chamber and to the opposing action of a reaction spring. The plunger piston can push the reaction piston directly to push the master cylinder.
US09162658B2	Brake control device for vehicle There is provided a brake control device for a brake device including a basic fluid pressure generating unit which generates a basic fluid pressure according to an operation to a brake operating member, a hydraulic pump which generates a fluid pressure to generate a differential pressure, a pressure regulating valve which regulates the differential pressure, and a friction brake mechanism which applies a fluid pressure obtained by adding the differential pressure to the basic fluid pressure, to a wheel cylinder. The control device includes a regulating unit which regulates the differential pressure according to an operating amount correlated value and which decreases the differential pressure according to an increase of the basic fluid pressure due to an increase of the operating amount correlated value when the vehicle is stopped and the differential pressure is regulated to a value larger than 0 by an operation to the brake operating member.
US09162657B2	Automotive braking system An automotive braking system includes a windshield wiper system, a traction wheel, and a non-friction brake system configured to apply a braking force to the traction wheel. The system also includes one or more controllers operatively connected with the windshield wiper system, and configured to, in response to a braking request, command the non-friction brake system to apply the braking force to the traction wheel. The braking force has a magnitude that depends on whether the windshield wiper system is active.
US09162656B2	Active driven wheel lift identification for an automotive vehicle A roll control system (16) for an automotive vehicle (10) is used to actively detect if one of the plurality of the driven wheels (12) is lifted. The system generates a pressure request to determine if the wheel has lifted. By comparing the change in wheel speed of a driven wheel to a change in wheel speed threshold the wheel lift status can be determined. The wheel speed change threshold may be dependent upon various vehicle operating conditions such as powertrain torque, braking torque and/or longitudinal force on the vehicle.
US09162655B2	Brake system for vehicle designed to improve durability and maneuvering feeling A braking device for a vehicle is provided which includes a braking simulator, thus resulting in improved mountability of the braking device in the vehicle. The braking device is designed to permit component parts of the hydraulic booster to slide on one another in response to a braking effort on a brake pedal, thereby absorbing an undesirable load on the braking device and also ensuring the stability in operating the brake pedal. This results in improved durability and maneuvering feeling of the braking device.
US09162652B2	Car wash spray arch A shape-changing spray arch for a “touchless” spray washer for automotive vehicles and the like. A transit frame which can change shape is mounted in a fixed arch frame and connected to an actuator which changes the shape of the side and top spray conduits in a reciprocal fashion as vehicles pass through the arch. In addition, the spray conduits, both side and top conduits, can be twisted or reoriented around their respective longitudinal axes to be aimed more toward an approaching vehicle and then reoriented to be aimed more toward a receding vehicle, the change in angular orientation being effected as the vehicle passes through the arch. These features can be used separately or in combination.
US09162649B2	Windshield wiper The instant disclosure provides a wiper, comprising a wiper connector, a flexible member, a reinforcing member, a rigid frame, a plurality of fastening members and a wiper blade. The flexible member includes a central loading portion and two distal loading portion extending symmetrically from two ends of the central loading portion, where the central loading portion has a zero curvature. The reinforcing member is sleevingly coupled to the flexible member. A front-facing side of the reinforcing member has at least one wind-deflecting rib formed thereon. The rigid frame is arranged on the central loading portion to connect the wiper connector. The fastening member is engaged to the second loading portion. The wiper blade is inserted through the plurality of fastening members. Thus, a better conformity can be achieved between the windshield and the wiper through the wind pressure while driving to provide a better water removal effect.
US09162639B2	In-vehicle electronic control unit and power feeding control method of the same When a power supply switch is fed with power from a DC power supply and closed, a power supply unit starts power feeding to an opening and closing command generation unit and continues the power feeding by a self-hold command signal from the opening and closing command generation unit. A reverse connection protective element is a field-effect transistor connected in series to the power supply switch and driven to conduct current in an energization direction of an internal parasitic diode when the power supply is connected in proper polarity. Even when a supply fault abnormality is occurring due to fault contact between a positive-side wire of an in-vehicle electrical load connected to the reverse connection protective element and a positive-electrode wire of the DC power supply, the self-hold command signal is cancelled by determining that the power supply switch is opened while the reverse connection protective element is opened.
US09162632B2	Patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive body and producing method thereof A method for producing a patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive body includes a pattern forming step of cutting a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in a pressure-sensitive adhesive film including a first release film and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer laminated on one surface of the first release film so as to form a first slit in a pattern shape and an outer frame forming step of cutting the first release film and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer so as to form a second slit in an outer frame shape surrounding the pattern shape. The second slit has a discontinuous portion in a cutting direction.
US09162630B2	Adjustable support for electronic device within a cup-holder A support system for adjustably supporting an object such as an electronic device is provide for use with existing cup-holders, such as those found on automotive vehicles. The system include preferably a rigid yet flexible cup insert, rigid yet flexible extension member, and a fixed and/or adjustable cradle to support the object, where the extension member may be manipulated to permit adjustment of the cradle (and thus the object supported on the cradle) relative to the user and the existing cup-holder.
US09162622B2	Peripheral salient feature enhancement on full-windshield head-up display A method to selectively project graphical images upon a transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle based upon visual information present in a peripheral zone of vision includes monitoring a location of visual information corresponding to critical information with respect to the windscreen, and processing the location of the visual information to generate display requirements describing the visual information as present in the peripheral zone of vision. Processing the location includes monitoring an estimated operator gaze location with respect to the windscreen, comparing the estimated operator gaze location to the location of visual information, and generating the display requirements when the estimated operator gaze location is distant from the location of visual information by more than a threshold distance. The method further includes generating the graphical images to be projected based upon the display requirements, and projecting the graphical images upon the transparent windscreen head up display based upon the estimated operator gaze location.
US09162621B2	Parking support apparatus A parking support apparatus includes: a captured image acquisition unit acquiring a captured image from an image capturing unit which images surrounding scenery of a vehicle; a target destination section setting unit setting a target destination section which is located around the vehicle and at which the vehicle arrives, based on the image; a vertex coordinates calculation unit calculating coordinates of a vertex of the section; an intersection coordinates calculation unit calculating coordinates of the vehicle at an intersection between a parallel line parallel to the vehicle in a width direction and frame lines configuring the section in a top view when the vertex is closer to a center side of the vehicle than the parallel line; and a destination frame superposition unit superposing a destination frame onto the image by linearly connecting positions in the image corresponding to the vertex on a side separated farther from the vehicle than the parallel line among the vertexes, and the intersection.
US09162613B2	Vehicle rear light assembly A vehicle rear light assembly (VRLA) that is enclosed within an elongated LED display unit that includes a center compartment having a plurality of red LEDs and contiguous left and right compartments each having a plurality of yellow/red LEDs. The VRLA is comprised of an electrical circuit consisting of a function select circuit that is connected to a vehicle and sequentially includes an LED drive circuit, an LED control circuit and a LED activation circuit that is connected, in combination with the LED drive circuit, to the LED display unit. The display unit allows the viewing of left and right blinking turn signals, brake lights and tail lights.
US09162611B2	Solid state steerable light A light assembly and method for generating a light pattern, the assembly comprising a first light module including a first LED array, the first LED array including at least a first line of LEDs where each LED in the first array generates an LED light pattern and where dark areas occur between adjacent LED light patterns, the first LED array forming a first light pattern including interleaved bright and dark areas and a second light module wherein the first and second light modules are arranged with the first light pattern misaligned with a second light pattern generated by the second light module so that at least a subset of the bright areas in the first light pattern are aligned with dark areas in the second light pattern to generate a combined light pattern.
US09162608B2	Covering element A covering element for an air inlet opening and/or air outlet opening in a motor vehicle body. A covering element lamella or a design element spans the opening and has a translucent surface in the direction towards the outside of the vehicle at least in a sub-region or the sub-region is designed to be translucent such that light from a light source which lies behind the sub-region and which is arranged in the interior of the lamella or the design element can exit.
US09162603B2	Methods of storing and moving proppant at location adjacent rail line A method of delivering proppant to a well site has the steps of transporting a load of proppant in a vessel to a desired location, moving the load of proppant from the vessel into a container so as to create a proppant-loaded container, unloading the proppant-loaded container into a pneumatic bulk trailer, and transporting the unloaded proppant in the pneumatic bulk trailer to well site. The container is placed onto a bed of a truck and moved in proximity to the vessel. The proppant-loaded container is placed onto a tilting mechanism and then tilted so that the proppant is discharged through a flow gate of a container into a hopper. The proppant in the hopper can then be conveyed to the pneumatic bulk trailer.
US09162601B2	Transport deck frame with separate tilt and dump pivot connections A deck for a truck or trailer has a base frame and a deck frame movable relative to the base frame to either one of a tilt position or a dump position. A first pivot connection between the frames defines the pivot axis of the tilt position while a second pivot connection separate and spaced from the first pivot connection defines the pivot axis of the dump position. A common lift mechanism between the frames lifts the deck frame to either one of the tilt or dump positions depending upon the operative condition of the first and second pivot connections.
US09162600B2	Child restraint with cupholder According to the present disclosure, a child restraint includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. The juvenile seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile seat further includes a cupholder coupled to the seat bottom.
US09162599B1	Motor vehicle footpad assembly A vehicle footrest assembly includes a bracket attached to a vehicle body structure and a foam footpad attached to the bracket. At least one fastener attaches a dead pedal to the footpad. The at least one fastener includes a head and a shank extending from the head. The shank includes a threaded portion screwed into the footpad. A collar extends radially outward from the shank and is spaced away from the head to define a clip receiving portion. One of the head and the collar are substantially frustoconical and define a lead-in surface in the clip receiving portion. The dead pedal includes at least one clip spaced apart from a pedal portion of the dead pedal. A portion of the clip is disposed within the clip receiving portion to attach the dead pedal to the footpad.
US09162597B2	Seat armrest frame An armrest frame including a first portion including a shaft and a single plastic material lining overmolded around the shaft and a second portion including at least one branch attached to the lining. A seat including a backrest and an armrest including such a frame, pivotally connected to the backrest.
US09162596B2	Seat slide apparatus for vehicle A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes an upper rail, a lower rail, a lock mechanism including a lock lever that includes an engaging portion engageable and disengageable relative to an engaged portion formed at the lower rail, and an unlock operation inhibition apparatus including a mass member arranged at an inner void of the upper rail, a moving axis forming member forming a moving axis of the mass member, and a restriction portion inhibiting a movement of the mass member on the moving axis, the unlock operation inhibition apparatus restricting the engaging portion from moving to disengage from the engaged portion by the movement of the mass member on the moving axis to a position at which the mass member interferes with the lock lever in a case where a collision load greater than a retraining force specified for the restriction portion is input.
US09162595B2	Vehicle seat structure Provided is a vehicle seat structure that is lighter than a steel vehicle seat structure while providing the same function thereof. For this, the vehicle seat structure includes a seat cushion frame and a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion frame. At least one of components constituting the seat back frame and the seat cushion frame is formed of a magnesium plate produced through a rolling process and that has a texture.
US09162592B2	Fitting for vehicle seat A fitting for a vehicle seat includes a first fitting part, a second fitting part which is rotatable relative to said first fitting part, a peripheral clamping ring which has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and which is connected to the first fitting part and extends over the second fitting part, and an intermediate ring which has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and which is arranged between the peripheral clamping ring and the second fitting part. A ledge is formed on the second fitting part, which ledge has an end surface and a cylindrical supporting surface. The supporting surface has a diameter which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the second fitting part, and the cylindrical supporting surface directly or indirectly supports the peripheral clamping ring.
US09162591B2	Power return mechanism for seat back A seat assembly having a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A power return mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for automatically returning the seat back from the folded position to the seating position. The power return mechanism includes a support bracket for mounting the power return mechanism to the seat assembly, a slider bracket slidably coupled to the support bracket, a cable connected between the seat back and the slider bracket, and a motor and gear assembly for power driving the slider bracket between a home position when the seat back is in the seating position and a full stroke position pulling the cable to pivot the seat back from the folded position to the seating position.
US09162589B2	Longitudinal adjustor for a vehicle seat A longitudinal adjustor for a vehicle seat has a first seat rail and a second seat rail which engage around one another to form a rail profile and can be moved relative to one another in the longitudinal direction, and a rail locking member which can lock the seat rails to one another, an activation arrangement for activating an unlocking unit, a force-transmitting element which connects the activation arrangement to the unlocking unit. The force-transmitting element and interacts with the unlocking unit within the second seat rail, wherein a positively locking connection is provided between the force-transmitting element and the unlocking unit, and that the force-transmitting element serves simultaneously for mounting the activation arrangement in a pivotable fashion.
US09162578B2	Speed variation transmission device for motor vehicle powertrain and hybrid motor vehicle using same The present invention relates to a speed variation transmission device for a motor vehicle powertrain comprising an epicyclic gear train (26) with a sun gear (36) and a crown (50) connected to shaft (12) of thermal engine (10) of said vehicle, as well as a planet gear carrier (58) connected by a motion transmission track (102) to drive axle (16) of this vehicle.According to the invention, sun gear (36) and crown (50) are connected each to engine shaft (12) by a controlled coupling (28, 30) and to a fixed part (48a, 48b) of the vehicle powertrain by a one-way coupling (32, 34).
US09162576B2	Power switching apparatus A power switching apparatus, configured to switch a power supply source that is configured to supply an electric power to an air conditioner that is mounted on a vehicle that can receive a power supply from a plurality of power sources, includes: a selecting unit configured to select the power supply source during execution of pre-air conditioning in which an operation of the air conditioner is started before start of running of the vehicle; and a setting unit configured to set a power supply to be supplied from the power supply source that is selected by the selecting unit, to the air conditioner.
US09162572B2	Interactive attentiveness enhancement A method for interactive attentiveness enhancement of a vehicle driver includes steps of determining that a driver assistance function for semiautomatic control of the motor vehicle is active, detecting a stimulus which may be experienced by the vehicle driver upon an observation of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, detecting an input of the vehicle driver in response to the stimulus, determining a game result based on the input and the stimulus, and outputting a notice concerning the game result.
US09162569B2	Method of controlling a differential lock A method of controlling a differential lock. The method may include determining a target point for disengaging the differential lock and disengaging the differential lock when the vehicle reaches the target point.
US09162566B2	PTO with integrated retarder A power take-off unit (“PTO”) may include a retarder to reduce noise while the transmission PTO output gear is operating at low torque. The retarder may variably load the PTO based on the PTO output load, while disengaging from the PTO while the PTO is not operational. The retarder may also serve as a primary retarder function to slow a vehicle's speed. The retarder may be controlled by a vehicle operator or by a processor.
US09162563B2	Exhaust gas guide for a road milling machine The present invention relates to the exhaust gas guiding of a road milling machine. The road milling machine comprises an internal combustion engine, an engine air inlet, via which the engine air flows from the outside to the internal combustion engine, an engine air outlet, via which the engine air is conducted out of the road milling machine, a device for generating a flow movement of the engine air from the engine air inlet to the engine air outlet, and an exhaust system which is implemented for discharging the exhaust gases occurring during operation of the internal combustion engine from the internal combustion engine out of the road milling machine, having an exhaust gas outlet. The engine air is used to cool the exhaust gas.
US09162559B2	Fuel cell system and vehicle A fuel-cell-system providing structure is provided which is capable of preventing a collision of a fuel cell with a related apparatus of the fuel cell while suppressing the increase in weight of a vehicle. A fuel cell system provided in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell unit in which a fuel cell is contained; and a related apparatus that is electrically connected to the fuel cell and that is located adjacent to the fuel cell unit. The related apparatus is arranged at a position closer to an outer surface of the vehicle than the fuel cell unit.
