最新美国发明专利第2010-08-17期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US07776625B2	Method for locating a sub-surface feature using a scatterometer The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, without limitation, may include providing a substrate having a sub-surface feature and a surface feature, and determining a location of the sub-surface feature relative to the surface feature using a scatterometer.
US07776622B2	Method for fabricating semiconductor devices A semiconductor device fabrication method that improves the efficiency of semiconductor device production. A plurality of wafer substrates are set and a process for fabricating semiconductor devices each having a ferroelectric capacitor is begun. After ferroelectric layers are formed over the plurality of wafer substrates, the ferroelectric layers formed are damaged. The plurality of wafer substrates are then rearranged and treatment is performed. In each step in which the ferroelectric layers formed may be damaged, the plurality of wafer substrates are rearranged and treatment is performed. As a result, retention characteristic variations among wafer substrates in the same lot are reduced and the productivity of semiconductor devices is improved.
US07776620B2	Hapten-carrier conjugates for treating and preventing nicotine addiction Novel hapten-carrier conjugates are capable of inducing the production of antibodies, in vivo, that specifically bind to nicotine. These conjugates comprise a nicotine hapten conjugated to an immunogenic carrier protein. The novel conjugates preserve the chirality of nicotine in its native (S)-(−) state, and have good stability properties. The conjugates are useful in formulating vaccines for active immunization, that are used to prevent and treat nicotine addiction. The antibodies raised in response to the nicotine hapten-carrier conjugate are used for passive immunization. These antibodies are administered for prevention and treatment of nicotine addiction.
US07776619B2	Method of stabilizing pulmonary surfactant protein The present invention relates to a method for long-term stabilizing a pulmonary surfactant protein, to a stabilized aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein, and to a kit for assaying a pulmonary surfactant protein which kit contains, as a component reagent, a stabilized aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein.The invention provides a method for stabilizing a pulmonary surfactant protein, the method including causing the pulmonary surfactant protein to be present with a calcium ion and an oxidizing/reducing substance.The invention also provides an aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein which has been stabilized by use of a calcium ion and an oxidizing/reducing substance in combination.The invention also provides a kit for assaying a pulmonary surfactant protein present in a sample through an immunological technique employing antigen-antibody reaction, the kit containing, as a standard solution of pulmonary surfactant protein, an aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein which has been stabilized by use of a calcium ion and an oxidizing/reducing substance in combination.
US07776615B2	Method for solid-phase micro extraction and apparatus therefor The present invention is directed to a system for pre-treatment of a sample to be introduced in a chromatograph, and a method for performing solid-phase extraction of a component present in a sample. The system uses a syringe having a needle being provided with a porous body having a monolithic structure along at least an appropriate length of the needle and across an overall diameter of the needle. The method includes the steps of inserting the needle into the sample, passing the sample through the needle to retain an analyte within the porous body, and desorbtion of the retained analyte from the porous body.
US07776612B2	Method of quantifying antigen expression The present invention is directed to a novel method for quantifying antigen, such as the amount expressed on a cell. The method comprises formulating an equation of correlation between the amount expressed of expressed antigen and the intensity of fluorescence from fluorescent labelled antibody.
US07776611B2	Optical sensor using functionalized composite materials The invention relates to a method for sensing the presence of at least one analyte in a medium, comprising disposing in the medium a functionalized composite material such that the at least one analyte is absorbed by the functionalized composite material, the functionalized composite material having at least one optical property that is modulated by absorption of the at least one analyte; and measuring modulation of the at least one optical property of the functionalized composite material; wherein modulation of the at least one optical property of the functionalized composite material is indicative of the presence of the analyte in the medium. The invention also relates to an optical sensor for sensing the presence of at least one analyte in a medium, and a functionalized composite material having at least one optical property that is modulated upon absorption of one or more analyte.
US07776610B2	Cyanide and related species detection with metal surfaces An assay method and kit for detecting a chemical. The method and kit utilize a metal surface capable of surface enhanced Raman Scattering. The metal surface may be provided in the form of one or more nanoparticles, to increase the surface enhanced Raman Scattering capability of the metal surface. The nanoparticles may be treated with one or more additives to further enhance or maintain the surface enhanced Raman Scattering capability of the nanoparticles.
US07776609B2	Reference microplates and methods for making and using the reference microplates A reference microplate is described herein which can be used to help calibrate and troubleshoot an optical interrogation system. In one embodiment, the reference microplate has a frame with an array of wells each of which contains an optical biosensor and each optical biosensor is at least partially coated with a substance (e.g., elastomer, optical epoxy). In another embodiment, the reference microplate in addition to having its optical biosensors at least partially covered with a substance (e.g., elastomer, optical epoxy) also has a controllable heating device attached thereto which is used to heat the optical biosensors.
US07776606B2	Processes to create discrete corrosion defects on substrates and establish corrosion NDI test standards Methods and apparatuses are provided for creation of discrete corrosion defects with a wide range of diameter to depth aspect ratios for painted test standards. Also provided are methods for use of those test standards to characterize the corrosion under paint detection threshold, statistical reliability, and accuracy of NDI and/or NDT techniques including but not limited to flash thermography, ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, microwave testing, shearography, and infrared testing.
US07776600B2	Method of manufacturing hydroxyapatite and uses therefor in delivery of nucleic acids Provided is a method for production of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite particles, and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite particles produced according to the method. The nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite particles exhibit substantially superior cell transformation abilities as compared to known and commercially-available calcium phosphate kits. The nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite particles also find use in tissue engineering applications, for example bone and tooth engineering and repair applications.
US07776595B2	Methods for genetic modification of hematopoietic progenitor cells and uses of the modified cells Described are compositions and methods relating to gene therapy, particularly as applied to hematopoietic progenitor (HP) cells, to transduced cells and methods of obtaining them, and to methods of using them to provide prolonged engraftment of modified hematopoietic cells in human subjects. The invention particularly relates to ex vivo gene therapy of HP cells for treatment or prevention of HIV infection.
US07776593B2	Hes6 as a marker of pancreatic endocrine cells The present invention provides methods of identifying endocrine stem and progenitor cells.
US07776591B2	Hematopoietic stem cells treated by in vitro fucosylation and methods of use A method of in vitro fucosylation of selectin ligands on cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells for bone marrow transplantation is disclosed. In this method, an effective amount of an α1,3-fucosyltransferase, e.g., α1,3-fucosyltransferase VI, is used in vitro to treat cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells to convert non-functional PSGL-1 or other ligands on the cell surface into functional forms that bind selectins, especially P-selectin or E-selectin. The treated cells have enhanced effectiveness in reconstituting bone marrow in patients in need of such therapy.
US07776590B2	Stable cell lines expressing hERG A stable eukaryotic cell line that expresses hERG and exhibits a stable current under electrophysiological test conditions is provided.
US07776588B2	MDR1 variants and methods for their use This invention provides the identification of a truncation polymorphism of the mdr1 gene that is linked to ivermectin sensitivity in subjects, such as collies. Also provided are methods for detecting drug transport sensitivity in a subject, and animal models and in vitro cell systems using cells from animals having an mdr1 truncation.
US07776586B2	Method for isolating cells from mammary secretion The present invention relates to a method for isolating progenitor cells from a human body, inclusive of all cells with stem cell-like characteristics, in particular pluripotent or multipotent progenitor cells, wherein such cells are directly or indirectly derived from human mammary secretion, be it colostrum, mature milk, or dry period secretion from males or females, of said human body during at least one of the following periods: non-pregnant period, pregnant period, lactating period, involuting period. The present invention furthermore relates to preferred uses of such isolated cells.
US07776583B2	Methods and apparatuses for conducting assays Disclosed are methods for conducting assays of samples, such as whole blood, that may contain cells or other particulate matter. Also disclosed are systems, devices, equipment, kits and reagents for use in such methods. One advantage of certain disclosed methods and systems is the ability to rapidly measure the concentration of an analyte of interest in blood plasma from a whole blood sample without blood separation and hematocrit correction.
US07776582B2	Optically enhanced chiral ionic liquids The invention relates to the use of optically enhanced chiral ionic liquids, particularly for gas chromatography and as a reaction solvent. Specific optically enhanced chiral cationic liquids are described as is a class of optically enhanced chiral anionic liquids.
US07776580B2	Magnetism based rapid cell separation This invention relates generally to the field of cell seperation. In particular, the invention provides processes for isolating a target cell, cellular organelle or virus from a sample, using inter alia, nonspecific binding between a target cell, cellular organelle or virus with a magnetic microbead modified to comprise hydroxyl, carboxyl or epoxy groups.
US07776575B2	Mutant glucose dehydrogenase A mutant glucose dehydrogenase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 including substitution, deletion, insertion or addition of one or more amino acid residues other than the amino acid residue at the 365th position and having glucose dehydrogenase activity, wherein an amino acid residue at a position corresponding to the 365th position of the amino acid sequence is replaced with another amino acid residue, and the mutant glucose dehydrogenase shows an improved substrate specificity to glucose.
US07776568B2	Methods and kits using extended rhodamine dyes Extended rhodamine compounds exhibiting favorable fluorescence characteristics having the structure are disclosed. In addition, novel intermediates for synthesis of these dyes are disclosed, such intermediates having the structure In addition, methods of making and using the dyes as fluorescent labels are disclosed.
US07776566B2	Method for producing purine nucleoside by fermentation A microorganism which has a gene encoding an enzyme in which feedback inhibition is desensitized by substitution of one or two amino acids in PRPP amidotransferase encoded by purF of Escherichia coli, a gene encoding a protein which is an inactivated repressor of purine nucleotide biosynthesis encoded by purR, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated purine nucleoside phosphorylase encoded by deoD, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated succinyl-AMP synthase encoded by purA, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase encoded by edd, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated phosphoglucose isomerase encoded by pgi and like is bred and a purine nucleoside is produced by culturing the microorganism.
US07776563B2	Methods for identifying agents for treating cardiovascular disease using inhibition of myeloperoxidase binding The present invention provides methods and agents for treating subjects who have or are at risk of developing or having cardiovascular disease. Such agents inhibit binding of myeloperoxidase (MPO) to a molecule comprising the MPO binding site of apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) and include a peptide fragment of apoA-1 comprising at least 4 contiguous amino acids in SEQ ID. NO: 2, a modified form of the apo-1 fragment comprising one or more D amino acids, a retro-inverso form of the apoA-1 peptide fragment, an organo-mimetic of the apoA-1 peptide fragment, a peptide-mimetic of the apoA1 peptide fragment, or a nucleic acid encoding the apo A-1 peptide fragment. The present invention also provides methods of identifying or screening test agents for treating subjects having or at risk of having or developing CVD. The method comprises incubating one or more test agents and MPO with a molecule comprising the MPO binding site of apoA-1 under conditions which permit binding of MPO to the MPO binding site and determining whether one or more of the agents inhibit such binding.
US07776562B2	Reversible MHC multimer staining for functional purification of antigen-specific T cells The present invention relates to a new method for reversible staining and functional isolation or characterization of cells, e.g. antigen-specific T cells. With this technique, the original functional status of cells can be substantially maintained after their identification and purification. Thus, this new method is of broad benefit for basic research and clinical applications.
US07776559B2	Disposable blood test device A disposable blood test device comprises a substrate configured for carrying a chemical reagent and circuitry formed on the substrate. The circuitry comprises a sensor portion associated with the chemical reagent to enable measurement of at least one of a presence and a concentration of a blood analyte, and an information storage portion configured to store information indicative of a property of the chemical reagent.
US07776558B2	Human G protein-coupled receptor and modulators thereof for the treatment of cell death-related disorders The present invention relates to methods of identifying whether a candidate compound is a modulator of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In certain embodiments, the GPCR is human. In certain embodiments, the GPCR is expressed endogenously by neuronal cells or muscle cells. In certain embodiments, the GPCR is neuroprotective or myoprotective. In certain embodiments, the GPCR is a Humanin receptor. The present invention also relates to methods of using a modulator of the GPCR. A preferred modulator is agonist. Agonists of the invention are useful as therapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, prion-associated disease, stroke and motor-neuron disease in particular, peripheral neuropathy, cerebral amyloid beta-protein angiopathy, and ischemic heart disease, including myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.
US07776555B1	Colon disease targets and uses thereof The present invention provides a method for diagnosing and detecting diseases associated with colon. The present invention provides one or more proteins or fragments thereof, peptides or nucleic acid molecules differentially expressed in colon diseases (CCAT) and antibodies binds to CCAT. The present invention provides that CCAT is used as targets for screening agents that modulates the CCAT activities. Further the present invention provides methods for treating diseases associated with colon.
US07776554B2	Colorimetric sensor using polydiacetylene supramolecule There is provided a polydiacetylene supramolecule comprising diacetylene molecules, capable of immobilizing a receptor molecule having a thiol group. Since the polydiacetylene supramolecule has a receptor immobilized thereon having a thiol group, for example, an antibody, and thus shows color transition when reacting with a sample, an antigen can be detected through specific color transition of the polydiacetylene when employing in a receptor-ligand reaction, for example, an antibody-antigen reaction.
US07776552B2	Mammalian IAP gene family, primers, probes and detection methods Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding mammalian IAP polypeptides; and methods of using such DNA to express the IAP polypeptides in cells and animals to inhibit apoptosis. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the IAP family and primer and probes for the identification and isolation of additional IAP genes. In addition, methods for treating diseases and disorders involving apoptosis are provided.
US07776547B2	Cellular analysis using Raman surface scanning Methods and apparatus are provided for assaying cell samples, which may be living cells, using probes labeled with composite organic-inorganic nanoparticles (COINs) and microspheres with COINs embedded within a polymer matrix to which the probe moiety is attached. COINs intrinsically produce SERS signals upon laser irradiation, making COIN-labeled probes particularly suitable in a variety of methods for assaying cells, including biological molecules that may be contained on or within cells, most of which are not inherently Raman-active. The invention provides variations of the sandwich immunoassay employing both specific and degenerate binding, methods for reverse phase assay of tissue samples and cell microstructures, in solution displacement and competition assays, and the like. Systems and chips useful for practicing the invention assays are also provided.
US07776538B2	Method for diagnosing methamphetamine dependence Disclosed is useful means for the therapy or diagnosis of a mental disorder. A method for screening for a compound which is effective for a mental disorder, comprising the steps of (1) providing a cell capable of expressing a gene (target gene) selected from the group consisting of a gene having the nucleotide sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:1, a gene having the nucleotide sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:2, a gene having the nucleotide sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:3 and genes homologous to these genes; (2) exposing the cell to a compound to be tested; (3) determining the amount of a product of the target gene expressed in the cell after the exposure to the compound; and (4) determining the change in amount of the product of the target gene under the influence of exposure to the compound.
US07776537B2	Method of preparing a PRRS virus vaccine This invention provides kits, devices, and methods for the detection of antibodies that recognize one or more proteins and/or antigens from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The antibodies may be in a biological fluid of a PRRSV infected or at risk subject. The invention may be advantageously applied to both the diagnosis and prevention of PRRSV infection.
US07776536B2	Comparative fluorescence hybridization to nucleic acid arrays The present invention provides methods of determining relative copy number of target nucleic acids and precise mapping of chromosomal abnormalities associated with disease. The methods of the invention use target nucleic acids immobilized on a solid surface, to which a sample comprising two sets of differentially labeled nucleic acids are hybridized. The hybridization of the labeled nucleic acids to the solid surface is then detected using standard techniques.
US07776533B2	Compositions and methods for detection and isolation of phosphorylated molecules The present invention relates to phosphate-binding compounds that find use in binding, detecting and isolating phosphorylated target molecules including the subsequent identification of target molecules that interact with phosphorylated target molecules or molecules capable of being phosphorylated. A binding solution is provide that comprises a phosphate-binding compound, an acid and a metal ion wherein the metal ion simultaneously interacts with an exposed phosphate group on a target molecule and the metal chelating moiety of the phosphate-binding compound forming a bridge between the phosphate-binding compound and a phosphorylated target molecule resulting in a ternary complex. The binding solution of the present invention finds use in binding and detecting immobilized and solubilized phosphorylated target molecules, isolation of phosphorylated target molecules from a complex mixture and aiding in proteomic analysis wherein kinase and phosphatase substrates and enzymes can be identified.
US07776532B2	Method for in vitro recombination The present invention relates, e.g., to an in vitro method, using isolated protein reagents, for joining two double-stranded (ds) DNA molecules of interest, wherein the distal region of the first DNA molecule and the proximal region of the second DNA molecule share a region of sequence identity, comprising (a) chewing back the DNA molecules with an enzyme having an exonuclease activity, to yield single-stranded overhanging portions of each DNA molecule which contain a sufficient length of the region of sequence identity to hybridize specifically to each other; (b) specifically annealing the single-stranded overhangs; and (c) repairing single-stranded gaps in the annealed DNA molecules and sealing the nicks thus formed (ligating the nicked DNA molecules). The region of sequence identity generally comprises at least 20 non-palindromic nucleotides (nt), e.g., at least about 40 non-palindromic nt. In some embodiments of the invention, about 5% PEG is present during all steps of the reaction, and/or the repair reaction is achieved with Taq DNA polymerase and a compatible ligase, such as Taq DNA ligase. The method allows the joining of a number of DNA fragments, in a predetermined order and orientation, without the use of restriction enzymes. It can be used, e.g., to join synthetically produced sub-fragments of a gene or genome of interest.
US07776531B1	Compositions and methods for stabilizing surface bound probes The present invention provides a method for detecting a target analyte by providing a substrate having attached polynucleotides and a stabilization polymer layer; removing the stabilization polymer layer; contacting the substrate with a target analyte; and detecting the target analyte.
US07776529B2	Methine-substituted cyanine dye compounds Cyanine dye compounds having a substituted methine moiety that are nucleic acid stains, particularly for fluorescent staining of RNA, including compounds having the formula where R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl or C1-C6 alkoxy; each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, fused benzo, trifluoromethyl, amino, sulfo, carboxy and halogen, that is optionally further substituted; at least one of R3, R4, and R5 is an alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cyclic, or heterocyclic moiety that is optionally substituted by alkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, carboxy, nitro, or halogen; and the remaining R3, R4 or R5 are hydrogen; X is S, O, or Se; and D is a substituted or unsubstituted pyridinium, quinolinium or benzazolium moiety.
US07776526B2	Method for the dissociation of the extracellular haemoglobin molecule of Arenicola marina and the characterization of the protein chains forming the molecule and the nucleotide sequences coding for said protein chains Method of dissociating the extracellular haemoglobin molecule of annelids, e.g. Arenicola marina, which can be used to obtain the protein chains forming the molecule. The method includes a step of bringing an extracellular haemoglobin sample from annelids, e.g. Arenicola marina, into contact with at least one dissociating agent, e.g. a mixture containing dithiothreitol (DTT) or tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) hydrochloride or beta-mercaptoethanol and a dissociation buffer for a sufficient length of time in order to separate the protein chains from one another.
US07776525B2	Method of diagnosing disease relating to endometriosis The expression level of a histamine-releasing factor (HRF) polynucleotide in a biological sample of a subject is measured and the HRF polynucleotide content is compared with that of a normal biological sample. An HRF polynucleotide expression level considerably higher than that of the normal biological sample is employed as an indication of a disease relating to endometriosis or a risk thereof.
US07776523B2	Endogenous retroviruses up-regulated in prostate cancer Human endogenous retroviruses of the HML-2 family show up-regulated expression in prostate tumors. This finding can be used in prostate cancer screening, diagnosis and therapy.
US07776521B1	Coronavirus isolated from humans Disclosed herein is a newly isolated human coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Also provided are the nucleic acid sequence of the SARS-CoV genome and the amino acid sequences of the SARS-CoV open reading frames, as well as methods of using these molecules to detect a SARS-CoV and detect infections therewith. Immune stimulatory compositions are also provided, along with methods of their use.
US07776513B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including coating a photo-resist layer on a semiconductor substrate having a lower layer; performing a soft-bake process on the photo-resist layer; performing an exposure process on the photo-resist layer having passed through the soft-bake process; performing a post exposure-bake (PEB) process on photo-resist pattern holes formed by the exposure process; performing a developing process on the photo-resist pattern holes having passed through the PEB process; and performing a hard-bake process on the photo-resist pattern holes having passed through the developing process. The method improves the circularity of PR pattern holes to improve the profile of contacts in an etching process after a photography process, resulting in an enhancement in the operation reliability of the device.
US07776510B2	Resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, compound and acid generator A compound represented by general formula (b-14); and acid generator consisting of the compound; and a resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid-generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1) consisting of a compound represented by general formula (b1-14): wherein R7″ to R9″ each independently represents an aryl group or an alkyl group, wherein two of R7″ to R9″ may be bonded to each other to form a ring with the sulfur atom, and at least one of R7″ to R9″ represents a substituted aryl group in which a portion or all of the hydrogen atoms are substituted with an alkoxyalkyloxy group or an alkoxycarbonylalkyloxy group; and X− represents an anion.
US07776506B2	Coating compositions for photoresists In one aspect, the present invention relates to coating compositions that comprise a resin component, wherein the predominant portion of the resin component comprising one or more resins that are at least substantially free of fluorine. Coating compositions of the invention are useful as photoresist overcoat layers, including in immersion lithography processing.
US07776504B2	Dye-containing resist composition and color filter using same There is provided a color resist composition comprising a resin (A), a photoacid generator or a photobase generator (B), a crosslinking compound (C) and a dye mixture (D) containing a dye having a structure of amino sulfonate ester or ammonium sulfonate salt in a proportion of 40 to 95% by weight on total dye content. Preferably, resin (A) is polyvinyl phenol or a copolymer thereof, and the color resist composition has an optical quality having at least a region with a transmittance of 70% or more and a region with a transmittance of 10% or less in wavelength range between 400 nm and 700 nm, and in which a variation in transmittance is 5% or less even when the composition is subjected to a temperature of 200° C. or more. The color resist composition is applicable for color filters which exhibits a high spectrum reproducibility, a high light-resistance and a heat-resistance, and has a high resolution of 5 μm or less and no post development residue.
US07776502B2	Toner for developing electrostatic charge image, electrostatic charge image developer, image forming method and image forming apparatus A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image, includes: a binder resin formed by reacting a polymerizable aromatic monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond conjugated to an aromatic ring thereof, a nitrogen-containing polymerizable aliphatic monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and a sulfur-containing aliphatic compound to each other; and a colorant, wherein a ratio (MN/MS) of an amount of nitrogen (MN) to an amount of sulfur (MS) is in a range of from 1.0 to 15.
US07776500B2	Monomeric glass mixtures incorporating tetracarbonylbisimide group The present invention is a photoconductive element that includes an electrically conductive support, an electrical barrier layer disposed over said electrically conductive support, and disposed over said barrier layer, a charge generation layer capable of generating positive charge carriers when exposed to actinic radiation. The barrier layer includes a monomeric glass mixture incorporating tetracarbonylbisimide groups.
US07776499B2	Overcoat containing fluorinated poly(oxetane) photoconductors A photoconductor comprising a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and in contact with the charge transport layer an overcoat layer comprised of a fluorinated poly(oxetane) polymer.
US07776493B2	Mask for LITI and LITI method using the same A mask for LITI and a LITI method using the same wherein the mask includes patterns arranged in a direction perpendicular to a beam scanning direction and are arranged so that increasingly longer patterns are located towards the edge of the mask than in or near the center.
US07776490B2	Fuel cell having closure seal A seal member is formed integrally on surfaces of a metal separator of a fuel cell. The seal member includes an outer seal and an inner seal provided on a surface of the metal separator. A plurality of closure seals are formed integrally with an inner edge of the inner seal. The closure seals close a space between the inner seal and a protrusion forming a fuel gas flow field.
US07776487B2	Pressure regulator for a fuel cell, fuel supply system for a fuel cell using the regulator, electronic equipment having the fuel supply system, and fuel cartridge for a fuel cell A fuel supply system for a fuel cell supplies fuel to a fuel cell of an electronic equipment. The fuel supply system includes a pressure regulator for regulating primary pressure to secondary pressure, and a pair of cylindrical fuel cartridges which are connected to a pair of inlets on a primary pressure side. The inlets being provided to both sides of the pressure regulator are arranged in mutually opposite directions. Fuel having primary pressure is took in from the inlets into the pressure regulator. The fuel cartridges are placed to both sides of the pressure regulator along a substantially straight-outer edge of the electronic equipment.
US07776486B2	Titanium-based material for fuel cell separators and a method for the production thereof A separator material effective for decreasing the weight of fuel cells is provided which is lightweight, has good corrosion resistance, and exhibits a minimized increase in electrical contact resistance during use for a long period. Titanium or a titanium alloy is prepared by melting so as to contain not greater than 5 mass % B, thereby forming a titanium-based material in which fine TiB-type boride particles are precipitated and dispersed. The material is then etched in an aqueous acidic solution such that some of the TiB-type boride particles are exposed on the surface through the passive film formed thereon.
US07776485B1	Fuel cell stack with a plurality of connected single unit fuel cells A fuel cell stack including a housing for holding fuel cells is disclosed. Each fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly with a proton exchange membrane disposed between carbon bases, a connector for engaging metalized collectors to form an electrical circuit for operating the fuel cell stack, and a sealable two-part housing for supporting an oxidant manifold and a fuel manifold that support the membrane electrode assembly and flexible plenums of each fuel cell. The fuel cell stack includes fuel cell connectors for connecting an anode from one fuel cell with a cathode from an adjacent fuel cell, a fuel intake in communication with a fuel source and an oxidant intake in communication with an oxidant source for providing fuel and oxidant into the fuel cell stack, a controller for monitoring and regulating fuel and oxidant, and a fuel manifold engaging fuel intakes and an oxidant manifold engaging oxidant intakes.
US07776483B2	Method and system of activating fuel cell stack An activation method and system to selectively activate defective cells in a laminated fuel cell stack. The system includes a tank to store a polar solvent used to activate the cells; a body including a transfer unit to transfer the polar solvent to the fuel cell stack and a control unit to control the transfer unit; and a nozzle coupled to the body, to be inserted into an inlet manifold of the fuel cell stack. The nozzle has an opening positioned opposite to a channel inlet of at least one non-activated cell of the plurality of cells, to jet the polar solvent into only a channel of the non-activated cell, through the opening.
US07776481B2	Fuel cell system and method of controlling electrical energy discharged in the fuel cell system When a control device detects a request for stopping power generation of a fuel cell, electrical energy discharged from the fuel cell is supplied to an energy storage and other electrical devices such as an air compressor. At this time, electrical energy is supplied preferentially to the other electrical devices. Accordingly, discharge/charge losses in the energy storage can be reduced, compared to a technique in which an energy storage is charged preferentially at the time of stopping power generation of a fuel cell.
US07776480B2	Fuel cell system and method for permitting idle stop in fuel cell system A fuel cell system is provided which includes a fuel cell to which fuel gas and oxidizing gas are supplied to generate electricity, a purge valve which purges fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell, a dilutor which mixes the purged fuel gas with the oxidizing gas and purges the purged fuel gas mixed with the oxidizing gas into the atmosphere, and an ECU which stops supply of the oxidizing gas to the fuel cell so as to cause an idle stop and determines whether to permit the idle stop depending on a concentration of the fuel gas in the dilutor.
US07776479B2	Micro-electro-mechanical systems phosphoric acid fuel cell A phosphoric acid fuel cell system comprising a porous electrolyte support, a phosphoric acid electrolyte in the porous electrolyte support, a cathode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte, and an anode electrode contacting the phosphoric acid electrolyte.
US07776474B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode group in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween. The positive electrode contains a positive electrode active material and a binder. The positive electrode active material contains a mixture of two different particulate substances having different average particle sizes. The two different particulate substances are lithium composite metal oxides containing nickel as an essential element. The binder includes fluorocarbon resin and rubber particles. The fluorocarbon resin contains at least a vinylidene fluoride unit. The amount of the rubber particles per 100 parts by weight of the fluorocarbon resin is 1 to 25 parts by weight.
US07776472B2	Anode material for secondary battery, method for producing the same and secondary batteries using the same Disclosed are an anode material for a secondary battery, a method for producing the same and a secondary battery using the same. The present invention provides the anode material for a secondary battery produced by coating a high-crystallinity core carbonaceous material with a coating carbonaceous material and calcinating the high-crystallinity core carbonaceous material, wherein the anode material has a specific volume of 0.002 cc/g or less. The anode material for a secondary battery of the present invention may be produced by coating a high-crystallinity core carbonaceous material with a coating carbonaceous material and undergoing a predetermined calcination process, and the anode material can have an increased volume ratio of the micropores. Accordingly, the secondary battery of the present invention may be useful to improve charging/discharging capacity and efficiency since sorption of lithium ion in the anode material is improved.
US07776471B2	Electrode of ultra thin manganese battery and manufacturing method therefor Disclosed herein is an electrode of an ultra thin manganese battery which has over load discharge properties and high capacity to accomplish a high energy density, by using a mixture of a water-soluble binder and an organic solvent-soluble binder in preparation of the electrode, and a method for preparing the same.
US07776461B2	Gypsum products utilizing a two-repeating unit dispersant and a method for making them A gypsum slurry includes water, a hydraulic component including stucco and a polycarboxylate dispersant. The dispersant has two repeating units wherein the first repeating unit is an olefinic unsaturated mono-carboxylic acid repeating unit or an ester or salt, and the second repeating unit is a vinyl or allyl group bound to a polyether by an ether linkage. The slurry can be made into a gypsum panel.
US07776460B2	Coated substrate with high reflectance A transparent coated substrate with high reflectance, especially for use as in exterior glazing panels for buildings, is provided by a substrate carrying a coating stack comprising a pyrolytically-formed main layer containing oxides of tin and antimony, in which the main layer has a geometric thickness of at least 250 nm and the stack includes an outer reflective layer having a geometric thickness in the range 30 to 150 nm and a refractive index in the range 2.0 to 2.8, whereby the so-coated substrate has a reflectance (RL) of more than 10%.
US07776453B2	Machine element and method for manufacturing thereof A hub ring and/or an outer ring constituting a bearing device for a wheel, which is formed of a steel which contains 0.45 to 0.70 mass % of C and at least one of V, Nb and Ti in a total amount of 0.3 mass % or less, wherein a micro structure of a part being not surface-hardening-treated contains a ferrite in 15 to 30 area % and contains a particulate ferrite.
US07776451B2	Composite overlay compound A method of forming a composite overlay compound on a substrate includes forming a mixture including at least one component from a first group of component materials including titanium, chrome, tungsten, vanadium, niobium, and molybdenum. The mixture also includes at least one component from a second group of component materials including carbon and boron, and the mixture further includes at least one component from a third group of component materials including silicon, nickel, and manganese. The mixture of selected component materials is then applied to a substrate material to form an overlay compound on the substrate material. The overlay compound is fused to the substrate to form a metallurgical bond between the substrate material and the overlay compound.
US07776446B2	Multi-layer release films A multilayer film includes a first layer including a blend of a polyolefin and a diene elastomer, a second layer directly contacting and directly bonded to the first layer, and a third layer directly contacting and directly bonded to the first layer. The second and third layers include a fluoropolymer.
US07776444B2	Transparent and electrically conductive single wall carbon nanotube films An optically transparent and electrically conductive single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) film comprises a plurality of interpenetrated single walled carbon nanotubes, wherein for a 100 nm film the film has sufficient interpenetration to provide a 25° C. sheet resistance of less than 200 ohm/sq. The film also provides at least 20% optical transmission throughout a wavelength range from 0.4 μm to 5 μm.
US07776443B1	Soyoil paintball The invention herein provides for an improved dye composition for encapsulation in casing structures adapted for projectile motion and rupture upon contact with a target surface, such as paint balls. The dye composition adapted for use in an impact-rupturable capsule of the invention comprises a water soluble dye and a lipophilic carrier having an oil and a nonionic surfactant, said surfactant comprising greater than 97% Poly[oxy-1,2-ethanediyl], alpha-[4-nonylphenyl]-omega-hydroxy-, branched and less than 3% polyethylene glycol and less than 2% dinonylphenyl polyoxyethylene by weight. The invention further provides for an impact-rupturable capsule containing the dye composition.
US07776440B2	Spring coated with powder coating of epoxy resin and thermoplastic resin A spring with high durability has a coating film composed of an epoxy resin powder coating containing softening agent which contains an epoxy resin and a softening agent comprising a thermoplastic resin for improving impact resistance of the coating film. A method of coating a spring with high durability comprises a coating step of making an epoxy resin powder coating containing softening agent which contains an epoxy resin and a softening agent comprising a thermoplastic resin for improving impact resistance of a coating film adhere to a surface on which the coating film is formed, and a baking step of baking the epoxy resin powder coating containing softening agent adhered to the surface.
