最新美国发明专利第2011-06-07期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US07955306B2	Arrangement for introducing a liquid into the body of a patient An infusion set with a guiding needle, more particularly a laterally displaceable guiding needle.
US07955305B2	Needle inserter and method for infusion device An infusion media delivery device includes a housing having a base adapted to be secured to a user's skin. An infusion media reservoir is supported by the housing. A moveable hollow needle is selectively engageable with the reservoir to communicate infusion media from the reservoir. The needle is supported for movement relative to the housing base between a first position and a second position. The needle is spaced apart from a user's skin when in the first position and the base is secured to the user's skin, and the needle is arranged to pierce the user's skin when in the second position and the base is secured to the user's skin.
US07955304B2	Injector The present invention relates to a method of operating an injection device, which device comprises a medicament cartridge and a needle attached to said cartridge, means for automatic penetration of needle, injection of medicament and withdrawal of needle, comprising the steps of initiating a penetration sequence, followed by an injection sequence and followed by a withdrawal sequence, wherein a previous sequence triggers a subsequent sequence, and wherein the subsequent sequence is triggered before the previous sequence has ended.
US07955303B2	Injection device with a two-way slip coupling An injection device including casing with a reservoir for an injectable product, an operating button which can be moved relative to the casing in a dosing direction which increases the dosage and in a correcting direction to set a product dosage, a conveying member for delivering the dosage set, a slip coupling comprising a latching element and a co-operating latching element which latch to each other in a latching engagement and couple the operating button to the casing in a positive and non-positive fit in discrete latching positions during a movement in the dosing direction or the correcting direction, and a spring member which opposes the movement of the operating button in at least one of the directions with a spring force, wherein the latching element or co-operating latching element are shaped such that in the latching engagement they offer a lower resistance to the movement in the at least one of the directions than to the movement in the other direction.
US07955302B2	Dosing device for an infusion system and method thereof A dosing device for an infusion system comprises a dosing unit having a variable volume and at least one opening in fluid connection with the variable volume, through which opening the variable volume can be filled with a substance or the substance can be dispensed from the variable volume. The dosing device is operable in a first state for filling the substance from a supply conduit, in a second state for preventing filling and dispensing, or in a third state for dispensing through a dispensing conduit. No direct fluid connection exists between the supply conduit and the dispensing conduit at any time. Methods for dosing a substance with the dosing device.
US07955299B2	Seal for controlling irrigation in basket catheters An exemplary basket catheter includes an outer tubing housing an inner fluid delivery tubing having at least one fluid delivery port. A plurality of splines are each connected at a proximal end of the splines to the outer tubing and at a distal end of the splines to the inner fluid delivery tubing. The inner fluid delivery tubing is operable to be moved in a first direction to expand the splines; and in a second direction to collapse the splines. A porous membrane is provided over at least a portion of the inner fluid delivery tubing. A seal is provided at a proximal end of the porous membrane between the porous membrane and the outer tubing and between the porous membrane and the inner fluid delivery tubing, the seal configured for irrigating between the plurality of splines of the basket catheter while preventing fluid ingress into the outer tubing.
US07955296B1	Biologically enhanced irrigants Compositions, systems and methods utilizing engineered surgical irrigants providing delivery of components with therapeutic or other secondary benefits. Engineered irrigants provide targeted delivery of desired agents, including agents for propulsion of nano-devices, agents including molecular probes, gene expression agents, magnetically orientable agents, agents for discrete tissue temperature detection and tissue regeneration agents.
US07955294B2	Intermittent dosing of nitric oxide gas A method and corresponding device are described for combating microbes and infections by delivering intermittent high doses of nitric oxide to a mammal for a period of time and which cycles between high and low concentration of nitric oxide gas. The high concentration of nitric oxide is preferably delivered intermittently for brief periods of time that are interspersed with periods of time with either no nitric oxide delivery or lower concentrations of nitric oxide. The method is advantageous because at higher concentration, nitric oxide gas overwhelms the defense mechanism of pathogens that use the mammalian body to replenish their thiol defense system. A lower dose or concentration of nitric oxide gas delivered in between the bursts of high concentration nitric oxide maintains nitrosative stress pressure on the pathogens and also reduces the risk of toxicity of nitric oxide gas.
US07955292B2	Endosurgical extraction bag for collecting body tissue or body fluid The invention relates to an endosurgical extraction bag for collecting body tissue or body fluid, with a bag main part formed from a flexible envelope, and with a first admission opening for introducing tissue or fluid into the bag main part of the bag. Arranged in the bag main part, there is an inner envelope which is connected to the main part (bag) and opens toward the first admission opening, but adjoins the bag main part sealingly in respect of the first admission opening, and which has a second admission opening at its second end remote from the first admission opening and spaced apart from an end of the bag main part remote from the first admission opening, through which second admission opening the tissue or fluid can be introduced into the bag main part.
US07955291B2	Method and apparatus for detecting access recirculation A switch valve for use in an extracorporeal blood flow circuit comprises a valve housing having a chamber, four openings communicating with the chamber, and a valve member located in the valve chamber. A first opening is to be connected to a patient via an arterial cannula, a second opening is to be connected to a patient via an venous cannula, a third opening is to be connected to a first inlet/outlet of a blood treatment device, and a fourth opening is to be connected to a second inlet/outlet of a blood treatment device. The valve member is movable within the valve housing to fluidly connect the first opening to either the third or the fourth opening and to fluidly connect the second opening to either the third or the fourth opening. The width of the valve member is smaller than a peripheral dimension of the openings.
US07955290B2	Method and composition for removing uremic toxins in dialysis processes Methods and devices for providing dialysis treatment are provided. The device includes a resin bed including zirconium phosphate, zirconium oxide, and urease.
US07955289B2	Method and apparatus for blood withdrawal and infusion using a pressure controller A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.
US07955288B2	Gelatine-based materials as swabs A swab comprising gelatine or collagen has been found to have a remarkably high recovery of microorganisms. Furthermore, the samples, such as microorganisms, spores, nucleotides and other biologically or biochemically relevant compounds can be fully recovered from the collagen-or gelatine-comprising swab. The invention thus provides a method and swab which has a high recovery of a target from a sample and furthermore a second high recovery when transferring from the swab to a medium for analysis.
US07955285B2	Shoulder orthosis A shoulder orthosis is utilized to effect relative movement between bones in a body of a patient. The orthosis includes a base section which is connected with a trunk of a patient's body, an upper arm section which is connected with an upper portion of an arm of the patient, and a lower arm section which is connected with a lower portion of the arm of a patient. An interconnection between the base section and upper arm section of the orthosis is disposed beneath an axilla between the trunk and arm of the patient. A main drive assembly is operable to rotate the lower arm section of the orthosis relative to the upper arm section of the orthosis to pivot a humerus bone in the upper arm of the patient relative to a scapula bone in a shoulder of the patient. A secondary drive assembly is operable to move the lower arm section and upper arm section relative to the base section of the orthosis to move the upper arm of the patient into alignment with the shoulder of the patient.
US07955283B2	Safety mechanisms for belt cartridge used with chest compression devices with breakable link Safety mechanisms for compression belt cartridges used in chest compression devices. The safety mechanisms include a breakable link, liner socks, belt guards and a rapid-release connector. The breakable link ensures that unsafe belt tension will not occur. The liner socks protect the patient from friction and contain the breakable link. The belt guards protect foreign objects from entering the belt drive platform. The rapid-release connector allows the belt to be removed safely even during compressions.
US07955282B2	System and device to sculpt an individual's body A system and device to sculpt an individual's body. The system and device are capable of selectively burning adipose tissue located in a user's abdomen, waist, thigh, arms, etc., and of generating vibration to produce heat from friction such that blood circulation can be enhanced. The device to sculpt the body includes a body sculpture holder, attached to the user's body, to generate an ultrasonic frequency, an intermediate frequency, and a low frequency, a portable body electrically connected to the sculpture holder, and a fixed body on to which the portable body is fixed.
US07955280B2	Leg alignment for surgical parameter measurement in hip replacement surgery A CAS system and method comprises a first reference in fixed relation with the pelvis and a registration tool. A sensor apparatus tracks the first reference and tool. A controller unit receives tracking data for the first reference and tool. A calculator tracks the pelvic frame of reference, and the tool to produce a femoral frame of reference at two sequential operative steps. A reference orientation adjustor receives tracking data for the pelvic frame of reference to orient the femoral frame of reference in a reference orientation with respect to the pelvic frame of reference, and to produce a reference adjustment value as a function of the reference orientation. A surgical parameter calculator receives tracking data from the tool to calculate surgical parameters as a function of the reference adjustment value.
US07955277B2	Method and apparatus for physiological testing A device and method to test the level of physical effort of an individual is disclosed. The device has a moveable member which may be a shaft, a sensor for measuring force applied to the shaft; and a resistance means to vary the resistance to movement of the moveable member such as an electric brake. The relationship between the varied resistive force applied to the moveable member and the measured force may be determined to establish the level of effort of the user. Typically the resistance will be rapidly varied at a rate of five to ten times per second which is too quick for a person being tested and providing a sub-maximal effort, to sense a change in resistance and compensate for that change.
US07955270B2	Method and apparatus for respiratory audio-visual biofeedback for imaging and radiotherapy An improved method and apparatus for respiratory audio-visual biofeedback are disclosed. A guide patterned after a breathing cycle comfortable to the patient serves as a target. The target is displayed as a bar moving vertically upward during inhale and vertically downward during exhale, between fixed end ex-hale and end in-hale limits. The patient's current respiratory position is also displayed as a bar, oriented parallel to the target bar so that the difference between the current position and the target position is easy for the patient to see.
US07955259B2	Apparatus and method for inducing emotions The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inducing emotions. A primary object of the present invention is to accurately induce an emotion desired by a user by feedbacking biosignals from the user and inducing a desired emotion in accordance with the feedback biosignals. The object of the invention can be achieved by allowing the user to select the desired emotion, outputting physical signals for stimulating the user's body based on an emotion induction protocol capable of inducing the selected emotion, extracting bioparameters from the biosignals detected from the user's body before and after the output of the physical signals for stimulating the user's body, comparing increase/decrease patterns of the extracted respective bioparameters with increase/decrease patterns of bioparameter change models for the emotional state desired by the user, and controlling the emotion induction protocol based on comparative results.
US07955257B2	Non-rigid surgical retractor The present invention provides a non-rigid retractor for providing access to a surgical site, such as a patient's spine, during a surgical process. When used in spinal surgery, the non-rigid retractor allows a surgeon to operate on one or more spinal levels. The non-rigid retractor includes at least one flexible strap anchored at a first end to the spine or other internal body part at the surgical site. The body of the at least one flexible strap extends from a skin incision and is anchored at a second location external to the body to retract skin and muscle from the surgical site, allowing adequate visualization of the surgical site and providing access for implants and surgical instruments to pass through the retractor and into the surgical site.
US07955256B2	Laryngoscope blade A laryngoscope blade is provided. The blade includes a base, a relatively straight main blade portion and a distal tip. The relatively straight main blade portion has a length that extends from the base. The distal tip has a length that extends from the main blade portion. The distal tip further has a width that extends out beyond the width of the main blade in a select direction. The distal tip further yet has a bend at a select location about its length.
US07955253B2	Apparatus and methods for achieving endoluminal access The present invention provides methods and apparatus for pleating at least a portion of a patient's body lumen, such as the colon. Pleating is achieved via relative motion between an endoscope and a flexible conduit having an engagement element configured to reversibly engage the body lumen.
US07955250B2	Implantable microphone having sensitivity and frequency response Implantable microphone devices that may be utilized in hearing systems are provided. An implantable microphone device allows the implantable microphone's frequency response and sensitivity to be selected. A microphone device with an increased membrane flexibility and a decreased acoustic compliance of the sealed cavity. Vibrations of a membrane are transmitted through a primary air cavity and through an aperture of a microphone. Keeping a flexible membrane and decreasing the sealed air cavity compliance are the preferred way to simultaneously increase overall sensitivity of the device, and move the resonance peak to higher frequencies.
US07955249B2	Output transducers for hearing systems Apparatus for directly stimulating a tympanic membrane or other acoustic member comprising a support with a plurality of activatable elements. The support can be mounted on the tympanic membrane and the activatable elements are distributed on the support to provide a distributed vibration to the tympanic membrane.
US07955246B2	Temporary catheter for biopsy site tissue fixation Devices and methods are provided for temporarily maintaining access to a body cavity in a targeted tissue region within a patient's body. One embodiment of the catheter device includes an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section which is flexible enough to be folded or coiled into a configuration for deployment within the patient. An alternate embodiment includes a catheter device having one or more detachable proximal shaft sections and having at least one one-way valve to restrict fluid flow of inflation fluid to flow to the balloon. After deployment of the catheter device completely within the patient, the opening through which the catheter device is deployed is closed, e.g. by sutures, adhesives and the like to minimize infection at the site. Within a few days or weeks after the tissue has been evaluated for cancer, the temporary catheter device may be removed from the patient. If cancer or pre-cancer cells are found in the specimen removed from the cavity, then a radiation balloon catheter or other irradiation device can be inserted into the patient to irradiate tissue surrounding the biopsy cavity to ensure that cancer cells within the tissue surrounding the cavity are killed.
US07955238B2	Wheelchair-accessible fitness system Wheelchair-accessible fitness systems are described to provide total body strength, range of motion, and cardiovascular training to users in retirement and rehabilitation settings. Resistance is provided through a collection of resistance bands that are designed for low-stress and high-efficacy use. Additional system functionality can be incorporated to provide physical-therapist options for controlled rehabilitation exercises. Sensors can be connected to the resistance bands to provide important user-generated data, which can be collected and managed. The systems can accommodate any type of chair, rehabilitation ball, or wheelchair assembly. The systems are optionally collapsible and portable.
US07955235B2	Exercise apparatus An exercise apparatus includes a compact resistance unit that houses a pneumatic cylinder. The cylinder is connected to a pulley wheel that moves at least toward the cylinder. A main cable extends about a portion of the pulley wheel. One end of the main cable is fixed to the unit housing and the other end is attached to a pulley block of a block-and-tackle mechanism. A user cable extends through the block-and-tackle mechanism and is connected to a handle. The pneumatic cylinder resists movement of the handle away from the unit.
US07955229B2	Portable therapeutic exercise device The present disclosure relates to a portable therapeutic exercise device and more particularly a convenient exercise device, which is particularly adapted for restoring and/or maintaining the range of motion of post-operative patients and also having general therapeutic use. The disclosed device has several significant and novel improvements over prior art devices. Several improvements have resulted in a device which is much easier and less expensive to produce, lighter, more convenient to transport and to store. The device has a lightweight base frame, and a moveable carriage connected thereto. A plurality of elastic members couple the base to the carriage to supply resistant force while in operation.
US07955228B2	Bicycle trainer with variable magnetic resistance to pedaling A bicycle trainer provides variable resistance to pedaling and allows for a rider to simulate a real-world bicycle course. The trainer engages both the front tire and the back tire of the bicycle and adjusts each according to the rider's preferences during a training session. The front tire lifts up and down as the bicycle moves forward and backward on the trainer. The back tire is adjusted by incorporating magnets thereon in the form of magnetic elements on a sleeve or a clip that engages the back tire and/or the back tire rim. The magnets on the back tire may also be attached to the spokes. The trainer includes magnets as well, usually of opposite polarity, and adds resistance to pedaling when the magnetic fields of the magnets interact to resist back tire revolution.
US07955214B2	Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is provided having appropriately spaced gear ratios for eight forward speeds to be capable of obtaining a shift feeling in all of the eight speeds, and is reduced in size and weight. Rotation of an input shaft is transmitted to an output shaft at a speed selected from a plurality of shift speeds by first and second clutches selectively transmitting the rotation of the input shaft to first and second compound planetary gears, and by first to fourth brakes selectively fixing each element of the first and second compound planetary gears, the first compound planetary gear includes first and second sun gears, a common carrier rotatably supporting a long pinion and a pinion, and a common ring gear that meshes with the first sun gear through the long pinion or the pinion and also meshes with the second sun gear through the long pinion and the pinion.
US07955213B2	Automatic transmission An automatic transmission in which first to third clutches which can couple an input shaft to a first element of a first multiple planetary gear set and second and fourth elements of the second multiple planetary gear set, respectively, are arranged on a front side of the first multiple planetary gear set. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation in which disengaging of the third clutch in the first speed causes the fourth element of the first multiple planetary gear set to rotate in reverse and generate a large relative rotation with the first element.
US07955210B2	Drive mechanism for infinitely variable transmission A variator transmission comprises an input shaft (18), an input disc (10) mounted on the input shaft for rotation therewith and an output disc (12) facing the input disc and arranged to rotate coaxially therewith, the input and output discs defining between them a toroidal cavity. Two rollers (14, 16) are located in the toroidal cavity and first and second roller carriage means are provided upon which the first and second rollers respectively are rotatably mounted and end load means (34, 36) urge the rollers into contact with the input and output discs to transmit drive. The two roller carriage means are mounted on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of a lever (50) and the pivotal axis of the lever (50) is movable in the radial direction with respect to the rotational axis of the input and output discs.
US07955207B2	Torque converter with planetary gear set The present invention broadly comprises a torque converter including a cover and a planetary gear set rotationally interfaced with a hydraulic circuit and arranged to modify torque received by the cover from an engine. In some aspects, the gear set includes first and second components rotationally secured to the cover and an impeller shell, respectively. In some aspects, the first and second components are a carrier and ring gear, respectively. In some aspects, the gear set further comprises third and fourth component rotationally connected to a turbine shell and the output hub, respectively. The third component is arranged to receive torque from a clutch or a hub connected to the clutch. In some aspects, the third and fourth components are a carrier and ring gear, respectively. The gear set includes a component rotationally fixed with respect to a torque converter axis, and in some aspects, a ratchet one-way stator clutch.
US07955203B2	Non-slip transmissions particularly useful as continuously-variable transmissions and transmission members thereof A continuously-variable transmission includes two transmission members each having coupling elements engageable to couple the transmission members for movement together. At least one of the transmission members is a rotary member rotatable about a rotary axis; and at least one of the groups of coupling elements is radially displaceable towards and away from the rotary axis to change the conversion ratio of the transmission. The coupling elements of one group on one transmission member are of a fixed configuration defining projections alternating with depressions each of a fixed configuration formed on a surface of the transmission member between opposite side faces and having the same pitch for every cross section of the surface perpendicular to the mentioned rotary axis. The coupling elements of the other group are of a self-adaptive configuration, each movable in opposite directions to adapt itself to the configuration of the fixed-configuration coupling elements in all displacement positions of the radially-displaceable coupling elements and to effect a non-slip coupling therewith.
US07955202B2	Hydraulically controlled cone disc continuously-variable transmission The invention concerns a continuously variable cone disc transmission with sets of discs mounted on drive and driven shafts. The sets of discs are each hydraulically adjustable axially in their distance from each other whereby the traction train circulating between them is able to adjust to different running circles and thereby enabling a continuously variable transmission. The pressure fluid needed for the hydraulic actuation is supplied to the pressure cylinders by a pump through a control valve. This control valve is actuated hydraulically by a pressure supply that is need-adjusted by a proportional-pressure reduction valve. In the event of a functional failure and consequent loss of the regulating pressure, the control valve is automatically arrested in position, so that the control valve is prevented from giving a command for the sudden change of the transmission ratio into an extreme position.
US07955199B2	Lacrosse head having a grooved frame member and independent stop The present invention provides a lacrosse stick head having at least one of a grooved frame member and an independent stop. The lacrosse stick head has grooved construction in the entirety or portions of its frame to provide lightness while retaining the strength and durability of the prior art lacrosse stick heads. The lacrosse stick head may include a double wall scoop (e.g., upper and lower rails) to provide lightness while retaining strength and durability without altering the effectiveness of picking up a ground ball. The independent ball stop is separated from the sidewalls in order to reduce weight.
US07955197B2	Pitching and throwing training mechanism A training device provides interactive feedback to encourage proper snapping action in an arcing motion for sports training. The feedback can include an audible response that is variable, corresponding to pressure or force applied to the training device due to centripetal acceleration. The training can be overhand throwing or underhand pitching, or other swinging sports motions. The size and weight of the training device, as well as the audio feedback, can reinforce proper form and build muscle memory for correct movements.
US07955195B2	Croquet modifying game A croquet modifying game includes at least one indicator such as a playing card. The playing card includes player instructions, wherein the player instructions modify standard play of a game of croquet. A corresponding method of playing croquet is provided.
US07955191B2	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 softer rubber than the first intermediate core layer.
US07955190B2	Relative position between center of gravity and hit center in a golf club A golf club head is provided with a center of gravity positioned within a partial ellipsoid defined in an impact reference frame that has its origin at the hit center of the face of the golf club head. The majority of the partial ellipsoid is located toward the golfer from the hit center and all of the partial ellipsoid is below the hit center in the impact reference frame.
US07955185B2	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.
US07955182B2	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.
US07955178B2	Power transmission damper for a torque limiter A damper assembly has a torque input member configured to be connected to engine crankshaft through a torque limit clutch. An output member has a hub configured to be mounted to a transmission input shaft. Damping springs operatively interconnects the input member and output member, enabling the input member and output member to rotate relative to each other at some angular displacements before the input torque from engine crankshaft is completely transmitted to transmission input shaft. The damping springs includes a series of long springs and a series of relatively short spring. The long springs compress before the short compress as the input member rotates relative to the output member.
US07955174B2	Game program A CPU core of a game machine displays a game image on an LCD, executes a game process, and performs an updating process on the game image. Also, it is determined whether or not a result of the game process satisfies a predetermined condition, and if the result of the determination is affirmative, a touch coordinate is detected via a touch panel, and the result of the detection is transmitted to an opponent's game machine through a wireless communication portion. A touch coordinate from the opponent's game machine is received by the wireless communication portion at an arbitrary timing. Thus, when the opponent's touch coordinate is received, the CPU core displays an obstacle at the touch coordinate position within the LCD.
US07955173B2	Game device, game control method and program There is provided a game device that can improve reality of a game field, by causing change in an image for a game field due to various reasons, such as change in viewpoint, with a simple method. With a game device, in display processing executed by a control section (11), rendering control section (13), display storage section (14) and display section (1), a game control section (3) carries out processing of game content performed inside a game field based on player operations, a composition rate change section (33) changes an image composition rate, a display control section (34) generates a composite image combining a plurality of image data based on the image composition rate, and a game field is displayed using the composite image.
US07955168B2	Amusement ride and video game An amusement system has a first path extending through an amusement attraction. Vehicles moving along the path have simulated weapons. Riders in the vehicles shoot at targets along the paths or on the vehicles. A game play system allows remote players to participate in a concurrent simulation of an amusement park or theme park ride, activity or event as the amusement park or theme park ride, activity or event is occurring. The system gathers input from sensors located at the amusement park or theme park ride or activity or event, preprocesses this input, and transfers it to a computer system, which uses this input to create a concurrent simulation of the amusement park or theme park ride or activity or event. A remote game player can then interact with the concurrent simulation by providing input to the concurrent simulation through a user interface. This system combines the excitement of a highly interactive video game with the amusement park or theme park ride or activity or event. Remote game players may additionally compete against each other.
US07955167B2	Modular automotive HVAC control head A modular, quick-install HVAC control head is provided. The control head includes a face plate and housing on which various HVAC controls may be mounted. The face plate and housing clip together to form the assembled control head. The assembled control head fits into an instrument panel opening having a standard size. Clips on the HVAC trap a part of the instrument panel between the clip and a flange on the face plate to secure the HVAC control head in the instrument panel.
US07955163B2	Abrading device An abrading device features a flexible abrading membrane supported by two supports. The device may be used in either linear or rotary configurations. The device can be used in conjunction with devices that impart continuous or vibratory linear or rotary motion.
US07955162B2	Guard anti-rotation lock device The invention relates to a protective hood anti-rotation lock for a portable power tool (12a-k), especially for an angle grinder, for providing anti-rotational locking between the portable power tool (12a-k) and a protective hood unit (14a-k). According to the invention, the protective hood anti-rotation lock has a form-fit unit (16a-k) which is provided for anti-rotational locking of the protective hood unit (14a-k) in relation to the portable power tool (12a-k) in the event of a tool (18a-k) breakage.
US07955157B1	Baton apparatus An embodiment of a baton apparatus may include a grip having an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring may have a handle. The outer ring may be mounted concentric to the inner ring and be movable/slidable with respect to the inner ring. A ratchet assembly that is positioned on the grip may also be provided for driving the outer ring in a predetermined direction. In addition, at least two arms may be provided that are mounted to, and extend radially outward from, the outer ring. In operation, the ratchet may function to permit the outer ring to remain substantially stationary as the inner ring is rotated in a first direction, and then function to permit the inner ring to drive the outer ring as the inner ring is rotated in a second opposite direction.
US07955153B2	Compound body and a process for the production of a mechanical connection A compound body has a first body part (15) made of glass and a mechanical connection (20, 60) which is melted on the first body part (15) and contains aluminum.
US07955152B2	Process of fabricating organic electro-luminescence display In a process of fabricating an organic electro-luminescence display, a substrate, a plurality of organic electro-luminescence devices, and a patterned separator structure are provided. The organic electro-luminescence devices and the patterned separator structure are disposed over the substrate. The patterned separator structure separates the organic electro-luminescence devices. A thickness of the patterned separator structure is greater than that of the organic electro-luminescence devices. A first passivation layer is then formed to completely cover the patterned separator structure and the organic electro-luminescence devices. A plurality of color filters are formed on the first passivation layer. The color filters are located above the organic electro-luminescence devices.