US09162557B2	Drive unit for a vehicle wheel The drive unit (19) according to the invention for light vehicles, in particular bicycles, comprises a wheel unit (20) and a motor unit (21). The wheel unit (20) includes a gear ring (27) and at least one, preferably two support tracks (31, 35) on which the motor unit (21), which is movably supported but circumferentially fixed to the frame (11), runs. In this way, a wheel-support arrangement for the motor unit (21) is provided. As a result, also with extreme light-weight designs as used in connection with bicycles even in sport applications, a correct engagement between the wheel mounted gear ring (27) and drive pinion (45) is achieved.
US09162553B2	Shade device for car side window A side window shade device for a vehicle. The shade device includes a bottom edge for sliding into the gap formed between the side door and the side door window. Compressive force between the side door and the side door window holds the shade device in place. Extending upward from the bottom edge is a shade device body. The body is of sufficient size to block sun rays from contacting the arm of someone sitting in a seat next to the side door. In a preferred embodiment the side door is the driver's side door of an automobile and the shade device blocks sun rays from hitting the arm of the driver. Also, the shade device is curved inward to cover the arm of the driver and provide effective viewing out of the side of the car.
US09162549B2	Evaporation cycle heat exchange system for vehicle An evaporation cycle heat exchange system for a vehicle cools vehicle electronic components, a fuel cell stack, an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, a turbocharger, etc. using an evaporative heat exchanger, thus improving cooling efficiency and reducing the size of components such as a radiator. The evaporation cycle heat exchange system cools coolant circulating through a vehicle cooling system by employing an evaporative heat exchanger in which a working fluid flows by a pressure difference caused by volume expansion and capillary phenomenon. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency of the entire cooling system, reduce the size of components to comply with pedestrian protection regulations, improve fuel efficiency, and ensure the stability of the system.
US09162542B2	Tire air pressure transmission device and tire air pressure monitor system A tire air pressure transmission device is provided that is configured to set a sampling period or cycle based on a centrifugal acceleration of a wheel in the centrifugal direction, and to detect the value of the gravitational acceleration component of the centrifugal acceleration at each set sampling period.
US09162540B2	Apparatus for tire pressure monitoring, information transmissing method thereof and integrated receiver system Provided are a tire pressure monitoring device, an information transmitting method thereof, and an integrated receiver system. A tire pressure monitoring device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first sensing unit sensing a pressure of a tire, a second sensing unit detecting whether a vehicle is driving by sensing at least one of acceleration, motion, and shock, and a calculation unit transmitting, to an integrated system of the vehicle, pressure information of the tire at a first data transfer rate corresponding to a data transfer rate of a body control module or a smart key system when the second sensing unit detects that the vehicle is not driving.
US09162538B2	Composition, method and system for balancing a rotary system A composition for balancing a rotary system, comprising an amount of a thixotropic balancing substance; characterized by an amount of hydrophobic particles distributed in said amount of said thixotropic balancing substance. A corresponding method and system.
US09162536B2	Pneumatic tire A wear indicator provided on a tread surface is constituted of seven sipes of an uppermost sipe a lowermost sipe and an intermediate sipe each extending in a lateral direction; and an upper-left sipe an upper-right sipe a lower-left sipe and a lower-right sipe each extending in a longitudinal direction. The sipe uses a combination of an indication part used to indicate a character and a non-indication part having a narrower groove width and not used to indicate a character in a depth direction of the sipe. Single numeral is indicated by the combination of the indication parts in the seven sipes and the combination of the indication parts is changed in the depth direction of the sipe such that the numeral stepwise changes in the depth direction of the sipe.
US09162535B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire includes sipes extending in a tire width direction on a road contact surface of blocks, the sipes having at least one end open to a circumferential main groove. The sipes are positioned at an edge portion of the blocks, and have a first sipe portion open to the circumferential main groove and a second sipe portion positioned at a center portion of the blocks. The first sipe portion has a linear form when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to a sipe length direction, and has a pair of mutually mating, opposing first sipe wall faces with a protrusion and a recess respectively disposed thereon. The second sipe portion has a form bent in the sipe width direction when viewed as a cross-section from a direction perpendicular to the sipe length direction, and has a pair of mating mutually opposing second sipe wall faces.
US09162534B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire with a designated rotational direction comprises a tread portion, a pair of center circumferential main grooves extending on both sides of a tire equatorial plane, a center land portion between the center circumferential main grooves, a ripe provided with the center land portion, a plurality of V-shaped grooves each provided separately in the center land portion, each V-shaped groove having a peak located in a middle area of the center land portion, the first inclined portion extending from the peak to one side edge of the center land portion, and the second inclined portion extending from the peak to the other side edge of the center land portion, and a first inclined sub-groove and a second inclined sub-groove provided between a pair of V-shaped grooves, the first inclined sub-groove and the second inclined sub-groove being provided separately in the circumferential direction of the tire.
US09162532B2	Tire The tire includes a tread portion to come into contact with a road surface. A lateral groove portion extending in a direction intersecting with a tire circumferential direction, and a land portion partitioned by the lateral groove portion are formed in the tread portion. The land portion includes: a ground-contact face to come into contact with the road surface; a side face formed on an outer side in a tread width direction of the land portion; a lateral groove face constituting a groove wall of the lateral groove portion formed on one end in the tire circumferential direction of the land portion; and a tapered face which meets the ground-contact face, the side face, and the lateral groove face in a corner portion formed by the ground-contact face, the side face, and the lateral groove face.
US09162531B2	Motorcycle tire A motorcycle tire comprises a tread portion provided with a plurality of inner inclined grooves and inclined narrow grooves in both sides of a tire equator, wherein each inner inclined groove extends from an axially inner end to the outer end with an angle of 0-20 degrees with respect to a tire circumferential direction, the inner end of the inner inclined groove is located in a developed length within 5% of a tread half developed-width from the tire equator, each inner inclined groove has a circumferential length of 70-85% of a first pitch, each inclined narrow groove with a groove width of 0.5-2.0 mm is provided between circumferentially adjacent inner inclined grooves and has an angle with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire larger than that of the inner inclined groove.
US09162530B2	Tire with rubber tread containing precipitated silica and functionalized carbon nanotubes This invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread containing functionalized carbon nanotubes and particulate reinforcement comprised of precipitated silica.
US09162529B2	Caster A lightweight caster is described that is resistant to ingress of debris into a caster bearing. The caster has a monolithic fork having an annular wheel-supporting portion and a chair-supporting portion. The wheel-supporting portion has a pass-through aperture for receiving a retainer. A rotational bearing is supported on the wheel-supporting portion, which supports a wheel rim such that the wheel rotates in the vertical plane. The rim has a pass-through aperture aligned with the pass-through aperture of the fork, and a ring at an inside edge of the bearing to retain the bearing between the rim and the fork and to inhibit debris from contacting the bearing. A retainer retains the rim on the fork and has an aperture aligned with the fork pass-through aperture. The retainer also has a bearing-retaining portion at an outside edge of the bearing to retain the bearing and to inhibit debris from migrating inwardly.
US09162528B2	Caster mounting interface for industrial cart An industrial cart has a caster interface which allows for the quick changing of wheel casters on the cart without the use of tools. The caster interface forms a three-sided pocket into which a wheeled caster seats. A plate of the caster seats within the pocket through an open end of the pocket. A locking mechanism is used to quickly and easily secure the caster into the pocket.
US09162524B2	Bicycle wheel rim A bicycle wheel rim having a circular base portion including a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a pair of integral sidewalls extending generally radially outward from an intersection region of the proximal surface and the distal surface. The distal surface of the rim has a central hump, a trough contiguous with the central hump extending axially outward from the hump, and a flat shelf immediately adjacent, contiguous with, and extending axially outward from the trough. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a bicycle wheel including the embodied rim, a plurality a spokes engaged at respective ends thereof with the rim and a hub engaged with the plurality of spoke members at opposite ends thereof. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a bicycle wheel assembly comprising the embodied wheel and a tube and/or tire mounted on the rim.
US09162522B1	Keyable braces for canvas stretcher frames A keyable brace system for stretched canvases provides for keying-out the stretcher bars of a stretcher frame when needed, using interchangeable brace components that can be used face-up or face-down. The braces are of low profile, suitable even for stretcher frames of nominal ¾ inch depth, about ½ inch at inner side of the stretcher bar. Instead of relying on a tongue at the end of each brace to extend into a groove in the side of the frame's stretcher bar, the brace end and the side of the stretcher bar are both grooved and a tapered key is relied on to engage with both the brace and bar grooves to hold the brace in place.
US09162521B2	Painting carrier with multiple width tracks A carrier for painting panels includes a box-like container including first and second opposing side walls, front and rear walls, and a floor closing the lower end of the container. A stepped track extends along each of the side walls, each stepped track including at least first and second channels for engaging first edges of first and second panels, respectively. The first and second channels are spaced from the corresponding side wall by first and second distances, respectively. The second distance exceeds the first distance by at least 0.25 inch, and preferably by 0.50 inch or by 1.0 inch. Preferably, each stepped track includes a third channel for engaging an edge of a third panel; the third channel is spaced from the corresponding side wall by a third distance which exceeds the second distance by at least 0.25 inch, preferably by 0.50 inch or by 1.0 inch.
US09162520B2	Method and elements for forming a building facade A facade is formed on an upright supporting surface using a plurality of facade elements formed of plastic material having a flat rear side and a decorative front side protruding from the rear side. The flat rear side of the elements can be abutted directly against the upright supporting surface with the elements in spaced relation with one another and secured thereon using nails from an air driven nailer. Grouting in the form of mortar repair or caulking can be used to fill the gaps between adjacent elements on the supporting surface to complete the appearance of a natural stone facade on a building wall.
US09162517B2	Safety tack A safety tack has a pin that is extended from a head of the tack in one state and retracted into the head in another state. The pin retracts and extends into and from the head by using a turning mechanism similar to the mechanism that allows a bolt to turn into and out of a complementary component (e.g. a nut). By having the retracted state, the tack can be handled without injury; and by having the extended configuration, the tack can be used to tack one object to another.
US09162516B2	Display board assembly A display board assembly includes a display board having a planar surface and an edge extending along at least a portion of the planar surface. The display board assembly also includes a mounting member coupled to the display board. The mounting member defines a first gap adjacent the planar surface of the display board and a second gap adjacent the edge of the display board. The display board assembly further includes a display board accessory including a projection. The display board accessory is removably coupled to the mounting member in one of a first position, in which the projection is received in the first gap, and a second position, in which the projection is received in the second gap.
US09162512B2	Convertible bookstand cover The convertible bookstand cover a pair of inner covers and a pair of outer covers pivotable with respect to the inner covers. A pair of first and second hinges couples each outer cover to the respective inner cover to facilitate pivotable, unfolding movement of the outer covers. Each outer cover desirably unfolds to about 90 degrees from the folded position to form a vertical bookstand support. A pair of third hinges permits the inner covers to pivot between a closed and unfolded position. When unfolded, the inner covers also form a bookstand support in concert with the outer covers. Each inner and outer cover can be provided with magnets to securely latch an outer cover to the respective inner cover and prevent inadvertent unfolding thereof.
US09162509B1	System for detecting inoperative inkjets in printheads ejecting clear ink using thermal substrates An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing. The apparatus operates the printhead or printheads in the printer to form test pattern on a thermal substrate. The heat of the materials used to form the test pattern change the optical density of the areas where the materials land. The area where the test pattern is formed is imaged and the image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.
US09162504B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a carriage that is movable in a reciprocating manner with a recording head being mounted on the carriage, a tube that is capable of supplying ink to the recording head in a curved state and is capable of being deformed in curvature in response to a reciprocating motion of the carriage, an arm that is swingably movable about a swing shaft which extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the curved tube and is capable of supporting the tube, and a connecting section that has a holding section which holds the tube and is configured to support the tube by the arm, wherein the connecting section is movable relative to the arm in response to the reciprocating motion of the carriage.
US09162502B2	Inkjet printer and method for acquiring gap information An inkjet printer is provided that is configured to store a plurality of pieces of gap information respectively corresponding to a plurality of examined sections discretely arranged along a head moving direction on a recording sheet, each of the plurality of examined sections including a corresponding one portion of top portions and bottom portions on the recording sheet, and calculate interpolation gap information to be interpolated over a whole width in the head moving direction of at least one of a plurality of segments, each of which has a width in the head moving direction defined by two adjacent sections of the plurality of examined sections, based on the stored gap information.
US09162501B2	Printer having a plurality of paper rolls each having a sensor A printing apparatus has a mounting unit configured to support a plurality of roll papers at a plurality of mounting positions, an obtaining unit configured to obtain information of individual roll paper supported by the mounting unit, and a printing unit configured to print an image on a sheet selectively pulled out from the plurality of roll of papers. In the case that another roll paper is mounted at one of the plurality of mounting positions while the printing unit prints the image on one of the plurality of roll papers supported by the mounting unit, the obtaining unit obtains information of the another roll paper.
US09162495B2	Printer apparatus A printer apparatus comprises a paper conveyance path configured to pull out wound paper and connect the paper with a paper discharge port, a conveyance unit configured to convey the paper in the paper conveyance path; a printing section configured to print on the paper; a cutter configured to cut the paper on which a given printing operation is carried out by the printing section; a curved paper intrusion section configured to be arranged between the cutter and the paper discharge port to accommodate curved paper the front end of which is not conveyed; and a paper detection section configured to detect the paper intruding into the curved paper intrusion section.
US09162492B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus configured to record images on both sides of a sheet includes a corrugate mechanism configured to form a sheet into a continuous corrugated shaped in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction and parallel to a recording surface of the sheet.
US09162490B2	Sheet supply apparatus and printing apparatus A sheet supply apparatus includes a supply unit capable of loading a plurality of continuous sheets, a reading unit for reading sheet information that a continuous sheet has, and a control unit that, when the continuous sheet is loaded on the supply unit, enables the reading unit to read the sheet information in a first state and provides a notification to prompt an input of the sheet information in a second state, the first state being the state in which the reading of the sheet information by the reading unit is available, the second state being the state in which the reading of the sheet information by the reading unit is unavailable.
US09162486B2	Three-dimensional printer, three-dimensional image forming method, and three-dimensional image When a heat capacity of a recording medium having a base material coated with a foamable resin layer is larger than a normal heat capacity, to form a raised amount equal to that with the normal case with a normal heating quantity, a turned mirror image of the image is generated. The image is transferred onto the front face of the recording medium and fixed. The recording medium is reversed, and conveyed again to the transfer part. The turned mirror image is transferred onto the rear face of the recording medium and fixed. The recording medium is heated with the heat quantity equal to that in the normal case, and combination of heat absorbed by the turned minor image and heat absorbed by the image is transmitted to the foamable resin layer to expand the foamable resin layer.
US09162483B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a medium supporting section that supports a recording medium, a recording section that performs a recording on the recording medium, and a medium path that has a first face and a second face facing each other, and that transports the recording medium through between the first face and the second face. The first face has a shape which is convex toward the second face. A plurality of rollers which are lined up in a transport direction of the recording medium are arranged on the first face.
