| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07955343B2 |
Methods and apparatus for blocking flow through blood vessel
Methods and apparatus for occluding blood flow within a blood vessel. In a first series of embodiments, the present invention comprises a plurality of embolic devices deployable through the lumen of a conventional catheter such that when deployed, said embolic devices remain resident and occlude blood flow at a specific site within the lumen of the blood vessel. Such embolic devices comprise either mechanical embolic devices that become embedded within or compress against the lumen of the vessel or chemical vaso-occlusive agents that seal off blood flow at a given site. A second embodiment of the present invention comprises utilization of a vacuum/cauterizing device capable of sucking in the lumen of the vessel about the device to maintain the vessel in a closed condition where there is then applied a sufficient amount of energy to cause the tissue collapsed about the device to denature into a closure. In a third series of embodiments, the present invention comprises the combination of an embolization facilitator coupled with the application of an energy force to form an intraluminal closure at a specified site within a vessel. |
| US07955341B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing suture in a passageway
A surgical apparatus may include a guide apparatus to be used in an arthroscopic procedure and to interact with a passageway through a body portion formed by intersecting first and second holes that may lead into the body portion from different positions, e.g., from two different locations on a bone. The guide apparatus may include first and second guide members having first and second passages, respectively, that communicate with the first and second holes. The surgical apparatus may also include a suture retriever arranged to retrieve, from the second passage, a suture fed into the first passage. A method may include forming a passageway including first and second intersecting holes. First and second guide tubes may be positioned relative to the first and second holes, a suture or suture-like material may be provided into the first guide tube, and the suture or suture-like material may be retrieved from the second guide tube. |
| US07955339B2 |
Low-compliance expandable medical device
An apparatus includes an elongate body and an expandable member coupled to the elongate body. In one embodiment, the expandable member has a collapsed configuration, an unfolded configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable member is configured to be percutaneously inserted into an interior portion of a bone structure when the expandable member is in the collapsed configuration. The expandable member is configured to exert a pressure in a vertical direction on a first portion of the bone structure in contact with the expandable member greater than a pressure exerted in a lateral direction on a second portion of the bone structure in contact with the expandable member when the expandable member transitions from the unfolded configuration to the expanded configuration. |
| US07955338B2 |
Apparatus and method for preparing bone for anti-rotational implantation of an orthopedic endoprosthesis
An apparatus and method for reaming a bone, facilitating pre-implantation alignment of a prosthesis using trial components, and preparing a bone site for anti-rotational implantation of the prosthesis is provided. The apparatus includes a boring end, a mating end disposed opposite the boring end, and a keying aid disposed between the boring end and mating end. The method includes attaching a power tool to the mating end, reaming a bone canal with the boring end, detaching the power tool, attaching a trial component, conducting alignment trials, maintaining the apparatus in the desired position, detaching the trial component, cutting at least one keyway in the bone canal using a cutting device and the keying aid, removing the cutting device, removing the apparatus from the reamed bone canal, and inserting the prosthesis into anti-rotational engagement with reamed bone by aligning the key on the prosthesis with the keyway in the bone canal. |
| US07955336B2 |
Cutting instrument and method of use for preparing an osteochondral plug for implantation
A cutting instrument and method of use for preparing an osteochondral plug for implantation into a bone defect site. The instrument includes a dual function cutting block, a base holder, a rod mechanism and a trimming mechanism. The cutting block has a bore sized to receive the plug, at least one trimming channel and a transverse paring slot. The cutting block functions to hold the plug within the bore to allow for length and cross-sectional sizing. The base holder is constructed to fix the cutting block in a first orientation that allows the rod mechanism to position the plug within the cutting block for accurate length sizing. The base holder is also constructed to fix the cutting block in a second orientation which aligns the cutting block with the trimming mechanism so that an angled blade may engage the trimming channel and cut at least two sides of the plug. |
| US07955331B2 |
Electrosurgical instrument and method of use
A particular embodiment of the invention provides an electrosurgical working end for performing high strength welding of tissue comprising a body having a tissue contacting energy delivery surface. The body includes pixel portions and non-pixel portions distributed within the tissue contacting surface. The pixel portions comprise a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) material with at least one pixel portion configured to switch Rf current on and off in the at least one pixel portion responsive to tissue temperature adjacent the at least one pixel portion. The pixel portions can be configured to be coupled to an Rf current source such as an Rf generator. The pixelated energy delivery surfaces are capable of highly localized modulation of Rf energy application to the engaged tissue to create high strength tissue welds. |
| US07955327B2 |
Motion detector for controlling electrosurgical output
An electrosurgical instrument having a movement sensing device for controlling the electrosurgical output thereof, is disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated housing, an electrically conductive element supported within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrically conductive element connectable to a source of electrosurgical energy, and a sensor disposed within the housing and in electrical connection with the electrosurgical generator. The sensor detects movement of the electrically conductive element and communicates a signal to the electrosurgical generator relating to the movement of the electrically conductive element. The source of electrosurgical energy supplies electrosurgical energy in response to the signal from the sensor. |
| US07955325B2 |
Surgical clamp having transmurality assessment capabilities
A medical device is provided having a means for actuating a pair of opposing jaw members. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position, wherein the jaw members are disposed in a spaced apart relation relative to one another, to a second position, wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. An ablation mechanism is connected to at least one of the jaws members, such that the jaw members are capable of conducting ablation energy through the tissue grasped therebetween. |
| US07955324B2 |
Cornea contact system
A system for positioning the eye of a patient in alignment with a laser unit for laser surgery includes an alignment device that is mounted on the laser unit. It also includes a patient interface having a curved contact lens. Additionally, a clamp with an attached suction ring can be engaged with the interface to hold the lens against the eye of the patient. Thus, when the interface is joined with the alignment device, the lens is positioned against the eye of the patient at a predetermined distance from the laser unit for laser surgery. |
| US07955323B2 |
Instrument holder and method for a surgical instrument having a park position
A surgical instrument holder has a head assembly and a drive spindle assembly. The head has a second coupling end with a coupling device and interface for receiving and holding a surgical instrument. The instrument is held by a releasable locking mechanism having a ring slideably biased against the coupling device by a spring, and a connection device retaining the spring in a fixed position during use. The spindle assembly has a drive spindle rotatably housed in a cylindrical tube. The connection device provides a quick-release connection between the head and drive spindle assemblies, such that unlocking the connection device enables quick disassembly of the connection for cleaning and component sterilization. A method of use of the instrument holder allows the surgical instrument to be installed through an incision in a least invasive orientation separate from the holder. |
| US07955320B2 |
Precision spindle instrument holder for surgical instrument
A surgical instrument holder (10) is made up of a head assembly (68) and a drive spindle assembly (42). The head assembly (68) has a shank (12) with a first driveable end (14) and second coupling end (16). The second end has a coupling device (20) having an interface (22) for receiving a surgical instrument (24). The instrument (24) is held in functional assembly to the shank by a releasable locking mechanism (26). The releasable locking mechanism (26) is made up of a locking ring (30) slideably disposed about the shank, a spring (32) biased against the coupling device (20) by the locking ring, and a connection ring (34) retaining the locking ring in a fixed position during use. The drive spindle assembly (42) is connected to the head assembly (68) so as to transmit torque therethrough. The spindle assembly (42) has an elongated drive spindle (40), high precision bearings (44, 120, 122) and a cylindrical tube (46). The drive spindle (40) is releasably mounted to an end (36) of the spindle assembly and is supported for rotation within the cylindrical tube (46) by the high-precision bearings disposed therebetween and held in place at least in part by the shank (12). The bearings (44) precisely control the position of a surgical instrument (24) affixed thereto. The connection ring (34) provides a common quick-release connection with the head assembly (68) and the drive spindle assembly (42), such that unlocking of the connection ring (34) enables quick disassembly of the connection ring, spring (32), locking ring (30), and drive spindle assembly (42) for cleaning and component sterilization. |
| US07955317B2 |
Female adaptor for feeding line
An adaptor for discriminating connection of an oral tip having a length greater than 0.50 (12.70 mm) to a feeding line and for preventing sealed connection with a standard semi-rigid luer tip having a length less than or equal to 0.50 in (12.70 mm) is disclosed. The adaptor includes a duckbill valve spaced at least 0.50 in (12.70 mm) downstream from a first open end of the body such that when an oral tip is fully inserted into a connection port, the oral tip engages valve flaps of the duckbill valve and opens the valve, and when a standard semi-rigid luer tip is fully inserted into the connection port, the standard semi-rigid luer tip does not contact the valve flaps and the valve flaps remain in a closed position. |
| US07955316B2 |
Coaxial catheter system
A robotic medical system for use with an intravascular catheter that delivers fluid within an anatomical vessel is provided. The robotic medical system comprises a user interface configured for receiving at least one command, an electromechanical driver configured for being coupled to the catheter, a fluid delivery controller coupled to the catheter, and an electric controller configured for directing the electromechanical driver to mechanically move the catheter within at least one degree-of-freedom and for directing the fluid delivery controller to deliver fluid to the catheter in response to the at least one command. The robotic medical system may further comprise a source of fluid and a fluid line configured for coupling the source of fluid to the catheter, and a manifold configured for fluidly interfacing with the catheter, in which case, the manifold has a fluid inlet port coupled to the fluid line. |
| US07955315B2 |
Articulating laparoscopic device and method for delivery of medical fluid
A laparoscopic medical fluid delivery device includes a catheter having an articulating tip formed with shape memory properties and thus having a pre-shaped curvature. A tubular member is reciprocatingly slidable axially on the catheter to selectively cover and uncover portions of the articulating tip to thereby selectively vary the degree of curvature of the articulating tip. An actuator operatively linked to the tubular member selectively moves the tubular member reciprocatingly on the catheter. The pre-shaped articulating tip of the catheter is constrained by the tubular member from articulating to the pre-shaped curvature when the tubular member covers the articulating tip, and bends to a selected degree of curvature when the articulating tip is at least partially uncovered by the tubular member. |
| US07955309B2 |
Syringe plunger jacket with expandable seal
A syringe plunger/jacket assembly may comprise a flexible jacket attached to a rigid plunger. The jacket may comprise at least two sealing rings (front and rear) that prevent fluid from leaking out of the rear of the barrel during injection of fluid from the syringe. The rear sealing ring may not contact or seal the interior surface of the syringe barrel in an unloaded state. In the loaded state, when force is applied in the direction of the forward discharge end of the syringe, pressure is created on the jacket. This condition causes the rear seal to expand and contact and/or seal the interior surface of the syringe barrel. |
| US07955308B2 |
Syringe with anti-rotation for luer lock
A needle guard for a syringe including tabs and preferably springboards disposed on the needle guard configured to engage a luer lock to prevent rotation of the luer lock during needle exchange. The body of the needle guard preferably includes springboards which are in communication with tabs disposed on the shield when the shield is in a first, retracted position. Inward or radial depression of the tabs forces the springboards to contact the luer lock and prevent rotation of the luer lock. The needle guard further comprises a slot disposed near the proximal end of the shield which is configured to engage an end tab disposed near the distal end of the body. When the needle guard is activated, the shield slides to a second, extended position and the end tab enters into the slot to lock the shield in the extended position. |
| US07955301B1 |
Injection shut off valve with pressure actuator for delivery of compositions
Injection shut off valve devices and methods are provided for limiting flow and pressure from a pharmaceutical composition on injection. In some embodiments, the injection shut off valve is coupled to a syringe and can be used to monitor and avoid maximum pressures that can cause damage on injection. |
| US07955300B2 |
Disposable safety syringe with retractable needle
A disposable safety syringe in one embodiment includes a stepped syringe barrel comprising two opposite mating members on an inner surface proximate a distal end; a plunger comprising a connection member and a breakable section behind the connection member; a first needle assembly comprising a needle and a needle hub secured to the distal end of the syringe barrel; and a hollow second needle assembly shaped to lockingly secure to the first needle assembly in the syringe barrel, the second needle assembly comprising two opposite corresponding mating members on an outer surface, the corresponding mating members being lockingly engaged with the mating members. After dispensing, the plunger may clockwise rotate about the syringe barrel until the mating members and the corresponding mating members are unlocked lengthwise each other. The plunger, the second needle assembly, and the first needle assembly may move rearward to retract the needle within the syringe barrel. |
| US07955297B2 |
Retraction means for transcutaneous device
The invention provides a transcutaneous medical device (502, 250, 150, 600) comprising a lower surface adapted for application towards the skin of a subject, attaching means (571, 272, 161) for securing the lower surface relative to the skin, and a transcutaneous device (530, 182, 213, 651) adapted to penetrate the skin of the subject. The transcutaneous device is mounted for movement between an extended position in which the transcutaneous device projects relative to the lower surface and a retracted position in which the transcutaneous device is retracted relative to the lower surface. The medical device further comprises release means (550, 275, 162) which can be operated from a first state through an intermediate state to a second state, whereby operation of the release means from the first to the intermediate state causes the transcutaneous device to be moved from the extended position to the retracted position, and operation of the release means from the intermediate to the second state causes release of the attaching means. |
| US07955293B2 |
Ultrasound catheter for disrupting blood vessel obstructions
Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens. An ultrasound transmission member or wire extends longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in many embodiments, a guide wire tube also extends through the same lumen. A distal head is fixed to or otherwise mechanically coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member or wire and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Although the distal end of the catheter body overlaps the distal head, the distal head is not directly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body. Thus, the distal tip may move freely, relative to the distal end of the catheter body when ultrasonic energy is applied through the ultrasound transmission member. Such a freely floating distal head enhances the efficiency of an ultrasound catheter, enabling the catheter to ablate calcific occlusions and increasing the useful life of the ultrasound transmission member and catheter. |
| US07955284B2 |
Cast protector without an inflexible sealing ring
Cast and bandage protector that avoids use of a separate sealing ring and therefore can be folded over upon itself, has suitability for convenient packaging and at the same time still provides an effective waterproof sealing arrangement. |
| US07955278B1 |
Aspiration methods and devices for assessment of viscoelastic properties of soft tissues
Methods for assessing viscoelastic properties of soft tissues are based on detecting an inflection point on a pressure-time plot when air is aspirated from a cavity placed over the tissue sample. A small diameter tube through which air aspiration is conducted is ultimately closed off by tissue being drawn into the cavity causing an abrupt change in pressure slope. First or second derivatives of the pressure-time plot can be used to detect the inflection point. Repeating the test with a different aspiration rates or after a predetermined relaxation time allows determining tissue viscosity and tissue creep in addition to tissue elasticity expressed as Young's modulus. |
| US07955276B2 |
Capsule endoscope
A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes a capsule and a transparent cover having a central axis and that is located in front of an objective optical system within the capsule. The objective optical system has a depth of field, a field of view, and an image surface that has curvature of field, and is arranged on the central axis of the transparent cover and the capsule. The field of view of the objective optical system includes a spherical surface that is tangent to the transparent cover at a periphery of the field of view, and the near point of the depth of field on the optical axis of the objective optical system is positioned farther from the objective optical system than is the transparent cover. Various conditions are satisfied so as to provide high quality imaging. |
| US07955275B2 |
Laparoscopic instrument and method for distance measurements of body parts
A laparoscopic instrument includes an elongated barrel portion which mountably extends between operable parts for engagement with internal structures and organs of a subject patient, which are disposed at a first end of the barrel portion, and an actuating mechanism disposed at a second end of the barrel portion which remains outside the patient and which allows actuation of the instrument by the surgeon, for example by hand manipulation. The operable parts include two jaw parts which collectively define a clamp in which an opening size between the two jaw parts is selectively alterable by operation of the actuating mechanism. The operable parts further include a distance displacement sensor to effect distance measurement when the body part of the patient is received between the jaw parts and the instrument moved there along. |
| US07955274B2 |
Device for sizing a human female breast
A device for intraoperative sizing of a human female breast during resizing and/or shaping of the breast composes: a (a) substantially hemispherical, rigid, cup-shaped foraminous body, i.e., a foraminous cup, defining a desired size and shape of the breast; and (b) a rim member to which the foraminous cup is affixed. |
| US07955273B2 |
Device for verifying and monitoring vital parameters of the body
The invention lies in the domain of medical technology and relates to a diagnosis and monitoring device for the rapid diagnosis and monitoring of vital parameters of the human or animal body, in particular of the heart and/or lungs, said device being compact, without cables and/or tubes and easy to use for the user. Devices such as a bell (1) comprising a membrane (2) and/or measuring electrodes (4, 5) for receiving and forwarding acoustic and/or electric signals of the body are arranged in a housing with a cross-section that is approximately the size of the palm of a hand and a height of approximately half a hand-width, on the side of a housing that is to be placed on the body. Said devices are connected to a device in the housing, which analyses, filters and stores the signals of the receiving device and to additional devices for visually reproducing the evaluated signals in digital or analogue form using display fields (14, 15, 16, 17) and/or for acoustically reproducing said signals using a loudspeaker (9) located in the housing. The diagnosis and monitoring device also comprises interfaces (10, 11) for connecting external devices and equipment (e.g. computer, earphones, printer). The principal characteristics of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. |
| US07955272B2 |
High performance coil wire
A high performance coil over-core guide wire. The guide wire incorporates a nickel-titanium core with a stainless steel coil to provide a wire with improved kink resistance and good pushability. |
| US07955271B2 |
Tape transport lance sampler
A lancet-sampler system is configured to automatically remove a protective cover from a lancet and automatically unpack a test pad just prior to use. This minimizes the risk of injury and reduces the chance of cross-contamination between the lancet and the test pad. The lancet defines a capillary groove for drawing body fluid from the incision via capillary action and a sample transfer opening for collecting the fluid from the groove. A carrier tape is coupled to the lancet. The carrier tape includes a test pad for analyzing the fluid. The tape is folded around the test pad to form an airtight package. The test pad is located at a position to align with the sample transfer opening when the tape is unfolded. The protective cover covers a portion of the lancet, and when the tape is pulled, the protective cover is automatically pulled from the lancet. |
| US07955269B2 |
Method and apparatus for pulmonary artery pressure signal isolation
An implantable system senses a pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) signal using an implantable sensor placed in the pulmonary artery and isolates a plurality of signals from the PAP signal for diagnostic and/or therapeutic use. Each signal is extracted from the PAP signal using its known frequency characteristics and/or timing relationship with one or more detectable events. |
| US07955268B2 |
Multiple sensor deployment
A method of measuring pressure within the human body including implanting a pressure sensing assembly having a flexible structure and first and second sensor elements having self-contained power supplies coupled to the flexible structure. Periodic data collection events are performed to collect data from the sensor elements. A data collection event includes a request for data from a remote communication device, a transfer of sensor data to the remote communication device and a processing of the sensor data. The invention also includes a sensor assembly for implantation into a human body. The sensor assembly includes a first sensor having a self-contained power supply, a sensing element and an integral communication device capable of communicating with a remote communication device. The sensor assembly also includes a second sensor and a flexible structure to which the first and second sensor are attached. |
| US07955265B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring anatomic structures
Methods, apparatus and systems for measuring a thickness of a portion of a multi-layer vessel based on at least one medical diagnostic image frame using an integrated ultrasound device is provided. The method includes for each x-coordinate determining a y-coordinate along an interface between each layer of the vessel including determining a Y coordinate of a center of an intima-media center (IMC) determining the adventitia-media interface Y coordinate, determining the intima-lumen interface Y coordinate, determining for each X coordinate the lumen-intima interface Y coordinate, determining media-adventitia interface Y coordinate, determining a thickness of at least one vessel layer using X and Y coordinates of respective layer interfaces, and outputting the thickness to a display. |
| US07955263B2 |
Non-invasive positioning system for locating the focus of high-intensity focused ultrasound
A non-invasive positioning system for determining the focus location of a HIFU device comprises a diagnostic ultrasound and the HIFU for ablating and removing tumor tissue. The imaging plane of the diagnostic ultrasound probe and the geometrical axis of a probe of the HIFU define an inclining angle during operation. When the imaging plane of the diagnostic ultrasound intersected to the focus of the HIFU transducer, a maximal convergent interference signals was obtained, so as to position the HIFU focus within tumors for precise ablation. |
| US07955262B2 |
Method and apparatus for treatment of skin using RF and ultrasound energies
A system and method for treating skin. The System comprises one or more ultrasound transducers and one or more pairs of RF electrodes. The ultrasound transducers are adapted to focus ultrasound energy at one or more focal volumes in the skin. The RF electrodes are adapted to deliver RF energy to the one or more focal volumes. The method comprises heating the skin to a first temperature at one or more focal volumes in the skin by focusing ultrasound energy at the one or more focal volumes. The focal regions are then heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature, by generating an RF current in a region of the skin containing the focal regions. |
| US07955261B2 |
System and methods for processing analyte sensor data
Systems and methods for processing sensor analyte data, including initiating calibration, updating calibration, evaluating clinical acceptability of reference and sensor analyte data, and evaluating the quality of sensor calibration. During initial calibration, the analyte sensor data is evaluated over a period of time to determine stability of the sensor. The sensor may be calibrated using a calibration set of one or more matched sensor and reference analyte data pairs. The calibration may be updated after evaluating the calibration set for best calibration based on inclusion criteria with newly received reference analyte data. Fail-safe mechanisms are provided based on clinical acceptability of reference and analyte data and quality of sensor calibration. Algorithms provide for optimized prospective and retrospective analysis of estimated blood analyte data from an analyte sensor. |
| US07955258B2 |
External data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater and method thereof
An external data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater and method thereof is presented. An external data processing device is interfaced in far field telemetric communication with an ambulatory repeater. The external data processing device receives sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned to an implantable medical device over a secure connection from the ambulatory repeater. Physiological measures retrieved from the implantable medical device by the ambulatory repeater are received by the external data processing device over a non-secure connection. |
| US07955252B2 |
Endoscopic treatment system
This endoscopic treatment system is provided with an insertion-retraction and rotating device for a treatment tool, which performs an insertion-retraction operation along a direction of an axis of a treatment tool and a rotating operation around the axis, of the treatment tool inserted in a channel of an endoscope. |
| US07955248B2 |
Actuator for a heart assist device
An actuator (10) for a heart assist device. The actuator (10) includes an inflatable balloon (12) and a shroud or wrap (14). The inflatable balloon (12) has a first body portion (22), a second body portion (26) and a flexure region joining (24) the first (22) and second (26) body portions. The shroud or wrap (14) is positioned adjacent the first body portion (24) and has a peripheral extent at least equal to the peripheral extent of the balloon flexure region (24). The balloon (12) and the shroud or wrap (14) are shaped such that the shroud or wrap (14) restrains a part of the balloon first body portion (22) at or near the flexure region (24) against displacement towards the shroud or wrap (outward displacement) past a predetermined limit but allows unrestrained displacement away from the shroud or wrap (inward displacement). |
| US07955244B2 |
System for bifolding an absorbent article
A system is provided for bifolding disposable absorbent articles on a high speed production line on which the disposable absorbent articles are moved along a predetermined path. The system includes the use of one or more vacuum conveyor assemblies to engage and transfer the leading end portion of the article from the surface of a peel-roll to a folding drum, thereby potentially reducing the occurrence of undesirable misalignment between opposing edges of an article during a bifolding process. |
| US07955243B2 |
Poster printing using perforated paper
A poster printing method divides a large format poster image into a plurality of image sections and prints them on individual sheets of paper, where some or all of the sheets are perforated sheets with perforation lines along the edges. Unavoidable white margins on the printed sheets can be removed by tearing off strips of the sheet along the perforation lines. The distance of the perforated lines from the edge is determined by a minimum white margin value and a maximum image shift error value for a typical small printer. In addition, the image sections are overprinted, i.e., the image printed on each individual sheet contains an overprinted area around the image section to ensure image overlap of neighboring sheets. The individual sheets are assembled into a poster by removing the perforated portions of some sheets and aligning images on neighboring sheets along the perforation lines. |
| US07955242B2 |
Folding unit for producing sealed packages of pourable food products
A folding unit for producing sealed packages of pourable food products from respective packs, each having a main portion folded into a desired shape, and opposite end portions to be folded to form respective folded ends of a relative finished package. The unit has a first folding station, in turn having a first retaining mechanism for securing each pack by a relative first end portion, and a first folding mechanism for folding a relative second end portion of the pack. The unit also has a second folding station located downstream from the first folding station in the traveling direction of the packs, a second retaining mechanism for securing each pack by the relative folded second end portion, and a second folding mechanism for folding the relative first end portion. |
| US07955241B2 |
Multi-mode pelvic exercise probe
A perineometer exercise probe for home or clinical use assesses the strength of pelvic floor muscles and provides audible, visual and tactile biofeedback signals as training aids during pelvic exercises. The exercise probe is selectively operable in a passive reaction mode, in which audible, visual and tactile biofeedback signals proportional to pelvic muscle contractions are generated, and in an active vibrating mode in which therapeutic vibrations are applied directly to internal pelvic musculature with or without co-generation of biofeedback signals proportional to the strength of pelvic muscle contractions; and in a combination of both modes simultaneously. The probe reacts the pelvic contraction forces and thus provides passive tactile feedback signals that are experienced simultaneously with audible, visual and vibration-induced tactile biofeedback signals for improving the endurance and strength of pelvic floor muscles. Biofeedback signaling is facilitated by wireless two-way communication between the probe and a portable monitor. |
| US07955240B2 |
Exercise device and method of using same
An exercise device including a frame including a base frame and first and second posts extending substantially orthogonally from substantially outer ends of the base frame, a first platform rotatably connected to the base frame and selectably lockable in at least one position. The first platform includes a curved track mounted on the first platform such that a lowest point of the curved track is substantially near a center of the first platform and a pair of high points are located substantially near opposite outer edges of the first platform. A rolling mechanism is configured to ride on the curved track. A second platform rotatably mounted to the rolling mechanism is selectably lockable in at least one position. Such an exercise device provides multiple ranges of motion designed to provide an abdominal exercise that targets various different abdominal muscle regions, and may also provide an aerobic and/or cardiac workout. |
| US07955236B2 |
Foot and ankle exercise device
The present invention relates to a foot and ankle exercise device. The exercise device may include a foot strap, a pull strap, a handle, and a resistance band. The foot strap may be adjustable to secure the device to a user's foot. The pull strap may have a first end attached to the foot strap. The handle may be disposed on a second end of the pull strap and may be configured to allow the user to apply tension to the pull strap. The resistance band may be disposed on the pull strap between the first end and the second end of the pull strap. |
| US07955233B1 |
Abdomen exercising device that is operated safely
An abdomen exercising device includes a soft cushion, a base combined with the cushion, a sliding unit slidably mounted on the base, an elastic cord biased between the base and the sliding unit to provide a damping force to the sliding unit and a top cover mounted on the base to cover the elastic cord and to partially cover the sliding unit. Thus, the parts of the abdomen exercising device are almost hidden between and covered by the base and the top cover to prevent the user from being clamped or scratched by the elastic cord or the sliding unit during the exercising process so as to protect the user's safety. |
| US07955230B1 |
Foot slider therapy device
A device for promoting proper walking-related muscle development is disclosed. In various embodiments, the device can be worn on the foot of a patient undergoing walking therapy. The device includes a toe section that can be secured to the foot, and provides a relatively slidable surface that allows relatively easy sliding of the toe section on the floor. Such a configuration facilitates easier execution of a step movement that promotes walking-related muscle development. The device can also include one or more attachments configured to allow a therapist to assist and/or guide the steps of the patient. In one embodiment, the attachment can be a loop attached to the toe section so that the therapist can insert his/her foot and guide/assist the patient's steps. |
| US07955227B2 |
Bicycle trainer
A bicycle trainer is disclosed. The bicycle trainer includes a supporting frame, a roller, a runner and at least one vane. The supporting frame suspends at least one bicycle wheel. The roller is connected to the supporting frame via a shaft member. The roller is driven by the bicycle wheel. A runner is coaxially connected to the roller via the shaft. The vane is pivotally connected to an edge of the runner. |
| US07955226B2 |
Dry head swimming exercise float
An aquatic exercise device designed to elevate the head out of the water while keeping the lumbar spine slightly flexed and allowing vigorous kicking of the legs for weight loss and low impact aerobic conditioning. A swimmer swims on his back and holds onto handles, which keep the device stable and provide a secure frame while in the water. The preferred embodiment is formed from PVC pipe and polyethylene foam. The pipe components are glued together using standard PVC glue. |
| US07955222B1 |
Vertical jump training apparatus
A jump training apparatus including a sleeve, a pipe, and an arm. Floor standing embodiments may also include a base that may be operably connected to a weight holder. Wall mounted embodiments may include a mounting bracket, mounting plate, or mounting clamps, for example. At least a portion of the pipe may be slideably inserted into the sleeve. The pipe may be operably connected to the arm. The vertical height of the arm may be adjusted through the movement of the pipe relative to the sleeve. According to certain embodiments, when the arm is positioned at the desired vertical height, the position of the pipe may be secured by operably engaging a fastening element. At least a portion of the arm may be covered by a cushion. |
| US07955220B2 |
Abdominal exerciser with electronic coaching device
An abdominal exercise apparatus includes a device that instructs and encourages a user. The apparatus comprises a slide member positioned in a channel of a body. The slide member has a user engagement end extending from the channel for engaging a targeted muscle area of the user. A resilient member biases the body and slide in one direction. Handles are attached to the body at opposing locations, and extend away from the body. The instructional device instructs users how to perform multiple phase abdominal exercises and provides motivation. The instructional device comprises a microprocessor, a sound creating mechanism, a visual display, and a user interface. The sound creating mechanism produces prerecorded instructions or motivation. The visual display includes lights to visually instruct the user of the proper amount of time for each phase of an exercise. The user interface allows for a user to select various exercise routines and levels. |
| US07955219B2 |
Exercise community system
An exercise system provides incentives for individuals by providing either a collective exercise goal or a sponsored exercise reward. |
| US07955217B2 |
Power train control system
A power train is provided having a power source operably coupled to a transmission to transmit a power output to at least one traction device. The power train also has a controller configured to regulate the power output so that the power output generated when the at least one traction device is moving at a maximum speed is the maximum power output that the power source and the transmission are capable of producing. |
| US07955216B2 |
Automatic transmission shift control apparatus
An automatic transmission shift control apparatus is basically provided with deceleration operating condition detecting section, a first shift phase control section and a second shift phase control section. The deceleration operating condition detecting section detects a vehicle coasting condition. The first shift phase control section control a gear ratio of an automatic transmission installed in a vehicle using a first shift phase control after detecting the vehicle coasting condition has started such that a deceleration rate of the vehicle enters a deceleration region. The second shift phase control section control the gear ratio of the automatic transmission after the first shift phase control ends such that the deceleration rate of the vehicle enters a constant speed region. |
| US07955208B2 |
Torque distributing apparatus
A torque distributing apparatus 8 comprises a differential gear unit 14, a planetary gear set 31 arranged between first and second output shafts 12L and 12R, a motor 32 driving the planetary gear set 31, and a speed change gear set 51 compensating a speed change ratio of the planetary gear set 31. The planetary gear set 31 and the speed change gear set 51 are arranged coaxially outward of the first output shaft 12L. The motor 32 is arranged coaxially outward of the planetary gear set 31 and the speed change gear set 51. |
| US07955205B2 |
Chain tension applying device
There is provided a chain tension applying device for a bicycle that can accommodate a change in an axial distance between a frame and a sprocket. A chain tensioner 40 is a device for applying tension to a chain 26, including: a bracket 56; a tension member 58; a securing position adjustment mechanism 60; and an urging member 62. The bracket is mountable to a frame (a mounting lug 24b) of the bicycle. The tension member is secured to the bracket immovably in a first direction and movably in a second direction different from the first direction, and can apply tension to the chain. The securing position adjustment mechanism can adjust a securing position of the tension member to the bracket in the first direction by sliding. The urging member urges the tension member in the second direction. |
| US07955204B2 |
Stepping motor cooling apparatus and method for belt-type continuously variable transmission
In a stepping motor cooling apparatus for a belt-type continuously variable transmission, a pair of primary and secondary pulleys are disposed inside a transmission case, and a forward/backward switching unit is disposed coaxially to the primary pulley, furthermore, a stepping motor is disposed below the forward/backward switching unit. An inner case originating from the transmission case surrounds a circumference of the forward/backward switching unit. Through the inner case, a dripping hole is formed at an inner case's portion directly above the stepping motor so that working fluid drained from the forward/backward switching unit can drip on the stepping motor. In order to further improve the cooling effect of the stepping motor, a recess portion is formed immediately below the stepping motor at an upper surface of a valve body disposed under the stepping motor. |
| US07955198B1 |
Circonic game
Circonic Game, a simulated indoor or outdoor basketball game, is played on a circular court outlined by three concentric circles. The outer circle acts as the court boundary and is conjoined by four smaller circles placed tangentially in a location that conforms to the four cardinal points of the compass (i.e., north, south, west and east). Four similar smaller circles are placed in a location that also conforms to four cardinal points of the compass (i.e., north, south, west and east) inside the two inner concentric circles of different radii forming a cluster of rings. A center pole in an upright position is mounted at the center of the court. Towards the top of the center pole are two primary ring baskets circumscribed by a larger circumferential ring basket supported by a transverse bar attached or welded to the rebounding center post centered in between these two primary ring baskets. |
| US07955192B2 |
Multi-layer core golf ball
Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber inner core, a thermoset rubber first intermediate core layer, a thermoplastic second intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer. The inner core is preferably formed from a harder rubber than the first intermediate core layer. |
| US07955189B2 |
Spin milled grooves for a golf club
The present invention is directed to a method of forming a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. |
| US07955188B2 |
Metal wood club
In one embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole with three recessed cavities for attachment to a hosel-bending tool. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole that includes one predetermined contact area proximal to the toe edge of the sole. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole in which pads of material are incorporated that may be milled to vary the relief of the sole and to modify mass characteristics of the club head. Yet another embodiment presents a golf club head having a body with a cavity to receive a cartridge that has a constant density and weight. |
| US07955186B2 |
Golf club and shaft replacing method
According to an aspect of the invention, a golf club includes: a head having a hosel; a shaft; a shaft case fixed to one end of the shaft, and configured to be inserted into the hosel, the shaft case being formed in a substantially cylindrical shape; and a ring-shaped screw member configured to be screwed into one end of the hosel to fix the shaft case in the hosel, and to be fitted with an outer face of an one end of the shaft case, the ring-shaped screw member being noncontact with the shaft. |
| US07955184B2 |
Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head. |
| US07955181B2 |
Device for practicing a sequence of movement in the golf swing
Device for practicing a sequence of movement in the golf swing, includes a base, and a first support, that is mounted on the base in a manner such that it can pivot about a first vertical axis and is intended for a golf player to place a first foot onto the first support which has a first supporting part for supporting the front part of the foot and a second supporting part that can be pivoted about a horizontal axis and is intended for supporting the heel of the first foot, a guide device is provided which is arranged on the base in a manner such that it at least partially surrounds the first vertical axis and which exhibits a curved design which rises from a lowermost point and which supports the second supporting part, and a second support is provided for the golf player to place his second foot on. |
| US07955180B2 |
Golf putter with aiming apparatus