US07955151B2	Method of repairing bright spot defect of organic light-emitting display A method of repairing an organic light-emitting display capable of reducing an eliminated area of an electrode or the like, and preventing a decline in display quality is provided. The method of repairing an organic light-emitting display, the organic light-emitting display including an organic light-emitting device, the organic-emitting device including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a first electrode, an organic layer including a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode on a substrate in order, each of the plurality of pixels emitting light from a light-emitting region where the first electrode and the second electrode overlap each other with the organic layer in between, the method includes a step of: applying a laser beam to the periphery of a light-emitting region of a pixel which is constantly a bright spot.
US07955143B2	Electric contactor and electronic equipment Disclosed herein is an electric contactor including, a guide pin, and a contact, wherein the guide pin is made of a conductive material and has a head portion and a shaft portion connected to the head portion, a tip of the shaft portion connected to the head portion being smaller in diameter than the head portion, the contact is made of a conductive and elastic thin plate spring material and has first and second tubular pieces and a plurality of contact pieces, the first tubular piece being wound around the tip of the shaft portion, the second tubular piece being wound around a base end of the shaft portion located on the opposite side of the head portion, and the plurality of contact pieces configured to connect the first and second tubular pieces together.
US07955142B1	Rotatable secondary lock for electrical connector An electrical connector assembly is comprised of a main housing portion and a front housing portion. The main housing portion and front housing portion receive a terminal therethrough and are rotatable relative to each other. The front housing portion has a terminal receiving cavity which receives the base portion of a terminal, and the main housing portion has a terminal receiving passageway. The terminal receiving passageway has a terminal receiving aperture which aligns with the terminal receiving cavity, which when rotated overlaps the terminal receiving cavity to lock the terminal therein.
US07955141B2	Inverter connection terminal with cables attached to parts of the terminal projecting from upper and lower surfaces of a plate The present invention provides an inverter connection terminal assembly for an electric compressor. The inverter connection terminal assembly includes a connection terminal, in which upper and lower terminal projections project from the upper and lower surfaces of a plate, respectively, an inverter connection cable connected to the upper terminal projection of the connection terminal, a motor connection cable connected to the lower terminal projection of the connection terminal, an upper connector for connecting the upper terminal projection and the inverter connection cable, and a lower connector for connecting the lower terminal projection and the motor connection cable, wherein the lower terminal projection of the connection terminal includes a thread formed on the surface thereof such that the motor connection cable is fixed to the lower terminal projection by fastening a nut while a washer and a ring connector are sequentially inserted into the lower terminal projection.
US07955140B1	Spring connector with a bottom cover and fabricating method thereof A spring connector includes a barrel made by stamping a metal foil to form with a top opening, a first receiving space, a bottom opening and a cover being capable of being positioned to cover the bottom opening and to space from the bottom opening, a plunger inserted in the barrel from the bottom opening and formed with a head portion exposed outside the barrel, a sliding portion received in the first receiving space, and a second receiving space connected to the first receiving space, a spring insert in the first receiving space and the second receiving space from the bottom opening, of which a bottom portion connects to the cover. Because the cover is made by stamping a metal foil, it is easy to coat a uniform coating layer for improving the conducting quality, and the fabricating time and the cost of the spring connector is reduced.
US07955136B1	Electrical connector and a fabricating method thereof An electrical connector includes a shell, an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts and a pair of strengthening plates. The insulating housing is formed with a contact tongue plate. If the electrical connector is assembled, the contacts are inserted into the insulating housing. The strengthening plates are inserted in the contact tongue plate. The contact tongue plate with the contacts and the strengthening plates are received in the shell. The strengthening plates will improve the structure of the contact tongue plate of the electrical connector to resist an external force such as a pressing force of a mating connector. The strengthening plates can prevent the contact tongue plate of the electrical connector from deformation and damage.
US07955135B2	Electrical card connector with at least a retention piece extending vertically from contact A card connector, comprising an insulative housing having a base, a plurality of passageways extending along a widthwise direction of the base, a plurality of retention slots defined on two lengthwise sides of each passageway, and a plurality of contacts received in the respective passageways. Each contact has a planar soldering section on a side of the planar section; a beam section extending from the side of the planar section opposite to the soldering section; the beam section defining an arc contact section on a free end; the planar section having a number of retention pieces received in the retention slots. The retention pieces are defined perpendicular to an extending direction of the soldering section.
US07955132B2	HDMI cable connector A cable connector comprising a connector, a cable, a circuit board electrically connecting the connector to the cable, an insulating inner housing and an outer housing. The connector comprises an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive terminals disposed therein and a metal shield mounted on the periphery of the insulating housing. The insulating inner housing comprises upper and lower casings integrally coupled together and a receiving space formed therebetween for accommodating the circuit board. The cable connector comprises a copper foil which covers the periphery of the insulating inner housing. The copper foil is electrically coupled to the metal shield and grounded through the metal shield. Finally, the outer housing envelopes the periphery of the copper foil. Thereby, the cable connector can achieve both miniaturized and a lower cost, while also reducing the rate of defective products.
US07955131B2	Accessory of the backshell type for connector The invention relates to an accessory intended to be assembled to a connector along an assembly axis, comprising: a main body (20), at least one deformable contact element (60) comprising a contact part (70) intended to exert, after assembling the accessory (10) to the connector (90), pressure on an electrically conducting surface of said connector and a part intended to be in contact, after assembling the accessory to said connector, with said main body, said contact element being able to ensure electrical connection between said parts, characterized in that it furthermore comprises pressure means able to push said contact part in such a way as to increase said pressure.
US07955130B2	Electrical connector with shielding plates without mounting tail and grounding member An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a number of signal contacts, a number of shielding plates and a grounding member touching the shielding plates so that the shielding plates are jointly connected with each other. The shielding plates are assembled to the insulative housing and disposed between the signal contacts of adjacent columns. Each shielding plate includes a tab projecting into a base of the insulative housing. No mounting tail for establishing connection between the shielding plates and a circuit board is set on any of the shielding plates. Instead, the grounding member comprises a number of mounting tails for being connected to the circuit board so as to establish electrical connection between the shielding plates and the circuit board.
US07955125B1	Electrical connector with one end threadably connected to a junction box and other end configured to be connected to a mating electrical connector A versatile modular connector and a conduit system which is easily used and installed by electricians and non-electricians in the field are described. The components, such as the junction box, outlet boxes and bridge cables can be prewired and easily added to the system by using the quick connect connectors to allow for a stable and sealed system.
US07955122B2	Conductive contact unit A conductive contact unit includes a conductive contact holder, a conductive contact, and an aligning unit. The conductive contact holder includes a first guiding grooves and a second guiding groove opposite to the first guiding groove, each slidably engaging one edge of the conductive contact. The conductive contact has a plate-like shape, and includes a first contacting element and a second contacting element that are brought into contact with different circuitries, a resilient element that is expandable and contractible in a longitudinal direction between the first contacting element and the second contacting element, a first connecting element that connects the resilient element and the first contacting element, and a second connecting element that connects the resilient element and the second contacting element. The aligning unit aligns the conductive contacts.
US07955117B2	Connector arrangement for flat conductors A connector arrangement includes a flat conductor component having a flat engagement portion, a conductive bus bar component having a flat engagement portion, and a conductive contact screw connecting the conductor and bus bar flat engagement portions in contiguous surface-to-surface electrical engagement. The contact screw has a pointed tip and is axially displaceable from a retracted position normal to and spaced from the flat conductor and bus bar engagement portions toward a connected position in which a pointed end of the screw penetrates or extends through openings in the bus bar and flat conductor engagement portions, and into a bore contained in a housing support surface. The housing support surface supports the flat engagement portions in either a horizontal orientation or a slightly inclined orientation relative to the horizontal upper surface of electrical panel component to which the flat conductor is connected and upon which the housing is mounted.
US07955115B2	Extraction preventing device for connector A connector containing member on an electrical junction box is provided on an inner surface with a connector latching projection. A flexible piece being latched protrudes from a housing outer surface of a connector fitted in the connector containing member. A projection being latched that is provided on the piece being latched is locked on the connector latching projection. A cover attaching portion protrudes from a peripheral edge along one side of the connector containing member at the projecting side of the connector latching projection. A cover is secured to a cover attaching portion by screws after the connector is fitted in the connector containing member. The cover includes an interfering rib that protrudes outward from a connector receiving port, and a latching holder that is bent from a distal end of the interfering rib and is inserted into a clearance between the housing outer surface of the connector and the piece being latched.
US07955114B2	Cable assembly with latching mechanism An cable assembly (1000) includes an insulative housing (7); a plurality of terminals (211, 222) received in the insulative housing; a cable (6) having a plurality of wires connected to the terminals; and a latching member (3a) assembled to the insulative housing, the latching member having a latching arm (32) and an inclined tab (324) upwardly and inwardly projecting from the latching arm; an actuating member (7) having a frame (70) and an elastic arm (71) protruding backwardly from a lateral side of the frame, and an actuating tab (72) protruding inwardly from the elastic arm; an external cover (51) with a deformable button (514) formed at a lateral side thereof. The deformable button is pressed to urge the elastic arm of the actuating member inwardly movement and the actuating tab moves inwardly to downwardly press the tab so as to lower the latching arm.
US07955112B2	Card-edge connector having latches interlocked with printed circuit board An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and at least one terminal, the insulative housing having a front face, at least one cavity and at least one receiving slot formed in the front face for receiving a printed circuit board and communicating with the cavity. The terminal retained in the respective cavity has a base portion, a contact portion extending into the receiving slot for resiliently abutting against the printed circuit board and a tail portion extending rearward from the base portion. The insulative housing has at least one lock arm formed integral therewith to fasten the printed circuit board.
US07955111B2	Plug-type mount A plug-type mount is provided for releasably holding an equipment part such as a panel or an interior trim part on a sub-frame such as a fuselage. The plug-type mount (5) includes a first holder (30) and a second holder (35) which can be fastened to one another with the aid of a holding pin (11) and a housing (20), in which the holding pin (11) can be releasably locked. The holders (30, 35) carry in each case at least one electrical contact (33, 34) and are configured in such a way that, in the case of the holding pin (11) being locked in the housing (20), the holders (30, 35) are fastened to one another and the electrical contacts (33, 34) are connected electrically. Excessive cable lengths can be avoided by the preferable use of the plug-type mount (5) in an airplane because the electrical connection is also produced and disconnected as the mechanical connection is produced and disconnected.
US07955102B2	Locking system to keep movable contacts apart from fixed contacts of a short circuit Electrical circuit quick connection and disconnection system with automatic short circuit of current transformer secondaries and similar devices, consists of a multipole plug (6) and receptacle (11) system with automatic short-circuit capacity between the poles (7, 12) upon initiation of disconnection between the plug (6) and the receptacle (11), without incurring in the temporary opening of the circuit, for application in current transformer (3) secondary circuits (3B) and other applications requiring the same characteristics. The system is equipped with a number N of paired poles (7, 12), being that each pair of poles (7, 12) is connected to a CT (3) secondary (3B), therefore handling the connection of N CT (3) secondaries (3B). Each pair of poles (J, 12) is equipped with a system that, under normal conditions of use, that is, with the plug (6) and the receptacle (11) connected, allows the normal passage of current from the CT (3) secondary (3B) to the load (14) connected to the latter, without short-circuiting the CT (3) secondary (3B).
US07955097B2	Plug-in outlet (PIO) with floating fingerguard A plug-in outlet for a busway system has a base mounted to a busway housing, wherein the base has an opening into which an electrical stab extends from a busbar of the busway system. A fingerguard is mounted to the base into the opening and has self-aligning features achieved by built-in tolerances. The fingerguard includes a central barrier for shielding a leading end of the electrical stab, the central barrier extending from side walls of the fingerguard and being separated by respective gaps from a top wall and a bottom wall of the fingerguard. The fingerguard further includes a top back latch and a bottom back latch for attaching the fingerguard to the stab, the top back latch and the bottom back latch extending from respective ones of the top wall and the bottom wall toward the stab and retaining the stab toward the fingerguard.
US07955096B2	Modular wiring system with locking elements A wiring system includes a wiring module and a functional module. The wiring module in at least one embodiment includes elongated holes or openings which are configured to engage or lock with prongs on a functional module to create a lockable connection. The wiring module and the functional module form both a physical and an electrical connection. In another embodiment, the wiring module has at least three elongated openings or holes, and wherein one of the openings or holes is for receiving a ground prong, while the other openings or holes are for receiving prongs which conduct electricity or communicate information. In another embodiment there is a wiring module that has four elongated openings or holes with all four of these connections associated with the four elongated openings or holes configured to conduct electricity.
US07955093B2	Connector assembly having electronic components mounted thereto A connector assembly configured to be mounted to a device substrate is provided. She connector assembly includes a connector substrate, an electronic component. contacts, and conductive wires. The connector substrate has a mounting side and an opposite supporting side interconnected by an edge. The mounting side is used to mount the connector substrate to the device substrate. The electronic component is disposed on the supporting side of the connector substrate. The contacts are provided on the mounting side of the connector substrate and are used to electrically couple the electronic component with the device substrate. The wires are joined to the electronic component and to the contacts. The wires extend along the supporting and mounting sides and wrap around the edge of the connector substrate. The conductive wires are separated from one another by a separation gap along the supporting side and the mounting side of the connector substrate.
US07955085B2	Mounting bracket for trailer wiring connector A mounting bracket for a trailer wiring connector is described. The mounting bracket may attach the electrical connector to a cross bar of a towing vehicle. The mounting bracket may include an upper housing and a lower housing. The upper housing may include a mounting aperture and a plurality of slots. The lower housing may include a threaded aperture and a plurality of tabs. The tabs may be capable of engagement with the slots to secure the upper housing to the lower housing. The lower housing may also include a clamping fastener, such as a set screw, that may be capable of engagement with a threaded aperture, wherein the set screw may be capable of clamping engagement with the electrical connector. The mounting bracket may also include a cover capable of engagement with the electrical connector.
US07955083B2	System and method for modeling atomic structures A system and method of an atomic tile including an elemental symbol for a corresponding element and a dot representation of at least one valance electron of the corresponding element. The dot representation are proximate to corresponding edges of the octagonal shape.
US07955080B2	Method and system for single tooth replacement in a growing individual An implant, system and method for use in replacement of a tooth. The implant can include a first threaded portion, a connecting member opposite the first threaded portion for attaching to a replacement tooth, a driver head positioned between the threaded portion and the connecting member, and a transmucosal collar disposed between the driver head and the first threaded portion.
US07955079B2	Dental prophylaxis angle and handpiece assembly A dental prophylaxis angle and handpiece assembly for cleaning and polishing teeth is provided. The dental prophylaxis angle is removably attached to the dental handpiece by an interlocking mechanism that includes extension locking tabs, a locking annular member, and an interlocking drive member in the handpiece. The prophy angle is securely snap-fitted onto the handpiece and locked in place so that it has minimal lateral movement. After the prophy angle has been used to treat a patient, it can be removed easily from the handpiece and disposed thereof.
US07955078B2	Endodontic instruments for preparing endodontic cavity spaces Methods and apparatus providing a critical set of endodontic instruments. The set includes a first endodontic instrument, a second endodontic instrument, and a third endodontic instrument. Each endodontic instrument includes a working portion that has a cone-like shape. Each working portion having an effective contact area defined by the exposed surface area of the working portion's respective cone-like shape. The difference between the effective contact areas of the first endodontic instrument and second endodontic instrument being substantially the same as the difference between the effective contact areas of the second endodontic instrument and third endodontic instrument.
US07955077B2	Occlusion correction instrument and method of use An occlusion correction improvement instrument includes an upper mold-mounting member provided with a plate-shaped member that is parallel to a Camper's plane of an upper model having a tooth model-shaped surface of a maxillary tooth row and with a plane parallel to the Camper's plane when the upper mold-mounting member has been mounted on the upper model; and a lower mold-mounting member mountable on a lower model having a tooth model-shaped surface of a mandible tooth row and provided with a pin-shaped projection portion that can be fixed, with a position thereof adjusted from side to side and up and down, and with an adjustment member that can adjust a position of the lower mold-mounting member relative to the upper mold-mounting member on the plane parallel to the Camper's plane, with the projection portion abut on the plate-shaped member of the upper mold-mounting member.
US07955074B2	Apparatus and method for thermally treating semiconductor device capable of preventing wafer from warping A thermal treatment apparatus and method for processing a wafer are provided. The thermal treatment apparatus includes a process chamber for thermally treating the wafer, a heating unit for heating the wafer in the process chamber, and a gas supply unit for supplying a gas and controlling a gas pressure differently by sections of the wafer. The heating unit is provided in at least one of the upper side and the lower side of the process chamber. The heating unit includes a plurality of heater blocks capable of controlling a temperature for sections of the wafer.
US07955073B2	Flame arrester arrangement and method of incorporating bores in a flame arrester arrangement In a flame arrester arrangement which is formed from two metal strips (8, 9) which are wound together to form a disk having an approximately circular outer circumference and of which a first metal strip (8) is a smooth strip and the second metal strip (9) is a corrugated strip having defined corrugation, the two strips (8, 9), by bearing against one another, forming defined gaps (11) for passage of a fluid and being held in position relative to one another by fixing pins inserted into radial bores (6), the radial bores (6) can be incorporated without deforming the gaps (11) even in the region of the bores (6) by virtue of the fact that the bores (6) are incorporated by spark erosion without deforming the corrugation formed in the second metal strip, such that the gaps (11) are also present in the region of the bores (6) in the manner defined by the corrugation.
US07955072B2	Forced air supply combustion apparatus A combustion apparatus with an air supply chamber in a lower part partitioned by a partition plate from an arrangement section of a burner unit and a primary air chamber in a front part stands from a front end of the air supply chamber are provided in a combustion housing incorporating the burner unit. Air from a combustion fan connected to an air supply port of the air supply chamber flows to the primary air chamber through the air supply chamber. Primary air is supplied from the primary air chamber to burners of the burner unit. Projected rims extend from the periphery of a portion of the partition plate opposed to the air supply port to a front edge of the partition plate are provided on a lower surface of the partition plate. The height of a downward projection of the projected rims is reduced toward the air supply port.
US07955066B2	Ice-candy forming container An ice-candy forming container is provided which produces ice-candies having a complicated shape copying the face of a cartoon character or the like with higher quality and without a loss in shape. A forming container includes a first mold having a pattern portion formed in one face thereof, and a second mold configured to slide over and along the one face of the first mold, in a close contact relation, in directions designated by arrows A1-A2, so as to contain the first mold therein. In such a containing position, the second mold contacts externally and closely substantially an entire surface of the outer periphery of the pattern portion.
US07955065B2	Resin filling apparatus, filling method, and method of manufacturing an electronic device A resin filling apparatus, a filling method, and a method of manufacturing an electronic device fill a cavity between a substrate and an electronic component mounted on the substrate with resin. The resin filling apparatus includes a stage for supporting the substrate in an inclined state, and an application head for filling the cavity with resin from a lower side of the inclined substrate.
US07955062B2	Vane pump A vane pump for pumping hydraulic fluid wherein fluid at a pressure intermediate the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure of the pump is supplied to under vane passages of the vanes located in and passing through the rise region of the pump. This assists in preventing damage to the vanes caused by driving the vanes through the protective coating of oil on the wall of the pump chamber when the vanes are travelling through an inlet region of the pump.
US07955060B2	Peristaltic pump A pumping apparatus has a peristaltic drive device for pumping a medium through a line that has a compressible portion. The pump contains a one-piece shaft with offset cam segments and lamellae. The shaft may or may not include a core shaft or a continuous core region for an increase in stability. The continuous core region has cam segments offset with respect to one another and contiguous to one another. The ratio between the height and stroke of the lamellae is about 4:1 or less.
US07955059B2	Fluid control device for a high pressure analytical instrument In various embodiments a fluid control device suitable for high pressure analytical instruments includes a housing having an interior surface with an end wall. The interior surface defines a chamber. A valve assembly disposed in the chamber controls the flow of fluid through the chamber. An end cap is disposed in the housing opposite the end wall to enclose the chamber. The end wall and end cap each have an opening to pass a fluid to the chamber or to remove a fluid from the chamber. The housing and end cap each has an abutment surface to receive the other abutment surface. At least one of the abutment surfaces has a plastic seal coating. A means of compression, such as a compression housing and compression sleeve, is included to engage the end cap to deform the plastic seal coating between the abutment surfaces and thereby seal the chamber.
US07955057B2	Medical pump The invention relates to a medical pump, especially for water jet surgery, in which a pump unit is assembled as a single use article and can be reversibly connected to a pump actuating device. Within the pump, the pump actuating device is also used to open up the connection between the pump unit and the pump actuating device.
US07955054B2	Internally damped blade A blade includes an airfoil portion which defines at least one cavity with a damper located within the cavity, the damper includes a corrugated surface.
US07955046B2	Gas turbine engine front architecture modularity A gas turbine engine is disclosed that includes a spool having a compressor section. An inlet case is arranged axially upstream from the compressor section. A gearbox is secured to the inlet case. The gearbox couples the spool and a fan. A sealing assembly is arranged between the inlet case and the gearbox to provide a sealed bearing compartment. The inlet case, gearbox and seal assembly provide a module. A fastening element removably secures the module to the spool. The gas turbine engine can be serviced by disconnecting the fastening element from the engine core. The gearbox and inlet case can be removed as a module from the engine core without disassembling the gearbox.
US07955036B2	Washer and threaded assembly provided therewith A washer (14) and a threaded assembly (22) between a screw (30) and a workpiece (42) are provided. The washer (14) is offset up to an angle (α) with respect to a flat initial state, such that the washer has an insert thickness (De) that is substantially greater than the initial thickness (Da) thereof. The washer (14) is made of a malleable material. The length (Lg) of an unthreaded shank section (40) of the screw (30) is smaller than the sum of the thickness (Dw) of the workpiece (42) and the insert thickness (De) of the washer (14), and essentially not smaller than the sum of the thickness (Dw) of the workpiece (14) and the insert thickness (Da) of the washer (14). When the last thread of the screw (30) leaves the workpiece (42) on being screwed in, the force previously exerted on the washer (14) by the feed of the screw is zero. The washer (14) has been plastically deformed thereby, such that the washer retains the flattened state thereof and bridges the space between the workpiece (42) and the screw head (34) free from play. The workpiece (42) and the washer (14) thereby remain firmly clamped between the head (34) and the thread (36) of the screw (30), and the prevention of inverse rotation is ensured.
US07955034B2	Sliding anchor The invention relates to a sliding anchor bolt (10) for introduction into a bore. The sliding anchor bolt (10) has a anchor bolt rod (12), disposed on which is a sliding control element (14) having a through-opening (18), through which the anchor bolt rod (12) extends. The sliding control element (14) comprises a sliding body cage (16) having at least one recess (20) for receiving a sliding body (22) that is in contact with the lateral surface of the anchor bolt rod (12). For precise and repeatable setting of a predefined breakaway force, each recess (22) for receiving a sliding body (22) is disposed in the sliding body cage (22) tangentially relative to the lateral surface of the anchor bolt rod (12). Furthermore, the lateral enveloping surface of each recess (20) projects by a predefined dimension into the free cross section of the through-opening (18), and each sliding body (22) fills the cross section of the recess (20) associated with it.
US07955033B2	Method of drilling holes in glass plate and apparatus thereof An apparatus for drilling holes in a glass plate has a supporting member for sucking and supporting a glass plate which is used for an automobile window or the like, as described later, and the supporting member is comprised of a suction pad for sucking the glass plate and a pair of supports for supporting the glass plate on an outer side of the suction pad. The supports are detachably mounted on the outer side of the suction pad, and the supporting member is adapted to rotate about the suction pad in an R direction. The apparatus for drilling holes in a glass plate further includes a hole forming means for forming in the glass plate holes shown in FIG. 7; a supporting means having the supporting member and for supporting the glass plate in which the holes are to be formed by the hole forming means; and a transporting means for transporting onto the supporting means the glass plate in which the holes are to be formed.
US07955031B2	Material supply system and method A system and a method for feeding a solid into a solid deposition system is described. Solid contained in a hopper is directed into a vibratory bowl. The frequency of the vibrations of the vibratory bowl can be modulated by a feedback system. The solid can then be entrained in a carrier gas which can flow to a distributor for deposition on a substrate.
US07955030B2	Controlling sediment Sediment control devices (SCDs) include an apertured threshold member and an apertured outflow member, and optionally a filter member between the threshold and outflow members. In some SCDs1 the outflow member has a smaller aperture size than the threshold member, or vice versa. In some SCDs, a filter is placed in front of the threshold member. In some SCDs, there is a substantially hollow sediment control chamber (SCC) between the threshold and outflow members; in others, there is little or no hollow space between the threshold and outflow members. The SCDs can be constructed so that they are resistant to damage by wheeled traffic. The SCDs can be used to control sediment in run-off from a construction site, as drain covers, or as retaining members for lawns or planting areas. A number of SCDs can be joined together to form assemblies which are useful for stabilizing a land mass, for example a gully or river bank.
US07955029B2	Connection element and a sheet pile wall with connection element therefor A connection element (10), having a constant cross-section for sheet pile wall components such as sheet piles, features a claw profile (12) for engaging a head strip (44) of a sheet pile wall component (42). The claw profile (12) exhibits a claw-shaped lock (22) formed by two hook strips (18, 20) as well as an attachment profile (14) for engaging in a claw-shaped lock (46) of a sheet pile wall component (42). The attachment profile (14) exhibits a straight neck strip (32) and a head strip (34) of a greater cross-section at its free end. An additional head strip (38) for securing a claw-shaped lock (46) of a sheet pile wall component (42) is formed at the free end section (28) of at least one of the hook strips (20) of the claw profile (12).
