最新美国发明专利第2011-06-14期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US07959995B2	Deep drawing heat shrinkable multilayer film and method of manufacturing the same A deep drawing heat shrinkable multilayer film includes: an intermediate layer made of a vinylidene chloride copolymer resin (a); and a resin layer made of a first thermoplastic resin (b) layered on at least one surface of the intermediate layer. The multilayer film has hot water shrinkabilities in longitudinal and transverse directions at a temperature of 90° C. range from 3% to 35% respectively.
US07959989B2	Cyclic olefins compounds, polymers comprising the same and liquid crystal alignment films including the polymers The present invention relates to a novel cyclic olefin compound, a polymer including the cyclic olefin compound, a liquid crystal alignment film including the polymer, and a liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal alignment film. Since the polymer includes the cyclic olefin compound as a main chain, the thermal stability is excellent and the photoreactive speed is high. Accordingly, the production time can be reduced, the production cost can be reduced, and the anchoring force of the liquid crystal can be increased because the alignment property is stabilized due to the curing.
US07959987B2	Fuel cell conditioning layer A method and apparatus for depositing a material layer to treat and condition a substrate, such as a fuel cell part, is described. The method includes depositing a hydrophilic material layer on a portion of the surface of the substrate in a process chamber from a mixture of precursors of the hydrophilic material layer. In addition, the method includes reducing a fluid contact angle of the substrate surface. The hydrophilic material layer comprises a wet etch rate of less than about 0.03 Å/min in the presence of about 10 ppm of hydrofluoric acid in water. The material layer can be used to condition various parts of a fuel cell useful in applications to generate electricity.
US07959983B1	Thermal spray formation of polymer compositions A system and method for applying a material, such as a polymer composition, to a substrate, the method comprising mixing the material with a heated carrier gas stream, spraying the material through a nozzle, and radiant and convective heating of the material during transport. Preferred embodiments of the system and method can be used to spray polyetherimides, polyimides, polyamides, thermoset resins (e.g., and epoxies, polyesters and silicones), liquid crystal polymers, compositions comprising a blowing agent, compositions comprising a binder, compositions comprising a metallized material, compositions that produce an open cell foam, and compositions that produce a closed cell foam.
US07959982B2	Method for coating a metal surface with an ultrafine layer A method for continuously coating a substrate in motion such as a metal strip made of steel, the coating formed being an ultra-fine film of a thickness between 10 and 100 nm, deposited on the substrate: from a solution containing nanoparticles of oxides, in conditions of controlled pH, said substrate being at a temperature higher than 120° C., the total duration of the deposition being less than 5 seconds and preferably less than 1 second, characterized in that at least one chemical additive, called a “refiner”, is incorporated into said solution, said refiner having, mutatis mutandis, the effect of restricting the formation of said coating.
US07959980B2	Hydrophilic compositions, methods for their production, and substrates coated with such compositions Liquid compositions are disclosed that include a photocatalytic material and a hydrophilic binder that includes an essentially completely hydrolyzed organosilicate. Also disclosed are methods of making such compositions, methods of coating a substrate with a hydrophilic composition, and substrates coated with such compositions. The compositions may, for example, be embodied as stable one-pack compositions.
US07959979B2	Method of forming coated structures A process for forming room temperature water soluble polymer coatings on porous substrates by forming a solution of a room temperature water soluble polymer, one or more crosslinkers, a solvent for the room temperature water soluble polymer such as water and optionally one or more porogens, or functional agents, stirring the mixture until all the components are dissolved, adding the solution to a porous structure such as a non-woven fabric or a porous membrane and drying the solution on to the substrate as a coating before subjecting the coating to crosslinking. Alternatively, the coating may be partially crosslinked before drying the solution. Porous structures having a room temperature water soluble polymer coating and being capable of convective flow through the pores of the structure and diffusive flow through the coating can be formed.
US07959977B2	Substrate processing method and apparatus A substrate processing method and apparatus can securely carry out a pre-plating treatment that enables uniform plating in the necessary area of the surface of a substrate. The substrate processing method carries out a cleaning treatment and a catalyst-imparting treatment of a surface of a substrate as pre-plating treatments and then electroless plates a metal film on the catalyst-imparted surface of the substrate. The cleaning treatment is carried out in a wider area of the surface of the substrate than that area to which a catalyst is imparted by the catalyst-imparting treatment.
US07959973B2	Pressure swing CVI/CVD Method of chemical vapor infiltration of a deposable carbon material into a porous carbon fiber preform in order to densify the carbon fiber preform. The method includes the steps of: situating the porous carbon fiber preform in the reaction zone; providing a linear flow of a reactant gas comprising deposable carbon material in the reaction zone at an initial reaction pressure of at most 50 torr to produce deposition of the deposable carbon material into the preform; and adjusting the pressure of the gas to reaction pressures lower than said initial reaction pressure while deposable carbon material continues to be deposited into the porous carbon fiber preform. This method enables attainment of a target increased density in a carbon fiber preform much more quickly than known processes. A programmed pressure swing throughout the CVI/CVD run may be set in order to provide a linear increase in density. Alternatively, step changes in pressure during the course of the densification process may be made to enhance the rate of densification. This method reduces the number of cycles and the required intermediate machining steps necessary to densify preforms.
US07959972B2	Monomolecular carbon-based film for forming lubricious surface on aircraft parts A monomolecular carbon-based film can be placed on an aircraft part, such as the leading edge designed to directly impinge against air during flight, ascent or descent, in order to form a smooth surface having increased lubricity and reduced air friction. The aircraft part may be in the form of a helicopter rotor, wing, propeller, fin, aileron, nose cone, and the like. The monomolecular carbon-based film can be deposited on the aircraft part, for example, using a reactor that includes a bed of silica and through which emissions from a diesel engine are passed. The monomolecular carbon-based film decreases air friction and increased lift of a modified aircraft that includes an aircraft part treated with the film.
US07959971B2	Film formation method with deposition source position control When a multiple-panel forming process for producing a plurality of panels on a large-size substrate is employed, when production thereof is continued over a long period, or in other cases, a predetermined film thickness distribution can be stably obtained according to a method of the present invention. Vapor deposition on a substrate is performed by evaporating particles from a vapor deposition source arranged opposite to the substrate in a vacuum chamber. By changing a distance between the substrate and an opening provided at the vapor deposition source by a vapor deposition source position control mechanism, change with elapse of time in the film thickness distribution of a thin film formed on the substrate is controlled.
US07959966B2	Viscous fat compositions having low amounts of trans-fat, methods and products Fat-containing compositions comprise a fat component having less than 40% by weight of trans fat and a cyclodextrin, wherein at least about 25% of the cyclodextrin in the composition is bound to the fat. The fat compositions as provided herein can be substantially more viscous or harder than a like fat composition that does not contain cyclodextrin that is bound to the fat. Food products and methods of use of food products are described.
US07959962B2	Long-chain inulin The invention relates to long-chain inulin and its preparation from artichoke roots, its use in foodstuffs and cosmetic preparations and foodstuffs and cosmetic preparations having the long-chain inulin.
US07959959B2	Manufactured meat and method of production thereof Methods for producing meat products with a bone flavour, and the meat products so produced, are provided. In exemplary methods a cured bone is secured with a binding to a de-boned and cured piece of meat, such as a piece of ham. The bone can be the one removed from the de-boned piece of meat, or can be a substitute bone. The de-boned piece of meat and the bone can be cured together or cured separately with the same or different cures prior to being secured together. An exemplary meat product comprises a de-boned piece of meat having an exterior, a bone positioned against the exterior, and a binding that secures the bone to the exterior of the piece of meat.
US07959948B2	Pharmaceutical composition of quetiapine fumarate A pharmaceutical composition comprising (i) quetiapine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, especially quetiapine fumarate; (ii) a mixed excipient comprising an intimate admixture of polyvinylacetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone in a weight ratio from 5:2 to 10:2; and, optionally (iii) an acid especially fumaric acid.
US07959943B2	Solvating system and sealant for medical use in the middle or inner ear Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion (COME), Recurrent Acute Otitis Media (RAOM), cholesteatoma, and other bacterial ear conditions may be treated by applying a solvating system containing greater than 0.2 wt. % surfactant to a bacterial biofilm in the middle or inner ear, disrupting the biofilm, and applying a protective layer of a polymeric film-forming medical sealant.
US07959940B2	Polymer-bioceramic composite implantable medical devices Methods and devices relating to polymer-bioceramic composite implantable medical devices are disclosed.
US07959939B2	Laminate of cultured human corneal endothelial cells layer and method for manufacturing same A laminate comprising a transparent collagen I type sheet and a human corneal endothelial cell culture layer provided on the sheet. An endothelial cell culture layer laminate usable in transplantation is provided.
US07959936B2	Emulsifications-stable pesticidal composition An object of the present invention is to provide an emulsification-stable pesticidal composition having ant-control, rotcontrol and mildew-control effects. Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition having pesticidal effects, and particularly antimicrobial effects, for protecting industrial materials such as wood, pulp, paper, fibers, adhesives, films subject to deterioration (rotting) and contamination by insects and particularly by microorganisms. A pesticidal composition is used that comprises an emulsification stabilizer selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, benzoic acid and a mixture thereof, a fungicide like 2-(thiazol-4ine)benzimidazole; a further triazole-based fungicide component, a pyrethroid insecticide component or a (thia) nicotinyl insecticide or another insecticide component, a mixed solvent comprising a glycol-based solvent and methyl pyrrolidone, and a surfactant.
US07959935B2	Simulated vernix compositions for skin cleansing and other applications A composition and a method of producing a composition which simulates hydration, cleansing and other properties of native vernix. The composition contains, in one embodiment, hydrated synthetic cells in a lipid matrix to provide properties which are substantially similar to those of native vernix, and may also contain proteins. In one embodiment, the composition contains water-in-oil emulsified particles providing water vapor transport and evaporative water loss properties simulating native vernix. In one embodiment, the composition contains cubosomes/water with up to 30% protein and about 5% lipid to about 30% lipid. The composition may be used to cleanse newborn skin, compromised skin surfaces, as well as normal skin, to provide hydration/barrier function, and other applications.
US07959934B2	Method for rapid generation of mature dendritic cells Novel methods of rapidly generating dendrtic cells are disclosed herein. The methods include contacting a dendritic cell precursor with a D ODN to generate a mature dendritic cell. In one specific, non-limiting example, the method includes contacting the dendritic cell precursor or the mature dendritic cell with an antigen. The methods are of use both in vitro and in vivo.
US07959932B2	Human rotavirus and vaccine composition comprising same Provided are G12 human rotaviruses having VP7 gene of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 and VP4 gene of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4; antibodies specific for said rotaviruses; and a vaccine composition containing the same. The antibodies and the vaccine composition are effective for diagnosing rotavirus infection and for treatment of diseases caused by rotavirus.
US07959930B2	Rescue of influenza virus The invention relates to the field of influenza vaccine production. Influenza vaccines have been produced in embryonated hens' eggs for over 50 years, but recently there have been considerable efforts to develop cell culture systems for vaccine production. The invention provides a nucleic acid comprising an influenza gene segment and a bacteriophage polymerase promotor or a complementary strand of said nucleic acid, and a cell comprising such a nucleic acid capable of producing desired influenza virus. Furthermore, the invention provides a composition comprising a cell or material derived from a cell according to the invention and a virus or material derived from a viral particle according to the invention.
US07959926B2	Methods for expression and purification of recombinant human growth hormone mutants The present invention relates generally to the production, purification, and isolation of human growth hormone (hGH). More particularly, the invention relates to the production, purification, and isolation of substantially purified hGH comprising non-naturally encoded amino acids and hGH from recombinant host cells or culture medium including, for example, yeast, insect, mammalian and bacterial host cells. The process of the present invention is also useful for purification of hGH linked to polymers or other molecules.
US07959924B2	Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) antigen arrays and uses thereof The present invention is in the fields of medicine, public health, immunology, molecular biology and virology. The present invention provides, inter alia, a composition comprising a virus-like particle (VLP) and at least one antigen, wherein said antigen is a GIP protein or a GIP fragment linked to the VLP respectively.The invention also provides a method for producing the aforesaid composition. The compositions of this invention are useful in the production of vaccines, in particular, for the prevention and/or treatment of obesity and hereby, in particular, by inducing efficient immune responses, in particular antibody responses. Furthermore, the compositions of the invention are particularly useful to efficiently induce self-specific immune responses within the indicated context. Accordingly, the invention further provides for methods of treating and/or preventing obesity and other conditions.
US07959922B2	Liquid anti-rabies antibody formulations The present invention provides pharmaceutical antibody formulations, in particular liquid pharmaceutical formulations comprising anti-rabies virus antibodies. The formulations can be used in the post exposure prophylaxis of rabies.
US07959920B2	Methods of making and using antibodies directed to parathyroid hormone The present invention relates to methods of generating anti-PTH antibodies and antibodies generated by the methods of the invention. The anti-PTH antibodies generated by the methods of the invention specifically bind to an epitope on a whole PTH (1-84) which includes one or more N-terminal amino acid residues of the whole PTH. The anti-PTH antibodies generated are useful for detecting whole PTH in a biological sample and for diagnosing parathyroid diseases or disorders.
US07959918B2	Methods for treating vascular disease Compositions and methods included herein describe the treatment of atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases such as thrombosis, restenosis after angioplasty and/or stenting, and vein-graft disease after bypass surgery, by inhibition of the expression or biologic activity of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and/or myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). TLR4 cell signal transduction is at least partially responsible for the manifestation, continuation, and/or worsening of atherosclerosis and other forms of vascular disease. The present invention provides several means with which to inhibit this signal transduction pathway by affecting the biological activity of the TLR4 receptor and/or MyD88.
US07959916B2	Negative immunomodulation of immune responses by ERp5 The present invention relates to methods of treating immune disorders and cancers. In particular the invention provides methods of inhibiting the negative immunomodulatory effects of ERp-5 on T cells and dendritic cells, in conjunction with other surface receptors.
US07959913B2	Skin conditioning compositions containing compounds for mimicking the effect on skin of retinoic acid A skin care product comprising from about 0.001% to about 10% of a retinoid, in combination with 0.0001% to about 50% of a combination of retinoid boosters.
US07959912B2	Probiotic bifidobacterial species A probiotic composition comprising a Bifidobacterium strain which has DNA sequence homology of greater than 40% to Bifidobacterium GC56, wherein Bifidobacterium GC56 was deposited at the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Micro-organismes (CNCM, Institut Pasteur) on 9 Dec. 2004 with accession number CNCM 1-3342.
US07959911B2	Strains of bacteria and pharmaceutical composition containing one or more of such strains and use of same for preventing and treating diseases associated with or caused by altered metabolism of bile acids Strains of bacteria characterized by exhibiting: (a) a 7α-dehydroxylase activity of less than 50%, and (b) a bile acid deconjugation activity of less than 50%, and descendants, mutants and derivatives thereof preserving activities (a) and (b); and a pharmaceutical composition using one or more of such strains and use of same for preventing and treating diseases associated with or caused by an altered metabolism of bile acids.
US07959910B2	C-terminally truncated interferon alpha variants The present invention provides biologically active variants of human α-2b-interferon. The variants contain carboxy terminus truncations when compared with the amino acid sequence of full-length human α-2b-interferon. It is the novel finding of the present invention that these truncated variants have the biological activity of full-length human α-2b-interferon. The invention encompasses these biologically active variant α-interferons, as well as polynucleotides encoding these interferons. Expression cassettes comprising these polynucleotides and host cells comprising the expression cassettes are also provided. The invention also provides compositions comprising variant α-interferon polypeptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US07959908B2	Methods of treating viral infections using IL-21 Methods for treating mammals with infections, particularly viral infections using molecules that have an IL-21 functional activity are described. The molecules having IL-21 functional activities include polypeptides that have homology to the human IL-21 polypeptide sequence and proteins fused to a polypeptide with IL-21 functional activity. The molecules can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with other known antimicrobial or antiviral therapeutics.
US07959903B2	Oil-in-water photoprotective emulsions containing gemini surfactants and associative polymers The invention relates to a photoprotective composition containing as liquid phase, an oil-in-water emulsion, emulsified with at least one dimeric surfactant comprising two surfactant units, which may be identical or different, each consisting of a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail and connected to each other, via the hydrophilic heads, by means of a spacer group, at least one photoprotective system capable of screening out UV rays, containing at least one mineral nanopigment based on metal oxide, and optionally at least one organic, preferably hydrosoluble or liposoluble UV-A and/or UV-B screening agent, and at least one associative polymer comprising at least one C8-40 fatty chain, and also to a process for preparing such a photoprotective composition.
US07959902B1	Device and method for treating the oral cavity A device that may be placed on a fingertip for treating an oral cavity. The device may be made from a material comprised of at least one ingredient for treating an oral cavity. Examples of ingredients for treating an oral cavity include abrasives, cavity prevention ingredients, medicinal ingredients (e.g., antiseptics, fungicides, and anesthetics), odor absorbing ingredients, tartar control ingredients, plaque control ingredients, tooth whitening ingredients, ingredients adapted to provide relief from hypersensitivity, and other cleaning ingredients and dentifrices. The device may be dissolvable and edible. Furthermore, some or all of the ingredients may be digestible. For example, the device may be primarily or entirely made of ingredients that are digestible.
US07959899B2	Molecular sieve composition (EMM-10-P), its method of making, and use for hydrocarbon conversions This invention relates to a crystalline molecular sieve having, in its as-synthesized form, an X-ray diffraction pattern including d-spacing maxima at 13.18±0.25 and 12.33±0.23 Angstroms, wherein the peak intensity of the d-spacing maximum at 13.18±0.25 Angstroms is at least as great as 90% of the peak intensity of the d-spacing maximum at 12.33±0.23 Angstroms. This invention also relates to a method of making thereof.
US07959898B2	Hydrogen supply device Disclosed is super water absorbent polymers applied to contain water, and the polymers may further collocate with water absorbent cotton materials to accelerate water absorbent rates. The described water absorbent materials are combined with solid hydrogen fuel to complete a stable hydrogen supply device. Performance of the hydrogen supply device is not effected by inverting or tilting thereof. Even if inverting or tilting the device, the water contained in the water absorbent materials does not flow out from the device. As such, the MEA film in the fuel cell connected to the hydrogen supply device will not blocked by the water, thereby avoiding the fuel cell performance degradation even breakdown.
US07959892B2	Reduction of CO and NOx in full burn regenerator flue gas A hot oxygen stream containing radicals is fed into a gas stream, such as a catalyst regenerator flue gas stream, that contains carbon monoxide to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
US07959888B2	Raw coke for electricity storage carbon material and needle coke The present invention provides a raw coke having such a structure that the graphitized product resulting from graphitization of the raw coke at a temperature of 2800° C. under an inactive gas atmosphere will have ratios of the crystallite size to the lattice constant of 360 or less in the (002) plane and 1500 or less in the (110) plane, as a raw coke providing active carbon produced by alkali-activating the raw coke, which is reduced in remaining alkali content and can simplify washing operation because washing liquid can easily pass through the activated carbon, or as a raw coke for the production of needle coke.
US07959887B2	Method for manufacturing a diamond composite A method for manufacturing a diamond composite, includes: a) mixing diamonds with additives, the mixture comprising at least 50 wt % and less than 95 wt % of diamonds and more than 5 wt % additives; b) forming a work piece from the mixture using a pressure of at least 100 Mpa; c) heating the formed work piece to at least 300° C. for removing possible water and wholly or partially removing additives; d) heating the work piece and controlling the heating temperature and heating time so that a certain desired amount of graphite is created by graphitization of diamonds, wherein the amount of graphite created by graphitization is 3-50 wt % of the amount of diamond; e) infiltrating silicon or silicon alloy into the work piece.
US07959885B2	Nanoparticle synthesis by solvothermal process A solvothermal process for making inorganic nanoparticles is described. Inorganic nanoparticles can be produced by forming a suspension or solution comprising at least one group II-IV and lanthanide metal inorganic salt in a first medium, disposing the suspension or solution in a sealed chamber having an interior pressure, elevating the interior pressure of the sealed chamber to an initial interior pressure prior to the heating, heating the suspension or solution to a peak temperature higher than the normal boiling point of the first medium, optionally adding a second medium to the suspension or solution after the heating.
US07959884B2	Apparatus for purifying air and purifying method thereof An air purifying apparatus includes an air flow generating device for generating a flow of air, a nozzle spraying water to the air flowing through the air flow generating device, a plasma module performing a plasma reaction on the air containing the water sprayed from the nozzle, and oxidizing NOx in the air and converting it into NO3, an eliminator eliminating the NO3 converted in the plasma module and the water contained in the air and passing pure air through the eliminator and out of the air purifying apparatus and a water tank storing the water received from the eliminator, thereby heightening the removal efficiency of NOx from the air.
US07959881B2	Method for scrubbing an amine type extractant after stripping The method for scrubbing an amine type extractant after stripping to be able to regenerate the same so that the amine type extractant can be repeatedly reused as it is in the extraction stage in the solvent extraction process, when an amine type extractant is regenerated by scrubbing an amine type extractant (A) containing an iron and a zinc chloro complex ion obtained by back extracting a cobalt with a hydrochloric acid aqueous solution from the amine type extractant after extracting a cobalt.The method is characterized by comprising the procedures of the following (1) to (3). (1) an amine type extractant (B) is obtained by adding an aqueous solution containing a sulfite ion to an amine type extractant (A) and stirring the mixture and reducing a ferric (III) chloro complex ion to divalent. (2) an amine type extractant (C) is obtained by adding an aqueous solution containing an oxidizing agent to the amine type extractant (B) and stirring the mixture and oxidizing a sulfite ion to sulfate ion. (3) an amine type extractant removed an iron and a zinc is obtained by adding an aqueous solution containing a chloride ion to the amine type extractant (C) and stirring the mixture and replacing a sulfate ion with chloride ion.
US07959878B2	Unit cuvette for analyzing a biological fluid, automatic device for in vitro analysis The bottom of the cuvette comprises a curved raceway placed so as to guide the oscillating movement of a ball inserted into the cuvette. In addition, the cuvette comprises means of attachment, in two perpendicular directions, to adjacent unit cuvettes. The cuvettes can thus be stored as plates in a feed magazine of an analytical device. The analytical device comprises several stations placed around a rotary ring. Only where it is desired to determine the clotting time of the blood contained in the cuvette a ball is introduced into the latter, at a ball distribution post. The cuvette equipped in this way is then brought to a station where the test is carried out. The major advantage of the invention is the polyvalence of the cuvette and of the analytical device.
US07959876B2	Fluidic device A fluidic device includes a first reservoir to receive a first fluid, a second reservoir to receive a second fluid, and a main channel coupled to the first and second reservoirs through one or more branch channels. A first one-use pump generates a pressure difference to move one or both of the first and second fluids when a container in the first one-use pump is broken. A second one-use pump generates a pressure difference to move one or both of the first and second fluids when a container in the second one-use pump is broken.
US07959871B2	Wash device for disinfection apparatus A disinfection apparatus for disinfection of objects, such as health care objects, is disclosed. The disinfection apparatus includes a disinfection chamber, and a channel system with at least one wash channel. The wash channel is arranged to transport a cleaning liquid to nozzles directed substantially transversely thereto to distribute cleaning liquid in the disinfection chamber. The wash channel, which supports the nozzles, has a releasable quick coupling which at least at one end engagingly cooperates with the rest of the channel system.
US07959865B2	Miniaturized gas chromatograph and injector for the same The invention relates to a miniaturized gas chromatograph and injector for the same. Said micro-GC is compact and simple and economical to construct. Dead volumes are largely avoided in order to achieve reliable and reproducible measured results. Said miniaturized gas chromatograph comprises at least one injector, one separation column and a detector which are combined on a circuit board to give a gas chromatography module. The injector comprises a first sheet with channels, which is provided with a second sheet with channels and which may be displaced relative to the latter, whereby at least one of the sheets is provided with a layer of plastic, in particular a chemically inert plastic on the side of the sheet facing the other side.
US07959863B2	Liquid state detecting sensor A liquid state detecting sensor for detecting a state of a liquid including a liquid concentration detecting element, a holder member, and an enclosing member as defined herein, wherein the holder member has a configuration in which respective portions of a lower end surface facing the enclosed region are located higher than or at a same height as a lowest hole periphery at the rim of the element holding hole from which the detecting element protrudes, and at least one of circulation holes formed in the enclosing member is a bubble-discharging hole which has an upper end located higher than the lowest hole periphery and a lower end located lower than a surface peripheral edge of the lower end surface.
US07959862B2	Microfluidic device and method for concentration and lysis of cells or viruses A microfluidic device for the concentration and lysis of cells or viruses and a method of concentrating and lysing cells or viruses using the microfluidic device include: magnetic beads, a reaction chamber in which the magnetic beads are accommodated and a laser source. The reaction chamber includes a plurality of electrodes which cross each other and are separated by a dielectric to generate an electric field and a vibrating part agitating the magnetic beads in the chamber. The laser source radiates a laser onto the magnetic beads in the reaction chamber.
US07959860B2	System and method of detecting fluid and leaks in thermal treatment system basins A drape including a sensing device according to the present invention is disposed over a top surface of a thermal treatment system having a basin recessed therein. A portion of the drape is pushed down into the basin to form a drape container for collecting a sterile medium. The thermal treatment system may be of the type that either heats or congeals the sterile medium. The sensing device includes electrodes that are typically disposed through the drape and sealed. The electrodes provide signals indicating the presence of liquid and/or leaks or other conditions within the drape container to the system to facilitate control of system operation. In addition, the sensing device includes a fuse to limit the drape to a single use. The system disables the fuse to indicate prior use and detects tampering to bypass the fuse, thereby preventing use of the drape for subsequent medical procedures.
US07959852B2	Process and device for manufacturing free-flowing metal foam Device for manufacturing a metal foam. The device includes at least two feed pipes for introducing gas. The at least two feed pipes are arranged next to one another. Each of the at least two feed pipes project into a foamable melt. 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.
US07959848B2	Method and device for producing electrospun fibers The present invention relates to methods for producing fibers made from one or more polymers or polymer composites, and to structures that can be produced from such fibers. In one embodiment, the fibers of the present invention are nanofibers. The present invention also relates to apparatus for producing fibers made from one or more polymers or polymer composites, and methods by which such fibers are made.
US07959846B2	Method of moulding a hinge The present invention is concerned with a hinge (50) and a method of molding the hinge. The hinge comprises: a first part (52) and a second part (54) connected together during moulding to allow relative pivotal movement between the parts. The second part is molded over the first part after molding of the first part to form an interface (68) between the second part and the first part at which relative pivotal movement is allowed. After moulding of the second part the second part shrinks in a controlled manner to provide a predetermined frictional force at the interface between the first part and the second part in order to resist said relative pivotal movement.
US07959842B2	Carbon nanotube structure Techniques for forming a carbon nanotube (CNT) structure are disclosed.
US07959835B2	Pressure activatable chemiluminescent system useful for covert intrusion detection This invention is directed towards chemiluminescent systems useful in the practice of methods of intrusion detection, compositions useful for intrusion detection and methods for their formation, and to covert intrusion detection techniques and compositions therefore containing an infrared light generating chemiluminescent system, blended into an earthen-like carrier that enable one to detect whether any movement has breached an area during a certain time frame.
US07959832B2	Transparent conductor The present invention is a transparent conductor containing electrically conductive particles, a binder, and an ultraviolet absorber. The transparent conductor of the present invention is so arranged that the ultraviolet absorber in the transparent conductor absorbs ultraviolet light even during irradiation of the transparent conductor with ultraviolet light, and is thus able to suppress influence of ultraviolet light on the electrically conductive particles.
US07959830B2	Articles comprising high-electrical-conductivity nanocomposite material and method for fabricating same This invention discloses novel nanocomposite material structures which are strong, highly conductive, and fatigue-resistant. It also discloses novel fabrication techniques to obtain such structures. The new nanocomposite materials comprise a high-conductivity base metal, such as copper, incorporating high-conductivity dispersoid particles that simultaneously minimize field enhancements, maintain good thermal conductivity, and enhance mechanical strength. The use of metal nanoparticles with electrical conductivity comparable to that of the base automatically removes the regions of higher RF field and enhanced current density. Additionally, conductive nanoparticles will reduce the surface's sensitivity to arc or sputtering damage. If the surface is sputtered away to uncover the nanoparticles, their properties will not be dramatically different from the base surface. Most importantly, the secondary electron emission coefficients of all materials in the nanocomposite are small and close to unity, whereas the previously used insulating particles can produce significant and undesirable electron multiplication.
US07959829B2	Gasification system and process with staged slurry addition A system and process for gasifying carbonaceous feedstock with staged slurry addition in order to prevent the formation of tar that causes deposition problems. Dry solid carbonaceous material is partially combusted, then pyrolyzed along with a first slurry stream comprising carbonaceous material in two separate reactor sections, thereby producing mixture products comprising synthesis gas. The second slurry stream comprising particulate carbonaceous material is fed to a drying unit downstream of a heat recovery zone along with the mixture product exiting the heat recovery zone. The resulting final temperature of the second stage mixture products and dried particulate carbonaceous material is between 450° F. and 550° F., a temperature range that is typically not conducive to the emission of heavy molecular-weight tar species.
US07959828B2	Solvent compositions comprising unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons This invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons. The invention further relates to use of said cleaning compositions in methods to clean, degrease, deflux, dewater, and deposit fluorolubricant. The invention further relates to novel unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbons and their use as cleaning compositions and in the methods listed above.
US07959823B2	Piezoelectric ceramic composition and piezoelectric ceramic A piezoelectric ceramic composition including potassium-sodium-lithium niobate, bismuth-sodium titanate and bismuth ferrate is provided. A piezoelectric ceramic obtained by firing the piezoelectric ceramic composition, wherein the electromechanical coupling factor is high, the piezoelectric g33 constant, in particular, is large, the second phase transformation does not exist in the temperature range of −40 to 150° C. in at least one of a temperature-dependent variation of a resonance frequency, a temperature-dependent variation of an anti-resonance frequency and a temperature-dependent variation of piezoelectric g33 constant, and a good heat-resistant property is obtained, is provided.
US07959818B2	Method for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device A method for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device includes forming a photoresist pattern over a semiconductor substrate including an underlying layer. A cross-linking layer is formed on the sidewall of the photoresist pattern. The photoresist pattern is then removed to form a fine pattern comprising the cross-linking layer. The underlying layer is etched using the fine pattern as an etching mask. As a result, the underlying layer has a smaller size than a minimum pitch.
US07959816B2	Wet-processing apparatus and method of fabricating display panel The wet-processing apparatus includes a wet-step bath in which a wet-step is carried out, and a vibration-type film separator for separating impurities out of a solution used in the wet-step. The wet-processing apparatus further includes a re-supply path through which the solution out of which the impurities were removed by means of the vibration-type film separator is re-supplied to the wet-step bath. Thus, it is possible to reuse a solution and a material of which a pattern is composed. Since the vibration-type film separator is used, it is possible to reduce a frequency of exchanging filters equipped in the vibration-type film separator, and ensure a high rate at which a material of which a pattern is composed is recovered, regardless of a specific gravity of the material.
US07959811B2	Separation process The present invention relates to a chromatographic separation process for fractionating solutions containing sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar acids and/or betaine by utilizing fractions comprising parts of the separation profile as a substituent of the eluent in a novel and inventive manner. The starting solutions are typically multicomponent plant-based extracts and hydrolysates, stillages, and fermentation products and derivatives thereof. The process prow vides improved separation capacity and separation efficiency without affecting the yield or purity of product components, such as sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar acids, and betaine. The process can especially be applied to sequential SMB separation systems.
US07959809B2	Counter-pressure filtration of proteins A method is disclosed for filtering a protein in a liquid mixture in a manner that does not substantially damage or otherwise limit the recovery of the protein in the filtration filtrate. The method generally includes passing a liquid mixture containing a protein (e.g., an aqueous vWF mixture) through a filter while applying a counter pressure to the liquid mixture filtrate to accurately reduce and control the pressure differential across the filter. The disclosed method has the advantage that relatively high filtration flow rates can be achieved at relatively low pressure differentials, in contrast to high pressure differentials, which actually reduce the filtration flow rate of protein liquid mixtures. Further, the method can recover substantially all of the protein that is initially present in the liquid mixture.
US07959808B2	Polysulfone membranes methods and apparatuses The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for water filtration comprising contacting a water stream with a membrane comprising a polysulfone having structural units of Formula I wherein X is OH, NR1R2, or OR3; R1 and R2 are independently at each occurrence hydrogen, a C1-C5000 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, a polypeptide, a combination thereof, or R1 and R2 taken together form a 5- or 6-membered aliphatic ring or a 5-membered aromatic ring; R3 is a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; B′ and C′ are independently at each occurrence a nitro group, C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; and q and r are independently at each occurrence 0 to 4. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for gas separation, the method comprising contacting a gas stream with a membrane comprising a polysulfone having structural units of Formula I.
US07959803B2	Devices, systems and methods for securing and sealing filter media elements in separation systems A device for securing a filter element within a housing of a separation system, wherein the housing has an inner wall and includes therein a filter seating to seat the filter element, includes at least one sealing member adapted to form a sealing connection with the filter element and a sealing connection with the inner wall of the housing. The device further includes at least one compression member to compress the elastomeric sealing member to form the sealing connection with the filter and the sealing connection with the inner wall of the housing.