The present invention relates to an improved golf club with line markings on the head of the putter that facilitate a precise and accurate motion of the club. One of these markings, the aiming line, runs parallel to the club face across the top of the club and is intended to assist the golfer in aiming and placement of the club head. The other markings, the guide lines, run perpendicular to the club face across the top of the club and are intended to guide the path of the subsequent motion of the club to hit a golf ball. |
| US07955166B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating sausage casing
A method and apparatus for treating processed food casing in preparation for stuffing. The method includes extending the casing, applying (e.g., spraying) an organic acid (e.g., a citric acid solution) to the exterior surface of the casing to produce a treated casing, and mounting the treated casing onto a stuffer. In one embodiment, extending includes removing the casing from a brine solution and laying the casing onto a support surface (e.g., attaching to a movable conveyor). The casing in the brine solution is commonly attached to a ring, and preferably attaching includes hooking the ring onto an engagement member on the conveyor. If desired, the method can also include rinsing the casing (e.g., spraying a water solution onto an exterior surface of the casing) after extending the casing and before and/or after applying the organic acid. |
| US07955164B2 |
Casing assemblies for systems with netting chutes
Apparatus for engaging a filler/product pump that include: (a) a horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal product channel extending therethrough; (b) a forming collar in communication with the horn, wherein, in operation, the forming collar is configured to cooperate with the horn to direct planar casing material to take on a generally tubular shape over an outer surface of the horn while product travels through the internal channel; (c) a netting chute sized and configured to receive a portion of the horn therein, the netting chute configured to hold a sleeve of elastic netting material thereon; and (d) an automated derucker operatively associated with the netting chute whereby the derucker is configured to automatically travel through a derucker stroke cycle comprising upstream and downstream locations to pull segments of netting material toward a downstream end portion of the netting chute while product is pumped out of the horn. |
| US07955161B2 |
Handheld sander
A handheld sander having an abrasive roller and a flexible drive shaft that is connected at the outer end thereof to the roller and is connected at the inner end thereof to an electric motor. A handle encloses the motor. An extension arm extends from the handle and encloses the drive shaft. |
| US07955160B2 |
Glass mold polishing method and structure
A glass mold polishing structure and method. The method includes providing a polishing tool comprising mounting plate, a chuck plate over and mechanically attached to the mounting plate, and a pad structure over and mechanically attached to the chuck plate. A retaining structure is attached the chuck plate. A glass mold comprising a plurality of cavities is placed on the pad structure and within a perimeter formed by the retaining structure. A vacuum device is attached to the chuck plate. The vacuum device is activated such that a vacuum is formed and mechanically attaches the glass mold to the pad structure. The polishing tool comprising the glass mold mechanically attached to the pad structure is placed over and in contact with the polishing pad. The polishing tool comprising the glass mold is rotated. The glass mold is polished as a result of the rotation. |
| US07955149B2 |
Fuel system for gas driven vessel
The invention relates to fuel system for gas driven piston engine in a marine vessel, which gas is stored in at least one fuel storage tank in the vessel as liquefied gas. The fuel feeding system comprises a separate fuel feed tank in which the gas is in liquid phase and at elevated pressure. The gas is also in liquid phase in the fuel storage tank, in which, however, prevails only the hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid gas. |
| US07955147B1 |
Surface mount (SMT) crimp terminal and method of securing wire to same
An surface mount technology (“SMT”) crimp terminal for mounting on printed circuit boards is in the form of a seamless circular tube or cylinder. The method of use includes depositing the SMT crimp terminal on a copper pad or land on a printed circuit board (“PCB”) coated with solder paste to render the pad or land tacky. The solder is reflowed by application of heat and the crimp terminal is soldered to the PCB. A bare wire to be retained is inserted through one end of the tube and the tube is subjected to sufficiently high stress, intermediate its axial ends, to induce plastic flow on the surface of the material. The force plastically deforms the central region of the tube as well as the bare wire received therein. Any form of mechanical hydraulic press can be used for this purpose and resulting deformation of the crimp terminal and the wire contained therein provides a retention force on the wire which is greater than wire breaking strength. |
| US07955145B2 |
In-line connector
Connectors are provided herein for connecting two elongated members that are positioned in-line to one another. Advantageously, the connectors not only allow for connection of the two members to permit for mechanical, electrical, EMI, and/or grounding applications, the connectors have provisions for accommodating thermal expansion and offset, which may include angular and/or axial offset. In certain embodiments, one or more collapsible housing pins or collars are provided to permit assembly and disassembly by either extending the housing pin or collapsing the housing pin. |
| US07955138B1 |
Electrical connector with improved housing for staggering contact
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of first contacts received in the housing. The insulative housing includes a base face and a number of first receiving grooves recessed perpendicularly from the base face. Each first contact has base portions assembled to the first contact groove. A first shifting portion defined with a first shifting direction is set on an inside face of each first contact groove. |
| US07955137B2 |
Lower profile cable assembly
A cable assembly includes an insulative housing, a number of contacts retained in the insulative housing and a metal shell covering the housing to form a receiving space with the tongue portion for receiving an electrical plug. The housing has a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion. The contacts consist of two pairs of differential signal contacts and a pair of grounding contacts between the two pairs of differential signal contacts. Each contact has a contact portion. All contact portions are arranged in a row on one side of the tongue portion. |
| US07955128B2 |
Electrical power system, method and assembly having nonconductive support bar
A method, system and assembly for transferring electrical power adapted to provide power to a grounded aircraft is provided. The assembly comprises a first and second insulated electrical conductor and a plug body, attached to ends of these conductors. A first contact and a second contact is provided within the plug body, having electrically conductive connections with the first and second conductors. A non conductive support bar disposed at least partially within the plug body separating at least portions of the first contact and the first conductor from the second contact and the second conductor. |
| US07955124B2 |
Cable connector assembly with an extra connector to supply power
A cable connector assembly includes a first cable connector (1), a pair of cables (4, 5), a second cable connector (2) and a third cable connector (3). The first cable connector has a printed circuit board (10) received therein, a shielding member (13) enclosing the printed circuit board and an insulative cover (14, 15) assembled out of the shielding member. The cables are connected with the printed circuit board and extending out of the shielding member, the second cable connector is in accordance with Displayport standard and connected with one of the two cables; and the third cable connector is in accordance with USB standard and connected with another one of the two cables. |
| US07955123B2 |
Cell connector for electronically contacting planar power sources, and use thereof
A cell connector (CC) for electrical contacting of planar current sources, the cell connector being able to be contacted electrically with the current source merely in regions. The cell connector thereby includes at least one electrically conductive layer which is configured as a transit region and via contact regions which constitute merely a fraction with respect to the total surface area of the transit region is contacted with the current source. |
| US07955121B2 |
Electrical connector assembly having a cable retention element
An electrical connector assembly includes a housing, a cable and a cable retention element. The housing holds contacts that are configured to be electrically joined with a peripheral device. The housing includes a cable port that is disposed at an outer surface of the housing. The cable extends from the cable port of the housing along a cable axis. The cable is electrically coupled with the contacts in the housing. The cable retention element is attached to the cable and is at least partially disposed within the housing. The cable retention element includes a body that is joined with the cable and a wing protruding from the body in a direction oriented at an angle with respect to the cable axis. The wing engages the housing to prevent the cable from being removed from the housing. |
| US07955118B2 |
Terminal plate circuit using a pressing member
A terminal plate circuit including a terminal plate, a rectangular wire, and a pressing member, characterized in that a hole through which the rectangular wire penetrates is provided in the terminal plate; the rectangular wire is inserted into this hole so as to establish an electrical contact between the terminal plate and the rectangular wire; and the contact state is maintained by a pressing force of the pressing member to the part of the surface of the rectangular wire on the side opposite to the part of the surface of the rectangular wire that is in contact with the terminal plate, and that the pressing member has a sandwiching part that can sandwich the end of the terminal plate, and the pressing force of the pressing member to the rectangular wire is generated by sandwiching the end of the terminal plate with this sandwiching part. |
| US07955116B2 |
Insulation displacement connector (IDC)
An electrical insulation displacement connector includes a body having at least one channel with an open top side configured for receipt of an insulated conductive core wire therein. A contact element is fixed in the body with a first insulation displacement end defined by opposed blades oriented across the channel, and a second end extending from a bottom surface of the body and configured for electrical contact with a PCB. The body includes retaining structure extending into the channel at a location relative to a depth of the blades within the channel such that the insulation portion of a wire inserted into the channel and pressed down into the first end of the contact element is pushed below the retaining structure, thereby preventing the wire from being inadvertently pulled out from the first end of the contact. |
| US07955113B2 |
Electrical connector with a retainer with pressing member
An electrical connector assembly, comprises a base (4) defining an upper surface and a lower surface, a central processing unit (CPU) (3) assembled upon the upper surface of the base, a printed circuit board (PCB) (5) arranged at the lower surface of the base. A retainer (1) comprises a top cover (11), a bottom cover (12) and a side wall (13) laterally connecting the top cover and the bottom cover, the top cover forms a pivoting structure (111) extending along a first direction at a free edge thereof. A pressing member (2) comprises a shaft (21) being pivotally mounted to the pivoting structure for the pressing plate (23) to press against an upper face of the CPU. |
| US07955108B2 |
Cable end joint assembly
A cable end joint assembly (60) for a heating cable is provided, and a method for manufacturing of said joint assembly. The cable end joint assembly comprises at least two insulated conductors (11,12) arranged within a common sheath (10) and has end portions (1,2) stripped for their insulation (11,12) and electrically interconnected (3), as well as an enclosing end cap (6) being sealed to the sheath (10). The cable end joint assembly (60) further comprises at least one sealing element (4), which is provided between the respective conductor insulations (11,12) and the inner wall (26) of the end cap (6). |
| US07955107B1 |
Connector structure
A connector structure, accommodating a flat cable via a front end thereof is disclosed. The flat cable defines a recess at each lateral side thereof; and the connector structure includes a connection base, a lid member, a plurality of terminals, and a pair of latch members being made of metallic materials. The connection base has a base portion, a pair of sidewalls extending backwards from two lateral sides of the base portion respectively. The lid member includes a pair of pivotal shafts pivoted respectively to the sidewalls of the connection base, and a pair of brake shafts each being adjacent to an inner side of each pivotal shaft. Each of the latch members is secured to each sidewall of the connection base, and has a latch arm. After the lid member covers over, the brake shafts actuate the latch arms in order to engage the recesses of the flat cable. |
| US07955104B1 |
Shorting clip terminal connector assembly including protrusion shield
A shorting clip terminal connector assembly electrically shorts together terminals in a first connector body dependent on connection status of a first and a second connector body. A shorting clip terminal disposed in a shorting clip terminal cavity in the first connector body receives a protrusion disposed on the second connector body. When the second connector body is mated with the first connector body, the protrusion engages a lift element of the shorting clip terminal in the shorting clip terminal cavity thereon and urges the lift element to lift contact elements of the shorting clip terminal away from the terminals in the shorting clip terminal cavity enabling insertion of protrusion side walls intermediate the contact elements and the terminals in the shorting clip terminal cavity. The contact elements of the shorting clip terminal do not make electrical contact with the terminals and the protrusion side walls further shield the contact elements from making electrical contact with the terminals. |
| US07955099B2 |
Card edge connector
A card edge connector comprises an insulating housing provided with a plurality of terminals, an actuator, an engaging member and a force transmitter. The insulating housing comprises at least one end tower disposed at an end thereof The actuator includes a push arm substantially linearly movable within the end tower. The engaging member, pivoted to rotate within the end tower, is configured to secure an inserted card and to eject the inserted card. The force transmitter, pivoted to rotate within the end tower, is able to engage with the push arm of the actuator and the engaging member. The force transmitter is actuated by the actuator to apply a force to rotate the engaging member and change a direction of the force in response to rotation of the engaging member. |
| US07955094B2 |
DVI connector with protective structure
The present invention is to provide a DVI connector, which includes a frame fixed to a circuit board, a connection head fixed on the frame and having a plurality of through holes, a plurality of first and second connection terminals passing through the corresponding through holes for transmitting high-frequency digital signals and low-frequency analog signals, respectively, and a protective element made of a material with a high dielectric constant, wherein the protective element is fixedly provided on the frame and formed with a plurality of terminal spaces, the terminal spaces are parallel to and spaced apart from one another for being passed through by the corresponding connection terminals. Since no two horizontally adjacent first connection terminals are passed through the same terminal space, it can effectively avoid the high-frequency signals transmitted by the first connection terminals from decaying or being interfered. |
| US07955092B2 |
Connection base assembly for an IC testing apparatus
A connection base assembly for an IC testing apparatus has a base, a top cap and a conductive assembly. The base has a bottom board and an outer frame provided with multiple grooves. The grooves are defined in the top of and extend to the bottom of the outer frame to form multiple through holes in the bottom of the outer frame. The conductive assembly is mounted between the base and the top cap and has multiple conductive elements, multiple top resilient elements and multiple bottom resilient elements. The conductive elements are mounted respectively in the grooves in the outer frame of the base, and each conductive element has a contacting segment and a connecting segment. The top resilient elements and the bottom resilient elements are respectively mounted on and abut with the tops and the bottoms of the conductive elements. |
| US07955089B2 |
Three-dimensional connector for a coordinate input device
A three-dimensional connector, which is used by a coordinate input device of a touch pad has a flat conductor cable with an end being connected to the touch pad and another end having multiple conductive lines. Each of the conductive lines is attached with a vertical guiding conductor pin. The guide conductor pin has a head section to press-fit with the flat conductor cable, and extends through a support to transmit electronic signals in a direction perpendicular to said flat conductor cable. |
| US07955086B1 |
Socket connector with vented pick up cap thereon
A socket connector includes an insulative housing defining an upper surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of contacts received in the housing, and a pick up cap assembly mounted upon the housing and covering the contacts. The pick up cap assembly includes a pick up cap having an opening exposed to contacts, and a deformable shield secured onto the pick up cap and covering the opening. The shield includes two layers having different coefficient of thermal expansion so that the shield warps upward when exposed to a heat, allowing heat to reach to the upper surface of the housing. |
| US07955081B2 |
Methods and systems for producing faces of N-dimensional forms
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for producing polyhedral nets and faces of N-dimensional forms and for creating polyhedrons. In one embodiment, a system utilizes the methods set forth herein to construct polyhedral nets and outputs results through a display or printer, either in part or in whole. |
| US07955076B2 |
Carious tooth detection device
A dental caries detecting system 1 according to the invention includes an ultraviolet irradiation device 2, a fluorescence receiving device 3 that receives fluorescence from a tooth based on ultraviolet irradiation from the ultraviolet irradiation device 2, a fluorescence data analysis portion 4 that analyzes fluorescence data transmitted from the fluorescence receiving device 3, and a display 5 that displays analysis data analyzed by the fluorescence data analysis portion 4. The fluorescence data analysis portion 4 is adapted to analyze said fluorescence data based on the fluorescence intensities in at least two wavelength bands in a visible light range. |
| US07955075B2 |
Device for correction of the form of dental alveolar arch
A device has a metal wireframe with two lateral fastening elements which are connected through metal lingual and vestibular springs to a frontal fastening element and executed in the form of metal wireframes clasping teeth of dentition's lateral segments and performed of lingual and vestibular details located at necks of teeth from the one side and dispersedly mounted along the height of teeth from the other side and connected by crosspieces. |
| US07955069B2 |
Receiving jig
To separate resin molded parts that are used for a push button switch member with less light leakage from the side faces and less trouble in key operation, easily, a resin molded body comprises one or more resin molded parts for a push button switch member, a frame surrounding the outside of the resin molded parts, one or more gates connecting a plurality of the resin molded parts each other or the resin molded part to the frame and one or more runners crossing the longitudinal direction of the gates, wherein the gates are connected at the back faces of the resin molded parts not to be coated with light shielding paint, and wherein the runners are connected to the gates on the same surfaces as the resin molded parts are connected to and are connecting the opposing sides of the frame. |
| US07955067B2 |
Transfer apparatus and molding production apparatus having the transfer apparatus
The present invention is to provide a transfer apparatus and a molded article production apparatus having the transfer apparatus. These apparatus can improve the working efficiency and control cost and space for arranging. A molded article production apparatus has a transfer apparatus and an injection molding apparatus. The transfer apparatus has an attaching part mounting a jig which a bus bar and a terminal are mounted on, and a molded box body. The attaching part has a main body, a component attaching part and a molded article attaching part. The component attaching part is arranged on one surface side of the main body, and mounts the jig which the bus bar and the terminal are mounted on. The molded article attaching part is arranged on another surface side of the main body, and mounts the box body formed by the injection molding apparatus. |
| US07955056B2 |
Method for controlling a compressed air installation comprising several compressors, control box applied thereby and compressed air installation applying this method
Method for adjusting a compressed air installation using several electrically driven compressors of what is called the “loaded/unloaded” type and/or the turbo compressor type and/or the compressor type with variable rotational speed, wherein these compressors are each connected to a single compressed air network with their outlets, and wherein use is made of a control box which makes it possible to adjust the pressure in the compressed air network around a target pressure to be set. The adjustment takes place by controlling the flow of one or several of the compressors, in particular in order to increase the overall flow supplied by the compressors when the pressure drops too much, and in order to lower the overall supplied flow when the pressure becomes too high. |
| US07955055B1 |
Safety retaining system for large industrial fan
A securing system for a fan assembly. The securing system includes a first member which attaches to a motor mount and a second member which attaches to the hub of the fan assembly. The first member is interposed between the hub and the second member such that should the shaft of the motor break, the first and second members engage with one another and inhibit the fan assembly from falling away from the motor mount. |
| US07955053B1 |
Turbine blade with serpentine cooling circuit
A turbine blade, especially a turbine blade for the first or second stage of an industrial gas turbine engine, the turbine blade having an aft flowing triple pass serpentine cooling circuit with all convection cooled blade. The three passes or legs of the serpentine flow circuit are formed by a leading edge rib and a trailing edge rib that are both slanted in order to provide decreasing flow cross sectional areas in the three passes of legs. A mini serpentine flow circuit is formed on the blade tip and the beginning of the second leg of the circuit to prevent flow separation of the cooling air at the blade tip. The third leg of the circuit includes pin fins to promote heat transfer. A row of exit cooling slots are located along the trailing edge of the blade and are connected to the third leg to discharge cooling air out from the trailing edge region. Trip strips are located on the walls of the first and second legs to also promote heat transfer within these passages. |
| US07955050B1 |
Turbine wheel assembly for a pneumatic rotary vibrator and method of making same
An apparatus and method for a turbine wheel assembly for a pneumatic rotary vibrator that provides a selectable force output while being removably retained on a vibrator shaft member. The turbine wheel assembly is mounted inside of a generally circular interior chamber of a pneumatic vibrator housing. The turbine wheel assembly includes: (1) a turbine ring that has an outside diameter, an inside diameter and a face width, (2) a sleeve member that is round and tubular, (3) an intermediate weight ring assembly that has an outer circumference, an inner circumference, and a predetermined face width, The weight ring assembly is formed by a plurality of wedge shaped segments. The plurality of wedge shaped segments include a predetermined quantity of heavy material segments and light material segments and by controlling the proportion of the total mass of the heavy material segments with respect to the total mass of the light weight material segments in the weight ring assembly will control the output force of a single model of the pneumatic vibrator. |
| US07955045B2 |
Method for prolonging and/or controlling the life of one or more heat generating and/or passive components in a wind turbine, a wind turbine, and use thereof
The invention relates to a method for prolonging and controlling the life of components associated with a wind turbine, by controlling the cooling down procedure of the components. Gradually lowering the temperature of the components reduces the number of temperature fluctuations of the component, thus extending the life of the components. |
| US07955044B2 |
Method for processing substrates
A method for processing substrates for a substrate processing facility includes the steps of: performing ventilation of a container with a fan filter unit while a lid of the container is in a closed state, when the container is stored in a storage shelf, and when the container is transferred with a substrate transfer device, and ventilating the container with the fan filter with the lid of the container in an open state, when substrates are transferred in a substrate loading/unloading section with the substrate transfer device. |
| US07955042B2 |
Manipulator
A manipulator includes an end effector, a support member that supports the end effector, and a fixing member provided to the support member and made of a tube-shaped flexible film with a space therein. In the manipulator, a fluid is supplied to the space of the fixing member to inflate the fixing member so that a flexible cover for covering the end effector is fixed to the support member. Accordingly, cleanness of the end effector is restored. |
| US07955040B2 |
Cutting device, finisher and image forming apparatus provided therewith
A cutting device that cuts an edge portion of a sheet bundle to an even length, in which a plurality of sheet have been stacked, using a cutting blade, the cutting device includes: a paddle shaft capable of being rotated, which is connected to a drive source provided in the vicinity of the cutting blade; and a plurality of paddles provided on the paddle shaft in a rotary axis direction thereof; wherein the plurality of paddles are arranged in a single line with the same phase as each other on the paddle shaft. |
| US07955039B2 |
Method of creating booklet cover and booklet cover kit
A peeling sheet on the back of a cover sheet is provided with a cover seal having a printed front surface is peeled off to partially expose an adhesive layer. A core material for cover is placed thereon. First side piece portion and second side piece portion are then peeled off and the entire surface of the first cover members, backbone member and second cover member of the core material for cover is bonded and fixed by the adhesive layer of the cover sheet for cover. Outer circumferential region of the cover seal for cover is then bent to the inside thus making a cover of a booklet. When a personal user edits electronic images and prints the electronic images on a printed sheet, the printed sheet can be fixed easily in a short time for making a booklet. |
| US07955035B2 |
Rivet
The invention relates to a rivet for connecting parts, in particular aircraft components, through which holes are formed, the rivet including a sleeve part, which has a rivet head with an axially extending cavity and an adjoining or is composed of such rivet head and a rivet mandrel having an essentially cylindrical base body and a widened rivet mandrel head in relation to the diameter thereof and which passes through the sleeve part and along the cavity with its base body. So that a cost-effective connection with improved loadability can be produced between workpieces, even when they have holes of different sizes for the rivet, the rivet mandrel according to the invention has ribs running axially on the cylindrical base body. |
| US07955028B2 |
Marine pipelaying system and method for installing an offshore pipeline that includes one or more accessories
Marine pipelaying method and system for installing an offshore pipeline (1) that includes one or more accessories (10). The method includes the steps of providing a vessel (2), launching the pipeline (1) in a firing line from the vessel (2) in the direction of the seabed, engaging the pipeline (1) with a clamping device (5b) that is connected to the vessel (2) and adapted to support the weight of the previously launched pipeline (1), and moving the accessory (10) into the firing line to a position above the clamping device (5b). Then the accessory (10) is connected to the pipeline (1) above the clamping (5b) device while the pipeline (1) is held by the clamping device (5b) Follow that the accessory (10) and the launched pipeline (1) connected thereto and releasably secured to a controlled load hoisting device (5) and the weight of the accessory (10) and the launched pipeline (1) connected thereto are transferred from the clamping device (5b) to the controlled load hoisting device (5) while the accessory (10) and the launched pipeline (1) connected thereto remain in the firing line. Finally the clamping device (5b) is disengaged from the pipeline (1) and moved away from firing line. Then the accessory (10) and the launched pipeline (1) connected thereto are lowered along the firing line by the controlled load hoisting device (5). |
| US07955026B2 |
Method for rehabilitating a manhole
To line an inner circumferential surface of side walls of a manhole, a rehabilitating sheet made of a sheet material resistant to water and corrosion is provided in the form of a bag having a shape corresponding to the inner circumferential surface to be lined. The rehabilitating sheet is inserted into the manhole to be lined. Block and plate frames are coupled inside the bag of the rehabilitating sheet to support it so as to have the shape corresponding to the inner circumferential surface to be lined. A gap between the rehabilitating sheet and the inner circumferential surface of the side walls of the manhole is filled with a filler, which is then hardened to line the side walls of the manhole. Pairs of plate frames having different diameters are coupled to each other to provide ring plates having different diameters. The ring plates are stacked one by one from the maximum one to support the rehabilitating sheet so as to have a shape of the inner circumferential surface of the inclined side wall portion of the manhole. |
| US07955024B2 |
Inlay system for concrete
The present invention discloses a tactile warning panel inlay system and method. Such system is comprised of a panel formed with an exposed surface having a plurality of tactile warning protrusions and a support surface configured to contact a substrate matrix. The panel includes a plurality of apertures extending from the exposed surface to the support surface. Further, a plurality of two-piece fasteners are configured to extend individually through an aperture included in the plurality of panel apertures to secure the panel to the substrate matrix. Each fastener includes a head conformed to the shape of the tactile warning protrusion and a threaded shank for extending through the panel and which has an anchor member threadably secured thereto. |
| US07955022B2 |
Elongate sleeve retention device and uses thereof
An elongate sleeve retention device adapted to securely retain an elongate sleeve on a post-like structure about which it is disposed. In a preferred embodiment, the retention device of the present invention is configured to interface between a bollard and a bollard cover, and cause the bollard cover to resist inadvertent dissociation from the bollard. |
| US07955020B2 |
Grooved profile for a hub shaft connection
A grooved profile for a form fitting hub-shaft connection in which a groove profile for a hub and a shaft include flanks which are structured and arranged as opposing flanks. The groove profile includes a groove profile height in at least one of the hub and the shaft, a wall thickness in at least one of the hub and the shaft smaller than the groove profile height, and at least one of the opposing flanks is one of curved and arc-shaped in cross section. |
| US07955016B2 |
Cosmetic or dermatological treatment method and devices for application of such a method
A device includes an assembly including a non-rotatable applicator. The applicator includes an application surface configured to treat an area of the human body such as the skin. The applicator further includes at least one material with thermal properties such that, when the at least one material is heated to a temperature above 30° C. and which temperature does not cause thermal damage to the skin when the application surface is contacted with the skin for 15 seconds, the application surface maintains, after this application, a temperature above or equal to 30° C. The applicator can include a grasping surface and a cavity with a compound inside. The applicator can typically be configured to withstand repeated heating, especially by microwave oven. |
| US07955014B2 |
Dispenser with moving assembly with encased valve
A dispenser includes a moving assembly which includes an upper valve and a lower valve having a reservoir for containing a product. The upper valve having at least one aperture is coupled to the lower valve having at least one aperture. Furthermore, the lower valve and the upper valve are partially covered by a sleeve. The sleeve includes a shaped path. The upper valve and the lower valve being selectively guidable along the shaped path between an upward position for the dispenser to deliver the product and a downward position to store the dispenser. |
| US07955010B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup system
A camera apparatus and a camera system of the present invention are configured so that a lens unit is attachable/detachable. The lens unit contains at least a lens and an iris, and contains a memory storing setting information required for operating the lens and the iris. When a camera microcomputer checks detection information stored in a memory in a sub-microcomputer at a time of start-up of the camera apparatus, and first detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from the lens unit. When second detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from another memory in the camera apparatus. Due to this configuration, the time for shifting the switch-on to a photographable state is shortened, and the ease of convenience can be enhanced. |
| US07955005B2 |
Roll rotation mechanism
In a roll rotation mechanism (1) for continuously causing a film-rolling roll to rotate at a constant rate, an Oldham coupling (4) is interposed in a transmission path between a wave gear reduction mechanism (3) and a roll (10). The Oldham coupling (4) forms a connection between a gear rotation output shaft (34) and a roll rotation shaft (11) in a state in which latitude of movement α is present about a central axis line (4a). When a roll (10) is continuously rotated at a constant rate, the Oldham coupling (4) is held in a state in which no latitude of movement is present in a rotation direction R and latitude of movement α is present in a direction opposite the rotation direction; and rotation torque is transmitted. Due to the presence of the latitude of movement α, a vibration transmission path is blocked in the Oldham coupling (4), vibrations are not transmitted from the wave gear reduction mechanism (3) to a roll (19), a vibration system does not resonate, and no incidence of large rotational fluctuation occurs in the roller. |
| US07955001B2 |
Tapered roller bearing with improved cage
A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with an inner race fitted around the journal portion of an axle. An outer raceway combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A backing ring is centered to the shaft fillet. Tapered roller elements are located between and contact the inner and outer raceways. A cage is comprised of an inner ring, and outer ring, and a plurality of pocket bars and support pocket bars extending between the inner and outer rings. The support pocket bars have an overall greater thickness than the pocket bars. The cage is a generally unitary structure comprised of a nylon resin material with a fiber fill. |
| US07954993B2 |
Measuring apparatus comprising a Peltier-Seebeck detector
A measuring apparatus comprises a detector device for detecting a variable to be measured, and a controller operative to control the detector device and generate an output signal indicative of the magnitude of the variable being measured. The detector device comprises a housing on which are mounted two Peltier-Seebeck detectors, the detectors being arranged on the housing such that only the first Peltier-Seebeck detector is exposed, in use, to the variable to be measured. The controller is operative to generate the output signal based on the output of the first Peltier-Seebeck detector and the output of the second Peltier-Seebeck detector so as to account for the effect of the ambient heat on each Peltier-Seebeck detector. |
| US07954990B2 |
Composite light guiding device
A light guiding device (1) and in particular to a light guiding device that can be used for illumination, backlighting, signage or display purposes is described. The light guiding device (1) comprises a transparent base substrate (2), upon a first surface of which are mounted light sources (3), and a guide substrate (4) arranged so as to encapsulate the light sources (3) upon the first surface. In this way the guide substrate (4) provides a means for guiding light produced by the one or more light sources over the first surface. The incorporation of scattering structures (5) along with appropriate choice of the refractive indices of the various layers provides a highly flexible light guiding device that is typically less than 1 mm thick. The described light guiding device (1) provides particular application as a seven segment display. |
| US07954986B2 |
Vehicle light and method for manufacturing the same
A vehicle light can have a simple configuration for easily determining whether or not a coating, such as an anti-fog coating and a hard coating, has been applied to a lens. A manufacturing method of such a vehicle light is also disclosed. The vehicle light can include a housing opened in an illumination direction, a light source disposed within the housing, a reflecting surface disposed within the housing and configured to reflect light from the light source to the illumination direction, and an outer lens disposed so as to hermetically close the front open end of the housing. The outer lens can have an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of which including a coating for surface treatment. The outer lens can further have a first area which is subjected to a texturing process on the inner surface and/or the outer surface, with at least part of the first area including the coating for surface treatment. |
| US07954983B2 |
Optical component, manufacturing method of the same and backlight module
The present invention provides an optical component, a manufacturing method of the same and a backlight module including the foregoing optical component. The optical component includes a plurality of microstructures and reflecting members. The microstructure is extended along a first direction and arranged along a second direction on a light exit surface, and a distance between the first curve and the second curve in the second direction is not equal and not parallel, and a distance between the second curve and another first curve in the second direction being not equal and not parallel. Each reflecting member is extended along the first direction and arranged along the second direction on a light entrance surface and the position of each reflecting member is among two microstructures. Each of the reflecting members to the light entrance surface has a thickness t, a length of the microstructure in the second direction is a width P, the optical component has a refractive index n, and t, P and n satisfy a formula of tan−1(P/(10t))>sin−1(1/n). When the design of the optical component satisfies the foregoing formula, it will achieve better optical performance. |
| US07954979B2 |
LED lighting systems for product display cases
A lighting assembly for illuminating a display case includes an LED that illuminates items placed in the display case. The lighting assembly can attach to a door, a door frame, or another structure of the display case. |
| US07954978B2 |
Pocket size stylus flashlight
A pocket-sized flashlight may comprise a hollow cylindrical housing, a solid state light source at a forward end thereof and a switch at a rearward end thereof. The switch selectively connects the solid state light source and two or more batteries, preferably size AAAA batteries, in the housing in circuit for causing the solid state light source to produce light. The pocket-sized flashlight preferably is a relatively long and slim flashlight, wherein its length is between about 12.6 times and about 17.4 times its diameter. |
| US07954977B2 |
Electrical assembly
A LED lighting assembly comprising at least one LED; the at least one LED being mounted to a support; at least one solar element for creating electric power from solar power; at least one battery for storing electricity generated by the solar element; at least one wind vane operatively associated with the support; at least one motor/generator having a first mode for generating electric power from the wind turbine; and at least one shaft operatively connected to the at least one motor/generator and the support; the motor/generator having a second mode in which the motor/generator operates to rotate the support; the at least one motor/generator being operatively connected to the at least one battery for storing electric power therein. |
| US07954974B2 |
Fire rated downlights
A casing for a downlight having a tubular body from which the light of a lamp when installed in the body is emitted from the front of the body and having a rear end wall closing the body from the rear, wherein intumescent material is placed within the tubular body lining the tubular wall of the tubular body. |
| US07954973B1 |
Stair lighting system, and method for its implementation
A stair lighting system that features: means for sending electrical power from one end to the other end of a stair case down a main line, means for distributing electrical power from the main line to each individual step or tread, and an electrical load in the form of a light source, preferably featuring a light emitting diode (LED), and means for controlling a supply of electrical power to the light source. |
| US07954972B2 |
Light attachment for inspection tool
A light attachment for an inspection tool having a mirror, the attachment having: a mounting bracket configured for releasable attachment to the mirror; a light member attached to the mounting bracket; and a power source for the light member. |
| US07954971B1 |
Offset mountable light accessory
An offset mountable light, including a light body, wherein the light body includes a battery compartment positioned within a cavity formed by the light body; a light hood housing a light source; at least three electrical contacts formed in the light body, wherein the at least three electrical contacts comprise at least one inner contact and at least two outer contacts; a controller that is capable of controlling the light source to illuminate in a predetermined manner; a light switch bar pivotably coupled to the light body; and an accessory mounting clamp coupled to the offset mountable light, wherein the accessory mounting clamp mounts the mountable light to an accessory rail, such that the mountable light is mounted offset from the accessory rail. |
| US07954969B2 |
Illuminating device for liquid crystal panel
Light which tries to enter a diffuser plate 3 at an angle which exceeds an angle at which a percentage of reflected light increases rapidly (that is, the incidence angle θ=70 degrees) is all reflected by a reflecting surface 21 and then enters the diffuser plate 3. Therefore, a pseudo light source is formed by light which was collected near a connection point between adjacent reflecting surfaces 21 out of the emitted light of the discharge lamps 1. So, the brightness between the adjacent discharge lamps 1 is increased, and it is possible to reduce unevenness in brightness. Furthermore, since the discharge lamp 1 is housed inside the reflecting surface 21 whose cross-sectional shape is a parabola, it is possible to reduce the distance between a reflecting plate 2 and the diffuser plate 3, as compared with the prior art, and to reduce the thickness dimension in the anteroposterior direction. |
| US07954963B2 |
Light source and projector
A light source device includes a discharge lamp and a reflection mirror having a plurality of concave curved surfaces. Each of the plurality of concave curved surfaces is an ellipsoidal surface. A first focal point of each of the ellipsoidal surfaces is disposed at the light emitting center of the discharge lamp. A second focal point of each of the ellipsoidal surfaces is disposed, when viewed from a predetermined first direction perpendicular to a system optical axis passing through the light emitting center, on the opposite side of the system optical axis to the ellipsoidal surface, and when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the system optical axis and the first direction, on the side where the ellipsoidal surface is present with reference to the system optical axis. |
| US07954956B2 |
Projection-type display apparatus
A projection-type display apparatus includes an optical modulation device having a lamp emitting a light, and a projection optical system projecting the light on a screen in a magnified form, with the projection optical system including a plurality of reflection mirrors. In addition, a fan system air-cools reflective surfaces of the plurality of reflection mirrors. The fan system includes a fan and a controller for controlling the fan based on luminance output of the lamp. |
