| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07794614B2 |
Methods for generating sublithographic structures
One possible embodiment is a method of manufacturing a structure on or in a substrate with the following steps a) positioning at least one spacer structure by a spacer technique on the substrate, b) using at least one of the groups of the spacer structure and a structure generated by the spacer structure as a mask for a subsequent particle irradiation step for generating a latent image in the substrate c) using the latent image for further processing the substrate. |
| US07794612B2 |
Method of manufacturing a display substrate
A method of manufacturing a display substrate includes forming a first metallic pattern including gate and storage conductors and a gate electrode of a switching device on a base substrate, forming a gate insulation layer, forming a second metallic pattern and a channel portion including a source line, source and drain electrodes of the switching device, forming a passivation layer and a photoresist film on the second metallic pattern, patterning the photoresist film to form a first pattern portion corresponding to the gate and source conductors and the switching device, and a second pattern portion formed on the storage line, etching the passivation layer and the gate insulation layer, and forming a pixel electrode using the first pattern portion. Therefore, excessive etching of the stepped portion may be prevented, so that a short-circuit defect between a metallic pattern and a pixel electrode may be prevented. |
| US07794609B2 |
Centrifugal flow distribution clarifier feedwell and method of feeding influent to a clarifier thereby
Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling influent feed to produce a substantially uniform flow to a clarifier tank (2) to thereby enhance the settling efficiency within the clarifier. The apparatus comprises a feedwell (24) having a roof (26) and continuous sidewall (28) that together define a feedwell main body enclosure. Influent is fed via a relatively inboard tangential feed mechanism (108) to the inside of the roof (26) from an entry point proximate the center of the roof (150). Influent energy is properly distributed via the action of centrifugal force to generate a uniform axial flow within the feedwell main body which, in turn, is fed into the clarifier tank. Optional baffle members (152, 158) may be provided in the housing to slow angular momentum of the influent which, due to its original feed location, would necessarily be at a relatively low level. |
| US07794608B2 |
Apparatus and method for treating water with ozone
Water within a water tank is irradiated with ultraviolet light from a UV lamp for virucidal and germicidal purposes while simultaneously transforming oxygen molecules to ozone molecules in an oxygen containing gas flowing within an annular space defined by a sleeve surrounding the UV lamp. The ozone enriched gas flows into an enlarged chamber into which the UV lamp extends and the flow rate is reduced to enhance the time of exposure of the ozone enriched gas to UV radiation and thereby enhance the production of ozone. To increase the rate of transformation of oxygen molecules to ozone molecules, the gas is under a predetermined pressure prior to entering the annular space and subsequent to discharge from the chamber. |
| US07794604B2 |
Method for removing lignin from water
The invention relates to a method for removing lignin from an aqueous solution. It is accomplished by adding a calcium compound and an aluminium compound to said solution. Said calcium compound is preferably calcium chloride and said aluminium compound is preferably a polymeric aluminium hydroxide salt. |
| US07794603B2 |
Method for purification of contaminated water
The present invention concerns a method for purification of contaminated water through hydrate formation and separation of hydrates from contaminated water enriched with contaminants, by supplying hydrate particles to the water during hydrate formation. The present invention also concerns a device for purification of water by using a method according to the invention, and water produced according to the invention. By using the process principles according to the present invention, all types of water can be purified for consumption or safe discharge, or desired resources can be recovered, and air can be purified if it first is bubbled through the water which then is purified by a method according to the invention. |
| US07794600B1 |
Purification of nanocrystal solutions by chromatography
The present invention relates to a method of processing nanocrystals. The method comprises providing a mixture comprising nanocrystals, contaminants and a first solvent in which the nanocrystals are soluble, and using chromatography to reduce the amount of contaminants in the mixture. The method optionally comprises isolating the nanocrystals after chromatography. The method allows for the production of nanocrystal compositions having a total amount of surfactant associated therewith, the amount of surfactant comprising an amount of bound surfactant and an amount of free surfactant in the solvent, the amount of free surfactant being less than about 1% of the total amount of surfactant in the solvent. The present invention, accordingly, also relates to such compositions and corresponding composites of nanocrystals in organic polymer matrices. |
| US07794591B2 |
Pool filter
A pool filter for use in pool piping or other fluid conveyance system. The pool filter may include a housing defining a fluid chamber for receiving one or more filters. Multiple openings may be defined in the housing for receiving and removing fluid from the fluid chamber. The openings may be approximately the same size and may be located on the housing at similar elevations and/or radial sectors. One or more footings may be joined to the housing. Each footing may include a base portion for receiving anchor members to anchor the housing to a support surface. The footings may be designed to transfer to the support surface predetermined lateral or other forces imposed upon the pool filter by events such as earthquakes and hurricanes. The footings may be separate components joined to the housing by tabs and/or mechanical fasteners. |
| US07794589B2 |
Floating suction head assembly
A floating suction head assembly for use with a hose, for drawing liquid into the hose. The assembly includes a float and a strainer rotatably mounted to the float. The strainer has a coupling portion for coupling to a hose. |
| US07794584B2 |
pH-change sensor and method
pH-change sensors and related methods are disclosed. One such sensor may have a first ion-sensitive transistor-operational-transconductance-amplifier (the “first IOTA”) and a second ion-sensitive transistor-operational-transconductance-amplifier (the “second IOTA”). Each IOTA may have an ion-sensitive transistor, a load transistor, and an output. In each IOTA, the drain region of the ion-sensitive transistor may be connected to the drain region of the load transistor. A differential sensor may be connected to the IOTAs, and an output from the differential sensor may indicate a voltage difference between the IOTA outputs. The output from the differential sensor may be used to provide an indication of a change in pH. |
| US07794582B1 |
Method of recovering metal ions recyclable as soluble anode from waste plating solutions
Disclosed is a method of recovering metal from waste plating stream and using the recovered metal comprising: providing a waste metal plating stream containing metal ions in an aqueous solution; passing the waste metal plating stream containing the metal ions into an electrochemical cell assembly having an inlet for the waste metal plating stream, a plurality of alternating anodes and cathodes porous to the waste metal solution and an exit from the cell; passing the waste metal plating stream through pores of the cathode; passing an electrical current through the anodes and cathodes, thereby depositing a portion of the metal ions onto the cathodes and reducing the amount of the metal ion in the solution from that in the introduced waste metal plating stream; recovering the deposited metal from the cathode; and using the recovered deposited metal as a source of soluble metallic anode to be deposited on to a substrate in a subsequent metal plating process. |
| US07794577B2 |
Spacer for filled cell electrodialysis
A spacer element (1) is disclosed having an integral screen for use in filled cell electrodialysis. The spacer (1) has a continuous portion (2) impermeable to flow and a screen (3) which spans a centrally-located flow treatment region that contains active treatment material, such as ion exchange beads. The screen (3) may perform a structural function, allowing operation at elevated pressure, and may also define a minimum gap between adjacent membranes and enhance mixing along the flow path and at cell boundaries. The spacer element (1) may be configured to enhance hydraulic filling of the cells, and cell architecture is readily implemented in a wide range of useful flow path geometries utilizing the screen spacer element (1). |
| US07794574B2 |
Top shield for sputtering system
A multi-chamber processing system is described for depositing materials on multiple workpieces (wafers, display panels, or any other workpieces) at a time in a vacuum chamber. The system includes a sputtering chamber and a separate pre-clean chamber, where wafers can be transferred between the two chambers by a robotic arm without breaking a vacuum. The wafers are mounted one-by-one onto a rotating pallet in the pre-cleaning chamber and sputtering chamber. The pallet is firmly fixed to a rotatable table in the sputtering chamber. Copper tubing in the table couples RF energy to the wafers, and a liquid running through the copper tubing controls the temperature of the wafers. Multiple targets, of the same or different materials, may concurrently deposit material on the wafers as the pallet is rotating. Multiple magnets (one for each target) in the magnetron assembly in the sputtering chamber oscillate over their respective targets for uniform target erosion and uniform deposition on the wafers. An electrically insulated target backing plate between each magnet and a target has a liquid channel running through it for controlling temperature. The distance between the magnets and the targets is made very small by a thin aluminum plate fixed to the bottom segment of the target backing plate by a dip brazing process. Various shields are described to prevent cross-contamination from the targets and prevent the sputtered target material from entering gaps in the chamber and shorting out insulators. |
| US07794571B2 |
Method for managing lamella vibrations of a lip channel of a head box and the lamella for the lip channel of the headbox
A procedure and arrangement to control the lamella of a headbox's lip channel, when the mass flow goes in the headbox (3) through the lip channel (2), in which case single mass flows are held separate from each other with the lamella (1) before the flows are united after the lamella. The lamella's dimensions, mechanical characteristics and/or dynamic characteristics are changed at least in the lamella's border area with an active structure, which is active and/or passive active tool and/or active and/or passive active material. |
| US07794568B2 |
Method and apparatus of a twin-wire press
Methods for dewatering a fiber suspension in a twin-wire press, having a lower wire and an upper wire, and a first and a second dewatering table, which supports the wires such that a dewatering space is defined by the wires, are disclosed. The wires transport the fiber suspension under compression of the wires by the dewatering tables, such that the fiber suspension is dewatered and forms a fiber web between the wires. A separate pressing force is applied against one of the wires, such that this wire presses the formed fiber web via the second wire against one of the dewatering tables and further dewaters the fiber web. The separate pressing force is adjusted such that a desired dryness of the fiber web leaving the dewatering tables is achieved. A twin-wire press is also disclosed. |
| US07794556B2 |
Filter and method of making
A filter and method of making is provided. The method comprising: forming a plurality of sheets of filter media, each sheet of filter media having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein each of the plurality of sheets of filter media are formed by the steps of: thermoforming a first layer of filtration media to have a plurality of channels, the first layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; sonically welding a portion of a second layer of filtration media to the first layer of filtration media to form the sheet of filtration media, the sheet of filtration media having a plurality of fluid channels each having an inlet opening at one end of the sheet and a sealed end at another end of the sheet; and securing the plurality of sheets together by applying a strip of adhesive between each upper surface of each first layer facing the second layer of another sheet of filter media stacked upon the upper surface of the first layer of the filtration media. |
| US07794555B2 |
Formation of a fabric seam by ultrasonic gap welding of a flat woven fabric
The invention relates to ultrasonic gap welding of flat woven fabrics. Specifically, the invention relates to a method of ultrasonic welding the seam termination yarn ends of a fabric using a controlled gap. A mechanical stop may be employed to control the distance or gap between the horn and anvil to a predetermined level based on the depth of welding and amount of weld energy. By adding another degree of control, the ultrasonic gap welding technique of the present invention is able to achieve fabric seams that are stronger than conventional seams, and even those enhanced with gluing, and is conducive to formation of fabric seams by spot welding or along the termination yarn ends of the fabric. |
| US07794554B2 |
Rejuvenation of refractory metal products
Refractory metal products, such as tantalum, can be rejuvenated after metal consumption in selected zones by filling the zones with powder and simultaneously applying focused radiant energy to the powder. |
| US07794552B2 |
Method of producing austenitic iron/carbon/manganese steel sheets having very high strength and elongation characteristics and excellent homogeneity
A hot-rolled austenitic iron/carbon/manganese steel sheet, the strength of which is greater than 1200 MPa, the product P (strength (in MPa)×elongation at break (in %)) of which is greater than 65 000 MPa % and the nominal chemical composition of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.85%≦C≦1.05%; 16%≦Mn≦19%; Si≦2%; Al≦0.050%; S≦0.030%; P≦0.050%; N≦0.1%, and, optionally, one or more elements chosen from: Cr≦1%; Mo≦0.40%; Ni≦1%; Cu≦5%; Ti≦0.50%; Nb≦0.50%; V≦0.50%, the rest of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting, the recrystallized surface fraction of said steel being equal to 100%, the surface fraction of precipitated carbides of said steel being equal to 0% and the mean grain size of said steel being less than or equal to 10 microns. |
| US07794551B1 |
Carburization of metal articles
The present invention relates to a process for carburizing a metal article comprising: (1) heating the metal article to an elevated temperature, (2) coating the heated metal article with a graphite suspension to produce a graphite coated metal article, wherein the graphite suspension is comprised of graphite and an organic or inorganic liquid having a boiling point of at least 50° F. (28° C.) less than the elevated temperature to which the metal article is heated, (3) heat treating the graphite coated metal article under a non-oxidizing environment at a temperature which is sufficient to promote the diffusion of carbon into the metal structure of the article to produce a carburized metal article, and (4) cooling the carburized metal article to ambient temperature. |
| US07794545B2 |
Mask, film forming method, light-emitting device, and electronic apparatus
Provided is a mask which is used to form on the surface of a substrate a plurality of linear film members disposed in parallel to each other by fixing one surface of the mask to the substrate and supplying a film material through the other surface of the mask by the use of a vapor process. The mask includes: a mask body having a plurality of openings corresponding to patterns of the linear film members; and reinforcement ribs which are disposed to cross the openings and which have a function of preventing deformation of the mask body due to the weight thereof. Here, the reinforcement ribs are disposed close to the other surface of the mask in the thickness direction of the openings. |
| US07794535B2 |
Pigments stabilized to acid challenge
An electrostatically stabilized ink includes a dispersion which is electrostatically stabilized and comprises a pigment. The ink also includes an ionic amphiphile additive which has a charge center having an opposite charge from a charge center of the dispersion. |
| US07794534B2 |
Magenta ink composition, ink set, ink cartridge, and utilizing these, method of recording, recording system and recording product
A magenta ink composition, wherein when the a* value in accordance with the CIE standard that is calculated from a visible absorption spectrum is 80 in a diluted aqueous solution with a dilution ratio of 10,000 or less, the b* value is −29 or less. |
| US07794525B2 |
Hood air scoop
An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to provide stability to air flow through a hood scoop. The present invention may also be utilized to straighten and smooth out air flow through a hood scoop and accompanying air filter media. The present invention utilizes an air filtration media which may be inserted into at least a portion of a vehicle hood scoop and may filter out particulate and may also slow air flow down temporarily in order to straighten and/or smooth turbulent air flow through the air filtration media. Additionally, the present invention may provide an apparatus that may facilitate more uniform pressure inside the hood scoop of the vehicle. |
| US07794522B2 |
Portable oxygen concentrator
A portable oxygen concentrator includes a pair of sieve beds, a compressor for delivering air to the sieve beds, a reservoir receiving oxygen-enriched gas from the sieve beds, and an air manifold attached to the first ends of the sieve beds. A set of valves operate under the control of a controller for selectively opening and closing the valves to alternately charge and purge the sieve beds to deliver oxygen-enriched gas into the reservoir. In addition, an exhaust passage communicates with the plurality of sieve beds to deliver a flow of nitrogen evacuated from the sieve beds such that the flow of the nitrogen is directed at or across the controller to cool the controller. |
| US07794520B2 |
Metal matrix composites with intermetallic reinforcements
A discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composite wherein the reinforcing material is a particulate binary intermetallic compound is described along with methods for preparing the same. The binary intermetallic compound includes the same type of metal as is the principal matrix metal in combination with one other metal. The particle size of the particulate binary intermetallic compound may be less than about 20 μm and may be between about 1 μm and about 10 μm. The intermetallic particles may be present in the discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 70% by volume. The discontinuous reinforced metal matrix composites of the invention may be used in structures requiring greater strength and stiffness than can be provided by matrix metal alone. The materials of the invention may be used for vehicle parts, structural materials, and the like. |
| US07794519B2 |
Graphite electrode for electrothermic reduction furnaces, electrode column, and method of producing graphite electrodes
A graphite electrode for an electrothermic reduction furnace is formed from anode grade coke and graphitized at a graphitization temperature below 2700° C. The resulting electrode is particularly suited for carbothermal reduction of alumina. It has an iron content of about 0.05% by weight, a specific electrical resistivity of above 5 μOhm·m, and a thermal conductivity of less than 150 W/m·K. The graphite electrode is manufactured by first mixing calcined anode coke with a coal-tar pitch binder, and a green electrode is formed from the mixture at a temperature close to the softening point of the pitch binder. The green electrode is then baked to carbonize the pitch binder to solid coke. The resultant carbonized electrode, after further optional processing is then graphitized at a temperature below 2700° C. for a time sufficient to cause the carbon atoms in the carbonized electrode to organize into the crystalline structure of graphite. |
| US07794518B2 |
Filter system for an air cleaner
A filter system for an air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The filter system includes one or more filter elements and a filter tray adapted to be received in a filter tray receptacle of the air cleaner. The filter tray includes a bottom surface and one or more bottom airflow apertures formed in the bottom surface. The filter tray receives the one or more filter elements. |
| US07794512B2 |
Supplying tungsten to a combustion system or combustion system exhaust stream containing iron
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for delivering tungsten from a to a fuel combustion system or to the exhaust therefrom. By the present invention, tungsten from the lubricant or the fuel will interact with iron from the combustion process. In this manner, the tungsten scavenges or inactivates iron that can otherwise poison catalytic converters, sensors and/or automotive on-board diagnostic devices and/or reduce the operation of spark plugs. The present invention can also lead to improved durability of exhaust after treatment systems. Supplying tungsten acts to change the characteristics of iron deposits formed by combusting a fuel with iron. |
| US07794510B1 |
On chip battery
In an on chip battery and method of making an on-chip battery, the electrodes are formed from metal layers deposited as part of the chip fabrication process. An electrolyte is preferably introduced between the electrodes at time of packaging of the chip. |
| US07794504B2 |
Method for making a metal-backed acetabular implant
A metal-backed acetabular implant and a method of forming the same. |
| US07794500B2 |
Surgical implant
A surgical implant includes a first end plate having a substantially X-shaped configuration. A second end plate is spaced apart for the first end plate. A central longitudinal axis centrally extends between the first end plate and the second end plate. Four spaced apart beams extend from the first end plate to the second end plate at location spaced apart form the central longitudinal axis. An open passageway extends between each adjacent pair of the beams and intersects with the central longitudinal axis. |
| US07794497B2 |
Ophthalmic sizing devices and methods
An apparatus for sizing an intraocular lens and/or an ocular region of the eye of a subject, such as the anterior chamber, contains a sizing device and a measurement device. In one embodiment, the sizing device comprises a first leg having a first contact portion for operably engaging the ocular portion and a second leg having a second contact portion for operably engaging the ocular portion. The sizing device has a test geometry when placed within the ocular portion. The measurement device is adapted for determining a dimension of the sizing device based at least in part on the test geometry. The sizing device may also have a reference geometry when the sizing device in a reference condition. In certain embodiments, the difference between the reference geometry and the test geometry may be used for sizing the intraocular lens and/or the ocular portion. |
| US07794489B2 |
Delivery system for a medical device
The invention is directed to a delivery system for delivering a medical device. The delivery system includes an inner member having a proximal end and a distal end. The inner member defines a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end. A tip is formed at the distal end of the inner member. A bumper is freely disposed on the inner member. The bumper has a proximal end and a distal end. A seat is defined between the tip and the distal end of the bumper. Additionally, a sheath is disposed about the inner member, the sheath having a proximal end and a distal end. The sheath is movable from a first sheath position substantially covering the seat, and a second sheath position axially offset to expose the seat. The invention also includes a handle in contact with the proximal end of the inner member. |
| US07794488B2 |
Rolling membrane stent delivery system
A medical device delivery system, having a rolling retractable sheath covering a medical device mounting region on the system is disclosed. The rolling retractable sheath comprises an inner wall and an outer wall and may be formed of one or more materials, optionally porous. Optionally, a lubricant may be applied selectively to the interior and exterior walls of the stent. |
| US07794487B2 |
Reduced deployment force delivery device
A reduced deployment force delivery apparatus having an outer sheath with two layers that move relative to one another so as to reduce the deployment force necessary for deploying a stent, stent graft or other intraluminal device. |
| US07794481B2 |
Force limiting coupling assemblies for spinal implants
The forces exerted on a spinal implant by one or more coupling assemblies are controlled to facilitate the use of the implant in spinal stabilization and other procedures. The coupling assemblies are structured to limit the forces exerted on the implant to avoid undesirable alteration of a characteristic of the implant while engaging the implant to the coupling assembly and providing at least one of a rigid, semi-rigid or variable engagement of the coupling assembly with one or more anatomical structures of the spinal column. |
| US07794478B2 |
Polyaxial cross connector and methods of use thereof
A connector device for a spinal stabilization apparatus comprises a first elongated member having first and second ends, and is adapted to engage a first spinal stabilizer rod proximal to the first end of the elongated member and is further adapted to engage a spinal cross connector rod proximal to a second end of the first elongated member. The first end of the first elongated member comprises a hook shape and a ferrule and may engage the first spinal stabilizer rod within about 20 degrees of perpendicular to the spinal stabilizer rod in any direction. The ferrule is adapted to be seated within the hook shape and is further adapted to engage the first spinal stabilizer rod. A second elongated member substantially similar to the first may additionally be used in a spinal stabilization apparatus. The connector device may be used in a method of treating a patient. |
| US07794477B2 |
Spinal implants and methods with extended multi-axial anchor assemblies
Systems and methods are provided that include a plate member engageable to the spinal column with an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes a coupling member having a post extending through at least one opening of the plate member and an anchor member pivotally captured in a receiver member of the coupling member below a lower surface of the plate member. A locking member secures the plate member to the coupling member. The coupling member includes an extended post with a proximal removable portion. The extended post facilitates placement of the plate member in position relative to the anchor assembly when engaged to the patient and be employed to reduce the plate member toward the anchor assembly when engaged to a vertebra. |
| US07794476B2 |
Implants formed of shape memory polymeric material for spinal fixation
This invention relates to a orthopedic implant that comprises a shape memory polymeric material. The orthopedic implant can be fabricated or molded in a desired configuration selected to provide support or tension to bony structures. Examples of implantable devices include spinal rods, bone plates, and bone fixation cords. The orthopedic implant can be deformed to a second configuration different from the first configuration either prior to implantation or after implantation. When desired, the shape memory polymeric material can be induced to revert to it original molded configuration. This can compress the attached bony structure and/or promote arthrodesis. |
| US07794473B2 |
Filter delivery system
A filter delivery device for implanting a vessel filter within a blood vessel of a patient's body. The filter delivery device includes a mechanism for preventing hooks and/or legs on a vessel filter from entangling with each other while the vessel filter is loaded within the delivery device. In one variation, the filter delivery device includes a delivery catheter with grooves at the distal end lumen opening. When a vessel filter with radially expanding legs is compressed and inserted into the distal end of the delivery catheter, the hooks on the distal end of the legs are received and separated by the corresponding grooves on the delivery catheter. In another variation, a pusher rod, with a receptacle for receiving the hooks, is positioned within a delivery catheter to prevent the entanglement of the hooks and/or legs of a filter loaded within the delivery catheter. |
| US07794470B2 |
Surgical instrument
A surgical instrument comprises: a treatment unit provided at one end of the insertion unit, capable of turning about one axis, and comprising a clamping section capable of opening and closing action; an operation unit provided at the other end of the insertion unit; a turn force transmission mechanism and transmitting a turn force as a force to turn the treatment unit; an opening and closing force transmission mechanism and transmitting an opening and closing force as a force to open and close the clamping section; and a common operation mechanism, provided in the operation unit, which can generate the turn force transmitted by the turn force transmission mechanism and which can also generate the opening and closing force transmitted by the opening and closing transmission mechanism. |
| US07794467B2 |
Adjustable surgical cutting systems
Adjustable and modular systems, devices and methods for accurately cutting or resecting bones during surgery, particularly in preparation for installing joint implants during arthroplasties, including, but not limited to, preparation of femur or tibia during knee arthroplasties, such as total knee arthroplasty. The embodiments of the present invention provide solutions for adjusting a position of the cutting guides, or structures for guiding or directing the implements for resecting a patient's bone tissue, such as saws. The systems and devices comprise an adjustor for adjusting the cutting guide's position at the patient's bone in at least one degree of rotational freedom and in at least one degree of translational freedom. |
| US07794466B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing multidirectional tibial tubercle transfers
A method and apparatus for performing a multidirectional tibial tubercle transfer, comprising: positioning a jig against the anterior portion of the tibia, the jig comprising first and second cutting guides which simultaneously converge towards one another as they extend distally down the tibia and posteriorly towards the tibia; cutting first and second saw cuts into the tibia; attaching an extender to the jig, wherein the extender comprises a third cutting guide which simultaneously converges towards the first cutting guide as the third cutting guide extends distally down the tibia and posteriorly towards the tibia; cutting a third saw cut into the tibia; freeing a first and second bone block from the tibia; freeing a second bone block from the tibia; and transferring the position of the first bone block relative to the tibia. |
| US07794465B2 |
Artificial spinal discs and associated implantation instruments and methods
An intervertebral disc space preparation guide comprises a spacer portion having a first recess and a first machining guide comprising a first bore. The first bore and the first recess are aligned and adapted to receive a first bone removal mechanism. |
| US07794464B2 |
Spinal derotation instruments and methods
Derotation instrument assemblies and systems are provided to facilitate positioning one or more vertebrae of a spinal column into a desired alignment. The instrument assemblies and systems include implant holders engageable to respective implants engaged to vertebrae of the spinal column, transverse bridges to connect implant holders associated with a particular vertebra, and inter-level linking assemblies to connect instrument assemblies associated with different vertebrae. Derotation handles can be provided to facilitate application of the alignment forces, while the assemblies distribute the corrective forces to the connected implants and vertebrae. |
| US07794462B2 |
Handpiece calibration device
A calibration device for a milling instrument is provided. The calibration device may be a burr guard which may be attached to the milling instrument. The calibration device may calibrate the milling instrument to provide a predetermined depth of alteration to an anatomical structure. |
| US07794460B2 |
Method of ablating tissue
An electrocautery device is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the electrocautery electrode/tip is provided with a hollow, conductive tube terminating at its distal end in a ball point type tip. Fluid, preferably conductive fluid, is applied to the proximal end of the hollow electrode/tip, and expelled from the distal end thereof during electrocautery. The ball point distal tip allows the distal tip to be directly applied to the tissue and “rolled” or slid along the tissue. This allows the distal tip to be moved across the tissue without dragging or snagging on the tissue. In addition, the conductive fluid expelled from the distal tip further lubricates the distal tip as it moves across the tissue. If conductive fluid is used, the conductive fluid emanating from the electrode/tip conducts the RF electrocautery energy away from the distal tip so that it is primarily the fluid, rather than the distal tip that actually accomplishes the cauterizing of tissue. That is, the fluid serves as a “virtual” electrocautery electrode. Since it is the fluid, rather than the distal tip that cauterizes, coagulates and ablates, no burns or perforations are made to the tissue, reducing the amount of debris at the site. Also, the flow of fluid through the electrode/tip tends to keep the distal tip clean and cool. |
| US07794459B2 |
Flexible endoscope for endo luminal access radial frequency tumor ablation
A radio frequency (RF) treatment flexible endoscope, for the in depth destruction of tumors by endo luminal access, like in a lung, esophagus, colon, rectum, etc . . . The electrodes (2′,2″) working in bipolar mode, deploy laterally and in parallel from the endoscope main body (1), reaching a tumor deeply located in the organ parenchyma. The use of different disposable distal end portions (15) of the endoscope allows the deployment of the electrodes (2′,2″) at different distances one from each other, in order to fit the destruction are to the tumor's size and shape. The deployment of the parallel electrodes (2′,2″) from the endoscope's main body (1) is controlled by motor drives (4) or a mechanical handled system (3), in order to reach the tumor with near a millimeter precision. In order to fix the endoscope's distal end to the tissue, so to allow a perfect parallel deployment of the electrodes, an inflating cuff (5) is placed at the opposite side of the distal end, as well as a suction system, with its holes (21) placed near the electrodes' deployment location. An external RF generator and a imaging system are associated to the use of the device. |
| US07794457B2 |
Transformer for RF voltage sensing
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage. The multiple-secondary transformer includes a primary winding coupled to an active terminal and a return terminal of the electrosurgical system and a plurality of secondary windings. Each of the secondary windings is configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage. Each of the secondary windings includes an output coupled to a sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit. |
| US07794454B2 |
Method and device for epicardial ablation
A method is disclosed for treating heart and vascular tissue with cryotreatment. A medical instrument, such as a catheter is positioned to contact a target region of cardiac tissue such as the epicardial tissue. The instrument or catheter provided includes a cryotreatment element that has thermally-transmissive properties. The cryotreatment element may be a cryochamber for enclosing the flow of a fluid refrigerant therein. The cryotreatment element is disposed at the situs of heart or vascular tissue to be treated, usually by piercing the epicardium sac via an opening in the patient's body. A refrigerant flow within the cryochamber creates endothermic cooling with respect to the targeted heart or vascular tissue, inducing hypothermia and forming iceballs proximate the tissue. The cooling may be reversible and non-permanent, or may be permanent leading to cell death, necrosis, apoptosis and/or surgical excision or ablation of tissue. |
| US07794452B2 |
Device and method for positioning and attaching a member such as an implant or jig
A surgical device for positioning a member and attaching the member within the patient. A first element comprises a shaft having a driver at distal end. A second element includes an internal bore extending through the length, and a coupler at a second end to attach to the member. The shaft is sized to fit within the bore with the driver end positioned adjacent to the member to affix a fastener. In use, the second element is attached to the member. The first element is inserted into the second element and may be used as a striking instrument to affix the member within the patient. The second element is then used as a guide for positioning a fastener relative to the member, and the driver of the first element is used to mount the fastener to the bone and attach the member. |
| US07794451B1 |
Implantable central venous injection port and external needle guide
An assembly for subcutaneous injections comprising an implantable injection port comprising a body with a plenum, an elastomeric self-sealing diaphragm sealed to the body or with a plenum, an outlet connecting the plenum to a conduit, and one or more ferromagnetic compatible elements positioned about the elastomeric self-sealing diaphragm and near the top side; and a needle support platform comprising a body having a top side and bottom side, with a needle guide extending from the top side to the bottom side, a needle secure; and an attachment base with a top side and bottom side, a center hollow open to the top and bottom sides, and one or more ferromagnetic compatible elements positioned about the center hollow and near the bottom side of the attachment base, the bottom side of the body of the needle support platform resting on the top side of the attachment base and slidable thereon, the position of the body on the attachment base adapted to be detachably secured. |
| US07794450B2 |
Wound cleansing apparatus with heat
An apparatus for cleansing and promoting tissue growth in wounds, in which irrigant fluid optionally containing cell nutrients and/or other physiologically active material from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing, a biodegradable scaffold in contact with the wound bed and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. The apparatus has means for supplying thermal energy to the fluid in the wound. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. micro-filtration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The dressing and a method of treatment using the apparatus. |
| US07794446B2 |
Method of recording two-dimensional images of a perfused blood vessel
The invention relates to a method for recording two-dimensional images on the interior of a perfused blood vessel by means of optical coherence tomography using a catheter with an integrated imaging device, via which light is radiated and light reflected from the vascular wall is recorded, whereby a fluid containing a medium having a higher refractive index than blood plasma and/or cytoplasm is injected, via the catheter, into the vascular area to be recorded, to enable imaging to be carried out, whereby said fluid is a mixture of autologous blood and the medium. |
| US07794444B2 |
Catheter system and methods for delivery of therapeutic cells to cardiac tissue
This is a method and an apparatus for the introduction of therapeutic compounds into tissue, particularly cardiac tissue. The apparatus includes a catheter having an elongated flexible body and a tissue infusion apparatus including a hollow infusion needle configured to secure the needle into the tissue when the needle is at least partially inserted into the tissue to help prevent inadvertent removal of the needle from the tissue. This permits the selected therapeutic compound to be delivered to a specific site. The catheter may also include a visualization assembly including a transducer at the distal end of the body. |
| US07794441B2 |
Dual cuff for a unitary disposable absorbent article being spaced away from backsheet
A unitary disposable absorbent article includes: an absorbent core having a garment surface and a body surface, a liquid permeable topsheet positioned adjacent said body surface of said absorbent core, a liquid impermeable backsheet positioned adjacent said garment surface of said absorbent core and an elastically contractible dual cuff. The dual cuff has a proximate end and a distal end. The dual cuff is joined to the article by an intermediate bond. The dual cuff has a first cuff and a second cuff. The first cuff is disposed between the proximate end and the intermediate bond. The second cuff is disposed between the intermediate bond and the distal end. The dual cuff is constructed of a continuous cuff material and enclosed by a cuff end bond. The second cuff is spaced away from the backsheet. The backsheet extends outboard of the distal end. |
| US07794439B2 |
Upright-stabilizing packaging for disposable diapers
A stabilizer for the upright stabilizing of at least one disposable diaper product. The stabilizer may include a front panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel, and at least one standoff. In another exemplary stabilizer for the upright stabilizing of at least one disposable diaper product, the stabilizer may include a circumferential sleeve, a bottom panel, and at least one standoff. |
| US07794434B2 |
Systems and methods allowing for reservoir filling and infusion medium delivery
A system includes a durable portion with a durable housing and a separable disposable portion with a disposable housing that selectively engage with and disengage from each other. The disposable housing secures to a patient and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient or with an infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion to allow for disposal after a prescribed use. A reservoir for holding the infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion, and may be supported by the disposable housing. The durable portion may include other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of the infusion medium from the reservoir, and a drive device including a motor and drive linkage. |
| US07794432B2 |
Automatic injector with kickback attenuation
An auto-injector for dispensing a predetermined dose of medicament is disclosed. The auto-injector includes a needle cover operative to engage an injection site. The needle cover is configured to move from a retracted position prior to a medicament dispensing operation to an extended locked position after the medicament dispensing operation. Any residual activation force remaining after the medicament dispensing operation is contained within the auto-injector and is not directed to the needle cover, thus attenuating, if not eliminating, any kickback effect. |
| US07794430B2 |
Injection device
Injection devices are known for the self administration of medicament by patients in which the medicaments is typically contained within a cartridge located within the injection device. It is a problem that injection devices should be small enough to fit into a jacket pocket or a hand bag without difficulty. Also, the injection device must be of a size that enables a piston or similar used to drive a cartridge bung within the cartridge to be moved both to a maximum dispense position within the cartridge and to be fully withdrawn from the cartridge to allow for replacement of the cartridge. A drive mechanism for an injection device is disclosed in which a piston (48) is successively moved along the first axis to drive a bung (20) into a medicament cartridge (18), a displacement mechanism comprising a dose setting spindle (30) is disposed along a second axis, the second axis being parallel to the first axis, transmission means connected between the dose setting spindle (30) and the piston (20), and displacement means to displace the dose setting spindle (30) with respect to the medicament cartridge (18), a movement of the displacement means in a first direction causing movement of the dose setting spindle (30) and the piston (20) in the first direction. |
| US07794429B2 |
Controlling plunger drives for fluid injections in animals
A computer-controlled injector of the type having a motor which advances and retracts a plunger located within a syringe housing toward and away from a nozzle located in the front of the syringe to inject fluid into or out of an animal subject. Manual motion is induced by operating a manual motion control; the operator can manipulate the control to indicate the desired direction and velocity of motion. The manual motion control also has a locking mode in which manual motion of the plunger will continue once initiated without requiring the operator to continue manipulating the manual motion control. The injector performs injections in accordance with one of several pre-programmed protocols, and automatically tracks the fluid volume remaining. The injector compensates for plunger extenders found in some partially pre-filled syringes by applying a stored offset value to the computed plunger position. |
| US07794426B2 |
Infusion pump system with contamination-resistant features
Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may include a construction that is resistant to external contaminants, such as precipitation, water splashes, sweat and the like. In particular embodiments, the infusion pump system can include a pump device that is removably attached to a controller device to provide an electrical connection therebetween. In such circumstances, the infusion pump system can be assembled as a sealed construction that protects the electrical connection between the pump device and the removable controller device. |