US07959802B2	Water purification system A water purification system performs a water purification process through physical sterilization, and at least includes a compression device and a decompression device. Water is converted into a high-pressure liquid through the compression device, and then is converted into a high-speed fluid by controlling the cross-sectional area of a spout of the decompression device, thus generating physical effects such as pressure drop and shear stress, so as to damage cell walls of bacteria in the liquid to die-off the bacteria. Therefore, purified water is obtained.
US07959801B2	Device for generating micro- and nanoflow mobile phase gradients for high-performance liquid chromatography A device for generating micro- and nanoflow mobile phase gradients for high performance liquid chromatography includes a generator of micro- and nanoflows of at least two mobile phases in different percentage compositions; an n-position gradient distributor having inlet and outlet ports and n couples of ports for a like number of capillary loops, each selectively connectable at one end with the inlet port and at its other end to the outlet port, which in turn is connectable to an analytical circuit that includes a chromatographic column and a detector; a micro- and nanoflow meter connected to the analytical circuit; a flow deviator having an inlet connected to the outlet of the gradient distributor, one outlet connected to a discharge and another outlet connected to the micro- and nanoflow meter, and a control unit that includes means of control of the generator of micro- and nanoflows such to create the different mobile phase mixture compositions, means for controlling the gradient distributor, means for controlling the position of the flow deviator and means for controlling the throughput of the generator of micro- and nanoflows on the basis of data received from the micro- and nanoflow meter.
US07959799B2	Street curb filter basket system A street curb filter apparatus can be attached to a street curb side adjacent a manhole to collect storm water runoff from the curbside and direct the collected storm water through a filter basket. The street curb filter has a street curb shelf with a water channel on the surface thereof and filter basket supporting arms. The filter basket supporting arms are positioned to receive collected storm water runoff from the water channels in the street curb shelf. The filter basket is shaped to fit into a storm water manhole opening and is removably attached to the street curb shelf filter basket arms to receive storm water runoff from the water channeling surface.
US07959798B2	Device for treating a back-flushed fluid In order to provide a device for treating a fluid containing solids which has been flushed back from a reversible flow filter, comprising a sedimentation device for separating solids from the flushed back fluid by a process of sedimentation in a sediment collecting region which enables solids to be removed in a manner free from filter-aids and which exhibits as small a degree of fluid loss as possible, it is proposed that the sediment collecting region is arranged to be subjected to a positive pressure and/or a negative pressure in order to remove residual fluid from the sediment collecting region.
US07959797B2	Systems and methods of producing a crude product Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts containing a transition metal sulfide produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude feed has a residue content of at least 0.2 grams of residue per gram of crude feed. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed. In some embodiments, gas is produced during contact with one or more catalysts and the crude feed.
US07959795B2	Deep hydrodesulfurization of hydrocarbon feedstreams The distillate catalytic hydrodesulfurization of hydrocarbon fuels wherein the optimum hydrogen treat gas rate to maximize desulfurization is determined and introduced into the reaction zone to maintain a controlled amount of hydrogen at the surface of the catalyst during hydrodesulfurization.
US07959790B2	Method and electrode construction for electro-coagulation treatment of water and waste water An improved method for the electro-coagulation c treatment of water and waste water includes an electrolytic cell having an anode and a helical cathode mounted longitudinally within a duct for receiving the contaminated water or waste water at one end and for discharging the treated water and electro-coagulated precipitates at the other end. The electro-coagulated precipitates can be subsequently separated by conventional flocculation, settlement and filtration systems. The anode forms a central longitudinal sacrificial rod defining a cylindrical outer surface and the helical cathode comprises an elongate wire coiled helically around and along the anode so as form a plurality of turns of the wire which turns are wrapped around the anode surface in the form of a constant helix of constant diameter with the turns spaced each from the next and spaced from the anode surface.
US07959789B2	Method for generating electrochemically activated cleaning liquid A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor; electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device, and dispensing the electrochemically activated liquid from the mobile floor cleaning device.
US07959787B2	Method of generating sparged, electrochemically activated liquid A method is provided, which includes generating a cleaning liquid by a combination of a sparging process and an electrochemical process that produces an anolyte and a catholye.
US07959785B2	Hand-held spray bottle having an electrolyzer and method therefor A hand-held spray apparatus is provided, which includes a tank for holding a supply of liquid to be treated and a functional generator carried by the hand-held spray apparatus. The functional generator receives the liquid from the tank and has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and electrochemically activates the liquid that is passed through the functional generator. A spray output is coupled to an output of the functional generator and dispenses the electrochemically activated liquid as an output spray.
US07959780B2	Textured ion exchange membranes A textured water-splitting membrane comprises an anion exchange layer abutting a cation exchange layer to form a heterogeneous water-splitting interface therebetween, and a textured surface having a pattern of texture features comprising spaced apart peaks and valleys. The membranes can also have an integral spacer on the membrane. A cartridge can be fabricated with a plurality of the membranes for use in an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell can be part of an electrochemical ion exchange system.
US07959768B2	Partial load enabled falling film evaporator and method for operating a partial load The invention relates to a falling film evaporator, which is fitted with a liquid distributor which is divided into segments, such that it is possible to charge only a limited number of evaporator tubes with liquid and the evaporator can be operated in an optimum manner even with a partial load. The invention also relates to a method for operating said falling film evaporator, the aim of which is to transfer heat, which is released when a gas-vapor mixture is condensed, to a liquid which is to be evaporated at least partially. It would be useful to use said falling film evaporator thus fitted in heat recuperation systems such as those used in the production of 1,2 dichloroethane.
US07959765B2	Product preparation and recovery from thermolysis of lignocellulosics in ionic liquids Methods for the thermolysis of lignocellulosic materials, such as wood, cellulose, lignin, and lignocellulose are provided. Some methods comprise combining the lignocellulosic material with an ionic liquid and subjecting the mixture of the lignocellulosic material and the ionic media to thermolysis conditions to form a recoverable product, such as a commodity chemical.
US07959764B2	Forming fabrics for fiber webs A paper machine having a forming fabric with a paper side plurality of weft and warp yarns interwoven to form a layer contacting a paper web. A plurality of weft and warp yarns are interwoven to form a machine side layer for the forming fabric. A plurality of warp binder yarns are interlaced with the paper side and machine side yarns to form a multiple layered forming fabric. The weft yarns in the machine side layer are greater in diameter than the warp yarns for maintaining width stability of the fabric. The fabric is characterized by high permeability, high void volume and a high Beran's Fiber Support Index.
US07959762B2	Method for making biodegradable superabsorbent particles A method for making mixed polymer composite fibers in which a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a starch are blended in water to provide an aqueous gel; the aqueous gel treated with a first crosslinking agent to provide a crosslinked gel; the crosslinked gel mixed with a water-miscible solvent to provide fibers; and the fibers treated with a second crosslinking agent to provide crosslinked mixed polymer composite fibers.
US07959760B1	Automated glued down carpet remover improvements Apparatus, devices, systems and methods for removing automatically removing fixed carpeting such as glued down carpeting from spaces. The apparatus can include a motor powered winch having a hook end that can grip about a raised edge of the carpet. The winch can be anchored to a doorway by clamping ends of a telescopic bar to doorjamb members about the doorway opening. An operator can operate the winch by remote control and be spaced outside the room that the carpet is being removed from. Another version can include a U-shaped telescopic clamp arrangement so that the winch is also spaced outside the room from which the carpet is being removed. Another version includes a carpet grabbing plate adapter having hooks on a top side and carpet grabbing teeth extending below. The clamp ends of the telescopic bar can be locked to the upper hooks on the carpet grabbing plate. Another version has a double jawed carpet grabber with a pair of handles and teeth with channel members for enhanced carpet edge grabbing. Another version has a carrying case with handles and wheel(s) so that the carpet removing device and associated components can be hand carried and/or rolled.
US07959758B2	Polymeric shell adherently supported by a liner and a method of manufacture An article comprising at least one cured, liquid-impervious polymeric shell substantially free from defects, at least one liner, and a non-tacky, thermoplastic adhesive layer between the shell and the liner, wherein the adhesive layer is melted and solidified to create a non-tacky bond between the shell and the liner, which can be moisture-absorbing or cut-resistant, whereby the liner supports and limits stretch ability of the shell, thereby preventing adhesive delamination between the adhesive layer and either of the shell and/or the liner; a method for the manufacture of an article comprising a supported, polymeric shell, such as a glove, a gauntlet, an apron, or a boot, comprising providing a cured, liquid-impervious, polymeric shell, providing a knitted/woven liner, incorporating a non-tacky, thermoplastic adhesive layer between the shell and the liner, such as by hot-melt spraying, dry-powder spraying or fiber-coating, creating intimate contact between the shell, the adhesive layer, and the liner, subjecting the shell, the adhesive layer, and the liner to infrared radiation to melt the adhesive layer and create a bond between the shell and the liner, and cooling the shell; as well as other methods.
US07959756B2	Small handle production method and apparatus A way of making small, fragile, decorative handles on a lathe is disclosed along with tools for gluing pen-tubes into these handles is shown. Use of these tools and methods of use allows wood turners to avoid excessive rework and mess associated with the gluing process of making pen blanks while assuring better product due to more complete and uniform distribution of the adhesive layer.
US07959754B2	Sealing appliance An appliance for sealing elastic hoses with a sleeve, which is plastically deformable and slipped onto the hose, has two jaws which are movable towards and away from each other. One jaw has two straight bars which project towards the other jaw and extend transversely of the sleeve to make two transverse indentations in the sleeve and the hose when the jaws are moving towards each other. The same jaw has a cutting edge which projects towards the other jaw and is directed transversely of the sleeve, the cutting edge making a substantially transverse cutting indication in the sleeve and the hose when the jaws are moving towards each other.
US07959753B2	Process of manufacturing composite panels with U-shaped stiffening members The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing panels (9) for aeronautical structures with U-shaped stiffening members (13) and I-shaped stiffening members (17) between their webs comprising the following steps: providing laminates for shaping the skin (11) on the curing tool (31); providing planar laminates (23) for shaping the stiffening members (13, 17); shaping the U-shaped stiffening members (13) on individual shaping tools (33) and placing the I-shaped stiffening elements (17) in said tools; grouping said individual shaping tools (33) together on an assembly tool (41); placing the group of stiffening members (13, 17) on the skin (11); placing a vacuum bag (55) on the assembly with the aid of profiles (59); consolidating said assembly by means of a curing process under suitable pressure and temperature conditions using external tools (60) to assure verticality of the webs of the stiffening members (13, 17).
US07959752B2	Method for producing geogrid A geogrid using fiber-reinforced polymeric strips and its producing method are disclosed. The geogrid of a lattice shape includes plural longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymeric strips longitudinally arranged in parallel at regular intervals and formed by reinforcing fiber in a thermoplastic polymer resin, and plural lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strip laterally arranged in parallel at regular intervals and formed by reinforcing fiber in a thermoplastic polymer resin. Each longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strip has at lease one first contact point crossed with the lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strip on the upper surface and at least one second contact point crossed with the lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strips on the lower surface. The contact points are fixed by welding the longitudinal and lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strips. The geogrid is excellent in installation capacity, frictional feature and shape stabilisation and shows high tensile strength and low tensile strain and low creep deformation.
US07959751B2	Unitized composite fabrics with cross machine wave-like shaping and methods for making same A manufacturing method for producing a unitized composite material has been discovered. An assembly of loose fibers or fiber and fabric combinations is formed where at least one of the layered elements contains a bondable material such as a thermally sensitive bonding fiber. The un-bonded layered assembly is shaped into a wavy form having a repeating wave-like pattern of the desired amplitude and wavelength. The amplitude and wavelength of the repeating waves can be altered such as by changing the relative speeds of a transfer device and an oven wire and the height of the transfer device relative to the height of the oven wire using simple machinery control settings. The shaped assembly is subsequently bonded in an oven or other activation step preserving the wave-like shaping when cooled or removed from the activation effect.
US07959749B2	Gas generating composition A gas generating composition of the present invention contains at least one fuel selected from carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, and polymers; at least one perchlorate salt; and/or at least one metal oxide or metal hydroxide. A gas generating system 200 containing a gas generant in accordance with the present invention is also contemplated.
US07959748B2	Method of manufacturing Ni-based superalloy component for gas turbine using one-step process of hot isostatic pressing and heat treatment and component manufactured thereby Disclosed herein are a method of manufacturing a Ni-based superalloy component for a gas turbine using a one-step process of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and heat treatment, and a component manufactured by the method. In the method, an HIP process and a heat treatment process, which have been performed to manufacture or repair a Ni-based superalloy component for a gas turbine, are performed as a one-step process using an HIP apparatus. Thus, component defects, such as micropores and microcracks, which are generated when casting, welding, or brazing the Ni-based superalloy component for a gas turbine used for a combined cycle thermal power plant or airplane, can be cured using an HIP apparatus at high temperature and high pressure and, at the same time, the physical properties of the Ni-based superalloy component can be optimized using the heat treatment process.
US07959744B2	Dishwasher with targeted sensing and washing An automatic dishwasher comprises a housing defining a wash chamber for holding utensils to be washed, a movable sprayer fluidly coupled with a source of liquid and having at least one directionally-controllable outlet for controllably spraying liquid into the wash chamber, and a controller operably coupled to the movable sprayer to control the direction of the directionally-controllable outlet to spray liquid in at least one preselected location within the wash chamber.
US07959740B2	Polisher shuttle, and a method and a polisher device making use thereof The polisher shuttle serves to polish the inside walls of cylindrical tubes, in particular tubes for medical use. It comprises radial projections that are flexible along the axial direction, suitable for polishing the inside walls of tubes merely by relative movement between the shuttle and the tube, the shuttle passing inside the tube. In a longitudinal section, the sections of the projections form a series of separate undulations that are long and thin in the radial direction. The polishing method made possible by the shuttle is particularly simple, since a single pass of the shuttle can suffice for performing polishing; the method is thus fast and easy to automate, e.g. in a polisher device of the invention.
US07959738B2	Method of removing photoresist and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device A method of removing a photoresist may include permeating supercritical carbon dioxide into the photoresist on a substrate having a conductive structure including a metal. The photoresist permeating the supercritical carbon dioxide may be easily removable. The photoresist permeating the supercritical carbon dioxide may be removed using a photoresist cleaning solution from the substrate. The photoresist cleaning solution may include an alkanolamine solution of about 8 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight, a polar organic solution of about 25 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight, a reducing agent of about 0.5 percent by weight to about 3 percent by weight with the remainder being water. The photoresist may be easily removed without damaging the conductive structure in a plasma process.
US07959736B2	Biomass processor A process (10) and apparatus (2) for extracting juice from a fibrous material. The process (10) comprises a step of feeding the fibrous material (13) into a receiving chamber (30) having a fluid contained therein. The fibrous material (13) is then combined with the fluid in the receiving chamber (30) to form a first fluid mixture. The first fluid mixture is then passed through at least one cell disruptor device (40) to facilitate at least partial release of juice from the fibrous material into the first fluid mixture, thereby forming a second fluid mixture having a relatively higher released juice content than said first fluid mixture with relatively finely disrupted fibrous material suspended therein. The second fluid mixture is then collected.
US07959735B2	Susceptor with insulative inserts A method and apparatus for reducing arcing in a plasma processing system when processing large area substrates which contain one or more holes. In one embodiment of the invention, a substrate support member includes an electrically insulating insert located beneath a hole in an insulating, large area substrate. The insulating insert is made of aluminum oxide, and is located within a hole in the support member such that the insert is disposed beneath a hole in a glass substrate. The substrate support member is made of aluminum with an anodized surface.
US07959731B2	Method for producing semiconductor wafer A method for producing a semiconductor wafer, including epitaxially growing a Si1-XGeX layer (0
US07959729B2	Method for producing group-III-element nitride single crystals and apparatus used therein A production method is provided in which Group-III-element nitride single crystals that have a lower dislocation density and a uniform thickness and are transparent, high quality, large, and bulk crystals can be produced with a high yield. The method for producing Group-III-element nitride single crystals includes: heating a reaction vessel containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal and at least one Group III element selected from the group consisting of gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), and indium (In) to prepare a flux of the metal element; and feeding nitrogen-containing gas into the reaction vessel and thereby allowing the Group III element and nitrogen to react with each other in the flux to grow Group-III-element nitride single crystals, wherein the single crystals are grown, with the flux being stirred by rocking the reaction vessel, for instance.
US07959720B2	Low mesopore adsorbent contactors for use in swing adsorption processes The present invention relates to engineered structured adsorbent contactors for use in pressure swing adsorption and thermal swing adsorption processes. Preferably, the contactors contain engineered and substantially parallel flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactor, excluding the flow channels, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
US07959713B2	Cooling and purification of gas streams Process for purifying and cooling a gas stream comprising a dialkyl ester A) of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, which comprises treating the gas stream with an aliphatic dihydroxy compound B) at a temperature less than/equal to the melting point of the dialkyl ester A) in a 1st stage and treating the gas stream with an aliphatic dihydroxy compound B) at above the melting point of the dihydroxy compound B) in at least one 2nd stage.
US07959709B2	Method of producing steel for steel pipe excellent in sour-resistance performance A method of producing steel pipe excellent in sour-resistance performance, uses comprises controlling the amount of Ca addition charged into molten steel in a ladle according to a N content in the molten steel prior to Ca addition. As a result of the controlling step, a CaO content in the inclusions is in the range of 30 to 80%, the ratio of the N content in the steel to the CaO content in the inclusions satisfies the relation expressed by equation (1), and a CaS content in the inclusions satisfies the relation expressed by equation (2). 0.28≦[N]/(% CaO)≦2.0 (1) (% CaS)≦25% (2) where [N] represents the mass content (ppm) of N in the steel, (% CaO) represents the mass content (%) of CaO in the inclusions, and (% CaS) represents the mass content (%) of CaS in the inclusions.
US07959705B2	Filter with ePTFE and method of forming A filter media product and method of making the same wherein the filter media is pleatable and has at least one support scrim comprised of a melt bonded non-woven material or a fuse bonded non-woven material bonded to a layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The filter media may have a single support scrim with one or more layers and optionally may have a support scrim on both an upstream and downstream surface where both or neither support scrim is multilayered. The filter media may have an efficiency greater than, equal to, or less than HEPA.
US07959703B2	Fluted filter with integrated frame A filter element includes a filter media pack, a frame, an annular seal, and a sealing means independent of the annular seal. The frame is integrally secured to the fluted filter media pack with material of the frame integrally bonding the frame thereto.
US07959698B2	Smoke evacuation system A smoke evacuating system for use during surgical procedures, particularly minimally invasive procedures involving the use of a laser or cautery at a surgical site having an associated higher than ambient pressure, wherein the system includes a filter with a site side and an outlet side and a fluid conduit extending between the surgical site and the filter. The filter includes a filter media and a housing substantially surrounding the filter media with a space between the filter media and the housing to collect condensed vapor. The filter exhibits low resistance or a low pressure drop and resists fluid flow, whereby the higher than ambient pressure is not substantially diminished and generates a fluid flow in the fluid flow path tending to carry smoke to and through the filter.
US07959695B2	Fixed abrasive articles utilizing coated abrasive particles An fixed abrasive article is provided which includes a matrix material and abrasive particles embedded within the matrix material. The abrasive particles have a core-shell structure that includes a polycrystalline alpha alumina core and a shell layer overlying the polycrystalline alpha alumina core. The shell layer includes a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide and zirconium oxide. Also the polycrystalline alpha alumina core includes grains and having an average grain size of not greater than about 500 nm.
US07959692B1	Flavored wood pellet with grape vine Compositions for wood pellets including grape vine and methods of making wood pellet compositions including grape vine are described. The wood pellets include wood particles, grape vine particles, and a lubricant. The method includes mixing wood particles and grape vine particles with a lubricant, heating the mixture, and forming the mixture into pellets.
US07959689B2	Candle made from multiple wax materials with different melting points A scented candle includes at least two different wax materials with one of the materials having one melting point and at least one of the other wax materials having a second higher melting point. The wax having the higher melting point may include a malodor control agent or odor abatement substance or alternatively a fragrance that is different than the fragrance in the other wax materials in the candle. The second fragrance may also be at a much higher concentration than the fragrances in the other wax materials contained in the candle.
US07959688B2	Method for removing ammonia nitrogen from solutions Taught is a method for removing ammonia nitrogen from an ammonia-containing solution via atomization, comprising a) adjusting the pH of the ammonia-containing solution to above 10 by adding a base; b) after mixing, atomizing the ammonia-containing solution to produce an ammonia-containing mist so as to increase the gas-liquid interface and allow ammonia to transfer from the ammonia-containing mist to an ambient gas yielding a clean mist; and c) re-aggregating said clean mist. The method is applicable for treatment of liquids containing high, medium and low ammonia nitrogen concentration.
US07959676B2	Method and apparatus for intervertebral disc support and repair An intervertebral disc device is provided to support or repair one or both of the disc annulus and the disc nucleus. The intervertebral disc device includes an annulus support and an elongated member to support the disc nucleus. The disc annulus support has an elongated wire and an annulus closure. The disc nucleus has an elongated member that is expandable. Any of the devices can be loaded with biologics. Moreover, any of the devices may include a scarring factor to promote fibrous growth.
US07959675B2	Spine implant insertion device and method A spinal implant include a top, wherein at least a portion of the top is configured to contact a first vertebra, a bottom, wherein at least a portion of the bottom is configured to contact a second vertebra, a side having a releasable attachment to receive an insertion device and a cam surface to engage a cam on the insertion device.
US07959670B2	Catheter-based fastener implantation methods Methods implant one or more fastening structure(s) in a targeted body region, e.g., within a hollow body organ or an intraluminal space. The fastening structure(s) are implanted to a vessel wall, and serve to secure a prosthesis within the hollow body organ or intraluminal space.
US07959668B2	Bifurcated stent In at least one embodiment, a stent comprises a plurality of interconnected framework members defining a plurality of cells. A portion of the interconnected framework members comprise a side branch structure defining an inner side branch cell that is shaped differently than other cells of the stent. The side branch structure comprises a first serpentine ring extending around the inner side branch cell. The first serpentine ring comprises alternating inner turns and outer turns connected by straight struts. The inner turns are distributed around a reference circle centered upon a side branch center point. The side branch structure further comprises a second serpentine ring extending around the first serpentine ring. The second serpentine ring comprises alternating inner turns and outer turns connected by straight struts. The second serpentine ring has the same number of inner turns and outer turns as the first serpentine ring. The side branch structure further comprises a plurality of inner side branch connectors, each inner side branch connector spanning between the first serpentine ring and the second serpentine ring in a side branch radial direction.
US07959667B2	Catheter assembly and method for treating bifurcations An improved stent design and stent delivery catheter assembly for repairing a main vessel and a side branch vessel forming a bifurcation. The stent includes rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis and connected by links, where the stent has one or more portals for aligning with and partially expanding into the opening to the side branch vessel. The stent is implanted at a bifurcation so that the main stent section is in the main vessel, and the portal section covers at least a portion of the opening to the side branch vessel. A second stent can be implanted in the side branch vessel and abut the expanded central section to provide full coverage of the bifurcated area in the main vessel and the side branch vessel. Radiopaque markers on the stent and on the tip of the delivery catheter assist in aligning the portal section with the opening to the side branch vessel.
US07959663B2	Endovascular aneurysm repair method A method for repairing a diseased or damaged section of an aorta (i) introduces an intraluminal directing device from a remote access site to a location within a prosthesis at a target site in an aorta where the diseased or damaged section exists, the intraluminal directing device including a deflectable distal region; (ii) establishes a path to a desired fastening site on the prosthesis by manipulating the intraluminal directing device within the prosthesis to orient the distal region with respect to the desired fastening site; (iii) introduces from an intraluminal fastener applier, that is introduced along the path established in (ii), at least one tissue-piercing fastener into tissue at the desired fastening site to anchor the prosthesis; (iv) establishes a path to a different desired fastening site on the prosthesis by manipulating the intraluminal directing device within the prosthesis to orient the distal region with respect to the different desired fastening site; (v) introduces from an intraluminal fastener applier, that is introduced through the path established in (iv), at least one tissue-piercing fastener into tissue at the different desired fastening site to further anchor the prosthesis; and (vi) repeats (iv) and (v) until a desired plurality of tissue-piercing fasteners are introduced into tissue to anchor the prosthesis.
US07959660B2	Multifilar cable catheter A catheter device including an elongate catheter shaft comprising a multifilar cable tubing having a proximal portion and a distal portion. At least a part of the distal portion is more flexible than the proximal portion.
US07959657B1	Portable thermal therapeutic apparatus and method A portable thermal therapeutic apparatus, adapted to transfer heat between a creature and the atmosphere by circulating heat transfer fluid within a conduit held in contact with the creature. The apparatus includes a housing with a support structure that is particularly adapted for portable use. A heat pump is disposed within the housing, and operates to transfer heat between a first portion and a manifold. A heat sink is thermally coupled to the first portion, and transfers heat between the first portion and the atmosphere. A pump is disposed within the housing and circulates the fluid through the manifold and the conduit. A power supply is disposed within the housing and drives the pump, thereby causing the fluid to circulate within the manifold and the conduit. The power supply is also provides direct current to the heat pump, thereby causing heat to flow from the manifold to the first portion.
US07959656B2	Adipose resolve apparatus for low-power laser Provided is a lipolysis device using a low power laser, and more particularly, to a lipolysis device using a low power laser capable of non-invasively irradiating skin with a laser beam which may or may not be condensed through a lens or transparent window to obtain the same effect as lipolysis of adipose tissue exposed through incision using a conventional ultrasonic or low power laser. In addition, the lipolysis device includes a vacuum suction means to readily discharge liquefied fat discharged from an adipose cell and concentrated in a space between cell tissues through the groin area, where lymphatic vessels are abundant, and out of the body. Further the lipolysis device can stably contact human skin to break down fat and thus is convenient to use. Furthermore, the lipolysis device can break down subcutaneous fat by irradiating an abdominal region with a low power laser without skin damage or surgical operation, thereby effectively removing abdominal fat.
US07959653B2	Spinal rod cross connector The cross connecting device includes a bar arm coupled to one of a pair of posterior rods or spinal fixation rods and a rod arm coupled to the other of the pair of the rods. The bar arm and rod arm are coupled together by a connector or coupling device. The coupling device has a shank extending through a bore in the bar arm and a connector bore through which a protrusion on the bar arm extends. The bar arm is rotationally movable in the connector bore. The shank is rotationally and translationally movable in the bar arm bore. The coupling device is vertically movable through the bore. The protrusion is rotationally and translationally movable in the connector bore. The cross connecting devices are coupled to the rods by a pair of opposing surface to surface contacts formed by a surface of a hook end and a surface of a pad.
US07959650B2	Adjustable knotless loops Methods of attaching a soft tissue to an adjacent bone at a defect site are provided. At least one adjustable loop of a flexible construct is passed through the soft tissue. The at least one adjustable loop is passed through a passage construct. A locking member is passed through the at least one adjustable loop and the adjustable loop is reduced about or within the locking member such that the at least one loop is frictionally retained in the passage construct and locked in place by the locking member to thereby secure the soft tissue.
US07959647B2	Self furling umbrella frame for carotid filter A capture device for removal of clots and foreign bodies from vasculature or filtering of particulate from blood flow. The parachute-like capture device is connected to an elongate wire located within a longitudinally elongated tubular member. The invention provides a capture device that is radially expandable and a method for refolding the capture device into a reduced profile during contraction. Thereby, providing an atraumatic retraction of the capture device from within the vasculature.
US07959644B2	Hemostatic guiding catheter A hemostatic guiding catheter is biased to curve toward the artery wall and the distal opening is shaped so its edge is congruent with the artery wall. One or more annular balloons are inflated to produce a barrier between the guiding/catheter and the artery wall stopping the flow of blood and thus hemostasis. The annular balloons may be biased to inflate more on the side away from the distal opening thus imparting a force vector toward the distal opening and/or biased to overhang their line of attachment like a foreskin over a penis to allow the hemostatic guiding catheter to move a short distance while the biased balloons maintain hemostasis.
US07959642B2	Medical instrument having a needle knife A medical instrument includes a flexible sheath, a pivot base, a medical needle knife base, a medical needle knife, and a handpiece. The flexible sheath has a distal sheath portion insertable within a patient and has a proximal sheath portion. The pivot base is attached to the distal sheath portion. The needle knife base is pivotally connected to the pivot base and has a passageway. The medical needle knife is extendable from the passageway and is retractable within the passageway. The handpiece is connected to the proximal sheath portion and includes a manually-operated articulation control operatively connected to the needle knife base for pivoting the needle knife base with respect to the pivot base.
US07959637B2	Distal femoral cutting guide A system locates a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur. The femoral cutting guide establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut. The system generally includes a mounting rod operable to insert into the distal end of the femur. An index member is operable to abut the distal end of the femur. A bridge member extends from the index member. A cutting guide member extends from the bridge member. The cutting guide member includes a first channel that establishes the first reference plane. A mounting mechanism releasably couples the cutting guide member to the bridge member. The mounting mechanism is operable to generate a sliding resistance between the bridge member and the cutting guide member that is generally overcome to position the cutting guide member relative to the femur.
US07959634B2	Orthopedic surgery access devices The present invention provides instrumentation that facilitates access to both sides of the vertebral body from a single access point. More particularly, the present invention provides bendable access devices that can be steered so as to traverse the vertebral body from the point of entry into the vertebral body, through the cancellous bone within the vertebral body, and to the contralateral side of the vertebral body. This steerability is provided by forming the access device with a series of slots, grooves, or notches in the side of the access device near the distal end of the access device, which slots, grooves, or notches reduce the bending stiffness of the access device. As a result, the distal end of the access device bends as it is being advanced into the vertebral body.
US07959632B2	Plasma incising device including disposable incising tips for performing surgical procedures An apparatus for performing surgery using plasma is described. The apparatus includes a plasma generating unit, a plasma wand and a foot pedal. The plasma wand further includes a disposable tip which may be removed and replaced for each surgical procedure, so as to maintain operating sterility.
US07959631B2	Ablation device with compression balloon A tissue ablation device includes an array of elongate electrodes configured to be deployed in tissue, wherein the deployed electrode array defines a tissue ablation region, an inflatable balloon configured to be deployed in tissue, and a coupler securing the balloon relative to the one or more elongate electrodes, wherein the balloon, when inflated, is configured to apply a force to tissue located in the tissue ablation region. An ablation device includes a first array of electrodes, a second array of electrodes, a first inflatable balloon, and a coupler securing the first balloon relative to the first and second electrode arrays. A method of ablating tissue includes positioning an array of elongate electrodes and an inflatable balloon proximate tissue to be ablated, inflating the balloon to compress a tissue region located between the balloon and the electrode array, and energizing the electrode array to ablate the tissue region.
US07959629B2	Multi-zone bipolar ablation probe assembly A medical probe assembly, tissue treatment system, and method are provided for ablating tissue. The probe assembly comprises an elongated member and electrode elements mechanically coupled to the distal end of the elongated member. The electrode elements are configurable as two bipolar electrode pairs with a common electrode element. At least one of the electrode elements comprises a plurality of electrodes (such as, e.g., needle electrodes) radially extendable from the elongated member. An ablation source, such as a radio frequency source, can be connected to the probe assembly in order to convey ablation energy to the electrode pairs, either simultaneously or sequentially.
US07959626B2	Transmural ablation systems and methods A method of applying ablation energy to achieve transmurality including applying ablation energy at a starting power to a tissue site and monitoring the impedance of the tissue site. The power applied to the tissue site can be increased in response to detection of a power plateau or application of a first power for a minimum time according to some embodiments. A power applied to the tissue site can be reduced in response to an increase in impedance according to some embodiments. Transmurality can be indicated in response to a transmurality plateau following a rise in impedance according to some embodiments.
US07959624B2	Device for the treatment of wounds using a vacuum The invention relates to a device (100) for treating wounds of the human or animal body using a vacuum and having a gas-tight wound-covering element (4), which, when placed in contact with the body of the patient, forms a wound space (10) between the respective wound and the wound-covering element, at least one connecting site (5.1; 5.2), which is in contact with the wound space (10), an absorption body (2), which is a layer, enclosed in an envelope, of a textile section, interspersed with super-absorbing particles, the envelope being permeable to liquids and having pores, the size of which does not exceed that of the super-absorbing particles. The absorption body (2), which is to be inserted in the wound space (10), has an initial volume, which enlarges in the course of the absorption process, and a final volume, so that, due to the size of the pores of the envelope, the absorbed wound secretions remain within the absorption body (2) and, with that, below the wound-covering element, until the absorption body is removed from the wound space.
US07959620B2	Absorbent article having a graphic visible through body contacting surface The invention is directed to an absorbent article, which is preferably a sanitary napkin or a pantiliner, comprising: a body contacting layer; a garment contacting layer; and an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer. The absorbent core has a core edge. The core edge defines a core region within the core edge and an outer region outside the core region. The body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer extend outward into the outer region and joined together in the outer region. In one aspect of the invention, the garment contacting layer has a graphic printed on the body facing surface at least in a portion of the outer region. In another aspect of the invention, the body contacting layer has a graphic printed on the garment facing surface at least in a portion of the outer region. The body contacting layer has a first light transmittance so that the graphic can be seen through the body contacting layer in the outer region. Since users (or women) can see the graphic through the body contacting layer, the absorbent article can provide an emotional benefit to women before uses, and thus decrease women's melancholic mood.