| US07954955B2 |
Projector lamp having pulsed monochromatic microwave light sources
A light engine for image display projectors has a plurality of monochromatic light sources, typically red, blue and green, combined into one light generation device powered by microwaves pulsed at 3-5 KHz rates. The light engine has a microwave power supply, microwave coupling cavity, a microwave coupler coupling a microwave signal from the microwave power supply to the microwave coupling cavity, and the plurality of monochromatic light sources disposed in the microwave coupling cavity and powered by the microwave signal. The microwave coupling cavity includes a plurality of resonance points, each of the monochromatic light sources being located respectively at one of the resonance points. |
| US07954951B2 |
Vehicular meter unit
In a first display mode, a common image function component is displayed to occupy at least a part of a display region of a second specific image function component. In a second display mode, the common image function component is continuously displayed outside the second specific image function component to avoid the overlap therebetween (i.e., such that an exclusive positional relationship is made therebetween). When the display mode is switched, a final transition of the display mode to a display state in the second display mode is made while or after a moving image showing a transition process, in which the common image function component is moved from a display position in the first display mode to a display position in the second display mode, is displayed as a mode transition animation. |
| US07954946B2 |
Optical tomographic image photographing apparatus
An apparatus has an optical system detecting spectral information and having an optical scanner and a driving unit changing the optical path length by moving an optical member, a monitor, and a unit controlling the driving unit, obtaining a tomographic image by performing Fourier analysis on the information and displaying the obtained image, in which a front surface of an examined object is positioned on the back side of a depth position where optical path lengths of measurement light and reference light become equal to obtain a normal image of the tomographic image, the front surface of the examined object is positioned on the front side of the depth position to obtain an inverted image of the tomographic image, and at least one of dispersion correction processing corresponding to the information and image combining processing is performed on both normal and inverted images, and the images are displayed. |
| US07954943B2 |
Eyeglasses holder
An eyeglasses holder for holding eyeglasses proximal a wearer's cap is provided. The holder includes a longitudinally extending first retaining member and a longitudinally extending second retaining member spaced-apart from the first member and being interconnected on respective first ends thereof by a laterally extending base member. A longitudinally extending intermediate retaining member is positioned between the first and second members and defines a cap engaging void between the first member and an eyeglasses engaging void between the second member. |
| US07954937B2 |
Ink jet printing apparatus
The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus capable of improving reliability of an electrical connecting portion between a carriage side and head cartridge side. When an ink tank is mounted on a head cartridge, a hook of a set lever is obstructed to be operated in a lock releasing direction by a restricting surface of the ink tank. This prevents the head cartridge from being removed from the carriage, and maintains an electrical connecting condition between the carriage and the head cartridge. Therefore, for removing the head cartridge, it is necessary to remove the ink tank. |
| US07954931B2 |
Container holder, liquid consuming apparatus, and liquid container
A container holder can accommodate liquid containers with high density without deteriorating electrical connection between an apparatus terminal and a circuit board. |
| US07954928B2 |
Printhead assembly having angled nested structure
A printhead assembly includes an elongate ink distribution assembly defining elongate ink ducts from which ink transfer ports extend. The ink distribution assembly further defines a recess in which a laminated stack structure is received in fluid communication with the ink transfer ports. The laminated stack structure has layers between which ink channels in fluid communication with the ports are interleaved. The laminated stack defines at least one cavity in which respective ink ejection print head integrated circuits (ICs) can be received in fluid communication with the ink channels. The cavity is formed in the laminated stack structure so that the ICs can be disposed at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the ink distribution assembly. |
| US07954923B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a printing head that ejects liquid to form dots on a recording medium; a head driving section that performs a main scanning for the printing head; a transporting section that performs a sub-scanning for the recording medium; an image forming section that forms an image, a first dot formation area and a second dot formation area; an overlap control section that performs overlap control for intermittently forming dots on the first and second dot formation areas so as to make the second dot formation area overlap with the first dot formation area and fill spaces between the dots intermittently formed on the first dot formation area; and a cancellation section that cancel the overlap control when a blank area exists in an image and a nozzle forming at least one of the first dot formation area and the second dot formation area. |
| US07954922B2 |
Ink jet recording apparatus
Activation/deactivation of a pump 50 is executed with a delay of a predetermined time from a forward/reverse switching of rotation of a conveying roller 2, while an activation/deactivation of lock means 20 is executed simultaneous with a forward/reverse switching of rotation of the conveying roller 2, and, at the switching of the driving direction of the conveying roller, a difference in timing is provided in the drive transmission so as not to transmit the driving power to the pump for a time necessary for the activation/deactivation switching of the lock means. By separating the cap from the recording head while retaining a negative pressure in the cap after the ink suction operation, thereby reducing the ink amount remaining on the discharge port face or in the cap after the ink suction operation. |
| US07954920B2 |
Inkjet printer assembly with driven mechanisms and transmission assembly for driving driven mechanisms
An inkjet printer assembly includes a cartridge having an integrated pagewidth printhead integrated circuit (IC); a cradle for receiving the cartridge; an air compressor for providing compressed air to the cartridge, the air compressor including a fan housing, an air filter, and an impeller, the fan housing having an air outlet adapted to mate with an air inlet port of the cartridge; a motor having a transmission assembly provided with a direct drive coupling from a spindle of the motor to the impeller of the air compressor; and a controller for determining a performance characteristic of the cartridge and to control an operation the printhead IC in response to the determined performance characteristic of the cartridge. |
| US07954919B2 |
Printer including dot data generator with stochastically ramped print data
A printer including a print media transport path, a plurality of printhead modules located across the print media transport path, each printhead module having an elongate printhead, said printheads being slanted and nozzles of respective printheads overlap with nozzles of printheads of neighboring printhead modules, and a dot data generator for providing print data to nozzles such that print data is stochastically ramped from one neighbouring printhead module to a next neighbouring printhead module. |
| US07954913B2 |
Molded plastic support frame for a drawer-type dishwasher
A support frame for a drawer-type dishwasher includes a top section and opposing side sections formed from a plurality of support members which define an open lattice work and establish a cavity for a slidable dishwasher drawer. The support frame also includes first and second rail supports that are provided on respective ones of the opposing side sections. The first and second rail supports are designed to support corresponding first and second extensible rails which, in turn, support the wash tub for movement relative to the frame. In addition, the support frame includes lid support elements for a mechanism that provides shifting of a lid member relative to the wash tub. |
| US07954911B2 |
Housing having a frame around the housing opening and accessories which can be attached thereto
A housing with a housing opening at a front, which is closed off by a frame put together from frame legs, wherein the frame opening is and/or can be closed off by a front and/or a cover plate. Accessories, such as handles, storage elements, support arms, pedestals, keyboards and the like are and/or can be connected with the frame legs of the frame. Continuous receiving grooves, open toward the outside, are formed on the outsides of the frame legs. Fastening opportunities are created at all frame locations by fastening devices which can be introduced into the receiving grooves, and thus it is possible to attach any desired accessories at any desired locations of the frame legs of the housing. |
| US07954908B2 |
Pedal simulation device
The invention relates to a pedal simulation device for simulating the reaction behavior of a pedal, in particular of a brake pedal of a vehicle brake system, comprising a cylinder, a piston disposed displaceably inside the cylinder and coupled to the pedal and delimiting a working chamber inside the cylinder, a resetting element which, upon an actuation of the pedal, exerts a resetting force on the pedal, and a modelling device, which is fluidically connected to the working chamber, for influencing the reaction behavior of the pedal. In the invention, for achieving the reaction behavior it is provided that, upon an actuation of the pedal, by means of the modelling device a vacuum, which is arising or has arisen in the working chamber, is built up. |
| US07954905B2 |
Modular motorcycle hub system
In an embodiment, a modular motorcycle hub system includes a central hub body with a first and second extension member coupling end; a brake extension member with a first hub body coupling end operable to couple with the central hub body via at least one of the first and second extension member coupling; and a pulley extension member having a second hub body coupling end operable to couple with the central hub body via at least one of the first and second extension member coupling ends. |
| US07954903B2 |
Barrier mechanism
A barrier mechanism for vehicles arranged to receive containers comprising dispensable content comprises a bracket arranged to be moveably mounted at a dispensing side of the vehicle and an activation device. The activation device is operable to move the bracket between a non-deployed state, to accommodate loading of the container onto the trailer, and a deployed state, for securing container content during dispensing of content at the barrier side of the vehicle. |
| US07954900B2 |
Leg supporting device for use behind a head rest for air and vehicular travel
A leg supporting device for use behind a head rest for air and vehicular travel has a head rest support portion that fits over a head rest of a forwardly positioned seat and supports a back flap portion that hangs down behind the forwardly positioned seat. A pair of adjustment straps adjustably attach to the back flap portion and supports a foot support portion. A user slips one or both of their feet into the foot support portion and then adjusts the adjustment straps to support their feet at a desired height and position. The foot support portion handles to carry it. In use, the leg supporting device can be folded and placed within the foot support portion and carried using the handles until needed. One embodiment includes pockets for holding drinks, computer, and other carry-on items. A leg massage unit may be built in for additional relief. |
| US07954894B2 |
Headrest mountable video system
A media system for a seat in a vehicle comprises a display electrically coupled to a media player, wherein the display and the media player are housed together in a first housing, and a second housing disposed substantially in the seat and adapted to secure the first housing including the display and the media player therein, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing. |
| US07954893B2 |
Headrest for vehicle seat
A headrest for vehicle seat includes: a generally inverted-U-shaped frame having a pair of headrest stays defined therein; and an impact absorption bar fixedly connected between those two headrest stays. The impact absorption bar is located in a predetermined spaced relation with an upper horizontal frame portion of the generally inverted-U-shaped frame. When a rear-end collision or the like occurs, a head of seat occupant is stably received by those impact absorption bar and upper horizontal frame portion, while the impact absorption bar being readily deformed by backward excessive great load applied thereto from the seat occupant's head to thereby absorb and reduce a corresponding impact energy to be imparted to the head. |
| US07954884B2 |
Structure of vehicle end section
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle end structure capable of more reliably receiving a load upon a collision in a vehicle body of the frame construction. The vehicle end structure of the present invention is one constructed near a front end (or rear end) of a framework of a vehicle and is characterized by comprising a pair of body frame members 1 extending in an anteroposterior direction of the vehicle body; a bumper reinforce 3 hung at ends of the pair of frame members 1; a pair of brackets 4 located on the center side of the vehicle with respect to the ends of the pair of frame members 1 and projecting outwardly and laterally from the respective frame members; a pair of outer pillar members 5 extending downward from the respective brackets 4; a cross member 6 hung between the pair of outer pillar members 5; and a pair of inner pillar members 7 joining an upper surface of the cross member 6 to the respective frame members 1. |
| US07954883B2 |
Energy-absorbing deformation element for a vehicle
An energy-absorbing deformation element is provided for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, wherein the deformation element in the mounted state is arranged in a collision region between a covering part and a vehicle body, and more particularly, between a headliner and a vehicle roof. The deformation element has an essentially U-shaped profile, on free end regions of which is disposed a flange at least in certain regions. A plurality of cutouts or recesses are provided in the flanges on each free end region. |
| US07954877B2 |
Tarping system for open top containers
A relatively lightweight tarping system for use with trailers or other open top containers includes first and second spaced frame members and an elongated flexible member such as a cable or chain connected to and extending therebetween. A tarpaulin may be mounted thereon so that the frame members, flexible member and tarpaulin are pivotable between a covered position atop the open top container and an uncovered position. A four-bar linkage is preferably used in combination with a rotational drive mechanism to provide various advantages in rotating the tarpaulin assembly between the covered and uncovered positions. A width adjustment mechanism is provided to provide usage with trailers or other open top containers of different widths. An improved seal is provided between the tarpaulin and container. |
| US07954873B2 |
Lock structures for stowable vehicle seats
A striker is supported by and coupled to a seat body and is held in a rotated position where the striker is lowered to a position along the shape of the seat body. When the seat body is moved and stowed, the striker is raised to and held at a rotated and raised position where the striker can be engaged and locked to a locking device. Elasticity of an opening spring and a rubber body, which are arranged between the striker and a coupling section, allows a forced rotational displacement of the striker in both forward and reverse directions from a state in which the striker is held at the rotated and raised position. |
| US07954870B2 |
Tweezers with magnetically pivotal illumination device
A tweezers includes two joined metal legs comprising a forward gripping end and a force exertion portion extending from a rear end of the leg to the gripping end wherein a projection is formed on an inner surface of a head part joining the legs; a battery powered light source having a forward portion pivotably secured to the legs and comprising an on/off switch; a magnet disposed in a rear end of the light source and adapted to attach to the projection; and a plastic member covered the head part and the force exertion portions of the legs. An angle of light emitted from the light source can be adjusted to illuminate an area being worked therewith. |
| US07954868B1 |
Portable animal excrement collector and associated method
A portable animal excrement collecting apparatus for effectively discarding animal excrement in a sanitary manner includes an elongated shaft. A handle is fixedly attached to a proximal end of the shaft. The apparatus further includes a trigger and a trigger actuating mechanism that is operably coupled to the shaft and the handle respectively for resiliently biasing the trigger along an arcuate path defined proximate to the handle. A collection bag is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The collection bag has an open top end for allowing a user to scoop up and collect the animal excrement. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for automatically detaching the collection bag from the distal end of the shaft by selectively adapting the trigger to a tensed position via the trigger actuating mechanism. |
| US07954867B1 |
Pick up device
A pick up device comprises a container defining an interior space, the container having a front wall movable between an open position and a closed position and a rear wall movable between an open position and a closed position. A reciprocating arm is associated with the container and attached to the front wall for moving the front wall between the open position and the closed position. An activator is provided for activating movement of the front wall from the open position to the closed position. Further, a connector means is formed between the rear wall and the container allowing the rear wall to move between the open position and the closed position, the connector means permitting movement from the closed to the open position when the container is oriented at a suitable angle. |
| US07954860B2 |
Coupling mechanism
In a coupling mechanism, an inner peripheral wall of a coupling main body is inscribed with an outer side ring groove of containing an outer peripheral side edge portion of a stopper member, a stopper member introducing port formed by a width wider than a width dimension of a strip member of the stopper member is inscribed at a position of an outer wall portion of the coupling main body slightly shifted from a position of inscribing the outer side ring groove to a side of an inserting front end, the stopper member is applied with a spiral torsion such that both end portions opposed to each other of the strip member slightly carry out core deviation, an inner peripheral wall of the outer side ring groove is formed by a taper face in a state of being expanded from a rear end side to a front end side in an inserting direction, also an outer peripheral wall of the stopper member is formed by a taper face of a shape in correspondence with the taper face of the outer side ring groove, the inner peripheral wall of the stopper member is formed by a shape substantially in parallel with an outer peripheral wall of the connected pipe, and a face of the inner peripheral wall is formed by a rough face achieving a slip preventing effect. |
| US07954856B2 |
Flareless pipe coupling structure, flareless pipe coupling method, and on-site pipe coupling method
A guide tapered surface 17 of a pipe coupling port 16 has a small diameter portion 17a guiding to a distal end portion 3a of a bite type sleeve 3 to bite into a coupling pipe 5 and a large diameter portion 17b sealing a tapered outer circumferential surface 33 of the bite type sleeve 3 by making close contact with the tapered outer circumferential surface 33 of the bite type sleeve 3. A tilt angle α1 of the small diameter portion 17a relative to a central axis of the guide tapered surface 17 is greater than a tilt angle α2 of the large diameter portion 17b relative to the central axis. Therefore, even when a distal end portion of the coupling pipe 5 is not inserted up to an innermost portion of the pipe coupling port 16, excellent sealing performance is obtained in a portion coupled to the coupling pipe. |
| US07954845B2 |
Knee-protecting airbag device
The inflation and deployment speed of an airbag of a knee-protecting airbag device is increased to quickly deploy the airbag to a position where it can protect the knees of the occupant, thereby improving the occupant protection function. An airbag (10), from a state in which it is arranged in a flat form, is folded sequentially through a first step in which a leading end (10S) is tucked and folded into the airbag (10), a second step in which left and right ends (10M) of the airbag (10) are roll-folded toward each other toward a vehicle-body-side base fabric sheet (12) on the vehicle-body side, and a third step in which the leading end side of the airbag (10) in the deploying direction (F) is roll-folded toward the base end (10T) toward the vehicle-body-side base fabric sheet (12). The folded airbag (10) is accommodated in a case together with an inflator (2), and a base end (10T) thereof is fixed to the case. Thus, an airbag device (1) is produced and is attached to a vehicle, at a position in front of the knees of the occupant. |
| US07954840B2 |
Coupler assembly with guided ball clamp
A coupler assembly for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle hitch ball has a housing with an interior that defines a coupler socket adapted to receive a hitch ball. A ball clamp is disposed within the interior of the coupler housing and is movable toward and away from the coupler socket. The ball clamp has a clamping portion that retains the hitch ball within the coupler socket with the ball clamp positioned toward the coupler socket in a hitch ball retention position. A guide ramp is disposed within the coupler housing rearward of the coupler socket. The guide ramp projects toward the ball clamp and slopes upward and forward toward the coupler socket. A lateral guide member is disposed on the ball clamp rearward of the guide ramp. The lateral guide member cooperates with the guide ramp surface to limit forward movement of the ball clamp into the coupler socket. |
| US07954836B2 |
Truckbed access apparatus
A truckbed access apparatus consisting of a first hollow support component, a second hollow support component affixable over and about the first support component with a step plate affixed thereto, a first holding pin for holding the first support component to a truck reese hitch unit, a second holding pin for holding the second hollow support component to the first one, a vertically inclined support rod affixed through a hole in the step plate to one side thereof and also to the second hollow support component and with a brace component held to the support rod and also to a threaded hook unit in turn hooked into a hole found in a truck reese hitch unit. |
| US07954834B2 |
Linkage for a vehicle suspension
A linkage for connecting a frame of a vehicle to an unsprung mass component of the vehicle, includes: a first portion connectable to the frame, and includes a first toothed surface; a second portion connectable to an unsprung mass component, and includes a second toothed surface, where the first portion is rotatably connected to the second portion and configured to be rotatable between the first toothed surface and the second toothed surface, and where the first toothed surface and the second toothed surface are configured to mesh with each other and maintain engagement. |
| US07954833B1 |
Trailing beam assembly
A suspension assembly comprises an axle member extending between a pair of trailing beam assemblies, wherein each trailing beam assembly comprises first and second members pivotally coupled to one another that cooperate to form an aperture within which the axle member is clamped. Each trailing beam assembly comprises a first member having a first recess, and a second member that includes a second recess, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled to one another and are pivotable between a first position, wherein the first recess and second recess cooperate with one another to form an open aperture, and a second position, wherein the first recess and the second recess cooperate to form a first closed aperture that receives the axle member therethrough. |
| US07954830B2 |
Ice transport system
An ice transport system includes a cart and a plurality of ice totes. The cart includes a bed and a plurality of retention structures mounted on the bed. The plurality of ice totes are arranged on a platform of the bed and contained on the platform by the plurality of retention structures. The plurality of retention structures are configured and positioned relative to the platform to contain the plurality of ice totes on the platform while leaving an access side of a plurality of sides of the platform open for loading and unloading the plurality of ice totes. In some cases, each ice tote may include a hang hook removably disposed within a recess in the exterior surface of the tote and configured to extend outward from the exterior surface. |
| US07954828B2 |
Caster locking system for medical transport cart
A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated. |
| US07954826B2 |
Damper actuated active roll control
A roll control system is provided that includes first and second dampers each having fluid. A pump fluidly interconnects the first and second dampers. A motor is connected to the pump. A controller is in communication with the motor. The controller is configured to command the motor to drive the pump and transfer fluid between the first and second actuators in a desired direction in response to a roll signal. The pump provides fluid from one of the first and second dampers to the other of the first and second dampers in response to being driven by the motor. The roll control system can be used on front and rear axles to provide improved overall stability for the vehicle. In one example, a common motor is used to drive first and second pumps, which are respectively associated with the front and rear axles. |
| US07954825B2 |
Quick-release jaws with single-piece bearing chuck
A workholding chuck can use actuating members that pivot within a non-split unitary front bearing. The non-split unitary front bearing can include pockets in its central bore that can allow a spherical section of an actuator arm to be inserted into the bearing. The spherical section can include radially recessed areas to facilitate the insertion into the bearing. The jaws can be retained to the actuator arms through the use of a quick-release assembly. The quick-release assembly allows the jaws to easily and quickly be changed to allow the chuck to grasp different workpieces. |
| US07954824B2 |
Coupling device
A coupling device includes a body having an end for coupling with a handle. The body includes a compartment having a receiving space for receiving an object such as a bit. The receiving space includes a slanted face extending longitudinally outward and radially inward. A follower is slidably mounted in the compartment and includes an outer end having a restraining hole. A positioning member extends from a radially outer side through the restraining hole to a radially inner side of the follower and is slidable along the slanted face. The follower is biased outward by an elastic element toward the receiving space when the object is inserted into the receiving space and moves the follower longitudinally inward. A radial clamping force is imparted from the slanted face through the positioning member to securely clamp the object in the receiving space. |
| US07954820B2 |
Mixed media game and methods
A gaming article that includes a sensing layer, a non-metallic electroluminescent layer disposed over a portion of the sensing layer, a story layer that is at least substantially transparent and depicts a game board thereon, wherein the story layer is disposed over a portion of the electroluminescent layer, and a sensing device that interacts with the sensing layer when it is adjacent to the story layer and transmits light therethrough from the electroluminescent layer to a player to facilitate display of relevant information. Also included are methods of playing a game, preferably a mystery game, using the gaming article. |
| US07954817B2 |
Sheet stacking apparatus and image forming system equipped with a conveyance path change button
An image forming system includes a first sheet stacking device including a rack, provided downstream of an image forming apparatus in a conveyance direction of a recording sheet and connected with the image forming apparatus, for stacking the recording sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus; a second sheet stacking device, which is provided downstream of the first sheet stacking device and connected with the first sheet stacking device; and a controller for controlling the image forming apparatus and the first and second sheet stacking devices. At least one of the first and second sheet stacking devices has a job stop button for stopping a printing job, and when the job stop button is turned on while the printing job execution is in progress, the controller controls the sheet stacking device to stop a stack of a recording sheet to the rack. |
| US07954816B2 |
Voucher stacking apparatus
The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking vouchers that has at least one circumferential stacking belt (82). The stacking belt (82) has a circumferential belt body and at least one tongue pair (86a to 86c) provided outwardly on the belt body. The tongue pair (86a to 86c) has a transport tongue (90a to 90c) and a pressure tongue (88a to 88c). The pressure tongue (88a to 88c) and the transport tongue (90a to 90c) are configured and disposed such that the pressure tongue (88a to 88c) applies contact pressure to the transport tongue (90a to 90c) in the direction of the belt body at least in a circumferential area of the stacking belt (82). |
| US07954813B2 |
Sheet conveying device and control method therefor
A sheet conveying device that is capable of performing a stable sheet conveying operation without being influenced by a characteristic of a sheet. A sheet conveying device includes lots of conveying roller pairs configured to convey a sheet by nipping the same and conveying motors configured to drive the respective conveying roller pairs. A downstream conveying roller pair and an upstream conveying roller pair cooperate with each other to convey the sheet by nipping the same. A CPU controls the conveying motors such that the circumferential speed of the downstream conveying roller pair becomes lower than that of the upstream conveying roller pair. The speed difference in circumferential speed between the downstream conveying roller pair and the upstream conveying roller pair is changed according to a characteristic of the sheet. |
| US07954811B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and image forming apparatus
A sheet processing apparatus which is cable of moving a sheet without applying extra load to the movement of the sheet in the case of laterally moving the sheet for sorting after completion of punching of holes in the sheet. A sheet is conveyed toward an abutment member. The sheet comes into abutment with the abutment member, whereby skew of the sheet is corrected. A punching unit punches holes in the sheet in abutment with the abutment member. A shift unit shifts the punched sheet that has been punched by the puncher in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the conveying unit. A controller causes the shift unit to start shifting the sheet in response to separate between the punched sheet and the abutment member. |
| US07954810B2 |
Method and device for transporting a sheet
A device for manufacturing a crosslaid fiber web including a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, which are oriented in two different directions, wherein the second conveyor belt adjoins a side of the first conveyor belt. During operation of the device, the first conveyor belt transports longitudinal fiber web segments, which are conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a conveyance region. During transportation by the first conveyor belt, a conveyance area of the longitudinal fiber web segments projects with respect to the side of the first conveyor belt. The device comprises a guiding belt for supporting a portion of this conveyance area, in order to guarantee that, in the conveyance region, the longitudinal fiber web segments may be conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a completely outstretched fashion. |
| US07954799B2 |
Bookbinding apparatus, bookbinding system and image formation processing system
In a bookbinding apparatus, an adhesive applying portion applies an adhesive to an end face of a sheet bundle allowed to stand in the substantially vertical direction, a storage portion that gathers and stores the sheet bundle which is applied with the adhesive and bound in the adhesive applying portion while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction, transport means for conveying the sheet bundle while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction from the adhesive applying portion to the storage portion along a substantially vertical transport path, and a cutting portion which is provided on the transport path between the adhesive applying portion and the storage portion, and which cuts an end face of the sheet bundle while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction. |
| US07954798B2 |
Sheet finishing apparatus and control method
A sheet finishing apparatus includes a punch unit to punch a sheet, and a saddle unit to bundle and to fold the sheets. A position and an inclination angle of a puncher are changed according to a skew amount of the sheet, the puncher is controlled to form punch holes in the sheet at positions symmetric with respect to a folding line, and punching is performed so that an interval between the folding line and the punch hole becomes small at the inside of a bundle of the sheets and becomes large at the front cover side. |
| US07954794B2 |
Assembly method and apparatus
The assembly method of the invention uses a cartridge that is separate from the housing of the device being manufactured. The cartridge is configured such that the location of the various components is defined and the components are easily accessed. The cartridge and its components may be assembled off of the main assembly line. Once the cartridge is assembled, the cartridge and assembled components can be placed in the housing. The assembly of the device can then be completed. |
| US07954793B2 |
Elastomeric isolator
An elastomeric tie rod end isolator or an elastomeric cartridge isolator that includes an outer metal sleeve defining a generally cylindrical socket, a generally cylindrical inner metal sleeve disposed coaxially within the socket in radially spaced relationship with the outer metal sleeve, and an elastomeric isolator disposed therebetween. The elastomeric isolator is a unitary annular body formed of an elastomer material and having a radially inboard surface in contact with the inner metal sleeve and a radially outboard surface in contact with the outer metal sleeve. The unitary elastomer body has a generally conical primary load-carrying section and a generally cylindrical secondary load-limiting section, each disposed coaxially about the axis of the socket. The load-limiting section includes a snubber gap formed by an axially extending groove. The annular unitary elastomeric body may be formed of an elastomer material having a relatively low damping characteristic and a relatively soft stiffness characteristic. |
| US07954790B2 |
Composite shaft aspirator assembly
A composite hollow aspirator shaft is formed of fiberglass-reinforced phenolic resin that resists abrasion and reduces the amount of vibration that is transferred to the motor rotating the shaft, and the motor's bearings to extend motor and bearing life. An aspirator tip is adhesively attached to the composite aspirator shaft and includes an access hole for cleaning inside the hollow aspirator shaft. The hole is in axial alignment with the hollow aspirator shaft and a selectively-removable plug is used to seal the hole during aspirator use. When the aspirator tip is rotated in a liquid, fluidic forces are transferred to the shaft where they are attenuated. A splined hub is used to attach a foam restrictor near the other end of the shaft. The composite shaft material has a flexural modulus, or ratio, within the elastic limit of any applied stress. |
| US07954788B2 |
Methods and apparatus to align a seat ring in a valve
Methods and apparatus to align a seat ring in a valve are described. An example fluid valve includes a valve body having a curved internal surface to receive a seat ring and a seat ring having a sealing surface to receive a movable control member and a curved surface opposite the sealing surface to engage the curved internal surface of the valve body. |
| US07954785B2 |
Hydraulic slide valve provided with a piezoelectric washer
The invention relates to a hydraulic slide valve for controlling flow-rate or pressure comprising at least one movable valve moving from a closed position by contacting a seat and an open position remote therefrom, the displacement of said valve being controlled by a piezoelectric washer. |
| US07954782B2 |
Picture hanging position finder and wall marking device
Picture Hanging Position Finder And Wall Marking Device has an elongated adjustable vertical support with a hanger at the top to accept and hold a wire or bracket for a framed picture or other hanging object, wherein the device may lean against a wall with the back of the vertical support held flush against the wall, and with the bottom of the vertical support elevated above any wall baseboard, and held in place by forward and laterally extending legs which reach down to a horizontal floor. As such, a picture can be suspended from the vertical support, and the device can be moved to any location against a wall, and the height can adjusted and locked in place, so that a user may view the picture from a distance as if it were hung on the wall in order to choose a desirable location for the picture. The device then has a means for marking the wall for the installation of a permanent hanger at the precise location from where the picture had been temporarily suspended. |
| US07954781B2 |
Flat panel display support with a hinge assembly
A flat panel display (FPD) support with a hinge assembly has a base, a stand and a hinge assembly. The stand has a base bracket being securely mounted on the base, an arm protruding from a front edge of the base bracket and a panel bracket protruding from an upper edge of the arm. The hinge assembly is mounted on the panel bracket and is attached to a FPD. Therefore, the base can customized to allow the FPD and the stand to stably stand on the base. Moreover, the stand and the base may be disassembled and folded conveniently. |
| US07954778B2 |
Ophthalmic surgery support device
An ophthalmic surgery support comprising a moving mechanism for holding a surgical instrument to be movable in Z-axis direction, a tilting mechanism for holding the moving mechanism so that a surgical instrument can be tilted in an arbitrary direction about a specified point that is to be positioned to a wound opening and positioned on the Z-axis, and a tilt fixing mechanism for fixing the tilt of the surgical instrument by the tilting mechanism, wherein the tilting mechanism has a rough-motion tilting mechanism, a fine-motion tilting mechanism finer in tilting range than the rough-motion tilting mechanism, a tilt switching mechanism for switching the tilt of the surgical instrument by the rough-motion tilting mechanism to that by the fine-motion tilting mechanism, and a resistance imparting means for imparting resistance for damping the tilting operation of the surgical instrument by the fine-motion tilting mechanism than that by the rough-motion tilting mechanism. |
| US07954777B2 |
Alignment unit for directional radios, in particular directional radio antennas
An alignment unit, which is of simple and robust design and can be adjusted well, for directional radios, in particular directional radio antennas, is distinguished by two attachment brackets, which are articulated on a common centre part such that they can pivot about two mutually orthogonal swivel axes, as well as two operating units for separate adjustment and fixing of the pivoting angle of the two attachment brackets relative to the centre part. |
| US07954776B2 |
Wire basket pathway system
A cable bend guide includes a curvilinear wall and a mounting clip interconnected with the curvilinear wall. The mounting clip has first and second spaced apart wire hooks adapted to engage at least one wire of a wire basket. The cable bend guide also includes a retaining tab interconnected with the curvilinear wall and adapted to engage another wire of the wire basket. |
| US07954772B2 |
Wire chafing stand and method
The wire chafing stand of the present invention comprises a rim configured in any desired geometry having longitudinal and lateral sides and a plurality of wire legs extending from the rim with at least one end of each wire leg or both being welded to the rim such that a T-welded intersection is substantially formed between the wire legs and at least the longitudinal sides of the rim in which the longitudinal axis of each such wire leg intersects the longitudinal axis of the rim to form an included angle of substantially 90°. |
| US07954771B2 |
Sprinkler mount
A mount for situating a sprinkler nozzle of a fire extinguishing system in an opening of a suspended ceiling system, the fire extinguishing system having a main line to which a downwardly directed sprinkler nozzle is connected by a flexible hose line, a bridge provided on the top side of the ceiling system extending essentially parallel thereto, the bridge being connected to girders of the ceiling system by a detachable clamp, and the sprinkler nozzle being at least indirectly attached to the bridge. |
| US07954767B2 |
Laminar flow surfaces with selected roughness distributions, and associated methods
Laminar flow surfaces with selected roughness distributions, and associated methods are disclosed. A representative method for designing an airfoil includes selecting a parameter that includes a flow behavior distribution and/or a surface shape for an airflow surface. Based at least in part on the selected parameter, the method can include (a) selecting a target roughness value and determining a chordwise location forward of which surface roughness is at or below the target roughness value and/or (b) selecting a target chordwise location and determining a roughness value for a region forward of the chordwise location, with the surface roughness at or below the roughness value. In particular embodiments, a percentage of a local chord length of the airfoil over which the roughness is below a target value decreases in a spanwise direction. In another embodiment, the roughness at a particular spanwise location can increase over at least three values, continuously, in a step manner, or otherwise. |
| US07954759B2 |
Control system for the nacelle of a turboreactor
The invention relates to an electrical control system for the nacelle of a turboreactor, comprising a plurality of electromechanical maneuvering elements for a plurality of actuating devices embodied as auxiliary parts of the turboreactor. The invention is characterized in that the control system comprises an electronic control box comprising a plurality of control inlets to be connected to control elements, and a plurality of outlets connected to electromechanical maneuvering of the auxiliary actuating devices. The control box can translate each instruction received into an operating sequence for at least one corresponding electromechanical maneuvering element. The invention also relates to a nacelle and an aircraft provided with one such control system. |
| US07954757B2 |
Landing gear noise attenuation
A landing gear noise attenuator mitigates noise generated by airframe deployable landing gear. The noise attenuator can have a first position when the landing gear is in its deployed or down position, and a second position when the landing gear is in its up or stowed position. The noise attenuator may be an inflatable fairing that does not compromise limited space constraints associated with landing gear retraction and stowage. A truck fairing mounted under a truck beam can have a compliant edge to allow for non-destructive impingement of a deflected fire during certain conditions. |
| US07954756B2 |
Flap actuator
A flap actuator is provided for controlling movement of a flap on a wing of an aircraft. The flap actuator includes a housing having a leading end and a trailing end. A ball nut is rotatably supported in the housing. A motor has a rotatable drive shaft that is rotatable in first and second opposite directions. A gear assembly translates rotation of the drive shaft to the ball nut. A ball screw extends along a longitudinal axis and has a terminal end operatively connectable to the flap. The ball screw is movable between a first retracted in response to rotation of the ball nut in a first direction and a second extended position in response to rotation of the ball nut in a second direction. A one-way roller clutch is operatively connectable to the ball nut. The roller clutch engages the housing and prevents rotation of the ball nut in a first direction in response to a compressive force on the ball screw by the flap. First and second concentric gimbals are positioned about the longitudinal axis adjacent the housing. The gimbals interconnect the housing to the wing. |
| US07954754B2 |
Mechanical acoustic noise generator system for scramjet engine
A noise generator system is provided with each noise generator being pivotally mounted to a mounting surface associated with the air intake of a turbineless jet engine. Each noise generator is positioned so as to convert a laminar or transitional air stream into a turbulent air stream such that a turbulent air-fuel mixture is realized in the combustion section of the engine to achieve more efficient operation. |
| US07954753B2 |
Supply system for the energy supply in an aircraft, aircraft and method for supplying an aircraft with energy