| US07794418B2 |
Knee brace and method for securing the same
A knee brace that is divided into anterior and posterior sides by a frontal plane, and having first and second sides divided by a median plane. The knee brace includes a ventilated, flexible proximal shell generally extending between the first and second sides on the anterior side of the brace, and a flexible distal shell connected to the proximal shell and generally extending across the first and second sides on the anterior side of the brace. The distal shell has an extension segment extending from one of the first and second sides to the posterior side of the brace. The proximal and distal shells include suitable openings and slots for attaching brackets and mechanical devices. The proximal and distal shells each include a body portion and a compliant edge. The compliant edges are formed from flexible resilient material that is configured to extend beyond the outer perimeter of the body portion of each the proximal and distal shells. |
| US07794414B2 |
Apparatus and method for an ultrasonic medical device operating in torsional and transverse modes
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for an ultrasonic medical device operating in a torsional mode and a transverse mode. An ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic medical device is placed in communication with a biological material. An ultrasonic energy source is activated to produce an electrical signal that drives a transducer to produce a torsional vibration of the ultrasonic probe. The torsional vibration produces a component of force in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic probe, thereby exciting a transverse vibration along the longitudinal axis causing the ultrasonic probe to undergo both a torsional vibration and a transverse vibration. The torsional vibration and the transverse vibration cause cavitation in a medium surrounding the ultrasonic probe to ablate the biological material. |
| US07794409B2 |
Multiple biopsy device
A multiple biopsy device has a number of chambers into which tissue samples are received. A cutting mechanism, such as a blade, moves relative to the chambers to cut a tissue sample that is within a chamber. In one embodiment of the invention, the multiple biopsy device is removably secured to the distal end of an endoscope/bronchoscope. |
| US07794397B2 |
Endoscope having an illumination lens subjected to light diffusion process
An endoscope includes an insertion unit; an observation optical system arranged at an end surface of the insertion unit in an inserting axis direction and having a wide viewing angle for observing a body cavity; and a plurality of illumination optical systems arranged on an axis slanted with respect to the inserting axis direction of the insertion unit and used when illuminating the body cavity. An illumination lens of at least one of the illumination optical systems is subjected to light diffusion process. |
| US07794393B2 |
Resectoscopic device and method
A surgical instrument has a channel dimensioned to receive a viewing instrument and enable the viewing instrument to be moved to or from a position near an optically transparent portion of a blunt, enclosed distal end of a shaft to provide unobstructed viewing through the distal end, and a position to the proximal side of an enclosed working area to provide viewing of the enclosed working area. A surgical instrument also or alternatively has a fluid routing switch within a shaft which can selectively connect a fluid infusion channel to at least one fluid export pore or a return channel. A method involves moving a viewing instrument to or from a position near an optically transparent portion of a blunt, enclosed distal shaft end and a proximal side of an enclosed working area. A method also or alternatively involves changing a position of a fluid routing switch within the shaft. |
| US07794391B2 |
Endoscope
An endoscope capable of preventing the cover member from being damaged and also preventing the airtight failure from being caused is disclosed. A projection 172 can reparably join with an opening 137. It becomes possible for the cover fitting member 170 and the cover member 130 to rotate together as one body when they join with each other. When they enter in this state, the cover fitting member 170 is screw-joined with a sleeve 120, thereby fitting the cover member 130 thereto. After this, the cover member 130 is moved in the axial direction to separate the projection from the opening, thereby it becoming for the cover member 130 to turn round the axis. On one hand, the movement of the cover member 130 in the axial direction is restrained by the cover fitting member 170 and the slide restraint member 180 as well. |
| US07794390B2 |
Endoscope having a rotatable distal endoscope head
The invention relates to an endoscope comprising an endoscope head which is connected to an endoscope shaft by means of a bendable end piece to form a tubular component. According to the invention, an additional rotary member is inserted between the endoscope shaft and the bendable end piece for rotation of the bendable end piece about the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft. |
| US07794389B2 |
Endoscopic elevator apparatus
An endoscopic elevator apparatus cooperable with an insertion tube extending to a distal tip and having enhanced grasping and reduced scraping of an elongate medical device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elevator movably attached to the distal tip. The elevator has an inner side formed thereon defining a grasping slot for engagement with the endoscope. The elevator has a surface projection disposed thereon for inhibiting damage to the elongate medical device. |
| US07794387B2 |
Methods and devices for stabilizing tissue
Tissue stabilizers including a clamp assembly, a turret assembly, an articulating arm having a tension element extending therethrough, a collet assembly and a head-link assembly are disclosed. Methods of stabilizing tissue are also disclosed. |
| US07794379B2 |
Folded box gluing machine for production of folded boxes from blanks
A folded box gluing machine for making folded boxes from blanks includes several processing stations and a conveying mechanism for delivering the blanks through the individual processing stations. The machine also includes an embossing mechanism that includes embossing dies for embossing a script for the blind in the blanks and that is preferably arranged between two processing stations. |
| US07794377B2 |
Push-up press
A push-up device has at least one tubular element, a spring means located inside the tubular element and providing a spring resistance, and a handle associated with the tubular element and a movable by a user against the spring resistance applied by the spring to provide exercising for a user. |
| US07794373B2 |
Adjustable dumbbell system
A dumbbell is described including a handle having a grip and at least one end, an inner plate mounted on the handle adjacent the grip, in a fixed rotational orientation, a support plate rotationally mounted on the handle adjacent the inner plate, at least one collar rotationally mounted on the handle adjacent the support plate, and rotationally fixed with the support plate, a selector knob rotationally mounted on the handle adjacent the at least one collar, and rotationally fixed with the collar, a weight plate removably mounted on the handle adjacent the at least one collar, and a means for selectively securing the support plate to the inner plate to resist the rotation of the support plate, collar and selector knob with respect to the inner plate and handle. |
| US07794371B2 |
Lat exercise machine with self-aligning pivoting user support
A lat exercise machine has a self-aligning pivoting seat or user support on a main frame and an exercise arm for performing lat pulldown or lat row exercises which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. A four-bar linkage pivoting mechanism which pivotally connects the user support to the main frame is designed to automatically align in order to maintain proper positioning of the user throughout the exercise motion. |
| US07794369B1 |
Jump rope with resistance hand grips
An exercise device which combines the functionality of a jump rope with that of a pair of spring-operated hand-grips is herein disclosed. The device comprises two (2) conventional spring-loaded hand grips at distal ends of the rope. The rope is attached to the top of the hand grips using a ball bearing-type swivel joint that allows the rope to turn freely, even while the hand grips are held stationary. It is envisioned that the grips could be flexed while using said exercise device, held in a closed position for resistance training while jumping rope or used alone without utilizing the jump rope. |
| US07794367B2 |
Foot exerciser and associated methods
A foot, toe, and ankle exercise device provides variable resistance to movements in multiple directions. The device comprises a flexible forefoot support to allow for full toe and foot range of motion. The forefoot support includes a raised surface under the toes used to help align anatomical landmarks to delineate the resistance for the toes from that of the foot/ankle. Resistance may be provided by elastic banding or tubing that is mounted on an octagonal frame. Tensioners are provided to adjust the magnitude of the resistance. A height adjustable heel cup is mounted on a horizontal track to adjust the apparatus for use by different users with different size feet. A vertical track is provided to raise or lower the forefoot support and system of elastic banding or tubing so that full range movements are possible. In another version of the invention, inelastic banding along with weights is used to provide resistance. |
| US07794365B2 |
Collapsible training device and method
A collapsible training device and method are disclosed. The training device is of the cycling type and may be fully folded into a relatively small and aesthetic stowing cabinet when not in use leaving the room free and nice or may be opened to a workout position when training is carried out. |
| US07794363B2 |
Rear drive type electric treadmill
A rear drive type electric treadmill wherein a driving motor is disposed at the rear end of a platform for directly driving a rear drum that is matched with a front drum so as to bring a continuous moving belt in a continuous movement. In this way, the force to rotate the continuous moving belt comes from a position behind an operator, thereby eliminating the frustration of the continuous moving belt each time when a force acts thereon. Moreover, a horizontal portion of the base frame has a slide recess facing to the platform. The platform is provided with a projecting wheel set at both sides thereof in match of the slide recesses. In this way, the platform is easily lifted upward in a vertical position. Consequently, it is beneficial for the operator to fold-up and move the treadmill. |
| US07794361B2 |
Swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment
A swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment having a pair of drive rods driven by the pedal rods such that longitudinal drive gears fixed at the drive rods are cooperated with swing handles having the lateral drive gears for conducting a swing action. In this way, a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved when the operator holds the swing handles to take exercise at his feet of the lower body. |
| US07794355B2 |
Planetary gear set centering ring
A planetary gear set centering ring for use is a planetary gear train. The planetary gear centering ring is adapted to be positioned within a gear train to center a planetary gear carrier and a set of planetary gears within a ring gear of the gear train. |
| US07794354B2 |
Variable speed transmission
A variable speed transmission is disclosed. In one embodiment, a two shaft and two opposing planetary gearset arrangement is utilized. Drive and driven shafts are connected as respective inputs and outputs to opposing planetary gears of the planetary gearsets. Respective sun gears are rotatably coupled to each end of an intermediary shaft which traverses the span between the planetary gearsets. Respective ring gears are meshed to a pair of spur gears coupled to a secondary shaft which also traverses the span. In operation, the coordinated actuation of a pair of clutch-brake assemblies associated with the intermediary and secondary shafts substantially continuously varies the transmission of torque from the drive shaft to the driven shaft. |
| US07794352B2 |
Multi-speed transmission
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. |
| US07794350B2 |
Turning device for heavy object
A compact turning device for a heavy object, comprising a turning arm joined to the heavy object and a drive device drivingly turning the turning arm. The drive device further comprises a motor incorporating a rotor shaft connected to the rotating input part of a planetary gear type speed reducer on a same axis (A). Also, the turning arm is installed by joining its first plane to the plane of the planetary gear type speed reducer forming the rotating output part and its second plane orthogonal to the first plane to the heavy object. The turning arm and the drive device are disposed within the width (D) of the heavy object in the axis (A) direction of the turning pivot of the turning arm. The planetary gear type speed reducer of the drive device may be disposed in two front and rear stages. |
| US07794348B2 |
Variable-speed transmission for a power-generating plant
A variable-speed transmission for a power-generating plant; with an input shaft which is connected at least indirectly with a power transducer of a wind-energy generator or hydroelectric generator; with an output shaft which is connected at least indirectly with an electric generator, with the speed of the output shaft being substantially constant; with a superposition gear which is connected at least indirectly with the input shaft and which divides power among a first power branch connected at least indirectly with the output shaft and a second power branch; with the second power branch comprising at least two hydrodynamic circulations, with at least one of the hydrodynamic circulations being at least indirectly in connection with the first power branch. |
| US07794347B2 |
Power train for hybrid electric vehicles and method of controlling the same
A power train for hybrid vehicles increases the range of the transmission gear ratio within which the efficiency of the power train is superior. Furthermore, the method of operating the power train is varied depending on the transmission gear ratio, so that the power train can be operated with superior efficiency. |
| US07794344B2 |
Continuously-variable-transmission control device and straddle-type vehicle
A continuously-variable-transmission control device having high control response and stability, reduced processing load on a control device and V-belt wear recognition. The width of the V-belt is calculated on the basis of a position of the primary sheave, a length of the V-belt, a distance between the sheaves, an angle of the sheave, and a change gear ratio during idling, and the calculated belt width is stored. The control device performs a feed-forward control on the starter in which it corrects the target position of the primary sheave on the basis of the belt width, and then controls the sheave position so as to reach the corrected target position. When the calculated belt width becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold, the control device issues an alarm that alerts the driver to replace the V-belt. |
| US07794340B2 |
Adjustable length training bat
A training bat includes an elongated handle, an elongated barrel and a locking mechanism. The handle and the barrel are coupled together in a longitudinally adjustable manner such that an overall length of the training bat as defined by the handle and the barrel is adjustable. The barrel including a hitting portion configured to contact a ball during use. The locking mechanism is configured to lock the handle in a longitudinal position relative to the barrel by twisting at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a first direction and to unlock the handle by twisting the at least one of the handle and the barrel relative to the other of the handle and the barrel in a second direction opposite the first direction. |
| US07794338B2 |
Rotating platform assembly for pitching machines
A pivoting frame assembly for use with a pitching machine. The pitching machine for pitching balls. The pivoting frame assembly for supporting the pitching machine above a ground surface. The pivoting frame assembly having a first portion for supporting the pitching machine and a second portion configured for contacting a ground surface, these first and second portions pivotally connected to one another. |
| US07794337B2 |
Tackling dummy
The tackling dummy includes a slide having a ground-engaging skid and an upward extending frame configured to receive a channel formed in an anthropomorphic body having a front side and a relatively narrower profile side. The channel extends upwardly into the anthropomorphic body from a lower side thereof and engages the upwardly extending frame for positioning the anthropomorphic body in one of two primary configurations relative to the slide. These configurations are rotationally spaced about the longitudinal axis of the channel approximately 90° from one another. |
| US07794336B2 |
Ball training apparatus
A ball training apparatus comprising: a ball; a ball-holding net to wrap around the ball; a tether cord that is connected to the net; a cord handle and cord length adjuster that is connected to one end of the cord; a spinning connector structure which is installed on the ball-holding net to connect the ball-holding net to the cord and allows the ball to spin relative to the cord. Thus the ball inside the net can rotate freely without intertwining with the tether. The handle of this ball training apparatus can either be attached to the user's waist belt or be held in hand and therefore the user can achieve various training outcomes. |
| US07794334B2 |
Putter head
A putter-type club head (20) having a main body (25) and a removable aft member (30) is disclosed herein. The putter-type club head (20) has a main body (25) that is preferably composed of an aluminum alloy. The removable aft member (30) is preferably composed of stainless steel. |
| US07794333B2 |
Strike face insert
A golf club head, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, comprises a metallic striking wall having a striking surface and at least one through score-line opening. At least one complementary component may be disposed rearward of the striking surface such that at least a part of the at least one complementary component extends into only a part of the at least one through score-line opening. |
| US07794326B2 |
Game controller
This invention relates to a game controller. The game controller particularly has two movable handles. The two movable handles can be rotated to any angle for users' holding customs and can be received for saving space. Moreover, the game controller is further integrated with functions of game control and home-use remote control, corresponding to a plurality of game control buttons and home-use remote control buttons. Thus, the game controller at least has advantages of providing two control functions. |
| US07794325B2 |
Dynamic in-game soundtrack for a console game machine
Background audio for a game being played in a video game system is provided via streaming from an outside source. The background audio played is based on details regarding the state of the video game system, including information regarding the game being played on said video game system. The user can select from among several possibilities for background music, and the selection is then streamed to the video game system from the music service. Enforcement of digital rights and purchasing of tracks streamed from the music service are provided for. |
| US07794324B2 |
Electronic player interaction area with player customer interaction features
A system and method for providing an electronic card game of the present invention includes a table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas (EPIAs) located around the playing surface. Each electronic player interaction area is designed to provide a player interface for interaction with one of the players. A wager options buttons, such as “Raise”, “Fold”, and “Check” buttons are defined in each EPIA to allow the players to make pre-selected wagering action in advance as the electronic card game proceeds. A game computer is coupled to the plurality of EPIAs for administering the electronic card game and for determining when the player is allowed to activate on of the wager options buttons. |
| US07794320B2 |
Gaming device having a plurality of symbol generators and accumulation game with multiple independent terminating conditions
A gaming device includes a plurality of symbol generators displayed to a player. A plurality of symbol sets are associated with each symbol generator and each symbol set includes a plurality of symbols. Each of the symbols has a value and a probability. The processor generates one of the symbols on each of the symbol generators and marks each generated symbol. The gaming device continues generating symbols until all of the symbols in a symbol set associated with at least one of the symbol generators are marked. The game provides an award to a player when all of the symbols in at least one of the symbol sets are marked. |
| US07794319B2 |
Bingo game system and method
Presented is a system and method for generating bingo game bonuses that are non-banked, for use with pooled bingo games. The system generates pools of money for use in bingo games by deducting a percentage of the amount used to purchase bingo cards (in the present invention, virtual bingo cards). Each bingo game automatically enrolls active players in one or more bonus games, exemplified by “4 corners,” where the amounts to be given away to players as bonuses are calculated to be equal, over time, to the amount taken in from players buying bingo cards. The house has no stake in the bonus awards. |
| US07794318B2 |
User alterable prize distribution and system for identifying results in games
A gaming result system is provided with program products, methods, and apparatus to implement an updatable prize result structure. The result structure having several first level result identifiers and an additional second level result. First level results are each associated with an expected number of plays per game. As with each first result level, the additional second result levels are each associated with a respective number of results per given number of plays. In contrast to first level results, the second level results correlate to a game operator assigned value which may be modified during game play to change results provided in subsequent games. |
| US07794316B2 |
Gaming device having multiple offer and acceptance rounds
A gaming device which provides a plurality of multi-component offers to a player and displays each offer to the player. Each multi-component offer includes a plurality of components having sub-components. The player can independently accept each component. Once a player accepts a component, the player receives a value based on the sub-components associated with that accepted component. The player continues to play the bonus game until the player has accepted all of the components in the offers or until there are no offers remaining. The gaming device then provides an award to the player based on the values of the accepted components of the offers. |
| US07794313B2 |
Air register cover assembly
An air register cover assembly (1) comprising a front panel (2) having a face and rear portion (18) and (19), at least one spacer (4) located on the rear portion (19) and a means for hanging the front panel (2) in front of an air duct (21). An alternate embodiment may include an air register housing (5) which is fitted within an air duct. The housing (5) includes housing openings (7) to permit air from an air duct (21) to be expelled. The front panel (2) may include an insulated backing (8) having spacers (4) attached thereto. When in use, the air register cover assembly (1) re-directs the air flow so as to be expelled around the front panel (2), rather than directly into a room. The use of the present invention not only circulates air within a room, but it also makes air registers more attractive. |
| US07794307B2 |
Method for correcting semi-conductive belt
The present invention provides a method for correcting a semi-conductive belt, the semi-conductive belt including a resin and a conductive substance, the method having grinding a geometrically defective part of the semi-conductive belt to flatten the geometrically defective part. |
| US07794305B2 |
Electric portable grinder with air cooling system
A portable electric grinder with an air cooling system and connected to a remote stationary voltage supply means (19, 20) via a cable (16), wherein a cooling air duct (21) is provided to connect cooling air passages (23a, b) in the grinder housing (10) to a stationary air pumping device, and the air pumping device is provided with a filter unit (24) for preventing dust and other undesirable particles from entering the air duct (21) and reaching the cooling air passages (23a, b) of the grinder housing (10). |
| US07794304B2 |
Comfort bra liner
A foldable one-piece insert worn between the bra and the body having irritation reducing and/or absorbent material portions which line the bra cup and that lie under the supported breast, and portions which extends toward the torso rear under the bra side straps and a portion extending below the bra line along the torso. The invention further includes a material tab disposed between the material portions lining the bra cups, which can optionally be worn up to bridge the area between the bra cups for added protection, comfort and absorption of perspiration, or be folded down and out of sight when worn with lower cut neckline outer garments. |
| US07794303B2 |
Toy
A navigation apparatus for use with a toy having a movable steering mechanism includes an indicating mechanism for indicating to a user to move the steering mechanism in a first direction. A first sensor is then capable of detecting a movement of the steering mechanism and of outputting first information indicative of the detected direction of motion of the steering mechanism. An alert mechanism is then used for alerting the user on the basis of the first information when (i) the direction of motion of the steering mechanism does not correspond to the indicated direction of motion, and/or (ii) the direction of motion of the steering mechanism corresponds to the indicated direction of motion. |
| US07794302B2 |
Directionally controllable, self-stabilizing, rotating flying vehicle
A rotating flying vehicle in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hub having an outer perimeter, an outer ring having a diameter greater than the outer perimeter, a plurality of blades extending outwardly and downwardly connecting the hub to the outer ring, and a plurality of rotor assemblies. Each rotor assembly further includes a motor to spin a propeller, where the propellers are positioned beneath the plurality of blades. The propellers when spinning will cause the hub, blades, and outer ring to sufficiently rotate and generate lift such that the vehicle will fly. The vehicle also includes a system for determining a directional point of reference for the rotor assemblies when the vehicle is rotating and includes a control system to fly the vehicle in a specified direction relative to a remote controller. |
| US07794299B2 |
Method for manufacturing image display device, image display device, and TV apparatus
A method for manufacturing an image display device includes the steps of preparing a plurality of spacers preliminarily, measuring heights of the plurality of spacers prepared by the preparing step individually, and deciding an order of arranging the spacers on the basis of the measured heights obtained in the measuring step. The spacers are arranged in the order decided in the deciding step. |
| US07794297B1 |
Sectionalized surfboard
A sectionalized surfboard, which can be dismantled into sections and rejoined for use. The sections are joined using one or more metal hooks and metal plates with slots in each section on the bottom of the board. On the top of the board there are one or more pairs of top metal plates in each section joined by a vertically installed bolt(s). Inserting the hook(s) into the slot(s) in the bottom metal plate(s) connects the bottom of the board. The top of the board is connected by a bolt passing vertically through a hole in one section's top metal plate and screwed into a threaded hole in the other section's top metal plate. The metal plates extend into the board and are securely bonded to the skin and foam of the boards. The metal plates can also be bonded to any board stringers. In a second version the top is joined using two bolts. Both sections have threaded holes in their top metal plates. A separate third metal plate with two holes is used with the two bolts to join the top of the board. By using different sets of metal plates with a different spacing in the holes, the rocker of the board can be adjusted. |
| US07794296B2 |
Method to assemble marine drive system, and marine propulsion apparatus
A method to assemble a marine drive system wherein an acceptable-unacceptable criterion on the torsional vibration of a shaft of the marine drive system is established based on the correlation between the torsional stiffness of a propeller shaft and the moment of inertia of a propeller. A desirable elastic coupling for the marine drive shaft is selected based on the criterion. The marine drive system is assembled by using a flywheel, a marine reverse and reduction gear, and an elastic coupling, whose property is changeable, lying between an input shaft of the marine reverse and reduction gear and the flywheel. |
| US07794295B2 |
Marine drive
A stern drive for a boat has inboard and outboard portions, the outboard portion having a propeller rotatably disposed thereon, and the inboard portion being adapted to receive rotational power about a motor output drive axis to rotationally drive the propeller. A mounting structure is operative to secure the inboard portion to the stern of a boat in a manner permitting the inboard and outboard portions to be rotated about the motor output drive axis for steering purposes. The outboard portion of the stern drive is rotatable relative to the inboard portion, about a second axis transverse to the motor output drive axis, in raising/lowering/trimming directions. |
| US07794293B2 |
Marine propulsion system and marine vessel having same
A marine propulsion system having a simple configuration and high energy efficiency and a marine vessel having the same. A detonation device for generating a detonation wave and a detonation wave discharger for releasing a detonation wave generated in the detonation device into the water so as to propel the marine vessel. When a detonation wave generated in the detonation device is discharged into the water by the detonation wave discharger, the discharged detonation wave pushes against the water, so a thrust pushing against a hull is generated as a reaction to the pushing force. A large-scale mechanism such as a propulsion system using a mechanical drive mechanism such as a screw or a propulsion system for generating a high pressure gas by utilizing a compressor is not needed, so the configuration can be simplified. Further, the water is pushed away by the detonation wave, so turbulence becomes hard to occur in the water, and the loss of the energy due to turbulence can be greatly reduced. |
| US07794290B1 |
Communications connector configured for low crosstalk
A communications connector includes an electrically non-conductive connector body having a terminal face. A plurality of connector terminals are positioned on the terminal face and arranged in a plurality of Tip/Ring terminal pairs, which are positioned substantially linearly with each other along the terminal face and arranged in alternating vertical and horizontal orientation of Tip/Ring terminal pairs and spaced to each other such that crosstalk among the Tip/Ring terminal pairs is cancelled. |
| US07794288B2 |
Connector
The present invention provides a connector capable of being simply and easily connected without loss of electrical continuity even in a harsh environment.First joining terminals 201a and 201b are supported by a female housing 200, and second joining terminals 401a and 401b electrically connected to the first joining terminals 201a and 201b are supported by a male housing 400. The male housing 400 is inserted to mate with the female housing 200, which performs electrical connection. Further, slit ribs 205a to 205d are formed in the direction of mating in the female housing 200, and slits 405a to 405d along the direction of mating are formed in the male housing 400. The slit ribs 205a to 205d have recessed tapered shapes formed at a predetermined rate of angular change and a predetermined rate of width change, and the slits 405a to 405d have tapered shapes having a rate of angular change and a rate of width change which are respectively greater than the predetermined rate of angular change and the predetermined rate of width change of the slit ribs. |
| US07794286B2 |
Electrical connector with separate contact mounting and compensation boards
An electrical connector includes a housing having a plug receiving cavity with an open end for receiving a plug and with an inner end spaced from the open end, and having a forward chamber outside of the cavity and adjacent the open end. A mounting circuit board is in the housing adjacent the inner end. A plurality of pairs of electrical jack contacts have mounting ends engaging the mounting circuit board, plug contacting portions extending through the cavity from the mounting end toward the open end, and free ends extending from the contacting portion into the forward chamber. A compensation circuit board is mounted in the forward chamber of the housing outside of the plug receiving cavity, and has a compensation circuit with conductive pads. The free ends of the jack contacts engage the conductive pads. A spring in the forward chamber biases the compensation circuit board towards the free ends of the jack contacts. |
| US07794282B1 |
Lamp socket adapter/converter
A lamp socket adapter/converter has a main body with a medium screw-base male lamp connector on a lower end and a mount on an upper end. Standoffs extend from the mount parallel and spaced from a central axis. A printed circuit board has holes engaged with medial portions of the standoffs, and a mounting plate fixed to a female bi-pin socket is engaged with the terminal ends of the standoffs. Circuit components on the circuit board convert the electricity present at the lower end lamp connector to a different form of electricity provided to the bi-pin socket. Potting material surrounds an upper portion of the mount, the printed circuit board, the circuit components, the mounting plate and a lower portion of the bi-pin socket. |
| US07794280B1 |
Charge receptacle for plug-in electric vehicle
A vehicular electrical system includes an electrical energy storage device, a charge receptacle shaped to mate with a charge plug, at least one fuse connected to the charge receptacle, and a plurality of conductors electrically interconnecting the electrical energy storage device and the at least one fuse. Substantially all of the plurality of conductors are electrically connected between the electrical storage device and the at least one fuse. |
| US07794278B2 |
Electrical connector lead frame
An electrical interconnection system with high speed, differential electrical connectors. The connector is assembled from wafers containing columns of conductive elements, some of which form differential pairs. Each column may include ground conductors adjacent pairs of signal conductors. The ground conductors may be wider than the signal conductors, with ground conductors between adjacent pairs of signal conductors being wider than ground conductors positioned at an end of at least some of the columns. Each of the conductive elements may end in a mating contact portion positioned to engage a complementary contact element in a mating connector. The mating contact portions of the signal conductors in some of the pairs may be rotated relative to the columns. The printed circuit board to which the differential signal connector is mounted may be constructed with elongated antipads around pairs of signal conductors. |
| US07794270B1 |
Connector with a network cable identifier
A connector provides convenience of identifying a network cable connected to the connector. A label with information of the network cable can be put on a connection portion which is mounted to a main body of the connector or be tied to a grommet of the connector. |
| US07794265B2 |
Battery post electrical terminal assembly
A battery post electrical terminal assembly includes: an electrical terminal configured for coupling with an electrical conductor; and a retainer snap-fittingly engaged with the electrical terminal and including a plurality of fingers, the plurality of fingers configured for frictionally engaging a battery post of a battery and thereby configured for mechanically and electrically coupling the retainer with the battery post. |
| US07794264B2 |
High definition multimedia interface connector retention apparatus
An apparatus for positioning and retaining an HDMI connector relative to an HDMI device comprises a body portion connected to the HDMI device and comprising a sidewall having an aperture through which a plug portion of the HDMI connector is insertable into a receptacle of the HDMI device and a bracket portion comprising a floor connected along a bottom edge of the sidewall and extending perpendicularly thereto. The bracket further comprises a support connected along an edge of the floor opposite the sidewall and extending upwardly from and perpendicularly to the floor and a fin connected along an edge of the support opposite the floor and extending perpendicularly to the support, the fin including a pair of openings disposed therethrough, the pair of openings corresponding to the aperture. Means are provided for securing a cable portion of the HDMI connector to the fin via the pair of openings when the plug portion is secured in the receptacle. |
| US07794262B2 |
Connector assembly with electromagnetic interference contacts
A connector assembly is configured to mate with a receptacle assembly. The receptacle assembly includes a mating connector within an interior chamber of the receptacle assembly. The interior chamber is defined by an inner surface of the receptacle assembly that is electrically connected to an electrical ground. The connector assembly includes a housing and a latch. The housing includes a mating end configured to be inserted into the interior chamber of the receptacle assembly to mate with the mating connector. The latch includes a securing protrusion and a spring finger. The securing protrusion is configured to mechanically engage the aperture of the inner surface to secure the housing with respect to the receptacle assembly. The spring finger is shaped to electrically engage the inner surface of the receptacle assembly when the connector assembly mates with the receptacle assembly such that the latch is electrically connected to the electrical ground. |
| US07794260B2 |
Mobile phone and memory card fixing device thereof
A memory card fixing device including a base and two resilient fastening structures is disclosed. The resilient fastening structures are provided at the two opposite sides of the base. Each fastening structure has a guiding portion and a recess. A memory card slides into the recess along the guiding portion and can be fixed in the recess by the resilience of the fastening structures. |
| US07794259B2 |
Electrical connector assembly for miniaturization
An electrical connector assembly (100) for connecting memory modules (200) to a printed circuit board (PCB) (300), includes a first and second connectors (10, 20) respectively mounted on two opposite surfaces of the PCB. The first and second connectors each defines an insulative housing (11/21) and a plurality of contacts retained in the housing. Each of the housing defines a front face and an inserted slot (13/23) running through the front face along a longitudinal direction. Each of the contacts defines an elastic arm partly projecting into the inserted slot and a soldering leg connecting to the PCB. The housing of the first connector provides a cavity (172) at a bottom portion thereof. A part of the second connector projects beyond the top surface of the PCB, and the soldering legs of the second connector run through the opposite surfaces of the PCB and enter into the cavity. |
| US07794252B2 |
Explosion-proof connector including a socket part and a plug part
An explosion-proof connector (1) comprises a plug part (2) and a socket part (3), the plug part (2) comprising a plug housing (4) with at least two plug pins (6) arranged in a plug insert (5), and the socket part (3) comprising a socket housing (7) with matching socket contacts (9) arranged in a socket insert (8).In order to simplify such an explosion-proof connector in a way that it can be handled more easily especially when disconnecting plug part and socket part while maintaining explosion proofness, one housing (4, 7) comprises an outer sleeve (10) which is detachably connectable to the other housing (7, 4), a first gap (11) being formed between outer sleeve (10) and other housing (7, 4) and a second gap (12) between outer sleeve (10) and associated insert (4, 8) already before electrically contacting plug pins (6) and socket contacts (9) for realizing type of protection d, flameproof enclosure, and type of protection e, increased safety, respectively. |
| US07794250B2 |
Card mounting apparatus
A card mounting apparatus 10 comprises a housing 3 having a card chamber 3f into which a card is inserted through an opening and a card holder 12 having a card facing surface and accommodated in the card chamber so as to be moved forward to be outside of the housing and backward to be inside of the housing. The housing has projected parts projecting into the card chamber from an inner wall of the card chamber, and the card holder has a pull tab exposed through the opening of the housing on one end and a card engagement part 12c contacting with the card by a forward movement of the card holder and moving the card forward on the other end opposite to the end with the pull tab. The housing also has a guide 12e extending in a direction of the forward and backward movements of the card holder on a surface opposite to the facing surface, and the projected parts of the housing engage with the guide and guide the forward and backward movements of the card holder. Thereby a wrong insertion and damaging of a card or a card holder can be inhibited beforehand. |
| US07794248B2 |
Lever engagement type connector
A lever type engagement connector includes a first connector; a second connector to be engaged with the first connector; and a lever including a connection portion at which the lever is jointed to the first connector, and an end portion at which the lever is jointed to the second connector so as to rotate from a first position to a second position, an operation portion which is provided at an opposite side of the end portion respective to the connection portion, and a lock portion which is provided between the operation portion and the first connector when the lever is at the first position and is engaged with the second connector when the lever is at a second position. Preferably, the operation portion defines a touching surface and the lock portion is provided below the touching surface. |
| US07794247B2 |
Lever lock type connector
A lever lock type connector includes a pair of outer housings including connecting terminals for an electrical connection, the pair of outer housings being joined each other by a rotating operation of a rotating lever in a state that the rotating lever rotatably supported by one of the pair of outer housings is engaged with an engaging portion of an other of the pair of outer housings, and a locking member that is provided on the one of the pair of outer housings and movable towards a sidewall of the other of the pair of outer housings. The locking member is adapted to move towards the sidewall of the other of the pair of outer housings in conjunction with the rotating operation of the rotating lever so as to contact the sidewall of the other of the pair of outer housings. |
| US07794245B2 |
Universal protection cover cap for a USB plug
A USB cap cover has a conventional main body with an opening to engage the USB connector of a USB storage device. The USB cap of the present invention also contains an extension element that extends from at least one side of the open end of the USB cap. The extension element extends along and is relatively parallel to the surface of the USB storage device package. The surface of the extension member can be used to display information. |
| US07794244B2 |
Electrical connector having grounding bridge
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (1) which comprise a pair of side walls (121) and a pair of end walls (122) linking with two ends of the side wall, a plurality of terminals (2) retained in the side wall and a pair of grounding bridges (3) received in the end wall. Each of the grounding bridge comprise a contacting part (31) engaging with a mating connector, a grounding part (32) and a conducting part (33) mechanically connecting with the contacting part and grounding part. And the conductive part (33) has a larger resistance compared with the contacting part and the grounding part. Therefore, the power current transmitting through the guiding bridge (3) can be lower. |
| US07794243B1 |
Ground connector
A ground connector including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first member with a threaded post, a second member pivotably connected to the first member, and a pusher on the first member. The second member includes a stepped surface configured to be engaged by the pusher to clamp a pedestal directly between the first and second members. The second section is movably located on the threaded post and configured to directly contact and clamp a conductor towards the pedestal. |
| US07794241B2 |
Straddle mount connector for pluggable transceiver module