US07959604B2	Medical suction control with isolation characteristics A suction regulator for controlling a level of negative pressure in a system in which compensatory clean airflow is used to isolate a control device for regulating suction delivered to a patient is disclosed. The regulator comprises an inlet; an outlet; a controller for controlling the suction delivered to the inlet; and a barrier for isolating the controller from the inlet.
US07959601B2	Steerable catheter with in-plane deflection An improved steerable catheter with in-plane deflection comprises a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough and a tip section at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible plastic tubing having a pair of diametrically-opposed lumens extending therethrough. The catheter also provides two puller wires manipulated through a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body. Each puller wire extends through one of the pair of lumens in the tip section and through the lumen of the catheter body and is anchored to the control handle at its proximal end and anchored to the tip section at its distal end. The deflection mechanism is configured to generally define a plane along which deflection most readily occurs and an edge along which deflection is most readily avoided. The deflection mechanism extends longitudinally along a centerline of the tip section between the first and second puller wire and is configured generally with a cross section having a thinner dimension and a thicker dimension to bias the tip section to deflect in a plane parallel with the thinner dimension of the deflection mechanism and to resist deflection in a plane perpendicular to thicker dimension.
US07959596B2	Extracorporeal circuit An extracorporeal circuit, which makes it possible to efficiently collect priming solution by displacing the priming solution with blood after the priming solution is fed to the extracorporeal circuit to prime the extracorporeal circuit, includes a circuit body including first and second tubes, a feed bag that feeds the priming solution, a blood reservoir in which a liquid is temporarily stored, a third tube that branches out from the middle of the first tube, and a collection bag which communicates with the third tube and into which the priming solution is collected through the third tube. After the priming solution is fed from the feed bag to prime at least a housing, when the priming solution in the housing is displaced by blood, the priming solution in the housing is transferred and collected in the collection bag due to a height difference between the liquid level and the collection bag.
US07959595B2	Catheter assembly A catheter assembly is provided with a flexible tubular body having two lumens. A solid slidable member with a sharp distal end is disposed within one of the lumens. The slidable member is capable of sliding within the lumen of the tubular body between an exposed position in which the sharp distal end of the slidable member protrudes from the distal end of the tubular body and a shielded position in which the distal end of the slidable member is within the tubular body. One advantage is that the sharp distal end of the slidable member may be withdrawn into the tubular body in order to shield a patient from unintentional cutting or irritation from the sharp distal end of the slidable member.
US07959591B2	Device and method for externally rotating the femur An elongate flexible strap is adapted to be wrapped about a wearer's leg and pelvic region. The strap applies a torque to the leg, rotating the leg into a desired degree of external rotation. In a leg having an improperly aligned patella, it is believed that the external rotation improves lower extremity mechanics by aligning the patella within the trochlear groove.
US07959590B2	Method of and apparatus for patella support A patella stabilization system having a unitary patella stabilizer sleeve extending at both ends into a plurality of straps for securing the patella stabilizer sleeve around a knee region and an upper inner strap extending from a first upper end of the patella stabilizer sleeve and an upper outer strap extending from a second upper end of the patella stabilizer sleeve, the upper outer strap comprising a fastener at a distal end of the upper outer strap. The system further includes a lower inner strap extending from a first lower end of the patella stabilizer sleeve and a lower outer strap extending from a second lower end of the patella stabilizer sleeve, the lower outer strap comprising a fastener at a distal end of the lower outer strap, a plurality of slots around a patella opening, and a buttress comprising a plurality of straps adapted to be adjustably positioned on an inside surface of the patella stabilizer band around a location on a circumferential edge of the patella opening.
US07959586B2	Multifunction equipment Multifunction equipment installed in a room is provided. The multifunction equipment has main body and movable device that moves to implement plural functions, thereby allowing the multifunction equipment to be used as plural functional devices. The movable device is connected to the main body. The multifunction equipment also has assisting device that assists a use of the multifunction equipment as a desired functional device when the movable device moves to allow the multifunction equipment to be used as the desired functional device.
US07959581B2	Test magazine and method for processing the same A test magazine with two film strips (12, 14), which are joined to one another in a sandwich-like manner, can be wound up, and between which holding cells (16) for test elements are kept free. The test magazine also comprises a multitude of test elements (18, 20) each having a puncturing unit (18) for inserting into body tissue and a test unit (20) for being subjected to body fluid. To this end, the puncturing units (18) and test units (20) are placed in separate holding cells (16) whereby separating them from one another.
US07959574B2	System and method for analyzing a patient status for respiratory insufficiency for use in automated patient care A system and method for analyzing a patient status for respiratory insufficiency for use in automated patient care. A set of one or more physiological measures relating to patient information recorded on a substantially continuous basis or derived therefrom are received. The physiological measures set is stored into a patient care record for an individual patient into a database. One or more of the physiological measures in the physiological measures set are analyzed relative to one or more other physiological measures to determine a pathophysiology indicating an absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of respiratory insufficiency.
US07959571B2	Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic image generating method The invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic image generating method realizing improvement in picture quality to thereby improve diagnosis efficiency in a diagnosis using images. An extracting process of extracting a sound ray vector image extending in a sound ray direction in which an ultrasonic beam is transmitted in an ultrasonic diagnosis image from the ultrasonic diagnosis image is performed. After that, a correcting process is performed so as to eliminate the sound ray vector image extracted by the extracting process from the ultrasonic diagnosis image.
US07959567B2	Device to enable quick entry of caloric content A monitoring apparatus that includes a sensor device and an I/O device in communication with the sensor device that generates derived data using the data from the sensor device. The derived data cannot be directly detected by the associated sensors. Alternatively, an apparatus that includes a wearable sensor device and an I/O device in communication with the sensor device that includes means for displaying information and a dial for entering information. Alternatively, an apparatus for tracking caloric consumption and caloric expenditure data that includes a sensor device and an I/O device in communication with the sensor device. The sensor device includes a processor programmed to generate data relating to caloric expenditure from sensor data. Alternatively, an apparatus for tracking caloric information for an individual that utilizes a plurality of classification identifiers for classifying meals consumed by the individual, each of the classification identifiers having a corresponding caloric amount.
US07959566B2	Methods for delivering a drug to a patient while restricting access to the drug by patients for whom the drug may be contraindicated Methods for delivering a drug to a patients in need of the drug, while restricting access to the drug by patients for whom the drug may be contraindicated are disclosed. The methods are of the type in which prescriptions for the drug are filled by a pharmacy only after a computer readable storage medium has been consulted to retrieve a prescription approval code. Embodiments are provided wherein the patients are assigned to risk groups based upon the risk that taking the drug will lead to an adverse side effect, and certain additional information, such as periodic surveys and diagnostic tests probative of the ongoing risk of the side effect developing are obtained before prescriptions for the drug are approved.
US07959559B2	Endoscope insertion assisting device, endoscope apparatus, medical treatment device and endoscope insertion method The present invention includes a first balloon member having a first hollow portion that allows an insertion portion of the endoscope to pass therethrough; a first transmission member that transmits an advance/retreat action performed by an operator to the first balloon member; a second balloon member having a second hollow portion that allows the insertion portion of the endoscope to pass therethrough; a second transmission member that transmits an advance/retreat action performed by an operator to the second balloon member; and a control portion that controls supply and exhaust of fluid to and from the inside of the first balloon member and the second balloon member to expand or contract the first balloon member and the second balloon member.
US07959555B2	Method and device for deployment of a sub-pericardial sack Various methods and devices for deploying a sub-pericardial sack about at least a portion of a heart to alleviate congestive heart failure. A medical device housing the sub-pericardial sack is inserted into the pericardial sack. An inverted umbrella framework is deployed through the medical device and into the pericardial sack to position the sub-pericardial sack adjacent the heart. The umbrella framework is then retracted through the medical device once the cardiac assist device is placed adjacent the heart. A steerable catheter can instead be deployed through the pericardial sack to deploy and position a cardiac assist device, such as a mesh, around the heart. The steerable catheter is covered by a sheath housing the cardiac assist device. Once the sheath is pulled back, the cardiac assist device is deployed and secured adjacent the heart. Filaments or tensions wires are used to tighten the mesh around the heart.
US07959552B2	Implantable device An implantable device comprising: a stepper motor; a moveable member, moveable by the stepper motor; and an oscillator, wherein the oscillator is influenced by a signal derived from or supplied to the stepper motor to enable information on the moveable member to be fedback to an external controller by passive telemetry.
US07959542B1	Device for training a martial artist to kick A lightweight, portable device trains a martial artist to kick. A riser extends vertically from a base plate and can move pivotally and slidably in relation to the plate. An arm pivotally extends from the riser and supports a kicking pad that moves linearly along the arm. The pad provides resistance to the user executing a kicking motion.
US07959541B2	Crushing squish ball An ultra light but resistive ball device for exercise is provided comprising: a flexible sheet with least one preliminary broken section of collapse for allowing contraction of the sheet under bias about at least one flex point in response to an exertion of hand grip. The sheet has two free ends extending substantially half the circumference of the ball and partially folded back on the sheet. Two lateral apertures are located at opposite ends of the free ends to permit an uninterrupted collapse of the sheet. A sheath envelopes the sheet to provide a slip resistant exterior surface for grasping the ball.
US07959540B2	Systems and methods for administering an exercise program Systems and methods for facilitating an isometric contraction exercise regimen for many subjects across a network are provided. One or more exercise constraints are developed for a subject as a function of the medical health information of the subject. The subject performs a plurality of isometric contraction exercises using exercise equipment always in the presence of a personal fitness trainer thereby producing an exercise result. The exercise equipment has a strain gauge in order to impose exercise constraints in the one or more exercise constraints. A mandatory recovery period for the subject is then imposed. During this mandatory recovery period, the subject does not perform isometric constraints exercises. These steps are repeated using a new set of one or more exercise constraints that were refined based upon the exercise result of a previous isometric contraction exercise work out session.
US07959539B2	Body motion detection device capable of properly managing information on number of steps in walking exercise A Nordic walking pole has a transmission device attached thereto and a switch thereof is pushed to transmit a signal indicating the start or end of Nordic walking. A pedometer receives the signal from the transmission device to thereby detect that the start or end of Nordic walking is instructed (S107). Assuming that the Nordic mode is specified when the current walking mode is a normal walking mode, the parameter for Nordic walking is set as a parameter for the arithmetic operation (S111). Assuming that the normal walking mode is specified when the current walking mode is a Nordic mode, the parameter for the normal walking mode is set as a parameter for the arithmetic operation (S113).
US07959533B2	Continuously variable transmission Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a main axle is adapted to receive a shift rod that cooperates with a shift rod nut to actuate a ratio change in a CVT. In another embodiment, an axial force generating mechanism can include a torsion spring, a traction ring adapted to receive the torsion spring, and a roller cage retainer configured to cooperate with the traction ring to house the torsion spring. Various inventive idler-and-shift-cam assemblies can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. Embodiments of a hub shell and a hub cover are adapted to house components of a CVT and, in some embodiments, to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces and braking features for a CVT are disclosed.
US07959532B2	Hydraulic seal for a gearbox of a tip turbine engine A hydraulic seal for a tip turbine engine includes an inner radial flange and an outer radial flange. The inner radial flange rotates relative to the outer radial seal section and the planet carrier face to prevent lubrication from entering into the air flow streams within the engine without additional engine assembly procedures.
US07959523B2	Golf club head having a displaced crown portion A hollow wood-type golf club head having an increased weight budget and improved mass characteristics at minimum structural mass is disclosed. The club head has a striking face portion, a sole portion, a skirt portion, and a crown portion having a total surface area. A hosel portion joins the club head for connecting a shaft to the club head. The crown portion has a major crown portion and a minor crown portion, the major portion having greater surface area than the minor portion, and the major portion being displaced vertically lower relative to the minor crown portion. The major crown portion may have a generally concave curvature and the minor crown portion may have a generally convex curvature such that the major crown portion is in effect inverted with respect to the minor crown portion. The major crown portion may be upwardly inclined from the heel to the toe of the head. The head may exhibit a parabolic top view silhouette.
US07959521B2	Electronically controlled golf swing analyzing/training mat system with ball striking-related feedback A golf practice mat includes an impact sensor disposed in a vicinity bounding the location of where a golf ball would be placed for striking. The golf practice mat may also include, for example, a “crosshair” target imprint that is disposed on a golf club impact sensor portion of the practice surface and indicates the point/line of contact that the club face should hit the ground after the ball has been struck with the club head in a descending blow. A microcontroller receives and analyzes the output of the impact sensor and generates a display/output message that is coupled to a display that is, for example, embodied on the golf practice mat to provide user shot-related feedback. The display may indicate, for example, the user's golf club, the estimated distance the ball will travel depending upon the impact data analyzed, the club chosen by the user, input backswing data and/or a three-dimensional simulation of the resulting golf stroke.
US07959520B2	Putter with aiming arms A golf putter includes a pair of aiming arms at each end of the putter head having opposite and inward facing arcuate surfaces corresponding to the outline of a golf hole. The aiming arms may be removed manually or may be made to pivot. In the latter, each arm is pivotally connected at opposing ends of the putter head and adapted to pivot about an axis between a forward aiming position and a second position away from the forward aiming position. Control of the rotation of the aiming arms may be by a lever operable from the putter shaft, or by a spring actuated by pushing downward on the putter shaft.
US07959518B1	Golf training device and hand placement gauging tool One embodiment of a golf training aid that provides a visual and physical reference as to the correlational relationship between a golfers' hand-placement on a golf club and the face of the golf club at impact to provide means for the golfer to hit a straight golf shot or to shape a golf shot. Utilizing a rear sight guide (10) and a front sight (14) attached to an alignment guide rail (12) and a flexible joint or hinge (16), the gauging apparatus provides physical reference for the golfers' hand-placement and a visual reference to desired target lines. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US07959517B2	Infrared sensing launch monitor A method and apparatus for changing the temperature pattern of the surface of a golf ball or golf club is disclosed. The apparatus includes a thermal device capable of imparting a temperature pattern onto the surface of a golf ball. The thermal device preferably imparts the temperature pattern from a distance, preferably while the golf ball is positioned on a golf tee. After a predetermined amount of time, the golf ball may be stuck by a golf club. A thermal imaging device, which may detect a cooling pattern imparted to the golf ball by prongs of a cooling device, is preferably used to acquire images of the temperature pattern. The acquired images may then be analyzed by a processor to determine the kinematic characteristics of the golf ball.
US07959516B2	Ferrule and hole cup for golf flag A ferrule (1) and a hole cup (2) for a golf flag (3), where the ferrule (1) is designed with a boring (4) in which a golf flag (3) is placed, and an upper part (5) having a greater diameter than a lower part (6) of the ferrule which is intended for disposition in a hole (7) in the hole cup (2), the hole cup (2) being formed by a cylindric wall (8) and a bottom (9) with a centre hole (7) having a shape and a depth for receiving the lower part (6) of the ferrule, where at least two replaceable elastic means (10) are provided between the lower part (6) of the ferrule and the centre hole (7) of the hole cup, where at least two fastening means (11) are correspondingly provided, each intended for retaining an elastic means (10), and each provided by an annular groove (15) on the ferrule (1), and where one or more longitudinal grooves (16) are provided in the ferrule (1).
US07959513B2	Amusement device The present invention relates to an amusement device which comprises a rotating body formed in a disk shape and provided horizontally rotatably; a frame body which is fixedly arranged on the upper surface of the rotating body 10; a partition member which is fastened to the frame body for forming the play area; a plurality of beams which are mounted to the frame body across the play area horizontally; a plurality of floor portions which are supported by the frame body and the beams, and which partition the play area into a plurality of layered spaces; the support mechanism; and the rotation drive mechanism. The support mechanism supports the rotating body. The rotation drive mechanism rotates the rotating body horizontally.
US07959511B2	Information processing device for controlling movement of a game character by using a player image and game character movement control method An information processing system includes: area extraction means for extracting an area occupied by a player from the mirror moving picture containing a player; control means for generating a computer image containing a game character; and display control means for causing a display device to display a superimposed moving picture obtained by superimposing the mirror moving picture and the computer image. The control means moves the game character according to the area occupied by the player in the superimposed moving picture. Thus, in the information processing system using the player image acquired by a camera as the input interface, it is possible to improve the game entertainment.
US07959503B2	Game apparatus Described is a player activated game system, particularly adapted for playing instant lottery type games, that includes a game device having a computer containing at least one game, an electronic display and a card interface adapted to receive a game card having data that represents a particular game outcome such that connection of the card to the interface can result the game being played by the device with the particular outcome displayed on the display. Also described are lottery tickets or game cards that are adapted use with the game devices along with methods of manufacturing the game cards.
US07959501B2	Method and apparatus for testing and/or improving agility and response time A method and apparatus for testing and/or training persons, particularly athletes, with regard to reaction time, peripheral vision, foot speed, agility and (in some cases) strength of hand punch/speed or impact. In addition to testing and training persons, the method & apparatus can improve response and/or reaction time to verbal/audible stimuli. Testing and training can be applied in similar fashion to individuals, or groups of individuals, e.g. part or all of a sport team, under direction of a coach or of a testing operator/technician. An initiating stimulus (illumination of a light signal or motion of a ‘mounted” ball) provides a start signal to test subjects, who respond to the stimulus, as by touching or striking a blow to a target. Either of these actions will initiate one or more conditions which occur in a predetermined pattern, e.g. to start a timer which is halted by sensing the touch or blow. With multiple trainees, multiple sensing means may be used to detect individual time lapses relative to some or all of the trainees, thus providing a means to compare and evaluate the several response times. The apparatus also may include an optional force-sensing device in the target(s), which can rate & record the force of a striking blow against the associated target, plus time lapse(s).
US07959499B2	Machine for lung removal in poultry and method and use thereof Provided is poultry processing equipment and more particularly, an improved evisceration device and subassemblies thereof for removing organs from a membrane-covered socket in the body cavity of a poultry carcass, such as the lungs.
US07959488B2	Brassiere pad system A brassiere pad assembly is provided for use in a brassiere for delivering optimal support, aesthetic enhancement and health benefits including a first panel comprised of a flexible material having a plurality of perforations and a bottom edge. A second panel is provided having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the second panel having at least a bottom edge affixed to at least the bottom edge of the first panel. A third panel is provided comprising a membrane defining a cavity having at least one attachment means formed therein, the third panel being placed between the first and second panels and having at least a bottom edge affixed to the second panel. An insertable element may be provided configured to be receivable and securable within the cavity of the third panel for imparting skin therapeutic benefits to a wearer.
US07959486B1	Native bee propagation pole and method of use A standing length of untreated deadwood timber, having a 2″-6″ diameter and an above ground length of between 3′ and 9′, has a flattened face with sets of different diameter holes drilled therein. Colorful ribbons, in addition to the aroma of the decaying deadwood, attract multiple species of native solitary bees to the bee pole to use the holes to lay eggs therein. The pole is planted 1.5 to 2′ in soil adjacent fields, gardens or orchards which need pollination.
US07959484B2	Bathtub whirlpool toy A bathtub whirlpool toy and educational device has a bottom and gasket designed to allow the device to fit over the drain of a household fixture such as a bathtub or sink. The device has a generally cylindrical interior space having inlet slots set at an angle, so that water entering the interior from the bath will begin to rotate immediately. A central outlet leads to a recuperation chamber having an offset recuperation chamber outlet allowing the recuperation chamber outlet to sit directly over a bathtub drain. The recuperation chamber may have a plurality of vanes/fins designed to reduce water circulation and increase water flow. An adapter may allow the user to alter the size and shape of the interior space outlet aperture, and may be fixable in place or movable during use so as to allow the user to alter the vortex/whirlpool dynamically.
US07959481B1	Towed-sports handle safety device A safety device for a tow handle such as might be used for waterskiing, wakeboarding, kite-boarding, etc. One embodiment of the safety device provides a thin, flat panel (30) made of semi-rigid material and having pressure relief holes (32) and attachment holes (31). In addition, a handle attachment link (34) attaches said panel to the cross bar (41) of the tow handle providing additional support. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US07959480B2	Detachable mooring and fluid transfer system A mooring system comprising a submerged buoy releasably connected to a vessel adjacent its keel by a structural connector. The structural connector consists of a cylindrical sleeve coaxially movable with respect to a cylindrical housing by circumferential actuators. The lower ends of the connector sleeve and connector housing capture a number of collet segments circumpositioned therebetween that radially pivot in and out as the connector sleeve is moved axially within the connector housing. The lower ends of the collet segments extend downward to a connector hub on the buoy and releasably engage a groove therein, dogging the bearing hub against the vessel. A combined bearing assembly that supports both axial and radial loading revolvably connects the buoy to a moored chain table.
US07959479B2	Boat propulsion system and boat including the same and boat control device and boat control method A boat propulsion system includes a control section, a thrust calculation section, a thrust generating unit, a thrust detection section, and a control section. An operating amount is input to the control lever by operation of an operator. An accelerator detector detects the input operating amount of the control lever. The thrust calculation section calculates a thrust intended to be generated from the operating amount of the control lever to output a calculated thrust. The thrust generating unit generates a thrust. The thrust detection section detects a thrust actually generated on the thrust generating unit to output it as an actual thrust. The control section controls an output of the thrust generating unit so that the actual thrust approaches the calculated thrust.
US07959478B2	USB connector and its fabrication method A USB connector fabrication method includes the steps of (a) stamping a metal sheet into a terminal set having a set of first terminals, a set of second terminals and material bridges joining the first terminals and the second terminals, (b) preparing an electrically insulative housing having punch holes and then mounting the terminal set in the electrically insulative housing to keep the material bridges in vertical alignment with the punch holes, (c) using a machine to cut off the material bridges and (d) securing a metal shield around the periphery of the electrically insulative housing.
US07959476B2	Clamp for electrically coupling to a battery contact A clamp that is capable of attaching to a battery post and also to a female receptacle terminal. The clamp includes a post-grasping portion that is capable of attaching to the battery post. The clamp also includes a male plug feature that is configured to fit into a female receptacle terminal.
US07959472B1	Audio jack connector An audio jack connector adapted for receiving an audio plug connector with a tip end includes an insulating housing and a contact terminal. The insulating housing defines a plug insertion hole from a front end to a rear end thereof and a recess communicating with the plug insertion hole. The contact terminal has a connecting portion received in a rear of the recess. Two opposite ends of the connecting portion are extended downward to form first and second holding arms. Portions of the holding arms extend along the axis of the plug insertion hole to form first and second locating boards. Edges of the locating boards extend towards each other and are bent along the axis of the plug insertion hole to form first and second elastic arms. First and second contact portions are protruded into the plug insertion hole from free ends of the elastic arms.
US07959466B2	Individually filtered terminals and shielded circuit board through-holes An electrical connector includes an insulating body, a plurality of terminals, a plurality of shielding layers, and a plurality of insulating layers. The insulating body has a plurality of terminal-receiving holes. The shielding layers are mounted on the terminal-receiving holes. The insulating layers are mounted on the shielding layers, and the terminals are disposed in the terminal-receiving holes. Thereby, the insulating layers prevent EMI between terminals and ensure the terminals do not contact the shielding layers.
US07959465B2	Contact housing and electrical contact device In a contact housing having a contact chamber for accommodating a contact body which can be inserted into the contact chamber through an assembly opening in a direction of insertion, in an operational position of the contact body in which it is stopped within the contact chamber, at least one element of contact chamber is lying against a stopping surface (support surface), of contact body, which generally points in a direction opposite to the insertion direction in such a way that the removal of the contact body is generally prevented counter to the insertion direction, the present invention provides that a center axis of the assembly opening has a lateral offset transversely to the direction of insertion with respect to a center axis of the stopped contact body; that in the contact chamber, in the direction of insertion, behind the assembly opening, a displaceably situated, elastically flexible spring is provided that extends into the path of the contact body, which narrows the path for the contact body and can be deflected by the contact body, and which is designed to be stressed in an assembly position during the insertion of the contact body.
US07959460B2	Method and apparatus for patch panel patch cord documentation and revision Intelligent patch panels support patch cord management in communications networks. Modular patch panels can be connected to one another for the purposes of sharing power and also for the purposes of monitoring patch cord connections and reporting the status of patch cord connections to a network management system. Each port of an intelligent patch panel may be provided with out-of-band contacts to allow for monitoring and reporting of patch cord connectivity information. According to one embodiment, out-of-band contacts send identification information regarding their associated patch panel ports along a ninth wire of a patch cord.
US07959458B2	Thermal imaging device with a battery pack with a seal member molded directly thereon A thermal imaging device includes a replaceable battery pack, which may include a shock absorbing and/or seal member. A battery portion of the battery pack includes an electrical contact and a sidewall that contains at least one battery cell, which is electrically coupled to the contact. An attachment mechanism of the battery pack is configured to engage a portion of a housing of the device, such that a portion of the battery pack forms a terminal end of the device, the battery portion is held within the portion of the housing, and the electrical contact of the battery portion is operably connected to the imaging assembly of the device. The attachment mechanism is releasable from engagement with the housing, such that an entirety of the battery pack can be completely separated from the thermal imaging device.
US07959449B2	Computing devices having pop-out connector port arrays A pop-out connector port array for provision in a computing device. The array includes an extensible connector port array member that can be transitioned from an initial retracted position in which the array member is contained within the computing device to an extended position in which the array member extends outward from the computing device, the array member comprising multiple integrated connector ports that are accessible when the array member is in the extended position.
US07959445B1	Board-to-board connector system A connector system includes a first contact module terminated to a first circuit board proximate to an edge of the first circuit board. The first contact module has a first housing holding first contacts that are electrically connected to the first circuit board. The connector system also includes a second contact module terminated to a second circuit board proximate to an edge of the second circuit board. The second contact module having a second housing holding second contacts that are electrically connected to the second circuit board. A jumper module electrically connects the first contacts and the second contacts, where the jumper module is movable independently of the first and second housings between a mated state and an unmated state. The first and second contacts are electrically connected in the mated state. When the jumper module is in the unmated state, the first circuit board and the second circuit board can be brought together from a plurality of different directions. The jumper module is moved to the mated state after the first and second circuit boards are brought together.
US07959443B1	Lung simulator A system and method of delivering CO2 in a respiration closed-loop control system to a respiratory simulator includes (a) providing a CO2 supply to a respiratory simulator having a piston/cylinder arrangement; (b) providing flow control hardware between the CO2 supply and the piston/cylinder arrangement; (c) generating a first control signal representative of a predefined amount of CO2; and (d) providing the predefined amount of CO2 into the piston/cylinder arrangement. Thereafter, either (i) an end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (EtCO2) value is determined based on an amount of CO2 emptied from the piston/cylinder arrangement during an exhalation phase of the respiratory simulator or (ii) an EtCO2 value is calculated via an equation. A second control signal is generated that is representative of a tidal volume and a breathing frequency representative of a physiological response to the EtCO2 value to effect corresponding movement of the piston in a next inhalation and exhalation phase.
US07959442B2	Multi-sensory teaching kit and method A multi-sensory teaching kit includes one or more edible items in symbolic shapes, a handbook including a glossary of meanings for the shapes, and a spiritual lesson. In some embodiments, a souvenir such as a jewelry bead is provided, with an optional text explaining the significance of the souvenir. A method of production of a multi-sensory teaching kit is provided, comprising, forming a cookie into a symbolic shape, writing a handbook including a glossary of meanings of the symbolic shapes, printing a lesson on a spiritual principle, optionally providing a souvenir, and optionally enclosing the cookie, handbook, lesson, and optional souvenir in a container.
US07959439B2	Apparatus, system, and method for implanting dental prosthesis Described herein are various embodiments of a dental prosthesis implant system and associated apparatus and methods that overcome at least some shortcomings of the prior art. According to one representative embodiment, a connector for an implant retained prosthesis includes a first portion securable to a prosthesis and a second portion securable to an implant embeddable within a bone under a gingival layer. The first portion includes a first engagement element. The second portion includes a second engagement element that defines an internal cavity. The first engagement element is positionable within the internal cavity. When the second portion is secured to the implant and the first engagement element is positioned within the internal cavity, at least a portion of the internal cavity and first engagement element is within the gingival layer. In one implementation, the first portion is coupleable to the second portion via a snap-fit connection.
US07959433B2	Highly controllable gas grill burner system A grill for cooking includes a first set of burners and a second set of burners wherein at least one burner of the first set of burners is interdigitally arranged with burners of the second set of burners. The grill further includes a first valve that controls a flow of fuel to the first set of burners and a second valve that controls a flow of fuel to the second set of burners.
US07959432B2	Method of and apparatus for cleaning fouling in heat exchangers, waste-heat boilers and combustion chambers A device for cleaning contamination in heat exchangers, waste-heat boilers, or combustion chambers is provided. In some embodiments, the device comprises a tube, a blasting body, and a combustible gas mixture within the tube. In some embodiments, the tube is destroyed after blasting. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a second tube comprising a blasting cord that is connected to a fuse, wherein the second tube is coupled to the first tube by a hinge.
US07959430B2	Device for producing a container The method comprises the following steps: a) the container opening is sealed, b) at least one wall opening is created by drilling through or piercing the wall of the outer container using a drill, graver or needle, a pressurized medium being introduced into the gap between the outer container and the inner tube, once the wall of the outer container has been fully penetrated, c) the advance of the drill or needle is halted as soon as a predetermined first pressure threshold has been reached in the inner tube, d) the introduction of the pressurized medium into the gap between the outer container and the inner tube is halted as soon as a predetermined second pressure threshold has been reached in the inner tube, e) once the pressure in the gap between the outer container and the inner tube has been relieved, a pressurized medium is introduced into the inner tube through the container opening, in order to place the inner tube against the container wall again after it has been detached from the latter. The method allows the inner tube to be detached in a controlled manner with a high degree of uniformity from the outer container and to be placed against said outer container again without a significant inclusion of air.
US07959424B2	Tyre curing mold A curing mold for a tire. The curing mold is in the form of a hollow cylinder, and has two parallel opposite sidewalls defining the base walls of the curing mold and having respective inner retaining surfaces; and a number of lateral sectors arranged successively to define the cylindrical lateral wall of the curing mold. Each sidewall has at least one seat formed through the inner retaining surface, at the outer edge of the inner retaining surface; a movable member housed inside the seat and movable between an extracted position, in which the movable member projects at least partly from the seat, and a withdrawn position, in which the movable member is housed completely inside the seat; and at least one elastic push member for pushing the movable member out of the seat into the extracted position.
US07959417B1	Hydraulic engine The hydraulic engine includes first and second reaction chambers, the first and second reaction chambers each having an enclosure within which is disposed a floating piston. An impulse turbine is in fluid communication with the first and second reaction chambers. A delay valve is in fluid communication with the first and second reaction chambers and the impulse turbine, the delay valve operable to switch between a first position and a second position, the first position providing a flow of pressurized fluid to the first reaction chamber to cause an explosion therein and the second position providing a flow of pressurized fluid to the second reaction chamber to cause an explosion therein. Successive explosions in the first and second reaction chambers provide flows of high pressure fluid to drive the impulse turbine and to switch the delay valve.
US07959415B2	Radial type reciprocating compressor and portable tool powering system with cylinder liner, valve and annular manifold arrangement A reciprocating compressor or pump features a manifold arranged not only to define a hollow interior for receiving fluid discharged from a plurality of cylinders but also to define a base or frame on which the cylinders are carried. Unique valves formed in part by flexible material reduces the likelihood of fatigue and increases efficiency by retaining less heat relative to conventional reed valves. A compressor or pump mounted at an end of a handle extending parallel to a motor housing likewise extending from the compressor or pump provides an easy to carry portable assembly. A fan mounted between a motor and a compressor pulls air through the compressor inlet to both cool the motor and feed the compressor. A portable tool system powers both pneumatic and electric tools. Connecting rod structures for radial compressors or pumps provide improved strength and easier assembly.
US07959411B2	In-pipe hydro-electric power system and turbine A generally spherical turbine configured to rotate transversely within a cylindrical pipe under the power of fluid flowing either direction therethrough is operatively coupled with a rotating machine or generator to produce electricity. In one embodiment, the blades of the spherical turbine curve in an approximately 180 degree arc in a plane that is at an inclined angle relative to the rotational axis of a central shaft. In another embodiment, a deflector is provided upstream of the spherical turbine and within the cylindrical pipe to control flow through the spherical turbine by shielding a part thereof. The blades of the spherical turbine are airfoil in cross section to optimize hydrodynamic flow, to minimize cavitation, and to maximize conversion from axial to rotating energy.
US07959408B2	Device for attaching a stator vane to a turbomachine annular casing, turbojet engine incorporating the device and method for mounting the vane The present invention relates to a device for attaching a turbomachine stator vane in an annular casing (20) of the turbomachine, the vane comprising a tip formed of a platform (14) with two edges (141, 142), one of them forming an upstream edge (141) and the other forming a downstream edge (142), an airfoil (11) and a root (13), the annular casing (20) comprising a circumferential groove (23) formed in its interior wall with an upstream flank (21) and a downstream flank (22), the vane being held by engagement of the platform (14) in the groove (23), the upstream edge against the upstream flank (21) and the downstream edge (142) against the downstream flank (22) of the groove (23), the downstream flank (22) of the groove (23) being in the form of a slot (22) opening axially in the upstream direction, the downstream edge of the platform (23) being engaged in said downstream flank (22) and a fastening means (40) being attached in order to hold the platform (14) in the groove on the upstream side, wherein the vane comprises a portion of platform (14) between the airfoil (11) and the upstream edge, this portion being pierced with a through-hole (17) designed to accept said fastening means (40).