US09162477B2	Image processing apparatus, printing apparatus, and image processing method Area information is obtained with respect to a specified color and nozzle position having color unevenness. Then, coordinate information indicating a nozzle position corresponding to the above area information is obtained in a printing head or nozzle array corresponding to an ink color relating to the specified color information. Next, the number of candidate correction values or candidate patches is obtained on the basis of nozzle coordinates obtained corresponding to the area, by referring to a table. In this table, for example, the number of candidate correction values is small at a nozzle position where an effect due to the variations of nozzle ejection characteristics such as a nozzle ejection volume is small and a change direction is constant, and the number of candidate correction values is large at a nozzle position where an effect due to variations of nozzle ejection characteristics is large.
US09162475B1	Reducing registration errors using registration error model A method for correcting color registration errors for a color printer that prints color image data on a continuous web of media. A color registration error model is used to predict a color registration error value for a particular in-track position as a function of ink coverage characteristics for an image region including the particular in-track position, wherein the color registration error model is a parametric model having one or more parameters. An image plane correction value is determined based on the predicted color registration error, and the color image data for the particular in-track position is printed using the determined image data correction values.
US09162473B2	Printing apparatus and printing method A printing apparatus including a head section which discharges a color ink which is cured due to irradiation of light and a clear ink which is cured due to the irradiation of light, an irradiation section which irradiates the light, and a storage section which stores a relationship between a total amount of color duty which is an amount of the color ink which is discharged per unit region and clear duty which is an amount of the clear ink which is discharged per unit region, and glossiness of an image which is printed using the color ink and the clear ink which have been discharged, wherein, according to the color duty in a certain region in the image, the clear duty in the region is determined based on the relationship so that the glossiness of the image is a predetermined value.
US09162463B2	Liquid jetting apparatus and method for cleaning wiper There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head including a liquid jetting surface; a wiper including first and second wiping portions; a moving mechanism; a liquid discharge mechanism; and a controller configured to perform: controlling the moving mechanism to cause the first wiping portion to wipe the liquid jetting surface in a state that the first wiping portion is brought into contact with the liquid jetting surface; controlling the moving mechanism to cause the second wiping portion to wipe the liquid jetting surface in a state that the second wiping portion is brought into contact with the liquid jetting surface; and controlling the liquid jetting head to jet the liquid from the nozzles such that the liquid makes a contact with the second wiping portion to clean the second wiping portion.
US09162458B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus includes a support member having a plurality of ribs and supporting the sheet; a head disposed above the support member and ejecting ink to the sheet supported by the support member; and at least one contact portion disposed upstream of the head and configured to come in contact with the sheet so as to make the sheet a waved shape. The support member includes a first support portion comprising at least one first guide portions disposed corresponding to the at least one contact portion, and a plurality of second guide portions disposed corresponding to the plurality of ribs and disposed above the plurality of first guide portions. The support member further comprises a second support portion comprising a third guide portion disposed downstream of the first support portion.
US09162454B2	Printhead including acoustic dampening structure A printhead includes a plurality of liquid channels and a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles and an acoustic dampening structure. The acoustic dampening structure includes a plurality of sets of air pockets and liquid flow restrictors. Each set of air pockets and liquid flow restrictors is in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles. Each liquid channel is in fluid communication with the respective one of the plurality of nozzles through the associated liquid flow restrictor. A common liquid supply manifold is in fluid communication with the plurality of liquid chambers.
US09162449B2	Apparatus for spraying and patterning using electrostatic force There is disclosed an apparatus for spraying and patterning, using an electrostatic force, includes a nozzle to which a voltage is applied to exhaust ink, a droplet circulation chamber provided in one end of the nozzle, with a hole provided in one end to spray the ink exhausted from the nozzle based on a particle size of the droplet and to temporarily collect the not-sprayed ink, and a substrate for impacting the ink sprayed from the hole thereon by forming an electric field between the nozzle and the substrate.
US09162447B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: and a unit that electrically shuts off a pressure generating unit corresponding to a nozzle ejecting no droplet, from a drive waveform generating unit for a period of a time Tb satisfying a relation Tb≧T2, and that applies, at a time after the shutoff, a voltage of a potential V1 to the pressure generating unit, where a potential serving as a reference for the drive waveform is denoted as V1, a minimum potential difference from the potential V1 required to displace a pressure generating unit to vibrate a meniscus with ejecting no liquid droplet from a nozzle is denoted as ΔV2, a time required for a potential to drop by the potential difference ΔV2 due to self-discharge after a pressure generating unit is charged to a predetermined potential is denoted as T2.
US09162446B2	Recording apparatus and recording apparatus control method A recording apparatus includes a head unit, which includes a driver, and a recording data transmitter that transfers recording data to the head unit via a signal line. The recording apparatus further includes a switching unit in the head unit that switches a driving signal applied to the driver between conductive and nonconductive states based on the transferred recording data, a partition signal output unit in the recording data transmitter that outputs a partition signal that partitions a data signal of the recording data to the head unit in response to switching by the switching unit, and a data selector in the head unit that selects data to be discarded from the transferred recording data based on the partition signal.
US09162444B2	Printing apparatus A printing apparatus includes a position detection unit which includes an optical element, a light source and a light receiving element, radiates light from the light source toward the printing surface, causes diffused reflection light of reflection light which is reflected by the printing surface to be incident to the light receiving element through the optical element and outputs positional information relating to a position of the printing surface at which the light from the light source reflects, from the light receiving element, and a controller which causes movement of the carriage to stop when lifting up of the printing medium is detected on a basis of the positional information output from the light receiving element, in which a virtual plane which contains the optical element and the light receiving element is in a state of being inclined in relation to a normal line of the printing surface.
US09162443B2	Ink jet recording device and short circuit protection method for ink jet recording device An ink jet recording device comprises: an ink jet recording head for discharging an ink droplet; and a recording control part for outputting a drive signal to cause the ink jet recording head to discharge an ink droplet, wherein the recording control part includes a current amplifier circuit for amplifying a drive signal by active elements connected in multi-stages, and the current amplifier circuit includes a current interruption element connected to an input side of the active element of the current amplifier circuit on a power source side, the current interruption element being for preventing damage of the active element due to an overcurrent from occurring when a short circuit of the drive signal is generated.
US09162441B1	Inkjet printer and method An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head including nozzles arranged in a first direction, a head scanning mechanism moving the inkjet head along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a feeding mechanism feeding the recording medium along the first direction, and a storage device storing upstream correction information and downstream correction information. A controller performs a first determination process for determining a correction value for a specific scanning operation by using the upstream correction information when an image is printed on an upstream area adjacent to a specific area corresponding to the specific scanning operation and when no image is printed on a downstream area adjacent to the specific area, and a second determination process for determining the correction value by using the downstream correction information when no image is printed on the upstream area and when an image be printed on the downstream area.
US09162433B2	Method of producing flow passage device and flow passage device A flow passage device includes a first base body having a first hole and a second base body having a second hole connected to the first hole to form a flow passage. A first portion formed around the first hole has a specified shape for holding an adhesive. The second base body has a high-wettability surface around the second hole with a low-wettability surface disposed proximate the high-wettability surface, and at least part of the high-wettability surface has a shape matching at least part of the specified shape. The first and second base body are bonded to each other with the adhesive to form the flow passage by aligning the at least part of the first portion with the at least part of the high-wettability surface with positions of the first and the second holes aligned with each other.
US09162432B2	Method of separating a discrete portion from a web A method of separating a discrete portion from a first web. The discrete portion can be bonded to a second web which may be moving at the same or different speed. The discrete portion can be incorporated into an absorbent article.
US09162427B2	Method for manufacturing surface-modified fluororesin film, method for manufacturing rubber composite, and rubber product There are provided a method for manufacturing a surface-modified fluororesin film capable of long-term inventory storage, a method for manufacturing a rubber composite composed of the surface-modified fluororesin film and rubber bonded together, and a rubber product for medical use made of the rubber composite. The method for manufacturing a surface-modified fluororesin film comprises the step of performing surface roughening on a fluororesin film RF by applying an ion beam from an anode layer ion source to the surface of the fluororesin film RF. A rubber is placed over the roughened surface of the thusly produced surface-modified fluororesin film, and, through vulcanization molding process, the surface-modified fluororesin film and the tuber can be firmly bonded to each other.
US09162425B2	Solar control glass and solar control double glass A heat-ray shielding glass products (e.g., solar control double glass) which have excellent heat-ray shielding property, especially thermal insulation property and enhanced durability under the condition of existence of moisture (under high humidity), and which can be prepared in low cost is provided. The solar control double glass 40 comprises a solar control glass 30 having a glass plate 21 and a heat-ray reflection layer 24 comprising an electrically-conductive polymer provided thereon and another glass plate 37, the solar control glass and the another glass being arranged at an interval such that the heat-ray reflection layer faces the another glass and the interval forming a hollow layer 38, and the heat-ray reflection layer 24 has a surface resistivity of not more than 10,000Ω/□.
US09162422B2	High-strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, high-strength alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in bake hardenability, and manufacturing method thereof Steel contains each of C, Si, Mn, P, S, Al, N, O, at a range from ⅛ thickness centered around a ¼ sheet thickness from a surface to ⅜ thickness centered around the ¼ sheet thickness from the surface at a base steel sheet, a structure of the base steel sheet contains, in volume fraction, 3% or more of a retained austenite phase, 50% or less of a ferrite phase, and 40% or more of a hard phase, average dislocation density is 5×1013/m2 or more, solid-solution C amount contained in the retained austenite phase is in mass % 0.70 to 1.00%, X-ray random intensity ratio of FCC iron in an texture of the retained austenite phase is 3.0 or less, ratio between a grain diameter relative to a rolling direction and a grain diameter relative to a sheet width direction of the retained austenite phase is 0.75 to 1.33.
US09162420B2	Multilayer laminated material with inherently latent protection against deformation under thermal action for compensating the bimetallic effect A solvent-free multilayer laminated material comprises a lower substrate layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer or a mixture of thermoplastic polymers, an intermediate layer arranged thereon and comprising a flexible material, a further fibrous intermediate layer comprising plastic, which is provided with an adhesive material and an upper layer comprising metal, comprising plastic or comprising wood or wood-like materials. It does surprisingly not show any deformation even under exposure to temperatures of about 80° C. over a period of up to 40 days and can be used for the production of articles of furniture, floor coverings, wall panels or shaped articles for the electrical, construction or automotive industry.
US09162418B2	Method of making a barbed surface for receiving a thermal spray coating and the surface made by the method A method is disclosed for preparing a surface for mechanically securing a spray coating to a surface. A first series of grooves formed in the surface are intersected with a second series of grooves formed in the surface. A plurality of barbs are formed at the intersections. The spray coating is mechanically secured to the barbs that overhang the first series of grooves. The surface includes the first series of grooves and the second series of groves that intersect the first series of groves. The second series of groves form an undercut portion, or barb, at the intersections of the grooves that mechanically anchor the spray coating.
US09162413B2	Polymer packaging systems and methods A rotary knife assembly includes a rotatable core and a plurality of knife blades extending from the rotatable core. A heating element is coupled with the plurality of knife blades, and the heating element is configured to heat the knife blades. One or more package guides are interposed between each of the plurality of knife blades configured to engage along one or more deformable packages as the rotatable core is rotated. In another example, a discharge assembly includes a conveyor belt including inner and outer belt surfaces, and a plurality of belt rows extending along a belt length. A plurality of package spacing ridges each include outer engaging edges, and one package spacing ridge of the plurality is positioned between each of the plurality of belt rows. The outer belt surface is recessed from the outer engaging edges.
US09162412B2	Briquetting machine control device The quality of the briquettes granulated by a briquetting machine is improved. A briquetting machine control device samples the briquette that have been produced to measure an apparent density and a crush strength of the sampled briquette (step S10), and controls each operation set value adjusting unit (4, 6, 7) of the briquetting machine so that the actual measurement values come closer to predefined briquette quality target values (step S20 to step S60).
US09162411B2	Screw separator A screw separator for separating solids out of suspensions, having at least one housing and at least one feed pipe for the suspension, at least one discharge pipe for liquids, and at least one outlet for the at least partially dewatered solids. At least one strainer basket is provided in the housing in which a screw is rotatably mounted, and the screw vanes terminate in a replaceable wearing ring mounted downstream of the strainer basket.
US09162410B2	Compression of a water-saturated medium A method and device for compressing a gas-phase medium, particularly hydrogen or natural gas, wherein the medium may have a water content up to total saturation with water and wherein the medium is compressed in a single or multiple stages in at least one liquid-filled chamber. The liquid(s) that is/are used are an ionic liquid that is not susceptible to attack by the water contained in the medium to be compressed and/or a liquid with low vapor pressure that is not susceptible to attack by the water contained in the medium to be compressed, and the compressed medium undergoes a water separation stage.
US09162408B2	Tire for motorcycle and method of manufacturing the same It is an object to provide a tire for a motorcycle which does not damage a stability in a transition between straight running and cornering but is excellent in various performances. A tire (2) includes a tread (4). The tread (4) is divided into (2N−1) parts (N is a natural number which is equal to or greater than four). The tread (4) is divided into a first region (20) positioned on a center region and a second region (22) to an Nth region in order from the center region toward a shoulder region. The second region (22) to the Nth region make a pair of regions which are symmetrical with respect to an equator plane of the tire. The first region (20) to the Nth region are formed by crosslinked rubber compositions respectively and materials of the respective regions are different from each other. In the first region (20) to the Nth region, a rubber hardness of the region on the adjacent center side is equal to or higher than a rubber hardness of the region on the shoulder side. A rubber hardness of the first region (20) is set to be higher than a rubber hardness of the Nth region.
US09162407B2	Systems and methods for forming non-pneumatic tires A reservoir for catching a portion of overflow of molding material from a non-pneumatic tire mold during molding includes a tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and a flange associated with the proximal end of the tubular portion. The flange is configured to be associated with a surface of the tire mold, such that the tubular portion extends substantially perpendicular to the surface of the tire mold. The reservoir further includes a reservoir portion configured to be removably mounted around the tubular portion. The reservoir portion includes a base having an aperture configured to receive the tubular portion, and a wall configured such that molding material flowing from the distal end of the tubular portion is received in the reservoir portion.
US09162406B2	Feedblock for manufacturing multilayer polymeric films A feedblock including a first packet creator that forms a first packet including a first plurality of polymeric layers, the first plurality of layers including at least four first individual polymeric layers; and a second packet creator that forms a second packet including a second plurality of polymeric layers, the second plurality of layers including at least four second individual polymeric layers, wherein the first and second packet creators are configured such that, for each packet creator, respective individual polymeric layers of the plurality of polymeric layers are formed at approximately the same time. The feedblock may include a packet combiner that receives and combines the first and second primary packets to form a multilayer stream. In some examples, at least one of the first and second primary packets may be spread in the cross-web direction prior to being combined with one another.
US09162398B2	Nanoparticle pultrusion processing aide The use of nanoparticles, including surface-modified silica and calcite nanoparticles, as processing aides for pultrusion is described. The methods include combining a resin system containing a resin and the nanoparticles with continuous fibers, pultruding this combination, and at least partially curing the resin. The methods are suitable for use with a wide variety of resins and fibers, and may be used to reduce the pull-force at a fixed fiber volume loading, increase the fiber volume loading, or both. Pultruded parts made by these methods and pultruded parts with high volume loadings of fibers are also described.
US09162397B2	Fiber reinforced resin, manufacturing method for fiber reinforced resin, and manufacturing system for fiber reinforced resin A first process in which a fiber reinforced base is placed in a cavity of a molding die and then resin is injected into the cavity of the molding die in a state where the molding die is opened by a sum of a distance X1 and a distance at the time of completion of molding; a second process in which the molding die is closed to a state where the molding die is opened by a sum of a distance X2 and the distance at the time of completion of molding while resin in the cavity is being drained; and a third process in which the drain of the resin from the cavity is stopped and then the molding die is closed to the distance at the time of completion of molding while a die clamping pressure is maintained at a predetermined value to cure the resin, are carried out sequentially.