A pluggable module for mating with a receptacle connector of a host device. The pluggable module includes a housing having a front and a rear, a circuit board held by the housing that includes a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads arranged at the mating edge, and a straddle mount connector coupled to the mating edge of the circuit board. The straddle mount connector includes a plurality of contacts engaging corresponding contact pads. The contacts extend between a termination end coupled to the contact pads and a mating end configured to engage corresponding contacts of the receptacle connector. The straddle mount connector also includes a dielectric connector body having a platform for supporting the contacts. The platform includes a plurality of dividers between each of the contacts, where the dividers define a plurality of channels that receive the contacts. The dividers extend from the platform beyond the contacts such that the contacts are recessed below an outer surface of the dividers. |
| US07794240B2 |
Electrical connector with complementary conductive elements
An electrical interconnection system with high speed, differential electrical connectors. The connectors are formed with columns of conductive elements, some of which carry signals some of which act as ground conductors. The conductive elements may contain projections to secure the conductive elements in a housing or to facilitate desirable current flow patterns. To avoid impedance discontinuities caused by the projections, adjacent conductive elements may be formed with complementary portions to provide a relatively uniform edge-to-edge spacing between signal and ground conductors along the length of the signal conductor. To manufacture such a connector in which both the signal and the ground conductive elements contain projections, the conductive elements carrying signals may be inserted into a housing from one side and the conductive elements acting as ground conductors may be inserted from an opposite side. |
| US07794238B2 |
Electrical connector and electrical connector assembly having terminals with elasticity
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (21) defining a longitudinal direction, a plurality of terminals (22) arranged along the longitudinal direction. Each of the terminals defines a retaining portion (221) with barbs interfering with the housing along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a contacting portion (223) and a connecting portion (222) connecting with the retaining portion and the contacting portion. The connecting portion is narrower than the other portions along the transverse direction. |
| US07794229B2 |
Language learning system and a digital storage unit
Audio recordings and programs are saved as audio files on a digital storage unit in a language learning system comprising student units connected to the digital storage unit. The digital storage unit is provided with a audio interface controller (201) having a dedicated input/output RAM buffer (B1-B63) for each student station. Each RAM buffer has an associated file which is either a fixed file or can be defined for each case. When the audio interface controller (201) receives a record command relating to a specific buffer, the controller (201) opens an audio file associated with the specific buffer, buffers the audio data received from a student station or another source in the buffer, and transfers the contents of the specified buffer to the opened associated audio file. Similarly, in response to a play command relating to a specific RAM buffer, the controller (201) opens an associated audio file in the digital storage unit, transfers audio data from the opened audio file to the buffer, and sends the audio data from the buffer to a respective student station or to other destination. |
| US07794226B2 |
Injection molding device
An injection molding device configured for manufacturing a foil decorated molding, includes a channel defined in the mold, and a thermal medium source connected to the channel of the mold for inputting thermal medium into the mold via the channel to press the foil. |
| US07794219B2 |
Portable electrospinning device
An electrospinning device for generating a coat from a liquefied polymer, the device comprising: (a) a dispenser for dispensing the liquefied polymer; (b) a cavity having a longitudinal axis, comprising a first system of electrodes; the dispenser and the first system of electrodes being constructed and design such that the liquefied polymer is dispensed from the dispenser and forms a plurality of polymer fibers moving along the longitudinal axis; and (c) a mechanism for relocating the polymer fibers out of the cavity, in a direction of an object, so as to generate a coat on the object. |
| US07794210B2 |
Turbomachine blade
A turbomachine blade comprising a root portion and an aerofoil portion, the aerofoil portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a concave metal wall portion extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a convex metal wall portion extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the concave metal wall portion and the convex metal wall portion forming a continuous integral metal wall, the aerofoil portion having a hollow interior defined by at least one internal surface, the hollow interior of the aerofoil portion being at least partially filled with a vibration damping material that is separated from the metal wall portions by a thermally insulating material. |
| US07794208B2 |
Steam turbine rotor, inverted fir-tree turbine blade, low pressure steam turbine with those rotors and blades, and steam turbine power plant with those turbines
In a turbine rotor, a rotor radial-direction hook length (Hri) of an i-th rotor hook counting from the outermost circumference of the rotor and a blade radial-direction hook length (Hbi) of an i-th blade hook counting from the outermost circumference of the blade are set to satisfy the relationship of (Hri>Hbi). In the turbine blade, a rotor circumference-direction neck width (Wri) of an i-th rotor neck counting from the outermost circumference of the rotor and a blade circumference-direction neck width (Wbi) of an i-th blade neck counting from the innermost circumference of the blade are set to satisfy the relationship of (Wri>Wbi). |
| US07794207B2 |
Disk of a disk rotor for a gas turbine
Disk of a disk rotor for a gas turbine comprising a central portion (22), an intermediate portion (24), an outer portion (28), a series of axial pass-through holes (27) for a series of tie rods and a series of slots (50) for housing a corresponding series of vanes, the central portion (22) comprises a central axial pass-through hole (23), a first collar (30) situated at a first end and a second collar (40) situated at a second end of the central portion (22).The series of holes (27) is positioned in the outer portion (28) of the disk so as to obtain high dynamic characteristics of the rotor and at the same time a sufficient useful life thereof. |
| US07794206B2 |
Radial fan impeller
The invention relates to a radial fan impeller (1), in particular for using in gas fans with a steep fan characteristic curve, with the following features:with a plurality of blades (2) distributed around the periphery;viewed in the radial direction, the blades (2) extend from an inner inlet region (4) to an outer discharge region (6);the blades (2) extend axially, i.e. viewed in the direction of a rotation axis (14), between an inlet side (16) and an axially opposite hub side (18);on the inlet side (16), the blades (2) are connected by means of their radial extension as far as the discharge region (6) to a covering disc (20) which has a central inflow opening (22) opening out into the inlet region (4);on the hub side (18) the blades (2) are only connected with their radial inner end regions to a central hub (24);the blades (2) and the covering disc (20) define an outer fan impeller diameter (D) which is at least ten times an axially measured flow discharge width (B) of the blades (2) provided in the discharge region (6). |
| US07794205B1 |
Vertical axis wind turbine bearing axial load sharing
A vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) assembly effects sharing of the axial load on its bearings to increase equipment life and/or effective operation. The assembly includes: a support; a VAWT (e.g. Savonius) having a substantially vertical shaft; at least lower and upper substantially vertically spaced bearings mounting the shaft for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, the bearings operatively mounted by the support; and a load-sharing assembly connected to the upper bearing which allows the bearings to share at least 10% (such as 50-50) of the axial load. The load sharing assembly may include a spring surrounding an upper portion of the shaft, and operatively engaging the upper bearing. The shaft may include an upper shall extension, and the load sharing assembly a spring end cap operatively connected to the upper shaft extension and holding the spring against the upper bearing. |
| US07794204B2 |
Axial fan assembly
The present invention provides an axial fan including a hub adapted for rotation about a central axis and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and arranged about the central axis. Each of the blades includes a root, a tip, a leading edge between the root and the tip, and a trailing edge between the root and the tip. Each of the blades defines a blade radius between the blade tips and the central axis. Each of the blades defines a decreasing skew angle within the outer 20% of the blade radius. The ratio of blade pitch to average blade pitch increases from a lowest value to a highest value within the outer 20% of the blade radius. The highest value is about 30% to about 75% greater than the lowest value. |
| US07794202B2 |
Turbine blade
A turbine blade is provided, comprising a stator-side end located toward a stationary stator cylinder of the turbine, a rotor-side end located toward an axial rotor of the turbine, a leading edge located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end, a trailing edge located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end and located down-stream of the leading edge with respect to a fluid flow direction, wherein the rotor-side and stator-side ends have a negative sweep angle as measured between the instantaneous tangent of the blade surface and the fluid flow direction. Also, a turbine blade is provided, comprising a stator-side end located toward a stationary stator cylinder of the turbine, a rotor-side end located toward an axial rotor of the turbine, a delivery side located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end, a suction side located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end and located down-stream of the leading edge with respect to a fluid flow direction, wherein the rotor-side end is inclined toward the delivery side and the stator-side end is inclined with respect to a fluid flow direction. |
| US07794199B2 |
Bypass system for purging air from a submersible pump
A submersible pump, and method of making the submersible pump, is disclosed. The pump comprises a housing, a plurality of impeller stages serially disposed in the housing from a bottom impeller stage to a top impeller stage, an impeller stage bypass hole extending through one of the diffusers and a housing bypass hole extending through the housing radially outwardly from one of the impeller stages. |
| US07794196B2 |
Guide-case for water turbine
Guide case (24) for use in conjunction with a water turbine (20), with a helical top wall (35) of the annular chamber (27) extended downstream of the inner wall (39) of the inlet port (30). The extension is wetted on its downstream side by the top water entering the inlet port, and on its upstream side by the bottom water. The extension serves to keep the top water separate from the bottom water until the velocity vectors of the two water streams have been aligned, therefore reducing turbulence at the point where the waters mix and merge, and enabling more of the energy to be extracted from the water. |
| US07794195B2 |
Datum plate for use in installations of substrate handling systems
A datum plate is provided for use in installations of substrate handling systems. The datum plate has a set of predetermined attachment locations adapted to couple the datum plate to a chamber; a set of predetermined attachment locations adapted to couple one or more automatic door opener platforms to the datum plate; and a set of predetermined attachment locations adapted to couple one or more substrate handlers contained within the chamber, to the datum plate. The attachment locations are positioned such that when the datum plate is coupled to the chamber, and the automatic door opener platform and the substrate handler are coupled to the datum plate, the substrate handler and automatic door opener platform are aligned for substrate transfer therebetween. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US07794193B2 |
Three-side stacker
A three-side stacker with a side push frame at one end of the stacker, on which a side arm is horizontally traversable mounted, wherein the side arm has a first traversable portion mounted on the side push frame and a second portion, which is mounted pivotally around a vertical axis on the first portion and on which a load supporting means is mounted, which is actuable by a hydraulic lifting cylinder, and a pivoting equipment for the second portion, mounted on the first portion, wherein the casing of a hydraulic rotational drive with a rotatable spindle is fixed on the first portion, wherein a portion of the spindle is splinedly connected with a holder or a lifting scaffold for the load supporting means outside the casing. |
| US07794190B2 |
Assembly formed by a base plate and a fastening plug
A fastening system includes a base plate for receiving a fastening plug, the fastening plug having a shank and a head and the base plate includes a conduit for guiding and damping the shank of the plug. The base plate further includes a damping cup that is intended to house the head of the plug and the conduit following compression by the head of the plug, once the fastening plug has been driven through the base plate. The cup and the conduit are designed in such a manner that cooperation between the plug shank and the conduit causes the cup to at least partially cover the head of the plug when the plug is driven through the base plate. |
| US07794189B2 |
Cargo frame
A cargo frame may include a support arm, a cradle operable to support a corner of cargo, and a connecting element. The support arm may be supported by a base. The support arm may be extendible and include a lower support arm and an upper support arm. The connecting element may removably attach the lower support arm to the upper support arm at a connection point of the lower support arm and one of a plurality of connection points of the upper support arm. The cradle may be rotatably and removably attached to the support arm at one of one or more connection points. The cradle may be rotatable from an unloaded position to a loaded position. |
| US07794186B2 |
Gear cutting machine, in particular bevel gear cutting machine, having a device for chamfering / deburring the edges of a work piece
A gear cutting machine wherein a chamfer/deburr device and tool are fastened to a fixed component of the gear cutting machine. In this way, it is possible to adjust the chamfering/deburring tool into the working position in a simple and dependable manner to remove the edges from a gear. The device preferably has a linear track as well as a pivot axis, which can position the tool into the optimum position for the chamfering and/or deburring of the gear. |
| US07794179B2 |
Rockbolt of high strength steel pipe and method of manufacturing the same
A high-strength steel pipe rockbolt has an expansive rockbolt main body prepared by processing a high-strength steel sheet of 1.8-2.3 mm in thickness with a tensile strength of 490-640 N/mm2 and an elongation of 20% or more into a welded pipe and roll-forming the welded pipe into a shaped pipe having one or more concavities extending along an axial direction. Use of the high-strength steel sheet ensures sufficient strength of the shaped pipe regardless of a decrease in thickness. The thin welded pipe is also advantageous in resistance to cracking caused by accumulation of strains introduced during roll-forming, swaging both ends of the welded pipe and hydraulic expansion. Moreover, expansive deformation of the shaped pipe is initiated by injection of a pressurized fluid at a low pressure, so that the expansive deformation is completed in a short time period with an improved working efficiency. |
| US07794176B2 |
Height adjustable water control conduct
An adjustable height drain has an elongate base element and an elongate drain element. The elongate base element has walls extending upwardly from the elongate base element. The elongate drain element has a top surface supported by downwardly extending walls, and the top surface has a plurality of apertures enabling water to drain through the top surface. First interlocking elements are vertically spaced from each other on the upwardly extending walls, and second interlocking elements are spaced apart from each other on the downwardly extending walls, enabling the elongate drain element to engage the elongate base element in either a first position or a second position, adapting to change in surface elevation. |
| US07794173B2 |
Deformable divider for a vehicle impact safety barrier, of the type that is used between a vertical support-or post-fixing element and a horizontal impact or railing element
Deformable separator device for road safety barrier for vehicle impact of the type used between a vertical securing-support element or post and a horizontal impact element or railing, characterized in that the deformable separator (3) comprises two metallic pieces (5) and (6), in the form of a “U”, which are arranged so that their open faces are facing each other, assembled forming a single body, and with one piece being partially contained within the throat of the other piece and joined together by means of suitable fastening means via individual holes and in that the wings of the pieces are provided with guide-holes (11) (11′) at different heights in such a manner that they guide the bending of the separator element and which comprises a fusible fastening between the separator element and the post. |
| US07794172B2 |
Perimeter anti-ram system
Disclosed herein are passive and active vehicle arresting barrier systems that may be combined to provide anti-ram protection along an entire perimeter of a secured area including vehicle access points. A perimeter fence portion is a passive barrier system that stops an attacking vehicle within a predetermined penetration distance and may blend into an existing perimeter fence structure to provide an architecturally hidden structure. The access opening portion utilizes a collapsible road deck and an underlying pit that does not require hydraulic or electrical means to deploy. |
| US07794171B2 |
Telescopic servomanipulator coupling/decoupling apparatus
A system applicable to a bridge transporter telescopic servomanipulator, is provided. The bridge transporter telescopic servomanipulator is used for performing operation and maintenance of process equipments in a working environment having a possibility of radiation exposure. The system can be coupled/decoupled by including a coupling device in a telescopic transfer device and a servomanipulator, and can manipulate an ascending/descending device of the servomanipulator in a remote area without direct access by a worker. The coupling/decoupling device includes a first coupling plate and a second coupling plate, the first coupling plate being provided on a lower portion of the telescopic transfer device, and the second coupling plate being provided on an upper portion of the servomanipulator. While coupling protrusions are inserted into coupling holes being formed on the first coupling plate, position and orientation between a master servomanipulator and a slave servomanipulator correspond to each other, and the servomanipulator can be coupled with the telescopic transfer device since the coupling protrusions are fixed by rotating a rotation plate being provided on the second coupling plate. |
| US07794169B2 |
Bookbinding apparatus
In binding a cover sheet together with a sheet bundle, ever-accurate spine-creasing irrespective of bundle thickness is made possible. A sheet stacker stacks sheets into bundles, an adhesive applicator applies adhesive to a spine part of the sheet bundles, and a cover-sheet binder binds cover sheets together with the spine parts. The cover-sheet binder is constituted from a left-and-right pair of spine-creasing press members arranged free to shift between standby and spine-creasing positions; a shifter that reciprocates the spine-creasing press members between the standby and spine-creasing positions; and a controller. The controller functions to vary, in accordance with sheet bundle thickness, any of: (1) the standby position of the press members; (2) the start time of an operation whereby the press members are shifted from the standby to the spine-creasing position; or (3) the traveling speed of the press members in shifting from the standby to the spine-creasing position. |
| US07794167B2 |
Pen with side loading cartridge
A pen with an elongate chassis moulding and a cartridge with a nib and an elongate body. The cartridge is configured for insertion and removal from the elongate chassis moulding from a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chassis moulding. |
| US07794165B2 |
Floor finish application system including refill station
The present invention includes a system for applying floor finish. The system can include a back or other pack configured to hold one or more containers of liquid floor finish, a wand applicator, and metering valve. The wand applicator can include handle and conduit. The conduit can provide fluid communication of floor finish from the container to a floor. The metering valve can be configured to controllably provide fluid communication of floor finish through the conduit and to release floor finish onto the floor. In an embodiment the system also includes a cleanout coupler. In an embodiment the system also includes a filter configured to filter the floor finish. In an embodiment, the backpack includes a grip configured for carrying the backpack. In an embodiment, the backpack includes positioning portion or surface configured to support portions of the container. In an embodiment, the backpack includes padded attachment apparatus configured to support the backpack on a wearer. The system can also include a refill station. |
| US07794161B2 |
Camera control system, camera server, client, control method, and recording medium
A camera control system in which operations intended by clients can be carried out by a camera server by appropriately managing and controlling every client that wishes to control a camera. Operation commands are issued to the camera server from only one client at any given time. The camera control system includes a camera server that controls a camera whose angle can be freely controlled; and a plurality of clients that control the camera and display images transmitted from the camera server on a display screen. The camera server includes a notifying unit operable when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request for camera control that has been issued by one client to notify the client of time information including a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed. |
| US07794156B2 |
Internal EMI washer for optical transceiver with parallel optic fiber ribbon
An optical transceiver including an optical fiber ribbon, a housing permanently attached to the optical fiber ribbon, and an electrical connector extending from the housing. An electro/optical converter is disposed within the housing including an array of VCSELs and an array of photodiodes rigidly coupled to a ferrule supporting respective fibers of the fiber ribbon. A member is disposed on an outer surface of the housing adjacent the aperture that resists sharp bending of the optical fiber ribbon where the ribbon exits the housing through the aperture and blocks leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the housing. |
| US07794154B2 |
Plug connector for an optical fibre with device for compensation of elongations of an optical fibre
Plug connector for an optical fiber, provided with a housing (15a, 15b, 9), in which at least two sleeves (10, 13) are located, the first sleeve (10) being fixed to a first housing part (15a) and the second sleeve (13) being fixed to a second housing part (15b), the first sleeve (10) engaging with a cladding (B) on the optical fiber and the second sleeve (13) engaging with a jacket (D) of the optical fiber, wherein, between the sleeves (10, 13), a length (Z) of the optical fiber is defined, in which the optical fiber is provided with the jacket (D), the curvature of the optical fiber may change in this region and the jacket can be displaced in the axial direction relative to the cladding (B) and the sleeve (10) in this region. |
| US07794143B2 |
Dental x-ray packets having non-lead radiation shielding
This dental intra-oral film packet configuration includes a film chip and a non-lead radiation shielding member insertable in the light-tight envelope or integral to a wall of the light-tight envelope. The film chip has two sides sensitive to radiation exposure, and the packet protecting the film chip incorporates the radiation shielding fiber powder element on one side of the film chip to provide backscatter radiation equal to the lead (Pb) foil embodiment when the film packet is exposed to radiation. The radiation shielding embodiment is a compounded material of thermoplastic and non-lead metal which couples as the light-shielding member of the envelope or as an insertable shield. |
| US07794140B2 |
Method and system for monitoring gas mixture quality
A method and system for monitoring the quality of a given gas mixture being transmitted under pressure by throttling a sample of the gas mixture to a representative pressure and measuring the hydrocarbon dew point of the sample at the representative pressure. The measured hydrocarbon dew point is indicative of the cricondentherm of the gas mixture. The representative pressure is pre-selected to provide a pre-selected margin of error between measured hydrocarbon dew points of a set of representative gas mixtures at the representative pressure and respective cricondentherms of the set of representative gas mixtures. |
| US07794139B2 |
Wristwatch with an unfolding case
The wristwatch includes a case (3) carrying at least one watch movement and at least one display (7, 17) for the current time and for other time related or non-time related information. The case (3) is fixedly or rotatably mounted at the end of an additional strand (10), made in one or more parts (14, 16, 18), comprising locking/unlocking means (19, 29) allowing the watch to be unfolded inside the hand. |
| US07794137B2 |
Tourbillon for timepiece
A tourbillon is disclosed which presents a carriage comprising an upper bridge 1, a lower bridge 2 and an escapement bridge 3 supporting a balance spring 4, an escapement wheel 5 and a pallet assembly 6, the lower bridge 2 presenting a circular periphery designed to fit into a groove on the outer edge of three pivoting rollers positioned between a plate and bridges of a corresponding timepiece. |
| US07794123B2 |
Yieldable support for a mailbox
A post structure for installation along a street or road with a base supporting the post structure in a yieldable manner. A coupling joining the base and post structure includes a resilient member urging the post structure into a normal, pre-determined position on the base. An upper end of the base serves as a fulcrum for momentary post structure movement. A modified form of the yieldable support includes a housing with spring and fastener assembly with the housing having inclined surfaces which cooperate with inclined surfaces on the base upper end, insuring return of the tipped post structure back to the pre-determined relationship with the base after momentary displacement. |
| US07794119B2 |
Solid state optical system
The invention provides a light fixture including a solid state light emitter coupled to a housing and configured to emit light in a path, and a reflector. The reflector includes a reflective surface positioned in the path of the light emitted by the solid state light emitter, the reflective surface comprising a first substantially parabolic section configured to reflect a first portion of the light, the first substantially parabolic section having a first focal length. The reflective surface further includes a second substantially parabolic section adjacent the first substantially parabolic section and configured to reflect a second portion of the light, the second substantially parabolic section having a second focal length greater than the first focal length. |
| US07794117B2 |
Lamp cover and illumination lamp having same
A lamp cover includes an array of lenses. Each lens includes an incidence surface for receiving light, and an emitting surface opposite to the incidence surface. One of the incidence surface and the emitting surface is a convex surface. Each lens includes a first end and an opposite second end in a column direction, a third end and an opposite fourth end in a row direction. The lenses in each row, a thickness difference between the first end and the second end of each lens is greater than a thickness difference between the third end and the fourth end thereof. An illumination lamp is also provided in this invention. |
| US07794115B2 |
Illumination unit
There is described an illumination unit with a planar carrier part having a plurality of light-emitting semiconductor components, in particular high-power light-emitting diodes, arranged on both sides of a main surface. On each side of the carrier part a heat sink is provided in each case. Each of the semiconductor components is connected in an efficient heat-conducting manner to a heat sink provided on an opposite side of the carrier part by way of a heat conducting means that is fed through an opening in the carrier part. At least one reflector is embodied on each heat sink having a reflective surface which concentrates the emitted light from a semiconductor component which is arranged on the side of the carrier part facing this heat sink. |
| US07794113B2 |
Electronic device with lighting apparatus
An electronic device includes a base with a through hole defined therein, and a lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus includes a bracket mounted to the base, a pivoting member pivotably attached to the bracket, a light fixed to the pivoting member, at least a resilient member arranged between the bracket and the pivoting member to restore the pivoting member, and a sliding member mounted to the bracket with a first end. A latch slot is defined in the pivoting member for receiving a second end of the sliding member, the pivoting member is driven by the at least a resilient member to pivot and the second end of the sliding member slide in the latch slot for achieving the pivoting member pivoting out or pivoting back through hole of the base. |
| US07794109B2 |
Light source apparatus
A light source apparatus comprises reflection mirrors, first and second lamp holding sections, wherein the reflection mirrors are provided between the first and second lamp holding section, a reflection mirror support plate to which reflection mirrors are attached, a first lamp holding section support plate to which the first lamp holding section is attached, a second lamp holding section support plate to which the second lamp holding section is attached, a first fixing member which fixes the reflection mirror support plate and the first lamp holding section support plate to each other, a second fixing member which fixes the reflection mirror support plate and the second lamp holding section support plate to each other. |
| US07794105B2 |
Temperature controlled light fixture for environmental chamber
A light fixture includes a plurality of fluorescent bulbs wherein a light intensity of each of the plurality of fluorescent bulbs is related to the operating temperature of the fluorescent bulbs, a sensor for sensing a physical parameter related to the light intensity, and a circuit adapted for monitoring the sensor and controlling the operating temperature of the fluorescent bulbs to maintain the operating temperature of the fluorescent bulbs within a range having a lower temperature and an upper temperature. A method of maintaining light intensity of fluorescent bulbs in an environmental chamber includes monitoring a physical parameter associated with the light intensity of the fluorescent bulbs in an environmental chamber and adjusting temperature of the fluorescent bulbs in the environmental chamber to maintain an optimum light intensity of the fluorescent bulbs in the environmental chamber. |
| US07794099B2 |
LED lamp
An LED lamp includes a base plate, a plurality of LED components fixed on the base plate in lines and a light-guiding module located over the LED components. The light-guiding module has a plurality of light-reflecting bars mounted above the LED components. Each of the light-guiding bars is in alignment with a line of the LED components and has a thickness gradually decreasing toward the line of the LED components. |
| US07794098B2 |
Light-emitting diode light source and backlight module using the same
An exemplary LED light source (20) includes plural LED modules (201). Each LED module includes three circuit boards (202), (203), and (204) arranged in parallel, and plural light-mixing units (206). Each light-mixing unit has two first color LEDs (2061), a second color LED (2062), and a third color LED (2063). The first, second, and third color LEDs of each light-mixing unit are distributed on the three circuit boards in a predetermined arrangement. |
| US07794094B2 |
System and method for multi-directional positioning of projected images
A system and method of multi-directional projection in which the optical output from a projector is modified in response to characteristics of nearby surfaces, upon which projection can be directed. The multi-directional projection system can provide beneficial output as a primary indicator or a secondary indicating device that can be controlled by itself or synchronously with other devices, such as output from a computer monitor. One implementation incorporates an optical sensor coupled to the projector for registering object characteristics (e.g., distance, reflectance, texture, color, and ambient lighting), such as during a mapping operation performed across the pan and tilt range of the projector. The projection system preferably incorporates a focusing assembly and may include other controllable optical elements such as zoom. Control is preferably provided through commands within an application programming interface (API), such as executing on a personal computer or other form of computer device. |
| US07794093B2 |
Projection display apparatus
A projection display apparatus includes a light source, a light intensity equalizing element, a reflective light valve, a relay optical system, and a projecting optical system; the light intensity equalizing element being an optical device in which a cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to a central axis of the light has four corners; the cross-sectional shape of the light intensity equalizing element being determined in accordance with a rectangular ideal illumination area determined so as to include the image forming area on the reflective light valve, an illumination area on the reflective light valve when a reference light intensity equalizing element is assumed to be used, the reference light intensity equalizing element being rectangular in a cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the central light ray, and the cross-sectional shape of the reference light intensity equalizing element. |
| US07794092B2 |
Large screen digital image projector
The invention relates to a projection system comprising: a polychromatic light source and at least one imaging assembly illuminated by an associated polychromatic illumination beam, and comprising: two separate colored wheels, respectively called first and second colored wheel; and three separate imagers, respectively called first, second and third imagers. At least one part of the polychromatic beam, called first source beam, illuminating the first colored wheel which separates said source beam into a first monochromatic beam and into a two-tone beam, said first monochromatic beam illuminating the first imager and said two-tone beam being transmitted toward the second colored wheel.The second colored wheel being illuminated by said two-tone beam and separating said two-tone beam into second and third monochromatic beams, respectively illuminating said second and third imagers respectively. |
| US07794090B2 |
Efficient dual photography
Application of dual photography is simplified by reducing the number of captured images needed to generate a light transport matrix T of (p×q) projection pixel array from (p×q) images to (p+q) images. Manipulation of the light transport matrix is also simplified by replacing the use of a matrix T with an index associating each projection pixel to only non-zero light transport values. By eliminating the use of zero-valued light transport coefficients, the memory and processing requirements for implementing dual photography are greatly reduced. This dual photography technique is applied to the calibration of projector-camera systems. A second method for calibrating projector-camera systems uses a known projection test pattern and a calibrated camera to associate projected markers on a real image to a captured image. Since the real location of the projected markers are determined by the camera, and the relative location of the markers on the test pattern is also known, the projector may be calibrated using homography techniques. |
| US07794087B2 |
Optotype presenting apparatus
An optotype presenting apparatus capable of presenting an optotype having a high degree of flexibility to an examinee's eye while a production cost of the apparatus is curbed comprises a main body comprising an optotype forming unit comprising first and second displays displaying optotypes, and a beam combiner combining optical paths of the displays, the optotype forming unit adjusting, if optotype light bundles have polarizing axes, the axes, and providing, if optotype light bundles have no polarizing axis, polarizing axes to the bundles, whereby the bundles form optotypes having the perpendicular polarizing axes, and a projection optical system for projecting the light bundles onto the eye at a test distance, an optotype selecting unit, and a display control unit controlling the displays to display binocular-vision-test optotypes if they are selected, and controlling one of the displays to display a visual-acuity-test optotype if it is selected. |
| US07794082B2 |
Ophthalmological measuring system and method for determining the biometric data of an eye
An ophthalmological measuring system for obtaining biometric data of an eye. with a view to the pre-operative determination of a replacement lens or supplementary lens or refractive operations. The invention includes a combination of a measuring instrument based on ultrasound, an optical measuring instrument, and an evaluation unit, measuring values of the optical measuring instrument and/or of the measuring instrument based on ultrasound being used by the evaluation unit for determining the biometric data of an eye. Furthermore, keratometric and/or pachymetric measurements can also be carried out. The combination of different measuring systems enables a complete examination or diagnosis of a patient on a measuring table, so that the patient does not need to be moved, or have to come back at a later date for more measurements. |
| US07794080B2 |
Screwless magnetic eyewear
The invention provides a magnetic connector for use between members to magnetically connect members such as members between eyewear. Magnetic connector has first and second magnets positioned in or on first and second eyewear members, respectively. Magnets are positioned substantially parallel to each other in a plane and rotate about an axis. A magnetic field of attraction is created between magnets when magnets are in sufficient proximity to each other thereby substantially connecting members. When magnets disengage or fall out of alignment due to force or pressure against members, magnets disengage and allow members to break away without damage. |
| US07794079B2 |
Adjustable mount printhead assembly
A mounting assembly for a printhead assembly is described that can allow dynamic nozzle and drop placement adjustment in one or more directions. |
| US07794078B2 |
Method of printing a substrate with an inkjet printer, and an inkjet printer suitable for performing this method
The invention relates to a method of printing a substrate using an inkjet printer which includes a holder to rotatably receive a roll on which the substrate is wound, a downstream print zone and an inkjet printhead for printing the substrate at the print zone, a transport means for engaging and transporting the substrate to the print zone during which transport the substrate is unwound from the roll, and a guide element which is situated downstream of the roll in front of the transport means to guide the substrate from the roll to the transport means, the method including the steps of transporting the substrate over a predetermined distance with control of the transport means, during which transport the guide element is moved from a first position which the guide element occupies prior to the transport, to a second position such that the distance over which the substrate extends between the roll and the transport means is smaller as a result of the movement and after the substrate has been transported over the predetermined distance, printing a strip of the substrate with control of the inkjet printhead, and after printing of the strip, the re-transport of the substrate over a predetermined distance during which the guide element is moved, which transport is followed by printing a following strip of the substrate, wherein the guide element is brought into the first position prior to the re-transport of the substrate. |
| US07794070B2 |
Inkjet printer with refill interface and variably positioned inlets
An inkjet printer that has a printhead and a plurality of printing fluid reservoirs, each of the printing fluid reservoirs storing a different type of printing fluid. A refill interface on the printer allows the printing fluid reservoirs to be refilled by docking with a range of refill dispensers. Each of the refill dispensers in the range contains one of the types of printing fluid stored in one of the printing fluid reservoirs. The docking interface has docking formations for engagement with complementary formations on each of the refill dispensers in the range respectively such that the refill interface can dock with only one of the refill dispensers at any one time. The refill interface also having an array of printing fluid inlets, each of the printing fluid inlets being in fluid communication with one of the printing fluid reservoirs respectively and being individually positioned with respect to the engagement formations such that they form a fluid connection with only the refill dispensers holding printing fluid of the type corresponding to the printing fluid reservoir to which it is connected. Individually refilling the printing fluid reservoirs can be more economical and better suited to individual usage profiles. A single refill interface simplifies the refill process for the user while the individualized fluid inlet positions avoid ink contamination from user error. |
| US07794067B2 |
Ink cartridge and method of regulating fluid flow
In an ink cartridge, a negative pressure generating mechanism is disposed between an ink storage region and an ink supply port, and has a wall surface having two through-holes for ink flow, and a valve member contacted with and separated from the through-hole by receiving a pressure in an ink supply port side. Ink flowing via the through-hole is supplied via the through-hole to the ink supply port. |
| US07794065B2 |
Inkjet printhead assembly with capped obliquely oriented printheads
An inkjet printhead assembly includes an elongate ink feed structure defining a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply passages and a plurality of spaced apart sets of outlet holes with the holes of each set being in fluid communication with respective ink supply passages. A plurality of printhead modules is serially arranged along the ink feed structure in fluid communication with respective sets of outlet holes. Each printhead module includes an elongate printhead configured to eject ink supplied from the ink feed structure and angled with respect to the ink feed structure so that the printheads are oriented obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ink feed structure. A capping arrangement is configured to cap the printheads when not in use. |
| US07794063B2 |
Liquid-droplet jetting head and liquid-droplet jetting apparatus
An ink-jet head includes a channel unit which includes a plurality of pressure chambers, a vibration plate stacked on the channel unit, and a piezoelectric material layer arranged on the vibration plate. The piezoelectric material layer includes a first portion functioning as a piezoelectric actuator, and a second portion functioning as a piezoelectric transformer which amplifies a driving signal to be supplied to the piezoelectric actuator. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a small-size ink-jet head with a built-in piezoelectric amplifier. |
| US07794062B2 |
Liquid droplet ejecting device
An ink-jet printer head comprises a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of restricting passages which are arranged in parallel and are respectively connected to the plurality of pressure chambers, and a dummy restricting passage provided to be located adjacent a restricting passage located at an end in a direction in which the restricting passages are arranged. The pressure chambers other than the pressure chamber located at an end in which the pressure chambers are arranged are respectively configured to at least partially overlap with passages connected to their adjacent pressure chambers as viewed from above, and the dummy connecting passage forms an inner space at least partially overlapping with the pressure chamber located at the end as viewed from above. |
| US07794061B2 |
Inkjet printhead with non-uniform nozzle chamber inlets
An inkjet printhead with an array of droplet ejectors arranged in adjacent rows, each nozzle having a nozzle, a chamber for containing printing fluid and a corresponding actuator for ejecting the printing fluid through the nozzle. Each of the chambers has a respective inlet to refill the printing fluid ejected by the actuator. A printing fluid supply channel extends parallel to the adjacent rows for supplying printing fluid to the actuator of each droplet ejector in the array via the respective inlets. The inlets for one of the adjacent rows configured for a refill flowrate that is substantially the same as the refill flowrate through the inlets for another of the adjacent rows. The invention configures the nozzle array so that several rows are filled from one side of an ink supply channel. This allows a greater density of nozzles on the printhead surface because the supply channel is not supplying just one row of nozzles along each side. However, the flowrate through the inlets is about the same for each row so that rows further from the supply channel do not have significantly longer refill times. |