US07959403B2	Linear semiconductor processing facilities Methods and systems are provided for handling materials, including materials used in semiconductor manufacturing systems. The methods and systems include linear semiconductor processing facilities for vacuum-based semiconductor processing and handling, as well as linkable or extensible semiconductor processing facilities that can be flexibly configured to meet a variety of constraints.
US07959400B2	Aligner, wafer transferring device, and semiconductor production device In a preferred embodiment, an aligner includes a grip mechanism provided with a plurality of damp arms for holding an external periphery of a wafer; a rotary mechanism for rotating the grip mechanism to rotate the wafer in a prescribed rotational direction, and a lifter mechanism provided with a plurality of lift arms for lifting up the wafer above the grip mechanism. The aligner is configured to align the wafer by the grip operation of the grip mechanism and the rotary operation of the rotary mechanism, and one or more of the plurality of the lift arms which interfere with one or more of the plurality of clamp arms at the time of lifting up the plurality of lift arms are engaged with restriction members provided on the grip mechanism to prevent an upward movement thereof.
US07959399B2	End effector with collision detection sensor In a robotic assembly, a body adapted for mounting on an arm is provided. A connection is adapted to couple the body and an end effector to allow deflection of the end effector with respect to the body between an open position and a closed position. A conduit allows fluid flow between the body and the end effector. A seal is adapted to engage the conduit to provide a fluid seal when the end effector is in the closed position and allow fluid flow when the end effector is in the open position. Further, end effector deflection can be detected based on the fluid flow and utilized to regulate movement of the robotic assembly.
US07959396B2	Automated warehouse and method for controlling stacker crane in automated warehouse Support columns are mounted at both front and rear ends of a stacker crane 4 to form a mast having a gate shape. An elevation frame having the size which is twice as large as a front space of a rack is provided at the mast, and a base of a slide fork is moved back and forth in a travel direction relative to the elevation frame. An elevation motor for the elevation frame and front and rear travel motors are provided under the mast.
US07959393B2	Screw comprising a thread-forming thread, blank for the production of said screw, and screw connection A screw for the creation of a metric thread in a female element, includes a load-bearing (metric) thread portion and a forming thread portion which is tapered to the tip of the screw. The flights of the tapered thread portion are sharp-edged and fully formed.
US07959390B2	Vehicle trunk organizer A vehicle trunk organizer includes at least two elongated, generally parallel strut members and at least two elongated, generally parallel cross-piece members. Each strut member comprises at least one longitudinal opening formed therein, and each cross-piece member comprises at least one elongated beam member which extends through the opening in each strut member. The beam members are pivotally connected to the strut members to enable the trunk organizer to be collapsed from an unfolded state to a folded state. In the unfolded state the trunk organizer comprises a generally rectangular lattice configuration which defines a number of individual compartments within which items to be transported may be placed.
US07959387B2	Shrink fit sleeve for tool holder A tool holder includes a shank including a tool holder portion and a central bore for accommodating a cutting tool, and a first shrink fit sleeve disposed about the tool holder portion of the shank. An application of heat to the tool holder causes the tool holder portion and the first shrink fit sleeve to expand outwardly, and the removal of heat will cause the tool holder portion and the first shrink fit sleeve to contract inwardly to rigidly maintain the cutting tool within the tool holder by shrink fit. The tool holder may also include a second shrink fit sleeve disposed about the first shrink fit sleeve to provide increased torque capability.
US07959374B2	Power roller screed with circular pour attachment A rotating cylinder cement screeding system having a drive assembly and handle at one end for powering and controlling the screeding system. The rotating cylinder is made of tubular screed rollers of varying lengths allowing a user to customize the length of the system to match a specific cement pour. Further, each tubular screed roller is supplied with a male and female end for interlocking with each other and for receiving a variety of add on attachments. One of these attachments is a center anchor member that allows the screeding system to be used to finish circular concrete pours. In this regard, the center anchor member may be used to anchor a non-powered end of the rotating cylinder when finishing circular concrete pours.
US07959369B2	Cosmetic or dermatological treatment method and devices for application of such a method A device, applicator and a cosmetic non-therapeutic method of treating at least one area of the human body. The device includes a composition held in a container or a substrate and an applicator configured to apply the composition. The applicator includes an application surface that includes an application surface material with at least one of a thermal inertia of at least 1,000 Jm−2K−1s−1/2 and a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 1 Wm−1K−1. The method includes providing an applicator, cooling the applicator to a temperature below or equal to 15° C., and loading the cooled applicator with a cosmetic composition at a temperature closer to an ambient temperature than that of the applicator, and applying the composition using the applicator, or before or after the cooling, applying a cosmetic composition, and after the cooling, bringing the cooled applicator into contact with the area to be treated.
US07959365B2	Blade drive device and optical equipment A blade drive device according to a first embodiment includes: a board including an opening and a slide slot; a blade for adjusting an opening amount of the opening; and a transmitting member for transmitting a drive force from an electromagnetic actuator to the blade through the slide slot. The transmitting member includes: an arm member revolving; and an engagement member sliding in contact with an inner surface of the slide slot in conjunction with a revolving of the arm member, and being brought into pressure contact with the inner surface of the slide slot by an external impact.
US07959364B2	Lens protection structure for miniature lens focusing mechanism A lens protection structure for miniature lens focusing mechanism includes a lens, a lens driving mechanism and a protective glass. The lens focuses light on an image sensor to thereby form an image thereon. The lens driving mechanism includes a hollow structure, in which the lens is received and driven to linearly move in an optical axis direction, so as to focus light on the image sensor. The protective glass is provided at a lens inlet of the lens driving mechanism, and is fixedly held to the lens driving mechanism by a plurality of forward projected stoppers formed at the lens inlet. With the protective glass located in front of the lens, the lens is protected against dust and damage by external force when being assembled to form a half-finished product or stored as a half-finished product.
US07959361B2	Hardened fiber optic connection system A fiber optic connector and a fiber optic adapter are disclosed that are manually connectable and disconnectable with each other by a slideable latching means. The fiber optic connector includes an end defining a plug portion. The plug portion holds a ferrule and also directly engages a port on the fiber optic adapter. The plug portion includes a protrusion which also forms a latch catch. The port of the fiber optic adapter includes a flexible retention latch within a slot. The slot engages the protrusion and thus rotationally aligns the fiber optic connector and adapter. The flexible retention latch snaps into and out of the latch catch when the plug portion of the fiber optic connector is slid into and out of the port of the fiber optic adapter thus providing the slideable latching means. Angled retaining surfaces are provided on the retention latch and the latch catch that engage each other. Angles defining the angled retaining surfaces are chosen to provide desired holding and release characteristics. A sealing means and a threaded connection means are also provided between the fiber optic adapter and connector.
US07959360B2	Antifriction bearing for a weaving loom with lubricating cavity and weaving loom pulling system comprising such a bearing An antifriction bearing of the roller type for a pulling system of weaving loom including two end plates secured to the inner race and positioned respectively and axially close to each flank of the rollers, end plates lying radially beyond the raceways and the end plates and the inner race being intended to be mounted between two lateral flanges. At least one end plate has a shape defining at least one cavity adjoining all or part of a flank of the rollers and able to accept a lubricant. The inner race has two lateral shoulders each one defining an axial bearing surface for each flange, and a width of the inner race with its lateral shoulders is substantially equal to a distance separating the outermost axial faces of the end plates.
US07959359B2	Unit comprising at least one carrier and a wheel bearing A unit which has a carrier and a wheel bearing. The wheel bearing has at least one outer ring which is provided with at least one track for the rolling bodies. The wheel bearing is maintained on the carrier in a fixed manner in relation to the carrier in a first receiving element by a first connection projection, and in a second receiving element by a second connection projection, at least in both axial directions of the wheel bearing, respectively by an end which axially borders on each of the connection projections.
US07959358B2	Hub unit for driving wheel A sensor for detecting a speed of rotation is an active sensor, a sensing portion 35 of the sensor directly faces the magnetic encoder 10 without interposition between it and the encoder 10, and a harness 34 (or connector) of the sensor 30 for detecting the speed of rotation is taken out of a gap between a knuckle N and a constant velocity universal joint 9.
US07959357B2	Fluid dynamic bearing spindle motor A fluid dynamic bearing motor is described. In one embodiment, the fluid dynamic bearing motor includes a base that has a bore hole and a liner secured within the bore hole. The fluid dynamic bearing motor also includes a rotor assembly that has a shaft, which is partially disposed within the liner and configured to rotate relative to the liner. A fluid dynamic bearing is disposed between the liner and the shaft to support this relative rotation.
US07959356B2	Systems and methods for providing a dynamic laundry bag apparatus Systems and methods for providing a dynamic laundry bag apparatus that is lightweight, sorts laundry, and facilitates the carrying of laundry to a laundry facility or the packing of laundry when traveling. A laundry bag slips onto the lock bar of a hanger to be placed in a hanging position. The bag sorts laundry. For transporting the laundry, the laundry bag can be slipped off the hanger. A drawstring at the top of the bag is pulled and fastened into a snap hook to create a shoulder strap. In cleaning the laundry, the bag may be washed with the laundry. The bag can similarly be used to transport the clean laundry, and can be placed back on the lock bar of the hanger. Clean shirts can be hung over the hanger and/or clean pants can be hung over the lock bar to prevent wrinkles as the laundry is being transported.
US07959354B2	Adjustable dental x-ray image media holder A dental x-ray image media holder (10) includes an image media backing plate (11) adjustably affixed to a bite block (12). The backing plate (11) has at least one channel (31-33) for receiving a post (21) affixed to the bite block (12), such that the bite block (12) can be selectively moved within the channel (31-33) to orient the bite block (12) in a predetermined position relative to the backing plate (11).
US07959351B1	Hand worn watch apparatus The hand worn watch apparatus provides a wrist band, an index band, and a thumb band for securing the pliable material to the delta area of a wearer's hand. Not only is the delta area a more comfortable and logical location, the area is larger than a typical wrist, whereby the apparatus can feature far more functions and electronics than a typical wristwatch. Further, a wearer does not have to practice elbow abduction and forearm pronation to read the display, use the controls or tell time. The apparatus is especially useful for those in sports as well as those driving a car. A user need not pronate the hand when engaged in sports and driving. And, a wearer's gold swing is not hindered by the apparatus. The apparatus is further designed to be noticed in making a fashion statement.
US07959347B2	Durability monitoring and improvement of a blender A blender for blending foodstuff includes a base enclosing a motor and having an upper mounting surface. A jar sensor is secured to the base proximate the upper mounting surface and a jar is removably mountable to the base on the mounting surface. The jar includes a closed end and an actuator is mounted proximate the closed end. The jar sensor detects the presence of the actuator when the jar is mounted to the base in an operating position. The motor is powered when the jar sensor detects the presence of the actuator in the operating position. A motor temperature indicator is positioned on a control panel on the base and a temperature sensor is in communication with the motor temperature indicator. First and second cordsets are adaptable for removable mounting to the base for powering the motor.
US07959344B2	Backlight assembly and display device having the same In a backlight assembly and a display device having the same, a receiving container includes a bottom plate and sidewalls adjacent to the edges of the bottom plate. A molded frame includes a first plate surrounding the sidewalls and a second plate connected to a side of the first plate. A second plate is substantially parallel with the bottom plate. A lamp assembly includes a lamp cover received in the receiving container and a lamp received in the lamp cover. An optical module is interposed between the molded frame and the receiving container to improve optical characteristics of a light generated from the lamp. A fixing member is combined with fixing portions of the receiving container, the molded frame and the lamp assembly to fix the receiving container, the lamp cover and the molded frame to one another. As a result, the manufacturing process can be simplified and mechanical strength improved.
US07959340B2	Device for backlighting a liquid-crystal display facility for a display and/or control unit, in particular in a household appliance The aim is to provide backlighting in a liquid-crystal display unit for a display and/or operator control unit, in particular on a domestic appliance. To achieve this, a backlighting layer, to which at least one backlighting source can be coupled, is located beneath an LCD layer and at least one supplementary backlighting layer is located beneath the backlighting layer. The supplementary layer can be coupled to at least one additional backlighting source assigned to the layers and permits the respective supplementary backlighting layer to emit light from the additional backlighting source(s) in respective defined masked zones through the backlighting layer and through the LCD layer.
US07959336B2	Vehicle lighting device A vehicle lighting device includes: a lamp unit for concentrating light; a lamp unit for diffusion; a lamp housing and a lamp lens, partitioning a lamp room; and an optical-axis adjuster which is integrally mounted in the lamp housing in an optical-axis adjustable manner in a state in which the lamp unit for concentrating light and a lamp unit for diffusion are integrally disposed in the lamp room. The lamp unit for concentrating light radiates a light distribution pattern for diffusion. The lamp unit for diffusion radiates a light distribution pattern for diffusion. As a result, in this vehicle lighting device, one lamp unit for concentrating light is provided which satisfies a main light distribution standard and forms a light distribution pattern for concentrating light as a standard for optical axis, thereby facilitating adjustment of light distribution and allowing for precise adjustment of light distribution.
US07959334B2	Assembly for fixing and connecting light bar lamp An assembly for fixing and connecting a polygonal LED light bar lamp includes a fixing seat, a covering plug, and an electrical connector. The fixing seat has a bottom with both edges thereof extending to form two bevels and parallel plates. The bottom and bevels have a penetrating hole, respectively. The covering plug has a cover having an insertion hole. Two electrode pins are disposed in the interior of the insertion hole. The electrical connector has a partitioning block. Both sides of the partitioning block have a protruding pillar, respectively. The protruding pillar is provided with a hollow pillar having electrodes for contacting with electrode pins. With the fixing seat being fixed on a carrier, the light bar can be held in the fixing seat with adjustable irradiating direction. Further, two light bars can be connected in series by the electrical connector.
US07959331B2	Lamp housing for high-power LED street lamp A lamp housing for a high-power LED street lamp has symmetrical rectangular planes formed at each side of a centerline of a back wall thereof. The included angle intersected with direction lines normal to the two outermost symmetrically rectangular planes is between 60˜140 degrees. The rectangular planes are adapted for containing high-power LED modules to emit light with various interlacing included angles and at interlacing locations.
US07959330B2	Power LED lighting assembly A power LED lighting assembly includes power LEDs (each 1 watt, for example) mounted on a small circuit board of aluminum. To promote air ventilation, the LED circuit board is provided with air openings to communicate with the heat sink. A heat sink enclosure for accommodating the heat sink is also provided with air openings to communicate with the surrounding atmosphere. A micro fan is fixed above the heat sink for forced air ventilation. A temperature sensor is also installed to sense abnormal temperature increases in the assembly to adjust or reduce the volume of light and protect LEDs against abnormally high temperature. The micro fan is turned on for heat release automatically on a temperature increase.
US07959324B2	Substrate structure and side-entrance lighting structure A substrate structure includes a substrate, a plurality of point light sources, a first wall and a plurality of convex members. The point light sources are disposed on the substrate. The first wall is on a long side of the substrate and substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The convex members extend from the first wall along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The convex members keep away the point light sources from optical sheets when installing the substrate structure into a frame. Moreover, a side-entrance lighting structure is disclosed.
US07959322B2	Optical system for LED array An optical system for an LED array includes a trough reflector in combination with an elongated lens. The reflector and lens include distinct regions dedicated to particular zones of light emanating from the LED array. The reflector includes lower, upper and end portions, each configured to redirect a particular zone of wide angle light from the LED array into a pre-determined warning light pattern. The lens includes central, side and end regions, each configured to redirect a particular zone of narrow angle light from the LED array into the pre-determined warning light pattern. The shape of the trough reflector and lens, as well as the relationship between the lens and reflector, are selected to provide an optical system with expanded illuminated surface area and a low profile.
US07959320B2	Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating white light illumination conditions Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating white light illumination conditions. Examples of applications in which such methods and apparatus may be implemented include retail environments (e.g., food, clothing, jewelry, paint, furniture, fabrics, etc.) or service environments (e.g., cosmetics, hair and beauty salons and spas, photography, etc.) where visible aspects of the products/services being offered are significant in attracting sales of the products/services. Other applications include theatre and cinema, medical and dental implementations, as well as vehicle-based (automotive) implementations. In another example, a personal grooming apparatus includes one or more light sources disposed in proximity to a mirror and configured to generate variable color light, including essentially white light, whose color temperature may be controlled by a user.
US07959318B2	Backlight module A backlight module including a first side frame, a plurality of first elastic holding elements, a second side frame, a plurality of second elastic holding elements, and a plurality of lamps is provided. The first side frame has a plurality of first containing grooves, and the first elastic holding elements are disposed in the first containing grooves respectively. In addition, the second side frame has a plurality of second containing grooves, and the second elastic holding elements are disposed in the second containing grooves respectively. The lamps are connected between the first side frame and the second side frame. Two ends of the lamps are fixed through the first elastic holding elements and the second elastic holding elements.
US07959313B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator which has a main body cabinet forming at least one storage chamber therein, the refrigerator includes: an illuminator provided in the storage chamber and illuminating an inside of the storage chamber; an input unit provided to set at least one of a color, a hue saturation and a brightness of the illuminator; and a controller storing a setting value set through the input unit and controlling the illuminator according to the setting value.
US07959308B2	Substrate-guided display with improved image quality A guiding-substrate display may include an angle-mapped display engine to generate a modulated photonic output having angle-mapped rays responsive to an electrical signal without the use of an ocular lens. An input optical element receives the modulated photonic output of the angle-mapped display engine and cooperates with the angle-mapped display engine to launch modulated photonic output having selected polarization. An image relay slab receives the modulated photonic output from the input optical element and guides the modulated photonic output from a proximal to a distal location. An output optical element to receives the modulated photonic output from the image relay slab and launches the modulated photonic output having angle-mapped rays toward a viewing region.
US07959304B2	Projector A projector which is configured to project an image by means of a projection light onto a surface approximately parallel, or a surface approximately perpendicular, to an installation surface. According to aspects of the disclosure, the projector may include a first reflecting surface which reflects the projection light toward the approximately parallel surface; a second reflecting surface which reflects the projection light toward the approximately perpendicular surface; and a reflecting surface switching section which can switchably place the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface in an optical path of the projection light.
US07959303B2	Image display device When a position detector detects that the position of a spot on a projection plane designates a non-projection region, the level of a driving signal of a laser is corrected. Specifically, the correlation between the quantity of laser light detected by a light-receiving portion and the level of the driving signal of the laser in accordance with prescribed data is detected. Then, the characteristic value of the laser indicated by the detected correlation is compared with the characteristic value at room temperature stored beforehand to indicate the correlation between the quantity of light emitted by the laser at room temperature and the level of the driving signal. Then, based on the comparison result, the level of the driving signal of the laser in accordance with image data is corrected.
US07959301B2	Projection display device and display method According to one embodiment, a projection display device comprises a light modulator configured to receive light from a light source and emit an optical image modulated based on an image signal, a projector configured to project the optical image emitted from the light modulator onto a screen, and a correction unit configured to correct a distortion of the optical image which is projected onto the screen with an optical axis of the projector being not perpendicular to the screen, wherein the correction unit corrects the optical image which is projected onto the screen so that a shape of the optical image becomes a rectangle and any one of boundary sides of a rectangular optical image is aligned with a long boundary side of a trapezoidal projectable area of the projector.
US07959299B2	Projector having reduced color shading A projector including a lighting device for emitting light including first, second and third colored light beams. A first dichroic mirror separates the light into the first colored light beam by reflecting the light in a certain wavelength range and transmitting the light in another wavelength range and transmitting the light in another wavelength range. A second dichroic mirror separates the other colored light beams into the second and third colored light beams by reflecting the light in a certain wavelength range and transmitting the light in another wavelength range. The second dichroic mirror separates the light from the lighting device into the colored light beams. The projector including a first color combining optical system for combining the colored light beams to emit a first image light beam.
US07959298B2	Projection type display apparatus A projection type display apparatus includes: a rotary color filter 8 having color filters 8R, 8G and 8B that transmit particular colors of light of white light emitted from a light-emitting surface 6; a spatial light modulator 11 that is disposed so as to be in substantially a conjugate relationship with the light-emitting surface, and modulates incident light from the rotary color filter, so as to display an image; and a control device 20 that controls rotation of the rotary color filter so as to be in synchronization with the image display by the spatial light modulator. With respect to partial display regions 14, 15, 16, . . . of the spatial light modulator that correspond respectively to partial light-emitting regions 6a, 6b, 6c, . . . defined by dividing the light-emitting surface, the control device switches each of the partial display regions 14, 15, 16, . . . between a normal image display state and an OFF state for cutting off light, in synchronization with passing of boundary lines 51, 52 and 53 between each pair of adjacent ones of the color filters of the rotary color filter over each of the partial light-emitting regions 6a, 6b, 6c, . . . . Thus, the efficiency of using illumination light by the spatial light modulator is improved, and it is possible to achieve an increased color luminance of a projected image, while sufficiently maintaining an effect of preventing color mixing from being caused by adjoining color filters.
US07959297B2	Uniform speckle reduced laser projection using spatial and temporal mixing A digital image projector includes a light assembly configured to project light along a light path from at least one laser array light source, the projected light having an overlapping far field illumination in a far field illumination portion of the light path; a temporally varying optical phase shifting device configured to be in the light path; an optical integrator configured to be in the light path; a spatial light modulator located downstream of the temporally varying optical phase shifting device and the optical integrator in the light path, the spatial light modulator configured to be located in the far field illumination portion of the light path; and projection optics located downstream of the spatial light modulator in the light path, the projection optics configured to direct substantially speckle free light from the spatial light modulator toward a display surface.
US07959295B2	Spectral separation filters for 3D stereoscopic D-cinema presentation Spectral separation filters for channels of a 3D image projection incorporate passbands of primary colors. In at least one of the filters, passbands are present in more than 3 primary colors. A set of two filters include a first filter having passbands of low blue, high blue, low green, high green, and red, and a second filter having passbands of blue, green, and red. The additional primary passbands of the first filter allow for an increased color space in projections through the filters compared to filters only having red, green, and blue primaries. The added flexibility of the increased color space is utilized to more closely match a color space and white point of a projector in which the filters are used.
US07959294B2	Method and apparatus for generating 3D images An apparatus and an associated method for displaying 3D images includes a screen and a screen illuminating system. The screen has diffusion characteristics for direction selectively forwarding light. The screen illuminating system includes modules for generating light beams incident on points of the screen. The apparatus is configured to impart an exit divergence to the exiting light beams being transmitted through or reflected from the screen. Each module provides one beam in one direction with a convergent section. The beams are focused on the screen where the convergence (δc) of an incident light beam is not greater than the exit divergence (δx) of an exiting light beam.
US07959286B2	Solid state lenses and lens components Solid state lenses, lens blanks, and lens components formed of compressible mixed powders of two or more optical substances where the mixing ratio has been deliberately varied from place to place within the volume of the optical component to produce optically useful variations in the local refractive. The compressible mixed powders are ground as fine powders having mechanical properties that make them capable of being formed into cohesive monolithic masses that are low in scattering. The fine powders may be admixtures of host matrix materials and others which, when combined, provide preferred optical properties such as index and dispersion. Parts possessing transmission from within the range from the ultraviolet to the infrared are possible. The materials are suited to low temperature formation of aspheric lenses transmissive in the near and far IR.
US07959285B2	Method for designing progressive refraction lens, method for manufacturing the same, and eyeglasses lens supplying system A subject matter is to provide an efficient method for designing a progressive refraction lens in consideration of not only its optical performance but also its appearance performance. The method for designing the progressive refraction lens includes a step (S030) for determining addition power of an entire lens that is a summation of addition power of a front surface and that of a back surface and a step (S040) for determining the addition power of the front surface. The method for designing the progressive refraction lens is characterized in determining to make the addition power of the front surface not less than 0 but smaller than that of the entire lens in the case that the appearance performance is considered to be more important than the optical performance while determining to make the addition power of the front surface larger than that of the entire lens in the case that the optical performance is considered to be more important than the appearance performance.
US07959283B2	Collapsing cover for printer and associated method An integrated device enables a customer replaceable unit within an ink jet printer to be enclosed within an enclosing structure as the unit is removed from the printer. The enclosing structure traps debris that may disburse from the customer replaceable unit as it is removed from the printer. The integrated device includes a customer replaceable unit that is mountable within a printer, a handle mounted to and extending from one end of the customer replaceable unit; and an extendable cover having a first end and a second end, the first end of the extendable cover being coupled to the handle and the second end of the extendable cover being configured to couple to a stationary structure within the printer, the second end of the cover being configured to extend past the customer replaceable unit in response to the first end of the cover being moved away from the second end and to be proximate to the first end to expose the customer replaceable unit in response to the first end of the cover being moved towards the second end.
US07959282B2	Concentrated energy source Apparatus for curing a substance. The apparatus includes a diode for emitting electromagnetic energy at a frequency selected to cure the substance and a culminator positioned to receive at least a portion of the electromagnet energy emitted by the diode. The culminator is selected to concentrate and intensify the received energy and to direct the energy toward an area of the substance. The area has a length and a width less than the length.
US07959281B2	Simultaneous duplex digital printer A duplex printer module includes an elongate housing. The housing defines a print media entry slot at one end, a print media exit slot at the other end, a print media path located between the entry and exit slots, and a plurality of engagement formations with which printer feet can engage. A print engine is mounted within the housing and includes a pair of opposed ink ejecting printhead assemblies between which the print media path passes so that double sided printing of print media passing along the print media path can be effected. Feet extend from the housing and can engage with the engagement formations of another printer to facilitate stacking of the printers together.
US07959277B2	Air filter for use with a liquid ink umbilical interface in a printer An air filter is configured for incorporation in a solid ink umbilical interface to a printhead. The air filter includes a housing having a first component and a second component that mate to one another to form the housing with an internal cavity, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an air filter media positioned within the housing to divide the internal cavity; and at least one retention tab extending from the housing to engage an ink umbilical connector housing at a position that locates the air outlet of the air filter proximate an ink nozzle array extending from the ink umbilical connector.
US07959271B2	Printing-fluid container A printing-fluid container includes a reservoir having a leading surface with an outer perimeter. Redundant interface elements are recessed from the leading surface interior the outer perimeter.
US07959269B2	Fuel rail ink delivery A print head has an array of jets to transfer ink from the print head to a printing substrate, at least one ink supply rail to provide ink, and at least one injector to deliver ink from the ink supply rail to the print head. A printer has at least one supply to provide ink, at least one print head to transfer ink onto a printing substrate, an ink supply rail to provide ink to the print head, and an injector to deliver ink from the ink supply rail to the print head. A printing system has an array of print heads, each having at least one injector, at least one ink supply rail to deliver ink to the print heads, at least one supply to supply ink to the ink supply rail, and a transport system to transport a web substrate past the array of print heads.
US07959267B2	Liquid ejection apparatus A liquid ejection apparatus having a liquid ejection head and a switching device is provided. The switching device includes a first supply passage through which first liquid flows, a second supply passage through which second liquid different from the first liquid flows, a head supply passage, a first ON-OFF valve that selectively opens and closes the first supply passage, a second ON-OFF valve that selectively opens and closes the second supply passage, a rotary cam, and an actuator. The head supply passage extends from a joining point between a downstream end of the first supply passage and a downstream end of the second supply passage to the liquid ejection head. The actuator is driven by the cam in such a manner that the first ON-OFF valve and the second ON-OFF valve are selectively opened and closed. The actuator operates the first and second ON-OFF valves in such a manner that one of the first and second ON-OFF valves becomes open and the other becomes closed.
US07959264B2	Print head having extended surface elements Embodiments include forming internal or external extended surface elements on a print-head substrate, at least in part, using a light beam.
US07959258B2	Printhead assembly with reference features A printhead assembly comprises at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles; and an ink distribution support mounting the at least one printhead integrated circuit, the ink distribution support being arranged to distribute ink to the nozzles, the printhead assembly being arranged to be mounted to a printer at the ink distribution support. The ink distribution support is provided with a plurality of reference features, the plurality of reference features serving to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer. The plurality of reference features include a flat surface provided at each corner of the ink distribution support, and a slot in a mounting zone of the ink distribution support.
US07959242B2	Pocket door cabinet and slide assembly A slidable structure for a pocket door cabinet. The slidable structure may be coupled to a false wall of the pocket door cabinet, with a door hinged to the slidable structure. In some aspects, the slidable structure includes a self-open mechanism to force the door to a fully extended position.
US07959240B2	Wall-mounted appliance cabinet with appliance supports, an electrical outlet and a cord management system A wall mounted cabinet includes a plurality of removable supports configurable for holding a variety of objects, including an electrical appliance, one or more shelves and cups. The cabinet also includes one or more apertures for electrical outlets for supplying electrical power to the appliance. An electrical cord management device is provided for controllably extending and retracting the cord to facilitate use of the appliance and storage of the cord.
US07959237B2	Brake booster supplied by an air conditioning circuit The invention relates to a braking device for a motor vehicle fitted with an air conditioning circuit (K), this braking device comprising a source of fluid (F1) at a relatively high pressure, a source of fluid (F2) at a relatively low pressure, and a pneumatic brake booster (F3) selectively connected to one or other of the sources of fluid (F1, F2).According to the invention, the source of fluid (F1) at a relatively high pressure comprises a portion (KC1) of the air conditioning circuit (K) that is placed downstream of the air conditioning compressor (K1) and upstream of the air conditioning expansion valve (K2), in one direction of flow (X) of the cooling fluid in the air conditioning circuit (K).
US07959234B2	Rotatable cutting tool with superhard cutting member A rotatable cutting tool that is useful for impingement upon a substrate and is adapted to be rotatably retained within the bore of a holder. The rotatable cutting tool includes an elongate cutting tool body, which has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end, as well as a socket at the axial forward end thereof. The rotatable cutting tool also includes a hard cutting member that is affixed to the cutting tool body within the socket. The hard cutting member has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The hard cutting member has a superhard axial forward portion at the axial forward end thereof wherein the superhard axial forward portion has a maximum transverse dimension. The hard cutting member further has a hard axial rearward portion contiguous with and axial rearward of the superhard axial forward portion. The hard axial rearward portion has a maximum transverse dimension. The ratio of the maximum transverse dimension of the superhard axial forward portion to the maximum transverse dimension of the hard axial rearward portion ranges between about 0.35 and about 0.45.
US07959230B2	Seating system for a vehicle A positioning system is provided for moving a seat back in a vehicle between a seating position and a cargo storage position. The positioning system includes a release mechanism actuatable between a first position to permit movement of the seat back and a second position to prevent movement of the seat back. A first actuator is provided on the seat back near an upper corner of the seat back and a second actuator is provided on the seat back near a lower corner of the seat back, so that the seat back can be moved from the cargo storage position to the seating position by a person actuating the first actuator from a location alongside the vehicle and by a person actuating the second actuator from a location behind the vehicle.
US07959229B2	Adjustable seat including operating members A seat may be obtained with good operability of plural operating members for operating plural adjustable units. A vehicle seat is provided with: a seat lifter, provided to a seat body for sitting on and adjustable by operation force transmitted from a first operating system; a reclining mechanism, provided to the seat body and adjustable by operation force transmitted from a second operating system; and an operation force imparting unit that is provided at a position where it is able to be operated by a seat occupant at a predetermined position on the seat body. The operation force imparting unit is able to independently take up a first state in which a lifter knob is operated and the seat lifter adjusted, and a second state in which the reclining lever is operated and the reclining mechanism adjusted.
US07959225B2	Moveable back panel for a vehicle seat A vehicle seat having a seat back including an actuatable back panel. The back panel of the seat back may be moved between a normal, or flush position, and an actuated, or spaced position, relative to the seat back assembly. The back panel may be provided with connectors that may be used to connect the back panel to the seat assembly. The back panel is actuated in the event of a rear end collision to provide added clearance for penetration of an occupant's torso into the seat back without interference by seat accessories, such as an adjustable lumbar system, a bolster assembly, massage assembly, or a heating/cooling system. The seat accessories may be secured to the back panel as a sub-assembly to facilitate manufacture. A resilient member biases a linkage or torsion bar to automatically reset the back panel.
US07959223B2	Energy-dissipation system A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.
US07959220B2	Vehicle for conveying passengers with a firewall A people carrier with an air-conditioning duct which is guided in a long stretched-out intermediate space delimited by walls is disclosed, and with at least one barrier between the air-conditioning duct and the walls, the barrier running essentially perpendicularly to the air-conditioning duct, wherein the at least one barrier is produced from a textile fireproofing material.
US07959215B2	Semi-trailer The invention generally concerns a semi-trailer to be trailed by a tractor. The semi-trailer comprises a wheeled deck having two lateral sides, proximate and distal longitudinal end sides. The semi-trailer also comprises two wall structures so pivotably mounted to the deck along a respective lateral side thereof as to be movable between an upright position, where the semi-trailer is in a dry-box configuration, and a lay down position wherein the semi-trailer is in a flatbed configuration. The two pivotable wall structures allow the semi-trailer to be moved between the dry-box configuration and the flatbed configuration.
US07959212B2	Welded blank for vehicle door panel A blank for a vehicle door includes components arranged in the form of a blank for a front door or a rear door, each component including an edge that is adjacent to an edge of another one of the components, and welds produced by a laser, connecting the components along weld lines at the adjacent edges, each weld line of the blank for a front door being collinear with a corresponding weld line of the blank for a rear door.