US07776439B2	Aromatic polyamide filament and method of manufacturing the same Disclosed are wholly aromatic polyamide filament and a method of manufacturing the same, characterized in that, in the process of preparing the wholly aromatic polyamide polymer, the aromatic diamine, aromatic diacid chloride and polymerization solvent put into the reactor 20 are agitated by an agitation device which is installed in the reactor 20 and consists of: (i) a rotor 3 driven by a motor 2 and having a plurality of pins 3a; and (ii) a stator 4 having a plurality of pins 4a, wherein spin speed of the rotor 3 is controlled to 10 to 100 times of both of feeding rates for the aromatic diacid chloride and the aromatic diamine in the polymerization solvent into the reactor and, at the same time, contact frequency between the pins 3a and the pins 4a is regulated within a range of 100 to 1,000 Hz. The present invention is effective to progress uniform and homogeneous polymerization over all of area of a polymerization reactor 20, thereby reducing deviation in degree of polymerization, since polymeric monomers are miscible and react together very well in the reactor 20. Accordingly, the wholly aromatic polyamide filament produced exhibits narrow PDI and lowered paracrystalline parameter gII leading to reduction of defects of a crystal itself, so as to considerably improve strength and modulus thereof.
US07776437B2	Double-sided tape, display module, and method of separating chassis from display panel A display module including a display panel, a chassis on a non-image-displaying surface of the display panel, and a double-sided tape between the display panel and the chassis, the double-sided tape including a foam layer, a top adhesive layer on an upper surface of the foam layer, and a first bottom adhesive layer on a lower surface of the foam layer.
US07776434B2	Organic matrix composite structures and thermal oxidative barrier coating therefor A tailorable polyimide resin system may be used to form an organic matrix composite (OMC) structure for use in high temperature applications. A thermal oxidative barrier coating on the OMC may include a bond coat comprising a tailorable polyimide resin system. The bond coat may include nano-particles such as clay platelets, graphite flakes or a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. The coating system may include a thermal barrier layer including a silsesquioxane or an inorganic polymer. The tailorable polyimide resin system includes first and second independent prepolymer components able to impart desired properties in the prepolymer blend or the crosslinked polyimide matrix.
US07776429B2	Support for image recording material, image recording material, and image recording method An object of the present invention is to provide a support for image recording material, which can record high quality images without causing blister, unevenness of recording and unevenness of fixation; various image recording materials using the support for image recording material; and an image recording method. Therefore, the present invention provides a support for image recording material, comprising a base paper and at least one polyolefin resin layer formed on both surfaces of the base paper, wherein a front surface polyolefin resin layer at the side of the polyolefin resin layer, on which an image recording layer is formed, is composed of two or more layers, and an average density of an outermost front surface polyolefin resin layer, which is located farthest from the base paper, is less than that of at least any front surface polyolefin resin layers other than the outermost front surface polyolefin resin layer.
US07776423B2	Decorating sheet, decorated molded product, and in-injection-mold decorating method A decorating sheet comprises a transparent resin substrate sheet 1 and a glossy layer 2 laminated to the back surface of the transparent resin substrate sheet 1, and the front surface of the transparent resin substrate sheet 1 is divided into high-gloss portions H and low-gloss portions L. The transparent resin substrate sheet 1 is thick at the high-gloss portions and thin at the low-gloss portions, and, owing to these portions, the decorating sheet can provide a pattern that is visually sensed as if it were a three-dimensional pattern. This transparent resin substrate sheet 1 is composed of two layers, a crystalline resin layer 11 and a non-crystalline resin layer 12. A decorated molded product Pd can be obtained by laminating this decorating sheet to a resin molded product 5.
US07776420B2	Ag base alloy thin film and sputtering target for forming Ag base alloy thin film The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.
US07776415B2	Stretch-formed multilayer container and production process for the same To provide a stretch-formed multilayer container with excellent oxygen-gas barrier properties even in a high humidity atmosphere, which is obtained by stretching a multilayer sheet or a multilayer preform, which contains at least one layer made of a mixture of a polycarboxylic acid-based polymer (B) and a plasticizer (C) and at least one layer made of a mixture of a multivalent metal compound (D) and a resin (E), from 1.1 to 100 times its area draw ratio.
US07776411B2	Brightness enhancement film for liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof A liquid crystal display having a brightness enhancement film and a method of manufacturing the brightness enhancement film, the method including providing a solution of high molecular weight resin on a high molecular weight film, uniformly distributing the solution of high molecular weight resin on the high molecular weight film, and drying the solution of high molecular weight resin to form a high molecular weight resin layer, wherein the high molecular weight resin layer has a hexagonal lattice structure.
US07776410B2	Resin composition for extrusion molding and extrusion-molded article A purpose of the present invention is to obtain a hollow extruded article by easy blow molding or extrusion molding to give a draw down resistance and a uniform wall thickness of the article without damaging low gas permeability which is a characteristic property of a liquid-crystalline polymer. A resin composition for extrusion molding which is prepared by melting and kneading 99-70 wt. % of wholly aromatic polyester amide liquid crystal resin (A) having a melting point of 270-370° C. and a melt viscosity at 1000/sec. shear rate of 20-60 Pa·s at Temperature T1 which is higher than 20° C. from said melting point, and containing (I) 1-15 mole % of 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid residue, (II) 40-70 mole % of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid residue, (III) 5-28.5 mole % of aromatic diol residue, (IV) 1-20 mole % of 4-aminophenol residue, and (V) 6-29.5 mole % of aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue; and 1-30 wt. % of epoxy modified polyolefin type resin (B), and has a melt viscosity at 1000/sec. shear rate of 60-4000 Pa·s at said Temperature T1, and a melt tensile strength of 20 mN or more at 14.8 m/min. draw rate is used.
US07776409B2	Electrode for discharge surface treatment and method of evaluating the same, and discharge-surface-treating method A method of evaluating an electrode for discharge surface treatment for generating a discharge between the electrode and a workpiece in a treatment liquid or in the air using a green compact obtained by molding a metal, metal compound, or ceramic powder or other green compact obtained by heating the green compact as the electrode, and forming a coat consisting of an electrode material or a substance obtained by a reaction of the electrode material by a discharge energy on a surface of the workpiece, includes evaluating a capability of the electrode to deposit the coat based on an amount of deposition of the electrode material on the surface of the workpiece by a single discharge.
US07776406B2	Optical materials and optical devices Nanoscale particles, particle coatings/particle arrays and corresponding consolidated materials are described based on an ability to vary the composition involving a wide range of metal and/or metalloid elements and corresponding compositions. In particular, metalloid oxides and metal-metalloid compositions are described in the form of improved nanoscale particles and coatings formed from the nanoscale particles. Compositions comprising rare earth metals and dopants/additives with rare earth metals are described. Complex compositions with a range of host compositions and dopants/additives can be formed using the approaches described herein. The particle coating can take the form of particle arrays that range from collections of disbursable primary particles to fused networks of primary particles forming channels that reflect the nanoscale of the primary particles. Suitable materials for optical applications are described along with some optical devices of interest.
US07776402B2	Method for pattern formation and apparatus for pattern formation The present invention relates to a method for pattern formation and an apparatus for pattern formation, the method comprising: applying, between partition lines for pattern formation formed on a surface of a base member, a resin composition for pattern formation having small compatibility or substantially no compatibility with a resin forming the partition lines for pattern formation, in a state in which the surface of the base member with the partition lines for pattern formation formed whereon is placed face down; maintaining the state in which the resin composition for pattern formation is held on the surface of the base member that is placed face down in order to form the resin composition for pattern formation applied between the partition lines for pattern formation into a downward convex shape; and curing the resin composition for pattern formation that is formed into the downward convex shape in order to form a pattern.
US07776401B2	Method for treating fabric with viscous liquid polymers A process of treating a woven fabric by applying to the fabric a viscous polymer in a 5 to 40 wt % solution with a solvent, wherein the polymer has a Tg in the range of about minus 40 to about 0° C. and a zero shear melt viscosity of about 2×106 to about 1013 poise when measured at 20° C. and then evaporating the solvent such that the polymer only partially penetrates the fabric and penetrates to in and between fiber bundles before the polymer solidifies.
US07776398B2	Process for forming mesostructured material and process for controlling orientation of tubular mesopores A mesostructured material, which has plural tubular pores and is arranged on a polymer surface, characterized in that the pores are uniaxially oriented. The mesostructured material can be developed to functional devices.
US07776393B2	Methods of producing an alumina film mainly in alpha crystal structure and the multilayer film thereof Provided is a method of producing an alumina film mainly in alpha crystal structure superior in heat resistance, wherein the alumina film mainly in alpha crystal structure is formed on a substrate, independently of the kind of the substrate at relatively low temperature, by treating the substrate surface with a ceramic powder mainly having the crystal structure same as that of alumina in the alpha crystal structure, in forming the alumina film mainly in alpha crystal structure on the substrate (including the substrate having a film previously formed thereon).
US07776392B2	Composite insulation tape with loaded HTC materials In one embodiment of the present invention as used for impregnating a composite tape (56) with HTC particles provides for permeating a fabric layer (51) of the composite tape with HTC particles and impregnating an impregnating resin into the composite tape through the fabric layer (51). At least 5% of the HTC particles permeated into the fabric layer are carried out of the fabric layer and into a mica layer (52) bound to the fabric layer by the impregnating resin. In some embodiments the impregnating resin itself contains HTC particles.
US07776390B2	Filter window manufacturing method A filter window manufacturing method includes fabricating a structure of wires on a substrate, depositing a lacquer over the wires and the substrate, depositing a first layer that includes a material selected from the group consisting of AlN, Ru, Ir, Au, SiN, Rh, C and combinations thereof, removing the lacquer, removing the substrate, and baking the first layer.
US07776387B2	Method for manufacturing a magneto-resistance effect element A method for manufacturing a magneto-resistance effect element includes: forming a first magnetic layer; forming a first metallic layer, on the first magnetic layer, mainly containing an element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag; forming a functional layer, on the first metallic layer, mainly containing an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Hf, Ti, Mo, W, Nb, Mg, Cr and Zr; forming a second metallic layer, on the functional layer, mainly containing Al; treating the second metallic layer by means of oxidizing, nitriding or oxynitiriding so as to form a current confined layer including an insulating layer and a current path with a conductor passing a current through the insulating layer; and forming, on the current confined layer, a second magnetic layer.
US07776386B2	Method for forming a micro fuel cell A method is provided for fabricating an integrated micro fuel cell that derives power from a three-dimensional fuel/oxidant interchange having increased surface area and that is positioned on a second substrate that may be either porous or flexible with gas access holes, thereby avoiding precise alignment requirements of the openings providing fuel thereto. The method comprises forming on a first substrate, a plurality of pedestals including an anode and a cathode each comprising a porous metal; positioning an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; and forming first metal contacts on the anode and cathode. The first substrate is removed and a second substrate is positioned against the fuel cell wherein the first metal contacts are selectively positioned to make electrical contact with second metal contacts on the second substrate.
US07776384B2	Methods and apparatuses for depositing nanometric filamentary structures The invention relates to a method for monitoring the production of nanometric filamentary structures. The method comprises passing a gaseous phase comprising nanometric filamentary structures through a space defined between at least two electrodes generating an electric field for causing an increase of current between the electrodes and analyzing behavior of the current over a predetermined period of time and/or analyzing at least one of the size, density and shape of the nanometric filamentary structures or aggregates thereof present in the gaseous phase.
US07776379B2	Metallic structures incorporating bioactive materials and methods for creating the same Disclosed herein are methods to create medical devices and medical devices including bioactive composite structures. The methods include using template-assisted electro- or electroless deposition or codeposition methods for providing implantable medical devices coated with bioactive composite structures and also include layering deposited or codeposited metal layers with layers of bioactive materials. In one use, the implantable medical devices of the present invention include stents with bioactive composite structure coatings.
US07776376B2	Whippable food product with improved stability A whippable food product having improved stability characteristics without detectable change in the organoleptic characteristics is provided. The product comprises triglyceride fat, one or more sugars and an emulsifier component comprising destabilizing and stabilizing emulsifiers in amounts sufficient to stabilize the product. This product can be stored at ambient temperatures for extended periods of time and can also be whipped and displayed at ambient temperatures.
US07776370B2	Heat-stable flavoring components and cheese flavoring systems incorporating them Heat-stable flavor components, which can be used in cheese flavoring systems to prepare food products, including cheeses, having desired flavor profiles. The flavoring components are obtained by addition of flavor-generating whey source as part of a fermentation process in which the whey source provides a source of flavor, and a lipid source is added which traps and stabilizes, and thus preserves, flavor compounds in the fermented mixture during a subsequent heat treatment used for culture inactivation. Methods of making and using these flavoring components and flavoring systems in food products, such as cheese products, also are provided.
US07776369B2	Process for obtaining lignans Process for obtaining lignan from plant material by extraction with an extraction solvent and separation of the liquid fraction from the plant material. The separated liquid fraction containing the lignan product is subjected to further processing to remove cyanogenic sugars and other impurities. The resulting lignan containing product may be formulated for the treatment of various conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, lupus, and atherosclerosis.
US07776360B2	(Polyalkoxy)sulfonate surface modifiers The present invention is directed to novel compounds, methods of manufacture and methods of use. The present invention is also directed to solid drug/active agent particles having one or more of the compounds of the present invention associated with the surface thereof.The compounds of the present invention are comprised of a non-polar polyether covalently linked to an anionic sulfonate group. The compounds have an amphipathic quality and preferably, are surface active. Such compounds are preferably useful as surface-active agents to coat and stabilize dispersions of particles in a continuous liquid medium. These surface-active agents may be applied in the stabilization of suspensions, emulsions, or liposome formulations intended for pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, or agricultural use.The particles that can be prepared by a variety of methods and will preferably comprise a pharmaceutical agent. Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used to treat a myriad of conditions and can be administered by many routes, including intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrathecal, subdural, intracameral, intracerebral, intralesional, topical, oral, buccal, rectal, transcutaneous, pulmonary, and nasal.
US07776355B2	Delivery system for topical medications The present invention is a delivery system comprising a pad and a liquid composition, comprising an insoluble dermatologically active ingredient with a viscosity that permits substantially uniform absorption of the composition onto the pad, and the pad is in then packaged in a sealed container.
US07776352B2	Systems and methods for controlling and forming polymer hydrogels In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods of controllably making a vinyl polymer hydrogel having desired physical properties without chemical cross links or radiation. The gelation process is modulated by controlling, for example, the temperature of a resultant vinyl polymer mixture having a gellant or using active ingredients provided in an inactive gellant complex. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the method of manufacturing a vinyl polymer hydrogel includes the steps of providing a vinyl polymer solution comprising a vinyl polymer dissolved in a first solvent; heating the vinyl polymer solution to a temperature elevated above the melting point of the physical associations of the vinyl polymer, mixing the vinyl polymer solution with a gellant, wherein the resulting mixture has a higher Flory interaction parameter than the vinyl polymer solution; inducing gelation of the mixture of vinyl polymer solution and gellant; and controlling the gelation rate to form a viscoelastic solution, wherein workability is maintained for a predetermined period, thereby making a vinyl polymer hydrogel having the desired physical property. In further preferred embodiments, the present invention provides physically crosslinked hydrogels produced by controlled gelation of viscoelastic solution wherein workability is maintained for a predetermined period. In another aspect, the present invention provides kits for use in repairing intervertebral disks or articulated joints including components that form the vinyl polymer hydrogel and a dispenser.
US07776350B2	Sunscreen composite particles in cosmetic compositions A cosmetic composition is provided which includes hydrophilic composite particles of an organic sunscreen agent, particles of a crosslinked silicone elastomer, and a cosmetically acceptable carrier. The hydrophilic composite particles are formed as a composite of sunscreen agent and binder in a relative weight ratio of about 5:1 to about 1:10. The composition exhibits relatively high SPF photoprotection while maintaining excellent soft focus properties that hide skin imperfections.
US07776349B2	Organo-gel formulations for therapeutic applications A composition suitable for the local delivery of cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical agents into the skin containing at least two biocompatible organic solvents, a polar lipid, a surfactant, water, urea and a thickener wherein the organic solvents include an ester and a dihydric and/or polyhydric alcohol is provided. Also disclosed are compositions that further contain a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical agent, along with the preparation and use thereof.
US07776348B2	Water-in-oil emulsion foundation A foundation in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a fatty phase, an aqueous phase, at least one surfactant chosen from C8-C22 alkyl dimethicone copolyols, at least one other surfactant chosen from dimethicone copolyols, and hydrophobic coated pigments, where the fatty phase comprises at least 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the emulsion, of a volatile fatty phase comprising: at least 6% by weight, relative to the total weight of the emulsion, of at least one volatile hydrocarbon oil, and at least one volatile oil chosen from silicone volatile oils and fluorinated volatile oils; wherein the foundation is stable after storing at room temperature (25° C.) for at least 2 months and makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous make-up on the skin.
US07776347B2	Personal product compositions comprising structured benefit agent premix or delivery vehicle and providing enhanced effect of hydrophobic material separate from the structured benefit agent The present invention comprises a structured premix or “delivery vehicle” composition designed as a carrier to enhance the benefit (e.g., via enhanced deposition or other mechanism) of a separate hydrophobic benefit agent(s) (for example, perfumes, skin lightening agents, etc.), from personal product compositions (e.g., liquid and bar cleansers, creams, emulsions, hair composition, deodorant etc.). When the structured benefit agent composition is separately prepared and combined with the personal product composition (preferably while structured, premix composition is still in molten or liquid state), the personal product composition with structured benefit agent carrier provides enhanced deposition of the structured benefit agent and enhanced effect of the separate hydrophobic benefit agent(s) in or on the carrier or in the presence of structured benefit agent carrier.
US07776344B2	Methods related to immunostimulatory nucleic acid-induced interferon Methods and compositions are provided for extending the clinical utility of IFN-α in the treatment of a variety of viral and proliferative disorders. Among other aspects, the invention provides methods which increase the efficacy of IFN-α treatment and reduce IFN-α treatment-related side effects. In addition, methods are provided for supporting the survival and for activating natural interferon producing cells (IPCs) in vitro without exogenous IL-3 or GM-CSF. The invention is based on the discovery that certain CpG and non-CpG ISNAs promote survival and stimulation of IPCs.
US07776342B2	Preparations that potentiate immunogenicity in low immunogenic antigens This invention discloses means for obtaining immunogenic peptides, polypeptides, proteins, and their corresponding nucleic acid sequences, target cells with vaccine interest, or lysates thereof, without making structural changes in said antigens, through their association with Very Small Size Proteoliposomes.The object of the invention is to provide immunogenic compositions containing peptides, polypeptides, proteins, their corresponding DNA sequences, cells or their lysates and Very Small Size Proteoliposomes (VSSP), which are formed by binding the Outer Membrane Protein Complex (OMPC) of Neisseria meningitidis with gangliosides, by means of hydrophobic links. Additionally, it is stated that these compositions can be formulated alone or in the form of emulsions with the Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA), and may also be lyophilized.The essence of the invention consists in describing compositions that triggers immunogenicity in low immunogenic antigens, such as growth factor receptors, without imparting structural changes therein. Particularly, this invention refers to preparation of immuno-stimulating compositions capable of generating antigen-specific immune responses, even in immuno-compromised hosts, such as those suffering form cancer or viral or bacterial chronic infections. In said patients, the administration of the vaccine compositions described in this invention has lead to the reestablishment of the functionality of the immune system. Vaccine compositions of this invention can be used to protect or treat infectious, or auto-immune diseases.
US07776336B2	Compositions comprising Yersinia pestis antigens Disclosed are several Y. pestis antigens that are particularly suitable for immunisation purposes, particularly when used in combinations.
US07776332B1	Composition comprising casein protein and whey protein A composition for an infant formula which includes casein protein and whey protein; a method of producing the composition; use of the composition in the manufacture of a medicament or nutritional product for addressing malnutrition; and a method of addressing malnutrition which includes administering an effective amount of the composition are provided. The composition includes protein, free arginine; tryptophan and histidine, a lipid source and a carbohydrate source. In addition, the whey protein is sweet whey protein from which caseino-glyco-macropeptide has been removed.
US07776331B1	Methods of treating plaque psoriasis The invention provides a method of treating psoriasis in a subject by administering to a subject an antibody capable of binding to the p40 subunit of IL-12 and/or IL-23.
US07776329B2	Anti-glypican 3 antibody An antibody capable of binding to a specific region of glypican 3, as well as a humanized antibody created based on that antibody are disclosed. The anti-GPC3 antibody of the invention has a higher ADCC activity and CDC activity compared with those of a conventional antibody. The antibody of the present invention is useful as a cell growth inhibitor, an anticancer agent and an agent for diagnosis of cancers.
US07776328B2	Antibodies that bind to EphA2 and methods of use thereof Provided herein is disclosure about the development and characterization of an antibody that binds to antigen EphA2 which is present on a variety of human cancers from breast, lung, prostate, and colons. Methods of diagnosing and treating various cancers by using such antibodies directed against this antigen are also disclosed.
US07776325B2	Bactericide against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus The present invention provides an enzyme with lytic activity against cariogenic bacteria and a means for treating and preventing tooth decay using the enzyme. The enzyme provided by the present invention is a lytic enzyme produced by Streptococcus mutans and has a substrate specificity for lysing selectively Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Therefore, application of the enzyme enables to remove selectively cariogenic bacteria or to decrease the number of cariogenic bacteria inside oral cavity, and may exert preventive effect against tooth caries.
US07776324B2	Cancer vaccine The present invention relates to a method for producing a composition for use as a vaccine for treatment or prevention of cancer. The method includes the steps of isolating dendritic cells from a blood, bone marrow or other tissue sample of a patient suffering from cancer or from an unrelated donor, culturing the dendritic cells under conditions and pulsing the dendritic cells with tumour cell lysate or an antigen released by the type of tumour cell and a tocotrienol.
US07776320B2	Methods for therapeutic use of brain derived neurotrophic factor in the entorhinal cortex A protocol for use of growth factors to stimulate neuronal cell growth and activity in trkB receptor containing cortical tissues, including the entorhinal and hippocampal cortices. The method introduces exogenous growth factor, such as BDNF, NT-4/5 and NT-3, into the EC. The method is useful in therapy of defective, diseased and damaged neurons in the mammalian brain, of particular usefulness for treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or for normal aging.
US07776319B2	Methods and compositions for treatment of ion imbalances The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of ion imbalances. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising sodium-binding polymers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Methods of use of the polymeric and pharmaceutical compositions for therapeutic and/or prophylactic benefits are disclosed herein. Examples of these methods include the treatment of hypertension, chronic heart failure, end stage renal disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal insufficiency, fluid overload, or sodium overload.
US07776318B2	Liquid cleaning composition comprising at least one anionic surfactant and its use for cleansing human keratin materials The present disclosure relates to a liquid cleansing composition, comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable aqueous medium: (a) at least one anionic surfactant; (b) at least one electrolyte, (c) at least one copolymer of methacrylic acid and of a C1-C4 alkyl acrylate, present in an amount of less than 0.5% by weight of active material, relative to the total weight of the composition. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the compositions in cosmetics or dermatology, such as products for cleansing human keratin materials, for instance the skin, and to their use for improving the stability of the texture of the composition at low temperature.
US07776316B2	Cosmetic composition containing a photochromic colouring agent and its use for skin and/or skin appendage make-up and/or care Liquid cosmetic composition in the form of an emulsion comprising at least two distinct phases and containing at least one photochromic coloring agent and at least one non-photochromic coloring matter, characterized in that the photochromic coloring agent(s) and the non-photochromic coloring matter(s) are located in separate phases of the emulsion.Application to the make-up and/or the care of the skin and/or its appendages.
US07776307B2	Concentric gate nanotube transistor devices Single-walled carbon nanotube transistor devices, and associated methods of making such devices include a porous structure for the single-walled carbon nanotubes. The porous structure may be anodized aluminum oxide or another material. Electrodes for source and drain of a transistor are provided at opposite ends of the single-walled carbon nanotube devices. A concentric gate surrounds at least a portion of a nanotube in a pore. A transistor of the invention may be especially suited for power transistor or power amplifier applications.
US07776304B2	Nanoscale crystalline silicon powder Aggregated crystalline silicon powder with a BET surface area of 20 to 150 m2/g. It is prepared by subjecting at least one vaporous or gaseous silane and optionally at least one vaporous or gaseous doping material, an inert gas and hydrogen to heat in a hot wall reactor, cooling the reaction mixture or allowing the reaction mixture to cool and separating the product from gaseous substances in the form of a powder, wherein the proportion of silane is between 0.1 and 90 wt. %, with respect to the sum of silane, doping material, hydrogen and inert gases, and wherein the proportion of hydrogen, with respect to the sum of hydrogen, silane, inert gas and doping material, is in the range 1 mol. % to 96 mol. %. It can be used to produce electronic components.
US07776303B2	Production of ultrafine metal carbide particles utilizing polymeric feed materials The production of ultrafine metal carbide powders from polymeric powder and metallic precursor powder starting materials is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the polymeric powder may comprise polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyester, polybutylene, nylon, polymethylpentene and the like. The metal precursor powder may comprise pure metals, metal alloys, intermetallics and/or metal-containing compounds such as metal oxides and nitrides. In one embodiment, the metal precursor powder comprises a silicon-containing material, and the ultrafine powders comprise SiC. The polymeric and metal precursor powders are fed together or separately to a plasma system where the feed materials react to form metal carbides in the form of ultrafine particles.
US07776300B2	Process for removing sulfur from a fuel gas stream Disclosed is a process for removing sulfur from a fuel gas stream that comprises an organic sulfur compound and a light olefin. The process includes introducing a fuel gas stream into an elongated hydrotreating reactor vessel in which it is contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst under hydrodesulfurization process conditions. A quench gas stream is also introduced into the elongated hydrotreating reactor vessel at a location below the point of introduction of the fuel gas stream. A reactor effluent is yielded that contains hydrogen sulfide and a significantly reduced organic sulfur concentration that is below the organic sulfur concentration of the fuel gas stream.
US07776299B2	Process for removal of SO2 from off-gases by reaction with H2O2 A process for removal of SO2 in off-gases having a temperature of 30-150° C. and containing 0.001-1 vol % SO2 in which the SO2 is oxidised to H2 SO4 by spraying an aqueous solution of H2O2 into the off-gas upstream of an aerosol filter removing the produced sulphuric acid from the off-gas.
US07776289B2	Method and apparatus for producing decabromodiphenyl alkanes A method of producing decabromodiphenyl alkanes includes the steps of charging a reaction vessel with bromine and a bromination catalyst and introducing a diphenyl alkane into the vessel at a location above the level of the charge bromine and catalyst. A dip tube apparatus for introducing the diphenyl alkane includes an inner tube and an outer tube, each of which are disposed above the surface of the bromine reaction vessel. The inner tube is fitted with a plug having an opening. Diphenyl alkane flows through the inner tube, out the opening in the plug, and into the reactor. The outer tube is disposed around and along the inner tube. Reaction mass from the vessel is recirculated from the vessel, through the outer tube and back to the vessel so as to form a curtain of reaction mass around the stream of diphenyl alkane being simultaneously fed into the reaction vessel.
US07776287B2	Internal exchanger for gas-liquid-solid reactor for fischer-tropsch synthesis This present invention describes a novel type of internal exchanger intended to carry out Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. This exchanger has a modular design and comprises a central tube with partitions allowing at the same time the supply of coolant to the hairpins of the module and the recovery of the partially vaporized fluid from these same hairpins.
US07776286B2	Process for reducing fouling from flash/separation apparatus during cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks Hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid is cracked by a process comprising: (a) heating said hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) mixing the heated hydrocarbon feedstock with steam to form a mixture stream; (c) introducing the mixture stream to a flash/separation apparatus to form i) a vapor phase comprising coke precursors existing as uncoalesced condensate, and ii) a liquid phase; (d) removing the vapor phase as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms from the flash/separation apparatus; (e) treating the overhead by contacting with a condensing means downstream of the flash/separation apparatus to at least partially coalesce the coke precursors to provide residue hydrocarbon liquid, and subsequently removing the hydrocarbon liquid; (f) heating the treated overhead to provide a heated vapor phase (g) cracking the heated vapor phase in a radiant section of a pyrolysis furnace to produce an effluent comprising olefins, the pyrolysis furnace comprising a radiant section and a convection section; and (h) quenching the effluent and recovering cracked product therefrom. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
US07776283B2	Xylene production apparatus with integrated feedstock treatment An apparatus for producing a xylene isomer, which integrates the removal of olefins into a reaction zone of the apparatus is disclosed. Apparatus of this invention enable the use of aromatic feedstocks containing olefins and reduce or eliminate the need for feed pretreatment by olefin removal assemblies or zones such as hydrotreating, hydrogenation, and clay and/or molecular sieve treating, thereby reducing capital and operating costs.
US07776279B2	Combustion apparatus to reduce flue gas NOx by injection of n-agent droplets and gas in overfire air A combustion apparatus for combusting including: a boiler defining an enclosed flue gas path having a combustion zone and a burnout zone, wherein flue gas is formed in the combustion zone and the combustion flue gas comprising nitrogen oxides; a fuel injector aligned with and introducing fuel into the combustion zone and a combustion air injector aligned with and introducing air into the combustion zone; an overfire air system adjacent the burnout zone comprising an overfire air port adjacent the burnout zone and through which overfire air flows into the burnout zone, and a nitrogen reagent injector having an outlet aligned with the overfire air system and injecting nitrogen reagent gas or small droplets into said overfire air, wherein said small droplets have an average diameter of no greater than 50 microns.
US07776277B2	Polymerization method and polymerization apparatus A polymerization method comprises, prior to polymerization of a monomer of the cyclic dimer of alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid, a first mixture of a polymerization catalyst by bypassing a part of the monomer of the cyclic dimer is prepared. Then, the first mixture is mixed with a dominant amount of the monomer introduced into a polymerization reactor. The monomer of the cyclic dimer in the polymerization reactor is conducted in the presence of a polymerization initiator.
US07776272B2	Liquid router A liquid router that comprises an inlet microconduit that branches into two exit microconduits (microconduit I and II) and is present in a microchannel structure of a microfluidic device which is using centrifugal force created by spinning the device about a spin axis for transporting liquid. The router is characterized in comprising a microcavity in which there are: a lower part comprising two exit openings (exits I and II), and an upper part comprising an inlet opening to which the inlet microconduit (3) is connected, and microconduits I and II which are connected to exits I and II, respectively, and stretch from a shorter radial position to a larger radial position relative to the spin axis. Microconduit II has a reduced hydrophilicity (=reduced apparent wettability) compared to microconduit I.
US07776266B2	Consumer food testing device A food testing device for testing for the presence of harmful contaminants in a food sample, includes a vessel adapted for holding a liquefied food sample, a liquefier operatively associated with the vessel for converting an unliquefied food sample into a liquefied food sample, at least one test assay dispensable from the device, wherein the test assay includes at least one assay reagent having an affinity for at least one harmful contaminant, and capable of both detecting the presence of the harmful contaminant in the liquefied food sample, and producing a visual cue upon recognition of the harmful contaminant; and a radiation detector disposed proximately to the vessel for indicating the presence of ionizing radiation in the food sample at amounts exceeding normal background levels to detect the presence of a radioactive agent as the harmful contaminant.
US07776263B2	Apparatus for providing homogeneous dispersions An apparatus for mixing a liquid in a container in order to provide a homogeneous solution or suspension of the liquid in the container. In particular, the apparatus of this invention can be used to provide a homogenous dispersion of particulate material in a liquid medium.
US07776258B2	Hydrogen storage alloy, hydrogen separation membrane, hydrogen storage tank, and hydrogen absorption and desorption method A hydrogen storage alloy includes a composition defined by the following formula (Ca1-XLX)(Li1-Y-ZMYNiZ)m, wherein the L denotes one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Sr, Ba, Sc, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, the M denotes one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, and S, and the mole ratios X, Y, Z, and m respectively satisfy the following 0
US07776254B2	Lance for receiving sensor or sampler for metal melts A lance has a top part and a bottom part for arrangement on the sensor or sampler. The top and bottom parts are detachably connected to each other by a plug-in coupling. The plug-in coupling has two coupling parts, one arranged on the top part and the other arranged on the bottom part of the lance, that can be inserted one in the other in the longitudinal direction of the lance. One coupling part has an opening extending from its front face in the longitudinal direction of the lance and an extension formed in the peripheral direction of the coupling part. The other coupling part has a raised portion that engages the extension. A blocking device, movable in the longitudinal direction of the lance, is arranged on the top or bottom part A catch element of the blocking device is arranged at least partially between the raised portion and the opening.
US07776253B2	Installation for supplying materials into metallurgical unit An installation is provided for supplying materials into a metallurgical unit by the alloying steel for synchronizing the process of melting the supplied materials and reducing the alloying elements. The installation includes a distributor gear made as a funnel and a swivel launder with a drive, and intermediate hoppers interconnected with a pipe-chute. The installation is provided with a housing having a lid and means for fastening to structures of a plant. The funnel is mounted in the lid, the swivel launder is mounted under the lid and the intermediate hoppers are positioned radially in the housing to form a cavity by hopper surfaces facing a longitudinal axis of the installation, said cavity being separated from the interior of the hoppers, which are coupled to the pipe chute by discharge openings formed therein and shutters mounted to move relative to a longitudinal axis of a hopper.