| US07794059B2 |
Inkjet printhead nozzle with a patterned surface
A nozzle is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle includes a wafer assembly defining an ink supply channel. A chamber roof layer is supported by the wafer assembly. The chamber roof layer defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel and a nozzle aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A thermal actuator is sandwiched between the wafer assembly and the chamber roof layer. The thermal actuator includes a heater element which, upon actuation, ejects ink from the nozzle chamber out through the nozzle aperture. The chamber roof layer defines an external patterned surface surrounding the nozzle aperture, the patterned surface being configured to inhibit dust particles from sticking to the chamber roof layer. |
| US07794058B2 |
Liquid discharge head and method for manufacturing the same
In order to hermetically seal more surely a gap between a back surface of a liquid discharge substrate and a front surface of a support member, and an electrode portion etc., without adversely affecting discharge performance, a liquid discharge head includes a first sealing resin coated on a portion between the liquid supply port and the pad on the support surface so as to surround a tip end portion at the liquid supply port of the support member and a second sealing resin for sealing a gap between the support member and the liquid discharge substrate, and a peripheral part of the liquid supply port. |
| US07794056B2 |
Inkjet nozzle assembly having thermal bend actuator with an active beam defining substantial part of nozzle chamber roof
An inkjet nozzle assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof. The roof has a nozzle opening defined therein, and a moving portion moveable towards the floor. The assembly further comprises a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. A first active beam of the actuator defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof. |
| US07794050B2 |
Printhead nozzle having shaped heating element
A printhead nozzle is provided having a substrate having drive circuitry and an inlet for ejection fluid, a fluid chamber having an outlet for ejection fluid, the fluid chamber arranged on the substrate to receive ejection fluid from the inlet, and a heating element connected to the drive circuitry, the heating element having a relatively reduced volume proximate the drive circuitry and being arranged to be heated by the drive circuitry to cause the ejection fluid in the fluid chamber to be ejected through the outlet. |
| US07794049B2 |
Multi-chip printhead unit for a pagewidth printer
Provided is an elongate multi-chip printhead unit for a pagewidth printer. The unit includes a number of integrated circuits laid end-to-end, each having a multitude of micro-electromechanical nozzles for ejecting printing fluid. The unit also includes an ink distribution molding defining a plurality of elongate conduits for distributing printing fluid to the printhead. Also included is a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to relay data signals from a printer controller to respective ends of the integrated circuits, as well as busbars positioned to provide drive current to the micro-electromechanical nozzles of the printhead. The busbars are retained in position at one end by a socket, and at both ends by wrap-around wings of the PCB. The unit further includes a support member for holding the integrated circuits, molding, busbars and PCB in appropriate alignment. |
| US07794047B2 |
Efficient image array micro electromechanical system (MEMS)JET
An imaging array and method of forming an imaging array includes a plurality of staggered imaging dies formed as a row of alternating open spaces and imaging dies. A plurality of driver dies can be adaptively arranged in the open spaces formed by the staggered imaging dies. The use of the open spaces between the staggered imaging dies allows for a color imaging array that occupies a waterfront of approximately 20 mm. |
| US07794043B2 |
Ink jet recording head and ink jet recording apparatus
An ink jet recording head includes a large nozzle array including a plurality of ejection outlets for ejecting ink and a small nozzle array including a plurality of ejection outlets, each having an opening area smaller than an opening area of ejection outlets of the large nozzle array. The ink jet recording head is mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus which is capable of causing the ink jet recording head to eject ink for a purpose of maintenance of the ink jet recording head without image formation on a recording material, the large nozzle array is supplied with light ink such as yellow, light cyan or light magenta ink, and the small nozzle array is supplied with dark ink such as cyan, magenta or black ink. The number of ejections of the dark ink is greater than the number of ejections of the light ink. |
| US07794041B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method thereof
The ink jet type printer is equipped with a recording head for ejecting ink including humectant and water from a nozzle formed on a nozzle forming surface and a cap which can seal the nozzle forming surface of the recording head. Further, the ink jet type printer is equipped with a control section for detecting an amount of the ink discharged into the cap from the nozzle, for calculating an available water amount which is a water amount except water absorbed by humectant in the ink in the cap based on the detected ink amount, and for performing maintenance control for forcibly discharging ink into the cap from the nozzle so that the amount of the ink discharged from the nozzle becomes smaller when the calculated available water amount is large than when small. |
| US07794035B2 |
Inkjet printing apparatus and printhead driving method
An object of this invention is to decrease the amount of ink mist while keeping the image quality high in inkjet printing. To achieve this object, printing is performed by time-divisionally driving, for each block, a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink. In preliminary discharge, the nozzles are so driven as to set the driving time interval between neighboring nozzles to the first time interval. In printing, the nozzles are so driven as to set the driving time interval between neighboring nozzles to the second time interval longer than the first time interval. |
| US07794027B2 |
Storage bin with lifting mechanism
A lifting mechanism for a storage bin is positioned in a cabinet having a countertop. The lifting mechanism has a base adapted to be supported in the cabinet, a moveable member operably connected to the base, a support member connected to the moveable member, and a storage bin supported by the support member. The moveable member is moveable between a first position, wherein the storage bin is adapted to be positioned within the cabinet, and a second position wherein the storage bin is raised such that the storage bin is adapted to be positioned out of the cabinet. When the storage bin is raised, a top of the storage bin is adapted to be positioned proximate the countertop. |
| US07794023B2 |
Seat belt retractor mounting system
A seat belt retractor mounting system for a vehicle seat includes a bracket having a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A generally planar plate is located generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the bracket. The plate is coupled to the second sidewall. In addition, at least one of the bracket and plate are secured to, and cooperate with, a seat cushion frame of the seat to surround and protect an emergency locking retractor mounted to the first sidewall. A method employs the system. |
| US07794022B2 |
Body support structure having a molded elastomeric member
A body support structure includes a support frame having at least first and second opposite side portions and defining an opening therebetween. A molded elastomeric member is connected to the first and second side portions and suspended over the opening. The molded elastomeric member includes a mechanical structure decoupling the molded elastomeric member in first and second directions such that the molded elastomeric member has different load bearing characteristics in the first and second directions, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction. A method for forming a load bearing structure is also provided. |
| US07794019B2 |
Folding structures made of thick hinged sheets
A linkage comprised of at least four links is provided. Each of the links has a polygonal profile with each link having at least two hinged axes that do not intersect one another. Each link is connected to at least two other links by the non-intersecting axes such that the linkage can smoothly transform from an extended surface into a compact bundle. The linkage can be constructed into the form of a foldable chair, a foldable table or a foldable wall. |
| US07794017B2 |
Chair having a unit to move a lumbar support
A front portion of a seat 2 is connected to a base 6 by a front support link 7 and a first support shaft 8, and a rear portion of the seat 2 is connected to a rocking frame 11 by way of a rear support link 14. The first support shaft 8 is slidably fitted to the base 6. An upper portion of the backrest 3 is attached to an upper portion of a back frame 12. When a person is seated, the seat 2 is moved down and moved back, and a lumber support portion 17a of the backrest 3 is moved forwardly in cooperation with movement of the seat 2. Therefore, even when a person is shallowly seated on a chair, the waist portion of the person can precisely be supported. The cooperatively moving means includes a cooperatively moving link mechanism comprising a first through a fifth cooperatively moving link 43, 46, 48, 21 and 20. The third link 48 can be pivoted to return against an elasticity of a second returning spring 49. Therefore, a person is not hampered from being seated thereon deeply. |
| US07794016B1 |
Nestable and stackable chair
A chair is provided comprising a seat assembly including a seat back and a seat bottom and a support frame including a left leg assembly and right leg assembly connected by a transverse support member. The seat back is pivotably connected to each of the leg assemblies such that an upper portion of the seat back pivots in relation to the leg assemblies between a first seat back position and a second seat back position. The seat bottom is rotatable in relation to the seat back between an upright position and a horizontal position. The seat bottom is slidingly engaged with the leg assemblies such that pivoting of the seat backward from the first seat back position to the second seat back position causes the seat bottom to slide forward from a first seat bottom position to a second seat bottom position. |
| US07794015B1 |
Multi-passenger vehicle child seat assembly and associated method
A multi-passenger vehicle child seat assembly for permitting an adult passenger to comfortably sit with first and second infant passengers in a rear seat of an existing vehicle preferably includes a mechanism for removably interlocking the first and second vehicle child seats together by displacing the medial edges along a first linear travel path until directly engaging each other. The assembly may also include a mechanism for absorbing impact forces exerted against the first and second vehicle child seats by resiliently oscillating the medial edges along a second linear travel path. |
| US07794009B2 |
Side impact door trim buckle initiatory design in armrest and grab handle region
A side impact door trim buckle initiator design is provided in a vehicle armrest and grab handle region. The disclosed support structure design induces buckling in the door handle supports while continuing to provide acceptable durability and strength. Two modifications to the door armrest and grab handle structures are made. First, an angled section is added to the material flow strap of the armrest supporting structure to promote buckling. This approach overcomes the difficulty of known material flow straps which tend to be horizontal, thus introducing a strong compressive load path. By adding an angle to the flow straps the vertical motion is forced upon a lateral impact. Second, vertical components of the door handle support structure are removed while a buckle initiator in the door handle support is added. |
| US07794008B2 |
Collapsible door panel support structures and methods of assembly
A collapsible door support structure includes a pre-defined bend or local stiffening feature. The collapsible structure is either be incorporated into the door handle or is incorporated into a bracket that is either attached to the door handle or to the door pull cup. If in the form of a bracket, at least one end of the bracket is attached to the door inner sheet metal. The other end of the bracket may be attached to the door handle or to the door trim panel. If used as a door pull cup support bracket a portion of the bracket is fixed to the bracket. In the event of an impact upon the vehicle door, the door inner sheet metal panel is pushed horizontally in a direction that is vehicle inward. The collapsible feature of the structure formed between the door inner sheet metal and the door trim panel causes the horizontal movement to be translated into vertical or upward movement and transmitting the energy away from the vehicle occupant, thus avoiding the door trim panel from being pushed inward into the passenger area of the vehicle. |
| US07794005B2 |
Motor vehicle seat assembly equipped with a load floor for a trunk
A motor vehicle seat assembly has a longitudinally movable rear seat and a load floor, which is height-adjustable, can be placed in a boot and has a front portion coupled to a lever member in a rotational manner about a horizontal axis; the lever member can swing about a further horizontal axis, which is fixed with respect to the rear seat during the longitudinal movement of the rear seat; the load floor has a substantially flat rear panel, which is coupled in a sliding manner to the front portion so as to vary the length of the load floor depending on the longitudinal position of the rear seat. |
| US07793992B2 |
Junction part for coaxial pipe elements, and a method of joining together coaxial pipe elements
A cylindrical junction part for joining together two elements of an assembly of at least two coaxial pipes, comprising an outer pipe containing an inner pipe defining an annular space preferably containing lagging material. The forged junction part forms two annular cavities defined by branches in a fork configuration at each end of said part serving to minimize stresses and fatigue in the join zone between two junction parts at the ends of two lengths of coaxial pipe to be joined together and between each length of pipe and each junction part at the ends thereof. |
| US07793989B2 |
Locking connector with depressions
A self-locking threaded connection including an externally threaded male part having a hollow center and a series of cooperating members; and an internally threaded female part having a series of cooperating members; the cooperating members consisting of projections and detents. As the parts are threaded together, the reception of the projections into the detents produces both audio and tactile responses indicating that the connection is made and near a destructive over tightening. |
| US07793988B1 |
Connector for electrical wire-carrying conduits
A coupling device for electrical wire-carrying conduits for assembly with an overhead support member having a stem with a free threaded end. The coupling device includes an integral tubular member having axially opposed ends, each of which receives an end of a mating conduit, and the integral top surface on the tubular member has an aperture for engagement with the free end of the stem of the supporting member. |
| US07793978B2 |
Constrained airbag deployment using an external tether
An example airbag arrangement includes an airbag that moves between an expansion-constrained position and an expanded position. A tether adjacent an exterior surface of the airbag moves with the airbag between a shorter position and a longer position. The tether remains intact in the shorter position and the longer position. When the tether is in the shorter position, the tether holds the airbag in the expansion-constrained position. |
| US07793977B2 |
Side airbag apparatus
A side airbag apparatus includes an inflator and an airbag. Gas discharged from the inflator inflates and deploys the airbag in a space between a vehicle door and an occupant seated on a front seat in a passenger compartment. The airbag has a tether that limits the thickness of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed. The airbag has a pair of inner surfaces that face each other along the direction of the thickness. The tether bridges the inner surfaces of the airbag. A vehicle exterior joint portion, which couples the tether to the inner surface of the airbag located close to an inner surface of the body side portion, is located closer to a center of the airbag than a vehicle interior joint portion, which couples the tether to the inner surface of the airbag located far from the inner surface of the body side portion. |
| US07793972B2 |
Front pillar trim panel with tether
A vehicular interior trim piece with a tether for use with a side curtain airbag. The tether is attached to an integral first panel portion and a second panel portion which rotates about a hinge out of the path of the airbag. The tether prevents complete detachment of the second panel from the first panel. |
| US07793961B2 |
Footrest support device for a motorcycle passenger
A removable foot support device for a motorcycle passenger generally comprises an elongate member having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is removably mounted to a first portion of a motorcycle. A support member coupled to the second end portion of the elongate member includes a footrest surface for supporting the passenger's foot. |
| US07793957B2 |
Steering damping device
A steering shaft (2) penetrates a head tube (1) fixed to a vehicle body (A) of a motorcycle. The steering shaft (2) is coupled to a front wheel and handlebars of the motorcycle. A linear damper of a double-rod type is enclosed in the steering shaft (2). When the steering shaft (2) rotates with respect to the vehicle body (A), a feed screw (12) engaged with a screw portion (11) on the outer circumference of one of the piston rods (6a, 6b) causes the linear damper to operate. By enclosing the linear damper in the steering shaft (2), a space for disposing the steering damping device can be minimized. The feed screw (12) converts a rotational displacement of the steering shaft (2) into an axial displacement of the piston rods (6a, 6b) such that a bending load does not act on the piston rods (6a, 6b). |
| US07793951B2 |
Integrated center point steering mechanism for a model vehicle
A steering mechanism for a model vehicle is provided, having one or more steering actuators, a steering control arm pivotally mounted for rotation relative to a model vehicle chassis, the steering control arm being coupled directly to at least two tie rods, each tie rod controlling the steering of at least one wheel of a vehicle, and each of the one or more steering actuators coupled to the steering control arm to rotate the control arm relative to the vehicle chassis. |
| US07793945B2 |
Tool holding fixture
Arrangement for holding a tool fitting has a spindle with a forward directed surface and a bore which intersects the forward directed surface and which, starting from such surface, extends rearwardly in order to receive a shaft of the tool fitting. A device for locking the tool fitting with the spindle has an inner and an outer locking element which engage on another. The locking elements act in the manner of a bayonet coupling, wherein a projecting element is disposed in a blind stop groove extending first axially and subsequently radially in a circumferential surface starting from an end face. |
| US07793940B2 |
Mechanical end face seal with ultrahard face material
An end face seal having two thin, opposed faces of a composite PDC/tungsten carbide or like material for example of a thickness of from about 2 to 5 mm to about 10 to 15 mm, brazed or adhesively adhered by an epoxy resin to a substrate of tungsten carbide or silicon carbide/nitride formed in a ring shape. Thereafter, the PDC layer is finish lapped to a flatness of about 1 to about 10 helium lightbands, with a rough lapping to 3 or 4 helium lightbands, and a finish lapping of about 1 helium lightband. |
| US07793939B2 |
Sealing structure of wheel supporting device
A seal cover includes a cylindrical part which is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of an axle, a flange part which is opposed to an end surface in an axial direction of a housing, interposing a small clearance, and a deflector part which is opposed to an outer peripheral surface of the housing, interposing a small clearance. A passage through which muddy water or the like arrives at an annular clearance from an exterior of a vehicle can be formed of the small clearances, and the passage can be made long. Because an overlapping amount between the deflector part and the outer peripheral surface of the housing can be secured, the muddy water or the like which has been splashed by a wheel and flowing from an outer peripheral side of the housing to an inner peripheral side can be made difficult to intrude into a space. |
| US07793938B2 |
Prize acquisition game apparatus and operation system thereof
Foremost provided is a prize acquisition game apparatus capable of alleviating the burden of the difficulty adjustment operation, and secondly provided is an operating system of a prize acquisition game apparatus capable of promoting the efficiency in operating a prize acquisition game apparatus. In each of the prize acquisition game apparatuses, provided is a detection unit for detecting the respective types of arm and claw mounted on a catching unit, wherein an information processing terminal transmits an externally input search criterion to a server, and the server creates a search database associating the type of prize and the respective types of arm and claw based on the respective types of prize, arm and claw transmitted from each of the prize acquisition game apparatuses, and extracts from the search database the respective types of arm and claw according to the search criterion transmitted from the information processing terminal and transmits this to the information processing terminal. |
| US07793937B2 |
Bullet trap
A bullet trap is disclosed which is formed without intervening sidewalls to enable cross-shooting and the like with reduced risk or ricochet or damage to the bullet trap. Furthermore, the bullet trap can be configured in a variety of ways to eliminate the need for facing plates while providing a removable attachment mechanism, to enable repair on the trap, to reduce bullet adhesion to the trap and to provide improved containment of lead and improved access to the trap. |
| US07793933B2 |
Drive transmission mechanism of sheet transportation apparatus and document transportation apparatus
A drive transmission mechanism of a sheet transportation apparatus of the present invention comprises an upstream transportation roller gear and a planet gear for transmitting a first driving force from a driving source to the upstream transportation roller gear, and a release mechanism for preventing the upstream transportation roller gear and the planet gear from engaging with each other. The release mechanism prevents the engagement of the planet gear and the upstream transportation roller gear when the driven gear is driven to reversely rotate by a second driving force. The release mechanism prevents the engagement by moving a release member before the planet gear and the driven gear engage with each other. The release mechanism moves the release member by the driven gear being reversely rotated by the second driving force which is a driving force other than the driving source. This makes it possible to realize a drive transmission mechanism of a sheet transportation apparatus comprising a release mechanism capable of releasing the engagement of the driven gear and the drive gear for transmitting the driving force from the driving source to the driven gear, without the need of reversely rotating the driving source or the fear of impairing the driving force from the driving source. |
| US07793930B2 |
Paper feeding mechanism
A paper feeding mechanism applied to an office machine for feeding a paper is disclosed. The paper feeding mechanism comprises a first adjusting board having a first fixing component, a second adjusting board having a second fixing component, a paper feeding body having a first groove and a second groove wherein the first fixing component is penetrated through the first groove and the second fixing component is penetrated through the second groove, and a flexible component having a bending structure wherein one end of the flexible component is fixed on the first fixing component of the first adjusting board and the other end of the flexible component is fixed on the second fixing component of the second adjusting board. Thereby the first adjusting board and the second adjusting board are moved simultaneously and in opposite directions by means of the bending structure so as to adjust a relative distance between the first adjusting board and the second adjusting board in response to a size of the paper. |
| US07793929B2 |
Method and apparatus for magazine pressure control
A magazine pressure control is provided with pressure control wheels that are designed to regulate pressure on carton blanks being fed to a folder/gluer in a carton forming operation. These wheels are disposed around the periphery of the carton blank to urge the edges of the cartons forward and to straighten misaligned cartons. A separately controlled motor operates each half of the magazine pressure control. Each motor is controlled by a pressure sensor assembly and regulates the progression of the carton blanks through the magazine pressure control to equalize the pressure around the periphery of the carton blanks as they are presented to the pick face of the folder/gluer. |
| US07793926B2 |
Page stacking and binding apparatus
A page stacking and binding apparatus for stacking and binding pre-glued pages includes a frame. A support tray is mounted on the frame and is configured to receive the fed pages such that the pages fed into the tray can rest in an aligned condition. The support tray is movable with respect to the frame. A vibrator is engaged with the support tray to impart vibratory movement to the support tray so as to facilitate said alignment. A binding press is operatively positioned with respect to the support tray to press the aligned pages against each other. |
| US07793924B2 |
Positioning device and clamping system with the device
A plug member (12) inserted into a positioning hole (5) formed in a second block (2) is projected from a first block. Two slide portions (61, 61) opposed to each other across the plug member (12) are arranged around the plug member (12) movably in a first radial direction (D1) substantially orthogonal to the opposed direction. An annular pressing member (15) which is allowed to diametrically expand and diametrically contract is arranged around an outer periphery of the slide portion (61, 61). The slide portions (61, 61) diametrically expand the pressing member (15) in a second radial direction (D2) which is the opposed direction by a drive device to press the pressing member (15) against an inner peripheral surface of the positioning hole (5), by which the slide portions (61, 61) are moved in the first radial direction (D1) with respect to the plug member (12). |
| US07793921B2 |
Motion-restraint arrangement
A motion-restraint arrangement (48) with elongate lines of elements (10), wherein each line of elements (10) has a number of individual elements (12) which can be erected by spring elements (20) from a small-volume thin storage condition into a large-volume active condition. Each respective individual element (12) has flexible lateral edge elements (16, 18), which in the active condition define a parallelepiped. The spring elements (20) extend in spatially diagonal relationship between the corners (22) of the respective parallelepiped (14). A motion-restraint arrangement (48) which is easy and inexpensive to produce and which has optimum restraint properties is obtained in that the spatially diagonal spring elements (20) are formed by spring wires (24), which extend in a zigzag shape in the longitudinal direction of the respective line of elements (10). |
| US07793917B1 |
Ceiling cup termination system
A termination system for a cable integrated to control a damper, wherein an end portion of the cable is provided about an opening formed in a ceiling or wall, the system includes: a suspension mount having a base and an opened region, the base has an aperture to receive the cable a retaining bar is secured to the suspension mount such that the ceiling or wall is positioned between the suspension mount and the retaining bar and such that the opened region of the suspension mount is positioned over the opening formed in the ceiling or wall, the retaining bar further including a central opening; and a cap having an inside portion and a peg extending from the inside portion, the cap further having an outer periphery sized larger than the retaining bar and larger than the opening formed in the ceiling or wall, and the central opening of the retaining bar is sized to engage the peg, wherein engagement of the peg with the central opening enables the cap to obscure from visibility the retaining bar, the opening in the ceiling or wall, and the cable, and wherein the cap is able to be removed from the retaining bar to provide access to the cable for controlling said damper. |
| US07793915B2 |
Valve drive device
A valve drive device includes a valve element for opening or closing the inflow port or the outflow port, a drive mechanism for driving the valve element, an abutting part which is provided in any operation member included between the drive mechanism and the valve element, and a restriction part for restricting rotation of the valve element by abutting with the abutting part. The valve element is rotated by the drive mechanism so that the inflow port or the outflow port is opened or closed, and one of the abutting part and the restriction part is formed of an elastic member. |
| US07793914B2 |
Quick connect connector with tolerance accommodation
A latching connector that connects a first fluid system to a second fluid system for performing processing operations on the second fluid system. The connector is designed to connect to a fitting on the second fluid system and accommodate dimensional tolerances in the fitting to achieve a reliable seal between the connector and the fitting and prevent fluid leakage during processing operations. The connector includes a front body, a rear body, a sleeve disposed around the front body and the rear body, a sealing piston disposed within the front body and the rear body, a shaft disposed within the sealing piston and fixed to the rear body, and a spring engaged between the sealing piston and the shaft and generating a biasing force that biases the sealing piston and the shaft in opposite directions. |
| US07793913B2 |
Valve element opening/closing device
A valve element opening/closing device may include a valve element for opening and closing an opening part, a drive mechanism for operating the valve element, and a motor for the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may include a cam engagement part formed in the valve element, and a cam member rotationally driven by the motor. A cam face is formed in the cam member to be inclined to a direction of a rotation center axis of the cam member and engaged with the cam engagement part, and a turning preventing part restricting turning of the valve element is provided to move the valve element linearly. Further, the opening part may include a hollow pipe, a plate provided with a mounting hole into which the pipe is inserted, and a valve seat. The valve seat is provided with a projecting part and the brazing material is restricted to flow out to an abutting face of the valve seat by the projecting part. |
| US07793912B2 |
Fluid pressure actuated poppet valve
In a valve body, an input chamber is located between a small diameter slide hole, which slidably supports a small diameter portion of a slidable valve, and a large diameter slide hole, which slidably supports a large diameter portion of the slidable valve, at a location that is closer to the small diameter slide hole than to the large diameter slide hole. An output chamber is located between the small diameter slide hole and the large diameter slide hole at a location that is closer to the large diameter slide hole than to the small diameter slide hole. A valve opening communicates between the input chamber and the output chamber and is opened and closed in response to a slide position of the slidable valve. A pilot chamber exerts a pilot pressure to urge the slidable valve in a valve closing direction toward the valve opening. |
| US07793910B2 |
Surface-mounted post base
A surface-mounted base for a breakaway signpost. The base is configured as a sphere so as to present no edges that may be impacted by a vehicle and includes a sunken socket ensuring that no metal shards project above grade after a post is damaged. The base is provided with recessed slots for retaining securing bolts therein. This arrangement prevents the securing bolt heads from being contacted by the undercarriage of a vehicle or mower and plow blades of maintenance machines. The slots also allow for rotation of the base during installation ensuring correct orientation of the signpost. Reflective or florescent materials can be attached to the recesses to enhance night visibility. |
| US07793909B2 |
Canvas bridge
The canvas bridge is an easel accessory made of any material which is sturdy, durable and still retains some flexibility. It can be made of materials with a wide variety of properties. The design fits all easels. It is a long rectangular piece of material with a variety of lengths. Each end is elongated on the bottom side, creating the visual image of a bridge, from which a sharpened metal nail, or nail-like material extending approximately ¼ inch which is pushed into the canvas stretcher bars (stretcher bars are the wooden frame upon which the canvas is stretched). |
| US07793905B2 |
Traveling laptop beverage container holder
The presently claimed invention discloses a portable beverage container holder that can be used by an end user during travel to hold beverages and other types of items. The portable beverage container can be used in conjunction with a laptop computer or other type of planar surface and can be folded up when not in use to minimize its size during storage. The device also includes a means for clamping to a laptop computer and other planar surface that minimizes damage to the laptop computer and enables an end user to quickly clamp and unclamp the device during transit. |
| US07793895B2 |
Cable tie for an automotive valve cover
A cable tie includes a locking head and an attached strap, the locking head being adapted to receive and engage the strap when the tie is formed into a closed loop. The cable tie additionally includes a fir-tree fastener connected to the locking head by an elongated standoff that includes a stem and an enlarged member which separates the stem into first and second sections. In use, a plurality of wires bundled together by the tie can be secured to an automotive valve cover by inserting the fastener and the first section of the stem through a corresponding bore formed in the valve cover. With tie inserted as such, the second section of the stem serves to space the bundled wires away from the valve cover, with the first section of the stem and the enlarged member together serving to stabilize the tie within the bore of the valve cover. |
| US07793894B1 |
Retaining system
A retaining system having a member, a first clip and a second clip. The first clip is integrally formed on the member. The first clip has two spaced first clip walls in which at least one of the walls includes a detent. The second clip is integrally formed on the member. The second clip has two spaced clip walls. Both of the second clip walls have a detent. |
| US07793893B2 |
Clevis hanger assembly and pipe insulation coupling
A clevis hanger assembly supports a pipe insulation coupling member along a support structure. The clevis hanger assembly includes an upper bracket adapted to be secured to the support structure. The upper bracket includes a base extending between spaced apart downwardly extending flanges. The clevis hanger assembly also includes a lower bracket having spaced apart upwardly extending flanges disposed alongside the spaced apart downwardly extending flanges. The lower bracket includes an arcuate segment extending between the spaced apart upwardly extending flanges and defines coupling slots for receiving the pipe insulation coupling member. |
| US07793891B2 |
Railway diamond crossing
A modular railway diamond crossing incorporates sets of acute and obtuse angle castings. The rail connections to the castings have a fine taper to minimize joint impacts. The castings are spaced apart with a combination of rails and cast blocks. The outside block is a tapered design that maintains the flangeway and holds the castings and rails together. The inside block comprises a tapered common center casting. This unit also maintains the flangeway and a longitudinal distance between the castings. The center casting is a common part to all such crossings regardless of the crossing angle. |
| US07793886B2 |
Jet air recovery generator and jet blast deflector
A combination of an air recovery generator and blast deflector for generating energy on the ground from horizontally discharged air from an aircraft on the ground and for deflecting the discharged air upwardly comprising: a) a laterally elongate frame having a sloping front face covered with a skin, so that air horizontally discharged against the face will be diverted upwardly enhancing comfort and safety for people on the ground; and, b) a pivoted bladed wheel attached to, and positioned in front of the frame, so that the horizontally discharged air will rotate the wheel thereby generating electricity when the discharged air is upwardly deflected. A method of generating electrical power from air discharged from an aircraft on the ground comprises the steps of: a) providing an air recovery generator having, i) a base, ii) a cylindrical bladed wheel pivotably attached to the base, and iii) a generator turned by the bladed wheel to thereby generate power; and, b) positioning the air recovery generator immediately in front of a blast deflector having an elongate sloping front face, so that the horizontally discharged air will rotate the wheel thereby generating electricity before the discharged air is upwardly deflected. |
| US07793885B2 |
Landing gear support
A landing gear support assembly comprises a first support member, for example a gear rib, extending from the rear spar of an aircraft, and a pintle support assembly for holding a pintle on which a landing gear assembly may be supported. The pintle support assembly is distinct from the rear spar, and is arranged such that the longitudinal axis of a pintle is offset from the support member in a direction along the length of the rear spar. This arrangement may allow a stowed landing gear assembly to be wholly contained within the aircraft wing. The landing gear support assembly may contain additional structure, for example a composite false spar, for distributing loads to various regions of the rear spar. The additional structure may also form a torsion box which reduces the stress and shear force transmitted to the rear spar. |
| US07793884B2 |
Deltoid main wing aerodynamic configurations
“T-tailed Deltoid Main Wing” idea allows for design of high-subsonic passenger aircraft with a capacity between 200 and 650 passengers with outer dimensions fitting within 80 m box on class VI airports while having more than twice lower fuel consumption per unit of payload when compared to the present classical-concept aircraft with fuselage that have the same passenger capacity. T-tailed deltoid main wing aircraft is satisfying all safety requirements for a passenger aircraft while having over 50% longer range than the aircraft of equivalent capacity with fuselage. Simple aerodynamic and structural solutions of T-tailed deltoid main wing aircraft are resulting with low development risks and production cost. Simple and reliable flight control systems of aircraft that are based on T-tailed deltoid main wing aerodynamic configuration allow for design of all-purpose, high-lift-capacity, and long range unmanned aircraft. |
| US07793883B2 |
Transfer tool
The present invention provides a transfer tool comprising a refill which has a supply reel and a winding reel around which a transfer tape is wound and which hold the transfer tool, and a support plate which rotatably supports the supply reel and the winding reel, a stopping member is provided between the supply reel and the support plate such that the stopping member can be inserted and pulled out, and rotation of the supply reel or the winding reel is suppressed when the stopping member is disposed at a predetermined inserting position. |
| US07793882B2 |
Electronic dispenser for dispensing sheet products
A dispenser for dispensing sheet product includes a housing, a proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user's hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser, and a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism including an electronic controller operably coupled to a drive motor that is operably coupled to a feed roller to dispense the sheet product. The dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from the proximity sensor to dispense the sheet product, and is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet product in response to an existing sheet product being torn from the dispenser. The controller is responsive to a switch adapted and configured to set an adjustable time delay between sheet feeds when the dispensing mechanism is operating in at least one of the first mode and the second mode. |
| US07793881B1 |
Portable multiple hose roller
A multiple hose rolling device is provided that is readily attachable to a vehicle and rolls multiple hoses of different flattened widths simultaneously. The device includes guides that adjust to accommodate the widths of the hoses, a closed dual-spindle system to prevent inadvertent displacement of the coiled hose from the spindle, a mechanism for assuring the pre-drainage liquid and air from hose portions about to enter the coil, and a mechanism for preventing the final end hose coupling from inadvertently being coiled. The device may be positioned to the side of the vehicle with the spindles extending outwardly from the vehicle and includes an electric motor for rotating the primary spindle, which can be powered by its own battery or the vehicle's battery. Precisely positionable guides are provided for carefully separating and guiding several hoses of different flattened widths as they approach the spindles. |
| US07793876B2 |
Lubricating pack having venting holes and specifically designed for paper shredders
A lubricating pack specifically designed for paper shredders, including a piece of oiled paper saturated with lubricant placed between two jackets that are each provided at an inner layer thereof with an oil-seepage-proof film. The two jackets are then formed with a first seal sealed around their peripheries to form a lubricating pack having a laminating construction. The lubricating pack is fed into the paper shredder through a paper inlet to the paper shredder under auto mode to be shredded by the paper shredder. Accordingly, the cutting blades of the paper shredder would be able to contact the lubricant contained in the oiled paper during the process of shredding the lubricating pack, so as to provide lubrication between cutting blades of the paper shredder thereby extending the lifespan of the paper shredder. Furthermore, to prevent the lubricant from spurting upwards along a paper inlet of the paper shredder caused by air compressed by the cutting blades that shred a tail end of the lubricating pack, a second seal may be formed at an inward of the peripheries, where plural venting holes are preformed between the first seal at the periphery and second seal inward of the periphery. |
| US07793874B2 |
Grinder and automatic open/close control device thereof
A grinder including a hollow base, a receptacle, an automatic open/close control device, a grinding unit, and a housing. The automatic open/close control device has a follower member, a bottom cover, a position-limitation structure, and a torsion spring connected between the follower member and the bottom cover. When a friction force produced during grinding of the grinder is greater than a torsional force of a torsion spring, the follower member is rotated relative to the bottom cover from a first position where radial blocks of the follower member block outlets of the bottom cover to a second position where the radial blocks of the follower member are moved away from the outlets of the bottom cover and guide slots of the follower member are moved into alignment with the outlets respectively for discharge of ground powder out of the grinder through the guide slots and the outlets. |
| US07793873B2 |
Bale grinder
A machine for grinding forage material includes a support frame that supports an enclosure for retaining a bale of forage material. A rotary shredder is positioned within the enclosure where the rotary shredder grinds the bale of forage material and discharges a forage material from the enclosure. The machine includes at least two deflectors attached to the enclosure that deflect the shredded forage material onto a surface where the at least two deflectors are positionable independent from each other. |
| US07793872B2 |
Device for comminuting all types of parts
The invention relates to a device for comminuting all types of parts, in particular plastics, preferably hollow plastic bodies, such as for example plastic bottles. The device comprises a feeding device, and a comminuting unit, the feeding device having at least one transport unit and the comminuting unit having a rotor, which is provided with tools and rotates in a housing. The device is characterized in that the transport unit transports the parts at an angle of between 45° and 90° to the rotor axis, at least in the region lying directly in front of the rotor. |