US09162389B2	Device for hot embossing of a polymer layer A device for hot embossing of a magnetic nanoparticle (N)-containing polymer layer. The device includes an embossing die, a pressure application means and a magnetic field generating means. The embossing die and the pressure application means are made from materials that do not respond thermally to a magnetic field.
US09162383B1	Method and apparatus for injection molding elongated objects Injection molding apparatus includes: a mold structure having a main axis and a mold cavity; a core in the mold cavity, defining a mold envelope bounded by an inner sidewall, an inner endwall at one end of the inner sidewall, an outer sidewall spaced apart from the inner sidewall, and an outer endwall spaced apart from the inner endwall; a nozzle at an end of the cavity, including an interior channel communicating with the mold envelope; a pin in the nozzle, moveable between a closed position forming a part of the outer endwall and blocking flow between the interior channel and the mold envelope, and an open position permitting fluid flow; and a locking pin within the core and moveable between a retracted position free of the outer endwall, and an extended position received within the outer endwall, preventing relative lateral movement of the core and the mold cavity.
US09162381B2	Method, device and a computer program for manufacturing a pre-insulated skeleton framing segment A method, a device and a computer program for manufacturing a pre-insulated skeleton framing segment (1) for a building to be constructed, wherein an assembly (2) with a hollow space (14) is provided, to which a data carrier (40) is fitted including data from which a quantity of raw materials required for forming a foam insulation layer of a thickness (15) in the hollow space (14) can be determined, which quantity is calculated, and which raw materials are inserted in the hollow space (14), and foam and harden there during a period (T).
US09162380B2	Forming highly contoured composite parts A method of forming a flat composite charge into a contoured composite part reduces wrinkles in the part as the charge is being formed. Dies are used to form a portion of charge to the steepest contour of the part, while tension is maintained on the charge as the remaining portions of the charge are formed.
US09162378B1	Soap consolidation assembly A soap consolidation assembly includes a mold that may receive fragments of soap. A housing is provided that may insertably receive the mold. A heating element is coupled to the housing so the heating element may heat the mold. A processor is coupled to the housing and the processor is operationally coupled to the heating element. An actuator is coupled to the housing. The actuator is operationally coupled to the processor so the actuator may selectively actuate the processor.
US09162375B2	Mould drum and cleaning apparatus for a mould drum The present invention relates to a mold drum for molding products from a mass of food starting material. The mold drum comprises one or more cavities with a mold cavity wall having at least partially a porous structure, whereas each cavity is connected to a passage. The present invention further relates to a cleaning apparatus for the inventive mold drum with supporting means for supporting the axis of the drum. Additionally, the present invention relates to a process for cleaning the inventive drum.
US09162374B2	Plant and method for the recycling of plastics, preferably pet A plant and a method for the recycling of plastics, preferably PET, including a switching device for switching between a first process line for a first production process for the production of a first recycling product, in particular pellets, and a second process line for a production process for the production of a second recycling product, in particular flakes, so as to render the recycling process more flexible.
US09162373B2	Heating system and method of heating a body of a preform The invention describes a heating system (13) for heating a body (1) of a preform having a material thickness bounded by a first surface (2) and a second surface (4). The heating system (13) comprises at least a light source arrangement (12) which is arranged to emit a number of directed light beams (17) and a coupling arrangement (15, 21) realized to deliberately couple light from the light source arrangement (12) in a specific direction into the body (1) during at least a certain minimum period such that the light is essentially guided along a longer path (19) between the first (2) and second surface (4). Furthermore, the invention concerns a method of heating a body (1) of a preform.
US09162371B2	Drill bit An object is to provide a drill bit with improved strength of joint between a bit tip and a bit shaft without diminishing dust suction performance of the drill bit. A drill bit 1 includes: a bit tip 3 including at least three cutting edge portions arranged at the distal end of the bit tip 3 such that they are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction, each cutting edge portion 3c having a rake face 3s and a relief face 3e forming a joint ridge L1 serving as a cutting edge; and a bit shaft 2 having a distal end face 2F welded to a proximal end face of the bit tip 3 such that the bit shaft 2 rotates integrally with the bit tip 3. The bit shaft 2 includes a dust suction passage 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of the bit shaft 2, such that the distal end of the dust suction passage 4 extends to a distal end portion of the bit shaft. A dust suction auxiliary passage 6 is formed at the distal end portion of the bit shaft 2, such that the dust suction auxiliary passage 6 extends from the dust suction passage 4 orthogonally or substantially orthogonally to the dust suction passage 4, and a radially outer end 6t of the dust suction auxiliary passage 6 is open at an outer peripheral face 1F of the bit shaft 2. A proximal end portion 3b of the bit tip 3 is integrally attached to the distal end face of the bit shaft 2.
US09162365B2	Method for cascading and molding LED filament support based on support flitch The invention relates to a method for cascading and molding an LED filament support based on a support flitch. A plurality of supports may be separated apart from the support flitch as a whole body, thus reducing welded amount and increasing efficiency. The support flitch comprises a group of supports arranged in parallel and numbered as a first support, a second support, a third support, and so on, till an n-th support one after another. According to three different cutting ways, an inner extension section, an outer extension section, an inner connection side, and a middle connection side at the upper side of the support, as well as the inner extension section, the outer extension section, the inner connection side, and the middle connection side at the lower side of the support are cut out respectively, one group or two groups of the cascaded LED filament supports may be obtained.
US09162363B2	Cutter with a slider that can be pushed from two directions and slider for the same A cutter with a slider that can be pushed from two directions has a housing, a blade holder, a slider, and a blade. The slider is mounted moveably on the housing, is connected to the blade holder, and has an upper sliding element, a lower sliding element, and a resilient tab engaging at least one tooth formed on the blade holder. The upper sliding element has an L-shaped cross section to form a top wall and a side wall corresponding respectively to a top wall and a side wall of the housing. A guiding recess is defined by the side wall of the upper sliding element to slidably receive a portion of the side wall of the housing that forms an edge of a guiding channel. Accordingly, the cutter is convenient in use.
US09162362B2	Manipulator mechanism A manipulator mechanism according to the present invention comprises an arm 1 having a tip mechanism 3 attached to its tip part, and an arm paying out device 2 to which the base end part of the arm 1 is coupled for winding and paying out the arm 1. The arm 1 comprises a tape aggregate 4 formed by bundling a plurality of elastic tapes 41, and a plurality of bundling members 5 attached to the tape aggregate 4 with spaces therebetween in a longitudinal direction of the tape aggregate 4. The bundling member 5 is provided with a guiding groove 51, through which the plurality of tapes 41 pass, to keep the relative position of the plurality of tapes 41 constant.
US09162361B2	Gap and height difference measurement system for vehicle and control method of the same A gap/height difference measurement system for a vehicle may include a reflection light sensing unit on a the transportation conveyor line and sensing reflection light reflected from the vehicle body transported depending on illuminance of an illumination, a measurement robot measuring the gap and the height difference between the vehicle body and each panel that move while being installed at both sides of the transportation conveyor line in a width direction of the vehicle body at one side spaced from the reflection light sensing unit in a movement direction of the vehicle body, and a controller receiving a signal sensed by the reflection light sensing unit and comparing the received signal with a predetermined value to control the illuminance of the illumination and outputting a specification depending on a vehicle type of the vehicle body transported to the measurement robot to control the measurement robot.
US09162360B2	Proximity sensing method, proximity sensing apparatus and mobile platform using the same A proximity sensing apparatus is provided. The proximity sensing apparatus includes an encoded signal transmission unit, an interference signal transmission unit and a reception unit. The encoded signal transmission unit transmits an encoded signal, and the interference signal transmission unit transmits an interference signal. The interference signal interferes with the encoded signal to generate an interfered signal. The reception unit receives a sensing signal and outputs the sensing signal to a signal processing unit. The sensing signal is either the interfered signal or the encoded signal. The signal processing unit is electrically connected to the reception unit, and determines whether the sensing signal matches the encoded signal. The signal processing unit further outputs a proximity signal when the sensing signal does not match the encoded signal.
US09162355B2	Mobile robot and travelling method for the same This mobile unit suppresses lateral vibration produced when the mobile unit passes over a step. A stabilizer according to the present invention predicts contact timing at which the mobile unit makes contact with a step, which may be a bump or pit, using sensor information or map information, shifts the center of gravity of the mobile unit laterally by controlling actuators, and shifts the center of gravity laterally for the next step after detecting that the mobile unit has passed over the previous step.
US09162354B1	Handle cover structure A handle cover structure includes two casings and a connecting element, and the two casings are engaged with each other to form a sleeve having a hollow inner side and at least one open end for sheathing on a handle. Each casing has an external surface facing an outer side of the sleeve, an internal surface facing an inner side of the sleeve, a first recess formed on the external surface of each casing, and a through hole penetrating into the internal surface of the casing; and the connecting element is flexible and disposed on the external surfaces of the two casings, and both ends of the connecting element are passed into the through holes from the first recesses of the casings, extended into the inner side of the sleeve, and fixed onto the internal surfaces of the casings respectively.
US09162353B2	Hydraulic tool having interchangeable heads In a hydraulic tool such as a crimping or cutting tool used by electric utility workers, interchangeability of heads and interchangeability of power units is afforded by connecting a cylinder on the power unit to a receiver on the head. Interlocking lugs allow the head to be secured to the power unit at any selected one of a plurality of rotational positions. A piston and a movable die in the head also have interlocking lugs. To enable the lugs on the piston and movable die to engage simultaneously with the engagement of the lugs on the cylinder and receiver, the piston is secured against rotation by a slotted guide the slots of which receive inwardly protruding pins fixed to the piston. For increased versatility, plural pressure relief valves can be selected by means of a manual selection valve to set the maximum force exerted by the tool.
US09162350B2	Robust nose torque-limiting device A torque-limiting driver has a handle, a body, a torque-limiting assembly and a work-piece engaging tip. The torque-limiting assembly includes an upper and lower shank that have a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced. The teeth have a vertical face, an inclined face, and a flat peak. There is a spring for applying pressure across the upper and lower shank with multiple washers interposed between the lower shaft and spring. In some instances, there is a round square drive with arched catches having preselected radii to assure operation over certain cycles at selected torque and to reduced nose cone damage and breakage at a predetermined inch pounds of torque.
US09162349B2	Torque limiter for a power tool A grinder as a power tool has a torque limiter. The torque limiter includes a second bevel gear; a spindle; a flange to which the rotation of the second bevel gear is transmitted, and a plurality of balls which are disposed between the second bevel gear and the flange. The ball is positioned at a first region and the second bevel gear, the ball and the flange rotate integrally thereby the rotation is transmitted to the flange. In a state that a torque exerted on the spindle exceeding the predetermined threshold, a relative rotation between the second bevel gear and the flange is occurred and the ball moves from the first region to the second region while rolling by means of the relative rotation. Therefore, the transmission of the rotation from the second bevel gear to the flange is regulated, and the torque exerted on the spindle is regulated.
US09162348B2	Steering and positioning structure of a ratchet screwdriver A steering and positioning structure of a ratchet screwdriver has a main body, ratchet assembly, radial holding tank, two upper snapping blocks in multi-tooth meshed pattern and two downward abutting pieces, as well as an elastic abutting member, revolving drum and revolving drum split positioning member. The upper snapping blocks are activated in tune with the downward abutting pieces, such that the upper snapping blocks can be formed by means of powder metallurgy and demolding. Multiple snapping teeth could be formed on the snapping blocks. As the snapping teeth can mated with the ratchets of the ratchet assembly in multi-tooth meshing pattern, the structure can meet the multi-tooth meshing structural demands for convenient forming, and also improve substantially the torsion of the ratchet screwdriver, enhance the ease-of-operation and mass production for higher economic benefits.
US09162341B2	Chemical-mechanical planarization pad including patterned structural domains An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a chemical mechanical planarization pad including a first domain and a second continuous domain wherein the first domain includes discrete elements regularly spaced within the second continuous domain. The pad may be formed by forming a plurality of openings for a first domain within a second continuous domain of the pad, wherein the openings are regularly spaced within the second domain, and forming the first domain within the plurality of openings in second continuous domain. In addition, the pad may be used in polishing a substrate with a polishing slurry.
US09162339B2	Adaptive uniform polishing system An adaptive uniform polishing system is equipped with feedback control to apply localized adjustments during a polishing operation. The adaptive uniform polishing system disclosed has particular application to the semiconductor industry. Such an adaptive uniform polishing system includes a rotatable head that holds a semiconductor wafer, and a processing unit structured to be placed in contact with an exposed surface of the wafer. The processing unit includes a rotatable macro-pad and a plurality of rotatable micro-pads that can polish different portions of the exposed surface at different rotation speeds and pressures. Thus, uniformity across the exposed surface can be enhanced by applying customized treatments to different areas. Customized treatments can include the use of different pad materials and geometries. Parameters of the adaptive uniform polishing system are programmable, based on in-situ data or data from other operations in a fabrication process, using advanced process control.
US09162333B2	Bus control for a domestic appliance A domestic appliance (1) with a bus (2) is disclosed. A plurality of modules (3) are connected to the bus, each controlling an operational component (4). Initial programming of the modules may take place from a single connection point (61). The modules may be configured to control the domestic appliance jointly and non-hierarchically. Suitably, all modules are identical up to content of a data memory provided therein.
US09162324B2	Solder paste and solder joint The invention provides a solder paste which has a solidus temperature of 255° C. or above and is improved in the wettability between Bi and Cu or Ag electrode to attain approximately equivalent wettability to those of Pb-containing high-temperature solders even in low-temperature soldering. The solder paste comprises a metal powder component consisting of Bi or a Bi alloy, a solidus temperature lowering metal for Bi, and a solid-phase metal capable of forming an intermetallic compound with the solidus temperature lowering metal, and a flux component.
US09162323B2	Aluminum deoxidizing welding wire Provided is a welding method and electrodes (wires) with aluminum as a primary deoxidizer and a basic flux system for joining a workpieces with weld metal of comparable strengths and enhanced toughness. For instance, provided is a welding wire, comprising an aluminum content configured to act as a primary deoxidizer, and an overall composition configured to produce a weld deposit comprising a basic slag over a weld bead, wherein the aluminum content is configured to kill the oxygen in the weld pool, and wherein the oxygen comprises oxygen provided by a shielding gas or produced by heating of welding filler materials. Further provided is a welding method comprising arc welding a workpiece using an electrode having aluminum as a primary deoxidizer under a gas shield to produce a bead of weld deposit and a basic slag over the weld bead.
US09162315B2	Electrical conduction mechanism An electrical conduction mechanism is provided to prevent dust or from adhering to the inside of an electrical-conduction portion main body, so that electrical conduction efficiency cannot be reduced. The electrical conduction mechanism comprises an electrical-conduction portion main body in the center of which a first through-hole to be inserted through by a shaft is formed and in which a second through-hole communicating with the first through-hole is formed in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first through-hole is formed. The electrical-conduction element is disposed in the second through-hole. The electrical-conduction element is configured to include an electrical-conduction chip abutting on the shaft, and a coil spring biasing the electrical-conduction chip toward the shaft, so that current is supplied to the shaft through the electrical-conduction chip to conduct electricity to the bit.