US07776252B2	Method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic electronic component A multilayer thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient is manufactured by step 41 of forming a green laminate having thermistor green layers and internal electrode layers, step 42 of heat-treating this laminate at a temperature in the range of from 80 to less than 300° C., step 43 of performing dry-barrel polishing for the heat-treated green laminate, step 44 of forming external electrode films on respective end surfaces of this laminate, and step 45 of firing this laminate together with the individual electrode films. According to this method, a highly reliable multilayer thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient can be stably manufactured.
US07776251B2	Method of making sound insulation with high loft Sound insulation core material is made by melt-blowing a polypropylene resin having a hydroxystearamide wax additive to produce a fibrous mass having improved loft. The core material is encased between outer layers of spun-bond polyethylene fibers by longitudinal seams and transverse seams to form a product suitable for use in dishwashers.
US07776249B2	Method of making bipolar plate A method of making an electrically conductive element, particularly a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprises molding an element from a composite material comprising a polymer and an electrically conductive material to produce an element having a polymer-rich skin and removing at least a portion of the polymer-rich skin with a plasma.
US07776247B2	Method of manufacturing electronic device having resin-molded case and molding tool for forming resin-molded case In a method of manufacturing an electronic device, an electronic element is disposed on a wiring plate that is electrically coupled with a connector terminal, a first surface of the wiring plate is covered with a first casing element and a second surface of the wiring plate is covered with a second casing element to form an electronic circuit part, the electronic circuit part is disposed in a case cavity of a molding tool, and a resin is filled into the case cavity to form the resin-molded case while keeping a state where a first pressure that pushes the first casing element toward the wiring plate and that changes with time is substantially equal to a second pressure that pushes the second casing element toward the wiring plate and that changes with time.
US07776246B2	Process for the production of polyarenazole yarn The present invention concerns a process for making a polyareneazole multifilament yarn comprising: a) extruding a solution comprising polyareneazole polymer and polyphosphoric acid through a plurality of orifices to produce filaments; b) forming a multifilament yarn from said filaments; c) hydrolyzing at least some of the polyphosphoric acid in the yarn by heating the yarn to a temperature above about 120° C. for up to about two minutes; d) washing at least some of the hydrolyzed polyphosphoric acid from the yarn; e) drying the washed yarn; f) optionally, heating the yarn above about 300° C., and g) collecting the yarn at a speed of at least about 50 meters per minute.
US07776244B2	Method for producing expandable polystyrene A process for the preparation of expandable styrene polymers having a molecular weight Mw of greater than 170,000 g/mol, which comprises conveying a blowing agent-containing styrene polymer melt having a temperature of at least 120° C. through a die plate with holes whose diameter at the die exit is at most 1.5 mm, and subsequently granulating the extrudate, and expandable styrene polymers (EPS) having a molecular weight Mw of more than 170,000 g/mol with 0.05 to 1.5% by weight of internal water.
US07776236B2	Index contrast enhanced optical waveguides and fabrication methods A method of forming a waveguide including a core region, a cladding region, and an index contrast region situated therebetween includes depositing a polymerizable composite on a substrate to form a layer, patterning the layer to define an exposed area and an unexposed area of the layer, irradiating the exposed area of the layer, and volatilizing the uncured monomer to form the waveguide, wherein the polymerizable composite includes a polymer binder and sufficient quantities of an uncured monomer to diffuse into the exposed area of the layer and form the index contrast region. The resulting waveguide includes an index contrast region which has a lower index of refraction than that of the core and cladding regions.
US07776235B1	Layer by layer self-assembly of large response molecular electro-optic materials by a desilylation strategy The preparation of robust, thin film materials with large second-order optical nonlinearities through the covalent self-assembly of chromophoric compositions and innovative use of silyl chemistry.
US07776234B2	Method for preparing composite materials comprising an electrode active compound and an electronic conductor such as carbon in particular for a lithium battery The present invention relates to a process for preparing composite materials comprising an electrode active compound of formula AaDdMmZzOoNnFf, such as an alkali metal ion, such as a lithium ion, insertion compound, and an electronically conducting compound, such as carbon, in which a homogeneous mixed precursor containing all the elements A, D, M, Z, O, N and F forming the electrode active compound and also one or more organic and/or organometallic compounds are thermally decomposed, in a short period of time, so as to obtain the composite material. These composite materials in particular find their application in devices containing said compounds and/or active materials, such as electrochemical devices and batteries, in particular lithium batteries.
US07776233B2	Oleaginous corrosion resistant composition The invention relates to an oleaginous corrosion-inhibiting composition, and the use of said composition to protect metal from corrosion. The composition comprises, in parts by weight, from about 20 to 60 parts of lubricating oil, 10 to 40 parts of organic solvent, 20 to 60 parts of corrosion-inhibitor consisting of a sulfonic acid-carboxylic acid metal complex or a mixture of said metal complex with a small but effective amount of an oil soluble alkyl phosphate, from 0.1 to 2.0 parts of an oil soluble antioxidant, from 0.1 to 5.0 parts of a water-displacing compound and from 0.0 to 1.0 part of a metal deactivator.
US07776232B2	Powdery white vulcanization promoter composition and rubber compositions A powdery white vulcanization promoter composition which is excellent in storage stability, the resistance of blends thereof with rubbers or the like to heat build-up, and design; and rubber compositions containing the same. Specifically, a vulcanization promoter composition which comprises a modified calcium carbonate (A) surface-treated with a fatty acid or a resin acid and a silicic acid, an inorganic filler (B) exhibiting an oil absorption of as high as 50 to 300 ml/100 g, and a vulcanization promoter component (C) liquid at ordinary temperatures, characterized in that the (A):(B) mixing ratio is within the range of 30:70 to 95:5 and the content of (C) is 30 to 80 wt % based on the whole of the promoter composition.
US07776225B2	Method for forming on-chip lens including process of forming depression by using etch-back method, and method for manufacturing solid-state imaging apparatus including process of forming in-layer micro lens using the method for forming on-chip lens In a method for forming a lens according to the present invention, a digging step of digging a depression includes a depositing substep of depositing a pattern film on a surface of a base film, the pattern film being made of a second material and in an inverted shape of the depression, a forming substep of forming an embedding film to flatten the surface of the pattern film, the embedding film being made of a third material and embedding therein the pattern film, and an etch-back substep of conducting etch-back on a surface of the embedding film toward the base film to dig the depression, and an etch rate of the second material is higher than an etch rate of the third material.
US07776221B2	Device and method for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a liquid A device is provided to separate magnetic or magnetizable particles from a liquid by using a magnetic field. The device includes two limbs made of a soft-magnetic material. An air gap is provided between be two poles of the limbs. The air gap can receive one or more liquid containers. A head piece is arranged in a fixed or detachable manner on one of the two poles. One or more magnetizable bars are disposed in a fixed or movable manner on the head piece, in the vertical direction. One or more permanent magnets are arranged in a movable manner on at least one point of the device, such that a magnetic field can be produced between the two poles and the magnetic field can be activated or deactivated by moving the magnet(s). The region of the device where the movable magnet(s) are arranged is at least partially surrounded by a material that screens the magnetic field.
US07776218B2	System for liquid extraction, and methods A process for removing water from solid material using liquid-solid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction. In most embodiments, multiple solvents are used to remove the water from the solids and obtain dry solids. Multiple solvents facilitate the removal of the water from the solids, by replacing the water with a solvent, replacing that solvent with a different solvent, and then eventually removing the second solvent from the solids. The process utilizes a lesser amount of thermal energy to dry the solids and separate the solvents than conventionally used in drying processes. The first solvent selected has a lower heat of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point, or other such physical property, than water. Each additional solvent can have a still lower heat of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point, or other such physical property.
US07776217B2	Bioretention system and method A bioretention system and method are provided for removing phosphorus, nitrogen and other materials from effluent such as wastewater and stormwater. The system and method can include a filtration media comprising water treatment residuals and other fill such as soil. Plants can be growing in the soil. The system can also include a drainage system to regulate outflow, to function during both low and high throughputs of water.
US07776215B2	Flow control valve with plate spring force actuation A filter cartridge with a valve actuating protrusion having a sliding surface that is configured to engage with a valve, with the sliding surface being tapered so that a first portion of the sliding surface that engages the valve is wider than a second portion of the sliding surface that engages the valve, and the sliding surface is configured so that the first portion engages the valve before the second portion. The valve, which can be in any fluid passage of a filter housing, includes a plurality of spring arms. Engagement between the spring arms and the sliding surface creates a lifting force which opens the valve.
US07776212B2	Water screen system with boot seal A boot seal for a vertically traveling water screen and a method forming a boot seal. The boot seal comprises a bent plate that extends from an attachment end to a free end. The attachment end is attached to a frame mounted at the bottom of a channel of water flowing through the water screen. The boot seal is positioned just upstream of the upward-moving upstream face of the water screen. The free end of the bent plate in a rest position is positioned close to or lightly touching the upstream face of the water screen. The bent plate has a concave surface facing the water screen. The bent plate acts as a cam follower to a passing lift element's cam. As the lift element slides along the concave cam surface, the lift element pivots the boot plate in an upstream direction against a spring bias. When the lift element clears the boot plate, the boot plate springs back to its rest position.
US07776210B2	Dialysis system A dialysate fluid circulation apparatus includes a dialyzer, a first housing and a second housing. The first housing contains material capable of releasing sodium into dialysate fluid flowing through the first housing. The second housing contains material capable of binding sodium ions from dialysate fluid flowing through the second housing. Hydraulic conduit sections are configured to extend between the dialyzer, the first housing, and the second housing to connect the dialyzer with the housings in a primary flow path for dialysate fluid to flow from the dialyzer to the first housing, from the first housing to the second housing, and from the second housing back to the dialyzer.
US07776209B2	Control method and apparatus for a water treatment system A modular water treatment system includes a plurality of water treatment components including selected from a group of a particulate filter component, a taste and odor filter component, a lead and mercury filter component, a water softener component, and a water disinfection component. A plurality of interfaces are provided for coupling to the selected water treatment components. Plumbing lines provide flow communication between the selected water treatment components, and the plumbing lines include a system water inlet and a system water outlet. A controller is configured to control the flow of water through the system, and a sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the controller.
US07776207B2	Process to produce middle distillate A process for producing alkyl aromatic middle distillate fuels is described. The process includes (a) catalytically converting paraffinic naphtha to a composition containing benzene and olefins; (b) processing the olefin/benzene composition in an aromatic alkylation reactor to produce alkyl-benzene components (c) separating the alkyl aromatics from the unconverted naphtha; and (d) optionally recycling the unconverted paraffinic naphtha to the dehydrogenation/amortization reactor of step a.
US07776206B2	Production of high quality lubricant bright stock A process for producing a lubricant bright stock from a very heavy feed obtained from a petroleum crude is disclosed. The bright stock produced by the present process has a reduced cloud point and better oxidation stability relative to bright stocks prepared by conventional methods. The process comprises the steps of providing a petroleum residuum-derived stream; separating the residuum-derived stream at a distillation cut point in the range of 1150° F. to 1300° F., into a heavy fraction and at least one light fraction; hydrocracking the at least one light fraction under conditions to reduce the concentration of sulfur and nitrogen to suitable levels for hydroisomerization dewaxing; and dewaxing at least a portion of the hydrocracked stream under hydroisomerization conditions to produce a lubricant bright stock.
US07776203B2	Method of producing thin films of compound I-III-VI, promoting the incorporation of III elements in the film The invention relates to a method of producing thin films of compound CIGS by means of electrodeposition. According to the invention, a surface-active compound, such as dodecyl sodium sulphate, is added to an electrolysis bath solution in order to promote the incorporation of gallium in the CIGS films.
US07776200B2	Structure and method of manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing a structure including tungsten as a main component and tungsten carbide is provided. In the structure, the content of carbon is at least 0.1% by mass and the total content of cobalt, nickel, and iron is 3% or less by mass, respectively based on the structure.
US07776191B2	Cathhodes for aluminum electrolysis cell with non-planar slot configuration Cathodes for aluminum electrolysis cells are formed of cathode blocks and current collector bars attached to those blocks. The cathode block has a cathode slot for receiving the collector bar and has a higher depth at a center than at both lateral edges of the cathode block. Additionally, the collector bar thickness is higher at the center than at both lateral edges of the cathode block. This cathode configuration provides a more even current distribution and, thus, a longer useful lifetime of such cathodes and increases cell productivity.
US07776190B2	Cathodes for aluminum electrolysis cell with expanded graphite lining Cathodes for aluminum electrolysis cells are formed of cathode blocks and current collector bars attached to those blocks. The cathode slots receiving the collector bar are lined with expanded graphite lining thus providing longer useful lifetime of such cathodes and increased cell productivity. The expanded graphite provides a good electrical and thermal conductivity especially with its plane layer.
US07776189B2	Method and apparatus for electropolishing metallic stents An apparatus and method are provided for simultaneously electropolishing a plurality of metallic stents. A plurality of elongated members on the apparatus are movably engaged with a plate such that movement of the plate relative to the elongated members causes each of the elongated members to rotate on its respective longitudinal axis when immersed in an electrolytic solution. A continuous cathode is located in close proximity to each of the elongated members when they are immersed in the electrolytic solution.
US07776188B2	Transport belt for a machine for producing web material and a method for producing such a transport belt A transport belt for a machine for producing a fiber material web, in particular paper or paperboard, has, on a web material side, a web material contact surface and, on a machine side, a machine contact surface, wherein a multiplicity of depressions are provided in the transport belt on the machine side.
US07776186B2	Transport belt A transport belt, in particular for machines for the production of web material such as paper or paperboard, having a printed material at least in some regions on a web material contact side.
US07776185B2	Paper machine comprising a single nip press The invention relates to a machine for producing and/or further processing a fibrous web, said machine comprising a press part and a drying part. The press part comprises only one press nip, and the first or second drying group of the dry part comprises an air-flow drying unit.
US07776180B2	Process for preparing a flame retardant and glow resistant zinc free cellulose product Provided is a process for the preparation of flame retardant cellulosic product including the steps of adding a soluble salt of silica to viscose, followed by blending and extruding the blended viscose into a spin bath, regenerating the viscose and subjecting the regenerated viscose to a step of glow proofing with polyaluminium compounds to obtain the flame retardant cellulosic product.
US07776176B2	Process for marking composite panel A process for marking a composite panel prior to curing for subsequent identification. An illustrative embodiment of the process includes applying a label strip made of a resin-permeable material to a composite panel formed of a resin and curing the panel to an elevated temperature such that the resin at least partially permeates the label strip. A marked composite panel is also disclosed.
US07776175B2	Method of sealing a face of a MST device A method of sealing an attachment face of a MST device to a mounting surface on a support member, the attachment face having an aperture connected to a first fluid conduit, the attachment face having a second aperture connected to a second conduit, the method comprising the steps of: applying a thermosetting adhesive to the mounting surface; aligning the first aperture with at least part of the second aperture; pressing the MST device and the mounting surface together; and, curing the thermosetting adhesive; wherein, the thermosetting adhesive has a viscosity of between 100 centiPoise and 10,000,000 centiPoise. Using a thermosetting adhesive instead of a thermoplastic adhesive provides a far more reliable seal. The bond between the thermoplastic adhesive and the MST device surface is prone to thermal fatigue and leakage or outright failure.
US07776173B2	Adhesive dispensing system A system for dispensing adhesive onto a surface is provided. This system includes a dispenser and a quantity of discrete units of adhesive releasably deposited on a substrate. The dispenser includes a drive mechanism that further includes an actuator for actuating the dispenser; and a drive wheel, wherein the drive wheel further includes mechanical means for engaging the actuator. An optional supply wheel may be included in the dispenser. The quantity of discrete units of adhesive is releasably deposited on a substrate that may be mounted on the supply wheel or that may simply sit within the dispenser. The substrate further includes means for cooperating with the drive wheel to incrementally advance the substrate a substantially fixed, and predetermined distance upon actuation of the dispenser.
US07776170B2	Fire-resistant gypsum panel A method of continuously forming a multilayer panel includes making a gypsum slurry, then dividing the gypsum slurry into at least a primary gypsum slurry and a secondary gypsum slurry. An additive slurry having water and an intumescent material is created, then added to the secondary gypsum slurry to make an expandable layer slurry that is spread over at least a portion of a facing material. The primary gypsum slurry is distributed over the secondary gypsum slurry over the facing material and the expanding layer slurry to form a core. Optionally, another layer, an edge coating, is applied to the expanding layer for additional fire protection. The edge coating includes a second intumescent material. During a fire, the expanding layer expands to increase the thickness of the fire exposed gypsum panel and the edge coating expands to seal the gap between adjoining gypsum panels.
US07776168B2	Method for the thermal treatment of foundry pieces made from an alloy based on aluminium and foundry pieces with improved mechanical properties A method of heat-treating a casting made of an aluminum-based alloy including an alloy of aluminum, silicon, and magnesium comprising heat treating the casting at a first temperature range for a first duration; gradually cooling the casting to a second temperature having a second temperature range; maintaining the casting at the second temperature range for a second duration; quenching the casting; and age hardening the casting.
US07776163B2	Lead-free free-cutting aluminum brass alloy and its manufacturing method The present invention provides a lead-free free-cutting aluminum brass alloy and its manufacturing method. The alloy comprises: 57.0˜63.0 wt % Cu, 0.3˜0.7 wt % Al, 0.1˜0.5 wt % Bi, 0.2˜0.4 wt % Sn, 0.1˜0.5 wt % Si, 0.01˜0.15 wt % P, at least two elements selected from the group of 0.01-0.15 wt % Mg, 0.0016-0.0020 wt % B, and 0.001-0.05 wt % rare earth elements and the balance being Zn and unavoidable impurities. The inventive alloy has excellent castability, weldability, cuttability and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for low pressure die casting, gravity casting, horizontal continuous casting, forging and extrusion. Its metal material cost is lower than bismuth brass. It is particularly applicable for components used in drinking water supply systems and other structural components. It is a new environmentally-friendly free-cutting aluminum brass alloy.
US07776153B2	Method and apparatus for producing large, single-crystals of aluminum nitride A method and apparatus for producing bulk single crystals of AlN having low dislocation densities of about 10,000 cm−2 or less includes a crystal growth enclosure with Al and N2 source material therein, capable of forming bulk crystals. The apparatus maintains the N2 partial pressure at greater than stoichiometric pressure relative to the Al within the crystal growth enclosure, while maintaining the total vapor pressure in the crystal growth enclosure at super-atmospheric pressure. At least one nucleation site is provided in the crystal growth enclosure, and provision is made for cooling the nucleation site relative to other locations in the crystal growth enclosure. The Al and N2 vapor is then deposited to grow single crystalline low dislocation density AlN at the nucleation site. High efficiency ultraviolet light emitting diodes and ultraviolet laser diodes are fabricated on low defect density AlN substrates, which are cut from the low dislocation density AlN crystals. Bulk crystals of ZnO may also be produced using the method.
US07776151B2	Method and apparatus for forming crystalline portions of semiconductor film A crystallization method which generates a crystallized semiconductor film by irradiating at least one of a polycrystal semiconductor film and an amorphous semiconductor film with light beams having a light intensity distribution with an inverse peak pattern that a light intensity is increased toward the periphery from an inverse peak at which the light intensity is minimum, wherein a light intensity value α (standardized value) in the inverse peak when a maximum value of the light intensity in the light intensity distribution with the inverse peak pattern is standardized as 1 is set to 0.2≦value α≦0.8.
US07776147B1	Pigmented phase change inks with dispersant and synergist A phase change ink composition includes an ink vehicle and at least one pigment, wherein the ink composition is substantially solid at room temperature and includes at least one dispersant for the at least pigment and at least one synergist.
US07776146B2	Solventless universal colorants A method of preparing a universal base composition disclosed which consists of milling a pigment in a resin that is soluble in both water and organic solvent and wherein the resin contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers such that the total weight of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers is at least about 20% of the total weight of the resin and the weight ratio of hydrophobic monomers to hydrophilic monomers is from about ⅕ to about 5.
US07776145B2	Ink, ink set, recording method, ink cartridge, and recording device The present invention provides an ink comprising at least a pigment, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a lithium ion and one or more of cation other than the lithium ion, which can be applied particularly favorably for an inkjet method; an ink set at least comprises the ink and/or a processing solution containing at least an aggregating agent; a recording method and a recording device using the ink set in which the ink and the processing solution are applied so as to contact with each other to form an image onto a recording medium.
US07776141B2	Methods and apparatus for performing flue gas pollution control and/or energy recovery Methods and apparatus for pollution control which are well suited for use in a coal power plant are described. Ash is collected and injected into the flue gas stream at a location upstream of a cooling module. The ash acts as an absorbent and/or reactant material onto which condensate may condense. By re-introducing ash to keep the condensation forming wet areas within the system, lower cost materials which are less corrosion resistant than needed for wet operating conditions can be used. Mercury recovery and SO3 removal is facilitated by the cooling process and re-introduction of collected ash. Activated carbon and/or an alkali absorbent material may be added. Use of a dry ESP and/or fabric filter as opposed to a wet ESP for particulate collection leads to cost benefits. Energy recovered by the cooling of the flue gas may be re-used to heat turbine condensate leading to improved energy efficiency.
US07776140B2	Device for removing soot particles from an exhaust gas stream An apparatus for separating exhaust particulates from an exhaust gas stream, includes a ceramic honeycomb body with ducts through which exhaust gas can flow and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the honeycomb body, with the honeycomb body being provided with electrodes for generating an electric field which are each oriented transversally to the axis of the ducts. The electrodes are each formed by a group of ducts in which an electric conductor is introduced at least partly along their axial extension. It preferably includes a metallic coating.
US07776138B2	Removal of contaminants from gas streams A process for the removal of contaminants from a gas stream is disclosed. A gas stream is contacted with a chlorine-containing compound to form a mixed gas stream. The mixed gas stream is then contacted with a sorbent in a sorption zone to produce a product gas stream and a sulfur laden sorbent, wherein the sorbent comprises zinc and a promoter metal.
US07776130B2	pH-controlled photosynthesis of silver nanoprisms Silver nanoprisms having a unimodal size distribution are disclosed. The size of the nanoprisms can be controlled by adjusting the pH during irradiation of silver nanocrystals.
US07776128B2	Continuous production of metallic titanium and titanium-based alloys Metallic titanium is continuously produced in an electric-arc furnace under a vacuum by the metallothermic reduction of titanium tetrachloride by a reducing agent such as magnesium. The nanoparticles of titanium obtained from the reduction are simultaneously melted in a bath of molten titanium formed by the heat of an electric arc between a consumable titanium electrode and the molten titanium. A voltage applied across the electrode and the molten titanium is adjusted so that molten titanium is maintained in a cooled crystallizer during the entire process. The molten titanium solidifies on the top of a dummy bar that is drawn down as additional titanium is produced. Upon completion of each iterative reduction reaction, the vaporized reducing agent chloride is pumped out of the electric-arc furnace into a condenser using a vacuum pump. Then, additional reducing agent and titanium tetrachloride are added into the furnace, and the process is repeated.
US07776126B2	Processing parameters for operation of a channel induction furnace A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product. The method includes applying a controlled vacuum on the headspace of the channel induction furnace to controlling the amount of ambient air that enters the furnace or adding oxygen into the channel induction furnace. The method also includes controlling the carbon concentration in the molten bath in the channel induction furnace to control the fluidity of the bath.
US07776124B2	Fertilizer compositions and methods of using Provided are various embodiments of a fertilizer composition. The fertilizer compositions include one or more compounds having a high nitrogen content, which may be measured by a carbon to nitrogen atom ratio. Also provided are methods for increasing nitrogen content in soil, promoting crop production and fertilizing.
US07776123B2	Foldable air filters and methods of use thereof Foldable filter assemblies and methods of use thereof are disclosed. An air filter assembly including a frame having opposed substantially rigid end members and a flexible side member, the end members being connected to the flexible side member, and an air filter media connected to and disposed within the frame such that the frame is adapted to be disposed in a planar use position, and the end members of the frame are adapted to be moved toward each other prior to installation into the planar use position.
US07776119B2	Air filter arrangement A self cleaning filter for a small internal combustion engine (1) is disclosed. The filter (16, 36, 46) is generally rectangular and is located closely adjacent the air exit region of the engine's fan (2). The longitudinal axis of the filter is generally aligned with the direction of air flow. The filter can be flat (16), curved (36) or inclined towards the air flow (46). The arrangement permits a more compact configuration for the engine (1).
US07776118B2	Cap for hermetically sealing receiver driers The present invention relates to a cap for hermetically sealing receiver driers, in which a cap body and a filter are separated and detachably engaged with each other and an O-ring is installed between the cap body and the filter, thereby facilitating the replacement of parts and the installation of the O-ring, favoring automatic assembly due to a tool insertion groove that can be formed long, achieving compactness of the cap due to the reduction of a total height of the cap when the cap body and the filter are engaged, improving a filtering effect by increasing the size of the filter with the cap being maintained in the same size, and facilitating engagement between the cap body and the filter and preventing the cap body from being released from a tank by discharging the air between the cap body and the filter.
US07776113B2	Catalysts, reactors and methods of producing hydrogen via the water-gas shift reaction The reaction of carbon monoxide with steam over an alkali-modified ruthenium-on-zirconia catalyst has been found to yield surprisingly high yields of hydrogen gas at relatively low temperatures. Catalyst structures, reactors, hydrogen production systems, and methods for producing hydrogen utilizing the alkali-modified ruthenium-on-zirconia catalyst are described. Methods of making catalysts are also described.
US07776112B2	Methods for production of hydrogen Methods, processes, and apparatuses for the production of hydrogen gases are provided. A catalytic amount of iodine is dissolved in a hydrocarbon fuel source, such as cyclopropane and/or benzene, and the mixture is heated to a temperature greater than about 80° C. A reaction vessel capable of maintaining pressures greater than 1 atmosphere is used. The hydrogen gas thus produced is recovered, and optionally purified. The hydrogen gas product can be delivered to a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack receives hydrogen gas from the reaction chamber and produces an electric current therefrom as the hydrogen gas is reacted with oxygen to form water.
US07776111B2	Mineral oils with improved conductivity and cold flowability The invention provides compositions comprising at least one alkylphenol-aldehyde resin (constituent I) and, based on the alkylphenol resin, from 0.005 to 10% by weight of at least one oil-soluble organic ammonium sulfonate (constituent II).
US07776108B2	Composition for application to a surface The present disclosure provides compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations thereof for permanently or temporarily re-designing, decorating, and/or re-coloring a surface. The décor product is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface, and may be substantially removed from the surface before being affixed thereto. If the user desires to affix the décor product to the surface in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, methods such as heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemicals may be used. The décor product may also be utilized in the form of a kit or in conjunction with a design device, such as a stencil, to control the application of the décor product to create, for example, a pattern on the surface.
US07776103B2	Use of alkoxylated polyol derivatives for treating textiles Described is a process for washing, cleaning or aftertreatment of laundry comprising treating the laundry with compounds of formula (II): wherein R″, independently of each other, represent a hydrogen atom or a sulfur-containing group selected from the group consisting of OC—CH2—S—SO3M, SO3M, and wherein at least one R″ has to be one of the sulfur-containing groups, AO, independently of each other, represent C2H4O—, C3H6O— or C4H8O—, the indices x, y and z, independently of one another, are 0 or their sum have a value of from 1 to 500, M is a cation having at least one charge, and wherein if x, y or z is zero, than its corresponding substituent R″ is a hydrogen atom; and mixtures thereof.
US07776102B2	Process for making a leather article structure The process for making a leather article structure consists of homogeneously applying a layer of substantially uniform thickness of an unpolymerised acetic silicone-based material onto the back of a leather layer, making it penetrate into the natural pores present on the back of the leather layer, and polymerising the acetic silicone-based material so as to make a support layer for the leather layer.
US07776098B2	Modular femoral prosthesis with on-axis junction A modular hip prosthesis includes a femoral stem, a spherical head and a coupling member extending from the head defining a neck whose lower end forms a base which plugs into a socket at the top of the stem to form a tapered neck/stem junction. That junction is aligned with the stem axis and has a cross-section with opposite sides that extend generally parallel to the sides of the stem. With such an arrangement, that junction may be relatively long and have a relatively large cross-sectional area thus making a strong junction even in smaller femoral implants.
US07776097B2	Double shell implant for cementless anchorage of joint prostheses The invention solves the problem of anchoring a prosthetic component into compliant, cancellous bone by a thin, preferably pure titanium, or a titanium-based alloy, perforated, hence hydraulically open, shell (1, 13), spaced apart from the second, non-perforated shell (2, 14). In most applications, dictated by the anatomical site of insertion, shells are approximately hemispherical in form, connected to each other at the equator. The solid shell may contain a further, articulating component of the joint, e.g. a polymer or a ceramic insert, or it may serve that function itself. One or both components of a joint prosthesis can be anchored according to the invention.
US07776093B2	Vertebral body replacement apparatus and method Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for vertebral body replacement and methods associated therewith. In one embodiment, a vertebral body replacement apparatus may be used to correct and stabilize the spine (e.g., the thoracolumbar spine (T1-L5)). In another embodiment, a vertebral body (e.g., a diseased and/or damaged vertebral body) that has been resected or excised (e.g., for the treatment of a tumor or trauma) may be replaced (with the height of the resected or excised vertebral body being substantially replaced and restored by the apparatus of the present invention).
US07776092B2	Elastomeric intervertebral disc prosthesis In an intervertebral disc prostheses having a pair of rigid endplates and an elastomeric core structure between the endplates. The core structure is designed to provide desired functional characteristics of the prosthesis.
US07776082B2	Method and extravenous corrector for simultaneous repair of multiple incompetent valves A method and device for repairing incompetent venous valves and more specifically relates to repair method and an implantable support device—extravenous corrector (3), which is positionable about a dilated veins of the Sapheno-Femoral Junction (SFJ) (1) with the aim to apply an external compression force on the insufficient veins of SFJ and especially in the area of the venous valves. There are proposed several embodiments of a extravenous corrector for external correction of insufficient valves in venous junctions. The corrector is adapted to be placed immediately around the junction with venous valves, in abutting contact with its external area. The extravenous corrector comprises a central support member (11) and at least three band lengths (13, 15, 17), connected to the member, adapted for placement around at least two veins of the venous junction in area of location of their insufficient valves, these band lengths possessing different rigidity and compressing force in direction from their proximal end to the distal end.
US07776081B2	Devices and methods for anastomosis The invention relates to medical devices, in particular condoms/drains, that find use in anastomosis. Thus the present invention relates to these medical devices per se, to a medical kit comprising these medical devices, to the use of these medical devices, to a method for medical treatment involving application of these medical devices to an organism who is in need thereof as well as to the use of certain biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic polymers in the preparation of a medical device for the treatment of a disease or a condition which requires anastomosis.The medical devices of the present invention are typically condom shaped and are used for the protection of anastomosis. The devices comprise a tubular shaped part which is made of a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer. The devices may be applied by stapling.
US07776080B2	Stent delivery catheter system and method of implanting a self-expanding stent with embolic protection A catheter system and method for implanting an endoprosthesis such as a stent at a treatment site in a patient's body lumen. The catheter provides a complete system for stent delivery, dilatation, and delivery and/or recovery of an expandable device, such as an embolic protection device, adjacent to the treatment site in the body lumen.
US07776073B2	In-situ formed posterolateral fusion system A formed in-place spinal implant comprising a hardenable, resorbable, bone fusion-promoting composition, wherein the implant may be rigidly connected to adjacent vertebrae until fusion occurs.
US07776068B2	Spinal motion preservation assemblies Spinal motion preservation assemblies adapted for use in a spinal motion segment are disclosed including the process for delivering and assembling the spinal motion preservation assemblies in the spinal motion segment via an axial channel created with a trans-sacral approach. Many of the spinal motion preservation assemblies make use of a dual pivot. A number of different embodiments of spinal motion preservation assemblies are disclosed which include at least one component adapted for elastic deformation under compressive loads. The disclosed mobility preservation assemblies provide for dynamic stabilization of the spinal motion segment. Other variations and implementations of the teachings are disclosed, including the sheathed delivery of membranes in order to protect the membranes before and during deployment.
US07776066B2	Endoscopic suture apparatus A holding member has an opening portion which opens to an distal end. The opening portion, the distal end of an endoscope and a holding member define a treatment space. A clamping member can project and retreat from and into the opening portion through the treatment space. The puncture member can move in the treatment space, in a direction that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.
US07776063B2	In situ materials formation Methods and apparatus of forming hydrogel systems in situ are provided using a delivery system configured to deliver two or more fluent prepolymer solutions without premature crosslinking. The delivery system comprises separate first and second lumens coupling first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports, respectively, and may include a balloon, flexible distal region, mixing chamber or steerable distal end. Multi-component hydrogel systems suitable for use with the inventive methods and apparatus are also described.