A supply system for the energy supply in an aircraft comprising an engine for propelling an aircraft, a fuel cell for supplying an aircraft with electric energy, a first fuel reservoir for supplying the engine with engine fuel and a second fuel reservoir for supplying the fuel cell with fuel cell fuel. The first fuel reservoir is arranged separately of the second fuel reservoir. |
| US07954752B2 |
Crash attenuation system for aircraft
A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system having an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an exterior of the aircraft. The airbag has at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag. A first gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag with gas generated provided by the first gas source. A vent valve is provided for controlling a flow of gas through each vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag. A second gas source is provided for at least partially re-inflating the airbag after venting of gas through the at least one vent. |
| US07954749B2 |
Extruded cylinder with a solid wood exterior
A method and is disclosed for the production of winding cores having a solid wood exterior. The method comprises adhering a plurality of staves about the exterior of the extruded wood core, such that those staves form a shell. |
| US07954745B2 |
Refiner plate segment with triangular inlet feature
A refiner plate for refining lignocellulosic materials has an injector inlet having a substantially triangular protrusion. The substantially triangular protrusion may feed the incoming lignocellulosic material into the refining zone and may distribute the material around the refining zone. |
| US07954743B2 |
Roller mill
The invention relates to a roller mill having at least one mill roller and a rotatable mill platen, which are arranged in a mill inner space, and a moment arm which is retained so as to be pivotably movable and rotationally secure in a bearing, with the mill roller being supported in a rotatable manner at one end of the moment arm and there further being provided means for applying a force to the moment arm comprising a pressure cylinder which is in operative contact with the moment arm in order to adjust the mill pressure which is applied by the mill roller. The contact location, at which the force of the pressure cylinder is transmitted to the moment arm, is located outside the mill inner space. |
| US07954740B2 |
Pressure differential nano grinding and dispersing assembly
A nano grinding and dispersing assembly has a raw material feeder, a liquid supply unit connecting to the delivering pipe of the raw material feeder, a gas supply unit connecting to the delivering pipe of the raw material feeder, a pressure equalized assembly and a subsequent treatment plant. The raw material feeder has a feeding pipe connecting to the raw material feeder and a delivering pipe connecting to the raw material feeder. The pressure equalized assembly has a pressure equalizer, a pressurized feeding pipe, a gas-liquid separator, a pressure gage and a first grinding device. The first grinding device connects and communicates with the pressure equalizer and has at least one ground fluid outlet. The subsequent treatment plant connects the ground fluid outlet of the first grinding device. Therefore, the present invention completely mixes, grinds and disperses fluid to make the fluid homogeneous. |
| US07954734B2 |
Disruptor system for dry cellulosic materials
Cellulosic biomass is reduced to a micropowder with particles having average diameters below 5-10 micrometers with a significant fraction of the particles have diameters below 1 micrometer. Biomass (e.g., wood, agricultural waste or other plant materials) is first processed into pieces having a maximum diameter of about 10 mm. This is then dried to reduce its water content to no more than about 15% by weight and introduced into a disruptor which reduces the particle size to about 1 mm. Next the biomass is processed with a disc mill where edges of rotating discs travel along a groove pressing and squeezing the biomass, thereby breaking the biomass pieces into smaller and smaller particles. The resulting micropowder is extremely susceptible to enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis into constituent sugars. In addition, the micropowder can be suspended in an air stream and burned directly to provide heat to boilers and similar devices. |
| US07954728B2 |
Method for adjusting an operation frequency and checking an operating state of ultrasonic nebulizer
A method for adjusting an operation frequency and checking an operating state of the ultrasonic nebulizer is related in the present invention. By detecting the current to determine a resonance frequency and whether deviated from a predetermined normal range, the nebulizer can check the operating state and operate at the resonance frequency for increasing efficiency and saving power. |
| US07954726B2 |
Thermostat with utility messaging
The present disclosure pertains generally to thermostats that are adapted to assist utilities in communicating with its customers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a thermostat having a display, a controller and a receiver that is coupled to the controller. The receiver is adapted to receive messages from a utility, and the controller is adapted to display one or more related display messages on the display. |
| US07954725B2 |
Secure payment card with static and variable data
In a first aspect of the subject invention, a secure payment card is provided, including: a flat body, the flat body having a patterned channel in proximity to a first face of the flat body; an elongated magnetic stripe disposed on the first face of the flat body, the magnetic stripe extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein at least a portion of the channel being located under the longitudinal axis; and a magnetic fluid disposed in the channel, the magnetic fluid configured to define a readable magnetic pattern. |
| US07954724B2 |
Electronic card and methods for making same
An electronic card includes a digital processor, an electrochemical battery and a communications port. The processor and battery are essentially coplanar, and are sandwiched between and enclosed by two flexible covers, preferably made from an insulating plastic material, and preferably fitted to the components that they enclose. The communications port can include, for example, a Smart Card contact port, a stripe emulator, an RF port, and IR port, etc. The battery may comprise a rechargeable battery. In an exemplary embodiment, at least the processor is carried by a flexible printed circuit (PC) board. In other exemplary embodiments, switches and/or indicators are also carried by the PC board. A method for manufacturing an electronic card having at least two components is also disclosed. |
| US07954722B2 |
IC tag and inlet for IC tag
An IC tag mounting at least two IC chips operating in different frequency bands. The IC tag having a first inlet including a first antenna having a relatively long operation wavelength and a first IC chip mounted on the first antenna, and a second inlet including a second antenna having an operation wavelength shorter than the first antenna and disposed crossing at a predetermined angle over a line of the first antenna without positioning both opposite ends of the second antenna upon the first antenna and a second IC chip mounted on the second antenna. The second antenna has a matching circuit for impedance matching between the second antenna and the second IC chip. The matching circuit is a slit formed in the second antenna and positioned upon terminals of the second IC chip. Thus, the second antenna is made compact using the first antenna as an auxiliary antenna. |
| US07954720B2 |
Card recording apparatus
A printing apparatus has a casing, a card supply opening at one side of the casing, a printing unit that performs a predetermined recording to a card supplied from the card supply opening, nip rollers that nip the card when being recorded at the printing unit, a magnetic encoder unit disposed adjacent to the printing unit that performs a predetermined recording to the card nipped by the rollers, and a card discharge outlet that discharges the card recorded at the printing and/or magnetic encoder units. The card supply opening, the printing unit and the magnetic encoder unit are disposed sequentially and substantially horizontally along the card conveyance path, and the card discharge outlet is provided in a side of the casing so that the card supply opening and card discharge output are positioned substantially vertically. |
| US07954716B2 |
Electronic transaction card powered by mobile device
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof. |
| US07954712B2 |
Product, asset, and device tracking, identification, and pricing system
The invention utilizes a system that links two-way communication components with inventory, fixtures, and people. Once linked, the system permits a centralized computer network to collect information about the spatial and temporal relationship between inventory, fixtures, and people using a low frequency communication protocol. When the invention is applied to a retail situation, the retailer can track inventory throughout the supply chain and can do so without substantial human involvement. Furthermore, the two-way communication components also permit the retailer to communicate directly with products on the shelves in a way that allows for re-pricing of goods or broadcasting of messages to customers, also without the need for direct human involvement. |
| US07954711B2 |
System and method for demand driven collaborative procurement, logistics, and authenticity establishment of luxury commodities using virtual inventories
Systems and methods providing for a virtual inventory system of goods aggregating disparate inventories into a single virtual inventory for the purpose of tracking the goods, trading the goods, and establishing authenticity of the goods. The aggregation of disparate inventories readily provides for quick procurement or sales of the goods, especially as they relate to high end, rare, or expensive items. Accordingly, electronic product codes are assigned to each good to monitor inventory and movement of the good. |
| US07954705B2 |
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. |
| US07954702B2 |
Electronic fund transfer or transaction system
A universal financial card is provided having a first memory location, which is configured to store a plurality of financial institution identifiers. The universal financial card further includes a second memory location, which is configured to store a plurality of account identifiers which are configured to represent a plurality of accounts at the plurality of financial institutions. The universal financial card next includes a third memory location, which is configured to store identification information associated with the plurality of accounts. The identification information includes at least authorized user information. A read device is included with the universal financial card and is configured to be read by a card reader and enable a financial transaction to be executed on one of the plurality of accounts identified by one of the plurality of account identifiers. |
| US07954701B2 |
Electronic fund transfer or transaction system
A point-of-sale terminal is provided that includes a financial information reader. The financial information reader is configured to read and receive financial information from a card, such as a debit or credit card, which is associated with at least one account. The point-of-sale terminal further includes an input device, which is configured to receive a request for a select cash amount in excess of an amount of the purchase transaction. The point-of-sale terminal next includes a control system, which is configured to request authorization for payment of the amount of the purchase transaction and the select cash amount on the account. The financial information reader is configured to read and receive the financial information form the card in connection with the request for authorization. |
| US07954700B2 |
Processing device for value documents
An apparatus for processing documents of value (12) has a checking device (52) for checking at least one property of a document of value (12) in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion with a sensor device (50), a storage-area housing (56) including a securable storage area in which documents of value (12) recognized as authentic are storable, and has a first opening (54; 88) through which the documents of value (12) can be transported from the processing area (28) to the storage area, a transport device (42) for the singled transport of documents of value (12) along a transport path (48) to the checking device (52) and from there to the storage area, and a processing-area cover (32; 128) has a cover element (36; 128) which can be moved between a close position, in which the processing area (28) is covered by the processing-area cover (32; 128), and an open position, in which an operator is enabled to access the transport path (48). |
| US07954699B1 |
Facilitating multi-transaction currency handling processes
A transaction such as a withdrawal or deposit may be divided into multiple smaller transactions based on an amount of currency associated with the transaction. For example, in a withdrawal, a container in which withdrawn funds are to be placed may be of limited size. Thus, multiple containers may be needed to withdraw the requested funds. Accordingly, each container may be assigned or associated with a different transaction. Each transaction may be created automatically, for example, upon completion of a previous transaction. Additionally, a number of transactions needed may be determined automatically. Thus, a user might only need to initiate the overall transaction process. Initiation may be based on manual input or triggered using an identification device such as an RFID tag, iris scan, card swipe and the like. |
| US07954698B1 |
System and method for matching customers to financial products, services, and incentives based on bank account transaction activity
A financial scoring system measures, classifies, rates, and forecasts the deposit and withdrawal patterns processed through a direct deposit account (DDA) residing in a bank's central database. The scoring metric generated by the financial scoring system is converted into a monthly mandatory, lifestyle, leisure, and luxury expenditure classifications for each DDA household. These expenditure classifications are converted by the financial scoring system to the rate of expenditure substitution each DDA household will support, the amount of the rate of expenditure substitution that the DDA household is willing to risk, and the rate of expenditure substitution that will require a preference spending decision. The DDA expenditure classifications generated by the financial scoring system are compared to the consumer expenditure survey and consumer price index tables published by U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide a scoring validation benchmark. |
| US07954696B2 |
Survivable mailbox
A mailbox mount including a platform, a first angled element and a second angled element. A mailbox is attachable to the platform, which has a surface. The first angled element has an end connected substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the platform. The first angled element has an other end with an angled surface. The second angled element has an angled surface in contact with the angled surface of the first angled element. The first angled element being rotatable relative to the second angled element. |
| US07954693B2 |
Method of treating and probing a via
A method of treating a via connected with a substrate and a method of probing the via are disclosed. A pattern of a lead-free solder paste is applied around a hole of the via without completely covering a pad of the via. The paste is reflowed to form a pattern of a lead-free solder on a pad that covers only a portion of a surface area of the pad and is positioned around the hole. The solder may be substantially symmetrically positioned around the hole. A flux generated during reflow is insufficient to plug the hole. The lead-free solder can be probed by a blade probe including collinear first and second edges and having a preferred orientation relative to the pattern of the lead-free solder. |
| US07954692B2 |
Structure and method for joining members of structure via friction stir processing
An auxiliary member is inserted into holes of opposite portions of a main member such that opposite ends of the auxiliary member extend outwardly through the holes. A joining tool is pushed, while being rotated, against one of the ends of the auxiliary member, so that the material of the auxiliary member softened due to frictional heat and plastic flow is deformed and pushed inside the main member via the hole. The tool is released to allow the plastic flow portion of the auxiliary member into solidification. Then, a similar operation is performed with respect to the other end of the auxiliary member. |
| US07954689B2 |
Vacuum wire tensioner for wire bonder
A wire tensioner is provided for a wire bonder, the wire tensioner comprising a tubular body having a bore through which bonding wire is receivable and a bore outlet at an end of the tubular body from which the bonding wire is extendable towards a bonding tool. A chamber is formed next to the bore outlet that substantially encloses the bore outlet, the chamber including an air inlet connected to it that is operative to introduce clean air into the chamber. A vacuum outlet is connected to a side of the tubular body and is in fluid communication with the chamber via the bore, the vacuum outlet being operative to draw air from the bore outlet through the bore whereby to pull the wire. |
| US07954688B2 |
Endovascular stapling apparatus and methods of use
An endovascular stapling apparatus for delivering a staple to a vessel of a patient, including a plurality of clips, a housing, and a rod. Each of the clips includes a bridge and legs that self-transition from a biased state to a natural state in which the legs each form a loop. The housing defines a channel and a window open to the channel. The clips are retained within the channel in the biased state. The rod is slidably disposed within the channel, selectively moves the clips toward and away from the window, and releases the clips from the window. |
| US07954687B2 |
Coated surgical staples and an illuminated staple cartridge for a surgical stapling instrument
A coated surgical fastener is provided for an easy visualization within tissue. The coated surgical fastener includes a core and a relatively non-reflective coating applied about the core. There is also disclosed an illuminated staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling device having a light source. The illuminated staple cartridge includes a transparent insert and a relatively nontransparent U-shaped outer channel at least partially surrounding the transparent insert. Windows formed in sides of the U-shaped outer channel allow defined amounts of light to project from the sides of the illuminated staple cartridge. |
| US07954686B2 |
Surgical stapler with apparatus for adjusting staple height
A surgical stapling instrument including a staple sled which can be advanced and/or retracted relative to first and second jaw members, wherein the staple sled can be configured to deploy staples from a staple cartridge in one of the first and second jaw members. In at least one embodiment, the other of the first and second jaw members can include an anvil having at least one forming surface which can be configured to deform the staples as they are deployed from the staple cartridge. In at least one form of the invention, the anvil can be movably adjustable relative to the staple cartridge in order to adjust the distance in which the staples are deformed. In various embodiments, the anvil can be adjusted by a slidable adjusting plate and/or a rotatable cam. |
| US07954685B2 |
Articulation and firing force mechanisms
There is provided a surgical instrument incorporating driving force mechanisms capable of transmitting a driving force through an articulated section of the surgical instrument. In one embodiment, a series of racks connect with a transfer gear to pass forces around the articulated section. In an alternative embodiment a series of cable sections and wheels or pulleys are provided to transmit a driving force through the articulated section of the surgical instrument. |
| US07954683B1 |
Feeder belt with integrated surgical staples
A surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt having two lateral edges, and a number of staples, where each staple includes a first end frangibly connected to the feeder belt and a second free end, where at least one staple is oriented relative to the feeder belt in a direction angled relative to the transverse direction, and where the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two staples. The feeder belt may be held by a surgical stapler. The surgical stapler may be utilized by placing that surgical stapler adjacent to tissue, deforming at least one staple into tissue, separating at least one deformed staple from the feeder belt, advancing the feeder belt, and repeating the placing, deploying and separating. |
| US07954677B2 |
Pump for dispensing a dose of a fluid product and range comprising such pumps
Pump for dispensing a dose of a fluid product, comprising a tubular body including an intake orifice; an end member associated with the body and including a rest abutment and an end-of-stroke abutment; a compression member mounted so as to move inside the body between a rest position in which said compression member is in abutment against the rest abutment, and an end-of-stroke position in which said compression member is in abutment against the end-of-stroke abutment, said compression member being elastically returned toward the rest position and including an exhaust orifice; a metering chamber; and an intake valve and an exhaust valve adapted to selectively close off the intake orifice and the exhaust orifice, respectively. |
| US07954673B2 |
Two-component spray gun with solvent flush/blend
A dispensing system for a plural component mixture including a first operator held container and separate flexible containers placed within the first container. Conduits coupled between the second containers and a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a passageway and a valve for each respective component. An actuator controls the valves. A second valve is coupled in the conduits between the components' sources and the dispensing device. The second valve includes an inlet port for each component, an equal number of outlet ports, and an inlet port for flushing the plural components from at least portions of their respective conduits. The second valve has a first state where each inlet port is coupled to an outlet port and a second state where the inlet port for flushing material from the conduits and the mixed plural components is coupled to the outlet ports. |
| US07954671B2 |
Pack, especially for breath freshening products
The pack comprises a container defining a containment volume containing pastilles or the like, a lid closing off the said containment volume and includes a flap for dispensing the pastilles or the like. The pack also contains a spray dispenser including a sprayable fluid and spray nozzle for dispensing the fluid. The spray dispenser is inserted within the containment volume of the container with the spray nozzle associated with the lid. |
| US07954663B2 |
Vehicle console
A console assembly for a vehicle includes a console body defining an opening communicating with a storage bin. The storage bin has opposing side walls each having a groove formed therein. A sliding member is slidably mounted within the grooves of each of the side walls within the storage bin. A console cover is pivotally mounted to the sliding member and defines a cover assembly. The cover assembly is slidably movable between a closed position wherein the console cover covers the opening of the console body and a partially open position wherein a portion of the opening of the console body is exposed. The console cover is pivotally movable between the partially open position and a fully open position wherein the console opening and the sliding member are exposed. The console cover includes at least one follower extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the follower is slidably mounted within the grooves in the storage bin wall. |
| US07954660B2 |
Gas cap and components therefor
A plastic gas cap having a cap element with a plastic skirt having an inner skirt diameter and including ring retaining tabs extending inwardly from the inner skirt, a plug element having a flange at one end sized and shaped to fit within the plastic skirt and past the ring retaining tabs; and a plastic retaining ring having an outer ring diameter and being secured between the flange and the tabs to secure the plug element in the cap element by an interference fit within the inner skirt diameter which reinforces said plastic skirt and makes it more rigid. |
| US07954658B2 |
Procedure for descent of equipment to bottom of sea
The present invention refers to a process to permit descent to sea bottom, with the use of two conventional tug boats, of equipment used in submarine field oil field exploration, especially descent of equipment of large size and mass in deep water fields.Equipment is being suspended by a sling, attached to an auxiliary component. This, on its turn, is attached to two cables, each one activated by one of the two tug boats. Connection of the auxiliary component to cables is being made by means of connectors, which are trespassed thru cable openings and attached to auxiliary component by screws, forming a connection, in which connectors may carry out a pivotal movement around holes of auxiliary component. This movement of said connectors almost entirely absorbs oscillations of tug boats caused by waves, without transmitting same to equipment. In this way, both tug boats may lower equipment and cross the so-called resonance area without risk of its occurrence. |
| US07954657B2 |
Connection system for crane boom segments
The boom includes at least a first and second boom segment each with a longitudinal axis and a first and second end, the second end of the first segment being coupled to the first end of the second segment, and at least one first connector on the second end of the first segment respectively mating with at least one second connector on the first end of the second segment. The first connector includes a first alignment surface and the second connector includes a second alignment surface that engages with the first alignment surface such that when the first and second alignment surfaces are fully engaged, the apertures through the extensions in the connectors are aligned such that a main pin can be inserted through the apertures of all extensions in the first and second mating connectors even if the boom segments are not axially aligned. In another aspect of the invention, the connectors include stop surfaces, and the placement of the stop surfaces on the connectors is such that, when identical boom segments are positioned such that a main pin can be inserted through the apertures in the extensions of the connectors on some chords of the boom segments, the stop surfaces cooperate to align the apertures in the extensions of the connectors on other chords when the stop surfaces contact one another. |
| US07954648B2 |
Cigarette display system
In a cigarette display system 1000, a plurality of wall units 500 can be linked in an vertical direction, and tray units 200 can be arranged in desired positions on a front surface of the wall units 500. Each of the tray units 200 can hold a plurality of magazine units 100 arranged in a lateral direction, and each of the magazine units 100 can hold a plurality of cigarette packs T arranged in a direction from front to back. Accordingly, it is possible to freely change a layout in which the cigarette packs T are arranged and displayed in the vertical and lateral directions so that cigarette cartons K or the like having a shape which cannot be accommodated in the magazine unit 100 can be displayed as well. As described above, the present invention provides the cigarette display system 1000 having a structure in which the layout of the cigarette packs T to be displayed or the like can be changed in various forms. |
| US07954645B2 |
Vibration screen system
A vibratory plate screen having a first end for quickly mounting in a vibrator housing, an intermediate region with openings therein and a securement end that allows one to quickly secure a vibratory plate screen in a vibratory housing. In addition, the screen is sufficiently flexible to enable one to mount the vibrator screen in a curved condition or stressed condition so that the inherent tensile strength of the material assists in holding the vibratory plate screen in position. A further feature of the invention is the quick removal and securement of the vibratory plate screen. |
| US07954644B2 |
Separator system and method of separating materials
A separator system may include a first trough having an inlet end, a downstream, outlet end and a trough floor, a first screen section supported in the trough spaced from the trough floor, the first screen section having a first end and a second downstream end, a material-retaining surface disposed at the downstream end of the first screen section, the material-retaining surface disposed at an angle relative to the first screen section to limit the movement of material across the first screen section, and a vibratory generator coupled to the trough. The separator system may alternatively or in addition include a gate disposed at the end of the screen section, the gate having a first position and a second position. |
| US07954642B2 |
Process and apparatus for separating solid mixtures
An elutriation column is installed in a separation tank. The elutriation column includes a vertical separation column having a first side feed arm and a second side overflow arm spaced above the first side feed arm. Water is forced upwardly through the vertical separation column at a controllable velocity. A solid feed mixture is fed through the first side feed arm to the vertical separation column. Water from the tank rising in the vertical separation column at the controlled velocity causes targeted floater materials to move upwardly in the vertical separation column and heavier sinker materials to continue to sink. The floater materials flow from an outlet in the side of the separation tank into the recovery tank. At a discharge, lower end of the vertical separation column, the heavier sinker materials are removed from the separation tank. A mechanism is provided for purging undesirable materials that can cause plugging from the feed arm. |
| US07954636B2 |
Intraocular lens injector assembly
An assembly comprising a packaging device (20) and an intraocular lens injector (10) comprising a body (11) that contains an intraocular lens, said packaging device (20) being for receiving and storing said injector (10) prior to use, said packaging device (20) being made of a material that is waterproof, and being filled with a storage solution for maintaining at least the body (11) of said injector (10) and the intraocular lens in total immersion throughout the duration of storage, said packaging device (20) comprising a substantially rigid container (21, 22) and an opening (25) for enabling said injector (10) to be installed and removed, said container (21, 22) including at least one internal shoulder (26, 27) co-operating with a portion of the injector (10) to center and maintain its lens ejector end (14) away from the walls of said container (21, 22). |
| US07954633B2 |
Large round bale wrapped in protective wrapping and method for producing such a wrapped bale
Disclosed is a large round bale wrapped with a protective covering for permitting it to be stored outside. The covering is constructed of one or more layers of semi-permeable material. It is possible for an additional layer to be added to a region of the baler to be placed on the ground during storage, this additional layer resulting in the covering becoming essentially non-permeable in the region of the additional layer. A baler for applying the covering to a bale is disclosed together with a device for placing a visual marker on the bale so as to aid a person handling a discharged bale in knowing where the region covered with the additional layer of material is located so that this region may be manipulated into ground contact for storage. |
| US07954628B2 |
Article stacking apparatus having at least one safety sensor and method of operating same
A stacking apparatus includes a base, a main conveyor pivotably supported on the base that is pivotable between a first, lowered, position and a second, raised, position, an accumulator section downstream of a discharge end of the main conveyor for receiving articles from the main conveyor, where the accumulator section includes a support for supporting a stack of items fed to the accumulator section by the main conveyor. Also, at least one optical sensor detecting the presence of an object in the main conveyor travel path and at least one controller operatively connected to the main conveyor and the optical sensor, the at least one controller receiving signals from the optical sensor and controlling the main conveyor based on the signals and on the direction of movement of the main conveyor. |
| US07954622B2 |
Two-piece wedge diverter gate
A diverter gate generally includes a bracket which connects to an actuator and a flag which releasably engages with the bracket via cooperating engagement members. The cooperating engagement members may be symmetrical, and may comprise one or more tabs and one or more corresponding receptacles. The tabs may be dimensioned slightly larger than the receptacles so as to create a positive interference fit. The bracket and the flag may include openings to receive a fastener extending substantially across the length of the gate. Tightening the fastener compresses the tab(s) against the receptacle(s) to result in a compression fit between the flag and the bracket. The two-piece design allows the flag to be easily removed and reversed or replaced, without disassembling or removing the bracket or the actuator. |
| US07954616B2 |
Fluid friction clutch
A fluid friction clutch with improved fluid pumping system. A scraping member is provided adjacent the clutch plate and has a duct which communicates with the reservoir chamber. |
| US07954615B2 |
Device for actuating a multiplate clutch in a transmission
A device for actuating a disk clutch (B) in a transmission, which consists of an actuating piston-cylinder arrangement with rotation pressure compensation, whose actuating piston (6) is associated with a pressure chamber (4) for a pressure medium fluid to produce the actuating force, and in which a pressure compensation chamber (26) is provided, in which by virtue of centrifugal action a pressure medium fluid produces on the actuating piston a compensation force directed in opposition to the actuation direction of the actuating piston, the pressure chamber and the pressure compensation chamber each having a delivery line (9, 21) for pressure medium fluid. To simplify the structure of this device and reduce costs, the pressure compensation chamber is arranged completely a radial distance away from the pressure chamber, the pressure compensation chamber is delimited by a disk carrier (1) of the disk clutch that carries inner disks and by the actuating piston and the pressure compensation chamber is arranged radially above a flow channel (25) leading through the disk carrier that carries inner disks (13). |
| US07954610B2 |
Electronic devices for luggage
A wheeled transport device includes a body having a compartment configured to contain goods. Wheels are rotatably attached to a lower portion of the body, and a handle is attached to an upper portion of the body. The handle is configured to retract within a cavity defined by the body. An electronic device is mounted to the handle. |
| US07954609B2 |
Damping force generating mechanism for shock absorber
A damping valve (10) resists a flow of fluid from a first fluid chamber (41) to a second fluid chamber (42) which are separated by a piston (1). A partitioning member (24, 27-29, 52) partitions an inflow space (A, B) of a passage (2) in the first fluid chamber (41). A spool (17, 31, 51) decreases a flow cross-sectional area of a flow path from the first fluid chamber (41) into the inflow space (A, B) according to a differential pressure between the fluid chambers. By ensuring a gap between the outer circumference of the valve disk (1) and the partitioning member (24, 27-29, 52) which permanently allows fluid to flow from the first chamber (41) into the inflow space (A, B), the damping force characteristic in a high speed region of piston displacement can be set independently of the damping force characteristic in other regions. |
| US07954608B2 |
Friction lining
The invention relates to a method for producing a friction lining. Said friction lining is wound in three layers with different winding ratios. |
| US07954607B2 |
Method and arrangement for monitoring the safety of a transport system
The invention relates to a method and an appliance for monitoring the safety of a transport system. The transport system includes a transport appliance and also a synchronous motor for moving the transport appliance. In the method, the motion information of the transport appliance is determined with two channels, and if the determined motion informations deviate from each other by more than the set limit value, an emergency stop is executed. |
| US07954601B2 |
Lubricant dispenser
A lubricant dispenser includes a lubricant container that has an outlet opening for lubricant, a piston disposed in the lubricant container, and a cap connected with the lubricant container, having a device for generating a gas that impacts the piston. The device for gas generation has a gas cell with an electrolyte fluid and electrodes for electrochemical gas generation, a power source, as well as an electrical connection between the power source and the electrodes with a switch. The cap is a plastic injection-molded part produced in one piece, formed from several parts, using the multi-component injection-molding method, which part is made of an outer ring made of insulation material and an insert that forms the gas cell, having two electrically conductive wall regions as electrodes, as well as having an intermediate piece that separates the conductive regions. The insert contains a sponge saturated with electrolyte fluid, and is closed off with a plastic lid. |
| US07954598B2 |
Device for human protection in scaffolding
The present invention relates to a device for personal protection at such scaffolds that consist of scaffold posts (5, 6) and lying scaffold elements (7, 8, 15), coupled between the posts. The protective device consists of two protective post (26, 27) and a protective rail (32) with a variable length that extends between the protective posts. The protective rail is equipped with joint devices in their ends for a joined connection between the protective posts. The protective posts are equipped with coupling devices (28-31) for releasable connection with the scaffold. Thus the protective posts and the associated protective rail may gradually be moved between different vertical positions due to the need for protection. |
| US07954594B2 |
Vehicle steering apparatus
A vehicle steering apparatus, which includes: a steering system connection member connecting a steering wheel and a tire; an electric generator installed in the steering system connection member so as to adjusting a steering force of the steering wheel; and a control unit for controlling a connection/disconnection of both terminals of an armature coil in the electric generator based on a vehicle speed. |
| US07954593B2 |
Method for compensating for drive influences on the steering system of a vehicle using an electric power steering system
The invention relates to a method for compensating for drive influences of a drive train of a motor vehicle on its steering system, said motor vehicle having an electric power steering system. A drive train simulation model which is integrated into the motor vehicle and permanently activated is used to determine disturbance variables from a driven behavior so that a compensation torque which counteracts the disturbance variables is generated for the power steering system. |
| US07954591B2 |
Safety interlock system for hand operated accelerator control devices
A safety interlock system for hand operated vehicle accelerator control systems is disclosed which permits a hand operated accelerator control system to be immobilized so that it cannot be activated unintentionally or accidentally by an individual operator who is not familiar with a vehicle so equipped. The safety interlock system may be selectively activated by the vehicle operator manually directly by mechanical means or remotely by means of a switch-controlled hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical activator. An indicator system is provided which indicates the status of the safety interlock system to the vehicle operator. |
| US07954589B2 |
Safety pedal system
A safety pedal system for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a pedal mounted in a pedal mounting arrangement arrangeable to at least partly release the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement in event of a collision. The safety pedal system further includes, but is not limited to a triggering device arranged to receive a collision event signal and in response thereto trigger release of the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement. The triggering device may also include, but is not necessarily limited to a pyrotechnical device arranged to exert a force on the pedal mounting arrangement thereby triggering release of the pedal from the pedal mounting arrangement. |
| US07954587B2 |
Collision behavior control apparatus
A collision behavior control apparatus which comprises a contacting portion disposed in a portion of the front of a vehicle, and which, at the time of collision against a pedestrian or a two-wheeler with a rider riding thereon, controls the behavior of the pedestrian or the two-wheeler rider by pushing the pedestrian or the two-wheeler rider separated from the two-wheeler with the contacting portion, wherein the pedestrian or the two-wheeler rider is pushed by the contacting portion such that the pedestrian or the two-wheeler rider is not bumped up onto the hood, whereby the pedestrian or the two-wheeler rider is moved to the vehicle side. |
| US07954584B2 |
Power unit for vehicle
A power unit for a vehicle including a clutch capable of making and breaking the transmission of power to a drive wheel. The clutch is interposed in the course of a power transmission path, along which rotational power of a crankshaft is transmitted to the drive wheel. The clutch is rotatably borne on a crankcase, and its axis is set along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. A clutch actuator is provided for controlling the connection and disconnection of the clutch. The clutch actuator mounted to an engine body including the crankcase. This arrangement of the clutch actuator eliminates a need to increase the front-to-rear length of the engine and the vehicle body. |
| US07954582B2 |
Motorcycle
A motorcycle including a radiator and having an engine offset, and in which increase in vehicle width is suppressed. A center of the engine is out of alignment with respect to a center of a head pipe toward one side in the vehicle width direction. The radiator is arranged in front of the engine. Cooling liquid flows in the radiator in the vehicle width direction. A first piping extends rearward from the other end portion of the radiator and a rear end portion of the first piping is connected to the engine. A second piping connects one end portion of the radiator in the vehicle width direction to the engine. The second piping extends from the one end portion of the radiator to the other side of the engine in the vehicle width direction, between the radiator and the engine, and extends rearward of the other side of the engine in the vehicle width direction. |
| US07954581B2 |
Drive state shift control apparatus and method for vehicle
A drive state shift control apparatus and method switches a hybrid drive (HEV) mode to an electric drive (EV) mode without engine stoppage shock or eliminates gearshifting shock in an electric vehicle. In response to a decrease in accelerator opening APO, a request for fourth-to-fifth upshift is issued, then request for HEV-to-EV mode shift is issued. At the time of the upshift, a direct clutch D/C is disengaged. At a first time interval after the mode shift is issued, a first clutch is disengaged. At a second time interval after the mode shift is issued, the engine begins to stop and the rotational speed of the motor-generator is controlled so that the speed falls to a predetermined rotational speed close to an after-gearshift rotational speed within a target shifting time interval. When the rotational speed reaches the predetermined rotational speed, a front brake Fr/B is engaged to perform a fourth-to-fifth upshift, and the torque of the motor is controlled so as to engage the one-way clutch smoothly. |
| US07954578B2 |
Power transmission device for hybrid vehicle
The present invention provides a power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle which provides an effect of reducing engine vibration, facilitates engine clutch control, and has a package type layout enabling mass production.For this, the preset invention provides a power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle, in which an automatic transmission having an input shaft, a motor, a torsion damper, and an engine having an output shaft connected to a crank shaft of the engine are arranged in a row, the power transmission device including: a motor support shaft, the outer end of which is supported by a motor rotor and the inner end of which extends toward the boundary between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the automatic transmission; a motor housing disposed to surround the outer circumference and the left side surface of the motor rotor; an engine clutch, disposed between the left side end of the motor housing and the left side surface of the inner end of the motor support shaft, for power transmission between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the automatic transmission; a motor cover housing arranged to so as cover the right side surface of the motor rotor and the right side surface of the inner end of the motor support shaft and including a concave portion on the right side surface thereof; and a torsion damper positioned in the concave portion of the motor cover housing to be blocked from the motor rotor. |
| US07954570B2 |
Cutting elements configured for casing component drillout and earth boring drill bits including same