US09162313B2	Wire feeder wire drive design A system and method of feeding wire is provided using at least one roller which is biased towards the wire. The at least one roller is permitted to deflect a limited amount during the wire feeding operation. The roller is permitted to deflect 50% or less than the wire diameter during feeding to prevent tangling.
US09162310B2	Enhanced power factor correction for welding and cutting power supplies Enhanced power factor correction for a welding-based power supply includes a controller that tracks a rectified input voltage waveform and detects zero-crossing events therein. The controller generates an ideal sinusoidal current reference signal synchronized by expected zero-crossings in the supplied power. The reference signal is used in a current control loop within the controller to control the power electronics such that the waveform of the current drawn by the power supply matches the waveform of the input voltage. The frequency of the supplied power may be calculated using the expected zero-crossings and used to adjust the expected zero-crossings.
US09162307B2	Alternating-current welding method and alternating-current welding device If arc interruption occurs during AC arc welding, a first AC frequency predetermined for normal welding is switched to a second AC frequency higher than the first AC frequency. This allows the arc to be reignited without applying a high frequency high voltage, thereby preventing the damage of the surface of the weld bead or communication failure due to the high frequency high voltage.
US09162302B2	Manufacturing method of electrode for honeycomb structure forming die By providing a manufacturing method of an electrode for a honeycomb structure forming die including: arranging a plurality of processing electrodes 161 having a shape which is complementary to that of the flow-through cells, at positions corresponding to the plurality of flow-through cells in the one surface 107B of the electrode base body 102B; discharging electricity from the plurality of processing electrodes 161 toward the one surface 107B of the electrode base body 102B to carve the electrode base body 102B, so that a plurality of electrode cells having a shape which is analogous to that of the flow-through cells are formed in the electrode base body 102B; whereby obtaining a honeycomb electrode where a plurality of electrode cells partitioned by electrode partition walls appear on the one surface.
US09162301B2	Electrochemical machining tools and methods An electrochemical machining tool and method capable of rounding sharp edges that may be prone to cracking, for example, edge regions of cooling slots within dovetail slots of turbine wheels. The electrochemical machining tool includes an electrode and is secured to the component. The electrode of the electrochemical machining tool is inserted into a first slot, an electrolyte solution is applied between the electrode of the electrochemical machining tool and a second slot that intersects the first slot, an electrical potential is applied to the electrode and the turbine wheel to create a potential gradient between the electrode and the edge of the second slot, and material is removed from the edge of the second slot by displacing the electrode about and along the edge.
US09162299B2	Saw blade for sawing hollow profiles and form profiles A saw blade (1) serves for sawing hollow profiles and form profiles. The saw blade (1) is especially designed as saw band, and it includes a base body (2) and a plurality of teeth (10). The teeth (10) are formed by protrusions (3) and inserts (4). The teeth (10) are arranged in a group being repeated along the saw blade (1). The group includes at least three unset chamfered teeth (10). The group includes a first tooth (C1) having two chamfers (FC11, FC12) being symmetric to the longitudinal center plane (9) of the saw blade (1), a second tooth (C2) having two chamfers (FC21, FC22) being non-symmetric to the longitudinal center plane (9) and a third tooth (C3) having two chamfers (FC31, FC32) being non-symmetric to the longitudinal center plane (9).
US09162294B2	Apparatus and method for delamination reduction of composite materials The present invention provides a drilling apparatus and a method thereof capable of providing an adjustable active backup force to a composite workpiece to effectively reduce the delamination of the workpiece during drilling such that the application of the active backup force in terms of its force magnitude and its application location on the workpiece can adjustably counter the drill thrust force to retard the onset of delamination growth and reduce delamination damage at the drill exit in the workpiece, in particular in situation where large feed rate with short cycle time is desired for drilling of composite materials. A critical drill thrust force of the drilling apparatus and the method of the present invention is advantageously obtained in relation to said active backup force and the application of the active backup force to reduce the crack propagation of the delamination occurred in the composite workpiece.
US09162291B2	Tool head for use in machine tools A tool head for use in machine tools, has a main body which can be rotated around an axis of rotation. The tool head has a slide. The slide can be moved by means of a pull rod axially oriented in the main body. The slide can be fitted with at least one tool or one tool holder. At least one adjustable toothed plate is fixedly arranged on the slide. The toothed plate has a helical gearing functioning as a gear means for engaging with a helical gearing of the pull rod which is complementary thereto. The slide has an adjustment unit for moving the at least one toothed plate and the helical gearing thereof into the complementary helical gearing of the pull rod.
US09162290B2	Center spacer between workpiece and dead center of machine tool A machine tool for supporting and rotating a workpiece includes a first machine center supporting a first workpiece end of the workpiece. A dead center defines a second machine center of the machine tool. A center spacer has a first spacer end rotatably supported on the second machine center and a second spacer end supporting a second workpiece end of the workpiece. A drive mechanism is configured to rotate the workpiece and, during rotation of the workpiece, the center spacer is configured to rotate with the workpiece about the second machine center. The second workpiece end includes a first material and the center spacer includes a second material that is different than the first material.
US09162282B2	Casting apparatus Provided is a compact casting apparatus capable of producing a high-quality casted product. While the internal pressures of a mold and a hopper are directly reduced by depressurizing means through a pipe and a branch pipe, the mold and the hopper are gradually tilted to fill the mold with a molten metal accommodated in the hopper. After the filling is completed, an open-close gate closes a runner. The molten metal is solidified with only the mold being directly pressured by pressurizing means through the pipe.
US09162281B2	Continuous casting method and continuous casting device for titanium ingots and titanium alloy ingots The continuous casting device according to the present invention enables at least some of a plurality of hearths (3) to be converted between being hearths (13) used for titanium, which are used during the continuous casting of titanium ingots, and being hearths (23) used for titanium alloy, which are used during the continuous casting of titanium alloy ingots. The number of hearths (23) used for titanium alloy is greater than the number of hearths (13) used for titanium. Also, the total capacity of the hearths (23) used for titanium alloy is greater than the total capacity of the hearths (13) used for titanium. Thus, titanium ingots and titanium alloy ingots can each be continuously cast by means of a single piece of equipment.
US09162280B2	Hybrid ceramic/sand core for casting metal engine parts with passages or holes having a cross section too small for sand casting A hybrid ceramic/sand casting method of manufacturing a metal part. The method is especially suitable for manufacturing engine cylinder blocks or cylinder head, which have very small internal passages or other very small internal features. These parts are formed using a hybrid core having at least one ceramic section and at least one sand section, with the ceramic section being used to create the internal feature. A mold cavity is created for the part, and the hybrid core is positioned in the mold. Molten metal is introduced into the mold, and after the metal cools, the core is removed, thereby forming the part with the internal feature.
US09162278B2	Hand-held rivet nut tool with a replaceable mandrel-driving device A hand-held rivet nut tool has a body having a base; two handles connected pivotally to the base; two pairs of links connected pivotally and respectively to the handles; a driven member connected pivotally to the pairs of the links; and a mandrel mounted rotatably through the driven member and the base. A push-and-pull mandrel-driving device or a rotational mandrel-driving device is mounted detachably and hence replaceably on the driven member, and is capable of driving the mandrel, the bushing and the threaded shaft. A user is allowed to choose either the push-and-pull mandrel-driving device or the rotational mandrel-driving device according to different working spaces or personal practices.
US09162276B2	System and method of manufacturing a structure The system and method of the present application can include machining complex part features in a flat metal sheet, and subsequently forming the machined flat metal sheet to have the desired shape and contours. Prior to the step of machining the complex part features, the method can include calculating a scaled location of the complex part features so that the subsequent forming step acts to translate and deform the complex part features into a desired location.
US09162275B2	Flaring device for a tubular member A flaring device for flaring a hollow malleable tubular member is provided. A hydraulically powered assembly includes a main body having a cylinder, a lever and a piston member which is received in the cylinder. The main body has an axis and opposing first end and second end. The lever is pivoted on the first end of the main body and operable to drive the piston member to move along the axis. One end of the piston member is formed with a conical expander. The die set is disposed at the second end of the main body and has a plurality of die elements arranged around the axis. The conical expander of the piston member is actuated to move axially and outwardly so as to radially drive the die elements to flare the hollow malleable tubular member.
US09162274B2	Dual double-action can body maker A dual double-action can body maker characterized in that a can body maker of the opposite way double-action structure is formed by way of a structural design of using two identical ram drive mechanisms and a design scheme of sharing one crankshaft. Two ram drive mechanisms share one crankshaft, and are arranged symmetrically to balance the inertial force of such parts as a swing lever. A slide yoke and a ram in motion and the reaction force generated in the can body redrawing and ironing process to reduce the load of the support bearing of the crankshaft and extend the service life.
US09162271B2	Deck leverage anchor with spaced-apart body portions A deck anchor assembly for anchoring a frame loading member to a frame deck according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a deck leverage anchor and a coupler. The deck leverage anchor is configured to engage the frame deck, the deck leverage anchor including a locking mechanism configured to lock the deck leverage anchor relative to the frame deck. The coupler is configured to couple the frame loading member to the deck leverage anchor and is independently moveable relative to the locking mechanism.
US09162270B2	Method for modifying the distance between the rollers of a leveling machine, leveling machine, and apparatus for implementing said method A machine for leveling a strip of material includes a fixed supporting frame; an upper leveling device and a lower leveling device, each leveling device forming a cassette with a plurality of separated rollers, rotatably mounted on a frame of a device for rotating the rollers connected to at least some of the rollers by an extender, each extender having one end provided with a removable coupling member with one end for rotating the roller, and a device for locking each removable coupling member by clamping. The clamping locking device includes a device configure for translating the removable coupling members in the direction of travel of the material, and in the opposite direction.
US09162269B2	Coil forming apparatus and method An apparatus is disclosed for receiving a helical formation of rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor, and for gathering the rings into a coil. The apparatus comprises a vertically disposed mandrel having an upper end positioned for encirclement by the free falling rings. A vertically disposed support column is positioned adjacent to the mandrel. Upper and lower coil plate assemblies are carried by and vertically adjustable on the support column. A drive system vertically adjusts the coil plate assemblies in a descending manner in which the free falling rings encircling the mandrel are initially accumulated on the upper coil plate assembly before being transferred onto the lower coil plate assembly.
US09162267B2	Extrusion die for forming hollow material An extrusion die is provided with a male die through which a billet is extruded from an upstream side to a downstream side and, the male die adapted for forming an inside shape of a hollow material; and a female die for holding the male die and forming an outside shape of the hollow material. The male die is formed of a spider and a holder for holding the spider. The spider is formed of a mandrel and a plurality of bridge parts for supporting the mandrel, and enabling a distal-end outer peripheral surface to engage with a bridge-holding surface. The distal-end outer peripheral surface of each of the bridge parts and the bridge-holding surface of the holder are joined by shrink-fitting.
US09162266B2	Installation part and method for the production thereof The invention relates to an installation part for mounting an upper support roll in a roll stand. The installation part has, on its cambered side, a lubricant receiving space, from which at least one lubricant drain hole (130) extends, in the lower region of the installation part, in the direction of the drain side of the installation part. In order to be able to reduce the width in the lower region of the installation part and while guaranteeing the stability of the installation part, it is proposed according to the invention that the distance d from the center point of the lubricant drain hole (130) to the vertical longitudinal center plane LM of the installation part is ≦half of the diameter of the main hole and that—in the vertical longitudinal center plane—the vertical minimum distance s from the counter-surface of a ring seal (400) in the lower region of the installation part to the horizontal tangential plane (500) at the top edge of the lubricant drain hole is not below a specified minimum clearance threshold value.
US09162262B2	Automated detection and control system and method for high pressure water wash application and collection applied to aero compressor washing The present invention relates to a system and method for washing gas turbine engines comprising a manifold comprising one or more tubes; a pumping system for providing pressurized washing liquid to the manifold, the pumping system comprising a pump, and one or more valves; and a control unit for regulating the pumping system according to washing parameters associated to a particular engine.
US09162261B1	Systems and methods for controlling silica dust during hydraulic fracturing operations A system for controlling silica dust generated during the transfer of frac sand from a storage container through a conveyor system includes a system of conduits having a plurality of inlets for collecting silica dust generated at selected points along the conveyor system. An air system pneumatically coupled to the system of conduits generates a negative pressure at each of the inlets to induce the collection of silica dust at the selected points along the conveyor.
US09162258B1	Wasted material separating device The present invention provides a wasted material separating device comprising: a base station for placing a panel thereon, wherein a wasted material to be separated is on the panel; a support frame; a first guide rail mounted on one side of the support frame away from the base station and extending in a direction toward the base station; a support member slidably mounted on the first guide rail, and a first drive device connected with the support member, the first drive device being arranged to drive the support member to slide along the first guide rail; a first vacuum adsorption plate for adsorbing the wasted material, one end of which is mounted on the support member via a bearing, and the other end is lapped and connected with the support member when the first vacuum adsorption plate is horizontally placed; and a second drive device connected with the first vacuum adsorption plate and arranged to drive the first vacuum adsorption plate to rotate about the bearing. Thus, the wasted material can be easily and quickly removed from the panel and residual of the wasted material is avoided.
US09162254B2	Method and apparatus for applying a coating on a substrate A method for applying a coating (4) on a substrate (1), includes: —scanning a laser beam (2) along a line on the surface of said substrate. The method also includes supplying a coating forming material from a supply system (3), the system moving along the same line as the laser beam but coming up behind the laser beam, so that the coating forming material is deposited on a spot which has previously been heated by the laser beam to a temperature above the melting temperature of the coating forming material. Substantially no physical contact occurs between the laser beam and the coating forming material. Preferably, the method further includes a second step of scanning the surface a second time with the laser beam, without adding coating forming material during the second step.
US09162252B2	Film forming method According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of forming a polyimide film on a substrate is disclosed. Such method can be easily controlled and form a polyimide film applicable as an insulation film. While a wafer is heated at a temperature at which a polyimide film is formed, a cycle, in which the wafer is sequentially supplied with a first processing gas, for example, containing a PMDA-based first monomer, and a second processing gas containing a non-aromatic monomer, for example, an HMDA-based second monomer, is performed for a predetermined number of times. When the processing gases are switched, a replacement gas is supplied into a reaction tube so that the monomers are not mixed together under the atmosphere in the reaction tube.
US09162251B2	Lamination and method for manufacturing lamination A lamination includes a substrate formed of a metal or alloy, an intermediate layer formed on a surface of the substrate and is formed of a metal or alloy that is softer than the substrate, and a metal film deposited by accelerating a powder material of a metal or alloy together with a gas heated to a temperature lower than the melting point of the powder material and spraying it onto the intermediate layer while keeping it in a solid phase.
US09162248B2	Backpressure injection foot A backpressure injection foot is provided. The backpressure injection foot includes an injection nozzle for applying an adhesive flowing therethrough onto a planar object having a core structure; and a backpressure foot attached to a distal end of the injection nozzle, wherein the backpressure foot is configured to cover a portion of a plurality of cores disposed within the planar object to facilitate application of the adhesive from a proximal surface of the planar object through to a distal surface of the planar object.
US09162246B2	Coating liquid filling method, slit nozzle, discharge outlet closing member, and slit nozzle unit A filling method exhausts gas from inside a slit nozzle that applies coating liquid onto a substrate surface while filling the slit nozzle with the coating liquid. The slit nozzle includes a coating liquid supply opening, a coating liquid discharge outlet, a manifold that is connected to the supply opening and holds the coating liquid inside the slit nozzle, a liquid channel that is connected to the manifold and supplies the coating liquid to the discharge outlet of the slit nozzle, and a ventilation hole for exhausting gas from inside the manifold. The filling method includes: a discharge outlet closing process that closes the discharge outlet while the coating liquid is being fed from the supply opening into the slit nozzle; and a ventilation hole opening process that opens the ventilation hole.