US07776060B2	Circular stapler buttress combination A combination medical device comprising a circular stapler instrument (4) and one or more portions of preformed buttress material (16) adapted to be stably positioned upon the staple cartridge (12) and/or anvil (14) components of the stapler (4) prior or at the time of use. Positioned buttress material(s) (16) are delivered to a tissue site where the circular stapler (4) is actuated to connect previously severed tissue portions. An embodiment of the invention allows tissue portions to be joined without the use of sutures. The buttress material (16) is made up of two regions, one of which serves primarily to secure the buttress material (16) to the stapler (4) prior to actuation, and one of which serves primarily to form the improved seal. The former region is severed and discarded upon activation of the circular stapler (4) to form anastomoses, while the remaining material secures and seals the newly connected tissue. Methods of use and preparation of the buttress material (16) are also described.
US07776058B2	Non-invasive surgical ligation clip A surgical ligation clip capable of remote deployment through a catheter.
US07776057B2	Methods and devices for tissue reconfiguration A method includes advancing an apparatus having an elongated member transorally into the stomach. The apparatus includes a distal end effector having first and second members configured to engage tissue. The first and second members are movable relatively toward one another generally in a first plane. The method includes moving the distal end effector relative to the elongated member in the first plane such that the distal end effector is retroflexed out of alignment with the elongated member to position the first and second members for engagement with the tissue. At least one of the first and second members carries a fixation device for fixing engaged portions of tissue together.
US07776055B2	System and method for tracking progress of insertion of a rod in a bone A system and method for tracking progress of insertion of a rod in a bone includes a bone fragment including a central canal, a plurality of sensors including first and second sensors, and a computer. The first sensor is attached to the rod and the second sensor is attached to the bone fragment. The rod is inserted into the central canal of the bone fragment. The computer displays a location of the rod in the central canal. The location is based on at least a pose of the central canal relative to the second sensor, dimensional data of the rod relative to the first sensor, and tracking data provided by the sensors. The tracking data includes a position of the first sensor relative to the second sensor.
US07776053B2	Implantable valve system An implantable valve having a valve element or leaflet and a base that is attachable to a vessel wall using a connector such as a screw, pin or a staple. The valve can be implanted using a catheter to position the valve in a desired location and drive the connector into the vessel wall. The valve can be used as a venous valve to control blood flow within the veins, arteries, heart or the aorta of a patient.
US07776049B1	Spinal implant inserter, implant, and method An improved implant inserter and implant where the inserter includes a set of prongs for gripping the implant and the implant includes a plurality of recesses for mating with the set of prongs.
US07776048B2	Adjustable treatment aid for treating bones An adjustable treatment aid for guiding, holding, attaching and/or positioning a tool for treating a bone includes a first frame having a bone position fixing device to attach the first frame to the bone, and a second frame for guiding, holding, attaching and/or positioning the tool. At least one adjusting device allows the first frame to be spatially adjusted relative to the second frame along at least one degree of freedom.
US07776040B2	System for use in spinal stabilization An apparatus for persuading an orthopedic rod into position in an orthopedic device such as an implant or coupling element is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body, a pusher member and a trigger slidingly coupling the pusher member to the body. The pusher member includes a slide and sleeve attached to the slide. The sleeve includes at least one pusher bar. A ratchet controls the translation of the pusher member along the body to urge the rod into position in the orthopedic device. The pusher member and body define a cannula so that a fastener may be inserted once the rod is in position. The apparatus is operable via a single hand. In addition, a method of urging an orthopedic rod into a recess of an orthopedic device using the rod persuader is provided.
US07776037B2	System and method for controlling electrode gap during tissue sealing An electrosurgical system for sealing tissue is disclosed that includes an electrosurgical forceps. The forceps includes a drive rod and an end effector assembly coupled to the drive rod at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes jaw members wherein longitudinal reciprocation of the drive rod moves the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to a subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes a sealing plate that communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. The jaw members are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator. The system also includes one or more sensors that determine a gap distance between the sealing plates of the jaw members and a pressure applicator coupled to the drive rod. The pressure applicator is configured to move the drive rod in a longitudinal direction. The system further includes a controller adapted to communicate with the sensors and to control the pressure applicator in response to the determined gap distance during the sealing process.
US07776034B2	Ablation catheter with adjustable virtual electrode An ablation catheter has a virtual electrode tip including a fluid manifold structure for operably varying the active area of the virtual electrode. An array of apertures in the distal end of the catheter form the virtual electrode structure. A movable plug slides within the fluid manifold and seals against the interior walls of the fluid manifold. Conductive fluid cannot flow past the plug to fill the fluid manifold on the side of the plug opposite a fluid inlet channel into the fluid manifold. An electrode is positioned within the fluid manifold between the plug and the end wall of the fluid manifold adjacent the channel. By moving the plug within fluid manifold, only those portholes between the plug and the inlet channel will emit energized fluid. The effective length of an active ablation section of the virtual electrode is changed by repositioning the plug within the fluid manifold.
US07776029B2	Microminiature infusion pump An implantable microminiature infusion device includes a reservoir for holding a therapeutic fluid or other substance and a driver, e.g., a pump, that delivers the therapeutic fluid or substance to a patient within whom the device is implanted. The device further includes at least two electrodes coupled to pulse generation circuitry, thereby allowing therapeutic electrical stimulation to also be delivered to the patient.
US07776015B2	Needle assisted jet injector A jet injection device with a fluid chamber in a housing member for holding about 0.02 ml to about 3 ml of a medicament. An injection-assisting needle has an injection end that extends from the housing for inserting into a patient to a depth of up to about 5 mm. A force-generating source is configured to apply a pressure reaching about 100-1000 psi to the medicament in the chamber to expel the medicament through the injecting end of the needle.
US07776014B2	Disposable surgical suction/irrigation trumpet valve tube cassette The present invention provides a disposable trumpet valve tube cassette assembly, as well as, a surgical irrigation instrument that includes a probe assembly, a pump, a removable pump cartridge, and a socket. The probe assembly provides passage of fluids for irrigating the body interior and for evacuating matter from the body interior. The pump provides for pumping irrigation fluid through the probe assembly into the body interior. A pump cartridge defines a pumping chamber. Electronic control circuitry includes an electronics controller and a trumpet valve switch interface. The electronics controller includes a pulse generator that generates pulses, the duty cycle of the pulses controlling the speed of the motor. The trumpet valve switch interface is in electronic connection to a switch, the interface providing a signal to the controller.
US07776012B2	Prefilled syringe with means of detecting the displacement of the piston A device (1) for medical use, of the prefilled ready-to-use syringe type, comprising a tubular body (2) comprising, at its distal end (4), a tip (5) to take a needle and, at its proximal end (12), a piston (3) able to slide inside the said tubular body (2), the said piston (3) being arranged in an initial position, with respect to the tubular body (2), defining an internal working volume (8) at least partially filled with a medicinal liquid (9), the piston (3) being connected to a rod (11) for actuating the said piston, characterized in that the tubular body (2) is provided, on its internal face (13), with a means (14) of detecting the movement of the piston (3), the said means (14) being situated between the initial position of the piston and the proximal end (12) of the tubular body (2).The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a device.
US07776011B2	Syringe devices and methods for mixing and administering medication The invention includes a device having a chamber within a syringe. A fluid passageway extends through a syringe piston. A valve is associated with the passageway controlling fluid passage through the piston. The invention includes a piercing structure having a head segment and a body portion, with a channel through the body portion and through at least one surface of the head without passing through the tip. In another aspect the invention encompasses a method of preparing an agent for administration to an individual. A first component is provided within a syringe and a second component is provided within a vial. A closed valve is associated with a fluid passageway between the vial and the syringe barrel through a piston. Valve repositioning allows fluid passage and sliding of the piston joins the first and second components. Repeated sliding of the piston mixes the components to produce the medication agent.
US07776004B2	Aspirator sleeve and suction handle A surgical aspirator tip and sleeve combination includes a hollow aspirator tip adapted to be placed into communication with a suction source, a grip portion, a coupling portion extending distally from the grip portion, and a neck portion extending distally from the coupling portion. The surgical aspirator sleeve is receivable on the tip to define an internal channel between the sleeve and the neck portion. The internal channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the tip. A plurality of spaced orifices on the sleeve provide communication between the external environment and the internal channel. At least one longitudinal groove is formed at least partially within the grip portion and the coupling portion. The longitudinal groove defines a venting channel in communication with the internal channel and the external environment. The longitudinal groove is adapted to be at least partially covered to adjust the suction within the internal channel.
US07776003B2	Multimodal catheter for focal brain monitoring and ventriculostomy A ventricular catheter includes an external ventricular drainage (EVD) catheter and has at least one conduit formed in the wall of the EVD catheter. The conduit opens at a side port of the wall at an angle to the EVD catheter. The side port is formed in the wall to allow a probe to be extended from the conduit at the angle into brain tissue that is not altered by the insertion of the EVD catheter. The ventricular catheter has an oval shape to minimize the total cross-sectional area while still allowing the necessary number of conduits.
US07776002B2	Ophthalmic implant for treating glaucoma An ophthalmic implant for treating or alleviating the symptoms of glaucoma having a plate shaped to fit the surface of an eye. The plate has an inner ridge that defines a primary drainage region. Intraocular pressure is reduced by the transfer of aqueous fluid from the interior of the eyeball through a tube to the primary drainage region. To minimize post-operative hypotony, a secondary drainage region is provided on the plate outside the primary drainage region and defined either by the outer edge of the plate or an outer ridge having a lower profile than the inner ridge. When the pressure of fluid in the primary drainage region builds, fluid spills into the secondary drainage region. Fluid that is transferred to the plate is absorbed in surrounding tissues.
US07776001B2	Registration of fluid circuit components in a blood treatment device A first flow path is defined within a first panel that forms a part of an extracorporeal fluid circuit. A second flow path is defined within a second panel that also forms a part of the extracorporeal fluid circuit. The first and second panels are oriented in a fluid processing cartridge for mounting as an integrated unit on a fluid processing machine and for removal as an integrated unit from the fluid processing machine.
US07775999B2	Apparatus and method for use of a hip brace A support apparatus comprising a waist band, a thigh band, a lateral vertical strap attached to said waist band and two extensions attached to said thigh band, and a medial vertical strap attached to said waist band then wrapping medially down around the thigh and attaching to the thigh band.
US07775996B2	Chest compression system The invention regards a resuscitation system which having a chest compression device to repeatedly compress the chest of a patient and thereafter cause or allow the chest to expand. A signal processor is connected to the chest compression device to control the operation of the chest compression devices. A power supply device provides electrical power to the chest compression device and the signal processor.
US07775991B2	Device for sampling blood A blood sampling device includes a lancet having a skin piercing member disposed at an end thereof. The lancet is slidable within and releasably engaged with an elongated lancet guide that remains stationary with use of the device. A shell is axially movable relative to the lancet guide between a rest position and an actuate position, with the lancet being spring loaded within the lancet guide by movement of the shell from the rest position to the actuate position.
US07775990B2	Blood expression device A device for expressing blood from a wound site formed in dermal tissue is constructed, in one embodiment, in the shape of a cap which can be removably mounted onto a lancing instrument. The blood expression device includes an annular support member and a plurality of movable fingers integrally formed onto the support member in a spaced apart relationship, the free ends of the plurality of fingers together defining a generally circular opening. Each finger is adapted for pivotal displacement in such a manner that its free end projects into the circular opening. In use, the free ends of the plurality of fingers are disposed in contact against the dermal tissue immediately surrounding the wound site. As the device is urged downward onto the dermal tissue, the free ends of the plurality of fingers collapse inward and pinch into the dermal tissue so as to create a uniform ring of pressure around the wound site which, in turn, results in the expression of blood.
US07775988B2	Method for determining the blood flow in a coronary artery The invention relates to a method and a system for determining the blood flow in an individual coronary artery of a patient, wherein the method comprises the steps of positioning a temperature sensor mounted at a distal portion of a guide wire at a distal position in the coronary artery, positioning an infusion catheter in the coronary artery such that the distal end of the infusion catheter is proximally of the temperature sensor, measuring the blood temperature with the temperature sensor, infusing cold indicator fluid with a known infusion rate and known or measurable temperature into the coronary artery by the infusion catheter, measuring the temperature of the mixture of blood and indicator fluid by the temperature sensor, and calculating the coronary blood flow by a formula based on the known and measured quantities. In an extended version, the method comprises steps for relating the calculated coronary flow value to related normal flow values, or related FFR values, or a related flow resistance.
US07775981B1	Contrast imaging beam sequences for medical diagnostic ultrasound A transmit sequence for contrast agent imaging that improves sensitivity and minimizes image artifacts. The number of pulses and the interleaving of spatially distinct pulses between spatially co-linear pulses are selected such that a substantially similar pulse sequence for substantially each line in a scanned region is generated. A collateral pulse from a different scan line is interleaved between at least two imaging pulses along a scan line of interest. Such pulse sequences provide sensitive contrast agent imaging with minimized spatial variation. In another aspect, responsive signals representing the first and second scan lines are obtained. Intensities associated with the signals are determined. The intensities associated with the first scan line are compared to a value. The signals associated with the first scan line are replaced by the signals associated with the second scan line, signals associated with the first and second scan lines, or neighboring signals in time or space as a function of the comparison. Thus, signals associated with an image artifact may be replaced by signals along other scan lines so good spatial resolution is maintained.
US07775977B2	Ultrasonic tomographic diagnostic apparatus This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image constructing circuit (31) for creating plural ultrasonic tomographic images resulting from a process in which an ultrasonic endoscope moves within a body cavity, a position detecting portion (13) for detecting position information of the ultrasonic tomographic images, an image processing circuit (33) for constructing tomographic parallel images resulting from arrangement of plural ultrasonic tomographic images along a scanning path of the ultrasonic endoscope based on the position information, and a display circuit (34) causing a monitor (14) to display an ultrasonic tomographic image and tomographic parallel images so as to compare them. In this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, when an ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor, a spread and depth of an invasion of an affected part are displayed based on ultrasonic image data within a body cavity.
US07775976B2	Method to determine a coagulation property of a fluid Apparatus and method for analysing a biological fluid sample to determine a disturbance of haemostasis resulting in a change of viscosity.
US07775973B2	Endoscope system An endoscope of an endoscope system includes a channel of which a distal end forms a distal opening at a distal end of an insertion portion, of which a proximal end forms a proximal opening at an operating portion, and used for at least suction, and a suction duct of which a distal end forms a suction opening at the operating portion and of which a proximal end is connected to a suction device. An endoscopic accessory includes a capture portion to be connected to an accessory insertion portion and detachably attached to the operating portion of the endoscope, and the capture portion includes a communication path to communicate the proximal opening with the suction opening when the capture portion is attached to the endoscope, and a capture unit interposed in the communication path and to capture the tissue being sucked from the channel into the suction duct.
US07775972B2	Flexible instrument A medical probe and medical system are provided. The medical probe comprises an elongated shaft, a plurality of electromagnetic elements spaced along the elongated shaft, and a plurality of wires extending through the elongated shaft and configured for energizing the electromagnetic elements that actuate a controlled bending of the elongated shaft. The medical system may comprise the medical probe and a controller configured for energizing the electromagnetic elements via the wires to actuate the controlled bending of the elongated shaft. The medical system may optionally comprise a user interface configured for conveying commands to the controller, in which case, the controller will be configured for energizing the electromagnetic elements via the wires to actuate a controlled bending of the elongated shaft in response to the commands.
US07775967B2	Closed loop gastric restriction devices and methods In some embodiments, methods to sense parameters associated with restriction procedures and/or devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, the parameters are sensed directly from the region of the procedure and/or device and in other embodiments, associated neural pathways are sensed. Methods for further optimization of the obesity treatment regimens are also disclosed.
US07775966B2	Non-invasive pressure measurement in a fluid adjustable restrictive device An implantable restriction device is configured to provide a restriction in a patient as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device includes one or more pressure sensors configured to sense pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device. Pressure data obtained by the one or more pressure sensors may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, which may process the pressure data, and may further provide a display to a user including information relating to the processed pressure data. Where the implantable restriction device comprises an adjustable gastric band, the one or more pressure sensors may be located in any number of the following locations: an injection port, an interface between the injection port and a catheter, in a catheter, in-line with a catheter, adjacent to a catheter, in a gastric band, in a gastric band buckle, or elsewhere.
US07775955B1	Cutting tool removal and installation assist device A cutting tool changing device to remove and reinstall a cutting tool in a tool magazine in a machine center is provided. The cutting tool changing device includes a mounting frame and a tool changing jig that slides in a horizontal forward and backward direction along the mounting frame. The tool changing jig includes a support platform mounted to the mounting frame, a lifting assembly mounted to the support platform, a lifting platform mounted to the lifting assembly, and a tool clamping assembly mounted to the lifting platform. The lifting assembly moves the tool clamping assembly in a vertical direction to remove and replace the cutting tool.
US07775953B2	Rotating plate structure of a waist twist machine A waist twist machine having a base frame, a rear support, and a front upright rod with a handle at the top thereof. A crossbar is positioned near the center of the base frame. A rotating rod is pivotally disposed at the top of the crossbar. A rotating plate assembly is pivotally connected to the rotating rod. The rotating plate assembly includes a front rotating arm, a rear rotating arm, and two foot plates that are pivotally connected to one another. The bottom of the front and the rear end of the foot plates is pivotally attached to the front and rear rotating arms. The front and rear rotating arms each include a pivoting portion at the center thereof. The pivoting portions are pivotally coupled to both ends of the rotating rod. As a result, the front and rear rotating arms create a rotational deformation due to the action of the pivoting points when the foot plates are subject to force and are rotated. In this way, both of the foot plates create more rotational angles.
US07775950B2	Inclinable exercise device with abdominal crunch board and method An abdominal crunch board for an inclinable exercise device includes a handle bar including opposite terminating engagement portions; a pair of opposing brackets coupled to the opposite terminating engagement portions, the pair of opposing brackets and the opposite terminating engagement portions forming a frame; a padded support coupled to the frame; and the opposing brackets are removably attachable to an adjustable incline of the inclinable exercise device at one or both of a location between a first end of the adjustable incline and a user support platform of the inclinable exercise device and a location between a second end of the adjustable incline and the user support platform.
US07775947B2	Selectorized dumbbell having shock absorbing system and weight plates with an elastomer encasement A selectorized dumbbell has a handle that can be inserted into a gap between stacks of nested left and right weight plates. A selector determines how many left weight plates are coupled to the left end of the handle and how many right weight plates are coupled to the right end of the handle. Each weight plate is held between a pair of flexible arms on a forked carrier. The arms allow the weight plates to deflect out of a normal, substantially upright, orientation if an impact shock is delivered to the dumbbell. The arms are restored to their normal orientation once the impact shock dissipates. Alternatively, the weight plates may comprise a metallic inner weight plate covered with an elastomer encasement and with an integral elastomer lug attaching the weight plates to at least one interconnecting member. The selector may comprise a connecting pin with at least one flexible shock absorbing prong.
US07775944B1	Kinematic rotating-tilting mechanism A kinematic rotating-tilting mechanism (10) that consists of six major elements: a housing (12), a housing flange assembly (42), a platform flange assembly (70), a platform base (90), a resilient section (110) and an angled shaft (120). The housing (12) includes an upper end (18) having a cover (20) to which is attached the housing flange assembly (42), and attached to the lower surface (98) of the platform (90) is the platform flange assembly (70). The shaft (120) has a lower vertical section (122) that is rotatably attached to the housing flange assembly (42), and an upper angled section (126) that is rotatably attached to the platform flange assembly (70). The platform base (90) has an upper surface (96) to which is attached a resilient section (110). A person who is located on the resilient section (110) can produce torque by shifting their body weight. The torque causes the resilient section (110) to produce a combination rotating and tilting motion that promotes neuro-muscular stimulation, is relaxing, and aids in relieving stress.
US07775937B2	Systems and methods for administering an exercise program Systems and methods for facilitating an isometric contraction exercise regimen for many subjects across a network are provided. One or more exercise constraints are developed for a subject as a function of the medical health information of the subject. The subject performs a plurality of isometric contraction exercises using exercise equipment always in the presence of a personal fitness trainer thereby producing an exercise result. The exercise equipment has a strain gauge in order to impose exercise constraints in the one or more exercise constraints. A mandatory recovery period for the subject is then imposed. During this mandatory recovery period, the subject does not perform isometric contraction exercises. These steps are repeated using a new set of one or more exercise constraints that were refined based upon the exercise result of a previous isometric contraction exercise work out session.
US07775936B2	Total body exercise machine An exercise apparatus comprising a lower body exercise machine, at least one upper body exercise module positioned for engagement by a user of the machine, each module adapted to provide resistance to the user's full natural arm swing. Each module comprises an elongated connector, a user engagement connected to one end of the elongated connector for engaging or being engaged by a body appendage of a user, and a resistance mechanism for resisting a tensile force applied to the end of the elongated connector. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for adjusting the incline of the user platform of the lower body exercise machine and/or a mechanism for adjusting an attached railing between a close position suitable for gripping by the user and a far position sufficiently distant from the close position to prevent interference with the full natural arm swing of the user.
US07775934B2	Control system and method for internal combustion engine A control system and method for an internal combustion engine includes an intake manifold for directing airflow to a plurality of cylinders of the engine and an electronically controlled throttle valve disposed within the intake manifold for regulating airflow into the engine. An engine retard control determination module determines whether retard control of the engine is disabled. A throttle control module communicates with the electronically controlled throttle valve and modifies a throttle return trigger point during a transmission upshift when the retard control determination module determines that retard control of the engine is disabled.
US07775933B2	Control apparatus and control method for torque transmission mechanism An ECU executes a program including the step of controlling the current value of an actuator that moves a sleeve by increasing the current value subsequent to complete synchronization between a rear output shaft and a front output shaft of a transfer when the oil temperature of a front differential connected to the front output shaft of the transfer via a front propeller shaft is low to switch from a two-wheel drive state to a four-wheel drive state. The rear output shaft and front output shaft are brought into synchronization by a synchronizer abutting against the sleeve.
US07775931B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US07775929B2	Differential assembly with preload adjustment mechanism A vehicle differential assembly may include a differential housing rotatable about an axis, a first output assembly, a pinion gear, and a first coupling assembly. The first output assembly may include a first side gear and a first output member. The first side gear may be disposed within the differential housing and may be rotatable about the axis. The first output member may be coupled to the first side gear for rotation therewith. The first coupling assembly may be engaged with the first output assembly and may include a coupling mechanism and a biasing member. The coupling mechanism may extend through an opening in the first output member and may be displaceable relative to the differential housing in a direction generally parallel to the axis. The biasing member may be engaged with the coupling mechanism and may urge the first output assembly into frictional engagement with the differential housing.
US07775927B2	Traction drive of a machine with an interchangeable transmission module A traction drive of a machine has an internal combustion engine, a transmission module located downstream of the engine and having an adjustable output speed, and a drive axle with a differential transmission, having a mechanical drive connection with the transmission module. The transmission module is a removable, replaceable, and interchangeable transmission module (3) which can be selected from a plurality of transmission modules (3) having different transmission types, each with a standardized input interface and a standardized output interface. A first transmission module (3) can be a hydrostatic compact transmission having a hydraulic pump (5) with an adjustable hydraulic delivery volume, and a hydraulic motor (6) in a functional hydraulic connection with the pump (5). A second transmission module (3) can be an electric compact transmission having a generator (7) and an electric motor (8) in a functional electrical connection with it.
US07775925B2	Oil-free chain An oil-free chain has bushings which protrude from the outer surfaces of the inner link plates into which they are press-fit, and extend into bushing supporting bores formed in the inner surfaces of the outer link plates of the chain. These bushing supporting bores are formed by a pressing operation which produces offsets in portions of the outer plate, so that, as the bushing supporting bores are formed in the inner surfaces of the outer plates, bosses are simultaneously formed on the outer surfaces. The connecting pins of the chain are press-fit into pin holes in these bosses. The bushing supporting bores are formed without removal of material by machining, and therefore the strength of the outer plates is not compromised.
US07775921B2	Chain tensioner A plunger 4 and a spring 6 biasing the plunger 4 outwardly are mounted in a cylinder chamber 2 formed in a housing 1. The housing 1 is provided with an oil supply passage 8 communicating with a pressure chamber 7 formed in the back of the plunger 4. The housing 1 has an outer diameter that is substantially constant over the entire axial length, so that such housings can be mass-produced by pressing. It is thus possible to lower the cost of the chain tensioner.
US07775918B2	Soft projectile A projectile for a toy shooting device includes a tubular body, a head molded of soft material, an anchor partially embedded in the head and comprising a fixing stem extending into and adhered to the tubular body.
US07775917B2	Basketball system A basketball system may include a basketball goal with a backboard and a rim. The basketball system may also include a support structure that is sized and configured to support the basketball goal above a playing surface. The support structure may include an elongated support member that is generally vertically disposed relative to the playing surface and a single support assembly which connects the elongated support member to the basketball goal. The single support assembly may include first and second connecting members that connect the elongated support member and the basketball goal. Desirably at least a portion of the second connecting member is disposed within a portion of the first connecting member. In addition, the basketball system may include a height adjustment mechanism to allow the height of the basketball goal to be adjusted.
US07775913B2	Athletic training device Tennis balls are releasably connected to a string depending from a support. When the user strikes the ball, the ball releases from the string and the string automatically retracts into the support to reduce interference of the string with a user's subsequent stroke. The system is fully adjustable to replicate shots ranging from a ground shot to an overhead service. The system is lightweight, portable, and adaptable to a plurality of sports.
US07775905B2	Golf club head with repositionable weight A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.
US07775904B2	Wood-type golf club head A wood-type golf club head has a hollow structure comprising a face portion having a back surface and a front surface defining a club face for striking a ball, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a side portion between the crown portion and sole portion. The hollow structure is provided with a hollow and a solid part. The solid part extends forward from the backmost point of the club head by a distance of from 0.08 to 0.20 times the maximum size of the club head in the back-and-forth direction, the hollow extends between the front surface of the solid part and the back surface of the face portion. The main frame of the hollow structure integrally includes the solid part.
US07775903B2	Golf clubs and golf club heads A golf club head enables the initial velocity of a ball to be increased and enables the carry to be lengthened. In some example structures, the golf club includes a face plate formed from metal and club head body (e.g. a crown and sole) formed from fiber reinforced plastic. A weighted body is provided inside the rearmost portion of the golf club head and a low rigidity portion whose width becomes gradually narrower as it approaches the rearmost portion is provided in the crown extending from the vicinity of the face plate to the rearmost portion.
US07775894B2	Method and system of participant identifiers for water amusement parks A water transportation system and method are described, generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be actively involved in a water attraction. This transportation system comprises at least two water stations and at least one water channel connecting the at least two water stations for the purpose of conveying participants between the at least two water stations. In addition, the water transportation system may include conveyor belt systems and water locks configured to convey participants from a first source of water to a second source of water which may or may not be at a different elevation.
US07775889B2	Universal cross joint with axial insulation A universal joint comprises a first joint yoke having bearing bores at axially opposite yoke arms and being connected with the drive shaft, a first pin bearer being connected to the first joint yoke; a second joint yoke having bearing bores at axially opposite yoke arms and being connected with the driven shaft, a second pin bearer being connected to the second joint yoke; and an elastic coupling element connected to the cross member at each pin bearer. The first and second joint yokes are arranged radially at an angle of 90° in relation to each other to form an internal space. The first and second pin bearers each comprise an appendage such that each pin bearer extends through a respectively associated joint yoke and protrudes with its appendage over an outer side of the respective joint yoke opposite to the internal space.
US07775886B2	Targeted merchandising on a user console Advertising is targeted to a specific user of a user console. A product data request is received from a user console and includes a user identifier, user data, and at least a first product identifier. A user account record associated with the user identifier is identified. The user account record includes a subscription service level identifier and a user account history. The user data are then associated with the user account record. A product catalog is searched for any product related entries associated with the request, and when any product related entries associated with the product data request are found, each such product related entry is provided to the user console.
US07775885B2	Event-driven alteration of avatars Virtual environments in which player avatars can be altered based on events that occur in a video game, metaverse or virtual environment. One event is the failure to fulfill an obligation in a virtual contract. Avatars who fail to fulfill such obligations may have their appearance, voice, or smell altered, or may be followed by one or more non player character avatars.
US07775884B1	Game controller steering wheel and methods therefor A game controller having a steering wheel communicating wirelessly with a controller base is provided. The steering wheel includes a wireless transmitter while the controller base includes a wireless receiver. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit wheel information of the steering wheel to the wireless receiver of the controller base. Steering wheel information can include wheel rotational information. Wheel rotational information can be obtained using an optical sensor, a potentiometer or an accelerometer. The wireless transmitter can be an RF, IR or ultrasonic transmitter. Power for the wireless transmitter can be provided by an onboard battery. A sleep mode can also further extend the life of the wheel battery. It may also be possible to power the steering wheel from the controller base.
US07775882B2	Game apparatus for changing a visual point position of a virtual camera in conjunction with an attack by and enemy character A game apparatus which can realize a totally new expression of a fear on a game image is provided. The game apparatus includes an image generating means that uses a visual point position of a player character as a visual point position of a virtual camera and generates an image within a visual range captured by the virtual camera, an enemy character control means that allows the enemy character to mount an attack such that the visual point position of the player character is changed and moves an enemy character within a specified range viewed from the visual point position changed due to the attack to the visual range of the player character viewed from the visual point position, and a camera work control means that changes a visual point position in a three-dimensional coordinate system of the virtual camera in conjunction with the attack motions.
US07775878B2	Method and apparatus for providing insurance policies for gambling losses A system and method for providing a gambling loss insurance policy automatically computes insurance premiums and processes gambling sessions covered by the gambling loss insurance policies. The players may purchase the insurance policies using various means such as coins, earned winnings, or credit cards. The gambling loss insurance system provides a high level of flexibility for the players to define specific parameters of the insurance policy. Additionally, the players may purchase the insurance policies directly from the gaming machine, a custom terminal on casino floor, or cage personnel having access to a centralized network server.
US07775877B2	Gaming device having selectively accessible bonus scheme A gaming device having a bonus scheme, wherein the player may choose when to play a bonus scheme, so long as the player is qualified to do so. The method of qualifying the player to enter the bonus round connects or links the base game operation of the gaming device with the bonus scheme. The reels of the base game contain symbols which alone or in combination with other symbols yield one or more bonus awards to a player. The bonus awards are escrowed and displayed a bonus award escrow display. Once the player obtains a single bonus award, the player becomes eligible or qualified to play the bonus round and the player may choose to do so at any time. The player can accumulate bonus awards and use multiple bonus awards at one time.
US07775875B2	Gaming methods and systems Disclosed are central determination methods and systems in which pools and sub-pools of outcomes can be distributed among various units of the central determination system. The methods and systems are applicable to Class II and, in some implementations, Class III gaming configurations. The methods and systems disclosed herein can be implemented in a gaming machine network, wherein one of the gaming machines distributes game outcomes to other gaming machines in the network. The gaming machines can be oriented in a peer-to-peer configuration, a central storage medium configuration, a stand alone configuration, an autonomous gaming machine configuration, and other network configurations. Methods are disclosed for managing the distribution of outcomes among the gaming machines in the various networks.
US07775874B2	Gaming device having a probability enhancing trigger symbol A gaming device including a award mode in a primary game that increases the probability of obtaining an award in the primary game. The gaming device includes a plurality of reels having several symbols where the symbols include award symbols, at least one trigger symbol and at least one wild symbol. The gaming device activates the reels and initiates the award mode when the trigger symbol is indicated on one of the paylines associated with the reels. In the award mode, the gaming device re-activates all of the reels except the reel including the trigger symbol until those reels indicate a wild symbol on the payline. The gaming device then re-activates the reel including the trigger symbol until an award symbol is indicated on that reel. The gaming device provides the award associated with the indicated award symbol on the payline on that reel to the player.
US07775872B2	Intelligent button for a gaming machine A game button includes an enclosure in which are mounted at least one variable display, a sensor, a memory, and any other components of the game button. The variable display is capable of presenting a plurality of images thereon. The memory is communicatively coupled with the variable display, is adapted to store information for producing the plurality of images presented on the display, and is physically located between the variable display and the sensor.
US07775870B2	Arcade game An arcade game including a progressive bonus server connected to a plurality of individual game units. The progressive bonus server receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined task on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus server may take the form of an arcade-type game with a rotating wheel on which to base scoring. A playing piece is directed down a playing surface towards a target end, and the wheel is rotated according to the target that was hit by the playing piece. The position of the wheel when it stops rotating affects the score. A non-monetary award based on the score is dispensed to the player when the game is completed.
US07775866B2	Game apparatus and method for falling block game with launched rising objects Display control is made so that meteor blocks (101-104) falling from the outer space are piled up on the surface of earth. When the player operates a cursor (106) for piled up meteor blocks (105) to designate them as objects to be operated, and presses a button, the meteor blocks are vertically re-arranged. When the meteor blocks of the same type line up as a result of re arranging, they can be ignited and launched. When the meteor blocks rise up to the outer space, they can be cleared. On the other hand, when the meteor blocks stall halfway, they cannot be cleared, and fall on the surface of earth again.