A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutting elements are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being cutting elements suitable for drilling through a casing bit disposed at an end of a casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components, if such are disposed within the casing or liner string, as well as cement inside as well as exterior to the casing or liner string. The second type of cutting elements exhibits a relatively greater exposure than the first type of cutting elements, so as to engage the interior of the casing bit and, if present, cementing equipment components and cement to drill therethrough, after which the second type of cutting elements quickly wears upon engagement with the subterranean formation material exterior to the casing bit, and the first type of cutting elements continues to drill the subterranean formation. The first type of cutting elements may comprise superabrasive cutting elements and the second type of cutting elements may comprise abrasive or superabrasive cutting elements comprising a plurality of configurations. |
| US07954568B2 |
Drill bit nozzle assembly and insert assembly including a drill bit nozzle assembly
A steel body bit nozzle assembly comprising a bit body having a port therein with a sleeve disposed adjacent a nozzle in the port and an annular seal disposed between an outer wall, each of the sleeve and the nozzle and a wall of the port, each seal being received and compressed in an annular seal groove located between its respective component and the bit body. A nozzle pocket insert assembly and a method of manufacturing or retrofitting a steel body bit for use of the nozzle pocket insert assembly are also disclosed. |
| US07954565B2 |
Thread retention for an earth boring device
The invention relates to an earth boring device including a housing which has at least one portion with an inner thread, and a threaded element which has a corresponding outer thread, wherein the threaded element is slotted and has a receptacle for a securing element which increases the outer diameter of the threaded element and the contact pressure of the threaded connection between threaded element and housing, when inserted in the receptacle. |
| US07954564B2 |
Placement of cutting elements on secondary cutting structures of drilling tool assemblies
A secondary cutting structure for sure in a drilling assembly, the secondary cutting structure including a tubular body and a block, extendable from the tubular body, the block including a first arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a first blade and a second arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a second blade, wherein the second arrangement is a modified redundant arrangement. Also, a secondary cutting structure for use in a drilling assembly, the secondary cutting structure including a leading blade disposed on a first block and a trailing blade disposed on the first block adjacent the leading blade. Additionally, the secondary cutting structure includes a unique blade disposed on a second block, wherein a gage portion of at least one of the blades has a length between 30% and 45% of a total blade length. |
| US07954560B2 |
Fiber optic sensors in MWD Applications
A wellbore drilling system utilizes optical fibers to measure parameters of interest and to communicate data. One or more electrical conductors are used to provide power to the components of the drilling system. The acquisition electronics for operating fiber optic sensors can be positioned at the surface and/or in the wellbore. In some embodiments, one optical fiber includes a plurality of sensors, each of which can measure the same or different parameters. A multiplexer multiplexes optical signals to operate such sensor configurations. Optical fiber sensors for acoustic measurements can include a cylindrical member wrapped by one or more optical fibers. The sensors can be configured as needed to provide a 3D representation of the pressure measurements. |
| US07954559B2 |
Method for optimizing the location of a secondary cutting structure component in a drill string
A method of drilling a well includes at least one drill bit and at least one secondary cutting structure. The method includes determining a neutral point of a drill string, positioning at least one secondary cutting structure based on the neutral point of the drill string, and drilling an earth formation. |
| US07954558B2 |
Devices and methods for power control in horizontal directional drilling
The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses for controlling pump power draw from an engine in horizontal directional drilling. Various embodiments of the invention are directed to a horizontal directional drilling machine that comprises an engine that outputs mechanical energy, a rotation pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a rotation motor that rotates a drill string, a thrust pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a thrust motor that longitudinally moves the drill string, a mud pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a mud motor that delivers fluid through the drill string, and control circuitry comprising a controller and memory, the processor configured to execute program instructions stored on the memory, processor execution of the stored program instructions causing the control circuitry to calculate a rotation pump power draw from the engine, calculate a thrust pump power draw from the engine, calculate a mud pump power draw from the engine, calculate a total power draw based on the rotation pump power draw, the thrust pump power draw and the mud pump power draw, compare the total power draw to a threshold, and decrease mechanical energy draw of each of the rotation pump, the thrust pump, and the mud pump from the engine based on the total power draw exceeding the threshold. |
| US07954554B2 |
Coiled tubing equipment lifting methods
A method of lifting a coiled tubing reel is provided that includes providing a coiled tubing reel including a pair of flanges connected by a core around which a string of coiled tubing is wrapped, and a pair of hubs with each hub connected to a corresponding one of the flanges by a plurality of spokes. The method also includes providing a spreader beam including a pair of support members, and connecting each support member to a corresponding one of the reel hubs. The method further includes lifting the coiled tubing reel by applying a lift force to the spreader beam, such that the load of the lift force is carried by the spreader beam, the reel hubs and at least one of the plurality of spokes. |
| US07954553B2 |
Use of low impact expansion to reduce flow friction
Systems and methods for increasing fluid flow characteristics within a hydrocarbon production tubing string within a wellbore. An expansion member is passed through the interior flowbore of one or more production tubing string members. The expansion member smoothes the interior surface of the flowbore and may radially expand the interior surface of the flowbore. |
| US07954552B2 |
Overriding a primary control subsystem of a downhole tool
A system that is usable with a well may include a piston, a primary control subsystem and an override subsystem. The piston actuates the downhole tool, and the primary control subsystem may be connected to at least one hydraulic line in order to move the piston in response to pressure that is communicated to the tool via the hydraulic line(s). The override subsystem may be connected to the hydraulic line(s) to override the primary control subsystem and move the piston in response to pressure communicated to the tool via the hydraulic line(s). |
| US07954550B2 |
Tubing pressure insensitive control system
A system isolates a control system for a downhole tool from the internal pressures in the tubing in which the tool is mounted. Opposed seals are used on a moving component in the tool so as to offset pressure induced forces regardless of the internal operating pressure of the tool. In a particular application to a subsurface safety valve the control system can be isolated from tubing pressure by offset seals between the passage and the flow tube or around exposed portions of the operating piston for the flow tube. |
| US07954545B2 |
Plunger lift system for well
A plunger lift system has a bumper and a landing positioned in tubing below a safety valve of a well. A plunger moving between the bumper and landing lifts columns of liquid above the plunger when pushed by downhole pressure. A valve on the plunger's housing is movable between open and closed positions to either permit or prevent flow through the plunger. When the plunger engages the landing, a striker rod on the landing opens the valve permitting fluid communication through the plunger to a sales line at the surface. The valve is biased to the closed position to prevent fluid communication through the plunger. When the plunger is disengaged from the striker rod, the valve closes so that application of downhole pressure can again move the plunger uphole. A controller cycles the plunger between the bumper and the landing by controlling fluid flow in the well. |
| US07954544B2 |
Heat transfer unit for high reynolds number flow
In one aspect, a heat transfer unit is provided for increasing the temperature of process fluids, such as gas-phase fluids, having a Reynolds Number (RE) of at least about 275,000 with a low overall pressure drop and without exceeding the wall temperature limits of the material used to construct the heater. The heater generally includes a heater conduit having the gas-phase fluid flowing therethrough and a heat source, such as a radiant heat source, providing an inconsistent or variable heat flux along a length of the heater conduit where the heat source has a peak heat flux greater than an average heat flux. |
| US07954543B2 |
Heat exchanger header with deformations
The present invention has its object to provide a heat exchanger with plastic tanks type, wherein a seal member is regularly compressed and hooks or tabs of header core crimped in a uniform fashion.Deformations predominantly located in the large sides or sides adjacent to the tank foot of the header, are formed and distributed in the inner or outer wall. The deformations in the periphery, or more particular, on the outside of the header wall, are formed after the brazing process. |
| US07954541B2 |
Heat dissipation module
A heat dissipation module for being assembled to a circuit board with a first heat-generating element and a second heat-generating element is provided. A heat generation rate of the first heat-generating element is higher than that of the second heat-generating element. The heat dissipation module includes a heat-transferring connection element, a cooling device, a first heat-transferring plate and a second heat-transferring plate. The heat-transferring connection element has a first part and a second part. The cooling device connects to the first part. The first heat-transferring plate is connected between the first heat-generating element and the second part. The second heat-transferring plate has a third part and a fourth part. The second part is connected between the first heat-transferring plate and the third part. The fourth part is connected to the second heat-generating element. The thermal conductivity of the first heat-transferring plate is higher than that of the second heat-transferring plate. |
| US07954534B2 |
Tape sticking apparatus and sticking method
A tape sticking apparatus includes a feed-out device for feeding out a raw sheet in which a strip-shaped tape base material is temporarily stuck on one surface of a strip-shaped release liner. A cutting device is configured to form a closed-loop-shaped cut-line on the tape base material to form a sticking tape. The apparatus further includes a peeling device for peeling the sticking tape from the release liner, and a sticking device for sticking the sticking tape to a workpiece. A collecting device collects the raw sheet after being peeled off the sticking tape by the peeling device. |
| US07954532B2 |
Apparatus for forming hems with double sided tape
An apparatus for forming a hem is provided. The apparatus has a tape station for use in application of tape to a blank. A hemmer is used for folding the blank. A driving roller is present for use in moving the blank and for use in compressing the blank and the tape to form a hem. A method of forming a hem is also provided. |
| US07954528B2 |
Thermoplastic elastomer composition and process for producing same
A thermoplastic elastomer composition having excellent durability and flexibility while possessing superior air impermeability. In particular, a process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer composition having high rubber content by multistage addition of at least one vulcanizable rubber component, in which the time required to substantially cure the at least one rubber component preferably is less the mixer residence time. Such compositions are particularly useful in applications such as tire innerliners and barrier films or layers. |
| US07954527B2 |
Pneumatic tire with tread having both end closed groove bottom concave portions and both end open groove bottom sipes
A pneumatic tire provided with a tread pattern on which a plurality of blocks are formed with circumferential grooves which extend along a circumferential direction of the tire and lateral grooves which traverse the circumferential grooves, wherein the lateral groove disposed between the blocks on the endmost tread edge region has a depth from 10 to 50% of a depth of the circumferential groove to be traversed and has a groove bottom concave portion whose both ends in a longitudinal direction are disposed inside the groove bottom, and a width of the groove bottom concave portion, which is determined on the basis of the bottom plane of the groove bottom, is from 25 to 45% of a groove width of the lateral groove. |
| US07954526B2 |
Golf club head cover
Embodiments of golf club head covers are described herein. Other embodiments and related examples comprising magnetic elements are also described herein. |
| US07954525B2 |
Portable crozer for barrels
The present invention relates to a portable crozer adapted to be mounted above a new or used barrel for firstly creating a groove or “croze” along an inside surface to accommodate a barrel head, and secondly, for creating a bevelled top edge. In the case of used barrels, the croze is formed a short distance below the existing croze, and a new bevelled edge is formed to compensate for the lowered barrel head position. Conventional crozers are not adapted to be used on used barrels and have a number of inherent problems which are overcome by the present invention. In particular, conventional crozers are not portable which means they are not able to be used in mobile barrel reconditioning services, the time taken for each croze is significant, and they are generally in the form of bulky, quite expensive machinery. |
| US07954521B2 |
Container closure with overlying needle penetrable and thermally resealable portion and underlying portion compatible with fat containing liquid product, and related method
A container and method are provided for storing fat containing liquid products. The container includes a body defining a storage chamber for receiving the product, and a container closure. A first material portion forms at least most of the surface area overlying the storage chamber that can contact any product therein. Neither the body nor the first material portion leach more than a predetermined amount of leachables into the product or undesirably alter a taste profile thereof. A needle penetrable and thermally resealable second material portion either (i) overlies the first material portion and cannot contact any product within the storage chamber, or (ii) forms a substantially lesser surface area overlying the storage chamber that can contact any product therein in comparison to the first material portion. A sealing portion is engageable with the body to form a substantially dry hermetic seal between the container closure and body. |
| US07954519B2 |
Safe storage of volatiles
Safe storage of volatile compounds or elements is provided by utilizing storage configurations that take advantage of the diffusibility and release characteristics of cell-based materials, such as foam materials. Such configurations may provide storage of hazardous, liquefied gases in closed-cell foam material. Release of gas/liquid from the foam is restricted by the need for the gas to diffuse through the closed cells. Because rapid release is prevented, storage safety is greatly improved. |
| US07954517B1 |
Rivet plumbing repair apparatus and method
A repair process for a puncture through a plumbing pipe, the process initiates with a step of machining a puncture hole to a uniformly shaped hole having a diameter for receiving a repair rivet. The process continues by inserting and securing a blind rivet through the hole. The rivet can be sealed via any of a variety of methods, including using a solderable rivet and soldering the rivet to the pipe, utilizing a sealed blind rivet, combined with a gasket assembled between a rivet flange and the pipe surface. For two punctures, a section of coupling material can be utilized, sized to cover both punctures. The section is assembled to the pipe by inserting the rivet through both the section and the pipe, securing the rivet, then soldering the coupling to the pipe. |
| US07954516B2 |
Cladding method and expansion tool
A cladding method for sealing a leak in a casing, a pipeline, a borehole, or a well downhole using a liner having a tube with a first diameter, a plurality of circumferential grooves, and a plurality of seals in the grooves extending beyond the first diameter. The cladding method has at least the steps of fastening the liner in a fastening mechanism of an expansion tool, inserting the liner having a first part and a second part into the casing outside the leak, positioning an expansion mechanism of the expansion tool at the first part of the liner, expanding the first part of the liner until the seals in the grooves of the first part of the liner are pressed against the casing and fasten the first part to the casing, releasing the liner so that the liner is free of the tool and the liner is held in place by the seals in the first part of the liner, and expanding all the way through the liner by expanding also the second part of the liner to abut the casing for sealing the leak. |
| US07954514B2 |
Air-admitting guide member
An air-admitting guide member comprises an inflow end; an outflow end disposed on an inlet of a mechanical device; an elongated straight flow hole defined between the inflow and outflow ends; a plurality of rotational flow holes spaced apart respectively and each being defined between the inflow end and the outflow end, a diameter of the rotational flow hole being more than that of the straight flow hole and a bottom end thereof flushing with an end surface of the outflow end, the outflow end including a plurality of annular bores arranged on the end surface thereof and formed in a swirl shape toward the inflow end, an inner wall of the inflow end being formed in a tilted arc shape and including a stream-line sector end portion, the rotational flow hole including two openings arranged on two ends thereof individually, and projected shadows of the openings overlapping each other. |
| US07954513B2 |
Spray application rate regulating valve
A regulator valve includes an inlet coupled for receiving a spray solution delivered by a fixed displacement pump coupled to a solution tank. Located in the valve body so as to divide the solution received at the inlet between a bypass or tank port of the regulator valve, and a boom port is a ball valve in the form of a hollow sphere having a first circular opening in register with said inlet, a second circular opening in register with said boom port and an elongate, wedge-shaped opening in register with said bypass port. The ball valve is mounted for rotation about an axis which is coaxial with the first circular opening and includes a stem coupled to an electric motor for actuating the valve, the motor being coupled for receiving a control signal for causing the motor to position the ball for dividing the flow so as to achieve a desired solution application rate. |
| US07954512B2 |
Discharge arm assembly with guiding cable
Assembly for loading and unloading products, comprising a balanced loading and unloading arm installed at a first location and having a compass-style duct system mounted by one of its ends on a base and provided at the other of its ends with a connection system suitable for connecting the compass-style duct system to a coupling means installed at the second location, this assembly comprising, in addition, a cable joined on the one hand to means integral with the base and suitable for subjecting this cable to a constant tension and suitable for being joined, on the other hand, to the second location, the assembly also comprising guiding means capable of co-operating with the cable so as to guide the connection system along a trajectory materialized by the said cable until the connection system is brought into a position of connection to the coupling means. |
| US07954510B2 |
Pump valve retainer
A retainer for movably securing a valve member within a fluid bore of a pump comprises a retainer head which includes at least one peripheral groove and a retainer hub which is connected to or formed integrally with the retainer head. The valve member is movably coupled to the retainer hub, and the retainer head is movable to position the groove over a radial protrusion in the fluid bore. In this position, the retainer is secured to the pump and the valve member is accordingly movably secured within the fluid bore. |
| US07954502B2 |
Mobility assistance apparatus
An improved mobility assistance apparatus for use by a person as a walking aid, e.g. a cane, crutch, or walker, has a support capable of bearing vertical forces during use of the apparatus as a walking aid and a resilient device connected to a lower portion of the support for ground engagement. The device has a dynamic response characteristic to forces associated with ambulating using the apparatus as a walking aid which generates propulsive force to aid mobility. Two coiled springs are monolithically formed with the device at an upper end thereof. A flexible elongated member is connected to a radially inner, free end of each of the coiled springs and extends about a return at a lower portion of the device for resiliently expanding the coiled springs to store energy with force loading of the apparatus during use and to release stored energy during force unloading to generate propulsive force to aid mobility. The dorsiflexion moment of the resilient device is an order of magnitude greater than a plantarflexion moment thereof to mimic human ankle joint function. |
| US07954499B2 |
Tool for hair extension removal
A hair extension removal tool is generally shaped like a pair of pliers with two jaws formed of two elongated members pivotally joined together. A body is attached to the first elongated member and houses a solvent container therein. A tubing extends from the container to an opening on an inside surface of one of the jaws. The container has a pump for ejecting an amount of the solvent through the tubing. A lever attached to the body is provided for activating the pump. In use, a strand of extension hair is placed within the jaws of the removal tool, the lever is pressed to eject an appropriate amount of the solvent through the tubing, and pressure is applied to the hair extension with the jaws of the tool to weaken the attachment, until the bonding material is sufficiently dissolved and the extension hair is detached and removed. |
| US07954497B2 |
Arm restraint apparatus and method
An arm restraint for restricting movement of a person's arm during sleep. The arm restraint includes a lower strap, an extension part coupled to the lower strap at one end of the extension part, the extension part including an adjusting unit for adjusting a length of the extension part, and an upper strap coupled to the extension part at another end of the extension part. The lower strap is wrapped around a lower part of a person's body. The upper strap is wrapped around an arm of the person's body. The extension part is sized by way of the adjusting unit such that the arm cannot abduct above a shoulder level of the person. |
| US07954494B1 |
Device with actively-moving members that hold or move the tongue
This invention is a device with actively-moving members external to the tongue that hold or move the tongue forward (using friction, compression, tension, pushing, pulling, adhesion, peristaltic motion, or a combination thereof) in order to reduce obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, or both. This device has advantages over Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), surgical procedures, tubes or stents, jaw-positioning appliances, devices that use suction, piercing the tongue, and devices using friction with static or passively-moving members. With actively-moving members, the places of pressure on the tongue can be moved throughout the night to avoid tissue injury. Also, the device can actively re-engage tongue when it slips out. A dynamic sleep apnea device with actively-moving members creates new treatment options for the millions of people suffering from sleep apnea. |
| US07954490B2 |
Method of providing ambulatory oxygen
Concentrated oxygen product gas is produced and delivered to a patient. Product gas is produced by (a) introducing ambient air into a first end of a column containing an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen and removes oxygen-rich product gas out a second end of the column; (b) evacuating the column through the first end to remove adsorbed gas from the column; (c) repressurizing the column by introducing ambient air into the first end of the column until the column is near 1.0 atmosphere; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c). Product gas is delivered as needed to the patient. |
| US07954489B2 |
Waterproof structure of a respiratory tube
A waterproof structure of a respiratory tube is provided. The waterproof structure comprises a hollow body and a lid. The hollow body has a first opening end and a second opening end opposing to the first opening end. The lid pivots onto the hollow body at the first opening end. Before the lid is immersed into liquid, the gravity of the lid can keep the lid at a certain position so that the respiratory tube is well-ventilated. After a part of the lid is immersed into the liquid, the buoyancy provided by the liquid forces the closing surface thereof to substantially seal the first opening end and prevent liquid from going into the tube. |
| US07954483B2 |
Cutting segment for cutting tool and cutting tools
The invention provides a cutting segment for a cutting tool for cutting or drilling a brittle work piece such as stone, bricks, concrete and asphalt, and a cutting tool having the cutting segment. The cutting segment includes a cutting surface for cutting a work piece and a plurality of abrasive particle layers. The abrasive particle layers are disposed perpendicular to a cutting direction. Each of the abrasive layers has a plurality of abrasive particle rows in a width direction of the cutting segment. Each of the abrasive rows has a plurality of abrasive particles arranged in a line. Further, the abrasive layers have a plurality of blank sections therebetween. In the blanks sections, abrasive particles are absent or have a concentration of 70% or less with respect to those in the abrasive rows. In addition, the blank sections include relatively thick blank sections and relatively thin blank sections. |
| US07954481B2 |
Bow string vibration suppressor
An archery bow string vibration suppressor includes a telescoping arm having a hollow member and an internal slideable elongate shaft. A bumper is affixed to the distal end of the elongate shaft. Furthermore, the vibration suppressor includes a male threaded coupling for affixing the telescoping arm to the rear mounting hole of a bow. In additional embodiments, the vibration suppressor includes an offset adapter bracket for affixing the vibration suppressor to the rear mounting hole of a bow or extension adapter bracket for affixing the vibration suppressor to the front mounting hole of a bow. |
| US07954480B2 |
Pellet gun feeder
A pellet gun feeder aligns at least one pellet with the breech of a pellet gun, such as a pellet pistol or a pellet rifle, and places at least one pellet in the pellet gun for use or to be discharged therefrom. |
| US07954478B1 |
Airless engine
An internal-combustion engine receives no air from outside atmosphere. Instead, combustion gas expelled from the engine is cooled and recycled back into the engine. That gas contains no nitrogen and consists mostly of carbon dioxide and water vapor. Oxygen and fuel are added to the recycled gas, and the resulting mixture is used to perform an internal-combustion cycle. A small amount of the expelled combustion gas is discharged into outside environment, and the rest is recycled. Since no nitrogen is present, no nitrogen oxides are produced. The amount of other harmful exhaust emissions, including particulate matter, is greatly reduced too, since most of them are recycled back into the engine. The engine is inherently supercharged with combustion-gas pressure and, since the combustion gas is heavier than air, the engine can be substantially smaller than a conventional engine of equal power. Direct injection of oxygen leads to further reduction in engine size. A smaller engine has much better fuel economy. Complete elimination of nitrogen oxide emissions and a significant reduction in particulate matter can substantially increase appeal of diesel engines based on the above concept. |
| US07954477B2 |
Diesel cycle internal combustion engine
A diesel cycle internal combustion engine can be operated with a variety of fuels having different boiling points and different viscosity-temperature characteristic curves, with a fuel circuit that includes a fuel tank, a fuel pump, a fuel line, at least one fuel filter, a high-pressure pump, an injection system device and a return line to return fuel to the fuel tank, where a control valve is provided in the return line for dividing or diverting the fuel flow to the fuel tank and/or to the fuel filter, and where the fuel division or diversion is undertaken as a function of the viscosity of the fuel in use such that the fuel filter will thence be heated to a temperature based on heat transfer from the fuel in use, and further where a pressure relief valve is provided between the fuel filter and the high-pressure pump. |
| US07954475B2 |
Fuel injector
A fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A fuel supply line enters an injector housing from a high-pressure fuel source which can be hydraulically connected to a pressure chamber. A 3/2 directional control valve for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber has a valve piston which can be moved axially back and forth between a rest position and an injection position. The 3/2 directional control valve, by a first end face of the valve piston, is hydraulically coupled to and can be activated by a piezoelectric actuator. The 3/2 directional control has a ball element which is connected to a second end face of the valve piston and, in the rest position, can be moved against a first sealing edge and, in the injection position, can be moved against a second sealing edge. |
| US07954474B2 |
Internal combustion engine control for improved fuel efficiency
A variety of methods and arrangements for improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines are described. Generally, an engine is controlled to operate in a skip fire variable displacement mode. Feedback control is used to dynamically determine the working cycles to be skipped to provide a desired engine output. In some embodiments a substantially optimized amount of air and fuel is delivered to the working chambers during active working cycles so that the fired working chambers can operate at efficiencies close to their optimal efficiency. In some embodiments, the appropriate firing pattern is determined at least in part using predictive adaptive control. By way of example, sigma delta controllers work well for this purpose. In some implementations, the feedback includes feedback indicative of at least one of actual and requested working cycle firings. In some embodiments, the appropriate firings are determined on a firing opportunity by firing opportunity basis. Additionally, in some embodiments, an indicia of the current rotational speed of the engine is used as a clock input for a controller used to selectively cause the skipped working cycles to be skipped. |
| US07954471B2 |
Spark ignited internal combustion engine and manufacturing the same
There is provided a spark ignited internal combustion engine having a geometric compression ratio of 13.0 or greater. The engine comprises combustion chambers having a cylinder stroke volume of 0.3 liter or greater, with the spark plug in the chamber ceiling having its spark point in the combustion chamber, and a cavity being formed on the top surface of the piston. At least part of the cavity defines a spherical surface that a hypothetical sphere having its center at the spark point contacts when the piston is at top dead center. The cavity is formed so that V2/V1≧0.31, where V1 is top-dead-center combustion chamber volume, and V2 is the volume of the part of the hypothetical sphere not interfering with the combustion chamber floor or ceiling at top dead center. The flame thus spreads with less interference, shortening combustion duration and reducing fuel consumption. |
| US07954469B2 |
Magnetic brake system for starter motor
An engine starter system is disclosed. The starter system includes an electric cranking motor having a shaft and configured to crank the engine. The starter system further includes a planetary-type reduction gear unit that has a starter motor ring gear. The starter system has a pinion mechanism mounted on the shaft and configured to selectively engage a ring gear of the engine. A clutch assembly is configured to transmit torque between the shaft and the pinion mechanism. The clutch assembly includes a current conducting material and the starter motor ring gear includes one or more permanent magnets. The starter system employs the principle of Lenz's law to reduce the overrunning rotational speed of the cranking motor upon disengagement of the pinion mechanism from the engine's ring gear after the engine has started. |
| US07954468B2 |
Mechanical adjuster
A mechanical adjuster that automatically increases or decreases or decreases valve clearance is provided that includes: a housing (12) having threaded portions (24, 26); a threaded member (14) thread-coupled with the threaded portion (24); a threaded member (16) connected to the threaded member (14) via mutual rotation prevention-couplings (32, 38) and thread-coupled with the threaded portion (26). When a load acting on the threaded member (14) is equal to or less than a valve closing load, valve clearance is decreased by an integrated rotation of the threaded members (14, 16). with a slip torque of the threaded member (14)>a self-locking torque of the threaded member (16). When a load acting on the threaded member (14) is close to or exceeds a valve opening load, valve clearance is increased by an integral rotation of the threaded members (14, 16) with the absolute value of a slip torque of the threaded member (14)>a self-locking torque of the threaded member (16). |
| US07954467B2 |
Camshaft adjuster control valve arrangement
In a camshaft adjuster control valve arrangement including a valve housing in the form of a central screw, the valve housing has a central passage of essentially constant diameter extending fully through the central screw. |
| US07954466B2 |
Process for adjusting the angular position of the camshaft of a reciprocating internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft
In a method for setting the rotary angle position of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft, the crankshaft is connected to the camshaft by means of a triple-shaft gear mechanism. This triple-shaft gear mechanism has a drive shaft which is fixed to the crankshaft, an output shaft which is fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft which is driven by an electric motor. |
| US07954454B2 |
Sure feed automatic feeder
An automatic animal feeder, comprises a barrel, spinner plate, and control unit. Barrel is free standing large container for storing the feed. The bottom of the barrel forms a funnel for conducting the food into a spinner plate. A spinner plate is disposed directly below the funnel of the barrel. An elongated shaft extends vertically upward through the spinner plate and into the funnel of the barrel. A control unit containing an operationally timer is positioned below the spinner plate. The timer is set to come on at predetermined intervals throughout the day. When the timer in the control unit comes on, the shaft rotates within the funnel thereby facilitating the conduction of the feed into the spinner plate. |
| US07954447B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting innerliner splice of a green tire
A method of creating an air barrier on both sides of an innerliner splice on the inside surface of a green tire when a bladder release lubricant is being applied thereto to prevent contamination of the splice. High pressure air is directed through air nozzles on both sides of the innerliner splice just prior to and during the application of the lubricant. A pressure sensor detects high or low air pressure during the creation of the air barriers to stop the spray of lubricant should either situation be detected. |
| US07954446B2 |
Hopper for cleaning coating machine
A hopper for cleaning a coating machine in which a rotary atomizing head extends through an opening in the upper surface of a hopper housing, a thinner for cleaning the rotary atomizing coating machine and a residual coating material are sprayed on the inside, an airstream control member for preventing flow from ascending from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing through a gap between the coating machine and the opening by the rotation of the rotary atomizing head corresponding to the gap between the coating machine and the opening, and the control member is formed with an air vent hole for supplying air to a negative pressure zone formed just below the rotary atomizing head. |
| US07954443B2 |
Boat windshield with vent structure
A boat windshield is described including a transparent pane. A rail is disposed adjacent and secured to one of either the bottom or the top edge of the transparent pane. An opening is defined through the rail. An air intake housing is secured to the front surface of the rail. An air intake opening and passageway are defined in the air intake housing. An air discharge housing is secured to the rear surface of the rail. An air discharge opening and passageway are defined in the rear intake housing. The air intake passageway, the opening through the rail, and the air discharge passageway define an air pathway from the front surface to the rear surface of the rail. The air discharge opening is positioned adjacent to the rear surface of the transparent pane to direct air along the rear surface of the transparent pane upon exiting the air discharge housing. |
| US07954435B2 |
Sound systems for model railroad locomotives
On-board model railroad speaker enclosure designs are presented that allow maximum sized speakers, improve impedance matching of sound to the outside of the locomotive, and isolate back and front speaker waves while maintaining the standard horizontal drive-train in model train locomotives. |
| US07954430B2 |
Underside curing of radiation curable inks
An ink printing device is disclosed that incorporates a curing lamp located on the opposite side of a printed face of a printed substrate and partially cures a radiation curable ink by irradiating through the substrate. Additionally, this disclosure provides a method for partially curing radiation curable inks by exposing a radiation curable ink on a substrate to a curing lamp located opposite the printed face of the substrate. |
| US07954428B2 |
Endless print belt for rotary stamp
An endless print belt for rotary stamp in which a plurality of print sections are disposed and spaced-out between each other on a surface of a print belt main body, with at least the print surface of the print section being formed of porous material, wherein a groove in the width direction is formed at an intermediate position of each spaced-out part. Preferably, the spaced-out part is formed such that the surface thereof is in a non-porous state and both ends of the groove are formed into a bund part, for preventing ink from running out. |
| US07954427B2 |
Rotary stamp with master stamp
In a rotary stamp with master stamp incorporating a master stamp having an oblong hole from which a desired print section of a rotary stamp is exposed in the bottom part of a grip case containing the rotary stamp, a thin melt-processed laminated belt produced by treating the superficial layer of a laminated belt foundation composed of porous thermoplastic resin belt base and an ink circulation reinforced rear fabric such that only a print section is left in a porous state while the other part of the belt is melt processed into anon-porous state that is used as an endless print belt, with the oblong hole in the master stamp formed in a size which allows the belt to pass along a bridge part without the surfaces making contact therewith. |
| US07954423B2 |
Apparatus for determining crystallization solidification curves of fat-containing masses
An apparatus (1) for determining crystallization solidification curves of a chocolate mass (6) includes a removal location (37), a measurement chamber (9) and a melting chamber (21). The removal location (37) serves to remove a liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) from a flow of liquid chocolate mass (6). The measurement chamber (9) is connected to the removal location (37) such that the liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) enters the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a temperature sensor (16) serving to sense the temperature of the sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) contained in the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a cooled wall serving for solidification of the liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) contained in the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a movable piston (14; 41). The melting chamber (21) is separate from the measurement chamber (9), and it serves to melt the solidified sample (38) of chocolate mass (6). The piston (14; 41) of the measurement chamber (9) is moved in a way to transfer the solidified sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) from the measurement chamber (9) into the melting chamber (21). |
| US07954417B2 |
Ceramic armoring and method for the production of ceramic armoring
A ceramic armoring is provided, comprising a first ceramic layer which has a plurality of segments that are functionally separated by crack stoppers, wherein the crack stoppers serve to prevent cracks propagating from one segment to another segment, at least one second ceramic layer which has a plurality of segments that are functionally separated by crack stoppers, and at least one bonding layer by means of which the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer are joined together, wherein the segments of the first ceramic layer are offset with respect to the segments of the second ceramic layer. |
| US07954409B1 |
Loading system and method for elastic projectile
A method for forming a projectile cartridge includes positioning a sabot within a compartment of a projectile cartridge casing. A delivery tube is inserted within a chamber of the sabot positioned within the casing, the delivery tube bounding a channel that passes therethrough. A projectile comprised of an elastomeric material is passed through the channel of the delivery tube under a pressurized gas so that at least a portion the projectile is received within the chamber of the sabot, the projectile being radially compressed as it is passed through the channel of the delivery tube. |
| US07954408B1 |
Bagel and english muffin slicing apparatus and associated method
A manually operable culinary apparatus includes a bottom cradle with a planar base member, a plurality of walls, a plurality of support plates, and a cutting implement detachably engaged with the bottom cradle in such a manner that the cutting implement is abutted directly on the bottom cradle when vertically and linearly displaced along a vertical plane such that a bottom-most tip of the cutting implement travels beyond the support edges and terminates medially between the support edges respectively. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for selectively adjusting first and second lateral spatial distances defined between the support plates and the anterior and posterior walls respectively. |
| US07954407B1 |
Steel rule die and steel rule
A steel rule die is disclosed which includes a bottom board with one or more cavity boards stacked on top of the bottom board. A metal plate is located on top of the uppermost cavity board. A top board is located on top of the metal plate. A plurality of rule slots are provided on the top board which define in plan view a generally rectangular or square configuration and a steel rule die is located in each of the slots. Each of the steel rules is generally flat to fit into a given slot and has a bottom portion adjacent the metal plate with a top portion formed into a cutting edge residing above the upper surface of the top board. Each of the steel rules extends on a longitudinal axis and has first and second end portions with the first end located approximately at a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis and one side of the same and the second end portion extending at approximately a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis and on another side of the axis. The steel rules in the rule slots are arranged alternately with the first end portion of a given rule located adjacent the second end portion of the next rule adjacent the given rule. |
| US07954406B2 |
Vibrating microtome with automated measurement of vertical runout
A vibrating microtome and measuring device for measuring the transverse offset of a vibrating knife comprises a light barrier into which the knife is placeable and a control application signal (pklo, pkhi) that describes the time course of the vibration of the knife and an electronic measurement system of the measuring device measures the coverage of the light barrier as an oscillating signal (tpm), and determines the transverse offset from the signal values at points in time that are defined by the control application signal. |
| US07954405B2 |
Hands-free paper towel dispenser and dispensing system
A dispensing unit includes an outer front wall, two outer side walls, a housing for holding a pile of a continuous length of accordion-like folded web of towels of tissue paper or nonwoven including bundles, the outer front wall having an access opening to the pile, a dispensing opening for the web of towels and a feeding mechanism including a member for controlling the dispensing of the web of towels, a drive unit and a braking arrangement for the web of towels. A unit of consumable articles includes the pile of bundles with connecting elements therebetween, which are inserted through the access opening into the housing in the dispensing unit and added to the bottom of the pile. The web of towels is dispensed from the upper part of the pile by a feeding mechanism, which positions the web of towels in a starting mode in the dispensing opening. |
