| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07955329B2 |
Urological resectoscope fitted with an insulating element at its external stem
A urological resectoscope (1) includes a tubular, metallic external stem (2) fitted with holes (3) in its distal end zone, a tubular insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47) being affixed distally to the external stem, further comprising a tubular internal stem (8) configured within the external stem and resting against it in sealing manner and an electrode support (13) longitudinally displaceable inside the internal stem and supporting a cutting loop (15) in the region of the insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47), the inside space of the internal stem (8) and the gap (12) between the stems (2, 8) being proximally connected to liquid hookups (10, 11), the insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47) being configured in longitudinally mutually overlapping manner within an affixation zone (6) and the insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47) exhibiting a wall thickness distally from the affixation zone (6) larger than the wall thickness of the external stem (2), wherein the inside diameter of the insulating element (27, 47) is the same as the inside diameter of the external stem (2). |
| US07955328B2 |
Tissue dissector and/or coagulator with a slit in an insulating tip to control the direction of energy
Various devices and methods for dissecting and/or coagulating tissue are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided that includes an elongate member having proximal and distal ends, an energy emitter coupled to the distal end of the elongate member, and an insulating element that is disposed around the energy emitter. The insulating element can have an opening for receiving energy from the energy emitter, and the opening can be shaped to control a direction of energy emitted from the energy emitter. |
| US07955326B2 |
Pressure-sensitive conductive composite electrode and method for ablation
The present invention is directed to ablation devices and methods utilizing pressure sensitive conductive composites, such as quantum tunneling composites, or other contact-sensitive, conductive polymers. The materials provide for electrodes and methods capable of differentiating between a soft and a hard push. The present invention thus provides an electrode for delivering selective electrical energy for ablation that may be varied based upon the pressure exerted on the surface area of the targeted tissue. |
| US07955321B2 |
Surgical operation apparatus and manipulator for use therein
A top end portion of a medical manipulator has a surgical device accessible to a diseased area of a patient. In the manipulator, a pair of rolling members opposing to each other is provided. One of the pair of the rolling members is rolled by a flexible wire relative to the other rolling members. A plate maintains a distance between rotation centers of the pair of the rolling members constant. A pair of gears are held coaxially with the pair of the rolling members respectively, and engaged with each other. A link rotates the gear on an opposite side to a surgical device. |
| US07955314B2 |
Articulating handle for a deflectable catheter and method therefor
A catheter assembly includes a handle assembly, and a catheter body coupled with the handle assembly, where the catheter body extends to a deflectable distal end portion, and the deflectable distal end is controllable by a flexible element. A lever actuator member is operatively coupled with the flexible element, and movement of the actuator member provides for movement of the flexible element. |
| US07955311B2 |
Disposable diaper with stretchable suspender members joined outside absorbent pad
A disposable diaper includes a pants member and a body fluid absorbent pad lying inside the pants member. The pad is connected to elastic first and second suspender members extending in a circumferential direction of the diaper and joined under extension in the circumferential direction of the diaper to the pants member. Front and rear ends of the pad are joined to the suspender members in middle zones of these suspender members of which transversely opposite side edges are joined to transversely opposite side edges of front and rear waist regions. Inner and outer ends of the suspender members are joined to the front and rear waist regions in a joining zones arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction of the diaper. |
| US07955307B2 |
Universal catheter anchoring system
A method of securing a medical article to the body of a patient is disclosed in which an anchoring device comprising an anchor and a retainer is used. The retainer is attached to an upper surface of the anchor and comprises a base, a cover and a post. The base is disposed on the upper surface of the anchor and the cover is connected to the base so as to move between an open and a closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it lies above at least part of the base. The post is attached movably to either the base or the cover and is arranged so as to lie at least partially between the cover and the base when the cover is in the closed position. When securing a medical article, the cover is placed in the open position and the medical article placed onto the retainer. The cover may then be closed over the medical article and the anchoring device attached to the patient. |
| US07955298B2 |
Defined deflection structure
Deflection mechanisms are disclosed that are positionable to deflecting portions of a flexible body, such as a catheter, in more than one direction in a single plane, as well as in more than one plane. The invention allows a distal portion of a catheter to be deflected more than 360 degrees to provide a loop. |
| US07955295B2 |
Fluid delivery system with autoconnect features
A fluid dispensing machine, such as a peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis machine, includes a dispenser or cassette that pumps a medical fluid for dialysis or other treatments for patients. The machine includes and uses an autoconnect device for connecting containers of liquid, such as bags of dialysis fluid or medication fluids, to the machine, while maintaining the sterility of the connection. The autoconnect device removes the cap from the fluid bag and pierces the scaling membrane on tubing from the bag. This makes it easier for patients to receive treatment, especially home treatment. Other embodiments are useful for dispensing other liquids from other types of dispensing or pumping machines. |
| US07955287B2 |
Orthopaedic support for immobilizing the thumb
A support (1) of a rigid material having a salient arcuate bow (6) extending orthogonally from one side of the vertex of a saddle portion (5) has a Velcro® hook part (2) fixed onto the concave surface of the saddle portion (5) and a coating of a cushioning material (3) on the convex surface of the salient arcuate bow (6). The support (1) is fixable onto a wrist band (P) by anchoring the Velcro® hook part (2) present on the concave surface of the saddle (5) onto a textile lace (9) of the wrist band (P) passed in front of the thumb, the coated convex surface of the salient arcuate bow (6) sustaining the thumb resting on it. A textile binding lace (7) is wound around the thumb and the sustaining salient arcuate bow (6) of the saddle (5) for immobilizing the thumb. |
| US07955286B2 |
Elbow orthosis
An orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions. The orthosis includes a first arm member affixable to the first body portion and including a first extension member extending therefrom. A second arm member affixable to the second body portion is also included and has a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom. A third arm member including a third extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom is interposed between the first and second arm members. The third arm member is operatively connected to the first and second arm members, such that the first and third arm members travel along an arcuate path defined by the second extension member when the third arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the second arm member. Furthermore, the first arm member can slide along the third extension member as the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position relative to the second arm member. |
| US07955281B2 |
External ultrasound lipoplasty
This invention relates to a non-invasive, safer alternative to current lipoplasty procedures. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-channel system that focuses the low mega Hertz ultrasound at user selectable depths, where fat cells are to be emulsified. The system has independent user control of the main emulsifying property, cavitation, and thermal heating, which can independently be used for skin tightening. One part of the system is a handheld transducer, in shape similar to a typical small diagnostic ultrasound transducer. The other part of the system includes a transmitter with internal tracking of procedure time and with a disabling feature. |
| US07955279B2 |
Device for evaluating a position of balance for the human body
According to the invention, the patient (4) is placed upon a patient support (3) between an X-ray source (1) and a support for the target plate (2) sensitive to the X-rays. The patient support (3) is connected to a device for detecting the horizontal position of the global axis of gravity (5) of the patient when the X-ray source (1) is in operation. The patient (4) can, for example, remain standing. The inventive device can superimpose an image (Hg) of the global axis of gravity (5) on the digital radiographic image of the patient (4). |
| US07955267B2 |
Apparatus for control of non-invasive parameter measurements
Improved methods and apparatus for non-invasively assessing one or more parameters associated with fluidic systems such as the circulatory system of a living organism. In a first aspect, an improved method of continuously measuring pressure from a compressible vessel is disclosed, wherein a substantially optimal level of compression for the vessel is achieved and maintained using perturbations (e.g., modulation) of the compression level of the vessel. In one exemplary embodiment, the modulation is conducted according to a pseudo-random binary sequence (PBRS). In a second aspect, an improved apparatus for determining the blood pressure of a living subject is disclosed, the apparatus generally comprising a pressure sensor and associated processor with a computer program defining a plurality of operating states related to the sensed pressure data. Methods for pressure waveform correction and reacquisition, as well as treatment using the present invention, are also disclosed. |
| US07955266B2 |
Ultrasonic contact transducer with multiple emitting elements and means of bringing these elements into contact
Ultrasonic contact transducer with multiple ultrasonic emitting elements and means of bringing these elements into contact.This transducer is applicable particularly to non-destructive testing and comprises means (8, 10) for bringing elements (2) into contact with an object (6) to be checked and means (26, 28, and 34 to 40) of determining the positions of elements relative to the object, using means bringing elements into contact, to determine delay laws to be applied to excitation pulses of the elements, to generate a focussed ultrasonic beam (F). |
| US07955264B2 |
System and method for providing communication between ultrasound scanners
System and method for ganged ultrasound scanners is described. The described system includes a plurality of ultrasound scanners configured as a network and at least one connector for connecting a single ultrasound probe to the plurality of ultrasound scanners. The connector is configured to provide communication between the plurality of ultrasound scanners and the ultrasound probe. |
| US07955260B2 |
Method for rating severity of psoriasis
Methods for rating the severity of psoriasis in a patient are provided. Such methods comprise assessing the percent of the patient's body surface exhibiting signs of psoriasis, assessing the overall elevation, erythema, and scale of the patient's psoriasis plaques, and classifying the severity of the patient's psoriasis into at least four classes based upon the percent of the patient's body surface exhibiting signs of psoriasis adjusted by the overall elevation, erythema and scale of the patient's psoriasis plaques. In the present methods the weight given to one or more of the overall qualities of elevation, erythema or scale of the patient's psoriasis plaques in classifying the severity of the patient's psoriasis into a higher class is greater than the weight given to other of the overall qualities. A computer readable medium and system for practicing the present methods are also provided. |
| US07955255B2 |
Imaging assembly with transparent distal cap
An imaging assembly for use in a medical imaging device such as an endoscope or the like. In one embodiment, the imaging assembly includes a transparent distal cap that is shaped to receive an image sensor insert. The image sensor insert has a cooling channel that supplies a cooling liquid or gas to one or more illumination sources. |
| US07955254B2 |
Medical videoscope with a pivotably adjustable end part
A medical endoscope including a stem (1) receiving in its distal end part (3) a video camera (30), the end part (3) being pivotably adjustable relative to the main part (2) of the stem (1) and connecting lines (27, 31) running in the stem (1) from a proximal end region to the end part (3), wherein the main part (2) and the end part (3) are enclosed in sealing manner by rigid stem tubes (5, 8) which are supported in an abutting and sealing manner in a joint (4) by means of a hollow axle (16, 18) running perpendicularly to the stem parts (2, 3), the hollow axle being crossed by the connecting lines (27, 31) in the inside spaces of the stem parts (2, 3). |
| US07955251B2 |
Magnetic therapeuticall male device
The invention refers to a therapeutic device used on or in interaction with a penile organ of a human, and more particularly to a C-shaped male genital device made of durable resilient material, easy to attach and clean, which promotes an increase in the penis size when erected, enhancing the user's sexual experience and providing a therapeutic magnetic field. |
| US07955247B2 |
Systems for and methods of repair of atrioventricular valve regurgitation and reversing ventricular remodeling
Methods of and devices for restoring the normal geometry of a heart, including but not limited to the structures supporting the atrioventricular valves. The techniques and devices described herein operate on the principle of displacement, both active and passive, to reverse cardiac remodeling and limit ischemic atrioventricular valve regurgitation. |
| US07955245B2 |
Dunnage conversion machine and method
A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet. |
| US07955239B2 |
Portable exercise apparatus
An apparatus for treating or training individuals while doing exercises permits a large range of motion while at the same time providing resistance. A hollow spherical housing having a spool and a cord inside is mounted within a support frame which permits the housing to rotate 360 degrees about a central z-axis and further about 120 degrees about the x-axis and the y-axis when the cord contacts the frame. A tension dial permits adjusting the tension applied to the spool to provide resistance as a user pulls the cord from the housing. When the user releases the force on the cord the cord is retracted onto the spool. The base of the support frame has opposing locking lugs which engage keyways in a co-operating socket which can be mounted on a variety of surfaces such as walls, doors and straps for attachment to a wrist or ankle or other body part. |
| US07955237B2 |
Exercise apparatus for the upper body
Disclosed is an apparatus for developing the upper body and in particular the chest. The apparatus includes opposed lever arms pivotally secured to each other at a fulcrum point located at the terminal ends of the opposed levers. The opposed lever arms are biased against each other and form a “V” shape. A counteracting force is needed to bring the handle ends of the levers together. The force required to bring the opposed handle ends together exercises the upper body of a user. |
| US07955234B1 |
Exercise device and method
A new and useful exercise device and method are provided, designed to provide a user with an exercise workout with significant core exercise benefits, from a single exercise device. The device and method of the present invention enable a user to perform at least 8 exercise movements, with variable resistance applied to each exercise movement. The 8 exercise movements are (a) bench press and row, (b) military press and lat pull down, (c) crunch and dead lift, and (d) step and leg raise. |
| US07955232B1 |
Physical exercising machine
A physical exercising machine includes a base and a carrier, a lever attached to the carrier and inclined relative to the carrier and the base, a pivotal coupling mechanism pivotally coupled between the base and the carrier for horizontally moving the carrier and the user up and down relative to the base, a follower slidably engaged with the base and the lever for moving the platform and the user up and down relative to the base when the follower is moved along the base and along the inclined lever, and a cable coupled to the follower and having two end portions for being pulled by the user and for moving the follower to engage with the lever and to move the platform and the user up and down relative to the base. |
| US07955231B1 |
Physical exercising machine
A physical exercising machine includes a carrier having a platform to support a user, a lever attached to the carrier and inclined relative to the carrier and the base, a pivotal coupling mechanism pivotally coupled between the base and the carrier for horizontally moving the carrier and the user up and down relative to the base, a follower slidably engaged with the base and the lever for moving the platform and the user up and down relative to the base when the follower is moved along the inclined lever, and a cable coupled to the follower and having two end portions engaged through two openings of the platform for being pulled by the user and for actuating the follower to move the platform and the user up and down relative to the base. |
| US07955225B1 |
Automatically variable stride walk-run-stepper pedal exerciser
This pedal exerciser allows normal walking and running in place on pedals (16, 17) reciprocal back and forth by returning the pedal from varying strides to a forward step-down position in response to user's end of stride action of stepping down on the forward pedal and lifting the other foot at the rear. A return force is applied to a pedal only during its return stroke, avoiding the high force opposing user's stride of elastic return devices. This enables high return forces to return the pedals at high stride rates and long strides without high user stride effort, making possible pedal exercisers allowing normal, varying walk-run strides as on powered treadmills but without a motor drive. Mechanical and pneumatic versions are described, manual and motorized, providing cushioned step-down with automatic stride length, speed variation and stopping responding to user's foot force. |
| US07955224B2 |
Yoga mat with intuitive tactile feedback for visually impaired
The invention includes an exercise mat that provides intuitive tactile feedback allowing a user to determine body placement using the sense of touch. The invention enables visually impaired users to determine location and/or direction on the mat. The invention includes devices to assist a user in correct foot and hand placements during a yoga posture sequence, an exercise program, a dance routine, and so forth. Tactile markers for hand and foot placement enable discerning a reference marker as either intended for hand or foot, right side or left side, and forward or backward. The invention makes yoga more accessible to the visually impaired and enables a user to participate in mainstream yoga communities. The invention can be used for the practice of yoga in a class setting in schools for the blind, in public or private studios, or at home. The mat can be used in a yoga class to follow instructions with more ease and independence. The pliable nature of the mat allows it to be easily portable to schools, studios, and storage at home. |
| US07955223B1 |
Hip thrust sled
A hip thrust sled may include a pair of spaced apart runners configured in generally parallel relation to each other. A first cross member extends between and is connected to the spaced apart runners proximate to a distal end of the hip thrust sled. A second cross member extends between and is connected to the spaced apart runners near a proximal end of the hip thrust sled to receive removable weights. A pendulum arm is rotatably attached at its distal end to the first cross member and is configured at a proximal end to move vertically relative to the spaced apart runners. The pendulum arm extends towards the proximal end of the hip thrust sled at an upward angle. An adjustable stop may limit the vertical movement of the pendulum arm. A handlebar may be attached to the proximal end of the pendulum arm. |
| US07955221B2 |
Face lift exercise device
A facial exercise device includes a handle, ring, tongue arm and flexible cheek arms. The device is inserted into a person's mouth and the person's cheeks are tightened against the resistance provided by the flexible cheek arms. An optional eyepiece includes connected flexible right and left eye portions and two or more protrusions extending outwardly. |
| US07955218B2 |
Automobile anticollision decelerating and emergency brake apparatus
An anticollision decelerating and emergency brake apparatus of automobile is disclosed. The objects of the invention is realized by the following: an anticollision decelerating and an emergency brake apparatus of automobile constituted by clutch (1), a energy-storage assembly (2), a brake force transmission assembly (3), a combined solenoid valve assembly (4), a housing (5), a variable diameter assembly (6), a reset mechanism (7), and so on. The apparatus of the invention will auto brake to effective prevent and avoid traffic accident, and the damage degree can be minimized. |
| US07955215B2 |
Control device for vehicular drive system
A vehicular drive system is disclosed as including an electrically operated differential portion (16) disposed in a power transmitting path between an engine (8) and drive wheels (38) for controlling an operating state of an electric motor (M), connected to a rotary element of a differential portion (11), for controlling a differential state between an input-shaft rotation speed and an output-shaft rotation speed, and a shifting portion (20) forming a part of the power transmitting path and functioning as a step-variable automatic shifting portion. A control device (40) performs a control of output torque of the electric motor during a downshift of the step-variable shifting portion so as to suppress a variation in the engine rotation speed. The control of output torque is performed so as to increase the output torque by inertia torque of the electric motor, thereby achieving a reduction in shifting shock. |
| US07955212B2 |
Damper device
Mass portions of torsional dampers are annular surrounding corresponding elastic portions. The mass portion of the torsional damper has a first inclined face formed such that the elastic portion deforms in a sheared manner as the mass portion rotates in a rotational direction with respect to a companion flange and the elastic portion partially deforms in a compressed manner as the mass portion rotates in a direction other than the rotational direction. The mass portion of the torsional damper has second inclined faces formed such that the elastic portion deforms in a sheared manner as the mass portion rotates in the direction of the rotational axis of the companion flange and the elastic portion partially deforms in a compressed manner as the mass portion rotates in a direction other than the direction of the rotational axis. |
| US07955211B2 |
Axle assembly
A drive axle assembly has at least one axle arm portion extending from a differential housing to a shoulder structure that is unitary with the outboard end of the axle arm portion. The shoulder structure houses a first bevel bear and a second bevel gear. Openings adjacent the bevel gears are selectively closed with covers. |
| US07955209B2 |
Differential gear
A differential gear having first and second driven shafts connected with a drive cage via a planetary or differential gear and a stationary gear housing. An intermediate gear with a planetary unit is provided with the first driven shaft, wherein the planetary unit includes a planetary wheel support and a planetary wheel pair having a first planetary wheel and a second planetary wheel. The first and second planetary wheels having different effective diameters, wherein the planetary wheel pair is arranged on planetary wheel pair shafts. A first sun wheel engaged with the first planetary wheel and a second sun wheel arranged coaxially with the first sun wheel. A brake device including a braking force applicator and a braking torque that brakes the planetary unit with respect to the stationary gear housing, and wherein the planetary unit includes active surfaces for introducing the breaking torque into the planetary unit. |
| US07955206B2 |
Self-energizing brake for a tensioner
A tensioner that includes a blade shoe (106), at least one blade spring (112), a ramp 122), and a brake (132). The blade shoe has a curved chain sliding face, an underside, opposite the chain sliding face, a proximal end pivotally attached to ground and a distal end. The ramp is fixed to ground and has a ramp surface (122a) for contacting the chain sliding face or the underside of the blade shoe. The brake is self-energizing, pivotally fixed to ground and has a friction contact surface (132a) for contacting the distal end portion (106c) of the chain sliding face, the blade spring, or the underside of the blade shoe for restricting movement of the distal end of the blade shoe in one direction and allowing movement in the opposite direction. |
| US07955201B2 |
Spin element for arrow or bolt
An arrow element, such as an insert and/or sleeve, mounted with respect to a shaft with at least one airflow resistor projecting outward from the insert to impart rotational spin about a longitudinal axis or spin axis arrow during flight, to increase aerodynamic performance and stability of the arrow shaft, and to improve arrow flight accuracy. |
| US07955200B1 |
Bat with circumferentially aligned and axially segmented barrel section
A bat having a handle portion, a transition portion attached to the handle portion, and a barrel portion attached to the transition portion. The area(s) adjacent to the central portion of the barrel have an increased performance with respect to the central portion of the barrel to effectively enlarge the sweet spot, or preferred hitting area. At least one tubular member of the barrel is circumferential aligned and axially spaced from another tubular member. |
| US07955196B2 |
Batting training device and method
Apparatus and method for teaching a batter to swing a bat in a premeditated plane to and through an invisible target that simulates the point of contact where a round bat will meet and greet a round ball squarely. A batter's training tool that facilitates a batter to swing a bat with finesse, confidence, accuracy, speed and strength. Through repeated practice, the batter becomes physically and psychologically habituated to maintain the correct swing form for improved contact. |
| US07955194B2 |
Golf mat
A golf mat includes artificial grass fibers attached to and extending upward from a backing material, which may be one or more layers. The artificial grass fibers include groups of at least two different kinds of fiber sewn through a common path in the backing material. One of the kinds of fibers in each group is shaped so as to appear like a blade of grass. The other kind of fiber in each group is pre-stressed/crimped so that the relaxed shape of the fiber is nonlinear, resembling a curlicued or articulated form having lateral excursions. The lateral excursions cause portions of one such pre-stressed fiber to overlap and interfere with another, forming a mesh. The height of the pre-stressed fibers in their relaxed state in the turf is less than the height of the relatively unstressed artificial grass fiber(s). The crimped fibers form a resilient mat with impact characteristics similar to natural turf. |
| US07955193B2 |
Multi-layer core golf ball
Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber center, a thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer. |
| US07955187B2 |
Swingweight adjusted golf club shaft
An improved golf club shaft and corresponding golf club is disclosed. More specifically, a golf club shaft that is capable of minimizing or eliminating swingweight variations within a golf club despite being cut down to various different lengths to accommodate the length and heads of a set of irons is disclosed. The shaft may have an internal wall profile of variable thickness to adjust for various weight and center of gravity variations of a golf club shaft as it is being cut down in length. |
| US07955183B2 |
Temporary golf club shaft-component connection
A temporary shaft-component connection for assembling a selected golf club shaft with a club head and/or hand grip segment, to facilitate custom club design and fitting to suit the needs and preferences of an individual golfer. The temporary shaft-component connection is particularly designed for use with nonmetallic club shafts formed from a graphite-based composite material or the like having a range of different lengths and stiffness (whip) characteristics. In a shaft-head connection, a metal adapter insert is mounted onto a lower end of the club shaft and includes one or more flat surfaces for reception into a matingly shaped socket in the hosel of a selected club head to prevent relative rotation between the club shaft and head. A compression nut carried on the shaft is threaded onto the hosel to axially engage and retain a thrust flange on the shaft or adapter or adapter insert, to prevent axial separation of the club head and shaft. |
| US07955179B2 |
Boot for universal joint
To make a bellows section of a boot to be flexibly and repeatedly deformable without deterioration in durability, to thereby reduce rotational resistance when a joint angle is large, the boot has the bellows portion where three or more circumferentially extending crest portions and root portions therebetween are alternately formed. A large-diameter attaching portion is formed at one end of the bellows portion. A small-diameter attaching portion is formed at the other end. A rising wall closest to the large-diameter attaching portion and a rising wall closest to the small-diameter attaching portion have smaller wall thickness than other portions of the bellows section. A ratio (t1/t2) of the thickness (t1) of the rising walls to the thickness (t2) of the other portions of the bellows portion is set to 0.6≦t1/t2<1.0. |
| US07955177B2 |
Rotating bill acceptor for use with a gaming device
The present invention provides a rotating bill acceptor for use with a gaming device. The gaming device includes a cabinet with a locking mechanism, where the bill acceptor is rotatably mounted within the cabinet and removably engages the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes one or two pins connected to the cabinet, wherein the pins are engaged by an engagement member on the bill acceptor. The bill acceptor rotates between a bill insertion position and a bill removal position and includes a cash box removably connected to the bill acceptor, which stores the bills until removed and emptied. |
| US07955176B2 |
Button panel assembly for a gaming machine
A gaming machine comprises a display, a cabinet, a front door, and a slide-in button panel. The display depicts a randomly selected game outcome. The cabinet houses the display. The front door is hinged to the cabinet and includes a frame. The slide-in button panel is mounted by sliding it into the frame and supports a plurality of physical buttons for operating the gaming machine. The button panel is easily removed from the frame for maintenance or replacement purposes. |
| US07955175B1 |
Role based game play on a social network
The present invention is a method of providing role based game play on a social computer network. User inputs are received via a computer network from user computers. These inputs are stored in a memory, and at least a portion of the memory is located away from the user computers. A group of two or more characters for a single user are created based on inputs from a user. One or more of these characters is associated with a friend user on the social computer network. At least a portion of information related to an outcome from the game is displayed on a device of the single user. Finally, the single user controls all the inputs for the actions of their characters during the game. |
| US07955172B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating a negative credit balance of a gaming device
Disclosed herein are apparatus, systems and methods for a gaming device operable to support a negative credit balance. For example, in some embodiments, a gaming device may be configured to: (i) determine a current credit balance, (ii) determine a wager amount, (iii) determine whether the wager amount would result in a negative balance of credits, (iv) determine if it is permissible to allow a negative balance of credits, and if so (v) adjust a current balance such that is equal to the negative balance, and (vi) display an indication of the negative credit balance. |
| US07955171B2 |
System and method for automatically initiating game play on an electronic gaming device
An electronic gaming device, such as a slot machine, is provided which initiates a game without input from a player. After initiating the game, the device may present one or more active game elements, such as rotating slot reels, to the player. The device determines an outcome of the game corresponding to a final position of the active game elements. The device further provides an interval to the player to make payment before the final outcome of the game is displayed. Payouts to the player are based on the final outcome and whether the player has made payment. Payouts may be increased based on a measurement of the player's participation rate in a series of games and the frequency of the games played, as measured by the device. |