US07775863B2	Coin dispending device and method for rapidly recycling coins A method and device for dispensing coins from a compact coin dispensing device while fully utilizing the storage capacity of a retaining bowl. The coin dispensing device or devices can be installed in a coin recycling machine where coins are retained by specific denominations. Detectors monitor the coins that are dispensed and the coins that are accepted into the retainer bowls and a control unit can appropriately coordinate and automatically drive a motor in a reverse direction for a predetermined movement and/or predetermined time after a coin dispensing operation and/or a coin depositing operation into a retainer bowl to prevent coin stacking and to maximize the storage capacity.
US07775861B2	Method of and apparatus for redistribution of pasty filling material The invention concerns a method of and an apparatus for redistribution of pasty filling material in a closed, individually separated packaging casing in tube or bag form. At least two conveyor belts form between mutually facing first belt portions a through-passage cross-section which is of such a dimension that, when the packaging casing is conveyed through the through-passage cross-section, the filling material is distributed substantially over the entire length of the closed packaging casing in tube or bag form. The invention further concerns a manufacturing installation in which such a redistribution apparatus is disposed upstream of a closure device for dividing off a sausage, closing it by means of closure clips and individually separating the closed sausage.
US07775859B2	Low profile ruckers capable of rucking fixed diameter coverings and associated devices, methods, systems and computer program products Methods, apparatus and associated devices for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a plurality of spaced apart rotatable wheels having a primary axis of movement, wherein, in operation, the plurality of wheels have an automated stroke cycle whereby each is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of a chute body and remain in contact with the chute body while the wheels travel in a first direction about the primary axis of movement and in an opposing second direction about the primary axis of movement.
US07775857B2	Device for particle blasting This invention relates to a device for particle blasting, comprising a mixing device for mixing the particles and the carrier gas. The mixing device comprises, on the one hand, a mixing plate (3) wherein at least one supply channel (6) for the carrier gas, at least one supply channel for the particles (14) and at least one discharge channel (7) for the mixture are provided, and on the other hand, comprises a rotatable distribution disc (1) provided with cavities (2), which during rotation are positioned in such a way that they are first filled with particles and then form a temporary connection between the supply channel (6) and the discharge channel (7), with the result that the carrier gas and the particles are mixed. Since both the supply channel and the discharge channel are provided in one and the same element, the seal between mixing plate and rotor is easy to achieve.
US07775851B2	Fabric breast support worn in shower to support and protect breasts and protect breasts and relieve breast and nipple pain associated with pregnancy, childbirth and nursing A soft, protective breast support worn by pregnant, postpartum and nursing mothers when showering to support engorged breasts, function as a warm compress to soothe breasts and ease engorgement, and to shield the breasts, nipples and areolas from direct contact with harsh shower sprays, drying soap and other chemical residues found in toiletries that can damage sensitive nipple and areola skin, while leaving the wearer's hands free. The breast support is a two-sided, rectangular fabric panel made of soft, lightweight, elastic and absorbent material. The wearer snuggly wraps the fabric panel lengthwise around her bustline and back, so that the width of the panel covers the breasts, and attaches the opposing ends of the panel along the front mid-line of her chest using a hook and loop closure mechanism.
US07775848B1	Hand-held fan and object holder A hand-held fan and object holder generally comprises a housing; a fan that rotates with respect to the housing; and a coupling member for securing an object, such as a candy item. The housing encloses the internal components that operate the fan, including a motor and a battery. At the lower end of the housing, the coupling member secures the object, such as a candy item, to the housing.
US07775845B2	Organic semiconductor device, method for producing organic semiconductor device, organic electroluminescent device, and method for producing organic electroluminescent device A method for producing an organic semiconductor device including a plurality of organic semiconductor layers laminated on a substrate includes forming a film of a liquid composition on a target surface, the liquid composition being composed of a material constituting one of the plurality of the organic semiconductor layers, the material being dissolved or dispersed in a first solvent, and the target surface including a substrate surface and a surface of any of the other of the plurality of organic semiconductor layers; altering a portion of the film adjacent to the target surface, the portion having a predetermined thickness, in such a manner that the portion is not dissolved in a predetermined solvent containing the first solvent; and removing an unaltered portion of the film in the step of altering the portion with the predetermined solvent.
US07775843B1	Wind turbine boats, watercraft drives, and wind turbine enhancements A wind powered watercraft, and improved individual components utilizable with the watercraft or elsewhere, does not require the user to have sailing skills, and can go directly into the wind. A vertical axis wind turbine (such as a Savonius or modified Savonius) is mounted to a multihull boat (such as a catamaran). The turbine has a shaft operatively connected to a propulsion system, such as by a clutch. The propulsion system may be a large diameter and pitch horizontal propeller, a vertical axis propeller, or a novel fishtail or sculling oar simulating mechanism, including an oscillating element with a flexible material (e.g. durometer between 40-100) free end. A mechanism which prevents useless spinning of the vertical axis wind turbine when the watercraft is docked may also be provided. For when the wind velocity is insufficient, a manual assist may be provided. The manual assist may have primarily human arm powered and human leg powered drive assemblies, each including a substantially inextensible cord, a cord drum operatively connected by a one-way clutch to the wind turbine shaft, and a take-up. The wind turbine boat may be produced from a conventional sailboat by replacing a sailboat mast with the wind turbine and propulsion system, and converted back to the sailboat when desired.
US07775836B2	Chip card holder and portable electronic device using the same A chip card holder used to fixing a chip card comprises a housing defining a receiving slot configured for receiving a chip card therein; a stop cushion for assembly in the receiving slot for resisting against the chip card to restrict movement of the chip card in the receiving slot. The chip card can avoid moving in the receiving slot and enhance the stability of portable electronic devices.
US07775834B2	Rugged, removable, electronic device An apparatus is disclosed, including a rugged electrical connector supporting an external bus protocol including a power signal; a backshell canister mated to the electrical connector; an active electronic component housed in the canister; and an electrical connection between the active electronic component and the rugged electrical connector.
US07775827B2	Flexible printed circuit board connector A flexible printed circuit board connector adapted for receiving a flexible printed circuit board has an insulating housing including two blocking walls, each defines a lateral side having a buckling cavity at a front thereof and a first and second locating cavities at a rear thereof. The buckling cavity includes a first buckling cavity and a second buckling cavity extending frontward from the first buckling cavity. The second locating cavity is located in front of and spaced from the first locating cavity. A cover defines two lateral plates respectively secured to the lateral sides, each has a locating portion and a buckling portion respectively protruded inwards from an inner side thereof. The locating portion is capable of being pivotally mounted in the first locating cavity, and then the locating portion and the buckling portion can be moved frontward to the second locating cavity and the second buckling cavity, respectively.
US07775823B2	Socket connector having leading-and-positioning arrangement within a passageway and method for mating with the same An electrical connector (100) includes an insulating base (10) defining therein a plurality of receiving units (11) each surrounded by sidewalls (13). A cover (20) is moveably disposed on the insulating base (10) and includes a plurality of apertures (21) each aligned with the receiving units (11). A driving mechanism (30) is disposed on the base to drive the cover (20) to move along the base (10). Each receiving unit (11) includes a leading-and-positioning arrangement (14) extending from an inner sidewall (13b) thereof, and dividing the receiving unit into a first space (110) and a second space (111). A plurality of terminals (40) is received in said receiving units (11), each comprises a contacting portion (42) projecting into the second space (111) of the receiving unit (11).
US07775821B2	Socket for burn-in tests A socket adapted for interconnecting an IC package (3), such as TSOP (Thin Small Outline Package), and a circuit board, includes a socket body (1), a plurality of contacts (2) received in the socket body, and an operating member (5) movable mounted on the socket body. Each contact includes a base portion (21) retained into the slot of the socket body and a first and a second contact beams (24, 25), each extending upwardly from an upper edge of the base portion. When a force is applied on the operating member, both of the first and the second contact beams cooperated with the operating member and moving away from its original position. A stick (6) mounted to the member (5) may be provided to cause movement of the second contact (25).
US07775817B2	Electrical contacts for leading edge control surfaces on an aircraft An apparatus comprising a first part, a second part, an electrical contact, and a relay. The second part is movable relative to the first part. The electrical contact is attached to the second part. The electrical contact provides an electrical connection between the first part and the second part when the second part is in a first position and breaks the electrical connection when the second part is in a second position. The relay is electrically connected to the electrical contact.
US07775816B1	Electronic device case structure having function of ejecting peripheral device An electronic device case structure includes a case body, a pivoting seat, a pushing member, and a driving member. An accommodating slot is formed on the case body for a peripheral device to be inserted therein. The case body has a disposition hole communicating with the accommodating slot and an internal space of the case body. The pivoting seat is disposed in the case body, and the pushing member is pivoted to the pivoting seat. The pushing member has a pushing segment, protruding in the accommodating slot through the disposition hole and a connecting segment. The driving member includes a coupling end connected to the connecting segment and an operation end, The operation end is to be pressed to make the driving member move inwards, so as to have the pushing segment to move towards the outside of the accommodating slot, thereby pushing and ejecting the peripheral device.
US07775815B2	LIF connector The invention provides a LIF connector in which the number of component parts is reduced, and the efficiency of an assembling operation is enhanced, and further an automatic mounting operation can be effected, and a good operability is obtained. The LIF connector of the present invention includes a frame forming an opening and including a guide hole, a fulcrum boss guide groove extending from the opening, a fulcrum boss passage portion formed between the guide hole and the fulcrum boss guide groove, and a first groove; a first connector accommodated by the frame through the opening and including a fulcrum boss to be engaged with the guide hole by passing through the fulcrum boss guide groove and the fulcrum boss passage portion and a second groove; and a second connector including an application boss engaged with the first and the second groove. The second connector is engaged with the first connector by pivotally moving the frame.
US07775811B2	Circuit board module and connector protecting cover thereof A connector protecting cover and a circuit board module using the same are provided. The circuit board module includes a circuit board, a plurality of electronic devices, a connector, and a connector protecting cover. The electronic devices are disposed on the circuit board. The connector is disposed on the circuit board and includes a plurality of connecting terminals connected to the circuit board. The connector protecting cover includes a top wall, a circular side wall connected to the top wall, and a partition. The partition is connected to the circular side wall. The top wall, the circular side wall, and the partition define a plurality of accommodation spaces. The partition and the circular side wall are together used for clipping the connecting terminals, such that the connecting terminals are located in the accommodation spaces.
US07775810B2	Voltage tap apparatus for series connected conductive case battery cells A voltage tap apparatus functions as both a voltage tap and a cell isolator for conductive case battery cells that are joined end-to-end in a series chain. The apparatus includes conductive leadframe elements partially encased in a plastic frame that engages the joined cells about their juncture, with portions of the lead-frame elements exposed to electrically contact the conductive cases of the cells. In a first embodiment, the plastic frame is in the form of a hinged clamp that closes about the juncture of the cells, and the lead-frame elements are routed to terminals formed on one end of the frame. In a second embodiment, the plastic frame and a connector are mounted on a printed circuit board and the leadframe elements in the plastic frame couple the battery cells to the connector.
US07775808B2	Contact sheet with spiral contactors serving as elastic contactors and connecting device including the same A support portion of an elastic contactor is located in a fixed region surrounded by a plurality of openings on a contact sheet. The support portion extends over the substantially entire fixed region and along the outer rims of the surrounding openings.
US07775806B2	Electronic housing with a conductive plate A printed circuit board arrangement and method includes a planar generally-rectangular vertically-arranged printed circuit board having front and rear surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge, at least one of the front and rear surfaces having a conductive printed circuit thereon. The printed circuit board has a vertical side edge portion containing a recess, and arranged adjacent the recess is a fixed contact connected with a conductor portion of the printed circuit. A relatively narrow conductor housing arranged outside the peripheral edge of the printed circuit board is mounted in the recess with a movable contact carried by the housing in electrical engagement with the fixed contact. The connector housing is supported by a rear wall mounted on the rear surface of the printed circuit board, and by a resilient clip on the connector housing that engages the printed circuit board adjacent the recess.
US07775805B2	Electrical terminal An electrical terminal (30) received in an insulative housing (10), comprising: a main portion (31); a first contacting portion (32); a second contacting portion (33); wherein the first contacting portion comprises at least a flexible arm (321) and at least an inflexible arm (322), the flexible arm can be flexed along an up-to-down direction, and the inflexible arm hard to flex along the up-to-down direction, the flexible and inflexible arms defines a flexible contacting portion (3210) and inflexible contacting portion (3220), respectively. The flexible contacting portion is higher than the inflexible contacting portion along the up-to-down direction, the flexible contacting portion and the inflexible contacting portion are both contacted to a same corresponding electrical contacting portion; the insulative housing defining a plurality of holes, the main portion of the terminal been fixed in the hole, and the first and second contacting portion extending externally from the insulative housing.
US07775803B2	Electrical connector having contact retention device The present invention provides an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a plurality of passageways, and a plurality of contacts received in the passageways, respectively. The passageways each defines two inner walls opposite to each other, the two inner walls each having at least one first retention device. The contacts each include a base, an upper arm extending from one side of the base and a lower arm extending from another side. The upper arm further defines two protrusions on opposite sides thereof and the lower arm defines two protrusions on opposite sides thereof. In assembly, protrusions on upper arm are located above the first retention device of the passageways, and protrusions on the lower arm are located below the first retention device of the passageways such that movement of the contact in the passageway along length axis of the passageway is limited in a predetermined distance.
US07775802B2	Electrical connector system High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.
US07775801B2	Device interfaces with non-mechanical securement mechanisms A number of device interfaces that may use magnetic forces to secure different devices together are disclosed. The device interfaces may include magnetic material positioned in between parallel rows of electrical contact elements in the devices. Magnetic forces may be exerted on and from the electrical contact elements to cause mutually cooperating elements from the devices to be substantially attracted and drawn towards each other. Once the contact elements make contact and are engaged, their mutual attractive forces may cause them to resist being separated. Additionally, the distal ends of the contact elements may have mutually cooperating male and female engagement surface configurations.
US07775800B2	Device for electronically interconnecting two relatively rotating members A device for electrically interconnecting two relatively rotating members, such as a vehicle steering wheel and steering column assembly, has a stationary housing portion carried with the steering column assembly and a moving housing portion carried with the steering wheel. A plurality of flexible, electrically conductive wires are spirally wound around the device between the two housing portions. Each conductive wire is guided in a direction-reversing loop formed therein. Each conductive wire is affixed at each of its two respective ends at electrical terminals.
US07775798B2	Educational restaurant and travel game system An educational restaurant and travel game system and method of use include a plurality of educational games each having a plurality of game pieces disposed in a game container. The game container is adapted to house the plurality of educational games and has a size and shape so that the game container is adapted for portability. A game book setting forth rules for each of the educational games, age ranges, number of players, list of items needed, a stated educational objective, and an educational goal is included within the container. Reading, math, fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, memory enhancement and retention, and social skills games are included within the compact travel container. Playing the games of the educational restaurant and travel game system fosters an educational environment, while at the same time offers entertainment and quality family interaction. The game system finds use during travel and during moments of idle time for children, such as doctor's office and restaurant visits. Its entertaining and educational features further commend it for use in a home or school environment.
US07775797B2	Electromechanical tactile braille cell assembly The present invention discloses an electromechanical tactile cell assembly comprising a plurality of piezoelectric element reeds, each one of the piezoelectric element reeds being bendable at an elongated end portion when a voltage is applied to the reed, a plurality of conductive fulcrum pins secured to a printed circuit board, and a plurality of multiple element conductive supports secured to a printed circuit board, each multiple element conductive support, in combination with the plurality of conductive fulcrum pins, adapted to secure a plurality of piezoelectric reeds, corresponding to the plurality of conductive fulcrum pins, to the printed circuit board. The electromechanical tactile cell is adaptable for use with a Braille display.
US07775795B2	Electrochemically treating teeth Electrochemical method for treating teeth: applying metal salt solution to teeth, applying ionizable substance to the teeth, and applying current flow to the teeth so as to ionize the ionizable substance. Electrochemical device for dental treatment: applicator for applying a substance to teeth, having a first end and a second end, a first electrode attached to first end of applicator, second electrode attached to second end of applicator, wherein first electrode and second electrode are configured for current flow through applicator, and an ionizable substance for placement within applicator, wherein ionizable substance is configured for ionization upon application of current flow through the substance. Electrochemical teeth whitening method: applying metal salt solution to teeth, applying an oxidizing agent to teeth exposed to metal salt solution, and applying current flow to the teeth so as to activate and reduce the oxidizing agent for effecting whitening of the teeth.
US07775793B2	Orthodontic bracket An orthodontic bracket is provided. The bracket includes a rear wall coming to rest on a buccal or lingual tooth surface; and two guide surfaces running at right angles to one another, for guiding an archwire with a rectangular cross section, wherein the two guide surfaces are arranged distanced to the rear wall. A first gingival web runs below the first guide surface and at least one second occlusal web runs above the first guide surface, with a second passage being left free between the first web and the rear wall, and a first passage being left free between the second web and the rear wall.
US07775790B2	Food molding mechanism for a food patty molding machine A food molding mechanism for a patty-forming machine that uses a servomotor to drive a crank arrangement. The crank arrangement drives a mold plate. The mechanism uses a reducer with a replaceable output shaft. The reducer engages a servomotor utilizing a double enveloping worm gear providing gear enmeshment across an arc portion of the servomotor main gear. A servomotor driven knockout apparatus comprises a cam and lever arrangement. Oil reservoirs for the knock-out cams are substantially sealed in the mold cover.
US07775787B2	Blow-mould arrangement comprising ejectors, for an extrusion-blow moulder for producing plastic containers Blow molding tool arrangement is disclosed for an extrusion blow molding machine for plastic containers, especially for plastic bottles, comprising two or more blow mold parts (1, 2) which can be moved from an open into a closed position and vice versa and in the closed state border a mold cavity (7) which has at least one access opening (22) for a blow mandrel (8), and with at least one laterally movable ejection device (10) for removing from the mold a plastic tube which has been inflated by overpressure according to the mold cavity (7). The ejection device (10) is arranged such that it can be extended laterally relative to the inside wall of the mold during ejection and touches the plastic tubing upon ejection in a lost section (74) which is detached after removal from the mold.
US07775786B2	Heated blow mould for thermostabilizing treatment A heated blow mold for the thermostabilizing treatment, or the heat-set process, where at least a heating system is housed between the mold (2) and mold holder (3). Said system consists of a set of tubular electric resistors, which are parallel to the generator of the mold and of the item to be molded, connected to each other by additional electric resistors, which are basically transversal in relation to the first resistors and placed in areas requiring greater heat.
US07775785B2	Contact planarization apparatus A contact planarization apparatus includes a lower membrane assembly, an upper membrane assembly, a differential pressure assembly, and a curing or reflowing assembly. The lower membrane assembly supports a substrate to be planarized and biases it toward the upper membrane assembly under the influence of the pressure differential assembly. The upper membrane assembly planarizes the coating on the substrate under the influence of the differential pressure assembly and includes a flexible sheet which is supported above the substrate stage and below the curing or reflowing assembly via a vacuum force applied by the differential pressure assembly. The differential pressure assembly moves the lower and upper membrane assemblies relative to one another to planarize the coating on the substrate entirely through the application of vacuum and pressure forces. The differential pressure assembly includes atop pressure chamber positioned above the upper face of the upper sheet, a bottom pressure chamber positioned below the lower face of the lower sheet, and a central pressure chamber positioned generally between the lower face of the upper sheet and the upper face of the lower sheet.
US07775783B2	Refrigeration system including a scroll expander A scroll expander that is efficient in a wide range of operating conditions by suppressing leakage loss and decreasing in recovered power using a simple construction includes: an expansion mechanism, including an orbiting scroll and a first fixed scroll, recovers power by expanding a refrigerant; and an auxiliary compression mechanism, including an orbiting scroll and a second fixed scroll, compresses a refrigerant using power recovered by the expansion mechanism. A tip seal is mounted only on a spiral tooth of an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll of one of the expansion mechanism or the auxiliary compression mechanism.
US07775781B2	Double action simplex diaphragm pump A double-acting, simplex, fluid handling pump is designed to facilitate an optional configuration as either a plunger pump or a diaphragm pump. An injection molded plastic pump body comprises two bilaterally symmetrical halves that include internal pockets and grooves for clamping and retaining first and second generally identical valve assemblies at opposing end portions of the pump body. When configured as a plunger pump, first and second plunger are arranged to move 180 degrees out-of-phase with respect to one another within stationary guide sleeves that are clamped within the pump body where one plunger effecting a suction stroke while the other effects a compression stroke. When configured as a diaphragm pump, the plungers are removed from the connecting rods and replaced by diaphragms and a change is made in the valve casing employed but a majority of the remaining parts of the pump assembly remain unchanged from what is used in the plunger pump.
US07775780B2	Surgical cassette A cassette having an elastomeric sheet that is bonded or mechanically attached to a rigid substrate. A flow channel is molded into the rigid substrate that corresponds to a flow channel molded into the elastomeric sheet. The cassette is used in combination with a peristaltic pump having pump head rollers that are mounted radially from the axis of rotation of the pump motor so as to compress the elastomeric flow channels against the rigid substrate during operation. The flow channels molded into the rigid substrate have smooth, fluid lines free from sharp edges and abrupt direction changes and correspond with the fluid channels molded into the elastomeric sheet so as to provide a transition region with a relatively constant cross-section over its entire length that approximates the cross-sectional area of the flow channels molded into the rigid substrate and the fluid channel molded into the elastomeric sheet so that the entire fluid path is of relatively constant cross-sectional area.
US07775775B2	Two stage reciprocating compressor and refrigerator having the same A two stage reciprocating compressor includes a casing. A first compressing unit is disposed in the casing and includes a first piston and a first cylinder, the first compressing unit being driven by a reciprocating motor to linearly reciprocate the first piston in the first cylinder to suck in and compress gas. A second compressing unit is disposed in the casing and includes a second piston and a second cylinder, the second compressing unit being driven by vibration of the first compressing unit to linearly reciprocate the second piston in the second cylinder to suck in and compress gas. A vibration transfer member transfers the vibration from the first compressing unit to the second compressing unit. The first and second compressing units extend in parallel and face in the same direction, the second compressing unit being located adjacent to a suction passage of the first compressing unit.
US07775773B2	Structural member for manufacturing a tower of a wind turbine The invention relates to a structural member for manufacturing a tower of a wind power system having a delimitation surface forming a portion of the outer surface of the tower and comprising a through opening provided for accommodating a door, whereby at least a region of the structural member (30) comprising the through opening (20) is at least partially formed as a cast part consisting of a preferably weldable casting material.
US07775772B2	System for manufacturing a rotor having an MMC ring component and an airfoil component having MMC airfoils A system for manufacturing an integrally bladed rotor is provided. This system includes a ring component, wherein the ring component further includes at least one metal matrix composite and a continuous radially outwardly facing conical surface; an airfoil component, wherein the airfoil component further includes a plurality of individual airfoil blades, wherein at least a portion of each individual airfoil blade has been reinforced with at least one metal matrix composite, and wherein each of the plurality of airfoil blades further includes a radially inwardly facing blade conical surface; and inertia welding means for frictionally engaging under an axially applied weld load the ring component and the airfoil component to effect an inertia weld therebetween along the conical surfaces.
US07775770B2	Pitch bearing containment seal A flexible, resilient seal protects a bearing in a pitch joint of a helicopter blade assembly from contaminants. The seal includes a flexible, resilient body having a first end bonded to a stationary portion of the joint, and a second end biased into sealing engagement with a displaceable portion of the joint. The body includes an intermediate bellows section surrounding the bearing that expands and contracts to accommodate displacement between the stationary and movable portions of the joint. The second end of the seal includes a lip that rubs on a sacrificial wear layer formed on the second portion of the joint.
US07775767B2	Fan assembly A fan assembly includes a plurality of rotor vanes, a motor rotating the rotor vanes with a center axis J1 as center, a plurality of stator vanes arranged in a passage of air flow generated by rotation of the rotor vanes, and a base portion including a plate-like portion and side circumferential wall. A radially inner end of the stator vane is connected to the side circumferential wall of the base portion, and a side opening is arranged in the side circumferential wall. The air flow generated by rotation of the rotor is guided along the stator vane and taken into the motor to cool of the heat generating source arranged therein.
US07775759B2	Centrifugal compressor with surge control, and associated method A centrifugal compressor for compressing a fluid comprises a compressor wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, and a compressor housing in which the compressor wheel is mounted. The compressor housing includes an inlet duct through which the fluid enters in an axial direction and is led by the inlet duct into the compressor wheel, and a wheel shroud located radially adjacent the tips of the blades. A bleed port is defined in the wheel shroud at a location intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the blades for bleeding off a bleed portion of the fluid being compressed by the compressor wheel. A converging injection nozzle is defined in the duct wall upstream of the leading edges of the blades for injecting the bleed portion of the fluid back into the main fluid flow stream approaching the compressor wheel.
US07775755B2	Limit stop and support device for fitting variable-width plasterboards using lifting and handling appliances for said boards A limit stop support device for fitting variable-width plasterboards upon appliances for lifting and handling such boards comprises a one-piece receiving support which fulfils various adjustable-position sliding functions along a holder arm of the board holder or panel holder. The support receives a board or panel limit stop which is retractable in opposition to elastic return element(s) located on the receiving support, and a unit which fulfills a dual function of locking the receiving support in position on the arm and limiting the travel of the limit stop in opposition to the elastic return element(s) in an operating phase in order to place boards and panels on a ceiling and/or wall.
US07775754B2	Torque nut having an injection molded breakaway insert A nut having an injection-molded insert or delay stopper is threaded onto an end of an anchor. A capsule containing a resin component and a catalyst component and the other end of the anchor are positioned in a bore hole in a mine roof, mine wall, side of a hill, concrete wall, or concrete floor. The threaded end of the nut contacts the insert and rotation of the nut rotates the anchor, breaking the capsule and mixing the components. After the components set, increased torque is applied to fracture the insert and move the nut up the threaded end of the shaft against roof stabilizing components on the shaft.
US07775751B2	Rotary cutting tool A rotary cutting tool comprises a cutting head which is axially secured to a forward end of a shank by a locking screw. At least one radially extending locking wing of the locking screw is located in at least one radial recess of the cutting head or at least one radially extending passage is formed between the locking screw and the cutting head.
US07775749B2	Method, bar blade, and use thereof for milling spiral bevel gears and hypoid gears In a method and a bar blade for milling spiral bevel gears and hypoid gears, a shaft of the bar blade has a blade profile that is formed by the cross-section of at least one cutting area, at least two free areas, and at least one top area. The blade profile is provided with a first cutting edge for a first flank, a second cutting edge for a second flank that faces the first flank, and a top cutting edge for the bottom of a tooth space. The first and the second cutting edge are embodied as principal cutting edges for completely cutting the first or second flank. The top cutting edge is configured for completely cutting the bottom of the tooth space such that the tooth space comprising the complete final geometry is created in one milling process by means of one and the same bar blade.
US07775746B2	PHC pile used in permanent retaining wall structure and connection method of PHC pile The present invention relates to a PHC pile used in a permanent retaining wall structure, and a connection method thereof, and more particularly, to a method of connecting PHC piles to each other by inserting a connection bar into connection pipes embedded in sheaths of the PHC piles. To this end, the PHC pile comprises a left connection pipe installed at one side of the sheath of the PHC pile and a right connection pipe embedded at the other opposite side of the sheath. Further, the method of connecting the PHC pile to each other comprises the steps of inserting a water-proof material into inner semi-cylindrical grooves of the connection pipes, inserting the connection bar between the connection pipes of the PHC piles, and consecutively connecting a plurality of PHC piles to one another by repeating the above steps.
US07775745B2	Anchoring systems and methods of use thereof A method of adjusting gel time of a grouting system used for anchoring a reinforcement in a mine includes adding inhibitor to initiator of the grouting system, the inhibitor and initiator being disposed together in a first compartment of a multi-compartment shreddable package.
US07775744B1	Weighting belt A weighting belt. An illustrative embodiment of the weighting belt comprises a belt strap and a plurality of weights provided on the belt strap. Each of the plurality of weights has a head portion, a pair of tapered side portions extending from the head portion and a tapered tail portion extending from the side portions.
US07775735B2	Device and method for dispensing and applying a fluid such as a cosmetic product or a care product A device for dispensing and applying a fluid contained in a reservoir may include an applicator member with an outer wall that is configured to be charged with fluid contained in the reservoir and to dispense such fluid. The wall may be turnable about a single axis of rotation. The device may further include a motor arranged to drive the applicator member in rotation around the single axis of rotation.
US07775734B2	Seal assembly for retractable instrument A closure assembly for a retractable instrument having an applicator element comprises at least two fingers and a sleeve operatively coupled with the at least two fingers. When the retractable instrument is in a retracted position, the sleeve constrains the fingers such that the fingers are in a fully closed state around the applicator element. Protraction of the sleeve and relative movement between the fingers and the sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the applicator element. Thus, the closure assembly opens to expose an applicator element such that the applicator element is in an application position.
US07775733B2	Method for processing medium, image processing apparatus, and printer apparatus A printer apparatus is disclosed. The printer includes a medium feeding passage for conveying a medium; print head for performing a spacing and for performing a printing processing on the medium; a detector for detecting a first end position in a widthwise direction of the medium at a first position in a medium conveyance direction and for detecting a second end position in the widthwise direction of the medium at a second position in the medium conveyance direction; and a comparator for comparing the first end position with the second end position detected with the detector. The control of the print head is performed according to the compared result from the comparator.
US07775732B2	Multi-roll paper supply for printer Apparatus supplies a printer used in a POS location or other printer station with paper from two different rolls. A detection device recognizes when the feeding roll is about to run out of paper, whereupon the paper feeding task is automatically switched to the other roll. An operator only needs to service a printer station before both rolls of paper run out in order to prevent a downtime. One embodiment is directed to apparatus for supplying paper to a printer disposed to receive paper from either a first or a second paper roll. The apparatus comprises first and second roller sets corresponding to first and second paper rolls, respectively, each roller set being operable when receiving power to supply paper from its corresponding paper roll to the printer. The apparatus further comprises a single power source, and a power delivery mechanism for adapting the first and second roller sets to receive power from the source during first and second operating modes, respectively, of the mechanism. A device is provided to monitor the amount of paper remaining on the roll feeding the printer, and to direct the mechanism to change modes before the remaining amount runs out.
US07775727B2	Optical module and manufacturing method of the same An optical module, including: an optical transmission line holding member having an optical semiconductor element mounting surface, an electrical interconnection layer formed on the mounting surface, and an optical transmission line guide hole with an opening on the mounting surface; an optical transmission line inserted into the guide hole; an optical semiconductor element, mounted on the mounting surface, having an electrode and a light-receiving or light-emitting area on a surface facing the mounting surface; an electrical connection portion which electrically connects the electrode and the interconnection layer, formed between the semiconductor element and the mounting surface; a first resin filling a space around the connection portion between the semiconductor element and the mounting surface; and a second resin filling a gap between the optical transmission line and the semiconductor element, with a property different from that of the first resin, and a method of manufacturing the module.
US07775726B2	Remote grip optical fiber connector An optical connector for terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle and a collar body disposed in the housing. The collar body includes a ferrule securely disposed in an opening of the collar body, the ferrule including a central bore that defines an axis, and a housing portion disposed in a generally central portion of the collar body. The housing portion includes an opening to receive a gripping device to grip an optical fiber. The ferrule is axially moveable independent of the axial movement of the optical fiber and gripping device. The optical connector can be thermally balanced over a temperature range of at least 100° C.
US07775724B2	Thrust bearing arrangement A thrust bearing arrangement (2) is provided having a roller body cage (4) holding several roller bodies (6) and at least one race disk (8′, 10″), with the race disk (8′, 10″) having a collar (12) axially surrounding the roller body cage (4) with play and on the opposite end a flange arrangement, which is directed in the opposite axial direction and in whose internal corner a component contacting the race disk (8′, 10″) can be centered. To avoid complicated processing of the peripheral edge of the contacting component facing the internal corner (22′), at least the leg (19′, 27) of the internal corner (22′, 30) forming the flange arrangement (18′, 26) has a relieved inner contour for receiving the component to be centered in the corner region.
US07775722B2	Double-row antifriction bearing A double-row roller bearing comprises a one-piece bearing ring, a bearing ring that is split in the axial direction, and rolling bodies that are arranged between the two bearing rings. The rolling body of the first row has a first diameter, and the rolling body of the second row has a second diameter that is different to the diameter of the rolling body of the first row. The rolling bodies consist of a ceramic material, and the contact angle of the first rolling body row is different to the contact angle of the second rolling body row.
US07775719B2	Bearing unit and rotary drive using the same A bearing unit (90) for rotatably supporting a shaft (100) comprises a seamless holding member (120) with a gap allowing a shaft to run through and extend to the outside, a bearing (130) arranged in the inside of the holding member to rotatably support the shaft so as to make it radially revolvable, an anti-shaft-release member (115) fitted to the shaft so as to abut the bearing in order to prevent the shaft from slipping away in the thrusting direction and a space-forming member (113) arranged in the inside of the holding member so as to secure a space around the anti-shaft-release member. A bearing unit may further comprise an lubricating oil seal member and the space-forming member may be used to form a passage way for lubricating oil to prevent lubricating oil from leaking.
