最新美国发明专利第2010-08-24期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US07781158B2	Method of separating collagen from the various animal tissues for producing collagen solution and product using the same A method for separation the collagen from the various animal tissues is disclosed for preparing collagen solution and product using the same. The porcine tissues are processed to have proper form and size for acid-treatment. The acid-treatment is repeated with pepsin to separate type I or II collagens. The separated collagen is salt-treated for fractionation and ethanol-treated for obtaining 5˜10% of collagen from the initial tissue weight. The prepared tissues are processed for separating collagen through the collagen separating process. The separated collagen is processed for preparing product. The method for preparing product is comprised: treating a collagen solution having a predetermined concentration under a neutral condition at a low temperature, followed by overnight treatment at a temperature of 30 to 35° C.; concentrating collagen by centrifugation; and dissolving the thus-concentrated collagen in refrigerated weakly-acidic solvent or phosphate buffered saline (PBS), thereby preparing collagen having a concentration of 1 to 5 mg/mL.
US07781156B2	Printing plate, method of fabricating the same, and method of fabricating flat panel display using the same A method of fabricating a printing plate includes: preparing a substrate; forming a metal layer on an entire surface of the substrate; forming a resist pattern on the metal layer, the resist pattern having a fine pattern exposing a portion of the metal layer; wet etching the exposed metal layer, and removing the resist pattern to form a metal layer pattern exposing a portion of the substrate; wet etching the exposed substrate, and removing the metal layer pattern to form a recessed pattern; and forming a compensation layer on an entire surface of the substrate where the recessed pattern is formed.
US07781154B2	Method of forming damascene structure A method for forming a damascene structure utilizes dual hard mask layers and a thin etch stop layer, and does not require a sacrificial layer within the via. A floating etch stop layer can additionally be used. The dual hard masks may be formed of dielectric and neither of the hard masks is required to contain metal. The thin etch stop layer reduces capacitance problems.
US07781149B2	Reduced pitch multiple exposure process A lithographic method to enhance image resolution in a lithographic cluster using multiple projections and a lithographic cluster used to project multiple patterns to form images that are combined to form an image having enhanced resolution.
US07781144B2	Positive resist composition and resist pattern forming method The present invention is a positive resist composition and a resist pattern forming method including a resin component (A) which has a polymer compound (A1) having a structural units (a1) including an acetal type acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, a structural unit (a2) derived from an acrylate ester having a lactone-containing polycyclic group, and a structural unit (a3) derived from an acrylate ester having a polar group-containing aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and an acid generator component (B) having an onium salt-based acid generator (B1) having a cation portion represented by a general formula (b-1) shown below [wherein, R11 represents an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom or a hydroxyl group; R12 to R13 each represents, independently, an aryl group or the alkyl group that may have substituent group; n′ represents either 0 or an integer from 1 to 3].
US07781143B2	Negative-working imageable elements and methods of use Negative-working imageable elements that can be imaged using infrared radiation comprise an imageable layer and a protective overcoat on a hydrophilic substrate. The imageable layer includes an IR-sensitive cyanine dye. The protective overcoat predominantly comprises one or more poly(vinyl alcohol) resins, each of which has a hydrolysis level of 85% or less. The use of this particular overcoat composition used in combination with the IR-sensitive cyanine dye provides improved tolerance to fogging by white light while maintaining desired imaging speed.
US07781142B2	Copolymer and top coating composition A resin composition for forming a top coat which can be formed on a photoresist film without causing intermixing with the photoresist film, can maintain a stable film coating which is not eluted into a medium during immersion lithography, does not impair pattern profiles during dry exposure (which is not immersion lithography), and can be easily dissolved in an alkaline developer. The resin is a copolymer which comprises at least one recurring unit (I) selected from the group consisting of a recurring unit having a group shown by the following formula (1), a recurring unit having a group shown by the following formula (2), and a recurring unit having a carboxyl group, and a recurring unit (II) having a sulfo group, the copolymer having a weight average molecular weight determined by gel permeation chromatography of 2,000 to 100,000, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R3 in the formula (2) represents a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
US07781141B2	Compositions and processes for immersion lithography The present invention relates to barrier layer compositions that are applied above a photoresist composition for immersion lithography processing. In a further aspect, new methods are provided for immersion lithography processing.
US07781139B2	Toner manufacturing method A toner manufacturing method that allows production of toner having desired characteristics with stability in accordance with fusion emulsification technique for obtaining a toner by granulating a resin kneaded product while dispersing it in an aqueous medium. A resin kneaded product containing at least a binder resin and a colorant is mixed with a dispersant/water-containing aqueous medium. The resultant admixture is stirred by an stirring apparatus including a screen with an admixture discharge hole disposed internally of a vessel and a rotor disposed in an stirring space created by the screen.
US07781137B2	Method and apparatus for producing electrophotographic photoreceptor A method for producing a high-quality and low-cost laminate type electrophotographic photoreceptor having a coating film of uniform thickness with high efficiency is provided. In the electrophotographic photoreceptor having a laminated structure composed at least of two layers: a charge generating layer containing a charge generating substance and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transporting substance, the charge generating layer is formed by applying a coating solution for forming the charge generating layer onto the conductive support by an ink-jet coating method, and the charge transporting layer is formed by applying a coating solution for forming the charge transporting layer onto the charge generating layer by a roll coating method.
US07781136B2	Toner and production method of the same A toner comprising toner particles containing a colorant and a binder resin, the binder resin comprising a polyester resin, wherein the polyester resin comprises at least a polyester segment containing an aromatic dial component, the polyester segment being derived from an aromatic diol and a dicarboxylic acid, wherein a content of the polyester segment containing an aromatic dial component is higher in a surface-portion of the toner particle than in a central portion of the toner particle.
US07781135B2	Emulsion aggregation toner having zinc salicylic acid charge control agent A toner for developing electrostatic images including emulsion aggregation toner particles with a styrene acrylate latex resin, at least one additive, at least one colorant, and a charge control agent comprising 3,5 di-tert-butylsalicyclic acid zinc salt.
US07781134B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming method, image forming apparatus and process cartridge for the image forming apparatus A photoreceptor is provided having an electroconductive substrate and a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor contains a binder resin, wherein the binder resin solution satisfies the following relationship 2≦(T0−T400)/C wherein T0 represents a initial transmittance (%) at 400 nm of the binder resin solution; T400 represents a transmittance (%) at 400 nm of the binder resin solution which has been allowed to settle for 400 hours under conditions of 23° C. and 40% RH; and C represents the concentration of the binder resin solution; and an image forming method, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge including the photoreceptor.
US07781132B2	Silanol containing charge transport overcoated photoconductors A photoconductor containing an optional supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, at least one silanol containing charge transport layer, and a top overcoating layer in contact with and contiguous to the charge transport layer.
US07781130B2	Pigment-containing heat-curable composition, color filter, image-recording material, and method of producing color filter The invention provides a pigment-containing heat-curable composition including a pigment dispersion solution obtained by dispersing a composition containing a heat-curable resin, a solvent, and a pigment, wherein the concentration of the pigment is 50% or more and less than 100% with respect to the total solid contents.
US07781128B2	Extreme ultraviolet photolithography mask, with absorbent cavities The invention relates to extreme ultraviolet photolithography masks operating in reflection. These masks comprise a lower mirror (22) covering a substrate (20), and absorbent zones formed on the lower mirror in an etched pattern that defines the pattern to be reproduced. According to the invention, the absorbent zones are formed by resonant Fabry-Pérot cavities exhibiting a strong absorption peak for the operating wavelength. The cavities are formed by the lower mirror (22), an upper mirror (24) and, between the mirrors, a transparent medium, the thickness of which is calculated so as to produce an absorption peak at the operating wavelength. The medium may be formed from silicon (27) or by a superposition of a thin silicon oxide layer (forming a buffer layer to facilitate etching) and a silicon layer.
US07781126B2	Mask and pattern forming method by using the same The present invention provides a mask comprising a substrate, a plurality of strip patterns and at least an assist pattern. The strip patterns are disposed on the substrate and arranged in parallel to one another. The assist pattern is in a strip shape and disposed on the substrate. The assist pattern is arranged in parallel to and outside of the outermost strip pattern of the strip patterns. The assist pattern and the strip pattern have the same phase, while the assist pattern has a width larger than that of the strip patterns. When the mask is applied for exposure process, the pattern of the assist pattern will not be transferred to the underlying layer to be exposed.
US07781125B2	Lithography mask blank A lithography mask blank used as a material for producing a lithography mask includes at least one thin film which is formed on a substrate and has a desired function. The blank has a nitrogen-containing thin film as the above-mentioned thin film and an ammonium ion production preventing layer for preventing production of ammonium ions, which is formed on the nitrogen-containing thin film or at least at a surface portion of the nitrogen-containing thin film and which is exposed on the surface of the lithography mask after the lithography mask is manufactured.
US07781124B2	Hologram recording material The present invention provides a hologram recording material which can modulate its refractive index effectively with visible light laser and is excellent also in transparency after this modulation. The present invention relates to a hologram recording material comprising a polymer (A) having a radically polymerizable side chain vinyl group in the molecule thereof, said polymer (A) being a polymer of monomers comprising as an essential component an acryl-vinyl monomer represented by the following formula (1): CH2═C(R1)C(═O)O—R2═CH2 (1) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group, and R2 represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may contain hetero atoms or halogen atoms in the molecule thereof; and a photopolymerization initiation source (B) which generates an active seed by visible light, and particularly relates to a hologram recording material having the aforementioned constitution in which the aforementioned photopolymerization initiation source (B) is a photopolymerization initiator which absorbs visible light to generate an active seed or a mixture of visible light-sensitizing dye and photopolymerization initiator.
US07781122B2	Bipolar plate with cross-linked channels A bipolar plate for use in a fuel cell stack includes a first plate having a first coolant face with a first set of coolant channels formed therein. A second plate has a second coolant face with a second set of coolant channels formed therein. The first and second coolant faces are adjacent to one another to intermittently cross-link the first and second sets of coolant channels over a region of the first and second coolant faces.
US07781117B2	Fuel cell stack preheating A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a controller that controls a hydrocarbon fuel supply to an anode side and a cathode side of the fuel cell. The controller controls an oxidant supply to the anode and cathode sides to exothermically react with the hydrocarbon fuel when a temperature of the fuel cell is below a threshold temperature. When the temperature is greater than the threshold temperature, the controller terminates supply of the hydrocarbon fuel and the oxidant to the anode side. The controller terminates supply of the hydrocarbon fuel to the cathode side, and supplies a hydrogen-containing feed to the anode side.
US07781115B2	Recuperated atmosphere SOFC/gas turbine hybrid cycle A method of operating an atmospheric-pressure solid oxide fuel cell generator (6) in combination with a gas turbine comprising a compressor (1) and expander (2) where an inlet oxidant (20) is passed through the compressor (1) and exits as a first stream (60) and a second stream (62) the first stream passing through a flow control valve (56) to control flow and then through a heat exchanger (54) followed by mixing with the second stream (62) where the mixed streams are passed through a combustor (8) and expander (2) and the first heat exchanger for temperature control before entry into the solid oxide fuel cell generator (6), which generator (6) is also supplied with fuel (40).
US07781113B2	Circulation check for fuel cell coolant Systems of checking thermal-induced circulation of a coolant in a fuel cell stack are disclosed. The system includes coolant inlet and outlet lines extending from a fuel cell stack. A pump and a radiator are confluently connected to the coolant inlet and coolant outlet lines. In one embodiment, a valve (either check type or automatic type) is provided in the coolant outlet line at the bottom of the fuel cell stack to prevent the flow of cold coolant from the coolant outlet line into the fuel cell stack upon start-up of the fuel cell stack. In another embodiment, a valve (either one-way flow control type or automatic type) is provided in the coolant inlet line at the top of the fuel cell stack. A method of checking thermal-induced circulation of a coolant in a fuel cell stack is also disclosed.
US07781112B2	Combined energy storage and fuel generation with reversible fuel cells An electrochemical system includes a reversible fuel cell system which generates electrical energy and reactant product from fuel and oxidizer in a fuel cell mode and which generates the fuel and oxidant from the reactant product and the electrical energy in an electrolysis mode. The system also includes a reactant product delivery device which is adapted to supply the reactant product to the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode, in addition to or instead of the reactant product generated by the reversible fuel cell system in the fuel cell mode, and a fuel removal device which is adapted to remove the fuel generated by the reversible fuel cell system operating in the electrolysis mode from the electrochemical system.
US07781111B1	Hydrogen storage and generation system A system for storing and generating hydrogen generally and, in particular, a system for storing and generating hydrogen for use in an H2/O2 fuel cell. The hydrogen storage system uses the beta particles from a beta particle emitting material to degrade an organic polymer material to release substantially pure hydrogen. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, beta particles from 63Ni are used to release hydrogen from linear polyethylene.
US07781105B2	Organic electrolytic solution and lithium battery employing the same An organic electrolytic solution and a lithium battery employing the same are provided. The organic electrolytic solution includes: a lithium salt; an organic solvent containing a high dielectric constant solvent and a low boiling point solvent; and an acetate derivative including two or more substituted silyl groups as an additive. The organic electrolytic solution and the lithium battery employing the same relatively suppress a reduction decomposition of a polar solvent and decrease irreversible capacity in the first cycle. Thus, the charge/discharge efficiency, lifespan, and reliability of the battery can be improved.
US07781090B2	Solid electrolyte battery A solid electrolyte battery incorporating a positive electrode with an elongated positive-electrode collector having two sides on which positive-electrode active material layers are formed, a negative electrode with an elongated negative-electrode collector having two sides on which negative-electrode active material layers are formed, and a solid electrolyte layer formed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode such that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are laminated and wound. A ratio A/B of the total film thickness A of the positive-electrode active material layers with respect to the total thickness B of the negative-electrode active material layers satisfies a range from 0.5 to 1.2.
US07781089B2	Protection circuit module for a secondary battery and a battery package using same To realize reduction in the size and cost of a protection circuit module for a secondary battery.A protection circuit module 1 for a secondary battery has at least a wiring board 2 having multiple battery-side external terminals 4a and multiple load-side external terminals 20a, and semiconductor components 12 and 14 mounted on the wiring board 2. On the wiring board 2, the battery-side external terminals 4a are disposed on a surface 2a, and the load-side external terminals 20a are disposed on a surface 2b on the opposite side. The semiconductor components 12 and 14 have multiple external connection terminals 12a and 14a arranged on a single plane surface, and are mounted face-down in a bare-chip state on the surface 2a of the wiring board 2.
US07781088B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a current interrupting mechanism with excellent impact and vibration resistance. The mechanism includes a fragile portion which breaks when the diaphragm deforms and rises upward, thereby interrupting current flow thereto; and an insulating current collecting tab holder into which a part of a current collecting tab is inserted. The tab holder has a tab receiving portion into which the insert member of the tab is inserted. The tab receiving portion is provided on the inner and outer surfaces thereof with a holder hole, which overlaps with a throughhole when the insert member is inserted. The diaphragm is disposed outside the tab receiving portion so as to cover the holder hole and electrically connected at its center bottom to the fragile portion via the holder hole. The gas pressure in the battery acts on the fragile portion and the inner side of the diaphragm.
US07781087B2	Stamped fuel cell bipolar plate An electro-conductive plate assembly for a fuel cell has a pair of stamped plates joined together to define a coolant volume therein. Each of the pair of stamped plates has a flow field on a major outer surface arranged to maximize the contact area between major inner surfaces of the plates while allowing coolant to distribute and flow readily within the coolant volume. The flow fields formed on the major outer surfaces provide corresponding sets of lands on the major inner surfaces that contact to form a third flow field of the coolant volume. The third flow field formed by the lands includes a plurality of longitudinal channels and an array of flow disruptors. The bipolar plate assembly further includes a seal arrangement and integral manifolds to direct reactant gas and coolant flow through the fuel cell.
US07781085B2	Monomer compound, graft copolymer compound, production method thereof, polymer electrolyte membrane, and fuel cell A novel polymer electrolyte is provided that enables a solid polymer electrolyte used in fuel cells, for example, to have sufficient proton conductivity even in a low-water-content state or a zero-water-content state by using a monomer compound represented by the general formula (1), and a graft copolymer compound in which the monomer compound represented by the general formula (1) is graft-copolymerized to the main chain of a fluorine-containing hydrocarbon polymer. Tf indicates a trifluoromethane sulfonyl group (—SO2CF3).
US07781084B2	Cathode humidification of a PEM fuel cell through exhaust gas recirculation into a positive displacement compressor A fuel cell stack receiving oxidant into a compressor progressively pressurizing the oxidant from an inlet pressure to a discharge pressure where a fluid connection exists between oxidant effluent from the fuel cell stack and the progressively pressurized oxidant within the compressor at an intermediate pressure between the compressor inlet pressure and the compressor discharge pressure. A pressure regulator is provided for managing pressure of the cell oxidant effluent recycle flow to the compressor, and measurements are taken of compressor power consumption and/or compressor discharge temperature, humidity, and/or pressure to further control the regulator.
US07781083B2	Hydrogen/hydrogen peroxide fuel cell One embodiment of the present invention includes a technique of performing a catalytic oxidation reaction at an anode to provide hydrogen ions from molecular hydrogen and a catalytic reduction reaction at a cathode to provide hydroxyl ions from liquid hydrogen peroxide. Passage of the molecular hydrogen to a reaction region is impeded with a proton exchange membrane and passage of the hydrogen peroxide to the reaction region is impeded with an ion-selective arrangement. Electric potential is generated between the anode and the cathode to provide electric power from a reaction of the hydrogen ions and the hydroxyl ions in the reaction region. In one variation, a regeneration technique is also provided.
US07781079B2	Perpendicular magnetic recording medium, its manufacturing method, and a magnetic storage apparatus A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a soft magnetic lining layer formed on the substrate, and a recording layer. The recording layer includes a first recording layer, an auxiliary recording layer, and a second recording layer that are laminated in this sequence. The first and the second recording layers are ferromagnetic layers that have a magnetization easy axis perpendicular to the layers. The auxiliary recording layer includes two or more magnetic particles mutually separated by non-magnetism members, wherein the magnetic particles are arranged approximately perpendicular to the layer and have the magnetization easy axis in a direction slanted with reference to the layer. The auxiliary recording layer is exchange-coupled with the adjoining first recording layer and second recording layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium may include an exchange-coupling-strength control layer between the first recording layer and the auxiliary recording layer, or alternatively, between the auxiliary recording layer and the second recording layer.
US07781078B2	Method and system for magnetic recording using self-organized magnetic nanoparticles A method and system for magnetic recording using self-organized magnetic nanoparticles is disclosed. The method may include depositing surfactant coated nanoparticles on a substrate, wherein the surfactant coated nanoparticles represent first bits of recorded information. The surfactant coating is then removed from selected of the surfactant coated nanoparticles. The selected nanoparticles with their surfactant coating removed may then be designated to represent second bits of recorded information. The surfactant coated nanoparticles have a first saturation magnetic moment and the selected nanoparticles with the surfactant coating removed have a second saturation magnetic moment. Therefore, by selectively removing the surfactant coating from certain nanoparticles, a write operation for recording the first and second bits of information may be performed. A read operation may be carried out by detecting the different magnetic moments of the surfactant coated nanoparticles and the non-surfactant coated nanoparticles.
US07781077B2	Phosphorescent light-emitting device with doped iridium-complex A phosphorescent OLED uses a phosphorescent dopant in the emissive layer, the dopant includes a metal complex containing a plurality of moieties linking to a transition metal ion. One or more of the moieties contain a ligand with a C—SP3 carbon center. The transition metal ion can be an iridium ion. The C—SP3 carbon is linked to a chalcogen atom in an ion form, a nitrogen-containing heterocylic ring and two functional groups, wherein each of the functional groups is selected from aryl, alkyl and heteroaryl. The tetrahedral structure of this carbon center hinders close packing and intermolecular interactions and, therefore, renders the transport of holes in the light-emitting device more efficient. With such chemical structure and property, the self-quenching characteristics of the dopant in high doping concentration can be effectively reduced.
US07781075B2	Organic light-emitting material and organic light-emitting device An organic light-emitting device is provided, which comprises an anode, a cathode and a light-emitting layer between them. An organic light-emitting material having the structure of Formulas I or II is doped in the light-emitting layer. In the Formulas I and II, R1˜R9 are H, F, CF3, NO2, an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group or any combinations thereof; and M is a transition metal atom.
US07781074B2	Organic electroluminescent element An organic electroluminescent element comprising a pair of electrodes and at least one organic compound layer including a luminescent layer between the pair of electrodes, wherein at least one of the at least one organic compound layer comprises a compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein in formula (I), Q1 represents an atomic group necessary for forming an unsaturated ring together with the carbon atom; Q2 and Q3 each independently represent an atomic group necessary for forming an unsaturated ring together with the nitrogen atom; X represents a partial structure comprising an atom that is linked to the platinum atom; A1 represents a linking group; B1, B2 and B3 each independently represent a linking group or a single bond; m and n each independently represent 0 or 1; and at least one of m and n is not 1.
US07781073B2	Organic electroluminescence element and display device constructed therefrom A display device having a cathode, an anode, and at least two light emitting units in between the cathode and the anode.
US07781071B2	Aluminum alloy tube and fin assembly for heat exchangers having improved corrosion resistance after brazing The present invention provides extruded tubes for heat exchangers having improved corrosion resistance when used alone and when part of a brazed heat exchanger assembly with compatible finstock. The tubes are formed from a first aluminum alloy containing 0.4 to 1.1% by weight manganese, up to 0.01% by weight copper, up to 0.05% by weight zinc, up to 0.2% by weight iron, up to 0.2% by weight silicon, up to 0.01% by weight nickel, up to 0.05% by weight titanium and the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The fins are formed from a second aluminum alloy containing 0.9 to 1.5% by weight manganese or an alloy of the AA3003 type, this second aluminum alloy further containing at least 0.5% by weight zinc.
US07781069B2	Moisture vapor permeable film including ethylene copolymer and articles including the same A continuous film that includes ethylene copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene n-butylacrylate carbon monoxide, ethylene vinyl acetate carbon monoxide, and combinations thereof. The film exhibits a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 100 g/m2/day when measured according to MVTR Test Method I.
US07781067B2	Aligned crystalline semiconducting film on a glass substrate and method of making A semiconducting structure having a glass substrate. In one embodiment, the glass substrate has a softening temperature of at least about 750° C. The structure includes a nucleation layer formed on a surface of the substrate, a template layer deposited on the nucleation layer by one of ion assisted beam deposition and reactive ion beam deposition, at least on biaxially oriented buffer layer epitaxially deposited on the template layer, and a biaxially oriented semiconducting layer epitaxially deposited on the buffer layer. A method of making the semiconducting structure is also described.
US07781065B2	Multilayer ceramic substrate, method for making the same, and composite green sheet for making multilayer ceramic substrate A multilayer ceramic substrate includes a base material layer including an aggregate of first particles containing a crystallized glass material and a first ceramic material, a constraining layer including an aggregate of second particles containing a second ceramic material that does not sinter at a temperature at which the crystallized glass material is melted, an intercalating layer including an aggregate of third particles containing a viscosity-decreasing substance that decreases the viscosity the melted crystallized glass material, and conductive films arranged along a main surface of at least one of the base material layer, the constraining layer, and the intercalated layer. The multilayer ceramic substrate also includes conductive films provided along a main surface of at least one of the base material layer, the constraining layer, and the intercalated layer.
US07781061B2	Devices with graphene layers A method includes an act of providing a crystalline substrate with a diamond-type lattice and an exposed substantially (111)-surface. The method also includes an act of forming a graphene layer or a graphene-like layer on the exposed substantially (111)-surface.
US07781059B2	Fiber composition and fiber made from the same A fiber modifier for improving thermo-bonding affinity of a composite fiber to a natural fiber includes a blend of maleic anhydride and a copolymer component selected from a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, a copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid, and combinations thereof. A core and sheath composite fiber including a sheath component made from a fiber composition that contains the above fiber modifier is also disclosed.
US07781056B2	Removable foam adhesive tape Conformable pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes which comprise a layer of polymeric foam in the backing and may be adhered firmly to a substrate and thereafter removed therefrom after only being stretched at an angle no greater than about 35° from the surface of the substrate. Articles for mounting an object such as a picture to a surface such as a wall comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape of the invention are also described.
US07781055B2	Transparent heat shielding multilayer structure A transparent heat shielding multilayer structure is disclosed. The multilayer structure includes: a transparent base film; a first transparent heat shielding layer with lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) nanoparticles dispersed therein; and a second heat shielding layer with ATO (antimony doped tin oxide), ITO (indium tin oxide), or metal doped tungsten oxide nanoparticles dispersed therein. The first and second transparent heat shielding layers may be disposed on the same side or opposite sides of the transparent base film.
US07781050B2	Ultrathin polymer film using cucurbituril derivative and method of forming the same Provided are an ultrathin polymer film formed by homopolymerization or copolymerization of a cucurbituril derivative with an organic monomer and a method of forming the same. The ultrathin polymer film has a thickness of 10 nm or less, and can retain its film shape even after being separated from a substrate.
US07781049B2	Hydrogen transport membrane fabrication method A hydrogen transport membrane in which a porous ceramic support supports a dense layer of palladium or an alloy of palladium serving as a hydrogen transport material. The ceramic support has a first porous layer and a second porous layer. The first porous layer has a first thickness of about 1 mm, a first set of pores have a first average pore size of between about 10 microns and about 50 microns and a first porosity of about 40 percent by volume. The second porous layer has a second thickness of about 3 microns, a second set of pores having a second average pore size of between about 10 nanometers and about 100 nanometers and a second porosity of about 50 percent by volume. The dense layer has a thickness of about 3 microns.
US07781044B2	Organic compound for recording layer for high speed recording of information and optical recording medium including the same A recording layer including a novel organic compound for a high density optical recording medium is provided. The information may be recorded on the recording layer at a 2× speed or higher speed with a relatively lower writing power so that heat distribution of the recording layer in the irradiated area is not likely to become steep both in time and space. The organic compound incorporated in the recording layer has the following general chemical structural formula (I).
US07781042B2	Optical storage medium using nanoparticles The present invention relates to an optical storage medium using nanoparticles, and more specifically to a multi-layer optical storage medium.According to the invention, the optical storage medium has two or more storage layers with nanoparticles, each storage layer being made of a dielectric material, wherein the dielectric materials of at least two storage layers have a different dielectric permittivity.
US07781040B2	Flexible composite tubular assembly with high insulation properties and method for making same The present invention is directed to an improvement over the flexible composite tubing described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,491,779, 6,804,942, and 7,073,978, wherein said improvement provides for void space or otherwise insulating region along the length of the tubing. The present invention is additionally directed to methods for implementing such improvement.
US07781036B2	Pouch for steaming vegetables A flexible pouch for cooking a food item using microwave energy. The pouch includes a base configured to retain hot gases above atmospheric pressure within the pouch to heat and cook the food item when the package is exposed to microwave energy. The pouch also includes a cover comprising a sealant layer and a score layer. The score layer includes a weak portion which ruptures and vents the pouch at a predictable location when pressure within the pouch due to the hot gasses exceeds a predetermined pressure.
US07781034B2	Composite modular barrier structures and packages A composite multi-layer barrier is produced by first vapor depositing a barrier under vacuum over a substrate and then depositing an additional barrier at atmospheric pressure in a preferably thermoplastic layer. The resulting multi-layer barrier is used to coat an article in a lamination process wherein the thermoplastic layer is fused onto itself and the surface of the article. The vacuum-deposited barrier may include of a first leveling polymer layer followed by an inorganic barrier material sputtered over the leveling layer and of an additional polymeric layer flash evaporated, deposited, and cured under vacuum. The thermoplastic polymeric layer is then deposited by extrusion, drawdown or roll coating at atmospheric pressure. The resulting multi-layer barrier may be stacked using the thermoplastic layer as bonding agent. Nano-particles may be included in the thermoplastic layer to improve barrier properties. A desiccant material may also be included or added as a separate layer.
US07781030B2	Infrared sensor manufacturing method suitable for mass production An infrared sensor manufacturing method according to this invention includes a step of forming a bridge structure of an insulating material on an Si substrate, a step of forming a vanadium oxide thin film on the bridge structure by a dry film forming method, a step of irradiating laser light onto the vanadium oxide thin film to thereby change material properties thereof, a step of forming the vanadium oxide thin film with the changed material properties into a bolometer resistor having a predetermined pattern, and a step of forming a protective layer of an insulating material so as to cover the bolometer resistor having the predetermined pattern and the bridge structure.
US07781029B2	Side seal for wet lens elements A method for protecting a wet lens element from liquid degradation is provided. The method includes applying a thin coating of an organoxy-metallic compound to the side portions of a wet lens element to leave behind an optically inert, light absorbing metal oxide film. A liquid shield coating is applied on top of the metal oxide coating. The two coating layers protect the wet lens element from liquid degradation when the side portion of the wet lens element is submerged into a liquid. In an embodiment, the wet lens element is an immersion lithography wet lens element and the liquid is an immersion lithography liquid.
US07781028B2	Thin film materials of amorphous metal oxides Amorphous metal oxide thin film is produced by removing through oxygen plasma treatment the organic component from an organics/metal oxide composite thin film having thoroughly dispersed therein such organic component at molecular scale. This ensures production of amorphous metal oxide thin film with low density and excellent thickness precision.
US07781027B2	Hydrophobic coating compositions, articles coated with said compositions, and processes for manufacturing same Hydrophobic coating compositions are provided as are processes to coat articles with the compositions. Extremely hydrophobic coatings are provided by the compositions. Durable, weatherable and scratch-resistant coatings are provided by compositions comprising a fluorinated component and an adhesion promoter compound. The adhesion promoter compound can include an alkoxy group, a furfuryl-containing ring structure, and a reactive group.
US07781019B2	Uniform texture for cast in place walls A method of forming a concrete wall having a substantially uniform exterior surface texture. The method includes the initial step of pouring concrete into a wall form. The concrete is poured from a first mixture and is allowed to cure. After the concrete is cured, the wall form is removed from the resultant concrete base structure. A roughened texture is then created on the base structure. A finishing mixture is then applied to the roughened texture. The finishing mixture may be created by separating the aggregate from a portion of the remaining first mixture. The finishing mixture creates a smooth texture on the exterior surfaces of the initially formed base structure.
US07781016B2	Method for measuring precursor amounts in bubbler sources Methods are disclosed of determining a fill level of a precursor in a bubbler. The bubbler is fluidicly coupled with a substrate processing chamber through a vapor-delivery system. The bubbler and vapor-delivery system are backfilled with a known dose of a backfill gas. A pressure and temperature of the backfill gas are determined, permitting a total volume for the backfill gas in the bubbler and vapor-delivery system to be determined by application of a gas law. The fill level of the precursor in the bubbler is determined as a difference between (1) a total volume of the bubbler and vapor-delivery system and (2) the determined total volume for the backfill gas.
US07781013B2	Method of designing a diffusion film, a process for producing the same, and a diffusion film obtained thereby A transparent support and plural types of particle groups having different particle size distributions each other that are to be contained in a light diffusing layer are provided. a blending ratio of the plural types of particle groups is computed such that a space packing ratio of respective particles in the light diffusing layer becomes a specified space packing ratio and the plural types of particle groups having been blended in the computed blending ratio are dispersed on the transparent support, whereby the light diffusing layer is formed on the transparent support. Thus, a diffusion film can be produced simply and at low cost.
US07781012B2	Method and installation for coating, especially painting, articles A method and an installation for coating, especially painting, articles. The method is characterized by filling nonabrasive powder containers with the powdery coating material and transporting the containers to the vicinity of an application device. The powder containers are opened only in the vicinity of the application device and the powder is removed and then released by the application device onto the article to be coated. The avoids substantial dirtying of the transport paths that the powder containers are transported on, thereby eliminating the need for cleaning when the coating material is changed, especially when the coating powder is changed.
US07781009B2	Sugar-free hard coatings prepared from liquid maltitol comprising DP4+fraction The present invention discloses a sugar-free hard coating prepared from a liquid maltitol syrup comprising DP4+ fraction. In the chewing gum process, the liquid maltitol can be applied at high dry substance, i.e. higher than 65%. The obtained hard coating is crunchy, non-sticky and is not cracking during post-processing.
US07781003B2	Highly soluble form of tricalcium citrate, and methods of its making and use We report herein a composition comprising tricalcium citrate, wherein the tricalcium citrate has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern comprising peaks at 2-theta (2θ) values of about 8.236, about 16.02, about 17.97, about 19.75, about 21.42, about 25.74, and about 28.65. This tricalcium citrate is produced at high temperatures in a low-water environment. This composition is highly soluble (more than about 200 mg per 8 fluid ounces) in potable aqueous solutions (beverages), and can be used to fortify beverages (such as fruit juices) or foods with calcium at higher doses than seen when using previously-known compositions of tricalcium citrate.
US07781001B2	Foodstuff There is provided use of a conversion agent to prepare from a food material a foodstuff comprising at least one functional ingredient, wherein the at least one functional ingredient has been generated from at least one constituent of the food material by the conversion agent.
US07780993B2	Therapeutic transplantation using developing, human or porcine, renal or hepatic, grafts A method of treating a renal, hepatic or enzyme-deficiency disorder in a subject in need thereof is disclosed. The method is effected by transplanting into the subject tissue derived from a human or porcine, kidney or liver, the kidney or liver being at a selected gestational stage.
US07780989B2	Process for the preparation of crystalline nano-particle dispersions A process for the preparation of a dispersion of crystalline nanoparticles in an aqueous medium is disclosed. Specifically, a first solution comprising a substantially water-insoluble substance in a water-miscible organic solvent is rapid mixed with an aqueous phase comprising water, and optionally a stabilizer, to form a dispersion of amorphous particles. The dispersion of amorphous particles is then sonicated for a sufficient period to form crystalline nanoparticles of the substantially water-insoluble substance. The process provides nanocrystals with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of less than 1 micron, particularly less than 300 nm, and is particularly useful for the preparation of nanocrystalline dispersions of pharmaceutical substances.
US07780983B2	Amphoteric liposomes Amphoteric liposomes are proposed, which comprise positive and negative membrane-based or membrane-forming charge carriers as well as the use of these liposomes.
US07780977B2	Medication compositions A medicinal composition comprising: (a) a core comprising a medicinally effective unit dose of one or more active medicaments; and (b) said medicament(s) being enclosed within a film material which comprises at least 40% by weight hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.