| US07955170B2 |
Providing non-bingo outcomes for a bingo game
The present invention provides methods and devices for providing a first wagering game (such as a bingo game) that presents a changing pool of displayed game outcomes for a second wagering game (such as a Class III game), preferably on a network of gaming machines. Some implementations of the invention provide a bingo game that presents a changing pool of displayed game outcomes for a slot game or a poker game. In some preferred implementations, game outcomes are generated, e.g., by individual gaming machines, on an ongoing basis and stored in memory. Each of the game outcomes corresponds with a bingo outcome. Preferably, the game outcomes are sorted and stored according to payout amounts for various bingo outcomes. In some implementations, the game outcomes are stored in the form of random number generating (“RNG”) seeds, but in other implementations the game outcomes are stored in a variety of other forms. |
| US07955169B2 |
Method and apparatus for offering a flat rate gaming session with time extension awards
A wagering method is provided that allows players to purchase a gaming session comprising a plurality of game outcomes at a flat rate price. The number of game outcomes available in the bulk purchase gaming session may be a function of time in lieu of a specified number of game outcomes. In order to increase the attractiveness of the bulk purchase of the gaming outcomes, bonus time is awarded to players for specified winning game outcomes occurring during the gaming session, allowing players to extend their gaming session. This alternative award system increases player interest by providing either monetary and time awards, or a combination of both for a winning game outcome. Bonus time can also be offered as part of the gaming establishment's player tracking program or any special promotional program. |
| US07955165B2 |
Methods of rucking using low profile ruckers capable of rucking fixed diameter coverings
Methods for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a plurality of spaced apart rotatable wheels having a primary axis of movement, wherein, in operation, the plurality of wheels have an automated stroke cycle whereby each is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of a chute body and remain in contact with the chute body while the wheels travel in a first direction about the primary axis of movement and in an opposing second direction about the primary axis of movement. |
| US07955159B2 |
Machining of ceramic materials
Milling strategies for machining dental ceramic materials are provided that reduce milling time while maintaining strength, accuracy and marginal integrity. |
| US07955158B2 |
Toy vehicle booster and track set
A booster for accelerating toy vehicles. The booster includes a rotation source and first and second wheels operatively coupled to the rotation source. Each wheel includes a thin-walled member configured to engage toy vehicles passing between the wheels as the rotation source rotates the wheels in opposite directions. The thin walled member is characterized by an S-shape that allows the relative distance between the wheels to change, thereby accommodating differently sized vehicles. |
| US07955156B2 |
Magnetic building block
A children's toy is disclosed, including a block, a casing affixed to the block, and a magnet housed within the casing, the magnet freely moveable within the casing. The freely moveable magnet allows for universal magnetic connections to be made with other similar blocks, as well as other fixed or moveable magnetic elements. Also disclosed are a variety of connectors that connect to the blocks in several different manners. |
| US07955155B2 |
Magnetic and electronic toy construction systems and elements
Magnetic and electronic toy construction systems and elements are provided that include an assembly of at least two panels that have at least two magnet holders located around the perimeter of the panel for embedding and positioning magnets therein. Magnets are disposed in each of the magnet holders such that all of the dipole axes of magnets in a single panel are coplanar and intersect to define a polygon. When attaching two adjacent panels, at least two ferromagnetic spheres are used such that the dipole axes of one magnet from each of the adjacent panels are collinear. In this manner, several panels configured in this way may be nested together to form great varieties of constructions. |
| US07955154B2 |
Flat panel display and method for manufacturing the same
A flat panel display includes a substrate, an array on the substrate, and a glass film formed by depositing glass powder over the substrate, including the array, melting the deposited glass powder over the array and hardening the deposited glass powder over the array. |
| US07955150B2 |
Surfing skis
A surf ski system to enable a user to surf waves. This system includes a pair of surf skis, each surf ski being in the form of a floatation device including a floating hull, fore and aft ends, longitudinal axis connecting the fore and aft ends and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A pair of flexible connecting straps are provided connecting the pair of surf skis, each surf ski having a foot well and toe straps for receiving and partially restraining the feet of a user. One of the flexible connecting straps is located fore of the foot wells and one of the flexible connecting straps being aft of the foot wells. Each of the floatation devices has an upper surface and a lower surface and side walls for facilitating a user's ability to plane on water and a skeg extending from each lower surface, the side walls and lower surface meeting at an edge forming a hard chine there between. |
| US07955148B2 |
Hydroelectric turbine-based power-generating system for vessels and submarines
Power-generating system based on successive hydroelectric turbines (∫1N) located parallel to the submerged section of the hull of vessels and/or submarines (generating line ∫1N), at the point or points of greatest channeling of the water flow produced naturally during navigation. Each turbine is preceded by a propeller (∫1N), whose function is to increase the speed of the water flow powering the turbine when the vessel and/or submarine is in motion, and to generate the power flow when the vessel and/or submarine is stationary (anchored or moored). |
| US07955146B1 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector adapted to be mounted to an electronic product which has two first locating blocks each defining a first containing mouth between two arms of the first locating block, and two second locating blocks each defining a second containing mouth between two arms of the second locating block. The electrical connector includes an insulating housing and a plurality of terminals. The insulating housing defines a plurality of terminal passages. The insulating housing has two opposite end surfaces which oppositely protrude outward to form two connecting blocks. A front of each of the connecting blocks is positioned in the first containing mouth and a rear of each of the connecting blocks is positioned in the second containing mouth so that the connecting block can be clipped between the first locating block and the corresponding second locating block. The terminals are received in the terminal passages, respectively. |
| US07955144B2 |
Banana plug with a body with a contact segment extended into an adjoining cage
The invention relates to an electrical plug connector, in particular a banana plug, having a base body (2) and having a contact pin (3) which is arranged on the front face of the base body (2), with the base body (2) having a connecting cage (4) for holding a connecting cable and for making an electrically conductive connection to the contact pin (3). The invention is based on the object of providing a better plug connector. The plug connector is intended to have good characteristics for transmission of audio signals. A further aim is that it should be possible to produce the plug connector at low cost. In order to achieve this object, the invention proposes that the contact pin (3) comprise two or more contact segments (5) and be in the form of a metallic stamped and bent part, with at least one of the contact segments (5) being at least partially embedded in the base body (2), which is composed of plastic, and extending into the interior of the connecting cage (4). |
| US07955139B2 |
Method and system for reducing internal crosstalk and common mode signal generation within a plug/jack combination
A communication connector is described that includes a plug and a jack, into which the plug is inserted. The plug terminates a length of twisted pair cable. The jack includes a sled to support contacts for connecting to wires within the cable, a rigid circuit board that connects to the contacts, and a flex board that contacts the plug interface contacts. The jack also includes circuitry to compensate for crosstalk between wire pairs of the cable by adding capacitance values within the sled, rigid circuit board and/or flex board between traces carrying signals from the wire pairs so that crosstalk caused by the plug between wire pairs that have signals in phase cancels with crosstalk caused by the plug between signals out of phase, and so that the capacitance values added between each trace are about equal. The compensation is performed to reduce differential to common mode signal conversion. |
| US07955134B2 |
Photovoltaic inverter
A photovoltaic inverter with an inverter housing includes at least a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a wall. The first chamber has a higher Ingress Protection (IP) rating than the second chamber. The first chamber accommodates at least one electronic component part of the photovoltaic inverter. A surface of the wall facing the second chamber provides a plurality of fuse housings. Each of the fuse housings accommodates a fuse and being coupled to a plug connector electrically connected to the fuse. The plug connectors provide electrical connections to the first chamber. |
| US07955133B2 |
Flexible power distribution module
A power distribution module for a vehicle includes an insulating housing including a component grid, the component grid defining a plurality of circuit protection footprints, the housing further including at least one connector mount or terminal mating location; a printed circuit board (“PCB”) located within the housing and beneath the component grid, the PCB holding a plurality of fuse mounting terminals and at least one connector mounting terminal, the PCB including a plurality of conducting traces connecting the fuse mounting terminals to the at least one connector mounting terminal; and a cover that threadingly engages the housing, the threading engagement leading to a locking of the cover to the housing that tends to prevent the cover from loosening from the housing when the vehicle is being driven, the locking of the cover able to be overcome by a person so that the cover can be unthreaded readily from the housing. |
| US07955129B2 |
Camera socket having fold-back contact terminals arranged in high density
A camera socket (100) includes a metallic housing (40) defining a receiving space (101), a contact terminal insert disposed within the metallic housing (40) and including a plurality of contact terminals (30) integrally formed with an insulative housing (20) and arranged in an array. Each contact terminal (30) includes a fold-back contact engaging arm (34) extending backwardly and offset from a main portion (33) of the contact terminal (30) in a way such that a free end (341) of each of the contact engaging arm is located adjacent to a sidewall (41) of the metallic housing (40) for engaging with a camera module (100a). |
| US07955127B2 |
Connector
A connector which can be made small is provided. The connector 1 includes: a connector housing 2 receiving terminal fittings 13 arranged in rows, the terminal fitting 13 attaching an electric wire 17 thereto; and a holding part 3 including a plurality of molded members 20 molded integrally with an outer periphery of the electric wires 17; and a packing 4 attached to an outer periphery of the holding part 3 and sealing up a space between the holding part 3 and the connector housing 2. |
| US07955126B2 |
Electrical connector with grounding member
A coaxial cable connector includes tubular post, a coupler secured over an end of the tubular post for securing the connector to an appliance, and an outer body secured to the tubular post. An electrical grounding path is maintained between the coupler and the tubular post whether or not the coupler is tightly fastened to the appliance. The electrical grounding path is provided by a resilient, electrically-conductive grounding member disposed between the tubular post and the coupler. Alternatively, the connector includes conductive grease at a point where mating portions of the tubular post and coupler have closely matching dimensions. |
| US07955120B2 |
Wire containment cap with an integral strain relief clip
A wire containment cap for reducing horizontal strain on a cable terminated at a communication jack. The wire containment cap is part of the communication jack and includes a strain relief clip that may be actuated to apply pressure to the cable. The applied pressure holds the cable in place and helps prevent wire pairs of the cable from pulling out of terminals in the communication jack. |
| US07955119B2 |
Lamp assembly having self-retaining means
A lamp assembly (100) includes a lamp base (3) defining a socket, with a mounting portion (33) arranged therein; a pair of cables (4) inserted into the socket via a cable passage defined in a rear portion of the lamp base, with conductors of the cables extending through passageways in the mounting portion and configured to hook thereon; a lamp holder (2) having a body portion inserted into the socket of the lamp base together with the mounting portion to sandwich the conductors; and a lamp bulb (1) held by the lamp holder, with a pair of legs thereof inserted into the socket and contacting conductors of the cables. |
| US07955110B1 |
Connector with a connecting member pressing insulators of terminals of two mating terminal housings
A connector has a first terminal housing with first connecting terminals and a second terminal housing with second connecting terminals. When the first terminal housing and the second terminal housing are mated, one side of the first connecting terminals and one side of the second connecting terminals form pairs and provide contacts, respectively. Each of the contacts is sandwiched by an insulator. The insulator has a first isolating member configured to be fixed to other side of an adjacent first connecting terminal and to cover one surface of the adjacent first connecting terminal, and a second isolating member configured to be fixed to the other side of an adjacent second connecting terminal and to cover one surface of the adjacent second connecting terminal. The insulator is formed by overlapping the first insolating member and the second isolating member when the first terminal housing and the second terminal housing are mated. |
| US07955109B2 |
Quick disconnect hermaphroditic electrical connector with sharp angle interlocking side hooks on each half
A number of improved interlock structures on a quick disconnect hermaphroditic electrical connector that specifically improve the keyed alignment of the two connector ends when joined together as well as the security of the connection. The combination of a “top closed” interlock insert depression and a pair of interlock disc projections provides for better keyed alignment and a more secure connection. The use of sharp angle interlock side hooks further provides for a more secure connection. |
| US07955106B1 |
Flex connector and manufacturing process
A modular power distribution system includes power distribution assemblies and flex connectors. The flex connector includes end connector housings and a flexible jacket that encloses conductor wires extending between the connectors. The jacket is formed from superimposed layers of sheet-like jacket material that is flexible. The bottom jacket layer is first laid on a bottom housing section wherein conductors are then placed thereupon with an upper jacket layer then positioned over the bottom jacket layer. The top and bottom jacket layers have aligned free edges along at least one side thereof wherein the free edges are bonded together such as by heat sealing. |
| US07955105B2 |
Connector arrangement with penetrator in a submersible electrical assembly
A connector arrangement in a submersible electrical assembly including an electric equipment or electrical power consumer housed in an enclosure filled with conductive fluid. Power is supplied to the power consumer in a connecting area defined through a dielectric containment located inside the enclosure, and to a penetrator comprising power cable termination components enclosed in a penetrator housing extending from a rear end to a forward end of the penetrator. The rear end is arranged to seal about a power cable receivable in the housing from the rear end. The forward end exposes a connector arranged for electrically connecting the power consumer to the penetrator. The penetrator housing in the forward end is extended beyond the connector through a housing section projecting into the power consumer enclosure and terminated in a forward end by an end wall. The end wall has a passage sealable about a power consumer conductor mateable with the connector of the penetrator in a connecting mode. |
| US07955103B2 |
Connector
A connector adequately detects a state of an electronic component such as a memory card which is fitted in the connector by way of insertion, even when scrapes of a housing of the electronic component are produced due to insertion and removal of the electronic component which is fitted. In this connector (100), detecting parts (160A and 160B), which detect that a memory card (20) is fitted completely in an accommodating part (102) or detect whether or not data can be written in the memory card (20), have fixed terminals (162) and movable terminals (161). In the movable terminal (161), a card contacting part (163a) placed in the accommodating part (102) is pressed by the memory card (20), so that a movable contact part (164a) contacts and conducts with the fixed terminal (162). An isolating wall part (190) is provided between the contacting part (163a) and the movable contact part (164a) to isolate a contact area between the movable contact part (164a) and the fixed terminal (162), from the contacting area between the contacting part (163a) and the memory card (20). |
| US07955101B2 |
Modifiable electrical connector lug
An electrical connector including a first connection section adapted to connect the electrical connector to a first conductor; and a second connection section connected to the first connection section. The second connection section includes a lug having a hole configured to be located onto a mounting post. The second connection section has a substantially straight shape with the electrical connector having a first predetermined product safety certification. The second connection section includes a recess on a top side forming a weakened line across the second connection section for bending the second connection section at the weakened line from the substantially straight shape to a bent shape forming a modified electrical connector having a second different predetermined product safety certification. |
| US07955100B2 |
Connector and electronic device having the same
An electronic device and a connector thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a circuit board and an electronic device and the connector disposed on the circuit board. The connector includes a slot and a cap. The slot is configured for a card module to be plugged in along a plugging direction. A first pillar portion and a second pillar portion are at two opposite sides of the slot. The cap is disposed on a top of the first pillar portion and has a first protruding portion. The first protruding portion protrudes out of a side of the first pillar portion away from the second pillar portion while observing along the plugging direction. |
| US07955098B1 |
Card edge connector with an ejector assisting a memory card inserted therein
A card edge connector (100) for mating with a memory card (900) includes an elongate insulative housing (1), and a number of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing (3); the insulative housing (1) defines a pair of side walls (11), a central slot (12) between the side walls (11), and at least a tower portion (13) at one end thereof; an ejector (3) rotatably attached to the tower portion (13) and has a body portion (31), an operation portion (32) and a lock portion (33) extending from a top end of the body portion (31), and a rotation portion (34) at a lower end of the body portion (31); wherein the rotation portion (34) has at least two adjacent dentations (3411) extending inwardly from an inner side thereof to push the memory card (900) downwardly into the central slot (12). |
| US07955095B1 |
Battery connector and contact used therein
A battery connector, for being mounted to a printed circuit board, includes an insulating housing defining a front surface, a rear surface and a mounting surface. The front surface has a plurality of contact receiving cavities spaced from one another. An upper partition formed in the contact receiving cavity. A plurality of contacts is received in the contact receiving cavities respectively. Each of the contacts has a contact portion of substantially big rectangular block shape, a soldering portion, and a connecting portion having two ends connected with a lower edge of the rear end of the contact portion and a top edge of the soldering portion. The contact has an upper notch receiving and clamping the upper partition. The soldering portion has two opposite ends substantially flush with that of the contact portion. |
| US07955091B2 |
Connector assembly having alignment members for holding a module
An electrical connector for electrically coupling an electronic module and an electrical component. The connector includes a substrate that has first and second surfaces separated by a thickness. The substrate includes interconnects that extend through the substrate and are arranged in an array. The interconnects are configured to engage the module along the first surface and engage the electrical component along the second surface. The connector also includes alignment members that extend through openings in the substrate. The alignment members include heads that project beyond and away from the first surface. The heads are located about the substrate relative to each other to collectively form a module reception area therebetween to hold the module in a predetermined position and orientation with respect to the first surface and with respect to the interconnects. |
| US07955090B2 |
Optical transceiver, connector, substrate unit, optical transmitter, optical receiver, and semiconductor device
One ends of a plurality of interface pins are attached to a substrate in a line. Optical semiconductor device and an electric circuit are mounted on this substrate. The other ends of the interface pins are fit into holes in an another substrate. Signals are exchanged between the two substrates via the interface pins. The interface pins are embedded in a dielectric material. A plurality of ground pins and/or ground through holes may be provided in the dielectric material around the interface pins. The dielectric constant of the dielectric material is less than the dielectric constants of the two substrates. |
| US07955088B2 |
Axially compliant microelectronic contactor
One embodiment is an axially compliant electrical contactor for interconnecting microelectronic devices, the contactor including: an insulative sleeve having a hole therethrough; and a metal tube having a cylindrical wall being slidably disposed in the hole; wherein: (a) two or more elongated slots through the cylindrical wall extend from a first circumferential collar of the tube to a second circumferential collar of the tube; (b) the two or more slots form two or more elongated resilient legs connecting the first collar and the second collar; and (c) a portion of each elongated leg is disposed in the hole. |
| US07955087B2 |
Midplane of communication device
A midplane of a communication device, includes the first connectors and the second connectors which connect with each other via high-speed traces, the first connectors arrange in parallel at one side of the midplane, the second connectors arrange in parallel at the other side of the midplane and in parallel with the first connectors. The wiring of high-speed traces between the first connectors and the second connectors can be disposed on the whole midplane, so that it avoids the high density of wiring in part of midplane, reduces the number of layers of the midplane and the complexity of design, and reduces the crosstalk in signals. And the cooling of the whole communication device can be accomplished by only one heat dissipation system, it reduces the complexity of design of the communication device. The area between each frames of the midplane is provided to allocate electrical power in the communication device with two or multiple frames, it reduces the costs of the communication device. |
| US07955084B2 |
Wireless transmitter with securely adjustable pivotal plug for connecting to musical instrument
A battery-powered wireless transmitter for connecting to a musical instrument comprising an antenna; a cover comprising a well at one end and a first gear on one side of the well; a T-shaped plug having a horizontal section pivotably disposed in the well and a vertical section projecting out of the well, the plug comprising a spring member at one end of the horizontal section, a second gear on the other end of the horizontal section being urged by the spring member to mesh with the first gear, and an electrically conductive rod projecting out of the vertical section; and an adapter comprising an end socket. Pivoting the rod about the horizontal section by rotating the second gear about the fixed first gear will adjust an angle of the plug with respect to the cover and fix the angle after stopping the pivoting. |
| US07955082B1 |
Basketball training device and method
A portable basketball training device and method for creating visual distractions adjacent to an elevated transparent basketball backboard in the vicinity of the rim to facilitate increasing a player's concentration, focus, skill and accuracy in goal shooting. The device includes a housing mounted on the backboard that contains a motorized reciprocating member, and a plurality of movable vision distracters disposed on a back side of the backboard suspended from the reciprocating member having body portions extending downwardly from the housing in the vicinity of the rim which swing or bounce from side behind the backboard in the vicinity of the rim. This motion tends to distract the player's attention and cause them to lose their concentration on making the shot. However, over time, a player will learn to increase their concentration and focus to overcome this distraction, and thereby enhance their skill and accuracy in goal shooting. |
| US07955071B1 |
Apparatus for injection molding
A nozzle assembly for selectably conveying material in a flowable condition to a cavity of a mold assembly comprises a nozzle body, a removable nozzle tip, a valve pin member extending through the nozzle body and having a tip end for selectably forming a seal with a valve seat to selectably prevent passage of material into the mold cavity and a pin guide for guiding the valve pin member, the pin guide being partially received within the nozzle tip and partially received within the nozzle body and having at least one alignment surface on the exterior thereof and cooperating with an aligning surface of the nozzle body to align the pin guide relative to the nozzle body and with an aligning surface of the nozzle tip to align the nozzle tip relative to the pin guide whereby the nozzle tip is aligned relative to the nozzle body. |
| US07955070B2 |
Device for moulding parts of a plastic material
A molding device including a mold having a stationary portion arranged on a stationary platen of a press, and a movable portion arranged on a movable platen of the press, at least one injection channel for injecting material into the movable portion of the mold, and a feeder device for feeding the mold with plastics material, the feeder device including a stationary installation including a first metering device for metering a first quantity of material. The feeder device includes at least one second metering device arranged on the movable platen, the second metering device being connected to the first metering device in such a manner as to be fed with plastics material by said first metering device, and being connected to the injection channel for injecting material into the movable portion of the mold in such a manner as to be capable of feeding it with plastics material. |
| US07955068B2 |
Injection molding machine
An injection apparatus includes a guide member on a frame via a guide member support mechanism. A screw rotation mechanism is assembled on the guide member. This prevents the guide member from being affected by deformation of the frame and allows the screw rotation mechanism to be smoothly moved. Thus, a screw rotatably coupled to the screw rotation mechanism can be smoothly moved. |
| US07955064B2 |
Device for producing molded parts from fiber material
A device for creating a three-dimensional molded part (30) made from fiber material using of a multiple-part mold (1, 2) whose inside (1a, 2a) determines, at least partially, the contours of the molded part. The fibers are blown into the mold by an air flow using a plurality of nozzles (4) and the air flow then escapes through openings of the mold, so that the fibers accumulate on the inside of the mold, whereupon the fibers are optionally compressed locally before they are bonded with each other through the supply of heat and are finally taken from the mold (1, 2) as a molded part (30). The blowing direction of the nozzles (4, 24, 34) can be pivoted and the pivot axes extend close to the outside of the molded part and the fibers are blown in by the nozzles (4, 24, 34) that are activated at different times. |
| US07955063B2 |
Vane pump
A vane pump comprising a case, a rotor disposed in the case, the rotor having a bore, a plurality of vanes radially moveable with respect to the rotor extend from the rotor, a drive shaft engaged with the bore, a second shaft fixedly connected to the case and extending from the case to slidingly engage the bore, a land extending from each end of the rotor, each land cooperating with the case to seal a fluid flow, and each land further axially controlling a rotor position within the case by a sliding engagement, and the drive shaft retainable in a predetermined position with respect to the case. |
| US07955061B2 |
Priming pump for a circuit subjecting said pump to an outlet pressure greater than an inlet pressure
The invention provides a priming pump comprising a deformable envelope associated with an inlet endpiece and an outlet endpiece each fitted with a moving valve member, the endpieces being arranged in such a manner that when the valve members are in the closed position, the outlet endpiece presents a leakage rate that is greater than the leakage rate of the inlet endpiece. |
| US07955058B1 |
Reciprocating piston to piston energy pump
This invention is a reciprocating piston to piston device that can function 1) to increase or decrease pressure in a hydraulic or pneumatic system with minimal energy loss or 2) as a hydraulic or pneumatic pump or motor. The input and output fluids may be the same or different. The energy transferred or pumped depends on the size of the input piston, the pressure of the input fluid, and rate of reciprocation. |
| US07955052B2 |
Load sensing on a rotor blade of a wind power plant
A rotor blade of a wind power plant, comprising a rotor blade connection for connection to a hub of the rotor of a wind power plant and a blade tip disposed at the opposite end of the rotor blade. In order to provide a rotor blade in which flexing can be detected with simple means, at least one electrical conductor is laid over the length of the rotor blade, wherein the electrical conductor begins at the rotor blade connection, extends in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade and back to the rotor blade connection, and that there is provided a detector which detects the electrical resistance of the conductor and is connected to an evaluation device which evaluates the electrical resistance. |
| US07955051B2 |
Diffuser/guide vane assembly for a turbomachine
A diffuser/guide vane assembly for an aircraft turbojet or turboprop engine is disclosed. The diffuser includes annular flanges joined by blades and the guide vane assembly includes cylindrical shelves joined by vanes. The annular flanges and the cylindrical shelves are formed from metal sheets to which the vanes are assembled by brazing. |
| US07955049B2 |
Seal between relatively moveable members
A seal (48) between first and second relatively rotatable members (26,28). The seal comprises an abradable material on at least one of the relatively rotatable members (26,28). The abradable material comprises an open cell metallic foam (60) and polymeric films (64) closing the cells (62) of the metallic foam (60). The seal (48) is used between compressor rotor blades (26) and a stator casing (28) of a gas turbine engine (10). The seal (48) combines the sealing properties of a closed cell metallic foam with the abradability and manufacturing control of open cell metallic foam. |
| US07955048B2 |
Steam turbines
A steam turbine is provided that is configured for post-modification for operation in a carbon capture mode. The turbine includes a turbine rotor, a turbine casing and a plurality of turbine stages. In an initial configuration of the turbine, the turbine rotor and turbine casing are each longer, by respective lengths, than is necessary to accommodate the plurality of turbine stages. The lengths are sufficient to accommodate at least one further turbine stage at an exit of the turbine during the post-modification, such that after modification, the turbine operates with an increased expansion ratio and an increased volumetric flow rate at the exit. |
| US07955047B2 |
Variable geometry turbine