US07775718B2	Roller guide for adjustable vehicle seats A roller guide for adjustable vehicle seats. The roller guide includes at least one guide rail which is at least partially open at the side and at least two rollers which roll in the guide rail and are connected to the vehicle seat via at least one axle. At least one of the rollers is shaped like a cone or a truncated cone. The cone surface can roll as the bearing surface of the roller moves along an inner wall of the guide rail. The inner wall being arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the axle.
US07775717B2	Compacted bag configuration and method for making the same A compacted tube structure for forming bags. The structure includes a plurality of alternating inner and outer longitudinally extending folds that define a plurality of outwardly extending projections. The outwardly extending projections are stacked one upon another on a first side and a second side of the structure on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. The structure may further include at least one S-fold extending across a width for shortening the length of the structure. Top and bottom projections on each side may include an edge tab. The top and bottom edge tabs may be sealed together to form an edge margin on each side for retaining the compacted configuration of the structure. The structure may also include a plurality of separation lines and sealed ends for defining one or more bags.
US07775715B2	Method of calibration for computed tomography scanners utilized in quality control applications A method of calibrating a computed tomography system includes the steps of mounting a scan geometry defining tool on a rotating object positioning unit of a computer tomography scanner. The scan geometry defining tool has structure of precisely measured dimensions. A beam is directed from an x-ray source of the computed tomography system through the structure of the scan geometry defining tool. A detected image after absorption of the x-ray from the scan geometry defining tool is analyzed, and utilized to determine a distance from the x-ray source spot location to the center of rotation of the object positioning unit. A beam is also directed from the x-ray source through a system performance test standard tool and analyzes a number of electronic and computer performance characteristics. The analyzed characteristics can be compared to expected characteristics to provide feedback on the operation of electronic and computer functions within the computed tomography system.
US07775714B2	Methods of assessing performance in an imaging system A system, method, and computer readable medium for facilitating the assessment of performance quality of an imaging system having a sensor subsystem. An imaging mode of operation of the imaging system is selected and at least one current set of digital image data of an imaging phantom device is acquired with the imaging system via the sensor subsystem. The currently acquired set of digital phantom image data is automatically compared to at least one previously acquired set of digital phantom image data representing a standard image of quality corresponding to the selected imaging mode of operation and the imaging phantom device to automatically determine if at least one sensor parameter of the sensor subsystem has changed.
US07775710B2	DRAM temperature management system A converter comprising a comparator having a first input operable to receive a first signal, a second input operable to receive a second signal, and an output, a switch for sinking a portion of the first signal, wherein the switch is responsive to the output, and an integrator connected to the first input, wherein the first signal is a voltage developed by the integrator when a current proportional to the absolute temperature is applied thereto. A method for measuring temperature of a device using a comparator and converting the bitstream of the comparator to a digital output is also given. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US07775708B2	Device for thermal coupling The invention relates to a device (10), in particular, for a motor vehicle, for thermally coupling a temperature sensor (12) to an element (20) whose temperature is to be determined. The temperature sensor (12) and the element (20) are connected together in an at least thermal manner by means of a heat-conductive medium. The temperature sensor (12) is arranged in a recess (26) of the element (20) and the medium is embodied as a flexible film (28) which is at least in partial contact with the temperature sensor (12) and a wall (38) of the recess (26). The invention also relates to a corresponding method which is used to thermally couple a temperature sensor (12) to an element (20) whose temperature is to be determined. A heat-conductive medium is arranged between the temperature sensor (12) and the element (20).
US07775707B2	Method for activation of temperature time monitors and temperature time monitors operating therewith The invention relates to an activation of temperature time monitors (1), particularly for perishable products, such as medications, vaccines, stored blood, or food products, wherein the monitor (1) contains at least one electrical circuit (4-6), which is mechanically activateable/changeable, characterized in that the monitor (1) is activatable by means of an irreversible mechanical interruption of an electrically conductive connection (8) of the at least one electrical circuit (4-6), or that the monitor (10) is activatable by means of an irreversible mechanical removal of an electrically conductive area (15) of the at least one electrical circuit (16, 17). The invention is based on the object of improving an activation of temperature time monitors in such a way what it is particularly cost effective and reliable, and that an automated activation is possible.
US07775706B1	Compensated heat energy meter The specific heat of working fluids used in commercial heating systems commonly change with temperature and composition. Conventional heat metering systems assume a fixed value of the specific heat at a nominal temperature. This source of inaccuracy is removed by measuring the specific heat of a working fluid as a heating system operates and using the currently measured value in calculating the heat transferred. The real time specific heat measurement may be made by using a specific heat sensor having either a resistive heating element or a thermoelectric module.
US07775705B2	Switch assembly for a food mixing machine A machine (10) for mixing food in a cup (C) includes a housing having an agitator assembly (15) extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to be rotated by a motor to mix food in the cup (C). A switch assembly (20) is provided to operate the agitator assembly (15). The switch assembly (20) includes a bracket (21) which pivotally carries a plate (41) which extends downwardly adjacent to the agitator assembly (15). A switch (31) is carried by the bracket (21) and has an arm (36) biased toward the plate (41). The plate (41) is biased toward the arm (36) by springs (50) to maintain the switch (31) in the open position. Pivoting the plate (41) relative to the bracket (21) against the bias of the springs (50) allows the arm (36) of the switch (31) to pivot to close the switch (31) allowing the agitator assembly (15) to rotate. Releasing the plate (41) allows the springs (50) to bias the plate (41) against the arm (36) but a pad (55) silences any noise created thereby, and a wall (28) of the bracket (21) stops the plate (41) from exerting undue pressure on the arm (36).
US07775704B2	Device and method for continuously producing emulsions or dispersions A device for continuously producing emulsions or dispersions while excluding air comprises a mixing vessel, which is closed on all sides and which has supply tubes and discharge tubes for introducing and discharging fluid substances or compositions, and also an impeller, which permits an agitating input into the emulsion or dispersion without generating cavitation forces and without high-pressure homogenization. For preparing the cosmetic emulsions of the invention, as well, emulsifiers are generally used.
US07775703B2	Stirring apparatus and method of use of said apparatus The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a vessel having a conduit extending therefrom, and a stirrer, a section of which is adapted to be located within the conduit and a section of which is adapted to be located within the vessel, said stirrer being adapted such that, in use, material within the conduit is conveyed in a direction towards the vessel and/or in a direction away from the vessel.
US07775702B2	Liquid crystal display device, light source holder, light source-housing member, and backlight A liquid crystal display device, a light source holder, a light source housing member, and a backlight, permit light sources to be easily exchanged and effectively prevent generation of defects such as deformation of light source holding members and an inability of the members to be inserted and pulled out. The backlight includes a light source holder and a light source housing member, the light source housing member housing the light source holder, wherein at least one of the light source holder and the light source housing member has a projection portion, and the light source holder and the light source housing member are in contact with each other at the projection portion.
US07775700B2	Turning film using array of roof prism structures The invention generally relates to an optical turning film for providing light redirection, comprising: (a) an input surface for accepting incident light comprising a plurality of roof prism structures arranged in a two-dimensional array; and, (b) a substantially planar output surface.
US07775697B2	Vehicular lamp A vehicular lamp includes a light source positioned inside a lamp chamber. The lamp chamber is formed from a lamp body fixed to a vehicle body and a front cover that covers a front open portion thereof. The vehicular lamp includes a light guide that includes a side end surface to which light emitted from the light source is incident on one side thereof; a light-emitting surface that emits the light that is incident from the side end surface in a predetermined direction; and a reflective back surface that has a reflecting portion that faces the light-emitting surface. The light guide made from translucent material that is positioned on one side inside the light chamber following along with the shape of the lamp front cover. A plurality of stippling steps that have a generally conical shape are provided on the reflective back surface of the light guide. A central axis that passes through an apex angle of every stippling step slants toward the predetermined emission direction of the light with respect to a virtual vertical line perpendicular to the reflective back surface.
US07775691B2	Retractable light apparatus A retractable light is provided with a light to extend and retract in a housing. A motor for driving a sprocket is mounted in the housing or light assembly and a gear rack is mounted in the other. The gear rack has a series of apertures so that debris is conveyed into the apertures. Another embodiment provides a housing with a first guide member, connected to a light assembly by a second guide member. A motor and a gear are mounted in one of the housing and light assembly. A gear rack is mounted in the other of the housing and the light assembly. In another embodiment, a rechargeable battery is powered by a solar cell with a first circuit for powering the motor with a first voltage and a second circuit for powering the light source with a second voltage that is less than the first voltage.
US07775687B2	Light emitting device A light emitting device having a simple structure and high decorating characteristics is provided.The light emitting device comprises an emission source for outputting lights having different colors from different emission parts; and a transmitting resin having a conically shaped reflection surface for reflecting lights output from each of the emission parts, and covering the light emitting source, wherein the emission source is provided so that one or more of the emission parts are located away from a central axis of the conical shape.
US07775686B2	Convertible flashlight and area light with an aperture shutter A lighting device which is adapted to be converted between a flashlight mode and an area light mode includes a housing to receive a power supply, a light source associated with the housing and a tubular lens surrounding the light source, a reflector mounted to said device so as to slide relative to the tubular lens, the reflector including an aperture through which the light source can pass, the aperture having a shutter associated therewith whereby the shutter closes the aperture when the reflector is in a position which allows the device to be used in the area light mode.
US07775681B2	Lighting device, backlight unit, and printed circuit board thereof A backlight unit including a circuit board mounted with light emitting diodes and formed with connecting pads electrically connected with the light emitting diodes, a driver installed on one surface of the circuit board and configured to drive the light emitting diodes, a connector coupled to the connecting pads of the circuit board, in which the connector has a connecting direction changed toward the driver, and a connecting line for connecting the connector to the driver.
US07775680B2	LED lamp assembly An exemplary LED lamp assembly includes a housing (21), a printed circuit board (22), a LED (23), a light reflective member (24) and a lamp cover (25). The housing includes a top cover (211), a base board (213), a plurality of sidewalls (215) connecting with the top cover and the base board, and an opening (218) defined on one of the sidewalls. The printed circuit board is positioned on the base board. The LED is electrically connected to the printed circuit board. The LED includes a light emitting side surface (233) and a top surface (235) adjoining to the light emitting side surface, a portion of the light emitting side surface facing the opening, and the top surface facing the top cover. The light reflective member is located in the housing for reflecting light from the LED and out via the opening. The lamp cover covers the opening.
US07775678B2	Method and device for grouping at least three lamps The invention relates to a method and a device for grouping at least three lamps (1) and for assigning the lamps (1) to at least one operating unit. It is time-intensive to equip one or a plurality of rooms or halls within a building with lamps (1), particularly a grouping of lamps (1), and assigning lamps (1) to at least one operating unit. Therefore, grouping of lamps (1) and assigning the lamps (1) to at least one operating unit should be simplified. In accordance with the invention, a lamp (1) emits light and the other lamps (1) measure light, and distances between the lamps (1) are determined in dependence upon at least one light value and the lamps (1) are assigned to at least one operating unit in dependence upon the distances.
US07775676B2	Weather resistant florescent fixture The main housing is formed as an elongated plastic hollow molded top cover having a ballast recess and a pair of line openings. The ballast is placed in the ballast recess. The seal ring provides a watertight seal against line opening when locking ring is secured to the ballast. The main housing is mounted to a building surface. A reflector fits between the main housing and a pair of bulbs. The bulbs are retained in end terminals. A main seal bits between main housing and main cover. The clip junction on the main cover receives a housing clip. The housing clip biases the main cover against the main housing with the main seal in between forming a watertight seal.
US07775675B2	Eyeglasses case A container having a compartment for retaining personal objects such as eyeglasses comprises a transducer which activates the container in response to a specified user action in proximity to the container. In some embodiments, the transducer is a motion detector and is activated in response to user motion. In other embodiments, the transducer comprises a speech recognition module and is activated in response to the user's voicing a specified utterance. Some embodiments become illuminated upon activation. Some embodiments produce a sound upon activation, enabling the user to locate the container. Some embodiments have a normally closed lid which opens upon activation. Some lidded embodiments are normally locked and become unlocked upon activation. Some embodiments of the container further normally provide low level lighting, thereby enabling the container to serve as a night light. Some embodiments further provide for an individual clean tissue prior to each time an object is placed in the case, to assure cleanliness of the container for each use when it is used by multiple users in a location accessible to the public, such as places of business serving the public where removing eyeglasses is common.
US07775674B1	Method and apparatus for illuminating ice A light emitting system to illuminate ice and a method for illuminating ice are disclosed herein. The system includes multiple light emitting modules that each includes a light source having at least one light emitting element and a cover having a base. The base substantially surrounds the light source. The light emitting modules may then be electrically connected to each other.
US07775673B1	Non-backboard reflector mirror A non-backboard reflector mirror includes a mirror body with a rim, a locating bar affixed to the back side of the rim of the mirror body, a locating frame, which has a clamping portion coupled to the locating bar and movable along and rotatable relative to the locating bar and affixed thereto at the desired elevation and angle, and a mounting frame selectively fastened to an array of mounting through holes at the locating frame at the desired angle for installation in a ceiling, overhead wall, or vertical wall, short wall. An alternate mounting frame may be used for installation in a post so that the non-backboard reflector mirror is used as a traffic mirror.
US07775672B2	Combined roof and front mirror The invention concerns an external mirror arrangement comprising a front mirror of the Group of the Directive 2005/27/EG for the visual transmission of a first field of view and for the visual transmission of a second field of view contains a safety mirror. In accord with the invention, the front mirror and the safety mirror are integrated in one mirror head.
US07775669B2	Illumination system An illumination system including a first integrator, a first dichroic element, a second dichroic element, a first light source, and a second light source is provided. The first integrator has a first light incident end and a first light exit end. The first and the second dichroic elements are respectively disposed at two different parts adjacent to the first light incident end. The first dichroic element, the second dichroic element, and the first light incident end are arranged along a triangular track. The first light source emits a first color light. The second light source emits a second color light. The first color light passes through the first dichroic element and is partially reflected by the second dichroic element to the first light incident end. The second color light passes through the second dichroic element and is partially reflected by the first dichroic element to the first light incident end.
US07775668B2	Color-mixing laser module and projectors using the same A color-mixing laser module is disclosed, which is comprised of a laser unit capable of emitting red, blue and green laser beams; a beam combiner, for receiving and converging the laser beams emitted from the laser unit and then directing the converged laser light to illuminate on a light pattern adjusting unit; and the light pattern adjusting unit, capable of receiving the converged laser light from the beam combiner for adjusting the pattern of the same.
US07775662B2	Visual acuity testing apparatus A visual acuity testing apparatus includes a target presenting unit for displaying various targets to be presented to a subject's eye, an optical element arranging device for retaining various optical elements, and selectively arranging the optical element corresponding to a response from the subject between the subject's eye and the target presenting unit, an operation section which is operated for selecting each of targets and each of the optical elements, a display section for displaying an operation image illustrating an operation content of the operation section, a memory for storing a plurality of target data illustrating each of the targets and operation image data illustrating the operation image, an arithmetic control section for extracting the target data and the operation image data from the memory according to an operation of the operation section, and an image output section having at least two output ports.
US07775654B2	Printing apparatus, program, and printing method A print start position is set to an appropriate position, and the time required for printing is shortened. A printing apparatus, which forms a row of dots from a print start position in a scanning direction to print on a medium to be printed, is provided with a sensor that is capable of detecting an edge, in the scanning direction, of the medium to be printed. The printing apparatus stores the result of detecting the edge of another medium to be printed, and, when printing on the medium to be printed, it reads out the stored detection result and determines the print start position based on that detection result.
US07775652B2	Layered structure and ink-jet head including the same A layered structure has a first metal plate having a first hole, a second metal plate having a second hole designed to communicate with the first hole, and a filter plate at least a surface of which is made of a metal. The filter plate is sandwiched between the first and second metal plates so that the first hole and the second hole communicate with each other through the filter. The first and second metal plates are bonded to each other by means of an adhesive that is disposed between the first and second metal plates. The adhesive is not opposed to the filter plate.
US07775651B2	Ink jet device with a ventilation conduit An ink jet device utilizing hot melt ink, said device including an ink reservoir, a heater arranged to heat ink contained in the ink reservoir, and a ventilation conduit which is connected to a ventilation opening in a top wall of the ink reservoir, said ventilation conduit containing a channel running upwards through a heated area. The ink jet device includes an ink melting unit for supplying melted ink to the ink reservoir, said ink melting unit being arranged to enable melted ink to flow into the ink reservoir from above, said channel of the ventilation conduit being in thermal contact with the ink melting unit.
US07775650B2	Liquid container and liquid filling method A liquid container includes: a container body attachable to a container attachment portion of an apparatus side; a liquid chamber, provided in the container body, for accommodating a liquid therein; a liquid supply hole connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus side; a liquid leading path for leading the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to the liquid supply hole; an air open hole for introducing outside air into the liquid chamber as the liquid in the liquid chamber is consumed; pressure regulating means, provided in a portion of the liquid leading path, for regulating a pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the liquid receiving portion through the liquid supply hole and hindering a reverse flow of the liquid from the liquid supply hole to the liquid chamber; a first bypass path for causing first and second liquid leading passages of the liquid leading path, provided respectively before and after the pressure regulating means, to communicate with each other; and a first bypass blocking portion capable of blocking the bypass path.
US07775646B2	Liquid jet recording apparatus A liquid jet recording apparatus including a recording head configured to record with droplets, a carriage supporting the recording head and configured to scan a recording medium with the recording head in a direction crossing a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, the carriage being movable to a maintenance position, a holder provided in one of the recording head and the carriage, a recording liquid cartridge adapted to contain liquid for recording, the recording liquid cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the holder, and a guiding unit adapted to guide at least two different sides of the recording liquid cartridge, with respect to the carriage that moves to the maintenance position, to the inner wall surface in a vertical direction when the carriage moves and stops the recording liquid cartridge at the maintenance position where the recording liquid cartridge can be attached to or detached from the holder.
US07775645B2	Methods of forming cartridges, such as ink cartridges A method of forming a cartridge includes the steps of positioning a movable member within a chamber, enclosing the chamber, and dispensing a liquid within at least a portion of the chamber. The method also includes the steps of positioning a first portion of the enclosed chamber within a first case member, positioning a second portion of the enclosed chamber within a second case member, and bonding the first case member to the second case member.
US07775639B2	Inkjet nozzle assembly with movable crown and skirt portions A nozzle assembly is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle assembly includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet aperture. A nozzle includes an endless wall portion extending from the substrate assembly and a moveable crown portion from which a skirt portion depends. The nozzle defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet aperture and a nozzle opening in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. An anchor extends upwardly from the substrate assembly. A thermal bend actuator connects between the anchor and a lever arm, in turn, connected to the nozzle. Upon actuation, the actuator moves the crown and skirt portions relative to the wall portion so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the nozzle opening.
US07775637B2	Nozzle arrangement with ejection apertures having externally projecting peripheral rim A nozzle arrangement ejects ink through apertures that each have an externally projecting peripheral rim. The nozzle arrangement has a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage and including heater element drive circuitry, a nozzle chamber structure formed on the substrate assembly, the nozzle chamber structure defining nozzle chambers in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage and apertures through which ink in each of the nozzle chambers can be ejected, and heater elements positioned between the drive circuitry and the apertures. The heater elements are connected to the drive circuitry and are individually supplied with current to eject ink from one of the apertures respectively.
US07775636B2	Nozzle arrangement having partially embedded heated elements A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. The heater elements include legs embedded within the nozzle chamber structure and terminate in feet embedded within the substrate assembly.
US07775634B2	Inkjet chamber with aligned nozzle and inlet An inkjet drop ejection apparatus having a chamber with a nozzle and an ink inlet for fluid communication with an ink supply; and an actuator with associated drive circuitry for ejecting drops of ink through the nozzle; wherein, the central axis of the nozzle is aligned with the central axis of the ink inlet. Aligning the ink inlet with the nozzle such that the ink can be supplied from the ‘back’ surface of the wafer removes the need for ink feed channels beside the chambers. This provides more room for the power and print data to be connected to each nozzle along the front surface of the wafer.
US07775632B2	Nozzle arrangement with expandable actuator A nozzle arrangement is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly. A nozzle extends from the substrate assembly and defines an ink ejection portal through which ink supplied therein can be ejected. An expandable actuator is located within the nozzle and can expand to eject ink within the nozzle out through the ink ejection portal. Preferably, the expandable actuator includes a stacked capacitor device which, in turn, includes a stack of capacitive plates between which is sandwiched a compressible material.
US07775626B2	Cleaning device, inkjet printer, and an inkjet printer cleaning method A cleaning mechanism for cleaning a print head in an inkjet printer with the print head having ink nozzles for discharging ink including a drive control unit which operates the cleaning mechanism at a first process level or a second process level that consumes less ink than the first process level; a timer which counts the elapsed time passed in which the print head is in a no-printing state; and a process selection unit responsive to a predetermined input cleaning command for selecting the first process level when the no-printing state has continued for less than a predetermined time or the second process level when the no-printing state has continued for greater than the predetermined time, based on the value of the timer when the predetermined input cleaning command is received. The predetermined input cleaning command can be received from a cleaning button or from a host computer. The drive control unit operates the cleaning mechanism at the process level selected by the process selection unit according to the predetermined input cleaning command.
US07775623B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: a recording head including a plurality of nozzles which eject ink drops onto a recording medium to form an image; and a vibrator which is disposed to face the plurality of nozzles and vibrates in a non-printing state.
US07775621B2	Ink jet head cleaning device and ink jet image forming apparatus having the same A print head cleaning device, an ink jet image forming apparatus having the same, and methods thereof include a cleaning liquid circulation and/or a structure to clean an image forming apparatus print head.
US07775619B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt rotating around rollers that transports a sheet by attaching the sheet thereto by an electrostatic force, an image forming unit which forms an image on the sheet transported by the transport belt by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head onto the sheet, and an duplex print unit which reverses the sheet, the first side of which has been printed, so as to form an image on the second side of the sheet. The apparatus stops the transportation of the sheet to the image forming unit after the image is formed on the first side of the sheet and before the image is formed on the second side of the sheet until at least the tip of the second side of the sheet is not apart from the transport belt.
US07775616B2	Printhead having controllers for multi-channel printhead modules A printhead is provided having elongate printhead modules arranged parallel to each other to extend across a pagewidth and controllers for processing print data into dot data and for controlling the printhead modules in accordance with the dot data. Each printhead module has plural ink ejection nozzles. At least one of the printhead modules is longer than the other printhead modules. The controllers control ink ejection of the nozzles of the printhead modules in accordance with the dot data. At least one of the controllers is arranged to control all of the printhead modules and at least one other of the controllers is arranged to control only one of the printhead modules. Each controller has serial outputs for supplying the dot data for channels of the associated printhead module or modules.
US07775615B2	Inkjet printer A inkjet printer including a plurality of heads installed in a staggered arrangement, and a relay board for receiving image data, a control signal conforming to each head, and a timing signal for determining timed intervals to emit ink particles from the control unit of the inkjet printer, and for sending the received image data, control signal and timing signal to the aforementioned plurality of respective drive signal generating circuits.
US07775614B2	Ink jet recording apparatus and method of controlling the same for complementary recording The present invention provides complementary recording in that when a defective nozzle is generated, recording is performed by other normal nozzles. According to the present invention, a mask pattern used for multipath recording, which completes an image by multiple scannings with a recording head, is rewritten when a defective nozzle is generated. Rewriting mask data is produced in a CPU register, and the mask pattern is rewritten by repeating the produced mask data. According to the present invention, it is not necessary to prepare mask data by assuming a defective nozzle in advance, so that high speed complementary recording processing can be performed with simple configuration.
US07775612B2	Interlocking device for a drawer slide An interlocking device for a drawer slide is disposed at the end of a drawer and comprises a positioning block disposed at the end of the fixed slide rail, at least one moveable slide rail received in the fixed slide rail, a control block assembly, a first locking member, a second locking member, a pivot control member and a spring. The first and second locking members are pushed to clamp the pivot control member by the spring. The control block of the control block assembly is fixed at the end of the moveable slide rail. The drawer is used to move a control block on the slide rail, and then the guiding portion and the pushing block of the control block can push the pivot control member to move. Therefore, the interlocking device for a drawer slide is simple.
US07775611B1	Mop holding device A mop holding device comprising a base; a plurality of ventilation holes disposed in the first side wall of the base; a mop opening for receiving the mop disposed at the top edge of the front wall of the base; a support bar for helping to support the mop head attached to the first and second side wall of the base near the front wall; and a removable tray for collecting water from the mop slidably received in an aperture disposed in the first side wall near the bottom wall of the base; wherein the mop is draped over the mop opening such that the head of the mop is inserted into the inner cavity of the base and over the support bar.
US07775610B2	Flotation drive wheel for a self-propelled irrigation system A flotation drive wheel is provided for a self-propelled irrigation system such as a center pivot irrigation system, a linear irrigation system or a corner irrigation system. The flotation drive wheel of this invention comprises a hub portion which is directly attached to an associated gearbox of the conventional drive tower. A metal band or plate is welded to the outer periphery of the hub portion of the wheel with a plurality of pivotal flotation shoes being attached to the band or plate. The pivotal shoes include structure for preventing soil from being pushed laterally of the flotation wheel and from being pushed forwardly from the drive wheel. The flotation wheel of this invention substantially eliminates the creation of wheel ruts or tracks.
US07775603B2	Seat suspension system and seat cushion module holder A suspension system for a vehicle seat comprising a support wire having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first and second ends, such that the support wire is folded approximately in half at the middle portion. The suspension system further comprises a coating of overmolded plastic applied to the first and second ends such that the first end second ends are held together by the coating; a bend in the middle portion of the support wire to attach the support wire to a frame of the vehicle seat, wherein the bend is coated with overmolded plastic; a crossbar overmolded on the support wire; an integral attachment clip molded onto the crossbar; and a seat cushion module held adjacent the support wire using the integral attachment clip.
US07775602B2	Automotive vehicle seat insert There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.
US07775599B2	Vehicle seat assembly with fore-AFT adjustable back portion The vehicle seat assembly having a seat bottom portion that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle. The seat bottom portion has a longitudinal axis. The seat back is disposed proximate the seat bottom portion. A linkage connects the seat back to the seat bottom portion. The linkage is configured to move substantially the entire seat back along the longitudinal axis of the seat bottom portion between a first position and a second position.
US07775595B2	Drive mechanism A hollow axle motor assembly (10) includes an armature (13) and a hollow axle (12) attached to the armature (13). The hollow axle (12) has an outer diameter (14) and an inner diameter (16). The inner diameter (16) of the hollow axle (12) receives a shaft or tube, such as a drive shaft (52). A gear (20) is attached to the outer diameter (14) of the hollow axle (12). The gear (20) is in driving communication with a planetary gear drive assembly (30). In turn, the planetary gear drive assembly (30) is in driving communication with a drive shaft mount (40). The drive shaft mount (40) can be used to drive any number of conventional items, including, for example, the drive shaft (52).
US07775594B2	Power seat assembly with motor actuated spring release and rewind of a seatback sector and with the motor removed from an inertial load path such as during an impact event A power seat assembly with motor actuated release and rewind of a seatback sector. First and second support plates sandwich a forwardly biased seatback sector and a cam engaged with the seatback sector in an upright position. A first pin extends from said cam offset its pivotal connection and passes through a slot defined in the second support plate to define a range of pivotal motion of the cam. A toothed gear sector rotatably mounted to an exterior of the second support plates and exhibits a polygonal shaped portion as well as an end shoulder offset and inwardly recessed from exteriorly defined teeth and the polygonal shaped portion. An electric motor includes an output gear in toothed engagement with the gear sector and for rotating the gear sector in a first direction so that the polygonal shaped portion contacts and deflects the pin and cam out of contact with the seatback, causing it to rotate to a forward dump position. A second pin extends from the seatback sector and contacts the end shoulder at the dump position, the motor rotating the gear sector in a second direction and forcibly rewinding the seatback sector, against its bias, to the upright design position coinciding with the cam re-engaging the seatback sector.
US07775590B2	Knockdown chair having reinforced side supports An improved knockdown chair having opposing substantially C shaped support arms, substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, sock type seating portion cover, front reinforcing member, and bottom reinforcing member, wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms are of laminate construction and have an upper arcuate arm support, front arcuate portion, and substantially straight bottom, the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement having a tubular seat back and tubular sitting portion telescopically interconnected one to the other, and wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms is opposingly removably fastened to the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, the improvement comprising combination with each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms of a substantially S shaped reinforcing member of laminate construction removably fastened to the upper arcuate arm support and the substantially straight bottom for reinforcing each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms.
US07775584B2	Impact absorbing armrest for a motor vehicle A collision absorption system including a collapsing armrest. The armrest is configured to provide support for vertical loading during use. During a side impact collision, the armrest is configured to deform or collapse in a lateral direction. The collapsing armrest may include multiple layers with at least one layer having grooves and channels, or containing cross-ribs, to allow greater deflection in a lateral direction during a side impact collision.
US07775581B2	Sealing member and method of installing the same A sealing member that mitigates oscillating noises and its installation method is provided. In the sealing member for covering an opening formed at a door inner panel, at least one bead is installed at a covering portion facing the opening. Thus, the stiffness of the covering portion of the sealing member is increased. It is therefore possible to prevent the covering portion from oscillating, thereby inhibiting the sealing member from generating the oscillating noises.
US07775576B2	Air pump assembly An air pump assembly includes a pump module having an outer surface and a casing at least partially surrounding the pump module. The casing has an inner surface defining a cavity sized to snugly receive the pump module such that the outer surface of the pump module is in substantial engagement with the inner surface of the casing and is substantially prevented from moving with respect to the casing when the pump module is received within the cavity. At least one airflow passageway is defined between the inner surface of the casing and the outer surface of the pump module. The airflow passageway is configured so that air flowing through the passageway changes direction at least one time to reduce the transmission of noise from the air pump assembly.
US07775569B2	Tweezers and grasping system The invention proposes tweezers (12) and a grasping system (10) for grasping and assembling at least one component (14) in a timepiece, comprising first and second branches (16, 18), which are joined at a first end (20) of the tweezers (12) and which form a grasping pincer (22) at the second end of the tweezers (12) in order to allow the component (14) to be grasped by the pincer (22), via a manual manipulation of the tweezers (12), characterized in that the first branch (16) includes at least one electrostatic grasping surface (24) provided for grasping, via electrostatic attraction, a component (14) made of conductive or semiconductor material.
US07775568B2	Animal urine specimen collector The invention is a device that facilitates the collection of urine and other such specimens from animals for the purpose of testing. It features a pod for collecting and holding the waste, a handle for manipulating the pod during testing, a base for resting the pod while testing is being performed, and a light source for illumination of the animal's waste emitting regions as well as the collection pod during the testing.
US07775565B2	Closing mechanism for a household appliance A closing mechanism for a movable closing element, preferably for a door, a cover or a flap on a household appliance, such as a dishwasher, a washing machine, or a refrigerator, the mechanism comprises a carriage that can be displaced between a locking position and an unlocking position and is loaded by a spring force in the direction of the locking position. The carriage carries a closing hook that can be engaged with the closing element for the closing action and/or disengaged therefrom for the opening action. A rotary latch co-operates with the closing element during the closing action. As a result of this co-operation, the rotary latch acts on the carriage in such a way that the carriage is displaced into the locking position during the closing of the closing element by the force of the spring.
US07775564B2	Animal-resistant latching system An animal-resistant latching system for inhibiting animals from accessing food and food containing refuse within containers. The device is composed of an access panel containing an opening to which is secured at least one latching members, a cam assembly, a cover, and a bracket. The latching members are positioned so as to inhibit access to the container when the member is in the latched position and allow access to the container when the member is in the unlatched position. The cam assembly communicates with the latching members so as to move the members between the latched and unlatched positions. The cover and bracket are dimensioned and positioned on the access panel in a predetermined manner so as allow human hands access to the cam assembly and unlatch the container while simultaneously inhibiting such access by animals.
US07775561B2	Exhaust pipe joint with insert A connection assembly for pipes is provided. The assembly includes a pipe, a corrugated conduit, a circumferentially contractible seal positioned between portions of the conduit and the pipe, a clamp encircling the conduit, seal and pipe, and a plurality of discrete projections on the inside of the seal to limit the extent of overlap between the pipe and the conduit. The seal is circumferentially contractible to secure the conduit and the pipe together with the seal serving to effect a gas-tight seal while filling the annular gap between the conduit and pipe.