US07780973B2	Method and device for minimally invasive implantation of biomaterial A minimally invasive method of placing a delivery device substantially adjacent to vascular tissue and a device for use with such a method are disclosed. The delivery device may be a flexible biological construct with a flexible tethering means. The delivery device may be percutaneously inserted near vascular tissue such as, for example, peritoneal tissue. When the delivery device has been inserted, the tether may be used to pull the delivery device toward the vascular tissue and secure the device thereto. Contact between the front surface of the delivery device and the vascular tissue may be maintained by making and keeping the tether substantially taut. The delivery device may serve accomplish sustained delivery of active agents.
US07780972B2	Pet collar with replaceable insecticide element A semi-flexible insecticide strip is removably attached to the belt of a pelt collar to regenerate a pest-killing medicament and increase its efficacy. The strip is secured to the belt surface that faces the animal skin or fur by attachment loops or edged retainers that are generally perpendicular to the length direction of the belt. Due to the geometry and elasticity of the semi-flexible insecticide strip, and its attachment method, the strip contacts the skin or fur of the animal despite movement of the pet collar when the animal is being exercised with a pet leash attached thereto. The contact effectively transfers the insecticide and kills ticks and fleas or retards development of mature flea adults. The insecticide is contained within a plurality of plastic pores of the insecticide strip or in a sponge affixed thereto.
US07780970B2	Composition The present invention relates to a composition and a method of preparing or treating food products so as to improve their aroma, flavor, mildness, sweetness, consistency, texture, body, mouth feel, firmness, viscosity, gel fracture, wheying off, structure and/or organoleptic properties, nutrition and/or health benefits. In particular, the present invention provides a composition comprising a live micro-organism, an enzyme produced by said micro-organism and an exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by the activity of said enzyme.
US07780964B2	Immunoglobulins which bind NOGO The present invention relates to antibodies to NOGO, pharmaceutical formulations containing them and to the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases/disorders.
US07780963B2	Anti-ADDL antibodies and uses thereof The present invention relates to antibodies that differentially recognize multi-dimensional conformations of Aβ-derived diffusible ligands, also known as ADDLs. The antibodies of the invention can distinguish between Alzheimer's Disease and control human brain extracts and are useful in methods of detecting ADDLs and diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease. The present antibodies also block binding of ADDLs to neurons, assembly of ADDLS, and tau phosphorylation and are there useful in methods for the preventing and treating diseases associated with soluble oligomers of amyloid β1-42.
US07780960B2	Process for purifying interferon beta Provided is a process for purifying human interferon beta from a recombinant human interferon beta-containing culture comprising performing affinity chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), wherein the affinity chromatography includes: adsorbing the interferon beta-containing culture to an equilibrated affinity chromatography column, followed by washing with an equilibration buffer solution; washing the column with a washing buffer solution A of pH 6.5-7.5 containing 30-60 wt % of propylene glycol and a washing buffer solution B of pH 6.5-7.5 containing 10-30 wt % of propylene glycol and 1-2M NaCl; and eluting a human interferon beta-containing fraction with a buffer solution of pH 6.5-7.5 containing 40-60 wt % of propylene glycol and 1-2M NaCl.
US07780958B2	Polyacrylamide hydrogel for the treatment of incontinence and vesicouretal reflux The present invention relates to a bio-stable hydrogel for use in the treatment and prevention of incontinence and vesicouretal reflux. The hydrogel is obtainable by combining acrylamide and methylene bis-acrylamide in amounts to provide about 0.5 to 25% by weight polyacrylamide, based on the total weight of the hydrogel.
US07780957B2	Polyethylene glycol/polycation block copolymers The invention provides block copolymers formed of poly(ethylene glycol) segments and poly(amino acid derivative) segments having side chains of at least one kind of specific amine residue. The invention also provides polyion complexes of such copolymers with polynucleotides and the like. These block copolymers are useful as carriers for in vivo delivery of active substances such as DNA.
US07780956B2	Hair cosmetic The present invention provides hair cosmetics containing (a) an amideamine (I): wherein R1CO represents fatty acid residues among which C20 or more fatty acid residues account for 60 percent by weight or more, C20 fatty acid residues account for 3 percent by weight or more, and C22 fatty acid residues account for 50 to 95 percent by weight; (b) an organic acid; and (c) a C8 to C30 aliphatic alcohol, wherein the content of the component (b) is 1.5 to times as many moles as the amine equivalent of the component (a).
US07780951B2	Vaccines for immunization against Helicobacter The invention relates to the immunization of pigs against Candidatus Helicobacter suis using antigens of species related to Candidatus Helicobacter suis.
US07780950B2	Systemic marker for monitoring anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions of therapeutic agents A diagnostic method of monitoring anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant actions of therapeutic agents comprises determining the level of at least one systemic marker indicative of inflammation or oxidation in a bodily sample taken from a subject at base line or following administration of the therapeutic agent. The marker includes at least one of MPO activity, MPO mass, select MPO-generated oxidation products, and combinations thereof. The level of the systemic marker is compared with a predetermined value to monitor the anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant actions of the therapeutic agent.
US07780949B2	Regulation of CCN2 by CCN3 and its therapeutic and diagnostic potential in fibrosis, sclerosis and other diseases The present invention discloses a role of CCN3 in diseases associated with the overexpression of CCN2, which include but are not limited to kidney disease, fibrosis, and cancer. The full length CCN3 protein or fragments thereof or isoforms (or combinations) of CCN3 are involved in these diseases. The isolated and purified CCN3 protein or its fragments or isoforms (or combinations) of CCN3 can be potentially used in the treatment or prevention of these diseases by regulating the expression and/or activity of the CCN2 protein. The level of CCN3 in tissue or body fluids can also be used to predict, diagnose and/or follow the progression of diseases as well as to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention.
US07780942B2	Method of optimizing the operation of claus units A catalytic method for treating an H2S/SO2 mixture for producing liquid sulphur including the following steps: a) at least one step of heating the mixture containing H2S/SO2 to a temperature Tc; b) at least one step of catalytically reacting the heated mixture obtained in a) in the presence of at least one catalyst and at least one step of recovering the exiting mixture containing gaseous sulphur; and c) at least one step of converting the gaseous sulphur contained in the exiting mixture obtained at step b) into liquid sulphur, wherein between step b) and step c), the temperature Ts of said exiting mixture and the dew point Tr of the gaseous sulphur contained in said exiting mixture are measured and in that the heating temperature Tc of step a) is adjusted so that the temperature Ts is 5° C. to 30° C. above the dew point Tr.
US07780940B2	Laser-based method for growing array of carbon nanotubes A method for making an array of carbon nanotubes includes the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; (b) forming a catalyst film on the first surface of the substrate; (c) flowing a mixture of a carrier gas and a carbon source gas over the catalyst film; (d) generating a laser beam using a galvanometric scanning system, directing the laser beam toward/on one of the first surface and the second surface to locally heat the catalyst film to a predetermined temperature; and (e) growing an array of the carbon nanotubes from the substrate.
US07780938B2	Production of silicon through a closed-loop process The inventive method of producing silicon comprises reacting gaseous trichlorosilane with hydrogen to deposit silicon onto a substrate and to produce silicon tetrachloride by-product, vaporizing the silicon tetrachloride by-product to form gaseous silicon tetrachloride, converting the gaseous silicon tetrachloride to finely divided silicon, forming a silicon melt by melting the finely divided silicon, and forming solid silicon from the silicon melt.
US07780933B2	Method of removing sulfur compounds from natural gas All sulfur compounds can be efficiently removed from natural gas that contains hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds such as mercaptan without using physical absorption. The process comprises an absorption step of treating natural gas by means of a chemical absorption method using an amine-containing solution to mainly remove hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, an adsorption step of flowing the natural gas from the absorption step through a packed bed of a molecular sieve to mainly remove mercaptan, a recovery step of recovering sulfur compounds by converting the hydrogen sulfide removed in the absorption step into sulfur by means of the Claus process, a regeneration step of desorbing the mercaptan adsorbed on the molecular sieve in the adsorption step using heated gas and a reaction step of converting the mercaptan in the regeneration exhaust gas exhausted from the regeneration step into hydrogen sulfide. The reaction step is conducted by injecting steam or water at a ratio of H2O/S=1 to 5 (molar ratio) relative to the sulfur in the regeneration exhaust gas in the presence of a catalyst under the conditions of a temperature level of 250 to 400° C. and a pressure level of 1 to 10 MPa.
US07780925B2	Fixed-bed catalytic reactor A radial chemical reactor (10, 110, 210, 310) for catalytic reactions comprising: a substantially cylindrical shell (12), a first catalytic bed (18) having a substantially ring shaped cross-section, coaxially supported in said shell (12) and having a reagent gases inlet side (20) and a reaction mixture outlet side (21); a plurality of heat exchangers (22) supported and distributed in a substantially ring-shaped respective portion of said first catalytic bed (18); at least one second catalytic bed (28) with a substantially ring-shaped cross-section, supported in said shell (12) coaxially to said first bed (18) and at a predetermined distance from said first bed, said second catalytic bed (28) having a reaction mixture inlet side (30) and a reaction gaseous products outlet side (31); a plurality of heat exchangers (32) supported and distributed in a substantially ring-shaped respective portion of said second catalytic bed (28).
US07780923B2	Plasma reaction vessel, and method of producing the same In the plasma reaction vessel (1) of the invention, two or more laminate-structures (6) having ceramic formed bodies (3, 4) in which a plasma generating electrode (2) capable of generating plasma is formed in two-tape-form, and an electrically continuous film-like electrically conductive electrode (5) held between the two ceramic formed bodies (3, 4) are formed in such a manner as to form a plasma generating space (7) containing mutual laminate planes therein. Of the electrically conductive electrodes (5), adjacent ones are capable of having electric discharge produced therebetween so as to generate the plasma in the plasma generating space (7) and of generating uniform stabilized plasma at low electric power, it being possible to reduce a passage resistance to a gas passing therein.
US07780922B2	Apparatus for producing amorphous silica ash The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of feed material to provide an ash. The apparatus includes a housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis and the gas then follows an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash. If preferred, the position of the ash outlet may be incorporated into the gas outlet. A control system is provided to limit the temperature in the feed material in the housing. As a result, in operation, gases can be fed into the first and second gas inlets carrying sufficient oxygen for exothermic combustion of the feed material and having a flow rate to create said inner and outer vortices. The outer vortex meets the inner vortex in the mixing zone to mix both with the inner vortex and with the feed material which will be subjected to exothermic combustion as the feed material is entrained in the inner and outer vortices. The material will pass through the mixing zone repeatedly until the feed material is converted to the desired ash having escape criteria needed to reach and exit through the ash outlet.
US07780921B2	Ultrasonic counter-current screw extractor for uranium recovery An apparatus for the removal of uranium from a body of material is provided. The apparatus has at least one ultrasonic extractor, having a bottom and a top. The at least one ultrasonic extractor is configured to accept solids at the bottom and acid at the top, and has a mixing screw and at least one source of ultrasonic energy. The mixing screw is configured to transport the solids in a direction countercurrent to the acid in the at least one ultrasonic extractor; and the source of ultrasonic energy is configured to impart ultrasonic energy into the solids and the acid, as the solids and the acid traverse the at least one ultrasonic extractor countercurrently.
US07780918B2	Sensor platform using a horizontally oriented nanotube element Sensor platforms and methods of making them are described, and include platforms having horizontally oriented sensor elements comprising nanotubes or other nanostructures, such as nanowires. Under certain embodiments, a sensor element has an affinity for an analyte. Under certain embodiments, such a sensor element comprises one or more pristine nanotubes, and, under certain embodiments, it comprises derivatized or functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, a sensor is made by providing a support structure; providing a collection of nanotubes on the structure; defining a pattern within the nanotube collection; removing part of the collection so that a patterned collection remains to form a sensor element; and providing circuitry to electrically sense the sensor's electrical characterization. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises pre-derivatized or pre-functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, sensor material is derivatized or functionalized after provision on the structure or after patterning. Under certain embodiments, a large-scale array includes multiple sensors.
US07780917B2	Calibratable flow detector A device and method are provided for the reliable calibration of detector units for the detection of low-molecular substances in a liquid flow.
US07780916B2	Flow cytometer system with unclogging feature The fluidic system with an unclogging feature of the preferred embodiment includes a flow channel, a sheath pump to pump sheath fluid from a sheath container into an interrogation zone, and a waste pump to pump waste fluid from the interrogation zone into a waste container. The sheath pump and/or the waste pump draw sample fluid from a sample container into the interrogation zone. The fluidic system also includes a controller to adjust the flow rate of the sample fluid from the sample container into the interrogation zone. The pump and controller cooperate to propagate a pulsation through the flow channel from the pump if the flow channel is clogged. The fluidic system is preferably incorporated into a flow cytometer with a flow cell that includes the interrogation zone.
US07780912B2	Paint for detection of radiological or chemical agents A paint that warns of radiological or chemical substances comprising a paint operatively connected to the surface, an indicator material carried by the paint that provides an indication of the radiological or chemical substances, and a thermo-activation material carried by the paint. In one embodiment, a method of warning of radiological or chemical substances comprising the steps of painting a surface with an indicator material, and monitoring the surface for indications of the radiological or chemical substances. In another embodiment, a paint is operatively connected to a vehicle and an indicator material is carried by the paint that provides an indication of the radiological or chemical substances.
US07780905B2	Supporting ceramic articles during firing An adjustable mold is used to mold material to form a first support. A first ceramic article is supported by the first support during firing. The adjustable mold may be adjusted and used to mold material to form a second support having a second configuration. The second support is used to support a second ceramic article during firing. The first and second supports may advantageously be formed with projections which engage the ceramic articles during firing. The length of these projections may be varied by adjusting the mold. A second adjustable mold may be used to form a first retainer which limits upward movement of the first ceramic article during firing. The second adjustable mold may be adjusted and used to form a second retainer which limits upward movement of the second ceramic article during firing.
US07780904B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing nonwoven fabric The invention provides a method for manufacturing spun-bonded nonwoven fabrics that can reduce the diameter of a filament without decreasing productivity and can stably produce nonwoven fabrics, comprising: quenching a multiple number of continuous melt-spun filaments through spinning nozzles with quench air fed to a quenching chamber, drawing the filaments, and depositing the filaments on a moving collector surface, wherein the quench air fed to the quenching chamber is divided into at least 2 streams in vertical direction, and an air velocity of the quench air in the lowermost stream is set higher than that of the 50 quench air in the uppermost stream. The invention also provides an apparatus for manufacturing spun-bonded nonwoven fabrics, wherein quench air fed to the quenching chamber is divided into at least 2 streams in the vertical direction, wherein the velocities of the quench air are independently controllable in the respective streams.
US07780901B2	Method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank that includes a connector provided with a screw thread Method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank by moulding a parison in a mould, in which method the parison is locally deformed during moulding of the parison in order to obtain an impermeable hollow built-in connector provided with a screw thread, and to do so by means of a concave counter-form and a convex form that can penetrate the counter-form, these two pieces being secured, one to the mould and the other to a core located inside the mould, or vice versa, and at least one of these pieces being provided with a screw thread, the moulding of the connector taking place by the convex form penetrating the concave counter-form.
US07780890B2	Advanced gel sheet production The present invention provides various methods for producing gel sheets in a continuous fashion. The embodiments of the present invention help reduce the time of producing gel sheets that is suitable for industrial manufacturing. Such gel sheets are used in manufacturing aerogel blankets used in a variety of applications including thermal and acoustic insulation.
US07780887B2	Golf ball and die for molding the same There are provided a golf ball in which the depths of dimples after grinding, which greatly affect the trajectory of golf ball, can be controlled readily and exactly, and a golf ball molding die for manufacturing the golf ball. The golf ball molding die in accordance with the present invention comprises two die bodies in which a cavity for molding a golf ball is formed by joining the die bodies to each other; and a protrusion formed on the cavity side surface of at least one of the die bodies, the protrusion having a uniform height from the surface or an imaginary spherical surface on which the protrusion is assumed to be absent toward the center of the cavity, wherein when a parting line is at latitude zero degree, the protrusion is arranged in the range of from latitude about 10 degrees to latitude about 80 degrees.
US07780885B2	High pressure casting method for articles of sanitaryware and a machine implementing the method The invention relates to a high pressure casting method for producing articles of sanitaryware and to a machine implementing the method. The method of type “A” comprises the steps of forming the thickness of the sanitaryware article, emptying the excess slip out of the mould and consolidating the article, all these steps being performed at a constant pressure equal in value to the maximum pressure of the step in which the thickness of the article is formed. In the method of type “B”, the steps of emptying out the excess slip and consolidating the sanitaryware article (14) are performed at a pressure equal to 75% of the maximum pressure of thickness formation. The casting machine comprises a discharge device for draining out the excess slip through a calibrated valve that enables the slip to be discharged without decreasing the pressure in the mould. Compared to prior art casting methods, the moulds and the sanitaryware articles are therefore subjected to less stress and strain and the time required to complete a casting cycle is significantly reduced.
US07780884B2	Method for post-mold treatment of a molded article and an apparatus for implementing the method Embodiments of the present invention teach a method for post-mold treatment of a molded article and an apparatus for implementing the method. For example, a method of post-mold treatment of a molded article is provided. The method can be implemented in a molded article receptacle. The method comprises at a first instance in time, subjecting the molded article to a first type of post-mold treatment; and at a second instance in time, subjecting the molded article to a second type of post-mold treatment.
US07780883B2	Method and apparatus of producing fibrous aggregate A method of producing fibrous aggregate, comprising: a supplying and discharging step in which a fiberizable liquid is supplied from a means for storing a fiberizable liquid to a means for discharging a fiberizable liquid via a supplying pipe, and the fiberizable liquid is discharged from the discharging means; and a fibers-collecting step in which fibers drawn and fiberized by applying an electrical field to the discharged fiberizable liquid are accumulated directly on a collecting surface of a collector while the collecting surface is unidirectionally conveyed to form the fibrous aggregate; wherein the discharging means is carried on a support capable of moving along an endless track capable of rotationally travelling between a pair of rotating shafts, and the fiberizable liquid is discharged from the discharging means while the support is revolved at a constant velocity under the condition that a moving direction of a linear motion area in the endless track conforms to a width direction of the collecting surface is disclosed.
US07780881B2	Contact lens molds and systems and methods for producing same Contact lens molds and systems and methods for producing contact lens molds are described. The contact lens mold sections include two optical quality surfaces, a flange circumscribing at least a portion of the two optical quality surfaces, and an elongate member extending from the flange. Two mold sections can contact one another to form a mold assembly having a contact lens shaped cavity. The mold sections are structured to form a contact lens having an edge that does not require further physical modification before placement on an eye. Systems and methods are described which direct a molten polymeric material into cavities corresponding to the mold sections.
US07780879B2	Method for making contact lenses The instant invention pertains to a method and a fluid composition for producing contact lenses with improved lens quality and with increased product yield. The method of the invention involves adding a phospholipid into a fluid composition including a lens-forming material in an amount sufficient to reduce an averaged mold separation force by at least about 40% in comparison with that without the phospholipids.
US07780877B2	High-frequency substrate and production method therefor The high-frequency substrate is constructed of a base member and a conductor adhered to the base member, and the base member is composed of a polymer which is a fluoropolymer having a conductor-affinitive monomer graftpolymerized at a grafting percentage of 1% or less by weight. After reactive sites necessary for graftpolymerization are formed on a film of a fluoropolymer under an oxygen-free atmosphere by irradiating the film with an electron beam or the like, the fluoropolymer film is introduced into a solution of a conductor-affinitive monomer so as to cause graftpolymerization, and a conductor is adhered thereto to thereby produce a substrate, with a grafting percentage of the monomer to the fluoropolymer being 1% or less by weight in the graftpolymerization. The technique leads to the production of a high-frequency substrate having superior adhesion force with respect to the conductor.
US07780874B2	Multi-phase liquid composition and optical electrowetting device that incorporates the same The present invention relates to a multi-phase liquid composition comprising a conductive fluid and a non-conductive fluid, the non-conductive fluid being immiscible in the conductive fluid, the composition having a mean arithmetic cinematic viscosity of between about 1.5 cSt and about 40 cSt, within a temperature range of about −20° C. to about +70° C. The invention also pertains to an optical electrowetting device comprising said multi-phase liquid composition, as well as an optical lens driven by electrowetting, and apparatus comprising the same.
US07780872B2	Fluorescent substance, method for manufacturing the same and image display device A fluorescent substance includes a crystal of nitride or oxy-nitride having a β-type Si3N4 crystal structure having Eu+2 solid-dissolved into it and emitting a fluorescent light having a peak within a range of 500 nm to 600 nm in wavelength by being irradiated with an excitation source. The fluorescent substance further includes another crystalline or amorphous compound different from the nitride or oxy-nitride crystal and a quantity of the nitride or oxy-nitride crystal contained in the fluorescent substance is 50 wt % or more.
US07780866B2	Method of plasma confinement for enhancing magnetic control of plasma radial distribution A method for processing a workpiece in a plasma reactor. The method comprises constraining plasma in the chamber away from the floor of the pumping annulus, providing an annular baffle while compensating for asymmetry of gas flow attributable to the pumping port, and providing a gas flow equalizer below the baffle having an eccentrically shaped opening. The method further includes modifying the radial distribution of plasma ion density and providing a magnetic plasma steering field having an edge high plasma ion density distribution tendency. The method further comprises locating the baffle at a sufficient distance below the workpiece to provide an edge low plasma ion density distribution tendency that compensates the edge high plasma ion density distribution tendency of the magnetic plasma steering field.
US07780860B2	Apparatus and method for separating and concentrating fluids containing multiple components An apparatus is disclosed that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at least three fractions in the apparatus. It also provides for a new method of extracting the buffy coat phase from a whole blood sample. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient.
US07780855B2	Method for pre-engineering a system for environmental control of storm water The present invention provides a method of installing an environmental control system so as to allow for separate sizing of treatment and bypass capacity while also offering the ability to make or change either treatment or bypass capacities at different times. This is accomplished by containing the treatment and bypass functions in separate chambers, using screen, baffle, or coalescing media pack to further refine effectiveness and capacity of each structure independently. The control structure and interceptor structure may be pre-engineered to a variety of sizes, capacities, or other specifications. This allows simple selection of a specific control structure and a specific interceptor structure from a variety of combinations, eliminating the need for custom engineering for each installation.
US07780853B2	Method for conducting maintenance on a chromatography column The present invention relates to methods for conducting maintenance on chromatography columns used in industrial-scale chromatography. In particular, the invention is concerned with safer methods for performing maintenance on such columns, such as cleaning and replacing bed supports, distributors, nozzles, O-rings and other column components, by the use of a handling device to support, lift, carry and manipulate such column components.
US07780852B2	Method for converting kinetic energy of gases or liquids to useful energy, force and work A system for producing energy includes a solvent chamber, a pressure chamber and a semi-permeable barrier separating the solvent chamber from the pressure chamber.The solvent chamber holds a solvent, and the pressure chamber hold a solute solution comprising a solute dissolved in a solvent. The semi-permeable barrier is permeable to solvent molecules and impermeable to solute molecules. Solvent molecules effuse across the semi-permeable barrier into the solute solution of the closed pressure chamber to increase the pressure of the pressure chamber, thereby generating energy in the form of hydrostatic pressure. A conversion device may convert the increased pressure in the pressure chamber to energy. The solute solution may be expelled and recycled after use.
US07780850B2	Water pollution prevention and remediation apparatus A fluid pollution prevention system is provided for preventing the discharge of petrochemicals from a bilge of a marine vessel. The system may include either or both a locator and an absorber for isolating and/or absorbing hazardous waste from a fluid in the bilge. In one embodiment, the locator is a continuous sidewall or barrier that defines a vertically enclosed fluid volume that is isolated from petrochemicals floating on the surface of fluid in a bilge. The absorber forms a closed geometric shape having an interior area that is disposable about the sidewall and movable along the sidewall as a function of fluid height. The absorber functions to absorb petrochemicals from the fluid and isolate an inlet of the bilge pump from receipt of the same. The absorber may be opened and closed to facilitate placement about the sidewall or other objects.
US07780843B2	Method for processing hydrocarbon pyrolysis effluent A method is provided for treating the effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit processing heavier than naphtha feeds to recover heat and remove tar therefrom. The method comprises passing the gaseous effluent to at least one primary transfer line heat exchanger, thereby cooling the gaseous effluent and generating superheated steam. Thereafter, the gaseous effluent is passed through at least one secondary transfer line heat exchanger having a heat exchange surface with a liquid coating on said surface, thereby further cooling the remainder of the gaseous effluent to a temperature at which tar, formed by the pyrolysis process, condenses. The condensed tar is then removed from the gaseous effluent in at least one knock-out drum. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
US07780837B2	Methods and apparatus for cathode plate production The present invention relates to electrolytic recovery of metal, and in particular methods and apparatus for producing cathode plates suitable for such electrolytic recovery. The invention provides a method of providing an electrically conductive coating on a cathode plate comprising inverting and submerging an upper portion of the cathode plate in an electrolytic bath adjacent at least one anode and applying a current to electroplate the upper portion of the cathode plate wherein each anode includes: i) a first base portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to a hanger bar of said cathode plate; ii) a second extended portion connected to and extending from the base portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent a blade of the cathode plate wherein the profile of each anode is shaped such that in use, a consistent thickness of coating is electroplated over said hanger bar and cathode blade.
US07780836B2	Method for fabricating a multilayer wiring board, multilayer wiring board, and electronic device using the same On both surfaces of an electric insulating material 1, a surface conductive layer 2A and a back surface conductive layer 2B are formed by transcription. Further, a via hole 5 penetrating through the surface conductive layer 2A and the electric insulating material 1 is provided. After forming a photosensitive plating resist pattern 14, the via hole 5 is filled with a copper plating filler 15, and the surface wiring layer 9A and the back surface wiring layer 9B are formed. Thereafter, the photosensitive plating resist pattern 14 as well as the surface conductive layer 2A and the back surface conductive layer 2B provided under the photosensitive plating resist pattern 14 are removed to fabricate a double-sided wiring board 11.
US07780834B2	Apparatuses and methods for electrochemically modifying the retention of species on chromatography material An apparatus and method for electrochemically modifying the retention of a species on a chromatography material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing having an effluent flow channel adapted to permit fluid flow therethrough. The effluent flow channel comprises chromatography material. The apparatus further comprises first and second electrodes positioned such that at least a portion of the chromatography material is disposed between the first and second electrodes, and fluid flow through the apparatus is between, and in contact with, the first and second electrodes.
US07780833B2	Electrochemical ion exchange with textured membranes and cartridge An electrochemical cell 102 comprises an ion exchange membrane 10 having anion and cation exchange materials. The membrane 10 can have separate anion and cation exchange layers 12, 14 that define a heterogeneous water-splitting interface therebetween. In one version, the membrane 10 has a textured surface having a pattern of texture features 26 comprising spaced apart peaks 28 and valleys 30. The membranes 10 can also have an integral spacer 80. A cartridge 100 can be fabricated with a plurality of the membranes 10 for insertion in a housing 129 of the electrochemical cell 102. The housing 129 can also have a detachable lid 96 that fits on the cartridge 100. The electrochemical cell 102 can be part of an ion controlling apparatus 120.
US07780825B2	Substrate gripper with integrated electrical contacts A substrate holding and transporting assembly is disclosed. The substrate holding and transporting assembly includes a base plate and a pair of clamps connected to the base plate in a spaced apart orientation, the spaced apart orientation of the pair of clamps enable support of a substrate with at least two independent points. The substrate holding and transporting assembly also includes an electrode assembly connected to the base plate at a location that is substantially between the pair of clamps. The electrode assembly defined to impart an electrical contact to the substrate when present and held by the pair of clamps.
US07780824B2	Electroplating jig An electroplating jig which includes: a first insulator plate having an aperture; a second insulator plate sandwiching a body to be plated between the first insulator plate and the second insulator plate so that the body to be plated is faced outside from the aperture; and a conductive plate for conducting electric current supplied from outside to the body to be plated, the conductive plate being arranged between the first or second insulator plate and the body to be plated, wherein the conductive plate is formed using a conductive rubber contacting elastically with the body to be plated.
US07780821B2	Multi-chamber processing with simultaneous workpiece transport and gas delivery A method for treating/processing substrates/workpieces in a multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus, comprising: providing a multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus comprising at least a pair of operatively interconnected upstream and downstream treatment/processing chambers; providing each of the chambers with at least one substrate/workpiece; treating/processing the at least one substrate/workpiece positioned in each of the chambers; evacuating process gas from each of the chambers during or upon completion of the treating/processing of the at least one substrate/workpiece positioned therein; removing the at least one substrate/workpiece from the downstream treatment/processing chamber and initiating transport of the at least one substrate/workpiece from the upstream treatment/processing chamber to the downstream treatment/processing chamber, comprising initiating a flow of the process gas to the evacuated downstream treatment/processing chamber prior to completion of transport of the substrate/workpiece.
US07780820B2	Low resistance tunneling magnetoresistive sensor with natural oxidized double MgO barrier A high performance TMR sensor is fabricated by incorporating a tunnel barrier having a Mg/MgO/Mg configuration. The 4 to 14 Angstroms thick lower Mg layer and 2 to 8 Angstroms thick upper Mg layer are deposited by a DC sputtering method while the MgO layer is formed by a NOX process involving oxygen pressure from 0.1 mTorr to 1 Torr for 15 to 300 seconds. NOX time and pressure may be varied to achieve a MR ratio of at least 34% and a RA value of 2.1 ohm-um2. The NOX process provides a more uniform MgO layer than sputtering methods. The second Mg layer is employed to prevent oxidation of an adjacent ferromagnetic layer. In a bottom spin valve configuration, a Ta/Ru seed layer, IrMn AFM layer, CoFe/Ru/CoFeB pinned layer, Mg/MgO/Mg barrier, CoFe/NiFe free layer, and a cap layer are sequentially formed on a bottom shield in a read head.
US07780819B2	Chemical elements extraction process by non-thermal plasma and device for implementation The present invention has for its objects a process for extracting the chemical elements contained in diverse products (i.e. waste, ashes, used catalysts, etc. . . .) or in raw materials such as soils, sediments, lands, brownfields and ores and a device to implement the process. The process consists in forming volatile compounds with one or several elements to be extracted present in a first reactor using a gas being maintained outside of thermodynamic equilibrium as in non-thermal plasma (electric discharge under high or low pressure, corona discharge . . . ). These volatile compounds are then exhausted towards secondary reactors intended to selectively extract said volatile compounds by decomposition or by condensation to recover each elements and the gas which can be recycled.
US07780814B2	Wafer pre-clean reactor cable termination for selective suppression/reflection of source and bias frequency cross products A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece in a reactor chamber having a wafer support pedestal within the chamber and process gas injection apparatus, an RF bias power generator coupled to the wafer support pedestal and having a bias frequency, a source power applicator, an RF source power generator having a source frequency and a coaxial cable coupled between the RF source power generator and the source power applicator includes a filter connected between the coaxial cable and the source power applicator that enhances uniformity of etch rate across the wafer and from reactor to reactor. The filter includes a set of reflection circuits coupled between the source power applicator and a ground potential and being tuned to, respectively, the bias frequency and intermodulation products of the bias frequency and the source frequency. The filter may further include a set of filter circuits coupled to the source power applicator and being tuned to, respectively, a second harmonic of the bias frequency and intermodulation products of the second harmonic of the bias frequency and the source frequency.
US07780813B2	Electric field mediated chemical reactors A chemical reactor includes two or more substrates joined along planar surfaces thereof, a chemical reaction chamber located between the two or more substrates, and a pair of electrodes on one of the substrates and along a wall of the reaction chamber. Each substrate is a substantially dielectric or semiconductor substrate. The chemical reaction chamber has a hollow interior, one or more input ports to transport a gas into the hollow interior, and an output port to transport a byproduct out of the hollow interior.
US07780809B2	Method for forming elastomeric tire component and a tire A method of forming an elastomeric tire component is provided, comprising the following steps. An apparatus is provided which includes a rotating applicator head and a non-rotating portion. The non-rotating portion has an internal channel having a first end in fluid communication with a gear pump and a second end in fluid communication with a first channel of the rotating applicator head. The first channel is substantially aligned with the Z axis. The rotating applicator head further includes a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel, and wherein the second channel is oriented at an angle with respect to a Y axis and is in fluid communication with a nozzle. The method further includes pumping a strip of elastomeric material through said internal channel and then into said first and second channel, and then through an outlet of said nozzle onto a surface. The apparatus further comprising a tongue assembly rotatably mounted to the applicator head and being positioned adjacent said nozzle, wherein said tongue compresses said strip of elastomeric material against said surface.
US07780805B2	Concurrent welding and severing belt forming process Belt material is wrapped around a small diameter mandrel. Instead of cutting the belt to length, the material is then continued to be wrapped around the mandrel, forming a belt material overlap, and held under tension. An ultrasonic welding horn is then traversed across the width of the belt overlap. As this horn is traversed across the overlapped joint, the horn not only joins the belt material wrapped around the mandrel but, as the trailing edge is held under tension, the horn also separates or severs the trailing edge of the material from the welded seam.
US07780803B2	Apparatus and method for positioning and assembling circuit board An apparatus for positioning and assembling of a circuit board includes a vacuum adsorption mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, at least four cameras, and a controller. The vacuum adsorption mechanism has a vacuum adsorption platform on which several holes are formed. The vacuum adsorption platform is connected to several vacuum, generators to control the adsorption and positioning of the main board of the circuit board. The vacuum adsorption platform has a through hole. The adjusting mechanism is mounted corresponding to the through hole. The adjusting mechanism is designed to enable the adsorbed daughter board to be adjustable in three axial directions. Two cameras are located corresponding to the main board. The other two cameras are located corresponding to the daughter board for detecting the optical points of the main board and the measuring points of the daughter board. The controller is electrically connected to these cameras.
US07780801B2	Flux composition and process for use thereof The invention relates to a composition of matter comprising a soldering flux, wherein the flux consists essentially of a combination of a fluxing agent and a solvent, and wherein the fluxing agent comprises a keto acid such as levulinic acid or acetylbutyric acid. The flux may also comprises an ester acid, or comprises a mixture of the keto acid with the ester acid. The solvent comprises a mixture of a tacky solvent with a non-tacky solvent. The invention also relates to a process comprising soldering at least two surfaces together, each of which comprises a metal area to which solder can adhere by employing the following steps in any order: applying solder to at least one of the metal areas, aligning the metal areas so that they are superimposed over one another, heating at least one of the areas to a temperature that comprises at least the melting temperature of the solder. The last step comprises joining the superimposed areas to one another. The process employs the flux composition operatively associated with the solder, and in one embodiment the invention comprises a mixture of the flux composition with powdered solder. In another embodiment, the process comprises IMS, C4 and C4NP processes and the solder comprises a lead free solder. The invention also comprises a product produced by the foregoing process or processes.