US07959211B2	Sensor installations for motorized vehicle doors A system and method of installing sensors around a perimeter of a motorized armored vehicle door to detect obstructions between a closing door and a door frame are provided. A safety switch including a plurality of sensors formed of a sensing element molded in a casing is provided. Adjacent sensors are separated from one another by electrical connectors. A clip is used to retrofit the safety switch to the door.
US07959208B2	Convertible top with in-folding side rails A convertible soft top for a motor vehicle is provided. The convertible soft top has a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion has a header element that can attach to a frame around a front window of the motor vehicle and a pair of in-folding side rails. The in-folding side rails afford for the length of the front portion to be reduced and allow for the front portion to be stored on top of the rear portion in a clam shell configuration.
US07959206B2	Retractable roof system for a vehicle A retractable roof system for a vehicle is provided with a roof locking apparatus (70) provided in a vehicle body and retaining a retractable roof in a storage space (7) which is different from a trunk space, and a link mechanism (10) provided in the vehicle body and capable of changing a position of a lid (6) covering the storage space (7) so as to open and close to an open position and a closed position. The roof locking apparatus (70) is structured such as to work with the link mechanism (10).
US07959205B2	Latch assembly for vehicle seat A latch assembly for vehicle seat comprising a base having a receiving pocket accommodating a striker of a vehicle body part, a catch rotatably coupled to the base rotating between a locking position where the catch supports the striker and an unlocking position where the catch allows the striker to escape, a damping plate rotatably coupled to the base with the same rotating axis as the catch elastically pressing catch to rotate to the unlocking position and having a damping surface elastically pressing and supporting the striker, a pawl plate rotatably coupled to base having a pressing surface pressing the catch rotated to the locking position, a pawl rotatably coupled to base having the same rotating axis as the pawl plate and having a supporting surface supporting catch preventing further rotation if the catch at locking position rotates passing the pressing surface of pawl plate due to an outer impact.
US07959204B2	Electric opening/closing device for vehicle An electric opening/closing device for vehicle, which has good layout characteristic of the vehicle and is provided with a highly-rigid attachment part, is provided. The vehicle electric opening/closing device comprises: a worm wheel meshed with a worm provided on a motor shaft of an electric motor; a planetary gear mechanism disposed coaxially with the worm wheel and decelerating rotation of the worm wheel to transmits it to an output gear; a gear case housing the worm wheel etc. and assembled to the electric motor; and a swing arm rotatably supported by the gear case between an output end linked to a back door and an input end linked to an output gear. An attachment plate for mounting the vehicle electric opening/closing device on the vehicle is sandwiched between the first case body and the second case body which constitute the gear case.
US07959200B2	Adjustable lift assembly for vehicle and method The present disclosure is directed to an adjustable lift assembly for a flatbed vehicle such as a pickup truck. The adjustable lift assembly includes an extendible vertical member located at each corner of a vehicle flatbed. A frame is attached to an upper portion of each extendible vertical member. The frame rises and lowers with extension and retraction of the extendible vertical support members. Each extendible vertical member is placed through a respective support collar. The support collars support and maintain the extendible vertical members parallel to each other when the vehicle moves. The present adjustable lift assembly is lightweight and provides stable elevated support for a flatbed vehicle with little or no impediment to the storage area of the vehicle flatbed.
US07959198B2	Magnetic line retrieval system and method A system for detecting, capturing and retrieving a wire, optical cable, string, coaxial cable, or other line or object from within a wall or other type of enclosed structure. The system uses magnetic forces to detect and capture the object through a wall or other type of structure of the enclosure. The system also comprises a retrieval mechanism for drawing the object toward an opening in the enclosure for retrieval from the enclosure.
US07959195B2	Lock arrangement A lock arrangement comprises a first jaw component (28) pivotally moveable about a pivot axis (12), a second jaw component (30) releasably securable to the first jaw component (28) to form a pivotable jaw assembly (10), and an actuator arrangement operable to drive the jaw assembly from a locked position to a released position.
US07959194B2	Latch assembly and arrangement including a latch assembly A latch assembly includes a plate and an arm pivotable between a closed and an open position relative to the plate about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is substantially aligned with a line of entry of a connecting bar to a latched position in which, when the arm is in the closed position, the connecting bar is entirely surrounded by both the plate and the arm together and partially surrounded by the arm and the plate individually. The plate is fixed relative to the line of entry.
US07959193B2	Knotter Apparatus for knotting at least one string of material has a fixed knotter plate, a primary knotter plate, a secondary knotter plate, means to apply tension to the string, and means for threading the string through the knotter plates.
US07959192B2	Disconnectable connector assembly A disconnectable connector assembly is provided comprising (a) a first polymeric fitting including a first open end, and a second open end; (b) a stem disposed in the first fitting, the stem including an open end and a closed end, a head comprising the closed end, a side wall including one or more apertures and a plurality of circumferential grooves, and a plurality of resilient members circumferentially engaging circumferential grooves in the side wall, wherein the stem is axially movable, from a first position to a second position, in the direction from the first end of the first fitting toward the second end of the first fitting; and, (c) a second polymeric fitting connected to the first fitting, the second fitting including a first end and a second end, the second fitting being in fluid communication with the stem and the first fitting when the stem is in the first position, and wherein fluid flow between the second fitting and the stem and the first fitting is blocked when the stem is in the second position; wherein the first fitting is disconnectable from the second fitting when the stern is in the second position.
US07959189B2	Tube interface and method of securing a first tube to a second tube A tube interface (53) includes a first tube (28) and a second tube (34). The first tube (28) has an oblong opening (54) exhibiting a first major dimension (58), and the second tube (34) has an oblong end (52) exhibiting a second major dimension (72). The oblong end (52) of the second tube (34) is inserted into the oblong opening (54) so that the second major dimension (72) is aligned with the first major dimension (58). The second tube (34) is turned in the oblong opening (54) to move the second major dimension (72) out of alignment with the first major dimension (58) of the oblong opening (54) to secure the second tube (34) to the first tube (28) prior to brazing.
US07959187B2	Label assembly for applying a label to an object A label assembly that includes a face sheet with at least one label shape defined by one or more tearable lines of separation, a back sheet adjacent to the face sheet, and an adhesive material disposed between the face sheet and the back sheet. The back sheet has a removable panel disposed over the label shape adhesive material and a registration structure aligned with the label shape. The registration structure is raised or raisable above the back sheet to allow an object for labeling to be positioned against the registration structure for proper alignment with the label. Once positioned against the registration structure, the object can be rolled over the adhesive coated back of the label to apply the label to the surface of the object.
US07959186B2	Signaling labels and fluorescent ink compositions A signaling label for use in postage payment evidencing is described including a luminescent signaling section having a primarily green fluorescent ink coating. In one configuration, a primarily green fluorescent ink includes approximately 12 weight percent of a pigment selected from the quinazolinone class of pigments mixed with an acrylic varnish base to provide a primarily green fluorescent signal having with sufficient red fluorescent response to a short UV excitation to trigger a USPS facing system is described.
US07959181B2	Snowboard fixing device A snowboard binding has a front fixation device and a rear fixation device. The front fixation device and the rear fixation device secure a snowboard boot in a way that the snowboard boot is able to perform a free lateral roll movement about an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the snowboard binding. The front and rear fixation devices have pivot points located in an area of a toe of the snowboard boot and in an area of a heel of the snowboard boot, respectively.
US07959180B1	Tow bar A tow bar including a pintle hitch, telescoping tow bar legs pivotally connected to a head member, a lunette ring fixedly or pivotally connected to the head member, leg connector mechanisms releasably connecting the tow bar legs to a vehicle to be towed, and a latching mechanism including latching portions structured to releasably retain the tow bar legs in a stored configuration and locking portions with cammed release mechanisms wherein the locking portions are structured to releasable lock the tow bar legs in a deployed configuration.
US07959179B1	Tow bar having lunette ring head and fishtail-reducing cammed equiangularly-oriented tow bar legs A tow bar having a towing hitch member with a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a towed vehicle; a head member with a lunette ring releasably connectable to the pintle hitch; first and second tow bar legs with proximal ends pivotally connected to, and extending rearwardly from, the head member; towed connector elements releasably connecting distal ends of the first and second tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and an equalizer member structured to maintain the first and second tow bar legs at equiangular orientations relative to the head member.
US07959178B2	Connector bracket for a semitrailer of a semitrailer truck The invention relates, inter alia, to a connector bracket for a semitrailer of a semitrailer truck. Said connector bracket comprises a support element which can be swiveled about a bearing and a connector arranged inside the support element, the support element having a casing frame with a section that is complementary to an insertion opening of a fifth wheel. The aim of the invention is to provide a connector bracket or a plug-in coupling which is highly reliable even under adverse external conditions. This aim is achieved, inter alia, by the connector bracket according to the invention, wherein the casing frame can be displaced in relation to the connector by contact with the insertion opening, thereby displacing the connector from a closed standby position to an open coupling position.
US07959171B2	Lower spring seat mounting structure for vehicle suspension A lower spring seat mounting structure in a suspension of a vehicle, including a spring mounting portion to which a lower end portion of a coil spring is mounted, the spring mounting portion being disposed on a lower link, an elastic lower spring seat including one side surface that is in contact with the spring mounting portion and the other side surface that is in contact with the lower end portion of the coil spring, and a seat mounting portion at which the lower spring seat is connected to the spring mounting portion. The seat mounting portion is arranged within a range defined between two straight lines which extend through a center of the lower spring seat and form an angle of ±45 degrees with respect to an axis of the lower link in a plan view.
US07959166B2	Shopping cart with a base and a basket A method of assembling shopping carts includes providing a basket defining including rear upright frame members. Each rear upright frame member defines includes a lower connecting portion. The method further includes providing a first base and providing a second base. The first base includes a pair of first base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of the lower connecting portions. The second base includes a pair of second base supports each configured to be removably secured to one of lower connecting portions, and the second base is shaped differently than the first base. The method includes selecting one of the first base and the second base having a desired base size and shape, and removably securing the basket to the selected one of the first base and the second base including coupling each lower connecting portion with one of the first base supports and second base supports.
US07959160B2	Metal gasket The present invention provides a metal gasket to be fitted between a cylinder head and a cylinder block to seal a gap between the surfaces thereof, which comprises: a thin metal plate with an opening formed at a position corresponding to a bore portion of the cylinder block, the opening having a diameter larger than that of the bore portion; and a pair of elastic metal substrates each having: an opening which substantially agrees with the bore portion of the cylinder block; an annular convex portion formed concentrically with the opening at a position apart from an edge portion of the opening by a specified distance; and an annular holding portion for holding a peripheral portion of the opening of the thin metal plate, horizontally extending out from an outer edge portion of the convex portion, wherein the pair of the elastic metal substrates are disposed so that top portions of the respective convex portions face each other and that the holding portions overlap with the thin metal plate, and engaged to the thin metal plate at a plurality of positions.
US07959158B2	Shaft seal device A shaft sealing device includes a seal assembly equipped with a fitting part having a fitting surface hermetically fittable within a hole defining surface of a housing and a rubber elastomer first seal lip extending inward from the fitting part and having a seal surface which seals a fluid inside an internal boundary thereof. A seal sleeve made of metal or resin material is equipped with a slide seal surface that is in slidable contact with the seal surface of the first seal lip. A concave rotor surrounds a seal surface region defined at a longitudinal end of the slide seal surface, and includes a close-contact fitting surface that is hermetically fitted to a rotary shaft. A discharge port defined by the rotor facilitates the sealed fluid being pushed back to the rotor in a direction extending away from the seal surface region.
US07959155B2	Packer cup A packer cup for sealing the interior of a pipe under pressure includes a first region of relatively soft material and a second region of relatively hard material. The region of the relatively softer material would begin at the lip of the cup and extend for at least one third the length of the cup up to the entire length of the cup.
US07959150B2	Early carriage reset move for laterally movable registration device A method and system feeds a sheet through a media path in a process direction. When the sheet is within a sheet registration carriage of the media path, the method and system align the sheet to a predetermined lateral position within the media path. The aligning process comprises unevenly activating nips within the sheet registration carriage and moving the sheet registration carriage in a lateral direction perpendicular to the process direction. If the lateral movement distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the method and system move the sheet registration carriage toward the starting position after the nips have released the sheet, but before the sheet has passed by the nips.
US07959149B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus has a paper cassette in which sheets are loaded and a cassette feeding roller that feeds the sheets. The paper cassette is configured to be inserted into the main body of the recording apparatus rearward from the front of the main body. The paper cassette can move between a first fixing position where the paper cassette is fully retracted within the main body and a second fixing position where the sheets positioned at the end of the paper cassette in the inserting direction into the main body can be fed by the cassette feeding roller.
US07959148B2	Media friction buckler assembly A tuned media buckler comprises a body made of a plastic material, a rib extending from the upper surface of the body with an overall flat configuration and uniform rigidity with the rib running along the upper surface and centrally lengthwise along the body, a spring force material backing the lower surface of the body opposite to the rib that compresses against the lower surface of the body in response to the generally normal force applied to the top edge surface of the rib by a media stack, and a housing having a central aperture running lengthwise of the housing such that the rib of the media buckler extends through the aperture for engagement by a media stack.
US07959144B2	Modular processing device as well as a construction kit for the construction of such a processing device The invention relates to a processing device for processing printed products, in particular for collecting individual printed sheets for manufacturing an assembled printed product. The device includes a drum rotatable about a rotation axis and at least two feed stations arranged distanced from one another in the direction of the rotation axis, for feeding printed products, and at least one lead-away station for leading away processed printed products. The drum includes several guides, in particular saddle-like rests or conveyor compartments which are arranged in succession in the peripheral direction of the drum and are movable along a closed revolving path, as well as advance elements controlled by a control unit, for displacing the printed products in the direction of the rotation axis. For increasing the flexibility, the device is composed of modules.
US07959141B2	Stage apparatus The present invention reduces the footprint of a stage apparatus to achieve a more compact apparatus. Using a Y-axis shaft having a magnet on the inside and a Y-axis mover constituted by a coil that surrounds the Y-axis shaft as a Y-axis drive part for moving a Y-axis movable body makes the drive part smaller than a linear motor. Consequently, a lateral part that faces a side gliding surface is arranged downwardly of the one Y-axis mover, to thereby eliminate the footprint occupied by the lateral part when lined up side-by-side with the Y-axis drive part.
US07959134B2	Contact body for an evaporation humidifier or material exchanger A contact body for an evaporation humidifier or material exchanger, is formed of corrugated material layers. The novel contact body has material layers which are a thermoplastic plastic and are interconnected by welding and/or bonding and or a positive fit. The corrugation axes at two longitudinal edges of each material layer form a corrugation axis section that runs approximately in an orthogonal direction in relation to the respective longitudinal edge and the axes between the corrugation axis sections have oblique regions that run in at least two different directions with at least one change of direction in between, in such a way that in each material layer the corrugation axes change direction at least three times. The corrugation axes in a first oblique area lie at an angle α1 to the neighboring longitudinal edge and in a second oblique area lie at an angle α2 to the other longitudinal edge. The angles α1 and α2 are between 30° and 60°. The maximum height of the corrugated material layers is 12 mm.
US07959130B2	Vacuum valve and closure plate for a vacuum valve The invention relates to a vacuum valve for gas-tight sealing of a flow path, comprising at least one thrust rod, which has a cylindrical connecting section, and a closure plate which is removably mounted on the thrust rod and has at least one concave, semicircular first rod recess corresponding to the connecting section. A clamping piece, which has a concave, semicircular second rod recess corresponding to the connecting section, is adjustably mounted by means of a mechanical fixing element on the closure plate in such a way that the semicircular first rod recess and the opposite semicircular second rod recess define a cylindrical holding region which is adjustable in width and in which the cylindrical connecting section is detachably held.
US07959128B2	Hydraulic directional valve An electromagnetic actuating unit (10) of a hydraulic directional control valve (9) is provided having an armature (18) which is arranged such that it can be axially displaced within an armature space (30), and includes a pole core (29) which is arranged in a receptacle (27a) and delimits the armature space (30) in a movement direction of the armature (18). Constructions are provided in order to avoid deposits on a guide surface of the armature (18), as a result of which the dynamics and the response behavior of the actuating unit (10) are increased and hysteresis effects and the risk of a malfunction of the actuating unit are minimized.
US07959123B1	Object support An object support includes a support base and at least two legs. The support base includes at least two leg yokes and an insert boss. Each leg includes a retention projection and at least one tubular leg section. A fastener or the like is inserted through the retention projection and the leg yoke to retain the leg relative to the support base. A set-screw or the like is threaded through a top of the support base to limit the angular travel of the tubular leg relative to the support base. A spring loaded retention pin is retained in the insert boss. An object support insert includes an object insert pin and an accessory retention device. A ball detent preferably extends radially from an end of the object insert pin. A retention groove is formed in a perimeter of the object insert pin for engagement with the retention pin.
US07959120B2	Universal support for connecting to a base of a vehicle seat A universal support is provided in the present invention. The universal support includes a brace unit, a mounting unit and a connecting unit, in which the brace unit has several joint assemblies with stronger mechanical strength and several quick-release clamp unit to carry heavier load, while the connecting unit can be securely fastened to a stationary object and the mounting unit can perform universally rotation so as to perfectly satisfy every need of the users.
US07959118B2	Protection device stem design The present invention relates to a connection system for use with an active or passive protection device that minimizes weight. In accordance with the present invention, a single stem connection system for use with an active protection device includes a single bent cable that is attached to the single cable terminal of the active protection device. A stem tube is fitted over a portion of the bent cable giving the appearance and benefits of a single stem. However, a portion of the bent cable is left separated thereby automatically forming a clip-in point for the entire active protection device. Unlike conventional single stem connection systems, the single stem system in accordance with the present invention only requires coupling the cable to the cable terminal thereby reducing manufacturing cost and minimizing overall weight. Alternatively, a similar connection system can be used with a passive protection device to provide many of the same benefits.
US07959113B2	Network cable bundling tool A network cable bundling tool is disclosed, comprising an inner fitting retained within an outer jacket assembly. The outer jacket assembly comprises a first outer jacket half coupled to a substantially identical second outer jacket half, securing the inner fitting therein. The outer jacket assembly comprises a cylindrical housing, an intake orifice defined within the intake housing, and a plurality of funneling projections coupled to the cylindrical housing wherein the plurality of funneling projections form an array assuming the general shape of a truncated faceted cone. In operation, network cable wires are inserted into the inner fitting, and the inner fitting is then secured within the outer jacket assembly. The network cable bundling tool is then displaced in the desired direction of combing, arranging the network cables into an organized and space-efficient shape.
US07959104B2	Flying device with improved movement on the ground The invention relates to a flying device which can efficiently move in the air by aerodynamic forces and by direct force transmission on the ground, without the need for independent drive and thrust generation systems for the two modes of movement. The rotors (1) of the flying device are provided on the outside thereof with an annular rotating covering (4), connected directly to the rotor blade tips, which, when the flying device is on the ground and the rotor rotational axes (2) are correspondingly pitched about an axis (3), come into contact with the ground. The covering (4) hence permits a movement of the flying device on the ground by rolling, which is based on a direct force transfer to the ground. A further rotor pitching axis (5) permits the flying device to be controlled in the air and on the ground by means of the same actuator system. The above flying principle permits, for example, remote controlled reconnaissance drones for close or remote espionage, to independently enter inaccessible regions, or in the context of police or military application in buildings presenting danger for personnel, to gain access to upper floors.
US07959103B2	Film unwind system with hinged spindle and electronic control of web tension A film supply apparatus supplying film in a foam-in-bag system having a film feeding device for feeding film from a film source to a location for bag formation, a bag forming apparatus, a foam material dispenser positioned for feeding foam material for reception in a bag of the bag forming apparatus, and a web tensioning system with a web tensioning driver in driving communication with the film source and which is in communication with a controller for monitoring the film feed and web tension states and directing adjustments in the web tension system. The web tensioning driver is arranged to move film backwards or in a direction opposite to a direction of film feed induced by the film feeding means and with the film source including a roll of film and the web tensioning system including a drive transmission in communication with the roll of film for rotational driving of the roll of film and also in communication with web tensioning driver. There is further featured a spindle support for supporting the roll of film and a roll film core drive insert.
US07959099B1	Bolt-in toolholder for a rotor assembly A bolt-in toolholder assembly for a shredding device includes a rotor having a substantially cylindrical shape, a plurality of pockets formed in the rotor and spaced apart preselected distances to form preselected patterns, a bolt-in toolholder.
US07959098B2	Hammer for a comminuting device A beater for comminution devices with a rotor on or at which the beater can be fastened, including a lower body which is designed as a shaft end for connecting the beater with the rotor, and at least one cutting body. At least one cutting body is connected with the lower body in a releasable/fixed manner.
US07959097B2	Grinding drum with a cutter arrangement for a direction of rotation Grinding members on a grinding drum are arranged to move the material to be reduced laterally across the drum. The drum may be used in a tub grinder where the tub is configured to rotate about a vertical axis. In a tub grinder environment, the drum extends through the grinding floor, is configured to rotate about a horizontal axis, and includes cutters arranged in a right-handed helical pattern on the drum.
US07959095B2	Center-feed nozzle in a contained cylindrical feed-inlet tube for improved fluid-energy mill grinding efficiency This invention relates to a supersonic center-feed nozzle system within the feed-inlet tube of a fluid-energy mill used for grinding particulate material such as titanium dioxide. Particularly, in the feed-inlet tube of the present invention, particulate material is introduced into the supersonic feed jet of primary grinding fluid in almost a perpendicular fashion, with the supersonic nozzle installed in the center of the particulate material core, imparting momentum to the particulate material. The momentum entrains the particulate into the main grinding chamber of the feed-inlet tube. In the main grinding chamber of the feed-inlet tube, a secondary stream of grinding fluid, introduced annularly, constricts the primary jet's divergent flow, enabling a higher turbulent mixing of the grinding fluids and the particulate material.
US07959093B2	Apparatus for applying cold-spray to small diameter bores A nozzle is provided for use during a process for cold-dynamic gas spraying a powder material onto a bore surface. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the nozzle includes a tube and a coating. The tube is configured to direct the powder material to the bore surface and has an inner surface, an axial section, a radial section, and a bend. At least a portion of the inner surface of the axial section defines a converging/diverging flowpath, and the axial section and the radial section are disposed at a predetermined angle relative to one another and include the bend disposed therebetween. The coating is disposed on at least a portion of the tube inner surface and comprises a material to which the powder material does not adhere.
US07959089B2	Systems for the control and use of fluids and particles The configuration of a feedstock material is controlled by bringing it into contact with at least a first gas moving against it at a location with an area and thickness of the feedstock liquid that forms drops or fibers of a selected size. In one embodiment, drops of agricultural input materials are formed for spraying on agricultural fields. In another embodiment, nanofibers of materials such as chitosan or metals are formed. In another embodiment seeds are planted with gel. In another embodiment particles carrying desired agricultural inputs with modified release characteristics are delivered.
US07959083B2	XML printer system An XML processing system for use in a barcode printer apparatus includes a computer system operatively coupled to the barcode printer apparatus. The computer system further includes an XML processor configured to receive, parse, and process an XML input data stream and obtain schema identified in the XML data stream from a schema repository. The XML processor validates the XML data stream based upon the schema obtained. Also included is an XSLT processor configured to obtain a stylesheet identified in the XML data stream from a stylesheet repository. The XSLT processor transforms data in the XML input data stream into transformed XML data based upon the stylesheet obtained. Also, an XSLFO processor formats the transformed XML data into formatted XML data based upon XSLFO instructions contained in the stylesheet. A barcode rendering subsystem then receives the formatted XML data and generates a bit map representative of the bar code label. Alternatively, the system includes a SAX processor configured to receive and process the XML input data stream, a ZPL processor configured to receive and process a format template, a variable data integrator configured to develop an association between the XML data contained in the XML input data stream and the format template, a formatting engine configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template, and a barcode rendering engine configured to receive the associated and formatted XML data and generate a bit map representative of the bar code label.
US07959079B2	System for recording recordation of packaged item A system for recording a transaction of a packaged item. The system includes the item having a product contained in a package and an optically imaging pen. The package has a printed interface surface containing information relating to the item and coded data indicative of an identity of the item and of coordinates of a plurality of locations on the interface surface. The pen has a marking nib for marking the interface surface; an image sensor for optically imaging the coded data when said marking nib is used to mark the interface surface; a processor for generating indicating data indicative of the identity of the item and of a position of the sensing device relative to the interface surface; and a transceiver for communicating the indicating data to a computer system so as to initiate recordation of the transaction.
US07959074B1	Selective authorization of item transactions Techniques are described for use in selectively authorizing proposed transactions under certain circumstances, such as when payments for the transactions are not assured. In some situations, when payments to a merchant from customers are not assured for proposed item acquisition transactions involving those customers, determinations are made to authorize and proceed with at least some of those proposed transactions in an automatic and selective manner without the assurance of receiving the payments for the selected transactions. For example, a selective determination of whether to authorize a proposed transaction may be made based on analyzing information about the proposed transaction (e.g., about the item(s) involved in the transaction, a payment amount of the transaction, the customer(s) involved in the transactions, etc.) and on information regarding other prior transactions. If a proposed transaction is authorized, the merchant may then proceed to initiate fulfillment of the transaction before the merchant receives payment.
US07959072B1	Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader for reading user cards, and at least one of a note acceptor and a cash dispenser. The automated banking machine carries out financial transfers related to user accounts based on information read from cards. The automated banking machine provides a printed receipt for transactions conducted. The machine carries out transactions when operatively connected to a source of power and a transaction network. The machine also carries out functions to control the power status of devices in the machine.
US07959071B1	Banking system operated responsive to data bearing records An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a sheet dispensing mechanism including at least one currency note picking member. Rotation of a picking member causes an end note to be picked from a stack of currency notes. The picking member includes an outer surface portion that has a thickness including a built in physical wear indicator. The indicator includes material surface layers of different colors. Each color indicates a different surface wear state.
US07959069B2	Systems and methods for interfacing location-base devices Systems and methods for electronically processing accounts receivable (AR) check transactions via a location-base device associated with a merchant. The location-base device, such as a point-of-sale (POS) device, can be configured to perform various functions that facilitate processing of AR checks. Such functions may include improved user interface, an ability to handle a repetitive input parameter, an ability to handle multiple merchant identifiers, an ability to generate multiple receipt types, an ability to edit check transactions, an ability to manage throughput of the device, and an ability to allow scanning of different types of checks so as to allow subsequent processing of the scanned checks to be different based on the type of the check. The location-base device configured in one or more of the foregoing manner facilitates a check authorization process performed by a check processing service.
US07959067B2	Automated banking machine system and method An automated banking machine (152) includes a plurality of transaction function devices. The transaction function devices include a card reader (170), a keypad (172), a printer (174), a bill dispenser (176), a coin dispenser (178), a code reading device (180), a display (182), a cash acceptor (184), a check acceptor (186) and a biometric reader (188). The banking machine operates responsive to indica read from user cards. The banking machine operates responsive to instructions executed by at least one processor (190) in the machine. The banking machine is operative responsive to reading gaming tickets or other items through operation of the code reading device, and/or a biometric feature reading device, to dispense cash or provide other value to users. The banking machine is also operative to cause value to be transferred by users for the purchase of gaming items. Other transactions may be conducted, including redeeming or changing forms of value including forms of value that can be used within a gaming establishment (154).
US07959066B2	Controller having tag encoder for printhead A controller for a printhead is provided having an encoder for encoding tags to be printed on a page. The encoder has an input at which to receive a tag structure template having at least one predetermined mark position, an input at which to receive fixed data bits, an input at which to receive variable data bits, and a dot generator which uses the input tag structure template, and fixed and variable data bits for outputting, for at least one mark position of a respective tag, a single bit indicating if a dot is to be provided at the at least one mark position, for the respective tag.
US07959059B2	Method for fabricating transportation pallet This invention has an object to provide a method for precisely fabricating transportation pallets readily adaptable to model change and other alterations. In the method for fabricating a transportation pallet according to the invention, in which jig mounting plates are fixed on a steel pallet base, projecting pieces having holes to which jigs are attached are provided on one longer side of the jig mounting plates at a predetermined interval, a positioning member is secured on the pallet base, the jig mounting plates are temporarily secured along the positioning member, and the jig mounting plates are welded to be fixed on the pallet base.
US07959056B2	Method for joining rails by friction welding Method for the metallic joining of profiled rails in the longitudinal direction. Method includes heating rail ends to a joining temperature by pressing together faces of the rails end while simultaneously moving them relative to one another in an oscillating manner with a greatest oscillation amplitude relative to one another perpendicular to the main axis direction Y with the maximum moment of inertia of the cross-sectional surface, aligning the rail ends, and pressing the faces together to join the rails together.
US07959051B2	Closure systems for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument A surgical stapling instrument including an actuator configured to be retracted relative to the distal end of the disposable loading unit and rotate an anvil between an open position and a closed position. The actuator can include a cam, where the cam can include an arcuate profile having an apex configured to be in contact with the anvil when the anvil is in a closed position. In at least one such embodiment, the anvil can apply a clamping force to the soft tissue prior to the staples being deployed to prevent, or at least inhibit, soft tissue from flowing, or ‘milking’, out of the distal end of the disposable loading unit. In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a disposable loading unit having an anvil which can be moved between open, closed, and/or collapsed positions to facilitate the insertion of the disposable loading unit through a trocar.
US07959048B1	Equipment backpack with tripod attachment system and wing accessory pockets An improved equipment backpack which incorporates two novel and unique features. The first feature is a unique system for holding a tripod in place so that it can be carried on the backpack. The second feature is the incorporation of wing accessory pockets on the exterior of the backpack which retain objects in a visible, organized and readily accessible manner so that easy access to the objects can be achieved without the necessity of opening the entire backpack.
US07959046B2	Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing a multiple position sling for a firearm Methods, systems, and apparatus for supporting a firearm from a user. An apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes a sling capable of supporting a firearm from a portion of a user's body. The sling can include a strap capable of being supported by a portion of a user's body. The sling can also include a first connector mounted to a first portion of the strap, the first connector capable of mounting to a firearm connector. Furthermore, the sling can include a second connector mounted to a second portion of the strap, the second connector capable of mounting to a third connector, and further capable of mounting to a second firearm connector. Moreover, the sling can include a third connector mounted to a third portion of the strap, the third connector capable of mounting to the second connector, whereby the mounting of the second connector to the third connector creates a loop in the strap. In one aspect of the invention, the sling can include a fourth connector mounted to a fourth portion of the strap, wherein the fourth connector is capable of mounting to the second firearm connector.
US07959044B1	Dual air vent bypass (DAVB) container A container for dispensing a fluid with no contraction/expansion “glug, glug” effect has a cover forming a sealed top with a pouring spout on top of the cover and at least one elongated handle on top of the cover. The elongated handle extends longitudinally away from the pouring spout and has a distant end coupled to a vacuum manifold formed under the cover as a void space distant from the pouring spout and above fluid within the fluid tight container. A pouring spout has a circular aperture leading into the fluid tight container. The circular aperture has a central axis; the circular aperture is bordered by a peripheral circular sealing surface that extends radially away from the aperture. An air vent opening is positioned on the circular aperture's highest radial central position on the circular sealing surface. A dual air vent bypass channel delivers air entering the air vent opening via a top channel through the elongated handle to the vacuum manifold, and via a bottom channel under the cover to the vacuum manifold.
US07959038B2	Dispensing closure for a container, and dispensing container incorporating same A dispensing closure for a dispensing container (1) and a dispensing container (1) incorporating such a dispensing closure, wherein the closure has a unitary type of construction. The dispensing closure includes a generally annular metal ring (4) having an outer peripheral edge and a central opening encircled by an inner peripheral edge (6), the ring being attached to the edge of the container body side wall at one end of the container body; and an overmolded polymer layer (16) having an annular outer portion molded over the inward surface of the ring and having a central panel integrally formed with the outer portion so as to cover the central opening in the ring (4), the central panel of the polymer layer (16) defining at least one aperture (7) through which the product in the container body can be dispensed.
US07959035B2	Fluid product dispensing device A fluid product dispensing device that has a container that contains a fluid product, a pump, and a dispensing head that serves as the actuator for the pump. The container is a single molded piece with a neck. The neck of the container has either an opening to accommodate an air filter or has a neck joint that is molded onto the neck of the container, or both. In at least one embodiment, the container also has a shoulder to assist retaining the dispensing head, and a second shoulder to form a maximum amount of actuation.
US07959033B2	Drip catcher A drip catcher, having an adjustable neck, having a hook at the top for engaging a spout pipe of a fluid reservoir, and a basin, containing an absorbent pad and three sided slot on the flattened rear side to accommodate two legs of an alligator clasp in the neck, having a channel between the legs created by cutting three sides of a brace, bendable rearward to support the invention in vertical alignment to the spout, teeth extending from the outside edge of both legs which engage the sides of the slot, so the teeth disengage by squeezing the legs together.
US07959029B2	Splash and spill resistant insulating lid A splash and spill resistant insulating lid for beverage containers comprising an insulated splash and spill barrier integrated into a cup lid combination. This is achieved by creating a barrier and/or labyrinth flow path, which buffers and deflects sloshing liquid. Accidental/incidental release of liquid is minimized and/or prevented while allowing the normal flow of liquid for drinking. These features of the SSRIL further create an insulating barrier to keep a cup's fluid hotter or cooler for a longer period of time, enhanced by using an appropriate insulating material combined with finite number of transfer holes that are of a specific shape and/or specific location and/or specific orientation to promote the formation of a surface tension film of fluid across the transfer holes, creating additional barriers against the escape and exchange of both fluid and vapor outside the cup.