US07775556B2	Frame structure for working vehicle Production of a working vehicle frame consumes high costs because it requires high rigidity. A simple construction improves the rigidity of the frame and reduces costs required for the production. In a structure of a frame (9) for a working vehicle (1), side sections of the frame (9) are constructed in a boat form, and, in a front view, the width of a lower section of the frame (9) is set smaller than that of the central section in the vertical direction of the frame (9). Further, a mast plate (63) for supporting a front loader (2) and a front axle installation plate section (75) are integrated, and side frames (62) constructing the side section of the frame (9) and the mast plate (63) are jointed in a lateral T shape in a side view.
US07775554B2	Air bag module vent An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (24) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). An inflator (30) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14). A support member (80) supports the inflator (30) and the protection device (14). A retainer (120) helps secure the protection device (14) to the support member (80). At least one vent opening (132) formed in the retainer (120) enables flow of inflation fluid away from the protection device (14) through the support member (80).
US07775547B2	Collapsible stroller A stroller has a frame structure with two laterally spaced apart sides. A seat is supported between the sides of the frame structure. A frame extension is provided on each side of the frame structure. Each frame extension projects rearward of the seat. The frame structure is at least collapsible laterally from a side-to-side in-use spacing between the frame extensions to a side-to-side compact spacing less than the in-use spacing between the frame extensions. A cross-brace extends between and interconnects the frame extensions. The cross-brace is selectively reconfigurable from a stiff condition to a loose condition with the frame extensions in the in-use spacing. In the stiff condition the brace maintains the in-use spacing between the frame extensions and in the loose condition the brace permits the frame extensions to collapse to the compact spacing. A cup holder can be carried on the cross-brace to be collapsible with the frame structure. A release mechanism can also be carried on the cross-brace and be actuable to release the cross-brace from the stiff condition to a loose condition, such that the plurality of parts are freely pivotable relative to one another in the loose condition.
US07775542B1	Lifting aid for fifth wheel trailer landing leg and method of use thereof An apparatus designed to aid in the lifting of support legs on fifth wheel travel trailers is herein disclosed. The device may be applied thereto one (1) or both front support legs of a fifth wheel trailer to aid in the lifting of support landing legs during the stowaway process, comprised of a “U”-shaped bracket and a retaining pin and fastener which fit around and through the bottom of the landing leg as provided as part of a trailer. A support arm is welded onto the face of the “U”-shaped bracket which is provided with a protective rubber tip. To use the invention, the trailer is attached to a tow vehicle as part of the customary towing process. During the landing leg stowaway process, the user simply removes the landing leg pin as provided with the trailer. Next, the leg is lifted using the invention until the leg is stowed in the upright position. This procedure ensures that the user's hands or fingers will not be pinched or crushed during the process.
US07775540B2	Non-rotating bicycle wheel display disk The present invention describes a non-rotating bicycle wheel display assembly that remains absolutely upright in relation to the rotation of a bicycle wheel and in relation to a parked bicycle wheel. The invention consists of a pair of disk assemblies mounted to both sides of a conventional bicycle wheel and in turn, to the front and rear of a bicycle frame. The disk assemblies are manufactured of a light weight inexpensive material that is formed to the convex shape of an outer surface of the bicycle wheel and includes a bearing assembly made of a high density, self lubricating plastic. A plastic retaining mechanism is secured to an outer disk and a bicycle frame member to hold the outer disk in an upright position at all times whether the bicycle is in motion or stationary.
US07775539B2	Method and device for connecting structural parts The preferred embodiment relates a method and device for joining structural members together, in a substantially transverse or in-line orientation, without the use of tools. This method and device can be used to join the structural members of a bicycle frame together, forming one or more sub-assemblies that can be easily disassembled or knocked down by hand for fast and easy shipping or storage. The current state of the art with knockdown bicycle frames requires detailed knowledge of bicycle assembly and components as well as a substantial amount of time to do so. The preferred embodiment does not require the use of specific tools and allows the novice to knockdown and re-assemble a bicycle frame in a few minutes, providing a quick, simple, and affordable way to temporarily store, ship, or travel with a bicycle. In addition to joining the structural members of a bicycle frame, this method and device can be used for various applications requiring a simple and quick way to join in-line or transverse structural members together without the use of tools.
US07775538B1	Pedal car A pedal car that is designed to serve as foot-propelled transportation for two or more individuals. The pedal car has a protected enclosure that is designed to be powered by leg power of the two front-seat passengers, with these passengers operating a pedaling system. Each of these two front-seat passengers has a two-pedal system to allow each of them to share the responsibility of providing power to the pedal car. The pedal car also has an overhead roof, with each of the two front seats having 90-degree swivel capabilities, a seat lock, and a seat belt for safety while riding.
US07775536B2	Mounted, multi-angle, extendable step This invention relates to mounted, adjustable steps for vehicles and, in particular, to a multi-angle, extendable, and selectively height-adjustable step that can be mounted to a trailer such as a boat trailer, a camping trailer, trailers for all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, and the like. The adjustable step assembly of the present invention includes a mounting bracket, an extension member, and a step. The extension member includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the extension member being pivotably connect to the mounting bracket to facilitate selective pivoting with respect to the mounting bracket through a range of motion including a first position and a second position being higher than the first position. The step may be connected to the second end of the extension member and configured to provide at least a first stepping area and a second stepping area when the extension member is selectively positioned in the first and second positions, respectively. In one embodiment, the first and second stepping areas are substantially equivalent in surface area and aspect ratio.
US07775535B2	Suspension subassembly A suspension subassembly for securement to a heavy vehicle trailer includes a hanger bracket for a trailing arm, an air spring mounting bracket, a damper mounting bracket, and a connection member extending longitudinally between the hanger bracket and the damper mounting bracket. The damper mounting bracket is positioned intermediate the hanger bracket and the air spring mounting bracket.
US07775534B2	Flexible skateboard with grinding tube A skateboard may include a pair of foot support boards connected by a torsion bar connecting element, a torsion bar cover tube mounted to the foot support boards and surrounding at least a portion of the torsion bar connecting element and an outer tube mounted for rotation around the torsion bar cover tube in response to contact with an obstacle. One or more bushings supporting the outer tube on the torsion bar cover for rotation. The skate board may include a tube mounted for rotation on a connecting element between the foot support areas. A method of skateboarding may include providing a skateboard having a longitudinal axis running between a pair of foot support areas and providing a tube mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis between the foot support areas in response to contact with an obstacle.
US07775531B2	Easy dumping cart The use of a pivotal coupling on a cart of the wheelbarrow type allows for a downwardly applied pressure to the user ends of the handles to tip the bucket to at least begin the dumping action of the cart. Following the initial downward pressure with the handles still elevationally displaced downward an upward lift applied to the user ends of the handles completes the dumping action of the cart. Use of multiple pivotal axises on the cart provide for an extremely efficient operation. Various enhancements are explained including locking of the orientation of the cart following the initial dump, wheel blocking to prevent rotation of the ground support wheel relative to the bucket during at least a portion of the final dumping action and stabilization enhancement to prevent lateral tipping of the cart during the final dumping action.
US07775530B2	Integrated multi-purpose deployment field system An integrated multi-purpose deployment field system enables a user to build a plurality of field pieces of equipment for field use in recreation, rescue, medicine, military operations, disaster relief and non-motorized cargo hauling. The system includes assembling the field equipment from a plurality of interchangeable T-shaped load support components. Each load support component has a generally horizontal load support member which is configured to support a particular type of load in the field, and a generally vertically extending support strut which extends from a midsection of the horizontal load support member. A load support attachment, such as a wheel axle or a cross brace, engages with each horizontal load support member, and joins the horizontal support members so that the T-shaped load support components, vertical struts, and load support attachments form a load bearing structure when assembled.
US07775527B2	Shaft sealing arrangement for a pump for delivering hot fluids A shaft sealing arrangement for a pump for delivering hot fluids includes a dynamic shaft seal (4), in particular a slide ring seal, in order to seal a rotatable shaft (2) relative to a housing (1), and a cooling ring (5) which is mounted in front of the dynamic shaft seal (4) in the direction of the pump interior and which surrounds the shaft (2) at a small spacing. The shaft sealing arrangement further includes an additional seal (8) which seals the shaft (2) in the region of the cooling ring (5) in order to reduce the feed of hot fluid into the gap between the shaft (2) and the cooling ring (5), with the additional seal (8) being formed as a brush seal.
US07775525B2	Game, method of manufacture, and method of use A manual game is provided which simulates American football. The game has a playing surface with multiple openings having indicia associated with football activities, and players toss game pieces at the surface in order to achieve football action determined by the indicia of the opening into which a game piece drops. The game includes a goal the structure with a pair of uprights, and players attempt to score field goals and points after touchdown by tossing a game piece between the uprights. A plurality of template plates are provided to effect different games, and each template plate has a subset of the openings and covers at least one of them. As a result, different games are available with different patterns of openings. A blank, planar form is provided which can be folded and assembled into a game chassis which includes the playing surface. The form is made of an inexpensive sheet material which can be manufactured easily, and it is of such a configuration that it can be assembled easily by individuals of ordinary skill.
US07775524B2	Card game A card game includes a deck of cards used, for example, to play craps, poker, or any combination thereof.
US07775521B1	Smart ball blower Disclosed is a ball blower apparatus for facilitating games of chance. The ball blower apparatus has a motor-driven ball carriage mechanism that captures air-ejected balls from a ball mixing chamber and carries the captured ball to an inlet of a ball return tube that extends downward to a bottom of the ball mixing chamber. Captured balls travel down the tube under air pressure generated by an air blower. The air pressure also prevents the balls from electro-statically clinging to walls of the tube. The balls may be bar-coded and scanned by a barcode reader while being handled by the ball carriage mechanism. A computer interfaced with the barcode reader automatically controls the operation of the ball blower including the operation of the carriage motor, air blower(s) and a solenoid that controls the egress of balls from the ball return tube into the mixing chamber. A TV camera may also be utilized to capture and visually display numbers associated with the balls.
US07775516B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a body comprising a conveyance path into which a sheet is conveyed and a feed tray. The feed tray includes a separation pad, which is provided at a widthwise center of the feed tray; and a holding member, which is provided downstream of the separation pad in a direction of conveyance of the sheet, the holding member comprising a driven roller, which is wider than the separation pad, and at least two guide members, one guide member arranged on each side of the driven roller.
US07775514B2	Sheet post-processing apparatus A support member 60 that projects to a sheet conveying direction and supports sheets, which are sorted and discharged, from a rear surface side thereof is provided in a discharge port 7a of a processing tray 12 or a standby tray 10. The support member 60 is installed not to interfere with a shutter 52 when the shutter 52 rises. The support member 60 is installed to be inclined upward at an angle equal to or larger than an installation angle of the processing tray 12 or the standby tray 10. The support member 60 may be formed of a conductor that conducts static electricity and installed in a metal section of the discharge port 7a.
US07775512B2	Saddle stitcher with individual stitcher drives A saddle stitching device including a saddle-back conveyor having a first printed product location and a second printed product location adjacent the first printed product location, a first stitcher adjacent the conveyor and driven by a first motor, and a second stitcher adjacent the conveyor and driven by a second motor.
US07775510B2	Sheet processing device and image forming apparatus A sheet processing device includes a folding unit, a punch unit, and a cross folding unit. The folding unit folds a sheet conveyed to the sheet processing device a plurality of times. The punch unit punches a hole in a predetermined portion of the folded sheet. The cross folding unit cross-folds the punched sheet on a vertically-extending conveying path.
US07775508B2	Ampoule for liquid draw and vapor draw with a continuous level sensor A method and apparatus for providing a precursor to a process chamber is described. The apparatus comprises an ampoule capable of receiving either a liquid precursor source material or a solid precursor source material. The ampoule is capable of delivering either a liquid precursor material to a vaporizer coupled to the process chamber, or a vaporized or gaseous precursor material to the process chamber. The ampoule also includes a continuous level sensor to accurately monitor the level of precursor source material within the ampoule.
US07775507B2	Packing elements for mass transfer applications The invention provides novel ceramic mass transfer packing elements with physical characteristics that maximize efficiency of mass transfer and minimize pressure drop when randomly dumped in a chemical reactor. In some embodiments, the elements may have: a ratio of surface area of the interaction zone to surface area of the flow through zone between 1:0.5 and 1:3; and the interaction zone surface area occupies between 45% and 70% of the open face surface area.
US07775503B2	Pressure relief valve An oil pressure relief valve for use in the lubrication system of an internal combustion engine is controlled by both pump outlet pressure 3 and pilot pressure 2. The action of the valve reduces the start-up pressure spikes associated with known pilot-operated valves, while also permitting a fuel economy benefit.
US07775493B2	Decorative article A multi-functional decorative article having a body and three or more apertures in the body, wherein two or more apertures are continuous with each other within said body, whereby the apertures can be used to support and arrange products, mainly window treatments, in a variety of decorative arrangements; the optional coverings for the apertures can be used to support products and arrange products; and the optional fasteners can be used to fasten products to the body.
US07775491B1	Guitar hanger A guitar hanger for hanging a guitar having a neck and head on a closet rod. The hanger includes a first member in the form of a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured into a first hook sized to receive the closet rod and a distal end configured on a second hook for engaging a second member. The second member is in the form of U-shaped yoke section sized to receive a guitar neck between legs of the U-shaped yoke section but not a guitar head. The second member also includes a transitional section having a body and a keyed slot configured within the body sized and shaped such that the keyed slot will removably receive the second hook in a first orientation and will secure the transitional section to the second hook in a second orientation such that the second member is removable from the first member only in the first orientation.
US07775487B2	Foldable supporting stand with positioning means A foldable supporting stand with a positioning mechanism includes a base, a support, a sliding body, a positioning mechanism, and a swinging piece. The support is roatably pivoted to the base. The sliding body is slidably provided on the support and is further connected to a screen. The swinging piece is swingably connected to the positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism is fixed in the support. When the support is folded in the base, the swinging piece swings toward the sliding body due to its own weight, and is then locked with the sliding body. The locked sliding body is restricted from sliding on the support, so that the screen is thus kept stationary. By that arrangement, the supporting stand has a reduced volume for efficient packaging and storage. Furthermore, the screen is held stationary when being transported.
US07775486B2	Webcam assembly with clamp and stand forms A webcam assembly includes a webcam head and a support. The support has an arm, a base, and a tail. The arm and tail are pivotably connected to a rear end of the base. The webcam head is connected to the base and the tail through the arm. The support has a clamp form in which the tail has a pivot position away from the base and the arm has a pivot position adjacent to said base. The support also has a stand form in which the tail has a pivot position adjacent to the base and the arm has a pivot position away from the base.
US07775484B2	Cable tie with electrical connector fastener A cable tie includes a serrated strap which is fitted to an apertured head. In use, the cable tie can be formed into closed loop around an electrical harness cable by inserting the serrated strap through the apertured head. The cable tie additionally includes a fastener which can be used to secure an unattached electrical connector securely against the electrical harness cable. The fastener comprises a rectangular platform that includes a convex outer wall and a flat inner wall that are partially separated by a transverse slot. The platform is shaped to define a pair of opposing, inwardly extending notches which enable the platform to be slid into engagement with corresponding railings formed on the electrical connector. A ratchet-shaped tooth is formed on the convex outer wall to engage a corresponding pawl formed on the electrical connector to lockably retain the fastener coupled to the electrical connector.
US07775483B2	Launch and recovery system for tethered airborne elements A launch and recovery system for a tethered airborne element is provided that launches and retrieves the tethered airborne element in a completely unattended manner. The system is comprised of a protective shroud for storing a tethered airborne element, a winch module for releasing the airborne element to fly into the air or retrieving the element from the air, and a bearing for enabling the control of launch and recovery. Optionally, the system is also comprised of a slip ring assembly for providing external power and/or control signals to the winch module. The system can also be equipped with instrumentation modules on the tether line to provide a radio link and high altitude weather information. These modules may also contain other sensors and actuators which will help stabilize the airborne element.
US07775481B2	Device for heating lock elements in aircraft The invention is directed to a device for heating lock elements in aircraft, in particular to prevent icing up of door locks and emergency slide locks. The object of the invention, to find a novel possibility for heating lock elements in aircraft, particularly for preventing icing of door locks and emergency slide locks, which reliably eliminates icing of the lock elements without requiring frequent maintenance and repair due to high mechanical, chemical and thermal stresses, is met according to the invention in that a base body which is mounted in the floor of the aircraft and contains an insert profile has an integrated, inserted sliding plate and in that the sliding plate is hollowed out from the bottom over a large surface to receive a heating foil, wherein the heating foil is embedded in the hollowed out recess in a sandwich-type construction, and the sliding plate is hermetically sealed from the bottom.
US07775480B2	Flying object for transonic or supersonic velocities The invention relates to a flying object being moved with transonic or supersonic velocities. Known flying objects comprise so called “aerospikes” used for reducing the wave drag and improving the airflow at the front surface of the flying object. The positive effect of these aerospikes is decreased or cancelled in case of the flying object moving in the airflow with an inclination angle between the longitudinal axis of the flying object and the aerospike.The present invention suggests pivoting the aerospike by means of active or passive measures in order to align the aerospike with the upstream airflow during a flight phase of the flying object.
US07775477B2	Floor panel assembly, system, and associated method A floor panel assembly, system, and method for assembling a floor panel assembly and one or more floor beams are provided. A floor panel assembly may include a floor panel comprising a pair of opposed surfaces, wherein the floor panel includes at least one key hole slot defined in one of the opposed surfaces. The assembly also includes at least one seat track positioned between the opposed surfaces, wherein the seat track comprises at least one key hole slot defined therein that is substantially aligned with a respective key hole slot defined in the floor panel. In addition, the assembly includes at least one fastener assembly comprising a fastener configured to be positioned through a respective key hole slot defined in the floor panel and the seat track.
US07775476B2	Rewinding machine to rewind web material on a core for rolls and corresponding method of winding In a rewinding machine for winding web material onto a core to form rolls which has an unusual capability for accurate regulation of the winding, the web material is supplied to a winding drum and is transferred to the core to form the roll. The core is supported, rotated in controlled manner, and transported along a path in which the roll of web material wound on the core is enlarged whilst bearing continuously on the winding drum.
US07775473B2	Motorized retractor In a motorized retractor, due to an ECU and a driver switching a speed of rotation of an output shaft of a motor to a first speed or a second speed, a transfer path of rotational force from the motor to a spool is switched to a first driving force transferring section (a path through a meshing clutch and a slip mechanism) or a second driving force transferring section (a path through an overload mechanism and a centrifugal clutch). Accordingly, there is no need for a complex switching mechanism including a solenoid which is employed in conventional motorized retractors. A device can thereby be made more compact.
US07775471B2	Spool of fishing reel An indicating section is formed in a rear flange portion of a metal spool. The indicating section includes first and second stepped portions. These portions are indicators for the amount of fishing line wound around spool. The first stepped portion is formed by first and second surfaces. The first surface is part of the surface of the rear flange portion. The second surface is formed radially outward of the first surface. The axial heights of the first and second surfaces are different from each other. The second stepped portion is formed by third and fourth surfaces and is also formed radially outward of the first stepped portion. The third surface is part of the surface of the rear flange portion. The fourth surface is formed radially outward of the third surface. The axial heights of the third and fourth surfaces are different from each other.
US07775470B2	Relative line tension indicator and methods for fishing reels and the like Relative line tension indicators and related methods particularly for fishing reels where the indicators include a body; a mechanical distance determining arrangement housed in the body, such as an axially translating probe shaft/actuator pin, or an electronic distance determining arrangement such as an optical distance determining integrated circuit; and a mechanical display arrangement, such as an indicator linked to the probe shaft/actuator pin, or an electronic display coupled to the distance determining arrangement. In select embodiments, the indicator is mounted to or integrated with the handle of a fishing reel, which is directly proximate to a line tension adjustment wheel. By determining and indicating the axial position of the adjustment wheel relative to an axially constant reference such as the reel handle, a user can determine where, along the continuum of relative positions, the adjustment wheel is positioned. By correlating this axial position with an actual drag value or level, the user can determine the relative over and under drag state from this reference.
US07775469B2	Purposeful movement of human migratory cells away from an agent source This invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of eukaryotic cells with migratory capacity. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of cells of hematopoietic, neural, epithelial, or mesenchymal origin, in a specific site in a subject. The foregoing are useful, inter alia, in the treatment of conditions characterized by a need to modulate migratory-cell movement associated with specific sites in a subject. More specifically, specific sites include sites of inflammation and modulation of migratory-cell movement is movement away from an agent source, or repulsion. Other sites include tumor sites, sites of pathogenic infection, and germ cell bearing sites.
US07775462B2	Spray device A spray device for use as a supplementary fluid output, having a mixing chamber for receiving and mixing fluid from two input supplies which supplies mixed fluid to a spray head through a flexible conduit. The relative proportions of input supplies received in the mixing chamber is controlled by a mix controller having a mix actuator which is connected to a mix valve associated with the mixing chamber by an upstanding rotatable sleeve. The spray device is mounted on a hole in a work surface by mounting means. The flexible conduit and the upstanding rotatable sleeve pass through the hole in the work surface and a bore in the mounting means. The mix controller may control the rate of fluid flow through the device.
US07775460B2	Combustion nozzle fluidic injection assembly A fluid flow system for use with a gas turbine engine includes an exhaust nozzle, a primary air supply valve, a distribution manifold connected to the primary fluid supply valve and in fluid communication therewith, and a plurality of fluid injector assemblies positioned at the exhaust nozzle and connected in fluid communication with the distribution manifold. Each fluid injector assembly includes a first tube, a secondary air valve positioned at least partially within the first tube and in fluid communication with the distribution manifold, a fuel valve positioned at least partially within the first tube and located downstream of the air valve, an igniter extending into the first tube downstream of the fuel valve, and an outlet in fluid communication with the first tube and connected in fluid communication with the exhaust nozzle. The outlet has a different geometry than the first tube.
US07775459B2	Liquid atomizing device with reduced settling of atomized liquid droplets A liquid atomizing device for dispensing liquid droplets includes a container for holding a liquid, the container having a porous wick positioned to communicate the liquid from the container, and an orifice plate with apertures, the orifice plate being vibrated by a piezoelectric element to cause liquid communicated from the container to be atomized and dispensed as liquid droplets through the apertures. The device employs a unique placement and design of heaters or fans to promote evaporation and dispersion of the atomized liquid while the liquid is airborne.
US07775457B2	Fountain with fog-filled, illuminated water domes A fountain system for creating unique water displays or water attractions. The fountain system includes a pump providing water at a flow rate and a plurality of fountain assemblies connected to the pump outlet. Each of the fountain assemblies includes a nozzle such as a bell or dome nozzle that receives the water from the pump and discharges the water from its outlet in the form of an enclosed dome about the nozzle outlet. The fountain assembly includes a fog generator or fogger such as an ultrasonic transducer, positioned proximate to the nozzle discharging fog into the dome where it is trapped by the laminar flow water in the dome wall. Each fountain assembly includes a light source transmitting light into the dome to illuminate and color the captured fog. The flow rate may be changed to alter the shape and size of the domes.
US07775456B2	Fluidic device yielding three-dimensional spray patterns A fluidic device, that operates on a pressurized liquid flowing through it to generate an oscillating spray having desired three-dimensional flow characteristics, includes a member that has fabricated within it at least two liquid flow channels that are configured in the form of a fluidic circuit having an inlet and an outlet and a centerline therebetween. These flow channels are further configured so that the straight line projections of their centerlines, that extend from their outlets, intersect at a prescribed intersection angle, Θ, and the outlets are separated by a characteristic separation distance, “w.” We have found that the values of the intersection angle, Θ, and separation distance, “w,” can be are chosen so as to yield the desired three-dimensional flow characteristics of the spray.
US07775448B2	System and method for heat pump oriented zone control A system and method to control environmental parameters of pre-defined zones within an environment using an electronic controller are disclosed. The system includes an electronic controller which enables a weighting value to be assigned to each zone within the environment. The electronic controller also detects any zone service calls from sensor devices associated with each of the zones and determines a cumulative weighting value in response to the detected zone service calls. The electronic controller selects a staging combination from at least two possible staging combinations in response to at least the cumulative zone weighting value.
US07775447B2	Method for controlling the temperature of feed air injected into the cabin zone of a passenger aircraft With a method for controlling the temperature of feed air which is injected into the cabin zone of a passenger aircraft, the cabin of which is sub-divided into several cabin zones supplied respectively with specially temperature-controlled feed air, the temperature of the injected feed air is controlled for each cabin zone, dependent upon the deviation of an injection temperature actual value for the feed air injected into the cabin zone in question, measured by sensors, in relation to an injection temperature optimum value. If there is no, or at least no usable reading of the ambient temperature of this cabin zone for a cabin zone, an optimum value for the injection temperature of this cabin zone can be established in accordance with a variation, whereby it is determined upon the basis of the injection temperature optimum values and/or the injection temperature actual values of other cabin zones, whereby the measurement by sensors of the cabin temperature works reliably. In accordance with another variation, the injection temperature optimum value of a cabin zone can be established without measuring ambient temperature by sensors or without reliably measuring ambient temperature from the temperature measured for the external surrounds of the aircraft.
US07775446B2	Card type information device and method for manufacturing same Card type information device includes wiring board having a wiring pattern with an electronic component mounted on a first face of wiring board and an antenna connecting electrode, antenna board having antenna pattern with antenna terminal electrode formed on a first face of antenna board, magnetic material placed between wiring board and antenna board confronting each other, flexible wiring board for coupling the antenna connecting electrode to antenna terminal electrode, and housing for accommodating wiring board, antenna board, magnetic material, and flexible wiring board. Wiring board and antenna board are made from one and the same insulating motherboard.
US07775444B2	Implantable device and communication integrated circuit implementable therein A wireless implantable device for communicating with a remote unit, wherein the wireless device is capable of self-initializing, namely initial booting without requiring an external general booting program to force the booting process. The implantable device can download program instructions from the remote unit for the operation of the implantable device. Moreover, the implantable device provides for checking the validity and integrity of any program instructions received from the remote unit for the operation of the implantable device. The implantable device has power-saving capability in order to extend the operation of the implantable device between battery charges.
US07775440B2	Method of displaying advertisement to a user A method of displaying an advertisement to a user via user interaction with a printed substrate, said substrate comprising user information and coded data enabling the user interaction, said method comprising: (a) a user performing the user interaction with the substrate using a sensing device, said sensing device reading at least some of the coded data when operatively positioned or moved relative to the substrate and generating interaction data using the read coded data, said interaction data being indicative of the user interaction; and (b) said user interaction causing a first resource to be displayed on a display device, said first resource being a blended resource comprising at least one advertisement and content corresponding to said user interaction wherein said at least one advertisement is selected, at least partially, using a first context of said user interaction.
US07775434B2	Bar-code reading apparatus and bar-code reading method A bar-code reading apparatus includes a differential processor which generates a differential signal from an electric signal corresponding to an intensity of light reflected from a bar code, an extreme value detector which detects each extreme value of the differential signal and generates extreme value information including at least an electric signal value of the detected extreme value, a voltage difference calculator which calculates a voltage difference in electric signal between a target extreme value and at least one of extreme values adjacent thereto for each extreme value in the extreme value information, and an extreme value verifying unit which compares the voltage difference with a predetermined threshold value and determines the validity of the extreme value corresponding to the voltage difference for each voltage difference. Information encoded as the bar code is decoded by using extreme value information of the valid extreme value.
US07775431B2	Method of and apparatus for shipping, tracking and delivering a shipment of packages employing the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from the point of shipment pickup and completed while the shipment is being transported to its first scanning point to facilitate early customs clearance processing and shorten the delivery time of packages to point of destination Method of and an Internet-based network for shipping, tracking and delivering a shipment of packages from a point of shipment pickup to point of destination. At the point of shipment pickup, digital images of the shipping documents are captured and processed to extract the original shipment tracking number and optionally shipping information. This information is automatically encoded into digital image files prior to transmission to an application server, and stored in a shipping information DBMS. While the shipment of packages is in transit, from the point of shipment pickup to the first scanning point in the Internet-based network, early customs clearance of the shipment is initiated and facilitated to speed up delivery of the package shipment to the point of destination.
US07775430B2	Smart and easy shopping using portable RF transceiver-enabled devices and fixed in-store RF transceivers Portable handheld transceiver-enabled devices (e.g., PDA or cell phone) and an enterprise system that stores and maintains a digital map and database to enable customers using the portable devices within a store to access information about the location of products in the store and their availability. Several fixed transceivers are installed throughout a store and portable transceiver-enabled handheld devices used by customers within the store communicate within the store. Portable handheld transceiver-enabled devices communicate with fixed transceivers and download the locations and available quantities of desired product. Customers can use portable devices to obtain the shortest walking route within a store to obtain a desired product based on fixed transceiver proximity to portable devices. Customer can also search the store database for the exact location of items within a store using the portable devices.
US07775428B2	Systems and methods for generating, reading and transferring identifiers Systems and methods for generating, reading and transferring identifiers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a handheld system for associating a selected audio content with an object includes an identifier applied to a surface of the object and having a predetermined graphical format that is configured to encode the selected audio content, and a handheld device operable to encode the identifier and further operable to detect an audio content associated with the identifier.
US07775427B2	System and method for binding a smartcard and a smartcard reader Systems and methods for binding a smartcard and a smartcard reader are provided. A smartcard is provision to store a first set of credentials for use in traditional transactions such as at a brick and mortar retail store and a second set of credentials for use when performing a transaction using a smartcard reader associated with a user such as an on-line transaction. The user smartcard reader registers with a smartcard issuer server by cryptographically authenticating a secure processor associated with the smartcard reader. As a result of the registration, the secure processor obtains a set of private keys associated with the second set of credentials. When a request for a authorizing a transaction via the user's smartcard reader is received, the smartcard reader cryptographically authenticates itself to the smartcard using a private key associated with a credential to be used to authorize the transaction.
US07775424B1	Variable height interactive kiosk A kiosk that allows a user to navigate through a Medicaid process via a touch screen monitor facilitated by an onscreen navigator employing ladder logic. The kiosk has a housing to which a bracket that holds the monitor and a keyboard is attached, the bracket capable of sliding up and down and tilting back and forth. A user initially identifies herself to the system via a card reader and confirms identity via a biometric reader. Once within the system, the user navigates via the monitor through the assistance of an onscreen navigator that is set up using ladder logic. At any point during the process, a counselor may be called via a telephone attached to the housing. Once all data is collected for a user, the internal processor transmits the data to a central server.
US07775422B2	Meter register and remote meter reader utilizing a stepper motor A meter for flowing material, e.g., water, has a meter register having an electronic display, e.g., an LED or LCD display, and a mechanical read-out display driven by a stepper motor to record units of water that flowed through the meter. In the event of an electrical power failure, the LED or LCD readout values are lost, however, the mechanical read-out values remain. Further, signals are transmitted to a microprocessor of a meter register to change the rotation of the stepper motor so that the meter register can be used with different types of meters. Still further, a meter generator co-acting with a meter register forwards an electrical pulse signal after a quantity of material or utility passes through a water meter to a microprocessor of a remote reader. The remote reader includes an odometer coupled to a stepper motor.
US07775419B2	Non-diassembling intersecting partition matrix and method of manufacture A collapsible, non-disassembling intersecting partition assembly for insertion into a container divides the space inside the container into individual cells for holding products. The assembly comprises a plurality of first slotted partitions intersecting with a plurality of second slotted partitions to form a collapsible matrix. Each of the first slotted partitions has opposed slots extending inwardly from opposed edges of the partition to facilitate folding the partition. An outer portion or tab of each folded partition is secured to one of the other partitions to prevent disassembly of the matrix. Each of the partitions has hooks and notches to help hold the assembly together.
US07775418B2	Carton with multiple ply end handle reinforcement A reinforced handle is provided in an end wall closure of a substantially tubular carton by forming a handle opening in a top end flap, and by aligning the handle opening with corresponding cutouts formed in respective side end flaps. Each cutout is provided with reinforcing flaps that align with at least the weight bearing edge of the handle opening. Each reinforcing flap is formed from the respective side end flap and folded out of the plane of the respective side end flap to be in face contacting relationship with that side end flap. Each reinforcing flap aligns its edge with the weight bearing edge of the handle opening. In this manner, the material at the weight bearing edge of the handle opening is at least three plies thick.
US07775417B2	Method of producing conductive circuit board A method of producing a conductive circuit board including imparting tackiness through the use of a tackiness-imparting compound to the surface of the conductive circuit on a printed wiring board, attaching a solder powder to the tacky area and then heating the printed wiring board to melt the solder to form a solder circuit. The characteristic feature of this method is that the tackiness-imparted printed wiring board is kept in a liquid, etc at not more than 10° C. before attaching the solder powder.
US07775416B2	Microwave brazing process A process for heating a braze alloy by microwave radiation so that heating of the alloy is selective and sufficient to cause complete melting of the alloy and permit metallurgical bonding to a substrate on which the alloy is melted, but without excessively heating the substrate so as not to degrade the properties of the substrate. The process entails providing metallic powder particles having essentially the same metallic composition, with at least some of the particles being sufficiently small to be highly susceptible to microwave radiation. A mass of the particles is then applied to a surface of a substrate, after which the mass is subjected to microwave radiation so that the particles within the mass couple with the microwave radiation and sufficiently melt to metallurgically bond to the substrate. The microwave radiation is then interrupted and the mass is allowed to cool, solidify, and form a solid brazement.