US07780798B2	Medical devices including hardened alloys Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. The endoprostheses comprise a tubular member capable of maintaining patency of a bodily vessel. The tubular member includes a mixture of at least two compositions, where the presence of the second composition gives the mixture a greater hardness than that of the first composition alone. The first composition includes less than about 25 weight percent chromium, less than about 7 weight percent molybdenum, from about 10 to about 35 weight percent nickel, and iron. The second composition is different from the first and is present from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of the mixture.
US07780797B2	High strength thin steel excellent in hole expansibility, ductility and chemical treatment characteristics High strength hot rolled steel sheet having at least a 590 N/mm2 tensile strength and excellent in elongation and ability of phosphate coating, that is, high strength hot rolled steel sheet excellent in burring, elongation, and ability of phosphate coating having a tensile strength of 590 N/mm2 or more comprising a steel composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.02 to 0.08%, Si: 0.50% or less, Mn: 0.50 to 3.50%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 0.15 to 2.0%, and the balance of iron and unavoidable impurities, satisfying Mn+0.5×Al<4, having a microstructure of the steel sheet having a ratio of ferrite having a grain size of 2 μm or more of 40% or more.
US07780794B2	Medical implement cleaning device A cleaning device for a medical implement is disclosed. The cleaning device includes a cap having an opening to an inner cavity, the opening being adapted to receive a site of the medical implement. The cleaning device further includes a compressible cleaning material that contains a cleaning agent prior to receipt of the site of the medical implement, i.e. the cleaning material is pre-loaded with the cleaning agent. The compressible cleaning material is at least partially secured in the inner cavity and adapted to swab and clean the site with the cleaning agent.
US07780792B2	Process for gelatinising starch using a biodegradable polymer material bearing aldehyde groups The invention provides a process wherein starch and/or a starch derivative can be gelatinized more efficiently by means a thermo mechanical treatment, when a carbohydrate polymer is used comprising aldehyde containing monomer units which comprise one or more aldehyde groups that are derived from one or more a primary alcohol groups. With this process a granulate or other semi-finished product can be obtained that can be shaped to produce an article that has excellent dimensional stability in water. The invention further provides a granulate, a shaped starch product, a food product or a blown starch film comprising such a carbohydrate polymer.
US07780781B2	Pyroprocessed aggregates comprising IBA and low calcium silicoaluminous materials and methods for producing such aggregates In accordance with an embodiment, a method for producing an aggregate is disclosed comprising mixing IBA and a second, silicoaluminous material having a calcium content less than the IBA. The method further comprises agglomerating the mixture, such as by pelletizing, and pyroprocessing the agglomerates, such as by sintering or vitrification, to form the aggregate. The second material may be a clay, such as bentonite or kaolin, a mining waste, such as granite sawing residues, waste glass, or furnace bottom ash, for example. The addition of the second material has been found to facilitate production of lightweight and normal weight aggregates. Preferably, the IBA or the mixture of IBA and the second material are wet milled prior to agglomeration. A lightweight sintered aggregate comprising IBA and the second material and an aggregate comprising IBA and the second material are also disclosed.
US07780780B2	Organic pigment fine particles and method of producing the same According to the method of producing organic pigment fine particles of the present invention, when producing organic pigment fine particles by allowing two or more solutions at least one of which is an organic pigment solution in which an organic pigment is dissolved to flow through a microchannel, the organic pigment solution flows through the microchannel in a non-laminar state. Accordingly, the contact area of solutions per unit time can be increased and the length of diffusion mixing can be shortened, and thus instantaneous mixing of solutions becomes possible. As a result, nanometer-scale monodisperse organic pigment fine particles can be produced in a stable manner.
US07780779B2	Method for separating mixture of finely divided minerals The Rio Capim Kaolin deposit contains a lower bed of soft kaolin clay that averages 10 meters thick, and an upper bed of “hard” kaolin (“RCC hard kaolin”) that may be as thick as 6 to 8 meters. Due to their high impurity content fine particle size, cementetious nature, and high degree of particle aggregation, hard kaolins are difficult to process. Disclosed herein are compositions comprising kaolin having a particle size distribution such that at least about 90% of the kaolin has a particle size of less than 1 micron and a GE brightness of at least about 91, where the kaolin may be derived from a crude kaolin having a Fe2O3 content of at least about 1.0% by weight, and optionally comprises titania in an amount of at least about 1.5% by weight. Also disclosed herein are methods of refining the hard kaolins, such as RCC hard kaolins, by dispersing the kaolin with at least one anionic organic dispersant and at least one inorganic dispersant. Also disclosed are compositions comprising an aqueous kaolin slurry comprising the hard kaolin, such as an RCC hard kaolin, at least one anionic organic dispersant, and at least one inorganic dispersant. Also disclosed are products containing the refined kaolin, such as paints, paper coatings, and plastics.
US07780775B2	Process for the preparation of a novel pigmented composition for use in offset inks The invention pertains to a novel, simpler dry-milling method for comminuting crude pigments (especially crude phthalocyanines) for use in offset inks, wherein a high amount of resin is used, at least part of which is a low molecular phenol-modified rosin, an esterified rosin or a hydrocarbon resin of similar properties, preferably together with an antioxidant, and dry-milling is performed at relatively low temperature. The invention also pertains to the thus obtained, new compositions, which are extraordinarily easily dispersible in hydrocarbon solvents, and their use for the preparation of inks or ink concentrates. Pigment dispersions obtained from the preferred compositions are also claimed.
US07780770B2	Air cleaner An air cleaner particularly disposed for an internal combustion engine is provided with a housing, a filter element disposed in the housing, and adsorbent disposed on the side of an outlet formed to the housing and adapted to adsorb an evaporated fuel invaded inside the housing through the outlet. The adsorbent includes an adsorbing material adsorbing the evaporated fuel and a pair of non-woven fabrics sandwiching the adsorbent material from both sides thereof, and at least one of the non-woven fabrics disposed on the outlet side includes a reinforcing material so as to be integrated with the non-woven fabric.
US07780769B2	High output concentrator A multi-chamber canister for a pressure swing absorption system within a general housing assembly. The chambers include a first molecular sieve chamber for receiving a first molecular sieve for separating air from the ambient environment into a concentrated gas and at least a second molecular sieve chamber disposed within the housing assembly for receiving a second molecular sieve for separating air from the ambient environment into a concentrated gas component. Furthermore, a supply chamber is disposed within the housing for receiving air from the ambient environment and for communicating air to either first or second molecular sieve chambers.
US07780768B2	Gas concentrator with improved water rejection capability A feed gas drying system is described for a PSA or VPSA oxygen concentrator. A membrane dryer is inserted into the feed gas path to the concentrator absorbent beds, such that the moisture in the feed gas is directed to a part of the dryer exposed to the concentrator exhaust, thus achieving efficient operation of the membrane dryer with no loss of concentrator feed gas.
US07780766B2	Removal of vapor gas generated by an oil-containing material The invention provides devices and methods for collecting vapor gas generated by an oil-containing material within a production tank. The devices and associated methods result in produced oil having a reduced level of dissolved hydrocarbons and recovery of vapor gas for resale. The devices include vapor recovery units connected to conventional oil-production units so that a conventional unit is converted to a low emission unit. In an embodiment, the device is a column separator comprising a perforated, packed spiral baffle with one end that receives vapor gas and a second end for removing gas that has traversed the length of the column separator. Also provided are methods for converting an oil-production unit into a low-emission oil production unit using any of the devices disclosed herein.
US07780762B2	Cartridge for treating a gas Cartridge for the treatment of a gas by reaction with a reactive substance, comprising a cohesive assembly of alveolate cells that are at least partly filled with the reactive substance, the alveolate cells possessing one part of their wall which is permeable to the gas and impermeable to the reactive substance, said wall part being intended to be in contact with the gas.
US07780761B2	Adsorptive gas sampler using ionic nano-droplets A gas sampling canister has an electrospray nozzle for creating an ionic fluid electrospray plume. A gas sample intake is positioned to provide a gas sample flowing through the ionic fluid electrospray plume. A cooled counter electrode is positioned to collect the electrospray plume such that selected chemicals in the gas sample are captured by ionic fluid accumulating on the cooled counter electrode. A system and method for sampling gas are also described.
US07780758B2	Method of preparing metal nanocrystal Methods of preparing capped metal nanocrystals are provided. One method includes reacting a metal nanocrystal precursor with a reducing agent in a solution having a platinum catalyst.
US07780752B2	Cyclone dust-separating apparatus of vacuum cleaner A cyclone dust-separating apparatus of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The cyclone dust-separating apparatus includes a cyclone unit having a cyclone chamber to whirl first air drawn in from the outside thus to separate dust or dirt therefrom, a filter unit disposed in a filtering chamber located in a downstream of the cyclone unit and having a filter to filter dust or dirt from the first air, a cleaning unit to brush away the dust or dirt accumulated in the filter by using second air drawn in from the outside, and a dust collecting unit to collect and store the dust or dirt separated from the first air by the cyclone chamber and the dust or dirt brushed away from the filter by the cleaning unit.
US07780745B2	Conformal lithium polymer battery This invention is a method of fabricating a conformal lithium polymer battery comprising the steps of: selecting a slab of lithium polymer battery material of a desired height, containing a desired number of cells; freezing the slab; vertically cutting the slab to a desired shape; attaching a lead to each anode conductor; and attaching a lead to a each cathode conductor. The slab may contain one or many cells. The leads may be made of multistranded, metallic wire, metallic ribbon, low melting point alloy, self-healing metal, and litz wire. Attachment is accomplished so as to minimize tension on the leads. The cut slab may need to be deburred after cutting and before attaching leads. Preferably, burr formation is prevented by recessing the edge of the anodic or cathodic half cells.
US07780744B2	Carpet decor and setting solution compositions Compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations are described for permanently or temporarily re-designing, decorating, and/or re-coloring a surface. The compositions useful in the present disclosure include a décor product that is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface. If desired, the décor product may be substantially removed from the surface before being affixed thereto. If a user desires to remove the décor product, the décor product is formulated to be removed by a number of methods including, for example, vacuuming, wet extraction, chemical application, and the like. If the user desires to affix the décor product to the surface in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, the décor product may be affixed to the surface by applying energy thereto in the form of, for example, heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemical. 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.
US07780742B2	Composition comprising a compound X and A compound Y, at least one of which is a silicone, and a hydrophobic direct dye The present disclosure relates to a composition for coloring keratin fibers comprising in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one compound X of polyorganosiloxane comprising siloxane units of a formula (I) and compound Y of organosiloxane comprising at least one alkylhydrogensiloxane unit of a formula (III), wherein when compounds X and Y are placed in contact with each other they react together via a hydrosilyation reaction, at least one hydrophobic direct dye having a log P greater than 2, and optionally at least one organic solvent. The composition of the disclosure makes it possible to obtain varied hues and intense colors on the keratin fibers. Moreover, the coloration is very resistant to external agents, for example, to repeated washing.
US07780739B2	Method and apparatus for use of a metal-metal constrained liner An acetabular prosthesis and method for its use in an orthopedic surgery is disclosed. The acetabular prosthesis forms a metal bearing, which articulates with a femoral head. The acetabular prosthesis is also configured so as to accept a polymer constraining ring. Should a revision surgery be necessary, the acetabular prosthesis may accept a polymer bearing liner over the metal bearing. The polymer bearing liner then articulates with the femoral head.
US07780738B2	Polymer-ceramic articulation A ceramic-metal composite articulation is provided with substantial elimination of wear debris, wherein a ceramic material is provided with superior mechanical properties tailored for articulating with ceramic articulations having high flexural strength (greater than about 700 MPa), high fracture toughness (greater than about 7 MPam1/2) and a high Weibull modulus (greater than about 20), in comparison with presently available bio-ceramics such as alumina or zirconia. The mechanical property enhancement enables ceramic materials with greater reliability and significantly reduced in-vivo fracture risk to be obtained. Preliminary in-vitro wear performance, to several million cycles using established test protocols, of head/cup components in a prosthetic hip joint made from these ceramics also demonstrates the ultra low wear characteristics. These material properties substantially eliminate polyethylene (PE) wear debris mediated implant failures by offering an optimal combination of bio-mechanical safety and reliability with ultra low wear performance.
US07780736B2	Biologic modular tibial and femoral component augments for use with total knee arthroplasty The use of biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable materials to provide temporary stability after a surgical joint procedure is provided. Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable cam and/or post linings mounted to respective knee prosthesis components. Such linings are reabsorbed after a time sufficient for patient tissue formation to provide permanent stability. Likewise, the invention has application in any joint reconstruction where the integrity of the stabilizing tissue has been compromised by injury or as a result of the surgical procedure itself. Further aspects of the present invention include using biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable materials loaded with agents that may promote tissue formation, fight infection, and promote clotting. Still further aspects of the present invention are directed to the use of biologically reabsorbable snaps or other fasteners to attach a lining to the femoral component and/or the tibial component.
US07780734B2	Tissue distraction device An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
US07780732B2	Spinal fusion cage and method of use The present invention provides a fusion cage comprising a first housing, a second housing, and an alignment portion adapted to be received between the first and second housings such that the first and second housings are held in place by said alignment portion. The alignment portion can be varied in shape such that the fusion cage is wedge-like in shaped, or slanted to one side. Further, the alignment portion is constructed of a radiolucent material to allow for visualization of a bone fusion within the fusion cage.
US07780729B2	Intraocular lens An accommodating intraocular lens has an anterior portion including an anterior viewing element and an anterior biasing element connected to the anterior viewing element. A posterior portion has a posterior viewing element and a posterior biasing element connected to the posterior viewing element. The anterior and posterior biasing elements are connected at first and second apices. First and second distending members are connected to the posterior portion. The first and second distending members extend to locations significantly anterior of an anterior side of the posterior viewing element.
US07780727B2	Scleral prosthesis for treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders Presbyopia is treated by implanting within a plurality of elongated pockets formed in the tissue of the sclera of the eye transverse to a meridian of the eye, a prosthesis having an elongated body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface to contact the base and flap of the scleral pocket. The first and second surfaces are spaced apart a distance so that the implanted prosthesis exerts an outward force on the flap of the scleral pocket which results in an outward traction on at least the anterior margin of the scleral pocket. The combined effect of the implanted prostheses is to exert a radially outward traction on the sclera in the region overlying the ciliary body which expands the sclera in the affected region together with the underlying ciliary body. The expansion of the ciliary body restores the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle in the presbyopic eye and thereby increases the amplitude of accommodation. Hyperopia, primary open angle glaucoma and/or ocular hypertension can be treated by increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle according to the invention. A preferred embodiment of the scleral prosthesis has a major surface adapted to contact the base or flap of the pocket and an opposite surface or ridge spaced from the major surface.
US07780723B2	Heart valve delivery system A delivery system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site within the human vasculature. The prosthetic valve is disposed on a balloon at the end of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter passes through a delivery sleeve assembly and handle. A pull wire travels from the handle to a distal end of the delivery sleeve assembly. Actuation of the handle pulls on the pull wire, which causes openings in a slotted tube of the delivery sleeve assembly to close, thus causing the delivery sleeve assembly to bend. A stretchable cover is placed over the slotted tube for biasing the steerable catheter toward a straight position. Once advanced to the native valve site, the prosthetic valve is deployed by inflating the balloon.
US07780718B2	Endovascular prosthetic devices having hook and loop structures Endovascular prostheses and methods for their use are disclosed. The prostheses include an endovascular member in need of repair and a patch therefore, as well as prostheses comprising two or more endovascular members, such as stent-grafts, which may be assembled in situ. Components of the prostheses are held together in substantially fluid tight engagement as the result of hook and loop structures which are present on the members. The hooks engage the loops to secure the components to one another. As a result, the present invention is particularly useful for the in situ repair of damaged prostheses and for the in situ assembly of bifurcated endovascular prostheses, particularly for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
US07780715B2	Vessel treatment devices A catheter system for treating lesions is provided. The system is suitable for treatment of bifurcation lesions, has a low profile and provides substantially predictable translational and rotational positioning. In one embodiment, the system includes a fixed wire balloon catheter and a partially attached guidewire lumen, wherein the guidewire lumen is attached to the catheter at a crotch point. The location of the crotch point is predetermined so as to provide substantially predictable positioning. Several embodiments of the system are described for various types of lesions and vessel configurations.
US07780713B2	Heat absorbing pack A pouch includes a mixture of a crystalline substance and liquid that is solid at room temperature (e.g., 70° F.) and melts when in contact with a human body, therein cooling the body.
US07780711B2	Fixation system with multidirectional bone supports A fixation system includes a plate intended to be positioned against a bone, a plurality of bone screws for securing the plate along an non-fractured portion of the bone, and a plurality of bone pegs which extend from the plate and into bone fragments of the fracture to provide a supporting framework. The pegs can be oriented at various angles relative to an axis normal to the lower surface of the plate. For each peg, once the peg has been appropriately positioned within the peg hole, a set screw is threaded into the peg hole and tightened, thereby securing the peg in the selected orientation.
US07780709B2	Implants and methods for inter-transverse process dynamic stabilization of a spinal motion segment An implant assembly for stabilizing a spinal motion segment includes a flexible spacer member positionable between adjacent transverse processes to dynamically limit movement of the upper and lower transverse processes toward one another upon extension of the spinal motion segment. The implant assembly may also include an engaging member positionable about one or more posterior elements of a spinal motion segment to secure the spacer member thereto.
US07780708B2	Implant retaining device There is provided an implant retaining device, which has the effect of preventing an intervertebral implant from jutting out of the receiving bed. The implant retaining device generally includes a plate having at least one throughbore to receive a screw, and a screw for securing the plate to the vertebrae. The plate may be dimensioned to cover a portion of the opening of a receiving bed, and thus, need only be secured to a single vertebral body. In an alternate embodiment, the plate may be used during bone fracture correction procedures to prevent a bone screw from backing out of engagement with adjacent bone sections. A method of retaining an intervertebral implant using the device is also provided.
US07780707B2	Method for reducing a vertebra using stacked elements An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
US07780706B2	Mono-planar pedicle screw method, system and kit A pedicle screw assembly (10) that includes a cannulated pedicle screw (20) having a scalloped shank (24), a swivel top head 30 having inclined female threads (44) in a left and right arm (34, 36) to prevent splaying, a set screw (50) having mating male threads 52, a rod conforming washer (60) that is rotatably coupled to the set screw (50), the conforming washer including reduced ends to induce a coupled rod (80) to bend. A rod reduction system including an inner and an outer cannula (90, 100), the inner cannula (90) including a left and right arm (92, 94) that engage the swivel top head's (30) left and right arm (34, 36) and the outer cannula (100) dimensioned to securely slide over the inner cannula (90) to reduce the rod (80) into the swivel top head's (30) rod receiving area (38).
US07780705B2	Formed in place fixation system with thermal acceleration A subcutaneously formed in place orthopedic fixation device is provided, such as for fixation of the spine or other bone or bones. The device comprises an inflatable member, such as a tubular balloon. A heat source is provided in thermal communication with the interior of the balloon. The balloon is positioned at a treatment site while in a flexible, low crossing profile configuration. The balloon is thereafter inflated with a hardenable media, and heated to accelerate hardening of the media. Methods and delivery structures are also disclosed.
US07780704B2	Spinal cross-connector An assembly and a method of locking a longitudinal member to a cross-connector assembly construct, wherein the assembly comprises a longitudinal member; a flexible clip contacting the longitudinal member; a housing component contacting the flexible clip; a locking mechanism contacting the housing component; and a connecting member contacting the housing component. The flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member adapted to retain the longitudinal member. The flexible clip comprises a socket portion; and a clip portion attached to the socket portion, the clip portion being adapted to retain the longitudinal member, wherein the flexible bias member extends from the clip portion to a bottom region of the socket portion.
US07780702B2	Suture tool A suture tool is provided in which the fixing member includes: a base portion which has a thin and longitudinal plate shape and which has a through-hole through which the suture thread passes; and a pair of bent pieces of which ends are opposed to each other by bending both ends of the base portion toward the center thereof. Thick plate portions which are thick in an insertion direction of the suture thread and which interpose the suture thread therebetween are disposed at the ends of the pair of bent pieces, respectively.
US07780700B2	Patent foramen ovale closure system A patent foramen ovale closure device, method of delivering and a delivery system are provided. The device may include a closure device releasably connectable to an actuator. The device may include a proximal segment, an intermediate segment and a distal segment. When delivered, the proximal segment and intermediate segment form a first clip-shaped portion sized and configured to be positioned over a septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale, and the intermediate segment and distal segment form a second clip-shaped portion sized and configured to be positioned over a septum primum of the patent foramen ovale.
US07780698B2	Low-cost disposable tourniquet cuff having improved safety A low-cost disposable tourniquet cuff having improved safety includes a cuff with opposing ends and an inflatable bladder having a first bladder side and a second bladder side. The bladder has a length dimension that is greater than the circumference of a limb of a patient at a desired limb location for applying the cuff, but less than the distance between first and second cuff ends. A port is provided for inflating the bladder, and a fastener is attached to the second bladder side and adapted to allow the surgical user to releasably secure the fastener to the first bladder side only if the cuff overlaps upon itself by at least a predetermined minimum cuff overlap length at the desired limb location.
US07780695B2	Chemically based vascular occlusion device deployment A vascular occlusion device deployment system for placing an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system employing a pusher having a lumen with an opening at the distal end of the pusher. A vascular occlusion device is connected to the distal end of the pusher by a portion that is removeably disposed within the opening. The portion of the occlusion device is forced out of the opening by an expandable reaction chamber, thereby deploying the occlusion device.
US07780693B2	Catheter A delivery catheter 200 for rapid exchange delivery of an embolic protection filter 301 over a guidewire 22, and rapid exchange deployment of the filter 301 at a desired site in a vasculature. The delivery catheter 200 comprises a catheter body 2, a restraining sheath 10 and an elongate pull wire 9. The catheter body 2 comprises a proximal hypotube portion 5 and a radially offset distal spring pusher 6. The restraining sheath 10 is movable in a sliding manner relative to the catheter body 2 upon retraction of the wire 9, and the distal end of the pusher 6 is engageable with the filter 301 in a reception space 11 upon retraction of the sheath 10 to deploy the filter 301 out of the reception space 11. The pusher 6 has a guidewire lumen 16 and a proximal guidewire opening 17 for passage of the guidewire 22 through the lumen 16 and out through the proximal guidewire opening 17 in a rapid exchange manner.
US07780689B2	Bar-link drive system for a microkeratome A microkeratome 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a bar-link drive 20 connected to a cutting-head 36. A fixation ring 34 attaches to a patient's eye and is coupled to the bar-link drive 20 to the drive the cutting-head 36 at least partially across the fixation ring 34.
US07780686B2	Anastomotic device The present invention is directed to gastrointestinal or enteric (including biliary) anastomosis and the like. The anastomotic device of the invention is a three dimensional woven tube of wire. The outer loops or ends of the tube fold or loop back on deployment in a manner which holds the luminal interface of the anastomotic site into apposition at the deployment site. The woven tube is deployed using a protective sleeve and nose assembly. Adjustment of the wire diameter and/or material properties of the wire can cause the anastomotic device to remain in place permanently or, for example, in the case of the intestine to slough through the two apposing walls of the lumen resulting in the device safely passing through the intestine leaving a naturally healed, properly functioning anastomosis.
US07780685B2	Adhesive and mechanical fastener Provided is a two-piece anastomosis fastener that can be used to join two tissue sections together in accordance with Natural Orifice Transendoscopic Surgery (NOTES). The fastener may be releasably attached to a fastener applying instrument for delivery in accordance with such procedures. The fastener includes a first member and a second member, where the clamp members are operably configured to fasten together to clamp and hold tissue, such as gastric tissue, in juxtaposition to establish an anastomosis. The first clamp member and the second clamp member are coupled with an adhesive.
US07780683B2	Method of closing an opening in a wall of the heart Disclosed is a closure catheter, for closing a tissue opening such as an atrial septal defect, patent foreman ovale, or the left atrial appendage of the heart. The closure catheter carries a plurality of tissue anchors, which may be deployed into tissue surrounding the opening, and used to draw the opening closed. Methods are also disclosed.
US07780681B2	Non-imaging, computer assisted navigation system for hip replacement surgery The invention includes: a locating system; a computer, interfaced to the locating system and interpreting the positions of tracked objects in a generic computer model of a patient's hip geometry; a software module, executable on the computer, which defines the patient's pelvic plane without reference to previously obtained radiological data, by locating at least three pelvic landmarks; and a pelvic tracking marker, fixable to the pelvic bone and trackable by the locating system, to track in real time the orientation of the defined pelvic plane. Preferably, the system also includes a femoral tracking marker, securely attachable to a femur of the patient by a non-penetrating ligature and trackable by the locating system to detect changes in leg length and femoral offset.
US07780680B2	Apparatus for deployment of micro-coil using a catheter The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil detachably mounts the therapeutic device to a distal portion of a pusher member. In one embodiment, the therapeutic device is detachably mounted to the distal portion of the pusher member by a tubular collar that can be heated by a heater such as an electrical resistance coil to expand the collar and release and deploy the therapeutic device. The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil may also provide for a pusher member and a connector fiber for securing the therapeutic device to the pusher member. The connector fiber passes through a heater within the distal portion of the pusher member, for heating and breaking the connector fiber to release the therapeutic device when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.
US07780677B2	Method of determining the position of the articular point of a joint A non-invasive method for determining the articular point of a knee joint is disclosed. The method uses a surgical navigation system having stereoscopic cameras which track the positions of infrared emitting or reflecting markers attached to leg portions on either side of the knee joint. A movable marker is used to palpate known landmarks on the leg portions to determine their positions. The leg portions are moved to determine the trajectories of the landmarks relative to the joint. Positional information from the cameras is fed to a data processing system with resident software which uses the positional information and trajectories to mathematically determine the positions of the knee joint articular point according to the laws of kinematics.
US07780676B2	Intervertebral implantation apparatus An implantation apparatus for preparing adjacent vertebral bodies to receive an intervertebral implant including a plurality of keels. The implantation apparatus includes an elongated handle portion, and a template portion carried at a distal end of the handle portion substantially perpendicularly to the handle portion. The template portion defines a plurality of open channels corresponding in position and shape of the plurality of keels. Each channel is positioned and shaped for preparing a vertebral opening to receive a corresponding keel.
US07780672B2	Femoral adjustment device and associated method A femoral adjustment device to balance a flexion gap. The device includes a body attachable to a distal femur, the body having a cutting guide and an adjustment mechanism operable to balance the flexion gap, wherein upon balancing the flexion gap, the cutting guide is operable to guide at least one cut in the distal femur.
US07780671B2	Bone resection apparatus and method for knee surgery A bone resection apparatus and its method of use for knee surgery are presented. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a spacer and a tibial cut guide. The spacer has a first surface engageable with the cut distal femoral bone and a second surface opposite the first surface engageable with the uncut proximal tibial bone in joint articulating relationship. The spacer further includes a cut guide support. The tibial cut guide has a cutter guide defining a cut plane and a support engaging element engageable with the cut guide support. The cut guide support and support engaging element cooperate to position the cut plane in relative to the first surface.
US07780670B2	Changing relationship between bones To change a spatial relationship between two or more bones in a patient's body, a wedge member is moved into a joint between the bones. As the wedge member enters the joint, pivotal movement occurs between the bones to change the orientation of the bones relative to each other. The wedge member may have a circular cross sectional configuration and be moved into the joint by rotating the wedge member about an axis which extends between a thin leading edge portion and a thick trailing edge portion of the wedge member. Alternatively, the wedge member may have a cam-shaped configuration and be rotated through less than a revolution to apply force against the bones. The wedge member may have a porous construction which enables bone to grow through the wedge member and immobilize the joint. The wedge member may be coated with and/or contain bone growth promoting material. The wedge member may be connected to only one of the bones or may be connected to two adjacent bones. If the wedge member is connected to only one bone, the joint may be capable of being flexed after the wedge member is inserted into the joint.
US07780666B1	Fixed and variable locking fixation assembly A locking screw assembly is provided which allows installation into a plate-like member using relatively little force, but which requires relatively great force for removal. The fastener has an annular locking ring provided within a groove in the head of the screw to allow the screw to sit within or flush with the anterior surface of the plate. The through-hole in the plate which receives the locking screw comprises an entrance, a collar section, an undercut, and an exit. The locking ring resides within the undercut. The locking ring has a leading surface that is chamfered or radiused and a trailing surface that is flat. The chamfer allows the locking ring to easily be inserted into the through-hole by interacting with a lead chamfer in the entrance. After installation, the flat trailing surface abuts a lip adjoining the collar section and the undercut and prevents the screw from being easily removed from the through-hole.
US07780662B2	Vessel sealing system using capacitive RF dielectric heating An electrosurgical system for sealing vessels using capacitive (RF) dielectric heating and a method thereof are provided. The system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an end effector with parallel plate electrodes that will clamp onto a vessel and maintain a specified gap distance; however, the electrodes will be coated with a non-conductive dielectric material. Such an end effector will ensure that direct conduction between the electrodes does not occur through tissue or fluids and effectively creates a parallel plate capacitor with a dielectric, e.g., tissue and coating, in between the plates. The electrosurgical instrument will be activated with an AC signal at a specified RF frequency, e.g., a Debye resonance frequency, via an electrosurgical generator. An effective AC current will flow through the tissue and cause heating due to fictional losses from rotating polar molecules in the tissue.
US07780658B2	Method and system for cryoablating fibroadenomas A cryosurgical system adapted for treatment of fibroadenomas within the breast of a patient. The system includes cryoprobes and a control system which operates the cryoprobes to accomplish freezing in two stages, including a high power freeze and a low power freeze.
US07780655B2	Medical or cosmetic hand-held laser device A medical or cosmetic hand-held laser device with an optical waveguide device is subdivided into a first section and a second section arranged at an angle thereto for emitting laser radiation onto a treatment area. To deflect the laser beam from the first section into the second section as effectively as possible and in particular to launch the laser beam with the lowest possible loss into a waveguide that conducts the laser beam further, the hand-held device is provided with a reflector that is arranged between the two sections and has an essentially elliptical reflective surface.
US07780647B2	Medical device with therapeutic agents A medical device is adapted for at least partial implantation into a body and includes first and second sections along the length of the device. A first therapeutic agent is associated with the first section and a second therapeutic agent is associated with the second section. The first therapeutic agent can be one or more antiproliferative, such as paclitaxel, a paclitaxel derivative, or a paclitaxel pro-drug, anti-coagulant, antithrombotic, thrombolytic, fibrinolytic, or combination thereof. The second therapeutic agent can be one or more antimicrobials, such as one or more antibiotics. Each of the first and second therapeutic agents can either be posited on one or more surfaces of the respective section, or impregnated within the section. The device can include a separator to space the first and second sections. A method of making a medical device and a method of establishing access to a vessel within a body are also provided.
US07780643B2	Absorbent article having X-shaped shaping element An absorbent article such as a sanitary towel, diaper, incontinence protector or panty liner, has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and has two side edges, a front edge and a rear edge, a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion located between the front portion and the rear portion. The article includes a shaping element. The shaping element includes at least two substantially elongated blanks which are cross-laid in an at least partially overlapping and substantially X-shaped configuration. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article permits improved manufacture of the article, with less material wastage.
US07780635B2	Apparatus and methods for delivering fluid and material to a subject The present invention provides fluid and material delivery methods and devices for practicing the methods. The invention provides a method of delivering cellular material comprising injecting the cellular material into a subject such that the injected cells retain their inherent morphologic characteristics upon injection. The method comprises the steps of aspirating the cellular material into a fluid delivery device which incorporates a syringe arrangement. The cellular material is aspirated into the main body of the syringe until the desired amount of a material has filled the syringe body. The needle of the fluid delivery device is then inserted into the skin of a subject at an angle about parallel to the skin until a desired depth has been reached. The cellular material is then injected in the subject until the desired volume of material has been injected. The needle of the device is then rotated approximately 45 to 90 degrees and the needle is removed from the injection site.
US07780629B2	Non-compliant medical balloon having an integral non-woven fabric layer A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing pressure within the balloon. The non-compliant medical balloon is composed of a matted fabric layer composed of at least two matted fabric fibers forming an angle. The angle remains substantially unchanged when the balloon changes from a deflated state to an inflated state.
US07780628B1	Apparatus and methods for treating congestive heart disease Methods and apparatus are provided for treating congestive heart by actively or passively enhancing perfusion to the renal arteries. A first embodiment comprises a specially configured balloon catheter and extracorporeal pump, wherein the pump operates in a “once-through” fashion or alternating volume displacement mode. In another embodiment the catheter includes a pair of balloons to isolate a region of the aorta, and a third balloon that directs flow into the renal arteries. In still further embodiments, a stent or cuff having a constricted region is deployed in or around the aorta, respectively, to create a backpressure upstream of the stent or cuff. Methods of enhancing renal perfusion also are provided.
US07780627B2	Valve treatment catheter and methods The invention provides a catheter for insertion into a biological passage which contains a first flowing fluid, the catheter including a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; a fluid delivery lumen contained within the tubular member; an inflatable balloon assembly disposed at the distal end of the tubular member, the balloon assembly including an inflatable balloon member having an uninflated state and an inflated state, the balloon assembly including apertures in communication with the fluid delivery lumen; an inflation lumen in communication with the balloon member; and a valve contained within the inflatable balloon assembly. The inflatable balloon is assembly configured such that when the balloon member is in the inflated state: (i) sections of the balloon member contact the biological passage defining at least one containment pocket; (ii) the apertures are disposed in the containment pocket, (iii) a flow lumen is defined through the balloon member to allow the first fluid to flow through the balloon member; and (iv) the valve functions to allow the first flowing fluid to flow through the flow lumen in a physiologic direction, while blocking backflow of the first fluid through the flow lumen.
