Document Document Title
US07699838B2 System and methods for image-guided thermal treatment of tissue
A system and methods for modeling the death of tissue cells that are thermally treated using thermal treatment devices is disclosed. A cell-death model accurately predicts, in real-time, which voxels of cells are dead or are about to die as the thermal treatment is applied to these cells. The effects of thermal treatment are monitored by a thermal measurement device which feeds thermal information to the cell-death model. The cell-death model accounts for the temperature of each voxel of tissue cells with respect to a temperature threshold value and the duration over which the thermal treatment is applied. When the thermal measurement device is an imaging device, the results of the thermal treatment may be displayed to the user in real-time. As a result, a user of the thermal treatment device can determine, in real-time, which target voxels of cells he has killed and which still need to be killed. The user can also more easily avoid inadvertently killing healthy tissue that he does not intend to kill. The cell-death model may be implemented in software on the thermal measurement device, on the thermal treatment device, or on a separate processing device which interfaces to and communicates with at least one of the thermal measurement device and the thermal treatment device.
US07699836B2 Treatment tool for endoscope
A treatment tool for an endoscope, having a flexible sheath being made of electrically insulating material to be inserted through an instrument channel of the endoscope, an operation wire, which is adapted to be advanced and retracted in an axial direction of the sheath inside the sheath, a treatment instrument, which is arranged at a distal portion of the treatment tool and is adapted to be protruded and retracted from a distal end of the sheath, and a fluid channel with an opening, through which fluid is ejected toward the treatment instrument, is provided. The operation wire and the fluid channel are arranged inside the sheath in parallel with an axis of the sheath. The treatment instrument is connected to the operation wire in a laterally displaced position with respect to the operation wire, and is arranged in front of the opening of the fluid channel.
US07699833B2 Pump assembly and method for infusion device
A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion contains a reservoir and secures to the patient and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. A disposable pump assembly selectively connects to the reservoir. The disposable pump assembly includes a pump rotor, a septum and a needle for conveying infusion media from the reservoir to the patient.
US07699832B2 Medical device having a surface including a biologically active agent therein, and methods
The present invention provides a medical device, and methods of preparing and using a medical device. The medical device has a surface including a biologically active agent therein. The methods are particularly useful for preparing, for example, coated stents having a biologically active agent within the coating.
US07699831B2 Assemblies, systems, and methods for vacuum assisted internal drainage during wound healing
Assemblies, systems, and methods convey fluid from an internal wound site or body cavity by applying negative pressure from a source outside the internal wound site or body cavity through a wound drain assembly that is placed directly inside the internal wound site or body cavity.
US07699829B2 Catheter with sensor tip and method of use of same
An apparatus and method for catheter-based sensing and injection at a target site within a patient's body. An injection catheter is equipped with electrodes at its distal end which contact the surface of a target site, such as an AV node of the heart. Electrical signals detected at the target site by the electrodes are fed via leads to the proximal end of the catheter, where they are received by a monitor, such as an EKG monitor. If the electrical signals satisfy predetermined criteria, a needle within the catheter is extended into the target site, and a therapeutic agent is injected into the target site.
US07699813B2 Medical needle assemblies
A safety arrangement for a medical needle (15) has a support (14) for carrying the mount end of the needle, and a sleeve (16) slidably mounted on the support (14) for movement from an initial position to a retracted position and then back to a protecting position where the sleeve (16) covers the tip (21) of the needle (15). A spring (32) urges the sleeve toward its protecting position and a blocking member (23) projects forwardly from the support (14) and is movable between non-blocking and blocking positions. In the non-blocking position the sleeve (16) is free to slide from its initial position to its retracted position. On movement of the sleeve to its protecting position, the blocking member (23) moves to lie between the support (14) and sleeve (16) to prevent subsequent movement of the sleeve away from its protecting position. A control mechanism (27) releases the blocking member (23) so that it may move from its non-blocking position to its blocking position, the mechanism (27) being controlled by movement of the sleeve (16) from its initial position at least partway towards its retracted position.
US07699811B2 Pre-filled syringe
A pre-filled syringe including a barrel 1, a base end gasket 4 which is fluid-tightly slidable in the barrel 1, a front end gasket 8 which is fluid-tightly slidable in the barrel 1, and a nozzle part 2 provided in a front end of the barrel 1, wherein the nozzle part 2 includes a front end gasket accommodation part 23 which is capable of accommodating the front end gasket 8, and liquid flow passages 21 extending in an axial direction in an inner periphery wall, through which a liquid medicine can pass when the front end gasket 23 is accommodated in the front end gasket accommodation part 23, and a sectional area of a front end of the liquid flow passages 21 is smaller than a sectional area of a base end.
US07699810B2 Means for retaining transcutaneous catheters and needles in place
Method of holding in place a transcutaneous implant by applying an adhesive in liquid form to the implant and the area of the patient's skin about the needle and allowing the adhesive to set. The implant is constituted by an infusion needle, a catheter or any transcutaneous implant. Whenever the adhesive is in liquid form, it has such a surface tension that it will flow along the implant and the skin to reach a terminal point, which is the point at which the implant is inserted. The adhesive is applied in liquid form and flows along the implant and the skin to reach the point at which the implant is inserted, and then allowed to set to hold the implant in place.
US07699807B2 Device and method for insertion of a cannula of an infusion device
A device for inserting a cannula of a subcutaneous infusion device into a subcutaneous layer of skin of a patient. For example, some devices automatically retract a needle used to introduce the cannula of a subcutaneous infusion device into the subcutaneous layer of skin of a patient. The device can include a housing with an internal cavity, as well as a needle coupled to the housing. The needle can be coupled to a cannula of a subcutaneous infusion device. A member can move the needle. Upon full introduction of the needle and associated cannula of the subcutaneous infusion device into a subcutaneous layer of skin of a patient, the member is automatically actuated to move the needle into the internal cavity of the housing into the retracted state while leaving the cannula of the subcutaneous infusion device in the subcutaneous layer of skin of the patient.
US07699806B2 Medical fluid therapy flow balancing and synchronization method and apparatus
A medical fluid therapy method includes: (a) establishing a communication link between a kidney dialysis/blood treatment machine and at least one remote pump controller; (b) using the link to synchronize operation of at least one pump housed integrally with the machine with at least one pump located remotely from the machine; (c) enabling an operator to enter a net fluid transfer amount; and (d) controlling the pumps to at least substantially achieve the entered amount.
US07699804B2 Fluid ejection system
A fluid ejection system (20) comprising a cartridge (24), an ejector (32, 300) and, optionally, a fill station (28) for filling the cartridge with a fluid, such as a vaccine. In some embodiments (52), the cartridge includes a transfer passageway (96) for receiving fluid from the fill station. In other embodiments (200, 400), the cartridge includes a vented fluid reservoir (208, 408) offset from an ejection chamber (224, 420). In yet other embodiments (500, 600), the cartridge includes a vented fluid reservoir chamber (512, 636) inline with the ejection chamber (508, 644). In still other embodiments (700, 1000, 1100), the cartridge includes first and second chambers (728, 736, 1036, 1048, 1136, 1148) initially fluidly sealed from on another by a valve, e.g., either a traveling valve (704, 800, 900, 1200, 1300) or a temporarily stationary valve (1004, 1104).
US07699803B2 Devices and methods for injection of multiple-component therapies
Devices and methods for injecting or otherwise delivering multiple-component therapies to human or animal subjects. Devices having injectors (e.g., syringes) attached to biaxial or coaxial injection cannula(s) are used to deliver multiple components of a particular therapy such that those components become combined shortly before or upon exiting the injection cannula(s). In some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include a first set of finger grips at a first location and a second set of finger grips at a second location. Also, in some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include depth slops for controlling the depth within tissue at which the therapeutic substance is delivered. Also, in some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include refill manifolds with attached syringes or other reservoirs containing the component substances to facilitate refilling of the injectors.
US07699802B2 Needle-less injector
A needle-less injector device that includes an outer housing and an inner housing that is slideably supported from the outer housing is disclosed. The inner housing supporting a vial that includes a nozzle for delivering a fluid held within the vial. A spring powered ram that is adapted for pushing a seal and plunger is mounted within inner housing. A skin tensioning spring mounted between the inner housing and the outer housing is used for pushing the leading end of the inner housing away from the outer housing. A trigger that cooperates with the spring-powered ram is used to release the ram from the cocked position only when the inner housing is in a firing position.
US07699800B2 Multi-catheter insertion device and method
An implantable shunt device having a primary catheter and at least two secondary catheters extending from the primary catheter is provided. The primary catheter includes a connecting end, an open end, and an inner lumen extending therebetween. Each of the secondary catheters extend from the connecting end of the primary catheter and include a fluid passageway formed therein in fluid communication with the inner lumen of the primary catheter. Each secondary catheter also includes at least one fluid entry port in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid entry ports are disposed on an inwardly facing portion of each of the secondary catheters. The shunt device can be used for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including for the removal or introduction of fluid to a treatment site.
US07699799B2 Ultrasonic material removal system for cardiopulmonary bypass and other applications
Devices, systems, and methods manipulate target materials within fluids, and may be useful for removing microbubbles and other materials from blood. Ultrasound or acoustic filtering waves may be directed across a flow of blood, and differences in density between the target microbubbles and the blood may enhance separation by driving the lighter matter upward for removal from the blood stream. A disposable acoustically transmissive conduit can replaceably engage an ultrasound transmitter to facilitate sterilization. Exemplary conduits have elongate lumen cross-sections and an axial path resembling a portion of a Mobius strip.
US07699798B2 Articulating joint for an orthopedic brace
An articulating joint for an orthopedic brace wherein a moveable plate is rotatably connected with respect to a fixed plate. The moveable plate includes a plurality of adjustment apertures positioned around a first axis of rotation wherein one or more coarse limit screws are positioned within the adjustment apertures to limit the range of motion between the moveable plate and the fixed plate within a predetermined arc of rotation. Fine adjustment means are preferably positioned with respect to the fixed plate and obstruct a range of motion of the coarse limit screws. In addition, a brake is positioned to fix motion of moveable plate relative to fixed plate.
US07699796B2 Ergonomic reflexology device
The present invention is a hand-held ergonomic reflexology device. The device includes a semi-cylindrical shape handle dimensioned to fit within the palm of the user's hand. The handle is defined by a first end, an opposite second end, inner edge and a outer edge. A thumb support member is integrally connected to the handle and protruding outwardly to the sensor tip portion. The sensor tip portion is adapted to apply direct pressure to predetermined reflex points on the body. The thumb support member has substantially an elliptical shape and is defined by an upper surface area, an inner curved peripheral edge, and a outer curved peripheral edge. The upper surface area has a circumference dimensioned to fit a thumb of the user's hand. The inner curved peripheral edge extends from the sensor tip portion to the inner edge of the handle and is integrated therein. The outer curved peripheral edge extends from the tip portion to the outer edge of the handle and transitions into an arc therein, whereby the hand-held device has a structure resembling a small handgun.
US07699795B2 Massager device with liquid applicator
A massager device that provides a liquid applicator that dispenses a liquid and provides a massaging effect is disclosed. The massager device comprises a massage head adapted to engage a reservoir for storing a liquid, a liquid dispensing component engaged to the reservoir for applying the liquid, and a vibratory component for vibrating the massager device such that the user may simultaneously apply the liquid and provide a massaging effect.
US07699793B2 Method and device for detecting and localising an impingement of joint components
A device and method for detecting an impingement of joint components of a joint includes detecting a spatial position of each joint component during a relative movement of the joint components; calculating an instantaneous center point of rotation or an instantaneous axis of rotation from the detected spatial positions of the joint components; when one joint component moves relative to the other joint component, establishing whether the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation moves within a first expectation range or whether the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation moves within a second expectation range; and establishing that there is an impingement of the joint components when at least one of the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation or the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation leaves or exits the respective expectation range.
US07699792B2 Catheter guide wire especially for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
A catheter guide wire, especially for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, comprises an elongated wire shaft of a flexible material having a proximal and a distal end and disposed on the wire shaft at least one radiopaque, sleeve-like marker adjacent to the distal end. The at least one marker is disposed on a core section of the wire shaft, said core section being widened in its diameter relative to the diameter of the adjoining shaft sections.
US07699791B2 Method and apparatus for improving success rate of blood yield from a fingerstick
Blood samples can be collected without substantial contamination from ambient air, such that the blood sample may be analyzed accurately for gaseous components such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. An embodiment of the device has integrated actuation, lancing, and sample acquisition components, which in some embodiments are miniatuized and/or disposable.
US07699790B2 Debulking catheters and methods
A debulking catheter comprising a tissue debulking assembly for removing a contiguous strand of material from a body lumen. Catheters of the present invention generally include a catheter body having proximal and distal portions and a tissue debulking assembly disposed at least partially within the distal portion. The tissue debulking assembly is radially movable to expose at least a portion of the assembly through a window on the catheter body. The catheter is advanced transluminally through the body lumen to contact material in the body lumen and remove a plane of contiguous material that has a length that is typically longer than a length of the window on the catheter. The contiguous material may be directed into a collection chamber. Thereafter, the material may be removed from the collection chamber and preserved or tested.
US07699781B2 System for phase inversion ultrasonic imaging
A system for ultrasonic imaging utilizing multiple sets of transmit pulses differing in amplitude, frequency, phase, and/or pulse width. One embodiment has phase differences between the k transmit signal as 360 k ⁢ ⁢ degrees providing for constructive interference of the kth order harmonic pulse, while an amplitude modulation of each transmit profile is constant between sets. These sets of pulses are transmitted into media of interest and received echoes from these pulses are combined to form an averaged signal. The averaged pulses represent the net common mode signal received from each of the transmit sets. This combined signal set is used to reconstruct an ultrasound image based on broad beam reconstruction methodology.
US07699776B2 Intuitive ultrasonic imaging system and related method thereof
A hand held ultrasonic instrument (10) is provided in a portable unit that performs C-Mode imaging and collects 3D image data. In a preferred embodiment a transducer array (60), display unit (20), beamformer (40), power system, and image processor are integrated in one enclosure weighing less than three pounds. In operation, the portable unit is scanned across a target and the displayed image is conveniently presented to the operator whereby the displayed image corresponds exactly to the target, or a scaled fashion if desired.
US07699775B2 Methods for estimating analyte-related signals, microprocessors comprising programming to control performance of the methods, and analyte monitoring devices employing the methods
The present invention relates to methods to increase the number of analyte-related signals used to provide analyte measurement values, e.g., when two or more analyte-related signals are used to obtain a single analyte measurement value a “rolling” value based on the two or more signals can be employed. In another aspect, interpolation and/or extrapolation methods are used to estimate unusable, missing or error-associated analyte-related signals. Further, interpolation and extrapolation of values are employed in another aspect of the invention that reduces the incident of failed calibrations. Further, the invention relates to methods, which employ gradients and/or predictive algorithms, to provide an alert related to analyte values exceeding predetermined thresholds. The invention includes the above-described methods, one or more microprocessors programmed to execute the methods, one or more microprocessors programmed to execute the methods and control at least one sensing and/or sampling device, and monitoring systems employing the methods described herein.
US07699764B2 Fixing roller
Disclosed is a fixing roller which comprises a core 16, a porous material layer 22 disposed in surrounding relation to an outer peripheral surface of the core 16, and a thin-walled metal sleeve 26 covering an outer peripheral surface of the porous material layer 22. The porous material layer 22 comprises a closed cell-type silicone elastomer. The present invention provides a fixing roller capable of ensuring enhanced durability and maintaining a usable state over long periods under the condition of being actually driven and rotated.
US07699763B2 Abductor contraction, variable leg/knee/thigh/trunk and spinal decompression exercise and rehabilitation apparatus and method
Exercise apparatus, comprises a first support means for the user's legs, a platform mounted on the support means to support a user's legs, there being a hinge connecting the platform to the support means and defining a generally horizontal hinge axis to allow pivoting of the user's trunk about a generally horizontal axis as the user relatively bends his body and his legs means, and extending in spaced, a second support means for the back of the user's body, and means for indexing said second support means at selected angularity relative to the hinge axis.
US07699762B2 Exercise system for use within a vehicle
An exercise system for use in a vehicle includes a frame that has a pair of spaced apart base members. Support legs extend from each base member and a crossbeam is connected to and extends between each support leg. Mounting fixtures are positioned on each support leg and on each base member. Additionally, one or more exercise devices may be removably secured to each mounting fixture. In operation a user may attach an exercise device to the frame and undertake resistance exercises for the arms, legs and torso. Various sized individuals at various strength levels can be accommodated via altering the resistance of the exercise device.
US07699761B1 Overspeed trainer system
A single-handed overspeed trainer system that detachably tethers an athlete to a trainer through a substantially quiet, non-hook and loop material, release structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, the athlete wears a belt with a substantially rigid loop extending therefrom. The trainer holds one end of a tether that contains a retractable pin toward its opposite end. The pin holds the rigid loop of the belt until the pin is retracted by the trainer, preferably when the tether's handle is released by the trainer.
US07699760B2 Physical therapy system
To reposition parts of the body, pool therapy fixtures are used in a pool to develop neuromuscular recognition of the normal human musculoskeletal, respiratory and neurological patterns with feed forward activation. Individual muscles are isolated using the buoyancy of the pool, and in some cases applying streams of water within the pool against specific muscles. Selected forces may be applied using water jets in multiple directions in a programmed sequence with at least one pool therapy fixture to provide neuromuscular training.
US07699759B1 Aquatic resistance assembly
An aquatic weight assembly includes a handle and at least one resistance panel assembly having at least one aquatic resistance panel carried by the handle.
US07699758B1 Bi-directional exercise machine with different resistances in different directions
An exercise apparatus includes a frame and handles mounted on the frame and moveable by a user in opposite directions. The handles are coupled to a transmission so that movement of the handles by a user create rotational movement of a transmission input, movement of the handles in one direction creating rotational movement of the transmission input in one direction and movement of the handles in the opposite direction creating rotational movement of the transmission input in the opposite direction. The transmission couples the transmission input to a resistance means, such as an eddy current resistance device, in a manner to provide a different resistance to rotation of the transmission input depending upon the direction of rotation of the transmission input. Thus, the resistance to rotational movement of the transmission input in one rotational direction is greater than it is in the opposite rotational direction. This coupling can be accomplished by converting rotational movement of the transmission input in opposite directions into an output having only one direction of rotation and coupling the output to a single resistance element, or the transmission can couple a shaft that rotates in opposite directions to two resistance elements so that rotation in one direction is resisted by one resistance element and rotation in the opposite direction is resisted by the other resistance element.
US07699757B2 Apparatus, system and method for carrying out protocol-based isometric exercise regimen
An apparatus, system, and method for isometric exercise that safely reduces resting blood pressure and increases overall cardiovascular health. The apparatus includes a handle or grip configured to provide natural resistance to force and maximize user comfort. The system includes squeezing the handle or grip of the apparatus with a force that is less than the maximum squeeze force of the user, thereby reducing blood flow through contracting arm muscles and safely increasing blood pressure during exercise. Resting blood pressure is reduced through regular use of the system. The method includes measuring and recording the maximum squeeze force of a user, calculating a fractional force using the duration of exercise or a desired fractional force percentage, and alternately inducing the user to apply the fractional force for a calculated time and inducing the user to apply a lesser fractional force or no force for a calculated time.
US07699754B2 Complete body fitness machine
A “Complete Body Fitness Machine” that provides for a muscle building workout as well as a cardiovascular workout for the total body consists generally of an adjustable seat and two arms on either side, which are adjustable in height and have an infinitely and independently variable resistance possible in either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. The arms are designed to have several types of mechanisms attached, so as to be able to work with a variety of body parts including, but not limited to, hands, arms, legs, feet, torso, neck and shoulders. When the proper attachment is used, the resistance for each direction of rotation of the arm is set, and the exercise is conducted. Depending on the workout desired, the seat and arms could be adjusted to different positions as well as the seat can be free-moving. This, combined with the fact that the arms can rotate 360-degrees, allows the user to simulate rotational cardiovascular exercises such as cycling, rowing, rotation of the arms in a circular motion (similarly to how the legs rotate in the cycling motion), and even running. The two independent arms are infinitely and separately adjusted for resistance in either rotational direction. This means that the body's natural design of using opposing muscle groups such as the bicep and triceps to bend and straighten the arm can be not only be utilized, but also maximized for efficiency of operation and workout.
US07699750B2 Method for controlling a manual transmission in the event of a disorderly engine behavior
A method for controlling a partially unsynchronized manual transmission, which realizes the increase of a rotational speed of a transmission part to be synchronized during a gear change procedure by connecting one element of the transmission, via a shiftable clutch, to a drive motor and by making available to this drive motor the required rotational speed as well as the necessary torque at its output shaft. It is also provided that when the rotational speed and/or the torque made available by the drive motor is not sufficient to ensure the synchronization of the manual transmission within a fixed time period, a shifting strategy is pursued, which prevents an unintentional holding of the manual transmission in its neutral position or idle position.
US07699749B2 Powertrain control apparatus and method
A powertrain control apparatus that controls a powertrain including a lock-up clutch, which connects an engine, in which fuel supply may be cut off, directly to an automatic transmission. The control apparatus includes an output unit, a control unit, and a setting unit. The output unit outputs an instruction to lower engagement pressure for the lock-up clutch from a value at which the lock-up clutch is engaged to a value at which the lock-up clutch is disengaged. The control unit resumes the fuel supply to the engine when a predetermined lag time has elapsed since the instruction is output. The setting unit sets the lag time so that the lag time is shorter when a temperature of a combustion chamber of the engine is a first temperature than when the temperature of the combustion chamber of the engine is a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature.
US07699747B2 Toroidal-type continuously variable transmission
A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, has a first continuously variable transmission mechanism and a second continuously variable transmission mechanism: wherein the first and second continuously variable transmission mechanisms are disposed coaxially with each other; the first and second input disks are connected together so as to be rotated in synchronization with each other; the first and second output disks are formed as a unified type output disk including traction surfaces on the two side surfaces thereof; on the side portion at the outer-most outside diameter of the unified type output disk, there is formed a datum plane serving as a machining datum when the traction surfaces are processed; and, an operation for finishing the datum plane is carried out after the unified type output disk is heat treated.
US07699746B2 One way clutch and synchronizer assembly
A one way clutch and synchronizer assembly includes a stationary member having a plurality of clutch struts and camming surfaces, a second circular selector member, an third rotating controlled member and a fourth stationary member. The selector member includes apertures or windows through which the clutch struts may pass to engage the rotating member and camming surfaces which provide a selective frictional coupling between the stationary members and the rotating member. A bi-directional hydraulic or electric actuator selectively, bi-directionally rotates the selector member.
US07699745B2 Multi-speed transmissions with a long pinion and one fixed interconnection
The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets having up to seven torque-transmitting mechanisms and three interconnecting members. The powertrain includes an engine that is selectively or continuously connectable to at least one of the planetary gear members and an output shaft that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members, the input shaft and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least five forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US07699742B2 8-speed transmission with two fixed interconnections and on grounded member
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets having five torque-transmitting mechanisms, two fixed interconnections and a grounded member. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The five torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members, and with the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations to establish eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US07699738B2 Oil pump structure of transmission
In an oil pump structure of an automatic transmission using a torque converter, a hydraulic pressure chamber is defined by a pump housing and a pump cover, to rotatably accommodate therein inner and outer rotors. First and second inflow ports respectively communicating with an oil strainer and a control valve are formed in the outside surface of the pump cover separately from each other. First and second oil inflow passages communicating with the respective inflow ports, a merged-flow portion that downstream portions of the first and second oil inflow passages are merged with each other, a downstream-side oil distribution channel intercommunicating a downstream side of the merged-flow portion and the hydraulic pressure chamber, are formed in at least one of the pump housing and the pump cover.
US07699734B2 Drive belt removal apparatus in confined spaces
An apparatus and method are disclosed for efficiently removing a belt from a drive assembly of an agricultural implement in which a flywheel and a header framework cooperatively define a gap therebetween which is smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the belt and thereby prevent the belt from being simply passed through the gap and removed from the remaining components of the drive assembly. A radially inwardly extending notch in the periphery of the flywheel is configured and dimensioned to allow a portion of the belt to be received within the notch. The notched flywheel, with the portion of the belt received in the notch, is rotatable such that the portion of the belt is moveable past the gap to thereby permit the belt to be removed from the remaining components of the drive assembly in the distal direction without requiring the removal of either the flywheel or the framework.
US07699727B2 Game ball having a thin cover and method of making same
A game ball is formed by molding a carcass in the final shape of the ball, spraying a mold surface with cover material, inserting the carcass into the mold, and molding the cover material onto the carcass.
US07699725B2 Layered composite material bat
A layered composite bat is designed to include fiber angles of orientation that are layered and progressive. The bat includes a multi-layered composite material configuration wherein progressing from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, the unidirectional fiber angle of orientation within each layer increases from an angle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bat to an angle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bat. In progressing from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, there also exists at least one instance where subsequent positive angles of orientation are separated by or vary by about 15 degrees. The bat may include multiple walls. Each wall contains layers that progress from a low angle to a high angle in 15-degree increments.