| US07954402B2 |
Ratchet wrench with socket quick release mechanism
A ratchet wrench includes a working head located forwardly on a handle. The working head has a body portion with a generally flat and generally uninterrupted upper surface and a cavity formed in an opposite lower surface with at least one actuator bore through the side wall of the body portion. A drive item is rotatably disposed in the cavity. A pawl item is disposed in the cavity to switch the drive direction of the drive item, and a pawl actuator pin is movably disposed in the actuator bore to switch the pawl. A retention plate may be used to mount the drive item and pawl item in the cavity plate. A quick release mechanism may include a longitudinally oriented and longitudinally slideable release actuator. The upper surface of the working head may be formed by the body portion or by a cover plate mounted thereto. |
| US07954398B2 |
Pedal device
A common use pedal device for automotive vehicles comprises a base plate and a pedal pivotably attached to the base plate and having a push rod extending downwards from an underneath surface of the pedal. A rotating member is mounted to the base plate in such a manner that the rotating member can be depressed and rotated by the push rod of the pedal, the rotating member having a pulling arm adapted to pull a manual operating cable in response to rotation of the rotating member. A rotation detecting sensor is provided on one side of the base plate for detecting the degree of rotation of the rotating member and then notifying an electronic control unit of the degree of rotation thus detected. This pedal device can be employed in common in a manually controlled pedal type vehicle and an electronically controlled pedal type vehicle. |
| US07954394B2 |
Range switching device
A parking switching valve includes a spool that is movable to a first position and to a second position. The parking switching valve also has an oil chamber that generates a biasing force from a difference in the pressure receiving area between the land portions of the spool. The oil chamber has a second input port to which a line pressure is input while the spool is in the second position. Because the line pressure is input to the second input port, a biasing force is generated so that the spool is held in the second position against a spring. As a result, a parking device is held in a parking release state. |
| US07954391B2 |
Method for testing the functionality of armatures
The disclosure relates to a method for testing the functionality of armatures, e.g., of safety armatures, in process control systems which are assigned a test device for implementing partial stroke testing and which are connected to a control device, which brings about actuation, in accordance with regulations, of the safety armature in an emergency. Prior to the start of the implementation of the partial stroke testing, a request signal is transmitted from the test device to the control device which is answered by the control device with an enable signal, the enable signal being issued as a function of the current process sequence at the armature. |
| US07954390B1 |
Bernoulli mushroom inlet housing for efficient air sampling
A collection apparatus is provided for receiving a portion of a medium that flows around the apparatus and directing the portion into a collector. The apparatus includes an axisymmetric streamline receiver and a support member. The streamline receiver includes a chamber as well as at least one opening into the chamber that receives the portion. The support member includes an axisymmetric conduit for directing the portion from the chamber towards the collector. An alternate apparatus includes a streamline receiver, a support member and a tail stabilizer. The receiver includes upper and lower members that form leading and trailing edges to define a chord. Along an exterior surface, one or both of the members provide at least one opening that receives the portion. The support member has a conduit that directs the portion from the opening towards the collector. The tail stabilizer is secured to the streamline receiver to orient the leading edge into the medium. |
| US07954389B2 |
Torque sensor and manufacturing method thereof
A torque sensor (50) comprises a magnetic collecting ring (91, 92) fitted into an annular groove (31, 32) formed on the inner periphery (38) of a housing (30). By providing a staking part (33, 34) on the inner periphery (38) of the housing (30) in the vicinity of the annular groove (31, 32) using a staking device (100), the magnetic collecting ring (91, 92) can be secured in the annular groove (31, 32) through a simple process. |
| US07954384B2 |
Pressure sensor and manufacturing method of the same
A pressure sensor comprises a housing, a housing plug and a pressure port, which projects into the housing. The pressure sensor has a pressure-sensing element adhesively cemented on the pressure port, so that a passage, located in the pressure port, is sealed. To produce an adhesive film between the pressure port and the housing, the pressure port or the housing or both exhibit a recess in a region, which borders at least section by section on the adhesive film. The volume of recess is equal to the volume of the adhesive film. To produce the adhesive film, the intermediate space between the pressure port and the housing is filled with the adhesive, which was introduced into the recess, while utilizing a capillary effect. |
| US07954383B2 |
Method and apparatus for pressure measurement using fill tube
A pressure sensor includes a fill tube which is arranged to couple to a process pressure. A sensor is coupled to the fill tube and is configured to measure pressure of fluid in the fill tube as a function of a change of a physical property of the fill tube. Circuitry is provided to measure pressure using the pressure sensor, and to measure pressure based upon the change of the physical property of the fill tube. |
| US07954380B2 |
Rotary drill bits and systems for inspecting rotary drill bits
A method for conducting nondestructive internal inspection of a rotary drill bit used for drilling subterranean formations comprises communicating ultrasonic waves into a drill bit and detecting ultrasonic waves that are reflected by at least a portion of the drill bit. In some embodiments, the waves may be directed into the drill bit from within a longitudinal bore thereof. Reflected waves also may be detected from within the bore. The methods may be used to develop threshold acceptance criteria for classifying drill bits as acceptable or unacceptable to prevent catastrophic failures of drill bits during use. Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for conducting nondestructive ultrasonic inspection of a drill bit used for drilling subterranean formations. The systems and apparatuses may comprise an ultrasonic probe configured for insertion within an internal longitudinal bore of a drill bit. Drill bits are disclosed that are configured to facilitate nondestructive ultrasonic inspection thereof. |
| US07954379B2 |
Methods for determining displacement or strain of a target body
The invention is directed toward a new method for estimating and imaging the spatial and temporal mechanical behavior of materials in responses to a mechanical stimulus. This method is designed to work in inherently noisy applications, such as the imaging of the time-dependent mechanical behavior of biological tissues in vivo and using a preferred hand-held configuration of scanning. |
| US07954376B2 |
Method and device for balancing a rotor of an electrical machine
A balancing device is provided that is able to balance a rotor of an electrical machine. The machine includes a mounted rotor in a central bore of a stator and coaxially thereto. Between the rotor and the stator there is an air gap. The rotor preferably comprises a plurality of axially extending ferromagnetic teeth and non-magnetic wedges being arranged alternately around the circumference of the surface of the rotor. The teeth and/or the wedges preferably include balancing openings for balancing weights. The balancing device includes a mounting device and/or a locking device and/or a confirmation device. The device has a radial height that is smaller than the minimal clearance of the air gap and an axial extension such that it can be inserted into the air gap. With such a device it is possible to balance a rotor in an efficient way, when it is located in the bore of the stator. |
| US07954375B2 |
Inclined axis gravity gradiometer
Systems for and methods of detecting gravitational acceleration and gravity gradients are disclosed. The systems and methods include gravity gradiometers whose axes are substantially horizontal. In comparison with prior art systems, the systems presently disclosed provide one or both of more accurate measurements for the same amount of space, and smaller space requirements with the same or better accuracy. |
| US07954374B2 |
Estimating the consumption of a fluid by sensing displacement of a coupling device
An assembly for estimating consumption of a fluid includes a coupling device enabling fluid flow, a carrier assembly slidingly coupled to the coupling device, a biasing mechanism positioned between the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a displacement sensing mechanism including a sensor coupled to one of the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a magnet coupled to the other of the coupling device and the carrier assembly. The displacement sensing mechanism is configured to sense a displacement of the magnet relative to the sensor due to coupling of a fluid source to the coupling device. |
| US07954373B2 |
Thermal type flow meter
There is provided a thermal type flow meter capable of accurately detecting a flow rate even when a fluid temperature varies rapidly or when the fluid temperature is high. A probe includes: a first main heating resistor; a second main heating resistor set at a temperature different from that of the first main heating resistor; and a sub-heating resistor for heating lead wires of the two main heating resistors. A CPU of a sensor control circuit finds a fluid temperature by using the two main heating resistors, and finds a fluid flow rate by using at least one of the two main heating resistors. |
| US07954370B2 |
Use of piezoelectric sensor attached to electronics package housing
Disclosed ia an apparatus and methodology for detecting tire (1) rotation by associating a piezoelectric sensor (250) with an enclosure housing (210) tire environment related sensors and electronics. The enclosure (210) may be mounted in a tire (1) in a location subject to multi-dimensional strain and a signal processor is employed to separate tire rotation information for other types of strain induced signals that may be produced by the piezoelectric sensor (250). |
| US07954366B2 |
Environmental enclosure for vehicle property testing
An environmental test enclosure for modifying the temperature of a vehicle test property is presented. The enclosure includes a movable pallet assembly that is operable to deliver the test property to and from the property test site. The movable pallet assembly includes a base plate that is configured to attach to and support the test property thereon. A plurality of sidewalls project upward from the base plate to surround the test property. A flexible cover is mounted to the overhead structure of the test site, and configured to transition between an open position, in which the cover is in a raised and generally folded state, to a closed position, in which the cover is in a lowered state and attachable to the pallet assembly. The flexible cover cooperates with the movable pallet assembly when attached thereto to define an enclosed and substantially thermally insulated space around the test property. |
| US07954360B2 |
Field mounted analyzer with a graphical user interface
The present invention is directed to a field-mounted analyzer having a graphical user interface (GUI). The analyzer has a display screen visible from the exterior of the housing. A plurality of magnetically-actuatable switches are mounted behind the display screen. The GUI has a plurality of windows that may be displayed on the display screen. Navigation through the windows is accomplished by activating switches aligned with graphical navigation icons in the windows. |
| US07954354B2 |
Method of manufacturing containers
A method for manufacturing containers including providing a container having a first diameter; expanding the diameter of the container to a second diameter with at least one expansion die is disclosed. Expansion dies can be used to expand the diameter of a container. Multiple expansion dies can be used to gradually expand the diameter of the container without significantly damaging the container. The container can then be formed to accept a closure. |
| US07954353B2 |
Method and device for testing the quality of a metallic coating
A method and a device for determining a quality of a metallic surface of a metallic substrate, for example a steel or steel alloy substrate, are provided. The device includes a mould, a sheet holder and a die, with which the metallic substrate is formed to produce a drawn test surface. The method and device are used to test the quality of the metallic surface of a metallic coating with a view to a later utilization, especially with a view to a later forming, wherein the metallic substrate is formed at least in-an area of a test surface, wherein a main and an additional shape change of the metallic substrate in the area of the test surface assume predetermined values that are related to the later utilization of the metallic substrate, and wherein the quality of the metallic surface is tested on the test surface after forming. |
| US07954351B2 |
Stretch-leveling metal strip
A metal strip is stretched as it is moved longitudinally generally continuously between an upstream traction-roll set and a downstream traction-roll set. The roll sets are differentially driven—with the downstream set moving at a slightly higher peripheral speed than the upstream set—so as to apply to the strip in a region between the sets a tension generally equal to a stretch limit of the strip. The strip is locally heated or cooled at an upstream location in the region between the roll sets so as to set in the strip in the region a temperature distribution that is nonhomogeneous transversely across the strip at least immediately downstream of the upstream location. |
| US07954350B2 |
Method of supplying lubrication oil in cold rolling
The present invention provides a method of supplying lubrication oil in cold rolling for stable rolling without heat scratches or slip and achieving high productivity and improvement of the unit consumption of lubrication oil, that is, a method of supplying lubrication oil in cold rolling by supplying a predetermined kind of emulsion lubrication oil comprised of a mixture of rolling oil and water at the rolling stand inlet from nozzles, the method characterized by measuring or estimating the pressure in the lubrication nozzle pipe (lubrication nozzle pressure), controlling the lubrication nozzle pressure of the rolling stand where lubrication is susceptible to become excessive with the predetermined emulsion lubrication oil to 0.5 MPa or more, and, while doing so, supplying the lubrication oil to the roll bite inlet of the stand by direct injection. |
| US07954348B2 |
Peening apparatus and method
A method of peening a surface which comprises the steps of providing a rotary peening tool having at least one rotating flap mounted on the drive shaft which is rotatably driven, measuring the speed of the drive shaft, and controlling the speed of the drive shaft to maintain a desired level. A peening apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US07954347B2 |
Mechanical key code verification system
A mechanical key code verification system including a mechanical key and a lock apparatus into which the mechanical key is insertable. The mechanical key includes a key body and a key code pattern including a plurality of recessed portions and a plurality of non-recessed portions formed on the at least one plane of the key body, the key code pattern having line symmetry. |
| US07954345B2 |
Washing machine with ornamental panel
A washing machine to guarantee easy mounting or separation of an ornamental panel and prevent the coming off or distortion of door trims. The washing machine includes a body having a laundry opening, a door mounted to the body to open or close the laundry opening and having a rim, an ornamental panel mounted to an outer surface of the door, a plurality of door trims coupled to the rim of the door supporting the ornamental panel, and a coupling device coupling of the door trims. The coupling device includes a plurality of holding recesses formed in the rim of the door and spaced apart from one another, and a plurality of holding hooks protruding from an inner surface of the respective door trims to be introduced into and caught by the holding recesses. |
| US07954342B2 |
Flexible knitting pin
A flexible knitting pin consisting of two relatively stiff shanks (1) pointed one end each, wherein said shanks (1) are connected with each other by the other end with a flexible hollow connecting material (2) comprising a joint; said joint between the stiff shanks (1) characterized in that it comprises a flexible hollow connecting material. |
| US07954336B2 |
Thermal storage unit for air conditioning applications
Disclosed is a demand shifting thermal storage system employing a heat transfer/thermal energy storage vessel to produce and hold a phase change fluid using an air cooled/water cooled/ground coupled or evaporative condensing unit to generate the cold fluid with a separate and dependent circuit coupled to the indoor cooling load to remove heat from the HVAC or process cooling load using one or multiple indoor coils to absorb heat returning the heat to the thermal energy storage vessel to reject the space heat, cool the space and continue the cycle. |
| US07954333B2 |
Air conditioner
A refrigerant circuit and an operation control means are provided. A refrigerant circuit is configured by the interconnection of a heat source unit, a plurality of utilization units, and expansion mechanisms. The heat source unit has a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger. The utilization units have utilization side heat exchangers. The operation control means is capable of performing a refrigerant quantity judging operation to control constituent equipment such that a first state value becomes a first target control value. In addition, during the refrigerant quantity judging operation, the operation control means maintains a cooling capacity of a first utilization unit among the plurality of utilization units, which air conditions a predetermined space. |
| US07954330B2 |
Method for operating a power plant and power plant
A method for operating a power plant is disclosed. The power plant comprises a power machine and a flue gas flow path following downstream of the power machine. A flue gas flow path is scavenged with fresh air before the flue gas flow path is acted upon with flue gas. To carry out the scavenging operation, air is extracted from a pressure accumulator and the air is introduced into the flue gas flow path downstream of the power machine. The power machine can be an exhaust gas heat exchanger. |
| US07954326B2 |
Systems and methods for cooling gas turbine engine transition liners
A gas turbine engine assembly includes a combustor configured to combust an air-fuel mixture to produce combustion gases in a first direction; a transition liner coupled to the combustor and adapted to receive the combustion gases from the combustor and to redirect the combustion gases in a second direction; and a turbine coupled to the transition liner and adapted to receive the combustion gases from the transition liner. The transition liner has a plurality of effusion holes that include a first group that extend at least partially in a tangential direction. |
| US07954324B2 |
Gas turbine engine
A gas turbine engine is provided comprising a compressor, a fuel supply apparatus, a combustor, and a turbine. The fuel supply apparatus comprises a fuel source, a cooling apparatus including a heat exchanger and structure for defining a first path for fuel to travel from the fuel source to the heat exchanger and a second path for fuel to travel away from the heat exchanger. The combustor functions to receive the compressed air from the compressor and the fuel from the heat exchanger, combine the air and fuel to create an air/fuel mixture and ignite the air/fuel mixture to create combustion products. The cooling apparatus further comprises structure coupled to and extending between the heat exchanger and at least one of a plurality vanes in the turbine for circulating a coolant fluid through at least one vane and the heat exchanger. In another embodiment, pipe supply structure extends from a fuel source through an end section of a turbine casing. In a further embodiment, a heat exchanger of a heat recovery steam generator is provided in a turbine casing end section. |
| US07954319B2 |
Method and control unit for setting a turbine flow cross-section
A turbine flow cross-section of a turbocharger of an internal combustion engine, is set such that a lower limit (TSQ_dyn_min) of a range of settable values of the turbine flow cross-section is determined as a function of an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine in non-stationary operating states. A speed of the internal combustion engine can be used as the operating parameter. |
| US07954316B2 |
Hydrostatic stepless transmission
A hydrostatic stepless transmission comprises: a hydraulic pump; a hydraulic motor, wherein at least one of the hydraulic pump and motor is variable in displacement, and is provided with a movable swash plate; a closed circuit connecting the hydraulic pump and motor to each other through a pair of main fluid passages, wherein one main fluid passage is higher-pressurized during forward traveling, and wherein the other main fluid passage is higher-pressurized during backward traveling; a hydraulic servomechanism for controlling a tilt angle of the movable swash plate of the at least one of the hydraulic pump and motor; a speed-controlling motive member attached to the hydraulic servomechanism, wherein the speed-controlling motive member interlocks with the movable swash plate and is moved by operating a speed control operation lever; and a load controlling system attached to the hydraulic servomechanism. The load controlling system includes an actuator for moving the speed-controlling motive member in a direction for deceleration, and a pair of check valves connected to the respective main fluid passages. Fluid is led from either of the main fluid passages to the actuator through the corresponding check valve so as to serve as an element for detecting load and as hydraulic pressure fluid for actuating the actuator. |
| US07954311B2 |
Ammonia vapor management system and method
A method is described for managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system. The method may include generating ammonia vapors in a first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device. Further, the method may include purging the stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition. |
| US07954309B2 |
Apparatus to improve modular cutterbar connecting shaft spline durability
An improved modular disc cutterhead connecting drive shaft configuration having a means for laterally centering the shaft between adjacent cutterhead modules thereby equalizing engagement on each end of the shaft with the module connectors. Further durability improvement is realized by a structure to radially center the shaft in the shaft receptacles of each module to maintain uniform loading on the shaft/receptacle interface which improves the durability of the connecting drive shaft end connections. Additional connecting shaft durability is provided by a means to lubricate the drive shaft connector connecting interfaces using lubricant reservoirs disposed within the modules. |
| US07954306B2 |
Grease masking packaging materials and methods thereof
The present invention relates generally to the packaging materials. More specifically, the invention relates to materials and methods suitable for use as packaging materials whereby the appearance of grease, fat or oil staining on the packaging material is reduced or eliminated. |
| US07954304B2 |
Blank for packing substantially flat articles, a method and machine for making the blank
The invention relates to a blank (1), a method and a machine (11) for realising the blank (1). The blank (1) is constituted by four lengths (5) which are consecutively joined to form a structure (2) or frame (6) which can be folded around one or more flat articles (4) or tiles to be packed. The machine (11) and the method for realising the blanks (1) include supplying identical panels of cardboard which are joined to constitute a continuous strip (10) and which are subsequently cut to correspond to lengths of sides of the tiles. Each length (5) is joined to a consecutive length (5) by deposits (7a) of glue. |
| US07954301B2 |
Integrated multilayer insulation
A multilayer insulation with an array of rigid posts is provided. In particular, the posts are comprised of multiple post elements that are interconnected to radiation shields or sheets comprising the layers of the integrated multi-layer insulation structure. The post elements maintain spacing between adjacent sheets, thus maintaining a volume between the sheets. The post elements within a post can be attached to one another to form an integrated post structure. Moreover, neighboring posts can be interconnected to one another by beams. The post elements can also be configured so that, when the IMLI structure is not subjected to atmospheric pressure, the elements within a post are separated from one another to form gaps, thereby reducing heat transfer between layers. |
| US07954300B1 |
Tile alignment and leveling device
A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries. |
| US07954299B2 |
Method of holding down roof sheathing and shingles
A method for securing a roof sheathing and shingles in a retrofitting reinforcement of an existing roof structure, the shingles being laid on the roof sheathing in a partially overlapping pattern, comprises (a) driving a plurality of fasteners down through selected shingles and the roof sheathing in a selected area of the roof structure into at least one of underlying roof frames; and (b) applying a water-resistant coating to the roof structure to seamlessly cover exposed surfaces with exposed ends and sides of all shingles in the selected area. |
| US07954298B2 |
Panel for floor coverings and wall and ceiling linings, and a method for producing the panel
The present invention relates to a method for producing a two-dimensional panel (1) for floor coverings, wall and ceiling coverings, preferably for moisture-prone rooms, comprising the following steps: milling one upper longitudinal groove (6) into a base panel, starting from its useful side (5), the longitudinal groove (6) is filled with an elastic water-repellent plastics or sealing mass (9); and after hardening of the plastics or sealing mass (9), at least one lower longitudinal groove (11) is milled, starting from its rear side (10), the depth of which groove reaching as far as to the sealing mass (9) or into the sealing mass of one of the upper longitudinal grooves (6), thus forming an elastic expansion joint (12) of the panel (1). A further method comprises the following steps: one edge groove (8) each is milled into the base panel, starting from its useful side (5), in the region close to the longitudinal sides (7); the edge grooves (8) are filled with an elastic, water-repellent plastics or sealing mass (9); and after hardening of the plastics or sealing mass (9), a groove (13) as well as a tongue (14) are milled for a groove-and-tongue connection, wherein each of the outer lateral flanks (15) of the sealing mass (9) is milled. |
| US07954297B1 |
Four ring spherical connecting hub for building space frame structures
A spherical hub consisting of four interlocking and concentric rings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 and as many collar assembly pieces 12, 13, 14 as desired that can be used to receive tubular rod struts from a multiplicity of angles. The four rings are each uniquely grooved so that they fit and lock together in a specific order to hold a spherical form. The hubs can be used to assemble space frame and other structures in a wide variety of shapes and sizes 15. |
| US07954292B2 |
Insulated siding system
An insulated siding panel comprises a foam insulation layer, an attachment member, and optionally a veneer layer. The foam insulation layer comprises a front face, a rear face, a tongue along a first end edge, a groove along a second end edge, and a slot defined in the rear face. The attachment member comprises an attachment rail and a member extending transversely from the attachment rail. The member of the attachment member is inserted into the slot of the foam insulation layer. When present, the veneer layer is attached to the front face of the foam insulation layer. When joined with other insulated siding panels, the interlocking occurs along the foam insulation layers to form an unbroken layer of insulation. |
| US07954291B2 |
Composite article for constructing floors
A composite for constructing concrete floors is completely factory assembled and comprises a body of expanded plastic having at least two parallel channels, open on the upper surface of the panel, extending the length of the article, adapted to be filled with concrete. A steel reinforcement bar fabric is installed into each channel, which may comprise at least two parallel steel bars connected by cross bars. At least some cross bars extend beyond a lowest reinforcement fabric bar to provide spikes long enough to pass through the plastic bottom and protrude therefrom. One or more sheet metal shrouds with at least one row of aligned holes matching those of the protruding spike ends are applied to the underside surface of the plastic body hung from the protruding ends of the spike by fasteners |
| US07954275B2 |
Rodent trap with removable trigger plate
A rodent trap includes a pivotally mounted jaw which snaps to a closed position to enclose a rodent when activated by a rodent attempting to free itself from an adhesive coated removable trigger member. The trigger member and the rodent can be easily removed from the trap. The trigger member can be replaced with a new trigger member and the trap can be reset and reused. |
| US07954274B2 |
Live-bait-simulating resilient puppet fishing lure
A resilient fishing lure, which simulates the movement of live bait when a fisherman tugs on the fishing line, includes a molded, resilient worm/amphibian larvae-like body. The body is unitary, having a head equipped with a longitudinal aperture, an attached tail equipped with at least two apertures, and at least one hook secured to the body. A fishing line is routed, first through the longitudinal aperture in the head, then in an “S” pattern through the remaining apertures, and secured to the body through the aperture farthest from the head. Resiliently-hinged jaw flaps on an anterior portion of the head open to positions of maximum hydrodynamic drag when the lure is pulled forward through the water, thereby transferring a portion of the pulling force to the tail so that is transformed from an elongate configuration to a serpentine configuration. |
| US07954272B2 |
Adjustable firearm supports and associated methods of use and manufacture
Adjustable firearm supports, and more specifically adjustable bipods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a firearm support includes a stock mount assembly configured to support a forestock of the firearm and an attachment assembly carried by the stock mount assembly. The attachment assembly is configured to releasably attach to the forestock of the firearm. The firearm support also includes first and second legs operably coupled to the support plate. Each leg is pivotable between a stowed position and an extended position. In the stowed position the legs are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the firearm, and in the extended position the legs are generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the firearm. |
| US07954271B1 |
Firearm monopod
A monopod for a firearm is disclosed. The monopod has a body and a leg that can extend from the body. The monopod may fit into a pistol grip of a firearm, such as a rifle. Once installed, the leg of the monopod may be extended from the pistol grip of the firearm and secured by a pin. When the leg is retracted into the body, the leg is kept in place by the pin, which opposes a force provided by a constant force spring. The monopod may be used by a user to stabilize the firearm on a surface. |
| US07954270B2 |
Reversible rail for a firearm
A mounting rail for a firearm is disclosed. The mounting rail may be a picatinny rail, a weaver rail, or the like, which allows tools such as lights or lasers to be attached to a firearm. The mounting rail is reversible and may be mounted within a portion of the firearm, such as the forend. The other side of the rail may match the finish and texture of the firearm so that the mounting rail is hidden from view when reversed. |
| US07954269B2 |
Muzzle loading rifle with breech plug having gas seal facility
A muzzle loading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and the barrel has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel. The breech plug including a seal element closely received by the bore. The seal element may be a set of piston rings that are received in a circumferential groove about a forward end of the plug, or may be a cup at the forward end, with a forward rim that flares under pressure to provide a gas seal. |
| US07954264B1 |
Decorative reflective spinning device
A solar power ornamental device that features spinning, expandable decorative element displays a constantly changing array of colors when light is reflected from the rotating decorative element. The ornamental display includes: (a) a mounting assembly that includes a base that is rotatable about an axis; (b) means for rotating the rotatable base; and (c) an expandable decorative element that is secured to the rotatable base whereby the expandable decorative element is radially expandable when subjected to centrifugal forces that develop when the rotatable base is rotated. |
| US07954260B2 |
Interchangeable sandal and related methods
Various embodiments of an evolutionary interchangeable sandal are disclosed. Certain example embodiments described herein relate to various sandal configurations that utilize at least two main elements, including a platform sole base and a strap assembly. These elements may be joined by special fasteners that provide quick-connect or disconnect while securely maintaining sandal integrity and wearability. The platform sole base may be customized in various thicknesses and sandal sizes. The strap assembly may be customized in various shapes, colors, styles, and/or manufacturing materials. In the case of the sole tread/height enhancement addition, the soles tread and height may be interchanged as needed. |
| US07954259B2 |
Sole element for a shoe
The invention relates to a shoe having a sole element. The sole element includes a sole area extending below a wearer's foot and a heel cup three-dimensionally encompassing a heel of the wearer's foot. The heel cup alone forms at least a portion of a sidewall of the shoe. |
| US07954257B2 |
Footwear construction and related method of manufacture
A footwear construction including a sole component and shock pods that absorb impact forces caused by activity. The sole component can be a midsole defining at least one shock pod hole that reduces in dimension from a midsole lower surface toward a midsole upper surface. A shock pod can be joined with the midsole, and extend from the lower surface toward the upper surface. The midsole can be constructed from a harder material than the material from which the shock pod is constructed. A outsole can be joined with the midsole so that a lower portion of the shock pod, for example a traction lug, extends through the outsole to form a ground contacting surface. The shock pod and the shock pod hole can be of corresponding frustoconical shapes. A method is provided including joining a shock pod with a midsole, and joining an outsole with the midsole. |
| US07954256B2 |
Interchangeable footwear system and method
A footwear system (S) and corresponding methods (M1) and (M2) for providing a plethora of footwear fashion options via a plurality of interchangeable components, the interchangeability of which being facilitated by structurally stable quick-coupling and quick-decoupling techniques. The system (S) includes a plurality of interchangeable uppers (100), a plurality of interchangeable heels (200), and a quick-release device (300) for easily and selectively engaging a heel (200) of the plurality of interchangeable heels (200) with an upper (100) of the plurality of interchangeable uppers (100). The quick-release device (300) has a safety feature for providing structural stability. |
| US07954253B2 |
Apparatus for checking diametral dimensions of a rotating cylindrical part during a grinding thereof
An apparatus for checking the diameter of crankpins (18) of a crankshaft (34) in the course of the machining in a grinding machine comprises a first arm (9) rotating with respect to a support (5) arranged on the grinding-wheel slide (1) of the grinding machine, a second arm (12) rotating with respect to the first, a reference device (20) carried by the second arm and a measuring device (16, 17, 40-45) associated with a reference device. A guide device (21), fixed to the reference device (20), enables the apparatus to engage a crankpin, in the course of the orbital motion of the crankpin, and limit the displacements of the first arm and those of the second arm when a control device (28-30) displaces the apparatus to a rest position. |
| US07954251B2 |
Multifunctional airway evaluator for orotracheal intubation
A multifunctional airway evaluator for orotracheal intubation includes first and second connected elongated arms, movable relative to each other about a pivot axis, a planar plate connected to the first arm and extending upwardly therefrom, and a gravity-operated angular indicator attached to the planar plate. The plate includes a distance scale on its front face, and the distance scale includes a plurality of spaced apart grade lines aligned radially with the pivotal axis and distance parameters associated with the grade lines, each of the distance parameters indicating a distance between the distal ends of the first and second arms when the arms are in a relative position. The gravity-operated angular indicator includes an axial pin disposed perpendicular to the planar plate, a rotating disk pivotally attached to and rotatable around the axial pin by gravity, and one or more angular measurement marker provided adjacent the rotating disk. |
| US07954244B2 |
Razor cartridge with comb
A multi-function razor cartridge that can be used for hair trimming and normal shaving has a housing including a retractable guard and at least one razor blade having a cutting edge. The razor cartridge also has a comb mounted to the housing that is movable by a user between a non-operable position and an operable position. When the comb is in the non-operable position the razor cartridge can be used for a normal shaving operation. As the comb is moved to the operable position for hair trimming, the guard is retracted so that it will not interfere with the passage of longer hairs between the teeth of the comb. |
| US07954241B2 |
Self-lubricating bearing and its manufacturing process
The present invention discloses a self-lubricating bearing, which is a hollow cylindrical body with an axial hole in its center, exhibiting a structure formed by sintering a multiple of spherical alloys particles under microscopy. The self-lubricating bearing has a multiple of pores to receive lubricating oil. Further, the present invention provides a manufacturing process for making self-lubricating bearings. |
| US07954239B2 |
Method of manufacturing a torque limiter device
A manufacturing method that can stabilize an operation torque of a torque limiter device in a manufacturing stage is provided. The method of manufacturing the torque limiter device 1 includes an assembling step S1 of attaching a clutch disk 13 and a damper mechanism 16 to a spline hub 15, and attaching a friction facing 21 to the clutch disk 13; an assembling step S2 of attaching a transmission torque limiting portion 6 to the friction facing 21; and a grinding step S4 of supplying a torque to at least one of the transmission torque limiting portion 6 and the spline hub 15 to rotate them relatively to each other. |
| US07954235B2 |
Method of making a seal about a copper-based terminal
A method of forming a seal about an electrically conductive core of a cable having an insulative outer cover and a terminal includes the steps of providing a lead of the core extending beyond an axial edge of the insulative outer cover; applying a conformal coating onto the lead; crimping the terminal onto the cable while the conformal coating is still wet to displace the conformal coating from between the lead and the abutting contact surfaces of the terminal and to cover and seal remaining portions of the lead not in direct contact with the terminal with the conformal coating and curing the conformal coating over the remaining portions of the lead. |
| US07954232B2 |
Crimping tool with detachable cable connector tester
A crimping tool with detachable cable connector tester includes a crimper body for crimping a signal connector to a cable, two pressing handles, and at least one cable connector tester. Therein, the two pressing handles are movably connected with the crimper body and have at least one fastening groove, the cable connector tester is detachably set in the fastening groove, and thereby construction workers can use the crimping tool to crimp the signal connector with the cable. After crimping, the signal connector can be inserted into the cable connector tester that is selectively attached with the crimping tool, so as to test the conduction between the signal connector and the cable. |
| US07954230B2 |
Method for making soot sensor
An ablating device is used to form a pattern into a sensing element pad of a soot sensor, with the pattern establishing two finger paths without electrical connection between them. The pattern can be formed through a protective layer on the sensing element pad before the sensing element pad is fired. |
| US07954226B2 |
Method of manufacturing a gear unit of a motor
In the present invention, driving torque outputted from a motor portion is transmitted to a worm from a motor shaft, further to a helical gear from the worm, and is taken out to the outside from an output shaft which rotates together with the helical gear with a fixed shaft fixed to a gear box as a center. This fixed shaft is constructed in a hollow and cylindrical shape having an opening in which one end portion thereof has been opened, and a ceiling surface in which the other end portion thereof has been closed, and one end portion of this fixed shaft is subjected to dislocation preventive work, and is fixed to a gear box made of resin by pressing-in or insert molding. The other end portion of the fixed shaft is formed with the dislocation preventive structure of the output shaft and the helical gear installed to the fixed shaft. |
| US07954225B2 |
Locking pin for coupling components
First and second components can be releasably coupled together with a locking pin having a sacrificial o-ring. The first and second components have respective first and second openings that are aligned with each other and receive the locking pin. The second opening has a square edge located adjacent to a recess in the first opening. The o-ring has an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the square edge and an inside diameter less than the diameter of the square edge when assembled. The locking pin is inside of the first and second openings, with the o-ring inside of the recess. To release the components, the locking pin is moved out of the first opening to shear the o-ring against the square edge. |
| US07954222B2 |
Key, X-structure and manufacturing method thereof
A X-structure of a key and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The X-structure comprises a first frame and a second frame. The first frame comprises a bar. The first frame is connected and pivoted to the second frame via a fold located on the bar. The key comprises a keycap, a base and the X-structure installed between the keycap and the base. The manufacturing method of the X-structure comprises: providing the X-structure and pressing the bar to generate a fold until the first engaging portions are connected and pivoted to the second engaging portions. |
| US07954217B2 |
Seal ring dismounting device
A seal ring dismounting device includes a handle and a first section of a shank is connected to the handle, a second section is connected to the first section at an angle. The second section includes first teeth defined in a lower side thereof. An operation plate having hook portion is connected to the second section. A rod is connected to a U-shaped frame and includes second teeth which are engaged with the first teeth of the second section. A spring member is located between the frame and the second section so that when pushing the frame toward the second section, the rod is moved to disengage the second teeth from the first teeth such that the rod can be easily moved along the second section. |
| US07954215B2 |
Method for manufacturing acceleration sensing unit
A method for manufacturing an acceleration sensing unit includes: providing an element support substrate in which a plurality of element supporting members is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the element supporting members being coupled to the other element supporting member through a supporting part and having a fixed part and a movable part that is supported by the fixed part through a beam, the beam having a flexibility with which the movable part is displaced along an acceleration detection axis direction when an acceleration is applied to the movable part; providing an stress sensing element substrate in which a plurality of stress sensing elements is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the stress sensing elements being coupled to the other stress sensing element through an element supporting part and having a stress sensing part and fixed ends that are formed so as to have a single body with the stress sensing part at both ends of the stress sensing part; disposing the stress sensing element substrate on the element support substrate such that the fixed ends of each stress sensing element are situated on the fixed part and the movable part; fixing the fixed ends onto the fixed part and the movable part, and dividing the element supporting part and the supporting part. |
| US07954214B2 |
Transport cart for needle boards