US07780625B2	Instrument for implanting sensors and solid materials in a subcutaneous location and method thereof An implantation instrument for implanting a substantially solid material, including solid medication or drugs, in a subcutaneous location and method are described. An incising shaft includes a beveled tip with a cutting edge along a distal end. A syringe body is affixed to a proximal end of the incising shaft. The syringe body and the incising shaft each define a substantially non-circular hollow bore extending continuously along a shared longitudinal axis. The incising shaft bore does not exceed the syringe body bore in girth. Both the incising shaft bore and the syringe body bore are sized to receive the solid material. A plunger is conformably shaped to the syringe body bore and has an end piece facilitating deployment of the plunger assembly. The plunger slidably fits within the syringe body bore and advances the solid material through the syringe body bore and the incising shaft bore into the subcutaneous location.
US07780622B2	Artificial blood vessel There is described an artificial blood vessel for use in a region of a living body which needs to be repeatedly pierced with a needle. The artificial blood vessel includes a main section having a vessel wall which includes a laminated assembly comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and an intermediate layer positioned therebetween, and a pair of anastomotic sections disposed on the respective opposite ends of the main section. Each of the anastomotic sections has an intermediate layer thinner than the intermediate layer of the main section or is free of an intermediate layer, so that the anastomotic section as a vessel wall thinner than the main section.
US07780620B2	System and method for determining the hematocrit and/or blood volume A method for determining the hematocrit and/or blood volume during an extracorporeal blood treatment with an extracorporeal blood circuit, in which blood is taken with a blood pump via an arterial cannula and an arterial flexible-tube line and blood is fed back via a venous flexible-tube line and a venous cannula. Pressure is measured in the extracorporeal blood circuit and a change in the hematocrit is determined from a change in the pressure. The respective relationship between hematocrit HKT or blood volume RBV and pressure P in the extracorporeal circuit is stored for various cannula diameters and various blood-flow values. The respective relationship for a given cannula diameter and blood flow is selected. The hematocrit and/or blood volume is determined taking account of the selected relationship.
US07780619B2	Blood treatment apparatus A blood processing machine has a compact configuration in which the first and second parts of the machine separate to open a gap between them. The actuators and sensors face into the gap such that when a cartridge with a fluid circuit is placed in the gap and the two parts are brought together closing the gap, the actuators and sensor engage the fluid circuit. One of the parts has an operator interface with a display that is preferably aligned with the gap in such a way that the frontal area of the machine is minimized.
US07780618B2	Extracorporeal blood processing apparatus and methods with pressure sensing This invention provides an apparatus and method for controlling a fluid separation system, preferably a blood apheresis system, by sensing fluid pressure and comparing the sensed fluid pressure to a threshold value.
US07780616B2	Walking assistance device In order to provide a walking assistance device capable of favorably providing an assisting force for maintaining the upright posture while reducing the sense of pressure when worn by the user, a hip support member (1) of the walking assisting device, which comprises an assisting force generator (hip joint actuator 10) disposed at least on a side of a hip joint to provide an assisting force to a movement of a lower limb, is provided with: a back support (4) equipped with pads (18, 19, 20) for respectively abutting an intermediate portion between right and left erector spinae muscles, lateral outer sides of the spinae muscles and right and left iliac crests; and a belt (5) connected to the back support for tightening a lower part of the rectus abdominis muscle. In this way, a supporting force can be provided to the lumbar vertebrae to steadily keep the upright posture while reducing a resistance to a bending movement of the waist caused by the support member. Further, the drive torque from the assisting force generator can be supported by the whole hip portion and this can contribute to preventing inadvertent move of the support member.
US07780615B1	Anatomically designed, reusable secondary wound wrap for a digit An anatomically designed secondary wound wrap, in one embodiment, adapted for receipt around a proximal phalanx portion, distal phalanx portion, and interphalangeal joint of a digit. The wound wrap is made of a loose weave, breathable wrap material. The wound wrap includes a wrap body having a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end. The wrap body is received around the proximal phalanx portion, distal phalanx portion and interphalangeal joint. A portion of the first end extends outwardly from the wrap body for forming a first wrap holder flap, with a first hook attachment thereon. The first hook attachment is used to secure the wound wrap around the proximal phalanx portion of the digit. A portion of a second end extends outwardly from the wrap body for forming a second wrap holder flap, with a second hook attachment thereon. The second wrap holder flap extends from the wrap body in an opposite direction from the first wrap holder flap. The second hook attachment is used to secure the wound wrap around the distal phalanx portion of the digit. A primary wound dressing is received over a wound on the digit and includes a wound dressing hook attachment for attaching to an inside portion of the wrap body.
US07780610B2	Component measuring instrument and chip It is an object of the present invention to provide a component measuring instrument with which a predetermined component in blood can be measured securely and in a short time. The component measuring instrument, which is used by mounting therein a chip having a puncture needle, includes: a specimen sampling portion application portion to which a specimen sampling portion to be punctured is applied; a puncturer for moving the puncture needle; pressure reducer for putting the punctured portion of the specimen sampling portion punctured by the puncture needle, together with a containing space for the puncture needle, into a reduced-pressure condition; measurer for measuring the amount of a predetermined component in the blood sampled from the punctured portion; and a chip retracting mechanism for moving the chip in a direction away from the specimen sampling portion while maintaining the reduced-pressure condition generated by the pressure reducer.
US07780601B2	Adaptive clinical marker preservation in spatial compound ultrasound imaging Clinical markers are adaptively identified in steered spatial compounding ultrasound imaging. Motion is detected. The use or determination of the clinical marker information adapts to the amount of motion. If sufficient motion is detected, the contribution of clinical marker information may be reduced, the weighting of the clinical marker information relative to the steered compound information is reduced, the acquisition sequence is adjusted for component frames of data, or combinations thereof.
US07780598B2	Sonodynamic treatment apparatus and method of controlling the same In a sonodynamic treatment apparatus including: a first ultrasound radiating unit for radiating diagnostic ultrasound; a second ultrasound radiating unit for radiating treatment ultrasound; an echo detection unit for detecting an ultrasound echo; a diagnostic controller for radiating the diagnostic ultrasound with the first ultrasound radiating unit and detecting the ultrasound echo corresponding the diagnostic ultrasound; an echographic controller for processing an echographic image on the basis of the detected ultrasound echo; and a treatment controller for radiating the treatment ultrasound with the second ultrasound radiating unit, radiation of the treatment ultrasound with the second ultrasound radiating unit is controlled to have a predetermined exposure duration and a predetermined pause duration of the treatment ultrasound, and the echographic image is generated on the basis of the ultrasound echo during the pause duration of the treatment ultrasound exposure with the diagnostic image generator. The treatment ultrasound may be weakened after detection of a bubble generated by the treatment ultrasound.
US07780587B2	Unweighting assembly and support harness for unweighting a patient during rehabilitation A support harness and an unweighting assembly for at least partially unweighting a patient during rehabilitative exercises. The unweighting assembly including a support harness configured to generally extend around at least a portion of the patient, a support structure for supporting the support harness, and at least three connectors. Each of the connectors includes a first end coupled to the support structure and a second end coupled to the support harness at one of at least three connection points so that the patient is able to be supported in a crawling position.
US07780586B2	Training bench A training bench supports a user performing upper and lower body exercises and is comprised of a base, a seat, a main and adjustable support column, a pivoting support plate with angular adjustments, locking pins and rubber feet. The training bench has multiple vertical height adjustments independent of the seats' incline adjustments. All seat angles support a user's upper torso, lower torso or entire body. Ergonomics is a basis for the training bench structure. Many types of people are able to use the compact functional training bench regardless of their, height, size or exercise level.
US07780585B1	Portable dual incline adjustable resistance abdominal muscle exercise machine An abdominal muscle exercise machine of a push-pull type that includes an elbow sliding support plate with handle bars; a knee sliding support plate with swiveling knee cups; elastic resistance bands attached between the elbow and knee support plates and the end stabilizer bars; parallel sets of shafts at the front and rear end of the machine connected to the sliding support plates; a center rod with support legs to raise it off the ground; quick release clamps attached to the parallel shafts; and end support rods with end caps at the front and rear end of the machine. The machine has a dual incline angle for both the elbows and knees to pull and push against during exercise and may be adjusted in range of motion using quick release clamps. The machine may also be easily folded closed for storing in a compact space.
US07780582B2	Method and apparatus for magnetically coupling incremental weights to exercise apparatus A dumbbell and incremental weight plate for same comprise a bar that extends generally axially between opposing end regions, a weight plate mass mounted about the bar at each end region, and at least one incremental weight plate mountable on the dumbbell. The weight plate mass and the incremental weight plate have respective magnetic regions that cause the incremental weight plate to be selectively magnetically secured to the weight plate mass or to be magnetically repelled from the weight plate mass to assist the user in removing the incremental weight plate from the dumbbell.
US07780579B2	Weighing system using electromagnetic force compensation A weighing system, using the principle of electromagnetic force compensation, which includes a permanent magnet system (14) having an air gap, a shielding cover (12), a coil (13) located inside the air gap, a transmission lever (7) to whose longer lever arm the coil is attached, and upon whose shorter lever arm the weight transferred by the load receiver acts, a position sensor (20, 21, 22) which detects the position of the transmission lever and which is situated in the vicinity of the coil, and a control amplifier (16) for controlling the current passing through the coil. Further, at least one vertical support (25) is connected to the transmission lever in the vicinity of the coil and the position sensor and projects through an opening (27) in the shielding cover. A counterweight (26) is placed on this/these support(s) closely above the shielding cover.
US07780577B2	Pendulous exercise device In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a pendulous exercise device is provided that comprises first and second swing arms pivotally coupled to a frame. The first and second swing arms extend from the frame at an angle from vertical. First and second footpads are provided pivotally coupled to the first and second swing arms, respectively. Each footpad defines a footpath comprising a forward/rearward component, an upward/downward component and an inward/outward component.
US07780576B1	Fitness system for climbing walls A resistance tubing fitness system and method for climbing walls. The system and method provides a plurality of cooperating components which permit a user to enhance workout activities at a climbing wall. The system may include a guide, instruction cards, resistance bands, handles and hand holds designed to receive a resistance band, step holds and usage and safety instructions. In use, students may perform lateral raises, bicep curls, step-ups and other exercises at designated workout stations at the climbing wall.
US07780575B1	Method and apparatus for parallett and ballet bar fixture Triangular shaped smooth outside and cavities inside with a PVC parallett/ballet bar supported by blind holes at the top of a pair of triangular end caps. End cap bar opening has a ridged inside dimension that is tapered slightly from the inside to the outside surface areas. Tapering by ridged ramps located inside that bar opening, allows the end caps and bar to forcibly seize unto each other with a firm bond requiring no further fastening agent. Bar may include a filler pole for rigidity especially in longer length devices. End caps likewise seize and hold both a PVC bar and/or the PVC/filler insert combination.
US07780571B2	Automatic transmission control apparatus An automatic transmission control apparatus includes an engine rotational speed limit verifying section and a shift control characteristic changing section. The engine rotational speed limit verifying section is configured to receive an engine rotational speed limit value for limiting an engine rotational speed and determine if the engine rotational speed limit value is lower than a prescribed normal upper limit value. The shift control characteristic changing section is configured to change a shift schedule of an automatic transmission based on the engine rotational speed being limited by the engine rotational speed limit value and the automatic transmission having a stronger tendency to select a higher gear stage than if the engine rotational speed limit value was not being limited to a lower value than the prescribed normal limit value, when the engine rotational speed limit value is determined to lower than the prescribed normal upper limit value.
US07780569B2	Traction drive type continuously variable transmission A traction drive type continuously variable transmission, comprising a first input/output shaft (6) rotatably supported on a casing (10), a second input/output shaft (7) rotatably supported on the casing (10), a V-pulley (4) supported on the first input/output shaft (6) and having a pair of pulley members forming a V-groove with variable grove width, a ring (3) engaged with the V-pulley (4) and supported at the outer periphery thereof, and a mechanism for moving the ring (3) to the periphery of the second input/output shaft (7).
US07780563B2	Drive force distribution apparatus A drive force distribution apparatus is provided with an input shaft, first and second output shafts, a first epicyclic gear group, a second epicyclic gear group and a motor/generator. The first epicyclic gear group has two degrees of freedom, with the first epicyclic gear group including a first gear coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to the first output shaft and a third gear. The second epicyclic gear group has two degrees of freedom, with the second epicyclic gear group including a first gear coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to the second output shaft and a third gear. The motor/generator is operatively coupled to the third gears of the first and second epicyclic gear groups so that mutually different drive forces are transmitted from the motor/generator to the first and second epicyclic gear groups.
US07780560B2	Power transmission belt A power transmission belt has a compression section, a tension section, and a load carrying section. The load carrying section has a plurality of reinforcing cords. The reinforcing cords are formed from poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO). In each reinforcing cord, the cords have a yarn twist greater than the cord twist, and the cord twist is in the range of one-forth to one-half of a ply twist.
US07780558B2	Bicycle rear derailleur The chain guide of a bicycle rear derailleur is a chain guide which is connected to a movable member so that this guide is free to swing about a center pivot axis. The chain guide has a pair of plate members rotatably supporting a guide pulley and a tension pulley. One of the plate members is provided with a chain slip prevention part which is disposed between both plate members in the vicinity of the guide pulley. Preferably, the chain slip prevention part has a width of ten mm or greater and fifty mm or less.
US07780557B2	Efficient high torque continuously variable transmission Continuously variable transmission includes a set of pulleys, each pulley comprising two discs arranged relatively axially moveable on a central pulley shaft for clamping a transmission belt. The belt includes a continuous array of transverse elements, each having lateral pulley contact surfaces for contacting the belt contact surface of each of the pulley discs, and being provided slideably on an endless tensile element of the belt. Each pulley has a mechanical stiffness as incorporated in the transmission and a stiffness related feature of a pulley when expressed as a parameter Sag that indicates an amount of radial displacement of the belt between the discs in the transmission, occurring in response to imposing a maximum amount of axial force Fax during operation of the transmission, relative to a radial position of the belt in an unloaded state of the transmission, amounts to less than 1.2 mm but more than 0.5 mm.
US07780556B2	Belt drive system A belt drive system including an assembly of a heavy-duty drive V-belt 5 and pulleys 2 and 4 reduces noise generating owing to belt travel while ensuring the durability of the pulleys 2 and 4. The surfaces of belt grooves 6 in the V-pulleys 2 and 4 are micro-blasted or burnished so that their surface roughness satisfies the relational expression y≦−0.9×tp+100, where tp is the load length rate at a given position of a roughness curve indicating the surface features of the groove surfaces in the V-pulleys 2 and 4 and y is the variable (the degree of height) indicating by percentage the ratio of the height from the lowest valley having a maximum depth to the given position to a maximum height Ry.
US07780551B2	Golf tee and methods to manufacture golf tees In one embodiment, a golf tee to support a golf ball comprises a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion comprises a support section to support the golf ball. A perimeter of an end of the support section of the second portion defines a plane. The plane remains substantially perpendicular to an axis while the second portion moves relative to the first portion. Other embodiments of golf tees are disclosed herein.
US07780550B2	Color golf ball The invention provides a colored golf ball composed of a core, a cover having a plurality of dimples formed on an outside surface thereof, and an inside layer in contact with the cover. The ball satisfies the following conditions: (i) a color difference ΔE* between the inside layer and the ball of at least 30; (ii) the inside layer has a lightness L* value, expressed in the Lab* color system based on JIS Z8729, of at least 82 and a chroma C, defined as (a2+b2)1/2, of at most 10; (iii) the ball has a lightness L* value of at least 50; (iv) the lightness L* value of the ball≦the lightness L* value of the inside layer; (v) the inside layer has a transparency which is up to 10% in terms of total transmittance and up to 1.0% in terms of parallel transmittance; and (vi) the cover has a transparency which is at least 50% in terms of total transmittance and at least 1.0% in terms of parallel transmittance. The colored golf ball of the invention is a fluorescent ball, yet retains a sense of transparency and thus confers a sense of quality. The ball also has weather resistance and is able to prevent changes in color. Moreover, the golf ball of the invention has a reassuring and psychologically calming effect on the golfer during play, and has a suitable look and feel.
US07780549B2	Golf club head A golf club head comprising a strike face having a heel portion, a toe portion, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion includes one or more score lines. At least a portion of one or more score lines include a different average surface roughness and associated surface reflectance than at least the intermediate portion. A method for producing such a club head is also provided.
US07780548B2	Golf club heads with grooves and methods of manufacture Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a strike face having one or more grooves with edges, where one or more of the edges is unsmooth. Other embodiments are also described herein.
US07780546B2	Golf club shaft and method of producing the same A composite golf club shaft having a reinforcing ribbon of composite material spiraling along an intermediate portion of the shaft and bonded thereto to reinforce the hoop strength of the shaft. The ribbon is shaped into a rib of different cross-sectional shapes, the preferred embodiment being a thin rectangular shape approximately 0.125 wide of an inch and spiraling at a rate of four turns per inch, producing a groove of equal width. The methods of the invention produces the shaft by providing a mandrel having the outside shape desired for the shaft's inside surface; wrapping a ribbon of reinforcing material around the shaft in a spiral groove therein; forming the shaft body around the mandrel; and separating the mandrel from the shaft after curing, by unscrewing the mandrel.
US07780545B2	Training systems and methods for athletes The system monitors a user's key physical movements when performing a particular activity, such as a golf swing, and signals visually and/or aurally when a single (or several) error(s) is/are committed, for the purpose of encouraging faster learning of fundamentally sound physical skills. Mental conditioning is achieved when the effects of repeatedly listening to the specially constructed and authored audio conditioning programs during practice sessions and games are combined with the above described physical monitoring effects of the system. Better physical execution of a selected technique or skill results, and the user experiences the benefits of mental conditioning on his/her playing performance.
US07780544B2	System and method for indicating a golf swing region A system is provided for indicating a region of a golf swing. The system includes a strip configured to encircle the feet of a golfer preparing to conduct the golf swing of a golf club. The strip is marked with one or more markings for a respective golf swing region. More particularly, the strip is positioned such that during an outer extremity of the golf swing region, the golf club is positioned above a respective marking.
US07780543B2	Golf swing training device Embodiments include a golf swing training device primarily formed from a first material having dimensions suitable for wrapping around a shaft of a golf club and a second material coupled to the first material wherein the second material conforms to the dimensions of the first material and adds sufficient weight to the golf club. The training device is removable coupled to the shaft of the golf club. A method including securing a swing training device around a portion of the shaft of the golf club, the training device comprising a length dimension suitable to distribute a weight of the training device about a substantial portion of the length of the shaft and then swinging the golf club.
US07780542B1	Golf training device A golf training device and process are disclosed for assisting a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball. The golf training device comprises a plate including a face side and a back side. The face side of the plate has a first color. The back side of the plate has a second color. An exterior edge of the plate has a third color. A coupler extends between the interior edge of the plate and the shaft of the golf club for securing the plate to the golf club. The third color alone is visible during the golf player swinging the golf club for producing a perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball. The perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball propels the ball in a straight trajectory.
US07780541B2	Golf training glove The invention relates to a golf training glove with sensors for triggering a perceptible signal on an erroneous gripping technique of the golf club with glove fingers to accommodate the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger. According to the invention, error signals with a correct gripping technique may be avoided, whereby the sensors are at least arranged on the glove fingers for accommodation of the index finger, middle finger and ring finger and the perceptible signal is triggered by an excessive gripping pressure. No sensor is arranged on the thumb of the golf training glove.
US07780537B2	Waterslide run-out bowl An annular-shaped waterslide bowl for use as an element of a waterslide apparatus serves to slow a rider down and bring him or her to a stop at the end of the waterslide ride. The bowl has a bowl wall with a rider entry port through which a rider slides from a flume into the bowl. The bottom wall of the bowl has an opening at its center and a low circumferential wall around the opening extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The rider comes to a stop in the bowl and can step over the circumferential wall into the opening. A staircase located within the opening provides means for the rider to exit the bowl. The waterslide bowl provides a compact structure for slowing and stopping the rider and is particularly suitable for waterslide installations having limited space.
US07780536B2	Methods and systems for positionable screen for self-contained floating marine parks A water transportation system and method are described, generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. 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, a floating water park positioned in a body of water is described, as well as, a floating marine park. A floating marine/water park may include one or more floating containers positioned in a body of a first fluid. One or more of the floating containers may function to hold a second fluid, marine life, and/or participants in water amusement activities. A floating marine park may include one or more convertible roofs functioning to substantially cover at least a portion of one or more of the floating containers.
US07780529B2	System, method and interface for monitoring player game play in real time A system for monitoring game play is disclosed. The system includes at least one gaming device adapted to present a game to a player and generate game play data. A communication link is provided between the gaming device and a host over which game play data, including player information, is transmitted. The host is adapted to store, manipulate, display and otherwise use the data. In one embodiment, the host is arranged to generate an interface for display by a display device. Game play information is displayed with the interface. In one embodiment, game play information regarding one or more gaming machines is displayed real-time by the interface. Filters may be used upon and reports generated using the game play information. In one embodiment, the system includes one or more portable, hand-held devices for displaying the interface and information.
US07780524B2	Monitoring system, game machine and device management system A board box 80 includes an upper lid portion 80a made of transparent resin, and a lower lid portion 80c made of transparent resin. A main control board 41 for performing main control to a pachinko game machine 1 is provided on the lower lid portion 80c. A thin and rectangular IC tag 86 is provided at the backside of the upper lid portion 80a. A coil-shaped antenna 68 for making RF transmission and reception with the IC tag 86 is provided at the lower right end portion of the main control board 41. The distance between the antenna 68 and the IC tag 86 is set to about 3 mm in the state that the upper lid portion 80a and the lower lid portion 80c are assembled. A R/W unit always polls the IC tag 86 via the antenna 68. If the upper lid portion 80a is opened and the distance between the antenna 68 and the IC tag 86 exceeds about 5 mm, the communication becomes unavailable and a fact that the upper lid portion 80a has been opened is immediately detected.
US07780523B2	Server based gaming system having multiple progressive awards A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.
US07780516B2	Free game bonus round for gaming machines A system of linked gaming machines is disclosed herein. Upon a certain triggering event occurring, eligible gaming machines simultaneously receive a signal for initiating a free game bonus round. The player awarded the most credits or points from the play of the free games is awarded a special jackpot. The possibility of the free game bonus round occurring at any time provides incentive for players to keep playing the linked gaming machines. A free game pot, used to fund the free games, is accumulated from a percentage of wagers, where the percentage is dynamically changed based on the level of the free game pot.
US07780509B1	Quick-install foundation vent A foundation vent comprising a front frame and resiliently-flexible clips with tabs at their ends. The foundation vent can be quickly installed within a foundation opening by flexing the clips, placing them into the opening, and pushing the front frame until it seats against the exterior of a foundation wall. At this point, the tabs of the clips will have protruded past the interior face of the foundation wall allowing the clips to return to their unflexed state and causing the tabs to secure against the interior face of the foundation wall.
US07780505B2	Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and semiconductor manufacturing method A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a supporting unit for supporting a semiconductor wafer received from a CMP apparatus and a vacuuming system for holding the wafer on the supporting unit. The vacuuming is applied only in a peripheral area of the wafer. In the peripheral area of the wafer, any circuit such as interconnections and devices are not manufactured. When the wafer is released by supplying gas to the vacuumed space, even if static electricity occurs, the electronic circuit to be manufactured on the wafer does not harmed, because the static electricity occurs only in the peripheral area where any circuit does not exist.
US07780504B2	Method for manufacturing disk-substrates for magnetic recording media, disk-substrates for magnetic recording media, method for manufacturing magnetic recording media, magnetic recording media, and magnetic recording device A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium disk substrate is provided for achieving a magnetic disk having a suitable surface roughness, a high in-plane magnetic anisotropy and a high S/N. The manufacturing method has a texturing process wherein the magnetic recording medium disk substrate is rotated in the circumferential direction while a polishing tape is pressed against the rotating substrate. The polishing tape includes polyester fiber having a fiber diameter of 400 nm to 950 nm, on the surface coming into contact with the substrate. All the while, slurry including abrasive grains including a cluster diamond is supplied to the surfaces of the substrate. The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium disk substrate produced by the manufacturing method; and a magnetic recording medium at least comprising a magnetic layer on the magnetic recording medium disk substrate and manufacturing method of the magnetic recording medium.
US07780496B2	Method for fabricating electron emitter A method for fabricating a surface-conduction electron emitter includes the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) disposing two lower layers on the surface of the substrate, the two lower layers are parallel and apart from each other; (c) disposing a plurality of carbon nanotube elements on the lower layers; (d) disposing two upper layers on the two lower layers, and thereby, sandwiching the carbon nanotube elements therebetween; and (e) forming a micro-fissure between the carbon nanotube elements.
US07780492B2	Apparatus and methods for resizing electronic displays Apparatus and methods for resizing COTS AMLCDs or other electronic displays, as well as resized displays made using these apparatus and methods, are provided. The electronic display includes a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back plates apart, and image-generating medium contained in an area between the front and back plates. A target portion of the display may be identified and separated from an excess portion of the display, e.g., by cutting and breaking the plates of the display, thereby creating an exposed edge along the target portion. The plates of the target portion are pressed towards one another, e.g., to stabilize or compress the target portion. An adhesive is applied to the exposed edge, and the pressure is released to draw the adhesive between the plates along the exposed edge.
US07780491B2	Process for manufacturing plasma display panel and substrate holder The invention relates to a process for manufacturing plasma display panel and a substrate holder, preventing an occurrence of dust giving an unfavorable effect in a forming process of a film on a substrate of a plasma display panel in a film forming apparatus. When forming the film, a substrate (3) and a dummy substrate (35) are held by a first substrate holder (31) composed of a supporter sustaining underneath the substrate and a restrictor restricting a position of the substrates (3) in a plane direction, and a second substrate holder (32) sustaining the first substrate holder (31).
US07780484B2	Electrical connector having alternative inner housings An outer housing is configured to receive alternative first and second housings. The first inner housing is configured to receive clean body contacts where the inner housing includes integral locking latches extending into the contract receiving cavity where the locking latch may be positioned against the shoulder of the contract retaining the contact in position in the cavity. Alternatively, a second inner housing may be provided with a locking shoulder against which a locking lance of an electrical contact having a locking lance may be provided.
US07780483B1	Electrical press-fit contact The present invention may be used for press-fit insertion into an electrical contact hole or an electrical solderless contact. An electrical contact may have a contact portion, an insert portion and a position portion therebetween. There may be an insert guide portion at an insert end and a resilient portion rearward thereof. The resilient portion may have an opening through the sides formed as an elliptically shaped portion with an oblong end portion at each end along a longitudinal axis of the electrical contact. The resilient portion may have a first beam and a second beam spaced apart and arched with a convex outside edge symmetrically located along the longitudinal axis. A first projection and a second projection may be spaced apart and opposed orthogonal to the longitudinal axis on an inner surface of the opening.
US07780481B2	Composite connector assembly and power supply apparatus having such composite connector assembly A power supply apparatus includes a main body, a power input device, a first power output device and a second power output device. The first power output device includes a first cable and a first connector. The first cable is connected to a first surface of the first connector and includes at least a stop block and at least a fastening element. The second power output device includes a second cable and a second connector. The second cable is connected to a first surface of the second connector and includes an extension part and a retaining wall. An edge of the retaining wall is confined by the stop block and the extension part is clamped by the fastening element so as to selectively combine the first connector with the second connector as a composite connector assembly and facilitate securely fixing the composite connector assembly in a common power socket.
US07780479B2	Jack with modular mounting sleeve A housing for a coaxial jack including an opening for receiving the jack, the opening including a guide for preventing rotation of the jack within the opening. The housing also includes a stop to limit sliding of the jack within the opening and a flange extending from an outer surface. An outer face opposite the flange includes a ridge and a groove. A housing for coaxial jacks includes a pair of openings for receiving jacks. Each opening includes a guide to prevent rotation and a stop to limit sliding of the jack within the opening.
US07780478B2	Apparatus and methods for connecting two electrical devices together Methods and apparatus are provided for connecting together two audio components that have different size connectors and/or a different configuration of electrical contacts between them. In one embodiment of the present invention, an audio adaptor is designed having an audio plug of one size to mate with a first electrical device, such as an integrated mediaphone such as the iPhone™, and an audio jack having a different size to mate with a second electrical device, such as a conventional cell phone headset having a single earpiece. In that instance, the plug would be a four-prong, 3.5 millimeter stereo device, while the jack would be a three-prong, 2.5 millimeter monaural device. The adaptor includes circuitry that takes one audio channel (i.e., the left or right channel), and couples it to the audio input on the monaural jack.
US07780477B2	Adapter system for use with an expresscard slot An adapter system is disclosed including a pair of adapters operating in conjunction with each other to allow a variety of different, off-the-shelf memory cards to be used within the ExpressCard slot.
US07780475B1	Socket connector for a relay A socket connector is provided for electrically connecting an electromagnetic relay to a plurality of electrical wires that are terminated by a mating connector. The socket connector includes a dielectric housing having a relay mounting base and a wire connector. The relay mounting base includes at least one relay receptacle. The relay mounting base is configured to receive the electromagnetic relay thereon. A plurality of terminals is held by the housing. Each terminal includes a relay contact portion and a connector contact portion. The relay contact portion extends within the at least one relay receptacle for electrical connection with the electromagnetic relay. The connector contact portion extends within the wire connector for electrical connection to the mating connector.
US07780470B2	Plug tail lighting switch and control system The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system for use in an AC electrical power distribution circuit including at least one first AC power conductor disposed between an upstream AC power element and a device box and at least one second AC power conductor disposed between the device box and a downstream AC power element. The at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor are routed into an interior portion of the device box and accessible via a front open face of the device box. The system includes a connector device including a connector housing having a plurality of connector contacts disposed therein.The plurality of connector contacts are coupled to termination structures configured to couple the at least one first AC power conductor and the at least one second AC power conductor to corresponding contacts of the plurality of connector contacts. An electrical wiring device includes a device housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion includes at least one user-accessible control element disposed thereon. The at least one user-accessible control element is coupled to an electrical switch mechanism disposed in the device housing and coupled to a plurality of device contacts. The plurality of device contacts are accessible by way of a device connection arrangement formed in the rear portion of the device housing. The plurality of device contacts are configured to mate with the plurality of connector contacts when the connector device is coupled to the device connection arrangement.
US07780467B2	Poke-in connector A connector having a housing and a contact are described. The connector includes an electrically conductive contact and a housing. The housing has a cavity to receive and secure the contact, a first alignment feature for receiving a first conductive cable into the contact and a second alignment feature for receiving a second conductive cable into the contact. The housing also includes at least one attachment point protruding from the housing to attach and secure the connector to a surface and at least one flexible flange to substantially prevent movement of the connector on a surface. The contact receives and secures the first conductive cable and the second conductive cable to provide an electrical connection between the first conductive cable and the second conductive cable. The attachment point attaches and secures the connector to a surface.
US07780464B2	Surface contact card holder and portable electronic device using the same A holder for a surface contact card includes a main body, a cover and an impeller. The main body provides a receiving bay receiving the surface contact card therein. The cover is disposed on the main body. The cover defines an opening. The impeller is slidably received in the opening for pushing the surface contact card to remove it from the receiving bay. A portable electronic device with the holder mounted on it is also disclosed.
US07780463B2	Selective flash memory drive with quick connector A flash memory device having a housing for enclosing a flash memory drive, a host chip for selectively operating the flash memory drive in a host mode or a slave mode, and a control chip for controlling the operations of the flash memory device. The flash memory device further includes a universal connector mounted in the housing and configured for electrical connection to enable the connection of the flash memory device to at least one peripheral device. The flash memory device also preferably including a display screen and interface control for user operations of the device.
US07780457B2	Electric terminal for printed circuit boards The invention relates to physical connections of a plurality of mutually insulated connecting elements, especially configured for printed circuit boards, the physical connection being a component of an electric connection between two or more conducting elements with direct contact using a spring. The electric terminal represents such a connection, and allows rapid and simple detachment of the conductor, similar to the plug'n'play technology used for plugging in the conductors. A clamping system is provided which allows to simply and rapidly detach the conductor and which is accessible from several sides of the terminal. The advantageous accessibility of the clamping system makes it possible to always use the tools for operating the clamping system in a manner perpendicular to the surface of the printed circuit board.
US07780445B2	Palatal expansion device and methods The present invention embodies to a palatal expansion device that includes one or more stabilizers attached to the blocks; a ratchet that engages the screw; and a built-in activator that communicates with the ratchet. This design allows essentially unidirectional rotation of the screw. The ratchet system embodies a pin/pocket arrangement, or a ratchet wheel/spring arrangement. The present invention involves kits and methods for expanding the maxillary arch or mandible using the palatal expansion devices of the present invention.
US07780443B2	Self-ligating bracket with rotary cover The present invention provides designs for a self-ligating orthodontic bracket. According to one embodiment, the self-ligating orthodontic bracket includes a mounting base for attachment to a tooth surface, an archwire slot formed upon the base and sized for receiving an orthodontic archwire, a rotary ligating cover selectively rotatable between an open position permitting access to the archwire slot and a closed position covering the archwire slot, and one or more locking features for holding the rotary cover in a closed position. In one embodiment, the bracket includes one or more locking tabs on the rotary cover aligned in coplanar relation to the rotary cover and cooperatively mating with cutout portions in the base. The bracket may include cutouts on the sides of the rotary cover for easier manipulation of the cover. Lead in chamfers on the archwire slot may also be incorporated into the bracket base. Recessed channels and detents may be included for allowing the cover to be held in open or closed positions.
US07780439B2	Kilns for the processing ceramics and methods for using such kilns Kilns for processing ceramics and methods for using such kilns are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a kiln includes an inner body configured to hold one or more ceramic workpieces for processing. The kiln can also include an outer body at least partially surrounding the inner body and spaced apart from the inner body to define an airflow passageway therebetween. The airflow passageway includes an inlet proximate to an upper portion of the outer body and an outlet proximate to a lower portion of the outer body. The kiln can further include an air mover positioned to move air through the airflow passageway from the inlet toward the outlet. In several embodiments, the kiln can additionally include a lid assembly pivotably coupled to the outer body and configured to sealably close against at least the inner body.
US07780432B2	Method and device for connecting a plastic workpiece to a further workpiece A method of connecting a plastic workpiece to a further workpiece and a device for carrying out the method are shown and described. The object of providing a method with which a positive-locking connection between a plastic workpiece and a further workpiece can be produced in a short time and without considerable outlay in terms of apparatus is achieved by a method comprising the following steps: providing a plastic workpiece and a further workpiece, placing the further workpiece against the plastic workpiece, providing a connecting element on a surface of the plastic workpiece, this surface being opposite the surface against which the further workpiece bears, producing a recess in the further workpiece, this recess being provided on the surface bearing against the plastic workpiece, heating the connecting element, so that the material of the connecting element is plasticized, and pressing plasticized material into the recess.