US07699724B1 Ball throwing muscle training apparatus
A muscle memory training apparatus for training a ball player in proper elbow elevation at the beginning of a throw includes a frame; an elbow support cup assembly mounted to and projecting forwardly from the frame; a spring-loaded reel mounted to the frame a distance above the support cup assembly and having a retracting line secured to a ball mounted to the frame; and a fastening mechanism connected to the frame for fastening the apparatus to an anchoring object at a suitable elevation. A method of using the muscle memory training apparatus includes the steps of: securing the apparatus to a selected anchoring structure such that the elbow support cup is substantially at the user shoulder level; placing the user elbow in the elbow support cup; grasping the ball; and throwing the ball forwardly from the apparatus, so that the ball is subsequently retracted by the spring-loaded reel.
US07699714B1 Multi-functional golf training apparatus and associated method
A multi-functional golf swing training apparatus includes first and second arm braces that are adapted to be removably attached to user forearms respectively. A first mechanism is provided for pivotally mating the first arm brace to the second arm brace such that the first and second arm braces simultaneously pivot about a first axis. Such a first mechanism can be selectively toggled between unlocked and locked positions such that a desired angle is adjustably and fixedly defined between the first and second arm braces during the golf swing motion respectively. Further, a second mechanism may be provided for resiliently articulating the first and second arm braces about a second axis registered orthogonal to the first axis such that the first and second swivel mounts independently reciprocate along mutually exclusive arcuate paths adjoining the first and second arm braces respectively.
US07699710B2 Reinforced rolling boot
A sealing sleeve (11) of the rolling boot type having a first larger, substantially cylindrical collar (12), a second smaller, substantially cylindrical collar (13), as a well as a wall portion (14) which is positioned between the collars (12, 13) and which forms at least one axially open annular fold (15) with circumferentially distributed indentations (18) in the convex curvature of the axially open annular fold (15), or with radial ribs (21) in the concave inner curvature of the axially open annular fold.
US07699708B2 Shaft coupling mechanism for electric power steering apparatus
A shaft coupling mechanism 1 for an electric power steering apparatus includes a coupling base body 3 coupled to a rotating shaft 2; a coupling base body 5 coupled to a steering shaft 4 serving as a rotating shaft; and a pair of rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 which are disposed between the rotating shaft 2 and the steering shaft 4 by means of both coupling base bodies 3 and 5 and transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 2 to the steering shaft 4.
US07699701B2 Method and system for providing real time sports betting information
The present invention involves a method and system for providing sports betting information, in real time, utilizing a standard Internet connection on a computer to display the odds from a plurality of sports books. The system provides its users with a line seeker alert, a major line move alert, a bet tracker, and a fully customizable display. A method of gaining real time sports betting information without the use of a web browser, through the use of a separate program written in the C++ programming language is disclosed.
US07699697B2 Bonus game simulating auctions
A simulated auction bonusing game and method usable with games of chance, where one player terminal triggers a bonus round and is deemed a “seller” in the simulated auction, and all other active player terminals in a bank also participate as simulated “buyers.” The “seller” makes choices of items to sell which are communicated to the “buyers.” The “seller” watches are simulated bids are placed on their items, and “buyers” participate in simulated bidding of items shown on their screens. All the machines are synchronized so that the simulated auction bonus rounds play simultaneously. The seller and all buyers are awarded some winnings, enabling all player's terminals that run the simultaneous simulated auction bonus round to win each time the simulated auction bonus game is invoked.
US07699695B2 Electronic card table and method with variable rake
A system and method provides an electronic poker game to a plurality of players on an electronic poker table. A game computer administers the electronic poker game by dealing one or more hands using electronic cards and electronic chips. Each hand includes one or more betting rounds. The game computer allows the players to make wagers into a pot with the electronic chips during the one or more betting rounds. The game computer dynamically determines a rake amount of a pot and retains the rake amount from the pot.
US07699693B2 Electronic card system and method
An electronic game card (1) comprising a controller and one or more communication devices (12), all contained within a planar card having three or more sides. The communication devices (12) allow communications between adjacent cards when two cards are placed close to each other, with one side of each card opposite a side of the other card. An electronic card game method comprising: Defining the number of participants in the game; setting up the game; each participant locates his/her cards on a flat surface, adjacent to each other; performing a setup procedure; automatically recognizing the game configuration; detecting and addition of a new card and automatically responding thereto.
US07699692B2 Fan assembly
A fan assembly (20) for dissipating heat from an electronic device includes a bracket (30) and a fan module (40). The bracket has a retaining wall (31). The retaining wall defines an opening (311) and two vertical slots (313) at opposite sides of the opening. The fan module includes a fan (50) and a pair of clamp members (60). The fan has a fan opening corresponding to the opening of the bracket. The clamp members are respectively attached to opposite sides of the fan. An engaging portion (62) is formed on one end of each clamp member for engaging with the corresponding slot of the bracket. Each engaging portion has a wide portion (624) configured for abutting against an outer surface of one retaining walls and a narrow portion (622) for entering to the corresponding slot.
US07699691B1 Cooling system and method for enclosed volume
A cooling system is provided for enclosed volumes having payloads of electronic or other equipment that are susceptible to failures when overheated. One particularly useful application of the present invention is in a cooling system for a turreted gimbaled system (i.e. a gimbal) that includes electronic and optical equipment typically used for surveillance, but many other applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art after being taught by the present disclosure. According to one aspect of the invention, a cooling system includes a pair of reciprocal openings between a gimbal sphere and yoke allowing for passage of air therethrough and a pair of fans for circulating the air between the sphere and yoke, thereby expanding the surface area available for heated air from the interior to conduct into the exterior air. In another example, a heat exchanger is provided in the yoke to allow further cooling of the circulated air. In another example, a heat pipe is provided in the yoke to allow heat to be transferred to the heat exchanger.
US07699685B1 Method and apparatus for grinding a workpiece
A method and apparatus for_cutting a profile in a workpiece, such as a turbine disk, without cracking the parent material which includes providing a grinding wheel having a ceramic grinding surface formed with an optimized grain material and grain spacing to produce large chips that are easily removed from the workpiece, applying the grinding wheel to the workpiece at a predetermined material removal rate, and increasing the material removal rate when the burning point is recognized at the surface of the workpiece by the grinding action of the grinding wheel, and delivering coolant/lubricant to the workpiece during the grinding operation.
US07699683B2 Remote control paintball gun
A remote control paintball gun system is disclosed which may include a hopper for containing paintballs of different densities, a paint ball gun barrel associated for receiving paintballs, a motorized, wheeled chassis, a cartridge mounted along a side of the gun barrel for powering the gun barrel and a remote control for controlling motion, transfer of the paint balls from the hopper to the gun barrel, and firing of a paintball. The remote control may include a control for selectively transferring a paintball in accordance with the paintball's density, from the first or second plurality of paintballs, to the gun barrel and may control elevation of the gun barrel. A method of playing paintball may include players who carry and fire hand held paintball guns to hit other players and one or more self propelled paintball gun for remote control operation.
US07699682B1 Exercise and play advocate device
A hoop-rolling device is used by children and adults for fitness and recreation. An illustrative embodiment includes a hoop and a shaft, with a generally square-shaped ring retaining the hoop, which is used to propel and control the hoop. The ring defines a small aperture permitting selective insertion and removal of the hoop. The shaft also includes a curved handle. The device is constructed of rigid materials to allow for extended play on a variety of solid surfaces.
US07699681B2 Manufacturing method of an arc tube formed from a glass tube and having a spirally wound section within one plane
An arc tube is composed of an arc tube body that is formed by winding a straight glass tube. Two portions of the straight glass tube are spirally wound around an imaginary conical surface. The spiraled portions of the glass tube are sandwiched between a pair of movable fixed plates. The spiraled portions of the glass tube are heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a point at which the glass tube is deformable and yet lower than the softening point of the glass tube. The spiraled portions are flattened by the movable plate moving downwardly under its own weight.
US07699673B2 Controller for boat propulsion system and boat propulsion system
A controller for a boat propulsion system has an adjusting device arranged to adjust an inclination angle in the vertical direction of the boat propulsion system by a drive unit, the controller arranged to perform drive control of the adjusting device, a storage section provided in the controller and arranged to store a limit value of the inclination angle, and a connector arranged to communicate with a service tool, wherein the controller is arranged to set the limit value from the service tool and stop the drive unit when the inclination angle reaches the limit value.
US07699664B2 Multipurpose accessory for portable multimedia device
A multipurpose accessory having a multipurpose connection mechanism is provided. The multipurpose accessory of the present invention includes a case, a multipurpose connector extruded at one side of the case for electrically connecting a multimedia device to the multipurpose accessory, an audio connector extruded near the multipurpose connector for connecting an audio output of the multimedia device to the multipurpose accessory, a first cord extended at an opposite side of the case and connected to the audio connector, a second cord extended at the opposite side of the case and connected to the audio connector and having a USB connector at a distal end, and a pair of earpieces electrically connected to the first and second cords for outputting audio signals in the form of audible sound waves.
US07699663B1 Electrical connector with improved grounding contact
An electrical connector includes a housing member and a number of contacts attached to the housing member. The contacts include a number of first contacts and second contacts arranged side by side along a transverse direction, respectively. The second contacts include a first pair of differential contacts, a second pair of differential contacts and a grounding contact disposed therebetween, the first contacts and the first and the second pairs of differential contacts are used for being soldered to the PCB while the grounding contact needn't be soldered to the PCB. The grounding contact includes a grounding tab to attach to the metal shell for grounding purpose. As a result, a much integral space between the first and the second contacts can be provided for receiving a fiber optical lens module.
US07699661B2 Electrical card connector having metallic hinge for reliably supporting a pivotally mounted cover thereon
An electrical card connector for receiving a card comprises an insulating housing with a plurality of contacts, a cover, and a pivoting mechanism moveably connecting the cover and the housing. A pair pivoting portions is disposed on the opposite sides of a rear end of the cover, and a pair of mounting portions is disposed on an end of the housing corresponding to the pivoting portions. The connector further comprises an enforcing member having a pair of pivoting wings mounted to the mounting portions of the housing, and each pivoting wing has a pivoting hole for moveably connecting the pivoting portion of the cover. The pivoting wing of the enforcing member and the pivoting portion of the cover together form the pivoting mechanism.
US07699653B2 Rubber stopper for waterproof connector and waterproof connector
A rubber stopper for a waterproof connector includes: a first elastic member including a first contact face, and first wire fitting grooves each having an arc cross-section; and a second elastic member including a second contact face and second wire fitting grooves each having an arc cross-section. When the first contact face contacts the second contact face, circular cross-section is formed by the arc cross-sections of the first and second wire fitting grooves to fit wires into the first and second wire fitting grooves. Arc length of the arc cross-section of the first wire fitting groove is different from arc length of the arc cross-section of the second wire fitting groove so that a center of the circular cross-section is disposed away from the first and second contact faces in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the first and the second contact faces.
US07699652B2 Electrical coaxial connector
An electrical coaxial connector comprising a body made of insulator to be put on a circuit board, a signal-joining contacting conductor held by the body, and a grounding contacting conductor formed into a cylindrical shape and held also by the body for surrounding the signal-joining contacting conductor on the circuit board, wherein the grounding contacting conductor has an arm portion extending toward the circuit board from one of ring-shaped ends of the grounding contacting conductor, which is more distant from the circuit board than the other, a grounding terminal portion is formed at an end of the arm portion to be soldered to a ground-potential terminal provided on the circuit board, and each of the grounding contacting conductor and the arm portion is resilient.
US07699648B2 Stackable connector assembly
This invention discloses a stackable connector assembly, which includes a first connector, a second connector, a shielding member, a contact member, and a ground member. The second connector is placed above the first connector. The shielding member is covered on the first connector. The contact member is used for connecting the shielding member and the ground member. This structure can reduce the electromagnetic radiation from the first connector.
US07699647B2 USB connector
A universal serial bus (USB) connector includes a first sidewall defining at least one external USB socket for connecting to an external USB device of a host computer. A second sidewall defining at least one internal USB socket for connecting to an internal USB device of the host computer. A plurality of signal pins are connected to a motherboard of the host computer, and capable of connecting the at least one external USB device and the at least one internal USB device with the motherboard.
US07699646B2 Cable connector assembly
A cable connector assembly (100) has a terminal connector (3), a number of cables (1) connected to the terminal connector, an outer shell (71) defining an interior space (710) receiving the terminal connector, an inner shell (70) and a wire spacer (5). The terminal connector includes an insulative base (302) having a number of terminals (303) mounted therein, a shield (301) enclosing the insulative base and a printed circuit board (31) having a number of pads (311, 312) disposed thereon and arranged in two rows. The wire spacer partially extends out of the outer shell (71) and has a number of parallel passages for extension of the cables and organization of the number of cables.
US07699642B2 Connector having a locking mechanism excellent in operability
In a connector including a connector body capable of being connected to or disconnected from a connecting object in a first direction, the connector body has, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a particular dimension greater than a dimension thereof in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. A locking portion is coupled to the connector body for locking the connecting object. The the locking portion is adapted to release locking of the connecting object with movement thereof in the second direction. An operating portion is coupled to the connector body and adapted to engage with the locking portion. The operating portion is adapted to move the locking portion in the second direction according to movement thereof in the third direction.
US07699641B2 Electrical connector assembly having a release mechanism
An electrical connector module configured to form a communicative connection with a host device is provided. The module includes a housing that is configured to be inserted into a receptacle of the host device. The housing extends substantially in an axial direction and includes a surface. The module also includes an actuating member that is slidably coupled to and movable along the surface of the housing from a locked position to a disengaged position. The module includes a spring member that is positioned on the actuating member and configured to exert a force against the housing and the actuating member. The spring member is biased in order to maintain the actuating member in the locked position.
US07699638B2 Socket connector with improved electrical contact
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (1) and an electrical contact (2) received in the insulative housing. The electrical contact includes a planar main portion (20), a soldering portion (21) extending horizontally from a lower end of the main portion and first and second elastic arms (23, 24) extending from an upper end of the main portion. The first elastic arm has a first connecting portion (232) connecting to the main portion. The second elastic arm has a first curved portion (243) connecting to the main portion, a second curved portion (244) connecting with the first curved portion and a connecting portion (242) vertically extending from the second curved portion. Two contact portions (230, 240) extend respectively and laterally from the first and second connecting portions. A first distance defined between the connecting portions is larger than a second distance defined between the contact portions taken from a side view.
US07699637B2 Electrical connector having self-aligning portion for leading cover
An LGA connector includes an insulative housing accommodating a plurality of terminals, a stiffener disposed around the insulative housing and a cover attached to the stiffener. The stiffener includes a front end, an opposite rear end, and two substantially vertical sidewalls connecting the front and rear ends. The cover is pivotally mounted to the rear end of the stiffener. The cover includes a pair of lateral sides having blocking walls being bent downwardly and distant to the sidewalls of the stiffener. One of the sidewall of the stiffener and the blocking wall of the cover has a self-aligning portion extending towards the other for leading the blocking wall to prevent the cover from inclining when the cover is rotated from an open position to a close position. Thus, the cover is shielded on the insulative housing safely without interfering with the insulative housing.
US07699635B2 Randomly-accessible electrical busbar with protective cover and associated mating connector
Apparatus and systems described herein provide for a randomly-accessible electrical busbar with a protective cover and an associated mating connector. Both the busbar and the associated mating connector have multiple, electrically conductive bristles protruding from a surface. The busbar is protected by a nonconductive fabric cover to reduce the risk of a person from accidentally contacting the electrically conductive bristles. A connection is made between the mating connector and the busbar by the bristles of the mating connector penetrating the protective fabric cover and interdigitating with the bristles of the busbar.
US07699631B2 Electrical distribution harness assembly
An electrical distribution harness assembly of a modular power assembly for providing power to an office furniture assembly including an exterior surface includes at least one electrical connector, a channel, and a cover. The channel includes a wireway and at least one slideway integral with the wireway. The channel is coupled with the at least one electrical connector and is configured for carrying a plurality of electrical conductors. The cover is slidably received within the at least one slideway.
US07699630B2 Memory module having a cover pivotally coupled thereto
A storage device has a memory module and a cover pivotally coupled to a housing of the memory module. In one such storage device, the memory module and cover can pivot with respect to each other to configure the storage device in a first configuration or in each of one or more second configurations. In the first configuration, the cover substantially encloses a connector of the memory module that extends from the housing. In one or more second configurations, the connector is entirely exposed. For one embodiment, opposing light-transmission elements may pass through the cover and extend into an interior of the housing.
US07699626B2 Electrical connector provided with terminals constructed to simplify the assembly thereof
An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2) defining a mating face (200) thereof. First and second terminals (3, 4) have the same-length received section (30, 40) in the respective passageways, and a leg section (31, 41), wherein the received section (40) of the second terminal (4) extends much closer to the mating face (200) than that of the first terminal (3). The leg section (41) of the second terminal (4) has a transition section (411), and a tailing section (410) located with a same distance away from the mating face (200) with that of the first terminal (3). This configuration of the first terminals (3) and the second terminals (4) can be set on a same carrier tape (6) to be assembled onto the insulative housing (2) in a common working procedure, which will reduce the operation time and manufacturing costs.
US07699623B2 Electrical junction box
An electrical junction box, which is assembled by first inserting a circuit board assembly into a primary housing via an opening of the primary housing, and after that inserting a secondary housing into the primary housing, includes a connector block that has a projection that widens the opening that has been narrowed. A plurality of ribs are formed on front and rear walls of the thin primary housing from the side of the opening in an insertion direction of the circuit board assembly. A concave groove formed between a pair of the projections engages with the rib of the front wall. The ribs on the rear wall are close to a circuit board of the circuit board assembly. The connector block has protuberances that abut against the ribs.
US07699621B2 Electrical card connector with contacts having preload portions
An electrical card connector comprising an insulative housing 4 and a plurality of contacts 5 which received in the insulative housing, each contact 5 includes a retention portion 51, an elastic portion 52 which extends from one end of the retention portion 51, a contact portion 53 which connects with the elastic portion 52, a preload portion 54 which extends from the end of the contact portion 53 and a soldering portion 55, wherein the contact 5 further includes a connect portion 56 which extends from the soldering portion 55 and a block portion 57 which extends from the end of the connect portion 56.
US07699615B2 Joint replica models and methods of using same for testing medical devices
Disclosed herein are joint replica models that are designed to enable simulated use testing by medical device companies, medical device designers, individual inventors, or any other entity interested in the performance of medical devices. These models are unique in possessing a level of complexity that allows them to be substituted for either a live animal, an animal cadaver, or a human cadaver in the testing of these devices. These models are further characterized by a similarity of geometry, individual component physical properties, and component-to-component interfacial properties with the appropriate target tissue and anatomy.
US07699614B2 Behavior shaping kit
A behavior shaping kit includes at least one time-out defining device, at least one timer, a plurality of stickers having prohibitory indicia marked thereon, training devices for a caregiver, a plurality of stop signs, and craft tools. The caregiver affixes stickers having prohibitory indicia marked thereon, to items in the house with which the child should not come into contact. When a child does come into contact with these items, the child is immediately placed in a time-out area which is defined by a time-out defining device. A time-out defining device serves to restrict movement of the child from place to place.
US07699612B2 Method for fixing an implant, fixing member for the implant and implant composite
A fixing member for an implant which comprises a tube or a pillar made of an hydroxyapatite ceramics at least one part of which is a ceramics porous article consisting essentially of a hydroxyapatite formed by agitation foaming, in which a number of approximately spherical pores mutually contact having pore structures communicated three-dimensionally opened at the contact area and having an averaged porosity of from 65% to 85%. A method for fixing an implant comprising a step of inserting an implant whose at least one part of the periphery is integrated with a hydroxyapatite ceramics into an implant insertion site of an alveolar bone or a gnathic bone. A method for fixing an implant, a fixing member for the implant and an implant composite in order to reinforce an implant insertion site by compensating or regenerating an alveolar bone or a gnathic bone on an implant treatment in dentistry or in oral surgery is obtained.
US07699611B2 Fastening device for an orthesis or prosthesis
A device for fastening an orthesis or prosthesis, having a length-adjustable substantially rod-shaped bar assembly, which is pivotably connectable by two ends on exposed first ends of two implants fastened by a second end at a distance from each other in or onto a bone. With this bar assembly, a three-dimensional angle between the longitudinal axis of the bar assembly and the longitudinal axis of at least one implant can be set, so that, irrespective of the distance between and the relative position of the implants, each time, a fitting, preferably stress-free connection between these implants can be effected.
US07699608B2 Interproximal squirt brush
An interproximal squirt brush includes a solution container having a compressible solution chamber for containing a washing solution and a nozzle head having an opening, and a brush head including a brush arm and a brush member. The brush arm has a brush portion and a retention portion slidably inserted into the opening of the solution container, wherein a dispensing channel is formed between the retention portion of the brush arm and the inner wall of the nozzle head for allowing the solution to pass therethrough. The brush member is provided at the brush portion of the brush arm. Therefore, when a compression force is applied on the solution container, the solution is released to the brush member through the dispensing channel of the nozzle head.
US07699605B2 Self-etching emulsion dental compositions and methods
The present invention is directed to dental compositions that can be used as adhesives for bonding a dental material to a dental structure surface and/or as a dental restorative material. The dental composition is preferably applied to a dental structure surface under conditions effective to etch the dental structure surface.
US07699600B2 Flexible plate slot for a hot runner injection molding system
A flexible plate system for a hot runner assembly includes a backing plate; a manifold plate detachably connected to the backing plate; a manifold positioned between the backing plate and the manifold plate and having at least one nozzle associated therewith; and wherein the manifold plate has at least one plate slot that allows the nozzle to extend through the manifold plate and having at least a first lateral dimension substantially larger than the outside diameter of the nozzle. The manifold plate and the backing plate may be configured to have at least one manifold plate cavity and at least one backing plate cavity to accept at least one nozzle insert and at least one piston cylinder insert respectively, the nozzle insert having a nozzle bore or a plurality of insert slots therethrough for installation of the nozzle, and the piston cylinder insert having a cylinder bore for a piston cylinder.
US07699599B2 Rotating machine with rotating column for electricity and fluid supply
The inventive carousel-type rotating machine includes a rotating frame bearing several work stations, a power and fluid supply rotating column which is coaxial to the axis of the rotating frame and incorporates a rotatable electric collector connected to a fixed power source for supplying power to the work stations and a rotatable fluid connection connected to a fixed fluid source for supplying fluid to the work stations, wherein the rotatable fluid connection is disposed on the top of the rotating column above the rotatable electric collector, thereby having the reduced diameter of the part thereof rotatable at reduced linear speeds between the fixed and rotatable parts thereof.
US07699598B2 Conforming template for patterning liquids disposed on substrates
The present invention includes a conforming template for patterning liquids disposed on substrates. The template includes a body having opposed first and second surfaces. The first surface includes a plurality of recessed regions with a patterning region being disposed between adjacent recessed regions. Specifically, the recessed regions define flexure regions about which each patterning region may move independent of the remaining patterning regions of the template. In one embodiment the template is mounted to a fluid chamber having an inlet and a throughway. The template is connected to the throughway and the inlet is connected to a fluid source to facilitate deformation of the template to conform to a profile of a surface adjacent thereto.
US07699596B2 Apparatus for lowering energy consumption of a polymer compounding process
In apparatus and processes for producing pellets of plastic resins and additives, the heat collected in the quench water of the pelletizer device is used to heat the plastic entering the process. This simple unique idea has an energy saving in the process.
US07699590B2 Oil pump and automatic transmission including the same
An oil pump includes a pump cover covering a recess in a side face of a pump body to form a gear compartment therebetween. A drive gear and a rotatably driven gear are meshed and mounted in the gear compartment. Working spaces R are formed by the engagement of the meshed gear teeth. Discharge ports are formed in both the pump body and the pump cover in communication with the gear compartment. A notch is formed in the pump body at the bottom of the gear compartment and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the pump body to the rear end of a discharge area for the working spaces. Another notch is formed in the inner side face of the pump cover, and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the cover to the rear end of the discharge area.
US07699588B2 Centrifugal pump
The invention relates to a centrifugal pump, especially for blood, comprising a pump rotor which is arranged in a rotational manner and without a bearing in a liquid-tight and gas-tight closed housing, except for at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening. The rotor is also the rotor of a drive motor. The rotor is symmetrical with respect to the centre plane thereof and comprises an upper and a lower covering. The rotor and/or the pump housing are formed in such a way that the axial distances between the upper and the lower coverings and the upper and lower housing walls are smaller in the radially inner region of the rotor than in the radially outer region. In the radially inner region of the rotor, each lateral rotor chamber comprises a flow-restrictor gap which, when in operation, influences back flows oriented in a radially inward manner in the lateral rotor chambers, such that during an axial deflection of the rotor above and below the rotor, various pressure distributions appear, enabling forces acting upon the predominant surface of the coverings to be produced, the forces bringing about an axial stabilisation of the rotor and acting, in the same manner, against tilting of the rotor inside the housing.
US07699584B2 Actuator for adjusting a rotor blade pitch angle
Actuator for adjusting pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind turbine rotatably mounted on a rotor hub, comprising a first drive element connectable with the rotor blade, a second drive element in meshing engagement with said first drive element, a lubricating device for lubricating the two drive elements and lubrication controller. A rotor with a rotor hub, on which at least one rotor blade is rotatably mounted, with actuator adjustable pitch angle. A wind turbine comprising such rotor and such actuator. Selective lubrication of zero teeth of the gear stage of the actuator considers the rotary position of the drive elements of the gear stage with respect to each other. The lubricating device includes a lubricant passage to selectively supply portion of first drive element and/or portion of second drive element meshing therewith depending on engagement position of drive elements or rotary position of rotor blade.