US07959025B2	Container for surprise gifts produced in one piece A description is given of a container for products such as surprise gifts or similar accessories, comprising two half-shells (2, 4) with a containing wall and a mouth (10, 12) capable of being joined mouth to mouth, fitting together at the front, to form a closed container. The two half-shells (2, 4) are hinged one to the other by hinge means (20) integral with the two half-shells, in such a way that one of the halfshells (2) can move with a snap action relative to the other half-shell (4) between a closed position of the container and an at least partially open position of the container.
US07959023B2	Intake tracking hydration container A hydration container includes a bottle having a selected volume and a bottle cap which includes a drinking nozzle. An indicator bearing a sequence of numbers is moveably mounted to the cap so that any one of the numbers in the sequence may be positioned opposite an index on the cap. Preferably, the numbers on the indicator are coordinated with numbers in a recommended daily fluid intake table present on the bottle. Thus when the user increments or decrements the indicator each time the bottle is refilled with fluid, the container will indicate in real time the user's approximate actual fluid consumption versus the intake goal indicated by the table.
US07959021B2	Air inlet for a baby bottle An air inlet is mounted in a baby bottle and has a valve and an air-inlet tube. The valve has a body, an outer ring and an inner ring. The body has a chamber, multiple separating blocks and multiple liquid channels. The separating blocks are formed on the body and each has a vent. The liquid channels are formed through the body between the separating blocks and communicate with the chamber. The outer ring is formed around the chamber to separate the chamber and the vents. The inner ring is formed on an inner end of the body around the vents and has multiple air inlets. The air-inlet tube is mounted detachably on the inner ring of the valve. Therefore, liquid flows through the liquid channels and the chamber, but air flows through the air inlets and the vents to the air-inlet tube to ensure smooth operation.
US07959020B2	Wire rack for mounting an iron on a wall The present disclosure relates to a wire rack for mounting an iron on a wall and method of use thereof, and more specifically, to a wire rack for mounting an iron on a wall, the wire rack having a retractable rail for adjusting to different sizes of irons and equipped with an ironing board holder and a product holder. The iron holder holds the iron by the iron's base and can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of irons. The frame is also made of heat-resistant, coated, welded wire that allows for the manufacture of a light, cost-effective device. The device is also equipped with large hooks to hold most types of ironing boards and arms designed to hold extra products used during ironing.
US07959016B2	Suspension display rack A suspension display rack for hand tools has a rail and multiple sliding blocks. The rail has a back-strip and two hooks. The hooks are formed on the back strip and each hook has a longitudinal groove. Each sliding block has a base, two cylindrical slides and a seat. The cylindrical slides are respectively received in the longitudinal grooves so that the hand tools can be hung on the sliding blocks to transversely slide along the rail.
US07959015B2	Blanking panel for standardized equipment rack and cabinet enclosure A snap-mount blanking panel for an equipment rack or cabinet enclosure has ergonomic grips spaced laterally inward to permit comfortable and reliable mounting and removal of the blanking panel regardless of lateral clearance. Resiliently flexible sealing skirt members create a positive seal with adjacent electronic devices or blanking panels. Stacking structure enables stable stacking of multiple units outside a container. An off-set platform allows for mounting ambient atmospheric indicators or signage, or may be used as a writing surface. A cable pass-through is also provided.
US07959014B2	Anesthesia mask stand A mask stand for accommodating different size anesthesia masks when not attached to an anesthesia circuit or a patient's airway is provided. The mask stand includes a base; and a releasable securing means attached to a bottom surface of the base for securing the base to and releasing the base from any flat surface within an anesthesia environment. The base includes a first holding groove that extends along a top surface for receiving a first sized anesthesia mask; and a second holding groove that extends along the top surface for receiving a second sized anesthesia mask. The first and second holding grooves are positioned in a parallel configuration with respect to each other and are cylindrical in shape so as to accommodate a cylindrical portion of respective anesthesia masks.
US07959005B2	Blister arrangement and cardboard blank therefor The invention relates to a blister arrangement which includes a blister strip having a plurality of cups. The blister strip has a base region and a cover film and wherein a tablet or the like is disposed inside each cup. A blister pocket accommodates the blister strip. The blister pocket has a substantially rectangular shape with a front side, a rear side, a first lateral region, a second lateral region, and at least one open face. The front side has a first recess that is the same size as or slightly larger than the size of a cup, and the rear side has a second recess opposite the first recess. The cup is oriented in the direction of the second recess, and the cover film of the blister strip is oriented toward the first recess. The blister strip may be pulled out through the open face.
US07958999B2	Pallet for packing glass plate and glass plate packing unit A pallet for packing a glass plate include a base part which is disposed at a bottommost portion, for supporting from below a plurality of glass plates piled one upon another in an upright posture, and has a fork insertion portion for insertion of forks of a forklift. The pallet also has a backside part rising from a rear side of the base part, for supporting the glass plates from a rear thereof, and a pedestal part mounted in engagement with at least one of the base part and the backside part so as to receive bottom side portions of the glass plates, in which a lowermost portion of the pedestal part is set lower than a substantial top surface of the base part.
US07958993B2	Footwear customization kit A footwear customization kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes a customizable portion that can be deformed when heated. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear in a steam environment.
US07958992B1	Inspection door with radiused coaming for dust control A dust control inspection door has its door frame formed of frame elements each with a flat outer portion against the associated shroud, and with the seal flange or coaming radiused 90 degrees. The edge of the seal flange or coaming is perpendicular to the door to engage the gasket or seal bead, and is at zero degrees to the frame flat portions, so there is no angled bend line and no weak zones. The coaming is free of any horizontal surfaces on which dust may collect.
US07958989B2	Lug chain apparatus, a lug for use therein and a method of securing lugs at desired locations along a moving endless chain A lug chain apparatus having lugs (22), an endless chain (30) and a positioning mechanism (20). The lugs (22) are releasably engageable with the chain (30). The positioning wheel (20) engages the lugs (22) and moves them along the chain (30), to predetermined locations along the chain respectively. Each lug (22) includes locking mechanism (24, 26, 31) that holds that lug (22) in a predetermined location along the chain (30) when in a locking state, and allows movement of that lug (22) along said chain (30) when in a releasing state, such that repositioning of the lugs (22) along the chain (30) is effected without removal of the lugs (22) from the chain (30).
US07958986B2	Passenger conveyor handrail drive device An exemplary device for driving a handrail of a passenger conveyor includes a handrail drive member configured to engage a handrail. A motor is associated with the drive member such that a driving output of the motor is exclusively for moving the handrail drive member. An exemplary passenger conveyor includes a step chain and a handrail. A step chain motor is associated with the step chain for moving the step chain. A handrail motor that is distinct from the step chain motor is associated with the handrail for moving the handrail.
US07958975B2	Brake caliper A brake caliper on a brake, such as a disc brake includes raised sections, which can be embodied as plateaus. The raised sections are tensioned against each other via a connector device by the introduction of tensile or compression forces. Noises occurring during braking can thus be significantly reduced.
US07958971B2	Wireless, self-contained elevator call request entry system A wireless, portable call request entry kiosk (14) has a control panel (19) with keys (20, 21) and a display panel for entering calls and informing passengers of the responding elevator. The kiosk has wireless communication (42, 56) with a building (43) where the kiosk is located, to transmit call requests to a dispatching controller (48). The kiosk operates on a rechargeable source such as a battery (51). A sensor (52) determines a lull in traffic, causing the kiosk to operate in a low power consumption mode.
US07958968B1	Tree stand blind system A tree stand blind system for concealing a hunter on a tree stand and protecting the hunter from rain includes a pair of mounting brackets is secured to a tree adjacent a tree stand. Each of the mounting brackets has one of a pair of arms mounted thereto. A vertical orientation of each of the arms is adjustable with respect to the associated one of the mounting brackets. Each of the arms is positioned horizontally and extending outwardly from the tree. A suspension rod is insertable into each of the arms. A pair of blind curtains is suspended from the suspension rod. The blind curtains hang down from the suspension in a semi-circle around the tree stand to conceal the hunter on the tree stand.
US07958967B2	Mud sill The combination of: a scaffold assembly comprising a vertical member; a baseplate on the vertical member and having a downwardly facing surface; and a foot having a top surface and a bottom surface spaced in an axial direction. The foot has an opening in the top surface and a recess extending axially from the opening toward the bottom surface. The recess accepts the baseplate with the baseplate in an operative position. The downwardly facing surface bears on the foot so as to cause a downward force produced by the vertical member to be applied to the foot and distributed by the foot through the bottom surface to an underlying support surface for the scaffold assembly. The bottom surface on the foot has a peripheral edge that bounds an area that is greater than an area bounded by a peripheral edge of the baseplate.
US07958966B2	Exhaust stack fairing A fairing is configured for use with the exhaust stack of a heavy-duty vehicle. The exhaust stack has an exhaust pipe with an intake end for receiving exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine and a discharge end for discharging the exhaust gases. The fairing includes a streamlined exterior surface and a cavity for receiving the discharge end of the exhaust pipe. An aperture extends through a rear portion of the exterior surface so that exhaust gases discharged from the discharge end of the exhaust pipe pass through the cavity and out of the aperture. The fairing further includes a coupler to couple the fairing to the exhaust pipe.
US07958964B2	Power steering system for vehicle A power steering system for a vehicle includes a steering shaft with its rear end in connection with a steering handle and with its axis inclined forwardly downwards. An electric motor is disposed with its axis orthogonal to a plane containing the axis of the steering shaft. The electric motor applies a steering force to the side of a steering wheel or wheels according to an operational torque exerted on the steering handle. This enables the power steering system to be easily applied to a vehicle in which the portion on the front side relative to the steering handle is short. A steering shaft is rotatably supported on a support case, at least a part of which is disposed on the inner side of the rotational locus of a steering handle in plan view. The rear end of an electric motor mounted to the support case is disposed on the front side relative to the rear end of the steering shaft.
US07958961B1	Segway with golf improvements A SEGWAY adapted with a mechanism to manually override the rider detection mechanical sensors to allow a golfer to choose to ride or not ride the SEGWAY while playing golf. A handle attachment extends outwardly enabling the golfer to manually steer and thus control the speed and direction of the SEGWAY while not riding the SEGWAY. The golfer can ride, walk, or run as desired in unison with the improved SEGWAY. A rider detection override mechanism is positioned under each existing step pad. A counterweight is placed at the rear of the SEGWAY to balance the SEGWAY when there is no rider present.
US07958960B2	Driving force control apparatus for a vehicle that drives wheel units independently Right front wheel units (FL, FR) are driven independently by motor generators (MGL, MGR). A power control unit (1) is provided common to the motor generators (MGL, MGR) and integrally controls driving them. Each motor generator (MGL, MGR) and the power control unit (1) are selectively connected by switch circuits (SWL, SWR). The switch circuits (SWL, SWR) are switched by an ECU (3), as appropriate, in accordance with how the vehicle (100) is currently traveling (i.e., a driving force that the vehicle is required to output, and a direction in which the vehicle is traveling). In other words, the vehicle (100) can selectively implement traveling with the left and right front wheel units (FL, FR) both serving as driving wheel units, and traveling with only one of the left and right front wheel units (FL, FR) serving as a driving wheel unit, depending on how the vehicle is currently traveling.
US07958951B2	Method for assembling an underreaming tool An underreaming tool may include a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“the blade element”), at least one wedge element (“the wedge element”), and a stop mechanism. The drive tube may include at least one longitudinal groove (“the longitudinal groove”) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube. The wedge element may include a first side having at least one lateral projection (“the lateral projection”) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube. The stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.
US07958947B2	Damping and drilling machine including such a damping device A damping device for inserting into a housing of an impulse producing drill machine, for damping Shockwave reflexes from a drill string connected to the drilling machine, is distinguished in that a first damping piston (7) for direct or indirect action against the drill string and for applying a pressure in the direction of the drill string an a second damping piston (9) for applying pressure in the direction against the drill string against a fixed stop (11) arranged in the housing, wherein the first (7) and the second damping piston (9) are arranged to co-operate for joint damping action with a drill bushing or shank adapter in a certain relative position. The invention also concerns a drilling machine.
US07958946B2	Handheld work apparatus A handheld work apparatus has a housing (2) wherein an internal combustion engine (10) and a fuel-metering unit for the engine (10) are mounted. A throttle lever (6) is provided which is pivotally journalled on a handle (3). The handle (3) is connected to the housing (2) via at least one antivibration element (33). A vibration gap (9) is formed between the handle (3) and the housing (2). A transmitting unit (13) is provided for transmitting the pivot movement of the throttle lever (6) to the fuel-metering unit. The transmitting unit (13) includes a rigid transmitting element (17, 77) which bridges the vibration gap (9). The transmitting element (17, 77) is rotatably journalled on at least one bearing (18, 19, 59) and transmits the pivot movement of the throttle lever (6) as a rotation about a rotational axis (22) lying transversely to the vibration gap (9). A first bearing (19, 59) of the transmitting element (17, 77) is located on the fuel-metering unit.
US07958937B1	Process for hydrofracturing an underground aquifer from a water well borehole for increasing water flow production from Denver Basin aquifers A process for hydrofracturing a specific interval or zone in a water aquifer from a water well borehole and introducing high-pressure water and gravel proppants for increasing water flow production from the water well. The process uses a hydrofracture tool having a pipe section with a pair of inflatable packers. The tool is lowered into the borehole to the deepest interval to be fraced. The packers are then inflated thus sealing off the area in the borehole above the interval. High-pressure water is then introduced through the drill stem and out a high-pressure injection port in the lower end of the pipe section. After sufficient high-pressure water has fractured the surrounding interval, gravel proppants are forced into the surrounding fractured interval.
US07958933B2	Heat exchange units A heat exchange unit, adapted to performing heat exchange between first and second fluids at different temperatures, comprises a heat exchange apparatus provided with a tube bundle, crossed internally by said first fluid, and containing means of the second fluid, adapted to receiving the exchange apparatus so that at least one portion of the tube bundle is externally surrounded by the second fluid. The exchange apparatus further comprises connection means which are structurally separate from said retainer means and to which one end of the tube bundle is operatively connected.
US07958932B2	Casting materials A foam material comprises a liquid polymer and a liquid isocyanate which is mixed to make a solution that is poured, injected or otherwise deposited into a corresponding mold. A reaction from the mixture of the liquid polymer and liquid isocyanate inside the mold forms a thermally collapsible foam structure having a shape that corresponds to the inside surface configuration of the mold and a skin that is continuous and unbroken. Once the reaction is complete, the foam pattern is removed from the mold and may be used as a pattern in any number of conventional casting processes.
US07958929B2	Apparatus for producing alloy and rare earth element alloy An apparatus for producing an alloy, including: a casting device which casts a molten alloy using the strip cast method; a crushing device which crushes the cast alloy after casting; and a heating device which keeps the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing at a predetermined temperature or which heats the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing, wherein the heating device is equipped with a container and a heater.
US07958928B2	Method and apparatus for casting metal articles To cast one or more metal articles, a mold structure is positioned on a support with an anchor extending upward from the support into the mold structure. The mold structure and anchor are interconnected by a retainer which extends through a portion of the mold structure into the anchor. When the mold structure is immersed in a cooling bath, force is transmitted between the mold structure and anchor to retain the mold structure against movement relative to the support.
US07958927B2	Die casting process incorporating computerized pattern recognition techniques A die casting process using pattern recognition techniques to identify those die castings manufactured under conditions likely to produce a die casting which would subsequently prove unacceptable for use. By promptly identifying such die castings, they may be discarded before being shipped to a remote facility for further processing. As a result, the rejection rate of die castings at the remote facility may be reduced and the raw materials used to form the discarded die castings may be more readily recycled.
US07958924B2	Apparatus and method for producing a weld seam The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a weld seam on a foil bag with an ultrasonic hammer and an anvil, preferably with a weld side directed towards the ultrasonic hammer, the weld side having a long projection, so that the foil material of the foil bag can be clamped between the projection and the ultrasonic hammer. Preferably, the projection has at least one depression running parallel to the projection. The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for producing weld seams on foil bags, wherein more than one of the above apparatuses are arranged next to one another and can be activated synchronously. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing a weld seam on a foil bag, wherein the foil bag is clamped between an ultrasonic hammer and an anvil, wherein the anvil has a long projection on a weld side directed towards the ultrasonic hammer, and the foil bag is provided with a weld seam by means of an ultrasound, wherein the projection has at least one depression running parallel to the weld seam. The invention also relates to a foil bag with a weld seam, wherein the weld seam has at least two weld zones and at least three or four sealing wedges.
US07958923B2	Drywall trim auto-folder, mastic applicator and cutter A drywall trim application device that can hold a large role of drywall flex corner trim material and, as the material is being dispensed, pre-crease or form the material for use on an inside or outside corner, or any angle within the range of the trim material, apply a mastic material (drywall mud, adhesive or any other bonding medium) to the flex trim material, and cut the material at any desired length automatically. Measurements may be either input by hand or down loaded from an electronic measurement tool into this device. This invention can generally store multiple measurements such as length and angles, measure the length of flex trim material as it is dispensed from the device, crease the material, apply predetermined amount of mastic, and automatically cut the flex trim material to each length previously input.
US07958919B2	Fill valve for an aerosol container A fill valve for selective interconnection with a container is provided. The fill valve includes a head shaft and shoulder separated by grooves that are selectively positioned in an aperture of the container to selectively provide a flow path into the container.
US07958918B2	Automated ice vending apparatus and method An automated ice vending apparatus and method including an ice generating machine capable of producing enough ice to sufficiently keep full a receptacle positioned beneath the ice generating machine, a first ice moving device with cutting members positioned within the receptacle to move ice from the receptacle to a second ice moving device, wherein the ice is subsequently transferred to a removable container.
US07958914B2	Liquid crystal dropping apparatus for liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal dropping apparatus is used in the manufacture of liquid crystal display devices, which is designed to apply vibration energy to liquid crystal charged in a liquid crystal container, thereby allowing the liquid crystal to be dropped as a spray. The liquid crystal dropping apparatus includes a liquid crystal container in which liquid crystal is charged so that a pressure is applied to the liquid crystal if gas is supplied into the liquid crystal container, an opening and closing device for opening and closing a liquid crystal discharge hole provided at a lower end of the liquid crystal container, and a vibration energy supply device for supplying vibration energy to the interior of the liquid crystal container.
US07958912B2	Freeze protection for on-board vehicle emissions treatment system Freeze protection of an on-board emissions treatment substance storage and distribution system in a vehicle includes moving the emissions treatment substance away from a primary fuel/vapor area after filling of the emissions treatment system. In one embodiment an on-board emissions treatment system has a fill tube with a portion extending into a primary fuel fill tube to facilitate co-fueling of the primary fuel and emissions treatment substance. A pressure differential or vacuum is created in the emissions treatment fill tube after filling to move the emissions treatment substance away from a check valve disposed at the terminal end of the fill tube to prevent freezing of the check valve after filling. The emissions treatment substance may be moved out of the co-located portion of the fill tube to an area where passive or active heating of the fill tube may be applied to further reduce susceptibility to freezing.
US07958911B2	Shipping plug A shipping plug is disclosed herein. The shipping plug is formed from a cylindrical member that is configured to be operatively disposed within a bore of a component to create a seal therewith. The cylindrical member is a resilient material, and has an upper wall, a lower wall, and a circumferential side defined between the upper and lower walls. A recess is defined in the upper wall. The recess includes a bottom end and at least one wall extending between the bottom end and the upper wall. The recess is configured to operatively receive a complementarily shaped rod which selectively distorts the circumferential side of the cylindrical member in response to a twisting or rotating action exerted thereon to temporarily release the seal.
US07958910B2	Filling nozzle A filling nozzle is provided which has a high flow straightening effect and is capable of forming a stable liquid flow of a circular cross section. In a filling nozzle in which a flow straightening member for straightening the flow of liquid is arranged in a hollow nozzle body, a flow straightening plate with a multitude of fine holes formed therethrough so as to pass the liquid therethrough is used a the flow straightening member, and a divergent chamfered portion, which act as a guide means for guiding fine streams of liquid flowing out from adjacent individual fine holes in a direction to bring them into contact with one another, is formed on an opening edge of an outlet of each fine hole on an outlet side surface of the flow straightening plate.
US07958901B2	Umbrella having an angle adjustable function A umbrella includes an upright post, a swing mechanism pivotally mounted on the upright post, a frame mounted on the swing mechanism to pivot in concert with the swing mechanism relative to the upright post, and a driving mechanism mounted on the upright post and connected with the swing mechanism to drive the swing mechanism to pivot relative to the upright post. Thus, the frame is rolled relative to the upright post to tilt leftward or rightward to adjust the inclined angle of the skeleton of the frame so as to provide a better shading effect.
US07958900B2	Scrubbing machine for cleaning instruments The invention relates to a cleaning machine (MA) comprising a vessel (VE) having a stirring member (BA) mounted therein, the stirring member carrying a load of utensils of a first type. The stirring member also carries a load of utensils of a second type. The invention also provides a method of cleaning using such a machine, containing a cleaning liquid (WA). The method has a first cleaning stage during which the level of the liquid (WA) is lower than or equal to the level of the content of the stirring member (BA). It optionally includes a second cleaning stage during which the level of the liquid (WA) is higher than the level of the content of the stirring member (BA).
US07958895B2	Magnetic force devices, systems, and methods for resisting tissue collapse within the pharyngeal conduit Devices, systems and methods employ magnetic force to resist tissue collapse in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit during sleep.
US07958893B2	Cushion for a respiratory mask assembly A respiratory mask includes a frame including a breathable gas port, wherein the frame defines an inner chamber to receive at least one of a wearer's nasal region and mouth. The mask includes a cushion including a flange connected to the frame, an inner rim defining an opening to the inner chamber of the frame, and a sealing portion disposed between the flange and the inner rim to contact the wearer's face. The sealing portion includes a nasal seal section to span a wearer's face above the wearer's nares, side seal sections extending from each side of the nasal seal section on both sides of the wearer's mouth, and a chin seal section that extends between the side seal sections. The chin seal section is upwardly curved in an arch to follow the chin's bony contour.
US07958892B2	Air delivery system An air delivery system includes a controllable flow generator, a primary controller, and an auxiliary controller. The flow generator is operable to generate a supply of pressurized breathable gas to be provided to a patient for treatment. The primary controller is associated with at least one primary control feature to select at least a first aspect of operation of the flow generator. The auxiliary controller is associated with at least one auxiliary control feature to select at least a second aspect of operation of the flow generator. The second aspect selected by the auxiliary controller is different than the first aspect selected by the primary controller. The primary and auxiliary controllers may be interchangeably usable to control operation of the flow generator.
US07958882B1	Collapsible barbeque system A tub in a generally rectilinear configuration has a rear face, a front face and side faces. The tub has a closed bottom and an open top. The tub contains heating elements with controls in the front face. The controls are adapted to be manipulated by a user during operation and use. A lid in a generally rectilinear configuration has a posterior element and an anterior element. The posterior element has a rear face, an open front and side faces. The posterior element has an open bottom and a closed top. The anterior element has a front face, an open rear and side faces. The posterior element has an open bottom and a closed top. The rear of the anterior element is adapted to slidably couple with respect to the front of the posterior element. In this manner movement is provided between an expanded and contracted orientation.
US07958876B2	Projectile expelling apparatus The present invention provides for the first time a projectile expelling apparatus having at least one fixed channel for allowing projectiles to enter at a constant entry point and a rotational expelling housing rotationally connected to at least one fixed channel for projecting projectiles at various trajectories.
US07958872B1	Airless engine with gas and water recycling An internal-combustion engine receives no air from outside atmosphere. Instead, combustion gas expelled from the engine is cooled and recycled back into the engine. That gas contains no nitrogen and consists mostly of carbon dioxide and water vapor. Oxygen and fuel are added to the recycled gas, and the resulting mixture is used to perform an internal-combustion cycle. Cooling that gas condenses its water vapor, and liquid water is separated from the gas. That water is used for injection into the recycled gas at a later time. A small amount of the expelled combustion gas is discharged into outside environment, and the rest is recycled. Water too is recycled back into the engine, and whatever is lost to outside environment is replaced by reclaiming water produced in combustion. No additional supply of water is needed. Since no nitrogen is present, no nitrogen oxides are produced. The amount of other harmful exhaust emissions is greatly reduced too, since most of them are recycled back into the engine. Water evaporation in the cylinders greatly improves fuel economy. The engine is inherently supercharged with combustion-gas pressure, and no turbocharger is needed. Since the combustion gas is heavier than air, the engine can be substantially smaller than a conventional engine of equal power. A smaller engine has less friction.
US07958871B2	Combustion air supply arrangement The invention relates to a combustion air supply arrangement, including an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine, and a compressor arranged in the air intake duct, and a first throttle located downstream the compressor and upstream the internal combustion engine and arranged to change the flow area of the air intake duct between the compressor and the internal combustion engine, the same furthermore including a second throttle, which is located upstream the compressor and which is arranged to change the flow area of the air intake duct upstream the compressor. Furthermore, the compressor is a centrifugal compressor, the rotational speed of which is directly dependent on the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, and that the combustion air supply arrangement is arranged in such a way that the sucked-in air is compressed once between the second throttle and the internal combustion engine.
US07958869B2	Internal combustion engine with mixed camshafts and method for operating an internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine which operates in accordance with an auto-ignition principle includes at least one working cylinder, at least two inlet valves per working cylinder and at least one outlet valve per working cylinder. The internal combustion engine has a first camshaft and a second camshaft. The second camshaft actuates at least one of the inlet valves per working cylinder and actuates at least one outlet valve per working cylinder. The internal combustion engine has an adjuster disposed at the second camshaft. The adjuster adjusts valve control times of the inlet and outlet valves actuated by the second camshaft selectively in an early direction and a late direction in relation to valve control times of the first camshaft. A method for operating an internal combustion engine is also provided.
US07958868B2	Control device for vehicle A vehicle control device for a hybrid vehicle, which equipped with at least an internal combustion engine and a rotary electrical machine that reduces the shock that is imparted to a vehicle when the internal combustion engine starts. The vehicle control device detects the running state of the vehicle and, if it is determined that the internal combustion engine will be started, adjusts the ignition timing according to the running state of the vehicle. The control device also improves the responsiveness of the hybrid vehicle when increased acceleration is required.
US07958866B2	Method and system for closed loop lambda control of a gaseous fueled internal combustion engine A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides for improved lambda control utility that includes the following: the introduction of an inner control loop to the lambda control based on the pressure of the gaseous fuel downstream of the fuel control valve and upstream of the carburetor relative to the pressure of the air at the inlet of the carburetor, and the introduction of operating point based dynamic parameter scheduling in the lambda feedback control loop. The combination of these enhancements, working together, will allow an engine system to consistently meet the mandated performance requirements via tighter lambda control in the presence of set point changes and load disturbances.
US07958863B2	Intake device for internal combustion engine In an intake device for an internal combustion engine, in which a valve body rotatable about a valve shaft is provided within an intake passage and by which an intake flow is controlled, the valve shaft is eccentric with a center of the valve body and is supported at a position eccentric with a center of the intake passage. When the valve body rotates, a half open state is formed from a fully closed state via a fully open state. The butterfly-type intake control valve are simply altered, so that the fully closed state, the fully open state, and the half open state can be formed and the vortex flow can be formed into the cylinder.
US07958861B2	Oil sump for an internal combustion engine An oil pan for an internal combustion engine, in which an oil suction space is formed by the arrangement of a baffle wall provided with several through-openings and at least one flap, where at least one retaining device, on which the flap is supported and/or fastened, is provided on the baffle wall, wherein several fastening openings of different cross sections are provided in the flap to attach the flap to the retaining device.
US07958857B2	Cam phaser helical bias spring having a square end for retention A helical phaser bias spring including at least one linear region and an adjacent region having a radius of curvature less than that of the helix. A channel in the phaser receives the linear region of the spring and adjacent region to lock the spring to the phaser at either the rotor or the stator. Preferably, the spring includes two linear regions separated by a bend of about 90°. Additional linear regions are possible, separated by right and/or other angle bends. In a phaser rotor or stator, the geometric shape required to hold a spring end having a flat is easier to form with powdered metal tooling or diecasting than is a circular, radial, or axial shape for receiving a spring tang as in the prior art, the packaging volume required for the spring is smaller, and spring friction is lowered.
US07958856B2	Adjusting device for an internal combustion engine, in particular camshaft adjusting device In an adjusting device for an internal combustion engine, in particular a camshaft adjusting device, an adjusting unit is provided which comprises at least one currentless sensor unit for carrying out in at least one mode an adjustment as a function of a momentary phase angle between cooperating relatively rotatable members.
US07958852B2	Once-through boiler Disclosed herein is a once-through boiler capable of achieving a steep increase in temperature of steam via reheating of the steam within a combustion chamber, thereby improving heat and energy efficiency. The boiler comprises a body (110), a steam supply unit (120), and a heating unit (130). The body includes a housing (111), a cover (112), and a guide pipe (113). The steam supply unit includes an annular water tank (122) in a lower region of the body, a steam supply chamber (124) in an uppermost region of the body, water pipes (121) amounted on the water tank, a low-temperature steam inlet pipe (125) and a high-temperature steam outlet pipe (127) mounted at opposite sides of the water pipes, and a steam heating pipe (126) to communicate the inlet pipe with the outlet pipe. The heating unit includes a burner (131), and a combustion chamber (132).
US07958850B2	Cage for breeding hens and cocks A cage is provided which is sanitary and efficient and can make hens who tend to gather at the four corners scatter. An oblong and rectangular cage having a floor formed to allow hens and cocks to move freely thereon. The cage includes an outer peripheral section substantially surrounding the entire floor and allowing air to freely pass through it. The cage also includes a plurality of intermediate partitions that are arranged transversally relative to the floor to divide the oblong space on the floor. The intermediate partitions have visually blockading surfaces in order to produce corners that are as relaxing to hens as the four corners.
US07958848B2	Method for artificial breeding of farmed sturgeon A method for artificial breeding of farmed sturgeon is disclosed. The method comprises of growing a plurality of fingerling sturgeon; obtaining a plurality of juvenile sturgeon; identifying at least one male juvenile sturgeon and at least one female juvenile sturgeon; Feeding a predetermined amount of a preselected food material to the male and female sturgeon; Determining maturity based on at least controlling sex hormones and stress hormones of the male and female sturgeon; identifying at least one male matured sturgeon and at least one female matured sturgeon; and Selecting male matured sturgeon and female matured sturgeon, wherein said female matured sturgeon carries a predetermined amount of ovule and wherein said predetermined amount of ovule is processed to obtain a predetermined amount of caviar.
US07958847B2	Coated clumping litter A clumping animal litter is disclosed which includes non-swelling particles and a swelling agent coated on the non-swelling particles. In one embodiment, the non-swelling particles are manufactured by agglomerating clay fines.
US07958846B2	Animal litter device The present invention relates to an automatic device and method for disposing of animal waste. The device and method utilizes an absorbent pad that is automatically advanced and seals upon itself with an adhesive and/or projections to prevent excrement and odors from exiting the roll.
US07958841B2	Apparatus for printing of three-dimensional objects An apparatus to help control the quality of printed three-dimensional objects is provided. The apparatus may include a printing head to print a three-dimensional object and a printing tray having defined surface characteristics serving to control adherence of the object being printed to the printing tray and/or prevent deformations in the printed object.
US07958840B2	Method and apparatus for coating of substrates The invention relates to methods and apparatuses that reduce problems encountered during coating of a device, such as a medical device having a cylindrical shape. In an embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus including a bi-directional rotation member. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method with a bi-directional indexing movement. In an embodiment, the invention includes a coating solution supply member having a major axis oriented parallel to a gap between rollers on a coating apparatus. In an embodiment, the invention includes a device retaining member. In an embodiment, the invention includes an air nozzle or an air knife. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method including removing a static charge from a small diameter medical device.
US07958838B1	Watercraft hull A watercraft hull has a hull body defining a bow, a transom, and a longitudinal centerline extending from the bow to the transom along a center of the hull body. The hull body has an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of ribs extends at an angle to the longitudinal centerline on the inner surface.
US07958837B1	Multiple trim modulation system A multiple trim modulation system for efficiently and simultaneously controlling multiple trim devices upon a marine vessel. The multiple trim modulation system generally includes a plurality of trim devices movably mounted to a watercraft and a controller adapted to control the plurality of trim devices. The controller includes a plurality of adjustment modes, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment modes moves the plurality of trim devices in a simultaneous manner. The plurality of trim devices either move towards a similar direction or move towards an opposing direction depending on a corresponding mode of the plurality of adjustment modes.
US07958833B2	Presser foot device for sewing machine and sewing machine provided therewith A presser foot device for a sewing machine includes a presser bar mounted on a head provided at a distal end of an arm and having a lower end having a presser foot, the presser foot device lifting the presser foot upward and downward together with the presser bar, the presser foot device further including a first shaft, a support unit configured to support the first shaft, and a presser foot lifting lever configured to move the presser foot upward and downward, the presser foot lifting lever being rotatably connected to the support unit by the first shaft. The support unit is rotatable between a first position where the presser foot lifting lever is located below the arm of the sewing machine and a second position where the presser foot lifting lever is located behind the head of the sewing machine.