Variable geometry turbine, in particular a gas turbine, comprising a housing (2, 22), a turbine rotor (4), a fluid inlet scroll (1) that surrounds the turbine rotor, a vaned nozzle interposed between the inlet scroll and the turbine rotor conceived to accelerate the flow of fluid, the nozzle comprising an axially adjustable ring (5, 25) conceived to vary the nozzle gap (3, 23) and having a wall (19) delimiting the nozzle gap, the wall having balance holes (6, 26, 26′) connecting the nozzle gap with a chamber (12) delimited by the housing and the ring, characterised in that the edges (16), formed by the holes with the surface (18) of the wall facing the nozzle gap, are rounded in the portion (17, 17′) located downstream the holes with respect to the fluid flow. Turbocharger and supercharged engine comprising the engine. |
| US07955043B2 |
Substrate transfer apparatus
Provided is a substrate transfer apparatus which can perform stable and highly accurate transfer without making a configuration complicated. A substrate transfer apparatus according to the present invention includes a multijoint arm whose one end is arranged on a base and the other end is connected to a hand for supporting a substrate, a linear guide for guiding a rectilinear movement of the hand, and a belt driving mechanism for moving the hand along a guide rail of the linear guide. The substrate transfer apparatus having such a configuration supports a load acting on the hand by the multijoint arm and ensures rectilinear transfer performance of the hand by the linear guide. Therefore, since a special mechanism for passing the substrate through a dead point is not required, the configuration is prevented from becoming complicated. Furthermore, since the load does not directly act on the linear guide, high transfer accuracy can be obtained. |
| US07955041B2 |
Quick changeover apparatus and methods for wafer handling
Quick changeover apparatus for wafer handlers capable of handling at least two sizes of wafer frames and methods of using such apparatus are disclosed. |
| US07955038B2 |
Turnlock fastener
A turnlock fastener (1) for the connection of two components features a cover plate (4) and a base shaft (5) which is formed on the cover plate (4) and which extends away from the cover plate (4), at which at least two opposing rigid locking stands (10, 11) are positioned at a distance from the cover plate (4) and extend outward from the base shaft (5) in the radial direction. In addition, a fixing arrangement is provided to secure the turnlock fastener (1) to a first component which possesses at least two radial elastic spring limbs (14, 15) which are each arranged between two locking stands (10, 11) and which are connected at one end with the base shaft (5) and which extend away from the base shaft (5) with the other free end in the direction of the cover plate (4). That way, the turnlock fastener (1) can be secured ahead of time within certain relatively large dimensions of insertion openings of different sizes and with relatively large pullout forces. |
| US07955037B2 |
Fastener assembly
A fastener assembly includes a threaded bolt and a locking nut assembly. The threaded bolt includes at least one longitudinal groove. The locking nut assembly includes a nut adapted to threadingly engage the bolt, a locking ring adapted to engage the bolt and the nut, and a biasing member adapted to bias the locking ring. The nut includes a threaded bore dimensioned to receive the bolt and can include a plurality of teeth formed on a face of the nut. Alternatively, an insert ring can be received by the nut and the insert ring can include teeth. The locking ring includes at least one inwardly protruding tab dimensioned to be received by the at least one longitudinal groove of the threaded bolt and a plurality of teeth formed on a face of the ring. The teeth on the face of the locking ring cooperate with the teeth on the face of the nut, or insert ring, to inhibit removal of the nut from the bolt after the nut has been tightened. |
| US07955032B2 |
Cutting insert with coolant delivery and method of making the cutting insert
An assembly of components for forming upon consolidation of the components a cutting insert for use in chipforming and material removal from a workpiece wherein the cutting insert receives coolant from a coolant source. The assembly comprises a cavity member that presents opposite first and second rake surfaces and a flank surface. The cavity member further presents a first cutting edge at the juncture of the first rake surface and the flank surface. The cavity member further has a first depression in the first rake surface that is generally adjacent to the first cutting edge. The cavity member has a first cavity channel in communication with the first depression. |
| US07955027B2 |
System and method for a curved conduit
A system and method are disclosed for converting channels manufactured for connection together to produce a straight conduit into channels that may be connected together to produce an effectively curved conduit. A link is described that permits the connection between two channels to be connected with an axial offset, which cumulatively allows a plurality of channels to produce a curved conduit. |
| US07955025B2 |
Tile for synthetic grass system
An array of tiles for use in a synthetic grass system. The array includes a plurality of tiles wherein a first tile has attachment members on three sides and complementary attachment members on the fourth side and a second tile includes two sets of adjacent sides, the first set having attachment members and the second set having complementary attachment members. |
| US07955018B2 |
Applicator and a packaging and applicator device
A packaging and applicator device for a makeup composition includes a receptacle for containing the composition and an applicator for applying the composition. The applicator includes a handle of elongate shape, having a longitudinal axis and a rotary applicator member movable relative to the handle about an axis of rotation that does not coincide with the longitudinal axis, the applicator member defining an applicator surface that projects outwards between free surfaces of the applicator member and that is for loading with composition. The axis of rotation is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis and is not perpendicular thereto; and/or the applicator member is offset laterally relative to the handle so that a proximal side of the applicator surface is free. |
| US07955015B2 |
Device for applying a product
A device for applying a product may include a container configured to contain a product and a case with a compartment configured to receive the container. The case may define an opening and the container may be configured to be moved relative to the case between a first angular position in which product in the container is accessible via the opening, and a second angular position in which product in the container is inaccessible. The device may further include an applicator. In some examples, the applicator may include a first portion configured to contribute to restricting axial movement of the applicator with respect to the case, and a second portion distinct from the first portion, wherein the second portion may be configured to contribute to rotationally coupling the applicator to the container so that movement of the applicator causes movement of the container between the first and second angular positions. |
| US07955011B2 |
Coating and developing apparatus, substrate processing method, and storage medium
A coating and developing apparatus is provided which requires a smaller occupation space even when it incorporates a substrate inspection unit, while eliminating a disadvantageous layout. A coating film forming part B3 including a plurality of process units and transfer mechanisms A3 and A4, and a developing part B1 including a plurality of process units 31 and a transfer mechanism A1 are vertically arranged in a process block S2. There are disposed in the process block S2 on a side of a carrier block S1, a plurality of vertically arranged transfer units TRS for transferring a substrate W between the same and transfer mechanisms for the respective parts, and a vertically movable transfer mechanism D1 for the transfer unit for transferring a substrate between these transfer units. At least one of the coating film forming part and the developing part includes a substrate inspection unit 43 for inspecting a substrate transferred by the transfer mechanism for the corresponding part. |
| US07955007B2 |
Lens barrel with barrier device
A lens barrel includes a barrel member including an optical system and a barrier device mounted thereto. The barrier device includes blades that are openable/closable to protect a front surface of the optical system, a cover member having an opening portion for allowing light to pass therethrough, and a barrier driving member configured to drive the barrier blades such that the blades are revolvable around an optical axis. Size of shielded area is defined when the blades are fitted together after rotating corresponding to a range capable of shielding the opening portion. Rotation shafts are configured to allow the blades to rotate therearound to be opened/closed and are pivotally mounted on the barrier driving member. The barrier driving member is configured to rotate to bring the blades into a closed state in such a manner as to shield a gap made between the shielded area and the opening portion. |
| US07955006B1 |
Ball turret camera assembly
A lightweight camera mount allowing tilt and pan of a camera turret through a significant portion of a spherical range is disclosed. The camera turret comprised of two hemispheres has a full 360 degree freedom of pan rotation and up to 140 degree of tilt rotation. The mount includes a tilt assembly embedded within the turret and a pan assembly external to the turret. The tilt assembly in communication with a tilt feedback device provides a tilt movement to the turret. The pan portion in communication with a pan feedback device provides a pan movement to the turret. The mount is configured to be mounted on a land based vehicle, a water based vehicle, or an aerial vehicle. |
| US07955004B2 |
Fiber optic furcation method
A fiber optic furcation method for fiber optic cables having a plurality of optical fibers and a fiber optic junction made by said method. The method comprises the steps of threading each optical fiber into a separate fiber optic cable forming a junction; placing a first tube around the junction so that the tube covers the reinforcing members of the fiber optic cables; folding reinforcing fibers from the fiber optic cables over the first tube; applying an adhesive to the reinforcing fibers; placing a second tube around the junction; and shrink wrapping the junction. |
| US07955000B2 |
Joint assembly, particularly for bogie brake linkages
A greased joint assembly operating in oily conditions comprises an axle mounted rotating or pivoting in a ring. The axle and/or the ring are subjected to a hardening surface treatment by diffusion or by structural transformation followed by a finishing surface treatment and a treatment suitable for reducing the tendency to jamming and for reducing the sensitivity to corrosion, and the bore of the ring and/or the axle is provided with arrangements acting as a lubricant reserve. |
| US07954999B2 |
End profile on slide bearing complementary elements for reducing surface pressure
The invention relates to an end profile on slide bearing complementary elements having a pin (22) and at least one bearing sleeve (24, 24′) for receiving the pin (22), said pin (22) absorbing an eccentric force (F) which acts perpendicularly with respect to the pin/bearing sleeve unit (20), and the at least one bearing sleeve (24, 24′) being of cylindrical configuration and the pin (22) being of tapering configuration in a manner which extends from predefined positions in each case toward the axial end. In addition, a geometrically opposed geometry of the pin and the bearing sleeve is claimed. |
| US07954997B2 |
Cabinet assembly for radiation detector
A modified grid cabinet or “bucky” assembly intended for use with a digital imaging system and dimensioned and structured to retrofit a conventional film type x-ray device originally intended for use in combination with a conventional film bucky. The bucky assembly includes a frame having an at least partially hollow interior and a tray movably connected to the frame and slidably positionable between an outwardly extending open position and an inwardly disposed closed position. The tray is structured to support and position a digital sensor into an imaging position relative to the operative image capturing components of the digital imaging system. The tray includes a retaining assembly disposed and structured to removably retain the digital sensor in any a plurality of operative orientations including a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation. |
| US07954996B2 |
Positioning system with tilting arm support for imaging devices
A positioning system for imaging devices is provided. The positioning system includes an imaging element and a tilting arm support having the imaging element coupled thereto. The tilting arm support includes a linkage to tilt the imaging element when the tilting arm support moves. |
| US07954995B2 |
Sensor arrangement and method for using same
A sensor arrangement includes, in some embodiments, a magnetostrictive element configured to output magnetic signals in response to a magnetic field. A sensor is configured to sense a value of a property of a selected object, and to provide an electrical resistance that varies in response to variations in the sensed value. The sensor cooperates with the magnetostrictive element to vary the frequency of the signals output by the magnetostrictive element based on variations of the electrical resistance provided by the sensor. A transmitter provides an alternating magnetic field to the magnetostrictive element, and a receiver picks up the magnetic signals generated by the magnetostrictive element. The frequency of the signals received is correlated with the sensor resistance, and the resistance is correlated to a value of the property sensed. |
| US07954989B2 |
Backlight module with diffusing particles and prism refractive structure
A backlight module includes a frame, a diffuser, a first light source, and a light guiding plate. The diffuser is disposed in the frame. A plurality of diffusing particles is doped into the diffuser. The refractive index of the plurality of diffusing particles is less than that of the diffuser. Furthermore, the diffuser has a first light entrance surface and a light exit surface. The first light source is disposed in a long-axial direction of the diffuser and is located at a side of the first light entrance surface. The light guide plate is disposed at a side of the light exit surface. |
| US07954982B2 |
High intensity light reflector apparatus
An air-cooled light reflector apparatus for high intensity light sources typically used in indoor horticultural and agriculture applications. The reflector apparatus includes an internal reflector fixed to a curved assembly of hinged extruded sections, a unique adjustable light source mounting fixture bracket, a double-paned insulating glass window and an insulating cover enclosing the apparatus. Forced air is provided to the apparatus for cooling the light source, while the heated air is ducted externally to minimize any rise in ambient air temperature. The double-paned insulating glass and enclosing insulating cover further minimize rise in ambient air temperature. The curvature of the internal reflector provides optimal photometric characteristics. |
| US07954981B2 |
Light source module for a light fixture
A method for generating an air stream for cooling a light source, and a light source module for a light fixture with a blower for cooling the light source and the light source base. To achieve highly effective cooling of a lamp in a light fixture or a projector at least one forced air stream is generated by a blower system which blower system can be placed at a distance from the light source module and can be connected from the blower through a tube to a duct which directs an air stream towards the light source. By using a tube for the connection between the blowing unit and the actual place where air stream is to be used for cooling, it is possible to operate the blower in a place where the suction inlet for air into the blowing unit is a relatively cool place. |
| US07954980B2 |
Folding rechargeable worklight
An LED having a center core and a first panel and a second panel coupled to the center core. The first panel includes a first array of LEDs mounted to a first circuit board disposed within a first opening formed within the first panel and a first lens disposed over the first array of LEDs. The second panel includes features similar to the first panel. The second panel is rotatable around the center core from a 0 degree closed orientation to about a 360 degree orientation, and is positionable at any intermediate angle therebetween. The LED includes a retractable hook for mounting to an elevated object. The LED also includes at least one magnet to mount the LED to vertical/vertically angling surfaces. The array of LEDs mounted to the first panel and the second panel can be controlled independently of one another. |
| US07954976B1 |
Multi-use adaptor kit/system for recessed can fixtures
An adaptor kit or system for use with conventional can light fixtures to adapt the can light fixture for use as a hanger assembly for auxiliary fixtures, such as a hanging lamp, a flush-mounted lamp or the like, includes an expandable/retractable shoe assembly with surfaces to forcibly engage the inner surface of a can with sufficient engagement thereto to install an auxiliary fixture. In the preferred embodiment, the shoe assembly is defined by two individual shoes connected by threaded nut/screw assemblies so that the nut/screw assemblies can be adjusted to cause the shoes to extend outwardly to effect a usable mounting. |
| US07954975B2 |
Refraction-type led ceiling lamp
A refraction-type LED ceiling lamp, especially a plate-type ceiling lamp which is used on an indoor ceiling, includes primarily a fiber light guide plate, a reflection surface of which is provided with multiple chip-shape reflection elements, distributed in arrays. A chip size of the reflection elements decreases gradually toward an entrance surface by a geometric series; whereas, a gap between the reflection elements increases gradually. A reflection curve of the reflection element allows light to be projected out uniformly and a required illumination angle to be achieved. |
| US07954967B2 |
Directional backlight, display apparatus, and stereoscopic display apparatus
A stereoscopic display apparatus includes a liquid-crystal display device that has display pixels arranged in a matrix and displays an elemental image array formed from a plurality of field images on the display pixels to render stereoscopic display, a parallax creating unit provided on the front surface or the rear surface of the liquid-crystal display device, and a directional backlight that emits light through the liquid-crystal display device then through the parallax creating unit and switches directions of the thus-emitted light among a plurality of directions according to a display of the field image is disclosed. |
| US07954965B1 |
Method for multiple gauges in a scanning laser based display device
A display for measured quantities can include a gauge with a set of indicia spaced around the gauge to indicate the measured quantities. A window can be formed in the gauge that extends along the set of indicia. An elliptical reflector can be positioned such that a first focus of the elliptical reflector is on the same axis as the center of the gauge with this axis perpendicular to the axis connecting the foci. An optical device can be mounted on a shaft and be arranged to redirect a light beam from a second foci of the elliptical reflector onto the elliptical reflector to generate a virtual pointer in the window. Means can be provided for turning the shaft to rotate the optical device. A light source can project the light beam onto the optical device. Rotation of the optical device can enable the virtual pointer to be selectively aimed at the set of indicia. |
| US07954964B2 |
Projector having a position adjusting device that moves the projection optical device
A projector includes: a projection position adjusting device that adjusts a projection position of a projection optical device. The projection position adjusting device includes: adjusting and driving units that move a first moving plate and a second moving plate. The adjusting and driving unit include: a pair of worms that have a columnar shape and have threads on outer circumferences thereof; and a pair of sliders that are screwed in the pair of worms, respectively. The pair of worms are disposed to extend along the first direction or the second direction. One of the sliders engages with one of moving plates. Engaging structures including inclining engaging holes that extend in a direction crossing the direction in the plane orthogonal to the projecting direction and engaging projections inserted through the inclining engaging holes are provided in the other slider and the other moving plate. |
| US07954961B2 |
Method for driving a high-pressure gas discharge lamp of a projector system
A method for driving a high-pressure gas discharge lamp of a projector system, which is suitable to produce and to supply to a light valve device during a projection interval (4) a light beam of a basic color which is selected from several basic colors (G, R, B). The lamp is driven by a lamp current. During said projection interval light valves of the light valve device are controlled in a pulse width modulation manner to have each valve provide a respective wanted light integral over said projection interval. During at least one of a number of successive projection intervals associated with one basic color a magnitude of the lamp current is temporarily reduced for at least a time that all light valves can be controlled for said one basic color. |
| US07954957B2 |
Projector, multi-screen system, projector control method, computer program product, and information storage medium
A image pickup unit picks up an image of a video projected by a projection unit and outputs the picked-up image. A control unit determines whether the picked-up image includes a projection video other than the video projected by the projection unit or not. If the control unit determines that the picked-up image includes a projection video other than the video projected by the projection unit, the control unit instructs a keystone correction unit to carry out keystone correction of the video signal in accordance with the picked-up image. The keystone correction unit carries out keystone correction of the input video signal or the output video signal so that an edge of the video projected by the projection unit contacts an edge of the projection video other than the video projected by the projection unit. |
| US07954954B2 |
System and method of projecting an image using a plurality of projectors
A device and method is provided for projecting an image within a defined content area using a plurality of projectors configured to each project a portion of an image. The device comprises a defined content area into which the image is projected by the plurality of projectors. A first group of projectors can be selected from the plurality of projectors and set at a first zoom level, then aligned and superpositioned with respect to one another to increase the pixel resolution and brightness of the projected image. The projectors can project a majority of projector light within the content area. A second group of projectors can be selected from the plurality of projectors, set at a second zoom level, aligned and superpositioned adjacent each other to project a majority of projector light within the content area. The first group of projectors can be superimposed with the second group of projectors to fill the content area and increase the pixel resolution and brightness of the projected image. |
| US07954952B2 |
System for combined security and display of publicly viewable information
A secure display system comprises one or more closure devices having non-transparent polycarbonate projection panels, one or more projectors, and a PC for providing both security and advertising capabilities. The secure display system can display publicly viewable information by projecting images containing, for example, text, graphics, and video from the inside through the projection panels, thus creating an externally viewable display while securing the premises. In some embodiments, the closure device can include a plurality of projection panels in the form of a security roll down shutter. Transparent viewing panels can also be included adjacent the projection panels to provide both viewing and projecting capabilities. |
| US07954949B2 |
Hand-held ocular fundus imaging apparatus
A lightweight and compact hand-held ocular fundus imaging apparatus is provided wherein alignment can be easily performed while ensuring a working length. An examiner takes hold of a grip by hand and secures a face pad against part of the face of a patient. The examiner performs alignment by tilting a reflecting mirror, and when alignment is complete, an image of the fundus of the patient's eye is taken. An optical system except for the reflecting mirror is disposed on the inside of a main body portion that includes the grip and the face pad, and the reflecting mirror is disposed on the outside of the main body portion. A lever for tilting the reflecting mirror is disposed on the grip. With this type of configuration, the alignment operation can be performed easily and reliably by moving the reflecting mirror while maintaining the apparatus main body in a stable state. |
| US07954948B2 |
Optical tomographic imaging method and apparatus
An optical tomographic imaging method is provided in which light from a light source is split into a measuring beam and a reference beam, the measuring beam being moved by a scanning optical system and guided to an object to be examined, the reference beam being guided to a reference mirror, and in which a tomogram of the object is generated from a return beam of the measuring beam reflected or scattered by the object and the reference beam reflected by the reference mirror. The method includes acquiring longitudinal sectional information on the object, calculating depth-position information on the object from the longitudinal sectional information, and acquiring a three-dimensional surface image of the object by controlling a reference-path length defined by the reference mirror and a scanning operation of the scanning optical system in accordance with the depth-position information on the object. |
| US07954945B2 |
Reflectometry/interferometry system and method for corneal plane positioning
A system for positioning an eye of a patient, for example, for laser ophthalmic surgery includes a reflectometer adapted to receive as input a reflected beam from an anterior surface of a cornea of an eye of a patient. The interferometer is calibratable to a desired position of the corneal anterior surface. A comparator is in signal communication with the interferometer and is adapted to calculate from the input a difference between an actual position and the desired position of the corneal anterior surface. A device is in signal communication with the comparator for moving the patient a distance in a direction for matching the actual position to the desired position of the corneal anterior surface. |
| US07954944B2 |
Spectacle lens and method for producing the same
The disclosure relates to a spectacle lens comprising: a lens base member; a multi-layered anti-reflection film placed on the lens base member, and including a layer mainly made of silicon dioxide as an outermost layer; and a water-and-oil repellent layer provided in contact with the outermost layer of the multi-layered anti-reflection film, and made by using, as raw materials: at least one kind of a first fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound and a second fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound. The disclosure also relates to methods of producing a spectacle lens that is capable of retaining a sufficient water-and-oil repellency over an extended period, and having sufficient edge processability. |
| US07954942B2 |
Floating lens mounting system
Various embodiments of an eyeglass and eyeglass system are provided that can maintain the geometric and optical quality of a lens supported by the eyeglass. The eyeglass can comprise a frame, a support member carried by the frame, and a lens mounting area or groove extending at least partially along at least one of the frame and the support member. The support member can be pivoted, moved, or deflected relative to the frame between a retaining position and an open position. In the open position, the lens can be seated within the lens mounting area. In the retaining position, the support member and the frame retain the lens without exerting deformative forces on the lens. Accordingly, the as-molded geometric and optical qualities of the lens can be preserved. |
| US07954940B2 |
Personal digital assistant having printhead
A personal digital assistant is provided which has a body housing a memory for storing personal digital assistant information, a printhead for printing the stored information, a bay extending along a first edge of the body for removably receiving a print media cartridge for supplying print media to the printhead, and control circuitry for controlling functions of the personal digital assistant, and a display pivotally mounted to the body at said first edge for displaying the stored information. |
| US07954939B2 |
Decurling mechanism
A decurling mechanism for performing a decurling process of correcting the curl of paper includes: a first roller; a second roller disposed travelably around the first roller; and a roller position changing mechanism for changing the second roller to a plurality of positions set on a traveling path of the second roller. The plurality of positions include a decurling position in which the decurling process to the paper is enabled and the paper is conveyed while being pinched between the first and second rollers, a conveyance position in which the decurling process to the paper is disabled and the paper is conveyed while being pinched between the first and second rollers and a pinch release position in which the paper is released from the pinch between the first and second rollers. |
| US07954936B2 |
Ink cartridges and ink supply systems
An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber configured to store ink. The ink chamber is defined by at least one wall, and an air layer is formed in the ink chamber between a surface of the ink and a portion of the wall. The ink cartridge also includes a pump for selectively supplying air to the air layer and to draw air from the air layer. An ink supply system includes a first ink tank including an ink chamber defined by at least one wall, and an air layer is formed in the ink chamber between a surface of the ink and a portion of the wall. The ink supply system also includes a pump for selectively supplying air to the air layer and to draw air from the air layer, and a second ink tank in fluid communication with the first ink tank. |
| US07954932B2 |
Movement apparatus and image recording apparatus
There is disclosed a movement apparatus including a movable body, a flexible long member, a support member, and a tubular member. The movable body reciprocates along a straight line. The long member has having two opposite ends a first one of which is fixed to the movable body and a second one of which is fixed to a stationary member. The form of the long member changes in accordance with a reciprocating movement of the movable body along the straight line and relative to the stationary member. The support member has a linear material portion at which the support member supports the long member. The tubular member is fitted on the linear material portion. |
| US07954929B2 |
Micro-fluid ejecting device having embedded memory in communication with an external controller
A micro-fluid ejecting head for use in a micro-fluid ejecting apparatus includes a plurality of micro-fluid ejection devices, a plurality of driver devices for driving the plurality of micro-fluid ejection devices, and a nonvolatile programmable memory matrix. The memory matrix contains embedded programmable memory devices for storing information related to operation of the micro-fluid ejecting head. The memory matrix is configured to communicate with a controller which is external of the micro-fluid ejecting head. The information stored in the memory matrix may include identification information for the micro-fluid ejecting head, alignment characteristics of the micro-fluid ejecting head, information regarding properties of fluid used by the micro-fluid ejecting head, fluid level information, and fluid use information. The external controller accesses the information stored in the memory matrix and controls the plurality of driver devices based on the information accessed from the memory matrix. |
| US07954918B2 |
Liquid discharge head substrate and liquid discharge head having reduced heat enable wiring
A selection circuit receives heat-enable signals to drive heaters, whereby signals are selected to drive the heaters. |
| US07954916B2 |
Droplet ejecting apparatus for forming dots on a medium
An apparatus for ejecting droplets includes an actuator which applies ejection pressure to a pressure chamber which stores ink; a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber and capable of ejecting a main droplet having a trajectory and a satellite droplet having a volume smaller than the main droplet together with the ejection of the main droplet; and a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber and ejects a main droplet having a trajectory intersecting the trajectory at a intersection point. The apparatus further includes a control device which controls the actuator and platen rollers transferring a paper. The control device performs control so that the main droplets collide with each other at the intersection point to form an united droplet and that the satellite droplet lands on the paper. |
| US07954915B2 |
Ink jet recording apparatus and remaining ink amount detecting method