| US07793871B2 |
Drug activation process and vibrational mill therefor
The invention comprises a process for activating drugs by means of high-energy co-grinding of the drug with a pharmaceutical carrier, characterized by the use of a vibrational mill equipped with means that regulate the vibration frequency. The process, performed by modifying the frequency of vibration and keeping its amplitude constant, produces drug/carrier composites with a constant particle size in which the degree of drug activation increases in proportion to the frequency applied. The invention also includes a vibrational mill suitably modified to perform the process described. |
| US07793864B2 |
Device for spraying a liquid
The device comprises a liquid flow conduit (12), a rotating nozzle (14), which is mounted on a liquid discharge opening (20) of the flow conduit (12) so as to rotate, the rotating nozzle (14) being penetrated by at least one opening (32, 33, 34) for spraying a liquid, a wall (48) for distributing the liquid extending transversely in the flow conduit (12) over the entire cross-section of flow, the wall (48) for distributing the liquid being penetrated by a central conduit (56) for generating a central jet, and at least one tangential conduit (60) for generating at least one tangential jet in the direction of a drive axis, and a wall (50) for driving the nozzle (14), which extends opposite the wall (48) for distributing the liquid and is penetrated by at least one conduit (64) for receiving the or each tangential jet in order to rotationally drive the nozzle.The drive wall (50) is rotationally engaged with the nozzle (14). |
| US07793863B2 |
Fuel injector for an internal combustion engine
In the case of a fuel injector comprising an injector housing arrangement (44, 46) which accommodates a piezo-drive, whereby the piezo-drive has a piezo-actuator which is accommodated in a piezo-housing arrangement that has a cover arrangement (12, 14) provided with openings (16) for the penetration of protruding terminal pins (10) of the piezo-actuator, the following is provided: a sealing arrangement comprising a sealing element (24) formed from a liquid-tight material, the sealing element, on the one hand, fitting tightly against the circumferential areas of the terminal pins (10) and, on the other hand, tightly against the cover arrangement (12, 14), and a ventilation arrangement (40, 42) that promotes an exchange of gas between the outside of the injector housing arrangement (44, 46) and the outside of the sealing element (24). |
| US07793862B2 |
Fuel-control servo valve, and fuel injector provided with such servo valve
A servo valve (7) for fuel control is provided with an actuator (14) and a valve body (8, 28), which is set in a fixed position and has a stem (33) that extends along a longitudinal axis (3) and defines an internal passage (26); said internal passage (26) has at least two radial channels (39), which give out into an outlet through an outer lateral surface (34) of the stem (33) and have respective first portions (43) of calibrated length and cross section; said first portions (42) are followed by respective second portions of larger diameter; the servo valve (7) is provided with an open/close element (17), which is coupled to the outer lateral surface (34) of the stem (33) substantially in a fluid-tight way and is axially movable under the action of the actuator (14) for opening/closing the internal passage (26) of the stem (33); in the closing position, the open/close element (17) is subject to a zero axial resultant force by the pressure of the fuel. |
| US07793859B2 |
Fluidized catalytic cracking feed nozzle
A nozzle for the atomized spray of liquid hydrocarbon feed in a fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus having two or more slots with at least one lateral slot wall formed at an angle of from about 30 to about 60 degrees from the axis of the discharge. Also a method of spraying atomized hydrocarbon feed/steam into a fluidized catalytic cracking reactor using the nozzle described. |
| US07793855B2 |
Position-coding pattern comprised of tags containing contiguous cells
A substrate having a position-coding pattern disposed on its surface thereof. The position-coding pattern has a plurality of target elements defining a target grid. The target grid includes a plurality of cells and each cell has a target element positioned at its corners so that neighboring cells share target elements. A plurality of tags are contained with the position-coding pattern, each tag being defined by a plurality of contiguous cells. Each tag contains respective location data encoded by a respective set of data elements. |
| US07793854B2 |
Region delimited coded data having unique length digital signature
Coded data for disposal on or in a surface is delimited into a number of regions. The coded data encodes an identity of the region in which the coded data is disposed, and a signature formed from at least part of the identity of the region and a substantially random number. The coded data is arranged in accordance with a layout having n-fold rotational symmetry, where n is at least two. The layout including n sub-layouts rotated 1/n revolutions apart about a centre of rotation, at least one sub-layout including rotation-indicating data that distinguishes that sub-layout from other sub-layouts. The random number serves as a padding to pad out the identity to a length unique to the identity. |
| US07793853B2 |
Method of reading scrambled and encoded two-dimensional data
A method of reading and decoding scrambled and encoded two-dimensional data represented on a sheet of media as a dot matrix includes the step of detecting a data area on the sheet of media by detecting targets on the sheet of media. A bit pattern represented by the dot matrix is detected and written to generate a byte pattern. The byte pattern is descrambled to generate coded data and the data is decoded. |
| US07793852B2 |
Identity-coded surface with coded marks
A region defined in relation to a surface, and a method for defining such a region; coded data being disposed within the region, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the region; in one embodiment, the coded data comprising a plurality of tags which substantially cover the region, the tags being usable to uniquely identify the region or at least distinguish it from other regions defined in relation to the surface. |
| US07793851B2 |
Dynamic credit card with magnetic stripe and embedded encoder and methods for using the same to provide a copy-proof credit card
A dynamic credit card is provided in which a secure credit card number (e.g., a secret/hidden credit card number) is encoded based on a timing signal (e.g., an internal counter) to provide a dynamic credit card number. This dynamic number may be displayed to a user via a display (e.g., so that online purchases can be made) or written onto a magnetic stripe such that the number may be processed by traditional credit card merchants (e.g., swiped). At a remote facility, the dynamic number may be decoded based on time (and/or a counter/key number/equation) Thus, a dynamic credit card number may change continually or periodically (e.g., every sixty seconds) such that credit card numbers may not be copied by thieves and used at later times. A dynamic verification code may also be utilized in addition to, or in lieu of, a dynamic credit card number. |
| US07793846B2 |
Systems, compositions, and methods for full color laser engraving of ID documents
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for forming a full color laser engraved image on an ID card. As described below, a special image capable layer is prepared that is addressable by one or more near infrared (NIR) lasers. Each type of particle contained within the image capable layer is associated with a particular color (e.g., cyan, magenta, or yellow) and is responsive (i.e., can selectively absorb) a particular wavelength of laser energy to form a laser engraved pixel in that respective color. In one embodiment, the particles are selected such that the wavelengths that they respond to do not overlap significantly. By providing discrete physical particles and preventing a given particle from responding to more than one laser wavelength, it can be possible to minimize so-called “cross talk” between the cyan, magenta, and yellow centers and minimize contamination and/or chemical mixing of image formers. This helps to ensure image accuracy and quality. |
| US07793842B2 |
Device and method for reading bar codes on an object
An automated storage system for storing large quantities of samples in trays includes a storage compartment, a tray shuttle compartment abutting the storage compartment on one side and a plurality of independent modules on the other side. The modules perform processing of samples that are retrieved from the storage compartment by a tray shuttle, including extraction of selected samples from retrieved source trays and transfer of the selected samples into a separate, destination tray that can be further processed or removed from the system for use. The independent operation of the modules permits handling and processing to be performed simultaneously by different modules while the tray shuttle accesses additional samples within the storage compartment. In one embodiment, a vertical carousel is used to vertically align a desired tray with the tray shuttle, while the tray shuttle operates within a horizontal plane. |
| US07793841B2 |
Laser illumination beam generation system employing despeckling of the laser beam using high-frequency modulation of the laser diode current and optical multiplexing of the component laser beams
A laser illumination beam generation system including a laser diode (LD) for producing a laser beam in response to a diode current supplied thereto, wherein the laser beam has a central characteristic wavelength. Diode current drive circuitry generates the diode current and supplies the same to the VLD. A high frequency modulation (HFM) circuitry modulates the diode current supplied to the laser diode, so as to produce a spectral side-band components about the central characteristic wavelength, and thereby reduces the coherence of the laser illumination beam as well as its coherence length. An optical multiplexing (OMUX) device receives the laser beam as an input beam and generates multiple laser beams therefrom and recombines the multiple laser beams so as to produce a composite output laser illumination beam having reduce coherence. |
| US07793838B2 |
Multi-channel purchase transaction
A method for conducting a sales transaction. The method can include receiving at a terminal within a store a first identifier generated for a first item of merchandise selected by a customer while the customer is located within the store. The method also can include receiving from a virtual shopping cart a second identifier generated for a second item of merchandise. The first identifier and the second identifier can be processed in the sales transaction. |
| US07793820B2 |
Solder preform and a process for its manufacture
A mixed mother alloy is prepared from a solder mixture comprising a pyrolyzable flux and high melting point metal particles, the mixed mother alloy is charged into a large amount of molten solder and stirred, and a billet is prepared. The billet can then be extruded, rolled, and punched to form a pellet or a washer, for example. |
| US07793819B2 |
Apparatus and method for connecting a component with a substrate
An apparatus for connecting a component with a substrate by means of diffusion soldering in a closed evacuated chamber is disclosed. The component and the substrate to be connected are displaceable separate from one another in the chamber, and the chamber comprises a combined transfer and pressing unit being displaceable between the current position of the component and the current position of the substrate, for placing and pressing the component on the substrate. The combined transfer and pressing unit comprises a rotatable element, which, in response to the placing and pressing of the component on the substrate, assumes an angle between the normal of the lower side of the component to be connected and the pressing direction of the component, the angle corresponding to the angle between the normal of the substrate surface area to be connected and the pressing direction of the component. |
| US07793812B2 |
Disposable motor-driven loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus
A self contained motor-powered disposable loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may contain a battery that is retained in a disconnected position when the disposable loading unit is not in use and is moved to a connected position when the disposable loading unit is coupled to the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus to permit the motor to be selectively powered thereby. Indicators may be supported on the disposable loading unit to indicate when the axial drive assembly thereof is in a starting position and an ending position. Another indicator may be provided to indicate when the anvil assembly is in a closed position. |
| US07793808B1 |
Stackable garment hanger
A stackable garment hanger includes a pole hook and a plurality of hanger members. The pole hook includes a pole hook member and a hanger retaining member. Each hanger member includes a garment retaining member, the hanger retaining member, a finger tab and a retaining rod. The hanger retaining member receives the retaining rod. The hanger retaining member extends from a top of the garment retaining member. One end of an extension member extends from a top of the hanger retaining member and the retaining rod extends from the other end of the extension member. The finger tab extends from the extension member. In use, the pole hook is placed on a hanger pole. A first hanger member is inserted into the hanger retaining member of the pole hook. Successive hanger members are attached to each adjacent hanger member. |
| US07793806B2 |
Metering valve
A metering valve for a pressurized fluid reservoir with an immobile fixed chamber body sealed off by a plug with at least one opening that serves as an inlet into the metering chamber that also serves as the outlet of any temporarily stored pressurized gas, with a valve stem that surrounds the metering chamber that it is co-axially aligned and slidable with respect to the metering chamber such that the valve stem's attached seals and its dispensing opening expose the metering chamber's opening to the dispensing opening of the valve stem as the valve stem is actuated to overcome the biasing forces of a spring, and subsequently close the metering chamber's opening when not actuated from the valve stem's dispensing opening and expose the metering chamber's opening to the pressurized fluid reservoir so that a metered dose of pressurized fluid is dispensed during each cycle of actuation of the valve stem. |
| US07793802B2 |
Fastener for a viscous material container evacuator and method
A viscous material container evacuator comprises a chamber to hold a container and a plunger axially and slidably accommodated within the chamber to express material from the container; and at least one hinged closure that closes to define the chamber and to securely enclose the container; and at least one motor activated fastener that secures the closure around the container. A method to secure a closure of a viscous material container evacuator, comprises activating a motor drive shaft to drive a connected threaded shaft into a complimentary threaded channel of a clamp block that comprises an opposing nub wall; and driving the threaded shaft to impose upon a first lug of an evacuator and to foreshorten a distance between a head of the threaded shaft and the opposing nub to impose the nub against a second lug of a closure to secure the lugs together to secure the container. |
| US07793800B2 |
Multicomponent cartridge
The inventive multicomponent cartridge (1) for separately storing and for jointly pressing out at least two components of a free-flowing substance comprises at least one cylinder (2) for holding the substance with at least one pressing plunger (4) for pressing out the substance and at least one outlet (5) for the substance. The components of the substance are stored in separate chambers (8, 9) inside the cylinder (2) that extend in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder (2). An inner area (12) of a film (7) forms a partition (13) of the cylinder (2) between the chambers (8, 9) of the multicomponent cartridge (1). An outer area (11) of the film (7) is integrally joined to the cylinder. According to the inventive method for producing the inventive multicomponent cartridge (1), the outer area (11) of the film (7) is encapsulated during the injection molding of the cylinder (2) for the multicomponent cartridge (1). |
| US07793798B2 |
Dose indicator for a fluid dispenser device
A dose indicator for a fluid dispenser, the dose indicator includes at a minimum a ledge that actuates the dose indicator as the fluid dispenser device begins an actuation stroke that in turn actuates the first one of two flexible elements of the dose indicator that begins the actuation of a rotary counting wheel at the start of the actuation stroke of the fluid dispenser device, and the second less flexible element continues the actuation of the rotary counting wheel after the actuation stroke of the fluid dispenser device is completed. In some embodiments, the rotary counting wheel interacts with a display window with a groove and pin system to both rotate and translate the display window. |
| US07793797B2 |
Capsule-dispensing cabinet for supplying machines for the preparation of drinks or other food preparations
Capsule-dispensing cabinet intended for supplying machines with the aim of preparing drinks or other food preparations, comprising: a body, a plurality of buffer storage housings (3, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) forming a capsule buffer store, intended to be supplied by a plurality of removable tubes (2) containing stacked capsules, each tube and buffer storage housing (3) being arranged relative to one another so as to form an aligned stack of capsules. Each buffer storage housing (3, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) comprises individual selection means (5) enabling a capsule contained in the stack to be released and collection means (6, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65) enabling the capsule thus released to be collected. |
| US07793795B2 |
Liquid storage and delivery assembly
A water storage and delivery assembly includes stackable compartments, each compartment having a planar bottom wall, opposed side walls, and opposed end walls, forming a reservoir. Frusto-conically shaped conduits having open large first ends are fixed to peripheries of openings in the bottom walls, and open smaller second ends are disposed below upper edges of the side and end walls. The assembly further includes a bottom-most compartment of the same construction but having no openings in the bottom wall thereof. Water poured into a first conduit is flowable through a plurality of first conduits to the bottom-most compartment while air escapes upwardly through a series of second conduits, the water rising until all the compartments of the assembly are filled. Each compartment is provided with an outlet operable to permit the water to travel from a compartment to an exothermic mass. |
| US07793789B2 |
Model car display system and use thereof
A model car display system adapted to display a model car, such as a die-cast model car, in association with dioramic and scenic elements to recreate a realistic and scaled down automobile-related scene. In one illustrated embodiment, the system is adapted to associate one or more model cars with scenery corresponding to a race track-like drag race scene by which the model cars are positioned to appear as if preparing to race. The system may include various elements to increase the realism thereof. For example, the system may include various rotational means adapted for rotating the wheels of a model car associated with the system and various associating means for securely associating the model car with the system while its wheels are being rotated. By way of additional example, the system may interchangeably associate with a plurality of scenic elements so that the system may be configured to appear as any of a plurality of scenes, such as a race track, street race, historical scene, street, garage, and the like. |
| US07793788B2 |
Separating components of aqueous mixtures, suspensions, and solutions
Systems and methods are described for separating components of aqueous mixtures, including aqueous solutions and suspensions. In one implementation, an apparatus flows the aqueous mixture over a hydrophilic surface to form a first region of purified water and a second region of at least one concentrated non-aqueous component. The apparatus can draw off either the purified water or the concentrated non-aqueous components. In one implementation, an array of tubules performs the differential extraction. In another implementation, various hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic surfaces are disposed in multiple differential extractors and some effluents may be recycled to perform complex assaying and separation. |
| US07793787B2 |
Polymers useful as medical materials
One object of the present invention is to provide polymers suitable for use as medical materials. The present invention provides a polymer useful as a medical material having the general formula -(A)l-(B)m-(C)n- (I) in which A is derived from a non-ionic monomer; B is derived from a monomer containing a primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amine group; C is derived from a monomer containing an acid group; and l+m+n=100, 0 |
| US07793786B2 |
Vehicular plastic coating
Systems; articles of manufacture, and methods to coat vehicular plastics with an epoxy are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide an extremely durable epoxy coating on various plastic parts of a vehicle. One embodiment includes a system that may be used to remove damaged plastic and any existing hard coat material, such as silicone, from the surface of a vehicular plastic. Such embodiments may also include the epoxy coating and tools necessary for applying the epoxy. Another embodiment discloses a process for preparing and sealing a vehicular plastic with an epoxy coating. |
| US07793783B2 |
Beverage crate with constant-diameter pockets
A nestable crate or container for holding bottles. The crate has a floor portion substantially in a first plane having a plurality of bottle seating areas, with each bottle seating area being adapted to receive a lower portion of a bottle. The crate also includes a peripheral wall surrounding the floor portion and extending upward from the floor portion, a plurality of central columns extending upward from the floor portion and oriented proximate to a longitudinal centerline of the crate, and a plurality of pylons extending upward from the floor portion along the periphery of the crate. Each central column includes at least one first bottle-contacting surface and each pylon includes at least one second bottle-contacting surface. Both the first and second bottle contacting surfaces are substantially orthogonal to the first plane. |
| US07793777B2 |
Belt installation guides
A belt installation guide is disclosed which accommodates the loading of a new belt around drive rollers in a belt module assembly. The guide is placed opposite the end portions of the rollers, the belt is slipped over the guides and held by the guides until the belt is pushed over the rollers. Once in place over the rollers, a tension is exerted on the belt to make it taut over all of the rollers. The guide is removed from near the rolls after the belt is in place over the rollers. The guide when not in use is positioned in housings internal to the rollers, or in housings adjacent to the rollers. The guides are enabled to be removed or pulled out from these housings when ready for use in installing a belt in a belt module. |
| US07793771B2 |
Device for pushing metallic goods
The invention relates to a device (1) for pushing metallic goods (2) off and onto a conveyor (3) in a direction (S) transverse to a conveying direction (F), wherein the device (1) has a displacement arm (5) displaceable relative to a stationary stand (4) and in an end region (6) of which, at least one gripping element (7, 8) is arranged for gripping the metallic goods (2). In order to be able to effect pushing of goods off of a conveyor and thereon in a simple and space-saving manner, the invention is characterized in that the displacement arm has at least two arm sections displaceable within each other in a telescopic manner. |
| US07793770B1 |
Conveyor wheel sliding system
A conveyor wheel sliding system for efficiently positioning the wheels upon a conveyor unit to a transporting position and also to an in use position. The conveyor wheel sliding system generally includes a conveyor unit including a frame, wherein the frame extends along a longitudinal axis of the conveyor unit, an attachment assembly to engage the frame, wherein a substantial portion of the attachment assembly is positioned below the frame and wherein the attachment assembly slidably adjusts about the frame and along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor unit and at least one wheel mechanically connected to the attachment assembly opposite the conveyor unit to engage a ground surface. |
| US07793767B2 |
Four-wheel drive center disconnect electric actuator
A four-wheel drive center disconnect electric actuator is provided. The actuator includes a one-way motor that actuates a cam mechanism for causing engagement and disengagement of the center disconnect. The actuator achieves improved reliability and efficiency through a less expensive construction than conventional actuators. |
| US07793765B2 |
Multi-disc brake with reinforcing rib
The invention provides a multi-disc brake for a vehicle. A knuckle supports a wheel of a vehicle. A hub is mounted for rotation on the knuckle about a rotation axis. A pair of discs are mounted for rotation with the hub and for sliding movement on the hub along the rotation axis. Each of the discs includes respective inboard and outboard engaging surfaces. Brake pad assemblies are disposed about the discs to engage the engaging surfaces. The brake pad assemblies slide along the rotation axis relative to the hub. A brake fist having a bridge portion extends outboard from the knuckle around the discs and the brake pad assemblies to an outboard wall supporting the outboard brake pad assembly against outboard movement along the rotation axis. An actuator urges the discs and the brake pad assemblies together against the outboard wall to slow rotation of the hub. A first bolt extends along a first bolt axis and a second bolt extends along a second bolt axis spaced from the first bolt axis across the outboard wall for connecting the brake fist to the knuckle. A reinforcing rib extends outwardly from and across the outboard wall to intersect both of the first bolt axis and the second bolt axis in a plane perpendicular to the discs for limiting deflection of the outboard wall. |
| US07793761B2 |
Elevator car lighting equipment for guidance of persons
Lighting equipment of an elevator car and a method for guidance of persons in an elevator provides a floor indication that communicates to the passenger, in a simple and clear manner, reaching of his or her destination floor, even in high buildings with numerous floors. The lighting equipment has a light source and a control of the light source, which produces a color effect relative to the floor indication. |
| US07793757B2 |
Resonator with internal supplemental noise attenuation device
A resonator for an induction system includes an inlet and outlet with a resonator cavity arranged therebetween. A tube is arranged within the resonator cavity and at least partially extends between the inlet and outlet. In one example, at least one supplemental noise attenuation device is in communication with the arcuate tube, such as a quarter wave tube and/or Helmholtz resonator. A large opening is provided in the tube that opens into the resonator cavity. In one example, the large opening is arranged on an outer radius side and faces a large cavity portion of the resonator cavity. Additional supplemental noise attenuation is provided by a collar arranged concentrically relative to the tube providing an annular quarter wave tube that is coaxial with the direction of flow from the outlet. |
| US07793754B2 |
Electric steering system for rapidly increasing damper gain after steering speed exceeds a specific value
An electric steering system includes a device for measuring a steering input into a steering system; a device for measuring a steering speed; a section for computing a target current based on the steering input; and a control section for applying a steering power to the steering system by driving a motor according to the target current, and applying damping to the steering system based on the steering speed. A rate of increase in a damper gain defined when the steering speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is higher than that defined when the steering speed is less than the predetermined value, or the damper gain defined when the steering speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value has a constant value increased in a step form from values of the damper gain defined when the steering speed is less than the predetermined value. |
| US07793753B2 |
Power-assisted steering system or power steering system
In a power-assisted steering system or power steering system having an electric motor, which drives a worm gear mechanism that has a composite gear wheel in the form of a worm wheel, the worm wheel includes a ring gear connectible to a hub via a first disk, and an annular projection of the first disk axially engages with the ring gear.In order to improve the centering of the component parts of the composite gear wheel in the tangential direction, and in order to render the power transmission in the gear wheel uniform, the annular projection on the first disk is provided with one or more depressions in the axial direction to form tooth-like projections, which form a drive-type toothed section and engage with depressions on an axial side face of the ring gear. |
| US07793752B2 |
Method of determining boost direction in a power steering system
A method of determining a direction of a power boost applied to a power cylinder of a variable effort power steering system includes measuring a pressure of a hydraulic fluid between a pump and a control valve. A first position of the hand wheel is detected and initialized when the pressure is within a pre-defined equilibrium pressure range. A second position of the hand wheel is detected in response to rotational movement of the hand wheel. The first position and the second position of the hand wheel are measured in cumulative degrees rotated left or right of a on-center orientation of the hand wheel. The second position is subtracted from the first position to obtain a differential value representing the direction of the power boost. A negative differential value represents a first direction and a positive differential value represents a second direction of the power boost. |
| US07793747B2 |
Touring motorcycle modification kit
A touring motorcycle modification kit comprising: an internal frame, an external frame, and a fender; wherein the fender is situated between the internal and external frames; wherein the internal frame is situated inside of the fender; wherein the internal frame comprises two portions, and wherein the two portions are bolted together; wherein the external frame is mounted on the fender at three frame mounting points; wherein two of the three frame mounting points are located on the exterior of the fender; wherein none of the three frame mounting points is located inside of the fender; wherein the external frame does not bolt to the frame mounting points but is releasably attached to the three frame mounting points; and wherein no tools are required to install or remove the external frame. The present invention can be used with a factory seat, exhaust system, wiring harness, saddle bags and tour pack. |
| US07793746B2 |
Noise-comfort function for cooling systems with proportional variable speed fans
A method for operating a cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining a fan request for a variable speed fan disposed in the cooling system; employing a noise-comfort function to select a fan comfort request; and adjusting a speed of the variable speed fan in response to the fan request; wherein a noise emission by the variable speed fan is militated against. A cooling system for a fuel cell stack in a vehicle that employs the noise-comfort function is also provided. |
| US07793745B2 |
Implement with tandem transmission
An implement with two independent transmissions drives a common output shaft. Each transmission is configured to rotatably drive the output shaft in a different direction to simplify changing the ground direction of the implement. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the transmissions are actuated by levers that provide infinitely variability of the implement's ground speed. |
| US07793742B2 |
Off road vehicle apparatus and method
A ground engaged vehicle includes a front portion and a rear portion joined by an articulation. The articulation rotates around a longitudinal axis. An engine drives a hydrostatic pump which drives four hydrostatic motors, each of the hydrostatic motors in operative engagement with one of four wheels. The wheels are on wheel mounts, each of the wheel mounts having a vertical axis around which one of the four wheels with one of the hydrostatic motors is turnable. A steering system turns the two wheels of the front portion in a first direction and the two wheels of the rear portion in an opposite direction. The steering system is powered by the hydrostatic pump. A pedal control system has a first pedal controlling driving the vehicle in a forward direction and a second pedal controlling driving the vehicle in a rearward direction. |
| US07793741B2 |
Impact excavation system and method with injection system
A system and method according to which at least one vessel injects a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors into a formation to remove at least a portion of the formation. |
| US07793739B2 |
Overload protection device for agricultural appliances
Overload protection device for agricultural appliances, such as for example agricultural implements with a joint connecting the agricultural tool to the carrier frame, having two joint parts held together by spring load and mutually supporting, of which one is mounted on the agricultural tool and the other on the carrier frame. On both joint parts at least one upper support arrangement and at least one lower support arrangement are arranged as spaced from one another, with the lower support arrangement (9, 20) having at least one pivot bolt (10, 23) extending horizontally and transversely to the working direction and at least one joint retainer (11) supported on the pivot bolt (10, 23) and having a V or U-shaped cross-section. |
| US07793736B2 |
Ceiling-only dry sprinkler systems and methods for addressing a storage occupancy fire
A ceiling-only dry sprinkler system configured to address a storage occupancy fire event with a sprinkler operational area sufficient in size to surround and drown fire. The system and method preferably provide for the surround and effect by activating one or more initial sprinklers, delaying fluid flow to the initial activated sprinklers for a defined delay period to permit the thermal activation of a subsequent-one or more sprinklers so as. to form the preferred sprinkler Operational area. The sprinklers of the operational area are preferably: configured so as to provider sufficient fluid volume and cooling to address the fire event with a surround and drown configuration, the defined delay period is of a defined period having a maximum and a minimum. The preferred sprinkler system is adapted for fire protection of storage commodities and provides a ceiling only system that eliminates or otherwise minimizes the economic disadvantage and design penalties current dry sprinkler system design. |
| US07793733B2 |
Valve trigger for downhole tools
An actuator device for setting a downhole tool comprises a piston disposed in an upper reservoir of the device, the piston comprising two actuation areas upon which pressure acts to move the piston. The upper reservoir is in fluid communication with a lower reservoir through a valve that initially restricts the flow of fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. In setting a downhole tool, fluid pressure initially acts on the first actuation area to slowly move the piston toward a set position. After a predetermined length of movement of the piston, the second actuation area is placed in fluid communication with a pressure such that the valve no longer restricts the flow of fluid through the valve, i.e., the total pressure acting on the piston is increased. This increased pressure rapidly moves the piston to actuate, or set, the downhole tool. |
| US07793732B2 |
Backpressure valve for wireless communication
A backpressure valve. The backpressure valve may be configured to maintain a substantially controlled pressure in coiled tubing uphole thereof while simultaneously being compatible with a pressure pulse tool downhole thereof. The backpressure valve includes pressure generating capacity below its internal valve assembly so as to avoid the tendency of the assembly to throttle open and closed. Furthermore, the pressure generation is achieved in a manner avoiding cavitation. As a result, once the backpressure valve is opened, the pressure pulse tool is able to reliably communicate with surface equipment at the oilfield. |
| US07793730B2 |
Lubricator system
A lubricator system for receiving the intervention tool string includes a tubular body defining a tubular bore, and the tubular bore having a wall portion defining an aperture with a tool guide disposed in said aperture. A first sleeve surrounds the tubular body and is moveable between a first position where said aperture is covered by the first sleeve and a second position where said aperture is uncovered whereby access is provided to said tubular bore via said aperture. The system also includes a seal to allow the lubricator system to withstand operating pressures when the first sleeve is in the first position. |
| US07793728B2 |
Gas lift plunger arrangement
A plunger in a plunger lift system in an oil and gas well includes shaped grooves spaced along the plunger body, angled fins or below the grooves, an elongated interior cavity open at the bottom, and passages connecting the interior cavity to the grooves. The shape, sizing and spacing of the grooves improves plunger seal and decreases liquid loss during plunger lift. The flutes or fins spin the plunger to clean the tubing string and prevent the plunger from becoming stuck in the lubricator. The interior cavity lightens the plunger and, in combination with the passages, improves the seal created by the shaped grooves. A method of controlling fluid flow in a tubing string in the plunger lift system includes the elongated plunger controllably traveling vertically therethrough, including the steps of: arranging an array of side holes through a side wall of the elongated plunger, wherein the side holes create turbulence in gas within the tubing string; and rotating the elongated plunger about a longitudinal axis thereof, as the plunger travels through the tubing string in the plunger lift system. |
| US07793727B2 |
Low rate gas injection system
A dewatering device is provided that can be inserted concentrically within the production tubing string of a natural gas-producing wellbore. The dewatering device includes a pressure-isolating chamber that is provided with a fluid inlet valve and a fluid outlet valve and associated gas lift valves. Compressed gas and soap are used to form a foamy liquid mixture that is lifted out of the chamber. |
| US07793725B2 |
Method for preventing overpressure
The present invention relates to overpressure protection systems and methods for use on a production system for transferring hydrocarbons from a well on the seafloor to a vessel floating on the surface of the sea. The production system includes a subsea well in fluid communication with a turret buoy through a production flowline and riser system. The turret buoy is capable of connecting to a swivel located on a floating vessel. The overpressure protection device is positioned upstream of the swivel, to prevent overpressure of the production swivel and downstream components located on the floating vessel. The device may include one or more shut down valves, one or more sensors, an actuator assembly, and a control processor. Each shut down valve and sensor is coupled to a production flowline. Each of the sensors is capable of generating a signal based upon a pressure sensed within the production flowline. The actuator assembly is connected to each of the shut down valves for operating the shut down valves. The control processor, which may be a programmable logic controller, receives a signal from the sensors and sends a valve control signal to the actuator assembly for operating the shut down valves in response to the received signals. |
| US07793723B2 |
Submerged loading system
An offshore system allows a vessel (12) to sail to a predetermined sea location (14), quickly set up a loading system and start the transfer of hydrocarbons to or from a pipeline (22), and then quickly disconnect and sail away. The vessel is a DP (dynamic positioning) vessel that does not require mooring or anchor lines, so the only apparatus to install is a conduit (30) that can be picked up by the vessel to extend between a stationary pipe end (24) that lies at the sea floor and the vessel. The conduit includes primarily a flexible hose (70) that extends in a sine wave with two loops (80, 82). The conduit includes a rigid reinforced hose section (34) that is pivotally connected to the sea floor. A chain (114) can be provided with a portion of the chain lying on the sea floor, to help the disconnected hose coupling (42D) remain at a stable position above the sea floor. |
| US07793722B2 |
Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing
Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore is described. The system may include a heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation and an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore. The casing may include at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing. |
| US07793720B2 |
Producer well lugging for in situ combustion processes
Methods and apparatus relate to controlling location of inflow into a production well during in situ combustion. The production well includes intervals closable to the inflow at identified times. Once a combustion front from the in situ combustion passes one of the intervals, a blockage conveyed from surface into the production well forms a barrier to the inflow at the interval that has been passed by the combustion front. An example of the blockage includes a cement plug delivered through coiled tubing into the production well, which may include production tubing that defines the intervals based on at least two consecutive alternating lengths of solid wall sections and slotted or perforated sections of the production tubing. |
| US07793711B2 |
Vehicle air conditioner
A vehicle air conditioner includes an air-conditioning ECU. The air-conditioning ECU performs a cooling mode operation in which air is cooled by an interior heat exchanger in a cooling refrigeration cycle. The air-conditioning ECU performs a heating mode operation, in which air is heated by the interior heat exchanger in a hot gas heater cycle. The air-conditioning ECU performs an air blowing operation in which air is blown toward an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle without operating the compressor before performing a refrigerant collecting operation. |
| US07793703B2 |
Method of manufacturing a metal matrix composite
The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the method of manufacturing the MMC. The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element formed from a metal where the metal impregnates through the preform. The method of forming the MMC includes the step of extruding the composition through a multi-screw extruder to form an extrudate. The method also includes the step of heating the preform and positioning the preform within a mold. The method further includes the step of heating the metal for forming a molten metal and injecting the molten metal into a cavity of the mold under pressure for infiltrating the preform with the molten metal. The method also includes cooling the molten metal to solidify the molten metal and form the metal matrix composite and removing the metal matrix composite from the mold. |
| US07793701B2 |
Operation wand assembly of curtains
A operation wand assembly of a curtain a curved connection member adapted to be connected to the lower rail of the curtain and having a top recess. A through hole is defined through the curved connection member and communicates with the top recess. An engaging member is received in the top recess and has a tubular portion engaged with the through hole of the curved connection member. The tubular portion includes an open bottom and two connection grooves are defined through a wall of the tubular portion. An operation wand has two radial rods extending from a top thereof and the top of the operation wand is removably inserted into the open bottom of the tubular portion. The two radial rods are engaged with the connection grooves. The operation wand can be hooked to a positioning member on a wall when not in use. |
| US07793696B2 |
Roll sheet holder
The disclosure provides a roll sheet holder for producing labels which can be easily put on a slim stick-type member used in foods without being wound on and adhered to the stick-type member, and be completely removed from the stick-type member. The roll sheet is made of a continuous thermal sheet having self-coloring property having no adhesive layer on its back side, and the like, and wound on a roll sheet holder with a back face facing outward. A plurality of encoder marks are provided on an edge of the back face of the roll sheet in a width direction, with predetermined pitch size in a feeding direction. The predetermined pitch size of the encoder marks is arranged to be equal to a length between cutting lines along which the printed roll sheet is cut. Behind the encoder marks in the feeding direction, a dog-leg shaped slits, projecting backward in the feeding direction are made in each substantially center between the cutting lines. |
| US07793693B2 |
Pneumatic tire with specified toe rubber