US07958829B1	Sabot A sabot with exactly two complimentary halves, wherein each half portion comprises teeth configured to interlock with teeth of the other half portion. The sabot may further comprise a semi-circular groove configured in the teeth of each half portion. Also, each half portion may comprise at least one indented conical end. Preferably, on each half portion, the teeth are spaced apart from the at least one indented conical end. Moreover, each half portion may comprise translucent polycarbonate material. Furthermore, each half portion may be adapted to flush mount together to form a substantially cylindrical configuration when the teeth are interlocked. Additionally, the sabot may further comprise a semi-circular groove configured in the teeth of each half portion, wherein the semi-circular groove extends to the at least one indented conical end.
US07958827B1	Non-pyrotechnic explosion simulation device In example embodiments, a device for producing a simulated explosion that can be used with a soda bottler or other commonly available containers. A coupler couples a rupturable container to a non-pyrotechnic explosive device.
US07958824B2	Security enhanced blasting apparatus, and method of blasting Blasting apparatuses are disclosed that include enhanced security features, including biometric analysis of specific biological features of a candidate blast operator, thereby to generate a biometric signature. Other corresponding methods relate to cross-referencing of biometric signatures between components of the blasting system. Additional security features of the blasting apparatuses, and corresponding methods of blasting employing the blasting apparatuses, are also disclosed.
US07958822B2	Method for forming an image in stone An application for a method of imbedding an image in a stone substrate includes printing an image onto a print image using a computer printer and placing the print image face down on the surface of the stone substrate. A moist towel is placed over the print image and a weight is placed over the moist towel then time is provided for the image to transfer from the print image to the surface of the stone substrate. The moist towel and the print image are then removed and the above steps are repeated until a quality image is imbedded in the stone substrate.
US07958820B2	Compactor construction A compactor for compacting and dewatering debris comprises a housing having an inlet for enabling debris to be delivered to forwarding augers which forward the debris to a compaction chamber at the discharge end of the housing. The chamber has an outlet opening of less cross-sectional area than that of the chamber, thereby ensuring compaction of the debris as it moves toward discharge. Debris enroute to discharge may be sprayed with water to remove sludge-like substances which otherwise would cling to some types of debris.
US07958818B2	Method and apparatus for continuous curding A soy curding apparatus for continuously producing soy curd from soy milk including a pump for pumping soy milk and soy curd; a coagulator dispensing apparatus positioned for adding a coagulant; an expansion chamber to produce a pre soy curd mixture; a maturing apparatus to allow further mixing and maturing of the soy curd; a whey separating apparatus for separating the whey from the curd; a tower to remove residual whey to form a plug of soy curd of a desired consistency and moisture content and to cut a block from the soy plug; a conveyor apparatus adapted to receive and transport the block from the tower.
US07958816B2	Multi-function beverage brewer and cup A multi-function beverage brewer and cup (10) is taught that includes a travel mug (20) with a filter basket (26) that is removably placed within a top opening of the travel mug. A brewed beverage is created by pouring hot water over tea leafs or coffee grounds that have been placed into the filter basket. A storage container (38), including a lid (40), is used to retain additional tea leafs or coffee grounds and is removably attached to the travel mug. A holding cup (54) engages a lower outside surface of the travel mug for storage. When a beverage is brewed the holding cup and filter basket are removed from the travel mug and the filter basket containing tea leaf or coffee ground residue are stored in the holding cup and a basket/cup cover (34) encloses the holding cup.
US07958813B1	Aircraft ordinance mounting system An ordnance mounting system for a helicopter operatively supports a weaponry support beam above an upwardly projecting floor obstruction in a cabin area of the helicopter, between opposite cabin door openings, with the support beam longitudinally extending transversely through the cabin area, and outer weaponry mounting end portions of the support beam projecting outwardly through the door openings beyond opposite fuselage side walls of the helicopter. The mounting system may be secured to door opening sill structures, or the cabin ceiling or side walls, and permits vertical bending flexure of the installed support beam due to flight and weaponry weight loads on the outer ends of the support beam.
US07958807B2	Upper tool device and punch therefor An upper tool device includes: a punch body having a punch blade at a lower end of the punch body; a punch guide into which the punch body is fitted so as to be movable in vertical direction; an adjustment screw member provided above the punch guide, the adjustment screw member screwed with a screw formed on the punch body; a stripper unit including an urging unit urging the punch body in an upward direction; and a retainer collar including a stopper piece having a tip end disengageably engaged with a stopper formed on the punch body. In the device, the stripper unit is detachably provided in the upper tool device, and the retainer collar is provided between the punch guide and the stripper unit in a manner such that the retainer collar can be relatively rotated against the stripper unit.
US07958800B2	Actuation device An actuation device is provided for actuating a traction element (5), the actuation element comprising in particular a pivotally mounted force transmission element (1) for transferring an actuation force to the traction element (5). The force transmission element comprises first stop means (7), the actuation device further comprises second stop means (9), whereby a possible angle of rotation of the force transmission element (1) is limited. The first stop means (7) and/or the second stop means (9) comprise(s) a resilient element. A stop is thereby dampened and when the first stop means (7) butts against the second stop means (9) energy absorbed by the resilient element (7) can be used to assist a movement of the force transmission element (1) in an opposite direction.
US07958796B2	Screw-driven fan device A screw-driven fan device includes a screw, a screw nut, a fan, and a connecting unit. An external edge of the screw has a rolling groove formed thereon and a groove formed alternately with the rolling groove. The screw nut, disposed on the screw, has a linking portion. The fan has a rotary axle with a hole formed thereon for screw passing through. The fan further has blades surrounding the rotary axle. The hole has a flange formed on an interior side thereof and engaged with the groove. The connecting unit has a space therein such that the fan can be placed in the space.
US07958793B2	Sample system for fluid samples Disclosed herein are embodiments of a sampling system for fluid samples having sample receiving vessel for receiving the sample, which is sealed by a septum and holder for the sample receiving vessel for receiving and holding the sample receiving vessel and also a sample probe for dipping into a fluid volume and for taking a fluid sample from the fluid volume, the sample probe being configured as a hollow volume which, at one end, has a first opening for introducing the holder and the sample receiving vessel and, at another end, is sealed by a first valve which is provided with a hollow needle which projects into the interior of the sample probe said valve being able to be opened by contact with at least one of the group comprising the holder and the sample receiving vessel and then connecting the exterior of the sample probe to the inner volume of the hollow needle.
US07958791B2	Cryogenic storage device comprising a transponder A method for operating a cryostorage device (100), especially for biological samples, is described which comprises a sample carrier (10) to receive at least one sample (11) and a data storage (20), wherein data are inductively transmitted from the data storage device (20) into a wireless transmission channel (40) and/or conversely using a resonant circuit (30) connected to the data storage device (20).
US07958787B2	Oilfield tubular torque wrench A method for measuring applied torque of a oilfield tubular torque wrench, the oilfield torque wrench being operable to torque a tubular about an axis of rotation and the oilfield torque wrench including a lower tong including a recess through which the axis of rotation passes during operation; an upper tong including a recess, the upper tong being mounted above the lower tong with the recess of the upper tong positioned above the recess of the lower tong so that the axis of rotation passes therethrough; pipe gripping dies in the recesses of the upper tong and the lower tong; a swivel bearing between the upper tong and the lower tong permitting the upper tong and the lower tong to swivel relative to each other while the recesses remain positioned with the axis of rotation passing therethrough; a drive system connected between the upper tong and the lower tong, the drive system being operable to generate a force vector to drive the upper tong and lower tong to swivel on the swivel bearing, the method comprising: determining at least one of (i) the actual radius measurement measured perpendicularly to the force vector and between the force vector and the axis of rotation of the tubular, and (ii) the actual force measurement of that force being applied to torque the connection; and calculating torque based on the at least one measurement. A torque wrench includes systems for measuring actual radius and/or actual force.
US07958784B2	Pressure detector and electronic apparatus having the same A pressure detector configured to detect a predetermined pressure includes a housing having a concave that includes a perforation hole that perforates the housing, a sheet configured to cover the concave and to rupture when placed in an environment of the predetermined pressure or higher, and a semipermeable membrane configured to cover one end of the perforation hole, and to allow air to pass through the semipermeable membrane, the semipermeable membrane being configured to prevent water from passing through the semipermeable membrane.
US07958781B2	Vibrating structure gyroscope A gyroscope structure 41 includes ring structure 42 supported from a central hub 43 by eight compliant support legs 44a to 44h. Primary drive transducers 45a and 45b and secondary drive transducers 46a and 46b are all located around and in spaced relationship with the external periphery of the ring structure 42 to create capacitive gaps and primary pick-off transducers 47a and 47b and secondary pick-off transducers 48a and 48b are all located around and in spaced relationship with the internal periphery of the ring structure 42 to create capacitive gaps. The gyroscope structure 41 includes sixteen capacitor plates 49a to 49p in spaced relationship to the ring structure 42 to create capacitive gaps. Two groups of capacitive plates 49a to 49d and 49i to 49l are all located around the internal periphery of the ring structure 42 and two groups of capacitor plates 49e to 49h and 49m to 49p are all located around the external periphery of the ring structure 42. Each capacitor plate 49a to 49p is arranged to generate a predetermined electrostatic force, which acts upon the ring structure 42 to locally adjust the stiffness of the ring structure 42. The positioning of the transducers 45a to 48b and capacitor plates 49a to 49p reduces the effect of variation a capacitive gap with ring structure 42 due to temperature change, thereby improving the scalefactor of the gyroscope structure.
US07958779B2	Angular velocity/angular acceleration calculator, torque estimator, and combustion state estimator An angular velocity/angular acceleration calculator of the crankshaft in an internal combustion engine includes a crank angle detection device, a crank angle correction device, and an angular velocity/angular acceleration calculation device. The crank angle detection device detects a crank angle in the internal combustion engine and a time at the crank angle. The crank angle correction device corrects the crank angle and the time thus detected to an equiangular crank angle and a time corresponding thereto. The angular velocity/angular acceleration calculation device calculates an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of the crankshaft by converting a function of the time with respect to the crank angle that are corrected by the crank angle correction device so as to be regarded as a periodic function, and utilizing the discrete Fourier transform of the converted function.
US07958776B2	Atomic force gradient microscope and method of using this microscope A scanning probe microscope in which the probe is oscillated at a frequency lower than its resonant frequency, a force sensor that is sensitive to the bending of the cantilever and minimally sensitive to the oscillation is used to measure tip-sample interaction force. The sensor signal is then converted to a force gradient signal by electronics. The gradient signal is kept constant by a feedback mechanism as the tip is scanned across the surface of a sample, and force and topographical information are mapped.
US07958772B2	Density and viscosity sensor A density and viscosity sensor 1 for measuring density and viscosity of fluid F, the sensor 1 comprising a resonating element 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D arranged to be immersed in the fluid F, an actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B coupled to the resonating element, and a connector 7 for coupling to the actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B. The sensor 1 further comprises a housing 2 defining a chamber 8A isolated from the fluid F, the housing 2 comprising an area of reduced thickness defining a membrane 9 separating the chamber 8A from the fluid F. The actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B is positioned within the chamber so as to be isolated from the fluid F and mechanically coupled to the membrane 9. The resonating element 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D arranged to be immersed in the fluid F is mechanically coupled to the membrane 9. The membrane 9 has a thickness enabling transfer of mechanical vibration between the actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B and the resonating element 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D.
US07958771B2	Photoacoustic sensor Various embodiments of the application provide a photoacoustic sensor, which includes: a gas cell having an opening; a light source to generate a radiation to radiate sample gas within the gas cell; a detector to detect the sample gas within the gas cell, and to generate electrical signals in response to acoustic signals generated by pressure fluctuations of the radiated sample gas caused by the radiation; and an active valve having a speaker aligned with the opening of the gas cell. The speaker having a voice coil and a diaphragm attached to the voice coil. A control signal is applicable for the speaker to control access of the gas cell. During sampling, the control signal causes the voice coil of the speaker to repeatedly or constantly lift the diaphragm from contact with the opening of the gas cell to allow sample gas enter the gas cell. While during detecting, the spring force of the voice coil causes the diaphragm in tight contact with the opening of gas cell to seal the gas cell.
US07958770B2	Heated transfer line for use in high temperature microwave chromatography A heat transfer line assembly is disclosed for microwave heated chromatography instruments. Analytical instruments incorporating a microwave oven including the heated transfer lines are also disclosed as well as methods for making and using same.
US07958769B2	Detection of channel saturation in phase-array ultrasonic non-destructive testing The present invention relates to a method of detecting non-linear operation of a measuring device comprising an array of transducers and at least one receiver channel portion. The method comprises receiving measured signals through transducers of the array, processing the measured signals from the transducers through the receiver channel portion, combining the processed measured signals to produce a combined measurement signal, and detecting non-linearity of the combined measurement signal and non-linear operation of the measuring device by detecting saturation of the receiver channel portion. In one embodiment, the receiver channel portion comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a threshold is assigned to a digital output of the analog-to-digital converter, and saturation of the receiver channel portion is detected when the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter oversteps the assigned threshold. In one application of the invention, the measuring device is a non-destructive testing device.
US07958763B2	Apparatus and process for reducing profile variations in sheet metal stock An apparatus and process for reducing variations in the profile of a sheet metal stock are shown and described. The process includes the use of two passes, each comprising two smoothing surfaces. The smoothing surfaces of each pass are mateable to define a profile between the smoothing surfaces. The profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the first pass is substantially the inverse of the profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the second pass. As a sheet metal is processed between the first and second passes, it is formed with the first profile and the second profile thereby reducing variations in the profile of the sheet metal.
US07958762B1	Apparatus and method for forming straight tubes from coiled tubing An apparatus for straightening a coiled tubing has an injector that receives the coiled tubing, a straighter that straightens the coiled tubing from the injector, and a shear that cuts the straightened coiled tubing. The straightener has a frame having a first section rotatably connected to a second section, an actuator connected to the second section, and a straightening wheel connected to the actuator. The injector has a first drive chain and a second drive chain. The first and second drive chains each have semi-circular members forming circular channels that grab an outer surface of the coiled tubing. The shear has a trolley, a clamp, a tubing cutter, a return mechanism, and an automated controller. The automated controller actuates the clamp and the tubing cutter while the trolley translates along rails from a first position to a second position.
US07958756B2	Gasket and a washing machine having the same An improved gasket (1) for a drum-type washing machine comprises a front flange (11) and a rear flange (15). Between the front flange (11) and the rear flange (15), a first substantially U-shaped section (13) connects to the front flange (11) and a second section (14) connects said first section (13) and the rear flange (15), wherein said second section (14) has a substantially flat contour at a lower position and increasingly curves outwardly from the axis from the lower position to a lateral position while decreasingly curves outwardly from the axis from the lateral position to an upper position opposite to said lower position. In such a configuration, said gasket (1) can absorb the greater vibration occurred in the lateral position in a normal washing operation process.
US07958753B2	Apparatus and method for producing an end of an optical fiber bundle and improved optical fiber bundle made with same A method and apparatus are described, which permit a simple, rapid manufacture of an end of an optical fiber bundle. According to the method a metallic sleeve is placed on an end section of the bundle, the end section with the sleeve on it is positioned in a shaping tool without pressing the sleeve and then pressure is exerted on the sleeve exclusively in a radial direction by press jaws of the shaping tool. In the optical fiber bundle made by the method the outer optical fibers (4′) of the optical fiber bundle (1) are embedded at least partially in the sleeve material. The apparatus for making the end of the bundle (1) with the sleeve (10) has a shaping tool (20) including at least two radially movable press jaws (22a-22f) that substantially surround the sleeve (10).
US07958752B2	Method and apparatus for distributing fibrous material A method for distributing fibrous material, wherein fibrous material, which is fiberized by a spinner of a fiberizing unit, is accumulated on a collection conveyor disposed under the spinner, is characterized by rotatably disposing a hollow cylindrical bucket at a position just under the spinner, the hollow cylindrical bucket having a two-stage structure comprising an upper stage part and a lower stage part, the lower stage part being inclined at an angle with respect to a rotary axis of the hollow cylindrical bucket; and rotating the hollow cylindrical bucket, dispersing the fibrous material in the hollow cylindrical bucket and accumulating the fibrous material on the collection conveyor after flowing down the fibrous material in the hollow cylindrical bucket.
US07958749B2	Floating mount bottom plate holder in a glassware forming machine A glassware mold bottom plate mounting arrangement in a glassware forming machine includes a floating ring captured by a cap plate on a base for limited lateral movement with respect to the base and the cap plate. A hollow spud is rigidly secured to and extends from the ring. A cooling wind passage in the base opens through the hollow spud, and a vacuum passage in the base opens through the ring at a position spaced from the spud. A glassware mold bottom plate is removably telescopically received over the ring and the spud. The bottom plate has a central air passage received over the spud, an annular recess received over the ring, and a peripheral air passage that opens into the annular recess such that the central and peripheral air passages open to the cooling wind and vacuum passages in the base through the spud and the ring respectively. The spud and the ring preferably have external seals in respective sliding sealing engagement with the central air passage and the annular recess in the bottom plate. There preferably are face seals between the base and the floating ring, and between the ring and an undersurface of the cap plate.
US07958748B2	Isopipe design feature to reduce sag Disclosed is an isopipe for use in the manufacture of sheet glass by, and more specifically to an isopipe designed to control sag during use, as well as a method for reducing the sag of an isopipe used in a fusion process for molten glass. In one embodiment, the isopipe comprises a cavity that extends at least partially through the refractory body of the isopipe along its longitudinal length. The cavity has varying cross-sections configured such that, for at least a portion of the length of the isopipe, the load bending moment is greater than or generally equal to the gravity bending moment. In one embodiment, the neutral axis varies along the length of the cavity and has a similar profile to that of the gravity bending moment diagram.
US07958746B2	Method for producing a glass ceramic having a garnet phase The invention proposes a method for producing glass ceramics which is particularly well suited as light conversion material, especially for down conversion. One initially produces a starting glass, containing (on an oxide basis) 5-50% by weight of SiO2, 5-50% by weight of Al2O3 and 10-80% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the from the group formed by Y2O3, Lu2O3, Sc2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3, as well as 0.1-30% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the group formed by B2O3, Th2O3, and oxides of the lanthanoids, except Lu2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3. Thereafter, the material is heated up for ceramization at a heating rate of at least 100 K/min to a temperature in the range of between 1000° C. to 1400° C. until crystallites are formed that contain a garnet phase. Thereafter, the material is cooled down to room temperature. Alternatively, controlled cooling-down from the molten state is possible.
US07958745B2	Method of making a coated three-dimensionally shaped glass ceramic body, especially a fireplace or oven viewing window pane The method produces a coated three-dimensionally shaped glass ceramic body, especially a viewing window pane, which is provided with a reflective, anti-reflective or partially reflective layer. The method includes coating a flat green glass body to produce a coated green glass body and subsequently shaping the coated green glass body and ceramizing to form the coated three-dimensionally shaped glass ceramic body. In preferred embodiments the shaping the ceramizing occur at the same time. The reflective or anti-reflective coating is preferably applied to the green-glass body by an economical sol-gel process.
US07958744B1	Refrigerant line purging apparatus An apparatus for safely and efficiently purging refrigerant lines interconnected with residential and light commercial air conditioning systems. Enhanced safety is achieved by enabling the operator to conduct purge operations away from enclosed areas such as attics and crawlspaces. Efficient use of solvent is achieved by simultaneously connecting a refrigerant line connector to the evaporator end of both suction line and liquid line and discharging solvent and compressed gas through a solvent bridge connected to the compressor end of the liquid line. Thorough contaminant removal enables retrofitting air conditioning systems for use with newer, legally required refrigerants.
US07958743B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator including a bulkhead partitioning an inner space of the refrigerator, a duct part provided to the bulkhead to guide a cold air to the inner space of the refrigerator, at least one rack configured to divide the inner space partitioned by the bulkhead into sub-spaces, the at least one rack configured to support an object to be stored, and at least one support part provided in one of the bulkhead and the duct part to support the rack.
US07958742B2	Dispenser and refrigerator having the same A refrigerator which includes a dispenser installed at a door so as to enable a user to extract water or ice without opening a door. The dispenser includes a case forming an extraction section which is a space through which the desired object is extracted, a push button installed to the case and causing the desired object to be extracted by push operation, a cover having an opening formed by cutting out part thereof and pivotably installed to the case so as to open and close the extraction section, and a lever hinged to the cover so as to open and close the opening and pushing the push button while the opening is open. Therefore, a front appearance of the refrigerator is beautifully maintained. Further, the refrigerator prevents foreign materials such as dust from entering extraction ports through which the desired objects are extracted.
US07958739B1	Refrigeration hot gas desuperheater systems A system for desuperheating hot gaseous refrigerant using both a heat exchanger and a dispersed Venturi-driven injection of liquid refrigerant is disclosed. Further, a system, relating to cooling at least one compressed superheated refrigerant fluid prior to condensing, relating to extending the life of at least one condenser is disclosed.
US07958737B2	Method and control for preventing flooded starts in a heat pump A heat pump is provided with an improvement while switching from heating/cooling mode to a defrost mode. Prior to initiation of a defrost mode, an electronic expansion device is moved to an open position such that refrigerant can migrate between the indoor-outdoor heat exchangers. When the operation of the defrost cycle is initiated, there is a lower likelihood and severity of flooded starts, as the refrigerant, under existing pressure differential at system shutdown, will move to the heat exchanger that will be downstream of the compressor in the defrost mode. Thus, no flooded start will occur on the subsequent compressor start-up. After completion of the defrost cycle, the electronic expansion device is again opened prior to return to operation in the conventional heating/cooling mode. In case subsequent starts are in an identical mode of operation, the electronic expansion valve is kept closed during shutdown to minimize cyclic performance losses.
US07958736B2	Thermoelectric device and heat sink assembly with reduced edge heat loss An assembly that includes one or more thermoelectric devices and a heat sink and that corrects the problem of an uneven heating effect across the area occupied by the devices due to a lateral heat loss at the edges of the devices or other anomalies among the devices is constructed with a heat sink that contains voids in the slab or flat surface that is in thermal contact with the thermoelectric devices. The voids are located at or within the periphery of the area that is directly aligned with the thermoelectric devices and are concentrated in regions relatively close to the periphery, leaving an area in the center of the slab that is either void-free or of a relatively low void density.
US07958734B2	Cover assembly for gas turbine engine rotor A cover assembly disposed about a rotor in a gas turbine engine. The cover assembly comprises a first cover, a second cover, and securing structure. The first cover is disposed about the rotor and comprises a forward end and an opposed aft end. The first cover is associated with a case mounting structure that is fixed to an engine casing. The second cover is disposed about the rotor and comprises a forward end and an opposed aft end. At least a portion of the first cover is disposed radially outwardly from the second cover. The securing structure couples the first cover to the second cover and permits relative radial movement between the first and second covers.
US07958732B2	Internal detonation reciprocating engine A method of rotating a crank shaft and in internal detonation engine are provided. The internal detonation engine comprises a deflagration to detonation transition section. The deflagration to detonation transition section is connected to a main cylinder, which houses a piston. Inducing a detonation wave from the deflagration wave and passing the detonation wave through a fluid, gives rise to high pressure and temperature in a cylinder and pushes a piston towards bottom dead center. An internal detonation reciprocating engine may be a single cylinder and may be either a two or four stroke engine. A two-stroke internal detonation reciprocating engine is similar to a four-stroke internal detonation reciprocating engine but has different valve placements. Detonations produce a more thorough combustion of the fuel and may, thereby, yield reduced emissions of carbon monoxide as compared to internal combustion engines.
US07958724B2	Torque converter blade A blade for a torque converter including a body having an outer edge, the outer edge arranged to conform to an inner surface of a shell in the torque converter, the shell having at least two slots arranged therethrough, and a surface extending from the outer edge, the surface having at least two tabs, wherein the surface is arranged to conform to the inner surface of the shell to provide a fluid seal, the at least two tabs are disposed through the at least two slots and at least one of the at least two tabs is arranged to engage an outer surface of the shell. The invention further includes a torque converter including the present invention blades and a method of assembling the same.
US07958721B2	Regeneration system having integral purge and ignition device A regeneration device is disclosed. The regeneration device has an injector configured to inject pressurized fuel during an injection event. The regeneration device also has a heater configured to ignite the pressurized fuel during the injection event. The heater is also configured to purge the injector between injection events.
US07958717B2	Gas turbine power generator plant and silencer for the same A gas turbine power generator plant, intended to reduce its noise by making small the intake and exhaust outlets of the cooing air channel of a case, comprises an engine core in which a turbine, a compressor and a generator are installed on the same axis, a combustor for burning air for combustion compressed by the compressor and supplying the air to the turbine, a radiator for cooling a coolant or a lubricant, a cooling fan for ventilating the radiator with cooling air, an electric power converter for converting electric power generated by the generator, and the case for housing these constituent elements. And, a combustion air channel passing the compressor, the combustor and the turbine and a cooling air channel passing the radiator, the cooling fan and the electric power converter are formed as mutually independent channels from intake to exhaust.
US07958716B2	Gas production well secondary purpose turbine electric power generator system A natural gas production well secondary purpose turbine electric power generator system includes: a.) a natural gas production well from an underground or underwater natural gas well production field that produces natural gas at the surface at an elevated pressure of at least 500 psi and at least 200 psi in excess of desired pressure delivered to gas processing or gas distribution lines; b.) a natural gas valving subsystem connected to said well; and, c.) a power generating turbine subsystem, including at least one gas driven turbine located in at least one of said well and said gas valving subsystem.
US07958711B1	Crop deflector for ends of draper belt of flexible draper header The otherwise open end of the outboardmost belt guard over the interface between the flexible cutterbar assembly and flexible draper assembly of a harvesting header is closed by a deflector to prevent the ingress of crop residue into the void region defined beneath the overhanging belt guards. In this manner residue is prevented from migrating into the interior of the draper belt of the draper assembly.
US07958710B2	Lawn mower blade coupling system A rotary lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine having a power take-off. The mower further includes a connector adaptor attached to the power take-off, and a lawn mower blade. A connector base of the mower is attached to the blade. The connector base and the connector adaptor have extensions designed to interlock the connector base with the connector adaptor. At least one of the extensions forms a J-shaped structure arranged longitudinally along an axis of rotation of the connector base and connector adaptor.
US07958708B2	Apparatus and method for conditioning crop materials As crop materials are severed from the field, they pass through two successive pairs of counter-rotating conditioning rolls before being returned to the ground. The front rolls are preferably ribbed, metal rolls wherein the ribs of one roll are intermeshed with those of the other roll so as to crimp the stems of the crop materials as they pass between the rolls. The hard metal ribs also aggressively feed the materials rearwardly into the second set of rolls, which are preferably compressive surface rolls made of rubber or the like and provided with wide, intermeshed bars about their periphery. The tension mechanism for the rolls includes single-acting hydraulic cylinders that squeeze the rolls together to the extent permitted by adjustable stop structure used to set gaps between the rolls. In typical operations, the gap between the rear rolls is set to be considerably smaller than the gap between the front rolls. Great flexibility in the degree of conditioning experienced by the crop materials is achieved by the nature of the rolls and the ease with which roll pressure and spacing can be adjusted.
US07958702B2	Floral easel The present invention relates to an erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel.
US07958701B2	Pill dispenser with interchangeable platen having electronically readable identification A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. Several platens are provided, each of the plurality of platens having a machine-readable platen identifier. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is adapted to move in both an X axis and a Y axis and adapted to accept and hold a selected platen of a set of platens whereas the selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited and the machine-readable platen identifier is read by the device for dispensing pills to determine which of the plurality of platens is the selected platen.
US07958697B2	Process for aseptic packaging of sterile liquids in flexible containers A process for aseptic packaging of sterile liquids in flexible containers including a pre-chamber pressurized with a sterilized inert fluid that is injected through an auxiliary line and flows out to activate a sterile barrier such as to allow complete asepsis of the packaging process. A pressing device compresses the film to form a seal against the outer surface of the feed tube that introduces sterile liquid into the aseptic packaging chamber.
US07958696B2	Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
US07958695B2	Method and apparatus for use with a group of bales An improved method and apparatus is used with a group of bales. The group of bales is gripped with a bale handling apparatus. A flexible strip is positioned around the group of bales. The group of bales is then moved while the group of bales is gripped by the bale handling apparatus and while the flexible strip extends around the group of bales. The flexible strip is positioned relative to the group of bales by a positioning member which is connected with the bale handling apparatus.
US07958687B2	Concrete panel construction system A concrete building panel has a slab and a plurality of ribs and beams. A series of horizontal holes in the end ribs are spaced at a selected constant spacing such that adjacent panels may be fastened together through them. In one type of panel, the slab is separated from the ribs to provide an air gap. Connections between holes in two adjacent concrete wall panels are made by a hollow conduit having an abutment at either end to engage the concrete wall panels. Other connections between adjacent panels involve a stitch with legs which extend through holes in the beams. Other connections involve a space made by vertical channels of horizontally adjacent panels. A plate fitted into the space aligns the adjacent panels and may extend upwards to align upper panels. Load bearing horizontal holes through the ribs are reinforced with reinforcing bar in the concrete arranged in generally triangular shapes. The concrete panels are formed in a form with sub-forms aligned by rods which create horizontal holes of the desired size and placement when removed.
US07958686B1	Drain body support pan A drain support pan assembly has a drain body support pan which has a rectangular-shaped body connected to a rectangular-shaped drain receptacle body for use in floor drains. The distance between the support pan and receptacle body can be adjusted according to the depth of the floor space by selecting a predetermined length for the fasteners. The support pan has a center passageway for receiving a drain pipe and several slots that align with threaded passageways in the receptacle body for receiving the fasteners. The support pan contains concentric knock-out sections which can be removed for enlarging the diameter of the center passageway to accommodate varying diameter drain pipes or pipe connections for particular use in a deep floor space, and also has a rectangular knock-out section which can be removed for receiving the rectangular-shaped drain receptacle for use in a narrow floor space.
US07958685B2	Crown extrusion A decorative molding system and method of installation is provided that has a base piece and a crown piece that are adapted to be selectively engageable to each other. The molding system is easy to construct and allows for the separation of the base piece and crown piece for placing wiring or other materials behind the molding.
US07958683B2	Wall panel system An improved wall panel system is disclosed. The system includes framed panels having side frame members, a top frame member, and a bottom support structure. Also included are a plurality of connection components including a connector post, an I-beam shaped connector, connectors, and decorative caps.
US07958682B2	Window film anchoring device A window film anchoring having at least one film retaining limb, one frame retaining limb and central area, with the central area disposed between the at least one film retaining limb and the at least one frame retaining limb. In some embodiments, the device may have at least one anchor limb confluent with the central area working surface with at least one anchor ridge releasably engagable with at least one portion of a window frame. Windows barbs and anchor barbs may help attachment the device in use. In some embodiments, the body has a uniform material composition throughout, and may be attachable with double-sided tape, particularly with a heat activated double-sided tape. In another embodiment, the window film anchoring device may have a body with at least one film retaining limb at least one frame retaining limb and at least one central area having at least one bend promoting area.
US07958667B1	Bait well apparatus The bait well apparatus provides for hands-free carry of live bait within an ergonomically shaped apparatus. The concave inner surface fits against a user's hip or leg or even waist, depending upon the chosen wear location. A belt is provided that fits a user's waist or hips. A small optional belt is provided that fits a user's leg. The two clips disposed on the concave inner surface are selectively hooked over a given belt or other clothing item. The lid is hinged to open over the well within the body of the apparatus. The apparatus is provided in more than one size. One size, for example, holds 48 ounces of water. Another exemplary size holds up to 64 ounces of water.
US07958666B2	Decoy technology A motion-type predator decoy for attracting coyotes, wild dogs and other pest or nuisance predators for use in ranching, farming, recreation land management, public safety and sporting fields. The decoy has a support base for placement during use on an environmental surface. The base includes a downwardly disposed surface contact end of a predetermined lateral dimension and an upwardly disposed support end of a predetermined lateral dimension. The decoy also has a driven decoy mechanism connected to the support end of the base. The decoy mechanism includes an actuator and a flexible decoy member. The actuator generates vibrations and the decoy mechanism undergoes random longitudinal, radial and lateral movement components with respect to the base. A method of using the decoy is also disclosed.
US07958664B2	Automatic striated gun barrel cleaner An apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel having striations, which includes a cleaning device that comes in contact with the inner surface of the gun barrel as it is moved by a drive device installed inside a cylindrical main body. The cleaning device includes (i) a plurality of divided plates that fit atop the striations as a saddle and are slanted to correspond to a slope of the striations, (ii) cleaning members fixed to outer peripheries of the respective divided plates that come in contact with the inner surface of the gun barrel, and (iii) a cam device that converts a rotation of a drive motor installed inside the main body into a rectilinear movement in order to move the respective divided plates upward and downward.
US07958656B2	Portable or tow-behind snow melter A snow melter that may be used to melt snow. The snow melter includes a dump tank for receiving a quantity of snow to be melted. The melter also includes a melt tank and a heat exchanger. The melt tank separate from the dump tank. The heat exchanger heats the water in the melt tank. Water heated by the melt tank is allowed to flow from the melt tank into the dump tank to melt the snow in the dump tank. Doors may also be added to the dump tank to facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use. Further, the dump tank may also have an inclinable floor to further facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use.
US07958651B2	Clothes dryer rake An apparatus for retrieving articles from a dryer or otherwise retrieving article from places not easily accessible is described herein. The apparatus comprises a handle with a head attached thereto. The head can be mounted so as to be detachable, swivable, or interchangeable. The handle can be telescoping for further reaching capability or foldable for easy storage. The apparatus can provide illumination as well as be configured to reach into small, various shaped, and otherwise not easy to reach locations.