US07955023B2	Slip base structure with clip device The present invention relates to a structure for supporting a road support including: a base plate fixedly disposed on ground in such a manner as to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the surface of ground; a slip plate slidably disposed on the top surface of the base plate; a coupling body protruded upwardly from the center portion of the top surface of the slip plate in such a manner as to be insertedly coupled to the inner lower end portion of a support body; and a plurality of clips each having an approximately ‘’ or ‘C’-like shape so as to receive the edges of the base plate and the slip plate thereinto, each of the plurality of clips having a fixing bolt fastened to a female screw passed through the top end portion thereof so as to compressedly support the top surface of the slip plate.
US07955021B2	Collets for use with valves Collets for coupling rotary actuators to valves are disclosed. An example shaft coupling assembly includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end, in which the first end includes a coupling portion having a first opening configured to receive a rectangular shaft. The coupling portion includes at least one flexible member having an arcuate outer surface and a first inner surface adjacent a second inner surface that at least partially define the first opening. At least a portion of the first inner surface is to engage a first side of the rectangular shaft and at least a portion of the second inner surface is to engage a second side of the rectangular shaft. The shaft coupling assembly further includes a sleeve having a second opening to receive the elongated member and a tapered third opening configured to receive the coupling portion.
US07955017B2	Electronic image-sensing pen with force sensor and removeable ink cartridge An electronic pen includes a pen body having a longitudinal axis; an image sensor; an ink cartridge replaceably received in the pen body, the ink cartridge having a nib at a first end and an opposite second end; and a force sensor assembly engaged with the second end of the ink cartridge. The force sensor assembly is configured for sensing a nib force transmitted longitudinally axially through the ink cartridge. The pen body includes a removable cover molding extending longitudinally along the pen body for insertion of the ink cartridge inside the pen body.
US07955013B2	Media engaging members Medium engaging members are rotatable about an axle. In one embodiment, the members have filed hubs asymmetrically extending towards one another. In another embodiment, the members have centers of mass such that the members lean into abutment with one another.
US07955012B2	Printer with force transmitting path selecting mechanism A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end. The force receiving member connected to the force outputting member via the selecting member is selected in accordance with a movement of the carriage along the reciprocating path.
US07955009B2	Sector blade driving apparatus A sector blade driving apparatus includes: a board having an opening; a blade supported for linear movement, adjusting an opening amount of the opening, and having first and second engagement holes; a drive member rotating to drive the blade; and an arm transmitting an drive force of the drive member to the blade, and provided in the drive member. The arm is provided with first and second drive pins respectively engaging the first and second engagement holes.
US07955008B1	Magnet array member with more than four poles and shutter A magnet array member with more than four poles is used for being mounted on a shutter of a camera module of a portable mobile communication device, adjacent to one side of a yoke iron of the shutter. The magnet array member includes a disc portion and a driving portion. The disc portion has more than four N poles and S poles, and an annular side face and opposite first end face and second end face. The driving portion protrudes from one of the first end face and the second end face of the disc portion in a vertical direction. Since the driving portion protrudes from one end face of the disc portion, the disc portion can form more than four N poles and S poles when magnetized, thereby being convenient for mass production.
US07955003B2	Bail release mechanism for communications module In one example, a bail release mechanism includes a bail and a de-latching member. The bail is configured to be attached to the shell of a module that includes a latch pin configured to engage a structure of a host device receptacle to secure the module within the receptacle. The bail is further configured to rotate about a first axis between a latched position and an unlatched position. The first axis is in a fixed position relative to the shell. The de-latching member is attached to the bail at a second axis that is offset from the first axis and is configured to rotate about the second axis. The second axis is movable relative to the shell. The de-latching member includes a first end configured to displace the structure of the receptacle during rotation of the de-latching member to disengage the latch pin from the structure.
US07955002B2	Optical signal measurement device A device connects to a male network connector of a network conduit, and connects to a female network connector of the network conduit. The female network connector is capable of communicating with the male network connector. The device also measures outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector.
US07954998B2	Thrust bearing A hydrodynamic bearing set, for use with a thrust disk disposed between planar surfaces of a housing, includes first and second topfoils disposed adjacent first and second thrust disk axial bearing surfaces and removably secured to the housing. An underspring is secured between each planar housing surface and the corresponding topfoil. Dual-leaf spring pairs attached to at least one topfoil periphery function to urge the topfoils away from the thrust disk axial bearing surfaces by applying a force against a planar housing surface, another topfoil, or a spacer washer secured between adjacent topfoil dual-leaf pairs or frictionally retained within the housing. Alternatively, a wavy washer, a conical spring, a Belleville washer, or a coil spring can be substituted for the dual-leaf spring pairs.
US07954994B2	Combined pressure/temperature sensor having centric temperature measurement A combined pressure and temperature sensor for recording the pressure and the temperature of a medium. The combined pressure and temperature sensor includes a sensor element in which at least one channel is developed for accommodating a temperature sensor and at least one channel is developed for recording a pressure. The at least one channel, for recording a pressure, opens out under a pressure sensor. The at least one channel for the temperature sensor runs centrically in the sensor element.
US07954992B2	Multi-use portable mixing device A device and method of transporting and blending substances into a container of fluid.
US07954991B2	Screw extruder with plunger feeder The present invention is directed to a materials extrusion device including a screw extruder with a plunger feeder. It includes a screw extruder having a main housing, a materials advancing screw, a screw drive mechanism, a feed port for inputting materials to be extruded and an extrusion outlet port. It also includes a plunger feeder having an elongated, upwardly biased (non-horizontal) plunger housing, e.g., a cylinder, with a plunger. A plunger drive mechanism is connected to the plunger to move the plunger upwardly and downwardly within the plunger housing, and there is a feed outlet at an upper end of the plunger housing, the feed outlet being connected to the screw extruder feed port.
US07954988B2	Scanner module and image scanning apparatus employing the same A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employ an illuminator that includes at least one light emitting diode, a light guide to change the direction of the light from the light emitting diode, and a light source holder to which the light emitting diode is mounted, the light source holder being positioned in relation to the light guide such that the light source holder covers an incidence face of the light guide, on which the light from the light source is incident, the surface of light source holder facing the incidence face reflecting light incident thereupon. The reflection of light by the light source holder reduces the possibility of leakage of light, and can enhance luminous intensity of light of the illuminator.
US07954987B2	Vehicle lamp A vehicle lamp includes a convex lens and a light emitting device. Light directly reaching a rear surface of the convex lens from the light emitting device is deflected through the convex lens to form a light distribution pattern having a horizontal cutoff line and an oblique cutoff line. The light emitting device includes a light emitting chip having a rectangular light emitting surface oriented to face the rear surface of the convex lens, and a corner of the rectangular light emitting surface is disposed on a rear focal point of the convex lens. A front surface of the convex lens includes a horizontally diffusing region which diffuses a part of the light in the horizontal direction, and an obliquely diffusing region which diffuses another part of the light toward the self lane side in an oblique direction forming an upward angle with respect to the horizontal plane.
US07954985B2	Rearview mirror assembly including optical fiber signaling A rearview mirror assembly for use on a vehicle, comprises a housing configured to be coupled to the vehicle, a mirror coupled within the housing, and a first optical fiber coupled to the housing and visible from the exterior thereof for providing a warning that indicates that the vehicle is turning, braking, and the like.
US07954984B2	Interior lamp An interior lamp can achieve both an excellent illumination function and an excellent illumination effect (providing a comfortable environment) and may possibly provide high merchandizability characteristics. The interior lamp can include an LED light source unit having a substrate and a plurality of white LED lamps and colored LED lamps mounted on the substrate. A cover case can be provided to serve as a light illumination unit. The light illumination unit can include a double-layer structure having a light diffusion layer and a light transmission layer. The light diffusion layer can have a plurality of penetrating holes. The light transmission layer can have a plurality of convex lens portions. The center axes of the penetrating holes and the corresponding lens portions can coincide with corresponding optical axes of the white LED lamps, respectively. The white light from the white LED lamps can be converged by the respective lens portions of the light transmission layer to be radiated outside as spot light(s). The colored light from the colored LED lamps can be diffused through the light diffusion layer to be radiated outside as diffused light.
US07954970B2	Bottle for beverages A bottle for alcoholic or non alcoholic beverages has a hollow body part defining an inner space for filling an alcoholic or non alcoholic beverage, at least one electrical/electronic device integrated in the hollow body part without interfering with a content of the bottle and having a light generating unit and a sensing unit selected from the group consisting of a contact sensor, a movement sensor, and both operative for activating the light generating unit for producing light in response to an action selected from the group consisting of a contact, a movement, and both in a vicinity of the device.
US07954968B2	Backlight module, backlight module manufacturing method, lighting device, display device and television receiver In a backlight module, when relay connectors exposed to a back side of a chassis are engaged with the connector portions of a lighting jig, the power from the power supply source of the lighting jig is supplied to discharge tubes via the connector portions and the relay connectors. Thereby, the discharge tubes can be lighted, even if a power board is not connected to the relay connectors. At the time, the lighting jig is arranged to face the back surface of the chassis, and therefore optical sheets can be mounted to the chassis from the front side.
US07954966B2	Stage lighting lamp unit and stage lighting system including such unit A stage lighting lamp unit includes a processor for receiving control data from a remote console. Beam orientation data for the lamp unit is passed to the lamp in the form of the x, y and z co-ordinates of a point in space through which the beam is to pass. The processor divides the required lamp travel into a number of stages dependent on execution duration data sent with the position data, and calculates, for each stage, a new value for pan and tilt angles for the lamp. These values are passed to pan and tilt controlling co-processors which control servo-motors for pan and tilt operation. The lamp unit also incorporates a rotatable shutter for interrupting the lamp beam when required. The shutters of all the lamps in a system can be instructed from the remote console to open and close in synchronism, thereby providing a stroboscopic effect.
US07954962B2	Laser image display, and optical integrator and laser light source package used in such laser image display A laser image display including a laser light source emitting laser light, a beam deflector element for receiving laser light and deflecting its advancing direction, a beam deflecting element control section for controlling the degree of deflection performed by the beam deflector element, an optical integrator for receiving and guiding the deflected laser light to output from its outputting end face, a pseudo surface light source element for scattering the deflected laser light, and a modulation element for receiving and modulating the laser light scattered by the false surface light source element.
US07954960B2	Video image display apparatus and timing control method A video image display apparatus for displaying a video image in accordance with a video image signal including: a light source for emitting an illumination light to a color wheel driven by a color wheel driving unit to rotate the color wheel for filtering and transmitting lights of different colors therefrom; a spatial light modulator (SLM) for receiving the lights of different colors projected from the color wheel; a master clock signal generation unit for generating a master clock signal constituting a reference for transferring data to the SLM; a frame start signal generation unit for generating, from the master clock signal, a frame start signal indicating the start of a frame; a wheel position detection unit for detecting an angular position of the wheel; a phase comparison unit for comparing a phase of the frame start signal with a wheel index signal generated from the wheel position detection unit indicating a position of the color wheel; and a motor control unit for receiving a phase comparison signal from the phase comparison unit for controlling a rotation speed of a motor for driving the color wheel to rotate at a controlled rotation speed.
US07954959B2	Display shelf and display shelf system for projecting projector images displaying information about articles Transmission-type screens are placed corresponding to a display board at a front area of the display board, on which an article is placed. Each of the screens transmits and projects a projector image luminous flux projected from a backside of the screens to a front side of the screens. When the projector image luminous flux is projected from the backside of the screens, each of inner circumferences which defines a space including an image projecting space for leading the projector image luminous flux to the backside of the screens without obstruction. A display shelf might have a projector and a computer. The projector projects the projector image luminous flux. The display shelf might have a reflecting mirror which lead the projector image flux to the screens.
US07954958B2	Display shelf with a plurality of placing tables A display shelf system includes a display shelf, which includes a plurality of placing tables which are adapted to have an article placed thereon. A plurality of transmission-type screens are arranged with the placing tables, respectively. A projector projects a projector image, and a light guide of the display shelf leads the projector image onto the rear sides of the transmission-type screens. The transmission-type screens have curved surfaces which are inclined to face toward a lateral direction with respect to a front of the display shelf, so that the transmission-type screens are easily viewable by viewers who are in the lateral directions of the display shelf.
US07954953B2	Scanned beam overlay projection A scanning beam overlay projection system displays an image on a projection surface by scanning a light beam in a raster pattern. Reflective spots on the projection surface reflect light back to the projection system when illuminated by the light beam. A photodetector in the projection system detects the reflected light, and timing circuits determine where in the raster pattern the reflective spots are located. The image can be scaled and warped to correlate tagged points within the image with the locations of the reflective spots on the projection surface.
US07954950B2	System and method for analyzing wavefront aberrations A system and method for specifying a vision correction prescription for a patient's eye, wherein in one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a wavefront aberration measurement of the patient's eye, applying at least one value from the wavefront aberration measurement to a statistical model trained using a plurality of objectively measured aberration values and a plurality subjectively measured visual acuity values as training data; and predicting a vision correction prescription for the patient's eye based on the at least one value and the statistical model.
US07954947B2	Image acquisition apparatus and image acquisition method using optical coherence tomography An image acquisition apparatus that uses optical coherence tomography includes a scanning unit provided within a light path that guides signal light to be incident on an examination object towards the examination object and configured to scan the signal light in a main scanning direction; and a control unit configured to control the scanning unit such that an integration time of an optical interference signal per pixel in at least one predetermined area other than opposite ends, in the main scanning direction, of an image acquisition region scanned by a plurality of main scan lines is increased relative to that of an area other than the predetermined area.
US07954941B2	Coupling device with breakaway and methods of using the same A coupling device with a breakaway tab and methods of using the same for operably coupling an ornament to a joint or hinge. The coupling device comprises an elongated body having openings at each end. One opening has been adapted to receive a screw of a joint or hinge, the other to receive an ornamental fastener. A breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem is provided to manipulate the screw and coupling device so the coupling device may be inserted between a head of the screw and a first surface of the joint or hinge. After engaging the threads in the hollow threaded channel of the hinge, and the screw has been essentially completely inserted into the hollow threaded channel of the hinge, the breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem of the screw may be broken off at a breakaway and discarded.
US07954938B2	Apparatus and process for ink-jet printing A process carried out by an ink-jet printing apparatus (1) comprises the steps of placing articles (3a) to be printed on a support (12) of an apparatus (1) further provided with a carriage (6) carrying at least one main print head (8) and at least one auxiliary head (11), and moving the support (12) and the carriage (6) relative to each other in at least one first ink-laying direction (X). The process is put into practice by carrying out the following steps in succession: laying the ink emitted from the auxiliary print head (11) to carry out printing of the articles (3a, 3b) with a background layer, drying the ink just laid by the auxiliary head (11) through a first drying device (14) disposed alongside the main head (8) and laying the ink emitted from the main head (8) to carry out decorations on the background layer.
US07954935B2	Liquid container with mounting and removal guide for regulating movement of the liquid container A liquid container includes a container body formed with a liquid supply port, and a container-side fixing structure which releasably regulates movement of the liquid container in an outward pulling direction in cooperation with apparatus-side fixing structure provided for the container mounting part in a state where the liquid container is mounted onto the container mounting part. The container-side fixing structure has a guide groove into which a fixing pin of the apparatus-side fixing structure can be inserted, and which guides the fixing pin in mounting and removal operations of the liquid container to and from the container mounting part. The guide groove includes a fixing part which engages the fixing pin to regulate the movement of the liquid container in the pulling direction in the state where the liquid container is mounted to the container mounting part. A slanted entrance surface is located at an entrance part of the guide groove, which slanted entrance surface slants so that a groove depth decreases in the movement direction of the fixing pin that relatively moves in association with an inserting operation of the liquid container into the container mounting part.
US07954934B2	Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.
US07954933B2	Ink cartridge An ink cartridge for inkjet printers is disclosed. The inkjet cartridge comprises a case, an ink supply chamber, and an ink storage chamber. The ink supply chamber and the ink storage chamber are inside the case. An ink outlet is provided on a sidewall of the case. The ink supply chamber is connected or linked in a low position with the ink outlet and in a high position with an air vent. The ink storage chamber is connected or linked in a low position with the ink supply chamber through a first passageway and a second passageway; the second passageway is below the ink outlet but above the first passageway. The cartridge has a simple structure. It eliminates the need of air pump and provides constant supply of ink to the print head. It avoids ink overflow caused by the temperature change in the environment.
US07954930B2	Liquid droplet ejecting head and liquid droplet ejecting apparatus A liquid droplet ejecting head according to an aspect of the present invention includes a liquid droplet ejecting element for ejecting liquid droplets a liquid supply path having two or more flow ports, through which a liquid can flow, and supplying the liquid flowing in from the flow ports to the liquid droplet ejecting element, and a flow path cross-sectional area variable unit for changing the flow path cross-sectional area of the liquid supply path.
US07954927B2	Nozzle members, compositions, and methods for micro-fluid ejection heads An improved photoimaged nozzle plate for a micro-fluid ejection head, a micro-fluid ejection head containing the nozzle plate, and methods for making a micro-fluid ejection head. The improved nozzle plate is provided by a photoresist nozzle plate layer applied to a thick film layer on a semiconductor substrate containing fluid ejector actuators. The photoresist nozzle plate layer has a plurality of nozzle holes therein. Each of the nozzle holes are formed in the nozzle plate layer from an exit surface of the nozzle plate layer to an entrance surface of the nozzle plate layer. Each of the nozzle holes has a reentrant hole profile with a wall angle greater than about 4° up to about 30° measured from an axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the exit surface of the nozzle plate layer.
US07954926B2	Hydrophobic nozzle plate structures for micro-fluid ejection heads A nozzle plate for a micro-fluid ejection head, a method of making a hydrophobic nozzle plate, and a method for improving the resiliency of a nozzle plate. The nozzle has a photoimageable hydrophobic polycyclic polyolefin layer derived from an epoxy functionalized polynorbornene.
US07954925B2	Droplet discharging head and method for manufacturing the same, and droplet discharging device A droplet discharging head comprises: a pressure chamber; a nozzle plate including a penetration part that couples with the pressure chamber and discharges a droplet; and a droplet guidance part having a tip positioned inside the penetration part. The tip of the droplet guidance part is free from touching an inside wall of the penetration part.
US07954924B2	Package method of inkjet-printhead chip and its structure The present invention discloses a package method of the inkjet-printhead chip and its structure. The structure includes: a nozzle structure of a print element including an ink chamber layer and a nozzle layer on the ink chamber layer, wherein a plurality of nozzle through holes are set in the nozzle layer and pass through an ink chamber of the ink chamber layer; a flexible substrate set on the nozzle layer, wherein there is at least an opening set in the flexible substrate to expose those nozzle through holes; and a chip set under the ink chamber layer. Besides, the present package method is to utilize the micro-manufacturing process to form the nozzle structure of a print element and the tape automatic bonding process to bond the flexible substrate on the nozzle layer and the chip under the ink chamber layer.
US07954921B2	Digital printing apparatus A digital printing machine includes a rigid frame, a first linear motion X axis stage mounted on the frame, a printing table assembly movable on each linear X axis stage, a linear motion Y axis stage mounted on the frame perpendicular to the linear X axis stages, above the printing table assemblies, and an array of inkjet nozzles mounted on the linear Y axis stage for linear motion perpendicular to the X axis stage, also a second linear motion X axis stage mounted on the frame parallel to the first axis stage and arranged for operation independently of the first axis stage, and/or a curing unit located above the printing table assembly and/or a pre-printing wetting assembly, for printing over garments, by applying wetting composition on the printed material, prior to printing.
US07954917B2	Exposure device, exposure system, light-emitting element circuit board and image forming apparatus An exposure device includes a circuit board, a light-emitting element member, a driving signal generating unit and a first voltage supply unit. The light-emitting element member is disposed on the circuit board. The light-emitting element includes plural light-emitting elements arranged in a line and plural switching elements disposed so as to correspond to the plural light-emitting elements. When the plural switching elements sequentially set the respective light-emitting elements to be in a state where the respective light-emitting elements can turn on, the respective light-emitting elements turn on sequentially. The driving signal generating unit is disposed on the circuit board. The driving signal generating unit generates driving signals for driving the respective light-emitting elements arranged in the light-emitting element member. The first voltage supply unit is disposed on the circuit board. The voltage supply unit supplies a first predetermined voltage to the light-emitting element member.
US07954912B1	Double door release A cabinet comprises a cabinet frame having a first side and a second side, a pair of doors coupled to the frame on the first side, wherein one of the pair of doors includes a locking rod positioned along a portion of the length of the door, a latch coupled to the frame on the first side and positioned to receive the locking rod, an actuator positioned on the second side of the cabinet frame and coupled to the latch, and an access door, positioned on the second side of the cabinet frame, the access door restricting access to the actuator. Opening the access door allows activation of the actuator to release the locking rod.
US07954910B2	Method to reduce carbon brake wear through residual brake force The method for reducing aircraft carbon brake wear involves monitoring the commanded initiation of braking, and setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force, which is maintained following the commanded initiation of braking to prevent release of braking during taxiing of the aircraft. The minimum residual brake clamping force is applied despite a commanded release of braking until at least one predetermined control logic condition occurs.
US07954906B2	Quick release bicycle wheel A wheel quick release system for a bicycle or other wheeled vehicle where the wheel can be easily removed by a manual operation on only one side of the wheel hub but is prevented from unexpected separation at all times while engaged with the wheel. A laterally moving skewer mounted concentrically inside a hollow axle is equipped with a “non-touch” nut on one end and is spring loaded toward a quick release cam on the other end thereby always urging the nut against the adjacent dropout. To remove the wheel, the quick release cam is operated and the quick release side assembly is pushed axially inward and a safety mechanism is operated and held in this position while the wheel is removed from the fork dropouts. When the wheel is again inserted into the wheel fork, the skewer automatically locks onto the dropouts, and subsequently if the quick release cam is inadvertently left open by the user, the wheel will be somewhat loose but will remain safely inserted in the wheel mounts. In this way, if the bicycle or wheeled vehicle looks safe to ride, it is safe to ride.
US07954902B2	Seat belt fitting for a reversible seat In order to allow use of the seat belt in both positions of use of a reversible seat, an articulated end fitting is proposed for connecting a seat belt to the reversible seat, with a connecting part (51) and a projecting elongate lug (53) connected thereto for suspending a seat belt, the elongate lug (53) being pivotable relative to the connecting part (51) about three different axes (A, B, C).
US07954901B2	Configurable restraint system A configurable restraint system (10-10vi) for a vehicle seat (12, 12′) may comprise a first restraint harness (30-30″) coupled to a first engagement member (32), a second restraint harness (34-34″) coupled to a second engagement member (36), and a third engagement member (50-50″″) configured to be movable between first and second positions relative to the vehicle seat. The first position may be located relative to the vehicle seat so that the first engagement member (32) may releasably engage the third engagement member (50-50″″) to restrain a first occupant of the vehicle seat via the first restraint harness (30-30″). The second position may be located relative to the vehicle seat so that the second engagement member (36) may alternatively releasably engage the third engagement member (50-50″″) to alternatively restrain the first occupant of the vehicle seat via the second restraint harness (34-34″).
US07954895B2	Child safety seat The present invention provides a child seat (1) comprising a seat back (3), a headrest (4) which is moveable relative to the seat back (3), and a removable harness which may be installed for use in securing an occupant to the seat (1), wherein the headrest (4) is coupled to the seat back (3) such that the headrest (4) may undergo a first extent of movement relative to the seat back (3) when the harness is installed and may only undergo a second further extent of movement relative to the seat back (3) when the harness is removed. In this regard, only when the harness is removed from an operative position, namely one where it is installed such that it can be used to restrain a child, can the headrest (4) undergo its second further extent of movement relative to the seat back (3). This ensures that the headrest (4) is not inappropriately positioned for the group of child being restrained thereby.
US07954892B2	Adjustable workstation with hideaway seat and method An adjustable workstation with a hideaway seat and method are disclosed. The table may be adjustable in height so that the workstation may be used as a sitting desk or a standing workstation. The chair is pivotably coupled to the table so that it may be extended and used for sitting or stowed away under the desk while the user stands. The workstation may also have wheels for mobility.
US07954891B2	Foldable chair with retractable armrests A foldable chair has an armrest retracting structure that includes two plate elements placed below each armrest, each plate element having a guide slot with a linear section and a reverse turn section. A first pivotal axle passes through the plate elements and connects with the front leg frame. A support beam has an end through which a second pivotal axle is mounted, the second pivotal axle being connected with the front leg frame. An opposite end of the support beam is secured in the slots through a bolt. By moving the support beam, the armrest can be deployed or retracted. When the bolt is lodged in the reverse turn section, the armrest can be locked in the deployed position.
US07954888B2	Body structure of a rear part A body structure of a rear part of a motor vehicle contains at least two side walls, each having a side wall element, and a bulkhead with a cross member on the ground side. The cross member is provided with rearwardly open mounts into which a front end region of the respective side wall element is pushed and is welded and/or riveted to the cross member.
US07954886B2	Front structure of vehicle A vehicular front structure is configured so that stresses do not concentrate in the upper joint part and the lower joint part of a front pillar, and even if the front pillar is made thin, the joint strength of the upper and lower parts of the front pillar is improved.The upper part of a front pillar (17) is joined to the side end part of a roof header member (41) and the front end part of a roof side member (42) via an upper joint panel (43). The front pillar is provided between the side edge of a windshield glass and the front edge of a side door and is formed in a tubular shape by the joint of a pillar inner panel (31) and a pillar outer panel (32), and the roof header member is provided along the upper edge of the windshield glass and is formed into a substantially tubular shape by the joint of a header inner panel (44) and a roof panel (45). Also, the roof side member is provided along the upper edge of the side door and is formed into a tubular shape by the joint of a side inner panel (46) and a roof-forming member (45). Further, the upper joint panel is provided on the cab inside of the pillar inner panel.