This invention relates to a pneumatic tire provided at its bead portion with a rubber chafer (4) and covered at its inner surface with an innerliner (5), wherein a toe rubber (6) is further arranged on a toe end part of the bead portion so as to overlap with the rubber chafer (4) and the innerliner (5) and locate at least outside the innerliner (5) at the overlapped portion with the innerliner (5), and a rubber composition A containing at least one of butyl rubber and halogenated butyl rubber as 20-40 mass % of a rubber component is used in the toe rubber (6). |
| US07793689B2 |
Multilayer heat tracing insulation device and method
A heat tracing device has one or more heating elements positioned adjacent to a heatable surface, an aerogel high temperature insulation layer adjacent to the one or more heating elements, a low temperature insulation layer adjacent to the aerogel high temperature insulation layer and a locking mechanism effective to fix the position of the low temperature insulation layer to the aerogel high temperature insulation layer. |
| US07793687B2 |
Inflation/deflation adaptor assembly for inflating and deflating inflatable cargo dunnage bags
An inflation/deflation assembly, which can be mounted upon the inflation valve assembly of an inflatable bag, so as to permit both the inflation and deflation of the inflatable as may be desired. The inflation/deflation assembly comprises an outer housing, and a control rod is rotatably disposed within the housing so as to be rotatably movable between two positions angularly spaced apart from each other. When the control rod is disposed, for example, at a first one of the two positions, the inflatable bag can be inflated, whereas, when the control rod is disposed at the second one of the two positions, the inflatable bag can be deflated. |
| US07793686B2 |
Overpressure safety apparatus of gas fuel container
An overpressure safety apparatus having a fuel container body and a mounting cap includes a main housing coupled to the mounting cap, the main housing having an elbow-shaped gas introducing passage, a valve stem disposed in the main housing through the mounting cap. The valve stem is provided with an orifice, an opening/closing seal inserted between a top of the main housing and the mounting cap to selectively open/close the orifice of the valve stem. A sub-housing is connected to a bottom of the main housing, and has a branch line communicating with the gas introducing passage and a receiving cavity with a bottom communicating with the branch line and a top communicating with an exhausting hole formed on the mounting cap. A safety valve is disposed in the receiving cavity to selectively open the branch line in response to variations of internal pressure of the container. |
| US07793683B2 |
Active intake pressure control of downhole pump assemblies
Progressive cavity pump assemblies including one or more mechanisms adapted to regulate intake pressure of the main pump between a minimum intake pressure and a maximum intake pressure. In one embodiment, the mechanism is a sealing member configured to open at a threshold pressure to discharge wellbore fluid and close after falling below the threshold pressure. In an alternative embodiment, the mechanism may be a regulator assembly that adjusts the volume of output from the charge pump to the interconnect according to the pressure in the interconnect. |
| US07793681B2 |
Methods and systems for performing, monitoring and analyzing multiple machine fluid processes
In one embodiment, a method is provided for performing a fluid process within a machine having a fluid system including at least two reservoirs of different types of fluids. The method includes the steps of identifying a first reservoir for use in performing a fluid process; (a) adjusting a configuration of a valve system operatively coupled to the fluid system to permit a fluid evacuation process to be performed for the reservoir, (b) subsequently performing the fluid evacuation process for the reservoir, (c) subsequently adjusting the configuration of the valve system to permit a fluid refill process to be performed for the reservoir, (d) subsequently performing the fluid refill process for the reservoir; and, subsequently identifying an additional reservoir and performing at least one of the steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) for the additional reservoir, wherein the first reservoir includes a fluid of a type which is different from a type of a fluid of the additional reservoir. Various system and computer-readable media embodiments are also provided. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR § 1.72(b). |
| US07793679B2 |
Drain valve
A drain valve and method for assembling a drain valve. A valve assembly is inserted into a pipe, and a reduced diameter portion is formed in the pipe to create a substantially water-tight seal between a portion of the valve assembly and the pipe. A second reduced diameter portion may be formed in the pipe to provide a thrust bearing surface for resisting sliding movement of the valve assembly within the pipe. A transverse hole is provided in the pipe to provide access to a rotatable mechanism in the valve assembly to permit and restrict fluid flow through the drain valve. |
| US07793677B2 |
Waterway connection
A coupler for a faucet is disclosed which couples a first waterway component and a second waterway component, the coupler being an overmold component. |
| US07793676B2 |
Method for supplying a paint application device with paint
The invention relates to a method for supplying a paint application device with paint, whereby a determined amount of paint is transported between two scrapers through a scraper line, from a first scraper station which can be connected to a paint supply source, to a second scraper station which can be connected to the paint application device. Said scraper line is cleaned on the return path from the second scraper station to the first scraper station, by a cleaning product which is also transported between the two scrapers. In this way, the scraper line can be cleaned in a reliable manner, with a simple embodiment of the scraper, thus rendering the inventive method especially useful when a color change is carried out. |
| US07793670B2 |
Fixture for optical elements for use in cleaning processes
A fixture for optical elements includes a washing bar, a holder and a vacuum pump. The washing bar includes an inner channel and a connecting portion in communication with the inner channel. A hole is formed in the washing bar for communicating with the inner channel. The holder connects with the washing bar. The holder has a holding surface communicating with the hole. The holding surface has a shape corresponding to a peripheral surface of the optical elements to be held. The vacuum pump is connected with the connecting portion. The vacuum pump is configured for vacuum the washing bar so as to effectively suck the one of the optical elements on the holding surface. The present fixture can hold optical elements firmly and does not damage the optical elements. |
| US07793667B2 |
Method and device for applying hair color
A device and method for coloring hair having at least one breakable ampoule contained within a larger container. The ampoule or ampoules are broken to release their contents, which combine to produce a hair coloring solution. The larger container has a brush or sponge like filter applicator through which the hair coloring solution can be dispensed directly onto the chosen hair area. The larger container preferably is manufactured from a squeezable material such as a polymer so that the larger container can be squeezed to assist in dispensing the hair color solution. The ampoules preferably are manufactured from a breakable material such that the ampoules can be broken and their contents released into the larger container. |
| US07793663B2 |
Method of forming an earplug by laser ablation and an earplug formed thereby
Disclosed is an earplug that includes a sound attenuating portion and a feature formed by laser ablation, wherein the feature comprises a cavity formed in a first end of the sound attenuating portion including a cylindrical shape extending into the sound attenuating portion, along a longitudinal axis of the sound attenuating portion, toward a second end of the sound attenuating portion opposite the first end, the earplug further comprising at least one of a cord, a stem, and a detectable insert disposed in the cavity. |
| US07793661B2 |
Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
An anti-snoring device that attaches to a specific area of the neck. The attachment means can be an adhesive, a clip or an implant. The device exerts a predetermined pulling force on this area of the neck, causing this area of the neck to expand outward from its normal position. This expansion opens a blockage in the throat of a sleeping person, thereby eliminating snoring and helping some people with obstructive sleep apnea. |
| US07793653B2 |
Radiation-selective absorber coating with an adherent oxide layer and method of making same
The absorber pipe for solar thermal applications consists of a metal pipe and a radiation-selective absorber coating applied to the outer surface of the metal pipe. The radiation-selective absorber coating consists of, in sequence from the outer surface toward an exterior: a diffusion barrier layer, a metallic reflective layer a cermet layer, and an anti-reflective layer. The diffusion barrier layer is an oxide layer on the outer surface of the preferably steel or stainless steel pipe which is formed by an oxidation process during tempering and which includes oxidized components of the metal pipe. The tempering is preferably performed in air in an oven at a temperature of 400 to 600° C. for 0.5 to 2 hours. |
| US07793647B2 |
Method and device for sawing a workpiece
A device suitable for sawing a workpiece, contains a wire web formed by a sawing wire or adapted to receive such a wire web, a forward feed instrument holding a semiconductor workpiece to be sawed and feeding the workpiece in the direction of the wire web, and a reservoir filled with a sawing suspension, the reservoir being arranged and filled such that at least the part of the sawing wire which is in engagement during the sawing process is immersed into the sawing suspension of the reservoir. |
| US07793646B2 |
Bowstring suppression device
A bowstring suppression device can be coupled to a bow to reduce the sound produced by the bowstring when the bow is drawn and released. The bowstring suppression device may include a cushion portion that is positioned adjacent to the bowstring when the bow is in an undrawn configuration. When the bow is drawn and released, the bowstring contacts the bowstring suppression device thereby deadening residual movement of the bowstring and reducing the sound generated by the bowstring. |
| US07793642B2 |
Fuel supply apparatus
In a fuel supply apparatus, a fuel pump draws fuel from a fuel tank, and discharges the fuel to a high-pressure fuel system. A filter unit has a filter element located on a downstream side of the fuel pump to remove foreign matters contained in the fuel discharged from the fuel pump. A jet pump has a nozzle that is installed in a fuel supply passage between the fuel pump and the filter element. The nozzle injects the fuel to a downstream side of the nozzle in the fuel supply passage. The introducing passage introduces excessive fuel from the high-pressure fuel system to the downstream side of the nozzle. |
| US07793641B2 |
Model-based fuel control for engine start and crank-to-run transition
A fuel control system for regulating fuel to cylinders of an internal combustion engine during an engine start and crank-to-run transition includes a first module that determines a plurality of step-ahead cylinder air masses (GPOs) for a cylinder based on a plurality of GPO prediction models. A second module regulates fueling to a cylinder of the engine based on the plurality of step-ahead GPOs until a combustion event of the cylinder. |
| US07793640B2 |
Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine
An injection valve of an internal combustion engine is actuated at least once by at least one specified control value of an actuating variable for metering at least one specified minimum quantity corrected by a correction value. The correction value for the control value is adjusted according to a deviation of an expected response value of an actuating variable from an actual response value of the response variable, as a result of the actuation of the respective injection valve, that is to say by way of a reduction of the deviation between the expected response value of the response variable and the actual response value of the response variable. If the correction value undershoots a specified negative correction threshold value or overshoots a specified positive correction threshold value, a fault is detected in a component which is affecting the exhaust gas in the cylinder assigned to the respective injection valve. |
| US07793638B2 |
Low emission high performance engines, multiple cylinder engines and operating methods
Low emission high performance engines, multiple cylinder engines and operating methods based on compression ignition of a combustion chamber charge already containing at least some fuel and air. Air is injected into the combustion chamber after top dead center is reached to maintain combustion until all fuel is consumed. Various modes of operation are disclosed. |
| US07793637B2 |
Method for auto-ignition operation and computer readable storage device for use with an internal combustion engine
A method for controlling an engine having a variable valve actuator includes operating the engine in a first mode where the engine carries out spark ignition combustion of air and fuel; and changing operation to a second mode where the engine carries out homogenous charge compression ignition combustion of air and fuel. The variable valve actuator unit is adjusted in response to said change to provide a shorter valve opening or lift. |
| US07793636B1 |
Apparatus adapted to perform as compressor, motor, pump, and internal combustion engine
A rotary apparatus with an enclosure formed by a hollow curved housing along with two sleeves, with two vanes within the enclosure, where one vane is fitted on each sleeve and the space within the enclosure is partitioned into two segregated volumes by the vanes which can rotate along with the sleeve that the individual vane is fitted on, by use of the timing devices, couplings, brakes and shaft, resulting in a sequence of alternate, independent or simultaneous rotation and stopping of vanes that leads to increase and decrease of volume of the segregated spaces, in a fashion that results in a thermodynamic gas cycles with Variable Compression ratio. |
| US07793635B2 |
Rotary piston type internal combustion engine
The rotary piston type internal combustion engine (E1) comprises an output shaft (1), a rotor (2), a housing (4), an annular operation chamber (5) formed by the rotor and housing on at least one side of the rotor in the axial direction of the output shaft for constituting an intake operation chamber, a compression operation chamber, a combustion operation chamber, and an exhaust operation chamber, a pressuring/pressured member (6) provided to the rotor for partitioning the annular operation chamber, two operation chamber partitions (7, 8) provided to the housing for partitioning the annular operation chamber, biasing mechanisms for biasing the operation chamber partitions toward their respective advanced positions, an intake port (11), an exhaust port (12), and a fuel injector (14), wherein the pressuring/pressured member (6) is constituted by an arc-shaped partition having first and second inclined surfaces and the operation chamber partitions (7, 8) are each constituted by a reciprocating partition reciprocating in parallel to the axis of the output shaft. |
| US07793633B2 |
Switching resonance intake system for an internal combustion engine
A switching resonance intake system is provided an internal combustion engine with a first and a second cylinder bank. The cylinder banks are each coordinated with a resonance container with a group of swing pipes leading to the cylinders, and the resonance containers are joined together by resonance pipes provided with switching valves. In the intake system, the swing pipes coordinated with the one cylinder bank are connected to the resonance container adjacent to the other cylinder bank. The intake system is intended for use in an internal combustion engine with cylinder banks having a V-layout. |
| US07793631B2 |
Fuel ignition system, fuel igniting method, fuel reforming system and fuel reforming method, for internal combustion engine
A fuel ignition system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel ignition system is adapted to allow a photocatalyst to ignite a mixture by using a light energy irradiated from a light generator. The fuel ignition system includes: a combustion chamber; the photocatalyst provided in the combustion chamber; and a light generator for flatly irradiating the light energy to the photocatalyst. |
| US07793630B2 |
Switchable component for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine
A switchable component (1) for a valve train of a combustion engine is provided, such as a roller tappet, with a housing (2), in whose borehole (3) an inner element (4) runs that can move relative to the housing in the axial direction. At least one coupling element (6) is allocated to the inner element (4), wherein this coupling element, in the decoupled case, lies with its outer end (7) directly in front of an annular surface (8) between both components (2, 4) and, in the coupled case, engages in some sections with a driver surface (9) in the borehole (3) of the housing (2), and wherein, between the components (2, 4) there is a lost-motion spring element (10) forcing these components away from each other in the axial direction. As the coupling element (6) there is at least one sickle-shaped ratchet that can pivot outward and that sits at least indirectly in an opening (11) in the outer shell (5) of the inner element (4) and that is connected to the inner element (4) in an articulated way at one end (12). An annular groove is present as a driver surface (9) in the borehole (3) of the housing (2) and the coupling element (6) can pivot outward in the coupling direction via the force of a mechanical spring (13) and can pivot inwardly in the decoupling direction via hydraulic medium guided into the driver surface (9) in front of its outer end (7). |
| US07793627B2 |
Variable valve lift apparatus
A variable valve lift apparatus includes a lift body that contacts a cam and a valve. The lift body has a first hole for receiving hydraulic pressure and a second hole for exhausting the hydraulic pressure. A spring is provided in the lift body. A hydraulic pressure supplying portion supplies the hydraulic pressure to the first hole, and a hydraulic pressure exhausting portion receives the hydraulic pressure from the second hole. |
| US07793620B2 |
Integrated gaseous fuel delivery system
An integrated gaseous fuel delivery system is provided. The system includes a storage tank to hold a gaseous fuel and a pressure regulation system disposed interior the storage tank and configured to regulate a pressure of gaseous fuel delivered from the storage tank. |
| US07793612B2 |
Ring plasma jet method and apparatus for making an optical fiber preform
A method and apparatus for making an optical fiber preform, including injecting a plasma gas source into the first end of a tubular member; generating a ring plasma flame with the plasma gas source flowing through a plasma gas feeder nozzle, the plasma gas feeder nozzle including: an inner tube, an outer tube, wherein the plasma gas source is injected between the inner tube and the outer tube to produce the ring plasma flame, such that at least a portion of the ring plasma flame is directed radially toward the inner surface of the tubular member; traversing the tubular member along the longitudinal axis relative to the plasma flame; depositing at least one soot layer on the interior surface of the tubular member by introducing reagent chemicals into the plasma flame; and fusing all of the soot layers into a glass material on the interior surface of the tubular member. |
| US07793609B2 |
Coating and developing apparatus
Provided is a coating and developing apparatus composed of an assembly of plural unit blocks. A first unit-block stack and a second unit-block stack are arranged at different positions with respect to front-and-rear direction. Unit blocks for development, each of which comprises plural processing units including a developing unit that performs developing process after exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged at the lowermost level. Unit blocks for application, or coating, each of which comprises plural processing units including a coating unit that performs application process before exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged above the unit blocks for development. Unit blocks for application are arranged in both the first and second unit-block stacks. Unit blocks for application which a wafer goes through are determined depending on the layering positional relationship between an antireflective film and a resist film. An exposed wafer goes only through the unit block for development without going through any one of the unit blocks for application. |
| US07793608B1 |
Reserve sheet material roll with low supply indicator
A sheet material supply roll wrapped on a core tube including a reserve segment of sheet material spirally wrapped around the core tube with a supply segment of sheet material spirally wrapped on top of the reserve segment of sheet material. Different methods for placement or attachment of the roll ends are provided including perforated, overlapping, spaced, and integrated flap methods and apparatus. Further, a cross oriented low supply indicator is provided on the supply roll to provide a quick indicator of the end of roll without disrupting the remaining integrity of the supply. |
| US07793605B2 |
Side-by-side hydrocarbon transfer system
The invention relates to a mooring system with a first vessel for containing hydrocarbons having at its bow and/or stern a transverse arm and a fluid transfer mechanism of a duct connected to a tank on the first vessel and a coupling end for connecting to a second vessel. The second vessel is moored alongside the first vessel and is attached via at least one cable, extending from its bow in the length direction of the vessel, to a mooring end of the arm. The mooring end of the arm is situated at or near a longitudinal centerline of the second vessel. The arm, during use, is in a fixed position and a pulling force element is attached to the cable for applying a pulling force on the cable upon relative movement of the second vessel with respect to the arm. The force element allows a predetermined maximum displacement of the second vessel. |
| US07793602B2 |
Stitching method and apparatus employing thread longitudinal movement detection
A method and apparatus for detecting longitudinal thread motion in a quilting/sewing machine for controlling the actuation of a fixedly located stitch head. A preferred detector comprises an optical sensor which directly senses the longitudinal movement of a thread as it moves along a guide path from a supply source toward a stitch head needle. |
| US07793592B2 |
Microelectronic pyrotechnical component
A component of a safety system in motor vehicles comprises a core which has end and side faces and is made of an explosive material. The component further comprises a jacket made of a solid semiconductor material that surrounds the explosive material on the side faces of the core, and an ignition element situated between electric contact surfaces on one of the end faces of the core. The ignition element initiates an ignition of the explosive material when current flows through it. The explosive material consists of a porous fuel and of an oxidizer incorporated into the porous fuel. The porous fuel and the solid semiconductor are made of the same material. |
| US07793591B1 |
Projectile having ignitable payload with delay column igniter
A modified projectile round which is configured to function with a propellant cartridge such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,074. The projectile assembly uses a High-Low gas pressure cartridge to launch the projectile. When the high pressure cartridge is ignited, hot propellant gases rupture a burst cup and shoot propellant gases toward the aft end of the projectile. The hot propellant gases impinge against a delay carrier located in the aft end of the projectile. The contents of the delay carrier are thereby ignited. The delay carrier includes one or more delay columns ultimately terminating in an igniter charge. The delay columns burn as the projectile is in flight. A specified amount of time later, the igniter charge ignites an ignitable payload—such as a marker flare candle. |
| US07793589B2 |
Cloth feed control unit of a cleaning device for printing machine cylinders
Cloth feed control unit of a cleaning device for printing machine cylinders. Provided is a position sensor (30), which generates signals linearly in proportion to the radial variations in the distance of the peripheral surface of a cleaning roller (8, 10) from the position sensor (30). The signals can be used to calculate the length of a cleaning cloth that is on a cloth roller and/or to control the cloth feed. The cloth feed control is carried out preferably in combination with signals of an encoder (44), which detects the rotation-increments of a cloth roller. |
| US07793588B2 |
Spray pattern valve body
A spray head is provided in which fluid flow is redirected by an insert before the fluid exits a spray nozzle. Specifically, the spray head includes an insert located within its valve body that changes the path of fluid moving through the valve body and spray nozzle cavity, resulting in increased mixing of fluid in the spray nozzle cavity and thus, improved lateral spray distribution when the fluid exits the spray nozzle. |
| US07793586B2 |
Removable blower for convection oven
An convection oven with a removable blower wheel system is provided. The oven includes motor with a corresponding motor shaft, a first hub engageable with the motor shaft, a blower wheel, and a second hub. Each of the first hub, blower wheel, and second hub include corresponding radial apertures formed in consistent positions on each component. A plurality of shafts extend through each of the first and second hubs and the blower wheel to cause the three components to rotate together. |
| US07793580B2 |
Transparent ceramic composite
A ceramic composite and method of making are provided. The ceramic composite may be transparent and may serve as transparent armor. The ceramic portion of the composite may be single crystal sapphire. The composite may provide adequate protection from projectiles while exhibiting large surface areas and relatively low areal densities. |
| US07793571B2 |
Manually operated pliers with force monitoring
For signaling the force exerted with a manually operated pair of pliers, one arm of the pliers comprises an inner lever and an outer lever, the inner lever carrying a jaw of the pliers and being biased by means of compression springs, with respect to the outer lever which is gripped by the user's hand. The two levers, have opposed contact elements, which contact one another when the actuation force that acts counter the bias of the compression springs, reaches a predetermined value, to actuate a vibrator housed in the arm of the pliers. |
| US07793569B2 |
Wrench
A wrench comprises a handle connected to a housing. A socket is rotatably supported in the housing for ratcheting movement relative to the housing. A retaining member releasably secures a device in the socket. A retainer is supported on the housing and is movable between a first position and a second position. The retainer, when in the first position, at least partially overlays the socket. A plurality of guides orient a member relative to the socket. The guides are mounted in a rotatable body. A first handle is permanently connected to the housing and a second handle is removably connected to the housing. |
| US07793564B2 |
Parallel mechanism having two rotational and one translational degrees of freedom
A parallel mechanism which has a holding bracket; a movable platform; and three branch joint assemblies of the same structure that are spatially arranged symmetrically about an axis disposed between the holding bracket and the movable platform. Each branch joint assembly has a connecting rod, a linear guide, a driving device and a carriage. The linear guide and the driving device both are secured on the connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is connected with the movable platform through a hinge having three rotational degrees of freedom. The carriage and the linear guide are connected with each other by a sliding joint, and the carriage is connected with the holding bracket by a hinge having one rotational degree of freedom. |
| US07793563B2 |
Ergonomically configured steering handlebar apparatus for a vehicle
A steering handlebar apparatus for a vehicle includes a rod-shaped steering handlebar having a hand grip at a distal end thereof, and also includes both a clutch lever and a hot start lever mounted thereon at a position proximal to the hand grip. A switch holder for holding various switches is mounted to the steering handlebar at a position proximal to the hand grip. The hot start lever is journaled on the lower surface of the switch holder so that the user can operate the hot start lever with the thumb of the hand which is holding the hand grip, and can simultaneously turn off the clutch lever with other fingers of the same hand. The inventive arrangement provides a steering handlebar apparatus for a vehicle which facilitates simultaneous operation of a handle lever and a hot start lever using the hand which is holding a hand grip of a steering handlebar. |
| US07793561B2 |
Threaded nut means for a linear drive device
A threaded nut is provided for a linear drive having a rotatable spindle. The threaded nut is provided with a main nut, wherein the main nut is intended for being arranged with its internal thread on the external thread of the spindle, and is intended to perform a translatory displacing motion during a rotary motion of the spindle. The threaded nut has, furthermore, a safety nut, which is intended not to mesh by its internal thread with the external thread of the spindle during the normal operation of the linear drive and to mesh with the thread of the spindle in case of failure of the main nut. To make possible simple mounting in case of such a threaded nut means and to reduce the risk for incorrect alignment, the main nut (11) has a first part and a second part. The two parts are located at spaced locations from one another and each part being provided with a threaded section (18a, 18b) of the main nut (11), wherein the safety nut (12) is intended to be arranged between the two threaded sections (18a, 18b). |
| US07793556B2 |
Torque sensor for a steering wheel
A torque sensor for a steering wheel with a center axis has an input member, an output member, the input and output members being rotatable about the common center axis, and a spring member that is arranged in a flow of force between the input member and the output member, the spring member is configured as a flat spring member extending in a plane perpendicular to the center axis. |
| US07793550B2 |
Sensor device including two sensors embedded in a mold material
A sensor device. One embodiment provides a first sensor having a first sensor surface. The first sensor surface is exposed to allow sensing of a first variable. A second sensor has a second sensor surface. The second sensor surface is sealed to inhibit sensing of the first variable, and a mold material is embedded the first and second sensors. |
| US07793549B1 |
Pressure gauge locking structure of paintball gun
A pressure gauge locking structure of a paintball gun includes a rear cap and a pressure gauge. The rear cap is screwed to a rear end of a gun body and has a first end and a second end. The first end is formed with a recess for the pressure gauge to be secured therein. The second end is provided with a piston block which has a stepped hole therein. The stepped hole is disposed axially and interconnected with the recess. The pressure gauge has a guiding rod which has a threaded hole for insertion of a screw member. The pressure gauge has an air passage for interconnecting with an air passage of the piston block so that the pressure gauge is unable to be dismantled from its exterior and the user reads the pressure gauge easily. |
| US07793548B2 |
Pressure determination device and method for operating a pressure determination device
The invention relates to a pressure determination device for determining the pressure in a fuel storage arrangement, with a connection element for connecting the pressure determination device to the fuel storage arrangement, a first chamber, a connecting line for communicating connection of the interior of the connection element to the first chamber, a second chamber, a membrane, and a switch, the interior of the connection element, the connecting line and the first chamber being made to accommodate throughflow of a fluid, the first chamber being made separated fluid-tight from the second chamber at least by means of the membrane, and the membrane being made for actuating the switch at least depending on the pressure of the fluid in the first chamber, and the connecting line being provided with a vibration damping element through which a fluid can flow. |
| US07793545B2 |
Audiometer with interchangeable transducer
An audiometer including a processor controlled test signal generator is adjustable so as to produce a uniform output signal when coupled with a transducer load. Each transducer set to be used with the test signal generator includes recordable indicia in written or electronic form, upon which correction values for adjusting the electronic signal output of the audiometer module to produce a desired sound output from the each transducer in the transducer set. When the transducer set is connected to the audiometer module, the correction values are either retrieved automatically from the electronic indicia, which may be an EEPROM, or are input to the processor manually by a user through an interface such as a keyboard. These correction values are then used by the processor to dynamically adjust the output of the audiometer to correct for sound output response deviation of each transducer in the transducer set. |
| US07793535B2 |
Devices and methods to simulate an ocular environment
Methods and devices used to simulate the use of an ophthalmic lens contained in an ocular environment are disclosed herein. |
| US07793534B2 |
Gas pressure sensor
A selective gas sensor is for determining the presence of a test gas, for example, helium includes an evacuated housing, sealed by a selectively gas-permeable membrane. The membrane is part of a sight glass, whereby the glass pane is provided with a hole, sealed by the membrane made from a silicon material. The frame of the membrane wall is connected to the housing by means of a high-vacuum soft-metal seal. The housing can also form one of the electrodes of the gas pressure sensor. |
| US07793532B2 |
Protective sheet loader
A protective sheet loader may comprise a first roller, a second roller, a sheet of material spanning between the first and second rollers, and a loading mechanism. A portion of the sheet of material may be loaded into the crimping chamber of an apparatus for reducing the size of a medical device. A medical device may be placed within the crimping chamber such that the sheet of material forms a barrier between the walls of the crimping chamber and the medical device and prevents cross-contamination between the medical device and the crimping device. After a crimping step is completed, the medical device and the contaminated portion of the sheet of material may be removed from the crimping chamber, and a clean portion of the sheet of material may be loaded into the crimping chamber. |
| US07793530B2 |
Durable enlarged forming tool technology
The invention involves a forming tool for a machine tool. The forming tool can be used, for example, to create various large forms in sheet metal or other workpieces. |
| US07793526B1 |
Vehicle anti-theft device
An anti-theft device comprises a housing for enclosing and locking in place the accelerator pedal of vehicles such as a golf cart. The housing is formed from rigid steel or other suitable materials and includes an open top and a bottom having a T-shaped opening therein to allow the accelerator pedal to be inserted therethrough. An L-shaped retaining rod is placed through an opening in one side of the housing, slid behind the accelerator pedal and positioned through the opening in the opposing side of the housing. A padlock or similar device is placed through an aperture in the retaining rod to secure the housing to the golf cart and prevent depression of the accelerator pedal. The anti-theft device thus prevents the accelerator pedal from being depressed and the vehicle being moved or stolen. |
| US07793524B2 |
Air cushion compressive stocking
A manufacturing process of air cushion sock includes mixing materials into elastic threads and cotton threads as sock material; knitting the sock material to form a sock body having a length about twice that of the air cushion sock; placing a shaped air cushion bag on one half portion of the sock body; folding the other half portion of the sock body onto one half portion of the sock body to cover the air cushion bag; turning over an opening of the sock body a predetermined length to position the air cushion bag; filling air into the air cushion bag; sealing the opening of the sock body by sewing to form the air cushion sock; and turning over the air cushion sock. |
| US07793521B2 |
Method enabling dual pressure control within fiber preform during fiber fabrication
A method of fabricating a photonic crystal or photonic band gap optical fiber comprises providing a preform that includes a plurality of holes in an outer diameter, wherein the holes extend from a first end of a preform to a second end of the preform, and forming at least one radially inwardly-extending slot within the preform such that the slot intersects at least some of the holes, wherein the slot does not intersect at least one hole. The method also includes establishing a first pressure in the holes intersected by the slot by introducing the first pressure to the slot, and establishing a second pressure in the at least one hole not intersected by the slot by introducing the second pressure to an end of the at least one hole not intersected by the slot. The method further includes drawing the preform into a fiber while independently controlling the first and second pressures. |
| US07793517B2 |
Multiple reflux stream hydrocarbon recovery process
An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream. |
| US07793516B2 |
Rotary compressor with fluidic passages in rotor
The problems of prior compressor structures relying upon conventional check valves are obviated by using, instead, flow control passages which operate to control flow while avoiding mechanical moving elements which may become problematical. |
| US07793514B2 |
Method and system for horizontal coil condensate disposal
Condensate formed on a horizontally oriented multi-poise evaporator coil is caught between a top coil slab and a bottom coil slab using a splitter, and is directed to a condensate pan located under the bottom coil slab, using at least one splash guard. |
| US07793511B2 |
Multi type air-conditioner and control method thereof
A multi type air-conditioner is provided. The multi type air conditioner includes an outdoor unit having a plurality of outdoor heat exchangers that heat-exchanges with outdoor air and a compressor that compresses a refrigerant; a plurality of indoor units that performs either cooling or heating; a high pressure pipe connected between a discharge side of the compressor and the plurality of indoor units; a low pressure pipe connected between a suction side of the compressor and the plurality of indoor units; and a refrigerant exhauster provided between the high pressure pipe and the low pressure pipe. The refrigerant exhauster discharges a liquid refrigerant to the low pressure pipe when the liquid refrigerant is accumulated in the high pressure pipe, whereby degradation of cooling capability due to a lack of refrigerant may be prevented by minimizing accumulation of the liquid refrigerant in the high pressure pipe in a cooling operation mode. |
| US07793510B2 |
Two mode thermostat with set-back temperature and humidity set-point feature
Various thermostat embodiment are provided that includes at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space, and at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space. The thermostat further includes a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat's operation. The controller is configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point or when the sensed humidity level is above the humidity set-point. The controller is further configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is below a set-back temperature set-point, or when the sensed humidity is above a set-back humidity set-point. |
| US07793509B2 |
System and method for capacity control in a multiple compressor chiller system
A capacity control algorithm for a multiple compressor liquid chiller system is provided wherein the speed and number of compressors in operation are controlled in order to obtain a leaving liquid temperature setpoint. In response to an increase in the load in the chiller system, the algorithm determines if a compressor should be started and adjusts the operating speed of all operating compressors when an additional compressor is started. In response to a decrease in the load in the chiller system with multiple compressors operating, the algorithm determines if a compressor should be de-energized and adjusts the operating speed of all remaining operating compressors when a compressor is de-energized. |
| US07793507B2 |
Expansion joint for gas turbines
An expansion joint for use between a turbine duct and an exhaust duct. The expansion joint may include a flange attached to the turbine duct and a number of plates attached to the exhaust duct that extend towards the flange. The plates and the flange may include a gap therebetween, the gap being narrower when the turbine duct is hot than when the turbine duct is cold. |
| US07793506B2 |
Emission controlled engine exhaust static test stand
A method and apparatus for reducing the emission of pollutants resulting from static test firings of rocket and jet engines. The apparatus comprises a test stand for capturing the exhaust gas from an engine undergoing a static test. The test stand includes a duct system for guiding the exhaust gas from a duct inlet to a duct outlet through stages that reduce the exhaust gas pollutants. Liquid oxygen (“LOX”) is introduced into the duct system to interact with the engine exhaust gas stream. By introducing LOX, the pollutant CO is converted to non-pollutant carbon dioxide (“CO2”) as the exhaust stream moves through the duct system. |
| US07793504B2 |
Nozzle with an adjustable throat
One embodiment of the present invention includes a nozzle defining a passage to receive and discharge working fluid to produce thrust. The nozzle includes the first wall structure opposite a second wall structure. The first wall structure includes a first convergent flap pivotally connected to a first divergent flap. The second wall structure includes a second convergent flap pivotally connected to a second divergent flap. The first wall structure and the second wall structure define the throat along the passage and are reconfigurable to adjust dimensional area of the throat. One or more control valves modulate flow of the pressurized fluid into the passage through a first opening in the first wall structure and a second opening in the second wall structure approximate to the throat to change effective area of the throat by fluidic control. |
| US07793502B2 |
Apparatus and method for liquefied natural gas carrier propulsion
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier propulsion. In the apparatus and method, the propulsion of an LNG carrier is done by only a single main diesel engine and has construction to promptly cope with emergencies caused by malfunction of the main diesel engine. The propulsion apparatus for an LNG carrier comprising a boil-off gas re-liquefaction apparatus for re-liquefying boil-off gas generated in LNG storage tanks to return re-liquefied boil-off gas back to the LNG storage tank comprises a single main diesel engine, a propulsion shaft separably connected to the main diesel engine, and an electric motor for propulsion separably connected to the propulsion shaft and supplied with power intended for operation of the boil-off gas re-liquefaction apparatus. |
| US07793497B2 |
Actuator with a wound shape-memory element
An actuator comprises an elongated shape-memory element wound around a first element and having one first end connected to the first element and one second end connected to a second element. Heating means are provided for heating the shape-memory element in order to obtain a displacement of one of the ends thereof. The elongated shape-memory element is guided so that it can slide within a closed channel made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, for example defined by a sheath. |
| US07793496B2 |
Infinitely variable transmission hydraulic hybrid for on and off highway vehicles
An infinitely variable transmission for use with an internal combustion engine is provided. Specifically, a prime mover is provided for driving a first hydraulic machine. The first hydraulic machine is arranged to drive a second hydraulic machine via a fluid line that connects the first and second hydraulic machines. The second hydraulic machine is operatively connected with an output element, such as a wheel to drive a vehicle. Each of the first and second hydraulic machines have electronically controllable valves for varying the speed and/or the torque of the first and second hydraulic machines thereby providing an infinitely variable transmission. |
| US07793495B2 |
Engine gas temperature reduction
An exhaust system for a motor vehicle engine includes mixing vent flaps in the exhaust pipe which open responsive to exhaust temperature. The vent flap forms a portion of the exhaust pipe when closed and is pivotally attached along one edge to the exhaust pipe to open inwardly into the exhaust pipe to constrict and accelerate flow in the pipe to allow outside air to be drawn into the exhaust pipe. A magnetic catch latches the vent flap in its closed position and a magnetic release responsive to increased temperature of the exhaust stream releases the vent flap. |
| US07793493B1 |
Turbocharged internal combustion/steam hybrid engine