US07699583B2 Serpentine microcircuit vortex turbulatons for blade cooling
A cooling microcircuit for use in a turbine engine component is provided. The cooling microcircuit has at least one leg through which a cooling fluid flows. A plurality of cast vortex generators are positioned within the at least one leg to improve the cooling effectiveness of the cooling microcircuit.
US07699582B2 Fan module
A fan module includes a fan (10), a bracket (20), and a locking member (30). The fan includes a pair of parallel side walls (12) each defining through holes (122) therein. The bracket includes a pair of parallel side plates (26) for securing the fan therebetween. The side plates are perpendicular to the side walls of the fan. A locking hole (262) is defined in one of the side plates. The locking member is sandwiched between the fan and one of the side plates of the bracket, and has a resilient arm (322) and two pairs of resilient posts (326) inserting between the side walls of the fan. A protrusion (3262) is formed on each post and removably engages in the corresponding through holes of each side wall of the fan. A locking tab (3222) protrudes from the resilient arm and detachably engages in the locking hole of the bracket.
US07699579B2 Mechanical pump seal
An improved mechanical seal and repair method can be used with mechanical pump seal assemblies. The improved seal utilizes rotating and non-rotating sections of improved configuration, each of which can form a seal using a standard size carbon-face O-ring. The mechanical seal can be in the form of replacement parts that replace the old parts without modifications to the overall seal and assembly.
US07699578B2 Method and device for forming bundles of stackable objects
A method for forming bundles from stackable objects includes supplying the stackable objects with a first conveying apparatus from above to a shaft of a stacking device to form bundles of the stackable objects inside the shaft of the stacking device. The bundles are transported from a lower section of the shaft of the stacking device with a second conveying apparatus.
US07699573B2 Reticle manipulating device
A reticle manipulating device with an at least substantially closed housing for maintaining clean-room conditions inside the housing, an input/output station for introducing and discharging reticles in and out of the housing, and at least one functional unit arranged in the housing for impressing a predetermined function on the reticles. The device has a manipulating device also arranged inside the housing, for manipulating the reticles in the housing.
US07699572B2 Bookbinding apparatus and image forming system
A bookbinding apparatus includes a coating device for moving relatively to a sheet bundle in the longitudinal direction thereof and for coating an adhesive on the spine of the sheet bundle, a driving device for the relative movement of the coating device, and a control device for controlling the driving device, and according to the thickness of a booklet, changes the number of times of coating of the coating device for one booklet, thereby controls the amount of coating of adhesive.
US07699570B2 Grommet connector
A grommet connector includes a first end portion and a second end portion with a barrier therebetween. The first end portion is adapted for insertion into a grommet, and the second end portion is adapted for connecting to another part, such as a nut or washer to form a subassembly of the grommet and the other part.
US07699569B2 Self-drilling screw
A self-drilling screw is in particular to a drill portion having a non-threaded first drilling section connecting with the shank and a second drilling section connecting with said first drilling section and forms two grooves therein. Moreover, the whole first drilling section is formed as an oval-shaped pillar and it has two ridges extending therefrom. Furthermore, the diameter of the first drilling section is smaller than the diameter of the second drilling section, and the length of the second drilling section is between the length of one-third drill portion and the length of two-thirds drill portion. Therefore, due to the aforesaid features and the two drilling sections, the molds for manufacturing the screws suffer less damage while in operation and the manufacturing cost is therefore reduced. The present invention is also good at increasing the screwing speed. Moreover, the surface of the first drilling section also has the function of allowing the user to engrave a mark thereon.
US07699568B2 Screw attachment, fastening assembly having screw attachment, and process of releasing fastening assembly
A screw attachment (10, 10′, 10″) disposed around a fastening piece (17) secured to a main fastening body (25a), the screw attachment sandwiched between a head (17b) of the fastening piece and a securing object (22) so that the screw attachment bears a securing force of the fastening piece to press the securing object. The screw attachment includes a pair of arms (12, 13) made of a shape restoring material. Each arm has a fore end, and the fore ends are joined to each other with an adhesive material that is softened when heated. The arms expands radially such that the screw attachment is released from the head of the fastening piece when heat or force is applied to the arms.
US07699567B2 Final adjustment mechanism with tactile feedback
Adjustment system for positioning a cutting insert on a cutting tool has a rotatable first rod with a surface having a plurality of flatted areas arranged radially, each at a different radial distance from an axial center of the first rod relative to a sequentially adjacent flatted area, a translatable second rod with an axially tapered surface, wherein a face of the first end of the second rod contacts one of the plurality of flatted areas, a biasing element positioned to exert a force to bias the face of the first end of the second rod to contact the flatted area, and a translatable push pin, wherein a face of the first end of the push pin contacts the tapered surface and wherein a face of the second end of the push pin operatively contacts a cartridge mounted on the cutting tool and in which the cutting insert is seated.
US07699565B2 Radius endmill
A radius endmill has a peripheral cutting edge, a bottom cutting edge, and a rounded corner cutting edges whose ridge line is defined by a circular arc having a given radius as measured in a side view of the endmill that is parallel to the axis. The rounded corner cutting edge is located in a corner portion of the endmill in which the outer peripheral and the axial end intersect each other such that the peripheral cutting edge and the bottom cutting edge are connected to each other through the rounded corner cutting edge. The bottom cutting edge has a radially inner end lying at the axis, and a radially outer end at which the bottom cutting edge is connected to the rounded corner cutting edge. The bottom cutting edge is curved such that its ridge line is defined by a circular arc as seen in a plan view of the endmill that is perpendicular to the axis.
US07699562B2 Liner assembly for a sand trap
A liner assembly (322) for a sand trap (10) includes a retainer layer (329) that is positioned between a base (18) of the sand trap (10) and a filling material (16) within a cavity (13) of the sand trap (10). The retainer layer (329) is covered by the filling material (16) so that the retainer layer (329) is substantially unexposed. The retainer layer (329) includes a plurality of spaced apart projections (330) that can be formed from plastic, such as synthetic turf material. In certain embodiments, the filling material (16) fills the spaces between the projections (330). The retainer layer (329) can be substantially water impermeable and can cover at least approximately a majority of the surface area of the cavity (13). The retainer layer (329) can be positioned within the cavity at an angle (328) that is at least 10 degrees relative to the horizontal (300).
US07699560B2 Dump element, method for forming a spatial structure from dump elements, as well as spatial structure formed from dump elements
Dump element for forming a spatial structure (500, 501) such as a filtering or skeleton construction with such dumped dump elements. The dump element (99) comprises a first elongated, curved hook part (1), a second elongated, curved hook part (2), and a spacer (3) between the first (1) and the second hook part (2), which spacer holds said hook parts (1, 2) spaced apart and interlocks them. With a method for forming a spatial structure, dumped dump elements randomly interlock. In a spatial structure, hook parts of individual dump elements lying near each other interlock while then, the hook parts intersect in their longitudinal directions.
US07699557B2 Aquifer replenishment system
A concrete structure for replenishing an aquifer and a method for constructing the same is provided. The structure is comprised of a pavement layer with surface drains that extend through the pavement layer and into an aggregate leach field. The leach field includes leach lines spanning the leach field. An aggregate drain extends from the leach field into a sand lens. Precipitation which falls upon the structure thus flows through the surface drain, absorbed into the aggregate leach field, and transported to the aggregate drains by way of aggregate leach lines. The water is then absorbed into the sand lens, ultimately replenishing the aquifer. Existing conventional pavement structures are retrofitted by the removal of a section of the pavement, and filling the same with porous concrete.
US07699555B2 Mounting assembly with releasable lock
A mounting assembly for releasably mounting a rear light member to a body member of a vehicle. The mounting assembly comprises a locking member. The locking member includes a sleeve-like mounting portion adapted to be fixed to the support member, and a first locking portion integrally joined to the mounting portion. The first locking portion is adapted to snappingly engage a matingly shaped second locking portion of the structural member for retaining it. The mounting assembly further comprises a release pin axially slidably in the mounting portion of the locking member. The release pin has a shaft portion axially project from the sleeve-shaped mounting portion and is adapted to be axially displaced for releasing the two locking portions from being snappingly engaged.
US07699554B2 Removable seal carrier for blowout preventer bonnet assembly
A bonnet assembly for a blowout preventer uses a seal carrier that is removable so as to allow for efficient and easy seal replacement. The seal carrier has: a recess adapted to at least partially embed a seal for sealing the bonnet assembly to a body of the blowout preventer; and a first connecting rod coupled to and extending from an inner surface of the seal carrier, where the first connecting rod has a fastening structure proximal to a distal end of the first connecting rod, where the fastening structure is adapted to engage with a first fastening device, and where the seal carrier is removable from the bonnet assembly when the first fastening device is disengaged from the fastening structure.
US07699552B2 Pump system for a personal care appliance
A pump (10) for a personal care appliance which includes a flexible fluid cartridge member (12) having an exit opening (17) for the fluid at a forward end thereof (16), a base member (24) having a cutout portion (26) into which a fluid-filled portion (14) of the cartridge (24) can nest, and a pressing member (32) having a configuration which nests with the cutout portion over a substantial portion of its length, such that as the pressing member moves forwardly along its path, fluid in the fluid-filled portion is pressed out the exit opening and into a line connected to a workpiece element, such as a toothbrush brushhead.
US07699551B2 Cleaning device with squirter
Disclosed is a cleaning device with a squirter for squirting liquid forward of a cleaning head. The cleaning head has a nozzle head with a nozzle. A liquid receiving part is provided to extend from beneath an orifice of the nozzle toward a front face of the cleaning head. Liquid dripping from the orifice of the nozzle can be led down an inclined top face of the liquid receiving part to the outside of the cleaning head, preventing the cleaning head from being soiled with a detergent, a wax or the like.
US07699549B2 Ink ribbon cartridge
An ink ribbon cartridge includes spools each including a ratchet gear in one end portion. A cartridge body includes integrally formed resilient engagement pieces each including a ratchet portion that engages and disengages the ratchet gear of the respective spool and a compressed portion that is compressed by a compressing portion of a thermal transfer printer apparatus. When the ink ribbon cartridge is installed in the thermal transfer printer apparatus, the resilient engagement pieces behave such that the compressed portions are compressed by the compressing portions of the thermal transfer printer apparatus. Thereby, engagement between the ratchet gears of the respective spools and the ratchet portions is released, and the spools become rotatable in the cartridge body.
US07699543B2 Camera function actuator
An actuator for use with a camera may include a wire and a first member coupled to the wire. The actuator may also include a second member coupled to the first member and a power source to supply power to the wire. When power is supplied to the wire, the wire may exert a force on the first member to move the first member and the second member and perform a function associated with the camera.
US07699537B2 Optical port apparatus and method of making the same
An optical port apparatus includes a housing having oppositely disposed first and second housing surfaces and a housing body extending therebetween. A housing aperture extends about a central axis of the housing body. A groove surrounds the housing aperture. The groove extends partially through the housing body and has a bottom groove surface spaced from the second housing surface by a groove side wall. A shelf is located between the groove and the housing aperture. A gasket is located in the groove adjacent the bottom groove surface. The gasket surrounds the housing aperture. A window is located across the housing aperture in contact with the shelf. An elastomeric adhesive is located in the groove between the groove side wall and at least one of the window and the gasket. A bezel is fastened to the second housing surface adjacent the groove.
US07699534B2 Plastic ferrule
A plastic ferrule (1) for optical connecting systems, in which a optical wave guide (3) of an optical fibre (6) is guided through a support element (2), whereby the optical wave guide (3) is surface-conditioned in a partial area (4) in order to bond in a force-actuated way to a hardened casting mass (5) in this partial area (4).
US07699533B2 Back-to-back receptacle
A back-to-back receptacle and system for providing selective interconnection between a pair of optic fibres. The system comprises a receptacle comprising a pair of back-to-back receptacle sockets, with at least a first of the sockets configured to one of a plurality of predefined receptacle keying geometries, a first connector plug terminating the first optic fibre, the plug adapted for insertion into the first receptacle socket, the plug configured to one of a plurality of predefined connector keying geometries and a second connector plug terminating the second optic fibre, the plug adapted for insertion into a second of the back-to-back receptacle sockets. At least one of the predefined connector keying geometries matches at least one of the predefined receptacle keying geometries. When the receptacle keying geometry of the first receptacle socket corresponds to the connector keying geometry of the first plug and optionally the receptacle geometry of the second of the back-to-back receptacle sockets corresponds to the connector keying geometry of the second plug, the first plug can be inserted in the first socket and the second plug can be inserted in the second socket bringing the first optic fibre into axial alignment with the second optic fibre.
US07699532B2 Bottom bracket assembly for bicycles
A bottom bracket assembly for supporting the crank axle of a bicycle includes a bottom bracket and two bases are securely connected to two open ends of the bottom bracket. Each base has a bearing received in a recess defined in an end thereof. Two collars each have a neck which is inserted and engaged with a central hole of the bearing corresponding thereto and each neck has a tapered inner periphery. An axle extends through the two bearings and the two collars. Two positioning rings are positioned between the axle and the tapered inner periphery of the collar. Each positioning ring has a tapered outer periphery which is matched with the tapered inner periphery of the collar corresponding thereto.
US07699528B2 Dynamic bearing device
A dynamic bearing device is provided, which can prevent abrasion powder generated when a sealing member is pushed into an inner circumference of a housing from entering the housing. A sealing member is inserted into an inner circumference of an opening of a housing with an adhesive interposed therebetween The adhesive moving forward in a pushing direction of the sealing member is retained by a capillary action in a lower tapered space between an outer circumference of the sealing member and the inner circumference of the housing. Abrasion powder is captured by the adhesive in the tapered space so as to be confined in the adhesive as a result of the setting of the adhesive.
US07699526B2 Support dampers for bearing assemblies and methods of manufacture
A support damper is provided for a bearing assembly to improve the damping capabilities of an uncentered squeeze film damper and to provide a support structure stiffness to minimize rotor to structure unbalance response. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the support damper includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and U-shaped beams. The inner ring is configured to be disposed around the bearing assembly and to extend axially along a portion thereof. The outer ring is spaced apart from the inner ring and extends radially outwardly relative thereto. The U-shaped beams couple the inner ring to the outer ring. Methods of manufacturing the support damper are also provided.
US07699518B2 Prism sheet and backlight module using the same
A prism sheet includes a main body. The main body includes an incident surface, an emitting surface opposite to the incident surface, and a plurality of micro-protrusions formed on the incident surface. Each micro-protrusion includes two side surfaces and an arced ridge of intersection of the two side surfaces. Each side surface is a conical surface of an imaginary cone. The imaginary cone has a conical base whose circumference is defined by the arced ridge. The conical bases defined by the arced ridges of the micro-protrusions are parallel to each other. The present prism sheet and the backlight module using the same can efficiently decrease interference.
US07699513B2 Lamp unit for vehicle
A lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis, a light source disposed on a rear side of a rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector configured to forwardly reflect light emitted from the light source toward the optical axis, and a shade configured to shield a part of the light reflected by the reflector. The lamp unit is configured to form a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line. An incidence plane of the projection lens includes a vertical diffusing portion which regulates the cutoff line. The vertical diffusing portion includes a plurality of lens elements extending substantially parallel to a horizontal portion of the upper edge of the shade. A vertical section of each of the lens elements is convex or concave with respect to a reference surface of the incidence plane.
US07699509B2 Fixed light for bends for a motor vehicle
The fixed light for bends for a motor vehicle comprises at least two light sources, means sensitive to the path of the vehicle for supplying a signal dependent on the nature of the road followed by the vehicle, and means for controlling successive switching on the sources according to the signal delivered and providing an effect of light sweeping towards the inside of the bend. Each light source consists of one or more modules with light-emitting diodes.
US07699505B2 Balloon lamp
A balloon lamp includes a holder base, a balloon shade affixed to the holder base at the top, a balloon connector mounted in the balloon shade to secure a balloon, a power supply unit mounted in the holder base, and one or more LEDs installed in the balloon shade or the holder base and electrically connected to the power supply unit to emit light toward the balloon, thus producing a lighting effect.
US07699504B2 Light score package structure
The present invention relates to a light source package structure, which comprises: an accommodating space for accommodating a light source, a first refraction surface, and at least a second refraction surface. The first refraction surface receives light discharging from the light source while refracting the same to form a first refracting light, the upper part of the first refraction surface further comprising a refracting structure for refracting the light emitted from the light source. The second refraction surface receives and refracts the first refracting light to form a discharging light being emitted out of the light source package structure. Wherein, an included angle is formed between the normal vector of a portion of the second refraction surface and the central axis of the light source package structure. It is noted that the aforesaid package structure can be used in various packaging for improving refraction. In a preferred embodiment, a light source of light emitting diode (LED) is packaged by the light source package structure of the invention for enabling the light emitted from the LED to be discharged out of the package structure by a large angle after being refracted multiple times, so that the LED package structure can be adopted as a flat light source for diverse purpose applied in industry.
US07699496B2 Fluorescent tube attaching structure
A structure for attaching a fluorescent tube includes a base, a holder supported by the base, and a pair of contacts. The holder holds an intermediate portion of the fluorescent tube while restraining the fluorescent tube from moving in a radial direction. To the pair of contacts, terminals of a pair of end portions of the fluorescent tube are respectively attachable in an attaching direction corresponding to the radial direction of the fluorescent tube. Each contact includes a pair of elastic pieces facing each other. The pair of elastic pieces have a pair of straight portions extending substantially straight along the attaching direction and facing each other. On the pair of straight portions, a pair of contact portions for clamping the corresponding terminal of the fluorescent tube therebetween are formed.
US07699495B2 Inflatable light stick
An inflatable light stick includes an inflatable bag body, an inflation inlet provided at a first end of the bag body, and a light emitting circuit provided in the bag body at a second end thereof. The light emitting circuit includes a controller, which has a front end extended into the bag body, and a rear end outward projected from the bag body to serve as a power-on control. Air can be blown via the inflation inlet to inflate the bag body, and the controller can be pulled to supply power from batteries to the light-emitting diode, making the inflated bag body firm and upright while showing colorful lights, and suitable for use as an eye-catching light stick for waving to create joyful and exciting atmosphere and achieve enhanced entertaining effect.
US07699493B2 Battery-powered light
A personal light including a battery power source connected in series with a light-emitting diode (LED) light source and a switching mechanism configured for non-contact actuation are disposed within an environmentally sealed chamber. A reflector is employed to maximize reflection of light emanating from the LED and a lens having an anti-reflective coating thereon associated with the LED opposite the reflector to enhance the light output and magnify the narrow beam of the LED. The switch employs an actuation mechanism exterior to the chamber to activate and deactivate the light.
US07699490B2 Light-emitting structure for generating an annular illumination effect
A light-emitting structure for generating an annular illumination effect includes a light-guiding module, a cover module, and a first light-emitting module. The light-guiding module has a hollow light-guiding body and a reflecting layer formed on an inner surface of the hollow light-guiding body. The cover module has a first cover body disposed on one end side of the hollow light-guiding body and a second cover body disposed on the other opposite end side of the hollow light-guiding body. The first light-emitting module has a plurality of first light-emitting elements disposed between the hollow light-guiding body and the first cover body. Therefore, first light beams generated by the first light-emitting elements are projected onto the hollow light-guiding body, and the first light beams are guided by the hollow light-guiding body and are reflected by the reflecting layer in order to make the hollow light-guiding body generate the annular illumination effect.
US07699489B2 In-grade light fixture
An in-grade light fixture comprises a light fixture housing arranged to be buried substantially below grade level. The light fixture housing has a light opening substantially at grade level and an optical chamber having a light source arranged within the optical chamber and the optical chamber arranged within the housing with light from the light source passing through the light opening. The fixture further comprises a plurality of housing openings and one or more enclosures, each of which is removably mounted to a respective one of the housing openings. The enclosures accept external power and generate power to energize the light source causing it to emit light. The optical chamber can also comprise an anti-condensation valve and an air passageway between the optical chamber and one of the enclosures form a vacuum in the optical chamber and vacuum during operation.
US07699485B1 Illumination device mountable to a clothing object
A light adapted to be attached to an article of clothing, comprising a power supply casing, an illuminator casing, having therein an illuminator adapted to emit a beam of light when electrically powered, said power supply casing and illuminator casing being attachable and detachable to the article of clothing means of a clamping force applied by a clamp with at least one extension, said at least one extension providing mechanical interconnection and a clamping force between the light and the article of clothing to retain the article of clothing therebetween.
US07699483B2 Illumination device
A device for the illumination of a display, in particular of a transmission display of a motor vehicle, comprises an areal lighting means for an at least substantially uniform illumination of the total display in combination with at least one light emitting diode for an illumination of a respective individual display, in particular of a transmission position display offset in comparison with the uniform illustration of the total display, in particular a more intensive illustration of a respective individual display, in particular of a transmission position display.
US07699482B2 Light-emitting element
The light-emitting element emits light itself. The element includes a light-emitting portion having a higher refractive index than a refractive index of air and a diffraction grating structure provided to a light-emitting side surface of the light-emitting portion. The function that a minimum light-emission value is equal to or less than 50% of a maximum light-emission value when white light is emitted from the light-emitting portion is realized. The function is obtained by further including a color-separation filter provided between the light-emitting portion and the light-emitting side surface and making a minimum value of a spectral product obtained from a light-emission waveform of the white light emitted from the light-emitting portion and a spectral transmittance of said color-separation filter equal to or less than 50% of a maximum value thereof, or by adjusting a light-emission ratio of the light-emitting materials for said at least two primary colors among the light-emitting materials for the three primary colors.
US07699480B2 High positioning reproducible low torque mirror-actuator interface
The present high positioning reproducible mirror-actuator interface disclosed herein overcomes the deficiencies associated with conventional interface systems and offer a number of advantages that are disclosed herein. Generally, the mirror mounts provide a reliable and robust interface between the mirrors and actuators, that serve to move and position the mirrors, as wells as providing an interface between the mirrors and gravity compensator pins. The mirror mount is characterized as having a body that has an outer peripheral wall that includes a plurality of flexible elements around the perimeter of the body, each having a high stiffness in plane and a high flexibility out of plane. The body is open at the first end to allow flexing of the flexible elements. The flexible elements providing a direct coupling interface between the mirror mount and the mirror. The flexible elements of the mirror mount provides a number of advantages and increases the performance capabilities of the first mechanical interface between the mirror mount and the actuator.
US07699478B2 Coordinated pivoting and extending vehicle mirror
An exterior vehicle mirror system has a vehicle mountable support and a support arm. A mirror housing is movable along the support arm between the support and a distal end. An electrically powered mirror unit adjust mechanism can adjust the mirror unit about horizontal and vertical axes. An electrically powered pivoting and extending mechanism pivots the support arm about the support between an extended position and a position folded against a vehicle side. An electronic control system controls movement of the mirror housing along the support arm, and folding of the support arm, independent of an adjustment of the mirror unit. The electronic control system comprises a memorized position for the powered pivoting and extending mechanism.
US07699476B2 System and method for operating photo-addressable ePaper environment
A system for providing a dynamic audio-visual environment using an eSurface situated in a room environment; a projector situated for projecting images onto the eSurface; a camera situated to picture the room environment; a central processor coupled to the eSurface, the projector and the camera. The processor receives pictures from the camera for detecting the location of the eSurface; and controls the projector to aim its projection beam onto the eSurface. The eSurface is a sheet-like surface having the property of accepting optically projected image when powered, and retaining the projected image after the power is turned off.
US07699475B2 Deviating light retrieving optical projector system
An optical projector system is provided. The optical projector system includes light source device, an optical system, a lens set, and a photoelectric conversion device. The optical system has a light entrance end corresponding to the light source device and a light exit end corresponding to the lens set. The light source device includes a light source and a hood enclosing the light source. The light source device, the optical system, and the lens set together form a light passage. The photoelectric conversion device is disposed on a deviating light zone outside the hood for receiving the light deviating from the light passage.
US07699473B2 Image display apparatus with relaying optical system, reflective optical component and phase difference optical component
An image display apparatus for a viewer to view a two-dimensional image demonstrated on an image display device as an enlarged virtual image by a virtual-image optical system. The image display apparatus includes a prism and a reflective transmitting surface for reflecting or transmitting image light incident from an incident optical surface. The image display apparatus also includes a reflective optical component for reflecting image light reflected from the reflective transmitting surface and radiated from a first planar optical surface towards the reflective transmitting surface as a collimated light beam and a phase difference optical component arranged on a light path between the first planar optical surface and the reflective optical component to the state of polarization of the image light.
US07699470B2 Systems and methods for prediction of objective visual acuity based on wavefront measurements
Methods, devices, and systems for predicting an optical acuity measure of an optical system of an eye. An optical acuity measure can be predicted by determining a point spread function based on a wavefront measurement of an eye, convolving a resolution target with the point spread function to produce an image, and predicting the optical acuity measure of the optical system of the eye based on the image.
US07699469B2 System and method for tracking eyeball motion
Detecting position information related to a face, and more particularly to an eyeball in a face, using a detection and ranging system, such as a Radio Detection And Ranging (“RADAR”) system, or a Light Detection And Ranging (“LIDAR”) system. The position information may include a location of the eyeball, translational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration, jerk, etc.), rotational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., rotational displacement, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration, etc.) as the eyeball rotates within its socket.
US07699468B2 Ophthalmologic surgical microscope having a measuring unit
A surgical microscope (100) for ophthalmology includes a measuring unit (110) for determining at least one characteristic value of a patient eye (104). The measuring unit (110) is connected to a computer unit (120) which calculates a model of the patient eye (104) based on the determined characteristic variables. The surgical microscope also includes a display device for displaying the calculated model of the patient eye (104) or characteristic variables that are derived from the calculated model.