US07780431B2	Nanoimprint molds and methods of forming the same A nanoimprint mold includes a substrate having at least one substantially non-transferable feature and at least one transferable feature defined at different portions thereon. Methods for forming the same are also disclosed.
US07780430B2	Mandrel, and apparatus and process for resin film production with mandrel To provide an apparatus and method for producing a resin film product from a thermoplastic resin in a stable manner without damage to the product, wherein the resin film product is thin and has a uniform, flat surface.A mandrel 7 that comes into proximity or contact with the surface of a moving resin film to guide the movement of the resin film when a resin film in continuous form is continuously produced, the mandrel comprising: a mandrel main body 71 having an opening; and a guide part 72 that is composed of an elastic member attached to the opening 71a and that can advance and retract relative to the resin film, and an apparatus and method for producing a resin film using the mandrel.
US07780429B2	Three-dimensional molding device The present invention relates to a three-dimensional molding device for producing a three-dimensional molded object. The three-dimensional molding device comprises a receptacle for retaining a light-curing resin, a light source for irradiating light to cure the light-curing resin retained inside the receptacle, wherein the three-dimensional molded object is produced by curing the light-curing resin, and a flexible three-dimensional molded object holding plate, which adheres to the light-curing resin and holds the three-dimensional molded object when the resin in the receptacle is cured.
US07780428B2	Fluid-guiding and electric conducting system for suspended electric submersible progressing cavity pump (PCP) A fluid-guiding and electric conducting system for a suspended electric submersible PCP comprises a fluid-guiding system and an electric conducting system. The fluid-guiding system comprises an upper connector, a protector, a fluid-guiding sleeve, a driving mechanism, a shaft coupling, a first annular cavity, a second annular cavity, a third annular cavity, a fourth annular cavity, and a fluid outlet. The first annular cavity, the second annular cavity, the third annular cavity, the fourth annular cavity, and the fluid outlet are connected orderly to the well fluid pipe. The electric conducting system comprises a motor lead wire, a center hole of the protector, a fifth annular cavity, and a wire outlet. The fluid-guiding and electric conducting system has the advantages of simple structure, low manufacturing cost, easy assembly and inexpensive maintenance.
US07780425B2	Piston compressor A piston compressor contains at least one cylinder (2), inside of which a reciprocating piston (4) forms two working chambers (10, 12) disposed on opposing sides of the piston, which each have at least one inlet and one outlet opening, in which a respective inlet valve (20, 22) or an outlet valve (24, 26) operates. A housing (32) surrounds the cylinder, and has a suction port (34) and an exhaust port (36). A space between the cylinder and the housing is divided by a separating wall (28, 30) in such a way as to connect the suction port with the inlet openings and the exhaust port with the outlet openings. A driving arrangement (42, 44) reciprocally moves the piston. The inlet valve of one working chamber opens and the inlet valve of the other working chamber closes for each stroke of the piston, and the outlet valve of the one working chamber closes, while the outlet valve of the other working chamber opens.
US07780423B2	Blower A blower has an air channel housing that defines an air channel therein, the air channel housing having an air outlet extending therefrom. A plurality of air blades are positioned inside the air channel housing, and positioned horizontally with respect to a surface on which the blower is supported. A base seat is positioned below the air channel housing, the base seat having a side wall, with an air inlet provided in the side wall. A motor is positioned in the base seat and has a shaft that extends through the air channel housing to be coupled to the air blades.
US07780418B2	Quick assembly blade for a ceiling fan A quick assembly blade for a ceiling fan includes a blade frame, a blade and a clamping member. The blade frame is fixed therein with at least three studs spaced apart equidistantly for a fastener to be respectively locked therein. The blade has one end bored with insert holes at the locations corresponding to the studs of the blade frame for the fasteners to be respectively inserted therethrough. The clamping member plate-shaped is secured on the blade at a location matching with the blade frame, having one end cut with two engage notches corresponding to two adjacent fasteners below and the other end provided with an elastic engage portion. The clamping member can be quickly pressed and fixed on the blade by means of its engage notches and its elastic engage portion to enable the blade to be assembled on the blade frame quickly and stably.
US07780417B2	Wind energy plant with a rotor hub A wind energy plant with a rotor hub which is connected to at least one pitch bearing, and with at least one rotor blade, the blade root of which is connectable to the pitch bearing via joining means, wherein a stiffening element is provided, which is arranged between the rotor blade root and the pitch bearing and connected to the same via the joining means.
US07780413B2	Turbine airfoil with near wall inflow chambers A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine and having at least one cooling system. At least a portion of the cooling system may be positioned in an outer wall of the turbine airfoil for receiving cooling fluids from a cooling fluid supply source, passing those fluids through the chambers in the outer wall, and exhausting those fluids into central cooling fluids collection chambers. The outer wall may include a plurality of outer wall cooling chambers that may be configured to pass cooling fluids in a counter flow direction. The outer wall cooling chambers may include a plurality of ribs including a plurality of impingement orifices for increasing the cooling efficiency of the cooling system.
US07780412B2	Operating a wind turbine at motor over-temperature conditions Methods and apparatus for continuing wind turbine operation when normal wind turbine motor control is unavailable due to overheating of one or more wind turbine control motors. Technical effects of the present invention include providing an effective control strategy continuing operation during over-heating of a wind turbine control motor, such as a pitch control motor and a yaw control motor.
US07780410B2	Method and apparatus for gas turbine engines A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes providing at least one blade assembly. The method also includes forming at least one blade tip fuse within at least a portion of the at least one blade assembly. The method further includes coupling the at least one blade assembly into the gas turbine engine. The blade assembly includes an airfoil and a metal leading edge (MLE) coupled to at least a portion of the airfoil. The MLE includes the at least one blade tip fuse.
US07780407B2	Rotary machines and methods of assembling A rotary machine and a method of assembling a rotary machine having a casing extending at least partially around a rotor are provided. The method includes providing a diaphragm patch ring. The method also includes assembling a diaphragm assembly by configuring a diaphragm bore portion to receive the diaphragm patch ring and forming a diaphragm patch member sub-assembly by coupling the diaphragm patch ring to the configured diaphragm bore portion, such that the diaphragm bore portion defines at least one dowel passage and at least one bolt passage. The method further includes inserting at least one dowel generally radially into the at least one dowel passage, inserting at least one fastening bolt generally radially into the at least one bolt passage to secure the diaphragm patch ring to the diaphragm bore portion, and positioning the diaphragm assembly in a gap formed by the casing and the rotor.
US07780406B2	Molded pump An injection molded commercial pool pump is provided having a motor, an adapter plate connected to the motor, a housing connected to the adapter plate further comprising a channel, a sealing plate positioned between the adapter plate and housing, an impeller connected to the motor shaft, an o-ring positioned between the sealing plate and housing to prevent leaking of internal fluids and a diffuser positioned over the impeller and connected to the sealing plate where the diffuser and impeller are inserted into the channel.
US07780396B2	Automatic carton stacker/collator A system for automatically forming stacks of cartons for feeding a magazine for supplying cartons to a packaging machine includes a primary support on which the stacks of cartons are formed, and a secondary support for temporarily receiving a series of the cartons thereon as a previously formed stack of cartons is removed from the primary support. The stack of cartons collected on the primary support is moved onto a transport conveyor for transport to a loader for the magazine for feeding into the packaging machine.
US07780393B1	Trailer for transporting vehicle security barriers A transporter for transporting and deploying vehicle security barriers includes a central carrier that is rotatable between a longitudinal transport orientation and a transverse deployment orientation. A cable lift apparatus is connectable to the security barriers on the ground and operable to lift the barriers into the central carrier irrespective of the orientation of the central carrier. A plurality of pivoted dogs is arranged around the central carrier at vertically spaced levels to define transport positions for the security barriers within the central carrier. The pivoted dogs are mounted to allow the barriers to pass upwardly past the dogs, but not be lowered past the pivoted dogs unless the dogs have been manually pivoted to permit the barriers to be lowered. The barriers can be transported longitudinally on the transporter and deployed transversely through rotation of the central carrier which can rotate ninety degrees to either direction.
US07780391B2	Substrate processing device Processing chambers (3A-3F) for applying a process to a substrate W housed therein are provided at a periphery of a conveying chamber 2. A conveying case (4) houses the substrate (W) in a state isolated from an outside atmosphere. The conveyance case (4) has a gate valve (30) and a transfer mechanism (22). A conveying mechanism (5) supports the conveyance case 4, and carries the conveyance case (4) to a position for conveying in/conveying out a substrate. The number of processing chambers connectable to a conveying chamber is not limited, and conveyance to the processing chamber can be executed while maintaining a predetermined ambience for an atmosphere of a substrate that is to be processed.
US07780387B2	Fixture set The present invention relates to a fixture set which comprises an accessory part (2), and at least one means for fixing the accessory part (2) to a front surface of a wall of a hollow frame (1), through a hole (6) provided through said wall. The fixing means comprises an anchor (5), a bolt (3) screwed into the anchor (5) and a splitter (4) arranged between the head of the bolt (3) and the anchor (5). The anchor is entirely inserted in the hole (6) in the wall and comprises at least two parts (12) which are radially expandable by the splitter (4), when tightening the bolt, to lock the anchor (5) against the back surface of the wall. Both the splitter (4) and the anchor (5) comprise mutually interlockable structures for substantially restricting rotation of the anchor relative to the splitter. Moreover, the accessory part (2), or an intermediate accessory piece arranged between the accessory part and the wall, comprises means for substantially restricting rotation of said splitter (4) relative to the accessory part (2).
US07780380B2	Insert-indexable tool An insert-indexable tool includes a holder and a head member having an insert mount seat by which an insert is to be held. The head member includes a first mount face and a second mount face that intersect each other from a view facing toward the cutting face in a state in which the insert is held by the insert mount seat. The holder includes a first receiving face abutting the first mount face and a second receiving face abutting the second mount face. The first receiving face and the second receiving face are respectively provided with a first fixing threaded hole and a second fixing threaded hole into which fixing screws are inserted into the first mount face and the second mount face. The first fixing threaded hole and the second fixing threaded hole are located so that the fixing screws do not intersect each other.
US07780377B2	Friction stabilizers and roof bolt head markings A roof stabilizer for use in securing surfaces in tunneling and mining is disclosed and claimed. The stabilizer has a tube with a slot and a ring attached to the bottom end of the tube. The ring can have indicia on a bottom surface of the ring or a side surface of the ring or both. The location of the indicia can provide better indication of the properties of the stabilizer to the installer. The indicia is easier to read than that of the background art both before and after installation. The location of the indicia can also provide easer and quicker visual inspection of already installed stabilizers to verify that the proper roof stabilizers were installed. The location of the indicia lessens the likelihood that corrosion will remove the indicia making it unidentifiable. The stabilizer disclosed and claimed also allows the use of grout or an adhesive in the interior of the tube which does not cover up or conceal the indicia on the ring as opposed to indicia in the background art stabilizers. Also disclosed are various locations and methods for placing indicia on the heads of roof bolts. Such indicia locations and methods for placement also aid in the pre and post installation and inspection of roof bolts to provide easier verification that devices with the correct properties were installed.
US07780370B2	Environmentally friendly binding of calendars A calendar binder having a rigid bar with a front surface and a rear surface, a recess centrally positioned on the rear surface of the rigid bar, a tab having a top end and a bottom end, and an adhesive layer on the rear surface of the rigid bar is adapted to secure the rigid bar to a calendar where at least a portion of the tab is positioned in the recess of the rigid bar. The respective materials for the rigid bar, the tab and the adhesive are suitable biodegradable materials.
US07780367B2	Thermal printer with compact structure and usability of cover open and cover open mechanism A cover operation member (41) is movably attached to the base frame to selectively latch and unlatch a platen (21) attached on the cover frame. The cover operation member (41) is in contact with the head bracket (32) so that the thermal head (31) is separated from the platen (21).
US07780357B2	Bearing with cage-mounted sensors An antifriction bearing (A) for accommodating rotation about an axis (X) comprises an inner race (2) having a raceway (12), an outer race (4) having a raceway (22), rolling elements (6) positioned between the inner and outer races (2, 4) and contacting the raceways (12, 22) of those races (2, 4) so that when relative rotation occurs between the races (2, 4) the rolling elements (6) roll along the raceways (12, 22), a cage (8) positioned between the inner and outer races (2, 4) and having pockets (40) in which the rolling elements (6) are received with the cage (8) being rotatable between the races (2, 4) as the rolling elements (6) roll along the raceways (12, 22), the outer race (4) having a power transmitting coil (50) and a receiver (60), the cage (8) having a power receiving coil (52), a sensing unit (D) for sensing a condition of the bearing (A), and a transmitter (54) for sending a signal indicative of the sensed condition of the bearing (A) to the receiver (60).
US07780356B2	Slider for linear motion rolling guide unit A slider for a linear motion rolling guide unit can ensure a smooth rolling movement and a reliable lubricating capability and eliminate the need for accurate dimension control to reduce the manufacturing costs. A lubricating member A has a lubricating face 20 exposed on an outer peripheral face of a turning corner 10 in an end cap 2. The rolling elements 11 are lubricated by making contact with the lubricating face 20 while rolling through the turning corner. The lubricating face 20, exposed on the arced face 10b of the turning corner, and the outer peripheral face of the turning corner maintain the relation of crossing each other at two intersections. The lubricating face 20 is longer than the distance between the two intersections. Recessed areas 21 are formed between the outer peripheral face of the turning corner 10 and the lubricating face 20 in the surplus length regions.
US07780355B2	Carry Bag A carry bag (10) intended to accommodate a surfboard, the bag (10) comprising a pair of major panels (11, 13) which have the general configuration of the surfboard to be accommodated by the bag (10), the major panels (11, 13) being interconnected around their perimeter by a side wall (15) formed of a flexible sheet material, a fold line (21) being formed for substantially the full extent of the side wall (15) substantially intermediate to the major panels (11, 13).
US07780354B2	Pillow packaging bag, pillow type packaging body, heat seal bar for pillow packaging machine, and pillow packaging machine A pillow packaging bag, a pillow type packaging body, a heat seal bar for pillow packaging machine, and a pillow packaging machine. The pillow packaging bag enabling the suppression of the occurrence of pin holes in a handling step and a transportation course after packaging comprises two lateral seal parts positioned roughly parallel with each other and a contents filling part held by the two lateral seal parts. Damping portions connected to the contents filling portion are formed near both side end parts of the lateral seal part from the border line thereof with the contents filling part near the center part of the lateral seal part toward the lateral seal part.
US07780351B2	Method for determining gray-scale values for volume elements of bodies to be mapped The invention relates to a method for determining gray-scale values for volume elements of bodies to be mapped using an x-ray image recording system. When a body to be mapped is not mapped in full on a single projection image for a rotational position, a second projection image must be made and a virtual projection image derived from the two projection images, this being back-projected onto the volume elements. For calibration the present invention proposes making the same two projection images in each case at a calibration phantom and additionally a further projection image, corresponding to the position and orientation of the virtual projection image. As a result the mathematical relationships between the projection images and the virtual projection image and for the back-projection can be derived.
US07780349B2	Apparatus and method for robotic radiosurgery beam geometry quality assurance A method and apparatus for quality assurance of beam geometry of robotic radiosurgery systems. The apparatus comprises two or more radio-opaque markers set at a fixed distance from each other and contained in a housing, which is assembled to a collimator fixture for attachment to the collimator interface of the LINAC of a robotic radiosurgery system. A treatment plan is generated to position the LINAC to a series of pre-defined radiation beam orientations, then a simulation of the treatment is carried out, and radiographic images are taken at each LINAC position. The coordinates of the radio-opaque markers obtained from the images are used to determine beam orientation by calculating their directional cosines, the beam off-axis error and the deviation of the radiation source to iso-center distance (SAD). The imaging system is independently calibrated and the quantitative beam geometric information is used to adjust beam geometry for quality assurance.
US07780347B2	On chip temperature measuring and monitoring circuit and method A device temperature measurement circuit, an integrated circuit (IC) including a device temperature measurement circuit, a method of characterizing device temperature and a method of monitoring temperature. The circuit includes a constant current source and a clamping device. The clamping device selectively shunts current from the constant current source or allows the current to flow through a PN junction, which may be the body to source/drain junction of a field effect transistor (FET). Voltage measurements are taken directly from the PN junction. Junction temperature is determined from measured junction voltage.
US07780345B2	Method and apparatus for a temperature sensor for measuring peak temperatures A method and apparatus for an irreversible temperature sensor for measuring a peak exposure temperature. The apparatus is fabricated by printing an admixture of conductive nanoparticles on a dielectric substrate to form a film. The film has an electrical resistance that is inversely proportional to the exposure temperature. The electrical resistance also irreversibly decreases as the exposure temperature of the film increases. A portion of the film is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic energy sufficient to render it substantially more electrically conductive than the portion that was not exposed. In use, the peak exposure temperature is determined by measuring the electrical resistance of the non-altered portion of the film and the electrical resistance of the portion that was exposed to the pulse of electromagnetic energy, and subtracting the electrical resistance of the altered portion from the electrical resistance of the portion that was not altered, to provide a difference value. The peak exposure temperature is then be calculated as a function of the difference value.
US07780344B2	Method for evaluating the deterioration of magneto-resistive effect device The estimation method of the invention for estimating the deteriorations of a magneto-resistive effect device by heat shocks involves applying heat shocks by laser irradiation to a structure including a thin-film magnetic head comprising a magneto-resistive effect device to propagate them to the magneto-resistive effect device, thereby causing the deteriorations of the magneto-resistive effect device. Thus, (1) the deterioration mode phenomenon of “local overheating plus vibration” can be imitated in a simple yet very approximate state so that a device likely to undergo characteristics deteriorations due to the thermal asperity problem can be detected early at an initial fabrication process stage, and (2) what specifications a head device structure less likely to offer the thermal asperity problem is in can be judged at a product development stage.
US07780342B2	Spring device and timepiece A spring device having an inside-end wheel that moves in conjunction with the inside end of a mainspring; an outside-end wheel that moves in conjunction with the outside end of the mainspring; a torque return unit that transfers part of the output torque of the mainspring from one to the other of the inside-end wheel and outside-end wheel; a duration time indicating unit that operates in conjunction with both the inside-end wheel and outside-end wheel and indicates the number of winds in the mainspring; and a torque transfer clutch unit that disengages torque transfer between the inside-end wheel and outside-end wheel by means of the torque return unit when the mainspring unwinds and the duration time indicating unit indicates a predetermined reference number of winds.
US07780341B2	Clockwork movement A clockwork movement includes at least two control elements which are movable with respect to the frame thereof, are used for interacting with the same external control member in response to the activation thereof and are positioned remotely to each other in the direction of the clockwork movement thickness. The clockwork movement has an intermediate connecting unit which is rotatable about an axis substantially extending in the direction of the clockwork movement thickness, pivotally mounted on the clockwork movement frame element and provided with a reception area which is distant from the axis and exposable to a force produced in response to the control member activation. The intermediate unit also includes at least two contact areas each of which is used for producing a force on the corresponding control element and which are located on both sides of the reception area in the direction of the axis.
US07780340B2	Cheese vat having fluid accessible seal assembly A cheese process vat is disclosed. The cheese process vat includes an enclosure and a shaft assembly, preferably a shaft assembly having a shaft and a plurality of agitator panels arranged on the shaft. The cheese process vat preferably further includes a shaft seal assembly having a fluid accessible clean-in-place chamber. Methods of using the respective cheese process vats are also disclosed.
US07780332B2	Holding frame and backlight module with the same An exemplary backlight module (1) includes a light guide plate (3) including two light incident surfaces (31), two light sources (4) provided adjacent to the light incident surfaces of the light guide plate, and a holding frame (5). The holding frame includes two sliding frames (52) and a bottom plate (51). Each sliding frame includes two side walls opposite to each other and a connecting wall perpendicularly connected with the side walls. The sliding frame defines a sliding structure. The bottom plate is slidingly received in the sliding structures of the sliding frames. The bottom plate and the sliding frame cooperatively form a space to accommodate the light guide plate and the light source therein.
US07780326B2	Optical fiber lighting apparatus An optical fiber lighting apparatus includes an exciting light source, a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, and a wavelength conversion unit. The first optical fiber guides the exciting light emitted from the exciting light source. The wavelength conversion unit receives the exciting light exiting from the first optical fiber to generate a wavelength-converted light having a wavelength different from that of the exciting light. The second optical fiber guides at least part of the wavelength-converted light generated by the wavelength conversion unit.
US07780325B2	Luminous turning button A luminous turning button for an electric circuit, including a handle mounted to pivot about an axis to actuate at least one electric switch unit and that is illuminated by a light source substantially disposed along the axis. The handle includes a cap forming a disk and a gripping tab that protrudes in a diametral plane. The cap is made of translucent or transparent material capable of allowing the light to travel to the outside, the gripping tab being hollow and covering an integrated mechanical base made of opaque material.
US07780318B2	Flood lamp assembly having a reinforced bracket for supporting a weight thereof An LED flood lamp includes an LED lamp and a primary bracket and an accessorial bracket. The lamp includes a pair of lateral sidewalls. The primary bracket pivotally connects with the lateral sidewalls. The accessorial bracket has one end pivotally connecting with one lateral sidewall, and another end connected to the primary bracket via a fastener. Each of the primary and accessorial brackets defines an elongated slot. The fastener is slidable along the slots of the primary and accessorial brackets to vary an illumination angle of the lamp. The LED lamp has a substrate, a plurality of LED modules mounted on a top surface of the substrate and a heat sink mounted on a bottom surface of the substrate, whereby heat generated by the LED modules can be transferred to the heat sink via the substrate to be dissipated to ambient air.
US07780315B2	Heat dissipation component and diode lighting and/or signalling device equipped with a component of this type A heat dissipation component for a vehicle lighting and/or signalling device of the type comprising a printed circuit board, a light-emitting diode comprising a heat dissipation base and a pair of electrical connection tabs and a heat dissipater extending facing the printed circuit board, wherein the heat dissipater comprises a heat exchange portion held against the base the diode and in that the heat exchange portion of the heat dissipater comprises means for orienting the diode that protrude substantially perpendicularly to the heat exchange portion of the dissipater, the heat exchange face of the base of the diode being arranged on an orienting means in such a way that the diode is oriented relative to a reference orientation and a reference plane of the dissipater.
US07780311B2	Multi-wavelength light source device A multi-wavelength light source device includes three light source devices. The light source device includes a plurality of light emitting elements, and a dispersing section making wavelengths of light beams emitted from the respective light emitting elements different from each other, a spectral line width of the emitted light beam in each of the light source devices is equal to or greater than 0.2 nm, a wavelength of the red light beam in the light source device for emitting the red light beam is greater than 612 nm, a wavelength of the green light beam in the light source device for emitting the green light beam is greater than 525 nm and smaller than 538 nm, and a wavelength of the blue light beam in the light source device for emitting the blue light beam is greater than 465 nm and smaller than 468 nm.
US07780310B2	Modular light fixture with power pack and deployable sensor A light fixture includes a raceway, a lampholder, and a power pack. The raceway includes an aperture and a locking aperture. The lampholder is electrically connected to a lampholder connector. The power pack includes a power pack cover and a ballast and a deployable sensor. The deployable sensor includes a sensor head, a conduit and pivotable coupling that permits movement of the sensor between a deployed position and a stowed position. The power pack cover includes a latching end. The ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector. The latching end includes a flange adapted to mate with the aperture of the raceway and a locking protrusion adapted to mate with the locking aperture of the raceway such that the power pack is detachably mountable to the raceway.
US07780307B2	Illimination control apparatus for hand tool An illumination control apparatus for being applied to a hand tool has a modulized structure and easy to be assembled and operated. The illumination control apparatus primarily comprises a modulized switch circuit, and a housing for enclosing the modulized switch circuit. By pressing a pressing switch of the modulized switch circuit, a light emitting element electrically connected to the modulized switch circuit can be controlled to provide or shut illumination thereof. Besides, the illumination control apparatus is firmly affixed to the hand tool by a screwing method.
US07780300B2	Variable focus deformable surface using rotation means for rotating the upper and lower material layers about a center axis A large, thin, variable focus lens that would be practical in a variety of applications, such as eyeglasses. An example of the present invention is a surface that can be deformed to a desirable shape in a simple, controllable fashion. In particular, a surface shape with desirable optical properties is achievable. The surface has the ability to produce a reflective or refractive surface with a variable optical power.
US07780299B2	Lateral-view mirror assembly for a vehicle A lateral-view mirror assembly comprising a housing having a first lateral-view mirror and a second lateral-view mirror coupled to a rear window of a vehicle and dimensioned to provide a driver of a vehicle with the ability to view objects positioned lateral to a rear portion of the vehicle by looking at a reflection of the objects reflected from the first and second lateral-view mirrors to the rear-view mirror to the driver. The lateral-view mirror assembly is helpful when backing out of a parking space and also when changing lanes.
US07780298B2	Extenders for motorcycle mirrors Extenders are provided that can be mounted on the existing rearview mirror mounting hole of motorcycle handlebars to provide a new mounting hole for the rearview mirrors that is laterally spaced from the original hole. The extenders allow the stock mirrors to be positioned for greater visibility without causing undue vibration in the mirror. The extenders can be constructed with a blind hole that allows for a clean and visually appealing installation. The extenders can also be constructed with spaced apart arms that define a hole. The hole can serve to reduce wind drag, reduce construction costs or function as a place for mounting things to the motorcycle.
US07780296B2	Projection optical unit, projection-type image displaying apparatus and projection-type image displaying system A projection optical unit for obliquely projecting an image displayed on an image display element upon a projection surface, enlargedly, comprises: a lens group, being disposed neighboring to the image display element, and including a plural number of projection lenses therein; and a reflection mirror for reflecting lights emitting from the lens group, to be projected onto the projection surface, obliquely, wherein assuming that a light beam, emitting from a center of the display screen of the image display element, passing through a center of an entrance pupil of the lens group, and entering into a screen center on the projection surface, is a screen center light beam, then the screen center light beam is incident upon the projection surface, obliquely, with respect to a normal line thereon, the lens group comprises a front lens group including a plural number of refraction lenses, being disposed thereafter directing from the image display element to the projection surface and having rotationally symmetric surface configurations, and a rear lens group including a refraction lens having a negative power and having a rotationally symmetric surface configuration and a plural number of lenses having rotationally asymmetric free curved surface configurations, and within the rear lens group, the lens having the negative power is movable in an optical axis direction, and at least one pieces among the lenses having the free curved surface configurations is movable into directions, including the optical axis and direction perpendicular thereto, within a surface including the optical axis and the normal line on the screen.
US07780295B2	Air guiding structure and projecting device incorporating the same An air guiding structure is applied in a projecting device. The projecting device at least includes an optical element. The air guiding structure includes a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall having a first opening is disposed near a side of the optical element. The second side wall having a second opening is disposed near the other side of the optical element. Furthermore, the first side wall and the second side wall are connected to each other. The air is guided into the first opening, circulated through the optical element and is vented out via the second opening.
US07780291B2	Wavefront aberration compensating apparatus and opthalmologic unit having the same A wavefront aberration compensating apparatus includes: a deformable mirror which compensates a wavefront aberration of a light flux entered, the deformable mirror including a plurality of electrodes, and a thin-film mirror which changes a configuration thereof in accordance with a voltage value applied to each of the electrodes; an optical system provided with the deformable mirror, and including an object subjected to aberration compensation; a wavefront sensor which receives the light flux traveled through the object and the deformable mirror, and which measures the wavefront aberration of the light flux; and a controller configured to calculate the voltage value applied to each of the electrodes, on the basis of differences, from a signal outputted from the wavefront sensor, between application points on the thin-film mirror and target points both corresponding to the electrodes, respectively, and to repeat compensation of the configuration of the thin-film mirror of the deformable mirror on the basis of the calculated voltage value, such that the wavefront aberration of the light flux measured by the wavefront sensor is suppressed.
US07780290B2	Toric intraocular lens with spatially-variant astigmatism An intraocular lens for correcting or reducing the astigmatism of a cornea includes a pupil that is spatially divided into discrete zones, with each zone having a particular astigmatism magnitude and astigmatism orientation. In one embodiment, the zones all have the same astigmatism magnitude, which is equal and opposite the cornea astigmatism magnitude to within a particular tolerance, such as 0.25 diopters. In one embodiment, some or all of the zones all have different astigmatism orientations, with the angular separation between astigmatism orientations being on the order of the rotational misalignment tolerance of the lens to the cornea. The visual performance of such a lens deteriorates more slowly with rotational misalignment, when compared to a comparable lens having a uniform astigmatism orientation across its entire pupil, leading to more relaxed tolerances for a surgeon that implants the lens.
US07780287B2	Printing method and printer A printing method for printing a barcode forms a plurality of dots on a print medium from one end of the bars to the other end by discharging ink droplets from print nozzles assigned to print the bars from among a plurality of nozzles aligned in a direction intersecting the bars. The printing method divides the barcode in the direction of the length of the bars into a plurality of segments, changes which of the plural nozzles are assigned as print nozzles in each of the segments, and discharges ink from the print nozzles in each of the segments to print the barcode.
US07780286B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming method An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by transferring an image formed on an intermediate transfer body to the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes: a first liquid deposition device which performs deposition of a first liquid onto the intermediate transfer body, the first liquid containing solvent-insoluble material; a second liquid deposition device which performs deposition of a second liquid onto the intermediate transfer body before the deposition of the first liquid, the second liquid having a function of causing the solvent-insoluble material to aggregate; and a deposition control device which controls the deposition in such a manner that a minimum thickness of a layer of the second liquid formed on the intermediate transfer body at the deposition of the first liquid is not smaller than 1 μm, and a volume of the deposition of the second liquid per unit surface area is not smaller than a volume of the deposition of the first liquid per unit surface area.
US07780285B2	Water base ink for ink-jet recording and ink-jet printer accomodating same A water base ink for ink-jet recording contains a self-dispersible coloring agent, a propylene glycol ether, and a surfactant represented by the following general formula (3): R1—O—(CH2CH2O)n—SO3M (3) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having a number of carbon atoms of 12 to 15, M represents Na or triethanolamine, and n represents an integer of 2 to 4, and wherein the propylene glycol ether is dipropylene glycol propyl ether. The ink satisfies three requirements of i) the satisfactory initial introduction performance of the ink into an ink flow passage of a stacked type printer head, ii) the prevention of the occurrence of feathering, and iii) the prevention of the insufficient spread of the ink.
US07780284B2	Digital solid ink stick identification and recognition A system for an ink delivery system comprises a feed path having an insertion end and a melt end, and an ink stick transport for moving at least one ink stick between the insertion end and the melt end of the feed path. At least one sensor is positioned along the feed path. A controller is configured to actuate the transport to move at least one ink stick in a first direction from the insertion end toward the melt end of the feed path so that a coded sensor feature of the at least one ink stick actuates the at least one sensor to generate a signal. The controller is configured to actuate the transport to move the at least one ink stick in one of the first direction and a second direction toward the insertion end of the feed path in response to the signal.
US07780276B2	System for refilling inkjet cartridges Systems and methods for refilling inkjet printer cartridges are described. The system includes at least one rotary valve that contains a plurality of ports and a common port. The system further includes at least one pump in liquid communication with the common port of the rotary valve. At least one ink source is in liquid communication with at least one of the ports of the rotary valve, and at least one dispensing line is connected to at least one of the ports, where the dispensing line is configured to provide ink to an inkjet printer cartridge.
US07780265B2	Ink-jet head and method of manufacturing the same An ink-jet head includes a flexible print cable (FPC) supplying a driving signal to an actuator unit. The actuator unit has a piezoelectric member, an inner electrode, individual electrodes formed on a surface of the piezoelectric member, a first surface terminal and second surface terminals. A partial area of the FPC confronts the surface of the piezoelectric member and an adjacent area continuous to the partial area extends in a direction away from the surface of the piezoelectric member. A distance between an end of the surface of the piezoelectric member closest to the adjacent area and the first surface terminal is equal to or greater than a distance between the end surface of the piezoelectric member and the second surface terminal disposed closest thereto. The FPC is adhered proximate the end of the piezoelectric member via a thermosetting adhesive.
US07780260B2	Inkjet printer and capping method An inkjet printer includes a recording head having a nozzle face provided with a nozzle for discharging an ink to form an image on a recording medium, and a detachable cap for capping the nozzle face. The cap of the inkjet printer is provided with an annular rim and an annular groove, which are provided along a periphery of the cap, the groove being opposed to the nozzle face in a state where the cap is abutted against the nozzle face. In the inkjet printer, a during non-image-forming period, the rim of the cap is abutted against the nozzle face, thus capping the nozzle face.
US07780257B2	Recording apparatus and electronic apparatus A recording apparatus provided with an interface for supplying an electric power to a connected electronic apparatus, and capable of performing a recording operation on a recording medium by the use of a recording head. A power source supplying unit supplies predetermined electric power to the electronic apparatus connected to the interface, and a detecting unit detects that the electronic apparatus has been connected. An acquiring unit acquires power information of the electronic apparatus, such as information indicating the nature of the interface or information indicating the power requirements. Based on detection of the connection by the detecting unit and the power information acquired by the acquiring unit, a control unit effects a change over of control of the recording operation.
US07780254B2	Slide rail structure A slide rail structure disposed between a chassis and a rack is provided. The slide rail structure includes a first slide rail, a slider, a first connecting part and a second connecting part. The first slide rail is fixed on the rack. The slider is slidably connected to the first slide rail. The first connecting part is suitable for fixing on the chassis. The second connecting part is disposed on the slider and slidably connected to the first connecting part. The chassis slides on the first slide rail through the slider, the first connecting part and the second connecting part.
US07780251B2	Retracting device for a drawer A retracting device for a drawer, including a pulling device which can be connected to the drawer, a drive unit having an electric motor, and a roller drivable by the drive unit for winding up the pulling device, wherein the drive unit is activatable by a rotation of the roller.
US07780249B2	Dual motion opening system for displaying units The system foresees for each plate (1) an autonomous mechanical structure composed of one section bar (3) connected to a gripper that holds a plate (1) as well as of another section bar (10) and at least two support arms (5, 5′, 6, 6′) hinged upon said section bars (3, 10); the structure is fixed to a section bar (9) that is in turn fixed to the display counter or window near the base of the tank; the support arms (5, 5′, 6, 6′) differ in length; two supports (4, 4′, 11, 11′) are fixed to each section bar (3, 10); said supports constitute the hinge members upon which the ends of the support arms (5, 5′, 6, 6′) fit; each plate (1) can both move in a parallelogram motion with translation parallel to the display counter or window, and open like a casement window using the pin (7) of the shorter support arm (5, 5′) as a pivot; the system also contains a spring closing mechanism and a lock (18).