An engine (FIG. 1-1) comprising of multiple cylinders designated (2-5) combustion cylinders and (2-6) for heat recovery steam cylinders, each cylinder having a piston connected to a common crankshaft. The combustion cylinders operate on a four stroke cycle and the heat recovery steam cylinders operate on a two stroke cycle. The exhaust gas from the combustion cylinders is pressurized by a compressor, driven by a turbine, before entry into the heat recovery steam cylinders. This happens during the intake/power stroke of the heat recovery steam cylinders, as the intake valve closes, after top dead center, heated pressurized water is injected into the cylinder and spontaneously turns to steam driving the receding piston down. This heated exhaust gas and steam is expelled from the heat recovery steam cylinders to drive the turbine which in turn drives two compressors, one to compress the exhaust gas and one to compress the intake air. |
| US07793487B1 |
Pull type gang mower
A gang-type lawn mower system comprises a main frame or frame structure and a plurality of mower decks secured to the main frame. Mounted on the main frame is a power source such as an internal combustion engine. A drive train is interconnected between the power source and each of the mower decks. Thus, each mower deck is driven by the single power source. Further, the frame structure includes a tongue that is adapted to be connected to a tractor. Therefore, in cutting grass, the frame structure is pulled over the ground and each of the mower decks, driven by the power source, cuts grass or other vegetation that passes under the mower decks. Additionally, each mower deck is pivotally connected to the frame structure about at least one pivot axis. |
| US07793486B2 |
Breech loader packaging apparatus and methods
Systems for enclosing at least one target product in a covering material, include an elongate product chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough and an elongate breech loading chute alignably positioned generally above the product chute, the elongate loading chute configured to direct at least one target product into the product chute. |
| US07793485B2 |
Method of discreet merchandising
A case adapted to contain absorbent articles includes an outer surface having a bar code, a product code, and a single brand display having a trademark in logo, wherein the brand display defines a brand display area of less than 4 inches by 6 inches. A method of providing absorbent articles includes providing a case in a branded condition, wherein the case includes a brand display having a brand display area of no more than 4 inches by no more than 6 inches. The method includes converting the case, or instructing a customer to convert the case, from the branded condition to a discreet condition by covering the brand display with a discretion mask or cleanly removing the brand display. |
| US07793484B2 |
Folding unit for pourable food product packaging machines
A folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs having at least one projecting foldable end tab. At least one conveying member cyclically receives a relative pack, by the end corresponding to the tab, and feeds the pack along a forming path crosswise in the axis of the pack. A folding mechanism having an impact surface receives each pack by the end corresponding to the tab, and is carried by the conveying member to move between a first operating position, in which the impact surface forms, with the feed direction of the relative pack, an angle of over 90° and open in the direction of the forming path, to fold the relative tab, upon impact, onto the pack in the traveling direction of the pack, and a second operating position, in which the impact surface is rotated towards and cooperates with the pack. |
| US07793482B2 |
Wall fastener
A wall fastener that attaches a wallboard member to a mounting track in a manner that allows for relative movement between an overhead roof structure to which the mounting track is secured and a non-load bearing wall. The wall fastener holds the wallboard in a fixed position relative to the wall and the overhead structure to maintain a fire barrier. |
| US07793480B2 |
Modified base ply roof membrane set in formulated concrete slurry over lightweight concrete
A slurry coat of formulated concrete is applied to a new or existing top coat of lightweight insulating concrete to repair cracks and holes and attach a base ply roof membrane, thereby eliminating the need for a base sheet and mechanical fasteners when installing a roof membrane system on the lightweight concrete deck of a roof structure. The formulated concrete slurry comprises a mixture of Portland cement (type I), cellulose, poly vinyl alcohol, and water. A base ply (modified or single ply) roof membrane having a sanded or fleece bottom side is set into a ¼ inch thick slurry coat of the formulated concrete to effectively attach the base ply roof membrane to the lightweight concrete deck. |
| US07793477B1 |
Roof deck and method of manufacturing a clip
A roof deck including a structural panel, a sound-absorbing media and a plurality of clips. The structural panel includes a bottom member, an upper member and a receiving cavity therebetween. The clip includes a body having a first side and a second side, a step portion, and a first prong member projecting outward from the first side of the body. At least one clip is inserted into the sound-absorbing media which is placed into the receiving cavity of the structural panel. |
| US07793476B2 |
Non-top supported fence installation bracket
A non-top-supported column attachment bracket assembly is provided, that includes a generally W-shaped bracket to provide a strong connection between non-top supported wood fences and masonry walls such as concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls or cast in place (CIP) walls. The W-shape provides a matrix inside the hardening structure of the wall, while simultaneously engaging the horizontal reinforcing bar of the wall. The W-anchor further includes a cover plate disposed onto the bracket. The W-shaped bracket can be installed to the upper portion of the wall just prior to grouting or during grouting, where the bracket can be pressed onto the horizontal bar before the grout has hardened. After the hardening structure is cured, fencing posts are attached to a column connection portion of the W-anchor that extends from the top of the wall. |
| US07793475B2 |
Molding member having a plurality of flanges for engaging with drywall finishing material
A decorative molding member includes a decorative face adapted to project from the wall when installed thereon, the decorative face including a first side and a second side. A rigid first planar portion adjoins the first side of the decorative face. The rigid first planar portion includes a first perforated planar portion having an array of apertures extending therethrough and projecting outwardly from the decorative face in a first direction. A first support portion that is coplanar with the first perforated planar portion projects behind the decorative face. The first side of the decorative face and the first planar portion together form a rigid T-shape. A second planar portion adjoins the second side of the decorative face and projects outwardly from the decorative face in a second direction that is different from the first direction. |
| US07793468B2 |
Blind with easy access features
A blind adapted for easier access than that of traditional hunting blinds. A dual blind including easier access to the blind. A blind with a flip open entry which may then be closed, leaving only the traditional single person sized opening or openings open. |
| US07793467B1 |
Passively cooled and heated electrical components and power building
A remote and portable, passively cooled and heated building that has a power system and telecommunications and other electrical equipment. |
| US07793466B2 |
Arrangement of a building mobile between two positions, one supported on the ground and the other floating
An arrangement for a building (10), in particular a housing unit (18) mobile between two positions, one supported on the ground and the other floating, including a frame (12), floating elements (14) and guiding elements (16), designed to be installed in a flood-risk area. The guiding elements (16) include at least two masts (32) fixed in the ground and arranged in the median plane of the construction along an axis F substantially parallel to the flow direction of the water and collars (34), designed to slide along the masts (32). |
| US07793460B2 |
Animal trap
An animal trap include, a housing having an open end, a door pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, the door including a slit therein at a lower portion of the door to form an elastic portion below the slit, a close latch provided on the housing near the open end, the close latch cooperable with the elastic portion to retain the door in the closed position by latching the elastic portion between the close latch and the door stop. |
| US07793457B2 |
Fishing lure and hook assembly and method of rigging same
An improved soft flexible fishing lure and a method of rigging same are provided by the present invention. More in particular, the invention provides a soft flexible fishing lure having an elongate lure body having a longitudinal axis, a top longitudinal surface, a bottom longitudinal surface, a left wall surface, a right wall surface, a head region forming the distal end, and a tail region forming the proximal end and a channel positioned along the longitudinal axis of the lure at the bottom longitudinal surface. The fishing lure of the invention is further provided with a tandem hook assembly that resides in part in the channel of the soft flexible lure body. |
| US07793456B1 |
Gun sight reticle having adjustable sighting marks for bullet drop compensation
A gun sight reticle includes a plurality of adjustable sighting marks disposed vertically below the central sighting mark. The shooter can adjust the BDC sighting marks so that they more accurately correspond to the correct aiming position for targets that are disposed at various distances from the shooter. |
| US07793454B1 |
Bipod firearm support
A bipod for supporting the forward portion of a firearm includes a clamp portion, a pivot body and a pair of leg assemblies. The clamp portion is adapted for clamping to a firearm and is pivotably mounted to the pivot body for pivoting about a vertical axis and a longitudinal axis. The pivot body includes a pair of leg mounting surfaces. A pair of leg assemblies are pivotably mounted to the mounting surfaces of the pivot block so that each leg assembly may be pivoted about an axis that is generally normal to the mounting surface and such that each leg assembly can be adjustably positioned in one of at least two positions. |
| US07793452B1 |
Modular fore-end rail assembly with locking mechanism
A modular fore-end rail assembly for a firearm is disclosed. The assembly includes an upper handguard having forward and rearward ends. A dovetail rail extends between the forward and rearward ends. Opposing sidewalls extend outwardly and downwardly from the dovetail rail, respectively. The sidewalls terminate in mounting channels. The rearward end includes a first clamping member. A clamp is removably secured to the rearward end and cooperates with the first clamping member to engage a barrel nut of a firearm. The clamp has an exterior surface including a slidable locking pin movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A lower handguard includes sidewalls that extend outwardly and upwardly. The sidewalls terminate in mating formations that are configured to be slidably received in the mounting channels. A lock aperture is provided at a rearward end of the lower handguard. The locking pin may be slidably engaged with the lock aperture to selectively retain the lower handguard to the upper handguard. |
| US07793451B2 |
Collapsible self-expanding frames and displays and methods for using
Display frames and methods. The display frame includes an outer frame having a substantially hollow interior. The outer frame includes a front face having an opening, a back panel spaced from the front face, and side members hingedly connecting the front face and to the back panel. An embodiment includes at least one elastic member disposed inside the hollow interior and flexibly connected to the outer frame. An embodiment includes an inner frame having a second opening, where the inner frame is disposed between and spaced from the front face and the back panel. The method includes providing a collapsible, self-expanding display frame. An embodiment includes selecting a design for the outer frame and printing the design onto the outer frame. An embodiment includes selecting a design, providing a frame cover, printing the design onto the frame cover, and after the printing, applying the frame cover to the display frame. |
| US07793448B1 |
Display module and illumination sign device using the same
A display module includes a first light guide plate, a first light shielding sheet disposed above the first light guide plate, a first light source positioned adjacent to the first light guide plate, a second light shielding sheet disposed under the first light guide plate, a second light guide plate disposed under the second light shielding sheet, and a second light source positioned adjacent to the second light guide plate. The first and second light sources emit different color light. The first light shielding sheet defines a first light transmitting pattern. The second light shielding sheet defines a second light transmitting pattern according to the first light transmitting pattern. An area of the second light transmitting pattern is less than that of the first light transmitting pattern. |
| US07793447B2 |
Signboard with an LED lamp
A signboard integral with an LED lamp includes a lamp post and a display device mounted in the lamp post. The display device includes a box, a transparent plate mounted on an opened end of the box, a panel mounted on a side of the transparent plate and a luminous member consisting a plurality of LEDs hermetically received in the box and located at another side of the transparent plate. The panel has a plurality of holes representing marks to be shown by the signboard. Light generated by the luminous member radiates through the transparent plate and the holes of the panel to display the marks represented by the holes. The marks could be a company logo, brand, trademark or other information. |
| US07793446B2 |
Advertising/promotional display system and mailer
By providing a housing and a cooperating slider member cooperatively associated with each other, with the slider member being removable from the housing for simultaneously activating the housing to automatically form a three-dimensional object, a unique, hands-on, printed, visually exciting and interest generating advertising/promotional product is attained which can be used for a wide variety of promotions, including use as a mailer. The system of the present invention provides an exciting and surprising result which is not anticipated by the user, and can be produced in a wide variety of alternate forms and/or configurations. |
| US07793444B2 |
Wear edge assembly
A wear assembly for protecting a structure, such as an excavating bucket, from wear includes a lock for securing the wear member in place. The lock includes a take-up element for tightening the fit of the wear member, a latch to retain the lock in the assembly during use, and an arrangement for resisting loosening of the lock. With the assembly, the lock is able to effectively tighten the fit of the wear member on the lip, resist loosening of the fit, and facilitate easy removal of the lock without a concomitant increased risk of lock ejection. |
| US07793440B1 |
Method and apparatus for attaching a moldboard to a moldboard frame
A snowplow assembly may include a moldboard frame and a moldboard. The moldboard frame may include an angle member operatively connected to a top member, wherein a space is defined between the angle member and the top member. The moldboard frame may also include a first stop member. The moldboard may include a first recess near a top portion of the moldboard. The top portion of the moldboard is positioned within the space between the angle member and the top member. The first stop member is positioned in the first recess. |
| US07793438B1 |
Rear entry footwear
An article of footwear includes a sole having a shank area located between a forefoot portion and a rear foot portion of the sole, an upper including an inner counter and an outer counter, and a pivot mechanism attaching the outer counter to the sole so as to permit the outer counter to pivot relative to the inner counter at a pivot point located at the shank area of the sole. The outer counter pivots between an open position away from the inner counter and a closed position in supporting engagement with the inner counter. The pivot mechanism may be a mechanical, composite, or living hinge. The article of footwear may further include a locking mechanism for selectively securing the outer counter in the closed position in supporting engagement with the inner counter. |
| US07793437B2 |
Shoe sole
Shoe sole that promotes a natural walking gait by promoting the natural step motion of a barefoot person walking in sand. The shoe sole has is a single-shot injection molded sole that has a continuously, irregularly curved lower surface and a multi-contoured upper surface. The lower surface has a radius of curvature in the heel area that is smaller than the radius of curvature in the toe area. The upper surface has an arch support, a depression for cradling the ball of the foot, and flex zones that promote flexing of the shoe sole in the longitudinal and transverse direction. |
| US07793430B2 |
Removable rounded midsole structures and chambers with computer processor-controlled variable pressure
This invention relates generally to footwear such as a shoe, including an athletic shoe, with a shoe sole, including at least one removable midsole section formed by a midsole portion, wherein the removable midsole section is non-orthotic. The removable midsole section is inserted within the shoe upper, the sides of which hold it in position. The shoe sole includes a concavely rounded side or underneath portion, which may be formed in part by the removable midsole section. The removable midsole section may extend the length of the shoe sole or may form only a part of the shoe sole and can incorporate cushioning or structural compartments or components. The removable midsole section provides the capability to permit replacement of midsole material which has degraded or has worn out in order to maintain optimal characteristics of the shoe sole. The shoe sole can, in another embodiment, include at least one compartment containing a fluid, a flow regulator, a pressure sensor to monitor the compartment pressure, and a control system such as a computer processor capable of automatically adjusting the pressure in the compartment(s) in response to the impact of the shoe sole with the ground surface. |
| US07793429B2 |
Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
A shoe including an insertable midsole orthotic located within a structure formed by a combination of a bottom sole and a portion of a shoe upper attached to the bottom sole. Both the inner and outer surfaces of the sole include rounded portions which together define a rounded portion of the shoe sole located between the rounded surfaces, and at least a rounded part of each rounded portion of the sole has a uniform thickness extending at least from a lowest point of the sole to at least a sidemost extent of the side of the sole, all as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. The shoe sole can also include at least one compartment containing a liquid, gas, or gel, or include at least two computer controlled compartments and a duct providing fluid communication between them. |
| US07793428B2 |
Footwear with removable midsole having projections
An article of footwear includes an upper and an upper plate secured to the upper and having a plurality of apertures formed therein. A removable midsole has a plurality of projections extending from a lower surface thereof, with each projection extending through one of the apertures of the upper plate. |
| US07793427B2 |
Platform footwear construction and related method
A footwear construction including an upper secured to a platform defining an aperture, a cushion at least partially in the aperture, a California construction joined with the upper that wraps the platform, and an outsole. The California construction can terminate short of the heel, and the upper can join the platform via another construction, for example, by adhering the upper to the platform, in the heel. The cushion insert can define one or more recesses, such as concave contours in which the toe(s) of a wearer can rest to reduce the profile of the toe(s) above the cushion insert. A method for making the footwear is provided, including: joining an upper with a platform defining an aperture on a last; placing a cushioned insert within the aperture; wrapping a California flange around a portion of the platform; and joining an outsole with the platform, the cushioned insert and/or the upper. |
| US07793421B2 |
Archway measuring device
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for drawing an instrument across a curve in a surface for constructing an arch. The apparatus comprises a base member having a pivot and a plurality of first indicators and a slidable member having a plurality of second indicators. The slidable member is slidably positionable on the base member. The method comprises pivotably securing the base member to a surface, selecting one of the plurality of first indicators corresponding to the chord height and selecting one of the plurality of second indicators representing the chord height and length of the arch to be scribed. The method further comprises aligning the first and second selected indicators, and rotating the apparatus about the pivot hole so as to draw across an instrument located at a distal end of the slidable member across an arc so as to define the arch. |
| US07793420B2 |
Drive mechanism and power tool
A drive mechanism for a power tool. The power tool includes a motor having a drive shaft and an output member adapted to support a tool element. The drive mechanism includes a drive assembly engaged with and driven by the drive shaft and a drive arm drivingly connected between the drive assembly and the output member to transmit driving force from the drive assembly to the output member. The drive arm is configured to absorb an impact. |
| US07793417B2 |
Process for producing electromagnetic fuel injection valve
A process for producing an electromagnetic fuel injection valve is provided, the electromagnetic fuel injection valve having a structure in which a valve assembly formed by coaxially joining a movable core and a valve body is spring-biased toward the side on which the valve assembly is seated on a valve seat while restricting an end thereof that is in proximity to a fixed core, and in the process a first distance (L1) between the front end of the fixed core (22) and the front end of a cylindrical magnetic body (9) is measured, a stopper (28) and the movable core (18) are formed so that a second distance (L2) between an annular shoulder portion (10c) of a valve seat member (10) and the rear end of the stopper (28) projecting by a predetermined amount from the rear end of the movable core (18) in a state in which the valve seat member (10) and the valve assembly (17) are held coaxially is smaller than the first distance (L1) by a desired value, and the cylindrical magnetic body (9) and the valve seat member (10) are butt-welded in a state in which a tubular press-fit portion (10a) is press-fitted into a front portion of the cylindrical magnetic body (9) until the annular shoulder portion (10c) abuts against the front end of the cylindrical magnetic body (9). This enables the stroke of the valve body to be adjusted easily while reducing the cost, and the valve seat member and the cylindrical magnetic body to be joined while enhancing the coaxial precision. |
| US07793413B2 |
Method of mounting electronic components
An electronic component mounting method for mounting a electronic component on a board, in which an Au bump provided at an electronic component is joined to a joining terminal formed on a board by using solder made of Sn or solder containing Sn and the electronic component is adhered to the board by means of thermosetting resin thereby to mount the electronic component on the board. The applied thermosetting resin is flown toward the outside by the lower surface of the electronic component, then a part of the solder particles contained within the thermosetting resin are made in contact with the side surfaces of the Au bumps which are heated to the temperature higher than the melting point of the solder and also another part of the solder particles are molten in a state of being sandwiched between the Au bumps and the electrodes. Thus, the diffusion of Sn into the Au bumps from the outside is promoted and so the density of Sn within the Au bumps can be increased. Further, the diffusion of Sn into the Au bump from a solder joining portion can be suppressed and so the generation of Kirkendall voids can be suppressed. |
| US07793411B2 |
Method for manufacturing electronic substrate
A method for manufacturing an electronic substrate including an electronic component bonded with adhesive to a base part, comprises (a) applying a droplet containing the adhesive to an area on the base part, the area facing to the electronic component, within a range substantially equal to a size of the electronic component by using a droplet ejection head moving in relatively to the base part, and (b) mounting the electronic component on the adhesive applied to the base part. |
| US07793407B2 |
Apparatus for enclosing exposure wire parts of spring assembly for bed mattress
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for enclosing the exposure wire parts of a spring assembly for a bed mattress which can automate the work process according to the enclosure of the exposure wire parts of a spring assembly, thereby maximizing convenience of the enclosing process and work productivity. According to the inventive apparatus for enclosing exposure wire parts 115a of coil springs 115 in a spring assembly 100 for a bed mattress, the enclosing work of the exposure wire parts protrudingly formed in the spring assembly is performed automatically so that various work loads and the number of work processes according to the enclosing work can be minimized to thereby maximize the work productivity as well as the relevant cost according to the enclosing work is reduced, thereby saving the production cost of the mattress and improving the product competitiveness of the mattress. |
| US07793404B2 |
Resonant-oscillating-device fabrication method
A resonant-oscillating-device fabrication method for integrally forming a structure comprising a support, a beam vibratably extending from the support, and an oscillating element which is supported by the beam so as to oscillate in resonance with the vibration of the beam at a desired resonant frequency, by using a substrate. The resonant-oscillating-device fabrication method having a thickness measurement step of measuring the thickness of the substrate, an etching condition determination step of determining conditions of etching a portion forming the beam in the substrate to provide the desired resonant frequency, in accordance with the thickness of the substrate measured in the thickness measurement step, and an etching step of etching the substrate in accordance with the etching conditions. |
| US07793401B2 |
Sheeting goods installation support
The present invention relates to a sheeting goods installation support. The present invention includes a system and techniques using a sheeting goods installation support for both overhead ceiling and vertical wall applications. A solo worker can install sheeting goods using the inventive sheeting goods installation support system. The inventive sheeting goods installation support can be operated by attaching an end articulation bracket to a support member with the end articulation bracket connected to a first elongated beam and placing sheeting goods upon the first elongated beam. Next, a worker can position the sheeting goods proximate to the end articulation bracket and temporarily secure the sheeting goods with a second elongated beam. Next, a worker can adjust the sheeting goods in a final position proximate to the support member, secure the sheeting goods to the support member, and remove the sheeting goods installation support from the support member. |
| US07793400B2 |
Method for making composite material components
A system and method for making and using composite material components is disclosed. Composite material components are preferably constructed in patterns where every part needed for a given filler is included in a single series pattern. Using these series patterns, the material can be cut, folded and the parts created in a manner such that the individual parts forming a single filler are releasably attached to one another, thus resulting in effective and efficient organization of these parts. The filler panels can then be arranged into a folding stack of offset edges. Two shapes are preferably used with subtle differences between each at the fold area. Different patterns can be used to have the first two panels in the series positioned at 0 degrees, followed by two panels positioned at 45 degrees, and then alternating the angle positions throughout the pattern. The pattern preferably incorporates triangular portions or tabs between each set of panels in the series to help in establishing a fold line. These tabs forming part of the composite material component system are then discarded after the filler panels are created. |
| US07793399B2 |
Method for removing a crack in an electromechanical rotor
In a method for removing a crack in an electromechanical rotor, a through-hole penetrating from a side of one of slots adjacent to each other via a rotor core portion to a side of the other slot is formed to include a crack in the rotor core portion occurring to a contact surface with a wedge, in an electromechanical rotor including a plurality of slots formed in an axial direction in an outer peripheral surface of the rotor core portion, a coil housed in the slot, a wedge inserted in an upper portion of the slot to be arranged in the axial direction and holding the coil in the slot, and the crack is removed. |
| US07793393B2 |
Urn with interchangeable decorative panel, matted graphics, and method for making same
An urn with a removable and replaceable panel which allows for placement of an image, such as by laser engraving, to be done on the removable panel. The panel may be custom engraved and added to a partially complete urn. An urn wherein the removable and replaceable portion is a photograph with a clear front sheet, such as acrylic or glass. An urn wherein the photograph is matted. A method for creating such a matte. |
| US07793392B2 |
Compound buckle
A compound buckle comprises a socket member and at least two plug members, wherein the socket comprises individual cavities for each plug member, and a projection comprising a slot, and wherein each plug member comprises a base, a projection comprising a slot, and at least one arm portion also projecting from said base, wherein each plug member may be independently inserted/removed from its cavity without interfering in the operation of any other plug member and without degrading the performance of any belt, strap or other assembly connected by said other plug member. |
| US07793391B2 |
Flangeless reclosable fastener
The present invention includes a baby bottle liner constructed and arranged to fit into a cavity of a baby bottle. The baby bottle liner includes a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener. The continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener has a first continuous elongated profile strip and a second continuous elongated profile strip. The first continuous elongated profile strip and the second continuous elongated profile strip are dimensioned to provide an airtight and/or watertight seal upon interconnection thereof. The baby bottle liner further comprises an airtight and watertight side seal at each end of the reclosable fastener. Each side seal connects an end of the reclosable fastener to an inside surface of a front wall and an inside surface of a back wall of the liner. The invention also provides a baby bottle with a baby bottle liner and a kit for infant nursing that has a plurality of baby bottle liners. The baby bottle liner can be constructed from a microwavable plastic and also visually indicate that a predetermined safe temperature range has been reached. |
| US07793388B2 |
Handle assembly for a domestic appliance
A handle assembly for mounting to a door of an appliance includes a main body member having first and second end portions separated by an intermediate portion. Each of the first and second end portions includes a cavity adapted to receive an end insert formed of soft material. Each of the end inserts includes an attaching member. The handle is mounted to a front face of the door through interengagment of the attachment members and base members provided on the door without scratching the surface of the door. |
| US07793387B2 |
Door check
A door check including an arm with an arm mount is provided for mounting the arm to a vehicle door or frame. The arm includes a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface. The door check further includes an arm guide including a housing, including a guide mount for mounting the housing to the vehicle door or frame, and a guideway for receiving the arm. The arm guide also includes two generally facing arm engaging structures mounted within the housing for receiving the arm therebetween. Each arm engaging structure faces its respective arm surface. The arm guide includes a spring between the housing and the second arm engaging structure. The spring biases that structure towards the first arm engaging structure to urge these structures into contact with the respective arm surfaces restricting longitudinal movement of the arm through the guideway. |
| US07793384B1 |
Retractable central vacuum hose
A retractable hose assembly for a central vacuum system includes a PVC conduit mounted behind a wall within at least one room on each floor of a building. The conduit includes an elbow at a lower end that extends to the outlet of a wall-mounted vacuum receptacle. Received within the conduit is an elongated, length-extendable hose formed of helical spring wire encompassed by a flexible layer. The helical wire allows the hose to be manually extended to approximately six times its collapsed length. When the hose is released, it retracts completely within the conduit with its inlet concealed behind the wall-mounted receptacle. By simply pulling the hose from the conduit, a user can extend it significantly to access one or more rooms on a given level. |
| US07793382B2 |
Wiper arm and cover for a wiper arm
The invention provides for a wiper arm for a windshield wiper system comprising a fixing element (12) for connection to a drive shaft, whereby a tiltably-fixed cover unit (24) is provided for at least partially releasing the fixing element (12). It is proposed that the cover unit (24) can be engaged with the fixing element (12) in the tilted position. A cover unit for a wiper arm is also proposed. |
| US07793381B2 |
Blade-mountable windshield wiper spray device
A blade-mountable windshield wiper spray device including a body formed by a first upper member, arranged in use distant from the blade and a second lower member, arranged in use in contact with the support part of the blade; the first member integrally in one piece carries a plurality of fluid-dynamic sprayers and snapping fastening means to the blade so that the second member is sandwiched in use between the first member and the blade, closing respective internal cup-shaped cavities open towards the second member of the first member; the first and the second members reciprocally and fluid-tightly couple so that the second member defines along with the internal cavities of the first member respective feeding chambers of the sprayers. |
| US07793379B2 |
Continuous feed inter-dental brush assembly and device
An inter-dental brush device has a handle with a cartridge removably housed therein. The cartridge has a plurality of chambers each appointed for housing at least one replaceable inter-dental brush. The cartridge is appointed to be rotated to align and select one of the chambers for feed out of the selected inter-dental brush. A base portion is removably attached to the handle, which includes rotation engagement means adapted to interact with the cartridge for rotational engagement, alignment and selection of the chamber and visa vie the inter-dental brush housed therein. An oral portion is removably attached to the other end of the handle, and includes an aperture for feeding out the selected inter-dental brush. A delivery means in association with the handle and the oral portion is provided and is adapted to feed out the selected inter-dental brush. Used, worn out brush is removed or cut off by an optional slidable cutter provided on the brush device. |
| US07793378B1 |
Excess grout and cement remover, packer, profiler and spacer
A combination tool having utility in tile installation procedures includes a wide blade adapted to remove excess grout and caulk in relatively large quantities, a four-armed cement remover and grout joint spacer, a spherical grout packer and a “V”-shaped grout and caulk profiler adapted to be secured to a hollow handle in varying combinations. In a first embodiment, the wide blade is attached to a first end of the handle and the four-armed cement remover-grout joint spacer and the spherical packer are releasably secured to a second end of the handle. A second embodiment includes the blade at the first end and the “V”-shaped profiler at the second end in lieu of the cement remover and packer. The hollow handle provides a storage compartment for additional packers. The tool may be made of material that floats in water. The handle may also have a non-hollow web construction. |
| US07793375B2 |
Powered toothbrush with curved neck and flexible shaft
A powered toothbrush having a curved neck and a flexible shaft within said neck is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a powered toothbrush having a curved neck of a constant radius, a flexible shaft and a clutch mechanism to disengage the flexible shaft from a drive mechanism upon overload is provided. |
| US07793373B2 |
Method of repetitively conditioning cleaning cloths with cleaning solution
Window cleaning cloths are repetitively conditioned for cleaning windows in a commercial car wash by processing the cloths in a washer-extractor having in sequence a wash cycle, a first rinse and spin cycle and a final rinse and spin cycle. A detergent and degreaser are added to the water used in the wash cycle. A window cleaning solution is added to the rinse water used in the final rinse and spin cycle to saturate the cloths with a diluted mixture of water and window cleaning solution. A substantial portion of the diluted mixture of final rinse water and window cleaning solution is removed during the final rinse and spin cycle to provide a window cleaning cloth uniformly dampened with window cleaning solution for cleaning windows without necessity of spray application of cleaning solution. The cloths are reprocessed and used in the same manner. |
| US07793372B2 |
Latex foam bedding products including phase change microcapsules
A bedding product including an upper surface defining a sleeping position, a plurality of capsules, each including a phase change material, a first layer including latex foam and the plurality of capsules distributed throughout the latex foam, at least one second layer adjacent below the first layer, and wherein the first layer is less than about 2 inches below the upper surface. |
| US07793371B1 |
Apparatus and method for question mark-shaped body pillow and support system
This invention relates generally to a body pillow and support system. Due to the need for additional support, pregnant women often encounter difficulty sleeping. The support pregnant women typically need is not just for their head, but for their abdomen, back and/or legs. Many pregnant women find themselves hot or cold as well as hot on one part of their body and cold on a different part of their body. All of these conditions are usually met by the pregnant woman finding several pillows and stuffing those same pillows all around her when she is trying to get some rest. This invention also is useful for a diverse group of people who need soft support to rest or recuperate and is not limited to women who are pregnant. |
| US07793363B1 |
Flushing mechanism for toilet
An apparatus and method to assure that the lid of a toilet is always in the down position when the toilet is flushed. This will prevent the toilet lid being left in an open position. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for connecting the toilet lid to the flushing mechanism of a toilet so that the toilet lid must be in the down position for the toilet to be flushed. |
| US07793362B1 |
Toilet seat lift system
A toilet seat lift system for a toilet having a toilet bowl is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the toilet seat lift system includes a seat connecting shaft adapted for attachment to the toilet bowl, a toilet seat carried by the seat connecting shaft, a cover connecting rod extending through the seat connecting shaft, a toilet cover carried by the cover connecting rod, a seat handle carried by the seat connecting shaft and a cover handle carried by the cover connecting rod. |
| US07793361B2 |
Article of apparel incorporating a separable electronic device
An article of apparel is disclosed that includes an electronic device. The apparel is at least partially formed from a material element that defines an aperture. The electronic device is locatable within the aperture and removably-securable to the material element. The electronic device may be a timing device, such as a watch, or a global positioning system unit. The apparel may be a wristband formed from a textile material or any of a variety of other types of apparel. |
| US07793360B2 |
High-visibility turnout coat assemblage
A high-visibility covering is removably attached to a firefighter turnout coat at the shoulders and front closure by easily separable fasteners so that the assemblage can be donned as a single coat and the high-visibility covering can be easily ripped off. In one embodiment, the covering is a single panel that wraps around the coat, extending from the shoulders to the waist or hips. In another embodiment, the covering is composed of three panels, two front panels and a back panel. Front shoulder straps on the covering are removably attached to the front of the turnout coat at the shoulders. Back shoulder straps on the panel overlap and are removably attached to the corresponding front shoulder straps. In the three panel embodiment, the back panel has a pair of lappets that overlap and are removably attached to the corresponding front panel. |
| US07797757B2 |
Cantilevers with integrated actuators for probe microscopy
An atomic force microscopy sensor includes a substrate, a cantilever beam and an electrostatic actuator. The cantilever beam has a proximal end and an opposite distal end. The proximal end is in a fixed relationship with the substrate and the cantilever beam is configured so that the distal end is in a moveable relationship with respect to the substrate. The electrostatic actuator includes a first electrode that is coupled to the cantilever beam adjacent to the proximal end and a spaced apart second electrode that is in a fixed relationship with the substrate. When an electrical potential is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode is drawn to the second electrode, thereby causing the distal end of the cantilever beam to move. |
| US07797753B2 |
Device driver setting profile lock-down
A method for providing a menu for a device, by providing a GUI for an administrator to select and lock-down device driver setting profiles, and providing a GUI for displaying to a user the locked-down profiles and permitting the user to select only from the listed profiles. Allowing a user to choose only from the pre-defined profiles makes for convenience and avoids waste from setting errors by novice users. The computer system detects the current system and job information (time, date, printer status, application, user information, etc.) using WMI and SNMP, applies mapping rules defined by an administrator, and displays only those profiles that are applicable to the current system and job status. Methods also include defining new profiles; alerting the user when no profiles are available, with mapping explanation and suggestion; profile detail display; and printer support. |
| US07797752B1 |
Method and apparatus to secure a computing environment
A method and apparatus for a surround security system is provided. The surround security system is embodied on a computer readable medium and includes a packet enforcement engine to screen packets to and from the network and a TCP/IP stack, an application enforcement engine to screen packets to and from the TCP/IP stack and applications on the computer system, a file monitor to verify integrity of files on the computer system and a vulnerability scanner to ensure that the computer system complies with a set level of security. The surround security system provides security which protects accesses through the TCP/IP stack for applications, and an operating system of the computer system. |
| US07797750B2 |
Data security system
A data security system controls access to and interfaces with a computer system by requiring user verification through fingerprint sensing. The data security system includes a security module having a fingerprint sensor, image data, and an application interface that is generated by the security module and communicative with the computer system. The image data is associated with a fingerprint of a user through the use of the security module. |
| US07797747B1 |
Detection of malicious code in non-paged pool unused pages
Subsets of non-paged pool unused pages entries are flushed from a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). An attempt to access malicious code within a not present page within the non-paged pool unused pages is made, e.g., by malicious code. The attempt to access the page generates a page fault, which is detected. The page is scanned for malicious code and a determination is made that the page contains malicious code. Protective action is taken to protect a host computer system from the malicious code. Accordingly, malicious code in a page marked not present, i.e., in a page that ordinarily would not be scanned for malicious code, is detected and defeated. |
| US07797745B2 |
MAC security entity for link security entity and transmitting and receiving method therefor