Even if an error occurred in a result of the detection by an optical detecting mechanism for optically detecting whether or not a remaining amount of ink in an ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a correct situation of the remaining ink amount in the ink tank can be detected. A detecting method has a first discriminating step of discriminating whether or not a remaining ink amount in the ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount by using an optical sensor and a second discriminating step of discriminating whether or not the remaining ink amount in the ink tank is equal to or less than the predetermined amount on the basis of information regarding an amount of ink consumed in the ink tank. If the absence of ink is determined in either the first or second discriminating step, information showing the absence of ink is notified. |
| US07954914B2 |
Retractable hanging element
A household consumer product comprises a cabinet having a peripheral wall that partially defines an interior space for the cabinet and includes an opening that provides access to the interior space. A hanging element having a proximal end is mounted to the cabinet for movement through the opening between an extended position, where the proximal end extends beyond the peripheral wall, and a retracted position, where the proximal end does not extend beyond the peripheral wall. The hanging element can include a biasing device that biases the hanging element from the retracted position toward the extended position. |
| US07954909B2 |
Fluid pressure booster
In a fluid pressure booster, when an input shaft and a valve plunger advance, an atmosphere valve opens to introduce air into a variable pressure chamber. At this time, the input shaft has not moved by a predetermined stroke, and thus a projection of the valve plunger is positioned within an inner peripheral surface of a control valve body, thus forming an orifice, which causes air to be sucked at a restricted flow rate. As a result, generation of noise is suppressed. When the input shaft moves the predetermined stroke, the projection of the valve plunger is positioned away from the inner peripheral surface of the control valve body and the orifice is no longer formed. Accordingly, the flow rate of the air is not restricted by the orifice, and thus a relatively large amount of air is sucked into and introduced into the pressure variation chamber. |
| US07954907B1 |
Supplemental brake system of zero turn vehicle
A supplemental brake system of a zero turn vehicle has a prime mover, a brake pedal, a pair of axles, and a pair of transaxles driven by the prime mover so as to drive the respective axles. The transaxles include respective brakes for braking the respective axles according to depression of the brake pedal. Also included are supplemental braking means for stopping transmission of power from the prime mover to the pair of transaxles according to depression of the brake pedal. |
| US07954904B2 |
Shearer loader for underground mining comprising a spray system
A shearer loader for underground mining, the shear loader comprising a shearer loader body, at least one cutting drum fastened to a supporting arm joined to the loader body, a first drive motor for moving the shearer loader and a second drive motor for moving the cutting drums, a cooling water circuit for cooling the first and second drive motors, the cooling water circuit including an inlet and a return line, a spray system including at least one spray water circuit, the spray system including a feed line fluidly connecting a common water connection to the cutting drums, the spray system further including a valve in the feed line for switching the spray water circuits on and off, a control valve connected between the feed line of the spray water circuit and the return line of the cooling water circuit, the control valve allowing selective flow from the cooling water circuit to be directed to the cutting drums. |
| US07954899B2 |
Seat back assembly with an adjustable headrest
A seat back assembly including a frame molded from material having low density such as expanded polypropylene. The seat back assembly further includes an adjustable head rest assembly including a guide bracket encapsulated in a frame. Encapsulating the guide bracket within the frame provides the headrest assembly with a rigid support, while simultaneously reducing the mass of the seat back assembly with respect to seat back assemblies having a metal seat frame. The headrest assembly includes a headrest body and a pair of legs extending outwardly from the headrests. The guide bracket is fully encapsulated within the frame during the molding process, and is configured so as to slidingly receive each of the legs and secure the headrest assembly to the seat back assembly. |
| US07954898B2 |
Self-compensating mechanical latch
A latch mechanism may include a housing, a claw rotatably supported within the housing between a latched position and an unlatched position, a first cam rotatably supported within the housing and operable to lock the claw in the latched position, and a second cam supported within the housing and slidably coupled to the first cam to selectively translate and rotate the first cam relative to the claw. |
| US07954897B2 |
Vehicular seat
In a vehicular seat 10 according to this invention, since a back shell 32 covers a back frame 31, as in the case where the shape of a seat back is formed of the urethane pad, the shape of the seat back is not easily changed. Thus, the passenger can be surely held. Further, since the back shell 32 is displaceably supported for the back frame 31, the back shell 32 is displaced according to the figure or posture of the passenger. This permits the passenger to sit with good riding comfort. |
| US07954896B2 |
Chair seat with mutually moveable parts
The present invention concerns a chair seat (11) with mutually moveable seat parts (1, 5, 6). The seat parts (1, 5, 6) are mutually shiftable in substantially one and the same first plane. The chair seat is particularly adapted to be used as a chair for surgeons. |
| US07954890B2 |
Folding chair
A folding chair is disclosed. The chair includes a plurality of legs, including front and back legs, a seat, and a folding unit. The folding unit is attached to the legs and the seat, and it is configured to fold the legs using a force applied to at least one of the legs. The front legs nest beside the back legs. |
| US07954889B2 |
Sub-frame system for integrating a given roof module into a motor vehicle body
A sub-frame system is provided for integrating at least two different roof modules in a motor vehicle body. The sub-frame system includes, but is not limited to a common sub-frame base sub-frame component for roof modules, preferably all the roof modules, mountable on the car body, as well as several different supplementary sub-frame components, each of which is suited for a different roof module, and detachably connected to the base sub-frame component, and appropriately replaced for the purpose of creating a sub-frame suitable for a specific roof module. |
| US07954887B2 |
Rear structure of vehicle
A rear structure (10) of a vehicle is provided in which a lower back reinforcement (16) is provided longitudinally forward of a lower back panel (12). A gusset (34) connects the lower back reinforcement (16) and a rear floor side member (20) in a longitudinally and laterally oblique direction. Accordingly, when a collision load is applied to the vehicle from an oblique rear direction of the vehicle, the change in the angle formed by the lower back reinforcement (16) and the rear floor side member (20) is suppressed and the rigidity against such a collision load is thus improved. |
| US07954885B2 |
Installation structure of resin garnish
A resin garnish installation structure installed to a vehicle body exterior surface, having a resin garnish which extends along a longitudinal direction thereof, the resin garnish including: an exterior surface which is level with the vehicle body exterior surface; a first edge which extends along the longitudinal direction; a second edge which is provided on an opposite side of the first edge and extends along the longitudinal direction; and an end part provided at a tip in the longitudinal direction, wherein in a vicinity of the end part, the second edge gradually curbs toward the first edge, and the second edge joins the first edge at the end part, and the resin garnish is installed so that a gap is formed between the end part and the vehicle body exterior surface, the gap becoming wider as it gets closer to the tip of the resin garnish. |
| US07954882B2 |
Medical imaging trailer with thermal and mechanical isolation
A trailer for use with a mobile medical diagnostic imaging system includes a first shell having an exterior skin and at least one thermal insulation layer, a second shell within the first shell, the second shell having a first shielding layer, and an air gap between at least a portion of the first shell and the second shell to effectively isolate the first shell from the second shell. |
| US07954876B2 |
Tensioner and fastening device for a tonneau cover
A protective cover assembly for covering a space. The assembly includes a frame having rails. A material is disposed over the frame for covering the space. A plurality of fastening devices are disposed through to the material for securing the material to each of the rails. An anchor is secured to the second rail. A plunger extends from either the anchor or the first rail and defines an operational axis. The plunger slidably engages the other of either the first rail or the anchor for guiding the first rail between a first position relaxing the material and a second position tightening the material. The fastening device includes a cap, fingers and a retaining member engaging the fingers for capturing the material between the cap and the retaining member. |
| US07954871B2 |
Transparent/translucent flexible component for a vehicle interior
A trim component for a vehicle includes a flexible component, and at least a portion of the flexible component is translucent or transparent, allowing light to pass therethrough. The flexible component could also include an opaque portion. The trim component may be a tambour door of a center console or other storage area, a gear shift closeout, or a steering column closeout. The flexible component includes a plurality of slats and a substrate coupling the slats. The center console includes a light source directing light through the translucent portion of the tambour door. The slats are formed from polypropylene or polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and the substrate is formed from thermoplastic polyurethane or a thermoplastic elastomer. |
| US07954869B2 |
Pick and place apparatus
A pick and place apparatus includes a 1st to an nth device holding element arranged in a lengthwise direction, every one of the 1st to the nth device holding element being connected to its neighboring one(s) of the 1st to the nth device holding element by means of at least one pitch setting ring; a belt having a first coupling part at an upper part thereof for being coupled to the 1st device holding element and a second coupling part at a lower part thereof for being coupled to the nth device holding element; and a driven pulley and a differential pulley. The driven and the differential pulley are rotated by being engaged with the belt to move the 1st and the nth device holding element such that the 1st device holding element moves in a direction opposite to the nth device holding element. |
| US07954865B2 |
Impact-limiting system of a motor vehicle
An impact limiting system of a vehicle is provided with a cladding element and bumper substructure. The bumper substructure is spaced apart from the cladding element, and is covered by the cladding element. The bumper substructure is arranged on the vehicle body, and exhibits impact energy absorbing elements. The impact limiting system exhibits an impact force conveying element between the cladding element and bumper substructure. |
| US07954863B2 |
Bumper beam for a vehicle
A bumper beam in the form of an open hat beam with a central flange (11) pointing outwards has a transverse bulkhead (23) at one of its fastening portions (17). An internally threaded socket (22) is welded to the transverse bulkhead parallel with the bulkhead and protrudes through a hole (21) in the central flange (11) so that a tow eyelet can be screwed firmly into the socket when needed and thereafter be unscrewed. |
| US07954861B2 |
Crimped/swaged-on tubing terminations and methods
A tubing termination comprises a termination portion adapted to make a fluid connection and a tube attachment portion, adapted to receive a tube and to be crimped or swaged. The tube attachment portion comprises a retention mechanism that is adapted to be manipulated during crimping or swaging to bite the tube so as to lock the tube attachment portion relative to the tube. This retention mechanism may take the form of a deformable bite ring, a deflectable c-insert, irregularities defined on an inner surface of the tube attachment portion, and/or the like. The tube attachment portion also may include a resilient sealing mechanism adapted to provide a seal between the tube and the tube attachment portion, and thereby a fluid-tight connection between the tube and the termination portion. |
| US07954858B2 |
Conduit body with low friction inner surface layer
A conduit body assembly includes a conduit body having a layer of lubrication material thereon to aid in pulling wires therethrough. The conduit body includes an elongate side wall, an open upper end and a conduit body interior. At least one hub is in communication with said body interior for passage of wires therethrough. A layer of lubrication material having a low coefficient of friction is adhered to at least on portion of the surface of the body interior. |
| US07954857B2 |
Assembly of multi-use torque fitting and length of tubing having compressible seal
An assembly comprises a multi-use torque fitting and a length of tubing. The torque fitting generally comprises a threaded body portion and a torque-limiting body portion, wherein the threaded body portion and the torque-limiting body portion are arranged substantially concentrically along a longitudinal axis of the fitting. The length of tubing, meanwhile, generally comprises a compressible seal formed at its end. Generally, the torque fitting is configured to couple the length of tubing to a fluid port in a hermetically sealed or substantially leak-proof manner by providing a degree of compression to the compressible seal of the length of tubing sufficient to prevent substantial fluid leakage at the tube/port interface. |
| US07954855B2 |
Label and a lever arch file of ring binder
A label assembly comprises a support sheet of a paper material defining opposite surfaces, an adhesive coating applied to one side of the support sheet, and a printing paper defining opposite front and rear surfaces. The rear surface of the printing paper is releasably fixed to the support sheet in facial contact therewith through the adhesive coating and the printing paper is divided into individual paper labels or paper tags which are individually removable from the support sheet. The label assembly constitutes a label assembly which is readily printable in a laser jet or any similar printing machine such as an ink jet printer or a typewriter which label system consequently rendering it possible to provide a printing on a specific label for identifying a lever arch file or ring binder by means of the label assembly. |
| US07954854B2 |
Seat belt retractor and torsion bar providing secondary load limiting
A torsion bar, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an elongated bar has a first end, a second end, and a mid-section between the first and second ends. The first end of the elongated bar has a material void. The first end preferably has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the mid-section. In one design, the material void is a slot extending longitudinally, and the first end may also define a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots extending longitudinally. In another design, the material void is a bore extending longitudinally, and the first end may also define a plurality of slots extending longitudinally and extending from the bore through an exterior surface of the elongated bar to leave a plurality of fingers at the first end. In these designs and other, the torsion bar and the material void may be cold forged, thereby eliminating a second forming step. The torsion bar may also include a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end. |
| US07954852B2 |
Tilt telescopic steering device
An object of the present invention is to markedly increase the tilt holding force of a tilt telescopic column. A tilt telescopic steering device includes: a fixed bracket 1 fixed to a vehicle; a movable bracket 2 capable of moving relative to the fixed bracket 1; an intermediate bracket 3 which movably supports the movable bracket 2 in an axial direction, is rotatably pivoted on the fixed bracket 1 and is provided with a bearing 301 for rotatably supporting a steering shaft 101; a lock shaft 4 for tiltably and telescopicably fixing the fixed bracket 1 and the movable bracket 2 at a predetermined position; and a connecting shaft 5 for telescopicably fixing the movable bracket 2 and the intermediate bracket 3. |
| US07954851B2 |
Instrument panel and shield member
An instrument panel is provided with: a steering column having a column cover; and an instrument panel body having an opening into which the steering column is inserted and a shield part which is disposed on an edge of the opening so as to shield a gap between the opening and the column cover, wherein the shield part protrudes from an upper edge of the opening so as to enter the column cover at a position lower than an upper portion of the column cover, and a gap between the column cover and the opening is shielded in such a manner that lower portions of side surfaces of the column cover are inserted into the opening and are disposed on the front side of the shield part in a vehicle longitudinal direction rather than a rear end thereof. |
| US07954850B2 |
Air bag with adaptive venting
An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes a first panel (160) with at least one first vent opening (142). A second panel (144) secured to the first panel (160) includes a base portion (150) and a door portion (156). The base portion (150) includes at least one second vent opening (200) and is folded to position the door portion (156) between the first panel (160) and the base portion (150). The door portion (156) has an open condition positioned away from the vent openings (142, 200) permitting inflation fluid to vent through the vent openings. The door portion (156) has a closed condition positioned between the first and second vent openings (142, 200) blocking inflation fluid from venting through the first and second vent openings. The door portion (156) is movable to the closed condition when the protection device (14) deploys. The door portion (156) has a generally triangular configuration with a base merging with the base portion (150) of the door panel (144) and first and second edge portions (264) that extend away from the base and converge at a terminal end (224) of the door portion. |
| US07954849B2 |
Inflatable curtain
Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant (74). The inflatable device (14) includes overlying panels (40 and 42) that are interconnected along at least a portion of a perimeter (48) of the inflatable device to define an inflatable volume of the inflatable device. The inflatable device (14) when inflated has a predetermined thickness measured between overlying points on the overlying panels (40 and 42) at a location where the head of an occupant may contact the inflatable device. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid to the inflatable device (14) for inflating the inflatable device. The inflation fluid in the inflatable device (14) is pressurized to a predetermined pressure when the inflatable device is inflated. The predetermined pressure is determined as a function of the predetermined thickness of the inflatable device (14). |
| US07954846B2 |
Interior structure of vehicle
A door trim covers a door body of a side door. An article storage portion is provided at a lower portion of the door trim. A seat is provided beside the side door so that the seat and the side door are overlapped when viewed from a vehicle side. A side airbag device includes an airbag which inflates beside the seat with gas supplied from an inflator at a vehicle side crash and protects chest and waist portions of a passenger. A recess is provided at the door trim. The recess is concaved toward a vehicle outside at an upper portion of the door trim above the article storage portion. A covering member which restrains the airbag from coming into the recess is provided at the door trim so as to cover almost half of the recess. |
| US07954844B2 |
Curtain air bag device and method of producing the same
An air bag comprises inside and outside base fabrics that are stitched to constitute an outer bag that is flat when receiving no gas. The outer bag is formed with a gas inlet opening through which an inflation gas is led into the outer bag to expand the same. The air bag further comprises inside and outside smaller fabrics that are stitched to constitute an inner bag that is installed in the outer bag. Given portions of the inside and outside smaller fabrics are stitched to given portions of the inside and outside base fabrics respectively to form a plurality of narrow auxiliary chambers between the inner bag and the outer bag. |
| US07954838B1 |
User propelled golf cart
A user propelled golf cart includes a frame having front and rear ends. A seat, pedal, and front wheel are operatively coupled to the frame. A plurality of rear wheels are rotatably coupled to the frame rear end to rotate about a common imaginary axis. The pedals operatively rotate at least one wheel about an imaginary axis. A tub is configured to receive a golf bag. A storage rack includes a first section configured to be removably coupled to the frame rear end, a second section configured to be removably coupled to the frame between the front and rear ends, and a support leg. The front wheel is raised above the rear wheels when the first section is coupled to the frame rear end, the second section is coupled to the frame, and the support leg contacts a ground surface or a receiving member. |
| US07954835B2 |
Front wheel suspension structure for saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same
A front wheel suspension structure for a saddle-type vehicle (all terrain vehicle) includes a double wishbone suspension system. The double wishbone suspension system includes a pair of right and left upper arms and a pair of right and left lower arms. The upper arm and the lower arm each include a front arm portion and a rear arm portion, respectively, and each of the upper arm and the lower arm is attached to a side of a body frame at two points. When viewed in a side view, the rear arm portion of the upper arm is located in front of the rear arm portion of the lower arm. A front shock absorber is arranged behind the rear arm portion of the upper arm. |
| US07954831B1 |
Scooter having a collapsible structure
A scooter includes a main frame, a head tube mounted on the main frame, two side plates extending from the head tube and each having a first locking slot and a second locking slot, a handlebar stem mounted on the head tube, a mounting sleeve mounted on the handlebar stem, a locking tube movably mounted on the mounting sleeve and having two locking blocks each locked in the first locking slot or the second locking slot of the respective side plate, and a rotation tube mounted on the mounting sleeve and abutting the locking tube. Thus, the rotation tube can be rotated to move the locking tube relative to the head tube so as to lock or unlock the handlebar stem so that the user only needs to rotate the rotation tube to expand and collapse the handlebar stem easily and quickly. |
| US07954829B2 |
Retractable wheel assembly for a jackstand
A receiver extends from the top of a retractable wheel assembly to receive the lower end of a jackstand or the like. Upon exerting pressure on a foot operated plate, a wheel is extended from the bottom of a plate and locked in place with a catch to permit transport of a trailer or the like attached to the jackstand. Upon release of the catch, the wheel will retract to bring the plate into contact with the ground and immobilize the trailer. |
| US07954815B2 |
Segmented rigid plate belt transport with a high motion quality drive mechanism
A vacuum transport includes a segmented, rigid or solid articulated belt combined with a vacuum plenum in each segment of the belt. Using a rigid segmented belt with a vacuum plenum connected to each segmented belt section eliminates ordinarily encountered drag friction in conventional vacuum transports by reducing the force necessary to move the belt with media thereon while simultaneously improving the motion quality of the move by driving the articulated rigid belt from the top side of the belt in a flat section. |
| US07954808B2 |
Sheet processing device, image forming apparatus, and image forming system
A shifting unit shifts a plurality of sheets discharged on a tray to a different position in a sheet width direction that is perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction in a set of sheets. A first width-direction aligning unit and a second width-direction aligning unit align both sides of the sheets in the sheet width direction. A leading-edge aligning unit aligns leading edges of the sheets in the sheet discharging direction. |
| US07954807B2 |
Sheet-feeding device and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A sheet-feeding device includes a sheet-feeding cassette with a sheet holding surface for holding a sheet. A side wall extends up from the sheet holding surface. A sheet-restricting plate is in the cassette on a downstream side in the sheet-feeding direction for setting a position of the sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet-feeding direction. A cassette accommodating section accommodates the sheet-feeding cassette drawably in a direction parallel to the sheet-feeding direction. A projection is on an upstream side in the sheet-feeding direction from the position of the sheet-restricting plate. The projection is formed by partially projecting the side wall of the cassette upward. A height of the projection exceeds a maximum height of a sheet stack that can be accommodated in the cassette, and a height of parts of the side wall other than the projection is lower than the maximum height of the sheet stack. |
| US07954806B2 |
Medium reversing apparatus, image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus
A medium reversing apparatus, an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus that respectively have the medium reversing apparatus are supplied capable of avoiding medium damage and medium load abnormality. In the medium reversing apparatus that conveys a sheet-like medium back and reverses obverse side and reverse side of the medium, a medium ejection opening is used for ejecting at least a part of the medium; an ejecting member at least ejects the part of the medium from the medium ejection opening and conveys the medium back; and a bend forming section is set at the outside edge portion of the ejecting member and bends the medium from a clamp face of the medium clamped by the ejecting member. |
| US07954805B2 |
Mail feeding device
A feeding device for feeding each of accumulated mail items P onto a conveyance path includes a pickup belt which runs along a pickup position, and a negative-pressure chamber opposing the pickup position with the pickup belt interposed therebetween. When each mail item is picked up from the pickup position and reaches a nip between conveyance belts, air is introduced into the negative-pressure chamber to eliminate negative pressure therein. |
| US07954801B2 |
Side position stapler for post-processing device
A sheet post-processing device receives a sheet from an image forming apparatus conveys a plurality of the sheets to a staple tray to form a sheet pile, and staples the sheet pile with a stapler. The stapler is arranged along a first side of the staple tray in a sheet width direction and has an opening for taking in a second side of the sheet pile when stapling the sheet pile at a staple position. The stapler unit is arranged at a position that a central portion of the second side of the sheet pile is situated inside the opening, and the staple position is located downstream of an alignment surface of an aligning member in a sheet conveying direction that aligns ends of the sheets in the sheet pile. |
| US07954797B2 |
Creasing device, post-processing apparatus equipped therewith, creasing method, image forming apparatus and crease-added printing method
A creasing device includes a feeding mechanism, a creasing mechanism, sensors, and an aligning mechanism. The feeding mechanism conveys paper on which an image has been formed in a post-processing apparatus main body direction. The creasing mechanism makes a crease on the paper. The sensors detect a deviation of the paper with respect to the feeding direction. The aligning mechanism, based on an amount of deviation in a result of a detection by the sensors, causes the creasing mechanism to rotate in such a way that the creasing mechanism is aligned parallel to a crease direction of the paper. |
| US07954796B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus
A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a folding mechanism that includes paired folding rollers, presses a sheet to a nip portion of the paired folding rollers from a direction orthogonal to a transport direction, and folds the sheet by rotating the paired folding rollers. Further, there are provided a drive motor capable of making positive rotation and reverse rotation, a variable speed mechanism to convert a rotation force of the drive motor into a rotation output in a single direction and with a low speed or a high speed by changing a rotation direction of the drive motor, a transmission mechanism to transmit the rotation output in the single direction to the paired folding rollers, and a control unit to control the rotation direction of the drive motor and to change the rotation speed of the paired folding rollers. |
| US07954792B2 |
Strut assembly with air spring
A strut assembly includes a damper having a housing and a rod moveable relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis. The strut assembly includes a flexible membrane configured to receive a pressurized gas to form an air spring. A coil spring defines an inner diameter with the housing disposed within the inner diameter to permit relative movement between the coil spring and the housing. The coil spring is at least partially disposed outside the flexible membrane relative to the longitudinal axis. |
| US07954791B2 |
Fine bubble airlift device
The present invention relates to an aeration device for use in a liquid medium. The device includes a housing adapted to float within the medium such that a top portion thereof remains above a top surface of the medium. The housing has a bottom portion and an open side portion. The device further includes a hose affixed to the bottom portion of the housing substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid medium. The hose has a wall with a plurality of pores formed therein. The device further includes a gas-supplying pipe affixed to the hose and means for supplying a gas to the pipe such that the gas passes through the pipe and into the hose. |
| US07954783B2 |
Folding bracket for light bar
A two part bracket for mounting a light bar to an environmental surface. The bracket may comprise two mirror image platforms or members hinged to one another to move from an open condition to a closed or folded condition. Each platform may have a plurality of holes for passing fasteners to fix the platform to the light bar or to the environmental surface. In the closed conditioner, the bracket obstructs casual access to these fasteners. Each platform has an eye which aligns with the eye of the other platform when the bracket is in the closed condition, to receive the shackle of a padlock for example. Each platform includes pads which abut pads of the other to oppose collapse of the bracket due to weight loads. |
| US07954775B2 |
Adjustable support assembly
A support structure is disclosed comprising a longitudinally extending hollow member configured to receive a support tube therein. The longitudinally extending hollow member comprises an approximately flat surface opposite an internal corner of the longitudinally extending hollow member. The invention further comprises a support tube configured to be removably inserted within the longitudinally extending hollow member and a mechanism for forcing an outer corner of the support tube into the internal corner of the longitudinally extending member. |
| US07954768B1 |
Method of controlling aircraft, missiles, munitions and ground vehicles with plasma actuators
A method of controlling an aircraft, missile, munition or ground vehicle with plasma actuators, and more particularly of controlling fluid flow across their surfaces or other surfaces which would benefit from such a method, includes the design of an aerodynamic plasma actuator for the purpose of controlling airflow separation over a control surface of a aircraft, missile, or a ground vehicle, and a method of determining a modulation frequency for the plasma actuator for the purpose of fluid flow control over these vehicles. Various embodiments provide steps to increase the efficiency of aircraft, missiles, munitions and ground vehicles. The method of flow control reduces the power requirements of the aircraft, missile, munition or ground vehicle. These methods also provide alternative aerodynamic control using low-power hingeless plasma actuator devices. |
| US07954765B2 |
System and method for in-flight adjustment of store ejector gas flow orificing
A store ejector is adapted for in-flight adjustment of the pitch attitude imparted to a store by a pair of ejector pistons. The pitch attitude of the store is adjustable to correspond to a flight condition of the aircraft at time of store release. The aircraft has a flight computer that provides store release pitch data corresponding to the aircraft flight conditions. The store ejector includes an orificing assembly that varies the flow of pressurized gas to the ejector pistons by translating a mandrel within a bore formed in the orificing assembly. Orifices within the bore are adjusted to apportion the flow of pressurized gas to the ejector pistons in accordance with an optimum orifice setting corresponding to the desired pitch attitude of the store for the given flight condition. |
| US07954763B2 |