US09162245B1	Powder coating conveyor support A powder coating system including a powder coating conveyor, a work piece; the powder coating conveyor including a hang hole tool having a conveyor portion and a work piece engaging portion. The work piece engaging portion is structured to engage a conveyor member supported by the conveyor structure. The work piece engaging portion has an outwardly extending shaft portion extending distally outward from an expanded portion. The work piece has a recess therein, the recess being shaped and sized to receive the work piece engaging portion in close fitting relation and the recess having a first inside dimension at a greatest depth of the recess and a second inside dimension at a least depth of the recess. The second inside dimension is greater than the first inside dimension.
US09162242B2	Sprinkler assembly system A sprinkler system having a sprinkler assembly with at least one sprinkler head having a removable top coupled thereto by an attachment means. A female inlet removably couples the sprinkler head to a swing joint, which is buried below the sprinkler head and connects the sprinkler head to the irrigation feed. The removable top has a plurality of openings for exporting water from the irrigation feed outwardly therefrom. A top surface of the sprinkler head includes crushed stone for stabilizing the sprinkler assembly. The sprinkler system further includes a control system in electronic communication with a valve and control box connected to the sprinkler assembly.
US09162241B2	Metering dispenser For the straightforward, easy-to-assemble construction of a metering dispenser (1) for dispensing a substance consisting of a number of components, having at least two containers (6a, 6b) in an outer sleeve (8) for accommodating the components of the substance, and having a pumping unit (2a, 2b) on each of the containers (6a, 6b), and having an adjusting device (3), which makes it possible to adjust the quantity ratio of the components in relation to one another, and having a movable actuating device (4) for the pumping units (2a, 2b) and/or containers (6a, 6b), and having a dispenser element (5) for the substance which is to be dispensed by the metering dispenser (1), it is proposed to provide a force-transmission element (7), in particular in the form of an intermediate wall, which, with the actuating device (4) activated, can be displaced relative to the outer sleeve (8) and in the axial direction (A) of the metering dispenser (1).
US09162238B1	Oscillating pressurized spray tip protection assembly The oscillating pressurized spray tip protection assembly is comprised of a tip guard and a lock plate that lock together via securing means over an oscillating spray tip in order to protect against wear when said spray tip is penetrating ground. The spray tip protection assembly utilizes a material that is strong, and more durable than the spray tip enclosed therein such that the life of the spray tip is increased. The tip guard has a cavity contoured to an exterior surface of the oscillating spray tip with an opening at a front end of the tip guard thereby enabling pressurized water to exit from both the oscillating spray tip as well as the tip guard.
US09162236B2	Proportional and uniform controlled gas flow delivery for dry plasma etch apparatus Embodiments of the present invention relate to method and apparatus for providing processing gases to a process chamber with improved uniformity. One embodiment of the present invention provides a gas injection assembly. The gas injection assembly includes an inlet hub, a nozzle having a plurality of injection passages disposed against the inlet hub, and a distribution insert disposed between the nozzle and the inlet hub. The distribution insert has one or more gas distribution passages configured to connect the inlet hub to the plurality of the injection passages the nozzle. Each of the one or more gas distribution passages has one inlet connecting with a plurality of outlets, and distances between the inlet and each of the plurality of outlets are substantially equal.
US09162233B2	Separator having a lubrication system for a belt driven short spindle drive A separator including a rotatable centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and an inflow line for a material to be processed by the separator. Also included is a drive spindle for the drum rotatably mounted via a mounting to a housing supported elastically on a machine stand section. A drive device includes an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle. A lubricant system is configured to lubricate the mounting and the lubricant system includes a lubricant circuit to convey lubricant and has a lubricant collecting container.
US09162231B2	Systems and methods for producing engineered fuel feed stocks from waste material Systems and methods for producing engineered fuels from solid waste material are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a waste stream at a multi-material processing platform and separating the waste stream to remove non-processable waste and marketable recyclables. The method further includes conveying processable materials to a material classification system and incorporating additives to produce an engineered fuel from the constituents of the waste stream.
US09162229B2	Multi-directional sorting with reduced contamination in a flow cytometer Disclosed is a collection sled for collecting a waste droplet stream 122 in a waste stream catcher that is located below sample collectors. Contamination of collected samples is reduced by collecting the waste droplet stream at a position that is below the sample collectors. A waste trough is provided that gets progressively larger in a downward direction, which prevents backsplash of waste fluid from the collection cavity. Standard sample collector tubes, as well as 8-well strips and microscope slides can be used with the collection sled to collect sample particles.
US09162228B2	Interlocking cap and receptacle for automated processes System, apparatuses, and methods for performing automated reagent-based analysis are provided. Also provided are methods for automated attachment of a cap to a reaction receptacle, and automated removal of a cap from a capped reaction receptacle.
US09162226B2	Foldable microfluidic devices using double-sided tape A method and system for a folding microfluidic device comprises creating at least one folding line in a material, forming a plurality of layers of a microfluidic device in said material, and folding the material at the fold lines to create a self-aligned multilayered microfluidic device. The material can comprise a carrier material with an adhesive layer on the top and bottom surfaces.
US09162219B2	Fenton reaction catalyst produced using reducing organic substance as raw material To develop a Fenton reaction catalyst that can maintain divalent iron stably for a long period of time, can utilize trivalent iron or metallic iron, which is an inexpensive iron-supplying source, by converting into divalent iron, and is harmless to the human body and the environment, provided is a Fenton reaction catalyst, including, as an active component, a reaction product obtained by mixing a specific reducing organic substance (e.g., ascorbic acid, a polyphenol-containing plant component, or a plant dry distillation liquid component) with an iron-supplying source at a predetermined ratio in the presence of water. Also provided are a sterilization method, a pollutant degradation method, and a luminescence method based on chemiluminescence, which involve using the Fenton reaction catalyst.
US09162212B2	Supported catalyst systems and method of making biodiesel products using such catalysts A heterogeneous catalyst system, a method of preparing the catalyst system and a method of forming a biodiesel product via transesterification reactions using the catalyst system is disclosed. The catalyst system according to one aspect of the present disclosure represents a class of supported mixed metal oxides that include at least calcium oxide and another metal oxide deposited on a lanthanum oxide or cerium oxide support. Preferably, the catalysts include CaO—CeO2ZLa2O3 or CaO—La2O3/CeO2. Optionally, the catalyst may further include additional metal oxides, such as CaO—La2O3—GdOxZLa2O3.
US09162208B2	Process and system for producing synthetic crude oil from offshore produced fluids containing high CO2 content A system and process for producing synthetic crude oil from produced fluids of an oil well is disclosed. The system comprises a separation plant for producing an associated gas stream from produced fluids a membrane unit comprising a plurality of polymer membranes to provide a CO2 enriched permeate stream and a CO2 depleted product gas stream, a gas conversion plant for converting the CO2 depleted product gas stream into a synthetic crude oil and a heat exchanger adding heat to the associated gas stream so that the membrane unit operates at a temperature of at least 80° C. during separation of the associated gas stream using the membrane unit. A process using the aforementioned components, including separation of the associated gas stream using the membrane unit at a temperature >80° C., into a CO2 enriched stream and a CO2 depleted product stream, is also described.
US09162205B2	Apparatuses for distributing fluids in fluidized bed reactors A fluid distribution apparatus is disposed in a fluidized bed reactor and includes a distributor pipe configured to carry a fluid and a centerpipe fluidly connected to the distributor pipe and enclosing an annular space for receiving the fluid from the distributor pipe. The annular space is defined by an interior radius including a cylindrical plug disposed concentrically within the centerpipe, an exterior radius including the centerpipe, an upper end including an upper circular plate, and a lower end including a lower circular plate. The fluid distribution apparatus further includes a plurality of inlet nozzles fluidly connected to the annular space and disposed through the centerpipe for distributing the fluid from the annular space to a bed of the fluidized bed reactor.
US09162203B1	Hydrogen generator A hydrogen generator into which a mixed gas is run and out of which a reformed gas including hydrogen is discharged, which can reliably control the hydrogen concentration in the reformed gas to a desired concentration. The hydrogen generator is provided with an upstream side oxidation unit and a downstream side decomposition unit, burns part of the compound in the mixed gas in the oxidation unit using the oxygen in the mixed gas so as to generate heat of combustion, and uses the heat of combustion to break down another part of the compound in the mixed gas in the decomposition unit so as to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen generator is provided with a first temperature sensor controller.
US09162199B2	Two-component mixing container including piston using spring engagement Provided is a two-component mixing container in which a piston member may be capable of a rotation motion operation and a linear motion operation without the need for a complex guide groove. Two or more spring structure portions are provided at the piston member. The two or more spring structure portions impart a pressing force on an inner wall surface of the third cylindrical portion. Two or more fitting grooves are formed in the third cylindrical portion. In this fitting state, the piston member and a second-component containing member rotate together without contact portions getting out of the fitting grooves. When a force of a predetermined level or higher toward a third bottom wall portion is applied to an operating rod portion with a second-component containing chamber and a mixing chamber being communicable with each other, the contact portions get out of the fitting grooves.
US09162197B2	Mixing and metering device for mixing and metering chemicals A mixing and metering device for mixing and metering liquid chemicals comprises a circulation pump having a suction port and a pressure port, a pipe coil, the contents volume of which is dimensioned such that the chemicals metered into the device have a residence time sufficient for the chemical reaction, a choke tube which guides the circulation stream exiting from the pipe coil, with formation of a choke point, from the outlet of the pipe coil to a metering conduit which is arranged between the choke tube and the suction port of the circulation pump and at least two metering valves, and also a falling tube which is connected to the choke tube and has a vacuum flange for connection of the mixing and metering device to a vacuum device.
US09162195B2	Linear motion mixer A linear motion mixer having a reciprocating drive assembly of the Scotch yoke type, wherein the yoke assembly is mounted on first and second column bearing shafts (i.e., Thomson shafts) by two or more contoured bearing shaft rollers. The way shafts of the yoke assembly are preferably mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axis so as to accommodate misalignment of the roller wheel of the crank assembly which drivingly interacts therewith. A cylinder rod end alignment coupler is preferably interconnected between the yoke assembly and the downstream components of the drive assembly to substantially prevent unbalanced tortional and shear forces from being transmitted into the yoke assembly from the mixing shaft. These and other improvements are disclosed, all of which reduce production costs, lost energy, excessive wear and binding or racking of a reciprocating drive assembly incorporating same.
US09162194B2	Blender jug and lid A lid and a jug for a blender. The lid and jug cooperate, wherein the lid is a relatively tight fitting polymeric lid having an outer edge and an upper surface. A pull tab being integral with the lid. The pull tab forms a ring above the upper surface of the lid that defines an at least finger-sized opening located adjacent to the outer edge of the lid, the opening having a central axis of symmetry that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the jug.
US09162193B2	Method and apparatus for creating an improved fill for frameless furniture and the like A fill material which includes first and second types of polymers which are mixed together to be used for filling frameless furniture or the like as well as the method and apparatus for making the fill material and supplying the fill material to a frameless furniture sheath.
US09162191B2	Imidazole-containing polymer membranes and methods of use Imidazole-containing polymer membranes are described herein. Methods of their preparation and use are also described herein. The methods of using the membranes include capturing and reducing volatile compounds from gas streams.
US09162189B1	Membrane comprising self-assembled block copolymer and process for producing the same by spin coating (Ia) Disclosed are membranes formed from self-assembling diblock copolymers of the formula (I): wherein R1 is C1-C22 alkyl, R2 is C6-C20 aryl or heteroaryl, one of R3 and R4 is a C6-C14 aryl and the other is C1-C22 alkoxy, and n and m are independently about 10 to about 2000, which find use in preparing nanoporous membranes. Embodiments of the membranes contain the diblock copolymer that self-assembles into a cylindrical morphology. Also disclosed is a method of preparing such a membrane which involves spin coating a polymer solution containing the diblock copolymer to obtain a thin film, followed by annealing the thin film in a solvent vapor and/or soaking in a solvent or mixture of solvents to form a nanoporous membrane.
US09162188B2	Methods for cleaning membranes used for filtering chemicals A method includes performing a first cleaning step to clean a membrane, wherein during the first cleaning step, a first solvent passes through the membrane. After the first cleaning step, a second cleaning step is performed to clean the membrane. During the second cleaning step, a second solvent passes through the membrane. The first solvent and the second solvent are in different groups among three solvent groups, wherein the three solvent groups include a non-polar solvent group, a polar aprotic solvent group, and a polar protic solvent group.
US09162184B2	Exhaust gas purification system for internal combustion engine An exhaust gas purification system includes a feedforward controller 47, a feedback controller 49 outputting a correcting variable for achieving a target temperature of DPF 7, and a variable adding unit 51 that adds the correcting variable output from the feedback controller 49 to a basic variable output from the feedforward controller 47 to compute a manipulated variable. The system further includes either one of an integrator resetter 55 that resets the integral value of an integrator that forms the feedback controller 49 when the amount of exhaust gas has suddenly dropped, and a basic variable calculating unit that calculates the basic variable to be output from the feedforward controller based on a signal representing the flow rate of exhaust gas.
US09162174B2	Air cleaner assemblies with filter element and method for installing the filter element According to the present disclosure, air cleaner assemblies, components, features and methods are described. A filter cartridge is characterized, that can be conveniently used as part of the system ensuring that a proper cartridge is installed in the housing, in a proper radial orientation and in a manner such that cartridge rotation is inhibited, in spite of the use of a radial seal. The cartridge can be configured to also be used with a housing that includes a utility conduit in an exterior surface thereof. Advantageous features and methods of assembly and use are described.
US09162172B2	Air filter having fluted filter media An air cleaner includes a housing and an access cover. The internal volume of the housing can be reached through an opening in a side wall of the housing. A filter element having fluted filter media is removable and replaceable from the air cleaner. The housing is constructed and arranged to cam the element into sealing engagement with the housing. The access cover includes structure to help support and ensure proper seating of the filter element within the housing. A method of installing the filter element in the air cleaner includes sliding a portion of the filter element against a slide surface in the housing. A method of servicing an air cleaner includes tilting the filter element against a tilt surface in the housing to release a seal between the filter element and the housing. The filter element can have a handle to assist in servicing of the air cleaner. The housing can have a window to allow visual inspection of the internal component of the housing and to determine visually whether a filter element is installed therein.
US09162170B2	Synthesis reaction system for hydrocarbon compound, and method of removing powdered catalyst particles A synthesis reaction system is provided with: a reactor which synthesizes a hydrocarbon compound by a chemical reaction of a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide as main components, and a slurry having solid catalyst particles suspended in liquid; a separator which separates the hydrocarbon compound from the slurry; and a filtering device which filters the hydrocarbon compound extracted from the separator to trap powdered catalyst particles.
US09162169B1	Flexible filter hand bags for catch basins Various embodiments of a modular catch basin for implementation in a high performance bioswale are disclosed. The modular catch basin containing bio-media in bio-media filters to treat urban run-off. Method of installing and maintaining the modular catch basin are also disclosed.