US07954881B2	Apparatus for a pickup truck box cover An apparatus for a pickup truck box cover includes a frame having a generally flat rectangular shape and configured to reside in a plane generally perpendicular to a bed of the pickup truck and proximate a back of a cab of the pickup truck. A means joins the frame to a frame of the pickup truck. A means joins the frame to the pickup truck box. A top surface is removably joined to the frame and configured to extend back from a top portion of the cab of the pickup truck along a sloping plane intersecting a plane containing the bed of the pickup truck. Side panels are removably joined to the frame and configured to extend from the top surface to the bed of the pickup truck where, in conjunction with the pickup truck, a shape resembling generally flat bottom airfoil is formed.
US07954880B2	Sliding door structure for automobile A sliding door structure of a vehicle is provided for sliding a door body with respect to an opening portion of a vehicle body in forward and rearward directions of the vehicle body for opening and closing. The sliding door structure includes a rail disposed on the door body and aligned with the forward and rearward directions of the vehicle body. An arm protrudes from an edge portion on a door opening direction side of the opening portion of the vehicle body, and is configured to engage with the rail to hold the door body movably in the forward and rearward directions. The door body is able to slide in the door opening direction after engagement between the vehicle body side engagement portion and the arm side engagement portion when the arm pushes the door body outwardly in the width direction of the vehicle.
US07954879B2	Vehicle door system There is provided a vehicle door system for a door of a road vehicle, for example an open-top or convertible vehicle. The door includes a first hinged region thereof and a second openable region thereof. Moreover, the assembly comprises a reinforcement member for inclusion within the door substantially from the hinged region thereof to the second openable region thereof. Furthermore, the assembly further includes a first retention mechanism at the first region and a second retention mechanism at the second region, the mechanisms being resilient in operation to impact or crash forces applied to the door to resist lateral movement of the door when the door is in a closed state.
US07954878B1	Arch-based vehicle element The invention is an arch-based structural element designed to offer the resistance of the apex curvature of the arch to present to and intercept a force (an automobile collision). The resistance of the arch and its construction using strong lightweight materials give auto passengers the maximum degree of safety as well as lower consumption of fuel associated with weigh reduction.
US07954875B2	Sun visor for a motor vehicle The present invention relates to a sun visor for a motor vehicle, with a planar, elongate main visor body which is mounted rotatably on a rotary spindle running approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the main visor body, the rotary spindle being coupled to a main swivel spindle for swiveling the main visor body from a not-in-use position into a use position and vice versa, the main swivel spindle, in the not-in-use position, being integrated in the roof (6) of the motor vehicle parallel to the longitudinal extent of the main visor body and at a distance from the same.
US07954874B2	Plastic skin with switching function A single-layer or multi-layer plastic skin is formed into a covering for coated objects, such as trim parts of a motor vehicle. Regions in the plastic skin include switching, sensor, or transmission functionality.
US07954872B2	Nesting seats for improved ingress/egress A seating arrangement for a motor vehicle can include first row seats including a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, and second row seats disposed behind the first row seats with respect to a forward direction of travel for the motor vehicle. The second row seats can be slidable in longitudinal direction between a forward position and a rearward position. Respective rear surfaces of the first row seats can define a rear curved surface between an outboard lateral edge of the passenger seat and an outboard lateral edge of the driver's seat. Respective forward surfaces of the second row seats can define a front curved surface between respective outboard lateral edges of the second row seats. The front curved surface can correspond in shape and dimensions with the rear curved surface, such that the second row seats nest with the first row seats, when the second row seats are moved toward the forward position.
US07954866B2	Bumper beam with gussets to prevent underride A bumper beam with gussets is disclosed. The gussets increase engagement with a barrier and prevent underride during a collision. The gussets can be attached to a front and top surface of the bumper beam. The gussets may be offset from the center of the bumper beam and overhang the edge of the beam.
US07954864B2	Hybrid energy absorber for automobile bumper An automobile bumper system including an isolator disposed adjacent a cross beam of an automobile frame, and a bumper edge guard strip mounted adjacent upper and/or lower edges of the cross beam. The bumper edge guard strip may include an upper extension fixedly engaged with an upper surface of the cross beam and a lower extension fixedly engaged with a frontal surface of the cross beam, with the upper extension having a length greater than the lower extension for distributing impact energy in a predetermined manner.
US07954862B2	Electromagnetic lock provided with a sliding bolt for a swinging-type door Electromagnetic lock includes a body, a retractable sliding bolt, and a movable plate structured and arranged to move the retractable sliding bolt and functioning as an armature of an electromagnet housed in the body. The movable plate is movable via two forces acting in the same direction and is structured and arranged to move the retractable sliding bolt to a protruding position. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07954859B2	Probe seal having pressure-energized sealing elements for female hydraulic coupling member A crown-type probe seal for a female hydraulic coupling member has one or more pressure-energized seals for sealing between the probe seal and the body of the coupling member which retains the probe seal. The generally ring-shaped probe seal has one or more annular fluid chambers in the wall of the seal's body. Each annular fluid chamber is open to the outer circumference of the probe seal. Hydraulic fluid under pressure may enter an annular fluid chamber through its opening an exert a generally radial force as a result of a pressure differential. This radial force can act to increase the sealing effectiveness of the probe seal both to the body of the coupling member retaining the probe seal and to the probe of a male coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber of the female member.
US07954853B2	Reduced-size vehicle with complementary internal compartments and suspension system components Various embodiments of reduced-size vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility vehicles (UVs) are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the vehicles include frames that are wider near the front and rear sections of the vehicles than within the mid-sections of the vehicles. This, in combination with the use of shock-absorbers that are substantially vertically oriented, allows for the opening-up of large interior cavities within the front and rear sections of the vehicles within which can be positioned large front and rear internal compartments that can provide storage/carrying capacity as well as added buoyancy for the vehicle, among other things. Also, in at least some embodiments, the vehicles can include special cooling and/or exhaust systems having components that are positioned substantially within the mid-sections of the vehicles, thus further increasing the amounts of space available for the cavities/compartments within the front and rear sections of the vehicles.
US07954848B2	Inflator An inflator includes in a combustion chamber a first gas generating charge and a second gas generating charge to be ignited and burned to generate an inflation gas. The second gas generating charge is slower in speed of combustion than the first gas generating charge. The inflator further includes a partition wall that segregates the first and second gas generating charges. The partition wall is located away from an ignition area of an ignition device that ignites the first gas generating charge, with the first gas generating charge located between itself and the ignition area. The partition wall is burnable to destruction by the fire generated by combustion of the first gas generating charge so as to permit propagation of the fire to the second gas generating charge by its generally entire area.
US07954847B2	Stretchable webbing, inflatable belt, and inflatable belt apparatus A technology for a stretchable webbing is provided including a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant, which is effective in preventing slippage between yarns and fray while ensuring webbing rigidity. One embodiment includes a stretchable webbing having a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant and an inserting yarn of the stretchable webbing having a first filament element and a second filament element which extend adjacent to and parallel with each other, where the second filament element is composed of a low-fusing point fiber having a fusing point lower than that of the first filament element.
US07954843B2	Two shot automotive PSIR chute An automotive PSIR hidden chute assembly contained behind an automotive instrument panel. The PSIR may include chute forward and rearward doors, first and second chute flanges, and an instrument panel, each constructed of a first hard material, and first and second chute hinges, first and second chute sidewalls and a chute end wall, each constructed of a second tough ductile material, such that the first material and the second material have different thermal expansion properties and different elastic modulus properties.
US07954842B2	Airbag restraint device for occupants of a vehicle An airbag restraint device for occupants of a vehicle, and including an airbag system having an airbag module with an inflatable airbag. A cover at least partially covers the airbag and has a tear seam via which the airbag, upon inflation, can expand outwardly. A force-concentrating arrangement concentrates the opening force of the expanding airbag onto the tear seam, and comprises a structure extending around the airbag and having two opposite ends. The structure is folded over to form two layers and to bring the ends together at the tear seam, where the ends are connected to the cover. One of the ends is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart, strip-shaped members extending away from that end and sewn directly to the tear seam to form tear strips that upon expansion of the airbag tear defined, spaced-apart holes into the tear seam for a defined further opening thereof. The layers of the structure are disposed next to or parallel to one another.
US07954841B2	Gliding board with rigidifying insert and method of manufacture Gliding board that includes an upper sub-assembly, a lower sub-assembly, and an intermediate core, the upper sub-assembly including a first longitudinal opening, the lower sub-assembly including a second longitudinal opening, and the intermediate core including a third longitudinal opening, each of the first, second, and third longitudinal openings being positioned at the rear end of the gliding board, the gliding board further including a rigidifying element that is inserted simultaneously in the first, second, and third longitudinal openings. The rigidifying element can have a planar, bulging, or convex lower surface.
US07954839B2	Temporary single arm adjustable goose neck hitch system An attachment having an interchangeable means for converting a traditionally manufactured tow behind, A frame or straight tongue trailer into a functioning single arm goose neck style trailer. This hitch systems forward end can be temporarily attached to, and towed by a variety of independent self propelled utility vehicles, that are equipped with a 5th wheel coupling device. The rearward end of this hitch system temporarily attaches to the most forward end of a trailer frame hitch tongue, with the use of a quick change coupler device, and is secured within the coupler by using a temporary fastener.
US07954837B2	Bicycle assembly with gusset A bicycle frame can have a main frame, a sub-frame and a shock. The sub-frame can move in relation to the main frame and the shock can be used to regulate that relationship. The mainframe can comprise a series of tubes including a head tube, a top tube, a bottom tube and a seat tube. The shock can connect to the main frame at a gusset connected to the top tube and the bottom tube.
US07954832B2	Internal stiffener for hollow structure An axle beam includes a hollow beam body with at least first and second apertures formed in opposing wall portions of the hollow beam body. A stiffener is received within the first and second apertures and is fixed to the hollow beam body at an attachment interface.
US07954827B2	Steering system A steering controller for an electric power steering device 110 includes a base signal computing part 51 for computing a base signal DT in accordance with at least the steering torque; a damper compensation signal computing part 52 for computing a damper compensation signal in accordance with an angular velocity of an electric motor 4 or a speed of steering wheel turn; and an inertia compensation signal computing part 53 for compensating inertia and viscosity in the steering unit. The electric motor is driven by a target signal IM1 obtained by compensating the base signal with a damper compensation signal and an inertia compensation signal, to provide a steering auxiliary force. The target signal of the auxiliary torque is compensated so that a difference between a reference self-aligning torque of front wheel in a front wheel steering vehicle and a self-aligning torque of front wheel in an all-wheel steering vehicle is provided to a driver as a responsive feeling from the steering torque.
US07954823B2	Sealing ring for reciprocating motion A sealing ring used for reciprocating motion and having low friction characteristics. The sealing ring is held at one of two members that move relative to each other and slidably in intimate contact with the other. The sealing ring has an end sliding part having an arcuate cross section and slidably in intimate contact with the other and also has a recessed surface formed in at least either a rear face or both side faces in an axial direction. The sealing ring satisfies the relationships of A/2
US07954822B2	Wire material for coil expander and coil expander A wire material for a coil expander capable of manufacturing a coil expander that is unlikely to cause disadvantages such as abnormal wear and resultant reduction in strength The wire material for a coil expander is used for a coil expander of a combination piston ring having a piston ring and the coil expander for pressing and urging the piston ring outward in the radial direction thereof, wherein a cross-sectional shape thereof is a rectangular shape, and when the coil expander is formed by using the wire material for a coil expander, the surface of the wire material for a coil expander, constituting an outer peripheral surface of the coil expander, is formed into a convex curved shape.
US07954821B2	World cup of blackjack A method of playing a casino table wagering game of blackjack has the steps of: at least one player and preferably at least two players placing individual wagers on an underlying blackjack game; an initial 2-card common player hand is dealt; an initial 2-card dealer hand is dealt, with rank of one card of the initial 2-card dealer hand exposed to view; each player making independent decisions on the play of the player's hand to complete of the common hand for each individual player's hand using only community cards; completing the dealer's hand; and resolving all wagers. A series of player count identifying areas may be provided and individual player identifiers are placed in the areas. The player count areas comprise six areas separately representing player counts of a) 16 or less, b) 17; c) 18; d) 19; e) 20; and f) 21. The method may include at least two separate common player hands being dealt and individual players may elect to place a separate wager on either of the at least two hands or both of the at least two hands. The method may be used in a blackjack tournament and the tournament includes multiple tables and multiple rounds of play.
US07954819B2	Pinball machine A pinball adapted for play by either one or two players. The pinball game includes the playing surface having first and second ends. The playing surface is adapted for supporting a pinball between the ends. The pinball game also includes a tilting assembly associated with the playing surface for orientating the playing surface between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position directed towards one of the first and second ends. When the pinball game is adapted to be played by one player, the playing surface is in the inclined position. But when the pinball game is adapted to be played by two players, the playing surface is in the horizontal position.
US07954818B2	Sheet stacking apparatus and image forming apparatus A discharged sheet is conveyed, by a sheet conveying portion movable above sheet stacking portions while supporting a sheet, to selected one among plural sheet stacking portions. When the sheet is conveyed to the selected sheet stacking portion by the sheet conveying portion, a member for preventing a bringing-together provided in the main body of the apparatus prevents a sheet bundle, stacked in a sheet stacking portion at the upstream side of the selected sheet stacking portion, from being brought together by the sheet conveyed above the upstream sheet stacking portion by the sheet conveying portion.
US07954814B2	Feeding device and image forming apparatus A sheet discharge roller has a contact portion in contact with a feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The sheet discharge roller includes a kick-out unit having a projected portion and a recess portion on one end of the noncontact portion in the circumferential direction. A reverse roller also has a contact portion in contact with the feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The reverse roller includes a large-diameter portion on its one end in a direction opposite to a direction of the kick-out unit. The large-diameter portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion.
US07954812B2	Image processing apparatus and transport device An image processing apparatus stops the transport of a sheet when an access cover is opened to prevent the damage of the sheet, without additionally providing a sensor and has a transport member for transporting a sheet through an image processing unit; a driving mechanism for transmitting a driving force to the transport member; an access cover for opening a portion of a sheet transport path; and a driving switching unit for transmitting the driving force of the driving mechanism or cuts off the transmission of the driving force in operative association with the opening or closing of the access cover. The driving switching unit cuts off the transmission of the driving force to the transport member when the access cover is opened.
US07954809B2	Sheet post-processing apparatus A sheet post-processing apparatus 100 includes bundle discharge rollers 6, a sheet detection sensor 31, a main tray 11, and a sheet hold device 32 having a plurality of hold portions 34a to 34c. When a sheet bundle is discharged from the bundle discharge rollers 6, the hold portions 34a to 34c rotate to a release position where the hold portions 34a to 34c stop holding the sheet bundle P stacked on the main tray 11, the main tray 11 moves downward to a wait position H2, and then, the hold portions 34a to 34c rotate to the lowest position, then the main tray 11 moves up to a hold position H1.
US07954804B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes moving rollers and a feeding roller. The moving rollers move a set first sheet in a direction intersecting a conveying direction. The feeding roller conveys sheets at a sheet stacking portion. After the first sheet is shifted to a parallel position by the moving roller, a second sheet at a setting position and the first sheet at the parallel position are conveyed by the feeding roller.
US07954803B2	Image reading apparatus An image reading apparatus includes pairs of rollers, each including a driving roller and a driven roller. The pairs of rollers are arranged along the rotation axis direction of the driving roller and constitute a first roller group and a second roller group for conveying a first medium and a second medium thicker than the first medium, respectively. The center of the first roller group is identical in the rotation axis direction to that of a first conveying area where the first medium is conveyed. The center of the second roller group is identical in the rotation axis direction to that of a second conveying area where the second medium is conveyed. At least one pair of rollers in the second roller group is arranged outside the first roller group within the first conveying area.
US07954802B2	Sheet post-processing apparatus having excellent sheet stacking capability A sheet post-processing apparatus discharges and conveys a sheet from a process tray to a storage tray, and decelerates a bundle hook and a paper discharge roller when the bundle hook reaches a discharge start position of a bundle of sheets. At this time, a tangential speed of the paper discharge roller is faster than a movement speed of the bundle hook. Subsequently, the sheet post-processing apparatus stops the paper discharge roller in accordance with a rotation position of the bundle hook, and then decelerates the movement speed of the bundle hook. After the sheets are stacked on the storage tray, the bundle hook accelerates to return to a home position. Additionally, the sheet post-processing apparatus includes a spool 17 having a sheet pressing guide member 16 with a bent portion 16A. When the sheets are conveyed to a process tray 13, the spool 17 is rotated forward to longitudinally align the sheets and then is backwardly rotated to press the sheets using elastic force of the sheet pressing guide member 16, thereby preventing a gap from occurring between the sheets or preventing the sheets from being misaligned.
US07954800B2	Openable sheet processing device A sheet processing device includes a sheet aligning unit that aligns a sheet recording medium. The sheet aligning unit is configured to be pulled out from a main body of the sheet processing device, and includes a sheet conveying member for conveying the sheet recording medium.
US07954795B2	Post-processing apparatus for processing paper sheets on which images are formed and post-processing method A post-processing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a vertical conveying path and a horizontal conveying path. A stapling mechanism and a folding mechanism are arranged in the horizontal conveying path. When saddle processing is carried out, paper sheets sent into the horizontal conveying path are struck against a trailing end stopper and, after the number of sheets to be bound is accumulated, the center of the paper sheets is stapled and folded double. A movable tray projected to the outside of a housing is provided at a terminal end of the horizontal conveying path. The movable tray functions as a tray for discharging paper sheets that pass through a saddle stitcher and also functions as a supporting member that supports a leading end side of the paper sheets at the time of the saddle processing.
US07954789B2	Composite shaft and self-centering coupling A composite hollow aspirator shaft is formed of fiberglass-reinforced phenolic resin that reduces the amount of vibration that is transferred to the motor rotating the shaft, and the motor's bearings. This extends motor and bearing life. When the aspirator tip is rotated in a liquid, fluidic forces are transferred to the shaft. Rather than transmitting those forces into the motor and its bearings, the composite aspirator shaft attenuates the forces to prevent most of them from reaching the motor and its bearings. The composite shaft material has a flexural modulus, or ratio, within the elastic limit of any applied stress, and is sufficiently low to allow the transfer of the flexural or oscillatory energy into heat within the shaft instead of conveying the energy in the form of vibration/oscillations along the axial length of the shaft. As an added advantage, the fiberglass resists abrasion better in wastewater than stainless steel used in the prior art.
US07954787B2	Fuel injector with balanced metering servovalve, for an internal combustion engine The injector comprises a balanced metering servovalve to control a rod for the opening/closing of a nozzle. La servovalve has a valve body with a control chamber radially delimited by a tubular portion and fitted with an outlet passage that is opened/closed by an axially movable shutter. The servovalve is also integral with an axial stem, provided with a lateral surface, through which the outlet channel exits. The shutter is coupled to the stem in an axially sliding manner and, when it closes the outlet passage, it is subjected to substantially null axial fuel pressure. The outlet passage has a calibrated segment distanced from the shutter and close to a bottom wall of the control chamber. The calibrated segment is carried by an element fixed to the valve body in correspondence to an axial segment of the outlet passage.
US07954786B2	Solenoid valve assembly A socket housing formed on the side of a solenoid valve body includes a socket thereinside connected with a coil of a solenoid operation section. A power feeding terminal box for holding a pin-shaped power feeding terminal connected with a power feeding line is housed in a terminal cover. Installation of the terminal cover on the side of the solenoid valve body causes the power feeding terminal to be electrically connected with the socket and at the same time the power feeding terminal box to be locked into a locking stopper formed inside the terminal cover, thereby allowing the terminal cover to be locked and held in place.
US07954784B2	Shock absorber A shock absorber (20) includes a fastener (10) and a resilient gasket (30) for receiving the fastener. The fastener includes a shaft (15). The gasket includes an axial portion (31) surrounding the shaft of the fastener and a plurality of resilient tabs (35) extending from the axial portion. Each resilient tab includes an extending portion (351) extending from the axial portion, a bent portion (353) extending outward from the extending portion, and a resilient contacting portion (355) further extending backward from the bent portion and keeping a distance from the extending portion in a direction vertical to the axial direction of the fastener.
US07954780B2	Adjustable self-balancing flat panel display mounting system A self-balanced adjustable mounting system for a flat panel display. When a flat panel display is attached to the mounting system, the display is adapted to revolve about a substantially horizontal axis extending proximate a center of gravity of the display. The system may be self-balancing at a plurality of locations about the axis.
US07954779B2	Device for balancing an arm pivoting about an axis of rotation, for example, an arm supporting a work station all-purpose fume or gas exhaust conduit The torque, due to the weight of the arm, is balanced according to the angular position of the arm by a contrast spring acting perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the arm. The spring is controlled by a cam integral with the arm, is housed in a container closed by a wall acted on by the profile of the cam, and rests on a guide disk whose position relative to the container is adjusted by means of an adjusting screw to calibrate the precompression of the spring according to the minimum torque due to the weight of the arm. In another embodiment, at least one contrast spring acts parallel to the axis of rotation of the arm, and is controlled by a cam edge of a cylinder for axially moving a corresponding sleeve housing the spring.
US07954774B2	Tilt face step A step is cut into a stationary or movable flange in a two-flange engagement. As the two flanges are brought closer to one another by tightening a nut or knob attached to a central shaft, contact is established along the edge of the step. Contact along this line does not create a point contact about which the flanges will pivot. Therefore, consistent friction is obtained when tension is applied by tightening the nut and the flanges are brought into contact.
US07954773B2	Universally positionable platform for beverage holder A positionable platform for use with a beverage holder, the positionable platform including a monolithic body sized similarly to a standard twelve (12) ounce beverage container, the body having an upper platform portion positioned adjacent to a first end of a wall portion thereof, with a plurality of slotted retention apertures distributed about the body and substantially aligned therewith. A resiliently pliable member resides in each of the slotted retention apertures, each of the resiliently pliable members being having a fin portion positioned partially within a slot portion and extended from the outer surface of the wall portion outwardly of the body and extending along the wall portion between the first and second ends thereof, and a spine portion positioned substantially within a recessed keyhole portion. A mounting platform is positioned adjacent to one of the first and second ends of the body.
US07954770B2	Methods and system for jointless track circuits using passive signaling In a jointless track system, passive signaling devices (“PSDs”) are coupled to a railroad track. The PSDs are used to optimize the amplitude, modulation, coding, and frequency of waveforms that are applied to the track (by signaling points) for at least three track circuit functions: detecting trains, detecting broken rails, and communicating between the signaling points and PSDs.
US07954769B2	Deployable aerodynamic devices with reduced actuator loads, and related systems and methods Deployable aerodynamic devices with reduced actuator loads, and related systems and methods are disclosed. An external flow system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an external flow body, a deployable device carried by and movable relative to the external flow body, and a coupling connected between the external flow body and the deployable device. The system can further include an actuator device operatively coupled between the external flow body and the deployable device, with the actuator device positioned to move the deployable device along a motion path between a stowed position and the deployed position. The motion path can have a first portion over which the load delivered by the actuator device increases as the deployed device moves toward the deployed position, and a second portion over which the load delivered by the actuator device decreases as the deployed device moves toward the deployed position.
US07954766B2	System and method for improved rotary-wing aircraft performance with interior/external loads An interactive aircraft load management system automates calculation and provides simulation capability to changes in an aircraft C.G. limit for display on a three-dimensional aircraft symbology. The aircraft load management system also communicates with a fly by wire (FBW) flight control system wherein the aircraft's control system is programmed to automatically compensate for C.G. excursions and to alter control laws. The aircraft load management system also selectively reels-in and reels out sling lines as the aircraft pitches and rolls to maintain a load vector from a slung load along the aircraft centerline. Load vector travel is accomplished by coupling a winch control system into the flight control system.
US07954764B2	Smart boom tip assembly A refueling apparatus for interconnecting a tanker aircraft (11) with a receiver aircraft in flight comprising a boom (21) joined to said tanker aircraft (11) by means of a mechanical articulation (41) having control means including a central computer station, an inner fuel conduit, a refueling nozzle (27) at its distal end and, and a smart tip assembly comprising a first module (83) having load sensing means, a second module (85) having load alleviation means and a third module (87), joined to the nozzle (27), having a mechanical fuse (99) for allowing the safe separation of tanker and receiver aircraft in the event of overloads. The invention also comprises a method of load alleviation for minimizing the loads on the boom (21).
US07954762B2	Lightweight aircraft passenger seat with composite construction An aircraft seat assembly configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat assembly includes a lightweight composite support structure, a lightweight composite seat base, and a seat back assembly that employs a lightweight inner frame. The seat cushion and the seat back cushion may utilize a sealed pneumatic element that self-inflates to provide increased air cushioning during flight. The seat assembly can leverage inexpensive manufacturing techniques such that the seat assembly can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.
US07954761B2	Modular integrated galley A modular integrated galley used for food preparation and storage in a passenger vehicle includes a mounting rack defining a plurality of openings or spaces and having a plurality of structural mounting points disposed within the spaces for receiving a plurality of individual galley modules. Each of the galley modules including a generally box-like outer shell having top, bottom, front, rear, and side walls. At least two of the galley modules having a different functional component contained within the outer shell that is selected from the group consisting of a beverage maker, a water dispensing unit, an oven, a refrigerator and a storage compartment. The modular integrated galley further including means for interconnecting adjacent galley modules including an elongate connecting rail defining an outer perimeter having at least two slots formed along the outer perimeter for receiving complimentary ribs on adjacent galley modules.