Methods and systems for composite structural truss
Methods and structures for a composite truss structure are provided. The structure includes an upper chord member, a lower chord member, and a plurality of web members extending therebetween. Each of the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and the plurality of web members are formed of a continuous composite fiber positioned in each of the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and each of the plurality of web members wherein each of the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and the plurality of web members includes a predetermined number of passes of the continuous composite fiber corresponding to a predetermined load. The composite truss structure also includes at least a first gusseting plate coupled to the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and the plurality of web members. |
| US07954760B2 |
Cargo floor, system, and method
Embodiments provide a cargo floor, a system, and a method adapted to be made integral with or complementary of the aircraft fuselage. Cargo floor members may be adapted to be coupled with a flat fuselage bottom inner skin of an aircraft fuselage to serve as the main orthotropic stiffeners to the flat fuselage bottom inner skin such that a portion of the in service loading experienced by the aircraft are shared by a combination of the fuselage and the cargo floor. |
| US07954755B2 |
Method of launching a catapult, catapult, and locking device
A method of launching a catapult, a catapult and a locking device for a catapult. The catapult comprises a carriage for fastening an aircraft. The carriage can be provided with a high acceleration by directing a launching force generated by a launching device thereto. The carriage can be held at a launching position by means of the locking device. The catapult further comprises a takeoff damper that generates a damping force having a direction opposite relative to the launching force. Accordingly, the takeoff damper restricts the acceleration of the carriage at the initial launching moments. |
| US07954748B2 |
Spool for retaining wire
A spool or reel for retaining continuously wound material may include a central barrel and spaced apart flange members extending from the central barrel. The flange members may incorporate a retaining member comprising the curved channel terminating at the first and second holes fashioned in an inner face of the flange members. The flange members may also incorporate one or more holes or apertures for use with associated sensors where the holes or apertures include a rim to circumference for easy detection by the associated sensors. The flange members may further comprise label platforms that securely receive labels that are to be affixed to the spool or reel. |
| US07954747B2 |
Pouch package spooler and method of pouch package web management
A spooler for taking up a pouch package web output from a pouch package web source and a method for management of a pouch package web output from said source. In embodiments, the spooler comprises a support structure, a rotatable spindle secured with respect to the support structure, a drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the spindle for powering spindle rotation and control apparatus. A spool may be mounted on the spindle. Pouch package web output from the pouch package web source is wound onto the spool, providing a convenient and efficient means for managing the pouch package web. |
| US07954744B2 |
Rolling food processor
A rolling food processor includes a body forming a chamber, a blade assembly, and a roller assembly. The blade assembly may include a hub and a plurality of blades mounted about the hub and positioned within the chamber, the blade assembly being rotatably coupled to the roller assembly. The roller assembly includes at least one rolling member such that when a user rolls or reciprocates the rolling member on a surface, the hub and the blades rotate to process a food item selectively positioned in the chamber. |
| US07954741B2 |
Apparatus for grinding biological samples
Apparatus for grinding biological samples contained in tubes (12) carried by a turntable (10) driven with oscillating motion, the zone in which the tubes (12) oscillate being surrounded by cooling means (30) enabling the samples in the tubes (12) to be maintained at a desired low temperature, e.g. 4° C., while they are being ground. |
| US07954737B2 |
Shredder thickness with anti-jitter feature
A shredder includes a housing having a throat for receiving at least one article to be shredded, and a shredder mechanism received in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. The shredder also includes a detector that is configured to detect a thickness of the at least one article being received by the throat, and a controller that is configured to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements to shred the at least one article and to set a flutter threshold higher than the predetermined maximum thickness threshold, if the detected thickness is less than a predetermined maximum thickness threshold. The controller is also configured to thereafter continuously detect the thickness of the at least one article being inserted into a throat of the shredder; and to perform a predetermined operation responsive to the thickness detector detecting that the thickness of the at least one article is greater than the flutter threshold. |
| US07954736B2 |
Brush chipper in-feed system
A wood chipper has a pair of feed rollers, a first of which has a fixed axis position, and a second of which is moveably toward and away from the first feed roller. Springs are provided to urge the moveable roller toward the first feed roller and to a reference position, and an actuator is provided for moving the moveable feed roller away from the first feed roller. A sensor is provided to sense the height of an object on a feed chute as the object approach the feed rollers and cause the actuator to move moveable feed roller away from the reference when the sensor signals the object exceeds a selected amount. |
| US07954732B2 |
Irrigation system and method
An irrigation system has an elongated irrigation tube subdivided by an integrally formed internal partition into a first lumen and a second lumen. At one end of the tube, a supply connection connects a water supply to the first lumen while at the other a termination arrangement defines a flow path from the first lumen to the second lumen. There is thus defined a water flow path which passes from the supply connection along the first lumen and then via the termination arrangement back along the second lumen. Water is released either by openings spaced along the tube connecting to the second lumen, or by the use of porous material for the irrigation tube. The partition is preferably flexible so that, under the pressure differentials occurring during use, an effectively conical flow path is created. |
| US07954731B2 |
Low flow sprinkler
A rotary impact sprinkler is disclosed having a nozzle connected to a housing and a discharge deflector member connected to a rotatable shaft assembly without a dynamic seal between the nozzle and the deflector. The sprinkler may be provided with different nozzles and discharge deflectors that are easily removed and replaced for providing desired water flow and discharge characteristics. The shaft assembly and housing may have contacting braking surfaces outside of the water flow. The braking surfaces may provide a frictional braking force dependent on both water flow rate and water flow pressure. The sprinkler has a rotatable impact assembly supported by the shaft assembly and including a deflection member for rotating the impact assembly relative to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may have a pin for supporting the impact assembly at a position above the deflection member. A lower portion of the shaft assembly may be positioned in a recess in the housing such that a surface on the shaft assembly contacts a surface in the recess, and a highly wear resistant material may be disposed on the surface of either the shaft assembly or the recess for providing improved wear characteristics. The deflection member of the impact assembly may have a channel that receives a portion of the water stream for rotating the impact assembly, and the channel may expel the water from the sprinkler. The discharge deflector may have a varying profile for discharging water at varying trajectories. |
| US07954730B2 |
Piezoelectric fluid atomizer apparatuses and methods
Piezo aerosol and ultrasonic atomizer apparatuses are disclosed. In some embodiments, a piezo aerosol apparatus may comprise a piezo component defining an opening bonded to a metal plate defining a mist reservoir. The mist reservoir may define a plurality of apertures (or holes) orientated substantially perpendicular, and the opening of the piezo component may be located above the mist reservoir. The piezo aerosol apparatus generally defines a non-symmetric compound, while the ultrasonic atomizer comprises a piezo component and metal plate of substantially the same diameter in length. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed. |
| US07954727B2 |
Anchoring devices for rail fastening clips
A shoulder for use in retaining a railway rail fastening clip, comprising two interconnected spaced-apart walls, between which a portion of the clip to be retained is held when the shoulder is in use, and clip-engaging means, supported by the walls, for engaging a portion of the clip to be retained, does not have any feature or surface which engages the surface of that clip portion which faces downwardly when the clip is in use. Alternatively, or in addition, none of the contact regions, at which the device engages the rail clip, can be seen when the anchoring device is viewed from above when in its operative orientation and all of the contact regions can be seen when the anchoring device is viewed from below when in the operative orientation. Alternatively, or in addition, all the contact regions lie substantially at the same horizontal distance from the edge of the rail foot when measured perpendicularly to the axis of the rail and in the plane of the rail foot. |
| US07954721B2 |
Promotional assembly
A promotional sheet assembly assembleable from components of a single material web processed in a multi-station press is provided. The assembly includes opposing surfaces bearing printed information and/or indicia thereon, and a consumer premium delimited by one or more of visible, revealable, and/or machine readable information. |
| US07954718B2 |
Method of integrating barcode information and extended display identification data
A method of integrating barcode information and EDID firstly inputs barcode information and temporarily stores the information in a first storage device; reads a pre-stored barcode rule and a pre-stored check code from a second storage device, wherein the barcode rule is defined with relevant data of plural codes included in the barcode information; then, respectively stores the plural codes included in the barcode information into corresponding storage spaces of the first storage device according to the barcode rule; next, determines whether a specific code of the barcode information matches with the check code; if the specific code of the barcode information matches with the check code, reads a pre-stored EDID from an EDID burning device, and integrates the EDID with the plural codes of the barcode information so as to generate a new EDID; finally, performs a burning operation to a display device based on the new EDID. |
| US07954717B2 |
Provisioning electronic transaction card in mobile device
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof. |
| US07954715B2 |
Mobile device with transaction card in add-on slot
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof. |
| US07954713B2 |
Tag label producing device
The tag-label producing device includes: a cartridge holder for selectively installing a first roll and a first roll; a tape feed roller, a ribbon take-up roller, and a switching mechanism that impart a drive force in the tape length direction to this tape; an antenna for performing transmission/reception of information through wireless communication to/from an IC circuit part of an RFID circuit element, upon the installation of the first roll; a cartridge sensor for detecting which one of the first rolls has been installed; and a control circuit including a tag tape mode and an ordinary-tape mode, for controlling a drive unit by switching between the modes. |
| US07954710B1 |
System and method for ordering using barcode data collector and online services
The present invention allows a user to place an order on an internal computer system or through a web site automatically by scanning UPC/EAN or product ID barcodes, without the need to modify supplier or other party websites. As such, a compact optical code reader with associated software is disclosed having multiple functions and is capable of performing various data processing functions involving scanned data. The system includes user and supplier identifiers which are employed to facilitate sales transactions. |
| US07954708B2 |
Selectable multi-purpose card
A selectable, multi-purpose card comprising a plurality of features stored in memory means operatively mounted on the card and selection means for allowing a user to select a feature in a few simple steps, preferably in a single step. In one embodiment the card includes a plurality of magnetic strips positioned on the card in a manner to allow swiping each magnetic strip separately using conventional reading devices. Each magnetic strip activates a different feature of the card. In another embodiment the card includes a programmable magnetic strip, a plurality of features stored in memory means mounted on the card, a plurality of buttons or contacts, and means for programming the magnetic strip with a different card feature. The card may also include a thin, flexible display. |
| US07954706B2 |
Mobile phone charge card notification and authorization method
An added level of security is provided for charge card transactions. Upon presenting a charge card number for a purchase, for example, the cardholder receives a message on his cell phone or PDA that a charge authorization request has been received. The cardholder may also be prompted to reply with a password or a PIN, so as to add a second security authorization. |
| US07954703B2 |
Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
A banking system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to card data read from data bearing records by a card reader. The system includes at least one automated banking machine comprising a cash dispenser. The system is operative during a cash dispense transaction request to receive through an automated banking machine, user input of data corresponding to a mobile phone number. The system is operative to generate a security code for the requested cash dispense transaction. The system uses the phone number to send the generated security code to the mobile phone. The cash dispense transaction is allowed to proceed only if the system receives machine user input of the sent security code within a predetermined amount of time. |
| US07954697B2 |
Tamperproof genuineness ID device with self-destruct protection function and a method thereof
A tamperproof genuineness ID device with self-destruct protection function and a method thereof, which identifies whether merchandises are genuine or fake by reading, identifying and encrypting genuineness ID information in a genuineness ID medium. The tamperproof genuineness ID device includes a working part with self-destruct protection function and a detecting work part for identifying a product to be detected, wherein the product to be detected is airtight sealed or fixed with the tamperproof genuineness ID device together. The method includes several steps: setting the genuineness ID medium in a coordinate working state with the tamperproof genuineness ID device; identifying information in the genuineness ID medium by the detecting work part of the tamperproof genuineness ID device, then encrypting and calculating to obtain a native genuineness ID code; and outputting a detecting result. The tamperproof genuineness ID device makes genuineness ID detection for merchandise easier and more reliable. |
| US07954694B2 |
File folder
File folders are provided having bent hangers from which a receptacle is suspended so that the top of the receptacle is beneath a rail-engaging portion of the hangers and/or beneath a top of the rail or other supporting structure of office storage equipment. The hangers of the file folder may also be collapsible for use outside the office storage equipment. The hangers may also have a grip, or handle, for removal of the file folder from the office storage equipment. |
| US07954690B2 |
Inkjet print head, inkjet print head manufacturing method and inkjet print head mounting tool
An inkjet print head for which an ink flow path formation member, arranged on a printing element board, is prevented from being peeled off or being damaged, and the printing element board in an appropriate state can be mounted on a support member. According to the present invention, an ink flow path formation member is arranged on one face of a printing element board, and a peripheral area extending outward from the ink flow path formation member is prepared. Since pressure is applied to the peripheral area using a mounting tool, to bond the first terminals of the printing element board to the electrode terminals of the support member, damage to the ink flow path formation member, caused by the mounting tool, can be prevented. |
| US07954682B2 |
Surgical instrument with elements to communicate between control unit and end effector
A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument, includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft includes a first sensor element. An end effector is coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes a second sensor element. A handle is connected to the proximate end of the shaft. The handle includes a control unit. The control unit is in communication with the first sensor element and the first sensor element is in wireless communication with the second sensor element. |
| US07954681B2 |
Single tool nailing bridge system
A new and improved nailing bridge system which comprises a single nailing gun which is mounted for movement along a stud frame locus or a seam locus, defined by means of abutting sheets of wall sheathing, covering, paneling, or the like, wherein the single nailing gun can be moved to any one of effectively an infinite number of positions so as to permit nails to be driven into the covering, sheathing, paneling, or the like, in order to fixedly secure the sheathing, covering, paneling, or the like, to underlying stud frame members of a wall structure or wall panel member. Stitcher guns are also mounted upon a separate support beam so as to fixedly secure the sheathing, covering, paneling, or the like, to the upper and lower plate, header, or footer members of the wall structure or wall panel member. |
| US07954680B2 |
Watch band with reinforced construction
A band with a reinforced construction. The band has an attachment portion that defines a connector bar passage, a reinforcement pin passage and a reinforcement plate recess intersecting both the connector bar passage and the reinforcement pin passage. The band also has a reinforcement plate and a reinforcement pin. The reinforcement plate defines a connector bar aperture and a reinforcement pin aperture, and is positioned within the reinforcement plate recess such that the connector bar aperture intersects the connector bar passage and the reinforcement pin aperture intersects the reinforcement pin passage. Typically, the reinforcement plate is formed from a resilient material, such as metal or hard plastic. The reinforcement pin is positioned within the reinforcement pin passage such that the reinforcement pin extends through the reinforcement pin aperture of the reinforcement plate. The reinforcement plate thus reinforces the wall of material between the connector bar passage and the end of the attachment portion, and is securely held in place by the reinforcement pin. |
| US07954678B2 |
Pressure control device for a fluid dispensing container
A novel pressure control device is provided comprising a first cylinder (3) at a predetermined excess pressure, a piston (4) with a sealing ring (5) being movable within said first cylinder, and a second cylinder (7). The first cylinder (3) is encompassed by the second cylinder (7) as to form a ring-shaped passage which is leading to the outside. A valve in said passageway is released and closed by a stem (14) of the piston (4). The open end of the first cylinder (3) is provided with at least one axially directed incision (37), such that the piston (4) with the sealing ring (5) introduced in the first cylinder (3) and covering the end of the incision (37) is in a non-pressurized position. The stem (14) has a stop element (15) which closes the valve in the upper position of the piston, wherein the piston stroke essentially defines the excess pressure. |
| US07954676B2 |
Dispensing head and fluid product dispenser comprising same
A fluid dispenser device including a dispenser head, a piston and an outlet valve. The dispenser head has a body defining a fluid expulsion channel terminated by a dispenser orifice, a rigid insert disposed in the channel, and a shutter element disposed in the channel and displaceable between a closed position and an open position. The shutter element is urged at rest towards its closed position and automatically displaced towards its open position while fluid is dispensed, returning automatically to its closed position. The shutter element forms a single piece with the rigid insert. The rigid insert forms or is secured to the outlet valve and is mechanically displaceable towards its actuated position while the fluid is being expelled, and being automatically returned to its rest position once the fluid has been expelled. |
| US07954674B2 |
Pump for delivering a fluid product
A pump comprising a tubular body delimiting internally a metering chamber and comprising an inlet orifice, an inlet valve, a stem mounted so as to be able to move inside the body and comprising an actuation tube delimiting an outlet duct, an insert assembled to the actuation tube and comprising a base placed inside the metering chamber and facing the inlet orifice, and a discharge orifice, an annular piston mounted so as to slide inside the body and on the stem, the piston and the base comprising annular surfaces suitable for forming a discharge valve, a ball-and-socket joint being arranged between the insert and the actuation tube. |
| US07954670B2 |
Container evacuation system
A container evacuation system is provided for viscous flowable materials such as grease, paste or flowable powders. The container system includes a lightweight, rigid exterior, such as a cardboard container. Provided within the container is a flexible containment system constructed of polyethylene sheets or the like. The flexible containment system is provided with a plurality of weldments to create at least two pockets, wherein one pocket contains the flowable material and a second pocket is available to be filled with air, to allow air provided to the second pocket to force the flowable material from the first pocket out through a drain. The system includes a weldment which curves around at least a portion of the drain to crease a funnel which focuses flowable material toward the drain, while reducing the likelihood of a portion of the flexible containment system from obstructing the movement of flowable material out of the first pocket through the drain. |
| US07954669B2 |
Container with enhanced display
This invention is directed to a decorated dispensing container. The container is substantially transparent and has a decoration on the front and/or rear surface. The dispensing unit comprises a pump mechanism with a dip tube at one end and a dispensing channel at the other end. The dip tube has an identifiable shape formed in the dip tube. This identifiable shape can be a land, sea or air animal, or an inanimate object. Colors are applied to the identifiable shape by hand painting or the use of a shrink label or an in mold label. By the use of a decorated identifiable shape and a coordinating label on the front and/or rear surface of the container a 3-D effect is imparted to the container and product. |
| US07954664B2 |
Push and flip container
A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening. |
| US07954662B2 |
Liquid storage container
A liquid storage container capable of ensuring a sufficient ink storage space and preventing liquid leakage without large variations in liquid pressure even when the container is deformed by an external force during shipping or in operating time. The container includes a protection member positioned outside of a flexible member, and an opening is defined on a plane member arranged in contact with the flexible member so as to face the protection member. |
| US07954659B2 |
Drinking cup lid having a plug
A unitary splash-proof beverage lid for engagement with a cup rim having a well with a drinking hole, a plug, optionally with a drinking hole, whereby said plug is rotatably connected by a pair of support arms to the lid in a friction fit relationship. |
| US07954649B1 |
Drill bit holding device
A drill bit holding device for holding drill bits and attaching to a column of a drill press comprising a base attachable to the drill press column, a rotating plate rotatably attached to the base via a bolt assembly, and a removable drill bit holder having a plurality of drill bit holes for holding drill bits disposed atop the rotating plate. |
| US07954647B2 |
Filters
A filter comprises a housing and a filter cartridge. The housing includes an inlet, an outlet, a vent, and a filter cartridge chamber. The filter cartridge is permanently positioned in the filter cartridge chamber of the housing with an annular channel between the filter cartridge and the housing. The bottom of the filter cartridge and the interior of the bottom of the housing each include a surface which inclines upwardly toward the annular channel. |
| US07954643B2 |
Use of a derivative of aspartic acid as a collector in froth flotation processes
A derivative of aspartic acid is used as a collector for a phosphate containing mineral, such as apatite, in a froth flotation process. According to the invention the collector has a high selectivity for phosphate containing minerals even in the presence of carbonate minerals, such as calcite. The derivative has the formula (I) where RI is a hydrophobic group containing a hydrocarbon group of 6-24 carbon atoms; RII is an alkyl group with 1-7 carbon atoms or a group of the formula (B)yH, in which B is an alkyleneoxy group with 2-4 carbon atoms and y is a number from 1 to 10; and M is a group selected from the group consisting of a cation or hydrogen. Methods for producing the derivative are also described. |
| US07954637B2 |
United nations certified 4G fiberboard box
A 4G fiberboard box certified for shipping hazardous materials in accordance with United Nations regulations. In some embodiments, the 4G fiberboard box includes an outer shell, a three-piece partition assembly, a top insert and a bottom insert. The outer shell has a width and a length, each no greater than ⅓ of 46 inches. Thus, the 4G fiberboard box is shippable in a 3×3 configuration on a standard 46″×46″ pallet. The three-piece partition assembly is disposed within the shell and has four compartments, each compartment configured to receive a container storing hazardous material. The top insert and bottom insert are also disposed with the shell, with the partition assembly positioned therebetween. |
| US07954635B2 |
Package of cigarettes
A package of cigarettes having a group (4) of cigarettes; an inner package (3) which encloses the group (4) of cigarettes, is defined by a sheet (22) of transparent, heat-seal plastic packing material folded directly about the group (4) of cigarettes and in direct contact with the cigarettes, and is stabilized by heat sealing; and a U-shaped stiffener (23) of rigid material located inside the inner package (3) and contacting the group (4) of cigarettes. |
| US07954632B2 |
Conveyor belt having replaceable segments
The invention relates to a conveying belt which is made of elastomeric material and has a load-bearing side (2) for the conveying material and a running side and, in particular, has a reinforcing support embedded within the conveying-belt core, wherein the conveying belt has at least one exchangeable part, wherein the invention provides for the exchangeable part to be a segment (6) which has a small surface area in relation to the load-bearing side (2) and/or running side as a whole and comprises a component support (7) and information carrier (8), the component support and information carrier forming a dedicated unit. |
| US07954631B1 |
Chain link conveyor for use in material handling equipment
A chain link conveyor for use in material handling equipment such as a feed cart. The chain link conveyor comprises a series of sprockets and a pair of spaced apart chains trained around the sprockets. Each chain includes a series of interconnected links. Each link comprises a pair of sidebars and an interconnecting cross bar along with a pair of hooks that function to connect consecutive links and also function to form a sprocket centering gap that receives and guides respective sprockets through the link as the links moves over the sprockets. Various implementations of the chain link conveyor can be made. In one implementation the chain link conveyor is disposed in a feed cart. |
| US07954630B2 |
Conveyor belt
A method of attaching a pawl to a region of a surface of a conveyor belt comprising pre-stressing the surface region and fixing the pawl to the surface region while it is in the pre-stressed state. |
| US07954629B2 |
Method and device for transferring a transporting hanger for garments to a following conveyor
A star-shaped intermediate conveyor (13) between the feed conveyor (11) and the delivery conveyor (12). The intermediate conveyor (13) has a plurality of radial arms (26), which are fastened to a central part (28) of the intermediate conveyor (13). The radially outwardly pointing arms (26) are rotatable about an axis of rotation (29) of the intermediate conveyor (13). In this way it is possible with any given orientation of the transporting hanger for an arm (26) to be brought under the hanger hook (16) of the transporting hanger. This ensures reliable transfer of a transporting hanger from the feed conveyor (11) to the delivery conveyor (12) under any circumstances in a simple way. |
| US07954626B2 |
Conveyor roller having a cleaning function
The invention relates to a belt conveyor (1) having a conveyor roller (5) and such a conveyor roller (5) comprising a drum shell (54), a fluid connection (55), and at least one first fastening element (52) for fastening the conveyor roller (5) in a conveyor frame (3), wherein the drum shell (54) has an exterior pipe (541), which is rotatably supported about the first fastening element (52), wherein the exterior pipe (541) has a plurality of fluid outlet orifices (545) on the circumferential surface (543) thereof, and wherein the fluid connection (55) is in communication with the fluid outlet orifices (545). |
| US07954625B2 |
Quick-change apparatus for transporting containers
An apparatus for transporting containers may include a transport body having at least two segments. The transport body is arranged such that it can rotate about a predefined geometric axis of rotation. The transport body has a plurality of openings and, on its outer circumference, a plurality of recesses for receiving at least one region of the containers to be transported. The apparatus comprises a plurality of holding bodies for holding the transport body. An extension direction of the holding bodies extends at an angle other than 0° relative to a plane of the transport body. At least one engagement region of each of the holding bodies is arranged in each case in one of the openings. According to the disclosure, the cross section of at least some of these openings is larger than the cross section of the engagement region of the holding bodies which is arranged in these openings, so that the segments are movable at least at times relative to the holding bodies in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. |
| US07954623B2 |
Method and device for the monitored conveying of sheet metal plates
The invention relates to a method for the monitored conveying of sheet metal plates, particularly into a working or forming plant, in which a plate is taken up by a feeder from a first position and the plate and feeder are moved to a second position. According to the invention, during feeder movement to the second position a first sensor element located at the feeder, as well as a second sensor element located in the second position, are brought into a signal-based arrangement, and that on the basis of a measurement signal transmitted between the sensor elements the number of plates at the feeder and/or the second position is determined. The invention also relates to a device for the monitored conveying of plates, particularly into a forming plant. |
| US07954621B2 |
Modular wireless conveyor interconnection method and system
A modular conveyor system is disclosed in which components of each conveyor module is designed for wireless mesh communication. The communications may be within a module or between modules. Certain of the components may be powered by battery, such that the components may be completely wireless. The network may be entirely self-configuring such that the modules may be assembled and the network established in a straightforward manner. |
| US07954620B2 |
Passenger conveyor handrail drive control strategy
A passenger conveyor assembly (20) includes a moveable stepping surface (22). A first drive (50) is operative to move the stepping surface (22). A handrail (30) and a second drive (40) is provided as part of the passenger conveyor assembly (20). A controller (70) controls the second drive (40) independent of the first drive (50) to allow for movement of the stepping surface (22) or the handrail (30) when the other of the handrail (30) or the stepping surface (22) is stationary. |
| US07954619B2 |
Load sharing handrail drive apparatus