US07958650B2	Apparatus for drying foodstuffs The invention relates to an improved apparatus (1) for drying food-stuffs, comprising at least a centrifugation basket (5) for drying said product by its rotation, the lateral surface of said basket (5) being holed; a pin (13) rotating coupled with said at least a centrifugation basket (5); and a motor (12), mechanically coupled with said rotation pin (13); said apparatus (1) being characterised in that said motor (12) is a synchronous three-phase electric motor (12) and in that it comprises means (16) for controlling rotation of said motor (12) for adjusting the torque output by said motor (12) with respect to its rotation speed.
US07958648B1	Wall marking device and method of use thereof A device that provides an accurate means to mark a wall surface to aid in hanging a suspended object is herein disclosed, comprising an adhesive strip with small sealed plastic bubbles filled with dye or ink on a first side. At least one (1) ink bubble is positioned thereat a corresponding mounting aperture portions of the suspended object. The ink bubbles rupture under a small amount of applied pressure, thereby marking the wall surface. A second side of the marking device comprises adhesive, thereby allowing the device to be applied thereto the back surface of the suspended object to be hung on a wall, specifically locating where the mounting hardware needs to be installed. The marking device is then removed and the suspended object is secured by driving fasteners and other supporting hardware, using the indicating ink mark. Alternatively, the first side comprises identifying markings such as measurements, instructions, or advertising indicia.
US07958646B2	Slip resistant ruler A ruler including a slip resistant member, wherein the slip resistant member is operable to engage with a working surface to resist the sliding of the ruler when user applies force on the slip resistant member, and is disengaged from the working surface to allow the sliding of the ruler on the working surface when user releases force applied on the slip resistant member.
US07958645B1	Universal framing square The Chappell Universal Square™ solves the problems associated with standard framing squares and provides a dynamic framing square bearing novel indicia and a novel arrangement of same for direct application to framing members during construction of complicated framing systems of equal and/or unequal pitched members. Typically, squares are limited to use with a single base unit of measurement, e.g. inches or millimeters, and provide limited tabulated information for use in calculating lengths, distances, and angles at which to cut framing members. The present invention is a tool that provides universal applicability for use in building both simple and complex structures according to metric and standard/imperial measurement systems. The present invention provides tabulated calculations aligned with indicia that enable construction of equal and complex unequal pitch framing members without necessitating the execution of complex trigonometric calculations.
US07958644B2	Orientation sensing in a multi part device A device comprises a first part (1) which has user input means (10) and comprising a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation sensing system (11) for determining a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (01) of the first part (1) with respect to a reference coordinate frame (XYZ) defined by the earths gravity field (Fg) and magnetic field (Fm). A second part (2) comprises a display (20) for displaying orientation information (OI) on a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (02) of the second part (2), and sensing means (21) for sensing an one-degree-of-freedom or a two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part (2). Further, are provided means (5) for calculating the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (02) of the second part (2) from the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (01) of the first part (1) and the one-degree-of-freedom or the two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part (2), and means (6) for generating the orientation information (01) in response to the calculated three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (02) of the second part (2) to obtain correct display of the orientation information (01) independent on an orientation of the second part (2) with respect to the first part (1).
US07958643B1	Reticle A reticle comprises a horizontal section having horizontal section horizontal lines broken by horizontal section gaps between the horizontal section horizontal lines. A vertical section has vertical section vertical lines broken by vertical section gaps between the vertical section vertical lines. The horizontal section intersects the vertical section at a midpoint. A wide measurement ranging system includes range indicators including a highest range indicator, a plurality of intermediate range indicators, and a lowest range indicator. A height measurement ranging system has range indicators which include height measurement horizontal lines and which include a height measurement lowest range indicator closest to the vertical section, height measurement intermediate range indicators, and a height measurement highest range indicator.
US07958632B2	Flexible printed-circuit boards bonding method and printed circuit board A first wiring board, which is a flexible printed-circuit board, is bonded to a second wiring board. A plurality of protruding member are formed on the surface of the second wiring board. An adhesive is deposited on the surface of the second wiring board such that there is a thinner layer of the adhesive on the protruding member than in other areas. Subsequently, the first wiring board is placed on the second wiring board so that a portion of the first wiring board to be used for the wire-bonding is positioned above at least one of the protruding members. The first wiring board gets bonded to the second wiring board due to the adhesive.
US07958621B2	Method of manufacturing a rotor for a rotating electrical machine A method of manufacturing a rotor for a rotating electrical machine includes the steps of: preparing a first and a second pole core, a rotary shaft, and a field coil; press-fitting the rotary shaft into a through-hole of the first pole core so that the axes of the rotary shaft and the through-hole coincide with each other; mounting the field coil on one of the first and second pole cores; opposing the first and second pole cores to each other so that the axes of the through-holes thereof are in alignment with each other and contact surfaces thereof face each other with a maximum parallelism therebetween; press-fitting the second pole core onto the rotary shaft so that the contact surfaces of the first and second pole cores maximally contact with each other and the axis of the rotary shaft coincides with the axes of the through-holes of the pole cores.
US07958617B2	Screw, particularly for the electrical connection of a cable terminal to a railway track or the like A screw for the electrical connection of a cable terminal to a railway track or the like comprises a base body having an elongated shank having a longitudinal axis, a strike head connected with a first end of the shank, and threads for the removable connection of a strike organ or nut with a second end of the shank opposite said first end. The screw further comprises a support element manufactured separately from the base body and associated to the strike head so as to form a stroke that defines a cavity turned towards the second end of the shank. The screw is pre-assembled and the support element is substantially irreversibly connected to the base body.
US07958615B1	Nozzle mounting assembly A nozzle mounting assembly for an in-ground swimming pool cleaning system may comprise a plurality of mounting rings that are formed within the shell of a prefabricated swimming pool. The plurality of mounting rings may couple at a first end with a corresponding plurality of trim rings. The plurality of trim rings forms a flanged ring around each of the openings in the pool surface for cleaning nozzle mechanisms. The plurality of mounting rings may further couple with a corresponding plurality of nozzle retainer bodies, where the nozzle retainer bodies provide an interface for standard cleaning system fittings. Nozzle mounting assemblies may be adapted to a variety of pool types and surfaces, and may be sized for the floor surface, the steps or the walls of a swimming pool.
US07958614B2	Method of making a fastening device for visually indicating tension The present invention relates to fasteners and more specifically to a fastener adapted to visually indicate tension, and method of making thereof.
US07958613B2	Coupling for a clamp A method and an apparatus for use in coupling a pair of bar clamps. In one aspect, a coupling member for connecting a first clamp to a second clamp is provided. The coupling member includes a first member and a second member having an end pivotally attached to the first member. The coupling member further includes a connection member for attaching an end of each clamp to the coupling member. In another aspect, a connection member for coupling a pair of bar clamps is provided. In another aspect, a method of connecting a first bar clamp to a second bar clamp is provided.
US07958612B2	Low-pressure process apparatus A low-pressure process apparatus for processing a substrate comprises a base, a stage, a housing and at least one first roller set. The stage is disposed on the base for supporting the substrate. The housing is detachably disposed on the base moving between a first position and a second position, wherein when the housing is in a first position, the housing and the base form a chamber to receive the stage. When the housing is detached, the first roller set contacts and supports the housing to facilitate movement thereof in a first horizontal direction.
US07958610B2	Repair and resurfacing methods for use in remanufacturing a machine system A method of repairing a housing for a machine system includes returning an inner diameter of at least one bearing bore of the housing to a uniform diameter state. The at least one bearing bore is prepared for resurfacing via removing deeply entrapped grease from within pores in cast surface material of the housing subsequent to returning the inner diameter to a uniform diameter state. Subsequent to preparing the at least one bearing bore for resurfacing, it is resurfaced with a material different from cast material of the housing and bonded therewith, for example via thermal spray coating. Resurfacing a cast metallic component, of iron, steel, or the like with metal spray coating may include removing deeply embedded grease from pores of cast surface material of a cast component, in preparation for spraying the cast component with metal spray resurfacing material.
US07958609B2	Hydraulic device which is used to descale warm rolling products An apparatus for descaling hot rolled stock (17), being moved with respect to the apparatus, by spraying it with high pressure water, comprising at least one row of nozzle heads sweeping across the width of the rolled stock with a plurality of nozzle heads (20), each nozzle head being motor-driven in rotation about an axis of rotation (A) substantially perpendicular to the surface of the rolled stock and comprising at least two nozzles (1 to 8) which are disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation (A) is characterized by the nozzles (1 to 8) of each nozzle head (20) being arranged as closely as structurally possible to the circumference (25) of the nozzle head, whereby a spray pattern is created on the surface of the rolled stock in a way to at least touch the spray pattern of the adjacent nozzle head in the row of nozzle heads.
US07958607B2	Double ended peg In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastener with a first end and a second end, the fastener including a first member, a second member and biasing means, at least a first portion of the basing means being substantially parallel to at least a portion of the first member and at least a second portion of the basing means being substantially parallel to the at least a portion of the second member, the first and second members relatively pivotable at a first fulcrum intermediate the first and second ends and at a second fulcrum intermediate the first and second ends wherein the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are spaced apart relative to each other, jaws located between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum, a first handle at the first end of the fastener and a second handle at the second end of the fastener wherein squeezing of the first handle pivots the first and second members about the first fulcrum to open the jaws against closing bias provided by the biasing means and squeezing of the second handle pivots the first and second members about the second fulcrum to open the jaws against closing bias provided by the biasing means.
US07958599B2	Snap assembly friction hinge A friction hinge includes a socket made up of a compressible elastomer insert sleeve inside a relatively rigid cup substrate. The insert sleeve defines an opening with a lip around the opening, and a relatively rigid ball or other center portion can be snap assembled through the lip and opening to center itself in the socket. A mount portion extends through the opening off the ball/center portion, and hand pressure on the mount portion can adjust the angular position of the joint. The size of the ball/center portion relative to the size of the cup substrate causes dimensional compression of the insert sleeve, such as about 15% of its thickness. The compression of the insert sleeve creates a controlled friction force on the ball/center portion, so the snap assembly friction hinge works consistently over a long time and over wide temperature ranges.
US07958598B2	Vacuum cleaner Disclosed related to a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body in which a dust collector mount part is formed; a dust collector attached and removed at the dust collector mount part, and having a dust storage part in the inside; at least one of the compressing member reducing the volume of the dust stored in the dust storage part as arranged in the dust storage part movably; a power transfer unit transferring the driving force to the compressing members from outside as connected with the compressing members; and a control unit deciding the amount of the dust stored in the dust storage unit.
US07958597B2	Handheld vacuum cleaner A handheld vacuum cleaner having a housing with an electric motor, a fan driven by the motor, a debris emptying hole for removal of debris from a debris collecting compartment inside the vacuum cleaner, a lid pivotally hinged about a pivot axis and adapted to allow closing and opening of the debris emptying hole, a nozzle defining a nozzle opening in a forward end of the vacuum cleaner through which an air stream may be drawn for collecting debris, and at least two wheels, which are positioned adjacent the nozzle opening and are rotatable about a common rotation axis. The pivot axis for the lid and the rotation axis for the wheels are located on a common axis.
US07958594B2	Central vacuum cleaner cross-controls A vacuum cleaning system for use in a structure. System has receiver adapted to receive communication that an appliance has been activated, and a control circuit adapted to control the central vacuum cleaning system upon receipt of a communication at the receiver that the appliance has been activated. Example appliances include doorbell, telephone or ERV. System may have a communication module that communicates with corresponding appliance communication module. The system communication module may transmit communications to the appliance communication module. Alternatively, the appliance communication module may transmit communications to the system communications module. The modules may both receive and transmit. Preferably, communications between modules are radio frequency (RF) wireless, however wired communications, where wiring is possible or available, are also suitable.
US07958593B2	Wiper mechanism In one embodiment, the present invention includes a protective member to be adapted about a roller of a moving assembly and to ride along a path of the roller. In this way, debris is prevented from contacting the roller. In one particular embodiment, the protective member may have an internal portion with a frusto-circular shape.
US07958584B2	Load size measuring apparatus and method A method and apparatus for measuring a size of a load in a basket that is rotatably supported is presented. The method comprises determining an acceleration energy (AE) required to accelerate the basket; determining a friction energy (FE) required to maintain a stable rotational speed of the basket; subtracting the friction energy (FE) from the acceleration energy (AE) to obtain a load inertial energy (LE); and determining a load size from the load inertial energy (LE).
US07958578B2	Play yard A play yard includes a first frame unit and a bassinet-supporting second frame unit. The first frame unit includes a plurality of spaced-apart upright rods, a plurality of corner couplers that are provided respectively on the upright rods, and a plurality of side rods, each interconnecting a pair of the corner couplers. The second frame unit includes a plurality of connecting rods, each having a supporting segment and a pair of bent end segments that are connected respectively to longitudinally opposite ends of the supporting segment, and that are connected movably and respectively to a pair of the corner couplers, such that each of the connecting rods is selectively positioned relative to the first frame unit at a lower position and a higher position located above the lower position.
US07958577B2	Shower curtain hanging structure A shower curtain hanging structure includes a fixture, a first socket, a second socket and a linking rod. The fixture is provided with a connecting unit to secure the first socket. The second socket is accommodated in the first socket and linked with the connecting unit. The linking rod is composed of several sections, with the two ends connected to the second socket to form the hanger. The first socket is adjustable to link the second socket for the linking rod in a different length.
US07958576B1	Decorative toilet for the physically challenged A toilet is designed and constructed to accommodate the physically challenged persons. The toilet has a wider sitting area to accommodate person of various sizes. The toilet also includes a pair of handles for assisting a person in getting on and off the toilet. The flushing action is accomplished by pulling flush knobs located in the handles while the person is sitting on the toilet.
US07958575B2	Toilet safety apparatus, systems, and methods An embodiment of the present invention provides a correlated magnet toilet seat cover lock which may include a first correlated magnetic field structure securely attachable to a toilet bowl, a second correlated magnetic field structure that is complementary to the first correlated magnetic field structure and securely attachable to a toilet seat cover, and wherein the first correlated magnetic field structure associated with the toilet bowl is capable of being aligned with the second correlated magnetic field structure attachable to the toilet seat cover such that the toilet bowl and the toilet seat cover produce an attractive force that secures the toilet seat cover to the toilet seat bowl.
US07958574B1	Upper trunk protector and related methods A back protector having a back plate configured to, among other things, relieve, reduce, or eliminate the stress or discomfort that can be imposed on a person's upper trunk region during certain activities. The protected areas can include the upper back, spine, and/or lower shoulder area of a person, such as a plumber, in the supine position. The upper trunk protector further includes apparatus or means for attaching the plate to the person to be protected, such as a first elongate strap and a second elongate strap each having a first end and a second end, and a waist belt. Preferably, the waist belt is attached along a bottom portion of the back plate and is configured to be worn about the person's waist, while the first elongate strap and second elongate strap are each attached at the first end to a top section of the back plate and at the second end to corresponding points on the waist belt. Related methods are described.
US07958573B2	Size adjustable safety and comfort liner for a helmet A helmet liner that is infinitely adjustable by the user in the field is provided. The helmet liner includes front, center and rear cushioning portions with integrally formed spaces between the front and center portions, and the rear and center portions. The integrally formed spaces provide the liner with the ability to independently flex [in one degree of freedom] and bend [in a second degree of freedom] to collapse the spaces without any overlapping of cushioning portions and thereby conform the liner to the hemi-spherical shape of the wearer's head. The spaces provide ventilation for the wearer's head. The helmet liner may also provide for variable thickness of one or more of cushioning portions as well as antimicrobial treatment of the fabric. By increasing the thickness of the rear cushioning portion with respect to the front cushioning portion, the number of optimum fits achieved by the liner is maximized, while biasing the wearers head toward the front of the helmet, thereby increasing the wearer's field of view (FOV).
US07958572B2	Foldable protective helmet This protective helmet comprises a rigid or semi-rigid external shell comprising a plurality of rigid or semi-rigid flaps joined together and a compressively deformable internal liner acting as a shock absorber, the latter also comprising several elements associated with said flaps.At least some of the flaps that constitute the external shell are capable of moving relative to each other at their respective means of connection and the elements that constitute the internal liner associated with the flaps in question are designed so that they retract inside the volume defined by the helmet during relative displacement of the corresponding flaps.
US07958570B1	Cap shape retainer insert The present invention is an insert that may be placed within a cap such as base ball cap or a golf cap to maintain the original shape of the cap. In one embodiment, the insert comprises a one piece flexible sheet having a centrally located longitudinal axis dividing the sheet into left and right halves that are mirror images of each other. The sheets has square shaped holed spaced throughout the sheet to provide increased ventilation. The sheet has a non-continuous peripheral edge having catch portions to prevent the insert from slipping during use of the cap. The sheet further comprises a lower portion having a central edge portion substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The lower portion comprises left and right edge portion inclined to the longitudinal axis. The lower portion further comprises a v-shaped cut-out extending inward from the central edge. The v-shaped cut-out allows the left and right halves of the sheet to be bent so that the left and right edge portions be properly seated within the cap to provide a proper shape. The upper portion further comprises first, second, and third flexible support fingers and first and second valleys spacing the fingers. The first and second valleys are of sufficiently deep so as to allow the fingers to be highly flexible. When the insert is placed in the cap, the fingers promote a concave shape at the intersection of the front face and top portion of the cap.
US07958569B2	Protective garment with curved and protected extremities A protective garment including a body portion and a curved extremity permanently coupled to the body portion and being shaped and configured to receive a leg or an arm of a wearer therein. The extremity has a seam coupling portions of the extremity together such that the seam thereby directly provides curvature to the extremity.
US07958568B2	Glove with support system A glove with a support system is disclosed. The support system comprises a number of individual support sections, each of which is comprised of a number of arcuate support segments that encircle a portion of a finger and allow forward flexural movement while helping to reduce hyperextension of the finger. The support system is also designed to help reduce the possibility of the finger jamming.
US07962964B2	Watermarking and transferring material A client device for use in a system having a server, the client device including: a receiving device configured to receive information material from the server, the information material containing a reversible modification providing a visually perceptible disturbing effect having been applied to the information material by using an invertible algorithm which uses values generated from one or more keys, and to receive identifying information that distinguishes the information material from other information material available from the server and condition information which defines a predetermined condition that should be met in order for the reversible modification to be reversed.
US07962963B2	Multimodal resource management system A resource management system and methods for managing resources are disclosed. A resource management system may include a first communication interface configured to provide access to a first device, a second communication interface configured to provide access to a datastore, and a multimodal system in communication with the first and second communication interfaces. The multimodal system may be configured to receive a first communication request from the first device, generate a multimodal document in response to the first communication request, and serve the multimodal document to the first device using the first communication interface. The multimodal document may include instructions allowing for communication with the first device using at least one of a plurality of device interface modalities.
US07962962B2	Using an object model to improve handling of personally identifiable information In a computer, a first set of object classes are provided representing active entities in an information-handling process and a second set of object classes are provided representing data and rules in the information-handling process. At least one object class has rules associated with data. The above-mentioned objects are used in constructing a model of an information-handling process, and to provide an output that identifies at least one way in which the information-handling process could be improved. One aspect is a method for handling personally identifiable information. Another aspect is a system for executing the method of the present invention. A third aspect is as a set of instructions on a computer-usable medium, or resident in a computer system, for executing the method of the present invention.
US07962961B1	Responding to detected application vulnerability exploits A security module detects attempted exploitations of vulnerabilities of an application executing on a computer. A robust function of the application having native error handling functionality is identified. The security module wraps the robust function with an exception handler that catches a “security violation” exception. The exception handler returns an error code of a type that is handled by the application's native error handling functionality. The security module also hooks the application. When a hook is followed, the security module determines whether a vulnerability in the application is being exploited. If an attempted exploit is detected, the security module throws the security violation exception. The application's native error handling functionality unwinds the call stack for the application until it reaches the exception handler wrapping the robust function. The exception handler catches the security violation exception and returns the error code to the application's native error handling functionality.
US07962957B2	Method and apparatus for detecting port scans with fake source address A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for port scan protection. A reply data packet having a modified transmission control protocol header is generated to form a modified reply data packet, in response to detecting a port scan. The modified reply data packet will elicit a response from a recipient of the modified data packet. The reply data packet is sent to a first Internet protocol address associated with the port scan. A second Internet protocol address is identified from a header of the response to the modified reply data packet. The second Internet protocol address is an actual Internet protocol address of a source of the port scan. All network traffic from the second Internet protocol address may be blocked to prevent an attack on any open ports from the source of the port scan.
US07962956B1	Evaluation of incremental backup copies for presence of malicious codes in computer systems In one embodiment, incremental backups containing information on modified addressable portions of a data storage device are evaluated for presence of malicious codes (“malwares”). Each modified addressable portion may be individually accessed and scanned for malicious codes. Each modified addressable portion may also be mapped to its associated file, allowing the associated file to be scanned for malicious codes. These allow an incremental backup to be evaluated even when it only contains portions, rather than the entirety, of several different files. A clean incremental backup may be selected for restoring the data storage device in the event of malicious code infection.
US07962955B2	Protecting users from malicious pop-up advertisements The present invention is a solution for detecting a spoofed command button in a pop-up window. The solution tracks the creation process of a pop-up window, detects the presence of command buttons in the pop-up window, verifies the value labeled on each command button in the pop-up window and determines a follow-up action generated from selecting a command button on the pop-up window.
US07962953B2	DRM protected content sharing A system and method for transmitting protected real-time content from one user to another is described. In a first aspect, a user sends a Rights Object to another user. In a second aspect, a user sends a Rights Object to another user via an intermediate server for a multiparty communication. In this second aspect, the users may be able to switch between designated Rights Objects as needed.
US07962945B2	Method for sending image data from camera to cctv network An integrated Internet camera includes, as embedded components contained within the camera body and controlled by a microcontroller, at least a network interface device for connecting to the Internet, a transport control device for packetizing according to Internet protocols, a file transfer device for communicating with a destination user directory on the Internet, and a transmission initiating device for initiating the connection and transfer operations of the file transfer device and transport control device. The network interface device may be a modem, network adapter, or adapter for connection to the Internet. Upon capturing the digital image, the camera initiates a connection to the Internet, connects to the destination user directory, and uploads the digital images. Thereafter, the digital images are available to authorized (or any) user having access to the Internet.
US07962943B2	Video picture information delivering apparatus and receiving apparatus A video picture information delivering apparatus delivers moving pictures according to a request from a terminal device. The apparatus comprises a determining unit for determining whether or not a predetermined particular picture is included in some of moving pictures to be skipped, upon receipt of a request to skip the some of the moving pictures; and a transmitting unit for transmitting to the terminal device associated information corresponding to the particular picture along with the moving pictures after being skipped, if the particular picture is included in the some of the skipped moving pictures.
US07962942B1	Systems and methods for enhanced trick-play functions Systems and methods for rewinding a video to a point before the video was first viewed. Video transmitted by a media source is cached by a remote server. Upon a trick-play request for the video, the server generates a rewind stream that includes the video that was transmitted by the media source before the user started to view the video. Upon receiving the rewind stream, the user's equipment may cache the rewind stream in a rewind buffer and rewind or play from the rewind buffer. The server may also generate and transmit a forward stream of the video that the media source has not yet transmitted. The user's equipment may cache the forward stream in a forward buffer. To perform trick-play operations with the video, the user's equipment may migrate the playback of the video to the rewind and forward buffers and rewind or fast-forward the video from the buffers.
US07962940B2	Apparatus and method for switching channels in a digital broadcasting system An apparatus and a method for switching channels in a digital broadcasting system. The apparatus and method of the invention can convert an abridged channel name comprised of alphabetic letters, or a combination of alphabetic letters and Arabic numbers, inputted by a user, into a corresponding channel number and switches into a digital broadcasting channel at a tuner according to the channel number so that a user can easily switch broadcast channels.
US07962939B2	Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US07962937B2	Media content catalog service Aggregating media content catalog data from a plurality of content providers. The catalog data is merged according to rules and provided to a user on a scheduled basis or on demand. In an embodiment, the merged catalog data represents an incremental update to previously delivered catalog data.
US07962933B2	Mid-roll insertion of digital media An example embodiment of the present invention provides a process for inserting a source media stream into a target media stream, which media streams might be in container file format. The process opens and reads into memory structural information from a target media stream and structural information from a source media stream. The process then finds the nearest prior key frame to an insertion time and splits a chunk of media samples if the key frame's sample is not at the beginning of a chunk. The process adjusts the structural information for both streams in order to effect the mid-roll insertion of the source media stream into the target media stream. The process then writes onto an output media stream the adjusted structural information for the source and target media streams and then pipes onto the output media stream the media data for the source and target media streams.
US07962926B2	Method, system, and program storage device for generating a retry message when a thread in a real-time application is unavailable to process a request to utilize the real-time application A method, system and program storage device for preventing a real-time application from running out of free threads when the real-time application receives a device interface request. A set of special data packets for the main user application is provided. Shared functions are provided as part of the device interface to indicate the error condition when there is no more free thread and for a utility program to recognize a retry is needed. Thus, the retry mechanism is embedded in the shared functions running on both the main user application and all utility programs.
US07962923B2	System and method for generating a lock-free dual queue A method of supporting condition synchronization for a shared data structure so as to provide concurrent access. A protocol is provided between a thread creating a request as part of a remove operation and a thread fulfilling a request as part of an add operation. The protocol provides for the thread making such a request to check the request_value field of the request node and then wait on its own condition variable. A requesting thread sets a requestor_id field of a request node with a value that identifies the thread. A fulfilling thread sets a request_value field of a request node with the address of the data node with the value, and then signals the requesting thread as identified by the requestor_id field. Upon receiving the signal, the requesting thread wakes up and retrieves the value from the data node pointed to it by the request_value field of the request node. If a wait times out, the requesting thread attempts to signal that the wait timed out by performing a CAS operation on the request_value field to modify it from zero to non-zero. If the CAS operation succeeds, the request timed out and the remove operation return failure. If the CAS operation fails, the request was fulfilled since the fulfilling thread set the request_value field with the address of the data node.
US07962922B2	Delivering callbacks into secure application areas A native callback function is registered with a calling component in a native code environment, wherein registering the native callback function is initiated from a secure application area in a managed code environment. A callback is delivered from the native callback function into the secure application area.
US07962920B2	Providing a business logic framework The disclosure includes a system and method for providing a business logic framework. In some implementations, a method includes identifying an event associated with business logic of an application framework. The application framework is associated with method framework logic and the business logic. One or more business objects are identified in accordance with the business logic. The business logic is executed using the identified one or more business objects independent of the method framework logic.
US07962918B2	System and method for controlling inter-application association through contextual policy control A method for controlling the interoperation of a plurality of software applications and resources includes intercepting communications from a first application to a second application or resource, directing the communication to a context management system, generating a candidate list of contexts for the communication, evaluating the candidate list according to at least one policy defined for these contexts to identify the resultant action and namespace for the communication, and performing the action as defined by the policies within the identified namespace. The method further includes tracking one or more versions of the second application, as well as tracking an evolution of application and/or resource names. The method further includes identifying one or more operations associated with a context on the candidate list, and executing the identified operations prior to a further communication.
US07962917B2	System data interfaces, related architectures, print system data interfaces and related print system architectures A system data interface and related architectures are described. Various embodiments can provide one or more of the following capabilities: a generic data model, asynchronous client and server dispatch, cancellation, batching, transactional invocation, parallel invocation, interception or reflection. In one embodiment, the system data interface is employed in the context of a print system.
US07962911B2	Method and apparatus for preventing undesired termination of a process in an information handling system An information handling system (IHS) employs operating system software to manage IHS resources. The operating system software manages software application programs as processes executing within the IHS. The processes run in foreground and background mode within the IHS. Processes running in foreground mode are subject to hang-up events with negative process output results, such as output data loss. In one embodiment, the operating system software supports a “no hang-up now” command for use with processes running in foreground mode. The “no hang-up now” command provides system users the ability to hang-up or log-out of an IHS terminal without negative effects on the current foreground process. A user may invoke the “no hang-up now” command after execution of the foreground process is already underway. The no hang-up command moves the foreground application to the background for continued execution. A signal handler program prevents termination of the background process until the process completes.
US07962901B2	Using dynamic analysis to improve model checking Model checking has been used to verify program behavior. However, exploration of the model is often impractical for many general purpose programs due to the complexity of an exploding state space. Instead, a program is instrumented with code that records pointer dereference information. The instrumented program is executed thereby recording pointer dereference frequency information. Then, a model of the program is explored using the pointer dereference frequency information to direct state space exploration of the model.
US07962895B2	Language for binding scalable vector graphics elements to java classes According to a technique described herein, a binding document comprises one or more “” element instances. Each “” element instance indicates an association between (a) an SVG element instance and (b) a class. When a binding's name is passed to a “createFromTemplate( )” method, the method processes all of the “” element instances that are associated within that name. For each such “” element instance, the method (a) creates, in an SVG DOM tree, a clone of a node that corresponds to an SVG element instance indicated in that “” element instance, (b) instantiates an object that is an instance of a class that is indicated in that “” element instance, and (c) stores data that establishes a binding between the clone node and the object. Methods of the object can be invoked to affect and/or alter attributes of the clone node to which the object is bound.
US07962893B2	System and program for assisting the creation of automatic sampler control program In conventional cases, a control program for an automatic sampler for a liquid chromatograph has to be created by combining operational commands. To do this, users have to know the meaning of each command and learn the programming method. Therefore, the conventional method is difficult for those who are not skilled in programming. In contrast, with the system for assisting the creation of an automatic sampler control program, the user can create the control program by selecting instructional sentences written in a natural language. The system uses a definition file in which each instructional sentence is associated with one or more operational commands. When the user selects one of instructional sentences displayed on a display screen, the system includes one or more operational commands corresponding to the selected instructional sentence into the control program. By selecting one instructional sentence after another over multiple sentence input lines, the user can easily create a control program consisting of a sequence of operational commands.
US07962889B2	Techniques for instantiating and configuring projects Techniques for project management instantiation and configuration are provided. A master project includes policy directives that drive the dynamic instantiation and configuration of resources for a project. The resources are instantiated and configured on demand and when resources are actually requested, in response to the policy directives.
US07962888B2	Producing unitary class definitions from module specifications A computer-implemented method of processing a module specification to produce predicator definitions is disclosed. The predicator definitions provide a facility for type-safe processing of generic elements (typically from markup processing or synthetic-language parsing) to specific elements suitable for accumulation as member data in an application-specific data structure. The method processes representations of modules, classes, and members. The predicators provided include a predicator base class definition, a plurality of predicator specializations, a promissary reference base class definition, and a plurality of promissary reference class definitions.
US07962875B2	Method, apparatus and program for designing circuits A circuit designing method for a semiconductor integrated circuit, the circuit having a clock control circuit and leaves to which clock signals are propagated through the clock control circuit, has detecting a clock signal producing point where a clock signal is to be produced and an operational mode setting point where an operational mode setting signal for setting an operational mode is to be imparted, using a netlist and a cell library, setting a clock signal and a name of the clock signal at the clock signal producing point, setting an operational mode setting signal suitable for a desired operational mode at the operational mode setting point, propagating the clock signal and the operational mode setting signal, and extracting signals being propagated to the leaves.
US07962873B2	Fast evaluation of average critical area for ic layouts Method and apparatus for approximating the average critical area of a layout or layout region, involving summing, over all the object segments of interest, respective critical area contribution values that are dependent upon particular layout parameters of the objects, each of the contribution values being representative of a plurality of defect sizes, and being defined such that for each defect size in the plurality of defect sizes, and for a particular defect type, the contribution values collectively count all critical areas arising due to the object segments of interest only once.
US07962868B2	Method for forming a semiconductor device using optical proximity correction for the optical lithography A method for forming a semiconductor device includes performing a first optimization of a first edge location of a feature fragment, wherein the first optimization has a first speed per fragment, and performing a second optimization of a second edge location of the feature fragment, wherein the second optimization has a second speed per fragment that is slower than the first speed per fragment. Next, a result of the second optimization is used to form a reticle pattern; and a layer on a semiconductor wafer is patterned using the reticle pattern.
US07962863B2	Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining a model for predicting printability of reticle features on a wafer Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining a model for predicting printability of reticle features on a wafer are provided. One method includes generating simulated images of the reticle features printed on the wafer using different generated models for a set of different values of exposure conditions. The method also includes determining one or more characteristics of the reticle features of the simulated images. In addition, the method includes comparing the one or more characteristics of the reticle features of the simulated images to one or more characteristics of the reticle features printed on the wafer using a lithography process. The method further includes selecting one of the different generated models as the model to be used for predicting the printability of the reticle features based on results of the comparing step.
US07962860B2	Selective detailed display of devices in a network There is described a method, to a program and to a system for graphically displaying and projecting at least one network of devices of an automation system, a high density of information usually occurring at the user interface. To allow a user to selectively display devices in a network, in addition to a large quantity of overview information, a solution is proposed in which a user can display individual devices in more detail in an overview. The user can therefore select a device, the instantaneously non-visible details of which he wishes to access, and change the appearance of the device from a not very detailed display to a very detailed display by way of further interaction. This applies to any desired number of devices which can be simultaneously displayed in detail. One advantage is that the network interfaces of devices may also be displayed which cannot be displayed with all network interfaces in the overview without the user being forced to have to change to a different, detail-oriented view.

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