US07954758B2	Method and apparatus for retrieving a hovering aircraft For retrieval of a hovering aircraft, a cable, bar, or similar fixture is suspended in an approximately horizontal orientation across the retrieval area between two well-separated supports. The aircraft slowly flies into this fixture, which then slides along the aircraft in a direction approximately parallel with the aircraft's thrust line. This leads to the aircraft becoming fastened to the fixture by an interceptor or aircraft capturer which in alternative embodiments are respectively on the aircraft or the fixture or both. Thrust is then reduced, and the aircraft comes to rest hanging from the fixture for subsequent removal. Retrieval is thus accomplished with simple and economical apparatus, light and unobtrusive elements on the aircraft, low risk of damage, and only moderate piloting accuracy.
US07954751B2	Roller structure for fabric winding machine A roller mounted onto a fabric winding machine to roll up fabric aims to solve the shortcomings of the conventional rollers that tend to cause fabric skewing during fabric rolling and are difficult to remove due to a lengthy structure. The roller of the invention has an outer diameter gradually enlarged towards two ends, and includes a first half roller and a second half roller that have respectively a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion at one end corresponding and fastenable to each other. The greater diameters at two ends allow the fabric to be rolled up on the roller without skewing. The two pieces design of the roller makes each piece shorter and removing from a bundle of rolled up fabric easier. The roller thus formed can facilitate fabric rolling and removal thereof.
US07954750B2	Reel and recording tape cartridge A reel comprising a hub formed in the shape of a cylindrical tube with a base, on an outer peripheral surface of which a recording tape is wound; a base side flange portion that projects-out to a radial direction outer side of a base portion side of the hub; a flange member configured in a disc shape or an annular plate shape of a material with an elastic modulus at least equal to a material that constitutes the hub, the flange member being coaxially joined to an opening end portion of the hub; a metal plate formed in a circular plate shape or an annular plate shape, which is fixed coaxially to the base portion of the hub; and plate retention portions that are formed integrally with the base portion of the hub and touch an outer peripheral surface of the metal plate at at least four locations, which are at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the hub.
US07954746B1	Method and apparatus for shipping braided composite reinforcing fabric By the present invention method and apparatus is disclosed whereby a triaxial braided composite reinforcing fabric having axial yarns of varying length may be wrapped about a cylindrical shipping spool without deformation of the braided fabric. A tensioning device is interposed between the braiding tool and shipping or storage spool whereby the individual variable length axial yarns are subjected to constant tensioning. As the braided fabric is wound upon a cylindrical shipping spool, a conformable foam layer is interposed between each layer of braided fabric thereby permitting each axial yarn to seek out its own diameter by compressing the layer of conformable foam upon which it is wrapped.
US07954742B2	Dual purpose adapter for a multiple tool attachment system A multiple tool attachment system is adapted to be attached to demolition equipment. The system includes a universal body attached to the demolition equipment. A series of tools are independently attachable to the universal body. The universal body includes a guide slot extending longitudinally along the universal body. Each tool generally includes a pair of pivotable jaws adapted to be pivotably attached to the universal body with at least one linkage extending from the universal body and attachable to each jaw of the tool. A slide member is received within the guide slot, with each linkage attached to the slide member, and a piston cylinder arrangement is attached to the universal body and coupled to the slide member for moving the slide member and the jaws. The multiple tool attachment system is provided with quick change features and is designed to optimize the cutting characteristics throughout the movement cycle.
US07954739B2	Garbage disposal apparatus A garbage disposal apparatus includes a shredding device for shredding garbage put in through a drain opening of a sink and a connecting member, a transverse conveying device for conveying the garbage shredded by the shredding device in a transverse direction, a dehydrating device into which the shredded garbage conveyed through the transverse conveying device is introduced and that is for dehydrating the shredded garbage while conveying the shredded garbage upward, a drying device into which the shredded garbage discharged through the dehydrating device is supplied via a chute and that is for drying the shredded garbage while rotating, and a garbage receptacle disposed under the drying device so as to be able to be pulled out, and the shredded garbage dried and reduced in volume by the drying device drops from the rotating drying device and is collected in the garbage receptacle.
US07954738B2	Ice dispenser Provided is an ice dispenser. The ice dispenser dispenses ice pieces have various sizes such as chunks, fragments, and shavings to users, and the size of ice pieces discharged from the ice dispenser can be conveniently adjusted. The ice dispenser includes a rotatable first roller, a rotatable second roller disposed close to the first roller, and a distance adjustor. The distance adjustor is configured to adjust a distance between the first and second rollers for adjusting sizes of ice crushed between the first and second rollers.
US07954735B2	Method for controlling process parameters of a cone crusher A crushing and reducing device, especially cone crushers, used in the building and ore-dressing industries. A method of controlling the operation of a cone crusher having an internal cone connected to an unbalanced vibrator, and an external cone. The method includes utilizing a measurement plane being connected to the internal cone, measuring distances between the measurement plane and a frame of the crusher, and calculating an angle of inclination of the inner cone. The method further includes controlling, based on the calculated angle of inclination of the inner cone, at least one parameter chosen among: the angle of inclination of the inner cone, and the size of a discharge gap between the internal cone and the external cone.
US07954733B2	Eggshell membrane separation method A method for processing unseparated egg shells is provided. The method includes placing the unseparated egg shells in a fluid tank containing a fluid mixture, applying cavitation to the fluid mixture to thereby assist in separating the egg shell membranes from the egg shells, and recovering the egg shell membranes. Preferably, the fluid mixture is recirculated to thereby provide for continuous processing of unseparated egg shells. The method may further include drying the egg shell membranes to produce dried egg shell membranes which may then be vacuum packaged for storage and/or transport. The dried egg shell membranes may then be subjected to an extraction process for extracting at least one type of polypeptide from the egg shell membranes. Collagen, hyaluronic acid, or amino acids of interest may be extracted from the egg shell membrane and purified for numerous uses.
US07954729B2	Metering servovalve and fuel injector for an internal combustion engine A metering servovalve for a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine has an electro-actuator and a fixed valve body, which defines a control chamber communicating with an inlet and with an outlet channel. The outlet channel has at least one calibrated restriction and exits through the lateral surface of an axial stem, on which a sleeve slides, in a substantially fluid-tight manner, to open/close the outlet channel and so vary the pressure in the control chamber. The outlet channel is closed by an end portion of the sleeve that is elastically deformable in a radially outward direction, under the thrust of the fuel pressure, to increase the diameter at which the seal against the valve body is formed, with respect to a non-deformed state, and to generate an axial unbalancing force on the sleeve upon opening when the outlet channel is closed.
US07954723B2	Method for routing incoming and outgoing data in an NFC chipset A method for routing data in a chipset comprising at least two host processors and one RFID-type contactless data send/receive interface configurable according to several operating modes and according to several contactless communication protocols includes routing, to at least one of the host processors, data received by the contactless data send/receive interface via a contactless data transmission channel. The method further includes determining a destination point of the data in a host processor using as criteria to determine the destination point the operating mode and the contactless communication protocol used by the contactless data send/receive interface to create the contactless data transmission channel through which the data are received.
US07954719B2	Tunnel-type digital imaging-based self-checkout system for use in retail point-of-sale environments A tunnel-type digital imaging-based self-checkout system capable of generating and projecting coplanar illumination and imaging planes into a 3D imaging volume within a tunnel structure. The tunnel structure is supported above a package conveyor in a retail POS environment, and employs automatic package identification, profiling and tracking techniques during self-checkout operations.
US07954714B2	Inline coatings process for xerographically prepared MICR checks A process of MICR and non-MICR electrostatic magnetic imaging of two independent electrostatic latent images including (a) forming a first electrostatic latent image in a MICR printing apparatus; (b) developing the first electrostatic latent image by contacting the first electrostatic latent image with a MICR toner to produce a developed MICR toner image; (c) transferring the developed MICR toner image onto a check; (d) forming a second electrostatic latent image in a non-MICR printing apparatus; (e) developing the second electrostatic latent image by contacting the second electrostatic latent image with a non-MICR toner to produce a developed non-MICR image; (f) transferring the developed non-MICR toner image to the check; (g) fusing the MICR toner image and the non-MICR toner image to the check, wherein a fuser oil is supplied to the check during fusing; (h) coating the check having fused developed MICR toner image and non-MICR toner image with an aqueous coating comprising a polymer and a surfactant.
US07954709B1	Computer-based value-bearing item customization security The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide computer systems and methods for protecting the security of processing for customization of computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, securing processing of exemplary image-customized computer-based postage label 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will further provide computer systems and methods for securing computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, securing image-customized computer-based postage label 1 as depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear an image 2 that would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The user may provide image 2 in an electronic form, such as by uploading a digital representation of image 2. In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a user could alternatively provide a hardcopy image. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear a human-readable indication of the country 4 for which the postage is approved. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable indication of an amount of postage 5. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable identifier (such as a serial number) 6 that will uniquely identify the particular customized computer-based postage label. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a machine-readable set of information 7.
US07954707B2	Fitting room terminal, job supporting system, and information acquiring method A display unit displays information in a fitting room. An operation input unit receives operation input of information in the fitting room. An RFID reader writer performs radio communication with an RFID tag, which is attached to a commodity and stores data of a commodity ID for identifying the commodity, and sets a radio communication range in the inside of the fitting room. A control unit that (i) acquires data of a commodity ID from an RFID tag attached to a commodity in the fitting room via the RFID reader writer, (ii) acquires, according to the acquisition of the data of the commodity ID, data of questionnaire information including a question and plural answers to the question from a questionnaire information file that stores the data of the questionnaire information, and (iii) causes the display unit to display the acquired questionnaire information, waits for selection of one or two or more answers, which are included in the questionnaire information displayed by the display unit, by operation input in the operation input unit, and causes a storage area to store the answers selected by the operation input in the operation input unit.
US07954704B1	Electronic payment system with PIN and sub-account configurations Implementations of the present invention provide systems, methods, and apparatus for stopping unauthorized transactions before they are processed, as well as for creating and using one or more sub-accounts. For example, a debit or credit account can be activated or deactivated at will through various spend control mechanisms, which can be limited by specified time periods, numbers of transactions, and/or monetary amounts. Further implementations also relate to using a unique 6-digit identification number (or biometric information) that is known only to the account granting institution and the primary account owner for the various types of activation/deactivation.
US07954691B2	Method for joining tube plates and tubes as well as friction tool to carry out the method The invention relates to a method for the joining of tube plates (10) and tubes (11) in a tube bundle heat transfer device with the help of a rotating friction tool. Here, the friction tool is rotatingly moved into the open end of a tube (11) surrounded by the tube plate (10) in the axial direction of said tube and pressed against the face of the tube (11) in the manner that the tube end (12) and the region of the tube plate (10) surrounding the tube end are plasticized and merge into a weld joint.
US07954684B2	Surgical stapling instrument with a firing member return mechanism A surgical instrument including a firing drive configured to selectively advance a firing member and/or cutting member relative to an end effector and, in addition, a reversing drive configured to selectively retract the firing member and/or cutting member relative to the end effector. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument can further include a switch including relatively movable first and second portions, wherein the first portion can be configured to operably disengage the firing drive from the firing member and, in addition, operably engage the reversing drive with the firing member. In at least one embodiment, the second portion can include a handle extending therefrom which can be motivated by the surgeon in order to engage the second portion with the first portion and move the first portion into position.
US07954679B2	Retention system for a spare tire A retention system for a vehicular spare tire includes a chamber having a bottom portion. A tray is configured for movement in a first direction relative to the bottom portion between an extended position and a stored position. At least one removable interconnecting member is configured to selectively interface with both the tray and the chamber for substantially preventing movement of the tray relative in the first direction. At least one guide member is configured to selectively interface with a back portion of the tray for substantially preventing movement of the back portion of the tray in a second direction relative to the bottom portion while the tray is in the stored position. The second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction.
US07954675B2	Bottle comprising a neck connected to a body A bottle made of a plastic material, including a body surmounted by a neck including a dispensing opening. The neck and the body are made in two separate parts which are assembled together in order to connect the interior of the body to the dispensing opening, the neck includes an axial sealing skirt which is mounted on an axial bearing surface formed on the upper portion of the body. The bottle further includes a shrunk-on collar, the lower portion of which is arranged to axially cover at least the connection area between the neck and the body. The connection of the neck to the body is produced by combining a tight fitting of the exterior surface of the sealing skirt over the interior surface of the bearing surface, and radial clamping of the lower portion of the shrunk-on ring onto the exterior surface of the bearing surface.
US07954672B2	Dispensing appliance for a double syringe The dispensing appliance for a double syringe includes double plungers (4) connected by a thrust plate (5) and a flange holder (6) having a guiding slot (8) for receiving the retaining flange (9) of the double syringe (1) and at least one finger rest grip (7). Such a dispensing appliance allows an easier dispensing especially of smaller double syringes.
US07954668B2	Low and empty product detection using load cell and load cell bracket A system and method detect when a product container from which a product is dispensed is empty or nearly empty, and provides a notification of the product status. The system includes a load cell that deflects at a first rate of distance per unit load when a load less than a critical load is positioned to be weighed by the load cell, and a load cell bracket positioned such that the free end of the load cell contacts the load cell bracket when a load substantially equal to or greater than the critical load is positioned to be weighed by the load cell. The load cell bracket may prevent the load cell from further deflection, or it may permit deflection of the load cell at a second rate of distance per unit load when the load cell is in contact with the load cell bracket. The system may generate an out-of-product notification when the amount of product dispensed is substantially equal to zero, a low product notification when the amount of the product remaining is less than a threshold weight or a proof-of-delivery notification.
US07954667B2	Compact spray device A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm. Other steps include activating the dispensing unit in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor and selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations. Yet another step includes moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container to actuate a nozzle of the container to discharge a fluid from the container. The method also includes the step of alternating automatically between the sleep period having a duration commensurate with the selected sleep period interval and a discharge period during which the fluid is dispensed from the container.
US07954666B2	Airpot and dispenser liquid level float An airpot or dispenser liquid level float, provided for vertically shifting upon the air tubes of an airpot or other dispenser, the float incorporate a pivotally mounted indicator, for viewing through a view window of the dispenser, for furnishing and indication as to the level and amount of liquid remaining within the dispenser, during its usage and application.
US07954665B2	Wipes being formed into a non-planar form and dispenses for storing said wipes A wipe includes a generally flat piece of material (10) made of paper, cloth or the like. The generally flat piece of material (10) is formed into a non-planar form having a three-dimensional shape, for example conical, for storage and dispensing.
US07954661B2	Transport container, transporting method for the same, and constant temperature transport container A transport container comprising a spherical container 1 and a heat accumulating material 2a, 2b disposed inside of the spherical container 1, wherein; the heat accumulating material 2a, 2b is provided with a space for holding a transported object therein, and the space is formed at the central part of the inside of the spherical container 1.
US07954656B1	Display fixture anchor systems A display fixture anchor system including a first panel having integral connectors and threaded and unthreaded apertures. The first panel is adapted to abut and fasten to at least one type of display fixture and to also connect via the integral connectors to a connection element, such as a slotted standard, to a particular type of store gondola. The system includes a first panel used as the head of a bolt for engaging vertical webs such as wire grids on display fixtures, in conjunction with a second panel used as an adaptable washer having multiple apertures. The system also includes a first panel used as a channel for receiving a tubular perimeter frame of a display fixture. Custom hybrid use of a first panel is also included. Methods of use and manufacture are provided within the system.
US07954655B2	Display with folding shelves A presentation display for use in displaying products, samples and/or premiums. The display is comprised a shelf that is attached to a backer panel by means of a flexible hinge. The display may be made with flexible material as in paperboard, or with more permanent material as in plastic, wood, metal or other suitable material. Additional shelves may be added. The orientation of the additional shelves should be in a “nesting” way where when they are in the “Up” or “Closed” position there is minimal space between the shelves (“nesting” way), and when they are in the “Down” or “Open” position the area covered up during storage or shipping is revealed, giving a substantially “open” look a and feel to the display and allowing for easy access to the product. The revealed area may contain imagery or messaging to inform, entertain or to help sell the product.
US07954654B1	Bow caddy A collapsible bow holder that fits over the back of a car or truck seat to facilitate the ready access to a bow in the event that a sportsman wants to deploy it in a nearly immediate manner. The bow holder allows for one or more bows to be securely stored within a vehicle along with arrows, maps, and other accessories. When not in use, the bow holder can be collapsed to a flat shape that is easily stored within a vehicle.
US07954653B2	Room display for funerary products A display system for casket selection comprises a back wall, actual utilitarian and ornamental casket features mounted to the back wall, and a display adjacent the back wall. The display is operable to display facsimiles of the actual utilitarian and ornamental casket features.
US07954652B2	Tool rack A tool rack has a slide rack and multiple hangers. The slide rack has a baseboard and an elongated rail protruding from the baseboard. The multiple hangers are slidably mounted on the rail of the slide rack, and each has a hanging body and a hanging shaft. The hanging body is made by injection molding and slidably connected to the rail of the slide rack and has a protruding side and a connecting mount. The connecting mount protrudes from the protruding side of the hanging body and has an inserting hole formed in the connecting mount. The hanging shaft is metal and has an inserting end and a bent end. The inserting end has an engaging head mounted in the inserting hole and surrounded by the connecting mount. The bent end is opposite to the inserting end and bent upward for hanging a hand tool.
US07954651B2	Tool rack A tool rack has a slide rack and multiple hangers. The slide rack has a baseboard and an elongated rail protruding from the baseboard. The multiple hangers are slidably mounted on the rail of the slide rack, and each has a hanging body and a hanging shaft. The hanging body is made by injection molding and slidably connected to the rail of the slide rack and has a protruding side and a connecting mount. The connecting mount protrudes from the protruding side of the hanging body and has an inserting hole formed in the connecting mount. The hanging shaft is metal and has an inserting end and a bent end. The inserting end is mounted in the inserting hole and surrounded by the connecting mount. The bent end is opposite to the inserting end and is bent upward for hanging a hand tool.
US07954650B1	Wrench and socket organizing apparatus A wrench and socket organizing apparatus includes a base that has a top side and a bottom side. A post has a bottom end coupled to the top side. A plate has an upper surface and a lower surface. The plate is mounted on the post and the upper surface has a plurality of apertures therein positioned adjacent to a perimeter edge of the plate. A plurality of hook members is provided and each has a hook portion and a threaded portion. The threaded portion is removably extendable upwardly through one of the apertures to position a corresponding one of the hook portions between the plate and the base. A plurality of fasteners is provided. Each of the threaded portions receives one of the fasteners to releasably secure the threaded portions to the plate. Tools may be removably hung from the hook portions.
US07954646B2	Apparatus and method for separating and concentrating fluids containing multiple components An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at least three fractions in the apparatus. It also provides for a new method of extracting the buffy coat phase from a whole blood sample. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient.
US07954641B2	Display packaging for an animated toy The present invention is directed toward a display package for an animated doll or similar toy product that facilitates demonstration of the toy's animated features. The display package provides an enclosure that houses the doll. The doll includes an animation mechanism that drives a portion of the toy from a first position to a second position. The display package may include a moveable display panel mounted within the enclosure. The display panel is selectively engaged by the toy when the animation mechanism is engaged. The display package may include a support member that supports the toy within the package and permits the animation mechanism to move the doll from a first display position to a second display position.
US07954640B2	Paper jar packaging with coated walls A biodegradable jar has an enclosure wall with a cap that form ajar that holds a semi-solid material. In order to prevent the biodegradable wall from being weakened by the semi-solid material in the jar, both an exterior surface and an interior surface of the wall and the cap include a permeation barrier material that substantially prevents the semi-solid material from seeping through the walls of the jar. The enclosure wall could have an inner wall that is shorter than the outer wall which forms a ledge that a separate cover for the semi-solid material could rest upon.
US07954639B2	Dugout organizer A dugout organizer includes a plurality of compartments formed from a flexible material, wherein each of the compartments are sized to hold a player's glove, helmet and hat, a shelf for holding larger equipment coupled to the compartments, and a plurality of bat holders for holding bats. The compartments, shelf and bat holders can be folded into a relatively flat unit for transport.
US07954634B2	Specific theme-shaped eco-friendly disposable wet wipe container, and methods of constructing and utilizing same A specific theme-shaped eco-friendly disposable wet wipe container having a main theme-shaped disposable eco-friendly housing structure for holding wet wipes and having a base. A selectively openable and closable lid member is movably connected to the housing structure so that the lid member must move in a flat plane parallel to the base. An area is provided for placement of a logo or emblem.
US07954627B2	Bin transporter system A bin transporter system is used for moving bins or trays from the exit end of a security checkpoint conveyor to the entrance end of the conveyor. The system includes one or more support stands and a roller assembly attached to the stands. The roller assembly includes an elongate bin guide and roller conveyors attached to the inside of the bin guide. The roller assembly is held in a longitudinally inclined orientation, for gravity-actuated movement of the bin along the bin guide, as facilitated by the roller conveyors. Additionally, when bins are placed in the bin guide against the roller conveyors for movement along the bin guide, the bins lie at a laterally tilted orientation, either generally horizontally or generally vertically. This prevents the bins from falling out the front of the roller assembly, in cases where the bin guide has an open front portion.
US07954624B2	Shuttle type conveying device, microplate feeding and collecting device, pickup device for microplate, cassette for microplate, and shelf for containing microplate A shuttle-type conveying system to convey an article. The system includes a feeding and collecting device capable of setting a cassette in which articles to be conveyed are stacked as they are on a rotating and feeding table, a pickup device taking out the article and placing it on a receiving/delivery table, and a conveying device feeding the article on the receiving/delivery table to another receiving/delivery table by a shuttle conveying portion traveling on conveying paths below the receiving/delivery table. After the article is lifted up by the shuttle conveying portion and moved to outside the receiving/delivery table, the article is lowered below the receiving/delivery table and made to travel under the receiving/delivery table to another receiving/delivery table.
US07954613B2	Decoupler assembly A decoupler assembly that includes a hub, a drive member disposed about the hub, and a clutch coupling the hub and the drive member. The drive member is disposed about the hub for rotation about a rotational axis and includes an inner clutch surface. The clutch includes a carrier, a plurality of arcuate springs, and a wrap spring. The carrier is received between the hub and the drive member. The arcuate springs are mounted to the carrier and are configured to transmit rotary power between the carrier and the hub. The wrap spring includes a proximal end, which is drivingly coupled to the carrier, and a plurality of helical coils that are engaged to the inner clutch surface of the drive member.
US07954611B2	Composite profile provided with a support body made of a light metal material and a profiled strip and a method for producing said profile A composite profile comprising a carrier profile made of a light metal material and a profiled strip which is made of a harder material and covers the top surface of the carrier profile. An insertable bar is added to the profiled strip on each longitudinal side in a position parallel to the direction thereof and is inserted into a lateral slot embodied therein. The insertable bar is firmly connected to the profiled strip thereof by a weld seam.
US07954604B2	Elevator speed control device, elevator speed controlling method and elevator speed controlling program An elevator speed governor for an elevator in which an elevator car (1) is attached to one end of a rope (2) having a counterweight (3) on the other end and driven by a motor (5) via the rope (2) comprises a motor current detector (15) that detects a motor current of the motor (5), a target speed determining section (11) that determines a target speed in accordance with the motor current detected by the motor current detector (15), and a motor control section (13) that controls the motor (5) so that the elevator car (1) moves at the target speed determined by the target speed determining section (11).
US07954602B2	Lift apparatus with telescoping platform attachment and method A lift apparatus is disclosed. Particularly, a lift apparatus may comprise a support frame and a platform movably coupled to the support frame. Further, the platform may comprise at least one roller and a transmission connected to the at least one roller of the assembly, wherein rotation of the at least one roller causes the platform to move relative to the support frame. In another aspect of the present invention, a lift apparatus may include a telescoping platform. The present invention also contemplates a method of moving a wheelchair lift. Particularly, a wheelchair may be positioned such that at least one wheel of the wheelchair contacts a drive mechanism of a platform or a telescoping platform that are positioned at an initial position. Further, the at least one wheel of the wheelchair may be rotated to cause the platform or the telescoping platform to move relative to their initial positions.
US07954600B2	Crankshaft lubrication system A crankshaft of an internal combustion engine has journals provided with shaft oil passages for carrying the oil to crankpins, and guide grooves having parts in which the shaft oil passages open, respectively, and opening in the cylindrical surfaces of the journals, respectively. The guide grooves has downstream end parts into which the shaft oil passages open, respectively, and extend in a circumferential direction in which the crankshaft rotates from the downstream end parts, respectively. First half bearing members of bearings are provided in their bearing surfaces with oil grooves through which the oil is supplied to the guide grooves, respectively. Each of the oil grooves are diametrically opposite to each of the guide grooves. The oil grooves have an axial width (W5) smaller than the axial width (W3) of the guide grooves. Thus oil leakage from gaps between each of the bearings and each of the journals of the crankshaft is reduced and hence an oil pump having a small capacity can be used.
US07954599B2	Gear mechanism with controlled device for generating a rarefied atmosphere A gear mechanism comprising at least two toothed parts accommodated in a casing, a storage tank that stores oil to be injected into each meshing zone of the at least two tooth parts, a first receptacle built into the casing for receiving oil, a second receptacle that communicates with the first receptacle into which the oil can flow from the first receptacle, the second receptacle in turn communicating with the storage tank. Oil is conveyed from the storage tank to each meshing zone at a pressure greater than the pressure prevailing in the casing, internal pressure in the casing is reduced, and oil is drained to the storage tank. The first and second receptacles have a substantially identical pressure, while the storage tank is generally maintained at atmospheric pressure. The gear mechanism operates at atmospheric pressure if the gear mechanism fails to reduce internal pressure in the casing.