US09162165B2	Self-cleaning filter and filtration system for lubricants The disclosed self-cleaning filtration system and self-cleaning filter solves various problems by replacing a standard filter cartridge with an adapter screwed in place of the cartridge, a filter of limited size with a motor for rotating an inlet cover plate and an outlet cover plate over a body with a plurality of longitudinal channels inside of a circumferential filtration media where the different parts of the media are used alternately in forward and backward flow. In another embodiment, instead of entry and drain openings, the oil is placed directly in contact with each longitudinal channel with the exception of the channel in fluidic communication with the drain opening. The self-filtration system includes a self-cleaning filter used in tandem with an adapter, a decanter, and a series of hoses. In yet another embodiment, the self-cleaning filter includes either in replacement of the rotating shaft or in addition to the shaft a body with an expandable chamber for storage of oil used as driving force of a back flushing valve.
US09162161B2	Filler for affinity chromatography Provided is a filler for affinity chromatography having a high dynamic binding capacity for proteins and having excellent alkali resistance and storage stability. The filler for affinity chromatography of the present invention comprises a porous particle consisting of a copolymer of 40 parts to 99.5 parts by mass of (M-1) a methacryloyl group-containing vinyl monomer that contains a hydroxyl group and does not contain an epoxy group, 0.5 parts to 30 parts by mass of (M-2) an epoxy group-containing vinyl monomer, 0 parts to 59.5 parts by mass of (M-3) a methacryloyl group-containing vinyl monomer which is other than the monomers (M-1) and (M-2), and 0 parts to 25 parts by mass of (M-4) a vinyl monomer other than the monomers (M-1), (M-2) and (M-3) (with the proviso that the total amount of the contents of (M-1), (M-2), (M-3) and (M-4) is 100 parts by mass); ring-opened epoxy group obtainable by ring-opening of epoxy group that is contained in the copolymer; and ligand that is bound to the porous particle.
US09162159B2	Water vapor collection bottles A water vapor collector bottle consists of a transparent cover, a top box, a water supplier, an optional insulator, an optional bottom cover, and a bottom box. The transparent cover allows sun rays to evaporate some water to the top box which confines and collect the vapor condensate. The condensates will drop into a container in the bottom box. A wind operated knocker and an insert to increase the water condensation surfaces are also introduced.
US09162154B2	Autonomous vehicle system An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.
US09162153B1	Toy vehicle with an adjustable DC-DC switch In one embodiment there is a toy vehicle having a low inductance motor powered by a high frequency switched voltage at a frequency high enough to create continuous conduction. The vehicle further includes an H-bridge circuit configured to control a direction of the motor and an adjustable high frequency DC-DC switch configured to convert a supply voltage to an output voltage, lower than the supply voltage, for use by the H-bridge circuit to power the low inductance motor in a forward or reverse direction. In addition, a processor is included and has instructions configured to change the output voltage from the DC-DC switch from a first voltage to a second voltage.
US09162152B2	Stuffed animal with storage pouch for plastic bags or the like A storage pouch is adapted for use with an animal body comprising a trunk having a waist and a shoulder. The storage pouch comprises a generally tubular shape garment comprising a continuous fabric panel defining an interior storage space having a top end opening and a bottom end opening. A zippered opening in the panel provides selective access to the storage space. A circular waistband is at the top end opening and is receivable on the trunk waist. First and second straps each have opposite ends secured to a front and a back of the waistband to suspend the garment from the animal body shoulder. A circular cuff is at the bottom end opening. A pair of semi-circular fabric pieces is secured to the cuff to provide a slot opening into the storage space. Articles to be stored can be inserted through the zippered opening and withdrawn through the slotted opening.
US09162149B2	Interactive entertainment systems and methods Methods are described for selling, loaning, renting, or otherwise providing a retail product, such as an interactive product, that allows a consumer to participate in one or more venues. The retail product is capable of interfacing with interactive devices in the venues that are capable of producing sensory effects based on communication from and/or to the retail product. Furthermore, the retail product preferably has an independent or intrinsic value apart from the use of the product in the venues, and may include, for example, a toy wand or like toy device, apparel, and/or jewelry. In certain examples, the retail methods include tracking the consumer's use of the retail product in the venue(s). Such tracking information may be used to customize the experience of the user during a subsequent visit to the same venue or another venue.
US09162148B2	Wireless entertainment device, system, and method Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique play experience carried out utilizing an interactive “wand” and/or other seemingly magical actuation/tracking device. The wand or other actuation device allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment(s), thereby giving play participants the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic. Optionally, multiple play participants, each provided with a suitable “wand” and/or other actuation/tracking device, may play and interact together, either within or outside one or more compatible play environments, to achieve desired goals, master certain magical spells and/or produce desired seemingly magical effects within the play environment.
US09162132B2	Virtual golf simulation apparatus and sensing device and method used for the same Disclosed are a virtual golf simulation apparatus in which any position of a hitting mat, on which a user places a ball, is recognized to easily and accurately find the position of the ball even when a slope is realized with respect to a swing plate and the swing plate is sloped at a predetermined angle, and it is possible to accurately sense when hitting has been performed by the user using a relatively inexpensive sensing device without an additional trigger sensor, thereby reducing costs and improving sensing accuracy and reliability, and a sensing device and method used for the same.
US09162131B1	Golf visual training aid and feedback device A visual reference and feedback device for use with a golf club is presented. The visual reference and feedback device includes a clubface reference head and a neck that connects a supporting body to the clubface reference head. The supporting body includes three supporting members having a first supporting member, a second supporting member, and a third supporting member. C-clip fasteners may be formed at distal ends of the first supporting member and second supporting member. A sternum guide may be formed as a rectangular structure at the outer portion of the first supporting member and proximate to the neck of the visual aid and feedback device.
US09162128B2	Receptacle for catching a disc A method of operating a disc golf course having a receptacle for each hole, each receptacle including a substantially vertically extending sidewall presenting an upper edge, lower edge, inner surface, and outer surface having an upper portion that extends to the upper edge; and a floor connected to the sidewall at an outer edge of the floor, the floor and the inner surface defining an open-topped interior chamber; installing the receptacles in the playing surfaces such that a player attempts a first throw of the disc into the interior chamber by throwing, skipping, or bouncing the disc higher than the upper edge or rolling the disc over the upper edge and attempts a second throw of the disc into the interior chamber by throwing, skipping, or bouncing the disc higher than the upper edge or rolling the disc over the upper edge if the first throw was unsuccessful.
US09162124B1	Golf tee bag device A golf tee bag device includes a main body constructed from a single piece of fabric material having a front surface, a back surface and a plurality of edges. The device includes a main pocket area, a horizontal pocket and a pair of connectors for engaging the back surface of the main body in order to attach the device to a belt.
US09162106B1	Ankle and foot exercise apparatus An apparatus useful for performing foot and ankle exercises as part of a strengthening or rehabilitation program includes a foot platform positioned between an upper horizontal bar connected through a vertical assembly to a base frame adapted to sit in a stable position on a floor. The foot platform has an upper side to receive the user's foot and a lower side that pivotably engages through a fixed ball joint with the base frame to allow the user of the apparatus to exercise his or her ankle in all six movement directions without moving the leg. Resistance bands connect the foot platform to various points on the apparatus to provide a mechanism for resistance during exercise. The apparatus may be associated with a sensor on the foot platform that senses the position or movement of the foot in use and produces data regarding the exercise that is communicated to the user.
US09162105B2	Fitness apparatus A fitness apparatus includes a chassis, two linkages, two handlebars, two cranks and two joint bars. Each of the linkage includes a first linking-up part and second linking-up part transversally. The first linking-up parts are pivotably attached to the cranks for revolution of the cranks relatively to the chassis. Each of the handlebars includes a lower portion pivotably attached to the second linking-up portion, and an upper portion which can be held by the user to move along a closed elliptical trajectory. Each of the joint bars includes a rear and portion pivotably attached between the upper portions and the lower portions, and a front end portion pivotably attached to the chassis. In this way, the user's arms can take exercise effectively along an elliptical trajectory to further prevent the user from suffering sports injury resulting from incorrect posture.
US09162103B2	Gymnastic machine Regulating group for adjusting the initial operating position of an interface associated with a gymnastic machine comprising a frame; a load group connected to the interface through a respective transmission device; a support group designed to carry the interface movable relative to the frame; the regulating group comprising a return device suitable, in use, to define, at the initial operating position, a stop for the movement of the interface relative to the frame; wherein the return device can be connected, in use, to the transmission device through a given coupling, so that to each variation in the initial operating position actuated through the return device corresponds a respective given variation in the operating configuration of the transmission device.
US09162101B2	Apparatuses and methods for exercising the arm In one embodiment, an exercise apparatus for exercising an arm includes a lever adapted to attach to a wheel of a wheelchair, a forearm support pivotally mounted to the lever that is adapted to support a forearm of a wheelchair user during exercise, and a resilient member attached to the lever that is adapted to resist movement of the lever by the user.
US09162097B2	Extinguisher identifying method and extinguisher identifying device An extinguisher identifying device. The device comprises an extinguisher identifying device and an activation device, and a communications module. The extinguisher identifying device reads an identifying element on an extinguisher to obtain identifying data of the extinguisher. The activation device is configured to activate the extinguisher identifying device in response to a predetermined event. The communications module is configured to transmit the extinguisher identifying data to a management device.
US09162096B2	Automatic fire extinguisher capable of discharging fire-extinguishing agent to fire site The present invention relates to an automatic fire extinguisher capable of automatically discharging a fire-extinguishing agent upon the occurrence of a fire. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic fire extinguisher which is capable of automatically discharging a fire-extinguishing agent to a fire site without using power upon the occurrence of a fire to thus efficiently extinguish the fire, and which is also capable of sounding an alarm at an early stage upon the occurrence of a fire, to thus enable people to take swift action. The automatic fire extinguisher of the present invention may ultimately serve as a sprinkler, and can be reused after operation.
US09162092B2	Horizontal lifeline traversing device A horizontal lifeline traversing device is capable of traversing intermediate lifeline supports without detachment from the lifeline but is easily attached to or detached from the lifeline. A paddle wheel having a plurality of radially spaced apart paddles prevents the device from vertical movement. The paddles are made of first and second sets of paddles rotatable about the same axle. The first set is substantially fixed on the axle but the second set is movable axially between a first position where it is axially spaced from the first set and a second position where it is in substantial axial alignment with the first set. A spiral spring biases the second set into the first position. By rotating the second set of paddles slightly, it can be moved axially into the second position where the device can be attached to or detached from a horizontal lifeline.
US09162091B2	Safety harness The present invention generally relates to a safety restraint suitable for restraining the hunter to a tree in a deer stand. The safety harness of the invention comprises a iii) user member for connecting to the user, iv) an anchor member for attachment to a tree or other suitable generally vertical stand mounting member and iii) a connecting member which cooperatively connects the user and anchor members, wherein connected to said anchor member is a round and/or oval shaped ring sewn into the anchor strap material. The connecting member which is attached to the user member is connected to the D-ring or round and/or oval shaped ring attached to said anchor member.
US09162089B2	Restraint and extraction harness with associated release mechanism Disclosed is a harness system that can be used in both restraining and extracting a wearer. The harness takes the form of webbing that may be integrated into a crewmember worn vest. The webbing includes extraction loops for use in hoisting the crewmember and a release mechanism for releasably coupling the harness to an external restraint, such as an overhead reel. The system can be used within a vehicle, such as a land based vehicle, a water going vessel, or an aircraft.
US09162085B2	Personal cleansing compositions with increased deposition of polyacrylate microcapsules A personal cleansing composition that increases the deposition and retention of benefit agent containing polyacrylate microcapsules onto hair and/or skin. The personal cleansing composition is based on the combination of anionic charged polyacrylate microcapsules, cationic deposition polymers, detersive surfactant, and a carrier.
US09162081B2	Beam monitor system and particle beam irradiation system A beam monitor system having a simple configuration for improving a measurement precision specifying a position and the width. A beam monitor system, comprising collection electrodes that include a plurality of groups each having a plurality of adjacent wire electrodes, and detect an ionized particle beam passing therethrough, a first signal processing device that sets one wire electrode in the groups of the collection electrodes as a typical wire electrode, receives a detection signal output from the typical wire electrode to process the signal and a beam monitor controller that obtains a beam position of the ionized particle beam that has passed through the wire electrodes on the basis of a processed signal from the first signal processing device.
US09162080B2	Device for X-ray brachytherapy, and method for positioning a probe introduced into a body for X-ray brachytherapy In a system and method for x-ray brachytherapy, a probe is introduced into the body of a subject, the probe carrying an x-ray source that radiates x-rays into an exposure area outside of the probe within the body of the subject. A number of markers are located in or on the probe, that are detectable in an image generated by an imaging device. The markers are located in or on the probe in a known spatial relation to the exposure area, so that the position of the exposure area can be determined by identifying the markers in the displayed image.
US09162079B2	Activatable particles, preparations and uses The present invention relates to novel activatable particles which can be used in the health sector. The invention more particularly relates to composite particles which can generate free radicals or heat when excited by X rays, and to the uses thereof in health, particularly human. The inventive particles comprise an inorganic-based, and optionally organic-based, nucleus and can be activated in vivo, in order to label or alter cells, tissues or organs. The invention also relates to methods for the production of said particles, and to pharmaceutical or diagnostic compositions containing same.
US09162073B2	Method for treating erectile dysfunction A method for treating erectile dysfunction in a subject includes providing an expandable support member for engaging a wall of a blood vessel. The expandable support member includes at least one electrode connected with the expandable support member and arranged to selectively deliver electric current to modulate the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The expandable support member includes and an insulative material attached to at least a portion of the expandable support member for isolating blood flowing through the vessel from the electric current delivered by the at least one electrode. The expandable support member is implanted intravascularly so that at least a portion of the expandable support member is positioned substantially adjacent a desired location where modulation of the ANS is effective to improve erectile function. After implanting the expandable support member, electric current is delivered to the at least one electrode to effect a change in the ANS.
US09162071B2	Method for controlling telemetry in an implantable medical device based on power source capacity An implantable microstimulator configured for implantation beneath a patient's skin for tissue stimulation to prevent and/or treat various disorders, uses a self-contained power source. Periodic or occasional replenishment of the power source is accomplished, for example, by inductive coupling with an external device. A bidirectional telemetry link allows the microstimulator to provide information regarding the system's status, including the power source's charge level, and stimulation parameter states. Processing circuitry automatically controls the applied stimulation pulses to match a set of programmed stimulation parameters established for a particular patient. The microstimulator preferably has a cylindrical hermetically sealed case having a length no greater than about 27 mm and a diameter no greater than about 3.3 mm. A reference electrode is located on one end of the case and an active electrode is located on the other end. The case is externally coated on selected areas with conductive and non-conductive materials.
US09162069B2	Test method for cochlear implant stimulation strategies An arrangement and method for hearing implant signal processing is described. A hearing implant signal processor converts a speech signal input into multi-channel electrical stimulation signals for a cochlear implant electrode array. A feature adjustment module adjusts feature resolution of the electrical stimulation signals to produce a corresponding sequence of cochlear stimulation feature vectors. A speech recognition vector pre-processor maps the cochlear stimulation feature vectors into corresponding speech recognition feature vectors. A speech recognition engine evaluates the speech recognition features vectors with probabilistic state sequence models to produce speech recognition outputs corresponding to the speech signal input.
US09162068B2	Energy efficient resonant driving circuit for magnetically coupled telemetry A driving circuit useful in a magnetic inductive coupling wireless communication system is disclosed. The circuit includes an inductor (coil; L) and capacitor (C) in series selectively coupled to a power source such as a rechargeable battery. The LC circuit is made to resonate in accordance with a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) or other protocol. Such resonance produces a voltage across the inductor. This voltage is used to create a first voltage either by tapping into the coil, or by providing a transformer. The first voltage is coupled to the rechargeable battery by a diode. When the circuit resonates, and when the first voltage exceeds the voltage of the power source, the diode turns on, thus shunting excess current back to recharge the rechargeable battery. By use of this circuit, energy is conserved. Additionally, oscillations can be quickly dampened so as to allow the circuit to transmit at high data rates.