US07780248B2	Glovebox for a double wall containment module A double-glove system for use in a double-walled containment module is provided herein. More specifically, a double-glove system that includes an inner glove and an outer glove that are interconnected to respective glove rings for interconnection to an inner containment module and an outer containment module is provided. An annulus is provided between the gloves wherein purge gasses may flow therebetween. Further, a plurality of detection systems may be employed within containment volumes of the containment module to rapidly detect leaks.
US07780247B2	Track belt guide wheels assembly An endless belt body for a track assembly, comprising through holes, between traction lugs of the ground-engaging surface thereof, along a length thereof, located in at least one of: i) the central region of a width of the endless belt body, and ii) on the lateral parts of the width of the endless belt body.
US07780246B2	Brake system In a BBW type brake system, first ports of fluid pressure generators are closed to generate brake fluid pressure in respective wheel cylinders before a master cylinder generates brake fluid pressure, by initiating the operation of the fluid pressure generators based on the output of a pedal stroke sensor. Therefore, the brake fluid pressure generated by the master cylinder is prevented from being transmitted to wheel cylinders, even when a shutoff valve, which closes during normal operation of a conventional BBW type brake system, is not provided, thereby providing reliable operation of the BBW type brake system. Thus, since the master cylinder and the fluid pressure generators are kept in communication at a non-braking time, a reservoir of the master cylinder can be also used as the reservoir of the fluid pressure generators without providing the system with an atmosphere valve, which is conventionally required.
US07780245B2	Valve with integrated quick release A service brake/traction control valve includes a service brake control port, a traction control port, an exhaust port, and a control chamber. The control chamber fluidly communicates with the service brake control port and the traction control port as a function of a service brake event and as a function of a traction control event. The control chamber fluidly communicates with the exhaust port when the service brake event is released. The control chamber fluidly also communicates with the exhaust port when the traction control event is released.
US07780244B2	Vehicle brake device Normally opened control valves 5A, 5B are configured into short-time rating valves, and normally opened opening/closing valves 4A, 4B, which are electrically controlled to open and close and are configured into long-time rating valves, are connected in series to the normally opened control valves 5A, 5B between a fluid pressure generating unit M and wheel brakes 8A to 8D.
US07780242B2	Retainer sleeve and wear ring for a rotatable tool A compressible sleeve for fitting around the shank of a rotatable tool has a cut out portion at the forward end thereof. The sleeve is compressed to a diameter less than the inner diameter of the bore of a tool holder by an annular wear ring having an inwardly directed projection that retains the cylindrical sleeve to a diameter that is less than the diameter of the bore of the tool holder. When the shank of the tool is driven into the bore of the tool holder, the wear ring is forced forwardly along the sleeve until the projection falls in the cut out portion of the sleeve allowing the sleeve to expand to the diameter of the bore of the tool holder and locking the wear ring from rotating with the tool.
US07780232B2	Three-piece knit form-fit slipcover A multi-piece slipcover for a piece of furniture having a base including a back, a seat, and a pair of armrests, and one or more seat cushions and back cushions that are unattached to the base. A base cover of the multi-piece slipcover includes one or more panels for covering the back, the left and right armrests, and at least a portion of the seat of the base. One or more seat cushion covers and one or more back cushions covers cover the one or more seat cushions and back cushions, respectively. At least one of the one or more back cushion covers has trapezoidally-shaped front and rear surfaces, and is made from a fabric having a stretch in length which behaves dynamically with respect to a stretch in width. A minimum stretch in fabric width is 60%, while a minimum stretch in fabric length is 40%.
US07780231B2	Entertainment system mountable in a vehicle seat and methods for mounting and displaying same A media system for a vehicle having a seat comprises a housing mounted to the seat, and a media unit that is capable of being coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a receiving portion that pivots with respect to the housing and receives the media unit in the receiving portion.
US07780229B2	Vehicle seat with a storage compartment A vehicle seat includes a seat frame having a seat portion and a cover skirt covering the frame below the seat portion to form a footwell termination at a front region of the cover skirt. The front region of the cover skirt includes a pair of side walls, a front wall, and a back wall. The side and front walls are articulately connected and the side walls are foldable and coupled between the front and back walls. The front wall is displaceable away from the back wall to a pulled-out position in which the side walls are unfolded and the side walls, the front wall, and the back wall together form a storage compartment. The front wall is displaceable toward the back wall to a pushed-in position in which the side walls are folded and lie between the front and back walls and the front and back walls meet.
US07780222B2	Folding camping trailer with flushable toilet The folding camping trailer includes a trailer body having partial height sidewalls and end walls, a vertically extendable roof section, an expandable enclosure connecting the sidewalls and end walls to the roof section, and a flush toilet disposed in the trailer body. The toilet includes a waste holding tank for storing sewage waste, a toilet bowl attached to the holding tank, a drain outlet situated on the holding tank for draining the sewage waste and a vent conduit extending from the holding tank to either the roof section or the expandable enclosure connecting the sidewalls and end walls to the roof section.
US07780218B2	Locking device for a convertible top A locking device (10) for locking a convertible top (18) in its opened position comprises a catch element (14) and an opposing element (16) bringable into engagement therewith for locking, wherein the catch element or the opposing element is attached on the convertible top (18) and the other element of the catch element and the opposing element is borne on a vehicle body side. One element (14, 16) is displaceably borne in a retainer (20) and is biased in a locking direction by a biasing device (22). The retainer (20) is movable together with the biasing device (22) and with the element (14) borne in the retainer as a function of the movement of the convertible top (18) into an active position and into an idle position. In the active position, an engagement between the catch element and the opposing element is possible, which is excluded in the idle position.
US07780212B2	Vehicle dashboard accommodation structure A dashboard of a vehicle includes an accommodation unit provided at a longitudinal end of the dashboard and positioned adjacent to a door and a side mirror located outside the door adjacent to the accommodation unit, the accommodation unit configured to receive an article, and the accommodation unit including a lid, wherein the lid is configured to stand up adjacent to the side mirror when in an open position.
US07780211B2	Tailgate lifter A pick-up truck tailgate lifter having dual hooks for gripping the bottom of the rear of the tailgate and lifting straps affixed thereto and running to the inside of the tailgate ending in a handle. One embodiment has a roll-up handle so the straps and handle fit through the space between the bed and the tailgate. The other routes the straps over the rear face of the tailgate, through a top cap and around a reversing post in the inside of the tailgate so that when lifting pressure is applied to the handle, the straps tighten the lifting hooks.
US07780210B1	Pickup box retrieval implement An implement (10) for moving a box (48) within a pickup box (42) is disclosed. The implement (10) includes an elongated body (12) having a hooking section (22). A head (28) is associated with an end of this hooking section (22). The head (28) may be disposed within a groove (46) associated with the bed (43) of the pickup box (42), and may be slid along this groove (46) until positioned under the box (48). The implement (10) can then be rotated to engage the head (28) with the underside of the box (48). A user may then pull on the implement (10) to in turn pull the box (48) along the bed (43) of the pickup box (42). The hooking section (22) of the implement may also be disposed behind a box (48) to pull the box (48) to a desired position.
US07780209B1	Pet scoop A pet scoop includes an elongated tubular shaft having a handle at an upper end and a pivotal, fan-shaped panel at a lower end. A pair of motors move the panel between a raised, contracted orientation and a lowered, expanded orientation. A stack of waste disposal sheets is superimposed on the panel and is secured thereto with removable clamps. Accordingly, the panel may be deployed and expanded beneath a defecating pet to contain and trap the waste for later disposal.
US07780208B2	Lock assembly for a vehicle hood A hood lock assembly affording effective support in the closing direction of a vehicle hood is provided with flexibility, such that under a predefined overload, the hood is capable of additional movement in the closing direction beyond the normal closed position.
US07780202B2	Oilfield tubular connection with increased compression capacity A threaded oilfield tubular connection 10 includes a pin member 12 having a first external tapered thread 24 and a second external tapered thread 26. A box member includes a first internal tapered thread 14 and a second internal tapered thread 16. Helical torque shoulders 40, 42 are provided on the pin member and the box member, and an axially spaced between the respective first and second threads. The helix of each torque shoulder includes a plurality of revolutions with compression flanks on both the pin member and the box member.
US07780198B2	Independently adjustable chassis skirt mounting assembly A chassis skirt mounting assembly (110) for a vehicle having a tank (14) and a chassis skirt (16) includes a tank strap bracket (120) attached to the tank, the tank strap bracket having a first adjustment slot (130) with a first length dimension. An adjustment bracket (122) is attached to the chassis skirt (16) and has a second adjustment slot (138) with a second length dimension oriented generally 90-degrees offset from the first length dimension of the first adjustment slot (130). A double-sided stud (140) is disposed through the first adjustment slot (130) and the second adjustment slot (138) to allow the independent adjustment of the double-sided stud with respect to the first adjustment slot from the adjustment of the double-sided stud with respect to the second adjustment slot.
US07780196B2	Energy absorbing steering column assembly A collapsible steering column assembly has a steering column with a jacket movable along a longitudinal axis for telescoping and collapsing movement. The jacket is movable about a pivot axis for tilting movement between an upper and a lower limit. A biasing device includes a fixed arm and a rake arm for urging the jacket toward the upper limit. A support bracket is detachably coupled to a mounting component connected to the vehicle. The support bracket is coupled to and supports the jacket during the movements and is movable with the jacket during the collapsing movement. A friction member is mounted to the support bracket and at least partially encircles the fixed arm and engages the fixed arm to form a friction-fit. The friction member slides along the fixed arm during the collapsing movement for transferring energy from the jacket and the support bracket to the biasing device.
US07780194B2	Method for producing an air bag The invention relates to a method for the production of an air bag, more particularly a one-piece woven (OPW) air bag, comprising single layer and double layer areas, a top and bottom outer surface and a coating in at least certain areas. The invention is characteristic in that the single layer area is sealed in such a way that said areas are substantially impermeable to fluids.
US07780192B2	Air bag system An air bag system includes an inflator operable to release inflation fluid, an inflatable cushion inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from the inflator, an air bag housing substantially surrounding the cushion, and an internal valve in fluid communication with the inflator. The internal valve includes at least one fluid diverter movable between a first position and a second position. As the fluid diverter moves from the first position to the second position, fluid flow into the cushion decreases and fluid flow through the vent increases.
US07780190B2	Rear structure of vehicle provided with curtain air bag apparatus A middle pillar trim and a rear pillar trim positioned to the front and rear of a side window glass are each harder than a roof trim. A curtain air bag fixed to a rear pillar is deployed in a vehicle cabin while a predetermined end edge of the front of the rear pillar trim in the widthwise direction of a vehicle is deformed toward the front. The separation distance of the curtain air bag in a stored state from the side window glass in the widthwise direction of the vehicle is L1 (L2) in the portion of the curtain air bag along the rear edge of the side window glass, and L4 in the portion of the curtain air bag at the upper edge of the side window glass near the middle pillar trim, and the separation distance L1(L2) is smaller than the separation distance L4.
US07780186B2	Airbag module cover A cover for an airbag module includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer includes a predefined tear line and the third layer is configured to face into a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
US07780185B2	Foldable frame trailer cart An improved foldable frame trailer cart includes a generally rectangular base frame having forward and rearward sections hingedly connected to one another and a trailer tongue mounted on and extending forwardly from the forward section of the generally rectangular base frame, the trailer tongue including a hinge operative to permit the rear portion of the trailer tongue to be pivoted relative to the front portion thereof. Left and right rear wheels are rotatably mounted within left and right wheel support frames, and the left and right wheel support frames are releasably pivotably mounted on the rearward section of the generally rectangular base frame such that the left and right wheel support frames are pivotable relative to the generally rectangular base frame between a non-ground-engaging transport position and a ground-engaging use position.
US07780183B2	Single-hand-operated actuating mechanism for a foldable stroller An actuating mechanism for a foldable stroller includes a mounting housing disposed on a handle tube of the foldable stroller, and a disk disposed in the mounting housing and connected rotatably to the handle tube. The disk has a notch, and a control lever extending outwardly of the mounting housing. Two cables are fastened to the disk at two diametrically opposed positions, respectively. The control lever is pushable in a lever-driving direction to rotate relative to the mounting housing to thereby move the cables. A safety latch is disposed in the mounting housing, and has an integral engagement member biased to engage the notch in the disk, and an integral pushbutton pushable in a pushbutton-driving direction opposite to the lever-driving direction so as to remove the engagement member from the notch in the disk, thereby allowing for folding of the foldable stroller.
US07780181B2	Rear portion structure of a vehicle body for a saddle-type vehicle A rear portion structure of a vehicle body for a saddle-type vehicle includes a pair of left and right rear frames provided rearwardly of a main frame section of the vehicle body, and pillion steps attached to the left and right rear frames through respective stays, wherein each of the rear frames includes a stay attaching portion which projects on an inner side of the frame, and to which a corresponding one of said stays is fastened in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vehicle body's leftward and rightward direction. Such rear portion structure suppresses adverse influences on rear frame rigidity and the appearance of the vehicle body when the pillion steps are attached thereto.
US07780179B2	Drive system for a human powered vehicle A drive system (3) for a human powered vehicle. The drive system (3) includes at least one input member (31), a transmission system (21) arranged to convert movement of the input member (31) to rotation of an output member (83), and a lock mechanism (123) including at least one drive member (133) for selectively locking a drive wheel (11, 13) to rotation of the output member (83) for rotation therewith. The drive member (133) is arranged for movement from a first operational position in which the drive wheel (11, 13) is not locked to the output member (83) to a second operational position in which the drive wheel (11, 13) is locked to the output member (83), and back to the first operational position, under the control of a user of the vehicle. The drive system (3) allows the user to choose between propelling the vehicle using the drive system (3) or disengaging the drive system (3) from the drive wheel (11, 13) and propelling the vehicle by some other means, for example by wheel rims.
US07780177B2	Wheel suspension for steered wheels of motor vehicles The invention relates to a wheel suspension for steered wheels of motor vehicles having a telescoping shock absorber which is preferably permanently connected to the wheel carrier and a helical compression spring which surrounds it and which is clamped between a lower spring plate which is preferably permanently connected to the shock absorber tube and an upper, body-side spring plate. According to the invention for vertical adjustment of the body around the shock absorber there is an actuator, and the actuator acts by way of an actuating pinion with the interposition of an axial anti-friction bearing on the upper spring plate.
US07780174B2	Door seal for a turbomachine With a door seal for a gas turbine engine, a gap (3) existing between an axially symmetrical component (1) and an assembly formed by several segments (2) is sealed by seal doors (11), which are held via retaining holes (10) at retaining bolts (9) on one of the components, the seal doors (11) being pressed against sealing edges (5, 7) of the two components, with the sealing edges (5, 7) being disposed at a certain distance from each other. The retaining bolts and holes are located outside the pressure surface (A) of the seal doors, formed between the two sealing edges, thus preventing cooling air losses via a gap remaining between the retaining bolts and bores.
US07780173B2	Sealing assemblies and methods for sealing an elongate member A sealing assembly for forming a seal about an elongate object includes a resilient seal member and a loading mechanism. The resilient seal member includes an inner wall surface defining a channel to receive the elongate object. The seal member has first and second opposed sides. The loading mechanism includes a first pressure member on the first side of the seal member; a second pressure member on the second side of the seal member; a biasing member on the second side of the seal member and interposed between the seal member and the second pressure member; and an adjustable displacement mechanism accessible and operable from the first side of the seal member to displace the first and second pressure members relative to one another to selectively apply a compressive load to the seal member such that the inner wall surface is expanded inwardly to exert a sealing pressure on the elongate object.
US07780167B2	Playing die A multi-sided playing die capable of indicating at least one of a plurality of symbols on sides of the die comprises an energy storage device within the die and a trigger for discharging energy from the energy storage device to cause rotation of the die out of a position in which said at least one symbol is indicated. The die may include a casing formed from parts arranged to rotate relative to each other to cause rotation of the die.
US07780163B2	Device and method for aligning bank notes An apparatus and a method for aligning bank notes in a transport system in which, when aligning bank notes in a transport system the alignment of a bank note transported separately in the transport system is detected, that it is checked, whether the detected alignment of the single bank note is a misalignment, that the single bank note according to the detected misalignment is aligned in a desired alignment by a movement of the single bank note in a direction deviating from the transport direction of the transport system, the alignment of the single bank note during the aligning being detected, and the aligning being terminated, as soon as the single bank note has the desired alignment.
US07780160B2	Post-processing apparatus bookbinding apparatus and image forming system A post-processing apparatus having a conveyance device to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle storing device to load and store the sheets conveyed by the conveyance device as a sheet bundle, a moving device to enable the sheet bundle storing device to be movable, a post-processing device to carry out post-process for the sheet bundle accumulated in the sheet bundle storing device, wherein the sheet bundle storing device can be withdrawn to outside the post-processing apparatus main body through the moving device so as to be capable of storing the sheet bundle from outside.
US07780159B2	Sheet processing apparatus with controller for controlling sheet supply unit The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet holding device capable of storing supplied sheets, a first sheet stacking tray on which sheets are stacked at a downstream side of the sheet holding device in a sheet conveying direction and on which the sheets are subjected to processing, a sheet discharging device for discharging the sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking tray, a second sheet stacking tray on which the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging device are stacked, and a controller for controlling the sheet discharging device and the sheet holding device if sheet jam occurs at an upstream side of the sheet holding device, in such a manner that, after the sheets on the first sheet stacking tray are discharged onto the second sheet stacking tray, the sheets stored in the sheet holding device are discharged onto the first sheet stacking tray.
US07780157B2	Stitching device and saddle stitcher having the stitching device A device for stitching collated printed products, in particular signatures, with staples, includes a stitching head base body, a former, a clincher, a staple support and a driver. The former has a supporting projection and a control projection. The supporting projection extends beyond a contour of the control projection. A saddle stitcher having a stitching device is also provided.
US07780155B2	Method and device for filtering and damping vibrations The invention relates to a device to filter and damp the vibrations between a first element subjected to an incident vibratory wave and a second element radiating a filtered vibratory wave.This device comprises an interface structure to transfer vibratory energy constituted by at least one elastic component and at least one dissipative component attached in parallel to the elastic component to ensure the filtration and damping of the incident vibratory wave, the dissipative component being constituted by two separate rigid frames ensuring, punctually or continuously, deflection functions, if required, by a lever arm effect, amplification of the vibratory energies generated by the elastic components towards a dissipative material positioned between them, the dissipative component providing damping for the elastic component.
US07780151B2	Mixer assembly A mixer assembly and a method for forming a fuel-air mixture is combinable with a burner system of a heat engine, especially a gas turbine plant. A flow-through component (1) provides a flow deflecting region (8) which provides at least two air inlet openings (2, 3, 4) to which is each connected a flow passage section (5, 6, 7), which flow deflecting region deflects the airflow which enters the respective flow passage section (5, 6, 7) by a deflection angle β≠0°, and each has an outlet opening, and that a mixing passage section (11, 12, 13) is connected to each of the outlet openings of the flow passage sections (5, 6, 7), in each of which mixing passage section is provided at least one flow vortex generating structure (14), and which each provides an outlet opening; or that a fine mixing region (15) is connected to the outlet openings of the flow passage sections (5, 6, 7), which fine mixing region has a multiplicity of individual flow passages (23) which, in each case, have a passage cross section which is dimensioned smaller than the passage cross section of the flow passage sections (5, 6, 7) in the region of their outlet openings; or that a mixing passage section (11, 12, 13) is connected to the outlet openings of the each of flow passage sections (5, 6, 7), in each of which mixing passage section at least one flow vortex generating structure (14) is provided.
US07780149B2	On-board fuel refining in motorized vehicles Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for on-board refining of fuels within motorized vehicles. On board fuel refining is a finish-refining step that allows a fuel to be more precisely tailored to a particular vehicle and internal-combustion engine and to the current conditions under which the fuel is being used. In one embodiment, the fuel is subjected to fluid-shear forces and cavitation.
US07780146B2	Retrieval assembly A retrieval assembly is configured and arranged for use with a retractable lifeline assembly including a cable assembly. The retrieval assembly is releasably engagable with the cable assembly to pay out or retract the cable during rescue.
US07780145B2	Load compensating device, especially for lifting appliance A load compensating device, especially one for lifting appliances, includes a detector for detecting an overload or an underload and designed to cause actuation of the compensating device. The device comprises an actuator attached to one of ends of a rope or ropes that support the load for producing positive or negative displacement of the rope or ropes over a short distance compared with the length of the rope or ropes. The actuator is operated by a brushless electric motor connected to an infinitely variable-speed transmission. The transmission is connected to the detector.
US07780143B2	Gate valve An object is to provide a gate valve capable of preventing operational deficiencies caused by particulate materials accumulating in a valve box, thus providing superior sealing properties and high durability, having a simple structure, and allowing inspection and maintenance to be performed easily. A gate valve installed in a transport line for transporting fluid containing particulate material at a coal gasification plant includes a valve box having an inlet portion and an outlet portion in which a channel constituting a part of the transport line is formed; a valve unit, provided between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, which extends in an opening-and-closing direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the channel, and which is movable in the opening-and-closing direction; a wedge plate provided between the valve unit and the inlet portion so as to extend in the opening-and-closing direction; and a guide plate provided between the valve unit and the outlet portion so as to extend in the opening-and-closing direction. Areas between the valve unit and the wedge plate and between and the valve unit and guide plate are sealed by means of surface contact.
US07780141B2	Mold box for making first and second wall blocks A method of making a wall block and a mold box therefore. The wall block design maximizes the use of the mold box. The method produces wall blocks having a large surface area front face compared to the front face size of prior art blocks. The blocks have about one third more front surface area. This results in faster construction of walls and a faster construction sequence. The method of making the blocks makes efficient use of mold space and material, resulting in higher production yields and/or higher total daily production square footage.
US07780140B1	Two-piece plastic equipment pad A two-piece plastic equipment pad with a top portion and an identical bottom portion. Each portion has a base with an underlying grid structure comprising cells formed by perpendicular ribs. The top portion and the bottom portion are aligned and connected together by connector strips that slots formed in the perpendicular ribs of the grid structure of the top portion and the bottom portion.
US07780139B2	Umbrella support system The present invention is a support system that includes a receptacle mountable to a surface, and a base for providing lateral support to a mountable object. The base includes a skirt and a tube for retaining the mountable object. The tube extends through the skirt and is retained in the receptacle.
US07780134B2	Anchor assembly with large range of motion suspension members, and restraint systems for suspended components An anchor assembly structured for use in connection with ceiling or roofing structures for hanging industrial or commercial components, such as, for example, electrical conduits, heating units, water pipes for automatic water sprinkler systems, and the like. The anchor assembly is easy and quick to install, and also provides enhanced swivel capabilities or angular ranges of movement so as to accommodate various system and spatial requirements in connection with the suspension of the components. Suspension and lateral restraint systems are also disclosed.
US07780132B1	Construction hanger A construction hanger used in connection with a beam, the construction hanger including a bracket defining an opening for receiving a portion of the beam, a first receiver having an internal thread, and a second receiver through which a support member or fastener is slidably received, where the support member or fastener has a threaded end that may be received in the first receiver. The construction hanger further includes a retainer that engages the threaded end after it is inserted through the second receiver to prevent bracket from sliding downward on the support member or threaded fastener allowing the installer to position the bracket on the support beam before fastening the threaded end in the first receiver.
US07780131B2	Mounting system capable of repositioning an apparatus relative to a reference plane A motorized mounting system includes a plurality of actuators that extend the distal ends of the plurality of actuators in a substantially horizontal manner. The distal ends of the plurality of actuators are adapted to couple to the backside of the monitor. The distal ends of the plurality of actuators define a plane such that extending or retracting at least one of the distal ends adjust the orientation of the plane relative to the reference plane, thereby adjusting the viewing angle of the monitor. The motorized mounting system can be controlled with a remote control.
US07780123B1	Stand for pouring concrete A stand for use in pouring concrete is provided. The stand includes a boom that is configured for holding a hose for use in dispensing concrete slurry therefrom. The stand also has a column that supports the boom. A base is present and extends from the column. The base also provides stability to the column to help prevent it from tipping over. In other variations, the height of the boom can be adjustable with respect to the base. Also in other variations the boom may be configured so as to pivot or rotate with respect to the base.
US07780122B1	Telescopic pipe support system A telescopic pipe support system is provided for supporting a plurality of pipes. The pipe support system utilizes an elongated, tubular shaft adapted to be mounted atop and below wood flooring as well as below concrete decking via a shaft receiving anchor and an auxiliary anchor, respectively. Hanger elements are removably attached along various longitudinal positions of the shaft in order to quickly and easily support construction articles.
US07780120B1	Flight control method and apparatus to produce induced yaw A method of controlling an aircraft in a turn without the use of a rudder by producing induced yaw. Induced yaw being produced by creating a net induced drag differential between an inboard wing to the turn and an outboard wing to the turn, whereby the net induced drag differential overcomes adverse yaw produced by the outboard wing.
US07780118B2	Radiation shield A radiation shield for use with a manned spacecraft is claimed. The shield has a container that is substantially filled with a substantially radiation absorbing material. The container has attachment members that cooperate with corresponding attachment members on the inner surface of a spacecraft. The radiation absorbing material provides a measure of protection to crewmembers and equipment against particle radiation that is present in space.
US07780116B2	Composite anti-crash structure with controlled buckling for an aircraft A structure (2) for an aircraft (1) comprises transverse walls (3-8) connected to longitudinal walls (9-12); each wall (3-12, 18, 18B) comprises two jackets (19) of composite material disposed on either side of an intermediate arrangement (20); a wall includes a corrugated core (70) presenting corrugations extending along an axis (Z) substantially parallel to the jacket, such that the capacity of the wall to absorb energy in the event of an impact along said axis is increased; a wall includes a zone of weakness (45) encouraging controlled degradation of the wall in the event of such a shock.
US07780115B2	Aircraft, vehicle and method for arranging seats therein An aircraft (or vehicle) and a vehicle seat arranging method by which the number of seats is increased to the maximum, while comfortability of passengers is ensured, includes a seat 20B immediately adjacent to an inner wall surface 11a out of a plurality of seats 20 provided in an array in a body 11 of an aircraft (or vehicle) 10, with the seat 20B being arranged inwardly obliquely so that a foot clearance of passengers is ensured. Oblique angles of mutually adjacent seats 20A, 20B can be made different from each other to form a fan shape so that passengers are prevented from interfering with each other on their shoulders. Also, baggage receiving spaces 30 provided in immediate front of the seats 20A, 20B, respectively, can be arranged so as not to interfere with each other.
US07780114B2	Modular galley, in particular for an aircraft A modular galley for an aircraft comprises several vertical and horizontal structural elements, and usage areas provided therebetween for accommodating slide-in devices, built-in devices or items of equipment. The galley comprises first structural elements that form an essentially unchangeable basic element which comprises connection elements for the mechanical connection of second structural elements, add-on devices, built-in devices, items of equipment and/or slide-in devices that are variable, and comprises interfaces for the supply to items of equipment that are provided in the galley wherein the connection elements and interfaces are standardized such that various structural elements, add-on devices, built-in devices, items of equipment and/or slide-in devices can be interchanged or can be affixed at various locations.
US07780113B1	Assembly for an aircraft including a wing element and a suspension pylon The invention relates to an assembly for an aircraft comprising a wing element (2) and a suspension pylon (4) for an engine (10) under the wing element, the suspension pylon (4) comprising a rigid structure (6) forming a box provided with an aft closing element (28), and the wing element (2) having a forward spar (34) extending substantially parallel to a leading edge (30) of the wing element. According to the invention, the rigid structure is assembled on the wing element such that the aft closing element bears in contact with the forward spar (34).
US07780111B2	Roll storage module and method for its operation A roll storage module comprises a storage roll (4) and a band roll (1). A band (3) extends between the storage and band rolls, the rolls being rotatable so that the band can be rolled around and unrolled from each roll. A storage roll motor (5) applies a rotational torque directly to the storage roll (4), a band roll motor (2) applies a rotational torque directly to the band roll (1). A control system (6) controls the motors (2,5) so as to cause the band (3) to roll on and unroll from the storage and band rolls (1,4) respectively in a determined manner. The control system includes a processor (6) for monitoring rotation of the band roll (1), and for calculating one or more parameters relating to the band (3) based on the monitored band roll rotation thereby to control the band and storage roll motors to rotate their respective rolls in the determined manner.
US07780110B2	Filament winding apparatus A filament winding apparatus equipped with a transfer mechanism of a terminating end of a fiber bundle using a transfer ring that can be switched from a mandrel after the winding process to a mandrel before the winding process. A cutter cuts a fiber bundle wound around a first transfer ring integral with a mandrel after the winding process and a second transfer ring is moved to the mandrel before the winding process between the first and second transfer rings; and a friction roller positions and holds the second transfer ring when cutting the fiber bundle. The friction roller is pressed and biased against the second transfer ring by a compression spring.
US07780109B1	Accessory wrapping machine Disclosed is an accessory wrapping machine for wrapping a string or a wire round a long band- or bar-shaped accessory member. With the present invention, it is possible to reduce a decoration time taken in wrapping an accessory with a string or a wire, make an outer appearance of a completed accessory beautiful, prevent a decorative string or wire drawn out of a reel from getting tangled when a motor pauses and restarts in a process of wrapping the decorative string or wire round an accessory member, and wrap the accessory member with the string or wire uniformly and at constant tension.
US07780105B2	Backlash prevention apparatus for bait reel A backlash prevention apparatus for a bait reel is provided. The apparatus can stepwise control a braking power of a spool according to a user's request by stepwise releasing restraint of first to eighth brake shoes that generate a friction force by manipulating a control dial installed in a side cover.
US07780101B2	Method for isolating aleurone particles The invention relates to a method and device for separating a mixture made of particles of a first particle type and a second particle type, especially aleurone particles and shell particles made of comminuted bran, said particles being scarcely distinguishable in terms of size and density, into various types of particles. Separation occurs according to particle-type specific triboelectric charging of said particles in a first active area and subsequent separation of the differently charged moving particles in an electric field.
US07780100B2	Nozzle head A nozzle head, having a feed line for a high-pressurized fluid, a channel for delivering an abrasive substance, with which the fluid can be loaded, as well as a discharge line, from which the fluid, loaded with abrasive substance, can issue, is designed such that the feed line and the channel run parallel or almost parallel to each other, and that the discharge line issues sideways from the nozzle head so as to run at an angle to the feed line.
US07780092B2	Application of microsystems for real time IEQ control An arrangement includes a plurality of wireless microsystems and a central data processor. Each microsystem is operable to measure a plurality of indoor environmental quality-related parameters and is operable to communicate first information pertaining to the measured parameters wirelessly to a network device. The central data processor is operably coupled to receive the first information from the network device, and further configured to generate a metric value of an indoor environmental quality of at least a first space based at least in part on the first information, the metric value dependent upon each of the measured parameters of at least a first of the plurality of microsystems.
US07780080B2	Portable device and methods for performing secure transactions A portable, biometrically-secured device for facilitating various different types of in-person and online transactions. For example, the portable, biometrically-secured device can be used to safely perform in-person financial transactions, such as credit card transactions, in which the user's identity is biometrically authenticated. The portable, biometrically-secured device can also be used for performing biometrically-secured online transactions. For example, the portable, biometrically-secured device can be used to create a secure platform from which to make the online transactions by loading a secure operating system from the device to a host computer's volatile memory. Biometrically-secured online transactions can then be performed using the host computer. In one embodiment, the portable, biometrically-secured device facilitates online financial transactions that can be performed without transmitting a user's financial information to the online merchant.
US07780078B2	Banking system operated responsive to data read from data bearing records A system includes automated banking machines that operate responsive to data read from data bearing records. Transactions may also be carried out through communication with local and remote service providers. An automated banking machine (322) operative to conduct transactions including cash dispensing for users responsive to data read from user cards and through communication with a transaction host (336). The machine is also operative to provide output signals which drive external displays (328, 330). The processor in the machine is also operative to cause the machine to receive visual and/or audio content from one or more content sources (342, 343) and to store data corresponding to such content. Such content is then output through the external displays.
US07780077B1	Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method controlled by records bearing check maker identity data An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash is dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check.
US07780067B2	Carton with reinforced handle openings A carton, having reinforced handle openings which define handles, includes a tubular structure that is formed from multiple walls. An edge flap connects two of the walls. The carton also includes end closures at each open end of the tubular structure. The end closures each include end flaps that have features that define the handles. The end closures also include edge flap reinforcing panels that are hingedly connected to the edge flap and further define the handle. Specifically, a reinforcing edge of the edge flap reinforcing panel is disposed in reinforcing proximity to a handle opening so as to reinforce at least a weight bearing edge of the handle opening to define a handle with a multi-ply thick weight bearing edge.
US07780060B2	Methods and apparatus for efficiently generating profiles for circuit board work/rework Methods and articles for receiving times and temperatures for stages of a profile including solder heating stages to rework a populated printed circuit board (PCB), the rework including removing a first integrated circuit (IC) from the PCB, focusing heat on the first integrated circuit using an oven element during rework of the PCB, collecting actual temperature information from a plurality of temperature sensing elements to detect actual temperature information associated with the first integrated circuit, and generating a suggested modification for an operator to modify the time and/or the temperature of at least one of the stages in the profile in response to a fail status indicating that the collected actual temperature information did not meet temperatures for a variable.
US07780058B2	Braided solder Improved solder and soldering methods are disclosed. In accordance with one technique, a solder having a plurality of individual wire strands braided together is used. In accordance with another technique, the braided solder comprises both the same solder composition and wire gauge in the individual solder wire strands. In accordance with another technique, the braided solder comprises at least two different solder compositions used in the individual solder wire strands. In accordance with another technique, the braided solder comprises at least two different wire gauges used in the individual solder wire strands. In accordance with another technique, the braided solder comprises at least one wire strand where the primary surface is coated with a thin layer of a noble metal. In accordance with another technique, the braided solder comprises at least one wire strand where flux material is present. In accordance with one soldering technique, a method of soldering is accomplished by melting a plurality of braided solder strands to join a plurality of metallic surfaces together.