US07699467B2 Method and device for performing online aberrometry in refractive eye correction
This invention relates to a method and a device for the complete correction of sight defects in the human eye. Combinations of measuring, and processing methods are described which when applied as disclosed in the invention, make it possible to fully correct sight defects in the human eye. Measuring methods are used which can precisely scan the surface of the cornea and also register other imaging defects in the light path up to the retina. Computer-aided of said measuring results determined when combined with calculation of ideally corrected ocular lenses (for example after cataract operations) or ideally corrected surfaces of the cornea opens up the possibility of manufacturing a patient-specific lens and/or achieving ideal correction of the cornea using preferably a topography-supported spot-scanning-excimer laser system.
US07699465B2 Contact lens
A scleral lens has an optical zone, a peripheral zone and a sagittal depth control zone between the optical zone and the peripheral zone. The sagittal depth control zone may be configured to raise the optical zone above the level of a person's eye when the scleral lens is in use and create a tear layer between the optical zone and the person's eye. Tear flow control features are provided in the sagittal depth control zone.
US07699464B2 Hydrodynamically operated multifocal contact lens
This invention details a contact lens that uses a reservoir of fluid compressed by the lower lid to dynamically shift the refractive power of the lens. This creates a lens that has a plurality of focal points depending on the position of gaze. This can be accomplished through using fluid pressure to dynamically change the optical power in the visual axis of the eye.
US07699458B2 Provision of images on surfaces
A method of providing a surface of a material with an image, includes applying to the surface an image sheet included (i) a flexible layer of a Shape Memory Polymer, and (ii) an image bonded to said layer by means of an image key coat. The image sheet is bonded to the surface by means of an adhesive and a process which involves heating of the Shape Memory Polymer to a temperature above its Glass Transition Temperature.
US07699457B2 Recording ink, ink cartridge, ink record, inkjet recording apparatus, and inkjet recording method
The recording ink having a water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from the following Structural Formulae (1) to (3). Structural Formula (1): where, Rf is a fluorine-containing group; and m, n, and p are integers in the Structural Formula (1). Structural Formula (2): where, Rf is a fluorine-containing group; X is a cationic group; Y is an anionic group; and q is an integer in the Structural Formula (2). Structural Formula (3): where, Rf is a fluorine-containing group; X is a cationic group; Y is an anionic group; and q is an integer in the Structural Formula (3).
US07699450B2 Ink supplying container and image forming apparatus
An ink supplying container is disclosed. In the ink supplying container, when the internal pressure of an ink container is made a positive pressure which is higher than atmospheric pressure so that nozzles of a recording head are cleaned and recovered by discharging a small amount of ink, a volume control unit restrains a flexible member of the ink container from expanding. When the internal pressure of the ink container is made a negative pressure optimal for printing which is lower than the atmospheric pressure so that a letter and/or an image is printed on a recording medium by the recording head, the volume control unit does not restrain the flexible member from expanding, and the volume of the ink container is maintained at almost the same volume as that at the time when the internal pressure of the ink container is made the positive pressure.
US07699446B2 Ink refill unit with incremental millilitre ink ejection for print cartridge
An ink refill unit for a print cartridge is provided. The unit includes a housing which defines a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet. The unit also includes an ink reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject ink from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by the print cartridge. The ejector assembly is configured so that the amount of the printing fluid ejected from the reservoir by the ejector assembly is between 6 ml and 50 ml per increment.
US07699445B2 Structure and liquid droplet discharge apparatus
A structure of the present invention includes a base plate and a formation unit. The formation unit is bonded and fixed to and retained on the base plate by a first adhesive. The first adhesive is disposed at least in the vicinities of end portions of a peripheral edge of a bonding surface of the formation unit.
US07699444B2 Liquid droplet-jetting apparatus and method for producing liquid droplet-jetting apparatus
A channel unit has a first individual ink channel including a first nozzle and a first pressure chamber, and a second individual ink channel including a second nozzle and a second pressure chamber. The channels have a mutually identical channel structure. A piezoelectric actuator, in which a vibration plate, a piezoelectric layer, and a pair of electrodes are stacked, is arranged on the upper surface of the channel unit. A portion of the piezoelectric layer facing the first pressure chamber is thinner than a portion facing the second pressure chamber. Accordingly, a liquid droplet-jetting apparatus is provided, in which the channel structure is simple, and the volumes of liquid droplets jetted from the first nozzle and the second nozzle respectively are different from each other.
US07699438B2 Inkjet head and connection structure of wiring board
A plurality of land sections, each enclosed by two slits, are formed in a ground wire provided on a side of a flexible wiring board to which a piezoelectric element is connected. Since the ground wire and the land sections are connected by only a thin connection section, the solder deposited on the land sections does not flow to the ground wire.
US07699435B2 Uniquely spaced markings
Embodiments of uniquely spaced markings are disclosed.
US07699434B2 Liquid droplet discharging device
There is provided a liquid droplet discharging device including: a liquid droplet discharging head, for discharging liquid droplets; an opposing member, opposing the liquid droplet discharging head; and a blade, cleaning the opposing member and in contact with the opposing member, a plurality of grooves being formed on the blade, and the grooves having a groove width increasing from a bottom portion thereof to an opening portion thereof, and a groove angle decreasing from the side of the opposing member to the side opposite to the opposing member.
US07699432B2 Method and system of capping that employs a treadmill belt
A service station for a pen that incldues a treadmill belt that has an outer surface and an inner surface and a pen cap positioned on the outer surface of the treadmill belt, wherein the pen cap is positioend between the treadmill belt and the pen. THe service statin further including two rollers upon which the treadmill belt is mounted, wherein the two rollers contact the inner surface of the treatmill belt for driving the treadmill belt. In addition, there is no device positioned between the two rolelrs that engages the inner surface of the treadmill belt so as to move the outer surface toward the pen. THe service statino further includes a drive axle coupled to one of the rollers and a mechanism for switching a direction of travel of the treadmill belt.
US07699431B2 Ink jet printing apparatus, method of manufacturing ink absorber, and ink absorber
An ink jet printing apparatus is provided in which ink absorbers, capable of performing their function to the fullest extent to quickly absorb an ink that tends to coagulate, are installed to prevent an interior of the printing apparatus and the back of a print medium from being contaminated. To this end, the printing apparatus has an ink absorber that contains a coagulation inhibitor capable of inhibiting the coagulation of colorant contained in the ink. This arrangement inhibits the coagulation of the colorant on the surface or in the interior of the absorber, allowing the colorant to be absorbed quickly and uniformly into the interior of the absorber. Therefore, problems caused by a deposition of the colorant on the surface of the absorber or by a degraded absorbing capability can be alleviated, thus keeping the image output in good condition.
US07699426B2 Image processing method and ink jet printing apparatus
An ink jet printing apparatus for performing maintenance ejection onto a printed image makes it possible to obtain a favorable printing image by rendering maintenance ejection ink dots inconspicuous. Pixel position comparison is performed between an objective pixel and data in a pixel position at the same address to detect whether image data is present at the same address. When the image data is not present in the same position, comparison operation is performed on a subsequent objective pixel. When the image data is present in the same position, processing with an image processing mask is performed on the image data in a print buffer. The image data in the print buffer is combined with the maintenance ejection data to generate image printing data. This image processing makes it possible to thin out dots from the image data and to render the maintenance ejection ink dots inconspicuous.
US07699424B2 Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method
There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus having a printhead equipped with printing element row that includes printing elements having a plurality of heat-producing resistance elements. The apparatus includes a temperature sensing unit which senses the temperature of the printhead, a temperature distribution storage unit in which a temperature distribution along the printing element row, a temperature gradient calculating unit which calculates the temperature gradient of the printing element row from the temperature of the printhead sensed by the temperature sensing units, a predicting unit which predicts the temperature of each printing element using the temperature gradient and the temperature distribution along the printing element row, and a control unit which applies discharge pulses, which are decided based upon the predicted temperature from the predicting unit, to each of the printing elements.
US07699423B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program
In an ink-jet printer, when a gray is expressed by mixing ink of a plurality of colors, there is a concentration in which a use amount of the ink is large. If the gray in an edge portion of a character has the concentration of the large ink use amount, a bleeding of the ink occurs and a thin portion of the character is sometimes damaged. If the gray in the character edge portion has the concentration of the large ink use amount, the gray in the character edge portion is changed to the white side by image correction, and the damage of the character thin portion caused due to the ink bleeding is prevented.
US07699422B2 Universal inkjet printer device and methods
A signal converter that may perform functions to enable a thermally based technology to be used with a piezo-electric printhead. The signal converter and piezo-electric printhead may optionally be used in conjunction with a chassis assembly having an adjustable vertical member for sizing the chassis assembly to a printer. Methods of using a piezo-electric printhead in a printer having a thermal printhead configuration may include the steps of coupling the printhead to the printer and performing conversion functions.
US07699417B2 Image recording unit and image recording apparatus
A recording unit according to the present invention includes a holding member, a recording element held on the holding member, an ink supply section held on the holding member, and a guiding portion provided in the holding member. The guiding portion guides a recording medium so as to prevent the recording medium from contacting the recording element. An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying mechanism having a conveying member on which a recording medium is placed for conveyance, a recording unit, and a fixing member which fixes the recording unit. A guiding portion of the recording unit guides the recording medium to the conveying member so as to prevent the recording medium from contacting the recording element. The guiding portion also maintains a constant gap between the recording medium and the recording element to achieve high-quality image recording.
US07699413B2 Tool cabinet
A tool cabinet has a housing and a hanging device. The housing has a work surface, at least one drawer and at least one opening. The at least one drawer is defined in the housing. The hanging device has at least one hanger mounted inside the at least one opening. The at least one hanger has two telescopic stands, a hanging plate and a locking device. The telescopic stands are mounted in the at least one opening and face each other. The hanging plate is mounted between the telescopic stands and extends as the telescopic stands extend. The locking device mounted on the telescopic tubes to hold the inner tube in position. When the tool cabinet is used, the hanging device can be extended out to hang and store tools. The tools can be organized and the work surface will not in be cluttered.
US07699412B2 Storage unit
A locker is provided. The locker comprises a base defining a storage space, a door coupled to the base and rotatable relative to the base between an open position and a closed position, and a latch bar supported at an interior side of the door by at least one projection that engages at least one guide slot in the latch bar. The latch bar is moveable parallel to the door between an extended position and a retracted position. The latch bar is biased toward the extended position to secure the panel in the closed position. The extended position is horizontally and vertically offset from the retracted position.
US07699402B2 Four point seat restraint system
A restraint system is disclosed for securing a passenger to a seat in a motor vehicle. The restraint system is composed of a restraint belt removably attached to a vehicle seat having a plurality of vertical straps and an attachment mechanism for connecting said straps across the passenger's chest. Each of the vertical straps has a first end removably attached to a lap belt and a second end removably attached to a latch located behind the vehicle seat.
US07699386B2 Automobile roof reinforcement member
The invention provides a roof reinforcement member including an extruded aluminum alloy part which is upwardly convex and extends in a vehicle lateral direction. The extruded aluminum alloy part includes a pair of upper and lower flanges approximately parallel-facing each other as seen in a cross-section thereof and a pair of webs formed to stand along the vehicle height direction. The pair of flanges and the pair of webs form a closed sectional part. The pair of flanges each have a projecting flange portion. In the cross-section, the lower flange is thicker than the upper flange and/or the lower flange is wider than the upper flange, and the neutral axis of upward/downward bending is positioned lower than the middle of the height of the cross-section. This arrangement can reduce the stress generated on the lower side of the cross-section when the extruded aluminum alloy part is bent, so that the extruded aluminum alloy part can be effectively made stronger against deformation.
US07699382B2 Trailer with aerodynamic rear door
An aerodynamic cargo container with rounded rear doors is disclosed. The aerodynamic cargo container includes an angled rear area that reduces base drag when the container is transported. The rear sliding door allows for partial opening of the door and allows for operation of the door when the rear of the container is in close proximity to another object. The crash attenuating skirt deflects vehicles away from the cargo container. A pair of cargo doors may define the curved contour of the trailer rear section. These doors may have a plurality of pivoted and segmented sections that assume the curved contour of a stationary edge when the doors are moved to a closed position.
US07699381B2 Windbreak device
In order to improve a windbreak device for motor vehicles, in particular for cabriolet vehicles, comprising a windbreak base which can be mounted such that it is fixed to the vehicle and on which a wind deflector which extends in a wind deflector surface can be mounted so as to move between an active position and an inactive position, and a drive device for moving the wind deflector between the inactive and the active position and vice versa, in such a way that the said windbreak device can be operated in as optimum a manner as possible, it is proposed that the drive device can be supplied with power from an on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle by means of a power transmission device, and that the power transmission device comprises a first element which is disposed on the windbreak base, and a second element which is disposed on a side wall of the body of the motor vehicle, the said elements transferring power from the on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle to the drive device which is disposed on the windbreak base when the windbreak device is mounted on the motor vehicle in a functional position.
US07699380B2 Protection device for a vehicle
An impact protection device and a method for protecting an object, such as a vehicle, using the impact protection device. The impact protection device is particularly useful for protecting a vehicle from damage due to hail storms. The impact protection device includes a layer of high tensile strength polymer and a metallic layer disposed adjacent to the high tensile strength polymer layer. The impact protection device is advantageously thin and lightweight and can be easily stored in the trunk of a vehicle for rapid deployment during a hail storm.
US07699377B2 Vehicle entertainment system with cover
A vehicle includes a ceiling with a headliner and a cradle is secured within the ceiling of the vehicle such that it is substantially flush with the headliner. The cradle is shaped and dimensioned for selectively receiving and securely holding a video system. A cover for selective attachment to the cradle when the video system is not in use.
US07699376B2 Vehicle entertainment system with retaining mechanism
A vehicle includes a ceiling with a headliner, a cradle secured within the ceiling of the vehicle and a video system selectively secured to the cradle for movement between a use position and a storage position. A retaining mechanism is provided maintaining the video system adjacent the headliner and the cradle when the video system is in its storage position.
US07699374B2 Connective System
A connective system for connecting a first body to a second body having an aperture, is provided. The system includes a pin connected with the first body. The pin has a detent surface. A retainer ring having a snap fit engagement with the pin detent surface is provided. The retainer ring also has a locking arm for entry into the aperture of the second body with snap fit engagement with a surface of the second body thereby retaining the second body with said first body.
US07699364B2 Housing of foldable device
An exemplary housing of a foldable device includes a first cover, a second cover, a knob, a latching member, and an elastic member. The first cover includes a first latching portion. The second cover includes a fixing portion. The latching member includes a second latching portion configured for engaging with the first latching portion. The knob is rotatably positioned on the second cover. At least a portion of the knob is exposed out of the second cover. The knob connects with the latching member. The elastic member connects to the latching member. The knob is able to drive the latching member to rotate relative to the fixing portion along a first circular direction and the elastic member is able to drive the latching member to rotate relative to the fixing portion along a second circular direction opposite to the first circular direction.
US07699362B2 Vehicle door latch apparatus
An actuator has an actuator housing fixed to an open side of a concave accommodating portion of a latch housing in a latch body, and also has a drive source, which is accommodated in the actuator housing, and an open lever for releasing a meshing part from a striker by being release-operated by the drive source. The open lever is accommodated in the actuator housing. A block member blocks a gap between the accommodating portion of the latch housing and the actuator housing.
US07699359B2 Clamping assembly and a hydraulic coupler comprising it
A clamping assembly for a coupler comprises at least one clamping module which includes a clamping jaw (12) that is designed for connecting the coupler to a complementary means device and an actuating system that comprises a device of the screw/nut type which is driven by a motor. The actuating system is connected directly to the clamping jaw, and the clamping jaw is swivel-mounted to a support about a point that is fixed relative to the coupler.
US07699358B2 Ferrule with relief to reduce galling
High localized loading, galling, and high torque forces have been generally eliminated or greatly reduced in a two ferrule tube fitting assembly through suitable modification of the rear ferrule so as to redirect the reaction forces acting between the front ferrule and the drive nut. The rear ferrule has a cylindrical interior wall that closely surrounds the tube end and is provided on the interior cylindrical wall with a circumferentially continuous radial recess that is located between the nose and rear wall of the rear ferrule. The rear ferrule also has a radially external wall that is substantially conical and additionally shaped to extend radially outward toward the enlarged diameter portion or flange of the rear ferrule. The rear ferrule further includes a contoured face on the rear driven surface of the ferrule that engages the drive surface of the drive nut.
US07699357B2 Coupling for tubes
A coupling includes a coupling housing and a coupling member. The coupling housing consists of a first housing part and a second housing part capable of being screwed together axially. Each of the first housing part and the second housing part has an internal conical surface, wherein, in a position that the first housing part and the second housing part are screwed together, the inner circumference of each of the internal conical surfaces generally lessen towards outward ends thereof, respectively. The coupling member is situated in the housing for clamping a tube inserted in the coupling housing. The coupling member is influenced axially by a conical clamping ring by cooperation with the conical surface in the first housing part and influences a resilient ring which causes sealing between the tube and the second housing part. One end of the coupling member is shaped as axial, flexible fingers separated by splits. As the first housing part and the second housing part are screwed together, the free ends of the fingers contact the resilient ring and are forced along the conical surface in the second housing part so as to force the resilient ring along the conical surface of the second housing part, whereby the resilient ring is compressed against the tube.
US07699352B2 Method for creating a single continuous web from which to fabricate mailpieces
A method for producing a continuous web of printed material for use in creating mailpieces. The continuous web has a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets are comprising envelope sheets and rectangular content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. Sheets for forming business return envelopes may be printed in series with the content pages and envelope sheets. BREs may include individualized return addresses. A control code may be printed on one or more of the sheets for a given mailpiece, providing information for controlling assembly of the mailpiece. Two sets of sheets may be printed across the width of the web by printing content pages onto the continuous web such that two end-to-end content pages are printed across the width of the web. Positioning of mail content pages and envelope sheets for a given mailpiece may be optimized based on respective processing times determined for the system.
US07699350B2 Security element and security document with one such security element
A security element 2, 4 for embedding in or application to a security document in such a way that it is visually recognizable from both sides of the security document 1, is structured in a multilayer fashion and includes two interference elements I1, I2 with color shift effect, a metallic reflection layer R located in between as well as, optionally, diffraction structures 8. Depending on the disposition of the layers I1, R, I2 and the optionally present diffraction structures 8 on a transparent substrate S the color shift effect and/or the diffractive effects are perceptible from one or from both sides of the security element 2, 4. The security element is particularly suitable as a two-sided window thread 4 and as a label or transfer element 2 above a hole 3 in the security document 1.
US07699342B2 Curtain air bag for vehicles
A curtain air bag formed so that an auxiliary inflatable chamber adapted to reduce to as great an extent as possible a substantial decrease in a protective region of an air bag body 1 can be formed. The air bag body 1 is deployed into the interior of an automobile 8 by introducing a high-pressure gas, which is ejected from an inflator at the time of the occurrence of collision of the automobile 8 with something, into the interior of the air bag body. An auxiliary inflatable chamber 5 defined with respect to a main inflatable chamber 3 is obtained by sewing the air bag body by a substantially one sewing line using a multi-thread chain stitch method or the like. The auxiliary and main inflatable chambers 5, 3 are communicated with each other via a narrow orifice type gas flow restriction passage 6.
US07699341B2 Planing boat with airbag system
A planing boat, particularly of a small size, is provided with an airbag system. The airbag system includes at least one bag-shaped airbag body, a housing which accommodates the airbag body, a detector for detecting a collision of the boat, an expanding unit which inflates the airbag body at the time of collision of the boat, and a controller for controlling the detector and the inflation of the airbag body. In a preferred embodiment, the airbag system includes a first airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up from the handle bar to a rear side of the boat and a second airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up toward a front side of knees of a rider.
US07699338B2 Removable airbag hook bracket for serviceability
A passenger airbag module removably connectable to an automotive interior component. The passenger airbag module may include a front bracket engageable with an automotive interior component and a rear connector having a detent or an aperture. A rear bracket may be removably connectable with the rear connector by an aperture or detent for respectively receiving or insertion into the detent or aperture of the rear connector. The rear bracket may be further configured to engage the automotive interior component.
US07699332B2 Stem assembly for a bicycle
A stem assembly for a bicycle has a body, a clamp and a connecting device. The body is connected to the bicycle between a head tube and a handlebar and has a handlebar mount and a fork mount having two smooth recesses. The clamp is mounted in the body and around the head tube and has two jaws. Each jaw is curved and has a convex hemisphere corresponding to the smooth recesses of the fork mount to allow an angle of the stem assembly to be adjusted. The connecting device is connected to the fork mount of the body and the clamp and the head tube and has a cap, a spacer and a fastener. The cap is mounted on the fork mount. The spacer is mounted on the cap. The fastener is presses against the spacer and is connected to the head tube.
US07699324B2 Evacuation sled and temporary surge capacity bed
A lightweight, strong, sturdy, and versatile evacuation sled is disclosed. The body of the sled may be manufactured from a single piece of material, stored flat, and folded into its functioning configuration. When folded, the sled has one or more straps that help hold it in its folded configuration and allow maneuvering or carrying the sled. The sled may be readily towed with a towing harness and may be moved down an incline, such as stairs, by means of a rope and belay device. The sled has a low coefficient of friction and is lightweight, allowing the sled to be readily moved and handled without requiring the assistance of multiple people. Additional sleds with foam inserts may be provided to carry equipment such as for life support. The sled may also provide surge capacity for facilities like hospitals, as the sled is designed to be inexpensive and essentially disposable.
US07699323B2 Iceboard
In one embodiment, an iceboard includes a plank having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side. One or more supports are coupled to the first side of the plank and, one or more blades are coupled to the one or more supports, the blades operable to glide across an icy surface. The iceboard further includes a piece of frictional material coupled to the second side of the plank and operable to provide traction relative to the plank. The iceboard further includes a brake coupled to the first side of the plank adjacent a first end of the plank. In particular embodiments, the brake is operable to abrasively scrape the icy surface when applied to the icy surface.
US07699322B2 Stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle
A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle has a stabilizer (1), which is connected to the vehicle chassis and which is connected to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part on each side of the vehicle by a piston-cylinder unit (4; 4′) each. Each of the piston-cylinder units (4, 4′) is formed of at least one piston (8, 8′) arranged movably in a cylinder (7, 7′), and each is connected in an articulated manner, at one end, to one end of the stabilizer (1) and, at the other end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part. The piston-cylinder units (4, 4′) are connected to a hydraulic pump (20). A stop (13, 13′), against which the respective piston (8, 8′) can be moved, is assigned to each of the cylinders (7, 7′). By an arrangement of valves, it is made possible for the pistons (8, 8′) to move out of each position in a purposeful manner against the stop (13, 13′) and to hold there in a defined position in order to restore the stabilizer action in a purposeful manner and effectively from any position of the vehicle.
US07699318B1 Wagering method including a reverse bet
A method of wagering for games where there can be more than one player hand dealt and each player hand is compared to a Dealer hand. The method of wagering adds an option to wager that the Dealer hand will beat a particular player hand, a wager that the Dealer hand will push with or tie a particular player hand, or both additional wagers. The method of wagering may be supported by a special layout for wagers on the Dealer hand, and this layout may be able to move around the table or it may be stationary.
US07699317B2 Hierarchical, multi-dimensional, strategy board game apparatus and playing method
A hierarchical, multi-dimensional, strategy board game apparatus includes game boards having game spaces, posts for supporting the board members, and game pieces including a static piece, a pawn-like piece, a first promotion piece, and a second promotion piece. In playing the game, a base board is designated, along with a riser space, a promotion space, and a return space. Each player starts with a designated number of pieces, and takes turns to move their pieces in prescribed ways via the designated spaces as available. The players thereby attempt to attain higher levels for their pieces with respect to the boards, with means for promotion and demotion of the pieces and an in-hand ability to return them to play via the return space. The pieces may thus gain expanded movement capabilities for capturing other players' pieces and, ultimately, the static piece to win the game.
US07699313B2 Paper sheet stacking apparatus
A paper sheet stacking apparatus comprises a conveying device which has first and second conveying members, wherein take-out ends of the second conveying members are positioned on a more upstream side in a paper sheet conveying direction than a take-out end of the first conveying member, and after a paper sheet is taken out from the second conveying members, the paper sheet is conveyed by only the first conveying member, an impeller which introduces the paper sheet conveyed by only the first conveying member into between vanes thereof to guide the paper sheet in a predetermined direction, and then discharges the paper sheet, and a stack housing which stacks the paper sheets discharged from the impeller.
US07699312B2 Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A sheet conveying apparatus has a pair of conveying rotary members for conveying a sheet, an openable and closable conveying guide for guiding the sheet conveyed by the pair of conveying rotary members, a conveying path, which is disposed on a downstream side of the conveying guide, on which the sheet guide passes, a discharging portion on which the sheet having passed on the conveying path and discharged is stacked, and an obstructing member for obstructing the entrance of the conveying path. In a state in which the conveying guide is closed, the sheet conveyed by the pair of conveying rotary members is guided to the conveying path by the conveying guide. In a state in which the conveying guide is closed, the obstructing member is retracted from the entrance of the conveying path, and in a state in which the conveying guide is opened, the obstructing member obstructs the entrance of the conveying path.