US09162064B2	Neural stimulation devices and systems for treatment of chronic inflammation A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.
US09162060B2	Active retinal implant An active retinal implant (10) to be implanted into an eye has an array (16) of stimulation elements (17) that emit stimulation signals to cells of the retina, wherein the stimulation elements (17) are designed as radiation-emitting elements.
US09162059B1	Method for facial nerve stimulation of aging or dysfunctional muscles A method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes providing an electrode having a plurality of contacts, stimulating a central part of a facial nerve with the plurality of contacts in order to improve at least some muscle volume and/or strength in a facial region, and stimulating one or more of the plurality of contacts in order to maintain the muscle volume and/or strength in a desired facial muscle. Another method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes providing an electrode having a plurality of contacts in an ear of the subject, stimulating one or more of the plurality of contacts separately in order to determine which contacts activate which facial muscles, identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.
US09162058B2	Systems configured to power at least one device disposed in a living subject, and related apparatuses and methods Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems configured to power at least one device disposed in a living subject, apparatuses configured to be disposed in a living subject and export power stored in an energy-storage device, and related methods of powering at least one device disposed in the living subject.
US09162055B2	Systems and methods for making and using electrode configurations for paddle leads A paddle lead assembly for providing electrical stimulation of patient tissue includes a paddle body having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The paddle body includes a plurality of electrodes disposed into at least four columns extending parallel with the longitudinal axis. The at least four columns include two lateral columns and at least two medial columns disposed therebetween. The electrodes of the at least two medial columns are arranged into rows aligned along the transverse axis. The electrodes of the two lateral columns are each longitudinally offset from the rows of electrodes of the at least two medial columns. An array of terminals are disposed on each of at least one lead body coupled to the paddle body. A plurality of conductive wires couple each of the electrodes to at least one terminal of the terminal arrays.
US09162053B2	Directional lead assembly Leads having directional electrodes thereon. Also provided are leads having directional electrodes as well as retention ledges to secure the electrodes to the leads. Also provided are leads with directional electrodes where all the electrodes have the same surface area. Methods of manufacturing leads and methods of treating conditions and selectively stimulating regions of the nervous system are also provided.
US09162052B2	Treatment of language, behavior and social disorders Methods of treating language, behavioral and social disorders are described, including methods of treating language disorders associated with electrographic abnormalities in the primary or associative language cortex of persons with autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental delay or acquired epileptic aphasia. A language, behavioral and social disorder may be treated by detecting epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure for a subject's brain and applying neurostimulation to a language cortical region of the subject's brain (e.g., a primary or associative language cortical region). Detection of epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure and stimulation of language cortex may be performed by a sensing and/or stimulation electrode that is inserted into a subject's brain and connected to one or more neurostimulation devices for monitoring and/or stimulating the language cortex.
US09162051B2	Treatment of language, behavior and social disorders Methods of treating language, behavioral and social disorders are described, including methods of treating language disorders associated with electrographic abnormalities in the primary or associative language cortex of persons with autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental delay or acquired epileptic aphasia. A language, behavioral and social disorder may be treated by detecting epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure for a subject's brain and applying neurostimulation to a language cortical region of the subject's brain (e.g., a primary or associative language cortical region). Detection of epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure and stimulation of language cortex may be performed by a sensing and/or stimulation electrode that is inserted into a subject's brain and connected to one or more neurostimulation devices for monitoring and/or stimulating the language cortex.
US09162050B2	Reinforced sensing and stimulation leads and use in detection systems A reinforced medical electrical lead for neurological applications has a reinforced construction for resisting the detachment of electrodes and lead connection terminals, thereby improving the robustness of the lead and extending the life of the lead by reducing the likelihood that a further surgical procedure will be required to remove the lead for repair or replacement thereof. The present reinforced lead construction maintains the integrity of the electrical connection between the conductor and the respective electrode and lead connection terminal by incorporating several reinforcing features in the lead construction in contrast to conventional lead constructions where it is possible to pull the electrodes and lead connection terminals away from their contact points with relatively little force.
US09162045B2	Biomedical electrode An electrode and electrodes for a biomedical system is provided. The electrode includes a backing pad with top and bottom surfaces. A conductive element is attached to the bottom surface of the backing pad, and a conductive gel layer covers at least part of the bottom surface of the conductive element. A bonding layer is disposed at least in part between the conductive element and the conductive gel layer. The electrode can include a leadwire with a stripped end length, and at least a portion of the stripped end length is disposed between the conductive element and at least one of the bonding layer and the conductive gel layer.
US09162042B2	Inflation cuff with transient-resistant over-pressure preventor A catheter system (10) with a valve assembly (12) that expels excess inflation fluid when a cuff or balloon (16) of the catheter system is overinflated. The valve assembly includes a luer-activated spool (34) biased toward a sealed condition, a precision relief/check valve (56) biased toward a scaled condition, a primary valve body outlet (22), a valve body feedback inlet (24), and a secondary valve body outlet (26). An inflation lumen (48) is in fluid communication with the primary valve body outlet and an interior of the cuff or balloon. A feedback lumen (54) is in fluid communication with the interior of the cuff or balloon and the valve body feedback inlet. When feedback fluid builds up pressure in excess of the restoring force of the relief spring, the relief/check valve opens, unsealing an expulsion pathway and relieving excess fluid from the cuff or balloon.
US09162041B2	Nucleus augmentation delivery device and technique A method of performing a procedure on an intervertebral disc includes inserting a cannulated delivery tube through an opening in an annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc, positioning an expandable portion of the tube within the opening in the annulus fibrosus, expanding the expandable portion into contact with the annulus fibrosus about the opening to create a seal between the expandable portion and the annulus fibrosus, performing a procedure through the cannulated delivery tube within the annulus fibrosis, removing the tube, and closing the opening in the annulus fibrosus.
US09162038B2	Needle and guidewire holder Device and method for puncturing blood vessels while using fluoroscopy. The disclosed device enables improved needle orientation control and avoids direct exposure of the clinician's hand to X-ray during the puncturing procedure.
US09162033B2	Dilator for performing a percutaneous medical procedure A dilator (100) for performing a percutaneous medical procedure, said dilator (100) comprising a proximal shaft portion (112) near a proximal end (114) thereof and a distal portion having a general tapering shape towards a distal end (120) of said dilator (100), said distal portion being adapted for dilation of body tissue.To provide a dilator which can shorten time of procedure a region of an outer surface of said distal portion is provided with a pattern of depressions having a depth in the interval of 0.1 to 3 mm.
US09162030B2	Safety pen needle assembly having shielding for patient and non-patient ends A safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub and a needle fixed to the hub. Further, a first shield is provided, along with a second shield which has a biasing element disposed to urge the second shield proximally towards a proximal end of the needle. The assembly further includes a releasable retaining assembly for releasably retaining the second shield in an initial position against the force of the biasing element. A predetermined extent of movement of the first shield causes the retaining assembly to release the second shield. With the second shield being released, the second shield is urged proximally by the biasing element to a second position where the second shield covers the proximal end of the needle. Advantageously, an assembly is provided which allows for passive activation of a shield on a non-patient end of a pen needle assembly by a patient-end shield.
US09162028B2	Syringe for treating facial wrinkles and operation method using the same The present invention relates to a syringe for treating facial wrinkles having a syringe cylinder, a needle body detachably mounted at the front end portion of the syringe cylinder and having a syringe needle disposed thereon, and a piston rod disposed inside the syringe cylinder for operating a piston, the syringe including: the syringe cylinder formed of a substantially thin tube having an inside diameter in a range of 2.0 mm to 7.0 mm; and an inflow check valve disposed at one side of the front end portion of the syringe cylinder so as to supply a predetermined quantity of gas to the interior of the syringe cylinder, wherein the predetermined quantity of gas supplied through the inflow check valve to the interior of the syringe cylinder and a predetermined quantity of liquid filled into the syringe cylinder are injected in turn into the dermis of the skin, which is repeatedly carried out.
US09162027B2	Infusion pump assembly A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, and an external infusion set configured to deliver the infusible fluid to a user. A fluid delivery system is configured to deliver the infusible fluid from the reservoir to the external infusion set. The fluid delivery system includes a volume sensor assembly, and a pump assembly for extracting a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir and providing the quantity of infusible fluid to the volume sensor assembly. The volume sensor assembly is configured to determine the volume of at least a portion of the quantity of fluid. The fluid delivery system further includes a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, and a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the volume sensor assembly from the external infusion set.
US09162026B2	Injector system The present disclosure relates to a pump injector containing a processor, a pump or a motor with advance for a piston which is suitable for driving liquid out of a container or a cartridge, a data storage device, and a device for data transfer, wherein the processor is electronically connected to the data storage device, to a control unit for the pump or motor, and to the device for data transfer. The injector is suitable for being connected to a container or a cartridge for fluid transfer, which contains a multiplicity of doses of a parenteral solution and has an additional data storage device fixedly connected thereto. The device for data transfer is suitable for reading out information from the additional data storage device on the container including at least one specification in respect to the identity of the product stored in the container or in the cartridge is stored in the container, a maximum dose per patient, and a maximum usage period after opening the container.
US09162025B2	Collapsible reservoir for use with a delivery device Disclosed is a therapeutic fluid reservoir to be used with an ambulatory portable infusion device. The reservoir includes a pliable shell defining a varying inner volume that varies based on the volume of therapeutic fluid held inside the reservoir, the varying inner volume having a predetermined maximum volume for containing a corresponding volume of therapeutic fluid and an outlet port for communicating fluid from the reservoir to a patient, the varying inner volume decreasing upon therapeutic fluid being communicated through the outlet port. Upon the reservoir reaching the predetermined maximum volume when being filled with therapeutic fluid, any therapeutic fluid in excess of the predetermined maximum volume driven into the reservoir causes a substantially corresponding amount of therapeutic fluid to exit out of the reservoir via the outlet port and/or at least one other port provided in the pliable shell.
US09162024B2	Drug-delivery pumps and methods of manufacture Embodiments of an implantable electrolytic pump include a drug reservoir, a cannula fluidly coupled to the reservoir, a pumping mechanism for forcing liquid from the reservoir through the cannula, control circuitry for operating the pumping mechanism, and a power source comprising primary and auxiliary batteries in a stacked configuration, only the main battery being operatively coupled to the control circuitry during normal operation, the control circuitry operatively coupling the back-up battery upon detection of an electrical fault. The pump may further include a hermetic enclosure containing the control circuitry and the power source.
US09162023B2	Automated pressure limit setting method and apparatus A method of infusing a fluid includes receiving values of one or more infusion parameters for an infusion of a fluid. Based on the received infusion parameter values, an occlusion pressure threshold for the infusion of the fluid is automatically calculated. During the infusion, a fluid pressure value is sensed. An indication is provided responsive to whether a value of the sensed fluid pressure is greater than the occlusion pressure threshold.
US09162022B2	Oxygenator with integrated arterial filter including filter frame An oxygenator combines, in a single structure, a heat exchanger, a gas exchanger, an arterial filter, and a filter frame. Such an oxygenator permits fewer fluid connections and thus may simplify an extracorporeal blood circuit, including a heart-lung machine and a blood reservoir, in which it is used. In some embodiments, the oxygenator may be configured to include multiple purge ports for purging bubbles both before and after filtering the blood.
US09162019B2	Two-stage rotodynamic blood pump A pump includes a housing, a stator supported in the housing, and a rotor assembly including a rotor supported in the housing for rotation relative to the stator about an axis. The stator includes a stator core, a first lamination wound around an axial portion of the stator core, and a second lamination wound around a second axial portion of the stator core. The first and second laminations are spaced from each other along the length of the stator core. The rotor includes a rotor core, a first magnet assembly that extends around an axial portion of the rotor core, and a second magnet assembly that extends around a second axial portion of the rotor core. The first and second magnet assemblies are spaced from each other along the length of the rotor.
US09162017B2	Expandable vascular pump A pump for inducing flow within a vascular system comprises a cannula having a first configuration for deployment within the vascular system and a second configuration for directing the fluid flow within the vascular system, where the second configuration has a greater diameter than the first configuration. An impeller is configured to induce the fluid flow by rotation about an axis. The impeller has a first radius in the first configuration and a second radius in the second configuration, where the second radius is greater than the first radius.
US09162016B2	Breastpump with irregular milk expression sequences The present invention is directed to a breastpump that can be operated to generate milk expression sequences or curves with some irregularity or randomness in the course of a session.
US09162014B2	Method and an insertable medical device for delivering one or more pro-healing agents to a target site within a blood vessel post-deployment of a stent The invention discloses an insertable medical device for delivering one or more pro-healing agents to a site of deployment of a stent in a blood vessel. The surface of the insertable medical device is coated with nano-carriers that include the one or more pro-healing agents encapsulated with one or more biological agents. The nano-carriers are released when the insertable medical device is expanded at the site. The nano-carriers thus released penetrate tissues at the site resulting in dissolution of the one or more biological agents. Thereafter, the one or more pro-healing agents are released from the nano-carriers at the site. Thus, an in-tissue release of the one or more pro-healing agents at the site is achieved thereby improving endothealization, extracellular matrix formation and healing at the site post deployment of the stent in the blood vessel.
US09162013B2	Substance with an antimicrobial effect A method reducing microbial growth uses an inorganic substance consisting of MoO2 and/or MoO3 which causes the formation of hydrogen cations when in contact with an aqueous medium to achieve an antimicrobial effect. The substance is present as a layer or a component of a layer, and is present in combination with one or more materials as a composite material. The composite material has a polymer matrix, and the substance is incorporated at 3 to 50% by weight into the composite material.
US09162009B2	Drug delivery using a sacrificial host Implantable drug-doped component, e.g., a cochlear implant, including host material, a host-embedded drug, a sacrificial material integrated with the host. Sacrificial material facilitates release of drug from the component. Sacrificial material facilitates release through creation of voids in the host upon dissolution of sacrificial material upon contact with a solvent, e.g., perilymph fluid upon implant. Host can be polysiloxane, or silicone rubber. Drug can be anti-inflammatory, growth factor, antibody, anti-oxidant, antibiotic, corticosteroid. Sacrificial material can be: glucose monomer, sugar, cyclodextrin, dissolvable or resorbable at implant site, a salt, bioresorbable material, hyaluronic acid, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid. Sacrificial material can be the host, and can facilitate release of drug through changing a property of sacrificial material, e.g., by exposing component to ethanol wash. For a cochlear implant, drug doped material can be applied to a non-stimulating surface of the electrode array, and can be a physical feature of stimulating medical device, e.g., soft tip, ridge, spine. For a cochlear implant the drug-doped material can excluded from the basal side of the most basal electrode contact.
US09162008B2	Ceramic manufactures Prosthetic implant or component therefor of a magnesium oxide stabilized transformation toughened zirconia (Mg-TTZ) ceramic can be made by providing a bisqued initial green body by compressing powder through a cold isostatic press and heating to a bisque stage. Then, without embedding it in an embedding mass, the bisque is machined to have a shape of the same proportions as the shape of, but larger than, the ceramic portion of a fired prosthetic implant or component product. Firing can provide the fired Mg-TTZ ceramic body product.

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