US07780052B2	Trim removal system A system for removing chips from a web is disclosed, the system having a rotationally variable speed shoe for receiving a chip, a rotationally constant speed transfer roll for receiving a portion of a web from a die and anvil system, with the shoe initially rotating at a constant speed, slowing to allow a portion of the web to rip away from the chip at a leading rotational edge of the chip, next increasing in rotational speed to allow the chip to rip away from the web at a trailing rotational edge of the chip.
US07780051B2	Framed soft sided carrier for tools A collapsible bag or container includes first and second major pockets separated by a connecting web into which a metal frame is removably inserted. Alternatively, a plastic or rigid board member is substituted for the metal frame. Loops and handles project through the web for attachment of a carrier strap or manual handle. Another embodiment includes rigid end panels connected by a rigid bottom panel and a rigid handle with a flexible interior dividing wall supported by straps attached to the rigid handle and by attachment to the end panels and bottom panel.
US07780045B2	Non-vented liquid product dispenser The invention relates to a device which is used for the non-vented dispensing of liquid products from a container including a mobile base, an exhaust conduit and a push element which co-operates with a piston and a return spring. The invention is characterized in that the device includes a sealing and dosing bush bearing a sealing needle valve which can move in translation in a discharge channel in the bush, the needle valve being connected by means of a drive link to an axial guide rod which can slide in the exhaust conduit of the container that is connected to the channel by pressing on the bush and compressing the spring.
US07780044B2	Needle valve pump for dispensing liquid product The invention is a pump for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid product, designed and intended to be used in particular in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic field. The pump has a needle valve and a dispensing head manually movable on a pump housing between an inactive position and a dispensing position. The head includes a first cylinder forming a metering chamber for the pump, which draws in fluid from a container's reservoir by an intake tube and a check valve. A piston sealingly secured to the metering chamber pushes fluid through a passage into a second dosage chamber that is sealed from the dispensing orifice by a biased needle valve that is biased by a spring that is sealingly isolated from the second dosage chamber, the chamber that holds the elastic spring has a conduit that allows a user to test and verify that the second dosage chamber does not leak.
US07780038B2	Dispensing apparatus with dosage counter A dispensing apparatus (1) comprising a housing containing a dosage counter comprising at least two annular members (11, 13) and a cog (12), each being mounted rotationally. The housing is suitable for receiving, in use, a container (1) containing a product for dispensation. Each actuation of the apparatus causes the first annular member to incrementally rotate which, after a predetermined number of actuations of the apparatus, causes the cog to rotate, the rotation of the cog causing the second annular member to incrementally rotate.
US07780037B2	Unitary cosmetic compact with decoupled motion The present invention is a convenient-to-use cosmetic compact of increased stability, comprising a base, a cosmetic article carrier disposed within the base and a cap. With respect to the base, the cap is sometimes capable of translational movement and sometimes capable of rotational movement, but the cap can only perform one type of motion at a time. The type of movement that the cap may execute, depends on the relative orientation of the cap and base. There is one exception to this rule. There is exactly one orientation of the cap with respect to the base from which the user may execute either translation or rotation, but not both simultaneously.Translation of the cap with respect to the base causes translation of the cosmetic article carrier, either toward the bottom or toward the top of the base. In contrast, rotation of the cap with respect to the base does not affect the position of the cosmetic article carrier. Preferably, the cap is capable of rotating at least 180°.A selective rotation mechanism decouples translational motion of the cap from rotational motion of the cap. Thus, compound movement of the cap, with respect to the base, is not possible. Inadvertent movement of the carrier is eliminated, because when the device is in an orientation for use, translational movement of the carrier is prohibited. This feature creates greater stability during use. The device may be operated with one fluid motion by the user.
US07780029B2	Stackable container systems Systems and methods for providing a stackable container are provided herein.
US07780022B2	Coupler mounted bracket and trainline support casting A trainline support casting is provided to support flexible brake hoses between adjacent rail cars. The trainline support casting is capable of partial rotational movement during use and is supported on a mounting bracket adapted to mount directly to a coupler head of a cushioned car coupler, insuring a constant distance from the end of the coupler to the trainline support casting and a constant distance of the brake hoses above the ground according to AAR standards.
US07780015B1	Methods of and sludge collector with adjacent opposed oppositely-moving blades for moving sludge in a basin Apparatus and methods provide individual blades driven by drives configured to reduce a tendency of sludge to be moved in an undesired return direction. Drive configurations apply “pull” and “pull” forces that only pull on tensile structures, avoiding a need in actual commercial practice for use of extra structural drive members having high resistance to both tension and compressive forces exerted parallel to a sludge movement direction. Each of two separate tensile structures carries one blade, or a separate set of blades, with blade(s) of one structure adjacent to, and alternating with, blade(s) of the other structure. Embodiments move sludge from a corner of a basin and across a floor of the basin. The reduced tendency of sludge movement in the return direction results from moving one tensile structure and blade(s) in the sludge movement direction as the other tensile structure and adjacent opposed blade(s) move in the return direction.
US07780012B2	Classifier for granular material The present invention relates to a dynamic air classifier for the separation of granular and powdery materials into fractions of different grain sizes comprising a rotary cage, wherein: said classifier also comprises a recovery chamber for fine materials with a outlet bottom, said chamber being defined by a casing; said recovery chamber is coaxially arranged in the protrusion of the rotary cage so as to be able to use the vortex created by the rotary cage for cycloning said material; said recovery chamber comprises openings in the casing allowing the passage of the centrifuged material towards ducts for collecting the material located outside the chamber.
US07780011B2	Mobile metal reclamation soil processing apparatus and related methods Mobile metal scrap recovery apparatuses and methods of operating them to remove scrap metal from scrap metal-contaminated soil are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a mobile metal scrap recovery apparatus comprises first and second wheeled components, each of which is road transportable. The first wheeled component comprises a unit for screening the metal scrap-contaminated soil into at least a coarser fraction and a finer fraction. The second wheeled component comprises a magnet separator, an eddy current separator, and a manual picking station. Methods for conducting the business of scrap metal recovery are also disclosed. Such business methods involve the use of a mobile metal scrap recovery apparatus to remove scrap metal from scrap metal-contaminated soil.
US07780010B2	Electronic device packaging apparatus An electronic device packaging apparatus for packaging an electronic device includes a box and a cushioning member. The cushioning member is integrally formed as a one-piece, unitary member and disposed within the box. The cushioning member includes a central shelf component and a pair of leg components. Each of the leg components has an outer leg component and an inner leg component. The inner leg component with a through hole extends between the outer leg component and the central shelf component. Inner side faces of the outer leg components contact with upper edge portions of the electronic device, respectively.
US07780005B2	Multiple segment vacuum release handling device A vacuum release device is provided for temporarily immobilizing objects, the device comprising: a substrate; a plurality of vacuum release subunits which can be operated independent of each other, each vacuum release subunit comprising an adhesive layer over a surface of the substrate; and a spacing material positioned between the substrate and the adhesive layer so as to form a chamber within which a vacuum may be formed, application of the vacuum causing the adhesive layer to recess toward the chamber.
US07780003B2	Dispensing system for double stack carton The carton of this invention is capable of carrying the plurality of containers stacked upon their ends in two tiers with a unique dispenser that permits the dispensing of containers on their sides. The dispenser is formed in a top side wall and extends into the end wall with most of the end wall being torn open but leaving a portion near the bottom side wall to prevent the bottom layer of containers from rolling out. Angled projections in the dispensing end of the carton near the top panel and bottom panel prevent the top layer of containers from rolling out. A divider may be inserted between the two tiers of containers to facilitate loading the carton and preventing the containers from accidentally rolling out when the dispenser is open.
US07780002B2	Golf bag and travel system A golf bag and travel system for providing a multi-component, modular golf bag that enables golf clubs to be carried therein. The system includes a rigid inner body core and a plurality of modular, interchangeable, soft outer body members. The rigid inner body core includes a rigid top loop region, a rigid central loop region, a rigid bottom end, and a rigid belly region that connects the top loop region, the central loop region, and the bottom end. Each soft outer body member is selectively attachable to the top loop region, bottom end, and belly region of the inner body core, since each soft outer body member is shaped and sized to be selectively attachable to the correspondingly shaped and sized rigid inner body core. A cross-sectional area of the central loop region is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the top loop region, and a cross-sectional area of the central loop region is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the bottom end. As a result, a non-protruding zone is bounded by an outer perimeter of the top loop region that extends longitudinally to an outer perimeter of the bottom end of the inner body core. Each soft outer body member includes one or more storage areas. The smaller cross-sectional area of the central loop region enables a majority of at least one of the storage areas in a soft outer body member to be contained within the non-protruding zone.
US07779999B2	Packaging of component structures of spool A spool packaging is provided, including a plurality of disks, each having an axial hole therethrough, and arranged in a stack, a plurality of strip supports disposed in the stack such that each pair of adjacent disks is separated by at least four strip supports. The at least four strip supports form a substantially quadrilateral arrangement, and the axial holes of the pair of adjacent disks are disposed at a center of the quadrilateral arrangement. Hardware and closures are disposed between the adjacent disks within the quadrilateral arrangement.
US07779996B2	Box with A-Frame product support A container includes a housing having an open top and a lid attached to the housing. The lid includes a first panel having a first edge and a second edge, a second panel having a first edge and a second edge, and a third panel. The first edge of the first panel is attached to the housing at a first hinge. The first edge of the second panel is attached to the second edge of the first panel at a second hinge. The third panel is attached to the second edge of the second panel at a third hinge. The lid is positionable in a first position and a second position. When the lid is in the first position, the lid covers the open top of the housing and the first hinge and the third hinge form a virtual hinge. When the lid is in the second position, the lid forms an A-Frame over the open top such that the second panel forms a display platform. The third panel maintains the lid in the second position.
US07779995B2	Connector arrangement, connector element and method of producing the same A connector arrangement for connecting web ends (5), in particular an endless filter web, comprises two elongate elements which each have at least one elongate leg (1, 2) for fastening on one of the web ends (5), and a longitudinal flank (9) directed away from the web end (5). In a first longitudinal-section plane the longitudinal flank (9) has a first periodic contour, which engages in a corresponding contour of the other element respectively. In a second and third cross-section plane extending parallel to the first longitudinal-section plane, the elements each have second and third periodic contours (10, 11), which engage in a form-fitting manner in respectively corresponding contours (10, 11) of the other element respectively. The first to third contours form a groove (13, 13′) and a tongue (12) in at least one cross-section plane.
US07779994B1	Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling conveyor position A Belt Positioning Unit “BPU” operation which in use for facilitating the maintenance of long, heavy conveyor belts of conveyor systems comprises the steps of (a) monitoring a conveyor belt for event sites, (b) spotting an event site and logging into a computer (1), sufficient data from which the computer determines and records the footage location of the event site on the belt, (2) belt drift footage data, and (3) take up belt footage data, and (c) using said data to control operational aspects of the conveyor system components, e.g., belt speed, drive motor power-off point (POP), or belt scraper pressure which affect the maintenance or condition of said event site.
US07779990B2	Transfer device in manufacturing systems for tobacco products In a manufacturing system for tobacco products, a cigarette maker and a cigarette packer are linked by a transfer device consisting in a flat top chain conveyor that comprises a plurality of modular molded plastic elements connected one to the next by way of hinge elements and fashioned with respective tops combining to create a transport surface on which a layer of cigarettes advances en masse from one machine to the other; the flat tops of the single modular elements present a soft outer layer having a high coefficient of friction, which is co-molded with the relative modular element.
US07779989B2	Adjustable wood chip flinger An assembly for processing wood chips has a rotatable drum with a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from one another fed by a feed chute assembly. The feed chute assembly comprises a moveable element mounted so as to be dynamically moveable between a first position and a second position. The feed chute assembly may include a downwardly angled feed chute and a redirecting wall disposed downstream thereof. The moveable element may be all or part of either or both of the main chute and the redirecting wall. Wood chips are directed toward the rotating drum at a rotational position that varies depending on the position of the moveable element. The wood chips fed to the drum are flung therefrom in a pattern that varies in a side view along the axis depending on the position of the element. There may be multiple moveable elements.
US07779988B2	Method for delivering a container to a marking apparatus The present disclosure provides a method of delivering a container (103) to a marking apparatus (100), wherein the marking apparatus (100) is of the type having a marking device for selectively applying a mark to a container (103). The method comprises providing a plurality of containers within a staging assembly (104), and isolating at least one container (103) within a singulator assembly (112), wherein the singulator assembly (112) is in communication with the staging assembly (104). The method further comprises transporting the at least one container (103) from the singulator assembly (112) to a portion of the marking apparatus (100) with a shuttle (210).
US07779984B2	Arrangement for extracting extraction products in underground extraction operations in caving An arrangement for extracting extraction products in caving in which the extraction product is extracted downwards through an extraction funnel into an extraction path and from this is transferred onto an extraction conveyor arranged in a conveyor path, in which arrangement the extraction path extends transversely between the conveyor path and an auxiliary path parallel to this, a loading ramp is arranged in the extraction path which forms a ramp surface orientated transversely to the conveying direction of the extraction conveyor and inclined towards it. The extraction path is provided with a rail guidance attached to the bottom and extending in the area between the auxiliary path and the conveying path, on which the loading ramp is guided and along which it can be moved by a displacement drive (20) in the direction of the conveyor path and in the opposite direction.
US07779978B2	Selectable mode clutch A clutching device includes an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of rollers and an actuator plate. The outer and inner races have axial ridges to define opposed outer and inner race pockets. The rollers are positioned in the outer and inner race pockets. The clutching device further includes an axial projection coupled for rotation with one of the inner and outer race. An actuator plate is coupled for rotation with one of the inner and outer race and axially moveable between a first position wherein the actuator plate engages the axial projection and a second position wherein the actuator plate does not engage the axial projection.
US07779975B2	Shock absorbing and indicating impact bumper and method Disclosed herein is a shock absorbing and indicating bumper. The bumper includes, a spherical shaped body with a surface mountable to a corner of a device to which shock is to be absorbed. The bumper includes a crushable conical member engaged with a conical recess of the spherical shaped body, the crushable conical member having a hole therethrough from the vertex to the center of the base, and a shell with a substantially hollow semispherical shape slidably engaged with a surface of the spherical shaped body. The bumper further includes a rigid shaft with a first end fixedly attached to a central portion of the hollowed side of the shell and a second end pivotally engaged with the spherical shaped body at substantially the center of the spherical shaped body, the shaft extending through the hole in the crushable member and aligned thereby.
US07779972B2	Parking brake system A parking brake system is provided in which a parking brake state is obtained by forward movement of a parking piston in response to the action of a parking control fluid pressure, and a forward operating state of the parking piston is mechanically locked by a lock mechanism. Moreover, an input member of a brake mechanism and the parking piston are connected by a coupling linkage. A lock piston of the lock mechanism moves toward one side in the axial direction when the parking piston moves forward, and a locking part provided at one end of the lock piston engages from the rear with a retaining part provided on a middle section of the coupling linkage while straddling the middle section of the coupling. This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power.
US07779971B2	Vehicular disk brake A speed reducer 32 has an eccentric rotating member 56 which rotates along with a motor shaft 55 of an electric motor 11, an outer gear 57 which is rotatably supported by the outer circumference of the eccentric rotating member 56, an inner gear 58 which is fixedly disposed so as to be coaxial with the motor shaft 55 so as to engage with the outer gear 57, an output member 59 which is connected to an input member 37 of the motion converting mechanism 22 disposed so as to be coaxial with the motor shaft 55 so as to be not relatively rotatable about the input member 37, and an Oldham mechanism 60 which is disposed between the outer gear 57 and the output member 59 so as to transmit only a rotational component of the outer gear 57.
US07779970B1	Brake assembly and a brake shoe thereof for a bicycle A brake assembly for braking a wheel of a bicycle includes left and right brake arms and left and right brake shoes. Each brake shoe includes a holder mounted to the respective brake arm, a pad unit mounted on the holder and having a friction surface that is brought to frictionally engage a rim side of a wheel rim of the wheel, and a magnetically attracting unit mounted on the holder for establishing a magnetic field such that, in the course of a braking action, the strength of the established magnetic field is gradually increased to be of a magnitude sufficient to generate a dragging force to decelerate the running speed of the wheel rim until the friction surface frictionally engages the rim side.
US07779968B2	Electric parking brake system In an embodiment, an electric parking brake system is disclosed. The system may include or comprise a pair of parking cables each connected to a brake. Additionally, the system may include or comprise a motor and a drive gear. The system may also include or comprise a planetary gear unit including or comprising a sun gear connected to the drive gear, a plurality of planetary gears gearedly connected with the sun gear, an internal gear formed along a revolving path of the planetary gears, and an output carrier connected to the planetary gears. The system may further include or comprise a screw-nut unit including a screw member and a nut member screwed to the screw member, the screw-nut unit being connected to the output carrier, and the parking cables being connected to opposite ends of the screw-nut unit, respectively.
US07779966B2	Front rotary working machine A front rotary working machine has an engine and a transmission case of a power transmission mounted to a lower portion of the engine. The transmission case comprises a case body and a clutch case. An oil outlet is provided for discharging engine oil formed in the clutch case. An oil receiving portion has an outflow path and is formed in the clutch case and disposed directly below the oil outlet. A fastening boss is formed in the case body for fastening the case body to the clutch case so that an outer surface of the fastening boss is positioned substantially directly below and adjacent to an opening of the outflow path of the oil receiving portion. Rotary working portions are provided at a front portion of the transmission case.
US07779964B2	Acoustic elements and their production Acoustic element (1) has a flat, sound-receiving, front face (2) which extends in the XY plane and has a good sound-absorption coefficient, and the element is formed of a bonded batt of air laid mineral fibres having a density of 70 to 200 kg/m3 wherein the fibres extend from the front face (2) and at least through the front half of the thickness of the batt have a Z direction component greater than the Z direction component of conventional air laid products, and the front face of the batt is a cut and abraded face. The element can be made by air laying mineral fibres and binder, reorienting the fibres to provide an increased fibre orientation in the Z direction, curing the binder to form a cured batt and cutting the cured batt in the XY plane into two cut batts and smoothing each cut surface by abrasion to produce a flat face on each cut batt.
US07779962B2	Muffler A muffler is disclosed. In the muffler a throttling device that is controlled by the energy of the airflow to be muffled is provided in a pipeline of the airflow that needs to be muffled. The muffler is adjusted by itself according to random variety of the pulsing airflow, and can eliminate or reduce effectively the pulsation of the airflow and the related noise in the range of the low frequency and the middle frequency. The muffling effect of the muffler has no correlation with the volume of the muffler, and therefore the volume of the muffler can be reduced.
US07779960B2	System and method for noise suppression Embodiments of the present invention relate to a computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system comprises a fan and a muffler configured to suppress noise from the fan. The muffler may comprise a plurality of acoustic absorption sheets, wherein the acoustic absorption sheets each have a hole at least generally aligned with a flow area of the fan.
US07779958B2	Hydraulic pressurizer system A hydraulic pressurizer system (30) comprises a drive source (an engine 2 and a motor generator 4), which drives a hybrid vehicle (1), a mechanical oil pump (20), which is driven by the drive source, an electrical motor (22), which is activated by a 12V battery (24), an electrical oil pump (21), which is driven by the electrical motor (22), and a control unit (15), which activates the electrical motor (22). The pressurizer further comprises a ratio-change mechanism (7), which is activated by hydraulic oil supplied by the mechanical oil pump (20) and by the electrical oil pump (21) to establish a speed change ratio, at which the rotational driving force of the drive source is transmitted to wheels (8) with a rotational speed change. For executing a control for stopping the drive source, the control unit (15) executes a cleaning operation, which operates the electrical oil pump (21) for a predetermined time before the stopping of the drive source.
US07779956B2	Vehicular seats with weight sensing capability Vehicle seat including a seat portion including a container having an interior containing fluid and a mechanism, material or structure therein to restrict flow of the fluid from one portion of the interior to another portion of the interior, a back portion arranged at an angle to the seat portion, and a measurement system arranged to obtain an indication of the weight of the occupant when present on the seat portion based at least in part on the pressure of the fluid in the container. The weight of the occupant can be used to control components in the vehicle or the seat itself.
US07779952B2	Drive system and an axle for a vehicle driveline, and a vehicle comprising the driveline The invention relates to a drive system for a vehicle driveline comprising a pair of interconnected first transverse drive shafts (31a, 31b) extending in opposite directions, each of which supports a ground engaging member, and a first arrangement (101) allowing said pair of first transverse drive shafts to rotate at different speeds. Said arrangement (101) comprises a pair of individually selectively engagable clutches (37a, 37b), one clutch for each transverse drive shaft, and each of said clutches (37a, 37b) is configured for engaging and disengaging, respectively, the associated transverse drive shaft (31a, 31b) to a driving connection with a source of motive power.
US07779949B2	Modular rear axle assembly of a motor vehicle A rear axle/suspension module (18) is associated with a chassis frame (10) in a way that facilitates installation and removal to provide more efficient assembly plant operations with fewer parts and less floor space. Also provided is a method of re-equipping a truck that has one particular model of drive axle and suspension module with a different model.
US07779946B2	Snowmobile A snowmobile includes steering handlebars, a pair of left and right skis, and a power transmission mechanism arranged to couple the steering handlebars and the skis. The power transmission mechanism includes a first rotary shaft extending directly downward or obliquely downward from the steering handlebars for rotation along with the steering handlebars; a first link mechanism coupled to the first rotary shaft; a second rotary shaft coupled to the first link mechanism and arranged to rotate along with the rotation of the first rotary shaft via the first link mechanism, the second rotary shaft being disposed on a different axis from that of the first rotary shaft; a second link mechanism disposed between the second rotary shaft and the skis; and a power steering device mounted to the second link mechanism as a part thereof and having an actuator to be driven based on the rotation of the second rotary shaft.
US07779944B2	Snowmobile tunnel and rear heat exchanger The top wall of a snowmobile tunnel, which accommodates the endless drive track of the snowmobile, is provided with recesses at locations corresponding to the path followed by studs carried by the endless track. The rear of the tunnel is connected to a molded rear member having a pattern of recesses matching that of the top wall of the tunnel. In yet another aspect of the invention, a heat exchanger for cooling engine coolant may be provided at the rear of the tunnel. The heat exchanger may be mounted to and partially spaced from the molded rear member. The heat exchanger may bear rearwardly extending ridges with upwardly extending lip at the far end. In some embodiments, a channel is provided on the upper end of the heat exchanger to promote air and snow flow over the rearwardly extending ridges.
US07779937B2	Steel tooth bit with scooped teeth profile An earth-boring bit has at least one steel tooth with a scoop-shaped profile. The scoop-shaped profile is formed by milling and hardfacing a tooth to have at least one flank with a concave profile. Additionally, the tooth may contain one flank with a concave profile and another with a convex profile. The centerline axis of the tooth may be moved to alter the angle between the flanks and the centerline to vary the manner in which the tooth engages the formation.
US07779936B2	Staggered compact row on same land An earth boring drill bit comprising cones, each cone having a land on its mid portion with at least two rows of compacts that are staggered with respect to adjacent compacts on another row. The compacts of these two rows may also have the same size. The compacts of these two inner rows are closer to each other than to any other compacts on the cone.
US07779930B2	Hydraulic impact hammer with overpressure and piston-overtravel protection The invention relates to a striking device (5) comprising a striking mechanism (8) which is driven by a pressure medium. Said device comprises a percussion piston (13) which can be displaced back and forth by means of a control device and a control valve which is embodied as a pressure shut-off valve (19) or as a stop valve, said control valve automatically stopping the striking mechanism if it exceeds a predetermined maximum value based on the working pressure controlling the inlet line, blocking the pressure line (3) or maintaining the control device in one of the and positions thereof. The inventive striking device also comprises a hydraulic catcher buffer which is used to brake the percussion piston when it exceeds a predetermined impact plane. According to the invention, the control valve must remain deactivated at least as long as the percussion piston is displaced on the hydraulic catcher buffer.
US07779928B2	Non-metallic mandrel and element system A non-metallic element system is provided as part of a downhole tool that can effectively seal or pack-off an annulus under elevated temperatures. The element system can also resist high differential pressures without sacrificing performance or suffering mechanical degradation, and is considerably faster to drill-up than a conventional element system. In one aspect, the composite material comprises an epoxy blend reinforced with glass fibers stacked layer upon layer at about 30 to about 70 degrees. In another aspect, a mandrel is formed of a non-metallic polymeric composite material. A downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, frac-plug, or packer, is also provided. The tool comprises a support ring having one or more wedges, an expansion ring, and a sealing member positioned with the expansion ring.
US07779927B2	Non-metallic mandrel and element system A non-metallic element system is provided as part of a downhole tool that can effectively seal or pack-off an annulus under elevated temperatures. The element system can also resist high differential pressures without sacrificing performance or suffering mechanical degradation, and is considerably faster to drill-up than a conventional element system. In one aspect, the composite material comprises an epoxy blend reinforced with glass fibers stacked layer upon layer at about 30 to about 70 degrees. In another aspect, a mandrel is formed of a non-metallic polymeric composite material. A downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, frac-plug, or packer, is also provided. The tool comprises a support ring having one or more wedges, an expansion ring, and a sealing member positioned with the expansion ring.
US07779921B2	Wellhead completion assembly capable of versatile arrangements A wellhead completion assembly has a head connected to surface casing. A rotatable flange or the like can be used to connect various components to a threaded end of the head. A casing hanger installs in the head, and the hanger's upper end extends beyond the head's top edge. This exposed end has an external threaded connection to connect to various wellhead components using a rotatable flange or the like. For example, a locking ring can threadably connect to the head's threaded end to support the hanger in the head. Then, a rotatable flange can threadably connect to the hanger's exposed end so that another component, such as a completion spool or gate valve, can nippled up directly to the hanger. When the hanger is fluted, a pack-off assembly can allow testing off inner and outer sealing integrity via a test port accessible through an opening in the locking ring.
US07779920B2	Controlling backflow pressure during retrieval of bottom hole assembly A bottom hole assembly in a casing-while-drilling operation is retrieved by displacing the fluid in the casing string with a less dense fluid than the fluid in the annulus. The bottom hole assembly moves upward in the casing string in response to an upward force due to the different densities of fluid in the casing string and in the annulus. Displaced fluid flows out of the casing string and through a restrictive orifice of a choke. The flow area of the orifice is varied as the bottom hole assembly moves upward to control the rate at which the bottom hole assembly moves upward.
US07779918B2	Wellbore control device A wellbore control device (10) for sealing a wellbore is described. The device has, in a preferred arrangement, two opposed cutting rams (16, 18) which are coupled to respective linkage mechanisms (26, 28). The linkage mechanisms translate axial movement of a piston into radial movement to move the rams towards each other in the device throughbore. This results in an effective wellbore control device having a compact size and shape which can be encompassed within a wellbore.
US07779917B2	Subsea connection apparatus for a surface blowout preventer stack A subsea connection apparatus to allow connecting a surface blowout preventer stack and riser to a subsea wellhead is disclosed. The subsea connection apparatus uses a single cavity blowout preventer with a set of shearing blind rams. Hydraulically actuated wellhead connectors are secured to the top and bottom of the blowout preventer to allow connection to a subsea wellhead below the subsea connection apparatus and a wellhead hub profile on the lower end of a riser above the apparatus. A control system can operate both of the hydraulically actuated connectors and the blowout preventer independently. A frangible bore protector is disposed in the bore of the blowout preventer to protect the shearing blind rams from pipe, tools and fluids being passed through the blowout preventer and can be sheared by the shearing blind rams along with any drill pipe in the bore.
US07779907B2	Downhole shock absorber with crushable nose A downhole shock absorber preferably is filled with well fluid in a chamber that is reduced in volume due to impact. A rupture disc can hold the initial non-compressible liquid charge until impact. Upon impact, the rupture disc breaks to allow the fluid to be forced through an orifice to absorb some of the shock that occurs when a string hits a fixed object after dropping in the wellbore. The nose of the shock absorber is a soft material that has voids so that the combination of the softness of the material and the voids allow the nose to reshape until it encounters a surrounding tubular wall and then to collapse inwardly into the voids, making it simple to remove. The nose is releasably mounted to the shock absorber so the two can separate if the nose gets stuck after impact.
US07779903B2	Solid rubber packer for a rotating control device A seal assembly for use with a rotating control head is provided. The seal assembly includes a rotatable member and a cavity formed between the rotatable member and a tubular radially inwardly disposed from the rotatable member. The cavity having a first surface and a second surface. The seal assembly further includes a seal member having a first end and a second end disposed between the first surface and the second surface of the cavity and sealable with the tubular between the first and the second ends due to deformation of the seal member.
US07779901B2	Downhole debris catcher and associated mill A debris catching device for downhole milling features modular debris receptacles that are held in the housing in a manner that facilitates stacking and a generally undulating flow path to facilitate dropping of the debris into the receptacles as the remaining fluid travels up the tool for ultimate screening before the fluid exits the tool to flow up to the surface or in a reverse circulation pattern back to the mill below the debris catcher. The modules can also be aligned with flapper valves at the top of each module to prevent debris in the tool from falling to the mill if circulation is turned off. The mill is configured to have an off-center return path preferably as large as the passage through the mill body to aid circulation and cutting performance.
US07779900B2	Air conditioner for vehicle use Both an air mixing door (9) for the cold air for adjusting a passage area of the cold air passage (6); and an air mixing door (10) for the hot air for adjusting a passage area of the hot air passage (7) are composed of a sliding door for adjusting the passage area when the air mixing door (9) for the cold air and the air mixing door (10) for the hot air are slid in a direction perpendicular to the flow of air in both the passages (6, 7), and while one of the air mixing door (9) for the cold air and the air mixing door (10) for the hot air is maintaining one of the passages (6, 7) in a fully opened state, an operating position of the other door is adjusted so that a passage area of the other passage is adjusted and a temperature of the air blowing out into a vehicle compartment is adjusted.
US07779897B2	Heat dissipation device with heat pipes A heat dissipation device for dissipating heat from a heat-generating device includes a heat-absorbing plate, a heat pipe assembly attached to the heat-absorbing plate and a fin set attached to the heat pipe assembly. The fin set includes a plurality of fins and has a contacting surface cooperatively formed by bottom edges of the fins and attached to the heat pipe assembly. The heat pipe assembly includes heat pipes with evaporating sections and condensing sections located away from the evaporating sections. The evaporating sections of the heat pipes are covered by the heat-absorbing plate and the condensing sections of the heat pipes are exposed outside of the heat-absorbing plate. The heat pipes absorb heat from the heat-generating device via the heat-absorbing plate, and directly transfer the heat to the fin set.
US07779895B2	Protective device for protecting thermal interface material and fasteners of heat dissipation device A heat dissipation device assembly includes a heat dissipation device for dissipating heat from an electronic element and a protective device assembly. The heat dissipation device includes a base with fasteners extending therethrough, a plurality of fins arranged on a top of the base, and a heat conducting plate attached on a bottom of the base. A thermal interface material is spread on a bottom surface of the heat conducting plate. The protective device assembly includes a first cover attached to a bottom of the heat conducting plate and a second cover separated from the first cover and attached to a lateral side of the base. The first cover protects the thermal interface material from being contaminated and the second cover protects the fasteners from dropping from the base, when the heat dissipation device is transported.
US07779894B2	Heat dissipation device A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink (10) and a blower (50) for generating an airflow to the heat sink. The blower includes a housing (60) and at least one plate (63a, 63b) extending outwardly from the housing. The housing forms a contacting surface (610, 620) abutting a side of the heat sink. The plate includes an inner surface (630) abutting another side of the heat sink. A groove (69) is defined in a junction of the housing and the plate, and thus the contacting surface of the housing and the inner surface of the plate are planar-shaped to avoid interference between the housing of the blower and the heat sink. The groove has chamfer angles R therein. The housing is made by plastic injection molding or die casting.
US07779890B2	Method and apparatus for production of a cast component A system for producing cast components from molten metal. One form of the present invention includes a system for the precision pouring of molten metal within a casting mold. The precision pouring system is driven by a pressure differential.
US07779889B2	Process for manufacturing single-crystal seeds simultaneously with the casting of single-crystal parts A process for manufacturing at least one single-crystal seed that can be used as a starter seed in the manufacture of a single-crystal high-pressure turbine nozzle, with at least one vane between two platforms, by metal casting, is disclosed. The process includes producing a wax pattern that includes a pattern for the nozzle, a pattern for the starter seed, and a pattern for a crude seed; forming a ceramic shell mold from the wax pattern; incorporating a starter seed into the mold; pouring metal into the mold; directionally solidifying the metal in the mold from the starter seed; and separating the crude seed from the nozzle. The starter seed and the crude seed each include a flat face for localizing the crystalline orientations. The crude seed has the same crystallographic structure as the nozzle.
US07779887B2	Rotating end cap An end cap for use in a shade assembly for use in a vehicle wherein the end cap is a rotating end cap. The end cap is capable of rotating and twisting and includes a base and a rotating connector partially arranged within an end of the base. The rotating end cap also includes an extension with the rotating connector partially arranged within an end of the extension. The rotating end cap will allow for the end cap to effectively reduce its length by rotating the extension with relation to the base from a generally parallel position to one having an orthogonal position between the extension and base.
US07779886B2	Dual function mechanism for a Venetian blind A Venetian blind and a control mechanism therefore, comprising a plurality of slats suspended from a headrail by lift cords, the control mechanism comprising a hollow rod articulated to the headrail and accommodating the lift cords extending to a elevation assembly manipulable by an actuator slidingly received over the rod. Upward displacing of the actuator entails lowering of the slats and downwards displacing of the actuator entails raising of the slats, and a friction mechanism for arresting the slats at any respective elevation.
US07779884B2	Multi-level laminating press A multi-layer laminating press including hot plates arranged over top of and movable in reference to each other, conveyers revolving around the hot plates, sealing elements that assist in forming vacuum chambers between each of a first hot plate and a respectively adjacent second hot plate arranged thereabove when the press is closed. The second conveyor lower run of the second hot plate rests on the first conveyor upper run of the first hot plate and the work piece to be laminated is arranged between the first conveyor upper run and the second conveyor lower run in the vacuum chamber. Connections are provided to pressurize and/or evacuate the vacuum chambers. The vacuum chambers are limited by either the first hot plate and the second conveyor lower run, or the second hot plate and the first conveyor upper run, without the interposition of another membrane for laminating the workpiece.