A transport cart (1) for needle boards (2) in accordance with the invention is provided with an accommodation device (8) that is designed so that its height can be adjusted and that it can also be pivoted about at least one axis, and that it is associated with a protective cover which can be moved together with the accommodation device. Numerous adjustment options, guide and stop devices are provided in order to be able to also handle large and heavy needle boards in a safe and careful manner. |
| US07954213B2 |
Nonwoven fabric, nonwoven fabric manufacturing method, and nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus
The present invention provides a nonwoven fabric of which at least one of fiber orientation, fiber density, and basis weight is adjusted, and in which at least one of a predetermined groove portion, an opening, and a protrusion is formed, a manufacturing method for the nonwoven fabric, and a nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus. The nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus of the present invention manufactures a nonwoven fabric of which at least one of fiber orientation, fiber density, and basis weight is adjusted, or in which at least one of a predetermined groove portion, an opening, and a protrusion is formed by blowing fluid mainly containing gas onto a fiber web which is formed in a sheet shape, and which is in a state where at least a portion of the fibers constituting the fiber aggregate has a degree of freedom. |
| US07954212B2 |
Sheet attaching instrument
The sheet attaching instrument includes an instrument body 12 and a fixing member 14 fixing the instrument body 12 to a sheet 1. The instrument body 12 has a first projection 20 and a second projection 30. The first projection 20 has a first shaft 21 and a first holding flange 22 extending from a tip end of the first shaft 21, while the second projection 30 has a second shaft 31 and a second holding flange 32 provided on a tip end of the second shaft 31. The fixing member 14 includes a first engaging portion 40 adapted to be engaged with the first projection 20 and a second engaging portion 50 adapted to be engaged with the second projection 30. After the first engaging portion 40 is slid relative to the first projection 20 for the engagement, the fixing member 14 is rotated with the first projection 20 as support point in a direction of approaching the instrument body 12. Then the second engaging portion 50 is engaged with the second projection 30. |
| US07954211B2 |
Quick connect coupling assembly
A quick connect coupling assembly has a first and second component, and a locking assembly structured to retain the components in an attached orientation with one another. The locking assembly includes a plurality of locking elements each having a locking arm with a locking member mounted to a distal end, wherein the locking members are maintained in an outwardly extending orientation by a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism comprises a spring mounted between oppositely disposed locking elements, wherein the spring is structured to maintain the locking members in an outwardly extending orientation. The quick connect coupling assembly also includes a release mechanism to permit the locking members to be temporarily disposed into a retracted orientation, thereby permitting the first and second components to be detached from one another. |
| US07954210B2 |
Hose clamp
A hose clamp, preferably for the closing of catheter extensions, has an integral plastic body extending in an elongate manner with two arms which are resiliently connected to one another at the ends and which each form a projection such that they are disposed opposite one another in the closed state of the hose clamp. The arms can be hooked with one another in the closed state with openings being provided at the front and rear ends thereof for the reception of a hose. The hose clamp generally has the shape of a cylinder with cut-off sides which taper conically at both sides toward the ends of the clamp, with the ends being adapted to the circular shape of a hose is received therein. |
| US07954209B2 |
Waterproof structure for zippers
A waterproof structure for zippers includes a waterproof layer formed on one side surface of two tapes of a half-finished zipper. The waterproof layer is formed by coating a layer of bonding glue on the one side surface of the two tapes and then the bonding glue has its upper layer stuck with an electroplating membrane. By so designing, external water can be prevented from seeping in the two tapes of the zipper, thus elevating waterproof effect of a zipper. |
| US07954204B2 |
Reel based closure system
Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace. |
| US07954200B2 |
Constant head device for a cleaning machine
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a distributor for dispensing solution to the surface and a solution tank fluidly connected to the distributor for supplying a flow of solution to the distributor. The solution tank has a bottom portion and an upper portion. A constant head device is fluidly connected to the solution tank such that the flow of solution from the solution tank to the distributor is substantially constant independent of the level of solution in the solution tank. |
| US07954198B2 |
Windshield wiper assembly with unitary arm and post
A windshield wiper assembly is provided having a unitary wiper arm and post, and a mechanical linkage for receiving the post and moving the arm. The post has a breakaway feature for breaking the post in response to impact. The wiper includes a head partially containing a center post and a button biased with a spring and connected to the center post for releasing the post from the linkage. The post and linkage include a captive ball and mating groove that are mutually engageable for securing the post to the linkage. Alternately, the post has a quick-connect end having a groove and the linkage has a receiving portion with a retractable collar and captive ball bearings. A vehicle is also provided including a windshield, a windshield wiper having a post, a wiper motor, and a mechanical linkage having an opening for receiving the post and powering the wiper. |
| US07954196B1 |
Mini multitask brush
A brush small in diameter consisting of stiff bristles of 0.014 inch nylon filaments bundled in 50 nylon filaments glued within a plastic shank. Stiff, short 4 mm, flat even ended bristles are equal in length to form a substantially planar cleaning surface. The small diameter allows for improved dental hygiene via clearance in tight areas such as under orthodontic arch wires and other dental prostheses along with maintaining hygiene in normal and healthy oral cavities. The bristles are capable of fluoride and antibacterial mouthrinse transfer to treat sensitivity, decalcification and inflamed or infected gumline areas. The ergonomical handle has an angled neck, over molded soft grips and additional, replaceable heads are stored inside the hollow handle. The head rotates into multiple angles. Primary embodiment is manual, but other embodiments may allow for mechanical applications that include agitating or reciprocating articulation powered by a motor. |
| US07954195B2 |
Beater cleaner
Beater Cleaner is a kitchen gadget designed to clean beaters or other similarly shaped products. It consists of tongs that allow squeegee like devices on the ends of each tong to grip the blades of a beater or other similarly shaped object. To use the preferred embodiment of Beater Cleaner, a user uses his thumb and index finger to grab the flexible tongs at the finger grips. He can then tighten or loosen the tongs to fit over various sized and shaped beaters. The rubber squeegees are placed around the beater and the user can scrape the ingredients stuck on the beater into a mixing bowl to insure the maximum amount of ingredients is saved. The user can then use the brush on the opposite end from the squeegees to clean between the blades of the beater. |
| US07954190B2 |
Process for increasing liquid extraction from fabrics
The present invention relates to a process of increasing liquid extraction from fabrics having a first liquid content through the use of a mechanical extraction means and a liquid extraction agent. |
| US07954186B2 |
Inflatable mattress with uniform restraint
A cushioning device having a first deep cell inflatable bladder, a first restraint structure, a pump and an attachment. The first deep cell inflatable bladder has a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a lower surface. The first restraint structure has a top surface and a bottom surface. The pump has (a) a maximum inflation mode that inflates the first deep cell inflatable bladder so the bladder's upper surface and the first restraint's top surface are in or approximately in the same plane and (b) a normal operating inflation mode that provides sufficient inflation to (A) prevent the first bladder's upper surface from contacting the first bladder's lower surface, (B) decrease (i) the formation of debuticus ulcers on a patient and (ii) the patient's tissue interface pressure, and (C) allow the restraint structure to inhibit and/or restrain the patient from rolling off the first deep cell inflatable bladder. The attachment attaches at least a portion of the first bladder's first side to the first restraint structure at a predetermined distance below the first restraint's top surface so (A) the first restraint during the normal operating mode inhibits and/or restrains the patient from rolling off the first deep cell inflatable bladder, and (B) the first restraint and first deep cell inflatable bladder provide lateral stability to allow the patient to get in and out of the cushioning device and facilitating patient transfers during the maximum inflate mode. |
| US07954182B2 |
Removable watertight bathtub wall
Washroom designed for taking a shower which comprises a water intake and a drain for wastewater, and includes an accessory representing a removable bathtub wall. A mechanism is provided for locking and for pressing on the outer surface of the accessory when in a bathtub wall configuration to ensure that it is strong and watertight. The locking mechanism is an element which takes up a horizontal position on the floor in a shower configuration of the washroom, and a substantially vertical position in a bathtub configuration. |
| US07954179B2 |
Water closet bolt
A water closet bolt comprises an upper end and a lower end with a threaded body extending therebetween. The lower end includes an oblong foot and the upper end includes a male or female notch for visually indicating the orientation of the long axis of the oblong foot. The notch also serves as a gripping surface to aid the installer in the installation of the toilet. Furthermore, the bottom of the notch acts as a break-off point to aid the installer in removing an excess portion of the bolt after the completing the installation. |
| US07954178B2 |
Hockey helmet comprising an occipital adjustment mechanism
A hockey helmet having an occipital adjustment mechanism for improving fit of the helmet on the head of the wearer. |
| US07954177B2 |
Sports helmet
The present invention provides a sports helmet, such as a football, hockey, lacrosse or baseball helmet. The helmet includes a shell having an outer surface, a front region, a rear region, and two side regions. A jaw flap extends from each ear flap towards the front region of the shell, wherein the jaw flap overlies an extent of a mandible of a wearer of the helmet. A crown, defined by a raised band of the shell, extends between the front and rear regions of the shell. The crown has a front portion that is flush with the outer surface at the front region of the shell, and an intermediate portion raised from the outer surface of the side regions of the shell. The crown also has a rear portion that is flush with the outer surface at the rear region of the shell. The width of the crown increases from the front portion to the rear portion. The helmet shell includes at least one vent opening, which may be located in the crown or proximate thereto. |
| US07954173B2 |
Vented apparel, vent systems and associated methods
One embodiment of the present invention provides a vented apparel, comprising: an outer shell; an inner liner disposed adjacent at least a portion of an inside of the outer shell; a vent through the outer shell, wherein the vent is substantially covered by a screen; a zipper on the inner liner; and an adjusting mechanism on the outer shell; wherein the adjusting mechanism is connected to the zipper in order to move the zipper between a closed position and an open position. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vent system, comprising: a vent through an outer shell of an item incorporating the vent system, wherein the vent is substantially covered by a screen; a zipper on an inner liner of the item, wherein the inner liner is disposed adjacent at least a portion of an inside of the outer shell; and an adjusting mechanism on the outer shell; wherein the adjusting mechanism is connected to the zipper in order to move the zipper between a closed position and an open position. |
| US07958565B2 |
Scan type probe microscope and cantilever drive device
A driving laser unit (11) irradiates a laser beam on a cantilever (5) to cause thermal expansion deformation. A driving-laser control unit (13) performs feedback control for the cantilever (5) by controlling intensity of the laser beam on the basis of displacement of the cantilever (5) detected by a sensor (9). A thermal-response compensating circuit (35) has a constitution equivalent to an inverse transfer function of a heat transfer function of the cantilever (5) and compensates for a delay in a thermal response of the cantilever (5) to the light irradiation. Moreover, the cantilever (5) may be excited by controlling the intensity of the laser beam. By controlling light intensity, a Q value of a lever resonance system is also controlled. It is possible to increase scanning speed of an atomic force microscope. |
| US07958563B2 |
Method for using an atomic force microscope
The present invention relates to a method of using an atomic force microscope comprising exciting natural lower and higher vibration modes of a microlever (M) placed on a sample, and analyzing the variation of one variable of a first output signal (Ai cos(ωit−φi)) representative of the response of M to the excitation of the lower mode, with respect to the variation of a parameter influenced by one variable of a second output signal (Aj cos(ωjt−φj)) representative of the response of M to the excitation of the higher mode, and/or analyzing the variation of one variable of a second output signal (Aj cos(ωjt−φj)) representative of the response of M to the excitation of the higher mode, with respect to the variation of a parameter influenced by one variable of a first output signal (Ai cos(ωit−φi)) representative of the response of M to the excitation of the lower mode. |
| US07958562B2 |
Document access management system
In accordance with one embodiment, apparatus are provided including a document access arbiter, a guest access control mechanism, and a guest setup interface. The document access arbiter securely controls user access to a secured document repository. The guest access control mechanism provides, to guest users, selective access to respective select set of documents in the secure document repository. The guest users include users that do not have account holder access to the document repository. The guest setup interface presents, via a computer screen, guest parameter graphical tools to account holder users having account holder access to the repository. |
| US07958553B2 |
Information storage device, security system, access permission method, network access method and security process execution permission method
An information storage device is provided which includes a password input section for inputting a password to be notified only to the information storage device without outputting it to external equipment connected to it by way of a predetermined interface, a password collation section for collating the password input by way of the password input section and an access permission section for permitting an access to the storage section of the device from the external equipment connected by way of the predetermined interface in response to the collation of the password by the password collation section. |
| US07958552B2 |
System to establish trust between policy systems and users
A system and method are provided to establish trust between a user and a policy system that generates recommended actions in accordance with specified policies. Trust is introduced into the policy-based system by assigning a value to each execution of each policy with respect to the policy-based system, called the instantaneous trust index. The instantaneous trust indices for each one of the policies, for the each execution of a given policy or for both are combined into the overall trust index for a given policy or for a given policy-based system. The recommended actions are processed in accordance with the level or trust associated with a given policy as expressed by the trust indices. Manual user input is provided to monitor or change the recommended actions. In addition, reinforcement learning algorithms are used to further enhance the level of trust between the user and the policy-based system. |
| US07958548B2 |
Method for provision of access
A method for provision of access for a data requesting entity (IRE) to data related to a principal is disclosed, comprising the steps of (i) creating an access granting ticket comprising an access specification specifying a permission for an access to data related to the principal, said data being available at a data providing entity (IPE1), and a principal identifier representing the principal towards the data providing entity (IPE1), (ii) encrypting the access granting ticket with an encryption key of the data providing entity (IPE1), (iii) communicating to the data requesting entity (IRE) the encrypted access granting ticket accompanied by an identifier of the data providing entity (IPE1), (iv) communicating from the data requesting entity (IRE) to the data providing entity (IPE1) a request comprising the encrypted access granting ticket, (v) decrypting the encrypted access granting ticket with a decryption key of the data providing entity (IPE1) corresponding to the encryption key, (vi) providing to the data requesting entity (IRE) access to data related to the principal identifier according to the access specification. |
| US07958540B2 |
Method for conducting real-time execution of transactions in a network
The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for registering and authenticating a user using a processor card with the server. The method enables the user to create his login details. Further, the method enables the authentication of the user over a public network. The method also enables the user to change the login details without accessing the server. |
| US07958536B2 |
Video transmission system with timing based on a global clock and methods for use therewith
A video transmission system includes a network module that receives network global positioning system (GPS) signals and that transmits a video signal to a remote device that includes time stamps that are based on the network GPS data. A remote device receives the video signal and that plays the video signal based on local timing generated from local GPS signals. |
| US07958535B2 |
URI pointer system and method for the carriage of MPEG-4 data in an MPEG-2 transport stream
A uniform resource indicator (URI) pointer system and method are provided for retrieving MPEG-4 data pointers in an MPEG-2 TS. The method comprises: receiving an MPEG-2 TS; locating a URI in the TS; in response to the URI, accessing an address; in response to accessing the address, retrieving MPEG-4 resources; and, decoding the MPEG-4 resources. The URI pointer can be a local cache address, a Web protocol identifier (such as http), and/or a local identifier (lid). In some aspects, the MPEG-2 TS may include MPEG-4 resources organized in an Object Carousal (OC) transport protocol. Then, lid URIs provide a binding name and access scheme to the objects in the OC. For example, a lid URI may be embedded in an Initial Object Descriptor (IOD) to locate resources in the OC such as a binary format for scenes (BIFS) scene description stream and/or an object descriptor stream. |
| US07958534B1 |
Systems and methods for increasing cable modem system bandwidth efficiency
A cable modem termination system measures signal qualities of upstream transmissions associated with one or more cable modems. The system monitors the measured upstream signal qualities, and selectively commands at least one of the one or more cable modems to switch between upstream channels based on the signal quality monitoring. |
| US07958533B2 |
Customer self service in interactive TV environment for TV programming packages
Method and system for enabling users to perform self-service operations in interactive TV environments. In one embodiment, the method enables users to select and activate programming packages via a set-top box, thereby eliminating the need for the users to have to call a call center to activate the unit. Using a set of interactive screens, the user is enabled to view various programming package information, including comparative information. In one embodiment, the method assists users who are moving to activate/reactive broadcast services. For example, options are provided to enable the user to schedule service work, disconnect and activate services, and other activities connected with the move. In another embodiment, the method enables a user to select a programming package based on packages that are recommended by the system. Historic usage patterns, including viewing habits and attempts to access unavailable content are analyzed to determine which programming packages should be recommended for the user. |
| US07958530B2 |
Television receiver, mobile apparatus, and network information communication system with notification of decode error by turning on decode flag of TCP/IP header
In a system for viewing accumulated contents by using a cellular phone, if an error prevents the content to be viewed, a simple operation is performed to view the rest at home. In accordance with a viewing request from a cellular phone, a television receiver, while sequentially receiving data from D-VHS, converts the data into a format suitable for reception and play in a cellular phone by using an encoder. After this format conversion, the television receiver stores in a play position memory a time stamp indicating a position information of a content and a sequence number used for transmission in TCP/IP. The cellular phone notifies the television receiver of a decode error of a reception data. When receiving a confirmation response of a normal play from the cellular phone, the television receiver clears the data of the play position memory, and otherwise holds the data of the play position memory. |
| US07958529B2 |
Method of sharing an item rental account
An account in an item rental service is shared with others using computer-implemented profiles, subject to computer-enforced constraints. In one embodiment, a method provides for establishing a user account, wherein the user account is associated with an account owner, wherein the user account comprises a first ordered queue indicating two or more items that the account owner desires to rent; receiving a request to add a second ordered queue to the user account, profile member identifying information, and a constraint value; creating and storing a profile record based on the profile member identifying information and the constraint value, wherein the profile record is further associated with a second queue; receiving a request to add a specified rental item to the second queue, wherein the specified rental item does not conform to the constraint value; and adding the specified rental item to the second queue only in response to receiving confirmation by the account owner. |
| US07958528B2 |
System and method for construction, delivery and display of iTV applications that blend programming information of on-demand and broadcast service offerings
A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface. |
| US07958526B2 |
Source detection apparatus and method for audience measurement
A system identifies which of first and second signal sources is supplying a program signal to a monitored receiver. The first and second signal sources and the monitored receiver are located in a household. The system extracts a reference program signature representative of an output of the monitored receiver and first and second source program signatures representative of an output of the first and second signal sources. The system identifies which of the first and second signal sources is a source of the program signal in response to the reference program signature and the first and second source program signatures. |
| US07958523B2 |
Method and system for protecting cable television subscriber-specific information allowing limited subset access
A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings. The cable provider anonymizes and encrypts the information for all households as the cable provider does not know which households are sampled households. |
| US07958522B2 |
Slot-in type disk apparatus
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot-in type disk apparatus which can be reduced in thickness without deteriorating strength of a lever and a rear base. In a slot-in type disk apparatus, a base body 10 and a lid 20 constitute a chassis sheath, a disk-insertion opening 11 into which a disk is directly inserted is formed in a front surface of the chassis sheath, a traverse base 30 is disposed on the side of a front surface of the base body 10, a rear base 13 is disposed on the side of a rear surface of the base body 10, a printed board 14 is provided between the rear base 13 and the base body 10, and a link arm 105 is disposed between the rear base 13 and the printed board 14. The rear base 13 is provided at its portion with an opening 13A, a link arm 105 is formed at its portion with a folded piece 105D, which is folded toward the opening 13A, a space is formed on the side of the printed board 14 by the folded piece 105D, and a part 14A to be mounted on the printed board 14 is disposed in correspondence with the space. |
| US07958514B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for managing tray devices
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing tray devices. A tray slot module creates a tray slot object of a tray slot class that extends a SMI-S CIM CIM_Slot class. The tray slot object describes a tray slot. A tray physical package module creates a tray physical package object of a tray physical package class that extends a SIM-S CIM CIM_PhysicalPackage class. The tray physical package object describes a tray device, references the tray slot object, and comprises a universal unique identifier. A tray object module creates a tray object of a tray class that extends SMI-S CIM CIM_LogicalDevice class. The tray object describes a tray, is referenced by a SMI-S CIM CIM_ComputerSystem object, references the tray physical package object, and comprises a device identifier. A management module manages the tray device using the tray slot object, tray physical package object, and tray object. |
| US07958513B2 |
Method, system and program product for communicating among processes in a symmetric multi-processing cluster environment
A facility is provided for communicating among processes in a symmetric multi-processing (SMP) cluster environment wherein at least some SMP nodes of the SMP cluster include multiple processes. The facility includes transferring intra-nodal at an SMP node messages of a collective communication among processes employing a shared memory of the SMP node; and responsive to the intra-nodal transferring, concurrently transferring inter-nodal multiple messages of the collective communication from n SMP node(s) to m other SMP node(s), wherein at least one of n or m is greater than one. The concurrently transferring is performed by multiple processes of at least one of the n SMP node(s) or the m other SMP node(s). More particularly, the facility includes concurrently transferring inter-nodal the multiple messages from one of: one SMP node to multiple other SMP nodes, multiple SMP nodes to one other SMP node, or multiple SMP nodes to multiple other SMP nodes. |
| US07958512B2 |
Instrumentation to find the thread or process responsible for an application failure
An application programming interface (API) that leverages operating system instrumentation to provide a chain of threads and processes may alleviate some debugging complications. Specifically, the chain may start with the first thread in the process that experienced the original failure and end with the last thread upon which the first thread directly or indirectly depends. The API may aid debugging efforts by classifying all threads related or dependent upon an original failed thread into specific categories of failures, requesting further information from the originating OS concerning specific failed threads, and using that information to debug the failed application or process more thoroughly. |
| US07958511B1 |
Mechanism for estimating the computing resources needed to execute a job
A mechanism is provided for estimating the computing resources needed to execute a job. The mechanism receives a request to execute a new job. The mechanism processes the request to determine a set of job characteristics for the new job, and accesses a database containing execution information for a plurality of previously executed jobs. The mechanism obtains from the database a set of execution information associated with a particular previously executed job having similar or identical job characteristics as the new job. From this execution information, the mechanism determines what computing resources were actually used to execute the particular previously executed job. Then, based upon this information, the mechanism derives an estimate of the computing resources needed to execute the new job. By estimating the needed resources in this manner, the mechanism relieves the user of having to guess at what resources will be needed to execute a job. |
| US07958510B2 |
Device, system and method of managing a resource request
Embodiments of the present invention provide a resource management mechanism to monitor the availability of resources, detect the cause of a rejection, distinguish between different types of rejections, and manage the different types accordingly. For example, a queue manager in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be able to classify rejected requests, for example, as either a “long reject” or a “short reject” based on the cause of the rejection and the amount of time the rejection conditions are expected to remain valid. A short reject request may be rescheduled in an appropriate service queue, while a long reject request may be suspended in a reject queue. Other features are described and claimed. |
| US07958505B2 |
Systems and methods for distributing software for a host device in a cable system
Flexible systems and methods are disclosed that may be used for provisioning, configuring, and controlling a host embodied in a cable set top box or other digital device attached to a digital communication network, such as cable distribution network. An enhanced services system maintains various host files for various types of hosts that a cable subscriber may purchase and connect to the cable network. The Enhanced Services Server interacts with the host using the host files. The host files may be downloaded from the host manufacturer into a database that distributes the modules as required to the various enhanced services systems. The host may be purchased by the cable subscriber and provisioning may be initiated by the retailer at the time of purchase using a provisioning network interacting with the appropriate cable system serving the subscriber. This abstract is not intended to limit or construe the scope of the claims. |
| US07958504B2 |
Distributing software features to a computer
A mechanism is provided for distributing software features (particularly software products having a global portion and a user portion necessary for activating the software products) to client workstations of a network. Each client workstation has a multi-user operating system that may be accessed with different user profiles, each one associated with a corresponding operating context. A distribution package is received in the client workstation; the distribution package includes instructions associated with global activities for the client workstation as a whole or with user activities specific for the single profiles. A distribution agent (running outside the context of a current profile) executes only the global activity and schedules the user activities to be performed when a user next logs onto the workstation. A user agent loaded when the workstation is accessed with a selected profile executes the user activities in the corresponding context. |
| US07958498B1 |
Methods and systems for processing a geometry shader program developed in a high-level shading language
Methods and systems for processing a geometry shader program developed in a high-level shading language are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, after having received the geometry shader program configured to be executed by a first processing unit in a programmable execution environment, the high-level shading language instructions of the geometry shader program is converted into low-level programming language instructions. The low-level programming language instructions are then linked with the low-level programming language instructions of a domain-specific shader program, which is configured to be executed by a second processing unit also residing in the programmable execution environment. The linked instructions of the geometry shader program are directed to the first processing unit, and the linked instructions of the domain-specific shader program are directed to the second processing unit. |
| US07958496B2 |
Method of and system for application service exchange across different execution environments
A method of application service exchange across different execution environments includes receiving a registration to handle a service from a server application operating in a first execution environment, receiving a request for the service from a client application operating in a second execution environment, requesting the service from the server application, receiving a result from the server application responsive to the requesting step, and delivering the result to the client application. |
| US07958495B2 |
Program test system
An improved automated software testing system provides the ability to generate and reuse test cases over multiple platforms. Keywords and natural language are used in test case creation, simplifying the process for non-technical business users. Business users can write test cases without scripts. Test cases can be generated even before the application to be tested is available. Data substitution provides ability for test cases to adapt to changing data. Abstraction allows use of all third-party and custom software test tools to be incorporated. Persistent data handling allows capture of data generated during test execution for later use. Testing can be performed entirely automatically or can incorporate some manual interaction. Test results, screen captures of the system tested, along with environment and machine variables are saved in results logs for later review. |
| US07958494B2 |
Rapid on-boarding of a software factory
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for rapid on-boarding of a software factory are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implemented method comprises the steps of: identifying choke-points in a first software project; creating a checklist of identifying factors that caused the choke-points that were identified in the first software project; receiving a new software project at a software factory, wherein the new software project is in a same software category as the first software project; presenting the checklist for the first software project; receiving new answers to the checklist; determining if the software factory is ready to handle the new software project based on the new answers to the checklist; and in response to determining that the software factory is ready to handle the new software project, configuring the software factory in a same configuration as that previously used by the first software project. |
| US07958493B2 |
Type inference system and method
Systems and methods of representing and extracting type information from typeless and dynamically-typed programming languages are provided. These systems and methods can be immune to source file edits and the order in which those edits are executed. Deriving type information from these languages allows tools to perform operations, for example, refactoring, intellisense, recognition of semantic errors, etc. These systems and methods can be implemented using processes that, implicitly or explicitly, gather type information for the program, and can also accept user input as well. |
| US07958490B2 |
System for automating the definition of application objects supporting undoing, redoing compressing and logging operations
A configurable class system for an application author working in an application development environment that automates the handling of undo, redo and logging operations is discussed. The configurable class system removes the burden from the application author of having to custom manage undo, redo and logging information during application writing by providing the necessary mechanisms to every application object created. The configurable class system also allows the application author to handle exceptional state changes in an application by configuring the underlying base classes provided by the configurable class system. Additionally, the embodiments of the present invention enable the application author to customize the compression of a series of identified operations by selecting the type of operations that are to be compressed and the manner in which the compression is to occur. |
| US07958487B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for modifying an integration software template
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for modifying an integration software template. In one embodiment, a developer selects a template that employs a first code set from a library. A development module creates a project from a template using a developer input. A template modification module modifies the template in response to the project. A code generation module generates a second code set from the project. In one embodiment, an export module exports the second code set to the library. |
| US07958486B2 |
Methods and systems for data-focused debugging and tracing capabilities
Embodiments of methods and systems consistent with the present invention enable data-focused analysis of an application by reorganizing execution information generated by an application into categories associated with the data objects used by the application, and displaying or otherwise using the reorganized information for analysis, debugging, execution tracing, etc. of the application. Thus, the application execution information is presented from the data standpoint instead of from the execution sequence standpoint. |
| US07958484B2 |
Affinity-based clustering of vectors for partitioning the columns of a matrix
A method for partitioning the columns of a matrix A. The method includes providing the matrix A in a memory device of a computer system. The matrix A has n columns and m rows, wherein n is an integer of at least 3, and wherein m is an integer of at least 1. The method further includes executing an algorithm by a processor of the computer system. Executing the algorithm includes partitioning the n columns of the matrix A into a closed group of p clusters, wherein p is a positive integer of at least 2 and less than n, wherein the partitioning includes an affinity-based merging of clusters of the matrix A, and wherein each cluster is a collection of one or more columns of A. |
| US07958483B1 |
Clock throttling based on activity-level signals
An embodiment of the invention includes receiving an indicator of an activity-level of a functional block within an electronic chip. The functional block is configured to receive a clock signal from a clock signal generator. The clock signal to at least a portion of a functional block is disabled for a number of inactive clock cycles during a clock segment of the clock signal. The clock segment has a specified number of clock cycles and the number of inactive clock cycles is defined based on the activity-level and the specified number of clock cycles of the clock segment. |
| US07958481B2 |
Method of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit having a dummy area and the semiconductor integrated circuit thereof
An exemplary semiconductor integrated circuit is formed on a surface of a semiconductor chip includes a circuit region and a dummy region on the surface of the semiconductor chip. The circuit region includes a plurality of circuit patterns, which form circuit elements of the semiconductor integrated circuit, in a plurality of pattern layers. The dummy region includes a plurality of character dummies, which do not contribute to an operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit. The character dummies have a fixed shape and dimension, and arranged in a character pattern layer selected from the plurality of pattern layers with a fixed pitch. The dummy region further includes an identification sign formed by connecting selected ones of the character dummies chosen from the plurality of the character dummies. |
| US07958480B1 |
Placement of I/O blocks within I/O banks using an integer linear programming formulation
A method of input/output (I/O) block placement assigned to an input/output bank includes formulating a placement algorithm using integer linear programming (ILP) and simultaneously placing single groups and Relatively Placed Module (RPM) groups of I/O blocks in the I/O bank. The method further includes determining a placeability matrix P and a binary assignment matrix X used for the ILP. The method can further eliminate all assignment matrix elements of X equal to 0 in the integer linear programming and re-index any remaining elements. The method can further place all I/O blocks according to a solution if solving of the standard ILP formulation results in a feasible solution. Optionally, the method generates a placement solution that is as close as possible to an external reference solution specified by designer. Optionally, the method analyzes which constraints were violated and generates useful error information. |
| US07958478B2 |
Production method, design method and design system for semiconductor integrated circuit
A production method for a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: creating a model parameter of an element constituting a cell, wherein the model parameter is defined by a design value and a distribution function of variability from the design value; performing a circuit simulation using the model parameter to create a response function that expresses response of cell characteristic to the model parameter; and creating a statistical cell library by using the response function. The statistical cell library used for circuit design and verification gives an expected value and statistical variation of the cell characteristic. The statistical variation is expressed by a product of the distribution function and sensitivity. The sensitivity is calculated based on the response function. When the model parameter is updated, the statistical cell library is updated by using the post-update model parameter and the response function without performing a circuit simulation. |
| US07958470B1 |
Method and system for false path analysis
Disclosed are methods and systems for performing false path analysis. In one approach, the methods and systems identify a set of zero or more false paths based upon both implementation-specific design data and non-implementation-specific design data. In some approaches, disclosed are methods and systems for performing automated gate-level static timing false path analysis, identification, constraint generation, and/or verification using architectural information. Static timing paths at the gate-level can be linked to the architectural information via mapping techniques found in equivalence checking (EC). The gate level static timing paths can be analyzed in the context of the architectural information to identify false paths. |
| US07958468B2 |
Unidirectional relabeling for subcircuit recognition
A method for indentifying instances of a smaller circuit in a larger circuit is disclosed. Both the smaller circuit and the larger circuit have a plurality of vertices. A vertex is one of a device or a net. The device, such a transistor, includes a Gate, a Drain, and a Source. The net is a wired connection between devices. In this method, one initial unique label is assigned to each of the plurality of vertices, each of a plurality of connection-types, power connection, and ground connection. A zero label is assigned to each of an input/output ports and a same initial unique label is assigned to same types of circuit components. Then each net is relabeled using labels of neighboring vertices. The neighboring vertices of a vertex are vertices that are directly connected to the vertex. Then, each device in the plurality of vertices is relabeled using labels of neighboring vertices excluding a label of a vertex that is connected to the Gate of the each device. The new labels of each vertex are stored in a data store and these labels are used in the calculation of the new labels of the vertices in a next iteration of relabeling. |
| US07958465B2 |
Dummy pattern design for reducing device performance drift
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure on a chip includes extracting an active pattern including a diffusion region; enlarging the active pattern to form a dummy-forbidden region having a first edge and a second edge perpendicular to each other; and adding stress-blocking dummy diffusion regions throughout the chip, which includes adding a first stress-blocking dummy diffusion region adjacent and substantially parallel to the first edge of the dummy-forbidden region; and adding a second stress-blocking dummy diffusion region adjacent and substantially parallel to the second edge of the dummy-forbidden region. The method further includes, after the step of adding the stress-blocking dummy diffusion regions throughout the chip, adding general dummy diffusion regions into remaining spacings of the chip. |
| US07958461B2 |
Method of inputting characters on a wireless mobile terminal