A handrail drive apparatus is provided comprising a first drive wheel assembly configured to drive a handrail and comprising a planetary gear train arranged to be driven by a first driving member. The handrail drive apparatus further comprises a second drive wheel assembly configured to drive the handrail, the second drive wheel assembly being coupled to the planetary gear train of the first handrail drive wheel assembly by a second driving member. The planetary gear train of the first handrail drive wheel assembly is configured to divide a torque imparted by the first driving member between the first and second drive wheel assemblies. |
| US07954618B2 |
Starting clutch, particularly for racing and sports vehicles
A starting clutch, particularly for racing and sports vehicles, has clutch plates, of which at least one is non-rotatably coupled with a clutch cage of the starting clutch and at least one is non-rotatably coupled with a clutch hub of the starting clutch. A set of springs composed of at least two diaphragm-spring-type spring elements presses the clutch plates together when the starting clutch is closed and permits a torque transfer from the clutch cage to the clutch hub and vice-versa. Viewed from the clutch plates, the first or second spring element has at least a first elevation on its side facing the respective second or first spring element, which elevation presses against the respective second or first spring element when the starting clutch is closed. |
| US07954617B2 |
Motorcycle clutch
A motorcycle clutch for a drive connection between an engine and a transmission of a motorcycle is provided, and is some embodiments includes a manually operable clutch lever, engaging inner and outer disks, and a disengaging mechanism operable by means of the clutch lever for a pressure body which is spring-loaded by at least one clutch spring assembly for pressurization of the inner and outer disks, wherein a servo mechanism for reducing the operating force of the clutch lever is provided, the servo mechanism being effectively connected to the intake section of the engine and utilizing the negative intake pressure in the intake section to build up a servo force acting against the direction of the spring load of the clutch spring assembly. |
| US07954614B2 |
Drive mechanism and method
A drive train is used at least including an input shaft and an output shaft. A clutch member is rotatable by a clutch shaft about an axis of rotation. The clutch shaft is supported for lateral movement along the axis of rotation to move the clutch member to cooperate with the drive train at a first lateral position to cause the output shaft to turn and to move the clutch member to a second lateral position to disengage the output shaft from rotation of the input shaft. A permanent magnet is supported by one end of the clutch shaft and arranged for receiving an external magnetic biasing force along the axis of rotation to selectively move the clutch member between the first and second lateral positions. A traveling shaft can be used to support a selected gear for movement by the permanent magnet to implement transmission and reversing configurations. |
| US07954612B2 |
Driving-force transmission apparatus
An apparatus includes an input-side rotating member 2 driven by an engine (driving source) 90, an output-side rotating member 3 for driving an input member, such as a gear part 25 of a rear differential (driving-force distributing mechanism) 97 between wheels, a friction clutch 4 arranged between the input-side rotating member 2 and the output-side rotating member 3, a carrier housing (stationary member) 5 capable of accommodating the rear differential 97 and the friction clutch 4, an oil accommodating space (lubricant accommodating space) S formed in the stationary member 5 and an oil pump 6 driven by the output-side rotating member 3 to supply the friction clutch 4 with oil 600. |
| US07954606B2 |
Elevator system control responsive to hoistway access detection
An elevator system (20) includes a sensor (30, 36) for detecting the presence of an individual within a hoistway (24). A controller (32) prevents movement of an elevator car (22) whenever an individual is in the hoistway (24). A pit override device (34) provides an override signal to the controller (32) permitting movement of the elevator car (22) if someone is in a pit (26). A car top override device (38) selectively provides an override signal to the controller (32) permitting movement of the car. A disclosed example includes controlling at least one light (40) within the hoistway (24) in conjunction with movement or attempted movement of the elevator car (22). |
| US07954605B2 |
Electric safety switch resetting device for a car safety device of elevators
An electric safety switch (3) resetting device (1) for the car safety device (5) of elevators includes a switch (3) shaped as a box attached to the lower skirt (9) of the car frame, near the car safety blocks (11). A mobile upper tongue (13) is engaged with a car safety block triggering lever (15), which tongue (13) can trigger the switch (3) under the action of said triggering lever (15) and reset it in the opposite direction when operated by the maintenance operator. A connecting rod arrangement (29) hinged to the tongue (13) can be remotely actuated by the operator using an actuator (35) while standing at the landing opening near the arrested elevator car, to drive said tongue (13) to a position that will reset the switch (3). |
| US07954603B2 |
Evacuation control apparatus for elevators including a rescue floor setting portion
A building is provided with a plurality of service zones each including a plurality of floors, and elevators each assigned to the floors included in a corresponding one of the service zones as service floors. The service zones are provided such that the floors included in each of the service zones are at least partially different from the floors included in each of the other service zones. In an event of a fire in the building, an evacuation control apparatus for the elevators controls the elevators to convey those stranded in the building to a common evacuation floor. The evacuation control apparatus has a rescue floor setting portion for setting predetermined one of the service floors as rescue floors as to each of the service zones, and an evacuation operation command portion for controlling each of the elevators based on information from the rescue floor setting portion such that evacuation operation is performed to vertically reciprocate a corresponding one of cars between a corresponding one of the rescue floors and the evacuation floor. |
| US07954595B1 |
Lightweight inflatable borehole receiver unit for seismic testing
A borehole receiver for seismic testing has a support frame and an inflatable membrane configured to form a single, compact unit. The inflatable membrane has at least one sensor, such as an accelerometer affixed to the membrane. The at least one accelerometer may be adhesively affixed to an interior portion of the membrane with a cyanoacrylate adhesive. A pneumatic inflation system is used to inflate the membrane with pressurized air. In use, the membrane is slipped over the support frame and secured with a pair of O-rings. Once the borehole receiver is properly positioned in the borehole, pressurized air from the pneumatic inflation system inflates the membrane such that the at least one accelerometer achieves intimate coupling with a wall of the borehole to accurately measure dynamic seismic waves. |
| US07954592B2 |
Work vehicle with drive operation device
A work vehicle operable in a rearward facing position using a simple construction is disclosed. The work vehicle includes a hydrostatic stepless change speed device for transmitting power from an engine to a traveling device, a change speed pedal mechanism operable in a forward facing position for changing speeds in the hydrostatic stepless change speed device, and a travel-control lever provided at a rear position of a vehicle body and operable in the rearward facing position. The travel-control lever and the change speed pedal mechanism are linked to each other through a mechanical interlocking mechanism so as to control the hydrostatic stepless change speed device by the travel-control lever through the change speed pedal mechanism. |
| US07954585B2 |
Swing-arm-type suspension device of vehicle
A swing-arm-type suspension device for a vehicle transmit rolling from a vehicle body frame side to a rear wheel side quickly. In a swing-arm-type suspension device for a motorcycle, a swing arm is mounted swingably on a pivot shaft provided on a vehicle body frame side, to be more specific, a power unit. One end of a cushion unit is mounted on the swing arm. Another end of the cushion unit is mounted on the swing arm and the power unit by way of a cushion support link mechanism. A rear wheel is supported on an end portion of the swing arm, between a cross pipe that extends between left and right seat rails and the swing arm. A rolling support link mechanism transmits rolling of a vehicle body in the lateral direction to the swing arm from the seat rails on the vehicle-body-frame side. |
| US07954580B2 |
Accessory drive system and method for a belt-alternator-starter electric hybrid vehicle
The method and apparatus of the present invention provide an accessory drive system for a belt-alternator-starter electric hybrid vehicle. The apparatus includes a drive pulley connected to an engine output shaft, a plurality of accessories that are each connected to a driven pulley, and a selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the engine crankshaft and a transmission. A belt-alternator-starter system is connected to another driven pulley. A drive belt connectively couples the drive pulley and the driven pulleys and is operable to transfer drive forces between the drive pulley and the driven pulleys. A controller is operatively connected to the torque transmitting device, the engine and the belt-alternator-starter system. The controller is configured to control the torque transmitting device, the engine and the belt-alternator-starter system to ensure the accessories are adequately powered. |
| US07954579B2 |
Adaptive control strategy and method for optimizing hybrid electric vehicles
This invention relates a control strategy for a hybrid electric vehicle having an electric motor, a battery and an internal combustion engine. The control strategy improves fuel economy and reduces emissions while providing sufficient acceleration over a varying set of driving conditions through an adaptive control unit with an artificial neural network. The artificial neural network is trained on a pre-processed training set based on the highest fuel economies of multiple control strategies and multiple driving profiles. Training the artificial neural network includes a training algorithm and a learning algorithm. The invention also includes a method of operating a hybrid electric vehicle with an adaptive control strategy using an artificial neural network. |
| US07954576B2 |
Vehicle drive line
A vehicle includes a front axle and rear axle, where at least one of said axles is driven, an engine arranged in the vicinity of the rear or front end of said vehicle, the engine including an output shaft connected to the driven axle via a transmission system for transmitting driving power from the engine to the driven axle. The transmission system includes at least a multiple-speed gearbox for causing variable gear ratio between the engine and driven axle. The engine and at least a part of the gearbox are arranged on each side of the driven axle, and are connected only via a power transmitting device so that an engine block of the engine is separated from a gearbox housing of the gearbox. |
| US07954569B2 |
Earth-boring bits
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of carbide, nitride, boride, and oxide and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and, optionally, at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent, boron up to 10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent, and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder. In addition, the hard particles may comprise at least one of (i) cast carbide (WC+W2C) particles, (ii) transition metal carbide particles selected from the carbides of titanium, chromium, vanadium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and tungsten, and (iii) sintered cemented carbide particles. |
| US07954567B2 |
Adjustable winged centering tool for use in pipes with varying diameter
An adjustable centering tool for use in pipes of varying inner diameter. The centering tool being provided with a number of identical and steplessly adjustable, radially protruding wings having guiding lugs and chamfered end faces. The wings, having been set, are retained by an upper lock mandrel with a safety pin and a lower lock mandrel with a safety nut. The outer circumference of a cylindrical tool body is fitted with longitudinal grooves having sloped terminations cooperating with the wing dimensions, the chamfered end faces of the wings, and the guiding lugs. |
| US07954563B2 |
Roller link toggle gripper and downhole tractor
An expandable gripper assembly may be configured for anchoring a tool in a passage. The expandable gripper assembly includes first, second, and third pivotally connected links that are coupled to a tool. The third link is adapted to engage an inner wall in the passage. An actuation mechanism causes the third link to move radially outward from the tool for engagement with the inner wall. The actuation mechanism may comprise a roller mechanism that pushes on an inner surface of the first link for causing the first link to pivot outward away from the body. As the first and second links pivot outward, the third link moves in a radial direction for engagement with an inner wall. |
| US07954562B2 |
Expandable ramp gripper
A gripper for use in a downhole tool is provided. The gripper can include an actuator, an engagement assembly, and an expandable assembly. The engagement assembly can comprise a leaf-spring like elongate continuous beam. The expandable assembly can comprise a linkage including a plurality of links. The linkage can be coupled to the actuator such that the actuator expands the expandable assembly which in turn expands the engagement assembly. In operation, during one stage of expansion radial forces are transmitted to the engagement assembly through both interaction of a rolling mechanism on the engagement assembly with the expandable assembly and pressure of the linkage assembly directly on an inner surface of the engagement assembly. |
| US07954561B2 |
Vertical direction adjustment tool for downhole drilling apparatus
A direction adjustment tool for a downhole drilling apparatus is disclosed. The tool has a tubular housing adapted to be incorporated into a downhole drilling apparatus, and steering blades mounted to the housing. A drive shaft transmits drive to a drill bit of a drilling apparatus, wherein the shaft defines a passage for transmitting drilling fluid to the drill bit. A first pressure chamber is defined between the housing and the shaft and communicates with the passage, wherein the steering blades are moved from retracted positions to extended positions thereof as a result of increase of fluid pressure the first pressure chamber. A pendulum member is pivotably mounted to extend in a vertical orientation when the shaft is not rotating relative to the housing, and pistons prevent movement of at least one steering blade to the extended position thereof as a result of the angle between a longitudinal axis of the shaft and the longitudinal axis of the pendulum member exceeding a predetermined amount. This causes at least one steering blade to adjust the direction of drilling of the drilling apparatus towards a vertical direction and/or to resist movement of the direction of drilling away from a vertical direction. |
| US07954556B2 |
Using a can bus engine torque/speed message as load feedback for implement draft control
A draft load control system for an agricultural tractor having electronic engine and draft load controllers interconnected by a digital communications bus over which parameters for engine load are made readily available to the draft load controller. The draft load control system is suitable for front-mounted, rear-mounted, or towed implements without requiring additional sensing equipment. |
| US07954546B2 |
Subterranean screen with varying resistance to flow
A screen section is made with variable resistance to flow in the screen material to balance the flow along the screen length. In one variation different discrete zones have screens configured for different percentages of open area while all have the same particle filtration capability. In another variation discrete portions have differing amounts of overlapping screen portions so as to balance flow without affecting the particle size screened. The cross-sectional shape of a wire wrap underlayment for the screen is made closer to trapezoidal to decrease the angle of opening for the incoming flow paths toward the base pipe. In this manner flow resistance is reduced and flow is increased due to reduced turbulence. |
| US07954539B2 |
Process and a plant for the production of metal strip
A process and an ultracompact plant for the endless production of hot rolled steel strip comprising an ingot mold (15) that produces a very thin slab, having narrow sides with thickness in the range between 40 and 55 mm and a central swelling, at a speed in the range between 4 and 16 m/min. Such a slab, which displays a core in which the steel is still liquid, is passed through a vertical pre-rolling device (16) that reduces the thickness of the slab and flattens it. The solidified slab may thus be subjected to a first mild rolling by a conveyor (17) and, by forming a free curve, takes a horizontal position where it is subjected to a first surface descaling, a first rolling, a heating in an inductor (23), a second surface descaling and a series of reductions in a rolling mill (30) formed by at least two stands, by maintaining its temperature along the mill above the recrystallization point Ar3. Downstream of the rolling mill (30) there are provided a roller runway with cooling showers, a flying shear (33) for cutting to length the strip produced, pinch rolls and at least two spinning wheels (34) for the formation of coils of the hot rolled strip. |
| US07954538B1 |
Coring system and method for manufacturing a one-piece die cast electrical connector body
A coring system for producing a flash-free one-piece die-cast body for an electrical connector. The electrical connector of produced by the coring system of the present invention may be used for securing two electrical cables to an electrical panel or electrical box through a single knockout hole. The coring system includes a first core, a second core, and a connecting arrangement for connecting the first and second cores in such a manner that there are no gaps between the joined portions of the two cores. When the cores of the coring system are joined together by the connecting arrangement and placed in a mold, molten metal may be introduced to the mold at the joined area of the two core pieces to form a one-piece flash-free connector body according to the present invention. |
| US07954536B2 |
System and method for seaming high-modulus, high-tenacity, low-elongation fabrics
A seaming system for forming a seam is disclosed, wherein the seam consists of at least two opposed sections of high-modulus, high-tenacity, low-elongation fabric sections joined by a tape. The system comprises a seamer head, and a seamer base that includes a topography configured to impart a predetermined pressure gradient to the adhesive layer, tape, and fabric sections of the seam. The resultant seam has a cross-section or thickness profile that generally corresponds to that of the applied pressure gradient. As such, the constructed seam more efficiently distributes stress imparted from any applied load. |
| US07954535B2 |
Drywall joint compound and tape dispenser
A dispenser for dispensing a viscous substance and tape. The dispenser has a housing with an interior. An intake channel, main conduit, and tape channel are located within the interior. The intake channel receives the viscous substance and is in fluid communication with the main conduit. A first outlet is coupled with the main conduit for dispensing the viscous substance. The tape channel has an elongate slot adjacent the first outlet for dispensing the tape. A piston is slidable within the main conduit between a closed position blocking the flow of substance from the intake channel into the main conduit and an open position allowing substance to flow from the intake channel into the main conduit. The piston is pre-tensioned biasing the piston to the closed position. |
| US07954531B2 |
Labeling apparatus
A labeling apparatus of the present invention is constituted by: at least three support rollers which come into contact with the outer surface of the vial to rotate; an arm for rotatably supporting the support rollers; a rotation unit (rotation rollers) for rotating the vial held by the support rollers; a label supply unit for supplying labels to be attached on the outer surface of the vial; and an endless member which rotates according to the rotation of the vial between a first support roller with which the label fed from the label supply unit comes into contact first and a second support roller with which the label comes into contact second. |
| US07954523B2 |
Cutter head assembly for a wood planing machine
A cutter head assembly for a wood planing machine includes a shaft, a plurality of cutter-mounting sleeve modules sleeved on the shaft, and a plurality of cutter modules respectively secured to the sleeve modules such that cutting edges of the cutter modules extend beyond outer wall surfaces of the sleeve modules. An angularly variable positioning mechanism includes an axially extending guiding member disposed on the mount segment, and a plurality of axially extending guided members disposed on inner wall surfaces of the sleeve modules to mate with the axially guiding member. By virtue of fitting engagement between the guiding member and a selected one of the guided member of each sleeve module that are sequentially sleeved onto the shaft, the cutting edges together define a cutting contour line that winds around the shaft. |
| US07954522B2 |
Guiding device for a tenoner
A guiding device for a tenoner includes a mounting member for mounting the guiding device on the tenoner and for releasably engaging with a plurality of guide members. The mounting member includes a recess inset on a lateral side thereof. Each guide member includes an engaging section and a guiding section, and the engaging section is moveably engaged in the recess and is adapted to be fixed at various positions. |
| US07954520B2 |
Portable sand bag hopper
A highly portable sand bag hopper has the shape of a cabinet with the front open. The flat, solid top of the cabinet has a loading opening for loading sand into a lower cone. A horizontal sliding door located near the lower, smaller tapered end of the cone opens and closes the lower discharge opening by pulling a spring-loaded lever arm. The upper part of the cone is loaded with sand at a predetermined level to discharge discreet amounts of sand. A seal may be located around the lower opening to sweep sand or debris from the top of the discharge door. |
| US07954518B2 |
Tear cord for jacketed tube
The disclosure pertains to installing a plurality of tear cords between a metal tube and a protective jacket. The multiple cords facilitate ease of removal of the protective jacket by creating a panel of the jacket that is detached from the remainder by pulling on the multiple tear cords. The resulting widened space can be used to remove the tube from the remaining protective jacket. The jacketed tubes may be used in a hydrocarbon production downhole well bore. The tubes may be used to furnish hydraulic fluid or chemicals into the well bore. The contents may be pressurized or under vacuum. The jacketed tubes are hermetically sealed. The tubes, which may be 1 inch in diameter, are joined using compression fittings. Tear cords are used to facilitate removal of the protective jacket without damage to the tube surface thereby facilitating the placement of compression fittings and maintaining the integrity of the tube wall. |
| US07954515B2 |
Combination cap and plug assembly
A combination cap and plug assembly. A cap portion of the assembly is used to stop flow of material through a male coupling, and a plug portion is used to stop flow of material through a female coupling. The combination cap and plug assembly includes a tether that allows the assembly to be coupled to hose or tubing that is connected to the male and female coupling. |
| US07954509B2 |
Check valves with hinge shafts retained by welding
Methods and apparatus are provided for retaining a hinge shaft of a check valve with a bushing. The check valve includes a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough; a hinge shaft; a bushing coupled to the valve body and welded to the hinge shaft; and a closure element pivotally mounted on the hinge shaft for opening and closing the flow passage. |
| US07954507B2 |
Mixing eductor
An eductor for mixing two liquids wherein the eductor includes a closed or non-air gap back flow prevention member. The vacuum profile of the eductor is altered by changing an opening in a passage portion to controllably divert water flow around the venturi tube or diverting the water without the opening. This affords the changing of the vacuum profile without redesigning the entire eductor. |
| US07954506B2 |
Automatic freeze protection system for domestic plumbing systems
A plumbing system operable to automatically introduce antifreeze into the hot and cold water systems responsive to a signal from a controller. The controller activates the system automatically at a predetermined ambient temperature. The system can also be reconfigured manually. |
| US07954505B2 |
Mobile leakage containment box including a liquid impermeable membrane
A mobile, emergency apparatus that can be used to minimize the flood damage to the property in rooms that experience ceiling or roof water leaks includes: (a) a container that has exterior and interior surfaces that include a bottom and sidewalls with free edges that form the rim of an opening to the container's interior surface which also includes an aperture, (b) a plurality of hinges that are attached proximate the container's rim, (c) a plurality of extendible leashes that are attached to the hinges and with each of these leashes having a free end to which is attached an anchor, and (d) a liquid impermeable membrane that has an outer edge and an opening, with this opening having an edge that is attached around the perimeter of the container's aperture, and wherein the container, membrane and hose are sized so that the membrane and hose are storable in the container when the apparatus is not in use. |
| US07954501B2 |
Pressure cleaner accessory
A pressure cleaner provides a splitter for dividing a fluid stream to a plurality of nozzles without a substantial loss in pressure. A frame is provided to help maintain angle and distances of the spray nozzles relative to each other and to a surface to be cleaned. |
| US07954500B2 |
Application for a cosmetic product, especially for mascara or hair dye
In an applicator for a cosmetic product, especially for mascara or hair dye, comprising a main body that is connectable to a handle, said main body having a plurality of discs disposed parallel to one another, spaced apart from one another, provision is made for the discs to be patterned individually user-specifically. |
| US07954495B2 |
Dustproof mask for nose
Disclosed is a dustproof mask for nose, in which filters are inserted into the nasal cavities of a user. The dustproof mask for nose includes a clamping unit having two wings and surrounding the nasal septum (the septum of the nose) of a user; connection portions installed at tips of the two wings; and filters installed at the connection portions. In the dustproof mask for nose, the filters (10) have a hemispheric shape, nipple-shaped connectors, which are formed at the connection portions, are inserted into connection holes, which are formed through the central areas of the filters, and fixing protrusions for firmly holding the nasal septum are formed on the wings of the clamping unit. |
| US07954492B2 |
Pharmaceutical powder cartridge, and inhaler equipped with same
To improve administration of powdered pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical powder cartridge (1) for powder inhalers for holding a pharmaceutical depot for a large number of pharmaceutical powder doses is proposed, having at least one storage space (6) and an integrated metering device, said integrated metering device comprising at least one metering slide (9, 13, 14) which can be moved approximately transversely in a metering slide channel (12) at least from a filling position to an emptying position, approximately transversely with respect to the direction of flow of the pharmaceutical powder out from the at least one storage space (6), said metering slide channel (12) with the at least one metering slide (9, 13, 14) being sealed off from the environment at least in the filling position of the metering slide (9, 13, 14), and also further measures and a corresponding inhaler. |
| US07954491B2 |
Low dose pharmaceutical powders for inhalations
The invention relates to a method of delivering an agent to the pulmonary system of a compromised patient, in a single breath-activated step, comprising administering a particle mass comprising an agent from an inhaler containing less than 5 milligrams of the mass, wherein at least about 50% of the mass in the receptacle is delivered to the pulmonary system of a patient. The invention also relates to receptacles containing the particle mass and the inhaler for use therein. |
| US07954487B2 |
Nebulizer apparatus and method
A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer, in one embodiment, includes a fluid channel air inlet and fluid channel air inlet valve responsive to either a manual force external of the nebulizer, or a patient's breathing, to begin the nebulization process. The nebulizer also includes a fluid return channel to a fluid source, such as a removable vial, containing fluid to be aerosolized. |
| US07954484B2 |
Splitting devices
An apparatus for splitting stones and blocks comprises means (5A, 6A) for supporting a stone or block while it is subject to a splitting operation, a unit which includes an upper blade (1) for engaging an upper surface of the stone or block and a lower blade (10) for engaging a lower surface of the stone or block, means (5) for effecting movement of the upper blade (1) downwardly towards the lower blade (10), a base (1A, 3A), and resilient support means (11) acting between the base (1A, 3A) and the unit. |
| US07954479B2 |
Fuel supply device for gas engine
A fuel supply device for a gas engine is provided that includes a vaporizer, a primary regulator, a fuel changeover valve, a second inlet passage to which is introduced a second fuel fed out from a second fuel source, and a common outlet passage and can selectively connect the first and second inlet passages to the outlet passage, a common secondary regulator that regulates the pressure of the first fuel or second fuel so that it is at substantially atmospheric pressure and supplies it to a mixer, and a cutoff valve that opens/closes a fuel passage between the fuel changeover valve and the secondary regulator in response to operation/stopping of a gas engine, the vaporizer, the primary regulator, the fuel changeover valve, the cutoff valve, and the secondary regulator being integrally connected to each other to form a unit. |
| US07954476B2 |
Fuel supply device
A fuel supply device comprises a fuel pump, a set plate, a control circuit, and an electrical wiring member. The fuel pump is disposed within a fuel tank. The set plate closes an opening of the fuel tank. The set plate comprises a controller chamber isolated from the fuel tank. The control circuit is disposed within the controller chamber. The control circuit controls the fuel pump. The electrical wiring member connects the control circuit and the fuel pump. The electrical wiring member is arranged from an interior of the controller chamber to an interior of the fuel pump and is passed through the set plate. A part of the electrical wiring member is exposed to the atmosphere. Furthermore, the exposed part is disposed within a range from the interior of the fuel tank to the interior of the controller chamber. |
| US07954473B2 |
Vehicle, controller and control method therefor, and abnormality detection system for idle speed control device and abnormality determining method for idle speed control device
A vehicle speed sensor detects a rotational speed of a rear wheel. A throttle valve is positioned downstream of an intake pipe. An idle speed control device controls the amount of air flowing through the intake pipe to perform an idle speed control. An electronic control unit (ECU) detects an abnormality of the idle speed control (ISC) device based on an intake pipe pressure. The ECU inhibits a rotational speed of the engine from increasing when an abnormality of the ISC device is determined. Precise detection of vehicle speed and suppression of increase of engine rotational speed resulting from an ISC abnormality is thereby achieved. |
| US07954470B2 |
Energy transfer machine
An energy transfer machine, for example, a positive displacement internal combustion device, has a fixed outer housing, an internal rotating carrier and one or more inner rotors with rotational axes which are offset from the inner rotor carrier rotational axis. Projections from the fixed outer housing and rotor mesh with each other to define variable volume chambers. In another energy transfer machine, in which the outer housing may be fixed or rotating, projections of the rotor are expandable within cylinders defined by projections of the outer housing. |
| US07954465B2 |
Combined exhaust restriction and variable valve actuation
An internal combustion engine that includes both a variable valve actuation system and an exhaust restriction system to provide engine braking are disclosed. Variable valve actuation and exhaust gas restriction are carried out in response to one or more engine parameters such as engine speed, engine load, vehicle speed, and/or manifold temperature and pressure. Variable valve actuation and exhaust gas restriction may be controlled to provide selective engine performance during positive power operation and/or during engine braking operation. |
| US07954464B2 |
Cylinder head of an internal combustion engine having an electrohydraulic valve controller