US07699311B2 Sheet discriminating apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet discriminating apparatus includes a pair of conveying rotary members for conveying a sheet while rotating with the sheet sandwiched between the pair of conveying rotary members, a vibration detecting sensor for detecting vibrations of the pair of conveying rotary members. The sheet discriminating portion further includes a discriminating portion for making a discrimination in a type of the sheet based on the vibrations detected by the vibration detecting sensor.
US07699309B2 Collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, cardboard and the like
A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.
US07699304B2 Paper feed structure for an image forming apparatus
A paper feed cassette incorporates a storage portion for standard-sized paper and a storage portion for small-sized paper that has an area smaller than the standard-sized paper, further includes paper conveyance paths for guiding the standard-sized paper and small-sized paper from the respective storage portions to an image forming portion, and these paper conveyance paths share a common vertical portion.
US07699303B2 Multimode stack and shingle document feeder
A feeder for feeding media items from a tray includes a first nudger roller and a second nudger roller. The first and the second nudger roller are moveably mounted to the feeder. The first and the second nudger rollers are in a first position when a tray of a first type is connected to said feeder the first and said second nudger rollers are in a second position when a tray of a second type is connected to said feeder. The tray of a first type may be a shingle feed tray and the tray of a second type may be a stacks feed tray. With the shingle feed tray the first position for the first and the second nudger rollers are where each nudger roller engages each media item in a shingles tray when each such media item is positioned in the shingles tray to exit the shingles tray and to be moved from the shingles tray into said feeder. With the stacks feed tray the second position for the first and the second nudger rollers are where the first nudger roller is positioned out of engagement with media items in a stacks tray and the second nudger rollers is positioned to each engage each media item in the stacks tray when each such media item is positioned in said stacks tray to exit the stacks tray and to be moved from the stacks tray into said feeder.
US07699301B2 Printed product processing device with cam lever inhibit mechanism and cam inhibit method
A printed product processing device with an inhibit function for a movable component includes a rotating cam, a cam follower actuating the movable component, a cam follower lever supporting the cam follower, and an actuatable latch lever having a roller for rolling on the cam follower. Also provided is a printed product processing device with an inhibit function for a movable component including a rotating cam, a cam follower actuating the movable component, a cam follower lever supporting the cam follower and an actuatable latch lever, the latch lever having an a latch lever pivot point located within an arc path of the cam follower lever. A method for inhibiting a cam follower from following a cam is also provided.
US07699299B2 Gripping jig for assembling, assembling device, and producing method of assembled body
A gripping jig for assembling applies a force to a molded body in a direction perpendicular to an assembling direction. When an assembling load is applied to the molded body, the force is adjustable with an adjustment screw such that the molded body is guided to move in the assembling direction. Since the force is applied from a direction different from the assembling direction, the molded body can move in the assembling direction, and as the force is adjustable, application of the assembling load to the molded body and movement of the molded body can be adjusted. Since a plurality of molded bodies are fixed and assembled respectively, when there are variations in size of the molded bodies, if an excessive assembling load is applied, each molded body is guided to move, so that more uniform assembling load is applied to the plurality of molded bodies.
US07699296B1 Method and apparatus for an actuator having an intermediate frame
A micromachined actuator including a body or platform mounted to a suspension system anchored to a substrate. In one embodiment, the suspension system is comprised of a set of one or more spring flexures connecting the actuator body to the substrate with strain relief provided via connecting torsional elements. In another embodiment, the suspension system includes a first set of one or more spring flexures each with one end anchored to a largely rigid intermediate frame and the other end attached to the body. A second set of one or more flexures is attached between the intermediate frame and the substrate. A third actuator embodiment maximizes force electrode area to minimize voltage required for electrostatic actuation. A fourth embodiment provides electrical interconnect to an actuator or an actuator array using polysilicon with silicon nitride isolation.
US07699295B2 Ampoule splash guard apparatus
Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for generating a precursor gas used in a vapor deposition process system. The apparatus contains a canister or an ampoule for containing a chemical precursor and a splash guard contained within the ampoule. The splash guard is positioned to obstruct the chemical precursor in a liquid state from being bumped or splashed into a gas outlet during the introduction of a carrier gas into the ampoule. The carrier gas is usually directed into the ampoule through a gas inlet and combines with the vaporized chemical precursor to form a precursor gas. The splash guard is also positioned to permit the passage of the precursor gas from the gas outlet. In one example, the gas outlet contains a stem with a tapered tip and the splash guard is positioned at an angle parallel to the plane of the tapered tip.
US07699294B2 Charge forming device with idle and open throttle choke control
A charge forming device may include a body having a fuel and air mixing passage, a throttle valve and choke valve moveable between first and second positions to control at least in part the fluid flow in the fuel and air mixing passage, and throttle and choke control members associated with the throttle and choke valves, respectively. The choke control member may also be associated with an engine starting system so that the choke valve is moved to its second position upon actuation of the starting system. The choke control member is selectively associated with the throttle control member to hold the choke control member in a position spaced from its first position. In this manner, the throttle valve and choke valve may be automatically positioned in a desired position for starting of the engine upon actuation of the engine starting system.
US07699291B2 Two-part back cap for a plug valve and plug valves incorporating same
A two-part back cap for a plug valve includes a back cap seal body and a back cap retainer nut. The back cap retainer nut secures the back cap seal body within the plug valve and securely supports the back cap seal body. A gap between an outer periphery of the back cap retainer nut and the back cap seal body permits the back cap seal body to flex and expand with a plug valve body of the plug valve. This ensures that the back cap seals are not stressed and a longer service life results.
US07699289B2 Throttle valve for weaving looms
A valve (13a) is described comprising: a housing (50) having a fluid inlet for (54) receiving a flow of compressed fluid and a fluid outlet (55); a flow duct (60) movably mounted with respect to the housing, the duct (62) having a fluid inlet (62) for receiving a flow of compressed fluid and a fluid outlet (65), the fluid outlet being positioned around at least a part of the circumference of the duct and being dimensioned to provide a different flow rate at different sections or positions around the circumference of the duct; the fluid outlet of the housing being alignable with a portion of the fluid outlet of the duct to provide a flow rate related to the relative position of the portion of the fluid outlet of the duct and the fluid outlet of the housing; and, a drive element (70) for moving, e.g. rotating, the duct with respect to the housing such that a desired portion of the fluid outlet of the duct aligns with the fluid outlet of the housing. The valve may operate as a so-called throttle valve. It is an advantage that the valve is quickly movable into a desired relative position in order to regulate fluid flow through the valve. The valve is designed to have a long operational lifetime as, even if the outer surface of the duct wears, the outlet will not substantially change in size and the throttling effect will remain substantially the same.
US07699277B2 Magnetic attachment apparatus
Provided is, among other things, an attachment apparatus that includes an attachment base, a magnet attached to a first side of the attachment base and a clip structure extending from a second side of the attachment base, the second side being opposite the first side. The clip structure, in turn, includes first and second arms which can be resiliently spread apart in order to receive an item and then released in order to close around the item.
US07699273B2 Holding device for accommodating a mobile terminal/screen
There is provided a removable holding device for accommodating a mobile terminal and/or a screen in the passenger region of a vehicle. The holding device comprises at least one bar with a first end for insertion into fitments of a vehicle and a second end for accommodating the mobile terminal and/or the screen. That holding device has proven to be advantageous insofar as it is easy to remove/insert.
US07699266B2 Sealing system for the gap existing between the fuselage and the elevator of an aircraft with orientable horizontal stabilizer
A sealing system for a gap (2) existing between the fuselage (3) and the elevator (4) of a orientable horizontal stabilizer (5) of an aircraft, comprises a main body (1) formed by an upper surface (18) and a lower surface (19) and at least one longitudinal vertical element (22) arranged between the two surfaces (18,19) which grants rigidity to the main body (1), and a plurality of first elastic sealing profiles (9) between the first surface (11) of the main body (1) and the outer surface of the fuselage (3) and making contact with them, and a plurality of second elastic sealing profiles (13) between the second surface (12) of the main body (1) and the first end of the elevator (15) and making contact with them, in such a way that the sealing of the gap (2) takes place and an aerodynamic continuity is produced between the fuselage (3) and the elevator (4) when the elevator (4) is at rest in the plane of the orientable horizontal stabilizer (5) for any of the orientation positions of the orientable horizontal stabilizer (5).
US07699262B2 Detachable hydrofoil trim tabs for use with seaplane floats for assisting with lower speed on-plane condition and stability during step turning/chine walk manuevers
A hydrofoil trim tab for use with each of a pair of seaplane floats, each tab including a substantially planar shaped body secured to an inside facing location of each float such that a pair of tab bodies are arrayed in opposing and inwardly directed fashion relative to the floats. Each tab is further constructed as a two piece article, a first portion being either mechanically secured or welded to the surface of the float, with a second portion being releasably/breakaway attached to the first portion, such as by frangible fasteners engaging a slidably connection location between the portions. In this fashion, inadvertent breakage of a trim tab at the frangible location will prevent damage to the float.
US07699261B2 Small unmanned airborne vehicle airframe
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is designed for low-speed, low altitude, long endurance missions typical to UAVs of this size and class. The UAV structure is configured to be substantially impervious to small arms fire and to have a very small representative radar cross-section. The UAV is modular such that the main wings and tail wing assembly are quickly and easily, detached from the fuselage for ease of transport and to provide an airframe that is quickly and easily adapted to any particular mission.
US07699260B2 Vertical takeoff and landing aircraft using a redundant array of independent rotors
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, using for vertical lift and lateral thrust a redundant plurality of essentially similar electrically-powered and electronically-controlled thrust units mounted in a mechanically static or fixed fashion relative to one another in a substantially horizontal plane. The thrust units are situated in this planar array in aerodynamically approximate pairs, such that a complete failure of a single thrust unit would not substantially compromise the ability of the aircraft to maintain flight.
US07699259B2 Apparatus for dispensing and tensioning wire
An apparatus for dispensing and tensioning wire from a coil, the apparatus comprising a frame (1) for attaching to a vehicle, means (19) for mounting at least one coil of wire for rotation, a lever arm member (21) pivotally mounted with respect to the frame and having a guide (27, 29) co-operable with the wire in use, and a play-out path for the wire defined between an abutment (13) of the frame and an abutment (33) carried by the lever arm member, the lever arm having a first operative position in which the respective abutments are spaced apart to allow play-out of the wire around said guide, and the lever arm having a second operative position in which it is moveable pivotably about said pivot point to cause wire to be trapped between the respective abutments.
US07699257B2 Dual bearing reel handle shaft structure
A handle shaft support structure rotatably supports a handle shaft on a reel unit, and includes a boss portion, a roller type one-way clutch, and a pair of seal members. The boss portion is a cylindrical member that is detachably mounted to the reel unit. The one-way clutch includes an outer ring that is non-rotatably coupled to the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion, an inner ring that is arranged on the outer periphery of the handle shaft and is integrally rotatably coupled to the handle shaft, and rolling elements that are arranged between the outer and inner rings. The one-way clutch supports the handle shaft rotatably only in one direction. The pair of seal members are members that are arranged on the both sides of the one-way clutch to seal the one-way clutch.
US07699255B2 Disc mill assembly for pulverizing system
A disc mill assembly for a pulverizing system includes: a flywheel, a water jacket, two disc blades, and two ring clamps. In alternate embodiments, the disc mill assembly also includes: an air inlet to provide input air from an external air supply and an improved blade height adjustment mechanism. A disc blade is also provided. The disc blade is a single member with a central aperture that is the only through hole in the blade. Users may cost-effectively adopt a disposal versus sharpening policy for replacement of the disc blade. A method for controlling a temperature of material in a disc mill assembly having first and second disc blades is provided. The method includes: directing an adjustable input air stream, directing material to be ground, monitoring the temperature of the material, and controlling the air stream directing and/or the material directing in response to the temperature monitoring.
US07699252B2 Outlet device of a grinder
A grinder includes a body, which has a holding room in a bottom portion thereof; the grinder includes a rotating operational component on an upper end of the body, and a grinding mechanism in an upper portion of the holding room; the rotating operational component and the grinding mechanism are coupled by means of a transmission rod; the bottom portion of the grinder body has several outlet holes on a peripheral side for the holding room to communicate with an outside; a stopping board is secured over a lower end of the holding room of the grinder body so as to seal up the lower end of the holding room; the user is allowed to tilt the grinder to make ground seasoning fall out through the outlet holes; seasoning won't fall out of the holding room to dirty the table even if the grinder is subjected to external force accidentally.
US07699239B2 Retro-reflective system for increasing safety of a railroad crossing, and associated method
A retro-reflective system for increasing the safety of a railroad crossing includes at least one railroad crossing panel. A sealer is applied to a prepared surface of the railroad crossing panel. An adhesive applied over the sealer after the sealer is partially cured adheres a retro-reflective material thereto. The retro-reflective material increases visibility of the railroad crossing. Anti-skid elements may also be applied over the adhesive, to provide enhanced traction for vehicles or pedestrians traversing the railroad crossing.
US07699238B2 Condensate drainage with maintenance interface
The present invention relates to a steam trap for draining off condensate from a collecting chamber in which condensate resulting in a pressure gas system is collected, the collecting chamber being pressurized by a gas pressure which, depending upon the operating state of the pressure gas system, may be a negative pressure below the atmospheric pressure, an overpressure above the atmospheric pressure or an atmospheric pressure itself. The steam trap may be separated via an interface into an integral first assembly unit and an integral maintenance assembly unit which comprises the essential wear and tear parts.
US07699235B2 RFID tag, RFID-tag antenna, RFID-tag antenna sheet, and method of manufacturing RFID tag
A radio-frequency-identification tag antenna includes a film base, a plurality of antenna patterns for transmission and reception, which is formed in parallel on the film base, and a cut line that is formed on the film base between adjacent antenna patterns along the antenna patterns from an inside to an outer edge of the film base. A part of the film base on which the antenna patterns are formed is folded or bent in a predetermined direction using the cut line.
US07699231B2 Reader/writer and mobile communication apparatus
A non-contact reader/writer for an IC card includes an antenna substrate provided with a loop antenna and a capacitor on its upper surface, a control substrate provided with a transmitting/receiving circuit and a chip coil on its upper surface, and a magnetic sheet disposed between the antenna substrate and the control substrate. A magnetic flux generated by the chip coil on the control substrate passes through the loop antenna to cause magnetic coupling, so that the loop antenna and the transmitting/receiving circuit need not be connected to each other through a communication cable.
US07699229B2 Laptop based television remote control
A laptop that interacts with a television system. At least one module may be adapted to receive a user input identifying a video selection. The at least one module may also be adapted to display video information corresponding to the video selection. The at least one module may further be adapted to transmit a control signal adapted to cause the display of video information corresponding to the video selection on the television system. The laptop may, for example, be adapted to receive television system setting information and provide for user control of various television system settings. Also for example, the laptop may be adapted to receive media guide information, present such information to a user, provide for user selection of a media element, and transmit a control signal adapted to cause delivery of the selected media element from a multimedia source to the television system.
US07699228B2 Information providing system, information providing apparatus, information providing method, portable terminal, information outputting method, and computer program
An information providing system includes a portable terminal including an IC chip, and an information providing apparatus that carries out wireless communications with the IC chip and includes a browser that reads content and outputs the content on a screen based on screen-output control information embedded in the content data and defines an output format or a data structure of the content, and a wireless communication unit that carries out wireless communications with the IC chip. In the content data, transmission target information to be transmitted to the portable terminal, and transmission control information instructing transmission of the transmission target information, are also embedded. The browser instructs the wireless communication unit to transmit the transmission target information to the portable terminal, and the wireless communication unit transmits the transmission target information to the IC chip based on the instruction.
US07699227B2 Optical reader
An optical reader comprising: an image sensor array for converting light from a target into output signals representative thereof, the image sensor array having a centerline; a processor for decoding a machine readable symbology within the target derived from the output signals; receive optics for directing light from the target to the image sensor, the optics having a receive optics optical axis, wherein the image sensor array and receive optics are configured such that the centerline is not coincident with the optical axis.
US07699224B2 Device provided with means for maintenance against a communication surface of a contactless data medium
The invention relates to a device (10) comprising a housing wherein a communication station is accommodated, said communication station comprising an inner antenna (12), wherein the housing comprises a wall (14) which has a transversal outer communication surface (16) which is generally vertical and which is fitted close to the inner antenna (12) and which is permeable in relation to electromagnetic waves, wherein the inner antenna (12) can communicate electromagnetically (E) in a remote manner with a data medium (18), more particularly in the form of a card, when a user places the data medium (18) against the outer communication surface (16), characterized in that the communication surface (16) comprises means (22) for maintaining the data medium (18) in a pressed position in relation to the communication surface (16).
US07699223B2 Retail information collection
An apparatus for collecting and transmitting a retail data comprising a barcode data of the products purchased over each transaction. The apparatus comprises a terminal device that has loaded onto it a retail information collection application that receives, stores, processes, and transmits the retail data. Financial data such as credit card numbers and personal identification numbers are removed from the retail data before it is encrypted and transmitted over a network to a retail database. Clients including but not limited to goods suppliers and goods manufacturers may view retail data, including sales history and sales performance, on one or more products.
US07699221B2 Systems and methods for performing a simplified risk assessment
Systems and methods for performing a simplified risk assessment are provided. A historical transaction value for past transactions associated with related promissory payments is maintained. A request is received from a merchant to determine authorization of a financial transaction associated with a proffered promissory payment. The historical transaction value associated with the related promissory payments is accessed and determination, based on the historical transaction value, of whether to authorize the financial transaction based on a risk score or whether to authorize the financial transaction based on data stored in a negative database is made.
US07699215B2 Gusseted carton
A carton includes a bottom receptacle defined in part by the bottom panel, the side panels, and gusseted end panels. The bottom receptacle can be constructed without glue seals so that the receptacle is liquid-tight.
US07699214B2 Carton with recloseable lid
A carton includes a pivoting recloseable lid that is easy to open and recluse. The recloseable lid includes a breachable closure aperture section that can be adapted to receive a portion of a bag or other flexible container accommodated within the carton. When the lid is opened, the contents of the flexible container can be dispensed.
US07699210B2 Soldering an electronics package to a motherboard
In some example embodiments, a method includes engaging a first contact on a motherboard with a second contact on an electronic package. A portion of one of the first and second contacts is covered with an interlayer that has a lower melting temperature than both of the first and second contacts. The method further includes bonding the first contact to the second contact by melting the interlayer to diffuse the interlayer into the first and second contacts. The bonded first and second contacts have a higher melting temperature than the interlayer before melting. In other example embodiments, an electronic assembly includes a motherboard having a first contact that is bonded to a second contact on an electronic package. An interlayer is diffused within the first and second contacts such that they have a higher melting temperature than the interlayer before the interlayer is diffused into the first and second contacts.
US07699209B2 Wire bonding apparatus, record medium storing bonding control program, and bonding method
A bonding method involving detection of non-bonding of a bonding wire to a first bonding point, the method including an electrical non-bonding detection step and an optical non-bonding detection step, wherein data on whether the respective first bonding points are predetermined bonding points where an electrical non-bonding detection is not applicable are acquired from a memory unit; and when it is determined that a first bonding point is the predetermined bonding point, a non-bonding verification on the first bonding point is executed in the optical non-bonding detection step, and when the first bonding point is not the predetermined bonding point, then non-bonding detection on the first bonding point is executed in the electrical non-bonding detection step.
US07699206B2 Gimballing roller device for friction stir welding apparatus and method
A friction stir welding (FSW) apparatus has an FSW tool adapted for joining work pieces supportable against a backing anvil. The FSW apparatus comprises a pair of clamping rollers maintained in substantially perpendicular relationship to the backing anvil as the FSW tool moves along the tool path. A roller pivot joint of the FSW apparatus maintains a cylindrical roller outer surface of each clamping roller in substantially parallel relationship to the top sides of the work pieces. The roller pivot joint may include a gimballing roller bearing to which the clamping roller is mounted. The roller bearing is universally movable in a variety of directions to maintain the perpendicular relationship of the clamping rollers relative to the backing anvil.
US07699205B2 Surgical fastener applying apparatus with controlled beam deflection
A surgical fastener applying apparatus including an anvil half-section having a distal end and a longitudinal axis; a cartridge receiving half-section having a distal end and operatively couplable with the anvil half-section such that the distal ends of the half-sections are in juxtaposed relation; and a deflection control system operatively engaged with and reinforcing the distal end of the anvil half-section when a force is applied to the distal end of the anvil half-section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US07699202B2 Continuous feed cap mechanism
A continuous cap feed mechanism for use with fastener driving device includes a housing for receiving a coiled strip of interconnected caps removably mounted the fastener driving device. The housing includes a passageway for guiding the strip of caps from the coil to a position beneath a fastener to be driven by the fastener driving device and an advancing mechanism for moving the leading cap on said strip from the passage to the position beneath the fastener to be driven after the fastener driving device drives a prior fastener into a cap and as it is moved away from the previously driven fastener. The advancing mechanism includes a driver movably mounted in the housing for movement between an extended and retracted position adjacent the location on the fastener driving device at which the fastener driving device drives fasteners. The driver is moved from its extended to its retracted position as it engages a work piece to which a cap is to be fastened is biased towards its extended position and includes a pusher mechanism for engaging a cap in the strip in the housing and urging the strip in the passageway towards the fastener driving device as the driver returns to its extended position when the housing is moved away from the work piece.
US07699198B2 Attachment mechanism for use with a portable electronic device, and method of manufacturing same
An attachment mechanism for use with a portable electronic device (101) includes a case (110) having a first surface (211) and a second surface (111), where the first surface and the second surface define therebetween a space (105) capable of receiving the portable electronic device. The attachment mechanism further includes a clip (120) attached to the second surface of the case. The clip includes a body (221) adjacent to the second surface, a first extension (222) spaced apart from and extending toward the second surface, and a second extension (223) also spaced apart from and extending toward the second surface. The second piece creates a first pocket (231) between the case and the clip, and the second piece creates a second pocket (232) between the case and the clip.
US07699196B2 Property evidence bag
A property and evidence bag comprising a deployable inner bag inside a pouch attached typically to the belt of an officer. The inner bag can be deployed and expands from its folded compact state inside the pouch. It is partially attached to the pouch and deploys by pulling a tab. Property and evidence can be placed in the inner bag and its opening can be secured using one hand by pulling on a draw string at its opening. This allows the officer to safely secure property and evidence found during an arrest while at the same time holding the arrestee at bay. After the arrestee is seated in the patrol car, the property and evidence found during the search of the arrestee's pockets can be itemized.
US07699194B2 Method and machine for treating textile articles
Textile articles to be treated are fed on to shapes fitted to supporting members. Gliding independently each other on a platform of the boarding or semi-boarding machine, and positioned in mutual contact at respective sides along a polygonal pathway defined by a guiding device. The supporting members are transported in step along the polygonal pathway, by the engagement with a towing device acting independently at each linear stretch of the polygonal pathway, so that in each step at least one position at the concurrence of two linear stretches of the polygonal pathway is maintained unoccupied. At least one of the supporting members, on which the textile articles to be treated are fed, is arranged in a halt position upstream from a semi-boarding station and then is moved to take the shapes into the semi-boarding station. After the semi-boarding treatment, this supporting member is transferred to a station where the textile articles, treated, are extracted from the shapes.
US07699193B2 Self-closing valve
The invention relates to a self-closing valve for the dispensing of flowable media from a container comprising a curved membrane, a support segment, a connecting wall as well as a slitting provided in said membrane.
US07699192B2 Discharge device with a metered dose valve
A discharge device with a metered dose valve is proposed. The metered dose valve comprises an inlet valve, a metering chamber and an outlet valve. In order to allow discharge of fluid from the metering chamber in multiple steps, a user can depress and release an actuation member multiple times in a selected discharge state wherein refill of the metering chamber with new liquid is prevented.
US07699189B2 Dispenser assembly for dispensing gloves including glove positioner
A dispensing assembly adapted for dispensing gloves, which includes a dispenser. The dispenser has a housing which forms an inner surface and an internal compartment configured to hold a stack of gloves, and at least one dispensing opening. A stack of gloves disposed in the dispenser on a glove positioner and the glove positioner biases the stack of gloves toward the dispensing opening and a portion of the housing such that the glove positioner controls the stack of gloves and space in the internal compartment of the dispenser to prevent gloves from moving out of the stack and into the space to permit easy and reliable withdrawal of each glove therefrom.
US07699186B2 Collapsible structures
Structures are provided that have an enclosed interior space that can be used to hold and contain water or other matter. The interior space is defined by an enclosing wall and a base that are both waterproof to prevent leakage of the water or matter contained in the interior space. None, one or more frame members can be provided as part of the enclosing wall and the base, or a frame member can be provided as part of a rim member. The frame members can be foldable to allow the resulting structure to be twisted and folded to reduce the overall size of the structure.
US07699182B2 Container having broad shoulder and narrow waist
The invention relates to a plastic container having a neck, shoulder, base and body portion. There are longitudinal base panel portions with rounded, longitudinal base panel edges separating each of said flattened portions from each other at a waist. The waist has a circumferential dimension less than the base and is positioned between the body portion and the base. The body portion is positioned between the waist and the circular shoulder and has flexible, substantially flat longitudinal body panels and rounded, longitudinal body panel edges separating adjacent body panels from each other and merging with the longitudinal panel edges of said base. The longitudinal body edges increase in width as the body longitudinally merges with the circular shoulder portion, and the circular shoulder portion has a rounded portion transitioning into and merging with the body panels, and a sloping portion of reducing diameter merging with the neck.