Provided is a method in a wireless mobile terminal for inputting characters. The method includes computing a probability value for each character which may be entered after a user inputs a particular character from among characters assigned to each button on a key input section by pressing a button and, storing the probability value in a memory of the mobile terminal, the probability value being based on a detection frequency of each character to be detected after a particular character in preset words. A character, as a first input character, having been inputted by the user according to the number of times a first button has been pressed in character input mode, based on a first character arrangement preset on the first button, is displayed on a display section. The probability value for each character which is probable to be entered after the first input character, among characters assigned to all buttons of the key input section is read from the database, and a second character arrangement in the order of probability values for the characters assigned to each button is then determined. A character inputted by the user according to the pressing number of a second button, based on a second character arrangement preset on the second button is displayed as a second input character. |
| US07958460B2 |
Method for predictive drag and drop operation to improve accessibility
A method simplified drag and drop operations of display icons. This method calculates a projected path for an icon based on the past movement of the icon. The method highlights the “best fit” target icon as the mouse pointer moves across the screen. As the mouse pointer moves, or changes direction, the “best fit” target icon can change, with the current best-fit icon being highlighted. In addition to highlighting the target icon, a line or arrow from the mouse pointer to the target icon is maintained. The line presents the predicted path in a very noticeable, visual way. As the best-fit target icon changes, the line is re-drawn to point to the current best-fit icon. Regardless of how the target icon is visually indicated, releasing the mouse button will cause the drop operation to be completed “into” target. Completion of the drop could be instantaneous, or could be rendered with animation of some sort to indicate moving from the source to the target. |
| US07958458B2 |
Method for supporting data linkage between applications
A screen plug extracts screen image data of a display screen from a target application and acquired data to be linked from the screen image data. The acquired data is output to a linkage application. Thus the screen plug realizes data linkage between the linkage application and the target application. |
| US07958454B2 |
Graphical state machine based programming for a graphical user interface
Systems and methods are provided for the design, development and execution of a graphical user interface using a state machine based programming paradigm integrated with a componentized graphical user interface. The present invention generates a graphical state machine representation of the graphical user interface including states for elements of the graphical user interface and any events associated with these elements. The state diagram model provides a graphical structure for handling events associated with the graphical user interface, such as events generated by inputs provided by a user via a graphical user interface element. Furthermore, functionality for the graphical user interface, such as underlying control structure, state management, and event processing can be implemented with a high level textual programming language integrated with the graphical state machine. |
| US07958453B1 |
System and method for real-time, multi-user, interactive and collaborative environments on the web
A method and system for real-time multi-user interactions and collaborations over the web. A method of balancing the needs of the group and the needs of the individual is shown through implementation of relaxed WYSIWIS design principles, where each web page served by the server system is comprised of two graphical layers: a web content layer and an interaction space. The web content layer contains the textual or graphical content or the web page that may be edited by a group of users in real-time. The interaction space is where users are given virtual embodiment through graphical representations known as avatars. It is a space where users can see other users and perform actions that will be seen by others in real-time. The interaction space is overlaid on top of the web content layer thereby creating one integrated space for multi-user interaction and collaboration. |
| US07958449B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying and processing input fields from a document
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for presenting input fields from a document. A selected indicator associated with a set of mandatory input fields in the document is identified. The set of mandatory input fields is presented. Further, the mandatory input fields may be pre-filled using data from a repository associated with a user. |
| US07958447B2 |
Method and system for page navigating user interfaces for electronic devices
A method for providing navigational control of paginated electronic information, includes: loading paginated information into an electronic device capable of displaying paginated information in response to a user's selection; determining the total number of pages in the paginated information, and the number and page lengths of chapters, indexes, appendices, and prefaces; calibrating one or more page navigation controls based on the determined total number of pages in paginated document, and number and page length of chapters, indexes, appendices, prefaces; setting detents and resistance points on the navigation controls based on the calibration; changing displayed paginated content in response to the user's positional touch of the one or more navigation controls; wherein the detents and resistance points are implemented virtually in navigational software, or physically with a series of elevations or ridges that interface with the navigational software; and the level of resistance varies in response to the paginated information. |
| US07958441B2 |
Media management for groups of media items
Improved techniques to utilize and manage a group of media items (or media assets) on a computing device are disclosed. The group of media items can be utilized and managed at a host computer for the host computer as well as a media device (e.g., media player) that can couple to the host computer. One popular example of a group of media items is know as a playlist, which can pertain to a group of audio tracks. One aspect pertains to a graphical user interface that enables a user to trade-off storage capacity of a media device between media asset storage and data storage. Another aspect pertains to a graphical user interface that assists a user with selecting media items to fill a group of media items. Still another aspect pertains to providing a persistent media device playlist at a host computer. Yet still another aspect pertains to imposing capacity limits to a playlist, such as a media device playlist. |
| US07958440B2 |
Bursting multiple elements in a single object in a content management system
A content management system (CMS) allows defining multi-element burst rules that allow multiple elements to be bursted to a single object. A multi-element burst mechanism performs the bursting of multiple elements when a multi-element burst rule is processed. A multi-element burst policy allows a user to specify conditions that govern the function of the multi-element burst mechanism. The result is a CMS that includes multiple elements in a single object, thereby enhancing reusability of content in the CMS. |
| US07958439B2 |
Defective memory block remapping method and system, and memory device and processor-based system using same
A non-volatile memory device includes a block remapping system that offsets an input block address by the addresses of non-functional blocks to provide an output block address that is used to address the memory device. The system generates the output block addresses by, in effect, adding to the input block address the addresses of all non-functional blocks of memory that are between an initial address and the output block address. The system performs this function be comparing the input block address to the address of any defective block. If the address of the defective block is less than or equal to the input block address, the addresses of all defective blocks starting at the block address are added to the input block address. The system then iteratively performs this process using each output block address generated by the system in place of the input block address. |
| US07958437B2 |
MAP detector with a single state metric engine
A maximum a posteriori detector includes a single state metric engine that performs forward and backward processing to produce forward and backward state metrics. The state metric engine includes a plurality of processes that each perform both the forward and the backward processing operations. The system further includes memory that stores the forward and backward state metrics that are produced by the engine in appropriate orders for the forward and backward processing. A number of multiplexers provide the appropriate branch metrics and apriori values to adder strings in each of the processors in accordance with an associate decoding trellis. |
| US07958435B2 |
Packet transmission apparatus, communication system and program
A packet transmission apparatus is provided. The packet transmission apparatus transmits a packet having a limited arrival deadline through a best-effort network. The packet transmission apparatus includes an automatic packet retransmission section to control retransmission of an undelivered packet, a forward error correction coding section to add a redundant packet to a data packet block, and a redundancy determining section to dynamically determine redundancy of the redundant packet based on observed network state information, so that a loss rate after error correction at a receiver achieved by only the retransmission of the undelivered packet satisfies an allowable loss rate after error correction. |
| US07958434B1 |
Method for synchronizing to a digital signal
In a method for synchronizing to a signal encoded as a group of blocks, a data symbol is received and stored with previously received data symbols as a current potential group. Errors, if any, are detected in the current potential group, and a level of errors associated with the current potential group is deter mined. The current potential group is determined to be an actual group if the current potential group is without errors. Also, the current potential group is determined to be an actual group if a set of potential groups including the current potential group and at least one previous potential group has an acceptable level of errors. |
| US07958432B2 |
Verification of non volatile storage storing preserved unneeded data
Non volatile storage may be employed to temporarily store data which is destaged to data storage drives. The non volatile storage is configured to preserve the data through a power outage. Some data may be preserved, but is not needed, such as the result of a failover to another non volatile storage. This unneeded data is tested to verify the non volatile storage by indicating whether the data survived the power cycle from full power to self refresh mode battery power to full power, without risking the loss of data that is needed. |
| US07958430B1 |
Flash memory device and method
An improved flash memory device and method for improving the performance and reliability of a flash memory device is provided. According to one embodiment, a method for writing data to a memory device may include writing the data to a temporary storage location within the memory device before the data is copied to another location within the memory device, incrementing a count value to indicate that the data has been copied, and repeating the step of writing, if the count value is less than a threshold value. If the count value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the method may write the data to an external memory controller, where the data is checked for errors and corrected if an error is found, before the data is copied to the other location within the memory device. |
| US07958426B2 |
Distributed block coding (DBC)
Various embodiments implement distributed block coding (DBC). DBC can be used for, among other things, distributed forward error correction (DFEC) of source data in communication systems or parity backup for error correction of source data in storage systems where the source data may be corrupted by burst errors. A distributed block encoder (DBE) encodes sequential source data symbols with a plurality of sequential block encoders to produce interleaved parity codewords. The interleaved parity codewords enable decoding of error-corrected source data symbols with a distributed block decoder (DBD) that utilizes a plurality of sequential block decoders to produce the error-corrected source data symbols. A distributed register block encoder (DRBE) and a distributed register block decoder (DRBD) can each be implemented in a single block encoder and a single block decoder, respectively, by using a distributed register arrangement. |
| US07958425B2 |
Method and apparatus for communications using turbo like codes
The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for performing data encoding involving encoding data bits according to an outer convolutional code to produce outer encoded bits processing the outer encoded bits using an interleaver and a logical unit to produce intermediate bits, wherein the logical unit receives a first number of input bits and produces a second number of corresponding output bits, the second number being less than the first number, and wherein the logical unit takes each of the first number of input bits into account in producing the second number of output bits, encoding the intermediate bits according to an inner convolutional code to produce inner encoded bits, wherein the inner convolutional code is characterized by at least two states, and combining the data bits and the inner encoded bits to produce encoded outputs. |
| US07958424B2 |
Multi-channel LDPC decoder architecture
A multi-channel decoder system has a decoder core at least a portion of which is configurable as a LDPC decoder that, during decoding processing, divides check nodes of a node representation of a LDPC code into a plurality of groups, and, during an iteration, sequentially processes the groups while processing in parallel the check nodes within each group, thus improving decoding throughput. |
| US07958422B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating self-verifying device scenario code
Methods and systems for generating code for a device are disclosed. A device command for which the code is to be generated is selected. Response template parameters for the selected device commands are retrieved from a response template associated with the device command. Command syntax for the selected device commands are retrieved from a device library associated with the device command. The code is generated for the device in a high level language and the response template parameters are incorporated to provide verification of the device response when the test code is executed. |
| US07958418B2 |
Circuit arrangement, electronic mechanism, electrical turn out and procedures for the operation of one circuit arrangement
A circuit arrangement may include a scan test input stage having a test input for receiving a test signal, wherein the scan test input stage can be switched in high-impedance state; a data input stage having a data input for receiving a data signal, wherein the data input stage can be switched in high-impedance state. The circuit arrangement may further include a latch coupled to at least one output of the scan test input stage and to at least one output of the data input stage; and a drive circuit, which is configured to generate a pulsed clock signal for the data input stage and a signal for driving the scan test input stage. |
| US07958415B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of detecting fail path thereof
Disclosed is a semiconductor integrated circuit that allows a fail path to be detected. A semiconductor integrated circuit as described herein can be configured to include a data register that can receive input data to generate and store a write expectation value and a read expectation value, during a period in which a test mode is activated, a first comparing unit that compares write data written in a memory cell with the write expectation value, and a second comparing unit that compares read data read from the memory cell with the read expectation value. |
| US07958414B1 |
Enhancing security of internal memory
An embodiment of a method of enhancing security of internal memory is disclosed. For this embodiment of the method, the application specific block is operated in a functional mode, and a reset of the application specific block is initiated. From a built-in self-test engine, at least one write to the internal memory is initiated in response to the reset initiated, where the at least one write overwrites data stored in the internal memory during a reset mode. |
| US07958406B2 |
Verifying a record as part of an operation to modify the record
Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture for verifying a record as part of an operation to modify the record. A search request is received to determine whether a record matches a value. A first component executes the search request to determine if the record matches the value. The first component sends a verify request to a second component that did not execute the search request to execute the search request to determine whether the record matches the value. A result of the first and second components executing the search request is logged. |
| US07958405B1 |
Automatic testing system and method for judging whether universal serial bus device is configured to computer
An automatic testing system and method for judging whether a universal serial bus device is configured to a computer are provided. The automatic testing system includes a computer and a testing device for testing the universal serial bus device. By judging whether the universal serial bus device is configured to the computer, the automatic testing system could determine the timing of performing an automatic testing procedure on the universal serial bus device. |
| US07958404B2 |
Enabling resynchronization of a logic analyzer
In one embodiment, a state machine may enable retraining of a link, where the state machine is to be initiated responsive to an external input received from a logic analyzer coupled to the link or a periodic timer. Such external input may indicate that the logic analyzer has lost synchronization with respect to link communications, and the retraining thus enables the logic analyzer to regain resynchronization. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07958403B2 |
Recreating errors in a network device
Recreating errors in a network device. In one embodiment, a method for recreating an error condition in a network device includes capturing a first set of commands sent to a network device; identifying an error condition in the network device, the error condition corresponding to the captured first set of commands; and sending a second set of commands to the network device in a second attempt to recreate the error condition. The second set of commands includes the first set of commands as well as additional commands that are configured to place the network device in substantially the same state as at the time that the first set of commands was sent to the network device. |
| US07958402B2 |
Generate diagnostic data for overdue thread in a data processing system
Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus for generating diagnostic data for a thread. A service processor may begin by executing the computer usable program code to allocate a first thread to a monitoring function. The service processor determines if a second thread is running, wherein the second thread is associated with an operation. The service processor obtains an object pointer from a list of running threads, wherein the object pointer references a time data structure associated with the second thread, the time data structure comprising a maximum running time interval and a check time. The service processor calculates the check time as a maximum running time interval added to an initially sampled timestamp. The service processor determines if a current time exceeds the check time. In addition, the service processor generates an error log, responsive to a determination that the current time exceeds the check time. |
| US07958392B2 |
Assigning a processor to a logical partition
Assigning a processor to a logical partition in a computer supporting multiple logical partitions that include assigning priorities to partitions, detecting a checkstop of a failing processor of a partition, retrieving the failing processor's state, replacing by a hypervisor the failing processor with a replacement processor from a partition having a priority lower than the priority of the partition of the failing processor, and assigning the retrieved state of the failing processor as the state of the replacement processor. |
| US07958391B2 |
Storage system and control method of storage system
A fault-tolerant storage system is provided. The storage system is composed of a controller having a plurality of processors and other units. When an error occurs in any one of the components in the controller, the storage system cuts off an I/O path of the controller, specifies the failed component in the cutoff status, and invalidates the failed component. After invalidating the failed component, the storage system determines whether it is operable only with the normal components, cancels (releases) the cutoff of the I/O path when it determines that it is operable, and resumes operation by rebooting. |
| US07958387B2 |
Realtime test result promulgation from network component test device
The technology disclosed relates to real-time collection and flexible reporting of test data. In particular, it is useful when collecting packet counts during tests of network devices that simulate thousands or even millions of data sessions conducted through a device under test (“DUT”). |
| US07958384B2 |
Backup power source used in indicating that server may leave network
A server of a network of servers determines that its power source is failing. In response, the server communicates to one or more other servers of this network that it is leaving the network. This communication is powered by another power source. |
| US07958383B2 |
Computer system with adjustable data transmission rate
A computer system has an adjustable data transmission rate between a CPU and a core logic chip thereof. In the computer system, the CPU has a power state adjustable in response to a power management control signal issued by the core logic chip. For adjusting data transmission rate between the CPU and the core logic chip, a change of an asserted time of the power management control signal from a first time period to a second time period is first determined to obtain an index value. The data transmission rate is increased or decreased according to the index value. |
| US07958381B2 |
Energy conservation in multipath data communications
A method, system, and computer usable program product for energy conservation in multipath data communications are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A current utilization of each of several of I/O devices is determined. A violation determination is made whether an I/O device from the several I/O devices can be powered down without violating a rule. The I/O device is powered down responsive to the violation determination being false. A powering up determination may be made whether an additional I/O device is needed in a multipath I/O configuration. The I/O device may be located, powered up, and made available for multipath I/O configuration. A latency determination may be made whether a latency time of the I/O device can elapse before the time when the additional I/O device is needed. The powering on may occur no later than the latency time before the time the additional I/O device is needed. |
| US07958378B2 |
Power supply device having load detection function and communication apparatus provided with the power supply device
A power supply device of the invention includes: a supply section that supplies power to a second processing device which processes data in response to processing execution by a first processing device which processes data; a load detection section that detects a load of processing execution by the first processing device; and a power control section that causes the supply section to increase or decrease power supply according to the magnitude of load detected by the load detection section. The load of processing execution by the first processing device disposed in the upstream side relative to the second processing device is detected, and power supply to the second processing device is increased or decreased according to the detected magnitude of load. Accordingly, even when the amount of processing data sharply increases, sufficient power can be unfailingly supplied to the second processing device. |
| US07958376B2 |
Write once system and method for facilitating digital encrypted transmissions
A digital interface device is provided for facilitating key encryption of a digital signal which is communicated from a computer system to an associated peripheral device, such as a digital display device. The digital interface device has a digital output, digital output formatting circuitry associated with the output and a non-volatile RAM for storing a basic input/output system (BIOS) for, inter alia, controlling digital output formatting. The interface device is configured such that the non-volatile RAM has a specific addressable write-protectable area allocated for storing an encryption key flag at a flag address along with encryption key data. The write-protectable area is rendered read-only when a predetermined flag value is stored at the flag address. Thus, encryption key data may be stored in the specific write-protectable area of the non-volatile RAM in connection with storing the predetermined flag at that flag address such that encryption data cannot be altered when the flash RAM is subsequently written to, such as when a BIOS stored in the non-volatile RAM is updated. |
| US07958375B2 |
Recording medium, apparatus for decrypting data and method thereof
A recording medium, apparatus for decrypting data and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes downloading encrypted data associated with a recording medium to a local storage, decrypting data recorded in the recording medium using a first type key within a key file stored in the recording medium and decrypting the downloaded data using a second type key within one of the key file stored in the recording medium or a key file stored in the local storage. And, the present invention includes downloading the data encrypted with a key associated with a recording medium to a local storage, reading out a decryption key using link information between the data and the key, and decrypting the data using the decryption key. Accordingly, by the present invention, unauthorized copy, redistribution and the like of contents can be prevented. Hence contents can be safely provided and data can be efficiently reproduced, whereby more convenient functions can be provided to a user. |
| US07958371B2 |
Methods and apparatus for secure operating system distribution in a multiprocessor system
Methods and apparatus provide for: decrypting a first of a plurality of operating systems (OSs) within a first processor of a multiprocessing system using a private key thereof, the plurality of OSs having been encrypted by a trusted third party, other than a manufacturer of the multiprocessing system, using respective public keys, each paired with the private key; executing an authentication program using the first processor to verify that the first OS is valid; and executing the first OS on the first processor. |
| US07958370B2 |
System and device for managing control data
In one embodiment, a content data management system that handles control information on management of content data decryption includes a first device (a recorder/player) for recording/reproducing the content data, a second device (a magnetic disk drive) for storing the content data, and a host processor for controlling data transfer between the first and second devices. The host processor exercises control for the system to inquire of both devices as to a transfer function for internal data of the devices, then depending on particular inquiry results, set up, prior to the data transfer between the two devices, either a first transfer mode for transferring the control information unidirectionally from the first device to the second device, or a second transfer mode for transferring the control information bidirectionally between both devices, authenticate mutual validity between the first and second devices, share key data (symmetric key data) between the first and second devices if authentication results indicate validity, encrypt the control information with the first or second device by using the key data, and transfer the control information that has been encrypted with either device to the other device in the first or second transfer mode that has been set up. |
| US07958369B2 |
Systems and methods for multiple level control of access of privileges to protected media content
Systems and methods for multiple level control of access privileges to protected media content are disclosed. In one embodiment, first data is associated with media content. Different versions of the media content are produced using the first data. Each of the different versions include one or more portions of the media content. The one or more portions are selected using the first data. Second data is associated with the different versions. The second data identifies respective protection attributes used to encrypt the different versions. The respective protection attributes correspond to respective keys that provide respective levels of access to the media content. |
| US07958368B2 |
Password-authenticated groups
A system, apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium are provided for authorizing a computing node to participate in a group of computing nodes utilizing a shared group password. According to one method described herein, an invitation to join a group is transmitted to a tentative group member node. The invitation is used to establish a connection with a group member node of the group. The tentative group member node generates a hash of a group password and transmits the hash to the group member node. When the group member node receives the hash, the group member node compares the received value to a previously stored hash of the group password. If the previously stored value is identical to the value received from the tentative group member node, then the tentative group member node is authorized as a new member of the group. Otherwise the tentative group member node is not permitted to become a member of the group. |
| US07958365B2 |
Using classification techniques in digital watermarking
A classification scheme assigns samples of the watermarked media to classes based on classification criteria indicating a likely presence of a watermarked signal. Once classified, the scheme determines statistical characteristics of the media signal for the classes, and assigns a figure of merit to the samples in each class. A watermark decoder (e.g., reader and/or detector) use the figure of merit to adapt a watermark decoding function to the statistical features of the classes, such as weighting to samples to improve watermark decoding. |
| US07958362B2 |
User authentication based on asymmetric cryptography utilizing RSA with personalized secret
A method for authenticating a user to a computer system is disclosed, comprising using a first input and a second input in producing a digital signature in response to a challenge. The digital signature is valid when the first input matches a personalized secret and the second input matches a trio comprising a public modulus, a public exponent, and a private-key-dependent exponent. Selection of the personalized secret is discretionary and changeable. A crypto-key generation process uses the personalized secret and two primes as input to produce the trio. The public modulus and public exponent of the trio form a public key used in digital signature validation. Also disclosed is a business method that replaces the conventional public-key certificate with an agreement on the user's public key. |
| US07958361B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
An information processing method enables verification of validity of signed data using received partial signed data parts, even when all the signed data is not received. According to the information processing method, signature data including a signature value and digests of a plurality of partial signed data parts is received. Then, the signature data is verified by using the signature value and the digests of a plurality of partial signed data parts. Subsequently, the partial signed data is received according to a result of verifying the signature data. Then, the partial signed data is verified using the partial signed data and the digest of the partial signed data. |
| US07958359B2 |
Access control systems
The present invention relates generally to access control. One claim recites a method of determining whether to allow access to a location, including: receiving optical data from an optical sensor, the optical data being associated with an object presented to the optical sensor, wherein the object comprises optically-detectable, machine-readable indicia encoded in a predetermined symbology thereon, the indicia including at least an orientation component; determining an orientation of the orientation component; obtaining from a data store a predetermined orientation; and comparing the predetermined orientation with the determined orientation to decide whether to allow access to the location. Of course, other claims are provided as well. |
| US07958357B2 |
Network invitation arrangement and method
Method and arrangement for enabling communications between an entity operating a network including a first user, and a second user includes sending a message from the first user to the entity informing the entity of identification information of the second user interested in joining the network, sending from the entity to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity, providing a message from the first user directly to the second user containing the key, sending a message from the second user to the entity using the key, determining whether the key sent by the second user corresponds to the key provided by the entity to the first user, and if so enabling communications between the second user and the entity. The ability of the first user to obtain a key to enable the second user to join the network is time-limited. |
| US07958356B1 |
System and method for establishing a shared secret among nodes of a security appliance
A system and method securely establishes a shared secret among nodes of a security appliance. The shared secret is established by distributing private keys among the nodes in accordance with a node ring protocol that uses a predetermined encryption algorithm to generate messages containing the keys. Briefly, each node is initially notified as to the number of nodes participating in the shared secret establishment. Each node generates a public-private key-pair, as well as a first message that includes the generated public key and an indication of the source of the generated public key (hereinafter “source generated public key”). The node then sends the first message to an adjacent node of the appliance. Upon receiving the first message, each node extracts the source generated public key from the message and stores the extracted information into a data structure of “partner” public keys. The protocol then continues with each node generating additional messages equal to the number of participating nodes minus one. At that point, each node combines its private key with its partner public keys stored in the data structure to generate a value that is common among all of the participating nodes. This common value is then used to derive the shared secret. |
| US07958351B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-level security implementation
A method of operating a multi-level security system including the steps of providing a plurality of processors. At least some of said processors are equipped with a data card which permits simultaneous processing of different classification levels of information and the dynamic reallocation of processors to different classification levels. |
| US07958347B1 |
Methods and apparatus for implementing authentication
A proxy (e.g., a switch) resides in a respective network environment between one or more clients and multiple servers. One purpose of the proxy is to provide the clients a unified view of a distributed file system having respective data stored amongst multiple remote and disparate storage locations over a network. Another purpose of the proxy is to enable the clients retrieve data stored at the multiple servers. To establish a first connection between the proxy and a respective client, the proxy communicates with an authentication agent (residing at a location other than at the client) to verify a challenge response received from the client. When establishing a set of second connections with the multiple servers, the proxy communicates with the authentication agent to generate challenge responses on behalf of the client. The proxy facilitates a flow of data on the first connection and the set of second connections. |
| US07958346B2 |
Multilayered security for systems interacting with configuration items
Systems, methodologies, and other embodiments associated with providing multi-layered security for configuration items are described. One exemplary system may include a security logic configured to process the contents of a configuration item based on the source of the configuration item and the integrity of the configuration item. The exemplary system may also include a verification logic configured to further process the contents and to selectively provide the contents. A configuration item may be provided to the security logic by a configuration item provider known to the security logic and related to the security logic by a first set of keys. The security logic may be related to the verification logic by a second set of keys different from the first set of keys. |
| US07958344B2 |
Method for adjusting set-up default value of bios and mainboard using the same method
A method for adjusting a set-up default value of a BIOS and a mainboard using the method are provided. The adjusting method used by the mainboard includes providing an original set-up default value and an adjusting table. The original set-up default value is adjusted according to the adjusting table, so as to obtain a customized set-up value, and to store the set-up value in a set-up value memory. |
| US07958343B2 |
BIOS bootable RAID support
A computing apparatus comprises a system Read-Only Memory (ROM) comprising a system Basic Integrated Operating System (BIOS) that implements Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) protection on a boot volume. |
| US07958339B2 |
Instruction execution control device and instruction execution control method
An instruction execution control device operates a plurality of threads in a simultaneous multi-thread system. And the instruction execution control device has a thread selection circuit (30) which detects a state where an instruction has not been completed for a predetermined period during simultaneous multi-thread operation, and controls such that all the reservation stations (5, 6 and 7) can execute only a predetermined thread. Therefore if an entry that cannot be executed from the reservation stations (5, 6 and 7) exists, execution of an entry in the thread that cannot be executed can be enabled by stopping the execution of the thread which has been executed continuously. |
| US07958335B2 |
Multiple instruction set decoding
A method and a data processing apparatus operable to process instructions from a plurality of instruction sets, the plurality of instruction sets each sharing a sub-set of common instructions and each having a remaining set of instructions is disclosed. The data processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of decode units, each decode unit being operable to only decode the remaining set of instructions from a corresponding one of the plurality of instruction sets; and a common decode unit operable to decode a number of the sub-set of common instructions from each of the plurality of instruction sets. This enables the common instructions from each instruction set to be decoded by the common decode unit. Hence, the logic which would otherwise be duplicated in each of the individual decode units for each instruction set can be removed from those decode units and provided just once in the common decode unit. Accordingly, this can significantly reduce the amount of logic duplicated in the decoder units which, in turn, reduces the amount chip area required to support decoding and reduces power consumption. Also, since the decode units are no longer required to support the decoding of such a high number of different instructions, the complexity of each decode unit can be reduced, which can result in increased performance during decode. |
| US07958333B2 |
Processor with memory access stage adapted to fetch an instruction of a thread when no memory access operation is detected
A processor and method for executing threads. The processor comprises multiple instruction buffers, each for buffering the instructions of a respective associated thread, and an instruction issue stage for issuing instructions from the instruction buffers to a memory access stage. The memory access stage includes logic adapted to detect whether a memory access operation is defined in each issued instruction, and to fetch another instruction if no memory access operation is detected. |
| US07958325B2 |
Handling temporary files in a file system with snapshots
A temporary file is identified. The temporary file includes a data block containing a first file image. A determination is made whether the temporary block has been included in a previous snapshot. Responsive to receiving a modification of the temporary block that has been included in the previous snapshot, a modified first image is created. The modified image is stored in the original file block, and the original image is copied to a newly allocated block. The original first block is updated to include a reference to the second block. |
| US07958322B2 |
Multiple machine architecture with overhead reduction
A multiple computer environment is disclosed in which an application program executes simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) interconnected by a communications network (53) and in which the local memory of each computer is not maintained substantially the same by updating in due course. An address table mechanism to permit access to an asset, object, or structure (such as a memory location) for the purpose of updating, for example. Not all computers have the same memory, and it is not necessary for all computers to be updated. |
| US07958320B2 |
Protected cache architecture and secure programming paradigm to protect applications
Embodiments of the present invention provide a secure programming paradigm, and a protected cache that enable a processor to handle secret/private information while preventing, at the hardware level, malicious applications from accessing this information by circumventing the other protection mechanisms. A protected cache may be used as a building block to enhance the security of applications trying to create, manage and protect secure data. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07958319B2 |
Hardware acceleration for a software transactional memory system
A method and apparatus for accelerating transactional execution. Barriers associated with shared memory lines referenced by memory accesses within a transaction are only invoked/executed the first time the shared memory lines are accessed within a transaction. Hardware support, such as a transaction field/transaction bits, are provided to determine if an access is the first access to a shared memory line during a pendancy of a transaction. Additionally, in an aggressive operational mode version numbers representing versions of elements stored in shared memory lines are not stored and validated upon commitment to save on validation costs. Moreover, even in a cautious mode, that stores version numbers to enable validation, validation costs may not be incurred, if eviction of accessed shared memory lines do not occur during execution of the transaction. |
| US07958316B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of prefetch stream priority
A method, processor, and data processing system for dynamically adjusting a prefetch stream priority based on the consumption rate of the data by the processor. The method includes a prefetch engine issuing a prefetch request of a first prefetch stream to fetch one or more data from the memory subsystem. The first prefetch stream has a first assigned priority that determines a relative order for scheduling prefetch requests of the first prefetch stream relative to other prefetch requests of other prefetch streams. Based on the receipt of a processor demand for the data before the data returns to the cache or return of the data along time before the receiving the processor demand, logic of the prefetch engine dynamically changes the first assigned priority to a second higher or lower priority, which priority is subsequently utilized to schedule and issue a next prefetch request of the first prefetch stream. |
| US07958315B2 |
Prefetching in a virtual memory system based upon repeated accesses across page boundaries
A system and method of improved handling of large pages in a virtual memory system. A data memory management unit (DMMU) detects sequential access of a first sub-page and a second sub-page out of a set of sub-pages that comprise a same large page. Then, the DMMU receives a request for the first sub-page and in response to such a request, the DMMU instructs a pre-fetch engine to pre-fetch at least the second sub-page if the number of detected sequential accesses equals or exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US07958312B2 |
Small and power-efficient cache that can provide data for background DMA devices while the processor is in a low-power state
Small and power-efficient buffer/mini-cache sources and sinks selected DMA accesses directed to a memory space included in a coherency domain of a microprocessor when cached data in the microprocessor is inaccessible due to any or all of the microprocessor being in a low-power state not supporting snooping. Satisfying the selected DMA accesses via the buffer/mini-cache enables reduced power consumption by allowing the microprocessor (or portion thereof) to remain in the low-power state. The buffer/mini-cache may be operated (temporarily) incoherently with respect to the cached data in the microprocessor and flushed before deactivation to synchronize with the cached data when the microprocessor (or portion thereof) transitions to a high-power state that enables snooping. Alternatively the buffer/mini-cache may be operated in a manner (incrementally) coherent with the cached data. The microprocessor implements one or more processors having associated cache systems (such as various arrangements of first-, second-, and higher-level caches). |