A cylinder head of an internal combustion engine having an electrohydraulic valve controller which includes a master unit (12), a slave unit (24), a hydraulic valve (4), a pressure relief space (18) and a pressure space (17) which is arranged in the direction of transmission between the master unit (12) and the slave unit (24) and can be connected to the associated pressure relief space (18) via the hydraulic valve (4). The master unit (12), the slave unit (24), the pressure space (17), the hydraulic valve (4), the pressure relief space (18) and a non-return valve (31) are preassembled in a common hydraulic housing (8), to form a pre-assembled hydraulic unit (3) which is fastened to the cylinder head (1) and which is connected to the hydraulic medium supply of the internal combustion engine via the non-return valve (31). Here, for the initial filling of the pressure relief space (18) and/or of the pressure space (17) with hydraulic medium, at least one filling device (6) is provided which is independent of the hydraulic medium supply, and is formed on the hydraulic housing (8) and has a closure (35). |
| US07954461B2 |
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. |
| US07954460B2 |
Boiler apparatus
A boiler apparatus for leading fluid from a plurality of upper walls (2) to (4) to a ceiling wall (7) through a ceiling wall inlet header (11), characterized in that a ceiling wall inlet mixing header (8) is installed between the plurality of upper walls (2) to (4) and the ceiling wall inlet header (11). |
| US07954459B2 |
Method and apparatus for vaporizing liquid
An apparatus and method for vaporizing liquid are provided which employ a plurality of rods disposed within a storage vessel that serve as the heat transfer element. While the plurality of rods are generally submerged by the liquid fuel to facilitate heat transfer and vaporization of the liquid fuel, the rods may be packed closely together such that the liquid inventory required to maintain the rods in a submerged state is substantially less than required by conventional fuel supply systems, thereby permitting the weight of a fuel supply system that incorporates the apparatus and method to be reduced while still permitting effective vaporization of the fuel. |
| US07954457B2 |
Dispenser
A dispenser that delivers a small but consistent and sustained amount of fluid over an extended period of time, particularly useful but not limited to dispensing pesticides when worn by cattle. The dispenser has a shell having an opening. A reservoir is disposed in the shell and is saturated with a pesticide. A wick is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The wick extends through the opening and has a greater capillary attraction or wicking ability than the reservoir, whereby during use of the dispenser the wick draws fluid from the reservoir and deposits it upon contact. |
| US07954456B2 |
Freestanding pet barrier
A self-supporting pet barrier comprising a front panel and two side panels, each panel having floor-contacting surfaces preferably to which a friction reducing substance has been applied is disclosed. The front and side panels preferably are attached so that the side panels can be positioned from generally perpendicularly to the front panel in use to a folded position adjacent said front panel for storage or travel. A generally triangular stabilizing leg may protrude forward from the plane of the front panel and can be attached in either the side panel or front panel. |
| US07954452B2 |
Film formation apparatus for semiconductor process and method for using the same
A method for using a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process forms a first atmosphere inside an upstream gas passage between a gas supply source of a halogen acidic gas and a flow rate controller. The first atmosphere is set for the halogen acidic gas to have an average molecular weight of 20 or more and 23 or less. Further, the using method supplies the halogen acidic gas from the gas supply source through the upstream gas passage having the first atmosphere thus formed and the flow rate controller, thereby supplying a cleaning gas containing the halogen acidic gas into a reaction chamber of the film formation apparatus. A by-product film deposited on an inner surface of the reaction chamber is etched and removed by use of the cleaning gas thus supplied. |
| US07954451B2 |
Closed loop adhesive registration system
An apparatus and method use closed loop control processes to automatically adjust a command signal used to change an operating state of a fluid dispensing gun. Proportional, integral and/or derivative control processes are used to determine an operating parameter comprising on time compensation, off time compensation and/or a fluid pressure compensation. An adjustment is made to the operating parameter if a number of consecutive measurements of an adhesive bead characteristic are outside of a predetermined tolerance range. A sensor for producing a feedback signal is used to communicate a measurable difference between an actual and a desired bead characteristic. The feedback signal applied in real time is used when determining the operating parameter, reducing substrate waste and increasing efficiency. |
| US07954450B2 |
Optical fiber coating apparatus for preventing generation of bubble in coating layer of optical fiber and method of coating optical fiber using the same
Disclosed is an optical fiber coating apparatus for preventing generation of bubble in a coating layer of an optical fiber when the optical fiber is coated, which includes a coating unit for allowing an optical fiber to pass through and forming a coating layer on the optical fiber; a base coupled with a lower portion of the coating unit to draw the optical fiber; a cover installed to an upper portion of the coating unit to isolate the coating unit from an external air and having an optical fiber introduction hole; a gas supply line for supplying gas, having smaller kinetic viscosity than the air, into an inner space formed by the cover; and a coating agent discharge line for discharging a coating agent remained in the inner space of the cover. The inner space forms positive pressure circumstance by using the gas having smaller kinetic viscosity than the air. |
| US07954448B2 |
Film forming apparatus and method of film formation
A film forming apparatus includes a film forming chamber for performing a film formation; an exhaust unit connected to the film forming chamber to discharge a gas out of the film forming chamber; a holder provided in the film forming chamber to hold a process-objective material; a jetting nozzle provided in the film forming chamber on which a jetting port is formed in a slit shape, and jetting an aerosol containing particulate material to form a film made of the particulate material on the process-objective material; and a shielding member provided at a side of the jetting port in a longitudinal direction of the jetting port to cover a side of a jet flow of the aerosol jetted from the jetting port. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a turbulence of a flow of the aerosol due to an exhaust flow, and to form the film uniformly. |
| US07954445B2 |
Pressure state indicator
A pressure state indicator indicates whether or not positive pressure fluid or negative pressure fluid is supplied to a fluid path. A fluid guide member 17 is constituted of a joint main body 11 in which a fluid path 12 is formed and a partition member 16 provided outside the joint main body 11, and an accommodation space 19 is formed by the partition member 16 and the joint main body 11. A pressure chamber 22a communicating with the fluid path 12 through a communicating hole 23 is formed in the accommodation space 19 by a sliding sealing member 21 provided in the accommodation space 19. The sliding sleeve 24 is located at a non-supply position by a spring member 25 when no pressure is supplied to the fluid path 12, and the sliding sleeve 24 is moved to a supply position when pressure is supplied thereto. A pressure state in the fluid path 12 is externally confirmed by observing positions of the sliding sealing member 21 and the sliding sleeve 24 from outside. |
| US07954444B2 |
Reading tool
A tool for assisting a reader in grasping the thought expressed in a group of words on a page is disclosed. The tool is a flexible film card which has a window adjacent contrastingly colored film segments of the card. A group of words may be viewed through the window, and the window may then be moved by the user from one group of words to the next. The groups all around the window may be viewed through the colored segments of the card, thus allowing the reader's eyes to review and anticipate the passages of words which he has read or those which he is about to read while still focusing his attention on the group of words in the window. |
| US07954439B2 |
Transplanter
Transplanter which can avoid skips when planting, which skips may occur when seeds in a tray row fail to grow into seedlings. This is accomplished by picking up an entire row of seedlings from a tray, transferring the seedlings to a mechanism which eliminates gaps between seedlings, and then discharging the seedlings one at time to the ground with a desired spacing between the seedlings. A novel tray indexing mechanism is provided which can index trays of varying sizes. The planting mechanism has an air knife mounted adjacent transfer disks for straightening out the foliage as stems of seedlings before they are received by the planting disks, and the planting and transfer disks may be moved towards and away from each other for seedlings of differing heights. |
| US07954438B2 |
Wood fired boiler
A bio-mass fueled boiler operating at delivered efficiencies in excess of 90%. Pre-heated, pressurized primary combustion air is supplied to a primary burn chamber via horizontal and vertical orifice containing conduits. Exhaust gases are directed past a reflective secondary burner supplying pre-heated, pressurized secondary combustion air into a secondary burn/ash collection chamber. Exhaust gases are directed from the secondary burn chamber via exhaust conduits having axial and cross-sectional shapes and wall geometries that promote internal turbulence and heat transfer. One or more gas/oil fired burners are fitted to or between the primary and secondary combustion chambers. Several operating modes are provided via associated blowers, air baffles, liquid and gas fuel conduits, pumps and sundry stove sensors and servos coupled to microprocessor control circuitry. |
| US07954432B1 |
Shipping cap for shielded mild detonating cord and resulting assembly for safe shipping
A shipping cap is provided for use with a shielded mild detonating cord (SMDC) having an explosive tip that contains a volume of explosive material. The shipping cap is coupled to a portion of the SMDC to define a sealed free volume region about the SMDC's explosive tip. The size of the free volume region is a function of the volume of explosive material contained in the explosive tip. The shipping cap's wall strength in the free volume region is defined by a factor of safety that is a function of the yield strength of the material used to construct the cap. |
| US07954429B1 |
Combined ink stamp and digital counter device and associated method
A combined ink stamp and digital counter device includes a portable self-inking stamp that includes a housing provided with a print head. The device also includes a mechanical print head actuator that is coupled to the print head for urging the print head along a linear reciprocating path defined between an upper resting position and a lower stamping position. The device further includes a counting mechanism that is coupled to the print head actuator and is configured to conveniently count a number of stampings when the print head actuator is displaced to the lower stamping position. The device furthermore includes a display screen that is electrically coupled to the counting mechanism and is configured to display the number of stampings. |
| US07954426B2 |
Compactor systems and methods for compacting a mass
A compactor system for compressing a mass including liquid and solids includes: a pressure vessel defining a pressure chamber to hold the mass; a compaction mechanism to compress the mass in the pressure chamber to remove the liquid from the solids; a drain port communicating with the pressure chamber and through which the removed liquid drains out of the pressure chamber; drain piping fluidly connected to the drain port to direct the removed liquid to a collection site; and an influent system configured to inject an influent fluid into the pressure chamber through the drain port. |
| US07954425B2 |
Grating disk for food processor
To improve the efficiency of juice-extracting food processors (1) based on grating fruit or vegetables, wherein the inlet piece (2) forms an interstice (I) with the grating disk (3), interstitial cutting teeth (302) are arranged in the interstice (I). Pieces of fruit or vegetables in the interstice (I) are additionally accelerated in the direction of the sieve 151 due to centrifugal forces by the interstitial cutting teeth (302) acting on these pieces. The juice contained in these pieces is thus more efficiently extracted. For better processing of pieces of fruit or vegetables with a high juice content, the interstitial cutting teeth (302) are preferably higher than the other cutting teeth (301) of the grating disk (3). |
| US07954424B2 |
Full depth rack
A rack for an appliance comprises a support platform including a support frame and a plurality of elongated support wires attached to the support frame to form a support surface extending generally along a plane. An upwardly projecting portion is adapted to engage structure of an appliance to inhibit the rack from being removed therefrom. In one example, at least one leg section is attached to the support platform and extends a distance along a longitudinal axis of the support platform that is less than half of the total length of the support platform. In addition or alternatively, the support frame includes a rear member having a portion that is bent inwardly in a direction towards the front member so as to be spaced a distance from a rear wall of an appliance. In addition or alternatively, an arrangement for supporting items in an appliance includes the rack. |
| US07954422B2 |
Cooking apparatus and method with product recognition
Cooking apparatus having first and second platens with product recognition. A positioning mechanism moves the second platen toward the first. A detector senses the second platen making contact with a food product disposed on the first platen and provides a signal. A controller uses the signal to measure the travel distance of the second platen. The product thickness is a function of the travel distance, which is used to select a cooking procedure for the food product. The controller then executes the selected cooking procedure to cook the food product. The detector can include a micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor, sonar sensor or positioning load change sensor. |
| US07954418B2 |
Composite containment of high energy debris and pressure
A protective device for use in containing high energy debris and pressure is provided which employs a plurality of energy absorption elements disposed on an outer surface of an inner sheet, where the outer surface faces away from the body being protected and toward the high energy event, such as an explosion. Each energy absorption element extends generally away from the body to permit the high energy event to first impact upon the energy absorption elements, rather than the body. Energy absorbing elements are configured with a base and a cap and are formed of laminate composite materials. As such, energy absorption elements are configured to contain or reduce high energy debris material and pressure impacting the energy absorption element through delamination and possibly penetration of the composite material. |
| US07954416B2 |
Bullet-proof structure
Self-protection structure, comprising a first inner layer (2) made form a material having high resistant to the impact of a bullet (4), and at least a second outer pierceable layer (3) having a melting temperature relatively low so as to melt upon the arrival of the bullet (4) and to retain the latter by preventing the bounce thereof. |
| US07954414B2 |
Muzzle brake
A muzzle brake for a firearm, the muzzle brake including structural features that affect the flow characteristics of the combustion gases for reducing concussion to the shooter and to personnel to the sides of the shooter, as well as for directionally countering upward and sideward movement of the firearm's muzzle upon the firing of the firearm. |
| US07954412B2 |
Launch tube protective cover
A launch tube protective cover for mounting to a launch tube including a projectile. The launch tube protective cover is arranged for protecting the interior of the launch tube from external environment. The launch tube protective cover includes a flexible rippable vapor barrier faced towards the projectile and circumferentially attached to the launch tube. |
| US07954410B2 |
Fast rope
A fast rope, which includes a weighted core, a first braid surrounding the core, a second braid surrounding the first braid, and a third braid surrounding the second braid. The core is constructed from lead wires extruded over a polyester yarn, the first braid is strands of polypropylene, the second braid is strands of composite press material, and the third braid is strands of spun polyester. |
| US07954401B2 |
Method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element
A method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element that includes obtaining a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face, with the working face including a plurality of blades having of at least one cutting element and a receptacle formed proximate a center of the working face. The method further includes attaching a pocket having a central hollow within the receptacle, and securing the jack element within the central hollow with a press fit such that the centerline of the jack element is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drill bit. |
| US07954399B2 |
Steering control for self-propelled vehicles
A steering control for vehicles, such as for automobiles or motorcycles in the form of a steering wheel or of a handlebar, with a gripping zone presenting an elastically variable geometry deformable under the action of the hand or the hands of the driver gripping the steering control fast and forcefully in case of danger. Thus, in the event of panic, an hydraulic or pneumatic sensor located inside the gripping zone is activated. The sensor extends over essentially the whole gripping zone of the steering control that can be gripped by at least one hand of the driver, and includes a tube of elastic material, filled with a liquid, and embedded entirely in a foamed plastic material. The steering control exhibits then high effectiveness and reliability of a safety device, in the elimination of potential danger caused by mistaken reactions of the driver, and in the economic feasibility of the inventive device. |
| US07954393B2 |
Linear actuator with wear-resistant ceramic bushing
An actuator in one embodiment includes a threaded shaft; a shaft engaging portion coupled to the threaded shaft, the shaft engaging portion being moveable in a direction parallel to an axis of the threaded shaft upon a relative rotation between the threaded shaft and the shaft engaging portion; and a ceramic bushing coupled to the shaft engaging portion, the bushing encircling the threaded shaft. |
| US07954392B2 |
Coated substrate with properties of keratinous tissue
Article of manufacture comprising a substrate and a coating layer. The coating layer comprises at least one coating material, and is stably affixed to the substrate to form a stable, coated surface. The coated surface has a texture that mimics the topography of mammalian keratinous tissue and demonstrates at least one physical property representative of mammalian keratinous tissue, selected from the group consisting of a total surface energy of from about 15 mJ/m2 to about 50 mJ/m2, a dispersive component of the surface energy of from about 15 mJ/m2 to about 50 mJ/m2, a polar component of the total surface energy of from about 1 mJ/m2 to about 14 mJ/m2, a zeta-potential at a pH of about 5.0 of from about −40 mV to about 30 mV, and combinations thereof. |
| US07954388B2 |
In-line measuring device
An inline measuring device, includes a measuring transducer having: at least one measuring tube vibrating, during operation, and serving for conveying, at least at times, a two- or multiphase, flowable medium; an exciter mechanism for producing vibrations of the measuring tube; and a sensor arrangement for registering vibrations of the measuring tube and for delivering oscillation measurement signal representing oscillations of the measuring tube. Measuring device electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer. The measuring device electronics delivers, at least one exciter signal driving the exciter mechanism, and, ascertains a damping value of a first type, which represents, instantaneously, a damping of vibrations of the at least one measuring tube induced by medium conveyed in the at least one measuring tube and antisymmetric with reference to an imaginary central plane of the at least one measuring tube coplanar with a cross section of the measuring tube, and/or which represents, instantaneously, a damping of vibrations of the at least one measuring tube induced by medium conveyed in the at least one measuring tube. |
| US07954386B2 |
System and method for detecting pressure variations in fuel dispensers to more accurately measure fuel delivered
A system and method for compensating a calculated or flow rate of fuel dispensed to a vehicle via a fuel flow path in response to a determination of a non-steady state condition based on data corresponding to a signal transmitted by a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure therein, where the pressure sensor is adapted to transmit a signal representative of the sensed pressure. |
| US07954378B2 |
Ultrasonic sensor and method for determining a separation of an object from an ultrasonic sensor
The invention relates to a method for determining a separation, spacing or distance of an object from an ultrasonic sensor, in which ultrasonic pulses are emitted by a transducing or sensing element and in which ultrasonic pulses reflected by the object are detected by the same transducing element. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that there is a spectral analysis of the signal detected by the transducing element, that the multiple echo frequency attributed to multiple echoes of the ultrasonic pulses is determined in the spectrum of the detection signal and that on the basis of the multiple echo frequency the separation of the object from the ultrasonic sensor is determined. The invention also relates to an ultrasonic sensor for determining the separation of an object. |
| US07954369B2 |
Tire pressure measurement system with reduced current consumption
A tire pressure measurement system (TPMS) includes a capacitor and an integrated circuit configured to receive a supply voltage. The integrated circuit includes a voltage regulator and a measurement unit. The voltage regulator is configured to be turned on and off for predetermined periods of time such that the capacitor is charged and discharged, respectively. The voltage regulator and the capacitor are connected to the measurement unit in order to selectively provide electric charge at a voltage between predetermined upper and lower limits. |
| US07954367B2 |
Tyre comprising a device for detecting at least a characteristic parameter of the tyre itself, and a manufacturing method thereof
Fastened to a tire is a detecting device consisting of a detecting unit including a sensor associated with an annular antenna having an inner perimetral edge, and an anchoring body having a base portion with a fastening surface secured to the radially internal surface of the tire. The detecting unit is removably brought into engagement with the anchoring body by insertion of the inner perimetral edge of the antenna into a perimetral groove formed between the base portion and a retaining portion. The anchoring body has an overall height of about 0.2 to about 1.5 times a maximum distance measure between two mutually spaced apart points along the inner perimetral edge. |
| US07954365B2 |
Closed loop control with bias voltage toggle
An oxygen sensor circuit comprises an oxygen sensor, a bias voltage module, and a switch module. The bias voltage module communicates with the oxygen sensor and generates a bias voltage. The switch module selectively connects the bias voltage module to the oxygen sensor. |
| US07954361B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting tank leaks
Method and apparatus for detecting tank leaks, in which a gas pressure acts on a fluid which is situated in a tank, and in which the gas pressure in the tank or tank system is changed, wherein a tank leak is detected by evaluation of a temporal profile of a sum pressure of the fluid which is situated in the tank. |
| US07954359B1 |
Method and apparatus for impact detection and prioritization of impact information transmitted to a receiving station
An impact detection system according to the present invention includes an impact sensor, damage sensors and an electronics package. The impact sensor includes a fiber optic grid preferably attached to a target object to detect impact locations on the target. The damage sensors measure damage sustained by the object, while the electronics package monitors the fiber optic grid, records the impact location and sends information pertaining to the impact location and target damage through a telemetry link with limited bandwidth to a receiving station. In order to ensure transmission of desired information, the electronics package allocates telemetry bandwidth to sensor information most relevant to impact location and target damage to enable transmission in the limited time interval available prior to target destruction or impact detection system disablement. This is accomplished by dynamically allocating reporting priority to different sensors during an impact. |
| US07954352B2 |
Sheet metal bending brake
A bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material including a base supporting a plurality of c-shaped members presenting opposing clamping surfaces for receiving the sheet metal material. An extension extends away from the clamping surfaces with a socket connection rotatably supporting a bending member on the base for bending the sheet metal material disposed between the clamping surfaces. The socket connection includes a male portion and a female portion in sliding engagement with one another as the bending member moves between a pre-bending position, a first operating position, and a second operating position. A finger extends from the male portion and defines a gap between the finger and the extension when in the pre-bending position with the finger maintaining the gap as the finger moves from the pre-bending position to the first operating position and the finger engaging the extension when in the second operating position. |
| US07954346B2 |
Cutting machine particulary for leather and similar materials
A cutting machine, particularly for leather and similar materials, comprising a cutting area provided with one or more cutting heads and with an area for unloading the cut parts, the areas being arranged along a conveyor belt, material detection means being provided in order to detect the position of the material before cutting it, the machine further comprising a detection area, arranged upstream of the cutting area, the material detection means being arranged in the detection area in order to detect the position of references provided on the material to be cut. |
| US07954344B2 |
Steam generator and washing machine therewith
A steam generator includes a water chamber for holding water, the water chamber having a heater mounted thereto for heating the water, a steam chamber for holding steam generated as the water is heated, a water supply line for supplying the water to the water chamber, and a steam discharge line for discharging steam from the steam chamber, wherein the water chamber has a vertical direction length relatively greater than a horizontal direction length and the steam chamber has a horizontal direction length relatively greater than the horizontal length of the water chamber. A dryer or washing machine may include the steam generator described herein. |
| US07954343B2 |
Method and apparatus for closing a tubular knitted article at one of its axial ends, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like
A method and an apparatus for closing a tubular knitted article at one of its axial ends, at the end of its production cycle on a circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like. The method consists in ending the production of an article at one of its axial ends. The article is then picked up from the machine and transferred to a handling device located in a sewing or looping station. The pick-up is performed by transferring individually the loops of the last row of knitting from the needles of the machine to spikes of the handling device, which has an annular body composed of two semiannular elements. The article is then turned, and one of the two semiannular elements is turned over with respect to the other one, so that the spikes of one semiannular element face, and are aligned with, the spikes of the other semiannular element. The loops of knitting arranged on the spikes of one semiannular element are transferred to the spikes of the other semiannular element so that each spike of the latter semiannular element supports a pair of loops of knitting. |
| US07954332B2 |
Temperature control systems and methods
Systems and methods for controlling the temperature of an electrical device is described. The system includes a heat sink system in conjunction with a thermoelectric assembly. The systems and methods are particularly suitable in NEMA-4 electrical enclosures used in electrical submersible pump applications. |
| US07954331B2 |
Thermally-balanced solid state cooling
Apparatus, systems, and methods provide for the cooling of a system on an aircraft or other platform. According to embodiments described herein, a first coolant is routed through a heat-producing system to absorb heat and maintain the system at a desired temperature. The first coolant is routed through a thermoelectric chiller for cooling before returning to absorb further heat from the system. Thermoelectric cooler modules within the chiller transfer heat from cold plates containing the first coolant to hot plates containing a second coolant. The second coolant absorbs the transferred heat and is routed to a radiator, where the heat is discharged into an ambient air stream. The second coolant is routed back to the hot plates to absorb further heat. |
| US07954329B2 |
Statically-operating ejector ramjet
The present invention provides a statically starting and operating ramjet engine system. The system includes a pumping ejector coupled to a ramjet engine upstream of the ramjet inlet. A subsonic converging nozzle is placed in fluid communication between the pumping ejector and ramjet inlet. The pumping ejector ejects a primary fluid into the ramjet inlet to entrain a secondary fluid and create a mixed flow with sufficient momentum and internal energy to achieve characteristic speed. The converging nozzle provides a characteristic cross section necessary for the mixed flow to achieve characteristic speed as it moves through the nozzle, thereby producing a standing shock wave at the point of maximum convergence of the nozzle and creating sonic conditions at the inlet of the ramjet engine. |
| US07954325B2 |
Gas turbine combustor
A gas turbine engine has a combustor module including an annular combustor having a liner assembly that defines an annular combustion chamber having a length, L. The liner assembly includes a radially inner liner, a radially outer liner that circumscribes the inner liner, and a bulkhead, having a height, H1, which extends between the respective forward ends of the inner liner and the outer liner. The combustor has an exit height, H3, at the respective aft ends of the inner liner and the outer liner interior. The annular combustor has a ratio H1/H3 having a value less than or equal to 1.7. The annular combustor may also have a ration L/H3 having a value less than or equal to 6.0. |
| US07954322B2 |
Floating solar energy conversion and storage apparatus
A solar energy conversion and storage apparatus floats on a body of water and confines and stores a large quantity of solar-heated water for producing electricity with a closed-cycle heat engine. An expansive horizontal structure parallel to the surface of the water confines one or more horizontal layers of water, a distributed array of heat transfer structures gathers solar energy and imparts it to the confined water, and one or more heat engines produce electricity utilizing the temperature differential between the confined water and ambient water. The heat transfer structures can be configured to transfer solar energy to the confined water using a convective process; and some or all of the heat transfer structures can be configured to transfer solar energy to the stored water using a distillation process that optionally produces distilled water as a by-product. |
| US07954321B2 |
Solar power plant and method and/or system of storing energy in a concentrated solar power plant
A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency. Due to material constraints and cost considerations in the rest of the system the maximum temperature is presently limited to between 1700° F. and 2000° F. The method can be applied to all current solar collector designs. 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. |
| US07954315B2 |
Hydraulic circuit structure of work vehicle
A hydraulic circuit structure of a work vehicle capable of solving a problem in a conventional structure wherein, in a machine attitude control in back hoe operation, pressure oil is preferentially fed to light-loaded machines and some work machines are slowly moved or stopped and, accordingly, the attitudes of the machines cannot be rapidly controlled and work performance is affected. To solve this problem, the hydraulic circuit of the work vehicle comprises two valve groups for a loader and a back hoe having circuits to supply the pressure oil from one hydraulic pump to a valve group for back hoe control through a valve group for loader control and the pressure oil from the other hydraulic pump directly to the valve group for back hoe control. The pressure oil is independently supplied from the hydraulic pumps to valve sections for controlling right and left stabilizer cylinders installed in the valve group for back hoe control. |