US07699176B2 Tool box with pivotable storage racks
A tool box includes a cover pivotably connected to a base, at least one torsion spring is located between the cover and the base to maintain the cover at opened status when in use. A magnetic member is connected to an inside of the cover so that the user can position the spare bits by the magnetic member. A plurality of storage racks are pivotably connected to the base so as to receive bits and tools, the storage racks are cooperated with torsion springs so that when the cover is opened, the storage racks are pivoted an angle.
US07699173B2 Child resistant blister package
The invention provides a substantially child resistant package. A gate panel (110) and a tab panel (130) are secured to an aperture panel (130). At least one aperture (123) is formed on the aperture panel. At least one gate (114) is formed on the gate panel and is aligned with the aperture when the gate panel is in contact with the aperture panel. At least one partially detachable tab (136) is formed on the tab panel and is aligned with the gate when the tab panel is in contact with the gate panel. In an exemplary package, a blister is aligned with and secured to the aperture panel. The gate panel is folded and secured to the aperture panel and blister package. The tab panel is folded and covers at least some portion of the gate panel.
US07699172B2 Stacking delivery tray
A two position stacking delivery tray is provided which is capable of stacking with itself, and also stacking with existing single position stacking delivery trays. A single uneven upstanding tongue is positioned along a top edge of each of a first side wall and a second side wall. The uneven upstanding tongue defines a first engagement with peaks and valleys. Tongue receivers are positioned in the bottom defining an uneven groove adapted to mate with a single upstanding tongue of an underlying tray having a single stacking product height position. The uneven groove defines a second engagement with peaks and valleys. The peaks and valleys of the first engagement and the second engagement are asymmetrically positioned, so as to provide two stacking product height positions by relative rotation of stacking trays by 180 degrees.
US07699165B2 Multipurpose organizer system and folder with planner and/or writing surface and storage pockets
An organizer system comprising: (A) an organizer folder having front and back covers, optionally at least one page positioned between the front and back covers and at least one of the following components associated with at least one surface of the front or back covers or the at least one page: (1) a planner having planning diagram associated with the at least one surface, and at least one object that is repositionable on the planning diagram; or (2) at least one pocket for storing materials; (B) a self-standing folder holder having a receptacle for receiving at least one folder in a stored configuration; and (C) a carrier having a receptacle for receiving at least one holder in a stored configuration and a handle for grasping by the user. The organizer folder can be used with the organizer system, or separate from the organizer system, and can comprise: (1) a front cover; (2) a back cover; (3) optionally at least one page positioned between the front and back covers; (4) a planner associated with at least one side of the front cover, the back cover or the at least one page, and comprising a planning diagram associated with the at least one side, and optionally at least one object that is repositionable on the planning diagram, or at least one erasable writing surface; and (5) at least one pocket for storing materials associated with at least one side of the front cover, the back cover or the at least one page.
US07699161B2 Ophthalmic lens package with internal drainage member
An ophthalmic lens package comprises a shell having an internal cavity accessible through an opening in the shell and a drainage member that divides the internal chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The drainage member is permeable to aqueous liquids and is arranged to allow drainage of liquid from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. This arrangement of the ophthalmic lens package allows the consumer to retrieve the lens from the upper chamber without handling any significant amount of saline solution.
US07699160B2 Conveyor comprising a plurality of hinged modules and means for avoiding axial displacement of the module hinge pins
A conveyor comprising a plurality of modules (1) arranged one after the other, each of said modules comprising two parallel front and rear walls (2,3), two parallel lateral walls (17) and a top and bottom surface (15) and projecting from said front and rear wall a plurality of module link ends (4), the module ends (4) of one module intermeshing with the module ends of the previous and successive modules, said module ends (4) including coaxially aligned openings (5) adapted to receive a transverse pin (6) for realisably joining said modules, said pin (6) comprising a first cylindrically shaped portion (7) extending in said openings (5) and a second portion (8), radially departing from one end of said first portion, said pin being rotatable, about a longitudinal axis (L) of said first portion (7) of the pin (6), between a first position (F) not restricting the axial movement of said pin (6) in said openings (5) and a second position (R) restricting said axial movement, a lateral portion (9) of each of said modules (1) comprising a seat (10) for housing and for restricting axial movement of said second portion (8) of the pin (6) when the pin is rotated in said second position (R), said seat (10) comprising a passage (13) for introducing in said seat at least a part of said second portion (8) of the pin (6), wherein said seat (10) and said pin (6) comprise means (11A, 11B) for releasably preventing the displacement of said second portion (8) of the pin (6) from said second position (R), in that said seat (10) is provided in a lateral bottom portion (9) of the module (1), and in that said passage (13) extends from a part (14) of the bottom surface (15) of the module (1) to a part (16) of one of said walls (2, 3), from which said link ends (4) project, provided near one of said lateral walls (17).
US07699157B2 Safety arrangement
A safety arrangement for use with a piece of equipment. The safety arrangement includes a signal generating unit for generating an optical signal, an elongate element, and a signal detecting unit. The elongate element is disposed along, about, around or through the piece of equipment and is capable of transmitting an optical signal. The signal detecting unit detects an optical signal. The signal generating unit is connected to the signal detecting unit by the elongate element such that the signal detecting unit is in optical communication with the signal detecting unit. The signal detecting unit is arranged to detect a change in the optical signal transmitted by the elongate element as a consequence of movement of the elongate element and, upon detection of the change in the signal, the detecting unit is configured to effect a change in the operation of the piece of equipment.
US07699152B2 Device for discriminating valuable papers with low power consumption
A device for discriminating valuable papers comprises a battery 1; a self-holding circuit 5 connected between battery 1 and drive controller 2 and capable of being switched between an active condition for supplying electric power to validation sensor 4 and drive controller 2 from battery 1 and an inactive condition for interrupting the power supply; a trigger element 6 for switching self-holding circuit 5 in the inactive condition to the active condition; and a shutoff circuit 7 having a control terminal connected to drive controller 2 for switching self-holding circuit 5 in the active condition to the inactive condition. Inactive condition of self-holding circuit 5 during the disuse period, saves electric power to extend service life and exchange cycle of battery 1.
US07699151B2 Clutch actuator, engine unit, and saddle type vehicle
A clutch actuator comprises a clutch motor comprising motor shaft. The clutch actuator also comprises a worm shaft that is spline connected to the motor shaft. The rotary motion of the worm shaft 103 is transferred to a worm wheel 105, which is engaged with the worm shaft 103. The worm shaft 103 has a threaded portion 103c. The threaded portion 103c comprises multiple threads.
US07699147B2 Regulated dashpot with shock-absorption force controls
A regulable dashpot with shock-absorption force controls, especially intended for motor vehicles, with at least one flow-regulating system including one or more shock-absorption components for the compression phase and/or for the decompression phase. The object is to allow the dashpot to shift continuously between the hard and soft phases, whereby the valve-adjustment intervals can be varied at intervals that are not unnecessarily short or even unattainable. At least one valve assembly is accordingly supplied with variable flow impedance by a regulating valve (5 or 6).
US07699146B1 Suspension damper having inertia valve and user adjustable pressure-relief
A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools.
US07699145B2 Elevator disk brake with damping
An elevator brake assembly (16) includes a plate (26) having damper assemblies (28) including at least one spring (30) for controlling movement of the plate (26) relative to a magnetic field generator (20). A biasing member (36) forces the plate (26) into engagement with a disk (22) fixed to a rotating shaft (18). A force created by the magnetic field generator (20) overcomes force of the biasing member (32) to draw the plate (26) into contact with the magnetic field generator (20). The impact between the plate (26) and the magnetic field generator (20) is controlled by the damping assembly (28) to substantially reduce impact noise.
US07699144B2 Active brake release device driven by a second motor and attached to the exterior of a door controller
An active break release device externally attached to a door controller. The door controller includes a housing for receiving a first motor which rotates a rotary shaft to reel the door; a braking device installed around the periphery of the rotary shaft. The active break release device comprises: at least a brake releasing rod, one end of which is to activate the braking device while the other end of which extends to the outside of the door controller; at least a second motor, for moving the other end of the brake releasing rod; a circuit having a backup power source used to temperately supply electricity to the second motor if electricity fails, so that the one end releases the braking.
US07699137B2 Motor-driven steering controller and automobile anti-skid controller
A motor-driven steering controller for controlling a steering wheel of a vehicle. The controller includes a steering torque controlling unit, a braking force estimating unit, a right and left braking force difference estimating unit and an assist steering torque providing unit. The steering torque controlling unit controls a steering torque on the steering wheel depending on a steering operation. The braking force estimating unit estimates braking forces to be imposed on wheels of the vehicle. The right and left braking force difference estimating unit estimates difference between the braking forces to be imposed on the right and left wheels each estimated by the braking forces estimating unit. The assist steering torque providing unit provides an assist steering torque for the steering torque controlling unit on the basis of the difference in braking force between right and left wheels estimated by the right and left braking force difference estimating unit.
US07699134B2 Motorcycle exhaust system
A motorcycle has an exhaust system configured to extend below the engine while providing a sufficient length and a sufficient angle of through which the motorcycle can lean. A muffler unit comprises a first muffler connected with the exhaust pipe unit and disposed between the engine and a rear wheel. The muffler unit also comprises a second muffler that is connected with the first muffler and that is disposed near the side of the rear wheel. The first muffler comprises inclined portions that are formed on the left and right sides of the first muffler when viewed from the front of the vehicle. The second muffler has inclined portions that extend at an angle approximately equal to that of the inclined portions of the first muffler.
US07699132B2 Motorcycle body frame structure
To ensure that a down frame in an off-road motorcycle body frame is lightweight, rigid and easy to weld, a down frame extending downward obliquely and backward from a main frame ahead of an engine is divided along its length into a down frame front portion and a down frame rear portion. Welding joins these portions, which abut each other in the longitudinal direction. The down frame front portion is a pipe wrought product formed by extrusion molding and the down frame rear portion is a casting. Since the down frame is welded along a straight welding line extending along its length, welding is easy. Since a main joint and a lower joint are provided integrally with the down frame rear portion as a casting, a separate gusset can be omitted.
US07699127B2 Hydrogen fill inlet structure for fuel cell vehicle
A hydrogen fill inlet structure for a fuel cell vehicle includes a hydrogen cylinder for filling hydrogen gas from a hydrogen fill inlet. A fuel cell is provided for generating electrical power utilizing hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen cylinder. A motor is provided for generating propulsive power for supply to a drive wheel based on electrical power generated from the fuel cell. The hydrogen fill inlet is separate from a source port of the hydrogen cylinder, and is installed in the vicinity of the source port. The hydrogen fill inlet structure may be installed within the diameter of the hydrogen cylinder as viewed axially along the tank. In addition, a cover member is provided for covering the hydrogen cylinder. A lid is installed on a section in proximity to the source port and hydrogen fill inlet of the cover member.
US07699125B2 Worm and collar drive drill rig
A drilling or service rig includes a worm drive disposed within and rotatably supported within a mast having one open side. The worm drive defines a helical groove, and a collar is disposed on the worm drive and engages the helical groove. Rotation of the worm drive causes movement of the collar upwards or downwards along the worm drive. The collar may support a block and top drive assembly.
US07699119B1 Auger quick coupler
A coupler for securing an auger and/or extension piece(s) to a PTO shaft. In one construction, a threaded PTO collar mounts to a PTO shaft and mates with a suitable length stub shaft and captured, knurled hand nut mounted to an auger. The stub shaft indexes in non-rotational engagement to the PTO collar. In another construction, a PTO collar provides several detents that interconnect with resiliently biased projections at an auger collar. A hand piece maintains the connection. In other embodiments, key(s) at the PTO shaft mate in non-rotational engagement with keyway(s) at an auger and a resilient member latches the non-rotational connection. Shaped PTO shaft surfaces and complementary auger coupler surfaces can be included with the later couplers to enhance the connection.
US07699117B2 Fire protection sprinkler system and related apparatus
A nondestructive retrofit fire sprinkler protection system including a sprinkler fitting with a unique shape that inserts behind a wall surface and that securely connects a sprinkler head emerging from a wall location to preferably concealed sprinkler piping located in a room at a point where the ceiling surface meets a wall surfaces. In addition, a room coupler fitting is adapted to be inserted between wall structures to connect sprinkler piping in adjacent rooms.
US07699115B2 Method for applying an annular seal to a tubular element
A method is provided of applying an annular seal to a tubular element (7) for use in a wellbore (1). The method comprises the steps of: a) providing at least one flexible seal layer (20) at the wellbore site, each seal layer having a pair of opposite longitudinal edges movable relative to each other between an open position wherein the seal layer can be radially applied to the tubular element, and a closed position wherein the seal layer extends substantially around the tubular element, the seal layer being made material susceptible of swelling upon contact with a selected fluid; b) partially lowering the tubular element (7) into the wellbore (1); c) radially applying the seal layer (20) in the open position thereof to a portion of the tubular element extending above the wellbore; d) moving the seal layer (20) to the closed position thereof; and e) further lowering the tubular element (7) with the seal layer (20) applied thereto into the wellbore (1) until the seal layer is located at a selected location in the wellbore (1).
US07699107B2 Mechanical and fluid jet drilling method and apparatus
A device useful for conducting lateral or transverse excavating operations within a wellbore comprising a rotating drill bit with jet nozzles on a flexible arm. The arm can retract within the housing of the device during deployment within the wellbore, and can be extended from within the housing in order to conduct excavation operations. A fluid pressure source for providing ultra high pressure to the jet nozzles can be included with the device within the wellbore. The device includes a launch mechanism that supports the arm during the extended position and a positioning gear to aid during the extension and retraction phases of operation of the device.
US07699105B2 Gravel/frac packing
Methods, systems, and tools for provide for delivering a particulate-laden slurry to a subterranean portion of a well for operations including gravel packing and/or frac packing.
US07699104B2 Integrated system and method for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)-heavy oil production using low quality fuel and low quality water
A process for producing steam for extracting heavy bitumen includes the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel, the fuel being crude oil, vacuum residue, Asphaltin, or coke with an oxidation gas, the gas being oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combusting the mixture under high pressure and high temperature and mixing low quality contaminated water containing organics and inorganic with the combusted mixture so as to control combustion temperature and to generate steam. The liquid phase is transferred to a gas phase so as to contain steam and carbon dioxide. The solids are separated from the gas phase. The super heated dry steam and gas mixture is ejected into an underground reservoir.
US07699099B2 Modified Christmas tree components and associated methods for using coiled tubing in a well
A Christmas tree is used between production tubing elevation and flow line elevation. The tree has a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper portion. The intermediate portion is positioned between the production tubing elevation and the flow line elevation and has an axial dimension configured to substantially maintain the axial dimension between the elevations. The intermediate portion has first and second shut-off valves for closing fluid communication of the axial bore. A hanger is positioned in the axial bore of the intermediate portion between the first and second shut-off valves. The hanger defines a bore and a port. The port communicates a side of the hanger with the lower end of the hanger. The coil tubing attaches to the port at the lower end of the hanger, and the port at the side of the hanger communicates with the feed line of the intermediate portion.
US07699098B2 Apparatus for stabbing pipe when using an iron roughneck
Drilling apparatus for receiving, moving and aligning pipe sections as they are added to a string of pipe on a drilling rig when using an iron roughneck. After the iron roughneck is moved to well centerline and engaged with the box connection of the pipe suspended in the well bore, a hydraulically controlled pipe engagement mechanism is extended radially away from the iron roughneck and in the general direction of the pipe rack. The pipe engaging mechanism receives the lower end of the next stand of pipe to be added and is hydraulically retracted to lock around the pipe stand and bring the pipe stand into alignment with the pipe string suspended in the well bore.
US07699092B2 Metal-molding system and process for making foamed alloy
Disclosed is: (i) a metal injection-molding system, (ii) a metal injection-molding system including a combining chamber, (iii) a metal injection-molding system including a first injection mechanism and a second injection mechanism, (iv) a metal injection-molding system including a first injection mechanism being co-operable with a second injection mechanism, (v) a mold of a metal injection-molding system, and (vi) a method of a metal injection-molding system.
US07699090B2 Drapery master carrier with automatic disengager
A disengageable master carrier assembly for a motor driven drapery is provided, having a master carrier block section and a locking block section. The locking block section has entrance ramps and a detent pocket sized to receive an engagement member mounted to the master carrier block section. The master carrier block assembly has a support arm for supporting a leading edge of drapery fabric, the support arm being supported by a first resilient member. The engagement member is sized for fitting into the detent pocket of the locking block member and is resiliently urged by a second resilient member disposed between a movable portion of the support arm and the engagement member such that the engagement member will be displaced into its engaged position in the detent pocket when the engagement member is aligned with the detent pocket and will be moved to its disengaged position when the support arm is moved to its disengaged position.
US07699089B2 Power-operated folding door
Two or more panels of a power-operated folding door are supported by a novel articulated arm assembly that ensures that the door closes tightly against a wall-mounted seal and easily opens. The articulated arm assembly includes a connector with two spaced-apart pivot points about which two adjoining arms of the assembly can rotate as the door opens and closes. The two pivot points allow the panels to readily fold up and store more compactly when the door is open. To provide an airtight seal where two leading panels come together at the center of the doorway, one or more control mechanisms coupled to the articulated arm assembly ensure that the leading panels overlap when the door is closed.
US07699087B2 Method for mounting a pneumatic tire
Method for mounting a pneumatic tire on a well base rim of a motor vehicle wheel, in which the pneumatic tire is grasped by means of a manipulator, brought up to a rim held in a clamping device and slipped with at least the one tire bead facing the rim over a rim flange by controlled movement of the manipulator.
US07699086B2 Apparatus and method for arranging a spacer
An apparatus for arranging a spacer includes a substrate, a roller, and an adhesion unit. The substrate includes a recessed portion. A spacer, which maintains a cell gap of a display panel and has an adhesive member formed thereon, is received in the recessed portion. The roller corresponds to the spacer. The roller makes contact with an exposed portion of the adhesive member. The adhesion unit provides for an adhesive strength between the exposed portion of the adhesive member and the roller that exceeds an adhesive strength between the received portion of the adhesive member and the recessed portion of the substrate so that the spacer may be printed on the roller. Therefore, a cell gap uniformity of a display device may be improved.
US07699085B2 Laminating apparatus
There is provided a laminating apparatus laminating an object to be laminated in a laminating part which has a diaphragm on an upper side and a heater panel on a lower side, by melting a filler in the object to be laminated and pressing the object to be laminated sandwiched between the diaphragm and the heater panel, the apparatus including: a sheet conveying the object to be laminated placed thereon to/out of the laminating part; and a lift mechanism lifting up/down a support part capable of supporting the sheet from the lower side.
US07699083B1 Golf club head cover with magnetic closure
A golf club head cover is provided with an essentially flexible, non-rigid material construction forming a cavity therein. An elongate opening is provided to the cavity, wherein the opening has a non-linear configuration when the opening is in either the open position, closed position, or both. A seam extends adjacent both edges of the opening forming piping edges next to the opening. A flexible magnetic strip is positioned within the entire length of each of the piping edges adjacent the opening. The flexible magnetic strips are a continuous flat or cylindrical strip that curve around the non-linear configuration of the opening. The strips having magnetic properties along the entire length of the strips.
US07699082B2 Electric multi-pencil sharpener
An electric multi-pencil sharpener includes an entering pencil vase, a sending mechanism, a hustling mechanism, a sharpening mechanism, and an exit pencil vase. The entering pencil vase includes a pushing mechanism for pushing pencils. The hustling mechanism is for clamping pencils to take the pencils into or out of the sharpening mechanism. The sharpening mechanism is for sharpening the pencils. The exit pencil vase has an exit mechanism. The sending mechanism connects the pushing mechanism, the hustling mechanism, and the exit mechanism, to move the pencils from the pushing mechanism to the hustling mechanism and move the pencils sharpened by the sharpening mechanism to the exit mechanism.
US07699076B2 Valve assembly
A valve assembly for plumbing installations. The valve assembly has a unitary valve body with three interconnected ports and a fluid control mechanism. Connector portions are formed about each port of the unitary valve body to thereby enable connection of the valve assembly into a fluid supply line and for connecting an appliance and various devices and fluid lines to the valve assembly. The fluid control mechanism of the valve assembly is constructed to direct fluid through the valve body and to enable the fluid flow to be shut off.
US07699070B2 Shutoff valve apparatus and mass flow control device with built-in valve
Shutoff valve apparatus comprising: a valve block having a valve chest on which gas collects temporarily, an inlet flow path which makes gas flow into a valve chest, an outlet flow path into which gas is made to flow out of a valve chest, a valve seat located in the inlet port of an inlet flow path, or the outlet port, a diaphragm valve element located in the opposed position of the valve seat and closes the valve port by contacting with the valve seat, pressing means for pressing diaphragm valve element, an actuator plate disposed at the opposite side of the valve chest so that the diaphragm valve element may be opposed, an operation chamber divided with the actuator plate, and an operation gas supply exhaust mechanism in which operation gas is made to supply or exhaust into the operation chamber.
US07699068B2 Hammock tent
An improved tent covers a hammock suspended from a pair of upright members by suspending means at each end of the hammock. The tent is formed from top and bottom portions that interact to provide a tent opening that prevents the entry of atmospheric precipitation when the tent opening is open. The tent also provides improved visibility from inside the tent, by enabling a horizontal field of view.
US07699066B2 Device for cleaning subsea surfaces such as ship hulls
Device for cleaning of surfaces under water, such as ship hulls, includes a rotary disc furnished with nozzles for discharge of pressurized liquid against the surface to be cleaned. The nozzles are mounted obliquely in relation to the rotational axis of the rotary disc and are arranged to be supplied with pressurized liquid through a hollow spindle that is concentric with the rotational axis. The nozzles have an inclination that have an orientation involving that the velocity component (Vp) of the liquid jet from each nozzle that is not perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned, has a tangential velocity component (Vt) that has the same direction as the direction of rotation (R) of the rotary disc and optionally a radial velocity component that is positive, i.e. that is directed outwards in relation to the center of the disc.
US07699061B2 Multi-component filter providing multiple flavour enhancement
A multi-component filter for a smoking article comprises: a mouth end segment; a first flavour release segment comprising plant leaf upstream of the mouth end segment; and a second flavour release segment comprising filtration material and a flavourant upstream of the first flavour release segment. The resistance to draw of the second flavour release segment is greater than the resistance to draw of the first flavour release segment and the resistance to draw of the second flavour release segment is greater than the resistance to draw of the mouth end segment. The multi-component filter preferably further comprises a rod end segment comprising filtration material upstream of the second flavour release segment, which has a lower resistance to draw than the second flavour release segment.
US07699059B2 Implantable wireless sensor
The progress of a endovascular aneurysm repair can be monitored by inserting a pressure transducer sensor using a catheter into the sac during endovascular aneurysm repair and then using a small, hand-held read out device to measure pressure easily, safely, inexpensively and accurately. In one aspect a sensor is introduced into the body by the steps of folding or rolling the sensor into a cylinder, loading it into a catheter, and deploying into the aneurysm sac by allowing it to unroll or unfold, either by itself or facilitated by the incorporation of a super-elastic alloy component.
US07699056B2 Medical devices and methods of making and using such devices
Devices, such as medical devices for inhibiting conception, and methods of using and/or making these devices. In one aspect of the disclosure, a medical device has a delivery system and a first insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a first fallopian tube, and a second insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a second fallopian tube. Other aspects of the disclosure include, among other things, inserts made from one or more polymers; inserts which are designed to pierce and remain in place; and inserts which are implanted through a fluid delivery system.
US07699055B2 Tracheotomy cannula with shield plate
A tracheotomy cannula apparatus with a shield plate is provided for fixedly gripping the cannula with a housing assembly portion of the apparatus. A pair of wing structures form a portion of the apparatus and are attached to the housing assembly, which wing structures assist in holding the cannual apparatus to a patient. The housing assembly includes a housing member through which the cannual is passed. A shield plate is affixed to one side of the housing member, which side is intended to face a patient, and whereby the cannula passing through the housing member also passes through the shield plate. A prestressed spring structure is positioned within a housing member to normally apply pressure against the cannula, thereby holding it in fixed relationship to the housing member. This spring structure has a release actuation member which when operated permits a slide movement of the cannula through the housing member. The wing structures each include an interlocking structural portion, which may be unlocked from each other. This interlocking portion holds the two wing structures in fixed positional relationship to each other when engaged.
US07699054B2 Positive expiratory pressure device
A multi-use, hand held, single patient oscillatory positive expiratory pressure respiratory therapy device which is easily assembled and disassembled for cleaning, and which is not position dependent during therapy, but operable through a wide range of device orientation.
US07699051B2 Range hood
A hood for a cook top is controlled preferably by an electronic controller through a touch keypad. The hood has front and side walls and attaches to a back wall. It has an internal cavity and structure to restrict airflow out of the hood. The structure also creates an air curtain. The curtain traps and moves heated air and effluents upwardly off of the cook top. At least one blower is located near the cook top for moving the air and effluents. The hood may also have at least one: filter, sensor, duct, lighting fixture, vent, display, and circuit board.
US07699049B2 Saw skid plate shield
A saw skid plate shield including a shield plate body defining a leading edge and a trailing edge and a mechanism such as edge rails for attaching the shield plate body to the skid plate. Both the leading and trailing edges of the skid plate body are beveled and/or rounded to divert debris.