US07954596B2	Acoustically and thermally acting insulation The invention relates to a multilayered acoustically and thermally effective insulation having a defined layer structure, especially for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles.
US07954590B2	Method for a preventive-action protection system in a motor vehicle In a method for operating a preventive-action protection system in a vehicle having safety devices for diminishing the consequences of accidents, driving state data is acquired by a driving state sensor system and is monitored with respect to the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle and a braking torque request by the driver. A state of emergency braking is determined by a braking request evaluation means, and at least one of the safety devices is triggered only if a longitudinal deceleration below a longitudinal deceleration threshold is simultaneously present.
US07954588B2	Hood pop-up system and hood pop-up method for a vehicle A hood pop-up system for a vehicle that pops up a hood of the vehicle when a collision of the vehicle takes place, which includes: a hood pop-up unit which pops up the hood positioned at a closed position and supports the popped-up hood at a hood support position that is higher than the closed position; and a hood pop-up restricting unit which restricts upward movement of the popped-up hood at an uppermost pop-up position that is higher than the hood support position.
US07954586B2	ATV engine power output conversion mechanism Disclosed is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) engine power output conversion mechanism, which is characterized primarily by linking a first transmission assembly to the output terminal of the engine, where the central shaft of the first transmission assembly is provided with a first gear at its one end which connects to the output terminal of the engine, while the other end of the central shaft to a first bevel gear; having a second transmission assembly, where its central shaft is provided with a second bevel gear at its one end which gears to the first bevel gear, while the other end of the central shaft to a second gear, and the central shaft is joined to the rear wheel axle to drive the rear wheels; having a third transmission assembly, where its central shaft is provided with a third gear which gears to the second gear, and the third gear gears to a reduction gear, where the output terminal of the reduction gear is used to drive the front wheels; and having a switch set up at the handle bar of the ATV or wherever the rider can reach, where the switch is for the control of the reduction gear to drive the front wheel. Through such setup, the ATVs are capable of selecting a two-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive, subject to the demand upon various terrain conditions.
US07954583B2	Agricultural harvester rear axle arrangement for narrow transport An agricultural harvester rear axle arrangement for an agricultural harvester (10) having a body (12), the arrangement comprising left and right rear wheels (18, 20); means for supporting the wheels for rotation about a generally vertical steering axis (38, 40, 78, 94) and for supporting the wheels for extension and retraction from the body of the combine (26, 28, 30, 90); actuator means for steering the wheels (38, 40, 70, 72, 94) and for extending and retracting the wheels (34, 36, 70, 72); an electronic controller (50) coupled to the actuator means to steer, extend and retract the wheels.
US07954577B2	Electric wheelchair An electric wheelchair is disclosed. The electric wheelchair includes a main frame correspondingly pivoted with a foldable chair while the folding of the chair connects with an accessory tip wheel. Moreover, the main frame is disposed with main wheels and a front wheel set arranged on front of the main wheel correspondingly on each of two sides thereof. A footrest that is pulled out or stored in the main frame is arranged between the two front wheel sets. In use, the footrest is pulled out of the main frame and the chair is moved and unfolded. At the same time, the accessory tip wheel tilted a little angle is extended out of the main frame by a connecting member. Thereby the problem caused by movement of the center of gravity of the wheelchair while moving can be solved and the safety of users is ensured.
US07954575B1	Leader string pull-through machine A crawler device for pulling a leader string through electrical or cable conduit. The crawler device has a traction head, for example using caterpillar-type rubber tracks, biased outwardly into contact with the inner wall of the conduit when inserted in the conduit. The traction head pulls its own motor and power supply behind it, serially and flexibly linked to follow the traction head and negotiate curves in the typically small diameter electrical conduit. In the preferred from, the power supply is a series of linked batteries, such that the crawler is an independently and self-sufficiently mobile machine traveling through the conduit.
US07954574B2	Offset drive system for utility vehicles A wheel driven utility vehicle includes a frame and two small volume high speed alternating current electric motors arranged side by side for driving the vehicle. Alternatively high speed direct current, hydraulic or pneumatic direct current motors may be used with suitable controls. Each motor has an output shaft which drives an offset planetary gear reducer. Each offset planetary gear reducer is affixed to the electric motor and includes an output carrier interconnected with an output shaft. Each output shaft includes first and second chain drive sprockets which drive chains interconnected with shafts driving the front and rear wheels respectively. Each offset planetary gear reducer enables use of space saving high speed relatively low-torque alternating current electric motors with attendant large speed reductions. Gear reduction enables the production of sufficient torque at the wheels of the vehicle. Applications in addition to utility vehicles are also specifically contemplated.
US07954573B2	Drive-steering control system and vehicles equipped therewith A drive-steering control system suitable for off-road land and amphibious vehicles. The system includes first and second steering input levers, each operable to rotate in forward and rearward pivotal directions. A coupling mechanism converts and transmits rotation of the first steering input lever in the forward pivotal direction into rotation of the second steering input lever in the rearward pivotal direction, and vice-versa. A reducing mechanism operates to selectively reduce the propulsion outputs of first and second propulsion devices, and a converting mechanism operates to convert the rotations of the steering input levers into inputs to the reducing mechanism. Depending on the directions the steering input levers are rotated, the reducing mechanism reduces the propulsion output of either the first or second propulsion device, which causes either the lefthand or righthand side of the vehicle to travel at a lower speed and thereby turn the vehicle either left or right.
US07954572B2	Steering system for tracked vehicles A steering system for tracked vehicles having two brake circuits which is activated after a failure of the primary steering mechanism. The steering system includes a steering switch (L) that can be controlled by a steering axle which, in the event of primary steering system failure, acts upon the brakes of the vehicle in such a manner that rotation of the steering axle results in a braking action upon a track on the inside of a curve.
US07954571B2	Cutting structures 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 cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being at least one of an abrasive cutting structure and an abrasive cutting element suitable for drilling through a casing shoe, reamer shoe, casing bit, casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components, as well as cement. Methods of forming earth-boring tools are also disclosed.
US07954566B2	Stabilizer for drill strings Apparatus and methods for using the drilling apparatus to increase the linear direction of the drilling action are described. The drilling apparatus contains a drill rod that is fitted with a reinforcing sleeve that is located on the drill rod as close as possible to the drill bit. The outer diameter of the sleeve is configured to be substantially the same as the bit diameter and, if necessary, just slightly smaller than the bit diameter. The sleeve reinforces the drill rod next to the drill bit and reduces and substantially eliminates the gap between the drill rod and the borehole in the vicinity of the drill bit. The sleeve, therefore, reduces the wobble of the drill bit in the borehole and reduces the drill bit from wavering from a straight linear drilling direction. The reinforcing sleeve can contain helical channels for moving material displaced by the drilling process away from the drill bit.
US07954557B2	Tool apparatus system and method of use A system, and a method of using a system, for controlled tool operation. The method includes providing a tool used in a force application such as a such torque application. The tool communicates with a controller which can communicate with the tool, and to a display in communication with the tool and the controller. The controller can be programmed with operational information about a tool operation. Information related to the operational information is displayed to a user during use. Service information including at least information about an amount of force applied during use is recorded and stored in the controller. Also disclosed is a computerized system for controlled tool operation which sends operational instructions to the tool before use and retrieves service information from the tool after use.
US07954555B2	Full function downhole valve and method of operating the valve Downhole valves comprise a housing having a bore, a port, upper and lower recesses disposed in an inner wall surface of the bore, the upper recess disposed above the port and the lower recess disposed below the port, and upper and lower pistons disposed in the bore. The upper and lower pistons each comprise a bore with a port in communication with housing bore. During run-in, the housing port is blocked by the lower piston. Actuation of the lower piston unblocks the housing port and aligns the lower piston port with the lower recess. Actuation of the upper piston closes the housing port and aligns the upper piston port with the upper recess. Alignment of the ports of the pistons with their respective recesses permits fluid flow through the tool both when the valve is opened by the lower piston and closed by the upper piston.
US07954551B2	System and method for thru tubing deepening of gas lift The present disclosure is directed to a gas lift system adapted to provide a gas injection point to a deeper location in a wellbore. A turn-over suspension mandrel can be landed inside a side pocket mandrel and connected to a gas lift valve on one end and a coil on the other end. A length of production tubing can extend from the side pocket mandrel. The production tubing can include a production packer to seal the annulus between the tubing and the well casing. The turn-over suspension mandrel can be constructed such that gas entering the gas lift valve is directed down through the coil and into the wellbore beneath the production packer. A plug can be placed at the bottom of the coil in order to prevent blowouts during installation of the gas lift system. An alternative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a coil and plug hung from a gas lift valve of a pack-off assembly.
US07954549B2	Methods of using colloidal silica based gels Methods of controlling flow through a subterranean formation may include providing a cement slurry, a colloidal silica, and an activator. The methods may include introducing the cement slurry, the colloidal silica, and the activator into a portion of a well bore that penetrates a subterranean formation The methods may include allowing the cement slurry, colloidal silica, and activator to remain static.
US07954548B2	Proppant for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells The present invention relates to a proppant for the hydraulic fracturing of oil or gas wells, which consists of a mixture of from 10 to 95% by weight of a spherical proppant and from 5 to 90% by weight of an angular material, the percentages being based on the total weight of the mixture. The proppant obtained according to the present invention is useful for eliminating or decreasing the “flow-back” phenomenon in operations in oil or gas wells.
US07954547B2	Gas flow system A gas flow system for removing a liquid from a well bore and allowing for gas production is provided. The gas flow system comprises a casing in the well bore for allowing flow of the liquid and gas; a tubing string in the casing for allowing flow of the liquid and gas; pressure measurement devices for use in determining a rate of liquid influx into the well bore; a casing control valve moveable between various positions ranging from fully open to fully closed for controlling flow through the casing; a tubing control valve moveable between various positions ranging from fully open to fully closed for controlling flow through the tubing; and flow measurement devices for determining the rate of flow through the tubing and the total rate of flow. The system is switchable between a current production phase and an alternate production phase based on the determined rate of liquid influx, a tubing critical velocity and a gas flow rate through the tubing, wherein switching from a current production phase to an alternate production phase results in the either or both of a decrease in liquid build-up in the well bore and an increase in gas production rate and wherein the current production phase differs from the alternate production phase.
US07954542B2	Heat exchanger Heat exchanger which mainly consists of a housing with a bottom, an upper wall and side walls, whereby onto two pairs of opposite side walls, the front wall and the back wall respectively, are connected a supply and a discharge for the gas to be cooled, and whereby channels are provided in the housing, according two cross directions, characterized in that, between the above-mentioned channels and the above-mentioned back wall, means are provided for separating condensate from the cooled gas.
US07954540B2	HVAC assembly including temperature mixing valve A HVAC assembly includes a temperature mixing valve that comprises a shaft, an upper paddle, a lower paddle, and a yielding means. The upper paddle and the lower paddle attach to the shaft. The yielding means applies a force to keep the upper paddle sealed to prevent cold air in a cold air inlet from entering a mixing zone and the lower paddle moves away from a shared sealing boundary over a predetermined angle of rotation before the upper paddle initially moves to allow cold air to enter the mixing zone. Movement of the lower paddle away from the shared sealing boundary allows cold air to enter a hot air inlet and admix with hot air to mix in the mixing zone to produce non-stratified air.
US07954537B2	Folding door and shutter guide device The invention relates to a folding door and a shutter guide device. The inventive door comprises two vertical slides (2) and at least one flexible shutter (4) which can be folded in the upper part of the slides and which comprises at least one transverse stiffening bar (12). According to the invention, a guide device (14) is inserted into the extension of at least one stiffening bar (12), thereby forming a guide for the shutter (4) in at least one of the slides (2) in a plane that is offset in relation to the plane of the shutter (4), said shutter (4) being applied against a surface of the slide (2).
US07954533B2	Sheet cutting table A sheet cutting table 13, after sticking an adhesive sheet S to a semiconductor wafer W, for cutting the area outside the semiconductor wafer W as an unnecessary adhesive sheet S1 with a cutting device 15. The table 13 includes an inner table 52 which supports the semiconductor wafer W, and an outer table 51 corresponding to the unnecessary adhesive sheet S1 outside the semiconductor wafer W. The upper surface of the outer table 51 is provided with a non-adherable treatment surface 51A, and an adherable member formed with a ring member 53 or a plate member 63 for sticking the adhesive sheet S thereto.
US07954530B1	Method and apparatus for applying labels to cable or conduit At least one guide roller is provided for guiding a moving cable or conduit. At least one tamping device comprising at least one tamping pad is provided for applying at least one label onto the moving cable or conduit. A guide shoe assembly comprising at least one guide shoe is provided for pressing the at least one label directly against at least one side of the moving cable or conduit. A method for applying labels is also provided. A method comprising guiding a cable or conduit to a labeling unit with a set of guide rollers, affixing a label to the cable or conduit with at least one tamping device, and pressing the label against at least one side of the cable or conduit using at least one guide shoe.
US07954529B2	Heavy duty tire A heavy duty tire comprises: a carcass ply of cords extending between bead portions; and a bead reinforcing layer disposed in each of the bead portion. The carcass ply has edges winded around the bead cores so that the winded portion has a base part extending along the bead core from the axially inside to the axially outside thereof, and a radially outer part extending axially inwards on the radially outside of the bead core. The bead reinforcing layer comprises: a curved portion extending along the base part; an axially outer portion extending radially outwardly, separation from the base part; and an axially inner portion extending radially outwardly along a main portion of the carcass ply. The bead reinforcing layer is composed of a ply of cords laid side by side, and the spacing Da of the cords in an axially outer part beneath the bead core, of the curved portion is not less than 1.5 times and not more than 3.0 times the spacing Db of the cords in the axially outer portion.
US07954524B2	Motors and processing units for processing trees A motor for a tree processing machine is provided. The motor includes a mechanism configured to drive a wheel. The wheel is configured to engage a portion of a tree. The motor also includes a housing containing the mechanism. The motor further includes an encoder. The encoder is configured to be operably coupled to the mechanism. The encoder is also configured to generate a signal indicative of a length of a portion of a tree engaged by the wheel. The encoder is contained in the housing.
US07954511B2	Two-stage valve for controlling fluids The present invention relates to a two-stage valve for controlling fluids, in particular a hydraulic fluid. The valve includes an actuating element, a pilot stage having a first valve seat and a first closing body, which is connected to the actuating element, and a main stage having a second valve seat and a second closing body. The second closing body is provided with a fastening region and a main region having a passage opening. The first valve seat is arranged at the passage opening. The second closing body is connected to the actuating element via the fastening region. The fastening region is designed elastically in such a way as to open the pilot stage by elastically deforming during actuation of the actuating element.
US07954508B2	Electronically controlled valve actuator in a plumbed water line within a water conditioning management system An electronically controlled actuator in a plumbed water line within a water conditioning management system, having an at least one valve with a valve stem in a plumbed water line within the water conditioning management system, an at least one actuator, an at least one actuator housing, an at least one electronic controller in communication with the actuator, an at least one shaft coupled to the actuator and said valve; an at least one shaft encoding device; and an at least one user interface with multiple indicator elements indicating the position of valve.
US07954504B2	Fast-erecting portable structure In its preferred embodiment, the fast-erecting portable structure principally comprises two or more flexible framing rods and a flexible skin. The flexible framing rods essentially form inverted u-shapes and the flexible skin hangs from the flexible framing rods in substantially a dome shape. More specifically, the flexible skin can be supported from the flexible framing rods by sleeves sewn into the flexible skin. The sleeves allow the flexible skin to slide along the length of the flexible framing rods. The flexible skin is also fixed (or non-removably) connected to the ends of the flexible framing rods. The fast-erecting portable structure can be stored by coiling the flexible framing rods into a storage bag. The fast-erecting portable structure allows the structure to be immediately erected from the coiled position in the storage bag into the structure without any intermediate steps or the addition or removal of any parts.
US07954503B2	Dual purpose portable apparatus for carrying harvested game and providing shelter for a hunter A dual purpose portable apparatus is provided for carrying a harvested game animal or for providing a protective shelter for a person. The apparatus includes a housing formed of a flexible, foldable material defining a chamber therein, the chamber adapted to receive a body and head portion of the harvested game animal or the person seeking shelter therein. Openings are provided for receiving the hind and fore legs of the harvested game animal and a gap formed in a forward end of the housing allows for passage of the antlers. Edges of the housing are disposed above the openings when the housing is in a closed configuration so as to substantially retard leakage of fluid through the openings and between the edges of the housing.
US07954498B2	Device for the creating of a homogeneous cut tobacco flow In order to treat cut tobacco so as to loosen and homogenize the same, a tobacco stream (12, 16) passes through a plurality of processing stations (18, 19, 20), in the region of which the tobacco is loosened, during transportation, with the aid of different processing arrangements. The tobacco stream or main stream here is divided up into a plurality of smaller sub-streams during treatment.
US07954496B2	Dental guard A custom-fitted dental appliance prevents grinding contact between upper and lower teeth of a wearer. The appliance includes a base member having a generally U-shaped horizontal portion with opposing posterior sections and an anterior section disposed between the posterior sections. The anterior section has an arcuate curvature substantially matching the curvature of the dental arch of most wearers. The base member has a vertical portion connected to a forward edge of the horizontal portion. The vertical portion of the base member has an arcuate curvature substantially following the curvature of the anterior section. The appliance includes over-molded anterior occlusal pads and molar pads that are attached to the upper surfaces of the base member. An over-molded anterior flange is attached to the vertical portion of the base member. The anterior occlusal pads, molar pads and anterior flange are formed from a thermoplastic material having a Vicat softening temperature below that of the base member. After heating the appliance to above the softening temperature of the over-molded portions, the anterior occlusal pads, molar pads and anterior flange may be custom fitted to the upper teeth and gums of the wearer.
US07954493B2	Oxygen supplying apparatus As a respiration synchronized-type gas supplying apparatus which has a function for setting the flow rate during continuous supply and at the same time can be miniaturized by simplifying the structure, the present invention provides an oxygen supplying apparatus comprising an oxygen generating means, an oxygen supplying means for supplying the oxygen generated by the oxygen supplying means to a user and an automatic closing valve placed on the oxygen-supplying passage, wherein the oxygen supplying apparatus is provided with the following: a respiration sensor which detects the respiration of a user; a supply method setting means which selects the supply in a continuous flow or the supply in synchronism with the respiration of the user; a flow rate setting means for a supply flow rate; and a controlling means which controls the aperture of the closing valve corresponding to the set value of the flow rate setting means by receiving a supply method setting signal of the continuous flow, or opens the automatic closing valve on the inhalation starting point based on the respiration signal of the respiration sensor by receiving a supply method setting signal of the synchronous flow and at the same time controls the open time of the automatic closing valve corresponding to the flow rate set value.
US07954488B2	Oral airway An oral airway for providing an air passage to a patient's trachea. The oral airway includes a curved section and a straight section with the curved section having spaced-apart curved upper and lower members and the straight section having spaced-apart planar upper and lower members with the same width. The curved upper member has the same width as the planar upper member with the curved lower member having a greater width than the width of the lower planar member. The width of the curved lower member is greater than the width of the planar lower member and the distance between the curved upper and lower members is greater than the distance between the planar upper and lower members. The curved lower member has a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section.
US07954486B2	Aerosol delivery systems and methods Methods and systems for aerosol delivery of agents to a patient are described herein. The present system can be used to administer various types of agents, such as a vaccine or other types of pharmaceutical substances. Certain embodiments of the present system utilize an actuator coupled to a disposable aerosolizing element that aerosolizes an agent for delivery to a patient when acted upon by the actuator. The aerosolizing element prevents the agent from contacting the actuator and other non-disposable components of the system so that little or no cleaning or maintenance is required. The present system also can include an aerosolization rate monitor that monitors the rate at which an agent is being aerosolized and provides feedback to the user to ensure that the proper dose is being administered.
US07954485B2	Method and apparatus for ventilating cooking appliances A cooling apparatus is provided for cooling a cabinet of a cooking appliance that includes an oven within exterior side panels. The cooling apparatus includes a side rail and a bottom panel coupled to the side rail. The bottom panel includes a slot therein. A cover is disposed over the bottom panel to form a channel. The slot opens into the channel. The cover is configured to direct cooling air from the slot into a space between the oven and the side panels.
US07954482B2	Aging apparatus for aging an artificial stone The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for aging a stone, preferably an artificial stone. The aging device comprises a rotary support operatively connected to a rotary shaft, at least one abrasive tool mounted to the rotary support for roughing and/or polishing a surface of the artificial stone when the rotary support is brought into functional contact with said surface, and biasing means that biasingly connect the abrasive tool to the rotary support. The biasing means urge the abrasive tool away from the rotary support while allowing the same to move toward the rotary support when the rotary support is brought into functional contact with the surface of the artificial stone, thereby allowing the abrasive tool to follow a surface profile of the artificial stone while roughing and/or polishing its surface.
US07954472B1	High performance, low emission engines, multiple cylinder engines and operating methods High performance, low emission engines, multiple cylinder engines and operating methods based on compression ignition of a combustion chamber charge. In accordance with the methods, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber after the exhaust valve closes, and air is injected into the combustion cylinder before the end of the compression stroke in an amount to limit the temperature after ignition to less than the temperature at which NOX forms. After ignition and during the power stroke, more air is injected into the combustion chamber to sustain combustion until all fuel is consumed, the air being injected so as to again limit the combustion temperatures to less than the temperature at which NOX forms. The air injected during the compression stroke is injected at substantially the same combustion chamber pressure as the air injected during the power stroke, so that air may efficiently be injected from the same pressurized source. The fuel injected into the combustion chamber may be all the fuel needed, or additional fuel may be injected during the power stoke.
US07954463B2	Split-cycle four-stroke engine An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.
US07954462B2	Split-cycle air hybrid engine A split-cycle air hybrid engine operatively connects an air reservoir to a split cycle engine. A power piston is received within a power cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single revolution of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke in a single rotation of the crankshaft. The compression cylinder is selectively controllable to place the compression piston in a compression mode or an idle mode. An air reservoir is operatively connected between the compression cylinder and the power cylinder and selectively operable to receive compressed air from the compression cylinder and to deliver compressed air to the power cylinder for use in transmitting power to the crankshaft during engine operation.
US07954458B2	Boiler having an integrated oxygen producing device A system is described wherein a boiler 10 is integrated with an oxygen producing device 12. Combustion heat generated in the boiler 10 is used to generate steam in the boiler and is also applied to at least one of a sweep gas stream 13 and a feed gas stream 15 to ensure that the sweep gas and feed gas streams 12, 15 are provided at the appropriate temperature to the oxygen producing device 12. Flue gas generated by fuel combustion within the combustion chamber 14 may be used as the sweep gas stream 13, in which case, the flue gas exiting the oxygen producing device 12 includes the oxygen removed from the feed gas stream. The flue gas/oxygen mixture may be used for fuel combustion within the combustion chamber, and may be provided to an oxygen separator 28 for removing oxygen from the flue gas. Sensible heat contained in the oxygen depleted feed gas from the oxygen producing device 12 may be recovered by the feed gas stream 15.
US07954455B2	Cage cover with filter, shield and nozzle receptacle Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.
US07954453B2	Sensor apparatus for extraction machinery for milking mammals A sensor apparatus to be used with extraction machinery (2), said extraction machinery (2) including a plurality of extraction elements which when activated are adapted to deliver an extracted fluid from two or more extraction elements into a common collection line (3). The sensor apparatus including at least one sensor (4a/4b) positioned in the common collection line (3), and at least one controller (6) adapted to control the activation of said extraction elements, whereby activation of said extraction elements is controlled to prevent said at least one sensor (4a/4b) being exposed to extracted fluid supplied from all of said extraction elements at any one time.
US07954449B2	Wiring-free, plumbing-free, cooled, vacuum chuck A solar cell production system utilizes self-contained vacuum chucks that hold and cool solar cell wafers during transport on a conveyor between processing stations during a fabrication process. Each self-contained vacuum chuck includes its own local vacuum pump and a closed-loop cooling system. After each wafer is processed, it is removed from its vacuum chuck, and the vacuum chuck is returned to the start of the production line by a second conveyor belt. In one embodiment, each vacuum chuck includes an inductive power supply that is inductively coupled to an external source to drive that vacuum chuck's vacuum pump and cooling system. An optional battery is recharged by the inductive power supply, and is used to power the vacuum pump and cooling system during hand-off between adjacent processing stations.
US07954442B2	Towed array deployment system for unmanned surface vehicles A towed array deployment system is provided that uses the flow of fluid through the interior of a tube to deploy a towed line array. The system includes a small surface water craft such as an unmanned surface vehicle having a length between seven and eleven meters and a U-shaped tube mounted to the outside of the hull of the watercraft below the waterline. A towed array is fed from a winch aboard the surface craft, through one end of the tube, and the fluid is introduced through into the interior of the tube to force the towed array for deployment through the tube and out a second end of the tube near the stern of the watercraft.
US07954441B2	Method for producing large area sewing products A method for producing multi-layered sewing products from a sewing material such that within the length of sewing material several sewing products are formed with at least one sewing product pattern; the length of sewing material being fed to a processing station for sewn material downstream of the sewing unit, in which the sewn length of sewing material is separated and cut to individual sewing products at least transversely to its conveying direction and wherein markers are applied to the length of sewing material which include information concerning the processing of the length of sewing material and which are read by a reading device.