An apparatus and method for providing a security function of frames transmitted between optical network terminals (OLTs) and optical network units (ONUs) in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) providing media access control (MAC) services are provided. The apparatus includes: a frame classifier distinguishing the type of a frame, and based on the logical link identifier (LLID) of the distinguished frame, determining whether or not the frame is a security link to which a security function is to be applied; a bypass unit delaying a no-security-function frame so that a processing time for converting the security-function-applied frame classified in the frame classifier into an encrypted frame is the same as a time for processing the no-security-function frame; and a parameter generation unit transmitting in relation to each of the LLIDs, a parameter set value including a security-function-application setting signal used in the encryption, decryption and authentication of the frame, a frame decryption signal, an encryption mode selection signal, and an authentication intensity adjustment signal. |
| US07797739B2 |
Automated verification of correctness of aspects of an information technology system
A method for verifying correctness of an Information Technology (IT) structure instance D of an IT structure R, a method for detecting an unauthorized change in an operating instance X of an IT structure R, a method for verifying conformance of an IT structure to an IT delivery environment, associated computer program products, and associated processes for integrating computing infrastructure. The method for verifying correctness of an IT structure instance D determines whether a reverse specification RD for D differs from R. The method for detecting an unauthorized change in an operating instance X of an IT structure R determines whether authorized changes in R have occurred. The method for verifying conformance of an IT structure to an IT delivery environment verifies compliance of the IT structure relating to: product standard compliance, compliance of software elements of the IT structure primitive composition, software application type compliance, and network traffic compliance. |
| US07797738B1 |
System and method for avoiding and mitigating a DDoS attack
Described is a system and method for receiving a data packet including a destination address and a source address, the data packet corresponding to a port number, assigning an address risk value for the data packet based on the source address and a port risk value for the data packet based on the port number. The data packet is categorized into a community based on the source address, wherein the community is predefined by a user corresponding to the destination address, the community includes a utility value. The address risk value and the port risk value are compared to the utility value to yield a benefit coefficient and the data packet is treated based on the benefit coefficient. |
| US07797734B2 |
Systems and methods for user interface control
Enabling and disabling login access to a web-based application by examining automatic number identification (ANI) information from a received telephone call, associating the ANI information with a user account, determining a current state of login access to a web-based application for the user account, the state of login access being one of enabled and disabled, and notifying the web-based application to change the state of login access to the other of enabled and disabled depending on the then-current state of login access. The methodology may further include examining dialed number identification service (DNIS) information of the received call to determine which of the enabling or disabling actions to take, and/or to determine which of a plurality of accounts is to be effected by the desired change in state of login access. |
| US07797733B1 |
Monitoring and controlling services
A service manager (101) monitors and controls services (111), thereby providing protection against associated security vulnerabilities. The service manager (101) intercepts calls (105) to service related operations made by acting applications (103) and determines which acting application (103) made a specific intercepted call (105) to which target service (111). The service manager (101) then determines and executes an appropriate action based on a system policy (113). The appropriate action can comprise blocking the call (105), thereby preventing execution of service (111) based operations that conflict with the system policy (113). |
| US07797730B2 |
Downline transcription system using automatic tracking and revenue collection
A transcription network having linked computer terminals for a court reporter and for examining, defending, and associate attorneys is disclosed. Real-time transcription text is communicated from the reporter's terminal through the network. Secure message interchange between the examining attorneys and between defending attorneys is provided along independent communication links and using encryption. Off-site terminals for clients, experts, or other associate attorneys may be linked to the network. A synchronization scheme provides for automatic play-back of audio and video recordings corresponding to the transcribed text. One embodiment of the system provides for billing, monitoring, collection and authorization of transcription events. |
| US07797726B2 |
Method and system for implementing privacy policy enforcement with a privacy proxy
A method is presented for enforcing a privacy policy concerning management of personally identifiable information in a centralized manner through a privacy proxy agent. A proxy intercepts a message from a first system to a second system, e.g., from a server to a client, and determines whether the message is associated with an operation on personally identifiable information; if not, then the proxy sends the message to the second system, but if so, then the proxy determines whether the operation on the personally identifiable information is compliant with a privacy policy and with user preference information with respect to the privacy policy for a user who is associated the personally identifiable information. If the message is compliant with the privacy policy and user preference data, then the proxy sends the first message to the second system; otherwise, an error indication is returned to the first system. |
| US07797725B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting privacy
Techniques for providing privacy protection are provided. A query is received. Privacy policy information, extracted knowledge and optional information about available public information are determined. Information about the knowledge extraction transformations applied to create the extracted knowledge and the source data is determined. Privacy protecting transformations are determined and applied to transform the extracted knowledge based on the selected privacy policy, optional information about available public information, the characteristics of the applied knowledge extractions transformations, the source data and optional previous user queries. |
| US07797724B2 |
Methods and apparatus for secure online access on a client device
A method of securely accessing at a client device content from a server without using the non-volatile memory of the client device is disclosed. The bypassing of non-volatile memory lessens the security risk of unauthorized viewing of the server originated content. An transport mechanism is initiated on a client device and creates a document container. Downloaded documents from a server are mapped into the document container and saved within the document container in volatile memory. Substitute menus are generated within the container to replace application menus. User documents are saved directly to the originating server via the substitute menus. The downloaded copies in volatile memory automatically delete when the document container is destroyed thereby reducing security concerns of unauthorized viewing of the content at the client device. |
| US07797723B2 |
Packet scheduling for video transmission with sender queue control
A transmission systems suitable for video. |
| US07797721B2 |
Multilevel bandwidth check
A subscription system for providing content by subscription using an Internet connection is disclosed. The subscription system includes a content object store and an interface. The content object store stores a plurality of content objects. The interface is configured to receive a request to initiate a subscription with a first address for a particular account using the Internet. The subscription allows use of the plurality of content objects by the particular account without individually charging for the plurality of content objects. It is verified that a first connection speed is greater than a first threshold value before allowing the subscription, where the first connection speed is over the Internet with the first address. A request to access the subscription of the particular account is received from a second address with the Internet. It is verified that a second connection speed is greater than a second threshold value. The second connection speed is over the Internet with the second address. The second threshold value is associated with at least one of a product or a level of service for the subscription. |
| US07797707B2 |
System and method for attributing to a corresponding virtual machine CPU usage of a domain in which a shared resource's device driver resides
According to at least one embodiment, a method comprises observing communication from a virtual machine (VM) to a domain in which a device driver for a shared resource resides. The method further comprises determining, based on the observed communication, CPU utilization of the domain that is attributable to the VM. According to at least one embodiment, a system comprises a Central Processing Unit (CPU), Virtual Machines (VMs), and a domain in which a device driver for a shared resource resides, wherein the domain is operable to receive requests from the VMs for access to the shared resource. The system further comprises a CPU utilization monitor operable to determine an amount of CPU utilization of the domain in processing the received requests that is attributable to each of the VMs. |
| US07797706B2 |
Method and apparatus for thread-safe handlers for checkpoints and restarts
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for executing a handler in a multi-threaded process handling a number of threads in a manner that avoids deadlocks. A value equal to the number of threads executing in the data processing system is set. The value is decremented each time a lock count for a thread within the number of threads is zero. A thread within the number of threads is suspended if the thread requests a lock and has a lock count of zero. A procedure, such as a handler, is executed in response to all of the threads within the number of threads having no locks. |
| US07797705B2 |
System for assigning tasks according to the magnitude of the load of information processing requested
The objective is to facilitate leasing of excess computing resources of a processor when computing resources of other processors are deficient, thereby making distributed computing more efficient.A computing resource of a processor is clustered into sub processors, and the operating status of each of the sub processors is monitored by a management processor, so that a task is assigned to a sub processor that is operated according to the magnitude of the load of information processing requested. When a request for resource leasing is made from another computer via I/O interface, a computing resource of a idle sub processor is leased. |
| US07797702B1 |
Preventing execution of remotely injected threads
A legitimate process utilizes thread local storage (TLS) functionality to prevent a malicious thread from executing in its address space. The legitimate process includes a thread white list that identifies the entry point addresses of threads executed by the process. When executed on a computer, the process interacts with the TLS functionality provided by the computer's operating system. The operating system sends the process a message each time a new thread is executed in the process's address space. Upon receiving the message, the process determines the entry point address of the new thread and checks to see if the address is in the white list. If the thread entry point address is not in the white list, the thread is probably malicious and the process therefore terminates the thread's execution. |
| US07797698B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic middleware assembly
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for dynamic middleware assembly. One embodiment of the inventive method for dynamically assembling middleware at a client involves selecting a middleware component from a group of middleware components, where the selection is based at least in part on a first profile defining characteristics of the client and a second profile defining characteristics the selected middleware component. The selected middleware component is then dynamically assembled (installed and configured) at the client. |
| US07797697B2 |
System and method for deploying applications with library modules
Federated applications are configured to use both modules created for the applications as well as library modules which perform commonly used functions. The library modules are stored separately for deployment when utilized by applications. A deployment descriptor is configured with descriptions of internal modules and references to library modules. A deployment tool reads the deployment descriptor, extracts the library modules according to the information stored in the deployment descriptor, and loads the modules specific to the application. |
| US07797694B2 |
Mechanism to upgrade system capability without affecting service
A method of upgrading the system capability of a communications network is provided. The method involves initiating a transfer of at least one set of upgraded system capability software machine-coded instructions to a host card, instructing the host card to begin an upgrade process, determining whether at least one set of system capability software machine-coded instructions on the host card is valid, and completing the transfer of at least one valid set of system capability software machine-coded instructions to the host card, wherein the system capability is upgraded without affecting operation of the network. |
| US07797693B1 |
NAND mobile devices capable of updating firmware or software in a manner analogous to NOR mobile devices
A network with mobile devices supports update of firmware and/or software from one version to another version, the firmware or software being stored in non-volatile memory of the mobile handset, such as a NAND flash memory. In one embodiment, a firmware stored in the NAND non-volatile memory is updated by an update agent in a fault tolerant mode. |
| US07797686B2 |
Behavior of trace in non-emulatable code
Code will switch to secure code via an exception only. All PC and data trace will be turned off during secure code. This will occur regardless of trace being in standard trace mode or event profiling mode. Timing, if on, will switch to standby mode. On return from the secure code, the switches that were already on will switch back and turn on. The address reported in the end sync point will be the address 0x01. Since this is an illegal address, this information is sufficient to indicate an end sync point was caused in secure code. |
| US07797685B2 |
Method for generating timing data packet
During a trace the timing stream has the active and stall information, PC stream has all the discontinuity information, and the data stream has all the data log information. The various streams are synchronized using markers called sync points. The sync points provide a unique identifier field and a context to the data that will follow it. After data corruption a sync point is inserted into the data stream. The ID of this sync point may repeat a previous sync point ID. |
| US07797684B2 |
Automatic failure analysis of code development options
Sweeping through the code development options of a code development command allows diagnosis of a failure resulting from execution of the code development command on a given code. Successively modifying the code development command, such as successively removing code development options, automatically allows efficient examination of a failure. Executing each modified version of the code development command and recording results of the executions generates information that can expeditiously identify correspondence between a failure and one or more of the code development options. |
| US07797682B2 |
Controlled execution of a program used for a virtual machine on a portable data carrier
In a method for the controlled execution of a program (26), the program (26) being intended for a virtual machine (VM, VM′), on a portable data carrier, wherein the data carrier has a processor that executes at least a first and a second virtual machine (VM, VM′), the program (26) is executed both by the first and by the second virtual machine (VM, VM′). If, during execution of the program (26), a difference is found between the operating state of the first virtual machine (VM) and the operating state of the second virtual machine (VM′), execution of the program is aborted. A data carrier and a computer program product exhibit corresponding features. The invention provides a technique for the controlled execution of a program, which technique prevents security risks due to an attack or a malfunction of the data carrier. |
| US07797679B2 |
System and method for providing a parameter for an application operating on an electronic device
The invention relates to a system, method and device for modifying a parameter for an application operating on an electronic device. The method comprises the steps of: (a) upon activation of the device, determining a state of initial configuration for the device; (b) if the state indicates that the device requires configuration, providing a GUI interface allowing for changes to be made to the parameter; and (c) if a change is made to the parameter through the interface, updating a storage location with the change. In the method, the device may have communication capabilities with a network; and time zone information relating to the location of the device may be provided from the network or from the device; and the time zone information may be used to update an aspect relating to the parameter. |
| US07797677B1 |
Using scripts for netlisting in a high-level modeling system
A method of passing data among modules of a heterogeneous software system can include identifying a scripted function to be executed within the heterogeneous software system and building a wrapper script by embedding a call to the scripted function and an XTable object associated with the scripted function within the wrapper script. The method further can include executing the wrapper script thereby causing the scripted function to execute and receiving a result from execution of the scripted function. |
| US07797666B1 |
Systems and methods for mapping arbitrary logic functions into synchronous embedded memories
Systems and methods are provided for mapping logic functions from logic elements (“LEs”) into synchronous embedded memory blocks (“EMBs”) of programmable logic devices (“PLDs”). This technique increases the amount of logic that can fit into the PLD. Where area savings are significant, smaller PLDs may be selected to implement a particular circuit. One aspect of the invention relates to methods for identifying sequential cones of logic that may be mapped into synchronous EMBs. After the sequential logic cones are identified for mapping into a synchronous EMB, the logic cone may be selected, expanded, restructured, and retimed, as necessary, to implement the mapping. Another aspect of the invention relates to techniques for handling architectural restrictions of synchronous EMBs, such as the inability to implement the asynchronous behavior of synchronous logic. |
| US07797658B2 |
Multithreaded static timing analysis
A method and apparatus for executing multithreaded algorithm to provide static timing analysis of a chip design includes analyzing a chip design to identify various components and nodes associated with the components. A node tree is built with a plurality of nodes. The node tree identifies groups of nodes that are available in different levels. A size of node grouping for a current level is determined by looking up the node tree. Testing data for parallel processing of different size of node groupings using varied thread counts is compiled. An optimum thread count for the current level based on the size of node grouping in the node tree is identified from compiled testing data. Dynamic parallel processing of nodes in the current level is performed using the number of threads identified by the optimum thread count. An acceptable design of the chip is determined by the dynamic parallel processing. |
| US07797656B2 |
Method of checking and correcting mask pattern
The present invention provides a method of checking and correcting a mask pattern. The method includes inputting a mask pattern, wherein the mask pattern includes at least a segment; inputting a process rule; selecting an edge, which fits in with an orientation model, as a target edge, wherein two ends of the target edge are an ahead direction and a behind direction, and the ahead direction and the behind direction each further comprise at least a checking point; identifying an interacting edge from the mask pattern along the checking directions; performing a process rule check to provide a correcting value; performing a first correction to provide a first bias to the target edge; and performing a second correction to provide a second bias to the interacting edge, wherein a sum of the first bias and the second bias equals the correcting value. |
| US07797653B2 |
Circuit verification apparatus, circuit verification method, and signal distribution method for the same
A circuit to be verified is divided into a plurality of circuit parts. A plurality of programmable devices are provided for implementing functional operation of the divided circuit parts through a simulation. Wiring used in the circuit to be verified for supplying a signal SX to be given at the same time to the plurality of programmable devices is provided so that a maximum skew of time at which the signal SX arrives at the plurality of programmable devices is less than a minimum time required for data transfer between the programmable devices. An input terminal PX for inputting the signal SX from a signal generation device (400) is implemented in each of the programmable devices. The signal SX can be inputted directly from the signal generation device, and a skew can be inhibited from being produced. |
| US07797650B2 |
System and method for testing SLB and TLB cells during processor design verification and validation
A system and method for re-executing a test case and modifying the test case's effective addresses, effective segment identifiers (ESIDs), and virtual segment identifiers (VSIDs) in order to fully test a processor's SLB and TLB cells is presented. A test case generator generates a test case that includes an initial set of test case effective addresses, an initial set of ESIDs, and an initial set of VSIDs. The test case executor uses an effective address arithmetic function and a virtual address arithmetic function to modify the test case effective addresses, the ESIDs, and the VSIDs on each re-execution that, in turn, sets/unsets each bit within each SLB and TLB entry. In one embodiment, the invention described herein sequentially shifts segment lookaside buffer entries, whose ESIDs are in single bit increments, in order to fully test each ESID bit location within each SLB entry. |
| US07797649B1 |
Method and system for implementing an analytical wirelength formulation
Disclosed are methods and systems for specifying an analytical wirelength formulation that is continuous along with its derivative. One approach performs a wirelength estimate in which a continuous formulation is employed to identify and use a bounding box to enclose circuit elements of a net, and in which an attribute of the bounding box may be completely or partially diagonal. Such formulations are used for optimizing the wirelength using numerical approaches. |
| US07797648B1 |
Solving constraint satisfiability problem for automatic generation of design verification vectors
A method for generating a test vector for functional verification of circuits includes providing a representation of a circuit, where the representation includes a control logic component and a datapath logic component. The method also includes reading one or more vector generation targets, and performing word-level ATPG justification on the control logic component to obtain a control logic solution. The method further includes extracting one or more arithmetic functions for the datapath logic component based on the control logic solution, and solving the one or more arithmetic functions using a modular constraint solver. The modular constraint solver is based on a modular number system. |
| US07797644B1 |
Method and system for inputting optional values into an input field
A method for inputting optional values into an input field that includes receiving an event to trigger input into the input field, identifying a first optional value and a second optional value associated with the input field, and dynamically assigning, in response to the event, a first unique hotkey to the first optional value and a second unique hotkey to the second optional value. The method may also include displaying the first optional value with the first unique hotkey and the second optional value with the second unique hotkey, receiving input of the first unique hotkey, and populating the input field with the first optional value based on the input of the first unique hotkey. |
| US07797640B2 |
Method for generating a flexible display field for a video surveillance system
A method for generating a flexible display field on a monitor includes providing a display field with a main window, into which a plurality of information windows are incorporatable and which has a basic grid with a regular raster, allocating individual grid fields to a respective information window for displaying in an assigned grid field, setting a grid stage of a basic field via a central first user control device for the main window, switching the main window between a regular grid occupancy in which a size of each incorporated information window corresponds to a size of one grid field of the basic field, and an irregular grid occupancy in which a size of at least one information window corresponds to a size of an integral multiple of one grid field of the basic grid, and initiating a switchover of a user by a selection and a change in size of an information window and also a video management system and a software program are provided. |
| US07797638B2 |
Application of metadata to documents and document objects via a software application user interface
Methods, systems and computer products provide for applying metadata to documents and/or document objects in local and/or remote file storage systems. Application of metadata (flags) to documents and/or document objects allows a user to easily locate and utilize flagged items. A single metadata type, such as a colored flag, may be applied to documents or document objects of different file types across a file storage system to which data is stored via different software applications. Documents and/or document objects bearing like flags may be surfaced to a user in a flag summary with which documents and/or document objects may be sorted by flag type. Flagged documents or document objects related to a launched document may be listed in an information pane adjacent to the launched document. |
| US07797637B2 |
Multi-layer graphical user interface
A multi-layer graphical user interface provides multiple types of information in at least two layers of a common display space, such as a window. In one implementation, a shared network folder includes two layers of display objects to separately represent files contained in the folder and users with whom the folder is shared. The first or top layer may represent the files with conventional words, icons or other symbols. The second or lower level may represent the users with whom the folder is shared with words, icons or other symbols that are dimmed, blurred, or otherwise de-emphasized relative to the top layer. |
| US07797635B1 |
Electronic search interface technology
Techniques are described for displaying a representation of a list of electronic search results while a user is reviewing content linked to by electronic search results included in the list. While the user is reviewing the search results, the user may jump between content linked to by different search results using the representation of the list of electronic search results displayed. The displayed representation of the list of search results may be updated based on the user's browsing activities in reviewing the search results, user input manipulating the list of search results, and supplemental information added to the list of search results by the user. |
| US07797634B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying network fabric data
The invention relates to methods and associated systems for displaying network fabric data for managing electronic networks, such as computer networks, storage area networks (SANs), and the like. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for displaying parameters of a plurality of devices in a network for comparison, where each device has a plurality of parameters, including determining and storing values for a plurality of parameters for each of a plurality of devices, and displaying a table of said stored parameter values, where the parameters form a first dimension of the table and the devices form a second dimension of the table. As an example, methods may further include determining if values for a common parameter among devices are identical, and displaying the table without the parameter if all the values for the parameter are identical. |
| US07797633B2 |
Streaming to media device during acquisition with random access
Playing a media file can include receiving input from a user identifying a playback location associated with a media file; downloading media content corresponding to the identified playback location from the media file; displaying a status bar to the user on a display device; and presenting a download indicator associated with the status bar showing an amount of downloaded media content, wherein the downloaded media content comprises a contiguous portion of the media file that includes the identified playback location. Further, playing the media file can include receiving additional input from a user identifying a new playback location associated with a media file; downloading media content corresponding to the new playback location; and presenting a new download indicator associated with the status bar showing an amount of downloaded media content, wherein the downloaded media content comprises a contiguous portion of the media file that includes the new playback location. |
| US07797632B2 |
Method for exposing graphical user interface layout logic and parameters
A method is disclosed for exposing graphical user interface layout logic and parameters. The method may be used with any language or tool capable of creating a graphical user interface. The equations affecting an element's properties in the graphical user interface are exposed to the designer. The designer is able to use the equations to anticipate what value is required to make a necessary adjustment. Further, the present invention emphasizes the values adjusted by the designer as well as the results from calculating the equation, so the designer can easily see adjustments made. As the designer makes changes, the changed values may be emphasized and the corresponding affect the value had on the element may also be displayed with a corresponding emphasis. The present invention eliminates graphical user interface designer's reliance on trial-and-error methods of element control by providing the designer with the knowledge of how the element will be affected before a value is arbitrarily applied. |
| US07797629B2 |
Handheld electronic device and method for performing optimized spell checking during text entry by providing a sequentially ordered series of spell-check algorithms
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with a disambiguation routine that is operable to disambiguate text input. In addition to identifying and outputting representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input, the device is able to perform a spell check routine during input of a text entry. The spell check routine subjects a text entry to a sequentially ordered series of spell-check algorithms and ceases subjecting the text entry to further spell-check algorithms upon identification of a predetermined quantity of spell-check language objects. |
| US07797628B2 |
Method of using a directed graph and a system for use with the method
A directed graph can be used with a browser application. In one embodiment, the browser application can allow the editor to edit and view the edited directed graph without having to change between software applications. A monitor at a client computer can display the directed graph in a format similar to what an actor will see when executing actions requested by the directed graph. In another embodiment, a virtual node can be used to represent a reconnection point for child columns of a row element within a parent column. The virtual node can be used when adding an element immediately after the row element. |
| US07797625B1 |
Message composition computer, memory media and method
A method and program for composing computer messages in formats, such as SGML, book manager script or an formatted display. The method enables the composer to compose the computer message without any special knowledge of the format tags and rules for the formats. The composer enters the messages in a template on a web page and the program converts the unformatted messages to messages in a format selected by the composer. The composer can then copy the formatted message to a computer message file or to any other file or application. |
| US07797622B2 |
Versatile page number detector
A method for detection of page numbers in a document includes identifying a plurality of text fragments associated with a plurality of pages of a document. From the identified text fragments, at least one sequence is identified. Each identified sequence includes a plurality of terms. Each term of the sequence is derived from a text fragment selected from the plurality text fragments. The terms of an identified sequence comply with at least one predefined numbering scheme which defines a form and an incremental state of the terms in a sequence. A subset of the identified sequences which cover at least some of the pages of the document is computed. Terms of at least some of the subset of the identified sequences are construed as page numbers of pages of the document. Additional page numbers may be identified by considering one or more features of the terms in the subset of identified sequences. |
| US07797619B2 |
Task analysis system, task analysis device, task management apparatus, document display, computer readable medium, method of task analysis, and computer data signal
A task analysis system includes: a document display that displays a document image and retains unit identification information identifying the document display itself; and a task management apparatus that manages a task, the task management apparatus including: a task associating unit that previously determines the unit identification information of the document display used to carry out the task; a acquisition unit that acquires the unit identification information and document identification information of a document displayed on the document display, the document identification information identifying the document; and a task analysis unit that determines the document used to carry out the task based on the document identification information, the document identification information being acquired corresponding to the unit identification information determined in the task associating unit. |
| US07797612B2 |
Storage accelerator
The present disclosure provides a method for generating RAID syndromes. In one embodiment the method may include loading a first data byte of a first disk block and a first data byte of a second disk block from a storage device to an arithmetic logic unit. The method may further include XORing the first data byte of the first disk block and the first data byte of the second disk block to generate a first result and storing the first result in a results buffer. The method may also include iteratively repeating, loading intermediate data bytes corresponding to the first disk block and intermediate data bytes corresponding to the second disk block from the storage device to the arithmetic logic unit. The method may additionally include XORing the intermediate data bytes corresponding to the first disk block and the intermediate data bytes corresponding to the second disk block to generate intermediate results and generating a RAID syndrome based on, at least in part, the intermediate results. Of course, many alternatives, variations and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US07797610B1 |
Method and apparatus for virtual quad-port random access memory
Embedded logic circuits in combination with a configurable logic resources on a common integrated circuit facilitates over-clocked operation of embedded, dual-port memory blocks. The implementation yields fully independent and simultaneous read/write access to the dual-port memory blocks from the configurable logic on each clock cycle of the configurable logic. Error detection/correction and data scrubbing is also facilitated by the embedded logic circuits, such that error detection/correction is completely transparent to the configurable logic, while data scrubbing is performed with minimal degradation to the memory access bandwidth of the configurable logic. |
| US07797608B2 |
Decoding device in optical disc drive and related decoding method thereof
A decoding device is used to deal with an uncorrected data stored in a data storage device, the uncorrected data containing a inner-code parity (PI) direction error data and a outer-code parity (PO) direction error data, the decoding device including: an error correction unit receiving the uncorrected data and correcting the PO direction error data of the uncorrected data according to a PO direction decoding and correcting information, and then outputting a data; a data buffer for buffering the data, after correcting the PI direction error data of the data, then outputting a corrected data; a PI decoding unit for decoding and correcting the PI error direction error data of the data stored in the data buffer; and a PO decoding unit for generating the PO direction decoding and correcting information to the error correction unit according to the data stored in the data buffer. |
| US07797604B2 |
Codeword automatic repeat request/decoding method and transmission/reception apparatus using feedback information
A codeword retransmission/decoding method and transmission/receiving apparatus uses feedback information. When a failure to decode data received from a receiving node occurs, the feedback information including success/failure information of the decoding and retransmission information are transmitted to a transmission node. The retransmission feedback information is configured by the receiving apparatus repeating code-bits of the codeword just previously transmitted so as to demodulate the retransmission part. |
| US07797599B2 |
Diagnostic information capture from logic devices with built-in self test
From a logic device comprising logic circuits and a built-in self-test system (BIST) comprising scan chains, diagnostic information is obtained by using the scan chains to apply a stimulus vector to the logic circuits, to capture responses of the logic circuits to the stimulus vector and to shift the captured responses towards the outputs of the scan chains; generating a representative signature representing the responses output by the scan chains; concurrently storing the responses output by the scan chains temporarily such no more than a most-recently output subset of the responses is stored; determining whether the representative signature is a fault-indicating representative signature; and, when the representative signature is a fault-indicating representative signature, outputting at least some of the stored responses. The output responses are usable as diagnostic information. The most-recently output subset of the responses is composed of fewer than all of the responses generated in response to the stimulus vector. |
| US07797595B2 |
Serially decoded digital device testing
Testing of memories that decode a serial stream of address data to access the memory may be performed by either successively halving the number of selected word lines as each address bit is acquired, until a single word line is selected, or by rotating the selection bits in its shift register to select a new set of address lines. As such, a combination of incomplete addressing and rotation can efficiently test large memories by reading and/or writing groups of words. Similar techniques may also be applied to non-memory devices. |
| US07797593B2 |
Method and apparatus for memory AC timing measurement
A timing measurement circuit inside a memory chip delays balanced test signals for generating delayed test signals. Each of the delayed test signals is input a corresponding input pin of a memory subsystem of the memory chip. By adjusting delay amount of the delayed test signals, AC timing parameters of the memory subsystem are tested and measured. When the timing measurement circuit is in ring oscillation, a resolution thereof is measured. |
| US07797589B2 |
Detector for detecting information carried by a signal having a sawtooth-like shape
A detector for detecting information carried by a signal having a sawtooth-like shape. The detector includes a first band-pass filter with center frequency around a first frequency value for filtering the signal and generating a first filtered signal, a second band-pass filter with center frequency around a second frequency value for filtering the signal and generating a second filtered signal, a first comparator for comparing the first filtered signal with a reference level and generating a first compared signal, a second comparator for comparing the second filtered signal with the reference level and generating a second compared signal, a clock generator for generating a reference clock having a frequency close to the first frequency value according to the second compared signal, and a detection module for generating a bit signal representing the information according to the first compared signal and the reference clock. |
| US07797587B2 |
System and method of recovering from failures in a virtual machine
A method and systems for recovering from a failure in a virtual machine are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for recovering from failures in a virtual machine is provided. The method may include, in a first physical host having a host operating system and a virtual machine running on the host operating system, monitoring one or more parameters associated with a program running on the virtual machine, each parameter having a predetermined acceptable range. The method may further include determining if the one or more parameters are within their respective predetermined acceptable ranges. In response to determining that the one or more parameters associated with the program running on the virtual machine are not within their respective predetermined acceptable ranges, a management module may cause the application running on the virtual machine to be restarted. |
| US07797585B1 |
System and method for handling trace data for analysis
This invention is a system and method for handling a trace of workload data for analysis by performing multiple passes through it and gathering information from it on each pass related to component type affected by the workload and information type, such as task event and response times. |
| US07797584B2 |
SATA interface tester and testing method
A serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface tester includes a memory, a signal converter, at least one SATA interface, and an indicator. The at least one SATA interface is adapted to connect with SATA interfaces of a motherboard, and is electrically connected to the memory via the signal converter. The signal converter receives serial signals from the motherboard via the at least one SATA interface and converts them to parallel signals and then passes the parallel signals to the memory to perform a writing process. The signal converter receives parallel signals from the memory and converts them to serial signals and passes the serial signals to the motherboard via the at least one SATA interface to perform a reading process. The indicator is electrically connected to the memory for indicating testing result of the SATA interfaces of the motherboard. |
| US07797581B2 |
Device and method for testing motherboard
A testing device for testing a motherboard is provided to include a server, a client terminal computer, a debug card and a receiving device. The server is connected to the client terminal computer, for inquiring test results. The debug card is attached to the motherboard, for getting test data. The receiving device connecting with the debug card transmits the test data to the server via a network. A testing method for testing a motherboard is provided to include the following steps: a debug card getting the test data from the motherboard; sending the test data to a receiving device, the receiving device transmitting the test data to a server, the server collating and analyzing the test data; and a client terminal computer inquiring test results via the server. |
| US07797578B2 |
Fault diagnosis of serially-addressed memory chips on a test adaptor board to a middle memory-module slot on a PC motherboard
A standard memory module socket is removed from a target DRAM module slot on the component side and the test adaptor board connects to the target DRAM module slot on the reverse (solder) side of a personal computer motherboard, or an extender card may be used. The target DRAM module slot is a middle slot, such as the second or third of four DRAM module slots. The first and fourth DRAM module slots are populated with known good memory modules storing the BIOS at a high address and an operating system image and a test program at a low address. The test program accesses a memory chip in a test socket on a test adaptor board that is connected to the target DRAM module slot to locate defects. The motherboard does not crash since the BIOS, OS image, and test program are not stored in the memory chip under test. |