US07779882B2	Apparatus and method for manufacturing rubber sheet with reinforced cord An apparatus for manufacturing for a rubber sheet reinforced with a cord, it consists of a first cylinder formed to wrap around a rubber coated cord on a surface of the cylinder by rotating centering an axis of the cylinder and a second cylinder that is a smaller cylinder diameter than a cylinder diameter of the first cylinder and is established in parallel aligning a cylinder axis direction to the first cylinder, spirally winding continuously a great number of rubber coated cords on the surface of the cylinder contacting with each other by transferring the rubber coated cord from the first cylinder to the second cylinder.
US07779873B2	Method and apparatus for filling a fuel container A filling device for use to manually or automatically refill a fuel cartridge using a separate fuel container or a second fuel cartridge is disclosed. The filling device provides for the sharing or fuel among numerous fuel containers and fuel cartridges in various consumer electronic devices. Fuel cartridges can be filled in-situ using an adapter for connecting the fuel container to the fuel cartridge. The adapter includes an input connector and an output connector arranged to adapt various fuel containers and fuel cartridges together. The adapter can be arranged as a passive device or as an active device and can include pumps, valves, power sources and control units as desired.
US07779872B2	Service unit for replenishing service fluids A service unit for use in replenishing and/or maintaining service fluids in a vehicle has a unit, such as a driving engine, with at least one service element, such as fill nozzles, and a collecting pan that at least partially encompasses the service element. To ensure the convenient replenishment or maintenance of service fluids, a protective drip cover is attached to the collecting pan. The protective drip cover can be shifted from a non-deployed position to a protective position, in which it projects at least partially beyond the collecting pan.
US07779870B2	Method and equipment for manufacturing reinforced fiber textile A method for producing a reinforcing fiber woven fabric of the invention is a method for producing a reinforcing fiber 1 for weaving the reinforcing fiber as at least a warp 2. The yarn width of at least the warp 2 constituting the woven fabric is widened in the direction of the weft 3 by reciprocating cylindrical bodies 4 in the direction of the warp 2 of the woven fabric while rolling the cylindrical bodies 4 in a pressurization state to the woven fabric 1 A apparatus for producing a reinforcing fiber woven fabric of the invention comprising: a guide roller 5 which comes into contact with the surface of a reinforcing woven fabric continuously passing through at a predetermined winding angle and rotates; a plurality of cylindrical bodies 4 rotatably supported on the woven fabric which comes into contact with the surface of the guide roller 5; and driving parts 6 to 10 for reciprocating the cylindrical bodies in the direction of the warp 2 of the woven fabric.
US07779861B2	Device for adjusting the flow-rate of a fluid, particularly medical oxygen and compressed gases in general A device for adjusting the flow-rate of a fluid, particularly medical oxygen and compressed gases in general, which comprises a valve body which defines an input duct for a low-pressure fluid which is connected to a rotary flow control element, which has an output port which can be arranged at the calibrated holes of a flow-rate adjustment disk; the calibrated holes are connected to an output duct; an actuation handwheel is also provided which is functionally associated with the rotary flow control element; the actuation handwheel comprises means for positioning the flow control element so that the output port is arranged at at least one of the calibrated holes.
US07779860B2	Airflow control mechanism The present invention provides an airflow control mechanism comprising a conduit for air having an inlet located at a first end thereof and an outlet located at a second end thereof; a first opening formed in a side of said conduit and able to provide a secondary inlet thereto; a movable collar at least partially surrounding said conduit at a location alignable with said first opening, such that said collar is able to at least partially occlude said first opening; further comprising a second opening beside the first opening as part of the secondary inlet, wherein the collar is also alignable with the second opening, such that the collar is able to at least partially occlude the second opening at the same time as the first opening. Thus with this airflow control mechanism, a user may select whether to occlude both the first and the second openings, in which case air will pass directly from the inlet to the outlet without any air also entering through the secondary inlet, or to occlude neither the first and second openings, in which case air entering the secondary inlet will contribute to the total amount of air exiting the outlet, or to occlude just one of the first and second openings, in which case, a fixed amount of air which is less than the secondary inlet being fully open, but more than the secondary inlet being fully closed, will enter through the secondary inlet and contribute to the total amount of air exiting the outlet. Thus the user will be provided with a highly predictable and repeatable setting for the airflow control mechanism between the fully open and fully closed positions of the secondary inlet.
US07779857B2	Hot water system A hot water system includes a hot water source; a hot water delivery line connected between the hot water source and at least one plumbing fixture along with a cold water delivery line connection between said plumbing fixture, a cold water source and said hot water source; a pump, interconnected between the hot and cold water delivery lines, enables circulation of water from the hot water delivery line through the cold water delivery line and into the hot water source, thus eliminating the need for a separate recirculation line. A thermostatic valve is disposed in a serial arrangement with the pump between the hot and cold water lines for blocking flow of water from the hot water line into the cold water line when the pump is not operating.
US07779854B2	Valve member to armature coupling system and fuel injector using same A relatively inexpensive robust attachment strategy that insures good perpendicularity between a valve member and an armature utilizes an intervening nut between the armature and valve member. A valve member is received in a guide bore of a valve body. A nut is threaded onto one end of a valve member. The armature is press fit onto a orientation neutral interface of the nut, and a fixture is utilized to set near perfect perpendicularity between an air gap plane of the armature and a centerline of the valve member. The armature is then welded to the valve member. The weld may be accomplished via laser welding while the valve assembly is firmly held in an appropriate position within the fixture. The valve assembly may be then incorporated into a fuel injector stack of components in a conventional manner.
US07779853B2	Proportional pressure control valve A proportional pressure control valve particularly for electro-hydraulic transmissions. The valve includes a cage having pump, clutch, and tank port openings. A spool is received within the cage for controlling flow between the clutch port and the pump and tank ports of the system. The spool has a feedback pressure surface responsive to an applied feedback fluid pressure urging the spool to move towards a first position allowing flow between the clutch and tank ports. A feedback pressure chamber is defined within the cage for developing the feedback fluid pressure. A clutch port pressure feedback passage couples the clutch port with the feedback pressure chamber for admitting flow from the clutch port into the feedback pressure chamber to develop the feedback fluid pressure. The clutch port pressure feedback passage is formed within the cage wall to couple the control pressure chamber in fluid communication with the system clutch port.
US07779852B2	Water conservation safety shut-off valve The present invention is a water conservation safety shut-off valve assembly for use on locations which normally have intermittent water usage but need to indicate when there is constant water usage, such as a leak. The valve assembly has a valve body with a fluid pathway and a valve plug held in an open position allowing water to flow through the pathway. As water flows through the pathway, a flow detection switch monitors water flowing through the pathway and begins timing duration of water flowing through the pathway. If the water flow through the pathway stops, the timer value is reset to zero. If the water flows through the pathway, and the timer circuit reaches a predetermined value, the valve closes the pathway, stopping the flow of water through the valve assembly.
US07779848B2	Apparatus and method for cleaning semiconductor wafer Method and apparatus for precisely removing dusts from a side edge of a wafer, improving a production yield of wafers, and reducing a manufacturing cost for semiconductor devices. The apparatus includes: a retaining table having a circular top plan view, capable of retaining the wafer disposed on the top surface, and being rotated in the wafer cleaning; a feeding unit for supplying a cleaning solution to a top surface of the wafer; a cup member for recovering the cleaning solution supplied to the wafer, the cup member surrounding a radially outer circumference and a bottom of the retaining table; and a guard member disposed inside the cup member so as to be spaced apart from the retaining table, which surrounds the radially outer circumference of the retaining table.
US07779840B2	Ventilator breath condensate sampler and method of collecting a breath condensate sample A breath condensate sampler for use with a mechanical ventilator, the breath condensate sampler includes an airflow valve, a condensate formation tube, a condensate trap, and a condensate collection receptacle. The airflow valve directs air from the expiratory limb into the condensate formation tube wherein the condensate portion of exhaled gases are separated from the gaseous portion of the exhaled gases. A method of collecting a breath condensate sample is also herein disclosed.
US07779836B2	Inhalation device A powder inhaler for administering powder by inhalation, comprising: a flow path defined by a plurality of surfaces through which a stream of air is in use drawn on inhalation by a user; and dosing means (18) for providing a dose of powder to the flow path for entrainment in the stream of air; characterized in that the inhaler further comprises dislodging means for dislodging powder accumulated on a surface of the flow path downstream of the dosing means (18).
US07779828B2	Barbecue grill with a movable heater A barbecue grill with a movable heater includes a main body having at least a rail, a heater movably resting on the rail, and a storing plate closable on the main body. The heater can be freely moved to and from above baking foods placed on a net to let a user operate conveniently and safely. And, with the storing plate closed on the main body, not only the heat can be kept in the main body to shorten baking time for saving energy, but also the well-baked foods and the frozen foods can be put on the storing plate for respectively keeping warm and being unfrozen to increase space.
US07779827B2	Blade ring saw blade A flat-sided annular blade for a blade ring saw for cutting hard materials such as tile along straight paths and curved paths in which the workpiece is moved through the central portion of the blade. In addition to the usual sintered abrasive diamond coating on the outer peripheral portion of the blade, the inner peripheral portion preferably is tapered to a curved inner edge and also is coated with an abrasive, preferably an electroplated diamond coating providing smoother sawing operation and a finishing action on the workpiece.
US07779821B2	Intake-air cooling device for internal combustion engine and automobile using the same The invention provides an intake-air cooling device for an internal combustion engine that can be installed compactly. The invention provides an intake-air cooling device for a gasoline engine equipped with an intercooler that cool intake air with outside air and an evaporator that cools intake air with refrigerant circulating in a bypass refrigeration circuit, disposed in this sequence in an intake-air channel from a supercharger to the gasoline engine. The intercooler is disposed in an outside-air duct through which outside air passes, the evaporator is disposed inside a case through which the intake air passes, and a bottom plate of the case forms part of the outside-air duct.
US07779820B2	Liquid separator A liquid separator that can be used in a vehicle fuel system can have, among other components, an inlet portion, a deflector surface, and an outlet portion. The inlet portion can receive fluid from a fluid tube that communicates with a fuel tank. The deflector surface may cause a change-in-direction that separates liquid and fuel vapor from the fluid. The outlet portion can carry separated fuel vapor to a vapor tube that communicates with a canister. A space adjacent the inlet portion can be defined by a fuel system component such as partly by a fill tube or by a vessel.
US07779818B2	System and method for priming a fluid system A system and method is provided for automatically priming a fuel system by bleeding/purging air or vapor therefrom. The system includes a bleed valve configured to automatically move between three positions in response to the pressure of the fuel in the system. When fuel pressure is in a first pressure range, the bleed valve automatically moves to a first-closed position for preventing fuel from draining to the fuel tank and thereby drawing air into the fuel system. When the fuel pressure moves to a second, higher pressure range, the bleed valve automatically moves to an open position for bleeding air out of the fuel system and into the tank, thereby priming the fuel system. When the fuel pressure moves to a third, still higher pressure range, the bleed valve automatically moves to a second-closed position so as to not interfere with the regulation of the pressure regulating valve.
US07779816B2	Control and regulation method for an internal combustion engine provided with a common-rail system An open-loop and closed-loop control method for an internal combustion engine (1) with a common rail injection system, in which a rail pressure (pCR) is subject to closed-loop control during normal operation. A second actual rail pressure is determined by a second filter, a load reduction is detected when the second actual rail pressure exceeds a first limit, and when a load reduction is detected, the rail pressure (pCR) is controlled by setting the PWM signal (PWM) to a PWM value that is increased compared to normal operation by a PWM assignment unit.
US07779815B2	Fuel injection system comprising a variable flow rate high-pressure pump An injection system includes a high-pressure pump with at least one pumping element operated in a reciprocating manner by corresponding intake and discharge strokes. Each pumping element is equipped with a corresponding intake valve in communication with an intake line, fed by a low-pressure pump. An on-off solenoid valve is positioned on the intake line of the pump and is controlled by a control unit with a frequency equal to a whole multiple or submultiple of that of the pumping action, multiplied by a factor different from 1 and/or between 0.90 and 1.10, inclusive.
US07779813B2	Combustion control system for an engine utilizing a first fuel and a second fuel A system for a multi-fuel engine includes adjusting delivery of one or more fuels in response to a condition of an ignition spark in the engine. In one example, the system adjusts one or more fuels in response to spark plug ionization detection to improve performance of the engine.
US07779812B2	Vehicle stability and surge control In one example, a method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting dilution in the combustion chamber of the engine to reduce surge in response to the vehicle acceleration. The dilution may be adjusted by adjusting cam timing, for example.
US07779811B1	Thermoelectrically cooled components for distributed electronics control system for gas turbine engines A gas turbine engine control component includes at least one electronic device, electronics such as an integrated circuit associated with the device, and a thermoelectric cooler for cooling the electronics mounted in a compartment. The thermoelectric cooler may be disposed in or on a wall of the compartment with a heat sink connected to a hot side of the thermoelectric cooler and a cold side of the thermoelectric cooler exposed to an interior of the compartment. Data about and/or operating instructions for the device may be stored in memory on the integrated circuit. The data may be calibration information for the device. A bus connector is connected to the integrated circuit for transferring operating instructions and/or data from the integrated circuit out and/or out of the component. A controller or control system incorporating these devices and components have the devices electronically connected to the integrated circuit.
US07779798B2	Method and device for determining a switchover condition in order to initiate a valve lift changeover in an internal combustion engine In a method for determining the switchover condition in order to initiate a valve lift changeover in an internal combustion engine, the torque requirement (TQ REQ) is determined. Also, an operational variable of the internal combustion engine, which is representative for an operational state of the internal combustion engine, is determined. According to the operational variable, a duration of time (T), which is required in the current operational state in order to carry out at least one prepared amount for the valve lift changeover, is determined. An alteration value, which is representative for the alteration of the torque condition (TQ_REQ), is determined. The valve lift changeover is initiated by the duration of time (T) and the alteration value (TQ_REQ) according to the torque requirement (TQ REQ).
US07779796B2	Variable valve actuating apparatus for internal combustion engine and process of controlling the same A variable valve actuating apparatus for an internal combustion engine with an exhaust turbocharger. An intake valve characteristic varying section is arranged to vary an operating angle and a lift of an intake valve. An exhaust valve characteristic varying section is arranged to vary an opening timing and a closing timing of an exhaust valve. In response to an increase in a desired value of an output of the engine, a control section advances an opening timing of the intake valve, retards a closing timing of the intake valve, and advances the opening timing of the exhaust valve. In response to an increase in a boost pressure of the exhaust turbocharger, the control section increases the operating angle and the lift of the intake valve, and retards the opening timing and the closing timing of the exhaust valve.
US07779795B2	Valve system for opposed piston engines The valve system for opposed piston engines essentially comprises a single poppet valve opening into the common combustion chamber between the two opposed pistons of each piston and cylinder pair. The engine for which the mechanism is adapted includes a rotating internal cylinder surrounding each piston pair, with a stationary outer cylinder or case surrounding the rotating cylinder. The valve is pivotally attached at one side or end thereof to the edge of the valve port of the rotating cylinder, and is actuated by an arm or arms having guides (rollers, etc.) at the distal end(s) thereof, which are captured in corresponding cam track(s) or channel(s) formed in the fixed outer cylinder or case of the engine. The cam track has a variable radius, with the valve arm(s) and guide(s) alternately lifting and lowering as the guide(s) travel(s) in the variable radius cam track(s), thereby closing and opening the valve.
US07779794B2	Breather device and engine A breather device provided in a 4-cycle engine which is configured to be mounted on a front part of a vehicle body of a snow vehicle, the 4-cycle engine including a crankcase, a crankshaft rotatably supported on the crankcase and provided in a state substantially parallel to the snow vehicle width direction, and a magnet unit connected to one end of the crankshaft, wherein the breather device includes a breather chamber integrally provided on a lateral side of the 4-cycle engine at the same side of the magnet unit and the breather chamber is disposed above the magnet unit in a side view.
US07779793B2	Engine-driven work machine resiliently supported on a frame An engine and a generator driven by the engine are resiliently supported on a frame. A duct member is integrally attached to the engine and the generator to define a continuous cooling-air passage between the duct member and outer peripheral surfaces of the engine and the generator. A cooling fan is disposed on an inlet side of the cooling-air passage. A silencing plate is integrally attached to the duct member and faces an inlet of the cooling-air passage with a ventilation gap defined therebetween. The silencing plate has an area opposing the inlet that is larger than an opening area of the inlet.
US07779792B2	Air-cooled engine An air-cooled engine (10) has a fan cover (16) for covering a cooling fan (14). The cover (16) is composed of a fan-cover peripheral wall (44) for covering the outside of the cooling fan (14), and a top board (45) for closing off one end of the fan-cover peripheral wall (44). The fan-cover peripheral wall (44) has an internally disposed guiding duct (47) for guiding cooling air (Wi) from the cooling fan (14) to an engine main body (12). A first fastening member (42) secures a portion of the external part of the fan-cover peripheral wall (44) that is proximal to the guiding duct (47) to a casing (25) of the engine main body (12). A second fastening member (41) extends from the casing (25) and through the fan-cover peripheral wall (44), and secures a top board (45) in a portion that is at a distance from the guiding duct (47).
US07779784B2	Apparatus and method for plasma assisted deposition Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method of plasma assisted deposition by generation of a plasma adjacent a processing region. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a substrate processing chamber including a top shower plate, a power source coupled to the top shower plate, a bottom shower plate, and an insulator disposed between the top shower plate and the bottom shower plate. In one aspect, the power source is adapted to selectively provide power to the top shower plate to generate a plasma from the gases between the top shower plate and the bottom shower plate. In another embodiment, a power source is coupled to the top shower plate and the bottom shower plate to generate a plasma between the bottom shower plate and the substrate support. One embodiment of the method comprises performing in a single chamber one or more of the processes including, but not limited to, cyclical layer deposition, combined cyclical layer deposition and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition; plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition; and/or chemical vapor deposition.
US07779782B2	Systems and methods affecting profiles of solutions dispensed across microelectronic topographies during electroless plating processes A method is provided which includes dispensing a deposition solution at a plurality of locations extending different distances from a center of a microelectronic topography each at different moments in time during an electroless plating process. An electroless plating apparatus used for the method includes a substrate holder, a moveable dispense arm, and a storage medium comprising program instructions executable by a processor for positioning the moveable dispense arm. Another method and accompanying electroless deposition chamber are configured to introduce a gas into an electroless plating chamber above a plate which is suspended above a microelectronic topography and distribute the gas to regions extending above one or more discrete portions of the microelectronic topography. An exemplary microelectronic topography resulting from the aforementioned methods and apparatuses includes a layer having distinct regions each including a comparatively different thickness and comparatively different concentrations of one of the one or more elements.
US07779778B2	Coating apparatus for optical lens A coating device (42) for a coating solution and a light beam radiating device (151) which cures the coating solution are arranged in a clean room (7). Spectacle lenses (2) include a set of two lenses and are stored in a coating container (50). The coating device (42) applies the coating solution to coating target surfaces of the spectacle lenses (2) in the coating container (50). When the set of two spectacle lenses (2) coated with the coating solution are extracted from the coating container (50), they are stored in a lens rack (120) and sealed by a transparent plate of the light beam radiating device (151). After air in the lens rack (120) is purged with nitrogen gas, curing treatment for the coating solution is performed by the light beam radiating device (151).
US07779775B2	Schedule indicator An air purifier (10) is disclosed which includes a housing (11) having a top wall with a schedule indicator (14). The housing top wall has a central recess (16), an annular inner groove (18) positioned concentrically about the central well, and an annular outer groove (20) positioned concentrically about the inner groove. An annular plateau (28) is formed between the inner groove and the outer groove. A first reset ring (31) is positioned within the outer groove for rotational movement therein. The first reset ring includes two inwardly extending timing indicating tabs (32) and (33). A second reset ring (35) is positioned within the inner groove for rotational movement therein. The second reset ring includes two outwardly extending timing indicating tabs or indicators (36) and (37). A knob (43) coupled to a power switch (45) is positioned within the central well for rotational movement therein.
US07779774B2	Indicating instrument with light pointer A vehicle may utilize a faceplate, such as a non-circular faceplate, as part of an indicating instrument, such as a speedometer, in a dashboard. The speedometer utilizes a laser to direct laser light onto or through indicia, adjacent a numerical scale, of the faceplate. A first motor mounted to a printed circuit board is used to rotate the laser in a first plane, and a second motor is used to rotate the laser in a second plane. The laser may reside in a housing having a slit or slot for the laser light to pass through to illuminate the faceplate indicia. The first motor is mounted between the printed circuit board and the second motor while a connecting post may be utilized between the first and second motors to position the laser closer to the faceplate indicia, depending upon spatial packaging requirements and the laser light of the laser.
US07779773B2	Device for holding water bottle or other object in watercraft or other mobile conveyance A stowage device for a mobile conveyance such as a watercraft. In the case of a watercraft, the stowage device replaces an inspection port cover. The stowage device is adapted to screw into the existing inspection port with no modification. The stowage device incorporates a stowage cavity to securely hold a drink bottle or other liquid refreshment container or object easily accessible within an arm's length of an operator.
US07779768B2	Apparatus and method to improve field application of anhydrous ammonia in cold temperatures Apparatus and method to improve flow of liquid anhydrous ammonia from a portable liquid NH3 tank in cold temperatures includes an air compressor coupled to the vapor port of a portable liquid NH3 tank used to supply liquid anhydrous ammonia to an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer applicator. The air compressor injects compressed air into the tank to maintain head pressure within the tank at between 80 and 150 psi. to facilitate flow of liquid NH3 from the tank to the applicator when atmospheric temperatures are low as well as when the level of liquid NH3 present in the tank declines.
US07779759B2	Supercavitating water-entry projectile A water-entry projectile capable of supercavitation and spin-stabilization comprises a forward section having one or more forward stepped sections, each stepped section being symmetrical in rotation about an axis and having a radius at an aft end that is different from a radius of a front end of an adjacent rearwardly located stepped section; an aft section having an aft stepped section, the aft stepped section being symmetrical in rotation about the axis and having a maximum radius larger than a maximum radius of the forward section; and wherein the aft section is located substantially aft of a center of gravity of the projectile.
US07779754B2	Method and apparatus for a canned food pressing device A canned food pressing device includes a top piece, wherein the top piece is adapted to conform to the shape of a circular can and has multiple columns of vertically aligned gripping teeth. The top piece is also adapted to facilitate gripping and turning. The device also includes a bottom piece, having multiple columns of vertically aligned arcing teeth, wherein the vertically aligned arcing teeth are adapted to mate with the vertically aligned gripping teeth. The bottom piece is also adapted to facilitate gripping and turning. In addition, the bottom piece includes a magnet for lifting a magnetic can lid. Both the top piece and bottom piece also include alignment markers.
US07779746B1	Stress limiting diaphragm for diaphragm and bellows pumps and actuators The diaphragm profile 10 is defined by a computer generated compound radius 10d beginning at 10f and ending at 10g. The compound radius is generally governed by the equation: ( t 2 ) R = σ E where, t=Diaphragm Thickness R=Radius of Curvature of Diaphragm Profile σ=Stress from Flexure of Radius “R” E=Modulus of Elasticity The profile limits diaphragm stresses to a prescribed and controlled level dictated by the initial formed profile of the diaphragm. As the bellows compresses, the gaps between adjacent diaphragm spans begin to close, thereby supporting the diaphragm and limiting further increases in stress. The remaining and shortened free span of each diaphragm is able to withstand the elevated pressures achieved during the compression process, ultimately offering a stable structure to the increase in loading.A lubricious wear strip 11 is used to protect the diaphragm from undesired wear that could result from metal to metal contact between the diaphragms. A wear strip offset 13 accommodates the placement of the strip. The close spacing facilitated by the offset maintains a clearance given by Item 12 when the diaphragm is fully compressed, resulting in higher compression ratios where compressible fluids are pumped, and higher flow efficiencies where incompressible fluids are pumped.
US07779740B1	Revolving firing pin assembly A revolving firing pin system is mechanically linked to a screw-block in a breech-loading mortar system, wherein the revolver firing pin assembly rotates on a centerline that is offset from the centerline of the screw-block assembly. When the revolver firing pin assembly is rotated, the firing pin assembly also rotates. However, until the screw-block assembly is locked, the firing pin is in a safety position that is not in line with the primer of the munition loaded into the mortar system. Only when the screw-block is rotated into a locked position does the firing pin align with the primer of the munition to thus be able to strike the primer when the solenoid is electronically actuated.
US07779738B2	Pivot punch A punch arrangement for punching holes in a moving web of a plastic film has a pivoted yoke mounted on a fixed bracket above the plastic film. An air cylinder or other actuator is mounted on the yoke and has a cutting head mounted on the rod of the cylinder. The cutting head is in registered alignment with an aperture on a support plate below the film. The film engages and swings the cutting head out in the film transport direction until the head rises out of contact with the film. Then a spring urges the yoke, actuator and cutting head back to their home position. A punch cycle can be carried out repeatedly on the film while the film is in constant motion.
US07779737B2	Multi-axis panel saw A panel saw has a first cutting blade for cutting stock in a first axis and a second cutting blade for cutting the stock in a second axis. The first blade moveable from a cutting position to a position in which stock can be slid between the cutting blade and a supporting frame of the panel saw. The panel saw allows repeated cross cuts and rip cuts without changing the cutting location of the first cutting blade. A control system is configured to retract the first cutting blade from contact with the stock if the current draw exceeds a value. The control system may also retract a cutting blade when it senses the end of a panel being cut.
US07779734B2	Fastener drive-starter In the present invention, a fastener drive-starter includes a primary shaft having a hollow drive end, a drive tip within the drive end, and a spring mounted within the primary shaft biasing the drive tip toward the drive end. A releasable fastener-locking mechanism is attached to the primary shaft. A tightening member is movably mounted to the primary shaft and is movable between a first position wherein the locking mechanism is open and a second position wherein the locking mechanism is closed toward the fastener shaft at the head. The fastener is secured to the driver by pressing the fastener on the drive tip to compress the spring, moving the tightening member into its second position, and releasing the fastener such that the spring-biased drive tip presses the shaft-transverse undersurface of the fastener head against the cross-portions of the locking mechanism.
US07779723B2	Anti-loosening device for parking brake An anti-loosening device for a parking brake is provided to securely park a vehicle comprising: a ratchet wheel (20) having multiple teeth (21) formed on an arc-shaped edge, a pivot hole (22) located at a center of the arc, an operating lever (40) having an upper portion forming a tube-shaped handle, a lower portion forming a flat and narrow cavity, a latching mechanism (60) consisting of a pawl (61), a slot (62), a rotating shaft (31), and an elastic spring (80), a lever operating mechanism consisting of an operating rod (70), a coil spring (71), and a push button (72), wherein the operating lever (40) is mounted on the ratchet wheel (20) for rotation with respect to the pivot shaft (30), one end of the operating rod (70) is mounted on the push button (72) with the coil spring (71) and the other end of the operating rod (70) is connected to the slot (62) of the latching mechanism (60).
US07779722B2	Parking brake A lever 2 includes first and second lever members 10, 20 between which both sides of a base B are interposed. A guide piece 14, which is a part of first lever member 10 arranged on first side of the base B, is formed being located on a second side of the base B. The guide piece 14, which is a part of the first lever member 10 located on the second side, has a guide portion to guide a wire 4 together with a guide piece 24 formed in the second lever member 20.
US07779720B2	Compact core adjuster with vibration dampening A core adjuster assembly includes an adjuster body having a pin engagement end and a locking end. The adjuster body has a central longitudinal bore and a lock cavity formed through an outer peripheral surface. A slider body is formed on an end of a rod and is disposed in the central longitudinal bore of the adjuster body. A primary lock member is disposed in the lock cavity and is moveable from a shipping position to a locked position. A secondary lock member is associated with the adjuster body and the primary lock member and is adapted to maintain the primary lock member in the shipping and locked positions.
US07779719B2	Combination of derailleur shifter and brake lever A combination of derailleur shifter and brake lever for bicycles includes a lever which can be pivoted relative to the handlebar so as to respectively control the braking mechanism and the derailleur gears. The lever has a rod connected thereto which controls a driving pawl unit which allows the rider to operate the rack of a driving unit to pull or release the derailleur cable.
US07779718B2	Bicycle shifter A bicycle shifter for pulling and releasing a control cable connected to a gear change mechanism that includes a housing mountable to a handlebar, a takeup member, a control member, a holding mechanism and a release mechanism. The takeup member is movable for pulling the control cable in a cable-pull direction and releasing the control cable in a cable-release direction. The control member is movable in a shift direction from a rest position for a first shift movement to permit motion of the takeup member in the cable-release direction. The first shift movement corresponds to a single gear change. The control member is movable in the shift direction from the rest position for a second shift movement to move the takeup member in the cable-pull direction. The second shift movement corresponds to a plurality of gear changes. The second shift movement is greater than the first shift movement. The control member is biased toward the rest position. The holding mechanism retains the takeup element in a selected gear position. The drive mechanism is operable for releasing the holding mechanism from the takeup member and for moving the takeup member in response to actuation of the control member.
US07779716B2	Quick disconnect tooling apparatus A quick disconnect tooling apparatus for releasably latching an end effector tool to a manipulator. The present invention provides a base module connectable to a manipulator, and a tool module connectable to the end effector tool. A power source coupling has a first portion coupled to the base module, and a second portion coupled to the tool module, wherein the first and second portions of the power source coupling may cooperatively engage one another to allow for the passing of power between the manipulator and the end effector tool. A releasable latch is connected to the base module and is moveable between a latched position, wherein the latch cooperatively engages a latch pin connected to the tool module to secure the tool module to the base module and allow the first and second portions of the power source coupling to communicate with one another, and an unlatched position, wherein the releasable latch does not engage the latch pin thereby allowing the base module and the tool module to be disconnected and the first and second portions of the power source coupling to be disconnected.
US07779715B2	Shifter with actuator incorporating magnetic unlock mechanism A shifter includes an actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, to control movement of a set of strategically placed magnets on lever-position-controlling components of a vehicle transmission shift lever. In one arrangement, the actuator controls movement of a carrier carrying one or more of the magnets, the magnets controlling a position of a blocking member to prevent moving a pawl out of park position until predetermined vehicle conditions are met. Alternatively, the magnets can be carried by a cam, or slide, or wheel.
US07779711B2	Drive force transmission device, mechanical device, and liquid ejection apparatus A drive force transmission device that causes a plurality of driven members to operate in different operational areas for different operational purposes includes a lead screw and at least one movable member. The lead screw has a threaded portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the lead screw. The lead screw is rotated about the axis of the lead screw when a drive force is generated. The at least one movable member has an engagement portion that is arranged to engage with the threaded portion of the lead screw. The movable member is moved along the axial direction of the lead screw through the engagement portion guided by the threaded portion when the lead screw rotates. While moving, the movable member associates with the driven members in a state in which the drive force is transmissible from the lead screw to the driven members and operates each of the driven members by the drive force.
US07779708B2	Orthopedic simulator with fluid concentration maintenance arrangement for controlling fluid concentration of specimen baths An orthopedic simulator is provided with an orthopedic simulator having at least one test station with a specimen container for containing a fluid bath, such as bovine fluid. A fluid level sensor is positioned to sense the level of fluid in the fluid bath and generate a fluid level signal. A fill controller is coupled to the fluid level sensor. The fill controller controls filling of the fluid bath with liquid, such as distilled water, as a function of the fluid level signal to restore and maintain the concentration of the bath.
US07779707B2	All-electric piezoelectric finger sensor (PEFS) for soft material stiffness measurement A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity.
US07779706B2	Cable-type load sensor A cable-type load sensor having an advantage in layout and being capable of sensing the load precisely is provided. The cable-type load sensor comprises a linear member composed of electrically conductive rubber and having a hollow part extending in the longitudinal direction at the central part of the cross section, and a cladding layer composed of the same kind of rubber material as the linear member and covering the circumference on the linear member.
US07779701B2	Pressure sensor apparatus A high pressure, miniature pressure sensor has a cup-shaped housing having an open end closed by a metal substrate. A raised stress isolation pedestal portion is formed on the substrate that receives a stress isolation glass pedestal element and in turn a silicon pressure sense element, all having closely matched CTEs to minimize temperature induced stresses. A fluid passageway is formed through the substrate and glass pedestal and an O-ring is placed around the passageway on the lower side of the substrate. A flexible circuit having a slit tail formed with two lobes for receipt respectively in the housing and on the substrate allows easy access of a solder iron during assembly. Mounting flanges extend from the substrate to facilitate mounting of sensor and minimize transfer of mounting stresses to the sense element.
US07779699B2	Apparatus for measuring multiple pressures within different pressure ranges There is disclosed an apparatus for measuring multiple pressures within different pressure ranges. The apparatus contains multiple pressure sensors which are positioned on a housing, where each pressure sensor is adapted to measure pressure within a different pressure range. The housing has an input port which is constructed to communicate with different output ports, where the output ports communicate with each different pressure sensor utilized in a different pressure range. The input port has a stepped or keyed aperture which is adapted to receive different pressure adapters. The input port enables the selective insertion of various pressure adapter members as indicated where each pressure adapter member can only be inserted within the input port to a desired position, where at that position, the pressure applied to the input port will be directed to the proper pressure sensor.
US07779698B2	Pressure sensor A pressure transmitter is provided. The pressure transmitter includes a pressure sensor including a pair of process fluid pressure ports each having a deflectable diaphragm. A first variable capacitor is disposed within the pressure sensor and has a capacitance that varies with differential pressure between the process fluid ports. A second variable capacitor is disposed within the pressure sensor and has a capacitance that varies with line pressure.
US07779696B2	Separate cMUTs for reception and transmission A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUT) system has two cMUTs connected to each other. The first cMUT is adapted for operation in a transmission mode, and the second cMUT is adapted for operation in the reception mode. The first cMUT and the second cMUT share a common signal line and are connected in a manner to allow the first cMUT and the second cMUT to have bias voltages that can be independently set. In one embodiment, one of the cMUTs is connected to a voltage controller to regulator the voltage applied there on. Various connection configurations, including connections in series and connections in parallel, are disclosed. The cMUT system configurations allow separate optimization for transmission and reception and better flexibility in operation.
US07779695B2	Method and device for determining defects on a constructional element of a turbine The invention relates to a method which is used to detect defects on a component of a turbine. Said method comprises the following steps; at least one ultrasonic signal is emitted and captured by means of a group beam examination head on a flat region of the component which is to be examined. The invention is characterized according to the following steps: the group of the beam examination heads are distributed into several virtual examination heads and at least one ultrasonic signal is emitted and captured by at least two of the virtual examination heads which is directed to an individual flat region which is to be examined.

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