| US07954310B2 |
Fuel oil bi-directional flow divider
A fuel purge system for a combustion turbine engine fuel supply system (32) to remove fuel from the fuel system (32). The system (32) includes a fuel supply line (40, 42, 44) for supplying fuel from a fuel source (38) to a plurality of burner nozzles (41, 43, 45) of the engine (34). A bi-directional flow divider (52a, 52b, 52c) is located in the fuel supply line (40, 42, 44) for receiving fuel from the fuel source (38) on an inlet side of the flow divider (52a, 52b, 52c) and for dividing the fuel to a plurality of fuel output lines (60, 62, 64) connected to the plurality of burner nozzles (41, 43, 45). A purging fluid line (88, 92, 96) is connected to each fuel output line (60, 62, 64) for supplying purging fluid to the fuel supply line (40, 42, 44), and a diverter valve (100, 102, 104) and drain line (106, 108, 110) are connected to the fuel supply line (40, 42, 44) on said inlet side of the flow divider (52a, 52b, 52c) for draining the purging fluid and fuel to a drain system (112). |
| US07954308B2 |
Frequency of clip adjustment system and method for reel mower cutting unit
A system and method for adjusting the frequency of clip for a reel mower cutting unit includes an operator interface outputting a voltage corresponding to a frequency of clip setting, and a reel motor controller calculating a travel speed of the reel mower cutting unit based on a voltage reading from a voltage bus and a scale factor applied to the voltage reading, and calculating a required reel speed based on the travel speed, the voltage corresponding to the frequency of clip setting, and the number of cutting blades of the reel mower cutting unit. |
| US07954296B2 |
Radial tetrahedral modular structures
A new connecting node set that is unique and surprisingly effective at aligning interfacing holes in connecting nodes is illustrated by their application to radial tetrahedral structures. This method of connecting one node to another requires that a left handed node be connected to a right handed node. They are called left handed or right handed because their lines of interface in at least two directions of intended use are geometrically coincident with straight line rulings of a hyperboloid of revolution of one sheet which itself consists of two families of straight line rulings, designated a left handed and a right handed family respectively. With these nodes, magnets could be placed on the lines of interface (opposite placement in a left handed one from a right handed one) and thus the magnets would always attract or repel as preferred. |
| US07954295B2 |
Locking system and flooring board
A locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards. For horizontal mechanical joining there is a projecting portion with a locking element which cooperates with a locking groove in an adjacent board. A tongue-and-groove joint for vertical mechanical joining has cooperating upper abutment surfaces and cooperating lower abutment surfaces which are essentially parallel with the principal plane of the floorboards and of which the lower abutment surfaces are positioned essentially outside the outer vertical plane, i.e. displaced relative to the upper abutment surfaces. The tongue is movable at an angle into the groove and the locking element is insertable into the locking groove by mutual angular movement of the boards about the joint edges. |
| US07954294B2 |
Building panel
A building panel (1) has a major plane and is configured to interengage with at least one other adjacent like panel. The panel (1) has two major side surfaces (16) which are parallel to the major plane, and four major edge surfaces (2, 3) forming a perimeter (4) of the panel (1). An over-center camlock mechanism (7) is retractably extendable from each major edge surface (2, 3). Each major edge surface (2, 3) has a recess with an associated recess (17) at each major side surface (16), so that each recess is adjacent to at least one other recess. There is a pin in each recess and any over-center camlock mechanism (7) is latchingly engageable with the pin in any one of the recesses of the adjacent like panel so that the major planes of the two panels, when interengaged, are selectively parallel and coincident or perpendicular. |
| US07954293B2 |
Panels and systems of such panels for instance for suspended ceilings
According to the present invention there is provided a system of panels which could for instance be used for a suspended ceiling comprising one or more rows (R1, R2, . . . ) of panels (2), where one or more of the panels (2) of a given row can be moved from a first, upper level (a), where the panels are fixed relative to the system to a second, lower level (b), where the panels can be displaced along and underneath panels situated at the first level, thereby providing access through the system of panels to the space above or behind the panels. According to the invention there is furthermore provided panels for such systems, the panels comprising a substantially rigid frame (6, 12), the frame being furthermore provided with means for cooperation with mating means on a suspension and guide system, thereby allowing said movement from one level to the other and vice versa and said displacement. The frame defines an open, central region, over which a suitable, flexible material can be stretched and there is disclosed alternative attachment means for this material to the frame. The system of panels according to the invention facilitates access to the region above or behind the panels and also transport of the panels to the site of application as well as replacement or change of appearance of the panels on site. |
| US07954288B2 |
Custom connection system for modular walls
A virtual connector post (or customized wall module intersection) includes a variable angle connector assembled with a plurality of position retention mechanisms and a corresponding plurality of connector interfaces of corresponding wall modules. The virtual connector post can be varied for virtually any shape or design simply by varying the shape of the variable angle connector(s) used therein. In particular, the variable angle connector can be arbitrarily shaped so that the ultimately joined wall modules form a corresponding, non-standard angle, such as non-right angles between wall modules in a given partition. The variable angle connectors and corresponding position retention mechanisms can be securely fastened between multiple wall modules at any number of arbitrary points along the length of a partition. |
| US07954287B2 |
Cable management system for a raised floor grid system
A cable management system for managing electrical cables in a raised floor grid system is provided. The cable management system includes a cable enclosure including side walls and a base together defining an enclosure cavity. Each of the side walls defines a cable opening and a plurality of bracket openings in communication with the enclosure cavity. The cable management system also includes a sealing assembly installed in each of the cable openings, and a plurality of equipment brackets mountable to the sidewalls via the bracket openings, which are configured to enable mounting of the equipment brackets in vertical and angled orientations. The cable management system further includes a plurality of support brackets connectable to support structure of the raised floor grid system for supporting the cable enclosure on the support structure. The cable enclosure can be installed in the raised floor grid system by removing only a single floor tile. |
| US07954284B2 |
Retainer clip for grid simulating muntins
A grid simulating muntins is retained or secured by clips within a spacer frame between glass sheets. The clips include a spacer-engaging member having a platform, and upright walls bendable toward one another, and a grid-engaging member. The grid-engaging member is mounted on the platform, extends upward between and spaced from the upright walls, and is received into one of the ends of the elongated members of the grid. The platform and portions of the upright walls of the spacer-engaging member are positioned within the spacer frame such that the ends of the elongated members of the grid are below the sight line of the unit. The spacer-engaging member and the grid-engaging member can be a monolithic piece, or the grid-engaging member can be detachably secured to the platform of the spacer-engaging member. |
| US07954283B1 |
Fibrous aerogel spacer assembly
An insulating spacer for creating a thermally insulating bridge between spaced apart panes of a multiple pane window unit comprises in one embodiment, a solid profile of fiber-stabilized aerogel insulation material, treated to be non-porous along its exposed surface. The spacer defines a thermally insulated space between the panes. The result is higher thermal performance for insulated glass units and windows employing these insulated glass units. |
| US07954281B2 |
Skylight tube with infrared heat transfer
A skylight shaft substrate has a film or coating on its inside surface that reflects visible light while transmitting IR to the tube substrate, which can have a satin black and/or other IR absorbing interior and anodized or other high emissivity exterior to convey heat across the tube so that light is transmitted down the tube but heat transmission is directed through the tube to minimize heating the illuminated space. Or, heat may propagate up through the tube and exit through a clear plastic dome covering the tube. |
| US07954280B2 |
Basement drainage conduit
A basement drainage conduit for use in basement waterproofing systems. The conduit has one or two side elements with apertures to admit groundwater. The conduit may further include an intermediate element to provide additional support to the conduit structure. In embodiments where the intermediate element does not define apertures, a two-channel system may result to prevent cross-flow within the conduit. The conduit may be a modular assembly, the individual components of which may be separately manufactured for on-site installation and customization. Structural features of the conduit components, such as those defining a mating system, may facilitate assembly of the conduit. Radius elements may be provided to accommodate corners to result in a continuous drainage conduit along the perimeter of a basement, and ports may be strategically positioned to allow access to the conduit interior, such as for cleaning. |
| US07954279B2 |
Fascia cap for roof
An improved roofing method and assembly having a fascia cap designed to prevent water from moving through capillary action back towards the roof. The assembly has an a elongated drip edge running back the bottom edge of the fascia cap that displaces water away from the roof, preserving the integrity of the roof and building walls below. A blocking strip attaches the fascia cap to the roof, maintaining the assembly and helping the flow of water away from the roof. |
| US07954276B1 |
Plant eradication using unnatural mechanical and thermal trauma
Plant eradication using by inflicting upon a plant root (R) unnatural hot wound mechanical and thermal trauma delivered from a hot stab knife (V) which produces a stab gash (K) sufficiently deep to traverse plant cortex (C) and penetrate to plant xylem (X), simultaneous with or followed by heating the damaged area to a temperature of higher than 70 C, preferably 200 C for a sufficient time to cause cellular damage to the plant root. The root and hot stab knife may be shrouded to increase the temperature adjacent the stab gash. Preferably, the stab knife is formed to be sufficiently acuate and flat so as to allow a surface/volume ratio for the stab knife to be at least twice that of a cone of similar size and extent. Unhealable damage results, believed to caused by role conversion of organisms in the rhizosphere from symbiosis to antagonism. |
| US07954267B2 |
Holder for displaying a sheet of material
A holder for displaying a sheet of material includes a bracket having a back surface configured for mounting to a support surface, a slidably removable front plate defining a display area, and an insertably removable back plate. The bracket includes a plurality of protrusion members extending therefrom configured to be insertably received by a corresponding number of openings defined within the back plate to enable attachment to the bracket. The back plate is insertably received within the bracket by a recess formed therein and is supported within the bracket by a plurality of extensions projecting therefrom. The front plate is slidably received within the bracket by a recess formed therein. Replacements of varying color and/or tint are included for the front plate and back plate to allow for interchangeability. |
| US07954266B2 |
Card holder
A card holder (100) includes a base (1) and a clamping means (20) to attach the card holder to garment. A card is grasped on the base. The base has a first face (13) and an opposite second face (15). The clamping means includes a clamp (2) and a slot (12) for locking the clamp. The slot is defined in the base. The clamp is rotatably mounted to the base with an end retractably moving outwards. The retractably moving end can be locked in or released from the slot, so that the card holder can be attached to or removed from the bearer's garment in an easy way. |
| US07954265B2 |
Renewal in advertising displays and in poster placement
The present invention relates to an advertising display, which is used in displaying advertising posters in an illuminated manner, said advertising display comprising a protecting body profile (1), a covering profile (2), a white background material (4) where such poster is attached, and a transparent protector (5) positioned on said poster; and furthermore, at least one a hinge profile that retains the transparent protector (5) in order to easily attach/replace such poster, and to prevent said transparent protector (5) from becoming damaged; at least one magnetic profile and at least one magnetic tape that fasten the moving edge of the transparent protector (5) to the body profile (1) after a poster is attached; and a multitude number of clips retaining the poster between the background (4) and transparent protector (5). |
| US07954262B2 |
Adapter frame and method for installing the same
An adapter frame for installation of a front and an accessory implement, such as a snowplow blade and a sidewing, on a vehicle having a coupling plate is disclosed. The adapter frame has a frame structure. The adapter frame also comprises a hitch coupling mechanism for removably coupling the adapter frame to the vehicle coupling plate. The adapter frame further comprises a front implement coupling receptacle mechanism for removably receiving a corresponding coupling mechanism arranged on a front implement support frame attached to a rear portion of the front implement, the front implement support frame coupling mechanism being adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle coupling plate. The adapter frame also comprises an accessory implement coupling mechanism for removably coupling the adapter frame to the accessory implement. The adapter frame increases the implement reconfiguration capability of the vehicle. A method for installing the adapter frame is also disclosed. |
| US07954261B2 |
Joint load reducing footwear
Footwear including a flexible sole having a series of flexure zones positioned to correspond to primary joint axes of the human foot approximating the characteristics of a bare foot in motion. |
| US07954258B2 |
Article of footwear with walled cleat system
An article of footwear with primary cleats and secondary cleats is disclosed. The primary and secondary cleats are preferably disposed on an outer peripheral zone of a forefoot portion of a sole and present a walled cleat system on a portion of the outer peripheral zone. The article of footwear also includes bladed toe cleats. |
| US07954252B2 |
Methods and apparatus to determine and use wellbore diameters
Example methods and apparatus to determine and use wellbore diameters are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises positioning a downhole tool in a wellbore, counting a number of rotations of a motor used to cause the downhole tool to contact a surface of the wellbore, and determining a diameter of the wellbore based on the number of rotations of the motor. |
| US07954250B2 |
CMM Arm with enhanced manual control
The present invention relates to an apparatus for a Robust CMM Arm with Exoskeleton is provided comprising an Internal CMM Arm and an Exoskeleton driving the Internal CMM Arm through a plurality of transmission means such that one or more internal volumes are sealed against ingress of solid objects and fluids. It also relates to a haptic control of an RCA. |
| US07954249B1 |
E-Z riser stair guide
A template guide which performs and simplifies the task of layout for stair stringers. This accomplishment has previously been made by the use of multiple tools including the framing square, multipurpose square, and speed square as well as others. The said template of the present invention features an adjustable riser that can be secured for the exact dimension of any rise calculated to be between 6″ and 7¾″. The said template of the present invention also features an adjustable tread that can be secured for the exact dimension of any tread length, calculated to be between 9¼″ and 11⅛″. The said template is configured as such to accommodate the unskilled craftsman as well as the experienced tradesman. |
| US07954247B1 |
Self-orienting platform
A self-orienting platform device is provided having a platform that is rotatably adjustably attached to a body. The device is provided with adjustable weights to ensure even rotation. The attachment between the platform and the body is such that when the body rotates, the platform rotates with it, but the attachment can be adjusted such that the user can rotate the platform relative to the body when desired. The device comprises a magnet with an attached magnetic north indicator, and can be set by rotating the platform relative to the body so that when the magnet points to magnetic north, the magnetic north indicator points to a selected marking or other feature on the platform. The platform can be rotated with respect to the body to account for the difference between magnetic and true north, so that the selected marker is aligned with true north. The device can be used as a self-orienting sundial to tell the time of day by the sun, and because it is portable and does not have to be reset for different locations (within the same general latitude and longitude and time period), the sundial can be moved from place to place and used as a teaching aid in classrooms, and an interactive decorative object in homes and gardens. |
| US07954242B1 |
Electric nail clipper
This invention will assist individuals to either manually or automatically clip a toenail or fingernail. The fingernail or toenail is inserted into the front end of the device and a pair of trimming edges move together to clip the fingernail or toenail safely, easily and conveniently. One of the embodiments contemplates a manual device and the other is an electric device. |
| US07954238B2 |
Method of manufacturing ink jet circuit board with heaters and electrodes constructed to reduce corrosion
An ink jet head circuit board is provided which has heaters to generate thermal energy for ink ejection as they are energized. This circuit board has the heaters formed with high precision to reduce their areas. It also has provisions to protect the electrode wires against corrosion and prevent a progress of corrosion. The substrate is deposited with the thin first electrodes made of a corrosion resistant metal. This is further deposited with the resistor layer. The second electrodes made of aluminum are deposited to overlap the first electrodes to form the heater without causing large dimensional variations among the heaters. With this construction, if a defect should occur in a protective layer on or near the heater, a progress of corrosion can effectively be prevented because the material of the resistor layer is more resistant to encroachment than aluminum and the first electrodes are corrosion resistant. |
| US07954236B2 |
Method of assembling a sealed thermal interface
A sealed thermal interface component minimizes or eliminates the exudation of fluids, such as silicone oils, while preserving the excellent thermal conductivity of silicon-based thermal pad materials and enhancing the conformability of the component. In preferred embodiments, a foam frame surrounds a plurality of thermal pad portions formed of conformable thermal management material that may exude fluid under elevated temperatures or over time. Film encapsulates the foam-framed thermal pad portions, forming a sealed and partially evacuated thermal interface component. In one embodiment of the invention, the thermal pads are formed of an elastomeric matrix material containing silicone, the foam frame is made of urethane, and the film is made of polyurethane. |
| US07954233B2 |
Method for component mounting
A method for component mounting which reduces the length of time that a component mounter called alternate mounting component mounter takes for mounting components is a method for component mounting used for a component mounter including plural mounting heads which alternately mount components onto a board. The method includes specifying, as a first mounting head, one of the plural mounting heads which moves a shortest distance to the board (S2), and mounting the components onto the board which is brought into the component mounter, the mounting starting from the first mounting head (S14). |
| US07954224B2 |
Method of joining composite honeycomb sections
The invention includes a method of joining edges of adjacent honeycomb core panel sections. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a first edge along a first cellular core panel section. The first edge includes a first plurality of edge cell walls along the first edge. The method further includes forming a second edge along a second cellular core panel section, wherein the second edge includes a second plurality of edge cell walls along the second edge. The first edge is positioned proximate to the second edge. At least a portion of at least one of the first plurality of edge cell walls is mechanically interlocked with at least a portion of at least one of the second plurality of edge cell walls to form a joint therebetween. The invention also includes a composite structure at least partially produced by such a method. |
| US07954220B2 |
Method of using an aircraft brake assembly container
A method for using an aircraft brake assembly in servicing an aircraft, with the container having at least two identical container portions, at least one of the at least two container portions having an at least one sliding channel therein, an at least one cradle member having an at least one sliding portion engaging with said at least one sliding channel holding the cargo in a horizontal orientation, and at least one securement device securing the at least two identical container portions. The method having the method steps of transporting an aircraft brake assembly container to said aircraft undercarriage, the container comprising at least two container portions, with a first of the at least two container portions supporting a new brake assembly; opening the container, rotating a second of the at least two container portions; aligning the second of the at least two container portions with the aircraft undercarriage and a used aircraft brake assembly; releasing the used aircraft brake assembly into the second of the at least two container portions; removing the second of the at least two container portions along with the used aircraft brake assembly; aligning the first of the at least two container portions with the aircraft undercarriage; installing the new brake assembly; and replacing the first of the at least two container portions atop the second of the at least two container portions. |
| US07954218B2 |
Self-aligning collar swaging system for airplane panel bolts
A system and method for feeding collar members to an attachment system for assembly of aircraft and similar large scale mechanical assemblies. Collars are fed sideways along a tube having a rectangular internal cross-section to a collar pathway defined by an clamp fork and swaging ram combination. The collar pathway is curved to present the collar to a receiving element mounted on a swaging die in a proper orientation relative to an attachment bolt which is moved through an opening in the workpiece and then through the collar. As the bolt is moved into the collar, the collar, receiving element and swaging die move together laterally to come into alignment with the bolt. |
| US07954216B2 |
Multifunctional unit
The invention relates to a multifunctional unit for machining workpieces preferably consisting at least partially of wood, wood materials, plastics or the like, with a plurality of vertical drill spindles, a plurality of horizontal drill spindles, and at least one fixed saw comprising at least one saw blade with a horizontal axis of rotation. The multifunctional unit according to the invention is characterised in that it is mounted and driven by a mounting means in such a way that it may be rotated about at least one vertical axis of rotation. |
| US07954203B2 |
Hinge and an electronic device with the hinge
A hinge is mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device. A lid covers the hinge and is attached securely to the base. The hinge has a cam wing, a sleeve, a rotating shaft and a pin. The rotating shaft is mounted slidably in the sleeve. The pin is mounted slidably and transversely through the sleeve, is attached securely to the rotating shaft and slides along the outer edge of the cam wing. When the cover is pivoted to a certain angle, the pin slide at part of the cam wing having larger diameter to gradually lift up the cover so the cover is selectively distant away from the lid. Therefore, the shape of the electronic device does not need to be disfigured and the cover still does not bump against the lid. |
| US07954197B2 |
Mop-head plate comprising mop cover
The invention relates to a mop (1) comprising a mop-head plate (2) and an interchangeable mop cover (3) with a mopping surface (4) that is attached to the mop-head plate (2). According to the invention, the mop cover (3) is equipped on two opposing sides with a respective fixing device (5), which engages in a respective retainer (6) of the mop-head plate (2). At least one retainer (6) is formed by a recess (7) and the corresponding fixing device (5) is held by a positive fit in the recess (7) so that it can be detached without sustaining any damage. |
| US07954194B2 |
Pig extracting device
A portable device for extracting a pig from a pipeline which uses a lifting means to raise or lower the device and wheels or other suitable means to allow for the device to be easily and quickly moved into position with minimal man power improving the efficiency and safety of the pig extraction process. |
| US07954191B2 |
Toothbrush
A toothbrush includes a head having a prophylaxis polishing cup closely surrounded by cleaning elements in the form of a bristle ring extending above the upper surface of the cup. Alternatively, the cups could be in the form of arrays of densely packed cleaning elements. The area formed by these configurations retains toothpaste on the toothbrush during use. Additional cleaning elements may be arranged about the periphery of the toothbrush head. The toothbrush may be a powered toothbrush wherein the cups and/or bristle rings rotate, oscillate or reciprocate to better clean teeth. |
| US07954189B2 |
Reconfigurable foam mattress
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method and system of receiving information of a user's support facility comfort requirements; using a software application to determine a proper support facility firmness configuration to match the user's requirement; selecting foam springs with the proper user required firmness as determined by the software application; and configuring the selected foam springs within the support facility to match the user's firmness requirements. |
| US07954188B2 |
Furniture attachment system and methods of use
A furniture attachment system is described. Embodiments of the furniture attachment system comprise a highly adjustable interface that is readily adapted to hold, store, or secure items of highly varied size and shape at a convenient location proximate a bed or other piece of furniture. In use, the present invention holds, stores, or secures items at beside, or beside other furniture, by securing the items to a bed or other furniture. |
| US07954187B1 |
Swaddle accessory
A swaddle accessory to restrain an infant or child's arms has a single panel that is both wide and long enough to wrap entirely both of the infant's arms, hook and loop fasteners to secure the arm restraints and pockets to contain the hands to prevent them from breaking out of a swaddle made from a receiving blanket or other swaddle device. |
| US07954183B2 |
Combination game cleaning station, portable sink and ice chest
The present invention relates to a portable sink or container with a lid that is preferably capable of closing and sealing the sink or container. In certain embodiments, the sink is preferably adapted to be connected to an existing water supply, such as an outdoor hose or faucet, such that running water can be provided inside the sink in an outdoor environment. The sink or container preferably has features that make it easy to use in an outdoor environment, such as folding legs, an adjustable spigot, a spray nozzle, a storage drawer, a shelf, a drain, a funnel, a strainer for the drain, cutting boards, baskets, etc. In one aspect, the sink preferably has handles that support utility panels that can be folded up or down on top of the sink or container. |
| US07954180B2 |
Toilet transfer systems and methods
A toilet transfer system is described for assisting a person to transfer between a wheelchair and a toilet. The system comprises a base unit that is attached to a toilet and that may be supported by one or more legs. The system further comprises a transfer board that is rotatably coupled to the base unit, allowing the transfer board to be positioned in a variety of positions without need to detach the toilet transfer system from the toilet. The transfer board may be pointed forward to allow the wheelchair to be positioned for transfer, pointed towards the wheelchair for transfer, and pointed back for compact storage between transfers and for normal use of the toilet. A coupling system accommodates height differentials between the toilet and the wheelchair, and allows the transfer board to become lifted up off the base unit and/or rotated without becoming misaligned from the base unit. |
| US07954176B2 |
Foot prosthesis to enhance the appearance of a dancer's foot
An instep enhancing prosthesis (19) to be worn by a dancer to enhance the appearance of the dancer's foot (10). The prosthesis (19) includes a flexible sock portion (20) formed of elastic material to which there is attached an instep enhancing prosthetic portion (27) that has an upper surface (28) that is to provide a smooth line extending from adjacent the ankle joint (11) of the dancer to adjacent the dancer's metatarsals to give the appearance of an increased height of the instep of the dancer's foot. |
| US07954171B2 |
Airvest improved retention and flow of refrigerated air
The proposed invention is a method of cooling the human body using compressed air in the manner described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,707 without the necessity of directing the nozzles of the air jets directly at the body. The proposed invention directs the air jets in a parallel manner to the surface of the body thus cooling by both the expansion of the gas and evaporative cooling enhanced by larger contact with said surface of the body. Said air jets also cool by a coanda effect that entraps large amounts of air and pulls it along the surface of the body thus increasing evaporation. The present invention also entraps the cold air within a wind resistant cover replacing the mesh outer cover design. |
| US07954170B2 |
Anti-transpiration insert
An anti-transpiration insert is disclosed. The anti-transpiration insert includes a target bending line extending from a first side to a second side of the anti-transpiration insert, wherein that the target bending line is configured in an arched manner. |
| US07954168B2 |
Garment sleeve with knuckle protector and thumb aperture
A garment sleeve with knuckle protector and thumb aperture. A shield having knuckle thimbles attached to a shield base, is attached either to a sleeve inner surface or a sleeve outer surface. If the former, the sleeve incorporates sleeve thimble apertures through which the knuckle thimbles extend. Indicia may be inscribed on the knuckle thimbles for aesthetic reasons. Each knuckle thimble may incorporate a thimble void sized to admit a human knuckle on a side of the shield base opposite a thimble dome. A thumb aperture is located through the sleeve such that when the thumb of a wearer of the sleeve extends through the thumb aperture, the wearer's knuckles are disposed beneath, and protected by, the knuckle thimbles. |
| US07954167B2 |
Body armor and closure mechanism for use in body armor
A body armor to be worn by a person includes a front section including ballistic paneling. The front section further includes at least a first front laterally extending section on a first side of the body armor. The first front laterally extending section includes ballistic paneling. The body armor further includes a rear section comprising ballistic paneling and at least a first rear laterally extending section attached to the rear section on the first side of the body armor and extending from the rear section. The first rear laterally extending section is connected to the first front laterally extending section so that when the first rear laterally extending section is moved forward around a first side of a torso of the person during closure of the first side of the body armor, the first front laterally extending section is pulled to move in a rearward direction around the first side of the torso of the person and under the first rear laterally extending section, thereby causing overlapping of at least a portion of ballistic paneling of the first front laterally extending section with at least a portion of ballistic paneling of the rear section around the first side of the torso. |