US07699046B1 Handbill assembly launching system
A handbill is rolled to form a coil that is retained within a collapsible cup as it is ejected from an elongated tube and delivered to its destination. The collapsible cup has a cylindrical wall and a bottom member at one end that does not contribute to the structural strength of the cup. A variety of bottom members are provided with each having an exposed adhesive within the cup that is encountered when the handbill is inserted within the cup. The elongated tube is connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid that is used to eject the handbill assembly from the tube. The handbill assembly and delivery system avoids the problems of prior assemblies and systems that projected cone-shaped paper flyers through the air.
US07699045B1 Compound bow with high limb preload
A compound archery bow having a riser and first and second limbs secured to and extending from opposite ends of the riser, each limb having an axle to support a wheel or cam; the limbs have a limb tip angle measured from an unstrung or unflexed limb position to a flexed position at brace height of at least 65° and preferably 75° or more. The bow has an axle-to-axle distance percentage change from an unstrung or unflexed condition to a brace condition of at least 20%. The limbs exhibit a limb tip angle percentage change from brace height to full draw condition of 25% or less of the total limb tip change from unflexed to full draw while the limb tip measured from an unstrung condition to a flexed condition at full draw is at least 80° and preferably 100° or more.
US07699040B2 Control method for a direct injection system of the common-rail type provided with a shut-off valve for controlling the flow rate of a high-pressure fuel pump
A control method of a direct injection system of the common-rail type; the control method contemplates: feeding the pressurized fuel to a common rail by means of a high-pressure pump which receives the fuel through a shut-off valve; cyclically controlling the opening and closing of the shut-off valve for choking the flow rate of fuel taken in by the high-pressure pump; driving the shut-off valve synchronously with respect to the mechanical actuation of the high-pressure pump by means of a driving frequency of the shut-off valve having a constant integer synchronization ratio, predetermined according to the pumping frequency of the high-pressure pump; estimating a perturbation intensity of the fuel pressure inside the common rail; and varying the phase of the commands of the shut-off valve with respect to the phase of the mechanical actuation of the high-pressure pump if the perturbation intensity of the fuel pressure inside the common rail is higher than a predetermined threshold value.
US07699039B2 Start safety ignition system
A method for controlling an ignition system of an internal combustion engine having a primary firing pulse generator for charging a capacitor. An electronic switch is included for discharging the capacitor via an ignition coil to generate an ignition voltage. A microcomputer operates the switch to control the ignition timing of the generator. The microcomputer is in communication with a speed sensor that detects the rotational speed of the engine and a speed limitation control that limits the engine speed to a limitation speed below the clutch-in speed of an included centrifugal clutch. The speed limitation control is active or activated when one of either starting the engine or an operating problem of the power tool is detected. The speed limitation control is deactivated when a low speed state of the engine is detected.
US07699038B2 Method for controlling the opening of a throttle valve body assembly
The invention concerns a method for controlling the opening of an internal combustion engine throttle valve body assembly, characterized in that it includes the following steps: specifically mapping the engine, limiting the opening angle of the throttle valve body assembly, and defining particular operating points requiring replacement of the usual mapping by the specific mapping.
US07699029B2 Crankcase ventilation system with pumped scavenged oil
A crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine has a jet pump suctioning scavenged separated oil from the oil outlet of an air/oil separator and pumping same to the crankcase. The jet pump supplies pumping pressure greater than the pressure differential between the higher pressure crankcase and the lower pressure oil outlet, to overcome such pressure differential and the back flow tendency otherwise caused thereby, and instead cause suctioning of scavenged separated oil from the oil outlet and pumping same to the crankcase.
US07699021B2 Cluster tool substrate throughput optimization
Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, substrates processed in the cluster tool have a more repeatable wafer history. In one embodiment, non-orthogonal robot trajectories are used to assure reliable and high speed substrate transfer. In another embodiment, at least one buffering station is used to avoid collision and improve throughput. In another embodiment, optimal positioning of the robots are used to improve throughput.
US07699020B2 Method and device for applying conductive paste
A tabular holding jig has a plurality of holding holes whose side walls are made from an elastic material. When electronic parts are inserted into the holding holes of the holding jig, deflection of the holding jig is prevented by (a) disposing an intermediate plate between the holding jig and a base plate, or (b) using a base plate having a stepped portion with a raised surface that covers an area of the holding jig where the plurality of holding holes is formed.
US07699017B1 Personal undersea observation pedal craft
A personal water craft propelled on the water's surface by the user pedaling a pedal crank that in turn rotates a propeller thrusting the craft in a forward or rearward direction. Steering is accomplished by an operator-controlled rudder at the aft of the craft. The craft is of unique design lending to persons who desire to snorkel observing undersea life in a comfortable prone position of appropriate pedal posture while enjoying the ease of navigating by pedal propulsion with less expenditure of effort than swimming.
US07699014B1 Watercraft anchoring system
The present invention may be used for anchoring a watercraft. A mooring device may have a ground penetrating device attached at a first end of an elongated rod and a slide hammer attached at a second end of the elongated rod. A mooring line may be attached at a first end of the ground penetrating device and may be attachable at a second end to a boat and fixed in length by a rope lock.
US07699012B2 Apparatus for plugging a seacock externally
This invention is directed to an irregular in shape thru-hull fitting with specifically an internal seacock which is below the normal waterline of a marine vessel and this invention provides an exterior plug to stop leakage and/or allow for maintenance of the interior hull valve, piping, and/or associated tubing without necessitating the need to haul out the vessel. The seacock plug includes a flexible tubing assembly; o-ring flange assembly, flexible beveled gasket, and compression lead screw with T-handle that forms a watertight seal around the irregular interior shape hull fitting.
US07699007B2 Guideway carrier and magnetic levitation railway manufactured therewith
A guideway carrier (11) and a magnetic levitation railway being produced therewith are described. The guideway carrier (11) has a gliding surface (14) for the gliding skids of the magnetic levitation railway. The gliding surface (14) is provided with a coating, which is applied by the use of a low-friction and low-wear ceramic material being adapted (matched) to the gliding skid material (FIG. 2).
US07699006B2 Carrier and a magnetic levitation railway provided with said deck
The invention relates to a carrier (11) and a magnetic levitation railway provided with said carrier. The inventive carrier (11) comprises a sliding surface (14) and the sliding skates of a vehicle travelling along said magnetic levitation railway. According to said invention, the sliding surface (14) is provided with a coating (15, 16, 17) which comprises at least on the external area thereof an additional material which is compatible with the material for skates and reduces friction and ware.
US07699003B2 Safety and arming unit for the fuze of a projectile
A safety and arming unit with a safe separation distance device (14), which acts as a function of a free-flight incident flow and temperature, for the fuze (12) of a projectile (11), which fuze is hermetically sealed from environmental influences, has, as a measurement device for the cooling, as a function of the incident flow, of a conductor through which current passes, in the heating circuit (18) of a resistant heating element (16) which is fitted flat on the fuze casing surface (17), an electronic current measurement apparatus (21) which is connected upstream of an evaluation circuit (22), in order to ram a firing circuit. Two heating elements (16, 16″), which are fed in the same way, are preferably arranged one behind the other in the incident flow direction (15), and, additionally as an environmental temperature sensor, a comparison heating element (16′) which is not influenced by the incident flow (15). This results in a reliable safe separation distance, even for slow projectiles (11), without adversely affecting their aerodynamic behaviour and independently of the environmental atmosphere.
US07699001B2 Apparatus for pressing a covering onto a printing-unit cylinder for a rotary press
A plurality of longitudinal channels for supplying pressure medium are arranged within a carrier having a closed profile. A plurality of operating cylinders have pressure spaces which are flow-connected to the channels for moving the pressure rollers inward and outward in order to press coverings onto a printing unit cylinder.
US07699000B2 Device for mounting a cylinder in a printing unit, and method for adjustment of a print on-position
A cylinder of a printing press is mounted using a bearing block. A radial bearing is movable in spaced linear bearings along an adjustment direction of the cylinder. The bearing is embodied as a modular bearing unit which may be a one piece assembly. The linear bearing is included in the modular assembly which permits movement of the bearing block along with the radial bearings.
US07698999B2 Printing apparatus and device manufacturing method
The printing apparatus, presented herein, comprises a patterning device having a curved member that supports a stamp on its surface. The curved member is adapted to roll over a substrate to be printed on to transfer the pattern onto the substrate. An illumination system directs light onto the region of the substrate that is being printed in order to set a layer of resist, which has been sprayed onto the substrate. The light is directed via a pattern that is made on the surface of the stamp, thereby transferring the pattern to the substrate.
US07698992B2 Multi-function coffee maker
The present invention provides a multi-function coffee maker, comprising at least two brewing accessories including an espresso coffee brewing accessory and a drip coffee brewing accessory, which are interchangeable and each can be loaded within said brewing room of said cover assembly to form an individual brewing chamber. Said multi-function coffee maker further comprises a control circuit including a detection circuit for the brewing accessory. By a water distributor assembly and said control circuit, water flow of suitable pressure is provided into said brewing chamber and the brewing accessory in use is detected automatically so as to initiate a corresponding work mode according to desire.
US07698991B2 Spring-return, pneumatic actuator
A spring-return, pneumatic actuator includes a casing having therein a cylinder chamber, a housing chamber and a spring chamber and equipped therein with a piston reciprocating by air supplied and discharged from an air supply and exhaust vent on a primary side of the pistons. A piston rod is joined to the piston, and a conversion mechanism is provided for converting a reciprocating motion of the piston into a rotary motion. A spring undergoes a snap action due to the reciprocating motion of the piston, and a communication space chamber is formed via a communication part to have a predetermined volume from a secondary side to the spring chamber. The cylinder chamber has the piston and the piston rod built-in, the housing chamber has the conversion mechanism built-in and the spring chamber has the spring built-in.
US07698981B2 Forced premature detonation of improvised explosive devices via noise print simulation
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) defense system is described that forces premature detonation of IEDs by radiated sound energy signals. Embodiments of the invention provide for radiating sound energy signals from a stationary or mobile platform to a stationary or mobile area defining an “IED detonation zone.” IEDs within the IED detonation zone that are triggered by sound energy sources will receive the radiated sound energy signals, thereby forcing premature detonation of IEDs in the detonation zone.
US07698974B2 Method and device for pipe splitting
A device and method for pipe replacement is shown. A pipe replacement device is shown that includes at least one scoring wheel to provide a more progressive cut that provides consistency in the split of the pipe. A pulling force is reduced using pipe replacement devices and methods in a splitting operation. A pipe replacement device is shown that includes at least one skid structures with a long and consistent profile. In methods shown, friction between a pipe replacement device and the pipe being split is reduced.
US07698973B2 Machine with spindle and fixture coaxially aligned with the spindle
A machine includes a spindle for rotating about a rotating axis, a fixture having a central axis coaxial with the rotating axis, a connecting bar and a vacuum pump. The spindle has a first end surface, an opposite second end surface and a plurality of through holes extending through the first and second end surfaces. The connecting bar is detachably interconnected between the fixture and the spindle. The fixture is configured for rotating jointly with the spindle. The vacuum pump is in communication with the through holes.
US07698972B2 Multi-angle tool handle
A multi-angle tool handle includes a handle device including a compartment longitudinally formed therein, and a through-hole formed thereon and in communication with the compartment. An embedding portion is defined in the compartment. A interconnecting element is disposed in the compartment and includes a pivoting end formed on an end thereof and having an embedding portion. A locking device is installed in the through-hole and includes an embedded end defined on an end thereof. A connecting device is pivotally coupled to another end of the interconnecting element. The locking device is moveable between a first position and a second position so that the connecting device can be operated to pivot relative to the handle device or not.
US07698971B1 Foot peg engaging tool
A foot peg engaging tool includes an elongated member that has a first end and a second end. A saddle has a first side, a second side, a first end edge and a second end edge. The saddle has a semicircular shape and the first side is convexly arcuate from the first end edge to the second end edge. The first end of the elongated member is attached to the second side of the saddle. A rod is attached to the first side of the saddle. The rod is extendable into a foot peg to releasably couple the elongated member to the foot peg.
US07698959B2 Torque measurement device for measuring torque on rotatable shafts at high speeds
A torque measuring device for measuring the torque of a rotatable shaft. A sensing unit senses the torque on the rotatable shaft. The sensing unit is disposed on the outer surface of the rotatable shaft. A reporting unit is configured to report the torque applied to the rotatable shaft to a central control unit. The reporting unit is mounted at an end of the rotatable shaft.
US07698957B2 Vibration type measurement transducer
A measurement transducer includes: At least one interconnected system formed by means of at least two components, especially components of metal. At least the first component of the interconnected system is, in such case, embodied as a composite, formed part composed of at least two materials, which differ from one another with respect to at least one physical and/or chemical property, especially a material density, melting temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion and/or modulus of elasticity, etc. As a result of using at least one composite component, the at least two components of the interconnected system can be bonded together lastingly and reliably, especially by means of welding, such being true especially also for the case in which the interconnected system is a bi-, or poly-, metal, interconnected system.
US07698956B2 Coriolis flow meter with vibrating direction restriction means
A Coriolis flow meter (11) with a vibrating direction restriction means includes flow tubes (13, 13), a drive means (14) for driving the flow tubes (13, 13), and phase difference detection means (15, 15) for detecting a phase difference in proportion to a Coriolis force. The Coriolis flow meter further includes plate springs (16, 16) functioning as vibrating direction restriction means, and a flow tube fixing member (17) also functioning as a vibrating direction restriction means and serving to fix the flow tubes (13, 13) in position.
US07698953B2 Device for measuring the mechanical load exerted by a fluid using an electromechanical transducer
A measuring device comprising: a sensor (1) with at least one electromechanical transducer (10); at least one electrical generator connected to said transducer; and means for measuring the electrical input impedance of the transducer. Said sensor (1) has an empty space (12) passing therethrough within which a substance (14) can flow, and said transducer (10) is situated at the periphery of said empty space (12) in such a manner as to be subjected to a mechanical load characteristic of the substance (14) flowing in said space (12), the measured electrical impedance being a function of said load. The device is suitable for use in a measuring apparatus seeking to determine the density of the substance (14) flowing inside said tubular space (12).
US07698951B2 Pressure-sensor apparatus
A sensing apparatus for determining the pressure of a fluid includes first and second support members. The first and second support members are configured to define at least one sealed chamber. A flexible diaphragm is disposed between the first and second support members. The diaphragm includes first and second opposing surfaces. The first opposing surface is in fluid communication with a first fluid-flow circuit, and the second opposing surface is in fluid communication with a second fluid-flow circuit. A first electronic circuit is disposed within the at least one chamber and coupled to the diaphragm for sensing a first differential pressure associated with the first and second flow circuits. The first electronic circuit is configured to produce at least one electrical signal proportional to a magnitude of the first differential pressure.
US07698950B2 Pressure sensor assembly for measuring absolute pressure
An absolute pressure transducer for outputting a signal indicative of an absolute pressure of a process to be measured is provided. The pressure transducer consists of a pressure-tight pressure port, which is connectable to the process, a housing accommodating pressure sensors and a common circuit board, a first pressure sensor, which analogically detects a difference between the process pressure and an ambient pressure inside the housing, a second pressure sensor, which detects the ambient pressure inside the housing as an absolute pressure, and the common circuit board, which is connected to both the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor and furthermore has a data processing unit. Here, the second pressure sensor is adapted to issue an electronic signal indicative of the ambient pressure. The circuit board converts the analogically detected pressure difference into a digital signal, determines the absolute pressure of the process based on the signals from the first and second pressure sensors and outputs a signal indicative of the absolute pressure of the process.
US07698949B2 Active washers for monitoring bolted joints
Apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting and monitoring bolted joints of metallic and composite structures for defects such as delamination and fatigue cracking are provided that incorporate ultrasonic transducers with load bearing washers. These active washers may be used for inspecting and monitoring a structure beneath such load bearing fasteners as bolts and nuts. Active washers may be used for continuous, periodic, and controlled inspections of bolted joints. Ultrasonic transducers may be permanently applied to a surface of a washer or recessed in a cavity on a surface of the washer. Inspection signals may be transmitted from ultrasonic transducers into a structure and reflected in pulse-echo application or received by another active washer on the opposing side of the structure in a through-transmission application.
US07698948B2 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
Encoded transmission and reception which reduces time side lobe are realized while suppressing increase of circuit scale. Transmission signals corresponding to a composite modulation code sequence composed from two or more modulation code sequences are outputted as transmission signals. A reception means demodulates reception signals stepwise by two or more demodulators. The demodulator can be thereby divided into two or more stages, and therefore with a circuit scale corresponding to the sum of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators, time side lobe reduction effect can be obtained at a level equivalent to that obtainable with a circuit scale corresponding to the product of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators.
US07698942B2 Turbine engine stall warning system
A Stall Warning System (SWS) utilizing the detection and analysis of stress waves, (i.e., ultrasound) emitted by combustion and/or turbulent flow processes of an apparatus, such as a turbine engine, for example. Upon detection of an impending stall condition, the SWS can inform the operator, inform another electronic device (computer, etc.) and/or latch the event for review by maintenance personnel.
US07698934B2 Procedure for diagnosis of an emission treatment method and procedures to carry out same said method
A procedure specifically for the execution of a diagnosis of an emission treatment system is being introduced. The pressure of the reagent between the first and second valve and/or between the second valve and the injector valve is measured and the pressure measuring signal are the basis of the diagnosis. The first and second valve, are opened in an alternating cycle, where the opening time, and/or the period duration of the first and second valves are set in such a way that the emerging diagnostic flow volume is smaller than the measuring flow volume. The procedures pursuant to the invention thereby reduce the influence of dynamic precursors of the reagent flow in the reagent line and enables, aside from an increase in reliability of the diagnosis results, a diagnosis possibility of small leakages.
US07698931B2 Fuel pressure sensor diagnosing device and method
A fuel pressure sensor diagnosing device for diagnosing a fuel pressure sensor for detecting pressure in a common rail in which a high-pressure fuel to be supplied to an engine is accumulated, the device comprising: fuel temperature detection for detecting fuel temperature; and failure determination, provided with the fuel temperature detection for detecting fuel temperature via subsequent to stopping of the engine, for obtaining a resting and stabilization time between when the pressure in the common rail drops and when the pressure stabilizes on the basis of this detected fuel temperature, detecting a stabilized fuel pressure via the fuel pressure sensor subsequent to lapse of the resting and stabilization time, and determining a failure of the fuel pressure sensor when the detected stabilized fuel pressure exceeds a predetermined upper limit threshold value or is less than a predetermined lower limit threshold value.
US07698930B2 Method and apparatus for measuring pressure drop of magneto-rheological suspensions in microchannels
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for characterizing flow of magneto-rheological suspensions through microchannels. The apparatus includes a pump for pumping a the magneto-rheological suspension; a microchannel hydraulically coupled to the pump and configured to receive the magneto-rheological suspension from the pump; a manifold hydraulically coupled between an outlet of the microchannel and the pump; a static pressure tap configured to convey a static pressure of the manifold; a pressure sensor hydraulically coupled to the pressure tap and configured to receive the static pressure conveyed therefrom; and a magnet positioned to direct a magnetic field toward the microchannel and contents disposed therein.
US07698925B2 Crimper device
A crimper tool for closing a pipe support assembly having first and second locking members. The crimper tool includes a first member having a first handle and a first jaw with a first engagement surface for engaging the second locking member. The crimper tool also includes a second member pivotally coupled to the first member and having a second handle and second jaw with a second engagement surface for engaging the first locking member, an upper support surface for engaging an outside surface of the support assembly, a guide surface for engaging a second end of the support assembly, and a lower support surface for engaging an inside surface of the support assembly. Squeezing the first and second handles together pivots the first and second members thereby moving the first and second jaws toward one another and urging the first and second locking members together to lockingly engage.
US07698920B2 Mechanical key and locking/unlocking key
The portability of a mechanical key and a locking/unlocking key having the mechanical key is improved. The mechanical key is housed in a portable device in such a manner that a key plate is folded into two at a portion formed with an inner groove. Thus, the housing space for housing the mechanical key can be reduced and the portable device can be made smaller. Accordingly, the portability of the locking/unlocking key can be improved.
US07698916B2 Lock
A lock with a core rotatable in an intermediate shell that is rotatable in an outer shell of the lock's body resists attack by the application of excessive torque to the keyway or drilling into the core.
US07698915B2 Locking device
A locking device includes a first and second body members that may optionally include laterally projecting arms. A retainer element has end portions respectively received in the interiors of the first and second body members and mechanically links them for longitudinal movement between collapsed and expanded orientations. The retainer element also moves between a retain position and a release position that respectively secure the body members in the collapsed orientation and allows them to move to the expanded orientation. A lock core is operative to engage the retainer element. In a locked state, the lock core holds the retainer element in the retain position and in an unlocked state that moves the retainer element to the release position. A shackle may extend between arms on the first and second body members in order to enclose a locking region when the bodies are in the collapsed orientation.
US07698912B2 Process and equipment used to cut and model sheets of leather or other modellable materials
A process used to cut and model sheets of leather or other modellable materials, according to which cutting and modeling are carried out by means of a die and a lid-punch that cooperate to cut a leather sheet positioned and tightened between the die and the lid-punch according to predefined cutting lines and at the same time model the sheet in a stable way by a plastic film injected on one of the two sides of the sheet.
US07698911B2 Methods and systems for detecting dryness of clothes in an appliance
A control system for a clothes treating apparatus includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller operatively coupled to the sensors. The apparatus includes a cabinet, a wash tub mounted within the cabinet and configured to receive clothes therein, a dehumidifying assembly, and a fan configured to draw air from the wash tub to the dehumidifying assembly and channel the air from the dehumidifying assembly back to the wash tub. The first temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the air entering the dehumidifying assembly. The second sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the air exiting the dehumidifying assembly. The controller is configured to determine a dryness level of the clothes contained in the wash tub based on the detected air temperatures.
US07698908B2 Method of manufacturing a glass based material with defect removal
A glass base material, which is a base material of an optical fiber, comprising: a core; and a clad surrounding the core; wherein: a rate of change in a relative-refractive-index-difference between the core and the clad in a longitudinal direction of the glass base material is substantially 6% or less.
US07698905B1 Cooling device
A cooling garment including an inlet for receiving a cooling medium such as CO2. A series of conduits are associated with the garment. In a first cooling stage, the cooling medium or CO2 passes through the one or more conduits and undergoes a phase change where the cooling medium or CO2 changes from a predominantly liquid phase to a predominantly gaseous phase. In this first stage, heat is transferred from a living body having the garment disposed adjacent thereto the cooling medium or CO2. In a second stage of cooling, the cooling medium or CO2 assumes a substantial gaseous phase and the gaseous cooling medium or CO2 is dispersed onto the garment or the body resulting in the body being cooled through evaporative cooling.
US07698901B2 Icemaker assembly for a refrigerator
A refrigerator icemaker assembly includes a bin having a bottom wall, as well as first and second pairs of opposing side walls. One of the first pair of opposing side walls includes an opening within which is movably mounted a coupler. The coupler is provided with a recessed portion having formed therein an aperture and a cog member. An auger is rotatably mounted in the bin and includes a first end portion that extends through the aperture of the coupler. A drive member extends into the coupler and drives the auger in a first direction to dispense ice cubes and in a second direction to dispense crushed ice. The driver engages with the cog member when being rotated in the first direction and directly engages the first end of the auger when being driven in the second direction.
US07698900B2 Ice making device for refrigerator
An ice making device having a water supply unit for controlling a water supply to an ice making unit, including: a water pipe connected to a water supply source; and a valve member so disposed as to open and shut off the water pipe. The valve member is so disposed as to be controlled in opening and shutting off by a control switch. The water pipe may be so mounted as to be connected to a water supply source outside of a refrigerator, or may be so mounted as to be connected to a water supply tank attachably and detachably equipped inside the refrigerator.
US07698896B2 Compact, light weight eductor oil cooler plenum and surge flow plenum design
An eductor assembly is provided that includes a primary nozzle, a cooler plenum, and a surge plenum. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the primary nozzle is configured to accelerate and discharge turbine exhaust gas therefrom and the cooler plenum surrounds the primary nozzle and includes at least a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The surge plenum partially surrounds the primary nozzle and the cooler plenum and includes at least a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The surge plenum fluid outlet axially aligns and is coterminous with the cooler plenum fluid outlet.
US07698893B2 Pressure-medium cylinder with pressure intensification
For many applications pressure-medium cylinders have to achieve high adjusting forces which often impairs the dynamics of such cylinders due to the large piston cross sections and cylinder volumes, and/or pressure medium has to be supplied at very high pressure. The present invention shows a pressure-medium cylinder which has short reaction times, high adjusting forces and small overall sizes, which is achieved in that two cylinders 5, 8 are arranged in the pressure-medium cylinder 1, which cylinders can be activated independently of one another.
US07698890B1 Propulsion system
A propulsion system. An illustrative embodiment of the propulsion system includes a drive shaft, a flywheel drivingly engaged by the drive shaft, a turbine unit having a plurality of turbine blades drivingly engaging the drive shaft and an air manifold having a plurality of air manifold nozzles directed toward the plurality of turbine blades, and an air tank reservoir pneumatically connected to the air manifold.
US07698889B1 Porous insert for an exhaust system of a marine engine
A porous member is disposed within the exhaust stream of a marine engine at a location where its temperature approximates the temperature of the exhaust stream through normal use of the engine. Exhaust gas flows freely through the non-catalytic porous member, but water passing in a reverse direction through the exhaust system is vaporized as it attempts to flow through the non-catalytic porous member.