US07954440B2	Device for producing a fiber preform with virtually any desired surface geometry by the TFP process Device for producing a fiber preform with virtually any desired surface geometry by a TFP process. A guiding device lays a fiber strand along virtually any desired path curve on a backing layer and a sewing head attaches the fiber strand on the backing layer by at least one fixing thread. The backing layer can be positioned in an xy direction in relation to the guiding device and the sewing head, wherein the sewing head and/or the guiding device can be positioned in a z direction. The separation of the positioning capabilities of the backing layer (xy direction) and the guiding device, the sewing head and the lower thread guide (z direction) provides a relatively simple device construction. Example devices can produce fiber preforms for dome-shaped composite components for use inter alia as pressure bulkheads for cabins in aircraft with virtually optimum properties.
US07954437B2	Railroad well car with open truss sides A railroad well car includes a pair of spaced trucks, and a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill at four corners of the well structure; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.
US07954436B2	Assembly and method for vehicle suspension Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. The vehicle suspension method includes operating the suspension in a first mode with a first effective suspension spring rate; and operating the suspension in a second mode with a second, different, effective suspension spring rate.
US07954434B2	Apparatus for transferring substrates An apparatus for transferring substrates includes a carrier to which substrates are loaded, an upper transfer unit transferring the carrier horizontally by applying thrust to the carrier, a lower transfer unit maintaining the lower body of the carrier at the horizontal in a non-contact status, a magnetic levitation module levitating the carrier magnetically, and a lower damper unit maintaining the lower center of gravity of the carrier levitated by the magnetic levitation module.
US07954433B1	Explosive shaped charge device The shaped charge device consists of an outer casing that has a removable cap on one end and a sealing plate on the other as well as an interior liner; the liner defining a plurality of forwardly opening conical cavities. The shaped charge device uses a two-part binary explosive that consists of an inert fuel material and an inert powder material and thereby enjoys the legal freedoms of a binary explosive. The powder material is disposed in the space existing between the liner and the outer casing of the shaped charge device. The conical cavities serve to form and focus the resulting plasma jet when the shaped charge device is detonated. Without the fuel material added, the device can be stored for long periods of time. The cap removed and the fuel material added activates the device and an opening in the cap allows the device to be detonated.
US07954431B2	Method for determining operating parameters of a printing press A printing press, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing press, includes at least one control device, a plurality of printing units, one or more varnishing units, and one or more dryers. Variables determining a dryness of the printing material are determined and used to optimize the drying process. For that purpose, the important material streams influencing the drying process are determined at least for the region of the printing press that contains the drying device(s).
US07954421B2	Lightweight piston A piston has a piston head that is provided with a field of rings and a piston shaft which is disposed thereupon. The piston shaft is equipped with supporting shaft wall sections and rear connecting walls which interconnect the shaft wall sections, have an arched shape, and are fitted with a bolt bore. An undercut free space is provided below the annular field in the area of the bolt bore in the region of the piston head. An arched zone is disposed in the interior of the piston at the transition from the bolt bore in the direction of the shaft wall session.
US07954420B2	Hydraulic valve arrangement The invention concerns a hydraulic valve arrangement (1) having at least two working connections (A, B), a check valve (5, 6) being allocated to each working connection (A, B), and a pressure relief valve (7, 8) being allocated to each check valve (5, 6), each pressure relief valve (7, 8) being connected to a control pressure passage (17, 18). The valve arrangement shall ensure a reliable, pressure-less lowering, also in connection with single-actuated consumers, and further enable a pressure-less float position. For this purpose, the check valves (5, 6) can be opened by means of tappets (20, 21), whose sides facing away from the check valves (5, 6) are ending in a pressure chamber (22), which is connected to the control pressure passage (17, 18) of one of the pressure relief valves (7, 8).
US07954419B2	Belly system for a vehicle According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a reinforced cabin for a vehicle adapted to protect the interior of the cabin against a threat of a certain maximal force. The vehicle cabin is defined by at least a vehicle belly and side walls extending upwardly therefrom. The cabin comprises a vehicle floor extending between the side walls and spaced a distance L1 from the vehicle belly; at least one passenger seat comprising a seat portion parallel to the floor, and positioned such that there extends a space of a distance L2 between the seat portion and the vehicle floor; and at least one resistance member having a proximal end fixedly attached to the belly and a distal end adjacent the vehicle floor, and located at least partially underneath the seat portion. The belly is adapted to undergo upward deformation under the certain maximal force towards the floor of a distance L3. The vehicle floor is formed with at least one opening adapted to slidingly receive therethrough the resistance member in order to allow the distal end thereof to assume a position elevated a distance equal to the distance L3 above the vehicle floor. The arrangement is such that L2≧L3, L1≧L3 and L3
US07954415B2	Methods and apparatus for providing ballistic protection Methods and apparatus for providing ballistic protection and stopping high-velocity rounds or explosives and a secure trash can. These and other advantages may be provided by a secure trash can for containing explosions resulting from explosive devices deposited in the secure trash can. The secure trash can includes a curved wall, including an inner liner, a curved ballistic panel, including a three-dimensional core that defines spaces and acts as a truss for ballistic panel and a filler, the filler fills in spaces defined by the three-dimensional core, an outer layer, surrounding the curved ballistic panel, and a base, connected to the curved wall. The secure trash can may also include a lid, placed on the curved wall.
US07954413B2	Two-stage light gas gun An improved two-stage light gas gun for launching projectiles at high speeds. The gun consists of three tubes: the expansion, pump, and launch tubes. The expansion tube contains a close-fitting expansion piston that is propelled by an explosive charge. The expansion piston in turn drives the pump piston housed within the pump tube by means of a rod connecting the two pistons. The action of the pump piston adiabatically compresses and heats a light gas of hydrogen or helium, bursting a diaphragm at a predetermined pressure and expelling the projectile from the launch tube at a very high speed.
US07954411B2	Method and apparatus for protecting vehicles and personnel against incoming projectiles A projector of multiple skewed light planes or sheets is located adjacent a vehicle to be protected and detectors are arranged to detect the penetration of the light sheets by an incoming object, with the time intervals between the piercing of the planes defining the path of the incoming object and its expected impact time. An array of bullet-firing barrels is arranged to project bullets in an iron curtain under control of a fire control module that fires a round in a barrel above the projected flight path such that the round impacts the nose of the object and disables it. It is thus the piercing of the skewed light sheets that provides information as to the impact point of the object as well as its time of arrival so that a round can be fired to intercept the object as it arrives at the iron curtain.
US07954404B2	Punch device with adjustment subassembly as retrofit insert or as original equipment A punch assembly for a punch press has a punch housing with a punch that is slideably mounted for reciprocation along punch axis within the punch housing and at least one resilient member in the housing for yieldably biasing the punch upwardly in the housing along the punch axis. A punch length adjustment subassembly is provided in the punch housing. The subassembly has a base member that is slideable axially but non-rotatably mounted within the housing and a punch head member having an upper end that is positioned to be struck by a punch ram of a punch press for driving the punch downwardly to an operating position. The punch head is mounted for rotation on the punch axis relative to the base member but is held against axial movement relative to the base member. The punch head is operatively associated by a threaded length adjustment connection to the punch and a releasable stop member is connected between the punch head and the base member for preventing rotation of the punch head relative to the base member while the punch assembly is in operation on the punch press. The invention is also directed to the punch head subassembly per se as a retrofit insert to update existing punch assemblies for manual tooless punch length adjustment and tooless punch removal.
US07954403B2	Workpiece carry-in/out device for composite working lathe The invention provides a device for automatically carrying in and out a workpiece cooperating with a tool spindle stock of a composite working lathe. The composite working lathe comprises a main spindle 10, a workpiece handling device 20 and a tool spindle stock 30 that rotates around a B axis. A workpiece carry-in/out device 100 comprises a frame 120 including a material carry-in hand 130 and a finished product tray 140, and a cylinder 110 for moving the frame back and forth. A door 60 of a cover 50 is opened to carry in a material B1 and carry out a finished product P1.
US07954400B2	Cage pedal A cage pedal has a platform, a linking bar, a resilient device and a holding shaft. The linking bar is perpendicularly mounted on the platform and has a rotating shaft and a connecting seat protruding from the rotating shaft. The resilient device is set between the platform and the linking bar and has a first panel, a first spring, a second panel and a second spring. The first panel has a connecting end pivotally mounted on the connecting seat. The first spring has two abutting ends respectively abutting the first panel and the connecting seat. The second panel has a clamping end pivotally mounted on the platform. The second spring having two abutting ends respectively abutting the second panel and the platform. The holding shaft is mounted on the connecting end of the first panel corresponding to the platform.
US07954397B2	Surgical slave robot A surgical slave robot is disclosed. The surgical slave robot, for performing a surgical operation with a surgical instrument installed on an end portion of a robot arm, can include: a main body; a major support arm that is coupled to the main body such that the major support arm is movable along one direction; a minor support arm rotatably coupled to the major support arm; and a plurality of the robot arms rotatably coupled to the minor support arm. By coupling a twofold support arm of a major and minor support arm to a tower-shaped main body and coupling multiple robot arms to the support arms, the surgical slave robot may be constructed with a compact and slim size that occupies a small amount of space, making it possible to position the surgical robot close to the patient while providing space for the surgeon to access the patient.
US07954396B2	Rack and pinion steering gear with automatic adjustment of the thrust element A rack and pinion steering gear comprising a thrust element disposed in a housing for pressing a rack and pinion against one another. One side of the thrust element is supported against the rack, and another side is supported against a wedge-like part formed of two semi-circular annular elements, each of which is provided with at least one wedge surface that is disposed at an angle to a central plane of the wedge-like part. A side of the wedge-like part remote from the thrust element is supported against a set screw. The thrust element and/or the set screw is provided with an inclined surface that cooperates with the at least one wedge surface of the annular elements of the wedge-like part.
US07954395B2	Steering apparatus In the event that a moment in a bending direction is generated in a pinion shaft, for example, when a vehicle is involved in a collision or the like, since a bending facilitating portion which is a circumferential groove 111e bends, stress is concentrated hereon, and no large bending stress is generated in any case between a rolling bearing 102 and a support member 104. Consequently, an excessively large bending force is transmitted in no case to a four point contact type ball bearing 103.
US07954387B1	Ultrasonic transducer device An ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a proximal end and an opposing distal end. The transducer assembly includes an outer housing and an electroacoustic signal generating element secured within the outer housing. The signal generating element transmits an ultrasonic signal at a characteristic frequency along an ultrasonic path that is perpendicular to the face of the generating element. An isolation diaphragm is coupled to the proximal end of the outer housing. The isolation diaphragm is thin relative to a characteristic wavelength of the diaphragm material. A fluidic transmission layer is disposed between the electroacoustic signal generating element and the isolation diaphragm. In one embodiment, the isolation diaphragm is at an angle relative to the proximal face of the electroacoustic signal generating element. In another embodiment, a flow meter includes the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and the isolation diaphragm substantially matches the contour of the flow passage within the flow meter body.
US07954385B2	Method and system for using a sensor element for identifying an object A sensor element material web for selectively cutting an operable sensor from the web includes a sensor film. A first electrode film is disposed on a first side and includes metallic electrodes in a first repeating pattern. A second electrode film is disposed on a second side and includes a plurality of second metallic electrodes in a second repeating pattern. A dielectric film is disposed on the first or the second electrode films. The first and the second repeating patterns permit the sensor to be cut.
US07954382B2	Pressure-measuring device A pressure-measuring device is situated in a chamber of an internal combustion engine. The pressure-measuring device has a housing, a force-transmitting element that protrudes partly from the housing at a chamber-side opening of the housing, and a pressure sensor that is situated in an interior space of the housing. The pressure sensor stands in effective connection to the force-transmitting element. In addition, a diaphragm is provided that seals the interior space of the housing, in which the pressure sensor is situated, against the chamber-side opening. The diaphragm, which is preferably fashioned as a metal diaphragm, has a force-transmitting segment that is oriented in an axial direction of the force-transmitting element. Moreover, the pressure sensor stands in effective connection with the force-transmitting element via the force-transmitting segment of the diaphragm. In this way, there takes place at least a partial compensation of thermally caused changes in length of the diaphragm, caused for example by hot combustion gases, and resulting in periodic impairments of the pressure measurement made by the pressure sensor.
US07954377B2	Acceleration sensor incorporating a piezoelectric device An acceleration sensor includes: a piezoelectric vibration device; an oscillation circuit; and a detection circuit, wherein the piezoelectric vibration device includes a substrate, an insulation layer formed above the substrate, a vibration section forming layer formed above the insulation layer, a vibration section formed in a cantilever shape in a first opening section that penetrates the vibration section forming layer, a second opening section that penetrates the insulation layer and formed below the first opening section and the vibration section, and a piezoelectric element section formed on the vibration section, the oscillation circuit vibrates the piezoelectric vibration device at a resonance frequency, and the detection circuit detects a change in the frequency of vibration of the piezoelectric vibration device which is caused by an acceleration applied in a direction in which the vibration section extends, and outputs a signal corresponding to the acceleration based on the change in the frequency.
US07954372B2	Diagnosis of pitch and load defects The invention relates to a method, system and computer readable code for diagnosis of pitch and/or load defects of e.g. wind turbines as well as wind turbines using said diagnosis method and/or comprising said diagnosis system.
US07954371B2	Condition monitoring of pumps and pump system A method of monitoring the condition of a pump (10) or at least one component of a system that includes a pump which component or components are not a part of the pump, includes the step of generating a predetermined test condition in the pump or system component or components. During a period in which such a test condition is present, signals indicative of the pump or system component or components are obtained. Wear in the pump bearings, the build-up of deposits in the pump or in pipework forming a part of the pump system can be detected or predicted and corrective action taken before the pump or system fails. By providing a method of monitoring pump or system condition in-situ, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of pump failure in use and the need to carry out over frequent servicing of the pump.
US07954368B2	Tire pressure monitoring system Tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle includes sensor units mounted in each tire of the vehicle, each sensor unit being operable to output an RF signal indicative of the pressure in the tire in which it is mounted; a pair of communicator units for receiving signals from said sensor units, said pair of communicator units being provided at different locations on the vehicle; and a control unit connected to said communicator units wherein said control unit is operable to determine which sensor unit is associated with which tire by monitoring the strength of the RF signal received from each respective sensor unit by each communicator unit.
US07954364B2	Malfunction diagnosis apparatus for exhaust gas sensor and method for diagnosis A malfunction diagnosis apparatus diagnoses a malfunction of an exhaust gas sensor provided on a downstream side of a catalyst. A dead time determination unit determines a dead time between a first time point, at which fuel cut of the internal combustion engine is started, and a second time point, at which the fuel cut starts exerting effect on an output of the exhaust gas sensor. An output change time measurement unit measures an output change time between the first time point and a third time point, at which the output of the exhaust gas sensor changes to a leaner side than a threshold. A malfunction determination unit determines whether a malfunction is caused in the exhaust gas sensor on the basis of a response time of the exhaust gas sensor obtained by subtracting the dead time from the output change time.
US07954363B2	Method and a system for detection of an engine fault An improved method for detection of engine faults especially suited for use on ships. The method is in particular related to the detection of a fault in an internal combustion engine having within the housing a crankshaft connected to a piston. The method includes determination of a pressure difference between the housing and the area outside the housing. If comparison of the pressure difference with a fault indicating pressure difference limit shows that the pressure difference is greater than the fault indication pressure difference limit then the presence of the fault is indicated. According to the method is in the pressure difference determined by comparing the pressure existing in the housing with the pressure of the area outside the housing, while attenuating pressure changes of the area outside the housing, so that pressure changes having a duration equal to or less than a defined fault characteristic period of time are supposed.
US07954362B2	Ultrasound multiphase fraction meter and method for determining phase fractions in a multiphase fluid An apparatus and method to determine fractions of various phases in a multiphase fluid. The apparatus includes main body including an interior configured receive a multiphase fluid and an exterior. The apparatus senses fluid pressure of multiphase fluid received in the interior and senses a fluid temperature of the multiphase fluid. The apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave into the fluid and detects the transmitted wave to determine its velocity and attenuation. The apparatus may adjust the determined velocity and attenuation based on the temperature and pressure of the fluid to compensate for a difference between the sensed temperature and pressure and a standard temperature and pressure. The apparatus determines a gas fraction, water fraction, and a non-water fluid fraction of the multiphase fluid based on the sensed fluid pressure, the sensed fluid temperature, and the velocity and attenuation of the ultrasonic wave in the multiphase fluid.
US07954358B2	Laser driver bias current calibration A method for a calibration module to calibrate laser bias current in an optical transceiver. The method comprises causing the calibration module to configure a control module of the optical transceiver for a calibration operation, causing the calibration module to determine a laser bias current monitored by the control module, and determining one or more calibration factor values that cause the laser bias current monitored by the control module to substantially match a laser bias current as measured by an external test meter.
US07954357B2	Driver plate for electromagnetic forming of sheet metal A multi-layer driver plate is disclosed for use in electromagnetic sheet metal forming operations. In one embodiment, the driver plate comprises a first layer characterized by low electrical resistivity and thickness for inducement and application of a suitable electromagnetic forming force, a second layer comprising an elastomeric material for compressing a sheet metal workpiece against a die surface and then regaining its original pre-forming structure, and a third layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer to protect the EMF force providing layer and to provide overall strength and durability to the EMF driver plate.
US07954356B1	PEX crimping tool A PEX crimping tool includes four rigid links pivotally coupled together in a modified four-bar linkage arrangement. The first link has a first jaw with semicircular work face, a first handle and an elongated slot between the jaw and handle. The second link is pivotally connected with the first link at a first pivot and includes a second jaw with semicircular work face. The third link is pivotally connected with the second link at a second pivot and includes a second handle remote from the second pivot. The fourth link has a first end pivotally connected to the third link at a third pivot and includes a second end connected to the first rigid link so as to swing and move with respect to the first link about a fourth pivot movable along the elongated slot. The tools are designed to crimp ASTM F 1807 rings.
US07954355B2	Device for automatically adjusting control cams in a forging machine In a device for automatically adjusting the control cams of a forging machine, with a releasing means for releasing the operating position of a cam, the cam supporting shaft swingably supports, with a controlled movement with respect to the shaft longitudinal axis, radially extending brackets, in turn supporting a bar extending through the overall length of the control cam supporting shaft, the brackets being moreover provided, at each control cam, with cylinder-piston units including movable pins which can be engaged with recesses formed in the cams.
US07954349B2	Method and apparatus for creating stacks of nested sinuous springs A method and apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously creating a pair of stacks of nested sinuous spring strips. This apparatus includes first and second generally circular forming drums onto which a feeder mechanism is operable to sequentially and alternately pass each of the spring strips from over a forming mandrel onto the top surface of the first and second generally circular forming drums. A first stripper mechanism is then operable to strip a first one of the strips onto a first stacking drum and for stripping a second following one of the strips onto a second stacking drum. A second stripper mechanism is then operable to strip those stacks from the stacking drums onto a pair of discharge chutes.
US07954341B2	Method for making a blank from material, particularly for an optical component for use in microlithography The invention is concerned with a material which shows low absorption for UV radiation having a wavelength below 250 nm, low birefringence, high chemical resistance and high radiation resistance and which is therefore particularly usable for making optical components for microlithography. According to the invention the material consists of synthetically produced quartz crystallites which form a polycrystalline structure and have a mean grain size in the range between 500 nm and 30 μm. The method according to the invention for making a blank from the material comprises providing granules consisting of synthetically produced quartz crystals having a mean grain size in the range between 500 nm and 30 μm, and sintering the granules to obtain a blank of polycrystalline quartz.
US07954340B2	Synthetic quartz glass substrate for excimer lasers and making method When a synthetic quartz glass substrate is prepared from a synthetic quartz glass block, (I) the block has a hydrogen molecule concentration of 5×1017-1×1019 molecules/cm3, (II) the substrate has a hydrogen molecule concentration of 5×1015-5×1017 molecules/cm3, (III) the substrate has an in-plane variation of its internal transmittance at 193.4 nm which is up to 0.2%, and (IV) the substrate has an internal transmittance of at least 99.6% at 193.4 nm. The synthetic quartz glass substrate has a high transmittance and a uniform transmittance distribution, and is adapted for use with excimer lasers, particularly ArF excimer lasers.
US07954339B2	Apparatus for cryogenic air distillation An apparatus for the cryogenic distillation of air includes an assembled unit that has a first distillation column module within which is provided a cryogenic distillation column; a heat exchange module within which is provided heat exchange means for cooling column feed air to a cryogenic distillation temperature; and at least one further processing unit. The or each distillation column, the heat exchange means, and the or each further processing unit are operationally interconnected, and the assembled unit is suitable for transportation to and erection at the site for a cryogenic air separation plant. Construction of a cryogenic air distillation plant is simplified resulting in a reduction in construction cost and time of construction. In addition, as components of the apparatus are self-contained within modules, the risk of contamination of the internal components is reduced, thus improving control of the quality of the construction.
US07954338B2	Water storage unit with dual bladders A water storage unit includes an outer bag with an inlet defined in a top end thereof and an inner bag is received in the outer bag. A coolant bag is received in the inner bag and has coolant received therein. An outlet part is connected to the lower end of the outer bag and connected with a hose so that the user can suck the water in the outer bag. The water is cooled by the coolant in the coolant bag which is located at the lower end of the outer bag. A handle has a clamp slot with which a sealing rod is securely engaged. The inlet of the outer bag can be sealed by the cooperation of the clamp slot of the handle and the sealing rod.
US07954337B2	Integrated electric compressor The object is to provide an integrated compressor that enables a control board to be miniaturized while ensuring a layout in which the heat radiation of parts is considered. Diodes 43 and IGBTs 42 that correspond to each of the U-phase, V-phase and W-phase are arrayed in series for each phase. Rectangular chips are used for the diodes 43 and IGBTs 42. As a result of this, a power board 16 is substantially miniaturized, and the diode 43, the IGBT 42, a P-terminal electrode pattern 40, an N-terminal electrode pattern 41, a shunt resistor 44, output terminal patterns 48U, 48V, 48W, and a feed pattern 50 are disposed so as to lie in a region in contact with an outer surface of a housing.
US07954335B2	Atmospheric water harvesters with variable pre-cooling An atmospheric water harvester includes a cooling member over which humid air flows to condense moisture from the atmosphere. The cooling member may be the evaporator of a conventional, gas vapor-based refrigeration circuit. If a gas vapor-based refrigeration circuit is used, the compressor of the circuit may be variable speed. A fan or impeller used to move air through the system may also be variable speed. Preferred embodiments are reconfigurable between at least two operational configurations such that to varying degrees the incoming air may be pre-cooled, before it passes over the cooling member, by heat exchange with colder air that has already flowed over the cooling member.
US07954334B2	Inverter system and vehicle An inverter system having a semiconductor device, and a railway vehicle using this inverter, provide a more accurate determination of whether an abnormal heat generation from the inverter is associated with an error of the inverter system or is due to other causes, by use of a plurality of temperature detecting elements at a plurality of sites associated with the semiconductor device. An error detection section applies inputs from the temperature detecting elements, captures a trend of the differential value based on the plurality of temperature inputs using period sampling wherein an error associated with the semiconductor device, and not from some other condition such as outside environment temperature, is determined based on differences from, or a change in, the initial trend.
US07954328B2	Flame holder for minimizing combustor screech A flame holder for an augmentor includes geometry to produce large radial variations in heat release to prevent coupling with modes within the exhaust duct that produce combustor screech. A surface of the flame holder varies axially in a radial direction to produce a radial phase variation in heat released from the flame holder. The radially changing surface produces radially non-uniform and unsteady heat release that does not couple with acoustic modes within the exhaust duct.
US07954327B2	Chamber endwall, method of producing it, combustion chamber comprising it, and turbine engine equipped therewith A combustion chamber which includes a chamber endwall which takes the form of a substantially frustoconical component including a succession of adjacent planar portions is disclosed. The invention can be applied to a combustion chamber of a turbine engine.
US07954323B2	Method of increasing service interval periods in a steam turbine A method of increasing service interval periods in a steam turbine by neutralizing sodium hydroxide in contaminated steam in a high temperature and a high pressure portion of a steam turbine by placing a protective covering over at least a portion of each of the bolts of a nozzle block assembly. The protective covering neutralizes contaminants in contaminated steam to reduce stress cracking of the bolts during steam turbine operation, and thus extend the useful life of the bolts and reduce the need for service work to repair or replace damaged bolts.
US07954320B2	Engine apparatus with heat recovery system and relative heat recovery method A turbocompound engine has an internal combustion engine with a first recuperation turbine positioned on an exhaust line of the engine. The first turbine provides mechanical power to the engine. Heat from an exhaust line of the first turbine is transferred to a heat recovery system. A second turbine is operated by the heat within the heat recovery system and provides mechanical power to the engine.
US07954318B2	PTM self-bleed/failsafe open system for FWD and RWD A hydraulic system having a solenoid bleed valve for bleeding air out of the system is provided. The present invention is a hydraulic system having an actuator, a coupling operably associated with the actuator, and a first solenoid valve operably associated with the actuator and the coupling, where the first solenoid is operable to control pressure applied to the coupling. The present invention also includes a second solenoid valve operably associated with the actuator and the first solenoid, where the second solenoid is operable to relieve pressure.
US07954317B2	Hydraulic system A hydraulic system for an agricultural vehicle is proposed. The hydraulic system comprises a main hydraulic circuit, which is fed with hydraulic fluid by a main hydraulic pump, a variable displacement charge pump which supplies charge pressure to the main hydraulic pump, and a lubricating hydraulic circuits. In order to keep efficiency losses on the vehicle to a minimum, particularly at high engine speeds, part of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the charge pump can be diverted to the lubricating hydraulic circuit.