US07775413B2	Cantilevered bar gap adjustment for an ultrasonic welding system A system and method for adjusting the gap between a horn and an anvil in an ultrasonic welding system includes the act of positioning a horn proximal to an anvil, so that a gap is established between the horn and the anvil. A force is applied to the horn, so as to urge the horn toward the anvil. A deformable stop is positioned at a location, such that application of the urging force causes a member operatively connected to the horn to abut the deformable stop, and to deform the stop. The urging force is iteratively adjusted during operation of the horn, so as to adjust the extent of the deformation of the deformable stop, and to maintain the gap between the horn and the anvil substantially constant.
US07775410B2	Boot holding devices A hanger includes first and second holding members, for reversibly grasping a pair of boots, which members are spaced apart from one another along a first axis and along a second axis, the first being approximately orthogonal to the second, and both the first and second being approximately orthogonal to vertical. This spacing allows the pair of boots to be held side-by-side so that a heel portion of one boot of the pair is approximately aligned with an arch portion of the mating boot. The hanger may include a neck and a pair of arms, which extend from the neck to support the holding members, and the neck and arms of the hanger may be formed from a single piece of wire. A holding device may include both the hanger and a covering to fit around the boots held by the hanger.
US07775406B2	Trigger sprayer with venting membrane in protective housing cavity A trigger sprayer is provided with a passive venting system of simplified and inexpensive construction. A gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane is positioned over a vent opening in the trigger sprayer housing and prevents the leakage of liquid from a container attached to the trigger sprayer, while allowing the venting of air from the exterior of the trigger sprayer to the container interior. The membrane is secured to a vent opening surface of the sprayer housing that is surrounded by a vent side wall that protects the vent membrane.
US07775403B2	Power hand tool having a retractable front stand Embodiments of a power hand tool of the type which has a main body portion, a front nose portion with a tool element extending forwardly from, a handle grip below the main body portion and an operating trigger adjacent the handle grip, further comprising a stand attached to the nose portion configured to pivot between retracted and extended positions, a means for biasing the stand toward its extended position, and a release mechanism adjacent the handle grip configured to hold the stand in its retracted position, and release the stand responsive to manipulation by a user.
US07775402B2	Dispensing container with a pump A dispensing container with a pump includes a neck, a manual pump of a push-down type disposed in the neck, a push-down head fitted to the top of the pump, and a cap having an attaching cylinder fitted around the neck. A rotary cylinder is disposed on the outside of the attaching cylinder coaxially on central axis. A cover cylinder having a cover wall is disposed coaxially between the attaching cylinder and the rotary cylinder in a manner capable of going up and down under the condition that an elevating system has been established with the attaching cylinder and the rotary cylinder by the rotary movement of the rotary attachment. The cover cylinder is disposed so the push-down head is exposed out of the cover cylinder at its lower-limit position and cannot be pushed down at the upper-limit position of the cover cylinder to prevent contents from being erroneously discharged.
US07775399B2	Dispensing apparatus The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for the storing and dispensing of products. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for the storing and dispensing of inter-reactive compounds wherein the inter-reactive compounds are efficiently mixed on extrusion or expulsion.
US07775391B2	Container for holding a cryogenic fuel A double-walled vacuum insulated container for holding a cryogenic fluid comprises a support system for the inner vessel that comprises at least one elongated metallic conduit that penetrates the walls of the outer vessel and the inner vessel. The conduit itself provides support in an axial direction parallel to a horizontal axis and at least two non-metallic members provide support in a radial direction from the horizontal axis. By requiring the conduit to support only axial loads, its wall thickness can be reduced, thereby reducing heat transfer through the conduit. The non-metallic members that provide support in the radial direction can be made from composite materials selected for structural strength as well as low thermal conductivity, resulting in a container with improved overall thermal insulation to reduce heat leak and allow longer holding times.
US07775390B2	Cooking vessel The invention relates to a cooking vessel (1), particularly a steam pressure cooker, comprising a pot-like container and a lid (3) provided for pressure-tight sealing of the container. The container displays a circumferential, outwardly bent or flanged pot edge. Clamping jaws (6) are provided on the lid (3), which serve as locking segments and can be moved into an open or locked position parallel to the plane of the pot edge (5), where the clamping jaws (6) reach under the pot edge in locked position. The invention is characterized by the fact that the clamping jaws (6) each extend over almost half the circumference of the lid (3) and that the clamping jaws (6) are mounted in a manner permitting pivoting movement about a pivot (12) extending parallel to, and at a distance from, the longitudinal centre line of the container (FIG. 5)
US07775389B2	Closure for containers A closure for a container is injection moulded from plastics material and comprises (a) a body 61 that has a top wall 5 that has a central opening 7 and (h) a cap 9 that closes the opening 7 when the closure in an operative position on the container. The closure also comprises a region of reduced wall thickness 11 that defines a fracture line that facilitates separation of the cap from the closure. The cap 9 has two diametrically opposed inwardly projecting tabs 23 that cause a greater amount of post-moulding shrinkage than the adjacent parts of the cap after injection moulding of the closure. Consequently, the tabs 23 place a section of the region of reduced wall thickness that in alone to the tabs 23 in tension whereby this section preferentially fractures when a person applies force to separate the cap from the closure.
US07775385B2	Remote-controlled model railway vehicle coupling device An improved remote-controlled model railway vehicle coupling device comprising a coupler configured with a channeled shaft having a proximal and distal end, the proximal end forming an aperture designated for pivotably mounting within a housing, the distal end forming a head designated for limiting the pivotable displacement of a knuckle; the knuckle operable to pivot between a closed and an open position. An electronically automated locking assembly is substantially carried within the shaft of the coupler. The locking assembly includes a thermo-mechanical actuator capable of using an electric current to provide thermal energy to transpose between a martensite phase length and a shorter austenite phase length. The locking assembly further includes a bias-spring operable to both encourage the thermo-mechanical actuator towards its martensite phase length and urge the locking assembly towards the knuckle for substantial engagement with the knuckle to lock it in its closed position.
US07775382B2	Umbrella-like laundry dryer with actuating device An umbrella-like laundry dryer includes a central upright tube and a clothes-line-carrying framework, which can be unfolded by an actuating device and has supporting arms connected movably to an upper end section of the upright tube and clothes-line carrying arms connected for articulation to lower ends of the supporting arms and linked to a lower sleeve to be displaced along the upright tube. The actuating device has a hoisting line anchored to the upper end section of the upright tube, running downward parallel to the upright tube and deflected away at the lower sleeve from the upright tube. The hoisting line is coupled to an opening lever linked to a clothes-line carrying arm above the lower sleeve for pivoting from a downwardly pointing, lower position into an upwardly pointing, upper position, to unfold the carrying framework.
US07775381B2	Device for supporting bottles In a support device for bottles processed on a bottle filling and closing machine, a substantially elongated body has a bayonet coupling at a bottom part for connecting the device to a rotary conveyor of the machine. An upper lateral portion of the body has gripping wings, for receiving resiliently a bottle, introduced between the wings by pushing the bottle at a matching point between an auger conveyor for conveying the bottles and the rotary conveyor.
US07775378B2	Height adjustment mechanism for a dishwasher rack and associated method A height adjustment mechanism for a dish rack of a dishwasher is provided, having an attachment channel for attaching the dish rack to the dishwasher. A wheel assembly slideably engages the attachment channel at first and second spaced apart locations. The wheel assembly includes engagement features corresponding to a plurality of dish rack heights. A rack mounting assembly is attached to the dish rack and slideably attached to the wheel assembly. A lever is pivotably engaged relative to the rack mounting assembly and is configured to selectively engage one of the engagement features. A biasing element is configured to urge the lever into selective engagement with the engagement features, and the rack mounting assembly may be moved from a first to a second dish rack height position by applying a force to the rack mounting assembly generally perpendicular to the attachment channel. An associated method and system are also provided.
US07775374B1	Self powered water purification system A water purification unit to purify potentially contaminated water is provided. The water purification unit is in fluid communication with a water source and has a pump to draw water from the water source. The water is passed through at least a main filter to purify the water and dispensed through an outlet. Power is provided to the water purification unit by a battery bank and a non-grid power source.
US07775373B2	Method and a system for batching of objects Method and system for batching of supplied objects in batches using one or more robots and a plurality of conveyors in such a manner that a batch fulfils predefined criteria as regards the number of objects, weight, orientation and/or type(s) of objects.
US07775371B2	Device for the separation of waste materials in accordance with their densities A device for the separation of waste materials in accordance with their densities is provided and includes a vat which is fillable with a fluid for the separation of detritus by means of floatation and decantation. Conveyer belts are provided for the removal of the supernatant and decanted materials. A vibrating sieve is provided for the pre-separation of debris prior to introduction into the vat. The vibrating sieve extracts large materials and small materials which tend to produce silt in the vat. Means are provided for the removal of the decanted sludge.
US07775368B2	Micro-channel long molecule manipulation system Laminar flow of a carrier liquid and polymeric molecules through micro-channels is used to straighten, align, separate, and/or sort the polymeric molecules. The polymeric molecules may be analyzed and/or manipulated in the carrier liquid or attached to a wall of the micro-channel for subsequent treatment and analysis. Micro-channels can be manufactured using an elastic molding material. One micro-channel embodiment provides fluid flow using a standard laboratory centrifuge.
US07775361B2	Package for abrasive grinding wheels A package (1, 11) for abrasive grinding wheels that includes a cover (3) and a base (4) adapted to close, seal and insulate the grinding wheels from atmospheric agents, cover (3) and base (4) being made of insulating material from atmospheric agents, for example plastic material. Between base (4) and cover (3), it is possible to interpose a cylindrical body (7) made of cardboard or plastic or plasticized cardboard; the plasticizing being only internal, only external or on both surfaces. The base (4) can comprise a cylindrical mantle (4b) defining a space where grinding wheels can be inserted.
US07775360B2	Tree cover system Embodiments of the invention relate to reusable tree cover systems and methods that may be used with live trees or artificial trees. The cover systems may be stored in a pouch placed around the lower trunk of the tree from which the cover or tree bag is withdrawn and pulled up to substantially enclose the tree for transport and/or storage. The reusable systems may be designed to facilitate removal of the cover systems from the stored/covered tree while minimizing the undesirable forces on the tree and the cover system. This may be done by providing features that facilitate removing the cover systems in an upward direction relative to the tree along the stored/covered tree. As this removal direction is the same direction used to store/cover the tree in the first place and matches the natural bending/storing direction of the tree, storing and removal are facilitated by these systems.
US07775353B2	Stand golf bag with mechanism to secure clubs A mechanism cooperable with the stand mechanism in a stand golf bag secures the clubs in position when the bag is not on the ground and releases the clubs when the bag is set on the ground.
US07775349B2	Shrink-wrap packaging incorporating reinforced integral handle Shrink-wrap packaging is provided with at least one reinforced integral handle. Each handle is formed by an opening formed in the shrink-wrap material, and a reinforced area that surrounds the opening. Preferably two handles are located at opposite ends or sides of the package. The reinforced areas include an additional layer of the shrink-wrap film, or may include other material such as other types of thermoplastics, paper/fiber composites, or combinations thereof. Shading may be applied to the reinforced areas in order that a consumer can more easily recognize the openings in the shrink-wrap as designated handles. Other embodiments include handles formed by use of a paperbound element in combination with openings in the shrink-wrap material, and webbing secured to a plurality of the containers along with a handle loop integral with the webbing that is orientated to extend through the opening in the shrink wrap material.
US07775347B2	Assembly for hingedly coupling parts of a conveyor, and hinge pin An assembly for hingedly coupling parts of a conveyor comprising a first conveyor part (2) provided with a row of hinge eyes positioned in alignment, and an end hinge eye (7b) with an enlarged hinge hole (8b) which is positioned somewhat out of alignment and with a locking surface adjacent to the hinge hole and positioned in alignment The assembly further comprises a second part (3) such that the conveyor parts can cooperate in a coupled condition by receiving hinge eyes in corresponding interspaces, and a hinge pin provided with a central body part (3) such that the conveyor parts can cooperate in a coupled condition by receiving hinge eyes in corresponding interspaces and a hinge pin provided with a central body part (15) with a thickened head (16) which is able to pass the end hinge hole (8b), but not the next hinge hole (12) in coupled condition. In coupled condition the thickened head (16) is located between the end hinge eye and the next hinge eye (14) such that the hinge pin is axially locked between the e locking surface of the end hinge eye on the one side and the next hinge eye on the other side The thickened head (16) bears a projection which reaches into the hinge hole of end hinge eye in coupled condition.
US07775344B2	Device for buffering products and a method of operating this A device for buffering products comprises a plurality of accumulating conveyors, each having a supplying place for receiving products and a discharging place for discharging products. The device further comprises an adjustable diverter which is connectable to a supplying conveyor for supplying the products in at least one flow. The diverter is connected to a selected one of the supplying places of the accumulating conveyors for conveying the flow of products to the corresponding accumulating conveyor . The device further comprises a merging member which is connectable to a discharging conveyor for conveying the products in at least one flow. The merging member is connected to a selected one of the discharging places of the accumulating conveyors for conveying the products from the corresponding accumulating conveyor to the discharging conveyor. The accumulating conveyors (1) form at least a helical path, which results in a compact device.
US07775341B2	Bulk material handling system A bulk material handling accessory such as a conveyor belt cleaner for use in connection with a bulk material handling system. The bulk material handling accessory includes a main frame, a scraping member including an arm and a scraper blade pivotally attached to the main frame, and a damper mechanism coupled at one end to the main frame and at another end to the scraping member. A mounting mechanism is attached to the main frame for providing linear and rotational movement of the main frame and the associated scraping member and damper mechanism. The damper mechanism includes a damper having a piston and a housing having a fluid chamber. The viscosity of the fluid within the fluid chamber is selectively changeable to change the damping characteristics of the damper mechanism to accommodate changes in operating conditions.
US07775340B2	Transport star wheels A transport star having at least one replaceable mounting part with a first locking element and a mounting part holder with a second locking element, and where one of the two locking elements is locked with the other locking element by rotation. In addition, a transport star having at least one replaceable mounting part that can be locked with a mounting part holder, and where a ring-shaped operating element is provided for locking the mounting part with the mounting part holder. Also, a transport star having at least one mounting part and a mounting part holder on which the mounting part can be positioned in a position predetermined by positioning devices, whereby the lifting of the mounting part can be prevented by the positioning devices.
US07775339B2	Passenger conveyor In a passenger conveyor according to the present invention, an inlet safety device, an operation device, an operation condition display device, and a passenger detecting device are all received in a end-deck cover at an end of a balustrade panel. Thus, the passenger conveyor is excellent in design because of a simple appearance of a platform and a vicinity thereof. Since an inclined surface of the end-deck cover on which a display part of the operation condition display device is disposed is inclined to face an upper side of a center part of the platform, an observability by a passenger of the display part of the operation condition display device can be exceedingly enhanced.
US07775338B2	Control device and control method for vehicle A vehicle control device includes an actual drag torque calculating unit, which calculates the drag torque of a power transfer mechanism. A lubricating oil flow rate calculating unit determines the flow rate of lubricating oil according to the actual torque, and a reference drag torque calculating unit calculates a reference drag torque. In addition, a reference lubricating oil flow rate calculating unit calculates a reference lubricating oil flow rate according to the reference drag torque. A correction rate calculating unit then calculates a correction value corresponding to the rate of correction of the lubricating oil flow rate according to the lubricating oil flow rate and reference lubricating oil flow rate. A flow rate correction unit outputs a drive signal to an actuator which controls a lubrication oil flow rate according to the correction rate.
US07775337B2	Magnetic clutch A magnetic clutch is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The magnetic clutch includes a shaft including a flange, a magnetic clutch hub installed on the shaft, with the magnetic clutch hub being magnetically responsive, and an actuator member that magnetically operates on the magnetic clutch hub and causes the magnetic clutch hub to frictionally contact the flange of the shaft. The contact transfers rotational power between the magnetic clutch hub and the shaft.
US07775333B2	Magnetorheological damper and use thereof An magnetorheological damper useful in structural vibration control has a damper body and a moveable portion relative to the damper body. The damper includes an magnetorheological material contained within the damper body for resisting movement of the moveable portion. Rheology changes can be generated in the magnetorheological material owing to changes in a magnetic field, to which the magnetorheological material is exposed. The damper further includes at least a sensor embedded in the damper for monitoring an external force exerted on the damper, and for generating a signal to control the magnetic field and hence the resulting yield force and rheological damping of the damper in response to a variance in the external force.
US07775331B1	Brake booster stiffening plate An aerodynamic brake booster stiffening plate is provided which attaches to pivot posts of a center pull brake system. The aerodynamic brake booster stiffening plate mitigates outward bending of the posts upon actuation of the brake to allow for faster brake response times. Additionally, a front surface of the aerodynamic stiffening plate may be aerodynamically shaped and blended with the fork or frame of the bicycle to encourage a laminar flow of air past the brake.
US07775329B2	Method and detection system for monitoring the speed of an elevator car A method and detection system monitors the speed of an elevator car and, in case of excess speed caused by brake failure of a motor brake or shaft fracture of a drive pulley shaft, a safety circuit is opened and the detection system is transferred from a normal operational state (State 1) to a retardation state (State 2) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car is retarded after defined speed presets. After a successful retardation, the detection system is transferred to a state of standstill monitoring (State 3) in which it is monitored whether the elevator car leaves its standstill position. If the presets of State 2 or State 3 are not fulfilled, the detection system is transferred to a braking state of the brake (State 4) in which a brake which fixes the elevator car is activated.
US07775328B2	Operation device for an elevator system An operation device for an elevator system includes terminals connectable to a 3-phase AC power source providing a respective AC power supply voltage and a drive device connected to the terminals for driving a motor of the elevator system. A transformer is connected to at least two of the terminals and provides at least one supply voltage to the remainder of the elevator system. In an emergency operation of the elevator system, an auxiliary power supply having an output providing an auxiliary output voltage is connected to the transformer for generating an auxiliary supply voltage provided to the drive device via the transformer.
US07775326B2	Elevator apparatus In an elevator apparatus, first and second raised/lowered bodies are raised and lowered by hoisting machines. The second raised/lowered body has a raised/lowered main body and a rocking member rockably connected to the raised/lowered main body. The raised/lowered main body is suspended by a main rope via the rocking member. The main rope has a first rope end connected to the rocking member on one side of a rocking center of the rocking member and a second rope end connected to the rocking member on another side of the rocking center.
US07775325B2	Drive for an elevator installation and method of converting a drive in an elevator installation A modular drive for an elevator installation and a method of converting and fastening the drive in the elevator installation includes combining the main drive components such as a drive device, a brake device and a drive pulley into a drive module. Connecting parts for fastening the drive within an elevator shaft or in an engine space, or for adjusting a support means spacing, are mounted on the drive as required.
US07775324B2	Treadmill lubrication device A lubrication assembly is provided for lubricating a surface with a lubricant. The lubrication assembly includes a tube adapted to be coupled to the surface. The tube defines a reservoir for storing the lubricant thereon. The lubrication assembly also includes a wiper that is coupled to the tube. The wiper includes a first portion in fluid communication with the lubricant and a second portion disposed for continuous contact with the surface for automatically transferring and supplying the lubricant from the reservoir to the surface. The lubricant reduces frictional properties of the surface.
US07775321B2	Muffler structure A muffler structure in which a subassembly formed by fixing an inner cylinder and a separator is not welded to the outer cylinder in welding an overlapping portion of a sheet metal wrapped around the subassembly. A subassembly is formed by fixing an inner cylinder and a separator. An outer cylinder is formed by first wrapping a sheet metal around the subassembly and next welding an overlapping portion of the sheet metal. The subassembly is formed with a recess opposed to a welded portion of the outer cylinder.
US07775320B2	Method for reducing noise in a vehicle cabin A method of controlling noise from a six cylinder engine that can selectively use in separate operating modes either three cylinders, four cylinders, or all six cylinders, is provided that uses a noise cancellation system to provide a cancellation sound at a first frequency representative of the engine operating mode. When the vehicle changes, for example, from a three cylinder utilization mode to six cylinder utilization mode, the method extends the provision of the noise cancellation sound, at a frequency representative of three cylinder operation, beyond the time when three cylinder mode is changed to six cylinder mode. As a result, a residual “pop” noise associated with the vehicle exhaust, that is traditionally heard during the transition period is cancelled and no longer noticeable. The method also includes implementation of a waiting time before a providing cancellation sounds of different frequencies, to avoid amplitude mismatch.
US07775314B2	Front wheel suspension on a two-wheel drive motorcycle A two-wheel drive motorcycle, or all wheel drive bicycle, has a spring loaded shock absorbing suspension and traction system for the front wheel. A swing arm, rather than the front steering fork, is mounted to the front wheel axle. A modified steering fork is mounted to the swing arm and a shock absorber extends between the front steering fork weldment and the swing arm. The shock absorber allows the front wheel axle to move upward relative to the front steering fork and motorcycle (or bicycle) in general to absorb upward shocks on the front wheel, and also pushes the wheel downward, thereby improving traction. The front chain drive includes two chains in series which are isolated from excessive shock forces.
US07775312B2	Surface traversing apparatus and method The invention concerns a surface traversing apparatus that includes a frame, a seal having a seal perimeter that is mounted to the frame, and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface. The seal perimeter is adapted substantially for rolling contact with the surface to be traversed. The device is capable of suction adhering and moving along horizontal, vertical, inverted surfaces and the like, and overcoming obstacles or surface irregularities while maintaining suction adhesion to the surface. The device can be propelled along the surface with a locomoting rolling seal assembly, which provides both a seal to affect the vacuum adhesion and the locomotion to drive the device across the surface.
US07775305B1	Wheeled hopping robot The present invention provides robotic vehicles having wheeled and hopping mobilities that are capable of traversing (e.g. by hopping over) obstacles that are large in size relative to the robot and, are capable of operation in unpredictable terrain over long range. The present invention further provides combustion powered linear actuators, which can include latching mechanisms to facilitate pressurized fueling of the actuators, as can be used to provide wheeled vehicles with a hopping mobility.
US07775303B2	Device for a drilling tool An apparatus for a drilling tool includes a pilot drilling bit, a reamer, and a pilot body which is disposed to support the reamer and the pilot drilling bit at the end of a casing tube. The reamer includes a closed position in which the parts of the tool are concentric with one another and displaceable through the casing tube, and an open position in which at least a part of the reamer is located radially outside the casing tube. The pilot body includes a male portion which extends through the reamer, the male portion of the pilot body forming a cam surface for transferring rotation energy to the reamer and for switching the reamer between the closed and open positions, and the male portion of the pilot body being insertable in a recess in the pilot drilling bit.
US07775301B2	Advanced steering tool system, method and apparatus A steering tool is movable by a drill string to form an underground bore along an intended path. A sensing arrangement of the steering tool detects its pitch and yaw orientations at a series of spaced apart positions along the bore, each position is characterized by a measured extension of the drill string. The steering tool further includes a receiver. At least one marker is positioned proximate to the intended path, for transmitting a rotating dipole field to expose a portion of the intended path to the field for reception by the receiver. The detected pitch orientation, the detected yaw orientation and the measured extension of the drill string are used in conjunction with magnetic information from the receiver to locate the steering tool. The steering tool may automatically use the magnetic information when it is available. A customized overall position determination accuracy can be provided along the intended path.
US07775296B2	Ground stabilized transportable drop hammer An improved portable, ground stabilized, drop hammer assembly for impacting a ground surface and adapted to be removably coupled to a driven host transport apparatus is composed of a drop weight, a frame including a sidewall, bottom plate and a host transport apparatus engagement assembly, and a power assembly for vertically reciprocatingly moving the drop weight to impact the ground surface. A shock absorbing element is carried either the frame assembly close to the ground surface or by the drop weight at its end close to the ground. Such shock absorbing material absorbs any movement by the drop weight into the frame assembly close to the ground surface to prevent damage to the frame assembly.
US07775295B1	Proportional pilot-controlled pneumatic control system for pneumatically powered hand-held tools A control system for use in conjunction with a primary power system and operable to control a pneumatically powered hand-held tool broadly comprises an air delivery assembly operable to communicate with a pressurized air source; a control assembly including an exhaust line from the primary power system and to the control assembly, a spool valve in fluid communication with the supply line and the exhaust line, and a control line in fluid communication with the spool valve and the hand-held tool; a tool assembly comprising the hand-held tool for performing delicate hand working operations; and a housing for at least partial storage of the air delivery assembly and the control assembly. The primary power system and the control system operate in conjunction with each other to both power and precisely control a pneumatically powered hand-held tool.
US07775287B2	Methods of attaching a shank to a body of an earth-boring drilling tool, and tools formed by such methods Earth-boring rotary drill bits including a bit body attached to a shank. In some embodiments, the bit body and the shank may have abutting surfaces concentric to an interface axis offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit. In additional embodiments, the bit body and the shank may have generally frustoconical abutting surfaces. Methods for attaching a shank and a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include abutting a surface of a shank against a surface of a bit body, and causing the abutting surfaces to be concentric to an axis that is offset or shifted relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit.
US07775286B2	Convertible downhole devices and method of performing downhole operations using convertible downhole devices A convertible downhole device comprises at least one sacrificial material to provide two or more configurations so that two or more different operations or functions are performable by the downhole device, one in which the sacrificial material is fully intact and another in which the sacrificial material is at least partially removed or disappeared. The sacrificial material may be removable through any suitable method or device, such as by contacting with a fluid, by temperature, by pressure, or by combustion, ignition, or activation of a fusible or energetic material, or crushing or breaking up of a frangible material. Upon removal of the sacrificial material, the downhole device has at least one additional configuration so that at least a second operation can be performed by the downhole device.
US07775281B2	Method and apparatus for stimulating production from oil and gas wells by freeze-thaw cycling In a well stimulation method, a subsurface formation is fractured by freezing a water-containing zone within the formation in the vicinity of a well, thereby generating expansive pressures which expand or created cracks and fissures in the formation. The frozen zone is then allowed to thaw. This freeze-thaw process causes rock particles in existing cracks and fissures to become dislodged and reoriented therewithin, and also causes new or additional rock particles to become disposed within both existing and newly-formed cracks and fissures. The particles present in the cracks and fissures act as natural proppants to help keep the cracks and fissures open, thereby facilitating the flow of fluids from the formation into the well after the formation has thawed. Preferably, the freeze-thaw steps are carried out on a cyclic basis. Optionally, propagation of the freezing front into the formation may be enhanced by the introduction of low-frequency wave energy into the formation.
US07775279B2	Debris-free perforating apparatus and technique An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a perforating system that is adapted to be fired downhole in the well. The perforating system includes a component, which includes an alloy that has a negative corrosion potential and is unable to passivate, or self-protect, while deployed in the well. The component is adapted to disintegrate to form substantially no debris in response to the firing of the perforating system.
US07775277B2	Device and system for well completion and control and method for completing and controlling a well An expandable liner assembly including an expandable tubular, a plurality of openings in the tubular, and a plurality of beaded matrixes in operable communication with the openings. A method for completing a section of wellbore.
US07775273B2	Tool using outputs of sensors responsive to signaling An apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a tool string and a plurality of sensors, which include at least a first sensor to detect pressure signals in an inner conduit of the tool string and at least a second sensor to detect pressure signals in an annulus outside the tool string. A controller actuates a tool in the tool string in response to a logical combination of outputs from the sensors, where the outputs of the sensors are responsive to the respective pressure signals.
US07775267B2	Evaporator An evaporator 1 comprises a heat exchange core 10 comprising a plurality of tube groups 5 arranged in rows as spaced forwardly or rearwardly of the evaporator and each comprising a plurality of heat exchange tubes 4 arranged in parallel at a spacing laterally of the evaporator, and a lower tank 3 disposed at a lower end of the core 10 and having connected thereto lower ends of the heat exchange tubes 4 providing the tube groups 5. The lower tank 3 has a top surface 3a, front and rear opposite side surfaces 3b and a bottom surface 3c. The lower tank 3 is provided in each of front and rear opposite side portions thereof with grooves 29 formed between respective laterally adjacent pairs of heat exchange tubes 4 and extending from an intermediate portion of the top surface 3a with respect to the forward or rearward direction to the side surface 3b for causing water condensate to flow therethrough. Each of the grooves 29 includes a first portion 29a existing on the top surface 3a of the lower tank and having a bottom face which is gradually lowered from the intermediate portion of the top surface 3a toward a front or rear side edge thereof. The evaporator 1 can be diminished in the quantity of water condensate that will collect on the top surface 3a of the lower tank 3.
US07775263B2	Heat exchanger The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, which can independently controls the volume of heat exchange medium flowing through tubes of a left heat exchange part and a right heat exchange part to independently control the temperature of a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, thereby realizing a compact structure since a temp door for controlling temperature is omitted from an air-conditioning system for the vehicle, which can reduce an operating force and increase durability since heat exchange medium controlling means are in a rotational structure, and which can minimize a temperature difference between the right and left sides thereof since the heat exchange medium is distributed to the tubes uniformly.
US07775259B2	Production of thin steel strip A method of controlling in a twin roll strip caster the thickness of as-cast strip by determining and operating at a target depth of the casting pool and a target speed of the casting rolls. The as-cast strip may be cast to a customer-specified thickness or may be subsequently rolled to a customer-specified thickness.
US07775254B2	Child safe cord lock A cord lock for window coverings has one or more cams adjacent a locking surface over which a one or more lift cords travel. The cams may be spring biased to a locked position in which they press the lift cords against the surface. A release member through which the lift cords pass is provided. Transverse movement of any cord passing through an opening in the release member moves the release member from a first position, in which the cam or cams are in the locked position, to a second position at which a cam engaging portion of the release member engages the cam and the cam is in the unlocked position. Movement of the release member from the first position to the second position maintains the cam in the unlocked position.
US07775243B2	Forming fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard A forming fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard, comprises a first fabric layer on the web material side and a second machine-side fabric layer, whereby the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are interconnected with each other by binder threads and whereby the second fabric layer is woven in an irregular satin weave.
US07775240B2	Spool valve Two stage spool valves having, in a single assembly, a first stage spool and a second stage spool. The first stage spool may have a solenoid actuator with a return spring, with the second stage spool having either a hydraulic return or a spring return, or both. The solenoid actuator may be comprised of a stationary structure defining a magnetic flux path, including a stationary structure pole face, that together with a moveable structure, including a moveable structure pole face, define a substantially zero air gap magnetic circuit when the solenoid actuator is actuated, the pole faces of the stationary structure and the moveable structure each being defined in part by soft magnetic iron and in part by hardened steel, the hardened steel of the moveable structure contacting the hardened steel of the stationary structure and the soft magnetic iron of the moveable structure being face to face with the soft magnetic iron of the stationary structure when the solenoid actuator is actuated.
US07775237B2	Fluid flow control regulator A fluid flow regulator (20) comprising: a fluid inlet port (34) and a fluid outlet port (54); at least one open-faced flow control channel (60) defined by a planar bottom (62) and two sidewalls (64) that communicates with the outlet port (54) at a junction (66) and has a cross-section that decreases with distance from the junction; an elastic diaphragm (40); a support shelf (58) on which the diaphragm (40) seats and which supports the diaphragm (40) along a planar contour parallel to the bottom of each of the at least one channel (60); wherein to regulate fluid flow, with increasing inlet fluid pressure the diaphragm (40) covers portions of the open face that are farther from the junction (66) in a region where the cross-section decreases with distance from the junction (66).
US07775232B2	Flowing-down rainwater filtration device and rainwater storage device using the same A filtration device, which can be installed at a relatively low place below the full water level of a storage tank, is obtained.The filtration device is provided with a housing 22 attached to a lower part of an upper vertical pipe 21a and an upper part of a lower vertical pipe 21b from above and below and having a rainwater flow chamber 23 and a valve chamber 24; a ball valve 29 with a specific gravity less than 1 and accommodated in the housing movably between the rainwater flow chamber and the valve chamber for blocking a lower rainwater hole 23b in the rainwater flow chamber; a storage chamber 27 for storing the rainwater having reached the valve chamber from the rainwater flow chamber; a valve-seat opening portion 24b capable of being blocked with the ball valve so as to seal the valve chamber; an upper guiding member 31 for guiding the rising ball valve from the rainwater flow chamber to the valve chamber; and a lower guiding member 32 for guiding the lowering ball valve from the valve chamber to the rainwater flow chamber. A first strainer 26 configured capable of being taken in/out through the valve-seat opening portion is detachably attached to the lower rainwater hole, and a second strainer 33 for filtrating the rainwater flowing into the storage chamber is detachably attached to the storage chamber.
US07775228B2	Personal easy lifting device A personal easy lifting device has mounting units with adjustable legs forward of handle members and supports to facilitate positioning forward aspects of the supports in close proximity to a firm edge of an article of furniture with which the device is to be used to assist a person in rising, such as from a sitting position, from an article of furniture to a standing position.

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