US07698888B2 System and method for calculating loading of a diesel particulate filter by windowing inputs
An algorithm (26) in an engine control system (14) develops data indicative of pressure across a DPF (20) as a function of time and data indicative of flow rate through the DPF as a function of time, calculates derivatives (32, 30) (38, 36) with respect to time of the data, processes the derivatives (44, 42, 50, 48, 56, 54, 58) to confirm validity of a calculation of particulate loading of the DPF (load_pf) when a result of processing the derivatives discloses the absence of transient conditions in the DPF that would prevent the calculation from being valid and to not confirm validity of a calculation of particulate loading of the DPF when a result of processing the derivatives discloses the presence of transient conditions in the DPF that would prevent the calculation from being valid.
US07698887B2 Method and apparatus for determining local emissions loading of emissions trap
An apparatus comprises an emissions trap and a loading determination device. The emissions trap is configured to trap emissions present in exhaust gas and comprises a first local region and a second local region. The loading determination device is configured to determine emissions loading of the first local region and emissions loading of the second local region. An associated method is disclosed.
US07698883B2 Method for producing a multielectrode lead
A wire wrapping device that includes a turntable assembly that is made up of a turntable and a driver adapted to rotate the turntable. Also, a set of payout carriers are mounted on the turntable, each payout carrier adapted to let out wire to be wrapped. A driver is adapted to turn each payout carrier relative to the turn table, the driver being user adjustable to turn each payout carrier by a selectable amount, per each complete rotation of the turntable.
US07698881B2 Walk-behind mower control system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide a control assembly and method of manufacturing a walk-behind mower having a transmission and an engine electrically connected to an operator presence switch. The control assembly can include a left drive lever and a right drive lever. The control assembly can also include a left control member and a right control member each coupled to the transmission. The control assembly can further include a left operator presence lever and a right operator presence lever coupled to the operator presence switch. The operator presence switch can allow the engine to operate when either the left operator presence lever is moved toward the left drive lever or the right operator presence lever is moved toward the right drive lever.
US07698879B1 Inserter and method
An insert with an upwardly projecting protuberance proximate one end is inserted into an open container. The open container is conveyed continuously in a downstream direction with a container conveyor with the container opening upwardly. The insert is held above the conveyor at an insertion station by supporting a downstream portion of the insert: the protuberance bearing end of the insert being the upstream end of the insert. A pusher finger is driven downwardly against an upstream portion of the insert at a downstream side of the protuberance in order to push the upstream portion of the insert downwardly into the container. The upstream portion of the insert is pushed against an inside surface of the container with the pusher finger while the container is conveyed underneath the insert. Simultaneously, the support is removed from the downstream portion of the insert. With the pusher finger abutting the downstream side of the protuberance, frictional engagement between the insert and the container is overcome as the container is conveyed underneath the insert. The pusher finger is retracted at the conclusion of the insertion operation.
US07698878B2 Aerosol container with integral mounting cup and anti-clog valve
An aerosol dispenser is formed from a metal drawn container with an open bottom and a mounting cup structure integrally formed in its top. A bottom piece is attached to the open bottom with a double seam and a dispensing device held in the mounting cup structure. In one embodiment the dispensing device is an anti-clog valve designed to clear all dispensing passages after each operation.
US07698875B2 Method of manufacturing a cake-shaped decorative accessory made of a towel
A method of manufacturing a cake-shaped decorative accessory made of a towel by setting a mount, which becomes a framework for forming a towel cloth in a cake shape, on a towel cloth, and folding the towel cloth together with the mount into a cake shape. More specifically, a cake-shaped decorative accessory made of a towel is obtained by: setting a polygonal shape mount, which has a folding piece extending from each one of sides thereof, on a towel cloth which is larger than the mount; folding the towel cloth together with the folding piece of the mount to form a folded item; and placing the folded item in a cake cup with a top face portion of the mount facing above, thus forming the folded item into a cake shape.
US07698871B2 Closure frame corner joint
A closure frame includes at least one end rail, at least one side rail and a corner joint between ends of the corner and side rails. The corner joint includes a rail insert secured within a first of the rails. A threaded fastener is secured against rotation within the insert and extends from an open end of the first rail into a second of the rails. A nut is disposed within the second rail in threaded engagement with the end of the fastener and clamps the second rail against the open end of the first rail. The corner joint preferably is a butt joint, and a pair of rail inserts preferably are disposed within the end of the first rail so that a pair of threaded fasteners extend into the second rail and are engaged by associated nuts in the second rail. A washer plate preferably is disposed in the second rail beneath the nuts, and a gasket preferably is disposed between the second rail and the open end of the first rail to seal the corner joint.
US07698869B2 Floor panels with edge connectors
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07698868B2 Floor panels with edge connectors
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07698867B1 Siding trim clip with triangular gripping pattern
A siding trim clip having a substantially N-shaped profile is formed having a first gripping portion and a second biasing portion. The gripping portion includes a curved upper arch having an interior with opposing inwardly and upwardly oriented gripping fingers, arranged for accepting and securing an edge location of a siding member by way of a triangular gripping pattern. The biasing portion includes a lower inverted arch and linear portions for providing an outward biasing of the edge location of a siding member to hold it away from a wall structure and up against an outside edge of a pre-established finishing cavity. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.
US07698864B2 Bonded siding panels
A polymer siding panel for mounting on a wall surface that in one embodiment includes at least two horizontal adjacent sections and a plurality of decorative elements integrally formed with the said panel and disposed in at least one row. The panel may also include an upwardly facing channel formed on a rear side of the siding panel opposite the front face; and at least two splicing members. The splicing members may be transparent or translucent and manufactured from a polymer that is the same or different than the polymer of the siding panel, and one of the splicing members may be welded to and joining the sections to one another. The other splicing member can be welded to one of the sections at a side edge opposite the side edge adjoining the other section. The other splicing member may extend beyond the respective side edge.
US07698859B2 Removable surface covering
A removable surface covering comprises a combination of lower supports with plastic support legs and upper ceramic parts which are joined to the supports by contact faces and with the aid of an adhesive material, such as to form covering modules which are interconnected using tongue-and-groove anchoring elements. The plastic supports and the ceramic parts are joined using a thick layer of adhesive which covers almost all of the contact surfaces thereof. In addition, the ceramic parts are equipped with channels and a peripheral notch which house respectively ribs and a frame belonging to the plastic support. The thickness of the adhesive extends over at least part of the thickness of the ribs and the frame of the plastic support. In another embodiment of the invention, the parts are joined at strategic points with a chemical-mechanical connection.
US07698855B2 Sliding-door opening control apparatus
A opening control apparatus for a sliding door of a vehicle, includes a driving source, a clutch arranged to connect the driving source and the sliding door in an engaged state and to disconnect the driving source and the sliding door in a disengaged state, and a control section. The control section brings the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state when a measured distance of movement of the sliding door from a stop position to a position in one of an opening direction and a closing direction reaches a first predetermined distance and then a measured distance of movement of the sliding door from the position in the one of the opening and closing directions reaches a second predetermined distance, and drives the sliding door to move in the one of the opening and closing directions by the driving source.
US07698854B2 Crop production apparatus
A crop production apparatus including a flexible sheet of non-degradable or biodegradable material and a seed impregnated or carrying lower layer formed from a water-absorbent biodegradable material bonded or otherwise attached to the upper layer and removable therefrom.
US07698853B2 Termite control methods and apparatus
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling insect population or activity by using electromagnetic field source of certain frequency and intensity coupled with insect food sources/attractants. The present invention can be used to protect a natural or man-made structure from termite infestation. The present invention can also be used for controlling activity of other social insects such as ants, bees and wasps.
US07698851B1 Fishing rod with elastic sling bait launcher
A fishing rod with elastic sling bait launcher utilizes potential energy stored in a pre-tensioned elastic cord to propel a fishing lure or bait attached to one end of a fishing line forward from the rod tip without requiring casting motion of the rod, the other end of the line unwinding from a reel attached to said handle. The sling launcher includes a U-shaped yoke which is secured to the rod shaft at adjustable distances forward of the handle and reel. The elastic sling has an elastic member consisting of an elongated length of elastic cord or a tension spring attached at opposite ends thereof to upper ends of a pair of laterally opposed, upwardly protruding yoke arms. A generally flat, horizontally disposed bait launcher plate attached to the center of the elastic member is pulled rearward to tension parallel segments of the elastic member, and is engaged with a pivotable bait launching mechanism by an anchor pin protruding upwards from a forward end of an anchor bar secured to the rod handle, which protrudes upwardly through apertures provided through a base plate of the bait launching mechanism, and a bait launcher tray support on top of the bait launcher base plate, and through an anchor hole through the bait launcher plate. A bait and attached line are pulled rearwards from the tip of the rod shaft towards the bait launcher plate, thus pulling line from a reel located on the underside of the rod handle, and through a plurality of line guide eyes located on the underside of the rod shaft. A bait hook is positioned in a groove provided in a front edge wall of the bait launcher plate, with the bait and attached line arranged in a rearwardly directed half loop on the upper surface of the bait launcher support tray. A rearwardly protruding trigger plate of the pivotable bait launcher mechanism rocker arm is depressed by a fisherman's thumb to launch a bait, thus pushing the bait launcher plate upwardly off an engagement with the anchor pin and thereby enabling tension in the sling to propel the bait and attached line forward.
US07698847B2 Weapon grip assembly
A weapon grip assembly for attachment to a forward portion of a weapon is provided. The invention includes a base assembly supported for operative engagement by a handle. The base assembly includes clamps adapted to be secured to a forward portion of the weapon and further includes a post having a clamp end adapted to retain the clamps for pivot motion with respect thereto. The post of the base assembly is received within a bore of the handle, a mandrel being interposed between the handle and the clamps of the base assembly. As the base assembly is drawn into the handle, by rotation of the handle about the post of the base assembly, the mandrel receives the clamp end of the post, with an upper free surface thereof engaging the clamps for pivoted closure about a portion of the weapon in furtherance of securing the weapon grip assembly thereto.
US07698845B2 Double action model 1911 pistol
A model 1911 semi automatic pistol having a receiver, a barrel, a breach slide and a firing mechanism. The barrel is coupled to the receiver. The breach slide coupled to the receiver. The firing mechanism is coupled to the receiver. The firing mechanism is adapted for double action operation. The firing mechanism has a hammer with a firing pin strike surface and an engagement surface enabling single action operation of the firing mechanism. The engagement surface is movable relative to the firing pin strike surface.
US07698844B2 Box magazine for a firearm
Rod magazine for a firearm, having a channel for holding cartridges in a stack, and having a feed for feeding the stack to a channel end which is clasped by magazine lips, which hold the top cartridge in the stack back in the channel direction, but allow its movement approximately transversely with respect to the channel direction beyond the rod magazine, with the channel being equipped with guide strips, which run in the channel direction, for the shoulders of the cartridges, and with the guide strips projecting beyond the channel end and into the movement path, which is located in front of the magazine lips, of the top cartridge.
US07698843B2 Flexible sign mount
A flexible mounting system for supporting a sign from a rigid structure for minimizing damage that might result from an impact force on the sign is disclosed. The flexible mounting system includes a flexible sign mount having a support bracket secured to a sign and a stationary bracket releasably securable to a rigid structure such a bollard. A flex element can be interposed between the support bracket and the stationary bracket to permit the sign to translate and rotate relative to the rigid support when the sign is subjected to an impact load.
US07698837B2 Ice skating rink resurfacing apparatus
An ice resurfacing machine for small and medium-size indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks comprises a light towing vehicle, a resurfacing attachment, and a lifting and leveling assembly connecting them. To eliminate ruts in the ice, the machine removes only a thin layer of ice by scraping, fills the ruts with “snow” created by the scraping, skating, and precipitation, and adds water to fill the rut. The cold from the base ice and/or the atmosphere freezes the water and thus eliminates the rut. The machine may also be used to remove heavy snow or reduce the thickness of the ice. The resurfacing attachment includes a snow box which collects the snow and carries it along the surface of the ice.
US07698835B2 Footwear with a bladder type stabilizer
A stability device that increases foot security on the footbed of a shoe, provides lateral or medial stability, shock dampening, and optimizes flexibility. The stability device includes a resilient bladder insert having a horizontal sole portion underneath a wearer's foot, and a foot portion positioned along a lateral or medial side edge of a wearer's foot. The sole portion and the foot portion are in fluid communication. The stability device can be generally L-shaped to cradle a portion of the foot. The stability device can also include a plurality of finger-shaped elements that encircle the top of the foot and expand down onto the foot due to an increase in fluid pressure therein.
US07698832B2 Flat and thin tape measure
A tape measure is invented that fits in an auxiliary pocket such as a credit card pocket of a wallet. The tape measure consists of a case that fits in the auxiliary pocket, a rectangular card that fits in the case, and a tape measure ribbon with a width at most half the width of the card. When the tape measure is in the retracted mode, the ribbon is wrapped nicely around the card and the wrapped ribbon is inserted in the case. To extend the tape measure, the wrapped card is removed from the case and the ribbon is unwrapped from the card so it functions as an ordinary tape measure ribbon. In an example given in one embodiment, a tape measure is sized to fit in a credit card pocket, has a thickness of less than the thickness of three credit cards, yet extends to 40 inches.
US07698829B2 Device for determining a measureable variable on a measurement object
A device for determining a measureable variable on a measurement object has a baseplate mounted on a plurality of machine feet. A measuring head is arranged on a frame structure. The frame structure can be moved on the baseplate. A workpiece table can be placed over the baseplate in order to support the measurement object. The machine feet may project upward from the baseplate in order to hold the workpiece table with a reduced deformation of the baseplate regardless of the workpiece weight.
US07698821B2 Lock mechanism for spring assisted folding knife
The folding knife of the present invention includes a handle having first and second handle members that are maintained in spaced, parallel relation to one another by spacing elements that define a groove therebetween. The blade is pivotally attached to the handle at its tang portion and is movable into and out of the groove between its fully open and fully closed positions. A coil spring, or equivalent, may be interconnected between the tang and handle to provide an assisted opening mechanism. A blade lock includes a user actuated button that passes through an elongated slot formed through one of the handle members and through a circular opening formed through a bias plate that is positioned within the handle, and a plunger element that is spring biased in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade.
US07698817B2 Methods of forming vehicle interior components which include a decoupler layer
A method of manufacturing an article such as vehicle interior trim component including a decoupler layer is disclosed. The method comprises the conveying of materials into an enclosure to form a preform having a shape of the enclosure, heating the preform to a temperature such that adjacent materials may bond to one another upon cooling and forming the heated preform into a predetermined three-dimensional decoupler configuration via a mold. The enclosure has a perforated portion and at least one panel movable relative to the enclosure so as to selectively expose portions of the perforated portion. The density of the preform may be varied as the at least one panel is moved to expose the perforated portion of the enclosure. A system for manufacturing articles such as a vehicle interior trim component including a decoupler layer is also disclosed.
US07698814B2 Method for linearizing potentiometric sensors
A method for linearizing potentiometric sensors is provided, the method can include the steps of: insertion in a measurement and/or processing station of a potentiometric sensor provided with a resistive track; application of a defined voltage and/or of a defined current across the resistive track; placement of a number of sensing elements composed of metallic contacts distributed at uniform intervals over the length of the resistive track; acquisition of the individual measured values of the sensing elements and determination of the curve of the resistance of the resistive track, and linearization of the resistance of the resistive track by means of sequential adjustment of the resistance of the resistive track. A means for marking the contact points of the sensing elements is placed on the resistive track prior to the placement of the sensing elements, and then the sensing elements are placed on the means, and the means are removed once the contact points of the sensing elements have been marked, and the position of the contact points of the sensing elements is taken into account in determining the curve of the resistance of the resistive track.
US07698810B2 Connector removal system
A connector removal system includes a connector housing (1) forming contacts (10) therein and a contact extraction tool (3) for removing the contact of the connector housing. The connector housing has a mating face (200), a plurality of cavities (22) receiving corresponding contacts and a plurality of cantilevered flexible latches (26) retaining corresponding contacts. The latch forms an external side face of the housing. Each cavity has an open cavity entrance (220) located at a distal end thereof on the mating face and an opening (222) formed adjacent the entrance between the cavity and the external side face. The contact extraction tool includes a pair of registration posts (34) formed from an end edge thereof for positioning inside the entrances and an ejecting member (36) for deflecting said cantilevered flexible latch to disengage from said contact.
US07698800B2 Element arrangement method
An element arrangement board and method are provided. Where the element size is comparatively small with respect to the distance in element arrangement and the density of arranged elements is low, the elements can also be arranged with certainty and efficiently in a short period of time. The element arrangement board has an arrangement face on which fitting holes for receiving elements are formed and tapered faces are formed around the fitting holes and inclined downwardly toward the fitting holes. Elements to be arranged are mixed in fluid. The fluid is supplied to the arrangement face of the element arrangement board. The elements are acted upon by force toward the fitting holes on the tapered faces so that they are fitted in a self-aligned fashion into the fitting holes and arranged on the element arrangement board.
US07698798B2 Push-type rivetless nut plate and method and apparatus for installing same
A rivetless nut plate has a nut, a holding bracket, a member and a nut retainer. The nut is provided with an aperture therethrough and is secured within a bracket portion of the holding bracket by the retainer but also is permitted limited movement within the bracket portion. The holding bracket further includes a tubular portion having inner and outer walls. The inner wall is tapered such that the member is positioned against the inner wall. Upon an axial force being applied to the member through the aperture of the nut, the member is pushed through the tubular portion from the first end to the second end in order to expand the inner wall and force the outer wall into engagement with the wall of the workpiece. A tool is provided to push the member through the tubular member and can be incorporated into either a manual or automatic process.
US07698790B2 Stop for slide fasteners
A reusable slider stop member has a solid body shaped to fit over a tooth element in a slide fastener assembly. The solid body has a central through channel defined by a pair of parallel prongs which fit over a tooth element. Each prong has an internal shoulder that engages a portion of the tooth element to retain the stop in place. The stop may be removed without damaging the stop or the tooth element, thus permitting easy repair of slide fastener assembly components. The stop is installed by aligning the channel at a right angle to the axis of the array of tooth elements, pressing the stop partially onto the tooth element, twisting the stop into alignment with the array and pressing the stop fully onto the tooth element to engage the internal shoulder of the stop with the tooth element.
US07698788B2 Fastening clip with flexible tether
A fastening clip with a flexible tether for use with a vehicle includes a first fastener attached to a component such as a vehicle body, and a second fastener attached to a removable component such as a vehicle trim panel. The first and second fasteners may be connected by generally rigid arms joined by an integral hinge and by at least one flexible tether capable of elongating and contracting. The hinged arms and tether provide multiple means to prevent the trim section from freely detaching from the vehicle body and becoming a projectile following deployment of an air bag from behind the trim panel. In addition, the rigid arms cause the trim panel to move in a controlled arc. A further aspect of the invention provides a tether that is capable of stretching to allow unimpeded air bag deployment followed by contracting to pull the trim panel back towards its original position on the vehicle body.
US07698784B2 Hinge assembly for display monitor
An exemplary hinge assembly (300) for use in a flat display monitor includes a support member (10), a rotational base (20) and a pivot mechanism (30) for rotatably connecting the rotational base to the support member. The rotational base includes a fixing board (22) and a side board (24) disposed at an end of the fixing board, the side board defining an engaging hole (242) and forming an inwardly bent portion (240) at a distal end edge thereof. The support member includes an extending seat (16) defining a round pivoting hole (1601), and a retaining portion (161) extending from an exterior side of the extending seat. The retaining portion of the side board is configured for blocking the inwardly bent portion of the side board so that a range of rotation of the rotational base relative to the support member is between a first utmost position and a second utmost position.
US07698782B2 Furniture hinge
An example furniture hinge includes a carrier arm, a door fitting having a recessed cup that is rotatably disposed on one end of the carrier arm, and an end plate adjustably connected to another end of the carrier arm. A mounting plate that attaches to a furniture body includes a wall portion. An eccentric element laterally adjustably attaches the end plate to the wall portion. The end plate includes an anchoring element for engaging behind the wall portion.
US07698781B2 Sliding wheels for drapery
A drapery arrangement includes a drapery fabric, a sliding track, and a plurality of sliding wheels. Each of the sliding wheels includes a sliding hanger, a wheel seat, a central connecting shaft, and a plurality of sliding elements. The wheel seat, having a rotating groove, is adapted to fittedly receive in a toggle cavity of the sliding hanger, wherein the wheel seat has a through connecting channel extended along a radial direction thereof. The central connecting shaft penetrates though the connecting channel enhancing a structural rigidity of the respective sliding wheel, and evenly distributing a load imposed on the sliding wheel. The plurality of sliding elements is rotatably received in the rotating groove for running on a circular sidewall of the toggle cavity, wherein the sliding wheel is slidably mounted on the sliding track for sliding therealong.
US07698775B2 Windshield wiper assembly having a body made of spring steel
A windshield wiper assembly includes a pair of leaf spring elements supported generally parallel to each other with a space therebetween. Each of the leaf spring elements includes a longitudinal slot formed therein at opposite ends thereof. A support bracket maintains the pair of leaf spring elements in generally parallel spaced apart relation to support the squeegee therebetween. A pair of end caps is mounted on opposite ends of the pair of spring steel elements. Each of the end caps includes a pair of detents for engaging the longitudinal slots formed in the spring steel elements and a pair of slots for receiving the ends of the spring steel elements therethrough. A longitudinal length of each of the detents is shorter than a longitudinal length of the longitudinal slots formed in the spring steel elements, so that the spring steel elements can slide with respect to the end caps.
US07698774B1 Apparatus for producing an arcuate blade
Disclosed in this specification is an assembly for bending the blade of a drywall knife. In one aspect of the invention, a first and second blade bender are each attached to a drywall knife and a force is applied. This force bends the blade in such a manner that an arcuate blade is produced. The magnitude of the bend is highly adjustable.
US07698768B2 Drum type washing machine with laundry drying function and method for controlling the same
A drum type washing machine with a laundry drying function and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, in which a ventilating function is carried out during a dehydrating stroke. The drum type washing machine with a laundry drying function, provided with a ventilating fan, includes a key input unit inputting user's request command, a memory storing a pattern for driving the ventilating fan, during a dehydrating stroke period, a controller controlling the washing machine to carry out a corresponding stroke per course selected through the key input unit and to drive the ventilating fan at a pattern previously stored in the memory when a dehydrating stroke starts, and a fan driver controlling driving of the ventilating fan in accordance with a control signal of the controller.
US07698761B2 Adjustable bed having four linear actuators
An adjustable bed includes a stationary seat deck board and independently movable front and rear carriages powered by linear actuators supported by a stationary base. A head deck board is hingedly secured to the front carriage and moves with it. Leg and foot deck boards hingedly joined together are supported by the rear carriage and move with it. Additional linear actuators move the head deck board and leg deck boards between horizontal and inclined positions independently.
US07698759B1 Bed sheet securing assembly
A bed sheet securing assembly includes a clamp that is removably attachable to a bed sheet. The clamp includes a first plate and a second plate. Each of the first and second plates has a first side, a second side, a back edge and a front edge. A biasing member is attached to each of the back edges of the plates and biases the first side of the first plate against the second side of the second plate. A tether is attached to the clamp. The tether is removably couplable to a bed on which the sheet is positioned. An opening apparatus is removably engaged with the clamp and is actuated to open the clamp.
US07698758B2 Fitted covering having diagonal elastic bands
A fitted mattress covering for a mattress includes lower edge portions, which may be inverted J-shaped portions, mirror-image inverted J-shaped portions, portions that terminate at an end, or inverted U-shaped portions. The covering side and end portion lower edges may join one another to form a continuous lower edge of the covering. For the J-shaped portion, an elastic binding may be disposed under a downwards folded portion. The elastic binding may extend at least partially along the length of the lower edge of the covering. An elastic band may be disposed at each corner of the covering and extend diagonally across the associated corner and have opposite ends secured adjacent one of the side portions and adjacent one of the adjacent end portions, respectively. The bands may be secured in place by stitching and/or by supplementary securing means to ensure that the bands do not pull away from the covering.
US07698756B1 Simple and strong foldable bed
A stronger foldable bed having a frame and a foldably soft cover attached thereto. The frame has two pairs of side bars each pivotally connected to a central link, a tilt leg pivotally connected to a free end of each side bar, three pairs of scissoring end or middle bars linking the two pairs of side bars, a pair of middle leg each containing a telescoping leg, a reinforcing bar each pivotally connected to one side bar and a sleeve covering on each tilt leg, and a journey limit formed on each tilt leg. The foldable bed is longitudinal stable, simple and strong, without sacrificing the easiness of operation of folding and expanding. The foldable bed has a tent attached thereto with the aid of slide fasteners.
US07698752B2 Goggle strap
An improved goggle strap is provided. The strap allows for comfortable use through the employment materials such as high density polyester materials that can encase elastic materials. These straps may also contain traceability elements that allow for the easy association of the strap and goggles with user.
US07698751B2 Swimming goggles
Swimming goggles include a left frame, a right frame, hard holding frames and strap elements. A connecting portion connects the left frame and the right frame. The left frame and right frame are both formed of soft material. Each of the left frame and the right frame includes an inner surface, and an outer surface, and an intermediate surface between the inner surface and the outer surface. Lenses are received between the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces of the left frame and right frame. Hard holding frames respectively clamp the left frame and right frame. Strap elements are formed on outward lateral sides of the hard holding frames for receiving a head strap. Pads are provided on the left frame and the right frame for comfortably contacting users. The connecting portion is flexible so that fitting to various users with different face profiles without hazard of water leakage.