US07954314B1	Marine propulsion system with a catalyst contained within the body of the engine An engine is provided with a cavity so that a catalyst member can be contained within the engine when an engine head portion is attached to an engine block portion. This attachment of the engine head portion and engine block portion, which forms the engine structure, captivates the catalyst member within the cavity without the need for additional brackets and housing structures. The cavity is preferably located above or at the upper regions of first and second exhaust conduits which direct exhaust upwardly from the engine head portion toward the cavity and downwardly from the cavity within the engine block portion. The first and second exhaust conduits are preferably formed as integral structures within the engine head portion and engine block portion.
US07954313B2	Exhaust cleaner for internal combustion engine An exhaust purifying system for an internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b) branched and connected to an exhaust passage (15) for collecting particulate matter in an exhaust gas and an ozone supplier for supplying ozone to the upstream side of each of the plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b). The system respectively changes a ratio of a supply amount of the exhaust gas and a ratio of a supply amount of the ozone between the plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b).
US07954312B2	Approach for detecting reductant availability and make-up A engine system having a reductant delivery and storage system is described. In one example, a physical condition associated with a reductant storage device is correlated with a characteristic of a fluid stored in the reductant storage device to determine the availability and make-up of the stored fluid. In response, engine operation may be adjusted.
US07954307B2	Adjustable pouch forming, filling and sealing apparatus and methods An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.
US07954305B2	Container and method for making container for oxygen-sensitive products A packaging system or container for packaging one or more oxygen-sensitive products. The container includes a wall that defines an interior for receiving one or more oxygen-sensitive products. The space between the product or products and the wall defines a headspace. The headspace is filled with an inert gas and a scavenger gas. The wall has at least an inner layer and one or more outer layers. At least one of the outer layers includes an oxidation catalyst such that as oxygen diffuses from outside the container to the interior and scavenger gas diffuses from the interior to outside the container, the diffusing scavenger gas and oxygen react together with the oxidation catalyst in one or more of the outer layers substantially consuming the oxygen.
US07954303B2	Machine for covering various types of articles A machine for covering articles with sheets of plastic material. The machine includes a device suitable for cutting and sealing the sheets that cooperate with a work plane and a guide suitable for arranging a roll of a continuous sheet of plastic material in a suitable position for unrolling subsequent portions of the continuous sheet and the positioning thereof on the work plane.
US07954302B2	Sealing apparatus with sealing load control An apparatus for sealing a cover film to a blister film having blisters holding respective small objects has a feed roll rotatable about an axis and formed with an array of radially outwardly open recesses arrayed like the blisters of the blister film. The blister film passes over the feed roll with the blisters in the recesses. A sealing roll is rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the feed-roll axis and presses the cover foil down against the blister foil on the feed roll. The feed roll is rotated to pull the films in a travel direction between the rolls so that the cover film is sealed to the blister film between the blisters thereof. A sensor detects movement of the sealing roll transversely of the feed-roll axis. A controller generates an output when the detected movement exceeds a threshold.
US07954290B2	Continuous resin fabric A decorative surface covering includes a fabric; and a layer of molded resin disposed on said fabric, where the resin is molded into decorative features of the covering. A method of forming a decorative surface covering includes molding resin disposed on a fabric to produce decorative features, the resin adhering to the fabric.
US07954289B2	Anchoring system for posts An anchoring system to lock posts into housings mounted in the ground, or to lock pipes into housings within holes through walls or foundations uses plastic collets to match post outer profiles to inner housing profiles. The collets have two gently tapered circumferential areas which lock into corresponding tapered areas in the housing. Keys help to lock the post into the collet and in turn into the housing. Customized collets match incompatible posts and housings. The anchored post may be released for re-use, with a security release system that requires the use of special tools.
US07954286B2	Heat weldable pipe curb accessory A target piece for sealing mechanical penetrations in single ply roofing membranes is provided. The target piece comprises a left piece and a right piece, or a single unified piece. The left piece can be applied on one side of the one or more mechanical penetrations, and the right piece can be applied on an opposite side of the one or more mechanical penetrations. Alternatively, the unified piece can be applied on the one or more mechanical penetrations. Left and right curb elements are attached to a top of the left piece and right piece, respectively. Faces of the left and right pieces are sealed to each other and faces of the left and right curb elements are sealed to each other using an adhesive/heat seal, thus forming a pocket around the mechanical penetrations, and then sealant is poured into the pocket to seal the mechanical penetrations. Extensions are provided on ends of either the right or left pieces of the target piece to provide extra insurance against water leakage.
US07954285B2	Method of infiltration and impact resistant construction for glazing in a barrier A glazing system for use with a barrier that has a panel with an opening is disclosed. An impact glazing, which covers the opening, includes an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of apertures around its periphery. A fastener having a fastener head passes through each corresponding aperture and into the panel. The glazing system also includes an elastically deformable washer positioned between each fastener head and the impact glazing. The glazing system may also include an inner bezel covering the periphery of the glazing on the inner surface and an outer bezel covering the periphery of the glazing on the outer surface, wherein the bezels are secured to the barrier and the glazing by a corresponding piece of adhesive tape.
US07954282B2	Storm shutter assembly clip, and/or storm shutter system and/or assembly method including the same Certain example embodiments relate to a storm shutter assembly clip used for stitching together multiple storm shutter panels in making a storm shutter system, and/or assembly method for accomplishing the same. The clip includes upper and lower portions, with the upper portion having at least one arm extending therefrom, and the lower portion having a housing including a nut. A hole is formed in the lower portion. The upper and lower portions of the clip may be angled so as to correspond with an angle formed by intermediate portions of the storm shutter panels. The at least one arm of the clip is slipped over an end of the first shutter panel so that the hole of the clip aligns with holes of the inner and outer shutter panels. A screw is fed through the holes of the first and second shutter panels and the clip so as to engage with the nut, the shutter panels tightening together via the screw being received by the nut in forming the storm shutter system.
US07954278B2	Device for taking the weight of a one-leaf or two-leaf door for a switchgear cabinet A device for taking the weight of a one-leaf or two-leaf door for a switchgear cabinet, a frame of which is made up of profiled bars, in the case of a one-leaf door a free vertical side edge of the door striking against a vertically running profiled bar and in the case of a two-leaf door the vertical free side edges touching or ending at a small distance from one another when the two-leaf door is closed. The device includes at least one guiding element with at least two respective run-up slopes, which in the case of a one-leaf door is arranged in the region on the free side edge and interacts with a run-up edge on the profiled bar against which the door strikes in such a way that, during closing, the guiding element slides with its run-up slope onto the run-up edge and thereby takes part of the weight of the door, and which in the case of a two-leaf door, is arranged in the region of the upper side edge and in the vicinity of the free side edges of each door leaf and, during closing, runs with its run-up slope onto a respective run-up edge at least on the upper horizontally running profiled bar, and consequently takes part of the weight of the door leaves.
US07954277B2	Plant container A container for growing plants has a base and a side wall extending upwardly from the base, for containing a growing medium. An opening is defined in an inclined portion of the side wall, and a rib positioned on the side wall and facing into the container defines a root-guiding angle between the rib and the side wall, the root-guiding angle leading to the opening. Plant roots growing adjacent to the side wall are therefore guided by the root-guiding angle to the opening to be air pruned.
US07954273B1	Weapon light A mounting platform that includes an annular housing which is received around the barrel of the firearm is configured to include interchangeable electronics modules, such as visible lights, infrared emitters, laser sighting devices, range finders, video cameras, tasers, etc. The accessory mounting platform includes a central aperture for receiving the barrel of the weapon therethrough. The front of the housing includes a faceplate that has a plurality of sockets therein for receiving a plurality of electronic accessory modules. Each of the modules is individually threaded and can be selectively mounted into any of the threaded mounting sockets. Each of the accessory modules is fully interchangeable and can be removed if not needed. The accessory mounting platform is preferably mounted to the bayonet lug and front sight of the weapon.
US07954268B2	Torsion spring recoil system for the forend of a firearm A recoil reduction system for use with firearms. The recoil reduction system includes a cam coupled with a torsion spring which can provide resistance to a sliding member of a firearm, thus reducing recoil. The torsion spring and cam can be used as part of a recoil reduction system that is installed in a handgrip or in a forend. Accessories may be attached to the recoil reduction mechanism in order to gain the benefits of recoil reduction.
US07954263B2	Screening, crushing or mixing bucket The invention relates to a screening, crushing or mixing bucket, which is formed into a bucket of an excavating machine or bucket loader, comprising a bottom plate (1), side walls (2) and at the back of the bucket working drums (3) rotatable about their shafts, which screen, crush or mix the material in the bucket as they rotate and at the same time deliver screened, crushed or mixed material out of the bucket, between or through the working drums (3). In the bucket are casings (4) for the power transmission and bearings of the working drums (3). The casings (4) are limited by frame plates (5) to which the bearing housings (6) of the working drums (3) are attachable. The frame plates (5) have receiving and fastening formings (5a, 5b) for the working drums (3), into which the drums (3) with their bearings (6) can be positioned through the rear side of the bucket. The sides of the casings (4) may in that case be smooth and their opening wall plates are on the rear side of the bucket.
US07954255B2	Drying apparatus with a solvent-recovery function, and a method for drying solvent recovery A drying apparatus with a vaporized-solvent-recovery function including: a concentration-at-the-end-of-drying data memorizing device to memorize a concentration of a vaporized solvent at the end of a drying operation of an object to be dried in a processing path; a vaporized solvent; an end-of-drying judging device to judge an end of drying of the object by comparing the concentration measured by the vaporized-solvent-concentration measuring device with the concentration memorized by the concentration-at-the-end-of-drying data memorizing device; and a drying-operation controlling device to control the drying operation of the object in a processing bath and to end the drying operation in response to a judgement by the end-of-drying judging device that the concentration measured by the vaporized-solvent-concentration measuring device is equal to the concentration memorized in then concentration-at-the-end-of-drying data memorizing device.
US07954254B2	Method for drying a product using a regenerative adsorbent The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for drying a product using a regenerative adsorbent, more in particular to such a method which can be carried out in an energy-saving manner. According to the invention, the product is dried by bringing it into contact with an adsorbent, water being taken up form the product by the adsorbent. Subsequently, the adsorbent is regenerated with superheated steam, steam being obtained, which steam comprises at least a part of the mentioned water.
US07954248B2	Arrangement for depicting a linear marking An arrangement for depicting a linear optical marking on a surface, including a radiation source emitting light, such as laser radiation, as well as a first lens arranged in the beam path having a first and a second surface penetrated by the radiation, of which one surface features a parabolic or elliptical trace at least partially in cross section, formed of curved sections of different radii, the trace extending symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry of the lens, along which runs the beam directed in parallel, preferably by means of a second lens. In order to achieve a uniform power distribution along the line, it is proposed that the first surface formed of sections with different radii faces the radiation.
US07954246B2	Rotating laser transmitter The transmitter has a generally flat, circuit board stator, a rotor including a plurality of magnets mounted in a ring around a central opening, and a bearing, supporting the rotor for rotation about an axis that extends through the central opening, A pentaprism assembly including an optics holder is mounted on the rotor for rotation therewith. The pentaprism assembly receives a beam of laser light through the central opening and redirects at least a portion of the laser light outward in a direction normal to the rotation axis. A laser source, mounted on the stator, provides a beam of laser light through the central opening to the pentaprism assembly. The beam of laser light is aligned with the rotation axis. The laser source includes a collimating lens positioned within the rotor. A shield plate of magnetic material beneath the stator exerts a force on the rotor in conjunction with the magnets, taking play out of the bearing. The transmitter uses Hall effect sensors on the stator to control switching current to coils on the stator. The transmitter also uses the outputs of the Hall effect sensors and a timer output to control dithering of the laser beam.
US07954245B2	Hair thinning scissors A hair thinning scissors is provided. The hair thinning scissors includes a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge. The first cutting edge is configured with a plurality of arc shaped cutting teeth. A notch is configured between each two neighboring cutting teeth. Each of the arcuate cutting teeth has a radian by the pivotal axis of the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge as an arc center, and a distance from the pivotal axis to the tooth as an arc radius, so that when the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge are actuated to rotate one toward another, each of the cutting teeth moves along a tangent of the arc form of the cutting tooth, thus achieving a more smoothly shearing operation.
US07954243B2	Hair cutting apparatus Hair cutting apparatus having at least one cutting unit (2) with a stationary cutting member (3) and reciprocable movable cutting member (4) each having cooperating bearing surfaces (7,8) with cutting edges (9,10). To minimize the friction between the bearing surfaces a visco-elastic element is provided between the coupling element (14) and the movable cutting member (4) resulting in a small cutting gap between the bearing surfaces. During cutting of hairs the visco-elastic element behaves as a stiff element whereas during periods in which no hairs are cut the element behaves relatively soft so that the cutting gaps between the cutting edges are closed.
US07954240B2	Method for repairing damaged pallets A multi-step method to repair damaged wooden pallets includes in a first step, the connector members of the pallet element to be replaced are cut through by means of a band saw and then removed. In a subsequent step, both the partially disassembled pallet as well the new pallet elements are transferred into an assembly station, where the new pallet elements are attached to the pallet from the top side. Preferably, damaged bottom parts of the pallet are removed as a module Before the replacement module is attached, preferably the position of the connector elements still present in a top deck board member is electronically scanned, such that the new connector members can be applied in a position offset to the existing connector members.
US07954237B2	Method for manufacturing heat pipe and capillary structure thereon A method for manufacturing a heat pipe and a capillary structure thereon is provided, and the steps of the method are as follows. A hollow pipe which has an open end and a closed end is provided. A mold is placed into the hollow pipe through the open end. The mold includes a central rod and a shaping component mating with the central rod, and the shaping component has an outward shaping surface. A powder is filled into the space between the hollow pipe and the mold through the open end and then sintered to form a capillary structure on the inner wall of the hollow pipe, in which the capillary structure has a profile corresponding to the shaping surface of the shaping component. Thereafter, the central rod and the shaping component are sequentially taken out of the hollow pipe.
US07954234B2	Method of manufacturing a wiring board In a method of manufacturing a wiring board, the method includes: (i) forming a plurality of conductive patterns to come into contact with a support plate; (ii) forming a resin layer to cover the plurality of conductive patterns and to come into contact with the support plate; (iii) forming another conductive pattern connected to at least one of the plurality of conductive patterns; and (iv) removing the support plate. A first area of the support plate coming into contact with at least one of the plurality of conductive patterns in step (i) is different in surface roughness from a second area of the support plate coming into contact with the resin layer in step (ii).
US07954231B2	Clip machine and method for adjusting a clip machine The invention relates to a clip machine comprising two closing tools that are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in order to close clips, and further comprising adjusting means designed to set the neutral position of a closing tool and hence the gap between the closing tools, in particular in their closed position (closure gap). The clip machine includes a measuring device configured to measure a closing force applied when closing a clip, or a parameter proportional to said closing force, and to output a measured value representing the closing force or the parameter proportional thereto. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting such a clip machine.
US07954229B1	Method of forming a titanium heating element A method of making a titanium heating element for electric water heaters includes heating commercially pure titanium tubing to a specified temperature for a predetermined period of time. A resistance wire and magnesium dioxide powder may be positioned in the tubing prior to the annealing process. The outer surfaces of the titanium tube are exposed to the air during at least a portion of the annealing process, such that a layer of titanium dioxide develops on the outer surface of the titanium. The heating element is then formed into a loop or other suitable shape, and it is positioned inside a housing. The housing may include fittings to connect the water heater to the tubing of a pool, jetted tub, spa, hot tub or the like.
US07954228B2	RFID tag manufacturing method with strap and substrate In a manufacturing method of a thin and small RFID tag, an antenna metal pattern is formed on a substrate, going once around a dielectric plate, and a recess is formed on the substrate to house an IC chip. A strap on which the IC chip is mounted is connected and fastened to the substrate in the position and orientation in which the IC chip is housed in the recess.
US07954223B2	Method for producing a sealed assembly A method for producing a sealing arrangement between an opening of the support, bore and a screw which comprises a head connected to a body and is provided with a threaded section for interacting with the hole of a part to be assembled with a support whose mechanical strength is lower than that of the screw. The invention is characterized in that, starting from an enlarged opening, the inventive method consists in engaging the screw into the bore in such a way that the head thereof is brought into contact with the opening, in screwing the screw into the hole of the part to be assembled in such a way that a pressure applied by the head sealingly presses the opening against the part of the under-head surface of the screw by removing a part of material of the support.
US07954221B2	Electromagnetic mechanical pulse forming of fluid joints for high-pressure applications An electromagnetically formed fluid circuit joint (150) includes a tubular conduit (58) that has an outer surface (154) with a groove (72). A hollow fitting (56) is mechanically separate from and received over the tubular conduit (58). The hollow fitting (56) includes an electromagnetic field formed wall deformation (165) that extends into the groove (72).
US07954219B2	Substrate holder assembly device A device for mounting and removing a substrate from a baseplate, in particular a substrate holder assembly device, including automated features for latching and unlatching a substrate, for use in a coating mechanism, from a baseplate, which includes an adjustable snap ring holder.
US07954208B2	Fastening member for a molded article A fastening member that is capable of attachment to a molded article is disclosed. The fastening member may include at least one fastener element extending from a base and an anchor layer attached to the base. The anchor layer may be coated with a magnetically attractable coating. The magnetically attractable coating may be substantially continuous on select portions of the anchor layer and discontinuous on other select portions of the anchor layer.
US07954207B2	Apparatus and method for securing and protecting electronic devices The invention is an apparatus and method for securing and protecting electronic devices, for example mobile phones, from impact. By utilizing a fastening device constructed of a flexible, stretchable or elastic material, an electronic device may be wrapped and secured in order to provide protection and prevent damage from impact. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention, for protecting an electronic device comprises, a body in the shape of a string allowing the body to create a loop around an electronic device to form a protective layer, a first fastening end at one end of the body for initiating said loop, and a second fastening end at the other end of the body to complete said loop.
US07954206B2	Pin and grommet fastener assembly A fastener assembly configured to secure a first panel to a second panel includes a pin and a grommet. The pin includes a shaft connected to a tip. The grommet is configured to snapably secure into a hole of a panel. The grommet includes a central passage. The shaft is adjustably secured within the central passage, such that the shaft is allowed to shift a fixed distance within the central passage in a first direction, but is locked in place in the central passage with respect to a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.
US07954205B2	Clip retainer The present invention discloses a clip retainer which includes a top surface having a groove and a bottom surface which has stopping ribs and a barb formed between the stopping ribs. The top surface and the stopping ribs of the bottom surface clamp a flange of a clip. A slope of an inclined plane of the barb in a slide-in direction of the clip is smaller than that of an inclined plane of the barb in a slide-out direction of the clip. Based on the above structure, the clip retainer can meet the function requirements of small slide-in force and large slide-out force of the clip and has a simple structure. Furthermore, the clip retainer can produce repeated insertion and extraction deformation and is very reliable to use.
US07954202B1	Pivotal nozzle arms with external hose port A multifunction vacuum nozzle (20) with a nozzle body (30) comprising two tool ends (60A and 60B), where tool end (60B) supports a pair of pivotal arms (40L and 40R) pivotally attached at pivot holes (32L and 32R) and pivotal between an substantially closed position (FIG. 3A) and a substantially open position (FIG. 3B—see position 45). Tool end (60A) is adapted to connect a variety of vacuum tools. Connecting tool ends (60A) and (60B) is a suction passageway (38) therethrough the nozzle body. Body (30) is designed to provide a first attachment port (34) at the first tool end (60A) and pivot arms (40L and 40R) are designed to provide a male second attachment port (46) when in their substantially closed position. A suction conduit (70) can be removable attached to both first attachment port (34) and second attachment port (46), to alternately provide suction air to either tool end.
US07954201B1	Mobile mounted steam cleaning system A sliding track steam cleaning system which may be installed on a vehicle. van, mini-van or automobile having a combined cargo and passenger area of approximately 20 cubic feet and need not be specially adapted for mounting on a truck.
US07954199B2	Drain cleaner A drain cleaner which is superior in portability and which makes it possible for a small number of people to perform drain cleaning operation on a broad floor. A drain cleaner (1) comprises a strip body (2), and a reel body (3) for winging or unwinding the strip body (2). The strip body (2) has a handle (4) at its front end (2a), the opposite edges (2b, 2b) thereof having attached thereto flexible members (20, 20) made of rubber having high adhesion to a floor or the like. Surrounding a puddle on a floor by the strip body (2) unwound from the reel body (3), one of two operators holds the handle (4) of the strip body (2) and the other holds the reel body (3). By pulling the strip body (2), the water in the puddle can be swept by the strip body (2).
US07954193B2	Oral brushing devices and/or methods An oral hygiene device having two toothbrushes connected or connectable to the end of a handle, the one or more toothbrushes providing a desirable fit about the teeth and/or gums and/or providing a desirable brushing action. An oral hygiene device hereof may provide for mechanically providing the brushing movements of the professionally recommended manual tooth-brushing method known as the “Bass” or “Modified Bass” technique to thus reduce or eliminate the element of human error associated with the brushing of a user's teeth and gums.
US07954192B2	Powered toothbrush with rotating sections The head of a toothbrush includes a first tuft block having bristles and a second tuft block having bristles. The first and second tuft blocks are mounted for counter-rotational or counter-rotational oscillating movement in a direction parallel to the outer surface of the head. The toothbrush head also includes a third section having bristles extending outwardly from the head to provide an extended field of bristles to support an elongated ribbon of toothpaste and for enhanced cleaning.
US07954185B2	Expandable sleeping bag An expandable sleeping bag or bunting bag includes features in which the size of the bag is adjustable to accommodate the growth of the child. To expand or contract the sleeping bag in width, one or more additional tapes of zipper teeth are sewn to the front of the garment adjacent to, and parallel to, the regular zipper. To expand or contract the sleeping bag in length, a pair of parallel zippers permits the removal or insertion of a length expansion strip extending around the circumference of the sleeping bag.
US07954184B2	Structural members for bed frame A bed frame comprising T-shaped side rails provides support for a box spring and mattress. The T-shaped side rails provide more resistance to twisting and bowing and enables the overall bed frame to support more weight with less deflection than the convention L-shaped side rails. The T-shaped side rails may be two L-shaped angle irons affixed together or a unitary T-shaped member that can also be used for other structural components of the bed frame such as a center beam. The vertical flange of the T-shape can be non-linear. In a further embodiment, the side rails are comprised of a metal skin enclosing a hollow area with a horizontal, flat shelf for supporting the box spring and a contiguous vertical surface generally at a right angle to the horizontal shelf to retain the box spring in it desired position.
US07954181B2	Bidet having enema function Disclosed herein is a multi-functional bidet having an extra function such as an enema function for a constipated person, in addition to its normal function of cleansing pubic area and anal region. Specifically, the bidet of the invention is constructed such in a manner that an anus-cleansing function, a bidet cleansing function, and an enema function are embodied in a single nozzle; or any one function is constituted on a spray tip projected from the separate spray nozzle body; or one or two functions among the anus-cleansing function, the bidet cleansing function and the enema function are embodied in two or three spray nozzles, which are projectably inserted in the lower central portion of the bidet body so as to be arranged horizontally adjacent to one anther; or one or two functions among the anus-cleansing function, the bidet cleansing function and the enema function are embodied in two or three spray nozzles, which are projectably inserted in the lower central portion of the bidet body so as to be arranged vertically adjacent to one anther.
US07954175B2	Structure and method for stabilizing an archer's hand An archer's hand support structure apparatus and method of use is disclosed to help stabilize an archer's hand during string draw and string release of an archer's bow. The archer's hand support structure apparatus includes a band of flexible material adapted to encase the archer's hand, the band having a first edge portion extending adjacent to an archer's distal hand portion and a second edge portion extending adjacent to an archer's proximal hand portion. The band also includes an aperture therethrough disposed substantially adjacent to the first edge portion for receiving a thumb of the archer's hand. Further included is a stiffener positioned adjacent to the band, the stiffener also extending lengthwise substantially from the band first edge portion to the band second edge portion and the band also includes structure for removably engaging the band from the archer's bow.
US07954174B2	Catching tool for baseball or softball Disclosed is a catching tool for baseball or softball including a ball receiving portion covering the palm side of a user's hand when wearing the tool and containing a ball receiving surface for receiving a ball, a resin layer that is selectively formed on the surface of the ball receiving portion and can be deformed along a surface of the ball when catching the ball, and a back portion for covering the back of the user's hand. On the ball receiving portion, various resin layers may be optionally formed, examples of the resin layers including a large-width resin layer, and a small-width resin layer having a convex regions.
US07954172B2	Garment for retaining a child in a car-seat The present invention discloses a garment that is designed to prevent a child in a car-seat from removing his or her arms from the shoulder straps that are part of the modern 5-point harness system found in most car-seats. The garment is configured like a jacket, through the front of which the shoulder straps are threaded, allowing for access to the front closure hasp of the harness and ensuring the closure hasp is across the upper chest, while comfortably restricting the child's movement out of the straps by virtue of the sleeves of the garment which are now made part of the harness system itself.
US07954169B2	Baseball gloves with flexibility folds An athletic glove having an enhanced flexibility features for assisting in the opening and closing of the glove. A glove can include a front ply forming a palm and front portion and a back ply forming a back portion. The peripheries of the front and back plies attached together to form the glove. The glove includes a thumb stall, at least on finger stall, a hand receiving opening, a heel portion of the front ply, and a web portion positioned between the thumb stall and the finger stall. The glove further includes at least one predefined fold in the palm, such that the fold increases the flexibility of the glove and thereby facilitates the opening and closing of the glove. The glove can also comprise a notch formed in the back ply between the finger stall and the hand receiving opening to further increase the flexibility of the glove. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

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